TV Barmy

My back is much better, thanks for asking. Did some Tai Chi every day, ice packs, stretching, and generally took it easy. Which meant I had time, not only to read, but also to catch up on some TV. Especially now that football season is over I get a chance to watch some shows of my own and I have some delights I want to share with you.

I’m in love with Modern Love. A co-production of Amazon Studios and the New York Times, this anthology series explores love in all of its complicated and beautiful forms. Each of the eight episodes brings to life a different story inspired by the New York Times popular Modern Love column. I found every episode beautifully written and acted — and either heart warming or heart breaking. A bonus — it features some great actors such as Jane Alexander, Tina Fey, Anne Hathaway, Dev Patel and John Slattery. Streaming now on Amazon Prime.

Good Girls. I stumbled across this show and watched because of Christina Hendricks (from Mad Men), but was quickly drawn in. I even got Husband hooked. Three woman, all at their wits end and desperate for cash, decide to rob a small grocery store — but are soon unwittingly deep into the world of crime. Sounds dark, but it’s not. It’s funny with lots of twists you don’t expect. It’s also action packed, joke packed, fun packed. If you like humor spiced with lots of drama you will love this wacky comedy. Find the first two seasons on Netflix and season three is just starting on NBC or on-demand.

Escape to the Chateau A documentary series which follows a British family as they trade in their two-bed apartment in Essex for a dilapidated 19th-century French chateau. Upon finding their fairytale castle, the pair begin work to restore it back to its former glory. With a limited budget to renovate 45 rooms, as well as improve and maintain acres of land, it is a huge task for the couple who want to create a beautiful venue for weddings and events. Dick, an engineer, is constantly struggling with heating systems and electrical issues, while his wife Angel gets creative with the chateau’s vintage decor. What is fascinating about this series is the couple’s perseverance through all sorts of setbacks. You’ll applaud as they conquer each seeming insurmountable task. This PBS series is hard to find – we have our DVR player to record it whenever it finds an episode.

To coin the NPR phrase – TV Worth Watching.

That’s enough — I’ve got cabin fever, I’m out to the garden and for a walk now that I’m mobile again.

Super Bowl in the Hood

So it’s Super Bowl Sunday here in our neighborhood, and while in recent years it’s not been a big deal — obviously this year — it will be.

But wait, first, I need to tell you about our little neighborhood. We purchased this house for more than our budget in the early 1980’s. The real estate agent said it had been on the market for a long time and didn’t show well. Translated: the house was a dump, a student rental house for the university nearby – complete with shag green carpeting, leaky sink, drunken party scrawling on the walls, and ancient aluminum siding. We never looked back.

Our house is right in the middle of a single block of row houses which sport various Easter egg colors — it’s a thing out here – quite cheering in the fog. The block dead ends at a rec park with tennis courts, soccer pitches, a baseball field, and our local branch library. Across from us is a private college preparatory school – so no houses across the street.

In recent years our little ‘hood’ has become close – we have a nice, friendly mix of middle class neighbors who watch out for each other. We remind each other to move cars on street cleaning day. We call if a garage door is left open too long. We take delivery of packages and many of us have spare keys. Our mail person is never in a hurry and stops to chat if we’re around. We have lots of little ones learning to to ride bikes across the street and tossing basketballs at portable hoops. Dog walkers go by and say hi. Books are discussed as we come and go to the library. We trade excess farmer’s market hauls and overzealous cookie bakes.

Yes, it is just like Mr. Roger’s neighborhood.

Today will be gentle fun. We leave our doors unlocked and we are expecting a few neighbors who will come and go during the big game. We will do the same — sharing and helping ourselves to snacks and drinks. Here, there will be shrimp, guacamole, chips, lemonade and beers. We’re further prepared with our basket of kids toys. Next door has their basketball hoop set up and there is talk of someone firing up their grill.

Appropriate dress is not required, but appreciated.

Join us, will you, and cheer on the San Francisco 49ers.

I’ll be in it for the commercials.

Cirque du Soleil

Every year Husband and I give each other one special Christmas present — tickets to Cirque du Soleil. You’ve probably heard of this unique contemporary circus show. There’s no animals, only humans — but what humans.

Let me give you a bit of background, Cirque du Soleil is based out of Montreal and has been producing and performing shows since 1984 (that’s when we first discovered them). They tour around world setting up a huge tent, wherever they perform. The troupe is made up of performers from all over the world — aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, gymnasts, trapeze artists, clowns, musicians – well you get the idea.

Every year the show is different and always magic. It’s wonderful artistic madness, amazing athletic abilities, insane props and gorgeous costumes. We find ourselves sitting upright, heads tilted upwards and mouths hanging open in delight. It’s sensory overload in a very good way.

