Second Re-read: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

I borrowed this book from Norwalk Library in 2019 and bought my own copy in 2023. I knew I'd reread it one day, and now's the time. 

Jeff and I recently watched the series on Hulu and liked it. But I realized that I had forgotten many of the details. Of course, many details differ between the novel and the series. There are new characters and new developments. I don't have any problems with the changes. 

Now, I want to rewatch the series. The Mets season will still be over--that will give me some time.  

Celebrating the 86 Mets

Before the start of the Mets game today, the team honored the second (and unfortunately last) Mets World Series winners. They showed clips of games, introduced the staff and players (or family members of those who had died) and ended with the "Let's Go Mets!" video. 

I only became a baseball and Mets fan in 1985 and didn't appreciate how incredible the 86 run was. This morning I put on my Mets shorts and my favorite Mets t-shirt:1995 World Series Destiny (the NY in destiny was the Mets log) in preparation for the celebration.. 

1986 was the year I met Jeff and the year we got engaged. Like most fans, I particularly remember Game Six of the World Series. I had gone to a Billy Joel concert with friends Annette, Marge, and Elaine. We went primarily because Marge's friend George was singing back up that night. It was a great concert. Billy is a big Mets fan and one of the guitarists was a big Red Sox fan. The concert was in New Haven and the crowd a mix of Mets and Sox fans. Billy updated us on the scores during the concert. 

We listened to the end of the game on the ride home. I remember punching the passenger seat in excitement at some of the plays. Elaine had recorded the game and we watched it over and over. 

The Mets played in two World Series since then and fell short in both. 

What can I say? Other than wait till next year.

Let's Go Mets!

As I mentioned recently, Jeff and I had a lot of trouble getting TV access to the Mets. On Friday, we watched our first Mets game. We had only seen a few innings here and there before. The Mets now have many new players that I don't even recognize. The Mets have been horrible--just hearing about them has been depressing. 

Yet this weekend, I didn't miss a beat. It felt completely natural to watch and root for the Mets. Even though I didn't recognize half the players.

I guess being a Mets fan is more ingrained than I realized.

Checking Things off the To-do List

Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I have a long to-do list. Sometimes I even get overwhelmed with a short list. 

I recently said that I just wish I could get up in the morning and not have a million things to do. So, in effect, I took a little time off last week. I still did the things I had to do--like food shopping, cooking, and cleaning--but I figured I could take a little longer to make doctors' appointments, research hearing aids, and do some paperwork. 

I meant to turn things around this week, but I didn't get off to a good start in terms of productivity. Yesterday, I was up early journaling and made a Thursday to-do list and completed each item.

• MLB: Jeff and I have been trying for a month to get the Mets TV channel--SNY. I won't detail all the issues, but I got it straightened out yesterday with a helpful ESPN customer service rep.
• Living room screen: The previous condo owner took the screen to be fixed, but it wasn't ready when she moved. I called and discovered it was still at the shop (and picked it up today.)
• My Eye Doctor: I made appointments for both Jeff and me. Since we went to My Eye Doctor in Connecticut,  the new doctor will  be able to access our records. 
• Healthcare Powers of Attorney: I edited and submitted Jeff's. (I couldn't complete mine because I needed a new copy and my contact was out of the office.)
• Clean bath: no need to elaborate.
• WRITE:  (in all caps as written in my journal. It may not have been many words (around 100 words) but it's writing and I'm happy with that for now. 

I just need to keep it going. 

It's Over

I mean the Mets season. It ended in a whimper. 

I really believed that they would make to the post season--hanging by their fingernails or by the skin of their teeth--maybe. But I thought they'd make it. 

"Wait till next year" is hollow. This was supposed to be the year. 

It will take a while to get over this. 

There and Back Again

Back from what I hope was our visit to Maryland. I hope our next trip will be a permanent relocation (though I doubt it.)

We had a decent ride back...that is, until we left the Garden State Parkway for the Tappan Zee Bridge. The Bridge itself was fine.

Okay. I'm writing several days later. It's been a blur of packing and making appointments. Worrying about the Mets. 

It's too much.

TCM Movie Matinees

On the third day of the four day heat wave, I only left our place as necessary--to walk Jace. Over breakfast, I turned on Fog over Frisco with Bette Davis. 

I like this movie. The cast is good (except Douglas Dumbrille) and the story is fast-paced. Plus, one of the stars is Skippy, the portrayer of Asta in the Thin Man series. Unfortunately, I can't find the article I read the other day: it contrasted the bedroom styles of Arlene (Bette Davis) and Val (Margaret Lindsay) and how they reflect the sisters' personalities. How did I miss that?

I guess I have a reason to watch the movie again.

