almost a picnic, most def an a*list

Let's begin with the definite, shall we?

Quite a mixed bag it is, too, for the AMC A*List this week.

I started off in the Marvel Universe, hopped down to South America, then ended dancing with music from before the 1980's via time travel.

Pretty nifty, eh?

"Captain America: Brave New World" featured Anthony Mackie in the title role, with a power-hungry Harrison Ford as POTUS.

That was pretty good as pure escapism from current affairs.

Then it was off to find Aunt Lucy with "Paddington In Peru", with lots of laughs along the way on that adventure with the Browns.

Why Sally Hawkins wasn't the mom this time is anyone's guess, but I'll say this: I certainly felt the lack of her presence.

Not that the replacement wasn't good, but, with all the rest of the family in place, it seemed very odd to not have Sally's smiling face.

I finished up on Tina Tuesday with "Making Of Led Zeppelin", a music documentary that I truly enjoyed!

By the time I knew of that British group, it was the mid-70's when I was in high school.

AM was still king on the radio here in the south, and their tunes weren't so prevalent.

However, the film dealt with their musical backgrounds as teens, as well as the influences of music from North America that they were listening to: gospel, jazz, blues.

Like I said, I very much enjoyed learning how the quartet came to be who they were!

 

And just why was I in a rush to finish the dance card?

Terrible winter weather, that was the impetus.

Today was back near freezing in the morning, with the high struggling to hit 50 F.

Truly decent temperatures won't be around until Sunday.

Ugh.

That's why I scooted out to Papa John's between rain drops to fetch home some treats.

On top is their large Super Hawaiian pizza, with light cheese.

The other is a medium pizza, featuring salami and light cheese on the New York crust.

That one was just $6.99; the other pie was $13.29, believe it or not.

That's because the large was on special of 30% off when added to an order.

The medium was only $6.99 because I "paired" it with 10 Buffalo boneless wings, also bought for just $6.99.

So, that's $5 off the medium, $5 off the wings, and $5.70 off the large.

Woohoo!!!

Then, I had a $5 gift card from AARP that 'cost' me 15,000 points.

My grand total, including tax, for all that food was only $18.83 - woohoo!!!

 

That's why I celebrated with a picnic-style dinner tonight.

Ah, yes: corn on the cob and half of the buffalo wings made me feel like summertime!

Well, almost...

(smile!)

Now to watch "Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy" on Peacock before it's time for a dose of Mulder and Scully.

what a difference a half-century makes... in a game show

Comcast has given me a variety of serial television shows to test-drive this week.

I never would have thought that "Family Feud" would have changed that much, nor had I realized how my perspective toward certain actions have changed in five decades.

I actually found myself feeling a bit squeamish watching those earlier shows!

Wow.

Here are a few examples of those changes, in visual format, as a picture truly is worth at least a thousand words.

 

Here is the part that got to me.

Richard Dawson would kiss all the females on the lips - young, old, white, black, married, single, or even still a child.

Macho entitlement behavior it was, but also part of the culture that still existed in the mid-1970's.

That part I could accept.

Some of those kisses though, like the one above, lingered a little too long.

It's obvious from her husband's expression that he is none too happy about that farewell kiss, but it was the last time Dawson would be kissing his wife, as the team had lost.

But, still, the kiss lasted long enough that I caught the shot easily.

The husband's brother is steadily watching his sibling to make sure he keeps his cool, so there's definite tension.

Still, by the time Dawson made it to the matriarch of the clan, the younger brother was all smiles as he watched mom get smooched.

Like I said, Dawson made sure to kiss all the females, each and everyone, though he did take his time a bit with the PYTs. 

 

How does that compare with Steve Harvey's actions?

In this day and age of "#MeToo", he would be courting a lawsuit to be landing lip smacks on any of them, and he is quite mindful of that.

Harvey may offer handshakes to outgoing teams, but usually only for older players.

 

What other differences were there?

Well, back in the mid-70's to 80's, the central showdown was a small counter space, with the contestants practically in each others faces.

Also, notice the attire of contestants.

Women wore dresses or skirts, men wore suits, and that's exactly the way it was.

