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Timothy Lavelle

Too many subjects to choose from...

Mark, I loved those guys and their completely whacko humor and show. My memory is that they are Kiwis, yes? A guy acted with them...played their boss..or landlord? Another very funny guy.

Hummer, I can understand that when the Alamo is falling you'll take any help you can get but I don't like Mayfield. Too much "Johnny Football" in him for me. It's OK though, he doesn't think much of me either...

Michael McLeod

Of COURSE you would be a fan of Flight of the Concords, Mark.

Hadn't thought of those guys in a long time.

Immersing myself in Hamilton at the moment.

Reading the voluminous Ron Cherow book that inspired the musical and then listening to the sound track as I drive around.

Very interesting way to absorb a history lesson in both ears, more or less - processing a fabulously written book in one ear and a brilliant musical in the other.

Just fascinating how vivid both experiences are, and how historically accurate the musical is -- Miranda (the playwright) just took that book and the history as a blueprint and really brings it to life on stage. He is very true to the facts, to what happened - the raw material is so compelling -- sex scandal; bitter emnity and infighting between Revolutionary soldier-politicians; birth of a nation -- and he just put an overlay of snappy dialogue and hip-hop/blues/traditional Broadway musical elements together to make it come alive. If you are a student of human behavior its reflection of modern issues is also quite compelling: the same crap that goes on today re: intolerance, petty jealousies, fulsome leaders, corruption is captured in different but equally vivid ways by the book and the musical.

I'll be writing a story about it as a cultural phenomenon, since one of the two touring companies that are circling the country with Hamilton will be in Orlando in January.  

Has anybody been lucky enough to see the musical yet? 

Joseph Donahue

Hamilton was in Atlanta earlier this year Michael.  It may well be that the same company that was here is the one that will be in Orlando.  As an usher at the Fox, I was fortunate enough to see it 3 times. The production is superb. The more times I saw it, the more I appreciated it. I am certain you will not be disappointed. 

Michael McLeod

Thanks Joe.

I knew you had seen a lot of shows but never asked you how.

Interesting that you and I have each found a way to get ourselves into the theater for free.

David Mitchell

Good grief Joe, I thought we had lost you. Glad you're back.

Mark Schweickart

Mike -- I have been on the Hamilton band wagon for quite awhile. I had read the Chernow book several years earlier and was astounded that Lin-Manuel Miranda was able to turn that into this genre-defying musical. What an amazing accomplishment! (Not that the Chernow book wasnt great in its own right.)

I may have put this link up ealier, but a good way to listen to Hamilton (for free, no less) is to go to:

https://genius.com/albums/Original-broadway-cast-of-hamilton/Hamilton-original-broadway-cast-recording

The opening page has the list of the songs. When you click on the song, it will open another page that has the lyrics to that song, and in the upper right corner a play button. The great thing about this is that sometimes it is is difficult to know who is singing which lyrics, so having it spelled out in front of you is a great way to not get lost.

I did see the production when it came to L.A. last year, and it was quite good although obviously it did not have Lin-Manuel in the lead, and one coudn't help but miss hearing his voice that has been so embedded in one's head from listening to the recording over and over. Another word of warning--as good as the stage performance was, if you have already immersed yourself in the story and audio perfomance, as you have, Mike, be aware that it won't have the same emotional impact as it will for someone encountering it for the first time. No way around that I am afraid.

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

Beautiful horse, Jim! Mary Ann:  are you getting any flooding where you are? Kathy Wintering

Michael McLeod

Thanks, Mark.

I've been reviewing things, off and on, for so long, it never occurs to me that knowing a lot about a movie or a play puts you at a disadvantage in terms of just being entertained.

And frankly, I am thinking that understanding the history behind Hamilton, at least for me, will make the experience of the musical more compelling. What sucks is knowing that I won't be able to just sit back and enjoy it, as I'll have to write a review the next day. 

David Mitchell

In other news.......Facebook announces huge securty leak.

Peggy Southworth (Townley)

Hey Jim- just saw the horse photo at Dome Rock.  Gorgeous!!  Reminds me quite a bit of of one of our horses - Max.  Great ride! Thank you for posting.

Janie Albright (Blank)

Fred just sent me this obituary notice for Barb Jaquay’s mom. Thought I’d share for those that can attend. Barb, I know all of our classmates offer their condolences and prayers. 

Timothy Lavelle

Beth, so, there I was at Mass this morning cause the Mariners won last night and the Seahawks were playing today...my mind wandered to how much I would like to have one of those $30,000 remote control lawnmowers. Please start a "go fund tim" page to that end.

But then, something weird happened. A man approached the lectern and announced a reading from the book of numbers. If you don't know, this book lists all the best Catholic jokes and gives each one an individual number so that busy seminarians could just say the number to other seminarians and get a laugh without having to take time to tell the whole joke. With me so far? Well, this guy at the lectern quietly said "19" and no one laughed. He followed with "47" and no one laughed.

