super freak, super freak, she's a super freak, oh

It's not "Just My Imagination
(Running Away With Me)" -
I do like the boys in the band,
especially these Magic Rocks!
So, does that mean this girl -
me, that is -
would be called a "Super Freak"
in Rick James' book?
Well, not that one fact, alone.
He'd have to catch me on some lost weekend to know for sure.
Wink wink, nudge nudge!

The occasion this evening was certainly not a prelude to such a time, not for me or mi amigas.
But we were most definitely the "four young chiquitas" described
by Grand Funk Railroad in "We're An American Band" -
hey, young at heart, always!
Carolyn and Joyce were content to dance in their chairs.
Not me and Barbara!
We took full advantage of the magic of the music to move our feet!

August has been a bit magical, here at A Taste Of India.
This was the second time that we've been treated to their dance party.
I love all of the songs in the Rocks' repertoire, especially as I know all the words and have different dance moves to go along with the tunes.
So... much... FUN!
I told Craig that I want to be a dancer in my next life... and he told me I already am in this one!
(smile)

Jim Reed - yes, the PFS movie guy -
sings a few of the songs.
Here he is, rocking out, sticks in mid-stroke, belting out a tune.
Which one?
I don't know!
I was busy dancing and just barely managed to get this photo!
In fact, the only time I'm not on the floor is when they're taking a break from the stage.
Thanks for the hours of dance music, y'all!

They always make sure to thank me for dancing, but I don't believe they realize how much I treasure these times with them.
They provide a safe environment
for me to "dance as if no one is watching", as I love to do.
That's a priceless gift.
Plus, Ronny sings a magnificent cover of "One Headlight"!
No way for me to be one of The Wallflowers for that one!
(A little inside joke, y'all!)

The last time they played in this neighborhood locale, they had treated us to some originals.
Absolutely new music, literally, that I had not yet danced to - what a special treat!
"Down By The Swimming Pool" was such a romantic summer-crush ditty - very nice!
"The Pull Of You" was a paean to an out-of-reach lover and spoke of destructive love.
Quite dark, but also excellent, with a seductive tug in the music.
"Blue Shallows" and "Take It Away" were two more that I'd love to hear again -
but none of those came around tonight.
Perhaps the next time I see these Magic Rocks, I'll have to make a special request..
but which would I ask for?
I suppose it will depend on my mood, mostly.
We'll just have to wait and see!
Now, it's very late and I'm off to sweet dreams.
i thank You, God!

chicken feathers on a night out

They don't much look like they'd be of any use
for flying, do they?
That's no never mind at all -
they were plenty good for eating!
Especially with Wild Wing Cafe's "Garlic, Garlic,
Garlic" sauce all over them -
yeah, baby, I was definitely fire-breathing!

Even better, they didn't cost me a dime!
I had told the waitress that I was a party of one,
but my brother, Smitty, then told her I was not
and should be on their tab.
Thanks, my dear sis-in-law Mary, for seconding
that motion!
What a sweet surprise for me!
(smile)

My youngest brother, Tony, is the reason for my
travel down to Ellis Square tonight.
Thanks for calling me this afternoon, Dood!
This dinner was planned on Sunday, actually,
so family could meet a "new" nephew.
So, truly, thanks, sis-in-law Laura, for making
sure we all had the chance to welcome him!
(smile)

The son on the right is Cole, welcomed to the
family last Thanksgiving.
He lives and works in Florida now.
The new kid is Alek, who has very nice hair.
He really does!
It's so curly and thick.
I'm sure the girls at the Jimmy Johns store
that he manages would agree.
(smile)

And that quiet young man perusing his phone?
That's a friend of Alek's, Lucas, who drove
with him from Illinois.
I don't know much about him - like I said,
he's a quiet young man.
He's also quite a tall fellow, as I found out
when I hugged him as we all parted.
Not quite as tall as Alex Degen, though!
(smile)

We had a lively time together, laughing and joking, doing well to ignore the mounted television's forecast of impending gloom and doom as Hurricane Dorian makes its slow trek toward its prey (Florida).
I referred everyone to this site, managed by a most-kind retired meteorologist - Pat Prokop - who tells it straight, not looking to capitalize on disaster (unlike the majority of news sources which are dependent upon advertising dollars and must sensationalize).
Now, then, what about those jovial moments?
Well, here's one!
I had to excuse myself for a trip to the bathroom. I did so by saying "I have to skip to the loo". Then, unexpectedly, I found myself adding, "as opposed to "Skip to my Lou", which is totally different."
It's like something my quick-witted Mama or Daddy would have said!
Very nice to know they still live in me.
i thank You, God.

driving mister willie

Looking back to earlier this year, my "job" as his
de facto chauffeur began on Daddy's birthday.
Yes, it's true that I have become his unofficial
transport to and from the baseball games for the
past few years, but that was shared time between
two friends, which is different.
That had been the full extent of my trips to and
from his house, outside of an occasional visit
with him and Gloria.

However, ever since April 7th, his doctor visits
have become part of what he and I do together.
This office on Paulsen Street has become overly
familiar to me, but at least they no longer ask me
to fill out his updates.
Still, between April and May, there were three
doctor visits sprinkled in.

June began with our usual baseball games.
Then, I went to Orlando with Christy and her family,
while Willie ended up in the hospital for that week
and part of the next.
I ended June going to games without him, awaiting
the day for the doctor to clear him medically.
That happened on July 1st, with me being the one
who took him to the doc.

