The Cheese Stands Alone

Tu 3/31/2020 Up 730am: Partly cloudy to just over 50. I have two picks left on Hoopla, this is the last day of the month, yet the library has reached its' limit for today. Watched, 'THE OCCUPANT' (Netflix). The film concerns one of the most dislikeable characters I've ever seen on film. A Spanish advertising executive is laid off and he must relocate his family to a much less chic apartment and he takes out his resentment on the family that moves into his old home. He's a sociopath and not only does he get back the apartment, but he wickedly engineers the death of the man, and marries his wife and befriends the young daughter. And, at the end of the film, his previous wife tries to expose him, but he prevails. Nasty and sinister to the max, yet an intriguing and compelling film. I loved it! In Spanish the film is called, 'Hogar' and that means 'Home' and I like that title even better. Then watched, 'JENNIFER EIGHT' (Amazon Prime). And...

Mo 3/30/2020 Up 715am: Bright and sunny with temps to low 60's. Watched, 'THE FORGOTTEN' (Hoopla). I tried to see this film last night, but the library had reached their limit. A woman is being treated for a severe delusion. She believes that she had a son, but it was apparently all in her mind. Then, we learn that she has been selected to be a part of a psychological experiment conducted by aliens with the help of various US security agencies like the NSA. She meets a man who has also lost a child to the same scheme. It only works if you suspend disbelief, and I'd only give it about a 'C'; with Julianne Moore, Gary Sinise, Dominic West (THE WIRE), and Alfre Woodard. Finished, 'ONCE UPON A TIME,THERE WAS YOU'- Elizabeth Berg and listened to 'THE SWEETEST PUNCH'- Frisell/Costello, and wrote it up for the blog. Then watched, 'THE CONVERSATION' (Kanopy). This is my last pick of the month. I'm able to add films to my 'Watchli...

Su 3/29/2020 Up 745am: Cloudy to sunny, very windy with temps to about 60, but felt much cooler. Watched Netflix disc, 'GUNG HO'. A Ron Howard Film. A Japanese car company opens a plant in a Pennsylvania town and culture clash ensues. It's basically just a set-up for a bunch of gags and it could have been just as funny if the Japanese characters were more than caricatures; with Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt, Mimi Rogers, and John Turturro. 1230: Will read ELIZABETH BERG for a couple of hours and scanned the Internet. Found a new band, 'BLACK PISTOL FIRE'. Read/Napped till shortly before 4pm and then did the weekly cleaning. At 5pm Sharp! I hit the streets to mail back the Netflix disc. Up Westview to Parkview to Oakmount, then over to Old Jacks across Monroe and mailed the disc at the box in front of the middle eastern grocery near Lawrence and Durkin. South on Durkin and right on Cooper, then back on Oxford (Big houses on such little plots!...

Sa 3/28/2020 Up 7am:Some heavy rains last night, and rain was supposed to pick back up early this afternoon and continue all day, but that didn't happen. However, tornados are in the forecast until 9pm tonight. Pandemics and Tornados, but at least it almost got to 70 degrees. Wrote up 'THE SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE'- Ian Rankin for the blog. ***While fooling around I posted this comment on Reddit about Dylan's 17 minute song about the assassination of JFK. "Whatever Bob Dylan choses to release is worthy of note. He's one of the most important artists of all time and if he wanted to release a 17 minute song about having the oil in his car changed it would be fine by me and worth a listen." Watched Netflix disc, 'MORGAN'. A small group of scientists at a secret lab creates a 'super human'. She's likeable, but unable to check her violent impulses. Corporate bosses send a female risk management agent to tie up the loose ends, but...

