party of 1 at 2FP

Even though it was announced last week that this week's meeting would be on Tuesday, not Wednesday, no one seemed to have listened except me and Brenda.

She had even updated the google calendar to reflect the change, but she never made it there, due to weather where she was.

As I told her, it wasn't even raining there at 5511 Montgomery Street, at the Two First Posts of Georgia building.

I should know.

I'd arrived just a few minutes before 6 PM, hoping that the American Legion space would be already open from the summer swelter.

Ah, silly me.

I sent out texts to make sure others were on the way.

Brenda Pough was the only one who responded.

So, I set about to wait them out.

That meant walking around and taking photos, naturally.

I am, after all, the Historian for Post 36 and I've been documenting the progress of work at this building for several years. 

The following are what I noted during the 45 minutes I was there.

 

First, the dumpsters have been delivered, so that's good.

Republic will be handling waste management, as they are the company of choice for JKLM, LLC, the canteen managers.

I thought there was to be one dumpster for recyclable materials, but maybe not?

These both seem to be for trash. 

Justin has been busy with this change order from a month or two ago.

He's poured the concrete pad behind the dumpsters, as well as the long concrete walkway that runs up to the back door of the canteen.

The rain almost every afternoon had slowed him down, but at least our few days of just sun have allowed the work.

Next up will be a gated fence to keep out anyone who might illegally use those dumpsters or the forthcoming grease trap!

That means yet another key on Eric Bolden's key ring, as Building Manager.  

So far, he has the keys to both the front and back doors of both 5509 and 5511, as well as to the offices of Post 36 and Post 500, the storage closet, the conference room, and the event ballroom.

That's 9 keys so far.

Glad that's not my responsibility!

I've done my duty, and then some, this evening.

At 6:48 PM, I sent out the following to the other TFP members.

"As no one else has yet arrived, I am taking my leave. 

Hoping to see all next Tuesday."

Anyone else hear those crickets?

what's the perfect amount of ice, ice, baby?

What else would be on my mind on such scorcher summer days?

Remember, Savannah has lots of humidity, so add 10 degrees to those highs.

I run that dining room air conditioner at night, which manages to get the living areas of the house down to about 77 F, which is fine by me.

That means those areas get to the mid-80's in the afternoons.

Again, that's fine by me, and keeps my electric bill below $100 each month.

But part of the reason it's fine by me is I drink a lot of iced fluids.

Ivan Shreve, my fellow member of the League of Savannah Bloggers, posted the above meme on fb to take a poll about that.

"What's the perfect amount of ice?"

In true form as an analytical chemist, I didn't give him just one number. 

"2 usually, sometimes 3, unless it's cold outside. Then it's 1."

He liked that response.

Why not 4 as one of my preferences?

That's too much ice, making it difficult to drink without getting liquids running down my chin or onto my clothing.

Speaking of "perfect", tonight at Music Bingo, Andrew, the new bartender, took my drink order at the table.

Marcia was already in the booth, and the others had not yet arrived.

Andrew asked what I wanted and I said "water", as that's my usual.

He asked, "With or without lemon?"

"Surprise me," I responded... and he did!

I was the only one at our table of 4 that had both lime and lemon!

Sandy and Elissa ordered their drinks from our waiter, and just got lemon.

(smile!) 

None of us won any of the games tonight, but we sure had fun!

"House Party Mix" and "Modern Country Mix #2" were both good music, but it was that first game, with the "Covers Mix", that had us all pleasantly surprised.

Fergie sang Heart's "Barracuda"?

The White Stripes covered "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself"?

Diana Ross singing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was a cover?

Like I said, it was a fun evening with my friends!

Now, it's time for "The Quiz With Balls" and guess who they have tonight?

Star Wars Nerds versus Models - that should be good for a few laughs!

eye of the hurricane...

"He does look a bit like the center of all activity, and all he is doing is sitting on that comfy couch at the back of the Telfair Rotunda."

 

Exactly!!! I'm so glad you see that, too.

