Word of the Day: engram (EN\gram); the supposed physical basis of an individual memory in the brain
Weight: 206 pounds
Goal: lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose: 74 pounds
Waist Size: 41 inches
Rowing Duration: 72 minutes, one (1) second
DARN, DARN, DARN, it happened to me again, I lost my previous draft of the post I was going to publish today, and it was informative and I thought interesting. I shall try and restore some of that work because it really was some of my better writing, gosh that makes me so angry, and it wasn't really my fault.
Cover of Andrea McArdleSince we are all still amidst the holidays, I wanted to say one more thing regarding Christmas, and that is, one of the things that I love most about Christmas-time, is that you get to see people, and not only relatives, that you have not seen in a long time, no, really Efrem, you really love stating the obvious, don't you?
The people that I enjoyed seeing this past Christmas, and who I do not get to see regularly is Louise's Brother's family. Louise is my sister-in-law, remember? Anyway, Louise's brother's name is Aaron, his wife is Tonia, and their two daughter's names are Amanda and Annie. Amanda is thirteen (13) years old, and Annie is only nine (9) years old. For the record, and for clarification, the surname of that family is Spring and the Spring Family live in North Carolina.
Zac and I are not blood family of The Spring Family, but we do think of them as our extended family, and we always enjoy getting together with them, which frequently happens over holidays, as that is the most popular time for Aaron and his family to visit Gaines ville, Florida.
So, what does that have to do with the price of girdles, you ask. On Christmas Day, I received an extra special gift via Annie Spring, who sang the song "Maybe" for me, "Maybe" is from one of my very favourite musicals, and that of course is "Annie!"
I thought it was very brave and thoughtful for Annie Spring to sing to me, I mean, she did sing in front of sixteen (16) people and she is only nine (9) years old, I mean, thank you very much Annie Spring, I'll never forget your singing that song to me, okay, she also sang to the others as well, but it was mostly for me. The story gets better, eventually, just call me Virtual, he he.
Annie Spring, this past year, had recently tried out for the role of "Annie" for the musical show of that same name ("Annie!") which was staged in Raleigh, North Carolina. Annie Spring did not get the role, but she did get to meet one of my idols, who co-incidentally, not only was the Original Annie, but the actress was also now going full circle by being in this version of the show and playing the role of "Miss Hannigan."
If you do not know who I'm talkiing about, nor know anything else of the world in which you live, I am talking about the one and only Miss Andrea McArdle, whose voice transcends me, and for whom I would do absolutely anything, yes, absolutely anything, that is the depth of my admiration for Miss McArdle.!
For those of you who don't have alot of knowledge on my idol, I thoght that today would be a good time to educate you on my Andrea. Andrea McArdle was born in Philadelphia. While studying dance as a child, Andrea was spotted by a talent agent who got her work in a number of television commercials. This led to McArdle’s two-and-a-half year stint on the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow." Andrea McArdle also appeared on Al Alberts’ Showcase, a local televised talent show in Philadelphia.
Andrea’s big break came in early 1977 when she was pulled from the chorus of orphans to replace Kristin Vigard, the original star in the Broadway musical Annie, during rehearsals. The show was a critical and commercial smash, and Andrea McArdle became the youngest performer ever to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Andrea lost to co-star Dorothy Loudon, (she should't have,) who played Miss Hannigan, but did receive the Theater World and Outer Critics’ Circle Awards for her performance.
In April 1978, Andrea opened in London’s West End production of Anne. Andrea appeared several times on "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson in 1977-79, on one occasion accompanied by Liberace, naturally I saw that show and I believe I even have a vhs copy of it somewhere! Andrea also appeared more than once on the Mike Douglas Show, singing with Kristy McNichol, Stephanie Mills, Liberace and Don Rickles, but I saw Andrea McArdle the most on the Merv Griffin show, it was whilst Andrea was singing on Merv Griffin that I really fell hook, line and sinker for Andrea's singing.
Andrea was a frequent guest on Merv Griffin, I do believe that the late Merv Griffin loved Andrea as much as I, he always had her on his show, anyway, on one of those shows, Andrea sang two songs and they were: "New York, New York, which she sang differently from that of Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra, she put her own spin on it and I really enjoy her version, of course, and the other song Andrea sang was the gorgeous "Don't Cry out Loud" and yes, Melissa Manchester sings that song well, she should, the song was written for her, but people, I'm here to tell you that Andrea McArdle sings "Doin't cry out Loud way, way better.
