dinner and a movie with Carolyn!!!

That wasn't the order in which we intended to do those things, but the Universe had better plans for us!

I'd called her earlier about a new movie with a bit of burlesque and drag queens about it and she was all in!

Then we got to the AMC Cinema... and the movie was not yet there.

The mothership had been remiss in sending it along, even though they'd posted it as available on the website.

Tom was there, and he assured us it would be up for the later screening.

So off mi amiga and I went to Texas Roadhouse!!!

I had a yet another winner from the SING fundraiser to use, and this time I wasn't keeping all the goody for me.

For this "Dinner For Two" coupon, I wanted to share it with my friend who I haven't seen for over a month.

She was fine with that!

She even picked up the tip... though that may be because she was quite taken with tall, cool, Josh, with the flirty smile.

Yes, he really was good to us!

Then we returned to the cinema... and Tom was good to us, too!

That movie still wasn't done loading up, so he gave each of us two AMC passes to use for any other movie, any time!

What a treat!!!

I convinced her to see "I Love Boosters", with its time-travel antics and bedroom-eyes Lakeith, and she very much enjoyed it!

It was her first time seeing it, so I'm glad to share that with her, too. 

That gave me a third dance for this week's A*List, so that was good.

I've already written about that middle one, but not the one seen last Friday.

That's funny, actually, as I've talked it it with so many!!!

It's all because of the music in it.

Brian May's guitar work absolutely elevates "Masters Of The Universe" to epic level, putting it on a par with "Flash Gordon" in my eyes.

Queen - and, my default, Freddie Mercury - lives on in this new movie!!!

Nicholas Galitzine is pretty cool, too, coming off as a younger, and even nicer, superhero than Sam Jones' version of the King Features comic hero in that 1980 film I love. 

Here's the funny thing about that: Galitzine will be 32 in September.

Jones was just 26 years old when he played Flash Gordon.

Not much difference in their ages, but I was sure the one who just played 'He-Man' was the younger man!

Maybe it's just the way the character is formulated in this movie.

Cast out of his Universe, much as Superman had been...

but at the same age that Peter Quill was when Yondu took him...

'Prince Adam' has abandonment issues the other two did not.

So, when he shows up as a grown man with a job in a Human Resources capacity to resolve workplace issues, it's believable.

That's a very different start for a one-day He-Man...

which, by the way, was the moniker he gave himself as a boy, when he was trying to make sure he didn't forget all the family and others who had been in his life, back in that Universe in which he spent his first decade.

Like I said, younger and nicer... a quality he shares with the other superheroes I adore, like Superman and Flash Gordon and the Star Lord.

Very nice!

catching up at dawn!

"You mean, catching up with Dawn, right? I know darn well you were not up at the break of day to do anything."

 

Hey, you know me! Though I do wake up around that time to go pee. The sun comes streaming gloriously into my personal aquarium to let me know it's there! I usually will take another dose of acetaminophen then, too, before crawling back into bed for another coupla hours.

 

"So your right leg is still painful???"

 

As I tell everyone, it is so much better than it was, but it's not quite normal. But it's better enough that I'm only taking about 2000 to 2500 milligrams of pain relief, instead of maxing out every day at 3000. What I need to do is get my happy ass to the purple planet and start back on the treadmill. Soon, I promise!

 

"Yes, I've heard that before... but that harangue will wait for another time. Tell me about your luncheon with the Georgetown lass!"

 

That was at The King & I, naturally, so we could both get our Thai food fix. Between travels with her sales job and travels with family, she's out of town a lot. So, these luncheons are the one on one time we get every six to eight weeks. Last weekend, she was up in Virginia visiting two of her nieces before sales meetings on Monday. Friday, she leaves for California to meet with some friends before sales meetings on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday, she and Chris will be off to Chicago to visit his ailing uncle, her bestie Elaine, and other friends and family. My guess is some of that will be a celebration of her upcoming 62nd birthday.

