2017 CAPSULE: OUR YEAR

January 01, 2017

2017 CAPSULE: OUR YEAR

2017 FOOD FOR THE SENSES: PERFORMANCE AND DINING (and other stuff). CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY!

JANUARY

See blogposts JAN 5-18 ISRAEL-JORDAN entertainment And JAN 18-25 2017 NYC trip blog post for that week of performances (and more).

Some food/entertainment photos from that fantastic trip:

AND THEN WE BITE . . . THE BIG APPLE:

THEN . . .

HOME . . .

TO AN UNFINISHED GUEST BATHROOM

THE LION at The MISSION VALLEY CINEMA. Poignant tale of lost boy in India who later is adopted by Australian couple. A sure cinematic hand behind this. Lion (2016 film).png

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3. THE GREAT MUD FLOOD ON 1st AND SPRUCE. Mud, mud everywhere and not a drop we'd drink.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4 @ LYCEUM THEATRE 4 pm.

Hershey Felder as OUR GREAT TCHAIKOVSKY. They've completed the renovations in progress when we were last here but there's no ushers to help us find our seats so lots of old people fumphering around in the semi darkness. This was not a hit for Felder in New York but . . .

After this event Bob says, "this was a surprise." That he'd make the struggles of Tchaikovsky a pro gay screed against the current Russian government's virtual anti gay holocaust is not what we expected but of course embrace.

Felder is brilliant and I secretly vow to see anything he does. His emphasis on contemporary anti-gay oppression makes me wonder if I might try focusing on it in a play. Hmm.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5. FREAKY FRIDAY @ the La Jolla Playhouse. 2 pm. Book by Bridgett Cooper, Music Tom Katt, Lyrics Brian Yorkey, the latter two of Next to Normal fame.

At intermission Bob says "relentlessly upbeat". I reply it's not making it here but might work on Broadway as a kids/family show. There's a sign on the door saying theatrical warning, smoke, haze and teenage themes. Well warned. But the lead performances are top notch, the perfectionist mother who trades bodies with her sloppy teenage daughter. Slick as all Disney. Bob says he's on the edge, doesn't know whether to hate it or like it. Finally, it's thin and sentimental, the music has a sameness and in contemporary musical theatre tradition, the voices are sometimes grating. No lovely bel canto Laura Benati or Barbara Cook tones. Very aggressive orchestrations. Disney's Hunchback which we also saw here, brilliant and expensive, didn't go further. Wonder if this will.

FEB 8. GARY VISITS WITH NEW PUPPY

METH LAB ON OUR 3104D APT.'S BALCONY?! IT'S A HOME BEER BREWERY. WHEW!

SATURDAY FEB 11. 3 pm.BAD JEWS @ the Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. By Joshua Harmon. A good time to see a play on Saturday because then when you're home it's cocktail hour. We get to Old Town early so we can park in the theatre lot and then walk around. As we watch the play, I think what a good life I have, I get to go to Zumba--which I love, in the morning and then get to work on a play and then theatre in the afternoon and then cocktails.

This is actually a good play. Two of the four characters are a bit extreme, the "super Jew" cousin who wants the newly deceased grandfather's Chai, a necklace, and the older son who also wants it to propose to his shiksa girlfriend.

SAT FEB 11. TV. TCM. HANNA AND HER SISTERS. Again. Bob's favorite movie. (I'd have to say Citizen Kane and . . . World Peace. I need the damned trophy.) And it repays our repeated attention. Actually truth be told he wants a Thanksgiving like Hanna's in their upper west side apartment.

SAT. FEB 11. A good day for entertainment. A HARD DAYS NIGHT on the Telly. Richard Lester's film of the Beatles when the expectation was that this would be their last gasp. Uh, nuh. Black and white. Those great nostalgic tunes but not riveting as the boys genially try to escape their fans.

CHEERS.

SUN. FEB 12. YMCA ANNUAL ZUMBATHON. 12-3:30 pm.

ANNUAL ZUMBATHON!

It's a totally entertaining event. Bob the sweety drops me off a half hour early. Beth who will drive me back, both utterly exhausted afterwards, also early. She's my compadre in the back of the Toby Wells gym for the intro Barre hour. Such good conditioning. Of course this event will never compete with my last Zumbathon in 2015 when I won the shimmy contest. There's none this year. I guess I'll retire the trophy (actually a Bollywood dance belt). At intermission between barre and the 2 1/2 hour Zumba portion, Amy, R & B's Thursday aerobics instructor, is surprisingly seductive as a giant hula hoop twirler; a bizarre "I'm a good girl" sexy group number follows. And then different Zumba styles from instructors ranging from salsa to hip-hop (Sam) to conventional Zumba (Pam), all accorded 15 minutes each to delight and exhaust us die-hards. Wish it was more than a once a year event.

FEBRUARY 2. SUPERBOWL. Only there to watch for the show.

GAGA KILLS IT

SUNDAY, FEB 12. 59TH ANNUAL GRAMMY'S. Gotta love the Grammy's. Looking forward to anti-Trump comments. And they come. James Codden is the funny host. Let's face it Bob and I are not attuned to the current music scene so this is a worthwhile primer, edgier than most of the other award shows.

FEBRUARY 14. It's Valentines Day! So we celebrate by going to a restaurant we first visited 30 years ago, THE RED FOX. Oh sublimity!
Eternal night in there even though the sun is shining outside. The lovely plump waitress we've known for years. The burger and beer for Bob, the steak and martini for moi.

FRIDAY FEB 17. I'M NOT YOUR NEGRO @ The Landmark. 3:PM.

Premise: these are Baldwin's words from his 30 page treatment just before he died on the deaths and impact of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King. We meet Sharon and Peggy there. I've mixed feelings about the film. Although it presents the unassailably fascinating Baldwin ranting brilliantly against the dehumanizing treatment of the "negro" at the hand of whites, at the schism in this country that persists to this day, the film is often distracted, replete with movie images of whites and blacks that don't always bolster Baldwin's points. Of course I'm distracted while watching too, remembering my days with James Baldwin in New York and Istanbul when I was introduced to him and his friends by my NYU friend David Leeming his eventual biographer and literary executor. At the Parc Bistro afterward (happy hour sliders and wine) Sharon brings up the point that the movie side-stepped his homosexuality and I that his being gay gave him even more of an outsider perspective. He was a force of nature and had a powerful impact on me.

SAT FEB 18. DESK SET. With Kathryn Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Fascinating from the vantage of the 21st century. Of course the great charismatic team somewhat later in their coupledom, here as an efficiency expert, Tracy, she as a reference dept. manager fearful that his computer will replace her department and torn between her old flame, Gig Young, and Tracy as appropriate lovers. Antiquated notions of women as workers and rendered subservient to their need for men. Very slow moving.

SUN FEB 19. THE THIRD MAN. Netflix. Produced and directed by Carol Reed with Orson Wells and Joseph Cotton. That great zither musical theme. Black and white noir. Wonderful close ups of faces. Now that was a great movie.

EAT WITH ME. Netflix. Chinese American. No rating but we decide to take a chance. Not hideous. Mother leaving father discovers her son who owns a restaurant is gay. I say a certain amount of rooting interest. Will the son find his guy--a really cute one of course. Will the neighbor girl succeed in matchmaking--a charismatic actress. Bob says it's not tight. I think a first time director. Everything turns out well. George Takai as himself is a kind of deus ex machina. "I think the actors were all engaging," says Bob. Not absolutely wasted time. Every once in a while we need to check in with the Gay.

THE NBC's 90th anniversary. A little depressing--all these fairly contemporary performers have gotten terribly old. The earlier ones of course have gotten--dead.

MONDAY FEB 20. HIDDEN FIGURES. @ Fashion Valley 12 pm (so we can have lunch at PS Changs [which we don't; instead we pick up our runner rug from the cleaners/repairers]).

Want to see as many Oscar nominated movies before the big night. Harbinger of good things, I find a twenty outside on the pavement outside of Bloomies so we get tickets almost free.

It's very well made and acted but essentially filmic comfort food in that it is unremitting in fostering a rooting interest. Not a bad thing, mind you. The story of how three black women overcame racial and gender barriers to make an impact at NASA is a natural polemic and the film doesn't shy away from that.

SAT. FEB. 25.

