‘John Adams’, Schmuley, ‘The Visitor’ and lots of estate work

(posted from home)
(This post covers 6 – 11 December, 2008)

----------------------------------------------------

Thursday, 11 December –

I worked my estate to-do list until 1400, then ran a few errands by car. I walked the four miler in a steady rain and soaked my feet and legs.
Late in the day we took delivery of my new recliner chair. We had moved my old green mission-style recliner into my office/den and it now serves as my reading chair. This new one is exactly the same make and model but in a nice, rich reddish-brown leather which matches the new living room color.
I walked-four in a steady rain but the 40-degree air felt much more comfortable today than last week’s blustery 40.
We watched Survivor-Gabon and saw a good blind-siding move which changed the balance of the game.

---------------------------------------------------


Wednesday, 10 December –

I worked on estate tasks all morning and half the afternoon, then walked my four-miler. We both spent the evening on the web.

---------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, 9 December-

We spent all day in Chambersburg today, attending meetings and running errands related to mom’s estate. That evening we went out to dinner with Maypo and the missus. No walk today.


---------------------------------------------------


Monday, 8 December-

I spent the day preparing for an estate meeting tomorrow. That afternoon I walked-four, listening to another part of the multi-part CBC series called ‘Spin-Cycle’ on Editor’s Choice (broadcast sometime in Feb. 07)
We watched ‘The Visitor’ with Richard Jenkins (the Dad from ‘Six Feet Under’). Walter Vale is an economics professor and widower living in Connecticut and leading a boring life. One day he goes into New York, returning to an apartment he keeps for occasional returns to the City. He finds a young immigrant couple living in his apartment and becomes enmeshed in their lives. Recommended.

---------------------------------------------------

Sunday, 7 December -

I spent the morning and part of the afternoon with The Executor’s Guide and on meeting preparation for Tuesday.
On this very cold and blustery day (low Thirties and winds gusting up to 50 mph), I bundled up well for my four-miler, again listening to CBC “Editor’s Choice” podcasts. I heard a very interesting piece on political spin-doctors and journalists in Canadian and BBC broadcasting. The main point was the changing news-cycle of 24-hour news and how it has caused the quality news to go deteriorate and forced broadcasters to take chances in reporting breaking news to get it first, though not necessarily right.
We didn’t have a movie tonight and watched ‘The Amazing Race’ season finale.

---------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 6 December –

First snow of the season today! It’s only an inch or so but very pretty, particularly on our hemlocks and white pines.
It’s a bit early in that I remember from my long-ago deer hunting days that we’d often hunt the first Saturday of the season (today) without snow and the second one with it.
This year’s first blast of cold came late and wasn’t as cold but we’re in for a few days of highs in the low-thirties—coldest highs of the year so far.
I spent the day reading the Executor’s Guide and preparing for a meeting with a lawyer next week.
In the afternoon I walked-four, listening to CBC’s ‘This Week in B.C.’ and “Editor’s Choice” podcasts. I particularly enjoyed an interview with Rabbi Schmuley Boteach of ‘Shalom in the Home’. The man makes a lot of sense and is very funny. I see he has a web site at www.schmuley.com.
That evening we finished the ‘John Adams’ HBO mini-series with Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. And after seeing the extra features—including a good documentary about David Attenborough (the writer on whose book the series is based)--- we realized how good it really was. The attention to detail and realism of the background was incredible. The story looked unflinchingly at both Adams achievements and his failings.
Highly recommended.

======= END OF POST ============