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David Mitchell

Frank - Tim - and all,

Don't get me wrong. I think cards could  be great for Tom Litzinger.  

I just want to caution you about visits - I wish I felt free to explain more - sorry. 

It may have been just dumb luck that Keith and I caught him at a good time last year. But during this trip, his son explained in some detail how things have gottten more complicated over the last few years. 

I now go through his son first. He is a perfect "gatekeeper" for a difficult situation.  

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*** I guess this seems out of order with Mary Margaret's post. I was composing this when I got interrupted with a really fun phone call from Toni Cardi. 

Frank Ganley

Mark Schweickart

Tim,

I think the "not-really" movie phrase you are alluding to is that attributed to Cary Grant, who may have once said, "Al, Al, Al." No, wait a minute I think it was, "Judy, Judy, Judy," although to get the full Cary Grant effect, one should say, "Juday, Juday, Juday."

And as you say, it is a "not-really" moment because he never actually said this in a film.

Timothy Lavelle

Mark, are you back?

Yeah, you nailed it. And apparently his real line was "Susan, Susan, Susan".

Hey hope you had a great time. What did you bring back for all of us??

Beth - I am anxious to hear more re the lawnmower accident...we may get a new condition "lawnmower leg" adopted into Gray's Anatomy?!

Mark Schweickart

Tim,

Yes, I just got back in time to be greeted by 110 degree heat and then to be surrounded by one of the biggest wildfires in LA's history. Not good. But we are a few miles away, and it is moving away from us, so I think we will be just more inconvenienced by all of the smoke than actually threatened by the fire. 

The trip to Dublin and Edinburgh (where it was so cold (in the 50's) and windy, I had to constantly remind myself that this was August) was otherwise fantastic. The old city center of Edinburgh where the Fringe Festival was held was mobbed with people, but in a good way. It was like being in a huge amusement park, with almost no vehicle traffic other than busses (more busses than I could imagine--eight or ten constantly tailgating each other). Crushes of people everywhere, buskers (musicians, magicians, jugglers, fire-eaters) practically on every corner, and people handing out fliers hoping to gain your interest in seeing their show. There were, believe it or not, over 3000 different acts (stand-up, music, magic, theater) all competing for your attention spread out over 300 venues around the city center, ranging from pub basements holding 30 people, to some venues holding a couple of thousand. It was extremely well organized, and easy to get tickets and information from various points all over the city, along with a telephone-book-size directory of events, and of course and app for your phone. We would take in at least three shows a day, all priced less than a movie ticket back home, and sometimes completely free. With only one exception, all of the shows we saw were first-rate. Really, really good. We could not have been more pleased with the quality of the performances, even though at times there may have been only 20 people in the audience. Hauling ass from one side of town to another meant walking a good 8 or 9 miles a day, but it was such a charming, picturesque place, it was no problem at all. I will put up some photos on Shutterfly soon, and post the link for those of you interested in being subjected to someone else's vacation photos.

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mark,

Can you please explain this thing you referred to as a "Phonebook".  Or is that just some Hollywood speak.

Joe

Mark Schweickart

Joe- my description of the guide to the shows may have been a bit exaggerated when I called it a phone-book size. But it was over 400 pages so I think that would qualify as a phone-book size for a small town.

Oh, I get it! You mean, "what's a phone book?" you millennial you! Is a "phone-book" like a pay-phone, or a mailbox, or a checkbook, or a shoe-horn, or some other archeological oddity from days-gone-by? Is that what you are saying?

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Jim,

I still use my mouth.......and I don't need a shoehorn, as my mouth is quite big enough.....just ask my family!!

Kathleen Wintering (Nagy)

Sent off my card on Friday! Told him we all were thinking about him and praying for him. Kathy W.

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Some of you may have seen a descriptiuon in a computer magazine a few years back about a computer that had very large "memory" capacity, simple "editing controls", great "graphics tools", extremely light weight and  "portable", and was very competitiively priced.

If I recall correctly it was called a "No. 2 lead pencil". 

