I'm returning again to my mention the other day of how I heard that the creator of the comic strip "For Better or For Worse" had divorced from her husband. I said it made me sad as many of the strips seem to be autobiographical and be a recipe for a successful marriage.
I'm writing again because three specific strips illustrate what I was saying and are worth preserving here:
(NOTE: though these are spoken by a guy character, it's obvious the artist was a female as guys aren't normally capable of being so wise in their words.)
1. The husband walks in from work and looks at his wife. He says "Hi honey, you look beautiful". She responds with "AKKK!" (oh wait, that's more a "Cathy" phrase) "I look horrible. My hair is a mess, my jeans are stained, I don't have any make-up on", etc. He says: "I know...but I'm looking at you...and you look beautiful".
2. The couple is on a Caribbean vacation, walking along a beach. There are lots of beautiful 'babes' in bikinis. The wife starts to feel a little self-conscious and says "Wow...there sure are a lot of beautiful women on the beach." The husband says "You're right....and I'm with one of them".
3. The husband comes in while the wife is working at her desk. He says "It's a beautiful fall night. Let's go for a romantic walk, just the two of us". She protests, saying she has so much to do, a column due for the local newspaper, lunches to pack for kids, etc. He says: "If you were single and the man of your dreams called you and asked to go on a long walk together, what would you do?" In the last frame, you seeing them out for a walk arm in arm.
I feel those same sentiments toward my wife.
Mark
PS I learned from Kathryn that one of her friends in California has been following this blog for some time....just wanted you to know that made my day when she told me. I'm not a big commenter on blogs, nor do I expect many comments on my blog, but it's nice to know a few people enjoy my ramblings.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
An Autumn Drive in New Jersey
It seems like about once every early October I get to do a 2 hour drive in the northeast to a client meeting.... either north to Massachusetts or south thru New Jersey. Today, it was the southern route. It was just a gorgeous drive...full fall colors haven't completely set in, but just having pockets of color as an accent is even more beautiful. As I headed into Princeton, I drive over a river / lake that is really pretty.
To help the time pass on the New Jersey Turnpike (which is NOT a pretty part of the drive), I listened to my sound track from Damn Yankees. It made me think about the musicals I used to see when I first came to New York City nearly 15 years ago.
Damn Yankees is certainly one of my top two or three. While one might not think it is on the surface, it is really a classic love story and has the right moral. I saw the mid-90s Broadway version perhaps 5 or 6 times. I'm one for finding something I like, and taking all my visitors to it when they come to town. As Broadway goes, it was one of the cleaner shows, though a male actor dropped a towel in a locker room scene to expose a bare butt. (When I took BYU interns, they were shocked, horrified and felt like I had taken them to the type of shows that used to litter Times Square.) I did get to see Jerry Lewis in the role of the devil a couple of times and he was great. And it's just got fun peppy dancing and songs.
Another favorite was Crazy for You, which is like the Mamma Mia formula where they took a bunch of Gershwin songs and made a story around it. It was just so laugh out loud funny. The star at the time was a really good physical comedy actor. I'd pay to see that again anytime.
The Fantasticks is another show that I think is just brilliant. I saw it about 8 times down in the Sullivan Theater (I think that's the name) where it ran and held the record for longest running, consecutive showings. It did finally close...and came back to Broadway last year in a bigger theater, but that's one that had to be seen in the small intimate theater. I think it held less than 100.
One last obscure show I saw 3 times but have never heard of since: "Two Piano Four Hands". It's a two-man show of really great piano players who illustrate the life of pianists. They came in and out of roles starting with the piano teacher forcing the kid to do his scales, then moved to when they were teenagers to the point that it became an addiction of sorts and that's all they did was practice rather than play sports, etc.
The end has them playing "Piano Man" in a bar....because what else could they do with these incredibly developed, monotone talent, so to speak (in other words, they played the piano and excelled in that talent to the exclusion of becoming well rounded). Extremely poignant and funny. Never been able to find this performed elsewhere....it takes just the right actors to pull that off who have the musical training.