(He has told me several times that he likes my driving better than his wife's, though he does tease me about my love of taking curves at speed.)
So, afterward, he asked if I'd do him a favor and
take him to Krispy Kreme.
I'm well acquainted with my friend's sweet tooth,
so I did - for having such a good doctor visit.
(smile)

He passed the change to me, for gas money...
and, somehow, that established an unspoken contract.
He would call me and ask if I could do him a favor -
a trip to Ray's Grocery, a lunch visit to Popeye's,
multiple journeys to the Abercorn podiatrist -
each time with him introducing me as his driver and passing me the change back at his house.
It became several days a week - like, a j-o-b.

I admit, the frequent little trips for him to get
out of his house were emotionally draining me.
Today, I think I've done the last of them.
I know it was important of him to see his old boss,
Walter Lowe, and this afternoon's funeral provided
Willie with the opportunity to not only pay his
respects to the family, but also to visit old
coworkers he hasn't seen in years.

At the end of the two hour graveside service,
and the end of his visit with these people that
I did not know, I took him straight home.
It wasn't until we had arrived there that he asked me
to go to Popeye's for him.
I told him I could not.
"Tuesday is my day with Kevin," I'd said,
and off I went, just a few moments ago.
Now, I'll work on the puzzle at Generation One
until time to meet the running bear at Pakwan.
I'll call Willie next week to check in.
(smile)

funky fort finds family fun

Now, let me clarify something
before I get started.
The fort didn't find anything.
We were the ones finding the fun
at Fort Pulaski!
Upon seeing that admission would
be free, I'd contacted my first
niece and her brother to bring
the girls for a day in the sun.
He immediately responded with
"Let's make it a picnic!"
What a great idea!
(smile)

Michael arrived a little later than Christina and I, giving Miyah and little Chloe a chance to eat before their cousins distracted them... or should that be before these littler two distracted the twins?
(smile)
Not that it matters, really.
They are all living under the same
roof right now, so there's plenty
of time for the girls to play with
each other.

The point of the gathering was to give them time to interact with
their Great-Aunt Tina -
that's me!
I had taken the three older girls on
a walk to the gigantic fig tree,
hoping for a few ripe ones, but we found only a few green ones.
One of the time-period characters
at the fort had joined us there.
Here's Leila and Alyssa listening as Casimir Pulaski talked about the history of his uniform and his saber!

I made sure the girls didn't wander too close, letting them get near enough to see the engraving, but not so close as to touch it.
How very lovely it was, with the script so flowery!
Thanks, Ed, for being so helpful
and charming... and patient,
so very patient!

Soon enough after the meal, Michael took his two for a tour of the grounds, loosely following behind a bona fide guide.
Eventually, though, they took the stairs to the top, of course.
Christina decided to follow with her little ones, joining my nephew's family on the upper level.
That's all of them, waving up there, in the corner.
I was relieved when they were all back on the ground!

That's when we truly started having some fun!
We had the tour benches to ourselves and were just relaxing, talking about various stuff and nonsensical topics like the baby shark song.
Then, we started in on the sounds that animals make - you know, to educate baby Chlo.
(smile)
Michael pops in with "the fox goes bling bling bling!"
What?! I protested, "That's not

how a fox sounds!"
Apparently, I was mistaken.
(smile)
Google pulled up the silly song and soon they had all chimed in, with Christina bouncing the baby while Miyah and Leila and Alyssa all danced along!
Wow!
If there had been a cloud in that expanse of blue, I'm sure it would have been heart-shaped.
I'm sure it would have been.

There were a few puffy white ones earlier,
like when I was holding Chlo while Alyssa
kept us company.
(Thank you, Christina, for this photo!)
In truth, I had intended to get several photos,
with all four girls and with the two families.
I was too distracted to even think of doing
such a thing.
I'm glad my first niece has taken to being
a shutterbug, too!
Not that this one was posed, mind you.
She said my name and I turned...
and this was the result.
Nice and candid, hair all a-muss,
clothes not neat and tidy.
(smile)

This one, though, this serendipitous shot, is my absolute favorite, capturing the emotions and movements of the day.
I don't have any idea what I was thinking when I snapped it.
Christina was lying on the bench, head toward me, and we were chatting.
She had been working with the baby, to get her to stand, and she had just toppled.
Meanwhile, Miyah had come over to see what was going on.
So, the four of us were frozen in that close bond of family for a brief moment...
then the fox song came up in our conversation and that led to a fun memory...
but I have this photo to mark that blessed time.
I could feel Mama's presence with us.
i thank You, God.

come together sandwich with clown bread!

Here's one piece of the 'bread': the set for the world premiere of Michael Ching's "The Birthday Clown" at SVF7!

Funny story: I was standing in the lobby, talking to the volunteers, when Sherrill Milnes caught my eye.

"You've been summoned," he said.

Sure enough, I had been!

Fran and Pete Zipperer were there for the show, too, and she wanted me to sit with them!

So, I did.

The one-act new opera featured quite a few children, as it was about a 13-year-old boy's birthday party.

The mother had misjudged the boy's interest and had hired a clown to entertain the group, but no one seemed amused except one little girl on the fringes of the crowd.
The others took off as soon as Dad showed up with a remote-controlled airplane.

But not Marco the clown or Marie the violin-playing girl (aka Emily Yocum Black), who kept each other company as they played music.

It truly was a sweet little piece, and I loved the "Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't" number, but the best part was the duet between Marco and Marie.

He sang "I Can Be Your Audience", and she sang back to him, "I Can Be Your Orchestra."

