Saturday night my family and I went to see CLUE at Meadowbrook Theater. I have gone there for many years although recently they are inclined to show far lighter fare than they did in the past. I guess this is true for a lot of theaters. This was a very young audience, maybe composed of students from Oakland University which is on the same campus. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Although the plot is not great, the staging and acting was terrific. So many clever bits with choreographing it.
Friday I went with a friend to the DIA and we concentrated on parts of the museums I usually miss: African and Islamic art. The museum was fairly empty but it is a huge place so it takes a lot of people to make it feel full. The Detroit Film Theater was beginning this weekend showing the documentary about the Velvet Underground, but we didn't stay for that.
Kevin is still enjoying school. Friday night his economics teacher took a group to play laser tag. It raised money for the food pantry his classes run. Kevin seems to be enjoying his classes and the camaraderie they seem to foster at this school.
Been watching GOLIATH, which I am not crazy about. Also MAID, which is depressing too. Hard to find a series that isn't a bummer nowadays. So I end up watching SEINFELD quite a lot. Looking forward to SUCCESSION tonight.
What's up with you?
22 comments:
Maybe with theater, as with wine, you have to give them the sweet stuff first and gradually help them develop their palate. In any case, I'm glad you are getting out there and seeing and experiencing things. Glad you can see the new Succession. I will have to wait till cable offers a free week or something. But I did get to see White Lotus on that basis recently.
Glad you are getting out. I wanted to see The Velvet Underground documentary but couldn't find anyone else to go. It's streaming on Apple tv but my tv is from 2017 and can't stream Apple. I'll have to wait for the blu ray. Saw No Time to Die which I liked but the villain was weak and it was about 20 minutes too long. Probably seeing Lamb tomorrow and The Last Duel later this week. Fall looks good for films. Last Night in Soho, Old Henry, Antlers, Belfast, Dune and new films by Wes Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson and Guillermo del Toro.
Just finished reading the new Allen Esken's The Stolen Hours which was very good. Am now reading Steve Van Zandt's memoirs. Plus a lot of short fiction.
Watched the Detroit Lions manage to be the worst team in the NFL. 0-7 record.
Getting bored. Can't sit outside anymore. Eight months of being cooped up doesn't look very inviting to me.
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed Clue, Patti. It's a fun one, isn't it?
I don't love GOLIATH so quit after the first series, but Jackie is still watching it. She has several series that she watches during the daytime (one episode a day of whichever show she is up to) while I am in here reading, including OUTLANDER and MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. and BILLIONS, and GOLIATHis one of those.
We watched the Thanksgiving episode of MAID yesterday. It's a very well done show, I think, and Margaret Qualley is excellent, but you have to space them out because it is something of a down.er Personally, however, I find AMERICAN RUST to be much more of a downer. We finished the last PROFESSOR T. last night, which ended up a surprisingly up note. Finished series 4 of MONEY HEIST, series 3 of MIDNIGHT DINER, and one last episode to go on SEASIDE HOTEL (until the new series is out). We're watching series 22 of MIDSOMER MURDERS (one last episode to be released next week). Also watching BACK TO LIFE (series 2) and THE END and SQUID GAME. Since money isn't an issue and Jackie never has enough to watch, she got a month's trial of Hulu (which she intends to keep) and has added a bunch of new shows to watch (DOPESICK is at the top of my list), though we haven't started any yet. And we're watching one episode of SEINFELD a night. Also SCHITT'S CREEK and GAME OF THRONES and probably a few other things. Good thing, I guess, since network television is mostly a wasteland.
We have eaten out a few times (well, Thursday through Sunday) this week as it was well warmer than average. We are belatedly celebrating our 50th Anniversary next weekend (it was last year but we couldn't exactly party) by staying at a Midtown hotel and going to a concert (The Mavericks) Saturday night and a show (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) - our first in nearly two years - Sunday afternoon.
Still doing quite a bit of reading too.
It's been a quiet week here and a quiet weekend. Unlike "Gadabout" Patti we basically stayed home except for shopping and essential errands. Sometimes you just need some basic quiet in your life. The next couple of weeks are chockful with medil appointments. Bah!
Most of the family went camping this weekend, something they all enjoy. This time it was further down the coast overlooking the Gulf. They posted some great pictures on Facebook, but it's not enough to convince to spend the night sleeping on the ground. (With my knees and back, it would take a derrick to get me verticle again.) This is probably their camping trip until Spring.
The saga of Jerry's mouth continues. Some little pieces of bone appear to be coming through my gums. I'm scheduled to have my guns "smoothed" next week, although I swear I heaard the oral surgeon say the word "sanded" at least once. Not looking forward to this.
Watching a lot of bad movies on TV, most of which I can't even remember and all of which I use to distract myself from the fecal hurricane that is on the news. Did catch new episodes of some shows -- BIG SKY, LA BREA, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, TITANS, etc. Finally watched BLACK WIDOW (meh) and VENOM (slightly less meh). Sincerely wish John Oliver would never take a week off.
Only read one novel this week: Thorne Smith's RAIN IN THE DOORWAY, my FFB. Flawed but good. Still reading a lot of short stories, mainly science fiction from the 70s and 80s. some good stuff to be found there.
Today is National Clean Out Your Virtual Desktop Day, as well as National Chocolate Cupcake Day. (And -- if you happen to be in Croatia -- It's Necktie Day.) Celebrate responsibly, Patti, and may you have a great week
My mouth is on hold right now.
