he's gotta be fresh from the fight...

The final entry in Faustina's Film Festival is another favorite... and was free!
My thanks to the GTC loyalty program for this birthday gift!
My quest to have a third in the "I need a hero" sweep quite naturally led me into deep space...
home of Ravagers and Sovereigns and celestials...

you know by now the one I mean -
"Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol. 2"!
I know it hasn't even been
two weeks since I last watched it,
but I felt the need to be
enveloped once more in its
music-rich, testosterone-laden embrace!
This time, I sat in the very first row -
what an experience!
To see those bare male chests -
of Quill, Drax, Yondu -
up front and personal -
Oh! Pardon my swoon!
(smile)
For once, it was good to be
in one of those reclining chairs.
(smile!)

Fresh from the fight?
My, yes! Saving the galaxy involves lots of fighting - some of it with swords!
And all of it with music!
Peter Quill has spread the music of Earth to others... and they like it!
In fact, Rocket likes it so much that he prefers to fight with music as a soundtrack!
(smile)
This time around, I made note not only of the naked male chests -
ooh la la! -
but also of the tunes and tussles.
I thought about making you match them... but nah!

The very first fight is their battle to save the annulax batteries from an energy-craving space slug for the Sovereigns.
ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" was absolutely perfect!
Such fun to see baby Groot rockin' out to it, too!

Rocket selects "Southern Nights" for his one-raccoon battle against Yondu and his ragtag band. Why were they fighting to this sweet song? Well, the Sovereign had sent the Ravager-outcasts to retrieve the batteries Rocket stole. Oops!
(smile)

Then we have one of my favorite songs - and scenes - in the movie! "Come A Little Bit Closer", with its South-of-the-border flavor, was the perfect spice for Yondu's revenge on his mutinous crew, with his arrow wreaking havoc and his coattail swirling beautifully - wow! The swagger of Rocket - who had requested that Craglan play them a tune - and Groot's antics made it that much more magical!

The fourth fight song just happened to be playing in the background for the lone Craglan when the Sovereigns' second wave of ships were launched at Ego's planet. "Wham Bam" may not have been a tune I knew, but he was really jamming to it before he had to alert the Guardians - and Yondu - that the golden girl was going after them. Fun!

The final song - and final battle - was done solely with the soundtrack in Quill's head as he took on Ego, the sperm donor in his life. Why did "The Chain" seem perfect for the fight? Just listen to the heartbeat pulsing through it - I think you'll get it!
(smile)

Saving the galaxy with boisterous battles is what makes them heroes.
Me, that's not quite my style.
I'm saving the galaxy by supporting the arts, the culture, the history, the sciences, and those trying to improve the lives of those around them.

i thank You, God, for these many blessings!

he's gotta be fast...

Today is going to be a tripleheader for Faustina's Film Festival, yes, indeed!
This second in the "I need a hero" series called for me to head north.

The GTC Pooler cinema was the site
of the two-day-only screening
of the 1982 science fiction film,
"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" -
and I wanted to see Drew Barrymore!
What a cutie pie!
And how very brave little Elliot was!
When faced with an alien, did he try to kill it?
No, he did not.
He tried to communicate with it, once he - and it - overcame the fear factor.
What a good scientist he was, determining
what food the otherworldly creature would eat,
what fears to avoid, and - importantly -
how to help the strange brother
from another mother
contact his compatriots to return home.


Elliott was very quick at learning from the alien.
The boy was also very fast on his bicycle!
But what made the child a hero?
He strove to save someone who was very different from himself.
I strive to do the same.
My support of Oskar, the blind cat...
those DEEP kids searching for meaning...
a young woman spreading the word about her physical disability...
soldiers coping with PTSD through writing...
elderly actors showing their stuff to the world...
and, of course, every year, the Special Olympics.

i thank You, God, that I am so blessed.

he's gotta be strong...

On this final day of the Faustina Film Festival, I went in search of a hero, again.
This time, I followed the advice of Bonnie Tyler.
In other words, 1984's "I Need A Hero" (from the dance movie, "Footloose") came into play.

"I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life!
Larger than life"

Where better to find such a hero than on the silver screen?
Find him I did! All day long!

The first hero was definitely strong!
Newt Scamander was able to wrestle huge animals,
including dragons, into the space
of a large briefcase!
Screened at the Tybee Post Theater, "Fantastic Beasts
And Where To Find Them" was every bit
as delightful and magical this time as when
I first saw it with Kevin last November 22nd.
As I wrote in my journal, it was
"such a luscious movie!
beautiful and wise and romantic!"

Why was Newt a hero?
He was saving these endangered and rare beasts from extinction.
I strive to do so also.
That's why I support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, among other eco-friendly groups.
As he makes clear in this movie, saving one at a time is very much a worthy quest!
(smile)

i thank You, God, for the ability to help other creatures on Earth.

free lunch! pirates! free pirates!

