the firsts of 2022, a last look

I've meant to write about this for a while, but just got a round tuit.

Yeah, that's an old joke, but I remember Mama telling it to me, so...

you're welcome.

Back to wrapping things up before this year steps out the door, shall we?

Yes, let's.

The most recent event, for me, occurred on September 19th.

That was a Monday, a fairly ordinary Monday in many ways.

I'd spoken with Christina, as I was trying to arrange to attend a soccer game, but this week was now off as one of her girls was sick.

I'd spoken with Smitty, and he'd agreed to go to a dinner with me to learn about Medicare.

(I took care of his August sales tax report online, too.)

I'd read an article in "Smithsonian" about Mary Sears, the woman responsible for mapping the oceans during World War II, and resolved to give that issue to my great-niece Caitlyn.

 

Then, I turned on the TV to see what might be of interest in the afternoon...

and stumbled right into the end of the procession of Queen Elizabeth II's casket through the streets of her beloved London.

Wow.

I had missed the first five hours of the eight-hour broadcast and tuned in at exactly the right time for the return to her castle with its view of the city, her casket carried and surrounded by Royal Navy sailors at a stately and solemn pace, then transferred to the hearse for transport to Windsor Castle.

What a glorious ceremony!

And I realized as I watched that this was a moment not witnessed in almost a century.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor had reigned for 70 years.

That made it a rarity.

I had to wonder if the passing of her beloved Phillip last year had contributed to her death.

Their 75th anniversary would have been two months later, on November 20th.

Sweet, but sad, to think of their great love having lasted so long.

 

The first event I considered unique was on May 7th.

It followed the first communion of my great-nephew Sebi.

I'd spent the rest of the Saturday afternoon at home, watching Walter Matthau trying to coach a little league team, then following along with Indy in a modern-day version of Cinderella, interspersed with taking care of household chores.

 

Then I switched on the telly to see what might be on...

and caught the race of the 148th annual Kentucky Derby, watching in disbelief and amazement as Rich Strike made history and won!

I was right there, camera poised, ready to snap, and caught this shot.

That's the winning horse, up against the rail (the inside track), moving up fast and actually managing, against the odds, to overtake the favored steeds.

When I say "against the odds", I mean it: the track had him 80 to 1 for winning.

Yet, that's just what he did, this horse that wasn't even slated to run until a position suddenly opened up.

Magical, just magical to watch him run!

I don't think I've seen one of these races since I was a kid.

But there I was, at just the right time, to see something that hadn't happened there in more than a century - a relative unknown had won the derby.

Wow.

So, I made a note of it on a bit of paper, but never got around to posting about it.

Then, about a month later, another rare event occurred.

Truly, the event on June 2 was unique, not just rare.

It was a Thursday and I'd spent part of the day trying to talk with DFCS in an attempt to move along Christina's adoption of her girls (for Miyah, it's been better than 5 years in the making, a bit of a marathon for such things).

I'd also attended two online events at AARP, one about Tony Plana's acting project for seniors and the other a MFG about the man who designed the Sydney Opera House and Lloyds of London, among other things.

Then I turned on the television, to see what might be on...

and I caught the final hour of the 94th Scripps National Spelling Bee and witnessed middle-school-aged kids battling it out to list the letters in impossible words, watching attentively as the competition came down to one girl and one boy, both so equally matched that it became necessary to pull out something never done before: a spell-off round!

Harini Logan and Vikram Raju had made it through the first 11 rounds, then spent the next 7 rounds - to the 18th round that usually marked the end - in a tight race that ended in a tie.

That would have caused a problem with awarding the winner the traditional $50,000 prize and the runner-up with $25,000, as well as the other prizes.

A true winner had to be declared, so the spell-off commenced.

How exciting!

Each student had 90 seconds to spell as many of the 41 words as they could.

The winner would be the one who spelled the most correctly.

It ended up 22 to 15, in Harini's favor - wow!

How very impressive!

And, no, that isn't her in the photo.

That girl is Keke Palmer, in the 2006 "Akeelah and the Bee", which I'd seen recently.

Is the Bee a competition I usually watch?

Never.

I had tuned it in on a whim and got caught up by the excitement of these kids spelling words that I'd never heard before, requesting etymology and uses of the words in context.

Wow.

 

How very cool to have witnessed these three events while they were occurring, not as a video rerun after the story had already broken in the media. 

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

Now, I have four of my favorite episodes of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" to enjoy as this last day of 2022 draws to a close.

Each deals with transformation.

Willow the teen witch finds in "Doppelgangland" that she's a goth vampire.

Buffy and some others find out "Beer Bad" as they go from drunks to cave-people.

Giles becomes "A New Man", namely a demon that only Spike can understand.

Zander gets split by a demon into two selves, an "Odd Couple" type of "Replacement", with his Oscar slouch and Felix neatness needing to recombine for him to survive.

Hey, like I said, I like these.

Happy new year, y'all.

home again, home again

Right place, right time.

