those bananas are such clowns!

"Well, as you know, going to a Banana Ball game is akin to having a bit of the circus with your baseball game. That's been true since long before Jesse Cole made his own rules and changed up from being in the collegiate league with his team."

I was actually trying to lead up to finding that the CW had graced me with a game for my birthday this year! While looking for my British mystery shows on PBS, I found out that the Savannah Bananas were playing a live game at 3:30 PM today! They're up against the Indianapolis Clowns, at Kauffman Stadium. That's in Kansas City, Missouri, and the place holds almost 38,000 people. Wow!!!

"Holy leapin' lizards!!! And there are six teams now? Does Jesse own all of them? Are they based in Savannah like the Bananas and the Party Animals?"

I honestly do not know. I think the Coconuts are out of Florida. The Tailgaters are in Texas. My guess is the Clowns are based in Indiana, but I don't know that as a fact. All I can say for sure about them is they are named for one of the Negro League teams. Here's the funny thing about that: those Clowns were up to shenanigans in the 40's and 50's, before Jesse Cole was even born! At one time, that original team was referred to as the "Harlem Globetrotters of baseball".

 "So Jesse just codified the shenanigans, he didn't invent the incorporation of the circus into the baseball games."

Correct, though I do wonder if he might have gotten the idea from reading books about the Clowns of the Negro League. That could have been the start of Banana Ball! These Clowns, though, are affiliated with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum there in Kansas City, Missouri. The museum even had its president at the game!

"Good for them! That has to be good for history buffs, as well as folks who need a bit of enlightenment."

I agree!

"I recognize that kid! That's 'Stilts' Albritton, right? I'm glad to see that he's still playing with the Bananas."

Yep, that's him! When Jesse started interviewing players for Banana Ball, he'd asked the guy what special talent he might bring to the game. Pitching and batting and running on stilts was Dakota's reply! And guess what the Clowns have? A player in an elephant suit!!! I saw him walking around, but didn't see him in action on the field. By the way, that photo was taken at the top of the 7th inning. The time was 5:28 PM.

"That meant it only had two minutes left of play, right? Isn't one of the rules about the game lasting no more than 2 hours?"

That's correct, but I misspoke earlier. The pregame nonsense is what began at 3:30. The game itself started at 4 PM. So they still had about thirty minutes to wrap things up. At the time that 'Stilts' had his turn at bat, the score had the Bananas in the lead, 3 to 1.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense! Did they win?"

I have no idea. Tony and Laura came by to take me out to dinner and I missed the last two innings. I guess I could look up the score, but I haven't yet. I'm actually hoping that the Clowns won, as they did last night. I don't know why, but it seems the Bananas, as a team, are not quite as good, with a few exceptions, as the spin-off teams are.

"But you still like watching them play?"

I like watching them on TV, that's for sure. Going to the games in person is an exercise in chaos, as there is so much going on in the stands that it's hard to follow the baseball action. For the televised games, the cameras are focused on the diamond, so every play can be seen. I love that. I don't even mind the chatter from the press box, as it can be helpful when an inning is moving a little too fast. I plan to tune in next weekend to the CW for more of these baseball games. The Bananas will be up against the Coconuts on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Maybe I'll even have a watch party here at my house!

"That would be great! It's been forever since you've had folks over for a party!!!"

Hey, I said 'maybe', okay? But I am wanting to do something like that. I'll have to whip this dining room table into shape first, but that won't take long. It's more of a clutter than anything else. Yes, watching the game with others sounds like a good idea. Now, let's see if I can turn it into a plan! But not right this minute. ABC has "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" as it's Sunday Disney movie and I haven't seen that in years!

"Cartoon, romance, film noir... that one has it all! Enjoy!" 

birthday movie fest with dane!

I can just hear him now.

"What does the doggie get his Auntie when he has no funds?

How about a Netflix Film Festival for her bday68 weekend?

She's sure to like that!!!"

Dane was absolutely correct, too.

Some were movies I'd seen before, some were new to me, but all certainly added to the celebration of the new start of my year!

it all began on Thursday, when Tony and Laura went to set up camp for their two-day concert in Bloomingdale.

They planned to return home this afternoon, but, after two days of rain and mud, they called around midnight to say they were coming home. 

That marked the end of the three days of movies for me!

So, here's the gift list from Dane.

"There's Something About Mary" (1998) - fun romp with Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, and a musical duo standing in as the Greek chorus!

"The Wrong Missy" (2020) - new-to-me rom-com set in Hawaii, with a 56-year-old David Spade on a corporate trip trying to impress his boss, but he's invited the bad date with the same name as the dream girl he'd wanted to bring along. Guess he needed help setting up his phone book! LOL! Really was a nice lark.

