The movie was not without interest, but the central character just couldn't hold my attention. And Pedro Pascal seemed much less interesting than on The Last of Us. Chris Evans was the best thing about it.
On TV, I watched the original The Four Seasons, and I remembered it as better although I admired the ordinariness of its cast.
Finished Mornings Without Mii, that last third about the cat's death was tough. Reading Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy-terrific writing although the whole book is about the earth dying. Getting a theme here?
Jane Harper's The Survivors on Netflix is good enough over 6 episodes, but it sure seems like no one ever comes out of the water in Tasmania.
Boy, I sure sound surly this morning. And the topper:
We had a murder-suicide in our building but it's never been in the newspaper. I guess what's the point of a story like that when no court case will come out of it. Still..He lived next door to me when I first moved in and he was always slamming doors and shouting so it's not surprising.
What about you?
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Tomorrow morning we are having our carpets cleaned. We will be getting up early to move stuff out of the way and it will take up most of the morning so I am putting up this comment early.
We watched two movies for Father's Day, Glen's choice. One was GOLDENEYE with Pierce Brosnan. We have a lots of favorites among the Bond films and this is one of them. The other was RUSH HOUR with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Both were fun.
Glen is still reading DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY by P.D. James. Getting close to the end now. Next he is going to read ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey. I loved that one, I hope he enjoys it.
I am now reading EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson. It is a very different mystery and I am enjoying it, but I am not sure why I decided to get a copy. Maybe I have read to many "different" mysteries lately. It is keeping me entertained, so I should not complain.
Yeah, to me, Dakota Johnson is a lightweight actress whose success baffles me. No interest in this one. We did see a movie this week! Granted, it was one I recorded on Starz months ago. I'm a big fan of the original JOHN WICK and the second movie too, but this fourth one...JOHN WICK: Chapter 4...not so much. They've gone to the well too often, the script could have been written on a single sheet of paper, frankly, we were bored to the point after yet another endless shootout that left him unscathed - New York, Osaka, Berlin, Paris - that Jackie told ,me to fast forward and get to the end already. The shootouts were well done (though, as always in these types of movies, no one calls the cops when thousands of rounds are fired in the center of the city), but they were endless and repetitive. You know Wick will survive to the end, and deep into the third hour, it becomes tedious. Cut 45 minutes and it would have been a much, much better movie.
A murder-suicide in the building? Yikes! Call Martin Short. No, really, that is awful. We got a call one night last week from our neighbor that there was a fire in the building and the hallway was filled with smoke and firemen, but otherwise we'd never have known. We didn't even smell the smoke. Turns out it was a kitchen fire on the third floor, but luckily it didn't do any damage.
I rad Jane Harper's THE SURVIVORS five years ago, and we are about to start the series. True, we've seen a couple of other series set in Tasmania and you're right. We started a couple of new series - I, JACK WRIGHT is right up Jackie's alley. A ruthless businessman seems to have killed himself, though we discover in episode one it was murder. The will reading causes at uproar, as his sons are almost cut out completely, as is his third (current) wife, while his granddaughter in America, child of the wastrel oldest son (unusual casting for John Simm) gets the bulk of it. Frankly, I prefer these 6 episode shows that are one and done. Too many series are decently done, but once they get into second and third series, the quality sags.
Another six part series we started (on Netflix) was the Danish FAMILIES LIKE OURS, with rising seas from global warming causing Denmark to shut down and all the people to evacuate. We'll see what happens.
We're nearly done with a few shows - GIRLS5EVA, LANDMAN, DEPT. Q, even down to the last two (of 37) MONTALBANOs. Finished MAKARI.
My favorite book this week was Ann Hood's MORNINGSTAR, which Patti recommended the week before. Also liked the new Michael Connelly and Anne Hillerman books. Up next is the new S. A. Cosby.
