nothing, kevin

I am so aggravated with the psychologist right now.
Tonight was supposed to be extra special for me.
Tonight, he had bought us tickets to the early screening of "Aquaman".
Tonight's special movie was to be his Christmas gift to me.
Well, he certainly got that wrong.
Sure, he bought the ticket for the 5:25 pm 3D screening...
but then he proceeded to chatter during the movie...
during the movie...
as if he had forgotten how to act in a cinema.
During the movie, he got up at least three times -
at least three times -
to get more soda and go to the bathroom...
supposedly.
After the movie, he immediately whipped out his phone to text his latest catch, ignoring me and the conversation I thought I was having with him.
When he finally did rouse himself from his tiny screen, he had no idea what I had said.
"Nothing," I'd replied.
Then, I had tried again to converse with him.
Again, he had no idea what I had just said.
Again, "Nothing," had been my reply to him.
Then I had let the topic drop.
So aggravating.

I am going to have to see this movie again, with my full attention, without him.
And the next time he and I venture to the cinema, if we do, there needs to be some rules.
No chatter, no phones, period.
Period.
Honestly, he had such a problem with that nonsense when we saw the horror movie...
to the point of almost walking out on the movie...
and yet, he does that very thing ever since.

He still owes me a movie.
This one tonight did not count.
No, it most certainly did not.
This was nothing, Kevin.

have tutu, will dance

Carolyn told me that should be the title of my biography!
She isn't aware that my life story is already titled "Dancing A Propos Of Nothing".
My BFF's darling dancing daughter gave me that one years ago.
(smile!)
Her remark is based on my volunteering for all six ballets at the Lucas.
That officially made me a wrangler adept at cracking nuts!
(smile!)
That Sugar Plum Fairy tutu was from the very first one of the month.
The first day of December saw me downtown and in the balcony for the matinee and evening performances by The Savannah Dance Theatre, just as I had last year.
Theirs was "The Nutcracker in Savannah", with a meet-and-greet afterward.
That's when I captured my close-up photograph.
It remains to be seen whether her song will be an earworm this coming year, too.
(smile!)

The second pair of matinee and evening performances was just one week later, the following Saturday, December 8th.
"The Nutcracker: Sweet Dreams" was from the Madeleine Walker Coastal Ballet Theatre.
The stage was kept full of tiny dancers, twirling and swaying, just as it was last year!
(smile!)

Today saw me up in the balcony twice more, for the last time this month, for the most elaborate version of this seasonal favorite.
The Moscow Ballet was back in town and both shows were sold out, as usual.
Their "Great Russian Nutcracker" is the only professional troupe, but they also feature local talent for the younger roles. The tiny dancers from the Savannah Dance Theatre were able to don tutus once more!
(smile!)

Now, all of the nutcrackers have ceased their sword fights against mouse kings...
all of the international dancers have returned to inanimate doll status...
and the dreaming little girl is sleeping soundly in her bed...
as I, too, soon shall be.
In the morning, I'll have coffee in this new mug, purchased this very night.
(smile!)

not a major award, regal cinemas

I am so very disappointed.
Remember that sweepstakes I won from Regal Cinemas?
Well, I had expected to receive it in about four weeks.
Actually, I should have had it within two weeks, according to the Marketing Coordinator, Gina Van Dyke, the representative who had contacted me about my win.
Oops!
So, Monday, December 3rd, I contacted her, to let her know it had never reached me.
When she responded to my email, she informed me that it "was shipped to one of the vendors [we] use accidently [sic]", but it had been located and would be on its way to me forthwith.
Yesterday, I finally received what should have been my prize package.
As shown in the photo above, the package had obviously been opened and damaged.
Someone else had already handled and played with my new toys.
Oops!
I contacted the representative at once to let her know...
to offer to keep it if it's value was adjusted for it now being 'used' goods...
and her response was, "tough luck, kid."
Seriously.
She may not have used those words, but that was certainly her meaning.
Here's her response.

"We certainly understand your disappointment at receiving a sweepstakes prize award with packaging that has been damaged. Unfortunately, it is not Regal’s policy or practice to make the adjustment you requested in your December 17, 2018 email. Regal’s policies are reflected in the official rules for this promotion, which state (in part):
None of the Promotion Parties is responsible or liable for lost, late, damaged, destroyed, delayed, stolen, misdirected, incomplete, or illegible entries;…. Prizes are awarded “as is, where is,” without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation any warranty of merchantability or suitability for a particular purpose. (Section 7) "

Wow.
How very disappointing.
The above is the box for the Levitating Moon. Evidently, the person who had mistakenly received my prize package had opened the box without sliding down the decorative sleeve, thereby damaging the sleeve... and leaving irrefutable proof that the person had opened the box and handled its contents.
What a shame.
I have no doubt that the Levitating Moon would have been quite a remarkable night light for me, sure to induce sweet dreams.

