Get Away

So yes, I went, stayed, and came back from Provincetown. 

Alone, but not alone. 

A week before departure, 710 had to cancel. Work emergency. And in theory he could have worked remotely, it meant him losing two work days with travel and still being inside all day long. No fun for him. 

But I was at the point of work burnout, so we discussed and decided I should still go. The 11.5 hour drive alone was no fun (8 in the POURING rain), but it wasn't horrid either. 

I was meeting friends, Becky & Andrew there, though staying in a separate airbnb.  Cute, huh? 

What they didn't know is, that I was surprising them by inviting Georty to be there too. 

With some planning, I got Georty  to "just show up" at what turn out to be an expensive happy hour. Hours. Plural.  I also got my Academy Award playing friend, Mike, and his husband Peter to show up too. They live in P-town, for the most part, year 'round. 

I was a little hesitant for Mike to meet the others - and vice versa. I felt there was no scenario that would end well for me.  Thank yaweh for state laws not allowing more than 6 people together.  We had to split into separate groups. 

I'd like to say Mike and Peter were the reason for the expensive happy hour, but even I can't put the blame on them. 

I know dinner was had that first night, but for the life of me, I couldn't tell you what I ordered or ate. I might have been drunk. Ditto with the next night, where we never left Georty's place. Dinner?  No. Not technically. Wine and beer? Yes. Technically. 

Things were very chill. We hung out together, or not. I hit Joe Coffee each morning, sometimes joined by Mike.........

.....sometimes not. 

I enjoyed hanging with Mike, and his hubby. And Ollie. I think they liked hanging with me (though Ollie is totally indifferent to me - rude!). They had me over for dinner, which was extremely nice. I mean, I still got tipsy, but........not drunk. And I saw a nice piece of art on the way back from their place. 

Not that any of you'd remember, but Mike once had a blog - which is how we met. So, our friendship goes back at least 11 years. I think that's stronger and longer than when most people meet on Tinder or farmersonly. 

I think. 

As we were leaving having coffee, I ran into another ex-blogger, John from I've Got Something to Say, which oddly wasn't purposefully ironically named.  

I had not seen John for almost 10 years.  

He almost didn't recognize me - but that could have been the mask.............or the decade that had passed. To be fair, John struggled to remember the name of his ex-blog when Mike inquired. So, it could all be early on-set dementia.

Oh, I also ran into BosGuy too, but we didn't get a picture. 

It was nice to see familiar faces and new ones. Though there weren't tons of folks there which was a good transition from Covid to the 'real' world.  My first restaurants in well over a year. Or in someone else's house (well, that wasn't my sister's - that once). Or the hugs. 

But things closed up by 21:00. Two nights I walked "home" without seeing one person. Everyone was tucked away for the night. 

It was tres nice to get away. Not as much to come back to hundreds of work emails, but it comes with the territory. 

It was great to see friends - all of them. And it was - and I won't lie - good to get drunk. I got home by myself and I don't think I even stumbled. 

I think. 

Song by: Fitz and the Tantrums

My Music Monday

Oh, since we all talked about Dolly yesterday, I figgered, why not slap one of her songs up here for this week's music post. 

"When Love is New" come a 2000 soundtrack from the film Songcatcher.  The film was a musicologist who goes to Appalachia to study / record the songs of the people. 

A lot of Appalachian derives from Scottish music, but that's another post for another time. 

The soundtrack is quite good - with some familiar artists, some sticking strictly to the roots music, some a little less so, but the spirit is there. 

One of the songs is a duet from a film cast member, Emmy Rossum and Parton herself (though she is not in the movie). 

The song story is good - as the nature of the music is storytelling - the harmonies are off the chart. I've barely seen Rossum since (and never before this) and never heard her sing save or "When Love is New". 

While I believe she is singing in character - as I don't think she is from Appalachia - it goes to her credibility for her, or her people, to research the role. 

.....and Dolly is a storyteller, so this is right up her alley. 

Pleasant as May

So, Dolly Parton has a documentary out on Netflix.  I thought it was 'new', but evidently Here I Am came out almost two years ago. So, I'm late to the party. 

