The Cheese Stands Alone

Su 9/30/18 Up 740am; sunny, warmer; to low 80's. Watched 'FREQUENCY' Denis Quaid is a fireman and he talks in the past/future with his son on an old Ham Radio. And, there's a serial killer, too. Interesting look at fire fighting in the late 60's. To mix time travel, serial killers, and fathers and sons seems like an impossible task, but the movie actually works! To the 'MyViews.com' survey and I should get ten bucks. They already sent me two, crisp dollar bills. Watched a 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'- IMPOSSIBLE PLANET (Geraldine Chaplin) Rich, ancient woman wants to visit planet earth, however is was destroyed many decades ago. They rocket to Earth anyway and she unites (the both die?) with the captain into her personal past on Terra- a sparkling pond and waterfall in North Carolina.  No better than an average episode of The Twilight Zone. Then, the rest of the first episode of 'MANIAC'. I downloaded #2 to the phone for lat...

Sa 9/29/18- Bo's Birthday Party Up 8am; rough night, couldn't sleep. Cloudy and cool; 50's early and temps barely to 70 later. Watched Netflix disc, 'I USED TO BE DARKER'. A young girl from Ireland goes to Ocean City, MD and finds herself pregnant by a local boy.  She visits her Aunt Kim, Uncle Bill, and Cousin Abby in Baltimore as that family is rocked by divorce and bad feelings. The best part of the film is the diversity of music.  Bill and Kim are musicians and a variety of musical styles are on the soundtrack from Hip Hop and Hardcore, to Traditional and Folk. A little after 11am to FitClub West, then on to Bo's birthday party at 4pm. I asked the kid at the desk for the FitClub password since I had cleared it when their internet was down last week. I couldn't even text one word, and he took over the 'thumb typing'.  45" Octane (Hunky Dory- Bowie). 45" Walk (Reality TV all day). 45" Recumbent Bike. 45" Cross. Legs/ Che...

Fr 9/28/18- Flu Shot on Atlanta St; 11am. Up 715am; fifties early, to low 70's. Watched 'UNSEEN' a True Crime on Amazon Prime. Serial killer Anthony Sowell rapes, kills, and dismembers eleven women at 12205 Imperial Ave., Cleveland, OH. A Middle-Eastern store owner from the area remarks that, "He cleaned out the garbage". Watched part of episode one of 'MANIAC' for the second time. This is a strange and 'deep' dark comedy. 1030am- to Atlanta St. for the shot. Getting the shot within a half hour; registered and scheduled a 'check up' for early November with Dr. Ellison. I only weigh 147 with clothes/ shoes/ wallet! Resting pulse almost too low- she said that 'I'm just really relaxed'??? Went to FitClub North and stopped at the gas station on Sangamon/ Dirksen for a fill up; $22. On the machines by 1150am. Very sub-standard club. Machines needed maintenance. Only one Cross Trainer with arms working. No A&E Channel, ...

Th 9/27/18 Up 730am; partly sunny and cool- temps to mid 70's. Watched Netflix disc, 'I HAVE SEEN THE DEVIL'. One of the most violent and bloody films I have ever seen. A Korean detective's girlfriend is brutally raped and murdered. He takes a two week furlough from the force and plays a horrific 'Catch and Release Game' with the serial killer. He forces the unconscious killer to swallow a listening/GPS device so that he can be tracked, and then he visits and tortures him several times to prolong his anguish. Ordered books for the book club through February Scheduled a flu shot at Dr. Ellison's office for tomorrow at 11am. Selected 'THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD' Margaret Atwood, and read until 2pm, then biked to Planet Fitness/ Wabash PO. 45" Walk (2 episodes of THE WIRE). 45" Recumbent Bike (read/ Live Cream- 2005). 45" Cross (THE WIRE). 45" Bike (read/ more Cream). 30" Cross (THE WIRE). Home to soak, more Atwood, and ...

