just shoot me the 2026 rome parade!

With the weather going to hell this afternoon, I chose to celebrate today with the leftovers of meals with friends!

That made it almost seem like I was dining out.

My plan tomorrow is to stay in and stay warm, so this is as close to that as I'll be until Tuesday.

First up was Papa John's pizza, the meatlovers special, that's been in the freezer for a couple of weeks.

That's from the monthly BOGO Saturday deal for carryout. 

So glad I put some of that away for now... and that tall glass of milk is just perfect to go along!

While I dined, I watched one of my favorite TV shows from the past: "Just Shoot Me!"!

This photo has all the principals of 'Blush' magazine: Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, David Spade, Enrico Colantoni, and Wendie Malick.

The scene was in "Lemon Wacky Hello", s1 e6, which was a hoot! 

Ever since I saw Enrico in that holiday movie, this has been on my mind.

Thanks, Antenna TV, for scratching that itch!

For dinner, I began with a facsimile of Pasta e Fagiole of Olive Garden, though this was Campbell's Minestrone with Italian Sausage.

Close enough for my taste buds, especially as I had a genuine OG breadstick to dip and dunk!

Mamma mia, that's a good soup!

I'd just cued up the "2026 New Year Rome Parade" that SCE TV ran the other day.

This entry was from the Lion Dance Academy of martial arts.

It's one of the local entries, as in from Italy.

There were quite a few bands and cheerleader outfits from the USA!

They came from Corning, NY - Aurora, IL - Palm Springs, CA - and many points in between those!

The parade went on for almost 90 minutes, so that allowed me to reheat my Chicken Scampi as my dinner.

I must say, it was every bit as good as it had been with Carolyn!

And just look at how much I had!!!

It filled the plate with no need to even add more pasta.

That Italian food was especially good as I watched more scenes of Rome during the parade!

I'm glad the Lion Dance group had several opportunities to show off.

They were so good at twirling that huge dragon and keeping it off the street!

The Varsity Spirit Cheerleaders from the USA also had several segments in the parade, with a different song each time - very nice!

Then it was time for my dessert before the parade finished.

I've called this Banana Tempura a la Elvis.

I heated up the five pieces from Sushi Hana, then added peanut butter and more honey.

Oh, yeah, every bit as good as I'd hoped!!!

Just perfect as I watched the last parade entry go by!

Such a colorful lot they were, with ages from twenties to seventies!

Those were all Italians, with my guess that some of them have been in this parade for several decades.

Good for them!

Now, I'm going to finish one last year-end event for me.

Time to unfold and recycle all these mementos of dinners shared, movies with friends, concerts ushered, and musicals attended!

It's always such an effort of love for me.

As for the Jar of Blessings, it won't stay empty but a minute - I already have new memories to fill that bottom!

(smile!)  

parade highlights for me

The first thrill was the appearance of Huntrix.

I still don't know the band, but 'Lisa Simpson' sure did!

Bart even made sure the whole family had tickets to see the concert... what a nice brother!

The second was Taylor Momsen, with a solo song.

Remember her?

Little 'Cindy Lou Who' is 32 years old now!

Yes, indeed, that rocker was the little girl who helped a heart to thaw and grow.

After her number, the Grinch was right there to applaud her, too!

That movie celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

I choose to believe Jim Carrey was in that suit, braving the cold to show his support.

(smile!)

fussy mcwiggles reporting on the 201st...

I'm here at one site of the Stairs of Death!

No, those are not on the route of the 201st St. Patrick's Day Parade, here in sunny - but cool - Savannah, G-A.

I recall going up and down those steep steps in high heels, once upon a time, when I was a much younger lass.

Ah, the follies of youth!

I'm not completely sure, but I think my last time on River Street may have been when Melaness was in town.

I'm not there now, that's for sure - far too chilly to hang outside by the water!

Too chilly to hang outside for the Parade, too.

That's why I watched it on TV, at home, with a cup of (decaf) coffee in hand.

I'm so fortunate to not be one of these marchers!

I cannot imagine how early they rose today to get into their assigned place, but It was much earlier than I got out of my warm bed.

This band of 180 members was from Orlando, Florida, and this was their very first time being in the Parade.

I sure hope they get a chance to enjoy Savannah before their return!

