i glisten like a twilight vampire

Not for the first time this summer has that delightful phrase crossed my mind.

This time, it was while I was at a red light, exiting Truman Parkway, with the hot summer sun baking me as I sat in my 2-55 car.

Not familiar with that 2-55 expression?

That's 2 windows, wide open, at 55 mph, i.e., old-fashioned air conditioning in vehicles.

(smile!)

A little joke, from me to whoever may be out there.

(smile!)

I'm glad I happened to catch that Robert Pattinson film fifteen years ago - it was worth it to see him glisten from head to toe.

Glisten is certainly what I was doing, as I was out running errands after Idalia kept me home yesterday.

Good thing I had a good breakfast to start my day!

I certainly needed that.

For the second time this month, I was at SUDS.

That laundromat is less than a mile from the house, but I'd always thought it would be full of students.

Well, after chatting with the operator there, I know that I can go any time and find machines a-plenty, and every one of them in working order.

The first time I did all the winter bedding.

This time, I all all my usual laundry.

Each time, I only needed the one machine; and, though it costs a bit more, at least my clothes smell clean and fresh.

The Sandfly laundromat has not had that benefit for a while, so I'll be coming here from now on.

Today, an older fellow chatted with me and that passed the time right nicely for both of us.

(smile!)

Once I got all those clean clothes home, the next trick was getting them inside.

The street was still torn up a bit, as the hurrycane had put a crimp in the schedule for paving the road.

That means I've been parking in the street.

Getting in and out of the driveway, whilst avoiding the hole in the asphalt as well as the barricades, is just too awkward.

So, more exercise for me, even though I'd gone to the Victory Planet and walked my 2K before coming home!

Seems like I would deserve a treat, right?

I totally agree!

So, I placed an order for pickup from Red Lobster.

The above photo is what was promised me: Shrimp Scampi, Grilled Shrimp Skewer, and crispy Walt's Favorite Shrimp, with baked potato and coleslaw - yum!

Plus, I had a reward coming to me: Broiled Scallops!

What a snafu that turned out to be.

I waited for an extra twenty minutes and this is what I was sent home with: soggy Walt's, barely grilled skewer, missing scampi, and scallops with a smelly gray film in the liquid.

The manager, Ken, told me he'd make it up to me; we'll see.

 

Now, though, I've had a rare shared-video experience with mi amigas, courtesy of AARP MFG.

"The Strange Name Movie" wasn't quite what I had expected, but it certainly was entertaining!

I thought it might even speak of my name, but it was about folks with celebrity names (Paul McCartney, Donald Duck) as well as humorous ones (Putz, for example).

Like I said, it was definitely good for a laugh!

That's rare with a documentary.

(smile!)

Afterward, I stayed on AARP to rack up some bonus points by taking informational quizzes and watching short videos with health and financial tips.

One of those 300-point videos was titled simply "Relaxation: Port".

This familiar sight greeted me there!

It's Malta, the last port of call on my Mediterranean cruise, back in October of 2002.

I'd recognize those limestone buildings any time.

Talk about a White City, it certainly was, and still is.

(smile!)

Speaking of such, I'll have to remember to take that CD to Jayme on Sunday.

I sure would love to see Savannah Stage Company take on "The Dreamer And The Devil" and bring that musical to life.

That would be just marvelous!!!

(smile!)

keeping calm with travel shows

Yes, a hurricane is approaching Savannah.

Can I do anything to sway Idalia from her whale-breaching path?

Well, can I?

Of course not.

She's actually picked up even more speed on land than she had over water.

That makes her a "hurrycane", doesn't it?

(smile)

Just a little joke to break the tension.

Tornados get me wired out, ever since I was in one, working for Smitty.

Horizontal rain is terrifying.

 

Chatham county has a tornado warning going until ten PM.

That means my silly self is staying in the house.

The bridge is to close at 2 PM, not that I'm going to South Carolina any time in the near future.

Nope.

I'm having a home day, so no need to get out of my nightgown.

I've found that not getting dressed helps me stay home.

It's also a calming influence, as is hotdog soup.

Yep, that's what's for breakfast!

I'm glad I had one hotdog left.

Perhaps that was no coincidence...

perhaps!

However, this coffee mug was deliberately chosen.

As I told her: "[This was] another calming thing for me: a gift from my favorite niece."

Yes, "her" would be Christina Ann, who was checking on me today.

My cousin Penny was, too.

I had texted both of them last night, as well as the ex and Paul, conversing about Idalia.

How blessed I am to have them in my life!

And what am I doing to stay calm?

After all, there is nothing I, a mere human, can do to control the weather...

but I can certainly control my reaction to that news.

My gratitude goes to SCE-TV for programs of education.

