dinner at the diner with the bfe!

What was the occasion?

Oh, you mean other than we haven't gotten together yet this quarter? 

(smile!)

Well, it IS Jeffvember.

The physicist is gonna be 49 for-the-first time on the 22nd!

Actually, knowing him, that'll be just once.

He IS a physicist, after all, and knows the dimension of time only goes forward for those of us on this planet.

(smile!)

 

It was his idea to go to The Diner on Abercorn.

Neither of us have been to it since the pandemic began, so that's been a very hot minute, right?

Right.

So, for something different, that's where we went!

He's got a great big club sandwich that looks quite toothsome.

It must have been, too, as he ate every bite of it, and all the fries.

I ate every bite of my Monte Cristo, too!

I haven't had one of those since the Bennigan's closed, many years ago.

And the J-Dawg said Bennigan's is where he had his last bite of that sandwich, too!

N-i-i-i-ice!

(smile!)

As for his birthday present... tah dah!!!

This was his primary gift!

I didn't tell him, but I'm counting this as bday49 and Christmas, all in one.

(smile!)

Such a gorgeous black cat, with its filigree markings -

it looks like something from the Art Deco period!

That's exactly his cup of tea... purr-fect!

And see that crystal butterfly on the metal cat's paw?

Well, it's supposed to glow when the solar battery is charged up!

I meant to get it out of the box a few days ago, so I could set it in the sun and see the action...

but I forgot.

I'm sure he'll take a photo and send it to me.

He was utterly delighted with it!

(smile!)

He also liked the other two gifts and the "trash panda" card!

Oh... the waitress had a raccoon tattoo on her right arm!

Right place, right time!!!

Alrighty then!

(smile!)

And what did we have here?

Balloon people in naughty poses - ooh la la! - for his grown self...

and a stand-up cat for his artistic self to paint howsoever he wishes!

Now, off to see "The Estate" for some laughs together!

laundry day!

Sure, sure.

That doesn't sound like a newsworthy event for most folks.

It is for me, though.

Remember, I wash clothes on a lunar cycle.

That means every 28 days, mostly.

So, this was the something different that I did today.

That laundry basket was full, too, when I brought it home.

In addition, I had several items on hangers.

Plus, this time, I had washed bedding, too, so I had two clean pillowcases full of dry sheets.

I tend to wait until both sets of sheets are used before I do that task.

That way, I only have to fold one set, as the other goes right back onto the bed.

Tonight, when I put that set on, I'm going to try something different with that, too.

I've bought a roll of dish foam, for insulating between the mattress cover and the mattress.

I've noticed that mattress gets very cold and, as it's latex foam, it holds onto that cold.

My hope is the layer of insulation will force more of the warmth from the electric mattress pad up to where I want it, instead of it trying in vain to heat the mattress below.

Colder nights are coming at the end of the week, so I hope this works!

Now, off to see the Tanya Tucker movie with Carolyn -

I've been summoned!

(smile!)

6 months after his 60th

That was purely coincidental.

When I contacted my remaining two brothers early Friday afternoon, that bit about November 6 being six months from July 6 had not even occurred to me.

All I was thinking was that Ronnie had been cooped up in the box from Families First for almost eighteen months.

That's too long for his free spirit.

What I knew was that November 6 was the date set for the twins' delayed birthday party.

That meant Ronnie's daughter and son were going to be in Savannah with their kids.

That meant a trip to scatter their dad's ashes would not require extra scheduling on their part, nor extra time and gas expense from Hinesville and Guyton.

I mentioned the plan to Christina on Thursday evening, then called Michael about it on Friday and contacted Smitty and Tony.

Done.

Tony wasn't able to make it, but the rest of us were at Greenwich Cemetery at 2:30 PM.

We met at the picnic table on the far side, by the bluff.

I was the first one, so I walked along the bank, looking for a likely spot.

Once we were all there, I told them I could just picture Ronnie fishing along this bluff...

and that's when Smitty remembered that he and Ronnie used to do that very thing, back in the late 1980's, when Smitty lived on Bonaventure Road.

