two-dle -oo to you!

So, what's with the crazy wordplay?
Well, it has something to do with Mickey Mouse
and his robot, Toodles, who is like the steam
punk MacGyver of the 'toon world.
I can't claim to have ever seen the now-defunct
"Mickey Mouse Clubhouse", but the littlest girl
just adores that little robot.
As she was celebrating birthday number two,
the theme had to be Mickey and friends!

Here's the birthday girl with her Aunt Chelsea,
decked out in the gang's colors, too!
No doubt Grammy Melinda was holding discourse
with Karin about there being so much red-checkered
wear all around!
(smile!)

I had not received the memo to be clad in those
gingham tones... so I was not.
Moreover, I had chosen to top my hairdo with the
'plain ears' headband, rather than one of those
with the little checkered bow.
I even played with a mustache for the photo -
such a nice change of pace from my chin hairs!
(smile!)

Michael was not sporting Mickey-wear either,
nor were his girls.
In fact, they were making their declaration of
being "Daddy's Little Girl", with Alyssa right
beside him here!
Leila was being a bit shy, but she perked up after
a rousing game of pingpong with her Daddy.
(smile!)

After we'd all had a chance to eat the cookout-style feast of hot dogs, baked beans, sauerkraut, coleslaw, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, it was time for... cake!
Little individual cakes they were,
so everyone could choose vanilla
or chocolate, a la mode or not.
So good to have choices!
I just know Miyah agreed!
(smile!)

She certainly had plenty of choices when it came
time for opening her presents!
What a grand array of colors and sizes and styles!
Quite a magnificent show of love from all there!
(smile)

But what was in that plain pink bag, the one
behind all the others?
Oh, my! It's so very heavy!
Christina had to help her daughter pull it
from the bag and then out of the bubble wrap.
Just look at all the different Mickey Mouse
images all over the picture!
(smile!)

That was "Mickey Thru The Years", a special edition stamp set for the 60th anniversary of the creation of that character.
The set was issued by The Gambia, no doubt to bring the eyes of the world to this tiny African republic.
I had received it as a promotional item many years ago, keeping it safe for... this child.
The black and silver frame is for Christina's benefit, elegant and lovely on its own.

The gift had not been the one I had intended to give... this had been much better and had popped into my head while I was wrapping the one I had intended to give.
Then it was a matter of locating the Mickey stamps,
suddenly creating a background mat for the frame,
finding wrapping paper to support the gift...
thank you, Mama, for your help, as always.
i thank You, God, for all the circumstances that had to fall into place for this gift, with its extra-special meaning for me this 60th year of life.

No, I'm off to see "Shazam!", y'all, on the Big D at Wynnsong.
I do hope it will be as good as I am hoping it will be.
Later!

30th smf, day ten, 'nother night

It's been over a decade since Angélique Kidjo was in Savannah, for an earlier SMF performance.
Here at the Lucas, folks were waiting with open arms, including several of my friends who had seen her back in 2008.
I was there because of the cachet of the music she would be performing.
She had been captivated by it when she'd heard the songs in her early twenties in the early-1980's.
(She's five days younger than my brother Smitty.)
Just what was this album that captured her heart and inspired her mind?
The Talking Heads’ 1980 album, "Remain in Light".
She was living in France at the time and the African rhythms incorporated into the songs, and the slow staccato of the lyrics, were surely a salve for her homesickness.
She had resolved to one day bring her vision of that album to the world.
More than three decades later, that's exactly what she has done.

Tonight, we were treated to her vision, her track-by-track re-imagining of the songs.
African drums! Lyrics in native African tongues! Musicians from several countries in that trans-Atlantic continent!
Oh, and lots of dancing!
She had invited the audience to stand up and dance about halfway through the concert... and they did!
(I think that may have been around the time of "Once In A Lifetime", the only song I even knew.)