"Remarkably Bright Creatures" (2026) - new-to-me film set in an aquarium in Washington state, starring an octopus named Marcellus. This is one of the best I've seen in a while! This is live action, narrated by the old octopus (Alfred Molina), who reflects on the doings of the humans around him, including a cleaning lady (Sally Field) and her temporary aide (Lewis Pullman). Such a beautifully scripted tale!!!

"Nonnas" (2025) - new-to-me biographical tale of Joe Scaravella, a man who decides on the spur of the moment to open an Italian restaurant to honor his recently deceased mother. Here's the draw for me: he knows absolutely nothing about doing such a thing! I can totally relate to that! Vince Vaughn does a charming job in the role of Scaravella. Nice to see Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire ("Adrian!"), Susan Sarandon, and Brenda Vaccaro as the cooking grandmas!

"The Lost City" (2022) - after a busy birthday Friday, it was so wonderful to curl up with this rom-com adventure of the grieving writer (Sandra Bullock), her bookcover model (Channing Tatum), and her ever-faithful agent (Da'Vine Joy Randolph)!!! I do so love this movie!!!

"Splash" (1984) - closing out my Friday with another rom-com! This fantasy had a twenty-year lapse in the love affair between a human (Tom Hanks) and a mermaid (Daryl Hannah), with lots of ocean action. In a way, this was a precursor to "The Shape Of Water", wasn't it?

"The Penguin Lessons" (2024) - post-play at the Post, this new-to-me was one I'd wanted to see. I'm not a fan of Steve Coogan, but he's quite good as an ESL teacher in Argentina during a time of political turmoil. I mostly came for Jonathan Pryce, but I did like this one.

"Jay Kelly" (2025) - new-to-me, this Oscar contender with George Clooney was the perfect final film. It's a bit of "Cat's In The Cradle" for his character, but from both ends, as neither his dad nor his daughters have much use for him at this time in his life. His agent wants him to go to Italy for a 25-year award for his movies and he finally relents. He realizes his work had meaning for other people as he watches their faces during the montage of clips. Redemption!!!

Oops! Guess I should have said "spoiler alert!" for that last one... but I'm leaving in that last line. The movie is a bit of a downer otherwise, and I encourage you, my reader,  to thread up the reels and watch it anyway.

It really is Oscar-worthy!

Thanks, dear Dane, for this gift!

gander international airport

I don't remember ever hearing about that place in Canada.

Perhaps if I had been watching the news, I might have, but I doubt it.

The events in New York City that forever altered its skyline on September 11, 2001, were so devastating that every media outlet was bursting at the seams to keep the world saturated by them.

That meant no TV, no radio, and no headlines in print for me.

It was a dark, dark time...

though with one solitary bright spot as far as I was concerned.

At least Mama had died and didn't have to be consumed by that tragedy and its horrible aftermath.

Such deep, dark, sadness in the world.

All of those feelings came welling up this afternoon.

I was at a musical, a story that I thought was about a plane and its passengers that had been stranded in Canada at the start of the pandemic.

Maybe I had simply wanted to believe that.

That's why I had bought my ticket several weeks ago, planning for my birthday celebration to include the SCAD play, this musical, and "Frozen".

Three theatrical productions for my bday68!!!

 

A new friend was to have joined me, but instead I ended up in the very same row as the Asbury theatre peeps!

i thank You, God.

I don't know how I could have sat through the entire show if I hadn't had their love and strength beside me at the Tybee Post Theater.

 

I was just fine with that first song in "Come From Away".

Upbeat and hopeful, "Welcome To The Rock" brought images of Okinawa to me and had me smiling!

Then came the scene with the mayor in the coffee shop, on a day like any other day, when the town's reporter burst in and had everyone look at the dire news on the television from the country across the border.

She didn't even have to say what was going on... we all knew.

That's when I realized I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

The musical had barely begun.

The second song, "38 Planes", broadcast the shock of that new reality as planes from thirty-eight countries came in at that airport in Gander.

Operation Yellow Ribbon had forecast the arrival of 18 planes, but more and more flew in as they could not go to the more populous cities in Canada, like Halifax and Toronto.

Suddenly, the town of 10,000 residents had almost 7,000 visitors, many who didn't speak English, many with special dietary needs due to their religions, most with no idea what had necessitated the diversion of their planes.

And those residents in Gander and nearby small towns took in the strangers who had come from away...

and gave them showers and fresh clothing to wear after hours on the planes on the tarmac...

and found places for them to sleep in the churches and school gym and in their own homes... 

and gathered food to feed them, even repurposing the hockey rink as a giant freezer...

and they provided phones and computers and ways for them to contact their loved ones...

doing it all with grace and hope and courtesy.

 

Even though there were other times during the show when tears came again, I left there with a renewed appreciation of the humanity in the world.

After the show, I wanted to thank each and every one of the actors for lending their talents and their voices to this story.

I made sure to go on fb and thank the Savannah Community Theatre for bringing this production to us, as well as Tybee Post Theater for providing a space for this performance.

