friday birthday fiesta in sandfly!

"Oh, my! Where y'all early celebrating your bday68?"

Nope, but good try! After a month away from Jalapenos, the S&K Friday Fiesta was back on again for two reasons. First, Laura had her bday59 last week, but she didn't get to wear the sombrero and she very much wanted to do that. Second, our favorite waitress had returned from her vacation to Mexico and we all wanted to put money back in her pockets! We really do love Claudia!!!

"Oh, hooray! I know there are some in the party who don't think anyone else can serve us quite right..."

You got that right. See the fellow who took this photo of our group? He's the owner of this particular Jalapenos and he was thrilled that we were back. After all, our table probably accounts for at least 500 bucks of drinks and food every Friday. Smitty and Mary, Laura, Betsy and Jimmy, Mark, and Robin all have at least two drinks apiece, on average. Tony and I both abstain, as we drive. I'm glad I'm there to support him in that abstinence.

"I see everyone except Mary in that shot."

I hear ya. The guy must have taken seven photographs and Mary managed to be hardly there in all except two of them. And in those, Mark was the one invisible! Still, I knew they were there! Neither of the young ones - Addison and Becca - were present this week. However, they were at Molly McGuire's for last Friday's gathering! That was partly in celebration of Addison's graduation from Georgia State University. 

"What a lovely deck for dining!"

Yes, it was, and the guy on the lower patio was playing some good tunes for us! Lots of stuff from the 70's and 80's, but a few more recent hits, too. We were all jamming out to them! The best part is they weren't too loud, so we could still talk.

"Very good. Nothing worse than going out with family and friends and not being able to carry on a conversation and catch up. Did anyone ask about your facial mole at that one? And where was Mary for last week's gathering?"

Betsy did, but I expected that, and she didn't keep on about it. And guess what? Tony and Laura gave me a ride there! It's out on Wilmington Island and they know I'm not keen on driving in the dark. Smitty isn't, either, and he had debated about whether to come or not. Mary was out in Louisiana, visiting her brother Steve, and stayed for a week to catch the last of the graduations of those nieces and nephews.

And guess what else Tony and Laura did? They bought my dinner!!! Tony insisted, so I told him that could be my birthday present. And so there's my bday68 gift, the Cumberland Chef Salad, with Parmesan Peppercorn dressing!!! It was so very delicious!!!

"Another chef salad? You seem to be on a kick with those."

I am on a salad kick, in general, and those are just packed with protein! Ever since I had that inguinal hernia repair surgery, I've tried to bulk up my fiber intake at each meal.

"That's definitely a good move."

I totally agree. Now, before I get distracted by the free movies on MGM+, I've got a piece of news! My younger nephew in Alabama, Conner, has graduated high school!!! That was at 7 PM and Bonnie told me she watched it on a special channel. I am so glad!!!

"That's marvelous news!!! I remember he was talking about dropping out earlier this school year. I'm so glad he stayed the course!"

All puns intended? (smile!) I am, too, and thrilled that he had that special cord for attending lineman class. I told my stepmom that my Uncle Bob had made a good living as a telephone lineman. Bonnie said that Conner is more interested in fighting, MMA style. I suggested that he search for grants and scholarships to help with training in mixed martial arts. She thought that was a great idea! She'll keep me posted on any progress. Now, to the free premium movies from Comcast I go. Happy early birthday to me!

burger at bingo in a booth!

"Say what? You ate a hamburger tonight???"

 

I did!

It was the day's special, and it sounded so good that I took a chance.

And it was good, too!!!

Wagyu beef, topped with chili and pickled jalapenos - wow!!!

That was some kind of tasty, let me tell ya.

Sandy had one, too, but she usually gets burgers.

She opted to skip the jalapenos, but those served as a tasty counterpoint to the chili, so I'm glad I choose to the burger as listed.

 

"I really can't believe you ate a burger at a burger joint."

