Last Day of 2008!

Well, I could point out all the BAD or WRONG things that did or didn't happen in 2008and say "Boy am I glad this horrible year is over!"
However, I will not.
This was a year. One day at a time! I made some good choices, some not good choices, I had some good times, some great times, and some sad times.
BUT...I had a great year..because I was alive each and every day, I was sober every day, and each day I had God, my friends, my co-workers, my family, my memories, to guide me through.
I am a very loved and blessed man.
To all who read this Blog, thank you for listening.
For all those who contacted me, thank you.
To all who hold good thoughts for me, thank you.

I have my goals for 2009 as usual.
Weight and the gym are AGAIN right up there. I was going strong till May of this past year and then ran outta steam. I totally get Oprah, though I don't have the excuse of a thyroid.
Most importantly I want to strive to enjoy each and every day even MORE.
A NEW ROOMMATE..SOON!
I'd like to worry less and hurry less and scurry less.
I'd like to laigh more, love more, be at peace more.
I wish everyone a blessed and safe NY EVE. I am going to a party at Emmett's and then going to sing ON BROADWAY AFTER the BALL drops...at 12:15 as that is when the crowds who have been cooped up since 3 scurry to freedom.
I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and for all the events and people who helped me learn them.
I am grateful that I have more to learn and more to change and more to work on, because it is ALL a process!
God Grant Me Serenity
To Accept Things I Cannot Change
Courage to Change the Things That I Can
And Wisdom to Know the Difference!

Thank you Susan Hodnett for coming back into my life!
Thank you FACEBOOK for all the friends I have become reacquainted with.
Thank you God for everything.

For Auld Lang Syne!

BABY TONY AS BABY NEW YEAR!!



Happy New Year!

Almost the last day of 2009!

Kind of light!

it says "May All Your Dreams Come True"

I hope so!!!

For us all!

Last Monday of 2009!

Well not much is going on since I got back from Eric and Mark's. They went to Cancun for NY.
I am going to go to Emmett's for his 3rd Annual NY Eve party. We all gather at his place which is just west of 50th on 8th. We play CELEBRITY and eat, then watch the ball drop at Midnight, as we listen to it with the windows open as it is 10 blocks away..THEN at 12:15 we go out and SING on BROADWAY! And watch the drunks. Fun. As long as nobody gets hurt.
Just relaxing and enjoying the time off. Ran some errands today. Went to a meeting. YAY
Now, just vegging....

Merry Christmas!

I am up in Nyack and Eric and Mark's home. Luka and Hudson are sleeping by the fire.
The sun is shining and it's warming up a bit but there is still snow on the ground so we have a white Christmas.
Mark got up early and drove into NYC to sing at his church. Eric and I slept in and then got up and had coffee, then when Mark was on his way home Eric made breakfast and we had eggs, bacon, English muffins and coffee.
We have fires going in both fireplaces, and will be opening presents soon.
I am looking out the window at the Tappan Zee bridge.

Last night, after I took the bus up from Port Authority, and we wrapped some presents, the three of us went to Mark's sister Patti's home. His whole family gathered there. It was magical. I was there last Christmas as well. I was made to feel so included and at home. Like a third family!
We ate so much delicious food, then desserts, then we all gathered and Mark's father read a traditional poem, then we lit the candles one by one as 4 family members read, then we sang Christmas carols, acapella! It was beautiful! Magical!

I just called Dolores in Kansas and spoke with her. Spoke to Sonya and Cheryl, who had gone to Randy and June's this morning and had brunch, made by sister Sonya. Our nephew Jason was playing with his presents. Cheryl and I chipped in and June got him electronic Battleship!

I played some Christmas songs for Mark and Eric that I had recorded with Mike Ricciardi. "Fly Me Home For Christmas", "Only as a Child" and "Christmas Belongs to You".

I miss Dad, and Mom, Grandmas Mary Hammer and Gladys Westbrook, Grandpas Tom Westbrook and Lou Hammer, Aunt Emma, Aunt Mid and Uncle Park. Cary Brown, Dorothy Tritsch, and Alan Parker.

All are in my heart this Christmas. I am so blessed in many ways. Very many ways.

I wish for a new roommate, maybe to be paid as a performer singing songs, peace, hope, love and happiness.

And I hope we all find peace, love, joy, prosperity, happiness, and HOPE.

Thank you all who read this for sharing my life with me.

I am, a fortunate man!

Happy Holidays to ALL!

