meals and more with my girls!!!

Monday, it was time for Music Bingo again!

This was the first time any of us had been since the debacle a month ago.

"Us" would be me, Sandy, Marcia, and Elissa.

Hey, we've been busy, vibrant, women, a'ight, with family from out of town, cruises, and what-not going on!

I remembered to bring my free appetizer reward that I won about six weeks ago, too.

Fortunately, Midtown Sports Grill has changed their menu yet again.

Potato Skins is a new entry, loaded with bacon and cheddar, and that made for a mighty fine "welcome back" dinner with my friends!

And just look at that first bingo game of the evening!!!

That "Dance Party Mix" yielded me the first "Bingo!" of the bar!

Russ was even surprised that I'd won without using the 'Free Space' - I'd managed to do it with five actual songs that had been played, straight down the "I" column!!!

Andrew, the new bartender, was glad to bring me a free lemonade as my "free drink" reward for the game!

How wonderful to have shared that those three hours with friends!

(smile!)

Then, today, my first niece came to share a favorite movie with me!

This was the last week of the NCG Summer Camp Film Festival and they've been screening "The Wild Robot" since Sunday.

We love that movie about parenting and kindness!!!

Want to know how much?

She stayed awake through the entire movie!!!

That's saying a lot, as she has sleep apnea and tends to take a nap if she sits in one place too long.

That wasn't the case two weeks ago when she joined me for "Sing", but that was okay... it let me munch some of her popcorn!

That time, she was early and bought our tickets and kids' packs; this time, she was running on her standard time, so I bought the tickets and snacks.

(smile!)

After, we popped over to the Chick-Fil-A on Victory for our luncheon.

So glad the lunch crowd had mostly passed by then!

She grabbed the last table and we had a leisurely two hours together...

just us, no children, no boyfriend...

letting us truly talk about issues with that latter item.

Here's hoping for the best resolution for that problem.

Oh, plus a really bright spot!

We had been talking about friends from the past and she mentioned one of her middle-school buddies and spoke of them spending nights together.

"So, you're friends still, on fb?"

No, they weren't... but she quickly found her on that social media... and they are now reunited again!

Maybe I should do a few searches of lost friends, too.

(smile!)

christmas fun for my return from the cruise!

No less than four of the programs I watch all had Christmas themes!

The ones on PBS, the ones on AntennaTV, it just seemed they'd had a meeting and decided that was needed to welcome me home!

 

"My Life Is Murder", the one with Lucy Lawless as a police consultant in Australia, was the first I watched.

That episode was "Silent Lights" and concerned a death around Christmas time, with a man falling off his roof.

The neighbors insisted it was an accident, but his wife insisted that one of them had killed him somehow.

Get this: it was the 25th episode of the show!

Sounds like Christmas to me (even though it originally aired Oct. 2, 2022)!

Next up was "News Radio" with an episode from Season 2 that originally aired Dec. 19, 1995.

Clearly, "Xmas Story", meant for a US audience, aired at the right time for that annual festival of lights!

Everyone gets ball caps from the billionaire boss, causing quite a stir.

To complicate matters, 'Bill' is having a rough time with the lobby Santa, who keeps threatening to kill him.

Yes, hilarity ensued from the misunderstandings!

Then in the line-up was "Just Shoot Me!", this time from Season 6, and was the last episode before their Christmas break.

Airing Dec. 13, 2001, "Christmas? Christmas!" is one I actually watched twice!

That's because it had real-life Ray Liotta as himself, the 47-year-old movie-star cousin of the nerdy mailroom clerk (who is the actor who plays the geologist in "TBBT", Brian Posehn, whose last name on this show was 'Liotta').

Already I liked it!

Then Ray turned out to be a Christmas fanatic, with lots of traditions to share with 'Maya' as he whisks her into a holiday romance - most excellent!

Of course I watched it twice!!!

The last of the quartet came from "Midsomer Murders" (which, in the USA, always runs as pairs of 45-minute episodes to solve the case). 

