ggbd, revisited

Part of me misses this grand day of silliness.

Goth Girl Blog Day... just saying the words seems silly. 

Part of me, though, still observes it in remembrance of Sam Johnson.

It's thanks to him that I went to my very first Dragon*Con.

Had he not convinced my Mom's BFF to take us there in 2008, how would my life be different?

Would I have gone those other times to show off my cosplay designs?

Would I?

My little girls are not yet of an age to share that event, but, soon.

I am realizing that time passes just a bit faster these days.

Perhaps that's akin to parallax error?

Watching my children grow certainly seems to speed up time.

Nice to have this day to help me mark it.

memories of warm days, to you and you and...

This went to my first niece yesterday.

Her two tiny musicians are Girl Scouts now.

The photo on my phone is from C J's 13th birthday party in 2022.

That meant July, with warmth in the air!

"Wow," was her reply.

The next photo went to her mom.

That's from Chloe's 5th in October 2023.

My outlaw Melinda replied almost instantly, "Miyah bday. Cool."

I get it - Miyah's 5th had been at the same place the year before.

I said, "Near some lake. Really nice warm day!"

"Yes it is."

Yes, it is!

The third photo went to my eldest niece.

This is the most recent photo I have of her, her mom, and her daughter.

They were at the Jenkin's BYOP in 2023.

"Love the blast from the past," Christy replied.

I told her, "Love the three generations!"

That was a sunny, warm day, too.

The fourth photo through the ether went to the hostess of that party.

This one, though, was her and a group at a party that she didn't host.

It was taken a month before the other photo, when Harry was doing well.

Robin loved the image.

"Happy, warm time," I texted back.

All the way to Augusta went photo 5, to my oldest paternal cousin!

That's her in the middle, doing karaoke!

This is a little earlier, but the same year as the last three.

Bev texted, "So much fun!"

"Sure was! Hoping to see y'all for Easter."

Now, I need to find out when that holiday will be this year!

What a fun way to spend some time with others this has been: sharing photos and memories!

Makes me warmer already!

cold day, hot men: part 2

Subtitle: Thanks, James Van Der Beek, for making a hero move.

See, I figured out why this special from December of 2024 was re-aired.

On February 11th, that actor who'd been in "Dawson's Creek" died.

James would have been 49 years old next month on March 8th.

That's him, second from the right, in the brown pullover and tam.

The woman to the left is Mandy Moore, the choreographer of their burlesque dance routine to Joe Cocker's "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

Starting from the left, the men are Bruno Tonioli, Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, Chris Jones, James Van Der Beek, and Tyler Posey.

As diverse as their ages (in 2024) are their distinguishing features.

Bruno is the 68-year-old Italian dance machine of the stars.

Taye is the 53-year-old hunk that once helped a new divorcee find her strengths and get her groove back.

Anthony, at 54, represents the chunky boy next door that could always make you laugh and feel pretty, as a game show host always should.

Chris, that tall drink of water in the middle, at 30 years old and a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, fulfills every woman's fantasy of making it with a buff football player.

James, 47 years old, was the genteel white dude who had been a teen-bop heart throb on television.

Tyler, the tattooed 33-year-old Latino with the musical background, is the perfect addition for the six-man team. 

Together they represent a flavor for every female fantasy, which was obvious when Bruno, Tyler, Chris, Anthony, James, and Taye took the stage for that one-night performance in Los Angeles.

But let me set the record straight: this was not a Chippendales strip show.

Anthony Anderson had lost his father and three brothers to cancer and wanted to do something to encourage men to take action.

He knew that men, no matter what race, have a problem with associating going to a doctor with stripping down and showing weakness.

What might put that action into proper perspective than to strip down with a few others, in front of an audience, and to bare all in the name of fighting prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer?

He went ahead and booked the theater where the show would be held.

The problem, then, was trying to get other male celebrities to bring their star power for that fundraiser.

The first to show up was Taye Diggs, unsure of whether he really wanted to strip down, but wanting to honor the deaths of his mom and dad to cancer.

Bruno Tonioli was the next to walk through the door for the training session; he'd come to honor his friend and mentor.

Chris Jones showed up just a few days before the show, to replace a man who'd had to leave; Chris was there to honor his coach.

Tyler Posey's mom had died of breast cancer, having postponed going to the doctor until it was too late.

That had almost been James Van Der Beek's story, but with him being the one who had waited until almost too late.

As he finally told the others at dinner a few nights before the show, he had known something was wrong, but he didn't want to see the doctor, afraid his worst fears might be true.

That sounds like exactly what Daddy had done in 2008, and like exactly what Mother Pat had done in 2006. 

Both of them were dead within a year.

Now, James Van Der Beek has died, after a three-year battle.

