Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret. (Disraeli)

.....On the 27th of February, in the year 2014 (huh?), the Baron will reach the ripe old age of 90.  I do wonder why they call it "ripe".  It sounds too much like "good for picking,"  and I've picked a peck or two  in my time: two fractured hips, COPD, PTSD, Ph.D, pneumonia, melanoma, tonsillectomy, and circumcision (sp?)which I didn't call for at all.  And the number "90" rings some bells much less scary than the coming 90 and its accompanying surprise party.  And then

 incidentally, some people either can't read, or they lost their glasses, or they did not know the meaning of RSVP. If the latter, one wonders what school they attended.  At this surprise party, we are graciously having dinner served to our guests, and all the invitees who have not responded, s'il vous plait, have not indicated their choice for dinner.  When I say "surprise" party, I mean that I'm surprised I've reached 90 and that's what the party is all about. 

 

.....So I ask, why is age 90 all the rage?  There are other 90s that can be used for chit-chat. How about driving 90 miles an hour? How about 90 pieces of gold? How about if the price of oil goes up to $90 a barrel then Allah has to add 18 more virgins to his stock of 72 making it 90 and making it extremely difficult for a young terrorist who blows himself up to satisfy 90 virgins every day throughout all eternity, and he doesn't even know if they are men or women?, The Koran doesn't say.  Yes, and then their is school when the teacher implores you to write a précis of 90 words, and you get a 90 on the math test.  So  you see, there are many more 90s in the world for one to use in ghoulish conversation.

 

.....My British cousin has requested that I analyze another of Shakespeare's sonnets. I'd like to do that--after all, I am an Anglophile, and one of these days when I find a sonnet I like I will satisfy her wish (Christmas is over), but that kind of post may drive some readers away.  I really don't care; I will do a sonnet.  After all, I'm a poet and have published two books of poetry.

"Carpe Dium" (Seize the day)

....Well, to those who have been curious to know why I am no longer Director of the "In-House" show in March, perhaps the email to the president of the Board may enlighten you.  And so I will show it to you now--(Marty is/was Producer of the show)

Aaron: Insofar as my manuscript is concerned, I told Marty that he could direct the show if what he said was true about the cast grumbling about my "strict" direction. I did not believe him, but gave him the opportunity to direct my script anyway because he's a young guy needing experience.  I did not cede the script to him!  Since then, I have heard there have been changes that I have not authorized and which positively violates my copyright (which can be plainly seen stated on page 2.)  All I asked (and still ask) is that the three songs that are very important to my theme be returned to the play, which apparently have not been.  Sandy Zemser decided that she wanted to replace them. I do not have too much faith in her artistic or creative bent, though she may know music.  Please tell them to replace my songs. Please tell them that any changes to my manuscript must have my permission according to the Copyright Act.

.

I ask that you support me in this matter for I'm in the right, and they're clearly in the wrong. The bottom line is that I own this manuscript, of which I am the author, to be used--or not, for the in-house show.  If you do not like what I wrote, you have the right to refuse it.  It must be one way or the other.  I've done more in 30 years to entertain and educate this community than any single person in this cast. I deserve your protection of my Copyright.  And as of now, it appears this has not been the case.

 

.....I hope this has cleared up the situation for you.  Of course, if my songs are not replaced, then I can sue and win--but I don't plan to do that.  I don't want to stir the pot more than it has been stirred already.  I suppose I can write another musical next year, but who knows what the future will bring. Shakespeare wrote "We know what we are, but know not what we may be"

The Bad, the Good, and the Ugly

.....The musical that I wrote has been "stolen" and "ravished".  I recently turned over my role as Director to a "friend" who was at the time the Executive Producer.  I told him he could take over the direction as he saw fit, but should he wish to change anything in the script not to do so without my approval.  If he changed anything without my approval, it would be a violation of my copyright. The fact is that I named him the Director, but I did not give him the play.  Well, since then he went along with his pal, the musical director to change songs that I wanted to begin the show and to end the show.  When Rhoda went to him to ask that he return the script, he refused to do so.  To me, this is outright thievery and violation of the copyright.  What happens now I'm not sure.  I have two choices; take legal action  or let it go and spare myself any further aggravation. I have chosen the latter.  Thank goodness.  Now I can sleep late.