Aired January 4, 2004, in merry old England, as a post-holiday treat I'm sure, "Bad Tidings" starts off with a college secretary getting killed, then a retired doctor.

What secrets had they been hiding all those decades?

Very much a good who-done-it to stir up the gray matter!

My thanks to the Universe for those...

I have really enjoyed them! 

Now, off I go to Music Bingo!!! 

new owner at msg, new rules

It had been such a scorcher today, with summer trying to come in hot.

After all, yesterday was the official first day of that season.

So, when Marcia sent around the text about meeting up for Music Bingo, I was all for it!

Gathering for fun and singing with friends, in air conditioning I didn't have to pay for?

Yes, please!

I was one of the first ones there, joined soon by Amanda and Merritt.

Marcia came in next, with her granddaughter, Batsheva, in tow.

The girl had a new short 'do for summer, though the reason for the cut had been too many snarls in her hair.

Her mom said cutting the hair was the only recourse.

The bob looked very cute though!

 

Sandy didn't arrive until my Nachos were already on the table.

Just look at that mass of chips and cheese and chili!!!

Russ came in just before 7, with his bag of Bingo paraphernalia in tow.

Hooray!!!

Then Chris, the manager, came over to break the news to us.

There weren't enough players there tonight.

The Music Bingo session was canceled.

Say what???

The new owner has some such nonsense about needing to have at least 8 players for the game to be held.

Ah, but there were  of us and two players at the bar... that's 8!

It didn't make a difference.

We even said we'd play for no prizes, just the joy of listening and singing along with the music being played!

Nope, that wasn't going to happen, captain. 

Well, drats.

I certainly wouldn't have ordered those $15 nachos if I'd known that.

They all felt the same way... but at least we had each other's company.

i was 1 of 5 again!

"Was there another special meeting at the Savannah VA Center?"

You do realize this is Monday, right? And that I was one of five last week for Music Bingo here at the Midtown Sports Grill?

"Pardon me if I don't count how many folks you list."

It's alright, dearie, I know you have other things on your mind than math. As for me, I like to have fun with numbers. You know this is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America being a country, right?

"Well, of course I know that. It's also the 50th anniversary of your graduation from Jenkins High School, though I haven't heard of a party for that yet."

Nope, neither have I. But I did hear that this was the 150th anniversary of Anheuser-Busch! They're touring the Clydesdale horses around the USA at various historic sites and they were here in Savannah last Saturday. They were at at Grayson Stadium for its 100th anniversary!!! Well, kinda sorta. They were adjacent to the baseball stadium, but the Bananas had a game there, so it would have been too crowded for security of the horses.

"I would think so! And you forgot a personal anniversary for you. This makes 30 years since you got your PhD at FSU!"

You're right! Nice that it falls where it does with these other numbers!

"Yes, indeed. Now, what's this about '1 of 5' for Music Bingo?"

Well, there was me. Elissa came with Sandy. Plus Amanda brought Merritt along. That made five of us, so we were at a table again, instead of a booth. I like that much better, as I can stretch my legs. It also helps for dancing in my seat, which I did a lot tonight! Such great music Russ was playing all night!

"Very good!!! It's always more fun with good tunes!"

This was my card for the first game. Just look at that diagonal!!! What a story that bingo would tell!!! "Call Me" to be "Flirtin' With Disaster" over a Free Space, then there'll be "Dancing In The Dark" while I "Kiss You All Over" - mercy me, I'd have had to go home for a cool shower if those had all come up as a winner for me!

"Hahahaha!!! Yes, I know you would have!!! You can be such a sailor!!!"

Hey, I just can't help it... or just won't... take your pick! (smile!)

"So, did Sandy win again tonight?"

No, she did not. I was the only winner at our table and that was for the second game. It was "New School Rock Mix #1" and had a lot of tunes I was singing at the table. That prompted Merritt to suggest we have a karaoke night some time!!! I know Sandy would be down for that, too.

"Hey, doesn't his band have a gig at Tybee Post Theater this month?"