The re-airing of the 2024 special was done to continue to raise awareness.

Fox even kept the QR code onscreen at all times, encouraging viewers to donate to support colorectal cancer research.

That truly is a disease that should claim no lives and cause no heartbreak, as a simple screening can lead to its discovery and treatment.

Want to be a man that takes care of his loved ones?

Get a colonoscopy.

Have a prostate exam.

See your doctor on a regular basis so they know you.

Cancer doesn't discriminate, it's an equal opportunity killer.

cold day, hot men: part 1

At least the weekend was nice.

Now it's Monday and the sheer agony of Hell has descended back upon this latitude, borne on winds from the north.

A high of maybe 49 F???

Followed by a low back into the 20's tonight that persists into early morn?

How preposterous and ugly is that???

Fortunately, I'm retired, so I don't have to get out into that for work.

Unfortunately, Two First Posts has a meeting at 1630 to discuss moving forward with plans for a soft opening next month.

At least it will still be daylight.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed a last viewing of "The Mask" with brunch today!

What, no breakfast?

Nope!

Not when the weather is posting temperatures in the 30's at 10 AM.

I stayed in bed until noon, thanks.

I'm so glad this dollar-movie-night reward was waiting to entertain me again.

That may not be my Elvis, but he's close enough for me!

I'm sure Jim Carrey was given free rein to say whatever sprang to mind during that shape-shifting scene in the cabaret.

"Tell Auntie Em not to forget to feed Old Yeller for me."

Hahahaha... I'm sure that confabulation wasn't scripted!

"Tell Tiny Tim I won't be home for Christmas."

Might that have been a reference to another green-faced person who's been around since Jim Carrey was just two years old?

"Tell Scarlett that I do give a damn."

Well, he'd started with a reference to a classic from 1939, might as well end with another from that year!

Jim was 32 years old when "The Mask" came out in 1994...

as was my "Clark Gable" middle brother, also born in 1962.

We all grew up with those movies on the TV every year, firmly etched onto our memory.

My guess is Jim Carrey's mental jukebox is slapped loaded with snippets from every movie he's ever seen, just waiting to be inserted into quips!

That's fine by me.

I just love those inside jokes!

Okay, let me get psyched up to go outside to that American Legion meeting.

Good to know I have more hot men waiting here for my return.  

Last Wednesday, Fox re-aired "The Real Full Monty" and I saved it.

Of course, I've been tied up with all the Olympics ice dancing and figure skating events, breaking out my analytical chemist skills on all that data, so I haven't had much time for regular shows. 

And, yes, Jim Carrey is hot, in a boy-next-door way.

Plus, I love a man who can make me laugh!

(smile!)

o weather song, o weather song, why so many changes?

On the 9th, a Monday, I could not go to Music Bingo.

By 7 PM, the time it was to begin, the temperatures were already falling, with a -5 degree wind chill. 

Yes, I had gone out earlier, when the sun was out... but not after sundown.

That chilly vampire can bite into my heart! 

I checked back on the WSAV weather song on Wednesday, the 11th.

Tuesday and Wednesday had been blessedly warm as forecast, so much so that I had the windows thrown open to let all that in!

The song was to go right into its usual notes, with a slight warming trend!

 

That allowed me to plan on completing my AMC A*List trio that Thursday, which I did... kinda sorta.

Yes, I did see the Korean pop concert, but that was last Saturday. 

Yes, I did watch "Goat", the animated basketball movie with the inside joke in its anagram title - Greatest Of All Time - and laughed a lot!!!

Here's another inside joke: the giraffe is voiced by Stephen Curry, who literally is the GOAT for having popularized the 3-point shot.

So, what makes this a kinda sorta trio?

I didn't actually watch "Mercy" a second time, I just got a ticket for it.

Hopefully that will mean it will stay a bit longer!

 

Friday the 13th didn't quite make the note forecast, and steadily chilled.

However, its tune changed for the better after that, with a promise of super-duper 70's by midweek! 

Despite the chill in the evening, I still made it for the S&K Friday Fiesta and even treated myself to the Caldo Tlalpeno for a change.

Consider it a variation on chicken soup, with slices of avocado lurking within.

It was very tasty, but I didn't eat that roasted pepper on top - too hot for me!

So nice to see my brothers, SILs, Betsy, Jimmy, and Becca!

Lots of hugs to get... and to give!

 

Time to jump ahead two more days to Sunday, the 15th.

I had hoped to see an improvement for Monday, but it was the same.

No Music Bingo or Rom-Com Film Festival that night!

But I did go to a movie on Saturday and an SBHF7 event Sunday.

 

Let's jump right over that low note of Monday and well ahead to the steady notes through Thursday, the 19th, shall we?

