The Cheese Stands Alone

Mo 9/30/19 Up 745am; sunny with temps approaching 90. Watched 'WRONG TURN AT TAHOE' (Amazon Prime) The film was a pleasant surprise, although probably went straight to video when it was released (2009), it was most definitely worth a look. A crime boss kills a low level dealer, but this man was connected to a mafia kingpin. Bloody revenge and retaliation follows; with Miguel Ferrer, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Harvey Keitel. Shot in Spokane, WA. Then the next two episodes of 'UNDONE' (Amazon Prime) Only one remains! 1pm: Writing the 'Weekly Wrap' and then to bike to the 'Y'. 230pm on the machines at the 'Y'. 45" Walk (TV all workout. Didn't even bring the headphones). 45" Recumbent Bike. 45" Cross. 30" Walk. 30" Cross. Home to read downstairs, 'RULES OF CIVILITY' and listen to SLEATER-KINNEY. Then in the tub with more 30's Intrigue and SHUGGIE OTIS/ ROLAND KIRK/ THE FACES. Episode #4 'COLD CASE ...

Su 9/29/19 More fierce storms rolled through at 3am. Up 730am with more rain predicted for this morning, then partly cloudy with temps to the mid to upper 80's. Wrote up 'OPEN HOUSE' by Elizabeth Berg for the blog. Watched 'IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON' (Netflix) It's dicey to make a movie about time travel and not have it unravel. But, this movie is an exception. It's not the best, but at least a 'B Plus'. Beginning in 1988 a black woman is killing random people in Philadelphia with a deadly virus. A police detective is obsessed with the case and learns that the killer is actually from the future and is his grand-daughter. She's trying to stop a worldwide apocalypse by preventing key individuals from their dark destinies. Then I watched, 'CLIVE DAVIS: THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES' (Netflix) I watched the first twenty minutes of this a couple of nights ago and I finished the full two hours. The saga of a true music mogul, and I really...

Sa 9/28/19 Up 730am: Strong storms began about 3am, but clearing when I woke up. Partly cloudy and temps to a slightly above 80. Watched Netflix disc, 'SNATCHED' A mother and daughter (Goldie Hawn, Amy Schumer) go to a vacation resort in South America and they're kidnapped by bad guys; with Joan Cusack and Wanda Sykes. Silly, yet parts are very funny; about what you'd expect. Watched 'SOMEONE KNOWS! LOST COMPASSION- WHAT HAPPENED TO MITRICE RICHARDSON?' (Amazon Prime) A strange police case in that you can't be sure if it was a criminal conspiracy/cover-up, or just complete ineptitude on the part of all authorities. I can't believe that if the police let someone leave the station after midnight, without a phone or car, they would not make them sign a waiver. This would absolve the police of any responsibility. It's in the middle of nowhere, and how did Richardson get nearly five miles to Monte Nido, the last place she was seen alive? Will fini...

Fr 9/27/19 Up 730am; partly sunny and rain predicted for late tonight and through the weekend- to upper 80's with a nice breeze. Left the TV and all the lights on downstairs last night...A six beer evening.... Watched Netflix disc, '7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE' A fairly tame recreation of the 1976 hostage crisis in Uganda where  Israeli commandos were able to stage a successful rescue. A YouTube interview with the guitarist form Red Hot Chili Peppers, and part of an interview with the director of 'BEWARE OF MR BAKER' as he and the drummer from Red Hot Chili Peppers talk with Ginger Baker sprawled on a recliner and half aware. Then two more episodes of 'ALONE' (Amazon Prime) 215pm: Drove to Wabash PO to drop the disc and workout at Planet Fitness. Then to Walmart for Bluetooth headphones and a new coffee pot. On the machines by 230pm. 45" Cross (TV news of the impeachment). 45" Recumbent Bike (Read 'OUR HOUSE' listened to RED HOT CHILI P...

Th 9/26/19 Up 715am; sunny and much cooler- temps to mid 70's. Watched 'SHOPLIFTERS' (Hoopla) A group of scammers posing as a family take in a five year old abandoned girl. Things fall apart, and they are discovered by the authorities, but 'love not blood' is what it takes to make a family. A truly excellent film and winner of Palme d'Or and numerous other international film awards. Then watched 'BEWARE MR. BAKER' (YouTube) Burning bridges since the day he was born: Graham Bond Organization, Clapton, Africa , Fela, dogs, and polo horses. His Wikipedia entry says that as of September 2019, "the family of Ginger Baker asked fans to keep him in their thoughts as he was 'critically ill'. 2pm: mowing the backyard. Mowed about 2/3 of the back- the far end was dry and lean, and just a few strips in the front on the fire plug side: A half hour total, including a bit of raking in the back. 255pm on the machines at LA Fitness.  45" Walk ...

We 9/25/19- Contemporary Book Club Meeting Up 720am: Light rain when I awoke, then cloudy with temps to about 80. Wrote up 'THE FAR FIELD' by Madhuri Vijay for the blog. Watched 'INGENIOUS' (Amazon Prime) Two friends try to market novelty items, but fail. Then they come up with the talking beer opener and strike it rich; with Dallas Roberts (AMERICAN CRIME), Jeremy Renner (HURT LOCKER, TAKE), and a small but excellent part for Richard Kind (I'M DYING UP HERE, LUCK). 1050am: Internet search on 'THE FAR FIELD' 1130: Skimming the book and will hit FitClub West for the workout and then leave for the book club meeting at 6pm. On the machines at FitClub West by 130pm. 45" Octane (Listened to a podcast about 'THE FAR FIELD' with the author). 45" Walk (TV about the impeachment scandal). 45" Cross. 30" Walk. 30" Old Style Cross. Whirlpool/ Pool. Monroe and Washington closed to traffic and I had to drive to Jefferson to ge...

Tu 9/24/19 Up 8am; mostly sunny and temps to just over 80. Watched 'THE EXCEPTION' (Hoopla) In 1940 Kaiser Wilhelm II is living in exile on a huge estate with his wife and staff in Belgium. A German captain is sent to the Kaiser to insure his safety soon after Hitler invades Belgium. The captain has an affair with a young Dutch maid, and soon learns that she is an enemy English agent. The plot is a little hard to believe, but the acting is superb; with Christopher Plummer, Lily James, Jai Courtney, and Eddie Marsan does an amazing job as the nefarious Heinrich Himmler. The title poses the question: Are there just a few bad apples in Hitler's vision for the future of the world, or is Hitler's entire philosophy drastically wrong and the few good people in it are 'The Exception'? Last night while listening to 'the dinner CD' by The Red Hot Chili Peppers I noticed that it was so different from what the band sounds like that I thought I had mislabeled t...

Mo 9/23/19 Up 730am; cooler and sunny with temps to mid 70's. The first day of Fall and Springsteen turns 70 today. Sent off the Weekly Wrap then watched 'TAKE' (Amazon Prime) Another well-done, yet deliberately paced Independent film about a young mother trying to help her hyperactive son and how their story connects to a desperate low-life who is trying to find a way to pay off a $2000 gambling debt; with Minnie Driver and Jeremy Renner. Quirky and off-beat and I really liked it (critics did not). Then I watched one episode of the Ken Burns PBS series, 'COUNTRY MUSIC'- "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'" (1984-1996) These were the years that new artists attempted to return to the roots of Country music.  They were called 'The Neo-Traditionalists'. This was the exact opposite of the faction that tried to make Country music more Pop/ Rock/ and Punk. I guess I can appreciate both directions. I'll be watching more of this series as anyth...

