tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42940812272437501272024-03-13T13:54:11.547-07:00RunlikejoyRunlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.comBlogger315125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-57528696345364921162021-06-10T11:30:00.000-07:002021-06-10T11:30:08.520-07:00Losing Count at 22<p>I am losing count on how many Pandemic posts I have done but if feels like a thousand. That having been said, I will say that there is so much great stuff out there that even if I watched 20 hours of television a week I would not run out of great content. We are enjoying such a wealth of fantastic shows, I many times don't want to choose because they are all so good. </p><p>We have decided to take a break from Anime and Animated shows now that Avatar the Last Airbender is done but I am sure we will start the latest season of My Hero Academia so standby for a review of that in the near future. Here are some goodies and not so goodies that I spend my last couple of weeks on:</p><p><b>Friends Reunion: HBO Max</b> Ahhhh Friends. I remember the early 90's, I remember Thursday night Must See TV Lineups, I remember girls grouping together in the dorm that i frequented but did not live in, I remember finding Chandler hysterical but Joey so attractive. I was sad the special reunion show was not longer and that they didn't go in to more back story but I will say that I am no longer attracted to shows about 6 white friends who live in colorful and large NYC apartments and spend tons of time sleeping around with each other. Don't get me wrong, it was good when I was 18 to 21 but then I got a boyfriend, I got a job, I grew up a bit and it lost its appeal. What did you think?</p><p><b>The Kominsky Method: Season 3 Netflix</b> I love Michael Douglas and always have since the first time I saw him in Romancing the Stone with Kathleen Turner so imagine my delight when Kathleen Turner is featured in the majority of Season 3, husky, smokers rattle and all. This is a great series, funny and heartfelt, witty and hilarious and did I mention that Paul Riser is in it as well? Yes, there is a lot of dying. Yes, it is like Grace and Frankie but for dudes. Yes, I'm starting to reguarly get letters from AARP. But all that aside, I enjoy a show that gives jobs to older actors regardless as to their age and I love when they make me laugh and cry and wish there were more episodes. Not for all ages.</p><p><b>Dear Chelsea: Podcast</b> What will Chelsea Handler do next? I have to say that this girl has some hustle. She went from a pretty trashy and tabloid infused talk show to writing some chuckle books about her alcohol infused 20's and 30's to doing some stand up, then having a Netflix talk show, then a travel/docu series and now a podcast. It was pretty good - she is trying to help people and do good things. I don't like the calling in portion - too Doctor Drew and is he even a doctor? Anyway - if you like Podcasts, which I generally do not, check it out. Not as good as Fremdlauschen but that is because she hasn't talked about Hilaria Baldwin yet.</p><p><b>Expecting Amy - HBO Max</b> WOW - I am an Amy Schumer fan but this 3 part docu-series is really really good. It follows Amy and her career and life as she navegates a stand up tour and a highly dangerous pregnancy while struggling with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition where you vomit throughout your pregnancy and struggle with dehydration. I have to say that if this woman chooses not to ever have children again based on this condition, I will totally understand - I can't believe that she had this condition for a week let alone for 10 months and also she was on a comedy tour with shows at least once a day, sometimes twice. Anyway - this woman is a true comedienne, she tells a joke at the same time she is throwing up, and then she uses the vomit episode as comedy fodder, only a professional could pull that off. Check it out, you will find yourself cringing and laughing at the same time.</p><p><b>Abortion: Stories Women Tell - HBO Max</b> This documentary packs a punch - very powerful stories told here. Before you freak out and buy an orange vest and take a day off work to go kneel in front of the local Planned Parenthood - take the time to see stories from both sides of the fence and see what those stories sound like, what they have to say and how choices affect the people who make them. I can't judge these women because I am only in charge of myself and I can only make choices that affect myself. These women are brave and strong and made the choices they made and they have to live with those choices. I am happy that these types of documentaries exist because it denotes a cultural change, it means that we can tell these stories and let them rest somewhere, instead of hiding, petrified that someone will find out what we did and we will forever be labeled as "one of those women". Watch it with your sons and daughters, open up dialogue, create safe space. </p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-48739680419351521052021-05-18T10:36:00.002-07:002021-05-19T04:02:27.316-07:00Remakes and Retakes #21<p> I was irritated to read today that Another Round which I reviewed in my last blog is being remade with Leonardo Di Caprio playing the role held by Mads Mikkelsen. Why do Americans think that everything has to be remade in a splashy and over the top sort of way? I've already decided it will be crap and I won't watch it. They did this to Force Majeure and remade it into Downhill starring Julie Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell and as much as I love Will Ferrell I can't bring myself to see it. Leave well enough alone and on that note - here are some things you might like to watch or not watch:</p><p><b>Greenland - HBO Max</b> I love a good apocalyptic, armageddon style end-of-times film. Being raised in an Evangelical faith based environment, this movie is the stuff of dreams and nightmares, fire and brimstone, hell and damnation. I didn't say the film was good but it is entertaining and stars Gerard Butler who had to jump through multiple hurdles to save his wife and child from imminent danger by way of an asteroid hurtling toward earth, breaking up and causing an ice age type destruction that wipes out over 75% of the planet. If you are looking for Oscar type performances, this is not your film but if you are looking for mindless entertainment, look no further.</p><p><b>Wild Mountain Thyme - Hulu</b> With the Pandemic winding down I have less and less free time and so I really do not like to muddle through a film that is as painful as this one was. Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken couldn't pull this script out of the shite as they say in Ireland so let me save you 2 hours and just recommend that you skip this one. HARD PASS. I'd explain what the film is about to give you a picture but it wound around and around and made no sense and I was never able to nail down a plot.</p><p><b>Lucy The Human Chimp - HBO Max</b> Why do humans think that taking a chimp and raising it as a human child is a good idea? Why do humans think that missionaries are still something that is needed? Why do humans like to blame others for climate change when they are all basically to blame? This documentary tells the story of 2 morons who tried to raise Lucy the Chimp as a human baby, the disaster that ensued and how someone else had to then take her to Africa and introduce her to the wild and the many years it took for her to become independent, sort of. This film is well done and leaves you with the sense that human beings are mostly idiots but Chimps are amazing. A great film for the whole family!</p><p><b>My Love: 6 Stories of True Love - Netflix </b> This show is why I watch television. It was beautiful, slow, moving, gentle, lovely and heartfelt. It takes a couple that has been married for many years and tells the story of them, their lives, their work, their children, their struggles and their triumphs. Each episode is an hour and showcases a story of an American couple, Japanese couple, S. Korean couple, Indian couple, a Brazilian couple and a Spanish couple. Each story has insightful nuance of culture, language and lifestyle and is such a poingnant reminder that finding the right person is such a gift and that growing old together can be a nurturing journey. I would watch this again it was that good.</p><p>Movie theaters are open - but before you go, remember to get your vaccine!</p><p><br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-69510345063035125782021-05-04T11:22:00.001-07:002021-05-04T11:22:41.568-07:00Camping and #20<p> This last weekend we went camping and it was so nice to disconnect and spend 2 days without screens, phones, computers, televisions, radios and all that crap. But guess what? I'm back from camping and here are some new show and movies and crap from the Boob-Tube as my Grandma used to call it for you to waste your life on as we wind our way in to summer and warmer weather.</p><p><b>Won't You Be My Neighbor - HBO</b> This documentary is about Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, the show and the man behind the show. It is so very good and gentle and soft and comforting. Fred Rogers was a gentle and kind soul who dedicated his life to children and to helping shelter them through the difficult things in the world and in doing so also helped shelter adults through the world as well. And as you watch this documentary you realize that he also comforted and helped himself by helping others. If you don't watch any other documentary films this year, this is the one that helped me and I think it will also help you.</p><p><b>Another Round - Hulu</b> When I watched this film it had not won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film but obviously it is very good and very depressing. This film stars Mads Mikkelsen who is of my all time favorite actors - he has an actors face and can emote 20 emotions with just one stare, oh and he is HOT but I am getting off track. This movie tells the story of 4 men and how they all approach mid life crisis and the doldrums of life by drinking more and more until something tragic happens. The film was presented to me as an homage to male bonding and a triumphant hurrah by 4 best friends when in actuality it delves in to what happens when you combine a depressant like alcohol with 4 men who are depressed and it made me want to never have another drink as long as I live which isn't really hard since I don't drink. Regardless as to how depressing this film is, it is very well done and worth watching. </p><p><b>Tina - HBO</b> One of the things I have discovered about myself during this Pandemic is that I love Rockumentary films - and this one is no exception. You do not have to love Tina Turner to love the story of Tina Turner and this documentary digs in to her early life with Ike Turner and then how she transitioned to a solo artist freeing herself of him in the 80's and early 90's and then her transformation to selling out stadiums and huge concerts until her retirement to France where she currently lives. And there is music and who doesn't love music? Just a warning, if you are triggered by domestic or spousal abuse stories, you will want to avoid this film.</p><p><b>Avatar The Last Airbender - Netflix</b> After My Hero Academia and Haikyu! the girls convinced us to watch one of their all time favorite cartoon shows and so we gave in. This is the story of Ang, the last Avatar who was frozen for 100 years and comes to help save the world from the evil grasp of the Fire Nation. I have to say that I was skeptical but we are well in to season 2 and I am really enjoying the plot, the animation and the characters and the story line. I am not sure where our anime watching girls will take us after this show but I can say that I am really glad that we have watched the 3 shows that they've recommended to us. I'm not sure they've enjoyed all the shows/movies we have made them sit through however! </p><p>Summer is nearly here - what will you be watching?</p><p><br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-23076374796036575462021-04-13T06:49:00.002-07:002021-04-13T06:49:49.070-07:00#19 and Dreams of Summer<p> In North Carolina something happens every spring that always is a surprise to me - one day it is 30 degrees and freezing and then the next day is 70 degrees and spring is here. I like to tell the story that when we moved here, the first two or three years I dreaded summer like you dread having to break up with someone or pay your student loan bills but in the last 3 years I have come to eagerly look forward to spring because I know that summer is right around the corner. The thought of warm weather, tank tops, walking in flip flops, swimming pools, watermelon and seeing family is enough to embrace summer in NC no matter how hot, hot muggy or how long. As I enjoy spring, pollen and all, here are some new shows and movies I watched recently.</p><p><b>Ammonite - Hulu</b> This film is starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, two of my favorite actors, and so I expected more. Don't get me wrong, it is dingy, dirty, cold, unpleasant and stuffy, all the things that I imagine life was like for a working class, poor woman in the 1840's. I hoped for something along the lines of Portrait of A Woman on Fire which if you have not seen, you are missing out! It was ok, the best performance by for to me was by Gemma Jones who plays Molly Anning, the mother of Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet. She was dry, unpleasant, grouchy, lumbering and irritating and totally perfect. What I did love about this film is that it opens our eyes to what it must have been like to be LGBTQIA in the 1800's, what was life like, how did people live, who were their confidants, how did they survive, where did they go for help? If you are wanting explosions and bombs and action, this is not your film but if you want to see 2 women circumnavigate the patriarchy in more than one way and survive, this is the film for you.