SALESMAN @ Hillcrest Cinema. A candidate for best foreign film with an 97% tomatometer score. It's engrossing. Couple, he a teacher, both are actors performing Death of A Salesman (interesting, this is an Iranian film) who are faced with a great moral dilemma when she is raped and the culprit, an elderly man with a family, is confronted by the husband. Mesmerizing. Pertinent filmmaking. We'll see how it does since it has become a political football, the director refusing to come for the Oscars after he was at first banned (by you know Who) for doing so.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26. ACADEMY AWARDS. Famous "oops". Glad the poignant and pertinent Moonlight did win over the pleasant but overrated La La Land.

OUR GUEST FOR THE OSCARS

JUST BEFORE THE BOTCHED ANNOUNCEMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO CONGRESS. Not funny enough.

THURSDAY MARCH 2. LISA CRON'S WELL@ Diversionary Theatre. Our Uber is just a few minutes wait. We're not keen on night driving and Scott Williford, now Diversionary's president, has his invitationals in the evening. Essentially a piece about Kron's relationship to her ever-ill mother. Nice technique in the breaking of the 4th wall where mother keeps disapproving her daughter's scenes and cosies up to the actors playing them to curry favor and Kron confides her feelings of displeasure to the audience. But this grows wearisome after a while though very well acted and briskly directed--we enjoyed meeting the director at the reception before the play. Also chatted with local philanthropist and politico Susan Atkins, the artistic director Matt and of course Scott. All that was fun; the show, finally, wasn't.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4. AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS. KPBS. Lois Gates promotes the idea that Homo sapiens started in Africa 120,000 years ago. Wonder if Trump and Jefferson Beauregard Sessions are watching. Excellent if a tad insistent of Gates' theories. We wonder if our friend from our Thailand trip, Susanne Blier, Harvard professor and esteemed African Art specialist colleague will be cited and sure nuff, there she is.

SUNDAY MARCH 5. FASHION POLICE. This is the Oscar follow-up show and I love how these panelist friends take red carpet fashion so seriously. Margaret Cho for gods sake. Lovely snarky escapist--God need it--fare. It's sooo gay. "Looks like her vagina took home the blue ribbon at the county fair." "She should Gautier home and put on a new dress."

SUN MARCH 5.THAT'S DANCING. TV.

Narrated by Gene Kelly (so it's not new). "The chorus girls spent more time at the dinner table then the rehearsal hall." (Of the early movie dancers.) Has it all in this history. Fun. Frankly we've seen this many times and always repays attention to the great filmic dancers and choreographers. Since this was collected in '89 most of the principals are dead.

BAR CHEZ NOUS FULLY STOCKED OF COURSE

SUN MARCH 5. BRUNCH WITH SHARON @ PARC BISTRO

SAT MARCH 11. Amy Shumer in Leather. Bob doesn't find it fun. She's a phenomenon though. Reminds me of a comedienne at our lesbian Dinah Shore events at our resort The Villa. The women were filled with hilarity at the mention of their, um, anatomical concerns. So it is with straight Shumer, the liberation of frankness about women's sex-sensibilities she embodies..

IN THE COUNTRY. A British real estate show that highlights various areas of Britain. Fascinating.

GREYHOUND TO MOVE INTO 3108 (WITH ANGIE)

SARANDON IN FEUD

SUNDAY MARCH 12. ON THE 20TH CENTURY.

At Cygnet in Old Town. Reminder leave early to get parking. Always can walk around as we do, take in the old carriages and stage coaches at the barn, etc. We're excited to see this as we were thrilled by the original Broadway production back in the good old days. (Were they?)

Bob. "Amazingly professional for out here in the boonies." They do terrific work--Sean Murray in dual roles as director and lead as Victor Jaffe the Barrymore character, down in his luck as impresario who on the 20thc limited tries to woo his former protege and lover Lilly Garland, now a big star, and played quite well by an actress with an amazing voice--but no one can reproduce the comedic antics of Madeline Kahn, who created the role and the queen of silly.

TUES MARCH 14. Back to Cygnet Theatre for their "behind the scenes" reception for the On The 20TH Century production. Again very impressive. We Cygnet-Philes, most of whom had yet to see the production which we R&B saw in previews, were assembled in the theatre where Shawn Murray, Cygnet's AD and star of the show, gave background of OT2C, its history as play to film (Lombard and Barrymore) to revised play to musical and how he and his staff represented here by clearly dedicated and talented sound, light and costume people overcame limitations of mounting a full scale musical on a small stage. We discovered we were among the very few who had seen the original. Explanation of some of the novel technicalities, such as creating the motion of the train with video clips from Japanese trains projected above the proscenium.

INTRIGUING CONTEMPO GAY HISTORY DOC.

TUESDAY ART CLASS--DRAWING MASTERY

MONDAY MARCH 20. ET VOILA with the supper club.

BILLY WILL SHARE HIS DESSERT

Sharon, Peggy and we are early. Get to see Peggy's utterly charming house in Marston Hills. Bob and Sharon kit royals. Me martini of course. Peggy waiting to order wine with her steak frites, Sharon's Will be sans frites. Susan fro is gras. She pronounces it wonderful. Bob and I the plat devote braise au vin rouge. (There's a mouthful.) Billy mussels.

FIXING OUR SHADE MOTORS . . . AGAIN

TUES. MARCH 22. SUPPER @ JERRY & DIETER'S (THE PENTHOUSE)

FRIDAY MARCH 24. THE LADY AT THE MIC.

The great Charles Busch. @ THE ABBEY in fabulous Bankers Hill (so we can walk to it)--how could we resist? Actually it's a fundraiser for TLJ and we paid $100 per ticket for general admission (with a glass of wine) until they sent a mailer saying tickets are reduced to 1/2 price! Needless to say Reuel hits the roof and threatens and gets a refund and his half price.

We're here precisely at 7 so we reserve front row center seats and speculate that this is not selling well (hence the discount). We've got our wine and Oh Goodie, they're passing around hours deuvres and we've grabbed the best seats, front row center.

Bob wonders if we'll see Scott Williford here and sure enough there he is with his husband, Grant Reeder. Surprise, lots of gay men here. And there's Charles Busch looking matronly in a red wig, rather uncannily like my niece Nancy. Don't get me wrong, Nancy's a pretty woman--jury's out on Miss Bush whose brilliantly funny play, The Allergist's Wife, we saw on Broadway years ago with Linda Lavin and Tony Roberts. Bush, accompanied by a talented partner in the activities who not only plays piano but occasionally joins in on the songs, pays tribute to the indomitability of great old broads of the cabaret scene, such as Elaine Stritch, Julie Wilson (who I did not invite to perform at The Villa at her fee of $5000 a night--couldn't recoup--and Joan Rivers offering between songs anecdotes about his relationship with them. Well worth the 1/2 price (maybe not the full price ticket) and can only hope more such events are mounted at the Abbey.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25. BEST WORST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED fascinating documentary about the Sondheim/Prince Merrily We Roll Along's initial run on Broadway. How all that youthful (all players were under 25) enthusiasm was dashed when the show folded in 2 weeks--reminding me of Last Sweet Day's fate in Chicago when I was a young musical performer in it. Amazing footage from auditions, rehearsal contrasted with the performers (including Jason Alexander) stories 35 years later--how most of them went on to other things. The fascination of course is that the musical, which eventually went on to great touring success--opposite of Last Sweet Days--depicted in reverse the lives of a quartet of talented strivers whose youthful enthusiasm was dashed over the years. Bob finds it "depressing".

SUNDAY MARCH 26

3-5 Diversionary season preview party gets us spruced up (relatively) and out of the house all the way to Talmadge at the lovely house of some Diversionary Theatre supporters. Greeted warmly by Matt Morrow the director and Scott, new prexy. Nice to spend some time with Tom Vegh, founder, when we first knew him 32 years ago. Oy time.

Typical dishes of our usual tastes, Sole Survivor (we should have such s president. Say I and Bob rejoins: "we had". I'm tearful.) and Grace and Frankie. We are "less amused". I wonder why with such stellar actors they've got a pedestrian writing team behind them. Ok we love the premise but let it not be clunky. Dave Chapelle-meh, what's all the fuss. Goodnight.

STEAK TONIGHT

SATURDAY APRIL 1. RED VELVET by Lolita Chakrabarti @ The Old Globe. Lovely walk on a balmy spring day through the park to the theatre. Based on the story of the 19th century African American actor Ira Aldridge (Albert Jones) who played Othello in London.