Thank you, Tom, Heidi, Emily, Lainie, and Linda, for sharing this time and your hugs on this Saturday afternoon.

Now, time to go and feed Dane and give him some extra loving.

Touch is very important. 

happy birthday from Smitty!!!

There he is, making my front yard look shipshape again!

It's been more than two months since it was last trimmed.

I'd mentioned to my brother, Smitty, that I needed some help with it... and he showed up about 11 AM, weed whacker in hand, to take care of it for me!

"Happy birthday, sister!"

He not only trimmed up the front, but he got the back yard looking better, too.

What a wonderful bday68 gift from him!

(smile!)

Hopefully, that will keep it straight for the next few weeks.

The Universe is trying to counter the drought we've had, to restore a bit of humidity to the air for my birthday.

I do appreciate it, but that's several days in a row to try to make up for several months.

The weather song may change, though, as it tends to do.

But I don't mind if the days are rainy.

I like the rain.

(smile!)

happy birthday to my niece in alabama!

Here's hoping her birthday is every bit as much fun as she wants!

This will be the start of her 14th year on this beautiful planet.

I'm going to try to go visit for her 15th next year, and my 69th.

It's been a very long time since I've seen her!

Meanwhile, I do hope she will enjoy picking her own gifts with these cards.

With the Wendy's gift card, I suggested the Spicy Chicken sandwich.

I haven't had one of those for a while, but they were my favorites!

As for her shopping experience at Bath & Body Works, I recommended the Cherry Blossom body lotion.

That fragrance is just so heavenly!!!

Happy 14th, dear Aubree!!!

with much love!!!

letting my voice be heard: part 3

Alrighty then!

Today was the first monthly meeting of the new and improved AARP Georgia group, with Gabrielle in charge.

She started us off with an icebreaker: what was our favorite song, and why?

I gave her "Octopus' Garden", as it always made me think of walking down the street with my childhood BFF!

Then I added "Drift Away", as others had mentioned it, too.

Something we had in common! 

Afterward, she gave us a 15-minute training video to watch.

Titled "Strategic Relationship Building", it was all about determining what community bonds we already had in place for our future community awareness events.

The lecturer referred to building a Win-Win-Win strategy that would benefit the key person at an event, our group at the event, and the community members who came out to the event.

I like that "bigger picture" approach!

 

After the video lecture, we had breakout groups to discuss topics raised.

"Where do people congregate?"

"Where are important landmarks?"

"Where do we have a presence, or where do we need a presence?"

 

My group was a bit different from the others, as it had the blanched almond.

All of us - me, Wanda, Brenda, and Lillian - brought up the senior centers located throughout Savannah and Pooler.

I was the only one who suggested libraries and churches.

I even talked about Sisters In Faith, there at Asbury, who have a monthly speaker visit our luncheons.

I thought for sure they would jump on that as an event opportunity!

However, that didn't happen.

The MLK Civil Rights Museum, the Weeping Area, the NAACP center, those were mentioned by the others.

What I'm sure Gabrielle Richardson and John Strong gathered was that we had some work to do to make this group more diversified.

Let's hope we can be successful, for the good of the community at large, and not just a portion of it.

another 5 for the may a*list

Yes, I'm going to go ahead and call it: no last minute movie Thursday.

With my actual birthday fast approaching, I simply have too much going on to try to fit in a movie or two.

Last week, I managed to see two movies, and the same is true for this week as it turns out.

Busy, vibrant woman, even with a hitch still in my giddy up!!!

Oh, have I told you Dr. Whipple's explanation for that?

The protrusion of the inguinal hernia into my left upper thigh distorted the muscles there for seven months until I had the surgery to repair it.

The repair put those abdominal contents safely into the Teflon mesh bag, so that was the good thing.

However, that left an empty space in those distorted thigh muscles.

The body doesn't like empty spaces, so that got filled with fluid...

which still put pressure on the thigh muscles of my right leg...

which has continued as that liquid is slowly redistributed out of that hole...

as my thigh muscles return to their former, proper, shape.

I'm finding that doing squats seems to help the best.

Now, back to the movies, shall we? 

 

So, here's what is listed on my A*List dance card on the AMC website for the week of 15 through 21 May.

I've already mentioned seeing "The Sheep Detective" with friends for Sandy's birthday.

For Tina Tuesday last week, I took myself to see "Into The Grey", primarily because I just love Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal.

What a wonderful, fast-paced, crime caper it was, too!

Their principal mission is to protect 'Mother' (Eiza Gonzalez) as she attempts to convince a mob boss to repay the money he stole from an asset management firm. 

I had hoped to see that one again, but it only stayed one week.

Then there's that third movie - the one I bought an advance ticket for but didn't get to see because the hospital didn't release me in time.

 

That worked out okay, though, as it was the first one I saw this week.

I want to state upfront that I've never seen the TV series upon which that movie is based, as it airs on a streaming service I never bought.