</p><p><b>Fleabag - Amazon Prime</b> OHHHHH BOYYYYYY let me just start by saying that this was the break out show of the year for me and where was I when it came out and when can I see more episodes? WOW this is a great show and for so many reasons. If Phoebe Waller-Bridge - the actor who plays the main role of Fleabag (she is never named outright as far as I can remember) is not given a Peabody, a Congressional Medal of Honor, A Nobel Peace Price and a Pulitzer Prize then what is the point of doing this kind of work?!?! (Actually Rush Limbaugh got a Congressional Medal of Honor so that award is total crap now but I'm getting off topic) I always say when I watch shows like this, that fiction comes from the retelling of real stories but with the changing of names and places and maybe dates but all great fiction has someone at the root who is not only a great story teller but also great at embellishment. Not for the faint of heart and not for kids but like I said, break out show of the year for me!</p><p><b>Operation Varsity Blues The College Admissions Scandal - Netflix</b> With a child wrapping up the 11th grade and sights set on college in less than 2 years I knew that I would be angry/pissed off/frustrated after watching this but I had to watch it nonetheless. I will begin with privilege and just put here that all the rich and privileged parents who paid for their children (some academically gifted and some not) to get into top schools around the nation and then served 14 days, 2 months, 4 months, house arrest for using money and influence to put their kids in spots that could have been given to other kids who worked their asses off and were denied - disgusting. I think what made this really disgusting to me is that we had someone high up in our country who coasted off his name and prestige and privilege and basically did nothing and this documentary substantiated how this was made possible and was indicative of something much larger that was wrong in our country - much larger than college admissions and much larger than scams and much larger than serving 2 weeks in fancy pants jail. In other news, you can get a GREAT education anywhere - it doesn't have to be Ivy League - it can be at your local community college and it can be online and it can be at a small 4 year college and it can be at a parochial school, if you want an education you can get it through hard work, determination and study and yes money because nothing is free. If you have kids that are going to go to college or in college or have gone to college - watch this documentary! It was very well done.</p><p><b>Minari - Amazon Prime Movie Rental</b> Movies like this should be sponsored by the Kleenex company in all honesty because there will be tons of crying happening. If you see only one movie this year, make it this movie. It tells the story of a Korean family that moves to Arkansas in the 80's to start a farm because the father has had a series of failed jobs/businesses. I cannot tell you how this movie touched me from the immigrant experience in this country to living in a place where you do not look like anyone else to keeping cultural values alive and growing up Korean/American in the United States. The guy who plays the crazy neighbor in this film is outstanding - his name is Will Patton. As for the name Minari - it is water celery or waterdropwort - and can be found in Korean dishes and is native to East Asia. This movie has to be rented on any streaming service but it totally worth it and you will be glad you learned something about another culture and you will be glad that your neighbors don't all look the same and that we are a country of immigrants. </p><p>Happy watching and happy spring!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-52269583434770933562021-03-25T06:10:00.003-07:002021-03-25T06:10:25.223-07:00Vaccines and Post #18<p> By now if you are reading this you probably have had your vaccine or are very close to getting it - because only old people read blogs and all the old people I know are getting vaccines including me (on Saturday) so here's to science! If you don't believe in science or vaccines then you should probably join a cult and move to an island and ask for a refund on the smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and all the other shots you got as a child and didn't have a conspiracy theory leg to stand on yet. There - I've said it. Anyway, if you like vaccines however, here are some more reviews that I have rustled up for you to enjoy!</p><p><b>The Great - Netflix</b> I had seen this show pop up over and over in my feed but scrolled past because I didn't think I would like it, but I am happy to say that I was so wrong. This show is a period piece and so well done, it is like what would have happened if Jane Austen had collaborated with Orange Is The New Black and it is delightful. It is loosely based on historical facts and when I saw loosely it is very loose but at least they got the names right. Throughout history there have been women who did not lose their heads but outsmarted the men they were forced to marry and this show is what that would look like in Russia after Emperor Peter married Catherine on her way to becoming Catherine The Great - hence the name. I binged it - it was that much fun.<br /><br /></p><p><b>Crip Camp - Netflix</b> When the names Michelle and Barak Obama are put together to produce/create a documentary - you just have to know that it will be a masterpiece and powerful and politically poignant and worth watching. I don't care what kind of politics you trend towards, quality is quality. This documentary is about Americans with Disabilities and how in the 70's there was a camp in upstate New York and how all these kids went there to be able to have a summer camp experience, just be kids, swim, smoke, stay up late, sing, dance, kiss, love, cry, and grow and what happens when change needs to be made and then they made it. It is not good, it is great and I love that the Obamas have put their name to quality stuff like this - making me believe that good wins. Remember, when someone shows you who they are - believe them the FIRST time. </p><p><b>The Sound of Metal - Prime Video</b> This is Oscar season whether or not I want to admit it and while I no longer care about who wins awards and who wears De La Renta, I sometimes will watch these blockbuster films when they look good, great or excellent. This film falls in this category - and tells the story about a drummer played by Riz Ahmed who is losing his hearing and how that affects his life, career and more. As you get into the film you also find out that the main character is a recovering addict and so he is dealing with that and there is a relationship as well, many layers to be uncovered. I would be interested to hear from someone who is hearing impaired or deaf and ask what they think about this film - representation, acting, accuracy and more. We have so many deaf actors why not choose someone who really cannot hear to portray this character? All valid questions. Great film, great acting and worth the watch in my opinion.