1) Now that Repeal Day is over (and it was lovely, thanks to everyone who participated), I can actually look at the last three weeks of the year and what needs to happen: a) electricians coming to install ceiling fixtures in three rooms, b) Christmas, c) administrivia, and d) continued Marie Kondo. Just the thought of all that makes me want to go right back to bed and stay there.
2) Friday, after some delay, I finally received a box of oysters and a shucking knife that I’d been expecting. I’ve never shucked an oyster before, but of course I remember Santa Battaglia in A Confederacy of Dunces talking about her grammaw “shuckin’ dem ersters” in the French Quarter. I didn’t think it’d be a walk in the park, but I also didn’t expect to pierce my thumb on my first attempt. Long story short: cheese and crackers for hors d’oeuvres. I may have to find some stones to break them against my chest, like the otters.
3) Apparently today is Otto Preminger’s birthday, so I put on Forever Amber, and now I’m watching Laura. Both absolute classics.
Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker and Dana Andrews as Mark MacPherson in Laura.