Playful – Page 22

Five Friday Happy Bringers (6/14/13)

Posted on June 14, 2013November 6, 2021 by Neal Saye

I’m Hot but Happy. 98 degrees yesterday here in Savannah (heat index way over 100); 95 today. Whew. But unless I’m having heat tremors, here’s what I’m happy about today.

1. Seeing Love listed as an ingredient on a product label.

But kale? KALE?? Seriously?

2. The surprising, intricate beauty of looking up in Savannah.

3. My good buddy Riboclavin …

… without a thermometer. Okay, so maybe he doesn’t seem to be enjoying his food 100%, but still, he’s sitting in the sun, getting a vitamin D boost.

4. As some of you know, my grandkids call me “Abu” (Cuban/Hispanic shortened version of grandfather) because I thought “grandfather,” etc sounded entirely too paternally old. Well, six-year-old Daniel and three-year-old Gabriel are WILD over Skylanders. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, DO NOT try to figure it out. It’s far too complicated. But the Skylander franchise is basically taking over the world, of kids. Anyway, I recently told D and G that a brand new, exciting Skylander figure had just come available on the market, AbuForce!

The three-year old bought it for minute until the six-year-old exclaimed, “No way, Abu. You’re joking again.”

“I am not,” I lied. (Why does that trait come so easily to me?)

“Prove it, then,” smart-mouth Daniel challenged.

“Okay I will,” I responded, having no clue how to do so, or even what I meant.

“When?” he asked, a little smart-mouthier.

“Tomorrow,” I easily answered.

Sometimes, angels come your way. I told my friend Robert about my dilemma. He laughed and said he might be able to help. It seems the U.S miltary has a program called Huggs-to-Go, providing dolls for children of service men and women deployed. The figures have a place at the face for pictures of dad or mom, etc. Since Robert is retired Army and currently works at Hunter Army Airfield, he somehow managed to get me two of the dolls.

I presented the AbuForce figures to Daniel and Gabriel the next day. Both, in shock that there really was an AbuForce, melted my heart with their excitement over my little joke.

And the following day, they brought unparalleled joy to my heart when they both told me that they slept with AbuForce.

5. Beautiful paths to walk down.

Look for some joy this weekend. You’ll find it.

The Joy and Wisdom of Children

The Babies Hair Salon

Posted on June 13, 2013December 23, 2021 by Neal Saye

So today I decided I really needed to do something about my limp, flyaway, graying hair.

I’m frustrated because, well, I’m beginning to look my age. And, you know, that just doesn’t seem natural. So I consulted the online Yellow Pages for area barbers and hair salons and read about an intriguing little place out near Skidaway Island (I’m in Savannah, by the way) called … The Babies Hair Salon.

I drove over, parked Skedaddler (my lil gray Scion) (gray seems to be a theme in my life lately) (just not fifty shades of it) (yet) and found myself being promptly greeted by, believe it or not, two surprised-looking BABIES! Ten-month-old twins Madison and Matthew …

When he saw my hair, I got the impression that Matthew had initial concerns about his and his sister’s ability to help me …

Perhaps Madison had the same concern, but she tried to mask her feelings with a blank stare.

Nevertheless, the duo led me into their salon’s inner sanctum.

“I’m beginning to see a color scheme here,” I thought perceptively and intelligently.

Matthew and Madison took a moment to look through their style books to see what they might be able to do for me.

“This is definitely going to be a challenge,” they seemed to be saying.

I felt my first tiny jolt of trepidation when I realized they were looking at books about cows and sheep.

With determination set clearly upon their young but professional countenances, the twins indicated for me to help them up into their work spaces.

“An odd request,” I thought. “They don’t do that at the Barber Pole downtown.” But, the completely compliant client, I obeyed.

And for about sixty seconds, everything seemed to be going well. Just typical stylist assessment techniques such as cranial observation and exploratory scalp manipulation.

