Title: Finding Amethystine Review: The great Walter Mosley- chronicler of the post war Black American experience in the infancy of what is now LA sprawl has put out his umpteenth offering in this magnificent series-which he originally published in the 70s and has now temporally moved from 1946 to 1970. January 1970 finds Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, LA’ s premier Black detective, having made 50 years of age despite all expectations to the contrary . He has a loving family, a beautiful home, and a thriving investigation agency. All is right with the world… and then Amethystine Stoller, his own personal Helen of Troy, arrives. Her ex-husband is missing. A simple enough case. But even as Easy takes his first step in the investigation he trips. Into all kinds of devilry highlighting his life journey with race, loss, love, a world war, and a hunger that has eaten at him since he was a Black boy on his own on the streets of Fifth Ward, Houston. Top echelon of current American writers and a great storyteller with a powerful message. Long Live Easy.
Notable People: Amalie Dollerup, Lars Ranthe, Anne Louise Hassing, Annette Steffelbaek, Jens Jacob Tythsen, Created by: Hanna Lundblad, Stig Thorsboe
Title: Seaside Hotel
Review: Update: I stand by my original review (below)of the first eight seasons from 2022. This is a superb show that only got better with time. The final season was a complex wrap up of character themes from a 12-year run often amusing always relevant. The last two seasons picked up after the war years and pointed out the tenuous nature of Danish (occupied)- German (occupier) relations. Extraordinary ensemble cast-masters of Danish theater and television. This is a sleeper-not to be dismissed.
This compelling combined drama and subtle comedy “Badehotellet” in remote, NW Denmark opens for its wealthy guests each summer. We follow the guests and staff at the hotel from 1928 and into the 1940s. What starts out as a lighthearted comedy turns darker with each year as Demark is overtaken by the Depression and then Fascism and the Nazis. The show becomes overly political out of seemingly nowhere- a fascinating turn of events. The ensemble cast has many of Denmark’s’ top actors and is wonderful. This is a place we’d all like to spend our summers.
“A school of trout passed by: the color of the water” ……………………………Buson
“I find myself still softly searching for my Delinquent Palaces— “………………Emily Dickinson
“Well, never mind, we are ugly, but we have the music.” ………………………..Leonard
Well, I’m again a day late and a dollar short, which I was reminded of moments ago by Sister Jane, who was wondering what the hell happened to Blog Sunday. Not much of excuse, but it’s been a long Labor Day weekend, with much to do and see.
Fall is clearly in the air; wet grass morning dew, lower clouds, days in the high seventies with nights in the low forties, brilliant late afternoon light casting everything in an impressionist glow……… And all around the Red Maples beginning to change……………… The game is afoot.
The Queen took off this week to the Islands, such as they are, for three days with The Retired Empress of GE. Whilst they frolicked on bikes around the shores of Lake Champlain, Papi tended to the Workaday Willie life, keeping any embers at The Manse, and assuming the burden of care for the very needy cats.
Started the week on Monday night with Folk Club on the deck of the Empresses house, in order to include her ex, John, a longtime musical partner, now at home with hospice in the last stages of life. Since he can no longer come, we took the jam to him; a magical night on their magnificent deck with the million-dollar view, right up to the sunset. John was able to play along with one hand on his percussion, and seemed the most joyful since he became ill………. A great joy was had by all.
On Tuesday, continued the Grief Tour, inviting both the Erstwhile Russian Spy and The Self-Proclaimed Trophy Wife, both of whom are mourning lost spouses, down to The Hub at Weston, for the spectacular monthly FREE community gourmet lunch…………………………………… which, alas, had been canceled without notice as we arrived to a dark dining room. Being in the middle of nowhere, that led us to a disappointing repast of weenies and Creamees at Mildred’s Dairy Bar at the ubiquitous Vermont Country Store. Thus, I am ready to proclaim there is no Free Lunch……… (tho, are going to try again today and the grand opening of the Chester dispensary)
Lucy and I got out this week for multiple glorious late afternoon sunlight, dirt road walks extravaganzas…… This is it!!!!!
