Last Day

Yep, tomorrow, September 1, 2006 at 11:45 AM (Nebraska time) I turn another year older.

So many people tell me I look younger, that many times I don't even think about how old I am.
Thank you Mary Hammer. My German Grandmother, or Grossmutter! She had soft skin and fine wrinkles at 65.

I have to go to court tomorrow, Jury Duty. Not the last day unfortunately. They are calling their "expert" witness. Hopefully they'll wrap up soon.

We had today off. I did laundry.

I did some work for Brian today too.

And now I sit here, preparing for tomorrow.

I remember my 40th birthday. My sister Cheryl threw me a surprise party. She had my whole family fly in...and I just lost it. Donnie and Sam blindfolded me and we drove to Kevin Sasaki's place where everyone had gathered. What a night!

Tomorrow, I am going to call my friend David after we get out of court (they say we will only be there for 1/2 a day). Hopefully I'll get to have lunch with David before he takes off for Boston for two weeks.
Then I am going to meet up with Jay hopefully. Sandra got us two Crumbs "twinkie" cupcakes so will stop by and share with her. She's a pal. :)

Then Paula and I are going to go stand in the cancellation line for "Mother Courage" in Central Park starring Meryl! If we get in, we get in. If not, we'll go for dinner.

I want to see "Little Miss Sunshine" this weekend.

I also, upon reflection, am letting go of some things, some expectations, some goals. Some hopes. Some dreams.

We'll see where God takes me. I am ready to try some different avenues (i.e. career).

I am grateful to be alive. Grateful to be healthy. Grateful for all the wonderful friends I have, the great family. I am thankful to God for all he has give me, and all he continues to give me.

I celebrate my parents, Jim and Yvonne Westbrook. They brought me into this world.

Thank you all....for life! For Love, and for learning!

Jury Duty Day One of Case

Well I'm not supposed to talk about this case, but suffice to say it's a medical malpractice suit by an 88 year old woman against a doctor and she was 86 at the time. Both sides gave their opening statements today, then called the woman and her sister as witnesses. I feel for her, and see where both sides erred thus far. I did get emotional when she was on the stand, I have no poker face. Her one sister has died since this all began and she is now stuck with a colostomy bag which is hard. I know I wouldn't want to have to wear one.
It was a long day, but we did get a lunch break. The courtroom, very small, was fREEZING so I walked 10 blocks down to the WTC site and went to Century 21 and bought a sweat shirt. It is still so moving when you walk by that site. They are doing some work now, but those stairs are still standing and a reminder, as is it all, of the tragedy of that day. I kept looking up as I walked back to court, imagining the towers, and how horrible it must have been that day. Now it's just empty sky, with the ghosts of so many still up there.
Sometimes when I get down I think of all those who died that day, and how many dreams were snuffed out. I ask God to let me help in some way to fulfill those dreams for someone.
I try to do my best.
I do my best to try.
HOPE

Juror Selected - Report on Monday

Well though I didn't want to be, I was selected for a medical malpractice lawsuit which starts on Monday. They say it could run 2 weeks, but hopefully that's just the "worst case scenario". I can't see it taking that long.
I suppose I shouldn't type anything about it here. Suffice to say, it's a case of proving if one side was negligent and if the other side deserves compensation.
I think what got me picked was they asked if we'd ever been on a criminal or civil case before. I raised my hand and said yes. I had been on two cases in the mid 80's in Northern VA. One was a woman who had been injured on a bus and was suing the bus company and bus driver. In that case the woman had been slightly injured, but she was obviously playing it up and had in fact rehearsed her "I have been of a depressive nature" bit which tipped us off that she wanted more money then she deserved. It had been an accident.
So, when I told them I could be "objectionable" (I did that on purpose to get a laugh, and in fact did get a big one...:) the ham in me), the one lawyer for the medical side looked around at me and then wrote something down.

Actually, as the day progressed, I was so discouraged by the whole process. Nobody seemed to want to be there. It was like a bunch of belligerent kids being asked to stay after school and volunteer for summer school.
I started thinking, if I had to have a jury of my peers, would I want the ones who were the less obnoxious of the bunch? No.
So, I will do my best and do my duty.
Although I must say the lawyer who is prosecuting, isn't very good. Mumbles and overtalks and asks run on questions. The lawyer for the defense was direct, personable, clear, and confident. Not smarmy just confident.
So, Monday I report for duty.

