March 18, 2007

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and a restful Sabbath. We arrived home from our Western odyssey Friday afternoon, exhausted, but grateful to be back in Austin and reunited with Cicero, Iris and our newly colored (red) upstairs walls – courtesy of Pepe the painter. As I mentioned in the last missive, we had a great time, but I hope to never make that trip via car again (knock on wood, and draw down my bank account), as it takes its toll and gets us so off schedule.
Fortunately, we are back on schedule again this week, as I am writing this -- with small difficulty -- from The Big Easy (New Orleans), where I will be staying through Tuesday. Based on my drive in (from the airport) this evening, the city looks okay, but I’m sure I didn’t see the dilapidated and deteriorating sections. The cab driver – as well as my seat companion on the plane -- said that the city is about 80 to 85% on its way to recovery.
Speaking of recovery, Ryan appears fully recovered from his wonderful staging of the first annual Ides of March party, which was well-attended, well-received and well, just a great event all the away around. We’re sorry we couldn’t be there for the Caesar salud celebration, but we were literally Lost in the New Mexico/Texas wilderness (Mom bought the first and second season of the hit TV series, and that is what the other riders did while we tried to stay awake through the abomination-of-desolation country that constitutes most of the drive).
On the subject of staying awake, no one had any difficulty doing so during Matt’s dress rehearsal of the University Singers, which Mom and the others attended on Wed. evening when they were in Provo. It was a great performance – even with the stops and starts of a rehearsal -- and some of the songs will be sung (by the Singers) this coming Sunday (3/23) on Music and the Spoken Word, so be sure to tune in to that.
Finally, on the subject of tunes, I thought you might enjoy the article below from yesterday’s NYT, “Auditioning for a World Stage at an Austin Festival,” which profiles the South by Southwest Music Festival. I thought it was rather cool to see our fair city featured in a world-wide and world-class publication. And speaking of world-class cuisine, for Scott – and anyone else who might be interested – check out the article just below that one, “Where the Dinner Table Is an Altar of Thanks” on food in Addis Ababa (and remember who it is that has always maintained that Ethiopia is one festive country).
That’s it for now. I hope you all have a great March Madness week (Mom’s certainly into it). We’re proud of you for all you achieve and dream of achieving.
 
