Took a few nice walks this week with friends although my legs have been bothering me a bit. Hope it's temporary. Everything is blooming at once. We are usually warmer by now.
Finished off PACHINKO and SEVERANCE, (Apple) which were both very good. Having trouble with SLOW HORSES though.
Reading HOMEGOING for my book group and having considerable trouble getting into it. Each chapter moves forward in time with a new character. Most of them are women being tortured. Awfully hard to read. Still enjoying THE SHOOTING OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY but I am reading it too slowly.
I booked tickets to DC for the first week in June and it literally took me four hours because Delta will not talk to you. I needed to change my address, credit cards, etc. Why is spending all that time with someone on online chat app better. than a phonecall She told me if I want to talk to someone, I had to come to the ticket desk at the airport. I eventually figured it out by erasing all the old information except my frequent flyer number. My age is three years off but they wanted a passport downloaded to fix that.
Well, they are tearing up my street this summer for new sewers' lighting, landscaping etc.I am sure it will look nice in the end but a difficult summer for parking, shopping,etc.Big book sale at my new library in two weeks. Do I start refilling shelves or exercise control? I will have to exercise control because I have no shelf space left.
What's up with you?
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Watched the last 7 episodes of Ozark. Also watching Under the Banner of Heaven, Barry, Tokyo Vice and Outer Reaches. Saw the Northman. Very realistic and very violent.
Read the new Simone St. James and now started City on Fire by Don Winslow. Plus, short stories by Walter Tevis.
Weather has been up and down but is slowly improving. Everything is greening up.
And I bowled a 224 game Friday night.
Royal Oak (my home city) is a mess. They have or are still in the process of putting in new parking meters. No more parallel parking, but now you have to back in so your license plate can be read, and you have to pay by credit card. Been a lot of fender benders.
Sorry to hear you had such trouble getting your tickets, Patti! Still, it's nice to be able to do a little travel again. And it's nice as the weather gets warmer to be able to be outdoors. I hope your legs get better!
Thanks, Margot. Me too.
I watched UNDER THE BANNER too and thought it was pretty good. I had not read the book so it was all new to me. A 224 is amazing. I bet my stretch of Old Woodward is going to beat RO for being unlivable. One one side of me I have the Indy 500 and on the other a construction zone. RO is in danger of losing all the charm it once had. So many bars and lofts now.
Last week I went to the Lockport Library Book Sale. Before the Pandemic, I found plenty of wonderful books at the Lockport Library Book Sale. I arrived early and renewed my Friends of the Lockport Library membership (a condition for being allowed to enter the Book Sale early). About 20 other bookaholics showed up for the 3:00 P. M. opening. I was only person wearing an N95 mask.
Once the doors opened, I saw things had changed. This used to be a very organized Book Sale with separate tables for Mysteries and Science Fiction and Fantasy books. None of that now. All the books were dumped on long tables in a random fashion. I cruised the tables and found nothing worth buying. I fought my way to the Media table and found 2 music CDs. That's it. Very disappointing. The North Tonawanda Library Book Sale is May 19. I hope things improve.
Diane insists on mowing our lawn even though I've lobbied for a lawn service for years. With the frequent rain, Diane is mowing twice a week. Now you don't have to worry about that stuff in your new apartment! Stay safe!
Jackie has been having leg problems too, which makes going for long walks iffy. Mostly it's OK now, but you never know. Weather has been up and down, mostly cooler than normal, so we will probably skip over the 70s right to 80, eventually. The Yankees' offense woke up and they now have the best record in baseball for the =moment, after 9 straight wins.
Saw a matinee of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY on Saturday (via TDF, $57 a ticket). Not close to selling out, so we got the 8th row in the orchestra. And for a 100+ year old theater, the Belasco had surprisingly comfortable seats, with more than enough legroom for me. The show used 17 Bob Dylan songs, and is set in Duluth, Minnesota at a boardinghouse in late 1934. Mare Winningham is the biggest name and got to sing (nicely) the two most well-know songs, "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Forever Young." Jay O. Sanders, Robert Joy, several lesser known people with beautiful voices. The period instruments were played onstage, some by the actors in the show.
Jackie refuses to ride the subway at this point, so we took the express bus both ways. Both trips were way more crowded that normal for a Saturday, with the 5 PM but home having 45 passengers in the end.
We watched the first episode of WE OWN THIS CITY (HBO) last week, and will not watch another. As much as I like David Simon and George Pelecanos, this is unrelentingly grim. And unlike THE WIRE, so far there are NO characters I can care about. Watched the first episode of series two of GENTLEMAN JACK but quit halfway through. We just don't care. And RUSSIAN DOLL has definitely lost its way in the delayed second series. Enjoyed last night's THE FIRST LADY, mostly because it was the "young" versions of the women. The late '20s Obama was played by Robert De Niro's son, by the way, who did a nice job. We liked the first ANNIKA and will continue with it.
