happy, happy! joy, joy!

Arlene Kopek
rcvd May 26 in the afternoon

Have a really happy birthday and a healthy and fun year!!
love from all the Kopeks and Davidsons!!

Balinda Morris-Dixon
1:42pm May 28

Happy birthday.
Enjoy your day.......
We are off to an old growth rainforest..


Ivan G Shreve Jr
May 29 at 12:44am
Happy birthday, Faustina!

Lorretta Ruggiero
May 29 at 12:59am
Happy Birthday! Gemini women rule!

Donna Howard
1:10am May 29
Happy birthday !

Lynn Lee
May 29 at 1:46am
Happy Birthday to the sweetest person I know!

Jeff Secrest
May 29 at 3:06am
Did I see that it was your birffday? If it is, happy birffday to ya! We will definitely need to celebrate when YOU make your triumphant return to the 'vannah!

Marilyn O'Mallon
May 29 at 3:50am
Happy birthday friend! 󾀼󾬔󾀼

MG Gabie
May 29 at 4:00am
Happy birthday

Sandra Voelker
May 29 at 5:35am
󾔗󾔗󾠔󾠔󾔑󾔑
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
󾔖󾔖󾔗󾔗󾔐󾔐

Scott Wilson
May 29 at 6:16am
Happy Birthday, Faustina!

Jackie Frant
May 29 at 6:25am
Happy Birthday! Enjoy!!!

Patrick Young
May 29 at 6:27am
Happy birthday, Faustina! :)

Brant Dixon
May 29 at 6:37am
Happy Birthday, Tina! Have a great day.

Heather Harris
May 29 at 6:48am
Happy Birthday Tina!!!!!

Lisa Leonty
May 29 at 7:02am
Happy Birthday Tina.

Cheryl Tech
May 29 at 7:13am
Happy birthday!

Christina Woods
May 29 at 7:36am

󾔑󾔗󾔐󾥷
Happy Birthday
Faustina Smith
󾥷󾔐󾔗󾔑



Marcus Patterson
May 29 at 7:38am
On this special day, i wish you all the very best, all the joy you can ever have and may you be blessed abundantly today, tomorrow and the days to come! May you have a fantastic birthday and many more to come... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Mary Ward-Smith
May 29 at 8:03am
Happy Birthday! Love you

Bunny Jones Roberts
May 29 at 8:09am
Happy Birthday my Outlaw Tina!

Hallie Henry Allgood
May 29 at 8:10am

Happy Birthday
from Louisiana!







Lee Haywood
May 29 at 8:09am
Happy birthday Tina! :) Hope you have a wonderful Friday and birthday weekend!

Eric G. Mitchell
May 29 at 8:14am
Happy Birthday!!

Sam Youmans
Sales at Johnson Wholesale Floors, Inc.
May 29 at 8:14am
Happy Birthday Tina

Sandra Cherise Karlin
May 29 at 8:16am
Happy Birthday, Tina!! Wishing you a wonderful fun-filled year!

Michelle Teplis
May 29 at 8:23am
Happy birthday! Hope you're doing well and have a great day! :)

Shawn Latta
May 29 at 8:24am
Happy birthday!

Tim Deschaines
May 29 at 8:33am
Happy birthday!

Justin P. Kent
May 29 at 8:45am
Happy Birthday!

Harold Cowan
May 29 at 8:45am
Happy birthday

JinHi Soucy Rand
May 29 at 8:52am
Happy happy birthday beautiful Tina! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Beverly Prouty
May 29 at 8:55am
Happy birthday! We leave tomorrow!

Shea Lee
May 29 at 8:56am
Happy Birthday :)

Michelle Davidson
May 29 at 8:57am
Happy , Happy Birthday Tina! Love you!!

Valerie Marie
May 29 at 8:59am
Happy Birthday Aunt Tina! Hope you have a fantastic day! Hugs!

Robbie Prouty Rush
May 29 at 9:03am

Cheryl Anderson
May 29 at 9:04 am

Happy birthday
from Armstrong
and the
Alumni Association!




Kristin Stout
May 29 at 9:04am
Happy happy birthday, lady!

