as paul harvey would say...

Here's the rest of the story!

Honestly, I'm not a "history of royal families" fan.

I don't consciously seek out those kinds of stories on my seven local PBS channels, as I much prefer the travelogues, the cooking shows, Bill Ross, the mystery solvers, nature and science programs, bios of actors and dancers and musicians and artists... in other words, the plethora of other topics covered.

But those SIX ex-wives woke me up this morning, singing their songs, waving their microphones, and sashaying all over my mental stage.

Clearly, they wanted clarity.

However, while looking deeper into their lives, Henry emerged.

I won't say that he was an angel, because he certainly was not.

Whenever he could, he took the path of least resistance.

Finding a wife?

His first one had been betrothed to his older brother ever since 1488, when she was only three years old.

That was Catherine of Aragon, transported from Spain in 1501, not even knowing the language, to wed Arthur.

She was 16, he was 15, and he was dead within months from illness.

That left her as still a virgin, so Henry's family deemed her still as marriageable and engaged her to the 11-year-old Henry.

Fine.

That left her to hang fire until 1509, when they were wed.

Henry was 18 and she was 24 by then, so they set to trying to make an heir.

Within a year they had a daughter, but she died as an infant.

Three more miscarriages, including two sons, followed before they had a child that lived; that daughter was Mary, born in 1516, to a 30-year-old Catherine and 24-year-old Henry.

One more stillborn two years later marked the end of the possibility of him having a male heir from that source.... so he cast his eye around... and didn't even have to leave the palace.

By 1525, at the age of 34 years old, he was panting after Anne Boleyn, a lively and fashionable lady in waiting for his wife.

Anne's birth year is disputed, but one thing is clear: she was younger than Henry by at least a decade, if not more.

She insisted that he divorce Catherine and marry her, but the Catholic church did not agree... so Henry set about closing the monasteries and nunneries, shutting down their presence in England.

Catherine was sent to live in in a series of other castles, though without their daughter, Mary, who remained with Henry. 

Henry and Anne were secretly wed late in 1532, then formally wed early in 1533, and Henry was excommunicated from the Catholic church shortly after.

So, at 42 years old, he declared himself the head of the Church of England and settled that argument.

By early September of 1533, Anne had their daughter, Elizabeth, and not the son he had so long sought.

Then Anne had a series of three miscarriages... which, to Henry, signaled the end of her childbearing years... so he cast his eye around... and didn't even have to leave the palace.

Jane Seymour was right there, a lady in waiting for Anne Boleyn, after having served as lady in waiting for Catherine since the late 1520's.

There followed a series of unfortunate events.

First, in January of 1536, Catherine died and was buried.

Second, later that same month, Anne had her third miscarriage, which happened to be of a son.

Third, during that same month, Henry had begun wooing Jane with gifts.

Anne's days were numbered; by mid-May that year, she was accused and convicted of adultery (with four men) and treason (a plot to murder Henry), with the final judgement being beheading, which was conducted May 19, 1536.

The very next day, Henry wed Jane; he was 45, she was 28.

By January of 1537, Jane was pregnant and life was good for her and Henry.

She was not the party girl and remodeler that Anne had been, nor did she argue with Henry, preferring to be the quiet, supportive wife.

Yes, life was finally looking up for Henry!

Their son, Edward, was born in October of 1537 - their son!

But Jane died of complications of childbirth, about two weeks later.

Henry now had three children, and three dead wives, having lost all three of his wives within two years of each other.

He was 46 years old.

He took a break from rushing into another marriage.

After all, he had a male heir, so his royal line was secure.

Still, an alliance against France and the Holy Roman Empire would be good to have, so he sought a bride from Germany, depending on portraiture for his choice.

In January of 1540, his selection, Anne of Cleves, arrived and they wed.

However, they never quite clicked, the 25-year-old German-speaking woman and the 48-year-old English-speaking king... but he couldn't very well lop off her head if he wanted Germany to be o his side, could he?

Henry had the marriage annulled six months later, but still kept her in England, calling her  "the King's Beloved Sister" and setting her up quite nicely with her own castle and lands and money.

That left him still in need of a child-bearing prospect... so he cast his eye around... and found what he sought at her palace.

Catherine Howard was a 17-year-old lady in waiting for Anne of Cleves.

She was also the first cousin of Anne Boleyn, but apparently learned nothing from her cousin's fate.

By July of 1540, scarcely after the ink was dry on the annulment papers for his marriage to Anne of Cleves, the randy 49-year-old king was wed to the teenager.

Within a year, he'd discovered that not only was she not a virgin, but she'd had sex with multiple lovers, with no marriage to any of them!

The teen was accused of adultery and treason and locked away in November of 1541, with two of her lovers being killed (one by beheading, the other by hanging) in December of 1541, with their heads impaled on stakes on the bridge.

She, herself, was finally convicted and beheaded in February of 1542.

Alone again, Henry cast about for another wife, finding one at the abode of his 27-year-old daughter, Mary.

Ah, but Catherine Parr was no starry-eyed ingenue.

Already twice-wed and twice-widowed, the 31-year-old had another husband in mind, but canceled those plans when the 52-year-old Henry insisted she wed him.

That was in July of 1543.

No fool her, she was sure to install women she knew and trusted into her household with him, to grant him no new temptations.

It's doubtful he would have tried, as morbidly obese as he was, and with physical ailments that made him rather immobile.

He died in January of 1547, at 55 years old, leaving Catherine Parr a widow for the third time.

By then, she was 35 years old, but finally free to wed Thomas Seymour, the brother of Jane Seymour, when he again asked her.

They wed, in secret, four months after Henry's death.

That didn't do over very well with the royals!

Within a year, she was pregnant, which was a wonder, as she had been thought to be barren, having never been pregnant through her other three marriages.

On August 30, 1548, she gave birth to a daughter, Mary Seymour, then  Catherine died of childbirth complications within a week.

She was 36 years old.

So, by September of 1548, Henry VIII was dead, five of his six wives were dead, leaving only Anne of Cleves still living.

She did so for almost another ten years, outliving Henry's son (Edward VI died in 1553) and dying just one year before Henry's first daughter (Mary I died in 1558).

Anne of Cleves was only in her early 40's.

Only the second daughter, Elizabeth I, lived a full life, reaching 69 before her death in 1603, having served as the Queen of England and Ireland for 44 years. 

That's a longer reign than her father had, and certainly more than her mother - Anne Boleyn - ever dreamt possible.

Wow...

... and all of that led up to two seniors at Cambridge writing a musical to be presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 

Okay, history lesson over, let's resume our lives, shall we?

(smile!) 

a quartet and a plus-one from tom of amc

I not only filled my dance card, but had to be gifted another dance!

See what the banner says?

"You have already maxed out your reservations for this week, but you can still make reservations for showtimes this Friday and beyond."

But how would that do me any good?

"SIX: The Musical LIVE!" was leaving and Carolyn had not yet seen it!

I had raved about it over the weekend, but our schedules were off.

Today's screening at 7:45 PM would be the last chance to see it with my friend, but I was out of free dances... or was I?

Nope!

I still had a pass from Tom!

So that's how it happened that she and I, as well as about twenty others, were there grooving to the show from the Vaudeville Theatre earlier tonight!!!

I have some research on that bit of Tudor history, but first I want to get my A*List caught up, so I can cross that off my list.

(smile!)

So, what else did I see besides that musical?

Two others that were centered on music, plus one that wasn't.

That would be "Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma", seen primarily because Gillian Anderson was in it.

I took that to mean it had some raison d'etre, right?

Wrong.

Its sole purpose seemed to have been to bring in the LGBT+ audience. 

I guess she was just getting a paycheck and keeping up her SAG membership, because this was pretty lame.

However, I definitely enjoyed "Nimrods" and "Elijah Peel"!

The first one was a road trip movie, with three teens who drive across the country to Los Angeles, under the mistaken impression that their band - Analog Dogs - has been selected to open for Green Day's New Year's Eve concert.

[Sidebar: Green Day is almost 40 years old now!] 

Hilarity ensued, of course!

One of the boys was Mason Thames, who I do like, and he ended up with a travel crush on the character played by Mckenna Grace, who I also like.

Nice to see them paired up again in just a year!

(smile!) 

That leaves "Elijah Peel", which tells the tale of a 35-year-old musician sliding down from the top of his career as a rock musician, landing up in the hospital with a heart attack after too many drugs, too much booze, and too much hard-living.

Enter another patient at the hospital, more ambulatory than he is, who comes to visit him when she hears he is there.

Not one of his usual groupies, 'Jessica' is a 10-year-old dying of a brain cancer, and she is intent on making sure 'Elijah' knows about Jesus.

Kudos to Evelyn Grace Kite as the girl, and Robert Malcolm Cumming as the addicted musician trying to remake his life, and to Kevin Sorbo as his agent.

I had been concerned that this would be a tearjerker, but pleasantly surprised.

Good music in both of those movies!

Okay, time to get some knowledge on English history!

for 5 more minutes we're 6!

I told Carolyn after seeing the movie tonight that it seemed like "a hip student's study guide for a history class."

I was close!

"SIX" started out in late 2016 because Toby Marlow, a senior at the time, was selected by Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society to create a show to premiere at the 2017 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.

I'm guessing it was along the lines of a doctoral thesis.

Lucy Moss was also on the project, and she researched the concept by watching Lucy Worsley's "Six Wives" on BBC.

Toby Marlow researched by reading Antonia Fraser's "The Six Wives of Henry VII".

Together, they livened things up with Beyonce's 2011 video concert album, "Live At Roseland: Elements Of 4".  

They were off and running after that!

The six wives of the Tudor king were envisioned as pop divas, with each having her own unique song, and the entire one-hour show was a contest between them to determine who had it hardest under the man.

Such fun!!!

After its debut at Fringe, it opened on London's West End in 2019 at the Arts Theatre, where it ran until the pandemic shut it down.

"SIX: The Musical LIVE!" was the filmed performance in 2022 at the Vaudeville Theatre, featuring all six of the original cast from those 2019 shows, who have been singing and dancing this music at that location since September of 2021.

What a marvelous sextet they are, too!!!

 

Natalie Paris as Jane Seymour
Aimie Atkinson as Katherine Howard
Jarnéia Richard-Noel as Catherine of Aragon 
Millie O'Connell as Anne Boleyn 
Alexia McIntosh as Anne of Cleves
Maiya Quansah-Breed as Catherine Parr
 

The women describe themselves in song as "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived", which is an odd way of looking at one's life.

