“Happy 60th Birthday, Greg”
The picklers had a successful outing to their clinic on Tuesday, Diana winning a second place medal, and Laurie coming in third. I believe there were at least eight teams.
We had a less successful trivia outing on Tuesday evening. Early in the game, I was able to encourage the team to choose “Quebec City” as the answer to a question about the city that was capital of the first French territory in Canada. Some wanted Montreal and I said I hadn’t seen any evidence of that on our visit, and knew that nearby Quebec City was much older.
I forgot to mention that I assumed “scribe” and team captain duties from Kenny, who was off attending a King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (yes – that is really the band name) camping weekend festival in Buena Vista, Colorado. Here’s a short video that Kenny sent if you would like a view into what the event looks like. I’m pretty sure I aged out of that whole scene.
We were in contention going into the last question. Put four events in chronological order. We were confident that “I Dream of Jeanie” was earliest, followed by “Billy Jean King’s Battle of the Sexes.” We were undecided on when “Little Janie” from Elton John was released and on when the “Diaper Genie” was launched. I was confident that we had a “Diaper Genie” in 1988 with Will, and others were thinking that “Little Genie” was from the 90s. Oops – my memory was incorrect and “Little Jeanie” was earlier than anticipated. We bet all 20 points and so did not place. Had we flipped those two questionable answers, we would have been in first place. Maybe I wasn’t such a great scribe/team captain. I will have an opportunity to try again or pass the torch next week. We’ll see what the group thinks.
Launch of Diaper Genie (1993)
Bill Jean King battle of the sexes (1973)
Little Jeanie by Elton John (1980)
I Dream of Jeanie (1965)
On the trivia theme, I had been assigned to research Hemingway facts after we missed “Death in the Afternoon”, his novel about bull fighting, for the second time, instead picking “The Sun Also Rises.” That one only has a bit of bull fighting late in the novel. The Saturday New York Times puzzle shows exactly how this confusing info enters my brain.
Diana had a workout with Sandi at Franco’s on Wednesday morning – this is a new routine she’s contemplating adding to her busy schedule. There were no competitions in pickling following the workout, hence no medals.
I braved the heat on Thursday morning for a walk to French Truck Coffee to read the paper. After that I completed the three mile circuit down Magazine to Napoleon, up to Prytania and back home. I was quite sweaty on arrival back. This sight distressed me on my walk. I keep seeing this ridiculous Tesla truck around town – and parked in front of a wonderful local tapas place (Baru) it just looks completely ridiculous.
Diana returned from pickleball to report that she and Laurie got first place in the open play tournament. She was quick to point out that there were only four teams – still worth celebrating, I think.
Anne’s birthday was on Thursday and we celebrated on Friday with a group dinner at the Rum House – always an easy, casual and tasty choice. Dinner was followed by a visit to NOLA Brewing where a live band was playing at 7pm. I was taken by surprise when, entering via the back door by the stage, I was greeted by thirty little girls running around squealing and having a birthday party. At a BREWERY, WHEN A BAND IS PLAYING??? This place needs to decide if it’s a pizza and beer place with live music FOR ADULTS, or a McDonalds play ground for kids’ birthday parties. Geez!
We retired to the front bar and had a nice, kid-free visit albeit without any live music to enjoy.
Diana had early morning pickling on Saturday and I made a quick trip to Trader Joe’s for supplies to make a charcuterie board for Greg’s 60th birthday party in the afternoon. I stopped into the wonderful Mojo on Freret for a coffee prior to my shopping expedition.
We made our way over to Greg and Colleen’s in the afternoon. As I was storing my backpack behind the house, I caught sight of Valerie Sassyfras hiding in the corner. Apparently Denny had taken the blame for hiring her, but it was all Colleen. Regular readers may remember that she played our New Year’s Eve party two years ago. Here is her Happy Birthday to 60 year old Greg:
Gifts were unveiled after Valerie with a very poignant moment. Greg lost “by far my favourite ever dog”, Rufus, a few months ago. Rufus was a stray that hung around Greg’s home on Baronne street and his girls ultimately convinced him to take the dog in. Jean, Greg’s sister, had painted a special portrait of Rufus by the hot tub for the occasion. Greg was very moved.
And we weren’t finished there. Daughter Lilly had sewn a custom Rufus t-shirt for the event. All this hidden talent!
Fun pool time ensued. Oliver practiced his Buzz Lightyear pose, while 6 week old brother Ezra bounced around the family members.
Sunday is a quiet day so far. Diana has been doing yard work and lolling in her pool. I’ve been watching the Sunday morning news programs and getting frustrated at our inept politicians – all around.
I’ve almost finished “The Emperor of Gladness” by Ocean Vuong. I did not love this book but kept with it, having rejected quite a few after a few chapters recently. Oprah raved about this and I usually enjoy her recommendations. This one is too plodding, mundane, and depressing. Here’s the online summary:
“One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink.
Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Ocean Vuong’s writing—formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness—are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance.”
Let’s start off with a playlist that I loved. I’m sure everyone will have something on there that hey don’t like – but I love all of these songs – custom made based on what I listen to, so one would hope that’s the case:
I heard this Joan Armatrading classic on a TV show – so good:
I’ve been on a “God Only Knows” kick lately. My favourite Beach Boys and maybe all time. How can a song start with “I May Not Always Love You” and follow it up a few lines later with “God Only Knows What I’d Be Without You.”
There are over 100 cover versions. A few interesting ones:
And finally, the sublime Hank Marvin and the Shadows: