update on the unwanted visitor

So, when we last tuned in, the rat was still leaving a mess for me.

That was on Sunday.

Monday morning found another mess, but not quite as bad.

The mess was also in the sunroom, not the kitchen, so I counted that as progress.

I placed an empty peppermint oil bottle by the back door, in case it had used that as a egress from my house. 

I also made the hallway redolent of that oil, to dissuade the vermin from entering that area.

Tuesday morning greeted me with this sight, again in the kitchen.

No sign of the beast on the counters or the stove, so that was reassuring.

No sign of it having gone near the bathroom or hall or open Ocean Room.

Good, good, and good.

I made sure to stop by Food Lion on my way home from appointments at the Savannah VA with my optometrist, Peter Urban, and my nutritionist, Elizabeth Carley.

I bought four more bottles of the peppermint oil.

I came home, after seeing a movie, and heard no little rat noises.

That's because I left the TV on, as well as lights in the sunroom and kitchen.

Good tip for the future.

Then I pulled out the cotton batting and threw it away.

It looked like the intruder had left its scent all over it... ugh.

Taking a clean cloth, I laid a double layer of lavender-scented anti-static sheets in its center, along the length, then folded the cloth by thirds.

Perfect for laying under the kitchen cabinets!

I also sprinkled some peppermint oil on the fabric, too.

Then, I reinforced the placement of the cloth with plastic yogurt containers from the recycling bag, then braced the red plastic container at one end and the heavy glass bowl at the other.

I'm hoping to wake up and find no change to this barrier.

I'm also going to leave the bathroom light on all night.

What about the electric rat trap?

The rat hasn't touched it once.

I've moved it to other areas, but I'm leaving it in the sunroom.

Here's hoping for future peaceful nights.

That would be a nice change.

something different at the cinema!

Yes, it's a Monday and I'm at the cinema.

 

That's not so unusual these days, except... 

I'm there for an evening movie!

 

AMC has a "Screen Unseen" here, in the 'Vannah!!! 

The only hints are these two: it's rated "R" and the runtime is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

I was there a little early, so I treated myself to wondering if Red One and Krampus were brothers for other mothers or from other fathers.

 

I'll have to see "Red One" again and search for clues!

 

Meanwhile, the horror previews have run me out of the screening room, toward protection!

 

Who better than my co-star, Chris Evans, to ward off those horrid sounds?

 

I wonder if he even remembers me from that "Pain Hustlers" shoot on Ogeechee Road?

 

I'll always recall that conversation I had with his hair stylist on that set!

Then, Carolyn arrived and we went to the mystery movie screening room.

 

Would it be an Indian movie???

 

Nope.

 

It was "Gladiator II", which I had already planned to see Thursday.

 

The movie was good, but not what we had hoped would be shown.

When I returned home, my car had a treat for me: a special odometer reading of 237723!

 

That was three pairs, but only two counted for poker, giving me two pair, 7 high.

 

Then the bfe texted, with a photo of his new kitteh!

She's such a tiny tortoise-shell beast, and a cutie...

but she's no Contessa with her peach blur of beauty.

 

I look forward to meeting her and finding out who she is.

(smile!)

dratted rat still here, dagnabbit

Well, hell, I had hoped it would take the hint.

Nope.

It had pushed the batting out of its way this time.

The electric rat trap still stood, unused by the "guest".

And there was again a mess by, as well as on, the stove.

Shiite.

Literally and figuratively.

I've now moved the electric trap to that little counter.

I've also liberally doused the areas with peppermint oil.

That's right: peppermint oil.

My youngest brother, Tony, had called late yesterday afternoon and told me about him using that flavor agent to chase out the beasts.

So, I looked it up: that seems to be truth, not myth.

Food Lion even had it on sale, so I bought two, and, to my surprise and delight, Senior SNAP even paid for it!

I've used up an entire 1-ounce bottle so far.

Besides in the kitchen and outside my bedroom door, I splashed it all over the two window guards by the window A/C unit in the dining room, and the pipe that runs near it.

That's because I found the rat had gone - out? in? - that way, pulling out one of the sock pieces I'd stuffed in as a draft guard.

I guess I'll see how that worked in the morning.

Meanwhile, perhaps I should buy some more of the oil, just in case.

Maybe get some eucalyptus, too, as the critters dislike its aroma, too.

Please, wish me luck.

unwanted visitor here

Ack... a rat.

Sure, I could call it a mouse, but why quibble over terms?

It had left this mess in front of the sink.

I don't know if it heard me get up earlier, or if the coming daylight had scared it.

All I see is the torn batting and the hole as it squeezed its way out.

All of this before coffee today.

I contacted my two brothers, of course.

Smitty responded.

