lazing on a Sunday afternoon at the Jepson!

I usually spend an afternoon at the museum for my birthday, but, as you know, my health situation, and dizziness bouts, precluded my doing so.

Subsequent weekends were usually out of the running because others had requested my presence at their events, or I had COVID, or I was out of town.

I had promised myself early in the week that this Sunday, the final Sunday of July, would be spent at the Jepson, no matter what!

Not even the email from Christa for me, Sandy, and Barbara to join her at the Lucas Theatre for "GWTW" could sway my resolve!

Nope!

To the Jepson I would go!

However, I would definitely join them, and Carolyn, for dinner downtown!

(smile!)

'Katniss' greeted me before I even walked in... lovely!

I do so hope the mobile display will remain for years!

The mural at the top of the marble stairs has been gone since the first year, but these colorful representations of that marsh scene still gladden my heart.

(smile!)

I started at the top, knowing the newest art would be on that third floor.

The first door I entered had part of the works from this year's PULSE exhibit.

Specifically, "Beyond: Chul-Hyu Ahn & Light, Color, and Illusion" greeted me there.

Talk about bright!

 

His work with mirrors and LED lights was not something I'd want at home, though he did have one piece which fascinated me.

This "Railroad (Curve To The Left)" looked so real!

I found myself studying it from different angles, trying to discover any mirrors that might account for its three-dimensional appearance...

nope, no mirrors were visible.

It truly did seem to go off into the distance, begging me to walk alongside it on the gravel bed.

But the frame kept it all in that one small room.

It didn't extend onto the terrace beyond the wall.

I actually looked to determine if it did.

Wow.

(smile!)

What I did find in the hall was this fun piece!

As I'm always on the alert for dancing figurines, this statue certainly caught my eye!

Then its title made me laugh out loud!

It's a "Song And Dance Man"...

Man...

specifically...

complete with a dangly bit between his legs!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

Thanks, Elaine Grove, for the joke!

That made it absolutely appropriate for my visit to the art of a sea-faring man at the end of the hall!

William O. Golding, a Savannah native, spent much of his life in the company of three-masted whaling ships, looking at barks, brigantines, schooners, and yachts, as well as steam tugs, paddlewheel steamers, warships, and steam yachts, drawing more than 200 pictures of them using only pencil and crayons.

These two were done in 1933 and 1935, respectively, and both are of Cape Horn.

Now, here's the proof the man had a sense of humor.

In both, he has prominently included a building labeled as the 'Post Office'... but no such structure exists there!

It was all part of the myth for sailors that each port might have letters awaiting them, a myth of false hope.

Hahahaha!

Very clever of him to acknowledge it!

My next stop was right across the hall and occupied every bit of that wall on the third floor.

"BLOW UP" consisted of inflatable works from several artists.

Susan Lee-Chun certainly tickled my funny bone with these giant pink birds!

Miyah very much enjoyed that I sent the photo to her of "Flamingos (only hang by the pool)...

and that I thought of her!

I took several photos, from different angles, but I like this one best.

It has my butterfly tote to mark my presence!

That bag has always been my stand-in during my adventures, ever since the Italian trip in 2012 with the nursing students.

(smile!)

There were at least eight artists whose work was displayed, but only one other caused me to snap its photo.

Nicole Banowetz's sea slug looks like some otherworldly creature, with its purple and gold and bright green.

No, no, no, not so fast there, missy!

That green belongs to the still-alive algae that it ate and that it keeps performing for its sluggy energy uses!

That thievery is why the beast is referred to as a kleptoplast -

true story!

Down to the second floor!

First stop: Charles Miner's colorful frogs!

Hey, I couldn't see slugs and not visit these Roswell denizens, could I?

Then over to all the PULSE offerings for this year.

Sadly, 'SWARM' is gone, but there were several new interactive works.

This one was very popular with museum-goers - it's a game!

If you look closely, you can see the outlines of two pairs of hands from the two people playing with it.

The object is to sweep clear all the little pointy coronavirus balls at each level, with the number increasing as you advance.

Hey, I don't know for sure that those are meant to look like SARS-CoV-2, but that's what sprang to my mind!

Next time, I'll read the plaque and see if I'm correct.

(smile!) 

After a visit to the loo, I hit the hall for two exhibits in the #art912 realm.

The nearest portion was titled "Deconstruction" and had several pieces from the museum's collection, including Rev. Howard Finster's one with the ant.

This pointelle style, though, dragged out my camera.

Honestly, if I had checked the title of the piece, I would have done so before my third viewing.

Can you guess why?