We even managed to find the remains of the old pier where they fished!

Right place, right time!

i thank You, God.

 

I had prepared four pages of photographs and memories, along with text from a 2018 post as well as his obituary from last year, and had copies for all five us adults.

Then, as Ronnie would have wanted, we told jokes.

(smile!)

I started things with my Batman and Robin joke that I've told for years.

No one laughed and the two 8-year-olds rolled their eyes at me.

That's okay... I laughed!

Then Smitty told one that Ronnie had told him about Mexicans and cue balls - a standard non-PC variety, of course!

Michael shared two jokes!

One was the "fish with no eye" one that Tom Hanks told in a movie.

The other was about the reason you couldn't put four chickens in a coop... because then it would be a chicken sedan!

(smile!)

Mood lightened, it was time to set Ronnie's ashes as free as his spirit.

I had brought my red metal Red Cross mug to make for easier handling, as the 10.0 pound bin of metals from bones, teeth, red blood cells, and other sources in the body was rather unwieldy and difficult to handle.

Smitty went first, going close to the bluff's edge and giving several tosses of the nearly full cup.

He even managed to get some to splash into the river, as well as a plume of smoke into the air.

Then Michael took his turn, following the style Smitty used.

Next up was Christina, trying not to venture too close to the river's edge.

I went last in that first round.

Mary didn't want to throw, so then we took turns again.

Michael's second toss of ashes resulted in a wonderful ghost image in the light breeze.

I'm fairly certain I see a face in that gray spray!

Then Leila wanted to take a turn... and did pretty well.

I was so touched that she wanted to participate!

(smile!)

 

Alyssa and Chloe didn't take a turn, but that was fine.

I had not expected any of the children to be interested in that.

Smitty finished off the remainder in the bin, then Michael took the bin, the plastic bag, and the cup with him.

We visited for a brief few moments, then took our leave of each other, with hugs all around.

It was almost 4 PM.

(smile!)

They all headed to their respective homes, but not I.

That photo in Ronnie's obit of him dining on his favorite meal on his 52nd birthday urged me to go elsewhere.

Specifically, I was urged to go to Carey Hilliard's.

Oh, but not that one on Skidaway... to the one farther off, on Waters.

So, that's were I went, getting seated promptly and placing my order right away.

Then, I waited... and waited... and waited.

After 35 minutes had passed, with no sign of food or the waitress, I went to the front counter.

They didn't even have an order in for me!

The manager apologized, placed the order to the kitchen himself, and I had food not even five minutes later, hot and fresh and exactly right.

Yes, and I believe that Tail-On Fried Shrimp Platter even had a few extras on board, as I counted 15 shrimp.

Very nice!

After a leisurely meal, enjoying every bite, I returned to the front counter to pay.

That's when a waitress asked if there was anything she could do for me.

I replied, "Well, it would have been nice if you had brought my food instead of having me wait 35 minutes for it."

Oops! It had not been her, as she had been working the drive-in area.

But the manager recognized who it had been: "Melissa, the runaway waitress".

Then he thanked me for my patronage and told me the meal was on the house.

I had a free dinner... which happened to be my middle brother's favorite meal... because the waitress had chosen that night to disappear... from the restaurant where I had not initially intended to dine...

right place, right time.

Thank you, Ronnie.

Enjoy fishing with Grandpa.

(smile)

the twins exhilarate!

There's Alyssa, the (slightly) older of the twins, 

happily munching pepperoni pizza!

She's worked up quite an appetite - 

that's already her second piece!

But playing in the ball pit with her dad,

after an hour, and more,

bouncing on trampolines and such

wore off breakfast very quickly!

Here's Leila, the (slightly) younger twin,

happily munching on cheese pizza!

That's her second slice, too!

They'd chosen Exhilarate, here in Savannah,

for their three-hour birthday party bonanza!

Trampolines, a bunch of rock-climbing walls,

slides galore, a giant Jungle Gym, and more!

