Quite pleased that Rosey had no

emergencies or unpleasant events during my recent trip. Our history of problems that occur while I'm away could be drawing to a close; that would be grand. Another trip coming up in September; crossed fingers for continued good luck.

Oliver, his wife and their improv group are participating in improv/sketch comedy competition; they've won at two levels and go on to finals next week. This demonstrates something I've thought for sometime: you can take the kid out of theater, but you can't take theater out of the kid. That is to say, my son's background from birth into adolescence included spending hours at rehearsals and performances since his dad worked and taught in community and academic theater settings. Oliver and Rosey were both required to have theater backgrounds, not unlike the coach's kid that must attend games and probably plays on a team.

I'm sure that folks who do not have theater backgrounds also perform, but that's where it starts in their family 'cause it starts somewhere. Oliver and Rosey left the theater world by choice and are using their talents (which are multiple) in other areas, but their interest in and love for theatrical work continue. At least, that's my impression of it all. You'd have to ask them for their exact feelings on it.

This week end's heat (and my ensuing lack of energy and drive) gave me good reason to watch two Netflix videos that have been waiting. I've been making jokes all morning about light-hearted, uplifting entertainment, only it ain't funny. The videos were Deliverance and No Country for Old Men. Somehow I had never seen the earlier and had doubts about watching the second one. Not plugging a comedy between these two was a tactical error; I try to alternate genres on my Netflix queue, and the instance in which I leave two heavy films together they send them both. I'm on the one-at-a-time plan; but every once in a while they'll send two. Could've waited for one of these; but perhaps I'd have put it off for a long while after watching only one.

I'm taking this philosophically, though; like a dental appointment or child birth. You have to go through it, but when it's over everything's fine. Sure. That's it; everything's just fine.