The hair was all perfect, too.

Compare that to any episodes aired since the pandemic.

The showdown area consists of two separate counters, with space between.

Players are casual in dress and hairstyle.

During those early years of the show, the contestants would pose in the arched areas, then walk down several steps to the playing area.

Notice the dated color scheme, which would have seemed quite trendy in the 1970's.

Trust me... I grew up then.

The set today seems much brighter by contrast.

The arches to both sides still exist, but serve only to highlight the surnames of the contestants.

When the show opens, the contestants are already in place, awaiting the game host's arrival.

 

 

My guess is the steps were deemed too much of a tripping hazard for eager players, so those were eliminated.

The money has changed, too.

The top prize used to be $5,000, with the contestants facing off in five rounds, and the family reaching 300 points first were the ones who played for that cash.

Today, the top money is $20,000, with only four rounds of questions between the teams, except on those occasions when neither team reached 300 points; then, the fifth member of each team would play a showdown question that determined the winning team.

 

Wondering about that big difference in prize money?

Let me put that into perspective.

In the late 1970's, my paycheck as an E-5 in the Navy netted me about $8000 annually.

That's right: $8,000.

A prize of $5,000 was quite a royal sum of money!

What a difference fifty years makes!

pink snow? my very favorite!!!

"Did you say snow??? Oh, goodness, I do hope you haven't had snow again?"

Heck to the no! I'm talking pink snow, like pinkety pink PINK!!! Not that boring white stuff that freezes.

"But snow doesn't come in pink, dear."

This is Southern 'snow', created after a hard rain comes and shakes loose the older petals from my overladen Japanese magnolia tree. Isn't it still just so very gorgeous?

"That it is. I do believe that tulip tree becomes more beautiful each year."

I agree.

"So, we have had some rain?"

We have, all weekend, but the temperatures have held in the 60's, so that's been fine. I've tried to take advantage of the warmth while it lasts. The lows will be back in the 30's come tomorrow morning and will repeat that nonsense all week.

"Good for you for getting in some fun activities during the daylight hours!"

That's right. Making honey while the sun shines... or something like that! I do believe that Paddington would have understood what I meant. Winnie the Pooh would have, too.

"Oh, you went to see 'Paddington In Peru' today? How was it?"

Utterly delightful, with a neat little sidebar during the credits with Hugh Grant! Seems his parole is coming up and he's casting bears for his production of the fairy tale with Goldilocks, with him in that role, of course. Hahahaha!

But let me tell you about the folks I met after the movie. I'd sat down the row from a family of five - father, mother, three kids. I laughed and enjoyed myself during the movie, and was surprised and pleased when the two younger kids got up and danced by the screen when the credits started rolling. I'd thought that was my thing with the little blondes, right? 

Anyway, the father comes over to me and tells me he was glad to see that I'd come to watch the movie on my own, i.e., sans children. I replied that I loved these movies, and kid movies in general. I also remarked on my dancing with my great-nieces during credits, as they came from Hinesville or Rincon, and it let them get some energy out before their drive back home. He said he and his family lived in Savannah, but the kids still liked to get out some energy after sitting so long. 

Then, I thought he was leaving, but he came back and asked me if I still babysat, as they thought I would be a good one. I let him know that I didn't do that sort of thing anymore, but I appreciated the compliment!

Wasn't that incredible?!

 

"Wow. That's unbelievable!"

 

I know, right? They seemed like nice folks, but I don't think I'm interested in sitting with other people's kids. I really don't have that kind of experience, or energy, to do such. But it sure was good of them to ask!

 

"That it was. And that looks like you've been to Texas Roadhouse again!"

 

I have! I do believe that I've become addicted to their Tater Skins! I had a side House Salad, just to make sure I had some greenery with my slunch, but it was that pizza-esque dish that called me there. Doesn't it look like strips of bacon on cheesy hash browns???

 

"It absolutely does! I'm glad you can have it for breakfast the next day or so. That will be a definite treat on cold mornings." 

You said it! Now, I have some Hallmark movies to watch this evening, so... later!

not a murdering marquis, but an earl

It was a rainy day in February at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, but it may as well have been a July evening at Muse Arts Warehouse more than a decade ago. 

Instead of the SoucyMan as the star slaying all, it was Justin Kent as multiple characters who all got slain.

That's him, in the middle, clad in short pants and stockings.

To his left, holding the bobby's hand, is the man who did most of the slaying in this very modern musical set at the turn of the 20th century.

That murdering man is 'Monty Navarro' (played with great relish by Jordan Jones), the man who would be the 9th Earl of Highhurst.... except for those eight relatives in his way.

Did I mention that they were distant relatives that he had never known as family?

Well, they were, so that made the slaying a bit more impersonal.

(smile!)

Oh, yes, and they were all D'Ysquits who had disowned his mother because she wed someone who was disliked and not of the right class for that snooty clan.

That meant goodbye, Earl, and all the rest of them, too.

(smile!)

The first dispatched was the doddering Reverend, who lost footing on the belfry...

even though Monty was right there and could have helped him.

Having got his feet wet, Monty found himself up for the task, with Lord Junior making it that much easier by being a total putz toward him.

Too bad Lord Junior didn't notice that he was skating on thin ice - hahahaha!!!

Henry practically killed himself, what with his having bees... right?

Quite right!

Then there was the question of Lady Hyacinth.

Monty tried sending her off to do good in war-torn countries or cannibal-infested islands, but all it really took was her falling off a gangplank at home and drowning in all that dress.

Four down, four to go to his goal!

There followed the Major dumbbell...

Salome with the prop gun and a live round...

and the dear Lord Senior dying by a heart attack from natural causes.

That was the only one Monty would have had a problem killing, as the Lord Senior had been so very kind to him, even hiring him at the castle.

That meant the killing of the 8th Earl was all that stood between him and the title.

No problem!

The 8th Earl was a total ass and the task would be easy on Monty's conscience!

The only worry was how to slip him the poison in his pocket...

only someone else beat him to it!

Almost all of that took place in the very first act of "A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder", with only the death of the 8th Earl not yet executed.

Very nice pacing!!!

Now, if only my $40 had included a printed program for my blessings walls, that would have been just swell... but it did not.

This was my first event at the First Annual Savannah Performing Arts Festival, from Savannah Performance Alliance, so I cannot say whether any of the other events last week had printed programs or not.

I suspect they did not.

The use of QR codes for website programs seems to be a growing trend that, for me, detracts from the entire cultural enrichment experience.

I can understand the Hive Repertory Theatre not printing a program for last weekend, but at least they offered a fancy ticket as a souvenir.

Here's hoping SPA will offer better for this week's events.

valentines a-plenty!

See this Valentine's Day card?

Miyah gave that to me yesterday afternoon!

"Stay true to your heart", it says!

And she pulled it out randomly!

Right place, right time!

Tonight, the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta 

went on as usual - 

meaning the three couples 

didn't forsake us three singles!

 

At the far end is Becca,

then there's Betsy,

with Mary next

and Laura right by me.

 

In other words -

the usual configuration!!!

 

Across the table, 

on the guys' side, 

there was the usual configuration, too.

 

That meant youngest brother Tony near me,

with our brother Smitty in the green shirt,

then the older Kameron brother, Mark,

and his younger brother, Jimmy.

 

Much more variation in color

with their apparel!

 

Plus, we had special guests!

 

At a nearby table sat our stepsister, Susan, with her grandkids, Grayson and Brooklyn.

 

What an unexpected treat!

 

I sat with them and visited, and they stayed right there until my dinner arrived.

 

So good to see them off of fb!

 

The enchiladas verdes was superb, too.

 

Then, as we were all getting 

extra good hugs before dispersing 

into the chilly night air, 

Betsy came forth with treats: 

boxes of chocolates for everyone!

 

How very sweet of her!

(Pun intended!!!)

Plus, there were even flowers!  

Truth to tell, these were intended 

for family members at Greenwich,

but I never quite made it there today.

 

That shall be done tomorrow,

or Sunday at the latest.

 

For now, I've had dinner, so that means:

time for a movie!

 

Thanks, Comcast, for the reward of a new movie to own!

