The Cheese Stands Alone

 We 11/29/23 710am (2-B). 805am (1-SB). 1225pm (2-B). 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 525am: Sunny to partly cloudy with temps to about 50. Xmas shopping at Amazon for the kids. It took less than twenty minutes. So much easier than wandering around Walmart in an angry stupor. I love Amazon! ***9am- Toilet problems at the house across the street with the two girls. A plumbing truck from Ewing (New Berlin) pulled up and mom left to drop the kids at school. Then, a plumber and helper looked like they were reaming out some kind of blockage in a toilet on the front lawn. In a few minutes they carried the toilet back into the house.   Watched 'HEAVEN' (Hoopla-borrowed yesterday). It was like watching a Fable or a Moral Tale. An English woman plants a bomb to kill a well connected drug dealer in an Italian city. A cleaning lady inadvertently moves the IED and four innocent people die. The English woman is apprehended by the police and her interpreter falls in love with her. T...

Tu 11/28/23 730am (2-B). 810am (1-SB). 1250pm (2-B).545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 530am: Sunny to partly cloudy with temps only to 30 degrees. I borrowed 'HEAVEN' and 'THE CHAMBERMAID' from Hoopla. Watched 'THE CHAMBERMAID' (Hoopla). A Day in The Life of a maid at a high rise hotel in Mexico City. A slow and deliberate Art Film that really conveys the isolation and apartness that a working class young woman might feel employed as a servant in an affluent person's environment. Finished 'A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY' (Netflix). An elegant way to tell a story and the actual events of the murder are not revealed until the final scene. Stella killed her boyfriend after she surprised him raping her closet girlfriend, Amina. As the girls flee his apartment Christoffer chases the girls with a knife. He drops the knife, and then Stella murders him. The case is tossed out because the rape and Chris's sexual history showed that there were many others that could h...

 Mo 11/27/23 645am (2-B). 815am (1-SB). 12pm (2-B). 155pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 810pm (2-B).  Up 530am: Bright & sunny with temps just above freezing. Wrote up 'TINSEL' by William Goldman for the blog. Watched 'DEFENDING YOUR LIFE' (Kanopy). 'Little Brains' learn whether they can 'advance' or return to Earth and try again; with Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, and Buck Henry. "Everybody on Earth uses 3 to 5% of their brain and that's why they're there...When you use more than 5% of your brain you don't want to be on Earth, believe me".  "63" Metascore, but I liked it more.  More 'A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY' (Netflix). I finished episode #4 and two remain- 90" left. 1145am: Preparing to walk on the treadmill. The plan is to hit the grocery store after the treadmill.  1205pm: FIVE MILES AT 4.1 PACE AND ZERO SLANT; finished 'AMEND' (Netflix)- I can see why we don't hear more about the 14th Amendme...

 Su 11/26/23- New Batch 7am (2-B). 815am (1-SB). 1030am (1-B). 1235pm (2-B). 445pm (2-B). [445pm New Batch: GARLIC BANANA POPCORN- 7g]. 815pm (2-B).  Up 520am: A light wintry mix early (they're still predicting 1-2 inches but it seems too warm) & cloudy with temps to low 30's. {No accumulation and sprinkles ended by 1030am} Borrowed 'MARTIN EDEN' and 'OUT AND ABOUT' from Hoopla. Watched 'MARTIN EDEN' (Hoopla). Loosely based on the novel by Jack London. The book was set near the turn of the 20th century and the movie is set in Italy after WWII. A self taught man struggles to be a writer and cannot catch a break. Finally he becomes a widely respected author and he still embraces his take on Socialism. Martin Eden doesn't think Socialism is a workable philosophy because it examines human society as a collective and he feels that real change can only be possible through the individual. THESIS: The community might feel that they operate with democrati...

