mental jukebox bonanza!!!

My friend Sandy started it on fb... and I couldn't resist continuing the fun on my page!

Here's the premise: to name the first song that comes to mind that contains the item of interest, whether it be a number or day of the week or whatever.

No fair using the internet to look anything up!

I had several folks play along, too!

Very nice!

 

So, here was 54-year-old Sandy Karlin's playlist:

* Something to Wear - Raspberry Beret
* A Place - Georgia On My Mind
* Animal -  Hungry Like the Wolf
* A Number -  In the year 2525
* Color - Blue Moon
* A Girl’s Name - Sandy (Grease)
* A Boy’s Name - Mickey
* Profession - You'll Be a Dentist (Little Shop of Horrors)
* Day of the week - New Moon on Monday
 

And here's the tunes from my 64-year-old brain:

* Something to Wear - Chantilly Lace
* A Place - Viva Las Vegas!
* Animal -  One-eyed One-armed Flying Purple People Eater
* A Number -  Eight Days A Week
* Color - Nights In White Satin
* A Girl’s Name - My Sharona
* A Boy’s Name - Rapid Roy That Stock Car Boy
* Profession - Beauty School Drop Out
* Day of the week - Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon

 

My 30-something nurse, Kate Strickland, who went to Italy with me in 2012 had these:

* Something to Wear - Black Velvet
* A Place - Home on the Range
* Animal - Eye of the Tiger
* A Number - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
* Color - White Wedding
* A Girl’s Name - K-k-k Katy
* A Boy’s Name - Jesse's Girl
* Profession - Hot for Teacher
* Day of the week - Last Friday Night

Baseball fan Jim Casey, who is at least mid-70's, took me back in time:

* Something to Wear - She wears short shorts
* A Place - London Calling
* Animal - Hound Dog
* A Number - Eight Miles High
* Color - Black Magic Woman
* A Girl’s Name - Rikki Don't Lose That Number
* A Boy’s Name - Johnny B. Goode
* Profession - Lovely Rita Meter Maid
* Day of the week - Manic Monday

Artist Anne El-Habre, who may be 50 or so, offered these:
* Something to Wear - Short Skirt, Long Jacket
* A Place - Waterloo Sunset
* Animal - Walking a Cat Named Dog
* A Number - 52nd Bridge Street Song
* Color - Paint It Black
* A Girl’s Name - Carrie Anne
* A Boy’s Name - It's A Shame About Ray
* Profession - Wichita Lineman
* Day of the week - Friday I'm In Love

Mark Rand, fifty-something thespian and educator, had a lively mix:
* Something to Wear - A white sport coat and a pink carnation
* A Place - Istanbul (not Constantinople)
* Animal - rock lobster
* A Number - 76 trombones
* Color - Blue velvet
* A Girl’s Name - Brandy
* A Boy’s Name - a boy named Sue
* Profession - Working on the chain gang
* Day of the week - Sunday in the park with George

Octogenarian Dandy Barrett, also a thespian, crossed several decades with these:
* Something to Wear - Blue Suede Shoes
* A Place - New York, New York
* Animal - How Much is that Doggie in the Window 

* A Number - Two to Tango
* Color - It Isn't Easy Being Green
* A Girl's Name - Liza with a Z
* A Boy's Name - John Henry
* Profession - Tiny Dancer
* Day of the Week - Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week

My Boomer friend, Jackie Frant, also in her 70's, had a bit of country in the list:
* Something to Wear - Put on your Sunday Clothes
* A Place - Sweet Home Alabama
* Animal - Werewolf of London
* A Number - One is the Loneliest Number
* Color - Don’t you make my Brown Eyes Blue
* A Girl's Name - Peggy Sue
* A Boy's Name - Big Bad John
* Profession - Working 9 to 5
* Day of the Week - Monday Monday

Cousin Lynn Lee, somewhere in her 50's, even had a soundtrack tune in there:
* Something to Wear - The Lady in Red
* A Place - Please Come to Boston
* Animal -  One Winged Dove
* A Number -  One (Is the Loneliest Number)
* Color - Yellow Submarine
* A Girl’s Name - Gloria
* A Boy’s Name - Arthur’s Theme
* Profession - Car Wash
* Day of the week - Saturday in the Park

And what did I like best about this little game?

Being reminded of songs I had forgotten!

Also, it was cool to learn of songs I never knew.

I also liked the variety of genres. 

But, perhaps most favorite of all, I loved that folks played along!

Thanks, y'all!

(smile!)

off to a new home

"Say what? You're going to move to Daytona, after all these years?"

 

Hey, I gotta admit, I have been thinking along those lines, even though packing up a house is a major pain.

At least I would have one less piece of furniture to deal with now.

 

"I thought you had already done away with nearly everything not being used."

 

And so I had, save for one item with sentimental attachments: Mama's sewing machine.