At intermission, I say I'm enjoying it, not sure audience is. It's a little didactic says Bob. I guess it's difficult for an historical play not to be. Ill try to avoid that in my next work. One way theatergoing has even more resonance for me now. There's the inevitable (?) frame of old Aldridge being interviewed (a device I tried in my incomplete play about the gay 50's--is there no device that's new?) and then back 30 years to his substituting for Edmund Kean in Othello, highlighting his fellow actors' responses. And excerpts from the play. Well done of course, except that two of the actresses intoned through their noses and were hard to understand--we know you're supposed to be English but "speak the speech I pray you". Finally doesn't punch one in the gut and some portions were belabored. We couldn't stay for the aftertalk since Beth arriving at 5 for our usual weekend prosecco imbibement and chat.

AFTER-SHOW FURRIES

SENIORS LOVE DOGGY BAGS

SUNDAY APRIL 2. HOB NOB HILL. With Don. We drive over because we've all got walking ailments and even getting in and out of our car isn't a breeze. Why did we trade our sedan for a coupe this time--designed for skinny young Euro models not . . . Anyway lunch satisfies as always and the baked potato destroys with all the stuffings.

FRIDAY APRIL 7. GET OUT @ Mission Valley AMC. 11:40 am. Written and directed by black comedian Jordan Peele (now writer and director) with Allison Williams as girlfriend of a black guy and Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitfield as the girl's supposedly ultra liberal parents. It's presumably a contemporary comedy/horror take on Guess Who's Coming To Dinner.

Afterwards. Bob "I thought that was a terrible movie. Can we get our money back." Reuel. "Good thing it was only 6.99 a ticket."

I don't really see all the presumed social significance in this simplistic story of all the white people in the suburban community girlfriend brings black man to are engaged in having him killed. Pretty paranoiac energy here. One redeeming feature, performance of the wisecracking best friend of the black boyfriend who deduces his friend is in trouble. In search for positives, adroit use of camera. But what's all the fuss?

APRIL 14-28 MOROCCO! (See Morocco blogpost for details.)

FRIDAY MAY 5. CITIZEN JANE.

Liked it though got the point early on. Essentially points out the dynamic philosophical opposition of Robert Moses, titan of progressive architecture which required the destruction of neighborhoods in favor of sterile skyscraper monoliths subservient to highways versus Jane Jacobs, author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, who preached and fought for preservation of traditional symbiotic diverse neighborhoods with vibrant nurturing street life. I'm reminded of our very recent visit to Morocco, the teeming medinas where residents look out for one another and which nurture the entrepreneurial dynamism of the people living there. In the films depiction of the influence of Moses's Le Corbusierian architectural approach Moses does not emerge well.

Robert Moses. Villain?

SATURDAY MAY 13. GATOR BY THE BAY.

Beth's annual all day Cajun and blues outing. This time she and grand nephew Daniel pick me up. Didn't need to pour wine into a seven up bottle that Bob kindly got for me since no one cares at the gate. Lots of fun. Judy and Scott talking about their impending nuptials, Laurie on verge of a new cruise with her mom, Sam and Mandie, and David Pugh and his wife make a brief appearance (they're coming to my play). Loads of fun. Beautiful day. Infectious music. Dancing joyously and lengthily with Beth to Latin rhythms. And plenty of wine. 10:30-6:30.

NOT THE GREATEST SKTLINE, BUT IT'S OURS.

THAT EVE. A RECURRING PLEASURE

SUNDAY MAY 14. ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. LJP.

I think it's a musical about Jimmy Buffet. We'll see. I don't cotton to country music. However the atmosphere is very festive as we approach the theatre. People sipping, what else, Margaritas, little Chinese lanterns, fake down home ambiance -- ok. Sort of like being at Gator By the Bay again with an even older more upper middle class group of folks (our peeps).
We get our picture taken in a jungle setting which continues into the theatre with the sound of the ocean and birds tweeting piped in and sort of tiki tree houses and palms extending beyond the proscenium. Looks like it's built around the Buffet oeuvre the way Mama Mia is composed of Abba Hits.

My intermission verdict, with some major tweaks it will run forever on Broadway. This is an early preview of a world premiere. Bob asks how I knew he hates it. I say look at our playbill collection; we've seen 1500 shows together. So. It has a relaxed vibe and if u like Buffett (we don't know or like him) as they do in NYC and certainly on the road you'll go for it. Story simplicity itself. Zaftik Woman about to be betrothed and her uptight girlfriend go on bachelorette holiday to Margaritaville where they find love. Week over they must leave the island. Intermission. 2nd act pulls out the stops--beachbum becomes famous singer composer like uh Jimmy Buffet and neurotic city girl makes her millions and longs for the beach life with ex bum and inevitable secondary boy gets girl too. A hit a palpable . . . palliative Hit! And at finale beach balls whirl over us and over Bobs objections I take one as a souvenir to be lodged next to our playbills--we were there when.

BEACHBALLS FOR THE TAKING

POIROT'S ANOTHER GUILTY PLEASURE.

WE JUST LOVES OUR BARBECUE

AND CARB-HEAVY DELIGHTS. . .

THUS NEEDING ROCKO'S ANTI-FAT WARNINGS 3 TIMES A WEEK

May 18-24 Our dear friend Claire visits us from Minneapolis.

IL FORNAIO IN CORONADO

REUEL'S ROYAL TEA FROM MOROCCO

WATCHING FIREWORKS OVER BAY

DINNER WITH GARY, BETH AND CLAIRE--BOB'S TRIUMPH

WE'RE FAMOUS, SORT OF

UNDER THE CHUPAH (shelter Island)

PARC BISTRO

ELYPTICAL OLDIE

CLAIRE'S A SNAKE DOCENT AT THE ST. PAUL ZOO SO . . .

YES THAT'S THEM FLYING HIGH (WHILE I VISIT WITH FLAMINGOS)

CENTER FOR JEWISH CULTURE WHERE MY PLAY WILL BE PRESENTED 5/22

OFFICIAL JEWISH PLAYWRIGHT

THERE WITH OUR BELOVED AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR CORRIE (and 22 other friends and family. Wow.)

BON VOYAGE LUNCH WITH CLAIRE MAY 23.

May 25. START OF NUTRISYSTEM DIET 166.5 LBS. TO 154 IN ONE MONTH. (Then off to PV. Forgedaboudit!)

SUMMER'S HERE!. COUNSELORS-IN-WAITING AT YMCA CAMP

FRIDAY MAY 26. THE LOVERS @ HILLCREST CINEMAS. Boy they've gussied up the theatre--rumor has it that Mark Cuban owns the chain--cushy seats, wine--though we can't have any because we're on day 2 of our Nutrisystem diet. Oh the film--small budget, has integrity, some rough patches, well acted, especially by the leads Winona Rider and Tracy Letts (yes the TONY winning playwright) as married couple who can't express that they've fallen out of love and that they each have lovers and also coincidentally have pledged those lovers they'll leave their respective spouse after their college age son comes to visit. Much hiding around and secrecy--really a screed on lack of communication. The son freaks our when it becomes clear what's been going on though the married couple finds renewed sexual pleasure with one another. Cute turnaround when they separate for their lovers and start cheating on them with one another. Interesting exploration of 50-something sex lives. Wine would have helped.

AT HOME, HEATED POOL AT LAST

STILL BEFORE THE STORM

GETTING S-T-R-O-N-G

MAY 25. Our diet begins. Yum. Yum. No drink. Some food (Nutrisystems packages have arrived.)

MAY 25--NUTRISYSTEM DIET STARTS

MAY 30--DON'S B'DAY AT HOB NOB HILL

FRIDAY JUNE 2. A QUIET PASSION. Hillcrest Cinema. Biopic about the belle of Amherst Emily Dickinson, the kind of movie that has more resonance in retrospect than when it's being watched. Make no mistake, a serious movie, rendered with commitment and integrity. That does not mean it's entirely engrossing, though Cynthia Nixon as Dickinson is worth the price of admission alone, with Jennifer Elle as her supportive sister and Keith Carradine as her authoritarian father. Period detail is marvelous. And much focus on death as she was indeed focused on it--and her relationship to God. Aptly titled because Dickinson is portrayed as seething underneath her constraints, the passion she expressed in her poetry, confined to the family house and treated as a second class artist and person because she is a woman. Some missteps in the script. Elderly couple sitting next to us crunching their popcorn bags usually at the voiceovers of her wonderful poetry. "I could not stop for death"--but she inevitably does.

JUNE 3. Continuing House of Cards binge. Up to episode 5.

HOUSE OF CARDS BINGE WATCH

Then on to Sherlock Holmes.

NEVERTHELESS--DIET FOOD EVEN AT HOB NOB

SUNDAY JUNE 4. THE WEDDING PLAN@ Hillcrest Landmark Theatre.

Bob liked it, saw it as a gentle movie. Indeed. Story: Religious Jewish woman (this is an Israeli film--subtitles) tired of dating and being rejected sets the date for her wedding without a groom after her last beau to whom she's engaged tells her he doesn't love her. Her mother is humiliated, people react variously. The matchmaker brings her new suitors and she is courted by a rock star. Finally the day arrives and spoiler alert it's the wedding hall owner, a super hunk who proposes-talk about wish fulfillment. I don't know if I rooted for her--the film is interesting for the hold institutions have on people--it's pretty anti-feminist--but the leading actress acts well and it offers an interesting glimpse into Israeli society.

JUNE 4 SUNDAY. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN at home onTCM. Yes it's Sunday, I'm allowed. What a treat. Not a dry eye in the house.

PEGGY ANN GARNER GOT A JR. OSCAR FOR IT

JUNE 8. Momentous Comey hearing. We don't miss any delicious second. What will happen??

JUNE 10 SATURDAY. MY COUSIN RACHAEL. at HILLCREST CINEMAS.

We didn't expect much of it. 77 rating on Tomatoes. But thanks to Beth's invitation, we did go to see it. Critics were right. Rachel Weiss (a Jewess!) as the widow of her godson by marriage is superb--is she evil after the young godson's money or not? However the godson who is quite easy on the eyes is too tepid for the role of the tortured hero who gives all for his love of her. After all there's Olivier who filled the shoes of that other DeMaurier hero smoldering on the English heaths in Rebecca.

BECOMING CAREY GRANT. TV. Felt his mother rejected him. Lots about his LSD treatments to rid himself of his conflicts. Barely (IF AT ALL) touches on his gay doings but heavy on the wives.

MASTER DIETICIAN PREPARES DIET MEALS

. . . . AND RECORDS SNAIL-LIKE PROGRESS

SUNDAY, JUNE 11. TONY AWARDS. It's that time, Reuel and BOB's national holiday, The Tony's! We haven't bee to NYC this year so we're not up on most of the contenders but we're tuned into the buzz.

"Doesn't seem to have a lot of pizazz this year," says Bob. "Is it me?" No. Kevin Spacey's opening number is "lame" (my word). Pap

SAT. JUNE 17. NICE GUYS. TV. Amiable cute relationship between tough cynical PI Russell Crowe and bumbling cynical alcoholic PI Ryan Gosling who has a cynical 13 year old daughter who gets involved in their sordid escapades involving hookers and porn stars. A little too heavy on the violence for my taste but a way to pass the time.

SUNDAY, JUNE 18. BEATRIZ AT DINNER. Fashion Valley AMC. Didn't get particularly good tomato critic scores but as Bob says, "It's a movie and what else do we have to do?" Really! Good to have low expectations because then if the film is good it's a pleasant surprise. And this one is good. One thing the era of Trump is doing is requiring artists to speak truth to power. In this very polemical film the formidable actress Salma Hayek of Frieda fame is Beatriz, a healer, who her car having broken down, is invited to dinner at the lavish estate of a couple whose cancer survivor daughter she helped.

There she meets a small group of plutocrats, the cynosure of whom is John Lithgow's character, a Trump-like developer whose aim is to make as much money as he can at the expense of the environment and the poor people he tramples on. She confronts him, to the embarrassment of her hosts who expel her and she dreams of killing him but instead, depressed at the futility of her resistance I suppose, drowns herself. And a jolly morning was had by all--well actually I get to buy some white tea and a papaya tea blend at Teavana, one of the many lovely shops at this fancy shmancy mall.

That evening. OH HELLO. Netflix. We chose not to see this when we were in New York. So it's a special treat since we get to see it FOR FREE! Actually a lot of fun. At the Lyceum Theatre (where I once toiled at the Schubert Archives) "not the Winter Garden we thought we rented". These two comedians more or less playing old guys, fragile and occasionally touched on premise that they've been roommates in a rent controlled apartment that is becoming un-rent controlled. Forays into various forms of theatre. Fluid, often hilarious because it's all so silly and mildly irreverent. Clear they are masters of improv when they invite Steve Martin to share a bit as a guest celebrity (they had one each performance). Sort of reminds me of the old Bob and Ray show 45 years ago where I was substitute "doorman" for a week (hey actors need food too). A lot of local humor. (The point). Wonder how it will travel to other towns. Glad to have caught it.

MAY 21. THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER. on TMC. We're so engrossed with this we miss our appointment with Rocco. This old Chestnut. With Bette Davis and the inimitable Monty Woolly playing as no one can an irascible high society old scamp--which he apparently was in real life--add gay.

FRI. MAY 23. GLOW on Netflix. Blockbuster new bingeable series (first 2 episodes we'll see tonight) about a women's wrestling team. My initial thought--not an enticing premise for me. But it's funny as hell.

SATURDAY MAY 24. It's San Diego Fringe Theatre time. There are 14 of us. Thom Vegh, friend and Diversionary Theatre founder has created the character of Dr. Svetlana, a Russian pseudo doctor who offers advice on sex and well being in her "lecture". Thom is a pro and nails his matronly persona. Thom (we used to know him 30 years ago as Tom) Performed in a black box possibly part of the Spreckles Theatre downtown, apparently one of ten venues for this week-long event featuring 500 performances and 100 self-producing performers.

BOB IS THE UNWILLING STOOGE--GOOD SPORT

THAT EVENING: MEET THE FOCKERS on TV starring everybody. Everybody includes Ben Stiller son of Barbara Streisand as a TV sexologist, Dustin Hoffman an eccentric and the failing son in law of an annoying Robert DeNero husband of Blythe Danner. Complications with OwenWilson as an impossibly rich and accomplished friend/rival of Stiller's. Funnier than we remember it years ago on the big screen screen but not demonstrably.

JUNE 26. Windows cleaned because it's not going to rain until Fall. WRONG.

LAST TUESDAY HIP HOP CLASS BEFORE PUERTO VALLARTA

SEE BLOGPOST PUERTO VALLARTA TRIP JUNE 30-JULY 21 FOR THAT TRIP: HERE ARE SOME FOOD PICS:

TIME TO RETURN

REUEL'S BIRTHDAY: JULY 23. Play matinee and dinner at Mr. A's.

GUYS AND DOLLS. A superb production at The Old Globe. Their work has gotten better over the years. Standout is adenoidal Adelaide--"A person can develop a cold". The Abe Burrough's laughs, the Frank Loesser songs. Damon Runyon's New York. The golden age of musicals. A real birthday treat.

MR. A'S. our gazpacho amuse busche. Yum. My lobster bisque great. Beth's beet salad with walnuts and goat cheese yummy. Bobs gnuchi excellent. An adventurous chef. Creme fresh with short ribs? Very tender. Beth's paella is only "very good". Finally, not brilliant but the view is fabulous.

Big doings: Niece Nancy arrives from New Jersey and Sister-in-law Dorothy arrives from Florida to stay with us for the week and attend Niece Judy's wedding to Scott on July 29 at Sycuan Resort (Reuel "to give her away" in lieu of her deceased father, my brother).

Good morning.

MUSIC IN THE PARK-KENSINGTON

NANCY BEING HAPPY

GIVING JUDIE AWAY (I LOOK HAPPY)

THE ACTUAL WEDDING

3 SISTERS

ALWAYS GRAB THE CENTERPIECE

JULY 30. SUNDAY. AT OLD PLACE with Dorothy at The La Jolla Playhouse's Forum theatre. 3/4 round. This is what I understood from reviews (ok I peeked) of the plot. Daughter returns home to unwind after her mother's death. There she finds two young people on her lawn. They bond. . . Dorothy is touched by the play. That pleases us.

Colloquium follows. It's about poetry, not about the play. I'm disappointed that we aren't discussing the play.

LUNCH IN OLD TOWN

GRANDNEPHEW JORDY AT WORK IN OLD TOWN

FRI AUG. 4.

