September 2022 Books

♥ Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty ¹ by Diane Keaton - After Brother & Sister last month, I wanted to check out the other Diane Keaton book that I had yet to read. This was excellent and I really love her delivery and how she describes her life, her thoughts, and her family. Would love more from her!

* Red Comet ¹ by Heather Clark - I listened to this audiobook on Maria Bamford's recommendation. It was an extremely comprehensive biography with great attention to detail and exhaustive research. The problem is, that after forty five and a half hours, I still don't know a damn thing about Sylvia Plath. Memoirs and autobiographies are better because it is their words and describe how they feel. Bios are maybe true but maybe not. Most of the book is based on Plath's writing and letters. The thing is, as a writer, you are not always speaking the exact truth of your thoughts and feelings. Even in letters people can be guarded. It's a well done book and the narration was tolerable but she was another one who mispronounces words. Where are the fucking editors?!!? Isn't there someone in the recording booth to say, "Darling, it's potable, not POT-able." I mean the narrator was paid to read this - you'd think that she would make notes in advance and ensure that things are said right. It's infuriating. But I did find Plath's early years with her family and life before hitching her wagon to that lout of a husband extremely interesting. 

¹ - audiobook

² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

Terry

Autumn's Orchard Yum-Yums!

Centennial

Growing up this mini-series was a big favourite with my parents. They owned the entire series on VHS and then later on DVD. Still do, actually! I always resisted watching it but finally caved in today, as it's available on Starz. Holy cow, it's so good. Richard Chamberlain is a sensation, as always, and the entire cast is out-of-this-world fantastic. 

(photo kidnapped from themoviedb)

Live For Today

Planted Plate

This afternoon Bishop and I went to Princeton for a little while. We had lunch at Planted Plate, which was super yummy, then popped in to check out Princeton Record Exchange, Labyrinth Books, and I even got to see where Princeton Garden Theatre is, for future reference. Planted Plate was totes vegan with a really good menu and just a super nice place. I even snapped a few photos, including one of my brother from another mother, as he waits patiently for his falafels.

Seen In Hamilton

Check out this beauty!

August 2022 Books

Breakfast at Tiffany’s ¹ by Truman Capote - I had tried to read this book years and years ago but abandoned it when Holly carelessly dropped the N-bomb. I knew of this story from Blake Edwards' classic film version, where Holly is much more likable. I wouldn't have lasted this time til the end if it weren't for Michael C. Hall's excellent narration. But still, not one of my faves.

* Brother and Sister ¹ by Diane Keaton - I had read Ms. Keaton's book Then Again about seven or eight years ago and was so impressed by her narration. When her voice cracked with emotion when talking about her mother's death, it endeared me to her even more. This memoir focuses on her relationship with, and the life of, her younger brother, Randy. I love that she wrote this book and told his story. 

¹ - audiobook

² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

A Surprise Package

I arrived home very late the other night to a package on my doorstep. Inside was the following letter and a little something special just for me from BFF Amy's lovely mother, Maggie.

Dear Lisa,

What an amazing experience the safari was!

It was so cool to observe wild animals in their environment doing natural things. You name the animal and we saw it. There is something called the Big Five and everyone who goes on safari has their heart set on seeing them.

The Big Five are:

Elephant

Lion

Leopard

Cape buffalo

Rhino

However, some people are disappointed because the leopard is so elusive. But Mother Nature smiled on us, and we had an extraordinary experience. Our scout noticed one in a tree dozing and next to him was his lunch. He dragged an impala up the tree and was exhausted.

We also observed a lioness loving on her cub which was so heartwarming. One interesting fact that I learned is that the ear of the elephant is the shape of Africa. Also, giraffes only give birth at noon because they know the lions are in their deepest sleep at that time of day.

We also went to the area where anthropologists found the oldest skeletal remains -- which happened to be a woman. Her name is Lucy, and she was named that because the people excavating the area had a radio on and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was playing so they all voted that to be her name - pretty cool! She is currently touring the world at various museums.

We also had a serendipitous moment when the Queen died. We heard the news at dinner, and someone played the British national anthem on their phone and we stood up and placed our hands over our hearts and then toasted Her Majesty. The people I travel with are so fun!