Love and laissez le bon temps roullez,
 
Dad
 

March 15, 2007

A tranquil Thursday to all. I hope you’re having a good week. Those of us involved in the spring of O’Seven scintillating ski trip have a few tales to tell and pictures to post (which Matt will do in the next few days I’m sure). Here is a brief recap of the events as soon to be chronicled by Dan Brown in his highly anticipated, forthcoming bestseller, The Salomon Key to Slalom Ski.
We started the trip in Austin late Friday afternoon and drove the never-ending road through West Texas, Eastern New Mexico, Southern Nebraska and Northern Lithuania until we arrived in Roswell NM and upon seeing that UFOs really are a reality we decided to stop for a break. We continued on the next morning, drove through magnificent Moab and arrived in Provo just in time to meet up with Joel and Grace Momberger and grab a hot cocoa at Provo’s favorite hang-out, Starbuck’s. After too few hours of rest, we attended Music and the Spoken Word at the Conference Center, and received a guided tour from none other than McCleary (sp) Kent. We spent the morning on Temple Square, the afternoon trying to catch up on rest, and the evening having a great time eating, singing and reminiscing with Kaey, Shauna and family. One of the highlights of the evening was a rare rendition of “Ghost Riders in the Sky by Uncle Kaey.
Monday Matt and I went skiing at Sundance where sightings of abundant snowfall were as rare as appearances by Robert Redford. Despite the limited snow, we had a great time and enjoyed the spectacular vistas of Timp and surrounding mountains. The others cruised around the BYU campus, attended class with Kat, and enjoyed a gorgeous day in Happy Valley. That evening we reunited with Grace Momberger, Elizabeth Guthrie and Jason Stephen at Café Rio and had a marvelous time and ample food.
Tuesday morning found us taking it to the limit at America’s best ski resort, Alta. Matt’s friend, Chad, helped Emily, Lisa, Susan, Gary and Johnny learn (or relearn) the basics of skiing, while a few of us spent some time on the lower runs. We all met up at Alf Engen’s mid-mountain lodge for lunch and laughter. The weather was ideal, with sun, sixty degrees and near-perfect snow pack. Some of the folks lingered at Alf’s, while Emily, Matt, Kat, Johnny and I took to the lifts and swooshed down the long runs in sweaters or turtle necks (no coats needed). It was a great time, and you can verify that by viewing the photos of the excursion.
Tuesday evening we attended Kat’s reading theatre performance of a production by the Saturday’s Warriors writers. Most of you have heard the review of that, but needless to say, our family should never be concerned about producing plays, songs, books, films, and anything else, if this was a benchmark. My favorite moment of the evening was when Mom –during one of the more abysmal numbers -- learned over and whispered to me, “You’re looking pretty good as a songwriter after all.”
Wednesday morning I flew to Kalispell and am just returning now (writing this on the plane). I’ll let the others fill you in on their experiences and exploits, but suffice to say, that we’ve had a great trip so far. I only wish everyone could have been here to enjoy it. Perhaps either next year or the year after we can plan a great ski trip with the entire family. As Matt and Kat and I discussed on our peaceful and panoramic rides up the chair, this is such a marvelous country, and we are such fortunate people. We can probably never be thankful enough or sufficiently appreciative to the Great Creator of such spectacular settings with these majestic mountains, these high-rise aspens and the pristine blankets of fresh snow – but we should try.
And speaking of trying, we have more trying news from Washington with the recent debacle involving the attorneys general. I thought the editorial below “Politics, Pure and Cynical” provided a good synopsis for those who have not stayed abreast of the developments. Yet despite our frustrations and consternations, this remains the land of the free, the home of the brave and the place of unparalleled beauty and unprecedented opportunity
We are so grateful for all of you and proud of each of you.
 
Love and bella vistas
 
Dad
 

March 7, 2007 

A winsome Wednesday to all.  Here in Austin the sky is clear, the air is warm and the blossoms of spring are out in full splendor.  This has been a week of welcome news and exciting developments.  As you all know, Katherine landed her first official notice as a professional playwright, so congrats on that, Kat.  Matt got us up and running on our web site, which if you haven’t seen my page you need to – especially if you need a good laugh.  That page is nearly as disconcerting as a reference on Google under one of my book reviews that incorrectly states that I am “… currently serving on an American Hospital Association advisory committee for healthcare policy for the Bush Administration.”  (Don’t let Reed Omer see that…I’ll never live it down).  Nonetheless, thanks Matt for your efforts in getting us online and up-to-date.
    Speaking of Kat, Matt and Lisa, we are looking forward to seeing them in a few days when we make the daunting drive to Salt Lake for spring break.  We are renting a van, taking quite a crew, and heading west to experience springtime in the Rockies and the altitude and attitude at Alta.  We wish you all could join us, as this will be the inaugural ski trip for Lisa, and the first time Emily has been on skis for quite a while (Mom and Gary are going to snowshoe, so you know they’ll have some tales to tell).
     Speaking of tales, there are obviously some great stories behind Scott’s pictures from Europe, which we need to have posted on the family web site, so once school starts and the routine settles in, we look forward to hearing about the food, the friends and the frauleins of fair Vienna.  While on the topic of Austria in April,  I just booked my ticket to Europe for the early part of that month, so let me know if you have any particular requests or things you want me to pick up while I’m over there (like Arnold  Schwarzenegger’s highly acclaimed recording of Edelweiss.)
     On the topic of movie stars, Ryan is intensely involved in scoring the music for Steven Robinson’s forthcoming movie, which goes into full production this coming week.  Since it takes place at Bowie, it should be a blockbuster – or at least a block or two closer.  In reference to blocks, several of us walked several of them (or their equivalent) last Saturday in the Crop Walk.  Kudos to Tiff and Mom for bringing the boys and making the trek, which was for a good cause, and provided some great moments.  Case in point:  Tiffany was explaining to Jackson that they were walking to raise money and awareness for people who were hungry, to which he replied, “I’m hungry,” and proceeded to dash over to the cookies and other goodies that were there for the walkers.  In fact, the entire scene reminded us of a somewhat scaled-down version of the moment in Arrested Development, when Tobias and Lindsey are hosting a fundraiser for starving people, all the time hoisting martinis and eating foie gras (the Crop Walk wasn’t nearly that contradictory, however).
         Back on movies, Mom and I went to see a great one last Friday, Amazing Grace, the story of the abolition of slave travel and trade in Britain.  We recommend it to everyone as uplifting and inspiring – like movies used to be, and should be.
       Finally on the topic of should be, the long-awaited moment of accountability has arrived for the current administration.  Although it comes with some degree of vindication, it provides little deep-seated satisfaction, as we realize that the distractions, disappointments and dizzying array of inattention and ineptitude come at the expense of so very many, including our valiant and trusting soldiers, who return home from an arguably unnecessary war to face untenable and reprehensible conditions on their long road to recovery.  I have attached two well-written (but heart-wrenching) articles that speak to the issue at hand, which, as Mom knows, I can barely discuss without launching into a tirade.  We have seen so much of the inherent expectation of American can-do and will-achieve diminish in the last few years that it saddens the heart and dampens the hope.  It also speaks to the need to stay abreast, be involved and let our voices be heard.
     This is a great country – the best ever – and we are fortunate to live within its protected borders and bask in its unparalleled resources.  May we never take it for granted, nor those who keep it safe and secure.
 