(almost forgot - it came with batteries included)

Mark Schweickart

On my recent vacation, old-time technology jumped out at me as I was strolling through Dublin (the one in Ireland, not the Columbus' burb). A shop's marquee offerred their service for "fountain pen repair". How cool is that? Also, can anyone guess what "propelling pencils" are? Actually, it is not all that old-school, but I was not familiar with the term. It just means a mechanical pencil that uses refillable lead cores. Too bad. I thought it might be some sort of steam-punk version of a new-fangled pencil from the 1890's, and so I had to go inside to ask. Believe it or not there were actuay several customers in the shop and two or three clerks.  As it turns out, one can spend quite a bit of money on high-end fountain pens these days. Who knew? Not me. Penmanship was never my forté.

Michael McLeod

great photo Mark

James Hamilton, M. D.

Thomas McKeon

Tim I've got 3 series to check out 1 24hrs with Keefer Southerland 2 Suits 3 Designated Survivior All 3 are action packed hope you like them.

Janie Albright (Blank)

I loved 24! Love Kiefer Sutherland.  Also watching Designated Survivor with him. Just got up to date on Homeland.  When Dennis was so ill I got behind on a lot. I love watching these with Amazon Prime. 

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

I am a Suits addict but also really like Designated Survivor.  Because we travel I require marathons when we return to catch up!

Timothy Lavelle

Tommy, Janie, Jeanine,

Yeah, Designated Survisor is a hit isn't it? We like that one a lot. I'll check the others you noted Tom. Thanks for the recommendation. I am currently enjoying playing three Star Trek series off against each other (Voyager with the lovely 7 of 9, Enterprise and Deep Station 9...just funny brainless sort of entertainment).

Jeanine, what is the reason behind your traveling? I did that a lot and now, just occasionally, I miss it. On the other hand, airplanes no longer appeal to me at all. Just too uncomfortable.

Anyone hear how Clare's knee surgery went? Someone should check in on her.

Let me open myself up to a long list of hilarious come-backs with the following: I have used the "private e-mail" system on this site several times when asking questions or making statements of a private nature. Often I don't get a reply. Why do you think that is??? Out

David Mitchell

Tim,

I find the private email a bit confusing. I have missed several messages - one for several months. Of course, I am a computer dufus so it's to be expected.

If I might add a TV series quite different from today's rough edged dramas. Going way back into my early PBS days, an all-time favorite was (and still is) a British series (3 seasons or maybe 4?) of about 6 shows per year, called, "RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY". He is a crusty, irreverant, old attorney who pleads cases in "The Old Bailey" (London's old courthouse). He has a bunch of rich young "country club" law partners who could not win a case if their life depended on it, while he gets cases that nobody wants and nobody could possibly win. He mouths off in the courtroom at the incompetent Judges and still wins every time. The series is both serious and funny. Played by Leo McKern, the British actor who once played "Ryan" in the Irish film called "Ryan's Daugher" - many years ago. 

I don't know if this is avaialbe online, but the CD's are still available through Barnes and Nobles stores and the PBS web site. 

And Tom McKean actualy is out there - wow!

Mark Schweickart

As you know, while you guys are all busy TV binging, my wife Maddy and I have been theater binging during our trip to Dublin and Edinburgh. As threatened in a previous post, there are now a bunch of pictures from our trip uploaded to a Shutterfly website. Maddy organized the pictures into four sections, and added little captions to each picture. I know most people dread seeing other people's vacation pics, but for those of you who might be interested, go to : https://2017uktrippreview.shutterfly.com/pictures

Here's a sample photo, and one of my favorites from Dublin:

Lawrence Foster

Mark - Thanks for posting the pics of your trip.  I really enjoyed looking at them.  And did you enjoy Hamilton?  Yeah, I'm betting you did.

Joseph Gentilini

#1808

Mark and Maddy, looks like you are having fun in Ireland - a beautiful country!  Enjoy.  Joe

Michael McLeod

Mark: You're the only person I know who looks better with a helmet on.

Janie Albright (Blank)

Mark- thoroughly enjoyed the travelogue. Interested in all the plays you saw. I love live theatre. Have been to Scotland and loved it. Never Ireland though. The trip sounds wonderful. So glad you two had the opportunity!