trans-siberian orchestra and the fb fiends

So, I'm all about getting something different every day this month, right?

Of course I'm right, it's all I've been talking about.

Well, today was supposed to find me at a live concert from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Seems like every year they put on the show called "Ghosts of Christmas Eve".

Pretty cool, yes?

(Though that pun was not intended. Plus, it only works for the Northern Hemisphere of Earth, as the Southern Hemisphere has their Christmas in summer heat.)

Somehow, I have missed knowing that in years past.

That meant I was determined to be on fb promptly at 4 PM for the show!

The thing is, here's the thing: it wasn't a FB Live event, as I had thought.

So, I clicked the link... which looked legit... but it wasn't.

The site that took over from the legit one when I clicked to play the live feed demanded that I set up a "free account" to watch the show.

Oh, and they needed a credit card for any future purchases.

So, after backing out twice, and double-checking the fb link, I established an account to log in for the show, being careful to use my 'junk mail' email address and being doubly careful to unclick the checkbox for enrollment into their video games.

Sounds easy, right?

The thing is, here's the thing: the site refused to let me log in.

It kept saying my password was wrong.

So, getting a bit exasperated as I was missing the concert, I requested to reset that.

And when I logged into my email, I knew IMMEDIATELY I had been scammed.

Justthatfast, I was on the phone to the credit card company.

They were already aware.

Two charges had just been made to my card, one for $1, the other for 78 cents, both to online gaming sites.

Nope!!!

Disputes filed, card cancelled, aggravation factor high.

And guess what the credit card company told me?

It said Facebook was rife with scam links!!!

Sigh.

I'm usually so careful to not click on virtual events on that site, and I won't in the future.

Meanwhile, I still wanted to see the concert.

So, I went to their site on youTube... and found this!

A dedicated fan had posted a pristine video of an earlier version of the show.

Not only that, but it was where it was filmed that caught me.

"Full show captured in 1080p HD on November 17, 2016, the opening show of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve tour from Sec 221, Row L, Seat 11 at the Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH."

Hey, that's where Mike Young, my favorite fellow from Okinawa was from!

The town was named for his grandpa, as I recall.

That means it was no coincidence that I was there.

Right place, right time.

Thanks, squintyt4e.

I do so appreciate your attention to detail for this multimedia extravaganza, a retelling of "A Christmas Carol" in the form of a runaway teen girl and Ossie Davis as the Caretaker of Dreams.

He shows her the world in three ways: as a film they watch together in a cinema setting; as video clips on a multitude of television screens; and as the written program of a show long in the past.

I highly recommend it.

Just be aware that this is a concert... so it lasts more than two hours.

 

As for that credit card...

well...

it can't do me any harm...

nor can those who conned me into its use.

It's in tiny pieces now...

in two different trash bins...

just to be sure.

(smile!)

puss in boots: "the last wish?"

"Devotion," She said.

When I told Fred yesterday that my theme for this week's A*List was that conversation, he got a kick out of it.

I like that kid at AMC 10.

In fact, I like quite a few of the folks that work at the cinema.

It's just too bad that they hardly ever get to go to the movies.

Right?

But I certainly understand.

When I left work, I didn't ever want to go back on my own time.

I get it... but, it's still sad.

I would have thought working at the cinema would be my ideal job!

So, what about this week's trio?

Well, "Puss In Boots: The Last Wish" was absolutely delightful and very funny!

This was a one-night-only advance screening, so I'm glad I caught it.

I'm especially glad that several families were in there with me for it!

I'd tried to get mi amigas to come along, but that was a no-go.

Still, as I told them, I will most def see this again at Christmas when it opens!

"Devotion" was based on a true story of a Navy flyer during the Korean War.

Apparently, they still hold out hope of finding some part of him on that mountain.

I don't think they fully understand what happens to mere mortal flesh when a heavy-duty steel plane is scuttled, much less when two such are destroyed.

Trust me when I say that such thermal destruction leaves naught behind but melted metal.

As a CTM in the Navy, I had my share of destroying sensitive equipment.

I liked this movie even more so than "Top Gun: Maverick", as the ending was realistic.

And I liked "She Said" more than I had expected.

Such a fine portrayal of responsible reporting at a major newspaper!

No rushing to print without tangible proof, not for them.

That was good.

I found it also very good that real, live, actresses - Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, women whose work I respect - allowed their names and stories to be used.

That's the only way that change can happen: brave people coming forth to make it so.

Good for them.

Good for that naval aviator, Jesse Brown, for leaving such a legacy.

Good for Antonio Banderas for welcoming us to the cinema.