I kept telling myself that I was going to use it.

I really did.

But, I never sewed the first stitch with it.

I had put the machine in place, at one point, and had even threaded it.

I had thought that if I had it up and ready for action, I'd go for it.

Nope, never happened.

It became a mere desk, a surface upon which to put stuff.

I had asked around, trying to interest my first niece or her mom, but to no avail.

All those theatre groups I know?

Some of those costumes are designed and sewed for specific shows.

Certainly they had a seamstress that would make use of this fine machine?

No, they appreciated my offer, but they already had sewing machines.

Fine.

I would just keep it until something came up...

and, yesterday, something did.

The church has adopted an Afghani refugee family in the "First Friends" program.

In the September newsletter was a list of items the Abasy family needed.

And there, midway down the list, was "sewing machine".

Right place, right time.

I had contacted Asbury Memorial's Assistant Minister, Claire Marich, to say that I had that very item and would need help moving it.

She and her husband just left with the sewing machine.

Mrs. Abasy will be able to make her curtains now, as well as clothes for her family.

I know Mama would approve.

As for me, I'm going to miss its presence...

but I'm thankful that it will no longer be idle.

seeing double, double... double features!

Yep, and I've already seen my three 'free' movies for the week!

I know, I know - it's only Monday!!!

But thanks to the Idris Elba duo on Friday, I only had one to go and I just saw it!

Truth to tell, I had planned to pair it with a new vampire flick, but after checking the schedule, it looks like "Bodies Bodies Bodies" won't be around next Friday.

So, I went ahead and watched it today.

I was the only one there, but that was fine by me, as I prefer to see scary movies alone.

Right?

And, as it turned out, this wasn't that scary.

That means it's probably been a major disappointment to those who like horror.

But, hey, they knew it had Pete Davidson in it, so they should have known it would have heavy touches of comedy.

And it did... but I don't want to spoil the ending.

Just bear in mind that the plot involves a bunch of spoiled millenials who were having a hurricane party at a friend's parent's mansion while his folks are away.

'Nuff said.

What about another double feature?

Well, that was the week before.

I had known I might have a problem trying to get in my A*List during my stint with Central Casting, so I had gotten in a two-fer on the 22nd.

On the 25th, after two 13-hour days in a row on a sunny set, I had just enough energy left for an anime movie... 

especially as I'd already seen it!

This time, though, I opted for the English-dubbed version of "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero", rather than reading subtitles.

That was good, as I caught things I'd missed before.

Plus, I was able to tell the mother and son pair watching with me to stay tuned until the end of the credits, as there was a nice little extra bit.

(smile!)

sunday sundae?

Well, the thing is, here's the thing.

(That's an inside joke with the ex, y'all!)

One of the reasons I went to church was to be on the way to downtown.

Plus, this was Reverend Billy's second Sunday back from his summer vacation.

See him there, at stage left?

Or is that stage right?

I never could keep that straight.

(smile!)

Notice the crowd is not as bad as it would have been last week.

Even the choir is down in count, but that's due to COVID rampaging through them.

That means no musicals will be used in October for the "God On Broadway" series.

Not to fret, though, as Billy has assured us Broadway will still be at Asbury Memorial, starting with "Amadeus" - very good!!!

Maybe I can be an extra?

As I recall, when the Armstrong Masquers performed that one, we had a cast of more than 30, all driving John Suchower to distraction trying to herd them.

Anyway, when we were all standing for the doxology, I slid on out.

I had ice cream on my mind!

"CBS Sunday Morning" had a story about that delectable treat, so I clearly heard Ben & Jerry's calling my name.

Or so I thought.

When I walked into the shop on Broughton, I was practically bouncing, I was so excited with an-ti-ci-pa-tion!

Sadly, there was no coconut almond fudge chunk awaiting me.

In fact, they were totally out of the lactose-free ice creams.

Guess that meant a double scoop of nothing then!

That's okay, it was a lovely day for a walk!

And what's all this hot mess?

Broughton Street is undergoing a dramatic remodel, with no vehicles allowed between Drayton and Whitaker.

Sure looks like it will be pretty!

Three tones of pavers, different sizes, too, plus decorative grates to allow water to drain quickly.

I guess they want to make sure folks use the parking garages from now on.

I plan to keep parking here, near Columbia Square.

That's because my little fish-face adores this pretty little green fountain!

See my car under the left side of the burbling basin?

And hardly anyone out and about... guess they thought the rain was coming soon.

I knew better.

The meteorologist had said the storm was due after early afternoon, so not to dawdle over Sunday luncheon after church, y'all!

She was pretty much right.

After downtown, it was only 1 PM, so I headed to Greenwich to visit family.

I saw that the grave markers had weeds scrambling to cover them up... not any more!

