The Cheese Stands Alone

Su 1/30/22 835am. 11am (a pinch). 1235pm. 450pm (2 hits- 1 hitter). 740pm. Up 7am: Partly sunny with temps to low 30's. Posted 'RABBIT IS RICH' by John Updike and 'KENTUCKY HAM' by William Burroughs Jr. to the blog. Watched Netflix disc 'MY SALINGER YEAR'. A touching and heartwarming story that celebrates the love of books, personal integrity, and the 'business of fiction writing'. It's about a young woman who wants to be a writer but learns that being a literary agent is not the same thing as writing. She needs to change her life's direction to reclaim her inner voice and 'Jerry' Salinger helps her to tackle that challenge; with Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver. I really liked it, but I could see how some critics disliked the film because they felt that it was an overly romantic portrayal of the commercialization of literature.  Then more of 'ARCHIVE 81' (Netflix).  1150am: Shut it down to do the Weekly Cleaning and then...

Sa 1/29/22 820am. 1055am (a pinch). 545pm (2 hits- 1 hitter). 725pm.  Up 645am: Mostly sunny with temps to mid 30's. Watched 'HEIST' (Netflix). One of two films that Janny recommended; HEIST and UNDER SUSPICION and both were well worth a look. A 'heist genre film' that's more concerned with intelligence and planning than car chases or gunplay and nobody can deliver snappier patter than David Mamet; with Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, and Sam Rockwell.   "He's so cool that when he goes to sleep the sheep count him". "...And if he had had another bible in front of his face, he would have been alive today". Then, more of 'ARCHIVE 81' (Netflix). There are witches at the Visser! 1240pm: Preparing for a walk on the treadmill.  110pm:  FIVE MILES AT 3.9 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and watched GILBERT GOTTFRIED on J.R.E, part of a JOEY'S JOINT, and more of ALAN DUNN. Read 'KENTUCKY HAM' on the co...

Fr 1/28/22 830am (2 hits bong). 10am. 545pm (2 hits- 2 hitter). 750pm.  Up 630am: Partly sunny with temps to low 20's. I wanted to do the grocery shopping at Fairhills and pick up the gel-pen at Brewer, so I didn't want to leave the house too early. I read KENTUCKY HAM until about 830 am. and then called Brewer to arrange the pickup. Fairhills County Market: $105. Brewer: $30 (for some reason it went down in price). They asked me if I had been exposed to a person with Covid in the last ten days. I answered 'No', but what about Joe? I should have asked what they would have done if I had said 'Yes'.   Home by 930am and I left the groceries in the car. It's cold enough so that I can bring them in later and it will be just fine. Watched 'MUNICH: The Edge of War' (Netflix). The premise of the film is that the Munich Agreement that Neville Chamberlain and Adolph Hitler signed in September of 1938 gave the Allies a year to prepare for war and later to defea...

 Th 1/27/22 830am. 1235pm (a pinch). 540pm (2 Hits). 815pm.  Up 7am: We got about an inch of snow last night. The streets are covered (Westview, at least) and not quite enough to cover the grass. Today it's cloudy with temps in the mid 30's. Buddy seems to be in fine shape. Watched 'UNDER SUSPICION' (Netflix). On the island of Puerto Rico a wealthy and influential man is interrogated about the rape and murder of two 13 year old girls.  Nearly all of the screen time is devoted to the interrogation and it sure seems like he did it, but what he revealed about his life and his marriage was far worse. The man makes a full confession just as the real killer and rapist is captured. He and his wife walk away and it seems like their lives together are at an end; with Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Thomas Jane, and Monica Bellucci.  Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman were the executive producers.  Interesting Presentation: During the questioning at the station, both the capta...

 We 1/26/22- Buddy Sick 835am. 1255pm. 510pm (1- hit). 735pm.  Up 7am: Sunny with temps to low 20's. ***Buddy threw up about a half hour after his breakfast. However, he seems relatively unaffected and he ate again at 10am and seems fine. (He didn't throw up any 'foam' during Wednesday night and he was fine on Thursday morning) Watched more of 'NEWTON'S CRADLE' (Netflix). An Egyptian couple wants to have their baby on US soil so that their child will have American citizenship. She has an advanced degree in agriculture and he runs a small apiary (bee keeping) business. Hana is to travel to the US on her government job, have the baby in America, and her husband will follow later. Mayhem ensues; lots of moving parts but I really liked the series.  A realistic look at how the Muslim faith impacts everyday life and how Egyptian men and women live with very rigid sexual roles. I watched almost the last four hours in one sitting. ***I just noticed that there are 30...

