trick or treat?

I popped in at nhc.noaa.gov to check on tropical cyclone activity, as we still have another month before this hurricane season is deemed to be over.

Just look what was waiting for me.

 

Is this a trick of the weather?

Sure, none of the three yellow marks indicate a hurricane.

None of them are even tropical storms yet.

Still, it gives me pause, especially the two below Savannah's latitude.

Those are from the areas that birthed the troublemakers this fall.

I just checked again and the new map shows the same prognostication.

Perhaps I'll let it be for a few days.

The site had shown an even worse scenario after Labor Day weekend.

 

There had been a chain of colored x's boding ill weather on September 5th.

My thought upon espying the image was "What the fresh hell is this?".

Then, a day or two later, every one of the problem areas had dissipated.

Poof! 

Just gone.

Here's hoping this trio will give us all a treat..

and vanish back into the air from whence they came.

wns to my emotional rescue!

Last week, it was beef stroganoff.

The highlight was sitting with someone I recognized from choir and rattling on for about fifteen minutes about all the plays and musicals going on.

It wasn't until she spoke up about being on Tom Lewis' email list, but not really going to many that I thought to check on her name.

Opps! She was Linda, not Emily Garrard.

We still enjoyed talking until time for her to go to choir practice!

And we both enjoyed having Danny Lewis' pound cake for dessert!

Tonight was one of my favorite WNS meals here at Asbbury Memorial: baked ham and baked apples!

I even had some mac'n'cheese - so creamy!

In fact it was all so good that I had seconds!!

That included the carrot cake, too.

My mealmates were Pam, sans Walt (who was away at a meeting for a golf tourney), as well as Cynthia Linthicum and her hubby, both of whom have been on one of those weight-loss drugs.

I don't think they've been mindful about keeping up with their protein intake, though, but they weren't interested in hearing about it, either.

Mary and Pat Prokop rounded out our table, and I was glad to see them again!

Cynthia said something nice: she keeps up with my fb page!

She saw the post for Tony's birthday and we talked about it, as well as about her grown kids, some of which my first niece knows.

(smile!)

Then, while I was in Aldi's for milk and yogurt, I ran into Cedric Stratton!

We talked about twenty minutes, too, mostly about the education programs that were in place in the 1970's compared to those now.

Of course, I didn't know anything about those, as I was in high school then.

Still, it was nice to speak with him!

(smile!)

bday10 of twins: part 1

As I explained to Leila, tonight wasn't the birthday party, it was the birthday dinner.

The party, with cake and gifts and all that, will be on Sunday!

By the way, that's Leila on the right, having changed up her hairstyle again.

Good for her!

That makes it easier for folks to tell her and Alyssa apart, without anyone having to search out the birthmark on the forehead of the other.

So what was going on?

Well, in that photo, we were all singing "Happy Birthday" to them, embarrassing them good and proper there at Cici's!

 

They were getting used to that, though, as Christina sang the song to them at school earlier today, right in front of their class!

That's what happens when you're right there and attend the school where she teaches!

Here, in this photo, are the two aunts of the twins.

Chelsea had come straight from her nursing clinicals.

She told me she really thinks she wants to work in pediatrics or in the "Mommy and me" programs.

That's the beauty of internships: you get to test-drive the different departments to find your future!

And here we have the father of the birthday girls!

Yes, he's put on a goofy face, just as Ronnie would have!

That's Shauna with him.

That's good, since the girls have liked her for years.

She seems to have a steadying influence on Leila and Alyssa.

Now that they're a decade old, they need that to keep them out of trouble and off internet sites that are too old for them.

Oh, and now the girls know a new word: decade!

I asked Alyssa if she felt like she was a decade old, and she said, "I'm not a decade, I'm ten!"

Sweet child, that's how many years a decade has!

I wonder if she'll share that new word with her class tomorrow?

After all, there was another child that had her birthday today today, and that Christina sang for!

That child is also a decade old now.

And here's one more photo before I go!

