It's been a long time, fellow readers. Things have been a bit busy around the Homestead of late. Most recently I am just coming down from the high of having five superbly clear nights in a row. That's ten hours of driving and set up, plus more than 16 hours of observing time. And the notes that go with that. Usually time and schedules go out the window during such a week, and that is exactly what happened.
Before that we also had some clear nights, but the sky was pale with smoke from western wildfires (as it is again today), so astronomy was not an option. I thought for certain that I would miss the month, but it miraculously cleared out for those five spectacular nights. I am able to begin observing now by 8:30 pm EDT, so I usually wrap up around midnight or shortly thereafter. Thus my sleep pattern was not greatly altered, and it is now coming back into alignment. However, during the smoky sky period I also had three attacks of Meniere's, two of them very debilitating. I have been 98% deaf in my right ear for several months now, and it was only a matter of time. I'm sure other attacks are forthcoming. But at least the Meniere's and the smoky skies coincided, and by the time skies grew black again, I was ready!
Today was Deb's infusion day, plus we had to take our car in to have a rattle fixed. The rattle is in the rear view mirror, mounted on the front windshield, and the repair is so extensive that we were given a loaner vehicle until it can be repaired ( a part had to be ordered). After Deb's infusion we got a take away lunch from a new vegan fast food place nearby. We took our lunch down to a park with picnic tables along the shore of nearby Lake St. Clair, and enjoyed the 80 F temps and hazy sunshine (that smoke again). After that we went shopping for groceries for the week, then headed back home. More astronomy notes awaited to be written up, as well as a book review, a really fun but devastating one by Barry Malzberg called Cinema. Now it's time to practice piano again!
We got through a few film screenings, and this weekend is Deb's choice for a festival. My two recent picks were Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (#12, from 1965) and another Japanese film called A Colt Is My Passport. The Zatoichi film came close to being an art film, with some amazing wide screen photography, some of the cruelest fighting wounds yet seen in the series, and a story that went well beyond the usual type, involving a mother and her very cute little girl. Best of all, I had never seen this one before! There is some broad comedy, though a tad on the sadistic side, and the usual high quality sword fight scenes.
A Colt Is My Passport is from 1967, directed by Takashi Nomura, and is a violent tribute to American 40s noir films, with a nod given also to spaghetti westerns. It is short and highly entertaining, starring Joe Shishido, the man with chipmunk cheeks. The hero is an assassin who completes his job as ordered, is paid, but is then unable to leave the country. When his crime boss joins forces with the enemy gang, everyone turns on him and tries to kill him. He has to try and outwit and out shoot both gangs. Action packed, though there is some nice down time, too.
Deb's pick last week was The Card, from 1952. Directed by Ronald Neame and starring Alec Guiness, Glynis Johns, and Petulia Clark, it is a wickedly funny film depicting the hero's rise to power and riches from the lowest end of the class system (his mother is a washer woman). Guiness is in top form and seems to enjoy the role of a lifetime. Fun to watch!
In other news, we are expecting an afternoon outdoor visit from Amanda later this week. Our social calendar is suddenly full. Until next time, enjoy these early autumn days (and nights).
Mapman Mike
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