duck duck... boat?

Thanks, Melanie Goldey, for making me laugh!
I'd visited fb to post my June update, trying to light a candle against the darkness, and ending up arguing with my niece Emily about the use of face coverings.
She was not reading my messages or she would have realized I was in agreement with her stance about them not benefiting the wearer, but she missed what I was saying about their benefit to everyone else.


So, I'm going to watch "Father Of The Bride Part II" while TBS is still offering it for free.
But first, here's the upbeat note on which I exited that social media site!

--- * --- * ---

Melanie Goldey
30 June

“How has your 5 year plan changed with the pandemic?”


Enocha VL: No plan. Just winging it.

Melanie Goldey: Perfection.

Melanie Goldey: “I might migrate to a different career path. Things are flying south in entertainment right now.”

Rouge Myke: If the bridge is too low, how will she duck?

Megan Jones: The bills keep piling up.

Arthur Digby Sellers: Melanie Goldey, SUPA DUPA FUN.

Anthony Pierpaoli: Won’t lie, I’m quacking up a little.

Jewlia Goolia: In all honesty... that 5 year plan looks way better than what I’ve got going on!! You can call me Cap’n Mallard from now on!

--- * --- * ---

Don't you just love that last person's screen name?
Almost straight out of "The Wedding Singer", a movie I adore!
Oops, movie's starting... and I even have popcorn!
(smile!)

summertime and the covid is risin'

My thanks to George Gershwin for the music; my apologies to Dubose and Dorothy Heyward for my altered lyrics.
I take it that most people reading this are familiar with the song, "Summertime", from the American opera, "Porgy And Bess".
If not, you may want to hear the tune once you can sing along with my version.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
It's not like the data for the month of June is going to change.
Sadly.
Okay, ready for the sing-along?
Here we go now... and a one, and a two...

Summertime
and the COVID is easy
Folks are dyin'
and the temperature's high
Your daddy's sick
and your ma's worse than he is
so hush, younger people,
your turn's comin' nigh.

One of these mornin's,
you're gonna rise up coughin'
Then you'll spread your arms
tryin' to get out a sigh
But 'til that mornin',
go act like nothin' can harm you
with Daddy and Mommy
already gone
to the sky.

Oh, trust me, you purty young things, I know you've been cooped up with no one to give you no lovin' since March.
Finally, the doors of the bars and clubs have been thrown wide for a month and you just cain't get enough good lovin' from strangers, can you?
Yee doggie!
You've got the fever -
literally and figuratively -
and you're making sure to spread your supply of SARS-CoV-2 around.
Now worries, there's plenty for everyone!
That industrious little coronavirus is using your own body for its own purposes, making little copies of itself as fast as it can, using your body's own supply of amino acids and your body's own protein factories at the heart of your own cellular metabolism.
In other words, you can spew as much of the virus particles as you want in the spittle and exhalations from your naked face while you flirt and carry on!
Your body will just keep churning out more, per the viral orders, until all your friends can make a gracious supply of their own!
Science, baby, goes on keepin' on, whether you acknowledge it or not!
And here's some science for you:
more than 50 % of COVID-19 cases are now in the 18- to 49-years old age group...
and that percentage is growing by leaps and bounds.
It ain't just for the over-65 crowd any more, people; they have not quite 20% of the cases.
Well, what about those in that group in between, those 50- to 64-year olds?
They only account for 24% of those infected.
And guess what?
Since the growing numbers of infected people are now the under-30 crowd, this is going to look more and more like a young people's disease...
you know, since the math means the percent infected will be skewing to lower ages...
so, good for you!
You've changed the focus away from old folks and onto the younger generation!

My thanks to Mayor Johnson for making face coverings mandatory attire for Savannah.
He's been keeping the faith, and following the science from the start.
Now, after Georgia's numbers have taken to skyrocketing, Governor Kemp is following suit, extending the State of Emergency until August 11.
That means to continue social distancing, everyone.
Plus, no gatherings of more than fifty people.
I do wonder how the Savannah Bananas are going to pull that one off.
I find the logistics of getting 2000 fans through the gate, checking everyone's temperature before allowing admittance, to be a rather daunting proposition.
Plus, the last time I did the math, "2000" is greater than "50".
Even with new math, that's still true, right?
Of course it is.

So... ready for some cold, hard numbers to go along with this intense summer heat?

Let's begin with those lovable five we've seen so often.
This is for the merry month of June, showing clearly the effect of open bars and nightclubs on total cases of infected people.
In fact, our top three contenders - CA, TX, and FL, shown in order of magnitude - have drawn plenty of attention by analyzers nationwide.
Michigan (dark green) seems to be maintaining a slow rise, but Georgia has added more than 30,000 to where it was in May.
That is not a good thing, y'all, but compared to the yellow, purple, and orange, its dark blue is pretty sensible.
Sadly, that appearance is an illusion of that high vertical scale limit.

