armstrong alumni duo, plus one

A change must be in the air at GaSoU.

For the first time in at least four years, they are actively courting the alumni of Armstrong State University, Armstrong State College, and Armstrong Atlantic State University.

Good!

Just as long as they don't try to call us GaSoU alumni... because we are not.

We are Armstrong Pirates, and proud to be so.

Thus, when Yvonne received word of this "Always Strong Armstrong Alumni Gathering", she contacted me and we registered for the three-hour party event.

Cathy Mac came along for moral support.

Good!

As fortune would have it, we three arrived at the same time to Cohen's Retreat, the neutral ground selected as the venue.

That meant we walked in together, a force to be reckoned with!

(smile!)

What greeted us there?

Surprisingly, a welcoming force from GaSoU, all wearing name badges from that corporation.

Several of them turned out to be Armstrong alumni, such as the charming Zerek Sanders.

He is involved with the Habitat ReStore and, when he found out I was retired and the other two will be retired by July, he encouraged us to volunteer there.

Who knows?

Once the weather warms, I just might.

Or maybe I'll wait until mid-May, when Yvonne retires.

She seemed interested in that offer from Zerek.

(smile!)

Cathy made sure he - and the others that visited our table - understood that she was not an Armstrong Alumni and that she was jetting back to Michigan in July.

Good!

I did enjoy the two women who joined our trio after the photo shoot.

One is a retired teacher who substitutes at Jacob G. Smith Elementary.

That's her, standing to my left, wearing the maroon jacket and white top.

She was quite surprised that I'd gone to school there at Jacob G., as well as to Myers Middle School and Jenkins High School.

That truly marked me as a local.

She had her daughter, who attends SCAD, with her as a guest.

We all dined on chicken fingers, pimiento cheese on toasted bread, and deviled eggs, as well as quite a few different raw veggies and such.

No sweets anywhere, but the party did boast two free alcoholic drinks.

Apparently, not many people imbibed, as they gave out extra vouchers the last hour.

I guess we all wanted to keep our heads straight.

Good!

GaSoU, as a corporation - not as an institute of education - is all about the Benjamins, as we all well know.

We kept waiting for a sales pitch... but that, mysteriously, was absent.

What we did get was an intimation that other such events will be forthcoming.

Good!

I made sure to tell every GaSoU representative that visited our table that the Armstrong Alumni Association used to have quarterly meetings at various restaurants and how much fun those had been and how much I missed them.

I hope to hear of future events, but I'm sure Yvonne will.

After all, she is still a professor at GaSoU.

Maybe there will even be another meeting before she retires and we can have Cathy come along as our guest for that, too!

We'll see.

Meanwhile, I need to get ready for my vacation to Brunswick, another city by the sea.

Elvis awaits!

(smile!)

three excellent, smart, movies in just two days!

That's a bit of a rarity, as a rule, but 'tis the season of last minute hopefuls for Academy Award nominations, and I am more than happy to reap those benefits!

Yesterday, I took in a double header, as I was already going to be southside for the second AMC Screen Unseen film and had yet to have an entry on my A*List dance card.

"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" was timed perfectly to be my first show of both the A*List and this twosome.

I'd recently seen "The Hunger Games", as Comcast has given possession of it to me as a reward, and I was reminded then of how much I had enjoyed it when I first saw it.

That girl - and boy - were on fire, literally, and ended up flaming in love as the public watched and cheered for them at that 74th anniversary of the annual event.

The latest movie is a prequel, set 64 years earlier, when the televised "games" are in danger of being discontinued, as the public has tired of the same old gore fest.

So the two in charge make changes, starting with putting the onus of mentorship on the students of the elite academy.

That includes Coriolanus Snow, a student whose family has fallen out of favor with the ruling class, making him a poor relation to his rich classmates... but quite a smart cookie, one that Captain James T. Kirk would have recognized as a kindred spirit.

Excellent movie, excellent story, and very nice use of "Snow" puns sprinkled throughout!

Mi amiga, Barbara, joined me for the second film, which turned out to be "American Fiction", starring Jeffrey Wright as a black author trying to carve out a place for an intelligent voice on literary bookshelves... and getting enormous pushback.

Such a smart and funny and real feel to this one!

It had the same "feel" to me as did "Dear White People" and "Sorry To Bother You", both of which I had enjoyed greatly!

I do hope it will come again, as more folks will want to see this one.

Those, as I said, were both yesterday.

Today, for Tina Tuesday, I had the bfe with me for the first of the two movies he had specifically requested to see: "The Holdovers".

One thing is sure: the marketing majors who put together the trailer made this seem to be a lightweight flick for the holidays.

Nope!

