St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Paddy's! Hoping to get a Guinness in before bedtime, maybe even a green beer or 2.

'Bears ain't fussy, it's true."

Recently finished this book. I enjoyed it. The premise is that a bear, the protagonist, finds a manuscript beneath a tree and decides he is going to claim it as his own and heads off to the big city to get a book deal. He dresses the part, stealing some clothes, meets with agents and editors, and tries to fit into our society. Worth the time if you're looking for a fun read.

End Of An Era

The historic Senator Theater is closing after 70 years. Even though I've only been inside to see the CAMM SLAMM film festival, I remember the theater fondly from my college days. So sad...

The Case of The Coffee Surprise

Our hero sits at his computer, working on a story. Next to him a steaming coffee cup sits precariously close to the edge of the cluttered desk. He intently reviews what he has written so far, as he absentmindedly sips his cup of joe.

The orange coffee mug is replaced; still dangerously near the brink. Our hero returns to typing. He is in the zone. The story almost writes itself.

The coffee mug is raised to his lips again and he tips his head back to drain the dregs of the cup. Maybe he should reheat another mugful. The desk chair scoots back on the blue carpet and our hero gets to his feet. Break time...

What's this? In the bottom of the mug?

Our hero looks deep into the mug and there on the ceramic bottom lies half of a piece of farfalle. The bow tie pasta has absorbed some of the coffee and shows a dark molasses tinge to its surface. Somehow the pasta must have found its way into his cup between the coffee machine, the microwave and the desk.

But how? How did that get in there?

The mystery may never be solved.

***PS. Later the mystery is solved when the wife returns home.***

The mug in question, which I left sitting next to my computer yesterday morning after emptying it, was actually used by my wife as a trash bin when she dropped a farfalle on the rug yesterday at lunch.

Now I know what you're thinking. What, you used a dirty mug? It was early. I was tired, and the mug was sitting where I left it so I wrongly assumed that it was fine to drink coffee from - I drank coffee from it only yesterday morning.

Lesson learned. I will always get a new mug each morning from now on. I will always check the bottom of my cups, glasses, and mugs for discarded pieces of pasta. Life goes on.

Things That Go Bump In The Night

Recently, I listened to 'The Shining' on audio book. Currently, I'm listening to 'Salem's Lot', also by Stephen King, and reading David Morrell's 'Creepers'. Last night I awoke and suddenly had the urge to check all of the doors in our apartment. I got up, shuffled through the dark rooms and was undeniably spooked. I felt like a little child peeking into their open closet and expecting to find the BogeyMan! Next book I read will have to contain a few laughs.

What Am I Watching?

It was close to 2 in the morning. I was sitting on the couch, finishing a beer, and contemplating sleep. I was randomly flipping between stations when I came across Nitro Circus on MTV. (It's, apparently, the new 'Jack Ass'.) Johnny Knoxville is a producer and the cast members do crazy stunts on dirt bikes, motorcycles, cars, etc. Trained professionals... supposedly.
Anyway they were starting a new segment. One of the main guys is from Annapolis and they were visiting his family. The particular segment featured the adrenaline-fueled cast in a downhill Big Wheel Race. As the race commenced and more people ended up skidding off the track or falling from their 'vehicles' I noticed familiar landmarks and remembered a day, several months ago, when the front street of our neighborhood was blocked off for filming. Could it be? Yes, it could. This TV show featuring these grown adults rocketing down a closed downhill road course on Big Wheels just so happens to have been filmed in my neighborhood!
It was a highly entertaining piece of television. Tumbling bodies, skidding Big Wheels, and road rash all in the friendly borders of Epping Forest!

... And The Award Goes To...

So last night, Sunday March 1st the annual W.A.T.C.H Awards were held in Alexandria, VA. We did not brave the weather to take part in the festivities even though, I've mentioned before that, 'Hauptmann' the play I did last Spring was nominated. Well, it's official. 'Hauptmann' Is An Award-Winning Show!

Best Lead Actor.
Best Featured Actor.
Best Direction.
Outstanding Play of the Year!

That last one is pretty impressive. Granted that my individual work was not recognized - I didn't expect it to be, it wasn't that type of role - but the show itself won for Outstanding Play of the year! I was a part of that. I was a member of the cast and our work was acknowledged as the best play(not a musical)of the year. That makes me happy.

He Was No Saint!

But he will be soon!

I recently read the book 'Damien The Leper'. The life that this kid from Belgium group up to lead was amazing to me. Father Damien dedicated his life to God (Good For Him, I guess), weaseled his way into a parish in Hawaii after his brother - also a Father - took ill and couldn't fulfill his commission. Then the man volunteered to minister to the Lepers at Molokai even though he suspected it would mean the end of his life. He had a notoriously quick temper, for a man of the cloth, and stepped on a few toes along his path. He was a thorn in the side of the Hawaiian government; constantly petitioning for more supplies, better accommodations and never quit striving to ease the suffering of his congregants. And now apparently enough miracles have happened in his name that he will be recognized as a Saint 120 years after his death from leprosy.

I Don't Get It

Doing what I'm supposed to be - I think - went under the knife and got a clean bill, so why oh why is the pain back? No more phantoms but a familiar unwelcome gnawing that catches me off guard and keeps me second guessing.

Best Speech of the Night.

We watched the Oscars last night. Agreed with most of the big awards, and thought the opening number was brilliant. I particularly loved the above speech for its simplicity, and humble humor.