leftovers, part 3

As I told the young folks working the counter yesterday at AMC, I like to hear Japanese spoken by Japanese people.

After all, I spent two years in Okinawa with the US Navy, and even picked up a bit of the language in those two years, thanks to Brad Nelson.

He was the CTI assigned to me, a CTM, to introduce me to the island and the bus system and the food - thanks, Brad!

As a member of the Interpretive branch of the Cryptologic Technicians at NSGA Hanza, the 6'4" fellow from Iowa was priceless those first two weeks.

Today, while watching this second film from Takashi Yamazaki, I felt right at home, immersed in the language while reading the subtitles.

"Godzilla Minus Zero" was totally magnificent!!!

And the story picked right up, three years later - which is the real time elapsed since the first movie - with the romantic tale of Koichi, Noriko, and Akiko, the little girl they were raising as if she were their own.

Remember, Koichi was the young pilot with PTSD, who found Noriko and the baby in his apartment, but allowed them to stay, with all coming to love each other in the intensely damaged city.

Japan has had three peaceful years since Koichi helped trap him in the ocean and blow him up... or so all thought, until sonar activity indicated the monster was alive.

But now there is a worse creature ravaging the country, a three-headed, winged, lightning-breathing alien that Japan's military cannot conquer.

So the bigwigs concoct a plan: lure Godzilla to the location of the alien and have them fight each other until the alien is dead, then kill off the giant lizard once and for all.

I will certainly see this one again!

Afterward, I popped over to Publix for milk and sushi.

Having had leftovers for several meals, I was ready for something different!

However, I admit to being a bit shocked by the price tag for the five bags of groceries I'd purchased: $110.19.

Could that be correct?

Sure, I'd bought three six-packs of the Ensure High Protein and a gallon of Lactaid milk, and those 4 items made up $43 of the bill.

I also bought a bag of 100 pieces of chocolate-containing Halloween candy that was on sale for $11.

Yikes.

But I'm okay with all that, as it was all on sale, except the milk.

Milk is never on sale.

Sushi is not usually on sale, either, though they do have smaller packs on special for $5 on Wednesdays... but this was a Thursday, and this pack was not one of those smaller ones.

Titled "Salmon Sampler", I felt it was right in keeping with my movie experience on the high seas, as I told Cathy when I spoke to her.

She had called because she heard that flooding was going on in Tennessee and Georgia, so she was concerned about me.

I assured her that damage was all in north Georgia; Savannah hasn't had rain for at least a week now.

I then polished off the three pieces of nigiri sushi, as well as half of the other two rolls, saving the rest for breakfast this morning.

Last night, I also polished off the last piece of WNS ham, the potato bits, the green beans, and the baked apples - thanks, Jason Z of Asbury!

 

Oh, by the way, that creature feature polished off my AMC A*List.

Remember, I'd started that dance card with Carolyn on Sunday, when we watched "Wildwood" and dined together.

She was familiar with some of the folks voicing the characters, but neither of us knew anything about the story behind the animated film.

What an enchanting tale it was, of a sister trying to rescue her baby brother!

So many battles between talking animals and other animals or humans!

I wouldn't mind seeing it again.

In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing any of these again, including the two seen on Tina Tuesday, when my adventures in leftovers began.

Now, I'm soon off to meet my first niece for dinner!

Yes, this is another Friday, but not with my brothers.

Last Friday had been a 90-miute call with Cathy Weaver for her birthday!

The week before had been with Carolyn, and the one before that was over at Asbury making bracelets with my Sisters In Faith.

I just may need to see about meeting up with Smitty and Tony on some other night, as my Fridays in fall fill up quickly! 

What a lovely problem to have!

(smile!)

leftovers, part 2

Alrighty then!

This is how to work it in these days of increased food prices!

Last night was Wednesday Night Supper and it was one of my favorites!

Baked ham, baked apples, baked potato chunks - so good together!

For $8, I got all that is visible: the dinner, a side salad, dessert, and drink.

Oh, but that wasn't all!

I sat with Jason Zimmer, on his own tonight as August had school.

After hearing me wax rhapsodic about the meal, he asked if I wanted a to-go box, as we had a lot of leftovers tonight.

(We had a couple of empty tables, unless last week.)  

