rainy day catchup on a*list

See what I mean, jelly bean?

It's definitely been a rainy morning, with a cold front pushing the temps about ten degrees cooler than they've been.

No movies for me today means my AMC a*list capped out with just two.

Those were the double header of new ones seen on Tuesday.

"Hoppers" combined Frankenstein and environmental issues, featuring a university professor who could transfer people's minds into robotic animals.

Now, add in a college girl who's very attached to an endangered pond destined for demolition by a freeway project.

Combine thoroughly with the girl making off with her brain inside the robotic beaver as she attempts to save the pond beloved by her and her grandma.

Pretty good, but it's a message not aimed at me.

Like I told Carolyn, I've been in that choir for decades!

I do want my great-nieces and great-nephews to see it, though.

I had followed that on Tina Tuesday with "I Can Only Imagine 2", which has debuted almost exactly 8 years after the first one.

However, this is set more like 20 years after our first encounter with MercyMe.

This time, like that time, the focus is on a father-son relationship, though it's between the singer and his teen son, rather than the singer and his dad.

I really liked the dynamics here, as well as the 'life on tour' setting.

 

The week before, I managed to see what has been my usual trio.

"Undercard" was a sports movie, featuring 62-year-old Wanda Sykes in her first serious role as 'Cheryl "No Mercy" Stewart', a once-famous boxer now working as a trainer and hoping one of her students will be the next champ.

Honestly, that's the movie in a nutshell.

Fame had led her into drugs and alcohol abuse, as well as the loss of her son to his grandmother's care.

Boxing isn't one of the sports I tend to watch, but the movie was good.

That had been early last Wednesday, before yet another meeting of Two First Posts Of Georgia.

The next day, I did indeed see a double header, but one of those shown above is not correct.

I did buy the ticket for "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die", as I wanted to see it again... but something was amiss with the audio in that screening room.

That was fine, as "The Bride!" started at the same time, so I took a chance on that one.

What an amazingly good choice that was!!!

Set in 1936 Chicago, we find 'Frank' with a bad case of the blues.

After decades of watching 'Ronnie Reed' musicals - movies which don't actually exist, but that I'd watch gladly!!! - he has become only too aware of how lonesome he is and how much he wants someone to love.

He's in Chicago to talk a mad scientist into fashioning him a 'Bride', and a recently deceased entertainer suits the bill just right!

So, science fiction, mingled with dance musicals, and the draw of rom-com and intrigue of murder mysteries... if that wasn't meant for me, what is?

I'm so excited about seeing it again!

What else was there?

Oh, yes, "Psycho Killer", billed as a horror that featured Malcolm McDowell, star of , "A Clockwork Orange", one of the best horror-scifi movies ever (and one that I've seen multiple times since 1981).

Ahem, back to the movie at hand, shall we?

I'd rather not, as it missed out on being great.

First, the man of my interest had a bit part as a satanic cult leader who also had hedonistic sex parties at his house.

Second, not once did it use the song by The Talking Heads, which, given the cult leader's bent, could have been a nice inside joke for music fans.

Oh, well. 

Not that those were the only movies I saw, nor that AMC was the only venue visited.

So, here's how that all played out.

On Friday, 27 February, I attended my second movie ever at Smart Senior, a group run by Memorial Hospital.

Elizabeth, the manager at the 65th street center, has bags of popcorn and drinks for those who sign up for the near-weekly movies.

The cost for using the facility and attending events there?

That's just $20 per year - wow!

That day, I watched "Tower Heist", from 2011, an ensemble film with Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Michael Pena, and Matthew Broderick as hotel workers out to win back their pensions from the evil Alan Alda. 

All in attendance laughed and had fun at that one!
(On the first Friday, I'd seen "Loving", based on the true story of an interracial couple in 1958 in Virginia, banished from their home because their marriage was illegal there.
We all watched it, hoping for the best as their case went to trial in 1967, but there was no laughter from us folks who had lived that history.) 

Back to last week's movies: I had two on Tina Tuesday at NCG!
This was from the one I'd been most excited to see: "E.P.i.C." (the abbreviated title for "Elvis Presley in Concert"), which I had thought would be footage from his residency in Las Vegas.

Nope, that's not what Baz Luhrmann delivered.

Instead, the director had pieced together previously unseen footage from two movies from the 1970's ("Elvis: That's The Way It Is" and "Elvis On Tour") and sandwiched those between overdubs from his own movie, "Elvis", from 2022.

I enjoyed the concert bits, but certainly not enough to ever sit through this new amalgam again.

Before it, and right after my appointment with Dr. Whipple, I went to "How To Make A Killing", a nice murder spree flick with Glen Powell.

Surprisingly, he keeps his clothes on in this one!

LOL!

I had hoped Carolyn would join me for those two, but she was ill.

That's why I had dinner solo from Zaxby's, caught between the movies.

I really like their Zensations chicken salad!

Yes, it did come with an eggroll, but I'd already eaten it, as well as part of the salad, before I thought to take the picture.

I did so to send to my stepmom, Bonnie, in memory of all the times she and I would meet at that Zaxby's in Bluffton.

I really do want to go see her this summer...

it's been too long!

