Boomer Randomness

Spring is quite colorful around my place. Check my photo site for a few more shots.

Laughter is the closest distance between two people. Victor Borge You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on. Dean Martin You can fake an orgasm but you can’t fake laughter. Bob Dylan Why did you two break up? He’s a sweet, sensitive guy who adores me. Yeah, who would want that? Marshal Mann and Mary Shannon, characters on In Plain Sight

I don’t know who first said ‘laughter is the best medicine’ but I do believe it. I got a three hour dose of laughter last night from three of my favorite doctors: Bill Engval, Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy. Their Blue Collar Comedy Tour has been around for several years, in the form of live events like the one I saw in Virginia, television specials and movies. Each of the comedians has a signature phrase, including “here’s your sign,” “you might just be a redneck” and “git er done.” But their material continues to evolve and a lot of what I heard last night was new material. Each performs a solo set then all three do a combo improv based in part on audience questions. I really heeded to laugh this week. The medicine didn’t ‘cure’ me but I do feel much better today. ----------------------------- Here are a few minutes from Larry the Cable Guy. Even though it’s a You Tube clip, it’s only audio, but it’s funny stuff. And here is a short news story about the Tour.

When the hell did we get so busy? By “we” I mean Americans who live in or near large cities, who have jobs with often unrealistic time expectations and who have long commutes on crowded highways. I took this one day this week but it's typical of nearly every day. I hate to whine, but at present, my life is like the ball in a pinball machine, bouncing off several walls, bumpers and paddles, scoring points along the way but enduring the bumping around just to stay in the game. I love my job but I hate having so much quantity on my list that I don’t have the time to do everything with the very best quality I’m capable of. I love to drive cars but I hate my commute; I can actually feel my stress level rise every morning as my garage door is rising before I’ve even begun my fifty-to-ninety minute ride to work. This is on my mind today because I love movies and just saw one on TV. I could see a movie in a cinema every day, but I haven’t seen one in that setting since the advance scree...

A new round of conversation about prayer in school seems to be popping up on the internet a lot lately. I don’t comment very often on matters of religion and politics, but I will this time. There are two major factions on this issue: those who believe in strict separation of church and state, therefore absolutely no prayer or religious reference in public schools; and those who believe we are a Christian nation and therefore should allow and encourage prayer in school, particularly Christ-based prayer. I think both factions are right and both are wrong. There is no state religion here, but the United States of America was founded on Christian principles and religion has always played a role in our country’s history. To ignore that is to ignore our history. But religious tolerance and acceptance of a variety of beliefs has also always been part of our country. Many of our original states were formed as havens for victims of religious persecution in other countries. We have the guar...

I don't usually expect to find great philosophy of life quotes in a television show, especially a show I never watched. But I saw this online somewhere and thought it was worth sharing. Did it ever occur to you that you're so caught up in trying to make the right choice that you've never stopped to consider the possibility that there may not be a right choice, or a wrong choice, just a bunch of choices? All the really exciting things in life require more courage than we currently have, a deep breath, and a leap. The kind of fear you're talking about...sometimes that’s how you know it’s worth it. Which TV show? Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003.

There are snakes in the yard every spring. This one thought he could hide. Click here to see a few more pictures of the snake and some windy shots.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction Antione de Saint Exupery You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. Barbara De Angelis The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours; it is an amazing journey and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins. Bob Moawad Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. Albert Einstein

I saw Fiddler On The Roof a few nights ago at the National Theatre in DC, 3 blocks from the White House. I hadn’t seen it in more than 20 years, yet I knew all the songs. What I did not remember, and this took me by surprise, is how powerful the story is. The plot revolves around a small town in Russia and a Jewish family in the early 1900s. Much of the play uses humor to make its points but there are sad moments too; some of them are very emotional. The themes include aging, family, politics, religious persecution and generational challenges to traditions. In other words, the story is timeless. It amazes me that ‘arranged marriages’ were (and maybe still are) common in some cultures. Parents picked the spouses of their children. In one touching scene, Tevya and Golde, the main parents in Fiddler, point out that they first met each other on their wedding day. There was never any question that this is how things were done, but in this scene, as they look back over 25 years of marriage, ...

