self-portrait with dad and london



Saturday, May 24th
I'm in a book club with some friends. I'm hosting the meeting this month and I selected TAPPING THE SOURCE by Kem Nunn as the book everyone will read. It's described as "surf noir" and was published in 1984. I liked it a lot more than I was expecting to. This week I've been posting a few things on the blog of my book club. When I selected the book, I didn't remember I'd seen Nunn's name before. He's one of the co-creators of JOHN FROM CINCINNATI.
I have to come up with another blog post for today and nothing comes to mind. The book gets really freaky in the last two parts but I don't want to post about those, fearing I'll spoil the book for those who have yet to finish it.
The other night at bocce practice I bounded into Floyd somewhat energetically. Youthlarge attributed the pep in my step to the Chuck Taylors I was wearing, making a comment about how me wearing Chucks makes her laugh (but in a good way). I'm totally misquoting her, I know. It had something to do with the energy and the shoes and the slight goofiness of it all.
The comment about the shoes caused me to remember this photograph. My scanner isn't working so this is just a photo of a photo. Don't let that ruin your enjoyment of my long hair, weak moustache and casual leaning against the Grafton-Stovall Theatre popcorn machine.

(photo from 1995, probably November)
As previously mentioned, some friends and I spent an afternoon learning to curl last Sunday. I've posted a few photographs here.
Update: Listmaker has photos and video!

I spent this afternoon in South Plainfield, NJ at the Plainfield Curling Club. After years of wanting to try my hand at curling, I realized putting together a group of friends to join me wasn't so difficult. I'll post more photos soon. I'm ready to curl again, that's for sure.
Let's hope this strike really is on the verge of wrapping up. I like that my TV watching was decreased, but I'm ready for the quality to go back up (how long will that take? 2 years?).
Here are some random thoughts on what I've been watching:
BREAKING BAD - Oh, AMC, when does MAD MEN return? Last night's third episode was so slow. There was a 20 second period toward the end that had me want to continue watching, but I can't remember what that moment was. I didn't think I'd be the type to complain about a show being too dark and depressing, but this show is. I want a few laughs and I'm not getting them.
ROME - There are some episodes on HBO On Demand and I really, really want to catch up (I stopped watching about midway through season one). I know this is good. I know I should be watching it. I probably won't.
IN TREATMENT - I'm so totally hooked. Listmaker commented in an email last night that he likes watching 5 in a row. I think I like to be less methodical about my watching - give me two or three or one at a time. This is a fun concept and presentation for a show and I'm glad I'm watching.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - NBC has aired the final episode. This season was terrible and I hope this show isn't renewed. So much has gone on with the stories, that the amazing aspects of season one cannot be recaptured.
KIDNAPPED - This aired on NBC last season, I think. Universal HD is rerunning it and I think they're now airing episodes that never made it to air during the original run. I'm watching and I like everything about it except Dana Delany. Was she good in CHINA BEACH? I didn't watch it.
That's about all that's worth commenting on. If you're Listmaker and Handwashings and you want to make comments about what you saw stored on my DVR when you were hanging out last weekend playing board games, please do. I record a few shows on HGTV and don't watch them. Ditto for GOOD EATS (but I did just watch part of that knife episode - cool!).
Here are a few more photographs from my Thanksgiving in Arizona. These images are mostly from Tucson and the Oro Valley.