Even so, I never felt lost for a minute while I watched "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu".

I don't know if it's a summation of the story in the series or if it's a unique, stand-alone offering, but I very much enjoyed it!

That said, I'll know in the future when it's safe to get up and go pee during this overly long movie.

There's at least a ten-minute sequence when the bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) is flat on his back in the forest, having been poisoned.

That means at least ten minutes of the muppet bouncing around looking cute and trying to make sure the comatose man is safe from others.

The emphasis is definitely on 'Grogu' looking cute.

Otherwise, it's a pretty nifty piece of Western-styled scifi.

Then there's Keke Palmer's latest, "I Love Boosters", which is a totally different type of science fiction!

I'd very much liked her last movie, "One Of Them Days", about two roommates who have to deal with fashion-collecting gangsters, but this one was nothing like that.

I should have noticed that Boots Riley was the writer, and that LaKeith Stanfield was also in it.

Then I would have expected the scifi shenanigans!

After all, those two were responsible for "Sorry To Bother You" several years ago, one that left an indelible mark on my memory.

Seen with the physicist, I'd loved it!!!

I liked this one, too, but the whole bit with the stealing of fashionable clothes, with Demi Moore as the designer, just didn't draw me in.

Will I watch it again if I see it on Peacock?

Most likely... I do like LaKeith.

He has such nice eyes!

(smile!)

letting my voice be heard: part 2

Another night, another group of people, this time American Legion members, for the most part.

Yes, it was yet another meeting for the Two First Posts planning committee, but this was well attended.

For Post 36, there was Doug Andrews, Joe Cetti, Billy Cope, and me.

For Post 500, there was John Parker, Larry Jackson, Eric Bolden, Brenda Pough, Sabrina Scales, and Eddie Patterson.

Plus, this time, we had Kat Hancock.

That was good, as the contract for her business to take control of the kitchen and bar had been revised and was the major topic tonight.

Doug had taken the initial contract Mike (Kojik) and Kat had started and rewritten it, along with some cosmetic changes from me.

With Kat tonight, we all of us went through the new version from Doug.

That ended up taking about 90 minutes, especially as Section 3.4 contained items that drew objections from Kat about revenue sharing.

Doug had me rewrite that on the spot!

Then, to further clear up the language about another objectionable clause, he asked me to rewrite it again!!!

I was thrilled to do so, too.

They all waited while I hand-wrote the changed version, then I read it aloud as Brenda recorded me doing so.

I offered to retype it on the contract later, and Doug was only too happy to pass off that duty to me.

Good!

I'm so glad to have found my voice in these meetings!

 

I'm also glad that tangible and visible progress has been made.

The new exterior doors required by the Fire Marshal have been installed, though the jambs are not quite completed.

That should happen in the next day or so.

 

The previous front doors will then be installed into the new wall on the ballroom, which is looking very good, thanks to Eric, our building manager.

He set up all the new LIfetime chairs for tonight's meeting.

They look very nice, don't they?

I think we'll be glad to have renters of this space now!

Hopefully, just one more meeting before we open for business...

and hopefully it will not last four hours, like this one did. 

(smile!) 

not all strawberries are poison

... or words to that effect.

That's what Miyah told me when she gave me that Strawberry Gnome.

My first niece had surprised me with a luncheon today, after her labwork to see if she qualified for a new GLP-1 product.

As we have done for her previous doctor appointments over the last few years, that meant dining at Barnes Restaurant, for comfort foods she couldn't get elsewhere.

I totally get that.

On this occasion, Anthony joined us, along with the kids, who he'd been tending during her appointment.

Miyah and Chloe both wanted to sit by me, but the table wasn't quite big enough for that, but we fixed that!

Miyah sat on my side of the table and Chloe sat on the end near me - yep, that worked just fine!

This was not meant to be a birthday luncheon, but I took it to be.

After all, they'd come up from Hinesville and chose to spend time with me, near the time of my bday68, so I counted it as a birthday treat!

As for that silly gift, I think I'll regard it as a joke.

Yes, that would be just the ticket!

Now, Eric has arrived to open the doors at Two First Posts for tonight's meeting, so I'm going into the coolness!

lettting my voice be heard: part 1

 

I do so enjoy these lectures out at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography!

Jackson Schroeder engages some interesting speakers for this "Evenings At Skidaway" series and tonight's was no exception.

There he is, sitting on the left, across from the postdoc, Dr. Sean Anderson, who spoke to us about "Tiny Plants, Big Impacts: Phytoplankton and the Ocean's Microbial Food Web".

I had not realized that these were one-celled flora!

What complex functions they were able to perform with that single cell!

It certainly had me thinking about science, as well as chemistry, and the size of the molecules which exist in every cell of our own bodies.

DNA is huge, as it contains the 'recipes' for every protein that the body has to build, and every cell has a copy of that DNA double-helix.

Like I said, it really had me thinking about chemistry.

That's why I asked two questions afterward.

Let me say this: I usually do ask a question, but I do so quietly, after the Q&A has ended and I can talk one on one with the speaker.

Not this time!

I asked during the session, so all would hear!

Such a change for me!

The first question was: "Has a study been done on the effect of introducing parasites into areas blighted by algal blooms - like Red Tide - to help clear up the phytoplankton overpopulation?"

He had told us in some detail of certain parasites that were capable of consuming multiple phytoplankton at a time.

Dr. Anderson responded that a group of researchers in Spain were working on that very problem, but cautioned about introducing non-native species into an area and causing an even greater problem.

[For instance, the planting of Japanese kudzu to control erosion around highways and that species now rampant over native trees.]

My thought on that issue is to use the parasites as if they were living enzymes, so that control the ratio of the parasite (enzyme) to the phytoplankton (substrate) would prevent any extra harm to an environment.

Chemistry!!!

My second question: "What research has been done of the effect of major hurricanes on the phytoplankton populations and, subsequently, on the populations of those species that rely on phytoplankton for food?"

Dr. Anderson replied that scientists are trying to study that, but it's a tricky subject, as major hurricanes impact such large areas for a prolonged time.

Heard that.

After all was said and done, Jackson gave me a gift: food for home!

He always has a nice spread of fruit and cheeses for the reception.

It's like a little party!

That was my plate before the lecture... then I had even more after!

Happy birthday to me!

Those cheeses and that peppercorn-crusted salami will be nice on salads.

Thanks, Jackson!

peter pan and the lions!

It's a good thing the SCAD play was a matinee, or I'd never have gotten that many lions wrestled to the ground!

This was another bday68 treat for me, of course!

I'd invited Kathy Mayin to this one and yesterday's musical, but she told me she would only be going to the one next weekend at Tybee.

I had hoped this one at the Lucas Theatre would be a musical, but no.

It was silliness piled on silliness, and the house was full!!!

Oh, have I not yet said its name?

Here it is: "Peter Pan Goes Wrong", composed by the same folks that penned the Christmas mashup two years ago. 

So how did this rendition work?

Well, the boy playing 'Michael' was supposedly a last-minute addition to the play - much like the girl in the last Hive musical - and had a voice in his ear instead of a script in his hands.

'Michael' was not nearly as adept as she had been, as he tended to repeat anything and everything that came through the headset.

Hilarity ensued, naturally!

There were lots of physical gags, too, with trick triple-tier bunk beds playing a role as well as fly-wires that had the actors upside-down most of the time when they weren't crashing into walls and such.

Plus, the stage crew had to keep coming on to fix things, most notably the doggie door when 'Nana' got stuck in it - that was funny!

The most impressive thing for me, though, was the set itself.

With at least three different views that rotated into place, they were works of art and must have been the most time-consuming part of this production.

The scene at the top was of the bedroom for the three children of the Darling family and had two doors, the double windows, the collapsing bunk bed, and other furniture.

The scene above was the opener of the second act and portrayed the Lost Boys' forest and it had collapsing bits, too!

Plus there was one stage that was the outside of the Darling's home, so we could see the children flying off with Peter Pan.

Then there was another stage for Captain Hook and his crew!

Like I said, those were quite impressive.

As for the actors themselves, the online program isn't much help.

It has the names of the characters they are playing, who in turn are playing 'Peter', 'Wendy', 'John', 'Michael', and company.

Still, it was enjoyable... and only $15 for seniors like me!

Oh, did I mention there were lions?

I did... but I never said they were in the play, did I?

That's because they were all part of my MGM+ Film Festival!

I didn't even know Comcast gave me that channel this week until Friday.

I started that day with "Overboard", the 1987 version with Goldie and Kurt - nice and light and perfect for breakfast!

I followed that with "Roofman", the Channing Tatum bit from last year, with him portraying the lovable bandit who lived in a Toys'R'Us store.

Upon my return home from the dinner with my brothers and others, I cued up "A Fish Called Wanda", as I love that 1985 romance!

Yesterday was pretty busy, so it wasn't until after nightfall that I could grab another from the premium channel.

"Novocaine" was the perfect romance-action flick to cap my day!

Today has been busy, too, but I came home from downtown wanting a musical... and there was "Hair", with its 1973 cast of hot actors.

I even managed to dance a little bit.

Then, before the clock ran out on this reward, I grabbed "To Live And Die In LA", just to watch William Petersen in those skintight jeans...

and Willem Dafoe artistically counterfeiting money...

and to listen to the Wang Chung soundtrack... 

yeah, that will do nicely! 

Sweet dreams for me! 

another birthday dinner for Sandy!

The last time, it was Kelly who wanted to treat Sandy to dinner.

This time, it was Joel!

