I've been a little bit in love with this video of Gavin Creel singing Pasek and Paul's "Do You Remember?" for a while now.
It's a really sweet song (one of several written for an abandoned Peter Pan musical project) and Gavin Creel does it beautifully. (I've also never seen his hair look better.) The video is from a showcase of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's music at the Zipper a few months ago. It seems as fitting a note as any on which to wrap up 2008. Happy new year!
Yep, that's me circa 1969, posing for a photo on Santa's knee. It would be first of seven photos taken with the old fella (and one of the first laps belonging to strange men in which I'd find myself sitting over the years, a practice that happily continues). You can see the whole gallery of my visits with Santa on Flickr.
As you read this, I'm celebrating Christmas in the Land That Dial-up Forgot with my mother, a warm hearth, a lovely tree and enough food to feed a platoon, should you know any Marines you'd like to send my way. From my ancestral home to you and yours, a very Merry Christmas!
What a dame! She was so protective of Gene Roddenberry's vision for Star Trek and for the future, and she was a witty actress into the bargain. Once several years ago, when she was visiting St. Louis for a fan convention, I was in the autograph line waiting to meet her. As I approached the table where she was signing and graciously chatting with star-struck fan after fan, I overheard her say to an assistant that she'd like to have sushi for dinner and to find out a place they could go.
When it was my turn at the table, she inscribed my photo and we traded a few pleasantries. As I was leaving, almost as an afterthought, I recommended the name of a good local restaurant that I knew to have fine sushi. Her face lit up and she called the assistant back over. "Take this down," she said, and encouraged me to repeat the recommendation. "No, wait," she said. "Get this man's telephone number. You're coming to dinner with us!"
And so I did. I dined with Nurse Chapel, Number One, Lwaxana Troi (sans Mr. Homm). For almost three glorious hours, she held forth with stories and laughter, sake and sushi, and we closed down the Kirkwood eatery I'd recommended. When we parted company, I got a warm hug and a peck on the cheek which, combined with the evening's company, I'll treasure more and longer than any autographed photo.
So long, Mrs. Barrett-Roddenberry, and say hello to your beloved Great Bird of the Galaxy.
I have little Mac utility chubby for Dropbox, and based on a few weeks of use, I highly recommend it. It's the easiest way I've found to keep files synchronized among a number of remote computers, and it's saved my bacon—along with my files—several times. Installation and use couldn't be simpler, and it's available for Mac, Windows and Linux. It's free for up to 2GB of files (more than enough for me so far) and $9.99 a month for up to 50GB. Awesome!
It's Proposition 8: The Musical! Warning: Contains Jack Black.
While it's not Mr. Shaiman's best foot forward, there's certainly a chuckle or two to be had in this star-crammed satire. It's only a shame this wasn't made a couple of months ago; there's nothing like musical comedy to rally the troops!
I had the opportunity to meet her a few years ago when she was in town doing a concert at the Sheldon, which I reviewed for the Post-Dispatch. She was so gracious and, although she was not in the best voice that evening, gave a performance that held the audience rapt. Many encores were demanded and many given. It hurts my heart a little bit to know that there are young people who don't know her name or her legacy; I'll try to do my part to share the music on down.
"Women are most fascinating between the ages of 35 and 40 after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass 40, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely." — Christian Dior
It's true. Today is my 40th birthday. How do I feel? As always, better than yesterday and not as good as tomorrow.
I know I repeat it every year, but that's simply because it's true: my life gets better and richer and more fulfilling day by day. I'm greatly blessed, with so many dear friends, relatively good health, a career that I love, a marvelous home in a beautiful city...it's an embarrassment of good fortune.
I'm so grateful for the many gifts in my life and, as I prepare to begin my fifth decade, so very excited to find out what's coming next!
Oh my goodness! I might expire from the cute at The Daily Otter. 11:09 PM |
Monday, November 17, 2008
A Conversation From the Bar Scene
Jeff: So you're turning 40 soon, right?
Brad: Yep.
Jeff: It shows.
Brad: I'll have you know that, until very recently, I had the body of a 23-year-old.
Jeff: Well, the economic downturn has affected us all.
If you read only one personal story on the web today, please make it my pal Jake's about his chosen family. Then take a moment to think about the thousands upon thousands of stories yet untold it represents.
Brad L. Graham is a writer, editor, riverboat gambler, fashion consultant, softshoe dancer, professional assassin, freelance factotum and singer of sentimental ballads.The BradLands is his home on the web.
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Brad L. Graham is a writer, editor, riverboat gambler, fashion consultant, softshoe dancer, professional assassin, freelance factotum and singer of sentimental ballads.The BradLands is his home on the web. 
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