Fr 3/27/2020- 6am to County Market:$85- DAY 11 Rain and thunderstorms in the forecast through Saturday. Today it should get to about 60 and tomorrow maybe 70. I awoke just after 5am and I thought it might be a good idea to hit County Market. Senior Hours were 6am-8am and since it was raining, even less people would be in the store. I don't think that there were even twenty people in the store. One or two registers were open and obviously no lines. I will continue to only shop very early in the morning because it decreases the risk of exposure. ***I got two  packages of Cream of Wheat and one had a small hole in the container/bag. The girl tried to find another one, but none left. I took the package with the small leak. ***I forgot bar soap and went back to get it and used the self checkout. Couldn't get it to work, but with help, I got it to go. ***Unfortunately the liquor section does not open until 7am, but I am well stocked with beer. Back at 7am and I'm sure th...

Th 3/26/2020 UP 715am: Cloudy with a chance of rain this afternoon with temps to 60. Watched, 'LOW LOW' (Hoopla). Four 'at risk' girls from a poor section of contemporary Los Angeles on their last day of high school deal with sex, booze, drugs, and looming responsibilities. Not a bad low budget Independent, but no new ground broken. Then, 'OPERATION ENDGAME' (Hoopla). The Alpha and The Omega, two top-secret government agencies, fight it out in an underground bunker as the Bush administration ends and Obama's begins. Ridiculous! The big question is how did they get all of this incredible acting talent to be a part of this travesty?- with Ellen Barkin, Zach Galifianakis, Bob Odenkirk, Ving Rhames, and Jeffrey Tambor. ***Buddy licked the nearly empty container of cottage cheese completely clean and a half hour be threw up everything he'd eaten all day. No more experiments with new and different foods! I watched a thirty minute YouTube video about ...

We 3/25/2020 11:18PM- We 3/25/2020 WORD OF THE DAY: "umami'- A category of taste in food different from sweet, sour, salt, and bitter. Up 820am: Fog early, partly cloudy to mid 50's. Watched, 'TRESPASS AGAINST US' (Kanopy). A gypsy or 'travelling community' near Watford, England is the focal point of this rather bland examination of the primeval relationship between fathers and sons; with Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson. Watched a 16" interview with Michael Fassbender about the film and his life. He still lives in the same one bedroom apartment that he had when he was  beginning his career. Then, 'ART OF THE PRANK' (Kanopy). A documentary about Joey Skaggs, conceptual artist, media manipulator, and the godfather of what is now known as 'Fake News'. He's responsible for the following 'news' stories- ***Regenerate your teeth-Stem cell research allows shark teeth to be grafted to humans. ***ComaCocoon- sel...

Tu 3/24/2020-8 Up 820am: Cloudy with afternoon rain- to low 40's. Watched, 'STORYVILLE: TOFFS, QUEERS AND TRAITOR- THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF GUY BURGESS (YouTube) 90". A perfect compliment to yesterday's film, 'TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY'. An upper-class gay man becomes a Soviet agent in the MI-6 where 'innocent eccentricities were tolerated'. Burgess escaped from Britain with Donald Maclean in 1962 and the infamous double-agent, Kim Philby was also in their circle. I posted the following on YouTube: "I  stumbled upon this video after watching the film version of John le Carre's, 'TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY', and it's the perfect compliment to that movie." Then watched, '10 THINGS WE SHOULD DO BEFORE WE BREAKUP' (Hoopla). A rather original look at single parenting and dating in the 21st century. She's divorced with two kids and he's attracted to, yet  unsuitable for commitment. Their relationship doesn...

Mo 3/23/2020 Up 745am:Cloudy with temps to about 40. Wrote up 'THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA'- Philip Roth for the blog. I was surprised to learn that this was one of the first books in the blog when I first read the book in 2010. Watched episode 1 of Season 5, 'BETTER CALL SAUL' on AMC. Only one more day to watch Season 5 for free and I'm planning on watching it all today. I'm not quite finished with Season 4 and it will be at least a year before 'BETTER CALL SAUL' will be available on Netflix. ****Only episode 1 was free**** Watched, 'TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY' (Netflix). An intricate and detailed novel by John Le Carre is transformed into an accessible, yet complex film. George Smiley is brought back from retirement to find a 'mole' in the 'circus' to stop the loss of 'treasure'. Smiley's longtime foil, Karla (only a voice in the film) plays a large role; with Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Colin Firt...