I have taken on a new bestie, with my long-term acquaintance, and God’s Own Mandolin Player, who has recently taken to calling me multiple times each week just to “Check-in” ………………. He has decided that I am his “musical inspiration”, which is not only semi-unbelievable, but a big-ass cross to bear, as I am hardly my own musical inspiration……………………
We have again come to money time at Okemo, where while waiting for the onslaught of leaf peepers, I remain typically the only human being in the magnificent workout facility, pool and hot tub………. My own little Garden of Eden…………….
Have I mentioned that our adopted little daily visiting friend, Ivy, is being evicted from up the road with her struggling father, Dennis, having to move to points unknown…. We’re hiding the information from Lucy, but beginning to grieve nonetheless………
And, daughter Tess, once my struggling child, was presented with an annual employee recognition award by giant Nationwide Insurance…………. What a long strange trip it’s been…… She is also considering taking up golfing, which you can see by this photo, which would be stranger yet.
Hot town, summer in the city……………………. Spent hours roaming around the metropolis of Rutland, with weekly shopping day on Thursday……………………. Up and down the monotonous miracle mile………………. Three different grocery stores in search of the elusive Bob’s Red Mill thick cut……. A Queen necessity………… though almost nothing new has been built or opened in Rutland in the last decade, we now have the giant state of the art spaceship car wash………………. The USA Today claims it to be one of the best places to work in America…. really, no shit………… And which is offering unlimited, washes for a month for $5.00……………………… even though I hate car washes, just could not pass up such a deal?
Friday night we ventured north on Route Seven up to tiny hamlet of Pittsford, for a performance of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra string quartet for a sunset serenade……………… We had nabbed eight free tickets, but in the end all dropped out (including both of the free lunch despondents- possibly no longer trusting any of my free offerings) ………. We were joined by the elusive Masseuse in the Trailer, in a rare public outing for her………………………… the magnificent show took place at the 200-year-old Pittsford Farm homestead………………. Surrounded by mountains on a gorgeous autumn night as the sun set in the distance to the sounds of Bach (and Lennon) ………
People clearly have trouble making commitments in The Greens………………. Possibly the mountain way?…………………………. But on the other side there are events like this with the majesty of nature, highly evolved kids, honored Elders and an array of mutts………… beauty is beauty……
After Fridays’ glory, Saturday was a bust………………………. After we have hung out with the Dumpmaster, the Assistant DM and the Growling Dwarf from Down the Hill, having their usual Saturday morning summit Dump, which requires a minimum of 45 minutes’ investment……. And then stopped at the Empresses house to do a quick drop-off, but became a Hospice visit……………………. All of which resulted in late day rain and another……………Yes, another missed free lunch at a Ludlow Fest……………………………….
Sunday was our annual trek to the Calvin Coolidge Homestead, for the annual Folk and Blues festival, an extraordinary event in a brilliant setting, of the best of Vermont Culture……… Highlighted this year by a local legend Rick Reddington and his Tough Love band…………………. The perfect day in a perfect place……………………… With a family of four toddlers lying by us, and finding that Lucy was the perfect size for them to wrestle with…………. Music from as far away as Madagascar, with what might be the most mellow concert crowd in history……………. What a day…
We completed the week with an outside dinner, just down the road in Cuttingsville, at the Rooster, facing the wonderful old cemetery as the sun sets and the air chills……. And on into Belmont for one of our towns’ most unusual in yearly events……… whence our little library becomes a 1940s Harlem speakeasy Cabaret for one night………. With local celebrities Joe and Alexis, now well into their seventies, continuing to provide brilliant takes on the Gershwin, Berlin, and Cole Porter song books on standup bass and classic torch- siren vocals……………… white tablecloths, candlelit and flower strewn tables transport back to a time……. These folks are music royalty, even learning that Alexis’ mother sang with the Gene Krupa Band in the 40s and 50s…holy buckets……
And that, my friends, is certainly enough………………… So happy trails to you until we meet again……
Notable People: Ben Miller, Emma Naomi, Barney White, Sarah Woodward, Frances de la Tour, Created by: Matt Baker
Title: Professor T
Review: the brilliant Ben Miller (Death in Paradise) plays Professor Jasper Tempest, a genius criminologist at Cambridge who has major OCD (wears gloves at all times) and an overbearing mother. He reluctantly (and often hilariously) assists the police in solving bizarre crimes. It is an adaptation from a Belgian TV series of the same name – but the original is not nearly as good without the eccentric Miller. Season 3 went even deeper on defining the origins of our hero’s over-the-moon angst, and Miller just gets quirkier and quirkier. This season also feature a greater role for his possibly even more eccentric mother, played most appropriately over-the-top by de la Tour. A fourth season is already in the works. Miller makes it worth watching.
