livin' it up, livin' it up, alright - it's friday night!

I made sure to specifically "put my face on" before I went out tonight.

After all, it's a date night Friday, and I was all dressed and wearing my dance shoes!

I know, it's been quite a while since my last date night, but since SVF-9 had passed its COVID tests and would be returning to the stage, I wanted to welcome them in a big way!

That's right, the festival is three days off schedule due to a COVID scare, but they launched right back on with "ROCK" at the CMC!

There was even a live band to help get everyone else all fired up - I came ready to move my feet!

But, look, up there on the bricks...

doesn't that silhouette look like a blonde, with long hair, wearing a hat?

I had never noticed that before, but, then again, this was the first time the Morris Center has been in this configuration, with the stage aligned on the side wall.

Off to her left, there even seems to be a reflected side view, or perhaps it's a back up singer?

Speaking of such, several of the rock songs played tonight had a featured singer with three to five back ups on stage with her... I guess they were all ready for a Friday night, too, after three unplanned idle days.

Although I enjoyed hearing all fifteen tunes, the stand-out performances tonight were by a singer that's new to me: Lauren Jelencovich.

She did two songs that are usually sung by a man - "What A Wonderful World", by Louis Armstrong, and "Hallelujah", by Jeff Buckley - and she was aMAzING!

I very nearly stayed for the second show, just to hear "Hallelujah" again...

very nearly...

but I had promised myself dinner at The Pirates' House.

Hey, what's date night without dinner on the town?

After a fabulous repast of Georgia Salmon, I didn't even need dessert.

Hey, that broiled salmon, topped with the sweet mango and peaches, and grilled broccolini on the side - oh, my!

Plus, mashed sweet potatoes were there to sop up the fruit juices....

yeah, I didn't need dessert!

I had it with my dinner!

Woot woot!

By the time I'd finished with my concert and fancy meal, the moon had made its way above the buildings on Factors Walk.

Holding my phone above the wire fence at Trustees Garden, I snapped this on my very first try.

Right place, right time.

Yes, Bell and James had it right!

one-eyed pirate cat

 I think you may be missing an apostrophe in that title.

 

Let me double-check.

Nope!

That's exactly what I intended to write!

 

Okay, so I get that you're referring to something with one eye...

like a Cyclops? 

 

Oh, no, not at all!

That's part of the reason I made sure the word 'pirate' was in there.

This was a one-eyed pirate creature, with a patch over the right eye.

Or perhaps it was the left one...

 

Hold up, please!

I caught that 'creature' in that descriptor.

You know that humans are creatures, too, right? 

 

Of course I do!

But this one-eyed pirate isn't human - it's an anthropomorphic cat.

 

I think I'm getting the picture now.

There's a cat, with a patch over one eye and standing and walking on its hind legs, as well as wearing the togs of an ocean marauder... 

 

Exactly correct!

And just where was this feline?

 

In a movie, naturally!

I went to see "Monster Hunter" at the cinema for my Faustina Friday date night.

I'm so glad I saw it in the Big D!

In fact, I may well go see it again in the near future!

 

Seriously, you went to see that?

Oh, wait, you went because Milla Jojovich is in it and you like her in science fiction, ever since "The Fifth Element".

But you should be aware that the entire movie is based on a video game, rather than the other way around. 

 

Well... yes, I went because she was starring in it... and, no, I didn't know anything about its origins... but it looked to be full of action and a total flight of fancy from reality and that, more than anything else, was the draw.

Again, I'm very glad to have seen it in Big D!

Fabulous cinematography!

And the bad-guy creatures... wow.

In a way, it reminded me of "Love And Monsters", but it also made me think of Ray Harryhausen and the fantastical beings he crafted for monster movies once upon a time.

 

Harryhausen?

Wasn't that the name of the restaurant in "Monsters, Inc."? 

 

Good call there!

It certainly was!

I'm so glad to have been part of the kickstarter campaign to honor the man.

Speaking of restaurants, I went to one tonight!

 

Do tell!

Did you use one of those gift cards you have? 

 

As a matter of fact, I did!

I'd found a ten-dollar one for Red Lobster lost in the depths of the car door pocket.
It was put to most excellent use for this feast: Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl!

I brought nearly half of it home!

Fabulous slab of savory salmon atop a flavorful rice pilaf, with a side salad and roasted Brussels sprouts that could have served as dessert they were so sweet and succulent!

 

Oh, wow, my mouth is watering...

 

Well, hands off!