I know enough about Parton and save a few songs, or her work with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, I don't really have anything she's done. 

I knew enough about her that nothing was revealing in the slightest. It was kind of a puff piece - with two of the bigger portions of commentary going to - and I kid you not - Kylie Minogue and that creepy chick from 4 Non Blonds - Linda Perry.  Sure, Fonda and Tomlin appear.  Harris and Ronstadt did not. Nor is Trio even touched on in the slightest. 

It is very specific to 2-3 areas of her career and that's it. The movie doesn't deviate that much. Of the hundreds of songs she's written and / or recorded, you get 4-5 of them. Maybe a few snippets more of some on Porter Waggoner Show.  And most of the songs are one you'd assume. 

Dolly seems affable - she always has. There's lot of "golllll / shucks" moments which are cute but highly superficial.  

I think it's 90 minutes, which isn't too much of a time suck.  But unless you're a big fan - you don't need to rush out and see it. 

2021 Movie Count / Goal: 10 of 15

Song by: Dolly Parton

Happy Together

Some of these I took, some were from 710, as he was home with the animals while I galavanted around New England.  Yes, there's more to that, whenever I get around to writing about my trip.  

Spoiler Alert - another trip for which I did not make a travel video.  You're welcome.  

Shep and 710 (minus 710) overlooking Lake Erie. 

....and after going IN Lake Erie. 

Sophie loves my laptop - and tipping it over. Looking right at me as she does it. 

No remorse. 

Always trouble when they gang up. 

Oh - and I got to meet the incomparable Ollie. 

Unlike his "Papa Mike", Ollie does profiles. And reads. And apparently drinks wine. 

It is safe to say, like the rest of the occupants of the domicile, he didn't love me as much as I love him. 

.....story of my life. 

More togetherness.  They're pals. 

Song by: the Turtles

Wrong

I am no fan of Liz Cheney.  I'm not sure anyone is in that club. Family included. 

In an(y) alternate universe, I'd be ok with anyone taking any power or job away from anything / anyone with her surname. But in our current world I'm as surprised as anyone that I'm kind of / sort of in her corner. 

I know, right? 

The GOP wants her out of power. They really want her out of a job. But they'll settle for her losing her committees and ranking in the House.   

And why???

She had the nerve to vote for impeachment on BLOTUS. The second impeachment that is - the one where he attempted and encouraged a coup and to overthrow the U.S. government. And she was the highest ranking republican House member to do so.  Naturally, she's being punished for this action. 

The other perspective is:  punish the people who opposed physically overthrowing the government, which resulted in a number of deaths and suicides.  AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. 

Which apparently is an ok thing to do - and not just for the GOP.  But yeah, the GOP is clearly on the BLOTUS side of things - STILL. Instead of just saying, "hey, six of our folks made the right call and we'll let them cover for the 300 others of us who did nothing.....", they're actively attempting to overthrow them as well. 

And while the GOP is clearly wrong, I still blame Pelosi.  Four months to the day from "the event" and not a thing has been done. No one held accountable, even with a bit of evidence of House members possibly (read: probably) helping in the matter. The Senate and their GOP and Democratic leadership is just as guilty. 

So Cheney's fate is sealed. There is no one to come to her defense. And no lack of shame on those going against her. 

Four months later, it is like the event never took place, so no one remembers (or cares) why this is happening now. 

BTW - this is why fuckheads like Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham get re-elected. This is totally on us. 

Song by: Everything But the Girl

Human Touch

So, as I mentioned the other day, I was in Provincetown for a long(er) weekend. Four nights, in fact. 

The idea was to go last Fall, but you know.............Covid and no vaccine as of yet. And while we still considered it, places were being shut down, so nowhere to stay. Oh - and we were to meet friends there, though none of us ended up going. 

More on the trip later though. 

My friends and I have been doing weekly Zooms for the last year - only missing one week, and that was two weeks ago. So, in this weird way it seems like I've "seen" them, when in actuality, we haven't. 

While I have seen Becky once or twice during this last 14 months, we kept out distance. And no touchy. 

Morty, on my drive to the Cape, I calculated this is longest in our 33-34 year friendship that we have gone without physically seeing each other. While it was momentarily sad, there was instant glee that it would all be changing in a few hours. 