Mama's, Frank's, George's, Mrs. Zaida's and even her brother Billy's are now cleaned up, with names clearly in view.

I even found a plastic bag in my car and gathered up all the shattered flower sprays in view of the Barry plot.

Then I bopped over to Jean Marie's locale.

That clump of red behind those three sunflower displays?

That's hers.

The dragonfly paver was completely covered by a thick layer of oak leaves, plus a few weeds.

That's all cleaned up, too, now, so the mowers will know she is there.

As for me, I made it home just before the rain got heavy.

(smile!)

i thank You, God.

idris elba double feature!

"This is an optical illusion.

It's actually Black and White!"

 

Jay Sinclair, music man that he is, posted that on his fb.

I stole it as soon as I saw it, of course.

Such a pun lover am I!

 

And just what brought it to mind today?

Well, yesterday, I started my new A*List with two movies featuring one of my favorites, Idris Elba.

His half-century birthday is coming up, on September 6th, so I'm celebrating it early.

(smile!)

I had invited mi tres amigas to come along, but one had birthday80 celebrations for her mom, so she was out.

The other two agreed to the second film in the line-up, but abstained from the first.

No worries!

So, off I went to see "Beast" on my own!

Idris was a widowed doctor, toting his two teenaged daughters off to Africa to try to relive a happier time when their mom was alive.

The girls end up with a new appreciation for dear ol' dad after he saves their silly selves from a rampaging lion!

The movie is actually a travelogue to promote that continent, but it also carries a strong anti-poaching message.

It reminded me of the old Mutual Of Omaha Wild Kingdom films of my youth.

Nice!

Then I puttered about with errands while awaiting the 5:30 PM screening of "Three Thousand Years Of Longing", that Barbara and Carolyn had already planned to see.

Yeah, I meant to word it that way.

We had the room to ourselves, strangely enough, even though this was its opening night.

Let me assure you, dear reader, that this movie is well worth seeing!

In a way, it's like an old Arabian fairy tale, in which a being pleads for its freedom by beguiling its listener with a string of stories.  

This time, the fable weaver is a Djinn and the listener is an aging writer, off to explore other lands and gather new inspiration for her own tales.

What a lovely movie it is, too, almost bringing me to tears at its end, with mild whispers of another movie I had loved and found exquisite.

Afterward, we three older women headed off to dinner at Bonefish Grill!

That was always a favorite and we were actually out of the movie in plenty of time for the kitchen to be open.

That isn't usually the case, as Barbara favors late evening film times.

So, a special treat was needed for all!

And a special treat I had, too, opting for the Pineapple Glazed Shrimp, an chef's offering only available this evening.

How scrumptious it was!

And of course I had the Bonefish Salad as a side!

Carolyn ordered her usual, the Chilean Sea Bass.

Barbara took the appetizer-portion of the Ahi Tuna, changing this and that as she does.

(smile) 

It is rare that she orders anything as it's written on the menu.

(smile)

And while we were waiting for our meals, and even during them, we talked a little bit about the movie we had just shared.

I tried to steer the conversation to my experiences on a real movie set...

but neither of them seemed interested, so I dropped it.

Barbara did most of the talking, but none of it was new: complaints about her car debt, about her lack of holiday travel fare from the mother of her honorary 'granddaughter', about the missing amiga's failure to check in with her about Labor Day plans, about her lack of new students to tutor.

Seriously.

(Sigh)

I have only myself to blame.

I know how she is and I know how Carolyn has become.

It's as clear as black and white.

(Sigh)

Time for a change.

"$100,000 Pyramid" is about to come on and that's always fun for me.

Yes, please - more puns!

These are from last week's show.

"Are you squidding me?"

"The fax of life"

"A tale of two kitties"

"William Shook-speare"

"This Hertz me more than it Hertz you"

Very funny!

(smile!)

wjcl must think i'm famous!!!

Why do I say that?

They've put me in a movie!!!

Sure, sure, it's a short film, just over three minutes.

But the camera was on me the whole time!

Well, maybe not that first minute or so, but after that, the whole time!

The whole time, I say!!!

(smile!) 

I wish I could remember the name of that fellow I was talking with, but all I can say for sure is he's a local, like me, who grew up in Savannah.

I wish I could remember what we were talking about, but all I can say for sure is that at one point, I clearly said to him, "Now, wait a minute!"

I was doing a lot of talking with my hands, but, hey, that's what I do.

(smile!)

The video was shot on Tuesday, from the median in the middle of Ogeechee Road.

You can even see the cars passing by and blocking the view on that busy highway.

I was wearing one of Mother Pat's Hawaiian tops, the one with the dolphins on the front and a solitary dolphin jumping over my left shoulder blade.

That lovely plait falling down my back?

I have Nadia, a professional hair dresser, to thank for that.

She braided my hair again yesterday, and I still have it that way.

