I went to see a restored print of Hitchcock’s Vertigo last night at the Castro Theater. It was being shown in 70mm format, and it looked great. Especially the red wallpaper at “Ernie’s Restaurant.” The important lesson I took away from the film was that drinking liquor is like medicine:

“You look awful. Here, have some bourbon.” Bear in mind this was at dawn, and he happened to have to bourbon next to the front door.

“Here, drink this, it’s like medicine” as  Jimmy Stewart hands Kim Novak a cordial glass filled with God knows what. It was not actually medicine though, I’m pretty sure.

Next time I have a headache or feel tired, I’m definitely heading for the Maker’s Mark.

A Rugged Plant for Men, from Better Homes & Gardens.

In 1959, Better Homes and Gardens published a book titled “House Plants.” I didn’t discover this book until this afternoon. I don’t know how I made it this far without it. I had previously underestimated the influence of proper houseplant selection on proving one’s own masculinity. Luckily, I read the page titled “Hardy beauties for a man’s office” today and learned that all I need to do is get a nice Fiddleleaf fig (pictured above), place it next to a wood-paneled wall and sit down for a satisfying smoke on my davenport (or sofa). I can almost taste the Scotch now (which inevitably would have been procured for me by an adoring female, who can’t resist the manly charms of my houseplants).

It also helps to put philodendrons next to eagle-themed paperweights.