March All Over Again

This will go down as one of the coldest Aprils on record.  Today's high was only 36 F, a record for this date.  It's been brutal most of the time, with high winds adding to the misery.  Not to mention snow on more than three recent days so far.  I have had three clear nights recently:  Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.  All three were bitter cold and windy.  I managed a total of 11 hours of observing time.  I am in a race against conditions which will make amateur astronomy a thing of the past.  The lights from industrial sized greenhouses in our county have put Hallam Observatory out of the picture, for one thing.  I haven't been there in over a year, and might never return.  My new secret location is in another county, and is perfect for now.  For now.  A massive tower has been built near me.  It remains dark, which is mysterious, since it is higher than surrounding windmills.  Sooner or later it will be lit, no doubt with flashing strobe lights, which will end the current love affair with my site.  And finally, we have Elon Musk's satellite constellations, which have travelled through my viewfinder twice so far.  The hobby will likely be dead within a year or two.  So I am making hay while the stars shine.

As a result of all the observing, we haven't watched much in the way of movies.  Deb's weekend choice was Paris Blues, a decent film with excellent acting about two Americans, one white and one black, living the life in Paris working at a premier jazz club.  Aside from the big name actors and actress, Louis Armstrong makes a few appearances.  What a guy!!  The plot is different, too, as two young women vacationing in Paris for 12 days (one black and one white) latch on to our two musicians (we musicians have a way with the women).  They both want the men to come back to the USA with them, which is kind of a downer.  One goes and one stays.  Hopefully the one that went back will return to Paris.  Who needs the USA when you have Paris (or London, or Berlin, Vienna, or any number of other vastly superior places!).  But it's an American film, so what do you expect?

 A really good film directed by Martin Ritt. 

My choice this week is called Closely Watched Trains, A Czech classic that we somehow missed over the years. There are so many great Czech films, especially from the 1960s.  Report coming soon, as no more clear nights are predicted.  3/14 is about normal around here.

Amanda L.'s dad passed away Saturday.  Gene had serious kidney issues, and wasn't too strict in following all the rules that he should have followed.  She just posted the obit today on FB, so we only just found out.  He worked at GM for many years.  Our sympathies to Amanda and the rest of her family.

M.