65th birthday party, with cake and chem nerds!

I hadn't realized the Coastal Georgia Section 

of the American Chemical Society 

came into existence the same year I did.

Pretty cool...

and now I have this cool Koozie as a memento!

(smile!)

Its birthday65 party - 

or anniversary party, 

depending on one's perspective -

was held out in Pooler - 

as that's roughly a midway point 

for folks in Savannah and Statesboro -

at Sam Snead's Tavern,

out by the airport.

So, what kind of shenanigans

might be expected

at such a party?

Student presentations, of course!

Hey, this -is- a group of chemistry nerds,

remember?

There were three such talks, but this guy -

named David or Davis -

and done completely remotely -

was my favorite!

He kept picking up things in the room -

a desk phone, a desk chair,

the fire extinguisher! - to keep our attention.

What a grand sense of humor!

(smile!)

I decided early on that this grand dinner would serve as my "farewell and happy retirement" party, too!

After all, some of my favorite people were right there with me tonight!

Cliff and Lea Padgett were sitting a table over, with Mitch Weiland and Will Lynch.

(Get this: Will even gave me a hug! Surprise!) 

Brent Feske was at my table, most of the time, but kept roving.

However, the ones I usually enjoy are in the photograph collage.

There's Yvonne Roach to my left, talking to a student who doesn't eat vegetables.

Across the table was Brandon Quillian, fellow USN veteran and topped with his usual tam.

And right beside me was Jim Lobue, with Cathy MacGowan close at hand.

Retirement was certainly a hot topic, with both Yvonne and Cathy doing that this summer.

Jim retired last year, so Cathy was talking to him about that.

I encouraged them to set a schedule of things they like to do, and to try to arrange events for when they would have been busy with the job, so they can keep a pattern.

Hope they'll enjoy being retired as much as I have!

(smile!)

All the good times were just with the conversation, though.

The whole shebang was gratis!!!

Remember that 2019 SERMACS that I helped bring to a rousing success?

Well, the section made a heap of money off that.

Part of the largess was used to fund Summer Undergraduate Research the past few years, culminating in the three talks this evening.

Very nice!

Some of that bounty was also used to purchase all of our dinners - and desserts! - as well as beverages of choice.

We could choose fish, steak, chicken, shrimp, or even vegetarian plates.

I went with the Catch of the Day, and was rewarded with the chef's choice of grilled grouper a la bruschetta topping!

My, oh, my, that fish was delicious!!!

As well as the rice pilaf - drizzled with balsamic glaze! - came broccoli and a salad.

I left only a mouthful of rice, and the lemon rinds, on that plate! 

And then...

the grand finale!

The menu called it simply

"Lemon Cake"

but it was certainly more than that!

Luscious moist blueberries 

bedecked both slices

with a creamy lemon curd

that melted in the mouth!

Marvelous!

My thanks for the group for this gift

of dinner with boon companions!

It's been a pleasure seeing all again!

(smile!)

mgm+ film festival

At least a week before the end of the Showtime reward, Comcast offered me another month of free viewings on another premium channel, MGM+.

I waited until after that film festival was done before I opened up that gift.

After all, it was best as a bday65 treat, given the timing... right?

So, I'm regarding this as the MGM+ Birthday Film Festival.

That would be "Movies Galore, Magic Too" Birthday Film Festival!

Yes, I do love acronyms!

(smile!)

This premium channel certainly had much more choice in it.

The movies offered ran the gamut of 1930's to the present, plus listed the films in different genres, which, even though not always correct, certainly was helpful.

My friend Barbara had missed that categorization, so she spent a lot of time scrolling through the 2000-plus titles in search of those she knew.

Not me.

I love an adventure, and a movie never even heard of, like a book never before read, offers a story that's sure to capture my attention and maybe even my heart.

(smile!)

These photographs are from the last movie I viewed, a bit of lagniappe today, when I had thought the reward was over.

Here is a quote from it.

"You can dance anywhere

even if only in your heart." 

Most definitely meant for me in this Summer of Magic!

I do hope some of these may even entice others to try the unknown.

So, here we go!

(smile!)

