1. Sigh, Let's Do the Time Warp Again

I don't know about anyone else? But regardless of what I do? I'm always thrown sideways by the time change. It's dark out - and I keep thinking it's 6:58 or almost 7pm, when in reality it's only 5:58 pm and almost 6. (I really wish they'd stop doing time change back and forth.

It just occurred to me that maybe this is the inspiration behind the song (or not as the case may be? I don't really want to know either way, and regardless - I posted it on FB too, so an annoying relative will most likely tell me) - Time Warp.

2. Watched the Associate Minister's last hurrah - so to speak - or her last sermon. The church really needs to acquire a Director of Religious Education who isn't interested in becoming a minister - this is the second one they've lost to the Minister path. There's clearly something about Religious Education that calls people to become Unitarian Minister's? That and yoga.

I didn't go in person - for various reasons - I had ambivalent feelings about the Minister in question, and my church isn't the most accessible on the planet? ( Read more... ) And I wasn't exactly close to the Assoc Minister, actually I'm kind of relieved she's leaving? And I can't say I didn't agree with her sentiment that letting go of this congregation and moving on to one out on Long Island, (the Assoc Ministers always go out to Long Island for some reason - the last one went to Huntington, this one to Shelter Rock), was a good idea for all involved? The church really needed to jettison the prior leadership - the music is fine, they can keep that, but the management of the church needed to be reconfigured.

Have you ever met people that you feel you are supposed to click with or should click with - and just don't no matter what you do? Or that you do sort of like, but sense that they don't really like or understand or see you - and wish you'd go away?

That's the energy I always kind of felt from the Associate Minister? I'm learning the best approach in these situations is to - back away and give that person plenty of space. It happens to me online as well. So it's not relegated to in-person interactions.

Also I'm irritable folks. ( Read more... )

I don't know if any of that made sense. Perhaps it did? Perhaps it didn't?

3. Television

* I've given up on Outlander. It's not my cup of coco. I don't like it and there are too many other shows to watch instead.

* I finished Rainmaker S1 finally - this is on Netflix. It's a legal procedural. And among the better ones. There are a lot of twists and turns.
It's more serialized than most - and far more character centric. It's based on the book by John Grisham, except instead of a big Insurance firm being the bad guy, it's a law firm. So a blending of The Firm and Rainmaker, I think? It has a lot of Grisham's legal tropes in it. ( Read more... )
Anyhow, recommend, the above doesn't really have any spoilers, or only vague ones.

* Watched two more Angel episodes from S1, She and I've Got You Under My Skin

A. "She" is the episode with the comedic dancing from Angel and Wes, and manages to get across both characters personalities with it. Also the humor of the writers - I think they were going for Seinfield's comedic bit with Elaine and the dancing? Hollywood writers like to make fun of how people dance for some reason? ( Read more... )

[I was going to skip it - glad I didn't - you kind of need to see it, to understand the Wes/Angel and Cordy dynamic. Also, it has great character moments. I think I kind of skipped over it the first two or three times I'd watched the series. I've not watched or rewatched since roughly 2005 or thereabouts. I think the only season I've rewatched since then was S5.]

B. In I've Got You Under the Skin - the writers pull an interesting twist, actually two twists. It's another episode written by Jeannine Renshaw - who was also responsible for co-writing I Will Always Remember You, and Parting Gifts. She's known for writing for The Cleaning Lady, In the Dark, and Grey's Anatomy, among others. The episode comments heavily on The Exorcist, and kind of makes fun of it - even has the name of the priest being the same name as the director of the Exorcist, and dead. It also furthers the bond between Wes and Angel. The writers are working over-time to develop Wes and Angel's bond to equal Doyle and Angel's. ( spoilers and length )

* Watched Jurassic World: Rebirth on Peacock - this is the latest Jurassic World flick. I have a weakness for these movies and have seen all of them. I saw roughly three of them in theaters. My favorites are 1, 3, and 5, or all the ones with Sam Neil and Laura Dern in them. Film 4 wasn't bad, and slightly better than film 2. But this film is horrible. ( Read more... )

Skippable.