Tracy Walden
May 29 at 9:07am
Happy Birthday, Tina! I hope it is fabulous!! :)

Deatre Nicole Boyles Denion
May 29 at 9:15am
Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day!

Bryan Pridgen
May 29 at 9:15am
Happy Birthday!!

John Mattingly
May 29 at 9:20am
Happy Birthday, Tina! Have a phantasmagorically wonderful day!

Emily Barry Blackmon
May 29 at 9:23am
Happiest of Birthdays to you! We love and miss you!!!!

Robin Ritenour Jenkins
May 29 at 9:28am
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TINA!!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC, AWESOME, WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!

Pat Andres
May 29 at 9:29am
I know you'll have a super day! It's all yours!

Sarah Logan-Reynolds
May 29 at 9:34am
Happy birthday!

Melinda McEwen
May 29 at 9:37am
Happy Birthday Tina Hope you have a great day. Love you girl

Mark Rand
May 29 at 9:37am
Happy Tinaday!!

Zakk Tyle De Long
May 29 at 9:35am










Helga Moore
May 29 at 9:36am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Dan Jaworski
May 29 at 9:49am
Happy birthday!

Sue Kosokowsky
May 29 at 9:51am

Hey Lady!
Hope you have a fun day.
Stay safe :)


Bill Cooper
May 29 at 9:54am
Have a Happy celebration, the best to you BC&MaC

Lynita Spivey
May 29 at 9:56am
Happy Birthday! Have a blast and spoil yourself!

William Peterson
May 29 at 10:12am

We are getting OLD.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Would you enjoy dinner at the Asylum before the game?

Eric De LaSalle
May 29 at 10:19am
Happy Birthday Faustina

Bryan & Jan Roussell
May 29 at 10:20am
Happy Birthday, Faustina!

Christine Stachurski Adams
May 29 at 10:20am
Best wishes for a very Happy Birthday

Toby Morey
May 29 at 10:25am
Happy Birthday, love Chewie! :)

Jerry Wiley
May 29 at 10:29am
Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday...DEAR TINA...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Have great day, celebrate and enjoy being here another year...

Kathy Mabry
May 29 at 10:29am
Happy birthday Tina. Hope it is great!

Stephanie Kopek
May 29 at 10:34am
Happy, Pappy Birthday!! Love you

Terrie Prouty Dansevicus
May 29 at 10:43am
Happy birthday!

Jim Casey
May 29 at 10:54am
Happy Birthday! Somehow I have a feeling you'll have a great time.

David A Lindsey Jr
May 29 at 10:55am
Happy birthday

Sammy B. Warren IV
May 29 at 11:01am
Happy birthday!

Susan Carlile
May 29 at 11:02am
Otanjyobi omedeto gozaimasu, dear Tina!!! 󾔑󾔐

Matthew Mcewen
May 29 at 11:05am
Happy Birthday Tina hope you have a great day.

Nate Brattebo
May 29 at 11:21am
Happy Birthday Faustina!!!! 󾦇󾔗󾔖󾔑󾔐

D Scott Kimball
Branch Manager AAA Alabama - Montgomery
29 May at 11:35am

Happy Birthday, my friend!






Penny Gilmer
May 29 at 11:47am
Happy Birthday!

Penny Walker Bos
May 29 at 11:49am
--- phone call!!! ---

John R. Johnson
Director of Housing and Residence Education at Gardner-Webb University
May 29 at 11:57pm
Happy Birthday Faustina!

Sherry Moore
May 29 at 11:58am
Happy happy birthday!! :)

Boone Blackmon
May 29 at 12:01pm
Happy birthday lady!

Steve Roberts
May 29 at 12:03pm
Happy birthday pretty lady!!

Scott West
May 29 at 12:09pm
Happy Happy Birthday ! have FUN today !! :)

C.J. Pinson
May 29 at 1:11pm
Happy birthday!

Rhonda Curby and Lori Faulk
May 29 at 1:16pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Kaisa White
May 29 at 1:46pm
Happy Birthday!!!

