a book to burn amd skies above

Subtitle: Vicarious Living Through Aunt Tina, Daytona and MOAS, part 2

 

The thunderstorm that woke me early this morning had washed the sky clear of grungy gray clouds, leaving a crystal blue in its wake, spotted with puffs of white.

No cloud cover also meant cooler temperatures - like, 20 degrees cooler than yesterday.

No worries for me, I'd planned ahead!

As I said yesterday, I still had much more to see at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, plus things to see again.

But first, to take in one of my favorite scenes here in Daytona Beach: this beautiful bridge that leads to Beach Street, location of the post office and lots of quirky shops and a nice variety of restaurants.

You'll notice I didn't take a photo of those.

This view along the International Speedway was the object of my affection!

Then on to MOAS, with my first stop being that crazy, brilliantly hued, running dog of Messersmith!

What an inspired, and whimsical, touch to have his tongue streaming along in the wind he's generating with his speed!

Also whimsical is the plastic skeleton of ... the dog? Oh, no! - of a person, along for the ride inside!

Fabulous, utterly fabulous!

I could sit and look at this one piece for an hour, easily, seeing nuances missed from my visit to it twice yesterday.

I do enjoy his other works, especially his repurposing of found items into the shadow boxes at the bottom of the large frames... I do... but this dog is magical!

My musings were interrupted by a text message from Paul in California.

"Chat?" was the only word.

"Can do!" was my response, as I headed for the garden and the walking trails.

He's home recovering from surgery on Stage 1 prostate cancer, so it was definitely an important call and a chance for me to brighten his day.

(smile!) 

He's normally quite active, so these weeks of rest prescribed by his doctor are a bit of a drain on his energy and good humor.

I talked at some length about the exhibits at the museum and my NYE experience; he gave me an in-depth mental image of the surgery he'd endured as well as the kudos from his doctor for the physical exercise he'd done to prepare for it.

In no time, an hour had passed and it was time for the 2 PM "The Sky Tonight" show, with Christian's live presentation!

Right place, right time!

As it turns out, the Quadrantid meteor shower begins tonight, running for the next twelve days.

I think the photo from the Hubble may be my best chance to see it, unless I want to get up about 0430 - only if I'm still up at that time!

Meanwhile, I did take the opportunity between shows to bounce to the Bouchelle Gallery for International Decorative Arts to view again these star-crossed lovers.

Romeo and Juliet, captured in a tender moment in this stained glass door - so lovely to share with my first niece!

Back to the Planetarium again, to catch - for real! - the animated video about "The Little Star That Could" at 3 PM.

Did you know that Ceres is now regarded as another planet in the area of the Milky Way Galaxy where we live?

Yep, that's true: the Solar System now officially includes two dwarf planets, not just Pluto.

I asked if Ceres was being included in classroom talks; not yet.

Over to the Root Family Museum I wandered afterward, to visit the pharmacy exhibit and the trains.

This collection of signs made me laugh out loud!

I guess that "QUIET" was meant for folks retired to bed, not retired from work! 

Oh, my, I was just about to wrap this up and saw I had not mentioned the Artful Books 2021 exhibit!

That will never do, especially as there were a couple of them in the Karshan Center of Graphic Arts that held meaning for me.

This one was the first to draw me in.

Martin Eduardo Casuso had strung together paper photos of his recently deceased brother, as well as sketches and diary entries, and then affixed incense sticks.

The work is titled "Designed To Burn".

 I think my brother Ronnie would have liked it.

The other book that grabbed my heart was from a memory shared with the physicist.

We had just seen "No Exit" at Muse Arts Warehouse, and, as I recall, it was a first experience with that play for both of us.

After it, we stood in the parking lot, talking, eventually moving ourselves and our conversation under the full moon to the Tybee pier... and leading to me writing a song/poem/rap.

So, what brought that up?

Jeannette Stargala took her copy of the play, shed its cover, and rolled it into a tight cylinder before mounting it to its stand, titling the piece "No Exit (Closed Society)".

Not only is there no exit, there's no entrance, either.

Nicely done!

(smile!)

don't ask if you don't want the truth

So, the front desk clerk texted me just moments ago to see how things were going.

Big mistake on his part; I told him the truth, no whitewash applied.

I wasn't rude about it, nor did I assign blame to anyone.

I was simply honest.

He should have already been aware of the problems in the suite, but I honestly have not ever seen any proof that one department of Diamond Resorts ever speaks with another.

----- 

11:06 AM

Just checking in -- how is your stay going so far? Feel free to reply back with a 1-10 (10 being excellent). Have a great day! - Tharius

 

11:12 AM

3. I have made a list of items needing repair. I do not want the work done during my stay, as I do not want strangers in here.

One TV (the one in the living room) has no video, so the maintenance man switched it with the TV from the bedroom. That was on Friday.

The TV from the bedroom has a problem with video breaking up (much like with a satellite signal during bad weather). That's on every channel and begins after the TV has been on for about thirty minutes. Very aggravating, but turning it off for a cool down during commercial breaks has helped me watch a program without people's faces being fractured.

The air conditioning unit on the bedroom balcony makes horrible noises and shakes the wall, as well as being deafening and interrupting sleep. I have finally managed to turn it off, so I was able to sleep last night.

The dining room light flickers and the bulb should be replaced.

-----

 

Note: all of the above took me about 12 minutes to type and send.

I did not wait for a response, but gathered the mail I was going to post, as well as my new MOAS membership card, and headed out to enjoy the beautiful day. 

-----

12:13 PM

What would be a good time for us to have maintenance come to the unit to address issues. - Tracey

 

12:17 PM

I would prefer that all work be done after I check out on Wednesday. I have had pneumonia twice and cannot risk being ill.

 

12:26 PM

I will schedule this work order. I understand with illness. Please let us know if you need anything and i hope you are feeling well. - Tracey

12:34 PM

Thank you for understanding.

 

-----

 

Done, and done!

I should be able to catch the 1:00 PM Planetarium show after all!

(smile!)

ready for a change of calendar view in 2022

For the last few years, I've had The King of Rock 'n' Roll marking special occasions.

The physicist had given me the post-its for Christmas - perhaps it was 2017? 2018? - and they had seemed perfect for helping me remember birthdays and anniversaries.

The pink ones would be for birthdays of girls and women, the blue for birthdays of boys and men, in accordance with the color-coding habit begun by the French in the late 1800's.

Anniversaries were marked with the tan strips (though I would have used purple if the stickers had given me that choice, even though some of the couples are both women... which, I guess, could have been denoted with the pink, n'est-ce pas?).

The black strips I reserved for those no longer restricted to planet Earth.

For reasons that escape me now, I only used the black markers for family and friends that have died in the past twenty years.

That means Grandma, Grandpa, Great-Uncle Sam, and a few others were not included.

Even with those restrictions, I had eleven reminders of those I loved who were gone.

Eleven.

As it happened, those were topped by the most somber Elvis, standing and strumming his guitar; all the others featured him in a dance pose.

Each of the past few years since I first received these post-its, I've transferred the strips to the new calendar, updating ages as I did so.

Not so anymore.

While going through the armoire that serves as my china hutch, I stumbled upon mementos of university events, each with a post-it notes in five colors to help us stay organized for a new school year.

One of the booklets of sticky notes read "Armstrong Atlantic State University"; another reflected the name change to "Armstrong State University"; and the third was a bit more informal, reading "Armstrong Alumni".

That just means I've had these languishing in a dark cabinet for years.

No more!

The pink and the blue denote the same as before for family birthdays, though with the addition of the use of yellow for birthdays of friends.

Anniversaries are now shown on the green tabs.

And the purple?

Those now mark the birthdays of those I love who have died.

Ronnie's death has added one more of those.

That means I now have an even dozen.

Still, after two years of pandemic, I count myself fortunate to not have more.

I'm glad I thought to bring this task along on my holiday.

It's given me a good opportunity to take my time putting together this new calendar.

Tomorrow, MOAS will be open and most of the revelers will be gone -

hallelujah on both counts!

(smile!)

ready for a change of view in 2022

I've got my super-chilled, sparkling, pinot grigio open and started, waiting to finish it off with the final toast to the end of 2021.

I've even poured out a bit for "those that are no longer here", as the angels' portion.

Miley Cyrus and her New Year's Eve Party are on the telly and it's been a fairly fun, and chill, show.

I've gotten to like Pete Davidson.

I'd seen Miley and Pete a day or so ago on Jimmy Fallon's show - which I rarely watch - and they were hawking the event, so I'd decided then to tune in.

After all, she was going to be singing and getting nude and he was going to be funny, because that's what they do!

Or so they said, and it's been true so far.

When Pete was introducing the other artists slated to perform tonight, he'd added, "If you don't recognize any of those names, congratulations! You're old enough to vote!"

I got a kick outta that!

(smile!)
She's managed to keep all her clothes on so far, but this latest little silver number looks to be laid on, rather than attached, so the nudity may be soon!

(smile!)

And just who else is with me?

Just me, myself, and I!

I'm down in Daytona Beach, to enjoy a little holiday and maybe a bit of ocean, too.

Not that I'll be in the Atlantic - oh, no!

That water is in the mid-60's, so too cold for this Southern lass!

But I did take a nice long walk by the shore earlier, as I thought the city's fireworks were to begin at 7 PM.

That was not correct... but some other folks had their own and were lighting the night sky from the surf's edge, and doing so starting about 6:30 PM.

They had rockets with huge spreads to rival almost anything the Savannah Bananas fired into the air!

