“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Here’s what I read, watched, listened to, enjoyed, and planned in October.
READ:
Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton — “Set in Hollywood and Carmel-by-the-Sea, an unforgettable story of the unlikely friendship between an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and a young actress hoping to be Alfred Hitchcock's new star. 1957: Isabella Giori is ten months into a standard seven-year studio contract when she auditions with Hitchcock. Just weeks later, she is sequestered by the studio’s “fixer” in a tiny Carmel cottage. Léon Chazan, next door, is annoyed as hell when Iz interrupts his work on yet another screenplay he won’t be able to sell, because he’s been blacklisted. But soon, they’re in his roadster, speeding down the fog-shrouded Big Sur coast. 2018: Twenty-six-year-old screenwriter Gemma Chazan, in Carmel to sell her grandfather’s cottage, finds a hidden safe full of secrets—raising questions about who the screenwriter known simply as Chazan really was, and whether she can live up to his name” (Goodreads).
Student-Centered Coaching: What Every K-12 Coach and School Leader Needs to Know by Diane Sweeney and Leanna S. Harris
WATCHED:
ABBA: Against the Odds (Netflix) — “This gripping feature documentary tells the little-known story of ABBA’s struggle against the odds to ditch the post-Eurovision tag of ‘one hit wonder’. Facing protests in Sweden & UK radio bans, ABBA have to find their unique sound before conquering the global charts. But when ABBAmania kicks in, the pressure threatens the relationships at the heart of the band. Told through the timeless hits and stunning archive footage, this film captures the incredible journey that led ABBA to greatness” (IMDb). You know I love ABBA!
French Lover (Netflix) — “When a jaded actor meets a down-on-her-luck waitress in Paris, their unexpected love story begins but will it survive the glare of the spotlight?” (IMDb). The title is terrible. Omar Sy is great.
Maigret (PBS) — “Chief Inspector Maigret is a rising star in the Paris Police Judiciaire, relentless in his investigations, with an uncanny ability to get under the skin of the criminals he is chasing and a matchless knowledge of Paris” (IMDb). My students used to read Maigret stories in French class. Maigret is a French classic and the scenes in Paris are beautifully filmed. I’m just distracted by the British accents of Maigret et al.
The Great British Baking Show - Season 16 (Netflix) — This season features some very talented bakers.
LISTENING TO:
Cool jazz on repeat: It just reminds me of fall.
My personally curated Fall and Halloween playlists — perfect for road trips and evenings on the deck.
My October Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist:
Blackbird (The Beatles)
Hello October (Sugar Lime Blue)
Practical Magic (Alan Silvestri)
The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Vince Guaraldi)
Halloween Waltz (Moon blues)
Autumn Leaves (Vince Guaraldi)
Graveyard Theme - It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Vince Guaraldi)
Apples and Cinnamon (Lennie Rhoads & Nylon Wings)
ENJOYED:
October — I love the colors and the smell of the changing leaves; “sweater weather” and cozy fashions; bonfires and football; comfort foods and red wines; super moons and starry skies; Gilmore Girls and Halloween movies, and a trip to the pumpkin patch, carving jack-o-lanterns and roasting pumpkin seeds…October feels a big hug.
Paint Your Pet at Waterford Wine in Delafield — Nan came for a brief visit. We shopped, had a great lunch at Le Rêve, and painted our dogs while sipping Champagne. I’ve never painted before, but I had fun and my little portrait of Piper is cute (maybe good enough to hang in our closet).
PLANNED: A trip to Paris in November — When Paris Perfect posted a discount on La Rose de Loire in Montmartre, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to return to Paris just before the holidays. I’m really looking forward to the Christmas lights in the departments stores and the Marché de Noël in the Tuileries. We have a few new experiences planned as well as some perennial favorites. Stay tuned…
