Monday, May 12, 2025

Monday, Monday

What's Up?
 

Posted by at

21 comments:

Jerry House said...

Violent thunderstorms the past few days, felling a few large trees in the neighborhood, taking out fences, and destroying at least one shed. We lucked out, losing only a few branches in the back yard. The wind did blow out the wings on my window air conditioner in the bedroom, causing very minor flooding. Around three this morning, there was a lot of deep, ominous thunder, so I'm looking forward to another damp day.

Mark came home for a few days, which made us very happy. He regaled us with many stories about the zoo (he was attacked by a condor but made is out "relatively unscathed"); many of his tales were about Ike, the two-year-old Gentoo penguin who has bonded with Mark for some reason -- we got to watch a lot of videos of Mark working and being photobombed by Ike. Mark likes Albuquerque, especially the mountains and deserts, and enjoys his job; he's a little less sure about the people, though (not his co-workers; they are extremely nice). Albuquerque is a city so there are a lot of people and a lot of people Mark does not know and he's wary of them, especially since his car was stolen, used in a homicide, and torched. anyway, it's great to have him home for a few days. Friday night we all went out (during a white-out thunderstorm) for dinner to celebrate Mark Appreciation Day.

Happy the beagle is suffering from rashes and had to have more of her fur shaved and ointment applied. Her current appearance embarrasses her, because dogs also like to look good. The rashes are from some sort of allergy, and I never knew dogs could be allergic.

Mother's Day was quiet and low-key. Walt and Christina took off alone to celebrate.

Continuing my binge of Marvel television series, I finish Season Two of LOKI, which really didn't tie together well. I also watched ECHO, about a one-legged Native American female assassin. I found it more interesting than LOKI, but again, parts did not make much sense, especially with the character of the big bad, Kingpin; the episode did set up Kingpin for his next appearance, in DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN. I also caught the two season of I AM GROOT, which consisted of short cartoons about the young GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY character. When I say short, the total running time for all the episodes in the two season was far less than an hour. Some of the episodes were cute, though. As usual, I went through the late night comics, who covered everything from the new Pope to Judge Janine.

Books read this week were I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER by Stephen Graham jones, about...you know; John Shen Yen Nee & SJ Rozan's THE MURDER OF MR. MA, a Sherlockian type mystery set in 1920's London, about two real historical characters -- seventh century magistrate Judge Di Ren Ji (the "Sherlock Holmes of China" who has been immortalized in the mysteries of Robert van Gulik) and Chinese Author Lao She ("the Charles Dickens of China"), the two investigate the deaths of members of a tontine. Very readable and enjoyable; THE MORGOW RISES! was an early paperback horror tale based on Cornish legends by "Peter Tremayne" (Peter Beresford Ellis." the noted Celtic scholar and author of the popular sister Fidela historical mysteries), the book was your basic B-movie horror fare, elevated by the wealth of local culture and lore and the author's skill; lastly, I read Manly Wade Wellman's A DOUBLE LIFE, a 1947 film tie-in novel based on a script by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, about a noted actor who cannot differentiate between the character he is playing -- Othello -- and himself, Ronald Coleman won an Oscar for his portrayal of the actor. Currently reading MORE ANATOMY OF MURDER, three deep dives into notorious murder cases as ported by members of Britain's The Detection Club (Dorothy L. Sayers. Frances Iles, and Freeman Wills Crofts -- this is actually one-half of The Detection Club's 1934's ANATOMY OF MURDER, which was divided in two when reprinted in paperback...fascinating studies

Have a great week, Patti! Take care.

6:36 AM
Jeff Meyerson said...

I hope you're having a great time and don't have to read the daily slop coming out of Washington.

Jackie didn't feel well Friday and Saturday, but since we got our tickets through Telecharge, we were able to switch GYPSY from this Saturday to next week. I'm looking forward to see how Audra McDonald's performance stacks up against Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone.

Otherwise, a quiet week here. Ate out a few times, watched a lot of television, read a few books, the usual. I don't understand how critics are giving this series of HACKS a 97% approval rating. I think ordinary viewers are more on target, as this series is leaving nothing but an unpleasant taste in the mouth. It's by far the worst, least enjoyable, and there hasn't been a single episode we liked. They need to reboot.

Did love THE PITT to the end. Outstanding show. Now that we finished REBUS (the new reboot isn't on here as yet), Jackie suggested rewatching PRIME SUSPECT next, so we watched the first episode (from 1991) this Saturday night. First impressions: everybody smokes, constantly. The men's hairdos are mostly awful. A young Ralph Fiennes played a victim's boyfriend. Tom Bell's Sgt. Ottley was as awful as I remembered him. The misogynism would fit right in with the Trump administration.

Jackie finished MAESTRO IN BLUE and has moved on to one of three Harlan Coben series she hasn't watched yet. I think it is CAUGHT, made in Argentina.

I'm still not enjoying this series of DARK WINDS as much as most people seem to be. It is just too different from the Joe Leaphorn of the books.

Still watching a couple of episodes each of BREAKING BAD (series 4), SUITS (series 3) and SIX FEET UNDER (series 2), none of which (other than a few episodes of the latter) we watched the first time around. Jackie is very off Jesse Pinkman.

7:45 AM
Gerard Saylor said...

