today starts stella time!

Here's that beautiful Ridgeback girl!

I can't believe this picture has such good focus!!!

Seriously, she hardly ever stops moving.

Dawn and Chris are off to the great white north to officiate for a niece's wedding, so I get to spend time with Stella in Georgetown for a few days.

Yes, it's going to be a bit of a challenge this time, as I still have brain fog from the anesthesia.

I'll just be mindful that there will be zero driving allowed at night time.

I can do that!

To celebrate my vacation here in "north Jacksonville", I let AARP treat me to lunch.

Yes, indeed, that was all paid using AARP Reward Point money, so it cost me not a thing!

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich is what I had as an early dinner and it was good, though a bit small, as it was a half-sandwich.

The Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, with its toasted pecans added for crunch, was a positively delicious lunch, even though it was a half order, too.

I'll be dining on that again some time!

Okay, time to feed Stella!

(smile!)

today, i went for a drive

I'm not saying I drove down to Hinesville or anything.

It was after my brother, Smitty, had taken me to my post-op appointment with Dr. Whipple and we were back at my house.

 

He could see that my car was covered in oak tree fronds.

The three hours of steady rain on Sunday had knocked them loose from the tree and all over any surface. 

"You want me to stay while you see if your car will start?"

Good idea.

In fact, I told him I would take a little drive, let my Saturn cruise...

and that's what I did.

I went straight to Truman Parkway South and let her run.

It wasn't yet 11 AM and both sides of the parkway were almost deserted.

That was good for my first venture out.

When the exit for White Bluff Road came up, I took it, then circled back on the ramp to hit Truman Parkway North.

By 11:15 AM, I was back to my driveway.

Hallelujah!

I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment with that foray into the world!

I thought, very briefly, of going to a movie.

After all, I haven't been to a cinema since World Theatre Day.

However, I haven't felt deprived in the least.

Between the free movies on Up Faith & Family last week, interspersed with my own reward movies and those on Peacock, I've had plenty to watch.

"Romantic Friction" - a book cover artist gets to play author when the real writer of a fluff romance wants to hide from the limelight; lightweight and funny.

"Starstruck: Gene Kelly's Love Letter To Ballet": not a word is spoken or sung, but there is no doubt about the plot; beautiful and captivating!!!

"My Boss' Wedding" - over-organized assistant is pegged with the groom's loosey-goosey nephew to plan an over-the-top gala in a week... from gown to flowers to food to venue to rehearsal dinner; definitely fun, with a little twist.

"First Dog" - when the pet of the POTUS gets lost and turns up in California, it's up to a foster boy to "do the right thing" and return him; I really liked this one, with all the Dolly Parton music and Eric Roberts as the President with a heart.

"Forgiveness Girl" - follows the childhood of a girl with spina bifida as she seeks friendship with a new girl; gets a bit too intense when the girl tries to kill herself.

"This Little Love Of Mine" - woman returns to her childhood town to convince her childhood friend to take over his family's business; yes, definitely liked this one, with its setting in a tropical cove!

"We're The Millers" - the Thursday reward movie from Comcast had a ragtag instant 'family' on an RV trip to Mexico to smuggle drugs; had some moments of mirth, Jennifer Aniston as a stripper, but a decent ending.

"Five Date Rule" - a widower and a birthday spur two people to the same internet dating site by their family and friends; another good one I'd see again!

"The Other Woman" - an older Cameron Diaz finds the man she's been dating is married and drops him, but his wife insists on being her friend; a bit wacky, but that's to be expected with this cast!

"Airplane!" - I watched this oldie from 1980 just for laughs!

That last one was seen last night, ending my Post Hernia Repair Film Festival right before the post-op meeting with the doctor.

Now, I'm going to watch some TV as I enjoy my dinner.

This is courtesy of Smitty and Mary's Easter repast: brown-sugar ham, green beans, and sweet potato casserole.

I'm watching an episode of "Father Brown" in which he introduces Sister Boniface as "The Forensic Nun".

I enjoy both of those British murder-mystery shows, so it'll be nice to see how the one spun off from the other.

Then, it'll be watching a recorded episode of "Two And A Half Men".

I've discovered I need that show to signal my body that it's time for bed.

If that's what I need, that's what I'll have.

Loss adjustment takes many forms.

that bucket - i mean, bouquet - woman

Eric Mitchell posted on fb that Patricia Routledge died yesterday.

She was 96 years old, which is quite an age to achieve!

I responded, "I thought maybe they'd all died already. Nice to be wrong!".

And why had I thought they might all be dead?

"Keeping Up Appearances" originally aired on BBC from 1990 to 1995.

That's better than three decades ago, and none of the characters were children.

Also, by the time it ended, 'Richard' had retired, so I took that to mean the character was at least 60 years old.

Or perhaps he just seemed that old because wife 'Hyacinth' had worn him out?

(smile!)

I liked that all the daughters had been named for flowers.

I like to imagine that their father, or perhaps the mother as well, had been a botanist or gardener. 

All we ever knew about 'Daddy' was that he had been in World War II, he lived with 'Daisy' and 'Onslow', and he liked to get out and pinch women on their butts.

(smile!)

George Webb, the actor who played the flower girls' father, was 83 (in real life) by the end of the series and died in 1998, three years after it ended.

Mary Millar, the loose-heeled 'Rose', who also lived with 'Daisy' and 'Onslow', died in 1998, too, just a month before him, of ovarian cancer.

She was only 62 years old.

Cancer of the prostate, in 2012, took Geoffrey Hughes, the shirtless, vest-wearing 'Onslow', at the IRL age of 68.

