Book 24: The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

The White Princess is Elizabeth of York daughter of King Edward IV and wife to Henry VII, the first Tudor king. 

Gregory's version of Elizabeth is a far cry from the historical Elizabeth. This story begins after Richard III's fall at Bosworth Field. Here, Elizabeth is Richard's lover and is mourning his death, knowing that she will now have to marry her enemy Henry VII.

Elizabeth endures rape and humiliation, as well as intense scrutiny and suspicion from her husband and his formidable mother Margaret Beaufort. Elizabeth and Henry reach a truce and find love with one another for a brief time. 

Gregory's book focuses on the threat of various pretenders to the young Tudor dynasty. The most serious was Perkin Warbeck. In this story, Warbeck appears to be the true Prince Richard, the brother of Elizabeth. It makes a more dramatic, romantic tale if Warbeck is one of the Lost Princes of the Tower. 

Ultimately, Elizabeth sacrifices her brother for her sons. Her cousin Margaret Poole does something similar. By not protesting the execution of their brothers, Elizabeth and Margaret may keep her sons from harm. It's dangerous to be a York under Tudor rule.

Gregory does a good job (you won't hear me say that often) showing the suspicion, fear, and paranoia of Henry VII's court. The Tudors may have won the throne at Bosworth Field, but they had to fight to keep it. 

Wet Thanksgiving and Bleak Black Friday

I'm thankful for yesterday's rain (any rain recently) though it can complicate my walks with Jace. 

I'm thankful that I could have Thanksgiving here and not have to travel anywhere.

I'm thankful for the Whole Foods Turkey Breast Dinners. They're good, and reheating is much easier than cooking.

I'm thankful for our Thanksgiving with my brother Jim and our friend Cynthia.

I'm thankful for my health.

I'm thankful for Jeff and Jace.

***

Today was a lazy day. I woke up early. After I walked Jace, I journaled over coffee and played The New York Times games, and read. I had left all the dishes from yesterday, and cleaned them in stages over the day. (I still have some of the crystal to wash.)

Jeff and I grazed, then ate a late lunch of turkey leftovers on toasted cranberry English muffins. More turkey with salad later. 

A quiet day I didn't realize I needed.

Tuesday Topics

I started yesterday feeling good about where I was in my pre-Thanksgiving cleaning. Then I drove Jeff to an acupuncture appointment.at 10 that was supposed to have been re-scheduled. The doctor was out of town all week. I guess I never recovered from that. Later I did run some errands, but barely started work in the kitchen.

Today, after I cared for the birds, I finished cleaning the kitchen, started cleaning the second bedroom, and picked up our Thanksgiving meal and a few fruits and veggies. I'm back to feeling good about my progress. 

I'm surprised at how many houses are already decorated for Christmas. I even saw a decorated Christmas tree in a window the other night. Maybe it's because Thanksgiving is so late this year. It's still too early for me to decorate for Christmas.

I actually found myself thinking about getting pine cones for a Thanksgiving centerpiece. I blame the New York Times.

Vanderpump Rules, as we know it. is gone. The show will be recast with all new people. I shouldn't be surprised, but I really am. I expected a mini-season at least. I just read that Schwartz & Sandy's is closing, so it's been in my thoughts. Maybe a final VPR post?

Two days until Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Countdown

Thanksgiving is only a week away. How did that happen?

I've been distracted from my pre-Thanksgiving cleaning by decluttering and cleaning up after Jace's accidents. But I got back to it this week. 

I'm proud of myself today. I completed the toughest part of the Thanksgiving cleaning. I dusted the dining area, vacuumed before I rolled up the rug, dry and wet mopped the floors, and laid down another rug. I also cleaned our small hallway (dusted, dry and wet mopped.) Jeff calls it the Egyptian wing because that's where we display our papyri and other souvenirs. 

I've ordered Thanksgiving dinner from Whole Foods, planned a simple appetizer. I'm not as organized as I was last year, but I will pull it off.

Thankful Thursday for Rain

It's been raining off-and-on all day. I can't remember the last time it rained. A local radio reporter said that the last time we had an appreciable rainfall was late September. (Actually, he gave the exact date, but I don't remember that detail.)