We 9/26/18- The Contemporary Book Club at 6pm Up 815am; bright, sunny and temps barely into the 70's by late afternoon and 50's early. When I turned the computer off yesterday afternoon I switched 'TV/ Computer' sockets in the back of the PC to see if it would solve the flickering issue. Maybe this was the problem all along. Occasional flickering, but much improved....so far. I wrote up 'SAVING FAITH' - David Baldacci for the blog. Watched, 'ALTERED MINDS' (Amazon Prime) Judd Hirsch plays a famous psychiatrist who is dying of lung cancer. His wife and adoptive children gather for his final birthday, and revelations unfold. He worked for the CIA on their infamous 'Project MKUltra', and preformed mind control on his adoptive children. Many years before Hirsch's character was treating a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD and this man kidnapped and terrorized the adoptive kids, and Tommy killed the vet with an icicle. The father only wante...

Tu 9/25/18 Up 9am; overcast and rain for late afternoon and evening- to about 80. Sent Janny an email with the picture of Dave and I in different jackets and I gave her an explanation of yesterday's email problems. I probably changed the email 'contact' info when I was messing with the phone last Friday night. Watching Netflix disc, 'A QUIET PLACE' (Jon Krasinski/ Emily Blunt)  The Earth has been attacked by aliens and a family on an isolated farm try to survive. The aliens are blind, but have excellent hearing so the family must remain silent. Almost no dialog in the film, but nonetheless this is a harrowing and gripping thriller. To stop the flickering I will try to plug the cord that connects the TV to computer into a different socket on the PC. Today's Plan: Will take the Accord to drop the disc, hit Planet Fitness, and then to Walmart for Bo's gift and FedEx Office to make a copy of the plane tickets. I also stopped at the dentist on Chatham...

Mo 9/24/18 Up 815am; cloudy all day temps to upper 70's. Flickering Is Back- then it went away! Watched the second hour of 'JACOB'S LADDER' (Amazon Prime)  Jacob Singer is baffled, troubled, and perplexed with his life. He was part of a psychological/ psychedelic experiment during his service in the Vietnam war and he gradually learns that this is where he was killed and his present life has only been an illusion. The title refers to the hippie chemist's name for the experimental drug that he developed to make soldiers more aggressive and hostile. He said that this drug provided a "ladder straight down to the primal fear and the base of anger". "The only things that burn in Hell are your attachments to this life". 'JACOB'S LADDER' is one of my favorite films of all time. And, I spent a couple of hours watching videos on YouTube about the hidden meanings of the film. Then, also on YouTube, I found Adrian Lyne's entire comm...

Su 9/23/18 Up 8am; Sunny, high fifties early- to upper 70's later.  Watched 'BOMB CITY' (Amazon Prime) A Low-budget film examines the rift between The Punks and The Jocks in Amarillo, Texas during the late 90's. Tensions come to a head during a gang fight between the two groups in which a Jock intentionally runs over a Punk and kills him.... "I'm a Ninja in my Caddy!"... Then, the film becomes a compelling courtroom drama in which the Punk is vilified and the Jock is celebrated and  vindicated by the courts; based on the tragic death of Brian Deneke.  Noon- weekly clean-up to 'Down The Road'- MANASSAS  (Stephen Stills). Then, read downstairs and listened to 'Huh' singles compilation/ 'Little Fires Everywhere'. Biked to LA Fitness and on the machines by 3pm. Walk (THE WIRE). 45" Recumbent Bike (Van Morrison and his Street Choir (Hoopla)/ Celeste Ng). 45" Cross (THE WIRE). 45" Bike (More Van and Ng). 30...

Sa 9/22/18 Up 8am; Deliciously cool and bright blue skies; temps only to mid 70's. Watched the Bonus Features for 'FRENZY' on YouTube, then watched Netflix disc, 'AN AMERICAN HAUNTING' Sissy Spacek/ Donald Sutherland- a fairly decent ghost film about 'The Bell Witch' phenomenon of the early nineteenth century. After watching the alternative endings on the Bonus Features and various YouTube postings, I learned that the film is actually a film about a girl that's been sexually abused by her father. The 'modern day- Book Ends' of the film are where a mother waits for her ex-husband to pick up their daughter for a visit. The ghost of Betsy Bell warns the mother to protect her daughter from the sexual abuse of her father. A dynamite film, but damned if it wasn't confusing, but crystal clear once you unravel the meaning. I wrote an email to Cindy after I went to the 'Unclaimed' site and noticed that she also had a claim to an amount...