His sexually frustrated wife, 'Daisy', Judy Cornwell, still lives and is 85 now.

Clive Swift, the long-suffering and very-patient 'Richard Bucket', died in 2019 at 82.

'Elizabeth', the next-door neighbor who spilled coffee and biscuits only in the Bucket house, was played by Josephine Tewson, who died just three years ago.

She was 91.

David Griffin, who played her divorced brother, 'Emmett', is 82 and still living.

Those were the principals in this show that I began watching regularly during the pandemic, when I focused on the PBS and SCE TV channels.

"Keeping Up Appearances" was shown on Saturdays, so I knew which day of the week it had to be if that series was on.

I still watch it for that very reason... and I still laugh out loud at the antics! 

(smile!)  

Now, the actress who portrayed 'Hyacinth', the woman who kept the others on their toes, has passed away at 96 years old.

What a life Patricia Routledge has led in the 46 years since she was cast as the would-be society maven, hosting her "candlelight suppers with the Royal Doulton tea service with the hand-painted periwinkles" - what a life!

And what an inspiration she was during that latter part of her life -  

learning Italian in her 60's so she could sing opera in its native tongue -

doing Shakespeare in her 70's so she could take the stage "simply being" -

using watercolors in her 80's with each painting "a memory made real" -

writing letters by hand and baking bread in her 90's.

Here are her own words, written after her 95th birthday.

"Growing older is not the closing act. It can be the most exquisite chapter — if you let yourself bloom again.
Let these years ahead be your "treasure years".
You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be flawless.
You only need to show up — fully — for the life that is still yours."

(smile!)

Now, the episode is about to begin where she has convinced Richard to move into a tiny apartment up in the rafters of a mansion.

Happy Saturday to all!

not the usual fare at tybee

"What's that? Did you go to one of the staged readings they've been having at the Tybee Post Theatre?"

Nope. This wasn't even something I would have selected on my own. I'd been looking at them in the event listings for months, but not for me... for the physicist. He's been heavy into Eastern mythologies and meditation for about the last three years, at least.

"So you finally put it onto his radar?"

Nope! He texted me yesterday morning and proposed that we attend the "Sound Bath" today. How about that? And when I agreed, he bought the tickets, justthatfast, and we were set to go!

"Holy cow! That qualifies as spontaneous for him!"

Right?! So, at 5 PM he was here to whisk me down there for the 6 PM session with Carol Melton. I had thought he remembered her from Armstrong, but he did not. She worked in IT there and retired in 2016. Leading these experiences in meditation is what she's been doing the last few years. Hence, the huge collection of Tibetan singing bowls she has. She also has an Ocean drum (beads inside a drumhead,  making a sound much like a rain stick), several colorful quartz singing bowls, and even some chimes.

"And is that colorful item on the floor your towel?"

It is! We were to bring a towel and a pillow. She had yoga mats there, so I borrowed one of those, a bright green one to match my lemons shirt. Everyone liked that!

"Am I to understand that you got down on the floor?!?"

Eventually, yes. It took a while for me to talk myself into it. Then I wasn't there long before Carol sensed my unease and encouraged me to choose a seat out in the auditorium. That's when the trouble began. With the yoga mat below me, I couldn't get my footing and ended up falling. Carol and the bfe then helped for my next try, but not before my right knee got bruised from all that leaning on it. Honestly, I should have known better.

"Honestly, you should have. You know you never get down on the floor."

I do. I just felt I owed it to the physicist to give it a try.

"You're not getting weird on him, are you? Please say you aren't."

I am not getting weird on him, I promise. His lifestyle and mine really aren't compatible for coupleship to be a consideration. He's my best friend extraordinaire, now as he has been since 2012. I just wanted to show him by active participation that I respect his choices. And I want to emphasize that I did enjoy this! Carol had dimmed all the lights and I closed my eyes from where I sat in the front row, letting the various tones she pulled from the instruments wash over me for the duration. I'm pretty sure I even fell asleep!

"What? You must have gotten pretty mellow for that to happen."

As I told the bfe, I felt like I'd had a massage, but without a stranger touching me. That was great! He was a bit surprised about that, but he didn't question it.

"That's interesting, given y'all's history, but he just may bring it up some other time. He was busy driving when you were saying that. Driving is not something he does for fun."

True. He didn't bring it up during dinner at Chipotle's, either. I talked about Carol's former teaching at Armstrong, as well as her being part of the Asbury Memorial family. Then I talked about seeing Kate at Bonnie's party, as I knew he knew Kate and her husband Chris. It turned out that he hasn't seen her in several years. I told him, too, about Scott's loss of Axel and me being able to refer him to Fox and Weeks, as they took such good care of his two old lady cats, Contessa and Chloe. By that time in the evening, the rain that started as we got to the restaurant had eased up. Time for him to go check on Emily the Cat!

"Nice segue!"

Thanks! And guess what? He had misplaced his phone in his apartment. We had talked about that earlier, with me assuring him I had done that many times. I also told him that every time I did lose the device, I'd think, "Oh, I should call Christina and have her call me so I can find it"... lol!!! Anyway, as he returned my towel and pillow, I suggested I could call him and maybe he could find his phone. "Great idea!", he said, then jumped in his car to head for home! Vroom!!!"

"Hahahaha! I can just picture him doing that! And were y'all successful?"

We were! I called several times, letting it ring through, waiting for him to pick up, waiting a few minutes between calls. At last, he answered! The phone had slipped off the counter and into the trash bin below. Good thing he hadn't thrown out the bag yet!

"Indeed! That's a funny and fitting end to the evening!"