He was late, though, so he and his cousin (Harris) missed out on being part of this photo souvenir.

From the left, that's Elissa, Sandy, Kathy, and Marcia.

I think it was Elissa who suggested Aroy Thai Cuisine, and I'm glad she did, as I've never been there before.

The last time I was in that location, it was called Tangerine.

It's a mom and pop operation now, with slow service, but good food.

I had the Larb Gai and I can vouch for it's freshness!

I'm glad Sandy is such a fan of dining out and has friends to indulge her!

Thanks to her, I now have a new place to spring on the physicist when he returns from Ohio in July.

Maybe he'll buy my bday68 dinner then!

(smile!) 

saying "SUMMER!!!" with Sven and Olaf!

 

Here the three of us are, 

mouths wide open 

for that first syllable!

 

'Sven' is brought to life by the very talented Trey Wilner, and I thank him for giving me the strength to have my photo taken on the Starcastle stage.

Had it been anyone else, I might well have abstained.

 

Between the still-healing scab on my right cheek and the enormous bruise on my upper left arm from the ER visit, I've been feeling more self-conscious about my looks.

 

However, I'm trying to not let those temporary blemishes interfere with my social calendar.

 

How crazy would it be if I let those physical issues, like the above or my still-halting gait from the hitch in my giddy-up, detract from maintaining my mental and emotional health? 

 

Hence the partial reason for me being at the matinee today of "Disney's Frozen: The Broadway Musical"!

The real reason, of course, is my upcoming birthday, as this has long been planned as part of my bday8 celebration.

 

Above, 'Olaf' (Brett Bowling) stands with 'Anna' (a delightfully ditzy Camryn Cothran) and 'Elsa' (Isabella Schmitz, whose voice soars!) and someone's mom.

 

Here, 'Prince Hans' (the ever-handsome Desmond Chaney) poses with a fan, while others chat up the two princesses after their photo session.

The only photo I wanted was with the reindeer and the snowman, and I patiently waited for all the line of children to have their turn after the show.

 

That meant that I missed seeing all the other cast members in the lobby, so I didn't get my hug with Danielle this show.

 

I'm sure she understood.

 

I'll have to share with her my "inside joke" reason for this photo, which I call "reaching for the mustache"!!!

 

See the face in the painting?

It resembles an aging Italian.

The receding forehead in the hairline, 

the bushy mustache covering up the lips, 

the blue eyes...

see it?

I don't know if the volunteer set painters did the design on purpose or if serendipity had a hand in guiding the paintbrushes, but every colonnade featured the face.

I wonder if anyone at Savannah Children's Theatre has noticed...

or maybe it's just me, and my cockeyed sense of humor?

Perhaps I'll see it again and conduct a survey?

But I'll do so after the musical, so no one is distracted by the mustache.

(smile!)

friday birthday fiesta in sandfly!

"Oh, my! Where y'all early celebrating your bday68?"

Nope, but good try! After a month away from Jalapenos, the S&K Friday Fiesta was back on again for two reasons. First, Laura had her bday59 last week, but she didn't get to wear the sombrero and she very much wanted to do that. Second, our favorite waitress had returned from her vacation to Mexico and we all wanted to put money back in her pockets! We really do love Claudia!!!

"Oh, hooray! I know there are some in the party who don't think anyone else can serve us quite right..."

You got that right. See the fellow who took this photo of our group? He's the owner of this particular Jalapenos and he was thrilled that we were back. After all, our table probably accounts for at least 500 bucks of drinks and food every Friday. Smitty and Mary, Laura, Betsy and Jimmy, Mark, and Robin all have at least two drinks apiece, on average. Tony and I both abstain, as we drive. I'm glad I'm there to support him in that abstinence.

"I see everyone except Mary in that shot."

I hear ya. The guy must have taken seven photographs and Mary managed to be hardly there in all except two of them. And in those, Mark was the one invisible! Still, I knew they were there! Neither of the young ones - Addison and Becca - were present this week. However, they were at Molly McGuire's for last Friday's gathering! That was partly in celebration of Addison's graduation from Georgia State University. 

"What a lovely deck for dining!"

Yes, it was, and the guy on the lower patio was playing some good tunes for us! Lots of stuff from the 70's and 80's, but a few more recent hits, too. We were all jamming out to them! The best part is they weren't too loud, so we could still talk.

"Very good. Nothing worse than going out with family and friends and not being able to carry on a conversation and catch up. Did anyone ask about your facial mole at that one? And where was Mary for last week's gathering?"

Betsy did, but I expected that, and she didn't keep on about it. And guess what? Tony and Laura gave me a ride there! It's out on Wilmington Island and they know I'm not keen on driving in the dark. Smitty isn't, either, and he had debated about whether to come or not. Mary was out in Louisiana, visiting her brother Steve, and stayed for a week to catch the last of the graduations of those nieces and nephews.

