Dial M for Murder and farm cats, a natural combination

Last Friday, I drove up to Ames and saw a production of Dial M for Murder by the community theater. It was pretty good although there were moments when the audience laughed when they weren't necessarily supposed to.

But it was good and the actors and stage workers were doing something I don't want to do and without them, how would people like me ever be entertained? I enjoy going to these shows and now I want to see the movie. I think I've seen the movie, but maybe not since I was ridiculously ill-informed. Toward the end, Cindy remembered the key is the key to the murder. I had nothing. Not one scrap of "ah-ha!" during the entire show, so maybe I have not ever seen the movie.

I should warn you now this post has no point.

Before heading up to the show, I picked up my friend Cindy, who fed me a wonderful and relaxed dinner and listened to me whine. Then we headed north to Ames and my navigation gave out just as we go to the right neighborhood. Ms. Navigation kept saying turn-by-turn navigation wasn't available and what do I pay her for, anyway?

At a red light, I switched quickly to my cell phone's GPS and lo and behold, we were one block away. Disaster averted. We were one minute late, but there were a lot of people loitering and drinking wine and what not. This theater has a lot of profit-inducing wine and beer for sale and who can blame them? What a wonderful way to raise funds!

This is a shot of the set before the play began. It's the only set they used, which I always think is clever of a theater.

A couple weeks ago I went to see Les Miserables at the Des Moines Playhouse and if I try to explain to you the stunning and breathtaking production, you will think I am insane. They performed 24 times, adding extra shows on Saturdays and generally knocking everyone out. When the guy who played Jean Valjean came onstage to take his bows, I actually burst into tears, much like this:

I also saw a play at yet another community theater called A Rotten Year for Tomatoes. They give away coffee and cookies for donations: another excellent ploy to raise funds. Cindy and I gave them all the change we had, which as you know can sometimes add up to quite a bit.

In a couple weeks, Drake University is ending their season with The Mikado. I may be buying tickets for that soon, although as of right now I haven't asked if anyone can join me. I've never seen it before.

Regarding farm cats, Cindy has 'em and I love 'em.

Tommy and Paddy came out to see me when I arrived because I love them, love cats and love to play with cats and they know it. So as Cindy was gathering her wits about her for the drive to the theater, I went outside and loved on the kittehs.

Here is proof of our undying affection for each other:

 Clearly they can't get enough of me. What's with the barrier, fellows?