2023: A WEIRD DAY LIKE THE REST BUT MORE OF IT

 March 30

so yesterday- what a fucked up day! 

My alarm went off but so did a strange tiny peep peep peep in the kitchen. Came to find out later it was my timer- it apparently peeps when the battery is dead. Picked up Listerine bottle lid flew loose and half spilled to the floor. The lid is a bitch 99% of the time. Apparently I did not secure it last time. Feeding birds and filling a cup with seed the container slid off the step and spilled seed. Into the double bag I had  thank goodness. The world seemed to be on a slant all day.. Get to the laundry after loading the truck in 40 mph winds and 27 degree temperatures. I frowned so much my face may stay that way. Load in wash and wait. load in 2 dryers since one piece was a sleeping bag. That is still clumpy and damp- but hey I got back here without exploding BECAUSE while checking and turning the sleeping bag the smell of gas, not propane smell, was  overpowering to me. Went back to the truck to wait. Then quickly unloaded dry things and as I was ready to leave I asked the worker if she didn't think the gas smell was strong? No she smelled nothing. So when I got back here I called National Grid. The report leak number took me directly to a "quick" ( their words) survey that took  5 minutes. So I had to call back and got a woman with a tiny voice that talked too quickly and repeated back what I reported getting nothing correct felt like I was in the twilight zone. Finally got my point across- "leak-smell on outside to left of entrance and inside at dryers 11 & 12. Laundry is opposite 791 Main street." I did not have laundry's number. Nat Grid took my name and number and promised to call back in an hour. 10 minutes later a woman calls with yet another  "faint" voice. She does something on her end to make her sound clearer BUT she talked so fast. I lit into her when she repeated back the location as Adams Lane ( I never mentioned that road) and asked me where the leak smell was and was I walking my dog when I smelled it?

what?! I very slowly and concisely replayed the incident for her. She called back 30 minutes later saying she found no leaks inside. I added, so it is supposed to smell like that? no answer. Then she said she found a leak outside but it was at an acceptable level.

side note- about 5 years ago I had blue eyes here for a leak no one could find or fix. He found it and fixed it. Then I escorted him behind the bays and pointed out 5 other "leaks". He just stood there. When I said- "well are you going to fix them? I will point them out." He turned and said I should be a supervisor. ha ha ah. Then he fixed the other 5. No fucking leaks since then- knock on wood.

But wait I am not finished. LOL.I bought Fabuloso to try on the floors here, tried it and Hate it! The smell and it made the floors sticky, even stickier when I rinsed floors again with white vinegar. grrr.

then not to be outdone I installed a fresh shower curtain. I put it in a dishpan so I can add the rings and not drag it on the floor. I stood on the  step stool with the dishpan on the step stool and placed the curtain one ring at a time.after 5 rings I wondered why it was so freaking heavy. Looked down and the hooks-rings had caught onto the rim of the dishpan and would not let go. Photo attached.

So after dishes I was more than ready to watch Cafe Society and loved it. But am sleep deprived so a nap is in order

update: Fabuloso will not go to waste- my brother uses it to clean equipment and trucks. I also left him the canister of Armorall cleaning wipes I bought by mistake- I had wanted the ones that are like silicone.

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2023: DVD MOVIES

 Trying to get back into watching DVDs more often. Back in the 80s and 90s when I worked in a video store I went to the movies at least once a week. Loved foreign films at the small Cape Cinema theatre. Loved everything but sappy disease movies like Beaches.

So I bought Dr Strangelove and it has taken repeated tries to get into it. I saw it in the theatres when it was released and loved it.

but still have not finished it.

Dr Strangelove

I recently watch Ammonite which was fabulous! Deadpan acting.That must have been painful for the actress.

Ammonite

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Garden State recommended by a facebook friend. I had my doubts as she is a fan of Hallmark channel. :) Loved it!

Garden State

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Cafe Society 2 DVDS in one week so far. library automatically renewed. ha ha. I love Woody Allen. Music was great and the story simple. Likely did not receive any awards for acting but.... loved it anyhow. Recognized Steve Carrell from the Office. and Jeanie Berlin.

Cafe Society-Woody Allen

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only trouble with these- they keep me up to 11pm and I am exhausted the next day by 8am

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Attempted Matrix- could not make it  through more than 10 minutes the graphics were too flashy and it was dark. triggered vertigo in 10 minutes. So hope to get John Wick next but need a rest anyhow.

Matrix trailer

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April 13

finally finished Dr Strangelove. Peter Sellers was fascinating in all of his parts.

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April 23

Secondhand Lions. wonderful film with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine.

A couple of years ago I was looking on amazon for a Calvin & Hobbes collection. BUT I could not remember the name! ha ha ha. I searched Pogo thinking that was it but the search answer came up with Opus. Brain in a rush and I did not investigate further so I ordered 25 years of Sunday Opus comics. A used copy and arrived quickly. As soon as I ordered it I remembered the name Calvin and Hobbes and searched for that- they were all too expensive! LOL So Opus sat on different tables here as something to read in the future. Finally one day when my Kindles needed charging I picked it up and started reading. Found that the artist was asked to illustrate cartoons for a film called "Secondhand Lions". Now all I needed was time when I felt I could watch a DVD LOL

So I searched for it at the library and The Staircase. Both were in . The Staircase is 3 DVDs! I better get cracking.