Love
Tony

The Day of Christmas Eve

I am taking the bus up in a couple of hours to Nyack, to spend the next couple of days with my friends Mark and Eric. We are going to Patti's house tonight, as we did last year, to eat, sing Christmas Carols and enjoy the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ!
Tomorrow we will most likely take the dogs, Hudson and Luka, out for a walk in the woods!
Eric and Mark are so kind to me. They have included me in Thanksgiving and now Christmas. Mark's family is big and they all are so kind to have included me in their celebration!
My own family will be celebrating at Randy's and June's tonight and tomorrow.
Jason is going to be one happy camper tomorrow morning!
I am going down there next week to ring in the new year!
I am blessed in many ways. I am reminded of that when I open my eyes!
Thank you God, thank you Mom and Dad, and I will keep Dorothy Tritsch and Cary Brown in my thoughts especially, along with all of my relatives who have passed and friends as well.
My Christmas wish is for a new roommate, as well as, happiness and peace.
Show me how I can be like Jesus Christ was, each and every day.
Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night and day!

Last Day of Work before Christmas and NYs!

I am sooo full! We had our office, our section of the office, the Account Management team, Christmas party today. I got everything together and set it up and everyone brought food to share.
We had tri colored pasta, anti pasta, gourmet sandwiches, salad, salmon and latkes, shrimp fried rice, chicken salad, quiche, chips and salsa, cookies, truffles, gingerbread bundt cake (made by my friend Joe Appleaum in LA!) Apple pie, Mondel bread, and a few other delicacies!
Dan brought up Christmas music and we all sang along. How fun!
Then we all took photos and even Stan put on the Santa hat and posed for us, even with my boss! Dan took some great photos so hopefully I can post a few soon.
A great time was had by all!
DE LISH US!
We all had a wonderful time!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Sad, but a Good Long Life - Robert Mulligan Passes

(Robert Mulligan, Annette Benning and Harper Lee)

My favorite movie of all time is "To Kill a Mockingbird". Today is a bit of a sad day....though he, along with Peck and the cast and crew, leave behind one of the most powerful movies ever.

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"Mockingbird" director Robert Mulligan dead at 83
By Duane Byrge Duane Byrge
34 mins ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Robert Mulligan, who received an Oscar nomination for directing "To Kill a Mockingbird," died Friday of heart disease at his Connecticut home. He was 83.

Known for his diffident nature and sensitivity toward players, Mulligan directed five different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Gregory Peck and Mary Badham in "Mockingbird," Natalie Wood ("Love with the Proper Stranger"), Ruth Gordon ("Inside Daisy Clover") and Ellen Burstyn ("Same Time, Next Year"). Peck won the Oscar for his lead role as attorney Atticus Finch in "Mockingbird."

He also elicited consistently fine performances from a range of his players, including Anthony Perkins in "Fear Strikes Out," Jennifer O'Neill in "Summer of '42," Robert Redford in "Inside Daisy Clover" and Richard Gere in "Bloodbrothers."

The older brother of late actor Richard Mulligan, he earned his stripes in live TV in New York in the early 1950s on such productions as "Studio One" and "Playhouse 90" before becoming a movie director in 1957 with "Fear Strikes Out," the story of baseball pitcher Jimmy Piersall.

Self-effacing with a nonflamboyant filmic style, Mulligan didn't receive the acclaim of such ex-TV contemporaries as Sidney Lumet, Arthur Penn and John Frankenheimer. His films were more popular with audiences than with critics.

While some debated whether he had a discernible personal vision in his films, Mulligan was known for his casting and direction of children, including "Up the Down Staircase," where he personally interviewed more than 500 New York high school students.

Sensing a kindred spirit, Francois Truffaut was a vocal champion, particularly cognizant of what he perceived as undue criticism of Mulligan's work for lacking a particular "style."

Mulligan himself was dismissive of critics/cineaste talk: "I don't know anything about 'the Mulligan style,'" he told the Village Voice in 1978. "If you can find it, well, that's your job."

Mulligan was known for working side-by-side with screenwriters in shaping a cinematic story. "The attention which has been paid to directors is flattering but overrated," he noted in the same Voice interview. Mulligan had an eight-year collaboration with Alan J. Pakula, who served as a producer on all of Mulligan's early films, beginning with "Fear Strikes Out" through "The Stalking Moon" in 1969.

Mulligan was born August 23, 1925, in New York. He worked for six months at the New York Times on the copy desk before entering Fordham University, where he majored in journalism and literature. He became one of the first students to enroll in the school's radio department.

After college, he started his show business career as a messenger boy at CBS. He soon moved up to production assistant and then won an opportunity to direct on the "Suspense" series. He excelled in the fast-paced milieu of live TV, helming such projects as "The Moon and Sixpence," "Billy Budd" and "The Bridge of San Luis Rey."

