If things were not bad enough, now a blizzard in Ancramdale. Well a dusting of snow at least. Granny told me a million times I exaggerate.

Well I got my self an unintentional little project today. The local Keh Bank ATM shredded my debit card last night. I’d just pulled out of the drive through and realized I’d forgotten my card in the cash machine. It only took two minutes and Copake ate my card. They were very nice on the phone today, when I rang about it, despite shredding my fucking card. I learned that banks are a critical service and remain open.

Can one survive a pandemic on credit cards alone? Can I get a replacement debit card in these turbulent times? These first world problems haunt me.

I had my first ever FaceTime face timing today with John Sullivan. He looks like shit and I look worse. We’re turning into the great unshaven.

Send me your whiskers photo.

I fucked up another load. It seems I had a wad of tissues in the pocket of the sweatpants I put in the wash. It looked like I threw an unplucked chicken in the spin cycle. It must have been a big wad. Will all those paper scraps come off in the dryer?

Steven was feeling so sheepish about flat leaving me at golf yesterday that he snuck out of his home, broke curfew and delivered some of his free range eggs to me . Sheepish me hole – he just forgot about the golf. But I’m an egg whore and his yolks are delicious. I didn’t know eggs could have such flavor until I free ranged up here.

My other neighbor Big Lou used to drop off his free range eggs in the past. But he lost the herd of chickens, as he put it. They were taken by raccoons, coy-dogs, hawks and traffic. The free range chickens run very free up here in Ancramdale, just as nature intended. Only last year I was attacked by Steven’s cock as l dropped off some freshly cut day lilies at his home. Not the first cock attack in the Irving driveway, as I understand.

I was useless at sports as a child. I’m useless at sports as an adult. I know nothing about sports. I never watch sports.I was the number 17 pick on the soccer team. But I do love movies, books and films about sport. I couldn’t name a single football player, but I can list five great football movies off the cuff (and I still don’t understand the rules).

So my good friend Tim Schaentzler reminded to put Friday Night Lights on the binge radar.

Friday Night Lights gets a Triple Toole recommendation, for the book, the movie and the television series. Is there another triple out there?

The book, Friday Night Lights, follows the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team as they take a run at the Texas state championship. The nonfiction book gets deep into the dedication of the players and their coaches and the fanaticism the Odessa town folk for this football tradition. It also delves into the glory days attitude of ex high school players who never escaped their home town.

The excellent movie adaptation of FNL stays true to the book. Billy Bob Thornton leads the cast as Coach Gaines. Where the film excels is in creating the excitement of the games. The movie also deals with the heartbreak of failure, something rarely represented in sports stories.

We all love Connie Britton. She plays Coach Gaines wife in the movie AND plays Coach Taylor’s wife in the 5 season series.

The Friday Night Light series is set in the fictional Texas town of West Dillon. The football games are edge of your seat viewing and the family dynamics are the most realistic I’ve seen in any long form drama. This show was great because it was smart and real. We all came away from FNL with our favorite character ; every bodies best friend Landry; misunderstood hunk Riggins; hot white trash Tyra.

It was always Tyra for me.

This is a nice show Shelley. Trust me.

The series is available from Hulu, Amazon and a few more providers.

I’m throwing in another recommendation for a movie that always reminds me of my buddy Sean “The Liger” Jackson. Any Given Sunday (NetFlix) is directed by Oliver Stone and takes a cynical look behind the curtain at the business of football . Its a big production with a big cast : Pacino is in full on shouting mode; a young Jamie Fox is in full on cocky mode and Cameron Diaz is in full on bitch mode. Sean The Liger blew my sub-woofer watching this at my house a dozen years ago and still hasn’t paid me for a replacement.

My last shout out on the football viewing front goes to Last Chance U (Netflix). The first two seasons of this docu-series center on the football team from East Mississippi Community College. It’s a team of misfits and losers thrown together for one last shot at making a future for themselves. If you’re not hooked after the first 30 minutes of this show next coffee is on me.

