In which the morning starts out with wonders aplenty

I got birthday greetings this morning from a California psychiatric practice. It is not my birthday, I am not in California, and I am not one of their patients. I also got a daily ad to sign up for Mint Mobile. I've been a Mint Mobile customer for quite a few years now, and really don't need two different accounts for my one phone. And from the real world, an administrative request from tabroom to approve Rather Large Bronx on next's year's NYCFL calendar. I guess thinking ahead (it's in October, on the same weekend it's been on since time immemorial) never hurt anybody.

A great day for email, eh? On the other hand, I zipped through the puzzles, Wordle in 4, Connections in 4 (purple first), close to a personal record on the crossword and 2 pangrams in the Bee (and always to the genius level, because I won't eat breakfast otherwise). Based on this omen, the day ahead looks promising. 

Listening (audit division): Sagittarius, "Present Tense." I did not know this album back when it came out in 1968. If I had, it would either have become an all time favorite or if I heard it at someone else's place, I'd never talk to that person again. I've listened to it twice now and still can't decide. 1968 has a lot to answer for. 

Watching: A Haunting in Venice is probably the least of Branagh's Hercule Poirot movies. I had read somewhere that it was the best, but it wasn't. That would be Orient Express. But overall, I can't say I'm a fan of Branagh's interpretation of the Belgian detective. Yeah, sure, who isn't spoiled by David Suchet, but that doesn't mean that other people can't give it a go. But Branagh is too angsty rather than fussy, and that just doesn't grab me as what Dame Agatha would want. Nice to see Michelle Yeoh, though.