Friday, December 28, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Jagdeep on Les Miserables, the Movie

I wrote about this movie a day or two ago and our friend Jagdeep Singh responded with his thoughtful review.

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Just saw Les Miserables the movie, and once again, the self acclaimed critic in me can't resist the temptation to write something about it, even though I am not sure if many of us are on this bandwagon

🙂 So here it goes (Sharing from what I already wrote on a Terrell Shaw's thread). Overall -- quite satisfying, I give Tom Hooper credit for taking over this daunting task and he did it quite well. I haven't seen or read any interviews or reviews by Boublil or Schonberg themselves. They are VERY harsh critics and in general do not let anybody play with their "baby" (their words not mine) without their blessings, so I assume they approved. Personally for me -- good parts -- the mood is captured well, the story is told like it should be. Hathaway's "I dream" was outstanding, I didn't really think likes of Lea Salonga or Elaine Paige could ever be out-done. Marius and Enjolras were very strong, so was Eponine (Samantha Barks is the Eponine from 25th Anniversary Westend Company). Cossette was flawless. Hugh Jackman acted well, sang strong but with slightly shrill/nasal voacals (I end up comparing to Alfie Boe as I heard him first). Now bad parts -- Casting Crowe as Javert seems disingenous, wonder whose call it was (and I am a Russell Crowe fan). His "Stars" and Soliloquy were disappointing. I am not even trying to compare him vocally to Quast (from 10th) or Lewis (from 25th) Anniv casts, but he somewhat lacked the raw passion they put in those lyrics. Still overall, the whole experience was very satisfying. For the money we spent -- around 30 dollars, it was like seeing an actual hit Broadway show. BTW, did anybody notice Colm Wilkinson (the original Jean Valjean) as the Bishop in the movie? -- Jagdeep Singh

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Miserable Ones



Tonight was perhaps the most captivating night at the cinema of my life. Our daughter Brannon treated us to Lex Miserables, the musical movie, at Ziegfield Cinema near Times Square in New York City. The theater was sold out so we were glad to find seats down close slightly to the right. I had the aisle, giving my aching legs stretching room, and my eyes a full view, sometimes of individual sweating pores and tears building to a drop.

I have a bone or two to pick, but let me begin by saying that it is a magnificent piece of film, creatively imagined, expertly cast, gorgeously photographed, dramatically lighted, really acted, beautifully sung.


Hugh Jackman will give Daniel Day Lewis a run for the Oscar for best actor. One of the beauties of this story, the musical, and now the movie is its reminder to those of us who live in comfort and plenty that poor, dirty, despairing folk are folk. Behind the grime, the pretense, the toothless grins, the overdone make-up, the ragged clothes, the unkempt hair, the poor English... are flesh and blood humans with the same wants and needs, hurts and hearts of all men. Jackman as Valjean is unrecognizable and totally believable in the opening scenes as the depraved, dehumanized convict.

And he becomes one of the beloved characters of all literature.
I thought Jackman's singing was sometimes a little nasal. Where Colm Wilkinson, very effectively and purposefully, used falsetto, Jackman used a full, though somewhat strained voice.



Fantine (Anne Hathaway),



not of her own volition, takes the opposite path, falling from virtuous and beautiful to compromised and pitiful. Both are outstanding.

My favorite character and the strongest acting and singing was that of Eddie Redmayne.



His portrayal of the distraught Marius singing Empty Chairs at Empty Tables was heart-rendingly perfect. Redmayne deserves a supporting actor Oscar, in my humble and correct opinion.

Siblings Eponine (Samantha Barks) and  Gavroche (Danial Huttlestone) were captivating.

The Thernardiers were well cast, though I thought (my kids disagree) that they were overdone. The disgusting food scene was more graphic than necessary and not believable to me. Like Sheila, I was glad they were made more disgusting than comic though.