I enjoy Only Murders but see so many ways it could have been better. At least better as a mystery. But it is enjoyable being among those people.
Lots of good stuff on HULU but I pay for the one without commercials. Since I only have the streaming channels now, it is expensive but not as much as it was.
Keep meaning to try Eskens.
Just read about Powell. I guess the mask and vaccine both are the only solution for now.
Happy Anniversary, Jeff.
Today would have been Phil's 77th birthday.
I do like Succession, Seana, but I feel like every scene is too familiar. Hasn't that already happened? I keep wondering. Hasn't he said that ten times already.
We liked Season 1 of GOLIATH a lot, Season 2 not so much, and couldn't make it through Season 3. We're also watching CHEERS a couple of episodes at a time during supper, and loving it. I'd forgotten what a good show it was, and Ted Danson might be the best sitcom actor ever.
I second the recommendation for Eskens. I've read all of his books and there aren't any weak ones. You could read the new one without having read any of the others.
For sure, the best ever. And he plays different characters.
And he can also do drama.
It may be time for me to do CHEERS again. I did MTM recently and appreciated more minor cast members more than I did in my twenties.
Thanks for that, Jeff. I am walking up to the library to see if they have it.
Not a lot to report. The predicted rain was barely an hour-long drizzle, which was disappointing. I finished TAINTED by Ross Penne, a mystery novel about mad cow disease, which was just okay. I finished the short story anthology BEST EATEN COLD edited by Martin Edwards, and read an excellent graphic novel, AUTUMNLANDS by Kurt Busiek. Now I'm a couple chapters into THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT.
We have Fall color here now, and it's quite pretty, but soon I'll be raking leaves. Sigh. Barbara planted a couple dozen bulbs yesterday, all Narcissus.So we have those to look forward to come Spring.
Loved QUEEN'S GAMBIT. Hope you do.
I read THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT after watching the TV series and was impressed by how closely - and well - the series followed the book, which was terrific. Also recommend his MOCKINGBIRD.
I read THE QUICKENING by Rhiannon Ward, which is a pseudonym for Sarah Ward, who wrote four British police procedural mysteries. THE QUICKENING is a suspense novel with gothic elements, spooky and creepy. I don't usually like creepy. It is set in 1925 and highlights how many families lost sons and fathers to World War I. The main character is a female photographer who is documenting the contents of an estate that is in disrepair and being sold.
Just started reading SKELETON KEY by Jane Haddam. This is a reread. I have read 24 of her 30 Gregor Demarkian books. This is the 16th book in the seres and I don't remember it at all, which is good. I read the first 20 books in the series in 2005, and enjoyed all of them, but didn't enjoy the ones after that as much. Reading Haddam's book reminds me I need to read more by William L. DeAndrea.
Not much else of interest to report. The driveway paving, which was supposed to be completed by now, is still ongoing. Glen's doctor prescribed additional drops to see if that helps with the swelling and he sees her again in about a week. He can sort of read but not much at a time. He is currently reading TALKING PICTURES: With the People Who Made Them, by Sylvia Shorris, published in 1994. He got it at the book sale.
I forgot about Jane Haddam. I will try to track down Mockingbird and The Quickening. Both interest me.
I started re-watching THE TRUTH SEEKERS on Prime with Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Comedy series with ghost hunters in the UK coming across real-life, demon worshipping bad guys. Light hearted with some horror bits mixed in and the bonus of Malcolm MacDowell as a good guy.
I finally got our new water softener installed. This would have been a fairly simple process if I lived in a newer home. But, I live in a 130-year-old home and had to figure out a few things. This means that a project that should have take 1-2 hours took about 6-8 hours and was spread over two days after the I overtightened the plastic plumbing pieces and broke them.
Next weekend I take Boy #2 to visit my mother in IL. My brother had been retired and was just wooed back to Intel. He is taking the last chance to visit IL before work begins for a last minute visit. Unfortunately, my wife cannot get out of work for the trip.
I tried to listening to a cast version of WAITING FOR GODOT. But, nothing happens. I know this is part of the point, but I presume seeing a stage production is more entertaining. I also got about 1/3 the way through SAND COUNTY ALMANAC. ALMANAC came out in 1949 and Aldo Leopold is still a big deal in WI. I might go back to that book, instead I switched to a Deon Meyer novel. I've really enjoyed Meyer's novels and his regular narrator, Simon Vance, is great.
Also: my wife clued me in that THE KIDS IN THE HALL is now on Prime in advance of their upcoming, rebooted season. When I hear the show's theme song I still have the same small burst of excitement and anticipation as when I would catch the original broadcast in the mid-1990s.
Diane and I just returned from visiting Diane's sister in Ohio this weekend. The Ohio weather was sunny and bright, the Western NY weather over the weekend was rain, rain, rain.
I'm going to see DUNE later this week. I've been debating whether to see it. So much hype about it!
With TED LASSO over for now, and tomorrow night's ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING coming to an end, there's less and less we want to watch on TV.
Stay safe!
Gerard-I admire your attempt to fix things that seem fairly difficult to fix. I have never seen KIDS IN THE HALL so I may try to find it.
I'll miss both of those shows, George.
@ George: just don't expect the novel when you see the movie. No one has or will make a movie of Dune that's faithful to Herbert's book.
Supposedly it just covers the first half of the book. Or half of it in some fashion.
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