Su 9/22/19 Up 745am; mostly cloudy with rain predicted for this afternoon- temps to about 80. A few light showers throughout the day, but probably not even a half an inch. Watched Netflix disc, 'READY PLAYER ONE' An enjoyable film that captures 'the gaming experience'. Simplistic story-line and weak character development, but 'The Spectacle is The Goal', and in that, the film is a success. A young man from 'The Stacks'(trailers stacked on top of each other to form a kind of high-rise in Columbus, Ohio. I remembered this from the book. A few years ago one of the guys that did some work on 940 Westview got me to read the book) forms a crew and seeks 'The Three Keys of Oasis' in order to win the game and own the on-line world of virtual reality; with Ben Mendelsohn and Simon Pegg, and Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts/ 'Parzival'. 12pm: Reading 'THE FAR FIELD' and will drive to FitClub West and drop the disc in the box on the way. 1...

Sa 9/21/19- Brandenburg's At Noon Up 710am; light rain 8-9am, then cloudy and temps to about 80. Watched, 'AMERICAN WAR FIGHTER' (Netflix) A Navy Seal suffers from PTSD and on his last mission he is killed on a recon mission in Iraq, yet a young girl who died during his childhood seems to intercede. I thought that it might go full-blown 'JACOB'S LADDER', but it didn't come close. I felt let down by the corny patriotism and phony Christian piety. Then, 'BETWEEN TWO FERNS: THE MOVIE' (Netflix) Joe and Jan arrived about 1150am and left about 2pm. A pleasant chat and the final payment from Lannie for the last month at Elsie's House is still up in the air. Melissa is a crook or inept, or maybe both, and Lannie is too naive to do anything about it. If we ever get the $4500 I will take my half and write a check and send it to Lannie. She was such a wonderful caregiver that I think she should get a 'tip' (Aside from the money, another ...

Fr 9/20/19 Up 735am; another sunny day in the mid to upper 80's. Rain forecast for the weekend. I got a text from Janny that the check for the return of the last payment to Elsie's House bounced. They will come over tomorrow (as planned) and we will discuss this issue. What's the big deal? All they have to do is make the check good, and we will 'gift' it to the house. Watched Netflix disc, 'THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS'. In 1980 three college aged boys learn that they were separated at birth, and that they were triplets! The darker side of the film is that their adoption agency was very much aware of the separation. They were doing a secret study about 'Nature Vs. Nurture' and all of the results have been sealed until 2066. Another very fine documentary. Then, 'SATAN & ADAM' (Netflix) Another very fine documentary: "SATAN & ADAM chronicles the unlikely pairing of legendary one-man-band Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee a...

Th 9/19/19 Up 730am; another sunny day with temps in the mid to upper 80's and 60's at night. 815am: Several big trucks from CWLP and Nelson pulled up in front of the house. Something big is afoot! In about 20" it looked as if this was just a staging area, and they unloaded a small truck-sized bucket truck to clip the limbs along the utility lines behind the houses across the street. The guy took bucket truck up the driveway where the retired preacher and his wife used to live. Watched 'FRIEND' (Amazon Prime) Korean Gangster Film/ 2001: Follows the lives of four friends from the early 70's to the early 90's. Two turn to the gangster life, and and become rivals in the criminal underground- Worth a look, but just barely. Then, 'AUDRIE & DAISY' (Netflix) Two cases of sexual assault against teenage girls are presented, but what about the boys? California teen, Audrie was sexually assaulted, lewd pictures were drawn on her body with Sharpies,...

We 9/18/19 Up 715am; plenty of sun with temps to the mid to upper 80's, but down to the low 60's tonight. Wrote up 'CADILLAC JUKEBOX' James Lee Burke for the blog. Watched 'LEAN ON PETE' (Amazon Prime) The chronicle of the economic and social anxiety of a young contemporary teenager in the greater Northwest of America. Raised by a shiftless, yet charming father Charlie gets a job with Del, a questionable horse owner. Charlie works the horses and becomes very attached to 'Lean On Pete', one of Del's over-the-hill quarter horses. Charlie's life takes a turn for the worse when his father is murdered and Charlie steals Del's truck and trailer (with 'Lean On Pete' on board), and attempts to get to Laramie, Wyoming to find his missing aunt. Just a wonderfully told story that never dips into sentimentality, yet is very moving; with Charlie Plummer, Steve Buscemi, Chloe Sevigny, and Steve Zahn. Then, 'SACRED HEARTS' (Amazon Pr...

Tu 9/17/19 Up 7am; sunny and temps to mid 80's. Watched 'WOMAN WALKS AHEAD' (Amazon Prime) Jessica Chastain plays Catherine Weldon, an artist and 'free spirit' from NYC who travels to North Dakota to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull. She befriends the chief in spite of the antagonism of the town, and becomes an advocate of Indian rights. The film is really the prelude to the massacre at Wounded Knee. It's beautifully shot and has fine performances by many excellent Native American actors. I watched about an hour of 'JERRY POWELL & THE DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR' (Amazon Prime) Another very lo-fi, shoestring Independent about a 'paint huffer' living in poverty in New Jersey. I will let this one go, because  I was anxious to settle the credit card stuff. I called Old Navy and got them to send me a duplicate card, and I switched the Netflix account to the Heartland Visa card. And I recorded all customer service numbers to my phone. Then I w...

Mo 9/16/19 Up 730am; sunny and hot- to upper 80's. Watched 'MAUVAIS SANG'(Bad Blood) (Hoopla) A small gang tries to steal an anti-virus for a deadly plague that infects people who have loveless sex. It's very much an Art Film with astonishing images, and my favorite scene was Denis Lavant running down the street dancing to David Bowie's, 'Modern Love'; with Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, and Michel Piccoli. Then, 'I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO' (Amazon Prime) 'REMEMBER THIS HOUSE' was James Baldwin's last and unfinished work. The film focused on the America of the sixties using the murder of three civil rights leaders- Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X as a kind of jumping off point. "The Black struggle in America is not just Black History, but it is the history of the United States".  The film underscores the fact that what white Americans profess to believe in public is far different from their personal beliefs. And ...

Su 9/15/19 Up 8am; fifty-fifty shot of rain this morning, then cloudy and temps to mid 80's. But no rain fell all day; to partly sunny. Watched 'HOLD THE DARK' (Netflix) An ominous, strange and suspenseful tale set in the wilds of Alaska. In a  remote village where children have been taken by wolves, a woman asks the assistance of a writer who lived with wolves and understands their ways. She wants him to find and kill the wolf that took her son, but later it's revealed that she had strangled the boy. Her sociopath husband has been serving in Iraq and when he comes home all hell breaks loose. "Revenge is not a part of Nature", yet the film is all about revenge. There is a nifty gunfight midway through the film where a man shoots and kills many police in a standoff using a fifty caliber machine gun; Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgard, and Riley Keough. Then, 'THE PUSHER' (Netflix) A remake of the Danish film by the same name directed by Nicolas W...

Sa 9/14/19 Up 725am; sunny and temps to just above 80. Watched Netflix disc, 'HOLMES & WATSON' Amusing, absurd, hit or miss, yet when they 'hit' it is outlandishly inspired. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly were born to improvise! With Kelly McDonald, Steve Coogan, Ralph Fiennes, Lauren Lapkus, Rebecca Hall, and a cameo by Billy Zane. Then, 'EMPIRE OF DIRT' (Amazon Prime) An Independent film about a single American Indian woman who cleans houses for a living. She has a teenage daughter who has fallen in with the wrong crowd and is also cutting herself. They move back home to rural Ontario, and the film plots the change in their lives. It's a heartfelt family drama, and not at all corny. Paid bills and biked to FitClub West 120 pm and dropped the disc in the box near Walgreens. 45" Octane (OFF CAMERA- Constance Wu). 45" Walk (Reality TV all workout). 45" Cross. 30" Walk. 30" Cross. Home to read for two hours and listen ...