I've had my odometer tell me that before and now it's done so again.

I drove straight through from Waycross to Savannah, promising my Saturn a full tank.

Apparently, that was a good thing.

When I reached Aldi's on Abercorn, my little car drank up 10.4 gallons thirstily.

My tank only holds 11 gallons... so, that was pretty close to empty.

And when I started the engine, the mileage glowed: 2 2 6 3 2 1.

As in, 3... 2... 1..., let's get on home!

Good trip, for a good reason, with good hugs given and received.

Now, my bed and my pillow await the night and I'll be glad to snuggle into them.

i thank You, God.

wayfaring in Waycross: visit with those passed and present

Yesterday was spent in the presence of my ancestors.

There was no rush, as I was the first to make landfall in this southern town.

Amazingly, I found my path to Thomas Cemetery as if I had been there just a few months ago.

I think it's possibly been seven years since I last stopped at this small clearing.

My first visit was with Grandpa and Grandma Lee.

Then I crossed the aisle to Granny White's side.

She's the reason my family has people here; she was a Thomas before she wed Grandpa's dad.

I wandered around in this land of the past, checking for more with the Thomas and Lee names, making a note of their birth dates and death dates for my genealogy studies, taking photos of their markers.

I visited Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Pearl, too.

Then, as the sun was fading, I went to Comfort Suites and got settled into its warmth.

I called Bonnie to check in with her, but they were not yet in from Alabama.

They were going to stop in Blackshear for a visit with the boys' maternal grandmother before deciding where to stay for the night.

I invited them to share my suite, as it had two queens and a sofa bed.

As it was, they stayed at the Comfort Suites in that town.

I think it was the name of the hotel that drew them in, as it had me.

We all convened at Miles-Odum Funeral Home this morning.

I was so glad to see her car in the parking lot!

Then, she came rushing up to hug me as soon as I entered!

Ah, yes, we both so needed that long hug!

It may have been three years since our last one, but we made sure to get in several while we were here.

We picked right up with each other as if it had only been yesterday since we last dined and had a movie together - 'twas wonderful!

She was so pleased at the nice memories I had shared with her of Bobbi playing with the boys and Bobbie helping to take care of Daddy and getting him up and down their stairs.

 

Then I was reintroduced to Bobbi's birth father, Herschel Bacon.

They had both forgotten the cookout at Bonnie and Daddy's when I had first met Hershel, but I had not and we all enjoyed sharing that memory of a happy time.

He's just a year older than I am, but he had lived a "free-spirited" life, like his daughter Bobbi had, and the years had left a mark.

He's been clean and sober the past few years, though.

Hopefully, his other daughters will learn from their sister's early death and make changes in their lives.

Here's the younger of my Alabama nephews, Conner, taking solace in his "Rick and Morty" hoodie.

He even played part of a John Legend song, "All Of Me", playing enough that I surprised him when I recognized the tune.

The man beside him, Boyd Griffin, is the the only Grandpa he has ever known, as Daddy died when the boys were still toddlers.

Boyd and his wife, Medina, had adopted Bobbi and her younger sister when the girls were young.

Bobbi had five sisters in all; the three older girls went to foster homes when the birth parents gave them up. 

And here's my younger half-brother, Mike, with my other nephew from Alabama.

Merritt sure does look a lot like Daddy did at his age!

No wonder my mother had fallen in love with him!

Merritt and Conner will both be taller than their dad, so Bobbi did a great job with her prenatal regime.

It's important to remember that she was not always addicted to drugs, that she had a kind heart, that she loved her children very much.
The memorial service was performed by Bobbi's cousin, Rev. Tyler Hayes, probably close in age to her.

He performed three songs: John Michael Montgomery's "I Swear"; Luke Combs' "Beautiful Crazy"; and Vince Gill's "Go Rest High On That Mountain".

The middle song must have had meaning for Bobbi and her sisters, as they all began crying for that one.

It was new to me, but certainly a song I could believe that she identified with.

Boyd got up and spoke a few words about Bobbi, then one of her nieces came up and gave a truly heartfelt speech about her Aunt Bobbi.

That reminded me of how much my niece Christy loved her Aunt Gail, who was so much like Bobbi in her lifestyle and poor choices.

Every family has at least one person who has fought drug addiction, it seems. 

So sad.

Again, I hope Bobbi's sisters will learn from her mistakes and take this opportunity to get the help they need to make better life choices.

Now, I'm waiting for Bonnie to text me and let me know they are safely returned home.

I'm glad I made this journey, but I look forward to seeing them again in June.

That reunion won't be for a funeral.

and the voice of the ether said "relax"

... and I smiled and gave thanks!

I had just started out on the drive to Waycross, a little concerned as it was my first long drive since the colder weather started.

Would my heart have any blips on this two and a half hour journey?

Traffic through Savannah had moved smoothly, with scarcely a snag.

That was good, as I'd gotten a little later start and it was now lunchtime.

Part of the delay was of my own doing, but part was due to a phone call from Christina.

