surprise! it's a birthday party!

I had no idea this was in the works by my first niece.
All I knew was this:
they had a new grill and wanted to have me over for a test cookout.
I bought that line, too.
Even though she had asked me almost a week in advance.

Even after my eldest brother and his wife showed up right after I got out of my car, I still didn't know that this was a surprise birthday party for me.
Even though he said "surprise!",
I figured it was because he was there for the cookout and I hadn't expected him.

Not until my outlaw Melinda,
mother of my first niece, and my nephew Michael, came out of the house, did I have a clue.
THEN I knew!
Wow!
I had never had a surprise birthday party before!!!

She had done such a great job at getting everyone together!
They all have such busy work schedules, even on weekends, so I was thrilled that they had given their Sunday evening to me.
Wow.
I truly am so blessed.

After an attempt to play some kind of lawn bowling game, it was time for the grilled hotdogs, baked beans, potato salad, chips, and all the possible condiments one could ever want.
Yum! I ate three of those delicious hotdogs!!!
Thanks, Jason!

Then came the time for cake!!!
She had made cupcakes,
Minion cupcakes!
Hahahahaha! The little yellow Minion laughs just like that!
The purple Minion blows a party favor - for real, y'all!
And there were cards and presents and game-playing, too!
I truly am so very blessed - and so very loved.

(more than) 56 birthday wishes!!

Did you know that google will create a special, personalized, birthday doodle just for you? That's right! I found out about it in April, when I just happened to be with Hai on his birthday. We were at the Learning Commons at the school, me for my "Office Hours", him for no particular reason. He had logged in to his gmail account, then went to google - and there it was! A google doodle wishing him happy birthday!
How cool is that?
Google does not care which account you log in with, whether it be blogspot, youtube, gmail, whichever others in which they are integrated. You log in, then go to google.com, and there it will be: birthday-cakes and a birthday greeting with your name.
Sah-weet!!!
That website, of course, was not the only wisher of happiness to me.
Thanks to the use by my family and friends of facebook, I received more than fifty-six birthday wishes!!!
Isn't that incredible?
More than fifty-six people who know me took the time to leave a birthday greeting for me on my "wall" on that website.
I am well and truly blessed.
I am!
That's not the only source of birthday greetings to me, though. They came by email, by phone, through the United State Post Office, and in person.
Jeff, aka "the ex", was the first this year. With him, I had not one, but two early birthday meals. Sah-weet!
.
.
.

Then, my outlaw Bunny was next!
------------------------------
Wed, May 28, 2014 05:39 PM
facebook
Bunny J R posted on your timeline
"Wishing you a Very Happy Birthday My Outlaw Tina!!!!"
.
.
.

After that, the wishes flew quickly through the airwaves!
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 12:05 AM
facebook
Shawn L posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 12:46 AM
facebook
Sue K posted on your timeline
"Wishing you a wonderful B Day ♥"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 01:06 AM
facebook
Lynn L posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday!!! Love ya!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 02:20 AM
facebook
Katie S posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday Aunt Tina.
Miss you xoxoxo"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 03:30 AM
facebook
Lisa W-S posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 03:45 AM
facebook
Brant D posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday, Tina!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 04:43 AM
facebook
Don H posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
.
.
.

Then the night-owls and west-coasters gave way to the early-risers.
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 06:22 AM
email from stepmom Bonnie S.

Subject : the great day of May 29th
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Bonnie
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 06:49 AM
facebook
Lee M posted on your timeline
"Tina hope you have a great B.D. !"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 06:52 AM
facebook
Sharon F N posted on your timeline
"Have a wonderful birthday, Tina!!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 07:13 AM
facebook
Donna M posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Hope you have a great day"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 07:40 AM
facebook
Lisa L posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 07:47 AM
facebook
Patrick Y posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 07:48 AM
facebook
Robbie P R posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday cousin! I hope
You have a Wonderful Day :-)"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 07:48 AM
facebook
Penny W B posted on your timeline
"¸.•*.•.ღ•* *•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•♪ღ♪¸.•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•
♪ღ♪ ░H░A░P░P░Y░♪░B░I░R░T░H░D░A░Y░!░ ♪ღ♪
*•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•♪¸.•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•¸.•*.•.ღ•*•*

The older you are, the more like yourself you become!