 

"No doubt. I remember how much traveling you once did at her age! I know that was just six years ago, but there's been a lot of changes for your body since 2022. The A-fib really slowed you down for a while there. Then you had that inguinal hernia issue since last August. It's all conspired to keep you closer to home."

 

Don't remind me. At least I've been getting mini-vacations at her house! Another of those is coming up on Wednesday! It's almost like going to a resort, as they have such beautiful views in the front and back of their house. And I'll be there until Father's Day! Four mornings that I can have breakfast on the back porch with Stella, watching birds on the canal!

 

"I'm thinking you won't have to be like Goldilocks with the beds this time. Now that the urinary tract infection has been cured, your kidneys won't be hurting like they were."

 

Hey, good point! I've been sleeping better at home, too. I was waking every couple of hours, sometimes having to switch to the other side of my bed. Honestly, I was thinking I might need to buy a new mattress! Glad that's not an issue now!!

 

"You never did say what you ate during y'all's two-hour luncheon. Just what dish does that lovely photo document?"

 

It's 'The King & I Salad' and it marries two of the things I enjoy: Nam Sod and a crispy, flavorful plate of veggies! I say 'Nam Sod', but the pork was not ground up, like in that dish. It's still seasoned the same, but in slices. So very good!!! I really should post that in TripAdvisor.

 

"You sure are having a lot of salads these days."

 

I am absolutely determined to never, ever have to deal with an inguinal hernia again. Never, ever. Salads help keep the bowel movements regular and easy, and I've really noticed the difference. Ya gotta give those intestinal muscles something to squish and move along!!

 

"Yeah, okay, I hear you, but I think I'll move along now."

 

Do what ya gotta do, dearie! (smile!)  

spending more aarp money!

I've been shopping like a woman possessed!

Some of these AARP e-gift certificates I've had for three years.

Why have I just been sitting on that free cash?

Let me say, that's coming to an end.

In the last two days, I've used nine e-gift certificates - NINE!!!

Yesterday, I spent a total of $35 on six of those AARP e-gift 'cards', with four used to benefit others and two just for me.

Today, I was out shopping again, this time with those three AARP e-gift certificates for Walgreens.

The impetus was the need for Vitamin C.

Usually I would go to CVS, so I could guerilla-shop.

I kno where everything is, so I can get in, get what I need, get out!

However, I had $20 of e-cash for Walgreens, so there I went, and look what I  found... a package of pretty new ponytail holders!

They were on sale, too.

(smile!) 

i was 1 of 5 again!

"Was there another special meeting at the Savannah VA Center?"

You do realize this is Monday, right? And that I was one of five last week for Music Bingo here at the Midtown Sports Grill?

"Pardon me if I don't count how many folks you list."

It's alright, dearie, I know you have other things on your mind than math. As for me, I like to have fun with numbers. You know this is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America being a country, right?

"Well, of course I know that. It's also the 50th anniversary of your graduation from Jenkins High School, though I haven't heard of a party for that yet."

Nope, neither have I. But I did hear that this was the 150th anniversary of Anheuser-Busch! They're touring the Clydesdale horses around the USA at various historic sites and they were here in Savannah last Saturday. They were at at Grayson Stadium for its 100th anniversary!!! Well, kinda sorta. They were adjacent to the baseball stadium, but the Bananas had a game there, so it would have been too crowded for security of the horses.

"I would think so! And you forgot a personal anniversary for you. This makes 30 years since you got your PhD at FSU!"

You're right! Nice that it falls where it does with these other numbers!

"Yes, indeed. Now, what's this about '1 of 5' for Music Bingo?"

Well, there was me. Elissa came with Sandy. Plus Amanda brought Merritt along. That made five of us, so we were at a table again, instead of a booth. I like that much better, as I can stretch my legs. It also helps for dancing in my seat, which I did a lot tonight! Such great music Russ was playing all night!

"Very good!!! It's always more fun with good tunes!"

This was my card for the first game. Just look at that diagonal!!! What a story that bingo would tell!!! "Call Me" to be "Flirtin' With Disaster" over a Free Space, then there'll be "Dancing In The Dark" while I "Kiss You All Over" - mercy me, I'd have had to go home for a cool shower if those had all come up as a winner for me!