Here are all four of the cousins, the ones I used to call the "four little blondes".

They're growing up fast.

Maybe the two older ones will slow down a little so Miyah and Chloe can catch up?

Yeah, that's not how time works, is it?

Red-shirted Miyah now misses two teeth, with a third on its way out, and Chloe bounces around like she's on springs!

I just barely caught the 4 of them in one shot!

(smile!)

right - right - bloody well right

"You got Supertramp on your mind?"

I do, and that tune in particular. I don't know why, but that song seems to be the one my mental jukebox cues up whenever my heart doctor gives me bad news. 

"It's time for another surgery, isn't it?"

It is. He wanted to do it this coming Friday! Another cardiac ablation, which means intense and utter pain during recovery, nightmares about falling asleep, as well as stupid decisions for a week or more as I recover from the anesthesia.  Honestly, I walked from his office straight into the bathroom and sobbed! I was so distraught!!

"Settle down, you've been through this before, you'll get through it again. Just when is this one scheduled?"

Next week, on Thursday, 7 November, early in the afternoon.

"Too bad it isn't at 7 PM on the 7th! LOL!"

I know you're trying to cheer me up, but that isn't helping. If the surgery was that late, I'd definitely be in for an overnight stay. I certainly do not want that.

"Listen, you need to keep your sense of humor intact, okay? It isn't like you have any control over this situation, right?"

Right. Bloody well right.

"Indeed I am. So, as Dr. Cobb has granted you a reprieve this week, you have time to set things in motion for the next few weeks. You know, so you don't make any post-anesthesia decisions that will screw up your finances. Get your bills set for payment. Get some kind of film festival lined up on Peacock. Make sure you have food you enjoy. Just get ready, as that's the part you can control. Okay?"

Right. Bloody well right. Control the things I can control.

"Correct."

Okay. 

"And did the good doctor proffer any reasons for the need for a new cardiac ablation?"

Yes. There's a flutter in the right side of my heart. That's why my heart rate has been hovering around 107 for the past couple of months.

"I see. The right side. That seems to have brought the Supertramp to mind. So, really, truly, this is no surprise that he wants surgery."

Right. Bloody well right. He even gave me an option of a DCC or the ablation. As I told him, I don't recall the DCC being good for more than a week or two, then I was right back in the hospital. So I chose the cardiac ablation, with mapping of my nerves to make sure they zap the right place in my heart. He even said this might offset the need for Sotalol in the future. I just wish I didn't have to be put under for all that.

"Plus, there's that whole thing about going up the veins in your groin to get those little electrodes in place in the torso."

Yeah, I seem to recall an issue with sitting after that.

"Well, let Ms. Barker know, so she can make sure the VA Community Care is all in place for this operation. You don't need any new financial bills coming in."

Already have that in motion. I went to the Savannah VA Center as soon as I left Dr. Cobb's office so I could let my PCP know. I now have a phone appointment with her for Friday morning. I've also called the VA National Community Care Network to start the process of getting an extension on the Community Care Authorization for the visit to the cardiologist today, as the last one expired two weeks ago. I do so hate jumping through these hoops, but it's all part of the process.

"It is. Just be calm and get it done."

I'm trying, I really am. I'm trying. Now, I'm going to watch "Autumn In Apple Hill" on Peacock. It's not a Christmas movie, but it should be calming for me.

byop in the boondocks of central georgia!

That's right - time for the Jenkins' family gathering out in Ellabell!

 

As you can no doubt tell, this photograph, with me lounging between host Harry and brother Smitty, wasn't taken by me.

Hostess Robin took it!

I was so busy telling the two skeleton jokes that I didn't even know she was right there!

That's okay - turnabout is fair play!

Here she is, oblivious that I was snapping a pic of her with her older daughter, Brandi, and the twins.

Both of the six-year-olds had insisted on having the blue rubber gloves to keep their hands from touching the ooey, gooey, pumpkin innards.

For real!!!

Yes, even the boy wanted gloves!!!

We all thought it pretty funny!!!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!!

That was going on during a quiet lull about an hour before the party officially began.

Start time was 3:30 PM, but Tony wanted to be there early as he had been "volunteered" for the cooking duty this time.

Here he is later in the day, in a shot from Laura.

You know it was her who "volunteered" him!

Not that Dood minded in the least.

Grilling and smoking meats are almost second-nature to him now, as often as he does it!

 

Tasty!!!

Here's another photo that I took, when folks were gathered to get seconds, or thirds.

That's Tony, far left, then Noah and Noah's gaming buddy from Statesboro, Griffin.

Noah had stayed in Savannah after the cruise, just so he could come out to this party... and see his mostly-online friend in person!!! 

They really loved the pulled-chicken bbq that Tony and Laura brought, as well as the chili Robin made, the grilled wings from Smitty, and all the rest, too.

Betsy and Jimmy Kameron are in this shot as well, while Becca was at a table with her mom (Patti) and a friend, Abby.

So, where was Laura in all this?

 

Well, first she was helping Robin get chairs and tables out on the lawn for all the pumpkin-carvers.

 

She was also helping set up food and decorations.

 

Plus, she was visiting with her son as much as possible, as he flies back to Missouri in the morning.

 

I was quite fortunate to catch my two brothers and their wives in this single shot!

 

Tony, Smitty, Mary, and Laura, all together!

 

Yes, a good time today... with hopefully more to come with Harry and Robin.

(smile!)

is neverland the same as heaven?

As per J.M. Barrie in his 1904 play and 1911 book about Peter and Wendy, Neverland is a place of no pain and no heartache, where there is no need to grow up, where pirates can be battled as if it were all a game.

In other words, Neverland was the ideal dream for boys.

Today, for our fourth and final installment of the GOB sermon series at Asbury Memorial Church, "Finding Neverland", a modern musical, was chosen.

 

It's authors have imagined how J.M. Barrie came to write his play, and Ryan McCurdy - perfect as both 'Peter Pan' or the playwright - flew in from New York City for the role.

I know, I know... that sounds like the setup for an inside joke, doesn't it?

Perhaps it was.

Coincidence that our airport has direct flights to that town?

Coincidence that I arrived late and had to sit in the narthex?

Coincidence that I not only had a clear view of the stage, but that the actors had a clear view of me and my reactions?

Coincidence that 'Peter' was modeled after the Barrie brother who had died?

Hmm... 

perhaps it was an inside joke meant from Ronnie to me.

All I know for sure is that I cried at the end.

Most definitely right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

byop in north jacksonville!

Bwah hah hah haha!

For those in the know, that's an inside joke... 

but I'll let you in on it.

"North Jacksonville" used to be Savannah-speak for the suburb of Georgetown, as that bedroom community was so far outside our city limits.

Nice, right?

This was nice, too, done up by The Koz with his usual suspects, including a couple of new clowns and a sand snake from one of the moons of Saturn.

It's up on the roof by the Jolly Green Giant, I mean, Frankenstein's monster!

Speaking of the ringleader of that merry band of ghouls, here he is: The Koz!!!

The time was just a little over two hours since my arrival, which was about an hour into pumpkin-carving time.

Why was he pointing toward the house and holding a remote bomb igniter???

The pumpkins had been judged and it was time to explode the one marked "most in need of improvement"... plus three others.

We were all calling "DAWN!!! DAWN!!!", waiting for her to emerge so the pumpkins could be like Napoleon.

You know: blown apart!!! Bwah ha ha!

Here she is, with The Koz, about thirty minutes earlier.

Their faithful Heinz-57 dog, Stella, was there, too, as the hostess and host of this massive party gave their opening address to the adoring crowd.

Whoop whoop whoop!!!

They think this might be the 14th year of their shindig, but they aren't for sure.

However, they were both very certain that this was all in memory of The Koz' mom, who died at 63 years old, just as my mom had.