* Welcome to Derry - this was on HBO. It's a prequel to IT. And I can't tell if it's a satire of Stephen King horror films and books or supposed to be taken seriously? It's a bit over the top? Even the credits are over the top and tongue in cheek. It's screaming satire or parody to me? And it's not real subtle about it. Reminds me a little bit of Fallout in that respect. ( Read more... )

***

Off to bed, have to get up early for eye doctor's appointment tomorrow.

Voted finally. It was fast - took longer to get there. It's technically a ten minute walk if that, but with the sciatica, it was more like twenty minutes. I researched what and who I was voting for ahead of time, and marked up a cheat sheet. So I didn't have to read the ballot proposals.
As a result, I was pretty much in and out within ten to fifteen minutes, almost no wait time.

On the way back, picked up more groceries from Met Fresh (and it cost more than Trader Joes, of course I did pick up different things...). Came home and had the Salmon Gluten Free Cesar Salad from Trader Joes, put my feet up and relaxed.

On TV front - just watched the Angel S1 Episode: Expecting. (No, it doesn't really improve upon re-watch - but is worth a look just to see how it builds the relationship between Angel/Wes, and Cordelia. I realized that Cordelia's boyfriend (Wilson) who impregnates her with demon spawn, is the same actor who played Hollinger on The Residence.) And realized something (other than recognizing guest actors)? ( Read more... )

End of the Month Question a Day Memage:

27. What is your favourite thing to walk on with bare feet or do you hate walking barefoot?

With bare feet? Grass or the beach. Also in water.

28. The American costume designer Edith Head was born today in 1879. She won eight Oscars for her work, and her last one was for her work on Paul Newman/Robert Redford’s film The Sting. Have you seen it?

Yes. Didn't know that was her last one...interesting. I love The Sting. If you haven't seen it? Go see it. It's among my favorite movies.


29. What kind of toothbrush do you own?


Multiple. I had electric - but they aren't working at the moment, so need a new one.

30. Can you click your fingers (and are you doing it now – LOL)?

You mean like snapping. No.

31. Do you have a favourite aroma you love (a perfume, something baking, a flower etc)?

I like the smell of lemon, chocolate chip cookies, vanilla, eucalyptus, and pies baking.

Not a fan of floral scents - I sneeze.

Also musk - gives me a headache.

1. Now, I've got an X-ray scheduled for next Tuesday along with the doctor's appt. They went ahead and scheduled it for me. Nice of them. Means getting there earlier - but that's okay. Hopefully, it's nothing but a sciatic nerve and arthritis. Friday, Monday, and Tuesday are doctors visits - oh well at least they are all in the same location. I wish it was closer to the subway stations, but it could be worse. Ten blocks isn't that bad. (Ten-Fifteen minute walk, with sciatica and a bad knee - it may actually be a twenty minute walk, I should give myself more time to get there.). I could take a car service - but I've neither the patience or the funds for it. Also they stress me out.

I'm collecting doctors again. Appear to have slight hoarseness tonight - thinking allergies? Also, hoping I've managed to avoid digestive issues by having tuna fish on gluten free sourdough deli toast, with small salad, cucumber, celery and carrot sticks. Did have a greek yogurt bar and chocolate for desert.

2. I really wish the fund-raising charity folks would stop sending me stuff? ( the stuff I've acquired from fund-raising folks ) (I figure if I put this out there into the Universe, they will?)

3. FB neighborhood page shot out a link regarding those pesky proposals on the ballot, which I shared with my brother. [Those ballot proposals took my cubicle mate by surprise, along with a bunch of others.] Now, we know how we're voting on those vague as mud ballot proposals. (Yes, I'm voting - it's a major election for NYC City - because of the mayoral race. The race is between Cuomo, Sliwa, and Zohran Mamadani. After losing the Democratic primary, Cuomo is running as an Independent, and Sliwa is running as a Republican (he was the only candidate running for Republican). The conservative newspapers are trying to get him to pull out - which of course he won't.
Oh, the drama.

