stepping into the light, at last!

There's something to be said for coming out of a cinema at night and being able to easily see your car in the parking lot.

The AMC Classic 11 has lacked parking lot lights for... months?

I'm trying to recall if they had working lights last fall, but cannot.

It isn't as if I go to night movies any more, since Barbara's death, but I can say that I have actively avoided being there since the parking lot went dark.

Tonight was different.

I'd had a double header and invited Carolyn to join me for the second movie.

Afterward, we came out... and that photo shows what we saw.

Lights!!!

Brightening the night and our paths to our cars!!!

I guess I can stop complaining about the darkness in my survey responses.

Hallelujah!!!

So, just what had we ventured out to see this evening?

Well, my friend had joined me for "The Invite", the latest with Seth Rogen.

He isn't an actor either of us follow, but he has improved of late.

He plays the husband of Olivia Wilde's character, and they're parents of a now-school-aged daughter that we never see.

They live in the house his parents once owned, now split into a duplex, and on this night they're having the noisy neighbors from upstairs over for wine and cheese.

Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz are that pair, still very much in a honeymoon state in their relationship, hence the nightly noise.

(smile!)

It's very much a tale of the new folks trying to get the curmudgeonly folks to loosen up, with the staid couple only doing so after a joint and some tequila, finally reaching to point of being open to wife-swapping... though that activity doesn't go well.

Still it had some funny moments along the way.

Not as many as "One Night Only" did, however!

From the opening premise, of a government-sanctioned night for singles to have sex, to the scene at the Little Red Lighthouse, it was a delightful romp!

Add to the mix that she's a jingle singer, and that final scene is during the filming of one of those drug commercials where everyone sings and dances, and it was right up my alley for fun!

I can't say I'm familiar with Monica Barbaro, but I love the way she embraced her character and I'll be paying better attention to her after this.

(She was up for an Oscar for her portrayal as 'Joan Baez' in the Bob Dylan movie a couple of years ago, but her name didn't stick with me.)

Likewise, Callum Turner isn't a name that resonates with me, though I've enjoyed his characters in the various movies he's been in.

As for the other two movies this week, I've already spoken at length about both "Hadestown: The Musical" as well as "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", so that ends this week's shout-out about my AMC A*List dances!

Now, on to other things!

... other trey tries to take away

The newly-installed commander of Post 500 came to the Two First Posts meeting tonight with a posse in tow.

As well as Emmett from last week, he also had David, Solomon, and Ulysses (husband of Sabrina, who may have been there to support our side).

Yes, Trey Singleton wanted to present a front for his position.

This Two First Posts meeting was held to answer any questions that still lingered from last week's meeting, and so was open to any and all members of both Post 36 and Post 500.

It was important that all understood the landlord relationship that TFP held with respect to all the tenants in that building on Montgomery Street.

John Parker started the meeting by explaining what had happened 18 years ago, when Post 500 lost its charter due to lack of young membership, and how Post 500 had fought to regain its status as an American Legion entity.

He also talked about Post 36 having given up its charter several years ago, as it was about to be taken by the national group, again for lack of young membership.

Doug Andrews said he left Post 184 five years ago and worked with James Putney, the then-Commander of Post 500, to locate a space to purchase for their post's monthly meetings. 

Then, as per John Parker and Doug Andrews, each post put up $450,000 to purchase the building on Montgomery Street.

(I don't know if the Army Surplus store/pawnshop was still a tenant in the building, but I think it was gone; I just know that the drycleaners and the church were tenants at the time and still are.)

The almost million-dollar bank loan for the renovation of the space at 5509 and 5511 began about two years ago, with work still progressing at this time. 

John ended with explaining about the Two First Posts of Georgia LLC being the managing and governing party for the entire building, with a governing panel which had 3-year terms to lead the building toward a goal of serving active military at Hunter AAF, as well as veterans in the community.

(So, as with the last meeting, it was made clear this place has a hefty debt that needs to be paid, as well as current utility bills and such.)

Doug explained that the current President of TFP is Eddie Patterson, who will have that position for approximately another two years, at which time the new President of the LLC will be taken from Post 36, as the position switches hands at the end of each term.

Doug is currently the Vice-President of the LLC, and will hold that title for approximately another two years, at which time it will switch to a member from Post 500.

The two Finance Officers of TFP LLC were the two Treasurers from each Post at the time, meaning they are Joe Cetti and Sabrina Scale, each of which will hold those titles in the LLC for approximately another two years.