Now, "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" is on and it's time for me to go!

I've invited Christina and Michael and their four little blondes to "watch" with me!

Something different!!!

Hooray!!!

F T 2 B O F F

I tried to go vote today, I really did.

But the parking lot had folks haphazardly leaving their vehicles and being rude.

So, I left.

I guess that was something different, right?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

How's about I talk of something cheerier?

Yes, let's do that!

(smile!)

Something like... the From Teens 2 Business Owners Film Festival, let's say?

That's based on all of these movies being ones rented for one dollar in order to benefit 

a site that teaches kids to become entrepreneurs.

Hey, if that's what Comcast wants me to do...

then, yes, yes, I will rent a movie every weekend in November and December!

Gratefully!

(smile!)

And, if I had really though about it, I would have seen "Trading Places" first.

Por qué esa película primero?

The one dollar wager between Mortimer and Randolph for one.

The one dollar wager between Louis and Billy Ray, for another.

Our little inside joke, eh?

Plus, there's the entire lesson in supply and demand in the economics world and on Wall Street.

Yes, that would have been purr-fect as the first in this line-up!

But that isn't what happened.

That 1983 movie was the third one viewed and not even on my mind yet.

No, the first film in this series was 2003's "Bruce Almighty".

Why? 

Seriously? 

With all that "at 7 on the 7th" stuff I so love!?!

I mean, just look at that scene... it's like dancing!!!

Plus, that first weekend, I needed a pick-me-up at day's end and this movie always, always, ALWAYS cheers me up.

Besides the presence of Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman, working so B-E-A-utifully together, there's the story of a man finding out that power isn't everything.

Free will, choice, and change are.

Then there's this guy with the signs, signs, everywhere a sign!

Sounds like a punny song to me! (smile!)

I watched that movie three times over the two days I had it.

Sometimes at night, sometimes with breakfast, I watched all of these three times.

That's because they are movies I have owned, but have not watched for a while.

Like this one, "The War Of The Roses", from 1989.

On the surface, it's a love story with a meet-cute at an estate sale when Barbara and Oliver are both bidding on the same Japanese sculpture.

She's a gymnast, he's gonna be a lawyer, and it's raining, so their story proceeds.

Catch my drift?

But, as Danny DeVito, the lawyer, puts it, it wasn't all love and roses for the Roses.

She worked on raising the children and turning the house into the one he always wanted.

He worked on making partner and supplying the money for all that.

The problem arose for the Roses when the children were grown.

It led to that age-old dilemma: How do you keep someone from leaving when all they want is to go, and how do you get rid of someone when all they want is to stay?

Yep, a dark comedy, with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas and their magic!

 

That's why I have "Romancing The Stone" on my "to view" list.

But the last one in November was not that one, but "Raising Arizona".

Time for some Nicolas Cage action, with a side of Holly Hunter!

He's an ex-felon, she's an ex-cop, and they've been married for a while and she wants to have "a little critter" running around to share their "salad days" of bliss.

And they try, boy howdy how they try!

But no luck.

So, when the furniture salesman has quintuplets, they take one.

After all, he has "more than he can handle", right?

The salesman's wife disagreed and, next thing you know, there's a $25,000 reward up for grabs and several folks trying to grab the baby, including two ex-cons (John Goodman and William Forsythe) and a bounty hunter described as a "warthog from hell" (former boxer Randall "Tex" Cobb).

Yeah, things get a bit complicated for Hi and Ed!

And, as I watched that for the second time, I realized something: my favorite movies have a lot going on in them.

Like, several plot lines arcing and interweaving.

Hmm... maybe I've been ADHD and never knew it?

Quite possibly!

No biographies or nature documentaries in my movie library, not now, not ever.

That's not to say I won't watch those... 'cause I will, and do.

I just won't feel compelled to own them.

Guess you're never too old to learn something new about yourself!

(smile!)

What's lined up for the five weekends of December?

Well, as I said, "Romancing The Stone" has made the list.

So has "Peggy Sue Got Married", another with Kathleen Turner, this time paired with Nicolas Cage as high school sweethearts caught in a time warp.

I have "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" on the list, even though it's one I never owned.

Nor have I ever owned "Tick, Tick... Boom!", a musical I'd wanted to see in September and which is available as a film.

Then, there's a baseball movie, "Bull Durham", because I love that one and I'll be wanting a summertime vibe while I'm on Summer Time.

I'm not sure if these choices will stand, of course.

Comcast may not have them, or I might hear of some other film that I deem more worthy of a slot in the continuance of the FT2BOFF.

Who knows?

(smile!)

summertime type of day!