"The Wrong Todd" (2018) This was low budget, but really good science fiction that reminded me of that time-travel romance Czech film I so love.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8703882/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520wrong%2520tod

"Manifest Destiny Down: Spacetime: (2018) This was more science fiction, with a nice emphasis on physics as a nerd and a sorority girl try to save the world, post a Halloween party gone amok.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5372528/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_manifest%2520destiny

"Something Wild" (1986) Jeff Daniels gets taken for a ride by Melanie Griffiths, who needs a 'husband' for her upcoming school reunion... but her real husband, Ray Liotta, is recently released from prison and shows up
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091983/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_something%2520wi

"The Lost City" (2022) I just couldn't resist seeing this one again!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13320622/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520lost%2520cit

"Jailhouse Rock" (1957) Yes! The musical with Elvis Presley as a man released from prison and on his way to rock and roll fame!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050556/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_jailhou

"The Long Goodbye" (1973) Elliott Gould as detective Philip Marlowe who's trying to help out a friend accused of killing his wife... then the friend dies... so who's zoomin' who?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070334/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_The%2520Long%2520Goodb

"The Old Barn Dance" (1938) -came out the year Gould was born- Gene Autry sings and acts as himself in this one about a group of horse sellers coming up against tractor sellers.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029337/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_the%2520old%2520barn%2520da

"Come On, Cowboys" (1937) This features the Three Mesquiteers, operating as the strong man, the comedian, and the handsome one in a circus, tasked with helping out when the circus owner is accused of making funny money.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028732/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_come%2520on%2520cowb

"Rough Riders' Round-Up" (1939) Roy Rogers in this western with the proliferation of "r" in the title! He even gets to sing twice, but not a musical, with him just busting out in song.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031880/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_8_nm_0_q_Rough%2520Riders%2520

"The Space Between" (2021) What a sleeper! Kelsey Grammer as a former rock star who hides out after his wife dies... until found by his label, who wants to be released from his contract. Did all his own singing!!!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740898/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520space%2520bet

"Juliet, Naked" (2018) This time, it's Ethan Hawke singing as a once-famous artist, and the woman on his arm has a boyfriend who is obsessed with his music.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5607096/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_q_juliet%252C%2520nak

"Lord Love A Duck" (1966) LOL! Roddy McDowell as the high school nerd, enraptured with the new student, Tuesday Weld, and traying to make sure he makes all her wishes come true... LOL! After the outing with 4 little blondes in search of mermaid ducks. (And when I told Sandy about it, she said she had a Tuesday Weld barbie doll when she was growing up!)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060636/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_lord%2520love%2520a%2520d

"A Birder's Guide To Everything" (2013) A nice tale of coming of age after the death of his mom, following in her footsteps, and trying to track down a once-extinct type of duck he thought he saw. Ben Kingsley as the duck expert.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582465/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_a%2520birder

"The Road To Edmund" (2018) A youth minister finds himself forced by the church to take leave... and meets an odd man who turns out to have the advice he needed from God.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7087674/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520road%2520to%2520ed

"My Cousin Vinny" (1992) Such a sweet, sassy Marisa Tomei as the car-smart girlfriend of Joe Pesci, in charge of his first trial case, with Fred Gwynne as the judge. Had forgotten just how funny this was!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104952/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_my%2520cousin

"Christmas Crime Story" (2016) Adrian Paul (my crush from "The Highlander" series!!!) is the only name I knew in this story told from multiple points of view. Very good, really, and the bfe has just discovered Adrian Paul!
Note: this was retitled "A Detour Fro Christmas".
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5813808/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

"Paper Man" (1971) For those wondering about science fiction from an IT side, this low-key horror story tells of what happens when a bunch of college kids run amok with a found credit card, then try to "create" a trail away from them. Very cool to see a young, long-haired, Dean Stockwell as the nerd trying to help.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067551/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_q_paper%2520man

"Out Of Time" (2003) Ah, yes, when Denzel Washington was on the cusp of being 50, but still able to pull off being a Miami police chief in his prime, with Eva Mendes as his ex-wife, now a detective working a murder-arson case... in which he is implicated, if he can't keep a step ahead. Really love this movie!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313443/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_out%2520of%2520time

"Eleven Eleven" (2018) Silly but fun scifi, with an alien returning for the baby she gave up sixteen years earlier to the one-night stand she had on Earth with a guy who gives tours of supposed UFO sites. Silly, but fun!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3309874/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1

"The Woman In Red" (1984) Gene Wilder as a man in a midlife crisis after seeing a woman let her dress blow up over an air grate in the parking garage. LOL! With his real wife Gilda Radner as an office worker who mistakenly thinks his amor is for her, not for the ad campaign model, Kelly LeBrock. Nice scenes at the end of him dancing! And Charles Grodin and Joseph Bologna are his buddies!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088414/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_q_the%2520woman%2520in%2520r

"The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' In Brooklyn Heights" (1999) Originally aired as a TV movie, with her as a teacher trying to save the high school from the wrecking ball wielded by Cindy Williams' real estate hand. Rather funny!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192445/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_5_nm_3_q_the%2520patty%2520duke