Deborah Ray
May 29 at 1:53pm
Have a Happy

Sabitra Brush
May 29 at 2:18pm
Happy Birthday Tina!!!! Hope it is fun!

Penny H Guenther
May 29 at 2:27pm
Ta Daaaaa!!! Happy Birthday time!!!

Gabe Reynolds
May 29 at 2:38pm
Happy Birthday!

Roy Wood
May 29 at 3:34pm
Coming faster now, sooner every year; don't get caught.

Joe Guy
May 29 at 3:46pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Kim Coughlin McIntyre
May 29 at 3:55pm
Happy birthday Faustina!!

Jeff Powless
May 29 at 3:59pm
Happy Birthday Tina! Have an Awesome day you awesome lady!

Lynn Engler
May 29 at 4:06pm
Happiest of birthdays! If you're coming to the Gnats game, I'll buy you a birthday dinner of chicken and fries!

Howard Family Dental
May 29 at 4:06pm

Happy Birthday Faustina!
We hope you have many reasons to smile today!
Have a great day!





Jeff McDermott
May 29 at 4:16pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Don Brickey
May 29 at 4:29pm
Happy Birthday Faustina!

Bonnie, Merritt, and Conner Smith
May 29 at 4:37pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Tony Smith
rcvd May 29 at 3:30 pm

How old are you?
WOW!
Tina, I really hope this birthday is a special one for you.
I love you so very much.
Have a fantastic birthday!

Melanie Wright
May 29 at 4:44pm

Happy birthday Tina!!!
Ur package will b there tomorrow.
;)

American Red Cross
May 29 at 4:50pm

It's your Birthday! Happy Birthday!
Blow out the candles, eat some cake and take some time to celebrate you!
After all, you are a blood donor.
You selflessly share your life with others, and that should be celebrated!
By donating blood, you have helped grant the wishes of patients in serious need – the wish to be healed, to feel better, or just have more time.
Celebrate your life and the life you've shared with others!
Happy Birthday from your friends at the American Red Cross.

Kathy Landers Schaal
May 29 at 4:52pm
Happy Birthday Aunt Tina! Have a great day!!

Bev Lockamy
May 29 at 5:35pm
--- phone call!!! ----

Ronnie Smith
May 29 at 6:12pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Harvey Smith, Jr.
May 29 at 6:18pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Joe Driggers
May 29 at 6:56pm
Happy Birthday!!!

Willie Smith, Jr.
May 29 at 7:38pm
--- phone call!!! ---

Linda Farris
May 29 at 7:47pm
Happy Birthday!!

Lisa Kramer
May 29 at 8:00pm
happy birthday girlfriend!

Anne Sherman
May 29 at 8:49pm

Joyeuse Anniversaire la belle Tina!
XX :)





Mindy Rubin
May 29 at 9:00pm
󾔗󾠔Happy Birthday, Faustina!! I hope it's been "out of the ballpark!"

Nancy Oliver
May 29 at 9:13pm
Happy birthday, gorgeous ♥ u!!

Kate Strickland
May 29 at 9:29pm
Happy birthday, Tina. I miss your smile.

Perry Foster
May 29 at 10:06pm
Happy Birthday!!

Christy Ward-Parker
May 29 at 10:07pm
Happy Birthday! We hope you have a GREAT DAY!

Fae Hill Kameron
May 29 at 10:16pm
Happy Birthday, Tina! Hope you have had a day filled with joy.

Sharon DuBose
May 29 at 10:48pm
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great birthday weekend!

Katie Sanders
May 29 at 11:03pm










Christopher Kopek
May 29 at 11:21pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Christopher Jean Soucy
May 29 at 11:59pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Lisa Wesley- Smith
May 30 at 1:10am
Happy Birthday!

Danielle Lynn
May 30 at 2:21am
Happy Birthday Tina!!

Suzanne Cole Wages
May 30 at 7:09am
Happy Birthday!

Ursel Guy
May 30 at 9:19am
Happy Birthday, Tina!

Tony Smith
rcvd May 30 in the afternoon

Just thinking of you on your birthday.
May this year rise up above your expectations and pass above your hopes for it.
Be safe.
Have fun.
God bless.



