Reprise: Reading and Viewing Once More

I watched a couple movies (well, parts) and re-read (the whole thing) a book for a second time the last few days. They were enjoyable comfort food.

[Yes, the book was on a serious topic, but it still was comfort food as supportive with a good ending.]

Major League, the classic sports comedy with an excellent cast including the announcer Bob Uecker (he did Brewers games but moonlit here as the accouncer for the Indians) on IFC. IFC was on the television I was watching among basic cable channels. So, it was a bit of a surprise to hear cursing. 

TV Tropes notes there was some dramatic license with one goof flagged about them skipping a line-up spot in the final scene. The person who did their homework on that said the film was pretty realistic overall.  

Meanwhile, in the real world of baseball, not only did Montas (sort of a Mr. Q fill-in with Severino replaced by Senga scheduled to be here for the whole year and Clay filling the fifth slot originally assigned to Houser and company) get injured, but now Sean M. (with all the vowels) is due to be out for a month. 

[I saw late April and early May in different articles so let's say the thing is somewhat in flux.]

It makes sense for them to re-sign Mr. Q., who I'm surprised no team signed already. He's a prime back-of-the-rotation guy who will give you many good starts. Who are you going to replace him with? Blackburn or Megill? Come on. Yeah, the Dodgers exposed him, but HE didn't lose Game 6. 

I already noted that I read the new autobiography (Part I?) of Nicole Maines, the trans actress. I read this book back when it came out. Its "won't go back" optimism about trans rights is a bit off around nine years later.

The book remains a good read about the experience of a family with a trans daughter. She is a twin and her father dreamed of two boys. Not to worry -- Wayne Maines outgrew his doubts and is now a major trans rights advocate. The twins biologically are the children of a cousin of Kelly Maines, the mother, though I think Nicole looks like her adopted father.  

I originally noted a desire to get a bit more of the school's perspective, that is, the middle school they sued and won a major bathroom rights victory. The counselor is early on a major advocate and later it is noted she still occasionally kept in touch. 

Nonetheless, after problems occur with a boy, suddenly the counselor locks out the family and she basically disappears from the story.  We later even get a final update about the boy but no input from the school's point of view. I felt that was a lack.

Nicole's autobiography touches upon various things covered. The book ends with her surgery which Nicole says was botched. She got a redo by another surgeon and says she is quite satisfied now.   

Both twins went into acting. The parents moved west.

I enjoyed this Up TV film when I saw it a few years ago. Marla Sokoloff wrote and directed the film. She also can briefly be seen as the mom in the opening scene. Sokoloff has directed a few films. I know her from a few more snarky performances when she was younger, including Sugar & Spice. 

The film is my ideal for a UP TV film -- a bit less polished than Hallmark, including the acting, but nicely paced and overall comfort food television. When the co-star here is a cook, well that fits. 

Here's a story on the film with an interview. 

Bonus: I later saw Love, Classified (a not very descriptive title) again. Good comfort food. The mom years earlier played the main character in a short-lived television version of Dirty Dancing. On YouTube.