progress at the two first posts

We definitely had a quorum there tonight!

Ever since it was announced that the Two First Posts had an event booked by the USO, meetings have been much more frequent.

So far this month, there have been four meetings.

The most fruitful so far was that first one, on December 4th.

The second one, held on December 8th, was sparsely attended and nothing more was accomplished.

Another was held three days later, but I missed that, due to a long-awaited prior booking.

I really do need a clone, as that seemed to have been an active meeting, with some decisions made. 

On Monday at 1 PM, there was another meeting, but the weather was brutal, so my warm heart would not let me out of the house.

That brings us to 6 PM tonight for the fifth meeting of December.

Post 36 had Doug Anderson, Joe Cetti, Billy Cope, Jay White, Pete Hoffman, me and an older guy named Tim.

Post 500 had John Parker, Eddie Patterson, Brenda Pough, Larry Jackson, General Parker, and Eric Bolden.

When I arrived, Larry was addressing the group with a punch list about problems getting the business license.

Besides needing a hard copy of the Certificate of Occupancy and a decision on who will be named on the license, there's another issue.

Pat Harris of the neighborhood association has lodged a complaint about having a bar in the area.

John Parker is going to call her to invite her to the USO event next week, as well as emphasize that this will be a private club, with a restaurant as well as a bar.

I hope that will soothe her.

Hopefully, all of that will be settled in time for the February meeting of the City of Savannah, so we can officially open.

Other issues were raised, such as the need for a House Manager, someone to be in charge of booking all events and setting up for them.

A Bar Manager, Sergeant At Arms, kitchen staff, bar staff: all are needed.

If we follow the example of American Legion Post 135, the Bar Manager gets a base salary, plus a percentage commission on sales.

I hope we are consulting Post 135 and Post 184 on these decisions, as they both have successful operations in place. 

Kitchen supplies, bar supplies: all are needed.

It was pointed out that there are several liquor distributors in the area and that they usually will donate the glassware for the bar, so that's good.

Also, if a caterer is chosen for the kitchen, they will supply all the cooking utensils, so that's good, too.

The need was raised for a center island in the bar for liquor storage.

(I brought up that the original design had included that.)

So what is to be done about money handling with these sales?

Joe Cetti proposed that a drop safe be installed for daily cash deposits; TOAST is the company that will be processing credit sales and keeping track of all sales, with nightly reports.

Training on TOAST operation will need to be scheduled for all who are on the Two First Posts planning committee.

(I guess that includes me, as I am the Historian for Post 36.)

What else?

Oh, yes: security and anti-theft control.

Billy Cope has that under control, with nine cameras that he'll be installing.

He'll also be wiring the big-screen TVs, once we decide how many.

Great to have an electrician on board!

Eddie told us the national American Legion will set up a website for Two First Posts for the nominal fee of $200 per year, as they have a cookie-cutter design for each post.

That will be great!

We can make sure it has social media links, too.

That will be good for getting the word out.

After 90 minutes, the motion was made to adjourn and I seconded it. 

Now, one more meeting this month before the holiday schedule will have to take precedence.

That one will be 6 PM on Monday.

Yes, I had other plans, as I did tonight, but I will choose to be here.

I hope others will do the same.

four calling birds!

That was the line that Virginia and I and a silent singer had to sing and pantomime.

Fortunately, I'd seen the People's Youth Choir in action two years ago, so I could coach the others on what to do.

"We just place our hands to imitate a megaphone at our mouth!"

That worked out just fine all nine times that our part came up in "The Twelve Days Of Christmas"! 

The table beside us were tasked with "partridge in a pear tree".

What a cute act they choose for that line!

That was good, as they had to perform for all twelve stanzas.

However, the group that got the most crowd reaction was the table right in front of us.

Here they are, doing the squat of "six geese a-laying"!

It was such a hoot!!!

Bird pun intended! 

I'm so glad that Michelle Meece asked us to do that song for her!

It was a favorite in her family that her dad always led.

