girls' day with my first niece!

Get this: it isn't even Tina Tuesday!

I guess it could be called Tina Thursday, but that doesn't have the same flow.

That's not really the point.

She's off from her teaching position and we were together for lunch and a movie!!!

Hooray!!!

Can you believe that we went to Chili's for our luncheon... and I took no photo?

I didn't take one inside the cinema, either!

I guess I was just too distracted being with her!

Then again, maybe it was her big news that was the distraction: she'll have a new job soon!

This time, she'll be paid for winter break and spring break, she'll have insurance and 401Ks and all that jazz, too.

And she won't be just a teacher; nope, not this time.

She's going to be a special needs teacher, going to various classrooms to assist her assigned students with particular topics, so she will have lots of variety in her days.

She is so excited about this new post, and so am I!

I guess there's no denying it: she's all grown up, and her years of experience, and her knowledge garnered from both college courses and past jobs are paying off now.

I am so proud of her!!!

oh, no, there goes tokyo, go, go...

Godzilla!!!

Or so sang Blue Oyster Cult, so many years ago.

No doubt my being a fan of their music influenced my enjoyment of that beast's antics in the world of late night "creature features" when I was a teen.

I wonder what they would have thought about this movie.

Yes, I speak again of "Godzilla Minus One", which I watched for the second time on Monday.

Partly I chose it because I'd been home for 48 hours, due to nonstop rain and cold night air, and needed to get out.

Partly that viewing was due to the film being slated to leave this week.

Mostly, though, was because it's one heck of a science fiction romance.

That latter accounted for my venturing out into the 50-something chill of the early afternoon to take it in one more time, with Jackson of AMC sitting one row back.

Very nice!

Today, with the weather relentlessly staying in the 50's for its high, I popped southside again, only intending to take in a single.

That became a science fiction double header, with me still getting back to the relative warmth of home shortly before 4 PM. 

"The Shift" was much better than I'd anticipated, following a man in search of his wife.

That turned out to be a different perspective on the story of Job - yes, that much-beleaguered fellow in the Bible - set in a multiverse filled with Kevin and Molly clones.

Neal McDonough was obviously having fun as Lucifer, so that was an interesting side note.

As for Sean Astin's 'Gabriel', I never was sure if he was based on the archangel or not.

Good movie about choices and consequences.

Indeed, all three in this week's A*List have that theme: choices and consequences.

Very nice, as that's one of my favorites, right behind second chances.

And what was my last feature, and the second of the day?

"Wonka".

I had resisted it, wondering what Timothée Chalamet could bring to the table that Gene Wilder had not already set so nicely more than fifty years ago.

What a pleasant surprise to find out the boy can sing!!!

Yes, "Wonka" is a musical, just as the 1971 film had been, so that was wonderful!

No, it didn't try to reprise the role Gene Wilder had owned back then; rather, it began with a young Willy setting off for seven years at sea, perfecting his chocolate recipes... and incurring the wrath of an Oompa Loompa  - played delightfully by Hugh Grant! - when he took some of his cacao beans, not realizing the fruit was not wild.

What a wonderful surprise to see my favorite Sally again, too!

Come to think of it, that second Paddington Bear movie had Hawkins and Grant in it!

Such a good movie that was, as were all three of these, all being movies I would see again.

Thanks, AMC, for having them on my A*List!

llama-rama-ding-dong!!!

I swear, that sounded like a real song lyric in my head!

Why are those pack animals from Peru on my brain?

Because today is the day they went to their new homes!

When I found them at Grace Graffiti in Brunswick, I took some time to pick out the ones to give to each great-child: purple for Miyah, yellow for Chloe, brown for C J, fuchsia-striped for Alyssa, green-striped for Leila, lime green for Kobe.

The pale blue with the peach feet would be mine!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, that is not how it ended up. 

When I made up their gift bags, I left the keychain cum Christmas ornaments hanging on my tree, having decided the choice would be theirs.

Good thing, too, as my careful selections had been so incredibly off the mark!

Alyssa went for the pale blue one, Miyah loved the brown one (because of his rainbow neck), Chloe went for the purple one just before Leila could, so the younger twin chose the fuchsia-striped llama.

C J had been waiting in the truck with his dad; of the three remaining llamas, he picked the green-striped without a moment of hesitation.

LOL!

None of that went as I had thought it would.

Now, the lime green and the yellow await Kobe's choice.