John added that the board is currently working on the Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and regulations for operation of the building; that will be forthcoming whenever those have been completed.

Doug added that the facility's focus is on serving active duty military and veterans, not civilian groups.

John remarked that there will be a sign-in book for guests who are not members of either Post 36 or Post 500.

Trey then began his questions, which really were thinly-cloaked demands.

He wanted 8 days (!!!) of each month to be set aside for the monthly meetings of Post 500, including the general meeting, the e-board, the SAL (Sons of American Legion), the Auxiliary, and one other, as well as 3 days for fundraising events.

Brenda explained to him that those five regular monthly meetings are already listed on the TFP google calendar.

John also explained that a screen of events would soon be posted, with street view, so all passersby and interested parties would know who had rented out 5511 Montgomery Street at any time. 

It was also reiterated at that time that all veteran groups meeting in the space needed to sign a Use of Facility Contract, as well as pay $250/quarter, to cover expenses of TFP.

Trey balked, expressing the amount as "$1000 per year" to make it sound like a weighty sum to suddenly spring on the Post's members.

(Note: they are currently paying $250/month at another facility!)

I spoke up with a countering tack, explaining that the amount was "less than $20 per week", and that it covered "all five regular monthly meetings" of Post 500.

(I think I stunned everyone with those numbers.)

John then proposed that a "ceiling date" be set by TFP, at which time neither Post 36 nor Post 500 would have to pay for its monthly meeting space.

Trey brought up that he wants keys for the four officers of Post 500, so they can access the office for Post 500.

John advised him that would be better after TFP has the 20-foot storage container installed behind the building, as both of the offices, as well as the conference room, are stuffed with items at this time.

Eric tried to give Trey a key to the Post 500 office, but Trey declined to accept, as there are currently no forms to serve as a paper trail for that transaction.

(I have made it clear to all that a locking door needs to be installed to protect 5509 from  unwarranted access by folks in 5511 when the restaurant is not open for business; all agreed that Justin is to return for that change order.

I believe it was decided that Eric would do that.)

Trey then brought up a veteran group, Beauties in Boots, that have been trying to access meeting space in the building, to no avail.

Brenda advised him that she has spoken to them and they have permission, they just need to sign a Use of Facility Contract, like everyone else.

There was then some general talk about how one gets elected to the TFP board, though it was repeated that will not be occurring for at least two years.

Then it was 8 PM and the visitors all left.

Whew.

We of TFP stayed about another 30 minutes, then called it a night.

Mostly, we agreed that Larry Jackson was to blame for stirring up this "ownership" business with Trey,

While helping sort out the business license application, he found that the deed for the building was in the names of both Post 36 and Post 500.

Larry interpreted that to mean that he could schedule whatever he wanted there, and so he did, and he was given special permission because he was helping get the liquor license and the business license, right?

But when that largesse dried up after the calendar was created and he couldn't cherry pick the dates he wanted for family graduations and birthdays, he may have felt a bit shut out... and that's when he apparently tossed the ball to Trey.

Geez.

Sabrina and Brenda are onto his game now.

Doug is to handle changing the deed over to Two First Posts LLC, which should bring an end to this thrusting for power and control.

I just hope Trey realizes how Larry used him.

i think the word you want is 'fiasco'

"The word I want?"

Okay, then, the word that would be more appropriate for this episode of the S&K Friday Fiesta than that last one. We all knew that John and Sherry Schomburg would be in town and would be visiting with their friends from the old neighborhood - that is, my brothers and the Kameron brothers and Betsy - at Jalapenos of Sandfly. We knew because Smitty told us last week.

"Oh, how very nice! Always good to see old friends and hear the tales form "back in the day" that seem to come out then!"

You would think so, right? But when Tony and Laura arrived, a fourth table was added to the end and suddenly they were cut off from the regular crowd. They found themselves sitting by the Schomburg's daughter, Ashley, as well as her husband and their two young daughters (ages 4 and 6, as I recall). That was not good. When I joined them, that seemed to add to the unsettled feeling somehow, and Tony and Laura left.

"What? You mean, they didn't stay to eat? Seriously?"

Tony said he felt he'd been disrespected, and i could understand that. This is the only time of the week when he is with men who aren't coworkers. This is his time with his brother and friends he's known since he was a kid. I could understand where he was coming from, as I went through a lot of that when I returned from the Navy.

"Even so, this was a special occasion. John and Sherry were just trying to have family and friends time, so the arrangement was thrown off."

Not quite. The first two tables were as they always are, with the guys on one side and the gals on the other. Where it all fell apart was the middle table with that young family. I feel like things could have been handled better, but, oh well. Then Laura returned, solo, and TOOK A CHAIR - from the third table - TO ADD TO THE FIRST TABLE - so she could sit with the other gals of our regular party - AND THEY MADE ROOM FOR HER. Like, seriously. She couldn't sit with me and the guests for this one meal???

"Oh, this doesn't sound like it's gonna end well..."

So I bounced up to that first table and got onto all the gals from disrespecting Ashley and her family, who were there as guests. They left Ashley and her husband to just sit as outcasts at that third table, as none of the gals were talking to them. Well, God bless Betsy! She picked up her plate and her drink and came down to the fourth table with me!!! She's such a trooper!!! And she ended up charming the little girls and giving Ashley a chance to eat her meal!

"Well, that sounds marvelous! That Betsy, she can carry on a conversation with just about anyone, can't she?"

Yes, she can! As I said, God bless Betsy. I'm glad I have the cruise next week, so I will have at least one week away. Maybe it's time for me to take a break from this. After all, the Schomburgs started it with Smitty and Mary, like ten years ago, so I'm just along because I'm a Smith kid. Maybe I need to start a new tradition, like the second Thursday go out with just my brothers. Something like that. We'll see. But I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight, as the Atlanta Rhythm Section put it. "The world is in an uproar and there ain't no end in sight, but I will not let it bother me tonight, no, I won't." I have a birthday vacation that starts on Sunday and all else can wait until my return.

"Good for you. Don't let it put you off and make you miss it. I know how much you hated missing out on that Las Vegas trip last fall. You go with Christina and her girls and have a wonderful summer holiday together, as y'all have for the past few years. See you when you return... and don't forget the sunscreen!". 

last week pics i would have taken

So, last week, when I was unable to make it to the Two First Posts meeting, I missed seeing these completed items.

For instance, there are now two TVs mounted in the bar area...

and there are three TVs mounted in the dining area...

and there's a huge TV on an AV cart in the event room.

Also, the game room has a pocket door...

 

the storage closet has stocked shelves... 

the stoves now have lit pilot flames...

the Budweiser sign with the Clydesdales is mounted above the restaurant door...

the event banquet tables are corralled onto a table cart... 

and Brenda's sign is mounted outside on the building, between the two entry doors, to welcome all.

We all stopped to admire it as we left tonight.

Yes, there was a small group that came out on a Monday night.

Doug had called for this extra meeting, but there were only four of us there - me, him, Joe Cetti, and John Parker.

The upshot of that was nothing could be decided, as we didn't have a quorum.

Wait, did I say nothing?

That's incorrect.

What was determined was that we would be meeting again on Thursday, and that promises to be extra long, as it has a packed agenda.

John called Brenda to request that she specifically invite Kat and Mike, as it is of utmost importance that their contract gets finalized.

It's vital that Whiskey Tango Foxtrot become a reality, bringing folks in to spend money and spread the word.

To that end, Doug has rewritten the lease contract from May 27th, incorporating the changes determined to be needed two weeks later.

A month has elapsed since then, hence the need to get JKLM LLC inked in as the canteen management company!!!

Doug will send Version 8 around so we can check it before then, so that part of the meeting will proceed quickly. 

Here's hoping!

John asked Brenda to make sure Justin will make that Thursday meeting, too, as well as Larry Jackson.

Justin is to talk about the chandelier situation, and guess what?

That one that I like has been selected as the winner!

Not necessarily because of its appearance, but on the basis of cost.

Hey, whatever gets it done... though $1900 is still costly.

Why does Larry need to come?

We want to make absolutely sure we'll be on the City Council's docket next time.

That will take place on August 5, so our ducks need to be not only in a row, but with the i's dotted and the t's all crossed.

Even so, that's for the liquor license, which is not something that should keep the restaurant from opening and making money.

Right?!

We will also have special guests on Thursday, who will be there to promote their fundraising gaming option.

The goal is to have them do their pitch first, then for our meeting to take place immediately after they leave.

Speed is of the essence, as Post 36 of the American Legion has its meeting that night, too.

Busy, busy, busy, though I don't know if any of that counts as vibrant for this woman.

(smile!) 

wednesday luncheon with a chemist!

With all the 4th of July festivities, I made sure to send texts of fireworks to those dear to me.

Yvonne had replied, "I need to see your smiling face!"

I'd countered with, "luncheon on Wednesday?"

And here we were, in the middle of the week, together again!

 

I suggested Sunny Side Up, on DeRenne, and guess what?

She'd never been there!!!

Everyone at Armstrong seems to only know about two local breakfast places in Savannah, it seems - the Original Pancake House first, then Clary's on Habersham downtown second.

I'm glad to have broadened her horizons!

We both opted for breakfast for this luncheon, too.

I had the eggs, bacon, grits, and toast, like a Southern belle, while she chose buttery blueberry and pecan pancakes!

So delicious...

and perfect for a leisurely meal of catching up with our busy lives as retired women!

We gotta do this more often!!!

(smile!) 

more improvements at the canteen!

I am so grateful that we are finally at the point where change is obvious every time we arrive at this American Legion building.

Just look what a difference it makes to have just one of the five TVs finally installed!

We still don't have a liquor locker, but that's a moot point, as we didn't make it onto the agenda of the July meeting of the City Council.

That means August would be the earliest for our request to be heard.

To all that I say: we can still open and sell food!!!

I honestly don't understand the fixation that some of the members have on being able to sell alcohol. 

Even if we get on the agenda in August and are approved for a liquor license, it will be another month before we'd actually have the license and be able to sell booze.

Let's concentrate on gearing up the food operation!

Let's get Whiskey Tango Foxtrot turning out barbeque and filling the dining room!

Otherwise, why do we need a game room?

Why the rush to set up this area with a Play Station that's ready for gaming?

The dart boards aren't yet in place, but that's an easy add.

Personally, I think this space wasn't needed, but that may just be because I don't use those games.

I don't recall seeing them at Post 135 downtown, but perhaps some patrons have requested them.

What other changes were awaiting us tonight?

Eric now has shelving in the storage room.

We still need the two chair carts, which are on order.

It's my understanding that the table cart has arrived.

Perhaps it's in the conference room for now?

Also, this room has the wiring harness that Billy Cope has installed, so that's done, too.

I know the biggest hurdle in this section is getting the other TVs installed and having a cleaning crew tidy up.

The event room has some dust, but not like that in the canteen area. 

It's still pretty much ready to rock and roll!

Well, except for that 9x9 hole in the ceiling.

Remember, there will be a chandelier going in there, though that looks to be done sooner rather than later.

I just hope it's not going to keep us from having events in this area.

This is our moneymaker.

Everyone should realize that by now.

I think having the entrance finally completed has been very helpful for making folks feel that we're 'official' now.

Doesn't that look sharp?

That was the first thing I noticed when I came in.

Eric had to point out to me that the bar area had a TV!

Honestly, the bar is just not that important to me at this point, but having a hall that looks established certainly is.

If I were to rent this space for an event, I'd want my guests to fell like they were in a bona fide party area, not just some room somewhere.

Right?

So, who did we have tonight?

Me, Eric, Brenda, Billy, Joe, Michael T, John Parker, and Larry Jackson, oddly enough there to try to explain why we had not been on the City Council's agenda earlier today.

He was also there because he had been the one coming into the building at odd times, having been mistakenly granted a key by Eddie.

Nope, can't be having that!

Eric is in charge of all keys and has to be present when anyone - and I mean ANYONE - is in this building.

Of course, that may change when the canteen opens, but we'll see.

Doug eventually was virtually at the meeting, via my little Alcatel phone - which allowed him to participate for the entire 57 minutes, with the phone getting passed along as needed.

So, why weren't we on the agenda for the liquor license?

The paperwork from the Fire Marshal has to be submitted at least 30 days in advance, and ours was not.

How much will that liquor license cost?

Annually, it'll be $3650 to sell liquor, $2000 to sell beer, and $800 to sell wine, for a total of $6450, so that's a lot of booze that'll need to be sold just for that privilege of having it offered to patrons.

Jeez.

Since most of this year will be done by the time we get one, ours will be prorated for the rest of the year... but the total for 2027 will be due January 1st.

Meanwhile, Larry had paid $600 for the Food Service Permit, so he spoke to Doug about getting reimbursed for that.

John talked with Doug about getting Justin to clean up the site and Doug told him to make it so.

There was also talk of hiring some of the Post 500 members for the deep clean of the canteen, bathrooms, and event room during the upcoming weekend.

Billy told us that the Direct TV was to be installed next Wednesday.

Brenda and Sabrina will look into the cost for having "Queen Of Hearts" and "Bingo" services here at TFP.

Joe brought up that we need a small safe, something that can be bolted to the floor in the office, for any cash transactions.

I suggested that we be a cashless establishment, like the schools are.

Joe and others seemed to think that would affect liquor sales, though I cannot imagine how it would.

The parking lot project is to be put off a little while, though Eric told us that Justin has the yellow paint, so it could be a weekend project.

Then there's the dumpster, which will require a level surface; I mentioned that my brother had his on gravel and that was fine, so no need for concrete.

Meeting adjourned!

That was almost an hour ago.

So, the meeting was right at 90 minutes long, after a 30-minute wait.

Hopefully the next one will go as quickly!

bar island exists again

One of the things on the agenda for the Two First Posts meetings has been adding an island to the bar area.

I reminded Doug, and Justin, too, last week, that the island had been a real thing back in May of 2025, so it may have ended up in the storage area we've been paying for since the renovation kicked into gear around then.

We also had shelving on the back wall of the bar.

Last week, I asked Justin about the storage contents and he told me he'd check.

I'm hoping that's the source of this new island.

I guess I should have checked a little closer, but I was distracted by the presence of Billy Cope and Joe Cetti, as this was their first meeting in several weeks.

Glad they were there!

Billy had good news to share: he's done wiring the bar area for the five TVs to be connected to Direct TV.

Now it's time for Joe to purchase the TVs and the mounting kits so that will be a done deal!

I guess that's when our long-lost Budweiser sign will be mounted, too.

It's been in storage over at Post 135 ever since we lost our place in Thunderbolt on Victory Drive.

I'm actually amazed they never made use of it!

Interesting tidbit: the Clydesdales were in Savannah a few weeks ago.

This is the 150th anniversary of Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company and will soon be the 100th anniversary of the use of the Budweiser Clydesdales to haul beer to special locations.

They were last here for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, as they have been for many years.

 

So what else is physically new here at 5509/5511 Montgomery Street?

The game room has been sheetrocked and mudded, ready for painting.

All the boxes that had been in the dining area are all gone, allowing for some of the tables and chairs to be placed back into position.

Kat and Mike asked tonight if anyone had any photos with the dining room and bar area all set up for customers.

Their insurance company was requiring pictures to go along with their application, and they didn't have any.

As I told them, I "take photographs of everything, since I'm the historian." 

Then it was a matter of locating said photos on the computer.

I knew exactly what I was looking for... and here they are!

That's a lucky break for our canteen managers!

And, yes, they were here at this last meeting of June.

So were me, Doug, Billy, and Joe for Post 36; Post 500 had Eddie, John, Sabrina, Brenda, and Eric.

That was the best turnout this month!

Doug had even brought Subway sandwiches to slake our hunger... was that from something I said last week?

Quite possibly.

Good! That worked out well for Kat's kids, too. (smile!) 

So, what transpired this evening?

Well, I found out that Kat and Mike have accepted the contract - hooray!

Billy has found a 20-foot container in Texas, in good condition, and for $1000 it's ours, including transport and install - hooray!

He also has Direct TV set up for the TVs, has RING for the cameras and security, and RING Central for the local phone at Two First Posts.

All that was lacking was the email to get those out of his name - done!

Billy said he'll have the WiFi installed for the canteen and the event room in two weeks and will give out new passwords then - very good!

I'm so glad he's been able to devote some time here again!

What else?

John talked about the dark parking lot being a security issue, so that street light needed to be repaired.

I told him "No problem, I've called Georgia Power for those many times!"

In fact, I've just filed the report on their website for Pole 003108, so that task is now done!

I've also sent the photos of the canteen to Kat, so that's off my plate, too.

Justin, on the other hand, will soon have a punch list to complete of items here.

Eddie was quite upset about all the dust all over, as well as the uncompleted projects, so Sabrina is going to have Eric and Billy check the building for electrical and construction items that need to be addressed.

What's the big push?

Kat and Mike have a big event scheduled for July 10: a soccer-watching party for Choate Construction.

She can make it a package deal for them, with liquor costs included, which will simply require a temporary license on her part.

Meanwhile, that will bring in good money for the ballroom use.