She'd just been to DFCS and signed the papers...

she was finally approved to adopt both her girls!!!

That meant she was in town and, much as I would have loved to have a celebratory lunch with her and Miyah and Chloe and C J, I couldn't.

Daylight was burning and I was on a mission.

She understood and let me get on my way.

(smile)

So, as I said, traffic was moving smoothly, with green lights a-plenty.

Right place, right time.

Before I knew it, I was on I-95 and heading south.

Now would be the true test, staying calm with the flying cars and trucks around me.

I stayed in the right lane, moving at a steady pace, letting others do as they willed.

At last, space opened around me.

How about a little music, I thought, to help pass the time?

So I hit the button to turn on the radio...

and there was one of my dance favorites...

bringing to mind one of my favorite music videos...

from one of my favorite Melanie Griffith movies...

with Frankie Goes To Hollywood encouraging me to "Relax".

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

carey the h with the physicist

Get it?

The pun is math-based, so I made it up specifically for him.

Just a little joke between friends.

(smile!)

We've been trying to get together for the last couple of weeks.

Let me say: it did me a world of good to talk with him about the two deaths last week of young women in my world.

He'd never met Bobbi, but he'd heard me speak many a time about the "lunch and a movie" outings in Bluffton with my stepmom and nephews.

We discussed whether I should go to the memorial service on Thursday, especially as the weather was improving faster than previously forecast.

The trip would let me have a much-needed visit with Bonnie, as she and my half-brother Michael were bringing Merritt and Conner for their mom's service.

Bonnie and I have not seen each other is so long!

So, yes, I'm making the trip... and what a weight lifted as I made the decision.

I even called Bonnie when I got home to let her know, so we both have something positive to anticipate.

(smile!)

Meanwhile, I had a three-hour luncheon with my bfe!

We both reveled in being somewhere warm.

These old houses built in the mid 1950's really don't have much for insulation, so his house has been down in the 50's, too.

That's Fahrenheit, not years.

But the barbeque joint was plenty warm, so we settled in and talked... and talked... and then we talked some more.

We started out with movies, with me recommending a couple of enjoyable ones I've recently seen (2021 documentary about "We Three Kings" and a bundle of fluff called "Santa Claws" of 2014), then discussing art house films of the past.

Specifically, I started with my introduction to "The Simpsons" shorts at an animation film festival, with subsequent discoveries of LGBT films (via "My Beautiful Laundrette") and foreign films (via "Babette's Feast"), at a tiny two-screen cinema in Northwood Mall in Tallahassee while I was there in the late 1980's.

I've been a fan of short films, foreign movies, and LGBT cinema ever since!

He thought that was pretty cool, then he'd cocked his head and said, "that's the first cassette I ever owned!"

And what song was playing?

Belinda Carlisle's "Mad About You"!!!

I found that amazing!

So then we started talking about music videos and I brought up "A Girl Like You" - but not the one by The Smithereens, but the one from Wolfgang Press, the song that Tom Jones had sung on "The Lead And How To Swing It".

I've got it bookmarked, as well as Airborne Toxic Event's "Sometime Around Midnight", a long time favorite found on VH1 back when they played music videos.

Kind of appropriate after three years of pandemic, right?

And about that time, we noticed all the other diners had left and the sun was dimming.

Time to go before the dark - and the cold - wrapped themselves around us!

Good lunch!

And now I've made tentative plans to maybe meet with the Alabama transplants tomorrow evening.

I told Bonnie I expect to leave about noon.

That will give my little car plenty of time in the morning sun to warm up.

I'm planning a leisurely drive, maybe with a pit stop or two, as check-in at Comfort Suites isn't until 3 PM.

Oh, yes, I've already made my reservation.

I'm hoping that Bonnie might stay with me and let the menfolk all stay together wherever they will end up.

Thursday should be nice by the time of the memorial.

I'm hoping to maybe have a bit of time with cousin Lynn that afternoon, as Bonnie and family will need to return to Alabama.

Friday, I'll return home, having had a little holiday away from cold...

having had a good visit with folks not seen for several years...

having had hugs a-plenty to restore my spirit.

Yes, I definitely need this.

i thank You, God, for the upswing in the weather song.

sho up time FT2BOFF

So... remember last month, when I was getting a flurry of films for a buck?

Well, that well dried up three weeks into December.

Not wanting to have just three movies in the second installment of the From Teens 2 Business Owners Film Festival, I cast about for some way to beef it up...

and that's when I found that Up Faith & Family had some freebies!

Well, alrighty then, as Bruce would say!

Then I mined some more free ones from SHO Time - 

pardon me while I pat myself on the back for flexing those brain muscles.

(smile!)

 

What goodies did I find?

I'll start with one I saw multiple times.

That means "The Long Kiss Goodnight" is front and center; it was also at the top of my wish list for comcast rewards.

It's one of my very favorite non-traditional Christmas movies, right?

Schoolteacher Samantha subbed for Santa's sweetie on the sleigh, not realizing the chain of events that would bring her way.