I got to see Becky and her husband first. Hugs.  Real. Life. Hugs. 

I had no idea how much I had missed it. It was internally emotional. Externally too, but mostly internal. 

We were not a horribly demonstrative family, so when I saw my sister a week or so ago, there were no hugs. It's not who we are in that setting. And of course, I hug 710 all the time, but you know..........24/7/365.  I was amazed as anyone how much I craved this kind of connection and intimacy. 

During the course of the weekend, I'd see other friends and we have that physical connection too. 

Of course, the culmination is always at the departures. I may, or may not, have given Morty the longest, tightest hug I've given to anyone in a blue moon. I have to say, the weekend of friends might be able to sustain me for a quite a while. I hope it isn't a while, but.......you know, fucked up year #2 is still in progress. 

If you are vaxx'd and have the chance, I highly recommend seeing someone who is vaxx'd and make that human touch - the literal and figurative kind. 

Song by: Bruce Springsteen

Shopping with Blobby

Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think.  

I know it's Cinco de Mayo. I know that, in theory, that is mostly about tequila. In fairness, I celebrated early by drinking a - and my apologies to Harper Lee - Tequila Mockingbird. 

So that drink was had in P-town, which is gay, Gay, GAY. 

Actually, it is and isn't. My last time there seemed exhausting - as everything was Gay 24 x 7. Maybe because it was off season (barely) and Covid, it was a good mix. And many things were still not open. 

Alas, the liquor store was. Wine was bought. But they had Absolut bottles with the Roy G Biv colours and the such. 

......and for the more fetish oriented crowd...........they had this..........

Morty was more amazed it wasn't tied into the Finlandia brand of vodkas, which does seem like a missed marketing opportunity.  

And if it smelled like black leather, they might get more sales from a faction of the gay vodka buying public. 

I stuck with the wine. 

the Rifle's Spiral

While I know it's Star Wars Day, and I know you know it's Star Wars Day, I'll take a year off from that post. 

It's also the 51st anniversary of the Kent State shootings. 

....and no, I refuse to call this post, "Ohio". I can tolerate the song, but it's never been high on a must-play list. 

KSU actually had big plans for the 50th, and finally really really recognizing the history of it all. 

For those in the dark, the site of the shootings had been made into a parking lot....literally covering up their history. Then awkwardly placed markers were put up in said lot of the four where they died. Allegedly, it's all been redone, but I haven't been down there for years. 

Of course, Kent State was also the site of another tragedy.  I took my first round of SATs there. Luckily, I did far far better on my ACTs. 

Yes, I grew up not far from Kent State. In very distant ways, I have some ties to some of those who were shot - not died. One who was paralyzed was a teacher in my high school. We crossed paths my freshmen year only and then he left. Another taught at my sister's school. 

That same sister ended up doing her last two years of college at Kent State, and it was the place to go to do underaged drinking....................I've heard. 

Mind you, then the drinking age was 18. So one might have been younger than that to get drunk there.   ......I've heard. 

Since moving back to NE Ohio a quarter of a century (!!!!) ago, I can count on four fingers how many times I've been back there. 

It's easy to think about how wrong the National Guard was back then........along with then governor, Jim Rhodes and Richard Nixon. 

But there was an interesting article in the Washington Post a few weeks back on the young girl in the posted pic - the iconic, Pulitzer Prize winning pic.  She was not a college student, but a 14 year old runaway who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. And the awful things she had to endure due to that picture from pro-military, pro-war, pro-Nixon folks. 

The student photographer didn't get treated as bad, but it was no day at the beach for him as well. 

I was just surprised at my reaction of disgust I had by reading about people who opposed war opposition. 

It is an interesting read - and truly an event to change most everyone's life who experienced it first hand. 

Song by: the Shins

My Music Monday

Last week I picked "A New England", this week, I'm getting more specific with "Massachusetts" from the Bee Gees. 

This is mostly due to the fact that I took a long weekend in Provincetown, to meet long time friends and to hook-up - not "hook-up" with 'newer friends'* 

It's been fun, and weird and cold.  But more on all of that in a wrap-up post later this week. 

