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.

thanks, schomburg!

"Schomburg? You mean John and Sherry were in town?"

 

Yes, they were!!! And they weren't the only Schomburgs at Jalapenos, either.

 

"Oh, sweet, they were there for the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta!"

Well, sure, kinda sorta. They were here to visit with the parents, but also to catch up face to face with friends.

"That's wonderful! So his brother was there, too?"

Yes, Brian was. That's him on the left, with older brother John. I didn't remember him from back in the day, but I don't recall much from my high school days, and even less from those at Myers Middle School. I mostly know John from my years of working with Smitty. Anyway... I was saying that both Schomburg brothers were there, as were their wives. I actually spent a lot of time chatting with Regina, Brian's wife, and their daughter Delaney. She goes to Savannah Arts Academy!!! She's in the choral program there, but is hoping to get into the Skylarks group next year, when she'll be a junior.

"I see. I'm so glad you were able to connect with them and help them feel like part of the group. They hadn't been there before, had they?"

I don't believe they had. They weren't familiar with the menu. It didn't matter to the girl, as she just got a cheese quesadilla. But the mom wanted something else, something different. I recommended the shrimp ceviche, as that's what I had promised myself, and Regina loved it! She ate every bit, just as I did.

"I am so glad you were able to steer her to that! Maybe she and Brian might come out again some time for y'all's Friday gatherings."

Maybe so! As it was, she and I were at the end of the fourth table, so we really didn't hear anything going on at the other three tables. Like, right here, where Smitty was regaling all with a story of stupid things in the past - we had no idea which story it was. LOL! Tony was missing, but all of the rest of our usual group were there, plus The Kameron girl was still home from UGA. All total, there were 13 of us. Claudia was kept quite busy!!!

"Oh, my!!! Quite a crowd!"

Yes, it was. I'm thankful that the guy at the bar saw me and helped move in that fourth table. You know the guy I mean? The one who always teases Smitty? The one I talked to about the tall chairs giving me sciatica and he mentioned his mom had that?

"Sure, I know who you mean! The one who comes up and kind of flirts with Smitty!"

Yeah, that's the guy. I don't know his name, but he is almost always there.

"Maybe you can find out next time. Anyway, you haven't said why you dedicated this post to Schomburg. I'm assuming you mean John, not his brother?"

That's right, John, not Brian. So there we all were and I'd been chatting with Regina, then she left and John moved over to me. And he proceeded to tell me a story about Mama, one I didn't know. You see, when he was younger, it was considered nice to give a token of appreciation to companies for their business. So, he took a turkey and a ham out to Union Camp for the mill manager... and Mama was the manager's secretary. Well, she invited John to the company dinner, so he went. And Mama called out to him and had him sit with her at the manager's table, introducing him to all the bigwigs there. Next thing you know, the folks at Union Camp have quadrupled their orders with John's company! John said his orders went from $20,000 to $30,000 per month to $100,000 per month!!! And everyone who placed an order asked him, "How do you know Sybil? How do you know Sybil?"

"What a wonderful story!"

Right? And he told it to me apropos of nothing. No segue in the conversation, just off the cuff. I regarded it as an unexpected gift, with due gratitude for the telling of it. It really made my night, it did. Like a Christmas present from the past.

i thank You, God.

not Christmas gifts, just presents for the kids

That's what I told Tony and Laura as I set the bag of items under their tree.

I'd made sure the local great-nieces and great-nephews knew that no Christmas gifts would be forthcoming from me this year.

My budget's been that busted.

However, the "Gift Closet" in my living room still held items that had been intended as birthday presents for Tony's grand-kids, so I'd brought some of those.

 

For great-niece Carissa, I had a book from DEEP Center full of writings from Fall 2023 students.

Amazingly, she knew all the writers from her school, Oglethorpe Charter Academy!

I pointed out that I chose the book because it had

stories from Myers Middle School, which I went to

when I was her age (14).

I also gave her the Elephant Joke bracelet I'd brought for her in 2014, so many years ago.

That meant I had to tell her Mama's jokes about pachyderms painting their toenails so they could hide in jellybean jars and apple trees and watermelon patches and blueberry bushes.

For Bert and Sebi, ages 11 and 8 now, I had a box of "Super Mario Brothers" movie items which included a game they could play.

That had been a reward from Comcast.

As well as the game, there was a poster, an activity book, a popcorn bucket, and a package of microwave popcorn.

I added about ten packages of candy from the NCG kid-packs; they all have strawberry as the candy base.

That box of movie goodies was not all the Gift Closet 

had for them.

It allowed me to add two activity books.

Those were both from Disney movies.

Lots of pages to color, lots of mazes to solve!

There are even puzzles to find differences in pictures, 

as well as scrambled words to set right!

