Review: Kellerman is one of the most published authors of our time with a number of series (some with wife, Faye) and standalones. This was my first experience though I’ve known of him for years. The Alex Delaware series is about a low key, very likeable consulting shrink in LA whose best friend and crime partner is a big, tough, and enigmatic LAPD lieutenant, who defies all stereotypes by being happily same sex married. Mile Sturgis is a great character and the book is tautly written with a wild underbelly of a story involving a 30-year-old cold case going back to the 60s glory of swinging Hollywood. Shrouded in LA hot spots and highlighting the insanity of driving from one place to the next, the book was a gift, and a pleasant surprise. Lots more to choose from, if you are so inclined.
Notable People: Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Jamey Johnson, Billy Payne and Little Feat, Sam Bush, David Grisman, Jorma Kaukonen, Michael McDonald, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Jerry Douglas, The Del McCoury Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Produced by: Tommy Emmanuel
Title: Accomplice Two
Review: ok- I am embarrassed to say it has taken me this long to discover this guy-and it has changed my life. The 68-year-old Australian Chet Atkins disciple, guitar master has been spoken about in hushed toms, by all the greats for decades- but it took me this long, an AARP (no shit) write-up, and a birthday gift from my daughter, to finally tune him in. WOW…WOW…WOW- this is all I can say. Look at the list of people who he “features” on each cut on the album………are you kidding me?… he is like a cross between Django Reinhardt and Bill Frisell, and everybody, I mean everybody loves him…I mean loves him……. I am ashamed, ashamed, ashamed, to be this illiterate musically, but have seen the light……was blind and now I see. The album is a literal masterpiece and from what I’ve learned, when Tommy calls, these folks come a running…the man is a guitar genius and plays every instrument known to man…check out the duets with Sam Bush and David Grisman, the rebirth of Little Feat and The Dirt Band and Doobie Bro- Macdonald. The connections with Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle and save for last the country blues wet dream with Jorma. OMG…. can’t get enough- running out to get Accomplice (One- the predecessor) am shaking with anticipation to see who shows up to play on that one. Run out and get this puppy –today…NOW.
Notable People: Kerry Russell, Rufus Sewell, Ato Essandoh, Rory Kinnear, Ali Ahn, David Gyasi, Created by Debora Icahn
Title: The Diplomat
Grade: A heady dramedy about a rising diplomacy corps star and her infamous former ambassador husband- thrown into an explosive situation creating the potential of nuclear disaster- on what seemed like a lightweight pro-forma temporary assignment as Ambassador to Britain. The dialog snaps, the cast is well tuned, the insider knowledge of the workings of the state dept. will give you double takes. Russell and Sewell- its’ like The Americans meets the Man in the Hightower- and the result is sparks flying everywhere- incredible chemistry and with Sewell channeling a kind of debonair reminiscent of Cary Grant and his ilk. Loved this show- already renewed for season two.
“We sit together the mountain and me, Until only the mountain remains” …………………………………………………………Li Po
“Step by step, the early morning breeze” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………Hakuin Ekaku
“Honeysuckle vines cling to a fence along the land, fragrance makes the summer wind so sweet
On a distant hillside, eagle sings a song. Songbird on a fencepost, sings a melody” ………………………………Dolly Parton
Little Darlin’…it’s been along a long and lonely winter…. Little darlin’, it seems like years since its’ been here…………………good Sunday my fine friends, family and semi-acquaintances……………. we have returned to The Mount intact to full pond, few mice, overgrown garden and shrubberies…and sweet mountain May…just in time for the start of the short, but mighty Vermont summer…………good to be back in the dirt and Schmutz…. maybe I’ll be there to take your hand, maybe I’ll be there to share the land….
So…. still in the semi-chaos mode……so maybe short one this week? …. we shall see, nu?……..,
Leaving the Heartland pretty smooth though very bittersweet after regular weekend sleepovers with g-daughter #2 all winter log………Nana, Papi, Sloanie……Sloanie, Nana, Papi…. big adjustment to leave our girl behind…along with our other three GRAND- daughters………But need to see a man about a horse………………….Limped back across the southern tier of NY State with Jenn’s car creaking and croaking……. directly to the classic mountain repair shop. Where it has been resting for almost a week now……it will get fixed once our erstwhile mechanic-shaman finds it out on the back 40 with two dozen other cars since there is no room for a vehicle inside his garage…ever….so hit The Mount running with one car to share…….
After weeks of no carbs…immediately sought out a fix at Ramuntos for the cheese special (Two and a coke)..and back home to a throwback 35 degree first night…a bit of a shocker having left the 80 Ohio early summer behind….of course, we have no phone service ….again…..having had out lil’ cell tower deactivated and dealing with exigencies of WIFI calling in the mountains…..in the same realm of ground hog day style events…..our usual bright eyed plumber man-child did not show to open the house-but sent the Plumber Grinch…. a mighty supporter of The Donald and disliker of Flatlanders, to get us open, and leave us with the usual residual non-working pipe………
Our first morning cold and wet to find The Queen making an ill planned trip to Bennington for a dermatology checkup…. first morning back…. CHAOS…. four hour RT journey leaving at 7 am……. Only to arrive thee….and find she had already switched the appointment to July …precisely to avoid this…………………………… would anyone like to go for a ride in the country???…. Welcome back…. TQ……
After three days of nonstop working -like –dogs…..got out on a nice late Friday afternoon for 1st hike at Elfin Lake and a check in on the Jewish Pig Farmer (JPF), before hitting the major disappointment of finding our beloved Sal’s of Wallingford the permanently closed…..BUT….have now found Mama Tamara et Famiglia…a small Eye-talian takeout joint on Main St….that offers the unlikely combination of off- the- boat Sicilian fare with the cuisine of Philadelphia…..not great, but nice people , big menu, good price and ambitious concept….not Sal’s….but a dent on the despair scale…….