I showed him the mess on the counter and asked if he thought if came from behind the stove.

He shone his phone light, but didn't see any evidence of a hole back there.

He brought an electric rat trap from his warehouse.

Peanut butter went in as bait.

He placed it on the floor, by the trash can.

Then he left, with the Gnome of Odd Lot in hand.

I know he really likes gnomes.

I really appreciate that he came to my aid.

Now, to clean up this mess.

everlasting, or the last?

That was the question still tugging at my post-anesthesia brain tonight as I went off to the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta.

I decided to let the evening's end make the decision for me.

If the dinner time with my brothers ended around 6:30 PM, then I would be off to the event with the 7 PM start.

However, if dinner ran a bit longer, then it would be the 7:30 PM entertainment for me.

Easy enough, n'est-ce pas?

(smile!)

I began dinner at my usual place, standing between Laura and my youngest brother.

I told them, and everyone else, about "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".

"It would be a wonderful family outing about the reason for the season!", I said.

They seemed to be interested, so maybe they'll take Hope and her boys.

That would be very nice!

Then, after ordering the beef nachos, I moved up to Becca's empty chair, as she was off with her mom tonight.

I had intended to stay only until the servers came with our food, but, before I knew it, the nachos were in front of me, cheese bubbling hot!

 

I switched from sitting to standing, to keep that high-top chair from waking me up with sciatica on Saturday morning, as it has in the past.

So I carried on talking with Jimmy and Mark about "Conclave".

Rather, Jimmy and I talked, but Mark was definitely tuned in.

(smile!)

I do hope they'll see it, as I'd like to get their perspective, as Catholics, on the story.

Then the bills came, and the hugs came!

That was very nice, too.

The time was just after 7 PM.

Decision made for me, it was off to Jenkins Hall at Armstrong for me!

(smile!)

The Last Laugh Improv Troupe was offering fun, fun, and fun, and for free, free, free!

That was an unexpected bonus for my wallet!

The stage contained 8 chairs, as well as two pairs of stools at each side.

That foretold a pretty large number of performers!

Pam Sears came up to greet me, then she and her husband (Les) sat behind me.

Most excellent!

She said something about this being a very inclusive group of young people, but I figured that just meant the usual: color-blind, gender-blind, orientation-blind.

It also includes those who are other-abled!

 

That was not just for show, either, as Dylan O'Brien was called to take part many times.

The second sketch was called LCD and the players were Luke, C J, Deja, and  Dylan.

That acronym stood for "Location, Career, Death (cause)" and we in the audience shouted out those parameters once the players (except Luke) went back stage.

Well, all except Luke. 

Like the old kid game of "Telephone", he (Luke) was charged with miming the L, C, and D to the second player (C J, in this case) until that player understood what they were.

Then that player would mime to the third person (Deja), as the first person (Luke) lay "dead' on the floor.

Then, the third person (Deja) would mime to the fourth (Dylan) until that person "got" what the LCD was, and then collapse to the floor, "dead".

At the game's end, the dead would rise again and the troupe captain would ask the foursome if they understood what the parameters had been.

That was definitely part of the fun!

They all knew that the location had been "nail salon" - applause for them!

Only the first one knew "lunch lady" (which had been my career suggestion!), but C J knew it was someone in food service.

And they all knew that food was the cause of death, though none but Luke had guessed that the particular dish was "pizza".

Applause for all anyway!!!

(smile!)

Some of their sketches I already knew from years of watching Odd Lot: "World's Worst", "Press Conference", "Slips", "Freeze" - such fun!

I hadn't known the troupe was taking audience lines on pieces of paper or I surely would have contributed my two cents' worth!

Some of my favorite Odd Lot skits had been "Slips" seen with my ex and Amy!

In the game of "Slips" tonight, Melanie, Liana, and C J were "grave robbers" tasked with digging up some treasure while interspersing the audience's suggestions with their own.

Very funny when they realized the treasure was Michael Jackson!

(smile!)

Odd Lot did "Freeze" sometimes, but also did a variation called "Changing Channels", which still consisted of two players on stage at a time, with other players tagging in to change the direction of the unfolding dialogue.

Let me see, what else?

Oh, yes, the other skit new to me tonight: "Top That".

They played as teams, with a person from each team facing off against an opponent.

They were given a motion to do, such as waving two arms up and down, and then tasked with saying what they were doing.

They took turns until either one got flustered and stalled, or the timer went off, then the winner of that round would be determined.

That game had five rounds, plus a last-try round to see if there would be a tie.

Definitely a fun evening!

My thanks to the Universe for putting me in the right place, right time!

Now, time for bed!

After all, on Daylight Savings Time - which I still keep - it's after midnight.

My brain, and body, are requiring at least 9 hours of sleep lately, so that is what they shall most definitely have.