No weather crawls of distraction, no 'mercials, and lots of people with calming voices.

First up was a family travel show that was all about Clearwater, Florida, home of Winter.

I've been there, and it was wonderfully reassuring to see that familiar place on screen.

Now, it's Rick Steve and he's in Florence, Italy.

I've been there, too, and even have this memento of the market bridge there.

Very nice.

And who do I after that?

Bob Ross, being the master of his domain, making choices of how to build the world on his canvas.

Yes, this is the right choice for me today.

My thanks to noaa.gov for keeping me up to date with those images and info.

I can take that a lot easier than the talking heads trying to scare me.

1-dollar weekend movie festival: August

While I'm waiting for the hurricane update, why not do a bit more writing?

I've already completed this month's quartet of Comcast reward movies, and these were all animated, too, in keeping with the Summer Kids Film Festival theme.

What makes these special?

I've never seen any of them before, for starters.

I know, I know, hard to believe... but true.

Another thing that makes them different from the others I've seen is this: they all came out the same year: 2002.

That was the year after Mama died, so maybe that's why I missed them.

Perhaps it was some other reason... but I doubt it.

One last thing that makes these different: they are all science fiction or fantasy.

Very nice to have that genre represented!

(smile!)

So, which movies made the cut?

What choice was made for the first one to get things started?

My first niece is to thank for that.

She's such a big fan of "Lilo And Stitch" that I needed to see it.

Got that distinction?

It isn't that I WANTED to see this one; I NEEDED to see it.

Then again, I've written all about it already, have I not?

I really did like its use of Elvis music!

(smile!)

The second Reward movie was also science fiction, like the first.

"Treasure Planet" was so similar to a book I'd loved in middle school, "Treasure Island", that I felt right at home immediately while watching it!

I think I may have watched it four times over the course of its 72-hour rental.

It's another one that I already devoted a post to earlier.

(smile!) 

Now, for the third one, I may have been reaching, or perhaps that choice came from my volunteer stint with Vacation Bible School this summer.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was the major influence behind me watching "Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie".

Well, it was at least a contributing factor, just like the fact that it had pirates, too, just like the second movie of this film festival.

Not just any old pirates, either.

Nope!

These were Singing Pirates, and they sang about them being "The Pirates That Don't Do Anything"!

It was actually pretty funny.

(smile!)

And the last movie of the quartet?

I chose it primarily because it had an Oscar-nominated theme song, "Father And Daughter", written and sung by Paul Simon.

My favorite line in the song is this:

"There's never been a father loved a daughter more than I love you."

I do love that line.

I know Daddy felt that way about me.

As for the movie itself, I only watched it twice.

Perhaps I would have liked "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" better if the characters had not been so crudely drawn; then again, it was based on a Nicktoons show.

Nice to hear Tim Curry voicing the dad.

(smile!)

Okay, the update on Idalia should be posted...

peace, OUT!

importance of weather news, sometimes

So, anyone who knows me at all knows I don't watch the news.

Period.

That's because most of what passes for news is scare-mongering or sensationalism or sexual escapades gone wrong.

Hey, they have to report what advertisers think folks want; I get that.

Bill have to be paid.

However, that means I missed important information about the weather.

Specifically, I missed knowing that Idalia had become a hurricane of interest for Savannah.

Sure, I had checked noaa.gov a few times over the weekend, but it seemed a nonissue.

I figured from its location that it would ride that west coast of Florida.

Wrong.

I had not realized it was assuming a breaching whale stance, as if it were copying the orcas in the Sea World Orlando shows.

That means it would be into Georgia in no time from when it made landfall.

After texts from the ex that encouraged me to go to Augusta, I checked when I got home.

That photo is straight from the NOAA website, from their 8 pm update, and is clear as day. 

Hurricane Idalia is on her way, and she's making speed to do so.

At least that's a good thing.

Traveling quickly means no one area is going to go through hours of damage.

Trust me, I plan to monitor her progress.

Meanwhile, what was I up to today?

Finishing out my A*List while I was southside.

I'd started with Barbara on Friday, having invited her to see "the new baseball movie" with me, and been pleasantly surprised when she agreed.

Very nice!

"The Hill" is based on the real story of a young man who loved the game, with his dream to be on a Major League team... and he made it to the Montreal Expos!

Seems like I would know that story, especially as it was in the mid-70's... but, as I told her, my Daddy wouldn't have paid any attention to a Canadian team.

Now, that is a true story!

Yesterday, I'd seen "Strays", which really missed an opportunity to teach kids about being nice to their pets.

Instead, it targeted the 20 to 40 year olds with its smarmy humor and crassness.

And what the heck was Dennis Quaid doing in that movie??? He was in it as himself, as some kind of amateur bird watcher.