(smile!)

We nine were all together for the free screening of "Elf" at the NCG cinema on Skidaway.

Hallelujah for that cinema!!!

Our holiday outing had started with just Michael and his girls, then I extended the invite to Christina and, next thing I knew, there were nine of us instead of seven!

No, I'm not counting Chloe's baby doll or Miyah's Stitch.

It's because Chris and C J came along, too!

The teen is almost as tall as his dad, but he's still got a little growing to do to reach Michael's height.

He'll hit a growth spurt in two years and we'll all be shorter than him.

So, what's going on right here?

We were all milling about in the lobby, avoiding the rain after the movie and deciding on where to dine.

Choices, choices!

We ended up at Sakura Buffett, which has plenty of choices for everyone's palate - thanks, Chris, for treating all of us to that scrumptious meal!

I heard him laughing during the movie, too, from his seat with his son in A-1 and A-2, there on the left.

Michael and I were right behind them.

Christina and the four little blondes were in the five seats in the front row.

I had selected those seats when I picked up the tickets on Thursday, thinking the kids would all be together and the adults across the aisle from them.

But when I let C J choose where he wanted to sit, he chose A-2... and that's how his dad ended up in A-1.

Christina opted to sit with the girls, so that let me and Michael be together, which really worked out very well!

(smile!)

Oh, did I mention that we were in the Sensory Friendly screening room?

That's because the regular room was almost full when I got the tickets.

Michael had said he didn't care which room, he just loved "Elf".

Me, too.

(smile!)

After the movie, he told me he liked having the lights "on" instead of "off" and had not noticed any difference from the lower volume setting.

As for me, I noticed one big difference: the girls all stayed in their seats.

Usually, they would be popping up and going to the bathroom several times.

Perhaps having low-level lighting discouraged that behavior?

I don't know for sure, but possibly.

All the girls had leftover popcorn this time, too.

I gave the twins, as well as Miyah and Chloe, Christmas presents of popcorn buckets to share, and even paid for the first fill-ups today.

Maybe holding those helped keep them seated, too.

Perhaps?

As for the mythical cookies, those will have to wait another time!

They stayed home under my tree... LOL!

What a wonderful time of togetherness today!

i thank You, God!

fun with john travolta and ryan reynolds!

Yeah, you read that right!

Ryan is on my tree and John is my new fb profile pic!

Both are in disguise, though, but still definitely recognizable.

Here's the "Saturday Night Fever" man, decked out as Santa Claus!

I guess the folks wanted to make sure we could make the connection to that dancing role that made him famous, but I would have known him just from his eyes.

Still, how cool to have scenes from the movie as "Santa" sauntered down the street in this 'mercial!!!

As for Ryan, he isn't in costume, he's just using an alias: Minty McMinterson.

He's the face gracing this new Christmas ornament, sent to me just for being a MINT phone customer!

Speaking of phones, there's a number inscribed upon the image, to call for "a break from the family".

So of course I called 917-277-9876!!!

Sure enough, it was his voice on the recording!

After a bit of silly chatter, he exited the "conversation" so I could leave a message for him... so I did!!!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!!

I have two other new ornaments this year.

These were bought earlier this year, when I saw "Nickelodeon The SpongeBob Musical" at SavChTh, along with a bunch of other stickers.

Yes, I said "stickers", not magnets or pins!

I am giving most to the great-nieces and great-nephew tomorrow with their Christmas bags...

but not this one, of SpongeBob spinning a vinyl LP...

and not this one, either, of his friend Sandy Cheeks.

They hold a special meaning for me, ya see.

Once upon a time, I was part of a married couple known as the DeeJay and the Scientist, and we are still great friends.

How nice to have the dancing astronaut and the tie-wearing D J on my tree to mark over three decades of friendship!

And... they're so danged cute, aren't they?!

(smile!)

choirs and Christmas

They go together so beautifully, don't they?

Even from my seat in the very last row, "The Sounds of Winter" rang out clearly.

For "Betelehemu", a traditional Nigerian carol, the boys choir was flanked on both sides by the many singers in the girls choir of Savannah Arts Academy.

Such a lovely melody it had!

I think my favorite part of the choir's portion of the free concert was near the start, though.

A Santa and four - or maybe five? - chipmunks sang tunes that everyone was sure to know: "Christmas Time Is Here" and "Carol Of The Bells"!