Still reading a bunch of short stories - William Brittain, Lily King, Graham Swift - with a couple of other collections int he wings. Reading Steven F. Havill's NO ACCIDENT. I've followed this New Mexico-based series from the beginning, though this one is set mostly in California.
Nice not to worry about taking care of a house. I hope our book sale is better than that one. It is probably hard to get people to work at these sales right now. And they may have more books than they can handle if a lot of people used the pandemic to clear out some books.
I agree about WE OWN THIS CITY but I realize it is just a six episode story and they don't have time to give you much to care about. It is reportorial more than most of his other pieces. Outrage is what they are after. RUSSIAN DOLL--I can't even follow it. It was so good last time.
For some reason, despite my donating money to PBS I can't get ANNIKA to play.
I would love to see that play/musical.
New motto: "Delta is not ready when you are." Walks can be underrated: nice weather, fresh air, Nature giving you her springtime smile -- something to be cherished even if your legs feel wonky. And, yes, buy more books! Always! So what if you have no more room? You can always get a Dr. Who Tardis -- I'm sure they are available online somewhere.
As for me, the excrement seems to have hit the rotating device, although when you break it down into bits it does not seem that devastating or catastrophic.
Two weeks ago, Kitty went in for a heart catherization to ensure there were no blockages to could impede her valve replacement. They entered through the right wrist, which mean that it should remain immobile for about five days to make the wound heal. We got her home that afternoon and, when she tried to get from the sofa, her right leg would not support her. (Most likely, she pulled a muscle while the doctors were getting her cath in.) For all intents and purposes, she was immobile and non-ambulatory. She spent the next 24 hours on the sofa. She was transported to the ER on Thursday; we had hoped that she could get some sort of brace to get her standing up. The heck with her leg, we were told, her breathing is bad so we're going to admit her. Thus we sent ten days in the hospital, she in her hospital bed and me in the world's most uncomfortable reclining chair.
They diagnosed her with COPD and then, for good measure, with congestive heart failure. Her heart function decreased 30-50% -- something no one wants to hear. Her legs, feet, and abdomen were swollen so they gave her a diuretic that makes one pee like a racehorse. Her breathing got better, the heart stabilized somewhat, but her blood tests showed all sorts of important numbers going. She still couldn't stand or walk. To top it off, the valve surgeon got a good look at her CAT scans. She has an artery dangerously close to the valve that needs replacing. And that's problematic. They decided she should go to a larger hospital that has beaucoup experience with this kind of situation, mentioning hospitals in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Birmingham, and Atlanta. To make a long story short, we are heading to Alabama University's Birmingham Hospital for an all-day round of outpatient tests and consults beginning at 7:30 this Wednesday. Whether they decide to keep her there or have her come back for the procedure is not known.
In the meantime, we have moved. On Kitty's last day in the hospital, the girls moved everything out of our apartment and moved it into Christina's house, where they have lots of room and where there are people all around who can keep an eye on her. It'll be a few more days of living out of boxes until we are fully settled.
But this morning, I got internet back!
I was only able to read in its and drabs while at the hospital, but with the long, endless nights, I did read a book a day over the ten-day stay -- A Mickey Spillane UK collection of 2 novellas, five mysteries by John Creasey from my unread Creasey pile (two featuring Dr. Emmanuel Cellini, two with Gordon Craigie's Department Z, and on with The Toff), and fourof the five novels in E.F. Bleiler's collection of FIVE VICTORIAN GHOST NOVELS (I had previously read the fifth one). All ten were decent time-passers.
I was not so lucky with television. The hospital's television seemed to feature shopping channels, psychotic talk shows, NASCAR, fishing, and 1960s sitcoms. PTAH! We ended up watching too many marathons of NCIS, LAW & ORDER, and CRIMINAL MINDS -- all good shows but there is a limit to how much a person can take.
Here's hoping you get more lovely walks with lovely friends (and better legs) over the coming week, Patti. Stay safe.
I take that scoring back. Level 5 is only at District level. Not that anyone cares. I'm just being accurate.
Patti-Sorry you have the same construction problem in Birmingham. Too many bars? When I worked in Birmingham there were not very many bars and no interesting ones. I don't know if it has changed but Birmingham always discouraged any bars that had live music other than some guy playing standards on a piano.
Corporations only care about profit, not customers.
Now that I can only read 5 minutes at a time, if that, I’m not getting through much. Since I can’t figure out how to watch TV except basic cable, I watch news and junk. Mostly I stare out the window.
