Spirits Class: Single Malts

Jeff and I have been to Beer School, but this is the first time we went to Spirits Class.

About a month ago, I visited Total Wine and saw signs for a class on Single Malt Scotches that we missed. Jeff went online and found another was scheduled tonight.

As usual, I'm gung-ho when I sign up for something; when the date comes up I'm sometimes not so excited. But I was glad to go tonight.

Singular Sensations: Getting to Know Single Malt Scotch was a two-hour session: part tasting and part education. We learned the definition of scotch and how scotches vary by different regions. We tasted nine whiskies: including single malts from Texas and France (can't call them scotches by definition.)

Afterwards we picked up chicken pad thai to go and made it a night.

Turkey Soup

Jeff bought a turkey breast for Thanksgiving since I couldn't go out for dinner. The smallest he could get was three pounds. We ate turkey for Thanksgiving of course, had several turkey sandwiches, and I made turkey risotto on Monday. Lola has also enjoyed several turkey meals.

I've wanted to make some kind of turkey soup all week. But I've been too tired; bronchitis took more out of me than I realized.

Finally I made it this afternoon. I used the last of the vegetable broth I had used for the risotto and a box of chicken broth. I sliced garlic, onion, shallot, jalapeno, red pepper and carrot. I added spices, farro, and golden lentils.

I didn't have enough time to slow cook it. I put the crock pot on high for about two hours, before I lowered the heat and added the lentils. It still came out good. I have about two servings in the frig and another three or four in the freezer for future meals.

Next up either pumpkin soup or marinara sauce.

TCM, Bette and Glenda

I try to check out the TCM line-up every day or two, so I don't miss any of my favorite movies or miss the chance to discover some that I've never seen. When I get busy I often forget. Apparently that's what I did because I got to this week before I realized that Glenda Farrell was TCM's Star of the Month.

I missed the first Monday night movies including classics Little Caesar and I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang and an early Bette Davis film The Big Shakedown. The next Monday night brought Glenda's seven Torchy Blaine movies. I made sure to record Smart Blonde, Torchy's introduction, to save on my DVR.

Later weeks brought Three on a Match and Bureau of Missing Persons.

The three in the pre-Code Three on a Match (1932) are Ann Dvorak, Joan Blondell and Bette Davis. Ann has the juicy role of the bored socialite wife who descends into a life of debauchery after being seduced by Lyle Talbot. Bette has a small, essentially meaningless role because the film needed a "three" on the match. Glenda's role is minuscule. She's credited as Vivian's friend although I thought I saw her as Mary's friend in reform school. I didn't save the recording, so I'll have to look for her the next time around. Other cast members are Warren William--check him out in suit and tie at the beach--Humphrey Bogart and Allen Jenkins as henchmen of Ace, chillingly played by Edward Arnold. In his first scene, he's plucking out his nose hairs in a mirror.

Bureau of Missing Persons (1934) gives both Bette and Glenda larger roles. Bette is the female lead: pretending to find a missing husband, while searching for a murderer. Pat O'Brien is newly assigned to the Bureau. He falls hard for Bette even though she lies to him constantly. Glenda is his ex-wife looking for alimony. When a new client arrives, Pat learns Glenda has remarried. The "comedic" ending of the film has him beating her off screen before he and Bette stroll off together. What fun.

One more Glenda film to watch with Barbara Stanwyck: Breakfast for Two. 

Afternoon at Taylor Park

It's been about a month since I last visited Taylor Farm; I decided to take Lola there today.

It was a cold, windy afternoon--didn't fell like fall at all. This morning I wrote in my journal, "Autumn is just a memory." It seems as if we went directly from summer to winter. I feel cheated out of autumn.

I walked around the back field and looked at the area where Lola was lost for an hour this summer: tangled, thorny-looking bush. Without its summer greenery, it looked small. If Lola had gotten in there this time of year, I would have been able to see her and wouldn't have been so worried. But of course, that's not what happened.

Today at least the sky was pretty. Bonus in the first pic: Lola butt.

Monday Musings and Priorities

Today is my stepfather's birthday; he would have been 92. I wonder how my mother's life would be different if he had lived longer, if he hadn't smoked. His doctor told him all of his chronic health problems stemmed from smoking.

