An Ode to the Oddities in My Head

1. I went to the Hallmark store recently to buy a bunch of birthday cards for the coming weeks. The terms of my loan run for 3 years.
2. I find that whenever I ask someone how to do something that they know and I don’t, the instructions always seem to start with, “You just…” That’s when I know I am in trouble, because whatever they are doing never seems to work the same way for me.
3. Do you know how hard it is to find pantyhose these days? I know, I know, nobody wears pantyhose, but for a semi-formal wedding with a black dress, I didn’t want my pasty white legs showing. It has always been tough for me to buy pantyhose. When you are short and heavy, the pantyhose that fit around your hips are about two feet too long. And the ones that are the right fit for your legs come up between your knees and your crotch. Don’t give me those dreaded control top versions: I can’t get them over my hips and, if I could get them on, I couldn’t even think about taking them down for a trip to the bathroom. Gone are the days of buying L’Eggs in the egg-shaped package. What was the significance of that branding anyway? Did the pantyhose hatch?
4. If I ran for office, part of my platform would be that all toilets must be “comfort height” as the higher ones are described. And public restrooms would require grab bars or something that would make it easier to use the toilets. I am accustomed to the higher type toilets in my house and using a public restroom makes me feel like I am squatting over a hole in the floor. And while we are at it, why do we call them “restrooms?” Who goes there to rest?
5. Why is it that the days of the week all incorporate the word “day” but the months of the year don’t include the word “month?” I guess we have to figure out that they are months.
6. I liked the days when I could find the Yankee game on good old WPIX in the New York area. I could turn it on, listen to a few commercials for Ballantine, and enjoy the game. Now finding the game is like a scavenger hunt. Is it on the Yankee Network? Possibly, unless it is the featured game on ESPN or another network. Or it could be on Prime Video, a streaming network. Or Peacock, or some other place I can forget to look. The olden days were so much simpler for sports fans.
7. And speaking of the Yankees, the baseball season for me ends when the Yankees lose. After that happens (which seems to be every year), I no longer watch. At least I won’t be staying up late to watch games. Bring on college basketball!
8. We seem to agonize over which color to pick when we paint a room. But before long, they all look the same anyway, unless you choose a bold color for an accent wall. Otherwise, it is impossible to tell the difference between countless shades of gray or beige.
9. Why do we need two ways to spell “gray?” “Grey” and “gray” have exactly the same meaning, don’t they? Why couldn’t we settle on one version?
10. The other day my weight was down a pound. That must have been a good haircut the night before!
11. I got a new picture taken so I could renew my passport. You can’t wear glasses or smile in the picture, and with the bags under my eyes not obscured by glasses, I looked like an ad for Botox or cosmetic surgery – before! I guess the passport police don’t let you smile because if they need to track you down, they can use your passport picture as a mug shot. Look for mine in the post office!
 12. My nail salon is very quiet: no people talking loudly on their phones or with each other or engaging in conversations with the nail techs. The sound there comes from the whirring of the grinders and sanders and polishers, sounds that you would expect to hear in a workshop or dental office! And to relax clients, there are large monitors showing colorful fish swimming amid coral, snowcapped mountains, seaside vistas and even views of earth from space. The one scene that perplexes me is the shot of complicated, winding highways, with dozens of ramps and curves that immediately make me nervous, even though I’m not driving. Stick to the scenic views!
13. My dentist cleaned my teeth the other day. He shot so much water into my mouth that I should have worn a cape like I wear at the hair salon instead of a useless paper bib! And, by the way, his name is Dr. Chu – a great name for a dentist!
14. Can we talk for a minute about actress Diane Keaton, who died last week? We should all wish that we would be as beloved as this independent, talented woman, who could be a dramatic actress (as in “The Godfather,” all three of them) or a comic actress (as in countless Woody Allen and Nancy Meyers films). In every interview, she exuded a quirky charm, humility and grace. Her iconic style – menswear, large belts and her trademark hats (See “Annie Hall”) – was unique to her. She was not just likable on the screen; she seemed like someone you could join for lunch and have a wonderful time. Her legacy is dozens of movies that viewers will enjoy for generations. Since she passed away, I have already watched several of her movies, and viewing “The Family Stone” this year during the holidays will take on a special significance. Thanks for the memories, Diane Keaton.
