"Life has a habit of not standing hitched. You got to ride it like you find it. You got to change with it."
_Woodie Guthrie, American folk singer-songwriter (1912-!967)
Happy Monday!
It's October 3rd!
October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 89 days remaining until the end of the year. Today, I'm focusing on several people that make me happy!
Isn't that a great way to start the week?
In a study, participants who spent no more than 15 minutes throughout the day for a week acting with kindness became happier for six months.
Jana Robbins (pictured above with me) makes me happy! I was so thrilled to Have Jana not only attend our wedding Saturday night in Tappan, NY. She also sang new lyrics to "Sunrise, Sunset " written by Sheldon Harnick for same sex couples. It was a night to remember! The first time I saw Jana on stage was as Miss Mazepa in 1990 in Gypsy.
We have become very good friends over the years sharing birthdays, holidays, and sadly, the passing of dear friends. When her father passed away from Parkinsons, I suggested we do a benefit for Parkinsons. I would do anything for Jana and I feel she would do the same for me.Jana Robbins is a Tony nominated producer for the 2009 Broadway production of RAGTIME, joining Kevin McCollum and Manny Azenberg to transfer the highly successful Kennedy Center Production.
In 1995 she founded BETTER WORLD PRODUCTIONS in order to "present theater and film entertainment that inspires us to create a Better World". Jana made her Broadway producing debut with Allan Knee's LITTLE WOMEN starring Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern and her Off-Broadway producing debut with I LOVE YOU BECAUSE.
Other Off-Broadway producing credits include WHITE'S LIES starring Betty Buckley and Daniel Beaty's THROUGH THE NIGHT with producer Daryl Roth earning her a second Drama Desk nomination.
Jana Robbins just directed the West Coast Premier of CUPS at The Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center for Theater League. CUPS will also have a production this October at the Aventura Theater in Florida through The Broward Performing Arts Center. Her directing credits include CRIMES OF THE HEART (in which she appeared on Broadway) at her alma mater Stephens College as well as a production at Gettysburg College in Pa.(Julia Robinson photos)
JANA ROBBINS was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where she began dancing lessons at the early age of 4 at the Gene Kelly School of Dance, appearing in recitals and singing provocative solos like "Blues in the Night" by the age of 11.
She attended Westmont Hilltop High School, where they luckily did a Broadway musical each Spring. Her junior year, she was cast as Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC and played Eliza Doolittle her senior year in MY FAIR LADY, helping to further support and solidify her love of theater.After graduating high school, Jana went to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater, returning there several times in the late 80's to teach, and direct CRIMES OF THE HEART, in which she had appeared on Broadway.
In 1985 Jana was invited to be the Commencement Speaker at Stephen's Graduation Ceremony when Jean Kirkpatrick, a member of President Ronald Reagan's cabinet, became unavailable. That same year, she wrote and performed her first one woman show, "Being Alive" a musical revue about discovering your purpose in life, and knowing your self worth as a woman.Broadway
The Tale of the Allergist's Wife - standby for Valerie Harper (Linda Lavin) and Michele Lee
Hurrah At Last - Reva (standby)
Gypsy - Mazeppa (standby for Tyne Daly as Rose - 40 perfs.)
Crimes of the Heart - Lenny
Romance/Romance - Josephine/Monica (standby)
I Love My Wife - Cleo/Monica
Good News - Pat Bingham
Managing Maxine
at The Alliance Theatre
"Entertaining, witty, and lead full force and with great finesse by actor Jana Robbins, a phenomenal artist: This play is a winner. Jana Robbins herself, I might add, has one more fan. She carried the stage, the audience, and all the characters in between"
-ITP Atlanta(Drowsey Chaperone)
"It was ONE HELL OF A RIDE! It's the most compelling performance I've seen, in, I can't tell you when. It was heartfelt. What she did for me, was an amazing thing. She took the music, my music, and lyrics of course, and she wove it into a story that was so revealing about her and her life, that I'd forgotten that I'd written that music.
I got caught up in Jana Robbins."
-Cy Coleman
"Jana Robbins has had a colorful Broadway career as an actress and singer; now she has capsulized it into a thoroughly entertaining, warm-hearted cabaret hour, packed with songs and lively reminiscences. One of her most popular roles was Mazeppa, the sexy stripper "with a gimmick" in the Tyne Daly production of Gypsy; Jana was also Daly's standby. In her cabaret performance, she relives her experiences through several of the show's numbers, such as Everything's Coming Up Roses, Small World, You'll Never Get Away From Me and Together, Wherever We Go – singing and acting them so well that it seems as if her original co-performers were still on stage with her. Among her other top numbers are a moving My Mother Was a Singer, a graphic Zip, and a powerful version of I'm Still Here. Performing unmiked, Jana fills the room easily with her vibrant personality. Doyle Newmeyer shines with fine musical and vocal accompaniment."
