neighborhood bully, targeting... me

At dinner tonight, Tony alerted me to this post on fb in our Forest Hills Neighborhood Group.

I'm surprised that the administrator of that page allowed this post, frankly. 

The bully took a picture of my front yard and posted it, on September 20, along with his attempt to shame me.

Fortunately, several of my neighbors, as well as my brother, stood up for me to his bullying attack.

Here goes.

-------------------------------

Walker Price
September 20 at 3:42pm
Friendly neighborhood reminder,when your grass is 2ft tall and growing into the street a foot it is time to cut it,thankful that most neighbors take care of the yard but some just don’t care,so sad 

 

Rene Green
Is this a regular occurrence at this house ? Is it an elderly person ? Or is it just always neglected …. I’m just wondering because one of my neighbors that used to have a beautiful yard had a stroke ….. and nobody knew ….. everyone just noticed the yard but the persons health had changed and they just needed a little help
 

Walker Price
Rene Green it’s always a mess,the lady pushmows circles in the yard she is just a little ignorant and jealous of the nice yards in the neighborhood,and she does it out of spite I believe I have offered to do it for free and she declined so I call the city on her every couple of weeks and that’s the only way to get her to half a$$ do the yard

Irene Latta Robinson
Rene Green she is an older lady and she has lived in the neighborhood for a very long time. I'm not sure if she is doing anything out of spite or maybe it's just her age that makes things more difficult or she may have medical conditions that this person isn't aware of and is taking it personally. Not everyone is able to handle Savannah's heat well.
 

Rene Green
Irene Latta Robinson if you read my comments that’s exactly what I said the very first comment I made !

Irene Latta Robinson
Rene Green I did see that. I just think our neighborhood has a lot of people who have been in it for a while. Like I said, my family's been in the neighborhood since 1993? I think I was only 6 when we moved in. So there's a mix of people who've been there a while and there are younger couples and families moving in. I think I met Tina when I was 12. There's no HOA but I do understand there are city ordinances. I want to make a joke and say the frisbee court really changed the neighborhood by it's only a joke!

Walker Price
Rene Green being old is not an excuse to always have a yard that is a mess that’s what landscapers are for

Rene Green
Walker Price being older isn’t an excuse ? Not everyone has family , not everyone can afford a landscaper ….. and older people can be resistant to change and reluctant to ask or accept help ….. older people deserve grace …. So to me being older is an excuse.

Walker Price
Rene Green not when you offer to give help,just trying a different approach besides calling the city again,but I guess that is the only way to get anything done

Tony E Smith
Hey guy,that's my sister's yard. She is over 65 and lives a simple,life on her terms ,Dr. of anilitical chemistry/ was a teaching college professor before her retirement . Leave her ass alone and just know that she has No personal issues with you. Just let her live her way just as I am sure you want. If you kept your Christmas decorations up all year I would not care. I would think it odd but I wouldn't bust your balls about it nor would I ask you to take them down.

Walker Price
Tony E Smith it’s not only an eyesore but also against code for the city of savannah,I have offered to do it for free every now and then and she just says it doesn’t look bad,leaving Christmas lights up all year doesn’t cause drainage issues or violate city ordinances

Thomas Kimberly
Tony E Smith I love the circles she cuts into the grass! Her yard always looks like there are fairies hiding around the corner.

Laura Thibodeaux
Tony E Smith did she buy Julie’s old house?!

Tony E Smith
Laura Thibodeaux no,she's 2 doors down. Next to one with the looped driveway.
 

Irene Latta Robinson
Tony E Smith I was also about to say it's very evident about whose home this is and she's been in this neighborhood for a very long time. I'm not sure how long the initial poster has lived in the neighborhood. My family has lived in the neighborhood for over 30 years and people have complained about us when we've had medical emergencies and are unable to take care of things. My dad has been hospitalized but I've had to rush around taking care of yard complaints.

Rene Green
Maybe a partial solution since you offered to do her yard for free is to just simply edge her yard for her when you do yours . Her designs in her yard cutting shouldn’t really affect drainage and then you are both happier ! My husband edges the two neighbors across the street and the one next door when he is edging our yard and blows it off and cleans it up just because he really enjoys doing our yard lol and I think he enjoys his edger the most !

Walker Price
Rene Green she wouldn’t even let me do that
 

Diane Boyer Sullivan
It is an eyesore. Over growth is a haven for snakes, rodents and more bugs like mosquitos and gnats. I just wish she would get it mowed front and back every couple of weeks. I know Tina has had some health issues and didn't understand why she would not take up Walker's offer to do it for free.

Muriel Miller
Maybe some people don't care. But there are lots of other valid reasons someone's lawn may be overgrown. For instance, we used to have a guy do my lawn but he got sick. My dad does it now...but these past 2 months have been horrible. My uncle just passed away and my mom has been in and out of the hospital. I can't cut the grass because of my allergies. So...it's not always that people don't care. Sometimes they just can't tend to it for various reasons. I wish all I had to worry about in life was someone's yard. Smh.