15. I must also salute one of my all-time favorite actors, Robert Redford, who passed away recently. He was extraordinarily handsome; his Sundance Kid poster hung on the walls of my bedroom. He was also a terrific actor. I loved him in the big movies, like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting,” and I have seen “All the President’s Men” too many times to count. But watch him in “Three Days of the Condor” and “The Electric Horseman,” and laugh with him in “Barefoot in the Park” or “The Hot Rock” to see his range. And then there’s “The Way We Were.” When Barbra Streisand touches his face and hair in the final scene across from the Plaza Hotel, millions of women (including me) swooned. Now that was a love story! RIP, Sundance.
16. With Taylor Swift always making news AND music, I realized that I knew very little about her work. So lately I have listened to her music on Sirius Radio (until they discontinue her station). I knew some of the big songs they played on the radio, like “Shake It Off,” and I believed her when she declared, “We Are Never, Never, Ever Getting Back Together,” but I never explored the breadth of her catalog. I can really hear her country roots in her earlier songs, with the teenage lyrics and twangy guitars, but as she grew as an artist, her songs became more sophisticated. She has her share of angst, and, if you are one of her former boyfriends, you probably think this song is about you. But her more recent work shows a maturity and depth that I did not see coming. Normally, I listen to oldies stations, and I’m never, ever, ever going to hear Taylor Swift there – at least not for 20 years, so this experiment gets me into the Taylor Swift game.

Tina's September 2025 Movies and More

My September collection is typically eclectic, with some comedies, suspenseful dramas and interesting documentaries. Those items marked with an asterisk were new to me. Numbering picks up from previous months, and all entries are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 as the top rating. If you leave a comment, feel free to include your name at the end so I'll know who you are. Or not.  

97. Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain* (2025, CNN) – Actress Eva Longoria offers a delicious tour of Spain, the land of her ancestors, as she discovers traditional cuisines unique to various regions and experiences new culinary delights in this 8-part series. Longoria takes great pleasure in showcasing the culinary experts of Spain and learning about their specialties and commitment to their craft. In fact, Longoria enjoyed herself so much that she discloses that she has moved to Marbella, a beautiful city on the coast of Spain, where I can personally attest to the outstanding food. If you liked Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy, you’ll love this yummy series. 3½ dishes of paella.
98. He’s Just Not That Into You* (2009, Netflix) – Follow the story of some shallow young people and their dating lives and you will share their frustration and fun. 3 cans.
99. The Girlfriend* (2025, Prime Video) – This 6-part series is full of suspense and intrigue. Robin Wright is the classy, rich art gallery owner who dotes just a little too much on her adult son. When he brings home beautiful, sexy Cherry Lane, the girl of his dreams, her red flags become his mother’s nightmare. The two psycho women develop an instant mutual distrust and try to sabotage each other’s relationship with the man in the middle. If you liked “Fatal Attraction” and “Gone Girl,” this one’s for you. 4 cans.
100. Highest 2 Lowest* (2025, Apple TV+) – Denzel Washington plays powerful music executive David King, an aptly named mogul who is on top of the world. He has fame and fortune, literally sitting on top of the world in his gorgeous penthouse overlooking Manhattan, with his beautiful wife Pam and beloved son Trey. Everything is perfect – except for some potential financial setbacks, but none of that matters when his son and his son’s friend are kidnapped. This thriller takes us on car and foot chases as the police follow the case with King and company staying a step ahead of them. Considered the “best ear in the business,” King hears something in the kidnapper’s messages to him that gives him a big clue on how to get his son back safely. Spike Lee directs the thriller and Denzel is convincing as a man who knows how to get what he wants. 3½ cans.
101. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* (2025, Manville Cinema) – After six seasons on TV, two follow-up movies and the death (in real life) of Downton’s matriarch, the unforgettable Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Violet, we have finally reached the finale of this esteemed and precious franchise. It is 1930 and so much has changed. The characters routinely ride in cars and use the telephone; the downstairs staff is reduced in size (where’s another footman when you need one?), and the natural progression of responsibilities has come about for the family. Lady Mary is due to take over running the estate, just as Mr. Carson and Mrs. Patmore (now Mrs. Mason) are scheduled for retirement. It isn’t easy for some folks to let go (Lord Grantham), but it also won’t be easy for viewers who loved the series (raising my hand) to bid these characters farewell. The film brings together past, present and future with plenty of heart, with a few genuine chuckles along the way. Godspeed, dear Downton, and thanks for the joy you have provided us for these many years. 4 cans.