Here, she's performing "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas".

She truly has such a nice voice and a great stlye!

I think she looked like a cross between Cindy Lou Who and an elf for our Sisters In Faith Christmas luncheon party.

Very cute!

Yes, we were all gathered at Asbury Memorial, in Holliday Hall, and I'm sure Miss Virginia was there celebrating with us!

Linda Combs had called out the big guns for this event.

That's Huxsie Scott on that throne!!!

She's been a well-regarded songbird of Savannah for several decades.

She was there to sing "Because It's Christmas", a favorite song of Linda's, and one that I had never heard before.

What a treat!

Speaking of such, there was lots of good food!

There were several different kinds of tea sandwiches, reminding me of Aunt Linda's birthday celebration - good times!

I also enjoyed the sweets - so many different desserts, including that cake with coconut and pecans and dark chocolate chips!

 

I arrived late, due to the noon appointment with Dr. Urban at Savannah VA.

Noon was also the start time of this soiree!

Still, I'd been waiting six months for the eye check, so that had priority...

but I so wanted to go to the party...

and when he heard my dilemma, he let me go!

It helped that I'd not yet had the neurology meeting that he'd wanted me to have before this visit.

All told, I made it to the church while Dottie Klutz was telling a story from her youth in Germany.

Perfect!

I was able to grab a plate of food and the empty seat beside Robin Eifler with no one paying any mind to me!

Hallelujah!!!

Afterward, I helped put away the chairs and tables and decor, as I'd promised to do.

And I ended up with two goodie bags instead of one!

That's because Virginia's bag had a Christmas card in it that started out, incredibly, with "Dear Tina"... so she insisted that I take it and wouldn't take my bag in trade.

Whoever wrote the card didn't sign it, so I have no idea who to thank.

I'll be sure to enjoy the lavender hand soap, given by a secret Santa.

i thank You, God!

chicken parmigiana with beauty and the beast

"I thought the Savannah Children's Theatre were doing..."

 

This has naught to do with them. This pertains to the free show the Rambam Day School kids performed this evening. The musical selected was "Beauty And The Beast: A Chanukah Tale" and it was great fun!

 

"Oh, good, you did go to it after all! I know you had some concern yesterday, as the weather was so cold. Even though the day climbed up to the mid-50's, it was going to drop back toward the 40's with nightfall."

 

Very true. Fortunately, my warm heart seems to be working nicely, so Dr. Cobb may be right. The A-fib may be gone. That would be wonderful, though I'm still avoiding the colder temperatures because I don't like cold feet. As long I have this inguinal hernia, I cannot bend my right leg to put a sock on my right foot. Even so, I did bounce out for the show tonight and have done well! Hooray! Plus, I got to spend time with Marcia as she enjoyed her three grandkids in the play. Hooray! Plus, I had dessert in the form of donuts after the show! Hooray!

 

"I'm so glad you had such a good time there! But, wait... you called the donuts 'dessert'. Did you dine out?"

I did! Carolyn and I met up at the AMC to see "Ella McKay", which turned out to be a political fairy tale. The lead character manages to effectively revolutionize the world for pregnant women and small children, even though she's in office a scant three days. LOL! But at least we both got to cross that off our A*List!

 

"That makes just one that you've seen this week, right?"

 

Correct. That's okay. The point was, mi amiga and I were able to cross paths for the first time in a few weeks! That warranted us going out for slunch post-movie! Olive Garden was her choice and that was fine with me!

 

"She looks great in the photo! And is that one of the necklaces you bought on your trip to Italy with the nurses?"

 

Carolyn does look good, doesn't she? She's still on a string of antibiotics for her lungs, but she doesn't let it slow her down. And thanks for noticing the necklace! That's the one which looks like it has little gifts tied all over the string. I just know Mama and Grandma would have been enchanted with it!

 

"Hey, I recognize that food, too! That's your favorite soup, right?"

 

Yep, that's pasta e fagiole! This time around on Tina Tuesday, I had the chicken parmigiana. She had the eggplant version! And we talked and caught up and had a lovely time! Then she was back to AMC for a Tollywood film that I hope to catch tomorrow. It's only screening at 6 PM and won't get out until about 9:30. Wish me luck!

"Hey, it's gonna be in the 60's tomorrow. You got this!!!"

how to spend a day in hell

First, be prepared for a great big hygge all day!

That's pronounced like "hoog gah", which sounds close enough to "hug" to me.

I took it to mean I needed to have lots of comforting things around. 

First up was some laughter, of course, as I dined on soup for brunch!

"Happy Days" had Joni home from college for a Christmas without a real tree, as her dad had opted for the aluminum  version from his store.

Next thing ya know, the living room was full of real trees gifted to her!

Then I watched the latest episode of "The Simpsons" to see how Marge dealt with Bart and Lisa being hormonal teens - what a hoot!

And they weren't the only ones going through 'the change'.

Nope, she was in perimenopause and having hot flashes!!!

Poor Homer, of all people, was just trying to keep everyone from getting on each other's nerves.

Well, up until the point when he went through his change and couldn't get an erection... dire action was needed, and needed now!

Hahaha haha!!!

Hey, it's been almost 40 years that I've been watching this family.

About time they got a bit more real!

Okay, time for a movie, and what better than one from 1938?

I recorded it a few days ago when I saw a familiar name: Lena Horne.

I'd only ever known the singer as an old-er woman, someone close to the age I now am.

"The Duke Is Tops" was her film debut, at just 20 years old. 

She wasn't the only songbird, though, in this music and dance laden feast!

The Marie Bryant Swing Band supplied tunes, as did Cats And The Fiddle, as well as the Basin Street Boys - very cool!

And the tap dancing by Willie Covan was absolutely fabulous!!!

Why had I never heard of these people or this movie?

It wasn't marketed to white folks; it's purpose was to draw middle-class black audiences into the cinemas.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon it on GPB Knowledge! 

I'm also thrilled to have spotted a keeper on GRIT TV!

That would be the 1998 "Ebeneezer", a Canadian film featuring Jack Palance as 'Ebeneezer Scrooge' in the Old West. 

Having just seen "A Christmas Carol" live on Saturday, I was curious about the setting and what his character would be like in this modernized tale.

Well, let me say that he put his heart and soul into being the meanest, cheating-est, card shark in town, getting money and land by taking advantage of all who dared to play him.

It really was quite good and I plan to watch it again!

But not tonight, as it's time to warm the bed before I slumber.

Right now, just before midnight, Savannah is 28 F.

By 10 AM tomorrow, the seaport will be 27 F.

Hell, I tell you, sheer hell.

At least the high will be in the 50's... and I am retired and can stay in my warm bed until noon, if I want.

(smile!) 

 

2025 lifetime holiday workers film festival

This is a carefully curated collection of movies with a common theme: people who have to work during the holidays.

All total, there are fourteen.  

 

Two have singers performing at holiday fundraisers.

Two have interns working for free in family businesses. 

Two are about working in department stores during the holidays.

Two feature workers in specialty stores, such as a beauty salon and a toy store.

Two others are actually science fiction and have time travel!

Two have Vivica A. Fox as a big financial wiz versus smaller companies that are saved by an intern. 

Two feature businesses that promote Christmas all year long!

Two have specialty crafts, like house designer or chef, that have solo artists.

Two feature Tia Mowry in the lead roles.

Two have special annual events that are threatened by Winter Storm Megan.

Shall we take a look at the fourteen movies viewed between December 8 through today?

Yes, lets! 

 

"Christmas 9 To 5" (2019)

reporter Jennifer - Tiya Sircar
owner's son Jack - Joe Dinicol
store manager Rose - Sheila McCarthy
elevator man Manny - George Wendt (Norm! from "Cheers")

 

A reporter goes undercover at a family-owned department store.

Very charming tale!