Su 3/22/2020 Up 8am: Cloudy and temps only to mid 30's. It began snowing about 10am and by 11am it was really coming down- huge flakes! We could get 3-5 inches. Ended up with maybe 2, and nothing stuck on the roads or sidewalks. Watched Netflix disc, 'KEANE'. The film begins with a man frantically trying to find his daughter in a metropolitan city. Slowly it's revealed that the man is on disability and suffering from mental issues. His daughter might be only imaginary. He meets a woman with a daughter at his hotel and the woman has him look after the girl. In the end he takes the girl to a bus station, and we don't know if he brings her back to her mother or if he has a final crackup; with Damien Lewis (BILLIONS) and Amy Ryan (LOST GIRLS- Netflix). Watched, 'NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS' (Amazon Prime).A Catholic diocese is working with a motorcycle gang in a large drug operation. A single nun takes them all down. Over-the-top naked mayhem and bloody madnes...

Sa 3/21/2020 Up 820am: Partly cloudy with temps only to about 40. Watched Netflix disc, 'LEAP YEAR'. A young Mexican female journalist is barely getting by and lives alone in a small apartment. She has no friends and picks up random strangers for sex, and meets a man who is into sadomasochistic behavior. She tries to use him to kill her on the anniversary of her father's death- Leap Year. Lots of nudity, but absolutely necessary to tell this harrowing story. Andrew O'Hehir of SALON- 'A gripping, mysterious use of no-budget cinema at its finest, and an intimate character study with surprising emotional power.'..."A compassionate story of human loneliness"... "A slow flare of emotional agony'. I really liked this film. ****Late yesterday the governor of Illinois announced a lockdown for the entire state. You can still shop for essentials and walk or jog outside, but you are supposed to 'shelter at home' for the rest of the time. ...

Fr 3/20/2020 Up 8am: Overcast and temps dropping to 40's for the high. Watched, 'FIRST LOVE' (Hoopla). A young boxer is told he is dying from a brain tumour. Later he learns it's a misdiagnosis. A young woman is forced to pay off her dead father's debts by engaging in online prostitution. She hallucinates her father in his underwear wearing only a sheet. The couple becomes ensnared in a Chinese/ Japanese drug war involving crooked cops. I had seen this before but hardly remember a thing; Takashi Miike- dir. ***I can't believe that it's only Friday. It seems like I had my taxes done weeks ago, and that was only Monday. Watched, 'THE SKELETON tWINS' (Amazon Prime). Dark comedy about a brother and sister who haven't spoken in ten years and his attempted suicide brings them together. She comes to California to take him back to Nyack, NY where they both must grow and change. Really well done and not surprised that it was a Duplass Brothers Pro...

Th 3/19/2020- MemorialNow Link Up 820am: Heavy rain began about 9am and to continue all day. Almost an inch predicted with temps to almost 70. CRAZY INTENSE DREAMS Watched, 'RIVER OF GRASS' (Kanopy). Set near the Everglades in Florida it's about a young woman with three small children in a loveless marriage who meets an aimless drifter. The guy has a gun and while swimming in a home pool Cozy thinks she's killed the owner so they take off together and on go on the run. The voice overs are probably the best part of the film, and the film might have worked better as a short novel, but the scenes involving Florida's seedy underbelly were quite good. First film for director Kelly Reichardt. I noticed that Kelly Reichardt had another film on Amazon Prime, so I watched 'CERTAIN WOMEN'. Three linked short stories- A female lawyer tries to convince a man that he doesn't have a case, a woman and her husband are building their own house and they are given ...