Like I said, very sweet!

Afterward was a treat for us older kids: a performance of "I Pagliacci", the short two-act tale of Tonio the Clown and his troubles with his wife.

I'd never seen it and had thought it to be a comedy.

Nope, it was definitely a tragedy... and very nicely done!

That was on Wednesday.

At noon today I was at the Fine Arts Auditorium at GaSoU, Armstrong, for the Savannah VOICE "Come Together Master Class".

This time, Maria Zouves was the advisor of four singers, all of which were accompanied by Benjamin Warsaw on piano.

I had hoped for a bit of The Beatles... but the 25-minute segments were still entertaining, as well as informative.

This evening found me back at the Yamacraw Center For The Performing Arts for a second slice of clown 'bread'.

That's right!

I was there for a second helping of the double bill of "The Birthday Clown" and "I Pagliacci"... but this time, I was an usher!

Joan Silver, who I knew from the Lucas Theatre, had asked earlier if I was interested in picking up some shifts - of course I was!

(Last night was the first of those volunteer stints, with me at the Charles Morris Center for "Old Time Rock And Roll: Music Of The 70's".

That's when I got my Beatles fix, as well as Elton John, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, and others, such as Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash.

Yeah, those last two are most def not in the rock genre, but that's okay!

I guess this would be the piece of cheddar on the sandwich I made.

[smile])

I'm so glad I was able to see both operas again!

I'm so glad I was able to hear those songs again that I had so enjoyed!

I'm so glad Joan had thought to ask me to usher!

What a beautiful way to finish out my SVF7 adventure!

i thank You, God!

bagged and tagged!

Wondering about the SERMACS saga?
Did the planning session on July 10th proceed well, with folks pleased by my preparation?
Why, yes, yes, it did go well!
Morrell Park was determined to be a very good substitute for Rousakis Plaza, especially as it was so much nearer the hotel.
That would make the task of moving needed materials from that location to the NCW site much smoother!
Time to update the trail, y'all!

-------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
7/12/2019 12:23 PM
To Georcette Washington
RE: Request for Nat Chem Week demo site

Happy Friday, Georcette!
I have a couple of questions to try to settle, from my reading of the rules.
1) Are demonstration tables regarded as "structures" for our event? These will be portable tables.
2) We are a nonprofit organization. When we submit the application, would we only need to submit the Maintenance Deposit fee or does the Security Payment need to be included?

Thanks, and happy almost weekend!
Faustina
-------------- -------------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
7/12/2019 12:34 PM
To Cathy MacGowan
draft of event permit application

Happy Friday, Cathy!
I have attached the permit application for you.
There is a question about dimensions of any signage we will be using. Do you have that info?
I have written my contact at the city concerning fees to find out if only the Maintenance Deposit is required with the application or if the Security Payment for the Police needs to be included.
Okay! I'm excited!
----------------------------- --------------------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
7/12/2019 12:46 PM
To David Horwitz, Patti Galvan
SERMACS questions

Happy Friday, Patti and David!
Plans are moving forward and I'm wanting to make sure of a few items before I next talk to my contact at the city.
1) We need to have insurance for the NCW event we are planning for Sunday afternoon, 20 October. The ACS website seems to indicate that ACS supplies
that certificate. Am I correct? To whom would I speak to secure that document? I have attached the pertinent page from the city's regulations of special events. Are those limits the ones covered by the ACS certificate?
2) For our NCW event, when will we know what materials we will have for attendees? Will there be free kits, newsletters, items of that type?
3) I thought I had another question, but it will come later.

Thanks!
Faustina Smith
-------- -------------------- ---------

FAUSTINA SMITH
7/12/2019 12:53 PM
To Elizabeth Loos, Chelsea Miller [sent separately]
NCW at SERMACS

Happy Friday, _____!
We are moving forward and will submit the application to the city next week, most likely. Rousakis Plaza is out, but Morrell Park is our designated preferred site. Hooray! It's the one with The Waving Girl statue.
The activities will be determined next month, when ACS posts the details for NCW.
I just wanted to keep you in the loop.

Dr. Faustina Smith
------------------- ----------------- ---------------------

Chelsea Miller
7/12/2019 1:41 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: NCW event at SERMACS

Thank you!
So do you have any ideas what you would like us to do? Or what we will be doing together?
Chelsea N. Miller
--------------- -------------------- ------------------------

Elizabeth Loos
7/12/2019 2:16 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: NCW at SERMACS

Okay, thank you.
The Waving Girl Statue is a great piece.

- Elizabeth Loos
------------------ ----------------- ---------------------------

Georcette Washington
7/12/2019 4:00 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: Request for Nat Chem Week demo site

Happy Friday to You!
The tables are not considered structures.
The only thing that needs to be submitted with the application would be the organization’s non-profit status letter from the IRS.
Security is paid the day of to the Officer assigned and the maintenance deposit is due two weeks prior to your event.

Thank you,
Georcette
-------------------- ----------------------

Patricia Galvan
7/15/2019 10:31 AM
To FAUSTINA SMITH, David Horwitz
RE: SERMACS questions

Hi Tina,
Attached is the form you need to fill out to request ACS insurance coverage of your event. The Certificate of Insurance from ACS works
for most venues. However, it will not cover the costs of providing security. The second attachment provides information about what the
certificate of insurance covers.
I am giving you footwarmers (iron rusting is an exothermic reaction) and UV beads for 300 participants. I can send these at any time.
This only covers two hands-on activities. You will likely want to offer more hands-on activities during your outreach event.
Check with the NCW coordinator for your local section to get issues of Celebrating Chemistry. These will become available through the ACS
store on August 1st. Only NCW coordinators are eligible for a limited number of free boxes of the Celebrating Chemistry publication.
Let’s schedule a call to answer your questions. Do you have any availability today after 3 or anytime Wednesday afternoon?

