TV's 'Dallas' is Set to Return to Airways on TNT

I came across an article on USA.Today.com about the 80's TV drama Dallas coming back on the air in a new series on TNT this summer. For all of us who watched Dallas faithfully every Friday night for 13 years, this is great news for sure! You can get more information directly from the special TNT website. Incidentally, Linda Gray is a lovely woman and a fantastic actress. Keep an eye out for more interesting things on TV from Ms Gray.
Also, here is another article from the BBC about the new Dallas: Click here.

For those of you interested, here is the exact article from USA.Today.com:

from USAToday.com, By CLIFF LIPSON

J.R. Ewing and company are officially headed back to the small screen now that cable network TNT has greenlit the revamp of the epic primetime soap Dallas, which aired from 1978 to 1991. Fans can see an exclusive preview of the new show during the season premieres of The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles on Monday night, starting at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Series originals Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy will return to reprise their roles as dueling brothers J.R. and Bobby. Actress Linda Gray will also return as Sue Ellen. Newcomers to the cast include Jordana Brewster (Fast and Furious franchise), Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives) and Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives).
 

"It is incredibly exciting to see both new and familiar characters in the hands of a dream cast," says network exec Michael Wright. "We couldn't be more pleased with how Dallas has come together."

The network has ordered 10 episodes and will premiere the new Dallas next summer. For now, fans can check out news about the show and get behind-the-scenes looks at the production by checking out the new website TNT launched today.

Angels vs Dodgers Legends & Celebrity Benefit for ALS

Yesterday I had the pleasure of volunteering to support an event to benefit the Local ALS Chapter, which works tirelessly to provide support to people with Lou Gehrig's Disease. If you are not familiar with ALS, its one of the bad ones to be diagnosed with, but fortunately there are great organizations like the Golden West Chapter.

Yesterday's event was a softball game at Angels stadium between former Angels and Dodgers, legends of baseball and celebrities of TV and film as well. My company, Natural Balance helped organize the event and was on site to help add some fun the day. Our tents were set up giving out free samples and some really cool reusable tote bags to everyone attending the game that day. Angel Stadium is a really great ball park. Its clean, well designed and has great seats too! Anyway, to add to the fun we brought along Tillman, the world famous skateboarding bulldog who arrived in his rock-star style tour bus. He hopped on his skateboard and did his stuff along the main entrance of Angel stadium to cheers and applause of the crowd.

posters asked people to watch the ALS benefit

There was a regularly scheduled Angels/Dodgers game at 5:00 pm, then the ALS benefit softball game followed immediately afterward. Last year's benefit was at Pepperdine University, which was a much smaller venue. This year it was great to be at an official MLB stadium with a huge crowd to watch.

soon it was time to go inside for the big game...

I helped put field banners up- It was awesome to be on the field

We put up sponsor banners for Natural Balance and PETCO

...Then Jose Canseco hit a few home runs

There were a lot of people who remained after the regular game to watch the ALS benefit softball game. During the game, team members and announcers asked people to TEXT 'FIGHTALS' to 25383 on their phones to donate $10. You can still do that if you want to help now. It will be much appreciated. Whether or not you personally know someone affected by ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease, the facts are staggering. According to their website, the mission of the Golden West Chapter is "To lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig's Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support".
If you would like to make a donation to support ALS research and patients, donate online here.

I've Discovered Downton Abbey

For as long as I can recall, I've considered myself a bit of an Anglophile. (Our friends at Wikipedia define Anglophile as someone who is fond of English Culture). At any rate, I am one. I've long been a fan of Masterpiece Theatre, the venerable PBS series that has featured the best of the best television programming, in my humble opinion. That series alone makes the dreadful fundraising drives worth the torture. For some unknown reason, I've not watched much television at all- never mind Masterpiece Theatre. Well anyway, I stumbled on a British drama series called 'Downton Abbey'. It is a magnificent British period piece storyline, so if you love that sort of thing, run-don't walk to download it from iTunes.

I won't even try to tell the entire story, or give away the plot, but in short Downton Abbey follows the lives of two groups of people; the fictitious Earl and Countess of Grantham and their aristocratic Crawley family, as well as their household servants and staff. It is broadly similar to the old 'Upstairs, Downstairs' series. The story kicks off with news of the Titanic sinking, and its impact to the family. The rest, my gentle reader, you will need to watch to find out. Suffice to say, it would certainly not make this blog if the Palm Springs Savant didn't feel it was up to scratch!