After about an hour of those, I was good!

That's when I'd gone back to the one-room condo I have at the Daytona Beach Regency, to have dinner and get settled in for the next four days.

Plus, I was ready for a break from the crowds of people.

I know it doesn't look like it in this photo, but there were constant streams of families and teens and partying folk, on their way to the amusement rides and the pier.

I'd done pretty well at keeping to myself, but more were coming out as the darkness deepened and the fireworks beckoned.

So, back I went, to the roasted mojo chicken I'd gotten earlier at Publix - yum!

One item of note on my walk: the Paragon cinema at Oceanwalk is truly gone.

I'd seen online that it was listed at "permanently closed" - sadly, that's true.

I guess it's just as well that I did what I did.

I'd stopped off at the Museum of Arts and Sciences on my way into town, renewing my membership (thanks, Tony and Laura, for the VISA gift card!).

They were twenty minutes away from closing, so I just had time to admire the Christmas tree and grab a program to preview the new exhibits... oh, yes, and the planetarium shows!

I plan to catch all five of those!

And just how did I happen to be going by MOAS in the first place?

Well, I'd turned off on the Bunnell exit, to get off I-95 and the constant stream of trucks and trailers and campers flowing in all lanes.

Next thing I knew, I saw the sign for Nova Road... so I took it!

Honestly, I'll be going back this way, or via Halifax, when it's time to leave this area of Florida on Wednesday.

The exits around Daytona can get pretty hectic, especially as they will have two or three directions off the one ramp, but this little exit must mostly get used by locals.

Yes, please!

Okay, time to go and raise my glass... um, I mean bottle!

See you next year!

LOL!

a little chemistry with my christmas

I finally owned up to the truth: I've gotten my fifty bucks' worth out of this wreath.

The red ribbon has faded and the flamingoes have slipped apart.

Six years ago, I'd bid on, and won, this flamingo wreath at a fundraiser for JinHi Soucy Rand as she continued battling cancer and running Muse Arts Warehouse.

That edifice still stands empty, closed in 2017 with a grand finish by those of us who had loved the arts performed within its walls.

As for JinHi, she continues to persevere and has hit her half-century mark with style, and a love of her gray like I have for mine.

With my penchant for holding on to things for sentimental reasons, I could not bring myself to simply throw the wreath into the trash bin.

Why not refurbish it instead?

That brings up the question of what to use in place of the pink birds.

Why not use some of the self-inflating balloons from SERMACS 2019?

I still had plenty - though I have two packages destined for others, postponed from delivery for the past two years by pandemic.

Those balloons are colorful and globular and, from a distance, will resemble Christmas ornaments... which makes them perfect!

See what I mean?

Chemistry - not just for classrooms, but doors!

(smile!)

skipping church

This first Sunday of the month once would have had several special goings on.

First, there would have been communion... but that will not be until the Christmas Eve service.

Second, there would have been the BIG Coffee Hour, with all lunching and visiting in Holliday Hall... but, with the pandemic stepping up and its latest variant heading for the USA, that social gathering won't be convening any time soon.

Now, I'm not saying we didn't have special events today...

I made the choice to stay home, though, and view them stream-style.

I'm glad I did.

I would have enjoyed being there in person for the reinstatement of Children's Church.

I like that little break in the proceedings between initial prayers and Billy's sermon, plus I enjoy seeing all the cheerful faces of the youngsters.

In honor of this event, Reverend Hester began with a variation of the invitation tv's Mister Rogers would give to children to visit his neighborhood.

When the children approached the front of the church, each was given a commemorative Christmas ornament to honor the occasion, with each being unique, like each child.

That was very nice!

Today, we also sang one of my favorite hymns: "Cuando El Pobre".

I promise, one day I'm going to ask if I can sing it in Spanish!

(smile!)

So, those are the two events I would have liked to attend in person.

This next one I'm glad I had the option to turn off and leave.

A nationally renowned speaker, Shane Claiborne, had been invited by those in charge to take the podium.

I had already looked him up, finding that he was a Red Letter Christian and quite a political activist, neither of which I am.

I had been a bit concerned about the publicity surrounding his visit to Asbury Memorial Church, concerned about what reaction might be forthcoming from those who had supported the former President, concerned about the size of the crowd that might be attracted.

Still, I had tuned in to the YouTube channel for the stream, so I was definitely interested in what he would say and his message.

However, I stayed for only the first ten minutes.

He preaches in an evangelical style that I do not like.

Billy doesn't yell at us; this guy did.

This was a change I could not support.

Off will go the computer while I find something more positive to pursue!

I'm glad I had reserved the option to do so.

waking up warm!

Who would have guessed that such a tiny device would be capable of such delicious warmth?

Sure, I had hoped that would be the case...

and how wonderful to find it to be true!