That should keep them busy during this winter break.

Then there's little Olivia, who's maybe 3.

The Gift Closet held the cuddly toy dog, in hopes that it

will soothe her fear of the overly-friendly -

but very large and muscle-bound - Dane.

For her, there are also tiny books for her little hands

to hold and look at while her mom reads them.

I have a Braves bobblehead of Spencer Strider for

great-nephew Dylan, but I knew he would not be there,

so that gift remains here, in the closet, waiting.

i thank You, God, to have that magical Gift Closet.

up to the highest heights!

"Oh, let's go, fly a kite!"

I do so love that song from "Mary Poppins" and was thrilled to hear it tonight!

Moreover, every child on the stage had one and each waved their colorful paper diamond enthusiastically!

I just know Barbara would have loved it, too.

She's the reason I was there, as she was the one who introduced me to these plays by the students of Rambam Day School.

She knew I would enjoy them as much as she did.

Two of the teachers who knew her greeted me, having seen me with her at these holiday plays for the past few years.

In keeping with tradition, this year's offering was also a musical.

"A Spoonful Of Sugar" was a take-off on the flying nanny (there's a little joke!) and contained several familiar songs, including both of the ones that the chimney sweeps sing - and there must have been a baker's dozen of them doing it!

There was a line of elementary-aged boys the length of the stage, as all wanted to be in on those dance routines!

I would have loved dancing with them!

There were also a few songs that touched on Judaism and even one about the man that the school is named for, set to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Help Me Rhonda" - making learning fun, just as the nanny did!

I think my favorite of those was "Soup and Challah", to the tune of "Supercali" -

"Soup and Challah, Candlesticks, Kiddush it is delicious / Every Shabbat meal we eat is really quite nutritious / Can I have some chicken served on Irma's special dishes / Soup and Challah, Candlesticks, Kiddush is is declicious!"

Guaranteed to bring a smile!

After the free show was over, I knew to stay for the free dessert: a Krispy Kreme doughnut.

Many thanks for making me welcome, y'all!

i thank You, God, for this gift from Barbara.

wrapping with toonie

Every day this week has seen special episodes of the Bill & Toonie show.

Today's was about the proper way to wrap gifts of varying shape.

No cheating with gift bags and tissue paper, nosirree bob!

Inspired, I set about preparing items to go under my tree.

 

Determined to use up all the bits of Christmas papers from years past, I started with the 2025 calendar from AARP, there in the middle.

Going clockwise from the lower right, I also have a new blank journal from Memorial Sloan Kettering, a calculator from Disabled American Veterans, the paid-in-full hospital bills for the cardiac ablation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, a canister of decaffeinated coffee from Senior SNAP, a $20 discount from Savannah Repertory Theatre, and a new shower curtain liner courtesy of United Healthcare.

Within an hour, they were all decked out in pretty holiday colors, using the scraps of wrap that I have held onto for at least a decade.

Well, all were wrapped except the discounted ticket from the troupe.

Now, they're under my tree, awaiting Christmas morning.

Thanks, Santa, for these many blessings!

the doc says...

"See you in June!"

i thank You, God.

 

That "doc" would be my cardiologist, which is why this was so important to me.

 

It was my post-surgery visit, which had somehow been scheduled for the absurd time of 0845.

Yes, as in 8 hours and 45 minutes past midnight.

As I told them, that's the time of my first alarm, the one that tells me to take my Synthroid so I can have coffee when the second alarm rings at 9:21 AM.

 

Of course, I'd called his office to try to get the time changed, but I would have had to wait until the end of January to see him.

Nope, that wasn't an option.

So, there I was, bright and early.

Actually, with the heavy fog that had descended upon Savannah, wrapping everything in shrouds of mist, it wasn't that bright.

Ordinarily, there would be a clear view of St. Joseph's Hospital when standing outside his office.

 

As for inside his office, I found myself in Exam Room 4, one I'd never seen.

That's because it was a busy morning and the first three rooms were full.

 

I was early.

I'd arrived at 0830, concerned about being late.

By the time this photo was taken at 0848, I'd had my EKG and was waiting on the results.

Within five minutes, he'd told me I was good to go, so I did, back onto the foggy roads.

i thank You, God, for Truman Parkway.

This lovely shot of the flaming trees across the street from my house was taken at 0914.

Ten minutes later, I was back in my nightgown and under the covers, straight into dreamland.

No lawnmowers or leaf blowers disturbed me.

 

I slept the sleep of the contented, deeply and warm, until a quarter of noon.

Delicious to have slumbered so well!

Today, the high is to reach the low 70's, which is a blessed break from the 50's of Thursday and Friday.

The pattern of late is three days of warmth, usually at the week's start, then the song going into low notes by midweek. 