We 3/18/2020- DAY 2 Up 840 am: Rain through the early afternoon and temps to 50. Wrote up 'GONE WILD'- James W. Hall for the blog. Watched 'HAYWIRE' (Hoopla). Mallory is a rogue agent and everyone seems to be out to get her. Some of the best hand to hand fighting I've seen, but the plot seems confused and hard to accept even for a 'Wonder Woman', although well worth a look. Director- Steven Soderbergh; with Gina Carano (she is a Mixed Martial Arts champion), Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, and Antonio Banderas. Watched the last two episodes of Season Three and skimmed episode one of Season Four of 'BETTER CALL SAUL' (Netflix). Now I am ready to complete the rest of Season Four. Tried to keep up the latest on Covid-19. Too depressing to absorb. The virus could travel through the southern hemisphere and then come back north this winter!!! "Designated hours for seniors at County Markets- 6 to 8am...

Tu 3/17/2020- My first day of quarantine Up 720am: Partly sunny with temps to 50. ****While searching for films on Hoopla I noticed that now I get 10 picks a month. I could swear it used to be only 5. Watched, 'NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN' (Hoopla). I had forgotten how excellent this film was. Based on a novel by Cormac McCarthy and screenplay by the Coen Bros; with Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, and Kelly Macdonald. A multimillion dollar drug deal that goes bad in the Texas desert, a psychopath with an animal stun gun, and some brilliantly pithy dialog makes you messmerized to the screen for every minute of the film. 5 Stars, and 6 if the ratings went that high. ***The news is so depressing. There has been nothing like this and it does not seem real. Now they are saying this could go on through the summer....July and August... 1230pm: Going for a walk Grant Dixon- 'The Big Fat Lie' The LiftMaster 3850 Owners Manual is in Dropbox....

hey2becky@gmail.com Mo 3/16/2020- Taxes; 11am Up 745am: Cloudy and rain through the morning- to 40. ***I prepared the check for the vehicle sticker so that I will not have to go to the facility. And, I called Epperson's office to get an appointment. I set it up for 11am today. I was set to go in at 230pm on 3/19. I watched about half of the film, 'THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN' (Kanopy). Will watch the rest tonight. 1020am: PC needs 'Restart' to finish the updates. The restart didn't take and I left the computer running but the monitor off. I got to Epperson's old office and got out of the car and walked around before I realized that they had moved....several years ago. The bad news was that I owed $5,000 in state and federal taxes, but the good news was that I made over $90,000 last year! I paid the tax bill and Epperson's charge ($205) from the Ameriprise account. And I stopped over at Dax's office to find out if I had enough cash in that acco...

Su 3/15/2020- COVID-19....Too, Too Real...2 Beer Limit Up 8am: Partly sunny with temps to mid 40's. Watched Netflix disc, 'BLUMHOUSE TRUTH OR DARE'. A group of friends on Spring Break in Mexico play a game of 'Truth or Dare' in a haunted convent and the deadly game follows them home; with a half dozen young, good looking actors picked for looks and not necessarily acting ability. Not too bad, but close...."startlingly mean-spirited but otherwise dimwitted horror film"- Slant Magazine ****I just learned that Fit Club will be closing every other fitness machine to keep people from close contact. And, the 'Y' has suspended all senior programs. I updated both credit card access info. I've set the Heartland Visa-4460 to pay in full each month, and added new shield questions and answers. I wrote an email to The Brandenburgs about the Metlife letter that I received in the mail yesterday. 220pm: I walked down to Fairhills to see what was go...

SA 3/14/2020 Up 840 am: Wintry mix through the morning. It melted by early afternoon, but it looked kind of pretty- 30's. Watched Netflix disc, 'DANIEL & ANA'. An affluent Mexican brother and sister are kidnapped and forced to have sex with each other while being videotaped. The film is based on true events and apparently many of these types of sex tapes are prevalent on the Internet. I don't understand what's in it for the kidnappers. Why compel people to have sex when there are probably plenty of people who would make these tapes without force? Then watched, 'LIL PEEP- EVERYBODY'S EVERYTHING' (Netflix). A biopic about a young white rapper who might be considered 'Rap or Hip Hop's Kurt Cobain'. He tragically overdosed when he was only twenty-one; executive producer- Terrence Malick (SONG TO SONG). Checked the local news and the County Market on Monroe was featured about the empty isles and the crowds. 3pm: On the machines at Pl...