"Ghost Town" (2008) I could totally see this as setting "Ghosts" in motion for me. Ricky Gervais is a dentist who gains the ability to see and hear ghosts, with them all clamoring for his help in resolving their problems. Nice to see Alan Ruck (!!!) as a ghost dad trying to help his son locate the toy his son associates with him, and Dana Ivey as a ghost mom trying to mend a rift between her daughters.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995039/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_ghost%2520to

"2nd Date Sex" (2019) Ryan and Laura meet at a bar one night, both while waiting for their friends, and end up connecting mentally and have a grand night! So... how to parlay that start into something physical and getting screwed, without screwing it up? Pretty funny!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7439748/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_2nd%2520date

"Blacklight" (2022) Hooray! I had almost tried to drive to Pooler, just to see this Liam Neeson movie, but could not. So glad to get to see him kicking butt, this time against the government he works for, as citizens are being killed. I think this was the first time I saw his movies as being the same ilk as those of Steven Seagal... but I still love Liam.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14060094/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_7_nm_1_q_blackli

"Alice Of Wonderland In Paris" (1966) What a delight! A series of stories are told, some by Alice, some by Francois... some with Matiline!... as they travel and talk of cheese!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126189/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_7_nm_1_q_Alice%2520of%2520wonderland%2520i

"Fixed" (2017) One of three dads who do a sports podcast from a garage has a crisis: the two "v" words have risen in his life! Does he agree to getting a van? What about a vasectomy??? Alan Ruck is fabulous as his urologist!!!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4777004/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_8_nm_0_q_Fixed

"Kiss The Sky" (1998) First off, this has nothing to do with Jimi Hendrix. It's all about the midlife crisis of Gary Cole, with William Peterson tagging along as best friend to help him through it. They end up on at a lake high up on a mountain, with the goal to reach the island there, in search of their youth.
Actually pretty good... but I do have a crush on Peterson. I'm not sure Barbara even knew who he was. (She was here to watch movies with me!)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127629/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_kiss%2520the%2520sky

"Scramble" (2017) This was the second of our "new to us" double feature. It turned out to be one of my favorite genres: ordinary guy in an extraordinary, dangerous, and humorous situation! This time, the guy's girlfriend gets kidnapped by a pimp on the day of her father's funeral because the dad owed big money. Now, the guy has to get big money to get her back!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3652978/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_q_Scramb

"Bound" (1996) How could I resist Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon in a crime caper? Exactly, especially with Joe Pantoliano as the mafia guy that Jennifer is tired of being a moll to. Enter Gina as a parolee who has moved in next door and taken a job as cleaner. Good and fast-paced!
Also, the last of a quartet of single-word titles for this film fest!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115736/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_Bound

"Secret Headquarters" (2022) Good for Owen Wilson for being the superhero Dad in this kid caper! His son thinks he's a slacker, as he's never home, but changes his mind when he finds out that aliens set up his dad as a champion of good.
Yep, definitely for the kid in me! Highly recommend!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14001894/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_secret%2520hea

"Soul Sessions" (2018) Nick has been freaked out ever since the plane he was to be on crashed with no survivors. He missed it due to a terrible traffic jam in ATL. His buddy suggests he see a therapist, and she starts him on a path through past lives to resolve his intimacy problems... and he finds out who the driver of the car was that caused him to miss that flight. Pretty good scifi.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5952522/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

"Another Time" (2018) Amazingly, another scifi from that year, part of a Thursday double header for me. This time, it's a money manager with a penchant for physics that meets the one woman for him... but the timing is wrong. So he seeks out the physicist he saw on TV in a special about time travel, to work with him to fix his timing problem. Lots of math referenced for that real touch.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3451984/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_another%2520time

"Sonic The Hedgehog 2" (2022) Hey, I had resisted seeing it, but it was Friday morning and my access to mgm+ was drawing to a close. Sonci! Tails! Jim Carrey! Locale in Hawaii! Perfect with brunch!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12412888/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4_tt_5_nm_3_q_Sonic%2520

"The Foot Fist Way" (2006) Not as advertised, and I point to Will Ferrell's raunchy humor for its failure. The title is English for Tae Kwon Do, which is at the core of this one, but the studio owner is horrible to the kids he teaches and doesn't seem to practice what he's preaching. I kept hoping it would improve, but it did not.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492619/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520foot%2520f

"Giants Being Lonely" (2019) High school baseball team with a coach who is a total jerk to them. (Note: that was not meant as a companion piece to the above.) The coach's son gets ridden hard, while his friend, the team's star pitcher, is praised by all... including the coach's wife, who seduces him.
All comes to a head on prom night. This was supposed to be a comedy. Nope!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10713402/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_1_q_giants%2520being

