day after enzo

This is what it looked like outside at 12:58 AM.

 

I had taken a peek as I was going to bed.

 

Winter Storm Enzo had been circling the house, jabbing here and there with his bony, cold, fingers.

 

My front yard was the only one that still showed grass.

 

My little blue car was outlined in snow, but it was too dark for my camera to see it.

 

When I awakened at 6:37 AM to pee, I peeked outside again.

 

White, white, white, as far as the eye could see.

 

All of my front yard was blanketed.

 

Even the two liriope at the end of my sidewalk were just indiscriminate mounds of white.

Back to my warm bed I went.

At 9 AM, I rose again, briefly.

Time to take Synthroid and check outside.

The liriope had also risen from its covering of snow, its dark green leaves triumphant above the white!

 

Good for it!

 

Even the taller grass of the spiral around the Japanese magnolia was visible again!

 

And what about the back yard? 

 

The bird bath was piled high with collected snow.

 

No worries, that would eventually be water for the aviary bunch that share my property!

 

The yard itself wore a white blanket, but it was lightly glistening.

 

Was it already warming in the sun?

 

Back to my warm covers I went, to await coffee time and a reason to rise.

 

Not so my little great-nieces in Hinesville!

 

They had missed the snow of 2014, so this was their very first chance to make snow angels.

 

The joke was on them!

 

The temperatures had frozen the snow... making them little snow devils instead!

 

Hahahaha!

 

At 10:30 AM, coffee was made and so was soup.

 

The temperature outside was 30 F, with a wind chill that knocked it down to 19 F.

 

That made the 60 F inside my house seem almost balmy by comparison.

 

I'm so glad I put the sheet up on Friday night to block the sunroom off.

I heard that snow devil Enzo scratching to get through last night!

After dining on warm liquids for breakfast, I checked outside again.

It was beautifully sunny, but the temperature was still hovering at 30 F.

The icicles on my eaves were steadily drip-drip-dripping, shedding their frozen dihydrogen oxide.

The snow in my front yard was sparkling with millions of minuscule diamonds, as my car continued to be draped under its blanket of white.

 

As for the rest of my front yard, there had been a change by that time.

 

Even the area in the shade was nearly devoid of its snowy covering!

 

Perhaps the longer grass there, left unmowed since I last ran the Ryobi, had harbored ground heat?

That would explain why mine was the only yard that showed any grass at all.

Everyone else scalps their grassy areas.

That's okay, though.

I have no reason to venture outside until Friday, when I have my 6-month check up with my PCP.

 

While the weather song heads for higher notes, I'll watch "The Madame Blanc Mysteries" on Acorn TV.

Thanks, Comcast.

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.

now, and later

When I saw how the photo turned out, all I could think about was the candy.

 

Hahahaha!

 

I didn't even order a dessert this time!

 

Sure, I had the crunchy beef taco (as I call them), but rather than my usual order of one or two, I went ahead and got a trio.

 

I knew one would be going home with me... and they must have guessed that, too.

 

Why else would the folks at Jalapenos of Sandfly group them that way?

 

(smile!) 

It was so good to be there this week!

 

Helene had messed up our S&K Friday Fiesta time and we had all missed sharing this meal time.

 

I was just a little late, as I wanted to finish up the front yard.

 

I knew rain was coming, and it held off until I got the Ryobi back into the shed.

 

Even with the blade nearly on the highest setting, I'd barely been able to finish the other half yesterday.

 

I'm glad I was out there then.

 

I'd been out of sorts because my electricity was out until Monday.

 

Sonny Maness was driving by and stopped to chat, letting me know he still didn't have power.

 

He lives in my neighborhood, too.

 

And last night, while catching up on fb, I found out my cousin Lynn Lee, down in Waycross, still doesn't have power and is looking at next week before she will.

 

Nothing like a little perspective to make a person feel blessed.

 

Now, I think I'll watch a movie on Peacock - "The Grand Budapest Hotel" - and enjoy the fact that I have that option.

 

i thank You, God.

back yard all neat and tidy!

Well, the grass is.

 

The bushes and scrub oak 

still need to be tamed, 

but the yard looks great!

 

This is how it looked

before I started on it

yesterday.