I bought it at Lowe's, as a spur of the moment thing, as it was for a 200 square-foot space.

"That would be perfect for my bedroom", I thought.

As it turns out, it was!

The Utilitech Fan-Forced Heater, with adjustable thermostat, is able to heat that space to better than 70 F; actually, it will get it up to at least 74 F, as I have found, but the 70 F is fine for me!

I'm able to sleep without burying my nose under the covers - hooray!

Even though I do use my heated mattress pad, I can keep it on a midrange setting - hooray!

Even though I have my mink blanket on the bed, I don't have to use it - hooray!

Best of all, I wake up warm and toasty, with my sinuses not plugged from cold air - hooray!

Seriously, I'm thinking of getting a second one as a back-up.

This winter will definitely be warmer at the bookends of my day!

As for the in-between moments, those will be warmer, too, and already have been.

Kindly notice that the vents in the ceilings have all been covered over.

No, really, do notice those!

That required me to climb up and down a two-step ladder twenty-two times to get them all done.

Sure, some of those times were for measuring so I could make the cuts correctly, but there were thirteen vents, two of which were covered using leftover end-pieces from eight of the one-piece covers.

That leaves me one cover for some other purpose!

You see, Accord makes 3-Packs of their Magnetic Vent Cover and the pack is sold for less than the cost of a single Frost King version of the magnetic vent cover.

Lowe's was the only place with the Accord and I bought five packs, not realizing that I would be able to tape cut portions to make the smaller covers for the bathroom and utility room.

That means I'll be taking one package back and the entire home improvement project cost me less than thirty dollars!

What an excellent choice, and an excellent change for the better!

(smile!)

heartbreaker's wildflowers

I was supposed to see the movie on Wednesday, with Carolyn.

The film did not arrive in time, so we had 90 minutes to wait.

What to do now?

She opted for dinner and, hopefully, the 7:30 pm show. 

I stayed for the sun's dramatic exit from the skies - absolutely gorgeous  - then caught the scheduled Thrills & Chills Surprise.

 

I was back the next evening, though, to catch the missed film, "Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free".

The biopic had been pieced together from video footage from 1993 to 1995, during the creation of his 1994 album, "Wildflowers".

It was released in early November of that year, after his 44th birthday.

This biopic was released on what would have been his 71st birthday, had not a mixture of incompatible medicines cut short his life.

I have a cousin, Valerie, who died of that very thing almost a decade ago.

The documentary had obviously been lovingly put together from all the bits and pieces of home video, as well as a few new bits of commemtary from former band members and family and colleagues.

What it showed was a man going through a period of great change.

He had been making music with the same people for more than two decades and one of the relationships had become fractious.

He had been married to Jane for more than two decades, the children were nearly grown, and that relationship had shifted, more for the worse than the better.

This solo album served as the sounding board for him to wrap his head around the break-up of the band and the break-up of his marriage.

Therapy through music: that's a loss adjustment concept I know well.

He worked with a different producer than the one used on the albums with the band... and that was good.

He worked with different musicians than the ones he'd toured with for so many years... and that was good.

He wrote songs that were different in sound and tone than those he'd written for the band... and that was good.

He embraced the process of change through writing... as I have done for more than a decade now... and that allowed him to heal and to determine a new path.

 

I was surprised how many songs I knew from "Wildflowers".

I found myself singing along, sans voice, over and over again.

Still, that was not an album I'd ever owned.

I don't know, maybe it was because his music was all over the airwaves so I never felt the need to actually purchase any.

I saw him once in concert, at the 91X Fest in San Diego in 1983.

It was an all-day event, featuring six bands with him as the highlighter.

Even The Stray Cats took second billing to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers!

What a magnificent show, with all types of folks coming out for the music and the sun and the joy of being young!

I was a month away from being a quarter of a century and out there with friends.

Were they stationed at NSGA, Imperial Beach, like I was?

Most likely, right?

Even the guy's mustache was regulation trim!

And that short girl, with the huge earrings, the lopsided smile, and those curved eyebrows?

That's me, captured by a news reporter on the site, looking for sound bites and commentary.

So, when he'd asked if the new wave look was a requirement to be a 91X fan, I'd spoken up, as I always did.

"You can be part of the new music scene without shaving your head."

Check out the clip and let me know if I'm wrong, ok?

After all, the young woman sure does look like I did, and she sure did say something I would have said, but that's been more than half my life ago.

What's that saying about waterfowl?

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

yeah, that's all I'm saying.

(smile!)

invisible trees and lil' round green peas

Today, I had my fourth visit at the Memorial Breast Health Center.

I was there about fifteen minutes early, giving me time to enjoy this painting of an invisible tree beside a lake, looking small against the mountain behind it.

I love the fall colors of the flaming leaves...

the blue sky mirrored in the water...

the sunlight dancing with the tree's shadow...

gorgeous, and reassuring, and hopeful.