Hint: America's favorite summer pastime is portrayed!

(smile!)

"Convergence" was not only the title ascribed to the other portion of this exhibit of local works in the front hall.

That was also what Lisa Watson named this photograph.

And guess what?

I know this spaghetti-noodle snarl of highways!

I admit I've never seen it so devoid of traffic, but that's most likely because I haven't been there at dawn, like she was.

This was taken in Atlanta, at the junction of I-85, I-285, and I-75.

From this perspective, it's rather nice, isn't it?

One thing for sure: it makes me want to travel more.

That doesn't mean I want to drive on crowded interstates...

I just want to 'wake up somewhere different'.

Yeah, I definitely need to plan a trip for just me.

Right now, I've traveled south to Orleans Square.

That's because it was closing time at the museum, and I did't have to go home, but I couldn't stay there.

There's a song about that somewhere.

(smile!)

I've been waiting here for an hour, waiting in the summer heat.

i thank You, God, for the shade of these gorgeous oaks and the light breeze that kicks a little spray from the fountain in my direction now and then.

I've sent messages to Carolyn and Barbara and hope to hear back from them soon.

What a blessed day this has been!

(smile!)

blue danube!

I would never have guessed that I'd be hearing about "The Blue Danube" twice in one day...

but I did!

Guess I was in the right place at the right time!

And it was all because of "Footloose".

I had missed watching it Thursday night at AARP MFG, as I was on a phone call with Paul.

I had already cued up the movie on the 'puter when he texted.

"Afternoon. Chat later catchup?"

My response was, "You must have received my telepath!"

Every time I see the Golden Gate Bridge, I think of Paul and Cathy.

(smile!)

Anywho, I missed "Footloose" and had planned to watch it this morning with breakfast.

That's when I found it had not been held over for later viewing.

Phooey.

That's when it occurred to me that I had several PFS movies not yet seen!

In the mod for science fiction with a bit of humor, I found the movie list and settled on "Freaked".

That turned out to be a good choice!

It was like some crazy X-Files episode, like "Bad Blood" with Luke Wilson, or "The Post-Modern Prometheus" with Cher's music.

"Freaked" was written and directed by Alex Winter, who also starred in it.

Not recognizing the name?

He's 'Ted', of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"!

Pretty cool, right?

The 1993 farce also featured Randy Quaid as a carnival owner who not only featured 'monster people' in his shows... he also created them!

Bwah ha ha ha!

One of his lines about his creative process really stood out for me, as it mentioned one of my favorite actors.

He was telling 'Ricky' about how he visualizes the monsters from the people.

He said, "I see Kevin Costner as a giant peach slug that can fart 'The Blue Danube"."

That certainly got my attention and tickled my funny bone!

So did the Rastafarian, machine-gun toting, giant eyeballs that he had for security.

Those things could have been kin to Gru's Minions...

whose latest animated film features San Francisco and the aforementioned bridge...

which I had seen on Thursday prevening...

bringing thoughts of my California friends...

and causing me to miss the AARP movie and end up here.

Right place, right time.

This afternoon, I had thought to go to the cinema, but I opted for Chili's instead.

I still have several bday64 gift cards and that was the one selected.

Chips and salsa! Oh, yes!

But it gets even better, my dear!

They must have realized it was birthday fare for me and had something new:

Chili-Lime Carne Asada!

With Mexican rice and black beans!

I even treated myself to lemonade!

And it was all for less than $13!!!

The broccoli gave me some fresh veggies, and a nice splash of color.

I had so much there, that I took half the meal for dinner, and half the chips for my next "po' girl ceviche" meal.

(smile!)

After my return home, I started looking for the evening's entertainment.

Should I watch one of my Tina Tuesday rewards from Comcast?

Should I see if the 'Up Faith & Family' channel was still free for me?

I opted for the latter choice, than scrolled through the "Comedy" listings.

"Groomzilla"!

That sounded promising!

No, the guy didn't physically turn into a monster, but he took total charge of the wedding planning, much to his would-be bride's dismay.

He even signed them up for dance classes and had selected the song to be their first dance.

Want three guesses which waltz classic it was?

"The Blue Danube"!!!

Hahahaha!

How perfect to round out this day!

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

fiReWOrKs film festival!

And all for Tina Tuesdays!!!

 

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

 

For the last five Tuesdays, Xfinity has gifted me a free movie, right?

Like an extension of the celebration of bday 64, right?

 

"Yeah, I seem to recall you going on about something like that."

 

Well, I had thought I had guessed the theme, but I was wrong.

That's okay, I've figured it out!