What a lovely day I've had!
I've had two meals with family and friends and two movies with pirates!
Not to say that I've had pirates sitting with me, of course.
I don't think any other Armstrong alumni or faculty or students were with me at the Tybee Post Theater, though they were there for the second movie about pirates...
(smile)

To start my day, I had brunch with my first niece and my outlaw Melinda - woohoo!
Even better, my meal was free!
Yes, indeed, Golden Corral treated me to bacon and ham and collard greens and marshmallow treats...
plus, I had outstanding company during the meal...
and I have offered Mama's sewing machine to Melinda.
The instrument has sat idle for at least seventeen years now; time for it to go to a good home.
I do hope Melinda will adopt it soon!

Afterward, I was off to the Tybee Post Theater and they were off for a mother-daughter hair appointment.
That sounds fun, doesn't it?
I had fun, too, at this installment of Faustina's Film Festival!

"Moana" was the afternoon delight and it truly was!
When I had seen it in December,
I had been a little nonplussed by it,
except for the crab.
Beats me why!
I'm so glad I chose to see it today at this beachside theater!
The coconut-like pirates were a hoot!
The stories behind Maui's tattoos were legendary!
And the crab...well, I just LOVE that guy!!!
He's so...SHINY!!!
(smile)

Then it was time to bounce southside to El Potro with Kevin and his pastry chef - after all, it has been Tina Tuesday all day, has it not?
You bet your sweet bippy!
After lots of chips and salsa and enchiladas verdes, we were off to join Jackie at the Carmike. (Minor cinema mix-up, as Kevin had thought we were off to the Regal, but I had misunderstood and told her the other one. Oops!)
The good news? Kevin took it in stride and didn't even fuss... much...
(smile)
and he still bought my ticket for the 3D movie!!!
(smile!)

Which movie, you say?
Why, "Pirates of the Caribbean:
Dead Men Tell No Tales", of course!
Time for me to get some Johnny Depp into my life...
and some Javier Bardem, too...
with plenty of swordbuckling...
and those swirling, long coats...
making some sweet dreams for my night...
wink wink, nudge nudge!
After all...
it's still my birthday month!

i thank You, God!

birthday party with bananas!

Woohoo!
This afternoon, the Savannah Bananas threw me a huge birthday party!
It was catered and everything!
And the best part?
It was completely free for everyone!
Split even gave me a big hug and grin as I came in!
(smile!)

That man in the yellow top hat?
It was officially welcoming everyone to the party!
He had made sure I was able to shake the hand of every single one of those new college guys, too.
Let me tell you: some of those guys are absolutely adorable!

After the fellows had warmed up in the field,
they came in a bit closer so I -
and all the other party guests! -
could watch them have batting practice.
I liked seeing them shagging flies, too!
(smile)
That's an inside joke with my brother Ronnie.

I had expected him to make it, but he did not.
On the other hand, my friend Julie was there!
She and I sat in Mister Willie's seats.
It was too hot for him to be out there today -
the high was already in the 90's Fahrenheit.
Hallelujah for the Big Ass fans!

After an hour or so of batting practice,
the Bananas took a pause on this Memorial Day
to salute the military in the crowd.
That included me, of course!
My many thanks, guys -
I do so enjoy the acknowledgement
of my eight years of service as a WAVE -
or was I a WIN?
Either way, I was part of the US Navy!

Then the party was moved
onto the baseball diamond!
"Come one, come all, kids of all ages!
Run the bases!
Talk with the players!
Play catch in the outfield!"
In no time at all,
the stands had nearly emptied and
the grass was covered with feet!

I stood it as long as I could...
then I said to Julie,
"I have got to go walk the bases!
It's my birthday and that's a rare treat
for them to allow us grown kids out there!"
She joined me, of course!
Here's my foot on first base...

... and here my foot is again,
on home plate!
We had to first find the plate,
as it had become submerged under
the dust stirred by numerous feet...
but find it we did!
Oddly the first base bag is quite soft,
but home plate is definitely hard!

Then the witching hour came -
it was suddenly seven pm! -
and the playing field emptied
almost as quickly as it had filled
a mere hour earlier.
My view was now of a baseball diamond
waiting for its first home game on Thursday.

I will be there for Friday and the fireworks!
And where shall I sit?
Second row, third seat from the aisle.
Sah-weet!
I had hoped for something just like this!
Many thanks to the Savannah Bananas
for my birthday party '59' -
aka "Fan Fest 2017" -
I had a blast!
(smile)
I'll be sure to wear my dancing shoes to the game!
(Look for me at time marker 00:56 - love dancing with the Bananas!)

birthday greetings from family and friends, volume 2

Cindy Calhoun‎

Happy birthday to one of the greatest people in English and Spanish class. Hope your birthday is extremely special today and may it be filled with fun and celebration. It is a milestone in life's journey. It is also fun that it is on Memorial Day today.
Love

Faustina Smith
Thanks, Cindy! Especially as I am an 8-year veteran of the US Navy, too! :-)
‎------------

Brant Dixon‎

It's still an hour until your b-day on the left coast. But I figure, why not. It's your b-day where you are. Have a great day!
Love

Faustina Smith
It's gotta be my birthday somewhere, as long as it's May 29! <3 --------- Genie Brazzeal‎ Happy birthday to you, Faustina! Faustina Smith Thanks so much! :D --------- ‎Fae Hill Kameron‎ Happy Birthday, Tina! 🎉🎈🎊🍰 Love Faustina Smith Thanks for all the no-calorie treats! LOL! ------------------------------ Wendy Taylor Pena‎ Happy Birthday Tina 🎉🎁🎊🎂 Love Faustina Smith Thank you, dear! <3 -------------------------- ‎Cindy Dotson Simons‎ Happy Birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you so much! It's been fabulous! :D ------------------------- ‎Sharon DuBose‎ Happy Birthday Tina!!! Hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend. Love Faustina Smith It's been totally fabulous! <3 --------------------------- ‎Jeff Powless‎ Happy Birthday Tina! Have a great day! Love Faustina Smith I certainly have! Thanks! <3 -------------------- ‎Stephanie Mostashari‎ Happy, Happy Birthday!! I love you!! 😘 Love Faustina Smith much love to y'all, too! <3 -------------------- ‎Shavon Peacock‎ We hope you are having a wonderful birthday Tina! Love, Andrew and Shavon Love Faustina Smith It's been fabulous!!! <3 ------------------ ‎C.J. Pinson‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith thanks! :D --------------- ‎Lin Dorff‎ 🎂 Happy Birthday! ☺ Faustina Smith Thank you! :D ---------------------- ‎David Poole‎ Happy Birthday! Faustina Smith Many thanks! <3 ------------------- ‎Ursel Guy‎ Happy birthday! Love Faustina Smith Thanks so much! <3 -------------------- ‎Dee Smith Phillips‎ Happy,Happy Birthday Tina.!! Ur looking great! Love Faustina Smith Thanks, chica! <3 -------------------- ‎Venita Johnson‎ Happy birthday to a sweet lady, we love you Faustina. David and Venita Faustina Smith Thanks, dear lady! love y'all! --------------------- ‎Lynette Bradley‎ Happy day of birth, Faustina!! Faustina Smith Grazie!!! <3 ------------------ ‎D Scott Kimball‎ Happy birthday Love Faustina Smith Thanks, Scott! <3 --------------------- ‎Michelle Davidson‎ Happy, Happy Birthday Tina!! Have a fantastic day and year!!🎂 Love Faustina Smith Thanks so much, my Virginia family! <3 ---------------- ‎Lorretta Ruggiero‎ Happy Birthday! Love Faustina Smith Muchas gracias a todos! <3 ----------------- ‎C Robb Worthington‎ Have a happy birthday week! Love Faustina Smith LOL! I've made this my birthday MONTH! <3 ------------------- ‎Jason Arons‎ Happy Birthday, Faustina. Always glad to see your face. Love Faustina Smith So very sweet to say! I look forward to seeing your smiling face soon! <3 ----------------- ‎Hallie Henry Allgood‎ Happy, happy birthday!🍰🎂🎈🎉 Love Faustina Smith Woohoo! No-calorie treats!!! <3 ------------------ ‎Cheryl Tech‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Grazie! :-) ---------------------- ‎Steve Roberts‎ Happy birthday, Tina !!! Faustina Smith Thank you! -------------------- ‎Margaret Clay‎ Happy birthday, Tina!! Faustina Smith Thank you! :-) ------------------- ‎Valerie Marie‎ Happy Birthday Aunt Tina!! Hope you are having a great day!! ❤❤❤ Love Faustina Smith It was so awesome!!! <3 ----------------------- ‎Christina Smith‎ Love you, looking forward to birthday lunch tomorrow. Love Faustina Smith Me, too! <3 ------------------ ‎Judith Kessler‎ Happy birthday, Tina. Faustina Smith Thank you! ----------------------- ‎Haley Naugle‎ Happy birthday Faustina! I hope you have the most wonderful day! Faustina Smith Thanks, dear! :-) ------------------ ‎Nate Brattebo‎ Happy Birthday!!! Faustina Smith Woohoo!!! <3 ----------------------- ‎Michelle Roberts‎ Happy birthday and happy Memorial Day too! Faustina Smith I appreciate BOTH of those! (USN, 8 years) ----------------------- ‎Denise Bachman‎ Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day! Faustina Smith Thanks so much! ------------------ Megan Dunphy Rakaric Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Thanks, lunch lady! :-) ----------------- ‎Lisa Kramer‎ Folly Beach, SC · Happy Birthday Girlfriend. Have a fabulous day! Faustina Smith Thank you so much! ------------------------- ‎Mary Jeffcoat McEwen‎ Happy Birthday, hope you have a wonderful day! Faustina Smith Thank you! :-) ---------------- ‎John Denion‎ Pooler, GA · Happy Birthday Tina! Rock On! Love Faustina Smith Thanks, man! I'll do that! <3 -------------------- ‎Dan Jaworski‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Thanks, Dan! -------------------- ‎Kim Coughlin McIntyre‎ Happy birthday Tina 🙋🎉🎂👍 Faustina Smith Beautiful!!! :-) -------------------- ‎Cindy LaCount Pinion‎ Happy Birthday! 🎂🎉 Faustina Smith Thanks for the no-calorie treats! :-) -------------------- ‎Susie A Ingram‎ Happy Birthday, Tina, see you at the ball park...🎈🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈💥🎂🎁🎂🎁💥🎈🎈🎈🎈 Love Faustina Smith You bet! It's my birthday party! :-) --------------------- ‎Sherry Moore‎ Happy happy birthday! Sending you wishes of a day filled with laughter, light, love, and CAKE! :-) Love Faustina Smith Thank you so much! :-) ---------------- ‎Hokie Davis‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you! :-) --------------- ‎Joe Nelson‎ Happy birthday Tina! Faustina Smith Thank you! :-) -------------------- ‎Emily Barry Blackmon‎ Happiest of Birthdays to you!! Love you!! Love Faustina Smith Love you, too!!! <3 ---------------------- ‎Bryan Roussell‎ Happy birthday Faustina! We wish you a great day! Bryan & Jan Faustina Smith Thanks, y'all! :-) ------------------------- ‎Christy Ward-Parker‎ Happy Birthday! We love you Love Faustina Smith I love y'all, too! <3 ------------------------ ‎Bill Cooper‎ Happy Birthday Faustina....Enjoy!!....BC & MaC Faustina Smith Many thanks, y'all! :-) -------------------- ‎Bunny Jones Roberts‎ Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving "outlaw" Tina. Love Faustina Smith Much love - and a speedy recovery - to you, my outlaw Bunny! <3 ------------------- ‎Nancy Oliver Monteagle, TN · Happy birthday :) Faustina Smith Thanks, Nancy! <3 --------------- ‎Kevin Crabtree‎ Happy birthday!!! Love Faustina Smith Many thanks, running bear! <3 ------------------- Ann Meyer‎ Happy Birthday Faustina-Wish we were ushering more! Are you going to the bannana baseball game June 8? If so can I sit with you? Love Faustina Smith I will not be at that game, Ann, but I will be at the June 13th Wednesday doubleheader! Maybe then? ----------------- ‎Barbara Narcarti‎ Happy Birthday niece! Hope you've had a great day. Aunt Barbara Love Faustina Smith You know I have! The Savannah Bananas even threw a party for me today! LOL! <3 Barbara Narcarti You deserve a party,happy you had one. ---------------------- ‎Marilyn O'Mallon-Stockdale‎ Have fun 🎈🎈🎈 Love Faustina Smith Is there any other way to live? <3 --------------------- ‎Eric De LaSalle‎ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Faustina. Faustina Smith Thank you, dear! <3 ----------------- ‎Regina Coveney‎ Happy birthday Tina! Love Faustina Smith Thanks, Reg! <3 -------------------------- ‎DeShay Cleveland-Everett‎ Pocotaligo, SC · Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy your special day!! Love Faustina Smith It's been a blast! <3 DeShay Cleveland-Everett Great!! ---------------------- ‎Sue Kosokowsky‎ Happy B day Tina 😄 I hope you have a blast ❤ Love Faustina Smith You know I did! <3 ------------------ ‎Lynn Engler‎ Hoppy Birdie 2 ewe!! Love Faustina Smith Tweet tweet! LOL! <3 ------------------------------ Julie Shead A day at the ball park. Ran into old friends, it was a good time. Faustina Smithtina Smith, did you see me run the bases? Love Faustina Smith I truly enjoyed our time today!!! Hope to maybe see you at another game... like Friday or next Monday? Julie Shead Yeah, it was ----------------------- ‎Linh Huynh‎ Happy birthday!!we love you 😘 Love Faustina Smith Much love to y'all, too! <3 ---------------------- ‎Perry Foster‎ Happy birthday Faustina!! Faustina Smith Thank you, thank you very much! <3 ------------------- ‎Jo Coleman‎ 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶👏🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎉🎂💃🏻🍹 Love Faustina Smith Lalalalala! <3 ----------------- ‎Ray Ellis‎ 🎶HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! 🎶 Love Faustina Smith thank you, thankyouverymuch! <3 -------------------- ‎Janice Loretta Scott‎ Happy Birthday Tina!!!Hope you had a great day!!!🙂 Love Faustina Smith It's been so fabulous! <3 ----------------- ‎Lee Mcewen‎ Happy BD Faustina Faustina Smith Thanks, Lee! <3 ---------------- William Peterson‎ Wishing you a terrific Birthday!!! Three Stooges sing Happy Birthday
From "An Ache In Every Stake". The ice delivery men turned chefs
www.youtube.com
Love

Faustina Smith
Thanks, Bill! <3 Going to my birthday party at the ballpark today? ----------------- Pat Andres Hello gorgeous! Have the best day ever and many more! Faustina Smith Thanks, love! It's been fabulous! ---------------------------- Balinda Morris-Dixon Happy birthday, hope your day is filled with joy... Faustina Smith Thank you! I plan to make that happen one moment at a time! ----------------------- Suzanne Stafford happy birthday! Faustina Smith Many thanks!!! ------------------------ Cyndi Dyches-Linthicum Happy birthday my friend! Hope your life is filled with joy, happiness and CAKE! love Faustina Smith Thanks! The The Savannah Bananas threw a party for me today! Of course, they called it "Fan Fest" so no one would be jealous... ---------------------- ‎Bob Wiley‎ Happy birthday. I hope it's a good one. Love Faustina Smith Thanks, Bob! <3 ------------------- ‎Kristin Stout‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you! <3 ------------------- ‎Roy Wood‎ Are you serious? You just had a birthday. This has been happening to me too. Some kind of a trick I think. You figure it out and call me. Love Faustina Smith Lol! <3 ------------------- ‎Michelle Teplis‎ Happy birthday! Love Faustina Smith Grazie! <3 --------------- ‎Axelle Kieffer‎ Happy, happy Birthday Love Faustina Smith Many thanks! <3 ----------------- ‎Harold Cowan‎ Happy birthday Faustina Smith Woohoo! = ----------------- ‎Michael Smith‎ Happy birthday sis 😁 Love Faustina Smith Thank you, my brother! <3 -------------------- ‎Marshall Frey‎ Happy Birthday Faustina! Faustina Smith Thank you! ------------------ ‎Jennifer Cohen Incorvaia‎ Happy Birthday! Love Faustina Smith Many thanks! <3 ------------------- ‎Michelle McMillian‎ Happy Birthday Faustina Smith Thank you very much! ------------------- ‎Julie Shead‎ Happy birthday!! You coming to fanfest today? Love Faustina Smith You know it! It's my birthday party! :-) Julie Shead I'm going to be there.... -------------------- ‎Donna Summerlin Torres‎ Happy Birthday!! Love Faustina Smith Thank you! :-) ‎-------------------- Robin Ritenour Jenkins‎ Happy birthday Faustina Smith!!!! I hope you have a fantastic birthday!!! Love Faustina Smith You know I will! Ar y'all still doing Mexican on Wednesdays? Robin Ritenour Jenkins Actually we go on Tuesdays now so Smitty can go to church on Wednesdays. Feel free to join us -------------------- ‎Helga Moore‎ Happy Birthday Faustina Smith!! Faustina Smith My thanks, dear! <3 ---------------------- Pamela C. Gordon Happy Birthday Faustina!!! Enjoy your day ... Faustina Smith Thank you, Pam! <3 -------------------- ‎Christopher Blair‎ Happy birthday!!🎂 Love Faustina Smith Yummy no-calorie treat! :-) ------------------- ‎Gary Anderson‎ Happy Birthday! Faustina Smith My Thanks, sir! = ------------------- ‎Stephanie Alfieris Myrick‎ Happy birthday 🎈 Faustina Smith Many thanks! :-) ------------------ ‎Sara Thompson‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you!!! :-) ‎--------------------- Cheryl Medina‎ Happy Birthday 🎂🎶 Faustina Smith A song and a no-cal treat! Thanks! :-) ------------------ ‎Lika J Schrock‎ Happy birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you so much!!! :-) ‎-------------------- Mark Rand‎ Happy birthday, Tina! Faustina Smith Many thanks! <3 --------------------- Patrick Young‎ Happy birthday! :) Faustina Smith Thank you so much! :-) ------------------ ‎Frank Dinan‎ Happy Birthday, Tina ! Miss you. Enjoy your special day. Faustina Smith Thanks - aren't you coming to the birthday party the ballpark is throwing for me this afternoon? :D ‎---------------- Marcia Kaizer‎ Happy Birthday, Faustina! Faustina Smith Thank you! ---------------- ‎Scott Wilson‎ Happy Birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you!!! = ---------------- ‎Danny Lewis‎ Happy Birthday! Faustina Smith Thank you! :-) ----------------- Sarah Logan-Reynolds‎ Happy birthday 🎈🎂 Faustina Smith Many thanks!!! :-) ------------- Deborah Ray‎ Cahuita, Costa Rica · Feliz Cumpleaños Love Faustina Smith Muchas gracias, chica! <3 --------------- Katie Beneteau Windsor, ON, Canada · Happy birthday!
Love

Faustina Smith
Thank you, my dear! <3
-----------------------------------

Scott West‎

happy Happy Birthday ! have FUN

Faustina Smith
You know I will! :-)
‎------------

birthday greetings from family and friends

Katie Beneteau, Christina Smith and 107 other friends posted to celebrate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

‎Brandee Linderman‎

Happy birthday Tina!
I hope you have a fabulous day!
Love

Faustina Smith
LOL! I was just watching the wedding episode this morning! :-)
--------------------

Michelle Teplis
Rome, Italy ·

Happy birthday. I sent Pics of your temple in Rome!
Love

Faustina Smith
Many thanks!!! <3 -------------------------

‎Juliet Fabbri Withem‎

Have a wonderful birthday!

Faustina Smith
Beautiful!!!
------------------

Jackie Frant‎

Make it a great one!

Faustina Smith
You know I will! :D
-------------------

Sandra Voelker

with much love!

Faustina Smith
Thanks, BFF! I'm even getting a birthday party, courtesy of the The Savannah Bananas' Fan Fest this afternoon! Woohoo! <3 ‎-------------------

‎Donna Howard‎

Sister T ..Here's wishing you a wonderful birthday ! From me & Ronnie ...

Faustina Smith
Muy fabuloso!!! Coming to the ballpark for the party the team is throwing for me? :-)
-------------------------------

‎Rhonda S. Curby‎

Have a fantastic day!

Faustina Smith
You know I will! Plus, the The Savannah Bananas are throwing me a birthday party today! :-)

Rhonda S. Curby
Evidence of the aforementioned awesomeness.
-------------------

Robbie Prouty Rush

Love

Faustina Smith
Amen to that! <3 ------------------

Matthew Smith

Haha

Faustina Smith
hahaha! Thanks! <3 And happy birthday to Aubree!!! ----------------------

‎Penny Walker Bos‎

Sweet Tina! On this day, we celebrate you and all things Faustina Smith! I wish for you a year filled with more laughter and love than every before. Sending love, kisses, and lots of hugs!
No automatic alt text available.
Love

Faustina Smith
Oh... you say the sweetest things!!! wmla! <3

‎

love is in the air!

"The Big Bang Theory"...
Season 5, Episode 24...
"The Countdown Reflection"...
one of my favorites.
As an astrophysicist, Raj knows the flight pattern for the GoogleEarth satellite...
he knew it would be passing overhead as the ultimate wedding photographer...
for the rushed wedding for Howard and Bernadette...
prior to Howard's trip to space...
and all of their friends became ordained ministers...
so they could all officiate...
but not in Klingon.
(smile)

I am so glad to have had this to begin my 59th birthday!
What a treat with coffee...
even if I did cry at the end...
when the six of them are watching the rocket liftoff...
and Bernadette takes Raj's hand...
and Penny takes Leonard's hand...
and Sheldon takes Amy's hand...
all in support of each other...
and for love of their friend.

i thank You, God.

birthday greetings, from armstrong for the last time

... from my Armstrong Alumni group ... one more time, because I'm 59!
(smile)

birthday greetings, dooley noted!

Monday, May 29th, 2017

Happy Birrrrthday to Youuuu,
Happy Birrrrthday to Youuuu,
Happy Birrrrthday Dear Faustina,
Happy Birrrrthday to Youuuu!

A few years back, not so long ago, heaven and earth erupted into a major celebration with the news of your impending adventure into this very time and space. You see, someone like Faustina Smith doesn't come along all that often. In fact, there's never been a single one like you, nor is there ever ANY possibility that another will come again. You're an Angel among us. Someone, whose eyes see what no others will EVER see, whose ears hear what no others will EVER hear, and whose perspective and feelings will NEVER, ever be duplicated. Without YOU, the Universe, and ALL THAT IS, would be sadly less than it is.

Quite simply:

You're the kind of person, Faustina,
Who's hard to forget,
A one-in-a-million
To the people you've met.
Your friends are as varied
As the places you go,
And they all want to tell you
In case you don't know:
That you make a big difference
In the lives that you touch,
By taking so little
And giving so much!

Faustina, you are so AWESOME! For your birthday, friends and angels from every corner of the Universe, including buddies you didn't know you had, will be with you to wish you the HAPPIEST of days and an exciting new year in time and space. You won't be alone!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Faustina!

Mike Dooley

P.S. This is going to be YOUR year!!

birthday greetings, on memorial day

I am so blessed to have born, 59 years ago, in this United States of America.

My thanks to all those who gave of their lives that I can feel so blessed.

i thank You, God.

birthday greetings from the universe!

3:43 AM


Rising suns and babbling brooks.

Tropical forests and sleeping meadows.

Modern marvels and scientific breakthroughs.

Exciting discoveries and limitless frontiers.

Devoted friends and caring strangers.

Lives and loves and souls to hold so close, one’s own heart could burst.

Can you even count the splendors, Faustina?
The Universe


No, i cannot.
i am truly blessed.
i thank You, God.

three spirits, Mary Poppins, and odd lovers

"Hahaha! You look like Mary Poppins!"
"Is he cool?"
"Hell, yeah, he's cool."
"Hey, everybody! I'm Mary Poppins!"

So went the conversation between StarLord and Yondu Udonta.
With Peter Quill having been raised on Earth, circa the 1980's, he is a wealth of pop culture references that the other folks in the universe simply do not understand. Then again, how could they even be expected to know such trivia? It's actually quite sweet of Quill - and part of his natural good nature - to not riff on their ignorance.
And it's really cool that we, in the audience, get to share these inside jokes with Quill.
Maybe I'll keep track of those references the next time I see the movie...
(smile)

Last night, though, I had the great pleasure of actually seeing Mary Poppins!
I truly did!
The Savannah Children's Theatre has graced us with the musical play, "Mary Poppins", for three weekends. Last night was just about exactly halfway through its run.
How completely, supercalifragilisticexpialidociously delightful!
Can you believe it's only about fifteen years old? It combines elements from the book and songs from the Disney film and is totally English in its tone.
As I said, completely, supercalifragilisticexpialidociously delightful!
My favorite part, of course, was with the chimney sweeps tapdancing for "Step In Time"...
but no tears on this occasion.
Hooray!

I had gone to the play as a break from movies.
Yesterday, I saw three movies - three! - and had only left home one time, in the morning, for my Weight Watchers meeting.
On that one trip, I also spent the check Kroger had "given" to me, payable only to them.
That's okay - I used it to "let them" buy me lunch!

Is that not the most beautiful bowl of chirashi you've ever seen?
It was quite delicious, too, and went very nicely with the fresh blackberries!
Very nice as a pre-birthday meal!

