equinox during a thunderstorm!

Not any ordinary equinox, but a fabulous one!

Just look at their travel van - it's gorgeous!

And who might they be?

The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra!

I've seen them before with the Savannah Jazz Festival, but their shows are usually out of my budget these days.

Truth to tell, I was conflicted about going tonight, but I finally decided that Dane would want me to go and enjoy myself.

Thanks, you crazy dog!

The man standing up is Jeremy Davis, the band-leader, songwriter, and tenor sax player in this orchestra.

He even sang one of his own songs during the concert!

"Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" is based on a Bible verse, which makes it quite apropos here at Asbury Memorial Church.

Beautiful!

This fellow is Clay Johnson, his best friend since the 7th grade.

For the most part, Clay is the entertainer and lead singer, though he also plays a trombone.

That's how the two met in Louisiana - both were taking band, both were in the same classes, and their moms decided they should be friends.

Pretty sweet story!

The concert tonight was titled "Broadway To Bourbon Street" and it was absolutely full of show tunes that I knew and loved!

I know the sanctuary would have been full if not for the wrong ticket purchase link being posted on facebook.

That means most of the faces were familiar and were Asbury members, too.

I guess the good part of that was I sat right behind the Townsend family - Karen, B-man, Mickie, and Bob - and they cheered the loudest when the guys said they were from their home state... and one was even from Mickie's hometown!

Clay and Jeremy said that was the first time they got a cheer for that town!

The above photo was taken after Clay had brought out his trombone for the last two numbers, all jazzy and straight from New Orleans!

They even led a parade of the brass section into the audience!!!

Woohoo!!!

What a thrilling two hours, made even more exciting as lightning flashed in the church windows!!!

All the rain was done by the time the concert ended, making it a cooler evening for those of us all jazzed up by the tunes!

There was no program, but I kept track of the songs.

Yes, I did!

Here's the setlist.

*****

Oh, What A Beautiful Evening
(paraphrase of song from "Oklahoma!")

Lullaby of Broadway

The Road To Hell - from Hadestown!!!!

Such A Lot Of Living To Do - from Bye Bye Birdie

The Street Where You Live

Step Out Of The Sun - from Dear Evan Hansen

God Bless America 

- talk of Sept 11, 2001 on this 25th anniversary  - 

b'way had folks singing this when they reopened, so, we all sang it tonight

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
written by Jeremy - based on Bible verse that starts "Peace be with You"

9 To 5

tribute to Dolly Parton

Edelweiss - from The Sound Of Music

My Funny Valentine
instrumental ONLY! w Jeremy on his sax! gorgeous!

When You're A Jet
Clay in his first role, as Riff in West Side Story -
had to get dance lessons!

Here Comes The Hit Parade - Bourbon Street song start

If I Were A Rich Man - from Fiddler On The Roof
w trombone!!!

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Being Alive - from Company

Down On Bourbon Street
w parade into audience!!!

When The Saints Go Marching In

thanks, dane, for the MiMFF!!!

I know, I know: what in the fresh hell is a MiMFF? And do you have to be in Denmark to be able to see one?

Hahahaha!

Silly one-ken-obi.

I've been over at Tony and Laura's since Thursday, remember?

As well as having some quality time with the dog, I've had access to thousands of movies via their new TV system, HEAT-VOD.

I don't know what HEAT stands for, but that other acronym is most definitely "Videos On Demand" and it is fully loaded!

No restriction to a single streamer like Netflix this time!

So, when I was glancing through with Tony on Wednesday, as he showed me how to access HEAT, I noticed several movies I'd wanted to see, but they either never came to AMC or left before I could see them with my A*List.

Second chances rock!!!

Hence, I have dubbed this the Movies I Missed Film Festival.

Cute, right?

In total, there were twenty movies that I pulled up to watch.

Of those, there were several that were foreign, but didn't have subtitles.

Drats.

But that still gave me oodles of movies that were new to me!!!

Ready or not, here they are!

*****

"I Want Your Sex" (2026)
Olivia Wilde flick I wanted to see, but it left before I could -
rather funny! Soft porn look at B&D with Cooper Hoffman as the pawn.
Johnny Knoxville and Margaret Cho are the detectives called in when
the artist boss goes missing.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32332915/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_i%20want%20your%20se

-------------------------------
"The Isle Of Dogs" (2018)
YES!!! When I saw this in the listings, I just had to see again!
The last great Wes Anderson film before he went derivative of himself.