Jamie D. Fee
It was very kind of you to offer, but it is the homeowner’s choice whether to take you up on your offer.
This homeowner takes care of her own yard. Case closed.
Thank you for keeping it civil.

----------------------------------------

Jamie is one of the administrators.

Her post was "1 week ago", according to fb.

 

Tonight, I made my response, just to weigh in on the lies from Walker Price.

Here's what I wrote.

 

"My thanks to all who had nice things to say about me and my yard in the conversation started by Walker Price on September 20.
I do want to clear up a few things. In addition to having Atrial Fibrillation, I have pulled a muscle in my right leg and have had difficulty getting the yard work done for the past 6 weeks.
I want to state that Walker Price has NEVER, ever, offered to mow my yard for free. NEVER. NEVER.
I cannot understand why he would claim that he has approached me multiple times about taking care of my yard for free. He has NEVER offered to do that.
He did offer to edge the front yard ONCE. That was months ago, maybe even last year. A storm was coming and he claimed the overhanging grass would cause a drainage problem that would cause the street to flood. As I told him, I have owned this house since 2001 and this street has never flooded. I also grew up in this neighborhood and Pine Valley Road has never flooded. Timberline has, and so has Appalachia, but not Pine Valley.
If Walker Price would like to edge my yard for free, I will gladly accept that offer. It is very difficult to take care of that sloped area with my lawn mower.
If Walker Price would like to mow my yard for free, I will gladly accept, with the caveat that I will tend to the walking spiral under my Japanese magnolia. My great-nieces love that path I make for them!
I have Atrial Fibrillation, and have had that since 2022. That means I can only do part of the yard at a time, so it may take a few days to get all of it done.
Please be patient.
Thank you." 

 

I'll be curious to see what happens next.

Will my rebuttal be allowed to remain on that page?

Will the deer-hunting Walker Price edge my yard? 

Will he learn the difference between a spiral walking path under a tree and crop circles out in open farmland?

We'll see.

driftaway

"I think maybe that's supposed to be two words. Song title, right?"

Most of the time I'd say "correct!", but not this time, sunshine! I'm talkin' 'bout Driftaway Cafe, as that's where the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta was tonight.

"What??? What happened to Jalapenos?"

The last time I was there was on September 19th. Everyone was there except Mark. I talked a while with Jimmy about "Hamilton" and "Little Shop Of Horrors", 'cause I know he loves the musicals, like I do, even though he never goes to them. Anyway, I know Smitty was a bit perturbed that the restaurant still didn't have the beer he likes. Claudia tried to assure him that it was a temporary thing, but that's not how it's turned out. Smitty told her last week that he would not be back to Jalapenos of Sandfly until they rectified the situation. So, this is where the party has landed!

"I'm sorry to hear that, though it is nice to switch things up."

That's true, but Driftaway is a bit more expensive for me. That's okay this time, as Tony surprised me and took care of my bill tonight. Maybe that was because he and I both had the same thing! Well, close. I had my blackened fish tacos with house-made chips, while he opted for French fries. (smile!)

"How very nice of Dood to treat you!"

Hey, he even called me to invite along, knowing I'm car-less for the time being. Yes, my youngest brother has really stepped up for me! And when I told Smitty that I was sad to be missing Asbury's first "God On Broadway" this Sunday, as well as communion and the Big Coffee Hour, he suggested I contact someone I knew was going and check on a ride. So, I did just that! I checked the fb event page, then contacted Sherry Giddens, as she marked that she was going. I don't know where she lives, but I'm hoping she'll help.

"Good for you! I know it's difficult for you to ask for help, but this Sunday is a big deal. Sometimes you have to shuck that independence and ask for a hand. Or, in this case, for a lift!"

Yeah, I know. We'll see how this goes. Anyway, tonight's dinner was a good change of pace for all of us. All of the regulars were there - Betsy and Jimmy, Mark, Becca, Smitty and Mary, Tony and Laura, plus her Missouri friend, Cissy, down for the weekend. We sat out on the front porch, which was really nice, given this cooler weather. 

"That's a definite change of pace!"

Yes, it was, and I liked it, though maybe not those metal chairs. I most def liked the music, though! We had live entertainment!!! A young guitarist, Nick, showed up not long after we got our orders in, and he regaled us with our favorite requests until we left! That meant he was on stage for about 90 minutes. "Mama Tried", "Gimme Three Steps" for Smitty, "You Don't Have To Call Me Darling", "Margaritaville" for Laura, "Live Like You Are Dying", "All Summer Long" for me and Tony, "Turn The Page", "Amarillo By Morning" - such a repertoire for a 22-year-old!

"That certainly was! He had everything from Bob Seger to Jimmy Buffett, from George Strait to Kid Rock... wow!"

