not the crabtree, either!

The thing that was maybe the funniest to me during that movie at the Christmas party?

This guy right here!

Not only is he a tall redhead wearing glasses, but his surname is Crabtree - what are the odds of those things coming together?

Now, then, if his first name had also been Kevin, that would have been totally surreal...

but it wasn't.

That was 'Marcus'.

Nor did the actor's name have a 'Kevin' in it.

Still...

pretty close to the real deal!

Speaking of...

time to watch the Grinch!

Hahahaha!

(smile!)

not the elf you're looking for on zoom!

Seriously, he had his elf hat on a moment ago!

Now, he's taking a break from his duty as mall elf to catch a burger, as well as the eye of the waitress.

Yes, he's an elf in love!

He's also a fairly minor side character in "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever".

Seriously, that's the real movie title.

Remember that famous feline from 2014?

Yeah, Tardar Sauce... she was the star.

That's her, screen left, popping in - like on the pop-up videos of that same time period - to let us know that car crash was in the budget, whereas a crash through mall doors was not.

There were quite of few of those fourth wall breaches during this holiday-themed spoof.

And the reason I was watching?

It was Christa's ""A Very Grumpy (Online) Christmas Party", of course!

COVID be damned, we were going to get together for holiday festivities, just as we usually do!

(smile!)
That's the Squirrel Mistress, upper left, and there's Lauri of NK! on my other side.

I think Alisa was also from those NK! days.

Then there's Barbara and Sandy and Lynn rounding out the mix!

Lynn and Lauri have abandoned Tybee and are now ensconced in Kissimmee, so we shared quite a bit of talk of that Southern town that I have visited so often.

Now, I have a reason to wander in that direction again: to visit the Sweet Caroline girls and maybe find a baseball game with them!

(smile!) 

Plus, as this party was such a success, Christa is having another one!

That will be in January, with a movie featuring my man Rutger Hauer!

I like that I'll be seeing "Blind Fury" again, with these friends...

yes, something to most def look forward to!

(smile!)

Now, I've just found out that NBC On Demand has "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical"

... and this is its last day available!

Off I go to enjoy it one more time!

zooming with axe

Happy Founding Day to my chemistry fraternity brothers, be they male or female!

(smile!)

On December 11, 1902, Alpha Chi Sigma was founded by a group of science nerds who knew strength lay in numbers.

(That's a little inside joke, y'all!)

Mitch Levings, our Grand Historian, gave us the scoop on why and how and what was done back then, as well as a few notable later moments.

John Becker presented "Digging Up The Founders", informing us of the locations of those long-deceased forebears.

Joseph Marshall responded that "the founders aren't dead, just failing to react" -

hahahaha! hahaha!

It was so good to see these folks - and more on the other three screens of attendees - and to actually know some of them.

Take Gary Anderson of the Order of Altotus.

I've known him, as well as Mitch, since the 1990 Conclave in Tallahassee, the first such that I had ever attended.

Hosted by Florida State University, Mitch had flubbed his moment by thanking "the University of Florida" for providing the locale - ouch!

Neither the Gamma Beta Seminoles nor the Beta Iota Gators ever let him forget it!

I had only been a member of the fraternity for two years at the time.

How nice to be reminded of that event!

Matt and Jen Schnippert are also Gamma Betans, but much newer than me; still, I've known them since the 2012 Conclave in west Georgia.

Others that I recognized were Scott Wilson, Calvin Bond, Timothy Deschaines, Sean Pawlowski, and Bob Stevens, primarily from the 2014 Conclave in Virginia.

I may not have liked those early mornings, but I certainly remember fondly the exhibit of four slabs of the Berlin Wall that were visiting that campus.

Why have I not been to a Conclave since then?

Timing, perhaps; money, perhaps; time, perhaps.

Maybe this summer that lack of chemistry brethren can be remedied.

(smile!)

holiday for the birds!

Aren't they absolutely adorable, all decked out in their brand-new holiday finery?

They more assuredly are!!!

That top hat on the one is super-fun, and certainly sporting the Christmas colors of red and green, and just look at that fluff of fringe on the crown!

Yes, indeed, that first niece of mine knows how much I love the fringe!

(smile!)

She made that hat and scarf, by the way.

She also made the pink and blue scarves flaunted sportingly by the other two birds, who, as it turns out, are sister and brother.

(smile!)

I think Christina crocheted the articles of clothing, but it may be knitting - I honestly cannot tell the difference between the two styles of handiwork.

I had mentioned to her last weekend that I might need to bring the flamingos into the house, as the nights were a bit too chilly for them to stay outdoors.

