DWTS elimination

I predicted correctly. Kim Kardashian was eliminated tonight.

She really was horrible.

Well, on to next week.

Deborah Singer

Do you remember Deborah Singer, the anchor at WXTX-TV 54 and WTVM 9?

She was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was at Ch. 54 and did a
whole thing about what she went through. She's doing well now, but going
through that made her realize that life was short. So she went to
Match.com and met the man of her dreams. His name is Craig Stuart and he manages a home health care company for the elderly in Fayetteville, Ark.

When I asked her, "That works?" about online dating.

She laughed and said, "Yes, it works."

Since her contract was up here, she decided to move to Arkansas to be with
Craig.

He proposed to her in June, but because of mounting medical bills, she really can't afford the wedding of her dreams.

She'd always wanted to be married in Charleston, S.C., where she and her family vacationed while growing up in Charlotte. Deborah got some brochures from the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. In one of them, she found an ad for an $8,000 online wedding contest. She decided to try for it. She made a video and Deborah and Craig were one of four couples chosen.

Go to http://charlestonweddinggiveaway.com and watch the video for Deborah and Craig. They have a really sweet story. Vote for them and have your friends vote for them, too. You can vote every day through Oct. 17.

She hopes to be married on April 4, no matter what happens. No one deserves this more than Deborah.

So vote every day and please tell your friends, too.

DWTS, Week 2

OK, inexplicably, Brooke Burke is the leading contender to win "Dancing With the Stars."

The former "Wild on ..." host on E! Entertainment television channel. You know the show. It's the one where she would go to various hot spots to see what vacationing folks are doing. Usually things you wouldn't do back home. She spent a lot of time in bikinis, so she's probably at home wearing the skimpy costumes on "DWTS."

Warren Sapp did very, very well tonight, as did Misty May-Treanor. The one star I thought would do really well, Toni Braxton, isn't living up to my expectations. I've picked almost every winner. My percentage is going to go down.

I think maybe Kim Kardashian will be booted off the show tomorrow night.

We'll see. She's still on the show, so someone is voting her in.

Right now, I'm watching "Nightline" and there's this young, pregnant woman who's shooting up heroin.

I can't imagine why anyone would jeopardize her child like that.

Apparently, she was on "Oprah" and the talk show host promised to get her into rehab. Bet it won't work. She was using when she had her 4-year-old daughter.

I'm exhausted. As I said last week, my brother decided to redo our kitchen.

Our house is a mess and I'm all banged up with bruises everywhere. My back hurts. I have a ruptured disc, so I'm sure that's not good.

But the kitchen looks really, really good.

I have a 9 a.m. interview, so I'd better get ready for bed.

Maureen Gallagher

I am slowly meeting all the new people in the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music and departments of theater and art.

Last Friday, I met the new professor of viola, Maureen Gallagher.

It turns out that she's a member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, though she took a year's leave to teach at CSU. I asked if she was part of the orchestra when it performed at the Springer Opera House back in 2000. She looked surprised because she said I was the only person who asked her that. It's probably because so many of the music faculty are new and were hired after the new facility opened.

Anyway, she was. Maureen remembered that the RiverCenter site was still under construction. When I mentioned that Branford Marsalis, who was conducting the orchestra on that tour, refused to let Georgia Public Radio broadcast the concert, she simply said, "He was in a bad mood that night."

And then she said she was a member of the Mito Chamber Orchestra in Mito, Japan. It's such a coincidence that Mito was one of the areas we visited when we were in Japan in May.

Maureen spends about four weeks every year in Japan. She'll go in November for a week to perform. She's the only non-Japanese string player. She says she was hired because the orchestra does not have a conductor, and she's got experience performing without a conductor. You see, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra usually does without a conductor. For some reason, Marsalis was on that tour as the conductor. I know he does play with the orchestra, but he was the big name that year.

We had a nice chat about Japan. We even ate at the same small restaurant in Nikko that specializes in tofu.

I still say that was the best meal we had on that trip.

You can hear Maureen for the first time Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Legacy Hall. She'll be performing in the Columbus State University Faculty Concert Series with professor of piano Gila Goldstein and professor of cello André Gaskins.

The program includes Bach's "Sonata for Viola and Piano," Hindemith's "Sonata for Viola and Piano, Opus 11, No. 4" and Beethoven's "Duet for Viola and Cello in E-flat Major," sometimes called "With Two Eyeglasses Obligato."

And there's something special. Schwob School of Music director Fred Cohen has written a brand-new piece, and the world premiere of "For Maureen" will be performed.

Tickets are $20.

Call 706-256-3612.

Tropic Thunder

I know the movie has been out for weeks, but it wasn't until tonight that I saw the movie "Tropic Thunder."

Yesterday was my friend Cameron Faucette's birthday. Being an Auburn University graduate, watching Auburn football is very important to her, so we decided to have dinner and go to movie today.

And that's exactly what we did.

Cameron wanted to see "Nights at Rodanthe," but figured correctly that Bill and Troy would not want to see that.

Oz and baby Jessica came to dinner to say hello. Oz offered to let V.J. have a night out with us. Next time we'll pick a G or PG movie.

The movie was so silly that we laughed. In fact, I think we were the only ones laughing out loud. And we were laughing loudly.

At one point, Cameron leaned over and said that it was Tom Cruise's best performance in a long time. I was thinking the same thing.

When the credits began to roll, some people behind us gasped when Cruise's name and photo came up.