Then again, isn't that how history differentiates them? 

I found it humorous that Henry VIII had three wives named 'Catherine' and two named 'Anne'; perhaps he had a problem remembering names in the throes of passion?

Hahahaha!

I also found it interesting that hand-held microphones were used instead of the ubiquitous Lavalier mics which are more common now.

Might that have been a nod to the women taking charge of the power taken from them by having a firm grasp on that penile prop?

Marlow and Moss didn't point to that rationale, but Freud would differ.

Now, how about a bit of fun?

It's been a while since I had one of my movie-time matching games, and this historical musical lends itself well to such a thing.

Plus, as I've done a lot of research on this myself, a game would be an entertaining way to pass on that knowledge! 

For those who choose to play, the names of the wives - listed in order of marriage to that king - are used multiple times, of course.

However, bear in mind that each letter has only one correct numerical answer.

I've posted their photos and marriage dates to serve as clues.

Enjoy!!! 

 

The Wives:

 

1. Catherine of Aragon

 

2. Anne Boleyn

 

3. Jane Seymour

 

4. Anne of Cleves

 

5. Catherine Howard

 

6. Catherine Parr

 

 

Their historical data:

 

a) She was lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon. 

 

b) She was the first cousin of Anne Boleyn and the lady in waiting to Anne of Cleves.

 

c) She was the one married to him for 24 years, but is called the Dowager Princess of Wales.

 

d) She was the only one to give him a son, Edward VI. 

 

e) She was 31 and on her third marriage when she wed him.

 

f) He is buried beside her at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

 

g) She was the 30-year-old mother of Mary I (aka 'Bloody Mary').

 

h) She became the 30-year-old stepmom to his three children when they wed.

 

i) She wed him when he was only 18 years old, after first marrying his brother.

 

j) She was 24 years old when she wed him for his shortest marriage.

 

k) She was his youngest wife, at only 17 years old, but didn't live to see 20. 

 

l) She was known as "The King's Beloved Sister" and outlived him by a decade.

 

m) After his death, she wed the love of her life, then died a year later giving birth to his son.

 

n) She was the 24-year-old mother of Elizabeth I, but died within three years. 

 

o) She is the only one to have received a Queen's funeral.

 

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

What?

Already looking for the answers?

I'll post those later, I promise.

Meanwhile, why not click a few links and see if that helps?

(smile!) 

Did you know that Mozart piece wasn't an opera?

I had been sure that I'd be seeing an opera tonight. The Savannah VOICE Festival always gives us an opera near its end, you know. For this SVF14, the choice was Mozart's "Die Zauberflote", usually simply called "The Magic Flute". Hooray! I'd never seen that one, though I have heard some music from it. That was a very funny piece called "Pa-Pa-Papageno", featuring the bird-catcher, 'Papageno'. Evan Stark did a wonderful job in that role!

"So you did get to see that opera! I'm so happy for you!"

Well, as much as I'd looked forward to it, I hadn't realized that it's a musical, not an opera. During the show, I thought perhaps someone had restaged it, with lots of talking between the songs, to cut down on all the translation. See the songs were all in German, with English subtitles displayed on the film screens at Asbury Memorial Church. You follow?

"Of course. That's how it's been done every year in the past. That's why you made sure to bring your glasses this time."

Correct about me bringing my glasses, but they don't always have an opera. Sometimes they perform a musical instead. I had misunderstood and thought tonight's performance was to be an opera, but that isn't what I got. And here's the thing: that's how it was composed and presented back in September of 1791, just two months before Mozart's death. "The Magic Flute" was a collaborative work with Emanuel Schikaneder for his theatrical troupe. They didn't call it a musical, though, but the German term: singspiel. Literally, that's a "singing play", i.e., a musical!!! How about that!!!

"That's amazing that musicals go back that far!"

Yep, just by a different name! "The Magic Flute" was actually a fairy tale, written to show that things aren't always as they appear. In the first act, we learn that the 'Queen Of The Night' isn't the good guy but the bad one! I'm glad Melanie Spector was able to explore her evil side for this one! Then there were Benjamin Sokol as the supposed bad guy, 'Sarastro', with his confused henchman, 'Monostatos', played to hilarious consequences by Henry Drangel!

"Was that Melanie coming down the stairs?! What great makeup and poise!!!"

Yes, that vision in black was her! Her headdress even had a light in it for a spooky aura. The guy is Eric Sebek, in his first theatrical work with SVF! He told me the other night that he's been part of this festival for eight years, but this is his first role - he was so excited about it! That's because he played 'Tamino', the lead role!!! He was a prince in search of 'Princess Pamina'... what silly, rhyming, names! Emma Petersen played that role. Together, they were quite charming!

"Oh, I remember him from last year! Him and his brother and their dad!"

Yes, and his dad was there tonight, too, to watch Eric shine! I had so much fun with this one, and loved working as the directional wench. That volunteer position usually goes to Lonnie Breslow, but he and Penny were ushers this time. Kim Owens handled the lame, granting them special access. However, I think I'll try for that spot at the foot of the stairs again. That made me privy to first sight of all the singers after their transformations into the characters. Yes, please!