Nothing but lovely warmth, even if there was a bit of rain.

Then, up ahead, the joyous tones give way to woe, sinking into the depths of despair and thrashing around in the basement again!

Drats.

Yet another Monday to be spent at home, eh?

That just meant I must plan ahead!

 

I still got in another trio on my A*List.

"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die", the new science fiction with Sam Rockwell in the lead, was the movie seen on the 14th.

The story chronicled his 117th try at finding the right mix of people at Norm's diner who could help him succeed at giving AI of the future some laws of robotics.

Notice I said it was his 117th effort, so he was getting a bit jaded, but still persevered.   

I liked getting the back story on the people selected for that attempt.

One was a mother whose son was killed at a school shooting and been replaced, free by the government, by a clone.

Two were high school teachers who were at a school where shootings occurred and where substitute teachers were regularly said to have "gone on sabbatical" when they failed to show up.

Very dark at times, but also hopeful.

"Wuthering Heights" turned out to be a tale of obsession, not love.

Sure, it was beautifully filmed, but was a dark tale of broken people.

Only "Solo Mio" truly shone, brilliantly, serving as a love story to Italy.

It was so wonderful to 'be' back in Rome at the Tripoli Fountain and on the Spanish Steps, as I had been in 2012!

I loved 'being' back on the twisty, narrow streets leading to the piazza in Siena, and actually watching Il Palio there!

And I experienced Tuscany's vineyards in a new way, along with music from Andrea Bocelli in his home!

"Nessun Dorma" never sounded more emotional than when sung by that great tenor... and Kevin James, who truly can sing opera!!!

Oh, and what about that NCG Rom-Com Film Festival movie, "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days"?

I had to see it on my own, as Carolyn and I couldn't seem to get our schedules, and the weather, to cooperate. 

Fortunately, Comcast gave me that one as a reward a few years ago.

 

And just what notes have the weather song from Sunday, February 22nd, included for the week ahead?

Well, it rather reminds me of a line from a Herman's Hermits song.

"I'm Henery the 8th, I am,

Henery the 8th I am, I am,

I got married to the widow next door,

she's been married seven times before,

and every one was a Henery,

(Henery!) 

she wouldn't have a Willy or a Sam,

(No Sam!) 

I'm her 8th old man, I'm Henery,

Henery the 8th I am, I am,

Henery the 8th I am.

Second verse, same as the first!"

See what I mean by that?

Monday is a 'no Music Bingo' Monday yet again, with Tuesday being more of the same cold nonsense.

At least Carolyn and I have made plans to see the last of the Rom-Com movies together on Thursday, with dinner afterward!

I am so thankful for warm days sooner rather than later!

you have to believe we are magic...

How else to explain my presence at the Starcastle tonight?

That isn't where I'd planned to be, but the musical I'd thought of seeing ("Mean Girls") was sold out for its entire run.

Fortunately, Savannah Children's Theatre had this trick up their sleeve!!!

I'd thought this was coming next month. 

And how did I know "Xanadu" was where I was meant to be?

Programs were on the ticket counter!

The woman there knew my name before I said it!

A front row seat greeted me when I entered the performance room!

Right place, right time!

Wow!

 

By intermission, I was so amazed with this show that I sent out texts for Betsy, Laura, and Mary.

"This is sooo much fun!! Can't believe I remember the lyrics to the songs!!!"

As I told the two girls sitting next to me, I haven't seen the movie version in at least thirty years.

(Truth be told, it was probably more like 40. I'd used my keyring to mark my seat when I took a break, then told the middle-school girls the story about it. So, they were aware that I was old-er.)

 

After the musical was over, I sent another text to Betsy and my sis-in-laws, as well as my friend Robin Eifler.

"So cool having a rollerskating show here!! At Starcastle!!! Loving this!!!"

"Seriously, you should come see this!!"

Those are six of the many Muses, taking their bows at show's end, and they are all on roller skates!!!

When I had seen how empty the stage floor was, I'd hoped the "roller disco" musical would be complete with skating...

especially with all the Olympic ice dancing and figure skating I've been enjoying from men, with couples, and from women...

and my hopes came true!!!

Right place, right time!  

 

I wonder if the players were surprised to see me mouthing all the words on this opening night?

I'm serious.

I knew all the words to all the songs from 'Clio/Kira' (Juliette Delcroix) and 'Sonny Malone' (Charlie Karpf).

They were the central characters of the story.

 

Here the guy is again, along with Will Johnson, who played 'Danny', the man who'd built 'The Xanadu' a few decades ago, but never opened it.

They seem to be pretty good friends in this shot for their dads, don't they?

That's because they are!

Remember the woman who ran the Pop-Up Shop at last year's SMF?