The Bullet Space Pen, with the "First Man" inscription, would have been quite a nice conversation piece.
I also very much liked its heft and balance, as well as its sleek appearance.

The very interesting watch, with its many dials and leather strap, would have been quite a nice conversation piece, too.
I probably would have given it to my nephew, Michael,
as it would appeal to his steam-punk mode.





The Custom Iron-On Patch... well, who knows what it may have been like?
It had not been listed on the outer label, with the other three items, when the package was mistakenly mailed to the vendor site.
Perhaps the patch was still included when it was sent to that incorrect address, and someone there had opted to keep it as a memento, but my guess is no one there ever saw it.
I can say for sure that I never saw the patch, so I cannot say what it would have been.
How very disappointing this experience has been.
I will definitely be returning the items to Ms. Van Dyke and Regal Cinemas.
Major award?
Not hardly... and certainly not worth nine hundred dollars.

nice bookend i got there!

It occurred to me that I had the good fortune to spend time with two of my beloved male friends lately!
The first was the reason I had not left already for Florida.
This is Kevin, goofing around at the 'Wynnsong' last Tuesday.
Nice antlers, right?
We were there for a movie of my choice, "Once Upon A Deadpool" -
and thank God for that!
I believe in the heart of Wade Wilson again, and his never-ending love for Vanessa!

That outing was most definitely worth delaying the beach trip!
(smile!)

And this one tonight made me happy to have returned!
Where did I go and what did I do?
I had been invited to the physicist's new bachelor pad and he cooked dinner for me!
We dined on Moroccan kabobs, then watched a little "Laugh-In" with Liberace - how liberating!
It's been years since we shared a leisurely evening like this!
I'm truly so glad to be back home.
(smile!)

I'm glad to have had the chance to present to the bfe some items which have languished in the "gift closet" for far too long.
There was "The Best of Groucho" - boxed as "You Bet Your Life: The Lost Episodes" and "You Bet Your Life: The Best Episodes", purchased from Ivan. I forget how long those have been tucked away, but it's been a few years since Ivan's eBay sales.
I also gifted the Secrest with a volume of "Found Footage" that had been meant for him... for better than four years.
Good to have those items finally where they should be!
(smile!)

takin' the one!

"In the meadow,
we can build a snowman" -

(that meadow is in the
Princess Place Preserve!)

"And pretend that
he is Parson Brown" -

(with his church located
in Dogtown USA!)

"He'll say 'are you married',
we'll say 'No, man'," -

(Just hanging out on Ponce De Leon Bridge,
formerly known as the San Sebastian Bridge!)

"But you can do the job
when you're in town!"

(Just visit all these sites
by taking the 1
between Ormond Beach
and Jacksonville!)


Yes, I'm in a right fine frame of mind!
This has been a fabulous day for driving, with the sun in the sky and a song in my head!
I had the radio on briefly, but it wasn't playing my song, so off it went.
And what might that song have been?
Well, one verse is above, so that's the clue!
Still can't guess it?
It's "Winter Wonderland"!
Ever since I heard the complete song, it's been my holiday ear-worm.

This afternoon, I was treated
to hearing it once more,
live and in person -
and by the same quartet
who had graced me with it
at the church Christmas party!
The Driftaway quartet did
a fine job with it, too!

They weren't alone, either.
In fact, the entire 13th Colony Sound
(Savannah's Barbershop harmonizers) was there,
on the stage at Asbury Memorial,
with a free Barbershop Christmas concert!
In fact, they were the reason I had
departed The Cove a day early -
just for this show!

They had even brought a special guest!
No, I'm not talkin' 'bout Serendipity,
the female a capella singers.
No, no, no, my dears -
Elvis was up there with the Oldennaires!
And why wouldn't he be?
After all, he's almost 83!
Plus, they were singing his song,
"Blue Christmas", in his famous style!
Thanks, y'all, thankyouverymuch!

i thank You, God, for this day!

ten little surfers hoping for a wave

This morning was too chilly to allow breakfast on the balcony of Suite 605.
Instead, my entertainment was just outside the large master bedroom window.
i thank You, God...
for the sound of the ocean and the sight of the waves...
and the inspiration for this bit of poetic fluff!

Ten little surfers, wanting a fine time.
One wiped out under a wave, and then there were nine.

Nine little surfers, out before the morn grew late.
One got tangled with his board, and then there were eight.

Eight little surfers, aching for a ride to heaven.
One had her wish come true, and then there were seven.