Maybe there will even be a good sports movie or nature documentary for us to see... that would make it just like old times for us!

cold day, hot men: part 1

At least the weekend was nice.

Now it's Monday and the sheer agony of Hell has descended back upon this latitude, borne on winds from the north.

A high of maybe 49 F???

Followed by a low back into the 20's tonight that persists into early morn?

How preposterous and ugly is that???

Fortunately, I'm retired, so I don't have to get out into that for work.

Unfortunately, Two First Posts has a meeting at 1630 to discuss moving forward with plans for a soft opening next month.

At least it will still be daylight.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed a last viewing of "The Mask" with brunch today!

What, no breakfast?

Nope!

Not when the weather is posting temperatures in the 30's at 10 AM.

I stayed in bed until noon, thanks.

I'm so glad this dollar-movie-night reward was waiting to entertain me again.

That may not be my Elvis, but he's close enough for me!

I'm sure Jim Carrey was given free rein to say whatever sprang to mind during that shape-shifting scene in the cabaret.

"Tell Auntie Em not to forget to feed Old Yeller for me."

Hahahaha... I'm sure that confabulation wasn't scripted!

"Tell Tiny Tim I won't be home for Christmas."

Might that have been a reference to another green-faced person who's been around since Jim Carrey was just two years old?

"Tell Scarlett that I do give a damn."

Well, he'd started with a reference to a classic from 1939, might as well end with another from that year!

Jim was 32 years old when "The Mask" came out in 1994...

as was my "Clark Gable" middle brother, also born in 1962.

We all grew up with those movies on the TV every year, firmly etched onto our memory.

My guess is Jim Carrey's mental jukebox is slapped loaded with snippets from every movie he's ever seen, just waiting to be inserted into quips!

That's fine by me.

I just love those inside jokes!

Okay, let me get psyched up to go outside to that American Legion meeting.

Good to know I have more hot men waiting here for my return.  

Last Wednesday, Fox re-aired "The Real Full Monty" and I saved it.

Of course, I've been tied up with all the Olympics ice dancing and figure skating events, breaking out my analytical chemist skills on all that data, so I haven't had much time for regular shows. 

And, yes, Jim Carrey is hot, in a boy-next-door way.

Plus, I love a man who can make me laugh!

(smile!)

in for a penny, in for an elvis...

"Can't say I've ever heard that expression before."

That's because no one's ever said it before! That's an original from me!

"I see. And just what is the occasion?"

Well, I figured since I'd already gone out once into the cold, I might as well do so again! Hence the paraphrase of the old British adage.

"I see. You were out earlier, so why not go out again. However, what's with the reference to Elvis?"

Well, amazingly, NCG Cinema is leading off their seven-week Romance Film Festival with one of his movies!!! I'm thinking that it's because he just had his 91st birthday last Thursday. Whatever the reason, I'm just glad to see the King of Rock and Roll on the silver screen! Carolyn was happy about it, too! Neither of us have ever seen "Blue Hawaii" anywhere but on TV. She and I were the only ones in the screening room, so I took a few photos, of course. This one is of his girl picking him up at the airport on Oahu when he gets out of the Army. He's just 26 years old here!

This one has him playing and singing with his "beach boys" on the bit of shore near his beach hut. I didn't know that song at all. Surprisingly, I wasn't familiar with most of the songs on this soundtrack. I guess the Elvis Tribute Artists simply didn't choose those for their performances.

In fact, the only song I did know was one of my favorites. "Can't Help Falling In Love" was what he was singing in this scene. Not to his girlfirend, oh no! He was serenading her grandma on her 75th birthday! How very sweet!  

"You and your little camera! Lol!"

Hey, at least I don't distract other viewers, which, as I said, wasn't an issue this afternoon. Carolyn and I had hit the 4:30 matinee, so we could dine after. Carey Hilliard's was practically next door to the cinema, so that worked well! We had a fabulous waiter, Angel, and he took great care of us on this Monday night. When Carolyn's salad came out with cucumbers, which she is allergic to, he took it back to the kitchen. And, listen to this: he was back out with a new fried chicken fingers salad, sans cucumbers, in less than 10 minutes! Yes!

"Very good! And what's that on your plate?"

Grilled redfish! Let me tell you, that was one fabulous piece of fish! Just fabulous! I made sure to tell him to compliment the kitchen on that dish!! The coleslaw was good, too, as were the hushpuppies. However, that pasta salad was not to my taste. That's okay, it was just a side. The star was that delicious redfish, hands down! I'll be getting that again.

"Well, I'm so glad you had another good outing with Carolyn!" 

I did! And she even brought me some cookies for dessert! (smile!)

first day of 2026!

What kind of weather song does WSAV have?

Sunshiny start, with near-normal temperatures for this area!

Couldn't ask for a nicer start of the year!

I celebrated with Gouda and the bread from yesterday's Carrabbas feast!

 

Then it was time to kick it, Elvis style, and take care of business in the kitchen.

Not washing dishes... getting my cabinets outfitted with a spiffy new Elvis collection, ready to make sure I stayed on track!

Believe me, I have appointments with others already to post onto them!