Hooray! More dancers, not just me dancing in the back to her rhythms!
Even better, everyone kept on dancing for the rest of the show!
Then, Kidjo came out into the crowd, dancing here, there, everywhere, before returning to the stage and inviting folks to come up there.
And they did, packing that space!!!
Woohoo!!!
And, after the last notes of the last song had faded, and the people were clapping for more?
Well, more is what we all received, in the form of an energized rendition of "Burning Down The House" - one of my favorites by the Talking Heads.
How very appropriate on this night of faulty air conditioning at the Lucas!
What a clever joke, n'est-ce pas?
At least, that's how I'm choosing to regard it!
(smile!)

Afterward, four of us spent about an hour together, talking about this concert and the one from 2008, catching up on each other's lives outside of facebook, reveling in a warm Saturday night!
Our thanks to the fine folk at Coffee Fox for allowing us birds to perch outside!
Kathleen, it was nice to meet you!
Amanda, I look forward to one day viewing your award-winning mini-golf documentary!
And Kristin, happy travels back to Indiana and much love to your little boy!
My, oh, my, another blessed night it's been!
i thank You, God!

30th smf, day ten, 'nother noon

What an extra special treat I had at the CMC!
Not only did I find a penny right there at my parking space, but the artist brought his whole group up on stage with him!
Oh, yes he did!
I met Courtney Granger just before he went on stage and it was a bit like my Alan Ruck experience.
I said, "Oh! You're the man!"
Smiling, he put out his hand to shake mine, saying his name as I said mine.
Then I talked about growing up with country music, especially Hank Williams and Charlie Pride and Flat & Scruggs.
He's more into George Jones, launching into a stellar version of "White Lightning" that had me dancing and singing along at the back stage door!
I had forgotten I ever knew that one!
After a few more tunes, they blessed me with... a Hank Williams song! And not just any song, but one of the liveliest he ever did - "Jamabalaya"!!! I was snappin' my fingers and kickin' up my heels for sure, y'all!
I just know Courtney picked that one just for me!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
(smile!)
Such a fabulous preview of the Cajun dance party that that will go on here tonight!
The folks with the Savannah Music Festival are even making sure there will be a big dance floor, not the little 'private' dance hall I use. Nosirreebob! Those Pine Leaf Boys need everybody kicking up their heels!
I sure hope everyone will oblige them.
The Lucas has me this evening, so I'm glad I danced 'with' them this morning!

30th smf, day nine, noon and night, part 2

I just love the Swing Central Jazz grand finale!
Not only do I get to hear the teenagers play, but also the professionals who have worked with them this week.
Kudos to the Memphis Central High School Jazz Band for winning the competition this year!
Tarpon Springs High School Jazz Ensemble grabbed second place, with Raleigh's Enloe High School Jazz Ambassadors placing third out of the twelve finalists.

Bravo to all!
Bravo, also, to all of the Swing Central Jazz clinicians for helping these young people to advance their craft and to gain experience from playing with professionals.
In fact, the Swing Central Jazz Education program, now in its 12th year, is 'graduating' out of high schools. Beginning next year, SCJ will be taking the workshops - as well as instruments - into local middle schools, for underprivileged children. I couldn't help but remember myself at that age. I had so wanted to learn the viola! But my family, with four children, had no money for such luxuries. I landed in the Glee Club instead, learning to read music, work within a group, and harmonize.
How would my life have changed if I had been able to join the band?
Thanks to the Savannah Music Festival's incorporation of their new program next year, the option to learn an instrument will be open to all children.
Amen to that!