Jury Duty and the Staircase

Well I went to Jury Duty today. Not bad. Just long and boring. Feels like a waste of time, but it's the procedure they have come up with that works best.

The courthouse is down near the World Trade Center site. A few blocks away.

I had read an article in Sunday's Parade magazine about a staircase that led people to safety who were exiting the towers. There is a discussion as to whether they should be destroyed, saved, saved and moved, or saved and built around.

I decided to walk over there. It is still very moving. A lot of people were getting out of work at 5ish. Business people who probably would have worked in the towers.

I spied the staircase...it's not as it is in the photo. There isn't anything around it now. It sort of stands alone. Proud, ragged but proud.

I think they should keep it and build around it. A tribute to those who survived.
Just as it is....ragged and yet sturdy.

They are hanging photographs around the site in honor or 9/11. I looked at them and it is still so haunting and moving. I kept looking up, trying to picture the towers as they were, in all their glory.

I only went up in them once. Back in the early 80's Bobby and Andy and I went up there. I have a photo of us standing near the railing. I remember it being very windy and you could feel the building sway. The railing was not all that far from the edge and I was surprise there wasn't any railing like at the Empire State Building. We were so high up.

Standing there below, I thought of all the people who aren't here. How many of them would trade places and sit in a jury pool all day, just to be able to be alive and see their loved ones again.

Sometimes when I get depressed I think I wish I could swap places with someone. Let them have my body. I know that's not possible, and I have my life to live.

What I can do is try to be the best Tony Westbrook I can be. To be kind, loving, giving, caring. I think I do a pretty good job. I try to be nice. Sometimes my old bitchy head kicks in..and I have to catch it and say STOP!
Still I think I do a pretty good job most of the time.

The pool of jurors I was in today is to be on a Medical malpractice case. Sounds very boring. Important to the people involved for sure, but I was falling asleep in the discussion phase.

There are 34 of us in the pool. I am #32. They only need 10 and seemed to be focusing on the first 10 people. Hopefully I won't have to be on the case, since it is slated to run for at least 2 weeks. I can't not work for Brian that long. I'd like to do my civic duty, but financially I can't afford it right now.
Unless that's what God wants me to do. I'll follow his lead.

I came home and went over to Sandra's to watch a rerun of "Grey's Anatomy". I LOVE that show. It was the one where there was a train wreck. One of the substories was about a man and woman who had been impaled on a pole. They were just friends, but they were connected by this pole. Both sustained damage, but the man was in better shape. They had to decide which one to remove from the pole so the other could live. They decided to remove the woman. The actress who played her was amazing. She was so real, funny, yet touching and sad. Sandra and I cried our eyes out. It so touched me.

We never know when a tragedy might strike. We never know when our last day will be.

In AA we hear that we should "live each day as if it were your last". Not that you have to be fatalistic, but, fill each day the best you can.

I try to do that. Some days I feel better at the end of the day. Today, I feel ok .

I try. I am a human being, sometimes a human doing.

Today I did the best I could.

I'll try to do the same tomorrow.

Oh No...JURY DUTY!!!!

AHHHGGGG!

I report tomorrow morning...argh...oh well.

My civic duty!

Could be interesting.

More later!

No Mother Courage, "dammit all to hell!"

Well I was going to get up this morning and go stand in line with my friend Jay to try to get tickets to MC.
Unfortunately, I set the alarm wrong, a little thing like AM and PM does make a difference. Grrr.
And then, Jay had a hard time sleeping last night. So, we didn't make it to the line.
So I went to the gym, went to a meeting, took a nap, then met up with Jay around 5. I thought we should at least go up to the park and see if there was a cancellation line. That, or else I was gonna stand outside the theatre and yell "Meryl speak up I can't hear ya out here". Well, maybe not.
Jay and I walked the 30 blocks up there, and there were no lines. I did notice a lot of people over on the Great Lawn. Picnics before the show?
So I sauntered over to the backstage door, and asked this guy when the cancellation line started. He said, "there's no show tonight and tomorrow night because the Metropolitan Opera was performing on the Great Lawn stage. (That's where all of the big concerts are held).
Well, I said "thank God we didn't get up here and get in line this morning coz I woulda bee PO'd".
Still, he did give us two programs and we got to see the backstage entrances. Hell I may just stand back there and watch if I can and don't get tickets later in the week.
The show is getting mostly raves, and of course, Meryl is as well. AMAZING!
So, Jay and I walked back through the park and got some good exercise. He hadn't seen that part of the park, so it was fun to share it with him.
We stopped at Whole Foods in the Time Warner Plaza. It's HUGE. Famished I ate lots of healthy stuff. Jay got overwhelmed so he just got pizza on the way back to his place. Very NY.
He did ran into some actress from his favorite soap "The Guiding Light", so all was not a wash for him in WF.
So, a needle pulling thread....and we'll try again Thurs or Friday.
It may be free, but is sure is a pain in the a** getting those free tickets.
Joe Papp, you got some 'splainin' to do.