A few minutes later, along came the man I wait to see every year!

Yes, I'm talking about that saber-wielding, belly-dancing, Shriner!

This is his 27th year in the Parade, in this role, and he's been doing it come rain, come shine, come cool breeze from the north!

I've not ever kissed his belly, but lots of others have, and I wonder: how many of those lips have done so for 27 years?

(smile!)

My thanks to WSAV and WTOC for providing live coverage of the Parade, as they have done for the last few years.

That certainly makes it easier for me to watch the many entries from the Shriners - the clowns, the pirates, the Dune Cat riders, the Alee cops, and others - multiple times, switching back and forth between the two local channels.

My thanks, also, to Patrick Young, living down in Jacksonville now, for the mock-Irish name!

I wonder what my Irish stepdad would make of this little game?

Frank Barry would become Fussy O'Gratin using this scheme - that's pretty funny!

I'm sure he would agree.

(smile!)

treasure savannah, 3

Yes, that IS a woman with a bare midriff walking a small goat in the Christmas parade at Tybee, on the 4th of December. What a lovely day it was, as is the case more often than not.

music festival

The Savannah Music Festival officially started on Thursday, but I have come to realize that I have my own version, and it's year-round.
As far as the SMF goes, this year I have only attended two events, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. The event on Saturday was a family event, affordable and fun for all. Titled "The Amazing Musical Rescue", it was equal parts music lesson, history lesson, Bill Cosby-esque antics, and puppetry. I totally enjoyed it and was glad to see so many others there for this early afternoon event.
Then, on Sunday, I attended church, in a way. "Gospel with James Bignon", held in the open foyer of the Jepson Center For The Arts, was certainly a religious event. The high-ceilinged entrance, with its roof-to-floor windows overlooking the trees of Telfair Square, allowed the songs to rise and reverberate magnificently. Somehow, the overcast sky, with the soft rain falling all around, added to the overall message of hope: Even though the skies are gloomy, we will sing!
But these two events were certainly not the only musical entertainment I had last week. Far from it! First, I had the Saint Patrick's Day Parade, replete with bands of all denomination! High school bands, local and from South Carolina, Florida, and who knows where else? Fife and drum corps from New York, with their kilts swinging and their bagpipes singing! Military bands, looking razor sharp in uniform! Floats with their own music, either live or taped, engaging the crowd! Priceless... and free.
On Friday, I attended the Karaoke Party at Steed's, a smoky little place with cold beer and warm hearts. (No, I don't think there's a weblink for this!) I walked in for one of my favorite songs, "Breathe" by Anna Nalick, sung beautifully by Shelly, a very talented songbird. (Aside: When I was getting divorced, I was at work and the phone rang. On the other end was just this song playing. I was able to listen to the whole thing, uninterrupted. After the song ended, so did the call. I still don't know how that song came to be in my ear just when I needed it.) After she was done, others followed, all offering one-song concerts for my pleasure... as I did for them. Such fun!
On Saturday, after attending the SMF event, I went to Tybee and enjoyed the songs of nature for a while. The birds sending their messages skyward contrapuntal to the susurration of the waves. The playful shrieks of children as warm toes meet cold saline. Shouts of volleyball players and kite flyers and football tossers.
Then off to the church I so enjoy, the church known for its music and dance and welcome of all. Saturday afternoon, the church was hosting a concert not its own, a message of love in the form of the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus. "The Road Leads Back" was the name of the tour, and a tour de force it was. If you've never been graced with the opportunity to hear a 100-man chorus, you have no idea how high the harmonies can take your spirit. In the recently renovated sanctuary, I found myself closing my eyes to let my senses be overwhelmed, sometimes to the point of tears, by the voices melding together into a new, unified sound.
My Saturday was not yet done. Later that evening, I attended the concert at the Casbah Lounge, part of the Mansion On Forsyth Park. The group was Hear And Now, featuring a trumpet player I truly enjoy, as both a friend and an artist. I happened to enter as the band serenaded me with the James Taylor classic, "You've Got A Friend," letting me know at once that I was in the place I should be. I passed the next few hours listening to first one, then another of the bandmates regale the full house with song, with occasionally some dancing adding to the mix.
Yes, indeed, I had my own music festival these past few days, and much of it was free. How fortunate I am!