 

"All of them have the 4th of July in them?"

 

Well, that's the first guess I had, as the first two movies both had a part that took place on that special day.

Those movies were "Independence Day", the 1996 blockbuster with scenes of Las Vegas as it was,  and "The Sandlot", one of my favorite baseball movies ever!

But that was not it, as the third movie had naught about July 4th.

"The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water" was funnier than I remembered it being, with Antonio Banderas as a pirate reading a story to a flock of seagulls.

"The members of that 1980's band??? That you've seen twice???"

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, no. (smile!) An actual flock of cartoon birds, that talked and danced and carried on.

"Seems you would have remembered all that."

Well, I had it confused with the movie filmed here. This later one was shot in Hawai'i. That's why I never saw anyone from Savannah in the background.

 

 "Okay. So, what was the theme?"

 

Fireworks!!! 

Each and every one of them had a pyrotechnic display at some point!

Pretty nifty, right?!

 

"Sure, especially for someone who loves fireworks like you do. What were the other two?"

 

The fourth was a Julia Roberts film, "My Best Friend's Wedding". There, sparklers were used as the happy couple vamoosed from the reception. Very nice!

Then came the last one... drum roll please!

 

"Okay... rat-a-tat-tat!"

 

Hahahaha! Very funny!

You should know this, as I already have written of it!

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"!!!

Such a classic summertime movie!

And... it even had baseball in it!!!

A game at Wrigley Field, which I had driven past during my Mid-West Adventure to the Field of Dreams, as well as to points beyond - Detroit, Windsor, Luna Pier, Sandusky, Wapakoneta, and before heading back to Blanchester for the bfe.

What a trip that had been!

"Yeah, that had been a lot of fun, even with the missteps with your passport and your Garmin. Good thing the physicist wanted a post-summer visit with his folks!"

 

Yes, indeed!

How nice to have so many good memories when I time travel in movies!

And I'll be able to watch these over and over - thanks, Comcast!

(smile!)

georgia on my mind

And on my arm, too.

No, that isn't a tattoo.

Remember that bruise from my outing with Christina in Hinesville?

Yeah, that outing that Miyah crashed.

Not that it was the littlest girl's fault, of course.

She's starting kindergarten this school year and today was her first 'practice' day.

My first niece should have let me know at some time before I came that Miyah would be out at noon.

She really should have, and she could have, but she chose not to.

So she rushed me through our lunch at our favorite Mexican place in Hinesville.

I still would not have known my time with her would be curtailed had not the school texted her to make sure she was coming for Miyah.

That is when Christina finally told me of the change in plans.

As I told her, I made this time to be with her, and only her, so we could talk.

Sigh.

So, when we three went to the movie, I was quite aggravated about this situation.

I was especially aggravated because Miyah's meds were wearing off.

That's partly why I wouldn't let the girl sit with me in the chair at their house, and why I would not read the book to her.

Partly.

Mostly, I was mad at Christina and she was on the phone and ignoring me.

Sigh.

I almost had Christina drop me off at my car, but I didn't want to be more rude, so I went ahead and accompanied them to the cinema.

I even enjoyed the movie - hey, it was "Minions: The Rise Of Gru", so of course I did!

But I sat a set away from Christina, with Miyah two seats away from me.

Then, when the movie was over, I was distracted and fell.

Sigh.

And now I have Georgia on my left bicep...

ten days later, as a bad memory of what should have been a good time...

and my first niece no longer initiates our texts and rarely calls...

sigh...

for lack of her giving me a heads up before I came.

Sigh.

proof of life: c'mon mom

Between following invisible trails and looking at me with sad eyes, his quiet demeanor speaks volumes.

The message is always the same.

When will Mom and Dad be home?

Before I left him at noon to bounce home for a bit, I reassured him that today was the day!

At 3 PM, I went to the screening of "Fast Times At Ridgemont High".

This year marks its 40th anniversary!

I had missed this one when it first came to cinemas in 1980, as I was in Okinawa.

Mostly, I saw it because my ex and his buddies would quote entire passages from it!

So, I went, and have a better image of Paul Thomas Anderson.

Then I bopped back over to Tony and Laura's.

Dane seemed reluctant to go outside, but, when I walked out to the back deck, he followed.

I could tell he really wasn't into it, though.

Not even his little buddies were out.

After a lackluster cruise of the yard, he did his business and I let him go back into the cool.

Then off I shot to my house, overnight bag in hand!

Today, I would have a rare double header at the cinema!

The Iconic Events classic had left me wanting more of that 70's vibe from my high school years and I knew just where to get my fix!