Secondhand Lions

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The Staircase

Finally finished The Staircase. Glad I did not give up. It was never boring or tedious. It was hard to follow when they jumped around in years out of sequence but the acting was excellent.

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May 20

rented 2 dvds at the library

Full Metal Jacket was excellent. I had seen it back in the 80s but remembered little of it.

Full Metal Jacket trailer

then I had finished reading East of Eden finally. long book but fascinating. Unlike any of the others I have read of Steinbeck's.

The movie is another matter. 2 dvds and the casting is off and the acting is horrible. It will be a struggle to finish.

East of Eden

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Idiocracy was recommended by many youtube creators that I follow.I started out thinking it was dumb and was ready to give up. Glad I didn't . Glad I watched the entire movie. It was good.

Idiocracy

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Florence Foster Jenkins was recommended by my cousin Paula. I had totally forgotten about it. Had it on a list to see for a while then lost the list. Sad story but so glad I watched it the 3 main characters and actors were perfect

Florence

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June

I wanted Fantastic Beasts online it said they had 2 copies- one in Young Adult section and other in Children's They had none so I got Inglorious Bastards it was excellent

Inglorious Bastards

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somehow I missed mentioning  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

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July

Finally caught up with Fantastic Beasts and where to find them at the library. Glad I saw it but felt it was poorly edited. Love Eddie Redmayne.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

July 25

finally borrowed Knives out! Greatly entertaining and good to see old actors put to good use.

Knives Out

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August 5

pulled into the library parking lot hoping to pick up Murder on the Orient Express and Imitation Game. An SUV was parked in the middle of the parking lot making it uimpossible for me to pass and leave. I sat there a few minutes then got out of the truck and walked up to the driver's side window and talked to the glass- "please move aside so I can leave" she rolled down her window and said she was waiting for her son. and she did not see me. my reply- please do not hit me or my truck. she moved and I left. Hope to try again next Saturday.

August 19

finally got Murder on the Orient Express and Imitation Game- they were on the top shelf though and I had to ask for assistance :)

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August

my cousin watched The Draughtsman's Contract with her son and described it to me saying she could NOT recommend it. I read the synopsis and watched the trailer and agreed I would not recommend it either. And besides the library does not have it.

The Draughtsman's Comtract

But last week I did get to watch Murder on the Orient Express- very clever and loved it! later in the week I watched Imitation Game. Loved it in spite  of it jumping around in time frames. Clever little trick the film did with him giving apples to all his co workers.

Murder on the Orient Express

Imitation Game

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October 8

finally found a parking space at town offices and walked up the front stairs only to be met by an obstacle to holding onto the railing- an Autumn display to the left. I hobbled over to the right cautiously the stairs are granite and steep and wide. The door is so heavy. Got in there and could not find Cave of Forgotten Dreams but did get Joker and Pirates of the Caribbean-Dead Men tell no tales

Deadmen...

Joker- joachim Phoenix

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November 7

Finished watching Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Almost gave up on it 2 nights ago at 15 minutes - dark imagery because of filming restrictions. Today I decided to watch it while ironing. My go to method when I am in a pinch. The laser imaging got me hooked. It is much more than about cave paintings. Though fascinating to see horses with 8 legs depicting movement etc. At the end it shows the nuclear power plant nearby. They use the hot water to create a tropical setting and introduced crocodiles- some albino crocodiles!. Well worth the struggle!

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

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2 more on tap Wolf of Wall Street and World of Pi.

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Wolf on Wall Street

intense but worth it

World of Pi

great graphics  but too much "religion" and mind games

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Life if Pi NOT world LOL

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December 30

after cashing Cjristmas check I went over to the library and got 3 movies. One on my list they did not have Gatsby

but got

Woody Allen Match Point

and 

Broadchurch season 1

and 

Corpse Bride

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Great Gatsby if I ever find it locally

Great Gatsby Leonardo-

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2023: FLOWERS- store bought for me by me

 Miley Cyrus

March 11

Bought myself flowers yesterday while food shopping. I had listened to this song closely about a month ago and it inspired me. Being single all my 75 years. I love flowers but not as a habit- just when it feels right. Like every 30 years or so. I like my flowers outside actually. But it has been more than dreary this Winter. And well I hit my head and was in the ER. Light bulb moment- buy myself some flowers. 

I was hoping to find a small florist shop and get what used to be called a nosegay. a small selection of small flowers. Well the weatehr was dreadful- rain and snow- so I thought it best to see what I could do at Star Market. Geez expensive much!? So I settled for a bunch of tulips and not sure what the other flowers are looks like tall hyacinths. and 3 pussy willows. Pretty muted colors. I had forgotten how difficult it is to photo tulips though. Or anything for that matter in dull light.

So here's what it looks like so far.

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Placed them in their containers in the sun room- which has little sun! Overnight the  hyacinths opened and are a delightful bright pink.

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March 11

fresh from the store. The hyacinths sure are a strong aroma

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March 26

The flowers I bought myself on March 10 are slowly fading. Tulips, Hyacinths and pussywillows. Thought I would get artsy while taking photos and have some fun with geometry at the same time. I sure got my money's worth.

March 22-26

other images

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March 12

snow drops at Seaside cememtery

*the snow drops do not belong in this post LOL

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March 30

last of the flowers to go. well pussy willows are still okay!

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