102. Remember the Day (1941, Cable TV) – Beloved teacher Miss Trinell (Claudette Colbert) adores her students, but one young man stands out from the class. Years later, that student, Dewey Roberts, has just been nominated for President and Miss Trinell goes to his reception at a Washington hotel to see him after many years. As she waits, she recalls their time as teacher and student, her love affair with a fellow teacher and her memories of days gone by. There’s not a lot of action here, but the sweetness and innocence were a welcome change from action movies and the news. I probably first saw this one as part of the “Million Dollar Movie” on WOR (the series whose theme was the music from “Gone with the Wind”) back in the 1960s. 2½ cans.
103. The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019, Cable TV) – This is the sweet story of race car driver Denny (Milo Ventimiglia), his dog Enzo (perfectly voiced by Kevin Costner), his wife Eve (Amanda Seyfried) and his daughter Zoe. Denny and Enzo have an unbreakable bond right from the start. The perceptive dog reluctantly welcomes Eve to the family but eventually falls in love with her. And when baby Zoe is born, Enzo becomes a watchful big brother. Denny shares his theories on car racing with his family (Enzo especially takes the information in) and leaves for races knowing Enzo will watch over his girls. I won’t ruin the story in case you haven’t seen it, but this movie doesn’t just make me cry, it makes me sob! 4 cans and a box of tissues!
104. The Unknown Number – The High School Catfish* (2025, Netflix) – Lauryn and Owen are young high school students in the throes of adolescent love at their tiny high school in Michigan. Their bliss is interrupted by a barrage of texts that are hateful and threatening, telling them to break up and suggesting that the young girl kill herself. As the texts continue, their parents go to the school, the police and the FBI for help, but to no immediate avail. The texts get sexually explicit and contain information only the two young lovers would know. Was it a jealous classmate? A cousin? High school is tough enough for kids learning to fit in and thrive socially, but these cruel messages made life even more difficult. The extent to which the texter goes is beyond belief, but this is a documentary, so all of it – including a major twist – is true. 3½ cans.
105. The Intern (2015, Cable TV) – This is NOT the Robert DeNiro you associate with “The Godfather” and “Good Fellas.”  Here he is 70-year old retired widower Ben Whittaker, whose ordered life needs a lift, so he applies for a “senior” intern position at an e-commerce clothing company led by its dynamic young founder, Jules (Anne Hathaway). Dressed in his neat business suits, always carrying a briefcase and a handkerchief, Ben is hardly the typical intern, but even with his extensive experience, he knows to defer to the boss and be ready when needed. And he is, as Jules’ personal and business lives run toward chaos, and Ben lends a helpful and guiding hand. I really like this movie as it shows that not everyone in their 70s needs to be put out to pasture and that not all up and coming entrepreneurs can make it without some support -- and a handkerchief at the ready. This movie was written and directed by Nancy Myers, and you can always count on her for contemporary charm. 4 cans.
106. All the President’s Men (1976, Cable TV) – With the passing of iconic actor and director Robert Redford, I decided to watch a few of my favorite Redford movies. This is the story of the Watergate crisis that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Redford’s Bob Woodward and Dustin Hoffman’s Carl Bernstein play two dogged reporters for the Washington Post who start with a small story about a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate complex and unravel the dirty tricks, slush money and the role of White House officials in the plans and the cover-up. I wish a reporting team today could be as successful in revealing the truth about the current administration and lead to its legitimate ouster. 4½ cans.
107. The Sting (1973, Cable TV) – Newman, Redford, slicked back hair, fedoras and Scott Joplin music. The combination of these factors and a slick plot about a couple of grifters out to avenge the death of their pal at the hands of a mob boss with a predilection for gambling make for a clever caper movie that I had not seen for many years. 4 cans.