Yes it was! And he said he'd heard the phone vibrate four times before he found it. I told him I was sure I'd called five times. Well, I was mistaken, as I said in my text just now. "You were right! There were 4 calls, not 5. Like when the Borgs tried to mess with Picard."

"Leave him with a laugh! Very good!"

 

major meltdown, 6-year-old style

She had not been listening.

Just like her sister at that age, she was pushing her mom's patience, hard.

Not once, not twice, but over and over.

So she was told that she if she didn't behave, there would be no pool for her.

Perhaps she heard that, perhaps she didn't.

The upshot was this: no Volcano Pool for her.

At all.

That would make a day of vacation that she didn't go to the pool even once.

She proceeded to throw a gigantic tantrum, just like her sister did at that authority-pushing age.

Threw herself on her bed, she did, sobbing into the pillow at top volume, thrashing her arms and legs against the mattress... in other words, she was being 6.

No response to her Mama's pleas to calm down, no response to her sister's chastising, just louder sobs and more thrashing.

I told Christina and Miyah to go on to the pool, I would stay there with Chloe.

That was my choice to take on the challenge.

I let her cry a little longer, then came in to work on calming her.

Stroking her back gently, speaking softly so she would have to quiet down to hear, using touch and a calm tone I sensed her frantic state easing.

I sat on the bed, continuing to softly rub her back and her hair.

I told her how important it was to listen to her Mama.

I told her that there are so many dangers in the world and her Mama is always trying to make sure she stays safe.

I told her that her Mama knows when danger is around or when there is a chance that she might get hurt.

I told her that's why it is always important to listen to her Mama and do what she says.

I told her that she is only 6 and she doesn't yet have all the knowledge and experience she needs to stay safe.

I told her that her Mama always loves her and wants her to be safe.

I told her to always remember that she is important and special to her Mama.

I repeated those words over and over, taking Chloe into my arms when she sat up, tears finally not coursing down her face, breath no longer ragged.

Finally, I asked her to come into the living room and sit with me...

and she did.

Would she like a Krispy Kreme doughnut?

Would she like some water?

She would need to sit at the table for those...

and she did.

Together, we watched an old episode of "Family Feud" on the Gameshow channel and I taught her about the numbers on the sides of the answers.

"That means that 23 people out of 100 had that same answer."

She caught on pretty quickly and was telling me after that whether the contestant had guessed a good answer or a bad one.

I sent that photo to Christina around 10:30 PM, there at the pool, letting her know all was well.

She was so relieved that Chloe had calmed and was enjoying quiet time with me.

So was I.

We saw the meltdown coming while we were eating dinner.

Instead of going straight to the condo after our day at the park, we went to Sickies Garage, as I thought I remembered Tuesday being a "kids eat free" day.

I was mistaken about that; Monday is that day.

We also ended up at a different Sickies than the one we'd been to before, though both are in Kissimmee and both are on the same road.

At this one, the car was suspended from the ceiling and was inside.

I went for a new option, "Wild West Nachos", which used kettle chips and bbq pork.

Guess I was still feeling like a cowgirl!

Chloe sat with me on one side of the booth, across from Christina and Miyah.

I was enjoying the music of my youth, singing along, chatting with one of the older waitresses, just having a good time!

I think Chloe took that as a sign she could play around, too.

It had been a long day in the sun, sandwiched between two 45-minute drives.

She'd had lots of mental and physical stimulus from playing with a bunch of other kids while we were at the park, so that had her revved up.

Also, I think both girls had missed their meds that morning and it was after 8 PM and time for their evening dose to settle them down for bed.

We didn't even leave the restaurant until after 9 PM, heading straight over to Krispy Kreme for a dozen, then stopping to watch the fireworks show visible from DisneyWorld.

She had been choosing "go to the pool" as her option every time she was given a choice about an activity, but Miyah's choice always won out.

Yes, the meltdown was in the works before we even got back to town from Lakeland.

We'll have to pay more attention so we can avert them for the next few days.

muddy dolphins

What's the difference between the bottlenose dolphins that live in Georgia's estuaries and the bottlenose dolphins all over the world?

Our dolphins like to roll up on a muddy riverbank to snap up fish!

No other dolphins exhibit that behavior.

In the 3400 miles of shoreline formed by the marshy lands of the five Georgia rivers that empty into the Atlantic Ocean, these dolphins have learned how to maximize their eating efforts, and adapted their physiology as well.

It's amazing.

That's just one of the things I learned at The Dolphin Project's Research Training Workshop I attended this morning.

 

Taught by Peach Hubbard, one of the Skippers who lend their boats and their time to the monthly trips to the estuaries to gather data, I was impressed by all the information on these unique marine mammals living along Georgia's 100-mile coastline.

Wait, that math doesn't seem to add up... or does it?

Oh, it does, most definitely.

 

As the crow flies between South Caroline and Florida, Georgia does have a 100-mile coastline, but that's just part of the story. Taking a boat and riding that distance all along the many inlets and nooks, the turns and loops, that 100 miles becomes expanded more than three hundredfold.

Without The Dolphin Project's scientific work these past four decades, I have to wonder how many Tybee Beach visitors might have ever had the delight of seeing the dolphins swimming along the shore?

I have, and it's a marvel to me to know they play in the surf just as we do.

That doesn't mean they are tame creatures, though.

One look at that mouth full of sharp teeth and that muscular body is a reminder that these animals live in the wild and that we need to respect their lives.

No feeding the dolphins!

No swimming with the dolphins!

No contaminating of their environment!

That's all part of the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

I'm glad I'm part of the One Hundred Mile advocacy program to fight for their rights.