Jeff started a new work project today, so I'm on Lola duty during the week. I had three priorities for today. Get Lola out for a long walk before it started raining, go grocery shopping, do laundry.

I took Lola to Mathews Park and walked the Norwalk River Valley Trail to Oyster Shell Park. This was our usual hot summer day routine.

One of the first thing I noticed was a number of seagulls on the field at Oyster Shell. I guess they knew rain was coming.

We walked for an hour. Luckily I wasn't tired afterward. Yesterday Jeff and I walked the NRVT in Wilton. I started getting tired after 20 minutes. But the time we walked an hour, I was exhausted. I took a nap when we got home. Bonus at Oyster Shell: we also saw Ruby, a black and white Lab? mix who loves Lola.

I'm glad to report that I completed my three priorities for the day. I also took Halloween stuff back to our storage bin. That might have been too much, I was really tired after that. So an easy dinner for us.

Maybe more tomorrow.

TCM Movie Afternoon: 20,000 Years in Sing Sing

Today I watched this movie I recorded last week. 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (I mistyped 20,000 Tears in Sing Sing which would be a good title.)

20,000 Years is memorable for being the only film pairing of Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis. James Cagney was originally set to star, but he was fighting with the studio and replaced by Tracy. (Cagney, Davis and Olivia deHavilland fought Warners for better parts throughout their contracts.)

Davis doesn't appear until 20 minutes into the film. She has only four scenes as Tracy's girlfriend--three are prison visits. The other scene is key--Bette shoots Louis Calhern to save Tracy, but it ends up sending him to the electric chair.

20,000 Years is one of the first Warner Brothers prison social drama pictures. (I think 1932's I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang was the first.) It's not a great film; but it has a good story. As much as I love the short running times of old films, this film could have benefited from additional time to develop the story.

The performances were great: Tracy and Davis, of course, also Arthur Byron as the warden, Warren Hymer as a man who plays harmonica on his way to the electric chair, and the criminally underrated Lyle Talbot.

All-in-all, a nice pre-Code treat for a Sunday afternoon.

My Day Out

I don't think I've been outside since Monday when I discovered I had bronchitis. I've been resting and keeping quiet. With each day, I've felt a little better.

Today I had a SAT tutoring appointment. I felt well enough to make it work. Afterward I returned The Romanov Sisters to the library, then came right back home. I told myself that I shouldn't try to do too much just because I was feeling better. Well doing too much wasn't a problem--I could barely keep my eyes open this afternoon.

***

On my way home, I drove through Ridgefield; the downtown is decked out in Christmas decorations. I saw three or four cars pass by with Christmas trees roped to their roofs. As I traveled down Route 123, I saw Santa Claus overlooking the road from a balcony. Other homes still had Thanksgiving arrays of pumpkins.

31 days to Christmas. I wish I could approach it joyously, but that's not happening. I don't feel like decorating. Just need to get through the holidays.

Book 15: The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport

I think I first learned of this book from Modern Mrs. Darcy and I heard about MMD from Laura Vanderkam.

After I re-read Nicholas and Alexandra, I looked for a sequel or update at Norwalk Library. I had vaguely heard about one by Massie. The library didn't have it, but the reference librarian suggested The Romanov Sisters.

In the main Romanov history narrative, the sisters are basically footnotes with the action centered on Nicholas--followed by Alexis and Alexandra--with the focus on the former's hemophilia and the latter's dependence on Rasputin.

Rappaport uses excerpts from the girls' diaries to bring them to life. In some ways they were normal teenage girls. But it wasn't only their royal blood that made them different--it was also their sheltered, even claustrophobic upbringing--and then their tragic deaths.

Thanks to Helen Rappaport for giving them voices.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

This is a quiet Thanksgiving for me. I have bronchitis and decided it would be a bad idea to to spend time with people with compromised immune systems. I stayed home. The fact that this was the coldest Thanksgiving in one hundred years made it even easier to stay in.

This afternoon I watched Season One Game of Thrones, did some SAT geometry work and rested.

Jeff visited his mother for a Thanksgiving lunch. He returned home to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for us. We missed out on a few things such as cranberries and pumpkin pie, but it's more important to be together.

