from 1 to 3 to 6 to 1 to 3

"Goodness gracious, g'friend! Is this some kind of math puzzle? It's too late at night to be doing stuff like that."

 

Calm yourself, dearie. I'm just playing with numbers of people I was in the company of this afternoon and evening.

 

"Oh, I know how it started! You met up with Carolyn!"

That's right! She and I went to the 2:10 PM screening of a Chinese film, "Escape From The Outland", that turned out to be very intense. As I told her, had I known it was going to be about people kidnapped by terrorists and ransomed off, I doubt I would have chosen it. I was wound pretty tight by the time it ended. Fortunately, Tom met us in the hall as we exited that viewing room, and then Irwin rolled up to join us. Soon enough, we'd transitioned from discussing that near-documentary to talks of other movies that were still playing. Then, it was like we had our own little party going on the hall at the AMC, laughing and carrying on!!! Hooray!!!

 

"Very nice! So that took you from company of 1 to company of 3!"

 

See how simple that math was? We stayed right there for at least twenty minutes, too. In fact, we were still right there, talking and laughing, when three more briefly joined us. They were Sandy, Marcia, and Kelly, all there to see Hugh Jackman do his version adult versions of Tom Cruise in "Risky Business". I'm talkin' 'bout "Song Sung Blue", of course! I made sure to let them know the timeline was two decades, not two years. I knew I'd be going out with them after their movie was done and wanted to make sure they wouldn't be sobbing wrecks like I had been.

 

"That was very kind of you, especially as it didn't detract from the movie. Now, about that math: that took the 3 to 6. Then what happened?? How did that do back to only 1?"

Carolyn and I left the cinema and went out to a leisurely dinner, of course! She chose Olive Garden, which was fine with me. I ate lots of salad to go along with half of the Chicken Scampi. The rest, plus breadsticks, went home for another meal.

 

"Okay, hold up. Did you now just say you were joining the other three women for a meal after their movie? Didn't you say that?" 

I most assuredly did not say that. I simply said I was going out with them post-movie. In actuality, my plan all along was to join them for dessert. And that's just what I did! Plus I had a small ginger salad.

 

"Ah ha! That must mean you were at an Asian restaurant." 

You are right on the money! Marcia left it up to me to choose between Applebee's and Sushi Hana and I chose the Asian place. I'm so glad I did! Marcia, Kelly, and Sandy all enjoyed their food and we even shared some of each other's meals, like we would have done in our youth at Chinese restaurants. My Banana Tempura had a very generous helping, so I gladly shared that will all... and still took home about half of it! 

 

"Well, that sounds like all five of you ladies had a very nice celebration of friendship this evening! I'm so happy for you!"

 

Me, too! What a blessed day! And even with the two restaurants, tipping, and movie, I spent less than 30 dollars. We can afford to do that again!

 

"Oh, yes, let's!!!"

not with a bang, but a giggle

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

down and down i go, round and round i go

You might expect a lovely Sunday afternoon game to be fairly leisurely.
You might, but you would have been soooo wrong today!
If ever a baseball game was a rollercoaster, this one was it! A theme park could have sold tickets for it as a new ride!
Well... maybe not quite... but you know what I mean, right?
No, of course you don't.
This Sand Gnats' game was one for the history books!
Right from the very start, we all knew something was up.
Our pitcher was loading the bases with Rome Braves.
I kid you not.
Ricky Knapp must have missed the memo about this being a game, not a practice session. He hit the first and third men up, walked the one in-between, and then walked the fourth man, to give the Braves their first run of the day. They ended up with a score of five runs and a single hit.
That bears repeating: five runs and a single hit.
Incredible.
The Sand Gnats played great offensively. Of the 8 innings they batted, they scored runs in all but two.
They also played great defense.
But it's hard to mount any defense against runs that are walked in.
As they were in the first and ninth innings. Yep, Paul Paez was walking runs in, too.
Very sad.
I guess the good news is that the Braves' pitching crew had a bonehead, too. In the bottom of the fifth, one of the Gnats was hit and three were walked, with a few hits sprinkled around.

Then, with Patrick Biondi and Champ Stuart put on base by the pitcher,
and Dominic Smith on first on his single,
Matt Oberste sailed one over the left field wall for a Grand Slam!!!
How about that!?!?!