I just haven't wanted to take it apart just yet!

(smile!)

I know the video was shot before our slunch break.

That was around 3 PM.

The caterers had a nice selection of food and I had the curry tofu over rice.

Excellent on such a hot, muggy day!

Yesterday, I chose the tortilla chip encrusted cod - delectable!

That was one mighty fine piece of fish!

Plus, lots of vegetables, and even bread pudding for dessert!

Ah, if only I'd had time to really enjoy that fine food.

But not much time for dining when there's so many wardrobe changes and so much rehearsing before scenes get shot again and again.

Those thirteen-hour days wore me out!

But were they fun?

Oh, yes!

I can't wait to do that again!

(smile!)

22 August 22

Even my odometer wanted in on this action!

Plenty of two's and multiples of two!

2 2 4 4 4 2

What a nice coincidence!

I noticed the mileage when I stopped for gas between my kid-flick double feature.

The first was yet another viewing of "Minions: The Rise Of Gru" - I really enjoy this time machine back to my senior year in high school!

I had a bit of time on my hands after, so that's when I got gas.

Good thing I wasn't in a hurry!

It took my thirty minutes, and two trips to the clerk at the pumps and one trip to the Customer Service counter, to get a receipt from that Walmart pump.

Hey, it slowed me down enough to notice my odometer reading and make me realize I was hungry, so that was good.

Right time, right place, after all.

Off to El Potro for three Tacos De Pollo, using every bit of that spicy sauce and every drop of lime juice!

Gorgeous, aren't they?

And absolutely delicious, too.

(smile!)

The second film was an oldie, but a goodie, out for its 40th anniversary.

Boo had even joined me for it, and we had the screening room almost to ourselves.

She had never seen "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" on the silver screen - imagine that!

And guess what?

The two movies had something in common: "Phone home"!

For real!

When Wild Knuckles had kidnapped Gru, he made the 11 3/4 year old boy phone home for a ransom, but Kevin The Minion intercepted the message and gathered Stuart and Bob, and Otto, for a rescue mission.

That scene was pretty funny, as it involved a rotary phone.

Hey, that's what there was in 1976!

I know; I was there then!

(smile!)

And everyone knows about the little alien trying to get a message to his family by building an intergalactic phone from a turntable, a fork, and an umbrella, which is pretty incredible.

After the movie, we walked out to rain - no gabfest in the parking lot this time!

That was good for me... I had missed a call from Central Casting.

I had been waiting and hoping since 2018 for this opportunity!

And just what was that call about?

Well, in the words of Johnny Russell:

they're going to put me in the movies,

they're gonna make a big star out of me...

and all I gotta do is, act naturally!

Seriously!!!

And they want my car, too!!!

Seriously!!! 

I think they mostly want my little fish-face, but we're a package deal!

(smile!)

Now, I need to raid my closet for clothes that meet the specifications for "Pedestrian, with auto" and make sure I have everything all packed and ready for the morning.

Call time is 7 AM... and being late is not an option!

Off to break legs for the next two days!

(smile!)

company from Guyton, in my house!

One of the good things about misdirected mail coming to my house?

It sometimes will cause a retrieval mission to venture to Savannah!

Hooray!

 

I had alerted my nephew, Michael, that I had two pieces from a life insurance company, addressed to him.

As it turned out, those were not just statements, but invoices!

That's what he discovered when he came to see me today...

with his lovely daughters!

And they stayed for almost three hours!

At my house!

What a treat!

The girls are in first grade this year, so of course I talked to them about school.

Alyssa, in the flowered dress, told me that reading was her favorite subject.

Very nice!

I told her I had always loved reading.

(I had also intended to take classes at Armstrong once I turned 62, as I would not have to pay tuition.

I wanted to take more literature classes.

I have yet to even look at university offerings since the pandemic began.)

And what about Leila?

 

She loves math!

Well, how about that!

I like math, too, especially when I get to make graphs with data and do some analysis.

(I just may have to start doing that again.

Right now, the CDC is doing the graphing, which shows that this summer was the same as last summer in here in the USA, in terms of new COVID cases.

Imagine that.)

She asked me about the two rhinoceros beetles in the plastic case by my front door...

so I gave them to her!

She is going to give them to her teacher!

I told her about finding the male outside the cinema after a big storm, and that I'd taken it to a biology professor at Armstrong to have it officially named.

That teacher had the female of the species already, so she gave it to me.

Nice, right?

And I've had it the pair for... hmmm... at least seven years.

(And just how do I know that?

For starters, it was Christina's ex, Jason, who had spotted the beetle on the sidewalk when he'd stepped off to have a cigarette.

I think we'd been able to go to the movie together because they had a lull in the foster content of their household.

Their divorce was in the summer of 2016, so the horned beetle was before that.

Also, Armstrong's loss of identity began that first semester of 2017, when it was merged with the Statesboro school.