Fr 8/21/18- Pizza with The Brandenburgs Up 820am; Breezy, and much cooler- only to high 70's. Watched Netflix disc, 'FRENZY' Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate film, and the last from Great Britain. Very suspenseful tale about a man who is falsely accused of multiple murder, and sections of the film are droll and darkly hilarious. No time for Special Features, but I found them on YouTube for later. 1205pm Accord to FitClub, then must get the pizza that I forgot yesterday. 45" Octane (THE MELVINS). 45" Walk (Reality TV; Recap of all the 'Housewives'all workout). 45" Recumbent Bike. 45" Cross. Legs/ Chest/ Biceps. 30" Old Style Cross. Whirlpool/ Pool. Stopped at the gas station on Durkin Drive and got two Digorno's Pizzas for thirteen bucks. Jan and Joe arrived right at 5pm and left about 8pm. Four 16 oz. Budds/ Talked about the usual- Elsie's House/ Father's and Sons/ The 'kids'/ One of the dogs was run over o...

Th 8/20/18 Up 630am; more record setting heat and humidity; low 90's. Mitch's Landscaping called a few days ago at 720am and said that they'd show up on Thursday "about this time". Of course, I was ready at 730am, and they rolled in about 930am. I knew it! Watched Neflix disc,'THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA: FRONTIERSMEN Disc 1". Daniel Boone/ Meriwether Lewis and William Clark/ Tecumseh. I didn't realize what an important figure Daniel Boone was to America's war of independence from Britain, and Tecumseh was kind of like the George Washington of native Americans. Then, the next, and final, 'JACK RYAN' (Amazon Prime). Wrote another email to Cindy about her SkyView app and the Contemporary Book Club. 1230pm the crew is winding up, and I've started 'LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE'- Celeste Ng. Paid them off (Mitch's last name is 'Trees'... A landscaper with 'Trees' as a last name?) about 115pm and then read u...

We 8/19/18 Up 815am; We got a trace of rain last night, and more heat and humidity for today; to low 90's. I sent an email to Republic Services, and they picked up the two bags of yard waste early this morning. Sent an email to Cindy and we'll set up a meeting sometime next week. Ryan had asked her what happened to my trailer, and I filled her in on some things that she did in July of 1990. I was reading the journal last night. Watched 'CONTAGIO' (Amazon Prime) Low budget Horror; Carl and Iris are camping when I satellite crashes nearby and infects the local inhabitants with a flesh eating virus; Corny and Camp. Will go in to Walmart and wait for an oil change and tire rotation. I hope to join 'SNAP' and do a workout while I wait. When I opened to phone to call, I was getting a message saying 'Emergency Calls Only'. Restarted and it went away. Consulted the web, and it's a common problem. 130pm; to Walmart and signed in and only one car...

Tu 8/18/18- Confirmation #'s I got a call from Mitch's Landscaping at 720am. We're on for Thursday morning. I'll bet they won't be here at the crack of dawn when there is work to be done. Up 820am; Took an inordinately long time writing a reply to Cindy's text. 10am began 'UNSANE' (Amazon Prime) Steven Soderbergh (dir.) A Thriller/ Psychological Horror film that hinges on the premise that a mental health facility is able to have you sign yourself in, and then keep you there, against your will to milk your insurance. It involves a woman and her stalker, but that premise with the real clincher. Spent a long, long time composing another reply to Cindy. Tried to use FedEx but getting nowhere. 315pm in the car to visit the store. They did get the document that I sent and I printed two copies of my confirmation numbers. It cost under a buck, but I'm still not sure how to have them print emails. The guy was not too helpful. On the machines at...