Russell Crowe as Javert has received the most criticism of any actor in the film, I suspect. I actually liked his acting. His singing was a little weak, though I like its understated manner except for the suicide when I wanted him to give me more overt pain and... volume.

The 1200 sold-out seats at the Zeigfield were filled with Les Mis enthusiasts, like the Shaws, who applauded for the announcement, after interminable previews, of the main attraction. They also applauded individual songs again and again, especially I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, and nearly brought the house down for One Day More and the Finale.

Drat it! One of my dreams is to sing the Valjean part someday in a local production or concert version. Folks will now picture Jackman (20 years my junior) in the role rather than an older Colm Wilkinson type. I'm already pushing the upper limit even with the Wilkinson image of ol' Jean.

Get your tickets. You don't want to miss this on the big screen, at least once. I'll see it again soon.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Gleaning FaceTime: Christmas 2012

New York bagels --from Lots o' Bagels -- eggs, cheese, coffee, and my girls.
(Actually they spell it Lot's O Bagels, but the English major in me forced me to relocate the apostrophe.)

Terrell Shaw
Of course I suppose there could be a guy named Lot who owns a bagel store called O Bagels.


Jackson Williamson
Are they...salty bagels?

Terrell Shaw
For JW who wants to know: Bran & I had "everything" bagels, Sheila had plain, and Lil had cinnamon raisin. 

Bran had the eggs & cheese among the few things left at her apartment and scrambled them together for us. The coffee was from Dunkin Donuts.


Ruthy Countryman
Perfect Christmas breakfast...actually I could really enjoy a REAL bagel some cream cheese & lox! 


Buzz Wachsteter
Bring home some real NY water bagels. They are the REAL bagels and I am betting very few folks in Rome have ever had one.


Julia Hilburn Dent
I am soo jealous!!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Charlie Hehn
Dude!!!!!! Bagels!!!!!!! I want a punperknickel toasted with cream cheese, lox, thick Bermuda onion slice and sprouts. Of course don't forget the thick black coffee. Ahhhhhh.....

Bob Doster
They got any grits up there?


Terrell Shaw
Actually Lillian had grits at the Stone Park Cafe in Brooklyn yesterday! And she says they were good.


Anita Stewart
Enjoy the New York life and fringes!

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We did it. Gluttony. We went back to Seva Indian Cuisine for lunch. Chicken Saag, Mulligatawny Soup, Naan, Tandoori Chicken Tikka, Navrattan Korma, Aloo Gobi Matar. Now for some coffee to keep me awake for Les Miserables, the movie musical.
I will now have to visit Seva every time I come to NYC.

Nancy John Singh
Lol, enjoy the movie:)...we may have to try this Seva...by the way Seva means to serve!

Mary Clemones Stanley
Since you know your way around NYC why not do a Christmas tour next year. You could make some "cha-ching"!
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Les miserables. Oh. My. I have a couple of bones to pick but what a gorgeous, awful, wonderful, terrifying, inspiring, emotionally draining two and a half hours. I have just vicariously experienced overwhelming despair, exhilarating optimism, desperste grief, and thrilling love.

Kendra L Harris I'm glad you got in. lol I had figured I may see you there... We were too late.. sold out before we arrived but are headed back tomorrow. So glad to know I have an almost 18 year old who is super excited to see it! 

Terrell Shaw It was sold out here in NYC too.


Kendra L Harris lol then I guess I wouldn't have run into you... wish I had though 

Jagdeep Singh Le Miz ... it WILL deliver everytime if done properly, thanks to Boublil, Shonberg, and of course Hugo.
Mary Nisbet Asbury
So....you liked it???
Howard Smith sounds like LIFE!


John Vick It is a perfect example of art reflecting life, and it is always entertaining and emotional, both Hugo's theme and Webber's music. It never gets old.