This is a true sleeper, with much more depth than could ever have been captured in a 90-second preview.

I was in for it, anyway, as it has Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who I adore, as well as Paul Giamatti, who certainly has his moments.

The physicist and I both enjoyed the three storylines interwoven so well, though I could have done without the continuous sight of so much snow - really made me cold!

No, really, it did; I've been getting enough of that from the weather, which has been in the twenties - yes, the friggin' TWENTIES - until 9 AM for the last two mornings.

Brrr.

Now, I'm home from our two-hours-plus conversation at B&D Burgers - where neither of us had a burger, make of that what you will - and watching one of my favorite game shows.

That would be "Press Your Luck", and tonight each Whammy has a Christmas theme!!!

This poor guy has gotten his money wiped out by a mean Santa with a snickering dog guiding his sleigh - lol!

Last night, I had "the Jane that Stole Christmas" setting the theme on "The Weakest Link" - very funny!

She began the show with four Santas, two carolers, one Mrs. Claus, and one elf.

I kept hoping it would end up with the sleigh rider versus his toy-making helper... and it did!

Santa Bob ended up winning, but Eric the elf made a good run for the money!

I wonder if any of the other game shows at night while play along in this vein?

I hope so!!!

(smile!)

post-Thanksgiving - the weekend

That would be Saturday and Sunday, with yesterday being the former.

Bugs Bunny was on yesterday morn.

(smile!)

I am grateful to have not had anywhere I needed to be this weekend.

The weather has taken a dip into the 40's at night, with the 30's due in a couple of days.

Rather, in a couple of nights.

No, I'm not happy about it, but it could be worse, as I well know.

Meanwhile, I had nowhere calling me out, so I stayed in, going through closets, going through cabinets, filling the recycle bag.

Admittedly, I've been doing that a lot of late.

So what have I unearthed and deemed worthy of keeping?

One item was from my first niece, a Valentine's Day card.

She'd given it to me in 2014, while we were in Daytona Beach, having a holiday, and she had surprised me with the card.

But that wasn't the most special thing about it...

she had written a poem, a poem just for me!

Yes, I'll be holding on to that, as I will this postcard.

Sent from Spain in 2014 by Jill Harboldt, a nurse and one of my former students, it sings praises of my teaching!

She had toured the Basilica De La Sagrada Familia, an unfinished church with a combined style of Gothic and Art Nouveau, unfinished because the architect, Antoni Gaudi, died in 1926, six years into the ambitious project.

She was impressed with how he balanced everything out "not unlike a chemistry equation."

Yes, I'm keeping that, too.

Speaking of combining odd elements - hahaha, a chemistry pun! - I have been doing that with food.

Mary and Smitty sent me home with a container full of turkey and ham, plus a container of desserts and a plate of side dishes.

This Coconut Curry Korma has smoked turkey, green beans, the yellow bell pepper from Asbury Memorial, and an apple, with a toasted tortilla to scoop it up.

That finished off the turkey from them.

I'd already had a sandwich with turkey, ham, and squash casserole (which was surprisingly tasty and moist); pumpkin pie and fried turkey breast for brunch Friday; and turkey pasta soup for breakfast yesterday.

That left just one of the side dishes: the baked sweet potato, which I heated and used as the bed for the turkey frank in the wrap that served as breakfast today.

I really wouldn't mind eating any of those meals again!

And here's something that I've done yet again: watched "That Thing You Do!".

That's my $1 Weekend Movie Night reward this time around.

Get this coincidence: it's the second movie I've seen this weekend that features Tom Hanks and Steve Zahn!

Not a deliberate move on my part!

I had no idea that Zahn was in "You've Got Mail", which I watched on Tubi yesterday morning... and I had forgotten he was in TTYD.

Right place, right time.

(smile!)

is this really friday???

Yes, yes it is, because it is the day after Thanksgiving.

As that celebration is always on a Thursday, then the next day is Friday.

 

"Good point. You have anything else to substantiate that?"

 

Well, I have been besieged by 'mercials about Black Friday sales.

I've even received lots of emails with Black Friday specials that began today.

 

"Yeah, advertisements don't count, ya know.

Stores have been running those for at least a week.

Plus, you know very well that a lot of those "Black Friday" sales are running through the weekend, not just this one day.

So, you need to do better than that."

Okay, how about this: the mailman came today.

"No, no, no, yeah that won't work.

The mailman comes six days out of seven, so what else do you have?"

Hmmm, this may be harder than I thought.

Oh, how about this?

My phone says today is Friday and so does my computer!

"You're half-right.

The phone does have the day as well as the date; the computer has only the latter.

What else do you have?"

I know!

The Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta was today at 5 PM!!!