Fr 3/13/2020 Up 8am: Partly sunny with temps to about 50. I wrote an email responding to Janny's email. Whitney had to go in for an operation on her elbow and Joe's colonoscopy is next week. I said that maybe this was lucky since hospitals might be crowded and scary places over the next couple of weeks. ***I called Dax and spoke to Emily about my position with regard to the markets. She said that they were in the process of calling their large investors to say that now is the time to buy, not to sell. This is prudent fiscal wisdom and that I should stay the course. I guess I feel a little better, but things are happening so fast and furious that everything feels surreal. Didn't start the Morning Movie until 1115am, and watched 'THE GIFT' (Netflix). A couple moves to a beautiful home in California to start a new life. The husband meets an old high school classmate and a forgotten incident is revisited; with Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, and Joel Edgerton (he a...

Th 3/12/2020- Convid 19 is beginning to impact us!! Up 715am: Some fog and cloudy with rain predicted to begin early this afternoon- 50's. ****Stock market plunges again. The Bear Market has begun. UIS has cancelled classes and all work will be done online until further notice. Will classes for all schools be cancelled? And I still have a bad cold. Watched, 'COMPLIANCE' (Kanopy). A manager of a fast food restaurant gets a phone call from somebody claiming that they are a police officer investigating a theft that occurred at the restaurant and a strip search is required. It's all just a hoax. This incident is based on dozens of such hoaxes that have occured all over the US. ****My comment on Kanopy: The film makes you consider how much evil in the world occurs because somebody is asked to do something and they just do it. A truly thought provoking film." Then I watched a couple of YouTube videos about the actual incidents. Added some more picks for Kano...

We 3/11/2020 Up 840 am: Cloudy with temps to 50. *****Removing the large stump down the street. This was one of the biggest trees in the area. Watched, 'TWIN MURDERS: THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY' (Netflix). The only redeemable quality is that the film is set in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, an ancient city along the French border and the capital city of Basque Country. The film has a confusing storyline and dealt with naked murdered couples, bees, and twins. Forgettable. Then, the last hour and fifteen minutes of 'MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL' that I began last night. A wonderful documentary! My biggest takeaway: "Davis had an operation to remove polyps from his larynx in October 1955. The doctors told him to remain silent after the operation—but he got into an argument that permanently damaged his vocal cords and gave him a raspy voice for the rest of his life." 2pm****Stock market has plunged another thousand points, I feel sick and tired from my co...

Tu 3/10/2020 Up 720am: Overcast with temps to high 50's. ****Trucks parked out front to cut down a big tree in a backyard down the street a few houses. All set to watch, 'SONG TO SONG' (Amazon Prime), but soon realized that I've seen this only days ago. Then, 'THIS IS A ROBBERY' (Amazon Prime). On IMDB the film is called, 'DANGEROUS MIND OF A HOOLIGAN'..."Five criminals unknown to each other are hired to complete a bank robbery. What should have been a smooth operation soon descends into paranoia, violence and horror." Not bad- crazy time sequence, yet the story is effectively told. In keeping with the 'Robbery' theme.....'GOLDEN YEARS- ARMED AND ELDERLY' (Amazon Prime). Filmed near Bristol, England and it's about a group of retired folks who learn that they have been cheated out of their pensions. They decide to take back what they've lost by staging a series of bank robberies while touring the area's famo...