Hopefully, the City Council meeting next Wednesday afternoon will net the Two First Posts a liquor license and business license.

It was broached that our presence at that meeting might speed the process, as there are several American Legion members on that council.

Wouldn't that be grand?

Here's hoping it'll go as we wish!

two first posts of georgia, post fire marshal

After two and a half hours, I made a motion to close the meeting.

I had a dog in Georgetown that was used to having her dinner at 7 PM and the time was then 8:30 PM.

No, I had not yet had supper, either, but I was more concerned about her.

Apparently, the others - Doug Andrews, John Parker, Eric Bolden, Brenda Pough, Sabrina Scales, and Justin Wells, the contractor - agreed with me.

Why was the contractor present?

He wanted to talk to the group about the four or five change orders that he was currently finishing up and would need payment for.

 

Here's two of those, in one shot: the wall to separate the event room from the entrance hall, with the former front doors installed now.

The importance of that was the fact that those doors were lockable.

That was vital, as Eric had seen signs of someone having been there on Sunday, when no one was to have been present.

Remember, he's our Building Manager, and he'd come by on Sunday to put away the chairs and tables from our first official event. 

We'd seen the setup at last week's meeting.

Post 500 had 100 diners present for their 80th Anniversary dinner!

 

The Fire Marshal verified the Two First Posts ballroom is cleared to hold 150, including any caterers, musicians, or others at the event.

Eric has requested another four packs of the banquet chairs, to increase the number of tickets sold to 120 patrons.

Meanwhile, Justin is to build another wall for a closet to hold extra party-planning items, perhaps like linens and such.

That's in addition to the new wall he's constructed on this side of the entrance at 5511 Montgomery Street.

When I arrived just before 6 PM, he was still mudding the sheetrock.

Eric had just shown him the banner Brenda designed, which met with great approval from Justin.

The other side of that change-order wall will be the game room - for darts - attached to the canteen area. 

I'm looking forward to seeing that wall finished next week!

 

Speaking of the canteen portion, the Fire Marshal has deemed its occupancy load to be 68, which seems like it may mean about 55 patrons.

After all, the occupancy has to include the bar staff, the kitchen cooks and cleaners, and the wait staff.

Right now, though, that area is still pretty well crammed with boxes.

Those all held chairs that Eric had to put together for last Saturday.

I know there is another event - Sabrina's retirement party - set for Friday, but hopefully Eric will be able to concentrate on getting the restaurant tables and chairs set back up again.

 

One nice thing about having these two events this month: it's spurred action toward prettying up the bathrooms.

This silver-framed mirror is in the women's area, with silver faucet handles and silver tap, too.

The men's room will be decked out with gold in those items.

Right now, the mirror is the only gold, but doesn't it look great?

I think both are going to look quite classy when they're finished.

As for tonight's meeting, it started out with talk of Toast, the credit card handling service, which has yet to set up the machines of give lessons.

Justin suggested we cancel it, as they have bailed on him three times when they had appointments to get their machine installed.

Doug concurred, said let's use Clover, the one Kat and Mike use.

Done!

(Though I honestly thought this was already decided several weeks ago.)

Justin also asked that his construction company's name be removed from the storage lease and that The Two First Posts LLC be on it instead.

Doug verified that will be done.

Doug also reminded us that we still need to get Sabrina and Joe Cetti's names as authorized users of the Two First Posts bank account.

Justin reiterated that the meeting with the Fire Marshal went well on Friday, gaining us these two Certificates Of Occupancy Load, which are the official papers to be displayed on the walls in both areas.

Justin said we have had the Certificate of Occupancy - which is apparently something different - since February 25 of this year.

Eric will get the COOL framed and mounted on the walls.

Larry Jackson (on the phone) said he will need a copy of those two COOLs for obtaining the business license, which he is working on with Kat Hancock.

Larry confirmed that the City Council meeting is scheduled for July 1st, but he does not yet know for sure if our petition for a liquor license is on that docket; however, he will let us know as soon as he knows.

He also confirmed that JKLM LLC will be the management for our canteen, which will be called Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Barbecue and Grill.

Then on to yet another change order, this one for a chandelier in the ballroom.

Say what?

Six of the ceiling tiles will need to be removed and there was some discussion about how to place it so it would be above the band stand.

Also, there was talk of a dance floor?

Those were all new business that I knew naught of.

That's about the time I moved to adjourn.

Let's finish what needs to be done, y'all, before we dream bigger, okay?