Missing Claflin

That little red dot is Claflin, Kansas. A place near and dear to my heart.
Today I am missing that little red dot. I used to spend summers there with my Grandma Hammer. Mary Hammer to be exact.

My Dad and Mom met there. My mom, Yvonne Eileen Hammer, grew up there. Dad, James Wesley Westbrook, lived on the outskirts for a while.

My mom is buried there in the cemetery. Not far from everyone: Mary and Lou Hammer, Emma Cain, Norman Tritsch.

My dad has a marker there, which I had put there. He's buried in Arlington cemetery, but I had a marker placed next to my mom's with a plaque we got from the VA.

I called Dorothy Tritsch a little while ago. She is 87. She's outlived everyone. Go figure. She was always sick growing up. A variety of maladies, yet she is strong, carries on, and lives on. She is in a retirement home in Hutchinson, Kansas. Not far from Wichita, Kansas where my stepmother Dolores lives. Actually she lives in Augusta, Kansas. That is where Dad lived for a while as a child. When he and Dolores met up again and got married, they settled there. That is where he died as well. Full circle.

I miss Grandma and Aunt Emma and Evelyn Gibler, and the Frenzls. I used to go there and spend the summer. I so looked forward to it. We'd sit in "God's Little Acre" between Mary and Evelyn's houses. We'd hear the locusts, or cicadas, making their chirping noises. We'd have homemade ice cream. We'd play on the swings.

It seems like a lifetime ago. Yet, I can call Dorothy Tritsch and be transported right back there.

I so wish God would send her someone to sing with. She had one woman, Emma Da, who used to come to her room every night and they'd sing. Emma passed away many years ago, but Dorothy still yearns for a singing partner.

If it is financially feasible, I may try to go out there soon. I want to see Dad's marker. And visit Dorothy, and sing. And drive through Claflin.

My Dad bought us all plots when my mom died. My plot is there. I'd like to be buried there. It's truly, in my heart, my homeland. Hometown. Home place.

Memories of lightening bugs, locusts, hearing Evelyn Gibler teaching piano. She would never teach me. I don't know why I was never allowed to have piano lessons. I didn't really sing too much then either.

I wish I could go back knowing what I know now..but that's not possible.

Holding good thoughts today for everyone. I miss you all. Irma and Hap, Edith and Jess Moser, Peggy and Shafter Fry, the Frenzls.

Those memories live on. In a way, I think of Claflin as my Bountiful, and my Maycomb. I was Scout and Jem and Dill all rolled into one. I know he was just an old man living alone, next to Louise Beck, but the guy who lived across the street from my Grandma reminded me of Boo Radley. Cept he came out of the house and Boo didn't.

Goodbye Bountiful, goodbye!

"World Trade Center" film - A Must See!!!

I went to see Oliver Stone's movie "World Trade Center" today with my friend Sandra and her friend Tracy. POWERFUL!!!
I think every American should see this. Oliver Stone has made a movie that is as much about heroes as it is about family, love, and hope.

When I watched the initial tv news about the planes hitting the Trade Towers, I was in LA. It looked like, a movie. It didn't seem real.

Oliver Stone has made a movie, that looks, like real life. I was so impressed with how real everything looked, how powerful all the actors and actresses were, and how real my emotions were as I watched.

Tears streamed down my cheeks several times. I heard about people being trapped in the rubble alive, but this movie, made me feel like I was trapped there with them.

I think it is a testament to Oliver Stone's genius as a filmmaker that he enlisted the two men whose stories are told to act as guides. Everything seems true and real and powerful.

