Dinner With A Friend

The last day of April brought a pleasant surprise,

Dinner with a friend-

Shakes, burgers and fries

The place is a landmark

A dive, perhaps, to others

But when you're with a friend

It's a five star joint.

A drive-in

In its heyday

Crowded on weekends

Now it competes with golden arches,

Royalty, little girls and toys in boxes-

But still the locals flock and order

The crowds may not be many

But the food is just as good

                                                              Cause it's not the food, nor the drink-

                                                              But the dinner with a friend

The food becomes a background

To pleasant conversation

From politics to who's pitching on the mound;

To use a napkin would be an abomination

An interruption to a mouth watering sensation.

Laughter abounds

In mid discussion

A laughter that relieves tension

Both inner and outward

A friend who listens intently

And does not care if you're right or wrong

Time goes by so fast

When in company of a friend

Time to get nostalgic

Oh- will this ever end?

Can't go back to the past, it's true

Friends come and go

A terrible adieu

And new friends come

You hope they stay

But all the time in the world

Cannot conquer the one I cherish

And that's the time I spend on

Dinner with a friend

OK- enough of the sentimentality.  But, I had a great dinner with a friend and I just got nostalgic thinking of old times.  I miss my friends, the living ones who have moved to other locales and the ones resting in peace.  But it is the blossoming of a new friendship that adds that certain je ne sais quois- the extra spice, flavor, texture to what could otherwise be a lonely dinner.  I thank my friend and look forward to many, many more dinners.  And what about dinner and a "B-movie!"

May I take your order please?

We'll Always Be Bosom Buddies

Another American icon has entered immortality.  Bea Arthur.  What a funny lady.  My sophomore year in high school the drama department did Mame.  Of course, for those of us who were developing a taste for theatre, musical or dramatic, rushed to Tower Records to purchase a copy of the Broadway cast album.  To listen to her delivery in the song "The Man in the Moon Is A Lady" was sheer comic genius; and she was 100 percent bitchy in "Bosom Buddies."  She earned and deservedly won the Tony award for her portrayal of Vera Charles.  I am glad that she got to re-create that role in the "LucyMame" version.

And what can be said about her liberal "Maude Finley?"  Sheer gem of a performance.  But it is her role of "Dorothy Zbornak" in The Golden Girls that even my students enjoy.  Truly the cast of that show was one fantastic ensemble.  How she could keep a straight face during an infamous St. Olaf story or hearing about the lust antics of her roommate "Blanche Devereaux." It was great seeing her in small parts or cameos in films.   Her timing and delivery of lines was pure genius.  Lots of aspiring actors and actresses can learn from her as each scene she is in could be a master class.   As composer/lyricist Jerry Herman said Ms. Arthur didn't have to utter a word- just a look would set you into gales of laughter.  She will be missed and she will be loved for a long time thanks to syndication, repeats and DVDs!  

"I have a universe shaking discovery for you!  The man in the moon is a bitch!"

(from Mame)

Tolerance

Yom Hashoah was remembered this week.  A day set aside to remember the victims of the Nazi genocide.  And a day to use as a learning moment.  My 8th grade social studies class is a wonderful group of students who might not have a care in the world.  Sure, with the current financial situation our nation is facing, some of these kids' parents are facing troubles.  But how to teach and tell about a situation that occurred over 60 years ago?  The Holocaust.  To some kids today it is a word, something in the history books.  How to impress on these young minds that holocausts are still happening in the world and that the victims are not just adults, but children of their ages and younger.  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is perhaps one of the best and stirring celluloid telling of a Holocaust drama involving children.  It is not too graphic and the visuals are thought provoking.  Watching this film in social studies class is wonderful in that watching the students' reactions are priceless.  With a series of questions that will be answered in small group discussions, questions are already being asked.  Then, each student will have a small project based on the film- whether a poem or something artistic- to demonstrate an understanding of tolerance, friendship, prejudice and how to change the world into that better place each generation hopes for.  As the old saying goes, if we forget such atrocities, we're doomed to repeat them again...and we, as a race, will have learned nothing.

Do You Know the Way to...

Field trip time again...and what a great place for studying and enjoying antiquities...the Egyptian Museum in San José!  It is the largest collection of things Egyptian west of the Mississippi; and the 4th largest collection in the world.  Needless to say, my students were amazed and mystified on their "expedition" to the land of the Pharaohs.  Human mummies, animals mummies, canopic jars...all the makings of a great project.  But not one of my students volunteered to spend a "night in the museum."  Our docent, Kathy, was a walking encyclopedia with her interesting insight on this amazing civilization.  Her stories and sense of humour added to the ambiance.  And my students learned what it is like to visit a museum where you cannot touch the things because of how precious they are.  My parent chaperones were impressed as well, and agreed that this museum is a great place to visit on a day trip.