It was especially a treat
served alongside this classic
from 1966!
"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
has a special place in my heart,
as I may have mentioned before.
How wonderful to find that it was
ON DEMAND as a free movie
for my viewing pleasure!
(Actually, it will be free
until almost Halloween,
so be sure to go and enjoy it!)

After that spirited romp, I was in the mood for another!
"Illusion" had plenty of real ghosts -
not just a frisky beagle under a sheet.
(smile)
I had expected something akin to the yuletide story
of Scrooge and his ghosts -
I was incorrect!
This film starred Kirk Douglas as the dying director,
with Stan, his ghostly "cutter", at his side,
and had much more depth than I had expected.
Bravo, Michael Goorjian, for a tale well-told!

Then, I went to see Mary Poppins do her thing.

But when I returned, I decided for one more
spirited adventure in film!
This time, I chose "High Spirits", a 1988 movie
that I had "taped" back in late December,
but never watched.
(Perhaps it was meant to rival "Beetlejuice"?)
Great fun, with Daryl Hannah and Liam Neeson
as a ghostly couple haunting
Peter O'Toole's castle and newlyweds
Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D'Angelo!
Definitely dysfunctional lovers!

Still more odd loving was going on
in this afternoon's movie, "The Lovers".
For a change, I had company for this one!
Barbara and Jackie joined me at the Regal.
Very nice!
Even nicer was the free dessert I had at slunch with Boo at Carrabbas beforehand.
Limoncello Bread Pudding is back!!!
She ate the ice cream.
I kep thinking about letting her have a taste, but all of a sudden...
it was all gone!
Maybe next time, Barbara!
(smile)

of car repairs and electronic gadgets

Dear Tony,
I'm so sorry to hear your tablet has been malfunctioning! I do hope they will resolve the problem in the coming weeks. Just try to remember that you are probably NOT the only one having those problems. At least you still have the ability to check your email messages and to communicate with others.
My computer had been dying for the last year. Something is wrong with the power supply, maybe, but it was overheating and turning itself off. To try to prolong its life, I would set it on top of a foam tray with two or three ice packs to try to keep it cool. That would work for a couple of hours before I would have to swap out the ice packs for fresh ones.
What a hassle... but then, about eight weeks ago, my computer totally died. I could not get it to even boot up.
I was going out to Armstrong to use the computer in my office all the time. That was definitely a hassle and certainly ran up my gas bill.
Then, on Monday, I had to get the valve cover gasket replaced in my car. It's been leaking for at least eight years, but it was a very slow leak. Lately, though, I've had to put in a half-quart every few days. When I had the oil changed on the 20th, the guy came in to tell me the oil was coming out of the leaky area as he was pouring oil in!
Sigh.
So, that was $210 for the new gasket. But it works! My engine looks so much cleaner, too!
Anyway, I was near a Staples store, so I wandered in to price computers. Guess what? They had two really good ones on sale! Plus, they are giving me twelve months to pay it off.
What a relief to not have to pay it all at once!
I have only received one birthday card - the one from you - and I will open it in the morning. Can you believe I'm going to be 59 years old???
Me, neither.
Most of the time, I don't feel that old, so that's good. i thank God for that!
Okey-dokey! That's enough for now!
with much love,
Tina

chelsea's graduation party!

A party for her graduation?
Yes, indeed!
My outlaw Melinda and her husband Matt had a low-country boil for their only daughter's graduation...
and I was invited!
In fact, Smitty and Mary were there, too, as well as folks from both sides of the family -
what a shindig we had!
I am sure that I ate at least thirty shrimp, as well as lots of fabulously-ripe watermelon and sweet red grapes -
scrumpdiddly-icious, all of it!

And here she is, Chelsea with her mom beside her and Nana Vaneeta behind her,
opening her gift cards and reading the wishes aloud.
I wish you much good fortune, dear niece!
I hope your journey to become a nurse goes smoothly and quickly!

taking the long way home

This morning, I was awake before the construction crew started.
The beautiful sunrise greeted me for my early beginning of the new day...
so serene, so calm, so reassuring.
I snapped a few photos and crawled back into bed for another two hours.
Then, a leisurely breakfast on the veranda, crane and jackhammer at my back, calm sea before me.
What a beautiful scene!

I was on the road by ten AM.
I wanted - no, I needed - to drive the A1A and assess for myself how it had fared after the bully crashed our coast.
Besides the missing vegetation, damaged dunes, and wrecked beachside stairs, the road itself was good.
There were still a few disturbing signs forecasting "road under water", but I saw no submerged stretches.
Only north of St. Augustine did I find any new pavement.

That was good.
I opted to continue on this oceanview road,
taking the turn for Mayport
and the St. Johns River Ferry.
I was glad to find it operational, too!
A mere six dollars bought safe passage for
my car and myself.
I even ate my lunch while we traveled across!

Up the Coastal Highway I continued into Georgia,
as the road signs changed from A1A to 17.
My destination was the Georgia Sea Turtle Center,
to reassure myself that it was still in one piece.
To my delight, I found it whole!
The bricks for Mama and Mother Pat were still in place, near the front door.
That was reassuring, too.