Hokie Davis
May 30 at 11:54pm
Happy belated birthday!

Beth Harn-Via
May 31 at 7:53am
󾔑󾔐󾔗󾔖Happy Birthday!!!
I hope your day was super awesome󾰀󾰀󾰀󾰀

hippo birdie two ewe!

Hooray for birthday pizza!
Hooray for the Sand Gnats having a game on my birthday!
Hooray for birthday dinner at the home of the painter from San Francisco!
Hooray for "happy birthday" sung by my blue-sky Penny!
Hooray!
The birthday greetings began very early this morning (late last night?) on facebook. I gave a quick look to see that they have continued to mount! Wow!
As my dear cousin reminded me, I am so very loved.
That's a happy way to start my day!

To be continued....
(smile!)

birthday eve!

Today was
no ordinary day!
It began at Sushi Hana,
in Pooler, with the Lunch Ladies: Jackie, Marcia, Betsy, and Gail.
I ordered the sashimi lunchbox combo
- isn't it lovely?
Let me say this, too:
this was the
BEST SASHIMI EVER.
Period.
The physicist most def has to come here!

After a most satisfying lunch, I bopped over to the Pooler Goodwill.
Just to look, you understand.
What did I find?
Glass slippers...
in my size...
oh, most wondrous!
I almost bought them, too, but one heel was missing its plastic foot.
Maybe I still will.
But not today.

Today, there were pizzas
- plural -
to buy.
I had been treated to a rousing game last night, with my boys emerging victorious, 7 to 2.
I had even found another ticket so my first niece's family could have a pizza, too!
"Green or black?", I had asked, after her request
for olives.
"Surprise me", she replied.
Most excellent!
She was following my lead!

Soon, it was time to meet Barbara and Sandy at Muse.
The matinee film promised old rock and roll music of Cambodia, drawing us in.
The first hour,
it was true to its word,
then it lapsed into
politics and war.
Aaaaccckkkk! as Bill the Cat
would say.

One bright point:
I had good raffle tickets!
Not only did I win this behind-the-scenes video
of one of my all-time
favorite albums,
I also had three other
winning tickets!
The goodies for those went to others in the audience.




Still, palate-cleansing, and dinner, was needed ASAP.
Off we scooted to a DIY "Greek" feast at the Crystal Beer Parlor, topping that off by sharing their Banana Eggroll.
Perfect!

birthday film festival at cinematique!

Goodness, I've been busy!
I just realized that I had not written of the film festival thrown for me by the little place I like in Daytona Beach. How remiss of me!
On this pre-birthday trip over Memorial Day weekend, I was so fortunate with my timing! I had purposely arrived in time on this past Thursday to catch the Science Cafe at Cinematique. In my many travels to the area, I had yet to catch the science-based film and discussion, but that all changed this time around!
The film was an older one, "400 Years of the Telescope", hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Very nice history lesson on scientific instrumentation for scanning the heavens, very nice indeed.
But the discussion after was fabulous! Dr. Jason Aufdenburg, a physics professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, was there to lead the Q&A session. He was so excited to be sharing his knowledge - it was contagious! He fielded all manner of questions, from those about the school's research telescope to the planetarium at MOAS to the latest happenings at NASA. Wow!!!
I stayed for the evening film, "Ride". Written, directed by, and starring Helen Hunt, I had looked forward to this tale of a woman connecting with her grown son. Although the story was good, I was distracted by her featureless face throughout most of the film. Was she botoxed?? Not until the end of the film was her appearance back to normal.
Late the next afternoon, I was back at Cinematique for "Adult Beginners". I had not heard of it, so it was completely new to me. Yeah! And I liked this story of a dot-commer who crashes and becomes a nanny for his sister. The swimming lessons? Well, you will have to see that for yourself.
(smile)
No more movies until Saturday, though. Had to go to that Daytona Tortugas game on Military Appreciation Night - free game for me!
On Saturday, though, I ended up at two movies there. I had planned on seeing "Iris", about quirky old lady Iris Apfel. Somehow, this sweet old thing has become a fashion darling! I think Mama and Grandmama would have enjoyed it, perhaps as much as "Dior and I", which I saw a few weeks ago. Fashion, clothes, accessories!
(smile)
The second movie of the day, and the fifth of this birthday film festival, was a jewel that belonged in the Psychotronic Film Society's crown. "Kung Fu Elliott" was a documentary about Elliott Scott of Canada, self-proclaimed master of the martial arts in that country. This was part of the "Late and Local" series at this cinema, a series which features movies that are a bit off-kilter. This movie definitely qualified!
I had not originally planned to take in that last one, but the bandshell concert got rained out. Good thing I had a Plan B!
What a fitting finish to a birthday trip to Daytona!