"I Will Make You Mine" (2020) Goh Nakamura is a singer with a past in the form of three women: Rachel, a heavy crush never even kissed, now unhappily wed to a cheater; Erika, his ex-wife and mother of their daughter, now dealing with her father's death; and Yea-Ming, a fellow musician that he had a fling with in Las Vegas, still single and maybe ready to settle down. Pretty good flick.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8820348/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_i%2520will%2520make%2520

"Young Sherlock Holmes" (1985) I don't know whatever became of the actors in this one, as it was quite good. It follows the meeting of Holmes and Watson in high school, with them trying to solve a series of murders after a dear professor is killed.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090357/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_young%2520sherl

"The Emperor's New CLothes" (1987) I kept returning to this old fairy tale in the listing, and I'm glad I finally clicked on it! Delightful musical with a 65-year-old Sid Caesar in the title role! Yes, he did sing! All the major characters had one song each, though some performed duets. Such a late-night treat on Saturday, good for sweet dreams!!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142260/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520emperor%27s%2520new%2520cl

"Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997) So, if you're a hitman, how do you answer the question about your job at your high school ten-year reunion? John Cusack is adorable as always, even in this profession, especially as he tries to mend the relationship with his former high school sweetheart, who he had abandoned on prom night. Minnie Driver is lots of fun here! Good to see this again!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119229/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_3_nm_5_q_grosse%2520

"Insight" (2021) Jian and his brother were clairvoyants, but drifted apart. Now, the brother is dead and Jian is in Los Angeles to solve his murder, even though the police are sure it was suicide. Good thing detective Abby is there to help!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3963674/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_8_nm_0_q_Insigh

"Seven Alone" (1974) Seems like I would have seen this western growing up, but I don't remember it. A true story of a 13-year-old boy who manages to get his six brothers and sisters safely to Oregon after their parents die on the trip and they lose their wagon and almost all else. Pretty amazing.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073686/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_Seven%2520Alo

"Paradox Lost" (2020) One more scifi time travel to finish out my 30 days of free movies. This one has a guy visited by his grown son, from the future, sent to find him and warn him from changing anything in the timeline. Nice bit highlighting improv comedy that runs throughout the tale.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7890974/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_paradox%2520lo

"Iris Warriors" (2022) Woohoo! An extra day of free today! Time for another family adventure! Set during WWII, it's the story told by the orphange mistress to the children during a blackout, as warplanes flew overhead. Light versus darkness, with magic and images of rainbow dancers fighting the shadows. Truly beautiful to watch during this summer of magic.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5787290/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_3_nm_5_q_iris%2520war

***

Here's to time well spent on rainy days!

Thanks, Comcast, for this birthday gift!

(smile!)

gallantly gallivanting at the gala

A little alliteration was most def required!

What an evening I've had!!!

I did, indeed, get dolled up, but not in a baby doll dress; good thing, as there were plenty of those being sported by the ladies there!

I guess those are the new fashion look!

But I was wearing a classic look, wearing my black birthday dress of 2020, with a gold buckle to fasten the self-ties together - loved it!

This was an occasion when one necklace simply wouldn't do, so I'd donned two of them!

The long one came from Italy with me in 2012, with its fabric beads fashioned in Positano.

What a great compliment I got for it tonight!!!

And the shorter necklace has ocean-toned glass beads and once belonged to Mama.

(smile!)

And just who had taken that photo of me?

This purple-haired lass did!

Danielle had come solo, as Thomas had to work, but I knew as soon as I saw her that it was no coincidence!

Right place, right time for both of us!

I'm so glad she was there!

She had never been to the Savannah Children's Theatre Gala before... and neither had I.

She had never been to a silent auction before, but I've been to quite a few so I explained how it worked.

She even put her name on the line for two items!

I tried to win four items, but I was relieved when one of them was outbid.

That's because The Magic House was in Missouri!!!

What a close call for me!

I'd only bid on it because of that word "Magic" - but I don't want to go that far for it.

I did put in a bid for more local mini-golf, even raising the ante when others chimed in for it... and I was victorious!!!

More rounds of fun for F-grrl and J-Dawg at Bogey's!

(smile!)

As for the other two items, I decided that I really didn't need to "Make Lemonade", but I had definite plans to "Meet Me At The Grill".

I had to keep bouncing over to up my bid because the Johnny Harris basket of goodies had quite a few interested parties... but, when the dust settled, my name was the last written!

I don't know who will be getting the cookbook, but the seven bottles of sauce will be split between my two brothers for Christmas.