I love you with all of my heart! I hope that today -- and this year -- is filled with more laughter and love than ever before.

Cheers to you!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 07:52 AM
facebook
Deborah R posted on your timeline
"Have a Happy"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 07:56 AM
text message from Mary S

Happy Birthday!
I hope you have a great day!
.
.
.

And so it went, throughout the morning...
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:18 AM
facebook
Rhonda S. C posted on your timeline
"Sorry I'm late. Happy Birthday. Hope you had a great day."
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:19 AM
facebook
Lee H posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina! :) Hope you have a wonderful day!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 08:25 AM
facebook
Joe N posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday Tina!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:27 AM
facebook
Mark R posted on your timeline
"Happy, happy, happy birthday, Tina!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 08:32 AM
text message from Christy P

Happy Birthday ... we love you
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 08:47 AM
facebook
JinHi S R posted on your timeline
"You! So much love and light and gratitude to have you in my life! Happiest of New Years to one of the most fully and actively alive people I know! ♥"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:47 AM
facebook
Kristin S posted on your timeline
"Happy happy b-day, Tina! When are we gonna celebrate? :)"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:55 AM
facebook
Sherry M posted on your timeline
"Happy, Happy Birthday! Wishing you a day filled with laughter, love, and light!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:59 AM
facebook
Mary J M posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Faustina hope you have a wonderful day!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 09:07 AM
facebook
Lorretta R posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday! We Gemini rule!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 09:29 AM
facebook
Deatre N B D posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 09:46 AM
facebook
Tyler S posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday aunt Tina!! And thanks again for the grad present. Have a great day! !!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 09:56 AM
facebook
Robin R J posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday, Tina!!!!! I Hope you have a fantastic birthday!!!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:03 AM
text message from Melanie W

Happy B-Day Tina!!! I'm still working on ur present. I'm a noobie at it and I keep tweaking it. I think I'll finish it today. I'll let u know when we mail it! love you!!!
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:10 AM
facebook
Megan J posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:21 AM
facebook
Gary A posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 10:13 AM
Balinda M-D
facebook inbox message

(cartoon image of a dog holding a birthday cake)
Have a great day!!!!
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 10:23 AM
facebook
Angela J posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina!!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:31 AM
facebook
Sabitra B posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:48 AM
facebook
Adriana N posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:57 AM
facebook
William P posted on your timeline
"Hope your Birthday
is a HIT, HIT, HIT!!!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 11:09 AM
Christine S A
facebook inbox message

Happy Birthday, may all your wishes come true. Have a great day
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 11:51 AM
facebook
Donna S T posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 11:53 AM
facebook
Blair W posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 11:57 AM
facebook
Dan J posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
.
.
.

... messages during lunch and slunch...
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Thu, May 29, 2014 12:02 PM
facebook
Michelle M posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday, Tina!!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 12:08 PM
Jeff Powless
facebook inbox message

Happy Birthday Tina! Hope you have a great day Dear! You are always in my thoughts and prayers Tina.
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Thu, May 29, 2014 12:14 PM
facebook
Daniel W T posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 12:16 PM
facebook
Cheryl T posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 12:42 PM
facebook
Bryan P posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Faustina!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 12:45 PM
Christa A
facebook inbox message

Happy birthday, lady! Hope you are having a great day! I would love to get to hang out with you before I head back to the 'frigid north' on June 7 if you're free at all next week. Let me know.
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Thu, May 29, 2014 01:06 PM
facebook
Nancy O posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday, gorgeous! ♥ hope it rocks :)"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 1:16 PM
text message from Cheryl M

:) Happy Birthday
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Thu, May 29, 2014 01:27 PM
facebook
Emily B B posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday! !!!!!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 01:45 PM
facebook
Pat A posted on your timeline
"You are stunning at any age."
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Thu, May 29, 2014 2:59 PM
phone message from Christina W

sang happy birthday to me!
.
.
.

... into the afternoon and beyond...
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Thu, May 29, 2014 03:20 PM
facebook
Toby M posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday :)"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 03:27 PM
facebook
Sammy B. W IV posted on your timeline
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 03:52 PM
facebook
Lizz S posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday boy it sucks getting old! Have a wonderful day"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 3:53 PM
phone call from Bev L

wished me happy birthday and talked!
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 03:56 PM
facebook
Melissa C posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 04:01 PM
facebook
Roy W posted on your timeline
"X"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 04:16 PM
facebook
Susan C posted on your timeline
"Otanjyobi omedeto gozaimasu,dear friend!!!! ♥"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 04:26 PM
Steve R
facebook inbox message

Happy Birthday to you!!! Believe me you don't want me to sing it.
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Thu, May 29, 2014 04:32 PM
facebook
John M posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday, Tina! And many, many more happy ones!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 04:49 PM
facebook
Jim C posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina. I have a feeling you're already having a great time."
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Thu, May 29, 2014 05:38 PM
facebook
Christy W-P posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Aunt Tina...we love you"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 05:46 PM
facebook
Jeff S posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Faustina!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 06:03 PM
facebook
Bob W posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Kiddo!!!"
.
.
.

... into the dinner hours of most folks...
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 06:51 PM
facebook
Rebecca F posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 06:53 PM
facebook
Danielle L posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 06:59 PM
facebook
Joe D posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 07:05 PM
facebook
Heather H posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Tina!!!!!;)"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 07:48 PM
facebook
Tracy W posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday, Tina! Hope it has been great!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 08:10 PM
facebook
Sue B posted on your timeline
"Happy happy birthday!! I hope it's a great day for you!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 08:15 PM
facebook
Scott W posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday !!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 08:20 PM
facebook
Fae H K posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday, Tina! May your day be filled with joy and your year with blessings."
.
.
.

... and the late evening of others...
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 08:52 PM
facebook
Joe G posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday, Tina. Wish I was there to help you celebrate!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 09:20 PM
text message from Stephanie K

Happy Happy Birthday!!! :)
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 09:29 PM
facebook
Kathy L S posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Aunt Tina!! Hope you are having a great day!! Keep in touch:)"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 09:39 PM
facebook
Jeanine B posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!! :)"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 09:46 PM
facebook
Shirley S posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday - celebrate you!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 10:00 PM
facebook
Perry F posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday Faustina!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 10:00 PM
facebook
Jason A posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!!!"
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Thu, May 29, 2014 10:22 PM
facebook
Jason A. W posted on your timeline
"Happy Birthday!!!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 10:30 PM
facebook
Penny H S posted on your timeline
"Lovely wishes to you, lovely lady!"
.
.
.

... and back around to the night-owls again!
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 11:08 PM
facebook
Patrick O'C posted on your timeline
"Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!"
------------------------------
Thu, May 29, 2014 11:25 PM
facebook
Kimmi S posted on your timeline
"Have a very happy birthday! Missed you st the game today. You should come to karaoke friday at the VFW on 17."
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Thu, May 29, 2014 11:35 PM
facebook
Margaret C posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday, Tina!"
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Fri, May 30, 2014 02:50 AM
facebook
Valerie M B posted on your timeline
"You could run circles around most people half your age, but you’re way too nice to show them up like that. Or at least sarcastic enough to give me a head start. :P
Happy Birthday, and I hope you had a fantastic day! Hugs!"
.
.
.
There were even a few wishes that straggled in this morning!
------------------------------
Fri, May 30, 2014 08:25 AM
facebook
Lecy C posted on your timeline
"Happy Belated Birthday We love you"
------------------------------
Fri, May 30, 2014 09:31 AM
facebook
Sam D posted on your timeline
"Happy birthday Tina!!! Hugs and kisses from Atlanta!!!"
.
.
.

All are precious to me, as all indicate that I was on someone else's mind. Not only was I on someone else's mind, but that someone took a few moments to let me know I was in the thoughts of another.
That's love, right?
It is.
It definitely is.
I hope I will remember that the next time I'm feeling blue.
All i have to do is let Someone know.

I made sure to reply to each sender of birthday love.
I'm talking about personal responses to each one.
Each and every one of the more than 56 senders.
They each took the time for me, so I took the time for them.
Gratitude is very important for love.

something old, something new, something borrowed...

... but nothing blue!

Well, except for the rainy day exhibit at the Jepson Center. But that was fun! I was in control and could have a storm lashing and thunder crashing one minute, then birds singing and a perfectly blue sky the next. Supercool! It was part of the Rafael Rozendaal exhibit, "Looking At Something".

