Made it back to Jersey in one piece. The trip was good! Our evening activities came in at two out of three. Two very good movies at the Savoy in Montpelier. First, a documentary on Jeff Buckley. Beautifully done. Ladies — he’s handsome beyond all normal bounds. A mensch too. You’ll get to know his mom a little, and his early and later girlfriends — both nice. I heard his version of LC’s Hallelujah and know it’s very well-respected, but otherwise am not very familiar with his music. His one big album is Grace. Sounds like he toured too much and professional pressures kept him from centering his life. Look at that shayna punim. Could you plotz?
The second film was Sorry, Baby, starring and directed by Eva Victor. Very strong — very good. Some funny parts and her bestie is good too. It’s about how a grad student who gets her first job (as an English prof) responds to the shock of sexual abuse. She’s an extremely compelling and fresh character. The neighbor Gavin is Lucas Hedges — the nephew from the wrenching Manchester By The Sea. Here’s Eva.
Phil must have been rambling on about himself during the shoot. Here’s a better one.
We separated our three days among Montpelier, Waterbury, and Hurly-Burly Burlington. I already discussed the excellent Thai lunch in M-pelier. We had a great lunch in B’ton too, at a little place called The Rogue Rabbit. Two great sammies — pastrami and roasted eggplant. Wonderful bread. Terrific feel to the place — a pleasure just to sit there and enjoy the scene.
Sip O’ Sunshine is a very well-respected craft beer, and it’s brewed by Lawson’s just a few miles up the road from our inn in Waitsfield. We paid them a short visit and I picked up a 12-pack of their pilsner. You would expect it to be very fresh, of course, but this was ridiculous. They were canned on 8/13 and I had them in my hands on 8/14. (Burp!)
From Lawson’s we went to a huge community party at the American Flatbread (Pizza) headquarters — also not far from our inn in Waitsfield. It was their 40th anniversary and they invited everyone over for free slices and a band was playing, etc. Long lines, but a fun time.
From there we drove over to the Valley Players Theater for the 18th annual “Tenfest.” It seemed like a great idea — ten local (well, Vermont) playwrights each put on a ten-minute play. Sounded like fun and we liked the idea of supporting the local theater (and there was nothing else to do). It was kind of fun, but we were a little tired, so we only stayed for the first half. The first playlet was my favorite, called Cubs Win! Three women were chatting at the funeral of a guy they knew, who was a great Cubs fan. Turns out he was quite a womanizer and had been having affairs with all three and promised each major things (like a trip to Paris, or I’ll leave my wife) if the Cubs won the World Series. Of course, they (at last) did win that year but (luckily?) he died right after the final out. (Literally, a final out.)
Here’s a clue from today’s puzzle that threw me for a loop. The clue was “Rock alternative,” and the answer had five letters. I’ll give it to you after this photo of Tift Merritt, whom I never heard of under my rock. Check out this tune of hers too.
So the clue was “Rock alternative.” Answer: PAPER (Get it?)
It was a great puzzle, IMO. Another favorite of mine was a grid spanner (15 letters long). The clue was “‘Let me handle this,’” and the answer was I’LL DO THE TALKING.
Many of us were thrown by “Younger Simpson sister,” six letters. I wrote MAGGIE in right away, a gimme. Lisa and Maggie. But the crosses kept fighting it. So I started thinking of Marge’s two sisters, but I couldn’t remember their names (Thelma? Selma?). Turns out they are Patty and Selma — neither is six letters. It was ASHLEE. Jessica Simpson’s younger sis. Of course!
And here’s Maggie. What was I thinking?
How about this one at 7D? The clue was “‘u r freaking hilarious!’” So I thought ROFL (rolling on floor laughing) or LMAO (laughing my ass off), but the answer was five letters long. Turned out to be LMFAO. What? In the NYT? Is F what it usually is? Or is it “fat?”
See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 