See what I mean?

With the outside temperature hovering in the mid-70's - yes, indeed!!! -

I felt the urge to treat myself to something I haven't had for a while.

Poor Girl Ceviche!!!

This is the variation with canned tuna, as I didn't have any shrimp.

Honestly, it really is a po' girl's best bet, as it works out to be about 

one-third the cost of the dish these days in a restaurant.

Plus, I tend to pair it with WASA crispbreads or Triscuits to get crunch 

without the extra fat of fried tortilla chips.

Divine...

and just what I needed for something different!

I'm pairing it with a "summertime feel" movie too.

Thanks, Comcast, for the $1 Movie Rental!

That let me say hello to Hi in "Raising Arizona"!

Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter are such a mixed bag of rocks 

couple out there in Tempe, with him as a repeat felon and her 

as the cop who photographs him each time he's arrested - 

what a meet-cute!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

I had another something different this morning, too.

No, it wasn't that I was at church for service.

I mean, yes, I've been a bit slack in showing up at Asbury Memorial of late, 

kinda sorta counting the extracurricular events - WN Suppers and

Afghani visitors - as "going to church".

(smile!)

Well, I literally was doing that very thing, though not at the sanctuary.

(smile!)

Today, I went there, to the sanctuary, even stopping to smell the warm roses

along the sidewalk.

(smile!)

They're best when they've been in the sun for a while.

I found that out when I was at Armstrong and always made a point 

of pausing for their aroma, even though I'm not a roses kind of girl.

Anyway... why did I go to church today?

The special guest was last Sunday, and I'd skipped that one.

Ah, but today was the first Sunday of Advent and that's a favorite for Reverend Billy.

So, I went there to be in his live audience.

I also went for communion.

I like to be there for that ceremony, so the first Sunday of the month usually finds me there, on one of the right hand pews, sitting near a stained glass window.

That's where I was today, too.

The service of Communion had been moved to this Sunday, due to Advent.

As it turned out, I was meant to be there.

We performed an old Jewish song at closing, instead of our usual "Here I Am, Lord" -

and that was a nice change of pace, something different.

We also all sang "They Will Know We Are Christians", which, as it turns out, is one of my favorites, as it has a Native American tonal quality and pacing.

Jewish and Native American songs, at a downtown church in Savannah, Georgia.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

g-b-l ff and a grinch of a different color

"You have a Grinch that isn't the standard vile green?"

 

Well, I don't but that wascally wabbit did!

 

"Oh ho! You were up in time for the Bugs Bunny cartoons! Good for you. And is that the Tasmanian Devil?"

 

It is, there to fill those sacks with the Whoville... I mean, with whoever's decor and goodies. 

I saw "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" on Friday and that classic really got me into the spirit!

Hey, as I think I've mentioned, I've kept myself on Summer Time, even though the digital timepieces all say an hour earlier. 

I've been quite enjoying being up a little earlier to start my day, except I find myself staying up later than I should. 

I'm working on it, though!

"Change is good, right? Especially if you're going to have an hour of cartoons every Saturday morning, with no extra effort on your part."

True that!

"So, what's the alphabet soup about?"

Well, for Thanksgiving, Comcast gave me free access to prime channels. I thought about flipping around to different channels, gathering yon rosebuds whilst I may, as i usually do, but that got cancelled when I checked the listings on Here TV.

"That's the LGBT network, right?"

I would imagine it's one of several, but, yes, that's the one I have access to on these occasions. Anyway, I noticed it had some shorts - and I love those! So, I thought about having a shorts film festival. But then a few regular-length movies made their way into the mix. Hmmm... what to do, what to do?

"So, you went for the specific demographic targeted by the material?"

Bing, bing, bing!

And, of all the films I watched, the greatest majority was for the gay population. I guess that's not really news, right? The majority of any movies being made are by men and that's true in the LGBT world, too.

 

"I had not thought about that, but I guess you're right."

 

Oh, I absolutely am correct on this. It's not that I purposely chose films with gay leads and gay stories. That's just how the results of my random selection bore out.

 

"And so bisexuals were the second most dominant field?"

 

Yep. And those were genetically male bisexuals, too. I only had one movie that had a lesbian character, and she was a costar. There were none with transsexuals.

 

"Interesting. So that's why it's the G-B-L Film Festival?"  

 

Correcto mundo! So, here's the list!

"The Dead Boys' Club" (G) A lover's old party shoes transports the new wearer into the late 1970's disco world, before AIDS was in the picture. It's funny, too! The young man keeps wanting to use condoms for safe sex and no one understands why.