There, undeniable proof of which day of the week it is!

"There ya go! 

I knew you'd get there eventually."

A very nice time it was, too, with all the regulars plus Addison again.

Her teachers are hitting her with two rounds of tests, first the last exams for the semester, then the Final Exams to test cumulative knowledge.

As I told her, I gave my students a break by having the last exam before Thanksgiving.

She wished her professors at UGA would do that!

"You missing teaching??"

Nope!

So glad to have retired when I did!

And guess what Smitty asked me about tonight?

Getting that property tax break at age 62!

And Tony told Laura that they need to get the Homestead Exemption now.

Everybody is looking to save money, and looking to me for tips.

I'll have to send them the link to file online for those exemptions.

"That has been a big cost cutter for you, that exemption at 62."

Most definitely, as it cut my county property taxes in half.

I need to see about that exemption for being 64, though I should have done that last year.

"Every little bit adds up!"

Yes, it does, yes, it does.

And look what Laura gave me: her leftovers!

She had a big lunch earlier with her son Cole and his girlfriend, and could only eat one of her three shrimp tacos.

Looks like a mighty fine lunch for me tomorrow!

"That it does!

It'll make a nice change from the turkey leftovers, too."

Hey, that food that Mary packed up for me has been great!

Smoked turkey, fried turkey, and even some ham!

That's a nice variation from my usual canned meats.

Oh, and before I leave here, let me tell you something else I heard tonight.

Remember Randy, brother of Eric Newton and one-time rambler with Ronnie?

The last I heard of Randy was from Donna Howard, with her saying he'd cleaned up.

Apparently, that's true.

I saw a photo of him tonight, and he looks better than he has in many years.

Tony says he's working with Zach now.

I do hope Randy will continue to stay clean and sober.

He deserves to give himself a break from that other life on the street.

"Let's hope he does.

Being an alcoholic is a hard addiction to break."

Amen to that!

Okay, I have one more way that I know it's Friday.

Comcast has given me a $1 Weekend Movie Night Reward!

Let me see what I can find to finish out the evening...

happy first thanksgiving, theo

Hey, just thought I should go ahead and get that out into the open!

 

You know how it is: babies and pets tend to take over at family gatherings, or any event.

 

That was certainly the case today.

 

So, here's the star of the show, with his 27-year-old Daddy!

 

This here is his mom, Hannah.

 

She's a quarter of a century to The Pip's 6 months.

 

Why do I call the baby The Pip?

 

Her last name is Pippins, so that nickname just fits!

 

She gets a kick out of it, so that's the sobriquet I'll use for him.

 

You're asking me if I held the baby?

 

Please, you know me better than that.

 

Mary and Smitty held their third grandchild repeatedly.

 

That's right, Theo is the third, and completes the cycle.

 

Each of their kids has now become a parent in their twenties.

 

Here's their first grandchild, Caitlyn, with her mom, Christy.

 

This one will be 17 in December and has just finished high school.

 

The pandemic really helped Caitlyn out, as she was able to concentrate on her studies and get the work d-o-n-e.

 

She's already had some college classes, too.

 

Here's hoping she keeps that momentum up -

she wants to be a veterinarian and that takes more schooling than for a regular MD!

 

What about Team Kobe?

 

Well, Zach and his 13-year-old son didn't make it this year.

 

I wonder if they would have held the baby?

 

Christy and Caitlyn did; Mary and Smitty did; and of course Tyler and Hannah did.

 

Not me... but would I have been the only holder holdout had they been there?

 

That's a question for another time!

 

For now, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I'm going to watch "Planes, Trains, And Automobiles" from 1987, on Pluto, and see how I like that free movie app.

Blessings to you!

happy half-century to my bfe

He has a real taste for items from a long-gone era, so I knew just what to give him for his bday50.

 

I'd been randomly reading the stories and realized the similar tone to those of Charles Bukowski: a little dark, a little twisted, and yet with a spark of life.

 

That made "Winters' Tales: Stories And Observations For The Unusual" perfect for him.

 

I would have gifted it to the J-Dawg last week when we dined at Bonefish, but I thought it best if I prettied it up first, as it had a musty odor.

 

Several days with baking soda rendered it good as new and ready for his hands!

What makes this perfect for him?

The poem written by Jonathan Winters' daughter, Lucinda, to celebrate the 60th birthday of her father... and his inner child.

It was included in the author's foreword, and I present it here.

 

"I can picture you fifty years ago and more playing alone,
Creating invisible friends, speaking their dialogues, acting each role.
I'm a lot like you.
I played alone with fantasy characters, questioned my vivid imagination,
But you taught me not to be afraid to be alone or unusual.
You taught me to be proud to be strange.
I can picture you as an old man with still the imagination of a child,
And me, a middle-aged woman mentally and spiritually playing alongside.
Two special friends, two children, an unusual father and his unusual daughter."