I'm glad I was part of the STERI program in high school and learned about respecting the natural fauna and flora in our marshes and rivers and ocean.

I'm glad I signed up for this research training today.

What will I do now?

Twenty-seven years ago, when I was given a gift certificate by my husband to participate in this research training, I wanted to be part of the expeditions on the water.

Is that what I want now?

I don't know that answer yet, but I know this: I'm ready for a change.

tall'ee ho!!!

 

I dared to eat a peach... and it was so very tasty!

T. S. Eliot would have been proud of me, too!

 

The map said it was 247 miles, but that's not exactly the route I took.

I drove south on I-95 until I hit GA-82, taking it all the way to Waycross.

There, I turned off to Valdosta, then on to Quitman, catching GA-319 and riding that lovely bit of highway straight into Tallahassee, ending up just miles from my blue-sky cousin's house.

Hooray for me!

Good for Nuvi for keeping me where I needed to be. 

I'd left between 11:30 AM and noon; my arrival at her place was near 6 PM.

The map site had quoted a driving time of just over 4 and 1/2 hours. 

I hadn't rushed, I was being mindful that this was my first long-distance solo drive in a couple of years.

I even took an hour in Waycross for lunch, stopping at a Publix and letting my SNAP treat me to sushi - delicious!

Penny and Steve are letting me use Jacob's bedroom, and that will work out fine, especially as I made sure to bring my own pillow.

(smile!)

Penny is elated that I came early to help her get ready for Aunt Linda's birthday Tea!

She has a whole list of things for me to do, starting bright and early tomorrow!!!

I was kidding with her and said, "Girl, I know that bedroom ain't free! I have to work for it!"

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

She asked if Smitty and Tony were coming and I had to tell her that I honestly didn't know.

Bobby had set up an invitation page on fb a few weeks ago, so I'd made sure to invite Mary and Tony and Laura, so they could put it into their schedule.

Yet, when I'd brought it up last Friday at the S&K Friday Fiesta, asking when they were planning to be there, they all acted like that was all news to them.

Seriously, it started a big fight.

Smitty hadn't been told anything about it by Mary, so that didn't help.

Laura had already planned to be at some baby birthday for someone on her side of the family, but Tony wanted to go see Aunt Linda.

And everyone seemed to be mad at me for bringing it up.

Well, not everyone.

The Kamerons kept out of it completely.

(Sigh)

I'll give them a call tomorrow and see if they are coming, but I won't hold my breath.

Yes, I very much want them here.

They haven't seen anyone in this part of the family since Bobby came to Savannah to officiate at Smitty and Mary's wedding.

That was in May of 2001.

Aunt Linda, Mama's last sibling and family member, will be 85 on April 15th.

Better for us to all see her while she can see us.

so impressed with my first niece's recovery!

I don't know that I can call her a wienie anymore.

See her in that photo?

That's about three hours after surgery on her right knee, the one injured by a student the week after school started in the fall of last year.

It's taken this long for the school's Workers Compensation program to figure out that physical therapy alone is not going to put her knee back in place.

The surgery today was to have begun at 11:15 AM, but was delayed by an earlier patient and didn't actually start until about 2:30 PM.

I left Savannah about noon, wanting to make sure I arrived at her house shortly after 1 PM, to make double sure I'd be there when the girls arrived home from school on the bus.

Michael joined me there and together we let the dogs out and waited - waited for word from Chelsea about the surgery status, waited for the four little once-blonde girls to get there, waited.

When the girls came home, all were allowed to have a snack, then it was homework time for Miyah and Chloe.

That coincided with word from Chelsea that the surgery had gone well, with the doctor having success in getting the meniscus back in place, mending the tear in it, and removing all the torn cartilage in the patella.

Within another hour, they were on the way back to Hinesville from Jesup.

Michael went back to his house with Leila and Alyssa, to make dinner for all of us: spaghetti with meat sauce, as well as garlic toast, all arranged by Christina this morning.

I stayed with Christina's girls.

We went for a walk, as the girls told me the park was within range.

No, not quite, but we did have a nice jaunt, being mindful of the traffic as we neared each intersection along the way.

Dinner was set for 6 PM, so we headed over and the girls played with the feral cats.

To my great surprise, Chelsea and Christina showed up there!

Christina even managed to get up his front porch steps!!!

The reason she's lying on the couch is that she's still loopy from the anesthesia, as well as a preemptive dose of pain meds administered post-surgery.

Poor Chloe is a little concerned about her Mama, but I think she and Miyah both were very relieved that Christina would be home when we returned.

So she was, too, having again climbed up steps by herself, and was set up on the recliner, with icy air bathing her swaddled knee.

The girls were very helpful with their evening routine, too, doing what they were supposed to do, with no lollygagging and no picking on each other.

I had asked Christina to write up a schedule for me, and she did, so the girls and I - and the two dogs - know exactly what is required of us.

I'm glad dinner at Michael's had been set up so I didn't have to worry about what to cook.

That was really nice of her to even plan for us.

I guess I forget sometimes that she's a grown woman, now in her fourth decade, and has been taking care of others for most of her life.

Now, it's my turn to help take care of her.

I went out a few minutes ago and bought ice for her knee-cooling machine, with plenty to get us through tomorrow morning, too.

Speaking of which, that challenge for me gets started at 6 AM.

Time for me to get to bed.

Not that I won't return to sleep after the girls board the bus in the morning, but, still, I need to be awake to make sure they get up, get their meds, get dressed, get lunches.

Meanwhile, I'm very proud of Christina for doing so well so far.

Very proud of her.

therapy through charity

Today's message from the Universe:

Sure, we have an "Advanced Self Help" department here, Faustina!