Mo 6/24/18 Up 820am; More heat and humidity- to low 90's. Wrote up 'MISSING YOU'- Harlan Coben for the blog. Watching 'THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS' Ben Mendelsohn stars, one of the actors from the super-excellent series, 'BLOODLINE'. The film is wonderfully bleak and sad, but so enjoyable. Upscale Suburban Life never had it so despondent and forlorn, and I suppose many would detest the film for this very reason. Wrote the Chat Wrap while listening to LUNAPARK on YouTube. Then re-watched the 'OZARK' from last night. 2pm- on the bike to the 'Y'. The plan was to learn the FedEx app during the recumbent bike part of the workout, but this was impossible. Far too confusing. 45" Walk (TEEN MOM 2). 45" Recumbent Bike ('SAVING FAITH'- David Baldacci). 45" Cross (TEEN MOM 2). 45" Bike (Baldacci). 30" Cross (more MTV). Home to soak and listen to THE SILOS, and more 'SAVING FAITH'. Watched the last...

Su 8/16/18 Up too early- 645am; Sunny and 90; just about like yesterday. Watched Netflix film 'THE ANGEL'. The story of, Ashraf Marwan, the son-in-law of Egyptian President Nasser who worked with the Mossad (code-name "The Angel") and alerted the Israelis of attack plans immediately prior to the October 1973 Yom Kippur War. 1045am-The plan is to try to pull albums by the Ass Ponys and Luna from the Itunes laptop to Google Play. Read for an hour- began David Baldacci's, 'SAVING FAITH', and then did the weekly cleanup listening to Stephen Still's old outfit, 'MANASSAS'. Then, mowed the lawn, and opened the laptop for the first time in 150 days and was somehow able to get it to upload Itunes music to Google Play. It's taking a very long time and I cannot figure out how the albums are being selected. I was looking for copies of 'LOHIO' and 'SOME STUPID WITH A FLARE GUN', but they ain't on Itunes. But, I know that I...

Sa 8/15/18- Cindy Visits Westview Up 8am; Sunny, to 90. Cindy called about 945am, and said that she she had some errands to run and she would be over within the hour. I was watching the Brazilian film, 'WOLF AT THE DOOR' when she arrived. About 1040am; I showed her the house and the yard. We sat downstairs and talked until around 130pm. She left to go to BikeTek to see about replacing the bike that she had ridden since she was nine. #- Chris had stopped drinking for ten or fifteen years right after they married. He learned that his liver was damaged and this gave him the incentive to quit. She doesn't know what made him start again. #- Dave lived in Highland, IL for a time so that he could be close to St. Louis. #- Chris had a delivery job, and one afternoon he drove back from Dave's and wrecked his car. He was charged with a DUI and spent the night in the Edwardsville jail. #- Johnson is a mess and lives in Seminole, OK? He wanted my number, but I think not...

Fr 9/14/18 Up 830am; Sunny, temps to upper 80's. Tried to get a handle on Dropbox, but I don't like any of the photos of the house and yard. Will re-shoot. There's lots of material in 'DB', including music- kind of unwieldy. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE LAST FACE' A romantic love story set against the refugee crises of central Africa; Charlize Theron/ Javier Bardem. Another 'JACK RYAN' (Amazon Prime) 115pm- began the photo session. Bike to Planet Fitness and drop the disc. Maybe Kinko's to copy emails for the trip. 3pm at Planet Fitness. 45" Walk (THE INNOCENTS). 45" Recumbent Bike ( read MISSING YOU/ Led Zep). 45" Cross (THE INNOCENTS). 45" Bike (THE INNOCENTS- 3 episodes). 20" Cross (THE INNOCENTS). Home to soak and listen to Live Dead. Cindy sent and email that she wanted to meet me at the house tomorrow. I sent word that I'd be available from nine to two. She sent pix of me and lachel....We looked lik...

