As the sun rises, calling an end to the three day Labor Day weekend, I find myself reflective on Labor Day. It’s an unusual holiday in that it represents Labor and the working force and celebrates by rewarding a day off. It’s a maligned holiday, in many ways because what it represents isn’t always tangible but more important, it symbolically announces the end of Summer. Now, with a full week of 80 degree weather forecasts, it’s not much of a symbol but it really does bring an end to Summer. Kids are back in school (sort of), baseball season is winding down while football season is ramping up. Yet, in these 2020 Pandemic days, the NBA and NHL are holding playoffs, there’s been no Summer blockbuster and if Tiger King feels light years ago, The Mandolorian is even further in the rearview mirror.

The end of Summer usually represents a descent into the darkness of Winter, although the glories of Autumn are high. October is my favorite month and not just because it’s my birthday month. It’s a time of beauty and transformation although different from Spring which is a transformation of growth. But as this year begins its final chapters, maybe end of Summer should mean beginning of new growth. Yes, the elections will be contentious (this site is not about politics at all) but this entire year has been contentious and the dying out of the year might be the growth we need.

I’ve found myself less productive these past few weeks and I’m going to focus my thoughts this week on how best to get on track. The first few months of Quarantine 2020, were productive for me. I would wake, work out, write, make lunch for Rolando, write and make dinner for us both #Rolandoeats. I still work out and write and cook and cook but the urgency isn’t there. Yes, I finished a novel (halfway through writing sequel) and wrote two TV pilots and so maybe I just need a new challenge. Maybe this is what Labor Day represents to me. The end of one chapter is the beginning of a new chapter. I will work out harder, write more and smarter and still cook. What are your goals for the end of 2020? Now is the time to start accomplishing.

53 Great Moments with Rolando…

I’m very lucky to have a dad and not a father. A dad is a buddy who is a father but still your friend. I’ve never felt that I had a father instead of a dad. This past year, we started Adventure Tuesday’s, where I would find a place in or near Los Angeles Rolando had never visited or seen. We went to the Rose Bowl, The Last Great Bookstore, Olvera Street, the US Bank building and explored this marvelous city. Everywhere we went, we enjoyed a fabulous meal at a restaurant we’d never visited before. I miss those adventures and look forward to renewing Adventure Tuesday’s, probably in 2021 with my dad.

53 Great Bands you may not know (But I love) …

Doves from Manchester, England were originally a dance combo named Sub Sub and played a big part on the Manchester scene and sound, in the mid-90s. In 1998, they reformed as Doves with a sound that was more in line with Radiohead and The Verve. Very original, they found a market for their sound in England. Their first album, Lost Souls, was followed in 2002, by the outstanding The Last Broadcast. A very young Kevin R. Andrade, covered a Doves show in 2002 (the opener was Elbow, who will also appear on these pages soon) at The Mayan Theater and a love affair with the Manchester sound began. Doves are releasing their first album in eleven years this next week, The Universal Want, and I’m thrilled. I’ve heard a few songs off the new album and it sounds like an older, wiser Doves. Take advantage of a great band and download their material before the release of their new album.

Wine of the Week

SILK & SPICE 2018 Portugal Wine Enthusiast 91

Very rarely have I found myself enjoying a Portuguese wine, but I grabbed a bottle of Silk and Spice a few years back at Manhattan Fine Wines on Artesia and it was a nice surprise. It started a little Iberic Coast wine education for me. The wine is smooth drinking and, for me, a nice after dinner wine. 40% Touriga Naciocal grape, the wine is a unique blend of grapes with Baga, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet adding to the blend. Very inexpensive it is one of the good bargains right now.

Thank you for your time and indulgence. If you give this a read, please pass it on to a friend and follow this site, http://www.wherethe91ends.com as well as my Facebook page of the same name. I will be back on Friday with my first review of Literature. And until then, my friends, take my advice; pull down your pants and slide on the ice.