 

I got 35 minutes' worth

out of the Ryobi

that day.

 

Today, I headed out

into that growth

once more, determined

to be done with it.

And I am!

My battery-powered

push mower was good for

another 35 minutes of

tackling the thick growth,

but we won out!

Whew!

Time for an Outshine popsicle!

I want to celebrate getting that task done before the rains come.

Plus, I've been able to work during the mid-afternoon part of the day!

 

The temperatures have been in the low 80's, with no heat index... 

most def a change.

 

Not autumn yet, but it's coming.

dessert 1st, please

I finished mowing the front yard and helped myself to a lime OutShine popsicle.

That's my usual treat for that chore.

The time was 24 minutes 'til 8 PM.

So, that meant I was also essentially having my dessert before my dinner.

The Peace Guy would be so pleased that I am continuing our little inside joke.

(smile!)

Honestly, every time I eat dessert before my meal, I think of him, up there in Atlanta.

I really should give my Rogue a call and see about making a visit up there to him and Princeton.

I wonder what flights are costing these days?

Not this weekend, though.

Tony and Laura are having a big Margaritaville party again this year and I've been invited!

Hence, the need to get out my Ryobi these last few days to tame the yards.

When I say 'tame', that's exactly what I mean, too.

I am so tired of mowing all that grass!

As I told the physicist in our textversation, this task is cutting into my social life.

That's because I can't go out to mow until the shade covers the yard and the weather has cooled to something bearable.

That means no earlier than 7 PM, +/- a half hour.

Well, guess what?

That's when most social events get started!

What's a girl to do???

I'll tell you what I've done.

I have cut that grass to within an inch of its life, in both the front and back yards.

Seriously.

With any luck, the dry spell we're having for the next seven days will curtail new growth.

I'm planning to not drag out the Ryobi again until at least the 9th of September!

Hooray!

Two weeks vacation from grass maintenance!

 

I had intended to have the final mowing yesterday, but then it rained.

So, to perk myself up, I stopped in at Jason's Deli for a treat: dinner for a few days.

I bought a Salad Bar and a Kid's Chicken Penne Alfredo... then I packed out treats from the salad bar while they prepared the pasta.

The Broccoli Salad, with the pasta, was slunch when I got home.

The Red Pepper Hummus, with four pieces of garlic Toast and three mini-cornbread muffins, served me well as dinner last night.

Two of the boiled eggs went into a tortilla, with Mrs. Dash's Lemon Pepper and a packet of Mayo, for an Instant Egg Salad sandwich for breakfast today.

I plan to do the same tomorrow with the other two boiled eggs.

 

For dinner tonight, I cut up the red onion rings, the red pepper slices, and the zucchini strips and sauteed them with some of the Spicy Giardinera.

That all got mixed together with a can of tuna and some jasmine rice, and I have enough for a repeat tomorrow.

Plus, I still have cauliflower florets topped with Corn and Black Bean Salad for Wednesday!

Four dinners, two breakfasts, and a slunch: all for less than $17.

Thanks, Jason's Deli!

All I added was the tuna (85 cents), two tortillas (50 cent each), and the rice packet (1.29).

The mayo was free.

(smile!)

Can I stretch a budget or what?

And it's so nice to have things already mixed and ready to go.

I'll have to do this again when I'm tired of cooking.

Now, time for a little mindless TV - "Name That Tune" - and a little mindful TV - "The 1% Club" - with both on the one channel.

I'll only need the remote for the political 'mercials.

Speaking of that subject, Reverend Billy actually preached about the Blond Man on Sunday.

He sure did!

His very first sermon back from his summer off in New York City with his first grandchild, and it's a humdinger.

Wow.

Oops, time to go!

borderlands, borderlands, borderlands

"Holy shiite! Did you watch that for all three of the slots on your A*List???"

No, dear, I did not, though I most def will see it again. What a fabulous bit of fun it was! I was expecting, and hoping, it would be in the same vein as "Guardians Of The Galaxy", and it was not disappointing in that regard. Actually, it was kinda sorta like GOTG set in the apocolyptic deserts of "Mad Max". Really light, fun, science fiction! But I did not, yet, burn up all my dances on that one movie. See?

