Book 29: The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde

This is a tough book to describe clearly. 

Tuesday Next is the protagonist in a series of books set in a parallel universe. In this universe, BookWorld is a place where characters can move among books by bookjumping. Although Tuesday is a real person, she is also a training agent for BookWorld's police, Jurisfiction. 

While being pursued by an enemy, Tuesday hides in an unpublished novel Caversham Heights in the Well of Lost Plots. The Well consists of 26 subbasements of unpublished novels beneath the Great Library the home of all published fiction.

Got it?

There's also a murderer on the loose. Thursday may be his target. 

It's a fun and fascinating read, but the literary references can be confusing if you're unfamiliar with the plots and characters of the classics including Uriah Heep, Heathcliff, Miss Havisham. (I knew enough to get by.) This is also the third book in the series, which I didn't realize when I picked it up at a library sale. I prefer to start with the first. 

An important part of the plot concerns a new operating system called UltraWord. Tuesday argues against its adoption. "I'm talking about the wholesale destruction of everything that is intuitive in writing--to be replaced by the formulaic." An omen about AI?

An Off Week

I always feel a little off-centered or off-kilter in weeks with a holiday. I have trouble keeping track of what day it is. This is especially true for this week bracketed with the major holidays of Christmas and New Year's Day. 

I expected to do a lot more blogging this week but didn't manage to do that. I focused mainly on going to the gym. I've been working to reach my goal of 150 gym visits for the year: I needed six visits this week to make it, including tomorrow. 150 has been my goal for several years. It was only last year that I got close with 143. 

I took care of the NCNC birds twice this week--Tuesday as usual--and I picked up a day for someone who was traveling for the holidays. Everything went smoothly unlike last year.

I spent a lot of time walking with Jace. Most of the week has been bleak: rainy, foggy, overcast, raw. Luckily, we avoided the worst of the rain and even saw a little sunshine. 

Today was the highlight of the week: we visited friends we hadn't seen for in several months, due to health problems. We need to work more at getting together. 

Another Quiet Christmas

It was just the three of us today for a quiet holiday. My brother came for dinner last night. Our Christmas Eve feast was beef tenderloin, Caesar salad, fingerling potatoes, and green beans. For dessert, we had ice cream and Jim's homemade cookies. 

Today was mellow. We had our old favorite Christmas breakfast, opened our presents, exchanged holiday greetings with friends and family, and watched holiday movies (Holiday Affair, Four Christmases--not one I'd bother to watch again, The Man Who Came to Dinner, It's a Wonderful Life) and a Doctor Who special. 

It was a relatively warm day, hitting 50 degrees, but I missed the sun. Jace and I took a long walk for about two hours this afternoon. Tonight's dinner was a spicy salmon sushi bake and leftover Caesar salad.

In the past, I've enjoyed some large family celebrations, but the smaller, intimate celebrations are good too. It was nice not to have to rush around or travel anywhere. 

Merry Christmas.

Holiday Miscellanea

Two years ago, our gym moved to a new location in a Shoprite shopping center. It's been convenient for quick visits to the grocery store, but it's a problem on big shopping days before holidays. 

Yesterday afternoon, I drove around for over five minutes before I gave up finding a parking space. Normally, it would only be a minor annoyance, but I'm close to hitting my goal for 150 gym visits this year, and every day counts. I had done my weekly shopping on Monday but was going to get bread and some more lunchmeat. So much for that.

It was better this morning, I got a parking space, grabbed a few things at the store and hit the gym by 9:20. Later I picked up dinner for tomorrow. The amount of beef tenderloin is quite generous. We'll have steak for days. 

Today is Festivus, a holiday that lives on, long after Seinfeld the television show that created it. 

Yesterday was eight years since we said goodbye to Spike. Despite having two dogs to love since then, we miss him. We were lucky to have 13 years with him.

Here's to Spike.

Winter Solstice

Today is the first day of winter. While I don't celebrate the onset of winter, I appreciate that daylight will get longer each day, although it will take a few weeks to even notice it. 

