247500

"What do you have there, girlie?"

Aw, c'mon, you don't even want to take a guess?

"Well, if I were to venture forth a hypothesis, I'd have to say it's mileage related. I just don't know where you've been that would make it remarkable."

I've been spending my nights with the Dane for almost a week. This will be my first night in my own bed again.

"So Tony and Laura did make it home from their vacation in Missouri! Good!"

Yes, they did, and I no sooner confirmed that earlier this afternoon than I took off for the AMC cinema for a double header! Rain or no rain, my dog-sitting was done and I didn't need to be 'home' by a certain time to feed him. Not that I had total control over that, but I did try to be conscientious about it.

"Yes, I know you did."

Now, I'm back in my driveway for the night and I know it's the right place, right time! Just look at that odometer reading! Such a nice, round number, isn't it? My little Saturn now has two hundred, forty-seven thousand, and five hundred miles. That boils down to 9900 miles per year over 25 years. LOL!

"What? You've driven much more than that..."

Nope! Over the last few years, ever since the A-fib came around, I've hardly logged in 6000 per year. I had hoped to remedy that this summer with a trip to Augusta for baseball with my cousins and a trip to Alabama to see my stepmom and nephews. None of that materialized because of my right leg issues. Now, cooler temperatures are on the way, so it'll be next year before those become possibilities again. Meanwhile, I'm looking for physical therapy to make those realities, not just maybes.

"For sure that needs to happen. You've got a big birthday coming next year, so you need to be able to celebrate it in style."

I don't know that many folks would consider 69 to be a "big" birthday, but I know my brother Ronnie would have. That was his favorite number, you know.

"Yes, dear. Everyone who ever knew him knew that. (smile!)"

I'll have to plan some special trips that he would have liked, too. Yes, celebrating for two sounds like the right thing to do. (smile!) 

thanks, dane, for the MiMFF!!!

I know, I know: what in the fresh hell is a MiMFF? And do you have to be in Denmark to be able to see one?

Hahahaha!

Silly one-ken-obi.

I've been over at Tony and Laura's since Thursday, remember?

As well as having some quality time with the dog, I've had access to thousands of movies via their new TV system, HEAT-VOD.

I don't know what HEAT stands for, but that other acronym is most definitely "Videos On Demand" and it is fully loaded!

No restriction to a single streamer like Netflix this time!

So, when I was glancing through with Tony on Wednesday, as he showed me how to access HEAT, I noticed several movies I'd wanted to see, but they either never came to AMC or left before I could see them with my A*List.

Second chances rock!!!

Hence, I have dubbed this the Movies I Missed Film Festival.

Cute, right?

In total, there were twenty movies that I pulled up to watch.

Of those, there were several that were foreign, but didn't have subtitles.

Drats.

But that still gave me oodles of movies that were new to me!!!

Ready or not, here they are!

*****

"I Want Your Sex" (2026)
Olivia Wilde flick I wanted to see, but it left before I could -
rather funny! Soft porn look at B&D with Cooper Hoffman as the pawn.
Johnny Knoxville and Margaret Cho are the detectives called in when
the artist boss goes missing.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32332915/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_i%20want%20your%20se

-------------------------------
"The Isle Of Dogs" (2018)
YES!!! When I saw this in the listings, I just had to see again!
The last great Wes Anderson film before he went derivative of himself.

I loved it so much it appears multiple times in a game I wrote.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5104604/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_isle%20of%20dogs

----------------------------------------
"Much Ado About Love" (2026)
Ashley Williams, Niall Matter, Lindura
Most def a Hallmark romcom, so I loved it!
She's back in town to direct "The Taming Of The Shrew" and brought
Hollywood actress for lead role - he's back in town to be in
the play until he finds out she's directing - they have a 
history, from their roles in "Romeo and Juliet" many years ago.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27860696/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_much%20ado%20about%20love

---------------------------------
"Yellow Mirror" (2026)
Was actually a "Simpsons" episode, but thought it was a movie.
"The Way We Weren't" explores what if Homer was back in high school, but
still remebered being married w/ children and became a famous cartoonist
with his sketches and stories of them - very sweet -
"If I Have No Tablet But I Must Stream" explores Maggie's world when
her MyPad takes over her life - fun song "99 little dinosaurs",
like "99 bottles of beer"!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43141030/?ref_=fn_t_2

---------------------------------  

"Mutiny" (2026)
Jason Statham doing his thing, getting revenge against those who killed
his boss on 1) his dad's birthday, 2) 5th anniv of him getting that job
by saving his boss - wrong day, wrong time, guys! That means a harpoon
to the head for them!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32338669/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_mutin

-----------------------------------
"Srinivasa Mangauram" (2026)
Vasu Baba and Manga are sweeties ...
NOPE! no subtitles! drats. - Tollywood -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37537340/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5_tt_3_nm_5_in_0_q_srinavasa