Soon enough, the set was rearranged and it was time for "Romance, Swing and the Blues"!
That meant the Modern Jazz Generation took the stage, performing the suite of songs Marcus Roberts had composed in 1993, when he was 30 years old.
In 2014, the group had the 2-disc album funded through kickstarter, to preserve the work, including some additions made in 2012.
Now, at last, we in Savannah were able to hear the twelve-song composition in its entirety!
What bliss for us and the students in attendance!
Marcus described the musical work as an exploration and expression of the four stages of romance. Those were, in his words: attraction; projection (perfect in each other's eyes); conflict; and resolution.
Modern Jazz Generation consists of ... exactly twelve members. Perfect! That allowed each one to introduce the twelve songs!
Some were rather humorous, as was the case for the final piece, "Tomorrow's Promises". Jason Marsalis led up to the title with an old joke.
"What is always coming, but never arrives?"
"Tomorrow, because it becomes Today."
(smile!)
Drummers are so much fun, aren't they?
Especially when they have a surprise tucked up their sleeves... as he did!
During the piece titled "Oh, No, How Could You?", everyone is making music with their instruments, just like they have many times before during the past seven years.
Well, almost everyone was doing so.
Jason Marsalis did a "pucker up and blow" during the tune!
He whistled!!!
Just for me!!!
I know he heard me whistling during their snack break earlier this week. I was trying to stay out of their way, so I was walking around in the stage area. And, as is my norm when I'm happy and content, I was whistling a merry tune... which just happened to be the last song they had been rehearsing.
I'm sure that he picked up on that.
(smile)
I'm sure Marcus did, too, while he enjoyed the protein bar I gave him.
(smile!)
I'm so glad they added that little twist into the tune for me!
How do I know that the whistling isn't usually part of that song?
Well, listen here, at time stamp 27:21, to that third song listed.
See???
No whistle!
That was specially added for me.
Thanks, Jason and Marcus!
i thank You, God, for this blessing!

30th smf, day nine, noon and night, part 1

When I heard the group was the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, my first thought was gospel music.
However, when I heard them playing Prince tunes for the sound check,
I knew it'd be a different kind of church - "Close But No Cigar", so to speak. (smile!)
Glad I wore my dancin' shoes, especially for "Hole In One"!
I could just feel the Godfather of Soul in the CMC, movin' and groovin' right there with me!
I knew it was him because of the golf reference.
Love getting those inside jokes and puns! The 30th SMF has been replete with them.
This trio had a fun sense of humor as well, closing their set with a blast from the past.
No, not soul or funk, but "Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street?" - bravo!
I can just hear Delvon's promise to his "Girly Face" and "Shortcake" to do so!
(smile!)

30th smf, day eight

No semicircle of a stage at the Lucas Theatre this evening.
Instead, Andersson Dance, of Stockholm, required a crisp rectangle with clear edges.
After all, they would be dancing with members of the Scottish Ensemble string orchestra, of Glasgow, and some fancy footwork would be occurring by both parties.
Don't mistake the colorful items for instruments, as I did.
Those are dance accessories!
The music, playing partner for all present, was Bach's Goldberg Variations, all thirty of them.
Fortunately for all the dancers and musicians, each piece is rather brief, so the entire performance lasted circa seventy-five minutes.
Again, that's fortunate, as there was no break or intermission.
I had long anticipated this evening, making it the second priority on my volunteer list.
It was all I had hoped it would be!
Oh, to have joined them on the stage tonight for a few bends and spins and steps in their "ternary patterns for insomniacs"!
By the way, I think I have figured out that title.
Ternary patterns refer to a musical form which consists of a first portion ("A") which matches the third section, with a somewhat different portion ("B") intervening.
Evidently, that specific phrase was meant as an inside joke for 'those in the know' about musical structures.
(smile)
What about the insomniacs reference?
Well, honestly, musicians wouldn't be counting sheep, now would they?
(smile)
That's a deliciously clever joke, y'all!
I appreciate that bit of wit!
(smile!)

true blue baseball, right here

Just which game might this be?
Georgia Southern University versus College of Charleston.
Right here, in Savannah, at Grayson Stadium.
Amazing, right?
(smile)
Even more amazing was that I was surrounded by family and friends!

Mister Willie was the first one there,
of course!
After all, he rode with me!
(smile!)

My dear friend Scott was the
next one up!
He's not only an Eagle Scout...
he's also the only one of us
that was a True Blue Eagle!
See him sporting his colors?
(smile!)

By the second inning, my brothers
Smitty and Tony had joined us!
My sis-in-law Laura was right
there, too!
(smile!)

And that artist friend that usually
joins me for the Bananas' pre-season
family day?
You know, that party they throw for my birthday?
Well, Julie was right there, too!
(smile!)

I'm telling you, I was so thrilled
to be with all my fellow baseball fans
that I could hardly sit still!
I kept bouncing from one side of
Mister Willie to the other, making
sure I let all knew how happy I was
that they had come out to be with me!
(smile!)