Yep, but I can't go. It's on June 28th, and, as I told him tonight, I have colonoscopy prep that day and night, so I'll be at home. Certainly can't be spewing body fluids all over town! LOL!

"For sure. So, what did you win?"

The second game's prize is always a free appetizer, so that's mine now! I didn't have food tonight, just a lemonade, made fresh by Chris. Really good, too! Nice and tart, but not sweet, and ice cold.

"That does sound good!"

It was, as was the music. My bingo was on the opposite diagonal to that above, starting with "Glycerine" in the lower right and ending with "Kryptonite" in the upper left. BINGO!!!

"Good one! You've even heard Three Doors Down perform that in concert!"

Right?! It was just perfect! And the couple sitting near us clapped for me! The guy told me I 'deserved to win because I was singing along to all the songs"!!! That really made me feel special!!!

"Well, it sounds like you're doing well at carrying a tune these days. That's very good! I know you've always enjoyed singing. I hope you and your friends will do some karaoke in the near future. That will be great fun!"

Yes, it will, most definitely. Now, I'm going to enjoy my House Salad along with this new "Game With Balls". In honor of the FIFA tournaments, they're using giant soccer balls to bop folks into the water for wrong answers. Tonight, the USA is taking on England for fun and dips in the channel! Later!

birthday cake from the universe!!!

It's a real beauty, too, that's for sure.

As Marcia said, I've been dreaming of this dessert for quite some time.

It's called Milky Way Cake and it is some kind of scrumptious!

Far too rich to have on a regular basis, but it certainly was perfect tonight as I continued the celebration of bday68.

This outing for Music Bingo with Sandy and the J Crew was also a perfect ending to my birthday weekend!

Elissa was absent, but Marcia had two daughters (Amanda and Donna) and her 11-yo granddaughter (BatSheva), so that was perfect, too!

Russ was dropping music that I loved all evening, starting off with "Dad Rock Mix #1", like "Learn To Fly" by the Foo Fighters, which would have given me a bingo in that first game.

That was followed by "Bar Favourites Mix #7", which would have yielded me one of two bingos if "Heart Of Glass" by Blondie or "Like A Prayer" by Madonna had either one hit the air. 

He ended the night with "90's Party Anthems #1", giving us "Macarena" and "Ice Ice Baby" and "I Like To Move It" - lots to sing and move to!

Very nice!!!

What a wonderful way to start this month of my 68th year!

 

I had a wonderful ending to the month of May, too.

Last night, my youngest brother took me out for dinner!

Tony and Laura and I went out to Tubby's Tankhouse, as they know I love seafood - and they were right!

I ordered the Tuna Tacos and they were fabulous!

They should have called them "Ahi Tuna Tacos", as the sashimi-grade fish was perfectly prepared and beautiful.

Oh, yes! 

Even in the rain, dinner out with family is a good idea! 

 

Fortunately, the rain had held off for the S&K Friday Fiesta.

Smitty and Mary surprised me with dinner not at our usual haunt but at a seafood place: Driftaway Cafe in Sandfly.

Even with Tony and Laura absent for the Bloomingdale concert, we still had enough for the party table out back!

That's because Addison was there, with her new boyfriend, plus Becca, Robin, and all three of the regular Kamerons.

I changed up my menu, choosing the Jerk Salmon Spring Salad, as it's been a while since I went Caribbean... and I have a cruise coming up at the end of July with Christina and her family... so I had that taste in my mouth and on my mind!

Most excellent choice! 

What a fabulous way to spend the weekend!

Happy birthday to me!

(smile!) 

burger at bingo in a booth!

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

 

I did!

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

And it was good, too!!!

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

In truth, Midtown Sports Grill is more than that.

They have spaghetti specials and other stuff, too.

In fact, their pork chops are pretty good.

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

All I needed was "Remember The Time".

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

 

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

 

Hahahaha!

Yes, that just may be right.

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

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

Guess what the color is?

Mariachi Red!!!

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

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

"We have to be strong and MARIACHI on."