That's my Broadway Beat.
Mark
PS -- On a completely unrelated note, never estimate the power of a cardboard box. I suppose that's why it was actually inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. The three younger kids had the time of their life playing with the box that packaged the new dishwasher. Never seen them so happy or be so creative. Who needs real toys? (Oops...that's bad for me).
To help the time pass on the New Jersey Turnpike (which is NOT a pretty part of the drive), I listened to my sound track from Damn Yankees. It made me think about the musicals I used to see when I first came to New York City nearly 15 years ago.
Damn Yankees is certainly one of my top two or three. While one might not think it is on the surface, it is really a classic love story and has the right moral. I saw the mid-90s Broadway version perhaps 5 or 6 times. I'm one for finding something I like, and taking all my visitors to it when they come to town. As Broadway goes, it was one of the cleaner shows, though a male actor dropped a towel in a locker room scene to expose a bare butt. (When I took BYU interns, they were shocked, horrified and felt like I had taken them to the type of shows that used to litter Times Square.) I did get to see Jerry Lewis in the role of the devil a couple of times and he was great. And it's just got fun peppy dancing and songs.
Another favorite was Crazy for You, which is like the Mamma Mia formula where they took a bunch of Gershwin songs and made a story around it. It was just so laugh out loud funny. The star at the time was a really good physical comedy actor. I'd pay to see that again anytime.
The Fantasticks is another show that I think is just brilliant. I saw it about 8 times down in the Sullivan Theater (I think that's the name) where it ran and held the record for longest running, consecutive showings. It did finally close...and came back to Broadway last year in a bigger theater, but that's one that had to be seen in the small intimate theater. I think it held less than 100.
One last obscure show I saw 3 times but have never heard of since: "Two Piano Four Hands". It's a two-man show of really great piano players who illustrate the life of pianists. They came in and out of roles starting with the piano teacher forcing the kid to do his scales, then moved to when they were teenagers to the point that it became an addiction of sorts and that's all they did was practice rather than play sports, etc.
The end has them playing "Piano Man" in a bar....because what else could they do with these incredibly developed, monotone talent, so to speak (in other words, they played the piano and excelled in that talent to the exclusion of becoming well rounded). Extremely poignant and funny. Never been able to find this performed elsewhere....it takes just the right actors to pull that off who have the musical training.
That's my Broadway Beat.
Mark
PS -- On a completely unrelated note, never estimate the power of a cardboard box. I suppose that's why it was actually inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. The three younger kids had the time of their life playing with the box that packaged the new dishwasher. Never seen them so happy or be so creative. Who needs real toys? (Oops...that's bad for me).
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Are you listening?
From a talk I gave two weeks ago in the Bronx....
=============
"Hopefully I don’t embarrass the bishop too much, but one morning, I took a train to work that made stops in the Bronx. As I exited the train, I noticed someone that looked like Bishop Kelly. As the crowd edged forward off the platform and I got near to him, I wasn’t 100 percent sure it was him, because I’d only seen Bishop Kelly in “Bishop clothes” and he was dressed more casually. So to hedge my bets, I got within ear shot and simply said “Ian” (that felt safer than saying ‘Bishop’). I got no response, so I edged closer and said “Ian” again. I finally worked myself up to being right next to him, and I noticed he couldn’t hear me because he was groovin’ to his I-Pod. While standing right next to him, I said “Ian” for the third time, but to no avail. Not wanting to scare him by tapping him on the shoulder, I let the moment pass and didn’t say hello.