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A bit of rhyme I wrote for my bride and daughters at Christmas a few years ago:

Exchanging Gifts
What gifts will you bring your Papa?
Pure gold, however they’re made—
Wrapped in sunshine of smiles;
Tied up with love that won’t fade.
What gift will you bring your Lover?
Its rich, whatever you’ve spent,
You’ve paid thrice in sweat and tears
and my promises, broken or bent.
What gifts can I bring my daughters?
What present is worthy my wife?
Tawdry trinkets diamonds would seem
On these precious true-treasures of life.

Christmas in Gotham, 2012



Here we are in Gotham for Christmas again. We did this in 2004, again in 2008, and now in 2012. I don't know if it's associated with elections or leap years, or what. But it's a great place to celebrate Christmas.

We have tried recently to de-emphasize the commercial aspects of Christmas and make it meaningful in a deeper sense. Our tradition of attending the Christmas Eve service then standing in the Trinity Methodist Nativity has been precious to me and broken only by these trips to NYC. On both earlier trips we have spent Christmas Eve at church (2004 at Marble Collegiate Church and 2008 at the Catholic Church of Saint Paul the Apostle near Central Park).  We were just too tired to go out to a Christmas Eve service last night. We'll see Les Miserables, the movie, today. To me that is a religious experience. We might make a Christmas Day service somewhere this morning, but I'm the only early riser in my family (Can you hear the snores?), so that's doubtful. I s'pose I could get out myself to one of the Greek Orthodox churches in this neighborhood. That would be a new experience for me.

I am thankful to be able to spend Christmas 2012 with my much-loved daughters and their mother whom I adore. I could never adequately explain my feelings for them but here is a little effort at that I wrote for them one Christmas when the girls were very small:

Exchanging Gifts 
What gifts will you bring your Papa?
Pure  gold, however they’re made—
Wrapped in sunshine of smiles;
Tied up with love that won’t fade.
 
What gift will you bring your Lover?
Its rich, whatever you’ve spent,
You’ve  paid thrice in sweat and tears
and my promises, broken or bent.
 
What gifts can I bring my daughters?
What present is worthy my wife?
Tawdry trinkets diamonds would seem
On these precious true-treasures of life.
 

-Terrell Shaw


Happy Christmas to all my friends and loved ones. We hate to miss the Shaw Christmas tomorrow at Mother's house --- our flight won't get in till 9 pm or so. Y'all have fun!




Monday, December 24, 2012

Gleaning Facebook:

This is our second straight non-commercial Christmas. We are celebrating Christmas. We are not shopping & stressing. We are making some donations, seeing some shows, telling some stories, sharing some meals, enjoying some music, and soaking up some love (and serious calories).

I apologize for leaving the heavy lifting of the economic recovery up to others for a while -- though the restaurant & theater industries can't complain.
Merry Christmas Eve! Off soon to brunch with my daughters, Sheila, and Rachel Craw.

Mary Caldwell We are doing this as well Terrell, just a small gift and time together...amazing how much more fun it is than ripping open a bunch of gifts...
Michelle Moriarty Smith Sounds nice....
Bob Doster No, No, No. You're in liberal land again. Oh woe is us. (LOL). Ya'll have a Merry Christmas.
Martin Penland Teem
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to the Shaws wherever they be.
Howard Smith pretty much to...we did a family vacation instead of gifts....much better.
Laurie Craw
Thanks for bringing love from home to Rachel. We won't allow her to stay in NYC next Christmas, no!


Anita Stewart If only more families would practice a non-commercial Christmas, it would be more meaning to this holy time and make family times together more important than gift exchange. Have a wonderful New York holiday with the girls.
Cara Loelle Reichel The theater appreciates it!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: In Queens

Have arrived at our lodgings. Brannon's apartment is very spartan. She has sold or given away most of her furnishings in preparation for her cross country trek. My arthritic carcass (a two-day drive is not a cure for sore bones) has taken over the one seat, while my daughters and wife sit about on the floor warming themselves before the crackling video fireplace. I'm such a gentleman.