"Udrive" (G and B) Long-lost friend shows up in town, then the local finds out he's cheating on his girlfriend with his Uber fare.

"A Proper Man" (B and G) Bisexual man tries to find his identity after girlfriend dumps him. So he goes back in his mind through his past relationships with men and women.

"The Curse Of The Un-Kissable Kid" (G) Teen male tries to figure out why is isn't attracted to girls, then he takes a potion and finds out he's gay! Funny!

"Toeing The Line" (B and G) Two friends from high school days meet over beers, start talking of sex with married women, then end up in bed together.

"Thirteen Or So Minutes..." (B) Two guys meet over beers, talking about cunnilingus, then sexual positions, then end up in a motel room together.

"Perfect Family" (L) This was the first non-short and I chose it because Kathleen Turner was in it. She's vying for Catholic Woman Of The Year, but her daughter insists on marrying her female lover, her married son is making time with a manicurist, and her hubby is alcoholic. Hey, it's funnier than it sounds!

"Fat Girls" (G) Teen male is trying to figure out who he is and who to take to prom.

"Heels" (G and B) Fired yet again, Kevin is going to lose his girlfriend if he can't pay the rent. She took him to a drag show... and he enlists the aid of one of those entertainers to teach him the basics and a few moves so he can win the talent show. 

"Tennessee Qu--r" (G) Yes, I saw this one last year... and it's still fun! So... there!!!

"Yeah, I didn't see that listed elsewhere..."

Trust me, I've seen before. It would have been when I saw "Out West", about a woman who gets her gay friends from the big city to come save her family's ranch. What a hoot!

"Yeah, I didn't spot that one anywhere, either."

Well, they're here now!

And I'm going to work on wrapping more gifts!

My goal is to get all the local ones delivered this week.

Wish me luck!

(smile!)

augusta missed me!

How do I know?

Cousin Bev just texted me to let me know!

She and Allen received the card from me today, so she wanted to let me know I was in their thoughts, too.

"Recognize these?!?", she said.

"Several people were reminded of you when they saw these yesterday!"

"We received your wonderful Thanksgiving card today. Thank you! We hope to welcome you to our home next Thanksgiving as well!"

Oh, my!

Her delicious pomegranate stuffed oranges!!!

I must have eaten four of them that first time!

I'm so glad folks in my cousin's family think of me when they see this gorgeous treat!

Yes, I hope to be in Augusta with them for 2023.

And I'll plan to visit my maternal cousins up there, too, when I go.

(smile!)

tuesday on a friday

I went to Pooler today!

 

"For Black Friday shopping at the outlets there?"

 

Not hardly!

When I'd wished Thanksgiving greetings to Jackie yesterday, she'd taken the opportunity to set up a Meetup event to see "The Fablemans" at the GTC Cinema there!

Like, justthatfast!

She drove and Denise joined us for the film.

Very nice movie, too, with much of the action in the late 50's and early 60's.

That's a bit before my time, as I was not even school aged for that time period, but Jackie remembered more of that era.

 

"What about the other woman?"

 

I think she may have been between our ages.

She lives right in Pooler, so she had jumped at this sudden Boomers In Motion event posting for that town.

Good for her!

Afterward, she had dinner plans, so Jackie and I headed back to my car in Savannah.

We'd met up at Ruby Tuesday's, so by the time we returned there, it was slunch time!

 

"Hahahaha! What did she think of your made-up meal?"

 

I don't know, as I didn't think to mention that name to her.

We were both pretty food-focused by that time.

Hannah was the only waitress there, so I'm glad there were only a few other diners.

Sure, it was only 4 PM, but I think more folks are dining at odd times these days.

 

"Well, there's a new flu going around, so people are trying to be careful."

 

Very true.

I was to have met with Aunt Barbara on Wednesday, but she had a stomach bug.

We're going to try again next week.

 

"So, Ruby Tuesday for dinner?"

 

Actually, that Blackened Shrimp and Sausage Penne was so plentiful that I took half of it home for dinner!

I made a bit of extra pasta to add to it, but that worked out perfectly!

Thanks for asking!

 

"Ha ha. You funny."

 

Hey, I try!

My good humor is what made Jackie glad to add me to her Meetup group.

That promises to be something different for me, too.

We really got along well and talked about all manner of things.

Oh, and one of those was Chatham county property taxes!

Next year, she told me to be sure to file for the 65+ exemption.

You better believe I will!

I'll make sure Barbara and Carolyn know about that, too.

Neither of them had ever heard about the 62+ exemption and their property taxes are a good bit higher than mine.

