Auto stopped into Constanţa with a truck driver. We stopped for a lunch of 4 grilled meatballs and bread which cost 70 cents. I eventually found the train station and took the 3:30 train to Bucharest. The train was overcrowded with you guessed it no seats so we were stuck in the corridor with people mashing into us particularly several people with massive stomachs. I even had my rear pinched by some Romanian girls who had a good giggle. The train was not cheap. The countryside was beautiful and perhaps that was because I was not in a car worried about a crash. At one station a group of gypsies came up hawking apricots. We arrived at the Gara de Nord which was full of gypsies, soldiers and all manner of human beings. I found a phone and after two hours of trying got hold of Sorin and took the bus to his flat. It was good to see a friendly face and his sourpuss girlfriend was back in Bacau. We had a beer and had some fried eggs which were delicious as all Romanian eggs are. Had a hot shower and hit the sack at midnight.
“Travels to a Different Time” : 13July1974: Contanesti, Romania: No Tourist Ghetto for Me: Invasion of the Ladybugs
Pierre and part of the gang packed up their tents and were off. I headed off to the beach and ran into Vasha. But as soon as I sat down a huge invasion of ladybugs descended. They covered the air like locusts. It was hilarious watching everybody twitching trying to swat off the ladybugs. In any case the water on the Romanian Black Sea is numbing and I have had it with the constant haze in the air. I returned to the campground which is beginning to annoy me with its cold showers and stinking toilets. The lighting is poor. The restaurant serves disgusting food. They don’t empty the garbage cans. I went for lunch at the campground autoservice and the soup and donuts were inedible and not worth the line-up to get in. I took a bus or two and went to investigate Magnolia and Jupiter two resort areas full of shoddy hotels. I gotta get out of this place. A decrepit campground and a socialist “Beach Paradise” is not for me. As a leader of the few new Western tourists we snuck into the young communist camp discotheque. Vasha was with us and I danced with her off and on until she left at 11. I changed some money with Rick the DJ and then we all went to some new discotheque which was pathetic. Millions of guys but no girls.
“Andrij The Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog” : Chapter 12: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!
As I sit in the cockpit of the US Navy jet taking me to Buffalo New York, I have time to ponder many things. First and foremost is the attack of autocrat Tsar Putin on my country very much like Hitler attacked Poland in 1939. He is ordering the murder of civilians. His sophisticated missiles are targeting hospitals, residential complexes, churches and causing destruction on the civilian population INTENTIONALLY! Can he sleep at night seeing pregnant women with their guts ripped out as a result of Holy Mother Russian missiles targeting civilian targets? Putin is a combination of Stalin, Rasputin and Hitler.
And there are platitudes amongst the Western countries about how the Ukraine is struggling to uphold democracy but there are no troops and jets as NATO is terrified by Tsar Putin and his hollow promises to use nuclear weapons of which his inner circle knows will be the end of Holy Mother Russia and the rest of the world.
Send your jets and wipe out the Russian dogs I say. But you are cowed by a new Hitler. Are you suckered in by his desperate and hollow pleas and lies that are so vile he kills all opposition to him in Holy Mother Russia. Vlady baby is coming for you as by your inaction you sanction his barbaric attacks that slay Ukrainians and his own fodder troops that exist to protect the swindling Russian oligarchs. So what is different from 1939 you loud mouthed powers. It rather reminds many of the ships full of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany that you refused entry into your countries. I may be a stupid dog but you are hypocrites pandering to Tsar Putin. And at this point I say Tsar Putrid! You have turned a blind eye to his barbarism in Syria. He is a monster that does not deserve your diplomacy.
RKS Film: “Jump Darling”
As soon as I saw the movie poster for the film “Jump Darling” I concluded this drag queen movie is not for me. I was never a fan of drag queens prancing about in outlandish costumes but was really turned against it after seeing a documentary from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, “Drag Kids” where children were performing drag. Judge me if you wish but that documentary was sickening.
I told my press contact at Breaking Glass Pictures that I was not into drag and would not be reviewing the film. He responded by saying the film was” light drag” and Cloris Leachman’s performance was excellent. Both these statements were true.
Russell (Thomas Duplessie) plays Fishy Falters a failing actor that unleashes his passion for drag but has a meltdown at his Toronto gay bar Peckers and runs out preperformance and leaves his live in relationship with a successful straightlaced lawyer and heads to his grandmother’s house in the scenic Prince Edward County which is about a two and a half hour drive from Toronto. His grandmother Margaret (Cloris Leachman) is a very old grandmother with a sarcastic and droll sense of humour who embraces Russell as a person without any gender labels.