 

In truth, Midtown Sports Grill is more than that.

They have spaghetti specials and other stuff, too.

In fact, their pork chops are pretty good.

 

"I'll take your word for that, dearie. So, who all was there for Music Bingo?"

 

It was our usual trio, plus Elissa this time, and in our usual booth!

That's three booths away from the Bingo Jockey's table, just in case you're curious or plan to drop in some time.

That "90's Mix #3" was our first game and I was just one away from a win!

The second game was "60's & 70's Mix #1", and all I needed was Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" for a win there.

Then, for the 4th game, "Michael Jackson Mix', I was just one off from getting the $50 gift card!!!

All I needed was "Remember The Time".

Sounds appropriate, like it might be a joke, doesn't it?

 

"Yes, it does! A joke from the Universe for your birthday while you were out with friends, singing and dancing in your seats!"

 

Hahahaha!

Yes, that just may be right.

My blue-sky Penny texted me with a bunch of photos of flowers, so I got to share those with the others and tell them about her horticulturist husband.

This Gallardia Spintop, complete with bees, was our favorite!

Guess what the color is?

Mariachi Red!!!

That reminded me of one of my favorite "Will Trent" episodes.

Titled "Mariachi Shelly's Frankenstein", it was crammed full of puns inspired by two things: the Mariachi band trapped at the police station during a blackout and the book report that Ormwood had been helping his kid write about the 1818 book.

"We have to be strong and MARIACHI on."

"Jesus, MARIACHI, and Joseph!"

 

"Hahahaha!!! Oh, yes, I loved that one! Very serious moments, but interspersed with moments of puns as three of the guys struggled to get a generator up the stairs. I wish I could remember more of them, as they were delightful!"

 

That's for real!

And here's a bit of fun that was starting just as I got home.

"The Quiz With Balls" was having a swimsuit edition, with lifeguards taking on a bunch of beauty queens.

Those guys may be a bit young for a purple panther like me, but I can still enjoy the view!

 

"Incredible!!! What great fun! And how did the lifeguards fare?"

 

That guy in the middle, wearing the glasses?

That's Reigh, who had a delicious sense of humor and good smarts.

He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree!!!

He was the last man standing and he made it to the third question in his bid against the Golden Balls for the $100,000.

He chose "Famous Scientists", getting right the first two.

The third question was "Which one was an oarsman at Oxford?"

I give him credit for knowing it had to be an Englishman...

but he was too young to have ever thought of Stephen Hawking as being capable of such a thing.

Into the water he went!

 

"Ah, yes, the misconception that a disabled person was always so."

 

Indeed.

Still, it certainly was a nice dessert after my dinner with the girls!

(smile!)

ice cream truck!!!

You scream... 

 

I scream... 

 

we all scream... 

 

for ice cream!!!

The shouting of the kids several houses to the west is what drew me to the door!

Quick, where's that $5 bill?

And out the door I went!

The truck had stopped outside Diane Sullivan's house, with a group of kids that included her grandson.

I was just as excited as any of them were!!!

I marveled at all the different types of ice cream in the pictures!!!

I had never heard of some of them!!!

Finally it was my turn!

There were three different Nestle's Drumstick cones - THREE!!!

My choice was the Vanilla Caramel, with that ribbon of extra flavor in the center of the ice cream - WOW!!!

But before I eat it, I need to call my littlest brother!!!

I gotta let Dood know it's coming his way next!!!

Woohoo!!!

vanity...

About this time on Wednesday, I was putting on a brave attitude.

One of the two facial moles which I've had all my life had been determined by my new dermatologist to be a possible hazard to my health.

All I could think of was the loss of self.

It was not the only one taken, but it was the one most important to me.

During the night I was awakened by wetness of blood on my pillow.

That lone mole was seeping, necessitating a second trip to Georgia Skin & Cancer Clinic.

This time, electric cauterization was used to close off its blood vessels.