"Jesus, MARIACHI, and Joseph!"

 

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

 

That's for real!

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

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

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

 

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

 

That guy in the middle, wearing the glasses?

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

He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree!!!

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

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

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

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

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

Into the water he went!

 

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

 

Indeed.

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

(smile!)

musical monday!

Get this: it all started with the WSAV weather song.

I kid you not.

Just look at those notes trailing up and down the scale!

Taking a cue from the song in "The Sound Of Music", I figured it out.

Starting with today's high and following through the week, here goes!

LA -- DO -- MI  -- SO  -- MI -- SO -- LA

Very raggedy tune fragment, but there you have it.

I followed that with a music documentary on PBS, "Looking For Cole".

Wilfried Van den Brande was inspired to make this documentary about Cole Porter after singing "So In Love" with Kim Criswell.

That duet was in 2007.

Seven years later, the film was completed, full of the music of the man that Van den Brande regards as "the greatest American songwriter".

I loved that Porter's journals were included in this!

All those notations about "Love For Sale", "Anything Goes", "Night And Day"...

his life in Paris with his wife, Linda, the only woman he loved...

spending his inheritance from his grandpa on fun in the sun with men...

what a vibrant life he led until a horse-riding accident in 1937.

I'm so glad that PBS gave this slice of his life to me!

(smile!)

Then I was off for something different: a concert film at AMC!

"Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" was even part of the A*List!

That meant it was free for me, perhaps as a bday68 gift from the Universe.

See, Barbara Nixon was a fan of the young American, perhaps because of her math students, so I went to the movie in memory of my friend.

The Universe was looking out for me.

I'd chosen the 2 PM, 3-D, movie time, but that had been a mistake in the schedule and wasn't actually a thing.

However, Brooke set me up with my very own private viewing...

and I could feel Boo's presence with me as I watched the 24-year-old singer/songwriter bounce all over the stage in Manchester, England.

I only knew four of her songs - "Bad Guy", "Ocean Eyes", "Birds Of A Feather", and "No Time To Die" - and that was rather glancingly.

Not so for her fans!

They knew every single word of every single song.

I should note that no one in that concert audience was my age.

The vast majority were females, in their teens and twenties, with a few male sprinkled in, as well as a few moms.

I came away knowing Billie to be a good role model for her peers, emphasizing knowledge and not sex appeal.

No wonder Barbara liked her music!

Then I finished up this day with Music Bingo in the company of our mutual friend, Sandy, as well as Marcia.

I opted for the Chef Salad at Midtown Sports Grill, topping it with the peanut vinaigrette usually reserved for their Thai Salad.

Wow, what a flavor sensation!!!

That used up the last of my winnings, too, from two months ago.

Sandy was the only one of to win this time, taking the free-appetizer prize for the second game, which was, appropriately for her, "80's Mix #2 - New"!

She does so love that era!

My card was pretty useless for that game, as well as for the first game, which was all about country music.

However, for the last game, that music was more the speed for me and Marcia, and I was only one song away from that 50-dollar prize card!

All I needed was "Feels So Good", by Chuck Mangione.

Better luck to all of us next time!

What a day full of music, and friends, for me!

i thank You, God!

a penny - thoughts of italy - and the odometer

"Ken, what are three things that said I was in the right place, right time, on this Monday evening?"

Ding, ding, ding!

Here's the penny, lying on Habersham Street, just to my left as I was used the crosswalk to get from the handicap parking spot to Midtown Sports Grill.

I actually had to look twice to make sure it was real.

Just look at how dinged up the poor cent is!

The only part of the date that's legible are the first two digits: 20.

Which year of this century is anyone's guess, but it was there to encourage me that I'd made the right choice to come out tonight.

Right place, right time!

And just why was I there?

Music Bingo with my friends, of course!

That's Marcia having a chat with Russ, the bingo emcee, checking to see if she did know him from the Habersham YMCA.

Yep, that's right!

She and I had a great talk, sharing memories of Livorno, Italy, as well as Florence and some of the Amalfi coast.

