We have at least two more nights – Tuesday and Wednesday – with temps potentially reaching 32 degrees. Then we’re done. This Spring has been the Non-Spring. Thankfully, I got a day and night off yesterday. We put all the plants back outside and last night it only went down to 40 degrees so I didn’t have to schlep the plants back in the house.
I did, however, wake up at 4 am and never got back to sleep. So there’s that. It’s a rainy day so I plan to sit around and work on the puzzle. I did a lot of chores inside the house yesterday – I think I was so happy to see the sun that it supercharged me – so I can lay low today.
Don brought me three handpicked bouquets yesterday, in honor of his mom, my mom, and me, former mom to three beautiful dogs. I teared up. I had just been thinking of my babies and how I miss them and I’d been missing my mom and regretting that I never got to meet Don’s mother.
Rest in Peace to the great Jerry Stiller, who had the most amazing career, spanning decades. I remember watching his comedy routines with his beloved Anne Meara on Ed Sullivan. I had him pegged as a stand-up comedian at the time, but he was so much more. I loved his work in The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 and on Seinfeld, of course. But I think his best work was on King of Queens, where the character as written and performed by Stiller was outrageous and crazy and touching and much more nuanced than his character on Seinfeld. Frank Costanza was basically a very funny blowhard who appeared only occasionally so that’s all he needed to be. But the character of Arthur Spooner was a regular, allowing time to develop the character and to add layers to his storyline. Anyway, just my thoughts. I’m very sad at his passing. He will be missed. I was watching some clips this morning and couldn’t stop laughing.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
My very first job as a second Camera Assistant in NY was on Shoeshine, a short with Jerry and Ben Stiller. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. Both of them were nice to work with, though I do remember rolling a lot of film for Jerry; they played a father and son which should have been nice for them.
I’ve never seen King of Queens. Maybe when the library opens again!
Hope your weather improves, Claudia, and condolences for your friend’s death.
He’s wonderful on King of Queens. Simply wonderful. Thanks, Cara. Stay safe.
Yes, I also immediately thought of Stiller and Meara on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tells of the generation we grew up in! Seinfeld, too, was a big part of our TV viewing routine in the nineties. Talented man, Jerry Stiller. Made a lot of people happy. What more could a person ask from life?
Exactly. That’s a pretty wonderful legacy. He’s still making me laugh and will continue to as I watch reruns. Thanks, Shanna. Stay safe.
Actually felt my heart skip a beat, ceased everything , & contacted my husband just to share a moment of grief at losing Arthur Spooner. Jerry Stiller has been such a refuge for us especially of late. His timing spot on, his outrage so perfect, pivot on his heels, arms thrown over his head, and his exit at the precise moment for the utmost effect…….
And he made it look effortless, which, of course, it wasn’t. Supremely gifted and pure joy to watch. Stay safe!
I will thank Jerry Stiller forever for Festivus! I was lucky to see him tour with Anne Meara decades ago in a Neil Simon play one summer. Their timing was flawless. I remember their duo fro the Sullivan show and to see him still working so many years later was such a joy.
30 tonight here, they say. I’m amazed my seeds are still sprouting, even though they’ve spent their share of time in the cold, dark garage. As for the rest, so far, so good.
Yesterday Rick took me out for a walk outside of my neighborhood zone. It was such a relief to get out of the house and see something new. We walked on the MSU campus which was practically deserted. It was both sad and a huge relief. We just made it to the car as it started to rain. Again. C’mon, sun. 70 later this week!
Glad you got out for that walk, Jeanie! I’m sure it was good for the soul! Stay safe.
He was great in Seinfeld ~~ Festivus for the rest of us!! But I did love him in King of Queens. The characters on that show all played so well off of each other. I always imagine it was a fun place to work with lots of takes!
Tonight is supposed to be our final night of frost/ freezing temps (at least for the next 7 days out at this point). The plants will be so happy to be set free from the garage! They are all more than ready to be set into some dirt so their roots can flex. And we are all more than ready for some dirt under our nails. Hope you are having a good Monday. Those flowers are so pretty! Good job, Don!!
I am so over this weather! Two more days after today. I’ve already brought some of the porch plants in for the night. Sigh.
Stay safe, Chris!
beautiful bouquets from your sweetheart. how thoughtful he is to bring three of them to honor both of your own mothers and you as scout’s, winston’s and riley’s mother.
glad you’re taking it easy today after a short night of sleep. hope you sleep longer tonight.
hope your weather cooperates so the plants can finally stay outside.
kevin james can always make me laugh, but i think jerry stiller was the best part of “king of queens”. sad for his family, especially at this already sad and scary time.
our governor said today that she had “indirect” exposure to the person in the vice president’s office who has tested positive for the coronavirus; happened when she met with both the vp and the p last week. she said she is following dr. fauci’s example and doing a “partial quarantine”. ugh. and isn’t that what a lieutenant governor is for?
as for me, i’ve been ironing clothes, sorting papers, watering plants, that sort of thing since early this morning and am now (obviously) taking a break to say “hello” and that i hope you, don, everyone else here and your loved ones are all safe and well.
kathy in iowa
And why was she with them without a mask on? Of course, the VP didn’t have a mask on, and flaunted it, at the Mayo Clinic.