-Peter Haas Cabaret ScenesThank you Jana for all you've given me, I LOVE YOU!
Carol Channing makes me happy! It still blows my mind to know that she is a friend. I've often written about my introduction to Carol Channing. It was actually Lucille Ball performing as her on an episode of The Lucy Show.I started mimicking "Carol Channing"! Tells you the kind of kid I was. I used to mimic what I saw on TV the night before. The first time I actually saw Carol Channing on TV was in her television special with Pearl Bailey. I now own the Cecilia Sisson costume she wore on that special. She also wore it on her appearance on The Muppets Show.Carol Channing is a Broadway star with a raspy, often imitated voice and extravagant style who has been described as Ethel Merman, "only more so." She began performing in grade school, with spot-on impressions of her teachers that landed young Channing in the principal's office. In high school she competed on the debating team, and won a statewide speaking contest with her presentation on "What America Means to Me".
She studied drama for two years at Bennington College, until a kindly teacher told her she did not need any further training, suggesting instead she should go to New York and try to break through on stage.Carol is STILL entertaining! She appeared yesterday as part of Gay Days at Disneyland. The reports have been glowing! Order Carol's latest cd HERE
Lee Roy Reams makes me happy! I first saw Lee Roy on stage in 42nd Street in 1980 shortly after I moved to New York. I was, of course, familiar with who he was but this was the first time that I was seeing him on stage. Over the years, he has grown to be a good friend. He sang "It Only Takes A Moment" at our wedding on Saturday night. I could not believe it when he said yes to singing at our wedding. I got choked up hearing him sing it Saturday night and I get choked up thinking about it now.Lee Roy Reams (born August 23, 1942) is an American musical theatre actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and director.
Born in Covington, Kentucky, Reams earned a Master of Arts degree and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He made his Broadway debut in Sweet Charity in 1966.
Reams was nominated for both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in the original production of 42nd Street in 1980. He played the role of Frank Schultz in the 1989 Paper Mill Playhouse production of Show Boat, which was televised on Great Performances by PBS .Take Lee Roy home with you!
Reams has appeared on concert stages and in cabarets throughout the country. At present he is serving as the resident director of the Theatre at Sea program sponsored by the Theatre Guild.
Getting e-mails like this make me happy, "You both did Truman Capote proud. Didn't call today, thought you would be enjoying cousins, nieces and such and didn't want to disturb you.
You both certainly produced the party of the year, everything, absolutely everything was as perfect as you would have wanted it. There is
nothing that could have been better..........but hey, don't let this triumph go to your heads..........on second thought you have every right!
We are so happy for you both, to have shared this perfect evening, to have shared the love and warmth that emanated from the entire room.
it was glorious. Savor every moment, it's worth it.
The 21 year video was delightful, would like to watch it again. R & D, it was perfect ( I seem to be repeating myself!!!) and we loved being part of this very special day. Thank you."
and "Hi, Richard. Just a short note to thank you for all you have done to help Berkeley. You are such a blessing to our family and we are so grateful to have you in our lives! Again, wishing you and Danny many more years of love and happiness!! And thanks again for your encouragement and advice you've shared with our girl."
Hearing our BEST MAN, Miles Equality Phillips singing my favorite song at our wedding makes me happy!
My friend, Patty Gay, makes me happy! I met Patty after she did an article on me after my involvement with Weston High School's production of "Hello, Dolly" 3 years ago. I had gotten a google alert for "Hello, Dolly!" when that high school needed costume pieces for their upcoming production. She interviewed me and I was so happy about the article that I said I would like to return the favor. Was there anything she desired? She said she would LOVE to interview Carol Channing. I arranged it!I love you, Patty!
Patty has been a journalist with The Weston Forum newspaper, based in Weston, Conn.,for seven years. (She started as a reporter, now she is also the assistant editor.) Before that she was the First Selectman (equivalent of Mayor) for New Fairfield, Conn.