Comments

Tersi Bendiburg
Thankful you arrived safely. Merry Christmas to all. I know about having an arthritic carcass. LOL! When I'm traveling, by car, I have to stop often and just get out and walk.


Laurie Craw
Let the fun begin! Glad you made it safely.

Charlie Hehn
Terrell, it's not an arthritic carcass, it is rather a vessel of knowledge like a well stocked library. Just think of it as a mild earthquake tremor and books got a little shuffled on the shelves.

Anita Stewart
Tell us more about Brannon's cross country trek.


Terrell Shaw
She is moving out of this apartment when we leave Wed. Then Jan. 15 she begins a year long road trip in her new little Kia Rio around the US. San Diego (3 mos) Chicago (3 mos) Georgia for a month or so next Christmas season, etc. I between those spots she will wander about the country. She wants to see lots of nat'l parks etc. -- maybe even spend some time hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail. That's my baby... same adventurer who terrorized her parents with her independence as a youngster.

Deborah Lake Dawson
Have a wonderful holiday!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Secretary of State

T


he President has nominated a new Secretary of State today. He has made an excellent choice. John Kerry's whole life and career have prepared him. He has bipartisan and international respect. He has the skills, gravitas, and judgement to be a great one.

Gleaning Facebook: Guns in America


I hope we can have an adult conversation about reducing violence by people using guns in America. The NRA has shown again today that their leaders are not grown-up. The inanity of proposing armed guards in every school while simultaneously demanding spending cuts and lower tax rates is obvious. What might not be quite so obvious is the impotence of a retired policeman or serviceman and a handgun standing against unlimited assault rifles and huge ammo clips. (I read someone reminding us today that Ronald Reagan had lots of firepower around him in 1981 and Hinckley still managed to do a lot of damage.)

I say, realizing there is no 100% cure, grown-ups still do what they can to protect their children and that includes, in my mind, at the very least:
- outlaw assault weapons and big magazines
- fund social services for troubled folk
These are costs that we must accept, not just because of our liberal "bleeding hearts" but to help us avoid the actual bloodbaths that sometimes result when terribly troubled folk do not have such services.

Terrell Shaw We have more guns, more access to assault weapons and big clips, and more gun violence than other developed countries. There is a correlation. Will outlawing assault weapons & big clips eliminate evil? No. But evil ones will have some significant stumbling blocks in their paths and the deeds they do will likely be fewer and, overall, less successful.
Don Henderson
MLK said it all, violence begets violence. Related, Matthew 26:52

Hal Massie Define 'assault weapon'. Most people don't have a clue.

In other words, they fire one round every time you pull the trigger...just like a typical hunting rifle. And just like all semiautomatic pistols. So, if you put wood stocks and hand grips on them, removed the pistol grip, and removed the carrying handle...you'd have just another hunting rifle. So...what is the point?
Hal Massie Uh...I don't know anyone who still hunts with a bolt action rifle. My point here is that most people who are screaming to ban 'assault weapons' have no idea what an assault weapon is. What they really want to ban is weapons that look 'military', even though they don't function like true military weapons (no selector for auto or burst modes). So, in effect, they want to ban weapons because of the way they look. We used to have a saying in the Air Force, "It's not what you are, it's what you seem to be."


Don Henderson Weapons, as it turns out, were a major setback for human evolution. Go figure


Greg McCary Banning assault weapons will not help. I think the ban was in place at the time of the Columbian attack. The ban will only stop the sell of new weapons and will only drive the price of used ones up. Clips can be changes in seconds. 10 round 30 round it don't really matter. I think a law will make us feel good and politicians look as though they done something but it's pointless. Security at the schools will do more good than anything else. That and access control.
Michael J. Sarver Stop politicizing these tragedies. America needs to focus on identifying and controlling people who are insane. Take their rights, pass effective laws to intervene and control them!


Margaret Oren easier said than done.
James Grant
When it comes to politics I am about as far left as you can get but on the issue of gun control I agree with Greg. A determine person will get a weapon on what will be a thriving black market. One study estimated " that there are somewhere around 3,750,000 AR-15-type rifles in the United States today. If there are around 310 million firearms in the USA today, that means these semi auto-loading assault-style rifles make up around 1 percent of the total arsenal. And keep in mind, the AR-15 is just one of the many assault type weapons on the market. It is estimated that more than 800,000 Ruger Mini-14 rifles—the rifle that Anders Behring Breivik used in the Oslo summer camp shootings last year—had been produced since 1974. There are other types, too. This is only the tip of the gunberg."So to think banning any type of fire arm is going to stop the violence I can assure you it will not . The way to deal with this is to deal with the root cause of violent behavior and some type of security at schools.
Michael J. Sarver It's human nature to take the path of least resistance. That alone is a large part of why this country has become immoral and irresponsible and why we have these nut cases walking amongst us. "Easier said than done" is an excuse for doing nothing about people and taking the path of least resistance i.e. pass another law or take rights away from the law abiding.
George Barton
I am a veteran of the Vietnam war. I handled and fired the two main assault rifles of the day, the M-16 and the Russian/Chinese AK-47, not in combat but as an exercise in the sound of both weapons, so we would know if gunfire was friendly or unfriendly. An assault rifle is smaller than a hunting rifle, and usually smaller caliiber, (smaller bullets) It is designed for use in close areas, and to be quickly moved around in different directions. The military versions are automatic, they fire like machine guns. Their design and sole purpose is to kill people, lots of people.
Hal Massie No, the military versions have a selectable rate of fire. They can be fired in semi, auto, or burst mode. At least the M-16 and now the M-4. Never fired an AK, so I don't know if they can be fired in semi.


James Grant I grew up with guns in the home and knew not to handle them without an adult. I was taught to have respect for what a gun could do to someone. Why aren't children taught that today? Another consideration is under our system of justice one cannot be arrested until a crime is committed and up until that time you are committed to provide for your own defence. Do we want to change innocent until proven guilty to guilty until proven innocent? I cannot think of anything more helpless than not being able to defend ones family. What is the answer ? I don't know but I feel in must start in the home


Brian Barcomb Unfortunately, under President Obama funding of security in public schools has been cut. I would like to see our legislators take the safety of our children serious. I believe we need 1 resource officer in every primary and middle school and 2 resource officers in every high school. This funding needs to be found WITHOUT cutting into education's budget any further.

Howard Smith Terrell, all I will say is that it is sad that those who oppose gun control laws simply refuse to recognize they work, let me repeat, they work, in other countries, that we have more fire arms per 100,000 citizens than any country in the world, TWICE as many as the next closest nation which is NOT one of the developed nations, and the largest prison population in the world and more gun related deaths than any other developed nation by FAR, in fact, almost as many as all the other develped nations combined. And, yet, knowing all these facts, good Americans still believe we should not control guns. It borders on insanity on some level not to do what others have done to drastically reduce gun related deaths. I know this, if a school kid throws a rock and hits another student, the principal's solution is not to give all the other kids a rock. In other countries fewer guns have meant fewer gun related deaths. It really is that simple.


Judi Borgo I'm not a gun person, but I like your idea of reducing violence. And we can only reduce the number of guns - not completely get rid of them, just as we can only reduce but never get rid of violence. We need to take as serious a look at media violence and vulgarity as we do the availability of guns. Gratuitous sex and violence mean big money for media, so they will be mostly silent about this aspect of it. Wondering how many Games of Thrones watchers - and even Bond fans - have spoken up for total gun control.