 

---------------------------

'The Holiday Junkie" (2024)

party planner Andie - Jennifer Leigh Hewitt
house manager Mason - Brian Hallisay
Mimi - Kristin Chenoweth
Mason's bff Darren - Greg Grunberg
Andie's bff Riley - Lynn Andrews 

 

A couple of name-brand actors lend their clout to this story of a woman hired to stage a house and activities for a wealthy family that get called away to a ski resort and then don't arrive home until Christmas Day.

Very interesting drinking game of "worst Christmas ever" showcased here.

 

-----------------------------------

"A Very Merry Beauty Salon" (2024)

salon owner Sienna - Tia Mowry
wine store owner Lawrence - RonReaco Lee
Sienna's mom Georgia - Donna Biscoe
 

The first of two with Tia Mowry, this time as a young owner whose mom is in charge of the annual Tinsel Ball.

When a newcomer with money shows up with his own ideas about the event, that's when the fireworks start!

 

-------------------------------

"A Very Merry Toy Store" (2017)

Forrester toy store owner Connie - Melissa Joan Hart
DiNova toy store owner Will - Mario Lopez
Connie's mom Pam - Beth Broderick
big toy store owner Roy - Billy Gardell (of "Mike & Molly")
diner owner Joe - Brian Dennehy   ***
town mayor - Mario Cantone (of "Sex In The City")
 

Several name-brand actors sprinkled in the cast with small roles - nice!

Two family-owned toy stores are threatened when a big block store moves into the neighborhood.

Nice go-cart race and a street carnival with dancing make this fun!

 

-----------------------------

"Radio Christmas" (2019)

DJ Kara - Keshia Knight Pulliam
DJ Scott - Michael Xavier
his daughter Andie - Nakai Takawira

'Kara' has a year-round radio show that's all Christmas, all the time, but the station that airs it has power issues, so she's moved to Bethlehem, PA, for December.

That happens to be home to her biggest fan, 'Andie'.

'Scott' is the local DJ with a heart of gold, hosting the annual Christmas Eve party.

This is the first of two which specifically mention Winter Storm Megan.

 

-----------------------------------

"Make Or Bake Christmas" (2024)

seasonal helper/spy Emma - Jasmine Aivaliotis
her real boss Leslie - Vivica A. Fox   ***
her seasonal boss and bakery owner Denise - Jackée Harry   ***
Denise's son Dave Sugarbaker - Landon Moss
 

This is the first of two with Vivica A. Fox, having her appear briefly at the start, at the end, and maybe twice during the story, mostly in solo shots.

'Leslie' sends her assistant 'Emma' to a family-owned bakery to gather information for a take-over.

'Denise' and 'Dave Sugarbaker' welcome her, but realize she has a lot of smarts for someone who is just supposed to be a floater.

Nice to see Jackée of "227" on screen again!

 

--------------------------------------

"A Christmas Intern" (2023)

online store owner Alexis - Ciarra Carter
her mom Cecilia - Jackée Harry   ***
financial backer Charlotte - Vivica A. Fox  ***
Charlotte's scout Donte - Doug 
Alexis 'warehouse foreman William - Michael Paré
 

'Alexis' operates an online store that sells Christmas goods, from decor to gifts, all year, but her company is up for financial review for the next year's funding.

That's where Vivica A. Fox comes in again, doing the same as in the above movie (which was made in 2024).

That's also where Jackée comes in, who works as an intern in her daughter's store to help get them through the Christmas rush.

Great to see Michael Paré in action, as I once had a crush on him.

 

----------------------------- 

"No Time Like Christmas" (2019)

ad exec Emma - Kyla Pratt
high school sweetie Fletcher - Edward Ruttle
his daughter Lola - Sophia Bachart
his mom Katherine - Marina Stephenson Kerr
watch shop owner, theatre owner Noel - Jim O'Heir

 

An advertising executive with a time crunch and a blank slate goes home for the holidays hoping for an idea.

Next thing you know, she's bumped into her high-school flame and the sparks try to reignite, fanned by his daughter.