Jerry, I'm glad to hear Mark enjoys his job. Having his car stolen was a rough introduction to a new city.
My mother drives up from IL in advance of a family trip to Minneapolis for Boy #1's college graduation. His last final is Tuesday, only two days before the grad ceremony. There is a department ceremony in the morning and University wide grad ceremony in the afternoon.
I look forward to the department ceremony more than the University one. He's spent four years in the department and we've never met a soul from there. Reminded me of when my father came to my college graduation and was quite happy to briefly chat with one of my professors and hear the nice things the professor said about me.
I finished WALKING DEAD and have now begun one of the spin-offs. My wife and Boy #2 asked if I was still watching WALKING DEAD and I gladly explained I was starting one of the 3 or 4 spin-offs.
Started listening to Hammett's GLASS KEY forgetting I had reread it over the past year or two. Don't care. Listening again and enjoying again. There is a sequel of sorts coming out for MALTESE FALCON ( don't recall which author) and I may reread that one next. I suppose I should watch MONSIEUR SPADE while I am at it.

10:55 AM
TracyK said...

Gerard, I cannot believe that your oldest son is graduating. It doesn't seem so long ago that he was going for visits to colleges, etc.

3:35 PM
TracyK said...

Not much going on here. It has been hotter than usual, all of a sudden. And we are both suffering from allergies.

Last week we finished off the last new episode of CHELSEA DETECTIVE, and watched more of WILD BILL with Rob Lowe. We finally finished NUMB3RS; the last season was not as good as the previous ones, but still fun to watch. And we had to watch the last few episodes on PLUTO for some reason, and the quality of the picture was actually improved there. On the weekend we watched two of my favorite shows: the RIFFTRAX version of ICEBREAKER with Bruce Campbell (and Sean Astin and Stacy Keach), and the MST3K version of AVALANCHE with Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow (directed by Roger Corman). So much fun.

I am reading CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE CITY OF THE DEAD by Sara Gran. I am about 50 pages from the end and enjoying it. I borrowed the book from Glen and he has read that one and the other two in the series, so I will read more of them.

Glen is now reading a book that he is really enjoying: HIGH: A JOURNEY ACROSS THE HIMALAYA THROUGH PAKISTAN, INDIA, BHUTAN, NEPAL AND CHINA by Erica Fatland. He has read two other travel books by the same author.

4:03 PM
Anonymous said...

I am reading your comments and will respond when I get home next week. Have so much trouble on a phone. I am too far-sighted.

5:16 PM
Jerry House said...

If everyone were as far sighted as you, Patti, we never would have had Trump 2.0.

7:08 PM
Todd Mason said...

I continue to enjoy HACKS, but it does continue to be about damaged people who have very little filter when it comes to their insecurity or anything that irritates them. You woudn't want to live or work with these people, most likely.

2:13 AM
Todd Mason said...

One might hope, Jerry. When one's arms refuse to lengthen at will, Patti. Buongiorno!

2:21 AM
Todd Mason said...

Been to any of those, or Cinematic Titanic, "live" yet, Tracy?

2:34 AM
George said...

Diane and I returned from our Mother's Day Weekend in New York City. We saw five shows, dined in some wonderful restaurants, and spent quality time with Patrick and Katie. The weather in NYC--other than one rainy day--was great: 70s and sunny! Hope things in Italy are going fine! We miss you!

8:52 AM
TracyK said...

Todd, we have never been to a RiffTrax Live or any of the MST3K live shows. Large groups are not for me, even if any were close to us. We do support all the RiffTrax Live Kickstarters and get the downloads. Glen and my son like the RiffTrax shorts (more than I do).

I generally like the older MST3K shows most and have my old favorites, but the two we watched this weekend are newer favorites.

2:31 PM
Gerard Saylor said...

ROKU TV has either a RiffTrax or MST3K channel and I watched part of ICEBREAKER. Ugh. Even the best skilled actors - Campbell! Astin! Keach! - cannot save you.
Sara Gran's DEWITT books keep getting better each time. I should reread that first one.

4:53 PM
Todd Mason said...

I used to do the NUMB3ERS recapping blog for TV GUIDE, back when TVG had such things, and I was on staff.

6:55 PM
Todd Mason said...

Philly-area NJ catching the milder edge of your week of rain now, Jerry.

6:57 PM
Todd Mason said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
6:59 PM
Todd Mason said...

Can't type this eve...that would be NUMB3RS...

7:00 PM
TracyK said...

Todd, how did you like the last season of NUMB3RS? Comparatively...

8:00 PM
Todd Mason said...

That few of the sixth season episodes resound in my memory is a telling sign...I know I found it watchable, still.

5:19 AM
Todd Mason said...

The surviving examples of my TV GUIDE Online recap blogging, for several series: https://web.archive.org/web/20100808131155/http://www.tvguide.com/authors/todd-mason

5:57 AM
Gerard Saylor said...

I watched a few episodes of NUMB3RS in the 1st or 2nd season. Did not realize it lasted 6 seasons.
Rob Morrow was on a recent episode of John Mullaly's Netflix show where Mullaly gathered a diverse group of people who played Willy Loman for a panel discussion. Everyone from professionals like Morrow and Christopher Lloyd to high school students.

10:50 AM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)