God was everywhere that day. So was evil. But, God won out because we have a movie like this telling a true story like this...and creating a movie that makes me want to be a better American, and a better man and human being.

I know, that at the end of the day, I have done the best I could, and loved the best I could.

Thank you Oliver Stone, and your tremendous cast and crew.

No Wicked...bleh

Well Jason and I both put our names in the lotto and didn't get picked...bleh. Oh well, wasn't meant to be. We'll try again.

So, lowkey day, but a good day.



Found this photo of Michael Cerveris online. Freshly shaven

Back to Routine, or Thereabouts

Well it's Thursday, and so far this has been a week of catching up, and doing the routine stuff. Not every day can be jam packed and action filled...though I'd like it to be.
Worked for Brian on Monday and Wednesday. Lots of new titles going out for reviews. That means lots of mailings.
Paula and I have walked up to Central Park 3 times this week. I have to take my camera and get a summer pic. To offset my winter pic of us.
The weather has been beautiful. It did rain a bit Monday morning, but then it has been clear and cool the last 4 days. Love it!
Jay came over Monday night and we watched an episode of "The Bugaloos" from my DVD collection, along with an interview with Joy and Courage. Ah time...not cruel but it does take it's toll.
Tonight I'm going to try the WICKED lottery with my friend Jason. I hope we get in. I'd like to see it again with Kate Reindeer and Edin Espinosa as Glinda and Elphaba.
Tomorrow morning I'm going to go see "World Trade Center" with Sandra. I do want to see it as it portrays the heroes that lived and survived that day.
I did see one celeb...:) As I was walking from the dentist, I saw Michael Cerveris coming out of his apt. He was hailing a cab. He had a 3 day growth of hair and beard...unlike the smooth head and face he sprouts for "Sweeney Todd". Fun.
The show is closing in Sept.
Patti Lupone was out for 3 weeks while she did "Gypsy" in Chicago. I would love to have seen that. The reviews were raves!
No auditions this week. No interviews either.
There are a few in early Sept. so we'll see.
So, routine and average is ok. Let's just not make a habit out of it. :)

Here are a couple more shots from this past weekend.
I did a cartwheel on this...and didn't fall off!!!


The floating chapel. I sat facing this as we had our last meeting.

Wonderful Weekend Retreat!

What a wonderful weekend I had! Beautiful setting, great weather, cool, breezy, clear skies. A bit chilly at night but that was good.
AND, excellent company. I had the best time!
As a kid I never got to go to camp. Sonya and Randy got to go, but I was depraved...er...deprived.
Well, I got my second childhood chance.
I swam in the lake, dove off of the landing, did cartwheels on the floating landing, jumped on a floating trampoline with 7 other guys, swung off a rope into the water (ouch they never tell you how hard it is to hold on and how the rope gives you rope burns and blisters if you don't watch out, but it was worth it). I also laid out at night on the dock and watch shooting stars.
I didn't pet the goats and llamas and donkeys in the petting zoo, but I did look and talk to them. We weren't supposed to feed them.
We had good food, and I was healthy and only ate what I needed to. Working on losing the weight I gained this past year. Constant struggle, but with the hiking and swimming and all, hopefully I lost at least a lb this past weekend.
I drove up on Friday with my friend Eric. I met him at his job near the Queensboro Bridge, then we drove up. We got there a bit early, checked in, and then wandered around. Most of the others got there later. They took the train up to New Haven then a bus brought them in.
We had 45 all total. And what a wonderful group of people there was. I knew most everyone, but there were a few new faces. By the end of the weekend I had spoken to everyone at least for a bit.
As a kid I always wanted to fit in, to have people I could be honest and open with, and also have fun with. I got that all in spades! What a blessing.
It was a 12 step group weekend. We worked on the 4th and 5th step. I facilitated our group. We were the Llamas. I named my folder picture Lucy Llama.
They did play charades last night after the big meeting, but I opted to go down to the lake to watch the stars. There was a meteor shower but it was at 3 AM, so I just saw a few preliminary shooting stars.
Today we had smaller meetings, then broke up into pairs. Eric and I went down to the lake and sat on one of the other docks to talk. Though he grew up in Mexico, we both had very similar childhood dramas and traumas. Though his mother didn't die like mine did, he dealt with a lot of the same things. Funny how you can end up being so alike, yet come from different places.
I know I'm being a bit vague, but due to anonymity issues I just want to say, I am so grateful to be a part of this group.
We ended with a Quaker style gratitude meeting in the chapel. I was so moved and touched. I am proud to be a part of this group. I learned more about human kindness and perseverance this weekend, and more about what it means to be a survivor.
I am grateful to Craig and Mitch for all they did.
And to all the wonderful spirits I was blessed to be around for 2 days.
Totally beautiful!