</p><p><b>Audrey - Netflix </b> For many years my favorite film of all time was<b> Breakfast At Tiffany's</b> only to be followed up by <b>Roman Holiday</b> which can only mean that my favorite actor of all time is the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. This documentary does not uncover anything new or surprising about this person but only concretes what I already knew about her, she was timeless, graceful, kind, introspective, professional, compassionate and fantastic at everything she touched. <b>Two For The Road</b> doesn't get near enough acclaim but is also an amazing film, the witty repartee between herself and Albert Finney makes this film smart, savvy and entertaining. Sabrina is also a wonderful film as long as you ignore all the remakes that have come after as well as <b>Love In The Afternoon</b> which while starring an aged Gary Cooper, you focus more on the outstanding performances of Maurice Chevalier and Audrey Hepburn than the age difference between her and Mr. Cooper. If you love dancing, and Audrey was a dancer, there is <b>Funny Face</b> with Fred Astair, with some all time classic dancing and singing, only to be outdone by her performance with Peter O'Toole in <b>How to Steal A Million</b>. And my final shout out for a scary and sinister <b>Charade</b> starring alongside the timeless Cary Grant but again, Audrey steals the limelight and makes this film a smash hit. See what I did there? You now have 11 movies you need to watch! </p><p>Enjoy!</p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-90240723960860958672021-03-17T11:06:00.003-07:002021-03-17T11:07:42.462-07:00Pandemic Picks - Guest Reviewer - Attack on Titan<p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to the 16th edition of Pandemic Picks - and today I have a guest contributor and reviewer who put in the time and energy to watch the show Attack on Titan and brings you a review so unique and lengthy that it gets its own post. This review was written by the great Gabe McKeon - so sit back, relax and enjoy this read.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-46a011ea-7fff-6768-68f8-365a66f03023"><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attack on Titan - Crunchyroll </span></p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a "light" fan of anime as a young kid (I watched my share of Robotech in the 80's and who can forget "Akira"?!), I was a little apprehensive to revisit the genre with my kids. I officially classify them as super fans of anime, consuming pretty much all episodes of Naruto (believe me - there are too many!) as well as the other staples including Demon Slayer, Haikyu!, My Hero Academia and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. I am a bit biased seeing them waste countless hours on the monotonous inner monologuing that plagues Naruto, leading to battle scenes that span multiple episodes. Ain't nobody got time for that . . . </span></p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My kids finally broke me. The COVID slowdown opened some TV watching windows I had shut previously. It started with My Hero (a lot of fun, but still with the excessive monologuing!) We completed the available seasons and my kids were still thirsty. I held firm on Naruto but let them convince me to begin the series "Attack on Titan". This show is another manga-based series that has achieved high acclaim among anime fans. What follows is my revue coming from a not-very-serious-anime-fan perspective - a side note, always watch the sub, no dub.</span></p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My immediate reaction to the opening episodes of season 1 were pretty positive. There is action from the start and despite their inherent violence, you want to know more and figure out why the things are you seeing on screen are happening (note that if you don't like gore, there are a lot of large, naked, androgynous beings - titans - trying to eat as many people as they can). Throughout the first season it becomes evident that these characters are in it for the long haul and there is marked development of personalities - sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.</span></p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seasons 2 and 3 continue the trend. Each season is rich with character development addition of new personalities, plot twists that throw you for loops, and downright stunning quality animation. One thing to note is while many animation series tend to sacrifice a bit on smoothness and quality to their action sequences, AOT does not seem to do this. Action and battle scenes are smooth and retain all the quality of the slower scenes. A real bonus in my view.</span></p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Season 4 starts out and I immediately noticed a change in both animation style as well as soundtrack. All series tend to use different opening tracks for each season/arc, and AOT is no exception. By and large, I consider theirs to be some of the best I have heard. In every aspect, I took about 2 to 3 episodes to fully warm to season 4. The opening track and scenes intro were in stark contrast, but once I understood the current arc a bit better, it has become my favorite track. Visual symbolism using themes that remind me of WW11 and the Third Reich begin to make a bit more sense as the plot develops.</span></p><span style="background-color: #e06666;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I won't provide any spoilers, but rest assured, throughout the series there are many ups and downs. Characters you like will get killed and maimed, people you thought were good may not be as good as you think. I do enjoy shows a bit more when there is no clear hero and things tend to be gray. AOT revels in this grayness and in my opinion, the show stands out because of it. Enjoy the mess it leaves behind.</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-55016252911939809692021-03-02T11:18:00.002-08:002021-03-02T11:18:19.619-08:00Round #15 - Pandemic Picks<p> I have added Podcasts to this weeks movies and show reviews! If you are the type of person that enjoys music while you work or play, why not replace it with a podcast for 20 or 30 minutes while you take a break from Abba? Here are this weeks picks and I hope that you are still enjoying these Pandemic Picks!</p><p><b>Don't Read This On The Plane - Amazon Prime </b> This film is about a writer who finds out as she is checking in to her first hotel on her book tour that her publisher has gone out of business and she is stranded with nowhere to stay but since her flights are all paid for she can either abandon the tour or find her own accommodations and still show up to her readings and signings. She decides to continue her tour and she does book readings and signings but every night she has to find a new place to stay. She learns of an app that will help her find free accommodations sometimes nice sometimes terrible but always free. I really enjoyed this movie because I did my share of hitchhiking and relying on the kindness of strangers in my life and sometimes things have a way of working out in all the right ways even in the worst of situations.</p><p><b>Podcast - Fremdlauschen - Facebook/Spotify/Podcast places </b> Let me start by saying I am not a podcast listener but a friend who lives in Germany started a podcast about all things American and so I decided to have a listen and I loved it. Because she lives in another country she dedicates each podcast to something inherently American and I learned things about the Superbowl that I never knew before. She also devotes 45 minutes to explaining Qanon and it is super interesting. Thanks Nicole!