1939 Movie Miscellany

1939 is generally considered to be one of, if not the best, year for films including Gone with the Wind, Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, Destry Rides Again, Ninotchka, The Rules of the Game, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Here are some of my favorites: They Made Me a Criminal, The Roaring Twenties, The Rains Came, In Name Only, The Hound of the Baskervilles (first of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes series) Dodge City (mostly for the dueling anthem preview to Casablanca.)

Bette Davis Films: Dark Victory, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Old Maid, Juarez.

I learned today that 1939 also marked the end of two of my favorite movie series: Nancy Drew and Torchy Blaine.

TCM had a series theme starting last Tuesday. I caught the end of my second favorite in the Nancy Drew series, Nancy Drew, Reporter. I actually said out loud--that Sergeant Entwhistle wasn't committed to drag like Tom Sandoval (exposing my Vanderpump Rules fandom here.) I recorded Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase--the last entry and my personal favorite. The TCM announcer said this was the best reviewed of the series. It should have been the first of a longer series, but Bonita Granville left Warner Brothers and that ended the films.

The Torchy Blane series ended the same year. According to the article linked above, Torchy and Nancy movies were shown together, had a similar structure and shared some of their writers. As part of TCM's series theme, the Torchy movies also ran this week. I recorded all of those. I love Torchy's introduction in Smart Blonde. Steve McBride is more of an ass in the first entry than others and can barely drive. At least the film ends with Steve taking Torchy out for steak.

Here's more on Torchy.

Book 9: Thunderhead

This is the fifth book in the Preston and Child series and the third of four standalones. I enjoyed it. The main character Nora Kelly marks the return of a strong female protagonist in the mold of Margo Green, unlike the other standalones so far. I was also glad to see Bill Smithback again (from Relic and Relicuary.) I liked the mix of human and supernatural villains. The beginning of the relationship between Nora and Bill was a bit stereotypical, but I still rooted for them.

This book makes me want to learn more about the  Anasazi and the lost city of Quivira. Not enough to go on an expedition. Well, at least I saw Montezuma Castle.

Weekly Miscellany

How did it get to be 11 days since my last post?

What have I been doing? Seems like it's mostly been walking Lola. We walked Oyster Shell, Taylor Farm, NRVT, Bradley as well as a few neighborhood routes.

Yesterday Jeff, Lola and I walked over to Blue Cactus on Stevens Street. We'd just returned from a NRVT walk, and Lola balked at another, but it was worth it. We had time to share a cheesesteak and fries al fresco and walk home--just as it started raining.

I'm loving the neighborhood walks.

In a short series, the Mets found their bats against the Blue Jays, then immediately lost them the next game. Then the Mets swept the Diamondbacks.There's still some hope.

I finished another book--Thunderhead by Preston and Child. I liked it, will post more later. I've already started their next book chronologically--The Ice Limit.

Book Eight: The Blind Contessa's New Machine

I don't know what to think of this book.

It was fanciful but kind of tragic.The ending made me feel as if everything else in the story was pointless.

I don't like feeling that way.

Monday Musings

I find it hard to get going on Mondays. I would understand it if I have a normal Monday through Friday work schedule, but I don't. I got off to another slow start today. I had intended to hit the gym, but blew it off around 9:30. Not good. I need to schedule Mondays more aggressively, rather than just see how it goes.

Lola walked around the block for the third consecutive day. She was happiest on Saturday's walk. It was colder and windy yesterday; we speculated that she might not have enjoyed herself as much because of that. Today she started smiling about halfway around the block.

I spent a good chunk of the day finishing a SAT test and checking my answers. It seemed easier than other tests I've taken. Or I could be getting better.

The Mets have morphed from marvelous to miserable over the last three weeks. They lost six in a row and lost first place. Tonight they won for the first time in eight days--barely. I'll take any win I can right now.

Tonight is the second anniversary of Bartolo Colon's first career home run. The Mets hit four home runs tonight. Coincidence?

I've been trying to take more photos of Lola. She's not cooperating.

These are the best; I'll keep trying.

Red Letter Day

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo.

Kentucky Derby day.

The Norwalk River Valley Trail Mutt Strut day.

Lola's designated birthday.

Spike's half-way day.

and.............

drum roll.......

Lola walked around the block with us for the first time.

Let's build up to that.

We met other dogs and people at the Route 7 commuter parking lot at 10 for the Mutt Strut. A police officer stopped traffic for us so we could cross busy Route 7. Lola seemed comfortable--a vast improvement over last week's crossing. Maybe we just need a police escort for her at all times. It was cooler and less humid than the previous few days--perfect for a long walk. We walked over an hour--Lola set a slow pace with lots of sniffing stops.

We picked up a goodie bag after we finished and headed to Mathews Park for the Norwalk portion of the Mutt Strut. After another 45 minutes--walking to Oyster Shell Park and back--we went to lunch at Burger Bar, where dogs are welcome and people tolerated.

All three of us dozed off after we returned home. I felt like another walk, but didn't want to drive somewhere. At first Lola was afraid to leave the parking lot. I took her out front, and we sat on the steps for a few minutes. Then we started our walk, turning onto Maple. Our previous best had been a walk up Maple, turning onto Fairview where Lola balked.

Yesterday we made it completely around the block (technically six block lengths.) Lola didn't seem to mind when a few cars passed us. She enjoyed herself. We saw her happy face the whole time.

We're so proud of her; it was a special birthday.

First Friday of May

April was a cold month with a few exceptions; it ended on a cold note. On May 1st temperatures jumped 30 degrees. This meant several nice walks with Lola during the week. We visited three different parts of the Wilton branch of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, Taylor Farm and Oyster Shell Parks.

Last night was the return of DPF (Dog Park Friday.) I put Lola's short leash on her and let her run semi-free. We've been doing this at DPF with her long leash for about a year. Unfortunately, the long leash gets caught under the picnic table, and we have to release her.

After we got home and gave Lola her dinner, Jeff and I headed out to First Friday Wall Street Lantern Parade. Some people carried handmade lanterns--probably made in the Norwalk Public Library's lantern assembly party that afternoon. It was fun; as we passed Banc House, people applauded us. We had a beer at Fat Cat  and got take-out pizza and kale salad.

First Friday was a beautiful spring night.