 

"Hey, the eye cannot help but be drawn to Sherrill Milnes. As well as being world-renowned for his opera prowess, he's a tall fellow, and holds himself with quite a regal manner."

 

I agree. I do hope some of the others with cameras caught that. Then again it was serendipity that I took the shot. He and I kept catching each other's eye, as we do, and I'd pointed the Alcatel lens at him a time or two. But someone would come up and ask me something and I'd get distracted. As for him, there was a steady current of people headed toward him for a few words, or away after they'd shared a moment. I finally just clicked the shutter!

  

"So, just why were you at this offering of the 14th Annual Savannah VOICE Festival? I know you don't have that kind of money at hand."

 

I was a volunteer usher!!! I dared myself to sign on for some shifts, after Torlef Borsting, the Executive Director, contacted me to see if I was available. I only signed up for this one this weekend, to see how it went, but I have a full slate at the end of next week.

 

"Whoa, girlie! Even with that hitch in your giddy-up still?"

 

In spite of that!!! I'm not sure that anyone much noticed my hobble, though if they did, they didn't say anything. I was so proud of myself for keeping that on the down low! I'd taken an acetaminophen around 3 pm, then another around 5:30 pm, an hour before showtime. That near double hit worked pretty well! Though it was starting to wear thin by show's end at 8:30 pm, making that trek back to my car a bit rough. But I persevered!!! I am so proud of myself!!!

 

"I'm proud of you, too, honey! I know it really hurt your psyche to not be a volunteer for the Savannah Music Festival this year."

 

Yes, but a good bit of by absence there was due to that inguinal hernia repair surgery and the recovery period after. I didn't even drive for a week! For this festival of opera, I was determined to try to be a volunteer again... and I have succeeded!

 

"That's great news! Even better that no one commented on your lameness. And just what was this show tonight?"

 

"A Night Of Rising Stars"!!! This was the first show of the festival, too! They've already had two of the "Masters In Voice" programs this week, with those during the day on Wednesday and Thursday. But Maria Zouves made a big deal of this being the inaugural event for SavVoice14! This was primarily a showcase of the new talent from this year's singers, but there were a few from last year sprinkled in. Like Juan Johnston-Chavez!!! Remember that sweet, and oh-so-helpful, baritone? He finished up the first half of tonight's program with "If Ever I Would Leave You"... and I could swear he was singing it straight to me! How about that? We even talked about the musical "Camelot" which was the source of the song, and it turns out neither of us have ever seen it! Maybe I need to arranged a movie date so we can remedy that. I wonder if comcast has the movie version of the musical?

 

"Oh, girl, you are too funny!"

 

Hey, I can be his dear Auntie while he is around here.Though I would imagine he has a few of those already. Get this: he remembered my name! Like, early on, well before the show began. It took me a minute to recognize him, but when I did, I totally did. You know?

 

"I do. Did you have any other moments with folks there?"

 

Well, sure! Lani Winskye, the VP of Operations, was super glad to see me volunteer again! She made sure Ashley Nunez, in charge of Patron Services, knew she could count on me, and put me to work at once stuffing programs. It wasn't even 5 PM yet! (smile!) But I think one of the favorite people I saw tonight has to be Jessica Ann Best. Remember her?

 

"Hey, that's her curly blonde mop in the center of that group shot, isn't it? I'm so thrilled to see her performing still! What was the song?"

 

"The Sound Of Music", of course!!! (smile!) They were finishing the rehearsal and I just couldn't stay downstairs any longer! So I was lipsyncing along with her, hands in motion, and she smiled at me the whole time - fabulous!!! And that's 22 other singers up there with her for the kind of ending that brought everyone to their feet at the end of the second half of the show. Talk about a showstopper!!! Wow!!!

 

"Well, I'm so glad this has been a good first venture back into the volunteer life!"

 

Me, too, g'friend, me, too. I have so missed this!!!

stepping into the light, at last!

There's something to be said for coming out of a cinema at night and being able to easily see your car in the parking lot.

