Will Rogers Follies – Candlelight Pavillion

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Yay! My trilogy of Cy Coleman shows is now complete for another decade or so! I saw Barnum in 2006 (never seen it before aside from the Michael Crawford DVD), City of Angels in 2008 (before that 1999 at OCHSA and 2005 at Chromolume) and now Will Rogers Follies in 2010. I first saw this show in Downey in 1997* and it became a very powerful and formative part of my life. Will Rogers touched the hearts of so many people during his life with his affable wit and simple common sense. This show (done in the style of a Florenz Ziegfeld Follies) is a delightful biopic of Will’s life. An absolutely phenomenal production and an absolutely adorable setup out in Claremont. A decent size stage plus dinner theatre makes this an absolutely amazing experience! I only wish I had known that when I had booked tickets and they told … Continue reading →

Young Frankenstein – OCPAC

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Meh. Not as good as The Producers. Not as bad as Spamalot. A very sophomoric effort (ironic, no?). Unfortunately very focused on sex. So focused on sex I was disappointed when the conclusion did not include wayward illegitimate children. They took several very funny jokes from the film and expanded them into full blown set-pieces/songs that were just wrong and un-funny. Oh well…some fun music and moments…including choral tap dancing in platform taps.

The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown

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Started 9/20/2010 Finished a few days later. Damn you Dan Brown…you’re such an engrossing writer! Very rarely do books suck me in until 3am like this….but Dan Brown pulls it off with panache. I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to not-sleep through his earlier works (I’ve only read this and Da Vinci Code). Pg. 86: In the words of futurist Arthur C. Clarke, ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ I wonder if this was ever quoted concerning the Flash Rogue, Abra Kadabra, from the 64th century? Pg. 104: Peter Solomon would be horrified to know how badly Langdon had failed him. I should have mailed it to the Marx Brothers. Will you take it easy? Take it easy? Why do you think I sent it home in the first place?! So that it wouldn’t fall into their hands! I came here to save you! Oh … Continue reading →

American Lion – Jon Meacham

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Started 1/3/2010 Finished 8/31/2010 A fascinating analysis of one of the most contentious presidents to ever be in power during the still-formative years of our nation. I love Andrew Jackson mostly from his appearances on Disney’s Davy Crockett TV show, but this book made me appreciate the $20 bill that much more for all the pain and suffering he went through. First President to have an assassination attempt (I think)…and the Secret Service STILL wasn’t created…yeesh….

And Another Thing . . . by Eoin Colfer

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A delightful sequel from one of my favorite authors (I have all of the Artemis Fowl books except for the newest ones and absolutely love reading them). Started 9/1/2010 Finished 9/19/2010 Pg. 191: There is a theory … which states that the universe is built on uncertainty and that a definitive statement/action creates a momentary energy vacuum into which flows a diametrically opposing statement/action. Pg. 225: Most [space]craft give a nod, however brief and unfriendly, toward beauty. Vogon ships did not nod toward beauty. They pulled on ski masks and mugged beauty in a dark alley. They spat in the eye of beauty and bludgeoned their way through the notions of aesthetics and aerodynamics. Pg. 241: Thor was actually the fifth-fastest being in the Universe. Eight without Mjöllnir to steady him. Number one was Hermes, who mainly used his divine speed to pinch Ares’ nipples and then run away.

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul (I Waited Patiently For The Lord) (To You Lord I Lift My Soul) Jon Starting a series on spiritual gifts Sat 10:30am Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12; John 14:12 Ephesians 4 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says, “When he ascended on … Continue reading →

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul It’s request night (I See The King Of Glory) with Kieran Eternal God Unchanging (Glory Be To Our Great God) (As A Deer Pants For Flowing Streams) Jon Not going to force a message Some verses Psalm 103 Paul Jon I remember visiting Jeff, brought him a sandwich Jeff mentioned that every day he woke up he thanked God for life, for another day, for Jesus Paul

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul Rob & Jill Isaiah 51 1 Peter 2:4-5 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Jon The rock from which you were cut Heritage of where we’ve come from Living stones Context of temple of the Holy Spirit Things being cut away that you think you need Next week is spiritual gifts (and 4 more weeks) Based on tonight’s passages, some pictures come to mind Look at the expansion of Christianity in the 1st century Asia Minor, part of the Roman Empire, exploded with Christianity Very pagan culture – like Las Vegas; what happens in Asia Minor, stays in Asia Minor Pagan culture Evangelical Covenant Church Wants to plant 3 churches in Las Vegas that partner with existing churches 8 followers of Jesus Christ transformed Asia Minor Has the message of Jesus Christ changed? No Lots of excavations revealing details about 1st century life Greek city on the coast of the Aegean Sea … Continue reading →

Nanny McPhee Returns – Century 20 @ Bella Terra, Huntington Beach, CA

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You don’t need to see the first one in order for this film to make any kind of sense! Laura had seen the first one so she got the solitary reference, but it’s not truly necessary for any major portion of this film. Emma Thompson is incredibly talented (produces, writes and stars in both films). The film also has a really amazing ensemble cast including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Smith, Rhys Ifans, Bill Bailey and Ralph Fiennes! And the kids aren’t bad either! Well I mean, they are “bad” but they’re not bad actors. You know what I mean. Recently noticed an article/cover story from some magazine talking about Maggie and Emma being best friends so I think it’s really cute/quaint that they’re in this movie together.