Wears a coat and pants

In this weather, I’m sure that’s an apt description of any dog around here. Hot enough to drive a man to drink…iced tea, by the gallons.

With my Dexter marathon done, I’m plumb out of things to watch on TV. I taped Fear Itself for later viewing, and this weekend there’s the return of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Goren’s back and crazier than ever. Yay! I spent last night working on a book review ( Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh). Next week I’ll write up my thoughts on John Connolly’s The Reapers. I also read through the entirety of Jack Haringa Must Die!. Wow, there are some mighty fine little stories in that book. Some interesting recurring themes, too!

I received some genealogy documents from my aunt yesterday. I’ve taken a mild interest in tracing my father’s side of the family. His father came over to Canada from England on a merchant marine ship in 1908 and, according to the legend, discovered they weren’t going to be paid so he stayed behind. I visited some of my cousins from that side of the family in Portsmouth, England back in 1984, but I didn’t know anything about my grandfather’s family. Didn’t even know if he had siblings (he did, five, many of them bearing the same names as some of his children). The most interesting thing in the documents I received is my great-great-great-great grandfather, one George Ponormo, who was a celebrated maker of cellos and violins. If you google the name, you don’t find out much about the man, but his name is associated with a number of musical instruments still in existence to this day. His father (or his grandfather, I haven’t figured that out yet) Vincenzo Panormo (1734-1813) was also a violin maker who moved from Sicily to France, Dublin and London during his lifetime. I even know one street in Paris where he worked: rue de l’Arbre Sec in the 1770s (Dry Tree Street).

However, the documents have George Panormo listed as an Italian Count and his daughter as a Contessa, none of which I’ve seen any confirmation of yet. It’s like detective work. Something fun and interesting to do while hiding out from the heat.

Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller passed away on June 4th. As you may recall, he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident several years ago that left him unable to work and with monumental medical bills. His accident was the inspiration for Wavedancer Foundation and later The Haven Foundation, which assists freelance artists who have found themselves unable to work due to disease or accident. Information about tomorrow’s memorial service for Mr. Muller can be found at his official web site.