 

"Very good! One of the harder things about your parents dying so early in your life is not finding out about these age perks. It's good that you're friends with several high school classmates, as they're the ones who've clued you in."

 

Amen to that, g'friend!

Now, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" is back on from 'mercial break.

It's my first Christmas special of the season...

and certainly a favorite!!!

So, catch ya, later, alligator!

 

"After a while, crocodile!"

turkey, turkey, ham!

LOL!

Sounds like a take-off on "duck, duck, goose", doesn't it?

Nope!

That was the meat on the menu today.

Smitty had gotten up early to smoke a turkey, as well as to fry one in his new air fryer!

Plus, there was a spiral ham, because that's what Christy likes.

Here he is with Tyler supervisiing - and taking care of stray bits of meat - the carving of the birds.

I was in charge of bringing Sprite for Kobe.

That's his favorite beverage!

This year, I decided to go for the small cans of soda.

I knew he'd not drink a liter and didn't want the rest to go flat.

This way, the soda will keep bubbly.

Christmas is around the corner and the soda will already be here!

Here he is, in the orange shirt to match his karate orange belt, with proud Dad Zach over his shoulder.

Here's Zach again, this time with Caitlyn nearby.

She'll be 16 next month!

When I asked if Christy had her drive over, she'd quickly shaken her head and said, "Oh, no!"

I told her I didn't get my driver's license until I was almost 20.

True story!

And what were they doing at the counter?

Going through the calendars I brought to pick one out!

Zach, Christy, Tyler, and Smitty all took one, as did Tony.

There he is, right there.

When I arrived, he had already been there a little while.

He came early to say he and Laura wouldn't be there for the meal.

His son, Damon, has been living with them and, in a change of circumstances, Damon's two teens would be dining there today.

Smitty and Mary had tried to encourage him to bring them all.

Nope, Tony didn't think that would be right.

So, Thanksgiving would be at two Smith households, with grown kids and grandkids at both!

I was staying with the one on Dutch island.

That would give me more time with Zach and Kobe, who I sat with in the kitchen nook.

Smitty and Mary were in the dining room, with Christy and Caitlyn, as well as Tyler and his girlfriend Hannah.

She's a real sweetie!

I hope that maybe at Christmas I'll get to meet Zach's girlfriend, Cathy, but we'll see.

(smile!)

After we all got stuffed, we visited a while, then it was time for folks to start peeling off in different directions, taking containers of dinner along for the ride.

Mary even made five containers for me!

(smile!)

And just why had I not done that myself?

Smitty had fetched out the Family Bible for me. 

Since I'd gotten busy with the genealogy thing again, I wanted to go through the family trees in that book and see what information I could import to my website.

I found lots of details for Grandma's and Grandpa's families, even marriage dates!

However, it was pretty slim pickings for my father's side.

Still, it was more information than I had!

Maybe, when I see Aunt Barbara next week, she'll have some data I can add.

I'm sure she must, and she has a good memory still.

Okay, time to get to work on wrapping more Christmas presents!

I'm giving Christmas ornaments this year to all the kids.

These two bags, with gift inside each, were for Caitlyn and Kobe.

Caitlyn now has an Amish snowman's snowball head, one that will never melt on her.

Kobe got a bouncing, bouncing Tigger, because he's bouncy, bouncy, too!

They really enjoyed the presents and, best of all, I was there with them, watching as they opened the AMC kid pack boxes loaded up with the ornaments and snacks (a bag of popcorn, two bags of mini pretzels, and a bag of gummy fruit candy) for movie-watching fun!

Yep, a little something different for Thanksgiving!

(smile!)

a madman, a muppet, and a murder of...

crows!

Ah, if only.

No, this was a murder of cannibals.

What else would you call a group of those animals?

With but one exception, these were all once-and-done movies for me.

I don't intend to ever, ever, ever see them again.

And just what were they?

Monday was "You Resemble Me", seen with the physicist and already discussed.

Tuesday, I took myself to "The Menu".

I must admit, I was hoping for another "Knives Out" type of movie, with a few guffaws thrown in with the gore.

That's not what I got.

Even the presence of Nicholas Hoult and Judith Light couldn't balance out the madman chef - with his crazy loud hand claps between courses - and the Muppet.

I had felt the need to converse with Barbara, as she saw it over the weekend with Kal and Carolyn.

 

me: Just saw 'the menu', pretty good. Nice to see Judith Light is still around.

 

boo: I always liked Judith Light. What did you think of The Menu other than our gorgeous coastline?

[It was partly filmed at Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach.]

 

me: Good low-key horror. Did not like the girl Margo/Erin. She looks just like the Muppet elfish girl in 'the dark crystal'. Unnerving to watch her.