Very odd - but nice to see him again, as he was the dad in the baseball film.

Tonight was a second viewing of "Gran Turismo", again in the Big D, again with Boo.

And, as I told her after I got home, "I felt like the car was on rails..." 

Very nice.

Now, to wait for that 11 PM update.

tcb and bollywood, too!

First, let me just say that is week is about taking care of business.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment for a "home health" visit from UHC's provider of such.

Accordingly, in preparation for having a stranger in my house, I've tidied up a bit.

 

See that dining room table?

That's the cleanest, and clearest, it has been in quite some time.

Though it does beg the question: Why do all that work?

This is a stranger who is coming, someone who knows nothing about me or my habits.

That means this person is not going to be aware of how much effort went into this scene.

So, why do it, and why have this visit from them?

Well, that last part is easy; I'm doing it for the money.

They come here, I get $15 in my UHC account.

That works for me!

The hearing test I had today was strictly to have something else to check off for UHC, too.

Caroline Zuk of Savannah Speech & Hearing found out that I do, indeed, have a hearing loss in my left ear.

That's from my days at FSU, and, specifically, from a delivery driver letting a metal grate slam onto the ground as I walked by.

It's not of concern yet, but should be checked in a year, she said.

Good to know!

And aren't these shadows cool?

(smile!)

And after a totally banal movie at AMC, I popped on over to the Royal of Pooler for a totally splendid film!

I've been keeping an eye on their listings and there have been Bollywood films there for two weeks!

I knew Barbara wouldn't be able to join me, now that she is back to tutoring in the prevenings... so, I took myself.

And guess who was there?

Mi amiga, Carolyn, who I haven't seen in weeks!

I wouldn't have seen her tonight, either, had she not come up to me after the movie.

And to think... she had been in the same row I was!

I'm so glad I went to "Dream Girl 2"!

For one thing, it was a love story, with lots of singing and dancing and that stuff I enjoy so much.

For another thing, it had a fellow I very much like: Ayushmann Khurrana, who was able to seamlessly transition from a very handsome man - with utterly gorgeous eyes! - to a quite beautiful woman.

Seriously!

And he did it all for love!

That's because he knew he could quickly make the money his true love's father demanded he have in order to be allowed to wed the girl.

Such a good movie!

And I'm so glad Carolyn had the same thought!

I stayed and chatted with her for about an hour.

She was making it a double, going to an after-9 Hindi movie, but that was too late for me.

I'll have to let my other amigas know that I've seen her and she's doing well.

Since she moved over to Garden City with someone in her church choir, she's out of our realm.

We'll have to do something about that!

(smile!)

2nd annual National Cinema Day!

"What's that, dearie? Only the 2nd annual such event?"

Yep, you hear right! After the pandemic had cooled, the cinemas needed to lure folks off the plethora of streaming services and back into their silver screen spaces. What to do? Have a National Cinema Day to promote folks leaving home theaters!

"Very nice... and is that photo for real? You bought tickets for only $4 each?"

Yep, totally for real! I made that purchase on Wednesday, so I would get double reward points. I knew Zach would be there with his son and stepdaughter, and I'd thought Michael would be there with his girls, too. So, I bought seven tickets. You know, with one for me.

"And is that how it played out? You don't sound like it went as planned."

Hey, truly, just how many things in life go as planned? Damned few. This was no exception. Zach brought Krystal along, too, which upped their tickets to 4, but the trio from Guyton didn't make it, so I actually ended up with two extra. Those didn't go unused, though. A mother and her son had been in line in front of us and, though they got concessions, they didn't get their tickets, as they thought that was at the box office. When it turned out they were going to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem", too, I just gave them the two extra. Krystal thought that was so generous of me!

"And so it was! Even if the tickets were just four bucks each, it was still a kind gesture."

Well, thanks! As I told Krystal, it might have made a difference if the tickets had cost more, but I was happy to not have the tickets sit idle in my pocket.

"And how did your group like the movie?"

Oh, man, Kobe loved it! He and I were laughing out loud at the same places! It was great!

"That's fabulous! How about Zach?"

He was a bit distracted, kept looking at his phone, and may have gone to sleep at one point. Krystal and Olivia had to leave, as the toddler just wasn't into it. I guess it just had too much talking for her.

"Well, glad you and Kobe had fun! Glad to hear he's been interacting with the birthday gift you gave him, too!"

I'm just thrilled about that!!! No coincidences!

(smile!)

sparkly! dancing! time travel!

"Soooo much fun yesterday, 

getting "Murdered By Disco" 

by #savannahcabaret 

and traveling back in time 

to being 21 again! 

Glad I had this sparkly top 

from my 2012 trip to Italy 

with the Armstrong nursing students!"