Tu 1/25/22 805am. 11am (a pinch). 530pm (a pinch). 735pm.  Up 630am: Bright and frigid with temps to about 20 and wind chills near zero or below. Watched Netflix disc 'A MILLION LITTLE PIECES'.  This is a fictionalized account (based on real events) of author James Frey's struggle with drugs and alcohol. It landed him at Hazelton, but his experiences seem far too melodramatic and do not seem authentic so the entire production comes off as somewhat flat and pointless.  Alcoholism is a disease: It's the result of a choice that you made. Do I want to stay sober or not? Did you ask for all of the destruction that was caused in your life by the choice to drink/drug? Since the pain wasn't called for, then you are not in control and it is like having a disease. Watched the Bonus Features on both discs. Began 'AS GOOD AS IT GETS'  (Netflix). Stopped at 49". Noon: PC is 'Off' and getting ready to walk on the treadmill. 1225pm:  FIVE MILES AT 3.8 PACE AND...

  Mo 1/24/22 805am. 1030am (a pinch). 530pm (a pinch). 745pm.  Up 645am: Cloudy and temps to about 40 with a chance of snow showers or light rain this morning (never happened). Back in the teens tomorrow.  Watched 'THE COLONY' (Netflix). Astronauts revisit Earth to see if the survivors can have children to repopulate the world. Great dystopian sets with lots of rusty interior boat hulls, mist, and fog, but the story was less than clear..."For The Many"; a slap at Socialism? Shot in Brandenburg, Germany: 50 miles west of Berlin. Watched more of 'NEWTON'S CRADLE' (Netflix). A Middle Class Egyptian mother wants to have her baby in the US. Is this a thing? If the baby is a US citizen would his parents be given preferential treatment to change from Egyptian to US citizenship.  I wrote The Wrap and around 1245pm the PC is 'Off' and preparing for a walk on the treadmill.   105pm: FIVE MILES AT 3.8 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and watched more of 'NEWTON'S ...

Su 1/23/22 810am. 110pm. 750pm.  Up 630am: Partly cloudy, windy and temps to mid 30's and it feels colder. Watched 'PHANTOM THREAD' (Netflix). A powerful drama directed by Paul Thomas Anderson that concerns a couturier who runs The House of Woodcock. It's a family business and he and his sister are responsible for high-end fashion that is handmade from start to finish. He's a complete narcissistic yet he's not altogether wrong because in his industry, he is number one. After he meets a strong-willed and affectionate woman that he loves, his stultified world begins to change. It rated a '90' on IMDB Metascore and I really liked the film;  Vicky Krieps, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Lesley Manville. Won 1 Oscar, 57 wins & 124 nominations. Began episode #2 of season 4 'OZARK' (Netflix). 1220pm: PC is 'Off' and will do the Weekly Cleaning, Planet Fitness, and then to Schnucks for cat food, Bud Light, and flakes.  125pm: To Planet Fitness. 45...

Sa 1/22/22- Xmas on Redbud: 10am.  820am.  155pm. 725pm.  Up 7am: Partly cloudy with temps to low 30's. A heat wave! Had a bowl of oatmeal and watched the last half hour of 'GONE FOR GOOD' (Netflix). There are a lot of moving parts in this one and I hope the book will be a bit clearer.  910am: PC is 'Off' and getting ready to hit the streets to the far south-east side.  10am-115pm:  All the BRANDENBURGS and Joe's sister and her daughter. Kids amped to the max, not about new toys but just happy to play together. I got a really nice tool set and 2 candles from Joe and Janny. I gave Jamie's kids walkie-talkie sets and Joe's sister gave Jon's kids the same. Glad each family got a set. 2pm: SIXMILES (an increase) ON THE TREADMILL AT 3.8 MILES AT 0.50 SLANT. Began the first episode of season 4 of 'OZARK' and more of 'STATELESS' (NETFLIX). Read 'RABBIT IS RICH' on the couch  450m: In the tub with 'RABBIT IS RICH' and listenin...

