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Don't miss the great Alfie Boe on Music and the Spoken Word this Sunday. Alfie is performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir this week in multiple concerts with news journalist Tom Brokaw also on tap. While the annual Christmas concerts are not televised, a mini-version of them is included on the program, Music and the Spoken Word. It airs on BYU-TV as well as the RCC channels and airs multiple times during Sunday and the days following.
Known for playing Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and Rudolfo in various La Boheme productions including Broadway for which he won a Tony Award, Boe is simply a sensational talent for our times. He has a huge range, far beyond the normal tenor. Once considered an opera star and classical performer, the gorgeous Boe bills himself now as a singer, a storyteller of songs, and tell stories he does and in multiple genres. He sings it all -- rock, country, folk, blues, pop, gospel, and, of course, classical and opera which he still loves.
Catch Alfie at Deseret Book on Friday evening as well where he will also sing.
The prayers worked, and Bodie the K9 officer went home this afternoon. He looks so much better. I am so happy for this awesome dog that he is able to go home with his handler. I think when he jumped into the backseat of his patrol car, he felt like his old self.
The sendoff was witnessed by a slew of media and members of the public, who just warmed to Bodie right away.
This photo is courtesy of The Sacramento Bee's news site.
Also in the canine news, and this is disgusting, is a sweet daschund who was picked up by two adults in their 20s a few days ago. They strapped an M80 explosive around his neck and, yes, decrepit people that they are, they exploded it. The dog, now called Rocket, survived and had a lot of stitches on his neck. He is recovering, but in the scenes on the news, you could just see him shaking. I am so miffed that people are so cruel. I hope that someday God gives those two animal abusers their just desserts. I just have no tolerance for those who are cruel to animals, especially in situations like this.
On the good side, Rocket has a lot of loving homes to choose from, and the vets say he should be able to go home next week.
I have to say that I have been truly touched by a beautiful dog named Bodie. He is a K9 police dog who was shot twice last week by a villain. I admit that I have no remorse that Bodie's handler then shot and killed the shooter. Bodie was shot in the paw and the jaw, nearly lacerating his tongue. He was critical condition, but his handler and the vet staff stayed with him all night. He was upgraded to serious and now is in stable condition. Today, Bodie had a second surgery.
My prayers and those of my city go out to Bodie, who continues to be the focus for news stories on all of our local channels. He is just 4 years old.
You can read Bodie's story here and keep up to date here.
I continue to be stunned by the total disrespect that Christina Aguilera seems to have for her fellow Mouseketeer, Tony Lucca, on The Voice. All season long she has continued to show great immaturity and a bias against Lucca. He is a few years older than she is and has had nothing but nice things to say about her. She actually didn't appear to recognize him at first during the blind auditions, which is okay, but something about her reaction when she did always has felt odd to be. The word that comes to mind is plastic, as in fake.
So, how to explain Aguilera's penchant for negativity for Luca? She's panned him all season, called him one dimensional, and recommended to his celebrity coach that he not be chosen for the finals. Is this jealousy? Did she have an unrequited crush on Luca when they were kids? Is she afraid of being usurped by yet another Mouseketeer (they both worked with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears).
I don't know why she is being, well, a jerk, but she is. It shows her insecurity, and I believe that may be the truth of the matter. Aguilera's penchant for showing her assets, purchased as they have been, tends to be a sign that she has little self-worth. She may talk a good game, but many people who act tough really have deep self-esteem problems. Maybe that is really what is the heart of this. She's just out-classed, in talent and esteem.
What a shame that Aguilera has shown such childish behavior.
I don't know who will win The Voice. Chris Mann, who is Aguilera's protege for the finale, is awesome. I adore him. He has a wonderfully classically trained voice. He and Lucca are actually the two I have been rooting for the most and really are the only two contestants I've cared about, so as long as one of them wins, I am happy. Part of me wants Adam Levine to be able squash Aguilera in the judges panel since Levine is Luca's coach. I thought he was on the verge of really telling her off in the finale last night, but he made his statement in another way.
