Lots of little news items.

The house just up the street was struck by lightning and caught fire. They got the fire out quickly but there was considerable damage from the lightning bolt. It sort of cracked open the house at top and broke the roof apart.

The next day there was a wreck up by the school. Two twenty-somethings were racing, estimated 75 in a 35, when one lost control, skidded across the cart path and hit a rock wall, took out a stop sign (wooden post), flipped, bounced off the subdivision sign (large stucco) and came to rest back on the cart path. Luckily the culprits did not hit anyone on the cart path.

Today we went to see Harry Potter V. They crammed in as much they could, but there is really a lot in that book. As a result, Ron was relegated to a very small part. Delores Umbrage became the star. The part was played well, but who cares, because she is a nasty irritating character. The newspaper said Hermoine was "stilted" and that was total rubbish. Emma did just fine and I enjoyed her again. There was not enough about the kids studies, the importance of O.W.L.s and nothing about quidditch. Another hour would have helped them alot. There were probably 100 subtle changes that purists will lament, but the story was essentially told. Screenplays can't be 900 pages long so cuts must be made. The dementors were good. The Dursleys were good.

I'm singing tomorrow. We are billed as the three baritones. We have had fun rehearsing. The show sold out two weeks ago so we must be quite the local draw. Hopefully all will go well. I'm singing quite a bit of new music which can make one nervous.