The Pirates of Penzance

Over the weekend I was watching TV and came across a movie that I hadn’t seen for quite some time. From the title of the post you already should know that the movie was The Pirates of Penzance. It was the 1983 production with Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Ronstadt. If you haven’t seen it, MAKE THE TIME. It truly is one of the great musicals, if not movies, of all time. Gilbert and Sullivan plays have stood the test of time wonderfully but perhaps none more so than this one.

While I was enjoying the movie I thought it was funny that every time Mable (Linda Ronstadt) and her sisters came on screen I almost half expected to see my sister Coleen. Every little line or common quip I could hear her quoting even before they said it onscreen. Perhaps it is because of her years of theatre that I associate more movies with this one sister than anyone else I know. EVERY time I see or hear any of the songs from any of countless musicals, i.e. Oklahoma, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, the first thing in my mind is my dear sister. Due to the time difference I was quite certain my sister was still in church when the movie came on or I would have given her a call. By evening, the moment had passed and I never got a chance to give her a call.

One of the nice things about running is it gives me the free time to just let my mind wander. As I pondered about my sister and these associations I began to think of my other siblings and other family and if any of them have similar associations. With some I thought of movies, others songs or bands, but in each case the movies below trigger immediate thoughts of one of my siblings for various reasons. I hope no one takes offence as none is intended… So here is my list:

Mom – Pride and Prejudice – The black and white, not the new one.
Dad – October Sky (also Short Circuit – I have never seen him laugh so hard at a movie before or since)
Lorin – Rain Man – You would think this ties into the autism thread but really it stems from my childhood view of my eldest brother as the smartest man on earth!
Keith – Any movie with John Candy but particularly Uncle Buck. For some reason I can just see him making snow shovel pancakes. It is more than just the similarity in looks, it is his demeanor and his non-verbalized expectation of the best from other people.
Diana – Along with Dave, one of the harder to come up with something from "Pop-culture" to associate with her. Although I have many fond memories of her, they don’t really tie to movies or songs. From those memories, various objects remind me of her: model paint, birch beer, Breyer horses, and children’s storybooks, particularly "My Turn on Earth".
Coleen – See Above…
David – I thought hard on this one and I really couldn’t come up with a movie but what kept coming to mind was early 80’s rock, Journey, Loverboy, Rush, etc. I can’t get through "Come Sail Away" without picturing Dave at some point.
Oliver – You would think the obvious "Oliver" but the first movie that came to mind was Tron. Of course the other one that instantly brings Oli to mind is Rock Horror Picture Show. I’m sure he’ll wear that with a badge of honor… much to my mother’s chagrin.
Pat – The obvious would be Twins with his DeVito to my Schwarzenegger, but in reality it is all things from the 80’s. As no one was closer to me during that time, just about everything from that decade remind me of him.
Jamie – Although most everything is seen through the light of how I experienced it with her, I’m going to have to go with a song, I’m guessing she knows which one already… Whistling in the Dark by They Might Be Giants. Yes there is a story there.

So what I want to know is two things, am I the only one that associates particular movies with a single individual or is that common for all of you? Secondly, do any of you associate particular movies with me? Other than the obvious of course… Superman, The Incredibles, The Incredible Hulk… Of course, I could also be The Very Model of a Modern Major General...?

Memories of Me? / Comment "Fishing"

I got this from my SIL and Real and more than anything I was jealous of the amount of comments it generated on their blogs. Hopefully it will have the same effect on mine...


Here are the directions:


1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Tucson Arizona - Bear Down Baby!

It sure was nice last week to get a taste of the old stomping grounds. Of course in writing the title of the post I'm reminded that my school slogan sounds like something an OB/GYN might say... As part of an expansion of my job responsibilities at work I am adding our facility south of Tucson, Arizona to the list of facilities I take care of environmentally. As part of that, I visited Tucson last week. For those of you not aware, I attended the University of Arizona in Tucson for my undergraduate degree where I met my wife. Of all the places I have lived, Tucson ranks third, for now, only behind Salt Lake City and Silver City for duration. Kearny may beat it out if you add in a few summers here and there but I don’t think so, I’ve never done all the math…we could call it a tie for third…

Anyway, I flew into Tucson late on Monday and back to Georgia early on Friday. If I was smart I would have booked my return flight for Saturday or Sunday and used the company paid flight for a trip up to Kearny as well, but I guess I can do that next time. As it was I was able to arrange dinner on Tuesday night with my twin as he stopped en route from Silver City to Phoenix with a co-worker headed to a training conference. I also met up with my parents on Wednesday night as they drove down to Tucson for dinner. My brother Ollie, who lives in Tucson for another month or two, joined in for both occasions. Living on the East Coast with only one sibling within driving distance makes me appreciate those rare chances to see family all the more.