animation film festival, day 2

Upon my arrival, I was greeted enthusiastically by the four ushers there. Jeff & Nell, Judith, and Ann are all easy-going and we all like each other. That's really nice!
Judith told me that they would be showing "the other fifty films" tonight.
There were fifty last night???
Wow. That means I missed a few more than I had thought.
Tonight, I missed the titles of a few while I was making my little notes. That's okay, though. I caught the majority of them!
Here they are, too, in the order in which they were shown. I've added a few notes for those that moved me!


Pointy Pup
This was definitely inspired by the the works of the Reverend Howard Finster.

Mermaid's Tale
A blank wall dares to be a young girl's canvas, but will the guard allow her dream to take shape?

Unrealism in D Major
Nice use of a classical piece as shapes and colors swirl and dip and dive.

Raining
I recall liking this one, but I can't read my notes...

Vulpecula
A dog has an adventure.

Hellevator
This was a hoot! Rude businessman learns not to mess with granny!

Alfred The Great
A young magician gets a hand from a pro. Very nice!

Teleportation Turmoil
Mom's closet is magical!

Encore
A young girl learns how to make music from a pro. I very much liked the use of "Blackbird" as the theme.

The Forest
A girl is followed through the woods by darkness...

Super Claim
So very funny! An insurance agent tries to handle incoming calls during an attack by monsters and aliens!

Amantiago
A tale of two knights, in mostly back and white.

Wings of Change
A little girl captures, rescues, and befriends a pixie!

Sunder
Two wildebeasts are separated by a chasm. Nice film about loss.

Bear It
Another funny one! A man's growling stomach becomes a voracious bear. Its goal? His sandwich. Who cares what time the clock has? LOL!

Heavy Lies The Crown
Delightfully twisted tale of a haunted stage prop!

Tattered
A tree swing, a child, a parent. Instead of dust to dust, it's rags to rags. Very nicely done.

Goober'd
Nerd... in... space! (You have to say it like the Muppets' intro for "Pigs in Space"!)

Zodiac Run
What would you get if all of the animals of the Chinese horoscope had a race? This film!

Prosopon: A Face Toward A Face
A lost, disillusioned cop is restored by the kindness of an old granny.

Yom
A lost miner loses his last lamp... but fireflies come to his rescue.

Short Circuit
Nicely punned! A lonely light bulb befriends fireflies.

Beverly Day starring in "Dust The Two Of Us"
Wow! So beautifully crafted, in every way! A maiden tries to tame the dust bunnies before her man returns home.

The Golden Fish
A fable! A fisherman has a successful haul, but goes after that single golden fish... and loses all.

Rainfall
A frustrated painter finds the gentle rain corrects her works. The piece lists John 14:27 at the end. (John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".)

Poor Eugene
A guy goes for a walk in space... and gets creamed by a spacecar! Funny! Also, it was only about 30 seconds long.

In Case Of Emergency
A little one tries everything to rouse his mom!

Tincture
A cog in the machine jumps the track.

Storm Watch
The nearly-daily diary of two cats as they wait for the weather to change.

The Heist
A boy and his sock monkey go after the ice cream, while this kicky music underscores their actions! I liked it!

Recursion
A lone policeman keeps bouncing back to his childhood...

Kiska
Mostly black and white, this follows the antics of a dog with a red ball.

Starving Artist
This was also black and white. Was it a class assignment??

The Grind
This one accentuates the need to get out of the daily rut and do something different - even if it's just a trip to the park.

TLC
A cold butterfly gets a knitted scarf!

The Alligator, The Monkey, and The Bat
Oh, cool! Another fable, though this one seemed post-apocalyptic. Work together, that's the key!

Hooked
"Different" doesn't mean "bad". Nice balloons!

No - A
A metal warrior comes to the aid of a sleeping lass. Very nicely done!

Zeus
Here's another black and white with a dog.

Lights Out
Surely this was inspired by "Home Alone"! A young boy and a dark, noisy basement - go!

Hive Jive
Woohoo! There's a new queen in town and she has her own dance! Cute!

Plank
Here's one my brothers would have liked! The joy of installing a wood floor, when you "think" you know what you're doing. Funny!

Rot n Roll
Troublesome kids try to rob a grave... but the zombies come after them! LOL!

I'm Sorry
Oh. So very sad. A depressed astronaut tries to commit suicide.

Poop Deck
Very funny! Swab that deck, matey! But the birds, sir, the birds!

Idle
A conversation between a businessman in a rut and the kid working in the coffee shop.

Honestly, I would have ended with "Poop Deck"! Leave the audience wanting more!
But, I certainly had a good time!

animation film festival, day 1

Amazingly, it was free, too!
Every year, around this time, the graduating class of SCAD get to see their works up on the silver screen. This time, I found out in time to plan on attending!
Tonight, I worked the event, as an usher for the Lucas Theatre.
Tomorrow night, I will attend simply as a patron or the arts!
So, tonight, I missed the first few films. I was still in the lobby, counting late arrivals (to make sure we didn't exceed the theatre's capacity of almost 1200).
I was only late by ten minutes. However, when the longest films are just four minutes of time, it's easy to miss three or four in that ten minutes.
Over the next two hours, I watched forty mini-movies.
Forty!
There were romances and horror tales and sweet stories of loss. Comedies, cautionary tales, classic battles of good versus evil.
Woohoo!
"Boots and Brewster", the 'burn aware pair', were featured not once, not twice, but in four different little vignettes! Each were cautionary tales for kids. "Don't play with fires." "How to fill a bath tub with the right temperature water." Those two stayed with me!
"About Dragons" had massive beasts jockeying for position in the same craggy terrain. "Oasis" showed that sharing water can create your own little piece of paradise. "Reach" featured a tree in the desert, also. Very nice use of blowing sand imagery in all three!
"The Neighborly Crocodile", about the clumsy Niles, showed how Pearl the girl helped him be more useful. "Inky Fingers" was very similar, but with a messy little fairy and a patient Einstein-ish artist.
"Trash Cat" was definitely different from those two. The feline was completely unremorseful of his actions, frustrating his owner by deliberately tipping over the waste bin in her room. Then, to complicate matters, he got into her computer and tipped over the Recycle Bin - strewing all its contents all over her screen! LOL!
"Unbound" had a grieving widower finding his beloved in the clouds. I can totally relate to that.
"Melonhead Hunting" was an urban myth horror tale of teens in the woods. "The Boy and the Witch started out creepy, but became a tale of love - nice!
"Optical Obstructions" showed a cheap glasses shop what happens when you cheat the wrong old lady. LOL! "Kids in Cars" demonstrated the folly of leaving the keys in the vehicles, allowing children to, literally, run amok at the store!
And for an excellent twist in the fairy tale genre, "Stained" has a princess trapped in a mirror by her actions. Hah!
I didn't really care for "Stoked Steves", but the audience liked it. A surfer and an animate wave, both named Steve. I missed the point.
But I very much liked "Tracks", "Kindred", and "Where Flowers Once Bloomed". The first followed a young girl through the years, via trips on the train. The second was a sweet medieval tale of a young girl trying to get her dad's attention by trying to obtain his sword.
And the last one? Ah, yes. An old widow tires of life alone and leaves home to catch the train to ... somewhere else. I like that it wasn't specified where she was going.
"Hope" is a graphic novel heroine who attains her freedom from evil. "Prometheon" is a cartoon character which attains its freedom while the artist sleeps, unaware. "Overture to Libertad" is the anthem of a boy fighting for freedom. See the theme?
"West Lake Dream" was an anime tale of a little girl and a goldfish. Nice and dreamy!
Where are the aliens? Right there in "Far Out"! Initially planning to attack Earth, an errant piece of space litter has them steer for Burger Town, home of the addictive hamburgers. Junk food conquers all! LOL!
The one which was most pleasing, though, was "Life on Pause"! Using subtitles of "Loss", "Anger", "Bargaining", it reads like a tale of grief. Then the girl returns home, much to the joy of the waiting dog!!! "Life on Paws" - hahaha haha!!!
On Tuesday night, I will be present from the very start, this time with pen and paper in hand. Notes are helpful, especially with so much sensory overload and such a diverse program!
Woohoo!