Back to the very same cinema, this time for "Minions: The Rise Of Gru"!

Back for more of that decades' fashions and music and hair!

Then back to check on the critters!

Frosty was already on the front porch, as was his can of dinner, as I'd placed it there this afternoon before going home that second time today.

Dane was at the door when I opened it, but I'm on to his game and didn't let him out to harass the kitteh.

No worries, his attention was fully on the can in my hand.

He knew his turn was next, and he was actually hungry.

That meant he knew Mom and Dad would soon be home!

He gobbled up his dinner like it would make time go faster!

He was still licking his lips while posing for this last photo, which I sent to Laura.

Then, for the third time today, I went home...

but, this time, I stayed, to sleep in my own bed.

proof of life: in search of the 7 dwarfs

Seriously, that's what the dog was doing! 

The neighbor over there has seven tiny dogs and, when he has them out in the yard, Dane shares the day's gossip with them, and vice versa.

To humans, it sounds lie an awful cacophony of barking!

But, if you listen between the yips and woofs and arfs, you can almost understand the stories about owners being shared through the wire fence.

After a while, the wife sends the husband out to collect the dogs.

It takes him three trips, with one dog under each arm and the last dog coming of his own accord.

I try to make sure Dane doesn't participate in the din more than once a day.

If he was in charge, he'd be out there every time they were!

That wouldn't be fair to the little fellas.

All the noise created in the pit bull's presence curtails their outing to the yard.

That was earlier this afternoon, before I went southside to join mi amigas!

I had been summoned to a screening of "Nope" at 5 PM, so I went!

Barbara was the summoner, and she had Carolyn in tow with her.

Sandy was to come along, too, but she chickened out.

No matter what I said about it being western SciFi, she only saw the "horror" label which had mistakenly been affixed to the film.

That's okay, I was glad to see it again!

It was especially nice to see it in BigD!!!

How fitting for this type of cinematic treat!

Afterward, I traveled back to midtown, as I had critters ready for dinners.

One more day and Tony and Laura will return from their vacation... 

and I can return to my home!

Meanwhile, might as well take advantage of having more channels of TV to enjoy for free!

I had hoped to watch a few more episodes of "iZombie" tonight.

Nope, no could do.

Netflix was requiring me to log in... drats.

I guess I shouldn't have used Noah's account.

That worked out for the best, though.

"Shawshank Redemption" was about to start, and I hadn't seen it in forever!

Well, maybe not that long, but quite a while.

It's the kind of movie that when I see it listed, I flip over to that channel, no matter where the story line might be, and watch until it's over.

Fortunately for me, it had just begun, with Red providing a bit of history to set the story up.

This scene is near the end of the movie.

Andy is looking up from the accounting as the warden is giving him instructions.

That glare directed over his glasses at the devious man transmits the prisoner's disdain beautifully.

Yes, revenge is definitely a dish best served cold...

bwah ha ha!

(smile!)

how far would you go for a new frock?

I can assure you of one thing: I certainly would not go all the way to Paris!

I'm not talkin' 'bout Paris, Tennessee, either, where my outlaw Kathy lives.

No sir!

I'm talkin' 'bout Paris, France, all the way across the Atlantic Ocean!

But that's where the cleaning woman went, yes she did, to get a new dress for the upcoming dance at the Legion.

But first, I got to see the dog in the sky.

I might not have noticed him if two things had not been true.

First, the cloud had an amazing resemblance to the American bull terrier, i.e., pit bull, that I have been tending to for my brother.

Second, I happened to be out in my front yard this afternoon, waiting for the physicist to pick me up.

I guess there must be something special about our get-togethers, because I sure get blessed with some wonderful clouds!

Right place, right time!

So, he whisked me off to Pooler to see "Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris" - and he was the one who suggested it!

We had very much liked the preview we'd seen at our last Tina Tuesday outing at the end of May.

That had been for another period piece - he has a particular fondness for such films and tv shows.

The movie today was utterly charming and made of quite some substance, not being at all the bit of fluff it might have been - we both very much liked that!

Afterward, I introduced him to Slapfish and he had his first ever poke bowl!

Notice the shirt - that was a gift from me!!!

It's a physics shirt, with a munch of superimposed graphs to depict one of the theories of everything.

I didn't tell him, but I had it for years before I gave it to him earlier this year.

I had been concerned he wouldn't like it.

He told me it's one of his favorites, not just for the physics, but for how airy and light it is!

So, of course I had to treat him to a visit with Frosty.

Dane also wanted to meet him, naturally.