---------------------------------
"Zombie For Sale" (2019)
the Parks family take in a creature from the pharma company -
NOPE! no subtitles! drats. - Korean -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9765144/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_zombie%20for%20

--------------------------------
"Motor City" (2025)
Alan Ritchson, Shailene Woodley, Ben Foster
WOW! starts in 1977 Detroit, then goes back to the start, 25 years
earlier, when the guy rescues the girl from the gangster -
then, just before the guy can marry the girl, the gangster sets him
up for a big drug haul and the guy goes to prison - the gangster
then reunites with the girl and they get married and all is well
for years until she finds out he set up the guy - gangster then 
hooks her back on heroin, but the guy finds out and breaks out of
prison to rescue her -
incredible! done with no dialogue, just using music from the time
- Jack White has cameo as a piano player -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2012616/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_motor%20city

---------------------------------------------
"Voicemails For Isabelle" (2026)
Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Harry Shum, Jr., Leah McKendrick
(note: written and directed by Leah McKendrick!!!) -
opens in 2010 with the two sisters, Jill and Izzy, super close, w/
Izzy having cystic fibrosis - years pass, w I living vicariously through
J, calling themselves "birds" after Robyn, dancing every time they hear
"Dancing On My Own" - 2019, I in Austin TX needs lung transplant, J in 
baking school in San Francisco, can't make it back in time for last
moment w his sister - Time passes, she calls Izzy's phone number... and is
able to leave a message... so that continues - like Christina does w/
Mama's number... enter Wes, a realitor whose new work phone has that number,
so now he is getting the voicemails - intrigued by Jill, he goes to meet
her and falls in love - but how to tell her about the phone?
wept several times with this one - beautiful movie about loss adj.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10375624/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_voicemail

-------------------------------------
"NASCAR vs. Navy: The San Diego Mini Movie" (2026)
prelude to the "Race The Base" set up for America 250 celebration -
6 racers and 6 pilots set challenges to decide if the course is to be
set up on the landing field - < 30 mins, really fun short!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43351237/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_nascar%20vs

-----------------------------------------
"Pickleball" (2026)
Kevin P. Farley, Jeff Hamm, Michelle Wendt... surnames with more famous kin -
When the owner of a community center drops dead during a game, it's up to
'Father Joseph' (Kevin P. Farley) to try to get his two sons motivated to
save it. But 'Miles' (Willie Mellina) is a fallen tennis pro more into chasing
skirts than balls, and 'Earl' (Justin Sterner) prefers the video game world
to a live game of sports. A pickleball tournament could save the center, if
only the sons will take it seriously!
Not great, but the second half is much better than the first.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30788209/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_pickleball

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

Husbands In Action (2026)
NOPE! no subtitles! drats. - Korean -

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36876775/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_Husbands%20In%20

--------------------------------
Finnegan's Foursome (2024)
Edward Burns, Brian d'Arcy James (great voice!), Brian Muller, Erica Hernandez
- written and directed by Edward Burns!
When Grandpa dies at their home in Sount Carolina, it's up to the two sons
and their first-borns to follow his wishes. That means taking his ashes back
to Ireland, to be scattered in four of his favorite places, with two of those
being his favorite holes on his favorite gold courses.
Absolutely beautifully shot!
Some good singing by Brian d-Arcy James, too, in a pub scene!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23039114/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_0_in_0_q_Finnegan%27s%20Foursome

------------------------------------
Finding Emily (2026) - English
Boy (Spike Fearn) meets girl in nightclub and falls in love, but only gets
10 of the 11 digits needed for her phone number! He only knows her first name
and where she attends college. Enter psychology student 'Emily' (Angourie 
Rice), in need of a topic to keep her student visa from lapsing. She decides
to help him find the 'Emily' he seeks among the 318 there - easy peasy!
By the way, the actor - Spike Fearn - is a pretty good singer!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32499466/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_finding%20e

---------------------------------------
Best Served Cold: A Hannah Svenson Mystery (2026)
Hallmark movie!!!
'Hannah' (Allison Sweeney) and her boyfriend-lawyer 'Chad' (Victor Webster) are
back when assistant attorney 'Lucas' (David Attar) goes missing in the midst
of a case involving counterfeit gold coins. The problem gets worse when the
counterfeiterturns up dead and it looks like he's been poisoned!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt41435250/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_best%20served

---------------------------------
Once Upon A Time In A Cinema (2026) - Irish! 
Told in real time, during the 5-reel "Breathless" (1983) being shown to the 
crowd in the cinema!!! That means it's fast, so keep up!!!
It's a one-screen movie house, now run by two brothers, 'Earl' (Colin Morgan)
and 'Gerald' (Calam Lynch), left to them by the dad they hardly knew.
Now in need of repairs, with someone on the staff stealing funds, they have
to decide on a busy Friday night whether to sell it or keep it in this age
where it seems VCRs are everywhere.
Really excellent!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29008864/?ref_=fn_t_1

