love for her 34th

Tonight, for a special psychotronic treat, PFS gave us a beauty from 1963: Audrey Hepburn!

That year was her 34th birthday and the crew made sure she knew that they knew who she was - what fabulous love!

And just how had they accomplished that feat?

They had sprinkled the movie with references to several of her movies, plus threw in a written reference to her birth date on a receipt from the police for a gym bag full of items.

This scene right here, for instance, with her watching a "Punch And Judy" puppet show, can also be seen in her next movie "Paris When It Sizzles". (That film was actually shot prior to this one, but not released until later, one of those industry oddities.)

Later, there's a nun that shows up apropos of no particular thing - except a reference to "The Nun's Story", from a few years earlier!

Then there was the flock of birds on the plaza suddenly taking off, not once but twice, to make sure the link to "Roman Holiday" wasn't missed!

Cary Grant was only too happy to play along with the birthday cues!

During one conversation he speaks of "on the street where you live", a direct reference to her role in "My Fair Lady", a movie not yet out, but in the pipeline.

Then, near the end of the movie, when his true identity is revealed, he suddenly breaks out into a "Funny Face" - hahaha! 

The script for "Charade" had been mostly written by Peter Stone, who had worked with Audrey several times and had no doubt greatly enjoyed himself.

How nice to pepper the show so sweetly for her!

Yes, I think I'll watch this one again and again!

(smile!)

sbhf32: week 2

Welcome back to the SBHF32! Let's begin with 8 February, shall we?

"Fine Art Exhibition: Textiles" featured works in various media by Sonja Robinson, including this piece, titled "Tapestry", which she and her daughter made together while watching tv.

So many reasons I love this piece, not the least of which is it reminds me of a soft sculpture made by Axelle Kieffer several years ago, using articles of clothing from friends... and this piece reminds me of one of my favorite - and my first - Carole King albums!

The annual W.W. Law lecture via Telfair Zoom was on a drizzly Wednesday, so I was glad to not be out in the cold this year.

George E. Shinhoster, upper right, provided the Civil Rights talk, focused on his part as a child as one of seven students attending the newly-desegregated classes of Groves High School in 1963.

I certainly understand how scary that was; I went through the same issues at Myers Middle School in 1971 when busing tried to accomplish more integration. Every day brought new threats from groups of trespassing black high school students, with me getting kicked and beat to the ground one day. That terrifying experience kept me out of school for a week.

What a nice touch that a sign-language interpreter was part of the presentation that night! Even though the talk was aimed at a younger audience with no prior experience of such events, I'm sure the Civil Rights lecture had older listeners, too.

Valentine's Day brought the return of Lillian, this time at the Penn Center, with "Forged By Fire: The Strength And Resilience Of Our People".

As well as having beats from the drummer, she accompanied her stories with the chain-draped rattle there on the floor. She was especially active with that instrument while telling the tale of Brother Rabbit and the Tiger, who was selfishly guarding a pear tree from the other animals -

like an Aesop's Fable! That's at timestamp 22:00.

I very much enjoyed the interludes with the songstress, of course.

The in-the-round version of "Motherless Child" performed by the two women was fabulous and so beautifully done - brava!

"Wade In The Water" was very good, too, with its message for escaping slaves, much like the scene depicted in the movie "Harriet".

Monday brought "Visual Art Exhibition", with more story telling, like Nicholas Seward's tale of his mom dragging him around to galleries and museums... and his love of photography which ensued from that experience.

My favorite piece of art was from a student, Olivia Johnson, who had fashioned a dress from strips of the letters between her and her imprisoned father.

The gown, which looks quite wearable, represents the type of person her father wants her to be, not the person she actually is.

I was very touched by the piece, and by the misunderstandings it embodies, especially those between a parent and a grown child, with the parent trapped by past behaviors and beliefs and unwilling to listen and move forward into the present.

Why is this piece included?