Having travel experience to Ireland you are familiar with time in the air. It took 23 hours to arrive and two change of planes. We were so happy to arrive in Nairobi and to start our adventure. Well, it turned out to be a test of how flexible I really am as they lost my luggage for two days. It seems that it was not loaded on to our commuting flight. I was so happy that it arrived two days later before we had to drive 5 hours into the plains of Africa. 

Enclosed is a rhinoceros which was hand made by a woman of the Maasai. They are goat and cattle herders. Once the women are finished with their chores, they so crafts to earn money for the tribe. When we visited them we got to see their homes, visit with their children and chat about their way of life. I thought you might like it as it is very cute and unique.

Hugs, 

Maggie 

Jenkins Arboretum

Yesterday I had off work so Anne and I went to visit Jenkins Arboretum. The paths were steep as all get out but the trees were tall and gorgeous.

Happy 80th!

Can’t believe that my father would have turned eighty today. If he were here I’d be talking to him about the Gene Hackman audiobook I just scored on Audible. We may not have been the friends I’d have liked us to be but he was a good man with a really big heart who never ceased to embarrass us kids and crack us up with his silliness. 

This pic was from '81 when either Dave or Wayne scored a goal.

Sunday with Bailey!

Yesterday I spent the day with Bailey, who had me cracking up left and right. She has picked up her mother's habit of saying legit on a near constant basis. "I legit thought that car was gonna hit us, Aunt Lisa." We had a great time at Baldwin's Book Barn (Fred was working!) plus a pit stop for a lil' photo shoot, then to MOM's. I will admit that I was mega disappointed that Bailey would not try the MOM's Moler Bowl. She essentially stuck out her tongue, tasted a single piece of kale and made her decision without taking an actual bite. Sensing my annoyance, she kept saying how she at least tried it, which only irked me more. But then while I dug in and looked out the window she said "But it looks like you're really enjoying it!" which helped me to shake my disappointment. We had a good time gabbing while stuck in traffic on the way home and I think that the next time we get together we will skip the food bit and just hang out. Maybe visit Winterthur or someplace cool like that.

Selfie With My Constant

Since I was a wee babe in a crib until now, a full grown, nearly fifty year old gal, Snoopy has always had a place in my bed and is my most prized possession. In July I brought him with for a sleepover at Mum's and it was the first time he'd slept in our old room in over twenty years. Before heading out, we snapped a selfie in the bathroom.

The Best Jewish Apple Cake

Ingredients

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 cup cooking oil

4 eggs

⅓ cup orange juice

2 ½ tsp baking powder

5 large peeled and sliced apples

2 tsp cinnamon

5 tbsp sugar

couple fistfuls of walnut halves/pieces

Steps

- measure flour, sugar, oil, eggs, orange juice, and baking powder into one bowl and mix well

- grease and flour a bundt pan

- sprinkle apples with combined cinnamon and sugar

- pour half of the flour mixture in pan

- cover with half of the apples

- another layer of the remaining flour mixture then the rest of the apples

- top with walnuts and a dollop of love in the form of kisses in the bundt pan's direction

Bake at 350° for an hour and 45 minutes

(Special consideration to Wayne's gorgeous and wonderful momma, Nancy, for introducing this glorious cake to our family.)

No Ordinary Man

I'm trying to go through all of my streaming services and clear out my watchlists. On Kanopy there was a documentary called No Ordinary Man about a jazz musician, a white, blonde jazz cat in a sharp-lookin' suit. I had no memory of adding this or how I discovered it but I felt compelled to click the Play button. Turns out it is an exceptional film about the life of Billy Tipton. Oh it was so good! I loved all the interviews with the young men he inspired and especially how they in turn were able to be a bit of a comfort to his son, Billy, Jr. 

(photo kidnapped from imdb)

Returned from Across the Globe

Amy's Mom, Maggie has finally come home after being away in Africa, Kenya and Tanzania to be exact. Today she shot me the following photos and whoa - that sunset! Just stunning. Can't wait to hear all about it!

(ps - I'm so sad to have found out that referring to Africa as The Dark Continent is a big no-no. I had never heard it used any other way than as a romantic turn of phrase to describe such a unique place. Dark as in mysterious. Sort of along the lines of calling NYC the City That Never Sleeps. Oh well...)

Knobs of Belgrade

The old place on Belgrade had thee coolest door handles, latches, and knobs. Last Summer I photographed most of them.