--------------------------------
Mayday (2026)
Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh
Take a self-professed former KGB agent, 'Nikolai' (Kenneth Branagh), with a
love of "Top Gun", and let him find a naval pilot, 'Troy' (Ryan Reynolds),
shot down during a US 'black ops' mission, and just watch as their initial
distrust turns into a mutual quest to not die when other Russians descend
on their cabin. Some real truths in this one, though I had one issue: the
director just let Reynolds run loose with quips. A few scattered here and
there would have been fine, but they're just dumped in.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28014327/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_mayday

-----------------------------
Must Auk (2024)  - Finnish!
(also known as "The Black Hole")
three short scifi films!
NOPE! no subtitles! drats.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33343241/?ref_=fn_t_5

---------------------------------
Once Upon A Time In The Middle East (2026) -Chinese!
Original title: Huan ying lai Long can guan
with subtitles!!!
It's a bit long, but it's a compelling look at the life led by a Chinese
national ('Xu Fu') who goes to Iraq in 2002 to work in a Chinese restaurant 
owned by an Iraqi ('Zaid'). His plan is to stay for two years to earn enough 
money to recover the losses from a fire at his own restaurant. 'Ma Junsheng'
serves as both his translator and co-manager at this Iraqi restaurant.
His timing is bad. Within 6 months of arrival, the US is bombing the city
and all hell is busting loose... but the owner makes him a deal for much
more money so he stays... and the US troops that come love the food and will pay
anything for the liquor he can get... until things go wrong and he ends up
in a prison for 18 months, with no contact to his family.
Very good look at a story we didn't know.
Very timely, too, with this being the 25th anniversary of the story that we
do know on our soil.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34386754/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_once%20upon%20a%20time%20in%20the%20mid

--------------------------------------
The Last Whale Singer (2025)
Yes, it's animated, but not from any company familiar to Americans.
It's a 'let's save the oceans' film for younger viewers, to introduce them
to issues like bleached coral, whales killed by boat propellers, plastic
waste in the ocean, and climate change (in the form of a melting iceberg 
releasing a radioactive creature formed by nuclear testing).
The lighter story is a young, orphaned, whale suddenly having to 'find his
song' in order to restore health to the ocean.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13518550/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_the%20last%20whale%20singer

 

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

So, there it is!

I thought about including pics of the movie posters, but decided that would make this post even more time-consuming to write. 

Pretty impressive list, isn't it?

I could easily have had more, if I'd hung around during the day, but I wanted to keep Dane on his regular schedule, as much as possible.

He really is a sweet old dog!

(smile!)

friday hither and yon!

Racking up savings as I went, too!

I started with a free movie at the St. Joseph/Candler Smart Senior center at 1 PM, with a room full other members laughing at "The Legend Of Bagger Vance" as we enjoyed the bag of popcorn and soda that Elizabeth gave each of us.

I truly had forgotten how feel-good this movie was!

While I was there, I went ahead and registered for the Halloween Party the center is having on October 30.

Just $8 and I used my colon study card to pay for it!

(smile!)

Then I was off to CVS to get more Vitamin D3 and Lactaid pills.

The first was on sale as a BOGO - that saved me $12.99 right there!

The other was BOGO 1/2 off - so that saved me another $5.80.

Ah, but I wasn't done saving yet!

I also had a coupon for "$5 off of a $20 purchase", plus a $10 ExtraBucks Reward.

All total, I saved $33.89, for a whopping 68% discount!!!

I do believe that's the best I've ever done!

(smile!)

Next, I took advantage of a $1 Movie Night reward from Comcast.

Last week's had gone toward a movie in Dolly Parton's memory.

This one was for Tim Curry.

I know all the theatre folk are all gaga about "The Rocky Horror Show", but I credit Richard O'Brien for that.

O'Brien is the one who wrote the book and the songs, the one who created those characters, the one who talked Curry into taking the role. 

Interestingly, O'Brien credits David Bowie, glam rock, and 'Ziggy Stardust' for the inspiration for the goth-rock musical.

I can totally see that! 

But that musical wasn't the how I was introduced to his acting ability.

Surprisingly, "Annie" was the intro for me, either, as that musical didn't become dear to Mama until it came out on video and she could share it with her first granddaughter, Christina Ann.

See, Mama would have grown up with that character in her life.

I'm sure having Carol Burnett and Yul Brynner in the film endeared it to my mother even more.

However, it was "Clue" that landed the talented Tim Curry on my radar.

That came out while I was going to Armstrong State College in 1985.

Chock a block with stars I knew - Madeleine Kahn, Lesley Ann Warren, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan - of course I loved it!

Curry was right in the heart of it as the butler, 'Wadsworth', and the scenes at the end, when he's racing about putting the pieces of the mystery together, were delightfully madcap!