"Good for you! I hope that's how it will work out next year for you."

Thanks! I felt I was definitely in the right place, right time! My odometer even tried to confirm that for me, but I missed the special mileage reading by ten miles. My guess is I had "247247" back at the church, but didn't see it when I parked. Still "247257" has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? (smile!)

another cabaret at the UUC!

There were two differences, however, from the one yesterday.

First, I was the only volunteer usher for "Night And Day: Cabaret with Samantha Talora", as the other three had opted for the salon event later tonight.

Yesterday, I'd worn my green, flowing dress, with my hair in a high ponytail.

Today, I took my hair down after I arrived.

I wore Mother Pat's summery Hawaiian dress with the golden dolphins.

Nice to give the audience something different!

Second, this event was actually double-billed, as it also featured Assaf Gleizner on the piano, as well as his talented arrangements of some of the music.

Remember, this event was titled "Night And Day".

Well, it turns out that the singer knew of two songs with that title, but different lyrics.

When she'd asked Assaf which one he'd prefer, he replied, "why not both?"

So that's what they'd done, blending the Cole Porter oldie with a much more recent one by Roxanne Seeman and Billie Hughes that Bette Midler sang about 30 years ago.

Magnificent fun!!!

When I talked about the mashup afterward with Assaf, I just had to share the one I'd done some years back!

He thought "I Feel Pretty" and the James Brown funk was an exciting idea!

Maybe I'll hear that being played at a future SVF concert?

That would be grand!!!

Samantha wove a story for us from the songs tonight.

She mentioned that she'd been on an episode of "Stories From The Stage", one of the short PBS programs I enjoy.

I'll have to see if I can find the one she was on!

That was early on in her time of saying "Yes" to scary things.

My guess is that change in quest began after her younger brother's death from cancer in 2013.

I know very well how that can change one's perspective.

Her story in song carried us from childhood ("Little Voice") to a change in attitude ("I'm Not Afraid Of Anything") to a realization that there will always be differences between people ("The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" and "The Secret Of Happiness").

Those last two made me think of Erma Bombeck and her humor!

After that biographical intro, she then sang a song for her dog, a song for her husband (that involved a gender swap from the Ray Charles version), and a song in memory of her brother.

Those were all straight from the program... but then came a change!

Instead of the listed tune, she sang one of my favorites: "You'll Never Walk Alone" - oh, yes, so beautiful it was, too!

Then she performed the next listed one... and encored with "Oh Shenandoah" instead of the posted Simon & Garfunkel song.

Nice change, y'all!

Yes, this has been a pretty amazing day, with plenty of lovely surprises!

(smile!)

hello, gorgeous!

"Hey, hey, girlie! You flashing back to that sign in Las Vegas?"

Oh, wow, I'd kinda sorta forgotten about that one. Good memories!!! No, I'm referring to the words spoken to me this morning as I was hobbling through the heat to enter the Savannah VA Center. I'd made it through the outer door and had taken a pause in the middle to cool off. Then this lovely man opened the door wide and said, "Hello, gorgeous!" Surprised, I smiled wide and thanked him, of course. Then he added, "Have an amazing day!" "You, too!"

"My, oh my! That was a nice surprise!"

It really was! After I checked in for the lab appointment, I sat and let that random act of kindness sink in... and almost started to cry. That's a real rarity, to have a stranger offer such words. When I was younger, I'd have sailors say such things, but that's been fifty years ago, or close to it.

"What's that meme you just flashed up? Something from fb?"

Yes, it's something that the ex's Andy posted. '8 Things You'll Probably Never Know' has a lot of truth to it, and that stranger's goodness made me remember it. That guy's kindness wasn't the only wonderful thing that happened at the VA Center, though. Kim, the nurse that saw me today, kidded around as she wrapped my right hand after the blood draw. "Just because you look like a boxer now, don't be doing what LL Cool J said." I laughed and sang, "Mama said knock you out!" Hahahaha! We both got a kick out of that, her for referencing the song and me for picking up on it. (smile!)

"Hahaha! That reminds me of the purple panther moment you had!"

Oh, yes, that was fun! A bright moment during that first year of the pandemic. Taking the time to cut up with the young clerk at the grocery store. I wonder if #5 might pertain to that time and place for that young man?

"Beats me, dear. He'd be 24 or 25 now, wouldn't he?"

Probably. I feel sure he was in high school 6 years ago. Maybe #5 actually refers to me talking about him? His name was Sam.

"Well, see there? You did do a #5! Let's go ahead and list them, for folks who don't want to zoom in on that picture."

1. Someone out there once fell for you... and never told you.

2. A stranger noticed you and smiled, you just didn't see it.

3. Someone still remembers something kind you did years ago.

4. You've been the reason someone didn't give up.

5. Your name has come up in conversation you'll never hear.

6. Someone defended you when you weren't in the room.

7. There's someone who checks your messages and smiles.

8. Your life inspires people who never say a word.

"There! That will make it easier for all to read and enjoy!"

Thanks, that was a good idea. Oh, and hears another kindness from Kim! She needed to have a urine sample from me, too. When I said I'd try, "but I don't know how much will make it into that little cup," she asked if I'd like a hat. Say what? Apparently, there's this wide-brimmed bowl that goes below the seat, so it catches the urine without a woman having to get pee all over her hand trying to find the stream. Hooray!!! I'm going to mention her name every time I need a urine test in the future!!!

