Had a nice trip to DC except for the two bad flights--not Delta's fault. Apparently we can expect more turbulence due to climate change. But on the flight there, the flight attendants hit the deck on a real jolt, lightning struck the gate, the airport closed for a few minutes and our luggage took two hours to unload. Delta gave us 5000 miles though. Other than that though I had great weather and a nice time. Always a great place to visit.
Rushed over to catch Benediction on my return. Sure is nice having a theater two blocks away. Although getting there with this construction is a challenge. They have marked out a path for pedestrians, but it is very muddy from the work and rain. When I complained about this the foreman said, "I can't install grab rails in the air, Lady."
Watching FOR ALL MANKIND on Apple and BORGEN on Netflix. Also started IRMA VEP.
Broke down and ordered AMC+ but it seems like I can only play the last two episodes (5 and 6) of BETTER CALL SAUL. Anyone know how to access the first four episodes of Season 6?
The scariest thing I've seen ever was the first night of the January 6th hearings. So glad that guy took videos from multiple angles.
Cancelled my trip to Bouchercon. I think those days are over for me. I never found it easy to navigate once Phil wasn't with me. (Even when he was). And I can't tail Megan because it's business for her.
I feel like reading a certain kind of mystery that I can't quite put my finger on. I was reading a journal of short stories from 1992 and I realized how much the writing style in short stories at least has changed and how much I preferred the style back then, which was clear and straight forward. No multiple POVs. No multiple time frames. I am a simple reader, I guess.
(Found a novel. The new Emma Straub. This Time Tomorrow. Yay!)
So what's up with you?
28 comments:
Glad you enjoyed your trip.
No new movies for me this week. Watching new season of Peaky blinders. And with a friend rewatched all the seasons of Justified in ten days. Such a great show.
Reading Beat the Devils by Josh Weiss and Tom O'Bedlam by Robert Silverberg.
I'll be glad when I get my cataract on my right eye removed in two weeks. Really getting blurry. Makes reading without a magnifier difficult.
Supposed to get up to 98 degrees in several days. I like it hot but not that hot.
Glad you had a safe trip and enjoyed yourself, Patti. I haven't traveled just lately, and, with everything going on, I'm not sure that's a bad thing....
We had that somewhere down south - Tampa, maybe, or possibly Dallas - where there was a sudden lightning storm just after we landed and they said it was unsafe to unload the luggage, so we stood around for an hour waiting. Flying has become such a hassle these days that I am avoiding it as much as possible (totally, if we can). I just read Ann Hood's very entertaining memoir FLY GIRL, about her time as a 22 year old flight attendant for TWA, starting in 1978, just as deregulation was changing air travel forever. She wanted to learn to be a writer and become a stewardess/flight attendant to see the world, and she did both. Good book.
I've been reading mostly memoirs and other non fiction this month, including this and (currently) Delia Ephron's LEFT ON TENTH, subtitled A Second Chance at Life. Her husband of over 30 years died in 2015 after a long illness (a couple of years after her sister Nora died). But then she finds both new love (with a widower shrink from California) and her own life-threatening bout with leukemia. So many of these survival books seem to be written by women. Joan Didion. Joyce Carol Oates. Amy BLoom. Worth reading.
Jackie's second cataract surgery went fine. She feels she can see better and sharper now. She is using the lowest level reading glasses, but otherwise doesn't need glasses. We'll see if she gets a new prescription or just uses the store readers.
It didn't make me want to see some of the winning shows, but I enjoyed the Tony Awards last night. Glad to see Patti LuPone win.
THE JANES (HBO) was a fascinating and timely documentary about a bunch of middle class women who worked underground to arrange thousands of safe and affordable abortions in Chicago before Roe V. Wade.
Started watching JULIA on HBO Max, with Sarah Lancashire a surprise but very good choice as Julia Child. We really liked the first episode.
My cousin and her husband are making themselves a 55th Anniversary party on Saturday night. They are the couple we go away with around July 4th. We're looking forward to seeing whoever is there. We decided to stay at the Sheraton on Seventh Avenue overnight so we don't have to worry about the hassle of getting home late, or risk subway travel.
The Yankees continue to win at a rate not seen since 1998. Good so far.