New York City?!?!

Where else would you host an episode of Sunday Morning Live???

Starring Reverend Billy Hester, straight from the Marble Collegiate Church, located downtown near the Empire State Building!

With special musical guest the Asbury Memorial Choir!

Streamed directly to the Asbury Memorial Church at the corner of Waters Avenue and Henry Street in downtown Savannah, Georgia!!!

Featuring opening and closing remarks by Reverend August Alderman!

And welcoming back to the podium to perform the opening prayer, let's hear it for Reverend Bob Townsend!

He's had health problems for a year that have kept him from that duty.

As he said, "This has been a rough year, but I'm not dead yet!"

You and me both, Bob, you and me both!!!

Yes, indeed, this was certainly a show that we got today!

However, Billy's sermon was the briefest ever, running about ten minutes.

That meant that we all took a vote in Holliday Hall for that to be their length from this point forward - hahahaha!

What was going on there?

The 4th Annual Men's Bake-Off, that's what!

I almost missed the whole thing, as I'd waited in line for a hug from August after SML was done.

Going clockwise from that lone dark one, I have 'Into The Woods', 'Peaches and Cream', 'Refrigerator Cake', and 'Pineapple Layer'.

As sweet as they were, I'm glad I just had shreds of them!

I sat with Sherry Giddens, who just had to tell the other two ladies about my 25-year-old Saturn.

I didn't mind the ribbing, though.

My car has been in a movie, and something I did in that Netflix film got enacted by Emily Blunt, so we both have bragging rights!

As I told them, my car shared screen time with that actress for a full count, just to be sure it was on purpose and not accidental.

What a great memory!!!

I didn't mention that my car's twin also had screen time, in one of my favorite television shows.

What a great surprise that had been for me!

I do hope Sherry and the other two will look up "Pain Hustlers"!

Meanwhile, off I go to the AMC 11.

I'm treating myself to a Nicholas Galitzine double header!!!

Woohoo!!!

First up will be yet another screening of "The Sheep Detectives", in which his age is early 20's.

Then, I'm catching him as the mid-20-something He-Man, in all his muscles and manly glory!!!

Yes, that should be a mighty fine time for me!

Later, y'all! 

ain't no stoppin' us now!!!

When the Two First Posts Planning Committee met on Wednesday, the sight in the ballroom was amazing!

Our Building Manager for 5511 Montgomery Street, Eric Bolden, had set up all the event tables and chairs for this coming Saturday.

That will be the 80th anniversary of the American Legion Post 500 of Georgia, brothers with Post 36 in this venture.

Doesn't it look fabulous???

Eric has been there every day, as far as I know.

He's had to put together more than 100 of those Lifetime banquet chairs and twenty of the Lifetime banquet tables over the past two months.

He's had to open and close the building as the new wall was built.

He's been there to open and close for the two new entrance doors to be installed for the building to comply with code.

 

At that meeting, the doors were in place and finished!

That was good as the Fire Marshal was due at 11 AM on Friday.

Well, that inspection went swimmingly!!! 

The Fire Marshal has marked us good to go!!!

Hallelujah!!!

We finally have the Certificates of Occupancy for both the event ballroom and the canteen areas!

On Monday, June 15, the inspection will take place for the Health Permit.

Mike and Kat were at the meeting on Wednesday and they know exactly what is involved for that, so I expect Whiskey Tango Foxtrot BBQ to pass with flying colors... whatever those hues may be!

We are all so excited that an opening is nigh!

By 'we', I mean Doug Anderson, John Parker, me, Kat Hancock, Mike Kajik, Larry Jackson (by phone), Eric Bolden, and Brenda Pough.

Thanks to Brenda, we'll have own own colors!!!

She's quite creative and just look at the sign she has designed!!!

All four branches of the US military are represented, as well as a family group there in the lower right corner!

Doug was so thrilled!!!

I like that penultimate line: "It's Your Turn To Get Served!"

How about that!!!

She has also designed a logo for our business cards and stationery!

I'm so excited about all of this!

Mike and Kat had a couple of changes to make for the contract, but that should be ready to be signed at next Wednesday's meeting.

And we are all going to try to be at the City Council meeting on the first Wednesday of July, looking sharp and wearing our American Legion insignia.

That meeting will concern our liquor license, so it's very important!!!

Now, I wonder where my American Legion pin is?

(smile!) 

 

gander international airport

I don't remember ever hearing about that place in Canada.