Good to have that bit of shopping done!

(smile!)

What else did we have at this soiree?

Well, later there would be a live auction of vacation stays and legal packages and autographed jerseys...

but, before all that, and before the closing of the silent auction bidding, there was roast beast!!!

The tables were each decorated with props from the plays and musicals this year, both those already done and those still to come.

We chose the "Spongebob Musical", as shown here.

That's my Caesar salad in the foreground.

And the star of the meal is right here!

No, not the asparagus; look to the top left and middle.

That's meat, baby, lots and lots of the most tender, the most juicy, the most flavorful roast beast ever!

Honestly, I loved it so much that I forewent dessert to have another helping of that beef.

For real!

And what really made it shine was that other vegetable on the plate: carrots with horseradish.

Oh, yeah... such a grand combo!

I'm glad I hadn't bothered with the mashed potatoes, as that certainly wouldn't have left me enough room, on the plate or in my belly, for that fabulous beef.

I know the catering group was out of Augusta, but I don't recall their name.

Still, here's a heartfelt "Thanks, y'all!!"

(smile!)

Oh, I was about to leave without saying a single word about the mystery bags of wine!

Danielle and several other actors who were there, including Jojo in his salmon-pink bowtie, ponied up the 25-dollar fee to grab a numbered cork from a basket.

Then it was to match the number to the velvet bag on a big table by the bar.

The hope was to snag a hundred-dollar wine for that small fee, and several in the party had French labels on their bottles, so they got lucky!

Danielle "won" a lovely bottle of rose and pronounced it quite good as they all opened them and took swigs.

Such a funny scene that was!

And such a lovely party this was!

I just may have to go for my birthday again next year!

(smile!)

bday65 with Bonnie and Batman!

"Did you say Bonnie? As in your stepmom Bonnie?"

 

I did!!! She has been visiting her brother and several friends in Beaufort for most of last week, while I've been ACTING with VBS. Today, she picked me up and away we went!

 

"Say what??? Have you up and gone back to Alabama with her?"

 

No, not quite.

Conner was the only one who came with her, as both Merritt is working this summer break, as he wants to get a car.

Conner wanted to spend part of the summer with his maternal grandparents, down in Blackshear, so Bonnie had arranged to meet Boyd in Hinesville.

Somehow, that was deemed as halfway between Beaufort and Blackshear.

All I know is this: I've made that trek multiple enough times that I don't need my GPS any more for it, so I was deemed her guide to get them there!

That gave me almost four hours of being in her good company!!!

 

"And you got to visit with Conner, too!"

 

Well, so to speak.

Teens tend to be wrapped up in headphones and mesmerized by the glowing screen between their hands, meaning he was in the car on the way down, but not vocal.

Even when we got out at the Wendy's and had a nosh, he declined to join us. 

"What?! A teenaged boy who turned down food???"

 

Unheard of, I know.

He had plenty of snacks in the car, so, no worries.

And he was thrilled when his grandpa showed up, with several of his little cousins in tow.

That was good to see!

Bonnie and Boyd make sure he gets to see them twice a year, during school breaks, by meeting in the middle between their respective homes.

He is so fortunate!

And so am I, blessed to have had this time with Bonnie!

I really do need to start planning some trips.

(smile!)

"Yo! Hold on! Sounds like you're about to bug out. What about Batman?"

Oh, yeah.

He showed up at the tail end of the VBS portion of this Sunday's service at Asbury!

I even waited my turn in line and had my photo taken with him!

Yes, I know he was Rev. Billy, but... he was Batman!!!

For real!!!

"He is such a fabulous minister! And whatcha got there on that little plate?"

A bit of heaven, that's what, reminding me that Blaxstone, aka SamJ, has a birthday coming!

Nothing like pineapple upside-down cake to bring his sweet smiling face in view.

I was dining outside, and one of the women leaving church spoke of how pretty the day was.

I replied with this poem from the embroidery sampler Mama had made, so very many years ago.

 

The kiss of the sun for pardon,

the song of the birds for mirth,

one is nearer God's heart in a garden

than any place else on Earth.

 

The woman liked it so much she had me repeat it, so she could memorize it.

(smile!)

"How very nice! Sounds like you made her day earlier."

How very nice of Bonnie and Batman and Blaxstone to make mine!

i thank You, God!

two luncheons, with maybe a third!

My beautiful first niece surprised me this morning.

She was in town for a doctor appointment; would I like to have lunch with her?

Yes!!! Of course!!!

So, off to the Garden of Olive we went!

She was craving toasted ravioli... and those are good!

What about the girls?