One of Diane's Book Club members tested positive for Covid-19. Diane drove her to the Book Club meeting last week. But, Diane wore her N95 mask and had her car window open. And, Diane didn't sit near the infected member during the meeting. Diane tested this weekend and she was negative. No symptoms.
This just shows how Covid-19 is still spreading in our area.
The weather-guessers predict 90 degree temps for mid-week. My sister in Tucson, AZ called me to say they've got 112 degree temps there. This country is burning up!
Like you, Diane and I were riveted by the January 6 Select Committee hearings. Our country troubles are staggering!
I really liked Julia too. SL was perfect in the part. Better than Streep for me.
I am hoping that goes well, Steve. You have been suffering with your sight for a long time. I go to the ophthalmologist today. A new one for me.
Yes, less planes for me, Margot.
At least it appears like they might pass some gun legislation, George.
Grab rails in the air sounds like it would be a money-making invention. I'll work on it.
Kitty's lung doctor cancelled. He wants a chest x-ray before he sees her -- something they did not mention before. X-ray is now done, Time to reschedule. Kitty's still having problems with her legs -- darned things just don't want to support her so she hs a hard time moving about, even with a walker. It never rains...
Mark is doing well in Tampa working at the alligator place. H has been camping out while there but last week he took an air B&B, which cost only three bucks more a day. Worth it for the air conditioning. Christina, Jessie, and the girls are planning on a July 4th weekend trip to visit him.
Since Jessie took over the county payroll department, she's been having small glitches. Her boss wants her to hire a person who is demanding even more money than Jessie is getting. She lost a night's sleep worrying if she had paid the County Commissioners this week (she had). Then the was the person from the previous regime who had overpaid a worker $9000 which he immediately spent. New jobs are always tough the first few weeks.
Christina started a summer gig interpreting at a school five mornings a week. Jack started day summer camp. Ceili is working impossible hours. Erin is happy working at a veterinarian's office. Amy is happy at her job, not so happy at the thought of rearranging her bedroom. Walt left morning for a business trip at Fort Meade. Kitty and I am just lazing about.
Not much television this week. Started THE STAND but this version is jumping back and forth over the timeline. Kitty's been re-watching episodes of UNFORGOTTEN. We're holding off on MS. MARVEL until more episodes are aired.
Not much reading either this week. A John Creasey western for my FFB and short stories, mainly from Peter Haining's MURDER ON THE MENU and Abby L. Vandiver's MIDNIGHT HOUR, a "person of color" crime anthology. Both books have hits and misses.
Weather has been warm and sunny. Christina, Jessie, Amy, and Erin went beaching yesterday with porpoises (chasing a gar close to shore) and a dolphin and her calf sporting about.
Our goal for next week: Get out more.
I understand that DC misses you but I'm glad you made it home safely. If you can stomach it you can spend this week watching the January 6 Committee hearings. (More sickening stuff is sure to emerge.)
Don't slip on the path going to and from your building, and be sure to wipe the mud off your shoes when you return. Have a great week, Patti!
George, I must say that you and my cousin on Long Island seem to know more people with Covid than everyone else put together! They are always telling Jackie stories about people getting sick too. Diane needs to stay home! We go out to the store or to eat, but we rarely socialize and so far (knock on wood) so good.
I did track mud all over here. No matter how little you read, it is always more than me, Jerry. Although I am enjoying the Straub book. Just read a notice the water will be shut off on Thursday for at least ten hours while they install a new main. It is supposed to be in the mid nineties that day.
I doubt there will ever be a time when it will be perfectly safe to be with other people. I think we have to take some degree of chance. Especially those of us who are alone.
Your flights sound really bad, Patti, but I have given up on flying. I only took airplane trips to go to Alabama to visit family in the past, and that trip from California to Alabama is just too long and uncomfortable. I am glad the visit in D.C. was good.
Also glad you found a good book to read. In the last week I read A PITYING OF DOVES by Steve Burrows and LINCOLN IN THE BARDO by George Saunders.
A PITYING OF DOVES is part of a mystery series about a police inspector who would really rather be a birder. The birding part of it is good and the mystery part is too. LINCOLN IN THE BARDO was a good read but it took some getting used to. I have always liked books or films that are about the afterlife.
We are still watching THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES and SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY and BOSCH: LEGACY. Also DOCTOR WHO and STARGATE and STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION.