108. Fisk, Season 3* (2025, Netflix) – This quirky Australian comedy centers around a woman (Fisk) who serves as an attorney in a small law firm. She wears the same bland, brown suit every day and she has to deal not only with annoying clients, but also with her officemates and her father and his male partner. I loved the first season, but I think this series may have worn out its welcome. 3 cans.
109. The Baltimorons* (2025, Montgomery Cinema) – Poor, hapless Cliff (Michael Strassner) can’t even kill himself successfully! When he goes with his fiancée to her family’s Christmas Eve gathering, he runs into the door frame and loses a tooth. Desperately seeking a dentist, he ends up with Didi (Liz Larsen), the only dentist who is available on the holiday, who treats his dental problem. Then his car is towed, he can’t get back to the party and the movie turns into both a buddy movie and a rom-com with Cliff and Didi going all over Baltimore so Cliff can perform his improv routine at a comedy club. This younger, lost but charming guy doesn’t fit with a middle-aged dentist, but the two hit it off after spending most of the day running around the city. You can wait until this movie is available to stream, but it is worth seeing. 3½ cans.
110. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry* (2023, Prime Video) – Harold (Jim Broadbent) and his wife Maureen (Penelope Wilton) lead a quiet life in England. She cooks and cleans the house and he takes out the trash. When he gets a brief note from “Queenie,” an old work friend, letting him know she is in hospice care, he decides to send her a note and sets off on foot to mail it in town. But a young woman tells him the story of her aunt, whom she “saved” by having faith in her recovery, and suddenly, Harold hits the road, determined to walk the 500 miles to see her in person. After a few days, he lets his wife know about his plan and she thinks he is crazy, but he is resolute, even calling the hospice so they can encourage Queenie know to hang on and wait for his arrival. Along the way, he meets a whole series of kind people who inspire him and are inspired by him, and the truth of his painful past and his friendship with Queenie are revealed. Although my feet hurt just watching his elderly man walk, it was a revelatory journey. 3½ cans. 

See You in September!

1. Now that we have to do practically everything online, why do I still have so much paper in this house? Remember when you would write a check with those carbonless copies and retain the copy? Or when you received the cashed checks back to retain them for your files? I had copies of checks from banks that no longer exist. I purged them all (or so I thought) each time I moved, but there would always seem to be a few that came along for the ride. I also used to save the receipts I got from the ATM machine; now they aren’t available. So at least a few sources of paper have been eliminated, but why do I still have so much?
2. My local ShopRite is reorganizing the aisles in the store. I wish they would ask me if they are doing it right. Just when I finally can remember where the Parmalat milk is located, they are going to move it again. Some of us are creatures of habit, so please don’t change anything!
3. The guy checking out ahead of me at ShopRite the other day had no bags to put his groceries in, he forgot his ShopRite card AND his glasses, so he couldn’t see well enough to enter his phone number into the terminal for identification. What a mess!
4. This morning I heard the song that my freshman year roommate at Douglass selected as her wedding song at her nuptials after her sophomore year – “Run Around Sue.” I don’t think the marriage lasted much longer than the song!
5. What does an emu have to do with insurance? That Liberty Insurance commercial with Lemu the Emu is so annoying! But I guess it is effective since I remember the company name.
6. Remember when you could go to the “Travel Size” bins in the store and find deodorant, shampoo and other necessities for 99 cents? Man, those days are over. You might as well buy the full size and portion it into a smaller bottle. I know I’m not paying $4 for a tiny bottle of shampoo!
7. This summer was filled with tennis watching for me. I watched Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the French Open and then lose to him at Wimbledon. They were matched up again at the US Open, with Alcaraz taking the crown. Sinner is 24 and Alcaraz 22. If they stay healthy, these two superb players will be providing tennis fans with about 15 more years of great tennis.
8. Do you think the term “cul de sac” is actually French? I don’t remember that phrase from the 4 years of French I had in high school.  Of course, I can barely remember that I TOOK 4 years of French in high school! It has been 57 years since I graduated from good old Somerville High School – SHS, we are the best! Pioneers forever!
9. I can’t seem to open anything these days – bottles and wrapped food seem impenetrable to me. When the package claims it is “Easy to open,” I know I’m in trouble. A wrench, pliers, bottle openers, rubber thingys – nothing seems to help. I’m losing my competence and confidence at the same time!