Photos from the Retreat - Incarnation Center

Weekend Retreat

I leave today to go up to Ivoryton, CT for a weekend retreat. I am really looking forward to it.
The setting promises to be both beautiful, serene, and campy.
I have been looking for a retreat to "take the place of" the ones I went to in LA, up in Santa Barbara at Mt. Calvary. Hopefully this will fill the void and give me a peaceful place to get away to/from on this coast.
I'm driving up today with Eric in his brand new Volkswagen something or other. It's red. I am truly car illiterate. Not into models etc. As long as it runs and gets us from point A to point B.
I hear that song from Canned Heat, "I'm going up the country..."
Love me some nature.
Peace out!

Sharon Tate

I know I have a morbid fascination with tragedy. Especially Hollywood Tragedy. I try not to let it get too grotesque. Still, especially because of the media, any tragedy involving a famous person is played to the hilt.
When I was 9, I remember hearing about Sharon Tate and the whole Manson family and the horrible murders.
Today is the anniversary. Hard to call it that, but it's the date it happened back in 1969.
When I lived in LA I went on the Graveline Tours which take you all over.
I found the house up on Cielo Drive. I actually went up there once before they tore it down and built a new place. I went up there after the new place was built and surprisingly the small chain link fence that was around the gate was still there.
I love "Valley of the Dolls" and Sharon was so wonderful in that.
On the new DVD they show a screen test of her and Tony Scotti and the screen test was actually better then the final scene. I fault the director, not the actors.
She was so sweet and kind..it just comes across like it did with Marilyn.
Anyway, I just wanted to hold a good thought for her, for her family and to remember the people who lost their lives that night.
Why the horrible ones who committed the murders are still allowed to live is..well, it's our judicial system.
They will be judged by a Higher Court eventually.

I Know an Artist!!!

Isn't this amazing? It is made from paper and masking tape. My friend Katie does this and she is amazing.
I may not know art, but I know when I am impressed.

Visit her site at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayt/

(cut and paste the above in your browser)

You Go Katie!!!

Monday Monday

Just got back from signing up for the EPA (Equity Principle Auditions) for North Shore Music Theatre. They are located in Beverly, MA. They are doing "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Hairspray", and "A Christmas Carol". I played Peter in "JCS" back in Fairlington, so maybe I'll get to play that part again. I love the song "Could We Start Again Please", and hopefully I'd have a better duet partner then the girl who played Mary in our version. She was ok, but just, ok.
I got up early, then went to get in line to sign up for a time. It wasn't too crowded actually. There were three things auditioning at the Actor's Equity Center so the main line was long. When it broke down into the three lines it was much better.
I usually get the audition time I want. I signed up for 12:10 so I can make my 1PM meeting in the Village.
I'm going to sing "Look Over There" from "La Cage Aux Folles". It's a good fast song and shows my range.
So, onward and forward. I have therapy afterward, then go work for Brian for a bit. Then meeting after.
A good Monday. So good to me.