No author's name is visible, but that's okay.

It makes it more accessible, somehow, to think that I might know the one who had painted the scene, that the person might be a distant friend, someone who knows of my penchant for these particular trees.

Perhaps this painting reminds me that I have conquered such trees in the past -

yes, I feel sure that is what draws me near, providing a peace and calmness to these visits.

Does that mean all is well now with my right breast?

Not really, as there is a new skin irritation and crustiness on that nipple, yet again.

However, it's appearance coincided with an overly chill night two weeks ago, a night so cold that I was awakened by being so cold and had to put a blanket on the bed.

Mind, that's with no air conditioning and no windows open.

When the rawness reappeared on my breast, I remembered how my hands used to react to the cold weather, looking like chopped raw meat, with bandages on my fingers from the bleeding, cracked, skin.

Could this issue be related to that one from my past?

The doctor thinks that may be the case, as this is definitely not cancer.

In fact, she told me one of her other patients has this same problem!

She has prescribed a deep moisturizer to combat the roughness, with me to follow up with her in January, after a few months of colder temperatures outside.

And, as I was leaving, I was given a little package tied with a pink bow.

What a pleasant surprise!

Then I realized why I had been gifted: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So, now I have a pin that reads "ATTITUDE with heart is EVERYTHING" and another that says "with HOPE all things are possible" - very nice!

The gift box reads "HOPE sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible."

How did they know about invisible trees?

(smile!)

I may re-gift that package to my first niece.

The adoption process for Miyah dragged on for two years, long enough that Chloe became part of the picture after the first year.

That child just had her third birthday... and the adoption process still drags on.

Even though the birth mother gave up all rights to the two girls years ago - and has now lost a third child, a boy, to a foster family in Brunswick - Christina has had to deal with jumping through multiple hoops, watching deadlines come and go with no progress forward.

Somehow, moving from one county to another is at the root of the problem, in conjunction with the constant turnover of personnel at DFACS.

Such a forest of invisible trees!

Well, I have hope that a path through those growths is at last at hand.

I was called today by a case worker concerning the two girls, asking if I thought they were in a safe home, asking if Christina and Chris were good parents.

Of course the girls are safe and loved!

Of course my first niece and her man are good parents!

Why would anyone even consider separating the member of this family?

The girls have never known any other Mommie and Daddy - plus there's a big brother.

That's pretty much what I told the woman, repeatedly, in a calm and positive voice, for the ten-minute interview I had with her.

And here's an interesting thing: the interviewer very much liked that I was on Christina's paternal side of the family.

Hey, if she liked that, I do, too!

As for dinner, I thought a path through trees called for another Path of Life!

That's the brand name of the rice and vegetables dishes I bought last night.

This particular one is Cilantro Lime Rice, with red onion, fire-roasted corn, and red bell pepper.

I added more onion, and a squirt of lime just before serving it up.

I also added...

are you ready for this?...

a can of peas and carrots.

Yes, little, round, green, peas.

And it was so good!

I'm down to my last can of those Nemco vegetables, of the four that Michael gave me months ago.

One was added to a soup, disguising the taste of the peas and making them more palatable.

Another was added to a pasta with vegetables dish - and I discovered, to my amazement, that they were not as disgusting as my memory had told me they would be.

Tonight, my taste buds confirmed that they were good, they really were!

Mama would be so surprised.

(smile)

vcrs lvng thru aunt t, vol 4

Nothing like a hearty meal to fuel the day's adventures, eh, matey?

And nothing like mixing it up between two cultures to stoke me engines for the fun in store!

That be Chicken Teriyaki from Asian shores, surrounded by a sea of Italian green beans - aye, and mighty filling it was!

The movie of the day was "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan", a tale of a swashbuckler if ever there was one!

Then, off in search of the Self Family Arts Center!

Oops, that would be the Performing Arts Center, as it now be known, and that Jamaican lass down by the road is guarding the entrance.

No fears, my name be on the list of those allowed, granting my dear blue Saturn safe passage!

Now, to retrieve my ticket for the night's musical, then seek other entertainment betwixt this moment and show time.

And there it be, not ten minutes away by foot: Pirate's Island Adventure Golf!

Would ye look at that mighty ship, stripped down to its bones, with naught but bones to steer it!

Of the two routes at hand, Blackbeard's Original Adventure was the one for me, beckoning me toward its many green-jeweled tiers and the treasure that lay all about - aye, that's the one for me!

What, ho, why is that butterfly-bedecked bag atop the post?

Oh, aye, that be with me, in case my spectacles be needed later tonight.

On to the mini-golf adventures at this Pirate's Island in Shelter Cove!

Here, Blackbeard lore and history abounded at each hole, with tales to shock and amaze!