That's the main thing I'm thankful for.

The Shape of Water

This is one of the films that I wanted to see, but it seemed that it wasn't the right time.

Tonight was the right time; we finally watched The Shape of Water.

I loved it. From the first few minutes I was enchanted by Sally Hawkins' Elisa. The love story is magical. The escape scenes were suspenseful.

The acting is incredible. I loved some characters and hated Michael Shannon's.

This is a film I want to see again.

A Milestone

Today we officially released my mother's apartment back to her retirement community. I thought once we accomplished this, I could take a breath and relax.

I was so naive.

But at least we can cross off another item on the list.

Our original apartment release date was supposed to be last Tuesday. The Move-Out Coordinator couldn't make it then, so we rescheduled. Then I didn't make it today. My sickness became bronchitis. I was game to go, but Jeff went instead. He and my brother Jim took care of the final walk-through.

I felt guilty for not being there, but it was better for me to stay home and take care of myself. I'm glad I vacuumed her place last week and didn't leave the mess for today.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm going to list some of the things we have accomplished for my mother, instead of worrying about all the things left to do.

We turned in my mother's driver's license, converted it to an identification card, sold her car and most of the contents of her apartment. We got mom into a private room and moved down some furniture and many photos and paintings to make it more homey. We submitted and got her long term care insurance approved.

Damn, that doesn't make me feel as thankful as I thought it would. Keep going.

Goodbye Ben

This s our friends' dog Ben, who died today. 

It was Ben along with his humans Jenn and John who started Dog Park Friday. As Jeff said, Ben was the last of his generation. Before him went Spike, Ozzie, Yogi.

We'll miss you Ben and remember you always. 

Fall Photos

Over the past four months I've made several visits to my mother in Redding driving through Wilton. I've loved the rose tint of leaves I've seen along the way.

I pulled off on a side road to take these pictures a few weeks ago. Good thing I finally snapped the photos when I did. The next day or so, the colors faded.

We're still a month away from winter, but it's been cold. I feel we've been cheated out of fall. At least I can look at these pictures.  

Movie Afternoon/Evening

Earlier today I recorded a 1932 film 20,000 Years in Sing Sing. It was the only pairing of Bette Davis and Spencer Tracy.

After a tutoring appointment, errands and lunch, I thought I'd rewatch the film. Instead I surfed through channels and caught the end of Burlesque. We originally watched it to see Kristen Bell, who isn't in it much at the end. I actually forgot the happy ending.

Next up was Passengers. I heard that it sucked, but decided to check it out. It didn't suck, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it either. It was an interesting idea, anyway.

Then I watched The Post. I really enjoyed this. It managed to be suspenseful even though I knew the end result. In that way it was similar to All the President's Men. I loved the focus on Kay Graham: it was her decision but how new it was to her, how much she had to lose. Kay isn't even a credited character in All the President's Men.

Hope to see more films from a woman's perspective.

Forensic Clean Up

That's a first for this blog. Actually I'm talking about a fake forensic clean up.

About a month ago, I dressed as an ax murderer for a House of Horror themed Halloween party. I wore a jumpsuit, wig, blue tinted make-up and fake blood.

This was my first time using fake blood: I got both a spray and a thicker, congealed liquid. I used more of the spray and just dabbed some of the congealed gel on my face. The congealed blood worked best on Jeff's zombie scar. I enjoyed using the spray; some friends thought maybe I enjoyed it to much.

I wasn't sure if I were going to wear the costume again on Halloween, so I held on my "bloody" jumpsuit for a while. I finally cleaned it today. I sprayed it with some multi-use cleaner but don't think I even needed it. I turned the shower nozzle to a concentrated pulse and that seemed to do the trick.

Somehow I don't think real blood is that easy to clean.

Snow (Frozen Rain, Rain) Day

I'm not happy with any snow in November, but original forecasts predicted only one to two inches for our area. Jeff reported a few more inches than that with larger snowdrifts. Unfortunately our local weather channel doesn't see fit to give snowfall totals.

Parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York are in trouble.

Meanwhile my vague sickness has morphed into a bad cold. I'm thankful I could stay inside all day with hot and sour soup and Gypsy Cold Care tea. Several more hours of rain and snow to go.