What? People didn't know? That's just crazy.

We had not been together like this in a long time. We agreed that we need to do this more often.

Good friends

I have wonderful friends. One of them, V.J. Roberts, took me to dinner and then to see "Menopause The Musical" tonight for my birthday, even though my birthday was weeks ago.

Oh, my God! That play is too funny. And the Springer Opera House could not hold another person. It's been sold out every single show.

People were laughing hysterically, including me. I know exactly how those actors feel. The man sitting next to me was laughing a lot, too.

The authors of the show took very well known songs and reworked the lyrics. On my way out of the theater, I overheard a man say he'll never listen to "Good Vibrations" the same way.

You had to be there.

Kristen Metcalfe, who works in the box office, said people don't balk at buying obstructed view seats and they don't care that they're not sitting with their friends. You see, only single seats were left.

Tonight, there was a huge busload of people. When I asked marketing director Scooter MacMillan where the bus was from, he said Cordele. People from Cordele rented a huge bus to come to Columbus to see a play!

That's just astounding.

And great for the Springer.

If you have a chance to see the show, go. The final shows are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both shows are sold out, but call to see if anyone turned in their tickets. You may get lucky.

Call 706-327-3688.

Farewell, Mr. Landrum

I heard the sad news that Hugh Landrum had died.

One of my editors came to me and asked if I'd write the obituary.

I have to tell you, Mr. Landrum was the perfect Southern gentleman. He was always very kind to me, and very nice to me. He was the interim director after Anne Timpano left. She left a museum staff in chaos. Not a lot of people remember those days, but I certainly do.

I never saw her at an exhibit opening. I could hardly get her on the phone. It was a difficult time for me, trying to get stories done.

Then Mr. Landrum took over, and my difficulties disappeared. He was always available. And like I said, very nice.

So when I heard the news, the first person I called was Tom Butler. Mr. Landrum was interim director of the Columbus Museum for about a year before Tom was hired.

I knew that Tom liked and respected Mr. Landrum. Tom was, understandably, distraught.

He told me the sweetest story. 

Tom said he and Mr. Landrum loved to "collect museums." If a museum was within driving distance, they'd go.

Then they'd discuss what they liked about that museum and what they didn't like about that museum on their way home. And they'd discuss if anything they saw could be done at the Columbus Museum.

The last museum they "collected" was the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University. It was Mr. Landrum's 90th birthday. The museum's director, Marilyn Laufer, is Tom's wife, and she gave Mr. Landrum a private tour. Betsy Covington, the executive director of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, and her family went, too. Betsy was the museum's development director when Mr. Landrum was the interim director. She, like Tom, was very fond of Mr. Landrum.

They all went to dinner and Mr. Landrum had a great birthday.

Tom said Mr. Landrum's health began declining when his beloved wife, Edith, died in 2006. Like many couples who are happily married for a long time, when one dies, the other often follows. Tom thinks this is what happened.

The one image that Tom will always carry with him is another sweet image. Mr. Landrum loved to sit on his deck overlooking Lake Oliver, sipping single malt scotch and watch the sun set over Alabama.

I think I'll remember Mr. Landrum that way, too.

Um, um, good

I really, truly have the best job in the world. 

What other job can one have when you can hang out with friends, tasting a new menu and then acting like a judge on "Iron Chef"?

That's exactly what I did tonight.

David Serrato and Marlene Aguirre, who own Los Amigos Cantina, wanted to have a new dinner menu.

They hired James Shores to come up with a bunch of new dishes.

Now, I've known James since he was about 15. His mother, Nancy, is one of the finest actors you'll ever see in Columbus. Unfortunately, because of health issues, it's been years since she's been on stage.

Tom McCafferty, my actor friend in Los Angeles, keeps saying if Nancy came out to Hollywood, she'd become an instant star.

You see, Nancy can tell stories that will have the most dour person laughing. But she doesn't think she's funny.

Anyway, Nancy and I were joined by Troy Heard and Abby Satterfield tonight. Nancy had us laughing like loons. All she had to do was start telling stories.

And if she would do that on stage, she'd be the most popular stand-up comedian working today.

I digress.

David and Marlene invited a bunch of people to come and try the new menu items. All we had to do was taste and then write our comments on a comment sheet.

There were two soups, several main dishes and several side dishes.

My favorite was the grilled chicken with peach habañero chutney. It also came with green beans. It was to die for, though the chutney was not hot enough.

I love, love, love hot food. The hotter the better. So it was a very mild chutney. I was expecting more.

But it was, nonetheless, a very good dish.

The salmon quesadilla was also excellent.

The catfish fajitas, I didn't even try. I don't like catfish, so I don't eat it.

All in all, I liked almost everything. 

David said he will read all the comments and figure out which dishes will make it to the dinner menu.

I can't wait to see which ones make it.

Project Runway

This week's challenge was to take a musical genre and then dress another contestant in that fashion.

Korto won. She dressed Suede in a punk fashion.

I really thought it would be Jerell once again. He dressed Kenley like a pop princess and she looked fantastic.

Suede, who speaks in third person, lost. He dressed Jerell in rock 'n roll fashion, but he looked like Jerell does every day.

Only four are left. I'm guessing next week, one will be gone and then the three left will compete to win. I think it will be Jerell, Korto and Leanne.

What do you think?

DWTS, Part 2

Tonight was the second elimination.

