One thing that has saved me over the last year is new "ideas or subjects" that come along and capture my interest. This week it was two things.
The first was the idea of "dogs." In reading THE FRIEND by Sigrid Nunez, it occurred to me, though not for the first time, that a dog would have given me something to sit this year out with. I have never owned a dog and concept is fairly alien to me. I don't think I will ever have a dog but a pretend one might be nice.
THE FRIEND is a terrific book and is not just about the adoption of a dog but also the years of her friendship with his owner, now deceased. Both the dog (Apollo, a Great Dane) and the protagonist are in mourning and share the bereavement, thus lightening the load for each. Like me, the protagonist is alone. I am not sure how this would play out for a couple or a larger family although I know people have been adopting dogs like crazy in our neighborhood.
This sent me on a search for other books about dogs and also TV shows about dogs on Netflix. There is quite a nice one called DOGS, in which each episode tells the story of a dog and his master. The first is quite moving as a young man who fled from Syria to Berlin, tries to get his dog back. Although Germany gave him sanctuary, he is forbidden to return or to bring the dog over. Also one called PICK OF THE LITTER which is about the training of special needs dogs. The book (THE FRIEND) won the National Book Award for Fiction although it rarely reads like fiction, more like a memoir. Stunning.
My second stumble this week was into the second film in Steven McQueen's SHORT AXE series: LOVER'S ROCK (Prime). It is seventy minutes of dancing mostly. Sort of reggae. It was popular in the Black community in London in the late seventies. It is very romantic dancing, a kind you don't see anymore. And aside from the film there is a documentary on Prime about Lover's Rock and the reason for its development. Lots of sensational female singers.
Cheers to Megan's DARE ME, which some TV critics have chosen as one of the best series this year despite its cancellation. Although if you didn't see it on USA last winter, it will be on Netflix starting Dec 29.
I think I am done my Christmas shopping. How odd to never once walked into a store this year. What would have happened if this pandemic came along 30 years ago.
What are you up to?
16 comments:
I really like your idea of being inspired by a theme, Patti. And dogs have been so important to the human experience that it makes sense to reflect on them.
Dogs can be amazing, although I doubt if we will get another one. We had a half Newfoundland/half St. Bernard mix when I was growing up, a sweeter dog you'll never find. Other outstanding dogs were McGillicuddy, an old, snaggletoothed Pekinese when we got him and a pretty good companion, and Declan, our rescued Black Lab mix who thought he was human. Now I get my dog fix from the ones our kids and the neighbors own. Cats are pretty neat, too.
Chilly and wet here with a pretty strong wind today. We were able to go beaching yesterday and had the entire beach to ourselves. Glorious!
Jack has started basketball and we went to one of his practices. It was like watching the coach trying to herd cats, but the coach was patients and the kids had fun. Jack's soccer team ended up in last place but they also had fun.
Amy has been crafting, making Christmas ornaments and decorating t-shorts. She has all sorts of equipment for this and the results have been amazing. Christina has been crocheting Christmas reindeer for everyone; these are about a foot tall and customized for each person. Rather than a reindeer, she has decided to make me a llama, but the pattern calls for a gigantic finished result. I'll find room for it somehow. She had also been crocheting a hat a month for 2002, finishing up the year early when she was quarantined with first Jack and then Mark. The hats, all of different designs, will be donated.
Mark is gearing up for his ultra marathon on January 16, running a 5K this Saturday. He has moved out of the dorm with the close of the semester. We're not sure if he will be living there next semester since all of his classes will be on-line.
Started watching THE GOOD PLACE; I like it and Kitty is tolerant. Also re-watched season One of BLACK SPOT and the Season Two -- good, but confusing, with a lot of loose ends that may (?) be cleared with a Season Three.
Still on a short story kick. Finished the ASTOUNDING JOHN W. CAMBELL MEMORIAL ANTHOLOGY with stories by popular authors contributing tales from various series that originated in ASTOUNDING/ANALOG magazine. Currently reading a collection of western pulp stories from the 1940s. I finished John Connolly's THE DIRTY SOUTH; it's good, as expected.
Electors meet today! Maybe we can clear up this whole election fiasco. The recent Texas bid to overturn the vote left me disgusted. These yahoos have their own nefarious reasons to swallow Donald Trump's snake oil.
I'm willing to bet that electors from all fifty states vote to wish you a fantastic week, Patti!
I liked THE GOOD PLACE very much until the last season or so when it seemed to repeat ideas. It would have probably been a perfect 3 season-six episode show. Have never heard of BLACK SPOT will look for it.
Yes, I do regret never having a dog. I am allergic to cats.
