another race

You could hear the cars yesterday morning, early, coming from the Speedway. It was the U.S. Gran Prix, the only Formula One race in the U.S. This was the seventh time it was held at the Brickyard (aka Indianapolis Motor Speedway), and perhaps it will be the last. Since the race didn't start till one pm, they must have been doing some last minute checking things out, or some kind of preliminary race to keep the crowds entertained.

Our neighbor, the Colonel, invited us for a barbecue on Saturday night in honor of his son who had come home to visit and to see the race. The Colonel borrowed our smoker to aid his considerable smoker in smoking pork, beef brisket, ribs and chicken. It was biblical -- the killing of the fatted calf, pigs and chickens. A real feast.

It is hot now in Indianapolis, around 90 degrees and no shade. According to the newspaper, we are up over the year-to-date rainfall average by five inches. And yet, with strong dry winds in the afternoon, another couple of days like this and I will have to start watering, something I have not done all year in the perennial garden.

Today, partner and I went with another neighbor friend to see The Devil Wears Prada. It was a delicious movie. As I watched the genius of Meryl Streep make this devil-like person actually somewhat likeable, and definitely one who fascinates all attention whenever she is on the screen, I kept thinking what Glenn Close would have done with the character. Sometimes over the top is too much. Streep, who was also excellent in Prairie Home Companion seems to know where the fine line is.

The movie about assistants reminded me of a young woman I knew in DC who got a call at 7:30 in the morning from her boss, letting her know that her hotel room in San Antonio had no hot water ... and what was she going to do about it?