Then, today, among her other 'saving starfish' acts of kindness, she brought gifts for the four little flamingoes....

such a sweetie she is!

Here she is, hard at work posting a video for her students after lunch with me at one of our favorites places: Cici's Pizza!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

No, seriously, she was doing work and we were at the pizza place!

She really likes all the variety and I really like being with her, so it all works out quite beautifully!

Plus, I do so enjoy pizza and this is one of the few places that makes it just the way I like it - no mozzarella, please! - and still makes it taste fabulous.

How wonderful to share my favorite food with her!

Even more so, how decidedly wonderful to have her to myself for more than two hours!

Blessed am I!

a breath of normalcy

I wasn't sitting in the second row, as I have in years past, but I was still right there, at the Savannah Children's Theatre, for their annual production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

I had been seated about six rows back, in the middle of the row, with no one near me for at least two rows or six seats...

and we were all wearing our face coverings the entire time, as were the cast members on stage.

After all, the pandemic still rages all around us, twice as fiercely as it did during the summer's height. 

What great joy to have this little musical being performed as always at this time of year!

What a great blessing to have this night as one of those in the schedule!

What a wondrous coincidence to have been seated at a space for two...

not the one they knew was coming...

so I could feel Mama's presence there with me.

After all, today was her birthday.

She would have been 83.

After the play, which included, as it always does, the sing-along with Christmas carols afterward, I waited for most of the others to disperse.

There was no crowd of people in the lobby this year, waiting to greet the little stars and take them home.

However, the manager was giving out parting gifts: a jar of ingredients for hot cocoa, a tree ornament to decorate, a wrap bracelet with a holiday-style Snoopy, and a craft kit...

all the things that would have been part of the pre-show merriment during a normal year.

(smile!)
My many thanks, y'all, for helping make my season bright...

and for saving a space for my mom.

Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

not the elf you're looking for, on skates

How nice to be treated to a new musical - and on network tv, to boot!

Of course, that meant 'mercials after every musical number, so there was that.

Nonetheless, "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical" added a different cheerful note - yes, pun intended! - to this day spent wrapping gifts for my Alabama kin!

The story unfolded as a tale narrated by the Grinch's faithful mutt, Max, now an old dog.

It began fairly true to the original 1966 holiday classic, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", with the sight of the cheerful Whovians and remarking upon the green one's distaste toward the Whoville residents.

(Remember, this all unfolds inside a dandelion wish-puff first found by Horton.)

Soon enough we're seeing the Grinch done up in his Santa suit, huge horn attached to poor Max's head.

However, this time the reason isn't some abstract hatred of the Whos and Christmas, but due to a kindness gone awry.

Little Cindy Lou made a banner to make him feel included: "MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIEND".

Unfortunately, the wind had knocked loose the 'R' in that last word, so he read "MERRY CHRISTMAS FIEND" instead and took umbrage, setting out to ruin the season for those in the village.

And he is well on his way to doing so, too, replete with the classic "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" song running alongside during his exploits.
Then, Cindy Lou awakes as he is taking away the faulty tree "with a light out on one side".

She sings a sweet ballad of inclusion to the solitary creature, as Max cowers under the table, then she toddles back to bed and the wrong-doers finish their work and ride off to Mount Crumpet to...

well, to dump it...

hahahaha!

 

Only, just as in the book and the televised tale from my youth, the Grinch doesn't trash their stuff.

Just as before, he hears joyful singing on that Christmas morning, after a dawn that revealed the loss of the toys and decor and foodstuffs.

Why were they singing???

Max knew, of course!

No one needs stuff to make a celebration sweet - you just need the company of those you love!

Amen, little dog!

Now, what was it about elves - rather, creatures who weren't elfish - on roller skates?
Well, that was during this post-epiphany scene, after he'd returned all the stuff he'd taken and the grateful Whovians invited him to partake of their celebration!

I'm not sure what type of creatures the two in red were - I'd say Oompah Loompahs if their skin had been orange - but they are most def not elves.

Pretty sure about that!

(smile!)

and on the flip side of that single...

My church had sent out a request.

Would the congregation please share their nativity scenes, those small and large, for inclusion in a video montage for an upcoming service?

So, that's just what I did, sending in this photograph.

"Here's mine, Ray!
The Nativity scene was created last year by my nephew, Michael, with the help of his five-year-old twins, Leila and Alyssa.
It has the top spot on my entertainment center!"

 

(The white three-dimensional tree topped by the gold star was in a Christmas card a couple of years ago.)

 

When I checked my email a few moments ago, I already had a response!

 

"BEAUTIFUL and very meaningful!
Thank you for sharing!
Ray"

My thoughts exactly.

(smile!)