Quiet Summer

Once again started off the morning with writing. Luke and Artie arrive at a slightly run-down neighborhood just outside of San Francisco's Chinatown. Luke is surprised to see that the old Victorian building is owned by a renown professor. They're about to go looking for Yoda when they encounter an tiny, ancient Asian man on the sidewalk. Artie recognizes him. Yes, this is Dr. Yoda Chiang, a leading authority on the Swords of Light and Alderaan. The older Asian scholar and the black chauffeur embrace before Yoda brings them in his home.

The electricians arrived around 9. I was writing when they came in. They unplugged the air conditioner, checked all the sockets, and turned the electricity on and off several times. I have no idea what they found, or what the verdict was. No one told me, at any rate. Charlie was up here all morning, hammering the new porch/roof into position.

Listened to my Tony Orlando and Dawn's Greatest Hits LP while having a quick lunch. Most of these songs are considered cheesy as hell today, but I still have a soft spot for a couple of them, including "Candida," "Summer Sand," and "Hey Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose?"

Work was utterly, totally dead all day. I haven't seen it this quiet on a nice day since Halloween. It was never even mildly busy. I did the trash three times and cleaned the bathrooms twice, did returns, and gathered baskets. I did round up carts twice during the first half of my shift, but another guy arrived around 3 who took over what little there was to do. Spent most of the afternoon wandering around the store, putting things away and trying to look busy. It was absolutely gorgeous today, sunny and much drier than yesterday, with a nice, cool wind. Most people were likely either on vacation, or outside taking advantage of the decent weather.

Charlie and his men were long done by the time I made it home. I was able to eat leftovers for dinner and play Lego Clone Wars in peace. Didn't really get very far tonight. Got one more piece on "Weapons Factory," but had no luck with "Jedi Crash."

Finished the night with The Natural. Roy Dobbs (Robert Redford) is the title character, a one-time pitching protege who is drafted by the New York Knights in 1935 as one of the oldest "rookies" in baseball. Turns out that the only reason he was hired was because the owner of the team, the Judge (Robert Duvall), wanted the team to lose the pennant and get the share from the co-owner and manager "Pop" Fisher (Wilford Brimley). He finally proves his worth when he takes over for the team's ailing star (Michael Madson) and becomes an overnight sensation, winning game after game. He's encouraged by a former sweetheart, Iris (Glenn Close) and turns down bribes from the Judge and his cohort Gus Sands (Darrin McGavin). The men finally have him poisoned with the help of Memo Paris (Kim Basinger), Pop's niece, right before they're to clinch the pennant. Turns out that Dobbs had once been shot by a woman (Barbara Hershey) who then committed suicide, and it ruined his life and damaged his stomach. He may die if he plays...but he's too devoted to the team and to Iris to let them down now.

Standard melodrama enlivened by wonderful performances by Redford, Brimley, Duvall, and the ladies, stunning cinematography, and one of Randy Newman's best scores. Close was Oscar-nominated as Dobbs' biggest fan. Necessary if you're a fan of Redford, period drama, or the National Pastime.