They're at Tybee's Fresh Air Camp, and will be for another week!

Woohoo - a string of date nights for Christina and her man!

(smile!)

She has to come Savannah again on Friday, so that looks like another lunch date for me... and possibly for her mom, too!

That would be quite lovely for the three of us!

Maybe I can talk them into making it an Applebee's outing?

That place has a birthday dessert waiting for me... and I'll even share!

(smile!)

So, that's the "maybe" bday65 luncheon, but remember I'd mentioned a Monday dine-out?

That was with mi amiga Sandy!

We convened at Chili's for two hours, talking about her recent trip to visit family in Nova Scotia... how about that!

She and her parents bounce up there about every five or six years, to catch up with the goings-on of that branch of their tree.

That reminds me: I still want to visit some of my cousins this year.

Well, I'm going to have to block out some time to do that, won't I?

Hmm... I need to make some phone calls and set that up.

Yep!

What a treat for me to spend time with her!

(smile!)

lions with boomers in motion, oh, my!

For this visit to the Emerald City, on the final day of the musical's run, I would be treated to the antics of the Green Cast, with a different Dorothy and different Oz in conjunction with all the different citizens of Munchkin City - oh, joy!

But would I be able to get in???

The show was sold out!!!

 

Well, of course I got in!

I absolutely, positively, undeniably and reliably, wouldn't be writing this had I not gained entry!

So did Sherry Moore, and Travis Cole, and several others, with the play being delayed more than 15 minutes while extra chairs were brought in.

Hooray!!!

And how did I like this alternate version?

Hey, it was still very much "The Wizard Of Oz", and I loved every minute of it!

I not only mouthed the words to every song, I even found myself running lines as the story unfolded!

That made a real difference to these actors, as I was told after the show.

The Door Guard, Al Williams, was looking for me after the show, and, as soon as a he spotted me, justthatfast he grabbed Glenda the Good Witch and spun her to face me for a prime time photo op!

 

Nice to be appreciated, Al!!!

 

But he wasn't the only one looking for me after the show, hoping I'd waited for the meet and greet..

and that was Joel Altherr!

He was the man with the perfect accent, the perfect timing, even the perfect nervous chortles and roars as the Cowardly Lion!

He stood right there and talked with me for at least fifteen minutes, saying the nicest things...

compliments like how I kept his energy up (this was the 15th show)...

niceties like how my smiling face on the front row cheered him...

praises like how he could look at me and know that he was at the right place, at the right time...

wow.

Then a little girl came up for a photo...

followed by two little boys...

and I took my leave from his side.

I do hope to see him again some lovely day!

(smile!)

Jackie had patiently waited while I had my starstruck moment with Joel.

(smile!)

On my say-so, she had posted this matinee as a meetup for her Boomers In Motion group... 

and had five others there with her!

They all had purchased tickets online, so they all sat together about two rows back from me.

Yes, the SavChTh knows I love the front row, and the performers love having me there, so Vivian had saved a seat for me there - thanks so much!!!

(smile!)

After the musical, all scattered back to their regularly scheduled Sunday evenings.

Well, all save Jackie and me!

We popped down the street to Chipotle's for a quick and easy dinner, sitting outside on the patio to enjoy the cooling breeze and to catch up on each other's lives and to extend the celebration of my birthday.

Very nice for bday65!

Plus, she and I already have another musical lined up next month to enjoy!

Hooray!

(smile!)

magical night with mermaids!

Here we are, searching for mermaids...

mermaid ducks, that is!

 

Leila and Alyssa had not yet found the mystical fowl,

but Miyah and Chloe had theirs,

no doubt due to their sharp-eyed Momma!

 

Still, with Grammy and Daddy helping,

the twins would soon find 

the yellow-bottomed treasures

in the Springfield stores, right?

It was just a matter of bopping in and out 

to the businesses lined up on the main street,

to either side of Moncrief Square.

 

And, sure enough, mermaid ducks

came swimming up 

and into the eager hands of the children

as they explored the area!

 

The scavenger hunt began at 4 PM,

and we were all there before that!

 

A total of 40 treasures had been scattered about

and we, and the other searchers,

had four hours of festivities ahead of us.

 

Crystal blue jellyfish wafted in the breeze -

brightly colored fingers of coral waved -

music cheered us along -

and food trucks tempted us with their wares!

 

But, the mermaids were the goal!

 

After each little blonde in our party 

had attained her duck,

it was off to Mars Theater

to claim a reward of toys and candy!

 

That worked up an appetite, 

one that called for pizza to quench it...

then, back to the theater for photos

with Ariel herself!!!

 

Of course I joined in for that!