The AMC Classic 11 has lacked parking lot lights for... months?

I'm trying to recall if they had working lights last fall, but cannot.

It isn't as if I go to night movies any more, since Barbara's death, but I can say that I have actively avoided being there since the parking lot went dark.

Tonight was different.

I'd had a double header and invited Carolyn to join me for the second movie.

Afterward, we came out... and that photo shows what we saw.

Lights!!!

Brightening the night and our paths to our cars!!!

I guess I can stop complaining about the darkness in my survey responses.

Hallelujah!!!

So, just what had we ventured out to see this evening?

Well, my friend had joined me for "The Invite", the latest with Seth Rogen.

He isn't an actor either of us follow, but he has improved of late.

He plays the husband of Olivia Wilde's character, and they're parents of a now-school-aged daughter that we never see.

They live in the house his parents once owned, now split into a duplex, and on this night they're having the noisy neighbors from upstairs over for wine and cheese.

Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz are that pair, still very much in a honeymoon state in their relationship, hence the nightly noise.

(smile!)

It's very much a tale of the new folks trying to get the curmudgeonly folks to loosen up, with the staid couple only doing so after a joint and some tequila, finally reaching to point of being open to wife-swapping... though that activity doesn't go well.

Still it had some funny moments along the way.

Not as many as "One Night Only" did, however!

From the opening premise, of a government-sanctioned night for singles to have sex, to the scene at the Little Red Lighthouse, it was a delightful romp!

Add to the mix that she's a jingle singer, and that final scene is during the filming of one of those drug commercials where everyone sings and dances, and it was right up my alley for fun!

I can't say I'm familiar with Monica Barbaro, but I love the way she embraced her character and I'll be paying better attention to her after this.

(She was up for an Oscar for her portrayal as 'Joan Baez' in the Bob Dylan movie a couple of years ago, but her name didn't stick with me.)

Likewise, Callum Turner isn't a name that resonates with me, though I've enjoyed his characters in the various movies he's been in.

As for the other two movies this week, I've already spoken at length about both "Hadestown: The Musical" as well as "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", so that ends this week's shout-out about my AMC A*List dances!

Now, on to other things!

... other trey tries to take away

The newly-installed commander of Post 500 came to the Two First Posts meeting tonight with a posse in tow.

As well as Emmett from last week, he also had David, Solomon, and Ulysses (husband of Sabrina, who may have been there to support our side).

Yes, Trey Singleton wanted to present a front for his position.

This Two First Posts meeting was held to answer any questions that still lingered from last week's meeting, and so was open to any and all members of both Post 36 and Post 500.

It was important that all understood the landlord relationship that TFP held with respect to all the tenants in that building on Montgomery Street.

John Parker started the meeting by explaining what had happened 18 years ago, when Post 500 lost its charter due to lack of young membership, and how Post 500 had fought to regain its status as an American Legion entity.

He also talked about Post 36 having given up its charter several years ago, as it was about to be taken by the national group, again for lack of young membership.

Doug Andrews said he left Post 184 five years ago and worked with James Putney, the then-Commander of Post 500, to locate a space to purchase for their post's monthly meetings. 

Then, as per John Parker and Doug Andrews, each post put up $450,000 to purchase the building on Montgomery Street.

(I don't know if the Army Surplus store/pawnshop was still a tenant in the building, but I think it was gone; I just know that the drycleaners and the church were tenants at the time and still are.)

The almost million-dollar bank loan for the renovation of the space at 5509 and 5511 began about two years ago, with work still progressing at this time. 

John ended with explaining about the Two First Posts of Georgia LLC being the managing and governing party for the entire building, with a governing panel which had 3-year terms to lead the building toward a goal of serving active military at Hunter AAF, as well as veterans in the community.

(So, as with the last meeting, it was made clear this place has a hefty debt that needs to be paid, as well as current utility bills and such.)

Doug explained that the current President of TFP is Eddie Patterson, who will have that position for approximately another two years, at which time the new President of the LLC will be taken from Post 36, as the position switches hands at the end of each term.