Congratulations Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom won the 2018 NL Cy Young Award with a 1.70 ERA, the sixth lowest in baseball by .19 and the best in the National League by .67.

He de-grominated (sorry) winning 29 of 30 first place votes. Jake was also the seventh pitcher in ML history to win both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards.

The announcement of his win included the line that he had more support from the voters than he had from his teammates.

Congratulations Jake.

Sick

I'm lucky that I don't get sick often, and I can usually get back to normal in a day with lots of rest.

This bout started yesterday with a dry, scratchy throat that led to coughing, chills, and head and body aches. I spent most of the day in  bed. I feel better but still lousy. It was nice to stay home and for Jeff to get me Chinese food.  Won ton soup is one of my go-to's when I don't feel well. Hot and sour soup when I have a cold, along with Gypsy Cold Care Tea and Cold Care PM.

Hopefully I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

Where Did the Weekend Go?

For the last three weekends I had grandiose ideas about all the work I was going to accomplish. You'd think I would know by now. I always underestimate how long it will take me to do things. I allow myself to get distracted too easily. I oversleep. Outside things come up that I suddenly have to handle.

It's silly for me to focus on the weekends because I don't work traditional work hours. So I can use other days to accomplish work (or most likely don't accomplish work.)

For the past four months, I've been spending much of my time with my mother and dealing with all her paperwork (bill-paying, income taxes, insurance, canceling phone service, etc.) Every time I think I've made progress, something new pops up or something old returns.

All I know is that I have to keep plugging away.

Turn Down the Noise in My Mind

I woke up sometime this morning--4:30--5, I don't know--it was early. When I tried to go back to sleep, I couldn't. I just started worrying. Mostly it was about all the things that I needed to do. Why didn't I make a list? At least then I would have had some record. Maybe I could have relaxed enough to sleep.

The title of this post is from a line in a Carly Simon song,  I Haven't Got Time for the Pain: it's my aspiration.

This Day

It's a cold, windy day. I even saw a few snow flurries around 1 PM. Too much, too soon.

I'm reminded that we had our Interlaken getaway over Veterans Day weekend last year; a weekend of record cold.

At least it's a little warmer than this Veterans Day weekend. But winter seems to be on a hurry to get here.

Friday Fail

I had several things I planned to accomplish today: take Lola to a park in the morning, go to the gym, wash my hair, put rest of laundry away, pay my mother's bills, buy her a bedspread, visit her, have dinner with my visiting cousins, prep for a tutoring session tomorrow, and blog.

I was up too late last night (after midnight), got up late this morning.

I took Lola for a 50-minute walk at Mathews and Oyster Shell Parks. I washed my hair, I did two pieces out of a pile of my mother's paperwork, I tried to get a bedspread--no luck, visited my mother, had dinner, prepped for tutoring.

Although I like the alliteration of today's post title, the truth is my fail is much longer than today. I'm frustrated by my lack of progress, how easily I'm distracted, and my inability to get anything done.

I've got to do better.

Book 14: Y is for Yesterday

This is the last Kinsey Millhone mystery--and that saddens me for what Sue Grafton will miss and what her readers will miss.

The main story involves blackmail about a ten year old video tape. Then there's the return of a serial killer...

There's so much more. Grafton's characters from Kinsey to Ed the cat are memorable. But I do wish Killer the mastiff-Rottweiler-retriever mix and Ed could have done more in the final battle with the serial killer. But the serial killer took care of Killer by drugging him. I would have loved for Ed to assist Kinsey and Pearl. After all, it was personal for Ed.

Happy Birthday Joni Mitchell

I was driving home from the gym today and heard four Joni Mitchell songs (at least parts of four) on the radio: Carey, The Jungle Line, Ladies of the Canyon, and one of my favorites to sing The Dry Cleaner of Des Moines. As I arrived home, the announcer mentioned it was Joni's 75th birthday, then played Prince's cover of A Case of You. 

I don't remember when I first discovered Joni; I know the first album of hers that I bought was Court and Spark. Just Like This Train remains a favorite of mine. I later bought several more albums. I saw her in concert once during the Both Sides Now tour on my birthday.