Down the hall and through the doors with the sign that says, "Help Others."

Yeah, same-same, because the therapy that comes from helping someone else is one of the most advanced ways to help yourself.

Shhhhhh... please do not tell a single soul!
The Universe

Of course, as soon as I read it, I copied it to post here, for all the world.
How much better would life be if we all gave of ourselves to others?
I'm not talking about writing checks or digging in your pocket, either. That can help others, but you might want to check the Charity Navigator or Better Business Bureau first. After all, you want to be sure the majority of any monies you donate are used for the programs they espouse, not for the staff or fundraising.
No, throwing money at folks is not the best way to help.
Your time is a valuable resource for them, too.
Ever since the summer, I have been volunteering my services at the Lucas Theatre For The Arts.
Every month, the list of events which need ushers is sent out. I look at my schedule and select those events which I know I will be able to attend. I am very careful to not double-book myself, as I have no clone to stand in for me.
As my friends will attest, if I say I will be present at a gathering, I will certainly be there. As a volunteer, it is doubly important to maintain those appointments, as others are depending upon my physical and mental presence.
I have found that I enjoy having that responsibility of being a Volunteer.
Certainly, I have also enjoyed the events for which I am "working." So far this month, I have served as an usher for a ballet ("The Nutcracker in Savannah"), a Christmas chorale ("Savannah Children's Choir Christmas Show"), and two holiday films ("Home Alone" and "Miracle on 34th Street"). All very enjoyable, some of which I might have attended on my own. Possibly. (Although, at this time of year, many events compete for my time, especially on the weekends.)
Tonight, I usher for the speakeasy-style show, "Cool Yule: A Christmas Cabaret"! I know I am going to very much enjoy being present for this! Johnny Mercer's holiday tunes! Trae Gurley (think modern Frank Sinatra)!! Folks dressed up for a party!!!
So, use the link and you can be there, too... and I will be glad to help you find your seat!

giving tuesday

Today was designated #GivingTuesday.
For those who don't tweet, the above is referred to as a hashtag and is used to denote the topic under discussion.
A label, if you will.
I must admit, I had not been aware that today was to be The First in what is meant to be an annual day of giving.
The #GivingTuesday term has only impinged on my consciousness for the past few days. I'm sure others may have been more aware, certainly any who were directly involved in the birthing of this newly-minted national, and international, day of charity.
Perhaps one of the reasons I have been so unaware is the time of year. No, I'm not referring to the holiday season. My mind is more on the grading of papers and devising of tests.
Then again, my lack of acknowledgement of the intended importance of today may be due to a lack of acknowledgement of this day of charity by those in my environs. I have not heard a single family member, friend, colleague, or student say the first word about #GivingTuesday. Does that mean the marketing of this obligatory day of charity toward others has failed? Maybe. I am part of some quite diverse circles - you would think someone would have organized an event centered around this day's theme. If so, I have missed the news.
However, I suspect the primary reason I didn't lend importance to the concept of #GivingTuesday is this: I am a regular supporter of charitable organizations, near and far. I don't require the designation of one day out of 365 to prompt me to help support the non-profits in my community and elsewhere in the world.
Hopefully no one needs such prompting, except perhaps children who are young and still learning their roles as inhabitants of Earth, Milky Way.

up, up, up we go!

Tuesday and Wednesday were wonderful! All was well again, after a false start on my "stay-cation".
On Tuesday, I went to my ex-bird's for lunch. He has purchased a new nest, here in town, thanks to the Dream Maker program. He now has a NEW two-story, 3-bedroom home in a revitalized neighborhood, a home which has twice the square footage of my 60+ years old, 3-bedroom home. He didn't have to have a downpayment, he paid no closing costs, and the city gave him a $60,000 grant toward the cost of the house, so he only had to finance the balance. I've been spreading the news to anyone who would listen, including some of my nieces and nephews who are now married and in their mid to late twenties.
He had promised a barbecue chicken dinner, home cooked; instead, we dined on beef brisket from the local place around the corner from his new home. Pretty good sauce! Then he had me work for my meal! No, not really... maybe, though! We had no sooner finished eating than he had a phone call: the movers were on their way to deliver his beds for the two upper rooms and needed directions. I should have gone ahead and left while I had the chance! No, just kidding! I ended up volunteering my services to help him assemble the beds, as well as his new coffee table and two end tables for the living room. It was rather nice to do something constructive and see an end product materialize right in front of me!
With that inspiration, I headed to the bank to take care of some paperwork LONG overdue. How long, you ask? Well... since August of 2008. What??? Yeah, I know, pretty slack on my part, but, as I explained to the young man who handled the matter with me, I was a bit overwhelmed with changes at the time and this was the one thing that could be dealt with later. And so it was. And now it's DONE! My trust now has its own identification and is funded, so I can truly rest assured that all will be taken care of as I wish in the future. Whew!
I then bopped over and had my passport photo taken for my upcoming trip to Italy. Woohoo!!! By this time, it was too late to mail off the renewal, but I did so on Wednesday morning. Whew, another important task DONE! Then off to see some old friends and have lunch at one of my favorite places, Hibachi Grill. Love all those veggies, cooked on that hot griddle!
A trip to Hinesville was next on my agenda. My debit card had a close encounter with a magnet and needed to be replaced, plus that particular account also needed to find its way to my trust. Yes, I know that could have been handled online - but it was a beautiful day and I needed to feel the highway breeze on my face. And so I did. And so that was all DONE!
My taxes were all done, too. I had handled that late last week and received word that both the federal and state had been accepted by the great ethernet beings. Tuesday night I paid the federal and crossed that off my list. Next week, I'll mail the state a check for my balance due. What, no refunds?? Hey, at least I know I didn't "loan" the government money at a 0% interest rate, which is certainly what you've done if you do "receive" a refund.
So, I return from the military town and make a pit stop at the school to drop off two sets of graded tests and three sets of graded post-lab reports. Yeah!!! My request for dinner company is greeted with enthusiasm by my coppery friend and then it's over to meet her at a favorite restaurant, coupon in hand. Ah, yummy Italian food and good company at the end of a successful day!
Now, I await the arrival of a niece...

