Posted in Family, Humor

Oh Baby!

So a while back, grandson Daniel (young Savannah actor/singer—and now high school senior) played one of his most serious and evil roles so far. (And he’s been in over three dozen plays, since he started acting as a little kid.)

For this play, Daniel did not get a leading role. He was a supporting actor, the dastardly Mayor Josiah Dobbs, in Steve Martin’s very serious musical Bright Star.

Here he is (far left) in a light moment during rehearsals with his three best buddies, all in the play.

But Daniel’s character was anything but light. When the mayor’s son got a girl pregnant, Mayor Dobbs intervened and stole the baby from the mother’s arms. (More about THAT hideous heist in a minute.)

Robert and I went to opening night, and the play was VERY well done, especially for a high school performance.


Here’s D with Mom and Nana, after the play.

The second night, too, went swimmingly.

But the closing matinee, well, was quite a different story.

Let me have Daniel explain. The short video below is actually part of D’s prescreens/prep for musical theatre college applications. For a portion called “the wildcard,” Daniel took a risk and decided to explain about what went wrong with the closing performance of Bright Star.

Yes, at least Daniel got to keep the head as a bizarre “souvenir”!

“A Man’s Gotta Do’ was the solo Daniel/Mayor Dobbs sang as he ripped the poor baby from mama.

Next up, Daniel is Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love here in Savannah.

P.S. Here’s the feedback Daniel got about his “wildcard” from the folks he’s working with in New York:

Posted in Family, Humor

“Yolking It”

So here’s a little shot of a corner of our kitchen. Our trio basket of perishables. Some of our cook books. A few spices.

But wait, before you move on, take a moment to look back up in the upper left hand corner of the photo.

See them? Two little chicken heads.

When both of them transitioned to our home via Amazon, I had no idea what they were.

But Robert had … adopted them.

I endured their relentless clucking for several days until I finally confronted HR and asked him, “Why? What?”

Unfazed by my frustrated confusion, he simply directed me to look at their mouths

“Oh … kay…” I answered, still not understanding.

“Neal, you crack an egg into the crown of the cute little dish. Then you tilt it forward and only the egg white pours out of the mouth!!!

He explained this with absolute thrill.

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

“But I just crack the egg and pour out the white carefully, “I replied.

Robert just stared back.

Posted in Family

Today Was/Is

So today was/is HR’s (Husband Robert’s) dad’s birthday. He would have been 77 today. Here we all are down at Fernandina Beach, FL a few years ago.

And here’s Robert and his dad … more than a few years ago.

Incredible smiles

Rest in Peace, Robert John Smith, Sr.

Posted in Family

Bye, Bye, Boopers

Over the weekend, we noticed Robert’s older cat Boopers was having difficulty breathing.

And Sunday, Christmas Day, he was worse.

So Monday morn, HR dropped Boopers off at the vet. We went for breakfast and then got the call that Boopers was probably not going to make it much longer. Robert was shocked. We headed quickly back to the vet, only to be told the moment we walked in that Boopers was crashing. And then, that he had passed away.

Robert got to hold his beloved kitty one final time.

A few Boopers pics from the past.

With brother Benny …

Posted in Family, Holiday Joy

Leftovers

Robert and I have been enjoying (well, mostly) leftovers from our Thanksgiving family gathering. He likes the turkey heated up, while I prefer it cold (#152 on our list of differences).

The green bean casserole and sweet potato pie may be reduced to near crumbs in our fridge, but not the memories of the fun and laughter from Thanksgiving Day.

Here are a few leftover smiles and laughs.

HR and several grandchildren.

Grandson Daniel finding something hilariously, funny, as he poses with his family.

Adam’s patents joined us.

Ex-wife/Best Friend Donna and our TEN grandchildren!

Daughter Emily’s three beautiful girls.
Daughter Amy also finding something hilariously funny. (Like mother, like son.)

A smiling selfie with HR …

… and his festive holiday pins.

Leftovers can be deliciously fulfilling.