There’s a live band and singers who sing in no particular language. In between the death-defying acts, there are unique clown segments — they use a bit of English but mostly gibberish to tell their stories and always get laughs. The performers actually change the sets and equipment in costume which is worked into the show. And, because it’s performed in the round and has tiered audience rows — there’s not a bad seat in the tent. Which is a good thing, because the tickets can be pricey.

Amaluna the show we just saw, is set on a mysterious island ruled by strong women warriors, so most of the performers were women – as were the musicians.

HERE is more information about their shows, including their permanent ones in Las Vegas. (Husband once scored a cheap air fare and hotel package to Las Vegas and we went JUST to see the Cirque du Soleil shows.)

And HERE a video of the show we just saw – Amaluna. Be sure to turn up your sound.

Do, please. try to see a Cirque du Soleil show live and in person you’ll be amazed.

And, I don’t know about you, but I always leave silently thinking now if I just get to the gym a bit more often I could do that too ~~

Book Barmy is back!

Well folks, Book Barmy is back after what I thought would be just a short break, but turned into a long slog.

It’s been quite an experience, but see up there — see that little ‘s’ in the web address – that’s actually a big thing.

It only involved switching my hosting service, getting bogged down in a black Friday backlog of new customers at said service, and numerous steps to finalize the migration.

Husband an ex geek IT guy, gamely stepped in and did some work in the background and provided translation service between me and the migration geeks. My amazement at Husband’s technical prowess knows no bounds. I could say much more about Husband qualities… but I’ll spare you.

So, if any of you lovely readers have had Book Barmy blocked in the past this little old ‘s’ should fix that. If you have Book Barmy bookmarked on your computer – you’ll want to re-book mark with this new and improved web address.

https://www.bookbarmy.com

What have I been reading while this all happened ?

There are many, many reads to share with you. I’ll be back – stay tuned.

I didn’t get to wish you a Merry Christmas, so I will wish you a very Happy New Year with one of my favorite quotes.

Hopeful Thanksgiving

So a little story to tell.  I was working at the bookstore yesterday and it was slow – being the day before Thanksgiving and all.  When in came Penny (not her real name) and her stalwart mom.  If you don’t remember Penny you can read about her HERE.

It was raining, and Penny had on a bright yellow rain slicker and red polka dot rain boots. She’s grown up since I last wrote about her…her hair is longer and she, of course, is taller – but she still has style.

She’s too old now for the children’s art class next door…she’s in school so I don’t see her as much.  But her mom will occasionally bring her in after school gets out.   Her mother explained that this was a school holiday but Penny insisted on coming in just to talk to me.  Mom escaped to get a coffee and browse books on her own.   I took a break and Penny and I sat down at one of our tables to chat.

Many months ago I had bought Penny a copy of The Secret Garden and gave it to her telling her it was one of my favorite books.  Penny wanted to come in just to tell me she’d just finished it and how much she liked it.  I asked her if it would be alright with her if I wrote up her review of The Secret Garden on my blog – she said yes.  (Of course, Penny knew what a blog was. I was silly to ask.  Even the very young know everything about computers and the internet it seems. Her mom is an occasional BookBarmy follower and said she will show this to her.)

Penny’s Review of The Secret Garden

(I took notes, but this is a bit paraphrased)

It  was a very long book with lots of chapters, but me and my Dad read a bit most every night and then I couldn’t wait, so I ended up reading the rest on my own.  I didn’t like Mary at first because she was mean — Dad said it was because she was spoiled and used to her old home with servants.

But then she got nicer once she found the secret garden.

I really liked the secret garden behind a wall and how Dick (en) helped fix up the garden…and how all the animals love him. I also like when Mary and Dick (en) help the other boy (Colin) learn to walk in the garden and how they surprised everyone when he got out of his wheelchair.  Mary ends up liking her Uncle and starts getting happy.  I just really liked the story.  It was a nicer story than Harry Potter which gets scary sometimes.

Then I asked her what she would say to end her review and she had to think for a bit–

(Penny’s quite serious when it comes to reading)

and she responded ~~ this part is verbatim

I think the book is full of hope.  All through the book I was hoping that the garden grows back.  I hoped that the boy in the wheelchair will walk again and that Mary will be happy.

There you go folks – out of the mouth of a special young girl – it’s all about Hope

Happy Hopeful Thanksgiving

Downton Abbey ~ The Film

Yes, I’ve done it.  I’ve seen the Downton Abbey film — not once, but twice*

And I have to tell you I thought it just wonderful.

It was just grand to see it on a big film screen.

A close-up view of the dresses (sigh),

the interiors (whoa),

and the table settings (gasp).

 

And, while there are several story lines to keep the viewer intrigued, Julian Fellows has made Downton Abbey, in all its splendor, the star of the film.

And what was most encouraging was that the film leaves room for another potential series (oh please, please).  

But, if not, the film has tied things up beautifully.

I’m okay either way.

If you’re a fan of the Downton Abbey series, please go see this film – on the big screen.

---

* I was fortunate to be invited by two different groups of friends.