braving the cold

I am so very proud of myself. For two mornings in a row, I have thrown myself out of my warm house to venture into below-freezing temperatures.
Sure, I can hear it now: “People do that all the time, that isn’t anything special.” Well, perhaps people do sally forth into such temperatures all the time, but “I” do NOT.
I am fortunate enough to have been born a Georgia peach, meaning I did not have to acclimate myself to such harsh weather conditions as a child. I am fortunate enough to have lived my life within six degrees of this latitude for my years as an adult, with only two exceptions. For two years I was in Panama, basking in warmth which never dropped to less than seventy percent of body temperature. Savannah is thirty-two degrees north of the equator; the Canal Zone (now an extinct area) in Panama is only nine degrees north of that imaginary line and has beach weather all year – ah, bliss!
I’ve had my chances to move farther north. Before my first marriage, the Navy was set to send me to Ireland and my soon-to-be husband to Panama. As my future duty station was designated a better selection (due to its location in Europe), there was no possibility of him being able to join me there. So, after informing the government of our impending wedding, I released my choice assignment and choose to accompany my spouse to Central America. Good decision!
This discussion of my first marriage brings me to the second exception to my living at thirty-two degrees north. He and I met during the brief span of time spent at school near Waukegan, Illinois, at forty-two degrees north. I had arrived there in mid-April from Orlando, Florida, and was shocked by the cold temperature. I had to forget about my halter tops and shorts and don my knee-length greatcoat and gloves again. By the time of my departure from that area in the first week of August, I was again clad in my greatcoat.
I found it difficult to believe that people would CHOOSE to live under such conditions, but then I married the man from Oregon, who had lived his life just a bit more north of that latitude. I should have known that he would want to eventually return to the upper west coast and its climate. Although his longing for home was not the reason for our divorce, I must state for the record that I am sure it was a contributing factor. We did travel there once and spent much of the month of another April in its rainy chill, perhaps made more daunting after the bliss of Panama life.
Oddly, my second marriage was also to a man from a latitude which is forty-plus degrees north. Fortunately, his time in the military had allowed him to discover the (almost) snow-free existence of life in Savannah and he was not interested in dragging me off to Michigan. He did try to encourage me to seek employment in northern states after I obtained my degree, but I resisted mightily. Honestly, I believed then – and even more so, now – that life spent in that harsh environment would be miserable and just might kill me.
Now that I have hypothyroidism, I am even more sensitive to the cold. Every year, as the arctic blasts wreak havoc, I seriously consider moving farther south. Maybe one day I will, but that day is not yet arrived.
For now, I am proud of myself for simply braving the below-freezing temperatures for two mornings in a row.

fortune cookie says...

"You're not afraid of storms, for you're learning to sail your ship."
Seriously. That was the message received with lunch today.
I was dining with my middle brother on this beautiful, blue-sky, hot summer day. I had chosen this restaurant because it's one of my favorites and we happened to be right there, as we had first gone to the drivers license office. Asian Buffet always has a wide assortment of sushi rolls and nigiri sushi, as well as some dim sum and other goodies, and more traditional fare, too.
He was enjoying the cheesy mussels - he had seven! - and I was getting my fill of several different types of sushi rolls. I tried twice to let him taste, but he couldn't get past the taste of the algae, so that was that.
We had a good lunch together, getting caught up with happenings in each other's lives, eating good food, taking our time. After all, it was a fine Saturday of a holiday weekend and we had no agenda at hand. Very nice lunch and good conversation. Then my fortune came and it read like it was meant JUST for me.
Mind, when the check came with the two fortune cookies on the tray, I had touched the cookie closest to me to move it so I could read the total on the bill. Having confirmed the total was correct, I had placed the cookie back on the tray. I then waited for him to select which cookie he wanted and, when he had not chosen for several minutes, I went ahead and picked up the cookie I had returned to the tray.
That cookie was clearly meant for me. Am I not learning to sail my own ship? Yes, I may be foundering from time to time, but 'tis my own ship and mine alone. If it runs aground occasionally, so be it. I'll make the most of the delay as I wait for a high tide to lift me up and away again. Then I'll be catching the breeze in my sails and searching for that next bright star to steer her by.
Lovely image, that. How did the fortune cookie know?

midnight in Paris

Tonight, I drove out to a new cinema to see a movie. I didn't know much about the film, and this is the only cinema showing it. Mostly, though, I was escaping my hot house, in hopes that night air would cool it enough that I could sleep. The air conditioner was on the fritz and help would be coming the next day, but not tonight. So, partly to cool off, partly to see the movie before it left town, I left town to catch it.
"Midnight in Paris" is a movie about appreciating the time in which you live. In other words, ejoying the present, not mourning the past or yearning for the future. Time only moves forward, one fraction of a second at a time, and no amount of human pining will alter that pace or direction. To have regrets of time lost in the distant or near past simply robs an appreciation of the time at hand. To wish for a time not yet come to pass in the near or distant future is to miss the richness of the time all around.
What a fine message for this last day of the first half of 2011! This was a fine message for me, indeed, given the many changes brought about in this short thirty-day span of time.
For now, it's a hot house, with anticipation of a cooler night to come.

