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.