Author: Sandy

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Brian Stokes Mitchell – Like Him!

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific”  is running on PBS again during their pledge weeks. Its not the Mary Martin film of 1950’s, but a musical done “in concert”, (all in character and full voice w/o sets), at Carnegie Hall. He starred as Emile the estate owner – the entire cast was great, but as always, Brian Stokes Mitchell stood out.

As he sings “This Nearly Was Mine”, he uses his voice to paint a picture of a man lamenting about a “paradise” he has always wanted and dreamt about, and just missed reaching. Beautiful and heartbreaking. (He got a standing “O” for that one.)

Mr. Mitchell elevates all that he graces with his presence. From his non singing comedy turn as Trevor the weatherman on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, to performing with the Boston Pops. Always intense, always present, he is always excellent.

Known best for Broadway musical theater – I was fortunate to see him twice as the dapper & tragic “Coalhouse Walker ” in “Ragtime”, (1998). His other credits include Jelly’s Last Jam (1992), Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), a revival of Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me, Kate” (1999), for which he won a Tony, and August Wilson’s “King Hedley II” (2001)

He also has a CD – “Brian Stokes Mitchell” – Jazz, show tunes and pop standards with his own special style. He is a baritone with great feeling.

Brian Stokes Mitchell – I like him.

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Astrology:Friday the 13th, But Still a Libra Moon Weekend!

On Friday 8/13, the Moon is in the balanced Air sign of Libra. Those 2 Yin/Yang planets, Venus and Mars, are also visiting this sign of partnerships. Couples of all kinds (business? romantic?) should be cloaked in a spirit of cooperation – a “can’t we all just get along?”  sort of spirit.

With this 7th sign of the Zodiac, the urge to beautify and socialize, enhanced by its ruler Venus, will be present and the warrior planet Mars will add energy and sizzle – nice.

On Saturday evening the Moon will move into intense, moody Scorpio. You will “feel” things. Emotions can run deep. No patience for the superficial.

BTW: I have found that Friday the 13th is usually lucky for me. (I don’t think it had to do with it being a payday or anything?) Regardless of where you’re at, have a great weekend, take advantage and use whatever good forces you can. (The Moon jumps into joyous, jubilant Sagittarius by Tuesday.)

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Astrology: About That Leo New Moon

“New Moon” in Leo happened on Monday August 9 – both the Sun and the Moon are in the generous, royal sign of Leo. With the Sun as ruler, this Fire sign is all about joyous, confidence (like our President Obama!).

New Moons are best for creativity, fun and beginnings. If you have a project to start, someone that you need to enroll in your life, a presentation to make – charm and fortune are amped up. Depending on where Leo falls in your chart and due to other current planet happenings, it may take some effort, but the “possibilities are endless” as they say. Prepare, plot, plan – go for it. You will feel the effects for several days.

Next up – a Tuesday afternoon Virgo Moon, which brings a focus on health and work.

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LA Black Book Expo * August 21, 2010

Reminder: Los Angeles will host its popular Black Book Expo again this year on Saturday 8/21 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. This one day event will offer “authors, storytellers, spoken word and poetry performances, musicians, exhibitors, children’s book authors, emerging writers, publishers, booksellers, panel discussions, editors, book reviewers…”

The Los Angeles Black Book Expo (LABBX)* August 21st * 11:00-5:00


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Astrology: Cancer Moon Weekend- Get Comfy!

Call home – Friday afternoon, 8/6, has the Moon moving into its own sign of Cancer. This water sign gets us all in the mood for family, food and anywhere we are hanging our hats this weekend. This can be a loving, nurturing time.

The Moon = emotions, with sensitivity and vulnerability heightened. Don’t go looking for hurt feelings – yours or anyone else’s.  (This will pass, so there is no need to over eat.)

Domesticity has its merits – make family, friends, yourself comfortable and happy if you can. You’ll enjoy it.

BTW: Energy change on Sunday afternoon when the Moon struts into the regal sign of Leo and goes “New” on Monday 8/9.

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DVD: Director Roberto Rossellini

Italian Neorealist director Roberto Rossellini, (1906-1977), made a series of films just after World War II labeled the “War Trilogy”. They have been issued in a DVD box set :
“Rome Open City, (1945)” “Paisan” (1946) and “Germany Year Zero” (1948)

Acclaimed by French directors François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, their articles appeared in the film magazine “Cahiers du Cinema”,  declaring Rosselini “the father of the French New Wave”. His use of non-actors, his focus on little human interest stories and his use of the Italian street as back drop gave Rossellini ‘s films a grittiness and realism rarely seen in Europe before the war.

Roberto Rossellini’s “War Trilogy”



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Black Book Fair in the South West!

Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair August 27 – 29, 2010

“Tulisoma,  Swahili for “we read”, is a community-based literary festival promoting literacy and the arts in the South Dallas/Fair Park area… the goal of Tulisoma is to create a dynamic event tailored to engage local families, avid readers, aspiring writers and visitors to the city.”

There will be a  Gospel lunch, a poetry “slam” and several other events for the whole family.

Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair August 27 – 29, 2010

South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 South Fitzhugh, Dallas Texas

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Astrology: Moon in Aries – Snap, Crackle, Pop Weekend

On the afternoon of Friday 7/30, the Moon will march into the physical, aggressive sign of Aries. (Think “Action figure”.)  This Fire sign is ruled by the planet Mars – the unofficial patron saint of warriors.  Arian Moons are great for movement rather than mental activity, but still a good time to initiate, take charge- just think it thru and go for it.

Power down occasionally so that loved ones don’t feel that they are in the presence of a bulldozer, but by all means, take advantage of the energy – get crackin’, do something different, conquer new territories, etc., etc. (Just be nice!)

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Toni Morrison – “A Mercy”

“Writing was … the most extraordinary way of thinking and feeling. It became the one thing I was doing that I had absolutely no intention of living without.”  Toni Morrison

A book reviewer in my local paper, “San Francisco Chronicle”, Joan Frank described the most recentToni Morrison novel, “A Mercy”, as “ferociously beautiful”. (Actually, that can describe many of her books this way.)

Ms Morrison has such a fantastical, spiritual approach to her characters and plot, but she’s also got “edge”. She can set a tone, paint a picture, capture identifiable feeling/emotion and describe events so clearly and with such poetry that it makes you laugh or, it makes you cry. There are some passages in her much acclaimed book “Beloved” that are so painful that your throat clutches and closes.  Her “truth”, cloaked in make believe, is sometimes difficult to handle – sort of a ground glass in the oatmeal type of thing. You feel it.
(“Beloved” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and Ms Morrison was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.)

I think she is amazing and a real gift. “A Mercy”, by Toni Morrison

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Astrology: Full Moon in Aquarius 7/25/10

A Full Moon glows in the 11th sign of Aquarius on Sunday July 25th, at 6:37PM EDT/ 3:37PM PDT. (The Leo Sun is opposite the Aquarius Moon = Full Moon.)

We will feel the influences of friendly, unconventional Aquarius more intensely than a usual 2½ day Moon transit. A stubborn, people oriented, cause infused sign, it is about the “We/Us” rather than the “I/Me”.

This Air sign is ruled by unpredictable, freedom loving, change craving Uranus.  Intellectual rather than emotional, the concern for others that is part of the Aquarian personality is authentic and matter of fact. Volunteer, find a cause, leave a place better than you found it.

As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, at “Full” phase, the Moon is “waning”, on its way to the 3rd and 4th quarters, therefore, it is a good time to clean up and finish old projects. (The best time to create, start new things is from the beginning of a “New Moon” phase thru the 2nd quarter – “waxing”.)