a day of transformations

I was ready for it, too, and had a game plan in place, but I had lovely surprises as well.

 

I checked the WSAV Weather Song for any changes, but found none.

 

Tonight, the weather goes straight to Hell and stays there all week.

That was right before 11 AM and solidified my goal this morning of making it to church for a live, in-person, sermon.

 

Because of low temperatures, this would be the first time this year for me to be there on a Sunday.

 

I told Rev. Billy when I saw him on Tuesday that I would see him "when the temperatures are at least 50 by 11 AM"... and today they were!

 

That meant I was there to experience the transformation of water into wine, done as only he could preach it.

 

I could practically taste the fruity beverage that the Son had made to please His Mother, Mary.

Afterward, off to the cinema I went!

 

Today is National Popcorn Day, and that's what I was having for lunch... plus, a free refill for this coming week.

 

That proved to be the perfect accompaniment for "Wolf Man", all about the transformation of a kind-hearted man (Christopher Abbott) into a savage creature, albeit one that still knew his wife and daughter.

 

Honestly, I had tears at the end!

That completed my A*List, too.

 

Knowing the days would be too cold this week for matinees, I went ahead and took care of two shows on Friday.

 

That's not to say I watched both of them, mind.

 

I caught the new one with Tilda Swinton - "The Room Next Door" - and found it to be more emotionally intense than I'd expected.

 

Afterward, I bought a ticket for "Sing Sing", as if I were doing a double header, then left.

 

It isn't that I wouldn't love to see it again, and probably will if it remains another week, but I didn't have time on Friday, as I had other plans and needed a hug.

 

So, back to the present, shall we, with making the plans to allow me to ride out the hell to begin on Monday?

 

That meant a trip to Jason's Deli for a Salad Bar To-Go!

 

Barbara is the one I credit with showing me how to appreciate the use of these ready-prepped vegetables and fixings to transform multiple meals into fresh experiences.  

But that's not what I ate first!

 

I've had an intense craving for pizza after being bombarded by Papa John's emails all week.

 

Two slices of this Kid's Meal Pepperoni Pizza from Jason's scratched that itch, with the rest for another time, for just $5.

 

Oh, yes, that worked out perfectly!

Dinner found the broccoli florets and crumbled bacon combined with Cilantro Lime rice for a taste that was fresh and even healthy.

 

Plus, it wasn't soup, as I am sure I'll have plenty of that in the near future.

 

Speaking of that food, that's what "Beauty And The Beast" had for dinner.

 

This is the 2017 version, with Dan Stevens in the transformation role.

 

First, he's a prince by name but not by deed, earning him a change into a creature when he ticks off a sorceress.

 

Then, near the time when he will have to stay a beast for the rest of his life, he finds love and kindness that transforms his character.

 

In turn, that change in his very nature eventually allows him to regain his form as a man.

 

Such kindness that shines from his eyes then... as it did from the Wolf Man's eyes.

 

I'm glad life offered him a second chance.

haas ossabaw

What a different type of day this has been!

Rabbi Haas has started holding classes over at Asbury Memorial... in improv!!!

When I saw "Improv Fun & Games" in the church newsletter, I thought perhaps he would be performing for us.

Nope!

The nine of us there - me, Tim, Wayne, Tom L., Audrey, Marsha, Lynn, Peg, and Lenny - were asked to perform, with his guidance.

I think maybe they were prepared to participate from the get-go, but I caught up fast.

Good thing I took that improv training with Odd Lot back in 2012!

I was involved in three different bits.

That started with "gift-giving of worst gift ever" with Marsha as the recipient.

I gave her a bag of sand with dead flowers and stuff!

A little later, we did the same routine as part of "Half-Life", this time with me getting the mystery gift from her... and she re-gifted the bag of sand to me!

We did that in 30 seconds, then 15 seconds, then 5 seconds, then 2 seconds - hahahaha!

The next time, I interacted with Peg for "ABC", with us working out.

Haas let us go all the way through "J" with our sentences!

And for my last bit, I was with Wayne, with him as the teacher for adult ballet - that was fun!

Especially as he is quite old and I'm no spring chicken... and I was the student!

All told, we had fun for 75 minutes, and will be doing it again on February 4th.

I'll look forward to that!

Off to my next event of the day I went, trying to miss the 5 PM traffic southside.

That's because the "Ossabaw Night In Savannah" was at the Armstrong Center of GaSoU.

Here's what's surprising about that: the event was promoted by the Telfair Museums group!

That's how I knew about it.

Others there were regulars, like Pat and Roberta Johnson.

They've been here for these annual updates about the island for the past three years.

I met them when they came over to share the table with me at the reception.

What a lovely discussion we had about my name and the first time I saw it in Rome!!!

I'm so glad Tom Nelson had snagged this table, and doubly glad that he made sure to invite me!

In fact, he and I had a quite lovely talk, as it's been a few years since I last saw him.

We keep up with each other on fb, so when he pulled out the photo of his 3-year-old granddaughter, I was able to tell him "what a striking look" she has.

She'll go far with that unique face and her strong demeanor.

Who else did I see at that sumptuous reception sponsored by Gulfstream?

Oh, yes - Pete and Fran Zipperer!!!

They were getting their name tags at the same time I did.

I kept thinking we'd see other professors out there, but I didn't recognize anyone.

Oh, I take that back!

I'm pretty sure that's Joe Guy's friend, Robin, with that straight-edged haircut and gray shirt.

I didn't notice her until I downloaded the photo at home.

I took the shot for the red-headed man at the far left, speaking to us about "The Ossabaw Island Project, Genesis, and Of The Coast Of Paradise".

That's because he's Beryl Gilothwest, the grandson of the woman who once owned Ossabaw Island.

The island was deeded over to the State of Georgia during President Jimmy Carter's time as POTUS.

They didn't mention his recent death - at the age of 100, with flags still at half-mast - but they did mention a former council member who was one of those who died last year.

That would be Lainie Peterson, who I knew through Barbara as "her friend down at Tybee Beach".

Small world sometimes.

So what was the talk about?

Two artist projects from the past, as well as the new one that'll have its results debut in 2026.

Erin Dunn, of Telfair, is the one who spoke of that.

The highlight will be a movie, "Venus of Ossabaw", which will be screened on the exterior wall of the Jepson Center, as well as in the Neises Auditorium.

That should be awesome!!!

I'm so glad the winter has relented somewhat.

The WSAV weather song is picking up a stream of higher notes through Saturday!!!

Sure, it still features night temperatures that are ten degrees below our normal... but those are experienced mostly in the predawn hours, when I'm still toasty in bed.

Believe me, I'm grateful for the reprieve!

PULSE starts on Thursday and I love that festival of arts and technology at the Jepson.

I'm so looking forward to being able to go!

whatever the weather...

I still made it to the service at Asbury Memorial Church for this first Sunday of 2025.

"I'm here, I'm here!", I wrote in the chatbox. "I wanted to be there in person for this first Sunday, but the chill factor kept me home. I am certainly there in spirit with y'all!"

I am so glad that this online, live-streamed, service is still available for those who cannot be there in person.

It began with the pandemic, but has continued.

i thank You, God.

As I noted last week, the weather has been a bit harsh, having highs that are in the 50's, and nights too cold for me to go outside.

Bear in mind that most of those temperatures come with a -6 chill factor, or wind chill, so mid-50's is really upper-40's.

Today, I knew Reverend Billy would be preaching about the Twelfth Day of Christmas, i.e., the Epiphany.

This is one of his favorite days to sermonize, and today's was titled "Reappearing Stars", with him talking of the Wisemen having to ask around for the location of the baby, as the star was not visible.

That reminds me of what I told Sarah Povie when she was small.

"Friends are always in your heart, even when you don't see them, just like the stars are always in the sky, even during the day."

(smile!)

Very nice sermon, and very nice memory for me!

Then came the other reason for my wanting to attend church today: communion.

Fortunately, I had grabbed one of these portable kits at the first Sunday in December!

That really helped me feel like part of the congregation, in spirit and for real.

i thank You, God.

are we dancing yet?

You betcha! 

Elvis and his six brothers are ready to keep me on the beat, too!

 

There's Wednesday, ThuRsday, and Friday, too, right arm swingin' to catch my attention,

with SAturday, SUnday, Monday, and Tuesday in step right behind them!

 

They aren't quite where they should be, though, so let me take a moment to place them all in a row on that cabinet door.

 

 

So, what's the weather like on this first day of a brand new year?

 

Quite brisk in the daytime it is, and absolutely miserable at night, that's what the weather is.

 

I have groceries, though, so I'm set for staying indoors and keeping busy with activities here.

 

For example, consider this wall.

 

This is what I refer to as the second wall in the dining room, and, as can be seen, it's adorned with programs from cultural blessings yet again.