I gladly accepted and walked out of Holliday Hall with double portions of every part of the dinner itself!

That's why I had a ham and apple wrap for breakfast!

Remember, pork products practically beg for something sweet to accompany them in the meal or follow them as dessert.

Those baked apples, doused with cinnamon, were just the ticket to include in that high-fiber tortilla!

That gave me plenty of energy for the final AARP meeting by Zoom... the final one of this year! Hahahaha!

The majority of us were there: me, Herbert and Brenda Singleton, Wanda Lloyd, Carolyn Barnett, Felicia Shuman, Jeannette Bacon, Janet Cuttray, Connie Cooper, and Sheila Bell.

Gabrielle had Wanda and I recap the events we'd spearheaded, naturally, and when it came time to comment on those mentioned that I wished everyone in our small group had shown support for those three events - MFG 1, the Estates Planning, and MFG2 - by at least registering for them.

Gabrielle agreed that we should do so in the future, even if we can't attend.

Support is a much-needed thing, and our small group should at least be able to do that one thing for each other. 

Maybe that will happen as we have another opportunity to join all together next month at the Holiday Celebration!

No final word on where that will be, but the when is locked down: Dec. 10th.

That will be easy for me to remember, as Mama would have been 89 on that upcoming date.

It's hard for me to try to visualize her at that age.

I'm already five years older than she ever was.

 

And look at that... I've strayed off topic!

Here's where I meant to be: talking about the ZOOM for week four of MOVE!

We covered Modules 5 and 7 today, all about nutrition and such.

I made Fabiana Carvalho laugh twice!

She had asked what food triggers make us overeat.

"I love pizza. It's my favorite food. So trying to find an alternative is tough!"

She sure liked that answer! 

She always reads aloud the answers in the chat, and when she read that, she had laughed, saying "I like pizza, too!", and suggested having it with the cauliflower crust.

If only any of the local pizzarias served such a thing!

I'll miss seeing her next week, as she has a conference, so we won't meet again for this Savannah VA-sponsored event for two weeks.

I guess I'll have to plan something special for the 12th to occupy that time slot!

 

Now, I'm going to have a wrap with those Steak Bites and some Gouda cheese to carry me over until dinner time.

Then, I'm off to visit Godzilla in his latest movie!

I had not realized he's just four years older than me.

Happy 72nd birthday, you big galoot!!! 

leftovers, part 1

Why have I said "part 1" on this post?

Because I have a meal out with others scheduled for tonight and I hope to bring home leftovers from it!

Yesterday was the last day to use a coupon from Texas Roadhouse, so I took full advantage of the situation.

I knew I was going to see "The Mosquito Bowl" and the new 3-D version of "Nightmare Before Christmas" at the AMC, so why not arrange to have dinner prepared by the steakhouse, ready and waiting for me when I was done?

That turned out to be a great idea, as did the order of the two movies.

I saw "The Mosquito Bowl" first, not realizing it was going to touch on a battle during World War II on Okinawa.

I was left in tears, as I was well acquainted with the massive death toll at those cliffs: 150,000 Okinawan civilians, including children and their teachers, who had been in the caves that riddled those cliffs.

There were also 100,000 Okinawan military personnel also killed when the flamethrowers were used to eradicate people hidden in those ocean-facing caves.

I've been to the memorials there for the children and it's heartbreaking.

My tears were also for the 12 Marines who had played football at that Christmas Eve, 1944, morale-boosting event called the Mosquito Bowl.

i thank You, God, that I followed all that sadness of the world with the love story of Jack Skellington and my favorite Sally.

I definitely needed to get back to me again, and that did it. 

On my way home from the doubleheader, I stopped by to pick up my order: the Country Vegetable Plate, plus the Lil' Dillo Steak Bites.

My total cost was only $3.36 - and that was including tax!

The coupon took off $7.99, then I had two $5 egift cards 'purchased' with AARP Reward Points.

My dinner had been the baked potato, split open and cut apart, draped with the meaty Chili and its shredded cheddar - fabulous!

I always enjoy that combination, and this carryout container let me spread it out for easy dining.

This morning, I ate the House Salad for breakfast.

I had enhanced it with some of the broccoli and carrots from my Fresh Veggies side, so that was extra good!