Notable People: Matt Smith, Eve Best, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke…and cast of thousands Created by: George RR Martin, Ryan Condal
Title: House of the Dragon
Review: well, I don’t think the breathlessly awaited second season managed to hold on to the standard set by Thrones or from its own Season 1. I struggled at times with keeping up with the plot swings and myriad of scheming characters; many of whom look and sound alike (is that prejudicial to say?) Not aa crisp as season one, but still…..What’s not to like? Dragons, deceit, drama, cuckoldry, heads falling left and right, mystical medicine men, bloodletting, children with big swords……set 200 years before Game of Thrones, the show is the origin story for all the families and the history of the coveted Iron Throne that we became acquainted with the groundbreaking GOT show. The cinematography is magnificent, the sets and costumes beyond compare and the acting almost Shakespearian. The hour is over before you know it. Feeling certain there is a next version to come in this veritable goldmine for HBO. And, man, how about them dragons?
Notable People: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey, Jr., Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Title: Oppenheimer
Review: Under the category of better late than never, we finally made the time to watch this very long 3 hours’ epic historical drama-on Prime. Worked pretty well on the small screen- for which I am not typically a fan for watching films. Murphy is quietly brilliant in the lead role, just flat out owns sit-and what departure from his turn in Peaky Blinders. Loved the Einstein interactions and the film captured this extraordinary period in American history; both in terms of the race to end the war through atomic power and the McCarthy era shameful witch hunts. Very good cast and vey powerfully filmed. Blunt is excellent as the suffering spouse and Downey is nuts, as usual, which he does really well. I found it really invigorating for about 2 ½ hours but waned at the end-a bit too long for my tastes. But, an important work about an extraordinary man and time/event. Take a nap and give it a go.
“The flowers fall for all our yearning; weeds grow, regardless of our dislike” ……………ZEN
“AH…The uguisu pooped on the rice cakes on the verandah?” ………………………Are You Kidding?
“Ooh, Baby, Baby…. It’s a Wild World” …………………………………………………………………………………………………Cat Stevens
Well, it’s been a quiet week at The Mount; the week of recovery and renewal……………………… And very, VERY quiet. After an incredible six weeks of house painting, trekking across the country for a visit to the heartland, the exotica of Band Week and then a week of granddaughters………………………… It was time to turn off and tune out…………………………………. Still, here are my ruminations on late August in The Greens:
This week’s Fun Vermont Fact: there is still an original living Von Trapp family member hanging out up Stowe way…………………………… At the Trapp Family Lodge…………………. where the Sound of Music remains vibrant………………………… Sadly, no Julie Andrews…………………………………….
My ZEN observation of the week: “there was nothing about this turnoff that suggested this” ………………
Mid-August in Vermont means 75 degree day’s journey into 35° nights……………………… And sneaking peeks at the start of our Leafy Glory…………………………… More to come…….
After a certain age the role of Death and Dying becomes stunningly more prominent……………………………… We lost one acquaintance here our first nine years of living here…………………………… Over the last three, we have had four people pass, two friends losetheir spouse, and regularly seen to have people in Hospice……………………… Aging is not for Wussies, my friends……………
Sunday’s are often highlight days for us- meandering drives, dirt road walks and search for adventure……… Last week the drive was down the western slopes to little Putney………. A walk on the great Rail Trails system, lunch on the ground, the drive up the Route 30 Falcons Cliffs corridor……………… Abandoned buildings and factories tell us stories of times and lives gone by………………. Listen closely and you can hear the shadows………………………….
