Quite a Day
Cairo, photo by Amir Makar/AFP/Getty Images, posted at the guardian.com:
A sad day in the history of the Big Apple, which has chosen to be lenient toward criminals. Headline from nypost.com: “Boots underground: Hochul to deploy 1,000 National Guardsmen, state cops to carry out bag checks in NYC’s crime-ridden subways.”
I use the reverse side of fliers for handwritten drafts of my stories. I noticed an essay on numerology on one sheet, probably printed on a computer, well written by Donna Viola. I’ve always been fascinated by how certain numbers seem significant, pop up as if there is a mystical tie. Coincidentally, if I go to print on another book, the title will be By the Numbers, as each story title will contain at least one. The sheet must have come to me through a books’ donation. In the piece Viola cites examples. She notes that many buildings do not have a 13th floor. There are seven seas, seven dwarfs, etc.. Moses and Jesus spent 40 days on the mount and in the desert respectively. There are three stooges, the three Rs, et. al; 12 apostles, 12 astrological signs… The last paragraph begins: “Our days are numbered, as are the hairs on our heads, the hours in our day, the days of our lives and the sands in the hourglass.” She then cites the numbers that define us: SSN, telephone, bank account… Well done, Madam. Thank you.
Last night the Outlaw channel, 48–4 on OTC in NYC, ran a silly western starring Richard Crenna and Yul Brynner, Catlow (1971). A familiar face played a lovely Mexican noblewoman. A name finally came to me — Jo Ann Pflug, then I wondered if it were Marj Dusay. It was the former, who had a nice career that spanned 1966-’97, 50 titles beneath her name at IMDb. She was in demand following her big screen take as Lt. Dish in M*A*S*H (1970). She made many appearances on popular primetime fare, including 22 episodes of The Fall Guy, ten of Operation Petticoat, ten of Rituals and four of The Love Boat. Her swan song came in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). Here’s a quote attributed to her: “After M*A*S*H (1970), I was sought to do nudity. All nude roles. And I turned down a lot of pictures because of the nudity. I would not do nudity because of my upbringing. I’m not going to wait 30 years from now and have my children saying, ‘oh, there’s mommy on the screen, nude.’ I don’t think so.” Married twice, she had a daughter with game show honcho Chuck Woolery, her first husband. Born in Atlanta in 1940, she’s still with us. Photo from Google Images:
And here’s Dusay, who was very active in soap operas. Born in Kansas, her career spanned 1967–2009, 96 titles under her name, including a guest shot on the original Star Trek, Season Three, Episode One: Spock’s Brain. She passed away at 83 in 2020. Photo from GI:
I got my taxes done. I’d wondered if I would still be a millionaire after the IRS got through with me, given the sale of the old house and the two RMDs the government forced me to take, all taxable. I am. My thanks to Frida and Jason at H & R.
Why should this worry anyone? Headline from foxnews.com: “Governor ripped after suspects in body dismemberment case are freed to walk streets.” The same one who call the National Guard into the NYC subways.
I hope this is good news. From FN: “College junior wins GOP primary against 10-term incumbent lawmaker.” Please don’t become like the rest of them.
Headline from outkick.com: “J.K. Rowling Reported To Police Over Pronouns.” The offended transgender snowflake wants her charged with a hate crime.
It looked like the Anti-Inflation Book Shop was going to suffer a goose egg on this dreary, windy day when a woman was drawn to the costume jewelry on display. When she picked up a stray piece that had gotten loose from its chain, I said she could have it for free. I was sure she’d misunderstood me, as she started putting items into one of her bags. I didn’t really care, as I’m always happy to be rid of stuff. When she was done she dug into a purse and handed me a bill, I figured she would want change. She didn’t and it was a fifty. I told her to take more stuff, books or DVDs if she wanted. She didn’t. My thanks, and to the woman who bought a pair of shoes, and to Herbie, who purchased Raquella: A Woman of Israel by Ruth Gruber; and to the lovely, elderly lady library volunteers, who donated two books. I am blessed.
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