I didn't do much bopping between the second (chemistry) and first (biology) floor much that year or the next (which would turn out to be the last that I was teaching). 

Good Lord, I must be conversing with Barbara too much - I drift off topic into tangents almost as much as she does!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!)

Leila was delighted to have the two insects to share at school!

I was delighted to have the beetles finally find somewhere else to be!

Alyssa was delighted that they were dead and trapped in the plastic case!

And Michael was delighted that his girls were delighted!

(smile!)

 

And, no, Leila's teacher is not Alyssa's.

The two girls are in different classes, just as they were last year for kindergarten.

How fabulous!

As I told them, I'm so glad the school policy is to split twins, so each child has the opportunity to develop their own personality and way of thinking.

Leila told me that they are not the only twins in their classes; there are actually two more sets of twins in first grade there!

Wow!

And they're all split, too, so each kid can develop independently of the other.

I don't remember ever having more than one set of twins at any school I ever attended.

I wonder if they're simply more prevalent...

or I was simply not paying enough attention?

Who knows!

And there I go, off track... lol!

The girls weren't the only ones leaving with something.

I gave Michael the set of clothes that had belonged to his Dad.

I told him that Ronnie had left a lot of his belongings with me, in my shed, when he had moved out of his last apartment and into a tent in the woods.

After a couple of years, I'd culled through the clothes and selected a nice button-down shirt with long sleeves, a nice pair of dress slacks, good socks, and a nice belt.

I'd washed the clothes, then hung them in a closet to await use.

They have probably been in that closet for close to ten years.

(I can put that estimate on there because Ronnie was living in that tiny house off Skidaway when the physicist came into my life, prompting my trip to The Field Of Dreams.

That was all part of my Midwest Adventure of 2012.

Anywho, the bfe had occasion to meet Ronnie when we all ended up having dinner together at a Mexican restaurant near that end of Skidaway.

That was maybe in March or April of that same year.

Ah, good times, good times.)

Michael had taken the clothes to his car almost immediately.

I'm glad they were important to him.

We talked about his school - that's all done, at last! - and his job - he has an apprentice that he's teaching the electrical trade to! - and his plans to move out of his mom's house soon.

I know that would be good, for him and the girls, but also for Melinda and Matt.

They're of an age that having little ones around 24/7 is quite energy-draining.

I certainly have a new understanding of just how much after my girls' trip!

How on Earth have they managed to all live together for this long??

Michael understands that it's time to move on.

He's looking at renting, but I told him he'll be better off buying.

Rents are crazy high.

I think he'll be ready for his own place by October 6th.

That's the court date set for his divorce.

I'm going to try to stay more in touch between now and then.

I know he needs the support.

I'm so glad they came for a visit!

What a blessing for all of us!

i thank You, God.

watching a rogue with mi tres amigas

Here are mi tres amigas!

That would be Carolyn, then Barbara, and Sandy.

They're walking back to Barbara's car, after dining and post-movie discussion, at Carey Hilliard's.

Why that restaurant?

Two reasons, really.

First, it's one of the very few midtown that serves late.

Second, we're all locals, born and raised here, so this barbeque joint is practically in our blood.

(smile!)

As for our chatting for two hours there and in Boo's car, it certainly wasn't limited to the film, of course.

After all, we've been friends since 2007, so we carry on about a variety of topics!

Mostly, though, it was about movies in general and "Rogue Agent" in particular.

The 2022 film was not the usual type shown for the Cinema Savannah screenings and might not have been had it not starred Gemma Arterton, a British actress that Thomasz fancies.

I can understand why.

She is a top-notch actress, a la Ashley Judd, able to play a very wide range of characters.

That was made clear to me last year, when I saw her in three very different movies.

I guess that's a good thing that came out of this pandemic.

Had I not been spending so much time at home, I might well have missed those.

Strange how things work out!

(smile!)

I'm so glad that my little foursome was able to be together tonight!

I know they were glad of that, too.

I'm looking forward to more such outings next month.

Why?

Three theatre troupes will be presenting plays!!!

Yes, after a dearth of live shows for so long, it seems the drought may be over!

Let's all cross our fingers and click our heels, shall we?

(smile!)

finishing a trio with Burt

And to think: I very nearly missed him.

Had he not been in the opening montage, 

I would have switched off the tv and done - 

I don't know, just 'something else' - 

until it was time for those Harper boys 

to entertain me with their shenanigans.

And what might I have declined to view?

"The X-Files".

I have not been watching those episodes devoid of Mulder.

Perhaps I need to revisit that policy and reassess my viewing schedule.

And that's all thanks to "Improbable", as unlikely as that sounds in print.

(smile!)

But I do enjoy Burt Reynolds and his quirky smile.

He may as well have a neon sign flashing around his neck, reading "follow me for fun!"

