Upbeat Friday!
Well after yesterday’s “Chinese taking over the world” post, I’ll try.
Film: Technically one was tv on dvd. It was the first disc in the “Best of Jack Paar” collection. He was the king of late night before Johnny Carson. Back when there were only 3 networks, he was a very powerful cultural influence. This disc had John Kennedy, the candidate, looking young, sharp and vital. Then by way of equal time, the other candidate Richard M. Nixon, looking relaxed and smiling. So different than the 1974, mid-Watergate model. He played the piano and he was good! I would have had a higher opinion of him as a young voter if he’d played the piano more. The big difference between Parr and Carson, I think is that Parr seems very New York and more of a “wit” than a comedian. Johnny Carson was from Nebraska, and seemed a little more like the guy down the block. He did a lot of falling down, silly humor. Yet what I’ve heard of Carson, he was moody, withdrawn and a complete introvert offstage. It seems like a lot of very funny people are that way- saving it for the performance.
The other film was The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. Actually, they’re conures and really noisy little spuds! We used to have one, Conrad. He was a Peltz Conure and all-around pain in the tushie! Psittacine birds (do you like that word????) are scary smart. They have emotions and personality. I loved watching the birds, happy escapees in San Francisco. I laughed a lot and cried a bit for the birdies. I’m also intrigued by their friend, author of the book, Mark Bittner. He’s my generation and has lived around the Bay Area for more than 20 years with no visible means of support. At first I thought maybe he was a disabled Viet Vet, in which case he’d get a pension, but no. He’d do odd jobs, or paint a house to earn some money; lived on the roof of a building for a while, or a storage shed nobody was using. In an earlier age, he’d be what’s called a hobo. I’ve joked about this but I’m deathly serious- soup kitchens are full of graduate degrees. There are very smart people that can’t put on a suit and drive the freeway. Not drunks or dopers, just square pegs. Mark is a man after my own heart. Now he’s married to Judith, the filmmaker who told Mark and the Parrots’ story. Considering the minimalistic way he’s lived, he can probably live the rest of his life rather well just on the income from his book. It must be in every library in America by now. Mark is now working on a book about his life on the streets. Kind of like Kerouac for a new age
Knitting! My Knit Picks order arrived. I am in tactile nirvana. Wool is so much nicer to work with than acrylic! I’m working on a top secret project in a gorgeous color called “Forest Heather” A bit frustrated right now because I’ve cast on and knit a few rows and it doesn’t seem right, which is usually me reading the pattern wrong! I haven’t given up on the socks, but I won’t need them for a couple of months.
OH Lord! I got on the scale this morning. I’m not telling, but it wasn’t pretty. It’s hard to believe this little skeleton could carry that much weight. I have trouble finding sympathy for some lady who’s weight has creeped above 150 and is going on like the world is going to end. My BMI must be like 60. Every morning I wake up and the ticker still works is a bit of a miracle. Diet Day 2 went allright. I even ate cooked carrots. I don’t think I’m getting enough calcium but I’m not a big milk drinker. There’s something in bread products that bugs me a lot. I don’t think it’s allergy; more like additives in commercially produced products. Last week I bought “Amy’s Organic Gluten Free Mac and Cheese” a frozen entree. It was delicious and didn’t bug my stomach at all. But it was 400 calories and no fiber- kind of on the unhealthy side.Time to get ready to take Vera for a walk. She’s part of my weight management program!
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