I recognized right away that it had been the furniture store where my couch and loveseat were bought almost two decades ago.

What a great use of that showroom/warehouse!

They had not bothered to do anything with that concrete floor that once had been traversed by forklifts and dollies, and covered by huge boxes of tables and chairs, recliners and beds, desks and so much more.

I can tell you this: the kids didn't care!

They were out of their shoes and into play socks for two hours of fun!

Then it was time for an hour of pizza, cake, and the opening of gifts!

Michael made red velvet cupcakes and they were delicious!

Here, he's supervising the delving into birthday bags of his two eight-year-olds, tossing the pink tissue paper into their paths - fun!

Leila was looking into her bag on the floor, while Alyssa chose to stand and see her gifts, while Aunt Christina (there with only Chloe) and Aunt Chelsea looked on and cheered, with Grammy Melinda filming the whole works as family and school friends looked on.

What a great birthday 8!

(smile!)

 

And just what had I given the girls?

Well, I wrote each a poem in their birthday cards, a  poem that was unique for each girl!

 

Alyssa's read:

"Hope your year

of being eight

is all you want 

and really great!"

 

Leila's was:

"Hope your year

of being eight

is filled with fun

and truly great!"

 

Hey, you were expecting Shakespeare?

(smile!)

 

As for their presents, I gave them something no one else did: books!

Even better, these were books for "big girls", with dust jackets on them!

Plus, these stories featured cats and other animals having grand adventures!

(smile!)

Yes, I'm talking about that blind cat, Oskar, and his best friend Klaus, from my years of being Fliss of Kickstarter with Mama's money.

I gave Alyssa "The Search For Bigfoot" for two reasons: it features a tea party and it came out the year she was born.

I gave Leila "The Mission To Cataria" for two reasons: she's a fan of science and it came out two years after she was born.

Yes, I did tell them that!

I worked a little math into the forewords I wrote in each girl's book!

(smile!)

 

Now, I've taken a little break to switch gears.

I don't want to say I'm switching off the frivolity, as I'm hoping for a light mood to prevail for this afternoon's activity.

I'm even bringing several pages of jokes - the only pages I read - from old American Legion magazines.

Just trying to keep a sense of humor, as my brother would have done.

As I told Michael and Christina when I left the party, I was going home to "pick up your Dad."

I'm glad the rain has stopped for our ceremony.

(smile)

forsooth, dudes!

This was something different!

Barbara and I went to Calvary Baptist School for a musical!

Neither of us had ever been there for a play.

When she was married years ago, her stepson was a student there, as were her sister's kids.

So, she attended their graduations, but naught else at that locale.

I had only been there for an Easter egg hunt, a few years back, when Miyah was barely two years old.

Ah, good times (in my best Phil Hartman voice!)!

The play was great fun, too, as it was a musical within a musical - sah-weet!

That post title refers to a line uttered by the school announcer, in reference to a musical, "Juliet And Romeo", that one of the students had written.

Gabriela, in the blue dress, and Tony, in the letter jacket, met at a NYE karaoke party during Christmas break, then were reunited when her family's move landed her at his school.

Fifty shades of "Grease"!!!

(Yes, that's meant to be a pun, a little inside joke for me and the first niece!)

But here's something that "High School Musical" had that was different from "Grease"... chemistry!!!

Literally! On a chalkboard right in front of me!

Right place, right time!

Oh, wait... there was science in that earlier one, too, wasn't there?

Yeah, well Sandy was not a braniac that was on the Science Bowl team, that's Gabriela.

Plus, Danny didn't letter in basketball and lead the team to their first-ever championship; that's Tony, in this musical.

Okay, I concede.

Still, it was an utterly delightful way for mi amiga Barbara and I to share two hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon!

(smile!)

Then I came home and started back on the three remaining sunroom windows.

I'd had a great idea about covering those three windows that were close together as though they were a single large entity, so I'd taken care of the cleaning and taping before the show.

But, somehow, while still basking in the after-glee of the teen-packed musical, I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing.