Yeah, I really enjoyed all that! Next time, though, I'm going to try to sit by Betsy. She was telling me that Addisen has started a Bob Ross-style painting club at UGA. She's named it "Happy Little Accidents", one of Ross' favorite phrases. As he says, "There are no mistakes, just happy little accidents." I think he and Oogway would have been great friends!

"Hahahaha! Yes, I'm sure! Glad you had fun tonight... and that you got out of the house for a while. I know how nuts cabin fever makes you."

Thanks, I did enjoy myself! 

off on a sleepover!

Not me, silly one.

That would be my little Saturn.

We were supposed to go to Pooler today.

Instead, she disengaged the gear shift as soon as we hit the street.

I had to push her to the curb to keep from blocking passage.

Fortunately, I was at home and had computer access.

Danny Beam lightened my mood with this theatre reference on fb.

"I just wish my life had background music so I could at least know if I'm in a drama, a comedy, or a horror show."

That meme was credited to a guitarist from 1823.

Such a sweet, sad, face. 

There aslant from the curb my Saturn remained for three hours. 

Field Maintenance Company answered the call from Allstate right away, but it was a busy day for them.

The young man was just as nice as could be, though, even giving me a lift.

I was a bit dejected by that time, missing Barbara, as she and I helped each other with car issues.

That's why this fb post from Andy Pena resonated with me.

"Therapist: So how depressed would you say you've been feeling lately?

Patient: I don't car anymore if my foot hands over the bed where a monster can get it."

I totally understood. 

Now, my dear Saturn is spending the night at Rincon Transmission, chosen in part because they are a member of the Better Business Bureau.

That organization has a lot of credibility with me.

Michelle, a kind-hearted soul at the front desk, assured me that they would take good care of her.

I had such plans for today, ending with the free fall concert by the SAA orchestra.

After Tony picked me up and brought me home, I had a good cry, intending to follow these words from Hallie Allgood.

"Latibulate" - a 17th century verb meaning to hide oneself in a corner to escape reality or until the situation improves.

An old-fashioned pity party certainly seemed to be in order.

Instead, I called great-niece Chloe and sang "Happy Birthday" to her and we talked a while before her soccer practice.

She's such a sweet 7-year-old now!

Then I called stepmom Bonnie and sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

She and Chloe both had their special days yesterday, and neither one minded one whit that I had extended their celebrations.

Bonnie and I talked on the phone for over an hour!!!

Trust me, neither of us spend that much time on the phone on a regular basis, so this had been a special treat for both of us!

And now?

Now I feel much better, having spoken with my favorite 7-year-old and my favorite 77-year-old.

I'll watch a bit of "Elsbeth" in a while, and that will brighten my spirits, too - such a gypsy she is with her almost garishly-hued clothes and totes!

i thank You, God, for choices.

where you go, i'll follow close behind

Monday, 29 September, 11 AM 

Across nearly 800 miles of the open Atlantic Ocean, between latitudes 25N and 30N and longitudes 80W and 65W, Imelda spotted Humberto with the rising sun and was immediately enamored of him.

My, what a fine specimen of a Mega-Hurricane he was!

Yes, he was a fully-formed Category 4, with winds of 145 mph, running north at 13 mph.

She was a newly-named Tropical Storm, and her winds were just 60mph, but she knew he was the one for her.

She needed to speed up from her pokey 9 mph rate of travel if she were to catch him!

Monday, 29 September, 11 PM 

For twelve hours that day Imelda pushed herself.

Her rate of travel had actually slowed to 8 mph as she slogged through a cluster of islands, trying to reach open water.

She was still just a Tropical Storm, but perhaps that would be okay with him.

Humberto's was down to Category 3 status.

She still liked his 115mph winds, though.

But at 14mph, he was moving more out of her reach -she simply must get faster! 

Tuesday, September 30, 11 AM 

All through the night Imelda chased Humberto north, but she found a way to decrease the distance between them.

As a Category 1 Hurricane, she would cut across Bermuda with her 85mph winds, blasting northeast at 12mph!

She was now on a par with her love, as he had dropped to Category 1, with winds just barely faster than hers.

The problem was this: as his power decreased, his rate of travel increased, so he was now heading north at 18 mph.

Would her shortcut be enough to unite them?

Tuesday, September 30, 11 PM 

Sadly, it would not.

Another day of running northeast just as fast as she could, upping her speed to 15mph, was simply not going to overtake him, even though his speed was down to 10mph.

Oh, but what a lovely dance they shared that night over that 300-mile expanse of the Atlantic Ocean!

Both twirling along in the wee hours as Category 1 Hurricanes, nearly matching their winds together at 80-85mph - such a time they had!

 

Wednesday, 1 October, 11 AM 

In the morning, Humberto was nearly wasted away back to Tropical Storm status, moving at 24mph into a cooler weather system between latitudes 35N and 40N.

After their night of dancing, he left Imelda to thrash about in mourning there in the Sargasso Sea region.