 

In fact, this is the third time it's held mementos of plays and concerts and musicals from 2024.

 

Busy, vibrant, woman, indeed!

Time to clear the walls of all of those and make way for the events in 2025!

 

First, however, the time had come to replace the Renoir with something else.

 

My choice was Mama's Dollhouse.

 

I had done all of this embroidery for her while I was stationed in Okinawa, and I'm certain I sent it to her for her 44th birthday in 1981.

 

I knew I would not be home for that, so I had spent many and hour making the myriad of stitches that were needed for this two-story house with attic.

 

So very much love is in this piece!

And so very much love was written in the two-page letter to my future self, too.

 

At 3 PM this afternoon, I attended the Anticipation and Bowl Burning Ceremony, as I did last year.

 

Being greeted by the Tulip stationery was delightful; being acknowledged by Cheri as the source of that paper made me feel cherished!

 

My letter held congratulatory words to my future self, about specific changes and specific actions.

 

At the end of this year, when that letter arrives and I next see those flowers, I look forward to realizing that those things foretold had occurred.

That's what I found to be true when I read last year's letter as my gift to open on Christmas Eve.

 

Now, I'm going to rent "Violent Night" for a dollar, since I've been rewarded from Comcast.

 

Time to get my David Harbour fix...

and get ready for sweet dreams!

asbury goes to the theatre at the beach!

I say that as if it were intentional, but it kinda sorta was!

None of us six wanted to travel out to Tybee Post Theatre at night, so we were all glad to come out for the 3 PM matinee offered by Savannah Repertory Theatre.

That's me, Robin, Tom, Heidi, Lee, and Gordon.

Yes, I'm wearing the jingle bell necklace from the Telfair tree lighting!

I even wore it to church today!

(smile!)

What play had brought us all out in the cold again?

"Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)" - what a mouthful!

It was a rather minimalist production, with only three performers: Shawna Pena-Downing, introduced to me in summer of 2023; Nathan Houseman, an old favorite of mine; and Will Nunziata, an absolutely new player for me.

The play was an abbreviated version of holiday favorites, though names had to be changed for one of them, due to copyright law.

So, the trio is performing "Gustav the Green-Nosed Reingoat" in the photo above.

Very funny, especially as Nathan/Henry, had to be repeatedly reminded to not mention "Rudolph" or red noses!

Shawna was very cute as Yukon and Will made an adorable reingoat!

(smile!)

Another skit I really enjoyed was the "Fruit, Nut, Dating Game", with a volunteer from the audience called "Cindy" (though her name was Laura).

Shawna was the host of the show, with questions about fruitcakes, naturally!

Nathan kept getting hardball questions, while the other two had soft pitches, letting them get all kinds of points and him staying steady at nil.

Very funny!

I also liked the different take on "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", as well as "The Gift Of The Magi" (in which Will played the long-haired woman!).

And having Will performing Linus' soliloquy on the meaning of Christmas, with blue blanket and spotlight, right before intermission, was true and perfect.

(smile!)

However, my absolute favorite part of this Christmas show was yet to come.

Creating an amalgam of "A Christmas Carol" and "It's A Wonderful Life", the three-person troupe truly shone!

It reminded me of the mashup of two songs that I did a few years back.

Anyway... let me explain this scene.

On the left is Shawna as the Ghost of Christmas past.

On the right is Will as Mr. Gower, the pharmacist.

All the while, there in center stage, Nathan is switch-hitting the two roles of Ebeneezer Scrooge and George Bailey, and doing a spot-on job of it!!!

I loved every minute of it!!!

(smile!)

The show closed with scrambled Christmas carols.

Every other line it seemed was from a different song and it was hilarious!

Many thanks, y'all, from Seat I-18!!!

take a basketball to church day!

And to think: I dreamed I'd missed it!

"That doesn't sound like a real thing anyway. Are you sure you didn't dream about that?"

No, this really was "take a basketball to church" day! Well, it was for me. Remember that tag I'd pulled from the Angell Tree?

"I do. That tag for a sport toy."

Well, this was the last Sunday before the youth group delivers the gifts. Last night I felt like it was Sunday and I'd missed my chance to take the ball to Asbury Memorial. I went to bed trying to figure out how, and when, to get it to P.A.C.K. in time on Monday. Then, when I woke up this morning, I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge!

"What the fresh hell does that mean?"

Hahaha! As I told Candace Jenkins, I felt like Scrooge when I awoke and realized this was Sunday! I hadn't missed it after all! What a great start to the day!!!