</p><p><b>Haikyu!! - Netflix</b> Yup, another anime review - I cannot believe the kids talked me in to watching this because I thought My Hero Academia was the end of anime for me. This show is often referred to as Volleyball Anime because it is about high school boys and their volleyball team. It took me more than 5 episodes to get in to this show but we are now on season 2 and I quite enjoy it. If you get a chance, find a show that your kids like, if you have kids, and sit down and watch it together. <br /></p><p><b>There Is No "I" in Threesome - HBO Max</b> First of all don't let the title of this movie scare you away. This film is shot from a telephone, so it aesthetically fits the YouTube style of video and very appealing. It is about a couple that is poly amorous and what happens to a committed relationship when others are invited in to the most private part of a relationship. What happens when someone falls in love with more than the person they are engaged to? How does polyamory work? What are the rules? What are the deal breakers? This movie is thought provoking and intelligent, exhilarating, adventurous and sad.</p><p><b>Hiro's Table - YouTube </b> This documentary was shot over 16 years and is about Master Chef Hiro Obayashi and his life work and his family and his restaurant. It tells the story of how he and his wife emigrated from Japan to Southern California and opened a restaurant in a Hollywood strip mall. It is so well done, it makes me wish I had eaten at his restaurant before he retired and moved to Oregon. This film is a reminder that what makes this country great is everything that comes from other places to make it what it is. And it made me want to live in a place that has good Asian food restaurants. </p><p>What are you watching right now? What are the kids watching? What are you going to watch on the weekend? I can't wait to see Coming 2 America this weekend and also Minari - I'll let you know what I think about them next week. And go get those shots if you qualify - trust science and scientists!<br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-18902593853941264882021-02-17T10:37:00.001-08:002021-02-17T11:42:03.527-08:00Pandemic Reviews #14<p> Let me just start by saying that you should NEVER watch Christmas movies in February. Even if they are good movies, they just leave you feeling like you missed the bus, not to mention the weather is depressing, the cold drags on and on and you are broke from spending all your Christmas budget on shoes and you have nowhere to wear them to except Costco. (Please write me and tell me you are buying shoes too?) </p><p><b>Love The Coopers - Amazon Prime</b> This is the Christmas film that I am talking about - and it was terrible. It was partly terrible because I watched it in February but it was also terrible because it was just terrible. I love a good Christmas movie, Elf, The Family Stone, Die Hard, Home Alone, but this was a bad one, as a matter of fact it was so bad that I watched 90% of the movie and have not been able to finish it. Diane Keaton was terrible, John Goodman was terrible and so was everyone else in the film and also the story was disjointed and hard to follow. I abandoned ship and so I will never find out what happened in the last 8 to 12 minutes of a story that I can hardly remember.</p><p><b>Brooklyn 99 - Hulu</b> Ok - let me start by saying that Barney Miller was the only cop show I have watched and only because I read somewhere in Tiger Beat Magazine when I was 12 that Ralph Macchio liked that show, speaking of Ralph Macchio how does he still look like he is 20? Anyway - this show is funny and has great jokes and funny actors but after about 12 episodes I had to stop watching it. Not because it got bad or anything like that but because I am not a fan of the cop show. If you like cop shows, check this one out.</p><p><b>The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears - Hulu</b> If you follow social media or what is trending on Twitter or the news, you will know that Britney Spears has been under a strict conservator-ship that her father Jamie Spears regulates and has for years. She is 39. What the hell?!? She is old enough to tour the world, sell out stadiums, have a residency in Vegas and be married twice, not once but twice, I hope that this ditty helps her cause and allows her to be in charge of her own life. Interesting and thought provoking - worth the watch.</p><p><b>Never Have I Ever - Netflix </b> I LOVE THIS SHOW. Fullstop. I think that Mindy Kaling (who created this show and produces it) is a genius and is one of the smartest and savvy-est minds out there. The lead actor, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is great, funny, on point, sassy, smart and all the things you want her to be. This cast is wonderful, ethnically diverse and they jump head first in to all the stuff teenagers deal with, sexual orientation, grades, dating, first kisses, rebellious behavior, cultural diversity, dealing with parents, etc. Watch this show - and sit down and watch it with your teenagers! I hope you love it as much as I do.</p><p><b>Is Love Enough Sir - Netflix </b> So I have a love affair for all things Bollywood - yup, the dancing, the singing, the music, the colors, the costume, the set, the language, the culture, all things. This film is very good and while a bit slow, it isn't too slow that you lose interest in what is developing. It tells the story of the divide between servants and the people who employ servants in India and what happens when there are romantic feelings that arise. If you love learning about other cultures and you love subtitles, this is the film for you. Let me know if you liked it.</p><p>So I am currently watching Season 1 of<b> Haikyu!! (Volleyball Anime)</b> on Netflix - so next post I will review that as well as my husband will guest review the anime show <b>Attack on Titan </b>- I believe he is in season 4 now? What are you watching? And as always, send me your recommendations and tell me what to watch! </p><p>Podcasts! I will also review a new Podcast I have been listening to - what are your favorite Podcasts?</p><p><br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-60327824169100438142021-02-02T11:04:00.003-08:002021-02-02T11:05:34.110-08:00Take 13<p> We have reached the magic number folks, 13 movie and series reviews - that is a whole lot of television. BUT remember I watch these shows so you don't have to and that way you can weed through the good, the bad and the ugly and just pick out what speaks to you. This last bunch was varied and unique and none of them were like the other. Here goes:</p><p><b>The White Tiger - Netflix</b> This film is a Bollywood-esque romp through the eyes of a lower caste chauffeur who works his way in to his boss's confidences and trust and ends up betraying him and I don't want to give more away because you might watch it although you probably won't enjoy it because it was terrible. I have always been a huge fan of Bollywood and Indian Musicals and enjoy when these films pop up on my Netflix list. That having been said, this film was a huge waste of 2 hours and I was left disappointed at the end. If anyone has seen great Bollywood or Bollywood inspired films, I'd love to hear what they are and happy to add them to my list.