The violence in your building must be upsetting. When we lived in Maryland, an estranged husband killed his wife on the front steps of her home three doors down from us in full view of their young children, then he went to the driveway directly opposite from us and shot himself. The effect that had on all of us was devastating. Around the same time, a woman whio lived several streets from us had been keeping her young daughter locked in her room for months; it was only when the young girl managed to escape that it was learned that the mother had been keeping the body of her young sister in the freezer for over a year. It's hard to comprehend there can be such people in this world.
Christina, Walt and Jack spent much of the week relaxing in a cabin on (literally ON) Lake Pontchatrain in Louisiana. Their do-nothing days included some reading, some crocheting, some television, eating out, and enjoying the scenery. They came back fully recharged. They did take a small boat tour where Christina counted fourteen alligators and five raccoons.
Speaking of raccoons, I was animal duty while they were gone and a raccoon (I think -- it could have been a skeezy neighbor) got into the plastic container of dog food in the garage by unlocking the lid on the container. (Which is why I think it was a raccon; possums and cats -- both of which have invaded the garage in the past -- just don't have the ability to unlock the lid.) Anyway, dog food was scattered hither and yon. The next morning, the animal struck again, but did not open the container; it merely gobbled up all the loose dog food from the evening before. On the third day, it tossed the container lid far away on its regular visit to the Dog Food Cafe; it had a much neater dining experience that time. By the fourth day I managed to get the automatic garage door fully closed; it has always tended to stop about eight inches shy of fully closed. The done, I went back into the kitchen and, a few minutes late I hear some thumping from the garage. I had evidently locked the ctitter in the garage. I opened the side door to the garage on Friday and the rest of the day was calm. Also on Monday, a bear got into the garbage can and spead trash all,over the yard. Having to bend with my bad baclkover and pick up trash spread all over creation, allowed me to to express some very nifty epithets about Yogi.
Friday the thirteenth was followed by Saturday, Flag Day and TACO Don's very weak birthday parade. It was also my late father-in-law's birthday. One of Harold's favorite activities was taking the family out for ice cream for dinner. Every year, in his honor, we go out for an ice cream bash on his birthday. This year the group was a bit smaller -- Jessie and Amy were in Texas for a family wedding, and Kayley had to work, but we enjoyed some pretty darned good ice cream at a new place that opened one town over. I spent a lot of Saturday checking out the One King protests on the internet. I don't know if there has been a final esitmate, but the enthusiastic turnout gave me hope. I was also happy to see all the empty seats at Trump's parade. I feel sorry for the soldiers that were forced to parade, and I firmly believe that nearly everyone who protested support our troops, but a military parade on the streets of our capitol for is not the ay to do it. The parade was designed merely to boost Trump's ego and to send a not so subtle threat to those who oppose him; the poor planning and logistics, as well as Trump's obvious cognitive decline and the lies being spread by his sycophants worked against him. End of rant.
Father's Day was quiet, which is how I prefer it. I did get four -- four, count'em, four! -- pies, which to my mind are the perfect Father's Day gift. Who needs a new tie when you can have pie?
More to come.
I like that: "Come to Jerry's Dog Food Cafe."
Back again.
Have I mentioned that I hate technology? I uisually link to MSN.COM for my news feed, but lately they have been proclaiming they are sending me "personalized news, which I think means their algorith id directed even more to sent me specific ads, but also to send me stories they thuink I might like in order to keep me hooked to their service. Give me a break. I do not want my news spoon-fed to me like pap and I certainly do not want news tinge with bias from either the left or right. I want ot able to view the full specrum of news so I can make up my own mind, form my own opinions. I am my own curmudgeon and not some corporation's algorithm, dammit! And then there's my phone. For the six months I have had it, I have been unable to hook up voice mail. I have to go directly through AT&T and have them do it (something they never told me), and AT&T is making it very difficult ("It's seems you are having difficulties. Please call back later." CLICK!) And, finally, there's cable television and all the streaming services that appear to change at whim. (What is HBO calling itself this week? And what has it dropped? Or added? And how much will that cost me now?) Since Monday I have no been able to get cable television; it went out just when I began streaming THE BARON. Maybe I don't hate technology, i just hate corporate technology.