I use that only to illustrate a point, not to be judgmental, as the Bishop certainly is allowed to listen to an I-Pod. My point is simply to ask ourselves how many times Heavenly Father has attempted to communicate to us through his still small voice but there wasn’t an occasion throughout our day when we could receive the signal because of our "noise". The spirit might even increase his volume or level of intensity, but if we'd blocked off the receiver, so to speak, we won't get the message. And after trying to deliver it a handful of times, the spirit may simply give up, thus depriving us what we could have learned from or benefited from had we provided a "quiet zone" in our day to receive radio signals from heaven."
=============
"Hopefully I don’t embarrass the bishop too much, but one morning, I took a train to work that made stops in the Bronx. As I exited the train, I noticed someone that looked like Bishop Kelly. As the crowd edged forward off the platform and I got near to him, I wasn’t 100 percent sure it was him, because I’d only seen Bishop Kelly in “Bishop clothes” and he was dressed more casually. So to hedge my bets, I got within ear shot and simply said “Ian” (that felt safer than saying ‘Bishop’). I got no response, so I edged closer and said “Ian” again. I finally worked myself up to being right next to him, and I noticed he couldn’t hear me because he was groovin’ to his I-Pod. While standing right next to him, I said “Ian” for the third time, but to no avail. Not wanting to scare him by tapping him on the shoulder, I let the moment pass and didn’t say hello.
I use that only to illustrate a point, not to be judgmental, as the Bishop certainly is allowed to listen to an I-Pod. My point is simply to ask ourselves how many times Heavenly Father has attempted to communicate to us through his still small voice but there wasn’t an occasion throughout our day when we could receive the signal because of our "noise". The spirit might even increase his volume or level of intensity, but if we'd blocked off the receiver, so to speak, we won't get the message. And after trying to deliver it a handful of times, the spirit may simply give up, thus depriving us what we could have learned from or benefited from had we provided a "quiet zone" in our day to receive radio signals from heaven."
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Blogging at Piano Lesson
Who knew I could pick up wireless here at my son's piano lesson (which is at his teacher's house). As I listen to scales and blues, here are some random items:
• Our two year old has a bias toward the numbers 5, 6, and 7. He continually counts "1,2,3,4,8..." No convincing otherwise can undo this.
• I asked my boss for a $700 billion loan. She said no. On that front, isn't is a mathematical coincidence that all of the nation's bad debt adds up to exactly $700 billion? Seems like they just picked that number at random. I'd feel the number was more legit if it were something like $700 billion, 400 dollars and 28 cents.....
• Woo-hoo! Radio Shack still carries cleaner for VCR machines. A whole world of video tapes are waiting to be watched again as soon as I get home from the piano lesson. Family movie night on Friday: Back to the Future!
• I was proud of Josh at his first baseball game last Saturday. He's playing with older kids, which isn't easy. And they play real rules, now. He didn't get to play the full time as they have 13 players, and when he was at bat (as No. 11....all kids hit, but only 10 can take the field) he struck out (though he did finally get a walk). But at the end of the first game (it was a double header), he helped preserve the team's victory! He was out in Right Field, and the play was in the infield. The shortstop or second baseman threw the ball to first to get out the batter, but it was a bad throw. But Josh, being the eager player that he is, ran up to 1st after the batter hit the ball to back up the 1st baseman. Good he did, because Josh got the overthrow, and when the runner tried to advance to 2nd, Josh threw to 2nd to get the out. YEA! They ended up winning 6 to 4. I told him he made the best of his limited playing time and opportunities to field.
• I've said before that Sprite is the default drink. No one 'chooses' it, but you get it because there is no other good option. On a plane, for example, I have to get it because I don't want caffeine and there's nothing else. It's just never a first choice drink....you drink it because it's there.
Well, I think ketchup is the same way. I like every other condiment more than ketchup. Mustard (yellow, not dijon) is always my first choice for ANYTHING...or BBQ, or ranch. But I will take ketchup for fries and such if nothing else is offered.
That's it for tonight....nice to do blogging at piano, but hard to fully compose my thoughts, so forgive if this isn't coherent.