 

Of the three proffered, I chose "Grease", the only musical of the trio.

 

Sing it, Olivia and John!!!

luncheon with science nerds and a*list

"You mean 'with chem nerds', right? You said 'science' in the title."

'Science' is what I meant! There was a physicist in our midst! Donna Mullenax was actually in town and able to make our little soiree at Troy Mediterranean.

"How very nice! We haven't seen her since the retirement party for Yvonne and Cathy Mac, over at B&D Burgers. How is she doing?"

She's looking at retiring in another few years. Suzy Carpenter was there today, too, briefly, but left shortly after I arrived. That's my bad, though. I wrote the time down as '11:30', but it was supposed to be '11:00'. Drats!

"Oh, no! How did you do that??? I do hope they went ahead and ordered."

They did, so that was good. I wasn't there long before their food started coming out. I'm glad I checked out the menu online. I was able to order the tabouli appetizer and it came out so quickly that I was able to dine with them.

"That looks very good, too! It's been awhile since we had that Middle Eastern salad."

Probably a few years. I really like it, too, but not many places have it. 

"So, who all was there?"

Besides Donna and Suzy, it was the usual bunch: Yvonne, Leah, and Nicole. Suzy stayed only a little while, like I said, then Lea had to jet by noon. Donna left about noon30, leaving me and Yvonne getting to know The 'Cole better. That was actually really nice. I knew so little of her and her family, so I am quite enlightened now. Between her mom's fainting spell and all those doctor visits, then her brother's hospital stay and the care of his 4-year-old son in the middle of a messy divorce, plus her own divorce from the bfe, she had quite a stressful final six months of 2024.

"Damn. I had no idea."

Exactly. Me, neither. If Yvonne had not opened up that line of questioning, I still wouldn't have a clue to anything about that strife. I'm sure that Nicole saw that I have a new appreciation of her now as a person. See, I never really knew her when I was teaching at Armstrong, and I certainly didn't get a chance to know her while she and the physicist were dating and then getting married. It's been nice to have a reboot of that situation.

"A reboot, eh? That seems to be your favorite fix for things."

(Shrug.) Hey, I'm just doing what works, n'est-ce pas?

"Sure, sure. I was just making a comment. Next topic: movies?"

Movies! Yes! My AMC A*List is d-o-n-e! Since I have Hinesville duties tomorrow onward, I wanted to go ahead and get my trio of dances out of the way. Success! I had a double header yesterday and just barely caught the last one after our 2 1/2 hour luncheon. Whew!

"What a hodgepodge assortment!"

You're telling me! That's just the way it worked out, given the movie times available. So, I started out with "Dog Man", which I expected to be targeted at middle-school kids, and it was. Still, it had a few gorgeous surprises. Like Dog Man's favorite album being the Hank Williams' one with "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" - with him howling along after putting the needle on the warped record. I just loved that!

"Very sweet touch, that."

Right? That sweetness made it pair well with "Love Hurts", an action film that takes place around Valentine's Day.

"Oh, cool!!! Did it have the Nazareth version of that song in it?"

Sadly, it was not, which was a missed opportunity, I think. Then again, not everyone has the same mental jukebox working for them, so, there's that. I totally enjoyed the movie and found its kung fu action right in keeping with this being the Year of the Snake! I do hope I get a chance to see it again.

"Very nice! Maybe you could schedule it with that Keke Palmer flick, too."

Perhaps, if I ever get to the point where there are no more new movies to see. Maybe that will happen after this week. AMC has been trying to run the Oscar-nominated films by us. I think "I'm Still Here" is the last of those. Set in Brazil, it opens in late 1970, in Rio de Janeiro, in December. You want to know the scene I like best?

"Sure! Hit me!"

It was the family celebrating the holiday season on the beach. On the beach! Playing in the Atlantic Ocean! Playing games on the sand!

"I understand. People have some misconception that Christmas and the New Year have to be in cold weather, but that's not true at all. Not at this latitude of 32 degrees North, nor at their latitude of 22 degrees South."