Then, inexplicably, I got the distinct impression that Madison was somehow asking Matthew to consult with the monkeys on the wall about the next step.

But before I had time to investigate, they got to work.

“This might be fun,” I thought, kinda smiling.

Madison gently massaged in soothing hair cream.

Healthy hair.

Then they both started to get a little rough, I thought, for ten-month-olds.

Seemingly out of the blue, I sensed a frustrated Matthew yelling to Madison, “Enough of this, sissy! There’s no way to help this old man!”

“Bite him!” she might have said.

“What going on here?!” I thought in terror. “Are they baby vampires or something? Nick at Twilight?! Whatever. I’m outta here.”

As Skedaddler and I hightailed it back to Savannah’s historic district where I live across from Colonial Park Cemetery, I looked in my rearview mirror and thought, “You know, gray’s not such a bad color. It’s kinda in-between.”

(Thanks to Grandtwins Matthew and Madison for help with this post. And the iPhone’s reverse camera.)

D-Man, Superheroes and Snakehandling: Party Weekend–Party Two

Posted on April 23, 2013November 6, 2021 by Neal Saye

As I mentioned in the previous post, this past weekend brought two terrific parties, a street celebration Saturday night and then on Sunday afternoon the Sixth Birthday Celebration for my Grandson Daniel.

Before I escort you to Weekend Party Two, let me just explain that Daniel is one very COOL little boy. And here are Eight Sunglasses-Prominent Pics of D-man to prove it:

(With kindergarten teacher Ms. Lancaster)

(With little brother Gabriel)

Okay, maybe the twin girls froze him up a bit and reduced his coolness by a tad.

But NOT on his birthday. Here he sits, with his green faux hawk (aka fohawk) before his backyard party begins, “patiently” waiting for the Spiderman inflatable to blow up.

Almost there.

“I love it!”

Here’s Batman perched in the trees:

I have NEVER seen a balloon so huge. And the Spiderman pinata, ready to be lowered:

Soon the backyard fills with school and neighborhood friends.

A great hit at the party–the appearance of the folks and animals from Critters-to-Go. The kids (and adults) are fascinated.

“Okay, kids, now let’s all play with snakes!” (Neal’s first thought: “Is everyone here INSANE? What happened to the PRETEND superheroes theme?) Then out of the corner of my eye, I see courageous Batman hiding out in the trees away from all this.

Initially, Daniel’s not so sure. See? He’s a smart boy.

That soon changes.

“Here, Abu, you hold him too.”

My drug-induced-looking smile is for the camera. I’m really thinking: “Is there ANY possible way to spank this child with over fifty people watching?”

Then Daniel becomes an experienced snakehandler.

Next, the spiders, of course.

Her t-shirt says it all.

(Note to self: talk to therapist about memory erasure treatment.)

Younger daughter Emily with grandtwins Madison and Matthew:

“Look up, Em.”

Older daughter Amy (Daniel’s mom) holding Matthew:

Matthew: “I know who my mama is.”

Nana and Madison step up:

D’s little brother Gabriel:

Amy and hubby Orte:

Oh, the gifts!

After the party, Daniel and I play with the giant picture of him that I had attached to a backyard tree. See it way in the back there?

An Afternoon of Joy.

In Our Own Backyard, Where Happiness Finds You

Mr. Happy Goes to Charleston: A Photo Essay

Posted on January 31, 2013December 1, 2021 by Neal Saye

Some of you may remember Mr. Happy (who is sort of my blog mascot). Technically he is jointly owned by me AND grandson Daniel. He lives in the back seat of my car (Mr. Happy, not Daniel) and helps me pick up Daniel from kindergarten a couple of days a week.

For months now, Mr. Happy has been nagging me for a train ride to Charleston, so early last Saturday morning, we hopped on board the 8:15 Amtrak bound for a one-night stay in the Holy City.

Less than two hours later, we arrived in beautiful Charleston, SC. (sister city of my hometown of Savannah).