Kudos to great mothers!

Then the pumpkin judging commenced.

Scariest pumpkin! Most innovative pumpkin! Pumpkin most in need of improvement!

The Koz and Dawn just announced the winners, but the under-12-year-old crowd were the ones who had done the selections!

I liked that one on the top row, in the middle, the best... and so had the throng of children!

I liked Dawn's Sweets Table, too.

The decor inside of the house was all her doing, with creepy ghouls on every surface and even cruising around on the floor!

But it was the dining room where her talents shown brightest, filled to overflow with tasty treats in scary packaging.

The centerpiece was another work designed by Michanne, with ooey gooey worms all over it... hiding delectable cake within!

Good thing the meats I'd eaten earlier had time to settle in and make room!

Yes, that's meats plural, all from Kenny's grill!!!

Ribs, sausage, hotdogs, shrimp with low country boil - a massive feast!!!

I'd taken refuge on the front porch, so I could eat in the company of the ghouls from AA and AAA time.

The Koz came looking for me, and when I told him I was "chillin' in the cacophony", he got it and gave me a quick hug before heading off.

Oh, yeah, he's most def a good egg!

Lookin' forward to next year's monster ball, y'all!!!

answering a masquer's call

The Armstrong Masquers may not exist on paper any more, but their spirit lives on in all who once trod the stage in Jenkins Hall.

I had many roles there in my undergraduate years, but the vast majority - stage manager, prop mistress, wardrobe helper, lights and sound controller, set painter - were out of the limelight, except once when Dr. John "Sooch" Suchower put me on at the last minute when an actress couldn't make it.

Ah, such golden days at Armstrong State College!

Travis Spangenburg is also forever an Armstrong Masquer, as well as the man who wore yellow stockings - to my great delight! - in a Shakespeare play.

 

When he sent out his appeal on fb about his latest role, I knew I had to see the play, even if it meant I would miss something else.

"I’m very excited to announce, later than I should have, what I’ve been working on for the last two months or so.
Rabbit Hole has been one of my favorite plays for 14 years now. It’s a beautifully crafted and complex examination of one of the most imaginable losses a family can withstand. Playing the role of Howie, a grieving father, has been one of the more rewarding experiences I’ve had in theatre and I think me and my fellow cast of student actors have created something really special together. Something with pain, heart, and a sliver of hope.
Moreover, this is all happening at Armstrong where I was first assigned this play and where I eventually got my degree. Not only does this material mean a lot to me, but so does the venue and its theatre program, one that needs as much support as this community can give.
We’re doing three shows, October 24 - 26, and it would mean a lot to me to see a good Savannah crowd at my first time onstage in a full length play in five years. I know we all have a lot going on as Halloween approaches, but I hope everyone in town will consider coming to a show."

And so, amidst all the other goings on of this weekend, I made time to see "Rabbit Hole" at its final show this afternoon.

Right place, right time, right in my seat beside Mama's.

I wonder if he heard my laughter during the comedic moments and recognized me?

Because, yes, there were humorous parts to this drama about a family struggling to stay together after their 4-year-old child was struck by a car and killed.

The teen driver had seen the dog run into the street, but did not see the boy in time.

The stay-at-home mother has busied herself with eradicating signs of the child, in hopes it will salve her grief.

The working father objects to the lack of the boy's things in the family room, the absence of his drawings on the fridge, the dog now transplanted to the maternal grandmother's house.

To me, their actions were a variation on the dilemma in "The War Of The Roses": how to make someone leave when all they want to do is stay, versus how to keep someone when all they want to do is leave.

In this instance, the dilemma is whether to keep the memory of someone who has died versus to clear out all traces of a dead one's life.

Then there's the issue of guilt in the game of "what if".

What if the mother had been outside when the child was in the yard?

What if the father had been home that day?

What if the teen had not "been going 31 or 32 instead of 30"?

What if the grandmother had not phoned the mother while the child was outside?

What if the mother's sister had not necessitated that phone call?