Her husband was stationed there three years while he was in the Navy.

 

Such a lucky break for them!

And what's this that I selected for dinner tonight?

Chicken wings with Hot Honey Garlic -so totally addictive!!!

Marcia had recommended them, so that's what I had.

It took me the entire time that we were there to make my way through the six wings and drumsticks...

but how delicious!

They were like candy... so sweet and sticky... RAWR!!!

I'm sure the reason I didn't win was because I was too distracted by the dessert-style meat on that plate!

I came closest on the last game, "Random Mix #2", needing only "You Oughta Know" for the win.

Guess I oughta know to keep the food simple for these games!

 

Then we gave our hugs of goodbye and were on our way!

But what else did the Universe have in store for me?

Nothing but a fancy mix of numbers on my odometer when I got home!

Yes, that's right.

The mileage read: 245757 - that's two pair, a winning hand!

That "57" corresponds to Sandy's age right now, too, but that's due to click over to "58" next month.

(smile!)

Right place, right time!

today, i had music bingo!

"Very good! Seems like forever since you had that!"

Right?! Between Jewish holidays and my inguinal hernia issues, I haven't been there since I won the big prize. Can you believe it? I've had that fifty-buck card for over a month and not spent a single penny of it!

"Well, you only go to the Midtown Sports Grill for 'Music Bingo with Russ'."

Correction: I only go there for 'Music Bingo with Russ' if Sandy and her bunch are going. Tonight, there were four of us: Sandy, Elissa, Marcia, and me. I bought an order of Pickle Fries to share with all and Marcia thanked me for that! She has several food allergies, and that dish is one of the few she can eat. I know all about that kind of thing! Just take a good look at what I had for dinner!

"Yo, g'friend! That's a whole lotta feta going on!"

Right?! That's my big, fat, Greek salad!!! I've really been wanting that, and I made sure to grab the Lactaid pills before I left home. It was soooo good!!!

"It looks good! I'm so glad you planned for it!"

Me, too. It really scratched that itch, you know? It was extra good because it was free. None of us usually get a full salad, just a side one. This was a super-nice splurge. There was just one problem. When the bill came, it didn't allow me to add the tip. Seems like that restaurant doesn't allow that with their gift cards. I had to borrow $5 from Elissa for the tip!

"Oh. Good to know for the next time."

Yeah, that's for sure. I still have over $25 on the card. Sandy still has money on her card, too, plus she won another tonight for a free appetizer. That was on Game 3, which was just a regular game instead of a cash pot. Not enough people there, Russ said.

"Hey! Looks like you almost won that one!"

Well, I was "one away", as they say. All I needed was "My Guy", by Mary Wells. I was just one away on the first game, too. See? All I needed was Alice In Chains' "Them Bones". Elissa won that one, getting her cocktail for free.

"What a hard bunch of music to start the night! "90's Grunge"? Is that right?"

Yep, that's what it was. We were all glad when "BINGO!" was called!!! LOL!

"Hahaha! I'm sure. That music isn't quite y'all's speed." 

That's for sure. Still, it's amazing how many of those songs we did know. Nice to sing along with my friends! I'm so glad I was there tonight! Now, let me get ready for "The Quiz With Balls"... it's new season starts tonight! Such a fun show! What a great night this has been!

disparate singers, but winners for me!

What do Barry Manilow, DMX, Cheap Trick, The Alan Parsons Project, and Phil Collins have in common?

No, seriously, I'd like to know how those five entities wound up on my "Bar Favourites Mix #12" card at Music Bingo tonight.

Perhaps this is some kind of British joke, right, as the only unifying factor is that they were all American artists.

Regardless of why they were on my card, let me just say this: THANK YOU!!!

This was the last game of the night, which is usually a "blackout" game that nets the winner a $50 gift card to Midway Sports Grill.

That's what I thought we were playing, too, until I pointed out "my first bingo" and Elissa said, "You've won! Get up and let him know!"

So I did and she was right!!!

Holy mixed bag of songs, Batman!!!

Wow... I have FIFTY DOLLARS for MSG... wow!!!

I almost didn't come because I thought they might already be leaving.

The meeting of Two First Posts had run until 7:30, so I didn't arrive until 8.

Monday had clocked in with a high in the low 80's, as forecast last Friday, so the weather was perfect for sandals and shorts.

This would be my first time at Music Bingo this year, due to issues with weather (me) or Jewish holidays (them) or American Legion meetings (me).

How wonderful to see Marcia and Sandy and Elissa again!!!

How wonderful to sing along with my friends to so many songs!!!

And how wonderful that the Bingo DJ had technical issues that delayed the games for almost 40 minutes, allowing me to arrive while the first one was still in progress... wow.

I'm taking this odometer reading as a right place, right time sign.

Is it a palindrome?

No, because 245146 is not what the reverse reads.

Is it a poker straight, perchance?

Nope, 'tis not, as those numbers only yield a pair of 4's.

Then what's my deal-i-o with this mileage???

I like the way it sounds when I say it: two four five, one four six.

It's a nice mixture, just like those five artists on my bingo card.

(smile!)

looking for my groundhog

Was it here, hidden in the WSAV weather song?

Kinda sorta!

This was a sunny day, so the rascal would certainly see its shadow.

I know Smitty has been missing out on golf with his buddies.

He mentioned that on Friday, too.

I sent him this bit of the weather song to lift his spirits for the upcoming Sunday outing.

Let's hope the weather stays at our normal, as shown there!

Then Elissa texted to call off Music Bingo tonight.

Just she and Sandy went last week and they didn't like being that cold.

To her, I sent the forecast for today through Wednesday, as per Pat Prokop.

One more brutal freeze tonight, then two days in a row of near 60!

That sure brings a smile to my face!!!

This lunch brought a smile to me, too.

How so?

It isn't soup!!!

It's ham steak alongside Cranberry Pomegranate Brioche Stuffing.

So nice to eat with a fork, on a plate... so I had the same for dinner!

i had not-soup for breakfast, too: a scrambled egg wrap with Swiss.

Three meals with no spoon required!

In between lunch and dinner, I moved my trash can and the recycling bin to the curb.

I meant to do that two weeks ago, but I held off because it was cold that night.

Today, I went ahead and did it!

That's when I took a good look at my Japanese magnolia tree.

It's always been my groundhog, bursting with pink blooms to let me know warmer days were just six weeks away!

Those blooms from mid-January are all frostbit now.

I know it will be okay, though.

It recovered beautifully from last year's snow and ice, which lasted much longer.

So I celebrated its soon-to-be bounce back with a reward movie from Comcast: "Rush Hour"!!!

This one with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker has so many laughable moments, and a very nice story, too.

Then, after dinner, CBS had something special for me: 'mercials I actually enjoy!!!

I even texted around to family and friends to let them know it was on!!!

This was the 25th "Super Bowl Greatest Commercials" show, so there were lots of old favorites from the years past that were eligible for their 'Hall of Fame" - LOL!

Clydesdales! Pepsi! Doritos! Sheep singing Queen's music! Even one about herding cats!!!   

Nice to have so many high notes today!

i thank You, God!

sisters of the new year!

Not even the cold temperatures outside could keep me in today!

This was the designated day for the Sisters In Faith luncheon and I had volunteered to bring two prizes for the bingo games.

I had to be there!!!

And so I went, bundling up in two sweaters and my Cracker Barrel poncho-coat for the drive to Asbury Memorial, bag in hand. 

Thankfully, I was met with a plethora of others who'd turned out and turned up for this friendship gathering - hooray!

We each had a tinfoil tiara awaiting us, as well as a gilded tooter to blow when we had a bingo - TOOT!!!

Charlene was the first at our table to get a bingo.

That was on the second game, too.

So she was the first of us to get to choose a prize from the gift table!

Soon enough, I had a bingo on one of my two game boards!

"TOOT!!!"