Russell is deeply hurting from something I am not quite sure of but he rebuilds himself by bonding with his grandmother and establishing his drag queen persona at a local gay bar.
Margaret is being pursued by her daughter (Linda Cash) to enter a long-term care facility called Millbrook skillfully shot so that it looks like the Millhaven penitentiary in nearby Kingston! Margaret and Russell fight her daughter’s attempts to resettle her at Millbrook.
Leachman plays her role as a subdued feisty grandmother perfectly. She is tolerant, wise, loving, bitter and is beginning to realize there is not much point in living further. Leachman won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress in “The Last Picture Show” and holds the record for most Emmy nominations at 22! Leachman died at the age of 94 in January. Again I would like to say her strong performance is not flashy and grand but subdued, poignant and at times tender.
Duplessie portraying Russell offers credibility to me about drag dancing as a highly toned performance art and moves it from kinky to highly respectable as his costuming is not over the top and the focus for him is dancing not shocking his audience most of whom like being shocked. Perhaps Russell sums up drag astutely by saying it is not about how you fuck but saying fuck off to the shame. Duplessie is both a fantastic dancer and a good actor. Linda Kash is excellent in her supporting role as a well intentioned and caring daughter and mother.
The soundtrack is excellent and as Canadians Carol Pope’s “High School Confidential” couldn’t have found a better film.
The film weaves a good story and may just make you feel at ease with the drag scene as drag queen Russell is as restrained as his grandmother if such is possible as a drag queen.
A happy ending with a bittersweet touch.
“Jump Darling” will be opening in select theatres on March 18 and on DVD and digital on March 29th.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH8Qv3BGAUk
The film is directed by Phil Connell who states, “Over a period of years, my late grandmother struggled with how to prepare for her ‘decline’ – be it physical or mental. It was the topic of conversation each time I would visit her. Meanwhile I was struggling to maintain my resolve – against the forces and voices of self-doubt that every artist faces – and wanted to explore that in the distinctly queer context of drag.”
RKS Film Rating 88/100.
RKS Wine: Gambling with Ontario Gamay? They Have Lost at the Craps Table With This One!
In the province of Ontario most wineries do a good job with Gamay. Some wineries like Malivoire do an excellent job. What can Di Profio accomplish with Gamay? Or should I say what can 180 Estate Winery do with Gamay? I visited the Di Profio website and when you check out the wines you are flipped to a new page featuring the wines of 180 Estate Winery with no explanation I can see explaining why the change of name. A sale of the winery? A simple change of name? A rebranding? Neither is there any easily locatable explanation of this on the internet.
This 2019 Gamay is from the Mia Cara Vineyard in Niagara. On the nose there is some cheerful cherry, candy cane and a tad of barnyard most of which dissipates once the wine has had a chance to breathe. It has a light bodied nudge on your palate with minimal tannins and well integrated acidity. A very undistinguished palate which lacks character and identity. Gamay can be light and fruity and almost playful but this wine has a palate that is lost in space rather like their website that gives no real explanation of why the name has changed from Di Profio to 180 Estate Winery. I would hope if this is a change of ownership their wines will be better than their website. Ontario Gamay can be so much better than this.
My advice to you is not to waste your money on this Gamay.
(Di Profio Gamay Noir 2019, Mia Cara Vineyard, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Di Profio Estate Wines, Jordan Station, Ontario, $22, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 25236, 750 mL, 12.7%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 84/100).
“Travels to a Different Time” : 10July1974: Contanesti, Romania: Fighting to Get on a Romanian Bus: More Repulsive Food: Is Pierre an FLQ Terrorist?
Thank goodness this dastardly Romanian rain and wind did not blow away or soak my tent. More cloudy weather makes this place look very drab. Eric and I walked to the bus stop to take the bus into Constanţa to get some money changed. After changing some money we went to the Auto Service for lunch after waiting in line forever. To put it politely what a repulsive lunch. We headed back and decided to endure the fights to get on a bus. In Greece it was the little old ladies that were aggressive in getting on the bus. In Romania it is everyone. I had to elbow out an old lady to get on the bus. When in Romania do as the Romanians do! Bread and cheese for supper and off to the discotheque. In bed at midnight.
