summer picnic luncheon on the beach!

"That doesn't look like any beach to me, g'friend. In fact, it looks just like Holliday Hall at Asbury!"

That's because you're not squinting your eye and holding your mouth just right! HAHAHAHA!

 

"Wait a minute... I know what this is! It's the Sisters In Faith luncheon, isn't it? I recognize Judy Wilburn and Beth Ballance."

 

You're correct! Neither of them were at the purple-clad table where I parked my keister, though.

I chose it for the color, of course! Patti Steinhauser, on the far left, was already there. Then we were joined by Debbie Wright, CeCe Coleman, Robin Eifler, and Sandra, the mother of Jenni from the April luncheon. 

  

"Steinhauser? Isn't that the surname of the guy in the band?"

 

Yep, it sure is! Tim was there to entertain us this time, too, but the guys called themselves the Beached Bums today! he even had her come up and sing with them for "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow PolkaDot Bikini"!!! Very funny bit, with him wearing that swimsuit!!! Well, kinda sorta. LOL!!!

 

"Nice music for y'all's day 'at the beach'! I see there was even a beach ball!"

 

Actually, that was the "talking" ball, passed around with the holder of it asked to share a favorite story about the beach with us. Guess what? I got up and did that! I told all about Mama taking us four kids to the beach often during the summer, with a jug of water and peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. We'd play on the beach and in the water there at Tybee for hours! That let her have some peace and quiet. Then we'd stop by the Sugar Shack on the way home and get malteds and milkshakes, and that would keep us quiet for the drive. Fun for all of us!

 

"That's a really nice memory."

 

Yeah, and it got other Savannahians talking about memories of their summers at Tybee. I really loved that! I'm glad that Asbury is one place where I'm not the only local gal.

 

"Me, too. And did you have any hot dog buns to bring home?"

 

Nope! All 16 of those buns got eaten! Good!!! Now, I'm going to take care of a few things here at home, like charging my phone. American Legion Post 36 is supposed to have its monthly meeting at 6 PM, so I'll stay in town until it's done, then head back to Stella. Good thing it's rainy, or she'd be upset about missing the party on the patio. Maybe tomorrow will have a sunny spot in it for her!

poor, hungry, dog!

I just know she had given up on me ever coming.

I'm glad I put an end to that Two First Posts meeting when I did.

It was still almost 9:30 when Stella got fed.

What a sad way to start our little vacation together!

I made sure to give her a little extra... plus some of her favorite treats... and lots of belly rubs!

Then I had dinner and watched "Scrubs" until my first niece called.

Christina had some news: she's definitely not in the control group!!!

We then talked and talked until my phone died.

See, I'd used it to take all those photos at the meeting, as well as taking notes, not paying attention to the battery indicator.

That meant I needed to go home and get my charger, which, for whatever reason, I'd neglected to bring along to Georgetown.

After being gone so long last night, I couldn't justify just running off on Stella too early today.

We sat out on the front porch for a while, watching the drizzle make the ground wetter than it already was.

We'll just have to try to catch a bit of sunshine when we can!

two first posts of georgia, post fire marshal

After two and a half hours, I made a motion to close the meeting.

I had a dog in Georgetown that was used to having her dinner at 7 PM and the time was then 8:30 PM.

No, I had not yet had supper, either, but I was more concerned about her.

Apparently, the others - Doug Andrews, John Parker, Eric Bolden, Brenda Pough, Sabrina Scales, and Justin Wells, the contractor - agreed with me.

Why was the contractor present?

He wanted to talk to the group about the four or five change orders that he was currently finishing up and would need payment for.

 

Here's two of those, in one shot: the wall to separate the event room from the entrance hall, with the former front doors installed now.

The importance of that was the fact that those doors were lockable.

That was vital, as Eric had seen signs of someone having been there on Sunday, when no one was to have been present.

Remember, he's our Building Manager, and he'd come by on Sunday to put away the chairs and tables from our first official event. 

We'd seen the setup at last week's meeting.

Post 500 had 100 diners present for their 80th Anniversary dinner!

 

The Fire Marshal verified the Two First Posts ballroom is cleared to hold 150, including any caterers, musicians, or others at the event.

Eric has requested another four packs of the banquet chairs, to increase the number of tickets sold to 120 patrons.

Meanwhile, Justin is to build another wall for a closet to hold extra party-planning items, perhaps like linens and such.

That's in addition to the new wall he's constructed on this side of the entrance at 5511 Montgomery Street.

When I arrived just before 6 PM, he was still mudding the sheetrock.

Eric had just shown him the banner Brenda designed, which met with great approval from Justin.

The other side of that change-order wall will be the game room - for darts - attached to the canteen area. 

I'm looking forward to seeing that wall finished next week!

