The Cheese Stands Alone

 Sa 7/30/22 650am (B). 925am (B). 1015am (2- hits gr/wh). 345pm (B). 640pm (B).  Up 530am: Mostly sunny with temps to about 80. Watched the Netflix disc 'COP SHOP'. I had seen this one before but it was well worth a second look. It's a splatterfest of gun violence played out against a dialogue driven story. If you deleted the furious gunplay, it could have been a stage play; with Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, Toby Huss, Chad L. Coleman, and Ryan O'Nan. Filmed in New Mexico. 940am: I put the computer on 'sleep' and walked the disc over to the Walgreens PO box; 20". Finished 'NATURAL BORN KILLERS' (Netflix). Mickey and Mallory are the celebrated romantic sociopathic heroes of the era and seem to represent a prevalent point of view. Everyone is very much aware of what is going on with their current social, political and economic life. The whole game is rotten to the core and it's high time for Evil to wipe the slate clean. The directi...

 Fr 7/29/22 655am (3- hits). 1010am (B). 1230pm (B). 405pm (2- hits). 7pm (B).  Up 515am: Partly sunny with temps only to about 80. ***First time using the new external reader and it was as easy to use as promised. Watched Netflix disc 'LAST NIGHT IN SOHO'. A strange and ambitious film about Ellie, a young woman from Cornwall who attends The London School of Fashion. She's uncomfortable with life in the 'Big Smoke' and living with her other more experienced student roommates. The metropolis of  'Mod' London haunts her and she 'connects' with a female singer from the sixties who became a prostitute and began killing her 'johns' and decades later she becomes Ellie's landlady. It's not as complicated as it sounds, but the film really keeps you guessing and the sets, locations, and costumes were superb; with Thomasin McKenzie (she was only 18 when she made this film), Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg (THE AVENGERS).  ***Dogs in the...

 Th 7/28/22 935am (B). 12pm (2- hits; gr/wh). 5pm (1- hit). 7pm (B).  Up 530am: Foggy early and partly cloudy with temps to the lower 80's. 6am-645am- I did the morning routine and then used the downstairs PC. I noticed that on this machine the speaker bar runs continuously. When Christian arrives I will be asking about this.  1) Noise that the upstairs PC made while running Windows Updates 2) Problem with the speaker bar upstairs 3) Can he use the solution to the upstairs PC to remedy the problem with the sound bar downstairs. Reading 'THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM'  by NELSON ALGREN  ***Broken Blade- Christian arrived right at 8am and immediately recognized that a broken fan blade was what was causing the racket on the upstairs PC.  I thought that this meant that I'd have to drive back to BLH, but he was able to take it apart and remove the broken piece. $240 was the total bill for all of his work.  Spent time messing around trying to change the backgr...

 We 7/27/22- BLH/ Tech2Door at 1pm. 635am (B). 1020am (1- hit). 5pm (1- hit). 7pm (1). Up 530am: More rain and drizzle until about 10am and then cloudy with temps to about 60. Yesterday parts of St. Louis got almost a foot of rain. The biggest rainfall event in 100 years for St. Louis and the heaviest rain fell just west of downtown. I was able to get most of the cardboard and styrofoam into the big blue can. Next Wednesday should be the last time. I saved $23. Watched the last 45" of 'LONDON TOWN' (Kanopy). The second part of the film was a bit too sappy, but I guess that's what they were going for. It did make me remember that The Clash's music was the most 'left leaning' of all of the bands of that era or any other; with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Joe Strummer.  Began 'LAGGIES' (Plex). A reasonable yet humorous look at 'Responsibility'. After befriending some underage teens and buying them beer, a woman in her late twenties realizes that she...