That's right! The movie was about the disappearance of the husband after he was taken away for questioning by the military regime. Shortly after, his wife and one of their daughters was also taken for questioning, but later returned home. The rest of the movie followed the efforts of the wife to find out from the authorities where her husband was, as well as find out from men he worked with why the authorities would have taken him. Rather a sad film, but it certainly highlighted her strength in keeping the family together.

"I wonder if Tomasz had a chance to see it, too?"

I sure hope so. I told him which movies were playing, as I don't think he keeps on top of the local cinema listings like I do. Foreign films are certainly his faves, especially dour ones it seems, so my guess is he made a point of seeing this one.

"Very good. Now, you need to get ready for tomorrow. You need to be the greeting party when Miyah and Chloe get home from school, you know."

I do. (sung like Keegan-Michael Key, for the song "Sweet Tooth" in "Wonka")

why this 2nd weekend is better in reboot 2025

By this time in the original start of this year, I'd only seen one musical.

True, that was on the 11th day of 2025, and this day is also the 11th day of reboot 2025.

However, "Sister Act" was performed by high school students.

Neither of the musicals today had high

schoolers, but one did have teens.

That one was "Into The Woods", by the Garrison Art Academy, at their Yamacraw Performing Arts Center, for the sum of only $17.

For a musical!!!

Yes, I am so glad that I have discovered that this school has public performances, too.

I'm doubly glad to have known of this specific show!

"Into The Woods" is one of my favorites, as it compiles several fairy tales into one story, via a childless baker and his wife. That couple serve to link four into a cohesive delight.

The baker has a family curse, brought on by his father stealing greens and beans from a witch's garden for his wife when she was pregnant with their second child, a daughter the witch took.

To remove the hex, the baker must procure a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a shoe made of gold.

That makes for much laughter along the way for us!

The first photo is of the baker and his wife, followed by the one with Jack, his cow, and his mom.

Then there's Little Red Riding Hood, in constant motion trying to elude the rascally wolf!

And, in that final photo, there are the two princes singing of "Agony!" because they cannot find their two true loves!

The one on the ground seeks Rapunzel, the baker's sister, locked in a high tower she cannot escape because there is no door.

The one standing seeks Cinderella, who stole his heart at the ball and then ran, leaving only a shoe behind.

Neither prince can understand why a woman would elude them!

Very funny song!!!

And that was all before the second act!

Such a lovely way to pass a Saturday afternoon!

(smile!)

Then, I got a second musical for Saturday night!!!

That one was performed at Hive Repertory 

Theatre's site in Rincon.

"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" was a typical "children's" musical with a definite twist: all the performers were adult and all were women!!!

I wish I knew their names, but there were no programs for this performance.

This one-act show was compiled of sketches, making it very much in keeping with the movie about him that I saw around Thanksgiving.

Come to think of it, that makes this the perfect bookend for the earlier compilation of stories!

How about that...

I wasn't even trying for a theme with this double header and I got one.

Right place, right time.

(smile!)

sbhf36 with ballethnic dancing!

"Is it time already for the Savannah Black Heritage Festival?"

Indeed it is! The SBHF36 actually began on February 1st, but this has been the first event I've attended. That's primarily because it's been the first one I've heard about! I'm sure that its title - "Dance And Music For The Soul" - helped catch my attention!

"Nice that it's free, too!"

All of the SBHF36 events are free, as they always have been. The City of Savannah is one of the sponsors, so I'm glad to know where some of my city property taxes are being spent.

"That means it's something you've already paid for. No wonder you make sure to attend!"

You betcha! All this cost me was $1 for parking. I could have chanced not getting a parking fine, but, why bother? I found a lovely space near Johnny Mercer Theatre, where the event was held, so I was delighted. And that was before I even walked in!

"Good for you! Did you see anyone you knew?"

Nope. As far as I could tell, mine was the only Caucasian face in the audience. Their loss! Ballethnic, a dance troupe out of Atlanta, was fabulous!!! Its cofounder, Nina Gilreath, was there to introduce the group and to even lead the audience in a dance class, a la the classic "Soul Train" TV show. Just look at how many people came up to participate!!!

"Wow!!! That's amazing! And there are people of all ages up there!"