 Sa 11/25/23 7am (2-B). 750am (1-SB). 1235am (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 545am: Partly sunny with temps to just over 40.  Watched 'BELIEVER 2' (Netflix). An American soldier steps on a mine and must stand/ kneel in the sand for almost three days. He hallucinates about his life and the film ends as he is kneeling to ask his girlfriend to marry him after he's back to the states. Just a little too 'woozy metaphysical' to be taken seriously with Armie Hammer. From 'The Film Stage': "A jumbled, hodgepodge of ideas and images that spoil the initially intriguing premise." Watched 'BAD EDUCATION: Directors Cut' (Netflix). Three Taiwanese high school students celebrate their graduation by a night of rooftop drinking and reveal their most incriminating secrets to each other. A stupid prank leads them to lose a finger apiece to appease a gang leader. Barely worth a look...  "Ten percent of people are good and ten percent are bad. The res...

 Fr 11/24/23- Brewer/ Brandenburgs  640am (2-B). 930am (2-B). 810pm (2-B).  Up 540am: Cloudy & breezy with temps only to about 40. Much cooler and the first prediction of snow for Sunday.  Watched 'AMEND: The Fight For America' (Netflix). The 14th Amendment was passed in 1868 and this is the first time that 'Equality' is mentioned in the Constitution. Dred Scott is negated. Will Smith hosts a discussion on Frederick Douglass and his battle for citizenship to obtain the right of Citizenship for Black Americans. Shut it down half way through the second episode.  805am: PC is 'Off' and I'm getting ready for Buddy's Office Visit. It's cold enough that I need to warm up the car before leaving. 1) Check his ear; 2) Ask about steroids for vomiting.  830am- 910am: To Brewer. & home; lost one pound. Steroids once a day and after 5 days every other day. $  935am:  FIVE MILES AT 4.1 PACE AND ZERO SLANT; finished 'WHO WE ARE'- A Chronicle of Raci...

 Th 11/23/23- Thanksgiving 650am (2-B). 815am (1-B). 1005am (1-B). 145pm (2-B). 535pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  {My celebration will take place tomorrow since Jamie is working} Mostly sunny with temps to about 50. Watched 'HARRIET' (Netflix). A fairly decent biopic of Harriet Tubman, the most successful 'train conductor' on the American Underground Railroad. Head trauma early in her life might explain the 'talking with god'. She lived into her nineties and died in 1913. She is one of the few women in American history to lead a military engagement. The Combahee River Raid- 1863. Cynthia Erivo played Harriet Tubman. "66" Metascore. Began 'WHO WE ARE: A Chronicle of Racism in America' (Netflix). Civil Rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson talks of the wide streak of institutional anti-black racism in American history. I have less than an hour and I plan to finish it.  1145am: PC is 'Off' and the plan is to grab a rake and give the front lawn another c...

 We 11/22/23 755am (2-B). 835am (1-SB). 1205pm (2-B). 545pm (2-B).  Up 645am: Cloudy morning with sun in the afternoon and temps to mid 40's. Wrote up 'THE FIX' by David Baldacci for the blog.  Watched 'THE GAME' (Tubi).  An arrogant stockbroker is given a gift by his younger brother. It's an expensive 'ticket' to a new reality and soon the line between what's real and fantasy disappears. Location shots of 90's San Francisco are great; with Michael Douglas, Deborah Kara Unger, Sean Penn, James Rebhorn; "63" Metascore. Directed by David Fincher (SE 7 EN, GONE GIRL, ZODIAC, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, FIGHT CLUB).   11am: PC is 'Off' and the plan is to get an early start and do the weights and then hit Esporta. Remember to stop at Schnucks for peanut butter and apples after the workout.  Weights: 3 sets/ 15 reps. 1215pm:  To Esporta...45" Precor.  30"Bike.  45" Cross.  30" Treadmill.  30" Precor;  'STAMPED FRO...