I can’t have a post without a nod to my running of course. Oh how nice it was to run in Arizona. I could get used to that in a hurry! Each morning I would go out for my runs at the usual 5 am but due to Arizona’s insistence on ignoring daylight savings time the sun came over the horizon within 15 minutes of the start of my run each day. The desert may get hot in the day (103 last week) but the morning cool in the mid 60’s with what felt like single digit humidity was PERFECT running weather. My 70-degree runs with 90% humidity back in Georgia this week have felt oppressive in comparison!

For all the old acquaintances I wasn’t able to hook up with this go around, I’m sorry, I’ll try to catch you next time. As it was, I was with my boss who had rented the car for us, so getting the car for my own use on two of the three evenings was pushing it as it was. The trip reminded me of all the things I enjoyed about Arizona not to mention the proximity to family, but for all that, I love life in Georgia as well. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean I cheer for the SEC over the Pac-10, that doesn’t mean that I don’t read the Kearny, Tucson, Silver City, and Salt Lake City online newspapers at least weekly, it just means I follow NASCAR now as well…

Voice from my Past

Recently my Sister-in-Law posted a link to a blog written by a certain person, no names, for convenience sake we will call her "AD". AD was my wife's roommate our Freshman year in college. As I read her posts, posted comments on both blogs, and reflected on old times I came to the realization that I needed to devote a little more blog space to her. I can honestly say that there is no one outside my family that has had a more profound impact on my life. In some ways I'm sure she is aware of it, others perhaps not.

To set the stage for ya, as I said we were in our Freshman year at the University of Arizona. We both lived in the Arizona-Sonora Dorm, a Co-ed building, me on the 8th floor, her (and my future wife) on the 9th. We saw each other at church, were friendly, and occasionally walked to the institute together if coincidence arose. I think I was her home teacher from the start of the year but it doesn't matter when that assignment was made, it was never completed. Little did I realize that she would impact my life so much... maybe I would have done my home teaching sooner.

It was the Fall of 1990 and I was away from home and the support of my Twin Brother for the first time. With that freedom what did I do? With my new found friends I started playing on a flag football team... on Sundays. The second Sunday in the league I was waiting with half a dozen other guys for the elevator to take the ride down. When the door opened there was already one passenger in the elevator. She was dressed in her Sunday best, carrying her scriptures, going where she was supposed to be. AD didn't say a word to me on that elevator, she didn't need to. I'd like to say I went back upstairs, changed, and went to church, but I didn't. I did however quit that day and didn't miss another week of church until probably after my mission some time. Who knows if that would have actually lead to inactivity but in my time of weakness, her silent example spoke volumes...

Little did I know she was also introducing her roommate to the Book of Mormon. Her faith, testimony, and willingness to open her mouth to her roommate altered my life forever. When I finally got up the courage to ask her roommate out I think AD was relieved. I'm pretty sure she knew I liked Jamie before probably even myself. She was there helping me and Jamie's fledgling romance take root on many the double date. (Picking out each other's outfits in the mall, peeing on fires on Mt. Lemmon, all night study sessions to name some of the highlights) When I left on my mission she was the one I asked to look out for Jamie. Okay, so allowing Jamie to go sledding and then introducing her to her boyfriend's best friend were both near disasters for me but other than that, she did fine. Ultimately it was seeing her happy marriage that even played a roll in convincing us to move up our wedding date by 6 months to a date only 6 weeks in the future.

Finally, at our wedding, AD supported Jamie where not even I could. Escorting Jamie through the temple as her only "family" meant so much to me. I had so many people around me as the youngest of 8 children. My full support cast was in place but it was AD that helped my wife through that day while Jamie's mom and dad waited for us outside. I can't imagine how hard that must have been and although we haven't discussed it much, I'm sure the familiar face and support of an old roommate provided much comfort.

"AD" I hope you know how thankful I am for the many ways you have touched my life. I apologize that I wasn't a better home teacher (I'm still pretty bad at that). Your courage, faith, and love have altered my life to the better, forever.