I probably shouldn't have rewatched CLOSE ENCOUNTERS the night before I saw this because it paled in comparison. It was certainly watchable but there were a lot of loose threads and so many references to his own work, it got annoying. Of course there are some great action scenes and great acting. And music!
Watching STAR CITY (very good) on APPLE. Finished WIDOW'S BAY (Apple) which was great and the first episode of the second season of SUGAR (Apple) .
Went to a concert with a harpist and cello player from the DSO. We do have a great Senior Center.
Started THE IVY TREE by Mary Stewart (as recommended by Tracy). Seemed like a nice palate cleanser after THE GRIFTERS.
Great weather mostly sunny and in the seventies.
What's up with you
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We got some of the after-effects of the storm that came through Texas -- the rain, the mugginess, and dangerous currents in the Gulf, but I did not have to pay attention to most of this because I stayed indoors. We did go to the beach on Saturday morning; no real breeze but the heat was close to tolerable close to the shore and the action of the waves was hypnotizing -- all in all a good time.
Ellen had an appointment with her psychiatrist this week. Her dementia is getting worse and he told her that she would have to move into assisted living or in with us when her lease is up in September; she and Walt Senior can no longer live on their own. He said that Ellen could possibly live for another eight years. Christina and Walt are making plans for their move in with us: moving bedrooms around, figuring out what to do with their furniture, making the main bathroom handicap accessible, and so on. The cost of assisted living in thee area is prohibitive and would soon wipe out whatever savings they have. Christina and Walt hope that by living with us for several years before a move to assisted living or a full-time care home is absolutely necessary that some of the financial burden on them would be eased. Walt Senior's heart condition has somewhat stabilized, but he has had several major hospital stays in the past, so that adds another unknown to the situation. On the good side, Christina and Walt have connected with a social working network that appears knowledgeable, helpful, and effective, so the burden on the household may be eased somewhat. Interesting times ahead.
Ellen also sometimes refuses to leave her apartment, often at the last minute. She did so this Tuesday, so Senior, Walt, Christina, and I went to Bingo without her. Most of the people there are women and are usually around my age, although they all seem much older. We never win anything, but it's a good chance to get Walt Senior socializing. This week it was Bingo at the American Legion and it turns out they have pool tables, and Senior loves playing pool. They are renovating the place and needed to get rid of some of their tables, so Walt bought one from them -- a brand-new table never used. Out dining room is now converted into a pool hall and Senior is very happy -- this may make their eventual move here much easier.
Walt's job is due to end in October (his company contracts computer security to the Air Force and the contract is not being renewed). Walt has had several job offers, but the most promising one would mean a move to Washington, D.C., something that is not workable for the family right now. Walt had once worked for the TSA full-time; when he got his current position, he also continued working for the TSA part-time, but the part-time position was DOGEd last hear. Now the TSA wants him back full-time, so he has accepted. the problem is that the TSA contract expires in September, as opposed to October for his current position. He will be working remotely full-time, which means that once Senior and Ellen move in, Walt will have to move his office from the living room to his bedroom, which will make it difficult for Christina, whose current work hours are 4 PM to 2 AM, because she will not be able to use their bedroom for a nap during the day. Luckily, my bedroom and bed will be available. First world problems.
Back again.
Ellen made a blueberry pie from the berries she and the girls picked last week. One has to be careful with Ellen's cooking of late; she will inadvertently add any and all spices willy-nilly to any recipe now. As a general rule of thumb, Walt never eats pie, and Christina now refuses to eat any of Ellen's cooking, so the pie eating fell to me. It took me six days, but the pie was surprisingly good, although the first bite seemed extremely salty, but I got used to that. Some sacrifices are easier to make than others.
No television this week except for the latest episode of BEYOND PARADISE. Many of the streaming services I normally use are changing and are charging more, so television will not be a primary concern until the dust settles.
Books read this week include two more "children in danger" horror novels from John Saul: THE UNWANTED and SECOND CHILD. I can only read so many of his books in a short time before I get turned off, so he is now currently "retired" from my bookshelves for at least a few months. Continuing my read of her Eve Dallas/...IN DEATH book, I read the third title in the series, IMMORTAL IN DEATH. It's a series that is more fun than I had imagined. This one takes through her engagement and four brutal deaths, ending just before she ties the knot with her mysterious lover, Rourke. I'll tackle the fourth book sometime over the next two weeks. Terry Pratchett;'s TRUCKERS is the first book in a trilogy about four-inch tall people who live under the floorboards and behind the walls of a large department store. An absolutely fun book with echoes of a DISCWORLD vibe. I'll probably read the rest of the trilogy next week. I also finish the Stark House edition of Michael Fessier's FULLY DRESSED AND HER RIGHT MIND, which included three stories from the 1950's crime digest MANHUNT; I had delayed reading the stories after finishing the novel, but I rectified that this week. Good stories; I'll report on them this coming Wednesday. I also finished a late 1960's British crime anthology -- one of four paperbacks supposed edited by :"Ed McBain" (Evan Hunter) -- titled CRIME SQUAD; whether McBain actually edited the books or just allowed his name to be used is unclear, but the stories were good, readable digest pulp from the 50s and 60s. Currently finishing up an expanded edition of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, et al.; this edition adds stories by Bill Crider and others. In the queue are a Pendergast novel by Preston and Child and a 1937 Colin Gray thriller imbued with Eastern mysticism by Mark Channing (clunky, but fun).
