Grammy's

“Well, I try my best
To be just like I am
But everyone wants you
To be just like them.”
Bob Dylan, “Maggie’s Farm”

Saw “The Musical of Musicals (The Musical)” with the Hagelbergs at Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso. It was a parody of composers’ work, including Rogers and Hammerstein (“Oklahoma”), Stephen Sondheim (“Sweeny Todd”), Jerry Herman (“Hello, Dolly”), Andrew Lloyd Webber (“Phantom of the Opera”), John Kander and Fred Ebb (“Chicago”), and concluding with “Done,” a spoof of the song “One” from “A Chorus Line.” The superlative four-person cast included Michelle Gustin-Craig and Zach Gibson, who were in “Annie” with Rebecca, and Tom Serra, who starred in “It’s a Wonderful Life” (both kids were in it). In the audience waving hello was “Annie” producer Charley Blum. Afterwards we went to Don Quijote Restaurant whose owner greeted us effusively and gave us free after dinner glasses of port.

While we finished 12 hands of bridge, I put on the Grammys, which opened with a rather lame tribute to Aretha Franklin. Christina Aguilera got all her words correct but almost fell on her face. Lady Gaga’s number began with scantily clad dancers bringing her out in a large egg shell. My favorite moments were Bob Dylan singing “Maggie’s Farm” with two fabulous folk rock bands, Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers (who were playing like they had died and gone to heaven) and Arcade Fire performing “Month of May,” being presented the album of the year award by Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, and then closing the show with “Ready to Start.” The CBS censors went into action a couple times while Eminem and Dr. Dre were rapping but just once when Cee Lo Green slipped in the “F” word” to his sanitized “Forget You.” All the network morning shows commented on Mick Jagger making his first live Grammy appearance, but none explained why: he was honoring soul singer Solomon Burke. Letterman’s top ten list imagined such developments as (accused shoplifter) Lindsey Lohan leaving the awards show with a bulge in her pants and Lady Gaga and Lady Antebellum teaming up to form the supergroup Lady Antegagum. Instead of inane banter many introducers did what they do best – sing. John Mayer, Norah Jones, and Keith Urban, for instance, did a tune of ailing Dolly Parton.

Carson Cunningham thanked me for providing an opportunity to speak at IU Northwest and meet, in his words, “a neat group of people.” Hoping to get him into the department, I sent Dean Mark Hoyert a $1.6 million Grant Proposal to hire five new tenure-track faculty over five years for our fledgling Master of Liberal Studies program to facilitate launching concentrations in such areas as Sports in Society, the Ecology of Northwest Indiana, the American Presidency, Gender Studies, and Cultural Diversity Studies. If we got financing (perhaps from the Lilly Foundation) and I became director, Carson would be my first hire and then I’d set up a committee to assess the merits of proposals.

Michiganders were in for the weekend, and Phil played two games with us. He won Acquire and had an apparent big lead after the first round of Amun Re but left himself too short of money and finished a distant third to Dave and Tom. I had the most pyramids and temples but couldn’t draw power cards plus finished last in money.

Tim Cuprisin, president of the Lake Michigan chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society, is planning a centennial event for three former Gary churches now located in Merrillville. Sometimes known as Ruthenians or Carpatho-Russians, they emigrated from a region around present day southeast Poland, northeast Slovakia, and western Ukraine. Former East Chicago mayor Robert Pastrick and Congressman Pete Visclosky are of that ethnic background. Famous Americans of Ruthenian background include pop artist Andy Warhol. I gave Cuprisin Steve’s number and will try to set something up.

Putting the finishing touches on Sheriff Dominguez’s autobiography, I am now sold on “Valor” as the main title. It is what Roy wants and is a quality he most embodies.

Suzanna wants to work in India at a center that Mother Teresa founded. Her daughter Melissa has visited Calcutta and lived in India for a year. It’s a noble goal, but I hope she goes there to visit first before committing herself.