No television was not much of a problem this week because I had just started Stephen King's latest Holly Gibney, novel, NEVER FLINCH. Unlike many of the previous books about Holly, there is no supernatural element here, and the book takes a much slower pace, allowing me to savor each page rather than rush through to the climax. This time Holly becomes intertwined with two separate big bads (REALLY Big Bads) -- one is a psychopath who decides to kill at least twelve 'innocent" people at random; the other is a schizophrenic zealot who identifies as both male and female and has been sent by an ultra-fundamentalist church to assassinate a high profie advocate of women's rights. King's afterward points out a bit of local history that I did not know: in 1993 and 1994 there were three killings in Pensacola at women's clinics by antiabortion activists. As I said above, it's hard to imagine there are such people in the world.
Adding a Stephen King trend to my reading, I read the last two graphic novels in the STEPHEN KING'S THE GUNSLINGER: BEGINNINGS series which take place in his DARK TOWER universe. These were plotted by Robin Furth (evidently under King's direction) and scripted by the prolific Peter David (who, sadly poassed away last moth at a much too early age). I also read two Hard Case Crime novels: Charles Willeford's UNDERSTUDY FOR DEATH and Rober B. (no, not THAT guy!) Parker's PASSPORT TO PERIL. The first is more of a character study and an examination of modern mores than a crime study, but is fascinating; the second is a Cold War by-the-books thriller, pitting an American report against Commies, Nazis, and Lord knows who else in order to (ahem) save all of Europe and, perhaps, the world. I also read Stephen Spotswood's Pentecost & Parker novel MURDER CROSSES HER MIND. I had thought this was the latest one in the series, but no...the fifth book in the series came out earlier this year, so, frabjous day, calloo, callay, I have another Pentecost & Prker to look forward to.
And, no, you are not surly. You are a woman expects quality in all things, and that ain't bad. Have a great week,Patti, and stay safe!
You're welcome any time, Jeff. Biut you will have to push aside the raccoon.
Yes, I should have added on my Friday, the 13th, I went on a tour of the local graveyard. It concentrated on town founders but Elmore Leonard was there if only I had time to find him. Some good TV recs, Jeff. I was about out. I can't remember if I read Death Comes to Pemberly or not.
The King sounds like the guy in Minnesota, whose hit list included Planned Parenthood offices and anyone who supported abortion rights.
I believe that Robert B. Parker was actually black, though you wouldn't know it from reading the book, which I remember enjoying quite a bit.
A murder/suicide next door would freak me out! Glad you and the other residents of your building are safe!
I had a nice peaceful Father's Day. We spoke with Patrick (who is in Wisconsin for an Artificial Intelligence conference) and Katie (who is entertaining friends from out-of-town and showing them Boston.
We finally have a dry day so Diane is going to mow our lawn today. I've tried for years to convince her to go with a lawn service, but she tells me: "I need the steps". Diane is a slave to her Fitbit.
I suddenly have a dozen library books stacked up. Sometimes the all come in at the same time! I'll be focused on that situation this week. Stay safe!
Same here, George! Every day I seem to get a notice from either our library or the Cloud Library that one of my books came in. Jackie said I shouldn't have ordered so many, but you never know if it will take weeks or months to arrive. Of course, they all tend to arrive within a few days of each other.
Our Library website shows how many people have requested a book and where we are on the Wait List. Sometimes, there's a dozen people ahead of me...other them only one or two. But trying to guess when a book will become available is a fool's errand.
The downfall of newspapers is really changing the public record. Fewer reporters and fewer stories and less coverage. I think I've griped of this before and I am also part of the problem.