See, the spy life had slipped her mind for the last 8 years.

Then, a bump to the head during a tussle with a drunk in her car after a Christmas party started the noggin whirring again.

Good thing, too!

She needed Charlie to swim to the surface if she stood a chance against Operation Honeymoon and her ex with his big 4" - ahem, is that for me, honey? - blade!

Yeah, I do so love the puns and double entendres in this piece!

That's how I spent the first weekend.

Then I wanted "It's A Wonderful Life"... but I would have had to shell out 12 bucks, and I don't mean reindeer.

Incredibly, I stumbled onto an alternate from 2002: "It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie", complete with Kermit and crew.

Well, that would do nicely... and it did!

Kermit was despondent about losing the theatre before the holiday show.

No need to fear, dear frog!

Daniel, the heavenly accountant, will set your books right and he has a handbook to help him out!

That means Miss Piggy will no longer be a frumpy cat lady - cat pig? - sporting a "Felines Navidad" ugly sweater while baking cookies.

Poof! She's a sequined diva again, sending out for holiday treats!

The money bag lost by Fozzie when he bumped into Santa is recovered!

Gonzo goes from homeless hobo back to stage manager status!

And Mrs. Bitterman, played with delight by Joan Cusack, goes to jail!

Ah, if only Mr. Potter had that fate!

Glad I had the chance to see this...

and to "Die Hard" the third weekend!

That was an almighty Bruce, alrighty!

"Roy" was just trying to see his kids for Christmas, and he'd flown from the East Coast to California to do it.

First, though, he had to hang fire at the wife's Christmas party at work.

He'd just gotten comfy, shoes off, when all hell broke loose... of course!

The gang's gunfire got his goat, so he'd adopted the cowboy moniker as his alias.

No sense in tipping his hand to Hans that he was a cop!

That bought him a little time, but Hans was one sharp - as well as sharp dressed! - smooth-talking man.

Eventually, with most of his men taken out of play by either the roving cop or mischance, it came time for a showdown between the man with no shirt and the man clad in the jacket and tie.

Yippee-kiy-ay, y'all!

Wow, I so love this movie!!!

Hold on a sec while I regain my composure.

(smile!)

So, where was I?

Oh, yes, I had finished the last of the Reward movies and was moving on UP.

(Got that joke? Got the reference to the TV show, too? Good!)

By this time, it was Friday, the 23rd, and I knew no more Rewards were forthcoming.

No worries, I'd pick out some on my own and they'd be completely free!

 

UP Faith & Family gave me quite a lovely bunch:

"We Three Kings", a 2021 documentary of how the song came into being.

"It's Christmas, Carol", one I'd liked so much last year!

"Lucy Shimmers And The Prince Of Peace", wherein a young girl with cancer helps a convict reconnect with his family - very sweet and positive and possibly true.

"Falling In Love With The Girl Next Door" - the title doesn't factor in the longstanding duel between his mom (Patty Duke!) and hers (Shelley Long!). Lots of fun!

"Santa Claws", a 2015 bundle of furry fluff featuring Patches, Mittens, and Hairball!

"12 Dogs Of Christmas", from 2012, to balance out the feline fantasy!

"Heavenly Deposit" was not humorous, but was well done, dealing with sons and fathers.

Those were all seen from the 23rd through a freezing Christmas Day.

Then I discovered that SHO Time was trying to show me some movies!

(smile!)

"Free Fire"?

Oh, yes, I loved this movie when it came out in 2016!

An arms deal gone wrong due to the feud between the drivers?

John Denver music blasting from the getaway van as it spun in circles?

Almost 90 minutes of gunfire between the opposing factions?

Yeah, this was sheer fun!

The next one, "Fully Realized Human", was a crowd-sourced labor of love (the joke is coming...) and certainly had its fun moments as the expecting parents (get it now?) tried to make sure they'd not be like their parents.

"Last Call" has Jeremy Pivens as a fellow just trying to not get pulled back into the pot with all the other crabs when he returns home to bury his mom.

Not many laughs in there, except perhaps a few wry ones.

"Last Vegas" made up for it, though, with Robert DeNiro, Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Douglas as the Flatbush Four, friends for almost six decades, off to have one more bachelor party blowout!

Yeah, that was a good one to end on.

(smile!)

surrounded by love, always

Merry Christmas to all, whether physically present or far, far away on a different plane of existence.

Reverend Billy and his family greeted the congregation in their pajamas this morning.

Not in person, as it was below freezing outside.

I hope they might have recorded that youTube session some other, warmer, day.

Surely the church was too cold for that new grandbaby to be there.

The weather is certainly too cold for my warm heart for me to be out in it.

That's why I called Smitty and Mary a few moments ago to let them know I would not be there.

But I'm not alone...

this rainbow heart assures me of that.

That shimmering sign of love made me look around my home with new eyes.

 

The bird of paradise painting was a gift from Auntie Arlene and Uncle Larry, as that was the flower I held when I married Jeff.