I meant to grab the 5-window sheet of plastic from the unopened PolarBlock window kit.

Nope!

I grabbed the one I saw on the sunroom table and started peeling paper off the tape and sticking the plastic on!

It wasn't until I neared that corner, heading over to the smaller window, that I realized my error.

Shite... could I unstick the plastic???

Nope.

Sigh.

So I finished that sheet as far as it went - about halfway over the third window of the group - then opened that second box of PolarBlock and cut off what I needed to piece in the trio.

That job is done, now, taking more time than I had allotted for the task.

I've gone ahead and cut that big sheet into pieces for four windows, so at least I didn't lose any materials.

However, I did lose my momentum for the day, and tomorrow will be too busy.

So, with two sheets remaining from the four ACE hardware window kits, and the four sheets I cut of the PolarBlock plastic, I'm ready for the other eight - not "Hateful", just regular.

Now, let's catch one more viewing of "Into The Night" before it's gone!

(smile!)

into the night

Not literally, folks, so don't get excited.

I'm talking about the movie with the B.B. King soundtrack.

I do so love that movie!

So, I've rented it for a $1 Movie Night from Comcast.

One of the highlights for this first viewing - I have the movie for 48 hours and intend to see it at least once more! - is the scene with David Bowie as an English hitman, thinking he was found the guy with the missing six emeralds first stolen by the Shah when he abdicated back in 1978.

Or was it 1979?

It was one of those two years.

I was stationed at Galeta Island in Panama and he was whisked there for a while, all hush-hush.

Anyway, Jeff Goldblum is on the street, waiting for his ride, when he is accosted at gunpoint by the hitman.

 

I could tell they were both having fun in that scene!

And just what ride was 'Ed Oakley' awaiting?

This absolutely beautiful convertible, with its fins for miles, and its hubcaps all gleam, and the logo "The King lives" emblazoned in sparkly letters on both sides!

RAWR!!!

By the way, this was from earlier in the film.

That's "Ed" driving, while "Diana, like Princess Diana" is scooched down on the passenger side, hiding from Shaheen's henchmen.

And just how had they come to have that lovely vehicle?

Well, after "Diana" had landed on the parked car of "Ed" at the airport, he had taken her to the marina, thinking she'd be out of his life then.

But, no, Jake told her she wasn't welcome there.

So, "Ed" drove her to Hollywood, where her brother, "Charlie" lived, again thinking she'd get someone else to help her and he'd be off the hook.

Nope, that didn't happen!

That's Bruce McGill as "Charlie" the Elvis impersonator, as they were called then.

He was none to happy to find them there, so he bounced out and they bounced into his car.

(smile!)

I really like that word.

Bounce.

Sounds like something being done for fun, right?

I was most definitely in need of fun, too.

For almost four hours today, I did something different.

It doesn't show up very well in this photograph.

Those two windows in the sunroom?

Well, they're insulated from winter drafts now.

I even left the sea stars and shells strand hanging in place, so I could still enjoy it.

I'm planning to use that room when the cold sets in.

It's part of my new groove, that variation in where I have brunch and what I do while I have it.

It's such a bright and cheery place to start the day!

So, instead of draping off access, as I have done in years past, my choice is to keep that space open.

The windows will be covered in clear plastic and I'm hoping that change will be sufficient to allow me to sit in there in the mornings.

Toward that goal, on Wednesday I bought the window insulation kits, with the plastic already cut to fit.

That involved me going to three different places before I found them.

Trying to shop local, I'd started at Maycrest Hardware.

Nope!

They didn't have kits, but they had sheet plastic for me to measure and cut. 

Yeah, that was a no-go... but I sure like their sense of humor at the propane station!

Next stop was Lowe's, as their website said they had them.

Nope!

After getting sent to Aisle 45 by one person, then Aisle 41 by another, I asked a person by a register and was told the store had not carried them in three years.

However, I give that salesman kudos for looking up the kits and finding them at ACE hardware stores.

My choice was the one on Mall Boulevard, as that was on my way home.