She powered up to Category 2 with 100 mph winds as she ran straight over Bermuda at 20mph, still tracking northeasterly toward her lover's remnants.

 

Such memories though...

 

As for me, I think I shall see if the Mozart music is still available from 2020.

As I watched that hurricane love story play out, I couldn't help but have the Royal Court Of China's song playing on my jukebox.

"So Yer Love Is True"... yes, I think I'll have a listen for real, instead of just between my ears!

hey, that looks like a winner!

 

That's because it is a winner... but I didn't turn it in as one.

That's because that first game of Music Bingo already had two other winners!!!

My win was with "I Love The Nightlife", "If I Can't Have You", "You Make Loving Fun", "Feels Like The first Time", and "Short People", all songs I've known most of my life, as they're from 1977 and 1978. 

Elissa, me, and a guy from Germany - we were all waiting on "Feels Like The First Time" to complete our five in a row, though theirs were different from mine.

Nice inside joke from the Universe that an actual Foreigner won, right?

Hahahaha! 

In fact, that same guy won the second game, too!

His traveling buddy got to use that one for a free drink.

They had come to Savannah for some deep-sea fishing, but the ocean has been too choppy for that with two storm systems stirring the pot.

So, for this last evening in town, the wind had blown them to Midtown Sports Grill, to play darts and maybe flirt a bit with all us girls.

Very nice!

Elissa and I made sure they knew to grab a bingo sheet, so they could "win a free drink!", and they were only too happy to comply.

More flirting, right?

Right!

Sandy and Marcia and Amanda got a kick out of all the extra attention, too.

Sandy won a game, too, the third one, and gave the win to Amanda.

I was glad we were all able to make it out for the new bingo caller, Sam.

I don't why Jade isn't there, but I've been told this guy also does their trivia on one of the other nights.

He was good, just not as eccentric as she had been.

(smile!)

I'm also glad I was there as this will be the last Monday night out for our group for a week or two.

Last week was a miss, as will be next week, because of the string of Jewish High Holy Days that are going on.

Amanda will keep us apprised of our next time out, via group text.

Good!

(smile!) 

tashlich, kinda sorta

During the ten High Holy Days of the Jewish New Year, there is a ritual of atonement which involves casting one's sins into a large body of flowing water.

I am well acquainted with telling my troubles to the ocean and watching as it graciously carries them into its depths.

So, when I read on fb that the Savannah JEA was having its 4th Annual Reverse Tashlich, that sounded like it was made for me!

"With Reverse Tashlich, we’re turning symbolism into action by removing human "sin" from the water. Reverse Tashlich provides an opportunity to come together and engage in a hands-on effort to clean up our beaches, rivers, and shorelines, removing the plastic, trash, and other debris that threaten marine ecosystems. By removing the waste we have allowed to accumulate, we protect marine life and ecosystems that are essential for life on Earth to survive, while also fulfilling the mitzvah of Bal Tashchit."

Does that not sound tailor-made for me?

Instead of me casting my troubles out with the tide, I would support the ocean by removing physical rubbish before it could travel out to sea. 

So I registered to let the SavJEA know I would be there.

And guess what happened when I arrived?

I was greeted enthusiastically and BY MY NAME.

Seriously.

The woman in charge knew MY NAME and was actively awaiting my arrival to the Tybee Pier and Pavilion.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God. 

I took my blue bucket into the edge of the dunes, knowing paper and plastic trash would have blown up there from beach picnics.

My quest met with almost immediate success!

I didn't even need to don the protective gloves I'd been given.

 

After canvassing the area north of the pier for another twenty minutes, collecting small fragments of paper and plastic, I returned to the pier.

I had spotted two white, plastic, grocery bags trapped in this area between the ramp and the pavilion.

Could I possibly reach that area by going around the pavilion?

No, that didn't work, so I went under the stone structure, making my way slowly to the southwest corner, for the area by the entrance ramp.

Success!

Out from the pavilion area, I made sure to take this shot to show the bags safely retrieved.

 

Up the side stairs I returned, adding my bucket to the group of pails already gathered by others.

Then I enjoyed my reward: a juicy clementine, with cold water, and a dragon patrolling the overcast sky above the beach.

Right place, right time!

 

15th annual 24-hour play festival!

I'm glad this thing keeps persevering, though it makes it hard for folks to follow it from year to year when it's always somewhere different.

There are a couple of new venues that have sprung up this summer, so maybe that will help these homeless troupes.

Two reps from the national mother ship were in town, so that was nice.

Also, it was held at Asbury Memorial Church, so that was super nice!

My biggest beef was the total lack of a physical program for my $12.

Just for reference, QR code programs are useless without a smart phone.

Assumptions, assumptions, assumptions - we all know how useless and First World-biased those are, right?

The good news is: these five plays were much lighter than last year's!

Hallelujah!!!

Just like last year's production, the plays had no common line or common item; they were totally random, using props the actors owned.

So, one had a ukelele.

