Fun – NealEnJoy

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Neal Saye

A Category about What the Cat and I Are Reading

Benny and I just finished Only Murders in the Abbey, the REALLY funny and oh-so-creative spoof of English murder mysteries.

Benny resting, after we finished the last oh-my-goodness-that’s-who-did-it! chapter.

At Scotland’s Loch Down Abbey (which of course has been locked down), a guest is murdered in a locked library during a ball, and the resourceful housekeeper, Mrs. MacBain, must uncover the killer among the guests.

And she does! But not before giving the reader many an out-loud laugh and agonizingly fun brain twist.

I don’t know about you, but every now and then, I simply need an escape read, a book that makes no claim to literary excellence. Just pure reading fun.

When I finished the novel (which I had found in one of the many Free Little Libraries around Savannah), I realized it is actually the sequel to Loch Down Abbey, which I of course must now read.

T-shirt Tuesday

T-Shirt Tuesday: “Abu and Rbu”

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Neal Saye

I’ve mentioned these t-shirts before, but I’ve almost worn mine out, so I thought I’d keep it alive a bit longer with some remembrance.

When my first grandson Daniel arrived some nineteen years ago now …

… I didn’t want to be called “Grandpa” (so OLD sounding!), “Papaw” (that was my father), etc., etc. My son-in-law (Cuban) solved the dilemma for me: “Let your grandkids call you ‘Abu”. Most folks won’t know what it means.”

Abuelo is the affectionate Spanish nickname for Grandpa.

When he was older and talking, Daniel decided that Robert should have a nickname as well, thus Rbu!

The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #29

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations

Leaving my yearly urological check-up recently (TMI?), I sat down by their little fountain pool (which was not working) …

I attempted to meditate a bit while waiting on an Uber.

But then I heard them and saw them …

Young white men dallying and splashing around in the cold February pool.

The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #28

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Neal Saye

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations

So recently Robert and I were enjoying our breakfast at the Huddle House over in Springfield GA. I chose the more-than-I-could-ever-eat Two Eggs and Country Ham Plate (Platter!) …

After about thirty minutes of diligently working on my feast, I got a tad bored and began playing with my food (I started that habit as a wee one decades and decades ago).

He emerged from the Huge Ham so I named him Hugh.

But WHAT is he? Some kind of little OtherCreature looking down at his stolen jewel?

And looky here, a little while later I saw Mama, pensively perched on her nest.

Who knew breakfast could be so, so FULL-FILLING-ly Creative?

One-Word Wednesday

One Word Wednesday 2/11/26

Posted on February 10, 2026February 11, 2026 by Neal Saye

“Blocked”

Take a quick look at this three-second video of Grandson Gabriel (#2 in white and green) in his high school basketball game the other night in Savannah. He attempts to block the rival player from scoring and falls flat on his back!

You may have to watch it a couple of times since the video is so short and G is so small.

Ouch!

G’s (painful looking) end-of-game block was called a charge on the opposing Savannah Christian kid and was a big part of Country Day’s win because the basket didn’t count, stopping them from coming back.

And here are the players’ reactions to the win against perhaps their biggest “enemy.”

Youth, energy and excitement!

May we all win at something today!

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 2/9/26

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Neal Saye

Marveling this morning, at this INCREDIBLE meal I enjoyed recently at El Ximador, a little unassuming Mexican restaurant in the tiny South Georgia town of Springfield.

An acquaintance highly recommended that I try their potato tacos. I had never heard of potato tacos. The words “potato” and “taco” didn’t seem to go together to me.

But you only live once, so I ordered them.

Tacos De Papa: Crispy fried potato tacos filled with seasoned mashed potatoes, served shredded lettuce or shredded cabbage and sour cream.

I had mine topped with Carnitas (traditional crispy pork tenderloin).

Oh. My. GOODness! They were so very delicious.

Robert opted for their chimichanga …

… and raved about it too. But I didn’t really believe him. He kept sneaking bites from my plate when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/6/26

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Feeding the birds. In the midst of a bit of snow.

2. Benny on the old cast iron farmhouse bed.

3. Believing that tomorrow, though not promised, will more than likely occur.

4. Ms. Mop and Mr. Broom (a couple, I think) on the side porch at the farmhouse.

(More about their story later.)

5. HR entering a Valentine-y Kroger.

May you have a Weekend of Wonder.

One-Word Wednesday

One-Word Wednesday 2/4/25

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Neal Saye

“Yes!”

I have this quirky (weird?) habit of noticing trees or bushes or sticks that are somehow divided into the shape of the letter Y.

Why the emphasis on Y, you ask?

Well, one time HR and I were hiking in the woods somewhere or other, and I was not feeling well. I might have been a tad frustrated at not feeling the way I wanted to feel.

I looked up from my self-pity and saw a bush that looked like a Y. Undoubtedly a very similar situation to Moses, the wilderness and the burning bush in the Old Testament.

For some reason, the Y bush made me think of the word “Yes.”

Which prompted me to think of what I wanted to be … Yes.

I wanted my health, my good health, to be “Yes!”

I can’t remember if I actually felt physically better after my Awakening in the Woods, but I do recall feeling better mentally. And maybe even laughing a bit at my childish wanting.

But the practice somehow stuck. And I see Y’s everywhere!

So …

Yes! … to good HEALTH.

Yes! … to daily opportunities to be KIND to others.

Yes! … to DEEP BREATHING and healthy lungs.