As I neared Savannah, my attention was
drawn to my dash.
How auspicious!
My odometer clicked over to 186186
as I took Exit 164A,
off I-16 and onto 516.
That's the place where I always feel
that I'm almost home.
(smile)
i thank You, God, for safe passage...
and the many reassurances on this first trip.

movies - and more! - at daytona beach!

What a glorious time I have had, listening to the waves lull me to sleep... ah!
I'll be returning to the 'Vannah in the morning, but I have one more night of gentle surf sounds.
I'll probably crash out pretty soon, as the construction crew for the new hotel to the left begin their work before 0630 each day. That means everyone here wakes around that time.
Fortunately, I grew up with three younger brothers and can usually tune out anything I don't want to hear...
but those construction sounds have far too much bass to be merely tuned out.
Nonetheless, I have done all I had wished to do on this trip... so all is well!
I am breathing again, and that is very good.
(smile)
So, just what did I do for entertainment?
Besides actual strolling on the beach, feeling sand beneath my toes and salt spray on my face?
(smile)
Well, on Tuesday night, I indulged in Random Acts of Insanity at Cinematique!
Sounds terribly naughty, doesn't it?
Trust me, it was strictly PG.
There were so many children there for the improv with Andrew Ramos, Matt, Johnny, and Stefano - hooray!
I especially liked the "Late For Work" bit. There were three outrageous reasons why Johnny was late for his shift at Wally World...but he had to guess what they were based on Andrew's charades. Very funny! The reasons were as follows. He was in the bathroom and the toilet paper turned into an origami swan! Then, he was driving to work and when he used his car horn, it turned into owls! And as he was driving along, there in the street was Celine Dion, who morphed into The Hulk! Very funny!
There was also a fractured fairy tale about the princess and the frog - though it was certainly not the story I knew. And then there were Oscar-winning moments from the indie movie "Charlie the Anteater Lost His Keys" - i especially liked the scene between him and Edith in Paris. LOL!
Wednesday was slap-dap-full of activity!

First, Faustina's Film Festival traveled to Cinematique for "The Dinner" - and free popcorn for me, just because it was Wednesday and I'm a woman!
I splurged and had a glass of chardonnay, too.
That was appropriate for the fancy dining in the film.
The movie was broken into courses, from aperitif to digestif, and centered on two brothers and their spouses dining to discuss their troubled sons.
Depression, mental illness, and psychopathic behavior were all trotted out into public.
That was definitely the most serious film yet.

I walked around a while before deciding to have an early dinner...
and early birthday dinner...
free to me, at Bubba Gump's! Hooray!
Guess who my server was?
A very sweet young man called Lieutenant Danny!
(smile)

I had the Build Your Own Trio - yum!
Cajun shrimp on two skewers!
Garlic shrimp with a lovely hunk of garic toast!
Tilapia with bourbon sauce atop jasmine rice!
And, the star of the meal: Mama's Bread Pudding!
After a while, I was missing my veggies, so I had the huge House Salad with the Raspberry Vinaigrette - just what I needed!
The stroll back to DBR was just what I needed, too.
(smile)

Life is good!
And what did the resort have in store for me?

They were still going to screen "La La Land"!
It had been scheduled as their Dive-In Movie for the evening, but the weather had been rainy all day, turning breezy and cool as the sun dipped behind the building.
So, they moved the party to the activities room!
There was even free popcorn for all - that made twice for me today!
What a treat to see the dancing, dreaming, colorful film again...
and to be able to walk out by the pool after this 50th film
and gaze out at the tumbling surf on the beach.
But no city of stars to view - the skies were still cloudy, as they had been all day.

Guess what was on television?
"Forrest Gump"! I had missed the beginning...
and I turned it off after Jenny had come to live with him...
mostly because I was too tired for the last hour of it.
That means I'm not counting it for my film festival...but I sure did like the coincidence of it being on after my dinner at Bubba Gump's!

Today, Thursday, has been my last day here... and the sky was clear and blue!
More beach walking definitely for me!

But first, back to Cinematique for "Graduation", a Romanian film.
I was the sole attendee, amazingly.
What a marvelous film about a parent who was trying to help his graduating daughter, but making a series of bad choices along the way.
How very rewarding that his daughter maintained her moral compass when he did not.
Interesting that she was a psychology major!
I truly had expected from the previews that it would have been as dour as "The Dinner" - hence, my decision not to see it yesterday. I'm glad I decided to give this one a chance!

Back to the DBR, my home away from home, for a bit of lunch.
Nothing fancy, just one of my favorites: tuna and RoTel with chips.
Crunchy and spicy and full of protein!

Then back down the beach to Ocean Walk for "Baywatch"!
I went for The Rock, of course.
He definitely delivered!
But it wasn't quite the fun movie I had expected.
I think Zac Efron was the cause.
Somehow, he makes things coarser than they need to be.
Still, it was very nice to have The 'Hoff make a guest appearance.
He was lookin' good, too, for a man who'll be 65 in July!
Sah-weet!

After that, the blue sky and blue ocean called to me...
walking I went...
enjoying the sun on my back...
enjoying the breeze on my face...
enjoying the sand under the soles of my feet...
life is definitely so good!

i thank You, God!