Believe me when I say that I'll gratefully take whatever number of warm days I am allotted at this time of year, and I'll open up the house to invite inside every bit of it.

This day, which is amazingly still Monday, will be shared with Carolyn, and perhaps Sandy, too.

I've invited them to join me for the new Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult movie.

That will be at 4:45 PM, which will be a little later than I usually go, but it's a little early for them.

Compromise, right?

I'm hoping they'll join me at Houlihan's for dinner.

 

Between that time and now, though, my brunch will be these leftovers from the church holiday party.

Then, I truly must set about finishing the Christmas cards that need to be mailed.

So, ta ta for now!

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!)

an early dawn christmas!

No, not the time of day... Dawn!

The hostess with the mostest out in North Jacksonville!

She and I had our luncheon today, and guess where we held it?

If you said "the Thai place", you're incorrect.

We went to The Narra Tree!

She had apparently tried out the Filipino restaurant some time back and was nonplussed, but she agreed to grant it a second chance.

"I'll give it another try," she said, "I trust you."

(smile!)

I was thrilled to go there again!

When I was there with Yvonne, I had so wanted to try the Adobo Fries...

and now I have!!!

In fact, I'd talked so much about the fries that Dawn wanted us to have them as the appetizer that they are meant to be...

and so we did!

And, yes, they are mot definitely scrumdillyumpcious!!!

(smile!)

We maybe ate half and then stopped.

We had entrees coming and they'd arrived!

I had the Escabeche Flounder - and recognized the taste from my days in Panama!

So nicely spicy!!!

I saved one of the three fillets for lunch another day.

Plus, Dawn gifted me the rest of the fries, so we all know what that means, right?

Dinner is done for tonight!!!

Woohoo!!

Such a delightful accompaniment to "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" that will be!

Such a delightful Tina Tuesday this has been: Christmas luncheon with this lady!

(smile!)

 

new music for me

There it was, something different on TV on a Friday morning.

"A Baylor Christmas" 

The hour-long show was from Baylor University, a place I didn't know.

There may have been four songs that knew, but most were new to me.

Some were sung by the entire chorus.

Some, like "Cradle Hymn", only had women's voices.

Some, like "Waltz of the Fairies", was purely instrumental and showed off the orchestra.

Amazingly, there was only one 'mercial break for the whole hour, and that had been a very brief station ID.

All were wonderful accompaniment to my breakfast, which consisted of the two chicken and kale sausages Smitty brought by on Wednesday, plus apple slices.

Coffee was served in the souvenir cup he'd brought me from Sitka, Alaska.

All in all, such a fine way to begin this post-Thanksgiving Friday.

i thank You, God.

thanksgiving 2024!

First, I'm thankful for all the wishes of the day sent to me!

This was received from my first niece, just moments after the Peanuts gang went by in the Macy's 98th Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Plus, I'd watched "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" last night, so those characters were fresh in my mind as well as my heart.

Right place, right time!!!

Second, I'm thankful for all the wishes of the day that I shared with others!

Sherry Moore was the first to send me this, and I promptly moved it along to others that I know and love.

So very festive, isn't it?

Third, I'm thankful for the food Smitty brought over yesterday for this day.

He and Mary were to be at Tyler and Hannah's in Rincon; Tony and Laura, as well as Dane the dog, went down to Tampa to be with her two middle sons, Cole and Alek.

With the food given to me, I had ham and pasta soup to start my day.

Fourth, I'm glad to be such a regular face at AMC that I get treated like royalty.

I went to the cinema for the 1000 bonus points for getting a ticket to "Wicked, Part 1".

That wasn't what I wanted to see, though.

Santa and his brother Krampus were on my list!

So, they told me which screening room held "Red One" and there I went!

How lovely that the two movies had the same starting time!

Fifth, I'm thankful to have continued the tradition of watching the Detroit Lions play.

Most years, that game is a loss for them, but not this year!

Sure, as Jeff the ex said, it was a real nail-biter during those last two minutes of play, but the Lions managed to keep their edge over the Chicago Bears.

Whew!!!

Sixth, I've been blessed to have gorgeous weather.

Rain is forecast in a day or so, and the yards both needed a trim.

The front yard won out and I mowed at least two-thirds of it before the Ryobi stopped.

Perhaps I will finish it tomorrow, perhaps not.

Seventh, after all was done, I feasted upon smoked turkey breast, baked sweet potato, and deviled eggs. 

That was a meal I didn't have to cook or prep, thanks to my brothers.

Eighth, I'm now being treated to "Mary Poppins" - the 1964 musical with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke - on the telly.

i thank You, God, for this day of gratitude.

last meal cooked for a veteran... this week

Little Caesar's has definitely done right by me!

On Veterans Day, they graced me with a free deep dish pie as part of their lunch combo.