Mo 3/9/2020 Up 740am: Cloudy and rain began early this afternoon and to continue all day- 60's. Wrote up 'A TIME TO KILL'- John Grisham for the blog. Watched, 'PIG HAG' (Amazon Prime)..."Jodie, a woman in her mid-thirties, struggles with the pressure to find a partner and have children. When she attends a Guns N' Roses concert, she thinks she may have met a potential suitor-- until he ghosts on her." Not really enough to make a movie, but still worth a look. Then watched, 'THUNDER ROAD' (Amazon Prime). A cop's world collapses after the dissolution of his marriage and the death of his mother. His rants fall somewhere between hilarious and harrowing- Jim Cummings stars and directs the film which is based on his short film. Then I watched a 9 minute short film by Jim Cummings called, 'THE ROBBERY'. A young woman tries to rob a liquor store and uses an Uber as her getaway driver. The store owner shoots her twice with a bow and...

Su 3/8/2020- Pot Shop! Up 830am: Partly cloudy, breezy to low 60's. Watched Netflix disc, 'CRIMINAL'. Star-studded cast, yet a sub-par film..."In a last-ditch effort to stop a diabolical plot, a dead CIA operative's memories, secrets, and skills are implanted into a death-row inmate in hopes that he will complete the operative's mission..."; with Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, and Michael Pitt. Then I watched, 'HUNTING EMMA' (Hoopla). Not much of a storyline, just the pursuit of a lone woman across a desert landscape near Loxton, South Africa. I think this is the first time I've seen a film in Afrikaans. Not too bad, but only about what you would expect. 245pm: To the local pot shop for another half oz. Then, I had planned to hit Planet Fitness, but I was so tired I just got the pot and hit County Market/ Fairhills on the way back. *****I got "2 Eighths" Ozone: $155. It took about a ha...

Sa 3/7/2020- Mostly Healthy/ TIME CHANGE Up 730am: Sunny, breezy, and temps to mid 50's. Watched 'SONG TO SONG' (Amazon Prime). I had seen this one before, but no wonder nothing stuck..."Shot in only 40 days over a time period of nearly 2 years"... Set in the Austin, Texas Music Scene, and it explores the lives of singers, producers, and artists. It feels more like a cinematic poem than an attempt to tell a story. It features Patti Smith and Iggy Pop; with Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, and Holly Hunter. Director- Terrence Malick. Then watched a 30" YouTube video of an interview with Michael Fassbender and Terrence Malick and another director. Hardly worth a look. 1210pm: PC is 'Off' and will read and then probably hit the 'Y'. Sunday they go back to closing at 5pm. ****Very zonked, but on the machines at the 'Y' by 215pm. 45" Walk (TV all workout). 45" Recumbent Bike...

Fr 3/6/2020- Mitch's Lawn Service/ Brandenburg's Visit Up 745am: Sunny and very windy with temps almost to 50. I got a call from Mitch saying that one of his guys would be over to do the Spring Cleanup later this morning; $175. The first guy arrived about 820am. Later he asked about the prairie grasses and I told him to go ahead and cut them and I'd pay more. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE SNOWTOWN MURDERS'. A dramatisation of a series of South Australian murders committed by a man who led a group who were trying to rid their neighborhood of paedophiles and homosexuals. Comments from The Village Voice: "...nothing other than the shocking truism that average people will do horrible things primarily because someone tells them to." ***The lawn crew finished up just before noon, but they left without being paid. And, I got a text from Janny saying that she and Joe would like to stop by and 'ask a quick question'??? Janny and Joe left about 12...

Th 3/5/2020- It's Getting Better All The Time Up 730am: Sunny, windy to mid 50's. Watched, 'EVERY TIME I DIE' (Netflix). "When Sam is murdered in a remote lake, his consciousness begins to travel through the bodies of his friends in an effort to protect them from his killer." Somewhat confusing, but a difficult story to tell. The effort might be more than it's worth. Then, 'BOPPIN' AT THE GLUE FACTORY' (Amazon Prime). A very low-budget film about a night nurse in a nursing home. He's a junkie and only there for the dilaudid and whatever else he can steal. I napped through most of it and don't feel that I missed a thing. Addressed some problems with the Google Play uploads from last night; album art added. 1240pm: PC is "Off" and reading/ napping 'A TIME TO KILL' and listening to Amazon Music. I called Green at The Mall and the car wash was open. I drove by and decided to hit the Green on Wabash and re-visit...