Kudos to Citibank, they are shipping a replacement Debit card to me tomorrow with no shipping charge.

I think I may grow a beard.

It was another spectacular day in Columbia County. Playing what may be the last round of golf for a while, Trey and myself got out for 18 at Copake Lake Country Club. We had two no shows, some excuse about a knitting club.

Copake may not be the best golf club in the county but it’s the most beautiful. Is sits high over Copake lake with panoramic views of the surrounding Berkshire Mountains. The Greens, the clubs attached restaurant, is one of the best in the region. It’s usually open year round.

Today was amongst the busiest days I’ve seen at Copake Country Club. People are taking to more outdoor activities it would appear. They do walk at the appropriate social distance of course. They charged no fees if you walked the course today (I always walk) and only $10 to drive a cart. It’s encouraging to see these businesses do the right things to keep up community spirit. I played the ladies tees again.

So recommendations. My top show from last year, and an excellent 20 episode binger, is Succession on HBO. The storyline centers on the Roy family, the majority owners of a global media empire. The Murdoch family comparisons are not subtle.

When I watched the first episode, back in 2018, I found all the characters so despicable that I left it on the shelf. But realizing that even I can be wrong sometimes , I went back in last year and got hooked.

This Roy family is toxic. But what’s more fun than watching really rich assholes behave really badly. The dialogue is whip smart and quotable. Watching this You’ll wonder why you care about any of these hateful selfish characters. But surprisingly you do.

The standout amongst the flawless cast is Brian Cox (the first and best Hannibal Lecter), as patriarch Logan Roy. It’s Dad’s seat on the throne his aggressive offspring are vying for.

Much of the Succession is filmed downtown Manhattan by our TransRe office building, One Liberty Plaza. I did see co-star Kieran Culkin riding the 4 Train beside me one morning, obviously on his way to set location. He looked like he needed a good scrubbing. I’d have approached him but I hate to have to talk to anyone in the morning, especially not on public transportation. This is Manhattan – the original training ground for social distancing.

Succession is my best show of 2019. I even downloaded that ever repeatable opening theme onto a playlist. I plan on rewatching both seasons , as soon as I catch up on Westworld.

Continuing with my rich people behaving badly theme, my book recommendation is A Season in Purgatory by Dominic Dunne.

Dominic had a real issue with the rich getting away with murder. The Bradley family at the center of this novel are rich Irish Americans , who probably made their money in organized crime and have their eyes on the presidency. This family is based in Connecticut, but sounds very like another clan of narrow backs who summer in Hyannis.

Dominic Dunne became obsessed with the judicial system, and how it interacts with the wealthy, after his daughter was murdered in 1982. His child Dominique played the part of the oldest daughter in the original Poltergeist. The rich behaving badly and the failure to get true justice are common themes in Dunne’s writing. All his novels are extremely readable.

On the movie side, and positioned firmly in the rich behaving really badly corner, we have The Wolf of Wall Street. As none of us are too happy with Wall Street these days, this may just be the time to watch and hate on the story of corrupt broker, Jordan Belfort. This was my first time seeing Margot Robbie in a movie. All of Margot Robbie. I only paid attention to what a great actress she is later when I watched I, Tonya (another recommendation).

Since TWOWS is one of only a few comedies Scorsese directed I’m also giving a shout out to another favorite of mine – The King Of Comedy. This odd pairing of DeNiro and Jerry Lewis will make you cringe. Watch it just to see what an influence it had on Joker. There’s a double bill for you.

Wolf is the only one of Scorsese’s films I have truly liked since Casino. Just rewatch De Niro in last year’s (overrated) The Irishman giving that guy a beat down outside the deli and you’ll have to admit, The Irishman is no Goodfellas. That’s how I’d imagine my granny would look mugging a homeless person.

This note and photo are from my good friends Rick & Jane in Florida. Their beautiful new home overlooks the community golf courses.
Our neighborhood gater, Alex, is staying close to home during the pandemic. Greetings from Wellington. We’re hunkered down in the good weather.