Thanks!
Patti
------------------- -----------------

Catherine Macgowan
7/15/2019 11:15 AM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: draft of event permit application

Tina,
Thanks for the information and for working on this project! Let me know when you need the funds.
Cath
----------------- ------------------ -----------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
7/15/2019 11:19 AM
To Patricia Galvan
RE: SERMACS questions

Good morning, Patti,
Those gifts for the audience sound fabulous!
Thank you for the information on the insurance.
I will have to look up who the NCW coordinator is for us, perhaps that is David Horwitz?
We have students with the SA-ACS at Georgia Southern who will be involved, as well as folks in YCC.
This is going to be such fun!

Tina
ps Oh, yes, the phone call! Shall we say Wednesday at 2 PM?
--------------------- ------------- -----------------

Patricia Galvan
7/15/2019 11:34 AM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: SERMACS questions

Hi Tina,
I just looked it up. Dr. Catherine MacGowan at the Armstrong Campus of GSU is your NCW coordinator.
David Horwitz works with me here in DC. We’ll both call you on Wednesday at 2pm.

Talk soon!
Patti
------------------- ------------------------
*
*
*
There followed a 48-minute three-way talk between me, Patti, and David on Wednesday, July 17.
Again, I was loaded for bear, with a 2-page list of questions concerning various aspects of being in the public and discussion of activities and extras for the participants. We fairly well decided that four activities would be optimal, due to time constraints.
Plus, we had to take into account number of volunteers that would be needed to preside over those activities.
Definite progress!
*
*
*
---------------- ------------------ -------------

David Horwitz
7/17/2019 3:20 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH Copy Patricia Galvan
RE: SERMACS questions

Hi Tina,
Here are the items I promised to send:
1. All NCW promo merch can be found in the ACS Store at www.acs.org/store or here in the NCW category.
2. A generic fundraising letter can be found on Page 10 of the ACS Community Outreach Fundraising Guide.
3. You can download templates of an NCW press release, media advisory, fact sheet, PSA 30, 20, 15, and 10 seconds on Page 24 of the ACS PR Guidebook.
Patti will be sending you some activity sheets shortly.
Let me know if you have any other questions for now.

David
------------------- ---------------------- ---------------

Patricia Galvan
7/17/2019 3:34 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH Copy David Horwitz
RE: SERMACS outreach event

Hi Tina,
David and I enjoyed speaking with you about the NCW outreach event on River Street. We are organizing an outreach event to coincide with the ACS meeting in San Diego, so hands-on activities for outreach and ACS resources for outreach have been on our minds!
The attached Saltwater Rainbows activity is a modification I did of the activity written in the Marine Chemistry issue of Celebrating Chemistry. When using it we only had three colors, I’m not sure which one we eliminated. I remember preferring the red-yellow-green in the same order as a traffic light.
This UV beads activity is for use outside, so it should work just fine as written. We did this last August right outside the Boston Children’s Museum.
I have not yet written up the footwarmer activity. It’s pretty simple, though. The iron inside rusts when exposed to oxygen from the air. More oxygen, faster rusting, more heat. What happens when you spritz it with saltwater? Faster rusting and the footwarmer gets hotter!
I also attached the write-up for the Rainbow Trout. If you prefer an indi-gator, I traced it out of the WonderScience books from ACS.
It needs some work, though.
Enjoy these resources and time planning fun experiences in chemistry for children and their families!

Best Regards,
Patti
--------------- -------------------- ------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
7/19/2019 12:43 PM
To Georcette Washington
request for Morrell Park for Nat Chem Week

F-Smith_request…for 20 Oct.pdf (1.9 MB)

Happy Friday, Georcette!
At our meeting, we confirmed that Morrell Park is the one we want. Hooray!
The Coastal Empire Section of the American Chemical Society is non-profit and I will send along our certificate when it is located.
I am so excited about this!
Thank you for your assistance!
Faustina Smith
--------------------- ------------------ ---------------
*
*
*
Ack! An automatic replay told me she was out of the office until 29 July! Will try again when she has returned.
Meanwhile, I had to hope no one else reserved Morrell Park...
*
*
*
---------------------- --------------- ---------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
8/1/2019 12:12 AM
To Georcette Washington
Request for Morrell Park for Sunday, Oct. 20

F-Smith_request…for 20 Oct.pdf (1.9 MB)
N-990formfornonprofit.pdf (529.3 KB)

Happy Thursday, Georcette!
I hope you had a wonderful vacation.
At the conference planning meeting earlier this month, my group confirmed that Morrell Park is the location we want. Hooray!
The Coastal Empire Section of the American Chemical Society is non-profit and I have attached our certificate.
I have also attached the application for our Public Outreach Event on Sunday, October 20, 2019, from 1 PM to 4 PM, as you and I had discussed last month.
If you would like, we are also prepared to submit the Maintenance Deposit at this time, rather than waiting until October.
I am so excited about this!
If you would please let me know if there is anything else we need to do, I would be very appreciative.
Thank you for your assistance!
Faustina Smith
------------ -------------------- ----------------

Georcette Washington
8/5/2019 5:37 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: Request for Morrell Park for Sunday, Oct. 20

Good Evening Faustina,
Please make a note on the invoice sent to you that you are non-profit. The cost for non-profits this year is $100 for the permit. Also, please hold the maintenance deposit. I will send a date to remit that once the permit fee has been paid, this information will be in your letter of permit.