Every time I here that first one, an image pops up of the Peanuts gang skating on a frozen pond.

(smile!)

During the intermission, I decided to walk around and try to warm up, as I was still very cold from the walk from my car.

I was able to find a seat in the first row, closer to the stage and far from the doors - beautiful!

That was a good move, as I was able to enjoy the enthusiasm on the conductor's face!

The SAA Orchestra split into different conformations as they performed in the second half, starting with four violoncellos for the first number ("O Come, O Come Emanuel") right up to the full contingent for "Greensleeves" (more familiar as "What Child Is This"), then waning and waxing for other songs.

I think, though, it was the "Overture On Jewish Themes" that had the conductor smiling the most!

I know I was dancing in my seat for "Hava Nagila", and mouthing the words, to the amusement of the teens sitting behind me.

(smile!)

I left as the choir retook the stage, this time with the orchestra, to finish out this two-hour gift to Savannah with a medley of Christmas songs.

With my recent A-fib scare, I had a mask with me, but it was one of the children's masks and kept closing off my breath as I walked.

It really was not appropriate for keeping cold air out of my lungs.

Trust me: error noted.

Now, to warm up with some free Peacock!

Thanks, Comcast, for this reward!

fall colors are here and no snow

It gets my goat when folks complain about a lack of fall at this latitude.

It isn't that the trees don't change color -

because they most certainly do, with the maples and dogwoods flaming up, the pear trees bursting out in gold, and others flashing orange -

no, a lack of color change isn't the issue.

Folks from the northern states complain about the colors not coming in September.

To that I say: autumn doesn't even officially begin until September 21st to 24th.

Transplanted northerners want the fall colors to start by early October.

What sheer lunacy!

Our fall colors start in November, as a rule, with the first chilly nights.

We've already had several nights in the 20's, so the trees -

and the kudzu as well -

are all decked out in their fall finery.

Folks in the northern states have already had snow and their trees are long bare.

That's part of the reason they moved here, right?

To get away from the extended winter taking over the last of fall and first of spring?

Of course that's why they left the north.

Now, they need to acclimate to 42 degrees North latitude.

We get plenty of fall color...

as evidenced by this gorgeous tree outside Olive Garden today -

and that color change occurs during the last month, or so, of fall.

Hallelujah!

Now, Yvonne is here for our third noon luncheon -

time for me to go!

(smile!)

boys, girls, and john woo

I do so enjoy John Woo as a director.

His movies are so artfully choreographed, with each movement there with a purpose: to invoke the idea of dancing from scene to scene.

Fabulous!

In his latest - which Barbara attended, too, as I had spoken so devotedly of John Woo - another concept has been incorporated: the lack of speech to carry a story along.

The only words are a soft "it's okay, it's okay" as the wife strokes the head of her distraught husband, seeking to console him.

The husband had his larynx shot out by the gangster whose drive-by had killed his son, after the husband had chased down the two cars still exchanging gunfire, causing the wreck of one of the cars and damaging the other and its driver before being gunned down.

Very intense, very emotional, very fast-paced.

Then "Silent Night" slows down to the speed of physical healing and emotional numbness, before ramping back up as the husband plans and prepares.

Wow.

That was the last of my AMC A*List today.

The first had been on Friday, again with mi amiga, at her request.

An animated Japanese film akin to "Alice In Wonderland" but without the rabbit hole, "The Boy And The Heron" was set during the latter years of WWII, after the father and son had moved to a small town, leaving Tokyo after the mother's hospital had been destroyed.

That was on the Big-D screen, making the subtitles quick and easy to read as we listened to the rhythm of the spoken Japanese.

The movie was interesting, but a bit slow in places, so it was certainly not as enjoyable as the one we saw last week.

I just noticed something: Barbara accompanied me to all three of the A*List films!

She also came with me Monday night for the third AMC "Screen Unseen", and Carolyn was there, too!

This "unknown" feature turned out to be "The Boys In The Boat" -

and I was so delighted that I clapped when it was revealed!!!

What a delightful movie, and one based on the true story of nine young men from a poor school in Seattle, Washington, that learned how to row and amazed the world!

Kudos to George Clooney for directing this beautiful film about real people -

real people who go to the 1936 Olympics and win the gold against thirteen contenders.

Those Olympics were in Munich, so we even get to see Hitler at those games, with swastikas all about and German patriotism very high, but still a hint of what would come in 1939.

