greek gods, mere mortals...

... the thing is this: love is love.

On this Arthouse Theater Day, I chose the one film that best encompasses that duality of both the stage and the silver screen.

I said two days ago that I'd already been three times for "the sad song, the old song, the love song" of "Hadestown: The Musical".

I also said then that I might got for a fourth viewing...

but I had not decided for sure.

I have Cinematique of Daytona Beach to thank.

The email this morning from this favorite place from my not-so-distant past reminded me of the importance of this date as Arthouse Theater Day.

 

How could I not venture into the crazy heat for such an important day?

How could I not venture off to "Hadestown" when the weather feels like I'm already there?

All week, the highs have been in the 90's, plus a double-digit heat index. 

Not ever on the cruise was it this hot and humid!

At least the storm forecast yesterday by the weather song never came.

That's made today slightly more tolerable, without the sauna effect.

In other words, it was perfect for sitting in a very cool cinema...

once more enjoying "a love song, an old song, a sad song"...

singing along, dancing in my seat, crying in all the right places.

Let me leave this post with words that are not mine.

This is what Orpheus said early on in his toast.

"Here's to the world we dream about...

and here's to the world we live in now."

Amen, and amen.

not with a bang, but a giggle

Tonight, I ended 2014 with a roomful of strangers, with a few acquaintances scattered about.
What fun!
I was at one of my favorite places in Daytona Beach, the Cinematique, for an evening of entertainment - and dinner! - for only a couple of Jacksons. Very nice! The night began with an opening hour of free wine and beer, with noshes at hand. I sipped two glasses of Cabernet while nibbling on cheese, chips & salsa, and olives - yum!
Then Random Acts of Insanity arrived for their first set! I had caught the last half of their improv last night when I had arrived to town and was thrilled to get more of the zaniness! Andrew Ramos (the lead instigator of frivolity) and Menos were the only ones tonight had in common with last night. Both have voice talents which allow them to seamlessly riff between their own and those of Christopher Walken, Marlon Brando, Jimmy Stewart, and Robert Deniro - fun! They were joined by George, Scott, and JG tonight for quite a few games, including Fractured Fairy Tales, Forward/Reverse, Ding, Two-headed Date, Party Guests, and others. Each of the guys took turns being the emcee and several of them were called upon to be "girls", as in the day of Shakespeare.
Seriously fun!
I made sure to participate by calling out suggestions for game themes, items or words to be included, accents to be used - oh, yes, just as if I were home at an Odd Lot show! About half the audience had never been to an improv show, but by RAI's post-dinner set, everyone was chiming in. Good!
The dinner, a buffet between sets, was catered by an Ormond Beach group, DB Pickles. Big bowl of crispy salad, baked chicken breasts in gravy, roasted red potatoes, and garlicky green beans - quite tasty! Of course I had seconds! Then, for dessert, fabulous chocolate macaroons and red velvet cupcakes, along with an assortment of cookies for cRuNCH!
I was glad the fellows weren't tasked with entertaining us during the dinner. Rather, the dinner was sandwiched between the two hour-long sets of improv, allowing full enjoyment of all aspects of each.
The final game ended just a few minutes before midnight, allowing all guests the time to receive a glass of champagne and get their party favors in hands or atop heads. (I wore my sparkly pink and silver headband-cum-tiara, so I was set from the get-go!)
Then the grand countdown! 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
There were even fireworks, courtesy of the city, visible from our perch on Beach Street!
Nicely done, y'all!

fiReWOrKs!!!

What is Memorial Day weekend without baseball and fireworks, right?
Well, certainly the latter is on most folks' minds.
Certainly is on my mind!
After all, my birthday falls right around Memorial Day, so I'm accustomed to giant light displays to help celebrate my special day!
Baseball is always a nice touch, too, these days, watching my boys of summer take the field and steal bases and make double plays and swat balls over the fence... oh, my!
Sometimes, it's almost like they're dancing out there!!!

So, here I was in Daytona Beach to celebrate my birthday.
And here it was my very first full day here.
Early in the afternoon, I had seen a fabulous film about an older woman - like me - making a recovery from grief and finding delight after her best friend's death. Brighter days ahead!
Then, I had found some gorgeous pink floral leather sandals - La Plume Jen Rosa, made in Italy!!! - at a cute boutique near Cinematique and bought them on sale because they were the floor model. Woohoo!! I also purchased this dressy pair of black and purple Zendals - like my "party in my pants" panties, no one will see the purple unless I show it to them. Ooh la la!!!
Later that evening, I returned for the Florida premiere of "Tanzania: A Journey Within", a film about a young woman's travels with her best friend. The director, Sylvia Caminer, was there for a post-film question and answer session with the sold-out audience. HIV-status and deaths from AIDS were a big topic, as well as malaria, the lack of clean water, and general squalor. I am so glad I was there for this event!
Then, as I came out into the warm summer evening, with the cool breeze teasing me toward the garden across the street, I noticed something across the waterway.

Jackie Robinson Ballpark was lit up!!!
The Daytona Cubs must be in town!!!
Like my Sand Gnats, they are also a Single A team, starting young men out for the Chicago Cubs.
Like my Sand Gnats, they were also the 2013 Champions for their league.
What a bonus! I had not checked their schedule prior to the trip, so how wonderful to see that they had games on this weekend! Woohoo - a double header tomorrow!!!
But do they have Saturday fireworks, like my Sand Gnats?

I didn't have to wait long to find out. The game was just ending and the announcer got the crowd to chant with him. I chimed in, too. "Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one!!!"
Lights out! But look up in the sky!!!

What an incredible first day...
... and first night! ...
for my birthday holiday weekend!
Thank you, Daytona! Thank you, Universe!!
i thank You, God!