Monday, December 31, 2018

Things That Are Making Me Happy

1. My Brilliant Friend on HBO. So faithful to the book (Elena Ferrante) and so wonderful to look at. Just two episodes in but I am amazed at how beautifully the book is captured and even enriched by the visuals.The story takes reading and learning so seriously.

2. If Beale Street Could Talk-wow, another gorgeous rendering of a book. The music is a knockout. Each character is given a scene that brings them to life. I think Baldwin would love it.

3. Phil is doing better. He has gotten out a few times this week. Lucky for any break in the storm we get.

4. Reading the Rock Hudson bio and also THE DARKNESS. Enjoying both.

What about you?

15 comments:

Jerry House said...

So glad Phil is doing better. I hope that 2019 will bring many good things your way.

I threw my back out earlier this month, the worst it has been for more than a dozen years. It was bad enough that we had to cancel plans to go Atlanta this weekend with the kids. (No, that's not anything to be happy about.) But on the plus side -- pugs. We got to dog-sit our two grand-pugs, Mr. Beefy and Anvil (Annie). They are edging to thirteen years old now. We got them as puppies shortly after Jessie's husband died and she and the girls moved in with us. The dogs have been a blessing, dumb as bricks but loving and sweet. Beefy is now completely blind and half-deaf and Annie is half-blind and pretty much completely deaf but they both remain very happy. Bumping into furniture doesn't bother Beefy at all and he has had several long staring contests with the living room wall and I'm still not sure who won. It was a pleasure to have them for a few days, although the cat may disagree. The kids spent a full day at the Atlanta Aquarium and loved it. Sunday they supposed to do the zoo, but the weather was terrible so they went to a cat cafe instead for a feline fix.

Speaking of felines, Sprout (or Pumpkin, depending on who are talking to) is very happy and has bonded completely with Mark. He's the seven-month old kitten abandoned by their next-door neighbor when then they fled in the middle of the night. He's black with a small patch of white on his chest and has a lot of Siamese in him. He can purr louder than any other cat on the Panhandle. What appeared to be a possible tumor on his side isn't, but is a broken rib and a severe hernia -- neither of which seems to both him presently. It's going to be pretty expensive to fix, but we think he's worth it.

It's been raining like stink here so we've been watching (and re-watching) a lot of television. Currently re-watching SHETLAND (always good) and watching PINE GAP (much better than I had hoped). We also watched FAHRENHEIT 11/9, but Michael Moore was preaching to the choir; it is going to take a long time to undo the damage Trump has done to our country.

I tallied my reading score for 2018 for a comment on Rick's blog and came up with 239 books and I really enjoyed most of them. Which proves either a) I have wide-ranging interests, or b) I have no taste or critical thinking at all. The last book I read was a W. C. Tuttle Hashknife Hartley/Sleepy Stevens western, circa 1927, and I'm currently reading an old Talmadge Powell thriller, THE THING IN B-3.

The weather has been lousy, my back has been lousy, and I somehow lost two times my body weight through my nose with a lingering cold. So I spent most of my time on the sofa snuggled up to Kitty and trying not to breath on her. And that, Patti, is pure happiness.

I'll probably ring in the New Year fast asleep. What about you?

Steve Oerkfitz said...

Glad Phil is doing better.
I'm happy that we have had no snow to speak of.
Got to see 9 of my 10 grandkids over the last week.
Been reading some good books-The Auctioneer by Joan Samson and The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons both from the 70's. And Whiplash River by Lou Berney and Big Sister by Gunnar Staalesen.
Haven't see any good movies lately. Mary Queen of Scots was very disappointing.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Boy, do I admire you. 239 books and pure happiness. What more can you want.
Ever since our NYE party people moved to Cape Cod, we are fast asleep by midnight. I don't know that that is a good thing.

pattinase (abbott) said...

And I remember reading both of them in the seventies. Hope we can get together soon for coffee, Steve. Maybe next week.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Great to hear that Phil is doing better. Health is everything! I go back to the doctor on Wednesday to see the verdict on my shoulder. I'm hopeful but not overconfident. Sleeping is basically hour by hour most nights.

Glad you liked MY BRILLIANT FRIEND. We did too, though without reading the books to compare. I'll be curious to see your opinion when they switch to the older girls.

We watched BODYGUARD this week, which was very tense.

Steve Oerkfitz said...

Patti, I'm pretty much available anytime.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Liked BODYGUARD a lot.
Be back with you Steve after I consult the appt book.

Rick Robinson said...

I'm very happy Phil is feeling better! That's terrific.

I'm happy I read 129 books in 2018. My usual goal is two books a week, 104 total, so exceeding that is a happy thing. I don't read as many as Steve, Jerry, George, or Jeff, but I'm not fast reader.

It's beautiful, clear, sunny and cold. We should get our first below freezing temperatures here tonight. Maybe it will keep some of the New Year's Eve fools at home and quiet. I'll be in bed by 10. Barbara sometimes stays up to watch the TV shows, but I really don't care. It will be January 2019 tomorrow whether I stay up or not.

I'm happy the Seahawks made the NFL playoffs, but I doubt they will go far. They will play Dallas in Dallas on Saturday.

I don't formally make resolutions, but as usual I'll try to do my best and lose some weight.

Jeff Meyerson said...

As usual, I will be rooting against the Cowboys (and for the Seahawks, though I still can't forgive them for that second Super Bowl). Overall, though, I am rooting for the Saints.

Since our last doctor's visit (during which he royally pissed Jackie off) and my injury, Jackie has managed to lose SIX pounds this month, so that's good. I'm not trying to lose weight, though I did lose about three pounds. We've pretty much had to change our eating habits entirely to accommodate my situation, so we've been eating home most days and cooking a lot more. She is on the 2009 Weight Watchers diet.

Todd Mason said...

Some excellent news, Patti...and everyone, even when lemonade is being made. Very glad to read it, except for Jeffrey's shoulder, and Jerry's back, among the more obstreperous citrus.

I am startled to realize I've read one horror novel this year...and not so very many other novels. That's low even given my predilection for shorter forms.

George said...

Glad to hear Phil is better!

It's raining cats and dogs here so I don't know how many people will be in downtown Buffalo tonight for the ball drop. I'll be asleep.

We enjoyed a wonderful time with Patrick and Katie. Patrick set up Diane new iPhone and my new iPad Pro. Katie baked cookies and a pumpkin pie for Patrick (he didn't get one at Thanksgiving).

I wish everyone on this blog a Happy and Healthy 2019!

pattinase (abbott) said...

Happy New Year, Todd and George. We will be long asleep by midnight.

Todd Mason said...

And what can sometimes make me happy (and sleepy): making up lists of links...Happy 2019!

December's Underappreciated Music

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad to hear Phil is doing better, Patti. That's the best news!

Kevin R. Tipple said...

Very happy to read that Phil is doing better. Excellent news.

Just was informed that I have been comped admission to Bouchercon 2019 AND a hotel room. Am stunned. The holidays have been very hard this year and to get told this in the last hour has been a stunner in every way possible.

Happy New Year one and all! And, of course, GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin