A smash of an evening

Wow!  Just..wow!!

If "An Intimate Evening With David Foster and Katharine McPhee" comes to your town, consider yourself lucky, and then consider robbing a bank--or whatever you have to do--to secure tickets.

It was a last minute decision for us..the kind of decisions that usually lead us to the unexpected  perfect evening.

This was a superb production--the best concert I've seen in years.

And no, you're not too young to appreciate the playlist...this isn't a show just for us Boomers..it's a royal treat for everyone.

Admittedly, I didn't know much about David Foster besides the infamous Ben Vereen  car accident that I alluded to earlier, and that he wrote a beautiful score for a movie that makes critics' list of one of the worst Hollywood has ever produced.."St. Elmo's Fire."

His rendition of that score  was as gorgeous as you could imagine, but the concert offered so much more than tickling ivories or listening to beautiful ballads. 

Katharine McPhee is one of my all time favorite  contestants on "American Idol" (and I simply adored her in "Smash") and she was terrific tonight.

But it wasn't just about the playlist or the natural talent..it was about witty repartee, unscripted clever  banter with audience members, and rapid-fire humor. 

 There was a lot of audience participation too--including lyrics projected on a big screen for a sing-a-long, and they even recruited a few audience members to participate in a semi "audition" for record producer Foster. 

 (Some audience members genuinely earned  well deserved standing ovations!)

They both told us a lot of juicy, behind the scenes stories, (when you call Simon Cowell a "dick"---you get my undivided attention) and they gave us photographic evidence of their very real love story which has spanned nearly two decades.

Another performer, a brilliant tenor named Daniel  Emmett, I believe(it was hard to catch his name and it was never repeated)also added some personal touches to this magical evening.

(His back story about the Trans Siberian Orchestra alone  was worth the price of admission.)

Again..I know I recommend a LOT..and you don't have to listen to a word I say..but if you get a chance to see this concert, go, because  you WILL be sorry if you miss it.

It was great.

It was "first-day-in-the-pool-great."

It was rainbows after a gentle storm great.

It was..oh..you get the picture.

Now if you'll excuse me, I want to listen to some more music by David and Katharine.

Capraesque

I've been a mother-in-law for over a week, and it's no surprise that I'm still basking in the afterglow of the main event.

The pictures are still coming! So is the short, sneak peak  video! So is all the wonderful feedback!  So is the evidence that the love between my son and his wife grows stronger by the minute.

So it's no surprise that I'm still walking on air.

But you know what IS a surprise? 

The delightful movie we saw tonight, a little known indie called "The Ballad of Wallis Island."  The only recognizable  name in it is Carey Mulligan, who became one of my favorite actresses after her unforgettable performance in "Promising Young Woman" for which she deserved the Oscar that sadly eluded her.

This was such a feel good movie, set in Wales.  Jim compared it to a Frank Capra film..try to grab it if it's playing near you.

You know what else was a surprise? 

 Seeing a first name in the film's credits that is familiar to us..the name  Asha, shared with  our wonderful housekeeper for nearly three decades. 

You know what was even a bigger surprise?

 That her last name is "Amster", making me whisper to Jim, "So should I be worried that I'm your Maria Shriver?"

(because..you know..the whole housekeeper thing with AH-nold)

But you know what was the biggest surprise of all?  

Finally breaking in the pool tonight, which has only been open for a week and a half, which means it's not quite warm enough or clean enough.

So who broke it in?

Unfortunately, Luke!  His vision isn't quite what it used to be and the poor little guy fell in.

Jim fished him out right away..he is now warmed up and loving all the TLC.

But we're going to have to watch him like a hawk this summer...and watch the hawks who are watching him.

I miss the derranged, house destroying puppy...but there is a sweetness to our fur baby now that he's in his twilight years.