what a long strange trip it's been

Yesterday was a merging of friends past and friends present. Who can say who will be friends future?
I went to the wedding of my ex's best friend yesterday evening. My ex had come to town and was there as his best man. The mutual friend who had introduced me to my ex so many years ago was also there.
Playing music at the reception site was a new friend from one of the social groups I have been part of since the divorce. There was also another new friend from another social group I have been part of since the divorce. Both of these folks know the groom and one of them also knows my ex. Small world.
As you know, I've had to start over with my social life, AD. The friends I had before the marriage, who never left my side, are still with me, though they are scattered geographically around this continent. Almost all of the friends I thought I had during the marriage have scattered away, though they still live in this very town. You would have thought divorce was contagious. And perhaps, in a way, it is. People in marriages, relationships, couplehood, find themselves shining a harsh spotlight on their spouses, partners, significant others, searching for any hint of a fatal flaw that might unravel the threads binding them together.
A bit of questioning is a good thing. Any truth, belief, credo, which cannot withstand close scrutiny is not worthy of being a truth or belief or credo. So much of what we hold to be true is based on partial knowledge and subjective perception and not on verifiable and objective facts. My favorite definition of truth is "conformity with fact or reality". It's close to being a scientific law, which is hailed as being a rule held to be true in every instance... but is it? Those laws are based on the outcomes of repeated experiments, but usually have some caveat added in. For instance, all the laws concerning the behavior of properties of gases include the phrase "for an ideal gas" - of which there is nonesuch. Still, the gas laws do give scientists a starting point for understanding and predicting how a real gas will respond to various stimuli.
Perhaps that is how personal truths are of best use. If those beliefs are held to be guidelines, not nonmalleable facts, then those beliefs help make some sense of this world and the people we meet. Guidelines. "Indications of a future course of action", by others known and unknown and by oneself. THAT is helpful.

final outcome

The Southern Cross Novel Challenge 2009 has ended, as of midnight on Tuesday. I had a banner day on Monday, writing more than 6000 words that day... and burning myself out on these characters. You know those movies where there are no heroes, where all the characters are so morally flawed that there is no one to root for? Movies like "Closer" - well acted, lots of name-brand stars, but the characters are just so very wrong in so many ways. You see it once, and you're done with it.

Well, that's pretty much how I felt after my writing splurge on Monday: I was done with these people. All they were concerned with was sex, sex, sex. Not that they were screwing willy-nilly, any ol' body will do. No, they weren't that casual. But they did seem to want to flaunt their sexual prowess and positions and sensations... and it got to seeming a bit overwrought. Poor things, the coming was all they had going for them!

Still, I am proud of myself for giving it a shot and for the amount of progress I made. I ended up 46 of 167, with 17,000 words. Good job! There were about 20 entrants who completed the challenge successfully and got their gold stars. Cool, gold stars! Amazingly, though, there were more than forty entrants who never posted a single word to their count. Not one word. Zero. I have to wonder what happened to them? Did they forget? Did they just give up from the get-go? Maybe my next writing endeavor should explore that little mystery... maybe!

progress!

Well, I've jumped ahead with my writing, though I have a LONG way to go to hit my mark. Still, I'm rather pleased that I've gotten this far. Truly! And I am now ranked 49 of 167 would-be novelists. Woohoo!

One thing I'm definitely learning: I'm not cut out to be a novelist. Nope. Short stores, I think I'm your girl. But the last book I wrote was my dissertation for my doctorate and that took a couple of years to complete. I even had about fifty graphs in it, so that cut down on some of the writing. (You know, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and all that, though making the picture can take about as long as writing the words would have.) Writing that book taught me that I didn't want any more doctorates!

Writing this book is teaching me that I may not quite be ready to let my freak flag fly in this direction. I would certainly have to use a pseudonym, because if any of this material made it to print, everyone would wonder what kind of kinko I am. I guess I spent too much time in the Navy. Or maybe I've read too many of "those" magazines. Or maybe I should blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol, as Jamie Foxx would say (though I have liquor of any kind - except virtual on facebook! - rather infrequently these days). Or maybe, just maybe, it goes back to me not being wired right.

I've read interviews over the years of folks who act in roles that are contrary to their character. Carroll O'Connor was one of the most educated, liberal, laid-back, accepting people on the planet, EXCEPT in his role as Archie Bunker, racist bigot extraordinaire on "All In The Family." For eight years, he let his alter ego loose upon the tv screen, to much acclaim. Then there's Robin Williams, a comedian who is left of center and off the charts, effortlessly letting loose his wit in whatever venue he finds himself. EXCEPT when he's Walter Finch or Sy Parrish, the sociopaths in "Insomnia" and "One Hour Photo", respectively. Talk about creeps! he completely let his dark side come out to play.

So, maybe that accounts for the words that flow from my fingertips when a "novel" is being written. Hey, it's all fiction, right? Fiction is defined as "works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form." Imagination is "forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses." And fiction is just a milder word for fantasy, is it not? Why not make it sexual fantasy as well as romantic fantasy and dramatic fantasy? Why not, indeed? My writings are simply imagination gone wild, much like college kids on spring break: fairly harmless, but don't let the family know the details of your exploits!