Terrell Shaw Factcheck attempts an adult discussion of facts regarding the gun-violence debate: http://factcheck.org/2012/12/gun-rhetoric-vs-gun-facts/ I do not have any delusions that our excessive gun violence in this country can be quickly or easily solved, or that causation is simple. But like the President I believe we should do something. Restricting magazines and assaultnweapons is a start. Accepting that spending on mental health is an issue of

FACTCHECK.ORG FactCheck.org : Gun Rhetoric vs. Gun Facts FactCheck.org : Gun Rhetoric vs. Gun Facts

James Grant Good article Terrell Shaw


James Grant We have security in our banks. on our airlines, on our streets, at public gatherings and meetings, at the malls etc. Do we not value our children more than the money in the banks and our safety in public places? Should we not give them the same protection? Could we not make it unobtrusive so the children are not aware i.e. sky marshals. It is a sad day that it has come to this but I am afraid that a weapon ban is not going to solve the problem. Determined persons, which most of these people are, will find a way to arm themselves and this will happen again and again. What has changed in out society that would cause a person to carry out such an act of violence? I wish for a world without weapon. Maybe someday it will happen

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Odds & Ends

Unrelated Posts
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Put it on your calendar. (Note: my wonderful daughter Lillian plays Tracy.)

Angela Flannigan McRee
...and sounds awesome!

George Barton
Who is gong to play the drag role? Did you get John Travolta?

Terrell Shaw
Jonathan Chisolm


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------------------------
"John Boehner couldn't get enough House Republicans to vote in favor of his proposal to keep the Bush tax cuts in place on the first million dollars of someone's income and apply the old Clinton rates only to dollars over and above a million. What does this tell us about the modern Republican party? It talks endlessly about the importance of reducing the budget deficit, but isn't even willing to raise revenues from the richest one-half of one percent of Americans -- at a time when the middle class is shrinking and the median wage is dropping. The GOP has become irrelevant to the problems America faces. It is in the process of marginalizing itself out of existence." - Robert Reich
Comments

Sher Hendrix Townsell
My gosh, could you give it a rest and just enjoy in the Spirit of the Season for yourself and others.

Terrell Shaw
Merry Christmas Sher.


Sher Hendrix Townsell
It would indeed be Merry if you could just not continue to throw everyone that doesn't think the way you do about politics.....it can't be blamed on any of the parties....this crap has gone on for years....I usually keep my mouth shut, but it would just really be nice to see you write things that are positive at least during this Season of the birth of Our Lord and Savior

Laurie Craw
It's OK Terrell. It's better than being a Christmas shopaholic.

Terrell Shaw
An important moment in our history will occur if the GOP takes us over the "cliff" in eleven days. This is an immediate issue. I post my opinions on my wall. Other folks can read them, ignore them, discuss them, agree, disagree, whatever they like. The whole reason I choose to write online at all is to be able to express myself in a non-confrontational manner. I ain't here to play Farmville. 

I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. And I also hope our nation can come together in reasonable compromise.

Terrell Shaw
Laurie, this is our second consecutive (nearly) uncommercial Christmas. I believe we need to de-emphasize the Christmas craziness. I hope we get to spend some time with your eldest on Christmas day.

Raymond Atkins
All I want for Christmas is for everyone to pay the same tax rate that I pay. And some socks.

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Real Children Need Real Solutions


I have no problems with sporting hunters, target shooters, or the owning of firearms for self-protection. There was certainly a need in the 1700s and later for a well-armed militia. (We have the greatest standing military in the world now.) So I have no problem with reasonable interpretations of the Second Amendment. (You can tell there's a big "but" coming, can't you?)

BUT, that doesn't mean assault weapons and huge clips should be available to the general population or that crazy folk should be allowed arms, or that arms should be allowed into any and every location in the country.

It is time to get rid of assault weapons and big clips and to close gun show loopholes, and make sure reasonable limitations can be established to give us a shot(!) at preventing the slaughter that happens every year in this wonderful country.

Guns don't kill people, but often people who shouldn't have guns do, and they use them to kill thousands of people in America every year.