Perhaps if I had been watching the news, I might have, but I doubt it.

The events in New York City that forever altered its skyline on September 11, 2001, were so devastating that every media outlet was bursting at the seams to keep the world saturated by them.

That meant no TV, no radio, and no headlines in print for me.

It was a dark, dark time...

though with one solitary bright spot as far as I was concerned.

At least Mama had died and didn't have to be consumed by that tragedy and its horrible aftermath.

Such deep, dark, sadness in the world.

All of those feelings came welling up this afternoon.

I was at a musical, a story that I thought was about a plane and its passengers that had been stranded in Canada at the start of the pandemic.

Maybe I had simply wanted to believe that.

That's why I had bought my ticket several weeks ago, planning for my birthday celebration to include the SCAD play, this musical, and "Frozen".

Three theatrical productions for my bday68!!!

 

A new friend was to have joined me, but instead I ended up in the very same row as the Asbury theatre peeps!

i thank You, God.

I don't know how I could have sat through the entire show if I hadn't had their love and strength beside me at the Tybee Post Theater.

 

I was just fine with that first song in "Come From Away".

Upbeat and hopeful, "Welcome To The Rock" brought images of Okinawa to me and had me smiling!

Then came the scene with the mayor in the coffee shop, on a day like any other day, when the town's reporter burst in and had everyone look at the dire news on the television from the country across the border.

She didn't even have to say what was going on... we all knew.

That's when I realized I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

The musical had barely begun.

The second song, "38 Planes", broadcast the shock of that new reality as planes from thirty-eight countries came in at that airport in Gander.

Operation Yellow Ribbon had forecast the arrival of 18 planes, but more and more flew in as they could not go to the more populous cities in Canada, like Halifax and Toronto.

Suddenly, the town of 10,000 residents had almost 7,000 visitors, many who didn't speak English, many with special dietary needs due to their religions, most with no idea what had necessitated the diversion of their planes.

And those residents in Gander and nearby small towns took in the strangers who had come from away...

and gave them showers and fresh clothing to wear after hours on the planes on the tarmac...

and found places for them to sleep in the churches and school gym and in their own homes... 

and gathered food to feed them, even repurposing the hockey rink as a giant freezer...

and they provided phones and computers and ways for them to contact their loved ones...

doing it all with grace and hope and courtesy.

 

Even though there were other times during the show when tears came again, I left there with a renewed appreciation of the humanity in the world.

After the show, I wanted to thank each and every one of the actors for lending their talents and their voices to this story.

I made sure to go on fb and thank the Savannah Community Theatre for bringing this production to us, as well as Tybee Post Theater for providing a space for this performance.

Thank you, Tom, Heidi, Emily, Lainie, and Linda, for sharing this time and your hugs on this Saturday afternoon.

Now, time to go and feed Dane and give him some extra loving.

Touch is very important. 

letting my voice be heard: part 3

Alrighty then!

Today was the first monthly meeting of the new and improved AARP Georgia group, with Gabrielle in charge.

She started us off with an icebreaker: what was our favorite song, and why?

I gave her "Octopus' Garden", as it always made me think of walking down the street with my childhood BFF!

Then I added "Drift Away", as others had mentioned it, too.

Something we had in common! 

Afterward, she gave us a 15-minute training video to watch.

Titled "Strategic Relationship Building", it was all about determining what community bonds we already had in place for our future community awareness events.

The lecturer referred to building a Win-Win-Win strategy that would benefit the key person at an event, our group at the event, and the community members who came out to the event.

I like that "bigger picture" approach!

 

After the video lecture, we had breakout groups to discuss topics raised.

"Where do people congregate?"

"Where are important landmarks?"

"Where do we have a presence, or where do we need a presence?"

 

My group was a bit different from the others, as it had the blanched almond.

All of us - me, Wanda, Brenda, and Lillian - brought up the senior centers located throughout Savannah and Pooler.

I was the only one who suggested libraries and churches.

I even talked about Sisters In Faith, there at Asbury, who have a monthly speaker visit our luncheons.

I thought for sure they would jump on that as an event opportunity!

However, that didn't happen.

The MLK Civil Rights Museum, the Weeping Area, the NAACP center, those were mentioned by the others.

What I'm sure Gabrielle Richardson and John Strong gathered was that we had some work to do to make this group more diversified.

Let's hope we can be successful, for the good of the community at large, and not just a portion of it.