I also played with the toilet paper roll.
That's right, it was also interactive!
These PULSE pieces are meant to be touched...
and we KNOW I like touch!
So, I unspooled the paper...

... until only a few pieces of remained.
I didn't want to take the last piece!
LOL!
Then I rolled it back up for the next person.

Now that I had the touch urge under control, I could visit Marilyn again.
Some of the pieces here show such a vulnerable side of her, whilst others are rather whimsical.
I especially enjoyed the video interview with the photographer who captured that famous shot of her in the white dress, over the subway grate.

There were several of her quotes scattered throughout the exhibit, stenciled on the white walls. I thought this quote was particularly poignant.
Perhaps she decided she didn't want to know herself?
Perhaps the public image became too difficult to maintain?
She was only 36 years old when she died.
If she had lived, she would be 88 years old in three days.
Would the world have accepted her growing older in film and on stage, as it has for Betty White?
Or would she have resigned from public view, like Brigitte Bardot?
Both women are her contemporaries. If Marilyn had not been frozen in time by death, she would be a white-haired octogenarian now.
I guess this has been a serious line of thinking for my birthday, but it's also appropriate. Aging is a natural part of life, a part I have been learning to accept of late. After all, only the dead can stop the aging process and remain stuck in time into perpetuity.
Me? I'd rather stay young at heart!
The Helen Levitt photography exhibit, next on my list, was filled with black-and-whites of children. Titled "In The Street", the shots were mostly candids, taken when folks were unaware a camera eye was watching. They reminded me so much of the photos I had seen on Sunday in the film about Vivian Maier. Vivian was a nanny who left behind hundreds of thousands of candid photos taken during her life, mostly of strangers. Her camera, slung on a strap at waist level, allowed her to look someone in the eye while snapping her flashless shots, almost surreptitiously. Perhaps that is the reason she kept the photos to herself, knowing she had "stolen" these images of people. Or, no doubt aware of the older woman's work - and possibly inspired by it - she may not have thought her work was up to those same standards.
I'm a pretty avid protographer, too, as my blogs will attest. As I had watched the posthumous documentary about the nanny, I was startled by a realization. When you take someone's photo, and they are looking at you, they are acknowledging YOUR presence. They see YOU. They verify YOUR existence.
I certainly do think about that almost every time I use my camera now.

Contessa is only too happy to verify my existence any time!
I had sushi with her and Chloe prior to my foray to the museum.
I had to be sure to give her my lap and my hands for at least 20 minutes before she would allow me to dine.
My attempts to share some salmon sashimi with her failed. She only eats nasty-smelling fish, thank you very much.
(smile!)
Before calling it a day, I attended the 2014 SCADemy Awards tonight. That was definitely something new to me. I had not expected to know any of the films and I did not. I managed to catch the entire presentation.
Yeah. I don't think I will be doing that again.
Well, maybe I will if I have some kickstarter projects that get nominated. But that was not the case this year, as I did not do much investing with kickstarter last year.
However, this program felt nearly interminable and the Trustees Theatre was absolutely freezing. The only reason I stayed was the promise of the screening of the award-winning films after the awards were said and done.
There were seven videos that evening. "The Pinewood Man" chronicled the exploits of a go-kart maker, trying to win his son's love. "The Black Elephant" was a documentary about black Republicans. I liked the music video, "Saralinah"! "The Neighborhood" followed three young adults around, while "The Gold-Bug" paid homage to Edgar Allen Poe's short story. The funniest movie was "Red, White, and Screwed", a political farce in a high school setting. The screening concluded with "Southsouthwest", a touching antibullying anthem, which was a good note to end with this evening.
Next year, I'll pay better attention to the SCAD offerings. I would have liked to have seen the entire slate of student films. Those are typically screened for two days in late May.
Next year for sure!
Now, though, time for this birthday girl to call it a day!
G'night, all!

Wells Fargo and the safe deposit box caper

So, as I mentioned earlier, the ex and I had lunch today.
But first, a stop at the bank. You see, even though we have been divorced for nearly seven years, Wells Fargo was sending him messages about the annual renewal fee for my safe deposit box.
What?
Yes.
It blew my mind when he just happened to mention it this morning.
Did I know anything about him still having a safe deposit box here in Savannah?
No, I did not. I have a safe deposit box here.
Well, Wells Fargo had sent him a message about its renewal fee coming due soon.
Say what????
.
.
.