Sonya and I were talking about it this afternoon and we both thought Ted McGinley would be eliminated. And we were right.

But I never thought Toni Braxton would be considered to be eliminated. She was standing there with McGinley. I really thought that Kim Kardashian would be there instead of Braxton.

I'm still astounded that Brooke Burke is the leader. Aren't you?

Dancing With the Stars

OK. It's the second night of the sixth season.

I was correct. Jeffrey Ross was the first one eliminated. It was no surprise to anyone. I mean, he got 12 points from the judges. And most people don't know who he is, so I bet he got very little support from America.

Brooke Burke got the highest score tonight with her quick step. I'm really surprised she's doing so well.

Warren Sapp was, once again, very good. But I do agree with Carrie Ann, who said he was a little flat-footed. He was. But come on, he weighs 300 lbs. I bet he's the biggest person who has ever been on this show.

Wednesday night, there will be another couple eliminated.

Let's see. Cloris Leachman, who had people laughing so hard in the audience that they were crying just wasn't that good. Entertaining, yes. I'm just not impressed with Susan Lucci or Kim Kardashian. One of them will probably be gone tomorrow night. Rather tonight.

My sister Nancy spent the evening putting tile on the kitchen floor, and I helped by getting her Cokes. And telling her the tiles were crooked. She was not amused.

So I went to my corner to clean my mother's craft table.

That's why this posting is 90 minutes or so after the end of "DWTS."

My friend Troy says I should just give up the arts and write about television. But now that the arts season has started again, I'll have plenty to write about.

GOOP

Two of my least favorite people: Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow

I sometimes think that blogging is self-indulgent. No one really cares what I think. But my boss is making me do it (blog).

But, my God! Gwyneth Paltrow is taking things way beyond self-indulgence.

OK. For one thing, I can't stand the woman. I don't understand why people think she's the greatest thing alive. When she won the Oscar (the year that Cate Blanchett should have), she was wearing that ill-fitted pink gown. Everyone was going on and on about how wonderful she looked. My only comment: Doesn't she have a bra? I mean, she's in Hollywood! Where were her stylists? So she doesn't want implants. Gwyneth, you could have bought a padded bra and you would have looked so much better.

Now, she's come up with something called GOOP. It's her lifestyle Web site.

I just read about it on E! Online.

"Good news everyone, Gwyneth Paltrow is launching a lifestyle website — because when life is as amazing as hers obviously is, it’s selfish to keep all those fabulous secrets to yourself."

The writer of this piece, Jennifer Cady, is a woman I'd like to meet.

She writes things like the Web site "promises to offer tips on how to Make, Go, Get, Do, Be and See like Gwyneth so that we may become as awesome as Gwyneth and eventually get to hang out with Madonna."

Here's what Gwyneth has to say about GOOP: “My life is good because I am not passive about it. I want to nourish what is real, and I want to do it without wasting time. I love to travel, to cook, to eat, to take care of my body and mind, to work hard. I love being a mother who has to overcome my bad qualities to be a good mother. I love being in spaces that are clean and feel nice.

“Make your life good. Invest in what's real. Cook a meal for someone you love. Pause before reacting. Clean out your space. Read something beautiful. Treat yourself to something. Go to a city you've never been to. Learn something new. Don't be lazy. Workout and stick with it. GOOP. Make it great."

Doesn't this just make you want to gag?

The woman has money. Most people in America don't have the kind of funds that will let them travel. They're just having trouble making ends meet. Feeding their children. Buying gas to get to work.

Yuck!

Renovation

A long time ago, I was talking to Bo Bartlett, the very, very fine artist who is originally from Columbus. He was fixing his house, and asked if I'd ever renovated a house that I was still living in. I told him no. He said, "Don't."

I now know what he meant.

My brother is renovating our kitchen and that means the entire house is a mess.

My three little babies had to stay outside most of the day, and I'm not sure they gave them water. When I let them in around 9 p.m., they quickly drank two bowls of water.

Anyway, I did watch one of my favorite reality shows, "Dancing with the Stars" last night. But I didn't blog about it because I wasn't sure where my laptop was.

I was gently reminded about that this morning by my co-worker Sonya Sorich who often checks my blog to see what I thought about the previous night's television goings-on.

OK.

I was impressed with Toni Braxton, Brooke Burke and Warren Sapp. Unless Braxton has problems with her health, I think she might be the front-runner. But Sapp was the revelation!

That huge man is very light on his feet. And did a fabulous job with the cha-cha.

The worse just may be Susan Lucci. She dances just about as well as she acts. I wasn't impressed with Jeff Ross, either, who may be the first one booted off the show. Poor Edyta. She has the worst luck with her celebrity partners. I mean, she had Kenny Mayne, whom I think was robbed the first season. He should have gone on to at least the second show. Then she had Evander Holyfield and the list goes on. Her husband, Alec Mazo, won that first season with that other soap opera actress, Kelly something. Though I really don't think she should have won at all.

Wait! I was wrong. Kenny Mayne was not her partner. She did dance with Holyfield, George Hamilton, John Ratzenberger, Joey Lawrence, Cameron Mathison. And my favorite pairing was last season's with Jason Taylor.

Maybe dancing with Mayne was traumatic because his partner, Andrea Hale has not been back.

Cloris Leachman, who is 82, did OK with the foxtrot, but I know she's going to have problems with the Latin dances. She's very creaky. But she'll probably last a few weeks just because people are impressed that she even made the effort.

