cold day, hot men: part 2

Subtitle: Thanks, James Van Der Beek, for making a hero move.

See, I figured out why this special from December of 2024 was re-aired.

On February 11th, that actor who'd been in "Dawson's Creek" died.

James would have been 49 years old next month on March 8th.

That's him, second from the right, in the brown pullover and tam.

The woman to the left is Mandy Moore, the choreographer of their burlesque dance routine to Joe Cocker's "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

Starting from the left, the men are Bruno Tonioli, Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, Chris Jones, James Van Der Beek, and Tyler Posey.

As diverse as their ages (in 2024) are their distinguishing features.

Bruno is the 68-year-old Italian dance machine of the stars.

Taye is the 53-year-old hunk that once helped a new divorcee find her strengths and get her groove back.

Anthony, at 54, represents the chunky boy next door that could always make you laugh and feel pretty, as a game show host always should.

Chris, that tall drink of water in the middle, at 30 years old and a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, fulfills every woman's fantasy of making it with a buff football player.

James, 47 years old, was the genteel white dude who had been a teen-bop heart throb on television.

Tyler, the tattooed 33-year-old Latino with the musical background, is the perfect addition for the six-man team. 

Together they represent a flavor for every female fantasy, which was obvious when Bruno, Tyler, Chris, Anthony, James, and Taye took the stage for that one-night performance in Los Angeles.

But let me set the record straight: this was not a Chippendales strip show.

Anthony Anderson had lost his father and three brothers to cancer and wanted to do something to encourage men to take action.

He knew that men, no matter what race, have a problem with associating going to a doctor with stripping down and showing weakness.

What might put that action into proper perspective than to strip down with a few others, in front of an audience, and to bare all in the name of fighting prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer?

He went ahead and booked the theater where the show would be held.

The problem, then, was trying to get other male celebrities to bring their star power for that fundraiser.

The first to show up was Taye Diggs, unsure of whether he really wanted to strip down, but wanting to honor the deaths of his mom and dad to cancer.

Bruno Tonioli was the next to walk through the door for the training session; he'd come to honor his friend and mentor.

Chris Jones showed up just a few days before the show, to replace a man who'd had to leave; Chris was there to honor his coach.

Tyler Posey's mom had died of breast cancer, having postponed going to the doctor until it was too late.

That had almost been James Van Der Beek's story, but with him being the one who had waited until almost too late.

As he finally told the others at dinner a few nights before the show, he had known something was wrong, but he didn't want to see the doctor, afraid his worst fears might be true.

That sounds like exactly what Daddy had done in 2008, and like exactly what Mother Pat had done in 2006. 

Both of them were dead within a year.

Now, James Van Der Beek has died, after a three-year battle.

The re-airing of the 2024 special was done to continue to raise awareness.

Fox even kept the QR code onscreen at all times, encouraging viewers to donate to support colorectal cancer research.

That truly is a disease that should claim no lives and cause no heartbreak, as a simple screening can lead to its discovery and treatment.

Want to be a man that takes care of his loved ones?

Get a colonoscopy.

Have a prostate exam.

See your doctor on a regular basis so they know you.

Cancer doesn't discriminate, it's an equal opportunity killer.

earth day spring fling with a smiley face!

When Laura had asked if I would be at Jalapenos tonight, I'd told her I would not.

This was the 25th Annual Savannah Earth Day celebration and I had promised myself that I would be in Daffin Park for it!

Inside my butterfly tote bag I had five pairs of eyeglasses that had been in drawers, waiting to be rescued.

 

Forsight was thrilled to take them from me!!!

They'll use the frames for making new glasses for someone who can't afford frames.

In return, they gave me that snazzy lens-cleaning cloth!

Winner for all!

Next I stopped to chat at a table that had a game to play.

An aluminum beverage cup was perched over the edge of a board, then flipped.

If the cup landed back on the board, you got to keep it!

I couldn't get the knack of it, but Savannah To-Go Cup let me have one anyway!

At other vendors along the way, I'd stop and talk for while.

Wilderness Southeast, where Yvette was working the table.

Caretta Research Project, which I remembered from my days in the STERI project at Jenkins High.

The Dolphin Project, which I've wanted to be part of since I was 40.

The Tybee Marine Science Center, source of these sea turtle cards!

The City of Savannah had the most tables with free swag.

One was the source for a fabulous blank journal with ruled pages.

Another had an emergency disaster guide as well as a flashlight, batteries included.