That was in "An Alternative Horror", the very last of the five offerings, written by Thomas Houston and featuring his lovely wife, Danielle.

She was the assistant of a rich fellow who gets visited by a Were-person - think Were-wolf, but the full moon doesn't change the bitten one into an animal, just a person.

In this case, it was a person who played the ukelele and sang the Harry Nilsson song about limes and coconuts!

I don't know if that was Thomas' choice or that of Malcolm Sturdevant (the actor playing the Were-person), but I ate it up!

In fact the whole short play was quite funny, though inadvertently so.

See, the rich guy was to try to use drawings to explain Were-physiology science, but the easel he was using kept collapsing - hahahaha!

He finally grabbed up the easel and the sketchpad and tossed them off stage to the great delight of all!!!

Oh, and Danielle showed she could be a real bad-ass - I told her she should seek out those kinds of roles!!!

Another had a rubber chicken.

 

That would be the third play, "Something In The Water", written by Rick Garman and directed by Ryan McCurdy.

This was like Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" in reverse.

So, the fast section came first, as the grand-daughter tried to get her grandma packed and out of the house before the dam breaks, with the old lady insisting that wouldn't happen as she kept pulling items out of the bins.

Then it goes into slow mode as the scene shifts to a nursing home, with the nurse interrupting the old woman's reveries to take her to her room... and the nurse kindly agreeing to listen to one of the woman's stories.

It truly was a heartfelt piece.

So, what about the other three plays?

 

The first, "Separation Anxiety", was written by, and starring, Chris Bass.

As I told him, he seemed to be channeling his inner vampire as a backwoods veterinarian called in to help a troubled married couple who'd been hiking, as a bonding experience, and got tripped up.

 

The second play, about a married lesbian couple wanting to find a sperm donor and looking for help from a gay friend, was the least appealing to me.

Titled "The Choice", it didn't feature anyone I knew, wasn't written by anyone I know, and was about wanting a baby.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no.

Then there was the 4th play, "Metal Bird", which at least had one person I knew.

The thing is, here's the thing (as my ex would have said): the whole play reminded me of that time-filling skit Steve Martin did on SNL decades ago.

So, there Luisa Nolasco was, a wife standing on the edge of the apartment building's roof, with her husband trying in vain to call her back.

Then comes a guy they know and he acquiesces to her repeated talk about the "big metal bird" in the distance. 

Hmm... yeah, okay.

One interesting feature was the same as last year: a musician between plays would sing a tune to keep us busy while the stage was changed out.

This time it was Samantha Stephens, who had a playlist that she strayed from after the third play.

So, here's her choices, including the one change.

 

"Hungry Heart", by Bruce Springsteen in 1980

"True Colors", by Cyndi Lauper in 1986

"I Was Made For You" (maybe by Billie Eilish?)

"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", by Cher in 1966

 

Those were some interesting song choices, made more so as they were mostly from my younger years.

Nice to know they still resonate with 30-somethings!

more ghouls to haunt my dreams!

Hah! As if they could!

I was back in Georgetown for a double dose of "AA and AAA" time, this one in the company of the Koz.

All of Dawn's little inside ghouls were re-animated last time, but all of the outside creepy crawlies were still trapped in bins.

So, even though I knew we women had been called in as the Treat Crew today, my choice was to stay outside and help Chris get his contingent ready to scream and shout and wriggle.

Why did I do that?

As I told him, in years past, I would have already gotten fresh batteries into his collection as well as hers.

I didn't want to leave him with all of that to do when it was something I actually enjoyed. 

I even brought him a treat: one of the jade rocks that Paul had picked up on a hike in California.

My line was: "What does Charlie Brown always say about the contents of his Halloween bag?"

Chris knew it right off!!!

So, just who did Dawn have in action?

The Treat Crew, posted in the dining room as usual, consisted of my outlaw Bunny, Dawn herself, Gina, Susan, and Monica!

Monica had already left by the time I took that photo, which was around 2 PM.

But just look at all the bags of goodies crafted for those coming to the BYOP!!!

All the neighborhood kids just love trick-or-treating at this house!!!

Guaranteed to not get a single rock!

(smile!) 

And of course Dawn fed us!

This time, it was Pizza Puffs from Chicago!!!

Those were so tasty that I had two!

Stella got carrot sticks and chewed them all up!

All I had to do was take a bite first so she knew they were people food.

(smile!) 

fb flashback from 27 September 2012

Curiouser and curiouser.

I have no idea why the Book of Face chose to show me this "Memory" a day early.

Perhaps the Universe knows tomorrow will be busy for me and didn't want me to miss this sweet post that JinHi made with this photo of me from 13 years ago.

"This is my beautiful friend Tina Smith! If ya recognize her, you must be an actor, singer, musician, community organizer, local business owner, or student, and SHE HAS BEEN THERE, tirelessly SUPPORTING YOU and always having a wonderful time at it! THIS IS HER CAUSE. Toss in a little love, kids! You can donate $1's worth of love and it would be as appreciated as a hundred. LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK: LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA."