New York is now limited to essential travel . Let me know what you’re up to.

I do feel that this isolation thing is a good opportunity to explore new experiences.

Today I decided I would try doing a load of laundry. I found an instruction video on YouTube. I’d start with something simple – maybe our bed sheets and those dark hiking socks I wear a lot. Bleach or no bleach ? I’m sure there’s no difference really. A cup of bleach will probably help kill viruses.

Much as I’d love this blog to be all about me it shouldn’t be. Send me your photos and tell me how you’re killing time. I need content.

I went golfing with three of my good friends today at Undermountain Golf Club. It’s a no pressure family owned nine hole course that can be played as eighteen. It’s off route 22 between Hillsdale and Millerton, and, as you may have guessed from the name, it’s under a mountain. Not a very big mountain, but there are some beautiful hikes up there that start close by the golf course. It’s part of the Taconic range. There were more people there hiking today than I’d seen before.

So my golf buddies. Trey is an ex Marine; Tim is an ex British army officer; Stephen was a troop commander in the Brownies and I was a captain in a brass band. Who would you want in a fight?

We four golfers greeted one another with distant blown kisses, despite a deep yearning to bro-hug.

It was a spectacular day on the course. There was only one other foursome behind us the whole afternoon. In order to maintain some semblance social distancing my group forced me to play off the ladies tees.

One of the only other four players behind did almost take off Steven’s head with an errant drive. Steven is the kind of person who would get killed by a golf ball during a pandemic. The offending golfer , did get drinks for us as an apology (kinda). He claimed he yelled fore. He must be hoarse. We didn’t hear him.

Tim squeaked out a 13 skin win in our match. We had a blast today. We had glorious weather and the course to ourselves. We’re going out again tomorrow.

None of today’s recommendations would pass the Shelley Smell Test. You’ll not feel like singing in the rain after watching, reading or listening to any of the following. A pretty dark list but all great.

My good friend Brienne Bannister suggested the Root of evil podcast as a binger. On one surface this non-fiction series has a retired L.A detective proving that his father was the Black Dahlia killer. He proves it difinitively. That would usually be enough plot for any podcast but it’s just one strand. There’s a lot fucked up with the featured Hodel family.

The Black Dahlia is one of the most written about murders in American culture. There have been multiple fictional and non-fiction versions since the killing in 1947.

James Ellroy’s novel The Black Dahlia is the first of his L.A. Noir Quartet. The four books are loosely linked, with one book’s secondary characters often taking the lead roles in another of his novels. His noirs could be described as factional – they blend his version of historical figures and events into fiction. He’s my favorite writer.

The Quartet novels in order are : The Black Dahlia; The Big Nowhere; L.A. Confidential and White Jazz. There’s no one else writes smart hard boiled mysteries like Ellroy.

I’ve gone to a number of his readings . He is 6’ 3” bald and scary but always a gentleman when he signed my books. One of his lead characters hails from Galway so I guess he likes the Irish (but really, who doesn’t). Ellroy’s mother was found murdered in a ditch when he was a young teen. There’s little doubt that helped set the tone of his writing.

John Gregory Dunne also wrote an excellent fictionalized version of the Black Dahlia story. His novel True Confessions approaches the story from the viewpoint of two Irish Catholic brothers, one a priest , the other a bent cop. It’s a emigrant Irish mother’s dream team. This fictionalized version is a complex morality tale, pitting the hypocrisy of the Catholic church against the corruption of the L.A. police force.

True Confessions was adapted into an excellent 1940s set murder mystery starring Robert DeNiro, as the priest, and Robert Duvall as the cop. You’ll never see two better Roberts in a film together.

There was a film version of The Black Dahlia directed by Brian De Palma but it’s miscast and missed the mark. The supreme Ellroy movie adaptation I’m recommending is L.A. Confidential. It deservedly won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay in 1997.

This is the film that put Russell Crowe on the map playing tortured cop, Bud White. Favorite scene – Bud shreds that chair.