Love,
 
Dad
      

February 21, 2007

This is interesting, if not a little disconcerting (i.e. the support from, and similarities to, W). I didn’t realize Romney was a high-school cheerleader. What is it about male cheerleaders and political aspirations? (Rick Perry was also a cheerleader – at A & M I believe). So Sarah, I guess if your brother has his eyes on the presidency, he better plan to join the cheerleading team at Harvard, Yale, BYU, or whichever school he attends. And Tiff and Seth, if you have any inclinations toward a run for the Rose Garden (by one of the happy Hobbits), you better switch them from soccer to pep squad.

February 18, 2007

     After reviewing the story on the medical value of napping (which I forwarded last week), I was reminded that I needed to send Ryan my highly regarded, but still-to-be-recognized corollary to Longfellow’s famous stanza regarding high achievers.  Inasmuch as many of you are prone to that psychographic (of over achievers) I thought you might find some value (or at least a “right up top”) in my response to the poet’s pronouncement, so both are listed below:
 
                             Longfellow’s Famed Stanza
 
                                  The heights by great men reach and kept
                                  Were not attained by sudden flight,
                                  But they while their companions slept
                                  Were toiling upward in the night
.
 
                        Preston’s Corollary (aka The Floater’s Response)
                   
                                  But when those men were old and gray
                                  They sat around and cried;
                                  Because their minds had turned to clay,
                                  From being sleep-deprived.
 