Listen to your bodies, y'all!

to the moon, Alice!

Oh, my, how I laughed and laughed at that line!!!

It was nearly the end of the play, and Uncle Fester has a rocket strapped to his back.

When the mother of Wednesday's boyfriend asks him where he's going, that line was his reply.

Honestly, I just busted out laughing and had to make myself stop!

After all, I doubt if any of the parents would have recognized Ralph's oft-repeated line from "The Honeymooners", but I grew up with Jackie Gleason on the TV.

Plus, that late-night show is often my nightcap before bed on Sundays.

Yes, I was definitely right place, right time, with this musical!

I'm so glad I threw myself out of the house to go see it.

 

"The Addams Family" was at Savannah Country Day, a place I associate with Barbara.

I'd even invited Sandy to come see the middle school musical with me, but she declined.

So, I'd taken myself to it...

and found a familiar name on the program.

Henry Dickerson was there, too, running the soundboard this time instead of lights.

Nice.

I hadn't realized I would also know someone on the stage, but I did!

See the boy in the black suit?

That's Emmett Witchel, as Gomez Addams, holding hands with Morticia Addams.

As soon as I saw him, I flashed back to this summer!

He had worn that same suit in "Bravo, Broadway!", when I'd first noticed him.

That SavChTh summer camp really paid off!

He was definitely one of the most confident and most natural actors this time around!

Yes, I'll be keeping on eye on him as he progresses in his acting roles.

I am so very glad I left home on this drizzly night!

This 75-minute bit of fun was exactly what I needed to bring out the sun!

 

Then I came home to Sam of "Ghosts", wanting to be in a musical.

And which one was it?

No, not "The Addams Family", silly.

It was "Anything Goes"!

I saw that one six years ago, having found out in Jinhi's fb post that it was playing and that her niece, Lillian "Sushi" Soucy, was in it.

So, back to the TV show: Did the innkeeper get the part"

Yes, with Alberta's coaching, she got the role she'd wanted to play in high school!

How very cool that I was home in time for this musical, too.

i thank You, God!

two holiday dances in my trio!

Just one word of warning before I reveal my dance card: the order is wrong.

Yes, again.

I honestly do not know why AMC has listed them this way, but, there it is.

 

The one at the end was the first one viewed, not the third.

You'll notice that it's listed as if it were part of a double header today, too.

That's also wrong.

I watched "Weekend In Taipei" on Tuesday at 2:05 PM, before seeing "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at 5:15 PM that same day.

So, I did have a double header... just not the one AMC says.

Both had a lot of action, though that was all they had in common.

I enjoyed "Weekend In Taipei", but I had hoped to maybe see something that I might remember from my USO tour there in 1981.

Besides the colorful restaurant and store signs that spoke of that Asian environment, one sight was instantly recognized: a shrine.

 

I had a souvenir photo of me, taken in front of that very place, enclosed in a thin encircling frame of etched black marble.

Wow.

That denim skirt had been one of my favorite items of clothing.

The photo has yellowed in the forty-plus years since it was taken, and I don't recall the name of the shrine, but this image is crystal-clear in my mind.

The movie itself, about an American narc and a Taiwanese driver of drug cars, was pretty engaging, even if it did err on whether it had been 13 years or 15 years since they were once lovers and he was once living there undercover.

Oh, well!

I wouldn't have noticed but they kept bringing the time line up in dialogue.

As for the holiday movie, I watched it with another couple in the screening room.

They were from Missouri - same as my sis-in-law Laura! - and their daughter had seen the play in Rincon the same year I had!!!

How about that!

Right place, right time.

Very nice!

I had company at the movie today, too.

That would be the movie in the middle of my A*List, "Red One".

 

I specifically chose this date so I'd be in the running for that trip to Aruba!

Sandy watched the Big-D screening with me, which was a nice change of pace.

The movie, with J.K. Simmons as a possibly-extraterrestrial entity known as Santa Claus, was absolutely fabulous and had a story with all kinds of twists!!!

If not for other movies next week that I really want to see - including a Screen Unseen on Monday!!! - I'd be using all three dances for this one!

Perhaps I'll do this one as a trio the following week... we'll see!

even i know that isn't so

At WNS tonight, we were to dine on baked ziti.

I was a little late getting to Asbury, but I still made it there before the meal arrived.

That meant the salad course would be separate from the dinner, not alongside.

No worries, that's the way it is at restaurants!

So I sat with Sherry Giddens and her husband, as well as Emily Garrard and her husband, plus Barb Gooby, sans husband.

By 6 PM, the entree had arrived!

Time to put my Lactaid pill to use!

 

Or not, as it turned out.

I told Kathy Hodges, "Even with my post-amnesia brain, I know that isn't baked ziti."