"Hahaha! That's a funny story!"

That's what she said. I'd repeated the story to the police officer in the parking lot as I returned to my car and he thought it was funny, too.

"Very nice!"

And as I was leaving the church, Jan of VBS was waiting inside the door with an older woman. The car to fetch them home was on its way. So I stopped to chat and told them a story from yesterday. A guy selling a house security system came by and was pretty insistent. So I asked him to look at my car. "It's 23 years old," I told him. "Does it seem likely that I'd need a security system when my car is that old?" Amazed, he said, "23? That's older than I am!" The two ladies got a hoot out of that.

"Hahahaha!"

It all made me feel like an encourager, spreading verbal sunshine on this cold day. That had been the focus of Billy's sermon and I very much liked it. He spoke of Elizabeth, Mary's older cousin, as the one who Mary searched out when she found herself single, virgin, and pregnant, in danger of being stoned by the townspeople for what was regarded as a crime. The cousin gave Mary a new perspective on her condition. Sometimes, that's exactly what we need: a fresh take on what we consider an insurmountable problem. Very nice!

"Yes, it is. I just may listen to it again."

Me, too, though I must say it was extra nice to hear in person today. Now, there's a variety show on network TV and it looks to be similar to the 1940's show last Sunday. It's called "Byron Allen Presents: The Comedy & Music Superfest". Such a splendid name!

"It is! You'll have to regale me with highlights!"

2024 Christmas Party!

What a lot of folks were there, too, for this Asbury Memorial Church event!

And, if you look very closely, you can even see me!

See the dark-haired boy in the blue-patterned shirt, standing to the left of the man in the dark shirt and the tan hat?

That's me sitting at the boy's right elbow, wearing my faded fuchsia sweater!

Hey, like I said, you have to look very closely!

(smile!)

There were two tables of food running the length of the choir practice room that had been loaded with food.

I started off with two plates.

That's because I wanted to eat dessert with my meal, of course!

That's a Grinch-green Rice Krispies treat, as well as pumpkin pie!

Those didn't make it home with me.

(smile!) 

In fact, I have quite a bit that will feed me tomorrow morning, so I didn't need to go for seconds when the kitchen crew asked folks to "take a plate to go"!

There's always so very much to share!

And what party would be complete without a visit from Saint Nick and his Missus, giving out candy canes and warm wishes to the children?

Nice to have Reverend Billy and his Cheri up there posing with the Clauses, as they always do!

Yes, such a lovely party this was this evening!

(smile!)

a clown, a basketball, and a zoom

"Ken, what have been part of Asbury Memorial Church this week?"

Absolutely correct!

Here's the clown, on the stage with Rev. Billy.

The clown is named Hank and he's holding a sign for Habitat For Humanity.

As a HopeBuilder with that organization for many years, I appreciated that!

I also appreciated that Hank had chosen the same color for his strip of cloth that I had.

Orange isn't something many folks would choose.

That strip of cloth is to remind me of the reason for the season, up to the point on Christmas Eve when it is laid upon the 'manger' of the nativity scene.

(smile!)

We had communion this first Sunday, too, and I expected the BIG Coffee Hour.

That was not to be, as the church Christmas party is serving as that meal together.

So, I made the choice to ascend to the stage in Holliday Hall to the Angell tree.

It contained cards for gifts to be purchased and taken to P.A.C.K. by our youth group.

After making several selections, I stayed with "basketball" after drawing it for the third time.

Sherry G and Kathy H followed my lead, also choosing "basketball" as the item to purchase and donate.

When I returned home, I checked for sales of that sports toy.

After all, they usually run about $40 to $50.

Target had these on sale for right at $20!

Better yet, they're signed by Caitlin Clark, an utterly amazing 22-year-old point guard!

I'm actually hoping this basketball inspires a girl to take up the sport.

(smile!)

Two down, one to go, and it's one I almost missed out on!

I had somehow fallen off the church email list.

Fortunately, I read the church newsletter on Sunday evening and saw that the annual meeting of the congregation by ZOOM was scheduled for December 3rd.

Fortunately, I didn't have anything planned on this Tina Tuesday.

Fortunately, Randy Cannady was still at the church office when I called for the ZOOM data.

He was able to email the information to me in plenty of time, too!

Thanks, Randy!

I was even able to read all the reports beforehand, so I knew what was going on.

I was so glad that the finances of both Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak are going to be out of the red and into the black at year's end!