Winter is coming, the Stark words from Game of Thrones. If winter is not here now, it will be in a few minutes. They can pinpoint the start of the seasons by minutes now.

Winter is my least favorite season, but I have to muddle through it.

Rainy Day Monday

Today was the second consecutive rainy, windy, dreary day. Jace looks as happy as I felt going out on our morning walk. 

Santa and Jace

Years ago, we took Spike to Petsmart for photos with Santa. We have two--one photo is with Jeff because Spike wasn't cooperating. We never tried this with Lola because she was timid with strangers. 

Jace is so outgoing and loves to be petted, so I didn't think there would be any problems. 

Well, I was wrong.

First, Jace wouldn't sit with Santa, so I sat down with them. Jace was still a bit antsy. This is the best picture of Jace. (The less said about me the better.)

For some reason, Petsmart set up the photo area right next to the cats available for adoption. Jace notices the cats.

 

Now, he's in full howl mode. 

Well, we tried. 

Making a List and Checking It Twice

Okay, I couldn't resist the trite title. 

There are actually several lists. But I have one less list to make now--food for Christmas Eve menu. I ordered a beef tenderloin dinner from Balducci's. Up until a few hours ago, I was all set to prep the menu and cook the dinner. But I changed my mind and went the for the easier if more expensive way. We're getting beef tenderloin, Caesar salad, fingerling potatoes, and green beans. We'll have Jim's super chocolate cookies for dessert with ice cream or whatever else I see that catches my fancy. Appetizers? I need to decide. Do I need to do more than cheese and crackers and pistachios?

I went to a specific liquor store to get our favorite Zubrowka bison grass vodka yesterday. Not only did the store not have it, but an employee told me they don't carry it anymore. That store had been the most consistent spot that carried Zubrowka, so I'm bummed. Onto another liquor store. I'm also stocking up for New Year's Eve. Last New Year, I bought way too much champagne--it lasted through September. It's better to have too much champagne than too little. I knew we'd drink it eventually. 

I've also decided to get some new napkins to go with my new placemats. That's another trip to add to my list. I'm not going to stress about it. 

I started making out the normal shopping list today. I'm out of most fruits and vegetables, so, better go tomorrow. The closer we get to Christmas, the crazier the stores will be. 

For the Birds

Today is the day I volunteer to care for the birds of prey at New Canaan Nature Center. In March, it will be two years that I've been volunteering there, but I haven't written much about it. 

Basically, I rake up the poop and leftover food, refresh their water, and give them new food. By giving them food, I mean I put down the food for them. I also prep food for the next day. That involves getting a meal together of frozen rats, chicks, mice, and/or quails with specific weights of food for each bird. Most times, I have to chop up some of the frozen animals. It can be difficult with the rats. If I had been told when I first called to volunteer that my duties would include chopping up rats, I probably would have declined. But I had already seen the birds and the other duties before I learned of the rat chopping, so I accepted. 

Currently, there are six birds in residence. I have pictures of five of them and have posted them before.

First, here is Ralph, the turkey vulture. She can be feisty; she's gone after my pant cuffs a few times and even untied another volunteer's shoelaces.

This is Mort, a black vulture who is the newest resident. He seems mellow, but always hungry.

Here's Jasper. I'm fond of him even though he tried to fly onto my head. 

Next we have Gus. In his new aviary, he hides near the roof. I haven't actually seen him in a while, but still talk to him.

This is Tupelo, he's usually very vocal. You can see his open beak here.

Phoenix is kept in a separate aviary, and I keep forgetting to get his picture. Maybe next week.

Here are two birds that we've lost since I've been a volunteer.

This is Hedwig.

Here's Glory. 

My feathered friends.

TCM Movie Update

It's time for another post on what films I've been watching since my last post was about Halloween movies. These are all classic films, i.e.oldies. 

Born to Kill--a good movie about two amoral people played by Lawrence Tierney (as Sam) and Claire Trevor (as Helen.). I first saw this film in 2021. It's the kind of movie I'll watch over and over. 