My good wishes to Lucca and Mann, who have both shown awesome talent and dignity, and my pity to Aguilera for being so classless on national television and in real life apparently.
I'm super excited about the new Canadian series, Saving Hope, starring Michael Shanks of Stargate SG-1. His co-star is Erica Durance of Smallville fame. In fact, these two have appeared together on both of their former shows, so there is history. NBC is airing Saving Hope starting June 7 at 10pm.
Michael plays Charlie Harris, Chief of Surgery, who ends up in a coma and then roams the hospital. It promises to be very cool. I don't know how long they can keep that premise up before he needs to get out of the coma, but the first 13 episodes should be great.
The show is filming in Toronto, and they're working on episode 7 now. Michael's become a tweeter. I don't do social media, but following his tweets is a hoot.
Watch Saving Hope -- let's get a season 2!
I began to listen to Celtic Woman a few years ago. It was actually towards the end of what was probably their most well known and original formation: Chloë Agnew, Órla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, and Máiréad Nesbitt. Chloe, the youngest, was my instant favorite, and with continued viewing, Lisa was fun, too. I never really cottoned up to the other three. Orla and Meav left at about the same time and were replaced by Lynn Hilary and Alex Sharpe. I liked them to varying degrees and felt they made an excellent harmony with Chloe and Lisa.
Unfortunately, neither lasted long. Stated reasons are about wanting to spend more time with family and return home to Ireland. If true, I certainly applaud the choice, but didn't they have a clue what they were getting into? Why audition for an international group like this if you don't have or want to invest the time? I mean, these gals were there, at maximum, two years, and I don't think either really made it more than one year.
It took them a while, but the group finally added a new singer, Lisa Lambe, but just Lisa. This makes the one-time quartet, a trio, and it is just odd. The reason is that they are missing that low part of the register. All three of these gals do their best as sopranos. They just don't have that lower part of the scale so everything is too high pitched for my liking.
The group acts differently, which is fine. I actually like that element. Originally, they were very rigid in their stances and choreographed moves. Everything is still very choreographed, but they are more animated. These three act like buddies and they are probably closer in age than any of the other mixes (but I'm only guessing). It's fun to see them a bit looser in presentation, and goodness, they have a sweet sound. I just miss that alto for contrast. I need the variety, and so do their songs.
Now Lisa Kelly has announced she's taking time away to have another family. I'm happy for her. I suspect she's a great mom. A replacement has been announced for 2012, but I don't know how she mixes in or if she can fill that lower register gap I think the group needs. Her name is Susan McFadden.
I'll miss Lisa Kelly and I sure hope she comes back. Chloe is still my favorite. She's all grown up now. You can see the maturity on her face and the confidence in her demeanor. Young Chloe is now the veteran.
Welcome to 2012, and more specifically January. For some it means a month of resolutions to follow, or break, and for others it means time to go skiing. Some start shopping for presents for the next holiday season, and some just want to relax and not think about anything. Then there are the football fans. For them, it's the season of the Super Bowl. NASCAR loves are enjoying Preseason Thunder in Daytona! January is so many different things to people around the world.
For me, I'm continuing with my goal to homecook meals for my dogs. After learning what is in commercial dog food, I vowed last fall to do this, and I have been. They still get some dry dog food, but it's a premium product without those harmful by-products and cannibalistic elements. I've seen a difference in their activity level, too.
I've been sick the last few days, shivering under my covers and ignoring the internet. I just finally had to get up and do something; hence, here I am, updating my sadly un-kept blog.
Today was the final episode of One Life to Live. I was impressed mostly that on the mantle of the Lord manor were photos of Lynn Benish and Lee Patterson, two performers who were my favorites back in the early days of the show. It's a shame more of the original characters didn't get some attention. With All My Children gone, that leaves General Hospital as the lone ABC soap and rumor has it, it is not secure at all.
Have a good one, folks!
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