• Our two year old has a bias toward the numbers 5, 6, and 7. He continually counts "1,2,3,4,8..." No convincing otherwise can undo this.
• I asked my boss for a $700 billion loan. She said no. On that front, isn't is a mathematical coincidence that all of the nation's bad debt adds up to exactly $700 billion? Seems like they just picked that number at random. I'd feel the number was more legit if it were something like $700 billion, 400 dollars and 28 cents.....
• Woo-hoo! Radio Shack still carries cleaner for VCR machines. A whole world of video tapes are waiting to be watched again as soon as I get home from the piano lesson. Family movie night on Friday: Back to the Future!
• I was proud of Josh at his first baseball game last Saturday. He's playing with older kids, which isn't easy. And they play real rules, now. He didn't get to play the full time as they have 13 players, and when he was at bat (as No. 11....all kids hit, but only 10 can take the field) he struck out (though he did finally get a walk). But at the end of the first game (it was a double header), he helped preserve the team's victory! He was out in Right Field, and the play was in the infield. The shortstop or second baseman threw the ball to first to get out the batter, but it was a bad throw. But Josh, being the eager player that he is, ran up to 1st after the batter hit the ball to back up the 1st baseman. Good he did, because Josh got the overthrow, and when the runner tried to advance to 2nd, Josh threw to 2nd to get the out. YEA! They ended up winning 6 to 4. I told him he made the best of his limited playing time and opportunities to field.
• I've said before that Sprite is the default drink. No one 'chooses' it, but you get it because there is no other good option. On a plane, for example, I have to get it because I don't want caffeine and there's nothing else. It's just never a first choice drink....you drink it because it's there.
Well, I think ketchup is the same way. I like every other condiment more than ketchup. Mustard (yellow, not dijon) is always my first choice for ANYTHING...or BBQ, or ranch. But I will take ketchup for fries and such if nothing else is offered.
That's it for tonight....nice to do blogging at piano, but hard to fully compose my thoughts, so forgive if this isn't coherent.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
New Noggin Schedule
This is a record for postings in one week!
So Noggin, the cable 'preschool' channel, changed their line-up after Labor Day.
As I get up with the wee ones a little before 6 a.m. every morning, it was a big deal to see how the schedule changed (as that's what I turn on and then try to fall back asleep).
It used to be 64 Zoo Lane at 6 a.m., and Obi (I think that's how it is spelled) at 6:30 a.m.
Zoo Lane is such a gentle, tame, nice show. A little girl lives near the zoo, and the animals come out each night to tell her stories from their days in the wild. It seems to be from Australia, but I don't know why I say that.
Obi is just plain weird. It's a puppet show without the puppets. Just the hands. Who came up with that? They put eyes on the hands, and that's the characters. Once there was a foot, too.
Well, those shows are gone. Now at 6 a.m. we have Wow Wow Woobzie. (Again, pardon spelling). Weird, but harmless.
6:30 is a big improvement: Max and Ruby. I think this is out of Canada, but it's a sister bunny, and her baby brother bunny. Just so fun and innocent. Favorite kids show out there right now.
For those keeping score at home, 5:30 stayed the same with Lazytown....a show that kids sit down and are inactive for to learn the benefits of not being lazy. Hmmm. I can totally do without that show....if I can convince the kids to turn to the 24-hour PBS channel, we can watch Arthur at 5:30, and that's actually pretty engaging to the adult in the room.
So Noggin, the cable 'preschool' channel, changed their line-up after Labor Day.
As I get up with the wee ones a little before 6 a.m. every morning, it was a big deal to see how the schedule changed (as that's what I turn on and then try to fall back asleep).
It used to be 64 Zoo Lane at 6 a.m., and Obi (I think that's how it is spelled) at 6:30 a.m.
Zoo Lane is such a gentle, tame, nice show. A little girl lives near the zoo, and the animals come out each night to tell her stories from their days in the wild. It seems to be from Australia, but I don't know why I say that.