 

Perfect for two friends such as we are.

 

I even found a card that is perfect.

It makes me think of Calvin and Hobbes, and hopefully the physicist will have that thought, too.

"Happy half-century! May this mark on your timeline begin a memorable era.

I hope the book will provide a few smiles, a modicum of advice, and perhaps even moments of inspiration.

As for the jazz, that's a language that travels the globe, and generations, with ease; enjoy!" 

That means I am also granting him ownership of Kaori Kobayashi's first CD.

Nothing like a Japanese saxophonist playing a jazz standard written by a guitarist and made famous by Miles Davis...

given by a chemist to her favorite physicist.

(smile!)

trio fit for kids of any age

I am so glad that October is over and done at the cinema!

At one point, there were at least three horror movies playing, reducing my choices.

Not now!

The holidays are upon us and family movies - plus Oscar hopefuls - are filling the screens.

What that means, of course, is now I have too many choices.

What a lovely problem to have!

 

This week's theme was kid movies, and I've seen all my A*List dance card allows since Monday, when I had a holiday outing with the four little blondes!

As I said then, "Trolls Band Together" is most def my favorite in that series.

Great music, over several different decades and genres, perfect for dancing afterward up near the screen while the credits rolled!

The next two were seen as a doubleheader today.

Yeah, it's been a while since I did one of those!

"Next Goal Wins" was a second viewing for me, but I do so love this soccer movie!

Who knows, I just may see it a third time yet, if it hangs around.

As for the third movie in my A*List, that's brand-new, as "Wish" just opened Friday.

Very nice, though a bit rebellious, and very much like "Moana" in a lot of ways.

I did like that the girl had freckles on her face... gave her some spunk!

 

So, what about that interim day twixt Monday and today?

Tina Tuesday was spent at the Royal of Pooler for Bollywood!

Well, actually, "Tiger 3" was more straight-up action, though it did have two dances.

It also had Salman Khan and a special cameo with... Shah Rukh Khan, his cousin!!!

That made driving in the rain all the way out there worthwhile for me... kinda sorta.

If only I hadn't had to drive back, too, that would have been nice, but, as the movie let out before rush hour traffic and the rain had stopped, I was okay.

It had all been Barbara's plan, for me to drive the two of us to Pooler.

No asking me if I would prefer otherwise, just her opting to drive the shorter trip to Tybee last Friday in exchange for me ferrying us on Tuesday.

So, the plan I made was to meet her at the AMC and then to go in my car.

Nope.

She changed that plan, as she had ordered muffins from Rambam, so she would meet me at my house at 11 AM and we'd go from there.

Nope.

She changed that plan, too, as she spent too much time hobnobbing with acquaintances there, so she wanted me to come and pick her up...

on a morning that was gray and rainy...

when it was already past the agreed meeting time.

Nope.

She gave me the wrong directions to where she would be waiting, causing yet another delay, so, after a call to her that just increased my tension, I told her "Not today."

Then I left for Pooler, to try a new way I'd worked out that avoided interstates...

with their roadwork going on...

but still driving in the rain...

on a shortened time line... 

thanks to her controlling nature.

Granted, I'm a control freak, too, which is why I can recognize it easily in her.

Right?

Most of the time I can let it slide, but... not today.

There were too many parameters at play and her continual changes made it harder on me than it should have been.

Here's the rest of the story: we both made it to Pooler on our own, meeting up within minutes of our arrivals at the cinema there.

I had time to enjoy the Canadian geese as they pondered the palm trees.

No doubt they had thought the wet parking lot was a pond.

Poor things!

So, being at my destination in a timely fashion, and having the opportunity to marvel at nature and migrating birds, all added up to me being more relaxed than I had been.

She and I were able to have fun at the movie, her a row behind my seat - 

as she had not informed me of her seat designation when she had me go ahead and buy my ticket online last week. 

That worked out, though, didn't it?

Right place, right time.

I do so love these little workings of the Universe.

(smile!)

monday = fun day!

Hooray for Thanksgiving week!

That meant the kids would be out of school this week... and so would the teachers!

When I contacted my first niece, a teacher, about getting together for a movie, she said yes!

Then, when she said her brother was also off, I contacted him and he said yes!

Hooray!!!

Then it was a matter of the tickets for that 11:30 AM screening of "Trolls Band Together".

As I had told each of them, I had been gifted three free tickets as a Comcast Reward.

Two were out and out free, as a prize for playing a "Which Troll Are You?" game.