Seven little surfers, with some pelicans looking for fish.
One surfer watched the birds too long, and then there were six.

Six little surfers, hoping for fun and all that jive.
One got tired of fighting the cold, and then there were five.

Five little surfers, each wanting that big score.
One decided to go to MOAS, and then there were four.

Four little surfers, on yellow boards atop the sea.
One heard the dinner bell ringing, and then there were three.

Three little surfers, wave-watching with naught else to do.
One paddled in to shore, and then there were two.

Two little surfers, looking across that foamy zone.
They opted for the hot tub instead, and then there were none.

excelsior, stan lee

The man has been dead for almost a month, but I've seen him - in various forms - three times in the past nine days.
The first time sighting was a week ago Wednesday. That's when I watched my favorite Disney princess for the third time, Stan Lee was on the silver screen as a familiarly bespectacled avatar walking along in the virtual area dominated by the pink castle.
Then, on Tuesday of this week, I saw him again. This time, he appeared as himself in an extended segment post-credits. The movie? "Once Upon A Deadpool", the reincarnation of "Deadpool 2" as a romantic superhero, minus the crass and coarse of the summer release. (Hallelujah! And my thanks to Kevin for seeing this PG-13 version with me!)
The third sighting of Stan Lee was tonight. I'd gone to the Regal here in Ormond Beach, to use my free Regal Crown ticket (it being rendered null and void in Savannah now). I'd used the free ticket to see the new Clint Eastwood film - marvelous, in the same vein as "Gran Torino", then stayed for a double-header. I chose the new animated film, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" - not Marvel, but not exactly un-Marvel, either. And who should appear in animated form as a a salesman in a comic bookstore but Stan Lee, spectacles, white hair, and an admonition that the spider-suit "always fits, eventually".
I expect to also see him this coming week in "Aquaman". Yes, that superhero is from the DC universe... but Stan Lee was always a fan of diversity and of embracing all who do battle to decrease suck in the world. (I'm sure he would have been a nerdfighter like me if he had known of this group at Kiva. Please feel free to join me there!)
I'll continue to look for him in the movies.
Even if he does not appear in person, his beliefs will be all over the screen.
i thank You, God, for that trailblazer.
As much as I will miss him here, I'm glad he's again with his beloved Joan.

ormond beach sunset

I'm down in Florida for one last 2018 vacation60, in one of my favorite locales.
Like Daytona Beach Regency, The Cove on Ormond truly is right there by the ocean.
Unlike that property, this one has friendlier parking.
Ormond Beach is also about thirty minutes closer to Savannah.
That means I was able to arrive in plenty of time for this sweet Atlantic sunset.
(smile)
i thank You, God.

a tree in greenwich

On November 29th, I as in Greenwich Cemetery, visiting family... with family.
My first niece, Christina, had been wrapped in thoughts of my Mama, her Grammy, all week.
When we'd met for lunch on that Thursday, this was our primary destination.
I'd left her to commune with Mama as I walked around, capturing three trees in fall color.
This was the third tree photographed, farthest from the Barry plot.

I posted this flaming dogwood as my background photo on fb, noting its location.
My nephew Stephen responded that he had passed that tree a few days earlier.
I asked if he was the one who'd placed stones in a ring on his sister's grave.
No, he had not, but he had placed a rock on top of one of those stones.
I reminded him that it was his Grammy who had started that tradition in our family, after she saw "Schindler's List".

Christina was Mama's first grandchild.
Stephen was Frank's first grandchild.
Both were born in March of 1983, within days of each other.
Both were not yet two years old when Mama and Frank wed in 1984.
Nice symmetry there, something my mother always appreciated.

Last Friday, I noticed something different in the cinema listings.
"Schindler's List" was back on the silver screen!
This year marks the 25th anniversary of its release...
which means Mama had been placing rocks for seven years before she died...
which means these two grandchildren had seven years of that tradition,
during their teen years, the years we all remember.
That also means they've had eighteen years of seeing rocks on her gravestone.

Today, in celebration of what would have been Mama's 81st birthday, I went to that movie.
Even though this was the coldest day Savannah has had in many months, I threw myself out of my house and went to see this film that had made such an impact on my mother.
Right place, right time.
Carolyn had joined me, so I would not be alone.
Right place, right time.
I had opted to go home after, rather than going to a restaurant with her.
That was the right decision, confirmed by my odometer as I pulled up in my drive.
Right place, right time.

Such a symmetrical reading could only be meant for reassurance, for comfort, as yet another of her birthdays passes by.
An even number that could also be interpreted in a mathematical form: 2 x 25 = 50.
202550
A bit of fun with numbers, from the universe, from her, to me, with love.
Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.