I don't think there's been enough rain to make a difference. But, I'm thankful for any rainfall we can get. 

Book 23: Love and Other Crimes by Sara Paretsky

I enjoyed this collection of 14 mystery stories by Sara Paretsky, most featuring her famous detective V.I. Warshawski. It's a nice mix of fairly straightforward stories with more complex ones. I loved reading about ten-year-old V.I. on a quest to save her father from attack. In an another story, reading about the Litvaks was like meeting old friends. I first read about them in Overboard.

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson even make an appearance. They appear with Amelia Butterworth, an amateur detective created by American author Anna Katharine Green. 

Overall, this is a fun read. 

One Down, ? to Go

I went to Goodwill yesterday, with three liquor store boxes, two small boxes, and an extra-large trash bag filled with things uncluttered. We donated small items that didn't have a lot of meaning to us, books, picture frames, boxes, candles, jewelry, a vase. I don't remember more clearly, even though I packed it all. 

It was a real eye-opener to realize that we culled all these things from a cursory look at things displayed in the living room and primary bedroom and cleaning two drawers. I've got quite a job ahead of me. 

I've been looking at Baltimore area real estate listings online and asked my friend Annette to check out the neighborhood of a beautiful condo in Essex. Well, Annette went to see the condo and raved about it. She says we'll never find anything better; I should fly down to look at it. 

I was tempted, but it was just too much, too soon. But I feel that the time is getting closer.

Thursday Thoughts and Miscellanea

It hasn't been the best week. Sometime in the early morning on Tuesday, Jace had massive diarrhea. I spent much of the day cleaning up. I got Jace to the vet on Tuesday afternoon. I've been feeding him chicken and rice cooked in chicken broth. The vet prescribed pills too. 

It's been cold in the mornings. I've been wearing a hat the last few days, and put Jace's Mets jacket on him. One thing about Jace is that he wears coats and jackets without fighting, unlike Spike.

Many people in the neighborhood have not taken down Halloween decorations. Thanksgiving isn't a big outdoor decorating holiday. I've seen a few turkeys. One house posts Peanuts inspired signs every year. A few people have put up Christmas decorations already: one with a countdown board of days until Santa arrives. 

I packed up a few things today to go to Goodwill. This is just the beginning in of decluttering. I'm glad that I got started, but we have a long way to go.

I went out to eat twice last week. On Thursday, I went to lunch with friends, Marti and Elaine at Tengda in Greenwich. The food's delicious and it has parking. The last time we went to a restaurant on Greenwich Avenue, it was hard to park, and the meters only allowed quarters.

On Saturday, Jeff and I went to a new for us brewpub Sly Bandit in Wilton for a late lunch. Enjoyed some good beer with fried pickles and pulled pork flatbread. 

Francisco Lindor won the Silver Slugger Award--his fourth. He deserves all the accolades for the season he's had. I still believe he's the MVP.

Book 22: The Entertainment Weekly Seinfeld Companion Atomic Wedgies to Zipper Jobs: An Unofficial Guide to TV's Funniest Show by Bruce Fretts

I bought this book for my brother, but I'm a big fan of Seinfeld too and read it yesterday. It took about an hour-and-a-half.

Most of the book is a glossary of specific Seinfeldian phrases, such as "Aggravation Installment Plan With Interest That Will Compound For Decades" as well as common terms such as "Air Conditioner" as it relates to several Seinfeld episodes. 

I was surprised that there were no entrees for "The English Patient" and "Yada, Yada," Then I realized that that the book ended with the fourth season. There were nine seasons in full. 

I might not have bought the book if I had realized it only covered four seasons. But, it's still a fun read. 

Book 21: Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

Eleanor was a fascinating woman: Queen of France at one time as the wife of Louis VII, Queen of England at another as the wife of Henry II. At many times she effectively ruled Aquitaine and England. It's amazing how Weir created such a nuanced portrait of Eleanor from such little historical evidence.

Reading this book, I was shocked at how cruel Richard I was. It's not that I completely bought into the legend of Richard the Lionhearted from Robin Hood, but I was still surprised to read of his cruelty and vengeance. 