 

That's what I just posted on fb.

Did I mention how exhausted I was afterward?

Well, I should have!

It's as if I actually made that trip back to 1979,

literally, not just figuratively.

Wow!!!

What fun I had before the show even began!

"Macho Man" Shaun was the first of four singers that I conversed with prior to showtime.

He and I talked about time travel, and the fact that I had actually been a dancing queen back then!

Here, he's sporting an umbrella during the show.

Was he going to be "Singing In The Rain"?

Nope!

"It's Raining Men"... which he got from "the future" of 1982!

And here's a chica that was wild and ready!

That's Farrah, which must have been a popular name.

(smile!)

She's a disco queen, as I had been, though I wore flashier clothes, way back in the day.

She was amazed when I brought out my little flip phone to take her photo, and even more so when I told her about it being able 'to send the photos through the air'!

Ah, yes, what a marvel it would have been 44 years ago!

(smile!)

Then there's little Candi Darling.

No, I'm not giving her a pet name, that's her moniker!

Almost as toxic as Honey Bliss Cherry, isn't it?

I have to wonder what grief those two would have endured in their middle and high school years.

And just what was her game?

She wanted to be famous - and, no, it didn't matter at what!

She was ready, willing, and able to do whatever it took!

She looked like the daughter of Reggie Coveney, up in NYC.

(smile!)

But I do believe I had the most fun with this one.

I don't know if she caught my reference to the Dire Straits tune when I addressed her as Roller Girl...

after all, "Skateaway" didn't hit the airwaves until 1980, right?

This New Year's Eve party was still 1979!

That's what Gloria, from the Bronx, told me as we chatted.

I told her about the Savannah Derby Devils and she thought that just might warrant a trip down here.

(smile!)

Then came my favorite part: as she rolled away on her skates, she spun around and flipped this peace sign - very nice!

 

Then it show time at Club One!

My seat was right there, to the right side of the runway, so I had a fabulous view!

I was right there to applaud each performer as they were introduced and took their little spin on the catwalk!

I was right there when each began showing their chops up on that stage - Al, the club owner, with his "Car Wash" days; his ex, Bianca, with her "Knock On Wood"; Farrah, belting out that she "Got To Be Real"!

Wow!

In the above shot, they were all together, for the first group song in Act 1.

And what a fun one that was!

There were even a few little costume changes as they performed the Village People medley!

My favorite was "In The Navy", of course!

How could it not be?

There were a couple of others, concluding with "YMCA" for the audience to sing along, too.

Very nice!!!

But my favorite bits, I do believe, were the singing 'mercials, done by Gloria the Roller Girl and the washed-up Donna, for various 'Ronco' products.

"Enough Is Enough" was the song altered for the 'no more tears' shampoo - hilarious!!!

Those segments were so... much... fun!!!

Then we closed in on the end of the first act with another group song, but this was no medley.

"Smoke On The Water" was the one running through my mind as they all ran about with flames, but that was from a few years earlier.

"Disco Inferno"  - based on scenes in a movie - was the song for this fire at Al's Boogie Oogie Oogie Club.

So much energy!!!

I especially like Tenille El Capitan's expert twirling of the flames - and that inside joke with her name!

I wonder if performer Treyla Trash picked that herself?

I rather fancy she did!

You could tell from her costumes and her moves that she was a Disco Diva, capital "D" necessary!

(smile!)

Then it was time for all of us to vote.

Seriously!

This was an interactive show!

It was up to the audience to determine the ending.

Who would be the one to die?

By whose hand would the deed be done??

And what murder weapon would be used???

Like I said, what great fun this show was!

It clearly wasn't a musical, but it certainly had a lot of music in it, just as "Once" did.

Still, it came nigh on to being a musical during the 'mercial segments, when it seemed that the cantankerous duo would burst into song nearly spontaneously.

Very funny!!!

And the reason for this shot?

I want that cape of many colors... I do!

I liked this segment so much that I have a mini-movie on my phone, with three photos in this sequence.

I can flip through the trio and it's as if I'm watching Tenille spin again.

Very nice!

(smile!)

just ask, i've got the scoop!

Time for another get together of the Smiths and Kamerons!

Well, let's say all of the former and two of the latter.

(smile!)

Again, we were at Jalapenos of Sandfly...

again, we had a novice waiter trying to handle our table of nine...

again, we had botched orders.

Oh, poor Diego!

At least my Tacos Al Pastor came out perfectly!

(smile!)

Smitty's order didn't even come out until near the end of our time there.

I guess Diego got confused when Smitty and Betsy both ordered the same thing.

Oops!

I sat by Smitty this time and got to catch up on his golf trip to Santee, his first time being part of this 20-year tournament.