Fr 9/13/19 Up 715am; sunny, breezy, cooler; to about 80. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE CLOVE HITCH KILLER' A fine piece of storytelling about a boy who suspects his father is a serial killer. Shot in Louisville, KY in a neighborhood that looks very much like  Westview Drive. A very strong Christian theme, and I thought it presented an accurate portrayal of contemporary, suburban Christian family life. Finished the film and watched a couple of YouTube video reviews and an interview with two of the actors and the director. 1210pm: Turned of the PC to install the updates. These damn things are very annoying! This update only took a few minutes, but the above is still true. Read 'CADILLAC JUKEBOX' until around 2pm and then got a call from Janny. She had sent a picture this morning via Facebook of a couch in Sherman. I didn't know what this meant, and she called to tell me that they would get it and haul it to the house. I said that I didn't need it, and I wa...

Th 9/12/19 Up 740am; more hot and hazy- temps to 90. Watched 'ALL MISTAKES BURIED' (Amazon Prime) The downward spiral of a man who uses crack/ meth to make him forget the death of his wife. For nearly the whole film you believe he is pleading with family members to let him reunite with his wife on their anniversary, but she's already dead; shot in Alexandria, LA. Then, 'THEY CAME FOR ME' (50" documentary on Amazon Prime) The film makes the case that intolerance in Germany is on the rise, however this was produced in 1994 so it's pretty dated. Interesting Facts: To be a German demands a blood tie to the country, this is not the case in America, the UK, or most other western nations. This makes it impossible for an immigrant to ever attain full status as a citizen. And, dominant German churches receive massive tax breaks and act as powerful and lucrative lobbying groups in the nation. This power is even more formidable than the power of churches in A...

We 9/11/19 Up 630am; more hot and humid weather. A very slight chance of rain this afternoon, and there was 'no chance' yesterday afternoon and it rained. The yard waste bags have been picked up. When did that happen? Lucky I got one bag removed because bags have sat on the street for weeks and mine wasn't out there for even eight hours. Watched 'HARD EIGHT' (Amazon Prime) Paul Thomas Anderson's first film. Philip Baker Hall is an ex-mobster who becomes a father figure to a broke young man (John C. Reilly) trying to get $6,000 for his mother's funeral. And he also befriends a naive cocktail waitress/hooker (Gwyneth Paltrow). A streetwise head of security (Samuel L. Jackson at his most malignant and hostile persona) breaks up the romantic, fatherly vibes. And Philip Seymour Hoffman has a small, yet dynamic role as a loud and boorish craps player. A Film Classic! I called Dr. Ellison's office to update my record concerning my flu shot. An hour late...

Tu 9/10/19 Up 740am; partly sunny, humid, to 90. AC On! Watched 'ANTIBODIES' (Hoopla) (Check out Abraham; bible references). An enthralling German film about a sadistic serial killer who is taunting a small town cop into believing that his son is a sex murderer. The killer tries to make the cop believe that his troubled son has brutally murdered a girl. I really liked it! 1145am: cutting down the dead flowers. Learned that they might pickup at the Westview area this week. I wish it was a bit more accurate. I had hoped to use my electric saw, but the 100 ft. electrical cord would not fit, so I used the manual clippers. Took about 45" to clip them back to about four inches, and then I started the lawn mower and evened it out. Looks good. Downstairs to read more '13 STAIRS DOWN' and listen to TRICKY. On the bike to FitClub West by 130pm. 45" Octane (OFF CAMERA: Wyatt Russell/ Sam Jones interviewed by Jason...again). 45" Walk (Reality TV all worko...

Mo 9/9/19 Up 830am; sunny and temps to upper 80's- A heatwave begins for at least the next week. Wrote up 'PIGTOWN' by William J. Caunitz for the blog. Running late and didn't start the Morning Movie until 945am. 'LATE NIGHT' (Amazon Prime) with Emma Thompson, John Lithgow, and Mindy Kaling (she's the writer/ producer and star of 'THE MINDY PROJECT'. A very funny look at the inner workings 'the writer's room' in a contemporary late night talk show. Emma Thompson has headed a late night talk show for many years and has lost touch with her audience. Mindy Kaling is hired because she's a talented writer, but mostly because she's 'brown and hip'. Both of their characters gain from this professional encounter- Very witty and clever dialog. Another excellent film from Amazon Studios. 130pm finished writing 'Weekly Wrap' and read, '13 STEPS DOWN' listening to ROKY ERICKSON, and around 3pm biked to the ...