She has won 10 writing awards from the New England Newspaper Press Association (NENPA), on a variety of topics ranging from drug abuse from a teen's perspective, to a beekeeper who lost all his honeybees to Colony Collapse Disorder.A series that Patty wrote about interesting doorways in Weston earned a special NENPA award for Community Involvement in the Newspaper, and served as the inspiration for a book by Julie O'Connor, called The Doors of Weston.She is currently co-writing a book about journalistic plagiarism with a writer who once plagiarized her work.Like many other Broadway enthusiasts, Patty has loved theater since she was a kid. She spent many hours playing her mother's show tune albums and acting out what she thought were the plots. Her favorite was the original cast recording of Hello, Dolly! featuring Carol Channing. She has been a huge fan of hers her whole life.
REMINDER: I am hosting a tribute to Jerry Herman on Saturday November 12th for The Sheet Music Society. Klea Blackhurst, Ken Bloom, Donald Pippin, Lee Roy Reams, Amber Edwards, and Miles Phillips are scheduled to appear.
Thank you for joining me on these nostalgic journeys! I've added a new aspect to my blog.. I am now answering a question on video that YOU send to me. You can ask me ANYTHING and I will answer your question on video within my blog. Send your questions to
Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Next question will be answered when I receive it
"Richard, for supporting the ARTS and calling attention to the STARS of yesterday. You are a STAR in your own right!! With admiration and friendship"
Arlene Dahl
Thank you to all who have encouraged me! Thanks to all who have tried to stifle my art. I have learned from ALL of you!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE day for ALL!
GO SEE A LIVE SHOW TONIGHT
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com
Tomorrow's blog will be celebrating Sheldon Harnick I'm open to suggestions
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
An Abundance Of Riches!
"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."
-W. Somerset Maugham, English writer (1874-1965)
Happy Sunday!
What a glorious Sunday here in New York. It was a perfect crisp Sunday here following a great night last night. Most of you know that my partner, Dan Sherman, and I got married in July when it became legal in New York. Well, last night, we exchanged new vows with 160 of our closest friends and family present. Reverend Joshua Ellis officiated. When I first announced that Danny and I were getting married, 150 friends quickly told us that they wanted to be at our wedding. Most of them were present last night. If anyone reading this has any qualms about not being invited, please do not take this personally. We were limited to 160 people. And between Danny's family,(my family chose not to attend), friends from all areas of our lives, We felt awful that we could not invite more. It truly is a daunting task. IF you wanted to be there and were not, let's do dinner soon. You pick the date and time and we'll have you over. We have an abundance of riches on the number of friends we have in our lives.Danny Sherman and I met on the Memorial Day weekend 1990.
I was working at Marie’s Crisis on Grove Street.
I was also in rehearsal at that time for John Glines' MEN OF MANHATTAN at The Grove Street Playhouse. Danny came into Marie’s on Saturday night (May 26th). However, we were so busy I never met him that night. As we were closing down, the bartender told me that there was a “cute guy in earlier that night who was interested in me”!
I asked why he didn’t tell me.
He said don’t worry, he’ll be back Monday night when you’re not so busy.
(Angela Dirkson and Glen Charlow, pictured left)
When I came in to work on Monday night, Danny was sitting at the end of the bar!
It was a very slow night so I was able to keep Danny company between customers.
He stayed my entire shift! I got off work at 4AM!
After we closed down, we went to The Sheridan Square Diner for breakfast and talked into 7AM. As we were saying our goodbyes, he asked where I lived. I lived at 119th and Amsterdam at the time. He offered to drop me off on his way home. When he mentioned that he lived in Rockland County, I had no idea where that was. When he got to my place, I asked if he wanted to crash since he had been up all night. No ulterior motives! He thought that was a great idea. Don’t worry, we were completely respectable. He came in and we went to sleep until 1PM (Yes, I remember all the details!) Before he left, we exchanged numbers and promised to stay in touch.
After he left, I got a call from a friend of mine who was the house manager for NUNSENSE which was playing at The Douglas Fairbanks Theatre on Theatre Row. He had two tickets if I wanted to see the show that night. I immediately thought of Danny and called and left a message on his answering machine (Remember this was the days before cell phones). He called me back when he got home and would love to go. We agreed to meet at the theatre. We saw the show, went to dinner at The Cottonwood CafĂ© in the Village and pretty much have been together ever since! Men of Manhattan was a success. We were dark on Mondays and Tuesdays. When I met Danny, he was the office manager for a Landscape Architect by the name of Schnadelbach (we were together a couple of years before he started his own firm). He arranged his schedule to be off on Mondays and Tuesdays. He would pick me up at the theatre after my Sunday night performances and we would go up to Cutchogue for my dark days. He had a beach house that he had rented throughout the summer. Many times, other cast members would join us and on one wonderful occasion Danny’s late sister Beth and his sister in law Dawn and their kids joined us.