He directed stage plays as well, including "Comes a Day" on Broadway.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Bewitched Christmas

Jay Lean sent this to me!

Samsara and Durwood!

Liza, Cheryl and the Boyz

Here are some photos from Cheryl's visit.
Vito, Todd, Cheryl and I went to see Liza.
Then we all went to Chelsea Grill afterwards.
Cheryl went to visit a friend of hers, Bob, a few weeks ago and took a photo in front of the sign for OUR TOWN! No relation that we know of but Cheryl has offered to be Mayor!!
All fun!

Twisted Holiday Greetings

My friend Jay always sends me bizarre photos he finds online.

He's a HUGE Brady Bunch/Partridge Family fan too, as am I.

Here is a pic of Carol Brady and also Bob Barker and the girls/ladies.

See how politically correct I'm being..heh!

LIZA WAS AH MAY ZING

Well Liza Minnelli was ON! She was BACK ON TOP!

We LOVED LIZA! She sounded GREAT and the razzle dazzle was all there. Billy Stritch and his orchestra were WONDERFUL.

More later, but Liza TOTALLY WAS ON!

AND she closed...with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which her mother popularized! There wasn't a dry eye in the house!

A Dream come true!

LIZA IS AT THE PALACE!!

Liza on a Sunday at the Palace

As I type this my sister Cheryl is sitting on my bed RIGHT BEHIND ME!!! HI SIS!
She got here yesterday afternoon and came to the Center to see my Holiday show last night. It went very well. Everyone was so good and on, AND, my voice was back and I got to sing Grown Up Christmas List. So happy. And having Cheryl in the front row was like having Mom, Dad, Grandma Hammer and Dorothy Tritsch right there. WONDERFUL.
We are going down to the diner in a bit to have breakfast, then, at 3PM, meeting my friend Vito in front of the Palace to see LIZA MINNELLI!! YAY!Joe P said she is AMAZING!!! I am so excited!! Start spreading the news!

Bettie Page

Sadly, Bettie Page the Pin Up Queen has died.

I saw the movie they made starring Gretchen Mol, and saw what I believe was a woman having a fun time just being naughty! That is what made her special, she was just having a good time, with a big wink, and a great smile!
Sad that she had such a troubled life for someone who made so many people happy.
I hope she is at peace!

Kate Pazakis UNZIPPED CLICK HERE

Last night I went with my friend Rich to the Zipper Theatre on 37th to see the 10:30PM show of singer Kate Pazakis. Rich's friend David Gordon directed it.
I had no idea what I was in for! AN AMAZING TREAT!
Kate not only sings the RAFTERS off the place, but she can bring it right down to a gentle whisper in one breath! One of those amazing singers who can sing a ballad and raise the roof with I JUST WANNA F****N DANCE!

We sat front row and LOVED IT!
The show was recorded for a CD which I can't wait for..but will have to as it won't be ready till February!

What an amazing singer! I'm officially a FAN now!

Celebrating Laurie Franks

Susan Lurie send these to me!
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Group photo taken at West Hollywood Park Auditorium on Dec 1, 2008 after Laurie receives her proclamation award. Far left Diana Herbert, Susan Lurie (instructing the photographer) Scott Imler(back), Laurie Franks, Kathleen Hughes Rubin, Stanley Rubin. Diana Herbert is Kathleen's cousin.



Laurie receiving a proclamation award from Jeffrey Prang the Mayor of West Hollywood on Dec 1, 2008

$1400 Share 2 BR 1 BTH Apt. in Financial District near the WTC site (Financial District) CLICK HERE

My roommate David is moving to LA and as of Jan. 1, 2009 I will need a new roommate!!!
HELP!!!
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I am a Gay male who is looking for a male or female roommate to share my spacious, modern, recently renovated apartment on Nassau Street in the burgeoning Financial District. The apartment is approximately 1,000 square feet, has two bedrooms, one bathroom, hardwood floors throughout, high loft ceilings and climate control (central AC/Heat with wall unit also in room). The kitchen is outfitted with all new stainless steel appliances (stove, microwave, refrigerator) and both the kitchen and bathroom have marble countertops. The doorman building is extremely safe and well kept. There is a laundry room in the basement. Located on the second floor there are two elevators as well as steps. The location is great – steps away from South Street Seaport, Wall Street, numerous restaurants, bars, dry cleaners and gourmet groceries. Transportation options abound; the 4, 5, 6, N, R, W, 2, 3 train stations are right next door. Split utilities (electricity, ac/heat, cable TV, wireless internet).

