I saw the French movie, the Marching Band, which was terrific if it comes your way. We are lucky to have the Detroit Institute of Arts showing foreign movies most weekends because we have no art houses anymore.
Reading KIN and enjoying it. Today I am going to a play at Theater Nova, called Maestro. They always show new or unknown plays, which sometimes works out and sometimes doesn't.
TV-I am trying to understand DARK MATTER. Also started PROFESSOR T on PBS, YOUTH on HBO and LANTERNS.
Lovely weather. How about your life?
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Still healing. Becoming aware that a necrotic gall bladder causes symptoms that resemble senility, as long as the diseased/dead organ is still present (now removed). Life sure can be a big old ball of fun. (Up at this hour since I fell asleep around 7pm, I gather...)
PROF. T at times can be damned near the saddest crime drama I watch, given how much horrible back-story is involved for about half the characters, very much including Jasper Tempest himself.
Had cataract surgery done on the second eye this week. I'm phobic about my eyes and was very anxious leading up to the surgery even though it is a simple and common procedure. All went well, I'm told, and -- because it was my bad eye (my very bad eye, the doctor said) -- it will take about a week or two before I'm able to see well. I had an option to get a super-nifty lens that would solve all my problems (and perhaps give me X-ray vision or allow me to shoot lasers out of my eye), but that would have cost another three K out of pocket so I went the cheap route. My eye is currently itching and watering and I am not allowed to rub it, so I'm not exactly happy, but people have been telling me that I am a brave little soldier and patting me on the shoulder. I've been sleeping a lot since the operation. I'll be able to drive again in a few days.
The big news this week is that Walt got a new job. His current contract expires at the end of the month and was not renewed. He had an option to work again at the TSA but refused it because he had hoped that something better would come along among the flour or five feelers he had put out. the new job requires that he be on-site at least 95% of the time, while his current position had him working from home virtually full-time -- something that had been very convenient since his parents moved in with us and since Christina got her new job with crazy work hours. On the negative side, the new job pays less; on the positive side, he keeps his family insurance (a major consideration). The new job also requires him to make frequent trips to Alaska, a place he enjoys; Christina hopes to accompany him on some of the trips.
Also with a new job is Amy, who is starting with a different department for the County. She was one of about fifty mostly experienced applicants. She's excited because this job allows her to use her CAD/CAM experience. Also starting a new job is Gavyn.
Mark is spending a week's vacation in Albuquerque, where he plans to visit three national parks. Things got off to a great start when he landed at the airport and they had lost his reservation and there were no car rentals available at all. He solved that the next day and is having a jolly time communing with nature. He visited some friends at the zoo and fed the penguins, some of whom has missed him. Jessie flew to Raleigh to meet up with her best friend from high school and to meet her new husband and (hopefully) give her stamp of approval; Amy and Gavyn flew up a day later to meet her.
Erin's wedding dress came in and Christina went over to help her try it on. We mortal people won't be able to see it until April 3rd, but Christina said that Erin looked even more beautiful than ever -- if that were actually possible. Erin is very happy.
More to come.
Back again.
The sexual predator who had targeted Jack four years ago was finally convicted after spending all that time in jail for that and other offenses -- his lawyers had kept delaying things for all that period -- strange, because he was often the target of other prisoners while waiting for trial. Jack did not have to testify, which was good. The man got a lengthy sentence and was finally transferred out of the County jail where Kaylee and Ivory work to prison; because of the family connection, Kaylee and Ivory were not allowed to have any contact with him while he was in jail.
Yesterday Christina and I went to the final day of the Pensacola library's annual three-day Fall book sale, where we happened to meet Erin and Trey. For the final day one could fill up a bag with books for just seven dollars. After two days, the books -- in every category imaginable -- were pretty well picked over, but there remained many good and interesting titles. Trey kindly followed me around with my bag as I kept adding books. I ended up with thirty books; I've listed them on my blog today. Christina ended up with about a dozen books, and Erin and Trey picked up several for themselves. A very successful trip.
Because of my cataract operation, reading was at a minimum this week week. I finished only one book -- Alan E. Nourse's STAR SURGEON, which was my FFB this week and one short story which was my Wednesday Short Story selection this week. I'm able to read about five pages at a time and am now only half-way through Preston and Child's apocalyptic-threat novel MOUNT DRAGON. Reading should pick up next week.
Surprisingly, although my eyes were not able to read much, I have been able to put in a lot of time and concentration on my latest jigsaw puzzle, a very tricky 1000-piecer. I've done about two-thirds of the puzzle and should finish it by mid-week.
Ellen has been very impressed with the scented candles I have lit in my room and has gotten a candle of her own. I hope she doesn't set the place on fire.
Speaking of on fire, I hope that you will continue to fire on all cylinders this week. I'm very impressed with how active you are, Patti. Also, that's a great picture of Megan, although I'm wondering just how tilted that floor was. Stay well and stay safe.
Jerry, like you, I went the cheap route on the new lens on my second cataract operation. Reading glasses cost little.