THE BIG SICK.There's always that speech about cellphones by the British sounding manager lending a touch of class to the proceedings. And the new seats that turn into beds with a button's touch. As to the film, despite rave reviews at 2 hours it's too long. Conventional plot of obstacles to love in bloom. In this case, based somewhat on personal experience, he's a Pakistani-American standup comic whose parents insist he have an arranged marriage; she's looking for commitment. Breakup but when she's terribly sick in the hospital he's there bonding with her parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) over time. Despite editing needs, cleverly written and well-acted, especially Romano's dad. And all ends happily ever after.

SATURDAY AUGUST 5.

KILL LOCAL @ LJP. Written by Mat Smart a former MFA grad at UCSD who has actually had a fairly successful career.

At intermission Bob wonders how the playwright will resolve the play--at least two assassinations and sister of killed realtor brother holding the gun. I make a stab and Bob says don't write the play. I say how would you write it. No replies he wouldn't write it; he's not that clever. I say it pains me that I'm not that clever either.

Funny dark violent play, in the manner of Irish playwright McDonough.

LEFTOVERS YUMMY

Gotta remember to come back early from intermission because we have fabulous seats though in the middle of the row and there are all those open toed shoes waiting to be squashed.

Only one character left alive. Brilliant performances, deftly directed. Bob wonders if the playwright will make any changes (we see previews) and I think he pretty much--with exception of some soft moments in 2nd act--accomplished what he needed to. JLP hits it out of the park once again.

NIC-NACS: SNOW GLOBES, TOBY MUGS, PEWTER & IMARI WARE--DUST

CUTE

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9.

FALSETTOS @ The Hillcrest Cinema. 7 pm. (In the large theatre with hundreds of seats--) The iconic musical by William Finn and James Lapine. I say we saw a production at the Old Globe years ago; Bob says no. I probably have the show bill somewhere in the piles of them.

As I recall the story is about a barmitzva boy whose father is attracted to another man. This causes complications. There's illness. And then there are the lesbians next door. It's a marvelous production.

PLOT THICKENS

KATHY (FROM Y) BAKED BREAD FOR US

THE GLOW OF SUNSET

THE SPENCERS AND ATHORP AND DIANA

GRACE & FRANKIE--TOO BAD THE WRITING'S BAD

PIZZA IS BEAU-TI-FULL

USUAL GAY FARE

LOVELY DAY WITH BETH AT CORONADO

I DON'T KNOW THEM--BUT THEY'RE SWEET

FAVORITE COMFORT MEAL

FAVORITE COMFORT COOK

SUNDAY AUGUST 20. TOMFOOLERY. North Coast Rep. we venture North for this one, a 1980 show of Tom Lehrer's ditties from the 1950's to 60's (when he retired to teach math) which accounts for the high median age of the audience at this matinee. "This could be an AARP convention quips Bob. Well done. We should look at the offerings here.

BIG DEAL ECLIPSE AUGUST 21

WEDNESDAY AUG. 23. LOGAN LUCKY. @ Mission Valley. Mildly disappointed Soderberg directorial reemergence. It strove for and sometimes succeeded at a certain fay charm."it got better when it finally had a plot" Bob. A caper movie starring the ubiquitous Channing Tatum. Not Las Vegas but the car rally of West Virginia. Attempt to steal the day's profits by assorted strategies. For Me the bright light of the movie is the little daughter of the protagonist/mastermind of the heist.

FAVORITE LUNCH AT THE RED FOX. IT'S 1950 AGAIN!

WHEN WILL IT END?

THURSDAY. PISCO at Liberty Station (arriving via Uber) with the supper club ladies, Sharon, Peggy, Susan, Kathy and Andrea. Peruvian cuisine. Wonderful starters; salmon in milk, octopus nicely spiced, empanadas. We're very disappointed however. They serve the dishes separately and Bob doesn't get his for many minutes (and thanks to Sharon's complaint is comped). The barbecued chicken is so so. Were our meals in Peru also mediocre?

SAT AUG 26. DUNKIRK with Beth and Bob at Fashion Valley. Beautifully photographed. The comments "intense", "points up the will to survive". It's brutal and unsparing--I covered my eyesin its depiction of the violence of war and in particular the disaster that was Dunkirk. The bright spot is the evacuation of the troops by British citizens in their personal boats. Seen from the perspective of a rescuer (Mark Rylance) and his son, a British soldier, and a pilot. Hard to understand the Brit dialogue and often confusing as to characters but rendered with great integrity--and a lot of extras got paid.

Followed by a late lunch at PF CHANGS at the other end of the mall. Bottle of cab. Beth enjoys her sushi dish and Bob and I share small dishes (a good idea) a lettuce wrap, dumplings and egg rolls. Service needs training but a pleasant outing.

AUG. 27 . . . PRIME RIB SUNDAY

AND GIGI . . . A RETRO DAY

"Pulling for America"--Now more than ever.

In the park that night

WED SEPT 6. HAMLET. OG. In that wonderful outdoor theatre with the wildly uncomfortable seats, though ours are very well located--we splurged. At intermission, Bob, "Very well done but I'm not enraptured." We take objection at the flattening of the speech, the beauty of the iambic pentameter is compromised. At least it's consistent. The players are not in different spheres. The Hamlet is sufficiently young but I feel he's still green-starts off wobblingly though grows. He needs to be more aged as a human person to give honest resonance to those beautiful lines but it's a worthy try.

Walking home along 5th Ave.

STUFFED PEPPER? FROM GRINCHUK'S KITCHEN

CUTIES AT THE Y

SEPT. 7 HURRICANE IRMA

SATURDAY SEPT 9. SAN DIEGO BLUES FESTIVAL.

DISCOVERING BRATWURST

A HIT!

SUNDAY SEPT. 10. ROBIN HOOD at the Old Globe's theatre in the round. By Ken Ludwig, renowned comic playwright of last year's Baskerville, which we greatly enjoyed, and the ever-touring Lend Me A Tenor. Set: boxes and ropes, hanging lanterns.

I like the silliness of the piece--clearly Ludwig has a political point to make too. Robin Hood is after all a champion of compassion in government. Wonderful direction--choreography. Audience involvement. Bob not enamored. Doesn't think it silly enough. We'll see what the 2nd act offers.

THE BOYS PLAY FOR OUR AFTER-SHOW STROLL

DIDN'T FANCY IT.

SEPT 10 FALL SKY IN PINK AND BLUE

LOOKS LIKE A JUNGLE FLOWER

ALCOHOL + PIZZA = HAPPY MEAL

SEPT 13. JANE's GASTROPUB in North Park.

With our ladies group. Buttermilk chicken, the special is a disappointment in that it lacks much flavor.

B. Eggplant. Tiki Masala. He likee.

Again a noisy place that has charm, very much with its dark woods and black and white small tile floors.

ELECTRONIC SHADES NEED ATTENDING--TAKES A VILLAGE

9/14

PURTY

VILLAGE VIEW

SAT. SEPT 16. AU REVOIR for lunch. Greeted as old friends by the manager. Our usual. La Terre cab. R. Steak frites. Wonderful sauce and then those terrific fries. B. The chicken paillard. He says he wishes he could make chicken like this.

SEPT 16. THE COMMITMENTS. Netflix. A little disappointing this cult film from 1991 about the making of a soul band in hardscrabble Dublin. A little predictable and artificial but the 18 year old lead singer is terrific (but time tells he didn't go far enough).

SEPT 17 ISN'T EARLY FOR HALLOWEEN IN HILLCREST

BEACH RATS. Bob. "Very slow movie." Reuel: "I know there's something wrong when I get tired of looking at pecs." All that angst in Coney Island about a teenager coming out.

GROUP TOURS AROUND OUR BUILDING?

SUNDAY THE 17TH. IT'S THE DULL EMMY'S

SEPT 18. GETTING CLOSER.

WE'RE ADDICTED

TO JOHN OLIVER TOO--GREAT SATIRE

REUEL'S BREAKFAST CREATION (PIZZA MANQUE)

SEPT. 21--GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU KIMMEL.

LONG VIEW OUR "GREAT" ROOM

ANOTHER ADDICTION--PRESIDENT THERE NEVER WAS

WE RENT THIS BABY LICKETY-SPLIT

NIGHT SKY--SEPT 22

SAT. SEPT 23. HOMOS or Everyone in America @ Diversionary. We've been invited to its opening night which means pre-show reception

Meet the talented playwright--especially good at interruptive dialogue and the subtleties of relationships--who tells me in response to my queries as a fellow playwright that it took him five years to develop this work and that I should persist--thank you, I will. No certainty how many years I have to develop plays. But . . .