That spray of silver coral?

That's all that remains of that bouquet, but both items remind me of love and friendship.

The carp tote bag was a gift from Paul and Cathy from a Christmas several years ago.

The smaller wooden fish on the stand (from Panama) were gifts from Mother Pat.

The others were accumulated on trips to Saint Augustine and other vacations, to mark happy times.

This painting of the bridge in Florence was from my Italian adventure with nursing students, in 2012.

The framed certificate leaning against the wall is from my own students, who had branded me as a "Woman of Worth".

 

The book of Elvis post-its was a gift from the physicist, years ago. Last year, I used the ones of Elvis in his white jumpsuit to dance along my kitchen cabinet as my "events secretary".

And that little jade teapot beside the brass unicorn from Taiwan? That teapot was bought for Mama on a trip to San Francisco in October of 2000. I'm glad my stepdad wanted me to have it back after she died a few months later.

More love is in that third corner of the dining room, starting with those branches of cherry blossoms given to me by Art and Beau in Okinawa.

Elvis the Gnome and Bear Elvis were both gifts from my youngest brother and his wife.

The ceramic Santa napkin ring was made by Mama and given to me by her sister, my Aunt Linda.

The two Santa candlestick holders are part of a foursome, gifts from Smitty and Mary many years ago; they brighten my house every Christmas.

The artwork hanging on the door of my china cupboard was a gift from my first niece for my bday64 this year.

Then there is this Wall of Love.

 

The painting of Wormsloe Plantation is from my stepsister, Susan, as a wedding gift. It will stay, but the cards will all go after the new year begins.

 

These were all sent to me this year, cards of well wishes and birthday wishes and thank-you notes.

Christina sent the thank-you card with the crafted dream catcher on the front (after her spring break in Virginia).

Amy created her three cards by hand - one for my birthday, one for health, another for Halloween.

Aunt Linda made a card of well wishes in her crafts class at her senior center.

Dawn drew little smiley faces on the bandaids on the front of her "get-well" card.

 

My dining room is absolutely filled with love.

I am so very blessed.

i thank You, God.

thanks for all the fish

That should be "thanks for all the shrimp", but then there wouldn't have been the reference to Douglas Adams' fourth book of the "trilogy" of "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy".

Perhaps I should read those again some time... but not today.

Today was spent getting ready for the brutally cold weather on its way.

I had gone to the store for milk and breakfast supplies yesterday.

This morning, I washed dishes and took out the trash and recycling.

Then I unhooked the hose in the back yard and started a slow drip.

About that time, I was wondering what to do for lunch...

and my blue-sky cousin Penny came to my rescue!

She and Steve sent me a "Happy" gift card that included three restaurants here.

Buffalo Wild Wings... no, that didn't do it for me.

Outback... well, that was farther than I wanted to go and between two malls.

I certainly wanted to avoid that path, this close to Christmas.

That made Red Lobster the winner.

No, correction: that made me the winner!

The gift card was the perfect amount for a Create Your Own Holiday Trio.

Yes, please!

So, I ordered online, with me to pick it up at 2:45 PM.

I was there early, but that allowed a bit of a rest and conversation with the lobster man.

The smiling manager brought my meal and thanked me, then I was on my way to the cinema to pick up an order of popcorn for movies at home.

That was free, as I'd done a survey and the treat was my reward.
So, I drove home, with the smells of popcorn and Cheddar Bay biscuits tempting me!

The popcorn went into the tub, lid on, then it was lunch time!

The biscuits were part of that, too.

As the main course magic act, I turned the Caesar Salad side dish into a fabulous meal by topping it with the Grilled Scallops -

ah, que bella!

It was also just what the doctor would have ordered to make me feel loved and hugged from afar.

Tonight, I had the second meal from that CYO Holiday Trio.

The Grilled Shrimp Skewer came atop a bed of rice, as it had before.

I scraped out every grain from the carryout container, then heated it with the side of Broccoli.

Then I added a touch of my own: the slices of four mandarin oranges!

Isn't it lovely?

Too bad its fragrance cannot be transmitted through the ether, but I know techs are working on that.

Tomorrow, I'll dine on the third entree, Shrimp Scampi, and I'll make some pasta to bed it upon.

How wonderful to have had these meals gifted to me!

Thank you, Penny, I can feel your big hugs comforting me right now!

(smile!)

22 december 2022

This day has been a hard one.

My stepmom, Bonnie, sent a long text earlier this afternoon.

She told me Merritt and Conner really liked the fish ornaments.

(I had bought them at the museum store at the Jepson. 

As both of the boys love to go fishing, I thought those were perfect for them, as well as quite unusual.

The bigger one, with the white-tipped snout, is Merritt's, while the sleek and shorter one is Conner's.

Aubree, my niece, got the girly one in glasses.)

Bonnie then talked about the weather before getting to the news.

Bobbi had died.

She was the mother of both boys.

Like my brother Ronnie, she was involved with drugs and alcohol too much.