That was him, dancing his 66-year-old self around as Scully and Reyes played checkers.

That was in 2002, the show's 9th season, and this was one of those stand-alone episodes that I tend to enjoy...

but I had missed it because it wasn't a Mulder and Scully, it was a Scully and Reyes and Doggett.

Silly me!

I'll be on the alert for it next time it comes around!

(smile!)

And, hopefully, I'll have another chance to see "Bullet Train".

I watched it for a second time on Tuesday and the folks at my favorite cinema told me it was leaving them this week, but would still be at the AMC 11. 

Yep, just as funny and fast and furious as it had been the first time!

Then, yesterday, I saw the new Diane Keaton flick, "Mack And Rita".

That was a lot of fun, too, and a nice twist of "Big" and "Freaky"!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

Today, as it's Thursday and my A*List trio had one more slot open, I caught "Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris" again.

Good thing I did!

I found that I had missed quite a bit of this movie, somehow, when I'd seen it with the bfe.

Beats me how that happened, as I know we weren't talking during it.

Funny!

(smile!)

so nice to have my very own pillow again!

Ah, yes, nothing like travel to make one more appreciative of what one has.

 

Last night, it was wonderful to sleep in my very own bed again, with my head resting upon my very own pillow - bliss!

As I was riding the elevator yesterday morning with my travel bag, I was with three others.

Two were a couple, and the third was a single man heading for the beach.

The wife looked at her husband and said how she wished they could stay forever.

I spoke up and said how much I was looking forward to sleeping on my own pillow.

That got their attention.

Then I added, "When I travel, I go through every pillow in the place until I find the one that's closest to mine."

Hahahaha hahaha!

We all had a nice laugh about that.

Then we parted ways in the lobby, with them smiling and wishing me safe travels.

Very nice!

Last night, I went to bed with the hum of the fan in my bedroom - yes!

I didn't miss the lack of air conditioning, not one bit.

I didn't miss the sound of the noisy neighbors at DBR, either.

The walls there are so thin that sound echoes from the hall straight into the condo.

The fan in my bedroom is a white noise master, casting a blanket of silence over any sounds from without my house.

What a relief!

This morning, it was wonderful to have coffee in my very own mug, brewed in my very own Mr. Coffee pot.

The suite didn't have decaf, so I went without java.

How nice to smell that "time to wake up!" aroma wafting through the house!

Ah, yes... it's like magic!

This morning, I made an omelet, in my very own frying pan, with my very own spatula.

Sounds like such a simple thing, doesn't it?

But the 'vacation home' condos rarely have any decent cookware.

The spatulas are too short or too unwieldy; the pans are too small, if they are there.

So, to cook a three-egg omelet, dressed with cheddar, was a treat today.

Fabulous!

This morning, I watched "The Sandlot" on my very own television, because I could.

In the condo, the TV did not have a channel guide to let me know what was on and what was coming up.

The condo had a plastic-coated sheet that listed the channels available, but it was hunt and peck trying to find something I wanted to watch.

I don't have that issue here.

Comcast has a channel guide so I can determine what I want to watch.

And, as I did not want to deal with 'mercials on this first morning back, Comcast had the movies it had given to me, movies I can watch over and over.

For-ev-er...

for-ev-er...

for-ev-er.

(smile!)

I guess that's an inside joke between me and Squints.

(smile!!)

Hey, just watch the movie...

neighborhood baseball like it was when I was a kid!

(smile!) 

Now, what to do with the rest of my day?

Whatever I want!

Yes!

(smile!)

45-inning vacation: taking the long way home

It's been years since I took the A1A.

It's been even longer since I took it as far north as Amelia Island.

Well, I sure can't say any of that anymore!

(smile!)

Thanks to a crystal blue sky...

clad in only little wisps of fluff...

it called to me to drive below its vast expanse...

to breathe in the salt air through an open window...

aaahhhh...

what bliss!

(smile!)

I tried to resist taking more photos -

you know, to not do so while driving -

as that's totally against the law in Georgia.

It took about an hour before I realized -

the A1A is in Florida!

So, a few quick snapshots along the way,

well, that should be just fine!

Just point and...

click! click! click!

And the camera caught the surf frothing...

and the sea oats blowing...

and that gorgeous sky beaming above it all!

i thank You, God!

I drove straight through, from Daytona Beach to Jacksonville Beach.

Should I stop for lunch, or should I go on without?

That's when the orange and white logo caught my eye -

it was a Whataburger!!!

Just like in the movie, "Vengeance"!!!

That's exactly what I said to the clerk, too, and she patiently listented as I described the film and Ashton Kutcher's role to her.

I think the firefighter overheard me, too.

He sat and watched me as I ate half my Whatachick'n sandwich and those tasty fries, then, when I got up to go, he followed me out the door.