 Fr 1/21/22 840am. 1045am (a pinch). 835pm.  Up 830am: Bright and sunny with temps only to mid 20's and it feels much colder. Buddy seems much better today. I left some canned food out overnight and he ate it. 630pm: He seems to be back to normal- ravenous! I watched the first three episodes of 'GONE FOR GOOD' (Netflix- from a novel by Harlan Coben). A bit confusing, but worth the effort. It's the second time in his life that the girl of his dreams dies and there seems to be a connection between the two deaths. Set in Nice and Paris, France.  1150am: PC is 'Off' and preparing for a walk on the treadmill.    1210pm: FIVE MILES AT 3.8 PACE (increase) AND 0.50 SLANT  and began JAMES LINDSAY on J.R.E.  ONE WEIGHT SET.  Read 'RABBIT IS RICH' on the couch. Heard the new Costello album, 'THE BOY NAMED IF'. 5pm: TWO MILES AT 3.8 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and finished JESSA REED on BERTCAST. ***Got an email from Janny that our Xmas celebration is tomorrow a...

 Th 1/20/22 945am. 825pm. (only twice today because of anxiety over Buddy) Up 710am: Sunny, breezy, and frigid. Temps to mid teens with wind chills below zero. ***Buddy threw up this morning and it might have been that the can I opened was not pate. At 935am I opened a can of pate and hoped that he'll keep it down.  Watched 'RED 11' (Hoopla).   A guy owes a huge debt to a Mexican cartel and signs up for a voluntary medical experiment to make some quick and easy cash, but it's not so easy.  Life is an experiment and we are its lab rats.  "I love this job. I take drugs professionally". Spoiler Guy ruins the endings to CRYING GAME, FIGHT CLUB, SHUTTER ISLAND, and several more. Funny and clever. Watched  'MAMA WEED' (Amazon Prime).  A translator for the Paris narcotics squad absconds with a couple hundred pounds of hash because she needs the cash.  She stumbles upon the plan because the Algerian woman who takes care of her elderly mother has a so...

 We 1/19/22 905am. 1240pm. 745pm.  Up 7am: Cloudy with temps dropping from about 30 down to single digits tonight. Tomorrow's high is only in the teens. Right at 8a the PC turned off. Very weird and no reason why it happened, but I was back online in a snap. Very unsettling.     ***I called ATT Benefits to authorize a dollar deduction a month for my United Healthcare Plan Plus. Yesterday I got a letter saying that the benefits department didn't know whether to take the dollar from savings or checking. I had to give the routing and account numbers and this is always confusing. She said that this part is now set and I got a phone number to find out how I access the benefits and what they exactly entail. I'll call later. Watched 'THE BIG TOWN' (Amazon Prime). A crap shooter doesn't believe in luck because he's an avid student of probability and statistics. He initially picks the wrong woman, but it works out in the end. I liked it and the sets and costumes were...

 Tu 1/18/22 825am. 1050am (a pinch). 1250pm (a pinch). 740pm.  Up 630am: Sunny with temps almost to 50. ***I lost most of the notes from Monday while trying to copy them. Always send it as an email to myself so that I don't lose the info- very annoying. I sent 'The Wrap' to Janny because it slipped my mind yesterday. Re-watched 'THE HUNT'(2012). I completely 'misremembered' this film. I was convinced that it had the same theme as 'THE HUNT' (2020)- People with rifles hunt hapless victims, but this was not the case. This film was about a man who worked in a Danish kindergarten and was accused of pedophilia. A truly powerful drama about a man in a situation that was totally out of his control. An 'old school' example of a witch hunt that did not begin on social media; with Mads Mikkelsen. Nominated for 1 Oscar: 38 wins & 73 nominations.  This is an interesting take on the film: Slant Magazine- "The film is in part an exceedingly black ...