Kim Kardashian came with her mother and stepfather (Bruce Jenner) and at least one of her sisters. She did OK.

The one thing I did notice this season: A lot of implants.

Atlanta Ballet gets live orchestra back

Last year, because of the cost associated with having live music accompanying the Atlanta Ballet, the orchestra was "fired."

It made our Columbus Ballet buck the trend of getting rid of musicians in favor of recorded music. I think the Columbus Ballet was the only ballet in the state with an orchestra. It's something that artistic and executive director David Herriott was very proud to have. And rightly so.

Well, I just got a press release that said the Atlanta Ballet will have the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra back for the 2008/2009 season.

A trustee of the Atlanta Ballet, Patti Wallace, came up with a one-year gift of $200,000 to help bring back live music to the performances. Michael and Kristine Robison pledged $50,000 to sponsor a conductor for the season. Kristine Robison is also a trustee.

“What a tremendous gift to the Atlanta Ballet and our city’s cultural community,” said John McFall Atlanta Ballet’s artistic director. “When I met Patti ten years ago, she was introduced to me as a ‘patron of the arts.’ This gesture illustrates what a genuine understanding she has as a leader in supporting the arts.”

McFall and Wallace met when Atlanta Ballet toured in Haywood, N.C., where she has a home.

“I have been a fan of the Atlanta Ballet for years and while they hold a special place in my heart, this is a good business decision," Wallace said. "The arts are vital in Atlanta’s emergence as a world-class city, and live music is an integral part of professional dance that will help grow our base of audiences and donors. I am proud to be able to provide the support to accelerate the return of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.”

McFall went on to say that “the gift made by our generous patrons represents significant faith in the organization and the future of dance.”

Last week, the Atlanta Ballet worked out an agreement with the Atlanta Federation of Musicians for the one-year contract for live music for some performances.

This means "Swan Lake," "Dracula" and "Don Quixote" will have live music at every performance. "The Nutcracker" will have the orchestra for the performances on Dec. 5-7.

“This is a very special occasion for us, as it has always been our intention to bring live music back to our performances,” says Barry Hughson, Atlanta Ballet’s executive director. “Because of this very generous contribution, we will be able to have live music back for a large part of our 2008-2009 Season. While this is an exciting step, we still have further to go, and need the support of the whole community, so that live music will be a part of every one of our performances in future seasons.”

For a while now, the Atlanta Ballet has been working on a business plan to bring long-term financial stability to the organization. Atlanta Ballet’s Board of Directors made the decision to switch to digital music as a cost-saving measure in the summer of 2006. Right after that, there was a national search for a new executive director. Hughson, a former professional dancer with a 16-year history in senior arts administration, was named to the position.

He's been very busy. Hughson completed negotiations on the sale of the organization’s midtown property, the purchase of their future headquarters at 1695 Marietta Boulevard, engineered the move to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and is leading the development and implementation of the five-year institutional business and fundraising plan.


"Swan Lake" opens the season at the Cobb Energy Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 8 p.m. Oct. 24; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 1; 2 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2. Tickets are $15-$115.

For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 404-817-8700 or visit atlantaballet.com

Kenny Loggins

Did you wonder how the Kenny Loggins concert went last night?

The first event of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts season was his concert Thursday night.

"It was a great concert," RiverCenter marketing director Darlene Kittrell said. "We had a very good turnout."

She said valet parking was a hit, too.

"Think of the convenience," she said. "It's fun and it's nice. Columbus is ready for valet parking."

Bric Barker

Bric Barker is one of my favorite people in all the world. I just haven't seen him in person in years, though we correspond via e-mail.

I first met Bric when he called me asking if I needed a music reviewer. Or a theater reviewer. It turned out that we couldn't use him as a theater reviewer because he was a performer. We could use him as a music reviewer and he did several reviews of Columbus Symphony Orchestra concerts.

He also wrote some stories for me, including interviews with guest artists at the now defunct Southeastern Music Festival. I remember him raving about a young cellist named Andres Diaz. Andres, of course, is the son of Manuel and Betty Anne Diaz. He's now considered to be one of the top cellists in the world.

Bric also started an Oscar party every year. After he left Columbus to start a job in South Florida, I continued the tradition. I kept it up for years. Then I got tired and quit. I may have to start up again.

In 1990, he started having meetings to start a new theater. He called it The Human Experience Theatre.

T.H.E. Theatre started at the Loft. The Loft back in those days, isn't what it is today. The only thing it presented was T.H.E.'s shows. Then owner Buddy Nelms started booking musicians. And it turned out to be such a success that Bric had to find another space. He found it right across the street.

He left, but left the theater in good hands. His good friend Stephen Sisson took over as artistic director and the theater continued its quality programming.

After Stephen left, things started to badly for T.H.E. A few years ago, it finally folded.

For those of you who weren't around then, you should have seen some those early productions. The signature piece was "Turn in Your Hymnal," which was written by Bric. He and Mike Daughtry starred.

Two of my favorite shows produced there were "T-Bone and Weasel" and "Angry Housewives."

Bric came back to Georgia and went back to college to get his master's degree.

Then he got this idea that he'd like to travel. To do that, he decided to teach English as a second language. He went to Korea, then Egypt, Lebanon and Korea again.

His young daughter, Persephone, went with him. It turned out that young Miss P. spent more time overseas than in the United States.