(In case you're wondering, it said I'm Branch, the one voiced by Justin Timberlake.

I'm totally fine with that!)

I decided to have Fandango give me two Adult tickets with that prize.

Good choice!

Then I had a BOGO reward for that movie; that went toward two tickets for kids.

Sweet!

Total paid so far for the four tickets: $9.05.

Now, there were still two children that needed tickets, plus me.

My ticket was easy peasy, as the movie was at AMC 11 and this A*List just began.

This would be my first movie of the week!

Then I "cashed in" some reward bucks with AMC and "bought" two tickets for kids.

Sweet!

Seven tickets, for 3 adults and 4 children, for a total of just over 9 dollars - 

definitely right place, right time!

We all convened at the cinema within minutes of each other, too, so that was amazing!

Christina and I sat together, while Michael and the girls sat two rows farther up.

No sitting on the front row this time, as others had already taken those seats, but that was no never mind to us.

Nor was it an issue at the end of the movie, when it was time to dance!!!

Chloe led the way down to the front apron and was dancing up a storm!!!

Then I joined her, as did Miyah, but not the twins.

I guess I need to work on Alyssa and Leila a bit to get them into our routine!

(smile!)

I think some of those kids in the front two rows would have joined us if their teacher, or daycare leader, had allowed.

Maybe next time!

As for the movie, I do believe that was my favorite of the Trolls series.

I may even see it again some time!

(smile!)

But not this day.

Before we left the parking lot, I had the girls each choose a coloring book.

I had five total, bought as a set years ago, and I held them like giant cards, with their front covers facing me and the plain back jackets facing the four little blondes.

I let Alyssa choose first, as she is the oldest - though just by a few minutes - and then Leila took her turn, followed by Miyah and Chloe.

That left one for me!

But then something magical happened: they started looking through the books to see what pictures were in them and we all talked about the favorites we had!

Isn't that wonderful???

That's why I took this photo; I was just so enchanted with our connections over these pages that were left to our imaginations to enliven!

Yes, I definitely share blonde roots with these girls!

Now, we're off to Cici's for some pizza!

Woohoo!!!

(smile!)

bounty at the church, bounty from the church

Gratitude.

 

That was the heart of today's message from Reverend Billy Hester.

 

Gratitude for Asbury Memorial Church...

 

gratitude for the blessings of this faith community...

 

gratitude for the beauty of the world, as represented by the wealth of foods piled high on the stage...

 

gratitude.

 

After the Thanksgiving-themed service and the pledge drive were over, folks were invited to pose by that table, just as Billy's mom had always done.

 

Then Mike and Ray and Steve and Chris transferred the fresh fruits and vegetables to Holliday Hall, with an open invitation to all to take from it.

 

I made sure to help myself to that largess.

 

One bell pepper, one yellow squash, one banana; 

one lime, one lemon, three radishes;

two Granny Smith apples, two ears of corn.

 

My thanks, and gratitude, for those gifts.

 

i thank You, God, for leading me there today.

many thanks to jayme tinti of Savannah Stage Company!

Without you, mi amigas y yo would have missed out on "The Prom"!

Fortunately, I saw your post on fb.

"#TheatreInSavannah has something for everyone this weekend!
 

Looking for classic #musicaltheatre? The Savannah Theatre has got you! FiddlerOnTheRoof has been playing to packed houses all month!

If it’s a more modern musical you’re looking for, no worries, Savannah Arts Academy Theatre is on it! Go see students stand up for themselves and what they believe in, on stage and off in The Prom!

Speaking of contemporary pieces, Savannah Repertory Theatre has got a few tickets left for Lifespan of a Fact, but don’t sleep on it because they’re mostly sold out!

Or bring it back to where it all started, at a time where it’s never been more relevant! We’ll be out at Tybee Post Theater all weekend serving a twist on the classic Greek story of #Antigone!"

 

What joy filled my heart at your words!

I had already seen the SavRepTh last weekend, and you had redeemed the last play on my 2023 Season Pass to see "Antigone" last night...

plus, I'd had double doses of "Fiddler On The Roof" already this year, first from Savannah Country Day School in February, then during God On Broadway last month at Asbury Memorial, so no desire to see that a third time...

but I'd heard naught about a production of "The Prom"...

and it was high on my list of plays I wanted to see!!!

So, I contacted Barbara justthatfast and she, in turn, contacted Sandy and Kaye, who all wanted to see it as much as I did...

and this was its final performance!!!

Fortunately, we all got tickets, so we also got to see their new performance center.

Very nice!

Plus, we were able to talk with some of the actors afterward!

They were thrilled to find that we weren't parents or grandparents or any kind of family to anyone associated with the musical.