Tierney and Trevor are supported by a strong cast. Elisha Cook Junior plays Marty, Sam's only friend who tries to reign in his murderous impulses. "You can't just go around killing people whenever the notion strikes you. It's not feasible." Walter Slezak plays a smart but sleazy detective Albert Arnett hot on Sam's trail for the murders he committed in Reno at the start of the film. One of his victims is Laury Palmer (Isabel Jewell) whose attempt to make Sam jealous by dating another guy succeeds all too well.  

Laury's friend and neighbor Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard) is the client who hires Arnett to find Laury's killer. Howard is brilliant especially in the scenes when Marty tries to kill her and when Trevor scares her into dropping the case. Her anguish over letting Laury down is palpable. 

San Quentin--I watched this for the pairing of Tierney and Barton MacLane. Jim Roland (Tierney) is a former convict rehabilitated through a prison welfare league, where inmates police each other and learn useful trades. Nick Taylor (MacLane ) is currently imprisoned and faking his participation in the league until he can make his escape. Taylor's opportunity comes when the warden plans to publicize the league at the press conference with Roland, Taylor, and another recently jailed inmate. Taylor's escape succeeds, and the league's reputation is damaged. Roland decides that since Taylor used the league to escape, someone from the league should capture him. Roland gives himself the job, captures Taylor, and gets married at the end of the film.

I was disappointed in this film. First the title is misleading--only a few minutes took place in San Quentin (this 1937 film is better titled.) Tierney is much better as a bad guy than a good guy. MacLane is memorable as the villianous Taylor.

Detour--A rewatch of a classic, low-budget noir. Al Roberts (Tom Neal ) is hitchhiking across country to reunite with his girlfriend. He thinks he's hit the jackpot when Charles Haskell picks him up who is heading all the way to LA. Haskell is killed in a freak accident, and Roberts thinks it a good idea to assume his identity rather than risk calling the police. Roberts's real trouble begin when he offers a ride to Vera (Ann Savage.) Vera had previously hitched a ride with Haskell and knows Roberts is a fraud and blackmails him. For Roberts, things go from bad to worse. Savage gives a raw and dare I say savage performance as Vera. 

The Party--I recorded this because I remember my brother said this was a funny movie (he had seen it years ago.) Peter Sellers plays an Indian actor who destroys an expensive movie scene with his ineptitude. He is then accidentally invited to a party and creates havoc. Seller wears brown face to portray an Indian. This was more acceptable in the sixties than it is today. What I found most offensive is that Sellers' makeup changes throughout the film. He is noticeably lighter in some scenes and darker in others. I'll just add that Claudine Longet is a lousy singer. 

Goodbye Jezebel, et al.

A few weeks ago, I clicked on Jezebel.com and noticed there had been no updates. I later learned that Jezebel had been shut down. I didn't read Jezebel on a daily basis, but I enjoyed its reporting of feminist issues as well as pop culture. 

I got to thinking about other websites and blogs that I used to read, such as Shakesville, Feministing, Feministe, and Pandagon. Others include: Elle, Phd, Womanist Musings, The Happy Feminist, Shapely Prose, Echidne of the Snakes. Then there were other blogs whose names I don't remember. 

I guess the golden age of blogs was about 15 years ago. On Shakesville alone, there were several contributors, and I would check it out several times a day to see what had been posted.

Some of the website/blog shutdowns were publicized; other sites disappeared without notice. I miss those blogs. Sigh. At  least, Jezebel may return. 

Book 28: The Sisters of Henry VIII by Maria Perry

I picked this book up at a library sale, but don't seem to have a record of it on this blog. No big deal, but I wonder when and where I got the book.

Something in the introduction struck me the wrong way--the author derived great pleasure watching people's faces as they take in the unexpected information. There was just something so condescending about her comments. 

Henry VIII's two sisters Margaret and Mary were married to the King of Scotland and the King of France respectively. I think Margaret was the more interesting sister. I never got a sense of Mary's personality. She seemed rather shallow.

I would enjoy hearing more about Margaret. 

Christmas Decorations

I finished our Christmas decorating last night. After I turned off the computer and recharged my phone, I just looked around for a minute. I liked what I saw. I'll never win any decorating award or followers on Pinterest, but my decorations mean something to me. 