I took some vacation time last week and had not realized how much it was needed. I was able to complete 51.5 miles of walking exercise last week. It took me some time because I probably average about 3.7 miles-an-hour.
I'm planning to book my Bouchercon attendance this week. I still need to verify that I can attend a few of the days. Sorry to hear you had to cancel.
I listened to Adrian McKinty's THE SUN IS GOD. It was ok. Same Irish narrator as most of his novels and the setting in German New Guinea kinda clashed. I also listened/read to an A. Lee Martinez novel for the first time in a while. Martinez really laid on the silliness and that did not click with me. But, I started another James R. Benn novel and I always enjoy those and the great narration by Peter Berkrot.
I watched LINCOLN LAWYER after some comments here over the past few weeks. I enjoyed the series. Started watching OBI-Won and MOON KNIGHT. Only watched first episode of MOON KNIGHT and was surprised I enjoyed it. I expected it to be garbage and was just trying it out.
No trips planned but for a plan to visit the cat cafe in MKE. Boy #1 finally got a job and starts today. Boy #2 should get a job but I'll probably table the issue.
no reading, watching, listening, going anywhere, sleep an hour or two night, can’t eat. whoopie. no luck with audio books.
Do kids under a certain age still have to get working papers?
Good question. I remember going downtown to this sleazy building in Brooklyn to get them.
The WI law changed a few years ago. Work permits used to be required for anyone under 18. Now, anyone 16 and below. I don't think any changes were made to what type of work and hours children are allowed to work.
I also went down to a sleazy office in Philly to be a waitress in the summers. 16 the first year. Can't remember if my kids did in Michigan.
Hello, Patti! Glad you'd a nice trip to DC. My wife and I watched THE LINCOLN LAWYER and we enjoyed it. It was a reminder to read Michael Connelly more often. In other news, my daughter and son-in-law are immigrating to Canada next month and we hope to visit them as often as we can. If it hadn't been for the pandemic-induced restrictions, they'd have probably settled there by now.
Canada is a great place to live. I live 20 minutes from Windsor. Best of luck to them.
Thank you, Patti.
The thing is, as I understand it, you can't just move to Canada. You needed to be "accepted" by having a job or the like. Jackie worked with a younger teacher who wanted to move to Canada but they didn't need teachers at that time. And her father already lived there but for whatever reason, they were rejected. I have no idea of what regulations are like there now.
If one of my kids moved to the other side of world - I'm thinking Prashant lives in India - I'd be quite conflicted. Happy for them in a new endeavor, and seriously bummed out I could not see them.
A guy I know in town has adult children on both the East and West coasts. Probably not any easier to manage those trips than an overseas flight. Even without delays of international travel.
Jeff, my daughter and her husband are going through Express entry and they got their PR visa a couple of months ago.
I know what you mean, Gerard. We do live in India (Mumbai). Like most other parents, our children's happiness means everything, and besides, one never knows what the future holds for us.
I think if you are over a certain age, it is very difficult to move there because of the National Health Service. You have to have paid into it to use it. And I am past that age.
You're right, Patti. While the Express or PNP route may not work after a certain age, children can sponsor their parents after they get citizenship. Broadly speaking, in the absence of state-funded healthcare, I'm told the premium for monthly or annual health insurance in Canada is quite affordable. The important thing is to be financially independent and self-sufficient.
Glad you are back home safe, Patti. Yes, climate change causes more turbulence in the skies and it is just going to get way worse. NASA and NOAA are working on it as are the airlines. Not sure if anything can be done.
Covid cases are ticking up here as are hospitalizations. I once again know several people personally here are sick with it. The folks I know with it here currently are all folks who quit masking because they were fully boosted and thought it was okay. I never stopped masking and am still limiting my time out and about.
Watched THE RESPONDER and the new season of LONDON KILLS. Good stuff. Saw MOON KNIGHT and enjoyed it. My adult son, Scott, says it was changed a lot from the books. Enjoying OBI WAN KNOBI and the JOE PICKETT series. Tried MS MARVEL and gave up halfway through episode 1 as we were bored out of our minds. Also gave up on the new season of IN THE DARK. Multiple seasons and nobody learns a damn thing and plot twists for the sake of causing chaos, but not to advance the story. That thing ran a couple of seasons too long.
Cooking in Dallas.
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