Neither Here Nor There

I cannot believe how big a failure I am at blogging!! I think of all these things to say and then I don't. Why? I don't know---lazy, maybe. After all, it is work and I have been there, done that!! I think that organizing yourself and making good use of your time is an art itself and one I may not be good at. I am not giving up however and so I am forcing myself to sit here and say something!

On Politics: What can I say? My heart is not in it. I have become a detached outsider of this year's very unique race. It is historical and slightly hysterical (if my family is any indication) but not me. I find some parts amusing. MSNBC is trying to right its sexist ship by removing Matthews and Olbermann from lead roles but it is not working. It is totally in the tank for Obama and is "crazy" in its coverage of Palin. They just cannot deal with strong women. They try to diffuse their misogyny by giving Rachel Maddow her own show but it is really because Rachel has proven she can play "nice" with the boys and every now and then she takes a swipe at Buchanan as if that gives her journalist credentials!?! I continue to watch but now Fox News is more interesting than CNN. They try to bolster McCain/Palin and it contrasts with the others who are dissing them. At least, it is entertaining.

On insignificant items: Like the location of Ladies Rest Rooms.....ever notice that women, for the most part have to walk further than men to go to the bathrooms in most public establishments? Really, it is true and I know because I go to a lot of public restrooms, down all those dark hallways and theater staircases. You can take your own assessment and check out the location the next ten times you go to the bathroom when you are out to dinner or traveling. I have been doing that for a lot of years and only once or twice was the Ladies Room the first one. Why??

On Theater: I have seen quite a bit of theater this summer from Stratford, Canada to Williamstown, Ma with New York and Shaw in the middle. The best (see previous blog) was in the Berkshire and the worst in New York.

I have found two (yes, but I am sure there are more) people, who like me, did NOT like the Tony, Pulitzer Prize winning play, August, Osage County. I felt it was shrill, loud and without any redemption. And, all that anger and angst with a Southern accent!! Tooooo much for me. But, New York redeemed itself with In The Heights. That was a true Broadway musical unlike (untitled) which was cute but not real broadway and I could say that again about The Thirty-Nine Steps. It was "cute".

Let me go back to the beginning because I forgot a real gem I saw in Stratford and it was an American doing Beckett. Brian Dennehy did two one-acts at Stratford but it was the second that was a brilliant moment in theater time. He performed in Krapp's Last Tape and the response was very mixed. Many did not like it at all but that says more about the person watching than the play or the performance. This play is not easily accessible for the audience and you have to pay attention and let go at the same time. To my astonishment and delight, it was a most rewarding theater experience. Mr Dennehy disappeared into the character and what you see is a bitter old man who is angry, sad , and remorseful at the end of his life. The portrayl was sublime and exactly the kind of stage magic someone like me sits in one dark theater after another waiting to see and this summer, in Stratford, I was not disappointed. Take it to New York, Brian.

On Movies: Well, I did it. I started a movie club every Monday night. I pick the movie, location and send the info out to a list of people I think might want to go to the movies with others. It is an opportunity to share a movie without calling anyone and allows a last minute decision to go or not, depending on what is going on in your life. Some meet before for a light supper and I will give you further updates as we go along. This could spread to other cities where (like everyone reads the same book) people could go to the same movie and then discuss it online as in Facebook. Stay tuned....

On Football: Go Bills!!!

On Baseball: The Yankees are done (like Hillary) sooo who cares?!