What say we toss the bad boys for now and ratchet that upper scale limit down from 250,000 to only 90,000, so we can zoom in on the trend for that dark blue one?
Oh, my, now it seems that dear GA has started a more intense upward climb, as of June 22!
Well, at least that can't be blamed on good old Dad.
And just who are these other players on this field?
Well, we've already met PA (light blue) and LA (black bowties), immediately above and below GA.
Then, going downward, we meet newcomers TN (violet circles), AL (spring green), and OK (light orange cross-ties).
As the evidence shows, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma are the most level in their increases, but I'll be curious of any changes in another week when it'll be two weeks since rally time.
Tennessee and Alabama are trying to follow in Georgia's steps, but they haven't managed to catch up... well, not yet.

Let's change up and look at the rates for these ten states.
So, now the Y-axis is number of infected people per 100,000 of population.
Last month, Michigan was the leader of the pack, with Georgia hovering above the bottom three.
Adding Louisiana made everyone look like posers, with it topping 1200 people infected out of every 100,000 in the state.
Michigan is still beating Pennsylvania, but Georgia's end of month leap has whupped both of them...
and now has a curve mimicking that of California....
but so does Alabama.
Oh, you can't see that spring green here?
That's because it lies directly beneath Georgia's dark blue, with both having almost 800 COVID-19 cases for each 100,000 people living there.
Yeah, that's pretty scary news for my stepmom and her grandkids.
Tennessee is lagging behind us, but still has a higher rate than those of CA, Fl, and TX, the terrible trio still huddled up close.
Only Oklahoma has a lower rate than anyone else, with less than 400 people infected out of every 100,000.
Ooooh.
Aaaah.
No wonder it beat out Georgia and was selected as a rally site.

Now, just for the sake of completion, I'll take a quick look at those seven-day totals of newly infected people, as I did earlier this month.
The terrible trio top the charts with Florida - yes, Florida - having almost fifty thousand new cases of COVID-19 in one week.
California and Texas tied up second place, with more than forty thousand new cases of COVID-19 in one week.
Honestly, you couldn't pay me to venture to any of those three.
Sure, I realize it's mostly sum-sum-summertime foolishness going on at any body of water - heck, at any body - with a tiki hut, but... no, thanks, I'll pass.
I really miss driving to Daytona, I really do.
(Sigh.)
The other states are all clustered up on the bottom, bouncing around with their measly five thousand (or less) new cases of COVID-19 per week... but that's every week, with no slacking off.
Oh, did I say "all" the other states?
I meant, "all except Georgia".
As seen in the trend for total cases of COVID-19 infection, Georgia's seven-day totals of newly infected took a dramatic turn for the worse last Monday... and has not yet relinquished its relentless climb.
On that date, Georgia had 7900 new cases for the past seven days.
Yesterday, Georgia almost doubled that number, having a stupefying 13,401 cases of newly infected people during a mere seven days.
Wow.
You know how many Montana had?
You're gonna laugh, you really will.
Well, if you don't cry.
Montana had a total of 250 new cases of COVID-19 for the week ending June 29.
That state is looking more and more like a destination to me...
at least in the warmer months.

the party with four little girls

When I walked into the restaurant, I knew I was late.
I'd been busy writing all afternoon, getting my monthly report together.
So, knowing the others must have already arrived, I told the hostess that I was joining the party with four little girls.
Her face went into a big smile and she took me straight to them!
In fact, we had the back room all to ourselves for most of the time!

They all smiled when they saw my new face covering!
Remember when I'd run into the bfe and he had spoken of missing facial expressions of late?
Well, I miss that, too.
So, at least I now can show the facial expression that tells folks I'm glad to see them!
I can even make sure the smile is up to my eyes.
(smile!)

This bunch of little darlin's always brings big smiles to me!
Leila was sitting right next to her Grammy, as she likes to do.
Miyah had the head of the table - how did that happen?!
Then, Alyssa was between the littlest girl and Chloe, the youngest girl.
My first niece kept close to that one, since she kept wanting to do as the bigger girls did.
(smile!)

Amazingly, we had a token male join us for this luncheon - Michael, with SPG goggles, naturally!
He and I mostly talked to each other before the meals came, then we were all too busy eating!
This veggie plate at Cheddar's came with a huge garden salad, too, and I ate every bite of that garlicky broccoli and honey-sweet carrots.
I ate those last, as they were definitely dessert!