What a lovely Tina Tuesday this has been!

(smile!)

proof of life, with coffee on the porch

"Please tell me you didn't give the dog a caffeinated beverage." 

 

Of course I didn't! I don't even give me caffeine these days. That's decaf in that coffee mug.

"Oh, I see. You're having breakfast out on the front porch, much like you usually do on the balcony of whatever beach resort you're at for your holidays."

 

Exactly right! I was inspired to do so by something Laura had told me before they left. If you say "coffee on the porch" to the dog, he knows he's going to be out there for company. He was very happy about that!

"I'm sure he was. Anything that reminds him of routines with her and Tony is sure to make him happy."

 

That's right. My night routines are very different from theirs, as they tend to have lights out by 10 PM and I'm up until midnight or so. Dane has certainly let me know he is unhappy about that change, but, that's for his benefit. He likes to go out about 5 AM to pee, and I'm certainly not coming from my house to let him do that. This way, I can let him out when I awaken to pee, then go right back to sleep.

"I guess he likes having you handy for that."

 

I'm sure he does.

"So, what are you looking at?"

 

It's the oak tree I planted about 25 years ago. That was when Jeff and I were living at this house, which once was Mama's. The oak by the driveway had died many years before, so I had transplanted one from the back yard. It's truly grown into a lovely tree.

"It certainly has."

 

The marching band is providing a musical backdrop for my breakfast. It's been nice to listen to them, though I had not realized they would be returning to HVJ so soon. It isn't even August!

"Well, remember, Christina had to return to school this week, too, to get in practice before the kids for Head Start pour in next week."

 

Time has such a way of seemingly going faster, doesn't it? But it's all in one's perspective. I know the university will be starting up soon, too. I'll ask the bfe when I see him later.

"As in later today? About time y'all had plans again!"

 

That's pretty much what he said! We're going off to the Royal Cinema for "Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris", which looks to be divinely funny! Then we'll have dinner out there before coming back. I plan on a quick visit with Dane before the physicist picks me up. I've already given the dog some food, as well as put out dry food for Frosty the cat, so both of the animals should be fine until I return.

"I foresee the dog being a bit miffed with the change in schedule..."

 

Oh, pish posh! It's Tuesday and he's accustomed to his owners going off for a movie on Tuesday nights, so this won't be much different from that.

"Hey, it's Tina Tuesday! And you're going out for dinner and a movie! Very nice!"

 

I totally agree! And guess what I got from Comcast for their last movie reward? "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"!!! Alan Ruck to look at however often I want! Woohoo!

"Hahahaha! Once upon a time, it would have been Matthew Broderick's name you chanted."

 

Yeah, well, once upon a time, Alan Ruck held my hand and told me my name was beautiful. So, his is the name that I ballyhoo!

"Yes, dear!"

 

Indeed. Now, I bid you farewell, g'friend. If I'm to visit the dog, I must do so now!

"Later, 'tater! Have fun tonight!"

 

(smile!)

proof of life, in the sun

This time, the photo of the dog was taken in the back yard, mid-afternoon.

I was there to make sure his bladder didn't burst.

Silly me!

I had to go out the door before he would.

He did go pee, but then he laid down to watch me.

Silly dog!

I sat right there on the porch, enjoying the nice breeze, and stayed there while I had a textversation with Dood.

I'm so glad my brother is having such a good vacation!

The Noah's Ark was all he had hoped it would be, living up to and surpassing the hype.

Hooray!!!

He never did travel much, but Laura is like me and is always ready for a new adventure!

And Dane?

He was ready to go back inside after about 15 minutes.

I made him stay out for a full half-hour.

(smile!)

I've always maintained that a dog or cat is like having a preschool child, and, having recently spent several days - and nights - in the company of two such children, I can aver that this dog's temperament is very much like theirs.

He has been so put out with me!

I won't let him sleep in the bed with me - oh, poor dog.

I won't even let him sleep in the same room with me - oh, poor dog.

I won't feed him from my plate - oh, poor dog.

Tonight, he was so perturbed that he refused to eat his food because I wouldn't give him any of my dinner.

Even after I went over to his bowl three times to show him the food and let him smell it, he just stared at me and pouted.

Seriously.

After three hours of this silent treatment, I fetched the oyster crackers.

Of course he wanted some... or so he thought... until he realized it wasn't meat or cheese... but, as I kept eating them, he relented and ate one.

After that, I threw one down for him for every one that I ate.

By the tenth cracker, he was ready for his food!

Hooray, I'd psyched him out!

Now, I'm going back to "iZombie".