It was an incredible summer on so many levels! In September, my roommate wanted to expand his teaching (he was tutor at Columbia)and wanted to expand my bedroom into a viable teaching studio. He suggested to Danny that I move in with him. I did and we’ve been together 21 years.In all honesty, we never discussed getting married. For all the right reasons, I hoped, however, that it would happen in my lifetime for anyone who wishes that. I don’t think it would have affected our lives one way or the other. I, personally, am interested in equal rights for ALL and have issues with oppression of any kind. So, I followed the road leading to New York’s historic law with great anticipation. Friends kept asking if we were going to get married and I kept singing Annie Oakley’s part from OLD FASHIONED WEDDING:When the law passed in early July, Danny and I were watching the hearings. When Governor Cuomo signed it into law, I very excitedly posted on FACEBOOK that we were getting married! Within 30 minutes, we had gotten 150 hits from friends saying they wanted to come to our wedding (many were present last night)
Shortly after that, Danny and I were at a marriage equality celebration in Nyack. Many friends, and a few reporters tried to get a firm commitment from us; we were still undecided. Would we? And if so, when?Then the week before the historic first day of same-sex weddings in New York (July 24th), Christine Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg decided to have a lottery to try and keep a gauge on the number of people wanting to get married on the first day. The lottery would allow couples to get get marriage licenses and get married the same day without the usual waiting period. I immediate registered! When Danny got home that night, I told him that I had entered us in the lottery. When Danny asked what that meant, I explained what would happen. I said, like Dolly Levi, if they call our names, perhaps it is a sign! If they don’t call our names, it would not change our lives and we could make that decision at a later date.I was called by the city clerk’s office on Thursday, July 21st congratulating Danny and me on getting married! My heart started racing! What if Danny didn’t want this. When he came home that night, I asked him if he would like to elope on Sunday! He thought at first that I was joking. I said that if he didn’t want to, I would understand. But this was a chance for us to quietly do this without any fanfare with just a couple of friends present. And that if we decided to have a big party later, we could do that. He felt this way made so much sense. We went on line and filled in all the paperwork. We then invited our friends Pat and Joe Sopiak to be our witnesses. When they got married 19 years ago, it was just the four of us with a justice of the peace. Then our friend Leslie Orofino called me to find out if I knew about the lottery (she was going to sign us up on her own!). I told her that I knew all about it. She asked me if we were going to sign up. I said we did. She asked what we would do if they called our names.
I said they already have. She said What are you going to do? I said Danny and I are getting married on Sunday! She started screaming, “Tom! Tom!! Richard and Danny are getting married on Sunday!” She then said she wanted to be there for us. I, of course wanted her to be there, but we needed to be at city hall by 7:30 Sunday morning! She said, “I don’t care! We want to be there for you! We’ll pick you up!” I said great! And we planned for that!(Sue Matsuki)Friday night, Danny and I went and picked out our rings.(Gretchen Reinhagen and her partner, Deb Meyers)The single greatest thing about Danny is that he has truly loved me for better or worse since the beginning. I KNOW it hasn’t always been easy. However, he has ALWAYS been supportive of me and supported me when the going has been tough for me when this crazy career I’m in continually tears me down. He has made the past 21 years beyond anything I even dreamed was possible. I am devoted to him and always will be. I desired last night to share my love with him in the presence of my friends and family.
I knew that I was in love with him the moment I met him and that love has not wavered at all. I cannot imagine my life without him.
I never thought, under the circumstance of my life, that marriage would ever be possible. God has given us this gift and I promise to cherish this gift for as long as we live. This is definitely something I am not taking lightly. When he said yes to getting married after 21 years, it was just as exciting as that first day we met. You more than anyone know I’m not perfect but somehow I feel perfect in his eyes. (with Jana Robbins)
Thoughts of all the birthdays we’ve shared, and the holidays, and the births, and the passing of friends all flood through my memory as I write these words. It has been Danny and Richard for 21 years, but now, more than ever, it truly feels like US TOGETHER.I, Richard Skipper once again, take Daniel Sherman to be my partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.
Thank you, Glen Charlow, Fran Leonardis, and Miles Phillips (our BEST MAN!) for the photos in this blog! I cannot thank Glen Charlow, Best Man Miles Phillips and all around friend Sue Matsuki in their help and contributions to OUR WEDDING! I also would like to thank Leslie Orofino, Annie Hughes, Reverend Joshua Ellis, Jana Robbins, Sheldon Harnick, Lee Roy Reams, Lenny Babbish, The Rich Siegel Orchestra, Karen Skoglund, Susie and the entire staff of Duke's Ocean Grill in Tappan, and especially all of our guests. OUR TRUE FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Thank you for joining me on these journey! I've added a new aspect to my blog.. I am now answering a question on video that YOU send to me. You can ask me ANYTHING and I will answer your question on video within my blog. Send your questions to
Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Next question will be answered when I receive it
Thank you to all who have encouraged me! Thanks to all who have tried to stifle me. I have learned from ALL of you!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE day for ALL tomorrow!