A third had 2025 calendars loaded with helpful info.

And the fourth introduced SAV / Z, with neon-green vests for cyclists.

I picked up two of those.

As a rule, I would take two of most items, especially coloring books, like this one from Keep Savannah Beautiful.

Clean Harbors also had very nice activity books for kids.

Several places had single-page coloring or activity sheets for children, so I made sure to grab four every time I came across those.

After all, I have a vacation trip at the end of May and it will be good to have those as a surprise for the little blondes!

I spent a lot of time at two tables.

A communications graduate student and I had a 15-minute talk about his thesis of promoting conversations about recycling.

I had another lengthy talk with Savannah Riverkeeper, who aren't from here, but Augusta.

They gave me a new Happy Robot pin to go along with the square one I've had ever since the 2016 Savannah Film Festival. 

I received that white pin at the Q&A with Porkchop Zimmerman after "Happy", the documentary about his mission to make people smile.

They told me that I was the only person all day who knew anything about those pins.

That made me smile!

(smile!)

After nearly two hours there at Daffin Park, it was time to head east.

Never Been Any Reason to return to Tybee Post Theatre until the girlie show, right?

(Those last two links are just me having some musical pun fun!)

Beau Blush and Scarlett Siren of Coastal Cabaret were throwing a Spring Fling, ABCD style - aerial, burlesque, cabaret, drag!

Besides being greeted with a big bear hug by Wesley Pridgen, this show was just what I needed to get my motor all revved up!

Beau Blush, true to her name, put rosy cheeks on all the fellows with her opening burlesque routine to "Ain't No Sunshine" - just mesmerizing, she was.

Wow!

She was back in the second act, this time looking more like Rosie the Riveter as she danced with the aerial Luna ring in perfect timing with "Human".

Wow!

My third most favorite dance was the burlesque by Arabica Blacque to "When You're Good To Mama", the song Queen Latifah sang in "Chicago".

Wow!

My favorite number of the two burlesque routines by Scarlett Siren was her second one, performed with a Luna Lollipop - very smooth.

Trixie Noir used the Triangle Swing for her one aerial and was quite lovely and lithe and liquid in what was her premiere on stage.

Donna Matrix, the bellydancer, had two outings, once with a very large snake, then with two swords, all performed with constant hip undulations - very good!

The drag was handled by Nubia Rose, putting forth her inner Beyonce.

As for the cabaret number, that came at the show's finale, featuring Nubia Rose and the three Hoedown Honeys with a ribald song that was most def not PC - but sure was fun!

Oh, then there's the emcee, on stage between numbers in a smoking jacket, but still recognizable as the young man I'd first seen ten years earlier on an October evening with Carolyn.

Yes, it was Jack NTha Cox, in the flesh, which he was revealing for tips by show's end!

Nice to see that he's rocking more of a dad-bod these days!

My guess is that's the reason for the smiley face in the sky tonight.

Lots of sexy burlesque strips...

a naughty bit of cabaret...

fabulous fun in the evening sun...

and everyone comfortable in their bodies!

How wonderful to have had all this entertainment

for less than 25 bucks

as Venus and Saturn kept company

with the moon's crooked smile!

(smile!)

smilin' all the way

A bakery owner hires a young female shop assistant who liked to wear very short skirts and thong panties.

One day a young man enters the store, glances at the shop assistant and at the loaves of bread behind the counter.

Noticing her short skirt and the location of the raisin bread, he has a brilliant idea. "I'd like some raisin bread please," the man says.

The shop assistant nods and climbs up a ladder to reach the raisin bread located on the very top shelf.

The man standing almost directly beneath her is provided with an excellent view, just as he thought.

When she descends the ladder, he decides that he had better get two loaves.

As the shop assistant retrieves the second loaf of bread, one of the other male customers notices what's going on and requests his own loaf of raisin bread.

After many trips she is tired and irritated and begins to wonder, "Why the unusual interest in the raisin bread?"

Atop the ladder one more time, she looks down and glares at the men standing below. Then, she notices an elderly man standing amongst the crowd.

Thinking that she can save herself another trip, she yells at the elderly man, "Is it raisin for you too?"

"No," he stammers, "But it's quiverin' a little."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Perhaps the old gentleman should have gone to the burlesque show last night. He would have certainly attained full mast! WOOOO HOOO!!!! I'm not even equipped with those dangly bits, but I was quite excited by the dancing and vamping and humor! Hooray for kickstarter and a successful campaign!