Promise me you'll always remember, you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. - Christopher Robin to Pooh Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Spring is beautiful in my part of Maryland. More pictures on my photo site .

Back in the 1980s, when cable TV was still sort of new in cities, most Americans were watching shows on ABC, CBS and NBC. Two of the actors who played iconic television characters of that decade died this month. First, it was John Forsythe , who played rich guy Blake Carrington on Dynasty, which aired on ABC from 1981 to 1989. He died on April 1st at age 92. Dynasty was the story of rich and ruthless families, and in many ways the dramatic representation of the ‘me’ generation. Forsythe was also the voice of Charlie in the Charlie’s Angels TV series in the 1970s and again in two movie versions in the 2000s. What a voice! This week’s celebrity death is Dixie Carter, the actress who played Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Women, which ran on CBS from 1986 to 1993. She also had roles on Diff’rent Strokes, Family Law and more recently on several episodes of Desperate Housewives. She was only 70 years old and the cause of death hasn’t been released. By the way, she was married to anothe...

Just in case you weren't feeling old today, let me help (thanks to my sister, who sent this to me) ......... The people who are starting college this year were born in 1992. They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up. Their lifetime has always included AIDS. The CD was introduced before they were born. They have always had an answering machine. They have always had cable. Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show. Popcorn has always been microwaved. They never took a swim and thought about Jaws. They don't know who Mork was or where he was from. They never heard: 'Where's the Beef?' or 'de plane, Boss, de plane'. McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers. They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter. Pass this on to the other old fogies on your list. P.S. Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

Did you ever read a motivational quote and wonder who said it first? I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and thought it was elegant in it's simplicity and directness. It has a fairly effective 'feel good' quality about it. Take chances... a lot of them. Because honestly, no matter where you end up- and with who, it always ends up just the way it should be. Your mistakes make you who you are... you learn and grow with each choice you make. Everything is worth it. Say how you feel- always. Be you...and be okay with it. It doesn't matter what any other person thinks. Because the friend didn't mention an author, I looked for one on Google. I found many references to the quote but not one indicated an author. Maybe it was just something on a motivational poster in an office. Who knows? Actually, my question is "Do you know?" I don't agree with everything in the quote, but the parts that work for me are: Take chances Your mistakes make you who yo...

My music journey continued with a fan awesome tastic show last night. If it comes to your town, you have to see the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Review, starring the Tommy Castro Band and several other blues performers who are part of each show. The ensemble I saw in Falls Church, Virginia included Deanna Bogart, Joe Louis Walker and Debbie Davies. Tommy Castro (on guitar) and 2 of his band members Castro is my current favorite blues act and I would have paid the bucks to see just his band, as I did a few months ago. He has been on the California blues scene for twenty years and has a growing reputation, thanks to awards, touring, TV appearances and guest shots on various blues radio outlets. His guitar work is great and he puts on a hell of a show too, so people like me like him even more after seeing his band on stage and on You Tube. Bogart’s talent reputation has been gaining over the years nationally and internationally, but she is local too. I even knew her at one time (and sho...

"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves." -- Lynn Hall (author)

This week marks my 26th anniversary as a resident of Maryland, living within 50 miles of Washington DC. Part of why I love it here is that I can have a day like today: - parked at a Metro station lot in the suburbs, - took the Metro train to the Smithsonian Station in downtown DC, - walked along the National Mall to the Tidal Basin across from the Jefferson Memorial, - took 66 pictures of Cherry Blossoms around there and near the Washington Monument, - had a cup of coffee at M.E. Swings Coffee Roasters, across the street from the West Wing of the White House, - walked to another Metro station and took the train to the station nearest my office … THEN went to my job, arriving just a little later than my usual start time. By the way, Swings is my new favorite local coffee shop. This sign inside is part of why: If you're ever out this way, let me know. I'll be happy to be your tour guide. At least one friend is visiting this year. Ya'll are all welcome!! Visit my photo bl...