Well, there was a photo of an art exhibit in the atrium of the Jepson, one I'm sure I attended, where an artist - Paul E. Walker - gifted me with this rocking chair crafted from laundry clothes pins.

I have a rocking chair from Panama - and I have frequently written of washing clothes - so this little craft is quite appropriate for me; how did the artist know?

Back to the SBHF32, with its showcase "Annual Future of Jazz Concert and Tribute to Ben Tucker"!

I have attended this event for so many years that I have lost count; at least, with the pandemic, I can enjoy it multiple times, virtually!

This time, there were five men and two women in the group - and that isn't including the singer, Gigi Jordan!

I'm talking about the drummer, Janae Yates, and the bassist, Mamie-Lou Anderton, with her Cindy Lou Who, curlique, hair-do!

The guitarist in the photo is Tad Adams, who was certainly the most stylish with his gold paisley tie and colorful face covering - very nice!

Another young man who caught my eye was Justin Mendez, on the alto sax, who insisted on playing with his mask on - wow!

The other two in the brass section - Langston Oliver on trumpet, Robert Mitchell on trombone - took their masks down when playing.

The man tickling those ivories for the group was Randy Reynoso, a quite talented fellow, and there was a guest bassist, Delbert Felix, for one tune.

And just what songs were played?

I wish I knew!

The downside of a virtual concert is the lack of a written program for the event.

Maybe I'll be able to figure some of them out... off to listen again!

first mowing of 2021

Alrighty then, let's make it official: my front yard has now been mowed...

and it's only the middle of February.

Actually, in this photograph, which I happened to remember to take after getting the side with the Japanese magnolia in it all done...

while said tree is in full-tilt boogie bloom, as it has been for at least a week...

it is still quite clear that the yard had been overgrown with a type of vegetation which can best be described as soft, green, tumbleweeds, giving it a most untidy appearance.

Now, all of that is done away with and the front, at least, looks better.

I had to stop several times during the process, as I am clearly out of shape.

More dancing, less sitting, is needed.

 

I sure do miss volunteering at the Lucas Theatre.

how i spent valentine's weekend

"I thought you said this was for the weekend events. I happen to know this was taken at the American Red Cross on Thursday, when you gave blood. Thursday is not part of the weekend."

You are correct, mon cheri, about the donation of a piece of my heart to others, as well as the week day.

However, as I am retired, I can have 'weekends' whenever I choose and this one ran from the 11th through the 15th. If others can have an extended Valentine's weekend because of the President's Day addition, so can I!

"Fine, fine, have it your way. So what have we here? A nice steak dinner to celebrate?"

You betcha, and a fine piece of pecan pie, too! Carey Hilliard's gave me such a huge hamburger steak that I took home more than half, then bought Food Lion Stroganoff Helper for another meal from it and the grilled onion. So very good, and enough of it to freeze half for another night!

"You go, g'friend! That will be good to heat up on a cold night sometime soon."

Yep, February isn't over yet. Fortunately, Jim Reed is still doing the PFS movies, so I had Oliver Reed in this 1967 film, "The Trap" for free entertainment. To my surprise, it turned out to be a variation on "Beauty And The Beast"! You know how much I love that story!

"I do, especially the musical version which came out in 2017."

Funny you should mention that - I watched it via TBS On Demand the next morning! A woman forced to stay with a coarse, but gentlemanly, guy, learning to love him after he rescues her, him learning to love her, her leaving and returning to her family and town, but then realizing she wants to be with La Bete and returning to his waiting arms. Lovely story!

"Sounds like it was! So Thursday was a winner and Friday seems to have begun nicely, too."

So it did, with Carolyn joining me for a movie for three days in a row! Friday, we saw the new historical movie, "Judas And The Black Messiah", about events she actually lived through. On Saturday, we went to another historical film, "Hidden Figures", much more enjoyable, but also set in the early 1960's. I really liked seeing Kevin Costner again!

"LOL! You keep picturing yourself dancing with him, don't you, dearie? I know you do!"