This be the sight after the fifth hole, of the man lost to the perils of going over the waterfall in a barrel - perhaps not of his own will, eh?

Aye!

And the sixth hole was on top of the waterfall!

Oohs! Aahs!

Not to be outdone, Lucky 13 had a few loopy hills for thrills.

Aye, that be my little pink ball on the green, and it went into the hole with just two strokes, too.

That meant I had par for three holes in a row!

And what be here?

No, me wee lass, that was not mickey mouse incognito!

Perhaps it was a tattered heart of a battered pirate?

Or, then again, maybe it was simply hole 14, with a Par 2 rating... which was made with aplomb by yours truly!

That be a mighty fine first shot, was it not, that landed me 'tween the hard place, the rock, and the cup?

That made a fourth par, with a fifth on the next, and birdies on the 16th and 17th!

Aye, I was feeling mighty full of meself by this time.

No wiggle room on this last hole, though!

That cannon doubled my strokes - ack!

Even so, my score on the last half of the course was four strokes better than that of the first half.

Then 'twas time to bid farewell to the good Captain and thank him for the use of his land.

How kind of his henchmen to have scattered those bits of lore hither and yon, to brighten the knowledge and perhaps even scare children to behave - bwah ha ha!

Now, time to slip on those Kinky Boots and meander back over to where my car held my spot.

Show starts in thirty minutes and I have a protein bar to wolf down to tame my hunger!

No refreshments will be here and face coverings are to be worn at all times to keep the actors and crew safe from harm - bravo to that fine lot!

And would ye look at that lovely sight!

I had thought when I bought the ticket that there would be a row in front of me... but I am right there at the edge of the stage!

No blokes in front of me to block me view!

And doesn't it look like that backdrop just stepped out of the movie for this busy, vibrant woman?

It truly does, doesn't it!

How blessed I am to have this fabulously-scored musical drop into my lap for my last day of  vacation on Hilton Head!

i thank You, God!

vicarious living thru aunt T - make it legendary!

Here I am, at the first hole of the Professional Course - the supposedly easier one of the two.

Yep, that's my purple-handled club!

My pink ball is already in position for teeing off.

The more striking thing - you like that little pun? - about these holes are the quotations at each one.

The vast majority are Bible verses, as in this case, but not all, as some from other sources were sprinkled in.

And just where was I mini-golfing today?

At Legendary Golf, situated in Wexford Plantation, just off William Hilton Parkway.

I'd spotted it Tuesday on my way to Sea Pines -

not to "see" pine trees, of course, but to watch films at Park Plaza.

Wah ca, wah ca, as Fozzie Bear would say!

The grounds were beautifully landscaped.

Hole 4 of the Professional Course even had a lovely waterfall splashing in view of the tee!

The placard for my reading pleasure, though not from the Bible, was religious.

"Unless we have in us He who is above us, we will soon be consumed by that which is around us. Without a doubt the highest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God."

It was written by Aiden Wilson Tozer, a pastor who was so gifted with words that he was granted honorary degrees from two colleges.

Nice, right?

I certainly made sure to read these quotes, made even more meaningful in this nature setting, under a clear blue sky.

Right place, right time!

Here's another beautiful view!

This was part of the Championship Course and that's my pretty little pink ball, one stroke away from the hole.

As I was lining it up, I was stopped by the sheer beauty - a tiny rivulet running down into a still lake, with a waterspout springing forth, under shade trees and surrounded by a grassy verge...

so much prettier than it had needed to be, but surely a welcomed reminder of this sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of William Hilton Parkway, just past the edges of the meadow.

The rushing noise of the constant stream of cars was almost inaudible, thanks to the splashing of the fountain.

I loved having the leisure of taking a moment to enjoy this gift of nature.

This heart-shaped miniature lake deserved a moment of my time as well.

I have to wonder how many passersby may have noticed its form?

Positioned near a gazebo, it would be easy to overlook its message of love...

ah, but not by me, as accustomed as I am to the need for a change in perspective to better communicate with the spiritual world.

A nearby quote from J. C. Ryle certainly seemed to cinch that concept.

"Happiness does not depend on outward circumstances, but on the state of the heart."
And, sometimes, the need to squint your eyes and hold your mouth just-so to see what gift is hidden in plain sight!

(smile!)

Sometimes, that gift is a perfect shot when least expected.

For me, it was on Hole 16.

Look closely.

Let your gaze follow the length of the straightaway, through the neat brick walls.

Then, go up to and enter the opening formed by the two ends of the crescent-shaped lake.

Now, continue peering into that circular expanse, heading straight toward the large rock positioned at the center of that curving body of water...

and there's my pink ball, resting just in front of the boulder, inches from the the hole.

Wow, right?

That gave me a birdie on that one!

(smile!)

And, to highlight that this place was designed by someone not only with a religious core, but with a grand sense of humor toward mankind's place in the world, this is the message awaiting those who visit the loo!