Th 9/13/18 Up 730am and texted Republic Services that the two bags of yard waste were not picked up yesterday. Then I read more of 'MISSING YOU'- Harlan Coben; out of bed 830am. Wrote up 'THE NIGHT MANAGER'- John LeCarre for the blog. Watched a Civil War film, 'COPPERHEAD' (Amazon Prime) The term 'Copperhead' was a 19th century term for people who were not necessarily Pro-South, but felt that Lincoln was acting in a manner that was not sanctioned by the US constitution- therefore illegal. 'COPPERHEAD' is a 'thinking man's' film about war that's not so much about why an armed conflict is sometimes justified, but more about when it is not. It explores the position that war is always a cure worse than the disease; A fine film. Then the usual soul-crushing experience of booking the long term parking and car rental for the trip to Phoenix. Ended at 120pm. Not quite as bad as the trip, but damn close. Will read and then head ...

We 8/12/18 Sunny and bright; temps to crack 80. Watched Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, and James Caan in an organized crime drama set in Brooklyn during the 70's-' BLOOD TIES'. It got only lukewarm reviews, but I really liked it. A hoodlum is released from prison after a twelve year stretch and his brother is a cop who tries to patch up their relationship. The film demonstrates great ensemble acting, and an in-depth, multi-layered character study of relationships under duress. This is a remake of a French film and novel. Then, 'BICYCLE- A GREAT BRITISH MOVEMENT' Eighty two minute documentary about the history of British cycling; Penny Farthing Bicycle/ Safety Bicycle/ Moulton Bicycle. Put off buying the car rental at the St. Louis airport and renting the vehicle for Phoenix. Gotta do Dat! 2pm- on the bike to the 'Y'- however, didn't leave till almost 230pm, screwing around with the bike pump. It works, but 'it's a brand new fucking day'...

Tu 9/11/18- Dinner at Indigo with Ameriprise Up 845am; Bright and sunny; to about 80. Dragged the two bags (applied the stickers) of yard waste to the street that Kenny and Peggy left with the big blue can. Watched 'THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE' (Amazon Prime) Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight together again! 1pm on the bike to FitClub. 45" Octane (Tom Verlaine/ Television). 45" Walk (TV for the rest if the workout). 45" Recumbent Bike. 45" Cross. Legs/ Biceps. 30" Cross. Home for a cup of instant, shower, and on the road to INDIGO by 645pm. Double the turnout from last year. All ATT employees and I think I was on only retired employee. Sat with a guy that commuted from Springfield to Decatur (he lives in Berwyn!) and a woman who had 31 years with the company, but she's only 51). The guy was talking about how the company has been deliberately aiding the decline in union membership- by any means that they can. The woman said that most of the jobs...

Mo 9/10/18- Confrontation on the front lawn Up 845am; bright, sunny, and cheery, but I feel like re-fried death. This Summer Cold has really kicked in; temps to upper 70's. I watched a couple of episodes of 'JACK RYAN' (Amazon Prime). I got a call from Peggy saying that she had a problem with her son, and wouldn't be able to start on the landscaping until one or two this afternoon. She does good work, and she might pull it out, but I'm only partially convinced. I wrote a long email to Janny about yesterday's events, and I might try to mow the back lawn before Peggy arrives. It hinges on if the grass is dry enough to be cut. 1pm- I'm venturing out to check the scene, and the lawn was plenty dry, so I mowed the front and back. I finished the lawn and I got a vaguely threatening call from Kenny. He said that he'd be right over 'with four witnesses' and he was upset that 'You told Peggy that I didn't want him on the job'. He, ...