We 3/4/2020 Up 8am: Partly sunny with temps just over 50. A little trouble finding 'CHEESE STANDS ALONE' in documents. What's up with that? Watched, 'RICH KIDS' (Netflix).  A group of Hispanic teens break into a mansion, swim in the pool, and spend a day just like 'The Rich'. A little too melodramatic, but still a valid presentation of  income inequality. Then I watched episode 1 or season 1 of, 'AMERICAN HORROR STORY' (Amazon Prime). "The various seasons are Season 1: "Murder House". Set in contemporary Los Angeles, it involves a family which moves into a house inhabited by ghosts. Season 2: "Asylum" is set in a mental hospital in 1964 Massachusetts. Season 3: "Coven" is set in contemporary New Orleans and deals with an academy for young witches. Season 4: "Freak Show" is set at a carnival in 1950s Florida. Season 5: "Hotel" is set in contemporary Los Angeles and explores the ...

Tu 3/3/2020 Up 730am: Phlegm was running down my throat led to lots of coughing and a fitful night's rest. Sunny and very breezy with temps to mid 50's. Watched Netflix disc, 'THE AMAZING CATFISH'. A lonely young woman is admitted to the hospital for an appendectomy and meets a woman with a warm, 'blended' family. The woman is dying of AIDS and the young woman becomes part of this new family. Very well done and an authentic portrayal of family life. The title refers to the sign on the boy's fish tank. He has a goldfish, but the sign says, 'THE AMAZING CATFISH'. Then watched an episode of, 'THE CHEF SHOW- Robert Rodriguez house in Austin, TX for pizza and then a visit to LA's food truck festival in Venice, CA; 33". Then, 'REFUGE' (Amazon Prime: 1'13"). Not a bad low- budget Independent. A plague has ended civilization and those left alive have become animals. A family tries to hide and survive.... "REFUGE i...

Mo 3/2/2020 Up 8am: Sunny with temps to about fifty. I feel much better today, and there is no doubt that this is just a cold. And, it's not as serious as I thought yesterday morning. I wrote up 'THE YEAR OF PLEASURES'- Elizabeth Berg for the blog. Then watched 'SUPER 8' (Amazon Prime). A group of kids are making a movie and they witness a train derailment. Strange things are happening around their small town, and this leads to the discovery that the Air Force has been holding a space alien since the late 1950's, and now he wants to leave Earth and go home. Cheesy effects with a lot of checky young actors; with Kyle Chandler and Elle Fanning. I wrote the Weekly Wrap and sent it. 1230pm: PC is "Off" and I'll be reading and deciding if, when, and where I will be working out. ****After not so careful deliberation I decided not to workout, but to do the grocery shopping at Fairhills. It's too busy on Monday to hit the 'Y', so I ...

Su 3/1/2020- Sick As A Dog Up 830am: Sunny with temps almost to 60, but rain predicted for late this evening. ****Lung congestion kept me from sleeping soundly and I took three pot mints at 850am this morning. I don't know if it's from the bong hits or I have some kind of low level infection.....UPDATE: It is the beginning of a very bad cold. Watched, 'INTO THE FOREST' (Kanopy). Two young sisters and their father are stuck in a cabin when the power goes out for the foreseeable future. Dad is killed in a chainsaw accident, a baby is born, and at the end, the two girls and the baby just 'keep on Truckin'; with Evan Rachel Wood and Ellen Page. Silly premise, but the two leads saved the day....pretty much. ****During the film I noticed that I've lost my voice. This is some kind of bug, but I don't feel my usual symptoms at the onset of an infection. Then, 'FRANCES FERGUSON' (Amazon Prime)...."a hilarious deadpan dark comedy set in smal...