what if the internet was down for a week?!

That's the premise of "The Day The Internet Died", the latest offering from the middle school thespians at Garrison Arts Academy.

I made sure the cold and rainy day didn't stop me from bopping out to Yamacraw Center For the Performing Arts to partake of this play!

Only $10, too - so, Merry Christmas to me!

And what a fabulous, bright, program, printed on card stock, for my middle blessings wall!

In the program was each scene in the two acts, with each titled and listing the actors.

That's how I found out a Meece and a Padgett were up on the stage!

In fact, that's Maryn Meece, sitting in the chair with the side profile, as one of "The Unusual Suspects".

As a person obsessed with getting friends to 'like' her photos, she was being questioned by the sheriff (Bailey Flowers).

The kid in the paper bag (Lott Byrd) is an internet troll and the other person (James Deacon) is a punk prankster.

All three are fairly crazy since they lost their 'ether' security blanket! 

They all had their own scenes in the first Act. 

Emma Padgett shows up in the second Act, playing an IRL customer service rep for the internet company.

She's so shocked when a customer (Christian Henriquez) actually tracks down the physical office that she has it burnt down!

That lands her in the second trio that gets grilled by the sheriff. 

That includes a Tweeter (Bella Davis) so desperate to get her messages out that she takes over a newspaper stand, as well as the Boss of an IRL meeting (Asa Boothe) who seems to think they're all in a Zoom session.

By the end of the week, some of the townspeople have adapted well to the IRL, all the time, way of life.

Others are having withdrawals from the lack of social media and email so much that they try to use the Post Office for passing their messages!

On the last day of the outage, the mayor (Hayden Epperson), a man obsessed with his image and his hair, announces that he was behind the lack of internet!

Along with the rich guy (Ethan Brandon), they were running an experiment on the town to see how people would react.

Ah ha!!! 

The sheriff had suspected the mayor was involved, but had no proof.

Suddenly, the room was in an uproar of recriminations!!!

Then, a familiar sound interrupts the mayhem... the internet was back!

And the room went quiet as all checked in to the ether they had missed. 

Wow...

beautifully done!!!

Thanks for this wonderful gift! 

Christmas gifts from Mark Kameron!

I guess I should have gone to the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta yesterday, but I knew I'd have to leave early for "The Nutcracker".

I'd texted Tony to let him know not to expect me at Jalapenos.

"I have 'the nutcracker' dance @ Sav arts academy tonight!"

He'd replied, "Poor guy, here's a hint. Nobody wants/likes their nuts cracked."

I shot back, "Maybe they just haven't met the sugar plum fairy!"

"Maybe...", he'd said.

LOL!

Just a few minutes ago, my youngest brother came by with a bag of gifts from Mark.

The first was this new ornament!

He's a big fan of the Georgia State University's Bulldogs and he's trying to convert me into a football fan.

Good luck with that! 

Still, I do like this new Santa design and I know he'll look very nice with the one he gave me last year.

(smile!)

The other gift was this beautiful fruitcake!

It's truly a wonderful treat, with big pieces of candied fruits and pecans, reminding me of the Christmas Cakes that my stepdad used to make and give out at this time of year.

I sure miss Frank's cakes.

They were so good any time, but especially for breakfast on Christmas Day.

I'll have to make a point of going to the next Friday Fiesta so I can thank Mark.

(smile!)

i still like the little bo-peep...

"You've been to something else with fairy tales?"

 

Nope, and you have a misconception there. That character is actually from a nursery rhyme. However, she appeared in a ballet tonight, along with four of her little lambs. I meant to take a photo but I was busy eating ice cream in the back of the auditorium. Leopold's has Vegan Vanilla, made from coconut milk, and it was quite tasty! Very satisfying, too, even on a chilly evening. I've been craving ice cream.

 

"Let me see if I can figure out where you were. Okay, we have Leopold's and ballet that features Little Bo-Peep... oh, I know! You were at Savannah Arts Academy, weren't you?"

Very good! Yes, I was, for their dance program's 5th annual production of "The Nutcracker". Oddly, there were no printed programs, so I have no idea who the dancers were. However, I do believe the young man playing the magical uncle is the same one who was so impressive when I saw it before.

I think that's true for the two who did another favorite sketch in this ballet. Those would be the very strong snake charmer and his tall snake. I guess that makes them graduating seniors, so new folks will be dancing next year. I do wish a printed program, not a QR code, had been available for this show! At least Savannah Children's Theatre made a weblink available for their programless production.

"Oh, my. You'd think if they wanted you to thank the sponsors, they'd provide that. Especially as the dance instructor tonight made sure to ask folks to do that very thing." 

 

Exactly! Without a program, the sponsors get no recognition. She didn't even say their names when she was introducing the show. Even worse, the picture of the QR code didn't even list the website it referenced. I could understand if this had been a free show, but it wasn't.

 

"Perhaps you need to find out beforehand if there will be printed programs. There's no sense in paying to attend if you're not going to have a souvenir for your 'blessings' wall."

 

Um, that's "walls", plural. Remember? This busy, vibrant woman needs multiples, not just one, to handle her social calendar!

 

"LOL! Yes, dear!"

this is how we do it...

We had another emergency meeting at the Two First Posts site, but this time it wasn't just us chickens.

There were five members from Post 500 of the American Legion, our brothers in this venture, as well as five from Post 36.

We had all lost our physical meeting spaces three years ago. 

Plus, we had a guest, Savanna Newsome of the construction folks, sitting in to offer any help.

So, what was the rush for this 5 PM meeting?

The USO wants to rent out the ballroom for a Christmas-themed event for about 100 children and Santa. 

We don't even have a building manager yet or any staff!

That's why we'll be meeting again for the next two weeks to at least fill that managerial position with a temporary person.

I'm glad I was there - right place, right time, as per my odometer!

That mileage of 244111 was when I was home from the meeting.

I don't know just what the pattern means, but I like it!

I'd finished up my AMC A*List just before I went to Montgomery Street.

I'd watched "Predator: Badlands" again on Monday, as I'd wanted a laugh.

I even mentioned that to Paul, when I called him for his birthday58.

He had found that to be an odd choice for me until I explained about the poor lonely pants! 

"Eternity", though, is brand-new one and poses an interesting question.

Set in the hereafter, it asked: do you choose life everlasting with the one that got away or with the one you had for several decades?

I'm talking about husbands, with all parties dead at this point.

She had to make a choice between the first one, who died in the Korean War, and the second one, with whom she had 65 years, children, and grandchildren.

I thought it odd that they were all young, like in their twenties.

Only the first husband would have died at that age.

When I left the cinema, I'd stopped over at the southside AutoZone.

When I'd replaced the windshield wiper on the driver's side a year ago, I'd made the choice to leave the other in place.

Well, the one on the other side has been shredded - and not in a good way - for several months.

Lots of rain is in the forecast and my passenger-side needed help.

Plus, I'm tired of hearing that shredded piece flapping on the windshield. 

I'm thinking I'll go ahead and replace the driver's side, too, as it's starting to show a bit of wear.

Meanwhile, it's time for "Georgie & Mandy" and dinner!

It's been a drizzly day, overcast and gray, so comfort food, please!

That means Mama's salmon stew, amended to Tina's tuna chowder, served in my Donburi bowl from Okinawa. 

So glad I had the oyster crackers on hand, too!

letter to me as a year began

Guess what arrived in today's post?

The letter I'd written to myself on January 1st.

I left it in a SASE with Cheri Hester and she mailed it last week.

So, did what I wrote come to pass... or was it a miss?

It was such a miss that I'm going to turn it back in this time to be mailed out for a re-do in 2026.

Meanwhile, I found the letter I'd sent myself in 2023 at the Anticipation & Burning Bowl Ceremony. 

Shall I copy that 2023 letter here and check it out its prognostications? 

Yes, let's do that!

*******************

January 1, 2023 

My Dearest Faustina,

I know that 2021 was particularly hard, not just because you lost your brother, but also because you lost your faith in your judgement. This year, you've finally regained that trust in your ability to make good decisions, to avoid scams, and to try new things.

You've had to make some big decisions this year, and now you've been ready to do that. Your trust is up to date, with changes to the trustees... and the talks with Smitty, and Tony, and with Christina and Michael, about serving in that position.

The Power of Attorney choice has been made, too, and that paperwork concerning who will make medical decisions for yourself - yes, that's done, and Christina has been the perfect choice. She's always been the daughter you never had and she knows your heart. No, not just your physical heart, but the part of you that beats in time with the world.

Michael is a good choice, too, as trustee. He has such a good mind for important financial decisions and can be objective. Those are strong traits, so he has his mom to thank for those. I know I've been more like the grasshopper, hopping from one thing to another, rather than the ant for much of my life. I'm glad he's taking care of his future much earlier in life than I did, or than his father did. 

I'm so glad I've been spending more time with him and his daughters this year, as well as the last few. Having them live with me when they were younger was beneficial to all of us. Spending more time to get to know Leila and Alyssa as individuals has been such a joyful experience, hasn't it? It's good to know we share some common traits, like Alyssa's love of reading and Leila's love of animals. I'm blessed to have them around me so often!