Success!!!

So, I bought enough for fourteen windows, nearly cleaning them out.

Today, I started in on the task.

First, the area to be covered had to be cleaned so the tape would adhere.

Then, the double-sided tape in the kit had to be positioned all around the window.

Ten minutes were required to allow the tape to rest, so that time was used to unfold the sheet of plastic and smooth it out a bit.

Then came the removal of the paper backing from the tape.

I chose to do that in stages, rather than all at once.

That's because I didn't want the plastic to get stuck somewhere it wasn't supposed to, as that would have necessitated me starting all over.

That was a good idea.

It may have taken a little longer, but at least it came out pretty well.

The hardest part was going up and down, and up and down, repeatedly, on the ladder.

Go up to remove the curtains, and the blinds for those windows with those.

Go up to clean the window frame and make sure it's dust-free.

Go up and start putting on the tape, not worrying about straight lines.

Go up and pull the paper backing off the topmost tape.

Go up and start placing the plastic onto the tape, pressing in place.

Go up and put the curtains and blinds back on.

Move on to the next window.

Phew!

Definitely something different.

I managed to get two of the four windows in the sunroom, as well as one of the three windows in my bedroom, before I broke for dinner and the movie.

Then, while listening to "Darryl Jones: In The Blood" on the AARP MFG site, I did one of the two windows in the living room.

I guess that was lucky for me.

I had expected more concert footage, as the man was with Miles Davis and Sting and the Rolling Stones, but mostly it was folks just talking about his style.

I managed to get that window done before the documentary was over, so that was good!

And now?

Now, to chill out and watch a little of "The X-Files".

Comet has the first three episodes again, so that'll be just fine.

No more ladder-climbing tonight!

(smile!)

indian summer-inspired meal!

"Yeah, I don't think you can say that any more."

What part of that title was objectionable???

"That very first word. Unless you're talking about summers in India."

Well, what am I supposed to call weather that is extra-warm in the fall? Surely that phenomenon can still be regarded as Indian summer. Right? Or is the PC version now "Native American summer"? Seriously.

"Yeah, that does seem a bit awkward."

Darn tootin'.

"Okay, okay. So what was for lunch?"

Actually, it was an early dinner. I got the idea when I was getting my kid-pack to go with my kid movie. (smile!) I looked over at the grill and it had hotdogs on it. BOOM! What not get one and have it later? So I did!

"Oh, my! That looks like quite a tasty treat you have there!"

It was! That's an all-beef wiener, there, in a real hotdog bun, too! And those potato chips were bought this very afternoon, too, when I stopped by Publix for some breakfast foods.

"That's the perfect touch! It's almost like being at the ballpark, isn't it?"

Truly, it was! And that vanilla shake was all it needed to feel extra special! Oh, specking of ballparks and baseball, I watched part of Game 5 of the World Series on TV and was enjoying it until they broke for commercial and threw political malevolence in my face. Nope! That's when I turned it off, about 10:35 PM.

"So, you don't know who won?"

Don't know, don't care. I'd only been watching about 40 minutes.

"What? I was sure you'd had that dinner in mind for the game!"

No, the dinner was eaten early, as I had Cinema Savannah tonight. That meant Barbara came for me about 6:15, so food was on my WNS schedule.

"And what did the Polish man have for y'all tonight?"

He brought in a film from Guatemala! And it had a wolf in it, too! And, like in "The Bad Guys", this was a GOOD wolf that lead the young woman out of the forest and back to town after she got left there in a ditch. Actually, it wasn't a real wolf, but a supernatural being in a wolf/dog form. The movie was called "Cadejo Blanco", for that creature. It was an excellent movie, too. It was a quasi-documentary about human sex trafficking, but also presented an interesting insight into gang culture.

"That sounds like a very serious topic."

That it was, but well done. Sometimes those types of films are too heavy-handed with their approach and end up turning off the audience. This was done completely from the point of view of the young woman searching for her missing sister, even going so far as to infiltrate the gang that the boyfriend was part of. Even when she realizes that she has stepped in deeper than she'd ever suspected she'd be, she stays.