He was parked right beside me, too!

He told me, "Safe travels!" and was gone.

Very nice!

I drove on, following the coastal highway as it ran out to Mayport Village.

Would the St. John's Ferry be in operation today?

Well, the clear sky and smooth river said it would...

and sure enough, they were correct!

Within 14 minutes of my arrival, the ferry pulled up, off-loaded about 9 vehicles, and then took on about as many cars and vans and trucks again before setting a course for the other side of the river.

See my little car, with its windshield shining with glee?

It's truly been years since I've traveled this way.

And guess how much the ride cost?

It was still just 7 dollars!!!

What a deal for the quick little jaunt!

Six minutes later, my Saturn and I were again cruising along A1A North!

Magnificent!

Just below the state line, Amelia Island Parkway set us on our way to I-95 North, homeward bound...

and, now, I've had time to download the photos and cool down.

What a lovely drive, filled with memories...

my adventure in Marineland with the dolphin, Hemingway, that allowed me to touch him...

The Gypsy Cab Company in St. Augustine and the tasty garlic of those meals...

crossing over the Bridge of Lions and hearing the metal drawbridge below...

smelling the salt spray of the Atlantic Ocean all along my path.

i thank You, God!

(smile!)

45-inning vacation: the ultimate 9

ultimate (verb): to come to an end

All vacations eventually ultimate, necessitating a return to the real world, the one of responsibility and routine.

What better baseball shirt to wear for my last trip to The Jack than this one from 2014, when my dear Sand Gnats won the South Atlantic League Championship?

A kind gent with a good eye, and a steady hand, spotted my flip phone and volunteered to take my photo.

What a nice guy!

He even had me step forward to line up this third shot!

Me and Jackie Robinson and the little kids - how apropos on this Family Fun Day!

This event was one of my favorites.

I'd never heard of the Shoe Shuffle!

The kids' shoes were in a pile in left field, where the kids had to run from the 3rd base line, then put on their shoes to complete the race to the 1st base line.

New to me and very funny to watch!

And, oh, what a gorgeous view of that International Speedway bridge arching under the perfect sky for my first Sunday afternoon of baseball since 2015!

(Savannah Bananas don't play day games.)

 

ultimate (adjective): not comparable; final; last

As the ultimate game of this series between the hometown Daytona Tortugas and the visiting Lakeland Flying Tigers, it stood apart from the others.

Then again, that's one of the best things about baseball: every game is different.

Every single game has moments not found in the others.

Take the sixth inning.

The score was tied, with both teams scoring a single run in the fourth frames.

Then the Detroit team started having butterfingers.

For instance, Wilfred Astudillo made it to third on a single because the ball was overthrown to first.

I guess they hadn't counted on a hefty boy like him to be able to move that fast, with his braids whipping in the wind!

Then they underestimated him again.

Why is he not still on third?

Because he stole home!!!

The Tiger's catcher had fumbled yet another catch, in his continuing comedy of errors.

Those fumbles had allowed Johnny Ascanio and Justin Boyd to steal bases, too, setting them up to score that inning.

As for Edwin Arroyo, he made it to third on a single, but not the way the others had.

His was due to an outfield collision.

Yep, that's right, the two Tigers forgot to call the catch and so both got in each other's way.

No worries, though.

Hayden Jones hit a home run, so the outfielders weren't needed.

Thanks, y'all, for the two runs as Edwin came in, too!

The Tortugas made a stunning five runs that inning!

Magnificent!

The Tigers tried to make it up later, though not for two innings.

That's okay, the crowd was being entertained by Professor Matt, clad in cartoon themed top and matching shorts!

Top of the 8th saw the visitors rack up three more runs on the scoreboard, after the hometeam got another run by Johnny Ascanio.

By the way, he has the coolest walk-up music, ever!

Anywho, the Tigers' last inning netted nothing more.

By 7:49 PM, the 5:35 PM game had concluded, with a fine total of 7 for the Cincinnati team and 4 for the Detroit team.

ultimate (noun): conclusion

What can be said at the ultimate of my experiences at Jackie Robinson Ballpark?

The two had evenly split the six-game series, of which I caught five, with each team seemingly taking turns at winning.

Now, that's sportsmanship!

As I headed for my car, parked on Orange Street this time, I enjoyed this display over Beach Street of another bday64 coming to a close.

Right place, right time.

How blessed is that?

i thank You, God.

45-inning vacation: rest of third 9, then 7 of the penultimate 9

I began with a leisurely morning.

For whatever reason, the jukebox in my mind had cued up an oldie: "Westminster Cathedral".

Hilarious!

I had not heard that in years!

I made sure to whistle it so my noisy neighbors across the hall would know they weren't alone - lol!

I finished off the rest of my sushi on the balcony, admiring the view.

Of the ocean, you ask?

Au contraire!

