Rosemary's Baby: The Villain of the Piece

Over the weekend, when I was sick, I watched Columbo reruns. In one episode, John Cassavetes plays a conductor who murders his pianist lover when she threatens to reveal their affair to his wife. 

Watching Cassavetes reminded me of his role in Rosemary's Baby. This is a summary of the plot (it's not completely accurate in all the details, but it has the main points.)

Here's my run-down of the villains in that film. 

Satan rapes Rosemary to impregnate with his child. Hey, Satan is evil. What can we expect?

Minnie and Roman Castevet are neighbors who befriend Rosemary and her husband Guy to manipulate her into giving birth to Satan's child. This is an evil thing to do, but they are in a Satanic coven--they think this is the right thing to do.

Dr. Abraham Sapirstein is Rosemary's obstetrician, but also a member of the coven. He and the other coven members believe they are doing the right thing.

Then there's Guy--Rosemary's husband. Guy--a frustrated actor--is the one who has a duty to Rosemary. But Guy is only looking after himself. Roman Castevet sets him up during their first dinner together. Roman tells Guy that he's a good actor but needs a break. I'm not sure exactly when Roman fills Guy in on the coven's plan, but Guy agrees pretty quickly. Soon, Guy gets a part because the original actor chosen has suddenly gone blind. 

In Rosemary's final scene with Guy, he says something to the effect that the coven promised him that Rosemary wouldn't be hurt, and she wasn't really, and they got so much in return. How can he say that with a straight face? Rosemary has been raped, she's been isolated and gaslighted, her friend has been killed, she experienced intense pain for months that her doctor has minimized, and now her baby has been handed over to Satanists.

Rosemary spits in his face. 

A Year Ago Today...

...insurrectionists invaded the Capitol. I remember that day well. I didn't have the heart/stomach/whatever to watch the coverage on CNN this morning. Instead I watched Deep Space Nine. Ironically, it was about an attempted coup against the Bajoran government and its alliance with the Federation. At least these fictional insurrectionists recognized the truth when they saw it. Even Vedek Winn retreated when she saw the evidence. 

Truth is really stranger than fiction.

Unwanted Touching

I was surprised when I refreshed my computer the other day and read that Andrew Cuomo resigned as Governor of New York. Just a few hours earlier, I read that he was determined to fight the charges. Then I saw his attorney at a press briefing while I was at the gym.  She (of course, it was a she) was talking about the problems with the Attorney General's report: it had errors, the investigators didn't interview enough people, the investigators acted as prosecutors, judge and jury of Cuomo.

Regardless of the merits of the lawyer's arguments, the strategy was more effective than Cuomo's first attempt. It was a video of Cuomo hugging and kissing people. Its message seemed to be: I hug and kiss everyone, deal with it. 

About 15 years ago, Jeff, Spike, and I were on a patio at a Stamford bar for some kind of dog-related fundraising event when two local politicians stopped by. We chatted for a few minutes and told them we were from Norwalk and couldn't vote for them. One, a well-known local figure, put his hand on my shoulder for a minute. It wasn't sexual in any way; it was just weird and inappropriate. I know there is a tradition of glad handing in politics, but it's not necessarily the literal laying of the hands.  

George HW Bush was known to grope women when posing for photos. I previously thought this was only in his later years (he called himself David Cop-a-feel) but here's a description of an incident from 2003. I heard photo ops gropes were also part of Cuomo's MO. It's an easy way to keep well-mannered women and girls in line. Do they want to draw attention to themselves and ruin the photo? Do they really want to rock the boat over someone touching their butts?

Cuomo recently explained that he didn't think he had ever crossed the line but the line had been redrawn. That's bullshit. People--mostly women--are just a bit more willing to step up and say what happened to them and what's unacceptable. 

Here's one more personal story. About 25 years ago, I was in the copy room at the office. One of the admin assistants--Janet who is black--came into the room. Janet had some kind of scarf in her hair--and I cringe to write this--I said, "oh what's this?" and reached up to touch it. She shrunk away from me, a fake smile frozen on her face. Janet was clearly uncomfortable. I knew I had fucked up even though I didn't really understand why. I felt like an asshole and quickly left the room. 

Now, it doesn't matter that I didn't understand the issues concerning black women and hair and that I didn't mean to make Janet uncomfortable. What matters is the result. I never tried to touch anyone's hair again. Janet, I'm sorry and I'm sorry that my apology is 25 years after the fact. 

So Andrew Cuomo, Joe Biden, etc.: Just stop touching people. It's not that hard. Here's an assist from Jezebel. 

Insurrection in the Capitol

I was at Oyster Shell Park with Lola when it started. I heard the news on the drive home. Then I watched CNN for several hours. Watching rampaging terrorists invade the Capitol was horrific and surreal. These so-called patriots smashed windows, vandalized offices, and stole at least one laptop from Senator Jeff Merkley. Here are some images. Luckily they didn't destroy any artwork in the Rotunda. Pipe bombs and a suspicious vehicle were also found in the southeast corner of the Capitol.