"I do. Then why repeat "Borderlands" thrice in the post title?"

'Cause that was the theme for the trio! I realized when I watched "Deadpool & Wolverine" again that it also featured a place called the Borderlands, on the outskirts of the Void. That's where DP & W hooked up with a hilarious Channing Tatum - as The Gambler, apparently Cajun - plus Blade and Elektra and X-23. So very cool to see Wesley Snipes again! He's so good-looking still, even now, when he's 62! I just may have to see if I can locate the Blade movies for free somewhere...

"That would be way cool! But, hold up there. You had a triple header today???"

Kinda sorta. (smile!) That last movie, "Harold And The Purple Crayon", is on the list, but I didn't actually go to it. I still had yard work to do, and that workout with the Ryobi can only be done in late evening. So, I could either go to that 7:15 movie, which I'd already seen, or I could tackle the yard, but not both. So, I worked on the front yard.

"I thought you had cutting still to do in the back?"

I do, but, here's the thing: no one sees me when I'm mowing back there. I wanted to make sure the neighbors all knew I was getting it done, so I worked on the front. I managed to get most of the side with the Japanese magnolia done before the battery stopped me. I'm glad I can see that spiral again! It was quite muted from the extra growth spurt from Debby's mad watering spree.

"Yes, that looks quite nice."

Thanks.

"So, why did you choose the kid movie to complete the trio?"

It was about borderlands, too, principally the ones between reality and imagination. I thought that most def deserved a place with the other two.

"I agree! How nice that the movie times worked out for you."

Hey, they worked with my medical appointments today, too. I knew I would end up southside this afternoon, so I decided to maximize my options! I started out at Howard Midtown for a dental appointment with Emily Husted. She filled two tiny cavities for me. I likened it to having a chip in the windshield of my car, and getting it repaired before it splintered the whole thing. I don't think she cared for that analogy, but the male receptionist loved it.

"LOL! I take it the macrame sun was hanging on their wall?"

Yes, it was. I liked it because it reminded me of Ronnie. He won an award for the artistry of his macrame pieces that he did in high school.

"Nice. And how went the dental visit?"

It was okay. They really do need to pay attention to patient's allergies, because Alicia, the assistant, used this nasty-tasting red swab to numb my left upper gums. Had she realized I was deathly allergic to strawberry? Nope. Fortunately for her, the flavor was "cherry". I wish they would ask if I want flavored dental crap, but they do not.

"Holy shiite!!! That could have botched up your entire day!"

I know. "Dr. Emily" went to give me three numb-dumb shots and seemed absolutely offended when I refused to have them. I guess I need to let UHC know not to pay for those, since I didn't need them. Again, these were tiny cavities. I didn't wince once during the drilling and sanding and polishing procedures. I think that aggravated Emily Husted even more, as she left me for almost ten minutes after installing the second filling. Just jetted off, saying she'd be right back. Nope. Even Alicia left to be part of the group chatting in the hall.

"Seriously? That was rather rude."

I thought so and said as much after the dentist and assistant returned to polish the second filling and remove the tooth cap left in place all that time. Emily Husted again made like she had been offended. She was also aggravated that I was refusing to get the crown redone on that leftmost upper molar. As I told her, I'd had Dr. Julie Howard put it back on several years ago after it fell off, and it stayed not even a month. I have no interest in spending money on adorning that tooth again.

"Good for you! Emily Husted sounds like she is quite young and inexperienced."

I'm sure she's fine with children, which is good as they are the focus at that dental practice. That's why they have so much flavored dental crap.

"Yes, I remember. So, afterward, you went to your first movie of the triple header?"

I did! Then I had a second appointment, this time at the Savannah VA Center. It was for an ultrasound of my thyroid to see how that butterfly is doing. I had asked for a check of it since the levothyroxine dosage has been lowered yet again, for the second time in as many years. I told Ms. Barker that I was curious as to what the three little cysts are doing now.

"Three cysts in that one gland?"

Correct, but they were quite small back in 2009. There were two on the right side and one on the left side. Peggy Byck was my PCP then, before I started coming to the VA Center regularly. She's retired now. In fact, she may have retired the same year I did.

"How did today's appointment go?"