10. I love to watch food shows on TV, whether they feature competitions or highlight specific chefs at restaurants, diners, drive-ins and dives. I find it fascinating that chefs can take random ingredients and, using their culinary know-how, create mouth-watering dishes. The only drawback of these shows is that I can’t TASTE the food. I wish I had a fork and a way to grab a bite of these delicious-looking concoctions.
11. As I said, I love the food shows, but the Halloween baking shows with scary and spooky cakes are not my thing. I’m already scared by the thought of the calories these concoctions carry!
12. My credit card was "compromised" recently so I had to notify the credit card company so they could send me a new one. The new one doesn’t expire until 2030. Let’s hope I don’t expire before the card does! And what a pain! I had to try to recall all of the subscriptions, etc., that bill directly to that card, including EZPass, Norton, Sirius radio, Microsoft, media and newspapers and so on. Our technology is wonderful – except when it isn’t.
13. I had a RING camera installed at my front door. The thing works fine, except that it gets all excited when the lawn service guy rides by on the mower. It can’t wait to let me know there is someone at my door – repeatedly! Thank God I figured out how to turn off the audio!
14. Sometimes it pays to be a hoarder. I always stashed away most of the clothes I outgrew, thinking that someday I might fit into them again. After a considerable weight loss this year, I have gone shopping in the bins in the basement where jeans of every size have sat patiently waiting for an eventual reunion, and that time is now. (Classic jeans don’t go out of style, right?) But will I store the jeans that are too large in case I need them again in the future – God forbid? Who knows? I have already traipsed to Good Will several times to donate some of the clothes – even things that now fit but which I know I won’t wear again. Even things that I never wore and still have the tags on. But the rest can relax until I make up my mind. I’m just glad I kept the stuff I didn’t think I would ever be able to wear again!
15. I’m going to be 75 in October (even I can’t believe it), but I still have a collection of baseball caps and sweatshirts that I don’t recall my mother wearing when she hit 70, so I really don’t look or feel my age. Except that body parts are failing (hence my left knee replacement in May with the right knee replacement looming) and my hair is no longer thick and full. I have less hair on my head and more on my chin, and I object to this age-related transition. I also object to hearing the phrase, “Considering your age…” from doctors who want us to just accept that we are getting older. Aging isn’t easy, but it beats the alternative!
16. After a year apart, a knee replacement for each of us and various health challenges that made a get-together impossible, reuniting with my BFF this month was especially sweet. We have been friends since the first day of our freshman year at Douglass, 57 years and counting, and except for during the pandemic, we have never gone this long without seeing each other. I took my new knee to the highway and headed her way, arriving stiff but intact 4 hours later. Seeing her was well worth the trip.

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Tina's August 2025 Movies & More

This month's collection features murder mysteries, sure-bets with Tom Hanks and Helen Mirren, the debut of a funny series with a bright comedian, documentaries about an iconic sports star and a man whose tragic end deprives us of a promising future and many more. You have an extra day this weekend so use it wisely. Those items marked with an asterisk were new to me. Numbering picks up from previous months, and all entries are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 as the top rating. If you leave a comment, feel free to include your name at the end so I'll know who you are. Or not. 

86. Leanne* (2025, Netflix) – I am a big fan of comedian Leanne Morgan, a down-home woman from Tennessee whose act focuses on her family and is easily relatable for women in their 50s. Her new sitcom capitalizes on her experiences but broadens the scope, as she deals with a cheating husband, aging parents, grown children and her sometimes wild sister (Kristen Johnson). I binged all 16 episodes the day it was released (each one is only around 20 minutes), and it grew on me. There is plenty of contemporary humor and references to make it fresh and funny. This show isn’t a classic comedy like Friends, but I found it cute and funny. Leanne always looks perplexed by the events going on around her, and Kristen Johnson’s Southern accent seemed to drift in and out, but the show is well-cast and amusing. Whenever season 2 comes around, I’ll be ready to binge. 3½ cans.