Hey, that was such a good time!!! Thanks for reminding me of it! This Hawaiian chicken from Cajun Cafe reminded me of the Aloha Festival in Las Vegas, back in 2013 - yummy! Carolyn and I ate there at Savannah Mall during the two-hour, very rainy, break in our double header. The first film was "Land", the new one about a woman going through grief, and the second movie was a Fathom event, both at the old Wynnsong, with Hunter looking out for us.

This weekend, Fathom treated us to the 35th Anniversary of "Pretty In Pink", which I mostly love for Annie Potts' ditzy role and for Jon Cryer's delightful Duckie, the guy who would always be there in a pinch, without even needing to be asked. I'm not sure, but this movie may be part of the reason I love "Two And A Half Men" so much, as glimmers of Duckie shine through every so often there. 

"Well, that all sounds positively wonderful! How very nice to have had company at the cinemas!"

Oh, it certainly was! But the universe had a treat up its sleeve just for me! See that fellow in the denim outfit, with the sweet tush and broad shoulders and lush hair? That's my man, Scott Bakula, in a 1995 episode of "Murphy Brown" that takes place in a bowling alley! That meant a lot of bending over! LOL!

"Ooh la la! Is that him stretched out on a lane?"

Hahahaha! No, that was from "Split", a movie I watched on Streampix on Saturday night when I got home. That channel was free, so I tried to take advantage of it while I could, to see some movies that were new to me. This movie was out in 2016, but I'd never heard of it. Fun!

"Hey! This is Christina Ann! What's up with this photo?"

We were having a rare luncheon, just me and her, at Olive Garden! The holiday Monday gave her a chance to come to town and so she did! She's a Paparazzi jewelry big shot now!

"How wonderful that y'all had a girls' day out! And I'm glad to hear she'll have more jewelry to flash about. She's a gypsy, just like Mama!"

"And what have we here?! I know those red and white boxes - paczki!!!"

Yes, I picked those up, one with custard, the other with apple, both the last two boxes Publix had. I gave all of them to Mister Willie, too, as I do at near Mardi Gras each year. To my surprise, Gloria let me in and we all had a visit together for the first time in over a year! What a delicious treat for all of us!

"I heard that! Good thing that you had your face on instead of one of your other masks!"

It really was! And I had such compliments all day from it, too, starting with one of the waiters at the restaurant, then from the cashier at the grocery store. Willie and his sweetheart really liked it, too, as I wore it the whole time I was visiting them. That was about forty minutes!

"How marvelous!!!"

Yes, and my Monday was not yet done! Christina and I watched back-to-back episodes of "The Wall" 'together'! I don't know why there were two of them, but that was good fun for us! They both ended well, too - what a sweet bonus! We like the happy endings, just like in fairy tales. Oh, I just realized something: "Quantum Leap" usually ends well, too! Maybe that's another reason I like it so! Marvelous! (smile!)

going to kansas city, kansas city here i come!

Oh, yeah - grilled burger on grilled bread, pasta salad, grilled pork lettuce wrap, chips galore, buffalo chicken dip, nacho cheese, and even chocolate-iced cake for dessert!

There was most def a party goin' on down in Hinesville and I made sure to be there!

Moreover, it was a Super Bowl LV party...

and I know how to celebrate things that are 55!

Plus, I know the true success of a party is not the number of people having fun, but how much fun the people are having...

and our party of five was loving life and loving being together!

Pre-game wasn't spent wondering how the game would go between the Chiefs and the Buccaneers - 

not hardly!

I was reading about Peppa the Pig and Disney Babies to Littlest Girl and Miss Chlo!

Football could wait for game time!

And so it did, too, with us bigger kids being reminded of the Falcons and Patriots a few years back - although Kansas City didn't get trounced like Atlanta had.

That game had been something different, delighting - and destroying - gamblers everywhere.

Best of all, I stayed the night, getting treated to grilled pork and fresh fruit the next morning - and an episode of "The Closer", too!