*newer means knowing them for 12 years or so, but we don't see them often 

Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (with lovin' on your mind)

I may or may not be D-runk.  

Only my hairdresser, pedicurist and closest friends know for sure. 

Pssssst.  I. am. drunk. 

It's even past my blogging time and it's the first time in days I've logged on to a computer.  It is very freeing. 

But maybe I'll sober up for a post on Thursday. 

Maybe. 

Song by: Loretta Lynn

Beauty and the Beast

Good stuff - and not all are mine. The pics are, the animals, not so much. 

Forget 'dog on a log'. Shep is all about the leap over - dragging poor 710 along. 

Stripey McBrownerson taking a siesta. 

Wally - my sister's cat.  He's friendly, but didn't really want to be around. 

Rusty.  He stopped to listen to Shep bark at him through the window.  He was unfazed. 

Shep chilling on our Saturday drive. He is one cool customer. 

It was our first trip to Bow Wow Beach this season. 

He was the only one to go in the water. 

Bailey - at my sister's house. 

Cuteness. 

Or................

EVIL!

She LOVES this ball thingy, but she's not great about giving it up. Even though she knows we will throw it for her. 

We both went for it off the floor at the same time. She has got razor sharp teeth....as I found out. 

Song by: Stevie Nicks

Blank

It has been a super long week - and it's not over. 

So I have nothing to post.  Nothing interesting has happened.  I haven't read or seen the news today - so, I have no idea what is going on in the world.  

It could be argued I never have. 

Anyway - free day for you............and me. 

Take Me Out

So last Saturday we did something that I cannot even recall was the last time. 

We went to dinner at someone else's house!

It was my niece's 30th birthday. While you don't know her, I have a hard time seeing her as and adult, let alone 30. I still remember her 1st birthday vividly, or her as the 7-8 year old singing "Oops I Did It Again"......over and over and over. 

Now she has a Ph.D and treating kids who have had traumatic home lives. I still cannot fathom how she does that, because at most, in my head, she's a teenager. 

So anyways - my sister had dinner for her. She axed if we would be comfortable coming over. We all discussed, as it's kind of a group decision anymore. 

It would just be the six of us. Everyone has been vaccinated. So we took a dive into the social pool, as it were. 

In the last year, I've seen my sister three times:  once at my mother's stone setting, one at a dog park and over the December holidays, we stood out in her driveway for about 20 minutes catching up. 

710 has seen my brother-in-law a few times, as their covid shots were at the same place at the same time. 

And none of us as seen each other's "new" house. We've been here a year now. They've been in their new place about six months. So, out we trekked to their place. 

First off - the house is really nice. They got something we didn't - a first floor master. Sure, I don't need it now, but.......tick tock........  And they have great outdoors space, though it was too cool for that. 

It turns out, they all wanted to go out, but knew we would have turned that down. And we would have. So they go carry in - which was nice. 

Two beers. Dinner - and too full for the dessert I brought. 

Since it was semi-last minute (like 4-5 days notice) it turns out another side effect of Covid - getting a birthday cake made. Used to be 24 maybe 36 hours notice. Now it is 1-2 weeks!  So. I had to find alternative desserts.  It still worked out. 

As I am (or can be) socially inept, I did start the visit with a pre-apology.  Out side of work I have not socialized with anyone. 710 hasn't even been to the office in 14 months, so he, even less so. While I can't say we were uncomfortable, we had the potential to be. I wasn't sure how we would act or interact. 

Overall, it was fine. It was a little strange and we didn't stay a long long time. As it was their new house, we didn't bring Shep (and he and Bailey don't see eye to eye a lot of the time, as I recall).  So, for the second time in a year, he was left alone at home. 

Again, since Covid, he's just never been without us*. Someone is ALWAYS home. So, save for daycare, so is he. He did fine. Nothing was destroyed. 

One toe into the water.  Let's see how this goes. 

* a white lie.  we did leave him for 90 minutes for my mother's stone setting last June. 

Song by: Franz Ferdinand

On Your Own

It's a weird time in which we live. 

I know I'm overstating the obvious, but I'm not quite sure I am. Not to the depth of where we are, or going to be. 

