This morning.
I keep thinking it’s Saturday but it’s Friday. I have no idea what day it is!
It rained all day long yesterday. New York in the rain isn’t like in the movies; it can be a pain in the tush. Nevertheless, I slogged my way to rehearsal and back. It wasn’t as bad early in the day, but by the time I headed back to Port Authority, walking south, the rain was coming right at me and I was soaked. I used to do this sort of thing routinely when I lived in Philadelphia and Boston, so I got used to it (and I was decades younger, but we won’t mention that.)
I watched the first run-through of Act One, then after a quick lunch break, I worked one-on-one with 4 of the actors. My brain felt a bit foggy, just like the weather, but it went well. Today is a day back home and then I’m pretty sure I’ll be going back tomorrow for a run of either Act Two or the whole show. One more day next week – most likely to take notes on a run-through – and the job will be over. I’m very grateful I have a recovery day today. As it was, I left the house at 8:30 am and returned home at 8 pm. A long day. Darko, by the way, seems very happy with how the whole thing is going and that makes me happy.
Last week on one of my walks back to Port Authority, I purposely turned left on 47th St. between 9th and 10th, which is where Don was living during Margaritaville. Covid and lockdown were very hard on NYC, and so many restaurants and shops eventually had to close. They just couldn’t handle very few customers and the ridiculously high cost of rent in Manhattan. Sure enough, the little grocery store just across the street from Don’s apartment (lots of natural foods) is now a nail salon. Like Manhattan needs another nail salon. They’re everywhere. And the little Mexican restaurant that was right next to the entrance to Don’s building is no more. It’s something else entirely. Don really loved that little restaurant and ordered from them frequently. (He grew up in San Diego and he loves, loves, loves Mexican food.)
I’m just about to finish State of Terror. I’m less than thrilled with the inclusion of Three Pines in the last chapters. It’s a bit of a gimmick and one that Penny and Clinton didn’t need. It pulled me out of the story, which shouldn’t happen in the late stages of an already gripping thriller. It was self-indulgent. I suppose they were trying to meld the worlds of Clinton and Penny, but not every person who reads this book will have read Penny’s novels. As it was, I found it disappointing and it ticked me off.
Just my opinion, of course.
I need to read two more chapters of War and Peace today and find another book to read. There are plenty on my TBR pile, but it must be a paperback because I need something lightweight for my trips to the city.
Bless my husband who came to pick me up last night and had a nice hot dinner waiting when we got home. Eating at 9 pm is something we don’t do all that often!
Tomorrow, most likely no post. Back again on Sunday.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Thanks for taking time to post during your hectic schedule. It’s always nice to know how your days in New York are going. Your Don is a keeper isn’t he , having experienced those hectic days himself he knows just what you need. Thanks for all you share. 😊
He knows for sure. And I know when he’s the one experiencing the craziness of going into the city.
Thanks, Janet.
Stay safe.
It’s sad to see so many of the small businesses across the country close down. It’s nice to have some familiarity with places! I feel the same about our delicious local Mexican restaurant… fortunately it survived the pandemic! Happy Friday!
It’s unreal how much rents are in NYC. I don’t know how any business can survive the monthly costs. It’s not like anywhere else in the world, except maybe London?
Stay safe, Barrie.
My grand shares an apartment with two others in Brooklyn
As a beginner at the publisher…
She loves it all. Our favorite city
Claudia, both Keith and I felt the same way about Three Pines showing up in that story! We’ve read all of Penny’s novels (thanks to you!) and that whole section seemed contrived. Other than that, the story read pretty well.
Now having been to New York City, albeit briefly, I enjoy your descriptions as I can sometimes picture them a bit. And good for you walking 20 NY blocks!
Actually, 40 blocks! It’s 20 blocks each way.
I’m glad to know you thought the same thing, Becky. It was completely contrived. I’m disappointed in them for choosing that route. The rest of the book was pretty engrossing.
Much love, friend.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — always glad to hear from you — when I looked at the weather for NYC, I thought about you in all that rain! good to know you survived! sounds like progress on your work. hope your weekend is a good one — stay safe/healthy
Hopefully, it will be dry tomorrow when I have to go in again.
Thanks, Linda.
Stay safe!
You really are a town and country girl, Claudia. Nice you can get to the city for your work but even nicer you can come home to Don and your cozy, comfy home in the country. You have the best of both worlds. Hope your weekend goes well. Stay safe. Hugs, Elaine
When I work in the city, I don’t have time to really experience it other than racing to get to rehearsal and then to catch the bus in time. I can observe as I’m walking, of course, but that’s about it!
Stay safe, Elaine.
agree with what’s been said … and glad you have time off between those long days. hope you, don and everyone else take it easy today and have a nice weekend, too. stay safe!
kathy
Thanks, Kathy.
Are you still smelling marijuana in the apartment building?
Stay safe.
You’re having some adventures again, Claudia! Thanks for posting when you can. I enjoy any on-scene photos like you had posted (so that I can imagine a NYC view). You should be proud you can do as much walking as you do. You’re getting a workout!
About Don: “He grew up in San Diego and he loves, loves, loves Mexican food.” A man after my own Southern Calif heart; I can’t live without it; is a staple of my diet since probably birth (ha) although I am not Mexican by birth; is just the best food ever, always. I think some people might not know that it’s food rich in vegetables and fruits; of course beans (healthy); and my former neighbors who own a chain of restaurants highlight fish. (Mexico is such a big country and they’ve got their coastlines but agriculture is BIG.)
Well, I’m off to put some flowers out at the cemetery; haven’t been able to get in there because we’re so muddy; rain saturation, who would have thunk it; so much rain for us in January already. Went to a beach we hadn’t hit for awhile (yesterday) and the debris is piled high from runoff and then washing back in. What a mess, littering the shore. Huge logs, tree branches, pinecones, bamboo pieces; where does it all come from? Lost two huge eucalyptus trees (from the 1880s or so; ancient trees; they were deemed healthy) up the street from me; breaks my heart as eucalypts are fast disappearing from the area for a variety of reasons. Looks like one uprooted in the wet earth and blew into the one next to it (we’d had hellacious wind with hellacious rain), the weight of the one taking down the other. The root ball was huge.
So sorry to hear about the eucalyptus trees. They are one of my favorite trees and it’s a tragedy when any tree falls.
Remember when Don drove out to La Jolla for the first staging of Margaritaville? He ate Mexican food practically the entire way. That’s when he became a vegetarian. We used to live a few blocks from a great Mexican restaurant when we lived in San Diego. It’s still there. We miss it.
Stay safe, Vicki.
I felt the same way about the inclusion of the Pines in State of Terror. It really wasn’t necessary . Other then that the book was a great thriller and I enjoyed it.
I didn’t realize you had a day off til I was scrolling on Instagram….surprise. I felt the same way about the inclusion of Three Pines in State of Terror. But, I still thought it was a great thriller. Hope the weather is better for you tomorrow! ;)
Liked the book
Agree about including three pinea
Ludicrous
I enjoyed the two voices of the writers but felt Clinton was dominant
Safe travels
That was exactly my opinion too but I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to foreshadow that — and see what you thought. They didn’t need it. Or, they could have included a mention in a far more subtle way that only Penny fans would get and that wouldn’t go into the detail it did. I thought it was me. Glad it’s not. Seemed like at worst, a cheap shot, at best unnecessary.
I’m glad the show is going well, and sorry the weather isn’t. Sad to see what happened to Don’s neighborhood. Not surprising, I suppose. But very sad.