4. Lots of torrential rain fall today. (Outside of Super being unable to turn off bedroom radiator today - I wasn't affected.) So, southeastern Brooklyn had flooding in various spots. They posted a ton of photos on FB of the various spots that had been flooded around Ditmas and Flatbush in Brooklyn. Kesington for the most part was fine - when I got home - mainly because they had fixed the gutters.

Flooding in NYC, West Chester, Long Island, and New Jersey

Flooding in BedStuy

Bedstuy Brooklyn Flooding

Post on Ditmas Neighborhood Page: "Cortelyou Road is flooded. If your car is parked near Tribeca Pediatrics you should move your car. The water is rising and is almost to the top a sedan's tires.

Never mind. Someone just cleared the drain. It's all good."

It really is just a gutter problem.

ME: Are we still on for the radiator valve switch off?
Super: We had flooding in 3 building basements.
Me: Okay, not today then. Maybe next week?
Super: Okay, thanks.

I hope the basement apartment is okay. Although, honestly, you'd have to be desperate or nuts to live in a basement apartment in NYC.

***

Eh, I'll catch up on memage tomorrow.

Have a photo instead.

Not having a great week so far health wise. While I was nursing my hip, knee, back and leg - the exterminator popped up - requiring all sorts of physical hijinks in the kitchen afterwards - basically cleaning floor, removing dishes, cleaning counter with disinfectant wipes. And cleaning dish dryer mat which was a mess - and needs to put in the washer.

Exterminator: Let it all sit undisturbed for two hours.
Me: 2 hours?

Not happening. He left at 5:30 pm. I compromised. It's sitting. But I did clean the counter top with disinfectant wipes.

But hey, I've accomplished a lot - considering I came home wishing someone would just shoot me and put me out of my misery. Took a shower, talked to mother (who called while I was attempting to apply lidocaine and Aleve pain relieving menthol rub to my knee and hip), exterminator and cleaned portion of kitchen.

Me: can you kill the flies.
Exterminator: sure, but I don't see any.

Now that he's gone, the five that I can't seem to kill have returned.

***

On the health front - yes, it was really hurting today. Not helped by the fact that I'm having problems sleeping. ( Read more... )

Some potential good news? Primary Care Doctor finally gave me a referral on the knee. So I scheduled an appointment for November 4 with an orthopedist for my knee. If I wasn't working - I'd have been able to do it earlier. But scheduling it around working hours is dicey. Also I don't want back to back doctor's appointments - not with a bad back and knee. I three doctor's appointments this coming weekend (I'm taking Monday off as a Personal Day, and Tuesday, Election Day, I get off). Getting older seems to result in acquiring lots of doctors?

Me: I need to vote, but it hurts more and more to stand, or walk - and the voting place is about six to ten blocks.
Mother: Can you not vote - if you hurt?
Me: I'm contemplating it - since I'm finding it hard to care. But I really should vote.
Mother: Well, if you hurt - don't. (this is the woman who was in League of Women Voters when I was a child and went door to door telling folks to vote - she campaigned for Jimmy Carter.)

***

Work humor

So the Press Office at crazy agency likes to send out emails weekly on power switching on the tracks near the support facility - informing everyone it's happening and they may not be able to catch a train at specific times during the day - whether we all care or not.

Press office: power switching is taking place, so plan accordingly.
Engineer: do we get any pants?
2nd Engineer: fantastic question
Email recipient: you realize this is being sent to 4000 people, right?
Email recipient 2: can you not press reply all?
Press Office: This is being sent to about thirty people on the list, so please stop replying all.
Engineers: so we aren’t getting any pants?

Moral - BCC is there for a reason.

***

On Monday, when it was sunny, warmer, and I didn't hurt quite as bad - leg wasn't as bad on Monday for some reason or other, God knows why - I took a walk up the pier, not that far, just to pier 5. (It goes up to pier 20.)
I took photos of the NYPD boat, a big yellow and black barge, and the helicopter port.