I even added some of the Steak Bites from the Lil' Dillo meal - gotta get that protein!

I'm still trying to keep up the muscles in my right leg and protein is vital for that.

That's why I had a protein snack a couple of hours later.

That Texas Roadhouse dinner roll has a whopping 10 grams of protein, so that was a good start.

A slice of Muenster added another 5 grams, plus some dairy.

And why the orange juice?

That's obviously the drink that was included in the kids' meal - and it was so good!

It's been a few years since I had OJ.

(smile!) 

 

monday night supper club!!!

I came up with that moniker tonight, and all there really liked it, especially Elissa, so I think it'll stick!

We were at The 5 Spot in Sandfly, which was Sandy's choice.

Silly me, I had gone to The 5 Spot on Habersham, absolutely sure that's where we would meet.

I'd even garnered a table in the back corner, right beside a window!

That would make sure we could all talk and also have a view!

It wasn't until I texted Marcia and Elissa that I realized I was at the wrong location of that local chain.

Drats.

By that time, they were all at the correct locale.

Drats.

But get this: they said they'd gladly wait for me to join them.

Yes, even though that meant we'd not be eating until at least 7, when we should have all been there at 6.

I am so blessed to be part of this group of friends!

Joel was even there tonight, which was nice.

He was last with us for Marcia's choice, at Cava on Mall Boulevard.

 

We all dined on something different!

They had just ordered when I arrived, so I opted for two appetizers.

The Brussels Sprouts gave me my veggies, and the b. Matthew's Black-Eyed Peas Patties provided the protein.

That was just perfect, and my order came out right when theirs did!

Hooray!

I also ended up with Joel's coleslaw; it came with his Fish & Chips, but he doesn't care for cabbage.

Marcia had a salad and the Black-Eyed Peas Patties, sans parmesan.

Elissa had a salmon salad, of course, and Sandy had what she had been missing from the other restaurants: a double Smash Burger!

I have no doubt that was the reason for her choice of this place!

We were at the table in the front window, so we got to wave bye to all the other diners as they finished up and left.

In other words: we closed the place down!

Hahahaha!

It's been a long time since I've been part of something like that.

I loved it!

I made sure to thank all of them at least twice for waiting for me.

We all had hugs goodbye, too.

I'm so looking forward to Elissa's choice next week for our MNSC...

and this time, I'll be sure to read all of the message for the location!

(smile!)

hello darkness...

I was caught completely unaware that Halloween would be my last evening with more light.

Completely.

I had thought the "fall back" to standard time was next weekend.

I didn't realize that shift came so early this year.

It wasn't until I was setting my alarm that I noticed the time on my phone was not the same as the time on my stove.

Drats.

Perhaps I would have gone out and done something had I known.

Now, it's too late, and the onset of dusk will coincide with the 5 PM increase in traffic as folks travel home from work.

The sunlight wakened me earlier than usual, as the sun does not adhere to the restrictions imposed by humans in the USA.

My body roused, thinking it must be time to waken, but it was wrong.

It was still early enough that I watched a bit of "Toon In With Me", catching the last two cartoons before the show ended at 8 AM.

Then I watched the last half of "The Long Kiss Goodnight", recorded yesterday to avoid the obnoxious political 'mercials.

By its end, I was sleepy enough to return to bed.

Now, I'm revived and ready to go watch "Wildwood" with Carolyn at 2:15.

Neither of us have seen it, but we've both wanted to see this animated tale of magic and family and curses, making it kinda sorta like that first MFG movie.

At least the time is early enough that neither of us will be driving home in the dark after it's over.

halloween treats, via ether

This has been a very busy week, and the physical therapy session I had on Monday was not conducive to making me more mobile.

Still, I didn't let the pain and discomfort stop me!

Now, though, I have a lull in the action, a time to recharge.

 

That reminds me of a meme that Mary Prokop posted a while ago. 

One says to the other, "Holy crap! You're an INTROVERT?? But you're always so friendly and talkative and nice to everyone!"

The other says, "Despite popular belief, a lot of introverts can be pretty social. The big difference is that it drains our 'social battery' and we have o recharge after a while."

The one says, "Cool I get it! So what happens when your social battery runs out of..." - then, as the other goes POOF, adds "Oh."