Equally horrific was the response of the Capitol police. I wish I could say it was just incompetence--gross incompetence based on all of Trump's tweets inviting supporters to march to the Capitol to pressure Republicans to reject election results of Biden's win. As far back as December 19th, a tweet ended: "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild."

It was worse than that. It's reported that police officers opened doors and gates for the rioters and posed for selfies with them. Obviously they did not treat this threat as they did potential Black Lives Matter protests.

In 1963 after the assassination of President John Kennedy, Malcom X famously said it was a a case of "chickens coming home to roost." Wednesday's riot with its ensuing injuries and deaths is another case of chickens coming home to roost. Even before Trump, Republicans have used fear mongering, racism, and hate as a key part of its message. Trump just inflamed and incited the mob to violence. 

This cannot stand. 

The State of the Estate: The Hearing

My nephew waited until the last day to request a hearing from the probate court. He didn't have to show any kind of reason to request a hearing, so we didn't know what to expect. Last night, I reviewed a list of expenses and documents I had to complete for my mother's long term care insurance.

He handed the judge a copy of a letter he wrote back in May requesting a complete accounting of everything my mother did financially from 2014 to 2019 that would "impact the beneficiaries" of her estate.

Every dollar she spent would, of course, impact the beneficiaries of her estate. Was she supposed to live in a shack or forgo medical treatment just to preserve her estate?

The judge told him this was outside the purview of the probate court (not in those exact words.) Probate is only concerned with the time after death.

I thought he would have researched this. Apparently not.

The State of the Estate

Yesterday I signed accounting paperwork for my mother's estate. I thought I was at the end of the road. It's more accurate to say it's the beginning of the end. The paperwork will be sent to the probate court. The court will send the information to the will's beneficiaries who have a few weeks in which they can request a hearing. 

In our lawyer's experience, no one has requested a hearing. I have a selfish, litigious nephew, so I don't know. A hearing will delay the distribution of the proceeds, so there's that. In addition, I contributed money to the estate that I could have claimed as mine, because the bank accounts were in my mother's and my name. My mother intended the monies would be shared. I doubt my nephew would have honored my mother's wishes if it had been up to him. 

I'll be glad when this is all over. 

What I'm Watching

New Seasons:

Outlander: I liked the first two episodes, but the next two were lackluster. I want to know more about the skull with silver filings (when will that be explained) but I don't particularly care about Jamie's son. Now I'm afraid Brianna will end up on the ship with the pirate that abused and robbed her parents.

Vanderpump Rules: This is my guilty pleasure but they didn't bring it in the first two episodes: Jax and Brittany got engaged; James is an asshole. Whatever.

Top Chef: enjoying the first two episodes though it's too early to know the individual chefs.

On Netflix: we liked the second season of Jessica Jones, and got through about half of The Last Kingdom's second season. We now have Hulu and watched a few episodes of The Handmaid's Tale. Chilling.

A new limited series we're watching is Escape from Dannemora. I had read about it beforehand and wanted to watch it particularly for Patricia Arquette. Saturday I watched a two-hour documentary on the escape--interesting to compare the two.

Saturday night we caught the film, The Death of Stalin, although we'd never heard of it before. Once I got over the idea of Steve Buscemi as Khrushchev, I enjoyed it. Simon Russell Beale, who played Lavrenti Beria, looked more like Khrushchev. It reminded me of the casting of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII. Buscemi is more believable as Khrushchev than Rhys Meyers is as Henry. I couldn't accept Rhys Meyers' Henry.

Yesterday I half-watched The Best Years of Our Lives and It Happened One Night as I cleaned. Best Years is a classic that I never get tired of. It Happened One Night is a fun screwball comedy. Let's just forget the line, "What she needs is a guy that'd take a sock her once a day, whether it's coming to her or not," per IMDB. I like Colbert, but wonder what Bette Davis would have done with the part.

Another October Surprise

I share many thoughts of the author and commenters of this article.

Is Texas Bizarro World?

Bizarro World is ruled by a Bizarro Code in which everything is the opposite of Earthly things. I learned about this through Elaine's experience on Seinfeld.

Today the Texas legislature had its own Bizarro Code--outlawing tampons while allowing guns. Yes, it's true.

I just don't know what to say. Trying to silence women isn't enough. Let's search women for feminine hygiene products and confiscate those products.

I guess in Texas it's hunting season on women.

This is Freedom?

Today is Independence Day, a day when we celebrate our freedom, our independence from Great Britain.

What's happened to our freedoms lately?

We've discovered that our government is is spying on us.

The Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act threatens the right to vote.

Are you a woman? Your rights to safe, legal medical care are threatened in
Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and--oh hell--everywhere. And we're supposed to remain silent as our rights are being systematically destroyed.

At least this is good news.

Just Stop Now

I don't even know what to say.

Please read this. http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/the-right-not-to-know

Martha Stewart's One Percent

When I recently wrote about magazines I'm reading http://lynnecoll.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-im-reading-magazines.html, I mentioned that Jeff was gifted with Time, The Week and Smithsonian. The latest gift is Martha Stewart Living.

