sandal weather!!! here in Savannah!!!

I could feel every muscle in my body relax as I slipped those shoes on!

Then I breathed in all that lovely warm air and felt every nerve relax, too.

I had opened up the house so that mid-70 natural heat could permeate every room.

Hallelujah!!!

i thank You, God!

Then I went out into that blue sky full of heat and sunshine, first to take care of that last movie on my A*List for the week (though I didn't stay to watch it), then to bounce over to Applebee's for three meals.

This was the first to be eaten: the Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl.

I very much like it!

Nice to have the hot side hot and the cold side cold this time!

(smile!)

And while I dined, I watched one of my favorite "Poker Face" episodes.

Guess what Joseph Gordon-Levitt is doing?

He's getting a "Speedy Meal" delivery.

Why didn't he go pick it up himself, like I did?

Because he's on house arrest and has an ankle alarm that keeps him home!

Well, until a storm comes through and cuts the power and lets him wreak havoc.

Seriously!

This is called "Escape From Shit Mountain" for a reason.

Now, I'm going to finish off my second meal - the Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad - and go back to watching the new episode of "Press Your Luck"!!!

So glad it's out of reruns!

change of plans, for the better!

"What are you doing?", she asked.

 

"Having breakfast," I replied.

 

"Breakfast? It's almost lunch time!"

 

When she phoned, she was on her way to an appointment with her doctor.

Would I be available in an hour?

Of course I would be.

That movie will wait for a later time.

After all, how often do I get to dance in the rain with my first niece?

(smile!)

 

Not that it was still raining by the time we met at the restaurant.

The intermittent sprinkle had ceased.

And just where did we go?

Cancun?

Olive Garden?

Nope, not those.

The appointment had been with her gyn doc.

Those visits mean it's time for crab stew at Barnes for her.

Truly.

I opted for the Wednesday pork chop special.

One of those grilled beauties went home with me, as well my toast and most of her fries.

That means dinner tonight is done!

We were still chatting in the parking lot, after our two-hour luncheon, and I decided to take a photo...

when, suddenly, the rain started back up...

going from a light sprinkle to big heavy drops...

so we had to hurry up and get the shot and be on our way!

(smile!)

She went back to Hinesville; I went to the movie I'd postponed.

"The Book Of Clarence" is about to start now, so... later!

(mostly) dead people acting

Dead woman preaching -

 

Kathleen Freeman, 57 years old in the 1980 movie.

 

She died in 2001, at 78.

 

 

Dead man preaching -

 

James Brown, 47 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 2006, at 73.

 

 

Dead woman bombing -

 

Carrie Fisher, 24 years old in the movie.

 

She died in 2016, at 60.

 

"No, ma'am, we're musicians.

 

We're on a mission from God.

 

We're putting the band back together."

- spoken by Elwood and Jake Blues

 

Dead men talking -

 

John Belushi, 31 years old in the movie.

Paul Reubens, 27 years old in the movie.

 

Belushi died in 1982, at 33.

Reubens died in 2023, at 70.

 

(This is the scene that got me started on this path of telling the tale this way.)

 

 

Dead man berating -

 

Henry Gibson, 54 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 2009, at 73.

 

 

Dead man singing -

 

John Lee Hooker, 62 or 67 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 2001, at 83 or 88 (birth date estimated).

Dead woman singing and dancing -

 

Aretha Franklin, 38 years old in the movie.

 

She died in 2018, at 76 (38 years older).

 

 

 

Dead man playing piano -

 

Ray Charles, 49 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 2004, at 73.

 

 

 

 

Dead man scatting -

 

Cab Calloway, 72 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 1994, at 86.

 

 

Dead man strumming -

 

Matt "Guitar" Murphy, 50 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 2018, at 88.

 

 

Dead man waving -

 

John Candy, 29 years old in the movie.

 

He died in 1994, at 43.

 

 

 

Mission complete!

 

(Steven Spielberg as the county clerk.)

 

 

  - THE END -

 

just another 24 hours to go

I'm trying to stay positive, I really am, but...

I do so loathe this cold weather.

This is as good as it got yesterday.