87. The Rebound* (Netflix, 2008) – Sandy (a stunning Catherine Zeta-Jones) is a dedicated, suburban, stay-at-home wife and mom to two young children when she catches her husband cheating on her. She quickly divorces him and moves with her kids to New York City. She almost immediately gets a good job and hires Arum Finklestein (Justin Bartha), the 25-year-old kid from the nearby coffee shop, to babysit her children. After going out on a series of disastrous fix-up dates, she realizes that she would rather spend her time at home. Arum is adorable, great with the kids – and 15 years younger than Sandy. Do I have to spell it out for you? This wasn’t a great movie, but it was light and sweet and I enjoyed it. 3½ cans.
88. Taurasi* (2025, Prime Video) -- Love her or hate her, Diana Taurasi is one of one when it comes to basketball. She's a fiery competitor who will knock down opponents and 3-pointers. She was always barking at the refs and was known to “welcome” new players to the WNBA with an elbow to the gut. 6-time Olympic Gold Medalist, 3-time WNBA Champ with Phoenix, 3-time National Champ with UConn, Taurasi retired this year as the all-time scoring leader in the WNBA. This 3-part documentary tells the story of a woman who loved playing basketball and became an icon. 3½ cans.
89. Mr. and Mrs. Murder* (2025,Huly) – Two young, vibrant couples, close friends and hunting buddies, seem happy, until suddenly one of them disappears, apparently drowned while hunting ducks alone on a nearby lake filled with alligators. That sounds like a fairly simple case, although no body was found. The assumption was that the gators got him. Or did they? This is a captivating documentary that covers years of investigation by the authorities, urged on by the dead man’s family and the wife of the other couple. 3½ cans.
90. Sullivan’s Crossing, Season 3* (2025, Netflix) – I discovered this show recently, when Netflix began streaming seasons 1 & 2. Now the third season of popular program about a closeknit community in Nova Scotia is available so I continued watching. Despite its predictable plots, it is a pleasant show with characters you become invested in. Inevitably, someone will face a big accident or a disease; there will be a natural disaster of some sort; and the main character, Sully (Scott Patterson), will almost lose his beloved campground for whatever reason, only to have things work out in the end. And you can count on Dr. Maggie Sullivan (Megan Cohan) and her love Cal (Chad Michael Murray) to go through relationship woes, but somehow it all stays together, despite the evidence of any visible means of support for the former doctor and lawyer. Season 3 ended on a big cliffhanger, but season 4 hasn’t even been produced yet, so it looks like a long time before we find out what happened. I’m ready when they are. 3½ cans.
91. Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser* (2025, Netflix) – I will admit that I was a faithful follower of NBC’s reality show about obese people trying to lose weight. In most cases, they did just that, sometimes shedding more than half of their body weight. It always struck me that if someone gets on the scale and is down 26 pounds in a week, that cannot be healthy. These folks not only ate a restricted number of calories, but the trainers on the show – Bob and Jillian – pushed them beyond reasonable limits, forcing them to exercise for up to 8 hours a day, shaming them and shouting in their faces, all under the guise of helping them. Many of them ended their stint on the show with slim, trim bodies, and some remained that way after the show ended, but not everyone. Featured in this 3-part documentary were some people who kept the weight off, while others looked heavier than ever. The producers of “The Biggest Loser” were there to make a TV show, not to provide medical guidance. They, as well as the trainers, come across badly in this show, in some cases pushing caffeine pills, and in other cases just humiliating the contestants. This is NOT the way to lose weight! 3½ cans.
92. American Prince: JFK Jr.* (2025, CNN) – The Kennedy family has always been intriguing, filled with possibilities and tragedy. This 3-part look at John F. Kennedy Jr. covers mostly his last few years, when he decided to start a political magazine called George. He married Carolyn Bessette, tried to avoid the paparazzi and ultimately was killed while flying his wife and her sister to a family wedding in Massachusetts. The program includes interviews with his friends and associates and the wife of his late cousin, Anthony Radziwill, his best friend. This rugged, handsome and charming young man was just entering the prime of his life. Would he have entered politics, the family business, and become an important figure? Who knows? But the loss of such a vibrant man with endless possibilities remains a painful piece of Kennedy history. 3½ cans.
93. Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print* (2025, HBO) – 50 years ago, women’s magazines featured articles on recipes, fashion, taking care of the home and catering to the husband or family. Then along came Ms. Founded by writer Gloria Steinem and other feminists, Ms. tackled subjects that previously were overlooked or ignored, such as equal pay and rights for women, abortion, domestic violence and sexual harassment. Many women felt affected by these topics, most of which were not discussed publicly. This documentary traces the founding and development of Ms. Magazine and its importance in opening up dialogue and giving women a voice. It is sad that so many of society’s ills and inequities still exist today. Don’t get me started! 3½ cans.
