Watching and waiting

Today felt like a whole new world for me. Growing up, my family wasn't big into sports. In fact, we didn't watch or play sports at all! For the past several years we have watched Ethan play a variety of sports, but today was his first game playing "competitive" football.

The energy of the fans was palpable, and surprising to me. And refreshing. In the past, I've always felt a little self-conscious about my loud cheering, clapping and let's be frank, YELLING. It was nice to not be the only one for once.

With it being Ethan's first year on this league, I knew the chances of him playing quarterback (as he had done in his flag football league)were slim. Still, I hoped that during the last four weeks of practice he would get the opportunity to show the coaches what he's got, and that perhaps he might make a good impression. However, in the last two weeks of practice, it became evident that they had chosen their go-to players. Not only that, Ethan hadn't really gotten the chance to do many qb drills, and he was going to play a position for which he probably wasn't well suited.

We are all okay with this. He loves the game.

But as I watched him watching from the sidelines I couldn't help but shed a few tears behind my sunglasses. I know what it's like to wait. And hope. He got to do one play today, but it ended so quickly and I could sense his frustration. I could also see his patience, forbearance. He was going to wait for his chance on the field and be ready for that moment no matter what.

Watching him today reminded me of my own life's journey. He reminded me that as we wait expectantly for the next big thing, what are we doing to be prepared for it?

Pantagraph Review of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"

They like me! They like me! Read on...

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is currently, colorfully on stage at Community Players. Directed by Alan Wilson, this rowdy musical is based on the 1988 movie of the same name.
It follows the exploits of two mismatched con men as they work their scams on wealthy women during “the season” on the Riviera. 

 Lawrence (Dave Montague) and his sidekick, a crooked French policeman named Andre (Joe McDonald), have a good thing going. They are polished, smooth, urbane and successful. They fleece rich women – and have a grand time doing it.

Along comes a fly in the ointment. Freddy (Nick Benson) is a younger grifter with a different style; he’s vulgar and lacks any polish whatsoever. But he’s wily; and he’s determined to take a hunk out of Lawrence’s turf. 

Vicky Snyder plays Christine, the seemingly heart-of-gold cutie pie that is the target of the show’s central scam. 

There’s also a delightful subplot involving Andre and another target, Muriel (a bubbly Rosie Hauck). Jolene (Wendy Baugh) is yet another target, and she’s a hoot as she sings her way through this show’s version of “Oklahoma.” 

The show is shot through with bawdy jokes, naughty innuendo and occasional adult language. It’s formatted as an old-school musical and it has plenty of self-conscious nods to the Broadway classics that came before. 

What “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” does not have is some hidden, profound meaning. Like a luxe sports car that prowls the seaside coast, it’s built for recreational purposes.
Montague and Benson have the requisite odd-couple personas and are well up to the task of delivering the vocals. The music, while easily accessible to the audience, often sounds difficult to sing. 

McDonald, with his Inspector Clouseau fake-French, is hilarious. 

Snyder is a standout. She’s loaded with talent and gets to show off many facets of her loaded arsenal. And the last laugh, it turns out, is hers. 

Set designers Wilson and Dave Fuller, along with costume designer Grace Skaggs Boca, lighting designer Brett Cottone and scenic painter Ben Hauck have teamed up to give this show a gorgeous, rich palette. All on their own, those production elements provide a visual good time. 

“Give them what they want,” sings Lawrence. If the laughing-along preview audience was any indication, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is doing just that.

NOOOOOOO!!!!! and Happy New Year...

So you may have noticed that many of my photos are missing from my posts. Well, with the integration of Google, blogger and the cloud, I accidentally deleted all of my blog photos from (May 2012 and later) from my handy dandy smart phone. Don't you just love how these phones are SO smart that their owners can't seem to figure them out?

So, sorry folks. Over the next several months I will be editing previous posts to include the photos (so painstakingly slow, but there's no other way). In the meantime, enjoy our year in review video...