Now, it's about 24 hours later...

and worse than it was yesterday.

Sunny Sunday or no, the temperatures are not even going to try to crawl out of the 30's.

That just isn't supposed to happen at this latitude.

I keep telling myself to hang in there...

tomorrow's gonna be a brighter day...

that's what Jim Croce would say.

He's right, too.

By this time tomorrow, the high will be twenty degrees warmer.

Yes, twenty degrees warmer, in the mid-50's.

By Wednesday, the highs will be in the low 70's.

i thank You, God.

I just need to think warm thoughts until then.

I'm so glad I planned ahead and have pizza.

This morning, I finished off the last two slices of the pepperoni pie - and I didn't even heat it up, I ate it straight out of the fridge.

As I did yesterday, I accompanied it with an episode of "Monk" on Peacock.

Good choice!

He was on vacation with Sharona  and her son, at a beach resort somewhere.

Heard that?

A beach resort...

allowing me to vicariously soak up warmth on that sandy shore with them...

ahhhh...

that was quite nice.

Now, I have a $1 Weekend Movie Night reward to cash in.

Somewhere warm would be the perfect destination!

I even have popcorn to enjoy the experience even more.

Just another 24 hours to go...

mountainfilm onTour, take 2

Since I was seeing it for free (albeit on a tiny laptop screen), I decided to go ahead and take in the night-time short films, too!

By and large, these are longer, or deal with older people, or have much wilder and rougher storylines that aren't suitable for elementary-aged kids.

 

A Baffin Vacation (2022), 13 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g8U9iehhA8
 

Erik Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry set off on a 45-day expedition in the Canadian Arctic, crossing ice sheets and granite faces.

Beyond The Summit (2022), 33 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KToPCh77ZM
 

This explores Kit DesLauriers' two weeks of traversing the arctic on skis, in one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the world—the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

 

To Be Frank (2023),  11 mins

https://www.newyonder.earth/asset/frank
 

Surfing via Frank Paine, a 73-year-old South Bay icon and humble local legend whose life orbits around a two-block stretch of beach.
 

 

High Road (2022), 12 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdF1-xJa1G8
 

Though they have each lost a leg in their own challenging stories, Meg Fisher and Jack Berry show us there is always a reason to keep pushing – to keep riding. 

Walking On Clouds (2021), 7 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQbtLazZiCw
 

This time, Rafael Bridi took his record-breaking balloon crossing tightrope project back to his hometown of Florianópolis, Brazil. Enjoy the immersive experience from Rafael’s perspective, via 360 video.

Tear Down The City (2023), 5 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai57iU-9POw
 

Tear down the city is a mountain bike video filmed and created in the city of Montreal. It's a mix of classic mountain bike terrain in the forest with a touch of urban and street riding by Xavier Massicotte.

 

Most definitely a thrilling way to end this session, and a nice way to warm up my day.

(smile!)

mountainfilm onTour, at home

In December, the ticket packages for the 2024 Mountainfilm OnTour Savannah were all on sale.

I'd very nearly bought the package that featured all the movies, including the ones on Friday and Sunday nights...

but I'd abstained.

What if the weather turned ugly and I couldn't go?

So, rather than buy the multi-pass, I decided I'd wait and just go to my usual: the family-themed shorts on the Saturday afternoon.

Yeah, that didn't work out, did it?

With highs in the 40's, I was most def housebound...

or was I?

Apparently, I was still able to "attend" the films, via youTube!

Hallelujah!!!

So, here are the titles for the afternoon shorts I would have seen downtown, as well as their links on that website (or others)!

 

"Not The Science Type - Gitanjali Ro" (2021), 7 minutes

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47RlKGbZRs

 

Her became a scientist when her uncle gave her a science kit for her 4th birthday.

"Meet A Mad Farmer: A-Frame Farm" (2023),  6 minutes
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G36HyW_pbLo

This is about Luke and Ali Peterson, who have a family farm in Dawson, MN.

"AdVENNture" (2022),  5 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpH7u7uyNaw

Longtime friends Sami Ortlieb and Rob Heule unite to bring you a shared ski experience from the ski lifts and backcountry of their respective homes in Glarus (Switzerland) and Alberta (Canada).

