just shoot me the 2026 rome parade!

With the weather going to hell this afternoon, I chose to celebrate today with the leftovers of meals with friends!

That made it almost seem like I was dining out.

My plan tomorrow is to stay in and stay warm, so this is as close to that as I'll be until Tuesday.

First up was Papa John's pizza, the meatlovers special, that's been in the freezer for a couple of weeks.

That's from the monthly BOGO Saturday deal for carryout. 

So glad I put some of that away for now... and that tall glass of milk is just perfect to go along!

While I dined, I watched one of my favorite TV shows from the past: "Just Shoot Me!"!

This photo has all the principals of 'Blush' magazine: Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, David Spade, Enrico Colantoni, and Wendie Malick.

The scene was in "Lemon Wacky Hello", s1 e6, which was a hoot! 

Ever since I saw Enrico in that holiday movie, this has been on my mind.

Thanks, Antenna TV, for scratching that itch!

For dinner, I began with a facsimile of Pasta e Fagiole of Olive Garden, though this was Campbell's Minestrone with Italian Sausage.

Close enough for my taste buds, especially as I had a genuine OG breadstick to dip and dunk!

Mamma mia, that's a good soup!

I'd just cued up the "2026 New Year Rome Parade" that SCE TV ran the other day.

This entry was from the Lion Dance Academy of martial arts.

It's one of the local entries, as in from Italy.

There were quite a few bands and cheerleader outfits from the USA!

They came from Corning, NY - Aurora, IL - Palm Springs, CA - and many points in between those!

The parade went on for almost 90 minutes, so that allowed me to reheat my Chicken Scampi as my dinner.

I must say, it was every bit as good as it had been with Carolyn!

And just look at how much I had!!!

It filled the plate with no need to even add more pasta.

That Italian food was especially good as I watched more scenes of Rome during the parade!

I'm glad the Lion Dance group had several opportunities to show off.

They were so good at twirling that huge dragon and keeping it off the street!

The Varsity Spirit Cheerleaders from the USA also had several segments in the parade, with a different song each time - very nice!

Then it was time for my dessert before the parade finished.

I've called this Banana Tempura a la Elvis.

I heated up the five pieces from Sushi Hana, then added peanut butter and more honey.

Oh, yeah, every bit as good as I'd hoped!!!

Just perfect as I watched the last parade entry go by!

Such a colorful lot they were, with ages from twenties to seventies!

Those were all Italians, with my guess that some of them have been in this parade for several decades.

Good for them!

Now, I'm going to finish one last year-end event for me.

Time to unfold and recycle all these mementos of dinners shared, movies with friends, concerts ushered, and musicals attended!

It's always such an effort of love for me.

As for the Jar of Blessings, it won't stay empty but a minute - I already have new memories to fill that bottom!

(smile!)