L.A. Confidential is a full on, widescreen rewatchable experience. Don’t watch it on an iPhone, please.

This dog tried to take a shit on my golf ball today. We were on the 16th green. Tim is going to google for dog turd related rules when he gets home.

I just emptied the dryer. I may need to buy new bed sheets.

It’s the important little things you forget to bring when you flee Manhattan.

Usually when I go for one of my long overdue haircuts the barber gives me a sneaky eyebrow and ear trimming. He’ll also take care of my snoz hairs if I make the special request. At my age every thing grows quickly everywhere I don’t want it to. Things could become a tangled mess soon. The only scissors in the upstate house are lettuce trimmers. I tried nose plucking with tweezers but it brought tears to my eyes.

I need nostril trimmers.
I need to get to Hannafords.

Crazy as it all is these days, it’s nice to be able to sit outside on a workday with a coffee. There’s nothing to disturb the country silence save the chirping of birds and the sound of my neighbor, Big Lou , shooting small animals somewhere across the corn field.

I think I may have squirrels in my attic (not a metaphor). Those little pricks ate away the cabling in my Mercedes a couple of years back. It cost me $3k to replace. The dealership explained that American rodents have a preference for European rubber. He then tried to sell me a bridge. I’m borrowing Lou’s shotgun.

On to some recommendations.

I’m a huge Elmore Leonard fan. Nobody wrote dialogue and created characters quite like he did. He’s the one they all try to imitate, including fanboy Quentin Tarantino . Tarantino adapted the Leonards Rum Punch into his under appreciated film, Jackie Brown. He never adapted again.

Elmore wrote a total of 48 novels over his fifty year career, shifting from westerns to mainly crime fiction. Elmore Leonard’s crooks are small time, lazy and not nearly as smart as they think they are. His books are tight, fast and fun. If you need a great writer to invest in, there are very few as smart and readable as “Dutch”.

There have been a lot of movie adaptations of Elmore’s novels. These are a few of my favorites, both book and movie.

Out of Sight: This was a high gloss production starring George Clooney and a young Jennifer Lopez, in her best role. Everyone loves that car trunk scene. I’d be happy to get stuck in a trunk with Jen. Shit, it wouldn’t even be too bad to get jammed in there with old George.

Out of Sight was directed by Steven Soderbergh, who’s currently on everyone’s radar for Contagion (Netflix). If you want to see his gem, try and track down The Limey – an excellent neo-noir.

Get Shorty: John Travolta is all kind of cool as a hood who gets involved in the L.A. movie industry. This one also stars Gene Hackman, out of character, as a weasely producer. This is the Leonard adaptation with the cast to beat. The film plays more for laughs than his others. The sequel Be Cool is not cool.

Cat Chaser: It’s not a great film but I have a soft spot for it. This movie nails the low end look and feel I always imagine from his books. Kelly McGillis is beautiful and Peter Weller (Robocop – another rewatchable) should have been a bigger star. I want to stay in that seedy motel movie setting my next sabbatical.

Jackie Brown: When you read Leonard, then watch Tarantino, you’ll see the influence on QT’s characters and dialogue. You’ve got lots of small time hoods talking about nothing much. Jackie Brown is a film as much about loneliness as a gangster film. This one has more in common with Once Upon A Time in Hollywood than Reservoir Dogs (and I loved both). There is one killing in Jackie Brown that shocks me every time. Double bill Jackie Brown with Out of Sight and look out for crossover characters.

All four films are on my Rewatchables list.

The Elmore Leonard list was prompted by an excellent binge recommendation from my good buddy John Sullivan.

For those of us who watched Justified , when it originally aired between 2010 and 2015, it was unmissable. It ran 6 seasons with 78 episodes on FX. Raylan, the lead character originated from an Elmore story called Fire in the Hole. Raylan later got his own novel oddly titled Raylan (I read it last month). Justified is best described as a neo-western crime series – basically a kick-ass modern day deputy fighting slightly organized crime.

As a heads up, the first episodes have a standalone format, but the story settles into a broader arc by the end of season one.