With his good looks, he reminds me of Errol Flynn, and I would have loved to have seen him in some of those swashbuckling roles!

Alas, the closest Tim Curry ever got to being a sword-wielder was as a pirate in "Muppet Treasure Island", though that wasn't until 1996.  

He spent most of his career as a voice in a variety of animated features (like "The Wild Thornberrys" and "The Rugrats") or video games.

I'm so glad I had a "Clue" to his real talent!

(smile!) 

Next, I popped in on Dane for a quick visit before I hit Jalapenos.

He'd be getting dinner a little late, so time for a treat to tide him over!

Honestly, after I gave him that crunchy collagen bone, I don't think he even noticed that I'd gone back out!

(smile!)

I'd called Smitty first, to make sure we were still having the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta, as we were missing some folks.

Tony and Laura are in Missouri and Robin is in Montana.

But the brother still here assured me were still dining together!

I had him pose for this photo to show off his eyes.

Last month, he had cataract surgery on his left eye, which is now in the best condition it's been in since the retina repair.

Just look how blue and clear that iris is!!! 

The right eye had its cataract surgery just two days ago, but the blue is back in that one, too.

The doctor's assistant even commented on how blue his eyes are!!!

Very nice!!!

I ate shrimp ceviche, as it's been a while since I treated myself to that.

And Mark had driven in right behind me and noticed my flapping trunk.

After we all had our goodbye hugs, he came over to look at the trunk lid to see what might be a solution, so maybe he'll fix it for me!

That would be wonderful!!!

It's been ten years since I had a trunk that I could securely close, instead of using duct tape to try to keep it down. 

(smile!) 

My next stop tonight was for gasoline, as Murphy's was rewarding me with fifteen cents off per gallon for this Labor Day weekend.

Christina had told me some time ago that Murphy's was the gas station for Walmart, so I headed over to the one on Montgomery Cross Road.

There, the attendant politely told me that Murphy's was -not- affiliated with Walmart and never had been.

Well, fine, I'll have to let my first niece know she was wrong.

(smile!)

So I drove out to the sole Murphy's in town, out by Savannah Mall.

Sure, I only saved $1.35, but I needed to get gas anyway.

Better to have saved something than nothing!

And now, I'm back at Tony and Laura's and Dane has been fed.

Now to find another movie that I haven't yet seen!

(smile!)

why i don't need a dog, heidi

For the past couple of years, I've been blessed to dog-sit.

Not only does it provide me a bit of spending money for plays and musicals, but it also gives me some quality time with the beloved pets of those I love.

This Labor Day weekend, I will be spending my nights with Dane.

Tony and Laura are off in Missouri, with her mom, three of her four sons, and her three grandchildren from her eldest.

Tony hipped me to Dane's new preference of spending some time catching afternoon rays before heading to the back yard, so I made sure he got his tan time in.

All seemed to be well until we came inside for the evening.

That's when the pouting started.

"Come into the living room with me," I pleaded.

Nope, he was not having it, thank you very much.

That's okay, I knew exactly what to do!

I gave him some of my chips, and that got him hungry. 

Then I waited just a few minutes before making a big show of getting his bowl and making his dinner.

First, the rattle of the dry bits... then the ziploc bag of meat Tony cooked for him... stirring that in with enough water to make gravy... talking to him the whole time.

By the time that bowl hit the floor, he was right there.

He was plenty ready for some touch and playing with squeaky toys after that!

Oh, yeah, I know this dog!

(smile!)

sunshine and some last words...

One of my favorite things about these vacations at Chez Kosmach is having breakfast on the back porch.

I especially enjoy that experience when the sun is shining brightly!

The view offers something different and interesting all around, from the tree with the thirteen birdhouses to the bouncy toy animals to the clusters of trees of different types near the blue-dyed canal.

Then there are the sounds!

Birdsong of several types!

Chimes on the back porch merging songs with the front chimes!

Even the sounds of cars passing on the street seem more charming.

I remembered that I needed to write in Dawn's guest book.

What should I do for her this time?

 

How about a different scribble flower and a poem?

She would not be expecting that!

Yes, that would serve as a mighty fine start!

"Rain, rain, would not go away,

refusing to let Stella and Coco play.

But Saturday's sun

allowed them to run and have fun,

until the night storm at the end of the day."

 

Yes, that really sums up the vacation rather nicely!

Now, they should be home any minute from Chicago.

Time to take Stella by the front door to welcome them!!!

(smile!)

back to back bananas for me and stella!

For my last vacation in Georgetown with Stella, I'd been surprised to find the Banana Ball game on TV.

This time, I made sure to check their schedule!

That was a good call.

That meant I was prepared yesterday for the night game...

and I was prepared tonight for the second in that series of three!

 

Of course, I made sure to dine with my brothers last evening.

I wanted to talk with them about our Aunt Linda, who is in the hospital.