"I'd say this is shaping up to be a rather amazing day..."

Yes, I do believe it is! i thank You, God!

i would pay good money to hear her as the phantom...

Those are the exact words I spoke to Liz Lang after the cabaret tonight.

I was there at the Unitarian Universalist Church downtown, having my second stint as a volunteer usher for the Savannah VOICE Festival.

This had been a surfeit of sopranos!

Titled "Queens Of The Night: Sopranos On Stage", it featured three women who had all won the American Traditions Vocal Collection - Milnes American Opera Award.

Those would be Kyaunnee Richardson, Liz Lang, and Nia Drummond.

 

They had made a grand entrance, all brandishing swords and storming the stage, as "The Ride Of The Valkyries" swirled in the air - huzzah!!!

I had to smile, remembering the quest on TBBT to retrieve Sheldon's stolen battle ostrich from some guy named Todd Zarnecki.

(smile!) 

Once they attained the stage, though, their demeanor changed!

"Three Little Maids From School Are We" they sang, coyly peeking from behind swords that had become colorful parasols!!!

Hahahahaha!

There followed a string of songs, some solo, some as a trio.

My favorite from the youngest, Nia, was "Ride On, King Jesus" - I'd never heard it before and it was fully of energy and happiness!

My favorite from Kyaunnee was "Summertime", from the musical, "Porgy And Bess" - I do so love that song!!!

But my favorite from the entire hour-long concert was that done by Liz.

You could have heard a pin drop, as everyone in the sanctuary paused their rustling and shifting to listen.

It was "The Music Of The Night", with her as the Phantom of the Opera!!!

Wow!!!

The three women had talked onstage about the roles they had yet to play, the roles that were their dreams.

Nia had said Maria, from "West Side Story".

Kyaunnee wants to be Sweeney Todd, from that musical.

And Liz wants to be the Phantom.

Yes, please!!!

As I told several, there's no reason the ingenue couldn't be a man, which would certainly set her up in the eponymous lead. 

Yes, I would pay good money to be in the theatre for that...

girl scouts, sciifi, and pizza w a*list

Why didn't I just include those first two items in the A*list genres?

Because they weren't seen as part of that AMC dance card, silly!

The first was seen at NCG Cinema, as AMC had shown me the preview, but never, ever, brought the movie to its screens.

I guess I'll have to clarify that issue for Trey!

"Cookie Queens" followed four girls in different troupes as they set their goals... and met them... and surpassed them!

The documentary was also a realistic look at the stress not only on the girls, but on their parents.

I would have loved to have shared that with the Girl Scouts in my life!

As it was, I almost missed it.

Had I not looked at the listings on Monday night, I would have!

Glad I was able to squeeze it in on Wednesday.

Tuesday I already had "Super Troopers 3" on the menu with the bfe.

As it's rare for him to see a flick with me, I not only agreed, but I treated him to the screening!

I must say, I'm not as familiar with the Broken Lizard comedy team as I am with others (Monty Python, Firesign Theatre, Second City, or even Random Acts Of Insanity), but he is a huge fan of their first movie.

That one is a quarter-century old now, by the way.

This third one is subtitled "Farva's Wedding", and that offered something for me: a touch of Bollywood, complete with elephant!

That was a very nice Tina Tuesday treat!

I was to have a meeting on Montgomery Street, so no second movie for me, except on paper I 'saw' the oldie, "Practical Magic", from 1998.

It made a showing because there's a new one coming out... and I hope to be the lead volunteer on that AARP-GA screening event here!

Got my fingers crossed!

(smile!)

Then my Wednesday was slam-packed with movies!!!

As well as the sweet one at NCG about Samoas and other cookies, I had a double-header at AMC!

Those were repeats of earlier dances, but with a difference.

This time, "Toy Story 5" was seen with a young family also there, with a dad who laughed at the same places that I did - very nice!

And this time, "One Night Only" was seen with quite a few others who braved the hot screening room with me!

Lack of air conditioning couldn't keep us away from this rom-com!

I also had myself a little inside joke with the movie: a pepperoni pizza!

Trust me, that was certainly a better choice than popcorn this time.

(smile!)

What about the scifi?

Well, technically, that was science fiction, as it occurred in a future time, though not too distant from now.

However, "Dark City" is the one I meant.

That's another from 1998, with Kiefer Sutherland as a doctor helping an alien race as they try to discover what makes humans tick.

Much as I liked him in "The Lost Boys", it wasn't the Sutherland that drew me in... it was the 31-year-old Sewell man, with his bedroom eyes.

Yes, Rufus Sewell - not only did he have those eyes, but he had a dream, much like 'Neo' did in "The Matrix".

He found out he was not in a real world and he set about to find it.

Here's the thing, though.

There was no real world.

He, and every other human, was living in a dark test-tube environment, where the landscape, and their memories, got 'tuned' every midnight by the humanoid aliens.

No daylight, no water, not even a beach, as the aliens hated those.

Here's the other thing, though.

Although Shell Beach didn't exist, advertising for it was all over the place: on billboards, on postcards, even on the route on the subway.