CALL SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO IN A WHILE AND TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM BEFORE GOING TO BED TONIGHT
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com
Tomorrow's blog will be YOU TELL ME! I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
-W. Somerset Maugham, English writer (1874-1965)
Happy Sunday!
What a glorious Sunday here in New York. It was a perfect crisp Sunday here following a great night last night. Most of you know that my partner, Dan Sherman, and I got married in July when it became legal in New York. Well, last night, we exchanged new vows with 160 of our closest friends and family present. Reverend Joshua Ellis officiated. When I first announced that Danny and I were getting married, 150 friends quickly told us that they wanted to be at our wedding. Most of them were present last night. If anyone reading this has any qualms about not being invited, please do not take this personally. We were limited to 160 people. And between Danny's family,(my family chose not to attend), friends from all areas of our lives, We felt awful that we could not invite more. It truly is a daunting task. IF you wanted to be there and were not, let's do dinner soon. You pick the date and time and we'll have you over. We have an abundance of riches on the number of friends we have in our lives.Danny Sherman and I met on the Memorial Day weekend 1990.
I was working at Marie’s Crisis on Grove Street.
I was also in rehearsal at that time for John Glines' MEN OF MANHATTAN at The Grove Street Playhouse. Danny came into Marie’s on Saturday night (May 26th). However, we were so busy I never met him that night. As we were closing down, the bartender told me that there was a “cute guy in earlier that night who was interested in me”!
I asked why he didn’t tell me.
He said don’t worry, he’ll be back Monday night when you’re not so busy.
(Angela Dirkson and Glen Charlow, pictured left)
When I came in to work on Monday night, Danny was sitting at the end of the bar!
It was a very slow night so I was able to keep Danny company between customers.
He stayed my entire shift! I got off work at 4AM!
After we closed down, we went to The Sheridan Square Diner for breakfast and talked into 7AM. As we were saying our goodbyes, he asked where I lived. I lived at 119th and Amsterdam at the time. He offered to drop me off on his way home. When he mentioned that he lived in Rockland County, I had no idea where that was. When he got to my place, I asked if he wanted to crash since he had been up all night. No ulterior motives! He thought that was a great idea. Don’t worry, we were completely respectable. He came in and we went to sleep until 1PM (Yes, I remember all the details!) Before he left, we exchanged numbers and promised to stay in touch.
After he left, I got a call from a friend of mine who was the house manager for NUNSENSE which was playing at The Douglas Fairbanks Theatre on Theatre Row. He had two tickets if I wanted to see the show that night. I immediately thought of Danny and called and left a message on his answering machine (Remember this was the days before cell phones). He called me back when he got home and would love to go. We agreed to meet at the theatre. We saw the show, went to dinner at The Cottonwood CafĂ© in the Village and pretty much have been together ever since! Men of Manhattan was a success. We were dark on Mondays and Tuesdays. When I met Danny, he was the office manager for a Landscape Architect by the name of Schnadelbach (we were together a couple of years before he started his own firm). He arranged his schedule to be off on Mondays and Tuesdays. He would pick me up at the theatre after my Sunday night performances and we would go up to Cutchogue for my dark days. He had a beach house that he had rented throughout the summer. Many times, other cast members would join us and on one wonderful occasion Danny’s late sister Beth and his sister in law Dawn and their kids joined us.
