today starts stella time!

Here's that beautiful Ridgeback girl!

I can't believe this picture has such good focus!!!

Seriously, she hardly ever stops moving.

Dawn and Chris are off to the great white north to officiate for a niece's wedding, so I get to spend time with Stella in Georgetown for a few days.

Yes, it's going to be a bit of a challenge this time, as I still have brain fog from the anesthesia.

I'll just be mindful that there will be zero driving allowed at night time.

I can do that!

To celebrate my vacation here in "north Jacksonville", I let AARP treat me to lunch.

Yes, indeed, that was all paid using AARP Reward Point money, so it cost me not a thing!

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich is what I had as an early dinner and it was good, though a bit small, as it was a half-sandwich.

The Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, with its toasted pecans added for crunch, was a positively delicious lunch, even though it was a half order, too.

I'll be dining on that again some time!

Okay, time to feed Stella!

(smile!)

today, i had a luncheon!

Nothing fancy, mind.

We went to Cici's Pizza, 'cause we all love it and they don't yet have one in Hinesville.

"We" means, me, the first niece, and her two darling daughters!

This was taken at the time that Chloe and Miyah came to ask for money for the game room.

That's a usual occurrence. 

Christina was prepared: a game card purchased before!

Each girl got $1 for whichever game or prize machine they wanted.

Chloe came back with three prizes from her machine!!!

Pretty cool.

Pretty cool that they were in town, too, on this blustery day.

I'd invited them to go see "The Croods" at NCG with me, as it was just $2.

Instead, they were already coming to visit Christina's Nana.

She's been in the hospital the last few days, with a worsening of the blood cancer she's had for the last two decades.

I do hope she is going to get better.

Meanwhile, I got to have lunch with my first niece.

i thank You, God.

today, i went for a drive

I'm not saying I drove down to Hinesville or anything.

It was after my brother, Smitty, had taken me to my post-op appointment with Dr. Whipple and we were back at my house.

 

He could see that my car was covered in oak tree fronds.

The three hours of steady rain on Sunday had knocked them loose from the tree and all over any surface. 

"You want me to stay while you see if your car will start?"

Good idea.

In fact, I told him I would take a little drive, let my Saturn cruise...

and that's what I did.

I went straight to Truman Parkway South and let her run.

It wasn't yet 11 AM and both sides of the parkway were almost deserted.

That was good for my first venture out.

When the exit for White Bluff Road came up, I took it, then circled back on the ramp to hit Truman Parkway North.

By 11:15 AM, I was back to my driveway.

Hallelujah!

I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment with that foray into the world!

I thought, very briefly, of going to a movie.

After all, I haven't been to a cinema since World Theatre Day.

However, I haven't felt deprived in the least.

Between the free movies on Up Faith & Family last week, interspersed with my own reward movies and those on Peacock, I've had plenty to watch.

"Romantic Friction" - a book cover artist gets to play author when the real writer of a fluff romance wants to hide from the limelight; lightweight and funny.

"Starstruck: Gene Kelly's Love Letter To Ballet": not a word is spoken or sung, but there is no doubt about the plot; beautiful and captivating!!!

"My Boss' Wedding" - over-organized assistant is pegged with the groom's loosey-goosey nephew to plan an over-the-top gala in a week... from gown to flowers to food to venue to rehearsal dinner; definitely fun, with a little twist.

"First Dog" - when the pet of the POTUS gets lost and turns up in California, it's up to a foster boy to "do the right thing" and return him; I really liked this one, with all the Dolly Parton music and Eric Roberts as the President with a heart.

"Forgiveness Girl" - follows the childhood of a girl with spina bifida as she seeks friendship with a new girl; gets a bit too intense when the girl tries to kill herself.

"This Little Love Of Mine" - woman returns to her childhood town to convince her childhood friend to take over his family's business; yes, definitely liked this one, with its setting in a tropical cove!

"We're The Millers" - the Thursday reward movie from Comcast had a ragtag instant 'family' on an RV trip to Mexico to smuggle drugs; had some moments of mirth, Jennifer Aniston as a stripper, but a decent ending.

"Five Date Rule" - a widower and a birthday spur two people to the same internet dating site by their family and friends; another good one I'd see again!

"The Other Woman" - an older Cameron Diaz finds the man she's been dating is married and drops him, but his wife insists on being her friend; a bit wacky, but that's to be expected with this cast!

"Airplane!" - I watched this oldie from 1980 just for laughs!

That last one was seen last night, ending my Post Hernia Repair Film Festival right before the post-op meeting with the doctor.

Now, I'm going to watch some TV as I enjoy my dinner.