What if...

Yes, the game no one can win.

Truly well done.

Travis was perfect as the father.

Plus, I recognized Morrow Smith - who played the grandmother - as the crime solver in "Lethal Lecture" last fall, and made sure to tell her so.

Then, guess what?

She recognized me right back!

"You're the one who came up on stage with us!"

 Very cool!

Now, to get ready to party with ghouls!

(smile!)

halloween party? dance? art show?

Yes, yes, yes, and more!

"Kick And Scream Savannah: A Graveyard Smash" had intrigued me with its title, just as Tomasz' vampire film had last week.

That's why I've had my ticket to it since September 19th.

For real!

Of course, it helped that it was free!!!

I didn't know just what to expect, but I knew it would be fun, so that was for me!

Plus, the phrase "a graveyard smash" made me think of the song "Monster Mash", so I expected to see some dancing... and that's my jam for sure!

What it turned out to be was a celebration of the different classes taught there at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center.

Yes, there was dance!

But there were also charcoal drawings and sketch comedy and even a couple of women keeping up with it all via sign language for anyone hard of hearing!

 

The highlight, and star of the show, was "Boris", which happened to be the nickname of the guy who wrote "Monster Mash" in 1962.

Coincidence?

Perhaps!

I'll have to ask Cameron Frost about that.

He's the one who designed and sculpted "Boris", using ceramic for his head and hands, with three people operating the puppet behind its black cape.

He told me about it when he greeted me while I was in the line of folks waiting to get in.

What a treat to see my former student again!!!

I always enjoy our encounters so much!

 

He even came up to me after the show, too! 

Isn't he such a sweetie!

I just loved that he gave me that great grin and thumbs-up while posing for that photo!

(smile!)

So, here's the plot: "Boris" has commanded that his minions - Winston with the purple head, Paul with the green head, and Cynthia in the tutu - to gather a crowd for his feast.

 

They enlist the aid of a Brazilian drum corp, who lure us in with their "Skeleton Samba".

Very nice, with different tempos to satisfy everyone!

 

Then came a series of dance troupes, with a variety of moves to entice us.

First came a bit of musical theatre about "The Whole Being Dead Thing" - very funny, with shades of Beetlejuice in their clothing!

 

Next up was a hiphop group, having a "Monster Block Party" right onstage!

I very much liked that!

A ballet followed with a "Requiem For Forgotten Souls", then came a contemporary set that proclaimed "I Am Human", before another ballet brought "Me And The Devil".

A former Hospice nurse came after all that activity and told us the story of one of her clients from a few years back.

That had been the case of the woman who would not die, taking a breath every four or five minutes for over four hours, before finally expiring.

That had been very startling for the nurse, as she had not encountered such behavior yet in her career.

It had certainly been startling for many in the audience, too, but not me.

(I had remembered when Mother Pat was dying that she'd resisted going until her son and I had departed to a shop for a book of poetry to read to her.)

A jazz dance version of "Conga" followed to liven things back up.

Then... surprise!!!

Jayme Tinti, of Savannah Stage Company, was on the stage!!! 

That's her, in the middle, between the bearded man and the trio of others.

I later found out that was her mom and her brother and two others up there with her, for a sketch called "Electric Chair".

How electrifying it was, too, with a great light show!!!

 

Another series of dances followed: "Play With Me", involving acrobatics; a pair of "Mummies", doing amazing tap dancing; and a risque troupe in high heels and not much else for "Call Of The Coven".

Wow!

That's when I understood the PG-15 rating for the show!

A delightful skit followed, featuring Jayme's mom as a soothsayer with an "Eye Into The Future", as she helped her gold-digging son land a wife.

I laughed and laughed at that one!

 

Next was another hiphop number, "Succubus Frenzy", before a comedian came out.

What is a skeleton's favorite jazz instrument?

A trom-BONE.

Where is a skeleton's favorite place to go?

Anywhere that's a real HIP JOINT.

Hahahaha!