It was an incredible summer on so many levels! In September, my roommate wanted to expand his teaching (he was tutor at Columbia)and wanted to expand my bedroom into a viable teaching studio. He suggested to Danny that I move in with him. I did and we’ve been together 21 years.In all honesty, we never discussed getting married. For all the right reasons, I hoped, however, that it would happen in my lifetime for anyone who wishes that. I don’t think it would have affected our lives one way or the other. I, personally, am interested in equal rights for ALL and have issues with oppression of any kind. So, I followed the road leading to New York’s historic law with great anticipation. Friends kept asking if we were going to get married and I kept singing Annie Oakley’s part from OLD FASHIONED WEDDING:When the law passed in early July, Danny and I were watching the hearings. When Governor Cuomo signed it into law, I very excitedly posted on FACEBOOK that we were getting married! Within 30 minutes, we had gotten 150 hits from friends saying they wanted to come to our wedding (many were present last night)
Shortly after that, Danny and I were at a marriage equality celebration in Nyack. Many friends, and a few reporters tried to get a firm commitment from us; we were still undecided. Would we? And if so, when?Then the week before the historic first day of same-sex weddings in New York (July 24th), Christine Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg decided to have a lottery to try and keep a gauge on the number of people wanting to get married on the first day. The lottery would allow couples to get get marriage licenses and get married the same day without the usual waiting period. I immediate registered! When Danny got home that night, I told him that I had entered us in the lottery. When Danny asked what that meant, I explained what would happen. I said, like Dolly Levi, if they call our names, perhaps it is a sign! If they don’t call our names, it would not change our lives and we could make that decision at a later date.I was called by the city clerk’s office on Thursday, July 21st congratulating Danny and me on getting married! My heart started racing! What if Danny didn’t want this. When he came home that night, I asked him if he would like to elope on Sunday! He thought at first that I was joking. I said that if he didn’t want to, I would understand. But this was a chance for us to quietly do this without any fanfare with just a couple of friends present. And that if we decided to have a big party later, we could do that. He felt this way made so much sense. We went on line and filled in all the paperwork. We then invited our friends Pat and Joe Sopiak to be our witnesses. When they got married 19 years ago, it was just the four of us with a justice of the peace. Then our friend Leslie Orofino called me to find out if I knew about the lottery (she was going to sign us up on her own!). I told her that I knew all about it. She asked me if we were going to sign up. I said we did. She asked what we would do if they called our names.
I said they already have. She said What are you going to do? I said Danny and I are getting married on Sunday! She started screaming, “Tom! Tom!! Richard and Danny are getting married on Sunday!” She then said she wanted to be there for us. I, of course wanted her to be there, but we needed to be at city hall by 7:30 Sunday morning! She said, “I don’t care! We want to be there for you! We’ll pick you up!” I said great! And we planned for that!(Sue Matsuki)Friday night, Danny and I went and picked out our rings.(Gretchen Reinhagen and her partner, Deb Meyers)The single greatest thing about Danny is that he has truly loved me for better or worse since the beginning. I KNOW it hasn’t always been easy. However, he has ALWAYS been supportive of me and supported me when the going has been tough for me when this crazy career I’m in continually tears me down. He has made the past 21 years beyond anything I even dreamed was possible. I am devoted to him and always will be. I desired last night to share my love with him in the presence of my friends and family.
I knew that I was in love with him the moment I met him and that love has not wavered at all. I cannot imagine my life without him.
I never thought, under the circumstance of my life, that marriage would ever be possible. God has given us this gift and I promise to cherish this gift for as long as we live. This is definitely something I am not taking lightly. When he said yes to getting married after 21 years, it was just as exciting as that first day we met. You more than anyone know I’m not perfect but somehow I feel perfect in his eyes. (with Jana Robbins)
Thoughts of all the birthdays we’ve shared, and the holidays, and the births, and the passing of friends all flood through my memory as I write these words. It has been Danny and Richard for 21 years, but now, more than ever, it truly feels like US TOGETHER.I, Richard Skipper once again, take Daniel Sherman to be my partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.
Thank you, Glen Charlow, Fran Leonardis, and Miles Phillips (our BEST MAN!) for the photos in this blog! I cannot thank Glen Charlow, Best Man Miles Phillips and all around friend Sue Matsuki in their help and contributions to OUR WEDDING! I also would like to thank Leslie Orofino, Annie Hughes, Reverend Joshua Ellis, Jana Robbins, Sheldon Harnick, Lee Roy Reams, Lenny Babbish, The Rich Siegel Orchestra, Karen Skoglund, Susie and the entire staff of Duke's Ocean Grill in Tappan, and especially all of our guests. OUR TRUE FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Thank you for joining me on these journey! I've added a new aspect to my blog.. I am now answering a question on video that YOU send to me. You can ask me ANYTHING and I will answer your question on video within my blog. Send your questions to
Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Next question will be answered when I receive it
Thank you to all who have encouraged me! Thanks to all who have tried to stifle me. I have learned from ALL of you!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE day for ALL tomorrow!
CALL SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO IN A WHILE AND TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM BEFORE GOING TO BED TONIGHT
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com
Tomorrow's blog will be YOU TELL ME! I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED WEEK!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Happy October! Let's Eat!
All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.
Thomas Wolfe
Happy October!