Obi is just plain weird. It's a puppet show without the puppets. Just the hands. Who came up with that? They put eyes on the hands, and that's the characters. Once there was a foot, too.
Well, those shows are gone. Now at 6 a.m. we have Wow Wow Woobzie. (Again, pardon spelling). Weird, but harmless.
6:30 is a big improvement: Max and Ruby. I think this is out of Canada, but it's a sister bunny, and her baby brother bunny. Just so fun and innocent. Favorite kids show out there right now.
For those keeping score at home, 5:30 stayed the same with Lazytown....a show that kids sit down and are inactive for to learn the benefits of not being lazy. Hmmm. I can totally do without that show....if I can convince the kids to turn to the 24-hour PBS channel, we can watch Arthur at 5:30, and that's actually pretty engaging to the adult in the room.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Family Home Evening
Three posts in three days....I may have to change the name of my blog.
Anyway, I witnessed genius last night in Family Home Evening. Just a small shift that made mountains of difference in our Family Home Evening.
After we walked in the door from fetching me at the train station, Kathryn just jumped right into FHE by having the kids draw pictures. No opening prayer or song....and that was the genius.
For our family, having a formal opening leads to major discontentment. Issues arise as to which song to sing, I didn't get to chose it, how come I don't get to say the opening prayer, why does it have to be a baby song, etc. So we just eliminated it. (If we continue with this, maybe Kathryn and I will open FHE with a silent prayer to ourselves).
But by asking them to all start by drawing a picture, it eliminated jockeying for "who gets something that no one else gets".
Josh did a very detailed picture. Matthew and Sam just scribbled but were engaged for a long time. So it was an easy way to tailor the lesson to reach both the older and younger kids.
Then she asked Josh the first questions, and they were "deeper" than what got asked to the other kids. After Josh answered questions first, he didn't feel the need to answer the little kids questions as he already demonstrated his proficiency.
The younger kids stayed engaged in the lesson -- they kept coloring, but at least they weren't running around, and I feel like they do pick up something.
I think part of the genius was simply not expecting them to sit still for the first 10 or 15 minutes....start right off with something that engages them and lets them use their motor skills....then the learning comes later.
On another note, I do believe that each word is significant in "Family Home Evening".
It should be just your own family....not an extended ward activity, lots of extra guests invited, etc.
It should be in the home....not an outing to the zoo or such. (Sure, there are exceptions, but....)
And it should be an evening...not just 15 minutes, not Sunday afternoon. It's "evening". After the lesson, I (for once) opted to not feel distracted or wanting to do my own stuff. Rather, I set aside in my mind that I would play toys with the three younger kids for a full half hour before doing stories, etc. for bed. The computer and TV stayed off all night. FHE should be "an evening" set aside for the family, not just the lesson time.
OK, that's all I have.
Mark
Anyway, I witnessed genius last night in Family Home Evening. Just a small shift that made mountains of difference in our Family Home Evening.
After we walked in the door from fetching me at the train station, Kathryn just jumped right into FHE by having the kids draw pictures. No opening prayer or song....and that was the genius.
For our family, having a formal opening leads to major discontentment. Issues arise as to which song to sing, I didn't get to chose it, how come I don't get to say the opening prayer, why does it have to be a baby song, etc. So we just eliminated it. (If we continue with this, maybe Kathryn and I will open FHE with a silent prayer to ourselves).
But by asking them to all start by drawing a picture, it eliminated jockeying for "who gets something that no one else gets".
Josh did a very detailed picture. Matthew and Sam just scribbled but were engaged for a long time. So it was an easy way to tailor the lesson to reach both the older and younger kids.
Then she asked Josh the first questions, and they were "deeper" than what got asked to the other kids. After Josh answered questions first, he didn't feel the need to answer the little kids questions as he already demonstrated his proficiency.