Well, if 'John Murdoch' could not find that beach, then what?

Blogspot didn't exist that long ago, so he couldn't just create his own beach, like I have done. 

Truly was an excellent movie - thanks, Comcast, for the $1 movie reward!

Now I'm going to watch "Beat Shazam" and try to identify those songs!

party of 1 at 2FP

Even though it was announced last week that this week's meeting would be on Tuesday, not Wednesday, no one seemed to have listened except me and Brenda.

She had even updated the google calendar to reflect the change, but she never made it there, due to weather where she was.

As I told her, it wasn't even raining there at 5511 Montgomery Street, at the Two First Posts of Georgia building.

I should know.

I'd arrived just a few minutes before 6 PM, hoping that the American Legion space would be already open from the summer swelter.

Ah, silly me.

I sent out texts to make sure others were on the way.

Brenda Pough was the only one who responded.

So, I set about to wait them out.

That meant walking around and taking photos, naturally.

I am, after all, the Historian for Post 36 and I've been documenting the progress of work at this building for several years. 

The following are what I noted during the 45 minutes I was there.

 

First, the dumpsters have been delivered, so that's good.

Republic will be handling waste management, as they are the company of choice for JKLM, LLC, the canteen managers.

I thought there was to be one dumpster for recyclable materials, but maybe not?

These both seem to be for trash. 

Justin has been busy with this change order from a month or two ago.

He's poured the concrete pad behind the dumpsters, as well as the long concrete walkway that runs up to the back door of the canteen.

The rain almost every afternoon had slowed him down, but at least our few days of just sun have allowed the work.

Next up will be a gated fence to keep out anyone who might illegally use those dumpsters or the forthcoming grease trap!

That means yet another key on Eric Bolden's key ring, as Building Manager.  

So far, he has the keys to both the front and back doors of both 5509 and 5511, as well as to the offices of Post 36 and Post 500, the storage closet, the conference room, and the event ballroom.

That's 9 keys so far.

Glad that's not my responsibility!

I've done my duty, and then some, this evening.

At 6:48 PM, I sent out the following to the other TFP members.

"As no one else has yet arrived, I am taking my leave. 

Hoping to see all next Tuesday."

Anyone else hear those crickets?

what's the perfect amount of ice, ice, baby?

What else would be on my mind on such scorcher summer days?

Remember, Savannah has lots of humidity, so add 10 degrees to those highs.

I run that dining room air conditioner at night, which manages to get the living areas of the house down to about 77 F, which is fine by me.

That means those areas get to the mid-80's in the afternoons.

Again, that's fine by me, and keeps my electric bill below $100 each month.

But part of the reason it's fine by me is I drink a lot of iced fluids.

Ivan Shreve, my fellow member of the League of Savannah Bloggers, posted the above meme on fb to take a poll about that.

"What's the perfect amount of ice?"

In true form as an analytical chemist, I didn't give him just one number. 

"2 usually, sometimes 3, unless it's cold outside. Then it's 1."

He liked that response.

Why not 4 as one of my preferences?

That's too much ice, making it difficult to drink without getting liquids running down my chin or onto my clothing.

Speaking of "perfect", tonight at Music Bingo, Andrew, the new bartender, took my drink order at the table.

Marcia was already in the booth, and the others had not yet arrived.

Andrew asked what I wanted and I said "water", as that's my usual.

He asked, "With or without lemon?"

"Surprise me," I responded... and he did!

I was the only one at our table of 4 that had both lime and lemon!

Sandy and Elissa ordered their drinks from our waiter, and just got lemon.

(smile!) 

None of us won any of the games tonight, but we sure had fun!

"House Party Mix" and "Modern Country Mix #2" were both good music, but it was that first game, with the "Covers Mix", that had us all pleasantly surprised.

Fergie sang Heart's "Barracuda"?

The White Stripes covered "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself"?

Diana Ross singing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was a cover?

Like I said, it was a fun evening with my friends!

Now, it's time for "The Quiz With Balls" and guess who they have tonight?

Star Wars Nerds versus Models - that should be good for a few laughs!

eye of the hurricane...

"He does look a bit like the center of all activity, and all he is doing is sitting on that comfy couch at the back of the Telfair Rotunda."

 

Exactly!!! I'm so glad you see that, too.

 

"Hey, the eye cannot help but be drawn to Sherrill Milnes. As well as being world-renowned for his opera prowess, he's a tall fellow, and holds himself with quite a regal manner."

 

I agree. I do hope some of the others with cameras caught that. Then again it was serendipity that I took the shot. He and I kept catching each other's eye, as we do, and I'd pointed the Alcatel lens at him a time or two. But someone would come up and ask me something and I'd get distracted. As for him, there was a steady current of people headed toward him for a few words, or away after they'd shared a moment. I finally just clicked the shutter!

  

"So, just why were you at this offering of the 14th Annual Savannah VOICE Festival? I know you don't have that kind of money at hand."

 

I was a volunteer usher!!! I dared myself to sign on for some shifts, after Torlef Borsting, the Executive Director, contacted me to see if I was available. I only signed up for this one this weekend, to see how it went, but I have a full slate at the end of next week.

 

"Whoa, girlie! Even with that hitch in your giddy-up still?"

