Once Upon A Mattress

Program for "Once Upon A Mattress."

My son, Richard, and I enjoyed this musical, Once Upon A Mattress recently. It was produced by a local community theater group. The performance was at Richard's high school alma mater.

Why did we go? A young lady at the church I go to mentioned she had a part in the show and I thought it would be neat to try to reacquaint my son to his theatrical past (and perhaps inspire him). I also like supporting local productions, especially grass roots functions. And all this was a good excuse to get out and try something different.

Before we got to the theater (at school), my only knowledge of the play was that it was based on the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. During the show, I recognized the song, "(I'm) Shy", from Sylvia's recital earlier this year. The lead role of the Princess was played by Sylvia's music teacher/coach who did a fabulous job.

The show is connected to the Rogers and Hammerstein organization since it was written by Mary Rodgers, daughter of composer Richard Rodgers.

Our playbill (see picture above) had a little insert announcing the recent death of Dean Fuller, Jr., a co-writer of the book on which the musical is based. Mr. Fuller, a Connecticut resident,  died on October 31, 2017 at the age of 94!

Although I enjoyed the show very much, my only regret was that this was the final performance (of 4). I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to encourage others to attend and share this pleasure.

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Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Mattress

http://westhartfordtheater.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_and_the_Pea
http://www.rnh.com/show/66/Once-Upon-a-Mattress
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rodgers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rodgers
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=187100706
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Finished writing Saturday 2 December 2017.

NYC Church Surprises

On Tuesday I took the train into New York City for work. I don't remember exactly the last time I went into NYC, maybe it was three years ago. Same with the train. This time I also took the subway, from Grand Central Station to the upper East Side.

As I was walking to the meeting, I was surprised to encounter a Roman Catholic church, St. Catherine of Siena Church. I was surprised because I had been on this street before but never traveling from that direction. Suddenly, I realized that there was a church there. It was inconspicuous because it was not the front entrance (but the altar side). Since I was early for my meeting, I went in.

This is what I encountered.

Main Entrance-Exterior

There are a lot of good pictures and background of the church here and here. Sadly, it is one of those "consolidated" parishes consisting of two churches.

This is what the interior looks like.  More pictures at here.

This is my picture of the "Mary " side altar.
I assume St. Dominic is at the left and
St. Catherine of Siena is at the right.

After my work was done and I was heading back to the subway, I stumbled across another spectacular RC Church, St. John Nepomucene, which, similar to the church above is a parish consisting of three churches.

Front of St John Nepomucene RC CHurch

More pictures and information can be found here and here. Some shots of the exterior that I took are below.

This Sacred Heart of Jesus is above the main door in the vestibule into the church. 

This is located on the exterior above the main doors into the church.

As you may have guessed, I enjoy visiting churches and wandering around New York City.

I couldn't believe this is a real police car.
(But it is).

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Catherine_of_Siena_Church_(New_York_City)
http://sthughofcluny.org/2011/07/the-churches-of-new-york-xiii-the-%E2%80%9Cother-dominican%E2%80%9D.html
http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/StCatherineSiena.html
http://www.svsc.info/
http://sideways.nyc/2015/08/church-st-catherine-siena/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St._John_Nepomucene
http://www.eastrivercatholics.org/
http://sthughofcluny.org/2014/07/the-churches-of-new-york-lx-the-two-churches-of-saint-john-ii.html
http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/StJohnNepomucene.html
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Written Saturday 18 November 2017.

Tom Swift and His Flying Lab

Front Cover of dust jacket of my book

I just finished this book for my evening reading (before bed). TOM SWIFT and His Flying Lab is the first book in the "new Tom Swift Jr. Adventures series. According to the back of the dust jacket Tom Swift, Jr., is "the son of the famous inventor who in his books invented so many of the wonders of today long before there were actually built.  In this new series, Tom Swift, Jr., is also an inventor who is ahead of his time. Tom invents and builds a flying lab in which he goes all over the world helping sole plots that would bring harm to the United States." In this book "he outwits a gang of uranium thieves."

Blue tweed (front) cover-my book.

Frontispiece in my copy of book #1

I bought this book recently at a used book sale for a few bucks. I wanted something light to read before bed, something that would relax me but not put me to sleep immediately and not stress me out. The book is set up like one of the old time serials where every other chapter or so, there is a cliffhanger.

This book was published in 1954 and my copy is a first edition (with dust jacket). There are 208 numbered pages and 11 illustrations by J. Graham Kaye.

Inner cover illustrations-from my copy of book.

The description on the front inside dust jacket further describes the plot of this book: "Tom must overcome the scheming of this gang (of international enemies) as well as terrific mechanical  problems to build his fabulous aircraft, which will soar straight up from the ground, fly at supersonic speeds, and carry scout planes in its own hanger.  When the Sky Queen is completed, Tom and his friend Bud Barclay take off for South America where the same enemies are seeking to gain control of a mountain of uranium."