I am so grateful Smitty and Tony came with me for her Birthday Tea last year, spending quality time with her!

Nice for me to spend this quality time with family and friends at the S&K Friday Fiesta, too.

I jetted off about 7 PM, though, to make sure I got back to Stella before night fell... and before I missed too much of the game!

I arrived in time for the bottom of the 3rd inning in this game that pitted the Savannah Bananas against the Indianapolis Clowns in their home city of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Great American Ball Park.

How very cool those aerial shots were, with the downtown surrounding that diamond of green!

The Bananas took the point for the first inning, the Clowns got the one for the second inning, and neither got a point for that 3rd one.

However, the Clowns, playing on the field they'd last been on 37 years ago, got a fire lit up by the crowd, taking the points for the next three innings!

That meant that at the bottom of the 7th, they led, 4 to 1.

Then Joe Gray, Jr. smacked a walk-off home run, bringing it to 5 to 1!

The Bananas managed to get the point for the 8th inning, but couldn't score again in the 9th, leaving the final at Clowns 5, Bananas 2.

Great game!

Tonight, here's the scene, with the same teams, same field, bottom of the 3rd inning.

Kyle Luigs was the starting pitcher for the Bananas and he had kept the Clowns from getting any runs.

That streak fell apart in the third, with the Clowns getting that point!

The Clowns also took the point in the 5th inning to tie the score 2 to 2.

Not to be outdone, the Bananas took the points for innings 6 and 7!

So exciting, with the thunder rumbling outside!

Their lead may have been aided by Hall of Famers for the Cincinnati Reds doing cameos on their team.

Both Adam Dunn and Aaron Harang played in those two innings!

But it wasn't time to count out the Clowns!

They got three runs in the 8th inning to take the point, bringing their score up to 3 against the Bananas' 4.

That's when they brought in Peanuts the Elephant to pitch in the 9th.

Although the fans loved it - as did I! - that may not have been the best for the team in this close game.

See, the Bananas had already scored three runs that inning.

However, Peanuts kept them from scoring any more, so that was good.

Sadly, the Clowns didn't score any runs that inning, so the Bananas took that game, 7 to 3.

There'll be a third game tomorrow, but I'll miss that.

Can you imagine?

The folks in that Ohio town are getting three Banana Ball games in a row!!!

Wow!

That means over 120,000 fans will have seen the games over this home stand.

That's amazing!!!

what a reunion at the patio!!!

Stella and I had arrived first.

I wasn't even sure if the party on the patio would come to pass, but I had made the choice that morning that we would be at the patio at 5 PM on this first sunny afternoon in days!

We were there about ten minutes early, just hanging out and hoping.

Then we heard it: Terry had turned on the speakers!

Rock music stirred the air!

Then Susan opened the back door and stepped out... 

with Coco close behind, but moving slowly...

until she saw Stella coming across the patio...

and justthatfast, the two dogs made a beeline for each other like friends who'd been apart too long!!!

What a glorious display of love and friendship!!!

They played and played!!!

That was well worth getting carried away by sand gnats for thirty minutes...

I'm so glad we finally had this party on the patio!

language lessons

"On vacation? In Georgetown??"

Yes, believe it or not. And they came from a puzzle-a-day calendar, of all places. I've done a couple of those crossword puzzles while here with Stella, but this was the most fun of the bunch!

"Didn't you do some on your last stay with the dog? I don't recall you making a big deal of any of those."

Yes, I did do crosswords then, too, but I just didn't say anything. I really might see about getting one of these calendars next year. I'll have to see what different makers there are. These were all from the New York newspaper and some of the clues are about people I've never heard of. Maybe I'll find a Jonesin' puzzle calendar!

"Oh, that would be fabulous!! You've done his puzzles for so many years!"

I have! I very much enjoy his sense of humor! This one reminded me of his style, in a way, but what I most enjoyed was learning some new words from other countries.

"I see that you have persisted in using an ink pen on these puzzles."

As I said years ago, the vibration of the graphite in a pencil against the fibers in paper really aggravates my hand. Remember, my right hand still has carpal tunnel syndrome. It was just never so bad that it needed fixing, like my left had.

"Yes, dear."

You can 'Yes, dear' me all you want, that doesn't make it any less true.

"Yes, dear. I mean, do continue about the puzzle, won't you?"

Yes I shall, as that's my purpose here on this beach today. It was actually two school-related clues that really convinced me I was right place, right time. The first was "Vacation, in Swedish, and half of an academic year, in English." How very cool to give an alternate meaning for 'semester' to a retired professor like me! 

"Oh, that was very nice!!! What was the other?"

It was "High school, in Danish, and an indoor sports area, in English." I actually recalled knowing, in my distant past, that 'gymnasium' was that term. I must have picked it up in my reading, back when I read books.

"I have to wonder if our use of that word is maybe from another country."