Su 9/9/18 Up 830am; Bright, sunny, and cool- Low sixties to just about 70. Watched 'PROPHET'S PREY' (Xfinity) The story of Warren Jeffs, Latter Day Cult leader and convicted pedophile. He's in a Texas prison serving life plus twenty years, yet he still is a messiah to over 10,000 followers; "Make America Great Again". Called and on the way 1230pm. Google Map had a west, then north method, but the north to Andrew Rd, then west, Cudgel??, to Price. Not as hard as I expected. DETAILS of Visit- I left Westview around 1230pm. Google's fave route was shorter, but much more complicated. Take Walnut #29 North of the airport to Andrew Rd. Take a left and in a couple of miles it will veer right (north), then take a left at Gudget Rd. (marked with a blue sign on the right) Head west several miles- pass the parking lot for the bike trail on the left. The road shrinks to not much more than a trail. Take another left at Price. You cross the Sangamon River. ...

Sa 9/8/18 Up 9am; looks like I've dodged a 'weather bullet'. Although it rained all night, and continues to rain all day, we aren't getting anywhere near the amounts predicted. Very cool temps- barely into the 70's. Watched 'IF I STAY'. A (slightly) better than average teen romance. He's an up-and-coming rock star and she's a star on the cello. She's nearly killed in a car wreck and her existential dilemma becomes- should she stay on Earth and continue this unlikely love affair or head out to the next plane of existence? Then, the first episode of a new Netflix series called, 'FIRST AND LAST'. When you're sent to jail the only two days that matter are your first and last- Very compelling television! Washed Buddy's sand box with the hose out front, dropped the disc in the box in front of 900 Durkin, and to the 'Y' by 245pm. 45" Walk (JERSEY SHORE IN LAS VEGAS). 45" Recumbent (JERSEY SHORE). 45" Cross...

Fr 9/7/18 Up 9am; rain all day and more heavy rain in the forecast thru Saturday- the estimates that I see call for four to five inches. I'm hoping the downstairs will stay dry; low 70's. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE'. True story of the curators of the Warsaw zoo who during WWII smuggled over 300 Jews to safety. Jessica Chastain was radiant. Then, two episodes of 'THE GOOD PLACE'- "It's forking good"! Called Peggy/ Kenny, but no answer. Will call later.  Called after 4pm and they agreed to a $300 cleanup. See ya Monday. 230pm on the road to Club South. Stopped at the Wabash PO to drop the disc, and up the hill to the Dollar Store for Men's Vitamins. Strong and steady rain has fallen most of the day. 45" Best Octane. 45" Recumbent Bike (read and re-loaded Amazon Music. I had lost most of my faves; gottem back). 45" Walk (Amazon Music). 45" Cross (COLD CASE SEX CRIMES). 30" Bike (GLOW). Stop...

Th 9/6/18 Up 815am; cloudy and rain should begin by afternoon and continues, off and on, for the next couple of days- Only in the seventies. Watched 'SAFE HOUSE' (Amazon Prime) Set in New Zealand and 'inspired' by a real event. A woman and her two children are placed in protective custody, but it turns into a bungled police operation, and they're neither protected or safe. The set design and photography are far superior than the actual story. Odd. Then, 'PASS OVER' (Amazon Prime) The play focuses on two Black men, Moses and Kitch, who stand on a desolate Chicago street corner as they metaphorically attempt to 'pass over' to the promised land while two symbols of White Supremacy, Master and Ossifer, block their way; An artistic mix of poetry, cinema, and stage-play. The ending really deconstructs the subliminal meaning of 'Make American Great Again'. Then, 'SHADOWS OF LIBERTY' (Amazon Prime) Fifty minutes about the dire consequ...

We 9/5/18 Up 845am; hot and sunny, but a chance of rain late this afternoon and on through the next several days. Watched 'TRAPPER JAKE' (Amazon Prime) An excellent bio-pic of Jake Korell- Fremont County and Riverton, Wyoming. He's 96 years old and still trapping, hunting, fishing, and living off the land. Then episode #2 of 'THE GOOD PLACE', then re-watched #1 that I began last night. Kristen Bell dies and goes to 'the good place', but there seems to have been a mistake. Listened to The Kavanaugh hearings on Politico. 145pm- drove to 'Y'; 45" Walk (Reality TV All Day/ and some of the supreme court hearings- Kavanaugh). 45" Recumbent Bike. 45" Cross. 45" Bike. 30" Cross. To Fairhills for beer and shopping; $41. No word from Peggy/ Kenny Landscaping... Into the tub for more of The Warner/ Reprise Sampler, 'Particle Theory' tape. I wonder where I got this because it's quite amazing, and read more  LeCar...