Tu 11/21/23 750am (2-B). 9am (1-SB). 115pm (2-B). 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 540am: Cloudy with temps to mid 40's.  ***740am: I took two CLOUD 9 DELTA 9 THC GUMMIES (5 mg  THC , 50 mg CBD each). This brand has more CBD than the others I've tried and I'm hoping that these will provide a better experience. [Not much difference,  but I will try their heavier THC/ CBD selections] Watched 'LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT' (Kanopy). A very opaque Art Film that was far too confusing and purposefully obscure. It might be about a man who is trying to find a girl from his dreams. Or, a man searches for a friend of his who was once a criminal? Lots of beautiful shots, but I had little or no idea what was going on. Directed by Bi Gan; 12 wins & 38 nominations. "88" Metascore. Set in Kaili City, China. Finished 'WHITE NOISE' (Netflix). The wife was having an affair with a therapist who was prescribing the Dylar to stop her dread of death. The husband w...

 Mo 11/20/23 705am (2-B). 8am (1-SB). 230pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 545am: Cloudy with rain beginning late this afternoon with temps to upper 40's. More rain for tonight and tomorrow. ***I took a couple of allergy tablets  Watched 'DOWNTON ABBEY' (Netflix). The King & Queen of England visit Downton for a day and the staff of the Royals and the servants at Downton clash over who will serve the Royal Couple. Very well done and peppered with very witty dialogue. Won 15 Primetime Emmys; 60 wins & 229 nominations.   Watched 'WHITE NOISE' (Netflix). STORYLINE/ THESIS: A philosophical rumination on the 'Fear of Death' is heightened as an 'Airborne Toxic Event' infects the community. From a novel by Don DeLillo; with Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, and Don Cheadle. Two wins & 24 nominations: "66" Metascore. ***I had seen this before but I watched/napped through the film because the two antihistamine tablets have wiped me out. I ...

 Su 11/19/23 805am (2-B). 9am (1-SB). 1225pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 645am: {I fed Buddy at 330am and it took over an hour for me to fall back asleep} A mix of sun & then cloudy with temps to about 60. Tomorrow it's predicted to rain all day. Did the Weekly Cleaning Watched 'SOUTHPAW' {leaving Netflix in a few days}. A top professional fighter loses his wife when she is shot and killed in a senseless scuffle after one of his fights. Then, he loses his ten year old daughter to Child & Family Services yet in the end, he's able to recover his title belt and reclaim custody of his child. A hackneyed storyline, but Gyllenhall's performance gives it enough style and heart to make it worth a look; with Jake Gyllenhall, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, and 50 Cent. 11 nominations- "57" Metascore.   1130am: PC is 'Off' and the plan is to do weights and workout at Planet Fitness. Weights: 3 sets/ 15 reps.  1235pm: To Planet Fitness; 45...

 Sa 11/18/23 710am (2-B). 820am (1-SB). 1025am (1-B). 1235pm (1-B).  315pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 540am: A frosty morning and then bright & sunny with temps to mid 50's. I wrote up 'THE BLACK BOOK' by Ian Rankin and 'MYRA BRECKINRIDGE' by Gore Vidal for the blog. When I got up I planned to rake the leaves on the front lawn because today is the last day of Westview's pickup week for bags. Maybe I'll hit it later today....maybe. Watched 'DANGEROUS LIAISONS' (Kanopy). The film is an elegant tale of cruelty and romance among members of the French aristocracy during the 18th century. A femme fatale and a notorious womanizer conspire to ruin the reputations of selected mademoiselles and messieurs; with Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Keanu Reeves, and Uma Thurman. Won 3 Oscars; 21 wins & 23 nominations. "74" Metascore. I hadn't seen this one in ages (1988 release) and well worth a second lo...

 Fr 11/17/23 735am (2-B). 910am (1-SB). 1240pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 6am: A cloudy morning & then sunny with temps to mid 50's.  ***The living room PC requested an update and it took ten minutes. I would almost consider going exclusively with Apple products just so that I would never have to run a Windows Update again.   Watched 'CAPONE' (Tubi). A very weird film and it explores the end of Capone's life where he 'lived like a king' in a villa in Florida. How did America's most notorious gangster get such a wonderful legal deal? Biggest Plus: Neal Brennan is in this! He plays Alphonse Capon's lawyer in one scene. Finished episode #3 of 'LOCKED UP' (Netflix). I'm still in, but it's beginning to lose steam. I put it in the 'Ended But Not Forgotten' folder in my 'drafts' and tonight I'll find a new series.  1230pm: PC is 'Off' and the plan is to do the treadmill/ weights.  Weights: 2 sets/ 15 rep...