Very well done... and another sports film I will recommend to my stepmom.

(smile!)

Lest you think I only saw those, let me dissuade you of that notion!

None of mi amigas came with me to "Waitress: The Musical", as it was not included in our monthly A*List package.

Nope!

But that was $15 I would gladly pay again!

Well, that is, if I had paid it to begin with, which I did not.

I had AMC reward bucks to offset my ticket price - hooray!

Anyway... it was a 2015 musical starring Sara Bareilles, who also wrote the music and lyrics for all the songs.

I've been a fan of Bareilles ever since "Love Song" in 2007, he protest to the recording studio which was insisting that she write a love song to be released to radio.

Hahahaha! She showed them!

(smile!)

This film version was made in 2021 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre -

which is where I'm sure I saw Sam Waterston and Gilda Radner in "Lunch Hour" in 1981 -

as Broadway was trying to get started back up after the pandemic.

All I can say is: excellent job, everyone, at keeping it real under those circumstances!

I hope to be able to see it again...

finances permitting!

I've set up another movie outing for Saturday morning with Michael and his girls, as well as Christina and her family.

That's in my budget, as "Elf" is free - totally free! - at the NCG Cinema.

I even have popcorn buckets that I bought as Christmas presents for them during the Black Friday savings at that cinema!

It's lunch afterward that concerns me... so I think I'll have to forego the Friday Fiesta.

That'll work!

I'm hoping my finances will loosen up soon.

I've applied for the Affordable Connectivity Program to get some relief.

Barbara applied for it and got it, and we have about the same annual income.

If I'm accepted, that will save me up to $30 a month on the internet bill with Comcast.

Here's hoping!

(smile!)

marquee film festival

Yep, it was a film festival, even if it was only three movies.

Honestly, I wouldn't have thought to call it such until I saw this lineup when I pressed the "Last" button on the TV remote.

That's why I took the photo, especially as there were two of my favorite fellows there!

I'd never heard of Marquee TV, but I rather like it, as it's crammed full of Shakespeare, classical concerts, and theatre works I'd never heard of.

Then again, I was only in middle school when those first two came out.

 

"The Scarecrow", with my favorite hopeful romantic, came out in 1971. 

Gene Wilder was 38 in this movie, in which a witch brings a scarecrow to life, as Lord Ravensbane (very nice inside joke with that pun!), to get back at the man who had once courted her and left her high and dry when she got pregnant.

Now, that Justice has a lovely niece and the witch is determined to have her wed the scarecrow... but her plan goes awry, as Ravensbane falls in love with the girl and doesn't want to have her tied to his fake self unless he can be a "real" man.

Shades of a favorite baseball player and futuristic android!

Yes, quite a lovely filming of a four-act play.

Ah, with a touch of Christmas: a corncob pipe is what brought the scarecrow to life!

Such delightful whimsy!

"Steambath" was from 1972, featuring Bill Bixby, the bare-chested fellow - RAWR!

Here's the thing: I was only 14 when this came out, so I had only ever seen him in "My Favorite Martian", in which he was a newspaper reporter.

It wasn't until later that "The Magician" caught my eye!

Anyway, here he is and guess how old he is?

38.

What a trip that the stars in both movies were the same age!!!

Here, he spends his time trying to find a way back to his life, once he realizes that this was a holding place for the dead until time for them to move on.

Very interesting conversations between him and Morte, the Puerto Rican who runs the steam room and is also the janitor... like in "Bruce Almighty".

I definitely enjoyed this movie!

 

A concert film rounded out the selection for this trio.

"John Wilson's Summer Delights", released the first year of the pandemic, was bright and breezy, absolutely perfect to bring a breath of warmth today!

And guess how old this British conductor was?

48.

You thought I was going to say 38, didn't you?

(smile!)

 

Lest you think I spent the entire day in front of the telly, I did not.

It was, after all, Tina Tuesday, and that called for something memorable.

While these three screenings were that, I also marked the day with a trip to the Post Office to send packages to Alabama and California, as well as little angels to Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and two sites in Georgia, Augusta and Midway.

Plus, I went to a Fathom Event, "Christmas With The Chosen: Holy Night".

That was at NCG, so it only cost me seven bucks.

Such a nice combination of music videos and two short, older, films blended together!

I do hope Tony and Laura, and perhaps even Smitty and Mary, will go see it, too.

