The World's Common Tater

It was a banner week for me. I actually watched a movie and I finished two books. Now I will settle back into my no movie/one book life.

Life

My son has been staying with us off and on due to flood damage at his condo. His cats have been here full-time since the damage. Extra people in the house definitely change your day to day.

I attended a funeral Thursday morning. I saw a lot of old friends I haven’t seen in a long time and was reminded of the time and place in my life when I felt the most at home.

I went to one book club Thursday night and will attend another tonight. Thursday night one of the new book club members declared that she would refuse to read any book that was “scary” so one of my possible selections for next month was eliminated before anyone had a chance to vote for it.

Movies

We watched Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney and Julia Roberts. It was your typical rom-com type of movie, but I loved seeing Clooney and Roberts together again. I’m also a fan of Kaitlyn Dever and hope she gets some more starring roles soon. Ticket to Paradise is a pleasant way to spend an evening if you are a fan of Clooney, Roberts, and/or films that don’t make you think.

TV News and Views

The Goldbergs is ending after this season. It’s been on for two years. Probably two years too long. It should have ended with Adam’s high school graduation.

CBS renewed NCIS, NCIS: Hawai’i, Survivor, Amazing Race, Tough as Nails, Lingo, CSI: Vegas, 60 Minutes, and 48 Hours. SWAT, Blue Bloods, and East New York are still not renewed.

I’ve read that Blue Bloods has been asked for a budget cut before it is renewed. That could mean cuts from the cast. I think it would be best to retire it.

Magnum PI made its NBC debut. I had my doubts about it when it was first announced, but it is a fun show.

I’m sad that Ken Jennings is done with his hosting stint at Jeopardy for the season. I’m not a fan of Mayim Bialik’s hosting style.

Books

I finished two books this week.

Be Free Or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape From Slavery to Union Hero by Cate Lineberry

The true story of Robert Smalls, a slave who became a hero after he stole a Confederate ship and took it to the Union. He was a pilot on the boat. He and a group of other slaves took the boat on a night when all of the white officers left. They smuggled their families on and sailed to the Union line of ships to surrender it. Smalls then became a pilot for the Union and later a congressman.

I enjoyed the story of Smalls. I wish there was more of his story and a little less of the tangents on the war in general. I did learn some things I didn’t know and think someone should make a movie about Smalls.

Now Is Not The Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

Frankie and Zeke create a poster while bored over the summer. Zeke draws the picture, and Frankie comes up with the words. They post them all over town. It creates a panic in town after people think they were placed by a satan worshipping cult. In the present, a reporter calls Frankie to confirm that she was the one who created the posters.

It was fine, I guess, I didn’t really buy the premise of the panic. I didn’t care much about the characters. The phase that we were supposed to think was genius or profound seemed dumb to me. It was an easy read, though, so it has that going for it.

On Deck

I have The Fablemans DVD on hold for me at the library.

Survivor returns on Wednesday. It is the one show I try to watch live as much as possible.

Alaska Daily is finally back this week.

I will finally finish Wayward by Chuck Wendig.