I loved it so much it appears multiple times in a game I wrote.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5104604/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_isle%20of%20dogs

----------------------------------------
"Much Ado About Love" (2026)
Ashley Williams, Niall Matter, Lindura
Most def a Hallmark romcom, so I loved it!
She's back in town to direct "The Taming Of The Shrew" and brought
Hollywood actress for lead role - he's back in town to be in
the play until he finds out she's directing - they have a 
history, from their roles in "Romeo and Juliet" many years ago.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27860696/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_much%20ado%20about%20love

---------------------------------
"Yellow Mirror" (2026)
Was actually a "Simpsons" episode, but thought it was a movie.
"The Way We Weren't" explores what if Homer was back in high school, but
still remebered being married w/ children and became a famous cartoonist
with his sketches and stories of them - very sweet -
"If I Have No Tablet But I Must Stream" explores Maggie's world when
her MyPad takes over her life - fun song "99 little dinosaurs",
like "99 bottles of beer"!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43141030/?ref_=fn_t_2

---------------------------------  

"Mutiny" (2026)
Jason Statham doing his thing, getting revenge against those who killed
his boss on 1) his dad's birthday, 2) 5th anniv of him getting that job
by saving his boss - wrong day, wrong time, guys! That means a harpoon
to the head for them!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32338669/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_mutin

-----------------------------------
"Srinivasa Mangauram" (2026)
Vasu Baba and Manga are sweeties ...
NOPE! no subtitles! drats. - Tollywood -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37537340/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5_tt_3_nm_5_in_0_q_srinavasa

---------------------------------
"Zombie For Sale" (2019)
the Parks family take in a creature from the pharma company -
NOPE! no subtitles! drats. - Korean -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9765144/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_zombie%20for%20

--------------------------------
"Motor City" (2025)
Alan Ritchson, Shailene Woodley, Ben Foster
WOW! starts in 1977 Detroit, then goes back to the start, 25 years
earlier, when the guy rescues the girl from the gangster -
then, just before the guy can marry the girl, the gangster sets him
up for a big drug haul and the guy goes to prison - the gangster
then reunites with the girl and they get married and all is well
for years until she finds out he set up the guy - gangster then 
hooks her back on heroin, but the guy finds out and breaks out of
prison to rescue her -
incredible! done with no dialogue, just using music from the time
- Jack White has cameo as a piano player -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2012616/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_motor%20city

---------------------------------------------
"Voicemails For Isabelle" (2026)
Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Harry Shum, Jr., Leah McKendrick
(note: written and directed by Leah McKendrick!!!) -
opens in 2010 with the two sisters, Jill and Izzy, super close, w/
Izzy having cystic fibrosis - years pass, w I living vicariously through
J, calling themselves "birds" after Robyn, dancing every time they hear
"Dancing On My Own" - 2019, I in Austin TX needs lung transplant, J in 
baking school in San Francisco, can't make it back in time for last
moment w his sister - Time passes, she calls Izzy's phone number... and is
able to leave a message... so that continues - like Christina does w/
Mama's number... enter Wes, a realitor whose new work phone has that number,
so now he is getting the voicemails - intrigued by Jill, he goes to meet
her and falls in love - but how to tell her about the phone?
wept several times with this one - beautiful movie about loss adj.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10375624/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_voicemail

-------------------------------------
"NASCAR vs. Navy: The San Diego Mini Movie" (2026)
prelude to the "Race The Base" set up for America 250 celebration -
6 racers and 6 pilots set challenges to decide if the course is to be
set up on the landing field - < 30 mins, really fun short!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43351237/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_nascar%20vs

-----------------------------------------
"Pickleball" (2026)
Kevin P. Farley, Jeff Hamm, Michelle Wendt... surnames with more famous kin -
When the owner of a community center drops dead during a game, it's up to
'Father Joseph' (Kevin P. Farley) to try to get his two sons motivated to
save it. But 'Miles' (Willie Mellina) is a fallen tennis pro more into chasing
skirts than balls, and 'Earl' (Justin Sterner) prefers the video game world
to a live game of sports. A pickleball tournament could save the center, if
only the sons will take it seriously!
Not great, but the second half is much better than the first.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30788209/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_pickleball

---------------------------------------

Husbands In Action (2026)
NOPE! no subtitles! drats. - Korean -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36876775/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_Husbands%20In%20