He had two "knock knock" jokes, too, but I can't remember them.

 

That was all designed to buy time for the final number, "The Bloody Feast", with all of the dance troupes on stage together!

How magnificent!!!

And Jayme came right up to me and gave me a huge hug!!!

She'd heard me laughing and had searched me out!!!

(smile!)

Then Cameron came right up to me and posed with "Boris"!

(smile!)

And I was amazed to find that two hours had gone by in a flash!

Time does fly when you're having fun!!!

shades of lula del ray in the desert

Not that there was anything in this play about SETI, as there had been in "Lula del Ray".

Nor was there any Western music, as there had been in that SMF event in 2018.

Nope.

Tonight's one-act play had already been a winner for the Savannah Arts Academy students, allowing them to bring home the trophy from the state competition.

Next week, they'll take "Bodas De Sangre" to the national competition.

I was there for the first of three nights for them to perform "Blood Wedding" in front of family and friends and us local supporters!

What an intense play it was, too!

A mother who had lost her husband and first son to knife fights feared that she would lose her second son that way, too.

He was to wed a young woman who had been dating a man who was their enemy.

To further complicate matters, that man was married to the cousin of the young woman, and he had a child and another coming with that wife.

But here's the real issue: that man and the young woman were still carrying on at night, a fact borne out by the hard-ridden horse each morning.

Wow.

Very intense... and performed in less than an hour.

Actually, the entire process from setting up the opening scene to the last stroke of the broom as the stage was cleared for the next troupe, including the performance itself, was completed in less than 45 minutes.

Those were the rules of the competition.

Wow.

Unlike their comical entry last year, this one was deadly serious.

That one had a giant in its midst; this boasted the use of shadow images of the horse being raced across a dark desert.

Wow.

Kudos to their director, David Poole, and to this fine cast!

And thanks to Tomasz and his lovely wife for sitting with me!

spooky c-a-l-m love in the mail: part 2

Dearest Chloe,

Bwah ha ha!!

At last it's time

to say

"Happy Halloween"!!!

 

Dearest Alyssa,

 At last the time

has arrived for

"Wishing you

that kind of Halloween"!

Bwah ha ha!!!

Dearest Leila,

"Happy owloween...

... from you-know-whooo"!!!

That time has arrived!

Bwah ha ha!!!

Dearest Miyah,

Finally I can say 

"At Halloween

and all year through,

it's a treat to know

someone like you"!!!

Bwah ha ha!!!

flashback to the 70's!

"Hey, is that Jackie and Kelso?"

 

Good call! Yes, it is, from the episode "Prom Night" of "That 70's Show".

 

"Very cool! You know, they're an actual couple now."

 

I do happen to know that. Carolyn told me. Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher got married in 2015 and have two children. You know, she was only 15 years old when she started in that TV show! He was 20 when it started. It's really rather nice that they have ended up together!

"Yes, I agree. And what's that photo all about? Is that Kitty as C3PO, with a vacuum cleaner subbing for R2D2?"

For sure! "A New Hope" was all about them seeing "Star Wars" that summer of 1977! I saw it in Great Lakes, Illinois, at the same time that Eric, Hyde, Kelso, and Fez watched it in Point Place, Wisconsin, just a state away from the base!

"Well, not quite, as those little fictional characters had not yet been invented when you watched that movie. The television show wasn't created until the late 1990's."

Pish posh. Minor details. That episode was meant to capture that moment in 1977 when the country was captivated by that new science fiction movie! The four boys drove over to Kenosha to see it and were so caught up with it that they came back with Donna and Jackie so they could share the adventure. Heck, even Red and Kitty and Bob and Midge drove over to watch it, since Eric made such a fuss about it!

"Granted, it really was a big deal. No wonder Eric kept dreaming about it!"

 

Most definitely. It was funny that Hyde was Han Solo and Kelso was Chewbacca. And, since it was Eric's dream, that meant he was Luke Skywalker and Donna was Princess Leia. Jackie and Fez were Storm Troopers, while Red was Obi Wan.