Saturday was our first massive property cleanup day, which went well, all things considered……POND is going to need the kayak and strainer touch……. but got the water pump going, cleaned it up and treated it….and it be FULL…. first machines up and running and outbuildings spiffed up…headed us over to a deluxe MEAT extravaganza at the JPF……meal consisting of seventeen meat offerings and…. Cole slaw……served up in a maelstrom as they sizzled off the Ninja smoker grill…. JPF and The Empress of Death still divorcing, but now engaging in regular confusing companionship…so it was a reunion of sorts………
And THE Belmont Store is newly owned and set to be remodeled/reopen in coming months after being shuttered last fall….taken over by local paparazzi who have A Vision…..The Dumpmaster Yenta stopped by on his four wheeler (no license for car driving for many years courtesy of state police) to fill us in on the store skinny…..”they are not as rich as they seem”…and to explain the demise of the previous petulant and unfriendly owner being based on having insult one member of the local Jewish Cabal……and thus being shunned out of biz by the entire Yid community….which I had always though amounted to a sum of three humans….but who knew?…….
Excited to say….and ecstatic to say, we have planned a time for Sloanie to come out for week in July…so we can all avoid jonesing paralysis…….
Off today for some wandering with the statewide Open Studio tour………. she how many ceramic mushrooms we can find…. Good for you? Good for me…….
Review: Number six in the wonderful Commisario Brunetti series, is a 1997 entry in the fabled Venice world of gutter politics, rampant corruption and endless humanity. Brunetti takes on the mother church and nursing home abuse in this one, which provides a primer on the unusual life of Venice. Filled with historical, social and economic contexts along with a bizarre murder mystery, Brunetti, as always, plow through the chaos with dignity, élan and aplomb. Great series.
Notable People: Jason Segal, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Christa Miller, Heidi Gardner, Luke Tennie, Created by Jason Segal and Bill Lawrence
Title: Shrinking
Review: Brilliantly written and executed show about grief and loss- set in the form of masterful comedy about three wacky, boundary-less psychologists in private practice –and their extended families. Segal is outstanding, the ensemble cast is wonderful, the writing is crisp. The show is both touching and really, really funny. Harrison Ford? Who knew? A cast -against –type role for the ages. Love, love, love this show. Renewed for second season.
Review: The Jane Whitefield series is THE BOMB. What a fascinating character- a Native American woman whose sees spirits and helps people disappear from the world rather than be obliterated by the clutches of very bad guys. Every installment is a treasure with Perry’s wonderful prose style and captivating stories. This one wreaks havoc on the entire family structure of the modern Mafia as Jane reluctantly leaves retirement and marital bliss with her long suffering and beloved husband, to help a young girl inadvertently caught up in their murderous sights. Rich, rich reading-hard to put down-transcends he genre. This 1999 publication is the fifth of nine in the series- but still going as of 2021. Perry also writes several other series I will be pursuing. Many thanks to my old friend and literary mentor, Berms, for the turn-on.
Notable People: Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button, Anabel Scholey, Deborah Findlay, Chukwudi Iwuji Created by Abi Morgan
Title: The Split
Review: Brutally hard hitting BBC series about a London couple becoming estranged after cheating episodes and then going thru a long drawn out spectacle of divorce- did I mention that the whole family are divorce lawyers? Not warm and fuzzy but very well done and the chemistry between the ubiquitous and wonderful Nicola Walker and the droll and very funny Mangan (Episodes) is really great. Plus, the matriarch-biatch mother and three high strung daughters represents the definition of family loyalty and huddled circling of wagons at the least threat. Season 4 seems like a long shot given the end of season 3.
Notable People: Hillary Swank, Bert Salke, Tom McCarthy, Kyle Hopkins, Ryan Binkley, Melissa Wells Created by Tom McCarthy
Title: Alaska Daily
Review: Swank stars as recently disgraced reporter, Eileen Fitzgerald, who leaves her high-profile New York life behind to join a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage, Alaska, on a journey to find redemption. Surprisingly intriguing for a network (ABC) show and Swank really digs into the role, after initially being so overtly pedantic as to be a put off. The ensemble cast is really good and the show gets on serous issues for native American peoples in Alaska- which feels very place sensitive except for mostly being filmed in British Columbia. Well written, witty and hard hitting. No doubt for a second season.
Review: Unlike my last review that had very nice story written but a very mediocre writer, Mosley elevates each story, regardless of subject or genre, into a work of art. This entry picks up the Easy Rawlins series in LA, where it started post war and is now in the height of the 60s cultural revolution. Aside from being a great mystery, Mosely and Rawlins take head on the issues of race in America, in a way that is hard to ignore. Brilliantly crafted with a narrative that transports you to the explosive sense of late 60s Tinsel town. Mosley began writing the series 25 years ago and then went on hiatus for a decade but resumed few years ago. If you haven’t had the Easy Rawlins experience, you should.