This headline from the Washington Post is just fucked up.  A country - gianormous at that - is out of healthcare resources. No room in the hospitals.  No oxygen in the hospitals. No oxygen anywhere. New cases increasing at the rates of almost a half-million every single day. 

Oh, and the mass cremations. 

Cases are on the rise in the U.S. too. Not at India's rate, but in a much younger population than we've seen in the past. Hospitalization rates are up. Vaccination numbers have stalled. And here in Ohio, we're increasing number of people at sporting events - and the CDC just relaxed mask requirements for outdoors. 

Of course that last one comes with caveats:  small groups.  socially distanced.  et a.  But people, as I have come to find, are generally stupid.  I'm guessing the last thing they heard was 'no masks'. 

I know that within the hospital system in which I work, positivity rates and the census is on the rise. ICUs are at capacity, even transferring some patients out to other hospitals to make room for the more critically ill. 

The above headline has not quite spurred my anxiety into overdrive, but it did pique the thought that it might. Sooner than later. 

710 has part of this team in India. Two on that team died over last weekend. Both in their 30s. Both with families they've left behind. I didn't know them,  but I felt horrible for their families and hope the company does something for them. It's also telling that due to India's current experience,  the amount of work the folks there does for American companies - they have to rejigger schedules on products, projects and plans. 

Right now, I feel that it's a watch, wait and see kind of scenario for the U.S. , and if / when it happens, like India, we will be fucked. 

....well that was a downer of a post.  Sorry.

Song by: Bananarama

Everybody Loves a Winner

This Oscar season has been anti-climatic. But being our 10th, maybe this has become like a marriage tolerating each otherand just trying to make it through to the next year. 

And it's tough to get behind something where no one has seen just about anything.  They may as well all been Akira Kurosawa films..........or worse, Michael Bay.  .....and all starring Drew Berrymore and Billy Bob Thornton.........or worse, Adam Sandler. 

I did not win.  

I am just putting it out there. Once again, it was the "Year of Mike".  It's all very tiresome. 

Mike won by one. 

It's possible I could have tied - or he could have won by two, save for the fact that I forgot to include 'sound editing' in the ballot.  Ooops.  Still he won. 

I will pay up and a bit more timely this year. Possibly. 

As for the title image, oddly, I stole the original from Mike's husband, Peter, a few weeks back. I was going to make two versions, one with me being #1 and one with him in that same ranking. The original has the winner looking sullen and over at the joyous loser. 

For the life of me, I could not find a picture of him facing that direction. So, I asked for Peter's assistance. I swear to g-d, this was the (hilarious) reply

Maybe he's a-scared of that whole Alfred Hitchcock silhouette thing he's got going on.  

I kid of course. He doesn't know who Hitchcock is. 

I watched a little bit of the show. It was different and yet not horrible. There was no one to play people off from their on-and-on-and-on-and-on speeches. I mean, there was a DJ, but everyone talked. And talked. 

We watched maybe less than half, then 710 couldn't stand it anymore. Then I went to bed. 

Anyhooo............

Results tabulation was completed by Dominion Voting Systems (providing fraud-free elections since November 2020!!!). Auditing, as always, done by the firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe. 

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Blobby won

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: both won

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: both won

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: both won

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: both won

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Blobby wins

COSTUME DESIGN: both won

DIRECTING: both won

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE): Mike wins

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT): Blobby wins

FILM EDITING: both lost

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM: both lost

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING: Mike wins

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE): both won

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG): both lost

BEST PICTURE: both won

PRODUCTION DESIGN: both won

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): Mike wins

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): both won

SOUND: both won

VISUAL EFFECTS: Mike wins

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): both won

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY): both won

Mike axed me if we needed a real accountant......as if we could afford that. 

But congrats to Mike......................again.

Song by: Linda Ronstadt

My Music Monday

I am in a Kirsty MacColl mood. Lately, I haven't been able to get her first hit, "A New England" out of my head. 

The song was originally written by Billy Bragg (who is great in his own right), whom MacColl allegedly "discovered". 

Bragg's version is almost half as short as Kirsty's. He added two verses for her. 