 

"Red wasn't Darth Vader?"

 

No, that was some teen who had moved back to the neighborhood and was putting the moves on Donna. That made him the bad guy, especially as his dad was about to close the factory where Red worked.

 

"G'friend, you are way too involved with that show! LOL!"

 

Hey, Peacock has it right now, so I'm partaking. No political ads, no Medicare 'mercials. Network TV is just eat up with those right now. With Peacock, I can enjoy my breakfast without having to hit the mute button all the time.

 

"Wait... no coffee with Dane?"

 

Nope. I've been coming home for meals, so I don't have his face or his nose in my food. Sure, I can tell him to go lie down, and he will, but he gets real pouty after. It's just easier to come home and eat in peace.

 

"I hear you!"

Now, I'm going to bop back over and let him have some outdoor time. Bye!"

upside of dane days!

For one thing, the weather has been wonderful!

Admittedly, it's been dropping into the 50's at night, but that's better than the 40's it was hitting a week or so ago.

Plus, the central heat works here at Tony and Laura's, so Dane and I don't shiver!

Very nice to wake up warm, I must say!

Then I can go open up my house so the afternoon warmth can get inside.

(smile!)

 

Another upside is the enhanced number of TV stations available to me.

It's so easy to find shows I enjoy, like "Malcolm In The Middle" on Fuse, Guy Fieri's grocery show on the Food Network, and movies on three different HBO channels and four different Hallmark channels.

Seriously!

I've been having a Holiday Film Festival over there!

"Three Wise Men And A Baby" was a sweet take on the Tom Selleck flick from years ago.

"Christmas Made To Order" had a woman trying to start her own business and the man who hired her to decorate his home and entertain his folks when they came to visit.

"Christmas Tree Lane" found a lot of small family businesses in peril when a land developer buys up the buildings with plans for office spaces on the historic old street.

"The Sweetest Christmas" paired together two who had dated years earlier, but parted ways, and now she is back in town and needs help from his restaurant.

"Operation Nutcracker" revolved around a luggage mix-up at the airport, due to three people all having the same type of bag, and two having precious cargo for Christmas within.

"Cross Country Christmas" was my favorite though, involving a downed plane and two people trying to get to Chicago, via a car, a tree-delivery truck, a cattle car on a train, and a dog-grooming van.

All in all, this has been a nice change of pace for me, and for the dog!

Plus, I try to make sure he gets his "sit in the sun" time in the afternoon.

He even got to catch up on all the doggie gossip with the family of dwarfs today! 

The owner was outside, too, and he pointed out the mother, the burial site of the father, and all the now-grown puppies that ranged in age from several years to just one.

By the way, I was wrong about their being seven of them...

it's more like ten!

(smile!)

frenchie and the beast

Musical in the morning!

Musical in the afternoon!

I wonder if I'll be treated to a musical tonight?

We'll see!

Tony and Laura's new TV plan has an incredible inventory that I've hardly begun to sample.

I know Dane won't care as long as he gets his evening treat of doggy ice cream!

Today began with another GOB musical at Asbury Memorial and this one was a long time favorite that I've eagerly anticipated: "Grease"!!!

From the backdrop - a rendition of Savannah Arts Academy, standing in for the show's "Rydell High School" - to the musical numbers, it lived up to the hype!

I'd already heard the choir sing "We Go Together" at the karaoke night. 

They performed that twice today!

Even so, this one - "Beauty School Drop-Out" - was hands down my favorite!

Sure, having the Gretchen Greene Dancers there for "Born To Hand Jive" was lots of fun, as they are quite an energetic bunch.

But the young woman playing 'Frenchie' stayed in character for the entire service, and that was quite impressive!

Plus, I always liked 'Frenchie', as she was such a sweet girl, even if she was the most "mixed-up non-delinquent on the block", as 'Teen Angel' called her in this scene.

Truly was wonderful!