After the meal, we all convened at the cars, giving the girls a chance to run around a little.
Michael gave me a huge box of fruits and vegetables, and Christina added half of a gigantic watermelon - wow!
When I took the box to my car, I saw I still had some beaded necklaces.
How many? Did I have at least four?
I had exactly four, all in different colors and three styles!
Alyssa chose blue, as I knew she would; Leila opted for purple, which was a surprise; and Miyah chose pink, of course.
Chloe got the yellow one, but she was just thrilled with it!
All in all, a great success!
Right place, right time.
i thank You, God.

in search of that groove thang

Today is Sunday.
That should mean watch "CBS Sunday Morning", then go to church.
No, and no.
The local CBS channel had no audio, so I jumped online to watch the show.
No, and no.
That website insisted on shoving their cookie into my jar if I wanted to watch.
(Yeah, that sounds a little dirty, but it just came out that way.
Hey, I gotta get my kicks where I can, one pun at a time.)
Since they were being rude, I bounced to youTube.
All I wanted was a bit of Jim Gaffigan, to see how his clan was weathering their enforced stay-cation in Manhattan.
His channel freely gifted six of his segments, including the one that made me cry.
I very much enjoyed the episode in which he likened his family to the cast of "Alice", a show I grew up watching.
That segment was pretty funny!
I hung around in his space for a while, enjoying the candor-flavored humor.
Then, I discovered this segment: "Kids ask about COVID-19".
Wow.
He had arranged for his five children to field questions to an actual guru, who had answered honestly and in words appropriate to their ages.
Wow.
What a good dad!
I'm posting that to fb when I go to Jim's movie tonight.
Well, if he has a movie tonight.
CBS didn't have an accessible show this morning, nor did my church.
I don't know if the issue was with Asbury Memorial or their youTube site.
Whichever is of no matter: going to church was a moot point.

So, I took a shower and affixed a fresh bandage to the spot vacated by the mole.
See the new little crater in the upper center?
Doc Brown, the new dermatologist at the Savannah VA center, described the mole as having irregular coloring and irregular edges.
Yep, it had to go to the lab with its bad self!
Plus, he froze the spot where the tick had been, on my back, below my left ribs.
What a relief!
Another sense of relief came soon after, when I did as Elisa did.
(smile!)
I make sure to shower every other day, mostly for that perk.
(smile!)

What next to do as I once would do on a Sunday?
Well, as good fortune would have it, I'd snagged issues of "Connect Savannah" and "DO!" on my River Street walk back to car.
That meant I had "News of the Weird" to read for the first time in three months!
I'll be sharing those with others, too.
(smile!)

Well, that was a lovely bit of normalcy!
How about a nice hit of Jonesin' Crossword to get me over the line again?
Especially as it's been almost a year since I had a memorable fix of that drug...
but it turned out to be just a tease, looking like a charmer, but the carpet didn't match the rug, if you catch my drift.

What was on top of the head didn't correspond to what was going on down in the pants.
No sirreebob, the clues below were not for the numbers in that grid above, which was actually for a much older puzzle back in January.
I guess Jim Morekis slipped again in that issue.
Drats and double drats, and phooey, too.

Fortunately, the competing entertainment newspaper brought it, full on, with humor to boot.
Good job, Zach Dennis of the Savannah Morning News!
Good work on writing the crossword puzzle, Kevin Christian and Michael Lopez!
I enjoyed going fencing with the pirate's irate rat and learning about that salient alien lie while quaffing the stalest tale's ale!
Now, to go buy milk... maybe.
After all, Sunday is a day of rest.
(smile!)

thnks fr th vds

After almost an hour talking - live! - with Christina, I figured the best way to beat this infernal heat was to catch up on some missed videos.
(Get the title now?
My little disemvoweled joke?
Don't fret - another clue will come along later.)
With her on my mind, the first video to watch, of the Prokop's garden, was a no-brainer.
(Poor little starving zombie - ya gotta look elsewhere!)

Yep, I bopped to the "Prokop's Heavenly Garden"!
She and I have visited it together, more than once,
and I made sure to send the link to her.
That garden is part of my birthday tradition now.
"Thank you for the lingering close-up of the oak-leaf hydrangeas! I always look forward to those every year and have missed seeing them... and chatting with you and Mary.
Such a lovely little haven y'all have!"

What was it that Mama's cross-stitch sampler said?
Oh, yes, I remember.
"The kiss of the sun for pardon,
the song of the birds for mirth,
one is nearer God's heart in a garden
than any place else on Earth."
(smile)

So, with God on my mind and Sunday coming up quickly, I thought I'd catch up on the Memorial Day Sunday offering from Asbury Memorial.
I'd arrived rather late, so I'd missed Rev. Billy Hester's opening remarks.
That meant I missed him wishing me a happy birthday for my birthday62!

I'd also missed the 'slide show' that Ray Ellis put together to honor the members of the church who have any connection to the armed forces.
That includes the active duty military, deceased veterans, as well as alive and kicking veterans - like me!
What a nice touch to know what what branch of the service folks were in!

This is the part of the video I'd come in on, back on May 24th, but I watched it again.
Nico Meraz is all grown up now, serving in the Army, and he had been enlisted - get it? - to lead the stretching exercises which we have before the sermon these days.
Before the pandemic changed all gatherings to virtual, we would have been up and down, up and down, for prayers and songs.