Even more curious: that link is still active for my fundraising page.

She had donated a very generous $50 for that walk.

I am so fortunate to still have her in my life!

She has battled cancer, participating in every new-drug trial as they arise, for over a decade for her small-cell lung cancer.

She truly takes science to heart.

So many will have her to thank for the drug that puts their lung cancer into remission.

Yes, the world is definitely a better place because of JinHi Soucy Rand.

couple of a*lists - see, i went to movies!

Not only did I go to movies at NCG Cinema last week, but I also made it out to AMC Classic 11 a few times!

I caught the new Japanese anime, the British finale, and even a sports movie!

Carolyn even went to "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle" with me, in the BigD auditorium, along with a contingent of SCAD students.

Yes, the version with spoken Japanese and English subtitles, the way it's meant to be!

Let me say, when they were fighting on the different levels of that enormous castle, it felt like they were traveling within an M.C. Escher work - absolutely dizzying at times!!!

On Wednesday, I went to "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" on my own, as she had already seen it, and found it to be an honest look at the effect of divorce on a woman's social life, whether in 1930's England or even 2007's Savannah.

I must say that it introduced me to another actor to enjoy: Alessandro Nivola.

The 53-year-old plays a bit of a scamp, but he's oh-so-charming... rawrrrr!!!

I realize he's been in other movies I've seen, but certainly not as such a sexy character.

I'll have to look for him the next time I see those earlier works... and look forward to seeing him in future films!

Oh, my, let me calm myself for a moment... whew!

On to the third movie, "The Senior", with Michael Chiklis as a 59-year-old man who'd been expelled from college midway through his final year.

That's because he couldn't stop fighting, both on and off the football field.

Fast-forward to the 40th reunion of the team he would have been on, with them including him for the celebration.

While there, he finds out he's still eligible to play, as his senior year is still open for him to finish.

And so he does just that, including trying out for the team - and making it - and going to classes.

Excellent film about second chances... and I love those!

 

Then, this week, with fewer distractions at NCG, I managed to complete my AMC dance card with a foursome!

All were seen solo, and only the last is one I'd see again.

That's because "Gabby's Dollhouse - The Movie" was a celebration of life and family and imagination, with lots of encouragement to viewers to sing along, to clap along, to dance along!!!

It was soooo much fun!!!

Even for someone who knew nothing of the TV show!

I even liked Kristen Wiig in this one... and I usually don't care for her at all.

That's saying something!

However, the other three movies were definitely one and done.

"A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" was certainly not the date movie portrayed in its previews, though Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie were certainly excellent.

However, it was like speed dating through the worst times, with all the dirty laundry pulled out of the baggage for all to see.

After all, they were both adults in their 4th decade, so they'd lived through a lot of experiences, picking up hurts along the way.

So, although realistic in some ways, the movie's approach to forming a relationship was not quite believable, with being content not what most seek.

"The Long Walk" reminded me that Stephen King movies can be horrific, and that one was utterly unrelenting in its horror.

Listening as so many young men lost their lives was exhausting.

Give me a John Wick movie any day, but not this slaughter of innocents.

Then there's "The History Of Sound", which certainly had some wonderful American folk and gospel music from remote areas.

Set in times that bookend World War I, it first focuses on a relationship between two young men at college, one of whom is drafted into the Army.

Then there's shift after that one returns to the States.

He encourages the farmer to join him in a scientific endeavor to document unheard music and they have several months on the road together.

Then the movie shifts again and the focus is squarely on the farmer.

It's a good story, but not one for me to read again.

Okay, that's enough for this 25th day of September of 2025.

(smile!)

asbury sisters luncheon

I had not realized that today was the official start of Sisters In Faith, the new women's group at Asbury Memorial Church.

All I had known was that several women I knew had been part of last month's luncheon, but I'd never heard of the group.

That made me feel very excluded as a member of a church that prides itself on making sure everyone is included.

I'd almost not attended the luncheon because of that feeling I had...

but I made myself go and give it a chance.

I'm so glad I did!

Apparently, when Linda Combs had started the group, it was to give her a chance to get to know some of the new women.

She had noticed that more often than not, when she looked out of the choir area into the congregation, she knew fewer and fewer people.

So she started out small, inviting a handful of newcomers to her house for casual functions like low-key lunches or dinners.

It grew over the last two years into an unwieldy group of 28 diners at Carey Hilliard's on Skidaway last month, with others that wanted to come.

That's when she approached the church about making it official and holding the next luncheon in Holliday Hall as a potluck affair.

 

And that's what we had today!

Linda asked Michelle Meece, a performer at the Historic Savannah Theatre, to speak with us about her faith journey.

What a wonderful, frank, open talk that was!!!

 

Michelle even had a graph that plotted her times of high faith with her times when her life was going through turmoil!!!