And you know what she told me?

"You look like a mermaid, too!"

 

How very nice of her to notice my dress!

(smile!)

She even gave me a hug!

(smile!)

 

Then it was movie time, and the show was sold out!

Fortunately, my first niece had grabbed up the entire first row for us -

yes, she did!!!

Eight seats for the eight of us - perfect!

 

Ah, but hadn't I already seen "The Little Mermaid"?

Yes, I had, but I'd missed the opening scenes...

and I didn't have Christina singing every song right there beside me!

(smile!)

 

What a wonderful time with the Guyton and Hinesville part of the family!

And, I have a little mermaid duck now!

 

The deal Christina had struck with the four girls

beforehand was this:

They could choose to keep the duck,

or they could keep the prize for finding the duck,

but they could not do both.

 

Every one of the girls chose the prizes...

so we four adults each got a mermaid duck!

 

This one, with #38 on it, is the one I received.

 

I was told it had been Chloe's, but that was not true;

the one Miss Chlo found had blue seashells for a top.

 

It also had been marked as #43.

 

So, this bird in my hand was Leila's.

 

Not that it matters...

the point was to have a memento...

and I do...

for my bday65 'party' with them!

(smile!)

 

Plus, I had lots of time talking with Michael over our meal - and thanking him for buying the movie tickets for all!

And I had lots of time talking with Christina on the ride north, as well as again on the ride southward back to Hinesville, and another hour once we go there.

Those were definitely part of my birthday celebration!

(smile!)

 

Spending the night there was a treat, especially as the girls must have slept in, too.

Then they were off to a pizza party and I was off to home!

 

And what have I done today?

 

I watched two movies on MGM+ about waterfowl!!!

 

Seriously!!!

 

The first was "Lord Love A Duck", made in 1966, with Roddy McDowell as a brainy nerd at the new high school, trying to score with the new girl (Tuesday Weld!) in town.

Quite funny and helped along with the comedic talents of Harvey Korman and Ruth Gordon!

 

That was followed by "A Birder's Guide to Everything", from 2013, in which a 14-year-old boy thinks he's seen a Labrador duck, an extinct species, and enlists the aid of his birding club to go in search of the bird. Nice to see Ben Kingsley as the expert who joins in!

 

Tomorrow, I'll have other flying animals to see -

cows and old ladies on bicycles and witches on brooms, and even winged monkeys!

For real!

(smile!)

1-dollar weekend movie festival: May

Like I did last month, I'm spending this Comcast reward on VHS movies I own.

What a birthday treat this reward has been!

The movies were chock full of choices made - good and bad - and changes brought about from them - just like life!

I started the month with "Beetlejuice", where the girl is taught to pronounce it by being shown a giant beetle and a quart of orange juice - hahahaha!

Not quite right, but close enough for that ghost, buster, to be called forth to drive some livings out of a haunted house.

(Yes, that can be our inside joke!)

Here's the thing: the Michael Keaton character is pretty toxic to ghosts, too, so eventually there has to be a change made to drive him away.

Enter the sand worm, with Geena Davis riding in to save the day!

(smile!)

 

The following weekend found me in a medieval love story.

An evil bishop had cast a spell upon the two lovers after hearing a drunken priest's confession.

Now, a boy named Mouse is accompanying the Man-Wolf and "Ladyhawke" on their travels.

What good fortune!

The priest has found a way to cast off the spell (pun intended) on a "day without night and a night without day" - but can he accomplish the deed in time?

I do so love this tale of good versus evil...

especially with Rutger Hauer as the knight rescuing lady love,

with Matthew Broderick providing the perfect comic touch!

(smile!)

 

The third weekend found me in a quandary.

I had selected a movie, only to find it was not available for rental.

So, I quickly grabbed a Jim Carrey flick with a serious undertone: "The Truman Show".

With the premise of a reality show in which the lead character has no idea he is on such a thing, the twist is the boy grows into a man who wants to travel, so, how to go about keeping him on the island?

Plus, he falls in love with the wrong girl, not the one in the script.

Yep, change is definitely in the wind from the very moment the stage light falls from the sky one morning!

(smile!)

Then, for my bday65 weekend, I watched "Big", the beautiful story of the boy who wants to be taller... 

but he didn't specify that in the wish.

Wishes, like prayers, must include details, and the wording is very, very important.

The 12-year-old wanted to be "big" so the little blonde with the curly hair would like him.

Instead, he became "tall", and thirty years old!!!

That wasn't what he asked from Zoltar!!!

Good thing his best friend Billy - who was "three months older" - was wiser, and not just a wise-acre.