That was a very different smell from the chemical staunching agent.

I was a bit sadder about the potential loss of that mole.

Today, about another 24 hours later, I am even sadder.

That red triangle around my poor burnt mole speaks volumes about its unhappiness, and my own.

I've spoken with Andew, my British friend in Virginia, about it.

His wife had one taken off, in about the same place on her face, three months ago. 

His brother died of skin cancer three years ago, from a mole gone bad that went internal and poisoned his liver and other organs.

I understand about that, having had a scare with a mole on my chest forty years ago, when I was in grad school at FSU.

None of that logic and science can help me right now.

I need to know how I will find me in the mirror, when my face becomes asymmetrical from the loss of one of the moles that mark me as myself.

I'm tired of marking my birthdays with medical procedures.

How will I adapt to a new face?

Can I?

wednesday, wednesday, such a busy day!

First order of business: go to the Georgia Skin & Cancer Clinic to meet Taylor Byrne, my new dermatologist.

What odd things they had on the walls!

She did a full body scan and found five moles - FIVE! - that looked suspicious. 

She took scrapings and was done, for now.

I had some time before the movie started.

Off I went to the Southwest Chatham Public Library to get my early voting done! 

I was actually shocked at how many items were on the Democratic ballot.

Based on the flyers in the mail and the ads on TV, it was easy to think only six seats were up for grabs.

Even so, I made the best choices for me and moved on and out of there!

Next up was a visit to Auto Zone.

I'd made five visits, buying at least $20 worth of goods each time, and now I would get my reward: $20 of free goods!!!

In honor of my car's upcoming 25th birthday on the 16th, I got two quarts of oil for her.

My thirsty Saturn will be drinking in style!

Her oil lines weren't the only ones getting a treat on this outing.

Her gas tank received $25 of gasoline, all free to me!

I used that gift card from the AARP luncheon, so the 'free' gas was a bday68 gift for me and a bday25 gift for my car.

That wasn't the only gift from AARP, either!

My game-playing reward points netted me a 5-buck gift card.

That granted me an almost-free Cameo special at AMC today!

Paired with my A*List membership, this matinee and snack cost me $2.

I would have gladly paid more for this Hugh Jackman caper!

Oh, yes, i intend to see "The Sheep Detectives" multiple times!!!

I do!

It was like stepping back in time to the Disney Sunday night movies of my youth, with a lovely bunch of English folk running the mystery!

Then I dined early at Texas Roadhouse, courtesy of that fundraiser last month, as well as the Christmas gift card from Tony and Laura.

I used the gala's "free appetizer" coupon to buy Tater Skins, of course.

Those will be a great breakfast for the rest of this week...

then I tried the Chicken Alfredo Penne, as something different.

Different it certainly was!

I'm not saying it was bad... as I took half of it home for another meal... but it needed garlic to make it sing.

How about that!

I made a pun using the focus of that gala!

What a wonderful Wednesday!

musical monday!

Get this: it all started with the WSAV weather song.

I kid you not.

Just look at those notes trailing up and down the scale!

Taking a cue from the song in "The Sound Of Music", I figured it out.

Starting with today's high and following through the week, here goes!

LA -- DO -- MI  -- SO  -- MI -- SO -- LA

Very raggedy tune fragment, but there you have it.

I followed that with a music documentary on PBS, "Looking For Cole".

Wilfried Van den Brande was inspired to make this documentary about Cole Porter after singing "So In Love" with Kim Criswell.

That duet was in 2007.

Seven years later, the film was completed, full of the music of the man that Van den Brande regards as "the greatest American songwriter".

I loved that Porter's journals were included in this!

All those notations about "Love For Sale", "Anything Goes", "Night And Day"...

his life in Paris with his wife, Linda, the only woman he loved...

spending his inheritance from his grandpa on fun in the sun with men...

what a vibrant life he led until a horse-riding accident in 1937.