 
Preston Gee

February 14, 2007

 Happy Valentines Day to the widely varied and highly valued Gees and Gee affiliates!  Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, we send our virtual chocolate strawberries and warm embraces to our wonderful family.  It’s only mid-week, and already one for the Chronicles of Blarney-eh.  I returned home from Vegas last evening (as Rome is the Eternal City, Las Vegas is the leading candidate for the Infernal City).  Needless to say, I’m happy to be home -- the lights of downtown Austin beat the sights of uptown Vegas any day.
     But speaking of sights, another dented car awaited me on my return, as Mom was rear-ended by some fellow who wasn’t paying attention to his driving.  Fortunately, she was not injured too badly and the under-siege Suzuki suffered only a damaged rear door.  We thought about leaving it as is (to match somewhat symmetrically with the banged up front fender), but since it was his fault, we’re getting it fixed.  Mom was such a resilient trooper that she immediately volunteered to drive Emily and Mandy to Walgreen’s to buy Valentines gifts.
     On the subject of high finance, Matt is now officially working with the Treasury Dept., or at least he accepted the job to work with them, so kudos and congratulations to Matt and Lisa, who will be living in D.C. and providing us with accommodations when we make our next sojourn east for the “March on the Mall to Can Karl Rove,” or words and wishes to that effect.  That is great news Matt and Lisa, and we’re all very proud of you.
     While on the topic of pride, we can also be proud of others in the family, including;
·         Emily for getting all As and Bs on her upcoming report card!
·         Kat for getting two of her plays accepted to perform (in addition to the others already scheduled) in March/April!
·         Scott for getting to Austria safely without instilling a riot on the airplane or in the airport!
·         Ryan for landing several more piano students (he’s able to raise his fees he’s in such high demand)!
·         Lisa for celebrating her birthday (with Matt) at La Quaille (sp) and vowing never to spend that much again (official inauguration to Gee extravagant spending)!
·         Tiffany and Seth for getting both cars working (cross our fingers)!
·         Gary (a guest recipient of this e-mail) for his assumption duties of the twice-resuscitated, never-imitated, red Celica!
·         Mom for finally finding a fellow who can fix the furnishings -- Pepe, our long-awaited, highly appreciated, handyman!
 
     Great accomplishments all.  And speaking of great things, let me close this communiqué by calling your attention to the attached article on the virtues of napping.  As the prescient sage, Preston of Pocatello has been saying (and experiencing) for decades, naps are not only nice, they’re necessary…causing us to modify the wise words of William Shakespeare, “A light heart lives long” with this timely phrase,  “A rested heart lives longer.”
      We send our best wishes for a vibrant and eventful Valentines Day!
 
Love and Pleasant Shnoozes,
 
Dad
 

February 1, 2007

 
   I know many of you have missed my missives, so I thought I’d recap some of the events of late for the wandering Gees.  This past weekend was one to remember.  I was in Utah the latter part of the week (where it was colder than Congress’s reception to the Bush Administration’s “surge” recommendation).  While out under the “shadow of the everlasting hills” and the haze of the ever-present inversion, I was able to drive down to Provo to visit (briefly) with Kat, and to meet her roommates – who are great people.  I wanted to go to Starbucks for some mint hot cocoa (I had just won a $100 gift certificate to that ubiquitous establishment), but time and distance prompted us to go to Friday’s instead.  Lisa joined us for the latter part of our discussion and provided some interesting commentary on her day and the challenges of teaching middle school mavericks.  Matt arrived in town just as I was heading back to Salt Lake, where he was able to recount his positive experiences in DC, and provide detail on his Treasury Dept. offer, which looks like it might come to fruition – so kudos on that exciting development!   If all goes well, we should now have a place to stay in DC if we ever want to join a protest march, or see an impeachment rally.
     I returned home late Friday evening, in time to have lunch (on Saturday) with Seth’s parents at Mangieri’s.  We had a great time, as most of the family was able to make it, as well as the Edgels and Gary.  Emily watched Jackson and Addison while the rest of us enjoyed the opportunity to catch up and to eat up all the pizza we could pile on, Sicilian style, not deep-dish Chicago.
   But speaking of Chicago, that evening we caught the second performance (for Emily’s cast) of the rollicking and raucous musical; and the Starlight Theatre Company certainly rose to the high risers (of which there were many on stage) in their performance.  A fair number of folks felt it was their finest performance yet, and a few even thought they outdid the high-paid pros in NY and Hollywood.  Emily was terrific, her comedic timing (which is everything) coming through in fine fashion, along with her clear singing and expert dancing.  It was a fun evening and a stellar show.  Afterward, Sheryl Jones spent at least ten minutes regaling (to Mom and me) the talents and characteristics of the Gee children.  She said you kids have been a bright light in her career, and one of the reasons she continues to teach.  She said she may well retire after “the last Gee” leaves Bowie.  She went on and on, and was borderline effusive (but genuinely so) in expressing her appreciation for each of you, so I thought you’d like to know that.
    Sunday was an eventful and uplifting day, as Seth was sustained and set apart as the EQ president in their ward.  Pres. Palmer gave an insightful and inspiring blessing in his setting apart, and I was able to set apart Seth’s counselors, who are both outstanding young men.  It worked out so well that the Lewises were able to be in town for this momentous occasion.  That evening, I home taught the Trejo Family and Royal Masset with Gary, who is my new companion, and who did a good job of teaching his first lessons, albeit he was a little nervous.  One of the highlights was during the visit with Royal, while Gary was trying to talk over the incessant barking of their obnoxious dog, Fejo (sp), which is Spanish for ugly (how can you not be obnoxious with a name like that?).  Anyway, Royal typically tries --rather nonchalantly and always ineffectively -- to subdue Fejo with a few utterances of, “Amigo, Fejo, Amigo.”  But on this evening, he took it up a notch by mixing some English with his accent-absent Spanish and saying (referring to Gary at whom the malcontent dog was directing his noxious noise), “Stop, Fejo…hombre di Dio, Fejo.”  It was vintage Royal.
      Monday we had a nice dinner and FHE with the Laytons at Johnny Carino’s.  Tuesday a few of us (Ryan, Tiff and moi) attended a mtg to evaluate a major play that the stake might put on (when they were selecting the advisory committee, the entire group unanimously selected Ryan as the musical expert and Tiff as the writing aficionado to advise on the activity).  At the conclusion of the mtg, I noted that the time had been productive and that we had formed an “exploratory committee” just like the presidential candidates do – however, the analogy was not as appreciated, nor as well-received as I thought it would be.  Last evening, Scott and I returned to the scene of the clime (Mangieri’s) to prepare him for European ways and fine European food (at least palatable pizza) and to discuss final arrangements for his trip to Austria, which is one week from today!  None of us can believe it’s that soon, including Scott, but we’re excited for his great opportunity.
     On the topic of not believing, I thought you might enjoy the editorial in today’s New York Times, “Bullying Iran,” as the editors express -- along with so many others -- the absolutely unbelievable fashion in which the administration is dealing with yet another potential political powder keg.  I hope all of you are doing well.  We are proud of you and grateful for you,
 