Bric just left for another teaching position, this time in Taiwan. Miss P. who just graduated from high school, married her high school sweetheart this summer and for the first time, Bric is alone.

But he says he's doing well and he loves the kids he's teaching.

I'm so glad he's doing well. And I'm glad he got to see Troy Heard produce "Turn in Your Hymnal" before he left for Taiwan.

Bric, your Warrior Mistress misses you!

Menopause The Musical

Hey, if you want to see "Menopause The Musical," I have one piece of advice for you: Do not go to the Springer Opera House without a ticket.

The show may be sold out the night you decide to go to the Springer.

Back in the summer, it turned out that people were flooding the box office to buy season tickets. Why? Because they wanted to make sure they had a ticket to see "Menopause The Musical."

Producing artistic director Paul Pierce saw that more performances would be needed when single tickets went on sale.

So three or maybe four performances were added. I can't remember the number. I think it's four.

Then the single ticket sales went through the roof.

Many of the shows are nearly sold out. You may be able to get two seats together. But for some, there are just single seats left.

I asked earlier this week which shows still had more seats available, and I was told that it was the added shows. If you want to go on a weekend with your girlfriends, you're out of luck.

So go ahead and call the box office and reserve a ticket if you want to see this show.

You can thank me later.

Project Runway

You know I don't watch the show live. I catch the repeat later on.

I was so sleepy that I went to bed before blogging about last night's episode.

As I've been complaining, this season just isn't as engaging as seasons past. I don't know why.

The challenge was the design a work outfit for new graduates who are looking for their first job.

Jerell won. It was a neat looking outfit that I would wear.

Joe lost, mostly because the judges said it made the young woman look 45 rather than 22.

I ran into my friend Ralph Wimberly last Friday at Amy Bishop's going away reception. Ralph was the costumer at the Springer Opera House. He is a gifted designer. Ralph should be on this show.

He agreed with me that this season is ho hum.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who thinks that the season does not suck, but it's closes.

The Cotton Pickin' Fair

Here's Harold Smith, a woodcarver, at the Cotton Pickin' Fair.

I have two fairs that I'm partial to. The first is the Powers Crossroads arts and crafts festival that's held every Labor Day weekend in Newnan.

The other is the Cotton Pickin' Fair in Gay, Ga.

It's about 50 or so miles northeast of Columbus and it's always a lot of fun.

I remember going to Gay to the festival back in, oh, 1976 or so. It was just along the main drag in downtown Gay. All you had to do was park and walk a few minutes and you'd see everything.

Over the years, it's gotten huge! And so successful that someone has begun a fair across the street.

The difference is the original Cotton Pickin' Fair features artists and craftsmen who are juried by a panel.

There are two of these fairs. One is in May and the second is the first weekend in October. This year, it's  Oct. 4-5.

You'll be able to find pottery, fabrics, sculpture, woodcarving, paintings, jewelry, wearable art. Craftsmen will demonstrate whatever they are making.

There's plenty of entertainment in case you take your kids.

And the food! You'll love it. There's barbecue, of course, but all sorts of other food including sausage biscuits made by the Faith Chapel.

The fair is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $5; $3 for children ages 4-12.

For information, go to www.cpfair.org or call 706-538-6814.

Meryl Rifkin

My friend Meryl Rifkin moved to Hollywood, Calif., last summer so her youngest child, Aaron could pursue an acting career.

Now, I know Meryl from the theater here in town. I never knew Aaron to be interested in theater. But he is and Meryl, being a great mother, moved. They rented a small apartment that boasted an astronomical price. Aaron enrolled in high school and loved it there. And he started auditioning for everything he could.

They came home this summer, and moved back out last month.

This time, though, Meryl's long-time companion, Andy Smith, went with them.

I got an e-mail from Meryl recently that said she and Andy made an appearance in the audience of the new syndicated show, "The Doctors." It's on WTVM 9.

I missed the show, but she said she thought they were prominently featured.

Meryl said they are loving it out in Los Angeles. They moved into a two-bedroom apartment.

So who would have thought Meryl and Andy would be on TV before Aaron?

Signature Chefs

I've known Linda Szabo for many, many years. It was so long ago that my hair was gray-free and down to my waist.

She was in high school, and for some reason, wanted to be a journalist. 

I used to advise the young people who wanted to work at a newspaper. I don't think I was the best adviser. I'd tell them in our very first meeting that it would be better for them if they'd find another profession. I told them they'd never really make any money and they'd work long hours. And people will often hate you for writing something that was true, but they didn't want to hear it.

Linda grew up and became an intern one summer with us before deciding to go into nonprofit work. She's been the executive director of the March of Dimes since she graduated from the University of Georgia. 

For the second year, the MOD will be hosting the Signature Chefs Auction at 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the RiverMill Event Centre.

Tickets are $65 and need to be reserved before 5 p.m. Oct. 3.

Top chefs in town will make their signature dishes and you get to taste them. And there will be an auction for all kinds of things to bid on.

It should be a lot of fun.

Call 706-660-0160.

Amy Bishop

My friend Amy Bishop is leaving Columbus, and I'm going to miss her a lot.

I must have met her earlier than 1991, but that's when I got to know her. We were both in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." It was my first show and her, I don't know, how many she had done.

Amy was our rehearsal accompanist and she played keyboards in the orchestra.

She didn't want her church to know she was in the show, so her name was never mentioned.

Amy has been at the Springer Opera House more than 20 years, and many of her friends and family members attended a reception Friday afternoon.