Yes, and that presented a problem with time. It took quite a while to get all of those folks onto the stage, then another long stretch of time to get them off and back to their seats. That meant they may have had to cut one of their dances from the second half of the program. I can't say that for certain, as their were no printed programs for the show. I did get a brochure for the SBHF, with all the events planned for this festival of "Reimagining Excellence", so that will help me plan my entertainment schedule, so that was good. By the way, this is the first time that Ballethnic has been here since the SBHF in 2020, just before the pandemic struck here in the USA.

"Very good to have them here again!"

Yes, it was. Plus, they have more than dancers. Adam McKnight is a singer who travels with the troupe. That's him, singing "I Can't Stop The Rain", while three dancers perform with two-tone umbrellas all around him. I very much liked that!

"Me, too! Plus, I enjoyed the last song and dance! That had drum accompaniment, with Nena even playing one of the three drums."

That's right! I think the piece was called "Walz Fin", but I'm not sure. I do recall her saying that the crowd in Norway had very much liked it.

"Yes, I heard her say that, too. Well, time to wrap this up before your man comes on."

Hahahaha! Yes, Alan Ruck is on "Elspeth" tonight, so I'm looking forward to this episode. Sometimes she's a bit much to take, but that's a risk I'll take if he's going to be there! Guess that means I gotta go. Bye!

why these two a*lists are better, too

Two words: foreign films!!! 

I'd ended my A*List, and started my reboot of 2025, with "Detective Chinatown 1900", which was partially in Chinese, partly in Native American, and totally excellent!

On Tuesday, I saw "Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera" after my luncheon with Dawn.

One note: it's been six years since the first movie came out, so I really didn't recall much of nothing about the story line between Gerard Butler and Oshea Jackson, Jr. for this sequel.

So what had finally drawn me to see this?

The majority of the setting was in France... and, I admit, it was nice to see Nice again.

After all, my trip to France was back in 2002, so it's been a while. 

I also loved having that little inside joke in my back pocket!

(smile!)

 

 "Flight Risk" was on the 27th and was an exhilarating flight on a four-seater plane through snow-capped, mountainous terrain in Alaska and Canada.

Also, I netted 1000 Bonus Points for seeing it!

I know, AMC has the date wrong, but I kept my ticket stub, so... hooray for me!

(smile!)

I'll be getting another 1000 Bonus Points for "Companion", the new science fiction film.

Oh, wait... nope, I missed that deadline.

That's okay, as I very much liked the movie anyway.

It had a definite Stepford Wives vibe, along with attention to Isaac Asimov's Laws of Robotics, plus some excellent music.

I'd gladly see it again!

I can't say I'd see the other two twice, though.

"The Seed Of The Sacred Fig", set in Tehran, Iran, was a film that became increasingly tense as it went on, as it was a family drama ostensibly about a missing gun, but actually about a father that had missed out on much of his now-teenaged daughters' lives.

The Arabic title translates to "Today I Am Angry", which seems appropriate.

Oddly, that title reminds me of one of my favorite foreign films, although it was science fiction and much lighter than this historical piece.

Anyway, the 2024 Irani film was last Friday.

Today's movie was from 2023, Angel Studios' "Brave The Dark", on its last day in town.

Based on the true story of Stan Deen, a high school teacher who made it a point to help struggling students, to the point of becoming a legal guardian to one who was headed for a life in jail after years in the foster care system.

The movie was good, but not quite as realistic as it should be.

Then again, this production studio does tend to soft-pedal bad news.

And what lies ahead for me at AMC?

More foreign films, as well as more films new to me!

Good!!!

laundry day chat with stepmom!

me: 

me: Warm enough for capri pants, too!

Bonnie: "?"

me: Washing clothes! All my long pants are in the machine.

Bonnie: "We have 74 degrees. Scary when it gets warm fast... tornado weather. How are you feeling now?"

me: Good! I do so much better when the weather is warm!

