Christmas Week

 

It was a fairly quiet week with the exception of Christmas Night (1:30 AM) when I awoke with a kidney stone attack. Jane took me to the hospital emergency room, stayed awhile, then picked me up around  8:00 AM. I still wasn't feeling well Friday night when we led the Worth Avenue Stroll pictured above. There were 21 strollers and the weather was nice.

Three Movies This Week

Jane and I both loved Les Misérables and highly recommend it. Those who don't care for opera or musical films or adaptations of stage productions might not appreciate it. For those unfamiliar with the story, it could be challenging to follow. The whole production from the extreme close-ups and vocal styles to the pacing and the near absence to spoken dialog makes it unique in cinema. Knowing the story and having already experienced the thrill of previous stage productions, we were captivated again. Kudos to everyone involved!

Promised Land is a so-so message movie, regrettably rather weak on the environmental concerns. It's small-town locations are realistic but events are too contrived. I was glad we went but I was hoping for better.

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy where every character is need of psychological therapy. It is funny, poignant, and a bit sad. It is very entertaining but not a "must see."

On this morning's walk, which included The Breakers Hotel and Bethesda-By-The-Sea church, we had twenty-two walkers.

Worried & Depressed

Our hearts are broken by the tragic school shooting yesterday in Connecticut. There seems to be little hope in preventing this increasing occurrence of senseless gun violence.

The problem of the looming "fiscal cliff" has me worried too. The political polarization and the disinclination to compromise seems to be an ongoing problem without solution. The next election is the main concern of our elected representatives. Where are the statesmen and those who are concerned about the long term welfare of all the people?

     Palm Beach County Democratic Party Holiday  Celebration at Airport Hilton

For twenty-one years Jane and I have ushered at The Kravis Center and have enjoyed memorable performing arts programs of all sorts. Last night, after we ushered there for Holiday Prism Concert presented by the music department of Dreyfoos School of the Arts, we both agreed that we never enjoyed a concert any more than that one.

Serena Rinker hosted yesterday's Dining Out holiday party attended by 19.

Tuesday, Jane and I attended a pre-release screening of Hitchcock. It was mainly about Alfred Hitchcock's life around the time he made Psycho. Mostly it depicted his marital relations and his problems with studio bosses. It held my interest but I wouldn't call it a "must see."

Wednesday evening we ushered for Palm Beach Dramaworks' production of Edward Allbee's play, A Delicate Balance. The play had less appeal to me than others I've seen there but the cast was excellent. It was quite long and fairly complicated and no doubt contained meanings too obscure for this simpleton.