She helped me get a song ready for an audition, and she was surprised. "Sandra, you can carry a tune," she said. I kept saying over and over that I couldn't sing. Now, I know that I can carry a tune, but that doesn't mean I can sing. It's like I've taken years of dance lessons. It doesn't mean I can dance.

And even though I've had years to learn how to work a CD player or DVD player doesn't mean I can always do either of those relatively simple tasks.

Amy, along with Janet Roddy, Jan Crawford, Cindy Mohney, Roxann Suits, Phoebe Caldwell, Lynna Spencer, Karen Lord and I meet for each other's birthdays. 

It was Amy's husband, Art, who suggested that we meet at Jekyll Island for one of the birthdays from now on.

That's an excellent idea!

Art and Amy are moving to the Georgia coast to help Amy's father care for her mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

It's going to be tough for Amy, who leaves in the morning for the three-hour drive. She's leaving alone because Art, a minister, is staying her until their house sells.

But Amy says she'll be back occasionally. That means we'll all go to lunch and laugh and talk and laugh some more.

That's what we do a lot of fun when we're all together.

I'll miss you, Amy. So will the Springer.

The Shrine Circus

Today was the third year in a row that I got to be the honorary ringmaster at the Columbus-Fort Benning Shrine Circus.

It's not tough. All I do is go to one of the rings, get introduced, say a few words and blow a whistle.

I always do the 2 p.m. Saturday show. This year, the tiger act was first. It's just amazing to see these huge cats jump through rings of fire and walk a double tightrope.

I usually leave after the first act, but in the darkened third ring, I could see a tiny figure walk up and then climb to the trapeze tower.

I had to stay to see this. I don't know how old that child was, but she was teeny tiny. I kept waiting for her to fly, but she didn't. Well, she kind of did. When the adults did their dismounts, she got on the trapeze and landed very gracefully in the net and then got off.

After the aerialists,  there were these fantastic jugglers. Then the clowns came out. So I stayed. And then came the dog-and-pony act.

Mark Cantrell, the circus director and president of the local Shriners, leaned over and said when he got the elephant act, the dog-and-pony act had to come because the elephant trainer is married to the dog-and-pony trainer.

After a bit, I went over to where our photo chief, Mike Haskey was standing, taking pictures. We both have Chihuahuas. I have my little Chipper, the mean-and-grumpy. He and his wife have two that they inherited from one of Rebecca's sisters who could no longer keep them.

Mike was laughing when he wondered if that woman could train our Chihuahuas. I told him it's too late for my Chipper.

I had to leave because I was meeting my mother and sisters.

Just as I got to Peachtree Mall, I got a call from my friend Oz Roberts. He asked where I was and I told him I was at the mall.

"The mall?" he asked. "You left the circus?"

It turned out he and his daughter, Jessica, were at the circus. When Jessica got on the phone, she said, "Auntie Sandra, didn't you hear me? I kept saying 'Auntie Sandra, Auntie Sandra.' "

I didn't hear her. I'm sorry I didn't because I don't see her often enough.

Mark said the Saturday matinee crowd was the biggest he's seen in years. I knew it was going to be a big crowd because I left the newspaper at 1:40, thinking it would take just a few minutes to get to the Columbus Civic Center.

Oh, no. A few minutes before 2 p.m., I was still stuck on Veterans Parkway. I called Mark and told him where I was.

I got there a few minutes after 2 p.m., when the circus was supposed to start. It was delayed about 10 minutes because there was a huge crowd in the Civic Center lobby waiting to buy tickets.

The Shriners I spoke to were ecstatic, especially since the proceeds of the circus go to the Shriners' hospitals, where children are treated for various life-threatening ailments.

You have two more chances to see the circus -- 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday).

With the economy in the shape it is and worries about the rising gas prices, and everything else, go to the circus. You'll forget about things for a while and laugh with your kids. If you don't have kids, borrow some.

You won't be sorry.

Some days, I'm just a bonehead

Yup. Today was one of those days.

Yesterday, I wrote a bunch of stories and usually, I don't make mistakes.

But when I do, they're usually doozies.

In today's story about the Eroica Trio, who will be performing Saturday with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, I quoted Gila Goldstein.

I know that she's the new professor of piano at Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music. I said she was professor of cello.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

I really, really am sorry, Ms. Goldstein.

9/11

People always say they remember certain dates. And people of different generations remember different dates.

For example, I remember when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was 11 and in school. We lived in Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

The first step Neil Armstrong took on the moon? I was sick. Let's see, I think I was a high school freshman. I do know we were stationed on Okinawa.

The riots around the country after the Rodney King beating? My mother and I were vacationing in Japan when we watched it on TV.

Kurt Cobain's suicide? We were in the car on our way to Charleston, S.C., listening on the radio.

9/11. I was on jury duty that week. I reported as usual, and I was picked for a jury. So I went up to the courtroom and sat around waiting with the other jurors.

Someone came and said we needed to go back downstairs to the jury pool room because the case was decided out of court.

We trooped back downstairs. Debbie King, our publisher's assistant, was also in the jury pool that week. From across the room, she called my name.

She asked if I'd been watching the news. I told her that I'd been upstairs and there wasn't a TV, much less a radio.

Debbie said, "Sit down and watch this."

The TV was on and people were bunched around watching.

I asked Debbie if that was a scene from a movie.