</p><p><b>Pandas - Hulu</b> I am currently obsessed with the Smithsonian Zoo Live Panda Cam and for those of you that don't know, their female Panda Mei Xiang had a baby about 3 to 6 months ago and that baby is Tian Tian and has gone from a pink rat like screecher to a fluffly black and white panda cub. Anyway - if you love animals and want to learn more about Pandas that are born in captivity and are later released in the wild, this is your documentary. </p><p><b>Curb Your Enthusiasm - HBO</b> I did not realize that this show took a 6 year hiatus and returned with a 9th season in 2017 and then a 10th season in 2020 but it did and it does not let you down. I love Larry David and his show about nothing and everything. I laughed and laughed and laughed and I got the whole family in to this hysterical show that covers everything and nothing all at the same time. And I have to shout out Susie Essman who plays Susie Greene - her outfits are out of this world, garish and clashing and tacky as hell and her comedy is amazing and she makes every scene she is in! </p><p><b>Pretend It's a City - Netflix</b> This documentary is the reason why I watch movies and television - if I can run across a show like this once a year or even once in every 2 or 3 years then I am happy and contented. This is a 7 part documentary series and it mainly features interviews by Martin Scorsese interviewing writer and NY personality Fran Lebowitz. It is a love story by Fran to her beloved city and everything that is good about it everything that is bad but it is a love story at its core. Please stay while the credit roll because if you click "next episode" you will miss tidbits and more talking. Love.</p><p><b>Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold - Netflix</b> Joan Didion is a national treasure and this documentary is about her life with John Dunne and their daughter Quintana Roo, both of whom have died and where she finds herself at 86. Lovely. Brilliant. Watch it.</p><p>We are in the doldrums - nearly a year with a pandemic and kids at home and zero vacations or breaks, cold winter weather driving us indoors. How are you holding up? </p><p><br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-38657309916668827852021-01-25T04:53:00.001-08:002021-01-25T04:53:10.536-08:00Movie Picks Take 12<p> I do not recommend trying to count up how many hours you have spent in the last 11 months watching shows, movies and series because you will realize why your diet didn't work or why your latest knitting project took a year to complete and why the stack of books by the side of your bed is getting taller instead of shorter. All that aside, here are some movies and series that I invested my time in and I bring them to you for consideration.</p><p><b>The Crown - Netflix Seasons 1-4</b> Please will someone tell me where I have been and why I have not watched The Crown before? It really does check every box for me, period piece CHECK, English actors CHECK, the Royal Family CHECK, Buckingham Palace CHECK. I have loved the Royal Family ever since we lived in Jamaica and I followed the Royal Wedding with Charles Philip Arthur George to Lady Diana Spencer. We had commemorative plates, napkins, matchbooks, pot holders, spoons, bookmarks, tea towels, trivets, clocks, even a little nail kit. This series is a must watch and if I can venture, it plays very well when you watch every episode back to back during Christmas break. The young queen is played by Claire Foy and I did not like her at the beginning but she plays such an amazingly stoic and staunch queen, almost perfecting a face devoid of emotion. Olivia Coleman plays a middle aged queen and I can tell you that she is outstanding. I cannot wait to see who plays an elderly queen - I really can't. Oh and the simpering fool that plays Mr. Elton in the remake of Emma, plays Charles Philip Arthur George and he is outstanding as a priggish, uptight, conservative and overbearing husband/groom/sack of flour. I am sure he is not a simpering fool in real life but he is the Charles of our imaginations and the Charles we love to hate. Binge it - don't watch it any other way. When the next season comes out I will be watching the whole show from start to finish again.</p><p><b>The Bee Gees How Do You Mend A Broken Heart - HBO</b> This documentary is very well done and a real tear jerker. I don't know why but every time they had Barry Gibb talk about his brothers I wanted to weep. I had no idea the Bee Gees were hot in the 60's and that they did Beatle-esque music and I loved their 3 part harmony and 60's sounds. I don't want to give anything away but I will say that Barry is the surviving brother, Maurice, Robin and Andy have all passed and so he carries this documentary and the story of their lives and their music in a very gentle and beautiful way. </p><p><b>Madame - Amazon</b> This film is very confusing and disjointed and not very good. I wanted to see it because it has one of my very favorite Spanish actresses, Rossy de Palma but even she wasn't able to salvage the film although hearing her speak Spanish and English and seeing her was the best part of the movie. This movie is about an American family that moves to Paris for some time and all the the things that happen to the adults while they are there. It is such a disaster that I can't even begin to explain what happens - there is some financial problems, some affairs - how French, and some heartbreak. Don't waste your time.</p><p><b>Hope Gap - Amazon</b> I have to unpack this film so hang in there. First of all Bill Nighy and Annette Benning are the protagonists and their son is played by the simpering fool from The Crown - and is also amazing in his own right. Annette Benning is radiant in this film but as I write that I am also letting you know this film is depressing and very very murky with little light and happiness. It tells the story of a man who leaves his wife after 30 or more years of marriage and what happens to her emotionally in its aftermath. She is dark and evil and manipulative and abusive and nasty and yet her performance is luminous and her English accent is decent. If you have an afternoon to give over to sadness and gloom watch this film - it is very good.</p><p>What are you watching in 2021? </p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-60147951072867260752021-01-20T04:39:00.003-08:002021-01-20T04:39:35.142-08:00Perspective by Chloe McKeon<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perspective</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a3521570-7fff-c4b2-557c-48373f607abb"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes I look outside and see</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my large estate and larger trees.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I don’t like dirt; from here I’ll stare</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sitting in my Fendi accent chair.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Rolls-Royce’s gas mileage is twenty-two</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and I threw away my old pair of Gucci shoes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Samsung fridge; full of the whitest claw</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that I only drink through a metal straw.