 

Speaking of the canteen portion, the Fire Marshal has deemed its occupancy load to be 68, which seems like it may mean about 55 patrons.

After all, the occupancy has to include the bar staff, the kitchen cooks and cleaners, and the wait staff.

Right now, though, that area is still pretty well crammed with boxes.

Those all held chairs that Eric had to put together for last Saturday.

I know there is another event - Sabrina's retirement party - set for Friday, but hopefully Eric will be able to concentrate on getting the restaurant tables and chairs set back up again.

 

One nice thing about having these two events this month: it's spurred action toward prettying up the bathrooms.

This silver-framed mirror is in the women's area, with silver faucet handles and silver tap, too.

The men's room will be decked out with gold in those items.

Right now, the mirror is the only gold, but doesn't it look great?

I think both are going to look quite classy when they're finished.

As for tonight's meeting, it started out with talk of Toast, the credit card handling service, which has yet to set up the machines of give lessons.

Justin suggested we cancel it, as they have bailed on him three times when they had appointments to get their machine installed.

Doug concurred, said let's use Clover, the one Kat and Mike use.

Done!

(Though I honestly thought this was already decided several weeks ago.)

Justin also asked that his construction company's name be removed from the storage lease and that The Two First Posts LLC be on it instead.

Doug verified that will be done.

Doug also reminded us that we still need to get Sabrina and Joe Cetti's names as authorized users of the Two First Posts bank account.

Justin reiterated that the meeting with the Fire Marshal went well on Friday, gaining us these two Certificates Of Occupancy Load, which are the official papers to be displayed on the walls in both areas.

Justin said we have had the Certificate of Occupancy - which is apparently something different - since February 25 of this year.

Eric will get the COOL framed and mounted on the walls.

Larry Jackson (on the phone) said he will need a copy of those two COOLs for obtaining the business license, which he is working on with Kat Hancock.

Larry confirmed that the City Council meeting is scheduled for July 1st, but he does not yet know for sure if our petition for a liquor license is on that docket; however, he will let us know as soon as he knows.

He also confirmed that JKLM LLC will be the management for our canteen, which will be called Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Barbecue and Grill.

Then on to yet another change order, this one for a chandelier in the ballroom.

Say what?

Six of the ceiling tiles will need to be removed and there was some discussion about how to place it so it would be above the band stand.

Also, there was talk of a dance floor?

Those were all new business that I knew naught of.

That's about the time I moved to adjourn.

Let's finish what needs to be done, y'all, before we dream bigger, okay?

New York City?!?!

Where else would you host an episode of Sunday Morning Live???

Starring Reverend Billy Hester, straight from the Marble Collegiate Church, located downtown near the Empire State Building!

With special musical guest the Asbury Memorial Choir!

Streamed directly to the Asbury Memorial Church at the corner of Waters Avenue and Henry Street in downtown Savannah, Georgia!!!

Featuring opening and closing remarks by Reverend August Alderman!

And welcoming back to the podium to perform the opening prayer, let's hear it for Reverend Bob Townsend!

He's had health problems for a year that have kept him from that duty.

As he said, "This has been a rough year, but I'm not dead yet!"

You and me both, Bob, you and me both!!!

Yes, indeed, this was certainly a show that we got today!

However, Billy's sermon was the briefest ever, running about ten minutes.

That meant that we all took a vote in Holliday Hall for that to be their length from this point forward - hahahaha!

What was going on there?

The 4th Annual Men's Bake-Off, that's what!

I almost missed the whole thing, as I'd waited in line for a hug from August after SML was done.

Going clockwise from that lone dark one, I have 'Into The Woods', 'Peaches and Cream', 'Refrigerator Cake', and 'Pineapple Layer'.

As sweet as they were, I'm glad I just had shreds of them!

I sat with Sherry Giddens, who just had to tell the other two ladies about my 25-year-old Saturn.

I didn't mind the ribbing, though.

My car has been in a movie, and something I did in that Netflix film got enacted by Emily Blunt, so we both have bragging rights!

As I told them, my car shared screen time with that actress for a full count, just to be sure it was on purpose and not accidental.

What a great memory!!!

I didn't mention that my car's twin also had screen time, in one of my favorite television shows.

What a great surprise that had been for me!

I do hope Sherry and the other two will look up "Pain Hustlers"!

Meanwhile, off I go to the AMC 11.

I'm treating myself to a Nicholas Galitzine double header!!!

Woohoo!!!

First up will be yet another screening of "The Sheep Detectives", in which his age is early 20's.

Then, I'm catching him as the mid-20-something He-Man, in all his muscles and manly glory!!!

Yes, that should be a mighty fine time for me!

Later, y'all! 

ain't no stoppin' us now!!!

When the Two First Posts Planning Committee met on Wednesday, the sight in the ballroom was amazing!