If you are looking for a nice story to watch, download Downton Abbey season one. Make yourself a nice batch of tea and settle in for a really great series.
-Rick Rockhill

Rick's Roadshow: Florence, Italy

I've only recently returned from Florence, Italy- known to the Italians as Firenze. The capital of Tuscany, Florence is an important historical Renaissance city, with incredible architecture right from the Middle Ages that will blow your mind. A center of Medieval life in Europe, today Florence remains a major tourist attraction. Take this replica of Michelangelo's
famous statue of David. Even the replica outside the museum draws the fascination of millions each year.
From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with Florence. It is a destination that truly lives up to-and in my opinion exceeds one's expectations. Italians are generally friendly to tourists and make you feel welcome. It is so nice to be in a country where locals appreciate your presence. I should mention that there are zillions of tourists in Florence. Too many really, but nevertheless it exudes beauty and charm on every corner.

For those of you who are art-history buffs, there is no better place to visit. Statue galore, museums, and eye-popping paintings will leave even the casual admirer in awe.

Florence has a natural beauty to it. The city's muted earth tones are easy on the eyes and visually stimulating. Punctuated by the River Arno, you only need to close your eyes to imagine what life during in the Renaissance was like for this fair city.
And now, a little picture show for you:

an artist was painting the scene, I like this photo!

 

have you ever seen such beauty?

Cute little sidewalk restaurants abound...

vineyards on a hillside...sigh.

taking a moment to soak it all in. Ah Florence, such beauty!

In Honor of Those Who Have Given Their Lives In Service

In honor of all those who have given their lives in service to our country. May the Angels forever sing hymns to you, and may they continue to protect those who serve today and for future generations. Yes, we are a grateful nation.

Grain Free Dog & Cat Formulas

Interested in hearing some interesting stuff about Grain-Free dog and cat foods? Check out this short video from Dick and Jimmy Van Patten:

Natural Balance Alpha Formulas with Dick and Jimmy Van Patten from Natural Balance on Vimeo.

Stevie Nicks Dreams Come True

An old friend Stevie Nicks is enjoying great success form her first studio album in ten years. I found the following online. Needless to say I am thrilled for her. Its an album worth buying. See what these two articles have to say:

"Rock's reigning queen Stevie Nicks has sailed into the No. 6 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart next week with the release of "In Your Dreams," her first studio album in ten years. With sales of 52,370, "In Your Dreams" is also No. 3 on Billboard's Rock Album Chart and the No. 7 best selling digital album. Nicks' new CD is receiving glowing reviews including US Magazine who claimed "'In Your Dreams' is Nicks' 'finest solo album of her four decade career.'"

According to Billboard, "In Your Dreams" is Nicks' fifth top 10 solo album following her No. 1 debut "Bella Donna" (1981), "The Wild Heart" (No. 5 1983), "The Other Side of the Mirror" (No. 10, 1989) and "Trouble in Shangri-La" (No. 5, 2001).

In other Nicks news, the Gold Dust Woman is scheduled to perform two songs including her new single, "Secret Love" and her classic mega hit "Landslide" on next week's "Dancing with the Stars" airing live on May 17^th.

In the same week "In Your Dreams" debuted, Fleetwood Mac's landmark "Rumours" album released 34 years ago re-entered the chart at No. 11 thanks to the exposure from the May 3^rd episode of Fox TV's "Glee" which dedicated its entire hour to the album. "Rumours" sold 29,500 copies (up 1954% from the previous week).

Nicks is currently on tour. A complete itinerary is below.

"In Your Dreams" was written and recorded at Nicks' Los Angeles home and is co-produced by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard... Nicks and Stewart co-wrote seven of the album's thirteen songs. Highlights of the album include "Soldier's Angel," a poignant tribute to the vets that Nicks has visited over the years at Walter Reade and Bethesda Naval Hospital. The song includes a guest appearance by fellow Mac member Lindsay Buckingham.

Stevie Nicks is a multi-Grammy Award winner and Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her extraordinary career as a solo artist, songwriter, live performer and member of Fleetwood Mac is legendary. She has penned such Mac classics as "Landslide," "Dreams," "Gold Dust Woman" and "Rhiannon." As a solo artist, beginning with the five times platinum debut "Bella Donna," her solo hits include unforgettable hits such as "Edge of Seventeen," "Leather and Lace" and "Stand Back."

and another headline:

Stevie Nicks Scores Top Ten Album On Billboard 200

(RTTNews) - Stevie Nicks' seventh solo album, In Your Dreams, has debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart. It marks the fifth top ten album for the Fleetwood Mac vocalist and sold 52,000 copies its first week out.