Bonnie: "Me, too."

me: Next Tuesday, Christina is having surgery on her right knee. I will be with her for a few days to help with the girls and 2 dogs.

me: Trying to get things done before that.

me: I wash clothes about once a month. It helps to have a drawer full of panties and another full of socks!

me: Plus, i am usually pretty clean, so i can wear tops more than once. :-)

Bonnie: "Will pray for successful surgery. Have fun with the girls."

me: I sure hope so. The mornings are my biggest concern, getting them off to school.

me: You know me! I sleep until about 9:30. That will not work next week.

Bonnie: "I wear my outfit two or three days."

me: Right? We don't get dirty or sweaty like guys.

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

I really want to go see her this year. I miss our talks and our hugs.

improv and mixtapes

"What an odd combination for Tina Tuesday! What, no movie?"

Funny you should say that! 

There was a film, "Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape", on Peacock, and that's what we watched during our Holy Pie pizza party. 

Very good movie, too, set up like a true mixtape is, with riffs from different 'artists'. 

Lou Ottens, the inventor of the cassette tape in 1963, kept popping up, sometimes solo, sometimes with the other members of the team at Philips that had engineered the cassette. 

We both found it interesting that no subtitles were used when the men spoke German!

"You said "we". You got a mouse in your pocket?"

Nope, but I did have a physicist in my house!

"Wait, I thought the pizza party was to be at his place this time. Right?"

Well, there was a snafu on my part. I was to have picked up the pizza, but he never texted me about that. So I showed up at his place and he's like, "Where's the pizza?", but all cool and laid back about it, like he always is. So, back toward my side of town, him for the pie, me to shape up the house a little. 

"Damn, girl. Those blonde roots..."

Right? So I let him pick out the documentary to watch and he chose that one. Excellent choice!

"And you broke out your 'Hate tape' afterward?"

I did! I wanted to share something personal with him and that mixtape from 1981 is as "me" as it gets. I think he was surprised by most of the song choices. But, as I told him, it was music therapy to get me from 'crazy mad at the world' to 'totally chill self'.

"So y'all discussed all that?"

Nope, he needed to get home. Tuesday is one of his travel days to Statesboro to teach, so he was pretty tired by 9 PM. Plus, he had Emily the Cat to take care of with petting and treats before he could sleep.

"I'm sure he did. So, where does the improv part of the day fit in?"

I had another improv class with Rabbi Haas this afternoon! Only four us were at Asbury Memorial this time: Audrey the standup comic; Peg; a newcomer, Sandy; and me. The size of the class didn't matter, though. We all did three extended bits, showing that we could take a thread and weave an entire sweater with it!

"Hahahaha! Is that what Haas said?"

Nope, but he did encourage us to go to some improv shows and volunteer from the audience. He's quite pleased with how fearless we were today! For the first skit, each of us had to sell something in Holliday Hall to the others. I chose my red-armed sunglasses! That was fun!

"Sounds like it was! What else did y'all do?"

He had us do "Fortunately... Unfortunately", with each of us alternating turns with the tale. I had started it off with "Fortunately, I was able to see the new work done on Waters Avenue because a Mack truck was jack-knifed and blocking Truman Parkway." Then Sandy turned that into an accident scene, with Audrey talking up her financially-rewarding work as the lawyer and Peg was the 'winner' of what little money the lawyer didn't take. Then we went around a couple more times. Definitely fun, but I liked the "Lounge Singer crooning about their favorite movie" best.

"That sounds quite interesting!"

Oh, it was! Rabbi Haas gave us each a genre of movie, then we were to make up the song and perform it. I had 'romantic', so I sang about Jack and Jill. And, no, it was not the song that John Mellencamp sang! I don't recall just I sang, except I gave Jack a head full of long, lovely hair. Since I went first, it inspired the others to throw caution to the wind and let their freak flags fly freely, too!

"Very nice!"

Oh, and guess what? They're interested in the Last Laugh Improv Show at Jenkins Hall! That's coming up in March, after our next class. Sounds like a field trip to me!!!

"Most excellent! I'm glad you have some new folks in your life, g'friend."

Me, too. Most definitely.

good day to get lost, i guess

The moral of the story: be sure to have Nuvi with me when I go somewhere new.

Honestly, I'd written out the directions to Miller's Coins in Pooler, I did.

It seemed to be pretty straightforward, too.