If you want a great hero you need a great villain and Boyd Crowders is the fabulous fast talking, white trash protagonist in Justified. The back and forth dialogue between Good Guy Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) and Bad Guy Boyd (Walter Goggins) makes for some of the shows best moments. But it’s the supporting cast of losers that really seal this excellent binger.

Justified finishes properly and that final line just slayed me.

Tarantino cast both lead actors in Western roles in his last two films. I love those threads.

Shelley – you’ll like this series. Raylan is hot!

I’m currently reading La Brava. Elmore won his only Edgar award for that one.

It is a very supportive community up here in Ancramdale. My property is adjoined by Miller’s farm. When my neighbors lost all their cattle in a barn fire October 2018, the locals came together and organized multiple fundraisers to get the family back on their feet. A new barn was raised and the cattle replaced.

Ancramdale still has a great sense of community. They have been very quick off the mark these recent weeks with community outreach programs.

I’m a big 1st Wave channel 33 Sirius listener. They’ve been keeping it cheery and upbeat these days. There’s nothing like an 80s throwback to lift the spirits. Today it was Never Let Me Down Again – Depeche Mode, while I was driving.

I learned on 1st Wave radio that today is the 30th anniversary of the release of Violator. For those that don’t know their synth pop/alternative/new wave music, Violator is the greatest album from my top band Depeche Mode.

I saw DM for the first time 30 years ago at Wembley Arena starting their global Violator tour. This newly minted fan went out shopping in London soon after and bought himself a pair of white Levi’s and Chelsea boots. But I’m not nearly as cool as lead singer David Gahan and white denim was not the best attire for a sloppy Guinness drinker.

I’ve seen every DM tour since. There’s few better songs to get a stadium roused than Personal Jesus. Check out the cover versions by both Johnny Cash & Matlyn Manson.

I had planned to see Depeche Mode in Cleveland for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction this May, but things got in the way. It will happen eventually and I’ll be there.

Stacey was supposed to come back from Florida next weekend. But she missed me so much she’s pushing it back another week. Its sunny in Florida and the horse is still there. Better plan!

Hannafords didn’t have any nostril trimmers but I did buy some Star Wars and Finding Nemo balloons and some spare boot laces in assorted lengths and colors. And some Tic-Tacs.

Boredom drove me out to LaBonnes again. If anyone needs a shoe shine I’ve now plenty of polish, in a variety of colors, and protective spray. The shelves were all fully stocked with food products. Not a lot a bread, but no lines.

My binge viewing selection for tonight was handed to me at the supermarket!

Just two people in front of me at the register was multiple Oscar nominee Laura Linney. I was shifting towards her, approaching to tell her how much I love her current show when I got the hand .

“Space! Space!” from a salt and pepper haired woman wearing some kind of mohair smock. I was invading her five foot space, even though her little tosser of a son had squeezed between my spuds and her organically filled cart. Maybe your brat is a filthy little carrier mom. And, Christ it’s a fucking check out line, lady. Use Amazon Prime , shop at home you demented Yak.

But I didn’t say any of that . I was a polite social distancer and stayed my cart length social distance and excused myself and smiled like an imbecile. Because people are stressed and we all need to be nicer. Shit!

Anyway, on to Ozark on Netflix, starring (my new friend) Laura Linney and Jason Bateman. Season 3 airs on March 27th.

Here’s the basic concept. The Byrdes , an unhappily married couple and their two teenage kids , are forced into hiding in the Ozarks. They need to launder millions for the cartel or they’re dead. And not nice dead.

Julia Garner is a scene stealer as the tough little red neck crook running scams and a strip club. I’d never heard a lesbian bobcat joke before.

Ozark is a show that constantly shifts and surprises with top notch performances across the board.

I learned a trick. If you want to see how good or bad a characters performance is, turn down the volume.

I have a big issue with most modern sci-fi films. Too many conclude with the same small orb/tube/box that glows and will destroy the Universe in the wrong hands.