Plus, there's a mysterious man that may be the one who 'sold' her the watch she had given to 'Fletcher' all those years ago...

and who now owns the theatre where the new play is to be held...

if Winter Storm Megan doesn't cause it to be canceled on Christmas Eve.

 

------------------------------

"Christmas In The City" (2013)

intern Wendy - Ashley Williams
her 7yo daughter Grace - Kylie Noelle Price
friend and actress Angie - Shanola Hampton
dept store boss' son Tom - Jon Prescott
cost-cutter Teanna - Ashanti  ***
 

In a last-ditch effort to save the store left by her father, 'Wendy' goes to the big city to work in a major department store with her friend, 'Angie'.

Being a capable and cheerful sort, it isn't long before the owner's scion, 'Tom', takes a shine to her, especially as a cost-cutter is gutting the spirit of the store.

I have no idea why Ashanti is in this, but she makes a great Grinch!

 

-----------------------------------

"Yes, Chef! Christmas" (2023)

former chef Alicia - Tia Mowry
her adoptive dad Ken - John Koensgen
her mentor from NJ, Bobby - Buddy Valastro (actual chef)
her mentor for contest Logan - Luke Humphrey
contest sponsors Viola and Rick - Raven Dauda and Scott Gibson
 

This is the second with Tia Mowry, this time as a chef that gets tagged to be one of four contestants in a holiday fundraiser.

Nice to have actual chef Buddy Valastro guesting here!

I also liked the touch about her being adopted and never having known her birth parents, though she's had a DNA test recently and found a family member.

 

-----------------------------------

"Christmas In The Spotlight" (2024)

pop star Bowyn - Jessica Lord
her asst Mira - Jeannie Mai
football wide receiver Drew - Laith Wallschleger
his brother, football QB Rob - Dennis Andres

 

Can we say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? 

Yes, yes, we can, with the similarity only broken by the position played by the footballer, 'Drew', in this movie, which is wide receiver.

IRL, Kelce is a tight end, which actually sounds like a joke, but isn't.

Very fun look at effect of fame on dating.

 

------------------------------------

 "Christmas In Tune" (2021)

singer Georgia Winter - Reba McEntire
singer Joe Winter - John Schneider
their daughter Belle - Candice King

I very much enjoyed this, though I have a sneaking suspicion that I've seen it before.

Loved the music... 

loved all the costume changes that Reba is so famous for...

loved seeing John Schneider again!!!

 

---------------------------------------

"Every Day Is Christmas" (2018)

Scrooge-like business owner Alexis - Toni Braxton
her dead mom Lydia - Gloria Reuben
her limo driver Justin - Michael Jai White
her ditched fiance Marc - Mike Dopud
 

Loved this re-telling of "A Christmas Carol", this time with the too-busy 'Alexis' being helped to appreciate life by the ghost of her mom.

At first, I thought the mom was Gladys Knight, but that guess was a generation off, as Gloria Reuben (of "ER" when it began) is 20 years younger.

Very nice, and, surprisingly, didn't make me cry.

(smile!)

 

----------------------------------------------

"Kristin's Christmas Past" (2013)

music producer Kristin -Shiri Appleby
her childhood bff Jamie - Will Kemp
K's 17yo self Krys - Hannah Marks
Jamie's 17yo self - Michael-James Olsen
K's young dad Glen - Judd Nelson  ***
K's young mom Barbara - Elizabeth Mitchell

 

At 34 years old, single and jaded 'Kristin' wakes up in bed with... her 17-year-old self, in her childhood home, trying to keep her younger self from making the same mistake she had of following a dirt-bag to New York and ditching her family.

Loved seeing Judd Nelson in action, though he had a very small role.

I also found it interesting that 'Kristin' would have been about the same age as her parents were during this trip back in time.

(smile!)

 

-----------------------------

All done!

This next week, Comcast is giving me Up Faith & Family for a week!

I am such a happy camper!!!

(smile!)

asbury christmas party for all!