I'm saving that for brunch on Sunday, ya hear?

You already at that cheddar biscuit, so leave the rest alone!

 

Fine, fine.

There's that shrimp scampi in the fridge, too...

 

Leave it be!

That is not a midnight snack, no, no, no!

 

Okay, okay, don't get your tinsel in a tangle, g'friend.

Hey, look what's on Comet right now!

"Earth Girls Are Easy"!

These three look rather like feline creatures, and are similar in behavior to them, too!

 

Oh, very nice!

Last night, I had "The Long Kiss Goodnight" on Bounce, so that's two nights running with movies starring Geena Davis!

Perfect for finishing up my evening -

thanks for letting me know!

Later, chica!

Peace OUT!

(smile!) 

not an elf, but a ballet dancer

"Die Hard" is most def one of my favorite Christmas movies!

Sure, it's an action flick and has quite a lot of death and destruction going on -

yeah, I'll definitely confirm that.

But the movie has a lot of heart and a lot of silliness, too, to offset the violence.

And that ending...

well, that ending couldn't be any prettier if it had tinsel all over it!

What a blessing to have it in the cinema for Week 15 of my A*List!

I intend to see it every night, too, as well as two new movies that just started and two Fathom matinee events tomorrow and Sunday.

That should make up for seeing no movies at the cinema last weekend, when it was cold and rainy and nothing new-to-me was playing.

Yes, I am very much still a busy, vibrant, woman, even during a pandemic.

That said, sometimes I need time at home, and after eight hours of playing with children last Friday, staying home was needed.

Tonight, though, I was out and about again!

And tomorrow and Sunday evenings will end with the company of Bruce and Alan and Alexander, kicking butt like a bunch of cowboys -

such a yippe-ki-ay mo...vie!

Woohoo!!!

Tonight, it was such a delight to share the movie with at least ten others, all delighting in the familiar one-liners and Bruce's panning to the camera -

how wonderful to share the laughter of others!

I had to wonder, though, how many of them appreciated the delicacy of the movements and the power behind the kicks delivered by athletic legs that had spent decades dancing for Russian audiences, delighting adults and children alike.

Oh, yes, the fight scene between Bruce Willis and Alexander Godunov, who had once belonged to the Moscow Ballet, was sheer poetry in motion.

I'll look forward to seeing that again for the next two nights.

Most def.

 

 

How did I know my Fabulous Faustina date night had gone exceedingly well?

My sweet little car joined in with the universe to tell me.

Oh, yes -  215215 - an odometer reading to catch my eye and thrill my spirit!

How lovely to know I was right place, right time!

i thank You, God!

droppin' science for christmas

This year, I'm doing something a little different for Christmas.

Rather than give toys or clothes, I'm giving ornaments to the under-18 bunch of nephews, niece, and greats.

In addition, the great-niece in Louisville will be receiving gifts to share with her classmates.

I'm presenting Ally with chemistry.

I have had a bag full of National Chemistry Week items, saved specifically for her from SERMACS last year, in the living room closet, waiting.

No longer will they languish!

I've packed every bit of it into a $21 Priority Mail box and sent it to her.

As well as those ChemCatchers, she'll have the magical self-inflating balloons, kits for making uv-detecting armbands, colorful pencils, and a fine selection of stickers featuring Minni-Mole and her friends!

Perfect fun for sixth-graders!

Plus, there are the "Saving Savannah's Water" activity books from the City of Savannah and the 2019 NCW "Celebrating Chemistry" activity books!

I'm sure her science teacher is going to love these, too -

especially as I've included enough for next year's class!

That's because I had some intended for the Asbury Angells youth group, but that program has changed.

What was that about a Christmas ornament for that active great-niece?

Well, she's getting a Fish of Many Colors!

You know, like the Coat of Many Colors that was mentioned in Dolly Parton's song?

It'll be like an inside joke between me and her!

(smile!)

The fish is felt, so it won't break if the dog knocks it off the tree.

(smile!)

As for me, I've been pretty busy on this first Faustina Friday date night of December!

After the Post Office, I was off to "Half-Brothers", a fairly silly, brand-new, guy movie that featured a lot of different US locales.

That was wonderful!

Then I popped over to Dickey's for some barbeque and happened upon their Cue-ban sandwich - 

mighty tasty treat!

Especially when followed up with pecan pie!

Now, I'm off to "Die Hard" for the first time this weekend -

yippee-ki-yay, y'all!

(smile!)