It's hard to believe that she has been gone for a little over 20 years. I always wonder what else she would have done. She was a great talent. 

Up for Grabs

It's that time of year. The 10th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®

Actually, it's well past that time of year.............but you know, Covid. 

It's Academy Award season. Which means, it's Mike vs Blobby in our now DECADE-long contest to see who is the best Oscar guesser who resides in Eastern Daylight Time, owns a dog, is gay and is losing their hair.  

It's a very very very specific group.  If Mike's blood type is A-, and if he's left handed, then it's a very very very very very c\very very specific group. 

Over the years, you've all been invited. No one else has participated, so........it's  it's really just mano e mano.  Or......mano e Mike. 

Honestly, I'm not sure either of us knew there'd be an awards this year. While my movie viewing habits have changed and Mike's lack there of have not, the crap (yes, I said it) that made it into this year's offerings is worthy of the Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards.  I mean, I'm assuming. I'll wait for Mike to confirm that. 

"Guessing" has been the part of the title for the past 10 years, and never more appropriate than 2021 (from 2020 releases......allegedly).  At least before I could go in with a little knowledge of what was out there, because usually I'd have seen half of the best picture nods. This does not hold true this year. 

If anything, Mike and I are truly starting on an even playing field this year: we have each seen one 'movie' and it was the same one - Mank.  

Mike and his husband were bored with it. My husband too. My friend Jon, the same. It held me a little longer than they, but I loved Citizen Kane (eventually).  And it was better than the Melissa McCarthy claptrap we saw, or the Prom, so............

Guesses abound. 

Winner - should it be me, gets a red-hot photo shoot with one Mr. Ollie.........Mike and Peter's dog.  Winner - should it be Mike (ha!), gets a bottle of vodka and a red-hot photo shoot for Ollie and myself. Either way, I win.  And technically, either way, Mike's drunk. 

Look at him there with his 1986 People's Choice Award and his "Worlds' Best Boss" mug (psssst.....he works from home!). It's sad. He has no Oscar. IF he acted nice to me, he'd be a shoe in for a golden statue. But.........that would be a stretch that even Streep couldn't pull off. 

So welcome to the 10th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game®.   I am not sure I have witty comments to add to the nominations (Mike will question whether I ever did!).  I literally have almost nothing to go on. 

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: RIZ AHMED Sound of Metal CHADWICK BOSEMAN Ma Rainey's Black Bottom ANTHONY HOPKINS The Father GARY OLDMAN Mank STEVEN YEUN Minari 

A previous Oscar winner portraying a man with Alzheimer's. It seems like a shoe-in. But Boseman is dead, so if they're running long on the broadcast he might get the win. It's not like he'll be doing an acceptance speech. 

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: SACHA BARON COHEN The Trial of the Chicago 7 DANIEL KALUUYA Judas and the Black Messiah LESLIE ODOM, JR. One Night in Miami... PAUL RACI Sound of Metal LAKEITH STANFIELD Judas and the Black Messiah 

I dunno. He was on SNL a few weeks back. And he' isn't Cohen, so........that's a plus. 

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: VIOLA DAVIS Ma Rainey's Black Bottom ANDRA DAY The United States vs. Billie Holiday VANESSA KIRBY Pieces of a Woman FRANCES MCDORMAND Nomadland CAREY MULLIGAN Promising Young Woman 

I LOVE Kirby but.......  All signs point to McDormand. And she should get an Oscar each and every time she is up for one. And I hears she poops in a coffee can or something. I dunno, we don't have Hulu. 

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: MARIA BAKALOVA Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan GLENN CLOSE Hillbilly Elegy OLIVIA COLMAN The Father AMANDA SEYFRIED Mank YUH-JUNG YOUN Minari 

I suppose it could be Close's year, as she is the Lucci of the Oscars. But I think she'll remain a loser perpetual nominee. That anyone in a Borat movie is being recognized - and only because Rudy frottaged himself in front of her - shows how bad the year and the awards are.  It's going to a 74 year old woman. I just want to see which presenter is going to fuck up the pronunciation. 

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:  ONWARD Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae OVER THE MOON Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley SOUL Pete Docter and Dana Murray WOLFWALKERS Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants 

It's Pixar, whom I used to love. Now it's just an awards studio. 