Nope!

We were just ordinary Savannah locals familiar with the school, ordinary Savannah locals who love musicals and loved having this one fall into our laps for a Saturday night!

Believe me, I have the website bookmarked and will add it into my rotation of information sources for future outings.

They have several choral and dance performances next month and I hope to see all!

I especially want to see "The Nutcracker"... it feels like ages since I've been!

So, Jayme, thank you for making our night sparkle and shine!

(smile!)

from one brother's sister to another sister's brother

Some days

it all adds up 

and what you got

is not enough.

Some days

are better than others.

I had been fine, mostly, at the Celebration of Life for Todd Hizer.

I arrived as Suzy Carpenter was sharing stories that highlighted his sense of humor, his friendship, his helpfulness, his love of students.

Then Gary Guillet, a former professor at Armstrong, shared a story of Todd's love of Gary's older son, Isaiah, and that teared me up a little.

But I think the remembrances from Todd's sister, Tracy, were the ones that really got to me.

I understand that loss of a younger brother.

Still, I was under control.

I even stayed for the reception, talking with Yvonne and Jackson, Gary, Cathy Mac, Leah, and several others for almost two hours.

As a parting gift, Tracy allowed me to select one of the bouquets to enjoy at home.

I decided to go straight from Oatland Island Wildlife Center to Greenwich Cemetery.

My thought had been to split some of the flowers with Ronnie, Mama, and Jean Marie.

That didn't happen.

Instead, as I drove, I kept thinking of the play last night.

Sisters and brothers, brothers and sisters.

Sisters having to bury their brothers. 

Still, I thought I was okay and proceeded on with my plan.

 

I took a sprig of the tiny flowers to place at Ronnie's pier.

A father and son were fishing from it.

I hadn't meant to disturb them, but of course they noticed when I paused to place the flowers nearby.

The father spoke a greeting to me and I explained briefly why I was at that spot.

My brother had loved fishing there and that's where we had placed his ashes."

"What was his name?", he asked.

"Ronnie", I replied...

and started to feel the catch in my throat.

His line tugged and he pulled in a large redfish.

"We hadn't caught anything until you came up."

I wished them well and barely got away before the sobs started, leaving me to sit in the car to wait them out.

Then I drove over to Mama and just bawled.

 

Loss adjustment just seems never-ending sometimes.

My mental jukebox had pulled up that U2, but just that one verse.

I had stopped to visit Ronnie, and caught two men fishing, as he and Smitty once did.

Yes, some days are better than others.

friday fiesta with greek tragedy on the side, please!

"That sounds like a pretty mixed bag!"

For sure, but what great fun! The evening began at Jalapenos, naturally! This week, we even had a birthday celebration for Betsy!

"Very nice! And just how old is she?"

Ah, she wasn't sayin'. Remember, these folks are a bit cagey about agin'. Still, I'd say she's late 50's.

"So, between Smitty and Tony in age?"

Yeah, I think so. I know Jimmy, her husband, is at least Smitty's age, so that would put him at 63, minimum.

"She certainly doesn't look quite that old."

Well, it helps that the photo of her isn't quite in focus, giving a bit of softening to any smile lines and such that she has.

 "Whoa. Not so with the photo of Dood. Extreme close-up there!"

Hahaha! He was right there beside me and just held that pose, so I snapped it. The bfe had texted, so I sent him the photos of my brothers to let him know where I was.

"And Tony is 56, right?"

Right. And I'm saying that Betsy is older than him, but maybe not as old as Smitty. Like I said, she wasn't forthcoming with that info.

"Hey, her choice, ya gotta respect that."

For sure. I am really glad that her daughter, Addison, drove down from UGA to surprise her for her birthday. Good job!

"How very nice! And you were still there when she arrived?"

I was! The Savannah Stage Company production was not to start until 8 PM, so, even with me riding to Tybee with Barbara, I still had time to stay for the entire Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta. Woohoo! Even so, I'm glad I was home when Barbara pulled up just after 7 PM. We got there early, but that gave us time to pick out our seats on the stage.

"Another theatre in the round performance?"

Truth to tell, all of their plays are in that format, and I rather like it. Much like the Black Box theatre of the Masquers, it allows an intimacy between the actors and audience. For this Greek tragedy, in which nearly everyone dies - the group at Jalapenos got a kick out me branding it that way! - the setting lent an air of urgency to the story of a sister trying to bury her brother, and the uncle who had forbidden her from doing so.

"That's what "Antigone" was about? Such serious subject matter."