This is courtesy of Smitty and Mary's Easter repast: brown-sugar ham, green beans, and sweet potato casserole.

I'm watching an episode of "Father Brown" in which he introduces Sister Boniface as "The Forensic Nun".

I enjoy both of those British murder-mystery shows, so it'll be nice to see how the one spun off from the other.

Then, it'll be watching a recorded episode of "Two And A Half Men".

I've discovered I need that show to signal my body that it's time for bed.

If that's what I need, that's what I'll have.

Loss adjustment takes many forms.

today, i got dressed

That most definitely counts as news.

For the last two days, I've been in my nightgown.

That would be all day, all afternoon, all evening, all night.

I wasn't going anywhere, so why get dressed and tempt myself to venture out?

Indeed. 

This morning, I was still in my nightgown as I watched the Easter service - well, the latter part of it - with the Asbury contingent viewing on fb.

I've been in bed every night by 11 PM, if not before. 

Last night, however, had brought a bout of insomnia that had me up every hour until I relented and stayed up.

I watched the Thursday reward movie from Comcast: "Meet The Millers".

I dimly recalled seeing it before, though I'd somehow forgotten about Jennifer Aniston's stripper routines.

By the time it was done, I was ready for sleep, as the time coincided with my regular bedtime, i.e., about 2:30 AM.

I woke up about 10:30 AM, but didn't leap out of bed.

After all, I'm not the Easter bunny.

Bah dumm dum.

Just a little - very little! - joke to show I'm still here. 

(smile!) 

I caught most of Rev. Billy's sermon, so that was good.

Then came the "Alleluia Chorus" at the end, with folks in the congregation being invited to come up on stage with the choir.

I really loved that!

I seemed to liven me up, too.

After putting away to breakfast remains (Chocolate Ensure and two fig cookies), and verifying that my bowels were working well, I got dressed.

I'm wearing my dark blue dress with daisies.

Technically, it's a nightgown with pockets, but it looks like a casual dress and I've worn it as such on several occasions.

I will say this: it feels good to be in clothes for a change.

That includes wearing a bra for the first time since Wednesday morning. 

(smile!) 

And now, I have a lovely bouquet of flowers from the Easter service!

Chuck Long came by to deliver them just a few minutes ago.

My thanks to Asbury Memorial Church for this gorgeous display!

Now, what shall I do with my day?

Do I dare to drive my car yet?

Hmm... no, I think not.

While it's true that this is the first day that my brain doesn't still reel from anesthesia, I prefer to wait until tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I have plenty of movies to watch on TV.

Let me go find which one is next...

right foot, left foot

It's 0555 in the morning and here I stand.

I'm in one of the pre-surgery prep rooms here at Memorial Hospital.

Allie left me here to put on the compression socks and slipper socks myself.

Of course, that means the left foot is clad and the right one... well, I've already let her know that I cannot contort to do that one, so she'll have to for me.

I don't think she really understands the ramifications of someone having an inguinal hernia.

At least I won't have it much longer.

bday9 party for miyah!!!

Here she is, the littlest girl no longer, being regaled with song by the wait staff at La Parrilla of Pooler!!!

Who are all those people around her at the table?

Those would all be members of Anthony's family: his mom, a sister, three brothers, and their spouses, fiancees, and children.

Seriously, there must have been at least 20 of them there!

The first niece and her family all had to sit at another table.

From the wall, that's Leila, Uncle Michael, the birthday girl, her Grammy, and her Mama, my dear Christina.

On the other side of this table was Miyah's Aunt Chelsea (holding AnnaLeigh), Uncle Dillon, her sister Chloe, and her other cousin, Alyssa.

Off to the right of Chelsea was Pop-pop (i.e., Matt).

There was just no way to get him into the frame - I tried!

I actually sat on Matt's right, at the end of this table, across from where Anthony would have sat (but he didn't make it in time).

Here's the nine-year-old birthday girl opening the gift bag from me!

Unicorn-emblazoned blank book for poems and songs and drawings!

Plastic ruler with Medieval artwork including a beautiful Unicorn!

Even a Unicorn change purse!!!

She loves Unicorns!!!

Ah, yes, a girl after my own heart!!!

I'm so glad I ventured out to Pooler for this party!

If not, I would not have known the seemingly-endless construction on I-16 had, at last, come to a close.

There's even a dedicated lane for entry from I-516, instead of that horrid left-hand merge that's been there for years.

Plus, there are new, sweeping, exit lanes for I-95 in both directions, making the transition easy and safe.

I just may make more trips to Pooler now... during the day, that is.

Thanks for having this 3-hour party at 1:30 PM!

Daylight all the way there and back!

