A relatively stress-free holiday

When Debbie Bailey used to the be general manager of Peachtree Mall, she'd see me on Dec. 24 and just laugh.

She knew my routine.

I'd wait until the very last minute and then run through the mall, pushing and shoving people out of the way to buy stuff.

This year is different.

My siblings and I are all older and we decided that instead of buying stuff for each other, we'd do something different.

Actually, it was my sister Dorothy's idea.

We each buy two gift cards. We through them in a bag and then we draw them.

Isn't that great?

We decided on the value of each card, and that's what we'll do.

Of course, we have a great-niece and great-nephew who are still small, so we'll buy them gifts. And I'll buy something for Jessica, who's 20 now. She's my brother's daughter.

We'll probably stress out over what we'll be cooking instead.

Since Jess is a vegan, we have to be careful to cook some veggies separately for her. You know, no butter or bacon. I can't imagine a world without butter or bacon.

I'll be on vacation next week, so I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and an even better 2008.

I have a new computer!

I have a new computer and I've got to get used to it. I mean after all the years I worked on the other computer, and finally learned how to use it, I get another one. I'm too old to learn how to figure out all this stuff!

Clason Kyle and I went to the Opelika Center for Performing Arts Tuesday night to see "Gypsy." Neither of us saw it at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts on Sunday.

It was an incredible show. All of the actors are wonderful. The woman who played Mama Rose was fabulous.

Clason was saying it was time for the Springer Opera House to do the show again and I agree. We both thought Patricia Kennedy, who is the Springer's managing director, would be a great Mama Rose. And that was as far as we got in casting the show.

I really can't think of another touring show that was so good that played here.

If you missed it, you really missed a good one.

Evening in Paris

I know that I'm getting old when I start a sentence with: "Those of us of a certain age ..."

Well, those of us of a certain age will remember Tangee lipstick and Evening in Paris parfum.

When I was a little girl, my brother and sisters and I saved our money and bought our father Old Spice cologne and our mother a little bottle of Evening in Paris.

It was in Sierra Vista, Ariz., which was the small outside the main gates of Fort Huachuca, where my father was stationed. The old 5-and-dime, which may have been a Woolworth's -- I can't remember -- was part of what we'd call a strip mall now. It was the one and only shopping center in Sierra Vista.

That was many, many years ago.

I'd been sick Friday and I really wasn't in the mood to leave the house Saturday. But my mother wanted to go to K-mart, so I got in the shower and got dressed. We went to K-mart, where she couldn't find anything she was looking for. We went to TJ Maxx and as always, I went straight to the perfume display.

So imagine my surprise when I found a bottle of Evening in Paris!

My mother was even more surprised. We had not seen a bottle of the stuff in so long.

I can't remember how much that tiny little bottle cost in Sierra Vista, but it couldn't be more than a couple of dollars.

This bottle we found was $19.99. The regular price was $40! Can you believe that?

We had to buy it and it was the first thing we opened when we got home. We both sprayed ourselves and it smelled just the way we remembered.

It brought back so many memories.

And during the holidays, isn't that the best thing?

"A Tuna Christmas"

If you have never seen "A Tuna Christmas" at the Springer Opera House, you ought to try to see it this year.

It's hysterical.

Last year, Paul Pierce and Ron Anderson, the two actors who play all 20 roles (male and female), told me that the real story is backstage.

Paul's dresser is 16-year-old Kaity Baker, a sophomore at Harris County High School, while Ron's dresser is Betsy Flournoy, 16, a junior at Brookstone School. Both are long-time students in the Springer Opera House's Theater Academy. A third student, Gabby Buffong, a 17-year-old Columbus High School senior, helps out when she's needed. Gabby is backstage doing all the sound effects.

Both Ron and Paul put on basic stage makeup for men. No elaborate eye makeup or lip color. Just foundation and powder. Then they put on panty-house, bike shorts and a wife-beater undershirt.

They begin the show as the two radio personalities, Thurston and Arles. And then the fun begins.

To see the photos, check out this week's To Do section on Thursday.

Ron and Paul think "A Tuna Christmas" is the perfect show for the holidays.

"There are only a few 'Tuna' virgins left in town," Ron said.

And they're afraid to come see the show because they want to be the last ones in town to see it, joked Paul.

Seriously, though Ron says a lot of people need to laugh during the holidays and "A Tuna Christmas" is the perfect show to do just that.

A lot of people come to see the show several times during its annual run, and each time, they bring others with them.

Scooter MacMillan, the Springer's marketing director, says "A Tuna Christmas" is a great tool for audience development because a lot of people still think going to the theater is for snobs.

"This is a great show for people who think they don't like theater," Paul said.

It's the sixth time since 2001 that the Springer has presented this show. The theater skipped the 2003-04 season.

Ed Howard, the writer and director of "A Tuna Christmas," is back again. He's been busy working on "Tuna Does Vegas."

Ron and Paul have seen that show and are excited about it. In fact, they're already planning on which of the characters they want to do.

Before people in the Valley get to see "Tuna Does Vegas," we'll get to see "Red, White and Tuna." But then again, since Jaston Williams and Joe Sears have yet to relinquish the rights to that show, it may be a long time before we get to see the Tuna folks in Las Vegas.

In the meantime, the Springer Opera House has just received the rights to tour "Greater Tuna" and "A Tuna Christmas." It's the only theater in the United States to get the rights.

That's probably because Ed Howard loves us so much!

So the Springer Opera House name, along with the Tuna folks will be traveling across the country in 2008.

Unfortunately, Ron and Paul won't be able to do the tour. As much as they'd like to, they still have to look after the Springer.

They'll be auditioning folks soon for the tour.

As soon as I found out, I'll let you know.

"A Tuna Christmas" opens Thursday. Check To Do for details.