Of my car, in a prime spot that had been waiting for me when I arrived in the rain last night.

I had been so giddy with delight that I'd shared the photos of the fireworks with the clerk and the security guard!

 

Eventually, I headed out to Cinematique.

It had a 1 PM screening of a French film, "Illusions Perdues", which followed a young country mouse as his patroness took him to Paris with her.

Both had thought his poetry would gain big fans there.

Au contraire!

Afterward, I had time on my hands, so I went to Angell & Phelps for some chocolate and bought a rainbow-hued seahorse plushie for Chloe's upcoming birthday.

Then, as I walked along Beach Street, I came upon this scene, and a blast from the past swept over me, transporting me back to a time when my first niece wrote poetry to me.

We had posed in this very spot, eight years ago.

Right place, right time!

What a lovely coincidence between the movie and my Valentine's Day with her. 

Then it was time to bounce over to Jackie Robinson Ballpark for my first double header in years!

Christina would have been proud of me for being so color-coordinated!

As this was a continuation of the 'cancer awareness' game, followed by the 'heroes' themed game, I chose the Sand Gnats jersey worn by a young man from Panama that shared my birthday.

I wore my pretty pink top under it, and my green shorts with the cherry blossoms embroidery on that left pocket.

Very nice, right?

The gent scanning tickets at the gate took the photo.

He did a nice job of framing it, too, with all of the ballplayer's statue behind me.

Then I explored sections of the ballpark that I didn't even know existed.

I can just hear you now: what areas, pray tell?

Well, here I am, standing in one of them.

This section along the right field line once held the 'Jim Crow' seating for black fans.

Now, it's the VIP area, with nice picnic tables instead of tiered seats and is catered with finer food than ballpark fare.

I also checked out the play area for kids, complete with bouncy houses.

Oh, and of course I researched the bathrooms behind the grandstand.

I'd heard they were nice... and they were!

Good to know!

Then it was 5:05 PM and I settled in to the cheap seats.

"Play ball!"

Or, rather, "Resume playing ball!"

Both teams wore the same uniforms as from yesterday's game.

Nothing much of note occurred until the 7th inning.

That's when the Lakeland Flying Tigers changed pitchers.

As usually happens, that worked to the benefit of the home team.

Here's Jay Allen running across home plate after knocking the ball out of the park, literally.

Then up came Jack Rogers, and soon he went casually cruising around the bases before stepping lightly onto home.

Yep, that new pitcher had been exactly what those two outfielders had been waiting for!

That added another two runs to the two the Tortugas had scored before the rains came last night.

All the Tigers managed to amass was that one run scored then.

And because this had been a pitcher's duel, with the Tortugas netting ten strike-outs, the remaining 5.5 innings of this first game had gone very quickly.

The second game would actually be starting at nearly regular time!

 

And sure enough, at 7:14 PM, the Tortugas were back out on the field, in fresh green jerseys and white pants.

A color guard was there for "The Star-Spangled Banner", in honor of the heroes' theme, with Sheldon having donned a red cape and lots of firefighters and Boy Scouts and others present for first pitches and such.

Very nice!

I'd eaten two hotdogs for the first game, then decided to have the chicken tenders, sans fries, for this one.

The Tigers had changed uniforms, too, donning gray tops and bottoms.

That must have been their lucky ones!

After a scoreless start, they loaded up the bases in the second inning and turned that wheel twice, driving in two runs.

The Tortugas remained scoreless until the 6th inning.

I credit Thor's presence for that change.

A steady, light rain in the third inning had driven most of the bleacher crowd into the shelter of the grandstand.

Not me, I stayed put, draping my jersey over my head.

After the rain stopped about 30 minutes later, those aluminum cheap seats were all wet, but not mine!

Some of the folks came back over and regained their places, but most went ahead and left.

Meanwhile, the Norse God of Thunder was spreading love and cheer, raising his mighty hammer as a sign that it was time to conquer the visiting team.

Go, 'Tugas!!!

And so they did!

Hayden Jones smacked a good hit that brought in Trey Faltine and Jack Rogers - good job!

Score tied!

Then the Tigers came up to bat again and that tie came undone.

They managed to add three runs to their two from the second inning, mostly thanks to wild pitches and successive doubles with men on base.

The Daytona team tried for a comeback after the crowd had their 7th inning stretch.

Fidel Castro smacked a solid triple in the bottom of that inning.

Then, eyes wide open, he was ready when the Tigers' pitcher furled a wild one!

Fidel Castro stole home!!!

How magnificent!!!

But that was not enough of a push to spur more runs from his teammates.

Seven innings was all that was slated for this second game, and so the Tigers took it, 5 to 3.

By 9:30 PM, the game was well and truly over and I was on my way back to the DBR, my vacation home by the sea.

More baseball tomorrow!

(smile!)