You're right! The roots are from Italy and Greece. That latter is the more interesting, as it denotes "a place for exercising naked". Hahahaha!

"That's funny!!! So, what else did you learn in that puzzle?"

Here's one: "Vintage car, in German, and a former military person, in English." Who would have thought 'veteran' had that other meaning! Plus, that was another case of right place, right time, for me!

"That's pretty amazing. And do I see that puzzle appeared in the calendar for January 7, 2026? Is that right?"

You're correct. I was working on these crosswords in the order in which they appeared, so this was the seventh I'd run across. Not that I attempted each one, mind. I'd look them over first, to see if I could see a pattern or whether I could answer several of the clues. If I could, then I went for it! I didn't want to leave a bunch of half-done puzzles for Dawn and Koz to work on later.

"Ah, how kind of you? Sure seems like you cherry-picked the easiest ones."

No, I did not. Remember, everyone has different areas of knowledge and experience. I was being selective based on my talents in those two areas. Like with this clue: "Competition, in French, and an instance of agreement, in English." I determined that to be 'concurrence', which actually has its roots in Old French.

"You do so love looking up a word's origin!"

Specifically, that's called a word's etymology. I like to think of it as its genealogy. You can almost follow the migration of people by the travel of a word from one language to another.

"G'friend, you do like tangents, don't you?"

Nice of you to notice!

"So, were those four the only language-learning clues?"

Nope! There was one more, and it seemed meant for me, too! "Plywood, in Danish, and a dwelling with multiple units, in English." Years of working with my brother at his flooring business, coupled with continued forays to cinemas, lead me to 'multiplex', of all things. Whaddaya think of that?

"Perfect!"

Now, I'm going to work on finishing my Stella-in-June Film Festival. So far, I have "The Wedding Singer", "Pitch Perfect", "Pitch Perfect 2", "Shang Jin And The Ten Rings", "I, Robot", and Weekend At Bernie's". Time to add "Grumpy Old Men", as it starts in just a few minutes!

"What a smorgasbord of genres you have there!!!" 

how a rhodesian ridgeback spends a rainy day

First, she duly goes out on the front porch with the human, who wants to give her a change of pace.

But the ground is too wet to lie down.

Raindrops are still misting through the air and onto her face and nose.

Drops of water are still falling erratically off the roof.

There is no way to dodge them to get to the yard.

Finally, the human opens the front door and they go inside.

 

How to pas the time inside?

Well, Miss Stella has a variety of options.

She chooses to lounge on the couch, stretched out to her maximum length...

ah, yes, mine mine mine!

When she tires of being there, she drops down into her doggy bed on the floor, then settles in after rearranging the pillows...

yes, that will do!

Feeling thirsty, she rises and gets water, then repeats her time on the couch and bed. 

 

Here's the thing: she has yet to go outside and pee.

The human is concerned and walks with her onto the back porch, coercing her to follow into the yard.

They are the only creatures out in the light rain that continues to fall.

Together, they go by the Tree of Ducks that stands near the graceful canal... and a small wooded copse.

Yes, the rain barely falls in that bit of trees, so at last she has relief!

Bladder empty, and also the bowels, it was time to return to the dry house and maybe get some treats!

Then back to the couch...

every day, every day i write the book...

Yes, I cribbed that post title directly from the 1983 Elvis Costello song.

Not that it particularly pertains to this photo.

The only book I write in every day is my journal, which I keep to jog my memory from time to time.

The photo, however, was an entry in Dawn's Guest Book II, which I forgot to record back in May.

Everyone who stays overnight at the home she shares with The Koz are to write in that book, and that includes dog sitters!

To make up for my lapse, I had promised her one of my scribble flowers, so there it is!

I even brought my box of crayons so I could do it up right!

I added many of the highlights for that ten-day stay, including the parties on the patio, with goslings and without.

I spoke of the Banana Ball game on ESPN as a special treat!

I even mentioned the musical at Savannah Country Day during my stay!

Some of the many movies I watched on their channels were listed, too!

And of course I talked of special moments with their crazy dog!

I managed to fill a page and a half in their guest book.

I think Dawn will be quite pleased!

(smile!)

poor, hungry, dog!

I just know she had given up on me ever coming.

I'm glad I put an end to that Two First Posts meeting when I did.

It was still almost 9:30 when Stella got fed.

What a sad way to start our little vacation together!

I made sure to give her a little extra... plus some of her favorite treats... and lots of belly rubs!

Then I had dinner and watched "Scrubs" until my first niece called.

Christina had some news: she's definitely not in the control group!!!

We then talked and talked until my phone died.

See, I'd used it to take all those photos at the meeting, as well as taking notes, not paying attention to the battery indicator.

That meant I needed to go home and get my charger, which, for whatever reason, I'd neglected to bring along to Georgetown.

After being gone so long last night, I couldn't justify just running off on Stella too early today.