 

In spite of that!!! I'm not sure that anyone much noticed my hobble, though if they did, they didn't say anything. I was so proud of myself for keeping that on the down low! I'd taken an acetaminophen around 3 pm, then another around 5:30 pm, an hour before showtime. That near double hit worked pretty well! Though it was starting to wear thin by show's end at 8:30 pm, making that trek back to my car a bit rough. But I persevered!!! I am so proud of myself!!!

 

"I'm proud of you, too, honey! I know it really hurt your psyche to not be a volunteer for the Savannah Music Festival this year."

 

Yes, but a good bit of my absence there was due to that inguinal hernia repair surgery and the recovery period after. I didn't even drive for a week! For this festival of opera, I was determined to try to be a volunteer again... and I have succeeded!

 

"That's great news! Even better that no one commented on your lameness. And just what was this show tonight?"

 

"A Night Of Rising Stars"!!! This was the first show of the festival, too! They've already had two of the "Masters In Voice" programs this week, with those during the day on Wednesday and Thursday. But Maria Zouves made a big deal of this being the inaugural event for SavVoice14! This was primarily a showcase of the new talent from this year's singers, but there were a few from last year sprinkled in. Like Juan Johnston-Chavez!!! Remember that sweet, and oh-so-helpful, baritone? He finished up the first half of tonight's program with "If Ever I Would Leave You"... and I could swear he was singing it straight to me! How about that? We even talked about the musical "Camelot" which was the source of the song, and it turns out neither of us have ever seen it! Maybe I need to arrange a movie date so we can remedy that. I wonder if Comcast has the movie version of the musical?

 

"Oh, girl, you are too funny!"

 

Hey, I can be his dear Auntie while he is around here.Though I would imagine he has a few of those already. Get this: he remembered my name! Like, early on, well before the show began. It took me a minute to recognize him, but when I did, I totally did. You know?

 

"I do. Did you have any other moments with folks there?"

 

Well, sure! Lani Winskye, the VP of Operations, was super glad to see me volunteer again! She made sure Ashley Nunez, in charge of Patron Services, knew she could count on me, and put me to work at once stuffing programs. It wasn't even 5 PM yet! (smile!) But I think one of the favorite people I saw tonight has to be Jessica Ann Best. Remember her?

 

"Hey, that's her curly blonde mop in the center of that group shot, isn't it? I'm so thrilled to see her performing still! What was the song?"

 

"The Sound Of Music", of course!!! (smile!) They were finishing the rehearsal and I just couldn't stay downstairs any longer! So I was lipsyncing along with her, hands in motion, and she smiled at me the whole time - fabulous!!! And that's 22 other singers up there with her for the kind of ending that brought everyone to their feet at the end of the second half of the show. Talk about a showstopper!!! Wow!!!

 

"Well, I'm so glad this has been a good first venture back into the volunteer life!"

 

Me, too, g'friend, me, too. I have so missed this!!!

stepping into the light, at last!

There's something to be said for coming out of a cinema at night and being able to easily see your car in the parking lot.

The AMC Classic 11 has lacked parking lot lights for... months?

I'm trying to recall if they had working lights last fall, but cannot.

It isn't as if I go to night movies any more, since Barbara's death, but I can say that I have actively avoided being there since the parking lot went dark.

Tonight was different.

I'd had a double header and invited Carolyn to join me for the second movie.

Afterward, we came out... and that photo shows what we saw.

Lights!!!

Brightening the night and our paths to our cars!!!

I guess I can stop complaining about the darkness in my survey responses.

Hallelujah!!!

So, just what had we ventured out to see this evening?

Well, my friend had joined me for "The Invite", the latest with Seth Rogen.

He isn't an actor either of us follow, but he has improved of late.

He plays the husband of Olivia Wilde's character, and they're parents of a now-school-aged daughter that we never see.

They live in the house his parents once owned, now split into a duplex, and on this night they're having the noisy neighbors from upstairs over for wine and cheese.

Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz are that pair, still very much in a honeymoon state in their relationship, hence the nightly noise.

(smile!)

It's very much a tale of the new folks trying to get the curmudgeonly folks to loosen up, with the staid couple only doing so after a joint and some tequila, finally reaching to point of being open to wife-swapping... though that activity doesn't go well.

Still it had some funny moments along the way.

Not as many as "One Night Only" did, however!

From the opening premise, of a government-sanctioned night for singles to have sex, to the scene at the Little Red Lighthouse, it was a delightful romp!

Add to the mix that she's a jingle singer, and that final scene is during the filming of one of those drug commercials where everyone sings and dances, and it was right up my alley for fun!

I can't say I'm familiar with Monica Barbaro, but I love the way she embraced her character and I'll be paying better attention to her after this.

(She was up for an Oscar for her portrayal as 'Joan Baez' in the Bob Dylan movie a couple of years ago, but her name didn't stick with me.)

Likewise, Callum Turner isn't a name that resonates with me, though I've enjoyed his characters in the various movies he's been in.

As for the other two movies this week, I've already spoken at length about both "Hadestown: The Musical" as well as "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", so that ends this week's shout-out about my AMC A*List dances!

Now, on to other things!

... other trey tries to take away

The newly-installed commander of Post 500 came to the Two First Posts meeting tonight with a posse in tow.