Netflix took a great book (Broken Angels) and created a screenplay of cliches . I binged it so you don’t have to. Brienne concurs! Hannah was a little more forgiving.

I’m creating a new movie category: “Films you probably should not watch with all the panic in the world but Karl is recommending none the less.”

Children of Men is a dystopian thriller set in 2027 England. A never better Clive Owen plays a bored civil servant who is tasked with saving the future of the human race. In the not too distant future the world has stopped populating and your youth alone is enough to create media celebrity.

The film is directed by Alfonso Cuaron, who went on to direct the overrated Gravity, with the always overrated Sandra Bullock . Gravity was one big special effect; Children of Men is a masterpiece. It is dark and violent, but it’s also full of humanity and hope.

I have to start giving Shelley (who’s my favorite friend-in-law) some viewing disclaimers , before she blacklists me. Children of Men is a hardcore watch too. Uncut Gems gave her nightmares.

Clive Owen is also great in his one episode of this seasons Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO). That you should be watching too. Larry will cheer you up.

I’m also recommending the book Children of Men – by P.D. James. It has the same core concept as the film but also has major differences . In this case the differences make for an excellent read. The 1992 novel was on many British Books of the Century lists.

I didn’t need anything from the supermarket today, I just needed to get out and about. I now have three extra toilet brushes in a variety of pastel colors and some extra extra virgin olive oil. Wifey is still in Florida with the horsey so I’m solo up here on my hill and I get antsy. I may be over buying without adult supervision. Visitors welcome.

I bumped into an acquaintance from my golf club at Hannafords. Marge was looking for an onion. She had no joy. I offered to drive her to my place and trade a couple of old scallions if she had any wet wipes on her. No joy there either.

Which all brings me to an alternate binge format: Podcasts.

The Rewatchables is a series of standalone round table discussions centered on movies that the panel love to rewatch. These podcasts are hilarious, educational and a fact fest for movie geeks like myself. The format centers on a general discussion followed by “The Categories”; what’s the best scene; best quotes ; alternate casting; what holds up/what doesn’t and excellent film trivia. Quentin Tarantino was a recent guest on three episodes, discussing some of his favorites. The man’s enthusiasm is infectious. I leave every episode ready to rewatch the discussion topic.

Pick a film you like and dive in. Everyone loves The Godfather and it’s a great one to start with . GF1 is one of the longer episodes.

A shout out to our friend Mike for recommending this binger to me last year. I’m hooked.

I started my Rewatchables listening with 48 Hours, a film which remains firmly on my all time best list.

So for today’s obvious movie recommendation – 48 Hours .

This is the mismatched buddy/cop film that started them all. The movie was Eddie Murphy’s first starring role and paired him with a much older than he looked Nick Nolte. Nick liked to party back in the day. It’s evident why Eddie quickly elevated to the worlds biggest box office star. He was 21 when he made 48 Hours.

Rooooooooxanne…….

The director, Walter Hill, often features scenes in beer joints named Torchy’s. The Torchys Country and Western bar scene is my top rewatchable pick in 48 Hours. Gantz (James Remar) playing the psycho villain, ranks second on my 80’s bad guy list. Hans in Die Hard will always be my #1 ❤️.

I’m rewatching it tonight.

I have the Blu-Ray but 48 Hours is currently showing on STARZ and streaming everywhere.

As I browsed through letters from home in my old shipping trunk tonight, I found my Granny’s family meatball recipe. It has been passed from Grandma to Grandson across the generations.

I felt this was my time to try it out. Stay tuned.

Merry St. Paddy’s Day!

Luck of the Irish me hole! I quit the sauce nine years ago and the only thing I’ve overstocked at the house is booze. I’ll trade you a Jameson’s for a box of sanitary wipes!

I did take a final run for groceries today, before I go all hermit. The buying had subsided at LaBonnes and there was plenty on the shelves. I bought more meat then ventured onward to Irving coffee, for one last public cappuccino. They are now serving take out only.

