Friday Flotsam

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Are you a puzzle person?

Not to be confused with puzzled person. But a puzzle person. One who loves and adores and obsesses and maniacally works puzzles with unbridled pleasure.

I’ve come to discover in my life that there are two camps of people in this world. Well, two camps, plus a sub camp in one category, which I’ll get to.

Camp #1: those people who loathe puzzles. (And I’m talking about jigsaw puzzles. A cardboard box with 500-1000 small puzzle pieces that you dump onto a table and work it for hours and hours and hours and hours. And hours.) This camp of people can’t stand puzzles. They’d rather file their income taxes and get a root canal at the same time. They see the box coming and they break out in hives. “No! Noooooo!”

And then camp #2 – puzzle people! That brand of person who could do a puzzle any time of day, any time of year. Just the sight of the box stimulates and energizes them for the focus and determination that lies ahead of them.

And THEN – the sub camp. The camp of people who can only do puzzles in cold weather and/or a holiday. THIS IS WHERE I FALL. Don’t you dare ask me to do a puzzle in May. What kind of monster are you? I need Bing Crosby, spiked hot chocolate, twinkling Christmas tree lights and maybe a light snow fall in order to fully concentrate on and appreciate a jigsaw puzzle.

Now, crossword puzzles I live for. Any hour, any day, any weather, any beverage of choice. It is always time for a crossword.

Um, you guys. Before I leave this topic, I can’t help but share the extreme nerdery of my friend Ashlee. (the one I talk about all the time you know.) She and her husband Seth are like, P U Z Z L E P E O P L E. They do probably two huge jigsaws a week and I’m not anywhere near kidding. They’ve got this little overhead light that moves around on the table and pivots (PIVOT!) and shines on the little area you’re working on. They’ve got magnifying glasses, specifically for puzzles. They have other nerdy things too but I can’t remember because I internally shut down when I saw the whole setup. It is . . . something else. I love it so much for them.

Where do you fall? Camp STOP IT? Camp YUZ PLAYSE? Camp only at winter with Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on in the background? <–itme.

So we’ve been on this vintage movie kick lately. Very unexpected, nothing too structured. All 100% inspiring and lovely and stylish. It all happened when Aaron put on To Catch a Thief last weekend for fun. I’d just finished a book and was taking a two hour break before starting something new. Enter – GRACE KELLY.

It’s such a beautiful movie. I’ve seen it once before like, a hundred years ago but I’d forgotten about the (definitely real) French Riviera footage, the cold chicken and beer “picnic” in the white convertible, the wardrobe, the scheme, the romance, Cary Grant’s torso, the mother Jessie (obsessed), the surprise! Ugh, so so good.

Then we watched Rear Window. Which to me is the perfect movie. PERFECT. MOVIE. The setting, the New York City air that you can actually hear, the intrigue, Grace Kelly’s waist and wrists and gloves and dresses and neck and hair and eyes and face, Jimmy Stewart’s perfection at every corner, the dialogue, the wit, THE WINDOWS, the apartments, the courtyard. The whole MOOD of the movie is captivating and utterly . . . well, perfect.

Then we watched Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Which is obviously over-the-top stylish with her wardrobe, her neck, her hands, her eyebrows and hats, the markets, that Transatlantic accent (I can do it very well and often talk around the house in that accent), the plot, the mystery, the murders, the surprise end!

Theeeeeeen on Bastille Day (after I’d finished another book and was taking a two hour break, you know) we watched Funny Face with Audrey and Fred Astaire. And it was GORGEOUS. Again, I’d seen it at some point yesterlore, but watching it again through a more adult lens made that much more tantalizing. The pond, the swans, the Parisian mood, the songs, the WINDOWS, her dresses, the whole thing is beyond romantic and sweet.

BUT WHAT IS WITH ALL THESE OLD MEN HITTING ON TWENTY YEAR OLDS?

Can someone tell me why this was such a popular trend back then? Maybe the men just seemed old. But come on, Cary and Fred and Jimmy are obviously way, way older than Grace and Audrey. I’m trying to understand this.

What other vintage classics (or deep cuts) could we watch? Obviously I’ve seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but it’s been a minute. Give me more! And I need that mid-’50s style, man. (Oh! Wait Until Dark is really great, too. Audrey, but she’s blind! Watch it if you’ve not seen it.)

Okay give me more ideas because I need them to thrive in this life.

Mayonnaise POLL:

Are you a Duke’s fan? Or a Hellman’s?

And don’t even say you’re into a Miracle Whip or I will miracle whip you in the boob.

ANOTHER POLL:

Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart?

This is tricky. Answer carefully.

Weekend plans?

I’m gonna try and thrift a pastry dome today! (exclamation point necessary) Other than that, a little birthday celebratin’, more Bastille day celebratin’, a pile of toys to go through and donate, a Ploughman’s lunch to shoot for you (it rained all day yesterday so I was like, no.), some garden weedin’, some book readin’, and that’s about all.

From this week, in case ya missed it!::: BLT Caprese Sandwiches that are already a total hit with you! Super summery, super simple. And then these Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches that ooze nothing but comfort and deliciousness. Get in both!

What’s the temperature where you are?