Cindy was the radiology tech and she seemed right on top of her game. She had me in and out in fifteen minutes! Very thorough scan with her wand, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if I had light bruising in two areas. Even with cleaning the goop off, I was back next door at AMC in time to catch my second movie. Brava!

"Indeed! Sounds like quite a productive Tina Tuesday!"

Yes, and it was mostly fun, too! (smile!)

two feet tall no more

Well, mostly that's true of the back yard. 

This is how I left it on Saturday, with the sun setting and the sensor turning on the headlights on the Ryobi as I pushed the trusty lawnmower through the thick growth.

I did get most of the furrows cut before the battery gave up on the mission.

I can't say that I blame it.

Even though it was almost 8 PM, the temperature was still in the upper 80's, with the heat index adding another ten degrees.

Sunday afternoon, the rain came down, hard.

That meant no mowing for me!

So, that task fell due this evening instead.

I wanted to complete the back yard, that's all, but it was not to be.

The battery slogged away for 45 minutes, as it had before, but not even having the setting on the 4th highest notch was enough to tame it.

See that strip running east from the shed?

Yeah, that will have to await another charging.

I wish I could just pave over half that yard.

I realize that would cost a fortune and would seriously cut into my fun times.

At least the yard is green, right?

Now, it's time to fold laundry and put it away.

This has been a day of getting things done, mostly driven by my need for clean panties.

Hey, I haven't had to wash clothes since before my vacation with Christina and the girls, so... it was definitely overdue.

(smile!)

even at a higher setting, this was all i got

I knew the grass had grown during the vacation to Kissimmee, so I made an accommodation by raising the mower blade and inch above the usual setting.

I needn't have bothered.

The Ryobi gave it the best effort it could, but that thick growth was too much.

After only 45 minutes, the battery was completely exhausted.

So was I.

At least there are furrows to allow more water to evaporate, as more is forthcoming.

That began tonight, so I'm glad I hustled out to do that task.

Not only because it needed done, but also because I need the physical work.

Loss adjustment, still, ongoing.

Detective Noble's investigation is still ongoing, too.

At least he has information from Kristin and Carolyn, as they never seem to eliminate any text messages from their phones.

Perhaps he will soon have a story of what happened between Barbara and Kal on that Thursday morning last week.

Well, the logistics of it.

No one could ever know the conversation before those gunshots were fired.

not in canvas anymore - lol!

That's the punchline on the meme posted by Bob Bueling on fb!

The Blue Boy and Mona Lisa are looking around, clearly in a modern city scene.

(Now, there's a May-December couple if ever there was one, as they are more than 250 years apart in age.)

 

Taxi cabs and delivery trucks rumble past.

 

Then he looks at her and says:

"I guess we're not in canvas anymore."

 

Hahahaha!

 

I'm not in Orlando anymore, either.

 

Not that the temperatures there last week were any different than the ones here in this seaport.

 

See that high of 91?

 

Be sure to add 12 degrees for the heat index due to humidity.

Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah.

 

And yet, I still managed to mow the front yard.

 

See the huge difference between the levels within that spiral walkway and its walls?

 

That's with the Ryobi on its next to lowest setting, not the lowest, as the grass was so thick it still almost choked out the device.

I got quite a workout pushing that mower, even using the higher setting.

And here's the worst part: it's barely been three weeks since the last mowing.

I waited until just after 7 PM to begin, too, as it was crazy hot at 4 PM.

 

See what I mean?

Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun... and I qualify as neither of those.

 

That's what I told the two neighbors out walking when they paused to tell me how smart I was to wait until the sun was off the yard.

 

I told them the line was from a poem, but it's more than that: it's from a poem set to music.

 

We call those "songs".

 

Hahahaha!

 

Now, I have a free pizza - let's say that's the Garden Vegetable one - and a discounted 3-item - with pepperoni, pineapple, and banana peppers - awaiting me after a shower.

 

So glad I had ten bucks in Papa John "dough" to spend on these!

So glad that "A Quiz With Balls" will soon be on!

So glad it's Tina Tuesday!

(smile!)

friday that felt like a monday

Hopefully, this will be the final out-of-sequence day, right?

I think the primary reason this felt like a Monday was because yesterday was such a Sunday.