Considering all the roofs that have been replaced, as well as other big projects at both campuses, that's amazing news.

There's still one more big project: an elevator at Asbury.

That's going to take a huge sum of money... or maybe not.

I raised the question: "Is the elevator required for moving people or moving freight? Couldn't a dumbwaiter be installed instead?"

After all, the regulations for people-movers are much stricter than those for stuff.

Now, that will be investigated, so folks won't have to haul items from upstairs to the sanctuary and then back again.

Glad I was there to provide useful feedback!

(smile!)

even i know that isn't so

At WNS tonight, we were to dine on baked ziti.

I was a little late getting to Asbury, but I still made it there before the meal arrived.

That meant the salad course would be separate from the dinner, not alongside.

No worries, that's the way it is at restaurants!

So I sat with Sherry Giddens and her husband, as well as Emily Garrard and her husband, plus Barb Gooby, sans husband.

By 6 PM, the entree had arrived!

Time to put my Lactaid pill to use!

 

Or not, as it turned out.

I told Kathy Hodges, "Even with my post-amnesia brain, I know that isn't baked ziti."

She had looked at me, perplexed, and asked, "When did you have amnesia?"

Then it was my turn to be perplexed!

Yikes!

"That's my post-anesthesia brain at it again! I didn't even realize I said the wrong word!"

She thought that was pretty funny!

But it was absolutely true.

Post anesthesia, I have learned not to trust my brain.

It's still on the numb-dumb drugs for well over a week after that juice is turned off.

I liken it to going on a bender and still being drunk from tequila.

That's why, when Dr. Cobb wanted me to go in for surgery on November 1st, I'd told him I needed more time to get things in order before I went under the needle.

That's why he'd waited until the following week.

And the reason he had the ablation on a Thursday instead of a Friday?

That was because he listened to me when I told him I preferred not a Friday, so that if I needed to call his office about pain, he would be there.

Yeah, he's definitely a good one!

I know he's had lots of experience since he first worked on me in February of 2022.

I could tell this time that everyone in EP had done this cardiac ablation procedure many, many times in the 32 months which have elapsed since my first one in March of that year.

How fortunate for me that they are such experts now!

I'm glad to have had the cardiac ablation instead of the other procedure.

I'd had nightmares after the DCC with its accompanying Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Dr. Cobb had suggested the DCC-TEE when I'd seen him for my last 6-month check up.

That had been the last Monday of October.

I explained to him that I'd rather have the ablation again, and why.

So, that's what I had last Thursday.

Good for me for speaking up!

Now, it's not even been a week and I've been almost back to my busy, vibrant self!

Well, all except the logic circuits of my brain.

Even so, I can still recognize things that are patently untrue, like beef stew not being the same thing as baked ziti.

Or "Phantom Of The Paradise" not being a musical.

I rented that one because Danielle Houston had said on fb that it was one of her favorite musicals.

Although the 1974 movie was entertaining -

and a mash-up of "Fame", "The Phantom Of The Opera", and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" -

it was not a musical.

Like "Fame", it was a concert movie.

Had it been a play, it would be like "Once".

Most def -not- a musical.

Every time anyone sang it was because they were performing a song in concert.

Any time anyone danced it was because they were doing so at a concert.

No spontaneous singing or dancing by anyone, ever.

Still, I'm glad to have seen it and look forward to talking about it with her the next time I see her.

And the photo?

That's the "Phantom", wearing the mask after melting off half his face when he fell into an album printing machine.

He's hard at work completing his musical masterpiece, having signed a deal - in blood - that guarantees it will be a success.

Paul Williams is fabulous as the orchestrator of that Faustian contract.

I'll watch it again, as I've rented it, though I had thought it was to be a $1 Movie Night reward from Comcast.

Apparently not, as I must have used that for "Enchanted" and not had another.

That means this movie cost me $3.99.

Yep, a second viewing is needed to justify that.

Silly post-anesthesia brain.

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!)

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.

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.

bbq and bloodsuckers

Finally, an evening when I didn't have to cook my meal!

Wednesday Night Suppers have returned to Asbury Memorial for six weeks, with BBQ being the first!

I chose to sit with Charles Ennis and Bernie Colclasure, to get to know the couple better.

Danny Beam and his eldest grandson, Caleb Deffley, soon joined us, followed by Pat and Mary Prokop.

What marvelous dinner companions!

i thank You, God!

Then I had to scoot on downtown!