Tu 7/26/22 715am (B). 1010am (2- hits). 1225pm (1). 450pm (1- hit). 640pm (B). 815pm (B).  Up 530am: Rain ending late this morning and temps only to mid 70's.  I wrote up 'ANY PLACE I HANG MY HAT' by Susan Isaacs for the blog. Watched '16 YEARS OF ALCOHOL' (Kanopy). A Scottish skinhead decides that it's time for a change and the violent behavior and drunkenness that had defined him is now over, but is he being less than honest with himself? The movie poster says 'TRAINSPOTTING' Meets 'A CLOCKWORK ORANGE', but it's really an Art Film that makes the case that a violent childhood leads to loads of misery and emotional pain; with Kevin McKidd, Laura Fraser, Susan Lynch, Stuart Sinclair Blyth, Lewis Macleod, and Ewen Bremmer. Filmed in Edinburgh, Scotland..."They say when a ship sinks, the rats float to the top. Some people look forward to that time". ***Last night I tried to watch this downstairs and had buffering problems. Downstairs P...

Mo 7/25/22- Mowed the lawn  735am (bong). 9am (1-hit). 1150am (bong). 435pm (1- hit). 650pm (bong).  Up 515am: Cloudy but much cooler with temps only to the upper 70's. ***While trying to coil the hose it sprung a leak and I noticed that the hose attached to the spigot is far too tight. The leak can be taped but I'd really like to get the fucking hose off the side of the house during the winter. 9am: MR. SANDLESS van arrives at 'abandoned' house.  ***I had planned to call a locksmith but before I started the movie I tightened the screws on the locks and now everything works perfectly. I am still going to buy new deadbolts for both doors. I need a new toilet seat as well, so a drive down to Menards is in the near future. Watched 'THE GRAY MAN' (Netflix). Standard 'Secret Agent Man' Nonsense. Rogue CIA 'Agent-In-Charge' decides that it is more advantageous to run the agency without moral scruples. One 'super agent' fights back. Corny, to be...

 Su 7/24/22 7am (2). 1205pm (1). 350pm (1). 645pm (bong),  Up 520am: An uncomfortably humid mix of clouds, sun, and light showers with temps to about 90. How long will the windows remain open? Watched 'THE WAILING' (Peacock-TV). A small town Korean cop notices that strange events have been happening around the village since a Japanese man joined the community. The film offers "an atmospheric, cleverly constructed mystery whose supernatural thrills more than justify its imposing length." "This is a horror film that jumbles up ghosts, zombies, body horror, Eastern exorcism, Christian mythology, demonic curses, creepy children, and a lot more into one sustained narrative."  The cop pays a local shaman to cast a spell to rid the town of the Japanese 'ghost'. He pays $10,000 South Korean Won (seems like a whole lotta loot!), but that's only $7.63 in American dollars. 1030am: It's getting very humid, so the PC is 'Off' and the AC is 'On...

 Sa 7/23/22 655am (1). 1010am (1/2). 1145am (1). 655pm (1).  Up 520am: Mostly sunny with temps to mid to upper 90's. Watched Netflix disc 'NIGHTMARE ALLEY'. Set in the American Depression Era of the late 1930's, a wily carny learns the ropes of 'mentalism' and teams up with a duplicitous female psychiatrist to take down a rich mark.  'Geek'- a performer at a carnival or circus whose show consists of bizarre or grotesque acts. The trick is that the person in power uses booze and drugs to hook the mark into agreeing to bite the heads off of chickens. In the last scene of the movie the 'hero' is enticed into becoming a geek, and he exclaims..."I was made for it"; Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn, and Tim Blake Nelson. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. A very deep and heavy movie and I would like to read the novel (I ordered it later in t...

Fr 7/22/22 705am (1). 1005am (1/2). 1150am (1/2). 710pm (1).  Up 520am: Mostly sunny with temps to low 90's. Tomorrow night's temperature won't fall below 80. Entered 'KINDRED' by Octavia E. Butler in the blog. Watched Netflix disc 'A MOST VIOLENT YEAR'.        ..."Don't you get scared?"..."I've always been more afraid of failure than anything else."    'The contagious aspect of violence'- Cities are using mental health programs and counselors to treat the contagious nature of brutality.  1010am: Quick walk to Walgreens to mail back the disc; 20 minutes/ 'Houdini' - THE MELVINS. Reading Susan Issacs 1155am:  FIVE MILES AT 4.1 PACE AND 1.50 SLANT and watched LOUIS CK & JOE LIST on YANNIS PAPPAS podcast.  Reading Susan Issacs ***I called Tech2Door and made an appointment for Wednesday at 1pm with Christian 350pm:  TWO MILES AT 4.1 PACE AND 1.50 SLANT and finished watching 'ANCHORMAN 2' (Amazon Prime). 440...

 Th 7/21/22- County Market: $54. 655am (1). 805am (1). 11am (1). 350pm (1). 7pm (1).  Up 530am: Bright and sunny with temps to low 90's. On Saturday temps could reach 100. Watched 'MR. JONES' (Amazon Prime). The story of Gareth Jones, the Welsh journalist who first reported the 'Holodomor'- Stalin's man made famine. The film implies that Stalin's bogus '5 Year Plans' and the Holodomor were the inspiration for George Orwell's novel, 'THE ANIMAL FARM'. 1040am: PC is 'Off' and preparing for a walk before it gets too hot. 1105am  : Parkview, Wiggins, Outer Park, Lincoln, Leland, Walnut, Wash. Pk. northside, up the hill, Parkview, Fairway, and up to 940...'Funk #49' -JAMES GANG; J.R.E with PAUL VIRZI...TWO HOURS. ***I met the woman next door. Her name is Lou Ann and she's taking care of the mold problem in the home. A relation has a riding mower for her. No thanks for mowing her lawn although she was aware that it was a yea...

We 7/20/22 715am (2). 10am (1/2). 1140am (2). 640pm (1).  Up 540am: Bright and sunny with temps to a toasty 90 degrees. ***I 'sawed' (yes, I used my saw) the TV box so that I could fit it into the big blue can. It would have cost $23 if Republic picked it up. Watched 'PERSUASION' (Netflix). A wry and droll story of a couple who gave up on Love during their teens, and eight years later they both realize that their fire of Love still burns brightly. From a novel by Jane Austen. The secondary characters were unforgettable due to their unrelentingly  narcissistic attitudes; with Richard E. Grant, Dakota Johnson, Henry Golding, and Mia McKenna-Bruce. I really liked this one. ..."Marriage is the greatest blessing that life can offer"..."Where are your children?"...How should I know?". Then more of 'CHLOE' (Amazon Prime). An odd look at love and attraction between people that share a work environment yet come from a different social and economi...

 Tu 7/19/22- Xfinity appointment: 10am-12pm. 705am (2). 1210pm (1). 350pm (1/2). 650pm (1/2).  Up 530am: Mostly sunny with temps to about 90. Temps are predicted to be in the 90's through Saturday. I watched 'WANTED' (Netflix). A passably decent Action/Adventure film (if you disengage most of your critical faculties) with lots of CGI and 'boom-boom'. One thousand years ago a guild of weavers formed an Assassin Fraternity and one of the members' sons (in contemporary Chicago) is approached to join this righteous brotherhood of killers. It sounds dumber than it actually was, but close; with Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, and Terence Stamp.  Query by the Austin Chronicle: "Are there really adults who want to sit through this kind of mindless, bullying mayhem?" ***About 9am a truck dropped a large dumpster container in the driveway of the abandoned house next door.  An old woman (is this the same old woman that was there when I moved in?) wa...

 Mo 7/18/22 710am (2). 1135am (1). 345pm (2). 705pm (1).  Up 545am: Bright and sunny with temps to mid 80's. Watched 'FRANCE' (Kanopy). France is the name of a contemporary Parisian news anchor who is the toast of the country. She fiercely interjects herself into every newsworthy event and claims that she is presenting the victims' point of view, but it's just unchecked narcissism on her part. The film is a broad and dark Art film that satirizes the news media and how it is used (and abused). The location scenes were beautiful and the costumes were absolutely stunning; with Lea Seydoux, Blanche Gardin, and Benjamin Biolay. Directed by Bruno Dumont. I really liked this one and it was a very ambitious film, although I think the following critique is valid.   From The New York Times: "While France remains interesting, thanks to Seydoux’s tough and resourceful performance, “France” loses its emotional force and its intellectual focus. A potentially insightful explo...

