It's
been over three weeks now since Deb's hiking trail fall. And we both
lost a week in there to very bad colds. But I have resumed my exercise
program (the maintenance one) for two weeks now, and Deb has finally had
her long overdue infusion for her RA. While waiting for her last Monday (the
procedure takes about 30 minutes) I took a walk to some nearby shops,
discovering a Halloween store where I spent some time, and then came
across a vegan restaurant of which we knew nothing. Called Copper
Branch (?), it has a full menu and bakery. It is a chain in Canada and
has one place in the US. So we now have two vegan places right where
Deb goes every two months! I got a takeaway order for each of us. We
shall return!
I
have managed two segments of the rails to trails path near our home
lately, with Deb accompanying me on the second one last Tuesday. It was
sunny with temps in the high 60s. It will be mild until Saturday, when
cooler air will return with a vengeance. Firewood is being chopped and
split. No heating has been required this week, either. But the wood
pellet stove is standing by.
From my solo walk last week on the first segment of the trail.
The 2nd segment of the walk Tuesday with Deb.
In
other blogging news, the 3rd and final segment of the recent travel
blog has been posted on the American Midwest site (see margin, upper
left), detailing Deb's accident and the very pleasant scenery of the
Wichita Mountains, what we saw of it at any rate. It certainly was a
memorable trip. In about 49 more weeks, we can try it again. I have also updated and reedited most of the photos.
I
tried pricing airfare to London from Detroit. The airfare alone would
pay for an entire 17 day trip over here. So no London in our future,
even if we did have a desire to fly again. Even airfare from Windsor to
Sudbury to visit my parents is a ridiculous amount.
In
film news, there are a few to report, beginning with a couple of
strange Japanese films chosen by Deb last week. First up was We Are Little Zombies,
from 2019. This is an experimental film about four 13 year olds--three
boys and a girl--who met at their parents' cremation. They are all
suddenly orphaned, and they decide to hang out together. They are also
all emotionless, as they try to deal with their situations in unusual
ways. A truly dark comedy, it's hard to take one's eyes from the
screen. Viewers get pulled in by the bizarre stylization of the film,
as well as the intense colours used, and the deadpan humour. Definitely
worth catching.
Giants and Toys is from 1958, another colour extravaganza that
relies heavily on the energy of its starlet. Hitomi Nozoe is chosen as
the poster girl for a candy company, in a deadly competition with its
two main rivals. She has bad teeth, the personality and energy of a
giddy teenager, and the smarts to know what to do in almost any
situation. This is about cutthroat corporate life, where working in
such an environment is very hazardous to one's health. Director Yasuzo
Masumura made some 60 films, but is little known in the west. Mubi has
just acquired many of his films, so he will likely be popping up here
more often now. Part comedy and part drama, it is a film like no other
from Japan. Worth a look if you are lucky enough to find it anywhere.
Now showing on Mubi, along with several other films by the director.
My main choice for this week was a made for TV mystery called The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: The Murder in Angel Lane
from 2011. Part of a detective series, it is the 2nd installment of
four, and the only one showing on Prime. It features the usual
convoluted plot, with the main suspect innocent (of course) but looking
mighty guilty, the incompetent and unfriendly-to-private detectives
police force, a good cop and a bad cop, and a hero who finally gets it
right, after several wrong turns and very few happy faces. Nothing new
here, but some fine costumes and authentic 19th C pub scenes.
Now showing on Prime.
The next piano this Sunday was cancelled due to illness of the host. I am hoping to play some Beethoven at it next week instead.
No comments:
Post a Comment