Why won’t Jackie ride the subway?
Why does George always specify the model number of his mask?
We might get some rain today.
Wow, Jerry. I remember days (weeks) like this with horror. I am so glad they moved you and Kitty where you can get more help. Praying and hoping things calm down. I know you have issues of your own to deal with. WE WILL ALL BE THINKING ABOUT BOTH OF YOU.
Gerard-didn't get the original post, I think.
Steve-it was RO I meant with having bars. And probably not really bars but restaurants that have that flavor.
I think if your legs are bothering you, going up and down subway steps are a nightmare. Also crime on subways has grown in NY lately. I was nervous about subways even in 2019. It's a young person's game. Rick-how about checking out DVDs from the library? I stare out the window too much too. I never did that until I was eight floors up but now I do.
Nuts. I returned for the first time in a couple weeks and the initial post did not post. A quick re-type with less detail:
My non-sequitur follow-up was regarding that Boy #1 competed in the state level solo/ensemble competition on Saturday. He played a bass solo and with a string ensemble. Both events scored a 2 from a scale of 1-4 with 1 being best.
Boy #1's last final of the semester is Saturday evening. On Sunday he and I pack his stuff into the van and head home.
I watched LOKI on Disney. Another piece of fluff from Marvel. All the Marvel series and films are only saved by their ability to cast skilled and talented actors.
Your kids certainly participate in many activities. Congrats for instilling that in them. Glad not all kids are on their screens every minute.
If you lived in New York or read a New York newspaper, you'd know. People being pushed on the
Jackie won't ride the subway because of people being pushed on the tracks for no apparent reason, or being hit or otherwise attached, or one of other events happening here.
Jerry, so sorry Kitty (and you) is going through all this. Very scary. Our fingers are always crossed that she will be better soon. That really is terrible.
Patti, yes, stairs have bothered Jackie for years. Usually she two-foots them rather than walk up and down like the rest of us can. sometimes down is worse than up, other times not. She has what is called a "dropped foot" and there really isn't much she can do, other than some exercises that help a little. At least in Washington there are escalators and elevators to the subway, but here the large majority of stations still don't have them, unless you are going to the major stations in Manhattan. Actually, our local station did install elevators during the pandemic, which helps. In this case, it is more fear of crime - and the near totaly lack of visible police in uniform - that is informing her decision, however.
Wow, I guess nowhere's safe! That's awful!
Rick, two weeks ago a guy drops a smoke bomb inside a subway car, then pulls a gun and starts shooting, hitting 10 people. Again, this is a train stop we always pass through and sometimes use either to change trains or enter when we drive to the station.
Taped We Own This City and plan to watch it this week. Had to laugh about George mentioning his wife mowing the lawn. Won't be happening here in Winnipeg for awhile. Lots of rain the past few days with flooding in part son the city and some rural areas. Had water in my basement last week, but none over the weekend. More snow is forecast. Seem to be reading UK crime novels these days and finished a Quintin Jardine last night. Peter James has become a favourite with his Roy Grace series set in Brighton. Also enjoyed a couple of TV shows titled Grace.
I am glad to be here today because I am on jury duty and I thought I would be at the courthouse today. But I have not been called in yet. We did go grocery shopping so still late, but at least here. But so much news in these comments that it is difficult to process.
Jerry, I am sorry to hear about Kitty's heart problems. I cannot imagine how scary that must be for both of you. And so glad you have moved where you have more support. I hope the visit to the Birmingham University hospital helps. My hometown is Birmingham, AL and I have heard that that hospital is excellent. I worked there in fact as a technician in the cardiology department in the late 1960's when I was 18 and 19. That was a long time ago and much has changed of course.
Patti, I know you like walking a lot, so I hope your leg problems improve. I have problems with my feet and back pain when I walk much, so I am a slow walker who cannot go too far.
Last night we watched the first episode of WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? We liked it a lot, although it does have significant differences from the book, which I probably only notice because I just finished reading the book the night before. I liked the book, but it was not as good as many novels by Christie. Certainly kept me guessing as to the culprit though. Also, so far the adaptation is darker with much less humor than the book. That is fine, just not what I expected.
My reading was very slow for a week, and then all of a sudden I finished a book from 1954 by Molly Clavering, BECAUSE OF SAM (not a mystery) and BANGKOK 8 by John Burdette, that must have been on my TBR for 15 years. I liked both of them very much.
I also liked WHY DIDN"T THEY ASK EVANS although I found it stretched. The camera was in love with the two main characters.
It has been very wet here too, Kent. Not more than two days pass without rain. Grace, huh? Will look for it.
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