Doug is currently the Vice-President of the LLC, and will hold that title for approximately another two years, at which time it will switch to a member from Post 500.

The two Finance Officers of TFP LLC were the two Treasurers from each Post at the time, meaning they are Joe Cetti and Sabrina Scale, each of which will hold those titles in the LLC for approximately another two years.

John added that the board is currently working on the Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and regulations for operation of the building; that will be forthcoming whenever those have been completed.

Doug added that the facility's focus is on serving active duty military and veterans, not civilian groups.

John remarked that there will be a sign-in book for guests who are not members of either Post 36 or Post 500.

Trey then began his questions, which really were thinly-cloaked demands.

He wanted 8 days (!!!) of each month to be set aside for the monthly meetings of Post 500, including the general meeting, the e-board, the SAL (Sons of American Legion), the Auxiliary, and one other, as well as 3 days for fundraising events.

Brenda explained to him that those five regular monthly meetings are already listed on the TFP google calendar.

John also explained that a screen of events would soon be posted, with street view, so all passersby and interested parties would know who had rented out 5511 Montgomery Street at any time. 

It was also reiterated at that time that all veteran groups meeting in the space needed to sign a Use of Facility Contract, as well as pay $250/quarter, to cover expenses of TFP.

Trey balked, expressing the amount as "$1000 per year" to make it sound like a weighty sum to suddenly spring on the Post's members.

(Note: they are currently paying $250/month at another facility!)

I spoke up with a countering tack, explaining that the amount was "less than $20 per week", and that it covered "all five regular monthly meetings" of Post 500.

(I think I stunned everyone with those numbers.)

John then proposed that a "ceiling date" be set by TFP, at which time neither Post 36 nor Post 500 would have to pay for its monthly meeting space.

Trey brought up that he wants keys for the four officers of Post 500, so they can access the office for Post 500.

John advised him that would be better after TFP has the 20-foot storage container installed behind the building, as both of the offices, as well as the conference room, are stuffed with items at this time.

Eric tried to give Trey a key to the Post 500 office, but Trey declined to accept, as there are currently no forms to serve as a paper trail for that transaction.

(I have made it clear to all that a locking door needs to be installed to protect 5509 from  unwarranted access by folks in 5511 when the restaurant is not open for business; all agreed that Justin is to return for that change order.

I believe it was decided that Eric would do that.)

Trey then brought up a veteran group, Beauties in Boots, that have been trying to access meeting space in the building, to no avail.

Brenda advised him that she has spoken to them and they have permission, they just need to sign a Use of Facility Contract, like everyone else.

There was then some general talk about how one gets elected to the TFP board, though it was repeated that will not be occurring for at least two years.

Then it was 8 PM and the visitors all left.

Whew.

We of TFP stayed about another 30 minutes, then called it a night.

Mostly, we agreed that Larry Jackson was to blame for stirring up this "ownership" business with Trey,

While helping sort out the business license application, he found that the deed for the building was in the names of both Post 36 and Post 500.

Larry interpreted that to mean that he could schedule whatever he wanted there, and so he did, and he was given special permission because he was helping get the liquor license and the business license, right?

But when that largesse dried up after the calendar was created and he couldn't cherry pick the dates he wanted for family graduations and birthdays, he may have felt a bit shut out... and that's when he apparently tossed the ball to Trey.

Geez.

Sabrina and Brenda are onto his game now.

Doug is to handle changing the deed over to Two First Posts LLC, which should bring an end to this thrusting for power and control.

I just hope Trey realizes how Larry used him.

one trey giveth...

I had been in quite a fit by the time I arrived at AMC.

I'd expected to miss the first twenty or thirty minutes of the movie, due to its clash with my appointment time, but I wasn't worried.

I had the prior experience with the clinic for the procedure, and I'd already seen "Hadestown: The Musical" four times, so I was prepared.

I was incorrect.

My experience at the Georgia Skin & Cancer Clinic had been a fiasco, causing me to arrive at the cinema an hour and a half past the movie start time.