I'm so glad that PBS gave this slice of his life to me!

(smile!)

Then I was off for something different: a concert film at AMC!

"Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" was even part of the A*List!

That meant it was free for me, perhaps as a bday68 gift from the Universe.

See, Barbara Nixon was a fan of the young American, perhaps because of her math students, so I went to the movie in memory of my friend.

The Universe was looking out for me.

I'd chosen the 2 PM, 3-D, movie time, but that had been a mistake in the schedule and wasn't actually a thing.

However, Brooke set me up with my very own private viewing...

and I could feel Boo's presence with me as I watched the 24-year-old singer/songwriter bounce all over the stage in Manchester, England.

I only knew four of her songs - "Bad Guy", "Ocean Eyes", "Birds Of A Feather", and "No Time To Die" - and that was rather glancingly.

Not so for her fans!

They knew every single word of every single song.

I should note that no one in that concert audience was my age.

The vast majority were females, in their teens and twenties, with a few male sprinkled in, as well as a few moms.

I came away knowing Billie to be a good role model for her peers, emphasizing knowledge and not sex appeal.

No wonder Barbara liked her music!

Then I finished up this day with Music Bingo in the company of our mutual friend, Sandy, as well as Marcia.

I opted for the Chef Salad at Midtown Sports Grill, topping it with the peanut vinaigrette usually reserved for their Thai Salad.

Wow, what a flavor sensation!!!

That used up the last of my winnings, too, from two months ago.

Sandy was the only one of to win this time, taking the free-appetizer prize for the second game, which was, appropriately for her, "80's Mix #2 - New"!

She does so love that era!

My card was pretty useless for that game, as well as for the first game, which was all about country music.

However, for the last game, that music was more the speed for me and Marcia, and I was only one song away from that 50-dollar prize card!

All I needed was "Feels So Good", by Chuck Mangione.

Better luck to all of us next time!

What a day full of music, and friends, for me!

i thank You, God!

vacay in georgetown: last day with ryan reynolds and stella

Here's 'Guy' (Ryan Reynolds), confronted by the 'cop with the porn mustache' [aka 'Keys' (Joe Keery)] and 'the apex predator pink rabbit' (aka 'Mouser' (Utkarsh Ambudkar). They both think he is a player of the game "Free City" and are there to boot him out. Why? Because he looks like an NPC (non-player character) and that isn't allowed.

 

Here's the sign that 'Blue Shirt Guy' has made an indelible mark on the world outside the gaming community. Alex Trebek (a fellow Canadian, by the way) has just read the clue and had it answered correctly, "Who is Blue Shirt Guy". Looking directly into the camera, Trebek then adds, "Yes, who is he, or she." What a nice nod to the anonymity that game players have!

Here's 'Guy' sharing one of his favorite places, and favorite treats, with 'Molotov Girl' (Jodie Comer), who has deigned to hang out with him now that he's racked up over 100 points. And just where are they? In a part of the game that has no missions in it, an oceanside park. And what are they doing? Eating bubblegum ice cream... which turns out to be her favorite flavor, too!!! Then they go to the swing set and eat ice cream and act like a normal couple on a first date. I just love that!

I'm so glad I go to see this multiple times again!

I did laundry while I watched, too. I didn't want Dawn and Chris to have to wash the bed linens and towels I used, so I took care of that. I also washed my clothes from the last few days.

(smile) 

I made sure Stella had some time outside, too. Just what was she looking at so intently? The geese with the seven goslings were up the bank, in Ken's yard, and he was feeding them. She realized that running up on them would be rude, so she stayed on our side of the water. Good girl!

Then, after the movie and laundry were done, and my car was packed, I took her out to the front porch. It was already 2 PM and I knew they would be home between 2:30 and 3. Sure enough, they were! She was so very happy to have them home again!!!

And me?

I'm very happy to be home again myself!

Being on vacation is nice... but coming home is, too!

Hallelujah!!!