Okay, enough of that already!
On to the next missed video on my list: Steam Powered Giraffe's Live Out Of Makeup Acoustic Show!
Originally aired on March 19th, I'd tripped over its light fantastic a few weeks ago and bookmarked its location onto my radar.
Here, Bunny begins "Honeybee"...
and I was captured in its enchantment, as I always am.

"Hello, goodbye, 'twas nice to know you,
how I find myself without you
that I'll never know.
I let myself go.
Hello, goodbye, I'm kind of crazy,
and I never thought I was crazy,
but what do I know?
I let myself go."

Of course, I had to go watch the music video again!
But, thanks to Maggie Mars' setlist in the comments, I have a new song to love from these hopeful romantic robots: "Lying Awake".
There's something about it that tugs at my mind and my heart, nudging a Chris Cornell song toward the surface, but without the extreme heartache.
Yeah, I really like SPG, so I shared all this with my nephew Michael, as he introduced me to this music
at his 30th birthday party.

After all that video viewing, it was time for something else...
like mowing the back yard...
even though it was still over 90 out there...
with Saharan sand hitching a ride on the jet stream to form dust in the wind.
(Hey, nineteen, got that song reference?)
(smile!)

After an hour of sweating and bag emptying, with the lower forty now displaying a checkerboard pattern to show proof of cutting, I was done.
Time for a late dinner to coincide with a rerun of SNL (hey, it is a Saturday night!) with Fall Out Boy.
Aired on March 4, 2006, it predates their 2009 concert movie that I saw at the cinema.
"Dance, Dance" was the song in this show that Natalie Portman hosted.
I like that song, I do, as well as many others, partly because of their music videos.
That's how I was introduced to this band, really and truly: from watching the VH1 videos when I was on holiday.
"Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" - which I always say in my mind with vowels intact - is a particularly funny one and one of my all-time favorites.
And I think I just now realized why!
Pete, the lyricist for the group, is wearing eyeliner in the video, making him look a lot - seriously, a lot, like my ex when we were dating back in 1991, when he was just 26 years old.
Ah, good times!
(smile!)

i tawt i taw a bear

"Geez, Louise, you thinking you're Tweety Bird now?"

Nah, just trying to keep a lighter perspective on things.

"Well, that's a good thing.
Let me guess: this has something to do with the bfrb."

Spot on, dearie.
Part of me wants to think it was him, there at the purple Planet last night.

"Oh, so you've resumed going there?"

Eh, to an extent.
Tuesday and Wednesday, I went in the early afternoon.
This last time, I ventured there after 8 PM.
You know, after my two hours "Quantum Leap"-ing.

"Nice!
I know you like PF better in the late evening.
Is it still less crowded then?"

Oh, fairly comparable to what I see in early afternoon.
I had hoped for a bit less.
At least there were no teens this time.
Wednesday, I switched up my program because four teen boys took over the treadmills.
Nary a one of them bothered to clean those machines, either.
They left as abruptly as they'd swept in.
Naked-mouth heavy breathers, each one, of course.

"Of course.
The demographics are going to have to show a much bigger impact of COVID-19 infection on the under-30 crowd if the danger is to make any impact on their self-centered brains."

Yes, of that I am painfully aware.
That's part of the reason that I'm abstaining from the gym until Monday.
Hopefully, those selfishly not wearing face coverings will be at work.

"No doubt they will be, now that businesses are all wide open again.
Even the restaurants that just closed because of infection are throwing wide the doors once more."

Those all have their bars right near their front doors, too.
I've deliberately stayed out of them.

"I know, dear, and I know how tempting it has been to get a Spanky's pizza."

Well, they're the only ones who really do make an excellent cheese-free pizza.
Plus, I love all that meat on them!
I wanted to get one on Tuesday, but the parking lot was full when I drove by.
Nope, not gonna chance it!
I know the heavy drinkers that go there and hang out.

"And talk loudy, with no face covering, spewing virus-laden spittle in all directions.
Yes, I know that crowd, too.
So, let's go back to that 'part of the reason' you're taking a program break."

Well, you know that the other night I got dressed up and went to the Chart House?

"Yeah, I think it's safe to say I know about that."

Well, I had completely zoned on it being a PFS night!
I mean, completely!
Which is pretty wild, since Jim had said it would be one I would like.
He's been feeding horror films to those fans of late, so I've gotten out of the habit of going to his online viewing parties, especially those on Sunday, which is still not a regular thought for me on that night.
But you would think I would know to associate Wednesday with the Psychotronic Film group, right?
Nope, it was not even on my radar until the next morning!
That's when I woke up and realized I'd missed it.

"So you went on fb to grab the link before it left?"