Mo 1/17/22 ***Lost most of the notes trying to copy for the log. Do Not Do This Again. Always send an email to myself so that nothing is lost. (Approx.) 820am. 12pm (a pinch). 820pm.   Up 615am: Mostly cloudy with temps to about 32. We got about a half inch of powdery snow last night. The streets and lawns are all covered. Watched 'JUST GO WITH IT' (Netflix).  A plastic surgeon pretends to be married and divorced. His assistant/secretary pretends to be his ex so that the doc can have an affair (get married?) to a much younger woman. A silly premise and not a very good Adam Sandler film. He's best as the nerdy, needy guy that is full of repressed rage; with Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, Rachel Dratch, Dave Matthews (THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND).  Based on a French play and music by STING (THE POLICE). 1210pm: FIVE MILES AT 3.7 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and watched an hour documentary 'THE SECRET LIFE OF A CRUISE' (AMAZON PRIME) a...

 Su 1/16/22 755am. 1020am (a pinch). 105pm. 745pm.  Up 630am: Partly sunny with temp to about 30 degrees. Watched Netflix disc 'THE HUNT'. A group of super wealthy elites round up 'deplorables' to hunt for sport. 'Truth'  is whatever political homily you happen to believe and the film is a broad satire derived from the extreme political views of today. I haven't laughed that hard in ages; with Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz, Wayne Duvall, Ethan Suplee, Emma Roberts, and Amy Madigan. TV Network News Story Begins: "The Climate Change Myth suffered another blow today..." Crisis Actors... Watched 'CITIZEN KOCH' (Plex-TV). Offers the background as to how 'Citizens United' came about. It shows our two party system as an arrangement that runs on vast amounts of money and has little or nothing to do with the average citizen. I didn't know that the Koch Brothers' father helped found The John Birch Society. Also a c...

 Sa 1/15/22 820am. 1030am (a pinch). 250pm (a pinch). 730pm.  Up 630am: We probably got 2 inches of snow last night and light flurries to continue through late morning but no more accumulation. Temps to about 32. The mail came late yesterday and I got two Netflix discs: 'THE HUNT' and 'WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY'.  Watched 'WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY'.  Apparently Emily Dickinson is widely perceived as a cracked recluse who was too afraid to have her poetry published during her lifetime. The film refutes this claim and portrays her as a woman deeply in love with her sister in law and she also spent her life trying to get anyone to publish her work. Dickinson was also an early and ardent feminist firebrand and after a quick skim at Wikipedia, the film seems to be pretty correct, yet the lesbian love angle might be a bit too pronounced in the movie.  The film is a droll commentary on the life of a brilliant poet with a semi-farcical and semi-tragic tone; with Molly Shanno...

 Fr 1/14/22 840am.1155am. 225pm (a pinch). 750pm.  Up 7am: Fog early, then cloudy with temps to upper 30's. Several inches (1"-5") of snow are predicted for tonight and early Saturday. Watched 'PIONEER' (Plex-TV). No subtitles at Plex, and available at Tubi. Email Plex. Decided to watch 'SUBMARINE' (Tubi- TV). A comedy that doesn't allow principles to stand in the way of progress.  The New Yorker:   " Submarine is an exhilarating surprise". A quirky 'coming of age tale' about a fifteen year old Welsh high school student who wants to lose his virginity and to stop his mother from having an affair with their neighbor. This man was her lover before she married;  with Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, Noah Taylor, and Yasmin Paige. Filmed near Penarth, Wales. 6 wins & 17 nominations..."My mom gave a handjob to a mystic". 1140am: PC is 'Off' and take the last walk before the snowstorm tonight.  1205pm: Pa...

Th 1/13/22- County Market: $120 930am. 1245pm. 750pm.  Up 630am: Partly sunny with temps to low 40's. 2-4 inches of snow predicted for Friday night. 715am-8am: County Market/Fairhills Watched 'THE MAN FROM NOWHERE' (Tubi-TV: I tried to watch it on Plex-TV but the subtitles were in Korean).  A sex worker steals a package of dope from her pimp. In retaliation he kills her and sells her organs on the black market. A mysterious neighbor intervenes to save the woman's young daughter. A very well-shot and exciting Korean gangster film. 18 wins & 17 nominations. 1230pm: PC is 'Off' and the plan is to get a free car wash at Green on the way to Planet Fitness.  ***I had to delete/ reinstall my Netflix phone app. Then it worked flawlessly.  1255pm Green/ Planet Fitness and on the machines by 120 pm. 45" Cross.  45" Treadmill.  30" Bike.  30" Treadmill.  30"Cross. Watched 'UNPRESCRIBED (80"- AMAZON PRIME)- Vets want weed instead of  th...