Sundays Are for Regrouping

Sunday started out well enough. Not that it's bad now, but it's 8:01PM and I'm a bit melancholy. Sunday evenings have often been times of sadness for me. I think a lot of it has to do with growing up dreading school on Monday.
I did get up this morning and go to church. Marble Collegiate. The sermon was a good one. Slow down and enjoy life. What matters most is not necessarily getting from Point A to Point B, but it's how you spend the trip.
At one point the preacher talked about the friends we have in our lives. He said he read an article that said the average person has 1.6 people they can count on to tell anything to and be there for them. Some people have 0!
As I sat there I realized I have probably 20 people I could call, email, write to that I could tell anything to, and count on if need be. That's pretty amazing!
In that regard I am a blessed man.
Very much so.
I went to a meeting afterwards and shared that. There were several people in the room I could count on as well.
After that I came home, ate a salad, then took a nap. I was pooped. Didn't sleep well last night, mostly because I had too much caffeine last night.
Then I woke up and have been kind of dilly dallying. I was going to go see "Little Miss Sunshine" but opted to wait.
Then I went to Food Emporium to get some yogurt.
Not a bad day, just kind of low key.
I started thinking of that song by Dan Fogelburg "Another Auld Lang Syne" and started missing people that aren't here anymore. Started thinking back to Radford and how I had the world before me. So many goals and aspirations and dreams.
Now here I am and though life is very nice, it's not quite what I thought it would be.
Still, it's a pretty good life.
I have an audition tomorrow, then on Tuesday Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline open in Central Park in "Mother Courage". Free tickets are handed out at 1 and people start lining up early. This time it'll be WAY early as with those two stars and with Meryl coming off of "Prada".
Then on Wednesday I have another audition, for "Meet John Doe". Eric Schaeffer is directing that for Fords Theatre. I'm sure he won't be at the auditions but it would be nice to get into a show he is directing. So we'll see.
Hopeful, not helpless.
Just kind of reflecting.

Death of a Dream

44 years ago today the world awoke to the news that Marilyn Monroe had died. Dead at the age of 36. The Candle had gone out.
Over the years speculation that it was murder has fueled the flame.
Her life was over then, but because of film and photographs, she is more alive today then she was then. She's a legend, an icon, an image.

She had it all, or so we thought. She couldn't handle her inner demons.



We all have our problems. We all have our issues. We all have our disappointments.
It's how we handle them that determines how we survive.

"The other man's grass is always greener, the sun shines brighter on the other side"
I, like many, think so many others have it better then me. I let disappointment drag me down at times to the low ebb. At times it can be overbearing.

The mind is a powerful tool. It can make, and break us.
It broke Marilyn. She gave into the misery and despair.

Today I celebrate her life. Not her death.

I also celebrate my own. I have much to be grateful for. Today I will concentrate on what I do have, rather then on what I don't have.

I have a wealth of friends. I have a great family, both in VA and Kansas.
I have Love in my life. I have Joy. I have Freedom.

Like Marilyn, I have a Dream. Dreams do come true, but often they don't look like we want them to.

"Some are lucky, some are not, just be thankful, for what you've got" as the song continues.

The reality is, I have a blessed life.

May I not let the candle go out, and may I let the disappointments not drag me down.

To Life!!!

Hot Hotter Hottest

Well actually yesterday was the hottest.
Today it started cooling off thank God.
I did get up and do laundry this morning. I had to stand outside during the cycles as it was muy caliente in there.
Then Paula and I walked up to Central Park. It was warm but not awful. Heck we walked all Winter when it was freezing so today was the flip side.
Ran into a friend of mine in the Park, Patrick. He was with his fiance and their little dog. They are getting married in Colorado in 21 days. Good for them! :)
I stayed inside for a bit then went out to go to a meeting. I ran into Keith Carradine in the subway, waiting like all of us. I recognized him. He's in town doing "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". He took over for Jonathan Price.
I liked him in "Nashville".

Rest of the day was routine. Went to dinner with Brian and Jeff and Mark at New Venus. Saw Jean David there with a friend. I knew him in LA. Here we both are on the East coast now.
So, cooling off now.
To bed soon. Quiet peaceful evening.
I'm Easy! (Keith Carradine song from "Nashville")

Heatwave - Be Careful!

Hot Child in the City

Well we finally got our heatwave! It's 104 at JFK according to the TV in the gym. I went and worked out..YAY....thankfully it's air conditioned in there. I didn't do any cardio, just my back exercises and sit ups and push ups and leg lifts and some chest weights and leg weights. If I did it more then once a week I'd be in much better shape, but at least I'm getting there. Goal is to go 3 times a week.
Anyway, I'm sitting inside...AC on...so far so good.
On my way back from the gym I walked behind Zack Galligan. He was the kid in "Gremlins". He lives in the next building over. I remember when Bobby and I went to see "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" starring Lily Tomlin, years ago, he was there that night with his girlfriend. His head was shaved because he was doing a stage version of "Biloxi Blues" somewhere. Small world eh?
He also did the lead in "Doing Judy" when it went up to San Francisco, but it didn't do well so folded. Too bad as Steve Gideon had produced it and I thought it was very funny and good. Some times just aren't meant to be.