As well as Emmett from last week, he also had David, Solomon, and Ulysses (husband of Sabrina, who may have been there to support our side).

Yes, Trey Singleton wanted to present a front for his position.

This Two First Posts meeting was held to answer any questions that still lingered from last week's meeting, and so was open to any and all members of both Post 36 and Post 500.

It was important that all understood the landlord relationship that TFP held with respect to all the tenants in that building on Montgomery Street.

John Parker started the meeting by explaining what had happened 18 years ago, when Post 500 lost its charter due to lack of young membership, and how Post 500 had fought to regain its status as an American Legion entity.

He also talked about Post 36 having given up its charter several years ago, as it was about to be taken by the national group, again for lack of young membership.

Doug Andrews said he left Post 184 five years ago and worked with James Putney, the then-Commander of Post 500, to locate a space to purchase for their post's monthly meetings. 

Then, as per John Parker and Doug Andrews, each post put up $450,000 to purchase the building on Montgomery Street.

(I don't know if the Army Surplus store/pawnshop was still a tenant in the building, but I think it was gone; I just know that the drycleaners and the church were tenants at the time and still are.)

The almost million-dollar bank loan for the renovation of the space at 5509 and 5511 began about two years ago, with work still progressing at this time. 

John ended with explaining about the Two First Posts of Georgia LLC being the managing and governing party for the entire building, with a governing panel which had 3-year terms to lead the building toward a goal of serving active military at Hunter AAF, as well as veterans in the community.

(So, as with the last meeting, it was made clear this place has a hefty debt that needs to be paid, as well as current utility bills and such.)

Doug explained that the current President of TFP is Eddie Patterson, who will have that position for approximately another two years, at which time the new President of the LLC will be taken from Post 36, as the position switches hands at the end of each term.

Doug is currently the Vice-President of the LLC, and will hold that title for approximately another two years, at which time it will switch to a member from Post 500.

The two Finance Officers of TFP LLC were the two Treasurers from each Post at the time, meaning they are Joe Cetti and Sabrina Scale, each of which will hold those titles in the LLC for approximately another two years.

John added that the board is currently working on the Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and regulations for operation of the building; that will be forthcoming whenever those have been completed.

Doug added that the facility's focus is on serving active duty military and veterans, not civilian groups.

John remarked that there will be a sign-in book for guests who are not members of either Post 36 or Post 500.

Trey then began his questions, which really were thinly-cloaked demands.

He wanted 8 days (!!!) of each month to be set aside for the monthly meetings of Post 500, including the general meeting, the e-board, the SAL (Sons of American Legion), the Auxiliary, and one other, as well as 3 days for fundraising events.

Brenda explained to him that those five regular monthly meetings are already listed on the TFP google calendar.

John also explained that a screen of events would soon be posted, with street view, so all passersby and interested parties would know who had rented out 5511 Montgomery Street at any time. 

It was also reiterated at that time that all veteran groups meeting in the space needed to sign a Use of Facility Contract, as well as pay $250/quarter, to cover expenses of TFP.

Trey balked, expressing the amount as "$1000 per year" to make it sound like a weighty sum to suddenly spring on the Post's members.

(Note: they are currently paying $250/month at another facility!)

I spoke up with a countering tack, explaining that the amount was "less than $20 per week", and that it covered "all five regular monthly meetings" of Post 500.

(I think I stunned everyone with those numbers.)

John then proposed that a "ceiling date" be set by TFP, at which time neither Post 36 nor Post 500 would have to pay for its monthly meeting space.

Trey brought up that he wants keys for the four officers of Post 500, so they can access the office for Post 500.

John advised him that would be better after TFP has the 20-foot storage container installed behind the building, as both of the offices, as well as the conference room, are stuffed with items at this time.

Eric tried to give Trey a key to the Post 500 office, but Trey declined to accept, as there are currently no forms to serve as a paper trail for that transaction.

(I have made it clear to all that a locking door needs to be installed to protect 5509 from  unwarranted access by folks in 5511 when the restaurant is not open for business; all agreed that Justin is to return for that change order.

I believe it was decided that Eric would do that.)

Trey then brought up a veteran group, Beauties in Boots, that have been trying to access meeting space in the building, to no avail.

Brenda advised him that she has spoken to them and they have permission, they just need to sign a Use of Facility Contract, like everyone else.

There was then some general talk about how one gets elected to the TFP board, though it was repeated that will not be occurring for at least two years.

Then it was 8 PM and the visitors all left.

Whew.

We of TFP stayed about another 30 minutes, then called it a night.

Mostly, we agreed that Larry Jackson was to blame for stirring up this "ownership" business with Trey,

While helping sort out the business license application, he found that the deed for the building was in the names of both Post 36 and Post 500.

Larry interpreted that to mean that he could schedule whatever he wanted there, and so he did, and he was given special permission because he was helping get the liquor license and the business license, right?

But when that largesse dried up after the calendar was created and he couldn't cherry pick the dates he wanted for family graduations and birthdays, he may have felt a bit shut out... and that's when he apparently tossed the ball to Trey.

Geez.

Sabrina and Brenda are onto his game now.

Doug is to handle changing the deed over to Two First Posts LLC, which should bring an end to this thrusting for power and control.

I just hope Trey realizes how Larry used him.