One ending is clear... one to go!

Do you ever take a minute to stop and think about how things come to be?  Consider what's happening in your life, and trace it all back to find that, really, nothing happens for no reason.  Actually everything happens for a reason- we just may not know what that reason is... at least for a time.  And then, one day you reflect back on what's happening in your life and BAM... it's all related in some way, and the path is leading to something wonderful!  Begin with the restoration of our Historic Warren Opera House...

When I was young, I loved the Thorpe Opera House in David City.  It was always a special treat to either perform, or attend a performance in the Thorpe.  Today, I am very probably addicted to the Historic Warren Opera House.  She is, simply, amazing.  She inspires creativity to nearly everyone that enters the theater.  I have writer friends, musician friends, artists... everyone who ascends those stairs shares the same "Oooohhh My" sigh of appreciation.  It is true that the Opera House is inspirational.  Not only does it move me to write (just this past week, a short comedy haunted screenplay, first notes for my next screenplay, and the beginnings of what I hope will become a music video for Barnaby Bright), but it inspires me to reach out to my network of friends to solicit their help.

In my life, thus far, I've come to know some amazing, talented, wonderful people.  And, some are famous... even infamous!  Next, let's consider the Potter's Field Vineyard and Pour House.  When we planned the vineyard, my mom was still with us.  She was fighting the hard fight against cancer (valiantly I'll add).  We injected a lot of laughs and humor as the best medicine in what was a losing proposition.  It was an afternoon of wine in the sunroom at the farm when we giggled and decided that Potter's Field would be a perfect name for the vineyard.  I always liked the Potter's field section of the Deadwood, SD cemetary (keep a rock on my bookshelf for luck).  The idea of the poor and downtrodden all being laid to rest in one lonely place is interesting to me.  The potential for the vineyard to financially "break" us made Potter's Field seem ideal.  Mom laughed that we'd "make wine to die for"!  It was also the poor / pour play on words that prompted me to register the Pour House domain several years before the tasting room ever opened.  But I digress...  so here we have this vineyard, and neither dad or I know the first thing about these sticks we just planted (all 2.5 acres!) so I signed up for online Vitology courses.  If you're gonna raise grapes, you'd better know something about it.  Part of that course was a requirement to work in a vineyard.  I didn't know anyone that had a vineyard, but Tom Sorenson did.  So I called his friends, Kelly & Randy Meyer, at Superior Estates Winery, in Superior.  I learned to build trellis and to prune vines.  It was not only fun, but I made good friends in the Meyer family.  AND... while there, I saw a photo of one of the most amazing houses I'd ever seen.  I learned that it is Lew Hunter's Screenwriter's Colony House... right there in Superior.  Who knew?  SO... on to the next quinky-dink...

I got online to learn more about the Lew Hunter Screenwriter's Colony, and decided that although I had never even contemplated writing a screenplay, that it seemed like a place that was calling me to visit.  I gathered up my courage, submitted a few pieces I'd written, applied for acceptance and received a personal phone call from Lew saying "you can write... I can teach you the format for screenplay...come to the Summer Colony!" I moved in to the Colony with my other 9 or so writer friends and spent, probably, the most therapeutic 2 weeks of my life.  It was a bit cathartic- my screenplay ended up being an exercise in grieving...it just took over and spilled on to the pages.  I don't even know how many times Lew or Dr. Dave and I would sit in the living room or on the screenporch, sharing a tear over my mother.  Ironically, it's still a damn good script, but it is not yet finished.  Lew just visited me at the PHouse on Thursday.  He was checkin' in on our progress, and on my writing progress.  Happily, I could tell him, while the first script isn't fininshed yet, I have completed a "short" that will soon be shot for a 10-minute movie (produced by the husband of a childhood friend), we sent the ghostly comedy off to an agent who is hoping to shoot ghost stories in Nebraska in August... and I had just spent my Tuesday evening, on stage in the Opera House, making mental notes for the next script.  I add Lewis & Pamela Hunter to my list of people that I love, who love me.  That's an honor.  OK- quick re-cap... Thorpe - Warren Opera House - Potter's Field - Pour House - Superior vineyard work - Lew Hunter Screenwriter's Colony ... and there's more...

My second visit to the Colony was cut short, but in the time I was there I met my dear friend Lisa Kovanda, and the now-famous Jon Bokenkamp.  Lisa was writing her first screenplay.  Jon was already working in Hollywood and had written 2 or more movies for Angelina Jolie.  And, one fine afternoon, Lisa and I had the privelege to do a table reading for Jon.  He was pitching a series for HBO and there we were, around Lew's colony dining room table, reading. The network had expanded...I'd made new friends... but there was more to the story.  This I know now. 