 Su 7/17/22- Tommy's Birthday Bash on Glenwood; 3pm. 725am (2). 940am (1 hit). 1115am (1). 7pm (1/2). 805pm (1/2).  Up 530am: A rainy day with temps only to upper 70's. Wrote up 'NELSON ALGREN: A Life on the Wild Side' by Bettina Drew. The plan is to watch a movie, workout at Planet Fitness, and attend the party on Glenwood at 3pm.  Watched 'COLLISION' (Netflix).  A South African thriller that deals with a corrupt and racist white executive, his failed marriage, and his rebellious daughter. White people are beginning to treat blacks as human after 'Freedom Day' in 1994, yet the executive balks. When his daughter is kidnapped by a black hoodlum, he tries to get her back, but the deck is stacked against him. A little too melodramatic, but worth a look. Fun Fact: Indigenous South Africans resent Nigerians because they sell expired goods in their shops and unfairly undersell the local blacks. "What's next, they sell drugs to our children"?   Th...

Sa 7/16/22- Mowed the lawn 655am (2). 1055am (2). 750pm (1).  Up 530am: Partly sunny with temps to upper 80's. Watched Netflix disc 'THE CARD COUNTER'.  An intriguing profile of a professional casino gambler with a past. He was a CIA trained torturer at Abu Grave and meets a young man who lost his father to suicide because his stint as a guard at Guantanamo Bay sent him into a deadly spiral. A strange and haunting presentation, but completely mesmerizing; with Oscar Isaac (EX MACHINA, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS), Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, and Willem Dafoe.'77 Metascore' and 3 wins & 15 nominations. Directed by Paul Schraeder. Music by Robert Levon Been of  THE BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB. Tattoo on The Counter's back: "I trust my life to Providence, I trust my soul to Grace". I watched the first of a three part Netflix series called 'ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR: Minute by Minute'. The Americans fired the first shot of the battle. An US ship notice...

Fr 7/15/22 710am (2). 10am (1). 220pm (1). 425pm (1). 645pm (1). Up 530am. Buddy was dry heaving trying to wake me up. I have to ask the vet what's up with the 'clear liquid' vomit when he's agitated? It happens only after a long period of no food. Although I watered the flowers along the front walk, it began raining about 830am and will continue on and off through early afternoon. Temps to the upper 70's.  Paid the card Watched Netflix disc 'CRY MACHO'. A little corny and a lot sentimental, but still worth a look. An old cowhand owes a big debt to a very wealthy friend. The rich man wants the cowboy to go to Mexico City and find his 13 year old son and bring him back to Texas. At first it seems like a good thing, but later he learns that the man only wants the boy to use as a bargaining chip in a bitter custody battle with his ex wife. The old man and the boy share in a host of fanciful and charming adventures. Probably a big hit at the 'COMMON SENSE...

 Th 7/14/22 725am (2). 1055am (1). {Travel Pipe: a couple on the road}. 7pm (1). Up 520am: Mostly sunny with temps to upper 80's. Watched 'THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY' (Netflix). I had forgotten how great this film was. Tom Ripley is hired by the father of Dickey Greenleaf to go to Italy, find Dickey, and convince him to come home. However, through a strange turn of events, Tom murders Dickey and 'becomes' the rich and debonair, Dickey Greenleaf. The murders continue to pile up and Tom finds that he can't keep up the ritzy lifestyle while keeping his friends and the police at bay; with Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Rebhorn, and Philip Baker Hall; from a novel by Patricia Highsmith. Nominated for 5 Oscars; 10 wins & 81 nominations: '76 Metascore'. 1020am: PC is 'Off' and preparing for an outing. First stop, Green for a car wash, then to Best Buy for the External Optical Reader, then to BLH to ...

We 7/13/22 745am (2). 1125am (1). 345pm (1).  Up 530am: Sunny and warmer with temps to mid to upper 80's. ***Mashed up the speaker/woofer empty box to get it to fit into the big blue can. I still plan to call about the box for the 65" monitor. I placed the order of 'THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM' on AbeBooks. The address and credit card information were tied to 900 Durkin. I turned on the Windows Updates and it sat for a while then reached '100%' and asked for a 'restart'. 'TULIP FEVER' is available on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Freevee. 'GRANDMA' Freevee. Watched 'THE SECOND' (Kanopy). A stylishly clever Australian murder mystery where at about the half way point, the narrator 'breaks the wall' and begins to tell the real story.  A famous female writer, her book producer/lover, and her closest friend from childhood spend a few days at the family estate so that the writer can begin her second book (and hence the title) and very so...