Th 11/16/23 725am (2-B). 8am (1-SB). 1215pm (2-B). 220pm (1-B). 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 615am: Partly cloudy with temps to upper 60's. PAID THE VISA CARD Watched 'WOMAN IN GOLD' (Netflix). An elderly Austrian/ American woman and her young lawyer nephew take on the Austrian government to get back the 'Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer'. This was an iconic painting that was stolen from her family by the Nazis in 1941 and she must prove that she is the rightful owner. It's kind of a 'Buddy Film'- a young lawyer teams up with his feisty aunt and they embark on an epic quest; with Helen Mirren & Ryan Reynolds. 6 nominations- "51" Metascore.   Finished 'FERRY: The Series' (Netflix). In the final scene Ferry and Danielle get married, but they probably do not live happily ever after. Although exceedingly melodramatic, I really liked the series and I hope there is more. Set up the account with VIIA Hemp and put some strong gummies in the c...

We 11/15/23 725am (2-B). 815am (1-SB). 1035am (1-SB). 1210pm (2-B).  535pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 6am: Bright & sunny with temps almost to 70. ***About 7am the computer restarted. At first I thought it was a power outage but then I noticed that the router was working. This makes me anxious about the shutdown of updates for Windows 10 because more and more computer frustration is ahead.   ***When I put out the 'big blue can' I filled it up with more leaves. Watched 'THE KILLER' (Netflix).  A top tier assassin misses a hit and his enemies kidnap and brutalize his woman. He exacts his revenge. Beautiful locations; with Michael Fassbender & Tilda Swinton. Nifty Gimmicks:  The assassin uses names from old TV shows; George Jefferson, Lou Grant, etc. The assassin continually listens to 'The Smiths' on his mp3 player. The 'Hunter & The Bear' joke..."You're not really out here for the hunting, are you?". Based on a French graphic novel ...

Tu 11/14/23- Eye Exam: 115pm 745am (2-B).  1150am (1-B). [130pm- 2 gummies].  250pm (2-B). 530pm (2-B).  815pm (2-B).  Up 645am: {Thanks, Buddy} Bright & sunny with temps to mid 60's. Watched 'MAN ON THE TRAIN' (Hoopla). The film explores the growing relationship between a bank robber and a lonely, retired professor of poetry. The robber is in the small French village for a bank heist and the professor is preparing for a heart operation. The film is a romantic portrayal of the premise that 'opposites attract'. Very emotional and essentially a play..."Another certainty bites the dust"; with Jean Rochefort and Johnny Hallyday. Eight wins & 10 nominations. "75" Metascore. Finished 'ESCAPING TWIN FLAMES' (Netflix). "A recent study of 7,000 transgender people found that less than 1% regret their transition". "There are over 10,000 cults currently operating in the US, and the number of internet based cults since the pande...

 Mo 11/13/23- 245pm Agnes Fenner 800 N. 1st {2nd & Dodge} CANCELED  715am (2-B). 1225pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 6am: Bright & sunny with temps to low 60's. ***Very early this morning I heard Buddy vomiting, but no vomit and he seems fine.  Watched 'COP LAND' (Netflix). Premise: Cops working in NYC had to live in the city to retain their jobs. In the 70's they figured out a way around the law and many moved to a small town in New Jersey that was full of cops and a 'safe' community. Then, the mob controlled the entire town. An interesting film that's top-heavy with acting talent; with Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Rapaport, Noah Emmerich, Cathy Moriarty, and Frank Vincent. Filmed in Edgewater, Cliffside Park, and Fort Lee, New Jersey. ***I ordered Buddy's thyroid medication from Wedgewood. I switched to auto pay to avoid the ten dollar shipping charge. ***At 1015am I got a call...