Together, they helped the older Josh weather the changes until they could find an opportunity, some time later, to catch up with the traveling machine and try to set things right, so the boy wouldn't miss his childhood.

That's a really good friend!

(smile!)

hooligans and houlihan's!

"And what's that all about?"

I watched the first ones in a movie and I dined at the second one with my first niece!

"Oh, my!!! You've seen her again already?"

Sho' nuff! She's out of school and the kids are still in, so she and I got to play grownups for the third time this month!

"I thought she had the children in tow that first time... "

Sure, you're right... but it was just me and her last week!

"And now it's just las dos chicas una vez mas!"

That's right! She's practicing her Spanish, too, as she will soon be in Cozumel. Carnival cruise with the family... and all in one room, too. But she's looking forward to it!

"I'm sure she is. And what brought y'all out to the junction of 204 and 95?

My free birthday meal at Houlihan's! Well, up to fifteen bucks off whatever I chose, as long as someone else ordered an entree. No worries with that! She loves their 3-course meal! so she 'bought' me lunch, essentially and it didn't cost her anything.

"What a great deal!"

Yeah, I try to take advantage of those loyalty programs as much as possible.

"What pretty flowers!"

Aren't they? Christina brought that permanent bouquet for me! She even made sure it had bird of paradise in it. Plus those blue flowers are the same shade almost as the blue coral that was part of my wedding bouquet. And see that coffee mug? That's Miyah's art on it! Christina liked it so much she had it printed on stickers!

"How nice of her to think of that!"

I agree.

"And the pillow?"

She saw it and the words just spoke to her of the love and friendship we share. I completely agree! I'm so glad this luncheon gave her the chance to bring these gifts she has been keeping for so long!

"She is most definitely a keeper!"

That's for sure. She's my sunshine and my heart!

"How very fortunate that y'all have been able to see more of each other, now that the weather is warm and her schedule has freed up."

Yes, with no classes to teach and no T-ball to coach, she is getting a breather.

"Hey, is that Elvis with a bad haircut?"

Yep, it sure is! He's a hooligan with a fast temper and fast hands in "Jailhouse Rock", and his cellmate, a former country singer and bank robber, is teaching him to play the guitar to pass the time. Good movie! I'm glad MGM+ had it. And you know what song he sings in it? "Young And Beautiful", the one Willie would sing to me at Sand Gnats games.

"That's wonderful! What a good day!"

Amen to that!

birthday party with brothers!

"That wasn't a birthday party."

 

Yes, it was!

 

"Was there a cake with candles?"

 

No, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a birthday party.

Plus, I had watched "Big" with breakfast, so I already had the birthday cake scene.

 

"Were there gifts to be opened?"

 

Seriously, you know that's not the way I roll.

 

"Well, I still contend it was not a birthday party."

 

Then you are incorrect!

I was there with people I love, who love me, so that makes it an event.

I had been invited to come for a low country boil, which makes it a party.

And the ones who invited me had invited the rest of the family I grew up with to share it, so that makes it a birthday party.

Trust me, I'm for sure on this, and, as I was the guest of honor, I know I'm correct.

They even all sang "Happy Birthday" to me, and did so loudly, in the carport as I was leaving, after being together for almost four hours.

"But there wasn't a cake?"

No, but there was a fabulous apple pie!

But you know what was best of all?

"What's that?"

We all talked.

I mean, really talked with each other!

And not about just movies or what the kids were up to or that usual stuff.

We had discussions like Grandpa and I used to have!!!

We spoke of libraries and what books should be there -

that led to talk about homosexuality versus heterosexuality, sex versus gender -

and then we were on the topic of the Bible and just what people meant when that referred to that tome, as in were they including the Old Testament or just the New or both?

And how did that tie in with Judaism and Islam, with Buddhism and Shintoism and the many religions around the world that all have Jesus as a prophet?

Mary wasn't into the conversation, but the four of us - me, Smitty, Tony, and Laura - took the spool of thought outside and continued unraveling it there, out in the glorious sunshine, out where the warming breeze could keep us cool.

And why not?

Grandpa had been about my age when he and I had engaged in such discussions, with my brothers playing outside as Mama and Grandma hovered in the kitchen, listening in.

It did my heart good to know others in my family were giving thought to such topics.

What a gift that was to have such discourse, not on just any day, but on my birthday!

No tempers flared, no untoward language, just a freedom to speak freely with each other.

 

That was not only a gift for me, but so very appropriate on this Memorial Day.

And what a wonderful blessing Tony had given before the meal, being sure to include the memory of those who'd fought to guarantee that freedom of speech!

i thank You, God, for such a glorious birthday!