 Tu 7/12/22- Xfinity : 130pm 705am (2). 930am (1). 1pm (a few hits pre-roll). 345pm (1). 630pm (1).  Up 530am: Sunny with temps to lower 80's. Borrowed 'PURE' from Hoopla to see more by Alicia Vikander. Watched 'Pure' (Hoopla). Another terrific art film. This one is about a young girl with nothing going for her until she hears her first Mozart concert. She gets a temp job at the concert hall and has an affair with the conductor and mayhem ensues; with the brilliant Alicia Vikander...'Courage is life's only measure'-Soren Kierkegaard. This quotation seems to be a theme of the film, but isn't murder a little too far? I loved this one and gave it '5 Stars'. 905am: PC is 'Off' and going to hit the sidewalks before the appointment with Xfinity at 130pm.  940am:  Parkview, Country Club, Laurel,  Outer Park, Lincoln,  Leland,  Walnut, Wash.Pk southside and across Park, up the hill, Parkview, Kenyon, and down to 940...TWU HOURS...BAND OF GYPS...

 Mo 7/11/22 725am (2). 1220pm (2). 640pm (1).  Up 6am: Mostly sunny and breezy with temps to just over 90. Borrowed 'A ROYAL AFFAIR' (Hoopla). In the early 1770's Denmark was led by a mentally challenged King and the court appointed a German doctor to oversee the King's rulings. The doctor was a student of Voltaire and Rousseau and was able to influence the infantile king to enact many of the basic tenets of the Enlightenment; liberty, progress, constitutional government, and separation of church and state. Unfortunately, the German doctor  had an illicit affair with the queen, she became pregnant and this child became the heir apparent.  Later the affair is discovered, the doctor is beheaded and it seems that would be it. But over a decade later the heir apparent becomes king and he reinstates the liberal policies and Denmark becomes one of the most socially advanced nations in Europe. A piece of European history that I had never heard about and made for a wonderful...

 Su 7/10/22 710am (2).1145am (1). 345pm (1). 655pm (1).  Up 520am: Bright and sunny with temps to mid 80's. Check 'Notepad' instead of 'Sticky Notes' on the downstairs PC. I put Friday and Saturday's notes into the blog. Watched Netflix disc 'BLUE BAYOU'. A young Korean man faces deportation after a minor brush with the law. He had been living in the United States for over thirty years and was married and starting a family. Because valid paperwork was not filed by his adoptive parents, he could be sent back to Korea after over three decades of living in the states. Subtext: If you were adopted overseas by American parents and raised in America you still might not be a US citizen. The movie walked the fine line between authenticity and melodrama, but I really liked it; with Justin Chon (writer, director), Alicia Vikander (EX MACHINA), Mark O'Brien, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. 11-1130am: Weekly Cleaning  12pm: Downtown to mail back disc and send gift card....

 Sa 7/9/22 640am (1). 8am (1/2). 1155am (1). 650pm (2).  650am: Fairhills/ County Market  Home by 730am; $126. I'll save posting the journal because I'm having problems with the keyboard. It seems to work better if you are a very deliberate typist. And, I still haven't found out what the new edition of Windows 'Notes'.    I'll give the system a workout and try John Carpenter's 'VAMPIRES' (Netflix). A cheesy, grade 'B' vampire flick that did not take itself too seriously. The daddy of all vampires 'changed' in the 14th century and now is ready to perform a ritual so that he can walk in the daylight. The 'Vampire Busters' put the kibosh on his plan;  with James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee,  and Mark Bonne  Junior. Filmed near Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The keyboard is really acting up, but I've found that it works much better if I type on my lap.  ***Change power settings at the screen saver "change when computer slee...

