today, i wore an easter bonnet!

"Put on your Easter bonnet

with all the frills upon it

and we will have 

a very merry

Easter Parade!"

That Irving Berlin song from 1933 has been on my mind ever since the theme of this Sisters In Faith luncheon was announced last month.

Such a catchy little number!

I fashioned my head-topper by wrapping the Periodic Table scarf around the bright pink bowl of the hat that always brings happy thoughts of Mama.

Thanks, Cathy of El Cerrito, for that gift!

It went so well with my Spring-time dress!

That's what Linda Combs and Michelle Meece told me, so I know it to be true!

Here they are, with our gracious event planner wearing one of the cutest hats there!

Just look at those bunny ears!!!

Linda, I just know Bugs Bunny would be thrilled, too!!!

Those were more bunny ears, too.

That's Sherry Giddens, at the end of my table, sporting huge ears atop her bonnet!

Judy Wilburn's summer hat boasted flowers against its straw!

And there were three ladies at the table beside us who all wore flower-bedecked bonnets! 

That's Kathy Hodges, in the pink dress, in the middle, between the lady in the orange hat and the one in the green.

My table had a mother and daughter wearing bonnets!

The daughter, Jenni, had her 61st birthday yesterday.

Her mom, Linda, tried to scoot out of the photo, but I caught her!

To me, they were the belles of this ball at Holliday Hall - they brought three boxes of Chick-Fil-A nuggets!!!

I signed up to bring finger sandwiches, substituting two trays of sushi.

(That's them between the chips and tower of cucumber sandwiches.)

Cheri Hester brought sushi, too, as did one other - so much for me bringing something different!

That just meant I had sushi to take home for dinner tonight.

(smile!)

Here's the array of Easter bonnets that came today, arranged in competition on the stage here at Asbury Memorial's social hall.

I bet there were at least fifteen!!!

That's Linda and Michelle, making sure each entry has been assigned a number for the voting process.

 

The winner was worn by Cece Colman!

That's her, on the left, with the Mexican sombrero-style hat with all the fringe and little Easter bunnies.

I bet that laden bonnet weighed at least ten pounds!

That's means I wouldn't have been able to pick it up, per post-surgery orders, for at least another three weeks.

That's pretty impressive, as was the hat with the twinkle lights!

Here's a funny story!

Right after I snapped that photo, the two women realized their hats had gotten snagged.

Oh, no!

But I have plenty of practice with branches in my long hair, so set to work untangling Cece's fringe from Mary's foliage.

I just let my fingers feel their way, loosening the two from each other, just as I've done in my yard on many occasions.

Hooray!

And who was our guest speaker today?

Kim Polote, someone I'd rescued from a clothing emergency years ago!

It was while I was a volunteer usher at the Lucas Theatre.

She was to perform in a Christmas show, but the gown she was in didn't quite fit at the top of the bodice.

I happened to be in the bathroom when she was in distress about her dress...

and I happened to have several safety pins with me...

so, calamity avoided and distress dispersed!

Right place, right time!

Of course, that's been at least fifteen years ago.

Today, she was there to share songs with us at this happy luncheon!

"Wind Beneath My Wings" was merged seamlessly into "Over The Rainbow" before she said her first words to us.

Later, led us all in singing "This Little Light Of Mine", clapping joyously!

Then she gave us "Change Is Gonna Come" and one her own songs, "Everything Must Change".

In between all that music, she told her life stories and encouraged us to "find the message in the mess" life sometimes hands us.

Absolutely lovely!

She also talked of celebrating the joy wherever we find it, even in a movie, such as "Me, You & Tuscany"...

and I spoke up that I'd just seen it yesterday!!!

That made her smile and got everyone's attention. 

Right place, right time!

today, i completed my dance card

I already shared my philosophy of back to back double headers.

Now that all four films have been watched, let's get to them, shall we?

 

Yesterday, it was "Newborn" and "The Drama".

The first was about 'Chris Newborn', a man who went to prison in lieu of his younger brother for a hit-and-run death.

He ended up in solitary for seven years - yes, very hard to believe that part - when he saw guards kill an inmate.

Eventually, he's released to his wife and their autistic son, born after he went to prison.

His wife tries to get them into a family frame of mind at a resort, but things go a bit haywire.

It could have been a good film, but for unknown reasons, it incorporated horror elements which were a distinct distraction.

"The Drama" also held horror elements, in the form of a stupid drinking game that led to a near-moment of weakness being taken as actual.

Zendaya plays a young woman, 'Emma', who grew up in isolation, partly due to frequent moves around the country during her youth, then deafness in one ear during her teens.

So when her fiance's mettling friends start a game of "who did the worst thing ever", she answers honestly... and has it immediately cause a rift not only with his friends, but also with him.

"What if"... but it didn't happen, so why should it matter?

Ack.

Today's duo I had expected to be lighter.

I was half-right.

"You, Me, & Tuscany" was beautifully filmed in Italy, with lots of talk of good food and good drink and a special summer party that had notes of Il Palio of Siena - yes!

Here's the thing, though: it had all the earmarks of a Hallmark rom-com and I was absolutely sure by the end of it that I had seen both leads in movies of that ilk.

Near as I can tell, neither Halle Bailey nor Regé-Jean Page have been in any of those movies, nor the rom-coms of similar streaming services.

I sure hope they'll consider those - they were fabulous in this one!

I'll most def be seeing it again!

Not so for the other two movies in this quartet, nor this last one.

I misunderstood what "A Great Awakening" was about.

I expected a history lesson on my Great-Uncle Ben Franklin and his friendship with George Whitefield...

and so it was...

but I hadn't known who that other fellow was...

nor did I know of the religious revivals he instigated in England and brought to the colonies in the 1730's and 1740's.

What I learned about my ancestor was this: he was the tenth son of his religious father, who pledged him as a tithe to God.

Seriously.

No wonder the young man had turned to working in the print shop of his older brother, James (our forefather), to escape home.

I'm glad I managed to see four movies on this A*List, but I'll be hoping for some that are more pleasurable next week.

today was tina tuesday, for sure

How could I be so sure?

I went to a double header at the cinema.

Those were the first movies I've seen at AMC since the last Friday of March.

Hard to believe, isn't it?

True, though.

I had to be able to drive before I could take myself.

I'd considered going to a movie over the weekend, but I couldn't find one that fit the parameters of my vacation with Stella.

Namely, the movie had to end before dark and it preferably should be over in time for Stella's social engagement with Coco.

That was all to the good, though.

I knew good weather lay ahead, so I could wait.

Now, it's Tina Tuesday, and it's great weather, and there are more than four movies playing that I have not yet seen!

So many choices!!!

That meant I needed a game plan.

I needed to analyze the movie schedule so I could not only watch two movies today, but also have two movies tomorrow, to max out my A*List, with a minimum amount of wait time between movies.

In other words, I needed to break out my analytical chemist skills!

 

I did, too... and celebrated with a pizza for dinner during my second movie, the longer of the two chosen.

Better yet, that pepperoni pizza was free, thanks to AARP Reward Points.

Yes, life is definitely better!

As for the movies, I'll share those tomorrow.

(smile!) 

today, i had music bingo!

"Very good! Seems like forever since you had that!"

Right?! Between Jewish holidays and my inguinal hernia issues, I haven't been there since I won the big prize. Can you believe it? I've had that fifty-buck card for over a month and not spent a single penny of it!

"Well, you only go to the Midtown Sports Grill for 'Music Bingo with Russ'."

Correction: I only go there for 'Music Bingo with Russ' if Sandy and her bunch are going. Tonight, there were four of us: Sandy, Elissa, Marcia, and me. I bought an order of Pickle Fries to share with all and Marcia thanked me for that! She has several food allergies, and that dish is one of the few she can eat. I know all about that kind of thing! Just take a good look at what I had for dinner!