Well, we are talking about Oedipus' family, so those would all be children of incest, with muddied blood lines from him wedding and bedding his mother. Yikes, right? And I had tried to find out the birth order of the two sons and two daughters, but could not. What we know is Eteocles was given first rule over Thebes, then he was to allow Polynices to take the next shift on the throne. But that other son decided to mount an army against his brother to seize the throne. The two sons ended up killing each other. Antigone, who had to be the older of the two sisters, didn't think her uncle had been fair in lauding Eteocles but leaving Polynices to rot on the field, so she wanted to bury that brother. Ismene, the younger of the two girls, didn't want to buck the uncle, who was now playing king. And then there's Haemon, the uncle's son and the girls' cousin, who was to wed Antigone, his love since childhood. What a tangle!

"Yeah, that guy was so cursed! I bet it was fun, even with all that death."

It truly was! And of course it was fast, fast, fast!!! I'm really glad I had reacquainted myself with the story and the genealogy beforehand. Some of the actors had multiple roles, so it was vital to stay in tune the whole play, or just get lost in the mix. I'm glad we had the chance to talk with them afterward at the opening night celebration!

"Oh, wow! How long has it been since you were at one of those? That's so cool!"

It was, and I loved getting the chance to talk more with Jayme Tinti. You know what she did? She posted on fb about the plays that other troupes were doing this weekend! She's all about sharing the love of theatre. I also applauded her on the spread of minimalist plays here in Savannah. You know, works that, like gypsy jazz, are very portable and can be performed in limited spaces. So I spoke of seeing "Backpack of Power", now touring in schools, as well as "For The Love Of Three Oranges" with David Poole's students. She was quite touched that I recognized that they owe their audiences to SavStageCo.

"For real. You could have also thrown in SavRep's "Empanada Loca" as well as the Armstrong Masquers' "Lethal Lecture" as examples."

I could have, but we were talking about Savannah Arts Academy and that's why David Poole came to mind. I thanked Jayme for having mentioned their latest musical, which Barbara and I will be attending tomorrow night, and how surprised I was that David had not said anything on fb about it. Without her post, I wouldn't have known!

"I do hope others will follow her example. Getting folks out of their houses and into the playhouses is good for the troupes and for the community."

Preach!!!

3 nights in a row of no cooking for dinner!

Tina Tuesday found me with the physicist, dining at the Bonefish Grill!

The bfe says that he only goes there with me.

I guess we both really like the seafood!

I had the swordfish, a rare treat, while he had mahi.

That's pumpkin ravioli, part of the special, and they were especially good, tasting more like butternut squash instead of pumpkin pie.

I told him about my three fish deal at Carey the H and he got a kick out of it!

But I think he's ready for a change of pace.

We were talking about lucid dreams and his desire to have them.

I suggested he try pepperoni pizza, as I almost always have those bigger-than-life dreams after I have that for dinner.

He thought maybe pizza would be our next outing, now that he knows it's my favorite food.

That sounds mega-fine to me!

He had a list of two movies he wants to see, too, so pizza and a movie would be a mighty fine time!

Next was Wednesday Night Supper, the last WNS of the year and Asbury Memorial made it memorable: an early Thanksgiving for us!

I was with Kathleen, Beverly, and Jo Poston again, as well as Susan Daggett - nice!

I truly am going to miss these meals with these women, as well as others I've met, but we'll dine again at the church Christmas party on December 10, hopefully at the same table!

Oh, I polished off my A*List right before that.

I started with "The Marvels", the most girly superhero movie ever, complete with lots of not-so-cute kittens.

Next up was a second viewing of that musical, "Journey To Bethlehem", which I very nearly watched yet again... but I found out it was staying another week... hooray!!!

And I completed my trio with "Priscilla", which was not so good.

Let me just say this: I learned nothing of Elvis and too much about her.

Teenagers... jeez.

Tonight, I dined with American Legion Post 36 at Two Firsts.

This time, we had our usual seven, plus one more!

We also had barbeque with red rice, green beans, and lemon cake - quite colorful!

We didn't vote on anything, but we were informed about the changes that had been made to the proposed new NCO bar.

For starters, the bar was deemed too large after all, so about five feet are to be lopped off so it won't jut so far into the room.

Work on the floor will resume on December 5th, with all the old flooring in all areas - including our meeting room - to be removed and an easy-care slab coating to be installed.

About then, or perhaps the week before, the acoustic ceiling tiles in our meeting room are to be painted, after replacing those with water damage.

That's in preparation for it to become a ballroom and banquet hall to be rented out.

We had hoped that it would be ready for this holiday season, but hopefully it'll be earning its keep by this upcoming spring.

I know Post 36 and Post 500 would sure like that!

So far, it's been lots of money going out and nothing coming in.