"And did that dark painting have something to do with the movie?"

No, but it well could have! That was part of the new exhibit at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, where the movies curated by Tomasz are screened. We all stepped into the studio to view the art. I was quite attracted to this one, as it seemed to be a woman's head, tilted far enough back that all that was visible of her face were the white teeth of her open mouth and the light-tinged outline of her nose, while lots of wavy gray hair swirled around. Boo liked it until I pointed out the face. Carolyn didn't care for it. Neither of them liked the name: "Crude Touch". I took that to mean the woman was sinking in a body of unrefined petroleum.

"That's a scary thought. What about Sandy? Did she like it?"

She wasn't with us. Her mom and stepdad have changed their family dinner night to Thursday, so Sandy can attend for things with us on Sundays.

"Well, that's a big change for her! But also quite generous on their part. Hey, I like this painting much better!"

I agree, with all three things you said. Mi amigas liked "New Beginning" better, too. Such bright colors! So much life! So much action! Such promise of better things ahead! Curiously, both were created by the same artist, Nancy Acosta. Even more curiously, these two paintings that captured my attention also captured the essence of the movie.

"I see what you mean. The young woman was immersed into a dark and threatening lifestyle with the gang. Then, when she was finally free to return home and realized how fortunate she was to have lived through it all, she had a brighter outlook on her future. Maybe that's why these two pieces attracted you after the film."

We viewed the art prior to the movie. I took both of these photographs before the film.

"Oh."

Indeed. I think they say this: Right place, right time.

"Coincidence is certainly an interesting phenomenon."

 I say this venture to Cinema Savannah, with the art foreshadowing what was in the film, was my something different for today.

"For real! Now, let's find something lighter to think about for sweet dreams."

Agreed! Good night!

dinner with pam and walt!

Yep, that Pam and that Walt!

It's Wednesday, after all, so that means WNS at Asbury!

Kathy and Preston Hodges sat with us, too, as well as Chris, the woman who lives in their neighborhood on Wilmington Island.

Very nice!

And just what did I get for my $7 this time?

Roast beast, with mushroom gravy on real mashed potatoes!

Oh, and there was coleslaw, too, and a dinner roll!

And that DIY salad bar, too!

But the dessert was the thing that brought back loving memories of Grandma.

Hummingbird Cake...

with its sweet frosting and coconut-tinged layers...

which, surprisingly, I seemed to be the only one at the table to recognize. 

I'm willing to bet they'll remember it the next time they encounter that treat!

(smile!)

 

That counts as my "something different" for today.

So, what's that all about?

Well, my resolution is to do something different every day this month.

Yesterday found me at Philo Cafe, with folks I hadn't seen yet this year, doing our discussion thing that I hadn't done in years.

That's what started me thinking about continuing that action for November.

And, to keep it fair and challenging, I can only count "going to Philo Cafe" once, even if I do that three more times this month.

In the same vein, the WNS tonight can only be counted as something different this once, even though I have two more upcoming.

I'm looking forward to more variety in my life and my social interactions!

And now for my A*List adventures since Friday!

I actually saw five movies for free, with two themes uniting three movies each.

Say what?!

Well, there were no new movies that weren't horror, so I stayed with the ones I'd already seen and liked, like these three.

Can you guess what unites them?

Let me give you a hint with their titles.

"Don't Worry Darling"

"Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile"

"Ticket To Paradise"

Don't think about the movies themselves... just their titles.

Got it?

Each has a repeated consonant!

D_D, LL_, and TT_.

Hey, I gotta keep it fun!

And AMC definitely kept it fun for me by bringing back two kids flicks as $5 Fan Favorites.

So, I already had "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile", seen with Carolyn on Monday.

That's when the second theme for another trio popped into my head: treats for kids!

All I needed were two more such movies and I knew exactly which ones to see!

 

"The Bad Guys" was a must, as I dearly love its "good versus evil" story and this clever bit about stereotypes being misleading, as well as unfair to the wrongly maligned.

