Reading again

 

Trying to start reading again.  Made a trip to the Southfield Public Library. with Judy yesterday.  What a great place, with all kinds of books and media and programs.  It's about 10 minutes away from home so there are no excuses.  Need to devote time to quietly read every day.  I think this will make me a better writer.  They have a big selection of Large Print books. I never thought I would need this, but it helps with my nearsightedness even with magnifiers.  I am not struggling to make out words, making the experience much more enjoyable.  And, I am not ashamed.  

I have decided that the true merit of a work is the emotions that it evokes.  Whether it be written, or a film. a piece of music or a picture that garnering of emotion is what makes the work worthwhile or not.  Trying this one out from the library trip.  Took me a couple of chapters to understand the characters, but now I am sucked in and want to jump back in at my earliest convenience.

We watched "the Penguin Lessons" staring Steve Coogan about a downtrodden teacher transported to revolution ridden Argentina in the 70's..  He rescues a tar drenched penguin and they become companions. Upon completion, I was moved to not being able to speak at the end.  Netflix, see this one. 

Was also sucked in by Dept. Q, a British crime series, not happy but worthwhile.  Quirky characters, not all admirable but interesting.  Also Netflix.

Judy is after me to try new places and routes.  I am not good a new things, only the tried and true easily putting me a rut of repeats.  Went to a new restaurant for breakfast this morning near the house, Good eats and wonderful service Martins Coney Island on 10 and Lahser is a good choice.  

thats it

CPB

 Trump's team has ended the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  This sixty year old agency has funded "public" media.  Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, Masterpiece Theater and host of other programs will no longer receive support from the federal government through this organization.  This government has chosen to back oligarchs and dictators rather than spend a minuscule amount of their funding on worthwhile programing.  The public has had no say in this decision.  The lives of our children and grand children will be affected.  PBS will carry on with funding from other sources.  Ray Kroc's widow has funded NPR for the foreseeable future.  But the feds have now told the citizens they want no part in furthering public media, deeming it "woke".  It's another in a long list of whims of the Great Leader come to pass.

Had a wonderful coffee meeting with friends yesterday morning at Mother Handsome in Oak Park.  We sat outside in the modest temperatures discussing personal foibles and reviewing current TV programing.  These are folks from my college days at Wayne State in the 70's and the friendships extend past 55 years.  Vacations are discussed along with a litany of ailments.  I still have commonality with these people.  We share a storied history.  My only advice is to find your contemporaries,  It will do you all some good.

In my life I still have one remaining uncle that is my mother's youngest brother now 94,  I called him in the afternoon and we talked over 40 minutes about stuff and how our life partners endure our bad habits and choices. We got into a political discussion and he apologizes for his outburst saying "I HATE THAT GUY." referring to the White House occupant. His voice was strong even after a stroke a couple of years ago.  I am blessed to have him to talk to.  Judy is forcing us to do a lunch later this month.  I have no laid eyes on him since my mother's funeral.

It's 637am and my coffee is done.  Gonna make some eggs;

thats it

pizza

Went to dinner yesterday with old friends.  Dined at Green Lantern Pizza.  Shared antipasto salad (just ok) and small pizza (good).  The gentleman had only the salad.  There were 4 pieces of pie between 3 of us.  The women and I each had a slice (which was probably enough combined with the ample salad).  There was a single slice remaining.  After a short pondering, I asked her if I had to fight her for it.  She shook her head and  grabbed it up.  I was the last one chomping away feeling stupid and embarrassed while the other diners were wiping their mouths.  But I ate it anyway.  Still feeling stupid 8 hours later.  Pizza is my addictive downfall and has always been my downfall.

Left in a downpour and it rained all night.  Harvested my first tomato this morning
from a wet bush.  Presenting this year's front yard flowers.

thats it

Let's get Physical

 

Went for my semi annual physical yesterday.  She told me I was basically ok and redressed my wounded arm from a recent fall.  We had a discussion about getting old.  She is a young woman somewhere in her thirties and fed me the suggestions  she should about socialization, hobbies etc.  Had the usual standard bloodwork done and sent off to the lab.  I base my life on the measurement  known as A1C which is blood glucose levels averaged over a 3 month period.  Yesterday,  mine was elevated.  I know in part it was because of lifestyle and eating choices.  There were times in my life when it would be devastating news.  This time, I knew this was coming because of choices made over the past 6 months.  I needed a wake up call to clean up my act and get my shit together.  After having this condition for over 25 years, I know what to do.  Now I have a reason.  Don't  know why, but I am relieved.

With respect to my continuing saga of tomatoes, I now have a couple that are blushing pink.  Cannot tell you the  bliss this brings me after so many failures to grow this fruit.  Andrew's farm is doing well too with a variety of vegetables, including potatoes and yellow squash.  There is something quite satisfying about growing your own food.  During WWII families planted victory gardens because crops were feeding soldiers.  In so many ways this is a great idea.  

Reviews (with a bored sigh)

Completed the third series of Somebody, Somewhere offered on HBO Max.  This is observational show about a group of misfits lead by Bridget Everett in Manhattan KS (a real place).  The characters are gay, straight, trans, religious and fat.  This is a wonderfully quirky program filled with love of friendship and intimacy.  In some ways it is a true look at small town America and worthy of your viewing.