The Gnats finished the inning with a total of eight runs. That brought their score to an unheard-of 14 runs.
Wow!
And they kept the Braves from garnering more than their six runs until the top of the ninth, when Paez was given a turn at the pitcher's mound. He gave them another six runs, doubling their score.
Thank God the pitching coach finally pulled him before he had a chance to pitch for the 8th Brave that inning.
Yeah, that's what I said: the eighth Brave. With zero outs.
What a rollercoaster!!!
Down, down down, in the top of the first, then bottoming out, followed by rounding curves and straightaways. Then, up, up, up!!! Whee!!! Rounding a curve at the peak, catching a short straight stretch of track, then down, down, down again!!!
Whew!
Nice to ride once, but let's not do that again, okay?

strike him out, pop him out, throw him OUT!

That's my standard cheer when the game is getting tight and the Gnats need to rally.
You know my predisposition toward triplets, right?
They do keep popping up here and there. I'm sure psychologists have a name for that, but they are welcome to keep it.
(smile)
For the past two days, I have been treated to baseball games with my lovely boys of summer - and friends. Well, "treated" may be the incorrect word choice, as I am a Season Ticket Holder, so my attendance is already paid for every home game. But you know what I mean - I had the time in my social schedule to actually be there. The boys are in town through Thursday, so I hope to hit some more games betwixt now and then.
Anywho...
Let's start with Saturday night's game. Fairly standard game it seemed to be, when I arrived at the top of the 4th.
What?
I was late, you see. I had forgotten that start time was 6:05 PM for the fiReWOrKs Saturday games. So, when I arrived at 6:45, I found no parking in the STH lot and had to park in the boondocks.
Ah, well, I needed the exercise - especially as I had already decided to have the Chicken Tenders Basket for dinner. The best deal out there, I tell you! You get at least three crispy fried chicken tenderloins atop a bed of fries. I load up the chicken with dill pickle chips - scrumptious!
Ahem - as I was sayin'.
I arrived late and the score was 2-0, visitors' favor.
Willie was there, as were Bruce and Jack, and I settled in between them.
Just a regular game, as I said.
The "Sweet Caroline" back-up girls were late, too - traffic jam from the beach. But they were in plenty of time for their 8th inning antics.
So, regular game, on-going.
Then, in the 5th inning, the Gnats scored three runs!!! Woohoo!!!
But the Rome Braves, after three scoreless innings in a row, managed to score a run at the top of the 9th. Oh, no!!! A tied game!!! In spite of my chanting!!!
No worries! My boys came to PLAY and that's what they did!
First at bat was centerfielder Champ Stuart. He was walked.
Dominic Smith, our first baseman, bunted. Say what??? That threw the Braves' infield for a loop! Not only did Champ advance to second, but Dominic made it to first!!!
You have to understand. Dominic is a big guy and not the fastest man on the team. For him to bunt, and actually get on base, is quite wondrous!
Willie had called the bunt, and he said the next man should bunt, too, to advance our runner to third.
He must have telepathed that play to Matt Oberste, because that is exactly what happened. Our designated hitter laid out a pretty little sacrifice bunt! So he didn't make it to base, but both of the men on bags advanced. Woohoo!!! A man in scoring position and only one out!!!
Very exciting!

Cole Frenzel,
our third baseman,
was deliberately walked to first.

 

You know that term?

"Deliberately walked"?
It means the pitcher threw balls far outside of the batting box, to where the waiting catcher was standing. The play is generally employed to get a potentially strong batter out of the way so a potentially weak batter can be struck out. It's also to better enable the team afield to make a double-play and garner two outs simultaneously.
Their mistake.
Understandable, if they are only looking at the stats. After all, Cole has a .333 RBI, compared to the .196 RBI of the next at-bat. Cole gets a hit and bats someone in every third time he is at-bat, essentially.
Like I said, their mistake. Numbers don't lie, but they can mislead.

Our second baseman, Jorge Rivero, stepped up to the plate.

The first pitch was a ball.

Rivero met the second pitch with a swing, for a line drive into left field!

Champ sails on in and the Gnats win!
The Gnats win!!!

I tell you, the fireworks are that much brighter when the boys win!!!
What an exciting finish!!!

But doesn't this display look like a face sticking its tongue out and saying 'got you!'?
Sure, serendipity at work here,
just a coincidence... right?
(smile!)

cards with a comfy way about them

This is from my first niece, received at yesterday's aurprise! party.
Inside, she had again composed a poem for me, this one free-form.
Aunts are special people.
Tina, you have a comfy way about you.

You love to chat with me.
You make me feel important.

You advise a little and listen alot.
You are kind of like a friend and a second mom all in one.

You splurge for little extra.
You tell the most interesting stories.

You are part of my fondest memories of growing up and good times.

You are such an important part of my life.

I love you so much!

This cheery card is from her mom
-
aka my outlaw Melinda!
-
and little sister Chelsea and stepdad Matt.