She was in jail again and was being moved on Tuesday from one facility to another when she suddenly went into cardiac arrest and died.

Bobbi was only 37 years old.

Her memorial service will be in Waycross next Thursday.

I'm holding on to those memories of her when she was younger, playing with her two young sons, helping Bonnie care for Daddy.

Then, this evening, I had a missed phone call from Lauri, down in Florida.

I had fears that it was about her Mom, but it wasn't.

It was about Christa.

She and her little dog were off to New York to visit the parents for the holidays, per usual.

However, a flight delay ended with her staying in a hotel in Philadelphia, courtesy of the airlines.

So far, so good.

But Christa never made the flight the next morning.

Her folks, unable to reach her, had called the airlines, checking to see if she had been on a later flight, asking about where she might be.

They were finally put in touch with the hotel staff, who were grateful to have family to talk to about the young woman who had not responded to a wake-up call and had been found dead.

Christa was only 45 years old.

 

I was on the phone with Lauri for over an hour.

We eventually got past the tears and into good memories and signed off.

She had already spoken to mi amigas, so that is done.

I'm going to make a bowl of soup for dinner and watch the last two "Ghosts" four-pack of fan favorites on the telly.

Then I'll watch "The Unnatural" on "The X-Files" and have a good cry.

I just can't believe these two women are gone.

new groove this winter!

"What you talkin' 'bout, g'friend?"

You know I like to read sometimes with my breakfast, right? Instead of watching games shows or an episode of "Psych" in the dining room?

"Yeah, I remember that you take the Smithsonian or AARP with you into the sunroom on occasion, to have a bit of a change."

Well, I'm still doing that! Even with the temperatures dropping!

"Your Weather Song image is missing the dates."

Yes, it is. Those silly saps at WJCL put their banner over the dates when I took that screenshot. Still, as I just took that, I can tell you the first day is today. Tomorrow has a slight rise in the high, but it's still going to be in the 50's. But Friday is when it all goes to hell in a hand basket, so to speak. It's going to be one of those days when the temperature drops all day long. Notice it will be in the teens that night! Ack! Then Christmas Eve is going to be below 40 all day and all night, so I'm not attending the service at Asbury Memorial. Well, not in person. Christmas is to be as cold and miserable as it was last year, but at least the skies will be sunny.

"Ack."

Indeed.

"So, why haven't you blocked off the sunroom yet?"

Well, I put plastic over the windows in there, and that really helped. However, that metal back door just radiates the cold... brrr! I really noticed that during breakfast today in that sunny yellow room with all the light from the windows. However, I knew the window plastic was not large enough to cover the door. What to do, what to do??? Ah, ha! I still had a sparkly, clear, plastic tablecloth in the linen closet! Using the double-sided tape, I had that installed in about forty minutes... and, I swear I can already feel the difference!

"Yeah, that sounds psychosomatic to me, dear. Then again, seeing is believing. You'll know if the heater in the kitchen gets to work a bit less hard at maintaining the house temperature."

I'll take that challenge! I have it set for 66 F, so I'll let you know what it reads on Friday night, or maybe Saturday morning. Oh, so good to be warmer!

happy bday58, jeff the ex!

This is how it started out: two Savannah Sand Gnats ball caps that had been in the "gift closet" for better than... well, years, right?

I was determined to mine that space for presents this year, rather than have things already bought languish until some other occasion.

So, I'd snapped a pic and asked if he was interested.

Sure, he was!

Those held meaning for him, given that he was the Voice of the Sand Gnats at the baseball stadium for more than half their MLB years in this seaport.

Very well, then!

Since I would be sending those along to him, what else might I pack with them?

Well, how about a Sand Gnats koozie? Sure it was a little aged, but no one else would have one!

I had a couple of the regular koozies, too, even a pink one for Amy - sweet!

Then there was that silver travel mug with Gnick the Gnat on it... oh, and a towel with him, too... and how about some plastic souvenir cups?

Then I found the glasses, three of them: the Detroit Red Wings; the beer glass for the 10-year anniversary of the Sand Gnats; and the one commemorating the Beer Guy, Frank Dinan.

Whatever were those still doing in my kitchen???

Who knows.

Somehow, they'd ended up shoved to the back of the top shelf, a place I cannot reach without a stepladder.

I was sure he'd like to have them, as a talking point at parties if naught else.

The trick was how to let them travel to Michigan without them being reduced to shards?

I stumbled upon the answer while trying to save space in the box: the glasses fit perfectly into the plastic cups.

Perfectly.

It's like he was meant to have them!

Okay, okay, what else?

Sand Gnats magnets that I made!

A bottle opener with the Beer Guy!

There was even a Christmas card from the Sand Gnats!

A chef hat tree ornament!

A napkin from the Bill Murray restaurant in Florida!

Then there were more serious items.

A photo book from the trip to Tennessee in '93 for his stepdad's funeral.

That's cousin David and Jeff sitting, with David's ex-wife Angela standing to the side.

