From Zerotasking to Megamultitasking - Farewell Summer

In her book Everybody's Autobiography, Gertrude Stein writes, "It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing." Were she to examine my daily routine, Miss Stein would surely say I lacked the wherewithal to become a genius - doing nothing is almost never a part of my day, more's the pity. Even so, during the month of August, with no students to teach, I can float with relative ease between projects in various stages of contemplation and preparation, and at times that can seem like freedom.
In addition to reading up on Stein and Miss Toklas, most notably via Diana Souhami's "Gertrude and Alice," I'm involved in preliminary planning and discussions for our return to the International Festival of Musical Theater in Cardiff, where the main events will be a production of Stein's "Made By Two" which I'm directing and an international conference of music theater trainers which I'm organizing. (Trainers? Educators? What's in a name?) Spent a couple pleasant days reading and brainstorming on "Anyone Can Whistle," including a quick re-reading of Arthur Laurents' memoir, "Original Story By." Sorting files in my office, trying to rescue my materials for teaching Musical Theater History and Mus Th Directing from the disorderly state I left them in last year - and hoping, in the process, to diminish the piles of paper in my office. And then there's Gemini The Musical - a million details, large and small, to consider and re-consider as the first day of rehearsal draws ever closer. Oh, did I mention getting Kerry's application in for Central High? Or the sale of our Wilmington house? I thought this was summer vacation!

Texas Hillbillies

Thanks to former student Hannah who sent this along...

(Sung to the tune of "The Beverly Hillbillies" Theme Song)

Come & listen to my story 'bout a boy name Bush.
His lQ was zero & his head was up his tush.
He drank like a fish while he drove all about.
But that didn't matter 'cuz his daddy bailed him out.
DUI, that is. Criminal record. Cover-up.

Well, the first thing you know little Georgie goes to Yale.
He can't spell his name but they never let him fail.
He spends all his time hangin' out w/ student folk.
And that's when he learns how to snort a line of coke.
Blow, that is. White gold. Nose candy.

The next thing you know there's a war in Vietnam.
Kin folks say, "George, stay @ home w/ Mom."
Let the common people get maimed & scarred.
We'll buy you a spot in the Texas Air Guard.
Cushy, that is. Country clubs. Nose candy.

Twenty years later Georgie gets a little bored.
He trades in the booze, says that Jesus is his Lord.
He said, "Now the White House is the place I wanna be."
So he called his daddy's friends & they called the GOP.
Republicans, that is. Falwell. Jesse Helms.

Come November 7, the election ran late.
Kin folks said "Jeb, give the boy your state!"
"Don't let those colored folks get into the polls."
So they put up barricades so they couldn't punch their holes.
Chads, that is. Duval County. Miami-Dade.

Before the votes were counted, five Supremes stepped in.
Told all the voters "Hey, we want George to win."
"Stop counting votes!" was their solemn invocation.
And that's how George finally got his coronation.
Rigged, that is. Illegitimate. No moral authority.

Y'all come VOTE now!!!! Ya hear?