The text promises that "each scientific detail of this fascinating story has been carefully checked....they are all plausible and some day you may see them in use."

The book ends with a plug for the next two books in the series. Unfortunately, I have the 3rd book but not the second. This will be motivation for attending more used book sales.

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swift_Jr.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_frontispiece
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Written Saturday 11 November 2017.

Grantchester Book 1

Front Cover of my copy of the book

Back Cover of my copy of the book.

Thanks to my Aunt Denise for recommending the Grantchester Mysteries series by James Runcie. I picked up this softbound copy for $1 (that's right: one US  dollar) at my local grocery store's used book shelf. I was particularly thrilled because I had just finished watching the DVDs of the TV series broadcast on PBS.

I just finished the first book, Sydney Chambers and The Shadow of Death, in the series of  six (at this time). For the past two weeks I have been riding the bus to and from work due to the loss of my car. That has allowed about 20 minutes of reading each way.

I had a hard time putting down this book. It is one I could easily read again, just to pay more attention to some of the witty dialogue and keen observations regarding religion and people.

The book consists of six short stories told in chronological order. Four of these correspond to the six episodes in Season One of the TV series. This book was first published in 2012

Description from the publisher (similar to the summary above on the back cover):

It is 1953, the coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II . Sidney Chambers, vicar of Grantchester and honorary canon of Ely Cathedral, is a thirty-two-year-old bachelor. Tall, with dark brown hair, eyes the color of hazelnuts, and a reassuringly gentle manner, Sidney is an unconventional clerical detective. He can go where the police cannot.

Together with his roguish friend, inspector Geordie Keating, Sidney inquires into the suspect suicide of a Cambridge solicitor, a scandalous jewelry theft at a New Year's Eve dinner party, the unexplained death of a jazz promoter's daughter, and a shocking art forgery that puts a close friend in danger. 

Sidney discovers that being a detective, like being a clergyman, means that you are never off duty, but he nonetheless manages to find time for a keen interest in cricket, warm beer, and hot jazz-as well as a curious fondness for a German widow three years his junior.

I identified with the main character (Sydney Chambers) due to his struggle trying to lead a life of  faith (although I am not a priest nor an orthodox Christian). I also felt connected due to his frustrated love life. Although popular with women, they are put off by his religion and the love of his life has ruled out marriage to him though she loves him dearly.  Limiting their relationship to being friends is so much easier for her. To further drive home the point, she gives Sydney a dog in order to combat his loneliness.

I think the book can be read on more than one level. Obviously, it can be read as a straight forward mystery. On the other hand, it can be taken as a metaphor for good and evil, as well as the mystery of human relationships.

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Links:
https://www.jamesruncie.com/grantchester-mysteries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Runcie
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/grantchester/
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2017/10/crunch-time.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grantchester_(TV_series)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grantchester
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Written Saturday 11 November 2017.

Who Invented Baseball?

My hard back copy (with dust jacket)  of Abner & Me.

Recently I finished my "evening book," ABNER & Me. It is the sixth book in the Baseball Card Adventures by Dan Gutman.

I was in the the mood for some light reading before bed and I cam across this book at a used book sale. I thought my sister Carol might be interested in it since she earlier this year she was into baseball history trivia. I thought I would read it myself before sending it to her. Now that I'm done, I can send it off to her.

The dust jacket states that the book is aimed for ages 8-12. The description in the front inside piece says:

Cannons are blasting!
Bullets are flying!
Wounded soldiers are everywhere!

Stosh has time-traveled to 1863, right into the middle of the Civil War. In possibly his most exciting and definitely his most dangerous trip yet, Stosh as decided to answer the question for all time: did Abner Doubleday, a Civil War general, really invent the game of baseball? 

It's all here: big laughs, dramatic action,fast baseball games in the middle of a battlefield. You'll be blown away by this sixth amazing baseball card adventure.

The book has 167 numbered pages and was published in 2005.

The Library of Congress summary states:

With his ability to travel through time using baseball cards and photographs, thirteen-year-old Joe and his mother go back to 1863 to ask Abner Doubleday whether he invented baseball, but instead find themselves in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg.

At the beginning of the book is an "Author's Note:" This book contains more violent scenes than my previous books. It may not be suitable for younger readers.

And this warning was true: I had to stop reading several nights because the battle scenes were getting me anxious. However, I kept at it until I finished the book. (A chapter or two a night).

It was an interesting mix: baseball, fantasy, and history. Abner Doubleday, though, does not come across as well as might be expected. However, his history is kind of interesting in itself.

In the final analysis, I liked the book and will be keeping my eyes open to pick up other books in the series.

Doubleday gravestone
(from Find A Grave)

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Card_Adventures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Gutman
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/abner-doubleday
http://dangutman.com/dans-books/baseball-card-adventure-series/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Doubleday
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg
http://arlingtoncemetery.net/doubledy.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/abner-doubleday
https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=4830
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Written Saturday 4 November 2017.