I hope you had a glorious Flag day and first day of Summer, Patti. (With the advent of summer comes the beginning of Speedo season, something I will avoid like the plague.) Stay safe, stay happy, stay connected.
Busy week here.
Saturday we saw 86 year old (87 next month) Dion in concert at what used to be called the Westbury Music Fair. It holds 2,800 seats in the round, with a slowly revolving stage. Dion can still do it, though Jackie thought his voice was not as strong as in the past, but "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer" still sound good.
We stayed at the Long Island Marriott and Jackie's Titanium status got us an upgrade to an Executive Room, newly renovated.
We'll be back at the hotel tomorrow night, as we have tickets at Jones Beach this time (outdoor venue) for James Taylor.
In between, today we're going to the city for a consultation to see if and when Jackie can get her second knee replacement surgery. The right knee was done 13 years ago, and the left is getting worse.
We watched the dact- base British movie THE DUKE (2020), which I I'd never heard of before James Reasoner reviewed it on his blog. Jim Broadbent is always good, though Helen Mirren doesn't have a lot to do as his long-suffering wife. I enjoyed it.
We watched the first Harry Hole episode on Netflix, but I really have had enough dark, evil cops for now, so no thanks. Joel Kinnaman plays a very different role than Ed in FOR ALL MANKIND. I know everyone loves WIDOW'S BAY but we don't. I do like SUGAR so far, and the last series of HACKS.
Ann Patchett's beautifully written WHISTLER is definitely worth your time. Reading my second James Salter collection of stories and I have books by Ed Hoch and others waiting. Also got a couple of non-fiction books (including Keith McNally's memoir).
Patrick flew home from Chicago to spend Father's Day with us. We took Patrick out to Lunch and then returned home where Diane brought out her TO DO LIST. She had Patrick rehang some paintings on various walls, fix her iPhone settings, and tighten the screws on some wobbly chairs. Patrick flies back to New York City on Tuesday.
It's a rainy day in Western NY today. Diane, Patrick, and I will be doing "inside stuff" today. Diane wants me to get a new keyboard because I've worn off the letters on the keys of the old Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard.
Katie will be flying home with her plates to put on Diane's Nissan Altima that we're giving to her. Then she'll dive it back to Boston.
I'm all caught up on Library Books--that only happens a couple times per year. But I have plenty of review books to read. Diane and Katie both read WHISTLER and loved it! Stay safe!
Patchett
No one has a busier life than you, Jerry. We have an Alzheimer patient to and her savings can not afford more than a three years at $8000 a month. So brave to write a SH story with such a complicated history.
I found it too dark too. Would love to see James Taylor.
Everyone seems to love Whistler.
Patti, I hope you are liking THE IVY TREE; it does seem like a big change after THE GRIFTERS. I have not read anything by Jim Thompson and avoided reading THE GRIFTERS after seeing the film, but I have a couple of his books I could try.
After my visit to Urgent Care last Monday for indigestion and fatigue, things are not that much better. I am having less problems with indigestion, partly because I am eating much less, but the fatigue is the same or worse. I have been wearing the cardiac ECG monitor since Thursday and have to wear it 3 more days; it is not a vest but a small strip on my chest. I will be glad when I can take it off.
On Father's Day weekend we watched two films of Glen's choice, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974 version with Albert Finney) and TOPSY TURVY. Plus we watched EVIL UNDER THE SUN (1978, Peter Ustinov), also fun.
I have not finished reading MIDDLEMARCH and read about 100 pages in the last week. I am taking a break from that and reading A GRAVEYARD FOR LUNATICS by Ray Bradbury, the 2nd novel in the Crumley Mysteries series. I am having problems with that one too, maybe my focus is not good enough for reading a novel at this time.
Glen is reading THE ANONYMOUS CLIENT, book 2 in the Steve Winslow series by Parnell Hall, writing as J.P. Hailey. This series is about an attorney in New York City. Glen is a big fan of Hall's Stanley Hastings series. And he is liking this book a lot.
Jackie is watching the Carley Fortune series on Amazon Prime, which she sort of likes, despite the fact that they changed it totally from the book. They mostly excised Canada from the Canadian book, moving it from Toronto to Seattle, and changed the plot and the characters, who is with whom, etc. Even the title was changed, from Every Summer After to Every Year After.
But other than that....
Tracy, sorry to hear that you're still not feeling well.
Jackie has scheduled her second knee replacement for September 15. Things have really changed for the better in the 13 years since the last one. Then, they made her stay in the hospital for 6 days and then she spent two weeks in (mostly worthless) rehab.
This time she'll be going home the day of the surgery.
I am not wearing a monitor but my Apple watch tells me if I have had any incidents. I had one on a day I went to
A concert . Apparently clapping can affect your heart rhythym . Also monitoring my blood pressure.
I have never read a real romance before.
I have never hot through Middlemarch.
Waiting for Jackie’s opinion on the surgery
Jeff, We have a friend in Stockton who just had Knee surgery. Her surgery went very well and the Physical Therapy has been good soon far (all home visits so far). I am sure Jackie's recovery will go well also. I am amazed at how soon people go home after surgery these days.
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