This cutie is from my nephew,
Mike,
her one-and-only brother.
He had written 'with much love to my favorite Aunt!'
LOL!
I need to get him out for karaoke again!

My "biggest little brother",
the one who had almost spoiled the surprise yesterday, gave me this one.
My inlaw Mary,
I am sure,
is the one who picked this out for them and the new graduate to give.
Oh, with two movie passes tucked inside!

This pair is from my youngest brother, the one in north Georgia.
In another two years, maybe he'll be able to join us!

My stepmom wasn't actually at the party, but I wanted to make sure I included her card.

Inside read '... enjoy the Ride.'

She added, "I know you will 'enjoy the ride'. You are a fun, caring person. Love!"

Yep, she knows me pretty well!
And now, it's time for me to go!

Later!

birthday ex

Ha ha! I know what you're thinking!
You think I left out an "s" in that title, aren't you?
You are soooo very wrong!!!
(smile!)
I wrote what I meant and I meant what I wrote: birthday ex.
He was in town, on vacation from Michigan. He actually comes to town around Memorial Day every year, since at least 2012. I specifically recall that year, as he was in town for his older daughter's graduation from high school. He had called to let me know he would be in Savannah and asked if I would like to meet up with him. I was just returning from Italy, so he was the one who picked me up. Then we went to have a burger - his treat for my birthday - and catch up with each other. Remember?
He had texted me about 9 PM last night:'Wanna get together?'
He had known I was back from Daytona. His two girls were keeping each other company and this might be our only chance to meet up.
So of course I said yes!
We went to Applebee's - a chain restaurant!!! - to hoist a beer for my birthday and nosh on some appetizers, like the wonton tacos, his favorite. He snapped this selfie there. Not bad, right? And a good memento of our meet-up for my special day.
He drove, but I showed him how to get southside using the newly-extended Truman Parkway - nice! Cut the trip time easily in half!
We listened to the folks doing karaoke there, talked a bit, then he brought me back home and went to his La Quinta. After all, he was to meet up for breakfast with his girls the next day.
That didn't happen. There was something about changed work schedules for the older girl, with the upshot being that he was on his own until 4 PM. So, he called and we decided to meet for lunch.
His treat, again! We had started toward a familiar mexican place, but then he spotted the barbeque joint right next to it.
"Local?" he had asked.
I had replied that I thought it might be.
So there we went!
(Remember? He favors local places, not chains.)
Good ribs, too, and a nice range of sauces at a help-yourself station. He had a smoked sausage and some pulled pork and really enjoyed them.
Nice lunch!
Then he was off to see his daughters and I was off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!
(Not really, but I simply couldn't resist!)

returning for a Modern Wedding

Actually, it was a reception. The wedding was last weekend, in Maryland.
This reception was for all to celebrate the marriage of Deborah to Kimmi, her love of the last seven years. What truly blessed times we live in that these two have been allowed to pledge their troth, for the rest of their lives, in front of God, country, and the world!
Truth to tell, I almost didn't make it there.
It's been wonderful these past three days, but driving in the mountains, whether they are in North Carolina, Tennessee, or Georgia, has been physically exhausting. Sure, it's pretty country, you bet. But, as the driver, you really don't get to enjoy much of the scenery, except in a large sense. You know what I mean? About the time you can focus in on that span of rapids, the road swerves and you must swerve, too, or crash through the guard rail and into the river. Or you notice that the pine trees on top of the mountain ridges look very much like the stray hairs on an old man's head - but then have to snap your attention back on the twisting gray serpent beneath your tires or risk a ride down a steep, seemingly bottomless, ravine just five feet to your right.
Now, picture doing that for hours and hours, for three days running.
Exhausting.
But my mental and emotional states are in fine form! My planned visit with my youngest brother this morning went very well, with him waiting on my arrival to the visitation room. Usually, it's the other way around. He is not allowed to come to visitation until he has showered and shaved and donned his finest prison garb. That takes a little time. This time, he knew a month ago that I was coming and when I would arrive and when I needed to leave.
I definitely need to be sure to work it that way in the future.
We had a very good visit for nearly four hours! What a great improvement over the last time I was able to see him. I know that part of the reason was the preparation beforehand.
Again, I need to be mindful of that in the future.
I hold told him in the letter that I needed to depart by 1 PM so I could arrive home in time for the wedding reception. Cool. At noon, he went to the guard desk to ask that they bring in the package of his books and papers that would be traveling home with me. And they very nicely compiled, bringing out a heavy box a few minutes before I was to leave. When I signed for the box, I saw it had only been approved on Monday.
Whew, that was cutting it close! So, I need to allow more than four weeks notice for such things in the future. But, for now, his Concordance, two Bibles, and envelope of old mail and study guides were out of his locker, allowing space for new possessions.
This is the second time since his arrival there that I have been allowed to help him save some of his meager possessions. He has been in Summerville since May of 2011.
Anyway, as I said, we had a very good visit, swapping stories of my travels and the family for tales of life under the new guard and his current living space. Then I collected the box, we gave each other our last hugs, and I retrieved my driver's license and keys from the security shack and got back in my car for the drive home.
As soon as I sat, I realized how drained I was.
Apparently, my body is not as young as it once was and cannot handle such long rides of constant attention in mountainous country. I was absolutely exhausted, and I had a six-hour drive ahead of me.
So, I made frequent stops. Oh, let's get some lunch and iced tea. Okay, time to stop and let some fluids out of my body! But a cold lemon-flavored water would be good to revive me. And now it's time to stop again.
Thank God I had the presence of mind to avoid the idiocy of that stretch of I-75 that services McDonough and Jonesboro. Those people cannot drive on interstates, yet they persist in trying, nearly killing the rest of us. No, not me, not this time. I took 20-East until I hit 441-South, following that to Dublin and I-16-East and home. A little variation to keep my mind from wandering, especially as tired as I was.
I also went straight - pardon me, "gently curving" - to the VFW Post 660, which was hosting the wedding reception. I arrived at the same time as the newlyweds! Whew! What good fortune!
And now, after a fun time with them and old friends I hadn't seen for a while and new friends that I don't see enough, I am home.
Time for bed and sweet dreams, y'all.