Love and margheritas (pizza that is)
 
Dad

 January 19, 2007

There are a couple of articles/editorials worth reading in this issue of The Post—both on Art Buchwald.  The first is “Art Buchwald’s Movable Feast” and the second is the final editorial (at the bottom), “Art Buchwald.”  I call these to your attention because I--like millions of others--thoroughly enjoyed Buchwald’s columns.  As these pieces note, he had a civility with his satire, which is all too rare these days.  He also had an everyman’s sense of humor that struck a chord, as you can discern from the sample of his writing in the editorial.  Anyway, given that we have two journalists, one humorist and several very good writers in our family, I thought you might enjoy reading about this American treasure who melded humanity and humor with his approach to politics, an area (these days) desiring and deserving of greater measures of both.

January 9, 2007 

 I thought the article below, “Mr. Ford Gets the Last Laugh” by Chevy Chase was worth reading.  Most of you may not know it, but Chase arguably made his career take off by deriding President Ford (some even think he was instrumental in derailing Ford’s election prospects) with his klutz-like imitations of the unelected president while he was in office.  Yet, ironically as Chase notes and many agree, Gerald Ford was probably the most athletic president to hold the office.  At the time I thought (like so many Americans) that it was funny.  A few years down the road, I thought it was unnecessary and uncalled-for, even a lighter form of character assassination, or at least belittlement.
    Yet, as this article points out, time and fate have a way of bringing us in direct contact with the things we deride as well as those we tolerate…as was the case with Chevy Chase and his eventual treatment (for alcoholism) at the Betty Ford Center, and the coincidental meeting with the Fords.  It speaks to Gerald Ford’s humility and even magnanimity that he did not hold a grudge, but rather invited his former satirist/nemesis to dine with him and his wife.  That’s the kind of character and leadership that once shaped the Republican Party.