Category Archives: August

Little League Scores a Big Hit

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“I never thought at the age of 13 I’d be a role model.
I always wanted to be a role model, but
being a baseball role model is really cool.”
Mo’ne Davis

Little League Big Hit

Pearland, Texas celebrates their 9-7 victory over Bonita, California at the LLWS in South Williamsport, PA

It’s not often that I watch team sports on television. That changed last year when I watched the Little League Baseball Championship.

There was one player last year that brought this 68-year-old league to everyone’s attention. Mo’ne Davis became an overnight sensation with her skills on the pitching mound. She is one of only two girls who played in the 2014 Little League World Series and is the first girl to earn a win and to pitch a shutout in Little League World Series history.

Davis may have done more for Little League Baseball than any one player in the history of Little League. But, all of these young people should be recognized for their sportsmanship and talent. To watch some of these pre-teens throw, hit and catch is more entertaining than any major league baseball game I’ve ever watched or attended.

I’ll continue to watch and look forward to August each year when they play for the championship. These talented young players are far from little. With all their talent, dedication and big hearts they have won my heart.  It’s nice to see something as old-fashioned as little league score a big hit.

Shine On

Pure Gene Kelly Perfection

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“I’d studied dance in Chicago every summer end
taught it all winter, and I was well-rounded.
I wasn’t worried about getting a job on Broadway.
In fact, I got one the first week.”
Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly

He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, his good looks, and the charming characters he played on-screen. To me he was all of these adjectives and more. He had more charisma in his little pinky than any of his contemporaries.

Eugene Curran “Gene” Kelly was born August 23, 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was just eight, when his mother enrolled him and his brother James in dance classes.

He graduated from High School at age sixteen and went on to college, majoring in journalism. But the 1929 crash forced him to work to help his family. He created dance routines with his younger brother Fred to earn prize money in local talent contests. They also performed in local nightclubs.

The family fell on hard times, so to make ends meet, his mother suggested the family open a dance studio. The Gene Kelly Studio of the Dance became quite successful which enabled Kelly to give Broadway a try. His big break came in 1939 when he danced and did his own choreography in, The Time of Your Life.

Shortly after his success on Broadway, Kelly left New York and headed for Hollywood. It didn’t take long for him to land his first part in 1942 in the motion picture, For Me and My Gal starring Judy Garland. After that, it was one successful dance movie after another. He did do a few serious movies, such as his portrayal of the character Hornbeck in the 1960 movie, Inherit the Wind.

I have several favorite Gene Kelly movies, but if I had to pick just one I’d have to pick his 1964 musical comedy/romance, What a Way To Go. This movie had an all star cast which included, Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Robert Cummings and Dick Van Dyke. He performs a dance routine with Shirley MacLaine which he choreographed that is pure Gene Kelly perfection.

Shine On

A Walk in The Woods

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“I want things to be better all the time.
And I tend to get angry about that.
Books are an opportunity to vent.”
Bill Bryson

A Walk in The Woods

Since the beginning of this year, I’ve read a variety of books. I’m proud to say, I’ve read 65 books to date. They range from celebrity biographies to 100-year-old classics.

So it’s rare that I find a book to read that is laugh-out-loud funny, inspirational and educational all rolled into one. A Walk in the Woods is one of those rare books.

Bill Bryson’s 1998 book, A Walk in the Woods, which was made into a movie and will be released September 2nd, is a story about Bill Bryson’s quest to hike the Appalachian Trail.

The book has all the subjects and details I find interesting. It’s packed with history, nature and science with details about the hiking trails in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was Bryson’s sense of humor. This book was highly entertaining, and is a great read for all ages and walks of life who have ever hiked or simply enjoy a walk in the woods.

Shine On

Sweet Little Ukulele

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“I love the ukulele. It’s got a beautiful, melodic tone to it.
There’s something innocent and romantic, and
it’s just a grand instrument to play.”
Pierce Brosnan

Sweet Little Ukulele

When I went shopping for my ukulele, I was just going to get the simplest one I could find. However, I didn’t realize there would be such a variety to choose from.

After hearing the sounds from different models at my local music store, I decided on a Kala concert ukulele.

My little ukulele is  Kala’s ultra thin body uke. It features a 1-1/2″ archback depth and is made of spruce and mahogany with a Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. It also came with a beautiful embroidered padded ukulele bag, plus I bought a clip-on digital tuner.

The sound and the light feel of this ukulele is what I like most. I probably shouldn’t be playing until my lessons, but I can’t keep my hands off this sweet little ukulele.

Shine On