I was to take 516/21 into Garden City, turning off onto Highway 80 West, then take that right into Pooler and keep an eye out for the store on my left.

That all sounded simple enough.

But here's the thing: Hwy 80 split into a wild thing, with signs that pointed to West for a road that became a one-way coming toward me!

Okay, no worries, I'd just back up and try again.

Then I saw another sign that indicated Hwy 80 West branched off to the right, but that turned into the decidedly non-scenic tour of the industrial area in Garden City.

Nope, that was definitely not right.

After an hour of rambling around, backtracking, and wrong turns, I'd had enough.

I would cut my losses and return home.

That's when the train appeared, with me on the wrong side of the tracks.

I can't remember the last time I got stopped by a train.

Seriously, it's been years ago.

After about 7 or 8 minutes, I turned off the engine and settled in to watch.

It was a beautiful, warm, blue-sky day, so why not enjoy it?

There were lots of cargo containers aboard, some with names I knew, some unknown.

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and quite a few others.

About ten minutes later, all the laden rail cars were past, but there was a long tail on that kite, with a couple dozen of empty rail cars... and, surprisingly, no caboose.

The last rail car passed with no fanfare at all.

Then the track gate rose and we all headed on down the road toward our destinations.

Mine was home, with my Japanese magnolia hoisting pink buds to the sky, as if cheering on the new year.

What a joyful sight!

Tomorrow, I may try again to offload my foreign currency, maybe.

It will be another beautiful day, like today was, for another long drive.

In fact, it'll be even warmer, giving us upper 70's to drive away any lingering chill.

Yes, that will be good for opening up every window of the house!!!

Hallelujah for this breath of hope!

why this first sunday is better, too

The Service

Being there in person is always preferable for me!

On this Groundhog Sunday, I was there in person, not watching on the ether.

The online service had been my only option on the druge first Sunday.

Not this time!

That meant I was right there as Reverend Billy told us that he's taken up pickleball!!!

Apparently, the StarCastle on Mall Boulevard has the pickleball courts now, which makes me wonder if they still offer roller skating.

Anyway, here's the point of his sermon: pickleball is a sport that anyone can play.

Young, old; male, female; black, white, whatever; gay, straight, whatever.

The game was invented by a family on vacation who couldn't find the birdie for badminton.

True story!

So they still used the badminton net, but with wiffle balls and ping pong paddles, making up the rules as they went along.

True story!

And all the while that Rev. Billy was talking, he was standing in front of a pickleball net that was decorated with pickleball paddles and pickleballs.

I'm so glad I was there for all that!

i thank You, God.

Communion

Like the first Sunday of 2025, the first Sunday of the Chinese New Year was also the first Sunday of a new month.

That meant Communion!

As the flu and COVID-19 are both making the rounds, we celebrated Communion with the single-serve kits, the same as I'd used last month.

But here's the difference: I was with others.

Not only that, but I was seated near one of the sunlit stained-glass windows of Asbury Memorial Church, making the experience more spiritually satisfying.

Then, afterward, we sang one of the Spanish hymns I like, "Enviado Soy de Dios", which translates to "Sent I am From God".

Again I say, one of these days I'm going to shock everyone by singing the lyrics in Spanish, as they are so much prettier.

Te doy gracias, Dios.

 

BIG Coffee Hour

Last month, I missed out on the luncheon after the Sunday service, as that cannot be included on the youTube version.

No such issues this time!

Apparently quite a few had missed the earlier social opportunity, not just me!

There were sooo many desserts here!!!

But, as can be seen from my plate, I was careful to only eat vegetables, with just a little fruit and nuts.

I speak the truth!

Cornbread, carrot cake, carrot-raisin salad -

lots of vegetables!!!

Even when I returned to the laden tables, I made sure to make healthy choices again.

See what I mean?

More of that cornbread...

more of that carrot-raisin salad...

and peach cobbler!

Yes, indeed, plenty of fruits and vegetables on both of those plates!!!

My nutritionist will be so pleased...

or will she?

If naught else, she'll laugh about it!

Now, I'm going to finally get to check out J.U.S.T. and see what that faith-based advocacy group is all about.

Later!