It will be great to wake up knowing he is no longer President, won't it?
Most of Western NY Buffalo Bills fans stayed up late to watch the Bills defeat the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers 23-15 on NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. Monday's always feel better when the Bills win!
Patrick did take photos of those Coney Island diners! He's preparing to leave Western NY for warmer climes later this week.
Katie just bought a punching bag for her condo. Stress release is important in her job. But, Katie might be getting the Covid-19 vaccine in a few weeks. Diane and I think we'll get our vaccine in March. But, if people refuse to get the vaccine, we may move up in line!
Very little snow has fallen here. Normally, we would have snow on the ground by this time in December, but the weather remains cold, but dry. Stay safe!
Just an inch or two here. I am figuring March too. Although if Trump had not bungled this too, it would be sooner. Canada seems to have figured it out precisely and will be giving extra to poor countries. If I could just sneak across the border.
Not at home now so no reference works, but let's see.
I've always liked dogs and would have had them, but Jackie is not an animal person of any kind, and I wouldn't have wanted to leave it when we went away all those summers. We live in a very dog friendly building - 5 of the 9 apartments on our floor have dogs.
Glad Western NY is snow free, but we might be getting 6-10 inches on Wednesday, which I hate.
Watched the Bee Gees documentary on HBO. We enjoyed it. We finished the second series of Mystery Road last night. The first was so much better to us. A couple more episodes of The Crown to go. The big discovery of the week was how much both of us love The Queen's Gambit. If you're avoiding it because you don't play chess, try it.
Not much going on with me. Not much to do other than watch tv or read.
Finished Consolation by Gary Disher which I liked a lot. Now reading Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. After that The Dirty South by John Connolly. Also bought The Devil and the Dark by Scott Turton which is getting terrific reviews. Also read some short stories by Ron Rash.
On tv I watched Raised as Wolves on Hbo Max. Produced and directed mostly by Riddley Scott.
Read that Scott Frank's (Godless, Queen's Gambit) next project will be a limited series starring Clive Owen as Sam Spade.
Weather is cold but but nothing extreme. Last week was mostly in the 40's. 30's this week. No snow so far other than a few flurries. Which is fine by me.
Everyone loves QUEEN"S GAMBIT. Something like 65 million TVs have watched all or part of it.
Frank is also working on LAUGHTER IN THE DARK (Nabokov) with the actress from QUEEN"S GAMBIT. It will be a noir movie.
Always like Ron Rash.
No, that is all there is to do, Steve. And wait.
Jackie was reluctant at first because she has never played chess.
Don't know how you'll feel about Black Spot. It's not as confusing as Dark, but it is dark itself. We have the second series waiting but other things have pushed ahead of it.
The main issue is my focus is not great. Had trouble with A SUITABLE BOY on Acorn. I think my facial recognition skills are on a decline and also my hearing.
My dog smells. Breath like an abandoned outhouse. She gets yelled at for licking the furniture. She hates water and being picked up. She'll lay out in the sun all day during the summer. She loves to take walks and smell everything.
I started re-watching DANGER 5 on Prime. I first saw it a few years ago on Netflix. A campy send up of '60s spy and war movies during the first season. A campy send-up of '80s movies the second season.
Finished watching the second season of ALTERED CARBON which was decent.
That's why (lack of attention span) I like half hour shows like Derry Girls, Schitt's Creek, and The Good Place. I don't need to pay close attention. We did watch THE PROM (OK, not terrible, not great) on Netflix, as well as Debbie Allen's DANCE DREAMS: HOT CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER.
It's also why I am reading Seinfeld's book and three books of short stories rather than a novel at the moment.
We have friends who adopted two dogs this year. They have always had cats (and still have one), but this year seemed like the perfect time to get a dog.
We are almost at the end of The Good Place and have purchased the full series on BluRay so we can rewatch it later.
Reading: Another Hercule Poirot: HICKORY DICKORY DOCK. And short stories.
I have a colonoscopy Wednesday, don't know how much blogging I will be doing with the prep and all.
You are excused, Tracy.
Boy, were Seinfeld's responses on BY THE BOOK lousy. Had no idea he was such a non-reader to put it mildly. Although I always enjoy his comedy.
Funny you should mention it, Gerard. In the Nunez book, if people comment on the doggie odor of the house, they are not invited back.
Yes, that was one of the worst things ever. There aren't many I can remember quite on that level of badness. I would have been embarrassed to put out those answers. His book is much better, actually. He seems to have kept every routine he wrote over the last 40 years. Some of them are quite good.
You may like the Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn for the dog theme
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