Boat Christening honoring Dr. Donna A. Lopiano

This morning Amy & I attended a very special event. The Christening of the Varsity Eight shell "Donna A. Lopiano" to honor Dr. Donna Lopiano for her many contributions to women in athletics. We were joined by Donna and her very famous friends at The University of Texas Rowing Center on Town Lake. Those famous folks were: Dr. Jody Conradt, Dr. Waneen Spirduso, Dr. Dot Lovett, Admiral Bobby Inman & Carolyn Inman. University of Texas Rowing Coach, Carie Graves spoke first. Coach Graves, 3-time Olympian and Harvard grad.
 
Dr. Donna Lopiano's Bio: Dr. Donna Lopiano is a member of the National Sports Hall of Fame and the National Softball Hall of Fame. For 17 years (1975-1992) she served as director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women at the University of Texas, during which time she constructed what many believe to be the premiere women's athletics program in the country. Dr. Lopiano developed her department from a $57,000 budget in 1975 to nearly $3 million in 1987, while all eight sports she supervised continued to hold national rankings.

The University of Texas enjoyed perhaps its best overall season in 1986-1987 when it was named top women's program in the country for the second consecutive year by Knoxville Journal's all-sports poll. All totaled, Dr. Lopiano's department boasted 12 national championships in five different sports, 30 Southwest Conference championships since 1982 and 159 All-American athletes - dozens among them Olympians and world champions.

Dr. Lopiano's success extended to the classroom. From 1975 until her departure, 95 percent of UT women athletes who completed four years of athletic eligibility received a baccalaureate degree.

An outstanding college athlete and a former All-American athlete, Dr. Lopiano attended Southern Connecticut State University and played basketball, softball, volleyball and field hockey and graduated in 1968. She received her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California.

Weekend Movie Review & other sightings

On Friday, we saw the movie, "Melinda and Melinda". I give it 3 stars out of 5 plus 1 and 1/2 stars for the great NYC scenery. Amy gives it 3 stars.

Here's the Netflix synopsis:
Woody Allen's film stars Radha Mitchell as Melinda, a woman who comes undone at a dinner party, spilling details about her life dramas. Two writers in her impromptu audience see two sides of the same story: In the first, Melinda's problems hasten the breakup of her pal Laurel's (Chloë Sevigny and Jonny Lee Miller) marriage; and in the second, Melinda throws another couple, Susan and Hobie (Amanda Peet and Will Ferrell), into a hilarious tizzy.


Our second sighting was this morning. As we were walking on the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, we spotted an armadillo crossing our path about 25 yards in front of us. The creature was very cute.

Sighting number 3: This weekend we have been watching Chris' Eastern Screech Owl Nest Box Cam. The nest box is the creation of Chris Johnson. He built the box in 1999 and for the last couple of years we have been watching the Owl Nest Box Cam and reading Chris' observations. He writes about the types of food that the madame owl brings to her babies. She has such beautiful eyes! If you'd like to visit the Owl Nest Box Cam, the URL is: http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/2005/

Netflix Rental Reviews

The following are movies that I have rented from Netflix in the last two weeks. If you haven't tried Netflix yet, what are you waiting for? It is one of the top 5 innovative uses of technology in the last 50 years! Read more about it at: Netflix.com. They have over 40,000 titles in their DVD library!

The Great American Songbook, 2003 (Tobi says: "5 stars out of 5")
This great documentary that originally aired on educational television uses rare and never-before-seen footage. Singer-pianist and musical historian Michael Feinstein hosts an informative look at the composers and lyricists who wrote America's standards from the 1890s through the mid-1950s. Cabaret singer, Mary Cleere Haran co-wrote this fabulous documentary.


You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story, 1990 (5 stars!!!)
In the world of music, Cole Porter's sophisticated wit and musical talent are legendary. This fascinating documentary hosted by Bobby Short chronicles the life of the unique songsmith through rare photographs and archival footage, as well as through revealing interviews with those who knew him best. Highlights include performances of Porter's songs by Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, and Judy Garland.


Broadway & Hollywood Legends: The Songwriters: Kander & Ebb / Alan Jay Lerner, 2003 (5 stars)
This looks as though it was filmed in the 1970's for Canadian TV and appears to have been a series on songwriters with several episodes produced. Kander and Ebb, who composed the songs for the Broadway shows "Chicago" and "Cabaret" appear on stage together and sing all of their magnificent hits. Note: Jo Sullivan Loesser once said in an interview "Composers usually sing their songs better than anyone else. They tell you what they want you to here in that piece." After hearing Fred Ebb sing "New York, New York" I totally agree with her. In a separate segment Lerner, who was responsible for the unforgettable tunes of the movies "My Fair Lady" and "Gigi" appears with several performers who present his awesome repertoire.


There's No Business Like Show Business, 1954 (5 stars!!!)
Ethel Merman...Need I say more! Irving Berlin provides the tunes for this engaging musical about the singing and dancing Donahue clan as they ascend to stardom on the vaudeville circuit during the genre's last hurrah.
My only complaint is that the studio, Twentieth Century Fox, who transfered this to DVD had "No Business" plastering Marylin Monroe on the DVD packaging. She appears in a minor supporting role in the movie, but manages to have her image not only on the front of the DVD cover, but everywhere else including the main menu.


Chutney Popcorn, 1999 (4 stars)
With Indian traditions on the one hand and modern New York City values on the other, Chutney Popcorn is a provocative comedy that shows you can find family somewhere between the two. To read more about this movie, go to the Internet Movie Database. Nisha Ganatra stars and directs her first major movie release.


This was not a Netflix rental. A client lent the DVD to me.

"The Story of the Weeping Camel" (5 stars!)
This unique documentary released in 2004 follows a Mongolian camel that's rejected her newborn white colt. Throughout her difficult delivery, the camel is aided by a family of shepherds, who instantly notice the mother's rejection and make valiant efforts to warm the mother to her child. (Running time: 87 minutes)

If you love music and/or if you love your mother, you must see this movie. It is set in Mongolia and the few words that are spoken are in Mongolian. English subtitles are available, but you really don't need them. This is a great movie to watch on Mother's Day with your Mom. Warning: 2 or 3 hankies required!

Big Screen Movie Reviews

We have seen some amazing movies in the last few weeks:

Sahara (Tobi-4 stars out of 5, Amy-4 stars)
Great action flick, but you might need to take ear plugs! Matthew (AKA: Bongo Boy) is a great action hero!
Based on Clive Cussler's best-selling novels starring action hero Dirk Pitt, Sahara sets the daring adventurer on a mission to save the world from destruction. Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz and Steve Zahn.

Millions (Tobi-5 stars, Amy-5 stars)
This movie is all about having faith in people and doing the right thing! Amy said "this is one of the best movies we have seen this year!"
What happens when two boys stumble upon a cache of cash? Damian (Alex Etel) and his brother, Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), find a satchel filled with British pounds, but with the country just days away from switching to the Euro, they must quickly find a way to spend and share the wealth. Trouble is, Damian wants to give to the poor, while Anthony aims to live it up.


Miss Congeniality 2 (5 stars-Tobi, Amy says 5 stars too!)
Please don't listen to the critics! This movie is very funny and quite entertaining! If you like the first one, you'll like the sequel! Be sure & see this movie to support our hometown gal, Sandra Bullock, an Austin resident!!

Hitch(5 stars-Tobi, Amy-4 stars)
The cast is great: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, and Amber Valletta. I gave this movie 4 stars for the entertainment value and an extra star for the cool NYC scenes!
Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (Will Smith) is the master of seduction in this charming romantic comedy. His specialty? Helping clueless clients make a great first impression so they not only get to the second date, but make someone fall for them.