Take the Wolf, for instance.

He's the one in the Sheep's clothing, right?

But unlike the one in my favorite TV ad, Wolf truly wants to be adored, but that ain't gonna happen, see?

He's a Wolf, making him part of the "ones who are scary", not the "ones who are scared".

The same is true for his best friend, Snake, as well as for Shark, Piranha, and Tarantula.

Everyone who looks at them expect bad behavior, even when they're dressed in soft, pastel, costumes as a Unicorn or Walrus or Teddy bear or Ladybug.

I really love this movie!

And how did I get it for free?

I had $5 in Rewards in my AMC account and cashed those in.

Tomorrow, I'll do the same thing with another $5 Reward, so I can see "Minions: The Rise Of Gru" one more time on the silver screen.

Hooray!!!

Hey, ya gotta know how to work it, baby!

Oh, yeah!

(smile!)

funny business at philo cafe!

I've been seeing the emails for a few weeks, but had not yet ventured out to a meeting.

For one thing, I really try to avoid driving at night, right?

For another thing, I'm not that keen on the location at Foxy Loxy, a coffee house down by the main public library on Bull Street.

The meetings are held at dinner time and that menu is rather limited.

But the topic spoke to me for tonight's scheduled discussion.

"What makes funny funny?"

If nothing else, it reminded me of Sheldon's quest to write the ultimate joke that would be funny to everyone.

It was a task he failed at, totally and completely, mostly by overthinking it.

So, what was the goal for Philo Cafe?

 

"Why do we laugh?
Is it an inexplicable mystery?
Is it a spiritual gift?
Is it a form of learning?
Bring your best jokes, and we will chloroform and dissect them,
so they are never funny again!
It should be a blast.
Seriously, what is it that makes one thing funny, but another thing lame?  
It should be an interesting discussion."

 

It actually turned out to be quite interesting, especially as we had a real comedian, Bill Cooper, there to goose things along in his new England style.

Dan Baisden is the ringleader of the group now and he was there promptly at 7.

Don Jarvis, a Philo regular for many years, like me, showed up a little late.

But the one who contributed a lighter tone for all was "Dallas", a young woman pursuing a graphic design degree at SCAD, killing time while awaiting her 8 PM art history class.

I do hope she'll be back on future Tuesdays!

As for me, I arrived early, determined to have dinner and help support the venue.

I'd checked out the menu online first.

I settled on the Vegetarian Taco, as well as the Guacamole with Chips as my side.

Very good choices!

And the Box of Water was good, too, with not a trace of paper in its taste!

And had I brought a joke to be dissected?

Of course I had!

I trotted out my favorite joke, one that can be told to any audience, of any age, and is sure to tickle someone... or at least elicit a groan!

What do you call Batman and Robin after they get run over by a steamroller?

Flatman and Ribbon!!!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

Dan laughed; Bill groaned and muttered at me; Don had not arrived; and Dallas looked up from her sketches and smiled.

Success, as far as I was concerned!

Then we started talking about what made it funny to some and did a joke have to involve someone in pain to be funny and why do so many jokes involve someone getting hurt?

Say what?!

Definitely a bit of overthinking going on... but that's what happens at Philo Cafe.

It is, after all, about the philosophy behind the topics, not the topics themselves.

Did I enjoy it?

I certainly did, not just of the discussion but also of the act of doing something different, with different people than I usually see, in a different place than I usually go.

That was very good.

Will I be back?

I shall, but not next Tuesday.

The physicist has claimed that day and, as it is Jeffvember, and, as he has a birthday coming up soon, and, as I haven't seen the bfe since before this semester started.

Seriously.

That was in July... months ago!

Sure, we've texted back and forth... but, actually seen each other?

Nope!

So, next Tuesday is spoken for.

That will be a nice break from Election Day shenanigans.

Hooray!

And, possibly, I'll return for more discussions in two weeks.

Maybe I can even get Cedric to come along, too.

That would be grand!

(smile!)