My son, wife, and I visited my mother in Illinois for a couple nights. My wife was able to visit her good friend from high school (in Kansas) who moved to Champaign a few years ago for her husband's job. The husband has since moved to FL for a different job and the rest of the family will be following. He is a football coach and regular moves are the norm.
I tried out John Sandford's MAKE MY BED IN HELL and bailed out after about an hour of listening. Narration was making no sense with switches in time and character POV.
I also quit WITH A VENGEANCE by Riley Sager. My wife said the author is popular. Well... I'll stay quiet.
The Dog Who Was Run Over had her stitches out last week and is regularly raring to go on a walk. Amazing that she had no broken bones.
Started watching PENNYWORTH on MAX (or whatever newest name is. Jerry knows what I am talking about.) Enjoyed the first couple episodes and the alternate timeline setting.
Always amazing how people mention shows on streaming services I get and I've never seen them advertised (Pennyworth). I guess I don't fit the algorithm. Kevin and his parents go to Madison next week for orientation. Is there any reason to report a murder/suicide. I can't decide. Riley Sager used to use his real name--and had little success but this one has been blockbusters for him.
Well, PENNYWORTH began on the Epix cable channel in 2019, which has since been bought, along with primary paren MGM, by Amazon and is tagged MGM+. Now it's available to see in repeats on HBO Max, as "that's" now (and again) known. PENNYWORTH is a somewhat less fantasticated, but still alternate-history, of mid 20th-Century UK, spinoff from BATMAN drama, with young Alfred Pennyworth (more likely to be addressed as Alfie), long before he becomes the avuncular all-service assistant to Bruce Wayne, but is still a rather justice-seeking young man in a Britain threatened with serious fascism (even more than we are at the moment) and generally seeking to aid the good and just...less simple-minded than most Batman drama, it's a good series, but the Warner/DC Comics/HBO complex doesn't look at it as the kind of cash cow their costume-suited heroes and such are, so no more new episodes for us. The assumed algorithm would not see you as an ideal DC comics fan, probably, though this is much more kitchen sink drama with political intrigue than anything Bruce Wayne might be intoning hoarsely in.
Sorry about the ugliness nearby, Patti (and similar reminisces from several of the assembled). Quite aside from the Drumpf failure at self-celebration, which he will no doubt take out on the rest of us, to the best of his ability. I managed to get sick again, just enough to not make the hyperlocal NO KINGS event .2 miles away, nor the bigger one in Philly. Perhaps the aggressive stupidity of our Demanding Whiner In Theft/Other Crime helped my physical stress along. All sympathies for Jerry's aching adventure in yard clean-up...though I think opossums have nearly as clever paws as raccoons...but perhaps not quite as clever minds. Anyone else caught _Patience_ the newly imported British adaptation of the French series _Astrid et Raphaëlle_, like the original about a budding detective on the neuro-divergence spectrum and her neurotypical veteran colleague? Installment one didn't sweep me up as did the first of the French series, but still good...and part of the MASTERPIECE umbrella on PBS, for as long as that survives.
Epix was also notable as the cable station which "rescued" the CONDOR tv series, which had been on DirecTV's Audience channel for the 75 or 12 (or perhaps 30K) people who still had it. It was better than the Redford film version. You can see at least the first season w/o charge on Roku.
Todd, as Astrid fans, we tried to watch it but...it just didn't live up to the original. We have too much else to watch that we really like.
It definitely was on the Not Bad side of good, but I'll give it another try.
A bonus for Kevin going from MI to WI is that he is used to the summer humidity and winter weather. I write that because it was starting to feel pretty muggy yesterday. My handheld computer box tells me today is 68%.
I saw this last night and agree with you. The main character was the worst part. I was shocked at how well Chris Evans plays a regular guy considering how attractive and charismatic he is. I really enjoyed Pedro Pascal’s character the most though and felt he had the most interesting potential for story. Someone who is essentially a unicorn and just wants love but the people he wants to love don’t feel like they deserve him.
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