Sounds like it won't be his last with them - good!

I'm so glad he's back to doing something he loves!

As for me, I talked about the operas, of course, including "Madama Butterfly" and its non-PC story line and tragic ending.

Then I talked about the upcoming National Cinema Day, with $4 movies all day and all night, at both local cinemas... no one knew anything about it.

I followed that with my A*List membership that grants me three free movies every week at AMC for just $24 per month... no one knew anything about it.

And, as talk revolved around Addison and UGA, I tossed in the fact that Smitty could know go to college tuition free, as he's over 62... and no one knew anything about that, either.

I'm so glad I was there to let them know!

Who knows?

They may even act on that information, making better use of their money.

Now, against my better judgement, I'm off to an after-9 movie with Barbara.

Why shouldn't I do so?

Well, remember, my mornings have started early this week, thanks to the street crew right in front of my house.

Today, I went out and spoke to them.

The problem had been a tiny hole in the lateral sewer line coming off from my house and they had noticed it because the road was sinking.

For real!

So, they had two men down deep within the street, so deep that only the tops of their heads were visible.

By 3 PM, they were gone, having filled in the hole and placed barricades and warning lights around the area.

I guess they will be paving it over next week.

Until then, I'll be parking in the street.

If I park in my driveway, it's rather difficult to back out and avoid the area in question.

No problem for me!

Okay, gotta go meet mi amiga!

Hasta luego!

(smile!)

it's cleanin' time again, it's gonna leave me...

That Buck Owens tune, "Crying Time", popped up on the mental jukebox this morning.

Here's the thing: it took me a moment to realize what the title actually was!

In my head, this is what I heard.

 

"Oh, it's cleanin' time again, you're gonna leave me
you can see that far away look in my eyes
I can tell by the way I hold you darlin', ooh
That you're out of my life and it's cleanin' time

Now they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder (fonder)
but i doubt that's true for you, and this I know
you've been out of sight for years or maybe longer (longer)
and I won't need you again if I live to be a hundred years old"

That's right.

I've been going through the movie cabinet for the past few months, n'est-ce pas?

Watching VHS movies via Comcast rewards and free access to premium channels.

So far, there are fourteen movies from my past that I've seen recently, at least twice.

Those are done.

I no longer need to own those, those material objects no longer need stay.

So, they'll be leaving.

I thought about putting them on eBay...

but they are so picky about photos these days, and I'd have to buy mailers and keep up with the bidding and make sure to mail them out in a timely manner...

and I would just rather not have that bother.

Honestly.

For the buck I might - that's right, "might" - make off each one?

Nope.

The same goes for those stacks of CDs.

I've been meaning to move the filing cabinet and CD stand out of my bedroom for months.

Today, I made that happen.

My thanks to the City of Savannah for that encouragement.

They have been outside my house every morning this week, waking me early.

For the most part, I could just ignore them, as they surveyed the area and marked lines on the street.

Today was different.

The big truck was there, to tear a hole through the fairly new pavement, with all the noise that entails.

So, as I was up anyway, I started culling CDs from the rack as I dusted them.

When all was said and done, 33 CDs were in a pile from the rest, music I no longer wanted.

Of those, five have been reserved for jazz lovers in my life: nephew Noah, brother Smitty, the physicist.

Those 28 on the table are leaving home.

Of those, five were purchased at previous Savannah Music Festivals, and, though they brought me joy at the time, the music isn't something that calls to me.

Two others contain music from Elvis Tribute Artists, but aren't something I want to keep; I am hanging on to the one by Ryan Pelton though.

He and I have a history.

(smile!)

After a day spent unexpectedly in the house, by the time the crew left, I was ready to get out, too.

Where to go, where to go... oh, yeah, Chili's!

What a winner deal that was!

I decided to go for the same treat I had a few weeks ago, including that ice-cold lemonade.

Winner, winner, shrimp dinner!

Half the chips came home with me, as did the garlic bread and about 2/3 of the cajun pasta.

No shrimp, though - I ate every one of them!

(smile!) 

Feeling totally refreshed, I cast about for what to do next, hoping to get in a little yard work.

(See how nice the front yard was in that photo? That was from twilight with the Ryobi yesterday.)

I monitored the weather... 

checking that heat index...

was it cool enough to do some late evening mowing?

Wonder of wonders, it was!

Most of the front was done, so to the back I returned.

Forty-five minutes later, and hardly even breaking a sweat in the cooling breeze, I had the quit.

The battery was absolutely exhausted, poor thing.

(smile!)

Still, it got almost all of it done, so that was good!

Still with energy of my own, I popped over to the Food Lion - RAWR!!! - for milk and such.

Then I wandered over to the Book of Face.

This is Throwback Thursday and I had a special photograph to post!