Everyone was off at work or daycare, so I returned home at a leisurely pace, thinking about the next Kansas City item on my agenda.

Yep, that's right, that place was the home of the KC Crew and they generously hosted a free bingo game this evening!

This electronic card for Game 5 was "gray, like my hair", I chatted to the callers, Ellen and Presley, both very upbeat young women.

I also told them I had "5 numbers, all scattershot!"

Ellen even quoted that funny comment aloud!

This green card, from Game 3, gave me the most matches to the numbers called and was my best card.

I was even able to post a joyous "uno!" to let folks know I only needed one more number, just one!

I didn't win, but I did have fun, so I'll be back on the second Monday of next month for seven more of these fast-paced games!

Honestly, Bunker Bingo has been the most fun ZOOM event that I've ever attended!

I'm so glad I noticed it in the VA News email a few days ago!

I'll be sure to read those more closely!

(smile!)

sbhf32: the first week

February 1 marked the 72nd National Freedom Day Observance, celebrating the signing of the 13th Amendment.

Part of that takes place in Philadelphia, at the Liberty Bell, which means it isn't truly part of the SBHF32, but it was included in its website schedule, with the subtitle "From Captivated To Captivating", so I attended.

The portion filmed locally included the keynote address from Richard R. Wright IV, a historian and professor at Savannah State University.

That talk was clearly intended for the ears of students, but he was easy to listen to, so I stayed.

The theme of the Savannah Black Heritage Festival is "Reflect. Reform. Rejoice." and his lesson was meant for reflection of what has passed.

The first actual event of this 32nd year was Friday, with Nikki Conley.

She led "Burn Baby, Burn, Part 1: Low Impact Fitness for Youths and Adults", which turned out to be truth in advertising!

I even participated in the 30-minute session and have it marked for return visits!

Plus, I like her art!

However, the festival truly began yesterday, with the Opening Libation at The African American Monument, at which Master Story Teller Lillian Grant-Baptiste dropped names and dropped liquid, much as I do on New Year's Eve.

Her talk was titled, aptly enough for such reflection, "Lest We Forget: A Call To Remembrance".

That was followed within the hour by "The Laying of Memorial Wreaths" segment, featuring several monuments around town.

My favorite part of that was the reading of the inscriptions by teenagers, most of whom were members of Top Teens of America.

What a fabulous way to get children involved with this festival!

A workshop with the Sons of Mystro is good, too, especially when it's followed up by an evening concert!

I love watching these two brothers wail away on their violins - yes, violins! - on everything from Top 40 to reggae to classical; fearless, they will bend a bow to any genre! 

Plus, Umoja McNeish, the bearded one on the left, is an absolute joy to watch, obviously loving the music and playing it with brother Malcolm!

I was introduced to the violin virtuoso duo several years ago at an earlier SBHF. The pair played at the Fine Arts Auditorium at the Armstrong State University campus and I was quite pleasantly surprised at their musical range! I just wish there had been a place for dancing, as I know they would have loved to have folks out of their seats - and I would have loved that, too!

Clearly, they were part of the "REJOICE" portion of the festival!

Amen to that!

Tonight brought more music in the form of "A Virtual Gospel Concert", featuring Demetrius West and the Jesus Promoters.

They made use of three locations for their songs, performing two tunes - "Open The Floodgates" and "Heal Our Land" - in a recording studio.

Good thing this was scheduled on a Sunday, 'cause I definitely feel like I've been to church!

google spam

I wish it was some tasty treat, like the musubi I had in Las Vegas, but local.

Sadly, it is exactly like what it sounds like: spam emails from people at Google with gmail accounts.

I have been receiving these since the start of the year, but lately they've been piling up.

They're all unopened, naturally.

As they are not from anyone I know, then these are junk mail.

At least if they had arrived by regular mail I would have the option to recycle the paper; however, these are just bits and bytes in the ether.

I wonder when Google will catch on and stop them?