Crack-Up is the only art oriented noir I've ever heard of. After surviving a train wreck, George Steele (Pat O'Brien) breaks into the art museum where he worked and destroys a sculpture. But there was no train wreck, and Steele remembers nothing after that. Just what did happen? Steele is determined to find out, supported by Herbert Marshall and Claire Trevor (wasted in a blah role as the girlfriend.)

After another miserable loss by the Mets, we caught about half of Now Voyager. Bette is fantastic as repressed "spinster aunt" who finds herself through therapy, a makeover, love, and a new purpose in life. I love the whole cigarette lighting thing that she and Paul Henreid do. The whole cast is great. For the first time in years, I cried at the end. The power of a good movie. 

It's Been A Lot

I decided three weeks (minus one day) is enough. I have to post. But it's 9:44 PM as I start this and I'm tired.

I'm not up to a detailed description of the past few weeks. We had several medical appointments and made a disappointing home hunting trip to Delaware. 

Sedona Tap House is closing at the end of June. Sedona has been one of our favorite places. We went to dinner there last night and will really miss it. 

The Mets were swept for the first time this season by the Rays. They still top the National League.

And so it goes.

Tuesday Topics

I had a strange realization last night. I had finished doing the dinner dishes, half watching/half listening to the Mets game. I was thinking about writing, and then I was talking myself out of it. That's scary if you think of yourself as a writer. 

So, I wonder why am I avoiding writing. I don't have an answer. I have to keep thinking about it and keep on writing. 

I went to Trader Joe's today with a list of healthy frozen foods according to a list I saw online. Of the items I found, most had high sodium content. I found two with low sodium and two others I had found before. I was happy to see Thai wheat noodles I couldn't find last time. Most importantly, lemon pesto is back! I bought four bottles. I haven't seen it for months, and was just thinking I should break down and buy something more expensive online. 

I picked up the cinnabar lamps today and put them on the living room end tables. It's nice to have them. I know that Jeff has always wanted them.

We've been spending a lot of time looking at real estate online mostly in Maryland. Then, Jeff saw a condo in Milford, Delaware that he likes. There's also some new construction there. So, we're going to check out the area. We may have to stay in Rehoboth Beach when we visit. There isn't much in the way of dog friendly motels in Milford.

The Mets are in a slump. It always seems to happen when I decide to write about them, but don't actually do it. Am I a jinx?

Mother's Day Musings

I may not be a mother of humans, but I'm a dog mom. I'll take that as a reason to celebrate. 

Today I celebrated by not cooking. Generally, I enjoy cooking, especially compared to other household chores like laundry or cleaning. But, again generally, you have to cook everyday, and it gets time consuming. Especially because I chop veggies and lettuce most days. The planning also gets to me. Sometimes I wake up and my first thought is "What are we going to have for dinner?" Ugh.

It's been a beautiful weekend--the first without rain in awhile. Jace and I are taking longer walks. Today we walked an hour and a quarter, going to Oyster Shell Park. I went there often with Lola, because for many years, she was afraid to walk in the neighborhood. But Jace enjoys our neighborhood walks. 

After coffee and a protein drink, I went to the gym for about 40 minutes. It was the first time this year, I went four times in a week. On the way home, I picked up bagels I had previously gotten smoked salmon and cream cheese. Later we got take out sushi for dinner. 

Couldn't watch the Mets because the game was on Roku. It always annoys me when games appear on some unusual channel or service. We already have SNY for the Mets games. At least the Mets won. It's been a great season so far.

A Discouraging Word

I've been in a weird pattern the last few weeks. Every good day, whether I was productive, wrote about Merwinsville, or the weather was nice, was followed by two days of being unproductive, not writing, or cold/raw/foggy/rainy weather. Even last Saturday's beautiful weather took a sudden change for the worse--it plunged by about 10 degrees in a few minutes and just kept getting colder. The Mets season start has been underwhelming. Overall, it's been disheartening, depressing, and frustrating. 

So, I've been trying to focus on the positive. I've seen many more beautiful daffodils since I saw my first spring blossom. That always makes me happy. The forsythia are turning yellow. The Mets had a promising home opener, winning 5-0, reaching a winning record of 4-3 for the season.

I still have more to-dos than I know what to do with. I knocked off a few items this week. It gives me a little boost to cross off to-dos. I just have to keep plugging away. 

It's Opening Day: LGM!

It was great to see a real game again with the regular line-up except for injuries. It didn't end the way I wanted, but the Mets had their chances. Especially in the top of the ninth, bases loaded and nobody out. Well, it was exciting for a minute. I had been thinking about how I'd write here about their loss, then how their great their comeback was, and no, that didn't happen. 

Tune in tomorrow. 

Wet Weather

It feels like it's always snowing. I know that isn't true. Didn't it snow/rain three times this week? And three times the week before that?

There are hints of more snow to come later this week--possibly a lot more. 