Cinema Savannah was having a film I very much wanted to see, so I needed to find parking near the Savannah Cultural Arts Center... and I did!

I told Tomasz that the title of this 2023 French number was the draw for me: "Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person".

Marvelous!!!

That's what I told him afterward, too!

He replied, "As long as you thought it was marvelous, Faustina, that's all that matters."

(smile!)

I sat in front of Bonnie and Don, and they, like everyone else there, also enjoyed the film.

I would gladly see it again!

Kinder, gentler, vampire with a conscience, rather like Angel on "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"!

it also deals with vampire family dynamics, with a mom, dad, aunt, and cousin present in the life of the young woman.

Who would have thought of such things?

(smile!)

What a perfect way to get back into the CineSav world.

This was my first time back since the deaths of Barbara and Kal.

I went alone, just to keep it from being too tense.

Next time, I'll have to make sure Carolyn and Sandy come along.

That would be marvelous, too.

avenue Q at henry and waters

If I had been as early as I was last week, I might have missed my pew mates. 

See the thin woman in the blue dress, standing there in the middle?

She's Ellen and to her right is Amanda Kulkowski.

If not for Amanda saying my name, I might have passed right by, given my inability to spot people in a crowd.

But she did!

So I'm right there, beside Amanda, with my long hair loose and down for the cooler weather.

Directly behind me is Ryan McCurdy.

He, like Amanda, greeted with with a big hug -

how wonderful to be there with them this morning!

Why were we standing?

We were singing "happy birthday", facing the on-stage camera, to a house-bound old lady.

We could just as easily have been standing to belt out "Amazing Grace", though!

Did I say "belt it out"?

That means it was to the tune of "The House Of The Rising Sun"!!!

I do so love that version!

In fact, I love it so much that after the service, I fixed myself a snack at Holliday Hall and headed out to Greenwich, where I sang the first and last stanzas for Mama, Frank, George, and Miss Zaida.

That was great fun!

I was delighted to see that the big trees had weathered Hurricane Helene well.

I made a little stack of branches that were down.

Plus, I gathered up the bouquets and loose flowers that had been blown around.

Glad I keep large take-out bags in my car for when I have trash detail there.

 

Oh, I have just rambled on and not said a word about the GOB service, haven't I?

Well, the stage was populated with puppets this time!!!

"Avenue Q" was the featured choice, and we even had Ken Roberson - the choreographer of the 2003 musical - in the audience with us!!!

One of the songs, "There's A Fine, Fine Line", was sung by Alex Swanger as she operated the puppet, Kate.

Such a fun tune about breakups... but with a bit of a snarky side.

I admit, I wasn't very familiar with this musical, as I haven't seen it again since it was performed at Club One back in August of 2012.

I hadn't written much about it on fb, and I wrote nothing about it in my blog.

I feel sure it was because of the snark, and the mean tone underlying the words of nearly every song.

That's just isn't my thing, n'est-ce pas?

But it was good to see the puppets and be reminded of Angela Beasley.

oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!

All he was missing from the first time was that blue gingham shirt he'd worn!

He had the cowboy hat and the jeans and the leather vest still, but not that shirt.

That's okay...

the last time he'd entered singing that song was October 2, 2005.

It's quite likely that shirt doesn't even exist anymore!

"Oklahoma!" had been the very first God On Broadway (GOB) production here at Asbury Memorial, and Jeff and I were still newcomers at the church.

This musical had convinced me that this was the right place for me!

I remembered watching the movie version of the play with Mama several times over the years, with us singing along with the songs.

How wonderful to have heard those songs again in 2005, then again today!

Here, I was the only one turned around in my seat, awaiting his entrance, at 11:15.

Everyone else soon caught on, but I was the first!

"Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' " as Rev. Billy "Curly" Hester entered...

"The Farmer And The Cowman Should Be Friends", with the choir members up on the stage all in costume and dancing...

"I Cain't Say No" from Cheri "Annie" Hester, with hair in two ponytails...

and, of course, the title song, "Oklahoma!", as a rousing finale by all!

Nice to hear "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "People Will Say We're In Love", even without the words!

Yes, I just may have to watch the video of today's GOB service again!

What a blessing to have that option!

(smile!)

Oh, one more thing: a photo of me from the Sing & Swing!

I can't say which song I was doing at the time, but how cool that someone took a picture of me doing karaoke!

I found that little surprise in this month's church newsletter.

Hope we'll have another of those events sometime soon!

(smile!)