What's your favorite book?

This post isn't really about The Catcher in the Rye. I just used its book cover to lure you to my blog (busted!). 

I do, however, want to talk about books.

Last night, after a particularly crappy work week, I indulged in several handfuls of dark chocolate. Couldn't help myself. The sight of the  See's box on the "communal table" at work made me smile (as it reminded me of San Francisco).

I don't eat sugar, as a rule, so you can imagine the intense sugar rush & headache that ensued. I was climbing the walls. Cleaning out my refrigerator and blasting music (that my neighbors no doubt loved) were poor downer substitutes. So I climbed into a bubble bath and re-read one of my favorite books as a teeny bopper, A Wrinkle in Time.

This got me thinking of all of the books & stories I've loved over the years:

• Greek myth
• Sherlock Holmes 
• Homer's Odyssey
• Crime and Punishment
• Various limericks and children's poems
• Gone with the Wind (yes, racism & all - & Clark Gable as Rhett Butler was devine)

I lied. The Catcher in the Rye isn't on my list. Despite numerous attempts, I've never been able to finish it. Just doesn't resonate with me. I know I'm in the minority here.

But there are many books I want to read between all my Cable TV viewing –BTW, I did enjoy Mad Men's season premiere last Sunday, though I have to admit I've re-watched Game of Throne's Purple Wedding more often (is Oleanna or Tywin the architect of Joffrey's murder? I think it's Oleanna.)

Today I'm going to take my new favorite ferry ride to Tribeca to do some Whole Foods shopping. Hopefully, I'll find Barnes & Noble still standing. I do like to hold old fashioned paper books in my hands. I'm looking for 1984 or 100 years of Solitude.........or maybe something more trivial. Then..........Let the reading begin!

Mad Men's Back!

At last! The premiere of Mad Men's 7th and final season (or season 7A if you will!).

I love TV! And if you love cable as much as I do, you're pretty damn excited about tonight:

• Game of Thrones
• Mad Men
• Silicon Valley

And BTW, if you're not watching Mike Judge's Silicon Valley, you should. It pokes fun of Silicon Valley (duh!), gurus like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Palo Alto, & tech nerds. If you loved Mike Judge's Office Space, and I know you did (37 pieces of flair, Peter Gibbon's quest to do nothing, Milton's red stapler), you'll love this. 

Oh, hell! It's Sunday. Click below and enjoy with your Venti Non-fat Chai Tea Latte.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvkmsI54ss4

I digress. Back to Mad Men...

Off the top of my head (no editing), here are some predictions and hopes for the final season(s).

• Pete and Peggy come full circle & reunite. Not because I like the alliteration, but because they're very much alike & have been attracted to each other since the very first episode. [Oh, their child will not appear!]
• There will be a lot of ugly 70's clothing. Should be fun to pick apart. 
• Don Draper lands on his feet. He always does. I disagree with most people who think the opening credits telegraph Don's demise. 
• The season will be beautifully filmed as usual.
• The writing/vision will be tighter than season 6. Why? Robert Towne, the brilliant Chinatown screenwriter, is now a consulting producer. Course that means Weiner will have to loosen his Vulcan death-grip on the show. 
• More Roger Sterling! John Slattery isn't directing any episodes this year (or Jon Hamm). That means more Roger one-liners! And that is always a good thing. 
• Megan and Don won't divorce. They should. But I think the predominantly white, male writers & producers get a hard-on when she's around. They'll want to keep her on the show. 
• Matthew Weiner will do something unexpected with the ending that will dismay many viewers. Relax! Just sit back and enjoy the ride.