I've also polished off all except the little croissants from the Asbury Christmas party.

All of the shrimp were cut up and doused in milk, with a bit of lemon pepper and canned vegetables.

What an excellent Shrimp and Corn Chowder!

(smile!)

That was last night's dinner.

One slice of ham was shredded and used for pasta soup to warm me up yesterday morning, with a hit of fiesta lime seasoning to wake me up, too.

The second slice was used in this morning's pasta soup.

That one just had mustard to season it, like my hotdog soup.

Tonight, I combined all of that kale salad, with its minced apples and sliced onions and tart dried cherries, with a freshly diced honey crisp apple, some chopped walnuts, and basmati rice.

So... very... good!!!

I'd like to say I had leftovers of it...

but I did not.

It was almost like having dinner and dessert at the same time!

(smile!)

we all have our bears to cross

"G'friend. Just what are you talking about? That isn't how that saying goes."

Hey, it wasn't me that said it! Caroline did. She was on the phone, talking away, and that's what came out of her mouth. "We all have our bears to cross," is exactly how she said it. I very nearly cracked up!

"You mean Carolyn said that???"

No, Caroline. She's the receptionist for Dr. Cobb.

"Oh, so this is from Friday when you had your appointment?"

I wish. No, it was from today, this afternoon, while I was waiting for an EKG.

"I thought that was done on Friday. Did they miss that test?"

No, Taye - the new physician's assistant - did it, but Dr. Cobb didn't like the results. He said my heart was racing and was surprised that I wasn't aware of it. I told him I'd been having a little issue with waves of vertigo ever since the cold weather started. He didn't much like that, either. He told me to come back after the weekend for another EKG and he would decide then if I needed another cardiac ablation.

"Holy shiite! That's not good."

No, it wasn't. I very nearly felt panicked that he would suggest that surgery again, but tried to stay calm in his office. I had been more concerned about my talk with him about a rare heart condition, ATTR-CM. That's Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy. A full page ad about it had been in a Smithsonian magazine a few months back and it had stopped me in my reading. The disease only affects people with hypothyroidism, carpal tunnel syndrome, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and lower back pain. That's me, to a T.

"So what did your cardiologist have to say?"

He told me that he didn't think that was something I had, but he would check back through my charts to consider it. He said ATTR-CM primarily affects people who have already had heart failure, which was something I did not have. Well, not counting my broken heart after Mama died. So, I guess that was good that Dr. Cobb had not seen any evidence of heart attack in my EKGs or blood work.

"Hmm. You may want to speak to Ms. Barker about that. You might want to find out how you would request DNA sequencing to find out if you have hereditary ATTR. Remember, Mama died of a liver disorder, and that transthyretin protein comes from the liver, leaving deposits that lead to carpal tunnel syndrome and, surprise, surprise, atrial fibrillation."

Duly noted. I'll be seeing her in January, so I'll ask then. I do see that the disease that results depends on where the amyloid deposits build up. I also see that this is a hereditary thing.

"Correct. All the more reason to find out if you have it, then maybe encourage Christina to get checked out. Heck, maybe every female that would be in your maternal line. Meanwhile, how did the EKG today turn out?"

Well, Taye is the one who did that one, too, so that speaks to consistency. I really like her, she's very upbeat and easy to speak to and truly listens.

"And...?"

She has a good poker face. On Friday, I had no idea the EKG was bad. And today, I had no idea that it was good until I overheard Dr. Cobb in the hallway. She showed him the test and he said, "She's back in cycle, so you can let her go." I felt like cheering!!! But I waited until Taye returned and told me all was well. Hooray!!!

"Most excellent!"

As I told her, with the door still open so he might hear, I had changed the way I was taking the Sotalol. I'm still on the 40 mg twice daily, but now I take it with the Eliquis. That means I take it about 11:30 AM to noon, then again at 11:30 PM to midnight. I also make sure it's been at least 30 minutes to an hour since I ate, so I'm taking it on an empty-ish stomach. As I told her, I've noticed that the pharmacy data sheet for the Sotalol has changed. It used to say to "be consistent with how the drug is taken; if taken with a meal, always take with food; if not taken with a meal, then never take with food." Now, the sheet says "food may slow the absorption of the drug." So, I changed from having it mid-meal to having it without food.

"Well, good, whatever does the trick."

Heard. I really don't want any more hospital stays, and I certainly don't want any more surgery, ever.