"Please...Do Not Flush the Following Items Down This Toilet: Paper Towels, Sanitary Napkins, Old Phone Bills, Goldfish, Bandaids, Cherry Bombs, Leftover Salad, & Your Hopes & Dreams.

- Thanks!"

Nice joke, y'all!

more vcrs lvng, vol 2 4 2sday

Guess what I had for breakfast today?

Blueberry waffles with extra protein, topped with vanilla yogurt!

Yep, there's a toaster here, so I've treated myself to a change of pace at brunch.

I wish I could say it was a most pleasing alternative... but, no.

That's okay, the morning's entertainment was quite appealing!

I get the Science channel here, so that's let me enjoy episodes of "How It's Made" to learn about the construction of a myriad of different things!

Yesterday, the topics were: stapler; disposable cartridge for a razor; allergen-free chocolate chip banana mini-loaves; bassoon reeds; and dive computers for wrist wear.

Today, I was treated to: shale bricks; organ, including the tuning of the pipes; surgical retracters and clamps; vending machines; ketchup; and wooden walking canes.

What a fabulous start to my days here!!!

And just what was on today's episode of "Vicarious Living Through Aunt Tina"?

A doubleheader at a fabulous little cinema at Sea Pines, that's what, with two movies that weren't coming any closer to Savannah than here on this little island.

I got lost in the traffic circles for a couple of go-rounds, but I absolutely adored this lobby the moment I walked in.

Enchanting, isn't it?

In a way, it reminds me of Cinematique, down in Daytona Beach, but this place boasted three screening rooms - and every one of them had a film not in rotation by the chain cinemas near me.

Such a treat!

Not that the movies themselves were a treat.

For both, the subject matter was quite serious and heavy, not frivolous in the least way.

Take this first one, "Blue Bayou".

I was about fifteen minutes late to it (as Nuvi cannot handle roundabouts, sadly, and had me literally spinning my wheels), but I caught up quickly.

The new husband of the cop's former wife had gotten into a fight with the cop's partner, causing the arrest of the new husband... and subsequent finding out that he was not a US citizen.

When he'd been adopted here in the 1980's as a child, somehow the paperwork to naturalize him had not been done.

The end credits were full of others in the same sad state.

All were people who had been adopted here by US citizens and raised here, but never given citizenship, so now being deported.

The second movie, "The Card Counter", followed a man who had been in prison for 8 years after photographs of the torture he'd used on prisoners were posted on the internet.

I remember those events in Abu Ghraib in 2004.

The man was making a living at the casinos and staying out of trouble until the son of one of his military mates approached him, wanting to exact revenge on the civilian who had trained them in torture.

 

 

Both movies dealt with the aftermath of chance encounters that led to big changes in their lives, and the lives of those around them.

Both movies had serious messages about the inability to change anyone else.

But the second movie was the one that impacted me the most.

The former torturer had received parole and was trying to live a quiet life, winning small amounts in poker games that allowed him to live anonymously in motels and travel from one casino to another, leaving no trail of discord, interacting with no one.

Then, this young man, full of anger, recognizes who the he is and sees him as an ally.

What to do to dissuade this young man from the path of destruction?

Money was needed, so the former torturer gets a backer and goes on the celebrity poker circuit, convincing the young man to go along with him. 

Money was made, enough to pay off the debts of the young man and of his mother, enough to allow him to go to college and make a future for himself, and the former torturer tries to give the money to the young man and has to threaten him to get him to take it.

All to no avail.

The young man goes after the civilian torturer on his own, getting killed.

The former torturer then exacts revenge for that death from the civilian torturer, knowing that he will be returned to Leavenworth, but seeing no recourse.

He had tried to do good for someone, he had allowed himself to become friends with someone, and he had failed to keep them safe.

Prison was the best place for him to be.

Wow... heartbreaking.

Tiffany Haddish was the woman who backed his bets for the final celebrity poker, proving to me that she can actually act.

Usually, she just plays the same blue, wild, coarse person in every role.

Not this time; she was excellent: refined, smooth, stable.

That was good.

Even so, the two movies were still rough on me and had my nerves jangled.

Perhaps it was the salty food I'd had as lunch that was partly to blame.

The cinema had some gourmet offerings, like the large Greek platter, loaded with black olives, slices of red bell pepper, circles of cucumber, banana peppers, wedges of Parmesan cheese, toasted pita, and savory hummus - that was lunch!

Still, it probably edged up my blood pressure.

Time to head for the condo and maybe just eat dinner there after all.

And then, right there at that intersection where I happened to be stopped for a red light, I saw it: Slapfish!

Right place, right time!

Talking to the young man in there while I waited for my to-go order really perked me up, too.

I told him about me first hearing of the restaurant in Pooler and that's what started us to animatedly chatting about seafood and good food and food that's good for you!