Fr 7/8/22- Tech2Door; 1pm. 705am (2). 945am (1). 355pm (1). 7pm (1). Up 545am: Heavy thunderstorms in the morning and scattered storms this afternoon with temps to about 80. Some of the day was oppressively humid. Watched 'THE WRATH OF GOD' (Netflix). A very classy film from Argentina about a young woman who is a transcriber for a famous author. One day he tries to kiss her, she rejects him and files a successful lawsuit. The author's wife learns of the allegation and drowns their four year old daughter in the tub and then she takes her own life with an overdose of sleeping pills. The young woman feels regretful and she doesn't cash the settlement check yet the author is not appeased and spends the next decade killing members of her family until justice is obtained. I really liked this film and might be viewed as 'the hazards of the 'Me Too' movement. Filmed in Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata, Argentina. Watched 'MY NEXT GUEST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION with D...

 Th 7/7/22- Best Buy PC/ Brandenburg's Help 725am (1). 955am (1). 630pm (1).  Up 545am: A rainy day with temps only to 80. I decided to go ahead with the plan to buy a large screen monitor and wireless keyboard at Best Buy for the downstairs system. I hope to be able to coordinate with Joe and Janny to use their truck to pick up the TV. I spent some time last night and this morning crafting an email that didn't sound too demanding or desperate.  Watched 'OFFICIAL SECRETS' (Netflix). A superior film about American lies to invade Iraq. New Angle: An intelligence agent in Britain noticed that US agencies were asking the Brits to get negative information about various ambassadors at the UN to force them to back the invasion. The female agent was brought to trial in Britain, but it was dropped because the prosecution realized that were they to continue, 'dangerous' facts about the lies would be made public; with Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans, and Ralph Fien...

 We 7/6/22 735am (1). 220pm (1). 405pm (1/2). 650pm (1).  Up 6am: Cloudy, muggy and scattered storms with temps to upper 80's. ***Ordered Tommy's birthday present and a novel (for me) by Susan Issacs that was in the cart from a previous visit.  Watched 'LEAVE NO TRACE' (Netflix). An affecting Art Film about a father and daughter who live off the grid in the wilderness of Oregon. Almost nothing is divulged about their backstory, but Dad is obviously suffering from PTSD; with Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Foster (CONTRABAND- saw this film a couple of days ago and made me check out another with Ben Foster).  Going over (in my skull) what I'm going to say to the computer repair guy.  1010am: PC is 'Off' and still dithering about the call and no rain and it's just going to be humid and cloudy, but some heavy showers rolled through between noon and 1pm. Will have to shut up the house again and turn on the AC.  1015am: Called Dave at Tech2Door and left word. 1040am...

 Tu 7/5/22- New PC at BLH/ Red Oak Lane 735am (2). 1115am (2 hits pre-roll). 4pm (1/2). 630pm (2). 805pm (1/2).  Up 545am: Hot and nasty with actual temps to one hundred and 'feels like' through the roof. AC will be 'On' all day and tomorrow as well. Janny sent an email saying that they will be home until 3pm. They have to take Jonas to his session and I said that I'd be at Red Oak about noon. I disconnected the PC and it's all ready to go. Watched 'BORN TO BE BLUE' (Kanopy). Chet Baker's problems with heroin and life in general. I had seen it before but it was well worth another viewing; with Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo, and Callum Keith Rennie. "Hello Fear, Hello Death...Fuck You". I was going to watch more of the biopic of the crooked Italian lawyer (Peacock-TV), but decided to get in a few miles on the treadmill.  1005am: PC is 'Off' 1015am:  THREE MILES AT 4.1 PACE AND 1.50 SLANT and more of HOTEP JESUS on J.R.E.  1120am:  BLH/ R...

 Monday July 4th 2022- 725am (2). 945am (1/2). 1145am (1). 4pm (1). 625pm (1/2). 740pm (1/2).  Up 545am: Partly sunny with temps to the low 90's.  I watched 'FINAL SCORE' (Netflix). Russian terrorists hold hijack the entire Boleyn Ground Stadium (old home of West Ham United Football Club) in the attempt to 'restart' a revolution along the Russian border. An 'Action/Adventure Film' that was so chock full of cartoon violence that it was unintentionally hilarious. I think I might have seen this one before but it was so derivative that it was hard to tell; with Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan, and other people.     Then a random episode of 'THE UNXPLAINED with William Shatner' (Netflix). 'Unnatural Nature'- Lightning Town, Woman hit by lightning twice, Coal Fire- Centralia, PA...A silly waste of time with William Shatner and George Noory. I wrote a short email to Janny suggesting that I drop by tomorrow after I take the PC to BLH.  1120am: PC is ...