One of Martha's ideas to make everyday tasks easier is a housekeeping room. Yes, a frigging housekeeping room. Martha took a charming stable/garage, one of the many buildings on her farm, added two bathrooms, a two-car garage, home gym, etc.  But never fear--she reserved the central area for her dream housekeeping room with help from her merchandising department and home editor of her magazine.

Now, I didn't expect to find much in Martha Stewart Living that relate to my life. But a housekeeping room?  How many people can relate to that? Who is Martha's target?

The whole thing annoyed me--she's so tone deaf and clueless. She should just stay in her frigging housekeeping room and live her dream.

Dr. Laura--First Amendment Crusader

Why apologize? What is the point when you will turn around and talk about ugly hateful groups that have usurped your First Amendment rights?

And just FYI, that last statement demonstrates your misunderstanding of the First Amendment.

The audacity of calling Jade out as over sensitive and then, claiming usurpation of your First Amendment rights?

It pains me that people look up to this woman.

The Most Important Civil Right: Dr. Laura and Other Whites Must Use the N-word

I was blown away by the stupidity and blindness of Dr. Laura' s rant. It may be old news but I'm still thinking about it.

I didn't expect much from her. I used to occasionally listen to Dr. Laura. Just as I occasionally listen to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage--when I'm curious of what is being discussed on talk radio, have a few minutes in the car and have already heard the daily headlines.

Based on previous broadcasts, Dr. Laura is a jerk--at best. I'm thinking about a digression when she discussed how salad spinners were good wedding gifts, although she preferred her salad with mist. WTF?

She has always had a nasty, judgmental streak--although I can't cite any specific examples from the past. This time she attacked the caller almost immediately judging that some comments that bothered Jade were not racist. Soon after that, she began her N chorus.

When she went off on her tangent about HBO comics, she reminded me of my brother-in-law. He once reprimanded me because he assumed I was okay with the N-word in rap music, but not in Southern racist singer, Johnny Rebel's music. I said I didn't like any use of the word, but he's not the type to utilize facts when it can interfere with a rant.

I don't understand how the right to use the N-word is such an important right for whites--why it's raised to the level of a philosophical question by stupid "philosophers" like Dr. Laura.

I don't want to argue about the historic use of the N-word as used by Mark Twain or Margaret Mitchell. I wish the funeral for the N-word had taken, but I guess we'll always have idiots like Dr. Laura who will grab the chance to spew shit across the airwaves because they are so deep, thoughtful and philosophical.

As a writer, I generally hate euphemisms and the using "N-word" can be classified as one. But rather err on the side of caution and respect; I hereby reject my white right to use the N-word.

Saying Goodbye: The Celebration

Last Sunday, we had a celebration of my father's life. We chose his old hangout in New Jersey, taking over the back room of a neighborhood bar. About 30 people attended--most of them relatives. We hired a keyboard player/singer, who knew Sinatra songs (but damn not "My Kind of Town") and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" as well as other standards. Thanks Jeff (my husband) for the idea. Dad loved to sing and I think he would have appreciated it.

Dad was the last of his generation. His three sisters are long gone as well as their spouses. I think he would have been happy knowing his nieces and nephews, their kids and grand kids were there.

I wonder how he would have felt about his ex-wives attending. Maybe my mother would have gotten a pass--as the mother of his children, despite his issues with her. My ex-stepmother was there also. I don't know the story of their break-up; it was 25 years ago. But Marie said she still thought of my dad as her husband and I knew she was truly mourning him. My brother Jim gave me Dad's wedding ring to give to her; she was touched. I also gave her a few pictures of her parents and from one of their trips. She had been asking for more photos. I didn't want to tell her that I think Dad destroyed them. I found one picture from my college graduation. He and I were there and she was torn off.

The worst part of the day was wondering what my nephews and brother-in-law would do. My nephews (I believe guided by their father) are trying to get a piece of the estate on a legal technicality (is there any other kind?) I am a lawyer and years ago, drafted a will for my father based on New Jersey law when he lived there. I declined his request to re-draft the will after my sister died and he moved to Florida. That proved to be a mistake. I have never practiced law and was far removed from legal research when he asked me. I felt uncomfortable and it would have been inconvenient for me to get to a law library for research. I guess I was a fucking fool.

Now my brother and I are fighting mean spirited, greedy opponents who are trying to take advantage of my father who tried to save a few bucks re-drafting his will without legal advice. This left an opening for assholes to disregard his clear intentions and try to shake us down for money.

Next we have a quintessential example of adding insult to injury. Friday night before the celebration, my mother handed me a sealed letter from my brother-in-law. In it, he accused me of driving a wedge in the family for money and dishonoring my sister. I don't know if he is living in a bizarro world or if he just thinks he can manipulate me by invoking the possible wishes of my dead sister.

All I know is that I won't be manipulated; my father has a right to have his wishes honored, and my family has been reduced by three.