Sunday, November 26, 2017

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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Saturday, November 18, 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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Saturday, November 11, 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.
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