From the station, our Charleston taxi driver (who “drove” like a wild New York cabbie) whisked us to our hotel, the Best Western King Charles Inn in the historic district ( a very nice hotel–stay there sometime).

The folks at the hotel treated us like royalty–especially Michael, Rhonda and Richard–and even gave us a beautiful upgrade … with rocking chairs on a balcony:

After reading up on some sites to visit, Mr. Happy and I hit the road walking.

We learned a bucketful of area history from guide extraordinaire Boyd Schuler when we toured the historic Edmondston-Alston House on the Battery overlooking the bay.

I want that house to be MY house! (If you have about four million extra dollars, please PayPal it to me ASAP. Thank you.)

We devoured some DElicious seafood at Hank’s.

Went back to the hotel for a little rest …

… before going to Godiva’s for some high-end chocolate. Here’s Becky telling us about the latest Godiva and Charleston news:

And co-worker Chris making chocolate strawberry footballs (WHY couldn’t the Falcons have won!!!):

More touristing (is that an okay word?):

And here we are at the Circular Congregational Church on Meeting Street.

Pretending to preach:

Time to go.

A really fun trip for both of us. See you next time.

Holiday Joy, Humor

Staring Contest #4 (Thanksgiving/Early Christmas Version)

Posted on November 26, 2012November 26, 2012 by Neal Saye

Minding my own business over the weekend, peacefully walking along the river in downtown Savannah, not at all trying to start something that would have to be finished, my joyfully calm day became something altogether darkly different when an overly confident Toy Soldier started to–.

Wait, let’s back up a second. Some of you know that I occasionally find myself, through no fault of my own, smack dab in the middle of the most painfully demanding staring contests. Renaissance men, famous football coaches, even Pirates all have been my adversaries in this universally accepted battle of true manhood and endurance.

Anyway, back to my story. As I was trekking through the lobby of the Riverfront Marriott, hoping to find some free holiday punch and maybe a cookie to further cheer me, and thinking about the feasibility of writing a letter to Santa at my age (that confession might be borderline funny if it wasn’t so very true), I heard a Snicker, a Snigger, and felt inexplicably Scorned, Scoffed. Initially thinking, Ebeneezer Scrooge-ishly, that the interruption might simply be the result of the fried duck and waffle breakfast I demolished earlier at B. Matthew’s on Bay Street, my sauntering slowed as I heard/felt the intrusion again. So I turned casually around …

… only to see a Smirk, a Sneer on a colorful (I’ll give him that), sorta French-looking Toy Soldier. I tried to be polite and friendly (afterall I write a happiness blog), but TS obviously had other plans, jerking his head one way, then the other in an only-partially-successful effort to intimidate me.

Finally after what felt like only minutes later, the feeble, old-enough-to-be-MY father concierge told me (rather rudely in my opinion), that I had to get out of his lap, and that no, his table was not big enough for both of us to sit behind. So I marched right back over to the Toy Soldier (he was perched by the only exit), knowing a battle awaited. Gathering my gumption, I flung myself headlong into Staring Contest #4.

And as is usually the case, whenever I stop trembling, Neal’s courage arrives. Holiday revelers gathered round, about half of them backing up TS, the others for yours truly.

Big deal that his fans were more festively dressed and enthusiastic than mine.

The battle intensified.

And even though I really had to use the bathroon after having sipped all the concierge’s cocoa, I held my own. The game I’m talking about.

And I …

Won! How? I can’t give away all my secrets.

Later. I’m outta here.

Humor

Staring Contest #2

Posted on May 12, 2012May 12, 2012 by Neal Saye

Since after 14 hours I finally won Staring Contest #1 a while back, I decided to challenge a master, former GSU legendary head football coach Erk Russel in Staring Contest #2.

Oh I forgot to tell you, before the struggle of the two titans began, I invoked the time-honored tradition of rubbing the coach’s head to ensure victory.

(Hours, days pass.)

Yes!! Triumphant once again! So why is his name still up there?