She died two months ago.

Christmas cards from his Mom, his cousin David, his cousin Brian, his Auntie Arlene - all of them treasures now that those dear ones had died.

Well, that's how I think of such cards.

And what else?

Oh, yes, the cassette with the tribute to Don Scott.

I included the notes I had made while listening to it.

He died from COVID in October of 2021.

One of the local bars held a 9-hour tribute to him for all his charity work in the community.

As I told Jeff, those notes were from my second time of listening to the cassette that I made of the live radio broadcast on I-95, a memorial that went on for almost 90 minutes.

That was the station where Don had been the afternoon drive-time DJ for years.

Now, the only place to hear his voice is on his youTube channel.

Jeff said Bob is the one who put an end to the nickname "Dammit Don" at the office.

Good for Bob!

I'm so glad Jeff had saved opening the box for his birthday today!

I'm glad he thought to text me as he unpacked it...

and I'm glad I was able to call and speak to him as he went through all the unwrapped "gifts".

"Gifts" is certainly my intent of the contents.

I know it perhaps seems like I just threw together some items from around the house... which is partly true...

but I included a lot of heart, too, in those choices.

That includes all the time spent gathering these mementos together, adding personalized treats like the magnets I crafted, as well as the cassette with notes of all those in the radio biz who'd spoken on the memorial broadcast.

I included a birthday card, too, of course, with a tree being planted to mark his 58th trip around the sun.

That was something "new" for him.

Happy birthday, dear!

(smile!)

The postage was a monetary gift, too, for both the box to him and the separate Christmas package to Amy.

My thanks to the U.S. Post Office for getting both there on time... and unbroken!

Hooray!!

saying goodbye 2 dee arrrgh eye

No kidding.

After 21 years, I'm done.

And, now that Hilton Grand Vacations has truly taken over after their merger with Diamond Resorts International, I'm going to transition away.

I've tried for the last couple of years to get others to take over my membership, or to reimburse me for the points cost for their stays, but that's not happening and I absolutely hate to nag.

It wears me out.

So, the best option is to take advantage of the Transitions program.

What's that?

"At Diamond Resorts, we take pride in providing unforgettable vacation experiences and creating opportunities for families and loved ones to build memories that they will cherish forever. While we passionately believe in the value of vacations, we also understand that life's circumstances can change and we acknowledge there are some who may need to move on and leave their vacation ownership behind.
For those who are eligible, Transitions™ by Diamond Resorts may offer members and owners an easy and respectful way to relinquish all or part of their vacation ownership, providing you with the opportunity to transition out of vacation ownership."

 

I called them on December 5th, speaking with Tara, a very helpful and polite representative who made sure that I was completely eligible for the Transitions program.

I explained to her that I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation at the beginning of this year and cannot travel as I once did.

I also impressed upon her that I have no children, so there is no one to take over my membership in DRI.

Hence, the need for me to take care of terminating the account now, while I am able to do so, rather than leave it for a brother to have to sort out.

Like I said, Tara was very understanding.

She told me that it was very considerate of me to want to take care of the paperwork myself rather than leave it to my executor.

I'm glad she was the one who answered the phone (after a 47-minute wait).

And so, as of that date, the four contracts I own have been submitted for Transition.

I just visited the website to verify that.

I had not intended to log into it again, but I received word today that made me anxious.

" DiamondResorts.com will Sunset Soon
7 days ago ◦ News
After a year full of exciting changes following Hilton Grand Vacations’
acquisition of Diamond Resorts in 2021, we’re thrilled to announce we
are making great progress in our efforts toward becoming one company.
DiamondResorts.com will sunset soon and begin redirecting visitors to
HiltonGrandVacations.com.
Shortly, you will have the ability to access your vacation ownership
or membership information via a drop-down menu interface on the Hilton
Grand Vacations website.
Once redirected to your login page, you will be able to access your account,
make payments, book reservations and more — the same as you have before —
using the same username and password.
In addition, the Diamond Resorts mobile app is no longer available for use.
We recommend deleting the app from your mobile devices as it was sunset in
late November.
More information will be shared regarding the discontinuation of
DiamondResorts.com, including login instructions on the day the website
sunsets. Please be on the lookout for an email from us in the coming weeks."

 

I had not received that news flash.

Instead, I received an email today informing me that the DRI website was null and void, and that future logins to check on my account would be through the HGV site.

Knowing how many times DRI had lied to me, I went over to check it out...

and was pleasantly surprised to find the email was truthful.

Good.

Now, to await the paperwork to Transition out.

What a relief that will be!

hero boy of the day

Am I talking about the child in "The Polar Express"?

The boy in the blue bathrobe who boarded the train even though he had his doubts?

The boy who stopped the train so the lonely boy could board?

The boy who tried to return the ticket to the girl and ended up having an adventure with the hobo?

No, that character is not the one I mean, even though he is listed in the credits as "Hero Boy".

Looking for a clue?

Well, here's a photo of my 'hero boy' today.