Sounds like you’re having a good day, Kathy. Stay safe!
Not very nice at all kathy, but I did have to chuckle when I heard she was in quarantine. BUT, those meat workers better get back at it immediately!! What an uncaring ridiculous woman she is. Unreal.
I so enjoyed Jerry Stiller with Ann Meara…I had forgotten about King of Queens. And Festivus? What a guy…his timing was everything.
Very cool here today…which is just as well, I need to rest up a bit. Looking forward to warmer temps later in the week…and plant shopping.
Your flowers from Don are beautiful. Soon, you’ll have flowers of your own, growing in your gardens…oh, I bet you can’t wait!
Stay safe! ;)
He was also a brave actor. He just went for it, he held nothing back.
I can’t wait until I no longer have to worry about freezing temperatures and hauling my plants in for the night. This spring has been insane! Stay safe, Donnamae.
I was sorry to hear of Jerry Stiller’e passing. Loved his stand up comedy with Anne Meara. Glad your flowers are doing fine. I mowed the grass today and my sister planted a few seeds. It has rained off an don today with the sun popping out at times. I wanted to let you know that Sears online has a lot of puzzles to choose from.
Marilyn
Oh, thank you, Marilyn! Seeds will go in the ground here on the weekend, after a few days of warmer temps. Time for us to mow again, too! Stay safe.
I do remember from long, long ago when Stiller & Meara were a comedy team but they both also individually had so many other film/TV roles. Felt an instant flood of condolence for son Ben (I’ve read that he hasn’t had the best time in the past few years in terms of both his health and personal life/marriage; it begins to pile up as we age … sometimes the problems really do compound; lots of ‘living’ going on…).
That Don Sparks. He is the best.
We’re cooler here; only in the high 70s; nice afternoon breeze here at 4pm-ish and pleasant-enough sun. Hang on for a couple more days, Claudia; then, Spring will spring and you’re back out in that gorgeous yard/property of yours. All that for which to look forward and relish!
I cannot wait! Two more days of this nonsense, Vicki. Stay safe!
Hi Claudia, nothing to add or comment. Just glad to have your blog for some sensible chatter.
Take care.
Thank you for your kind words, Kelly. Stay safe!
Claudia, you are so lucky! Don is a treasure.
Despite the cold night temps, our garden is continuing to beautifully and steadily grow. It’s like it’s telling me “better days are ahead.”
Take care.
Kay
Ours is growing, too. I guess having perennials that have been in place for years helps! Stay safe, Kay.
Love the flowers. I never received any flowers for Mothers Day on Sunday, but I do have the best view from my kitchen window and I don’t have to bring out my vases. My lovely neighbours who are now no longer with us, were both international camelia judges and when they came to live next door to us they filled the garden with the most incredible and rare camelias. I just adore them and have often cared for this garden whilst they travelled. So I can look out my window and see the most colourful parrots and other birds playing in the foliage and flowers on the camelia trees. I almost felt embarrassed with my thumb which was not a gardening green. However, they probably never noticed my lack of gardening know how. I do love growing veges though.
We are also having very cold nights in Oz too. 4 degrees celcius, which is probably just a bit warmer than your cold nights. I just dress with a few more clothes, even in the house.
Thank you for your blogs every day. I have enjoyed reading them but have been very busy the last few days to make a comment.
Those camellias must be heavenly! Stay safe, Robyn.
Joining the chorus on the very funny Stiller and Meara. Can you imagine it was such a to-do back then to have a Jewish/Irish marriage that they made a career out of it? You must be very devoted to your plants to be carting them in and out every night. Lots of work but they are so beautiful. I guess CT will be opening up a bit this weekend and I’m not too happy about it. I can’t imagine enjoying a meal at a restaurant with servers wearing masks, using disposable menus, separated into zones, and having my temperature taken. What’s the point? And I’m not comfortable getting close enough for someone to cut my. hair–what if I’m non symptomatic but a carrier? Opening tattoo salons is beyond ridiculous. Not only too close for comfort but blood??? The worst part is that there are now nation-wide guidelines so everybody is making it up as they go along. I can’t imagine the infectious disease specialists know any more about spread or infection without adequate testing and if they don’t know, I’m staying home as long as possible. I love how in big cities they are telling people they have to go back to work but don’t take public transportation. None of it makes sense! Sometimes I wonder how much of it is hype, like after 9/11, to keep us distracted while bad things are going on behind the scenes, not that I believe the virus is a hoax, I think it’s very real, but the lack of coordination is astounding. I keep thinking if I die, who the hell will be stuck with getting rid of all of my junk? I need a dumpster and I need it now! Boy, my thoughts are all over the place. I’m raising my mug of Yorkshire Gold to you as a thank you for giving us this place to gather.
We’re slowly starting to reopen, apparently, as of Friday. But tattoo parlors and restaurants are not on the docket yet – just manufacturing and construction. And it’s on a regional basis, so if certain levels of containment and available hospital beds haven’t been met, they can’t open. Hang in there. (I was just thinking about renting a dumpster this morning! Our shed needs to purged.) Stay safe.