I found it on Netflix and I've already watched the first two episodes.

That's a definite perk of pet-sitting!

And the star of the show?

Rose McIver, the innkeeper on "Ghosts".

Nice!

(smile!)

proof of life, with dracula

No, no, no, no, no, not at the same time, as Jim of Dibley would say.

First the one, then the other today!

Here's Dane, asking, yet again, when his mom and dad would return.

Hey, as Laura said, he looks like he's being a good boy.

He has been, he's just a bit confused.

Poor baby!

And this is Tony with Laura!

Their destination was Ruby Falls today.

I'm sure they're both going to love it!

Just look at those happy faces!

And here's Dood with his stepson, Noah!

I'm eager to see the photos that Laura will take of the junior high school student at the theme park that bears his name.

How cool is that???

The place has only existed since 2016, but it looks very cool in the video.

I think Christina may even be interested in going there!

Right now, I'm back with the dog.

I'd walked home for a while, but knew to return at 2:30 PM.

That's when "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" came on!

I do so love this movie!

Here 'Peter' is, playing in a karaoke bar in Hawaii...

singing a love song from his Dracula musical that he is writing...

and here he is performing that very musical in NYC...

this time singing Dracula's dying song...

in "A Taste For Love"!

I would most def attend that show!

Yes, even though it has puppets in it!

After all...

it is a musical...

and a romance...

and a comedy...

and that's right up my alley!

(smile!)

seeing double with friday magic

So, it's Friday, and two of my favorites are on television.

And here's the thing: the same actress is in both of them!

Here she is on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us", from s7e24, last year.

(I caught it as a repeat earlier this month.)

That show comes on at 8 PM on channel SCC.

I snapped this so I could capture her 47-year-old look.

You know, for a comparison experiment.

(smile!)

And this is her on "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", from s3e6.

That was filmed in 1998, when she was 24 years old.

Notice, please, that the show on Comet TV has an Alyson Hannigan that is nearly half the age of the actress in the magic show.

Nearly half the age...

but still totally recognizable as the same woman.

I'm betting that she uses the same hair dye now as that used all those years ago.

How fortunate for her that they still make it!

I remember going online to help Mother Pat locate a source for her 'Silver Platinum' dye when the local hair products store in Michigan no longer carried it.

What a relief that was for her!

Now, pardon me, but "The X-Files" is about to start, and it features yet another redhead.

This is one of my favorite episodes, starring Lily Tomlin and Ed Asner as ghosts of lovers who only appear on Christmas Eve. 

Then, in an hour, I get "The Rain King", another Mulder-Scully favorite, with a twist in identity of the one affecting the weather... and it's a sweet romance, too.

So, bye for now, y'all!

proof of life!

I was over there earlier, to let the dog have a bathroom break.

Well, and to give the poor thing some company, too.

Sure, he's used to being alone in the daytime, but he's had a teenager in the house for the last two months, near 'bout, and I know he's accustomed to a mid-afternoon petting session.

I had assured Tony and Laura that I would try to keep him on his schedule...

and so I sent this photo to them around 4 PM...

just as they were taking a break near Ruby Falls.

Perfect timing!

(smile!)

you must have heard me telepath you

That's what I told Tony when he called earlier tonight!

And just why were we two in need of a chat?

Well, I'm the designated dog-sitter for his vacation.

Yeah, I'm not quite sure how I got that job, but, hey, why not?

Having a critter in my life will be a good thing.

And in a week, the dog will have his people back!

(smile!)

Tonight, though, was a trial run for me and the dog.

It isn't like he doesn't know me, but I wanted to make sure he understood what was going on.

So, Tony and Laura had me over for tacos and her -fabulous- salsa!

That gave me a chance to visit with her son, Noah, too, before he returns to Missouri for his junior year of high school.

(smile!)

Tony walked me through the use of their fancy TV remote and the volume control.

He also filled me in on their internet, in case I want to log in for anything.

You know, like blogging, or something.

(smile!)

He also showed me the foods for the dog and told me his feeding and bathroom schedule.

I'll be spending the night, partly so the dog doesn't get too lonely, but mostly so I won't have to rise crazy-early to let him out.

(smile!)

As for Frosty, the white cat that lives outside, I was clued in on his feeding schedule, too.

Do you know that little brother of mine has the cat's cans of food arranged on the shelf in such a way as to make sure the cat has plenty of variety?

I'm serious!

And this is for a cat that dislikes him.

I'm serious!!

It all makes me very proud of how very far Tony has come in the last four years.

He just recently was released from having mandatory meetings with his parole officer.