I told her that, as an analytical chemist, I would have never expected to see a graph and applauded her inclusion of that in her discussion.

Just amazing!

After the meal - which we ate on real plates, using real silverware - we all pitched in to clean up and put the tables and chairs back where they belonged.

 

Then we made sure to put our new name tags into the basket for future get-togethers... and to take one of the little purple bags Linda made as parting gifts for each of us.

Yes, I'm so glad I went!

And I had the pleasure of sitting with Robin and Candace and Pam... and that was very nice, too.

I even found myself near Myers Middle School on my way home, so I popped over to visit Sam Johnson.

I cleared the leaves and vines off his grave marker, putting a bunch of bright yellow flowers at its head.

Then I filled two bags with deflated balloons, bedraggled blooms, and miscellaneous items left behind by others.

What a good visit there!

I wonder if Barbara's niece has a marker somewhere that I could visit.

That would be reassuring.

I'll have to ask Sandy if she knows the answer.

(smile!)

neighing away!!!

Because of the pain in my right leg, I've been sleeping oddly.

See, I prefer to sleep on my right side, and that has become an issue with my sore hamstring and hip.

What did I do to cause that?

Beats me.

Acetaminophen helps - which is good, as that's the only pain reliever I'm allowed while on Eliquis - but it gets 'all used up' in less than seven hours.

That means I'm up at crazy times to take another so I can finish sleeping.

Thankfully, this time I was able to catch "Bill and Teddy's Adventure"!

 

Hahahaha!

That's my name for this scene!

Nice pun on one of my favorite history movies! 

Teddy Roosevelt had challenged Bill to a Hobby-Horsin' Hootenanny and it was ON!

That's Bill on the left, with his steed, 'Broomstick'. 

Teddy, astride 'Little Texas', had to split the win of the first two jumping contests, but they managed to beat out the competition in the third round.

Very funny!!!

By the time that was done, and I'd watched two cartoons that featured hobby horses, the pill had kicked in.

i thank You, God, 

for this bit of merriment!

Now, I'm awake again and well-rested, and ready to head off to Suds for laundry.

I'm even tackling the double load of bed linen this time.

Why a double instead of a single?

Well, that's 'cause I've been slack.

I've had a fitted sheet and a flat sheet left over from a few months back when I didn't want to be bothered with folding sheets.

Silly me!

Hooray for quadruple loader machines and 25% off Wednesdays!

back for another hit of hamilton!

"You went to that musical again?"

Of course I did! I told you last week that Carolyn and I were going to go again, didn't I? But she and I were not alone! Robin of AsbMemCh came along with us on this Tina Tuesday! She saw my post on fb about it and immediately wanted to see it again!

"Again??? She's already seen "Hamilton" on film, too?"

Even better: she has seen it FOUR TIMES live and in person!!! Once was even on Broadway with much of the cast that's in the 2016 filmed production! Plus, she's seen it in San Francisco and two other places while it was on tour!!! She says it's her favorite modern musical... and I totally believe her! Get this: she even sat on the front row, like I did!

"Wow!!! I do hope you get to go to more plays with her! She does seems to enjoy plays and musicals almost as much as you do."

I hope for that, too. You know, she only discovered the joy of theatre when her son became an actor in high school. That was about 25 years ago. So, she's been trying to make up for lost time ever since! She's really looking forward to God On Broadway next month. I'll be surprised if she doesn't get featured in at least one of those four shows!

"Very good! And did she sing along with the songs in this one?"

Of course she did! So did the little girl several seats down from her. Robin said the girl sang along with every single song!!! I bet that child was only about 13 or 14, so she must have been watching the musical on Disney+ for the last five years. Amazing!!!

"Wow!"

Her mom was just glad we didn't mind. Mind? We were singing along, too! What an incredible show!!!

"I'm thrilled you got to see it again! Did you ladies go off for luncheon after?"

Nope! We went to slunch! Hahahaha! I had hoped for us to go to Geneva's, but that restaurant was closed for vacation. Drats. So, we popped down to Carey Hilliard's on Skidaway instead. As it turned out, Robin had just been there earlier in the month for the Sisters In Faith luncheon.

"Isn't that the new women's group at Asbury?"

Yes, it is. I've already got plans to be part of that on Thursday. I'll be sure to let you know how it pans out. Robin said it's been going for about two years. I'm a bit peeved about being excluded from it all this time. Anyway, that's neither here nor there! I'm focusing on today!!!

"That's the right attitude, dearie! And just how did Robin and Carolyn get along?"

Swimmingly! Both of them have so many stories and both are more girly than I ever was, so they naturally kept a conversation going. It was very cool to watch! Carolyn is 79 and Robin is 64, but they hit it off quite nicely. That was good! I do need to remember that Robin is allergic to all seafood, but that shouldn't be an issue, really. Almost all the restaurants in this seaport have plenty of chicken and steak options for landlubbers.