Andrea can hit such high notes and with such ease that she truly is amazing to watch, I never get tired of watching and listening to her sing. I have seen Andrea in two musicals, they are: Beauty and the Beast, Andrea played Belle for at least two years on Broadway, and that is where I saw that production, I also saw her play Sally Bowles in Cabaret in Toronto.
Believe it or not, Andrea's Sally of the musical "Cabaret,"was good and it was very brave of Andrea to change her image as a sweet young lady to a tarted up tramp! Some of the pictures that Andrea took for promotion as Sally are a little risque and I have a friend who still retains those tarted up pictures of Andrea on his bedroom wall! How about that?, I wonder if I still have that souvenir program of the show! Hmmm!
Andrea McArdle's first assignment after returning to the United States, after playing in the West End version of "Annie," was the plum role of Judy Garland in NBC’s telepic Rainbow (1978).
Ask anyone who has seen the biopic "Rainbow" and they will tell you that Andrea was amazing in this movie and she should have been awarded an Emmy for her very truthful portrayl of a young Judy Garland. Andrea also played Arnold Horschack's sister on the television show "Welcome Back Kotter," but throughout her career, Andrea McArdle has concentrated primarily on performing in musical theater and cabarets.
Getting to play two (2) significant roles from one (1) play or movie, at different times of course, is a very rare thing and the only other actress that I know accomplished this great feat, besides Miss Andrea, is Miss Patty Duke, who not only played the role of Helen Keller in both the play and the movie of "The Miracle Worker," but she also got to play the role of Annie Sullivan, in a television remake of the movie, and play, "The Miracle Worker!"
Melissa Gilbert played the role of Helen Keller in that television remake, and she, and Patty Duke were nominated for an Emmy for their excellent work, but only Patty Duke went the distance, winning the Emmy for Best Actress in a dramatic role for a movie made specifically for television, but you all knew that, didn't you? (For the record, when it comes to banal trivia of Hollywood, some people call me a walking almanac!, is that bragging? I mean I said it was banal!)
I just love Patty Duke, I met her once, it was when The Workplace and Safety Insurance Board was still located at 2 Bloor Street, East, and Patty Duke was filming a movie, "Mom, The Werewolf and Me, (I know it is truly bizare that I can sill remember the name of that movie, but that is the type of hairpin that I am!) and on my lunch, I went over to where they were filming and just by luck, I met the Academy Award winnbng actress!
After Patty Duke, yes the award-winning actress was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she was able to take control of her depression and mania.
Patty Duke is best known for her roles as identical twin cousins in The Patty Duke Show and her portrayal of Helen Keller in the movie The Miracle Worker at age 16, as aforementioned, which earned Patty Duke an Academy Award and made her the youngest winner at the time. Patty's earned three Emmys from six nominations, two Golden Globes, and a People's Choice Award during her career.
But behind the scenes, Patty's behavior was erratic, earning her a bad rep with Hollywood insiders, not to mention her own family. It took many years, but in 1982, at the age of 35, Miss Duke was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Since then she's become the bestselling author of "Call Me Anna" and "A Brilliant Madness" (coauthored with Gloria Hochman). Patty currently travels around the country to educate others about this often devastating disorder. Miss Duke shared some of her experiences and insights with Everyday Health.
Patty Duke had an usual pattern to be different, meaning and she felt isolatedf for so long as it seemed as if she was the only one who had these feelings. The fact that what Patty was feeling had a name meant other people knew about it. And then to know that it had a treatment, Patty Duke was over the moon. The sense of relief for Miss Duke was immeasurable. I expect so!
Well folks, I'm now absolutely frustrated with having to go back and forth using two (2) computers, Zac got up whilst I was creating my post and I have had to go back and use my own ccomputer, and you know what that means, ugh, virtual keyboard again, so consequently, I am now finished today's post, besides, this is the second time that I've tried to put out this post!
I hope you all have a good day, Zac and I are scheduled to babysit tonight, I know that were definetly getting Jessie and Raphael, but I'm not sure if Sally will be joining them, I hope she does, we have not seen much of Sally on this trip, as she is so very busy with activity, this is only going to intensify as in 2011, Sally will become a teenager, oh no!!!!!!!
Take care, and you all come back now, you hear/read!
Topics coming soon:
Art
Politics
Technology
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