she's a beauty

Spring has sprung!
I saw my first gnats last night, struggling to break through the glass on the second floor of the Science Center.
(shiver)
They looked hungry, too.
And my Japanese magnolia is in full-TILT boogie mode, blooming like there's no tomorrow, like the only time is NOW, live for the moment and celebrate the WARMTH!

That's a good attitude!

new year's day!

Today is the first day of my new AD year! Last night, I had celebrated by attending a party in a nearby town. I had never been to such a party as this; a new adventure! I had called the hostess to make sure my presence would be welcomed (an emphatic YES!) and to get directions, then logged her phone number in "just in case." And off I went!
I had resolved not to drink alcohol there, even though my hostess graciously invited me to stay overnight. This Saturday, today, would be my last day at the DBR and I wanted to spend a leisurely day at my suite by the sea. No worries! The hostess had lots of sodas and juices and waters, and I was not the only abstainer.
And such a wonderful party it was! Lots of camaraderie, lots of playing pool, lots of dancing! And we were each and everyone of us there to have a good time! Even better! I met some folks I've now "friended" and look forward to seeing them again in the near future. The hostess has these parties every third Friday of a month, so I will have ample opportunity to share the company of these partiers again. Maybe not in January, maybe so, but definitely sometime in the coming year!
What kind of party? Well, let's just say it was a nudist party with a twist.
Once upon a time, while I was at school in Florida, I was dating a nudist - and I found I had an affinity for the lifestyle. It's quite freeing to just be in your own skin. There was a private lake that his club had access to and we would be there about once a month for a day in the sun, sans clothing. Very casual, very relaxing.
Well, last night's party was definitely clothing optional. If only a warm stretch of water had been around! But, instead, there were warmed wax massages - and THAT was AMAZING. Seriously. A M A Z I N G! And the gentleman giving those massages was so very talented with his touch and the wax had a calming eucalyptus scent and the temperature was the same as for thermatherapy (about 17 degrees warmer than body temperautre). Soooooo verrryyy relaxing, and warm, and left me feeling absolutely cherished. What a fabulous way to end a year!
And now, today, I am having a last, leisurely day by the Atlantic Ocean. After getting in after 3 AM, I woke seven hours later, refreshed and still smiling from the night before. Ahhhh! Time to start finishing off the refrigerated foods, so lots of cantaloupe and blueberries and scrambled eggs to attend my coffee. Yum! Then to wash my few clothes - just one load, mix it all together! Done!
Later, I went to Ocean Walk for a movie ("This is 40"), complete with popcorn and soda, of course. That's "lunch", thank you!

Then I strolled the beach. A nice long walk on the beach and, oddly, my first since my arrival. Far too chilly to actually get in the water, but still quite warm in the afternoon sun. And a very mixed bag of folks on the beach. Some, like me, all bundled up against the chill wind. Others in wetsuits for surfing the meager waves. And some, definitely not from around here, clad in T-shirts and shorts, dipping in and out of the water.
Now, it's time to settle in for the evening, as I have an early start tomorrow. Saute the zucchini and onions and squash with some grilled chicken... add a little penne... yum! Bye for now, y'all!