almost heaven, west virginia

On my trip back to Savannah, I was stopping every hour.
I just felt tired, though I think I was just not ready to go home and be faced with any more "Ronnie drama".
So, I had stopped at the rest area north of Daytona, but still in Florida.
Then, only an hour or so later, I had stopped at the Georgia Welcome Center.
While there, I had a nice conversation with a couple from New Jersey. About what? Gardening, of all things.
At the very next exit, Exit 3, I was off again.
Just back on the road and already stopping again.
Time to put some gas in the car, I told myself.
And so I did.
Then, as I was about to leave for the highway, I saw it.
It was right beside the gas station.

A Dunkin Donuts shop.
I immediately swerved in and parked.
With my $5, 4-year-old, gift card in hand,
I strode in.
This was the day!
I took my tuna salad croissant
and iced coffee with almond milk
out to the patio and enjoyed the sun,
watching the clouds.
All done, and feeling refreshed,
back on the road I went.
No sooner did I merge onto I-95 N than a brown pick-up truck lurched across two lanes of traffic, right in front of me, to catch Exit 6.
On its tailgate, it bore only two letters, in the classic outlined style.

hahaha!
"Very funny! I get it!" I said aloud to the sky.
And justthatfast, in my head rang a chorus of voices.
"You are still loved."
That's all they said.
And I was in tears for the next forty-five miles.

You see, the gift card was an inside joke, of sorts.
The woman in charge of the Science Bowl at Armstrong is, quite proudly, from West Virginia, mentioned in John Denver's song.
She had given me (and others) the gift card in thanks for helping with the Science Bowl back in... 2011? 2012?
Dunkin Donuts was not a place I frequented, so I put the card away. Every so often, I'd pull it out and look up the site on the internet. Only one store was still open around here, but not on my paths of travel.
One time, I even headed out there, but it was closed.
I had placed the card in my car, to have it handy on the road.
I had even almost used it down in Florida, but I had zoomed on past the exit, on my way to the Science Cafe and Daytona.
Then, just yesterday, I had caught my eye in the mirror. "Once upon a time," I thought to myself, "I knew I was loved. I knew Mama always loved me, no matter what. Now, I don't have that anymore."
It wasn't a pity party thought. No, just a matter-of-fact assessment.
Then a series of fortunate coincidences combined to tell me I was mistaken.

It was incredible good fortune that a Dunkin Donuts had been right beside the Shell gas station.
It was incredible good fortune that I had been delayed at the Welcome Center by the gardeners.
It was incredible good fortune that I had left at just the right time to be in just the right place to see the message-bearing truck as it took Exit 6.
Incredible good fortune.

i thank You, God!

net catch? low country birthday!

Another beautiful,
blue sky day
in Daytona!
I had risen late,
as usual on this
birthday vacation.
Definitely needed
to let my body
and spirit heal!

It's Memorial Day
weekend!
The flags lining
the bridge on 92
which runs from
Beach Street
to the east
fluttered
in the breeze!

I had viewed film 4
of my personal
birthday film fest.
Time for some
chocolate!
Angell & Phelps
Chocolate Factory!
Potato chips being
enrobed in sweetness!

