FYI

Today’s theater experience. A modern comedy in the style of Noel Coward.

I’ve been reading some Booker longlist novels. Just finished Flesh by David Szalay. I often complain that dialog in novels isn’t the way people really talk. Szalay writes very realistic dialog for a main character who is monosyllabic and relatively uncurious. In other words, it bored me. #booksky

It’s always good to know everyone has the same problem. Gift wapo.st/3Ir9PWU

Flu and Covid booster vaccines this morning. I don’t usually get them both at the same time but given <waves arms around> I thought I should do both as soon as possible. Then I stayed home and waited for the guy to show up to clean my dryer vent. Exciting day. (Yawn)

What a photo. One thing I learned during Ferguson was protesters who suspect there will be tear gas should bring milk to wash out their eyes.

Good idea.

I hate when Karl Rove is right.

Almost finished with this and loving it. Main character is seeking the daughter she gave up for adoption 40 years ago. The writing is like a memoir, written realistically. She can’t always remember details. #booksky #litfic 📚💙

The Cardinals should thank the Pirates for being so bad this season because otherwise they would be finishing last. Again. Chaim needs to fire Oli as one of his first moves if he wants to start out with any credibility.

I feel bad for all the journalists losing their jobs. I understand they are trying to use other means of making a living. But I’m not filling up my inbox with newsletters (free or paid). There has to be a better way.

Took a reality break and saw the Downton Abbey movie this afternoon. It was exactly the kind of fun fluff I needed.

I’ve pretty much stopped reading the feed because of writer ads. I constantly wonder why these authors think we would buy the books of people whose online writing is so boring - my book, my book, my book ALL THE TIME.

AND Alan Sepinwall was let go? Not a good day in entertainment news. I hope he starts his own podcast.

Aw, opened Bluesky to find Robert Redford died. RIP Favorite film of his: The Sting.

I’m always happy when a local restaurant makes a national list but … This restaurant is right next door to another restaurant, which is next to a big brewhouse. And down the street from other restaurants. In an area (Maplewood) that sees well reviewed startup restaurants all the time. NYTimes?

Interesting.

Timeline cleanse.

I don’t care about getting a personalized message on my cup but I do like the rule that they have to greet me and make eye contact. I worked food service long ago in HS and we were expected to do that. I tire of encountering monosyllabic workers who pretend I’m invisible. Especially at those prices.

I hope she sticks to this. yes, I’m sure I’ll disagree with some of her priorities but at least she won’t be wasting our money on right wing image boosting law suits.

Worst Supreme Court ever.

I‘m trying to read some of the Booker long list. Just finished Universality by Natasha Brown and … I just don’t get satire. I’m too literal I guess.

I see the MO - KS border war game is exciting. 🐅

Felt industrious today, and the weather is beautiful and the mold count has lowered, so I cleaned all the dust and pollen off of my patio/porch furniture, got rid of all the leaves, put the screen down and am now enjoying the outdoors.

Huh. Apparently there was a small earthquake just outside St. Louis in Fenton this morning. But it wasn’t one that is felt.

Thread. My pet peeve is American ads on British podcasts that are so LOUD. When I was in France they were in French but at the same volume as the podcast.

Remember: Getting roasted at a Congressional hearing means nothing unless follow up official action is taken.

🧵 and watch the short video.

Harvard wins. And yet another court references Calvinball.

Whoa.

I’m not a big Newsom fan but his post about the location of Space Force is funny. “"EVERYONE KNOWS SAN FRANCISCO IS THE FUTURE HOME OF "STAR FLEET ACADEMY" ("LIVE LONG AND PROSPER")."

I was lucky to have both of my parents into their 80’s but when I lost both of them within 13 months it was still so hard. A lot of truths in this column. Gift.

💐 I like this.

This is hilarious. Britain and the US, two countries separated by a common language.

Oh, I loved watching him in whatever he was in. RIP.

I combined my July/August reading into one blog post. I read a lot of books, mostly mysteries, but highlights included The Wedding People by Alison Espach The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey Conclave by Robert Harris The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams Details attached. 💙📚

I just realized that Illinois has two (2!!) state fairs within driving distance of St. Louis and I could have gone to the second one (which ends tomorrow). Next year ….

Of course they did.

Went out to the countryside (here known as the East Side of the River) to see if I could still get peaches (I could). I’ll slice them up and freeze for winter. I don’t really like pumpkin spice anything (except pie) but I know fall is coming when the apple cider donuts appear. Yes, I bought some.