  We 1/12/22 ***(Lost the first third of the entry at 750pm. while I was trying to get it all in one font). Estimated times, but fairly accurate amounts. 830am. 1145am (a pinch). 1250pm (a pinch). 750pm.  Up 630am: Partly cloudy with temps to mid 40's.  Watched 'GIRL INTERRUPTED' (Netflix). A young woman tries to commit suicide and lands in a mental institution. Entertainment Weekly: ..."a junior-league 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"; with Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea Duvall, Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, Jared Leto, Jeffrey Tambor, Whoopi Goldberg, and Vanessa Redgrave.  ***Weights arrived by UPS at 1015am. I did a set and the weights are perfect. A ten pound increase would have been too much, and five is just right.   I watched the first episode of 'KITZ' (Netflix). Set in the Aspen of The Alps' (Kitzbuhel, Austria). A young woman snoops above her class to punish the woman who caused the death of her brother. Don't know whethe...

Tu 1/11/22 805am. 1145am (a pinch. Lost most of it because the closable 1 hitter has issues). 140pm (a pinch). 750pm.  Up 630am: Bright and breezy with temps in the teens early to low 40's by afternoon. Tried to watch  'ANNETTE' (Amazon Prime). It's an opera, so I'll save for a later date...maybe. Switched to 'HAND OF GOD' (Netflix). An Italian Art Film set in scenic Naples of the early 80's. A young man seeks change as his family goes through a transformation as well. His sexy aunt loses her mind because she can't have children, his parents die at home from a natural gas leak, he loses his virginity to The Baroness, and everyone can't believe that a legendary football star has agreed to play for Naples. Visually exciting and worth the accolades; 8 wins & 17 nominations. 1130am: PC is 'Off' and will walk on the treadmill...again. It's been so long that I've walked outside that the next time I'll need a map. ***3.7 is the n...

Mo 1/10/22 810am. 1015am (1 hit/ 2 hitter). 305pm (2 hits/ 2 hitter). 6pm (1 hit/ 2 hitter). 8pm.  Up 630am: Bright, sunny, and breezy with temps in the high 20's, but the wind chills are still too cold to walk outside. Watched 'CONSPIRACY THEORY' (Hoopla). A New York cab driver is hooked on conspiracy theories because he is the product of the ultra-secret MK-Ultra Project by the CIA. LSD was their preferred drug of choice. The film was part action/thriller and part soapy love story/dramedy so this explains the very mediocre reviews; with Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, and Patrick Stewart.    I noticed that the new season of 'OZARK' drops next week so I watched the last episode of the previous season. I didn't remember how the show ended and I might watch (or read about) more before I start the new episodes.  Wrote 'The Weekly Wrap'.  115pm: PC is 'Off' and preparing for the treadmill.   130pm: FIVE MILES AT 3.6 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT began DR. ROBERT M...

  Su 1/9/22 905am. 1235pm. 730pm.  Up 7am: Mostly sunny and breezy with temps to upper 20's. Inordinate amount of time selecting a film...So many movies, so little time... Watched 'THE HUMBLING' (Peacock TV). A venerated Broadway actor begins to lose his mind after becoming involved with a much younger woman. Was she really his daughter or was that part of his delusion? So much of the film was subjective that it's hard to know what actually happened and what was imagined. I liked it, yet I understand the mostly negative reviews; with Al Pacino, Greta Gerwig, Nina Arianda, Charles Grodin, Kyra Sedgwick, and Dianne Wiest. 1145am: PC is 'Off' and preparing to hit Planet Fitness and then  Schnucks  for Friskies, bread, and Bud Light.  I did 'The Weekly Cleaning' before leaving for Planet Fitness.  1250pm: To Planet Fitness. 45" Cross.  45" Treadmill.  30" Bike.  30" Treadmill.  30" Cross and watched 'SQUARE GROUPERS' (AMAZON ...