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Save the turtles.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day I go outside</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and see the trees both tall and wide</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">while I walk to work in scuffed-up shoes</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that I’ve worn since 1982.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was doing alright - but my blood curdled</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when some rich white girl told me to “save the turtles”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at the Whole Foods where I’m a new recruit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turtles don’t matter when you’re destitute.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just smiled and rang up her dried apricots.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Chloe McKeon </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2020</span></div></span><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-90216296160323203212020-12-28T06:08:00.001-08:002020-12-28T06:09:35.139-08:00Pandemic Christmas - Take 11<p> I was planning on watching a bunch of Christmas movies and then writing reviews but mostly the Christmas movies on Streaming services are Hallmark and that is not my cup of tea. Here are some other movies that I bravely watched over the last week or two - some great and some real stinkers.</p><p><b>Uncle Frank - Amazon</b> I remember about 8 years ago I was chatting online with someone I went to school with many years ago and she mentioned that they chose to home-school their kids because of the gay agenda and how homosexuality was being forced on their children by television, movies and popular culture. I thought about that conversation after watching this film and how sad for her kids and how homophobia gets handed down generation after generation just like racism and bigotry. But lets lighten this up and let me just say that this movie was fabulous and so well done. It tells the story of a young girl who moves to NY City to go to school where her Uncle Frank lives and works and when the family patriarch dies in one of the Carolina's they are joined on the trip back down south by his lover Wahlid. Great film and great actors!</p><p><b>The PROM - Netflix</b> I love musicals, always have and always will, this one included. The story was campy, the costumes and set design totally over done and a huge huge cast including Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman and more but the songs and the choreography were fabulous. This fun musical tells the story of a gay high-schooler who is told that she cannot go to the prom in a very conservative school/town by an uptight principal and a bunch of Broadway stars coming together to help her have the night that she deserves, think Footloose with flash mobs and glitter. I probably would not have loved this so much had it not been a musical and yes, I watched it alone, I share my love of musicals in this house with just myself.</p><p><b>Shawn Mendez: In Wonder - Netflix</b> Another Documentary and about someone that I don't even really enjoy listening to but a really good story about a young man and his rise to stardom from ordinary and normal circumstances. I might listen to a song of his now and then after seeing this. I was reminded of the Justin Bieber documentary I dragged 3 little girls to one spring break only to have one of them ask me after an hour in a loud whisper, "when do we get to see Justin's beaver Aunty Joy?"</p><p><b>The Midnight Sky - Netflix</b> If dystopian, sci-fi, drama and George Clooney are all on your checklist of movie needs, this one is for you. I actually got some other people in the house to watch this film and it was very good. It is about an aged scientist with a serious health issue that stays at an outpost station at the Arctic when something catastrophic globally occurs and it weaves in his reality with his imagination, memory and dreams as he tries to make contact with a returning space mission. Very well done. A little slow at times but something that really hit home with the Pandemic currently careening out of control in many places and yet there are still so many people who deny things like science, climate change and more. How can we be so stupid and destroy not only our planet but ourselves? Watch this film it is great!</p><p><b>Wonder Woman 1984 - HBO Max</b> This one got everyone on the sofa and it was such a fun romp with fight scenes and stuff blowing up and that magic lasso and flying. Anyone who is over the age of 40 can remember what seeing Superman fly made them feel like and I got that feeling watching this movie. Gal Gadot is a fantastic Wonder Woman and I don't even like Superhero movies - AT ALL. Once in a while I will sit down and force myself to watch something and thoroughly enjoy it and this movie checked that box. Oh and Kristin Wiig is a mesmerizing villain - evil, diabolical and terrifying, no giggles anywhere in this film with her. You will love this movie!</p><p><b>Bridgerton - Netflix</b> An 8 episode, 1 hour per episode series set in the Regency era with balls and suitors and people of color and costumes, intrigue, seduction, duels, fights and a gossip column? What did I do right this year to stumble upon this Shondaland Christmas miracle? For the period piece aficionado in me this show was Jane Austen but so so so much more. And more than 5 episodes? And more than 25 minute episodes? Thank you Netflix! I will be watching this again and waiting eagerly with baited breath for season 2. By the way, do NOT watch it with younger kids because while it may seem innocent at first there are twists and turns that take way too much energy and time to explain. And I just found out there are books!</p><p>What did you watch this week and last week? Please share your best picks and Happy New Year everyone.</p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-28907563941698710222020-12-16T07:34:00.002-08:002020-12-16T07:34:41.408-08:00Santa Bring Me More Good Movies - Take 10<p> <span> </span>Yes, you read that right - 10!!! That is a lot of sitting around and watching stuff but what else is there? Now you know what I was doing over the weekend - besides all the other stuff like running errands, taking kids here and there, volunteering, grocery buying, working, folding laundry, walking dogs, cooking and more! </p><p><b>Trip To Spain - Netflix</b> - This film is # 3, after The Trip, The Trip to Italy and now The Trip to Spain and features the ever salty Steve Coogan and the hysterically funny Rob Bryden. This comic duo makes me laugh and wince at the same time which can be good in comedy and with these two guys it is a slam dunk. If you need something fun to watch that includes great impersonations and scenic travels and good food this is for you. Did I mention that I love that dry and witty English humor? Well, toss that in too. These guys have it down to a science in Trip to Spain and one of these days I am going to watch all 3 films back