Wow, right?

He'll still be on parole for a while (I think he has five more years), but he no longer has to have physical meetings, or even phone meetings.

That means he doesn't have that meeting fee any more either.

(smile!)

Plus, he and his dear wife, who just celebrated four years together at the top of the month, have made their house officially theirs!

They closed on it this very week!

Woohoo!

(smile!)

I am so proud of him, and so proud of how he has become a true Grandpa for his son's and daughter's children!

Really, that's part of the reason I took on the dog-sitting job.

He asked me to take on that responsibility and he's paying me for it, which means it's very important to him and that he trusts me to take care of Dane.

Yeah, I can do that for Dood.

Glad to do it, too.

(smile!)

banged up on a tina tuesday

Yes, I have fallen again.

Damn.

This time, it was at the cinema in Hinesville.

I had traveled there for 'Tina Tuesday with my first niece.

The movie was done and the credits were rolling and we'd both said we needed to pee... 

so I'd started up the broad steps toward the exit, popcorn bag and drink in my right hand...

and the top of my right sandal caught the lip of the stair...

causing me to stumble in that direction...

and next thing I knew, I had crash landed in front of the seat, my right knee falling onto the floor, my left bicep coming up hard against the cup holder of that seat.

Ouch.

Immediately I had folks around me trying to help me up.

There was no way for me to rise on my own.

I simply did not have the strength.

Damn.

I tried to work my way over to the rail on that left wall, but it was too slippery.

By that time, the manager was in there, trying to help, as was a paramedic that happened to be at the cinema for a film.

He had positioned himself in front of me, on the next lower step.

The next lower step...

that's when the advantage of the physics of that position came to me.

I scooched down until my feet were both firmly on that lower step, essentially giving me a boost up as my butt was on the higher step.

The paramedic was then able to help me stand straight up in one smooth movement.

Physics.

The manager took my name and info for his report, then got Christina's as well.

We were able to sit and wait for a while, thanks to the thunderstorm raging outside.

i thank You, God.

Christina had wanted me to stay the night with her, but my meds were all at home.

I drove in the rain all the way, thinking of how fortunate I was to have had so many people there to help me, thinking of how I need to be sure to lift my feet higher when I am on steps, thinking of the need to use stair rails for extra support.

Getting older calls for loss adjustment for lack of younger reflexes.

Damn.

I kept icing my right knee all evening after I got home.

I also started taking Tylenol then, one every four or five hours.

This morning, I woke up with an ache in my back and my right shoulder, confirming that I had twisted to try to catch myself as I fell.

My right knee was bruised but, thankfully, not stiff and only slightly swollen.

My left knee was unscathed, mercifully.

Even my upper right foot and toes, that I thought had been scraped by the top of the stair when my shoe came off, were fine.

i thank You, God.

My right arm, though, is an absolute fright.

I did try to ice it, off and on, last night, but it was problematic.

Water from the ice bag kept soaking me with its run-off.

Placing a kitchen towel between the arm and my body had not been an adequate solution.

In other words, I had resolved to live with the expected bruise.

And what a doozy it is, as broad as my palm.

It's a little sore to the touch, like my knee, but that's to be expected.

Lesson learned: my mind may still feel 18, but my body does not.

Yeah, I'm getting that, stubborn as I can be sometimes.

i thank You, God, that I am retired and can heal at my own pace.

taxes and treats

"What taxes? You already paid the first part of your property taxes and the balance won't be due until October or so."

 

No, silly, not my taxes. 'Tis July, so that means working with Smitty on the 2nd quarter payroll taxes, as well as the sales tax for June.

 

"Oh, so that meant you were there about two hours today."

 

Nope! I forgot I had already started on the invoices for the sales tax when I was there doing May's. I just had to add one more invoice and June was done! I was gone in an hour!

 

"Wow! That sounds like some kind of record!"

 

Well, I don't know about that, but I did get out just before the rain came. These near-daily buckets of downpour have really been watering the grass, and the weeds, too. When Smitty was over last week to mow the front and back, the crazy growth of green behind the house was bogging down his riding lawn mower!!! He had to take off the bagger because it was filling up with each pass!

 

"He's still doing that for you?"

 

Well, it's in lieu of paying for my tax services, kinda sorta. This time, he not only cut the grass, but he edged both yards and the sidewalk. Plus, he trimmed some of the bushes in the back, too.

 

"Very nice!"

 

I agree!

 

"So, what was the treat you gave yourself?"

 

I took myself to slunch at Red Lobster after the rain stopped!