Then an old guy sitting in front of me stood up and walked to the front of church and whispered in the man's ear. The older man turned to the congregation and said "Seeveenntyy Siixxx" and everyone laughed out loud. Turning back to the younger fella we all heard him say "It's all in how you tell it!"

Hey, Al Standish recommended "Origins" by Dan Brown a couple months ago. Just finished it. Real good read. I thought.  

Mark Schweickart

Tim -- I remember when you told this joke on Saturday Night Live. Nice bow-tie, by the way. But it needs the....

Timothy Lavelle

Thanks Mark. That joke is so old.....

....I think it was told at the original Forum...

...and it certainly needed that rim shot!

Happy Monday. The Zuckerberg video was hilarious, huh?

The question of the day is "Should a guy who likes astronomy buy an observatory?" 

Alan Standish

Glad you enjoyed ORIGIN, Tim.  I'm in the middle of reading the Vince Flynn( with his main character, Mitch Rapp)  series that you might enjoy.  If you do, read AMERICAN ASSASSIN first, then KILL SHOT.  those aren't in the chronological order in which they were written, but explain some stuff that if you started with his first book wouldn''t make as much sense.  He died in 2013, but Kyle Mills took over the Mitch Rapp character and wrote 3 more books about him.    Dave- You might enjoy the Nelson DeMille book: UP COUNTRY.  It's about a homicide investigator who retired, but took one last case about a murder in Viet Nam back in the sixties.

David Mitchell

Thanks Al, sounds interesting. I'll put it on my list, but I'm about 9 books behind.  I still have two gifts from classmates that I have not yet read. I read a lot less lately with long work hours and the increased ability to fall asleep in mid page anymore.   Anyone else "learning" that new skill? 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Just a word or twenty, but I DO believe now in Climate Change.  Why else would we have had two days of rain during the past week.  This is Northern California, it doesn't start raining till November. W.T.F.

Now for q short quiz:  What is the longest running TV show ?   Fred, please respond.

Bonnie Jonas (Jonas-Boggioni)

I am not really responding to anyone/thing in particular, but I am asking all of you for positive thoughts and prayers.  (See, Mike, I am trying to follow one of journalism's rules...get them in the first sentence!)

I enter the hospital tomorrow to begin my high powered chemo before my stem cell transfusion on the 12th; they don't routinely take bone marrow out of the donor anymore!  (Is REAL Columbus Day a good omen?)  I have found out that my donor is a 29 yo female with type O + blood; I am currently A +.  In the future, my blood type will be O +.  She is an 18 point match - the doc said they only look for 14!  "BEST POSSIBLE," he said!  

If you don't follow "Bon Jonas" on Face Book, you don't know that I am getting my head shaved today by my hair dresser of 20 years!  I don't want to wait for the clumps of hair to start to fall out and the nurses shave it.  Sorry, I'm not sure I will share pix...you all know how much I LOVED my long hair!

Thank you for everything...I  follow the forum every day, and try to see where each person is in his or her life.  I do love and care for you all - even when we differ!

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Bonnie.....this was from the reading of today's Gospel which is I believe was meant for you.

"Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."  

Remember....the greatest healing therapy is friendship and love and you have plenty of that from all of us here on the forum! 

Mark Schweickart

Hang in there Bonnie, you've got all of the forum behind you. And what the hell, bald isn't a bad look these days, quite fashionable really. But please don't add a tattoo. That's too much for people our age.

Seriously though--we are all thinking of you and wishing you the best.

Timothy Lavelle

Bonnie,

I differ from Mark. I was once in love with a lady who wore her hair in a super buzz cut and just visible was a tattoo of eyes in the back of her head. So....TATTOO....TATTOO....TATTOO. You'll look as handsome as you always have. 

My heart does not beat to things religious these years but you have the love and best hopes of all of us as you progress through this very difficult time to the recovery we all want for you. My best advice is to consider a tattoo that says JONAS STRONG...and of course, to stay off riding lawn mowers! Tim

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

 Dear Bonnie, 

I had a bone marrow transplant when I went through cancer and had positive results. I also lost my hair and at first was devastated by the thought of being bald. Well, I actually liked being bald for a couple of months and then my hair came back thick and healthy.

Are you being treated at MD Anderson? 

You can do this I promise. Try to stay as positive as possible and God forbid don’t listen to politics.

I also found that meditation and prayer will help you get through this and of course relying on all your friends and family, hold them close. BTW how is Guido doing?

Please keep us posted on your progress.

Love,

Mary Ann Nolan Thomas

Michael McLeod

My heart is with you, Bonnie.

Janie Albright (Blank)

Bonnie, you have an army begind you! 

Bonnie has applied for a $5000 grant from the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. For anyone who might want to make a contribution in honor of her stem cell infusion here is the link.  It’s not directly to her but helps refill the fund and keeps the grants coming. 

http://www.lls.org/