  Sa 1/8/22 825am. 1140am (a pinch). 730pm.  Up 645am: Overcast with freezing rain & showers beginning this afternoon and to continue through early Sunday. Temps to low 30's feels like a heat wave. Watched 'THE NINTH GATE' (Hoopla). Satanic hokum about an ancient book that allows one to conjure up the devil. Who was the blonde 'angel' that helped Corso? Not to be believed, but somewhat enjoyable; with Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, and directed by Roman Polanski.   Began 'JAILBAIT' (Vudu TV). Teenage girl does four to nine years on a murder charge in the baddest juvenile facility in the state of California. 'Hokum' is this morning's theme.   Cut it off at 33" to hit the treadmill. 1245pm: FIVE MILES AT 3.6 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and finished DOUG BENSON on WHISKEY GINGER, and began OLIVER STONE on J.R.E. A set with the weights.  Read 'LONDON' on the couch and listening to Amazon Music.  455pm: TWO MILES ...

  Fr 1/7/22- Deep Freeze Continues 815am. 12pm (a pinch). 730pm.  Up  645am : Partly sunny and temps to mid teens with wind chills below zero. Watched 'HELD FOR RANSOM' (Hoopla).  A neophyte Danish war photographer goes to Syria and is captured by a cell of the terrorist group 'Daesh' (Isis). He did 13 months of torture and degradation before his family was able to raise the ransom money. Denmark has a strict policy that forbids any negotiation with terrorists. The four cruel guards were British men who had converted to this violent ideology and the prisoners nicknamed them 'The Beatles'... "Here you must earn your right to die". Began 'HANSEL AND GRETEL GET BAKED' (Vudu TV- first time on the free streaming service. Password- 'Mayor's Street (first capitalized)/zip).  1230pm:  Watched the first 17" and decided to  hit  the treadmill and finish the film in the evening. It's less than even money if I complete this one because sto...

  Th 1/6/22 9am. 12pm (a pinch). 755pm.  Up 710am: Partly sunny with temps barely out of the single digits and wind chills below zero. Watched 'TRUE GRIT' (Netflix). A young girl seeks revenge for the murder of her father and enlists the aid of a boozy officer of the law (Rooster Cogburn) and a Texas Ranger (LaBoeuf). Great locations, snappy dialogue, and some interesting gunplay; with Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Hailee Steinfeld. Joel and Ethan Coen wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Nominated for 10 Oscars- 38 wins & 169 nominations total. ***I tried to register for the free Aetna CVS Health Solutions, but it wouldn't work. I called and ordered $47 worth of vitamins and supplements. When the call was finished I was able to register on the website. The confirmation order number and the list of codes for the order is in the kitchen drawer with the calendar. Watched the next episode of 'STAY CLOSE' (Netflix). Filmed in Blackp...

We 1/5/22 9am. 115pm. 730pm.  Up 7am: Frigid and windy with temp to 20 with windchill readings close to or below zero. Watched 'BEING THE RICARDOS'(Amazon Prime). The 'I Love Lucy' show was the biggest thing on TV until Lucille Ball was exposed as a communist. It wasn't entirely true, but she did believe in worker's rights. This news comes at a time when Lucy suspects that Dezi has been cheating on her. The actors on the show (Fred and Ethyl) are not wild about their characters but like true professionals, they shoulder on. How did Dezi Arnez get J.Edgar Hoover to publicly admit that Lucille Ball was not a communitst? That must have been a heck of a story;  with Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, and Jake Lacy (I'M DYING UP HERE). Watched more of 'STAY CLOSE' (Netflix). Little of the mystery has been revealed and there are four more episodes. Will watch more at Planet Fitness. 1pm: PC is 'Off' and getting ready for a vi...