Safe travel conditions for all party goers!

(smile!)

theatre: not just on the stage

Happy World Theatre Day!!!

Actually, that was yesterday, but I wasn't able to see a live performance until this evening, so I'm celebrating it over a 32-hour span.

(smile!)

I began at the cinema, of all places, with me unaware that I had done so until after the credits had rolled.

The movie was "Forbidden Fruits", seen at the AMC, with only one other person at that 1:35 PM matinee, but she seemed to be laughing in all the same places I did.

Very nice, as I know my sense of humor can be a bit different!

Anyway, after the movie, I spoke to the other viewer and found out why she was there at this "Valley Girls gone bad" horror-comedy.

She was best friends, since college days 16 years ago, with the playwright whose work was the basis of the movie... say what?!

Yep, that's right!

Lily Houghton's play, "Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die', was first performed in 2019.

Last year, the play was deemed worthy of life as a movie, with that script co-written by Lily Houghton and Meredith Alloway, following closely the narrative of the play, but with fruits, not flowers, and set in a mall, not a single store.  

How very cool that, at the end, one of the characters wore a cropped t-shirt with the play's name emblazoned upon it! 

Nice way to pay homage to the play!

(smile!)

That gave me the impetus to look at other movies for their theatre.

So, when I got home, I watched "Wonka" again!

Comcast gave me a $1 Movie Night reward on Thursday and that's the movie I chose!

So, when I say "again", I'm referring to that night, not to the time three years ago when I first saw it.

Heck, I've seen this musical so many times since then!!!

However, I was incorrect in thinking that it had ever been on the stage.

No, this was an original story, serving as the origin of the character portrayed by Gene Wilder in "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory" in 1971.

That earlier movie was based on the book by Roald Dahl... but was never performed on stage, either. 

That's not to say that stage adaptations were never done... but that didn't transpire until this century. 

Now, there are children's musicals, an opera, and even a musical that's appeared on The Went End in London!

Maybe I'll get to see one of those someday - but certainly not within my stated 32-hour timeframe allocated for celebrating World Theatre Day.

Next!

(smile!)

Peacock to my rescue!

It offered "Les Miserables", the 2012 musical film with Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman in the lead roles!

And what should I determine as I watched?

It's an opera!!!

How to tell the difference?

In an opera, every line, by every character, is sung, with no spoken parts.

Ta dah!!!

It's based on the 1980 'sung-through' stage musical, "Les Miserables", which is based on the 1862 book written by Victor Hugo.

Although the movie is technically not a filmed version of a live play, it does use the same musical score as the stage musical did.

The difference is the dramatic license taken with the setting of those songs in elaborate constructions that would be impossible for a staged show.

However, as the film follows the stage production and utilizes the same lyrics in the same songs, I'm regarding it as a legitimate creation to include in my celebration!

Yes, yes, I am!!!

(smile!)

That brings me to the only live performance in this grouping.

I had hoped to see the Savannah Children's Theatre's production of "Evita" yesterday, but the Friday Fiesta ran too long... so I went tonight!

I even bought my ticket last night, to make sure to have a seat.

See, this was held in their brand-new Black Box space at the Starcastle.

Most such spaces hold 50 to 100 seats, so I didn't want to miss the show!

Fortunately, this Black Box can seat about 250.

Surprisingly, this is actually an opera, though it's called a 'sung-through musical', which is a bit off as Hanna Richmond, who plays 'Eva Peron', clearly has several arias during the show!!!

She is on-stage almost nonstop, along with the narrator, 'Che', performed absolutely perfectly by Desmond Chaney.

Austin Bradley was there as 'Peron', and Trey Wilner as 'Magaldi', but they truly don't have many lines as those characters.

Austin does have an incredible courting dance with Hanna, who also dances with 'Magaldi' and 'Che'... but that dance with Austin is beautifully done!

Honestly, I was so impressed with the stage story that I wanted to know more about that Argentinian woman, the real Eva Peron.

What did I learn?

She moved to Buenos Aires as a 15-year-old determined to be famous, hence her affair with the entertainer, followed by future affairs with men who could advance her to where she wanted to be, a position of prominence.

She attained that by the age of 26 with Juan Peron, just a Colonel at the time, but encouraged him to further his career to become President of Argentina.

Then she died of cervical cancer in 1952, at 33 years old.

Incredible! 

So, was this play based on a book of her life?

Actually, it originated first as a concept album, of all things!

That was in 1976, and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice used that tactic, already proven successful for their show, "Jesus Christ Superstar", six years earlier.

How amazing!!!

I've truly enjoyed looking at the history of these works.

I'll have to do a bit more of that in the future!

(smile!)