"Yo, g'friend! That's a whole lotta feta going on!"

Right?! That's my big, fat, Greek salad!!! I've really been wanting that, and I made sure to grab the Lactaid pills before I left home. It was soooo good!!!

"It looks good! I'm so glad you planned for it!"

Me, too. It really scratched that itch, you know? It was extra good because it was free. None of us usually get a full salad, just a side one. This was a super-nice splurge. There was just one problem. When the bill came, it didn't allow me to add the tip. Seems like that restaurant doesn't allow that with their gift cards. I had to borrow $5 from Elissa for the tip!

"Oh. Good to know for the next time."

Yeah, that's for sure. I still have over $25 on the card. Sandy still has money on her card, too, plus she won another tonight for a free appetizer. That was on Game 3, which was just a regular game instead of a cash pot. Not enough people there, Russ said.

"Hey! Looks like you almost own that one!"

Well, I was "one away", as they say. All I needed was "My Guy", by Mary Wells. I was just one away on the first game, too. See? All I needed was Alice In Chains' "Them Bones". Elissa won that one, getting her cocktail for free.

"What a hard bunch of music to start the night! "90's Grunge"? Is that right?"

Yep, that's what it was. We were all glad when "BINGO!" was called!!! LOL!

"Hahaha! I'm sure. That music isn't quite y'all's speed." 

That's for sure. Still, it's amazing how many of those songs we did know. Nice to sing along with my friends! I'm so glad I was there tonight! Now, let me get ready for "The Quiz With Balls"... it's new season starts tonight! Such a fun show! What a great night this has been!

today, i had church outside

No laptop today, but that was truly for the best.

If the computer had been present, I would have missed out on this experience.

As it was, I had joined the dog on the front porch...

and that's when I heard it...

the voice of the Universe singing through the three sets of chimes...

in one harmonious song. 

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

 

Stella was at a peace with that song, too.

After all, she knows it well and she is the one who led me to this porch.

I had noticed on Friday that her new sunny spot was in the front garden. 

So, about an hour ago, when I headed to the front door, she was happy to join me!

Such a wonderful, holy time we have shared on this last vacation morning.

blueberries to disperse fog...

That's what I've been told, so that's what I'm trying.

Yesterday, I ate some frozen blueberries while I was at home taking care of emails and computer stuff.

Then, when I picked up dinner from Panera - only cost me 30 cents, for a Grilled Mediterranean Veggie sandwich, thanks to AARP Reward Points - I also purchased a blueberry muffin.

That was breakfast, along with some yogurt.

Nice way to start the day on this third day of my post-surgery vacation!

After tending to my duties, off to home I went to tend to the mail, both actual and of the 'e' variety.

Then I attended my first play of spring!

Such great fun it was, too, and I laughed and laughed!

When I returned home, "Keeping Up Appearances" was recorded, so I went ahead and watched the episode, "Early Retirement".

Ah, poor Richard, pleading with his boss to stay on!

Hahahaha!

Then Rose has her new boyfriend come to fetch her from Hyacinth's house and all hell breaks out.

The man parks his big dog in the driveway and that just won't do...

and, while trying to move the dog, Hyacinth ends up being the one moved!

Hahahaha!

Thank goodness I don't have to walk Stella or she just might drag me along at this stage in my recovery.

Speaking of, I need to bounce back to Georgetown!

Later, y'all!!!

today, i went to a play!

"Good for you! That's the first one this month, isn't it?"