Tu 1/4/22- Dentist: 2pm. 820am. 445pm (a pinch). 750pm.  Up 7am: Cloudy and much warmer with temps to upper 30's. Finished Netflix disc 'BELLE'. It's a romantic period film concerning Race, Slavery, and Society in the British upper classes during the late 18th century. 'The Zong Case'. How to be recognized in 'society' and maintain your proper status as a 'less than human'.  And this slave has more money the most of the rest of them, but she cannot lose the stigma of 'blackness'. A very interesting subject and I liked it a lot; with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, and Miranda Richardson. Then I began 'STAY CLOSE'(Netflix). A stripper's new life is shattered when a nefarious figure from her past reappears. Lots of twists and turns, but great binge watching. Based on the novel by Harlan Coben.  930am: FIVE MILES ON THE TREADMILL AT 3.6 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and continued 'STAY CLOSE' (Netflix)....

  Mo 1/3/22- The Cystoscopy- 2pm. 815pm (just a bowl today).  Up 720am: Clear and sunny with temps to upper 20's. For some reason I decided to wash the sheets this morning.  Here's what I wrote last night around 10pm: "***Tomorrow is the big day and I'm almost resigned to getting it over with. I've been worried for so long that the fear has mutated into something different. Whatever happens, happens and it's really out of my control. The only thing I hope is that I don't disgrace myself during the procedure. And I hope to Christ that nothing seriously is wrong with me, but right now I'm mostly worried about the test itself." Today, I'm resigned to do the procedure and I've read a bit more about it and I think (hope?) I can handle it. It is not associated with much pain, but I am apprehensive about whether I'll be able to piss after the procedure over the next couple of days. I sure hope they will actually learn something and I will know...

Su 1/2/22 930am. 105pm. 735pm.  Up 710am: Coldest day of the season with temps barely out of the teens. We got a dusting of snow last night and it mostly stuck on the streets, but the first measurable amount all season. (When I went to Planet Fitness later in the afternoon  Parkview was a sheet of ice, but the secondary and primary roads were clear). Added 'MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER' by Nate McCall to the blog. Scrolled through Pluto TV for movies to add to their 'watchlist'.  Watched 'OFFICER DOWN' (Plex TV). A very complicated story about a crooked cop from Bridgeport, Connecticut. I don't understand what actually happened (and never really cared), but it was based on a true incident. THEMES: "Bad cop sees the light and seeks redemption"..."The reputation of the department must be maintained at any cost"; with Stephen Dorff, James Woods,  and some other people. Filmed in Bridgeport, CT. 1215pm: PC is 'Off' and will do the Weekly Cle...

  Sa 1/1/22- New Year! 850am. 145pm. 745pm. Up 720am: Cold with a wintry mix beginning this evening with temps to low 30's. We could get about an inch of sleet/ice/snow. ***I noticed that I had two light bulbs for the bathroom mirror under the sink. How about that? The people next door had some people over for New Year's Eve, but all was silent as a tomb. Yesterday when I finished the walk Carol told me that the people in the abandoned house will be back in the spring. They need a new furnace so they can't live there during the winter and I wonder if they will continue to feel that I should mow their front lawn. Watched 'END OF DAYS' (Amazon Prime). I noticed that it was leaving Amazon Prime today, so I gave it a shot even though it has only a '33 Metascore' at IMDB. Definitely a movie that's so bad it's good. Maximum spooky effects and top-heavy with 'star' power, but the actors are 'damned' with a ludicrous script. Kevin Pollack was...

Fr 12/31/21- County Market: $74. 925am. 1245pm. 730pm.   Up 7am: Overcast with temps to mid 50's. To the County Market at 730am. Watched 'THE LOST DAUGHTER' (Netflix). A solitary woman visits a Grecian island and becomes annoyed with some of her fellow vacationers with young children. The encounter makes her remember the complicated past with her own daughters when they were young. The film highlights a very selfish and unlikeable main character and tackles the downside of having children; with Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, and Peter Sarsgaard. Awards: 16 wins & 62 nominations. Filmed on Spetses Island, Greece. 1220pm: PC is 'Off' and preparing to hit the streets.  1pm: Parkview, Country Club, Laurel, Outer Park, Lincoln, Leland, Walnut, Northside of Wash. Pk., up the hill, Parkview, Fairway, and up to 940...TWO HOURS...Mp3...TOM VERLAINE, THE SMITHS, 91.9 FM. 440pm: TWO MILES AT 3.6 PACE AND 0.50 SLANT and watched a YouTube ...