The CD stand wasn't the only thing that got a good going-over this morning.

Nosirreebob.

I also went through the nightstand drawer...

and just look at this nonsense I had there!

"Okay, while it's still Throwback Thursday: I cleaned out the nightstand drawer this morning and look what I found!
The pin was from the square dance club I belonged to while stationed at Galeta Island in Panama. That thing is 44 years old!
The turquoise and silver bolo tie holder is from my Daddy's square dancing days, so it's even older. Aunt Barbara, do you remember him wearing it? I'm sure Bonnie, Merritt, and Conner haven't.
And those other three items? 

Expired! Expired! Expired!"

Hahahaha!

Hahaha!

I couldn't help but think of that Progressive 'mercial with the "Aunts" problem!

Remember?

One of them had opened the fridge and was checking contents.

"Expired. Expired. Expired."

Very punny 'mercials!

(smile!)

 

Now I'm going to enjoy one of the music game shows I so enjoy!

Tonight, "Name That Tune" has two actors from "Glee", all grown up now and trying to win some money for charities.

Maybe my first niece with "join" me with it!

I do so enjoy these shows.

Don't forget the lyrics. 

Beat Shazam. 

That's my jam. 

All are music shows that play songs new, and old, for me.

Masked singer has creepy voices and too much panel speak.
Like Reese's Pieces, the ratio of good stuff (music, peanut butter) to other (celebrity panel, chocolate) is just not quite right for my taste.

Nice that I still have so many other shows that are!

(smile!)

i'se had all i can stand, i'se can't stand it no more

That's what Popeye would say 

before opening up a can of spinach 

and whupping ass.

It sums up how I feel about that back yard of mine.

Given the verdant, 

lush, green 

of that area, 

spinach - 

and that sailor man - 

naturally sprang to mind.

If I had known 

the rain had already come

I would not have taken my trusty Ryobi in hand -

but I didn't know

so I did sally forth.

Now 

the deed is done.

Though not vanquished

the furrows have been made

to allow the escape 

of more water,

to allow drying

by the hot summer air,

to allow access

of birds to the many tiny grasshoppers.

Now

I sit

with cooling air all around me

until time arrives -

and the battery is again charged -

to finish off

this beast.

tina tuesday with 2 with boo and 2 with tiffany

"Who's Tiffany? I know that 'Boo' means Barbara. You have a new amiga from one of the meetups?"

Nope! I was talking about Tiffany Haddish.

"The comedian? I remember her. As I recall, you had been quite taken with her acting in that movie with Oscar Isaac. "The Card Counter", right?"

So it was, seen while I was having a mini-golf vacation in Hilton Head during the fall of '21. I had no idea she could truly act until that film. Most directors are content to just let her do her raunchy comic routine. You know, like they did with Melissa McCarthy for years.

"Yeah, I agree. So glad they broke free from that mold!"

Well, maybe not completely. On this Tina Tuesday, I had an unintended double header with her. In the first one, watched with Barbara, Tiffany was the single mom of a son who grew up loving magic. That was set in Las Vegas and really made me hungry to return there! Plus, I was recently talking about Vegas with the ex and with Jayme of Savannah Stage Company, and I have so many good memories of my trips there! That was fall of 1983, as mentioned last week; March of 2007, with Mother Pat - and Tom Jones! - for what would be her last birthday; May of 2010, with the week split between Paul and Cathy, and my bff Sam; October of 2013 for a fall break with groupons and belated bday55 with Meat Loaf; and July of 2018, for bday60 with Elvis Tribute Artists and more!

"Um... that was a pretty long ramble..."

Oops! Sorry! Like I said, Vegas has been calling my name, so maybe I should go. I'm not sure where to stay, now that I'm done with Diamond, but I found a good deal about a month ago. I'd wait until October, right, as it is too crazy hot there to go now. Heck, it's crazy hot here! It's after 9 PM, right, and the temperature is still 85F... but with the heat index, it's damned near 100F!!! The back yard needs cut, again, but I can't do it with that kind of heat. My heart just won't handle it, as I found out the last time I mowed the front. I get it, I do. Once you've had a heart issue, your body forgets how to regulate its internal temperature. I only realized on Sunday what had been amiss.

"Hey! You better be careful with that! Maybe you need to get one of those alarm systems, something that can call for help if you can't. Doesn't your Medicare plan have one of those? And isn't it a free service for you? You should look into that tomorrow!"

Honestly, I'm okay now, I am. But I promise to check with UHC about that.

"Tomorrow. Check on it tomorrow."

Yes, ma'am. I promise. I will.

"Okay. I'll stop fussing at you, but I'm watching you. Now, get back to your story about this Tina Tuesday, will ya? Like, it looks like you had a nice luncheon?"