"The Wild Within" (2022), 3 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QzFhi4nT8U

Churchill, Canada is the only place on earth where you can see Polar Bears, Northern Lights, and Beluga Whales in one place.

"Paddle Tribal Waters" (2023), 9 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lGHSZnAbtU

Maqlaqs Paddle Club conducted a two-and-a-half-week kayak and river advocacy training program for 15 indigenous youth from the Klamath Basin.

"JoJo: A Toad Musical" (2022), 8 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsJ91MIcr9M

The link is for a 30-second rap about toads, by the same boy, and is pretty fun.

I wish I could have found the musical!

"The Dukha" (2020), 8 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovJs2CazHI

The link, again, is not for the actual film - but still about reindeer herders in Mongolia.

I wonder if they have the lisp?

(smile!)

popping p's!

Preparation, that's the first "p" word of the day!

This is to be the one decent day for the next few, so I needed to make a game plan for my sanity, so I didn't get cabin fever.

First and foremost, I spent the day out!!!

Woohoo!!!

Before being housebound all weekend, Friday would be prime time!

So off to the AMC for National Popcorn Day!

Seriously, that's a real thing, y'all!

I had the kid pack for the scifi political thriller, then Brian filled up the box for the free refill.

Many thanks, dude!

Then to the Papa John's of Sandfly for pizza!!!

That's right, I said it: pizza!!!

Their postcard gave me two pies for the price of one, so I'd placed the order right before bed last night.

I did!!!

One's grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, and banana peppers; the other is pepperoni, pineapple, and onion - plenty of p's there.

(smile!)

Both are large, thin crust, light cheese - perfect!

That should help make the weekend more bearable!!!

I even had a coupla slices while warm!

(smile!) 

Of course, that meant I wasn't hungry after for Jalapenos.

What to order, then, at the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta in Sandfly?

What else except dessert!!!

Perusing the options online, I already knew what I'd have before I went.

'Pilla - that's sopapilla, mi hermanos!

Honey and cinnamon and sugar!

We had the full contingent there, but my order was the only dessert... 

this time!

I let Mary and Laura and Tony share the last piece, and they ate it all!

Perfecto!!!

 

Then I headed off to Savannah Children's Theatre for their opening night performance!

Of course, right?

It's a musical, y'all!

"My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Journey" was new to me, so I could only sing along to a couple of tunes.

"I Got No Strings On Me"...

"When You Wish Upon A Star"...

and at least one more.

I even got to sit on the front row, as per my norm!

That means the actors all got to see me laughing and smiling and enjoying them!

They got nice and pumped from all that feedback!

How do I know?

Because Danielle heard me laugh and let them all know that I was in the house!

That meant the Marionette with the golden braids, the badly-behaving boy on Pleasure island, the Blue Fairy and her four proteges, all knew I was loving their work!

And who is that in the top hat?

Joel Altherr, acting as Stromboli, puppet master!

He was the Cowardly Lion a few months back!

Joel Cadoff - Geppetto - had been the Tin Man, while Al Williams was the Gate Guard of Oz, playing a couple of fathers in this one.

How very cool to see them again...

and to be thanked for my enthusiasm!!!

(smile!)

 

Now I'm ending the night with a pair of my favorite private investigators, Shawn and Gus.

Peacock has "Psych 2: Lassie Come Home" for free, and it's new to me, so that was next on my agenda.

See that popcorn?

That's pure movie popcorn from AMC earlier today!

Perfect for this movie!!!

Perfect for the end of this lovely day!!!

i thank You, God!

Cinema Savannah and Applebee's!

CinemaSav had a rare treat for us: a comedy!!!

What a good way to brighten our winter!

Even more rare was the country it was from: Mongolia!

This was a first to be seen by Tomasz, and most likely a first for everyone at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center tonight.

Kal of Bulgaria was even there with Barbara and me, no doubt to hear a language similar to his own.

I say "similar" because I know of at least one way in which the two differ.

