reading — Page 54

Sunday

February 12, 2017 at 9:51 am by Claudia

It’s snowing again. 3 to 5 inches expected today, with the addition of sleet later in the day. Less than an inch overnight.

I have to get to NYC tomorrow. Non-negotiable. So, Don will be manning the snowblower, the car will get parked down at the end of the driveway, I’ll get up early and he will drive me to the train station. The train is better at moments like this because it’s more dependable. The bus travels on the thruway and goes through the Lincoln Tunnel, where there are often delays in bad weather. So, the train it is for tomorrow, which will take me to Grand Central Station with a quick shuttle ride to Times Square.

This snow has been nothing but a pain in the tush for yours truly, as it has fallen during key rehearsal days. But having said that, I’m grateful that the bulk of the snow is falling today, instead of tomorrow!

We watched Hannah And Her Sisters last night on TCM. It is one of our favorite movies. I think it’s Woody Allen at his very best. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen it, but I never grow tired of it. It was just as fresh last night as it was the first time I saw it in a movie theater. Wonderful performances by everyone but Dianne Wiest and Michael Caine are brilliant.

I miss Robert Osborne. TCM just isn’t the same without him. I know he’s had bouts of illness in the past, but this latest stretch without him at the helm of TCM has to have been a least a year. But every time I google the question “Where is Robert Osborne?” I’m referred to articles of 2 or 3 years ago. I assume he isn’t well. Do any of you TCM fans have an update?

As we’re stuck indoors today, I’ll do the usual Sunday chores: washing the sheets and towels, swiffering and vacuuming. I’ll go over my Russian pronunciations for tomorrow’s table work. And I’ll read, of course! The Sunday edition of New York Times and the Deborah Crombie – Garden of Lamentations.

What are you up to today?

Camera Therapy

February 3, 2017 at 9:41 am by Claudia

As I sat in my chair, shawl around my shoulders (it’s very, very cold outside) reading A Gentleman in Moscow, blinds shut, lamps lighting the room, I thought how lovely it would be to shut out the world, stay in my chair and read all day long. No news, no emails, no fights – just escape.

That isn’t me, as you know. But for a few hours this morning, it was a lovely fantasy.

I am really enjoying A Gentleman in Moscow. The author, Amor Towles, is a beautiful writer. He has created a world within the walls of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in the year 1922 and I have completely embraced it. I can’t wait to get back to it.

Perhaps I can do the same thing here, never leaving, never having to admit that there are threats upon the horizon. Sigh.

We ran off for a half hour or so yesterday – only that as it was so windy and cold that we had to retreat to the car – to take some photos of the spectacular landscape that is part of our town. I took my new lens, which meant I had to use the iPhone to get a distance shot, but it was fun to play. Freezing, but fun.

Apple orchard against a changing sky.

Our mountains off in the distance. Don says that he loves the clouds in the Hudson Valley. They are always changing, almost always spectacular in their way. Yesterday’s clouds were no exception. Changing by the second, big swaths of mist moving in and out of the horizon, it was a wonder to behold.

Via my iPhone. On the top of one of the mountains, you can just make out the lookout tower that is part of the property belonging to the famous Mohonk Mountain House.

And I saw a woodpecker from the kitchen window – way off in the dead ash tree that is now surrounded by a maple tree. He’s shadowy in these photos, almost as if he wanted to hide from me.

I’m doing my best to find pockets of creativity in my day. Sanity savers: books, the daily NY Times Crossword, my camera, and Don Don Don Don Don. Oh, and vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Imagine how my heart soared when I saw that in the supermarket!

Thank you so much for yesterday’s discussion and for sharing your challenges and the ways in which you strive to achieve balance in the face of worry and despair. Your thoughts helped so many. There is a coming together here that surely provides solace for the soul. I certainly feel that way as I read your thoughts.

Much love to all of you. Peace.

Happy Friday.

Two Questions For You

February 1, 2017 at 9:59 am by Claudia

Just had to take a picture of the February page on this calendar from Rifle Paper Co. Isn’t it pretty?

Happy – and often lately, unhappy – February! But of course my wish is for it to be continuously happy for all of you.

We just won’t talk about the nominee for the Supreme Court. I did not watch any of his reality-show-like announcement. As I’ve tweeted to him many times, I’d rather watch paint dry. By the way, if you do tweet him, keep using the hashtag, #PresidentBannon. It will annoy him to no end.

By the way, I will now be referring to that man with this abbreviation: FIC. I’ve given hints as to what this stands for in my posts and in my comment replies. Let’s see who will be the first reader to correctly answer the question: What does FIC stand for? Go for it!

It snowed all day long yesterday – I suppose we got about 3 inches or so. In the early evening darkness, we shoveled the driveway. It was a powdery and lightweight snow, so much to Don’s disappointment, he didn’t get to use the snowblower.

Now the sun is out and it’s reflecting off the snow and it’s perfectly lovely. Cold, but lovely. It took forever for our little cottage to heat up this morning.

I sat in my new chair and read for a couple of hours this morning. Don brought coffee to me. (Yes, I know I’m lucky.) I had the throw wrapped around me and we kept the blinds shut and the shades down for a long time and enjoyed our little cocoon. Now I’m upstairs in the office, writing to you, while Don plays his guitar downstairs.

If only we could stay in our cocoon and escape the news of the day, of the month, of the year. Well, we could, of course, and we can certainly delay it for a while, but in the end, we must be responsible citizens and take action. And every day, more action is needed, until I forget what I’ve done and what I have yet to do, between all the petition-signing, phone calls and research.

I need to start making lists.

A quote from my favorite wise man, William Shakespeare, seems apt:

I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
It weeps, it bleeds and each new day a gash
is added to her wounds.

Macbeth/spoken by Malcolm in Act 4, Scene 3

Let’s change the subject. I’m finishing up a book that I will review on the other blog later today, Unpunished by Lisa Black. Then I will start A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.

What are you reading? What have you just read? What do you recommend?

And don’t forget: What does FIC stand for?

Thanks for sharing.

Happy Wednesday.

Sunday

Camera Therapy

Two Questions For You

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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