BTW Someone is going to be tempted to suggest arming teachers. Please don't. Even if that weren't insane on the face of it, it would be insanely impossible politically. Let's keep the discussion in the real world where 20 real first graders were shot and killed last Friday along with thousands of real Americans over the last 12 months.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Rest in peace Senator Daniel Inouye

Rest in peace Senator Daniel Inouye - statesman and war hero and a member of Congress from Hawaii's first day as a state.


Kenneth Graves

Another hero "steps into the clearing at the end of the path." If anyone hasn't read his CMH citation, you should.

Tersi Bendiberg

Rest in Peace

John Countryman

A magnificent man.

Terrell Shaw

Kenneth, I have heard the story of his heroism and just read it again. Amazing. The Medal of Honor citation is quoted in his Wikipedia article: (Click the photo to see the Wikipedia article.)

Inouye (left) with his friend and future fellow senator Bob Dole (next to Inouye), playing cards while recovering at Percy Jones Army Hospital.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Blues


A great time tonight hanging out with Duane & Charlotte Parsons at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, and listening to the live blues of Delta Moon. Fantastic guitars! The food and company at Twain's before the show was good too.
Now a little sleep before three performances of a Christmas cantata with the Trinity choir.
I'm a nut, but it was worth it.

Comments

Betty Smith Franklin Such a smart nut.

Howard Smith For those who have never been, Eddie's Attic is a wonderful small room live music venue and well worth a visit. And, I hope next time you go, you let me know.


Laurie Craw I worked until midnight and our cantata is today, too at CSUMC and I'm playing peenano, Terrell. Aren't we a little old to be burning the candle at both ends...still? Nah.
Anna Farless Taylor My dad wants to go to Eddies Attic so bad! Glad to hear a good revue from an actual person and not a faceless revue!


Steve Evans Oh I would have loved to be there - I haven't been to Eddie's Attic in years and I love the blues
Terrell Shaw Why, Betty, this nut has pulled some wool over your eyes! Howard, I'd enjoy that. Laurie, we have a mutual history of even longer nights than this. But 65 ain't 28 is it?!! Now I crash. Anna, Ol' Floyd would get kick out of Delta Moon, I'll bet. Steve, it's a pretty quick trip on a Sat'day evenin'. Check the schedule on their website. The lead singer/slide guitarist Tom Gray has a connection with Duane. Duane's Mom was the feller's favorite teacher up in northern Virginia. So it was neat to be with someone who knew Tom and Duane had a good time talking after the show with Tom's siblings who were in attendance and also knew Duane's Mom.
Linda Floyd Blackwell Enjoyed the Christmas Cantata. I am so thankful you are back in choir after your hiatus for a few years. I enjoy your beautiful voice.
Duane Parsons
Eddie’s Attic is a unique “listening room” in that even the date crowd, if there is one, shuts up and listens. A real treat in a small room that only holds about 160. As a member of the Atlanta Blues Society, I am aware of several blues venues. Have not been back under the new management, but Charlotte & I have tentative plans on venturing back to Darwin’s (roadhouse atmosphere) in Marietta on Saturday night to see Sean Culberson.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Mother and Kaida

 My mother with her youngest great grandchild, Kaida.

I got to meet Kaida for the first time last evening. She wrapped her little fingers around mine and me around hers.
Where have my babies gone?


From Amanda Hearn Sims: "Grandmother and Kaida got lots of quality time together!"



In Memoriam - Frances Hancock

Our family had spent the week at Callaway Gardens on vacation. I think we camped at FDR State Park. I had rented a canoe and, like the teenage imbecile I was, paddled around for hours shirtless. I had the worst sunburn of my life -- raised blisters on my shoulders. But it had been a fun week and our exhausted but happy carload pulled into the driveway of the handsome brick parsonage on Timothy Avenue in Summerville park, ready to unload and rest up.