A few weeks ago, Lisa (now President of the NE Writer's Guild) & I went to the grand opening of the World Theater.  We gussied up, walked the red carpet, sipped champagne and went to support our fellow writer Jon, as it was his "baby" and his motivation to return to Kearney, rally 10 people and embark on a million+ restoration of the theater.  It was great to see him, and of course, in Nebraska-fashion... I told Jon of our Historic Warren Opera House and asked for his help, and he said "OF COURSE... email me and I'll come have a look.  We'll talk."  And just then... 2-time Academy Award winner Alexander Payne entered the room.  I grabbed eye contact immediately, said to Jon..."can I ask his help too?", smiled and headed to the corner of the theater where I could corner yet another famous Nebraskan.  After a good 10 minute chat about the project and Friend, Nebraska, I asked him. Again, I got a "get me your number- you have mine... if not tomorrow, I will visit you before the end of the year."  Cheers...  Thorpe-Warren Opera House- Potter's Field - Pour House - Superior vineyard - Lew Hunter screenwriting colony - Lisa - Jon - World Theater - Alexander Payne -  what next?

Filmstreams.  Alexander Payne's brainchild to build the Ruth Sokolov Theater, where performance and movies take the stage.  This "indie" and not-mainstream venue is, like our Opera House, a place that just breeds inspiration.  And what better way to show our appreciation of Alexander's past commitments to restoring a theater in Scottsbluff, and his Filmstream efforts, than to join him in a wonderful fundraiser event?  The PHouse will be closed next Sunday, and Connie, Gretta and I are heading to the Holland Theater for a series of parties and what I expect will be a very interesting interview event with Alexander and the beautiful Ms. Jane Fonda.  Of course, Lew Hunter will be there... maybe Jon, I don't know yet... and the devotees of the Historic Warren Opera House will be on hand to rub elbows, gleen insight and tested ideas, to renew our inspiration and to sip champagne among some famous and infamous Nebraskans.  Filmstreams has opened a "short movie" competition, with a July 25 deadline.  Unfortunatley, "Dance of Silly Daisies" won't be shot until fall, so I'll miss this year's competiton, but who knows...  maybe that is yet another part of this journey we are on to restore the beautiful Warren Opera House, and to again bring talent, creativity and appreciation to the stage and theater.

The Journey thus far:  childhood friend - Thorpe - Warren Opera House - Potter's Field - Pour House - Superior Vineyard - Lew Hunter Screenwriter's Colony - Lew - Lisa - Jon - World Theater - Alexander Payne - Filmstreams - _____________ (childhood friend's producer husband films "Daisies") (ghostly comedy to be filmed in OHouse) (next script involving OHouse, Oddfellows) ?  Maybe the time will be right to finish my first script.  It think it's getting closer... I can feel it. Maybe some of this filming will inspire others to support our efforts... it all makes perfect sense.

And, I know where the journey ends.  As I mentioned... EVERYTHING happens for a reason... in this amazing life of mine, thus far, my trail of "things" has lead me to a wonderful group of friends who have all dedicated every spare moment (and then some) to the success of the restoration. They see the possibilities. We share this vision. Happily, we forge ahead... giving tours, promoting, doing TV interviews, writing stories and plays and surrounding ourselves with all of these positive people in the state who "get it". I, honestly, just can't see how this restoration could not be a success. My chain of events has lead me to a place where I can see what has happened, why, and where the path is leading. That's a wonderful thing.

Thanks for reading...

Because I Can!

One of the best parts of my Sunday morning is that I get to sleep in a little bit.  PHouse doesn't open until 3PM, so that gives me a little lounging time.  Granted, my baby dog Violet is an alarm clock that howls a wee bit earlier than I care for, but that's ok, as she goes outside and does her thing then comes back in for playtime until I get up to provide breakfast.  Today she and Tank enjoyed prime rib steak tips (left from the 4th cookout) with their food.  YUMMY!

The second best part of Sunday is that I get to decide what PHouse will have for a dinner special.  We've had people call us on Thursday or Friday... even Saturday asking "What's the dinner special?"  The PHouse team laughs and says, honestly, "We have no idea!"  I just kinda depends on my mood... if it's hot, or cold outside... a lot of times I think about my Grandpa B and Gramps P, and wonder what they would want on that particular day.  Both men were easy to please, and definitely "meat and potatoes" guys, so a lot of the time I prepare something that is a "full meal".  Tonight it's roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy and vegetable.  To top it off, we'll do homemade shortcakes with strawberry/raspberry filling and whipped cream.  Enough food for 2 people, but a "Grandpa-kind-of-meal".  I also thought of my dear friend Mimi.  Mimi lives at the Lake of the Ozarks.  She and Leo are quite the "team" having been married longer than either can remember.  They are a meatball-making-duo that was kind enough to share their secret with me.  For whatever reason, I was thinking of Mimi, and thus we'll also have a savory Meatball Sandwich & chips on the menu.  The sauce is simmering, the "balls" are rolled and in the freezer, and around 4:30PM they'll be added to the pot for cooking.  The spices and meat flavors infuse the sauce and POW!  It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  Two of those perfectly seasoned meatballs, sauce, melted mozarella cheese on a soft wheat hoagie... another YUMMY!  (a little tricky to eat, but messy-goodness!)

So, I don't choose the menu until Sunday, because it "just kinda depends" on my mood and where my head is.  It's not the popular decision among our patrons who "WANT TO KNOW" but, it's the way we're gonna do it... just because I can!  What you can be sure of is that regardless of my mood, my memories, or the weather, the Sunday Special will be great!

Cheers and enjoy this little-bit-cooler Sunday!