52 of 166

No, I haven't become a Borg creature. My ranking has moved up slightly in a slightly larger field of participants. So... GO ME!!! After quite a hiatus, I'm back and up to 8000 words after a brief period of writing this afternoon. (Hey, it was slow at work and I jumped at the chance!) I intend to spend more time writing this evening, after dinner and my usual Monday night pursuits, i.e., watching The Big Bang Theory and How I met Your Mother. Yes, I am quite aware that they'll be repeats. Yes, I will watch them anyway, and enjoy every minute of it. There is truly so little tv I partake of; this hour of frivolity helps keep my sense of time's passage intact, much like the sun's travels across the sky help me during daylight hours. Now, to get some supper and clear my schedule of all else crying for my attention!

still going...

It's been a rather busy time for me, so I haven't had the time to write like I would have hoped. Still, I AM persisting, and that's the point of rising to a challenge, is it not? At a grand word count of 6100, I am now ranked 53rd in a field of 165. This was Day 16 of the challenge, so I do need to try to work in some more word counts in the next two days, before my friends from Hiram come on down. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I took a little writing interlude during their visit, but I don't know that I would be comfortable with them... or anyone at this point... possibly reading over my shoulder.

Now, I'm not saying that they would throw me off my game. When I start writing, the first few lines are hard, but then the characters move right on in and make themselves at home and I never quite know what they'll come up with next. Well, that's not exactly true, now is it? I have a really good idea of what will happen, and I'm actually a bit surprised about it. You see, well, are you familiar with the works of Harold Robbins? You know, the guy whose books all deal with sex, sex, and more sex? Well, my characters think they're in one of his novels. Only they're a bit more graphic. Yeah.

So, who's to say anyone will ever get to read this but me? Still, I am rather enjoying it. I can't wait to see what they're gonna do next!

here we go!

I am so very excited! This past weekend was a fabulous start to my New Year, filled with fun times with friends old and new. On one of the social sites I use - facebook, if you must know - I had beau coup wishes for a happy birthday, with quite a few from unexpected sources. Nice! I had gone to work on my special day, as I am quite a trouper and I was needed there, but I did get off a bit earlier than usual, allowing me to get up to my BFF's place in Hiram in time for a mojito before dinner. Very nice! Then she and I and the family all piled in to the car and off we went in search of cake. Big, monster, artery-chokin' hunks of cake, at a place known as Pasta Bella. I selected Lemon Meringue Pie, with a five-inch, beautifully sculpted, perfectly browned meringue topping on a three-inch layer of lemon curd. YUMMMM. Oh, did I mention the candle? Yes, boys and girls, there was a pink candle valiantly blazing atop the dreamy drifts of whipped egg whites, as well as a trio singing "happy birthday, dear customer" as the lovely treat was gently placed before me. My BFF had given me a lovely "aquarium" picture, a three-dimensional still life with fish, so to speak. I intend to place it in my Ocean Room, on the wall near the computer, so I can enjoy the new view as I converse here and elsewhere. She told me she had thought of my personal aquarium, my bedroom, as the location for the new art, but I would rather have it where I can look at it often through open eyes, not eyelids.
The next day, off we went to the trade fair at Centennial Park, where my BFF was to hawk her wares: beautiful purses, with pockets inside for essentials. Great fabrics, nice textures, several different styles of The Perfect Bag (at etsy.com). (Yes, I am QUITE shamelessly promoting her enterprise!) I even found a rather unique necklace for my little black dress: a strand of gray and black beads, closed with two sterling dragonflies on the side. Not only is it an unusual piece, but it also appeals to my asymmetry bent. I'll have to create an occasion to try it out... oh, wait, I can wear it at the Celebration of Daddy's Life scheduled for Sunday! Oh, nice! I think Daddy would definitely have approved!
Saturday night, one of my BFF's friends had a low country boil, with a twist. They use crayfish, with a few crab legs for good measure, instead of shrimp, and they season it with fire. No, truly, They say they're using Louisiana spices, but I have it on good authority - my entry and exit orifices - that it's fire. Even the corn on the cob and the new potatoes were so spicy as to be nearly inedible by normal people. Fortunately, none of them were present and we all ate our fill, followed by a trifle created by my BFF in honor of my birthday. A non-dairy concoction with cherries, chocolate-laced whipped "cream", and angel food cake, topped with Bing cherries.
Wait just a darn minute! I know what you're thinking. "That's twice she's mentioned her birthday and not said anything about HER eating cake. What's up with that?" Well, quite frankly, I think I'm done with cake for a while, after having a certain type of cake lay siege on my mind for better than two weeks. So, pie, trifle, cobbler, bread pudding, even brownies, but no cake, please. The angel food cake in the trifle doesn't count, as it's not whole, but torn into little pieces. So, there!
On Sunday, my bird from Charleston flew on down and we had dinner and a movie. Actually, we had slunch (too late for lunch, too early for supper) at one of my favorites (Chili's - their tilapia is so very tasty!), then the movie. "Star Trek" for the second time, this time paying more attention to the character Ayel, played by Clifton Collins, Jr. He was also in "Sunshine Cleaning", as a completely (COMPLETELY) different character. I had wanted to see "Star Trek" again, especially for the sword fight (!) and the view of Earth from space. The viewing was that much nicer with my bird by my side!
And the whole weekend, my brain was feverishly trying to work up concepts for my novel-writing experience. Oh, how about this one? Hmmm, how to flesh it out past just a few pages? Whose voice should be telling the tale? Should there be only the one point of view? How about a series of stories, woven together? That sounds like fun, but how to get the characters to meet? Where to have the tale set? When is the action and what is the action and why??? So, Monday evening I began my journey into the Southern Cross world, having finally settled on an opening gambit... and found, after the first few lines, that I had diverged from my original concept into one that felt more natural, more me. I'll be quite interested to see where this adventure leads!