CINEMATOGRAPHY NOMINEES JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH Sean Bobbitt MANK Erik Messerschmidt NEWS OF THE WORLD Dariusz Wolski NOMADLAND Joshua James Richards THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Phedon Papamichael 

Mank has the Kane-esque film qualities about it. Voters love that shit. 

COSTUME DESIGN: EMMA Alexandra Byrne MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Ann Roth MANK Trish Summerville MULAN Bina Daigeler PINOCCHIO Massimo Cantini Parrini 

DIRECTING:  ANOTHER ROUND Thomas Vinterberg MANK David Fincher MINARI Lee Isaac Chung NOMADLAND Chloé Zhao PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Emerald Fennell 

Two women nominees. Does the Academy know they overused their quota? Do they know she'll be the only Asian female winner?

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE):  COLLECTIVE Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana CRIP CAMP Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder THE MOLE AGENT Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez MY OCTOPUS TEACHER Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster TIME Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn 

I'm going on name only. 

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT): COLETTE Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers DO NOT SPLIT Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook HUNGER WARD Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan 

I mean, it could happen. And I've seen her grave, so I feel a personal connection. 

FILM EDITING: THE FATHER Yorgos Lamprinos NOMADLAND Chloé Zhao PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Frédéric Thoraval SOUND OF METAL Mikkel E. G. Nielsen THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Alan Baumgarten 

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM: ANOTHER ROUND Denmark BETTER DAYS Hong Kong COLLECTIVE Romania THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN Tunisia QUO VADIS, AIDA? Bosnia and Herzegovina 

From the filmmaking giants of Bosnia

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:  EMMA Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze HILLBILLY ELEGY Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson MANK Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff PINOCCHIO Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti 

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE): DA 5 BLOODS Terence Blanchard MANK Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross MINARI Emile Mosseri NEWS OF THE WORLD James Newton Howard SOUL Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste 

One way or the other, Treznor is going home with his second Oscar, though he'll probably be at home, dialing into his Zoom award show. 

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG): FIGHT FOR YOU from Judas and the Black Messiah; Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas HEAR MY VOICE from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite HUSAVIK from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson IO SÌ (SEEN) from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se); Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini SPEAK NOW from One Night in Miami...; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth 

I dunno. Give it to Odom, he only has a Tony.  And to tell you how shitty this year's awards are: a song from Eurovision - not the competition, but the Will Ferrell POS Netflix movie. 

BEST PICTURE:  THE FATHER David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers MANK Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers MINARI Christina Oh, Producer NOMADLAND Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers SOUND OF METAL Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers 

One way or another, McDormand is going home with another Oscar. 

PRODUCTION DESIGN: THE FATHER Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara and Diana Stoughton MANK Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale NEWS OF THE WORLD Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan TENET Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas 

A period piece?  And in black and white?  Win!   Tenet director Christopher Nolan ranted against how movies are released in a world where the industry was trying to find a way to survive. His team might be great, but they're going down because of him. 

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): BURROW Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat GENIUS LOCI Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU Will McCormack and Michael Govier OPERA Erick Oh YES-PEOPLE Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson 

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): FEELING THROUGH Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski THE LETTER ROOM Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan THE PRESENT Farah Nabulsi and Ossama Bawardi TWO DISTANT STRANGERS Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe WHITE EYE Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman 

SOUND NOMINEES GREYHOUND Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman MANK Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin NEWS OF THE WORLD Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett SOUL Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker SOUND OF METAL Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michellee Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh 

It has the category right in the name!

VISUAL EFFECTS: LOVE AND MONSTERS Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox THE MIDNIGHT SKY Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins MULAN Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez TENET Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher 

A lot of Crouching Tiger / Leaping Lizards going on here. Probably should have been Tenet, but won't be. 

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM: DELIVERY OF PRODIGIOUS BRIBE TO AMERICAN REGIME FOR MAKE BENEFIT ONCE GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad THE FATHER Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller NOMADLAND Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI... Screenplay by Kemp Powers THE WHITE TIGER Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani 

Can I just go on record that it took EIGHT people to 'write' Borat?  EIGHT. A tale of dementia seems to be in order here for a win. 