In Your Dreams is Nicks' first album in a decade, following 2001's Trouble in Shangri-La. It features two released singles to date, "Secret Love" and "Cheaper Than Free." "There is an Italian love song I wrote when I was in Italy last summer," Nicks told the Ventura County Star of the albums varying influences.
"There is a crazy, wild rock 'n' roll song called 'The Ghosts Are Gone.' There is a song about a novel called 'Wide Sargasso Sea.' There are two tracks that Michael Campbell wrote that I wrote songs on top of, and they are just magical. There are love songs, hard rock 'n' roll songs, really contemplative songs and very Bob Dylan-y songs and there are lots of good poems."
In Your Dreams was released May 3 through Reprise Records and was produced by David A. Stewart and Glen Ballard.

A Visit to the Edris House to Benefit our New Animal Shelter

On Saturday I attended an event to benefit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, which is building a much-needed new, larger facility here in Palm Springs. The event was held at a private home, known as the Edris House, an historic Mid-Century Modern home nestled in the hillside overlooking Palm Springs. Built in 1954 and designed by famed architect, E. Stewart Williams, the structure is regarded as an excellent example of modern period homes in the desert. 

The current owner opened his home up to host the fundraiser, so the house itself was an added draw to donors. Like most cities, Palm Springs has an overpopulation of animals in need of adoption. There are so many great dogs and cats at shelters. Animal lovers from across our fair city turned out to help raise money to fund this new shelter, set to open late summer of 2011. Once the shelter opens, I'll post some photos here on the blog. But for this post, I thought I'd just share a few photos from around the home. It is the classic desert lifestyle I love and enjoy everyday.

the pool overlooks the desert floor

great hillsides surround the home

it was the ideal setting to entertain

I could have stayed all day, but soon it was time to go!

I've mentioned it several times over the years, but the Palm Springs community has a very active "season" of tourists, part-time residents and annual events. But we also host an amazing array of philanthropic events from the months of November through May. In just seven months, there are over 300 different charitable fundraiser events for non-profit organizations. Part of this has to do with the demographics of both full-time and part-time residents; who are at a stage of life with large fortunes and want to give back a bit. It really is amazing to participate or attend these events to see first hand how generous people can be. I was so pleased to see the turn out at this event and hope people continue to show their generosity to our shelter. If you want to make a donation to our shelter, visit their website to donate. You can also mail a donation to:  

Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter

P.O. BOX 4808

PALM SPRINGS, CA 92263

Easter Sunrise Service at the Top of the Tram

Happy Easter! This morning consisted of an early morning ride up to the top of San Jacinto Mountain on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Amid darkness, I caught the 4:30 AM tram and in just 10 minutes I was at the top. You see, I had been planning to attend the Easter Sunrise Service at the top of our beautiful mountain, 10,000 feet high. In all the years I've lived here, I've never done it before, so this was the year! It was a non-denominational Christian service of hymns, a sermon and some time for prayer, all in time for dawn to break. When the service had concluded, everyone walked outside to view the sunrise. With the choir still singing, the outdoor speakers carried "Amazing Grace" to the peaks of Mount San Jacinto. These were the views I saw:

back inside the station, I saw the lily plants I had missed earlier, in the darkness

the ride back down the tram seemed especially beautiful this Easter morning

I'm really glad I awakened so early to participate in the sunrise service, it was special and memorable. Back at home, my own Easter Lilly plant was in full bloom, which made me smile. I love the smell of lilies in bloom. I sat down and took a few moments to reflect on the sermon earlier. I wish you all the blessings of Easter, to you and your family.

And now, its time to enjoy my Easter Cream Eggs!

An Eastertime Heavenly Pie

Easter is probably my favorite time of the year. Even when I was a kid, it was always my favorite. Perhaps it is the change of season, bright Spring weather. Or perhaps the wonderful church Hymns of Eastertide. (I'm sure the cream eggs, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies had nothing to do with it!). I also have fond memories of delicious baked goods made by my family. A few years ago I wrote about my great-grandmother's rice pie. These days I can't resist the urge to do some baking when Easter rolls around. Last night when I returned home from work, I decided to make a 'Heavenly Pie', a favorite from my childhood. Heavenly Pie is nothing more than a Meringue crust, crushed fresh pineapple, topped by fresh whipped cream. And that's all- but it is so refreshing. I forgot to take a photo before I dove into it, so I tried to take this picture from the other side- but you get the idea. What do you like to make for Easter?