Not even two-thirds through winter. How am I going to hold on? The Mets play their first spring training game next week. Maybe that will help. 

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.

2024 Mets Season

It's hard to believe it's only been a week since the Mets' season ended in Game Six of the NLCS. It feels more like a month. 

I needed a few days after the Game Six loss, but then I was preoccupied with Jeff's health issues.

Back to the Mets: Obviously, I wanted them to go further in the playoffs, but they had an incredible run. In May, no one could have predicted their season to end in the NLCS. 

But that's what the Mets did, led by Francisco Lindor--the definition of a MVP.

It's weird. When your team is out of contention, early in the season, you have a long time to get used to it. When your team is in contention, it's harder and takes longer to get over its loss. I'm reminded of Tennyson---"Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." I paraphrase, it's better to have a team in contention that lost than never to have a team in contention at all."

Already, reports are speculating about the next season for the Mets. Several players are eligible for free agency. I don't know how things will shake out for next season, but I hope the players will appreciate how special this year was and return.

Staying Alive: Met Head Back to LA

What a game! 

The Mets scored three in the first inning, courtesy of a Pete Alonso home run, and never looked back. They won 12-6 in this elimination game. 

In August I thought the Mets wouldn't make the playoffs. I'm happy to have been proven wrong. After last night's game, I wondered if there was any Mets magic left. I'm happy to say there is. 

Thursday Thoughts

Last Friday, we switched our Internet and TV providers. It was more complicated than the salespeople described. We had to move some furniture to allow for wiring (the salespeople said the tech only had to program the system.) Luckily, we had a great tech who helped me move furniture and disconnected the cable equipment. Jeff and I have a learning curve with the TV, but we'll save a lot of money. It's well worth it. 

On Saturday, I returned to the Merwinsville Hotel with Cynthia for their fall art show and sale. I only bought a few cards, though I was tempted by other things. I was happy to see the restored third floor ballroom and hope it will bring some writing inspiration.

This week's been busy. I feel like I've running the whole time. Jeff and I each had a doctor's appointment. I returned equipment to Cablevision, took a broken speaker and DVD player to be recycled, got quarters from the bank, went shopping for food, dogfood, beer and wine, socks, and a picture frame. Also, I cared for the birds. 

Yesterday was the exception: I was chilled and exhausted. I stayed home and concentrated on working through emails I've neglected and managed to sort the laundry. Back to running around today.

My father has been on my mind a lot lately. Today is his birthday; he would have been 100. Hard to believe that he's been gone for 14 years. 

I haven't made it to the gym since Sunday (which completed another three-visit week.) I'll see how I feel tomorrow. If all goes well, I can still make three visits this week. 

On Saturday, we're visiting a friend for her dog's birthday party. We haven't seen her for several months, and I'm really looking forward to that. 

With the exception of Game 2, the Mets have looked horrible in the LCS against the Dodgers. Just one example: tonight the Mets had the bases loaded and nobody out in the 6th inning and didn't score. They ended up losing 2-10. The Dodgers need only one more win to advance to the World Series. Unfortunately, they have no reason to think they won't close out the series tomorrow. 

Is there any Mets magic left?

Mets Advance to NLCS!

What a game! 

It was tense at times, but the Mets did it. Our MVP Francisco Lindor hit a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning leading the Mets to a decisive win over the Phillies 4-1, the first time the Mets clinched a playoff series at Citi Field.

Only one other Met--my beloved Edgardo Alfonso--has hit a post-season grand slam (if you don't count Robin Ventura's grand slam single.) As Mets radio broadcaster Howie Rose said about Lindor, "He may have just outdone himself."  

The Mets had loaded the bases in the first and second innings and came away with nothing, reminding me of a phrase I had heard too often, "The Mets threaten, but do not score." Not his time. As Howie said, "They were famished for the big hit all night, and Francisco Lindor just provided a feast!" I

It's been nine years since the Mets went to the NLCS. And it was another nine years before that when the Mets appeared in the NLCS.

Let's not waste this opportunity. LGM!

Mets Win Pivotal Game Three 7-2!

Okay, I just added the word "pivotal" to the title to sound more like a headline. Then I added the score to make it more impressive. Because it was impressive--the Mets led throughout the game. The NLCS is in sight. It's hard not to think ahead. But, it's too soon. There's one more game. There could be two. Don't count your chickens and all that. 

I want the season to continue. 

Mets Take Game One!

The Phillies pitcher, Zach Wheeler (regrettably an ex-Met--fuck you Wilpons) was masterful through seven innings, seemingly coasting to a win on Kyle Schwarber's lead-off home run against Kodai Senga.

But, the Mets weren't finished. They scored six runs in the eighth inning, leading to an 6-2 win over the Phillies.

LGM!