Candace, the tour guide,
even had the group
sing "Happy Birthday" to me!
Well, me and Mark and Derek,
the other birthday celebrants.
Then I bought these treats
for the first niece,
her man, and the boy-child.
(smile)

Back to the condo
at Daytona Beach Regency
to put the chocolate
into the cool!
The rest and relaxation
regimen looks like
it's working,
doesn't it?
(smile)

Time for my free birthday dinner
at Bubba Gump's,
courtesy of Landry's. Yeah!
This year, it was the
watermelon lemonade,
a crisp salad,
and this Net Catch Entree!
Low country boil,
by any other name!

I had timed my meal
just right!
The Boss Project
was warming up for the
evening concert at the
Daytona Bandshell.
"Thunder Road" and "Glory Days"
regaled me as a bonus
and a pre-show teaser.

Here's one of my
classic shots
of the empty stage.
Sadly, the concert
I had so looked forward to
was rained out.
Like, seriously.

But not before the opening
memorial festivities
had run their course!
The local VFW had sent their
Color Guard for the
national anthem and their
Honor Guard for the
firearms 12-gun salute.

There was even a four-plane flyby!
Coming from due east,
right over the ocean,
one veered off as the
other three vroomed over
the heart of Daytona.
Very nice!!!
But they were followed by
a fast-moving storm.
Yikes!
The band led off with "Born In The USA", one of the most unpatriotic songs ever.
(Does no one else listen to the lyrics??? I blame Ronald Reagan for the mistaken championship of this song at military events.)
Then, as the rain drops became cold streams of wind-lashed water, the band played on!
"Cadillac Ranch" rang out as the crowd rushed for cover!
That was it for the concert.
I did meet an interesting older woman, as we both huddled under the eaves, trying to avoid the rain and the cold wind. She and I had better than thirty minutes to talk about music. So, that was a good thing.
When the storm finally passed, I came back only to change clothes. Now, I'm off to my 5th, and final, film this weekend.
Later!

free baseball, tortuga style!

Last year, I saw the fireworks from the Daytona Cubs game.

This year,
I had free entry
to the Daytona Tortugas game!
Woohoo!
The new ballclub was celebrating
Military Appreciation Night
on this glorious day
and I was right there
at Jackie Robinson Ballpark!

In honor of the new mascot,
I had the Sheldon Dog.
Sheldon the Tortuga...
get it?
(smile)
I also had a Summer Shandy,
the closest thing
to a lemonade I could get.
Pretty smooth, too!

Such an exciting game!
As good fortune would have it,
I sat right in the midst of
some serious fans of both
baseball and the team.
Hooray!
I even joined in with my chants,
being careful to say "Tugas"
instead of "Gnats"!

I managed to catch
this shot just by looking up
at the right time.
What a nice composition!
All I had to do was
point and click.
Right place, right time.
(smile)

By the way,
here's Sheldon!
He was a most enthusiastic
and friendly fellow,
much like my beloved
Gnate T. Gnat.
He clearly loved his work!
He was there to rouse
the crowd to the very end!

And here we are,
at the end of the game!
It took three innings of
free baseball
(that's a total of 12 innings,
to the baseball novice),
but the Tortugas won out
over the Hammerheads!
Go, 'Tugas!!!

Nothing like a winning
game of baseball,
out in the night air,
to make a girl
feel nice and relaxed
at day's end.
Oh, yeah!

and i'm off!

But we already knew that, right?
(smile!)
No, I mean physically outta Dodge.
Or Savannah, in my case.
Lost yet?
(smile!)
Not me!
I'm in Florida!

Here's the proof.
That tiny sign
on the right
represents the
crossing from
Georgia
southward into
Florida.

What a nice
coincidence
that reaching
that border
occurred at the
same time
that my odometer
hit the noteworthy
mileage of 163425!

This odometer
reading
is simply a
variation
on that theme.
But still cool!
163452 it is!
By that time,
the traffic required
much more of
my attention.

Now, I have arrived!
Daytona Beach,
my home away
from home!
I'm also in plenty of time
to have checked in,
unpacked, and cooled off.
Now, out I go for Science Cafe
and my first film of
this birthday weekend!
Later, y'all!