'lection day luncheon!

Such a rare treat!

A weekday lunch with my first niece!

We haven't had those since she stopped working in Richmond Hill.

The reason we were able to today is twofold: she had not yet changed her voting address and she was off from work early because the littlest girl had misbehaved at daycare.

All of that worked in my favor -

i thank You, God!

It was even on a Tina Tuesday, so I'm counting this as my date night meal - oh, yes, I am!

I had been planning to pick up pizza from Papa Murphy's, but now there was no need for that dinner.

Cici's made one to order for me, sans cheese but with plenty of chicken, pepperoni, and veggies, so I was one happy camper.

Plus, there was that great big salad and fresh, hot cinnamon buns for dessert.

This was a much better deal...

and the company that shared this with me made it a repast fit for royalty.

(smile!)

what would Elvis do?

 

Odd title for this post, I know, but just hear me out.

There are two constitutional amendments and one referendum that are holding up the completion of my absentee ballot.

A friend told me that those weren't the important parts of the ballot.

I explained to him that those are the most important portions of the entire thing.

Those three items will affect the state of Georgia for all time; the candidates on the ballot will only affect us (and the nation) until the end of their elected term.

Apparently, he had not considered it from that angle.

 

So, just why am I being slowed down by these three items?

Well, primarily, I do not understand the context behind their inclusion on the ballot.

One of the amendments seems rather petty to me and the other appears to be redundant and unneeded.

As for the referendum, I have to wonder about greed fostering its creation.

I've gone to the Georgia voters website, hoping for more information.

Well, they had it, but it was just more legalese and no rationalization.

That's when I thought I'd look at them with some assistance from the King.

He dealt with far more lawyers and politicians than I ever have.

 

Constitutional Amendment -1-

House Resolution 164

Act No. 597

Authorizes dedication of fees and taxes to their intended purposes by general state law.

"Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to dedicate revenues derived from fees or taxes to the public purpose for which such fees or taxes were intended?" 

 

Seriously, that's the words used on the ballot.

My question is this: why would such fees be used for anything else?

If you're picking money from my pocket to renovate the buildings and grounds at Grayson Stadium, then that's exactly what should be done with that money.

And yet, years ago, when an extra penny county tax  came into being, it was specifically slated for that purpose, as well as some other beautification projects in Chatham county.

The decrepit stands along the left field wall were torn down...

the beer loft was erected...

and the field was resodded and irrigated for better drainage.

That extra penny is still being taken from my pocket, but no changes have been made at the ball park for at least six years.

Hence, the reason we now have Bananas instead of Sand Gnats.

Elvis, your advice please?

"A little less conversation, a little more action.

All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me. "

My thoughts, too.

 

Constitutional Amendment -2-

House Resolution 1023

Act No. 596

Waives state and local sovereign immunity for violation of state laws, state and federal constitutions.

"Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to waive sovereign immunity and allow the people of Georgia to petition the superior court for relief from governmental acts done outside the scope of lawful authority or which violate the laws of the state, the Constitution of Georgia, or the Constitution of the United States?" 

 

This sounds like a bunch of whiny rich folks wanting to sue a mayor somewhere.

They would have to be rich to bring such a frivolous lawsuit before the superior court, or before any court for that matter.

How this ever made it off the floor and onto a ballot is a mystery.

What advice can you give me, dear Elvis?

"We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds."

That's vey true.

As long as folks are being paranoid that the government is out to get them, nothing useful will come of that misplaced suspicion.

Thanks for the insight!

 

 Statewide Referendum -A-

House Resolution344

Act No.149

Establishes a tax exemption for certain real property owned by charities.

"Shall the Act be approved which provides an exemption from ad valorem taxes for all real property owned by a purely public charity, if such charity is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and such real property is held exclusively or the purpose of building or repairing single-family homes to be financed by such charity to individuals using loans that shall not bear interest?" 

 

Say what?

So, perhaps a church is wanting to provide money to a parishioner in the form of a zero-interest loan so said parishioner can build a home for one of their adult children?

And the parishioner has bequeathed the property to the church to avoid paying property taxes to the city and county?

Is that what this referendum would allow?

Again, it just sounds like money being shuttled from my pocket to someone else's.

Those ad valorem taxes are needed to pay for road upkeep and street lights, police protection and fire departments, hospitals and schools.

Any taxes not paid by others, thanks to legal shenanigans like this, means more monies taken from the pockets of me and my neighbors.

Elvis, give me the word for this one!