It's here whether we are ready for it or not! And with this, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a new year arrive in quick succession. Stephen Artist suggested yesterday that today's blog include some of my favorite stars recipes. As the autumn air begins to get a crispness, comfort food becomes the norm and as the party season descends upon us, get ready to start eating!
I'm going to begin with Al Roker's Spectacular Chili! (If you want to come over for dinner tomorrow night, I'll make this!)
Al Roker's Spectacular Chili
2 pounds chuck steak, cubed in bite-size pieces
1 pound hot Italian sausage, removed from casings
2 large onions, diced
12 cloves garlic, diced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon pure chili powder
1 (32 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (16 ounce) can Northern beans
1 (16 ounce) can dark red kidney beans
Garnishes:
Chopped scallions
Sour cream
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Brown the beef and sausages in a large Dutch oven. Remove the meat and reserve. Drain off the fat, reserving about two tablespoons.
Sauté the onions and garlic until translucent, about 7 to 7 minutes.
Add the cumin, paprika and chili powder. Add the tomatoes and the beef into the Dutch oven. Stir the whole pot, and simmer on the stove for about 1 1/2 hours.
Add the three cans of beans, and simmer for another 30 minutes.
Serve with dishes of chopped scallions, sour cream and shredded Cheddar cheese. Cornbread is great with this also!
Alan Alda's Che-Cha
14 good-size Italian plum tomatoes
or 2 (14 ounce) cans plum tomatoes
2 handsful fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 pound reduced fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 ounces fusilli (corkscrew macaroni) or your choice of noodle
Fill a pot with enough water to cover tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Add tomatoes to boiling water. Remove after about 10 seconds.
Mix the tomatoes, basil, garlic and cheese with the olive oil. Let stand in a covered bowl for at least 3 hours (or overnight) refrigerated).
Cook fusilli. Drain. Add sauce to hot pasta. Mix well, and serve warm.
Alex Trebek's Tourtiere Trebek
1 pound ground pork 500 g
3/4 pound ground veal 375 g
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 5 mL
1/2 teaspoon thyme 2 mL
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 mL
1/4 cup red wine, beef stock or water 50 mL
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs 125 mL
Salt and pepper
Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inch/23 cm)
Milk or lightly beaten egg
In large pan, combine meat, onions, seasonings and wine; cook over low heat for 1 hour.
Drain fat. Stir in bread crumbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool for about 45 minutes.
Roll out pastry and line a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Spoon in filling; cover with pastry. Cut steam vents in top and seal edges. Brush lightly with milk or egg. Bake in 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) oven for 1 hour or until pastry is golden brown.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Alfred Hitchcock's Quiche Lorraine
Tart Pastry:
2 cups pastry flour
1/2 cup butter
1 egg yolk
Salt
1/4 cup cold water
Filling:
2 or 3 slices cooked diced ham
2 onions, sliced
4 eggs
Dash of cayenne pepper
Light grating of nutmeg
2 cups hot milk
Tart Pastry: Work lightly together the pastry flour, butter, egg yolk, a pinch of salt and cold water. Chill the dough for 1 hour, or until needed.
Roll out half the dough to line the pie pan. Prick randomly with the point of knife and crimp the edge with the tines of a fork. Save remaining pastry for another pie.
Filling: Scatter diced ham on the crust.
Sauté sliced onions in butter until they are soft, but not brown; spread over ham.
In a saucepan, beat four eggs with a good pinch of salt, cayenne and nutmeg. Gradually add hot milk, beating continually with a wire whisk. Continue to beat the mixture over a low fire until the custard begins to thicken. Pour it into the tart shell and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until custard is set and the top is golden.
Serve hot.
Amy Grant's Grandma Grant's Banana Nut Bread
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
3 bananas, sliced (2 cups)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch metal loaf pan.
Cream the sugar with the butter. Mix in the eggs, bananas, flour, pecans, baking soda, and the salt. Pour into the prepared pan. Place the loaf pan in a cold oven. Set the oven control to 300 degrees F. Bake the banana bread for 1 1/2 hours or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bread for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Then remove from the pan and cool completely, right side up.
Stephen Artist, Hope you enjoyed this! Maybe this is the first of a series based on the response! Gotta run! I have a wedding tonight! My own! Promise not to eat too much! See you tomorrow!
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE October for ALL...with NO challenges!
Now, GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TODAY!
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com
Tomorrow's blog will be about...YOU TELL ME! I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS!! I'm also seeking a video question for tomorrow!
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
Thomas Wolfe
Happy October!