You got that right!
Turns out it's a 1940's British film called "The Red House".
I still may not watch it, but at least I have that option.

"Choices are good to have."

Most assuredly they are.
(smile)

"Yes... but you still haven't answered my query about returning to PF."

My return to Planet Fitness...?
Oh, yes, sorry, I must be trying to block it from my mind.
It has to do with a friend's post, from CNN, that I saw tonight.
I had thought, it being Friday, that I had Odd Lot to look forward to, with Christina.
But, no.
I had looked forward to it all day, but when I sent the "Odd Lot time" alarm to her, she had immediately responded with "are they on after all?"
Shiite and hell fire.
No, as it turned out, they were not.
They have opted to vacate the Loft on Liberty and had spent the day moving out.
Shiite.

"Oh, no!
First out of Muse and now out of the Loft!
That's terrible!"

Yes, it definitely is.
So, I had wandered around aimlessly on fb, then stumbled hard upon this.
Thank God other scientists are also graphing data.
However, I recognized at a glance the horror show depicted hereon by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
He has apples to apples here, so the word is clear.
The blue line is for all the countries which are part of the European Union; the red line is for all the states which are part of the USA.
Both groups have roughly the same population and are conducting about the same amount of testing.
Like I said, apples to apples.
The data tracked is the seven-day moving average, from February 29 through June 22.
It is clear that neither group has attained the desired-for status of 'no new cases'.
Both groups show similar initial curves, with a steep rise to about 30,000 new cases daily, but that high dropping after two months to about 20,000 new cases per day.
However, the data for the EU continued a steady decline for another month, eventually reaching a baseline of about 4000 new cases daily, a baseline which has held steady for the last thirty days.
The US had a short-lived decline to 20,000, and has steadily risen ever since.
Folks want to say we've entered a "second wave", but we would have had to have two weeks of baseline to be able to claim that.
No, we are still very much in the "first wave" of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 deaths and we are going to stay in that first wave probably through the rest of 2020.
Christina and I talked about this tonight, for about forty minutes.
Then Paul called and we talked about this mayhem for over an hour.
At least they are familiar with the graphs I've made to track the trends of several states.
They know my analytical skills and my care with the data.
They know to trust me when I say we are still in the 'first wave'.

"Damn."

Indeed.
And now it's sum-sum-summertime and many are going ahead with vacation plans and sporting events and big gatherings.
Coach's Corner, near me, has started having outdoor concerts!
Sure, they're a small place, but it's still not safe enough for that type of event.
And the Savannah Bananas start up on Wednesday, July 1st.
At Grayson Stadium, but "only with 2000 people in attendance".
Supposedly, they'll be checking the temperatures of all 2000 attendees, with an option of dismissing any fan with an unsatisfactory reading.
Scott has a ticket to that game.
I'll be curious to see what his take is going to be on their 'safety protocols'.
I do know that I will NOT be taking Mister Willie out there.
My first game ticket is for Tuesday, July 7th.
If I opt to go, my face covering goes with me, and on me.
And if things seem out of hand, I'm leaving.
That's if I even go.

"Damn."

I know.
I had so looked forward to so many things this year...
especially as spoiled rotten as I've been with so many theatre options...
in addition to the wealth of time with mi tres amigas, dining out and Bollywooding...
and let's not forget the Odd Lot, and the PFS at the 'Bean, and Tina Tuesdays, and whatever other shenanigans might arise.
Plus, there would surely be an occasion or two, at least, of 'waking up somewhere else", something I haven't had since last June.

"Damn."

You want to know just how little I've been driving?
This is the odometer reading from my trip to the VA center this morning: 213191.
That means I've driven a whopping 656 miles since Christina's birthday party at Olive Garden.
Only 656 miles.
For just over three months.
That's not quite 220 miles per month.

"Damn."

Exactly.

"So, maybe you can arrange a night away at some remote place?"

You mean, like Montana?

"Well, that's pretty far.
That'd require a lot of stops at strange bathrooms, so maybe somewhere closer."

Yeah, I don't see that happenin', Captain, as my first niece would say.
(smile)
I think I'll concentrate on having more meals from elsewhere.
I've cashed in a bunch of reward points for future dinners at three favorites: Olive Garden, Bonefish Grill, and Carrabbas.
I'll be hoping for a buy-one-take-one deal, too, to extend the dining experience.

"Good for you!
That's keeping a positive vibe going!"

Hey, I'm doing what I can.
You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine, you know.

"Yes, I do know.
Uncle Jimmy was always big on saying you had a light shining for others to see."

That's a light for me, too.
That optimistic girl keeps it lit pretty good, though she needs help finding a match from time to time.

"Yes, that Christina Ann sure raises your spirit, doesn't she?"

Say who?
(smile)
Yes, she does, yes, she does.
She's got mothering down pat after eight years as a foster parent.
I'm hoping the adoption of the littlest girl will finish up this year.