11July1974: More Romanian rain. This place is getting depressing. Line-ups everywhere, food shortages, gross restaurant food, rain, no toilet paper, cloudy and rainy weather and lousy beaches with freezing cold water. Around 4 I went out for walk with Eric and we bought a small bottle of rum which we had with a Pepsi. Again at 8 we snuck into the Communist youth discotheque and chummed with Rick the DJ. He is Mr. Cool here but in Canada that would be another story. He is goobery looking being tall and fat with thick glasses dressed in very uncool clothes. No dancing tonight as I talked politics with Pierre who revealed he was arrested and put in prison for three months without a trial thanks to Trudeau’s War Measures Act. Pierre said he was a friend of Paul Rose who was involved in the kidnapping of James Cross in Montreal. In fact Pierre was not even given any reason why he was arrested. Pierre said the Romanian Communists took power through a popular front with the Social Democrats. The Communists seized power in 1952 and they created co-ops for the peasants who were opposed to having their land confiscated. Romania was a very anti-Semitic country before the war when a fascist Antonescu was in power. Apparently, Jews in Romania were sent to concentration camps or murdered in pogroms.
“Travels to a Different Time” : 9July1974: Costenesti, Romania: Too Much Pear Nectar; Dancing with DDR Girls; Pierre Sells His Shoes to a Young Communist!
I must lay off the pear juice! Runs galore all morning and thank goodness for the airmail edition of Le Monde! I was dreaming of waffles with loads of butter and maple syrup but instead a strange breakfast of canned grapes, stale bread and jam. My rumbling stomach calmed down so off to the beach with Eric and Pierre. Played some Frisbee and novice Eric caught on quickly. Sylvia and some Czech girl joined in and we played Frisbee for two hours. After steaming up I was in the freezing cold water for 10 minutes and emerged numb. We stayed until 5. I had my half-cooked dinner as the gas cannister ran out. At 8 a group of us snuck through “control” on the beach to the communist youth camp discotheque. One needs a special pass to access the compound of which we do not have as this is the exclusive domain of young communists. A 12-day vacation with all meals costs 500 lei at the communist youth camp. The Romanians are trying to pump up the Black Sea coast as a tourist destination but at present I do not think they have the infrastructure to support that ambition. And the swimming is much better in Yugoslavia and food is somewhat more plentiful there. Tourists are also charged double price for accommodation. Camping for example is 7 lei for East Bloc residents and 22 lei for non-East Bloc residents. The music was much better tonight and Eric and I danced with some DDR girls. Pierre sold his shoes to some young communist. We left after a couple of terrible Romanian beers of which one can only drink half a bottle before it goes flat. We headed out to the Dacia nightclub which was dead so we waked home in light rain. Please no more Romanian rain!
RKS Wine: The Great Viognier Search
For Canadian wine drinkers say “Viognier” and you might receive a blank look. That’s too bad as it can make a great wine and an ideal companion for crustaceans. It matches well with simply prepared lobster, crab and shrimp. There aren’t great quantities of it produced in Canada. The most recent Canadian Viognier I encountered was on a pre surge COVID retreat in Niagara where I encountered a rather poor Fielding Estate Viognier. Oh and Niagara Falls was deserted and was incredibly enjoyable! There have been some decent lower priced varieties coming from the South of France some of which have been top notch. In this case from Pays D’Oc we have a $12.95 Guillaume Aurèle 2020 Viognier.
As for aromatics this golden coloured wine has that familiar Viognier signature peaches, honey, tangerine and pineapple. You might want to summarize that as tropical. On the palate a quasi creaminess to it with a bit of pineapple, mango and spice. A moderate almost long finish with a bit of heat not surprising given its 13.5%. Outperforms its price. You can find “value” in Southern France. This is no cheap n cheerful plonk!
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Vintages catalogue states tuna steak, roast pork or chicken curry is a good food match and that makes sense although I think a tuna steak would suit a Pinot Noir/Pinot Nero/Blaufränkisch/Fetasca Neagra more than a Viognier but the next time I have a tuna steak perhaps I should try it with a Viognier? In any case a good sipper.
(Guillaume Aurèle Viognier 2020 IGP Pays d’Oc, Alma Cersius France, $12.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 380741, 750 mL, 13.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 90/100).