We met up the the southside branch, where the box was and where we once had a joint account, and met with a decidedly uncourteous account manager there.
Yes, she said, the joint checking and savings acounts had been terminated years ago. Before Wells Fargo took over Wachovia. So Wells Fargo didn't have any record of him having ever signed off on the safe deposit box. They could "research" it for us, for a fee. However, they could not guarantee that the research would yield any useful results, as they did not know how well the records would have been kept at Wachovia.
Oh, really? Did she just go there with that slur?
Yes. Yes, she did.
Okay, fine.
He was here, I was here, let's just get that paperwork done now, shall we?
No can do, the unhelpful account manager said.
We would need to close out that safe deposit box and open a new one in just my name.
Oh, really?
Yes.
You have got to be kidding??? I do hope, really, truly, that she one day finds herself in this situation.
But, okay, fine, fine, fine. We can do that, we told her.
Just one catch, she says. They only have the small boxes available right now, half the size of my current box, and have a long waiting list of folks wanting the larger size.
.
.
.

Well, hell's belles.
So, I kept the box I have. Yes, his name is still on it, meaning he has access to everything I have there. Not that I have anything in there that belongs to him.
Well, not now.
It turns out I still had an official copy of his birth certificate, which he now possesses. I would have sworn I had given that to him years ago, along with his passport, Social Security card, and his mother's diamond ring.
As it happens, he was needing that birth certificate, as he wants to get a passport again. So, coincidence that he should bring up the safe deposit box after six years of getting notices?
I think not.
There are no coincidences.
I am sure that was Mother Pat trying to help him out, as she always did.
For him to have brought it up before, when he was still halfway across the country, would have served no purpose.
Timing, my dear.
Timing is truly everything.

You better believe I'm going in search of another safe deposit box.
One for just my stuff.
And I'm going to close out my dealings with Wells Fargo. Their slogan may be that courteousness is the central tenet of their business, but not from the way I was treated today.

birthday ex

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

must...have...birthday...coffee

Shout out to Dave & Buster's for my free birthday gift!!!

Yeah, you heard me - this mug was free.

Here's how that worked.
You see, I belong to their Rewards Club.
Fairly frequently, they send me coupons to BOGO points. Generally, it's Buy $20 of points, Get $20 of points FREE.
For my birthday, the amount to buy was just a sawbuck.
(Seriously, those with an interest in either construction or Roman history, click that link. It's an interesting piece of etymology.)
Ten dollars is good for about fifty points.
I used about fifty points to "win" more than 1000 tickets.

I like to play this game -
perhaps it's called Pirate Booty?
Treasure Chest?
Pirate's Treasure Wheel?
Whatever its name, it tends to shower me with tickets.
Seriously.
On two separate occasions,
two months apart,
I won one thousand tickets with a single spin.
Pretty amazing, right?
Here is the photo of me in January, making my first win on it.

On both occasions, I gave the tickets to my friend Hai. He was trying to get enough to trade in for this giant ape.
This time, I was keeping the tickets for myself. Rather, I was amassing tickets so D&B could allow me to choose my physical gift from them.
I had wandered around in the ticket-redemption center, picking up this, looking at that, then I spotted the Zombie Mug.
How perfect is that for a "House of the Dead" zombie-killer and coffee drinker like myself!!!
And it only cost 1050 tickets.
Woohoo!!!

Many thanks, y'all!
It's even the right size!!!
(smile!)

accidental fish & shrimp birthday

Many thanks to Landry's Select Club for my free lunch today!
As I was in Daytona, I chose Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to redeem my $25 gift from them!
This Sparkling Mango Lemonade was perfect for a warm spring day on the beach!
Aaaahhhh!

The crisp, cool salad was the perfect starter, too.
Balsamic vinaigrette added the right amount of dash to perk it up, but not overload the taste buds.
Crunch, crunch... good!

Yes, you ARE seeing that I am having my dessert with my entree!
Mama's Bread Pudding, sans the lactose-laden ice cream, with that delicious sauce on the side - wow!
Accidental Fish & Shrimp was perfect for a seafood lover like me - grilled mahi and scattered sweet shrimp - yum!
And, as I found out, that bread pudding's sauce is very good with the delicate flavor of the fish. What a serendipitous discovery!
Happy early birthday to me!