94. A Man Named Otto (2022, HBO) – Starting my day with almost any Tom Hanks movie is a good thing. Here Hanks is taciturn Otto, a widower living in a community and fending off developers who want the land to build luxury condos. Otto makes his daily rounds, sorting out recycling gone wrong, enforcing the community rules and refusing to engage with strangers and even most neighbors. Eccentric? Yes, until Marisol and Tommy move across the street. They somehow penetrate his shell and open him up to having a life again since he is still mourning the death of his beloved wife. He even adopts a cat. I never read the book this movie is based on, but the film stands on its own merits, with Tom Hanks doing his best to be an ornery old man. 4 cans.
95. Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022, HBO) – It was nice visiting my Downton friends again, and I felt like rewatching this movie was a prerequisite for the new Downton movies due in theaters in September. The plot is constructed to give each player a chance to be featured. The Dowager Countess (Dame Maggie Smith) unexpectedly inherits a villa in the South of France from an old suitor and several members of the family go to check the place out. Meanwhile, back at Downton, Lady Mary is supervising a movie crew that is using the estate for a silent movie, much to the delight of the servants who are enamored with the idea of movie stars in their home and much to the consternation of former butler Mr. Carson, who is shipped off to France to stay out of the producer’s hair. The Crawleys need the money: the Downton roof is leaking, and the producers offer plenty of cash to cover its replacement. Is Lord Grantham actually the son of Violet’s suitor; will married Lady Mary fall for the dashing director in the absence of her traveling husband; and is loyal servant-turned local schoolmaster Mosley capable of doctoring the movie script? Creator Julian Fellowes promises that the new Downton Abbey movie is the last Downton Abbey movie, and I have its debut date marked on my calendar. 3½ cans.
96. Thursday Murder Club* (2025, Netflix) – There aren’t that many roles for actors of a certain age, so grouping together such notable performers as Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie in a movie that shows they aren’t quite over the hill yet seemed like a good idea, I guess. I also guess that this movie about the residents of a lovely British retirement home who enjoy solving murders will be the first of a franchise. Mirren steals the show. 3 cans.

August Amusements

 1.    There was a lot of excitement in baseball last week when Jen Pawol made her major league debut as an umpire, the first woman ever to work in a regular season MLB game. While I am happy for her, the fact is that I have been watching major league baseball since 1959. You mean to tell me that there were NO WOMEN during that 66-year period who could have qualified to be an umpire? Come on! Let Jen be the first of many qualified women to umpire in the Bigs!
2.    Did you hear the news that Bed Bath & Beyond is coming back from bankruptcy and opening stores again? How many of you ditched those ubiquitous blue coupons when the store closed? Not me! I kept the faith – and the coupons. When they are ready to open a store near me, I’ll be there with a fistful!
3.    I did the unthinkable the other day! When cleaning out my freezer – which contained more ice packs for various body parts than it did food – I threw out Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies of an indeterminate date. I know they are supposed to last forever if kept frozen, and the fact that I had stashed them and refrained from eating them was a monumental achievement, but what if they really aren’t good? Do I really want to die from eating old Girl Scout cookies? What would my nutritionist say? I didn’t want to donate them for fear of poisoning someone, so into the garbage they went. I nearly shed a tear…
4.    The other day I read a story about something that happened to an “elderly” woman. She was later reported to be 68. I was 68 nearly 7 years ago, so what does that make me? What is older than elderly? Decrepit? Dancing around death’s door?
5.    Speaking of which, recently I went to Kohl’s on a Wednesday and the cashier automatically gave me the Senior Discount (that was a $17 saving!). I asked her what age was to be considered a senior and she said she actually didn’t know. I guess I look old enough that she assumed I qualified. I’ll take it.  
6.    Although the screen in my car is probably larger than my first TV, and it is so beautifully clear, I still find myself turning around to look over my shoulder when I back up. Force of habit.