The appointment at the Savannah VA Center - just a blood draw and urine sample for next week's visit with my PCP - did nothing to dissuade me of that notion.

Well, bah, I say!

This is Friday, and I was determined to make it "feel" that way!

So, right after the needle stick, I bounced next door to the AMC and started off my A*List with a matinee, as I usually do on Friday.

Success!

Seeing Alexis there helped to make that verification of week day.

What movie, you ask?

"Despicable Me 4"!!!

What a hilarious movie!!!

I wasn't the only one laughing out loud, I tell you!

Then I went to run some errands, as I usually do on Fridays.

I succeeded in purchasing a ticket for a musical tomorrow night, but not for the kid movie at the Lucas on Sunday.

No worries!

And at 5 PM... off to Jalapenos of Sandfly for the S&K Friday Fiesta!!!

It even tells you in the name which day of the week it is!

Hooray!

And Smitty had ribs for me!

Hooray!

Then I again attacked the back yard with my trusty Ryobi.

 

It's barely been two weeks, but the grass is crazy already!

I had noticed that sad situation yesterday when I'd trimmed the scrub oak around the bird bath and pulled sticker vines off the back of the house.

Next month, I'm supposed to find out if I'm getting a lower house insurance rate, and I wanted to make sure their drone saw walls clean of vegetation.

 

They don't seem to care about the lawn, but I took care of it anyway, mowing until the battery was exhausted.

Whew.

Me, too.

But it does look better... right?

YDR!

(That's an inside joke with the ex!) 

Now to sit in the cool of the house and watch more of "The Closer".

I found out last weekend that Peacock had the TV series with Kyra Sedgewick.

Odd, I don't remember how grisly some of these episodes were...

but I like the interactions between her and the men in the office.

I'm so glad to have these, now that political 'mercials are on air again.

What a relief to have choices!

(smile!)

just add 6 for the heat index...

Trust me, that means it's cooled off, ever so slightly.

Just ignore the rain symbol, as it's been wrong for the last few days.

Wait, I take that back - the rain comes very late at night, when most are asleep.

I hear it, though.

That's why the humidity has made the air nearly intolerable to breathe in the daytime.

Even so, I ventured out with mi amiga, Sandy for a luncheon!

We went to Chili's and talked for almost two hours - very nice!

We both went home with food for dinner, too.

That's a nice bonus!

That gave me something cool to eat after my workout in the front yard.

No need for the Purple Planet when I have the Ryobi to push around, yet again.

That wasn't today, though.

I worked on the front yard Saturday and Sunday.

Yes, that grass was already so thick that the mower battery ran out of juice before I was done on the first try, so I had to finish the next day... and ran that battery dry that time, too!

Today's efforts, though, ended with that big bag and little pile down by the curb.

Now, I'm going to have po' girl ceviche along with those leftover chips from Chili's while I wait for "The Quiz With Balls".

Nice to know I'll still have leftover Cajun Shrimp Pasta for tomorrow!

I'll most likely have it chilled.

(smile!)

well, if they won't do the yard...

I've known since the first of March that Georgia Power was coming to cut trees.

Yesterday, they came, but not to my yard.

Rather, they did come into my back yard, but merely as a staging site to cut the trees in the back of the vacant house next door (west of mine) as well as those in the yard of the neighbor in the rear (northwest of mine.

When I asked the foreman, he said mine was not on their list, so they couldn't do it.

However, he agreed the trees I had were too close to the power lines, and he went ahead and contacted his supervisor.

Meanwhile, I had noticed while I was talking to him what a horror show my back yard was.

The grass, having been watered regularly by Mother Nature, had taken full advantage of the situation.

Not that I had done anything about it then.

The day was far too hot still at 88 F.

So, I went to a movie to finish off the A*List.

(smile!)

That photo was taken upon my return, when the sun was mostly off the back yard.

That grass was waving in the little breeze!

 

This photo on the left is how it looks now that it's finished today.

That yard is so large that it really does take almost two complete battery charges for the Ryobi to get it all done.

This is a different angle to show off my handiwork.

No, not of the mowed yard!

Look at the shed.

Now, compare that to the first photo.

That's right, the shed door is clear of brush!