No, she said. Two planes had hit the World Trade Center, another hit he Pentagon and a third crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

Why? 

Debbie said everyone was just speculating.

By that time, we were all dismissed.

I had parked in the parking garage near our building then walked to the Government Center. Debbie drove me back to the newspaper. But as we left the Government Center, we noticed that there were barricades all around the building. And security was very noticeable.

Once back at the paper, the newsroom was very busy with everyone running around, stopping to watch the TV sets around the different departments, then resume running around.

I sat down and starting calling my friends living in New York. I couldn't get through to anyone.

It was a very strange day. 

All the reporters tried to find people who were affected by the events of the day. I found my friend Bill Rich stranded at an airport, I think in Indianapolis. He found the last rental car at the airport and began the long drive home.

I wrote that up.

That night, I got home and spent practically the whole night watching ABC. I just couldn't stop watching. I think everyone was the same way.

It took a couple of days, but I spoke to all my friends in New York. Everyone was fine.

But Mark Evans, who starred in several plays at the Springer Opera House, worked in the financial center in the World Trade Center complex.

He told me a harrowing tale of leaving the area. He said the company he worked for, Deloitte and Touche, had an emergency evacuation plan. And they practiced on a regular basis.

When the first plane hit, he was sitting around before starting work, drinking coffee and chatting with colleagues. He said the noise was tremendous.

Almost immediately, security came around and told everyone to grab their belongings and go home. Mark said they were told to leave immediately. Not to loiter. Just go home.

He and one of his co-workers left the office and when they got outside on the plaza, he said they did what people do in that kind of situation. They stopped and looked up at the burning building.

And then Mark saw something that haunts him to this day. People were jumping from the building. At first, he said he couldn't believe what he was seeing. And when he realized the falling objects were people, he grabbed his friend's hand and ran.

They caught the last ferry to New Jersey, where both live. From the middle of the ride over, they watched the first tower fall.

When he finally got home, his roommate was hysterical because he couldn't get through to him.

The events of that day still affects him, like so many people.

Then I found out that my friend Roy Williams lost his oldest brother at the Pentagon. Roy idolized his big brother.

For a while, I was in charge of the intern program, and I found Roy, who was a student at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. I hired him as an intern that summer and I made a friend for life. He lived with Dwayne and his family that summer.

When he graduated, he was hired full-time. After a couple of years, he went to Birmingham to work at the News, where he's a business writer. 

Roy wrote a wonderful column that he sent me last week. I gave it to Dusty Nix, who ran it in Sunday's editorial page.

Roy and his family are in Washington, D.C., for the dedication of the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. I hope he found a little bit of peace today.

Every year, I still watch the specials. And I still get teary. I bet a lot of people do the same thing.

Project Runway

You know, this season's "Project Runway" is just not good as past seasons.

I really haven't found one designer I really like. On the other hand, I haven't found one designer I can't stand. I mean, Leanne is pretty annoying, but ...

Jerell won tonight's challenge which was to design something that matched the astrological sign of the designer and one of the eliminated designers.

Blayne and Terri were eliminated. Their designs were truly heinous.

We'll see what happens when the show moves from Bravo to Lifetime next season. I think it's Lifetime.

Japanese game shows

I know that Japanese game shows are stupid. I've watched these shows for a long time. My aunt and cousins have sent us videotapes of Japanese television ever since we got our first Betamax.

Unfortunately, DVDs are incompatible, so they'll keep sending videotapes.

Anyway, I would sit in front of the TV with my mouth open because these game shows are so astoundingly bad. Sometimes even dangerous.

This summer, American networks have discovered the Japanese game shows.

There's a new one on Fox TV right now called "The Hole." Styrofoam cut-outs move across the stage and people have to fit into the shape of the hole without being pushed into a little pool.

It's dumb.

But I swear this is nothing compared to the dumb things I've seen on real Japanese television. Really.

A fun Columbus Museum event

Last month, the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts held a wine event that was called The Phantom of the RiverCenter. 

It was the inaugural event of the RiverCenter Ambassadors Network, a group of volunteers that wanted to encourage new patrons to attend the RiverCenter's programs. There was a tour of the RiverCenter that I'd bet 99 percent of the people had never seen.

The event was a great success.

Now, the Columbus Museum's Columbus Contemporaries (the membership group for young professionals) and the Greater Columbus Georgia Young Professionals (a program of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce) have collaborated to do "Corks and Canvas."

This is a wine event that blends art and wine in an attempt to promote community involvement and cultural awareness among young professionals.

It's a good way to get people involved.

"Corks and Canvas" will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road. There will be a wine tasting and light hors d'oeuvres from Meritage Cafe.

There will also be a private tour of the museum's exhibit, "The 2008 Columbus Biennial" by Kristen Miller Zohn, the museum's curator of collections and exhibitions. 

If you haven't seen the exhibit, I really recommend you see this exhibit before it closes. I think it closes in two weeks. This exhibit features current work of some outstanding contemporary Southern artists.

This is a very affordable event. It's $10 before 5 p.m. Friday. That's when you need to make a reservation because space is limited.

There will be a very limited number of tickets at the door for $15.

If you want to know more about this event, call Lane Riley at 706-748-2562, ext. 542.

Stand Up to Cancer

The star-studded special Friday night reportedly took in $100 million for cancer research.

Almost everyone I know has had cancer or has had a family member have the disease.

