An Abundant Life - Joy In The Making

I first met Richard Skipper in 2006 at a time in my life when I was working with many different artists and designers. He had put a notice in one of the newsletters I regularly received that he was looking for an assistant to help him in his home office, and as that's one of the things I was also doing for other artists and designers at the time, I responded and we made an appointment to meet and work together for a day to see how it would go. Working with Richard was one of the highlights of my life. I learned so much from him, and it wasn't just a job, it was an adventure. One of the best things I learned was how to keep making joy no matter what was going on around you. So many of the people I met through Richard are amazing and talented and lovely people, but life is life, and sometimes there are tough times and rough times for all of us, but through it all, Richard's belief that we treat others as we want to be treated, that we give respect and love and that we do all we can to support each other shines through. He is professional to the utmost, a man of his word, and if he says he'll do something he'll go above and beyond his promises to make sure that things go more than well. I'm not sure when he sleeps because he's such a hard worker - a tireless fountain of life and joy and love.

At the time I met Richard, he was focusing his time on performing, something that he is gifted above all measure to do, but something that he did even then was to help support other artists, and I caught up with him recently to discuss some of the ways his business is growing in the direction of his great gifts of Public Relations, Marketing and Events Planning through Richard Skipper Celebrates. He makes it seem effortless, but I know first hand all the hard work he does, and I know from my own experience how hard it is to do. The event I attended at the American Popular Song Society to celebrate Peter Filichia and his book, "The Great Parade: Broadway's Astonishing, Never to be Forgotten 1963-1964 Season", was full of amazing performers who played to a packed house even on a bitter cold day. It started on time and ended on time and there wasn't a glitch anywhere to be seen. That's talent and hard work and time - combine that with a class act that treats everyone with respect and kindness and you've got Richard Skipper. Follow him and get on his mailing list - you'll always have a great show.

Richard Skipper
www.RichardSkipper.com
At The American Popular Song Society
Associated Musicians Of Greater New York, Local 802
322 West 48th Street, NYC
www.AmericanPopularSongSociety.org

With Peter Filichia

Glen Charlow and Dan Sherman
At The Door For A Warm Welcome

Free CD's And Sheet Music
Courtesy Of The American Popular Song Society

Anita Gillette

With Michael Lavine On Piano

Peter Filichia And Richard Skipper
Discuss The Inside Scoop On The Shows
With Musical Direction By Michael Lavine

Michael Kostroff

Leah Horowitz

Jim Brochu And Steve Ross

Camille Saviola With Lots of Laughs And Gifts Of Pasta For The Crowd

Sean McDermott

Sally Mayes

Barbara  Minkus

Steven Brinberg

Klea Blackhurst

Aleka Emerson And Danny Gardner

Maureen  McNamara

Sarah Rice

Danielle Erin Rhodes

Diane Findlay

An Amazing Cast - An Exhilarating Show!

Peter Filichia's "The Great Parade"

The Great Pumpkin

Last weekend when I was on my way to the Hewn Arts Center and The Hudson Flea for Myrtle And Flossie's 5th Anniversary Celebration, I walked by a pumpkin lying on the sidewalk near an area where there are stores that sell produce. There were lots of people around shopping, and I saw a truck that was almost finished unloading, so I figured someone would be coming back for the pumpkin they dropped and I kept on going. But as I crossed the street, I noticed that no one was coming back for the pumpkin, so I went back and looked around again, and decided to see if had a bag large enough to carry it. I always keep extra bags in my bag because where I live some of the stores give you a few cents discount if you use a recyclable bag, but this pumpkin was so big that it broke one of the plastic bags and one of the cloth bags I had. I must have been there at least ten minutes wrestling with the pumpkin until I found a bag that would hold it, and I tell you this so you know that no one else cared about it or saw its value. I love pumpkin, and it's so healthy - I love making everything with it and now I have enough for cakes and pies and muffins, as well as just simply steaming and mashing or sautéing with pasta. I made a soup last weekend that was simply divine - and it was so simple to make I wanted to share it here for all the pumpkin lovers out there.

Pumpkin Soup

• In a large soup pot, sauté two or three cloves of garlic in olive oil
• Chop two pounds or more of pumpkin and place the pieces in the pot - you do not need to peel it if you scrub the outside well under cold running water
• Add a cup of beef or poultry or vegetable stock
• Cover and bring to a boil, turn down and simmer until the pumpkin begins to soften
• Begin to mash the pumpkin with a spoon or masher, you can also let the mixture cool and put in a blender or food processer, but this is not necessary unless you want it to be completely pureed as the pumpkin will soften easily in the pot
• Serve simply with butter and salt and pepper or add other spices as you wish. Cream or yogurt can be nice for a cream based soup, and other vegetables can be added for color if you want more variety.

Blessings,

Jannie Susan