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

 

bday80 and bday68 dinners with friends!

Bet that's a bit confusing, isn't it?

Let me straighten it out, shall I?

My dear friend Carolyn turned 80 years old last Friday, but was quite busy being regaled by others - hooray!

Yesterday was finally my turn to fete her!

Her choice was Texas Roadhouse, so she could have that country fried chicken in white gravy again.

I'm so glad to have been able to bring a smile to her face with that birthday dinner!

I chose the grilled salmon - always so delicious!

Then off we went for an evening movie! 

Wonder of wonders, neither of us had yet seen "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", which has finished a very successful opening weekend.

The Big-D screening was at 5 PM, which was perfect after our 3 PM slunch.

What an exciting film!

Seeing it in Big-D for the first time was definitely the right decision, as the webslinger was back and forth across that great expanse of silver screen again and again!

We both loved it, especially that "Big" moment between 'Peter' and 'Ned' at the film's end.  

Very touching, literally and figuratively!!!

Still, as entertaining as the movie was, and as much of blockbuster as it is, we both agreed that we felt a bit lost watching it. 

After all, it's been five years since the last movie in this series with Tom Holland, and 'Peter' had been an aggravating teenager then.

That would mean the now 30-year-old actor is portraying a 23-year-old character, albeit a 'Peter' who appears older as he has been bereft of his two best friends for those five years. 

I can attest that loss will certainly age a person.

In his case, it had been his decision to ask Dr. Strange to wipe out memory of him from the minds of 'MJ' and "Ned', so there's that.

Bear in mind that he was a teenaged boy making bad decisions.

Now, he's been living with the repercussions of that decision and it's starting to work on his lust for life.

So far, I get all of that.

But how does that tie in with 'Black Widow' and 'The Hulk'?

I very much feel a need to rewatch some of the earlier movies!

 

So what about that "bday68 dinner" stuff?

That's all about me!

The physicist has returned from his summer vacation in oHIo and this is our first get-together since April.

Want to have three guesses where we were?

You got it: Texas Roadhouse!

The manager even said she recognized us, which threw him for a loop until I explained about being there yesterday with Carolyn - hahaha!

I again had the salmon, but with fries instead of the baked sweet potato.

There was one more difference - this time, I was the one treated to the free birthday dinner!

Many thanks, my bfe!!!

So wonderful to catch up with him after so long, too.

I had suggested several movies, but he wasn't interested in any of them, not even the two with Olivia Wilde.

That was a surprise, but I think he's just in such a more relaxed state after almost two months with Jeannette.

I am so glad that he's happy and in love again!

Now, how to wrangle an invite to his condo near Bell's Landing so I can check out his new digs in the 'Vannah?

I'll have to suggest a pizza and movie night in the next few weeks.

(smile!)

Mountainfilm for 5th summer!!!

I had thought it was going to be next weekend, so it kinda sorta snuck up on me this year.

In early June, I'd reserved five seats for my and Christina's family, as well as one for her boyfriend of the past year.

Remember, I did that last year, too, even though she and Anthony had only known each other a few months. 

Then, on Thursday, I saw the email reminding me... 

reading that the MountainFilm On Tour Savannah was in two days...

yikes!

I let my first niece know, but she wasn't able to go on short notice.

How about Michael and the twins?

Nope, they couldn't, neither.

That's okay, I was still going to partake of these movies not otherwise available to me at the local cinemas.

I've been enjoying these Telluride films for the 16 years they've been here!

The big program will be in January, of course, but I also like these short film festivals in the summer and for Veterans Day. 

There were five films from Telluride, plus a local one from a group of guys named Max at Savannah Arts Academy... seriously!

The young men screened "Clean Coast Club: Tides Of Change", a four-minute short that featured them cleaning up the marshes and beaches around, and between, Tybee and Savannah.

As we were all at Savannah Arts Academy for this film festival, they received a very nice round of applause!!!

The first film from Telluride was from 2025, a 34-minute documentary titled "What The River Knows", featuring songs from Katie Lee.

She fell in love with the Colorado River and its beaches in Glen Canyon, then became an environmental activist who called for the closing of the Glen Canyon Dam and the return of the area to its natural state.

That was followed by a shorter, 10-minute, piece, "The Opening Prayer (Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen), with spoken Iroquois and English subtitles.

Although beautifully done, with many Native Americans taking part in each stanza of the prayer for the Creator, Earth, water, fruits, trees, medicine, and more, I couldn't help but remember that younger audience members would have felt a bit left out, with only lovely photos on the screen.

(I did find an English-spoken version on youtube, though.)

I was a little surprised that the third film hadn't been saved for the Veterans Day screenings, as its focus was a Coast Guard veteran.

Titled "First In, Last Out", the 25-minute documentary followed surf photographer Christa Funk, who was always in place in the water before the surfers arrived.

What incredible images she captured!!!

I do believe Miyah and Chloe would have loved that one!!

"About Damn Time: The Dory Women of Grand Canyon" was the fourth from the Telluride film festival.

It was 24 minutes of white water rafting in little boats called dories, which are regarded as "the ballerinas" of the rapids.

It was so much fun to watch those guides cum cooks power rowing down the Colorado River in those six-person crafts!

In fact, I'm glad I found the video on youtube to watch again!!!

Yes!

After that fourth film, there was a brief intermission to give away t-shirts and other souvenirs for those kids who could answer questions.

I took a bathroom break... and missed the last film!

"Strike - Mary Rand" was only 3 minutes long...

but I found it, too, on youtube!!!

Nice to cool off while watching all that shushing in snow!

Very nice way to be welcomed home by the arts from the cruise vacation!

(smile!)