He was the lone male in our party of eight.

Did I say 'eight'?

The twins' Grammy joined us this time.

(smile!)

Here's another photo of my 'hero boy'.

For this trip to Jalapenos of Sandfly, the four little blondes were all seated together.

That allowed us four adults to sit at an adjacent table and even have a real conversation.

How very nice!

While the younger girls tried to interrupt on occasion, the two older ones did rather well at managing them.

What a nice change of pace for us!

True, in this shot it looks as though Leila might be asking her Daddy for something, but I think she was just trying to photobomb my snap of him.

He surprised us and took care of the check for all!

That total was $82.82 - right place, right time.

(smile!)

How very generous of him to share his holiday bonus with the seven of us!

As his mom said, he really does have some of Ronnie's better traits.

Now, I get to find out how much of his dad's genes match mine.

I had ordered the DNA kit after Thanksgiving when MyHeritage had a sale.

I had been sure Smitty would agree to donate his DNA, but he had not.

Conversely, when I had asked Michael yesterday if he would mind participating, he had gladly accepted.

As he put it, he has plenty of DNA and this is not the first time it's been checked.

What a great attitude!

That is the reason I refer to my nephew Michael as my 'hero boy of the day.

(smile!)

that song is going to the dogs!

On the twelfth day of Christmas

my true love gave to me

12 car rides,

11 belly rubs,

10 scratches behind the ears,

9 postmen to bite,

8 cars to chase,

7 bags of treats,

6 long walks,

5 milky bones,

4 falling birds,

3 dead squirrels,

2 chew toys,

and a long pee on a short tree!

(smile!)

First, my thanks to former sailor and colleague Bob Bueling for the fun photo on fb!

As this is a favored song for me, as well as the theme for this year's gifts to children, I had immediately 'stolen' it and posted it on my fb page!

I also requested that folks take a try at channeling their inner dog to complete the song.

Apparently, most of the folks I know are cat people.

Only two stepped up to the plate to swing at the lyrics.

Jim Casey, former major league baseball player, came up with the last seven, in keeping with the male spirit behind the first four.

Most excellent!

My long-time friend Josie Coleman-Williams, owner of two wiener dogs, had the kindler, gentler, fifth item.

Good for her!

Many thanks for the mirth and merriment, y'all!

(smile!)

is clarice the buffalo girl for rudolph?

"You talkin' to me?"

I sure thought I was. You see anyone else around here?

"Just askin'. Your question seems a bit odd, given that the movie you just watched had Clarence in it, but not a Clarice, so I thought you might be confused."

No, I'm not confused. Yes, I just finished "It's A Wonderful Life" with the AARP MFG folks. Yes, Clarence is the name of the wingless angel in that movie. 

"Gotcha. So what's that about buffalo girls?"

Surely you remember... after the dance, when George walked Mary home, they were singing "Buffalo Gals Won't You Come Out Tonight" and he asked her if she wanted him to lasso the moon for her. Right?

"Sure, sure, I remember that."

Well, I had missed that part of the story tonight. But, I was right on time for her inviting him in, having carefully set up her drawing and put the needle on the record. He had just happened to be passing by after leaving a party at his mom's. And Mary just happened to be standing vigil in an upstairs window, waiting for him to walk on by.

She gets him to come in and is flirting as much as she can, but he's working hard at not catching a clue and is about to leave when the phone rings. It's their old buddy Sam and he wants to talk to both of them when he hears George is there. So, there the two of them are, huddled close to the earpiece, him smelling her hair and his lips near hers... and they finally kiss!

"Right place, right time!"

For real! That's the scene I love most in this holiday classic! I'm so glad I hadn't missed it.

"And that would have been because of Clarice?"

Yes, that would have been because of Clarice, and because of Rudolph, too. The Savannah Children's Theatre switched over to "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" this year instead of the Charlie Brown story I love so much. That turned out to be just fine!

"I'm sure, as it was a musical, just like that one."

Well, yes, that did have a role in my liking it, but not just because of the play's genre.

"I'm betting it was those misfits. You've got a real soft spot in your heart for them."

I really do! And after I saw them, I couldn't just walk out during intermission and miss seeing them rescued, now could I? Could I? Well, perhaps I could have, but there's no way I would have, especially after seeing the Charlie In The Box and the Doll and the Train with its square wheels, alive and singing on the Island of Misfit Toys! And the little blue Plane and the Polka-dotted Elephant and, best of all, the little Cowboy riding a Flamingo!!!

"Wait a minute! That's supposed to be an ostrich!"

I know, and that's what the child said he was riding, but that long, pink, neck just had to be that of a 'mingo! I doubt there are birds down under that have that shade of pink on their necks!

"Well, you could always research to find out..."

... or, I can just relish the thought of a Cowboy riding a flamingo! Yep, that's what I can do, and that's my choice to do so! I know Miyah is going to love hearing about that one!

"Yeah, that littlest girl sure loves those fuchsia birds."

Me, too! Yep, me, too!