"No seafood? Not even fish?"

That's correct. So, she had the chicken wings, Carolyn had a hamburger, and I ordered the barbeque pork plate. Something different for each and none of it from the Atlantic Ocean or nearby rivers!  

"Looks like you tucked into that pretty hard."

I ate all of it, I did! Then I went over to the Purple Planet of Victory to get a little treadmill action in to work off some of it. Well, and to limber up my hip and knees. Ever since that sound bath, I've had sore knees. Never going to do that again! They're getting better, though, slowly but surely.

"You know how it is. You're older, so things don't heal as quickly as they once did. Remember having to fasten your bra in the front and twist it around? That went on for a year after you pulled muscle in your right arm. That happened on one of your flights out to California."

True. Then, one morning I woke up and that arm was just fine again, as if it had never had a problem! I'm ready for my legs to follow that example. I do feel better after walking on the treadmill, then using the leg curl and the hip abductor.

"And I see that your odometer liked that you did that, too. Right?"

You're correct! That mileage of "243156" makes a perfect straight! That confirms that I was right place, right time, all day. Hooray!

thanks, boston scientific

Yesterday was the final day of the study prescribed by Dr. Cobb. 

I had expected that it would end in the afternoon, so I was prepared to ship it all off with UPS after being with Dawn.

Nope!

The heart monitor's phone gave me that message about 8 AM.

Sweet!

I went back to sleep for another hour.

Then I watched "Drew Barrymore", whose guest made 'pierogi pasta' using ground beef, onions, and diced potatoes with regular pasta.

I had onion pierogi, so breakfast was this!

Then to check the WSAV weather song.

For the Fall Equinox, temperatures would be mild, but a return to summer heat was coming up fast.

That meant I needed to break out the Ryobi at least once more.

Drats.

Oh, but here's a funny thought I had!

Some random guy came by a couple of days ago, asking if he could cut the grass.

The next time that happens, I'm going to smile real big and give him a hearty handshake as I thank him for that gracious gift of taking care of that for me!!!

I wonder if the guy might be embarrassed to ask for money after that?

LOL! 

Anyway, after the weather check, I popped the heart monitor and all its paraphernalia into the pre-addressed, postage-paid box, dropping it off at my favorite UPS.

Then to take in "The Long Walk".

Yikes... what a hard movie to sit through.

Maybe I'll have to abstain from Stephen King movies in the future.

Not that it wasn't well made... it was just incredibly brutal.

Ugh.

I decided to go to Planet Fitness to work off some of that sadness.

I'd finally returned to the Purple Planet of Victory last Saturday, kinda sorta starting a reboot of that part of my year.

I also used the hip abductor to try to stretch out my hamstrings.

My right leg has been a problem all month.

After I was done with the machine and treadmill, I still had energy - and daylight - on my side.

Time to tackle the front yard, armed with a fully-charged Ryobi!

I know this photo doesn't show my progress very well, but progress I made!

I got most of this half of the front yard mowed, as well as a good portion on the left side of the frame.

I'll try to catch the rest in the next day or two.

Now, time for an evening of relaxation!

The two Janes are on tonight, and they'll be a nice distraction from the echo of carbines in the movie earlier. 

screwdriver time!

Halloween is coming up, 

as is the 15th Annual BYOP 

of Georgetown! 

Know what that means???

 

It's AA and AAA time!!!

 

Yep, that's right!

It's high time 

for all the little ghouls 

to get fresh batteries - 

and maybe a good thump 

on their backsides - 

to bring them back to life again!

 

This mariachi skeleton 

is one of my favorites.

 

His batteries go 

into his shoes, 

lending him a bit of 

extra stability 

for his antics.

That's physics, baby!

Weird science in action!!

 

Now, he can sing

and dance

as he flashes his eyes

at all the ladies!

 

And all I needed

to help make him mobile again were new batteries and two tools:

my hands and my Philips-head screwdriver.

 

Yes, this year I brought my own screwdriver to this party!

As I told Dawn and the Koz, mine has a better handle that fits my hand perfectly, making the task proceed much faster and easier.

Dawn and I had at least half of her motley crew installed with fresh life within the first hour of operation... and that included pulling them out of the six storage bins!

Impressive, right?

Then we took a water break and the Koz took a break with us!

He even brought out a book he's made with all the fossils he's collected at Tybee.

Yes, indeed, fossils of sloths and megalodons as well as several types of common sharks and local fish and other marine life.

Then, he let me visit his "Death Room" which holds the actual physical specimens he's collected over the years - wow!!!

I've been invited to come out on the boat for one of these forays.

Very cool!!!

Afterward, Dawn and I finished up the ghouls in another hour.

Then it was fish - and turtle! - feeding time with Susan and Terry on their deck by the lake out back.

What a lovely way to spend the day!

Right place, right time!

 

How did I know for sure?

AARP's "Right Again!" trivia had an index fossil as the puzzle beneath the clues.

Wow!