I was the first one to actually do that instead of saying 'Bingo!", of course!

Linda Combs was elated that I followed her directions!

I chose the wire basket of fancy soaps - I know four little blondes who will like those 'eggs'!

(smile!)

I was the third person at our table to win.

I resolved to not take any more prizes.

Then I noticed that Pam was only playing one of her cards, trying to keep up... and I had another b-i-n-g-o about to happen... and when it did, I pushed the card in front of her and said, "Pam, you have a bingo!"

She perked right up and was thrilled!!!

I thought only my tablemates caught what I did.

Nope!

Tim Steinhauser, our bingo caller, saw it, too.

He alluded to how nice it was to see us 'sharing the wealth' instead of being like August.

Apparently, August had won three games the last time bingo was played!

I guess that's why he left today before the games began - Tim and Linda were both teasing him!

I stayed until the ginger ale toast!

First, we all sang "Auld Lang Syne", led by Michelle Meece - I may have been the only one who knew the words.

Then I clinked glasses with my tablemates - Charlene Branan, Pam Kress, Robin Eifler, Shirley Horovitz, Kay, and another Kay - then took my leave before the last round of bingo.

I have a new event, starting at 2.

Better go while I'm out!

(smile!)

yes, virginia, winter is coming to this latitude

At least the weather is trying to break it to us gently.

The highs will be hovering near 60 and the lows promise to not drop below 40.

I can do that!

I was out for 'lonely pants' earlier and I'm home now after Music Bingo with Elissa and Sandy!

I dined on grilled chicken, crispy fries, and delicious salad!

All in all, a very good first day of December!

Now, to finish it off with the two Janes and "The Night Before"!

(smile!) 

gambler's lament?

Not by me!

I took myself to Music Bingo tonight, as I haven't seen those friends for a couple of weeks.

I sat across from Marcia, specifically so I could sing with her!

Well, it was also because it was the only corner chair still empty.

Sandy and Elissa were already there, as well as Elissa's son, Isaac.  

Amanda, however, was late, so I took the seat she usually took across from her mother.

Yeah for me!

That made it so much easier on my right hip!

(smile!)

This week, the game had changed again.

A new group, Mix Tape Music Bingo.com, is in charge of the play slips and songs used, though Robert is still supposed to be the bingo jock.

He was not there tonight, but the young man who was ran the game the same as he would have.

That meant a free pitcher of draft beer was the prize for the first game, the "Yacht Rock Mix #1", which even had "The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" - love that song!

None of us, thankfully, won that, as none of us drink beer.

(smile!) 

Game 2 was the "Old School Club Mix", which certainly wasn't from the era when any of us were clubbing - lol!

We had to ask the phones for the titles of almost every tune! 

None of us won the prize - free cocktail or appetizer - from that one, either.

Not that the losses kept us each and every one from ponying up $5 for the third game, "Stars & Stripes Mix #1", a country feast.

That's the only game not free, as its prize is the pot of money received from all the players who pay the ante.

That would have meant $215 in hand!

But not for any of us.

By this time, the grumbling among the more competitive in our midst began.

Time for the final game, "50's & 60's Mix #1 - New".

It promised a $50 gift card to Midtown Sports Grill for the winner! 

All that was needed was a double bingo - horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

In the meantime, we had all this great music to enjoy!

"At The Hop", "My Girl", "Summertime Blues", "Respect", "Mr. Tambourine Man"!

That last song had been one of two I'd been waiting for to complete my double!

I only had one song that I needed to simultaneously complete the top row and the "G" column - wow!!!

However, it was not to be that I'd get "All Shook Up" by Elvis!

(Nice little inside joke with that one line!)

Someone else in the restaurant got their double first.

That's okay, though - we all had fun, listening and singing along as we danced in our seats and hung out together!

And, as I told the others, wasn't that the point?

(smile!)

I already knew I was a winner anyway... AARP told me!

Every day, I go to the site to amass Reward points and to spend them, too, mostly on the sweepstakes and these Instant Win games.

