My Pregnant 15-year-old Daughter is a STAR!

(I wish my camera took better pictures in low light - flash photography isn't allowed)

Bethany made her starring debut in "Rumors" a Neil Simon play last week. I have to admit that seeing her dressed up as a pregnant woman was disconcerting, as was her on-screen PDA with her husband, who I threatened to beat up after the show.

However, she was fantastic. Ben has always been the theatrical one in this family, now he has some competition.

She played "Cookie" a 30-year-old pregnant (trophy?) wife of a prominent 50-something psychologist.

I was proud not only of the job she did, but also of the character she displayed. The play has a lot of cussing. She wasn't going to try out, but the director took all the cuss words out of her part so she could do it.

Ben Wins NATS

Ben was one of the honors winners at the Lewis & Clark NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singers) competition up in Orange City at Northwestern College.

Sang the kind of high-falluting stuff I don't much get into, but is impressive nonetheless.

Les Miserables

This is the banner-winning (state champion) musical theatre from 2008, cuttings from Les Mis.

Those Canaan Days - Joseph/Technicolor Dream Coat

Here's another song from that show - another one I really like. Soloist is matt Walker

Another Try at YouTube - Show choir

Show Choir

I HATE My Oldest Son!!!

He got great offers from Yale and MIT, and decided to accept the MIT offer. So, he will spend the next 6 or so years of his life in Boston. He is not a sports fan at all, so it might be okay to be in the home of the world's greatest two evils - Red Sox and Patriots.

But today, he sent out an email telling me that MIT had informed him that because of the economic downturn, he was going to have to pay his own tuition ($90,000). He was going to try to talk to Yale and see if they would let him come there after all.

I was horrified at MIT for doing this to him. I thought it was really rotten that they offered him a tuition scholarship plus stipend then after he accepted, they changed their minds.

Then, someone else who got the email reminded me of the date. April Fool! I used to play pranks on other people, not get fooled by them. Doggone bratty kid.

So, Matt got me; hook, line and sinker. And I hate him for it!

Conflicted about My Kids

I am in a real quandary here, folks, and I need some help. It involves a couple of my children.

First, my oldest son, Matt, has just gotten an offer letter from MIT. They are giving him a full ride scholarship and a generous stipend to go to MIT and be a masters/doctoral student for the next few years and to be a research assistant.

That is all well and good, of course, but I have a real issue with this. It's the M in MIT. It stands for Massachusetts and is in the Boston area. Boston, as you may well know, is the source of all evil in the world - home of the Boston Red Sox.

Can I support my son as he moves to Babylon, to the seat of world evil? It is a tough choice.

Now, my youngest son, Ben, also presents me with a difficult choice. When he came to me as a freshman and said, "I'm quitting basketball next year to concentrate on Show Choir" - I gave him his freedom - ignoring the knife in my back. It worked out pretty well, getting him a full-ride music scholarship.

But next week, he is performing at Morningside College in a night of OPERA. Yes, folks, I said OPERA!

Here's the question: am I expected, as a father, to attend a night of opera music to support my son. I sat through hours and hours of show choir. Haven't I done enough?

Someone, please, give me some good advice.

Some YouTubes of Ben

Here are some videos of Ben performing. I wish I knew how to put these things in here, but these are links to YouTube videos

His solo in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg8cLA7ASQs&feature=channel_page

His performance in "Les Mis" which won the banner (state championship) in musical theatre - this is a practice performance, but its the only one I've got. He's in the gray pants and black shirt - the narrator at the beginning and first soloist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vju7rHAvukQ

Soloist on this one is Matt Walker, but Ben is mugging and dancing. I just loved the dance sequences, so it goes up here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr25bXLZUX0&feature=channel_page

Here, he's Corny Collins in "Nicest Kids in Town" in East High Headliners, his show choir.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL-dN1fLo7c&feature=channel