We sat out on the front porch for a while, watching the drizzle make the ground wetter than it already was.

We'll just have to try to catch a bit of sunshine when we can!

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!

vacay in georgetown, with 8th graders and mileage change

"Did you say "8th graders"?"

 

I did indeed! Today was the final play by those students at Savannah Country Day School. The next time I see them, they'll be in the Upper School plays! This matinee was also the final performance of "Bright. Young. Things.", which is about a reality TV show which has students competing for the top prize. It was pretty funny, but also serious.

 

"That sounds like an ambitious piece for middle school kids."

 

Oh, I'm sure it was a challenge, but they all rose to the occasion! 'Rochelle' (Julia Drake) was supposed to be having a day with her dad (Knox Dew), a janitor, but the TV station called him in to clean up a mess someone made. Next thing she knows, she's put on the show in the place of a competitor that bailed. She'll be showing off her knowledge against a set of twins, 'Jasmine' (Isabella Badea) and 'Sheara' (Arabella Hassan), who are both hoping to win this year. There's also 'Hester' (Sophie Arvizu), who has brought along the foot of her pet rabbit (who is deceased, not hopping along on three feet). 'Amber' (Katie Rodman) is just 10 years old, but she managed to get selected, though she is quite nervous about it. Then there's the lone male, 'Bernie' (Emmett Winchel), who plans to be an actor and is only there because his parents insisted. Quite a nice assortment! However, as they discover, they weren't chosen for their skills so much as for the tension that would be on stage between 'the underdog', 'the villains', 'the brain', 'the cutie', and 'the hero', to draw the audience in.

 

"Oh, how dastardly! Picked for their personalities, not their intelligence! I hope the kids didn't find out."

 

Oh, of course they did! One of the four 'producers' let it slip. Then one of the twins got mad at the other for saying she was going to "let" her sister win! It truly was fun! And afterward, the 8th graders gave flowers to the teachers and stage crew. Very sweet! I liked that the play was done 'in the round' on stage. That definitely gave a more intimate performance. And I managed to snag a front-row seat! Right place, right time!

 

"Very good! I know how much you prefer those."

 

That wasn't the only coincidence that happened. My odometer clicked over into another thousand position as I was leaving the show. How about that! The mileage was 245999 as I had pulled in, and became 246000 as I was leaving. Woohoo!!!

 

"That's a pretty wobbly photo you have there. Was that from your left hand shaking, or was that jitter from the car?"

 

A bit of a combination of both, I'm sure. By the time I noticed the important odometer reading, I had someone behind me, so I rushed the shot. I'm actually surprised it came out as well as it did!

 

"Well, I kinda sorta like it, too."

 

Thanks! It's been raining much of the day, too, so Stella hasn't had much outside time. Susan canceled the party on the patio because of the light rain, but I just grabbed my umbrella and took Stella out anyway. At least it was true this time when I blamed the neighbors for not coming out. (smile!) The ridgeback was just happy to be outside with me. We stayed out there for about thirty minutes, then I took her in and dried her off. Can't have her catching a cold!

 

"That's for sure! What's next on your vacation agenda?"

 

Tonight, I get a scifi double header of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones! "Men In Black" starts momentarily, then "Men In Black II" follows right behind it. What nice additions to my vacation film festival! Plus, I've recorded "Free Guy", which I watched again this morning. Yep! Life is good!

vacay in georgetown, with rain and no birds

Into each life some rain must fall...

but yesterday the weather song said that would be over the weekend.

At some point overnight, that all changed.

Well, let me amend that: the weekend will be wet, but also today.

Fortunately, it was only the morning that was soggy. 

 

That was good, as I was a bit tired after playing Goldilocks with beds.

That's usually my one peeve on vacations: the bed.

I am so spoiled by my latex mattress!

So, the first thing I did was changed the orientation of the bedding, so I could enter from the right and sleep on my right side. 

That was on Monday and seemed to work well...

but Tuesday night found me tossing and turning so much...

that I even tried their bed to finish the night.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no.

So, last night, I flipped the mattress over, so the bottom was now on top.

That worked much better!

I'll have to remember to do that when I come in June for more Stella time.

 

I next caught a 2 PM matinee movie over at the AMC.

For whatever reason, they had "Normal" back on the silver screen, and I made sure to see that new Bob Odenkirk film!

He doesn't look like a bad-ass, but he sure does well with those roles!

This time, he's a substitute sheriff for a small town with a big secret.

Think western with a healthy shot of Asian martial arts, set in winter.

Really entertaining, and a great ending for my A*List!

I'd started it off with the one on Tuesday, remember?

"But what about that one in the middle," as Otto would say.  

I didn't actually go to that, but I did want to acknowledge it, as I'd seen it on April 30th with Sherry Giddens.

It was her treat, as she is a member of Angel Studios and they gave her two tickets to do with as she wanted.