Anywho.....yesterday was catch up day. I got up, went to a meeting, then to therapy, then went to Brian's. Ran into Lisa at Cosi's so we walked over together. Brian and Todd were there so we chatted and stuff. Then Brian and I walked to a meeting, then had dinner with Josh at New Venus, our fave diner on 8th and 23rd. I love me some Chicken Pesto Wrap.
We walked for a bit then my friend Jay called so I hopped on the NRW and headed back to my place.
I met Jay across the street in the Worldwide Plaza courtyard and we hung out, chatting and stuff. We walked for a bit then stopped and he got a burger and shake. I was good and had water. He's going to Boston today to visit his family so we'll get together on Thursday.

As I mentioned, the wedding was beautiful. Sheri was so beautiful and Joel was as handsome as can be. Tucson is in the middle of their "monsoon" season so it rained a lot, but luckily it rained in the morning, then stopped by 11, then the sun came out....clear skies, then it rained later in the evening.

The ceremony was in a Catholic church and was so moving. The Priest was very casual and warm and made it a special service. I felt a little sad when I looked down and saw Dolores sitting with Mary's mother. I pictured Dad next to her and got a bit teary eyed.

Jason was quiet for the whole service, and only got up to wander near the end. We all, June, Jason, Cheryl, Randy and myself, got to the church at 11:59...just in time for the wedding started at 12:02. Poifect.

I had gotten in Friday night...routine flight no drama thankfully. We all went to eat at Tony Roma's. It was ok.

Cheryl had found a great place for us to stay. The Lodge at Ventana Canyon. We stayed in a suite, split level. Cheryl and I slept upstairs in the "loft" and Randy June and Jason slept downstairs in the room. Very nice place. Heck, I joked we could all live in that place....provided it had a big yard.

We ended up getting to the reception late. None of us had printed out the schedule and we thought the drinks portion was from 4-6. Turns out it was from 4-5. We got there about 530. Luckily they were just starting the salads, but we missed Sheri and Joel's entrance and first dance. Drat.

Dinner was nice...and then they cut the cake...with the traditional putting icing on each other's noses..then wiping it off. Cute.

Then they had speeches. Funny, touching, silly, serious. Sheri and her family are from Canada. Most of Joel's family is from Kansas. Go Jayhawks! I wanted to sing "Blame Canada" from "South Park" but I didn't.

Joel mentioned the names of the people who couldn't be there. He mentioned his first grandfather, Gil Bieberle, Dolores's first husband. Then he mentioned Dad. Lt. Col James Westbrook. I got teary eyed and looked over at Cheryl. She was tearing up too.

If Dad had been there in person he would have been so proud. I really do miss him. He was a pretty good Dad!

They finally had dancing. As always it was hit and miss. Oldies, standards, some disco. I think, seriously, they play the same songs at every wedding. I tried to get them to play Madonna or "Gloria" but he didn't. Still, at one point, everyone got up to dance..including Dolores and even Glenn and Trevor and Ryan. It was fun. Starla was sure cutting a rug. One of Sheri's brothers even did some break dancing. Pretty good for a "white boy".

Jason was running ALL over the place. Whew. They did have a room set up showing movies and cartoons. He watched with some of the other kids. Then was running around and dancing. He likes to do the jerk!

I got to talk to every one of Dolores's family. Kay, Rick, Mary, Keith, Janice, Mike, Starla, Glenn, Diedre, Kristin, Jared, Trevor, Ryan, Josh, Sara, and of course Dolores. She looked so lovely. She had the best dress on. She got it at Dillards. I was so impressed with it.

The lucky couple were leaving for Hawaii the next day. They finally left around midnight and we drove the mile back to our place.

What a perfect day!

I left the next day...routine flights, a little turbulence but not much.

A great trip all in all. Hopefully I'll have some pics to share soon.

I'm glad I went. Everyone was so loving and supporting. I am so lucky. I have two families!

God blessed us all and was there watching over it all with a big smile.

Thank you God, and thanks Dad. You gave us two families.

Congrats Sheri and Joel!

Oh, at one point they had us all sing the American National Anthem. I confess I didn't know the words to "Oh Canada". Very kind.

And no I didn't blast it ala Whitney. I held back. :)