My paternal grandmother died of breast cancer before I was born. Back in those days, I think that was the norm. My father died in 1991 of multiple myeloma, which is a type of bone cancer.

The researchers who appeared on the show say that they are "thisclose" to finding a cure, but they need money.

Maybe this show, broadcast on all three networks, raised awareness as well as money.

And maybe our next president will stop funding this war and putting money into finding a cure for cancer and other devastating diseases.

CSU children's play

I forget what the play is called. It's something like "How Cows Fly and Other Known Facts."

I'll look it up when I get to the office tomorrow.

At any rate, it's a children's play that's being produced by the Columbus State University department of theater.

And it's going to be a good one.

Here's a sign that things are changing in the theater department: I didn't know a single cast member. That's really a good thing. It means the department is growing.

If you have a child or can borrow one, you'll have a great time. This play is geared toward the younger ones, and there's plenty of audience participation.

Three books, written by Paul Brett Johnson, has a farmer, Miss Rosemary, dealing with cows that fly and pigs that drive.

Really.

You can see it next weekend, Friday-Sunday. 

Look for details in next week's To Do.

Somehow, I've caught a cold

I went to bed last night and I felt just fine.

I woke up this morning feeling yucky. My head is all congested and can hardly breathe. I'm headachy and feel a little feverish.

I went into work later than usual. Did a few things for next week's To Do. Then I went to an interview. Afterward, I went home.

I have to go in early tomorrow because I have a phone interview with Kenny Loggins. Got any burning questions you want me to ask him? Let me know before 9 a.m.

After the interview, I'm coming back home to rest.

I don't know anyone who has a cold. I guess I could have just bumped into someone bearing germs.

A few hours ago, my sister Patty called. She's at home sick with a cold. But I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks. So it wasn't her.

I'll be at home all weekend.

I hate being sick. And it seems that the older I get, the easier I get sick. A couple of years ago, I was so sick I stayed home for almost a week. One of my colleagues whom I'd worked with my entire time at the Ledger-Enquirer was astounded. He said as long as he'd known me, I never took a sick day. It was true.

Not any more. If I feel bad enough, I'll stay home. I figure after 33 years, I've earned my sick days.

Besides, like I said earlier, I just may be a hypochondriac. 

Project Runway

This week, the challenge is to design something for Diane von Furstenburg's collection. With a Shanghai influence.

Is it me or is Stella beginning to look like a normal person? This week, she looked softer, not so much a punk rocker chick. But her design was not like her.

My favorite was Korto's gorgeous black-and-white long gown. It had a bright yellow lining. I'd wear it. Well, if I were 6-feet-tall and weighed 120 pounds!

Believe it or not, Leanne won again this week. She's one of the annoying people on the show.

And Stella is out.

Separated at birth?

Remember that magazine that ran "Separated by birth"?

They would show two pictures side by side.

I really think Sarah Palin (below) of Alaska, who was picked by John McCain to be his running mate, and ex-"Saturday Night Life" star Tina Fey (above) are separated by birth.

Don't you wish Fey was still on "SNL"? She'd do a killer impression during the "news," don't you think?

Am I wrong? Or do you think they could be sisters? In looks, anyway.

Another year

I swear I sometimes look in the mirror and say, "Who is that old lady?"

And then I realize it's ME!

I cannot believe that I'm 56-years-old today. I have a friend who scolds me whenever I make my age public. She says that people will start guessing how old she is now!

I don't feel like I'm 56, though I don't know how 56 is supposed to feel. I really don't think I look 56, though I don't know how 56 is supposed to look.

I'm in reasonably good shape, and I'm in pretty good health.

I have a wonderful family and loads of great friends, many of whom have e-mailed or called me.

I had one friend, John Chapiewski , take me to lunch today at one of my favorite restaurants, the RiverMill Cafe. And executive chef/owner Jamie Keating made me a fabulous chocolate cake. And I ate the whole thing. Well, I let John taste.

My friends in the newsroom have all wished me a happy birthday. Sonya brought a bunch of goodies from my favorite bakery, Pat-a-Cakes, for me. I shared those.

Now, I'm on a sugar high.

What more can a girl want?

Scott

We left Scott in his apartment yesterday. He's on a different shift now.

The next time we see him, he'll be settled in his apartment.

He's the same as always. Ever since he was a little kid, he's been a very observant boy. And funny! Scott's just a funny guy. He's 23 now and a grown up version of that sweet, funny, incredibly smart, sensitive little boy. He's a little strange at times, but aren't we all?

I love this boy!

Frank Turner

It was just last Friday that I ran into Nell Spettel at Publix. She gave me the sad news that her brother, Frank, had been placed into Columbus Hospice.

I told her that when I got back from Valdosta that I'd go and visit him.

I never had the chance. He died on Saturday and his funeral was Monday.

I didn't know until I read Sunday's paper when I got back yesterday. And I couldn't get online.

My colleague Tim Chitwood wrote the best obit. I know Frank would have loved it.

I first met him years and years ago at Priscilla Black and Don Duncan's wedding. Frank was a stringer for Pris, who was the state editor at one time. She and Frank kept up with each other and he came to the wedding, where he danced with another one of Pris' stringers, Virginia Smith. We lost Mrs. Smith a long time ago, and now Frank is gone, too.

Frank was always a gentleman and always took time to talk to me no matter where we were.

And if you've never been to the Mayor's Office in Pittsview, you really missed something.

I'm going to miss Frank a lot.

My condolences go out to his family.