Have you ever considered the number of abandoned campuses in this country………………………? Last week we came upon the beauty and serenity of the late Green Mountain college in Poultney…… abandoned five years ago for not meeting the threshold of economic viability…………………………. It now sits as a magnificent post monument to education, thriving community and ideals……………………………… But let’s be real, how many homeless people could be housed on these campuses……………how many events that could help the community thrive could be happening…………………. Use the empty, fill the void……
This Sunday, we wandered east to Chester and Bellows Falls (then donning our masks to slip over to the Land of Live FREE or Die -for cheap alcohol purchase) ………………………. stopped at a giant Estate sale, (Does an “Estate Sale” by title, increase prices by 50% over plain old yard and garage sales?) ………. On to a dirt road hike at the Andover Road Pass …………………………. That produced the latest entry in the Queens effort to fulfill her palatial dreams via scavenging…………………. This, producing a new rule that all outings need be accompanied by the collection a flat river rocks……… Which could lead to reaching appropriate accumulation and become a true Vermonty stone wall right in our front yard………………………………… Further pushing our Flatlander-ness to the distant past……
We seem to lately have made inroads into inclusion with the hirsute fifth local in- crowd, such as it is………………………… But with regular invitations to a ménage of community gatherings…………. Most of which The Queen attends…………………………… And for which the Papi routinely hides………. Though the weekly Monday night music has recently become quite improvisational…………. Sending the traditional Folkies scampering for the exits………………… While the cats are away……….
How about Bernie?………………………. 81 years of fire and brimstone………………………… And then, the Obama royalty………………………………. What a party………………………. The most restored my faith in the potential of our democracy has been in some time…………… And where in the world has this Kamala been………………………. Taking my breath away at the moment……………. What a novel idea that we might have dignity at our helm.………. And that the Complainer N’ Chief may be more likely to wear an orange jumpsuit then to take up space at the Oval………………………………………. please don’t bury me in that cold, cold ground…………. I’d rather that you cut me up, and pass me all around…………
In my search to replace my late point and shoot camera, I took it this week down to Trader Ricks’ House of Bizarre, in West Rutland………………………………………. At which you can buy the remnants of every attic, basement, garage and self-storage unit for the entire Northeast United States……………………… That is, if you can make it down one of the aisles without being crushed by ancient trombones, shovels, axes or un-sheathed swords……………………………. And all forms of 30 year defunct electronics…………… But no point and shoot……….
Thursday was catch up shopping day ……………………………… So into Rutland for the Miracle Mile and shop till we drop………………………………… Sneaking in a visit to Ernie’s Hand Carved for a lo-cal pastrami and corned beef combo……………………. Followed by some local donuts…………………… On the way home, scored a single remaining tickets to Weston playhouse (you can always find ONE ticket…………………………. Since The Queen was busy with her Court, took myself out for the solo theater outing and the magnificence of The Porch on Windy Hill…………… the premier of a wonderful new play, focusing on the post-Covid hate experiences of Asian Americans, but set in the heart of Appalachian town…………………… and with an extraordinary threesome of musicians creating brilliant old timey Americana music ……………………. Quite a contrast, scoring big both dramatically and musically………. A rare feat…… 20 dark- road minutes there and 20 home…… Allowing for an almost Broadway experience…. With free parking……………….
Headed up on Saturday night to Lake Nineveh to play music for a gathering of the elite…………. At a small private beach to which we would not usually be welcomed…………. But music is the ultimate remover of barriers……………………. Maybe we need a better sound system at the border……………. C’mon people now, smile on your brother….
And that my friends, is most certainly enough…………………… Without doubt for you and beyond doubt……. for me………
Keep coming back……………………………… It works if you work it……………………………Papi
Notable People: Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Fred Nguyen Kahn, Created by: Jez Scharf
Title: The Sympathizer
Grade: an historical black comedy drama miniseries based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguye. The series is based on the story of the Captain, a North Vietnam spy in the South Vietnam army. He is forced to flee to the United States with his general near the end of the Vietnam War. While living within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he continues to secretly spy on the community and report back to the Viet Cong, struggling between his original loyalties and his new life. I really liked the book, but the series is pretty hard to follow and bizarre, to say the least. Black comedy does not quite fully describe this. The era described, and the portrayal of Vietnamese refugees to America, it interesting and its alternating sunny 70s LA and the jungles of Vietnam is compelling. The acting is good. Downy is thoroughly out of control, playing four distinctly different, and equally crazy- person roles.