Here's the NYPD boat. Isn't it cute? (NYPD not to be confused with ICE, honestly - there are currently the MTAPD, Port Authority PD, NYPD, State Troopers, National Guard, ICE, and the NY Sheriff's Department. And I'm probably leaving something out? We have cops on horses, cops in cars, cops on subways, cops on trains, cops on bicycles, cops on motorcycles, cops on foot, cops on boats...hardly a shortage of police officers. I see them everywhere. People who whine about not enough cops in NYC need to have their heads examined.)

Flirted with seeing the CHESS revival. But then I listened to the music again - and well, my music tastes have changed over the past forty some years? I loved the original cast recording and even saw the musical live in London with Anthony Head subbing for his brother Murray Head on London's West End, as The American. But I don't like the music now - it's overly melodramatic and doesn't really make sense? It's not ABBA or Tim Rice's best score, and I think Rice worked better with Lloyd Webber in retrospect. Also the story is a mess - and I didn't like any of the characters all that much - most of my sympathy was with Freddie and Anatoly's wife.

I think I'm over the power ballads in musicals? Listened to them one too many times? There's a revival concert of Les Miz at Radio City - and I may shoot myself in the head if I listen to that score one more time. I saw it with the original cast in London in 1987. And then again the touring show in Kansas City in the early 1990s. Plus the movie. It's interesting how tastes change over time? I used to hate celery for example? Now I love it.
I used to love ABBA power ballads, now I can't make it through them.

***

Didn't do much today - outside of binge watch The Diplomat on Netflix, watched Buffy S4 Episode 10 - HUSH (which still holds up and is a brilliant episode), and this week's Grey's Anatomy. My knee was killing me this morning - so I lay about. I did manage a walk to Met Fresh to pick up some food essentials. (Basically more bean soups, fresh made sushi, vegetables, salad greens, eggs, gluten free deli bread, gluten free coffee cake muffins, some rice and quinoa to make grain bowls for the bean (lentil and kidney bean) soups.) (I live in NYC - so I'm within walking distance to six or seven grocery and fruit/vegetable stores. )

Talked to mother, who told me what my niece was up to. Now I want to brag about my niece. ( cut for shameless bragging about niece - look I don't have plants, gardens, pets, or kids - but I do have a niece and she's amazing, so I'm bragging about her )

***

The knee is not getting better. And I'm worried about it. It's fine - when I'm not using it. But it hurts when I walk, go down steps, or move it a certain way. And last night, it kept waking me up. It also looks off somehow. So I sent a message to the primary care - asking for help today. And I might, try City MD urgent care near my work place next week.

The last thing I need is knee surgery or a knee replacement. But I'll cross the bridge when I come to it.

***

Television

1. Buffy S4 - this season is delightful. ( Read more... )

I've been listening to podcasts again. Landau's is the better bet - Charisma's isn't as good, and she saves most of it for her Patreon subscriber page, while Landau provides quite a bit on youtube. Landau's is called Revamped with Juliet Landau, and she does it with Dev Weeks (her husband), and her friend Rebecca Griggs (who interviews folks at cons and has a background in film production). They do a lot of research and provide interesting back story tid-bits on the episodes and Hollywood history - such as haunted Hollywood hotels, etc.

I'm not sure the "Revival, Continuation, Reboot" of Buffy will get picked up for a full order. ( Read more... )

2. Diplomat Finished S3 and ...Run, Kate, Run. Get as far away from Hal as you can get. Honestly by the end of this season, I wanted her to dump him and run off with Aidan Turner's Callum.

And that surprised me. I agree with my mother - I didn't like this season as well as the previous ones. And found some of the characters unlikable and borderline amoral.

3. Angel S1 episode 10 - Sonumbalist - this is among Jeremy Renner's first roles. (Buffy and Angel gave a lot of premiere actors/writers first roles...Shane West, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams, Pedro Pascale, Danny Strong). ( Read more... )