Started a British crime procedural called Dept. Q. Like most of the programs of this genre, it will take some time to figure out what's happening.  Crime Procedural is a term our media has coined.  In the fifties and sixties, we only had cops and robbers.  Our language evolves.

Having a pizza dinner tonight with some old friends.  Both of which have ongoing health challenges suitable with age.  Looking forward to the event.

thats it 

Reviews and tomatoes

 We viewed the complete series of Adolescence this past weekend.  While it was well acted with a superb cast, the story itself was disquieting yet thought provoking.  One would surmise that it was a coming of age tale, with young love and styles of apparel.  However is not and filled with trauma in a 13 year old's life.  I would love to recommend it but only if you need a gut punch of reality.  I am still pondering the story.

Have a plethora of green tomatoes on my bushes and hoping for a blush of color soon.  This is the most success I have had with growing anything in a while.  Next season, I will expand my containers because there is enough sunshine in this spot maybe adding cucumbers and Japanese eggplants.

Andrew, Stephanie and the kids went on adventure to Cleveland this weekend, staying at an Airbnb in the area.  Admittedly, I am a dinosaur and would have headed to the Rock Hall of Fame.  Today's teens probably have no interest in the performance attire of Mick Jagger of a film of Ray Charles singing "What I'd Say".  A long time ago, I took Andrew and some of his buddies there.  It brought back memories of my youth and really enjoyed the experience.

In another review, we watched Happy Gilmore 2,  it was stupid but entertaining with notable cameos by John Daly and Travis Kelce, amongst others.  This one, I would recommend.  

thats if for today, nothing too heavy.  

(latest from Frank)

Visitors

Had a great week with Paxton and Everett at the house.  We went to the Nature Center at Kensington park for the bird feeding and to be chased by sandhill cranes.  Had a cookout with the brothers Jon and Andrew.  With no additional bedrooms, they slept on the couch and a blowup mattress on the floor.  Katey came over with Frank the tank one afternoon.  He got along with everybody, just so big he moves the furniture.  The best time was had at the Royal Oak splash pad with the giant bucket filled up that is periodically dumped on the kids below.  All the participants went nuts!  What a wonderful place this is.  Kids can get wet running through the spayed water.  No fear of drowning and parents more at ease.  Kids are having a wonderful time, safely.  They should have more of these.  Maybe one could be installed at the senior apartments with lukewarm spray.  I would love to see 

The president wants to change the name of the Kennedy Center to be named after his current wife.  Please list her accomplishments below.  You won't need much room.  All decisions he makes are based on his whim. Out comes the Executive Order book. He must have a team of staffers building the binders and supplying the sharpies.  Stephan gets the boot, in fact the concept of his show gets the boot after 33 years on the CBS network.  And Boom, the merger between Paramount and Skydance passes muster and is approved by the FCC without surprise or hint of corruption.  

This week alone, Ozzy, The Hulk, Malcolm Jamal Warner and Chuck Mangione passed.  It is hard to keep up with all the tributes thru the media. 

Ozzy seemed like a nice guy in real life as did Malcolm Jamal Warner.  Tough for me to say good stuff about Terry Bollea, as he was an ardent MAGA supporter.  Know little about flugelhorn player Chuck aside from the one song that entranced us in the eighties "Feels so Good." 

Kind of have a day off today.  Cutting the lawn was on the agenda, but it rained and is raining now.  Probably need some stuff from Trader.  

Bought stuff for the boys that did not get consumed, namely ice cream that will have to be moved upstairs to their fridge because I would devour it.  Have some precooked bacon, tomatoes and cucumber that I will turn into a pasta salad adding some olives and roasted peppers. 

Harry is peering at me from his bed on the couch.  

thats it!!

A ride on the lake

So, recently Judy and I went to Kensington Metropark for a boat ride supposedly with Shannon's group at New Gateways.  It was a stunning sunny day and we arrived a little early at Kent Lake and were shocked at the size of it and that we had never seen the place before; These are some of the shots as we arrived and were wandering around.

As it turns out, Shannon's team was not there today and since we made the trip, (quickly because I-96 was without construction). The staff invited us to stay and go on the boat ride

\

anyway.  We did, with the lovely day.  This group has a variety of disabilities, mental and physical.  They are all adults most of which were happy to be there enjoying the day.  Judy got on and was seated on one of the bench seats next to Chris, a man with physical and cognitive challenges.  He was a big, slim guy about 5'11". I sat on the other side.  We shoved off and he had my hands in a death grip,  but seemed happy to be there.  At times his face was so close to mine and he was starring at me putting me ill at ease.

But as the trip wore on, he calmed and I got to listen to the guide talk about the park a the lake and the names of the small islands in the middle.  It was a lovely ride and I grew to appreciate how challenging it would be to care for a man such as this.  He is always moving and strong, doing his best to figure out the world.  While Shannon's mobility is limited, her personality is easy to communicate

with and always cheerful. Anyway, it was a good day.

Later that day, I spent some time with Frank (my dog buddy) on the back patio at Katy's house.  He is always thrilled to see me and despite his size and level of energy, we are best buds.

I won't be writing for a while.  My little guys from Middleville will be visiting from today thru Thursday.  Looking forward to seeing them and finding out what their summer has been thus far.

It breaks my heart that Stephen was canceled.  We have been watching him since the beginning for 10 years and before on the Colbert Report. He will land somewhere and we will be there to greet him warmly.

thats it