IT'S SUNDAY MORNING (24TH) AND IT'S "AIRY FAIRY" NIA WITH SUE

STEAK AND POTATOES GUYS--HEY WHERE THERE'S A BARBECUE . . .

. . . BURGERS TOO SHORTLY THEREAFTER. NOT VEGANS.

CITISCAPE

ANOTHER LONG VIEW

BETH VISITS

BOB GETS AN AWARD FROM THE BANKERS HILL BUS. ASSOCIATION! 9/28

SAT. SEPT 30. WILD GOOSE DREAMS.LJP. By Hanson Jung.Beth saw this earlier and was not enraptured. I've been fasting (Yom Kippur and all) so I'll be irritable if it's not wonderful. Program suggests from playwright to actors that this will be very Asiacentric. Plot: she a North Korean defector; he a "goose father" who stayed in Seoul to earn a salary that goes to his wife and daughter in America. The leads rely on unsatisfying technology to keep in touch with their families and then inevitably with one another through a dating website.

Actually quite successful. A chorus represents the internet and its relationship to the lovers, beeps and disconnecteds and emojis and all. Funny and often poignant and very imaginative, especially in its embodiment of the central metaphor based on the myth of the stolen wings.

AND THEN to break my fast --and a quick sundown shnopps (Tennessee whisky) per tradition at home--we enjoy the restaurant week dinner at our local, PARC BISTRO. $40 plus a $32 carafe of red. The onion soup Bob finds "satisfactory", translation bland & needs salt. My filet is excellent (doggie bag too!) --the frites here are always good and the string beans perfectly al dente. I eat them with my fingers, "Jackie Kennedy style" Bob reminds me. Bob's chicken frostierre he likes--breast correctly done, sauce full of a variety of mushrooms in brown sauce. R. Creme brûlée--very nice. Bob, Chocolate mousse. Very nice and has little pieces of chocolate in it. likes it "a lot".

AFTERWARD AT PARC BISTRO

. . . ALSO QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

SEPT. 30. My winning play "The Gift" is a staged reading at Frostburg State U. Center for the Literary Arts somewhere near Foggy Bottom and I get paid! . . . something.

Professional Playwright!(?)

SUNDAY OCT 1 & DON ON HIS WAY OVER

SUNSET FROM SPRUCEWOOD

BUYING OLD GLOBE TICKETS WE FIND A DINOSAUR

OCT 5. BRATWURST--PREVIEW OF COMING TRIP'S GASTRONOMY

L'CHAIM

WE WILL DAMNIT!

ABSORBING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LADY GAGA

OCT. 7 THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKY. Old Globe. Writer/Actor James Lecesne- part of his Trevor Project, social network support for LGBTQ-era under 25. Lescesne plays all the characters in a small town absorbing the story of a missing 14 year old gay kid. (Interesting for me in that my character Emilio in "The Gift" and "2-4-6-8" is a trans youth.) Lots of empty seats. Hm. It's a tough subject.

But the production is brilliant. Lecesne plays the town detective sorting out the murder of this brilliant flamboyant boy as well as assorted town characters, the local hairdresser, who'd adopted Leonard, her daughter who befriended him, the elderly clockmaker whom he visits, the headmaster of his ballet school, the bully murderer--a tour de force.

TEENAGERS' SHOES THAT EXPRESS SELF-IMAGES

FREE! YES! THAT'S THE GOAL.

FOUND IN THE PARK POST-SHOW

. . . AND THERE'S A FAIR

BIG DOINGS

IT BREATHES FIRE

pretty in pink

THE LONG WAY HOME . . .

TO DINNER. WHAT IS IT?

REUEL'S SUNDAY BREAKFAST--FUEL FOR THE ZUMBATHON

BUT FIRST WE MEET AT BETH'S--A CONSTRUCTION ZONE

SUNDAY OCT. 8. ZUMBATHON FOR BREAST CARE. 1-2:30 PM.

ZUMBA HOTTIE

THEN A STROLL IN THE PARK . . .

TO THE PLAY (BUSY DAY)

THE DINOSAUR BY NIGHT

7: BENNY AND JOON a new musical at the Old Globe. At intermission Bob, "I hate the play. The music though derivative is melodic and the players are excellent but I hate the plot". This after I say it's growing on me. We both agree it's "fey". All the players in this tale of a brother and sister whose parents died in an accident, the brother who needs to take care of his schizophrenic sister. She developing a relationship with the autistic movie obsessed houseguest Sam. Then there's the love interest of Benny, who won't allow himself freedom. Bob wants intermission to be over so he can go home. And afterward we leave sounds of music from the Makers Fair and the fairy lights of the dinosaur installation on the theatre's terrace to tinkle and twinkle without us.

NEW SEASON OF CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM--A GEM

GARY AND SON VISIT

TUES. OCT 10 GARY VISITS

18 DAY GERMANY SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA WITH DANUBE RIVER TRIP 0CTOBER 12 THRU OCTOBER 29, PLEASE SEE THAT BLOG POST. DIARY AND PICS GALORE!

NEW ADDITIONS TO OUR TERRIBLY VALUABLE WORLD SNOW GLOBE COLLECTION

We come home to some lovely views from our living room windows . . .

WE CAN SEE THE MEXICAN CORONADO ISLANDS

AND NOISELESS PLANES LANDING AT THE AIRPORT

NEW TENANTS IN 3102 i FURNISH THEIR TERRACE NICELY

;

NOVEMBER 1: REFLECTION OF OUR BAR ON SHADE = ART!

SEASON FOR DRAMATIC SKIES ALA GAINSBOROUGH

A LIVING ROOM IN THE SKY

NOV. 2 -- FULL MOON

EARLY MORNING SKY AT THE Y

NOV. 3 CELEBRATING CORRIE'S BIRTHDAY AFTER CLASS

ONE OF THE PRIZEWINNING SKIES

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

OL' DEBIL MOON

Image result for HAND OF GOD THEATRE POSTER

SAT NOV 4. HAND TO GOD at Lyceum Theatre, downtown San Diego. For some reason I get a $15 Uber credit for this month so guess what form of transportation will take us to and fro the Lyceum aka San Diego Rep this afternoon. We are early so walk around the virtually abandoned Horton Plaza instead of seeing the pre-show presentation by puppeteers (who knew?). So this is in part a puppet show which one is curious to see in main because it’s the most produced play in America. Part of what makes it work is the puppet Tyrone who is the alter ego of the obedient repressed young hero under the thumb of his repressed mother (brilliantly performed) both of whom get to act out disastrously. I guess it’s the irreverence that makes the play so popular (dirty doings in a Christian puppet ministry). It’s very funny and wonderfully acted. The young actor who handles the devilish Tyrone puppet is a marvel. Glad to have seen it but the steps to climb at the Rep are a problem.

PUPPETMASTERS TALK PRE-SHOW

A BESET TOWN--MIDSOMERS MURDERS . . . AND MORE MURDERS

THE GUYS UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES OF LUNCH

LUNCH . . . PRIME

AND PRIME

WOW.THAT'S THE SKY OR THE NEXT COMING.

WED. OCT 9. GEORGIA MCBRIDE @ Old Town Theatre (Cygnet). 7:30. Got there rather early which nabbed us a close-up parking space in the theatre lot and an opportunity to traverse the familiar park grounds; this time the bustling Mexico area was tricked out with Death displays—always macabre fun—what a bizarre and refreshing relationship Mexicans have to the notion of death.

Of the play, strangely lame and the production somewhat amateurish for a Cygnet venture (only one of the 5 performers is AEA). Story of small town “straight” Elvis impersonator who feels forced to perform in drag to survive for his family. That his pregnant wife is as turned off by this is the significant plot point and doesn’t ring true. The young lead has an easy boyish air and no singing voice (although most of his work is lip syncing); the older mentor drag is excellent. A Judy Garland bit is hysterical. Excuse to do a drag show (which seemed to appeal to the straight audience) doesn’t sustain the piece. (Premise that drag can “save” a bar business contradicted by Bob’s and my experience in the hospitality arena.)

DEATH IN OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO

RENT READY. NO $16000 REMODEL THIS TIME. JUST PAINT DOES IT

DEAR OL' RED FOX

FRIDAY NOV 11. It’s Veterans Day (observed). So Red Fox it is. Departing from tradition—and the RF is all about tradition—I have liver and onions and Bob, not departing, orders a cheeseburger thank you. At $10.95 each its a deal, the marvelous throwback atmosphere—we’ve been coming here for well over 30 years—plus baked potato and salad with Blu cheese. Thanks for your service. (And Suzy's a gem.)

AIDS WALK

RENTED IN A TWINKLE--3102 B 1ST AVE.

ALL IT NEEDS IS A PINCH OF PARMESON. PERFECT!

SUNDAY NOV 12. SUMMER (The Donna Summer musical) @ The LaJolla Playhouse. This one as we loll through the program has definite Broadway ambitions—directed by Des McAnuff, starring LaChanze. Trying to remember what I remember of Summer—beloved of gays until she dissed us. The musical has incredible production values--moves swiftly, all glitz and glam. Strangely most mail roles are females. LaChanze is brilliant as the diva (older) Donna and mother of young Donna, then there's one in the middle--both solid. Bob sees it as just another juke box musical. I think it will have legs on Broadway where it's headed. There's a strained sop to the gays. Then there's all that wonderful disco era music rocking (literally--the place shakes) the theatre. What's not to like.

THANKS FOR THE SHOW, MR. SKY

healthy--chicken breast

U-JAM (HIP HOP)TUESDAYS WITH SAM

ANOTHER DOMESTIC PANO

NOV 14 -- MY MRI AND CT SCAN. OH JOY.

NOV. 17--IT'S VISIT WITH ORTHO DR. BAWA--SPOUSE ACCOMPANIES

AWAITING THE VERDICT

IT'S NOT PRETTY

TRUMP OVERWHELMS OUR HAPPY HOME

FAVORITE COMMENTATORS, CHRIS AND JOY

BRILLIANT AS ALWAYS.

BREAST CANCER MARCHERS

SUNDAY NOV 19. THE MOORS @ Diversionary.

Kendra is our Uber driver who arrives just as we step out of our front door. We note that she’s driven over 2300 rides—so we should be safe.

We arrive rather too early and so take a walk around the uninteresting neighborhood. I am not buoyed up by the fact that the play is an intermissionless hour and a half but though Bob has mixed feelings and is not sure why Diversionary chose it (there’s lesbianism in it for gods sake) I am impressed. A diverting well written comedy, more than ably acted and directed, a sort of send up of Bronte novels with a dolop of Checkov but more a madcap shifting of the sands of reality set on “the moors” featuring sisters, one a dominatrix, the other obsessed with her lack of presence, a governess newly arrived, a maid and a wounded soul of a talking dog who finds love with a bird. All meaty roles. All ends badly of course. Good work.

ANOTHER ANGLE OF THE GREAT-ROOM

MONDAY NOV. 20. TOM HAM’S

CITY IN THE ABSTRACT

Andrea and I share an octopus appetizer. Chewy but fun. We both have the bouisbaisse. As a main. Sharon--steak. She hates it. Barely pink. Bob chicken. Kathy paella. Susan yellow tail fish. Very dry. For dessert Bob and I have caramel balsamic gelato.

THE ULTIMATE BREAKY

NOV. 21 MR. A'S FOR BETH'S BIRTHDAY (NOV.22)

MONDAY NOV 21. Beth’s birthday lunch at MR. A’s. Beth Paella. Fabulous. “Can I reach sir?” Love it. Bob adores his steak stew thing. ("A big brick of happiness.") Beth gets her b’day cake.

HER HUNDRETH COMEBACK PERFORMANCE--THE VOICE ISN'T ALL THERE BUT IT'S BARBRA!

ANOTHER TV ADDICTION--GRAND GUIGNOL

IT'S THANKSGIVING, NOV. 23! AT BETH'S. NEW KITCHEN!

FOOD'S NOT IN SHORT SUPPLY. WE BRING THE WINE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH. MY NIECE IS 60!

NOV. 24. THE JOY OF SEEING "HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE ON THE ELYPTICAL"

WE HAVE A NEW SUPER DUPER WASHER

SUNDAY NOV 26. Lady Bird. Greta Gerwig’s directorial triumph. Could use a tad of editing, this tale of a bright individualistic high school senior (terrific Saorse Ronan) expressing herself in Sacramento, making mistakes, dealing with her super critical mother ( Great Laurie Metcalf). Very accomplished. Absorbing.

THAT EVENING PIZZA WITH DON

THE ROYAL GETS A NEW RESTAURANT FOR THE 'HOOD--(ITALIAN)

NOV 27--AN EPIDURAL FOR REUEL--A PAIN IN THE NECK

WE'RE A SIMPLE PEOPLE

PEOPLE AND THEIR DOGS

XMAS TREE -- ALMOST. IT'S DEC. 1

FRIDAY DEC 1. 3 BILLBOARDS @ the Hillcrest Cinemas in studio 3 where you can stretch out like in Business Class and to accompany this atmosphere of comfort we order glasses of Chardonnay (wee glasses at $9 per—oh well). We can always rely on Martin McDonach, whose work we’ve applauded on stage and screen, writer director-auteur!-to provide darkness, violence, and obscenity leavened with wry humor—a high wire act he succeeds at admirably. Here he’s got a brilliant cast, Frances McDormand as a mother grieving over the rape murder of her daughter, Woody Harrelson as the small town’s sheriff dying of cancer and accused in McDormand’s billboards of dragging his heels on the murder investigation, and also Sam Rockwell’s brilliant interpretation as a reckless subaltern whose character will be impacted by the roiling plot. Riveting. Entertaining. Why ask for more? Bob: I would say it was a most excellent movie.

THE DAY THE SHOE DROPPED?

SUNDAY DEC. 3. IT'S HOB NOB HILL FOR COMFORT . . . FOOD

TV NIGHT

PENELOPE'S A STITCH

MORE ROYALS WITH VICTORIA

DEC. 4. MARTINIS AND BRATWURST

TUESDAY DEC. 5. IT'S HIP HOP CLASS WITH DAVID (AKA U-JAM)

DEC. 6

THE CITY'S PLANS FOR OUR CANYON PUMP

. . . AND MARY ANNE'S FRENCHY MANAGES THE STAIRS (BARELY)

DEC. 7

STEAK 'N EGGS

IN THE PICTURE

SUPPER SUP SUPPERTIMEDEC. 8
RACHEL REVEALS: BUT WILL IT STICK?

SAT. DEC. 9

RUN FOR? AIDS?

HMM.

IF IT'S FRIDAY: BILL MAHER

. . . AND THE IRRESISTABLE OPENER OF . . .

SUNDAY DEC. 10

AND MEET THE PRESS--IT WAS A TUMULTUOUS WEEK

BUT THE SUN WILL ALWAYS SET OVER BANKERS HILL

MONDAY DEC. 11

AND GOOD ADVICE AT THE DOC'S

PLUS EPIDURAL #2. THIS ONE WILL HELP.

DEC. 12

OUR RENTAL PROPERTY LOOKING DECEPTIVELY SERENE

SHERYL'S TAX WEBINAR--OY

NEED LUNCH AT NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN, CUCINA URBANA

TURS DEC 12. It’s CUCUNA URBAN, been years since we’ve been to his neighborhood restaurant. Our cab wine Charles Smith’s "Substance"—Columbia Valley is a winner. My favorite, spaghetti and meatballs. Bob—rigatoni in an iron pot hot and wonderful.

RAPUNZAL LET DOWN YOUR . . . SPAGHETTI

ON THE FIRST DAY OF HANUKKAH

TOP OFF THE DAY WITH A CROWN

WEDNESDAY DEC. 13. Typical day. Super cardio with Corrie at 7. Weights with Rocco at 9. But pandemonium at our multi-unit property. Mauritzio's crew clearing brush and trees from our canyon

(Southern California's fires are no joke) while the city's crew digs holes in that canyon for a new pump and sewer line.

THANK GOD.

DEC. 14

JERRY AND DIETER COME FOR COFFEE AND 725 RHINE SLIDES SHOW--POOR GUYS.

DEC. 15
POST-COSCO LUNCH, BUSY DAY FOR CONTRACTORS: DIGGING PUMP HOLE AND BRUSH CLEARED

OLD TREE REDISCOVERED IN A SHED

PEEK-A-BOO

HE NEEDS A LITTLE XMAS

IRRESISTABLE: SALMON AND EGGS WITH CHIRIZO

A BOY NEEDS HIS GRAINS

HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS

DEC. 16TH: 5TH NIGHT

12/16 FRI NIGHT. Bob presents a wonderful grilled smoked pork chop. (Tastes like ham.) with sweet potatoes. We’re now dining by the new Christmas tree over the glow of the lighted menorah (we had to buy extra candles today because I’m really doing the lighting thing which goes through candles like God knows what).