And guess what else Tony and Laura did? They bought my dinner!!! Tony insisted, so I told him that could be my birthday present. And so there's my bday68 gift, the Cumberland Chef Salad, with Parmesan Peppercorn dressing!!! It was so very delicious!!!

"Another chef salad? You seem to be on a kick with those."

I am on a salad kick, in general, and those are just packed with protein! Ever since I had that inguinal hernia repair surgery, I've tried to bulk up my fiber intake at each meal.

"That's definitely a good move."

I totally agree. Now, before I get distracted by the free movies on MGM+, I've got a piece of news! My younger nephew in Alabama, Conner, has graduated high school!!! That was at 7 PM and Bonnie told me she watched it on a special channel. I am so glad!!!

"That's marvelous news!!! I remember he was talking about dropping out earlier this school year. I'm so glad he stayed the course!"

All puns intended? (smile!) I am, too, and thrilled that he had that special cord for attending lineman class. I told my stepmom that my Uncle Bob had made a good living as a telephone lineman. Bonnie said that Conner is more interested in fighting, MMA style. I suggested that he search for grants and scholarships to help with training in mixed martial arts. She thought that was a great idea! She'll keep me posted on any progress. Now, to the free premium movies from Comcast I go. Happy early birthday to me!

finishing the day the way i'd planned

"Um... isn't that one of the sticky pads used for an EKG?"

 

Yes, it is. That and another one was still stuck to me after the orderly rolled me in a wheelchair to my car.

 

"An orderly?! You mean, like at a hospital? And why did they release you to your Subaru instead of to your brother or someone?"

 

Yes, an orderly, St. Joseph's Hospital, where I've been since yesterday afternoon. My PCP over at the Savannah VA sent me to the Emergency Room so they could do bloodwork and an ultrasound to check out my spleen. Those departments were already closed after 2 PM at the VA center.

So, to St. Joseph's I went, explaining what was needed. Instead, the on-call doctor (Dr. Salas) at the hospital mistakenly thought I was having a heart attack, even though none of the symptoms said that. Yet another case of someone looking at my weight and thinking the wrong thing. They did an EKG, a chest X-ray, and an MRI of pelvis and abdomen, as well as the blood draw. None of those, by the way, came back with any problems. 

Nonetheless, after keeping me NPO since my arrival at 4 PM, in case she thought my chest needed to be ripped open, she finally decided to check me out of the ER exam room and into a hospital room about 10:30 PM. And that was a shared room, so the woman in there was asleep when they wheeled me in. Such a nightmare.

I objected, of course, as I had plans for today, but they didn't listen.

 

"Oh, no! This was the day of luncheon at The Pirates' House with Sisters of Faith, wasn't it? With the trolley ride after? That you'd paid $50 for as part of your bday68 gift to yourself. Oh, no. Were you out in time for that?"

Oh, no. My lunch meal at the hospital, eventually, was a good one, a meal suitable for Thanksgiving, too. But I didn't get that until after 1 PM. No breakfast, nothing since the deli machine roast beef sandwich on white bread that an ER nurse gave me before shuttling me upstairs. (Sigh.) I woke up this morning to a cardiac stress test, as the new doc (Dr. Rice) was following along on that wrong trail, too. Anyway, that meant lying on a hard plastic table for the CT scan before the chemically-induced stress test, then lying back on that rigid surface for a post-test CT scan. I felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to my kidneys.

Dr. William Crosland, the cardiac surgeon who'd actually seen me briefly back in 2022 (before I became Dr. Cobb's patient) came in and pronounced me good to go. Well, kinda sorta. He wanted to have an ultrasound of my heart, just to be on the safe side. The two techs - one with experience, one a student - did that after my turkey and dressing. That came out fine, too. I kept telling them my heart was good. Apparently, so was my spleen. All they found was a "mild urinary tract infection".

I kid you not.

 

"I still don't understand why they released you on your own today."

 

Because I asked. Nurse Jane had me call Smitty and Mary to come for me, and I asked her why I couldn't just drive myself home. After all, I'd not had a single drop or milligram of any opioid drugs, so I was fully cognizant. So, she asked and they okayed it! I called my brother and told him they were letting me drive myself, so no need for him to make the trip. That was good for both of us! That meant he wouldn't have to make a second trip to help me fetch my car.

"Good deal! I'm so glad you asked about that!"

 

Me, too. I phoned him, Tony, and Christina when I got to my car. Then I bopped over to the AMC. See, on Tuesday, I'd booked the Thursday, 2 PM, first screening of "The Mandalorian and Grogu", in 3-D Big-D, along with a kidpack, with a bottle of water and Junior Mints. That snack was free to me, as it made use of my AMC Reward points, plus a gift card from AARP.  