Thank you,
Georcette
------------- --------------- ------------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
8/5/2019 10:37 PM
To Cathy MacGowan
park reservation

Hi, Cathy!
Apparently, the cost for nonprofits is $100 to reserve the park. There will also be the Maintenance Fee, but that is refundable.
The Security Fee will be additional, but is not needed until the day of the event.
I have the invoice and can bring it to you tomorrow (Tuesday, August 6).

Moving forward.... :-)
Tina
--------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

Catherine Macgowan
8/6/2019 9:54 AM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: park reservation

Tina,
I am on a short vacation and will not be back on campus until August 12th. I can get the check to you then.
Cathy
-------- -------------------- ----------------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
8/9/2019 12:17 PM
To Georcette Washington
RE: Request for Morrell Park for Sunday, Oct. 20

Hi, Georcette,
Just a quick update.
Our treasurer has been out of town, but I will receive the check from her on Monday. That means it will be in the mail to your office on Tuesday... I promise.
(Not like on Popeye cartoons, when the fellow would say "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." I saw on fb that we both know Thomas H, so I know you enjoy humor.)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Faustina Smith
-------------- ------------------ --------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
8/9/2019 1:50 PM
To s_maciag@acs.org
request for certificate of insurance for NCW event

F-Smith_request…for 20 Oct.pdf (1.9 MB)
fls_request…of-insurance.pdf (259 KB)

Happy Friday, Sullivan!
In conjunction with SERMACS, our local section is hosting an NCW Public Outreach event. That is scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2019, in the early afternoon.
We have already been approved for the site of the event site. I have attached our application that was sent to the City of Savannah as a description of our event.
As the event is nearing quickly, I wanted to apply now for the Certificate of Insurance to avoid any time delays later.
Please let me know if any further details are needed.

Thank you!
Dr. Faustina Smith
-------------- -------------- ---------------

Sullivan Maciag
8/9/2019 1:55 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: request for certificate of insurance for NCW event

Hi Faustina,
I have received your request. I can provide the certificate on Monday.

Thank you,
Sullivan

Sullivan Maciag
Office of the Treasurer & CFO | American Chemical Society
------------------- ----------------- ----------------

FAUSTINA SMITH
8/9/2019 2:02 PM
To Elizabeth Loos, Chelsea Miller
SERMACS NCW event

Happy Friday, Elizabeth [President of the Student Affiliate-ACS at GaSoU]!
Happy Friday, Chelsea [Chair of the Younger Chemists Committee]!

We have been approved for Morrell Park for our Public Outreach, NCW-themed event!
The park will be ours from 1:00 pm to 4:00 PM. We are planning on 1:00 to 1:30 for set-up, 3:30 to 4:00 for clean-up.
The park is large enough that we can have several areas for demonstrations, perhaps one in each quadrant, to keep the crowd engaged and moving.
We are hoping for about 300 participants. :-)
The Coastal Empire section is having a SERMACS planning meeting for Monday evening. I will find out then if we have free rein on decisions about the emos or if they will be selected for us.
I have attached the NCW issue for this year - looks like fun!

I look forward to having your input and meeting you!
Dr. Faustina Smith
---------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------

Elizabeth Loos
8/9/2019 2:36 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: SERMACS NCW event

Sounds great!
I’ll see if I can get as many people as possible for the event.

- Elizabeth Loos
---------------------- --------------------- ----------------

Georcette Washington
8/9/2019 5:17 PM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: Request for Morrell Park for Sunday, Oct. 20

Hi Faustina,
No problem. Thank you.

J Georcette
---------------- ------------------- --------------

Sullivan Maciag
8/12/2019 9:57 AM
To FAUSTINA SMITH
RE: request for certificate of insurance for NCW event

NCW Coastal Georgia 2019.pdf (140.8 KB)

Good Morning,
Please find the certificate attached and let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,
Sullivan Maciag
Office of the Treasurer & CFO | American Chemical Society
-------------- ---------------- -------------------
*
*
*
So, the application was approved and we were in business!
The Letter of Permit was dated today and now it's simply a matter of waiting for the calendar to roll around to where we need it to be.
Well, we also need to make sure the materials are in in town by then...
and I still have to hope these student groups - the SA-ACS and the YCC - will follow through with their promises of help.
After serving as a volunteer for several years now with the Lucas Theatre and the Savannah Music Festival, I know how fickle the younger folk can be, leaving an organization stranded on the day of a big event.
Here's hoping Elizabeth and Chelsea do as they say.
That, to me, is the most nerve-wracking issue for October 20th...
my lack of knowledge of these unknown students and their sense of responsibility.
Ya gotta have faith, though, as George Michael said.
*
*
*