"You do all the living
While I do all the giving
'Cause I love you
Too much.
Well you spend all my money
Too much."

Yeah, I hear where you're coming from.

My buck stops with me on this one.

 

Last night, I made sure to drop my completed absentee ballot into the official drop box there on Eisenhower Drive.

I had taken it with me when I left for my date with the two Adams at the AMC Classic 10 (aka, the Carmike).

I actually had enough time between my doubleheader to TCB - 

that's Take Care of Business, as the King of Rock'n'Roll would say.

(smile!)

 

I call it a little something different.

Right place, right time.

See that mighty fine odometer reading?

I wasn't even looking for it, but there it was:  214600.

That was upon my arrival for "The Addams Family" (the one with the talented Finn Wolfhard), and right after, to go vote.

Right place, right time.

After casting my ballot, I arrived back at the cinema just before Carolyn, who was joining me for the new Adam Brody movie,  "The Kid Detective".

We both agree that it is one of the best movies this year, if not the best.

Definitely not for children, it was much deeper than I'd expected.

Right place, right time.

What a memorable date night for me that was!

den ypárchoun atychímata

This evening, I did something different for date night.

"Hold up!

What's this about 'date' night?

I thought you didn't 'date', girlfriend. "

Not with others, silly.

I have been having date night with myself for the past couple of weeks, you might recall.

"Oh, yeah, that's right, since about mid-September."

That's right, and I've been keeping that night of the week reserved for myself.

It's part of my groove thing, you understand.

"Ah, gotcha.

So, what movie was it this week? "

Oh, my.

As the bfrb would say, "Faustina attends class but doesn't pay attention."

You may want to scan back over that opening line up there.

"I can't even read that opening line!

It's all Greek to me! "

Hahahaha!  Hahaha!

You're absolutely correct!

The post title is all Greek!

But that wasn't the opening line of the post entry.

Try again, please.

"Oh, for love of Pete.

Okay, blah, blah...'something different for date night'.

Oh, you said 'something different'.

Out with it, then. "

I dared to eat a peach, so to speak.

The Players By The Sea presented a one-act interpretation of Sophocles' "Oedipus".

How perfect for a time of pandemic!

The play occurs during a time of plague, with all actors wearing masks...

and all audience members, as well.

This is one of the final scenes in "Oba Oedipus", in which the shepherd has just told the king of his true identity.

The classic Greek chorus echoes the woes of the tale, just as they did in 429 BC, almost two millinia ago.

 

"You went to a play???" 

 

Incredibly, I did.

Even more incredibly, I was 'seated' in the same social circle with two people from the past who share my last name!

Melanie and David, friends of the ex, were also out on 'date night' and had chosen this for their entertainment.

Small world, isn't it?

How wonderful to catch up with their lives and see them doing well!

They had opted for the play earlier today, like I had, but doing so in the morning...

not waiting until two hours before showtime, as I had.

How fortunate that they had been willing to share their space!

 

"Indeed, that was most fortunate, and even more so that the three of you seated together already knew each other and were comfortable with each other, too."

 

You're telling me.

I truly was blessed tonight.

Right place, right time.

I'm not just meaning with their company, either.

I found it quite reassuring to be at a play, on this campus where I had attended a play right before the COVID-19 washed ashore in this country.

That weekend of five plays seems like it was a dream, yet I know it was real -

I have plenty of photographs to prove it to myself.

 

"That sounds like you had a wonderful experience!"

 

Oh, I did!

Plus, Sue Gorecki flagged me down as I was taking the scenic route to my car!

She was there with Donna, a person I don't recall with the Boomers group, and had seen me walk in, intending to catch up with me after the play.

So glad we had the chance to talk!

I'll have to keep track of that fb page, watch for the next "first Friday" lunch announcement and maybe other events.

She mentioned a 'Happy Hour' meetup, but I don't think I'll do that one.

Know what I mean?

"I most certainly do, g'friend.

Booze and coronavirus are not compatible. "

 

For real.

Melanie Goldey keeps inviting me to a bar for karaoke, and I keep declining, of course.

Me, with my pneumonia-chewed lungs, touching and singing into the same microphone as the drunks who touched it before me?

Nope, not gonna happen.

But I tell you what is gonna happen...

I'm taking myself to see "Shrek"!

The play ended earlier than I expected -

so, I am off to movie number 23!

Gotta fly!

"Peace out, chica!

Have fun on the rest of your date night! "

 

Thanks!

(smile!)