This is one of three angels that Jeff's grandmother made. Now, each of her three grandchildren have one. 

This is from a Christmas about 25-30 years ago. This was not planned by my stepfather and Jeff's father--just a happy coincidence. 

We can't forget Festivus!

Here's the ornament I bought at Merwinsville.

I like checking out outdoor Christmas decor as Jace and I walk. At Halloween it seemed like giant skeletons surpassed the giant inflatables.

Inflatables seem to be resurging at Christmas. It's especially weird to see inflatable manger scenes. And even weirder to see any kind of manger next to Rudolph, or Santa, or a unicorn (why?)

The Christmas decoration landscape changes almost daily. I'll keep watching.

Seasonal Weekend

On Friday, I had an excellent visit to HomeGoods. I got Christmas placemats and cocktail napkins, a few things for Jeff's stocking, and other household things I needed like a mixing bowl and a wooden cutting board.

Saturday morning, I bought several things at the Westport Library Book Sale. 

The books were

1.    Anne Boleyn A King's Obsession by Alison Weir--the second in a series of Six Tudor Queens

2.    The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde--I previously read a Thursday Next book and thought it would be fun to try another.

3    Road of Bones by James R. Benn--I had read two books in the Billy Boyle Word War II mysteries, and they were good.

I also picked up some CDs: Bangles, Grateful Dead, INXS, Paul Simon, the English Beat, the Psychedelic Furs. I usually ignore CDs and DVDs, but my friend Marti was talking about how good the selections were. They weren't arranged in any particular order. When I quickly found the six, I moved on to books. 

We stopped for a drink in the library cafe before heading to a crafts show at the Westport Museum. I met a woman there who should be able to repair the quilt my mother made and Lola ripped up. 

Later Jeff and I  took Jace to Rowayton Dog Park. It's the only place I trust Jace off leash because it's completely fenced in.

Yesterday was a dreary, rainy day: perfect to start Christmas decorating. I'd like to finish that today.

T'is the Season

Now that it's December, it's officially Christmas season. Even though I hate that Shop Rite has already started playing non-stop Christmas songs, I can't really complain. Damn, I even sang a few words to "Jingle Bell Rock" as I headed down the dairy aisle. 

Yesterday, I brought up all our Christmas stuff from our basement storage bin. I had downsized to one ornament box, two smallish Christmas trees (each about five feet tall) and a box of everything else. I opened the box--glasses, placemats, dish and hand towels, stuffed animals, my Festivus kit, and somethings I'm forgetting. 

I'm in more of a Christmas mood this year than I've been for a few. I want to enjoy it, rather than get annoyed by the holiday over-the-topness.

NaNoWriMo Review

 I failed miserably, abyssmally. You get the point. In a contest to write 50,000 words, I didn't quite make it to 2,000 words. Pitiful, embarassing. 

Why did I fail? There are myriad reasons.

1.    I expected to fail. It's hard to psych yourself to work when you start off thinking you won't succeed. 

2.    I was too distracted by research: one example is here. I did use some research that I had previously written about the railroad industry in general, but I'm not sure if I put it in the right place.

3.    I did not prioritize my writing. Actually, I do not priortize my writing. Ding, ding, ding. That's the number one reason, and I guess the only real reason for all of my writing failures. I remember mornings when I'd get up to write only to be distracted by emptying the dishwasher and playing New York Times word games.

At the beginning of the year, I had a goal to write for two hours a day, Yeah well, I fucked that up. Think of all the words I would have now. Isn't that's what writing is, words strung together--hopefully beautifully. 

Finally, it dawned on me: I have to think of writing as my job and plan accordingly. At least I've learned something from my failure.

Another good result from this mess: I'm in Merwinsville mode again. I'm remembering why I'm so fascinated by Sylvanus Merwin and his hotel. I'm imagining his relationship with his wife Flora, wondering about his rivalry with his half-brother Peter Gaylord, visualizing the telegraphic courtship of Helen Merwin and Ed Hurd. 

There's more to learn and much more to write.