This morning, I won a $10 gift card to Jersey Mike's Subs!!!

I just may have to give that to Dawn - she loves that place.

(smile!) 

blessed with warm, sunny days!

Yes, after almost a month of highs in the 60's, this week has 70's!!!

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

That's why I enthusiastically answered Elissa's call for Music Bingo with a joyful "I'm in!" this morning!

Exclamation points in abundance!!!

(smile!) 

Sandy was even there at Midtown Sports Grill!

We three didn't have any luck with the four games, but we still had fun!

I do like the themes that Robert chooses, as they show a playful imagination.

The very first game was all Halloween-inspired: "Dead Man's Party", "Werewolves Of London", "Super Freak", "Devil Went Down To Georgia", "Back In Black", "Bad To The Bone", "Zombie Stomp"!

The next game was called the Drinking Songs Mix and had titles like "I Love This Bar", "Beer In Mexico", "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", "Born To Be Wild", "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", "Raise Your Glass", "Here For The Party", "Closing Time"!

See what I mean?

And the last game sent us home happy, with songs of our youth still fresh on our lips!

Yes, it was all 70's, looking for a double bingo to win $50, and guaranteed to keep us entertained while we searched and sang along: "Hot Legs", "Margaritaville", "Miss You", "Ballroom Blitz", "Feels Like The First Time", "Black Betty", "Thank You For Being A Friend" - what a fabulous way to end our time together!!!

(smile!)

happy Diwali! appetizers for all!

That had been my intention with my winnings from last week's Music Bingo.

I especially wanted to share with Marcia, as it was her 65th birthday!

However, sharing with her middle daughter, Amanda, was perfect.

Sandy even took one of the Southwest Egg Rolls!

The sriracha sauce was so good that Amanda even ordered some for her burger!

Winner!

That was as close as any of us got to winning, that's for sure.

Not even Elissa pulled a win at Bingo.

But Marcia sure did, as George made sure to treat her to three veggie appetizers for her bday65 - what a great guy!

My win came when I got home.

Comcast rewarded me with a $1 Movie Night, so, in honor of the Festival of Lights, I selected "The Grand Budapest Hotel".

Why that one?

Because my blonde roots confused it with "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", that's why.

Hahahaha!!! Hahaha!!!

Still, I very much enjoyed this 2014 piece from Wes Anderson.

I even managed to catch this brilliant photo of the three principals of the film: 'Monsieur Gustave' (Ralph Fiennes), Concierge of the hotel, speaking of the painting ("Boy With Apple") to the hotel's Lobby Boy, 'Zero' (Tony Revolori), who has leaned down from the upper bunk and is visible in the make-up mirror...

wow.

Right place, right time.

(smile!) 

a birthday dinner from george

Wait, let me rephrase that, will ya?

It certainly wasn't my birthday, after all.

That was months ago. 

This was George's birthday!

He's one of the regulars at the Midtown Sports Grill and he's a really nice fellow.

He always tells us goodbye as he leaves for the evening and wishes us luck.

Tonight, though, he invited us to partake of the largesse on the two large tables toward the bar.

He was sharing the birthday joy with all!

I was only too glad to take him up on that free dinner!

I spent $814.32 earlier for the shift cable, and I was hungry.

I made sure to sing 'Happy Birthday' to George before I dug in!

That was all a nice change of pace.

But that was not the only one!

We had yet another new jock for the Music Bingo and his name was Robert.

Lemme tell ya, that change was alright by me, too!

The prizes for the games varied, with the first winner getting a free beer.

The second winner - yours truly! - had my choice of a free cocktail or a free appetizer.

I took the food coupon!!!

As it's a coupon, I'll be able to use it next week, so that will be great!

Hard to believe I won it on a bunch of country songs I don't even know.

I was the only winner of our foursome.

Elissa, Sandy, and Joel didn't get a single bingo this time around.

That's okay, their turn is likely coming in the near future!

So glad I was able to be with these friends tonight!

Such a great way to celebrate having my Saturn back in my driveway!