Busy, vibrant, woman!

The first of those is the 3 PM "Anticipation Ceremony & Bowl Burning" over at Asbury Memorial.

This will be the 16th time for me, but at least the letter is already written.

That's right.

The yellow SASE I'm using will have the exact same letter I wrote in anticipation of this year, as I didn't accomplish a single thing I'd written back then.

As I told Cheri Hester, I didn't even recall writing any of those goals!

She thought that was funny!

So, since I wouldn't need two hours there, that gave me some much-needed time here at home.

Dawn gave me a new calendar, one I really like, with much larger spaces for each day.

More room for birthdays and anniversaries!

FB may remind me of birthdays, but it doesn't yet have the ability for the other.

Now, I just need to remember to look at the calendar on a regular basis!

While I was doing all these other things, I was also cooking my mustard greens for my New Year's Day dinner.

Didn't they turn out beautifully?

The hoppin' John used Rotel diced tomatoes, NSA, and the brown rice is a better fiber choice.

Those set off the contents of the cornbread from Food Lion, which was sweet enough to call dessert!

It all went quite well with "The Age Of Adaline", which I regard as a New Year's Day scifi romance.

This time, I found myself bawling at the end and missing Mama something fierce.

Once I was under control of tears, I drove over to Asbury to give my letter to Cheri.

I didn't stay long, though.

Greenwich Cemetery closes its gate at 5 PM, which means I had about 5 minutes to spend with Mama.

That was all I needed.

Two others drove in as I was leaving.

I guess they needed a touch and go, too.

After that, I had time to stop by home and pick up a gift card for supper with Carolyn.

We were to meet for a 6-ish PM movie at AMC, and I was going to surprise her with the meal.

And lookee there!

I had four 4's in the mileage on the odometer! 

Right place, right time!

Or not, as she never did show.

I'd waited an hour before calling to check on her arrival time.

Oops - she thought we were getting together tomorrow.

 

Back home I went, with visions of Positano leftovers in my head! 

Peacock had a delightful Pakistani movie, "Polite Society" from 2023, which had a girl who wanted to be a stunt woman.

Very nice!!! 

Right place, right time, after all!

a season of numbers, like 90

Don't ask me who the other person is; I have no idea, as they were not the focus of my attention.

Sherrill Milnes is the one my camera was aimed at, the gentleman by the window at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

I'd like to think Elvis Presley would resemble that midwestern nonagenarian, if he were still alive.

After all, they were born two days apart in January of 1935.

Yes, Elvis would be 90 years old now, just as Sherrill is, and both are just a year older than my Daddy would have been in April.

What a thought!

At yesterday's opening show yesterday, Maria Zouves spoke of SVF13 being a celebration of numeric milestones (much as I speak of mileage markers).

The first number was '90', her husband's age.

The next was '60', the number of years since he started his operatic career.

(That also happens to be her age now.)

Then came '25', the numbers of years since the couple started the Savannah VOICE Experience to foster the growth of opera in young singers.

(Their son, Theo, is also 25 years old now.)

Those are all nice round numbers.

I like '13', though.

After all, this is the 13th annual Savannah VOICE Festival... and I am here, once more, as a volunteer to welcome folks to this music!

Right place, right time... and it's almost show time!

i thank You, God!

elvis is IN the building!

Elvis would have been 78 last month. Specifically, the King of Rock and Roll, with his swivelicious hips and dark eyes would have been 78 on January 8th. Next month, the low country will be the site of the Georgia Elvis Festival, featuring four days of Elvis Tribute Artists performing a celebration of the man's songs and style. I am SOOOO looking forward to this! I only wish Mama were alive to venture forth in person with me, but her spirit will be dancing and swooning with mine.
Yes, yes I did say "swooning"!
And dancing, too!
But you already know to expect me to dance, right?
That's why I made sure I registered for a seat at the end of a row, near the back, so if I feel the music in me, I can let it have its way with my body and hopefully not disturb too many other folk.
Riiiight.
(big grin!)
I'm sure I won't be the only one dancing!

Anyway, one of the late-night talkers has been hosting a different ETA at the end of his program every night this week. Very nice!!! And it has really been getting me in the mood, since I don't have Willie singing "Don't be Cruel" or "Teddybear" to me during the off-season.
Monday night, Cody Slaughter performed "Jail House Rock" and did quite well. But - you knew it was coming, didn't you? - although he LOOKED just like Elvis as a young man, and he MOVED just like Elvis did for that song, his voice wasn't quite there.
Last night was Brandon Bennett, part of the "Million Dollar Quartet" in Chicago. He sang "Hound Dog", an old bluesy number, and did quite a nice job of it, too! Even better, when the short song was done, and he was signaled to keep it going, he did, with relish. Very nice! And while he wasn't quite like Elvis, he was pretty close and had some miiighty fine moves!
Tonight, we were treated to The Voice. Seriously, Justin Shandor brought it. Singing the beautiful song, "Can't Help Falling In Love", he had me from the first note. Seriously. His face may not have been quite that of the legend, certainly not for the side shots, but oh, that voice! That lovely voice, singing those romantic words!
I can hardly wait for Thursday and Friday night!