 Su 7/3/22 720am (2). 950am (1/2). 1220pm (1). 650pm (1). 805pm (1/2).  Up 530am: Sunny and hot with temps to upper 80's. Watched 'CONTRABAND' (Netflix). A bad guy attempts the straight and narrow, but his brother in law forces him to do one more smuggling operation. He acquires 2 skids of counterfeit money in Panama City and gets it back to New Orleans on a cargo ship. Is Panama known for counterfeit currency?; with Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale, Caleb Landry Jones, Ben Foster, Lucas Haas, J.K. Simmons, and Diego Luna. Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana and Panama City, Panama. This was a remake of an Icelandic film that was set in Iceland, Germany, and the Netherlands.  Then the first episode of 'MR. GOOD COP OR CROOK?' (Netflix). Will begin with this at Esporta later this afternoon. 1045am: PC is 'Off' and will do the Weekly Cleaning and then to Esporta. The plan is to hit the pill shop after the workout.   Pneumonia call. A pharmacist fro...

 Sa 7/2/22- Mowed the lawn/ Downstairs PC is Down!  705am (2). 1210pm (1). 255pm (1). 650pm (2).  Up 530am: Partly sunny with temps to mid 80's. Watched 'A CALL TO SPY' (Netflix). I vaguely remember this film but well worth a second look.  During the early days of WWII women were first used as spies because who would think that a woman could be a spy? Based on actual historical events and a significant number of these female agents were captured and killed by the Nazis; with Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, and Linus Roache.  I mowed the lawn last Saturday and I'll give it another go this morning. Last time I didn't mow the back third so it's kinda shaggy.  945am: The PC is 'Off' and preparing to tackle the lawn.  10am-11am: The did the entire lawn and hacked back the weeds under 'Santa Monk's' tree. I noticed a car in the driveway at the abandoned house while I was mowing their lawn. I did not linger.  Cooked the rice and read ...

 Fr 7/1/22 8am (1). 955am (1/2).  1225pm (1). 355pm (1). 645pm (1).  Up 610am: Thanks, Buddy. Partly cloudy with a chance of showers this afternoon with temps to mid 80's. (No rain at all) ***When I did a little weeding on Tuesday afternoon I must have come in contact with some poison oak. The inside of my right lower arm is covered in sores and Tuesday night I must have scratched it while I was asleep. It is a hassle.  Finished Netflix disc 'ALEXANDER: Director's Cut' ; with Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Rosario Dawson, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Christopher Plummer, Jared Leto, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers; directed by Oliver Stone; 6 wins & 19 nominations. '39 Metascore'...Village Voice: "...although Stone post-produces the dickens of his movie trying to generate the maximum spit-fog of sound and fury, Alexander manages to be as dull as the Victor Mature films of the 1950s, which barely moved at all". Although it was definitely a bit 'hammy...

Th 6/30/22 720am (1/2). 1025am (1/2). 1155am (1). 4pm (1). 655pm (1).  ***I made an appointment with i3 Broadband to increase my internet speed and they are to arrive between 8am and 10am this morning. Yesterday I noticed that both PC's were only getting 40-50 Mbps. Up 530am: Sunny and breezy with temps to upper 80's. Began 'A MURDER IN THE PARK' (Kanopy). The case that ended Illinois death row was based on a case where the murderer was NOT falsely accused. Chicago allowed a legal zealot to end the death penalty even though he was well aware that he was not freeing an innocent man. This lawyer felt that the death penalty is morally wrong and anything that ends it is justified.  ***825am: i3 Broadband should be here in ten.  He was here from about 930am-1030am. I am getting 650-700 Mbps to the router and the modem, but I'm getting only about 40-50 Mbps on each of the PC's. In other words, i3 Broadband will deliver the speed to the house, but each device within th...