I was bumped off my flight from Salt Lake to Missoula, so I hopped on the waiting plane to Kalispell, then drove my car the 2 1/2 hours south to see Elton John and his awe-inspiring band yesterday. I drove back this afternoon. On the way I saw an Osprey by Flathead Lake -- they haven't all migrated yet.

Sitemeter Sez: Visitors from Madrid, Spain (Magpie Music/Dance I think); Palmerston North, New Zealand; Dublin, Ireland (Here's a virtual kiss on the cheek, Eavan).

Remembering my friend George-O at: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Ida's Places in Paris -- from my first jet-lagged day by the Seine.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!
Spitfires of the Spaceways
Wilma Deering & Dale Arden to the rescue; Bodacious Princess Aura I; Hapless Aura II; The fiery Emperor Ming; The Orson Welles Rumor Debunked; and BOTH incarnations of Jean Rogers!





Thanks to Jim Keefe (Visit his Website) -- the LAST Flash Gordon illustrator of the 20th Century, and Flash's first illustrator of the 21st, for his recommendations -- HERE!

Charity Alert: Make a Resolution to click on The Hunger Site every day. Also check into Terra Sigilata blog -- donate $$$ to cancer patients just by clicking onto the site.

In The Community: I'll have a couple of events at the Hockaday Museum of Art this week, associated with the Inuit Art exhibit.

Live On Stage: Elton John and his wonderful band! Two and a half hours of high-energy Rock Music, leavened by Church Music and Pop Music -- all burnishing Bernie Taupin's gorgeous lyrics, plus a few words written by others. Paul Buckmaster's groundbreaking orchestrations were also played, thanks to the synthesizer. He acknowledged his original bass player Dee Murray when he introduced the rest of the group: Maryland's Guy Babylon - keyboards; Michigan's Bob Birch - bass guitar, vocals; Scotland's Davey Johnstone - guitar, vocals; Ohio's John Mahon - percussion, vocals; England's Nigel Olsson - drums, vocals. The spectacle was impressive, as good Rock should be, but the quality of the Art itself was very high, and pure communication was shared by performers and audience.


The artist formerly known as Reginald Dwight stands on Elton John's Yamaha piano in Missoula, Montana. It was the beginning of the latest tour, and his voice was excellent all night. (Image extensively re-digitized from The Missoulian newspaper.)