I was glad to see it with her... but this "Animal Farm" was definitely a Seth Rogen vehicle, as I suspected it would be.

Still, as he did with "The Muppet Show" recently, he kept it true to the original (which is why I'm glad I recorded it to enjoy over and over!).

Good for him!

As for the party on the patio, we were the early birds this time! 

No other birds of any kind joined us, but we did have Susan and Terry come, bringing Coco for the play date with Stella.

Ken even wandered over from next door and hung out with us!

And there was not a drop of rain since the early morning, so the patio furniture was nice and dry.

What nice weather, so comfortable, with no mosquitoes or gnats around!

Perhaps the geese had eaten them all?

One can only hope!

As for TV tonight, I have my usual shows: "George & Mandy's First Marriage", "Ghosts", and that dingbat "Elsbeth".

That will keep me busy after I wash dishes!

(smile!) 

vacay in georgetown: shopping and goslings

Believe it or not, I did go shopping...

at Wal-Mart, of all places...

because I had Stella-cash in my pocket!

Plus, I have been in desperate need of shorts for some time.

What better reason to do so than for my upcoming bday68?

After almost two hours - and a nice visit with Alexa while there - I returned with five pairs of shorts in a variety of colors, plus a new star-strewn nightgown, with all for less than $45!

Then, FX was playing one of my favorite movies: "Free Guy"!!!

That was one that I burned all of my A*List dances for, back in 2020.

I've already found it in the listings again, so I'm recording it to see again!

Here he is, taking a swat at DUDE, with a unicorn-topped bat - hahahaha!

 

Watching it made me about ten minutes late for the party on the patio.

Susan and Terry had been sitting out there for about 15 minutes!

Stella forgave the delay, just as long as she could play with Coco!

And we were not alone: two families of geese were on the canal, with one pair having four little goslings, and the other having a brood of seven.

 

Imagine that: eleven little goslings swimming on the water!

The smaller family had one of their little ones snatched up by Coco a week ago, but the dog had been gentle as she carried the bird in her mouth.

Even so, that had to have been a terrifying experience!

Susan and Terry said that wasn't the first time that the dogs had gone after the geese, even going into the water after them.

Holy leaping lizards!!!

I'm glad Stella stayed on dry land.

I have no intention of giving her a bath while I'm on vacation!

Now, I have "Jungle Cruise" on the TV, with lots of "How I Met Your Mother" to follow on the  E! channel.

That's two more for my vacation film festival!

Hooray!

(smile!) 

vacay in georgetown on may the fourth and cinco de mayo

I usually have a few folks that remind me of the day for lisping Jedi knights, but not this year.

Only my ex texted me for the occasion.

Thanks, Jeff, for starting my day with dancing Darth Vader!!!

I was only too glad to pass him along to brighten the lives of others! 

(smile!) 

I finished the rest of the Italian salad that Dawn had left in the fridge.

Salami! Pepperoncini!! Ham! Tomatoes!

I've really enjoyed that for the last three days.

The party on the patio was spent sans birds of any kind.

Susan, Terry, and I talked of food mostly, with them asking about meatballs in the freezer.

Sorry, Charlie, none of those!

Today's vacation film festival consisted of "Wreck It Ralph" and "Ralph Breaks The Internet", shown back to back on Freeform.

So good to hear my favorite Disney Princess song again!

(smile!) 

My Tina Tuesday just happened to coincide with several other events!

First off, this was the 25th anniversary for Smitty and Mary - woohoo, y'all!

Plus, this Cinco de Mayo was also a Taco Tuesday - that meant I needed to go to the store for Mexican food for dinner.

First, though, had an appointment with Dr. Diaz.

He's my neurologist at the Savannah VA Center and today was the discussion about the MRI results.

What a gorgeous day to be told that all was well with my brain!

He said there was some shrinkage, but totally normal for my age.

Woohoo!

Off to celebrate I went, with some other older folks at the AMC, there to see "The Devil Wears Prada 2", twenty years after the first one.

Those fresh faces of Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt have become the same as that of my 43-year-old first niece!

I had not realized they all shared her age.

As for Stanley Tucci, he's 65, like my brother Smitty.

And Meryl Streep is 76... just a couple of years behind my friend, Carolyn.  

Good movie, too!

Then, at last, to Publix for the makings of my south-of-the-border dinner!

I also picked up a few other items, like milk, and still saved $21.22 on my trip.

That's 30% off on groceries!

Plus, I took care of my appointment and movie and still returned in plenty of time for the party on the patio!

That made Stella happy.

She was on the back porch, waiting to rendezvous with Coco and her owners, for almost thirty minutes.

I sat out there with her, enjoying a glass of milk and the afternoon warmth.

Tonight, after dinner, I'll have a series of "How I Met Your Mother" to enjoy. 

Yes, life is good on vacation!

(smile!)