The younger kids stayed engaged in the lesson -- they kept coloring, but at least they weren't running around, and I feel like they do pick up something.
I think part of the genius was simply not expecting them to sit still for the first 10 or 15 minutes....start right off with something that engages them and lets them use their motor skills....then the learning comes later.
On another note, I do believe that each word is significant in "Family Home Evening".
It should be just your own family....not an extended ward activity, lots of extra guests invited, etc.
It should be in the home....not an outing to the zoo or such. (Sure, there are exceptions, but....)
And it should be an evening...not just 15 minutes, not Sunday afternoon. It's "evening". After the lesson, I (for once) opted to not feel distracted or wanting to do my own stuff. Rather, I set aside in my mind that I would play toys with the three younger kids for a full half hour before doing stories, etc. for bed. The computer and TV stayed off all night. FHE should be "an evening" set aside for the family, not just the lesson time.
OK, that's all I have.
Mark
Monday, September 8, 2008
For Better or For Worse
So, I read an AP story this weekend that left me a little sad. I had heard that my much-loved comic strip "For Better or For Worse" was wrapping up. It has always been one of the best written comic as it has been very real, with the characters growing and changing and maturing. That's so rare in the comic world. But even more so, it was such a sentimental strip with many strips just being heart warming than funny.
I'm not sad that she wrapped it up as it's gone for 29 years. And the final Sunday strip wrapped up story lines and flash forwarded to highlight what happens to the characters in the future. Now, it goes back to its origins telling the story when the 'grown kids' are back to being just young 'uns and will mix new strips drawn in the old style with recycled ones.
I'm fine with that.
But at the end of the story, it mentioned that Lynn Johnson, the cartoonist, had split from her husband after more than 30 years. That depressed me. Perhaps it's because I always felt the comic mirrored their life, and while it wasn't always perfect, it always seemed to 'make it'. In a weird way, it was inspiration that good will prevail and faithfulness and family life can succeed.
Now it feels like the strip and its senitimentalism -- was a bit staged.
As a bit of a comparison, perhaps that's why we hear of stories of people who want us as LDS to succeed in keeping our standards. Why people sometimes WON'T let us compromise our standard because it provides hope to them vicariously that while they may not be able to live the standard or have the faithful family life, it still exists in society and is achievable.
But when someone you respect and admire falls, it makes you feel just a touch if anyone can make it....speaking more on the LDS person remaining faithful than simply my personal feeling to see that a cartoonist's marriage failed.
Not sure if this all makes sense....but then that's why I like to blog....I don't have to be completely articulate and can just let it be a first draft of my thoughts, so to speak.
Mark
I'm not sad that she wrapped it up as it's gone for 29 years. And the final Sunday strip wrapped up story lines and flash forwarded to highlight what happens to the characters in the future. Now, it goes back to its origins telling the story when the 'grown kids' are back to being just young 'uns and will mix new strips drawn in the old style with recycled ones.
I'm fine with that.
But at the end of the story, it mentioned that Lynn Johnson, the cartoonist, had split from her husband after more than 30 years. That depressed me. Perhaps it's because I always felt the comic mirrored their life, and while it wasn't always perfect, it always seemed to 'make it'. In a weird way, it was inspiration that good will prevail and faithfulness and family life can succeed.
Now it feels like the strip and its senitimentalism -- was a bit staged.
As a bit of a comparison, perhaps that's why we hear of stories of people who want us as LDS to succeed in keeping our standards. Why people sometimes WON'T let us compromise our standard because it provides hope to them vicariously that while they may not be able to live the standard or have the faithful family life, it still exists in society and is achievable.
But when someone you respect and admire falls, it makes you feel just a touch if anyone can make it....speaking more on the LDS person remaining faithful than simply my personal feeling to see that a cartoonist's marriage failed.
Not sure if this all makes sense....but then that's why I like to blog....I don't have to be completely articulate and can just let it be a first draft of my thoughts, so to speak.
Mark
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