Plus, we ended the day with "The Trees Of The Field" - sweet!!!

 

My next event was the matinee performance of "Beauty And The Beast" at SavChTh.

Sure, I knew it was sold-out before I even went, but I also know they try to not ever turn anyone away if they show up in person.

And, guess what?

I got a seat!

Sweet!

However, that's not my photo, and that isn't my hand, either.

Danielle Houston took that shot when she and Thomas went last night.

Still, that's the typical pic I would have taken, so I borrowed it from her fb page!

I was seated too far up, and with too many intervening others, to have taken such a fine photograph.

How was the musical?

Well, it's only been six years since I last saw it.

Danielle was in that 2018 performance, as one of the town wenches 

eager for Gaston's attentions.

Somehow, I kept flashing back to that version during this one.

Not that Joel Cadoff's 'Beast' wasn't magnificent... because he was.

Not that Chris Bass and Daniel Malone didn't shine as 'Cogsworth'

and 'Lumiere'... because they did.

Not that Matt Myles wasn't absolutely perfect as the muscle-bound

'Gaston'... because he was a total hunk!

Not that Saree Fioravanti wasn't spot-on delightful as 'Belle'...

because her and her voice were quite lovely.

I think it was because I felt lost in the crowd, way up high, in the dark.

I'll have to be more mindful of that in the future.

bday6 for miss chlo!

It's hard to believe that little blonde running around is six years old now!

Was that first birthday party truly five years ago?

No 'bout a doubt it, as her Grandpa Ronnie would have said.

That's her to the left of the yellow table, with her Mom in the red dress, her Grammy in the chair at the end of the table, and her Uncle Michael heading toward the sidewalk where her cousins, Alyssa and Leila, are playing with her sister, Miyah. 

In the foreground is Mousse, getting his head petted by one of Nieve's hijas.

With a slight shift in perspective, here's a continuation of the scene just a moment later.

Chloe is helping Nieves with the heavy wooden chair from my first niece's kitchen.

Michael had started the grill, but Coach Willie has taken over and is cooking the burgers and franks.

Moussie is in heaven, still getting head scratches and neck rubs from the little girl.

As for me, I'm just enjoying the view!

The tables are all covered with cloths, the air is full of good smells and the sound of kids playing, and now I can visit with Christina and Melinda!

This was taken about an hour later.

We've all eaten to our stomach's content of burgers, hotdogs, chips, and even chili - yum!

Now it's time smack a piñata... or two!

That's become the highlight of the birthday parties these days, as the kids each take turns whacking the hanging container until it spills its candy guts all over the ground!

Miss Chlo, as the birthday girl, got the first three smacks, then everyone else took their turn at giving the rainbow piñatas three whacks.

In fact, everyone had taken their swings twice before the candy was freed!

By the time they were done with the second one, another hour had elapsed and it was time for me to head back to Savannah.

Daylight was fading fast and I have Dane Days!

As I told Alyssa and Leila, the dog is their  age and, like them, he doesn't like being in the dark, either.

They completely understood that, as they have been sleeping with the TV on since before their time living with me!

I would have liked to have stayed for cake and ice cream - I even had Lactaid with me! - but that's okay.

I'll just be sure to have double helpings next time!

But what I missed most was watching Chloe open her gifts and seeing her face light up. 

"Hope you enjoy the gift and that it reminds you of our vacation in Florida."

I do hope she enjoys the Minnie Mouse puzzle!

It has 24 pieces, so that shouldn't be too complex.

Plus, it will help her with spatial orientation as well as problem solving.

All good skills for everyone to have!

Okay, time to give Dane his "ice cream" treat for being a good boy while I was gone!

What a wonderful day!

And tomorrow I'll have pizza for breakfast!

That's because today was the third Saturday of the month.

In Papa John-speak, that means FREEDAY!!!

So my choice tomorrow will be either the Spicy Italian or the Fiery Buffalo Chicken - I'm a winner no matter which I choose!

Hooray!

(smile!)