 Su 11/12/23 745am (2-B). 9am (1-SB). 1150am (2-B). 450pm (2-B). 710pm (2-B).  Up 615am: Mostly sunny with temps to about 60. Weekly Cleaning/ Mopping Watched 'THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS' (Tubi). It's 1757 and the Adirondack region of New York is at war. The French, British, Indians, and settlers clash over who will rule the land. The film offers a realistic recreation of The French & Indian Wars. Apparently, the characters and some of the story are based on real events;  with Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Jodhi May, and Wes Studi. Directed by Michael Mann from a novel written by James Fenimore Cooper. "76" Metascore; One Oscar, 7 wins & 17 nominations. Filmed in North Carolina. 1110am: The PC is 'Off' and the plan is to do the weights and then hit Planet Fitness this afternoon. Note To Self: Buy Natural Light and Friskies on the way home. Weights: 3 sets/ 15 reps.  1205pm: To Planet  Fitness...45"Cross.  45"Treadmill.  30"Bike.  ...

 Sa 11/11/23 715am (2-B). 830am (1-SB). 1250pm (2-B). 445pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 6am: A mix of sun & clouds with temps to lower 50's. Watched 'PACIFIC HEIGHTS' (Kanopy). The film's message is about the dire consequences of Renter's Rights. The crooked renter moves in, never pays rent and you can't get rid of him because the law is on his side.  I doubt if this is the case in most localities and it's probably more common that owners have far more power over their tenants. This is a novel idea for a film and could have been better yet still worth a look because of the setting in Pacific Heights, San Francisco at the end of the 80's; with Melanie Griffith, Matthew Modine, and Michael Keaton. Watched 'NEW BEST FRIEND' (Amazon Prime). A shy and nerdy college coed finesses her way into the most popular group on campus. The parties, drugs and booze transform her into the biggest 'mean girl' at the college. A very low budget affair that...

 Fr 11/10/23- Grocery Shopping 830am (2-B). 830am (1-SB). 1150am (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 640am: Bright & sunny with temps to low 50's. 715am: Grocery shopping at Fairhills: $122 {checked out in the liquor department even though I didn't buy any liquor} Put it away by 815am.  Watched 'WINGWOMAN' (Netflix). A pair of elite international 'Assassins'/ 'Thieves' try to leave the business, but the boss demands that they stick around. Rather a tired idea in the Action Film genre, but this is different because all of the players are women. Proof positive, once again, that women can be just as single mindedly violent and dumb as men. The single redeeming quality was the beautiful location footage in Paris and Le Mans, France.  "54" Metascore.   1130am: PC is 'Off' and preparing to hit the treadmill.  1155am: FIVE MILES AT 4.1 PACE AND ZERO SLANT; Finished 'IT AIN'T OVER' (Netflix)- There are two 'R's' in ...

 Th 11/9/23- Buddy Sick/ Raked Lawn 745am (2-B).  930am (1-SB). 1215pm (1-B). 255pm (2-B). 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 6am: A mix of sun & clouds with temps to the upper 50's. *** Buddy threw up his 4am snack in the living room and kitchen. He seems fine this morning and his appetite is in high gear.  I wrote up 'SLEEPLESS' by Romy Hausmann and 'SLEEP NO MORE' by Greg Iles for the blog. Watched 'LOCKED IN' (Netflix). An unprincipled doctor simultaneously has an affair with an heiress and her mother-in-law in the family mansion. He cares nothing for either of them and he's only after the money. However, the 'big picture' is not revealed until very late in the tale. Dizzying and shifting perspectives, flashbacks, and histrionic flourishes make for a slightly better than average presentation.  Finished ''THE BILLIONAIRE, THE BUTLER AND THE BOYFRIEND' (Netflix). The daughter (and her legal team!) fended off all other claims and now ...