 

boo: Margo was the smartest one there.

 

me: Not true. Chef told her what she needed to do and she did it. He also told the the others and they did not do it. They chose to stay and die.

 

boo: Yep she paid attention.

 

me: That's because that's what she did for work. She listened to what her johns wanted and did it. 

 

I'm talking about Anya Taylor-Joy.

That's one odd-looking female.

I've seen her before, but it wasn't until this one that I saw she was a Muppet.

And, hey, I love the Muppets... I truly do! - but not this Muppet masquerading as human.

Just creepy.

And that brings me to the third of the quartet of films at the cinema.

Billed as a romance and coming of age flick, it was neither.

I came straight out of the cinema and texted Barbara.

 

me: Fair warning: 'bones and all' is about cannibals. So, don't go into it expecting a romance. Just saw it.

 

boo: I'd seen the previews and surmised as much. Thanks for the warning.

 

me: I missed those. Lots of cannabalism, lots of blood. Straight up horror.

 

boo: The Menu was more horror than I expected. I only went to it because of Ralph Fiennes and it being filmed here.

Yeah.

That meant all three of the movies I'd seen with what would have been my A*List were movies I never cared to see again.

What's that about "would have been"?

Well, knowing that the A*List was going up in price, I logged into that account to see what options were available to lessen the hit.

Unfortunately, I missed the fine print for the $19.99/month plan!

That legalese noted the 10 states where the plan was not an option... and Georgia was one.

Fortunately, when I'd tried to buy tickets for the bfe and me on Monday, and the young man at the register couldn't make my ticket price null out, he called over the manager.

She recognized me at once as a regular and just comped my ticket.

(smile!)

So, that left a slot open on my AMC dance card -

a space for insertion of a fourth movie -

an opportunity to see something to wash out those bad tastes in my mouth.

That's exactly what "Strange World" did for me!

It salvaged the wreck of my movie week and gave me a cheery flick - with both science and adventure!!! - so I could end on a happy note!

Yeah, I'll be seeing that one again - and gladly!

Then, there are these from two weeks ago, all once-and-done.

This time, though, it wasn't because I didn't like them.

AMC only ran them for the one week.

Seriously!

Good thing I caught them on that A*List!

The first was a kid flick, "A Unicorn For Christmas", with said creature seemingly akin to Harvey the Rabbit., in as much as not everyone could distinguish between that rare beast and a pony.

(smile!)

Very sweet film, gone in the blink of an eye!

Then there was "The Return Of Tanya Tucker, with Balinda Carlile", a documentary of her making of a new album in 2019, when she was 60 years old.

I hadn't realized until then that she was a contemporary of mine, just a year older.

I also had never known that she based her stage style on that of Elvis Presley.

How very cool!

I'm glad Carolyn and contacted me about seeing it!

(smile!)

That last film is one I've only seen once... and that's all I care to see it.

I watched "The Estate" with the bfe earlier this month, with both of us expecting great things from the dark comedy.

Toni Collette! David Duchovny! Kathleen Turner!

Sadly, the story had too much in common with "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia".

That's a television show with a bunch of despicable characters, doing selfish and despicable things to each other and everyone in their path.

When I mentioned that show, the physicist agreed with me.

We knew its ilk, even though we had neither of us watched more that a few episodes.

Now, I feel a need to watch Kathleen Turner in a black comedy that I love to wash out the lingering aftertaste of this one.

I've already made a note to get "The War Of The Roses" with my next $1 Movie Night Reward from Comcast.

Yes, that will do nicely!

(smile!)

i got a refund!

Talk about something different - this sure was!

When it arrived in September, I was sure there had been a mistake.

I had been expecting the second billing of the county property tax statement.

That always comes that month, to catch up the increase in property taxes imposed since the posting of the first billing (in February) and following the increase in property value.

I had filed at the end of March for the Additional Homestead Exemption for Age 62+, something I didn't know existed until a friend mentioned it on fb.

Say what?

Here's how it reads on the website.

"Individuals 62 Years of Age and Older May Claim Additional Exemption for Educational Purposes Individuals 62 years of age or over that are residents of each independent school district and of each county school district may claim an additional exemption from all ad valorem taxes for educational purposes and to retire school bond indebtedness if the income of that person and his spouse does not exceed $10,000 for the prior year. Income from retirement sources, pensions, and disability income is excluded up to the maximum amount allowed to be paid to an individual and his spouse under the federal Social Security Act. The social security maximum benefit for 2019 is $68,664. The owner must notify the county tax commissioner if for any reason they no longer meet the requirements for this exemption. This exemption may not exceed $10,000 of the homestead's assessed value.(O.C.G.A. §48-5-52)" 

Very nice, right?

If only I had known about it two years ago!

But, hey, I'm all about saving money from whatever sources I can, whenever I can.

That's why I've changed my phone service from T-Mobile to Mint (savings of $40 per month, for total of $480 per year) and my car insurance from GEICO to Liberty Mutual (savings of $200 per year).

So, what did I stand to save with this exemption?

Well, last year, I paid Chatham County $918.90 in property taxes, paying $469.05 in March 2021 and the balance in November.

Ouch.

This year, I paid $459.48 in March.

That did not yet include the new exemption for my age, which would be reflected in the second billing.

But, i never received that.

Instead, I got this in the mail.

A refund of just over twenty dollars.

No letter of explanation...

no final statement of 2022 property taxes...

just this check.

I tried to call the office, but didn't get through.

So, I looked up my taxes online.

Sure enough, I'd overpaid in March!

When the "Age 62+" exemption was applied, I was not only to the good, but overly so!

Ka-ching!

That meant I'd saved $479.53 in county property taxes this year!

i thank You, God!

And I thank Carol Osborne, too, at the Chatham County office, for filing that for me.

In March, I was unable to go to the office in person, so she graciously acted on my behalf.

i thank You, God.

 

Now, to finally deposit this at the bank, now that I've unearthed it on this table!

Best to get it done before it gets trapped under another load of papers!

(smile!)

dawn, dawn, DAWN!

Hey, you have to think of Belt when you read that!

Wait, you don't know him???

The cute over-garment addition of Guy?

Oh, wow, you don't know him, either???

Clearly, you need more of "The Croods" in your life!

Come to think of it, I could use a bit of that caveman clan in my life, too!

(smile!)

 

That's all right,

that's okay,

I've got Dawn

to light my day!

 

It's taken months to set up this luncheon, but here we are at "our" haunt, The King & I!

Trust me, she posed for this photo - she did!

It appealed to the lighter side of her great sense of humor!

(smile!)

 

I had tofu pad thai, with leftovers enough to share with dinner.

No need to call for it - "dinner! dinner!"

Hahahaha!

I had hoped she'd be joining me for the Ralph Fiennes' film -

try saying that three times, very fast, with his pronunciation of his name!!! -

but, she had places to go.

Next time, we'll do a movie first!

(smile!)

bfe again? wow!

I was going for something different... 

and I got a second evening with the physicist!

The day before his bday49, too!

He had asked for us to get together tomorrow, but that date was taken.

Still, I did say that he would have birthday dibs, but he declined to take them.

How very sporting of him!

He even came in and visited a moment and had the chance to visit my bathroom.

Good thing I was at O'Mall yesterday and caught the sale at Bath & Body Works! 

I've been out of hand soap for a couple of weeks until then.

Whew!

I was going for something different to eat...

and, as he had suggested Wang's for dinner, I was expecting Chinese.

A mis amigas no les gusta, so I don't get that much.

But, nope!

He was being funny with his pronunciation of Wings...

but I didn't get the joke until he pulled into Buffalo Wild Wings.

Hahahaha!

That's off my usual radar, too, so naked tenders it was, with spicy garlic!

Oh, yeah, fire-breathin' on a Monday night!

(smile!)

I was going for something different to watch...

and jumped at the chance to see a French film about two sisters.

I've been missing the Francophone Film Festival, n'est-ce pas?

He jumped to the 2021 "You Resemble Me", too, but was more prepared than I was.

He knew it revolved around a woman once accused of being a suicide bomber in Paris.

It started off with the girls in their younger years, not long before they ran off from home.

That was their third strike, so they went to different foster homes.

The younger girl went straight after that, but the older girl ran off, making bad decisions that led to drugs and prostitution and a string of menial jobs.

After several years, no one in her family - younger sister, two brothers, parents - wanted her in their lives, causing turmoil.

The bad decisions kept coming, leading to her being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yeah, rather distressing.

I'm glad I was with someone who knows my family history.

That was definitely something different...

and that was good.

riders on the 'corn, riders on the 'corn

"Riders on the what? If you're referring to song by The Doors, it's "storm", dearie, not "corn"."

 

Hey, hey! Good for you for catching that!

 

"Thanks, but you didn't address the question."

 

Ya noticed that, huh?

 

"Yeah, I did. Was ist los? Who's going around on vegetables?"

 

Nobody, silly! The littlest girl and her sister were having an adventure and riding a unicorn! Only Miyah doesn't call the beast by that name, she says it's a 'corn. Cute, nicht war?