Here's to a wonderful day for Joni.

Mid-Terms

No matter what happens tonight (and tomorrow) at least the mid-terms will be over. These mid-terms were the most expensive in history--imagine if the money could have gone to some non-partisan project such as infrastructure.

Sigh.

This is the most interesting mid-term election. Or is it just the most hyped? Last year I was glued to reports of Roy Moore's defeat in a special election, but this election is much bigger and more important.

I always vote--oh maybe I missed a local election or two. I feel obligated to Alice and Lucy, Elizabeth and Susan, and others. Voting is a right and a duty.

I fear the political climate in this country. I feel the atmosphere of violence.

I hope voting is enough.

Last Class

Today was the last class of my art inspired writing course. Our assignment was to write a story inspired by Two Women by Lois Jones. This was the first painting that I wasn't familiar with beforehand.

As usual I had an initial idea but didn't really know where it would lead me. I wrote the bulk of my story while I was proctoring on Saturday. I typed most of it last night and finished it this morning.

I've enjoyed the class. It's nice to interact with other writers, hear how differently people interpret/are inspired by the paintings, and hear their stories.

Our instructor will propose two or three other options for a spring class at Norwalk Public Library. I hope it works out for another class.

Another Day

This week started with my mother in the hospital because of a fall.

Bonus: she had pneumonia. She was back in Meadow Ridge Wednesday afternoon.

Someone said early release was good because hospitals have too many germs.

Not a pleasant thought.

Where  do we go from here?

Road Trip

Today I proctored an ACT practice test in Guilford. I usually don't go that far to proctor (around 50 miles) but I haven't been working many hours, I was free, and I was hoping for a nice autumn afternoon. I thought of going to the beach or walking the labyrinth at Mercy Center.

Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. Rain had stopped by late morning, but winds picked up. I had to consciously grip the steering wheel on the drive home.

The 50ish miles to Guilford is the farthest I've driven the car in the 22 days I 've owned it. That could be the farthest anyone drove it. This 2010 Jetta had only 12,150 miles in eight years.

I am loving the car, though still learning about it. On Thursday, when temperatures were in the 70's, I accidentally turned on the seat warmer I didn't know I had. Just haven't gotten around to reading the owner's manual.

***

Jeff and I saw our super this afternoon. He is driving a 2002 car that a former tenant owned. When he got the car, it had only about 20,000 miles.

Thanks to all the little old ladies who don't drive much.

Recent Re-read: Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie

As I wrote before, I rewatched the film of the same name back in February. I didn't mention that I rewatched it about 10 times. I didn't watch the full three-plus hour film each time; I'd put the film on in the background as I did chores.

I originally saw the film when it first came out in the 70's. I liked it enough to read the book. When I saw this book again this September at a Kent library sale, I had to get it.

Massie's son had hemophilia; that led him to research the story of Tsarevich Alexis. My father had a version of hemophilia; perhaps that adds to the interest of the fall of Tsar Nicholas II.

Nicholas seemed born out of time and place. That's it: he was an anachronism. More over his head, than evil or cruel.

I'd like to learn more.

November Miscellany

I went to the gym today, which makes me one for one for November, yay me. My goal was 150 visits for the year--the same goal I didn't meet for 2017. At least I beat several previous years' totals.

Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and National Blog Posting  Month (NaBloPoMo.) In the former participants write a 50,000 word novel in November. In the latter, participants write a blog post every day in November. I've enjoyed writing for my art inspired writing course, but it's unrealistic for me do Nano this year. I wonder if I'm just making excuses, but I have to be realistic. I'll commit to NaBloPoMo.

Last week I finished a minor kitchen project. "Lola" gave us four beagle wine glasses and two beagle themed mugs for our 30th anniversary. Jeff gave me another mug. Jeff wants to keep everything, but we just don't have room. Maybe I'm in the de-cluttering mode because I've doing so much work at my mother's place.

My mother spent a few days in Norwalk Hospital this week. She fell and had hip pain so was sent to the ER. She developed pneumonia, but is back home now.

I recently had another frustration dream. I couldn't get my phone to work again. Funny how I had the dream after a relatively good day. But there's always something.