The bedroom that I am renting is unfurnished, 9 x 18 and has two windows. The two closets are in the hallway. I’m looking for someone to take the room starting on January 1st. In order for you to move in, I will need one month’s rent, $1,400, along with a security deposit of $1,400.

I work in the midtown east 9-5 M-F.

Neatness and cleanliness are paramount to me so my ideal roommate will respect that. I’m pretty self-sufficient and although I want to develop a nice relationship with my roommate, I have no expectations that we’ll become fast friends. A cordial, respectful, considerate easy-going relationship would be just great.

No smoking or pets please.
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REPLY TO ME!!!!!
Tony

Finally Better

Well, I feel MUCH better today, finally! This cold/flu/laryngitis that I came down with on Tuesday of last week, is finally subsiding. Thank GOD! And Theraflu, and Tylenol and Cepacol and Sudafed and Vitamin C and....rest!

My friend Rich Sienko came by today. He is in NY to see Plays Musicals and SHOWS! He is going to be staying with me starting tomorrow through Friday. Great to see him. We've known each other since 1990 when we were both in the Hollywood Singers!

He had this same cold thing before he got here, but luckily is over it. Hmm, West Coast version East Coast version.

My roommate David is on his way back from LA. He found a place to live, a roommate, and will return there the first week of January to start opening Esprit stores there.
Sad for me, happy for him though.

Now, I need to find a roommate to take his place. So far I've put some ads out, but no nibbles. I'd think/hope someone would want to move to NY, or move in with a GREAT roommate like me!! Anyone know of anyone wanting to move to the Big Apple let me know.

The show I'm doing, the Holiday show, is next Saturday. We had a rehearsal yesterday which went well. Then, next Sunday is LIZA at the PALACE!!! Cheryl is coming up for that. Start spreading the news!!!!

So, doors are closing, windows are opening, and hopefully HP will let me know which door to open next!

Soothing Sunday!

Cold Season STRIKES

Well even with Airborne and all, I managed to get hit by the cold bug! Smack!
Was sick Wed and Thurs, and hopefully I'll be up for going to work tomrrow.
I don't like being sick, no fun! Bleh.

Take Vitamins!! Sleep and eat well.

And have a Theraflu Cocktail! Sans alcohol!

Bruce and Sherry Follmer

I got this from my friend Sharon and wanted to pass this along!
===============================================
Late night note here...I got an e-mail Sunday afternoon about a musical benefit
concert Sunday evening for Bruce and Sherry Follmer. I thought I'd send along
a bit of the program for those folks living outside of the DC Metro area who read
your blog and who might be interested in assisting the Follmers in their
time of need, can do so.

From the program "A Broadway Night to Remember" at the Little
Theatre of Alexandria, Sunday, November 30, 2008:
"Bruce and Sherry Follmer have devoted their lives to community theater in
Northern Virginia, and now, because of the current economic climate, have
fallen victim to challenges which threaten to take their home. As a result,
the least their compatriots in the regional theater circuit can do is to rally
around to help avert this situation. Their companions of the stage are proud
to help in this fundraising effort to ensure that the Follmers, who have given
so much, continue to be able to live in their home and to enjoy the continued
warmth of the community activities."

To make a donation:

Bruce and Sherry Follmer
5279 Navaho Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22312
703-256-7206
SF0629@verizon.net

Program states that Sherry and Bruce recently celebrated their 51st wedding
anniversary, they have 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. The couple received a special award from ACT (Alliance of Community Theatres) for Lifetime Achievement. Sherry helped establish Port City Playhouse in the 1970s and Bruce founded the Northern Virginia Theater Alliance (NVTA) and served as president for the first 15 years. This, along with both of them working full-time jobs, she for EDS (ElectronicData Systems) as a contract negotiator retiring in 1997, and he working for the DC Metropolitan Police as a civilian computer specialist retiring in 1995, and, after that retirement, heading the theater department at Bishop Ireton High School (Alexandria, VA) for 4 years.

One of their daughters was there - Lynn Follmer Thorne (lives in LaPlata, MD). David Jourdan sang The Impossible Dream and put so much feeling into it. Nancy Dolliver (Capitol Steps member) sang I'm Going To Make You Beautiful from Starting Here, Starting Now.

Holding good thoughts for Bruce and Sherry!!! =================================================================================== Sherry Follmer passed on Friday March 8, 2013 after a long battle with illness. She went surrounded by her loving family and knew how much she was loved. She fought the good fight!! She will always be remembered for her wonderful smile and supportive nature. I like to think David Frable was there to welcome her to the big theatre in the sky!!!