Thanksgiving Fun

Just in case you get bored on Thanksgiving, here’s a site to keep you entertained for awhile (from Highlights, of course): http://www.highlightskids.com/thanksgivingFun.htm

I’m not quitting my day job…

I am finally a volunteer usher for CAPA, a local not-for-profit organization that owns and operates three beautiful and historic theaters of columbus (Southern Theatre, Ohio Theatre, and Palace Theatre), and manages the Vern Riffe Center theaters. I started the process to become a volunteer months ago, but they only take on new volunteers at designated times throughout the year, and there is an interview and 5-hour orientation process you have to participate in before you are allowed to begin. They ask for a minimum committment of two shows a month, and you are welcome to sign up for as many shows as you want.

There are several reasons that I became a volunteer usher. First, it’s an opportunity to meet other people who are into theater and the arts. Second, it keeps me connected to the local theater scene. Third, I’ll get to see a lot of shows of all kinds, many of which I would never have seen otherwise. I have already seen a local orchestral group playing movie soundtrack music, a touring play, a men’s choral concert, and a group of 75 mostly-gray-haired women singing love songs and show tunes. Later this week I usher for an Australian Pink Floyd Tribute Concert, and I’m extremely curious about one of my December assignments — Moscow Cat Theatre.

Celebrate Children’s Book Week

Might I suggest a little book called Keturah and Lord Death, a finalist for the National Book Awards on Wednesday (expect an update if it wins). Keturah is a romantic fantasy about a young woman who is given 24 hours (by Death himself) to find her true love. I mention this book in particular because it is published by Front Street, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, part of the Highlights Family of Companies.

Thank You for Voting

Elections are a funny business. When the voting results mirror your views, you feel great about the voting process. When it goes against you, it’s easy to feel discouraged that your vote really didn’t matter.

The voting results are still being tallied, but I feel great about the voting trends so far. Ohio is always a swing state, but this election seems to have swung more to the democrat side than in the past few elections.

I am most excited/relieved about the results in two state issues regarding smoking in public places. I am relieved because one of the issues (#4) was an amendment to the constitution that would have trumped existing state laws banning smoking in 21 Ohio cities, including the proposed issue #5, and there seemed like there was a real danger that issue #4 might pass through deception tactics.

Issue #5 expands the Columbus-wide smoking ban to all of Ohio (no smoking inside bars, restaurants, or office buildings). Issue #5 is called “Smoke Free Ohio”. Issue #4, tried to disguise itself as a smoking ban, when in reality it would have the opposite effect in many cities, including Columbus. Issue #4 called itself “Smoke Less Ohio” and included phrases such as “would ban smoking”. Ohio voters were not deceived, however, and rejected #4 and passed #5.

I should add that, while I do think people should be free to poison their bodies however they like, I also think they should do so in the privacy of their own homes. I don’t appreciate having to adjust my life to protect my lungs. Last week, while furniture shopping in Pennsylvania, we stopped to eat at a Denny’s. The thick, blue cloud of smoke that greeted us, forced us to look elsewhere for our meal. Fortunately, that is not a scene I will have to repeat here in Ohio. Thank you voters.

Vote Tomorrow

That is all.