"Hahahaha!!! Yes, I know you would have!!! You can be such a sailor!!!"

Hey, I just can't help it... or just won't... take your pick! (smile!)

"So, did Sandy win again tonight?"

No, she did not. I was the only winner at our table and that was for the second game. It was "New School Rock Mix #1" and had a lot of tunes I was singing at the table. That prompted Merritt to suggest we have a karaoke night some time!!! I know Sandy would be down for that, too.

"Hey, doesn't his band have a gig at Tybee Post Theater this month?"

Yep, but I can't go. It's on June 28th, and, as I told him tonight, I have colonoscopy prep that day and night, so I'll be at home. Certainly can't be spewing body fluids all over town! LOL!

"For sure. So, what did you win?"

The second game's prize is always a free appetizer, so that's mine now! I didn't have food tonight, just a lemonade, made fresh by Chris. Really good, too! Nice and tart, but not sweet, and ice cold.

"That does sound good!"

It was, as was the music. My bingo was on the opposite diagonal to that above, starting with "Glycerine" in the lower right and ending with "Kryptonite" in the upper left. BINGO!!!

"Good one! You've even heard Three Doors Down perform that in concert!"

Right?! It was just perfect! And the couple sitting near us clapped for me! The guy told me I 'deserved to win because I was singing along to all the songs"!!! That really made me feel special!!!

"Well, it sounds like you're doing well at carrying a tune these days. That's very good! I know you've always enjoyed singing. I hope you and your friends will do some karaoke in the near future. That will be great fun!"

Yes, it will, most definitely. Now, I'm going to enjoy my House Salad along with this new "Game With Balls". In honor of the FIFA tournaments, they're using giant soccer balls to bop folks into the water for wrong answers. Tonight, the USA is taking on England for fun and dips in the channel! Later!

spreading the love, thanks to aarp gifts

What else can I call those gift certificates from AARP?

These were either won while playing a slot machine game, a la Vegas, or they were obtained by earning Reward points watching videos or such.

They didn't cost me a penny.

But today, I took a 10-buck certificate and three 5-buck certificates to Barnes & Noble and used them to buy three future gifts for others.

 

I have my brother Smitty to thank for the inspiration to make that use of the gift cards.

I had thought to use them to buy a new game, perhaps, but then I saw this. 

Smitty has been quite taken with gnomes for the last decade, and this practically screamed his name!

The sale price, down from $25, was a good reason to buy it for him, too, so that's what I did.

Then I saw this lovely and thought of Chloe.

I've never even heard of the Kawaii Fun artistic toys, but there were quite a few items at the store.

This Super-Cute Kawaii Fun Activity Case sounded like just the thing for bday8 of that great-niece!

Her big sister usually gets all the new art stuff, so I want Chloe to have her own case full of goodies.

I also liked that it was on sale for half the original cost.

Onward I went to search for more discounted treasures!

That's when I found this.

it's a rainbow-themed blank book with a velvety soft outer jacket.

I remembered how Leila had liked the blank book I gave Miyah, so I think she will love this one!

It was originally marked at $18.99, but was 75% off - what an incredible deal!

All totaled, the three future gifts for loved ones cost me $1.20 at the register.

Shopping smarter is what I try to do.

After all, I just finished my 8th year of being retired.

Thanks, AARP, for helping me stretch my money.

happy birthday from loyalty clubs!

Thank you, Bath & Body Works!

That Cherry Blossom body lotion is exactly what I recommended to my niece, Aubree, for her bday14!

With my AARP $5 gift card, all of this was mine for just $3.51 - woohoo!

Thank you, Texas Roadhouse!

The free Killer Ribs is what I eagerly await with an-ti-ci-p-p-pa-tion every year for my birthday, and this will be lunch tomorrow!

However, for today's lunch, I ate the Texas Chili poured over the baked potato, while it was all good and hot.

Oh, my, how absolutely delicious!!!

It's rather pretty, too, isn't it?

It's so good, too, while it's hot.