I did! Barbara and Sandy were to come to the Vegas movie with me, but Sandy bowed out, saying she hoped to join us for lunch at Olive Garden. Then she bowed out of that, too. She has yet to start using her prescribed C-PAP machine, so her sleep apnea has not improved.

"Her loss. I know how you had hoped to have both amigas there with you!"

I was! It seems like forever since I had an outing with mi tres amigas! Still, Barbara and I had a lot of fun laughing at "Back On The Strip" and watching the fellows shake their tally whackers! Then we had a grand lunch, with a very good waitress. I just had the soup and salad, but doesn't it look so fancy in that photo?

"Yeah, it does! Very nice to have shot it on the angle, with the light from the window."

Thanks!. That's what Boo said, too. She, by the way, couldn't hang out for a second movie, as her AMC A*List hit its third with that movie. Mine still had one more slot, and, given that last week I only saw the one movie, I was determined to see three this week!

"And that's why you decided on "Haunted Mansion" again? Because Tiffany was in it?"

I had not remembered that at all. I was just looking at movie start times and that was one of three possibilities starting between 4 and 4:30. I chose it because I thought it least likely I'd be watching it on National Cinema Day with family. Plus, I recalled that it had a really great cast of supporting actors: Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson. But, somehow, I forgot about Tiffany as a medium... and had totally missed that the other medium was played by Jamie Leigh Curtis! But, note to self: noisy teenagers were out of school and there, too, at that time. They sat right behind me, too.

"Yes, I guess they would be able to go at that time of day. Plus, it's Tuesday, when the movies are cheaper, you know. That's how you first started having these Tina Tuesdays, right? Because the running bear was loathe to spend an extra couple of dollars on tickets?"

That's correct. I do hope he is doing well. His 41st birthday was last week, on the 17th.

"Really? Yeah, I guess that sounds right. So, when was it that you saw a second movie with Barbara? Isn't that implied in your post title?"

Indeed! That was on Sunday, two days ago, when we saw "Blue Beetle". I hope to see that one again, too, but maybe not this Sunday. Too many of the kids I want to invite would be lost with all the Spanish in it.

"Actually, it might be a good exposure to another culture for them."

That's true... but I'm leaning toward the TMNT movie. I don't know, there's another kids movie that's supposed to start on Friday, so I'll see if we get that one. I'm keeping all out options open!

"Good girl! Okay, go watch "Don't Forget The Lyrics"! I know you like that one."

I do! Bye!

as calvin said: the days - and nights - are just full!

And it isn't even fall yet.

That's when the theatre troupes go back into action.

Plus, the Savannah Jazz Festival will ramp up in mid-September, and then all sorts of music and autumnal-themed events follow suit, following folks into that cooler night air.

I just need to remember to stick that mask into my back pocket, as COVID is again keeping company with more of us.

Yeah, that's right, it's still around, still sending folks to the hospital and the morgue.

Truly.

Remember XBB.1.5?

I started talking about that variant of the Omicron strain of the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus back in January of this year, not once, but twice.

Then, in April, I shared the news about its sweet-16 version, rockin' in the USA and worldwide.

Well, now there's a new model, XBB.2.3, and, like these other XBB variants, it spreads as quickly and as easily as the common cold.

That means you don't start having symptoms until three days after infection with it, i.e., three days after the person gifted it to you.

Wash those hands.

Avoid crowded places.

Keep away from folks not in your bubble.

Have a mask handy at all times.

Wash those hands!!!

I already know three people who have it.

Yes, that's present tense: have it.

Now, what did I say about the days and nights being full?

 

Yesterday found me at the Jepson with Michael, Leila, and Alyssa!

 

The museum was having Free Family Day to celebrate its Age of Armor exhibit and I had invited the Saturday morning family groups to partake with me.

 

So glad the Effingham contingent was there!!!

(smile!)

As well as saving the $45 it would have ordinarily cost for the three of them, they got to see live action from the medieval ages!

 

There were two 'living history' groups in the second-floor Auditorium to introduce the kids, and their folks, to the finer points - pun intended!!! - of weaponry then.

 

Schola St. George doesn't have a local chapter, but a group had traveled to be here, to educate attendees in the differences between the types of armor worn and the uses of the different weapons.

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) does have an active local branch in Savannah and they were quite enthusiastic about having others to spar against!

 

We were pretty excited about that, too!

 

An element of surprise is always a nice touch, not just for the fighters, but also for the cheering crowd!

 

And cheer we did!

Michael was on the 'blue' team and I was on the 'red' team, by dint of which side of the room we were on.

 

The first match was between Sir Ed, for blue, with a spear, and Sir Sam, for my team, with a dagger.