I chose the pepperoni, of course.

That means that yesterday and today I have dined on pizza for breakfast!

The photo shows what I've had each time.

What a heaping helping was in that box from them!

Many thanks to them!

Applebee's had the most diverse menu for veterans.

I went there on Monday to dine-in, but to my surprise, and delight, the restaurant was so busy that they allowed us to order the meal to go!

That meant I had dinner last night that I only had to heat up to eat!

And what was my meal of choice?

The same as it ever is: Fiesta Lime Chicken.

As I told Teresa, an Air Force veteran, as we waited, "It's superb!"

So glad Applebee's does this for veterans!

Chicken Salad Chick always allows veterans to opt to dine in or take it home.

I had planned to eat the free lunch there, with my first niece and her girls, but Christina was ill.

So, the fancy luncheon became a dinner at home Monday night!

Lauryn's Lemon Basil on croissant, with Broccoli Salad, was a complete meal that included vegetables!

I washed it all down with free lemonade, and even had a cookie for dessert!

That was certainly my healthiest meal. (smile!)

So, where did I actually dine in on Monday?

Chili's.

I was there about 3:30 PM, well after the lunch rush and before the supper crowd arrived.

Within ten minutes, I was seated!

Their special menu included the 3-piece Chicken Crispers, with honey mustard - perfect!

Thanks, Jerrad, for making my free meal special!

Thanks, Chili's, for having great music to accompany my dining experience!

And, while I am here, let me not forget to thank one other.

Thank you, Texas Roadhouse.

This restaurant was my first destination on Veterans Day, as I knew their gift would be this voucher.

That gives me a free meal on another day, with a wide range of choices.

I do so look forward to that future free dinner!

Many thanks to all for these lagniappes!

off to see other veterans!

Some wore t-shirts proclaiming which programs they were in.

Others wore regular clothes, donning just a military ball cap to proclaim their status.

Me?

On this, my first day out of the house since I left home for St. Joseph's last Thursday, I made sure I looked like someone who appreciated the free meals bestowed upon me.

My hair was brushed and done up in a ponytail.

I was freshly showered and even put some lotion on my aging arms.

My attire was my flowing green dress, the one that moves so nicely when I sway to music.

I knew I would have plenty of swaying while waiting in lines.

(smile!)

Most of all, I wore a smile.

It's important to show gratitude when being blessed with free meals.

I have found that a smile can go a long way toward easing any tensions.

Plus, a smile can brighten someone's day just by seeing it.

A smile can also brighten the day of the person who is smiling.

That's certainly how it works for me.

(smile!)

Now, off I go to smile at more strangers who are veterans, or people who are serving veterans, or people who are with veterans, or people whoever they may be.

Smiles are free and I have plenty.

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.

butterflies, tacos, and a flashback

I took out some trash and recycling and caught movement out of the corner of my eye!

The butterflies and moths were supping on lantana nectar!

My bushes aren't nearly as lush as they have been in the past, but plenty of  insects thought they were still lovely!

My heart was filled with gratitude to be able to provide this oasis to the wandering travelers!

Soon enough, it was time to go see family at Jalapenos of Sandfly!

The Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta had arrived, and all the usual suspects were there!

I ordered three crunchy beef tacos again, and I'm glad I did.

Not for my, but for brother Tony!

He was glad to have one, with its flashback to dinners of our youth!

But be not confused - that's not the flashback referred to in the post title.

I'm getting to that, truly I am.

After dinner, I'd taken my busy, vibrant woman self over to Jenkins Hall on Armstrong, looking forward to a night of free improv with "The Last laugh".

Sadly, that must have been cancelled.

So I bopped over to AMC with my A*List in hand, hoping to get lucky.

Fortunately, the new movie, "Saturday Night", was in previews - 

right place, right time!

That movie was absolutely perfect for me tonight!

I was only 15 years old on October 11, 1973, when the show first aired.

What a flashback to that very night, tonight, exactly 51 years later.

Right place, right time, for a movie I'd not been that excited about... and that just may net me a trip to New York City!

The movie, almost a documentary, absolutely nailed the frenetic pacing of everyone involved behind the scenes of any show - whether a musical, a play, or a TV broadcast - in the last hour or so before the show goes live.

The casting director is to be commended, too, for perfectly assigning roles to actors that captured the look, sound, and mannerisms of the actual people in that first episode of the "Saturday Night" show.

How wonderful to see again faces long gone: Gilda Radnor, John Belushi, George Carlin, Jim Henson, Andy Kaufman, Michael O'Donoghue, and Billy Preston.

Bravo!

I was in search of laughs... and this movie certainly delivered!

Maybe I'll even give the television show, "SNL", another shot tomorrow night.

I've been out of the habit of watching it for years.

(smile!)