“Andrij the Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog” :Chapter 11 Quick American Television Appearances
From the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington I appear on a few American television shows on Zoom calls. The Ukrainian Ambassador does all the talking while I sit on a chair beside him. The Ambassador tells my story about my human family being obliterated by Russian firepower and plays that famous clip of me attacking the Brute in Kiev. They are fascinated about the 50 million Euro Tsar Putin has put on my little fluffy white head. How could a dog be so vilified by a Tsar? The Ambassador explains my antics and where there is an audience they stand up and clap. Thank goodness they do not cover my lunge at the Russian Washington Capital hockey player. That was very immature of me but I am a simple dog who is learning quickly. I am also learning quickly that my anger is best directed toward the Russian invaders and those in the Russian state that enable Tsar Putin. I note that our army has captured many Russian soldiers that are confused why they are in the Ukraine but if they turn back, they will be shot. War can be so complicated. There are courageous Russians that demonstrate against the war and are tossed into prison or “disappear” for exercising that right they haven’t had in 22 years. Given the absolute monarchy of Tsar Putin that is understandable but not forgivable. The Ambassador’s comments are similar for each appearance namely we need NATO military intervention not applause and standing ovations when President Zelensky speaks to elected assemblies.
I enjoyed the one live in canine appearance with my friend Jim Prosciutto at the CNN network. I spent some time in the CNN jet flying back to Washington from Warszawa with him. He is on leave resting from his brutal assignment in my country but demanded he be in the studio with me with the Ambassador. Millions of viewers are stunned at the beginning of the show when I roar across the room and give all sorts of kisses to Prosciutto. In a sense we go back a long way. In war even minutes can be categorized as “a long way”. He tells my story to millions of Americans while I sit on his lap. CNN ratings go through the roof. This fluffy “lap dog” decorated by the United States Marines? My killing of the Brute is shown uncensored on CNN with warnings about its graphic nature. The Ambassador closes by saying this is what Russian aggression and brutality can do to seemingly peaceful creatures. In closing I parade around the studio with my U.S marine flak jacket and helmet. I wear them in public now because of the price on my head. I also like to remind people by wearing this combat outfit that we are at war in my country. My appearance on CNN itself has become a major international story.
By 5 p.m. I am on a US Navy jet to Buffalo New York where Bob and Fay with Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog and Dylan the Westie are awaiting me. I am really very nervous about meeting such valiant and powerful figures. On the plane I sit behind the pilots who give me a high five before we take off. I am wearing a cool CNN wool hat with Ukrainian flags on the sides and yes I look tough! The Americans are not taking any security risks as there is an F-18 jet keeping an eye on us.
“Travels to a Different Time” : 8July1974: Contanesti, Romania: Incessant Line-Ups and Sneaking into Communist Youth Camp Discotheque; Russians not Appreciated!
Feeling much better today so some stale bread and jam for breakfast. I seem to be wasting away as where has all the food gone in Romania? I went to the cigarette butt littered beach and this time the water was calm. There are elderly women here with rather distended bellies lounging on the beach. The hawkers on the beach are bothersome pestering you to buy ice cream, chocolate and popcorn. I was home at noon getting slightly burnt. At least there is no Romanian rain I have not been having good luck with. In communist Romania you are subject to the national pastime of waiting in line. How many hours have I wasted waiting in line here? For example if you want to buy cheese you have to wait in line to enter the store. Then you line up to have it weighed and you get a receipt for it. You then wait in line to pay and then wait in line again to pick up the cheese. I thought Yugoslavia was bad but this is so bad it is comedic! Imagine taking these poor Romanians into a supermarket in Montreal. It would be a fantasy. Seeing the line up I just gave up and went into a cafeteria where I had a lunch of beef and potatoes all carefully weighed for a $1.15 dinner. I came home and being a bit sunburnt finished off reading my airmail edition of Le Monde which also serves as toilet paper as there is no toilet paper in the washrooms. Poor Karl Marx would be crying! I wanted eggs for dinner but guess what? None to be found. So I made a bizarre but edible spaghetti cooked on my mini propane burner. That burner is powered by a small gas cannister. It has been worth its weight in gold! If I cut my hair and wore a track suit could I pass for a Romanian?
After dinner played some frisbee with Pierre and along with a Finnish guy we snuck along the beach into the youth camp discotheque. The Russians came in after us and there was silence for a moment. No one wanted to fraternize with them. Poor Russians! Communist youth are dressed very shoddily and the music was about as putrid as the Romanian beer. We stayed a couple of hours and headed back on the beach. At least unlike East Germany there was no barbed wire we had to cut through. We evaded the checkpoint. Thank goodness the “control people” were not armed. It would be a shame to die to listen to socialist rock and try and drink Romanian beer.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 