July 18, 2010
Paul Harris had us in stitches last night at the Music City Centre. As an Arkansas boy, he can poke relentless fun at the idiosyncrasies of the folks from his state and get away with it. When he got around to dissing things that I value, I couldn’t help but laugh as heartily as the rest of the audience. Humor that’s well done does that — it makes you laugh at yourself and the things you take (sometimes too) seriously.
Superb musicians on bass, mandolin, fiddle and drums share the stage with him. They mostly play blue grass. But they surprised us with a lot more. The second half features the Cleverly Trio. We knew we were in for a treat when the “trio” was FIVE musicians. Paul Harris and his sidekicks put on a great show. And, unlike most of the theaters we’ve been to in Branson, they kept the volume at an enjoyable instead of eardrum piercing level.
Paul Harris’s comedy pushes the envelope in Branson. It was the closest thing to “risque” that we’ve heard in a show. No swearing or foul language. But definitely edgy for this town. Want a taste? Watch a video of the Cleverly Trio’s performance of the song Podophilliac. I love the verse “Let’s get naked from heel to toe”!
I also found it refreshing that patriotism and fundamental Christianity weren’t played up in the Paul Harris Show. No special tribute to veterans. No slides showing the cross. No monologue about being saved. Just Harris’ hilarious comedy and great picking and drumming by five talented musicians. His show stands on its own.
July 5, 2010
Now THIS is hokey - and it's one of the best recent pictures we have of us!
- Every road into Branson has at least one billboard promoting the Showboat Branson Belle and its show headliner, Todd Oliver with his two homely dogs. It struck me as hokey, like so many attractions in tourist towns. But I love seeing a place from the water, especially when the day moves from evening to sunset to star-studded sky. And I was eager to cruise on Table Rock Lake.
Friday evening, we set sail on the dinner cruise. The day was gorgeous with clear skies and soft breezes. Our balcony seats on Captain’s Row overlooked the main dining room below, with an unobstructed view of the stage. The tender 18-ounce rib eye steak was prepared exactly as ordered and the dessert was to die for. And we thoroughly enjoyed our conversations with the couples dining on either side of us. Before the show began, we strolled along the deck to admire the view and fiery sunset.
The lively, talented Showstoppers kept my eyes riveted to the stage when they performed parts of 29 songs in 10 minutes, complete with costume changes. The best, though, was Todd Oliver’s hysterical performance with his talking dogs. I laughed until my sides ached!
We had a delightful, memorable, entertaining evening – nothing hokey about it. But if someone tells me they thought it was hokey, I’ll have to face the truth . . . if the Showboat Branson Belle’s dinner show is hokey, then I love hokey!
June 28, 2010
Friends here in Branson have started hosting a fun event every week called SNAP — Sunday Nights Adults Playing. Jack, a fabulous artist, and Alex, a dynamic speaker, came up with this fun way to shake ourselves free from the seriousness of being adults. So far, we’ve had water balloon battles and whiffle ball batting practice, played croquet and bocci ball, devoured great food, and enjoyed conversation ranging from stimulating to hilarious!
Last night a torrential rain nixed playing outside. We played the daffy “Battle of the Sexes” game instead. After the storm, a gorgeous rainbow arched across the sky!
I’ve been having so much fun that it hasn’t occurred to me to take photos. Next time! (Maybe…)
June 15, 2010
Join 10,000+ people on June 20th bless the Gulf of Mexico through prayer, positive thoughts and spiritual consciousness.
When: Sunday, June 20th at 3 p.m. EDT (2 p.m. CDT, 1 p.m. MDT, noon PDT)
Our energetic power for good will increase exponentially with each additional person who blesses the Gulf of Mexico at that hour. Please join us to help the ecology and all living things — plants, animals and the folks who live and work there.
Don’t stand by, feeling powerless as you grieve over the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. You CAN do something. Add your power of prayer, positive thoughts and spiritual consciousness on June 20 to the blessing of the Gulf of Mexico.