Review: fine writers ranging from John Irving to Stephen King have proclaimed Burke to be our greatest living writer. Nearing 90, he remains prolific, and his wheelhouse mainstay has been his amazing Dave Robicheaux series, which he has penned for nearly 40 years now; leading us deftly through the swamp and bayous of southern Louisiana with acuity of spirit and a narrative style matched by none. Lift any paragraph from any Burke book, and it is instantly recognizable, and incomparable in its descriptive power and lucidity-it takes you there and then. The fact that these are “mysteries” is irrelevant; Burke’s greatness transcends genre. All that said, this is an unusual effort to have Dave’s perennial sidekick, Clete Purcell, a larger than life character for 40 years tell this story in the first person. It is a brave experiment in writing, and somewhat of an adjustment and the telling lacks some of the finesse of his other books, but then Clete has never been accused of finesse. I struggled a bit with the folksy narrative, but that is nit-picking. It is JLB, and always worth reading. And you will never know the bayou of south Louisiana, in is history, culture and demons like after reading one of these books.
“When it is winter, speak cold; when it is summer, speak hot” ……………………………Chao-Chou
“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders” ………………………………… Chuang- Tzu
“My dog doesn’t worry about the meaning of life” …………………………………………Charlotte Beck
And, The Queen, provides the motto of the week- metaphor or not, yours to decide – “My flowers are wilting” ……………………………
It’s another Saturday night…and I ain’t got nobody…. got some money, cause I just got paid…….
So, quite the ten day or so, since we last manifested our shared joy and angst………enough time for us to recover (barely) from annual band weeks and two weeks of house painting (TQ mentioned her next nine covetous house projects today, and I stopped the car in the middle of traffic, got out and left it running, and headed for Quebec) … and so welcomed our Cleveland granddaughters for a week, whilst their parents traipsed around the Northeast…………Safe to say I probably took more pictures than it would seem humanly possible….but that is the Papi-San thing to do….so having now crashed my laptop (again) trying to send myself too many photos, then trying to attach too any photos and then trying to exorcise too many photos…I have now resorted to a (Google defined) manageable set of attachments………BUT…..if you prefer to gluttonize……the link to the whole shebang…too much cuteness/how to wear out two aging adults photo album is yours, a click away: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mLCwcxrFAZvdN82n7
So, where to start…tempted to say to just put on your readers, and look at the photo obsessions……but….no cheating here…maybe just a synopsis? (how likely is that?)
Recovery days were good last week……. we also have had our other apples of NanaPapi eyes have a third b’day (Parkie) and firs 1st day of Kinder garden (Sloanie)…al in the rearview mirror for our two intrepid elders…. Highlights, highlights…yes, please…..
Fade to calm before the storm….
Saturday night- we went to Vermonty hay bale diner at nearby Plew Farm, from whenst we get out meat products, eggs and folk wisdom……the family arrived at nigh midnight with sleeping angelic girls…had a bit of chat time with Ry and Lauren and off to prepare ourselves for a week of action
Sunday- morning saw the cod up kids wild tour of the property, turtle searching and rock climbing in the yard….which soon led to a five minute span in which the little angels managed to brake my little camera and take the head of one of our Buddhas….but, hey…you know the saying, it can all be replaced, right (actually I spent time this week discovering that my beloved lil’ camera, which I paid under $100 for new, and replaced when it drowned for $25 on EBAY, is now listing used for around $300…apparently having become a cult item…..(an antique?)…so then off to Mt holly Daze…where we cavorted with the locals whilst The Queen held Court………discovered that Quinnley was a sack race champion and that Harper could not stand up in the sack, which led to____(more foreshadowing)….