7.    Nothing humbles me more than doing the daily Spelling Bee and finding so few words. Then I look up Spelling Bee from the day before, only to see how many obvious choices I missed!
8.    My neighbor loves her wind chimes. But when I hear them, I immediately think the ice cream man is in the neighborhood. Nothing could make a kid stop dead in his tracks and sprint back to the house for money more than the sound of the Good Humor man, ready to dole out those chocolate eclairs! 
9.    I watched the recently-concluded season of “The Gilded Age” and I am grateful that the practice of wearing dresses with bustles no longer exists. I don’t think I would be able to pull that off. And while we are on the subject of this sumptuous period drama, I will voice my usual objection to the lack of light in the program. I can hardly determine which character is on screen because so many of the scenes look dark. Lighten up, folks!
10.    I demand to know who has been sneaking into my house and leaving silver hair in my hairbrush. That can’t be mine, can it?
11.    The other day my Echo Dot stopped working, the latest in a series of failures. Once I determined that it was the device, not my network, I simply ordered another one from Amazon. My new dot arrived within hours, and I set it up in a minute. Maybe the name of the company should be Amazing instead of Amazon. I love the service, even as I am appalled by the extravagant wedding founder Jeff Bezos threw himself and his new bride. It was a display of disgustingly conspicuous consumption – and I’m sure I chipped in my part!
12.    By now, you all probably know I have a new 2025 Mercedes. Her name is Victoria, and she is quite friendly. When I get into the car, she greets me with “Nice to see you, Tina Gordon.” She has one of those voices that sounds haughty and friendly at the same time, like someone dying to get into showbiz. I can ask her questions about the weather or directions by saying, “Hey, Mercedes,” and she will respond accordingly upon hearing her name. But sometimes, when I am talking to someone on the phone or in the car, she tries to horn in on the conversation by saying, “I’m sorry, but I didn’t get that.” Right, you didn’t get it because I was not speaking to you! Big Brother?
13.    Social media like Facebook and Instagram features “Reels,” which are short videos showing everything from barbers giving haircuts to a landscape service cleaning up lawns to babies belching. Something that always captures my attention are the tiny houses. I don’t understand how people can live comfortably in 399 square feet. I’ll concede that the houses demonstrate the efficient use of space, but my winter coat would take up all of the closet space available. Yet the owners, who conduct video tours of their homes, always boast that there is a “ton” of storage, as they utilize space within the steps leading to the loft for stashing kitchen or office supplies, shoes or towels. And the loft spaces are generally not tall enough to allow an adult to stand, so occupants virtually crawl into bed and can barely sit up to read. I guess you can adjust, but a “ton” of storage? Please!
14.    In the morning, my bedroom looks like it has been ransacked. I don’t sleep well, so all that tossing and turning makes it look like there was a break-in and someone was looking for valuables. And my morning hair looks like I might have been a victim of a crime.
15.    It is three months since my knee replacement surgery and I have made good progress. I can walk up the stairs now (walking down is a different story) and getting into the car is much easier. But my knee stiffens up if I don’t move for 10 minutes, so the healing is not complete despite ongoing physical therapy and home exercises. The replacement was done in my left knee so my right leg has assumed the role of the “good leg.” But with arthritis in that leg, too, it looks like I’m facing another knee replacement in my future. I’m holding off until next year – after basketball season. I need a leg to stand on, so Mr. Left Knee had better get better and step up to the job!
16.    Every year I look forward to the Kennedy Center Honors. I mark my calendar when the broadcast date is announced and I post promos on my Facebook page to alert my friends to the air date so they don’t miss it. But now that the President has installed himself not only as the chairman of the prestigious Kennedy Center but also has declared himself the host of the event (Walter Cronkite is turning over in his grave), I will not be watching. Apparently, it is more important to be in political lockstep with the president than to have achieved artistic greatness in music, dance, or the other arts. In fact, he fancies himself as a future honoree, though I am trying to figure out what contribution he has ever made to the arts. Sadly, I will not be marking my calendar this year, nor watching the show nor promoting it online. I hope viewership plummets so he can’t brag about that, either. I will miss my December tradition – I don’t think I have ever missed the show since its inception – and apologies to new inductee Gloria Gaynor, but I will survive without having to watch a phony blowhard pretend that he has any class or culture. I’m done.