SUN. DEC 17 IS FOR DANCING

THEIR "TRAVELOGUES" ARE ALWAYS FUN BUT ARE GETTING REPITITIOUS

MONDAY DEC.18

MIA TRATORIA. Exciting this is our new neighborhood Italian restaurant—2 blocks from our home. They are 2 weeks old and have kept pretty much all the old fixtures/decor from their predecessor Royal Stone. My meatballs quite good. Bathed in a nice Tomato sauce. Bob likes his eggplant parmigiana. And our shared tiramassu is excellent. Our cab at $21 is quite acceptable. We’ll be back.

It's Christmas in Bankers Hill as we stroll back home from Mia Tratoria.

We get through Hanukkah night Seven. One more to go.

LAST NIGHT. WE CELEBRATE WITH RACHEL.

DEC. 20 NEW BREAKFAST CONCOCTION WITH SALMON!

Then sufficiently fueled, it's off to the gym for Corrie's famous All-the-homemade-cookies-you- can-grab (we bring Von's best) Christmas Cookie party. Bob deserves it having taken the Wednesday "Cardio Blast" class but (on Dr.'s orders) Reuel doesn't. He's there for the cookies and the bonhomie with their "Fit Friends".

kathy charla and corrie at the Cookiefest

SUZY’s our lovely usual waitress at The Red Fox. We sit in the dark booth in a place that peddles eternal night anyway.

Very eccentric fellow I engage (I adore characters) in front of our property--he does extra terrestrial shows he says and lived at our property 20 years ago when we bought it and evicted all the bizare tenants there (HA!) to renovate--(and fumigate). That's his flying saucer on his truck. His ill-fitting wig is green.

It's getting nasty--they're running scared.

MON DEC 21. THE SHAPE OF WATER at the Local.

Bob tries to scare me out of seeing it, that it’s a horror movie which he knows traumatizes me but word is that it’s getting best pic nods and darn if I’m deterred. The warm theatre is full of popcorn eaters. Guess it’s a hit. The man next to me almost knocks my tiny $9 Chardonnay out of its holder. Oh well. Is it a good movie or a great one? Certainly not scary. Almost a fairy tale, definitely a love story, possibly a parable—creature from the black lagoon sort of thing. About authoritarianism and prejudice. Takes place in the fifties. Very spot on and atmospheric. Mute woman cleaner in government oceanographic lab where the humanoid creature has been confined after being captured by villainous Michael, and whose life is endangered by both Soviets and Americans has love affair with him. People next to me talk about wanting to see it again. Glad I saw it this time. And I get a chance to buy some fru fru for Bob’s birthday at Rite Aid which disappointingly doesn’t have balloons or banners. Life has roadblocks—abetted by human nature. Guess that’s what the movie’s about.

FRIDAY DEC 22. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME. @ The Local. Thought it might be crowded like yesterday’s film but not so much in the large theatre. Mostly gay men which suggests its appeal. Don’t know what to make of it, this tale of first love-at least from the point of view of the seventeen year old American-Italian protagonist played perfectly by Timothy Chalafonte. Armie Hammer player rather woodenly (we both agree) is his amour—a grad student assistant to the boy’s father during the

summer. We also both agree that this story of burgeoning passions in a gorgeous setting of old villas and ripening fruits in Tuscany is sooo slow paced. Just fuck and get it over with for god’s sake. Ah to have had the nurturing good will of the boy’s parents, fairly pushing Hammer into Chalafont’s arms. Lovely fantasy but one has the queasy feeling that the film is a homo-elitist screed favoring pederasty.

One of these days--ah to know the future.

Visiting bob in his study

SATURDAY DEC 23. Bob’s Birthday! B gets a doggeral poem from me, a DNA kit--which I thought he knew he was getting since he picked it up at the post office--but didn't (and he's delighted) and some chocolate kisses--Symbolism!

Parc Bistro at 1. Beth

loves her seafood salad. It’s all a hit. My steak frites. Bobs chicken pailard.

The plan was for Beth to buy a fabulous dessert at Extraordinary Desserts afterward, but the line is stupidly long so back To

DON'T BURN YOUR FINGERS

IT'LL BE LEGAL IN JUST A WEEK ANYWAY . . .

Our Place for a surprise number of Mary Jane tokes (a very rare occurrence for us) her gift that does alter reality and when Beth and I head down to the pool, the laps seem endless and there are new sensations in the jacuzzi. Altered States and frayed lungs. We're having fun and getting high. Bob? The birthday boy remains in his bower through the splashing but I hink we are giving him a full birthday day as it continues upstairs with the bubbly.

The sudden appearance of a miracle--a rainbow symbol for his birthday.

Our gal glows.

I think we watched it.

OFFICIAL B'DAY PORTRAIT--IN XMAS SOCKS

LORD HELP THE SISTER WHO COMES BETWEEN ME & MY MISTER

Cheesy drag queen movie (though authentic for the genre and hence bitchfest absorbing) ends the day

SUNDAY DEC 24.

ANOTHER BREAKFAST MASTERPIECE BY A CHEF WHO ONLY DOES EGGS

LUNCH: MONSOON ALL U CAN EAT INDIAN RESTAURANT

Camp on Fifth Avenue--next to the bar we owned for thirteen years

Guess you're supposed to have beer . . . but

Official Xmas eve portrait

The Bishop's Wife with Loretta Young, Montey Wooley, David Niven and Carey Grant as the angel come to resue Niven from his materialistic self--Wonderful

Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. We're seeing all the Xmas movies.

MONDAY DEC 25.

Recap: How the year started out. Will that resolve continue? Gotta.

YES, IT'S XMAS DAY IN SAN DIEGO

Don watches Midsomer Murders for the 100th time.

It never turns out well.

BOB'S LUNCH MENU AT OUR FAVORITE "HOMEY" RESTAURANT

AT THE GROANING BOARD

THE XMAS PARTY--MAGIC OF TIME DELAY PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT A TREAT!

Don’s over at 2 for Christmas lunch and exchange of gifts. I get and absolutely impenetrable subway rubics cube. And Bob some cookies. In retribution for the cube I make Don watch Jeopardy which has become a renewed passion and exercise in masochism while Bob continues to prepare a fabulous Christmas lunch. Don leaves. I tell him, “It wouldn’t be Christmas without you . . . Or with you.” Of the Spielberg biopic Bob says, “This is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.” I say it’s been a wonderful day, a

long day.

12/26 Change of pace breakfast--need energy for Hip hop

Holiday gym schedule finds Reuel at Toby Wells for U-Jam (Hip Hop) with amazing, cute dancer Heideko at the helm. Waiting for my "ride" afterward.

Another gorgeous sky to match continuing unseasonably gorgeous weather. San Diego living!

Cheering for . . .

. . . pecan pie. Yum!

Wed. 12/27.

Our pipes . . .

Our pipes . . . are calling.

OOF.

AND OOF AGAIN.

"HOLE DO NOT STEP." NO CHANCE.

THANKS HUGH FOR YOUR GHRISTMAN GIFT--his compilation DVD--
"Gay Retablos"

STUFFED PEPPER AND SWEET POTATO--ALL THE MAJOR FOOD GROUPS

THURSDAY 12/28 DELIVERING THE PUMP.

Honoring Norman Lear, Carman DeLavalad, LL. Cool, Gloria Estaphan and Lionel Richie. Trump absents himself. Wonder why?

In the style of DeLavalarde, Geoffrey Holder's wife.

Riveting memory lane tribute to a great comedy variety show, which has no equivalent today.

Great movie parodies:

Mad Norma Desmond descending the stairs.

Gone With The Wind--Scarlett's dress from curtains--rod intact.

Robin Hood starring Olyvia DeHavilland and Errol Flynn--priceless--and excercise is a plus.

With wine you have eggroll

Saturday 12/29. Zumba with Lachelle--highlight of the week for Reuel. (Well there's not that much sex at my age.)

Cousin Toby Trompeter's additions (in red) to the family tree on my mother's side that I've drawn up pretty much at her invitation. Connecting after all these years.