That pile of branches came from the wild cherry and lantana that had been blocking my path to the Ryobi.

Now, time for chips and salsa with brothers!

two spirals for little blondes!

Due to rain watering the lawn every few days, the grass has become ridiculously long.

It's only been two weeks since the last mowing.

No more.

Late this afternoon, me and the Ryobi took charge, leaving our mark.

Wait, that should read "marks", plural, as we made two of them.

They're right in front of the house, too, for all to see.

 Oh, yeah!

The Japanese magnolia got a spiral, as usual, but with a major difference: this one takes up most of that side of the front yard.

The little blondes are going to love that!

I liked it so much that I decided the stump needed a spiral of its own.

However, I had started mowing on that side first, then gone over to the tree's side.

By the time I had my brainstorm and returned to the stump's side, I didn't have enough unmowed area to do a proper spiral.

At least it has a design!

I wonder how the great-nieces will like it?

Time for a popsicle!

(smile!)

aarp cinema, so to speak

Back to my own house, I am!

My brother and sis-in-law are safely home from Missouri, since just past noon30.

Good for Dane and good for me!

I had a ZOOM scheduled at 2 PM with AARP and Senior Planet to become more informed.

"Fact-Checking In The AI Age" was given by Devon of the News Literacy Project.

I just may have to watch it again.

He gave us a lot of information in that hour talk.

The best thing he told us to do to protect ourselves from misinformation and false images?

S-L-O-W D-O-W-N.

Take a few moments to do these five checks against anything presented, especially on social media.

Consider the context of the story or image; check the authenticity of the news; use your own reasoning skills; look at the source of the post; and, if in doubt,

look for evidence from other sources to validate the story or image.

So many examples he gave us for verifying something, rather than blindly passing it on!

Even so, when it came to images, those are the hardest to distinguish real from fake.

That's okay, as he even has some difficulty with that.

For close views of people, count the fingers, look for odd facial features, check the background.

However, for images like these two, of firefighters on the scene, one may be stock footage and not for the actual blaze still burning.

That's the case for Image A.

Looks pretty real to me, though.

Yeah, I think I'll watch that webinar again...

but not right now.

Rain is coming and the yard beckoned.

"Bring it," said that wild green that I left yesterday.

So I grabbed the Ryobi and we set to work!

By that time it was nearly 6 PM, so the day was cool enough and the sun had nearly fled the back of the house.

The growth was dry enough that I made short shrift of the task.

Then, to show the weeds I mean business, I changed the mower to its lowest setting, and went back over that open expanse.

Like I said, more rain is coming, and the weeds grow quickly.

I don't intend to mow every other week! 

I took a popsicle break and watched "Mr. Monk Goes To A Rock Concert" as I started dinner.

Ah, one of the little touches that was a sure sign I was home: "Monk" on Peacock!

(smile!)

I was so enjoying that part of life in retirement that I was late for this movie at the AARP MFG!

"The Blue Angels" is a new documentary about the US Navy's aerobatic demonstration team and I tuned in about 30 minutes late.

What an informative look at the training program!

How incredible that the new team members are chosen by the current team... and that the vote must be unanimous!

That's certainly understandable, though, as they have to be able to trust each other completely.

When flying in that "Blue Angels Diamond" formation, their wingtips are less that 2 feet apart.

Moreover, when they are making those rolls toward the ground, only the "boss" pilot is actually looking at the earth rushing up.

The three other pilots are sighting off him and each other, keeping the line tight.

That's why, in 1973, when the "boss" miscalculated and hit the ground, two others crashed right on top of his plane, with only the 4th in line seeing the error in time.

The movie didn't talk about that, but it did show us this framed painting multiple times.

Those are the 28 members who have died over the SEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS since the formation of the Blue Angels.

Amazing to have such a low mortality, given the inherent riskiness of their maneuvers in the air!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing this on Monday on the silver screen...

but, shhhh!

My friends don't know I've already seen it.

Yes, I've done that again, but it's okay.

My birthday is next week and I'm arranging these special times with others, watching movies they have agreed to see with me, and I am greatly looking forward to their company!

Dinner and a movie, or luncheon and a movie - both are just fine with me!

(smile!)