Mongolian has a character, or character combination, that produces a spoken lisp sound.

I could not tell what type of lisp it was, but I know that every character in the movie voiced it.

At first I had thought it was just the main character, Saruul, and that she had a speech impediment.

However, I soon realized that she was not alone in making that sibilant sound.

There must be something about the language itself that produces those vocalizations, somewhere between the sing-song cadence of Chinese and the more raspy pitch of Russian, much as the country itself lies between those two giants.

The movie, a 2021 release, was "The Sales Girl", known as "Khudaldagch ohin".

In its native tongue, that means "daughter of Khudaldagch".

Was that her father's name?

I have no idea.

The girl was named "Saruul", and she lived in fear until a classmate talks her into substituting for her in the shop where she works...

the "Sex Shop" owned by Katya, a former famous ballerina.

The movie follows the transformation of Saruul from a timid teen hiding behind her long hair and headphones in public, hiding behind her curtain at home, hiding from her parents.

Slowly, she becomes more sure of herself, sure enough to change her hairstyle without asking her parents, sure enough to stop wearing the headphones and blocking out the world, sure enough to tell her parents that she wants to be a painter and not a nuclear engineer.

Of course, she also learns about sex, but at her own pace, eventually trying out some of the items - from the French maid costume to various dildos - but the emphasis is on her changing in accordance with her own will.

And the music she listened to, and others sang, was all in English and very good!

Every song was composed by the same person: Dulguun Bayasgalan.

However, the music seems to have been performed by a group called Magnolian, with Dulguun as the lead vocalist, with his smooth and sexy baritone. 

Here's one of those tunes, "Primadonna", one that had a lot of screen time in the film.

Here are two more: "Caroline" and "Indigo".

Pretty catchy beat, too!

(smile!)

Now, I'm going to finish off the Chicken Wonton Tacos that I started earlier.

This makes my second meal from Applebee's today.

Yes, I said "second".

That's because I used one of my $10 bonus promos and $25 gift cards to purchase the three meals, worth $29.77 pre-tax, for only $19.77.

Pretty much makes up for their snafu on Monday's luncheon with Yvonne!

In fact, this is the meal I was going to order that day.

Called by Applebee's as the Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl, it reminds me of a southwestern version of a Japanese bento box.

How so?

Well, like that Asian dish, it contains vegetables (in this case, a salad) on one side, the main course (in this case, grilled shrimp on seasoned rice with a pesto topping) on the other side, as well as tasty additions (here, those are bean-corn relish, guacamole, and pico de gallo, from bottom to top, across the middle).

Totally scrumptious!!!

 

My third meal will be their Kid's meal of Chicken Fettucine Alfredo, with broccoli.

That's designated as breakfast for tomorrow, to start my Friday off with a bang!

(smile!)

Such a good, and reasonably warm, day this has been!!!

i thank You, God!

talking smack about the weather, part 2

Bonnie: We are still frozen in.

 

me: We have stupid weather, too. Was still under 40 at noon.

 

Bonnie: 1 PM and only 27.

 

me: Horrible, just horrible. This weekend is to be even colder. I wish I was in Panama. Hardly ever dropped below 70.

 

Bonnie: Where do you think the perfect place is? I don't want to be too hot, either. I enjoyed San Diego.

 

me: San Diego was nice, but Panama was beach weather all year. That's my kind of heaven!

me: I liked Okinawa, too. Pretty much like here, but not as cold in winter.

me: Then again, that was forty years ago, so who knows how it is now.

 

Bonnie: How was the humidity and bugs?

 

me: Lower for both. Odd, since both are on oceans, like here.

 

me: This is the weather in Okinawa right now.

 

me: This is San Diego.

me: And this is heaven - I mean, Panama.

 

Bonnie: Let's go! :-)

 

me: Heard!

 

me: These are flights from Atlanta to Panama.

me: Those are round trip!!!

 

Bonnie: Oh, well, I guess I will wait out the bad weather here.

 

me: Chances are the flights are canceled for now. Those prices were for the first week in February.

 

Looks like something to plan for next year...

Sure would be cheaper than going to Disney World...

and warmer, too!!!