It's here whether we are ready for it or not! And with this, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a new year arrive in quick succession. Stephen Artist suggested yesterday that today's blog include some of my favorite stars recipes. As the autumn air begins to get a crispness, comfort food becomes the norm and as the party season descends upon us, get ready to start eating!
I'm going to begin with Al Roker's Spectacular Chili! (If you want to come over for dinner tomorrow night, I'll make this!)
Al Roker's Spectacular Chili
2 pounds chuck steak, cubed in bite-size pieces
1 pound hot Italian sausage, removed from casings
2 large onions, diced
12 cloves garlic, diced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon pure chili powder
1 (32 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (16 ounce) can Northern beans
1 (16 ounce) can dark red kidney beans
Garnishes:
Chopped scallions
Sour cream
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Brown the beef and sausages in a large Dutch oven. Remove the meat and reserve. Drain off the fat, reserving about two tablespoons.
Sauté the onions and garlic until translucent, about 7 to 7 minutes.
Add the cumin, paprika and chili powder. Add the tomatoes and the beef into the Dutch oven. Stir the whole pot, and simmer on the stove for about 1 1/2 hours.
Add the three cans of beans, and simmer for another 30 minutes.
Serve with dishes of chopped scallions, sour cream and shredded Cheddar cheese. Cornbread is great with this also!
Alan Alda's Che-Cha
14 good-size Italian plum tomatoes
or 2 (14 ounce) cans plum tomatoes
2 handsful fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 pound reduced fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 ounces fusilli (corkscrew macaroni) or your choice of noodle
Fill a pot with enough water to cover tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Add tomatoes to boiling water. Remove after about 10 seconds.
Mix the tomatoes, basil, garlic and cheese with the olive oil. Let stand in a covered bowl for at least 3 hours (or overnight) refrigerated).
Cook fusilli. Drain. Add sauce to hot pasta. Mix well, and serve warm.
Alex Trebek's Tourtiere Trebek
1 pound ground pork 500 g
3/4 pound ground veal 375 g
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 5 mL
1/2 teaspoon thyme 2 mL
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 mL
1/4 cup red wine, beef stock or water 50 mL
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs 125 mL
Salt and pepper
Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inch/23 cm)
Milk or lightly beaten egg
In large pan, combine meat, onions, seasonings and wine; cook over low heat for 1 hour.
Drain fat. Stir in bread crumbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool for about 45 minutes.
Roll out pastry and line a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Spoon in filling; cover with pastry. Cut steam vents in top and seal edges. Brush lightly with milk or egg. Bake in 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) oven for 1 hour or until pastry is golden brown.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Alfred Hitchcock's Quiche Lorraine
Tart Pastry:
2 cups pastry flour
1/2 cup butter
1 egg yolk
Salt
1/4 cup cold water
Filling:
2 or 3 slices cooked diced ham
2 onions, sliced
4 eggs
Dash of cayenne pepper
Light grating of nutmeg
2 cups hot milk
Tart Pastry: Work lightly together the pastry flour, butter, egg yolk, a pinch of salt and cold water. Chill the dough for 1 hour, or until needed.
Roll out half the dough to line the pie pan. Prick randomly with the point of knife and crimp the edge with the tines of a fork. Save remaining pastry for another pie.
Filling: Scatter diced ham on the crust.
Sauté sliced onions in butter until they are soft, but not brown; spread over ham.
In a saucepan, beat four eggs with a good pinch of salt, cayenne and nutmeg. Gradually add hot milk, beating continually with a wire whisk. Continue to beat the mixture over a low fire until the custard begins to thicken. Pour it into the tart shell and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until custard is set and the top is golden.
Serve hot.
Amy Grant's Grandma Grant's Banana Nut Bread
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
3 bananas, sliced (2 cups)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch metal loaf pan.
Cream the sugar with the butter. Mix in the eggs, bananas, flour, pecans, baking soda, and the salt. Pour into the prepared pan. Place the loaf pan in a cold oven. Set the oven control to 300 degrees F. Bake the banana bread for 1 1/2 hours or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bread for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Then remove from the pan and cool completely, right side up.
Stephen Artist, Hope you enjoyed this! Maybe this is the first of a series based on the response! Gotta run! I have a wedding tonight! My own! Promise not to eat too much! See you tomorrow!
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE October for ALL...with NO challenges!
Now, GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TODAY!
Become A Facebook friend of mine!
Follow me on Twitter
If you've seen one of my appearances/shows, add your thoughts to my guestbook at www.RichardSkipper.com
Tomorrow's blog will be about...YOU TELL ME! I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS!! I'm also seeking a video question for tomorrow!
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING & HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
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