and now a message to my father

Dearest Daddy,

This afternoon I had the pleasure of being with one of your contemporaries.
It was during an event of the Savannah VOICE Festival, now in Season 7, and this year's theme is "Heaven And Earth".
I don't know that you knew of him, as he was a star in the operatic world, but I believe you and he would have gotten along famously.
He's a real person, too, you see, growing up on a farm as you did.
Humble beginnings and all that jazz.
Your farm was in Georgia, in the Bible belt, and his farm was in Illinois, in the corn belt.
Both of you love to sing, but, as he says to one and all, he had the advantage of being near an arts school which nurtured his vocal talents.
He also emphasizes that he was blessed to have Boris Goldovsky in his life. Why so? Well, when Sherrill graduated from college, his intent had been to teach. Instead, he became part of the Goldovsky Opera Theater, touring the United States and bringing opera to the people, in the people's own language - English. Boris encouraged Sherrill to pursue a singing career... and, even better, in his native tongue, allowing the young man from Downers Grove to truly become an accomplished actor as well.
It's hard to catch nuances of emotion if you don't understand the language and the reason for particular word choices, right?
Not that opera is all that he sings with that Verdi Baritone of his - not at all!
That's the message from the "Milnes At The Morris" event this afternoon.
The man sings tunes from a wide variety of sources, including gospel, pop, and folk. His rendition of "Shall We Gather At The River", for example, is magnificent! Then, there's a silly children's song, "I Bought Me A Cat", to which he lent his voice - hahaha!
Neither of those found their way to the screen today, though.
None of his Christmas songs were on the docket today, either. Do you recall whether we watched "The Bell Telephone Hour" show on Sunday, December 18, 1966? It would have aired before "The Wonderful World of Disney", so I feel sure that we did, but I was only 8 years old then. Even so, I seem to recall hearing the 31-year-old baritone as he sang "In Dulci Jubilo" and "O Come O Come Emanuel". Maybe you do, too?
Anyhow, this afternoon event was almost like an interview session between his present self and his 1985 self, when he was fifty-five years old and regarded around the world as the All-American Singing Superstar.
Indeed, he showed several of the same film clips referenced in an interview in 2015 after his 80th birthday. Those particular scenes were from his career as well as several appearances on television.
The first today, as on that earlier event, featured his role as Iago, the dastardly soldier in "Otello". Watching him perform that solo, "Credo In Un Dio Crudel", certainly emphasized his years of experience in that role!
One longish segment included him singing a 1926 pop song, "(Does Your Mother Know You're Out) Cecelia", with Tony Randall. Speaking of that guy, did you know he actually could sing? I have to wonder if his long-time friendship with Sherrill Milnes led to him doing so, or if he did already. All I know is the two of them were performing quite a nice duet of that song on the 1983 television show about a "Surprise Party" and birthday clowns!
(I had expected a segue promo for the brand-new operetta premiering tomorrow night. Nope, not a single word about it! Today was all about him, not this festival. Wow.)
There was even a moment of teaching - as opposed to a teachable moment - during their shared screen time. It was near the end of the episode. They had finished the tune, then Sherrill was telling Tony how to hit that deep note. Pretty nifty Master Class lesson ... and two decades prior to the opening of The VOICE Experience here back in 2001!
(smile)
I enjoyed those segments, and the one of him riding a horse in Central Park - the Cowboy Baritone! But my favorite time was him giving the backstory to his appearance with Carol Burnett in 1985 for "The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts". The honoree that year was the noted soprano, Beverly Sills. Accordingly, Sherrill and Carol performed a duet of special material highlighting her career. Sherrill hd been gamely struggling with memorizing the elaborate piece. Thankfully, he said, Carol insisted on the words being written on cue cards, and she had the clout to make that happen. Good for her... and for him!
(smile)

So, two hours later, he's wrapping things up and
taking a final round of questions.
I asked, flashing my phone from my front row seat,
"Can I take your photo?"
You would have gotten tickled at his reply!
Gazing down at me, mustering his height together
with that of the stage, his voice humorously
boomed back at me!
"I don't know! Can you?"

Hahahaha! Hahaha!
I should have known better than to use "can" instead of "may", shouldn't I?
I'll certainly keep it in mind for the next time I ask him - or anyone - for such a favor.
Then again, that was the lesson, was it not?
I'm so glad I was there, and that he brought you to mind.
I miss you, Daddy.

your one-and-only,
ever-loving
daughter

old blue with the bfe!

Such a wonderful way to document our rare time together on a Monday!
After all, the fall semester has begun, and although that means little to a retiree like me, he is still a working physicist.
But he made sure to be with me for this concert.
That's because he and I are "hooked... friend immediately... permanently", as per Frank Sinatra's own words regarding the friendship we share.

That's why we were at the CMC for SVF7 tonight - we had to be, we were meant to be right there.
(Hey, that's our inside joke!)
Good thing we didn't have to move "Heaven and Earth" to be there for "Old Blue Eyes: Peter Lake in Tribute to Frank Sinatra".
(smile)
No, that's not him up there, that's Sherrill Milnes, the man behind the Savannah VOICE.
(Get it? LOL!)
Peter Lake played Plaid Jinx, remember?
(smile)
Some of the songs were from the 1950's ("Come Fly With Me", "Love And Marriage", "In The Wee Small Hours"), some were from a decade or so earlier ("I've Got You Under My Skin", "The Way You Look Tonight"), while others came a decade or so later ("New York, New York", "Luck Be A Lady", "My Way") - all were sung beautifully with Peter's clear tenor.
I'm so glad to have been able to share this one with the J-Dawg!
Not only were we at a different venue than ever before, but we also dined at a restaurant we'd not been to ever before - new to us!
Not the The Pirates House is new, by any means.
(smile)
And not that neither of us have never eaten there before.
(smile)
It was simply a new place for the bfe and me to share a meal...
and that's special, after all these years together.
Sweet dreams, dear friend!
(smile)

he started it

You want to be startin' somethin', you gotta be startin; somethin'...

"That's a Michael Jackson song, right? Major coolness!"