Very nice.

I took that treasure to my home-away-from-home, finding that I'd been gifted with much more food than I'd expected.

Just look at all those chips!

Doesn't that make a pretty sunflower arrangement?

Then there's all those perfectly sauteed vegetables!!!

Plus, the process of unpacking the food - finding a glass bowl to showcase the shrimp ceviche, plating it with the crunchy, homemade tortilla chips, opening the veggies and breathing that aroma - quieted my nerves and settled me down.

And what more did the universe have for me?

What else - one of my favorite movies!

Like, a movie for which I'd traveled down to Jacksonville to watch it, along with the first in the series, once upon a time.

Yes, yes, indeed, its Yondu Udonta, strutting his stuff, whether as Mary Poppins or evicted Ravager, in "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2"!

Yes, I was having dinner again with Michael Rooker...

and that was perfectly fine with me!

Right place, right time...

i thank You, God.

vicarious living through aunt tina, volume 1!

Please note: my adventures in Hilton Head are not titled as such, thanks to a chance comment made by my first niece. Henceforth, they shall be known as the "Vicarious Living Through Aunt Tina" show, with the installments not named as episodes but taking a cue from one of my favorite movies. Enjoy!

My first stop was at a dollar store, in search of soft shoes - mission accomplished!

Sure, they were bigger than I needed, but the slippers felt perfect to my still-sore feet, and were, as specified, only a dollar.

What a deal!

The store was in the same shopping center as the Northridge Cinema 10, my true destination.

Right place, right time!

Surprisingly, I was not the only person looking for a film, on a Monday, in the early afternoon, but, then again, it may be the sweet selection on the roster there.

(That preponderance of commas is specifically for my first niece, who was once told by a teacher that commas were not meant to be "sprinkled like glitter" in writing. To that I say: Bah! Glitter, like commas and exclamation marks, are glorious!!!)

Now, where was I?

Oh, yes, sharing a movie, in  real cinema, with like-minded folk!

Probably, like me, they had never even heard of this one.

"Killian & The Comeback Kids" had not even rated a preview at the theatres in Savannah or Pooler, but certainly should have.

I know the story, about post-high school twenty-somethings in a small town going downhill, finding themselves reunited by music upon the return of the only one who had left and gone to college, might play well, especially in Statesboro.

The tale might also do well as a psychological study of the effect a loner can have when allowed to play a role with others.

I thought about staying for a second film, but the blue-sky day was calling me outside... hooray!

That's because Adventure Cove Miniature Golf & Arcade was right there, just down the street that I had walked yesterday!

I even had a coupon for it!

No one even batted an eye at my sloppy slippers.

(smile!)

Too bad the physicist wasn't there to play the two courses with me, as I know he would have enjoyed it, too.

This was one of my favorite holes on the "easy" course.

It was Hole 4 of Paradise Falls, located up a flight of stairs and on top of a small "rock" mountain.

Four strokes was what it took, too, even though it was supposed to take just three.

Perhaps I was distracted by the view from up there...

yeah, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

In fact, here's that mountain, in this photo.

I was looking back from Hole 10 and happened to espy, with my little eye, the big "rock" from whence I'd come six holes earlier.

Such a fun course, and hardly anyone on it! 

In no time, I was over on the supposedly more challenging course of Lost Lagoon.

This whack-a-mole layout on Hole 13 looked like it could be a problem, with its upper tier having three different tunnels to the lower one, but I tamed it with a bogey, so... not bad!

A bogey, by the way, is one over par; I had several of those, including a few double-bogeys.

See this waterfall on the final hole of the course?

The trick was to shoot hard enough to make it over a channel, and through the waterfall, onto the putting green on the other side.

Better believe that was a bogey for me!

But, again, such fun I had, for more than an hour, out in the sunshine, listening to the rock'n'roll piped in, as I walked and stretched and got in some exercise!

 

I fared fairly well, too, on my scores!

 

For Paradise Falls, I hit nearly half at par, with six bogeys, for a score of 58.

 

Over in Lost Lagoon, I only had six that were par or better, with four of them being birdies!

 

That would be one under par - hooray!

 

I also had quite a few double bogeys mixed in, yielding a total of 62 strokes.

 

And what movie was awaiting me at the condo?

 

"The Natural", with Robert Redford playing baseball!

 

It reminded me of one of the "Quantum Leap" episodes that I love so much.

 

In that episode, he was an aging pitcher trying to make another go at getting into the major league; same here, only Roy Hobbs didn't want to be a pitcher, he wanted to hit homers.

And "Futurama" had a surprise in store for me!

They were playing mini-golf, just as I had done today!

 

What a lovely way to know the universe was looking out for me and that I was loved!

 

Right place, right time... and tomorrow will bring new delights!

 

i thank You, God!