.....The invitations to my Surprise Birthday Party are all out, and the RSVPs are dribbling in.  It appears that some people cannot read...perhaps they are really illegal immigrants.  They do not include what they would care to have for dinner, and so Rhoda has to spend a lot of time calling them back and getting them to speak English or not getting a seat at the Surprise Birthday Party.  Now, some readers think I am fooling by saying it's a "Surprise Party".  Well obviously I know about it so the "surprise" must be that I have been able to reach the age of 90 in order to enjoy a party.  So, it's really a surprise birthday, not a surprise party! Pretty tricky, eh?  All the grandchildren have responded with the exception of Sean and Hannah.  However, since they are adults, their parents don't have to answer for them. If they don't RSVP, then we'll arrange for them to dine at Wendy's.  Huston also has a problem; he ordered cereal which is not on the menu. Will there be music? Yes. Will there be an open bar?  Yes.  Should you bring gifts?  No.

.....Now . the ugly is the amount of time one has to spend taking medication and going to doctors when reaching my age and before.  One may have to see a Primary doctor, a Neurologist, a Coronary doctor, a Pulmonologist, a Dermatologist, and perhaps a Psychiatrist. Then there's the Podiatrist and the Manicurist.  Every week  a "senior" (like me) has a doctor's appointment somewhere and since I have given up my car keys RH+ has to drive me everywhere. I still know how to drive but if I had to get into a car with a 90 year old, I would not do it.  So instead of being hypocrital, I gave up my keys, but not without a tear for the end of an era.

Surprise Party Feb. 28 celebrating still being vertical at 90.

.....OK, folks--this post will be #500!  It has been fun to write these things, but it ain't easy.  At times I lose my train of thought, and I can't dredge it up again.  Perhaps when I was younger I would have been able to do it, but I was doing other things--like making a living and putting food on the table.  With four famished kids one has to work much harder, and find odd jobs on weekends like refereeing for example.  I haven't forgotten my promise to write about what I am going to do. I already wrote about what I did, and what I was doing although I may not have finished the task.

......First of all I am going to retire from theatrical ventures. I succeeded in writing a musical. I think it is a darn good one, but I might not get to see it performed because, as Bobby commented,
an Eagle cannot soar when surrounded by turkeys.  No need to feel concerned because I will enjoy not having to get up early for rehearsals.  And no matter if the cast wants to change some things in it so that they will get the maximum applause or whatever.  I will forever know that I wrote a musical! An that's a fact.  Next I would like to try writing a play or a novel.  I have a half novel of sci-fi that I started a while ago but I left it to soak when we drove to NY and back, and I kind of lost interest in it. Also what I am going to do is to reveal to Ruth Grimsley the meaning of some obscure lettering. COPD means "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". Then there's PTSD which means "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" once called "shellshock" or battle fatigue,  and then there's ED meaning "erectile dysfunction". Now don't blame me. I didn't make these up, but I think I have them all. At the moment I also have Edema. With all of this, I will somehow survive. Survival is my thing.  Well, I know this is kind of short; I have to go watch SUV on TV.






























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"All the world's a stage...and one man, in his time plays many parts" (As You Like It)