Still, I'd reserved my ticket ahead of time, and, due to the 30 minutes of previews, I still would have about 90 minutes of the movie to watch.

Nope, Hailey sent me to the wrong screening room.

When I walked in, there was less than 30 minutes left in the story.

How did I know it was the wrong screening room?

Because I wasn't the only one who came for the 11:15 AM show, but was sent to the room with the 10:15 AM show.

When I asked one of the other viewers, he said he didn't know why the movie "started early", but guessed it might be because the air conditioning was out "in the other room".

That made no sense to me, so I went to the counter to speak with Trey.

It turns out he had added the earlier screening just that morning, so that's why there was a mix-up, but her told me he would make it right for me.

That he did, in a big way!

I had my very own private screening of "Hadestown", starting at 1:43 PM.

I sat through the whole thing, too, even through the end credits, even though I had seen that last twenty-five or so minutes just a few hours ago.

The music from this one has been with me for days, playing itself on my mental jukebox - the songs from the Three Fates ("Wind Comes Up", "A Gathering Storm", "Nothing Changes", "Now That The Chips Are Down", "A Word To The Wise") - songs between Orpheus and Eurydice ("Come Home With Me", "Wedding Song", "Wait For Me", "Doubt Comes In", "Promises") - the song between Hades and Persephone ("How Long") - the songs featuring Hades ("Hey Little Songbird", "Why We Build The Wall") - and others that have stayed with me.

Thanks, Trey, for the gift of seeing this once more, from the beginning...

hoping that this time the love story will come out differently...

knowing that it won't...

but singing the romantic tale anyway.

(smile!) 

paging doctor sidney smith, please

Dear Dr. Sydney P. Smith III,

You need to step in to your office from time to time.

Today, I went to the Georgia Skin & Cancer Clinic to have two more moles excised by Taylor Byrne, your clinician working there. 

This was my fourth visit, by the way, so I have some experience with her.

She also has some experience with me, as she is well aware now that patients on Eliquis need better cauterization to prevent bleeding.

The last time I was there had been July 1st.

That visit, like this one, had been to have two moles removed, as they were moderately displastic nevi on their way to ruin.

That visit had gone well, with me being seen at my appointment time.

The two moles were both on my back, near the spine, and the entire process had me out of there in about twenty minutes.

Not so this time.

 

I had arrived a bit early, hoping for another quick visit, and was the second client in the waiting room.

Within five minutes, I was ushered into one of the inner rooms to await Taylor Byrne.

The time was 11:22 AM.

I was left to my own entertainment....

which, in and of itself, is common...

but time ticked by 

with no one checking on me.

In fact, I took this photo of the Blue Angels

and sent it to my computer to make note.

The time was 11:39 AM.

It was then 9 minutes past my appointment.

I then wandered around in the small room,

looking at other framed photos,

wondering where Taylor Byrne might be,

wondering why she was not there with me

for my appointment. 

This photo of the acrobat was taken at 12:01 PM.

No one had yet reached out to me, even though I had opened the door and asked why I was not being seen on time.

Was it because I am a referral patient from the Savannah VA Center?

Was it because the VA Community Care system was paying for me to be there?

Does the clinic have a problem with treating veterans or military patients?

I have to wonder. 

The redheaded aide who marked this spot certainly seemed to be trying to raise a reaction from me as she dug around with the anesthesia needle.

That time was 12:04 PM, more than 30 minutes past my appointment time.

Taylor Byrne offered no explanation for her tardiness.

She did ask if I wanted to reschedule, even though I had already spent so much of my time for this one that she had botched.

I'm hoping that this time was well spent.

I'm not convinced that the correct mole on my leg was marked.

I guess I will see tomorrow when I remove the sloppy bandage that her assistant put over the cauterized wound.

Meanwhile, Dr. Smith, I expect better on any future visits.

I will certainly let the VA hospital in Charleston know how disrespected this US Navy veteran felt at this appointment.

Sincerely,

Faustina