Tu 9/4/18 Up 930am; Steamy hot already; temps to low 90's, but feels like much hotter. Watched 'JORDAN' (Amazon Prime) A five year old girl and her mother are in a bad car wreck in a forest in northern New Mexico. The girl leaves the scene to find help, but can't tell the authorities where the accident occurred. When she is reunited with her mother, she claims that the woman is not her mother. Well done and the young girl is the daughter of the director. Made out the check for the property taxes. The plan is to bike to the county building later, and then over to LA Fitness. Then, rewatched the last half of episode #2 of 'JACK RYAN'- the lead is played by a comedic actor from 'THE OFFICE'. He does a perfect job as 'tongue- inp check-superhero'. 2pm- biked downtown...very hot and humid. Through the park and noticed that Allen will never cross the tracks. Back north and to the county building. I wrote the check for the unadjusted higher am...

Mo 9/3/18- Labor Day Didn't get up till 10am- an extra beer last night. Partly sunny, very hot, and over 90 before noon. The 'AC' will remain 'ON' today and tomorrow. Made sure to send a 'Chat Wrap' to The Brandenburgs. I missed last Monday. Watched 'JOLENE' (Amazon Prime). Based on a short story in the New Yorker magazine by E. L. Doctorow. Jessica Chastain's first major role and it's the story of a young orphan who makes her way in the world through the men that fall under her spell. Not great, but definitely worth a look. A weak point is that her character is supposed to be an artist, yet the 'art' is terribly unconvincing. The guy that plays Peter Quinn in 'HOMELAND' plays a tattoo artist in the film and he looks like a stand-in Johnny Depp. 2pm- reading 'THE NIGHT CLERK', and on the bike to Planet Fitness by 3pm. Some fuck-head at the four-way top on Iles at the entrance to the mall tried to run me down. ...

Su 9/2/18 Up 920am; bright, breezy, and hot- to almost 90. Wrote up part of 'MOHAWK' that I finished yesterday. Watched 'THE FURY' (Amazon Prime) A Dutch film about a young boy who is intrigued by his aunt. She has suffered an abortion as a teenager and has spent her whole life in shame. The film begins as a comedy, and ends as a tragedy. In a darkly surprising ending, you learn that she wasn't raped, but that she willingly engaged in group sex with much older men. Began the lawn about 110pm, and on the bike to LA Fitness by 240pm. They're open till 8pm on Sundays, and tomorrow, Labor Day, Planet Fitness is open for regular hours. Before I biked to the workout I called Elsie's and talked for less than five minutes. That's about the 'new normal'....he don't respond anyway and Lannie is far too 'bright and shiny'. 45" Walk (THE WIRE) 45" Recumbent Bike (I dropped two albums to Hoopla before leaving; CALEXICO/ 'Sl...

Sa 9/1/18 Up 9am; muggy, threatening, and temps to hit 90. A chance of rain is in the forecast for the next seven days. Watched 'BLOODLINES' (Amazon Prime) Colin Bouwer, a prominent South African psychiatrist living in Dunedin, New Zealand poisons his his wife with insulin, and attempts to make it appear that she died of natural causes, but one of her doctor's goes to the police. Set in New Zealand and based on an actual case. Not covered in the film, but this man's son also tried to kill his wife in South Africa and didn't get away with it either. Watched the last 20" of Jack Ryan again. Then the first episode of the Netflix cartoon series, 'PARADISE PD'. The plan is to wait for the mail delivery so that I can return the duplicate disc before 5pm at the Wabash PO/ and hit Planet Fitness. Reading 1pm, and finished 'MOHAWK'- great read, and an unbelievable 'First Novel'. 230pm on bike to Planet Fitness. The Netflix disc didn...