The GaSoU Eagles even graced us with a win!
What a nice bonus for our evening.
Plus, we watched two future Bananas -
Austin Thompson is the one I recall -
out there making their moves!
Thanks, Berry, for pointing him out!
(smile!)



What a great blessing I have had tonight...
time with loved ones at a baseball game on an April evening!
i thank You, God.

30th smf, day six, day and matinee

This cartoon about weather in the South is just a little amiss.
The time frame on it needs to be shortened greatly.
For example, when I left the house at 11 AM, the weather was very much like the bundled-up-in-heavy-jacket "Tuesday" image.
By the time the noon30 concert was done at 2 PM, we had advanced to the light-jacket-long-pants Monday in the shade with the sweater-top-and-boots Thursday in the sun.
Upon my return to the Morris Center at 4 PM, my coat and scarf stayed in the car and I could have been comfortable in the shorts-and-sleeveless-top Wednesday.
After the matinee at 6:30 PM, the weather had cooled back to jacket-and-scarf Saturday.
i thank You, God, i was at the same venue for both SMF events!

The first was with Aaron Diehl for "Blues & The Spanish Tinge".
In 2013, I heard him with his trio, but today was just him and his piano (rhyming like 'me and my arrow').
(Such a fun little ditty that is!)
Such variety in this gig! From the theme song of "The Sting", to "Viper's Drag", my feet were tap-tap-tapping, my hips were bouncing, and I was twirling gaily!
And those were just the first songs!
Fortunately, the Charles Morris Center has established a sweet little semi-private dance hall for me.

Of course, they refer to it as the front entry, but we
all know better, don't we?
(The camera woman knows the truth, for sure!)
Back to the music for my dancing pleasure!
Diehl performed at least nine of the piano etudes composed by Dick Hyman, short little finger-stretchers.
He ended with "Piano Etude 16", which was mercifully short 'Glass water torture'.
(smile)

Afterward, when the table lights had been extinguished and the extra program books retrieved, I still had almost two hours before the matinee show.
Off with me, into the sunshine, cool temperatures and lighter breeze not stopping my gait!
I knew exactly where I was going for lunch, too!
Funky Brunch Cafe is generally closed when I get downtown for evening events, so this was a rare special treat for me.

I had already perused the menu, searching for non-breakfast dishes, non-sandwich items, non-dairy-drenched foods...
and there it was, beckoning to me.
Poseidon's Trident.
Ahi tuna on seaweed, a billowing mound of smoked salmon, and a delectable shrimp salad -
Even more lovely than I had envisioned it and delightful to the palate as well!
I do so enjoy food that's prettier than it needs to be!

After a leisurely stroll, I was back to the CMC in plenty of time, this time as the stage door wench.
Hooray for me! Thanks, Paige, for the suggestion!
My 'dance hall' was smaller, but I had a great view of the John Pizzarelli Trio - and Catherine Russell, later - as they bounced through "I've Got The World On A String"!
"You Make Me Feel So Young", y'all!
"Goody, Goody", you wistful "Skylark", but watch that football-playing "Jamboree Jones"!

I sure do love Johnny Mercer's music!
After a few tunes a la Frank Sinatra, Ms. Russell joined the trio. I'd been at her SMF performance in 2016, which featured a bit of Billie Holiday sprinkled in the mix.
Donning her red-feathered hat, she launched into character with "All Of Me" - magnificent!
"You Go To My Head", just like a "Ghost Of Yesterday" - a rather mournful song that has stayed with Catherine since she was a teen.
I preferred their duo of "Moonlight Becomes You" and "What A Little Moonlight Can Do".
Those two songs were much more danceable!
(smile)

30th smf, day five

This was rather a slow day for me, though I did get a fair amount of dancing in.
(smile)
On this chilly, drizzly day, I played hostess for the Swing Central Jazz professionals as they readied themselves for the midweek advent of the twelve high schools vying in the competition.
That meant I was fortunate enough to be tapping my toes for Marcus Roberts and The Modern Jazz Generation...
and making sure they didn't perish of thirst or become faint from hunger.
(smile)
Pretty good gig for me!
Maybe I'll see if I can work here again this week!
(smile)