 

"And now you're sprinkling in some German???"

 

Hey, their Dada is German-American, so, it's part of their heritage now. Might as well get them used to hearing it earlier rather than later!

 

"Sure! Languages are easier for kids to pick up. So y'all were at Oglethorpe Mall for a play date?"

 

You got it! Too cold to play outside, that's for sure. Been down in the 30's at night, mid-50's today. Just brutal.

 

"Heard. So how did the girls end up on the mobile toy?"

 

Ah, funny story! Miyah didn't like the redesigned play area and kept asking her Mommie about riding the animal. Christina kept telling her "No." A little later, we'd gathered the girls together and went for a little walk. On our way back to the play area, Miyah starts in with "Can I have...?", getting a "No." to every question. I caught on to the pattern quickly. I told my first niece, "Just watch. She's deliberately asking for things that you'll deny, hoping you'll feel guilty and acquiesce when she asks for what she really wants." Christina already knew that game. "Yes, I know. That's why I already decided to let her ride the unicorn."

"Ooooo, very tricky! And she's only 5 years old!"

Yeah. She'll be 6 in March. Who knows what schemes she'll have by then!

"Hahahaha!"

Good thing Christina is getting a degree in Childhood Education. It's all online, from Western Governors University, in Utah. One of her cousins finished her degree in three years from there! The student pays for four courses for each 6-month semester, cost of books included. Working at their own pace, they can take their time or push to get more classes done. You see, when they complete a course, they can request another for that term AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. How about that?

"That's amazing!!!"

Just wait until you hear this. The University, which is fully accredited by the way, also assigns each student a mentor, a personal cheerleader, so to speak. Already finished the first test in a course? "Good for you!" That sort of thing. I don't know of any other school with such a quick response to their students!

"That sounds like a good job to have: student cheerleader!"

I agree. She was telling me all about it at the O-Mall while the girls played. How good to be able to have adult conversations!

"I hear you. But it sounds like the girls were being pretty good."

Yes, they were, until we got to Olive Garden. Then again, it was getting a little late and they were definitely winding down. I think the time change, with the early darkness, is throwing their minds for a loop.

I love this picture of her! I had snapped a shot of my pasta fagiole and was waiting for her to look up so I could snap her, too. But she wasn't cooperating... then, she finally did look at me... and what a look! HAHAHAHA! But I took the photo!

"LOL! She looks so much like you there!"

Yes, she does! A little exasperated, a little amused, and definitely like a Smith kid!

"Sure sounds like a wonderful time!"

Oh, yeah!

(smile!)

flash & the celebration of life parade!

"Flash!!!

Ah-ah...

King of the impossible!

 

He's for every one of us
Stand for every one of us
He'll save with a mighty hand

Every man, 

every woman, 

every child 

with a mighty Flash!" 

Trust my Aunt T to get that wrong.

She's such a fan of Queen that she thinks "Flash Gordon" first, 

and Sheldon's Flash - of the Marvel Universe - second.

That's me, by the way, feet firmly in the bag to keep me from copying 

Mom and becoming one-legged like her.

That parade - video'ed by Muriel Miller - was my first ever!

Proof positive that JinHi is loved by folks of all ages!

I kept trying to see what was going on.

Aunt T had found a warm spot on this cold day and she wasn't budging, at least not while singing about measuring life "in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee".

That's one of Mom's favorite songs.

So I was stuck behind the car.

But the next song was "Downtown", and Aunt T was singing the heck out of that one!

It was a favorite of her Mama!

She really loosened up for that one and started dancing.

That was a good move for me!

When "Baby, I'm A Star" started playing, no one seemed to know the words - 

except Mom, who loves Prince! - so a conga line formed.

I'd never, ever, seen anything like that!

I especially enjoyed watching this tall cool dude -

such great joy he has!

The last song was another by Prince, "Let's Go Crazy".

I thought for a moment that Aunt T was going to do just that!

It had started off, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today" -

like this was a Celebration of Life or something.

I could tell by the way she held me close that it was more, though.

This Celebration of Life was with the honoree still living!

That was certainly something different!!!

Then came time for folks who had brought tribute to bring it up.

That's when Aunt T took me up to the porch and left me.

That's okay, I knew she was going to.

She told Mom that I was Flash, the Superhero Flamingo, 

and that I was there to help her through this new chemo thing.

I'm going to cheer her with all I got, too!

I know how much Aunt T loves JinHi.

She's a Wonder Woman, just like Aunt T's Mama.

Wow.

What a fabulous day this has been!