Speaking of girls, I'm glad to spend so much time with Miyah and Chloe. Miyah's love of me is so dear to me, as it has been since she was just two years old. Remember that day at Forsyth fountain? "I think she likes you" is what Christina had said, and I realized I loved her then. I have so enjoyed watching her grow into a calmer, more helpful, artistic young girl - wow!

As for Chloe, she has always been loving. But what a thrill to see her take charge of her own decisions instead of following in her sister's wake! I have enjoyed helping her find her own joys, especially in soccer. I've made sure to go to at least one game each season, and had a wonderful time cheering her on. And such a sense of rhythm she has! I love dancing with her! I'm so glad she still dances after movies with me and that she follows my lead - or I've followed hers! - to dance apropos of nothing!

Oh, yes! Such joy I've had dancing! Dancing on the sidelines at the Savannah Music Festival concerts has been fabulous! I do so enjoy that I'm able to usher again with SMF! Being a volunteer usher at the Savannah VOICE concerts again this year has been wonderful, too! Not only have I met more people, and sampled new forms of music, but I've stretched my entertainment budget, too. I've encouraged others to follow that lead, too!

Such a good decision to speak with the folks at the Jepson about your artwork. I know that placing those with the museum, for the #art912 or wherever, has been a relief! Yes, all except the one for the physicist!

And how wonderful to have given "Mama's painting" of "Dance At Bougival" to Christina! I had waited for 11 years to have that for myself, and now I've had it more years than that. It's her turn to have that piece of Mama in her life. I know she will treasure it as I have.

I'm glad I took more control over my finances! Changing up how much I've been taking out, and the grand annual total, has made a difference in my peace of mind. That's helped greatly lower my taxes, but also made a difference in the amount of cushion I've had. That's allowed me to finally finish my trust, actually.

Good financial decisions - faith in my ability to make them - have helped make 2023 a better year. Good for me! Keep up the good work!

with much love always,
Y K W
**********************

Well, there were hits and there were misses.

Some of those links reveal that the forecast was off by a year.

Some show they were right on time during the course of 2023.

Here's hoping I'll have more hits than misses for my epistle of 2026!

happy birthday52 to the physicist!

"Wait! His birthday is still in Jeffvember, right?"

Correct you are, but he was off in o-HI-o to celebrate it, and Thanksgiving, with his girlfriend, Jeannette. She's definitely gotten his spirits up! So that's a very good thing. But between his trips there, her trips here, and his teaching and Buddhism schedules, he and I haven't seen each other since the pancake luncheon.

"That's been a hot minute!"

Actually, just a few months, but I'd become accustomed to seeing him every six weeks or so. Nice to see the smile is still in his eyes!

"Hey, are y'all at the Longhorn???"

We are! It had been his suggestion, but I'd quickly seconded the motion. I wanted to try that French Onion Soup that Carolyn had the last time I was there. Mighty tasty it was, too! And it paired well with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts! 

"Very nice! And I'm glad the weather was nice for y'all today."

Me, too! Both of us were hobbling along, him due his neuropathy in his legs, me because of the inguinal hernia in my right leg. I guess we're not as young as we were 13 years ago... but who is? We're still getting where we want to go, and even to a few places, perhaps, that we have to go. We even talked again about my trip to Iowa! (smile!) He's even talking about moving to Ohio in a couple of years. That would be very good for him. He needs love in his life! I had not realized how hard life with the 'Cole had become during the last part of their marriage.

"I'm glad he has the pet-sitter in his life, too. She seems to be pretty well grounded, if she's been able to impress upon him the importance of wills and Power of Attorney documents and that sort of thing."

I know! I had started talking to him about that stuff about a year ago and he had flat out said he didn't need them. Wrong! What would become of Emily The Cat if anything befell him? Sometimes, I swear he's still a 14-year-old boy. (smile!)

"Oh, yes, I can see that. He's got more in common with Sheldon Cooper than he thinks. It's all part and parcel of him being a pie-in-the-sky theoretical physicist.

"Hahahaha! You said it!"

Now, I'm going to watch "The Night Before", about a bunch of stoners ISO the ultimate New Year's Ever party: The Nutcracker Ball. I wonder if the bfe has ever seen this? I imagine he has, as it has Seth Rogen in it. I'll have to ask him 'bout that! (smile!)

yes, virginia, winter is coming to this latitude

At least the weather is trying to break it to us gently.

The highs will be hovering near 60 and the lows promise to not drop below 40.

I can do that!

I was out for 'lonely pants' earlier and I'm home now after Music Bingo with Elissa and Sandy!

I dined on grilled chicken, crispy fries, and delicious salad!

All in all, a very good first day of December!

Now, to finish it off with the two Janes and "The Night Before"!

(smile!)