Sunday, December 29, 2024

119

We return to Florida today. If all goes smoothly we will be at our home by 7 pm with 70 degree weather. Sunset there is at 5:30 pm as opposed to 4:15 pm in Massachusetts. Sunrise is at essentially the same time, just after 7 am. So we get a full hour and one-quarter of extra light. Yay! The weather should be decent for travel today so hopefully there are no delays.

The sheets are in the wash and most packing is done though we have to smash in a lot more between Christmas gifts and clothing I decided I wanted to bring back. Lots to bring in 2 carry-on suitcases and one large bag for under the seat. Justice in his bag counts as the other personal item. I wonder if in the future I can get a dog bag with a bit of storage room? His has small pockets but only suitable for things like dog bags and leashes.

Luckily we cleaned before we left Florida so not much to do tonight/tomorrow morning as we have company arriving for 2 nights starting tomorrow. But I will think about that later.

Have a sparkling Sunday!

Safe travels back to the Sunshine State Liz. It sounds like you had a busy, fun Christmas.

I did get the table surfaces back in order. It brings me such a nice feeling when the dining room table has nothing on it but the table runner and the centerpiece. I have to be vigilant to maintain that. DD and DH have never seen a clear surface that they don't set something down on. It's like moths to flames. I also started and finished the novel James. Highly recommend. I've never been a fan of Huckleberry Finn, but hearing this story from the enslaved man's side was fascinating.

Today is New York Times day! 2 Sunday papers! The Minneapolis Tribune is still a decent paper, but nothing like the times. DH and DD are going to see Nosferatu. I am not much into horror, or graphic violence, so I declined. I'm sure they'll love it. Then the Vikings play at 3:30pm.

Weather in Minnesota can be a paradox. Overcast days tend to be warmer, because the clouds act like a blanket and hold some of the warmth in. It feels like winter is increasingly overcast, along with being warmer in the past few years. Fall is also longer, and spring never comes, we've had some doozy April snowstorms which used to be rare, then suddenly, summer heat. Bright sunny days in the winter usually means very cold. In December and January the angle of the sun makes it weak, and any heat escapes to outer space rapidly. The first mild, sunny day in March brings everyone outside. That's when all our neighbors met DD. She was born in December. You hardly see your neighbors in winter, because you just go in and out of your garage with the electric garage door opener. Sometimes you wave if someone is at their mailbox. When we took DD for a walk in her stroller on the first warmish day of her up until then, short life, neighbors came out of their houses to greet us. It was really sweet.

I will be interested to hear what your DD and DH think about Nosferatu. I liked it, but was not enthralled.

And I bet warmish was high 50's/60? In Florida that is considered freezing LOL.

Your description of the weather here these days was perfect! No wonder we dream of the tropics!

I haven't read James yet, but really look forward to it. I've read Huckleberry Finn at least three times and loved it from the get-go. I never ever misunderstood its message, even as a tween growing up in Mississippi.

I look forward to hearing what your DH and DD thought about Nosferatu.

A relative who's an actual playwright (he gets paid for his plays) went to see Nosferatu and walked out after 30 minutes. He said it sucked--not the word he used, but what he meant. However, quite a lot of folks who are paid to review movies have praised the movie's cinematography and acting.

Love your story about DD's coming-out season.

I was talking with a client today who is friends with Tony Kushner (Angels in America, updated screenplay for Spielberg's West Side Story). My client was telling me that he ABSOLUTELY HATED the film version of Wicked. Thought it was utter crap. I asked if he had liked the stage version, but she didn't know. I'm so curious about that. I read the book in the 90s. Was not fond of the stage production because of the major story changes. I enjoyed part one of the movie much more than I did the stage production because there was more of the book included in the screenplay. I guess we all have different tastes!

As for Nosferatu, acting was indeed good (though I wasn't completely taken in by Depp's performance). Cinematography... too dark for me. I don't like having to struggle to comprehend what's on the screen. So, literally too dark, not figuratively. Hahaha. What I found clever was the mixing of the two stories: 1920s silent version of Nosferatu and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

And here I am learning TODAY that "Wicked" was a book before it was a musical on Broadway. Gee, the things I don't know!

Have seen the play on Broadway, but have not seen the film yet.

I saw the play years ago in Boston, but haven't read the book or seen the movie yet. Hmmm... maybe the book next?

Absolutely zero interest in seeing Nosferatu.

My mom had a coffee table book about movies when I was a kid and the still picture from the original Nosferatu movie was in there. The terror I felt seeing that! But I'd still sneak peeks to see if it was still as horrific as the first time. It still is to this day... gah.

Slow day here today. After several puke free days, Kirby proceeded to regurgitate 3 times last night, twice on my bed requiring me to get up and remove the cover sheet. Blech. So not good sleep for me. This morning we had pancakes and bacon, then Claudia and I went to the farmers market to find eggs (none in the store yet again due to the avian flu), then to Whole-foods and Safeway for everything else on the list. A dog walk followed and I've been doing very little since. Making shrimp/veggie stirfry for dinner.

That's all from Sedona! Still unseasonably warm and sunny and still crowded as heck with visitors. Can't wait for them to go home next week!

Take care everyone!