Happy Father's Day

Today I want to thank my father for being that rock in my life. When I think of my Dad I smile, because humor - dry and corny as it might be is always present with him. I've always said he was quiet, reserved and laid back, but as I have grown older I have found that he really isn't that quiet. Boy, can he talk if you let him! There have been days that he's called to talk about something he heard or read in the newspaper and he will go on and on, and on about it. Some times I'm caught off guard and I'm thinking to myself "where did that come from" because it is something that I can't believe my Dad would be interested in. Later, I'll think about it and realize it's something he knows I'm interested in, and this is his way of loving his children.

You see my Dad has never been an affectionate person, that is until he became a grandfather the second time around. You see I have three older siblings, and two of them have children that are now adults, but when these grandchidlren were little they lived in other states so that bond was not formed. Now the last four grandchildren live here in town and are regularly at my parents house, and when you watch my Dad with them we often marvel at the affection he gives them. Because we can all probably count on our hands how many times he has hugged and/or kissed us, but even without the tactile reminders I have always known he loved me.

The phone calls to discuss the news was just as good as a hug or kiss, because at that moment I knew my Daddy was thinking about me.

Over the last several weeks I have been thinking about he and my mother a great deal because they are older now, and this is hard for me to accept. Today my Dad is really not feeling himself and you can hear it in his voice, and that pulls at my heart because my Rock is losing some of his strength. He's not as spry as he was a few years back, so I'm working on ways in which I can be a rock of sorts and stand strong for him.

So this Father's Day I'm going to hang out with my Dad for a while and hopefully he'll tell me one of his corny jokes and we'll both share a good laugh!

Happy Father's Day to all, and to all the children be sure to take some time today to let your Dad know how special he is.

~Peace

In New York this Summer, take in Tin Pan Alley Rag

If you're going to be in the New York City area this summer and you're planning your itinerary, I would like to suggest that stop by the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre and enjoy a production of Tin Pan Alley Rag. The cast includes my good friend Michael Boatman as Scott Joplin, so yes, this is a biased post.
Michael's credits include television, film and stage work and he is a wonderful actor. Many of you may remember him as Carter from the ABC sit com "Spin City", or as Stanley Babson in the HBO show ARLI$$.
So, if you're in the NYC area and want to hear some good Ragtime music and enjoy a good play - Tin Pan Alley Rag is a good place to start and it runs from June 12-September 6. For more information on the production click here.
Photo taken from Tin Pan Alley site.

Really now, it was a fly!!!

I'm back and although there have been a number of things to talk about over the last several weeks, time has not been on my side. Today, I have a little time and what is everyone talking about - President Obama killing a fly! Give me a break, they are disease carrying insects that annoy everyone at this time of the year. The fact that PETA has been contacted by "multiple media outlets" seeking a statement shows just how nonsensical the media has become.

In Support of Water Safety

Last August, my family and I said goodbye to a wonderful young man, Kaelin Hampton. At the tender age of 11, Kaelin lost his life at a local family resort. While Kaelin was fully aware of the mechanics of swimming he was not what you would call and avid or experienced swimmer. Particularly not in lake.

My niece, Kaelin's mom, has taken on the mission of keeping his memory alive by helping to insure that children in Cleveland learn the necessary skills to keep them safe in the water.

Kaelin was an active member of the YMCA, participating in football and basketball leagues, so it is only fitting that the Hamptom Family and the YMCA combine their efforts to keep the children of this community safe.

If you are so inclined, please make a donation to the Kaelin Hampton Fund at any local Chase Bank branch, and do your part to keep our children safe!
You can also contact any of the Cleveland YMCA branches to learn more about the program.

~Peace

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater - What a Treat!

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 50th Anniversary tour swayed into Cleveland last night with such fluid motion and intense joy and drama that I am still elated this morning.

Anyone who had the pleasure to witness the brilliance of this performance should feel honored. The show opened with a film, "A Golden Anniversary Celebration," recounting the life of Alvin Ailey and his rise in the world of American dance. Not a regular follower of all things dance, I was struck by the continued growth of Ailey's dream and legacy.

Judith Jamison, Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, has taken Mr. Ailey vision of making dance something everyone can enjoy and taken it to another stratosphere. From the professional company to summer camp and even dance lessons and exercise for those who only long to be as smooth and svelte as the principals in the Company.

The performance began with Blues Suite, a tribute to the down home feeling that only the blues can present. As I said, I'm not a dance aficionado so I won't attempt to describe the plies and the Allonge'.

Reviewing the program book, my sister and I found that opening night was definitely a treat with at least fourteen scenes spanning 1958-1984. The combination of dance and music lifted the audience from the State Theater in 2009 back in history. Stories were told of love, loss and faith all through the deft movement of limbs.

I would recommend that anyone interested in the arts take the time out of your busy schedules to enjoy the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It is well worth the time and the money.

Hello Again!

It has been a number of weeks since my last posting, and to anyone who regularly checks in, I apologize. I have been in the midst of what I call "the semester from hell"!
Now you might wonder why I would call an opportunity to expand my horizons, and keep the mental thought process flowing - hell, but that is what it turned out to be for a number of reasons.
First, I signed up for two classes because over the last six years, the winter and early spring months are fairly slow for me at work so I felt I would not be taxed on both ends -WRONG!!!! Add to this equation family illness and the stress and guilt that comes with trying to make sure you are giving your loved one all of the attention and support they need and you have HELL!!!!
I picked today to write about this because I just returned home from a class that I basically really enjoyed, feeling pretty bummed because I did not receive a very favorable grade on my project. Now, I could blame the professor and all of the stress in my life, but really the only blame should be placed with me. One of the problems I had with this project was that I continued to over think it, up until the very last hour. Have you ever done that? I know I'm not alone with that, so I'm sure someone out there is cyberspace can relate.
Problem number two, and oh this is the biggie, I attempted to do something I had never really done before as my project. Now, many will say that's good, because you pushed yourself, you went outside the proverbial box, yada yada! Normally I would agree, but not when your grade rests on it.
In short, the semester will end in a few days, and despite my less than stellar performance on this project if all goes well with my remaining scores I should come away with a 'B' in the class. That will be the prayer of hope for this evening.
So, you might ask what was good about the semester? Well let me tell you! I really found that I have a much great appreciation for learning. I have always loved the academic arena, because I really believe that your mind is a sponge and the more you put in there, the more you can absorb. In the past however, I was not the type of student who really freaked out about grades, or stopped midway through to see where I stood and then attempted to do extra, or more work in order to achieve a higher grade. I basically did the work and hoped and prayed for the best. If I gave it my all I was satisfied with the grade, because I had completed the task.
As a more mature student I am really looking to ace my classes, which is why I was so depressed when I got home. I feel better already having said all of this, so to those of you reading - thanks for being that shoulder I needed to cry on.

~Peace

My first 2009 Tulips!

Spring has arrived in Cleveland! Yay! The photo to the right is one of my first blooms this year. Isn't it pretty? Too bad the rest of the yard doesn't look like this. Boy, do I have my work cut out for me, but I can't get to it for another couple of weeks. Once the semester ends I'll be able to clean out the beds and hopefully salvage some of the flowers I planted last year!
Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!
Go CAVS!!!!!!!!!