As I wasn't released from St. Joseph until just before 5 PM, that meant my reserved kidpack had been sitting on the rack, waiting for me, for 3 hours. My choice was to go and retrieve it or just kiss goodbye to that money, too, as I'd been forced to do for The Pirates' House luncheon with the Asbury Sisters. I was not willing to do that. 

 

"I understand."

Plus, I had an American Legion meeting to get to. This one was just for Post 36, my post, and I felt I had to be there. Something to eat and drink would be a good thing. As it was, just Doug and I showed up. He had his dog, Sam, there, too. We were the only people there until the Marines started showing up for their 7 PM meeting. Really nice to see them wearing their dress red jackets! I even talked to a couple of them, then ducked out. It's been a long couple of days, and nights, mostly in a 68 F environment, and I wanted to go home and get back into normalcy.

 

"I know what that means: the CBS line-up, with 'George & Mandy' and 'Ghosts', and "Elsbeth', right?"

 

Right. Nothing like being in a hospital to make a person exhausted. I look forward to being back in my warm little house, in my warm bed, tonight. Can you believe I had four "blankets" on my hospital bed and was still freezing? Just craziness.

 

"Well, you sleep well tonight, dear. You need that."

 

Thanks. Tomorrow is another day. I am thankful about one thing. Remember that I'd called Dr. Whipple's office about my leg still bothering me and my concern that the inguinal hernia was back? Well, I did, last week. This afternoon, about 2 PM, his office had called to talk about that. They were thrilled to find out that an MRI of my pelvis and abdomen had been run yesterday. That meant they wouldn't have to wait to order a new one, they could simply look at that one! That's one less doctor appointment for me.

 

"And you also know now that nothing bad was found with your heart or anything south of it. That's a pretty good birthday gift from the Universe."

 

Yes, you're right.

There are no accidents. 

i thank You, God.

burger at bingo in a booth!

"Say what? You ate a hamburger tonight???"

 

I did!

It was the day's special, and it sounded so good that I took a chance.

And it was good, too!!!

Wagyu beef, topped with chili and pickled jalapenos - wow!!!

That was some kind of tasty, let me tell ya.

Sandy had one, too, but she usually gets burgers.

She opted to skip the jalapenos, but those served as a tasty counterpoint to the chili, so I'm glad I choose to the burger as listed.

 

"I really can't believe you ate a burger at a burger joint."

 

In truth, Midtown Sports Grill is more than that.

They have spaghetti specials and other stuff, too.

In fact, their pork chops are pretty good.

 

"I'll take your word for that, dearie. So, who all was there for Music Bingo?"

 

It was our usual trio, plus Elissa this time, and in our usual booth!

That's three booths away from the Bingo Jockey's table, just in case you're curious or plan to drop in some time.

That "90's Mix #3" was our first game and I was just one away from a win!

The second game was "60's & 70's Mix #1", and all I needed was Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" for a win there.

Then, for the 4th game, "Michael Jackson Mix', I was just one off from getting the $50 gift card!!!

All I needed was "Remember The Time".

Sounds appropriate, like it might be a joke, doesn't it?

 

"Yes, it does! A joke from the Universe for your birthday while you were out with friends, singing and dancing in your seats!"

 

Hahahaha!

Yes, that just may be right.

My blue-sky Penny texted me with a bunch of photos of flowers, so I got to share those with the others and tell them about her horticulturist husband.

This Gallardia Spintop, complete with bees, was our favorite!

Guess what the color is?

Mariachi Red!!!

That reminded me of one of my favorite "Will Trent" episodes.

Titled "Mariachi Shelly's Frankenstein", it was crammed full of puns inspired by two things: the Mariachi band trapped at the police station during a blackout and the book report that Ormwood had been helping his kid write about the 1818 book.

"We have to be strong and MARIACHI on."

"Jesus, MARIACHI, and Joseph!"

 

"Hahahaha!!! Oh, yes, I loved that one! Very serious moments, but interspersed with moments of puns as three of the guys struggled to get a generator up the stairs. I wish I could remember more of them, as they were delightful!"

 

That's for real!

And here's a bit of fun that was starting just as I got home.

"The Quiz With Balls" was having a swimsuit edition, with lifeguards taking on a bunch of beauty queens.

Those guys may be a bit young for a purple panther like me, but I can still enjoy the view!

 

"Incredible!!! What great fun! And how did the lifeguards fare?"

 

That guy in the middle, wearing the glasses?

That's Reigh, who had a delicious sense of humor and good smarts.

He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree!!!

He was the last man standing and he made it to the third question in his bid against the Golden Balls for the $100,000.

He chose "Famous Scientists", getting right the first two.

The third question was "Which one was an oarsman at Oxford?"

I give him credit for knowing it had to be an Englishman...

but he was too young to have ever thought of Stephen Hawking as being capable of such a thing.

Into the water he went!

 

"Ah, yes, the misconception that a disabled person was always so."

 

Indeed.

Still, it certainly was a nice dessert after my dinner with the girls!

(smile!)