 We 11/8/23 7am (2-B). 810am (1-SB). 1235pm (2B). 445pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  ***A shout out to Georgia Pie! I cannot remember an Indica (or Sativa) strain as wonderfully powerful as this. It leaves the previous varieties in the dust. Up 545am: Mostly sunny & breezy with temps almost to 80. Watched 'THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION' (Tubi). It's mostly about the horror of male homosexuals attacking the unwary in a twentieth century prison in rural Maine. Yet in the end, two 'friends' beat the system and rebegin their lives on a snow-white beach in sunny Mexico. However, they did NOT walk toward the setting sun holding hands; with Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, and James Whitmore. Based on a novella by Stephen King called 'RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION'. I thought it was more than a little bit corny. Nominated for 7 Oscars; 21 wins & 42 nominations. "82" Metascore.   Began 'THE BILLIONAIRE, THE BUTLER, AND THE BOYFRIEND' (Netflix). I f...

 Tu 11/7/23- Dental Exam 1pm {New Batch- GEORGIA PIE} 620am (2-B). 840am (2-B). 1120am (1-SB). {New Batch} 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 530am: {Buddy was yelling for breakfast and I heard him begin 'vomit mode' and I got up before he erupted.  He kept down his food and seemed fine} Bright & sunny with temps to about 70.  635am- 805am: Washington Park; Parkview, Wash. Pk., along the road to northside, Walnut, Wash. Pk. southside, up the road, Parkview, Fairway, and up to 940. ONE HOUR AND 30 MINUTES; BLUES IMAGE; Elon Musk on J.R.E. Watched 'THE FOREIGNER' (Netflix). A violent cell within the IRA is setting off bombs in London to break the 20 year old peace agreement with Northern Ireland. The daughter of an elderly (Special Forces- retired) Asian man was killed in a bombing and he forces the authorities to reveal the men responsible and exact his bloody revenge. The film has some decent special effects, many dynamic locations in the London metropolitan area,...

Mo 11/6/23 755am (2-B). 840am (1-SB). 1120am (1-SB). 545pm (2-B). 820pm (2-B).  Up 7am: (Feeling rested) Cloudy & breezy with temps to just over 70. Watched 'DELIVER US FROM EVIL' (Netflix).  A group of Iraqi War vets stumble upon a 'door' to an evil (Catholic?) dimension and bring it back to the South Bronx. A detective sergeant and a demonologist take it from there; with Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, and Joel McHale. Certainly not one of the best of the genre, but still not a bad 'Demon Possession' film. This is based on a real NYC cop, Ralph Sarchie, who actually performs exorcisms to tackle "demonic infestation around the city". "40" Metascore.  Hackneyed musical choices by The Doors are featured- "Break On Through (To The Other Side)" & "People Are Strange".  More of 'ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE' (Netflix). I shut it down 21 minutes into episode #3. I just noticed that there are only 4 episodes in the seri...

 Su 11/5/23 {Time Change} 740am (2-B). 1220pm (2-B). 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 545am: Mostly sunny with temps to low 60's. Did the Weekly Cleaning Watched 'THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER' (Netflix).  A surgeon meets a young man who offers him a choice. "Because my father died during an operation that you performed drunk, you must choose one of your family to die in atonement". Very much an Absurdist/ Art Film, but completely captivating; with Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, and Alicia Silverstone. Filmed in Cincinnati, Ohio. Seven wins & 53 nominations. "73" Metascore.   Finished 'SANTO' (Netflix). My only take away is that the woman who pretended to be Santo's lover really was Santo. Overall, the series was too confusing but visually arresting.  1145am: The PC is 'Off' and the plan is to do the weights, then walk to Washington Park and on the way home pick up more leaf bags. I'll spend the afternoon behind the ...

Sa 11/4/23 720am (2-B). 845am (1-SB). 1245pm (2-B). 620pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B) {New Time} Up 6am: A mix of sun & clouds with temps to low 60's. Watched 'APOSTASY' (Crackle TV). This is most definitely my all time favorite film about religious faith.  PREMISE: Mom rejects her daughters to earn Jehovah's love.  She allows one daughter to die because a blood transfusion is contrary to Jehovah's law and shuns the other daughter for disobeying the laws of the Jehovah's Witnesses' faith. 'Society'- how the elders interpret reality; 'New System'- how the world will be after the apocalypse and 'the faithful' will live forever {under the guidance of the elders}; with Molly Wright, Siobhan Finneran, and Sacha Parkinson. Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award; 5 wins & 21 nominations. Filmed in Oldham, England which is a northeastern suburb of Manchester.  More of 'Santo' (Netflix). I shut it down 22 minutes into episode #4. Bearded cop becam...