 

The second match pitted Sir Pietro of SCA, armed with sword and shield, against Sir Seth, wielding a pole axe.

 

Each pair battled at least three times, with each winning at least once.

 

My favorite matches, though, were the rapier fights between Sir Zacharius and Lady Jacqueline!

So much more elegant... and she won all five battles against him!

 

What did Alyssa and Leila think?

Their minds were on the trampoline party!

After about two hours with me, they were off!

(smile!)

 

Oh, but one very bright spot for me!

We had explored the new Children's Art Museum on the third floor before the medieval arts.

At some point after the battles, while we were looking at the crafts studio - where kids could construct their own swords and shields! - Leila came up to me excitedly.

"Aunt Tina, come see what i found!"

It was a lovely little park within the second floor area of CAM!

There was even a 'pond' with 'goldfish' and a wrought iron bench and so many flowers!

(smile!)

 

After a couple of hours at home, I bounced downtown again, this time to the Savannah Cultural Arts Center.

I was a volunteer usher again for SVF-11, for my second opera of this season!

As a cultural exchange with the Tokyo VIAA, we were in for a treat: "Madama Butterfly".

What a thrill - and a bit confusing - as the show was sung in Italian, as it was written by Puccini.

Japanese costumes, Japanese cherry blossoms, Japanese design, and not a single thing that was Japanese except some of the singers and some of the names of the characters they portrayed.

However, audience members had dressed in the most colorful, Japanese-themed, attire they owned!

What a lovely parade for me!

And guess who I saw and spoke with?

The 'Tis, of all people, and the cellist Yvonne (that's why-von, not eee-von), from my days at the Povie pool hall!

 

Plus, Liz Lang and Jessica Best, two I held dear from that SVF-8 season, came to watch!

Was there anything that surprised me about this particular opera?

Maybe 'surprise' is too strong a word.

At the end, Jeremy Brauner, the one portraying the US sailor who had bought Butterfly, a 15-year-old geisha, to be his wife while in port in Nagasaki, practically  had to encourage the audience to applaud his performance.

And just why was that?

In this #MeToo time in history, his character was one to be booed, one who took advantage of a young girl's heart and betrayed her love.

He was no Romeo... but all of this took place over a century ago, in a different clime.

Accolades I gave for a perfectly nuanced performance, to him and the entire cast! (smile!)

This morning was all about Miss Virginia.

Yes, that title is correct, as she never wed.

For all intents and purposes, she became a Protestant version of a nun in the latter half of her 39th year, back in 1963, devoting herself to Asbury Memorial Church and to Jesus, for sixty years.

Her favorite color was red and we were all encouraged to brighten the synagogue in that hue.

I wore Mother Pat's Hawaiian dress, a flowing, hibiscus red muumuu of a gown, perfect for summer, and perfect for this celebration a long life well-lived.

Her niece and her nephew were in town, too, and Rev. Billy was back on the stage.

He says we're going to honor her, and the other 24 Elderberries who were holding down the fort" for several years until 1993, thirty years ago when he started here, every year on this day.

What a marvelous idea!

As he read off the list of their names, some of the faces came smiling up in my mental photo album.

Nell Hagins.

Joe Hunnicutt.

Harold Wiley.

Elizabeth Lariscy.

And, now, Virginia Holliday.

I may not have known the majority of them, but I knew these, and am glad I did.

i thank You, God, for sharing them with me.

(smile!)

But my day was not yet done.

The Two Posts American Legion had a special meeting in the middle of this afternoon, in lieu of the missed one on Thursday night.

This time, we were meeting with the contractor, so I was sure, as an Executive Board member, to be present and accounted for... if a little late.

I'm glad I was there.

We have a date for the next phase: September 5th.

That's when the drains and water lines for the horseshoe bar will be dug and construction of the bar itself will commence onsite.

See that blue tape in the foreground?

That's the front edge of the bar.

The blue tape further back is for a cabinet, with another, for the liquor and such, along the wall.

We're hoping for a soft opening for Veterans Day.

I had been hoping for dinner with this meeting.

 

After 90 minutes elapsed, and 6 PM neared, folks began bidding their adieus, as did I.

Now, what to do?

How to finish out this weekend of diverse activity?

Dinner and a movie, of course!

Too late for anyone to join me at Carrabbas, but I certainly did enjoy every last bite of this Salmon Cappieri, loaded with capers and lemon flavor!

So satisfying!

Then to the "Blue Beetle" in BigD with Barbara!!!

What a fun romp it was, too, with lots of story to go along with the action!

The most fun, though, were all the superhero gadgets!

They looked like something a 10-year-old boy would have gleefully made, letting his imagination run free, with material choice being constrained by his finances!!!

Very nice way to end the day.

(smile!)