Yeah, it is that tune, and I seem to have put the needle on the record, though I have yet to "Pump Up The Volume", if you know what I mean.

"???"

Yeah, that's the reaction I get from Kevin when my phone scrambles my text. It's partly his fault that I've been watching "The Mask" and "The Birdcage" and "The Shape of Water" and "Just Like Heaven" On Demand.
Those are all romances, in case you hadn't drawn the connection. That last one, in particular, possibly never made it to cinema, but it has Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon and is adorable.

"Hold up there, sweetheart. What does the bear have to do with anything?"

Well, he caught another fish, around the same time that baseball was winding down. And while we were texting, and I was "hasslin'" him about his "love life", I realized that our Tuesdays might be in jeopardy yet again.

"You do realize that one of these days he'll find 'the One', don't you? That it won't be a 400-pound Sumo wrestler catfishing him, but a real live woman with brains and curves and nerdy glasses?"

I have brains and curves and could wear my glasses more -

" - and that would matter not at all. You still have 25 years on him, 'Aunt' Tina."

Yes, I am well aware, thankyouverymuch. Anywho, he is not the 'he' of the post title.
So, there.

"Glad to hear it. So just who is this mystery 'he' who started something with you?"

Let me just set it up, okay?
It was about two days after the texting conversation.
'He' started it, posting the fb-generated "10-year anniversary" video of our friendship there.
What the Book of Face doesn't know is that our friendship goes back for more like thirty years, when we were both going to school at Armstrong and long before internet social media even existed.
When someone posts one of these 'friend-versaries', I at least respond with a 'Like'.
This time, I decided to respond with more than just an emoticon.
As the bfe would say, "I used words... real words... my own words."
I wrote, "We should have lunch sometime, kid."
To my amazement, he'd written, "Let's."

"Well, cool beans! Good for you for suggesting a face-to-face!"

I thought a lunch would be a safe choice. Plus, I know he gives tours at night, so that would pretty much preclude a dinner.

"True, very true. And y'all did that, right? "

Yes, we did. I'd private-messaged him and we'd arranged to meet in two weeks, when the Bananas would be done, just in case of Play-Off games. August 8th, a Thursday, I'd said. He'd suggested Spanky's and so we had the time and the place... and then life had intruded.

"Wait a minute! He stood you up?!? "

No, please. We have too many people we both know, including my first niece, for him to ever do anything that rude. He'd simply forgotten he already had plans with his Dad on that date.
"How about tomorrow?" he'd said.
But I had lunch plans with Dawn scheduled... "I already have plans then, but what about Monday?"
"Yes, Monday would be great!"

"So, y'all dined together on the 12th?"

We did! A nice, long, three-hour lunch! And he graciously picked up the tab. And then he'd walked me to my car, where, as we hugged in parting, he'd surprised me with a kiss.
On my lips.

"So... first-kiss type of kiss, or light kiss like with family?"

More of the latter than the former, though it really had surprised me.

"Understood. It's been awhile. Did y'all make future plans?"

We did not. It was actually a bit awkwardly timed. I had not realized two weeks ago that his birthday would fall so close to our luncheon. It was the day after, in fact. he had plans already with his Dad and some others, but it left me wondering what I should do, if anything, without making it more awkward.
I texted him with birthday greetings, and did a similar post for him on fb, and left it at that.

"O-kay. A bit clumsy, but still appropriate and kind. "

Yes, that's what I was going for: clumsy, appropriate, and kind.

"Well, you could have said nothing at all."

Sigh.
Sometimes, these little conversations we have are not especially helpful.
Just sayin'.

"You know how you are. I know you have something more to say, but you're taking your sweet time with it and I have had a busy day. Between going to see "Hair: The American Tribal-Rock Musical" and then attending the show by the Robert Louis Quartet as my last free CJA concert, this has been pretty well packed for a Sunday. "

Those were both excellent weren't they? I'm so glad Jason Arons seated me on the aisle, so I couple interact with the dancers as they traipsed through the crowd! And you know the one question I kept getting asked? "Did they get naked?" Fortunately, they did not. I know so many of those people, including Thomas and Danielle and Chris and Travis and JoJo. I'm glad the cast stayed clad for this closing-show matinee!

"So very true. And it was funny that the jazz group was giving away CDs because they didn't want to cart them around anymore! "

You bet! I took both and look forward to listening to them in the car.

"The physicist may like them, too. "

He just might! But I get first listen.
(smile)

"Yes, dear. Now, what about your story about the 'he'? "

Oh, yes. Okay. After his birthday, I heard nothing from him until late Friday night. After my usher shift for "The African Queen", I'd texted a "downtown at night" photo to him, adding that it was a "nice evening for a stroll".
I had thought that might get his attention and it did.
He had parried with a suggestion that I join him after his tour, at Wright Square, and I'd replied in the affirmative.
So, that's what I'd done, last night, after the last "Star Wars" faded from the Lucas' screen.

"And? And? Come on, spit it out, girlie, it ain't yours... "

Oh, ha ha, aren't you funny?

"I'm a hoot, and you know it. Now, move along... "

Well, that's pretty much what we did. I had hoped we might get a nosh, but that was not to be. He spends Sundays with his Dad, down in the Brunswick area, and needed to be up early for that. Instead, we'd talked a little about noting much, then he'd given me a lift to my car. And, done.

"Okay. Well, he seems to be a very nice guy who has a strong bond to his father. That's a good thing. He also seems to have a life, which is a good thing. need I remind you that you, also, have a life? "

Yes, I do. I completely understand that, as one gets older, the folks one meets are more and more likely to have lives and it's difficult to find one's place in those established patterns.
I do realize that.