We were surprised to see someone mowing our front lawn. It was our tall family friend and Trinity United Methodist Church board chairman, Leonard Hancock. Leonard was an executive with the historic Rome business The Fairbanks Company. He had helped me illustrate some of the procedures they used in the manufacture of wheels for industrial equipment for a school project in high school. He and my father had the important connection -- brotherhood really -- of being fellow Marines.

Today this wonderfully gentle man, one of my fathers closest friends and parishioners, had the sad task of informing my father that his dad, my Daddy Shaw, had died suddenly.

And I had the sad task, but memorable privilege, of driving my Daddy -- leaving probably less than an hour later -- from Rome to Conyers to join his mother and brothers in grief. Only the second time I had ever witnessed my father cry.

It is strange, I suppose, that such a sad occurrence should tie me so emotionally to a family, but it did. Leonard's obviously genuine concern and gentle manner that day endeared him forever to me.

This week Leonard's equally gentle and loving widow died. Her funeral was right at the end of the school day on Friday and I felt I shouldn't ask for a second special time off for the week (my co-workers and principal had already covered for me for another funeral earlier in the week) so I didn't get to attend. My mother and the Rev. Wayne Hopper presided. I am sorry I missed it.

Leonard and Frances were a model couple. Their love for each other was obvious to anyone who witnessed them together. And they doted on their precocious son, Sam.

Sam, you have a grand heritage in both of your parents. I miss them and I know you do. I am saddened by their passing.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: From Debby Brown

Thanks to Debby Brown for this little memory she shared on Facebook:

I remember when your printing business did the cover of the 93-94 Rome Little Theater program. It was one of the very best ever done! There is Monica Cook, Mary Doster, Terrell ( the Wizard himself!) his sweet little girl Brannon, the photographer Frank's wife, Victoria Logue and out front Ricky Webb. Ricky and Jason did Big River and were the best Huck and Tom ever! And Ricky gave Quentin the part of the Doctor when he was only 14 years old in "Arsenic and Old Lace." Which he got some flak for because of Quentin's age, but he and Don Rusaw made quite the pair for evil killers, haha! Good memories.. and thank you Terrell for being in so many of our most special RLT ones! Just thinking.. the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz.. the evil Pirate under Captain Hook and the Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof... just to name a very few! you are great at whatever you decide to be or do.


 Comments


Debetells Sumtales
It was.. ricky was in it!


Beckie Gurley
Terrell Shaw
what year did you play the wizard? My two brothers were flying monkeys. I think it was 1992.

Terrell Shaw
May 1993, I think, Becky. This program was from the following year.
You may remember, Debbie, that we lost one of the leads from Into the Woods in an auto crash. A horrible time for the theater.

Debetells Sumtales
ohh.. I had forgotten that Terrell!

Beckie Gurley
I remember that. My mom knew her. I was living in Carrollton attending college. It was only a few years after my dad died. I remember wizard of oz being a huge show. I watched it several times. My mom helped with costumes.


Debetells Sumtales

I remember your mom and your brothers. Your mom was very sweet. 

Saturday, December 08, 2012

PTSW: Heads Or Tails

I don't know the poet, but this is a useful bit:

We have two ends
With a common link.
With one we sit.
With one we think.
Success depends
On which you use.
Heads, you win.
Tails, you lose.
- Unknown

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Max Hester's Sandhill Cranes

Local eagle enthusiast and photographer Max Hester posted these photos of migrating Sandhill Cranes on his Facebook page today. I'd like to preserve the shots here to be reminded of them every now and then.










Saturday, December 01, 2012

Gleaning Facebook: Doug walker & Eagles

 Kudos to Doug Walker who came to our school yesterday and presented his pictures of Bald Eagles to our 150 fourth-graders. Thanks, Doug. Great pictures and a great story of our national emblem, their near extinction, and their remarkable comeback.


Doug Walker

Thannks Terrell, I really enjoyed it and the kids were very attentive !


Ruth Pinson

Kudos to you for inviting Doug to speak!! I miss your enthusiasm, Terrell! Keep it up!