"Yes, let's hope so!
That would most certainly be a bright spot in this year!"

Indeed.
Okay, I'm going to watch some game show or other.
I've been test-driving "Match Game" and "To Tell The Truth" lately.
You know, nice and easy stuff, with a few laughs along the way.
I'm ready for a bit of that right now, so...
later.

"Later, dear.
Hope you'll have sweet dreams."

hey sailor, hey sailor, HEY!

Today has been spent in this 1960's go-go girl outfit!
Well, at least so far.
I'm thinking about spinning around the purple Planet
after I'm done "Quantum Leap"-ing...
we'll see!
That will require me to put on real clothes, though, so...
I just may decide to stay in this nightgown.
(smile!)
It's snug enough that I don't have to bother with a bra,
but super-comfortable and soft and - dare I say - sexy!
Hence to call out to the boys who ever wore Crackerjacks
from a girl who belonged to Uncle Sam's Canoe Club!
(smile!)
Seriously, though, the only reason this was not a "Nudist Camp"
day was because I had love to send out in the mail -
so clothes were needed before meeting the mailman with
outgoing messages to be held in hands.
Love and Mother Pat's Easter Soup recipe - in her own writing -
to cuz'n Michelle, her one-and-only niece, in Virginia.
Love and thanks to Christina for mothering me, and bringing her mother to help.
Love and easy dinner recipes (including Chop Chop) to Dood and Laura and her youngest son, with them for the summer.
Love and a birthday poem to my sis-in-law Mary: "Wishing you happier times galore,
and all you want... plus more!", a la Dr. Seuss.
Love, love, love, love...
all we need is love.
The Beatles were right!
Now, lime to go a-leaping, so a-leapin' I shall go!
(smile!)

best. solo. birthday. dinner. in savannah

I was just a few minutes late for my reservation, but I had walked the six blocks rather briskly.
Amazingly, I had actually procured parking on River Street, so that was good, but the crowds meant I walked in the street on the cobblestones.
Thank God I was wearing my dancing sandals!
Nice to sit for a moment and cool down.
(smile!)

I started with an unsweet tea - ah! what a special treat! - and a lovely assortment of breads with an even lovelier Chopped Salad!
Just the right amount of Balsamic Vinaigette, too.
I was ravenous, having eaten lightly for a late lunch -
I wanted to make sure I brought my appetite.
I did, too, eating every last bite - so good to have veggies that someone else prepared!

Rodney was the perfect waiter, making sure I had
a little time to sit between courses to enjoy the
lovely view - ah!!!
That also gave me a chance to listen in as the two
couples a few tables from me, one local and the other
from Alabama, opined on the merits of Fairhope, the tourists' home.

When my entree arrived, all thought vanished and all I could do was admire the food before me.
I do so very much love food that's prettier than it needs to be... and this was every bit of that!
Hence the close-up, to well and truly document the chef's rendition of Ahi Tuna Pasta
How sad that the peanut-based sauce cannot be smelled through the photo!

Such a happy and werene girl I was after that oh-so-fine birthday62 meal!
I only ate half of the entree, though, as I would soon have dessert on its way... and I intended to eat every last morsel of it!
The tuna pasta would be an excellent 'reminder' of this special affair tomorrow!
(smile!)

So glad I had left room for a rare dessert!
This mini Lava Cake may look like its just the right size for one, but it was so rich and full of chocolate that it almost did me in!
Seriously! But I ate every bite and would have licked the plate if at home instead of The Chart House.
(smile!)

And as I dined, I noticed that I was not alone.
Even though the two other tables had finally been vacated before the Lava flowed, I knew I had company.
See the two wide, gentle eyes and the soft, demure smile in that azure setting?
Yes, I am loved, now, still, always.
(smile!)

As I sat, I was treated to that special time of dusk that I love so well, that special deepening of the sky's hue toward purple against the dark green of the trees...
the trees at Grayson Stadium in so many years past...
the trees here along the Savannah River this cloudless summer evening...
and I realized I was breathing again.
i thank You, God.

chart your course

Since 2013, Landry's has gifted $25 to my account for my birthday.
That year, the year I joined, I dined at T.Rex and I was there again - and superlatively so - last year.
As I am most often in Daytona to celebrate, I've dined twice (2014 and 2015) at Bubba Gump's, as well as at that Chart House in 2016.
This year, I opted to stay local, of course, and chose The Chart House on River Street.
My reservation is for 7:30 tonight!

Why them instead of the other Landry's club restaurant?
Specifically, because of that menu option:
"Chart Your Course".
Number one, it appealed to the sailor in me.
Number two, it gave me options that were all appealing.
Number three, and most def the deciding factor, it made me smile at the pun!
I find those so delicious!
(smile!)
So, reservation made last night, I have excitedly waited all day for the time to come to head downtown.
But wait!
What about having to miss an episode of "Quantum Leap"?
No worries, I researched that last night, too, before making the reservation and after looking at menus.
Always a scientist!
(smile!)

