– Providing individuals with the opportunity to manage and organize their busy lives; R2 Business Ventures announced today that it has launched the website http://www.groupusup.com.

The website www.GroupUsUp.com. is a social networking community site focused on allowing individuals to form groups for anything or join groups such as clubs, family, friends, neighbors, neighborhoods, HOA’s, organizations, teams, co-workers, alumni, non-profit, jobs & career, business, social, charities, nightlife, sports and more.

Managing Partner Rick Erling adds; “Our early market gap analysis uncovered a need for an easy to use community social networking site that is focused on groups, rather than individuals. We wanted a way for people to organize their lives by having a place to socialize with groups that they have a common interest with.”

With the Group Us Up! concept of “groups for anything”, there is no limit to the benefits of having an outlet to organize your members. You decide if your own profile and the groups you create are public or private and you also decide who to invite. Groups can have multiple discussion forums, photo albums, file attachments and your members can also post blogs, organize events and keep track of who’s attending those events.

Mr. Erling adds; “We have neighborhood and HOA groups that are staying connected and sharing information about their groups and organizing social events. Intramural sports teams and booster clubs are also using it to organize and provide updates on when practices are, where the games take place and plan fundraising events. Businesses are getting onboard for internal corporate communications and reaching out to new customers and partners. There is no limit to the benefits of having an outlet to organize right from your home or anywhere, anytime you have web connection.”

As Mr. Erling and his team grow Group Us Up! they will be depending on their members to provide input on functionality to make Group Us Up! as user friendly as their members desire.

Membership is FREE and signing up is quick and easy at http://www.groupusup.com/.

Ready or not, the pumpkins are already at the Dallas Arboretum. Starting now until October 31th, the Arboretum will have daily activities and also weekend activities. We’ve been there before and kids really enjoy the Pumpkin patch and Hay Maze. I like seeing pumpkins because it does mean Autumn is around the corner and hopefully we won’t have the heat and mosquitos anymore:

DAILY ACTIVITIES

Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin House
Hay Bale Maze
Hay Rides ($3 per person/ per ride)*
Piano Music on the Pergola
*10:30am - 3:30pm (weather permitting)

EVERY WEEKEND

Costume Parade - 1pm
Pumpkin Decorating Demonstrations - Noon, 2pm and 4pm
Face-painting - Saturdays: 11am - 4pm; Sundays: Noon - 4pm
Crafts - Saturdays: 11am - 4pm; Sundays: Noon - 4pm
Performances on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage: Noon - 4pm

Check out the Dallas Arboretum Website for more information.

STT Opens 4th Season with The Country Wife
Hilarity in Dallas

Dallas, Texas (September 2007) –Second Thought Theatre is pleased to open its fourth season with a modernized telling of William Wycherly’s The Country Wife.  Ensemble member Kristin McCollum and Executive Ensemble Member and the show’s Director, Allison Tolman, collaborate on the fresh adaptation of the hilarious play.

The Country Wife is a spectacular satire about a man who feigns impotence in order to trick foolish men into leaving him alone with their wives-whom he then promptly seduces. This production takes place in the very Metropolex we know and love and promises to lampoon aspects of our beloved city and have its residents rolling in the aisles.

“It’s amazing how much Dallas in 2007 has in common with London in 1675 when you get down to it.  Kristin and I had a fantastic time updating this script and poking fun at all of Texas.  I am sure that all true-hearted Dallasites and Texans will enjoy watching the show as much as we enjoyed creating it,” explains the show’s Director and Co-Adapter Allison Tolman.

Second Thought Theatre is thrilled to announce that The Country Wife has been generously underwritten through a grant from the Jean Baptiste "Tad" Adoue III Fund of the Dallas Foundation.
"In the three years since the inception of Second Thought Theatre, this excellent ensemble of local actors has received critical acclaim, presenting consistently exceptional productions to an ever-expanding audience in Dallas. The Dallas Foundation is pleased to partner with Second Thought Theatre in presenting its season premiere of The Country Wife. We know that the future of this theatre company holds great promise," writes Laura J. Smith, Director of Community Philanthropy at The Dallas Foundation.
The Country Wife features Dallas actors Bradley Campbell, Stephanie Hall, Andrew Kasten, Ellen Locy, John-Michael Marrs, Thiago Martins, Cindee Mayfield, Allison Pistorius, Sherel Riley, Drew Wall, Derik Webb, Brian Witkowicz, Ted Wold and Laura Yancey.  The stellar design team includes Clare DeVries (Set Designer), Tasia Munoz (Costume Designer), Jason Driggers (Lighting Designer), Allison Tolman and Lindsay Graham (Sound Designer) and Cathy O’Neal (Properties Designer).
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, October 4, 11, 18 @ 7:30 PM
Friday, October 5, 12, 19 @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 6, 13, 20 @ 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 7, 14, 21 @ 2:00 PM
**Added Show Wednesday, October 17 at 7:30 PM with special industry rates
Second Thought Theatre’s 2007-2008 Season will be held at Addison Theatre Centre’s Studio Theater located at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001.  For tickets call 972.450.6232.
About Second Thought Theatre

Second Thought Theatre is an ensemble theatre company comprised of an eclectic group of actors, designers, playwrights, directors, and arts administrators dedicated to providing the Dallas community with a quality of performance that is in keeping with the highest national standards.  Second Thought Theatre seeks to capture the moment of creation between artist and audience.  Dedicated to ensemble productions that explore challenging and dramatic works from the canon of theatrical literature, we strive to enlighten and entertain our audience by pushing the boundaries of human thought and emotion.  Old works done in new ways, new works done in old ways.  Everything is possible when you take a second thought.

Visit Second Thought Theatre website for more information.

Actually I guess he’s the star and some professional dancer (Kym Johnson) will be dancing with him. It’s a little surprising I suppose. Kym Johnson was put with Jerry Springer and Joey Fatone in the past seasons, so I don’t know what that means. I don’t watch the show consistently, only maybe once or twice a season. The last time I watched it was only because Apollo Ono was on it…and he actually won.

I wonder if Mark Cuban knows that they kinda wear funky tight clothing! Our grandma (a great grandma) said “He’s done well in the past with everything else…he’s such a nut, he just might do ok!” I guess we’ll see…

Dancing With the Stars will premier on Monday, September 24th 8/7 c on ABC.

Meanwhile, you can also check out his view on Politics.

UPDATE: You can read about Mark Cuban’s experience on Dancing With the Stars and vote for him.

So according to the Dallas Morning News, George Michael may spend more time in Dallas. His boyfriend is the owner of Goss Gallery which is here in Dallas. I’m surprised he’s not living here already and he spends his time in UK.

It’s unfortunate what happened with him and the music companies as well as all the bad news coverage. It’s the music companies’ lost and people should just leave him along. Yes, I did listen to his music growing up hahaha - yup back when he was Wham! and every christmas I still hear “Last Christmas”!

Anyhow, I guess he’s still doing well without the music companies and is apparently having tours called “25 Live Tour”, doesn’t seem like any are in US though.