Su 9/8/19 Up 8am; heavy rain early this morning. Chance of rain all day, but much cooler temps afternoon high only to about 70. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE HAPPY PRINCE'.  Concerns Wilde's life after his imprisonment for 'indecent acts', and charts the downward spiral of his life. Rupert Everett plays Oscar Wilde and also directs the film; with Emily Watson, Colin Firth, and Tom Wilkinson. Read several Wikipedia articles concerning Wilde, and then watched 'SUNSHINE CLEANING' (Amazon Prime). Years after her death, two sisters are at loose ends dealing with the suicide of their mother. One sister has worked for a house cleaning service and decides that they should get into the more lucrative business of 'forensic crime scene clean-up'. A sweet and charming film; with Amy Adams,Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn. 2pm: PC is "Off" and finished,'PIGTOWN' and began '13 STEPS'. 230pm drove to the Wabash PO and Planet Fitne...

Sa 9/7/19 Up 7am; feeling well rested and much better than yesterday. Sunny with temps to the upper 70's. Watched 'PHOENIX' (Amazon Prime) A much better than expected cop drama set in late 80's Phoenix. Ray Liotta is a crooked detective with a gambling problem, and he decides to rip-off the local loan shark with three of his cop buddies. Treachery and mayhem ensue; with Anthony LaPaglia, Daniel Baldwin, Jeremy Piven, Brittany Murphy, and Angelica Huston. "If the villagers wanted to keep King Kong out of their village why did they build a wall with giant doors big enough for him to enter"?... Snappy, witty dialog and clever observations abound. Then, 'DEPENDENT'S DAY'(Amazon Prime) Another well-written and wry Independent film. "Claimed as a 'dependent' by his successful bread-winning girlfriend Alice, Cam struggles to prove himself as he stumbles through different jobs and life's obstacles in the hopes to live out his Hollywo...

Fr 9/6/19 Up 740am; left arm pretty sore from the flu shot. Mostly sunny with temps to very low 80's. Watched 'THE RAINMAKER' (Amazon Prime) Francis Ford Coppola from a novel by John Grisham with a star-studded cast; Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Mary Kay Place, Mickey Rourke, and many others. Successful suit against an insurance company when it's learned that 'all claims are routinely denied'. And, a battered spouse case that provides another sub-text to the film. Noon: PC is 'Off' and reading 'PIGTOWN'/ napping on couch. 230pm biked to the 'Y'. 45" Walk (Reality TV all workout). 45" Recumbent Bike. 45" Cross. 30" Bike (Too tired to hit the treadmill again). 30" Cross. Home to change and hit the County Market/ Fairhills for $58 worth of groceries. Then in the tub with more Caunitz and EP OF 90's HITS BY GIN BLOSSOMS/ EVERCLEAR; then GENESIS. More 'SERIAL KILLER WITH Piers...

Th 9/5/19- Flu Shot at Walgreens For some reason I thought that today was Wednesday. I guess the fact that Republic is running a day behind due to Labor Day had me turned around. Up 745am (and put out the 'big blue container') Temps only in the 60's early, but to get to the upper 70's with plenty of sun. Ordered the first book by James Lee Burke and another early novel in the Robicheaux series. About 11am I got a call from Green Hyundai asking about my thoughts on my appointment with the service department. I told them that I solved the problem and had cancelled the appointment. Those guys are really all about customer service! Watched 'STARRED UP' (Hoopla) An excellent prison film about a young offender who is judged 'Violent' and placed in prison, and his father is a hardened con and one of the 'kingpins' in the joint. It's about how the young man becomes involved with an anger management program. Like Nothing Else- 5 STARS: with ...