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY) NOMINEES JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas MINARI Written by Lee Isaac Chung PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Written by Emerald Fennell SOUND OF METAL Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Written by Aaron Sorkin 

Sorkin always seems like the safe choice. But women..............am I right?  Written by a woman for a woman and for women.  

There you have it. Possibly the crapshoot to end all crapshoots. Mike has already begged off watching this with me. And even if he did, he'd razz me for not staying up for it all. And it's gonna be one of those weird Covid, low energy, socially distanced, empty stage things...........so, snore.  (as if they are any better live and in person!)

May the best Cis Man win.   ..........or Mike. 

Song by: the Style Council

I'm Just Wild About Harry

I don't know about all of you, but a rough rough week for me.  Next week might (?) be better. 

Pretty Kitty

                                         It started off like Romeo & Juliet, but it ended in tragedy.......

Shep and his would be girlfriend, Penny. 

She cries when she sees him. 

Now and again, Shep gets out one of balls Aunt Meredity got him a while back. He doesn't quite know what do with a ball, sad to say........

.....which is how he got it stuck here.  And then gave me a look like, "help me!"

.....so I helped him. 

Both the kids love the new kitchen area rug. ....and each other? 

Sophie is on meds that spur her appetite.....for any and everything. 

She is not above trying to whap me for anything I might have to give her.  And I do. 

Morty is currently dog-sitting this handsome fellow, Harry. 

OMG, his markings.  His face.  I love him!!!

....and one more, just for good measure. 

Song by: Miss Peggy Lee

Tired

Ever have a leg cramp a night? 

Sure you have. The night before last, I had a doozy. Honestly, while I didn't cry aloud, I'm amazed 710 didn't wake up from my squirming and trying to stifle a slight sob. 

It was one of those cramps that had three waves. You think you're through the worst of it, and find out your dead wong. 

Anyhoo......it happened at 01:18, I swear it lasted two hours, but it was like eight minutes. Still - a LONG eight (that's what she said!).  I had to get up to stretch afterwards - and pee. Not necessarily in that order. 

As cramps go, it was one of the more painful ones. But I finally got back to bed and Soph came up to comfort me.  

Eventually I got to sleep, but it was now way late and I was up way early. 

So I'm tired. Beat. 

It's not much of a post, but it's all I got.  Off to bed. 

Song by: LCD Soundsystems 

Song for a Good Son

Even I, Blobby the socially inept, know that one is not supposed to play favourites with your kids. But I suspect everyone does it. 

I have adored every single pet I've ever had, or had the pleasure of knowing - except for one of Meredity's cats. Horrid creature, she. The cat, not Dith. 

Today would have been Petey's 19th birthday. 

I fell in love with Petey when he was eight weeks old and belonged to my sister.  I loved all the dog she had, but Petey had a special place in my heart. I can't tell you why exactly - he just did.  

9+ years later, we would take him in. Love him. Care for him. Nurse him. And love him some more. 

710 says he was the perfect starter dog. And he was. Especially for 710 who never had one before. Don't get me wrong, for years, it was a lot of work tending to his conditions, but we wouldn't have had it any other way, as we knew no one would have cared for him more. I dare say, even my sister and her family. 

Sure, I could have put 3-4 kids through college on what we spent on him, and it was still worth it. 

Pete was as low key as could be, but ever adorable. He made us hound folks. I do love most dogs, but it is doubtful we'd own anything but a hound. 

I believe Petey made us better people. While I don't really care for children all that much, I get that you put your kids first and make them the priority. We did that with Petey............and now Shep. 

Yeah yeah - we love and loved the cats, and treat them with the same reverence, but........it's different and you know it. 

So, I've been thinking about him lately, as we lost him around this time five years ago, followed closely by his birthday. 

A few more parting shots. 

Cuteness abounds on his stacked beds. 

Partners in crime. 

Sophie would loathe to admit it, but she loved Petey. If it weren't for his constant / violent sneezing and such, I think she would have slept next to him more than she did. But he was an old man, with old man attributes......and she has her limits of what she'll put up with. 

Anyway, happy birthday to my boy. 

Song by: the Bangles