I did think of Harry Hamlin as the boxer in 1978's MOVIE MOVIE. His sister is going blind, so he has to take one last fight to get the money for her eye surgery. She tells him he doesn't need to fight with the classic line, "I've seen enough. I'll remember. "
Nice picture of Phil.
I wouldn't call it "lovely weather" here, what with the nor'easter. We've been inside since Friday morning. Luckily, we didn't get that much rain here, but the winds were howling. It's moving away now.
Jackie watched an indie on Netflix yesterday, DON'T SAY GOOD LUCK, with indie queen Melanie Lynskey as a woman dying of recurring cancer as her daughter (Adam Sandler's daughter Sunny, the ultimateNepo Baby as her parentsproduced this) is about to start in her high school school musical. A real tearjerker, apparently.
I do not recommend CRIMINAL RECORD (Britbox), with Peter Capaldi as the older, possibly corrupt cop, and Cush Jumbo as the younger Sergeant opposing him. First, 8 episodes is two too many. Second, rather than being sympathetic, Jumbo plays her in such an abrasive, obnoxious, off-putting manner that she evokes little sympathy.
We finished the latest LIONESS series, which was tense and nasty to the end. I could do without Taylor Sheridan's MAGA-ish slant, and the anti-Ukraine slant of the last couple of episodes.
We have two episodes of LANTERNS to go, and frankly it would not bother me at all if it wasn't renewed. I guess Kyle Chandler really wanted to play against type.
We watched the first episode of the new NBC series LINE OF FIRE and I don't know how much more I can take. Peter Krause and Hope Davis (separated but not divorced, and sleeping together despite her having a boyfriend who is about to move in) and their three grown children are all FBI or Secret Service, in a cliched soapy mix. I think this will be more Jackie's taste than mine.
YOUTH is another Sharon Horgan show we tried but as quickly gave up as definitely "not for us" like BAD SISTERS. Bring back CATASTROPHE.
Buffalo Bills fans are celebrating an unexpected win over the LA Chargers. The Bills had FIVE turnovers and still managed to eke out a win. Next week, the New England Patriots.
Diane has an appointment with a vascular doctor this week after some aneurisms showed up on her MRI. I have several boxes of books to dispense to Libraries and Used Bookstores this week.
Patrick is traveling to Rome, Italy and Katie is recovering from the Nor'easter that dumped 5 inches of rain on Boston. Stay safe!!
Jerry, I know I don't need to say it, but Ellen and candles don't mix! She needs to be watched, and it's not your job.
Best wishes to Diane. Jerry,glad your surgery is moving along. Todd, you have had a tough summer. So I am can skip a lot of shows based on Jeff's analysis. Strangely, I like LANTERNS but I couldn't say why. Maybe it's their childhoods that interest me. The play was not good.
George's blog post finally changed.
We liked the early episodes of LANTERNS too, but it got darker and nastier as it went on. Nathan Fillion's wig was just embarrassing.
We want to try DARK MATTER. I've enjoyed some of his books, but I gave up on that one as it was too confusing. This sounds like FRINGE and the J. K. Simmons show COUNTERPART.
I've always been concerned about aneurisms. Where are they and why did Diane have an MRI in the first place?
I think the photographer was tipsy.
Very nice photo at the top. I am glad you are having lovely weather. Ours is getting a bit warmer and too much sunshine, but I am going to have to get outside and garden anyway.
We just got back from lunch and grocery shopping, so I will keep this brief. I did read all the comments so I can keep up with you all.
This week Glen read HAPPY-GO-LUCKY by David Sedaris. It was good but some of the essays were very dark. He started reading YEAR ZERO: A HISTORY OF 1945 by Ian Buruma last night.
I just finished reading TERRA INCOGNITA by Connie Willis. It is three novellas, all science fiction at least to some extent. The third story, D.A., is only 40 pages long, compared to about 130 plus pages for each of the others. Two were originally published in the 1990s and D.A. was published 2007. I liked all of them, although both of the longer novellas were very confusing until they were close to the end. But that happens to me a lot in science fiction.
The interviews of late with Sedaris are also dark. You are good to stay with a book that's confusing. I probably wouldn't.
Jerry, glad to hear the eyes are on the mend.
I was on the phone with my mother as she had a ccnsultation with a heart doctor She will get a valve replacement in a couple months.
I heard DIVE BAR AT THE END OF THE ROAD by Kelley Armstrong. Fun horror novel with several people stuck in a remote Michigan bar after car wrecks.
Almost done with Thomas Harris's CARI MORA. Crime novel set in Miami where competing crooks are trying to recover $25M in gold that was hidden underground by Pablo Escobar. Quite good story.
Our kitchen demolition is mostly completed. The electricians will finish the rough work tonight. New appliances are in storage at the store. Windows and doors ordered. And the plumber and flooring guy come this week to get started.
A friend had to wait three months for a new fridge. Glad you are not experiencing that.
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