 

"Good for you! No sense letting that gift card go to waste!"

 

My thoughts exactly! I've been seeing their commercials and my taste buds were craving seafood... so I had the Garlic Shrimp Skewers, plus an extra! I hadn't remembered six being on each stake, but that just meant I had some to take home for dinner! Yum! I took home three of those biscuits, too, for breakfast! But the salad and coleslaw got eaten up right there! That last bit was an inside joke for the physicist.

 

"I'm sure the bfe will get it! That's a longstanding joke for y'all."

 

Yeah, it sure is! Speaking of him, we need to get together. It's been a minute! Between COVID and travel, it's probably been a month. Speaking of travel, I had let the fridge get pretty empty before I left for the girls' trip. That means I needed milk! Like, badly! So that was another reason to have a good meal before I shopped. And lookee what I found at Publix!

 

"What beautiful cherries!!!"

 

They sure are! And they were on sale for less than half price! I just wish they'd had more than one kind so I could do another taste test.

 

"Yeah, that was fun! Okay, have your dessert!"

 

Thanks - I will!

alice and the vicar are back!

I do so love this British show!

All the characters are so eccentric and so human and so well done.

But, it's the last little segment of each episode that I most anticipate!

That's when the Vicar of Dibley shares a joke with Alice.

Alice is so sweet and demure that there isn't a ribald bone in her body, whereas the priest must have been quite a lass before she took her vows!

I relate to both of them.

Having been born blonde, I was as naive as Alice before I enlisted in the Navy.

By the time I hit my first duty station, I was at least as randy as Geraldine.

Ah, good times!

Carolyn is the only one of mi amigas who will get raunchy with me these days, but that's just fine - I'm glad to have her for that very reason!

(smile!)

As for the jokes on the television show, here's one!

V: Two nuns are driving down the road when a vampire jumps out.

A: Oh, my, that must have been terrifying.

V: One nun says to the other, "Show him your cross", at which the other yells out the window, "Get out of the way, you stupid git!"

A: And then what happened?

V: (sips her tea)

Hahahaha!

Nicely done pun!

(smile!)

is there a teenager in the house?

Not my house, silly - in Christina's house in Hinesville!

And the answer is: most certainly!!!

Christian doesn't actually turn 13 until tomorrow...

which means the birthday party today was definitely a surprise!

I'd been called yesterday with the summons, so of course I came!

Michael was there, too, with Alyssa and Leila!

And here was the big surprise: Oma Karin was even in the house!

How good it was to see her again!

When the birthday boy arrived, he came fresh from the barber, where Dad had kept him busy while folks arrived and decorations were set up.

C J didn't have a clue that we would all be there!

Then he did a surprise for me: he gave me a concert, complete with an extra guitarist and even a drummer!

Miyah and Chloe weren't really accompanying him so much as having fun with their big Bubba!

But C J has been taking lessons and he was pretty good on the new electric Les Paul copy that he got for this birthday.

He even played "Smoke On The Water" for me!

That was easily recognized as it has one of the 4th greatest guitar riffs ever!

Very impressive!

He played a Metallica song, too, but I'm more familiar with Deep Purple's work.

Oops, my train had derailed... back to the party!

Here we are in the kitchen, munching out on peanuts boiled that very morning!

That's Karin in the ballcap, and that's my first niece's uber-tanned arm in the foreground.

Christian is across from his grandma, separated from her by all those little blonde heads of his sisters and cousins, all munching peanuts as fast as they could crack them open!

Fortunately, Christina already had the potato salad and chicken pasta ready to go, and Chris soon had the burgers and hotdogs - and steak tips!!! - hot off the grill.

Time to eat!!!

And so we did, filling plates and grabbing drinks and sitting all over the kitchen and living room, noshing out.

Then it was time to open the gifts!

Wait a minute, wait a minute! 

What about singing the song and having cake?

Hey, he's a teenager now, folks!

Better get used to things getting topsy-turvy!

Hahahaha!

Actually, Oma needed to go, so C J wanted to open her present so she could see him do so.

And that, naturally, led to others wanting to see what was in all those gift bags, so...

that's what we did!

And then the cake came out!

(Think those colors on the outside are cool?

The inside was almost psychedelic!!!)

And then we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Christian!

Then Christina got four candles and got them lit...

and the birthday boy made a wish and blew them out...

then they lit back up...

and he blew them out...

and they lit back up...

hahahaha! Hahahaha!

He was laughing so hard he could hardly blow after a while, but the sparkler candles were finally extinguished for good...

and he had lots of wishes for each time they had re-lit!

(smile!)