We 9/4/19 Up 740am; sunny with temps to high 70's- beautiful!! Watched 'A SIMPLE FAVOR' (Amazon Prime) A perfect role for Ana Kendrick. She's a super-suburban-single mom in Connecticut who becomes friends with a high profile psychopath who is the mother of her son's best friend. She uncovers a wicked scheme of multiple murders and a four million dollar life insurance scam; A very fine black comedy. 1025am the computer shut down and asked for an update restart. I did and it only took a few minutes. Watched 'MR. ROOSEVELT' (Amazon Prime) Another fine Independent film. A struggling LA comedienne goes back to her hometown of Austin, TX. where her pet cat, Mr. Roosevelt, is dying. She stays at the house that she lived in with her ex-boyfriend, and now he has a new girlfriend. Noel Wells wrote/ starred/ and directed the film. She's from Saturday Night Live and The Upright Citizens Brigade. 230pm: Biked to the 'Y' and I called Walgreens on Kok...

Tu 9/3/19 Up 745am; mostly sunny and temps near 90. Cooling trend begins tomorrow. Watched 'SERENITY' (Amazon Prime) Matthew McConaughey/ Anne Hathaway/ Diane Lane.  Worth a look, but kind of a foolish twist. McConaughey is actually dead in Iraq, and his abused son contacts him via a computer game so that he can kill his stepfather. And real dad and son reunite in the final scene. Then, 'MID 90's' Written and directed by Jonah Hill. Excellent film about Stevie, a young kid in 90's LA who befriends a bunch of skaters at a local shop to escape his dysfunctional family. 130pm: on the bike downtown to pay the real estate taxes and then to workout. Out Fayette and over to Lincoln. Paid the fee and the bill was correct. I went to Rm. 210 and learned that they will send me my next chance to lock in the assessment appraisal for next year. Out Monroe to FitClub West and on the machines at 245pm. The bike ride was just a little over an hour. 45" Octane (...

Mo 9/2/19- LABOR DAY Up 810am; sunny and temps to low 80's. Watched 'THE CONGRESS' (Netflix) A strange mix of reality and animation; with Robin Wright, Danny Huston, Harvey Keitel, Paul Giamatti. An actress past the peak of her career agrees to 'become' computer software to be totally owned by her movie studio. An ambitious premise, yet it gets diffused along the way. Released in 2013 I'm surprised that I was completely unaware of this film. Then watched 'BUFFALO' (Amazon Prime) Another delightful low budget Independent. William C. McCallum plays an elderly cab driver in Lansing, MI who is in the terminal stages of lung cancer. He learns that his ex-wife, who he hasn't seen in over thirty years, has died, and he takes the company cab and travels with his dog, Scooter, to her funeral. A very charming and affecting film. Wrote the 'Weekly Wrap'. 3pm: on the bike to Planet Fitness. All other facilities are closed for the holiday, yet P...

Su 9/1/19 Up 8am; fierce rainstorm just before dawn. An inch or more must have fallen. Today, cloudy to 80. Watched 'THE SUICIDE THEORY' (Amazon Prime) A strong Australian Independent about a man who approaches a hit man to kill him. He can't die, and he's tried suicide numerous times, feels he's been cursed. The film is an odd rumination about 'Free Will VS. Fate'. The hook at the end is that the hit man had killed the man's lover and the man had killed the hit man's wife in a drunk driving hit and run. Then, the last half hour of 'LIVING IN OBLIVION' (Amazon Prime) A great satire on the making of a low budget Independent film. 1210pm: Now I try to run 'Windows Update 1903'....Hope it works! I read 'A MORNING FOR FLAMINGOS' and agonized over the download until 215pm. I turned off the monitor and just let it rip through the afternoon. Biked to FitClub West. 45" Octane (Jason Sudeikis interviews Sam Jones on OF...