I made sure to catch the first one tonight, "What Price Gloria?" s2e4, when he was a woman for the first time.
Given that it was set in 1961 and she was a working woman, I know Mama would have known that story first-hand.
(The 7 PM episode, which skipped ahead to s2e11, is about the parapsychologist and I deemed it okay to miss.)
And now, looking in the mirror, who's who's that lady?
Well, as The Isley Brothers said, "you can look, yeah,
but don't touch" - lol!
Hey, it's me -
touch is not only allowed, but encouraged!
During the 'mercials, I got all dolled up!
This is one of my new dresses from Lane Bryant.
Oh, had I not yet mentioned them?
Well, they gave me $20.02 store credit for my birthday and it was about to expire when I decided to check their online stock...
and they were having a dress sale!!!

The black dress, with the self-tie, handkerchief hem and pockets was on sale from $59.95 to $29 - wow!!!
It's actually a little heavy, so I'll be able to wear it in cooler weather, too.
Then there's this flirty little number!
Princess seaming in the bodice, a zipper in the back for that snug fit, and pockets - absolutely a dream dress for me!
Plus, marked down from $70.99 to only $29, it was a steal!
Happy birthday62 to me!!!
Now, off I go to chart my course!
(smile!)

let's go, purple, let's go!

I'm giving them another try.
I'm a firm believer in second chances - must be the baseball lover in me.
Last week, they definitely had a swing and a miss -
STRIKE ONE!!!
But they were resolved in wanting to get a solid hit.
How do I know that?
My Planet Fitness called me yesterday morning to talk about making things right, i.e., safe for all.
Since they were sincere, I gave them another chance at bat this afternoon.
BALL ONE!
That one was a bit low, evidently.
Going in early afternoon, as I is my preference, is definitely better, but the place was getting busy by the time I left at 3:30 PM.
I had meant to go in about 1 PM, but I didn't actually end up there until an hour later.
I did my initial 27 minutes on the treadmill, bopping along at 2.4 mph, face covering on.
Oh, yeah, with all those naked-mouthed heavy breathers, I certainly did.
That's in addition to 'making it rain' disinfectant above, and on, the machine.
I did that for all five of the machines I used, just as I had last week.
No way I want some lunk's exhalations having access to my sinus passages.
All in all, I'm proud of myself for being able to complete my program with PPE in place.
That's right, folks, with face covering on, I was there and active for almost ninety minutes, working my way back to where I was three months ago.
Just what did I accomplish in today's program of muscle movement?
I spent 27 minutes on the treadmill, as I said, walking and dancing for 1.0 miles.
At the end of my time there, I spent another 12 minutes to move 0.5 miles.
(I would have been there longer, but the place was getting cluttered with lunks, to the right of me, in front of me, and behind me.)
My next machine was the Abdominal #5, where I did 60 reps of 50 pounds, or, as the bodybuilders say, I moved three thousand pounds.
That's what I was doing before they closed on March 20th!
Yeah, me!
Then I headed for the serious mouth-breathers region, where the heavy weights are.
The Hammer Strength MTS Iso-lateral Row was my goal, using 15 pounds on each side, but moving both arms in sync for a total of 30 pounds on the arm and back muscles.
That was done for 60 reps, as three sets of 20 each, so my arms moved 1800 pounds.
That should firm up my back again!
It's not quite as much as I was moving three months ago, but pretty close.
The last two machines are the ones I feel most comfortable with over in the weights area.
That's because they face the large glass windows, not the mouth breathers.
Those two are the hip adduction and the hip abduction, which were used at the 55-pound setting.
On the former, I only completed 40 reps, but on the latter I did 60 reps.
All in all, my hips, thighs, and butt moved 5500 pounds - almost three tons!!!
Not quite up to the former level, but certainly not bad!
I'm very glad I had recorded my PF program in the sands of my beach!
My little black book is lost, so I would have had no logbook of my program.
Now that I have compared today's accomplishments to those prior ones, I can adjust and move forward again.
I think I'll try that tomorrow...
starting at about 1 PM.
(smile!)
Now, though, it's time for "Quantum Leap" and it'll be another one I haven't seen yet.
Yesterday at 7 PM was one such, "The Color Of Truth", s1e7, with its "Oh, boy, I'm the black chauffeur of Miz Melny in 1955".
Today, at 6 PM, it'll be "Camikazi Kid", s1e8, with an "Oh, boy, I'm a hotrod driver in 1961".
How did I miss those the first time around?
Well, they would have aired on the same evening, which might have been a Tina Tuesday, just as today once would have been.
I'm hoping, when the cinema reopens on July 15th, that Tina Tuesdays may again be a "thing".
Meanwhile, I wish the bfrb happy fishing... maybe he needs a new lure?
He probably ought to be sure he lists his job as "youth psychologist".
Might attract more sea life that way.
(smile)

clean coffee cups, old and new

Yowzah, yowzah, yowzah!
I had a whopping eight cups in the drainer this time!
That's when I realized that some had been missed in prior posts.
Not the new mug #2, with the littlest superhero...
not the new mug#4, with the running bear chased by an ETA...
not the clear glass memento of my local alma mater...
and not the 40-year-old blue unicorn with the chipped lip.
But how about that real Elvis Presley cup, to the far left and towering over the others in the back row?
That cup is five years old,
a gift from the physicist!