She had looked at me, perplexed, and asked, "When did you have amnesia?"

Then it was my turn to be perplexed!

Yikes!

"That's my post-anesthesia brain at it again! I didn't even realize I said the wrong word!"

She thought that was pretty funny!

But it was absolutely true.

Post anesthesia, I have learned not to trust my brain.

It's still on the numb-dumb drugs for well over a week after that juice is turned off.

I liken it to going on a bender and still being drunk from tequila.

That's why, when Dr. Cobb wanted me to go in for surgery on November 1st, I'd told him I needed more time to get things in order before I went under the needle.

That's why he'd waited until the following week.

And the reason he had the ablation on a Thursday instead of a Friday?

That was because he listened to me when I told him I preferred not a Friday, so that if I needed to call his office about pain, he would be there.

Yeah, he's definitely a good one!

I know he's had lots of experience since he first worked on me in February of 2022.

I could tell this time that everyone in EP had done this cardiac ablation procedure many, many times in the 32 months which have elapsed since my first one in March of that year.

How fortunate for me that they are such experts now!

I'm glad to have had the cardiac ablation instead of the other procedure.

I'd had nightmares after the DCC with its accompanying Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Dr. Cobb had suggested the DCC-TEE when I'd seen him for my last 6-month check up.

That had been the last Monday of October.

I explained to him that I'd rather have the ablation again, and why.

So, that's what I had last Thursday.

Good for me for speaking up!

Now, it's not even been a week and I've been almost back to my busy, vibrant self!

Well, all except the logic circuits of my brain.

Even so, I can still recognize things that are patently untrue, like beef stew not being the same thing as baked ziti.

Or "Phantom Of The Paradise" not being a musical.

I rented that one because Danielle Houston had said on fb that it was one of her favorite musicals.

Although the 1974 movie was entertaining -

and a mash-up of "Fame", "The Phantom Of The Opera", and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" -

it was not a musical.

Like "Fame", it was a concert movie.

Had it been a play, it would be like "Once".

Most def -not- a musical.

Every time anyone sang it was because they were performing a song in concert.

Any time anyone danced it was because they were doing so at a concert.

No spontaneous singing or dancing by anyone, ever.

Still, I'm glad to have seen it and look forward to talking about it with her the next time I see her.

And the photo?

That's the "Phantom", wearing the mask after melting off half his face when he fell into an album printing machine.

He's hard at work completing his musical masterpiece, having signed a deal - in blood - that guarantees it will be a success.

Paul Williams is fabulous as the orchestrator of that Faustian contract.

I'll watch it again, as I've rented it, though I had thought it was to be a $1 Movie Night reward from Comcast.

Apparently not, as I must have used that for "Enchanted" and not had another.

That means this movie cost me $3.99.

Yep, a second viewing is needed to justify that.

Silly post-anesthesia brain.

last meal cooked for a veteran... this week

Little Caesar's has definitely done right by me!

On Veterans Day, they graced me with a free deep dish pie as part of their lunch combo.

I chose the pepperoni, of course.

That means that yesterday and today I have dined on pizza for breakfast!

The photo shows what I've had each time.

What a heaping helping was in that box from them!

Many thanks to them!

Applebee's had the most diverse menu for veterans.

I went there on Monday to dine-in, but to my surprise, and delight, the restaurant was so busy that they allowed us to order the meal to go!

That meant I had dinner last night that I only had to heat up to eat!

And what was my meal of choice?

The same as it ever is: Fiesta Lime Chicken.

As I told Teresa, an Air Force veteran, as we waited, "It's superb!"

So glad Applebee's does this for veterans!

Chicken Salad Chick always allows veterans to opt to dine in or take it home.

I had planned to eat the free lunch there, with my first niece and her girls, but Christina was ill.

So, the fancy luncheon became a dinner at home Monday night!

Lauryn's Lemon Basil on croissant, with Broccoli Salad, was a complete meal that included vegetables!

I washed it all down with free lemonade, and even had a cookie for dessert!

That was certainly my healthiest meal. (smile!)

So, where did I actually dine in on Monday?

Chili's.

I was there about 3:30 PM, well after the lunch rush and before the supper crowd arrived.

Within ten minutes, I was seated!

Their special menu included the 3-piece Chicken Crispers, with honey mustard - perfect!

Thanks, Jerrad, for making my free meal special!

Thanks, Chili's, for having great music to accompany my dining experience!

And, while I am here, let me not forget to thank one other.

Thank you, Texas Roadhouse.

This restaurant was my first destination on Veterans Day, as I knew their gift would be this voucher.

That gives me a free meal on another day, with a wide range of choices.

I do so look forward to that future free dinner!

Many thanks to all for these lagniappes!