--------------------------------
Finnegan's Foursome (2024)
Edward Burns, Brian d'Arcy James (great voice!), Brian Muller, Erica Hernandez
- written and directed by Edward Burns!
When Grandpa dies at their home in Sount Carolina, it's up to the two sons
and their first-borns to follow his wishes. That means taking his ashes back
to Ireland, to be scattered in four of his favorite places, with two of those
being his favorite holes on his favorite gold courses.
Absolutely beautifully shot!
Some good singing by Brian d-Arcy James, too, in a pub scene!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23039114/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_0_in_0_q_Finnegan%27s%20Foursome

------------------------------------
Finding Emily (2026) - English
Boy (Spike Fearn) meets girl in nightclub and falls in love, but only gets
10 of the 11 digits needed for her phone number! He only knows her first name
and where she attends college. Enter psychology student 'Emily' (Angourie 
Rice), in need of a topic to keep her student visa from lapsing. She decides
to help him find the 'Emily' he seeks among the 318 there - easy peasy!
By the way, the actor - Spike Fearn - is a pretty good singer!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32499466/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_finding%20e

---------------------------------------
Best Served Cold: A Hannah Svenson Mystery (2026)
Hallmark movie!!!
'Hannah' (Allison Sweeney) and her boyfriend-lawyer 'Chad' (Victor Webster) are
back when assistant attorney 'Lucas' (David Attar) goes missing in the midst
of a case involving counterfeit gold coins. The problem gets worse when the
counterfeiterturns up dead and it looks like he's been poisoned!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt41435250/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_best%20served

---------------------------------
Once Upon A Time In A Cinema (2026) - Irish! 
Told in real time, during the 5-reel "Breathless" (1983) being shown to the 
crowd in the cinema!!! That means it's fast, so keep up!!!
It's a one-screen movie house, now run by two brothers, 'Earl' (Colin Morgan)
and 'Gerald' (Calam Lynch), left to them by the dad they hardly knew.
Now in need of repairs, with someone on the staff stealing funds, they have
to decide on a busy Friday night whether to sell it or keep it in this age
where it seems VCRs are everywhere.
Really excellent!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29008864/?ref_=fn_t_1

--------------------------------
Mayday (2026)
Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh
Take a self-professed former KGB agent, 'Nikolai' (Kenneth Branagh), with a
love of "Top Gun", and let him find a naval pilot, 'Troy' (Ryan Reynolds),
shot down during a US 'black ops' mission, and just watch as their initial
distrust turns into a mutual quest to not die when other Russians descend
on their cabin. Some real truths in this one, though I had one issue: the
director just let Reynolds run loose with quips. A few scattered here and
there would have been fine, but they're just dumped in.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28014327/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_mayday

-----------------------------
Must Auk (2024)  - Finnish!
(also known as "The Black Hole")
three short scifi films!
NOPE! no subtitles! drats.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33343241/?ref_=fn_t_5

---------------------------------
Once Upon A Time In The Middle East (2026) -Chinese!
Original title: Huan ying lai Long can guan
with subtitles!!!
It's a bit long, but it's a compelling look at the life led by a Chinese
national ('Xu Fu') who goes to Iraq in 2002 to work in a Chinese restaurant 
owned by an Iraqi ('Zaid'). His plan is to stay for two years to earn enough 
money to recover the losses from a fire at his own restaurant. 'Ma Junsheng'
serves as both his translator and co-manager at this Iraqi restaurant.
His timing is bad. Within 6 months of arrival, the US is bombing the city
and all hell is busting loose... but the owner makes him a deal for much
more money so he stays... and the US troops that come love the food and will pay
anything for the liquor he can get... until things go wrong and he ends up
in a prison for 18 months, with no contact to his family.
Very good look at a story we didn't know.
Very timely, too, with this being the 25th anniversary of the story that we
do know on our soil.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34386754/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_once%20upon%20a%20time%20in%20the%20mid

--------------------------------------
The Last Whale Singer (2025)
Yes, it's animated, but not from any company familiar to Americans.
It's a 'let's save the oceans' film for younger viewers, to introduce them
to issues like bleached coral, whales killed by boat propellers, plastic
waste in the ocean, and climate change (in the form of a melting iceberg 
releasing a radioactive creature formed by nuclear testing).
The lighter story is a young, orphaned, whale suddenly having to 'find his
song' in order to restore health to the ocean.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13518550/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_the%20last%20whale%20singer

 

--------------------------------------------

So, there it is!

I thought about including pics of the movie posters, but decided that would make this post even more time-consuming to write. 