As a sociable unsociable, I totally understand...

but that's because I know I am not alone...

and I know where to go to find people I know who know me...

and I also know when I need to stay home, to recharge, as I've done since coming home from the party yesterday.

Here's a meme posted by Bob Bueller, one of my Navy buddies. 

"A belly button is basically a scar from when you got into a knife fight with a guy in a mask after being evicted from your first place." 

Hahahaha - it's all about perspective!!!

 

Then there's the "Star Trek" meme from Sherry Giddens, now in Tampa.

Picard is telling Ryker, "As you know, Gandhi walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath."

After a pause, Picard continued, "This made him a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis."

Hahahaha! Thank you, Mary Poppins!

 

Then there's this one, posted by Jay Sinclair, that is so funny!

A guy says, "So, I got invited to my first gender reveal party. Totally misunderstood the concept. My bad."

Such a deliciously raunchy nod to flasher humor!

 

This meme posted by my brother Ronnie's friend, Donna Faye Johnson, is a good one on aging. 

As a woman is looking through a photo album, she says, "Honestly, I don't care how I look in photos anymore... As long as I look good on ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs."

You and me both!

That brings me to one I like from Andy Pena in Pooler.

A Japanese monk once said: 

"If you miss the bus, maybe you avoided the accident. 

If you got rejected, maybe you were saved from the wrong place. 

If they left, maybe they made room for who is coming. 

The universe protects you in ways that look like bad luck at first.

Trust the detour."

Amen to that!

I do admit, though, that part of the reason I like that goes back to an Indian movie I saw years ago.

I just love how rabbit holes lead to memories!

Those are definitely treats!

marsh monster mash!

Today was the day of the Candler Senior Center's Halloween party!

I made sure to sign up for it last month, because the Marsh Auditorium seats 80 and those events fill up super fast! 

 

What greeted me as I arrived into the room?

A jack o'lantern made from a disco ball pumpkin!!!

See that pale green running along its lower jaw, as well as to the left above its upper lip?

That's my sweater!

Nice for it to make an appearance again!

There was also a disco ball ghost, but it wasn't nearly as alluring as this guy!

 

Elizabeth, the woman who runs the Senior Center, also greeted me, of course.

That's her in the red dress, ready to give out a free lunch for the best guess on number of candy corns in a jar.

I'd guessed 432...

but the correct number was 478 and someone else had the closer value. 

No problem, as I'd just finished my luncheon that came with my party ticket!

The lunch ladies were clad in Halloween attire as they served up a Chinese feast: sesame green beans, stir-fy rice, and orange chicken - yum!!!

 

After everyone had a chance to enjoy the meal, the fun started!

Count Dracula and a Ghostbuster read trivia questions relating to Halloween tales and myths.

I won the goodie bag for one of the questions in that first round!

The Ghostbuster had barely started, with "What strong-smelling vegetable used as a spice..." when I shot my hand into the air!!!

She finished with "...used to ward off vampires?", then Count Dracula called on me, as my hand was up long before anyone else's.

"Garlic!", I triumphantly said!!!

My prize bag was brought directly to me by Little Red Riding Fox!

And what had I won?

A haint-blue koozie, a popcorn ball, a bag of pretzels shaped like bats and jack o'lanterns, some peppermints, and a telescoping back scratcher.

I know I'll make good use of that last item!

There were more trivia contests, but I abstained from participating with any more answers.

I'd already won, right?

And I was 1 of 79 others at the party.

My table mates thought it grand that I gave others a chance!

We had two rounds of "Name That Halloween Tune", then a round of "Name That Movie Villain", and two rounds of "Name That Scary Movie".

That made for a nice bunch of prizes for attendees at the 8 tables!

Then it was time for dancing!!!

Three guesses what the first song was... "Thriller"!!!

"Monster Mash" was actually second, even though the party had been named in honor of that tune.

Go figure!

"One-Eyed One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater" and "Spooky" came next, but the one that drew the most attention at my table was Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious". One of the younger women - she's 55 - even got up and danced.

That Corpse Bride did some very nice dancing, too, throwing in some writhing and squirming - bwah haha!

This was my first time coming to one of the Senior Center's parties, but I'll most def try for more!

(smile!)