That would be Noelle Leigh Westmoreland, and she's their teacher and music director for this spring class!

She met me at the front door and we talked for about ten minutes as the kids were all getting their photos taken.

Nice to be where people know my name.

Right place, right time! 

count it all JOY

That's the great lesson from the Figure Skating competition in Italy.

Count it all joy!

Alysa Liu had walked away from ice skating in 2023, after feeling that the sport had taken over her life.

Now, she clearly has that work-play balance not only restored, but the very thing that once caused her grief provides great joy to her.

As she herself has said multiple times, she is on the ice because she wants to be, because it is her choice, for herself and not for any other reason.

It is the canvas upon which she paints her gratitude for the world!

Wow!

For her Free Skate today, she earned 150.20, almost three points higher than the two next highest, giving her 226.79 including the Short program.

Not only did she place first in Free Skate, she won the Gold medal for Women's Figure Skating!!!

That hasn't been done for the USA for the last eight Winter Olympics! 

Shout out to Sarah Hughes for being there to see her do as she had done. 

The next highest score for the Free Skate, of 147.67, belongs to Kaori Sakamoto of Japan.

This was her final time in competition, as she is retiring from the sport.

Her total, including the Short program, is 224.90, which was the second highest of the 24 skaters.

She will be 25 years old in two months. 

So, this was a bittersweet performance for her on Olympic ice and she chose songs by Edith Piaf to mark the occasion.

Such a beautiful dance she had, full of emotion!!!

Now, she will forever remember this every time she hears that music, knowing this was the day she won her Silver medal in the Olympics!

Amber Glenn, of the USA, placed third in the Free Skate, with a score of 147.57, thanks to the encouragement from her fellow Blade Angels.

They told her to take the freedom to skate for herself, not for the competition, and to truly enjoy her time in front of the crowd.

That was very good advice after her disastrous Short program.

She was able to stay in the top five overall (total of 214.91) and that's definitely something to be proud of in Milan.

The woman who placed 4th in the Free Skate, as well as 4th in the Women's Figure Skating, was Mone Chiba of Japan.

I fully expect to see that 20-year-old at the 26th Winter Olympics.

So graceful she was for her "Romeo And Juliet" routine, so joyful to be there!

Her score of 143.88 for this part, and 217.88 for the total competition, will make her a favorite for the next time.

The next three skaters all scored within 0.5 points of each other!

Adeliia Petrosian, a Neutral Athlete, was absolutely fierce and was the only one who had two quadruples planned in her performance - WOW!

Even though she didn't complete them, she still placed 5th in the Free Skate (141.64) and 6th overall (214.53).

Imagine what her scores would have been if she had landed just one!!!

Yes, I will be watching for her next time, and so should everyone else.

Right close behind her for the Free Skate was Niina Petrokina of Estonia!

Skating to music from "Dune", she scored 141.19, just barely getting edged out (skating pun, y'all!) into 6th place for the Free Skate and 7th overall.

Ji-a Shin and Hae-in Lee, both representing South Korea, know all about getting edged out!

That's Hae-in, the 19-year-old, skating to the opera "Carmen", music she has wanted to perform with before but had saved for this Olympic moment.

She was fabulous, too!

She scored 140.49 and Ji-a scored 141.02, placing them 8th and 7th, respectively, for the Free Skate today.

Hae-in had the higher overall score (210.56), granting her 8th place for the Figure Skating overall, whereas the 15-year-old Ji-a had 206.68, landing her in 11th place for the competition.

There's another two that should return for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

And now, in 9th place with 140.45 for the Free Skate, is the lovely Ami Nakai!

In mirth and cheerfulness, she reminds me of Yuma Kagiyama!

"What A Wonderful World" provided her background music for this time of her expressing her joy of being on the ice!

Don't let that lower Free Skate score distract from her overall of 219.16!

Bear in mind that the Free Skate was just ten points below that of Alysa's today, but Ami's score yesterday gave her 1st place in the Short program.

Combined, the two parts made a whole that won her the Bronze medal!!!

That's two medals for Japan in Women's Figure Skating!!!

Brava, and brava to Alysa Liu for getting the Gold for the USA!!!

Now, before I sign off, I want to congratulate the skater from Georgia.

Was it because she secured 10th place in the Free Skate?

No, that honor goes to Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan, whose total of 207.46 also secured her 10th place overall in the Women's Figure Skating.

Then why single out Anastasiia Gubanova for this post?

She made me smile with the inside joke of her skating costume and music.

(smile!)

The song was "Unchained Melody"... but she had chains all over her bodice and back with this free-skirted outfit!

She's 23 years old now, but I look forward to seeing her again in 4 years.

What a wonderful time I've had with these Winter Olympics in Milan!

i thank You, God!