Come on, y'all, let's get it done!

(smile!)

adoption day

Hallelujah!!!

Forever starts today for Christina and the girls!

The judge finalized the adoption this morning!

That was just after 9 AM.

I know, because I was there.

I had to see it for myself, to know that this dream finally had been made REAL after more than six years.

Now, Miyah and Chloe have the same last name as my first niece, and are legally her daughters!

I'm so glad Christina's mom was there, too.

Melinda, no doubt, needed to see for herself that this dream finally became REAL.

i thank You, God, that it has!

Hallelujah!!!

2386 and 1584

Two numbers.

Each represent the passage of time while two children waited.

Each represent the passage of time while my first niece, the foster parent, waited.

 

The first number is for the older child.

That one has waited since May 2, 2017.

That was 2,386 days ago.

That child was only 33 days old when placed into foster care.

That child was barely over a month old.

That child had been in the hospital since birth.

That child went straight from the hospital into foster care.

That foster parent has been the only person she ever called Mama.

That foster parent has been the only person she ever knew as Mama.

 

That child had been with that foster parent for 802 days when a change occurred.

Ordinarily, that change would have been the completion of the adoption process.

That was not the change for that child.

Another child, a blood sibling of the first, was placed into foster care.

That second child was 285 days old when placed into foster care.

That second child was over nine months old when abandoned by the birth mother.

That second child was placed with her sister into foster care.

That foster parent has been the only person she has called Mama since her arrival there.

That foster parent has been the only person she knows as Mama.

 

This is the eve of their long-awaited Adoption Day.

I'll be at the courthouse with them tomorrow as the judge signs the papers.

I'll be at the courthouse with that foster parent as the the judge signs the papers.

I'll be at the courthouse with my first niece as the judge signs the papers.

I have to be there.

I have been awaiting this day with them.

I have to be there to see the judge sign the papers.

I have to know that this is real, that the three of them will be forever family.

 

I will be there.

with thanks to Mama this Veterans Day

There's no way I could have guessed, back in 1976, that military veterans would be treated so well, by so many, nearly fifty years later.

All my 17-year-old self could see was the opportunity to travel, to see the world I'd read so much about, to go to college some day.

The Navy, with its unspoken promise to always allow me to be near an ocean, was the way for me to do that.

However, as I was not yet of age, Mama had to sign her consent for me to enlist...

Mama had to willingly send away her one and only daughter...

and she did, against her own wishes but in support of mine.

That's how much she loved me.

I am so grateful to her for that trust in me.

Today, almost forty years after I finished my last tour as a sailor and returned to Mama and to Savannah, I celebrated on this chilly, drizzly, Veterans Day.

Thank you, Chicken Salad Chick, for the Lauryn's Lemon Basil on croissant, the chips and cookie, and lemonade, and the cashier who had an art teacher named Faustina.

I had half the sandwich for my brunch, with the remainder slated for breakfast tomorrow.

 

Thank you, Texas Roadhouse, for the voucher for a meal in the future, to spread out this day's celebration for all veterans.

Thanks, also, for the bag of roasted peanuts and the coupon thereon for a free appetizer on some other occasion - I know just what I'll get with that!

Thank you, Red Lobster, for the voucher for a meal of Shrimp & Chips in the near future.

Thank you, Applebee's, doing good in the neighborhood and for me, treating me to a free late lunch on this day, granting me one of my favorites: Fiesta Lime Chicken! 

Thank you, Armstrong Masquers, for a discounted ticket to the matinee today of "Lethal Lecture", a science-based interactive mystery with two archaeologists!

What a thrill to be on stage as Dr. Schechkle, one of those scientists, enlisted to cry and scream as part of a re-enactment clue - so much fun!

What a nice flashback to my time spent with A.C.T.O.R. in Okinawa, and my years of working with John Suchower and the Masquers on that Jenkins Hall stage.

I'm so glad I was there, in my seat, with Mama by my side, inspiring me!

Thank you, Little Caesar's, for the free Hot'N'Ready Lunch Special, with its four slices of deep-dish pepperoni pizza - I had half of those for dinner a few minutes ago.

Thank you, Publix, for the 10% discount on my groceries today, helping to defray the cost of finally restocking my pantry.

Thank you, Food Lion, for the 10% discount today, too, and the grand sale on Green Giant canned vegetables, making my larder full for the first time this year.

Thank you to all who wished me well today and thanked me for my service -

it was an honor to serve my country.

 

Happy Veterans Day to all who served.

 

Now, time to watch "Anger Management" to sing along, once more, with Jack Nicholson, Stan Turturro, and Adam Sandler!

Such a lovely day this has been, even under gray skies.

i thank You, God!