So, tomorrow we continue in the text and webquests with our studies of Egypt.  Hmm, maybe one more field trip...to the Hyde Street Pier for some local history!!

Semana Santa

It's that time of year again...Holy Week...the most sacred of weeks in Christendom.  OK, I'm not going to preach, but just randomly jot down nostalgias from yesteryear about this week.  The poster on the left is from a Biblical movie from Mexico made in, I believe, 1952.  I remember my mom taking me to see it at the now defunct York Theatre and how it inspired me to write simple scripts or scenarios for my own Biblical epics.  My mom enjoyed this genre...especially the ones made in Mexico.  The production qualities were not quite up to Hollywood standards, but they were money makers and had quite a following.  I remember her taking me to see a film about the life of St. Martin de Porres, and after the movie the actor who portrayed Martin de Porres, René Muñoz, came onstage in full Dominican garb and gave a powerful monologue that as I recall had the audience in tears and giving him a thunderous standing ovation.  And, for those of you who know Latin American celebrities from bygone days, I recall watching Libertad Lamarque do her stint onstage after a movie- song and dance and monologues; after that getting in line to meet, greet and get her autograph.  Little did I know that I met the actress who allegedly slapped Eva Perón across the face because Eva dared to sit in Miss Lamarque's studio chair.  I recall her being charming and in a way, a Latin Auntie Mame.  But I digress!  The film, El Martir del Calvario is a black and white film and the only exterior shot is the opening sequence with Jesus walking towards a lake.  The rest of the film is shot in the studio.  It has its moments and one of this film's moving moments is in the saving of Mary Magdalene from her libertine lifestyle.  It is a classic of the Mexican cinema, and Enrique Rambal, Jr.- Jesus- does an exceptional job in a difficult role.  He is the only actor in the film who speaks in Castillian Spanish, you know, with the lisp for the letters "c" and "z"- I don't know if he was from Spain, or to give it that classy sound, similar to American actors attempting Shakespearean English.  The musical score is nice, but it is definitely a small studio orchestra, reminds me a of a Broadway pit orchestra.  Good sound, only wish that it was a more symphonic sound- lush, loud, Cecil B. de Mille-ish!

Holy Week was the time when religious movies were shown on the major networks as well as the local channels.  Easter Sunday was traditionally the night for The Robe and as 5th, 6th and even 7th graders, we looked forward to it.  Not for its religious message, necessarily, but for the few action scenes involving the slave Demetrius.  The Greatest Story Ever Told was shown on NBC on the Saturday before Easter.  And, being that Passover fell around the same time, The Ten Commandments garnered huge audiences during its TV run.  On the local channel 2 (KTVU) a very cheesy Biblical film, Day of Triumph was shown.  The only "big name" was Lee J. Cobb.   And the actor playing Jesus was older.  

1970- the year Jesus Christ Superstar was released as a double LP.  Fresh, different, rock-oriented version of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.  Before any staged or celluloid incarnation, listening to this album let the imagination run wild.  I think since then I try to listen to the original recording once during Holy Week.  It is a tame work now, but what a hub of controversy this recording was!  But it made you think.  

But, those were simpler, non-cable TV days.  We relished whatever film was shown.  We enjoyed the films as traditional, something to look forward to.  I miss that in TV programming.  Nowadays, you can catch repeats of the films or teleseries within days of its original airing.  

 Hopefully you all have your wonderful memories of the season, in regards to films and music heard.  It is a wonderful season, full of hope...and jelly beans!!!! 

"Then I was inspired

Now, I'm sad and tired

After all I've tried for three years

Seems like ninety..."

April Fool's Day 2009

There is nothing more refreshing and fun than telling a class to get ready for a surprise spelling test on proper nouns...here are the words and imagine the reactions when they deciphered the code!

1.  Iraq

2.  Canada

3.  Asia

4.  Nicaragua

5.  Tivoli

6.  Brazil

7.  Ethiopia

8.  Louisiana

9.  Indonesia

10.  Evanston

11.  Venezuela

12.  Ecuador

13.  India

14.  France

15.  Evita

16. Louisville

17. Luxembourg

18.  Frankfurt

19.  Oregon

20.  Rwanda

21. Titanic

22.  Hilo

23.  Israel

24.  Switzerland

25.  excalamation point

Look at the first letter of each word, except #25.  Enjoy!