Here we are, waiting our turn at Table 14, to be called to get in line for the annual Christmas feast!

I sat with Karen Townsend and her adopted son, B-man as he's called.

I also had Ruthie Deffley and Linda Socks, as well as a bunch of excited kids!

Ray Ellis is up there on stage with Rev. Billy, but he eventually sat with us, too.

Ray, that is, not Billy.

Billy led us in the blessing of the food, then Ray provided some comic relief in the form of jokes.

Yes, I said jokes!!!

"What does a Christmas tree do before it goes out?"

Spruce up!!!

"What did one Christmas tree say to the other?"

Lighten up!

"How do Christmas trees get their email?"

They log in!

"Where do elves go swimming?"

At the north pool!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

We were the sixth table to have our number drawn - hooray!

I had no fewer than four types of meat!!!

There was fried chicken breast, marinated pork loin, baked ham, and smoked turkey.

The Grinch would certainly have been thrilled, I do believe!

I was also one of the few who made sure to grab a few desserts before returning to my seat there at the head of the table.

That Asbury cake, with the honey and pecans, was truly quite divine!

I made sure to take some of that home with me!!!

But the biggest treat for me wasn't the visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

No, the best part was the pineapple casserole that someone brought.

It had been surmised that it was squash, but it certainly was not.

I knew from the very first bite: that was a dish Mama used to make.

I've never known anyone but her to make it.

What a wonderful surprise!

Right place, right time.

Some of that went home with me, too.

i thank You, God.

perfect inauguration at the starcastle!

That's what I told Vivian Orrel-Ryals, the house manager, during intermission.

That's what I told Kelie Miley, the director, during intermission.

That's what I told Danielle Houston (who had a variety of roles that included Mrs. Mops) after the show.

I meant it, too, every time I said it.

"A Christmas Carol" was the perfect musical to showcase all the talent, regardless of age, of the folks at the Savannah Children's Theatre.

I can only name a few of the actors, as there was no program at the event.

That had to wait until I came home to the computer so I could access the link.

(I made sure to complain about the lack of a printed program. How am I to thank the sponsors if I don't even know who they are? How can I follow the actors in their career if I don't even have their names? Not to mention how wonderful it would have been to have a souvenir of this inaugural event at the new home of SavChTh?) 

That said, I want to applaud Joel Altherr for yet another stunningly well-done portrayal, this time as Ebeneezer Scrooge. 

That's him in the middle of a group of chain-rattling buddies of the ghost of Jacob Marley (also played well by Galen Schneider, as both the young man he had been and the miserable miser he became as a spectre).

Here he is in his top hat and coat, with the indomitable JinHi Soucy Rand and the almost-40 Danielle Houston to his left.

(Her birthday is next Saturday.)

I know the woman in white next to him is Jaden Hathaway, the Ghost of Christmas Future, as well as a blind beggar.

Then, near the end, when 'Scrooge' is dancing around gaily in his nightgown, having just awoken to it being Christmas Day, Joel is superb!

His joy was contagious, as is evident in the faces of the crowd around him!  

I'm so glad I went today.

I got to see Al Williams onstage again, enthusiastically portraying old Fezziwig!

I got to see Jack Webber again, this time as Bob Cratchit, a role much different from the Scarecrow I'd loved!

Kudos to young Braeden Wright who rose to the challenge of Tiny Tim!

(See what I did there? I made a pun from the photo!)

And the set... the set was beautiful.

It easily went from Scrooge's apartment to the cramped home of the Cratchits, from Scrooge's bedroom to the open plaza of town.

Such a versatile design!

And, at the end, there was Christmas Day snow falling on that stage.

What a wonder!

Children in the audience came by and touched it on the stage, perhaps expecting it to be cold.

I'm so glad it could simply be swept up and reused for the next show.

I've had enough of the real thing to last the rest of my life!

(smile!)

I do hope I get the opportunity to see "A Christmas Carol" again, here at the Starcastle - it truly was one of the best musicals I've ever experienced!