 Fr 11/3/23 655am (2-B). 825am (1-SB). 955am (1-B). 1240pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 820pm (2-B).  Up 530am: A mix of sun & clouds, breezy and temps to lower 60's.   I called Brewer and made an appointment for Buddy on Friday, 11/24/23 at 830am; Booster/ Wellness. I called Dr. Ellison's office to let them know that I need the prescription filled today. They said they would 'expedite'.  Watched 'PAIN HUSTLERS' (Netflix). It's a fictional account of how a small drug company developed a radical and aggressive marketing strategy to sell cancer pain medication to patients who didn't need it. This a rather half-baked synopsis as to how the opioid crisis came about, but don't alcohol companies do the same thing? They market a dangerous and addictive drug to people who really don't need it;  with Emily Blunt (also the executive producer), Chris Evans, Catherine O'Hara, Andy Garcia, and Jay Duplass. Filmed in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia and Central Fl...

 Th 11/2/23- Flu/ Covid Shots: Walgreens  705am (2-B). 810am (1-SB). 12pm (2-). 545pm (2-B). 815pm (2-B).  Up 535am: Bright & sunny with temps to upper 50's. I wrote up 'SHAME THE DEVIL' by George Pelecanos for the blog. Watched 'INHERENT VICE' (Kanopy). Relentlessly puzzling and the script develops into almost a parody of Film Noir, yet never becomes less than sharp and hysterical; with Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, Jena Malone, Martin Short, Eric Roberts, and Martin Donovan. Nominated for 2 Oscars; 15 wins & 98 nominations. "81" Metascore..."Family is like a gang. Once you're in, you're in for life"... "No, that is not a swastika. It's an ancient Hindu symbol meaning, 'all is well'.   More of 'NOTRE DAME' (Netflix). 'sapeurs pompiers'{on the side of the Parisian fire trucks}- means 'firefighters' or 'fire departmen...

 We 11/1/23 745am (2-B). 855am (1-B). 1225pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 820pm (2-B).  Up 620am: Bright & sunny with temps to low 40's.  ***I didn't see a single trick or treater on the street last night. Only a handful of people had their porch lights 'on'.  Watched 'CRIMSON PEAK' (Netflix).  At the beginning of the 20th century a perverted brother and sister team bilk trusting female investors and then kill them. They want to keep their crumbling ancestral English mansion from sinking into a ghostly sea of red sludge that lies beneath it.  Silly, yet the cinematography and CGI was outstanding..."Ya don't bring a knife to a meat cleaver fight"; with  Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, and Charlie Hunnam. Directed by Guillermo del Toro; Awards- 6 wins & 42 nominations: "66" Metascore. The film was shot at Pinewood Toronto Studios. Watched a short film called 'CAMP COURAGE' (Netflix- 33"). A ten year old girl an...

 Tu 10/31/23- Boooo! 740am (2-B). 825am (1-B). 1250pm (2-B). 540pm (2-B). 820pm (2-B).  Up 610am: Cloudy and windy with temps to upper 30's. Today's first thought was that I had forgotten to write 'The Chat' yesterday.  I wrote it immediately  and the 'Boooo Chat' went out by 720am.  Watched 'SKY HIGH' (Netflix). {This movie came first and then they created the Spanish series}  A fantastic movie that was successfully turned into a terrific series. Angel needs to marry the boss's daughter so that he can get 'sky high' in the organization. The movie is Angel's tale and the series concerns Sole's taking over her father's criminal enterprise. Most of the secondary characters are also continued in the series.   1045am- 1115am: Finished the film and spent time filling the Elantra's tires with air. When the temperature drops in the Fall, at least one of the tires needs more air. Three tires were low and the pump works fine. It's ...