Our Building Manager for 5511 Montgomery Street, Eric Bolden, had set up all the event tables and chairs for this coming Saturday.

That will be the 80th anniversary of the American Legion Post 500 of Georgia, brothers with Post 36 in this venture.

Doesn't it look fabulous???

Eric has been there every day, as far as I know.

He's had to put together more than 100 of those Lifetime banquet chairs and twenty of the Lifetime banquet tables over the past two months.

He's had to open and close the building as the new wall was built.

He's been there to open and close for the two new entrance doors to be installed for the building to comply with code.

 

At that meeting, the doors were in place and finished!

That was good as the Fire Marshal was due at 11 AM on Friday.

Well, that inspection went swimmingly!!! 

The Fire Marshal has marked us good to go!!!

Hallelujah!!!

We finally have the Certificates of Occupancy for both the event ballroom and the canteen areas!

On Monday, June 15, the inspection will take place for the Health Permit.

Mike and Kat were at the meeting on Wednesday and they know exactly what is involved for that, so I expect Whiskey Tango Foxtrot BBQ to pass with flying colors... whatever those hues may be!

We are all so excited that an opening is nigh!

By 'we', I mean Doug Anderson, John Parker, me, Kat Hancock, Mike Kajik, Larry Jackson (by phone), Eric Bolden, and Brenda Pough.

Thanks to Brenda, we'll have own own colors!!!

She's quite creative and just look at the sign she has designed!!!

All four branches of the US military are represented, as well as a family group there in the lower right corner!

Doug was so thrilled!!!

I like that penultimate line: "It's Your Turn To Get Served!"

How about that!!!

She has also designed a logo for our business cards and stationery!

I'm so excited about all of this!

Mike and Kat had a couple of changes to make for the contract, but that should be ready to be signed at next Wednesday's meeting.

And we are all going to try to be at the City Council meeting on the first Wednesday of July, looking sharp and wearing our American Legion insignia.

That meeting will concern our liquor license, so it's very important!!!

Now, I wonder where my American Legion pin is?

(smile!) 

 

swaying with the grey dogs!

The event at Asbury Memorial Church was billed as the "Battle Of The Bands", but that was not quite right!

By the end, both bands were playing together, as shown in the photo.

Just what might that song be that they played?

"Get Together", with enthusiastic accompaniment from the audience!

What a great send off!

The concert began with the Grey Dog Collective's set of 16 covers.

It consisted of Jim McGaw, Tim Steinhauser, Doug Povie, Mimi Witherington, Frank Stuber (on drums), and Eric Nelson, as shown.

They describe their sound as "mostly happy songs about breakups".

"Breakdown", "Sloop John B", "Route 66", "Wichita Lineman", "Daydream Believer", "The Weight", "Already Gone" are a few of their songs.

Those are certainly the ones I sang along with and danced to!

I describe them as a tried and true rock band for Friday night at a club, giving the crowd what they want!!!

After a brief intermission, during which I visited with Rob Norman and Sarah Povie, both there in support of Doug, the battle continued.

 

Sway Tuned was a four-piece that consisted of Bill Oakley, Ginger Honey, Alfred Heath (on drums), and Chuck Eyler, as shown.

Performing only 12 songs, here's where they differed: three of those were originals written by either Chuck Eyler or Ginger Honey!!!

They started with familiar songs - "Superstition". "Son Of A Preacher Man", "Ready For Love" - to get the audience grooving before launching into their own creations.

After their songs, they finished with more familiar works: "White Rabbit", "Can't Find My Way Home", "Use Me", and "Tell Me Something Good".

"Folk rock and blues to thrill and amuse" was their aim.

I'd describe this quartet as jazzy rock and pop served up with a different spin for a cool Sunday afternoon at a cabaret.

Glad I was able to be there for this concert!

I'm sure the fundraiser was a success for the choir!

no friday fiesta, but slunch with hinesville peeps!

And it was a three-hour meal, at that!

Want three guesses where we were dining?

Seriously???

Hahahaha!

Yes, it was Cici's time for my first niece and her girls and her man... but she may soon forego this destination.

She was in town because she's been accepted into a study about a new formulation of a GLP-1 drug.

She's absolutely elated!!

There's no way to know if she's in the control group or one of three groups who will be getting different doses, but the odds are in her favor for getting the weight loss drug in one dose or another.

I do hope that works!

Meantime, she'll be making lots of extra moolah - like $9000 - for being enrolled in the study.

Maybe she should put that aside for keeping on the medication after the study ends in 96 weeks.

I'll have to remember to suggest that to her.

Meanwhile, I gotta jet over to Asbury Memorial!

The Battle Of The Bands concert has already started!!!

So glad I was surprised with so much time with Miyah and Chloe!