"And yet, you were maybe hoping for a little magic...? "

I honestly cannot say what I was hoping. I try not to hope, after all. Rather, I try not to hope about romantic stuff and nonsense. After all, I'm not wanting to get into a long relationship and then leave someone behind. That would not be fair to them, would it?

"You and your altruistic bent. Whatever shall I do with you, my dear? "

Hey, have I got the answer for you!
(smile)

"Hahaha! I had forgotten about that "quote of your life"! Magnificent! "

TAKE ME AS I AM OR WATCH ME AS I GO.

Life is too short to do otherwise.

star wars at the lucas

Even before I entered the building, I knew at once
that the day was special!
This scene was right outside the main entry!!!

As if that wasn't sufficient to start the adrenaline
rush, there was more!
Just inside the door to the lobby, this was the
message of greeting!

My first stop was to have a few words with Obi-Wan Kenobi!
"Don't believe your eyes," he told me. "Trust the Force."
Wow! That's the same advice he gave young Luke Skywalker!
Good thing I grabbed this shot before "Star Wars" began.
After "Episode IV A New Hope" (as it's now called), he was gone.
Guess that was appropriate, right?
(smile)

And just where was I?
At the Lucas theatre... get it?
Lucas was hosting the movie trilogy...
how super-deluxe-cool was that???
And where did I sit?
In the very first row, just as I had in 1977 when
I'd seen it the very first time.
This time, I had my BFF's scarf to ward off chill and Mama's old Kodak umbrella as rain insurance.

I'd insisted on buying a ticket for the first film, to
insure I was where I should be for it.
Right place, right time!
I had lunch at the Subway, just up the street, and what
was waiting for me there?
Yep, that's correct!
A bright, shiny penny, minted this very year!
Right place, right time!

Upon my return, I switched into volunteer usher mode!
"Striking back at the empire,"
I would say, as I did my magic trick and transformed ordinary tickets into souvenirs for the patrons.
This time, I had my photo snapped with Darth Vader, after assuring him that I was not his daughter.
Pretty funny, wasn't I?
(smile)

Before the second film, I took this photo of my foot with the "Yoda" floor decal.
Honestly, "Episode V The Empire Strikes Back" made me miss the Muppets, so that was sad.
Then, when Han Solo was flash frozen into a grimace of eternal pain, that broke my heart.

Then Lando reclaimed possession of the Millenium Falcon, shown built to scale by Josh of the Lucas.
Beautiful machine, isn't it?
And such a labor love, taking five guys five days to
put together its 7000 pieces.
Yep, that's right: seven thousand Legos are in that
intricate model - wow!

I didn't even leave the building between the second and third films, letting popcorn be my dinner.
Not like that's the first time I've done that!
Would you just look at the smile on that soldier's face!
I had just told him, "I ain't afraid of no stormtrooper!"
He must have gotten my reference to the "Ghostbusters" movie!
Sah-weet!

For this final film of the initial trilogy, I was chatting with folks about their "return" for the 8 PM screening.
You know, because it was "Episode VI Return Of The Jedi" - a little joke!
I was also referring to it as the "Beauty and the Beast" episode and most folks knew at once what I meant!
How about that?!
(smile)

It's so rewarding when someone understands a joke without any explaining.
It's especially rewarding when that joke is an original!
Thanks for playing along with me, folks!
Where did I sit for these other two movies?
Well, I was Orchestra Right for the second, then Orchestra Left for the third.
In the front row, naturally!

After the end of my shift and the last notes of the music, I headed over to Wright Square.
That's Eric Mitchell, there by Tomochichi's marker, talking a little chemistry to the crowd from Pooler and Richmond Hill.
I may see about catching the whole tour the next time - nice history lesson sprinkled with science!
We'll see - I don't want to crowd him, you know?
(smile)

opera with, by, for children!

Hey, I heard it through the grape vine!

Honestly, I can't think of that song without remembering Pat Benatar belting out the lyrics, with her operatic range, as an encore offering!

That was back in 1983, while stationed in San Diego, with Red Rider as the opening act.

Talk about your "Lunatic Fringe" - they shook the whole arena!

But where was I this time?

In the lobby of the Yamacraw Center For The Arts, with students' interpretations of the song lyrics.

I was at Garrison Middle School for an SVF7 event, a Friday afternoon performance of "The Little Prince" for Savannah's youth.

I wasn't the only adult or former teacher there for the early show.

Pete and Fran Zipperer were there, too!

 

Their grandson, Nicholas Yaquinto, was The Pilot character.

And look, 'tis the Tiz!

Of course John Tisbert was there!

This is his school, where he teaches singing.

It was still early on, so he was trying to make sure the students were as orderly as possible while filing in.
What an enthusiastic crowd they were, too!

For all I know, they may have had a hand with set construction, as I know that was a craft they learned with this show.

For all I know, they may have been some of the choral performers, as I was so engaged by the performance before me that I paid no attention to anything behind me.

I was fully concentrating on the song lyrics which had been composed from the book's tale of a lost pilot who runs into a tiny extraterrestrial royal, as well as others along their journey together.

 

After the show, Savannah VOICE had a surprise: a question and answer session with the singers and actors!

Of course I stayed for it!

Such a delight to hear the many questions the students had, especially about how much practice was involved, how long it took to make the props on stage, how they might be involved in future shows - wow!

What a special treat this was!

(smile!)