I don’t quite know how to tell you this, but when the guards weren’t looking, HR somehow managed to “confiscate” Van Gogh’s spectacular masterpiece (on the day of our ninth anniversary, no less). Then with his uncanny abilities, dastardly reduce the treasure to pin/brooch size!
He obviously didn’t think I would notice his new “pin” (he has a zillion).
But I did.
Here we are this morn at our hotel’s breakfast, Robert so casually enjoying his coffee, watching the news, not realizing I was documenting evidence.
Now I must decide what to do about all his travel shenanigans.
Today, December 9, marks the 9th Anniversary of … Us.
Nine years ago today …
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We’re now on a week Anniversary Getaway that started with a busy weekend in Atlanta and continued on to the neatest little boutique hotel in downtown Philadelphia.
Today, HR and I are taking the Amtrak …
… an hour away to a cold New York City for an Anniversary Day Trip.
First stop …
Then the subway to a NYC museum we have never visited …
Hi Robert. I look a tad demented. I blame it on the cold.
Fascinating!
Gingerbread!!!!
On to our Anniversary Meal at Del Frisco’s Grille, Rockerfeller Plaza.
This Monday morn finds Robert and me in Philadelphia (via an overnight Amtrak sleeper car!) after a delightful and holiday-ish weekend in our beloved Atlanta.
We’re from Savannah, and love its stunning beauty and unique and storied history, but the ATL is like our quirky, always-welcoming but busy younger sister who managed to marry up and simply has SO MUCH to show us and (if truth be told) to BRAG loudly about.
Here’s one of our sister’s sweatshirts:
Enough family drama.
On Friday night HR and I had evening reservations for the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” display.
Oh My Goodness!
The Earth GoddessRobert’s photo of the goddess.
This is what I was watching through the special glasses:
Then on Saturday afternoon we attended the absolutely incredible 45th Anniversary Holiday Concert of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus.
And look, here’s the choristers. (I just learned that word.)
Wait, no, that’s just Robert and me.
The event was held in the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Philip on Peachtree Street in Atlanta..
Here they are!
We tried to audition, but they promptly told us to sit down and be quiet until the sing-a-long part.
Such Holiday Fun and Joy!
We have a full day planned in downtown Philadelphia today. I’ll tell you all about it soon. Now you have something to look forward to.
1. This photo I snapped yesterday of an elderly couple, holding hands and walking into Walmart. For some reason, it sort of melted my heart for a moment.
Even in Christmas colors! 
2. Robert and I attending last night‘s annual Christmas tree lighting at the Jepsen Center for the Arts here in downtown Savannah.
The event featured a Fabulous Harpist (who we have seen at another downtown event or two).
And here’s Robert bothering her while she’s trying to perform.
TIB (Truth in Blogging): They were chatting, and she was excitedly telling Robert about how she unexpectedly started getting email checks for her work that somehow made its way … to Russia! TMI?
Look, The Clauses! (Is that how you spell their plural last name?)
I think she was the real Mrs. Claus. Robert apparently did too. I got HR a quick part-time job, taking festive photos of other revelers.
3. The good-feeling ability to be excited about seasonal changes and holidays. I know that it’s a blessing because many people are not happy at this time of year.
4. Beautiful Camelias, the “Winter Rose,” blooming all over downtown Savannah.
Hiding behind a courtyard wall
5. Beautifully delicious coffee (peppermint mocha) at Origin Coffee Bar.
Robert got a cookie with his coffee too, but it dropped in and melted. I laughed, a bit too loudly. He tried to even the score by saying that his coffee was much better with the melted cookie. 
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And here I am trying to be all bohemian coffee shop-artsy …
May your happiness this weekend be better than a melted cookie.
So after a wonderful holiday celebration on Thanksgiving Day itself over at my daughter Amy’s on Skidaway Island, Robert and I had our own little family Thanksgiving celebration here at home last night.
It was really Robert’s night as culinary chef. I just helped with prep and cleanup mainly.
Here he is tying up the Cornish hens …
Toasting the cornbread for the sage sausage dressing …
Pan frying the bacon and brussels sprouts …
HR set it all up on this neat little high rise table …
Oh wait, I did do something! I set up the festive holiday dining table.
I probably should not have done this, but as Robert started to say a beautiful Thanksgiving Blessing, I opened my eyes real quick and photographed him. (Who does such a thing?!)
The prayer went on quite a while. I had ample opportunity for a cute close-up.
He caught me after he muttered a too-quick “Amen,” not allowing me time to hide my iPhone.
So this afternoon, HR (Husband Robert, to the uninitiated), Ex-wife Donna and I went to see the current top-grossing film in the nation, Wicked: For Good.
We got our popcorn and headed for Auditorium One, when we decided we REALLY needed photo documentation (well, perhaps I alone decided that, but HR and Donna went along).
Not the greatest photo quality, but (spoiler alert for the rest of the post) I’m with the two Loves of My Life
In a weird way, just the three of us out together on a movie date is … Defying Gravity.
it may look dark in this theatre, but … it’s really not.
“It’s time to try defying gravity I think I’ll try defying gravity And you can’t pull me down”
NealEnJoy 