Of course it is. That hernia surgery really put a crimp in my style, or else I'd be going to several plays this weekend. The Savannah Stage Company has "Blackbird" at the Sentient Bean, but all performances are after 7 PM, so those are out. Savannah Arts Academy has "Six Degrees Of Separation" at the Tybee Post Theatre, but two of the three performances are at night. Not that it would matter, as it's still too far to drive for me at this time. However, there's this matinee today, by the Garrison Arts Academy, and it was at Yamacraw Performing Arts Center and that was just perfect!!! "Myth-Understood" was exactly the comedy needed to bring smiles to my face and laughter to my heart!

"Most excellent!!! Was it Roman or Greek mythology?"

It was Greek! I don't recall being into those works in the 5th and 6th grade, but these kids sure were. The two-act play was done completely by those students! I sat near a mom who had seen it last night and was back with her son's siblings so they could enjoy it, too. A family day with live theater!

"Good for her! So, tell me which stories were spoofed!"

That's just it, these were supposedly the real stories, from the very lips of the gods themselves to the two teens writing a report for their class. Hermes had fetched the girls to Mount Olympus so Zeus and Hera could bring forth the others to clarify the myths. For instance, Prometheus had been punished for stealing fire from Zeus, right? Well, what actually happened was this: Prometheus claimed to have invented fire. He was punished for lying about that.

"Oh, really?" (one eyebrow arched)

For sure, as the two girls found out. He took their phone, then claimed to have invented the phone! Later, he would claim to have invented the internet, youTube, and door-dash! Such a rampant liar! LOL! Then the girls heard the true story of how Persephones ended up with Hades in the underworld. Persephone wanted to go to hell so she could dress dark and be in a band, so she followed Hades. He didn't even know she was behind him! Then, when she got there, she found two others and they became rockers known as Queens of the Underworld! Her mom didn't like it, but Persephone did agree to come back above ground once a year to bring spring.

"Queens of the Underworld? Really?"

Yes, yes, and that's not all. When Eurydice died and went to the underworld, she became friends with them.

"Say what?"

Yeah, it turned out Orpheus was a bit of a stalker, so she deliberately stepped on a snake so she would die and get away from him. Then, you know what happened, right? He followed her down there, too! He even asked Hades to let him have her back. So Hades cut him the deal that they could be reunited if Orpheus didn't look back to make sure she was following. Ah, but Eurydice tricked him by saying, "Hey, there's Mick Jagger!" Hahahaha!

"Oh, that's funny!!! Such a nice coincidence! His name came up yesterday!"

I know! Right place, right time!

"Pretty amazing how often that bit of mythology gets plucked for retelling. I bet that tale has been told at least four times in the last decade."

Yep, that would be my count! Now, who else got to tell their side of things? Well, there was Pandora, cursed by Zeus to be overly curious, then given a jar - not a box - and told not to look inside. She got her husband to open it, so he's the one that should be blamed for all the ills of the world. LOL! Then there's the story of Medusa, who just wanted a hairdo that would stand out at school. Athena knew she was a herpetology fan, so that's why she gave Medusa a head full of snakes. Just helping a girl out, you know?

"Hahahaha! 'Be careful what you wish for!' LOL!"

The thing is, Medusa really liked the new 'do, just not all the teasing from the other kids. Then what was there? Oh, yes, a dating game spoof called "Apple of His Eye", in which Paris has to pick which goddess he favors. That's them in the seats out front: Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. Of course, he chooses Aphrodite, who promises to make Helen of Troy fall in love with him. We all know how badly that went!

"Yep another case of someone getting what they wanted and having the world collapse all around them. So, how did the teacher like the girls' report?"

She gave them an "F"!!! She said they didn't even try to research, just "made it all up" instead. Everyone on Mount Olympus was shocked! They had listened in and thought the report was fabulous, as the girls told their truths, but I guess the world just wasn't prepared to hear that from two 11-year-olds. At least the teacher gave them a chance to make up the bad grade by trying again.

"LOL! Yes, who's gonna believe two 6th-graders? The gods must have been crazy to think that would work."

That's my guess. Now, I need to finish up here as I have places to be! Such a nice afternoon this has been!