Pretty impressive list, isn't it?

I could easily have had more, if I'd hung around during the day, but I wanted to keep Dane on his regular schedule, as much as possible.

He really is a sweet old dog!

(smile!)

tik-toks and southern rock!

"That sure does sound like a mixed bag! Let me guess: Music Bingo?"

Bingo!!! I had been concerned that no one was going, but I told Marcia that I'd go if she did, so she did!!! She even brought along Amanda!!!

"Nice. It's been a hot minute since she came out to MSG."

That's very true. This was certainly a good night for that choice! The first game was "Tik-Tok Takeover #1 (Clean)" and, although I didn't know hardly any of the songs, my card managed to have 9 of them on it. Nine!!! In fact, I was 1-away from a bingo under the "I"! All I needed was "The Middle", by Maren Morris, Grey & Zedd, whoever they are.

"LOL! I have no idea! Most def new singers."

Game 2 was "Southern Rock Mix #3" and I knew most of those. Eddie Money, 35 Special, Styx, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Charlie Daniels Band, Little Feat, ZZ Top, The Gregg Allman Band, and, of course, Lynyrd Skynyrd. I had such fun singing along to those! My card only saw five hits on it, though. Pretty sad.

"Yeah, that's no way to win a game."

True, but you know what? I'd had such fun singing those songs that weren't on my card that I was all jazzed up! So, for Game 3, the one that costs $5 per card, I bought cards for all three of us! Yes, I did! I was glad, too, when I saw the description. "Bar Favorites Mix #18" - with John Fogerty, Aerosmith, The Cars, The Gap Band, Heart, The Rolling Stones - yes, please!!!

"Oh, I know you had whole lot of shakin' and singin' goin' on!!!"

"Emotional Rescue"!!! "Centerfield"!!! "Roll With It"!!! "Venus"!!! All told, I had 12 hits on my card, with six different lines that just needed two songs for a bingo! It was just wild!!! I felt absolutely high after that game ended. WOW!!!

"Wow!!! Did any of y'all win a game?"

Nope! But you know what? It really didn't matter! We three had such fun tonight, that the music was the star of the show! Marcia even sent out word to the others that "Tina was a lot of fun tonight. She really knows a lot of music!"

"But of course! part of the reason you don't know much of the new stuff is you don't go out dancing at the clubs anymore. If you did, you'd be up to date."

Quite probably true. Maybe part of the reason I really enjoyed tonight is that it may be the last one for a couple of weeks. The Jewish holidays are coming up and they'll keep my friends pretty busy. So glad we had tonight! So glad Russ let us know last week that he'd be here for Labor Day Monday! Now, time to feed Dane and watch the 100th episode of "Beat Shazam". More music sound bites for me! (smile!)

friday hither and yon!

Racking up savings as I went, too!

I started with a free movie at the St. Joseph/Candler Smart Senior center at 1 PM, with a room full other members laughing at "The Legend Of Bagger Vance" as we enjoyed the bag of popcorn and soda that Elizabeth gave each of us.

I truly had forgotten how feel-good this movie was!

While I was there, I went ahead and registered for the Halloween Party the center is having on October 30.

Just $8 and I used my colon study card to pay for it!

(smile!)

Then I was off to CVS to get more Vitamin D3 and Lactaid pills.

The first was on sale as a BOGO - that saved me $12.99 right there!

The other was BOGO 1/2 off - so that saved me another $5.80.

Ah, but I wasn't done saving yet!

I also had a coupon for "$5 off of a $20 purchase", plus a $10 ExtraBucks Reward.

All total, I saved $33.89, for a whopping 68% discount!!!

I do believe that's the best I've ever done!

(smile!)

Next, I took advantage of a $1 Movie Night reward from Comcast.

Last week's had gone toward a movie in Dolly Parton's memory.

This one was for Tim Curry.

I know all the theatre folk are all gaga about "The Rocky Horror Show", but I credit Richard O'Brien for that.

O'Brien is the one who wrote the book and the songs, the one who created those characters, the one who talked Curry into taking the role. 

Interestingly, O'Brien credits David Bowie, glam rock, and 'Ziggy Stardust' for the inspiration for the goth-rock musical.

I can totally see that! 

But that musical wasn't the how I was introduced to his acting ability.

Surprisingly, "Annie" was the intro for me, either, as that musical didn't become dear to Mama until it came out on video and she could share it with her first granddaughter, Christina Ann.

See, Mama would have grown up with that character in her life.

I'm sure having Carol Burnett and Yul Brynner in the film endeared it to my mother even more.

However, it was "Clue" that landed the talented Tim Curry on my radar.

That came out while I was going to Armstrong State College in 1985.

Chock a block with stars I knew - Madeleine Kahn, Lesley Ann Warren, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan - of course I loved it!

Curry was right in the heart of it as the butler, 'Wadsworth', and the scenes at the end, when he's racing about putting the pieces of the mystery together, were delightfully madcap!

With his good looks, he reminds me of Errol Flynn, and I would have loved to have seen him in some of those swashbuckling roles!

Alas, the closest Tim Curry ever got to being a sword-wielder was as a pirate in "Muppet Treasure Island", though that wasn't until 1996.  

He spent most of his career as a voice in a variety of animated features (like "The Wild Thornberrys" and "The Rugrats") or video games.

I'm so glad I had a "Clue" to his real talent!

(smile!) 

Next, I popped in on Dane for a quick visit before I hit Jalapenos.

He'd be getting dinner a little late, so time for a treat to tide him over!

Honestly, after I gave him that crunchy collagen bone, I don't think he even noticed that I'd gone back out!

(smile!)

I'd called Smitty first, to make sure we were still having the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta, as we were missing some folks.

Tony and Laura are in Missouri and Robin is in Montana.

But the brother still here assured me were still dining together!

I had him pose for this photo to show off his eyes.

Last month, he had cataract surgery on his left eye, which is now in the best condition it's been in since the retina repair.

Just look how blue and clear that iris is!!! 

The right eye had its cataract surgery just two days ago, but the blue is back in that one, too.

The doctor's assistant even commented on how blue his eyes are!!!

Very nice!!!

I ate shrimp ceviche, as it's been a while since I treated myself to that.

And Mark had driven in right behind me and noticed my flapping trunk.

After we all had our goodbye hugs, he came over to look at the trunk lid to see what might be a solution, so maybe he'll fix it for me!

That would be wonderful!!!

It's been ten years since I had a trunk that I could securely close, instead of using duct tape to try to keep it down. 

(smile!) 

My next stop tonight was for gasoline, as Murphy's was rewarding me with fifteen cents off per gallon for this Labor Day weekend.

Christina had told me some time ago that Murphy's was the gas station for Walmart, so I headed over to the one on Montgomery Cross Road.

There, the attendant politely told me that Murphy's was -not- affiliated with Walmart and never had been.

Well, fine, I'll have to let my first niece know she was wrong.

(smile!)

So I drove out to the sole Murphy's in town, out by Savannah Mall.

Sure, I only saved $1.35, but I needed to get gas anyway.

Better to have saved something than nothing!

And now, I'm back at Tony and Laura's and Dane has been fed.

Now to find another movie that I haven't yet seen!

(smile!)

happy 30th to my goth girl

Thanks to fb's "Memories", I know exactly what we did for Morgan's 14th birthday, back on September 4, 2010.

The Delongs had come to Savannah, rather than me to Hiram.

We started out at Armstrong State College, now called Armstrong Atlantic State University, alma mater of me and both of her parents.

 

After posing outside, I used my keys to show off where I taught. 

I had started a three-year stint as a full-time professor in 2010.

Nice to be able to let Morgan and Zach pretend to be teachers!

Then we all traipsed around the campus so Sam and Ernie could see how it had changed since they finished in the mid-1980's.

Nice to know the cafeteria we hung out in between classes was still here!

Afterward, we popped downtown to one of my favorite places.

That's right: the Jepson Museum!

This is the approach from the Oglethorpe Street side, which I rarely photo.

 

 

Here are Morgan and Zach having fun with one of the exhibits that are kid-friendly.

That means touch them, play with them, create your own art!

I do so love that!

 

But one of the reasons we were at the Jepson was for an exhibit I thought they'd like.

It was called "Twilight Visions" and, though I can't say for sure, it may have had something to do with sparkly vampires.

Again, I don't know for sure... but it sounds right.

 

Here comes my favorite photo from this visit!

As they descended the marble stairs, I snapped a series of photos, but this is the one that really shines!

Morgan noticed I had my camera out and she came dancing toward me!!!

Oh, yes, my BFF's darling dancing daughter!!! 

As I told Sam, "she brightens my heart!"

She did then, and she still does.

I made this into a magnet, and it still graces my refrigerator. 