.....According to my recent post to this blog, I mentioned that I would discuss "...what I am doing, what I've done, & what I'm going to do".  So I will work on that theme here; what I'm doing now is trying to get over my bout with COPD, (although RH+ keeps calling it pneumonia which I think it is not.).  This illness is somewhat debilitating, and so I am not upset about not directing my script.  I am sure I'll be fine in time for my surprise party.  Just you guys make sure you respond and declare your dinner preference--otherwise we'll give you directions to Wendy's.  And I believe you all have adult children--with one exception and dogs are not invited.  These adult children have also received invitations and ought not to depend  upon their parents to respond for them.  I suppose that's old-fashioned; so what? I don't care; when you're 90, it's fun.  And you can eat stone crabs every night.
I am also relaxing and watching TV instead of rehearsals.  I'm also trying to keep up with Time magazine, which gets more boring with every issue.  Same goes for Sports Illustrated and Playboy. Their articles are becoming longer and longer and more and more esoteric. And thus,  my preferences lean towards NCIS, NCIS LOS ANGELES, PERSON OF INTEREST, HAWII 5-0, and LAW AND ORDER: SUV.  And I also look forward each day to SNOOPY, the most independent persona I have ever met. As the Baron, I always look to him for inspiration and a ride in his Sopwith Camel.  And I  love when he goes to sleep on the roof of his house, and birds light on his nose.

.....So, now I have done enough about what I am doing and what I have done.  As for what I am going to do--it's a matter of deep thought and conjecture.  I did stop writing my science fiction novel right in the middle because other activities began to become higher priorities.  I don't know if I'll be able to get back into it.  My two characters were about to encounter slavery at George's place in Virginia; and then they would help him to become the father of his country besides the father of a lot of slave babies.  I believe they'll enjoy Lincoln more. Washington rarely tells a joke.  ....  I am also not going to drive anymore.  I've given my keys to RH+.  I can't be hypocritical about driving after 90--I've always maintained that I would be loathe to be a passenger in a car being driven by a person thus aged & I would be super loathe to take on a  passenger while I was doing the driving.  And, oh yes, I will still vote Democratic, and will never drink tea again.

.....One more task--I have written 499 posts. I must write 1 more.

"I had as lief the Town Crier spoke my lines" Hamlet

.....It has been a long, long time since I sat down at this typewriter to entertain myself (who reads this anyway?) with what I am doing, what I've done, and what I am going to do.  What I am doing at the moment is trying to get over the voice of Susan Boyle that I just heard on Utube.  I only heard her once before and that was when she sang on Britain Has Talent--or some such show.  Well, she blew me away then, and she just blew me away once more with her renditions of "Wild Horses" and "Memories" (Cats).  It simply goes to show, as Hamlet said, "There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophies, Horatio."  Think Holocaust and how in the six million there may have been one who could have, would have, developed a cure for cancer.  See what I mean?  That is, no one has discovered me yet, except me--and what do I know?

.....Another venture that I have been very, very, busy with is the writing of a musical tor a performance in our 603 seat Theatre of the Performing Arts at the end of March. And you might be curious enough to wonder why I am writing such a thing that I have never attempted before and for which I figured I have very little experience or talent.  I decided to try to imitate Rogers and Hammerstein--or perhaps just Hammerstein, but then as I ruminated, I thought that what I might produce could turn out to be too professional for our theatre and audience...seniors...most of whom fall asleep during performances.  Ah! But I decided to employ some jokes in my script, and everyone would stay awake anxious to hear the next one. 

.....For the past 30 years, there has always been what is called here, an "in-house" show; that is, one produced by the residents, as opposed to a "book show"---one that was performed on B'way.  I've been involved in both types; "HMS Pinafore", "Show Boat," "Music Man," "Fiddler," etc. And also performed in several nondescript in-house shows written by a resident or two or three.  Ah, but this year, no show had been approved by the Board and to everyone's horror--no show!  Well, after having one kind of show or the other for 30 years it has become a tradition, and seeing some performers champing at the bit, I decided to write a musical fit for way off B'way.  And I did.  I just finished it, and after at least a dozen changes, I came up with a 20 page script that attempted to re-create a WWII USO concert.  The songs all came from that era, and the title I gave it was "43!" 

.....I was scheduled to be not only the writer, but also the director.  However, after only a few rehearsals, there was mumbling and grumbling about the direction and how the director (me) would not accept changes, ideas, suggestions, and etc. from the cast.  If my name was to appear as the writer I did not care to accept changes or additions or subtractions I decided it was not worth getting up at 7:30 a.m. three times a week.