Sure, I've eaten it warmed up before, but nothing compares to it fresh!

Next time, I'll ask for sour cream for the baked potato - that will top it off very well!

Tonight, I'll dine on the House Salad for dinner.

That's the best part of that Country Dinner - I can get at least two meals off it!

And all of that lagniappe was $4.68 for me!

Thank you, Texas Roadhouse, for the free rib basket!

Thank you, AARP, for the $5 gift card!

Thank you, Tony and Laura, for that last little bit on the Christmas gift card!

 

bananas at night, bananas in the afternoon, kinda sorta

What's with the 'kinda sorta'?

There weren't any Savannah Bananas there at all!

This is from last night's game of the Party Animals versus the Coconuts. 

It was the bottom of the second inning, there in Milwaukee, so the Party Animals were at bat, as they were the 'home' team.

Why was that?

Well, one of the players was from that area.

That's all I know about that.

As for what's going on here, the man at bat had sent a ball flying, so the Party Animal on third base had lit out for home, trying to tie up the score.

Meanwhile, it was unclear whether the hit ball had been fair or foul...

but it was clear that the runner to home was out...

but the home umpire didn't want to make the call until the first base umpire had made his decision.

As it turned out, that was a double out for the 'home' team.

 

The game went on there at the American Family Field, lickety split, and soon enough it was time for a batter to give us a show...

and that's exactly what Andy Cosgrove did!

He entered the stadium singing like a rock star, doing "Mr. Brightside" every bit as well as The Killers ever did - oh, yeah!

Then, as he neared the batter's box, he stripped off his jersey... RAWR!!!

I just wish my photo was a bit clearer of him starting his run after his hit!!!

 

That game came close to not having a 9th inning.

See, it's the bottom of the 8th inning, and the Party Animals only have one out.

The time clock shows 4:52 remaining on the 2-hour game clock.

If the clock ran out before the 8th inning ended, then that would become the last inning of play.

The Coconuts had scored 4 runs that inning.

If the 8th inning became the last inning, those runs would all count as points.

That could well mean a loss for the Party Animals!

But the game did continue into the 9th inning, with about a minute left on the game clock.

That was a close call!

Not that it mattered, as the Coconuts gained the point for the 8th inning, and neither team scored a run in the 9th inning.

Final score: Coconuts 4, Party Animals 2.

 

Fast forward to the afternoon game today.

I had other plans, so I recorded it to view later, as I've now done.

This time, the Coconuts were actually playing Banana Ball.

Yesterday, these boys from the MLB were playing like they were still in the majors, meaning they were heavy on the baseball and short on trick plays.

I think Jesse Cole must have had a good talking to them about that.

If they're going to be in the Banana Ball League, the tricks are required.

See, there he is, sporting Party Animals hot pink under his yellow tux!

 

The game had been a bit slower than yesterday's.

The only point had been in the first inning, by the Coconuts.

It wasn't until the bottom of the 7th that the Party Animals tied it up.

The Coconuts were still far behind the Party Animals in trick plays, though.

They lagged with only 6 to the 'home' team's 14 - wow!

That meant they would not get the equivalency Point in the 8th inning, nor did they get the Point for that inning.

Heading into the 9th, with 16 minutes still on the play clock, the score was Party Animals 2, Coconuts 1... and so it still was after the Loco Beach Coconuts had their last at-bat there in Milwaukee.

Woohoo, a win for the Savannah Party Animals...

but also a win for the Savannah Bananas and Jesse Cole.

Tanner Thomas, Kyle Perry, Bryson Bloomer, Garret Delano - all four played today for one team or the other, and all four had been with the Savannah Bananas when they were still a summer collegiate team at Grayson Stadium more than six years ago.

 

So, how about some stats for the six teams in this Banana Ball League?

Well, somebody is keeping up with those!

The Bananas are half a game out of first place, which is sewed up by that Texas team I have not yet seen play.

Everyone else is three games or more out of the running, but the season is still young.

I'll pay more attention after July to who looks good for the championship.

Go, Party Animals!!!

(smile!)