Late-fall fashion choices, holiday planning and New Haven Restaurant Week

Last week saw an end to some of the idyllic Indian summer weather that is one of the delights of living in Connecticut.

Temperatures dropped sufficiently for me to realize it was time to visit Lock Up Self Storage (no longer having a handy basement) and replace the cotton T-shirts with some long-sleeve acrylics and jackets to toss on for early morning or late-evening appointments. Additionally, the other unwelcome signal that winter is definitely approaching is the end of daylight saving time, today. (Did you remember to turn your clock back 1 hour?)

Another important date to remember is Election Day. I have been attending meetings to hear the views of local candidates, and one of the issues of particular interest is the need to replace the outworn, outdated, Canoe Brook Senior Center in Branford with a facility that can inspire the hardworking staff and the continually increasing number of seniors and their families who partake and benefit from its services.(More about this issue in a future column).

Instead of starting my menu planning for Thanksgiving, this is the first Thanksgiving where I will be a guest rather than the hostess, and I have been struggling to make online reservations, using my airline credits, to join my cousins in South Carolina. The airline sites are like a minefield with all of their hidden extras and stipulations about seat choice and baggage. I may decide to incur the extra charge in order to speak and make reservations with a live representative … hopefully, there are a few still in existence.

The approach of cooler weather has also encouraged me to mark the reviews for a few books that I hope to find time to read this winter, and although, ordinarily, I see very few movies, preferring live theater, I did see two movies this past week. The first, “Captain Phillips” with Tom Hanks, based on the true story of the hijacking of the U.S. container ship by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks gives a powerfully intense performance, and the movie kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. “Gravity,” although praised by many reviewers, was for me, interesting for the first 20 minutes during which I was intrigued by the amazing 3-D effects. After that, I lost interest as it was impossible to relate to the single individual (Sandra Bullock) left alone in space (George Clooney, sadly, leaves for outer space, early in the film) valiantly grunting and groaning her one liners while trying to find the right buttons to push in order to survive.

I guess for me, characterization and plot far outweigh any spectacular effects. I was remembering some simple black and white films on small screens that had kept me spellbound while this extravaganza of special effects was almost boring. I’m sure many people will disagree.

The colder weather seems to also have affected my appetite. I’m no longer content with salads for lunch, but yearn for hearty soups, pasta, hot rolls and yummy deserts … none of which are good for the waistline. And let’s not forget that New Haven Restaurant Week, www.infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek, with all of those special tempting menus begins today. Oh well, as Kirstie Alley said, “There’s a lot more to life than how fat or thin you are.”

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

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