I figure when everything settles down I’ll need to have a Coronavirus Overstock BBQ. You’re invited.

Sticking with all things Irish today, I’ve a triple movie recommendation.

High on my rewatchables list is In Bruges, Martin Mc Donagh’s demented black comedy. The story covers a few days in the lives of two Dublin killers hiding out in Bruges. I had never liked Colin Farrell before but this film made a fan of me. For a change you get to hear his thick Dub accent. Brendan Gleason as always lights up the screen, as the seasoned, more educated partner (that’s Mad Eye Moody for you Harry Potter fans). This movie had me wanting to visit Belgium.

Here’s a challenge – name three famous Belgians .

Brendan Gleeson is also the guard in The Guard. He’s a whoring, drugging, drinking cop stationed in my home County Galway. Don Cheadle co-stars as an FBI agent brought in to investigate a consignment of cocaine expected to land by boat somewhere in the nether regions of Connemara. Liam Cunningham adds to the cast as a supporting villain (that’s Davos for you GOT fans). The Guard is all kinds of Irish quirkiness. Its violent, touching and hilarious.

Both films are refreshingly non-PC.

For more traditional viewing I’m throwing The Quiet Man in the mix; the Irish American Paddy’s Day staple. This 50’s classic is certainly not the greatest of John Ford movies but it’s fun fluffy viewing. Ireland looks magnificent in sweeping technicolor. And you can love him or hate him, but John Wayne was a movie star.

As another fascinating aside about me, I have a full set of autographs from the stars and director of the The Quiet Man. I’ve got four eventual Oscar winner scrawls in that book. My grandfather gave it to me as a gift when I was really too young to own it. He had a friend worked as a bus driver, shuttling the stars to the Ashford Castle set, who scored them. I supposed he could have left The cash in the middle of the Headford road if they refused to sign.

Grandad also gave me a lovely pocket watch he’d somehow gotten from a convent. I was only eight at the time and his oldest grandchild. I never understood the story behind that one. What happened the nun? Anyway, I smashed it on the scullery counter swinging it on the pocket chain. Stupid gift for a child really. I still have the autographs though.

On the Irish book front, and pound for pound the book that I can most relate to my family, I’m all in for The Barrytown Trilogy – by Roddy Doyle (The Commitments/The Snapper/The Van). The movie adaptations are worth a look too. The Snapper has the greatest opening line.

And lastly, for an excellent Irish Binger watch Love/Hate (Amazon Prime). It is a compulsive five short seasons. The hardcore stories center around drug dealers in Dublin. Check out Little Finger as a paranoid drug kingpin. Love/Hate was the water cooler viewing back in the homeland when it originally aired. This is definitely not the Ireland of leprechauns and fairy forts. Enjoy.

Working from home went well today. Full credit to the TransRe IT department (that I’m of course a member of). Everything connected and ran smoothly. The coffee here is great too.

I took a spin to Salisbury, CT to see if I’d have any luck shopping. I did. LaBonnes was open and the shelves were all healthily stocked. Not 100% healthy mind, but it was far from last wheeze either. I beat out some old dear on a walker for the last restocked 12 pack of TP. Sweet!

Sweet Williams, my favorite little bakery , was also still open. They are closing tomorrow until things blow over. I did get my cheese-bacon-chive scones.

Altered Carbon is Netflix’s most expensive production to date and it’s all up there to see on the screen. This high concept sci-fi-noir is based on three Takeshi Kovacs novels by Richard K. Morgan. The series is complex, dark, highly sexed and violent; everything I could ask for in a ten hour binge.

The first series stars the always watchable Joel Kinnaman (more on him later in another excellent binger). Each episode is titled after a classic film noir. Episode one, Out of the Past (Amazon/iTunes) is named for my ultimate Noir classic – 1947 Kirk Douglas & Robert Mitchum.

The obvious visual influence for the series is my favorite movie of all time. Blade Runner (NetFlix) is the daddy of all cyber-punk films. It’s based on the classic sci-fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep by author Philip K. Dick. It seems these sci-fi scribes like middle-K-names. Dick’s also the writer of The Man in the High Castle, currently on Amazon.