I'm glad I read this book to learn more about these early days of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Let the Decluttering Commence

A few weeks ago, we got a new Internet and TV provider. I had to move some furniture, and in the process, I moved things on top of the furniture, such as photos, paintings, vases. Sometimes I use that kind of opportunity to re-arrange where I place things. This time, I started to think about things I could declutter--get rid of.

We've accumulated many things in 36 years here. We started by looking through things we have on display and things in a few drawers. I was really proud of Jeff for getting rid of some books. Getting rid of things goes against his every instinct. 

This is the beginning. Keeping things that hold memories for us, letting go of the meaningless.

The Day After

When I went to bed last night, the presidential race was undecided, although it didn't look good for Kamala Harris. I was texted a broken-heart emoji just before midnight. This morning, I was greeted with, "I am devastated."

I agree with both of those messages. I don't understand why anyone  would support Donald Trump. He's incompetent, has no empathy or compassion, or even interest in governmental policy. His whole agenda is based on revenge. The only time he is believable is when he talks about revenge and retribution.

Yet, he won the popular vote last night. I don't understand.

I heard a few theories today about why Kamala lost: she's too unknown, she's radical, she's an illegitimate candidate untested in the primaries, Trump was on TV all-the-time, the Democrats were out-of-touch on the economy and immigration, Americans hadn't seen a candidate like her.

Notice no one said the country is too racist and sexist (though perhaps the last idea touches on that.)

I don't have the answer. I'm tired, sad, angry, disheartened. Can I sleep through the next four years?

Book Sale Bonanza

This weekend both the Wilton Library and the Westport Library held book sales. Cynthia and I went to both. Having two book sales in one weekend was a first for us. 

Here are my purchases: 

CDs:

1. Sly and the Family Stone Greatest Hits. I used to have this as an album.

2. Joe Jackson Look Sharp. 

Books:

1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I picked this up for a great niece.

2. White Fire by Preston & Child. This is one of my favorite Preston & Child books. I bought a hard cover to replace my paperback.

3. Educated by Tara Westover. This is a memoir by a women who grew up with her survivalist parents, but left to learn about the outside world. 

4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Bette Smith. This is a classic coming-of-age story. I passed it by at an earlier book sale, but made sure to get it this time. 

5. The Entertainment Weekly Seinfeld Companion by Bruce Fretts. This is just for fun; I'm going to give it to my brother.

6. Go Dog, Go! Another for a great niece.

7. Love & Other Crimes by Sara Paretsky. This collection of 14 short stories includes VI Warshawski as a ten-year-old conducting her first investigation.

8. The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr. This is a sequel to The Alienist, which I recently read and liked.

9. Five Points The 19th-Century New York City Neighborhood That Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum by Tyler Anbinder. I've read several books that featured that infamous neighborhood, so I'm looking forward to reading a historical approach.

10. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory. This is the story of Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII, and arguably the creator of the Tudor dynasty.

11. The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. The White Princess is Elizabeth of York daughter of King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Woodville. She married Henry VII and became the first Tudor queen.

A note on books 10 and 11: I don't respect Gregory as an historian, but I will enjoy these stories. 

I've got a lot of reading to do. 

Election Day and Spike's Birthday

It's been a long, exhausting election season. I'm appalled at the money spent on ads--we probably could have fed the whole country on the amounts spent on primarily negative ads. After today, the most annoying ads will will focus on the Medicare enrollment period.

I'm avoiding news about the election until later tonight. Lucky for me, I have something else to think about.

Today is Spike's birthday. He was born in 2000 and lived with us from March 2002 until his death in December 2015. Spike was special--not just because he was our first dog, but also because he was such a great dog. 

We still love and miss him.

Hard to Believe...

 ...it's been a week since my last post, and I wanted to post before this, but...

The first half of the week was medically oriented--Jeff had four doctors' appointments, including follow-ups for his falls last week. We had our flu and Covid vaccine shots and also voted.

This is the first year there was early voting in Norwalk. I love it. There's no reason to make everyone vote on the same day and, in some cases, wait in line for hours. 

More to follow.