(smile!)

All that visiting of the educational center and the art worked up an appetite.

Over to the Crab Shack we went, ordering the biggest thing on the menu: the sampler with the crab legs, shrimp, fish, oysters... all of it!

Zach was too busy munching out to be impressed by those crab legs, but Morgan was glad to pose with a surprised look!

 

Then we were off to another of my favorite sites: Grayson Stadium! 

My boys of summer, the Savannah Sand Gnats, were in town, and I'd somehow managed to snag us these premium box seats.

That meant the hotdogs and sodas were brought to us, rather than we having to stand in line downstairs - sweet!

If you look closely, you might even be able to spot Mister Willie in his seat.

(smile!)

The next morning, we were off to Tybee for some beach time.

For whatever reason, I thought it was cool to take snaps of our feet - lol!

By the way, I still have that purple bag, off to her right.

Sam made that for me, telling me I needed a butterfly bag for my school stuff.

She was absolutely right, of course!

(smile!)

 

And now it's sixteen years later, and sweet Morgan is 30.

Happy birthday, dear, from your Aunt Tina! 

why i don't need a dog, heidi

For the past couple of years, I've been blessed to dog-sit.

Not only does it provide me a bit of spending money for plays and musicals, but it also gives me some quality time with the beloved pets of those I love.

This Labor Day weekend, I will be spending my nights with Dane.

Tony and Laura are off in Missouri, with her mom, three of her four sons, and her three grandchildren from her eldest.

Tony hipped me to Dane's new preference of spending some time catching afternoon rays before heading to the back yard, so I made sure he got his tan time in.

All seemed to be well until we came inside for the evening.

That's when the pouting started.

"Come into the living room with me," I pleaded.

Nope, he was not having it, thank you very much.

That's okay, I knew exactly what to do!

I gave him some of my chips, and that got him hungry. 

Then I waited just a few minutes before making a big show of getting his bowl and making his dinner.

First, the rattle of the dry bits... then the ziploc bag of meat Tony cooked for him... stirring that in with enough water to make gravy... talking to him the whole time.

By the time that bowl hit the floor, he was right there.

He was plenty ready for some touch and playing with squeaky toys after that!

Oh, yeah, I know this dog!

(smile!)

starting the month with dawn!

"Did you mean to say "at dawn", dearie?"

Nope, I said "with" and I meant "with", by gosh by golly! In fact, here she is, shooting peace signs at me, in front of God and everyone at The King & I!

"Oh, goodie! Y'all had your luncheon today! That means you both had your Thai fix for the next few days!"

That's right! As I told the physicist, I don't get to share Thai with others very often, as my new g'friends aren't that crazy about it. Sandy used to go with me and Barbara and Carolyn to Naan in Pooler, but she much prefers burgers and chicken fingers.

"That's why she really likes Midtown Sports Grill and Texas Roadhouse - all kinds of burgers! So, what' brought about this outing with Dawn?"

It's almost AA and AAA time, girlie!!! So I'd contacted her last week to see when she might have an opening in her schedule. She's been out of town a lot, and will be again tomorrow, but at least we had this gap in her travels hither and yon!

"Right? With her off to Houston and Louisiana tomorrow, plus down to Orlando to work with Universal Studios, and frequently to New York and Chicago... whew! Hilton has even issued her a LIFETIME loyalty card that weighs as much as five credit cards!!! Super cool!"

Wait a minute... she showed that to me, not you.

"Oh, please, you do know that I am always with you, right? That isn't just a slogan on a pink sash, you know. We're attached at the hip, you and I. Now, tell me: that's Nam Sod, right? Hooray!"

Yes, it is! I was going to have the grilled salmon salad, as it came with spring rolls. Then I kept looking at the pork dish and had to have it! You know, the Larb Gai is the chicken version, which I'd had in May, but hadn't cared much for it. The Nam Sod here is certainly the standard by which others are measured!

"I'm so glad you liked it! I'm glad you didn't drink all that broth, too. I know you wanted to, but you managed to resist."

Yeah, it really is too hot outside for all that salt. The WSAV weather song is stuck in a loop, with highs in the 100's, once he heat index is tacked on. I had intended to go to a movie after the luncheon, but I went home instead. Sure, I could have gone back out in an hour for the show, but, seriously... nope.

"Heard. I think you made the right choice. Maybe you'll go out later?"

Maybe, but I doubt it. Maybe I'll just wait until tomorrow! (smile!)