Once you’ve watched Blade Runner binge on with the underrated, perfect sequel Blade Runner 2049 (Amazon).

I’m four episodes into season 2 of Altered Carbon and here’s what I’ve learned so far. Anthony Mackie is a terrible actor and a complex plot doesn’t necessarily mean smart. The fight scenes are top notch though. I will finish watching it and report in.

As I stood peeing upstairs earlier this afternoon and wistfully gazed out my bathroom window, I observed a herd of wild turkeys meander peacefully through my woods. “If only I had a fucking shotgun,” I mused.

Food in but I forgot toothpaste. Tomorrow I’ll start isolation.

So I took advantage of all the panic.

West Taghkanic Diner is usually impossible to get into for Sunday Brunch. Not today. Their source to table food is delicious and they serve some of the best coffee I’ve had out. Give cups may have been excessive though. Teresa, my server , couldn’t have been nicer. They are quieter than usual but buzzing none the less.

I sat alone at the counter acting like a good social distancing citizen. Plus, they wouldn’t give this single loser a table.

Kieran – I know you like details on the food front. I had eggs over easy on bacon hash with sourdough toast. I had no scones, though they offered a biscuit on the menu.

As a binge recommendation today, I’m going with Giri/Haji, an eight parter on Netflix. Its a fish out of water, Japanese detective in London drama. The plot juggles a murder mystery, layered on top of a Yakuza meets London Mob story, with a bit of an old love angle thrown in the mix. And there’s some youthful lesbian action. This one was originally recommended by my good buddy Brienne.

The girl on the deli counter said these taste fine if you soak them overnight in water or milk.

My book recommendation for a totally immersive read is 11/22/63. Before you say, “I don’t read Stephen King” – this is not his typical fare. The plot revolves around an attempt to stop the Kennedy assassination . This one was awarded the L.A. Times Book Prize in 2011 and was a NY Times top 5 in Fiction. So there!

Here’s a rarity . I’m recommending a nice movie tonight. Local Hero (Amazon Prime) is one that always puts a smirk on my cynical face. A cocky American businessman is sent from Houston to buy a seafront Scottish village for his oil company. That about sums it. It’s whimsical , warm and funny. It will cheer you up.

This is NOT a good time to start reading The Stand.

I’ve solved the toilet paper issue.

As is my way every Saturday I headed into Millerton for a bit of a mosey. For the most part it was business as usual in town.

The Oakhurst Diner was open for take-out only. I had a coffee at the counter with the manager Clare. I’m always treated very well in there. Like most places Oakhurst is taking precautions. There’s is the best regular coffee in town. Happy to report that no one has stolen any bog roll from their bathrooms yet.

I did meet my buddy Steve Irving in Irving Coffee (no relation) for brunch. It was business as usual there.

Oblong Books was pleasantly active. One of the few upsides to the current going’s on may be more readers.

I did see Little Fires Everywhere prominently displayed on their bookshelves. The story centers around an arson and the master and servant relationship between two families in Shaker Heights, Ohio. It’s captivating, very readable and smart. It’s a one sitting read if you put yourself down with it.

I read this when it first came out on hardcover. It’s now a Reese Witherspoon selection. That is like a crucifix to this vampire. When did she become the book expert? That goes for you too Oprah.

Reese has cast herself and Kerry Washington as leads in the current Hulu adaptation. They are not at all who I pictured in the roles.

The author Celeste Ng has a previous novel , Everything I Never Told You. It’s excellent but grim.

Tonight I’ve been forced to revise my opinion of Adam Sandler. I’ve never found him funny nor talented before. Uncut Gems (On Demand) just changed all that.

His performance as a compulsive gambling jewelry dealer in 2012 NYC is one of the years best, in one of the best films from 2019. It’s intense. The Safdie brothers last directed Good Time (NetFlix) another rollercoasting nail biter starring main man Robert Pattinson.