Monday morning the parents took off and we initiated entertainment with a trek up the hill for blueberry stealing/picking…and our first of many efforts to keep Ivy from trying to reverse impregnate little Olaf…did I mention that the little circus coke as part of eh g-daughter package?……well Ivy is having her first heat and is momentarily over her zest for Lucy in favor of lil’ Mr. Olaf’s testosterone …all seven pounds of him…..got in a trip to the farm for organic lessons and toddler whispering by TQ……and withstood seven 4 year old meltdowns in an hour …is No a two syllable word…..Noooo-aahhhhh………….
Tuesday was a first outing day with a hike, a trip to the library to make off with some illicitly borrowed kids’ books (everyone in town has the key access, you may remember)…then down the 140 to Wallingford for lunch and best Vermont Creamees at Kelly’s and an aborted trip to the cloud Sparkle Barn…..then on to make-up miniature gold at the drug cartel front that passes as play center o mild of nowhere on Route 7….”I’m from Brooklyn and you can F-off guy at the helm……safe to say the PGA will not threatened by our golf outing at the awful miniature course, where Harps ran of with the balls into the woods……… after dinner that night, amazingly TQ organized a sleep out to the tent she set up in the yard for Vermonty camp adventure…whilst Papi, Lucy and Mr. Olaf shard the big bed and the AC…you go, Nana…..they made it through the night only to be awakened at 6 am by a howling Ivy who could not figure out what this was all about…..
Wednesday we braved a trip to Lake Nineveh……preparation time 4.5 hours….and the munchkin’s 1st Kayaking adventure……where Quinnley tried out solo kayaking in a mini….and did great for about 15 minutes…then required rescue…. beach time was required, which meant coming ashore on a sign, sign, everywhere a sign private beach…and then having to withstand a privacy discussion/see the sign lecture from a senile homeowner who could not remember he knew Jenn and I pretty well and was alternately pissed off and enamored by the kids …’such blonde hair I’ve never seen”………Nana had a Queen meeting to attend, so Papi strapped the kids in for date night, which involved grocery and Mart adventures…hikes to the covered bridge and the swinging bridge …dinner at the 99, where we discovered kids eat free the night after a Sox victory(Go SOX) at this beloved, and mediocre, New England institution….can you say Lobsta roll?…then down for more creamee heaven
Thursday was total adventure day with a perhaps overly ambitious (certainly not Papi, you say?) 12 hour Burlington experience…a two plus hour drive (are we there yet)…to the Echo/Leahy (our other Senator) Science Center on the lake for the MO Willem interactive exhibition mania…who knew about the Pidgeon?…..fancy-ish luncheon on the dock on shores of the Champlain….then pile back in for the short but unhappy trip down rush hour route 7 to the Shelburne museum….10 acres of majesty with art and an 1800s village…with ride ons the 100 year old caroused…..the magnificent history of the circus in miniature of 100 years of the big top….then onto the incredibly restored elegance of a private t rail train-circa 1890 -and the last of the great Lake steam ships…are we tired yet?….not quite…on back to Rootland…for pizza at Ramuntos and, yes…another creamee………..
Friday was a home day with games, tears and Pond swimming…. which was somewhat tempered by clouds, yucky-yucky- oooh…brown water and the threat of being consumed by ancient snapping turtle……screaming and Papi rescue ensuing…… though Mr. Olaf seemed to love the Pond…as did ivy when she discovered her unrequited love was trashing around in there………………………
The big kids showed back up late Friday afternoon…full of their own week of joy…and we let them adjust by Papi schlepping the girls and Lucy down to see the weekly music extravaganza at Okemo…music was lousy….the Connecticut mob was boorish and there were no other little kids…….but we gallivanted nonetheless and managed one last series of photo ops…before succumbing to hanger and heading home- but not before a stop at Shaw’s in Ludlow to get a bread for dinner, which included a quick 3-way shared chocolate iced donut, that we might have gotten away with as a freebie if Harper were not bathed in it…hosing required… home then for the house special Bolognese…and finally, to bed
They all left around noon today….and NanaPapi embarked to cleanup/collapse mode…. from which we may emerge sometime yet this year…….
All’s well that ends well…the Dumpmaster was very happy to see us back at it today…and Ivy decided to come in the house and that maybe we were really her parents…..which did not go over that well with Saffron…..but.. tomorrow is a day…start of a new week….and no more looking for love in all the wrong places………