June 11, 2010
Face in the Clouds - Photo credit: Dorothy Horn
Creativity thrives here in the Ozarks! We’ve met so many creative people — artists, musicians, comedians, dancers, writers, healers, photographers.
Our friend Dorothy Horn loves to photograph images she sees in the clouds, even when riding down the road at full speed. Fortunately, her husband is the one driving! I was tickled when she gave me a photo print of this image.
Can you see the face in the clouds in this photo? Sometimes I see a man’s face. Other times a boy’s. What do you see?
June 3, 2010
Fireflies! Flickering lights are dancing around our site here in Branson. The last time I saw fireflies was during my childhood in the Midwest. As kids, my sister and I would dash around the backyard, catching fireflies in glass jars. We’d screw on lids pierced with air holes, nestle in our beds, turn out the bedroom lights and then marvel at the firefly light show.
The dancing lights of the fireflies continue to tickle and fascinate me!
May 9, 2010
Comedian Yakov Smirnoff. Photo courtesy of Branson/Lakes Area CVB
Yakov Smirnoff. What a comedian. And what an uplifting show! The Russian-immigrant-turned-naturalized-U.S.-citizen had an audience of natural-born Americans in fits of laughter about our country and our silly selves – “you know who you are…” His humorous and poignant accounts of experiencing America as a new immigrant jostled us into seeing what we take for granted. And it stirred a keen appreciation for our freedom, abundance and well-being.
While he had hundreds of people laughing and receptive, he shared his philosophy of life. This is what I heard:
- “You see what you seek.” See the good and positive in a situation no matter what it may be. (He used a heart-wrenching example from 9/11 to emphasize his point.)
- Literally tickle and let yourself be tickled by another. (I won’t try to explain it – you’ll have to see his show.)
His message, relayed through rib-tickling laughter, is so simple. And it’s so powerful! So why do we find it difficult to live this way?
If you come to Branson, give yourself the treat of spending a couple of hours with Yakov!
May 6, 2010
Eggs fresh from the hens' nests. Photo credit: David Muenker
The other day, David went hiking in the Ozarks with a new local friend, Dave, and his mother, Mary. When they stopped to eat their packed lunches, Mary offered David one of her farm fresh hard-boiled eggs. David remarked about the richness of flavor compared to store-bought eggs. She asked, “Would you like some more?”
After their hike, they stopped at her other son’s farm, and David left with a plastic Folger coffee container full of eggs grabbed moments before from underneath the hens. Now that is fresh!
This morning I made poached eggs from these fresh and tasty specimens. What a treat! Of course, we’re spoiled now. Store-bought eggs will never taste as good.
Farm fresh poached eggs. The red stuff is hot sauce that David loves. --Photo credit: David Muenker
P.S. I have a warm spot in my heart for the movie “Julie & Julia.” The scene where Julie follows Julia’s recipe for poached eggs convinced me that I, too – despite years of failure — can make eggs poached to perfection. Now, nine times out of 10, I do!
April 29, 2010
Pink dogwoods in full blossom. Photo credit: David Muenker
Dogwoods and redbuds make springtime in the Ozarks especially gorgeous. When the slopes were still winter brown, these flowering trees instilled us with hope that spring was quickly approaching. They showed off their beauty before the oaks and other trees unfurled their leaves. And they continued to radiate their beauty even after leafed out trees began to hide them from view.
White dogwood blossoms are breathtaking beautiful, especially in the wild. Seeing pink dogwood blossoms is a rare treat.
The blossoms have now run their course and green-leafed trees cover the slopes like a thick, lush carpet. But the uplifting beauty of those white and pink blossoms is etched in my memory.
Paul Harris had us in stitches last night at the Music City Centre. As an Arkansas boy, he can poke relentless fun at the idiosyncrasies of the folks from his state and get away with it. When he got around to dissing things that I value, I couldn’t help but laugh as heartily as the rest of the audience. Humor that’s well done does that — it makes you laugh at yourself and the things you take (sometimes too) seriously.
