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Rod on Maui, August 2003.
Photo by John Scoggins.
©2003 by Stanyan Entertainment.
A Thought for Today
Giving is the greatest high there is.
THE WEEKEND WATCH
LAST
WEEKEND
This has been one of the busiest but all around best weeks in recent
memory. Lots of positive vibes, much work completed, neglected friendships
renewed, new friends met and best of all the chance to continue supporting
some of the causes I really believe in.
Thursday night Patrick drove me to The City of Industry so I could get a
good night’s sleep before a 7:40 Breakfast (a little early for me) on
Friday morning to honor David Dreier as he begins his 4th term in
Congress.
For those of you unfamiliar with Congressman Dreier he chairs the powerful
House Rules Committee in Washington and has done an excellent job of
serving California and the country since 1981.
Great breakfast with various local & national dignitaries speaking, a
really funny speech by Tommy Lasorda and I closed the event by reading two
poems from the new book.
I’ll be back in Orange County next month to introduce “Rusting in the
Rain” at an autograph party to aid The Salvation Army’s Christmas Fund.
Saturday Night’s benefit for The Actor’s Fund was a sell out with too many
show-stopping turns to list. Lots of “The Family” was in attendance with
Melinda Smith coming all the way from New Jersey for the event. I’m told
they raised over a hundred thousand dollars to help aid performers down on
their luck.
I met Tom’s new ‘main squeeze’ and when Liza Minnelli dropped by the
dressing room to say ‘hello’ I was able to greet her with “Hiya, Slugger.”
Liza and I go back a long time & we’ve been there for each other during
more than a few ups and downs. I added, “that over the years if every time
you reinvented yourself and those who took credit for it were lined up
there wouldn’t be any Show-Biz-Wannabe’s left.”
This newest slim and saucy Liza has ‘spiked hair’ and when she laughs it’s
as though her mother was standing there exhorting you to join in whatever
current ‘fun’ was around and about.
MONDAY ONWARD
Two things preoccupied me last week, completing “Rusting in the Rain, I
did so and it has gone off to the printer . . . and getting the Stanyan
House site up. Well, one out of two ain’t bad. We are postponing the Grand
Opening of Stanyan House for a week. I can’t wait for you to see Mario’s
new design (finally using the various Stanyan Fonts P22 Type Foundry has
been creating for us). The guy is a genius.
We have a great team. Mario, Ben, “Hollywood”, Joe Bob, Maize and the
irrepressible Billy have worked day and night to get things in place but
we have all agreed to take a few more days to get it totally right.
Eric has arranged with Ken for some inaugural MP3 downloads, Melinda came
up with a great idea that we are working on & “Hollywood” is developing a
series of holiday specials that Stanyan House will be able to offer those
who have been waiting for the new mail order service to open.
I’m looking forward to the ASPTL veterans joining the Stanyan House team
to make two great websites. In addition to those mentioned, without Jay &
Wade’s contribution Stanyan House would never have been built.
Thursday I had my “sound check” for “Broadway Meets Hollywood” tonight’s
(Saturday) benefit for The William Holden Wildlife Foundation. Since
Bill’s death Stephanie Powers has not only kept the foundation going but
made it her major concern in life. Few people know that in addition to
being an accomplished film and TV actress she has a voice to die for. I’ve
just heard her first album and when it’s released then everyone will be
aware of this well kept secret.
Yesterday I finally got around to signing some licensing agreements, met
with attorney’s on a current dispute, which after looking at the evidence
(cancelled checks etc.) they assure me I’ll win big time. I took a swim
and here I am.
ONWARD
Finally we have some much-needed rain. It should go a long way toward
helping extinguish the worst fire season in California history. Anything
that happened to any of us during the past week, good or bad, pales by
comparison to those who lost everything in this current disaster
I’ve got a dress rehearsal this afternoon and the performance tonight.
Those of you who can’t make tonight’s performance I hope to meet and greet
in Branson on the 11th at the concert for American War Veterans.
At my age, doing things for causes you believe in with people that you
like . . . well, it just doesn’t get any better.
See you Monday with some answered mail. Sleep warm.
RM 11/1/2003 4:46 AM PST.
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