Ascending

2 Jun 20

Still dog-less as we ascend to Stage II in the Return from the Pandemic. I remain positive and resolute in my search for a new best friend.

Speaking of dogs, it rained like cats & dogs and little kids on sleds last weekend which delayed the outside work so I’ll be wrapping up the fence project this week. 

What's on the Nightstand:

One Last Lie by Paul Doiron

The eleventh installment of Mike Bowditch, Maine’s crime-solving warden. A cold case involving Mike’s mentor, Charlie Stevens, puts Mike in the cross-hairs way up north on the Canadian border.

Inland by Téa Obreht

Part fantasy, part historical fiction, set in the late 19^th Century Arizona Territory, Obreht weaves the stories of two desperate people, one starved with loneliness, another haunted by ghosts, as they stagger through a drought.

What's on the Screen:

The Outsider (Netflix)

What begins as a murder mystery takes a turn toward the supernatural and dark forces begin to overrun a small community. A few rather gruesome scenes, but mostly, deliciously dark, fantastical storytelling. I binge-watched this in two large bites

Bloodlines: Second Season (Netflix)

Death, drugs and double-cross abound as the Rayburn family navigates the fallout from the death of brother Danny. Sister Meg continues to drink and make bad choices, brother Kevin continues to use drugs and make bad choices and Brother John attempts to hold things together. If I was brother John would sell and move north to save my soul and sanity.

What's in the Headphones:

Building playlists on Spotify and listening to our local airwaves; KNKX, KEXP, KBCS & KISW, and playing my guitar.

Trail Heads:

Buck Lake, 2-3 miles (one way) through various terrain with the turnaround at a Hood Canal beach. Nothing too strenuous, a very nice walk.

Be well and stay safe.

More to follow...

Avoiding Entropy

Greetings All,

I haven't posted for a while because I have no dog with which to hang :(

but I'm looking in earnest and hoping to have a new member of the family and hiking partner soon :) 

I have been working lots on garden projects, spreading more mulch, fixing and adding fencing, along with general clean up and organizing of everything within our ½ acre of brush and trouble.

What's on the nightstand:

I just started A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell 

The story of Virginia Hall, an American spy who worked undercover in France during World War II for Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE). I devoured the first 50 pages this morning. We'll be discussing it next Tuesday at evening at the Eagle Harbor Mystery Book Discussion Group.

One of my recent faves is Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry

A lyrical stroll down memory lane by two, socially challenged, low-level enforcers for an Irish crime interest as they wait for the arrival of a friend on the ferry from Tangiers.

In audiobook format:

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

A tell-all, sometimes shocking, always frank and very funny tale of Chef Bourdain's career in the restaurant kitchens of Manhattan. He pulls no punches as he bares his soul with tales from nearly 3 decades of creating haute cuisine while pursuing new nadirs of debauchery.

What's on the screen:

Messiah (Netflix)

A ten-part story about a burned out CIA officer looking into a Middle-Eastern man whose followers believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ. Lots of twists and turns :)

NCIS (Netflix)

Full disclosure, I never watched this as a Prime Time series in spite of its 17 seasons. Started watching late last fall and now I can't look away. I'm not saying it's not-to-be-missed and in spite of the somewhat pedantic scripts with a fair amount of formulaic, predictable plot, I have grown to truly enjoy the series regulars. Which presents a bit of a challenge as many of them leave the show eventually. The team is a bit quirky, as are the mysteries they solve, but I find them endearing, even in the 14th season when they jettison one of my favorite characters to introduce a team member whom I find quite challenging.

What's in the headphones:

Mostly I've been listening to local, FM radio. We're fortunate to have several great, independent radio stations in our region. And I've been listening to a lot of 70s Rock via Spotify, e.g., Derek & the Dominos, Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, etc.

Be well and stay safe.

More to follow...

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