The one next to it, proclaiming me "the sweetest Aunt" with little desserts all over it, is even older and a gift from that first niece of mine.
(smile!)
Then, there's the white one next to it, from the ocean-themed fundraiser she and I attended at the Pirates' House, back in... 2009? 2010?
When my hair was short and still being Lorealed to 'warm brown'!
(smile!)
And that one next to it, with the black on black design?
That was courtesy of the dealership when I bought my brand-new Saturn, back in 2001.
Nice perk, and classy design, too!

This group of four cups has a travel mug that missed the previous tour.
That celebrates the trip to Beech Mountain with dos de mi amigas, Barbara and Sandy.
That's the one with the pale teal stripe, by the blue unicorn.
The gigantic, colorful, mug dwarfing Beech Mountain?
Oh, c'mon, take a guess what that one is all about!
That's right, the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker"!

The only one of this trio which is new to this series of posts about coffee mugs is the one being rather obvious about its purpose.
It was purchased from the same china shop on Gate 2 Street in Okinawa, outside one of the many bases there, and at the same time, as the blue unicorn.
That would have been just before I PCS'ed out in 1982.
Those two cups are the oldest I own.
Incredible, given what a klutz I am!

How about this quintet?
Well, as with the above set, only one has not yet made the news.
(smile!)
Pretty startling, actually, given what a lovely, shiny, red face it has!
It's a metal cup, given to me by my brother, Smitty.
He'd bought it for me while he and Mary were on a cruise of Alaska.
It's the mug I use for hot chocolate - special treats!
(smile!)

how i spent my 1st day of summer vacation

Well, first I went to church.
No, wait, first, I had coffee and pepperoni eggs and read a story in the Smithsonian's May issue.
It was about George Harrison, one of my favorite Beatles!
Then I went to the online viewing parties my church has instead of services now.
They're a good mix of fun and serious, like the live church was, but I especially like the special guests that help us stretch before Reverend Billy Hester's sermon.

In the email yesterday from Asbury Memorial, we were told the special guest was even a surprise to the minister this time!
Well, yee doggie, as Jed Clampett used to say!
So, even though I was a tad late, I made sure to be there when the 27:30 mark came 'round.
(Check the video, you'll get it.)
And it was my man, Elvis, hiding in the prop closet in his white jumpsuit!
Sure, he's gray and shaggy, but the man is 85 years old now.

I think he's hawwtt - RAWR!!!
He had us doing some of his classic exercises, like lip curls and shoulder lifts and knee raises.
He even threw in several scarf tossing lessons!
No, he didn't sing for us, but his voice was all over the music in the background, so that was good.
Then, the man left the building, as he always did - with great aplomb and full of grace!
Rev. Billy was so surprised!!!

After church, I got cleaned up and headed out into the sunshine!
My destination: the grave of my dear Sam Johnson.
Honestly, I should have gone for his birthday last Sunday, but I was at a cookout, eating ribs and running an experiment.
I knew the man would understand.
He well knows my love of ribs!
(smile)
So, as I do to honor his birthday and the good times we had, I took a huge bag with me...

and filled it with dead flowers and broken graveside ornaments...
deflated mylar balloons and shattered plastic picket fences...
ribbons of many colors and left-behind beverage containers...
stray cardboard boxes and crumbling styrofoam rings.
When I departed, he and his new peeps had a much cleaner home.
Catch you on the flip side, my deejay and karaoke friend!

Next stop: Greenwich, all aboard!
The weather was still holding, with no pop-up afternoon shower just yet.
I had another bag with me for any trash there, but the Barry family area was clean - hooray!
I stayed for a while, chatting with Mama while sending "Happy Father's Day!" texts.
Oh! And I found out about that rose with the solar panel!
Tony and Laura placed it there, to light up Mama's night.

Tony also warned me that heavy rain was imminent.
By the time the first sprinkles fell, I had moved into the car - whew!
I drove over to Jean Marie's place to check it out.
No, the branches were definitely not still there, but at least her graveside sign was still intact.
Within fifteen minutes, the rain had slowed and stopped.
Within another fifteen minutes, I'd found some pretty pink rocks for her and set the branches.
Time to head home for lunch!