to back just for a laugh. Plan to want to visit Spain when you are done watching this film if you haven't already. I've been to Spain tons of times and I still want to go now. Someone from TIME Magazine said of this film, "when you come to the Trip movies, you know you'll be getting more of the same" which translates as "boring" - but I say "don't believe every movie reviewer". </p><p><b>Untouchable - Hulu </b>- Documentaries are my go to when I can't find a feature film that sparks my curiosity or interest. This one is about Harvey Weinstein and has interviews from several of his victims including Rosanna Arquette and Paz de la Huerta among others. It is a well done documentary however it is a very heavy topic and sad as the women talk openly about their sexual assaults and rapes. Especially infuriating is how this man was able to get away with this for years with so many women who thought they had a shot in the movie industry. I came away from the film with a feeling of nausea and disgust - and renewed commitment that we must always do what is right in the face of controversy and unpopularity. Always. One thing I liked about the film was the title, it not only describes how for many years Harvey Weinstein was untouchable in that he got away with this for years but also as a human being, he was untouchable and vile, which explains why he had to force himself on so many women. Not an easy watch.</p><p><b>The Way I See It - Google Play Rental</b> - Yet another documentary film and one that came highly recommended by neighbors and family, follows the life of Pete Souza, the Chief Official White House Photographer to former presidents, Ronald Reagan and Barak Obama. Pete uses the photographs from his time in the White House for both President's to explain why we are where we are right now as a country. What a fabulous film and if you don't watch anything else this entire year, you need to watch this documentary! If for nothing else than to see some of the most iconic photographs of the last 40 plus years but also to learn about living history and a living documentarian. We made the kids sit down and watch this with us at the behest of those that recommended it to us and while they grumbled and groused initially, by the time we were 20 minutes in to the film, they were enthralled. It also gave us a chance to stop the film multiple times and explain historical events to them and give them a stronger lesson in the history of our country and others.(which I am sure they loved) Pete Souza is intelligent, thoughtful, considerate, professional, gentle and lovely and he makes me want to watch this again. Thank you Pete for your service to the American people and the American presidency!</p><p><b>Generation Wealth - Amazon Prime </b>- And finally another documentary film! I know I know I can't get enough of them I really can't. This film was done by Lauren Greenfield and she did the acclaimed documentary The Queen of Versaiiles which if you have not seen it, you must see it now! It is like a slow moving train wreck that you cannot drag your eyes from but you don't want to continue either. I was disappointed by this documentary because her other stuff is so good but I found out after I watched it that she had made this to follow the publication of her book and a photo exhibition - so that is why it seems a bit disjointed and confusing at times. The best parts of this film are her interviews with her parents - we often wonder how the 1% live in this country, and you get a peek in to the lives of the rich and famous. Don't bother with this one, by just reading this review, you have all you need to know.</p><p>What are your favorite holiday films? I see quite a few in my immediate future!</p><p>Happy Holidays!</p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-90436173102057510802020-12-08T11:39:00.004-08:002020-12-09T04:21:15.026-08:00Couch Potato 101 or Take 9<p>It is December and I am in full couch potato mode with my stretchy pants, my popcorn, my throw blanket and a hot drink because it is chilly here on the East Coast. If I haven't watched something you have recommended to me it is because I have a massive list and I will get to it eventually. Here are my early December picks if you have a couple of hours mid-week and want a video fest or movie night.</p><p><b>My Scientology Movie: Louis Theroux (Hulu) </b> Let me begin with how much I enjoy Louis Theroux. He is funny, smart and comes across as harmless while asking tough questions and hitting below the belt in the very best way. If you go back and look at all his docu-series and there are quite a few - he is like the British version of Lisa Ling. In this documentary he tries to take a deep dive in to Scientology and focuses on making a documentary inside a documentary including spending time with excommunicated members of Scientology. If you know anything about cults or fundamentalist religions some of this stuff is scary and crazy. Scientology has taken things to a whole new level, going next level on behavior that can only be described as lunatic. Apparently Theroux and those making the documentary were followed and filmed the entire time they made this documentary by Scientologists who were combative and questioned them at every turn. While it bordered on lunatic, it worked to frighten and alarm the actors and the ex members. Just imagine what the Scientologists are feeling and thinking. Fascinating.</p><p><b>Dick Johnson Is Dead (Netflix)</b> This documentary is a must see - especially for those of us with elderly and aging parents. It is the story of a father's descent in to dementia and the filmmaker is his daughter. The filmmaker chronicles the process of succumbing to dementia by staging a series of violent and shocking deaths such as falling down a flight of stairs or being hit on the head by an air conditioning unit falling from several stories up. While the simulated deaths seem macabre and horrifying, you slowly realize that they are not as awful as what is really happening to this beloved and jovial ex-clinical psychiatrist as he starts to lose his memory. There is a text to self connection in this film - the filmmaker was raised Seventh-day Adventist and so there are several references to the beliefs she was raised with and I enjoyed them making an appearance having been raised Seventh-day Adventist myself. Shout out to Julie who recommended this film - worth the watch!</p><p><b>The Assistant (Hulu) </b>If you followed the Harvey Weinstein fall from glory and public humiliation you will want to see this film. It chronicles one day in the life of an assistant who pieces together many strange events in one day while working for a high powered film producer or director that remains nameless and faceless but who has a bevvy of assistants, and people working in a coordinated effort to manage all his details. I enjoyed this film immensely, the actor Julia Garner does a fabulous job of exuding boredom, exhaustion, fear, sadness, shame, and so many other emotions as she tries to do her job even taking an issue to HR at one point. The performance of Matthew MacFadyen as an HR Manager taking her statement and then remedying her complaint is pure gold. For anyone who has had a boss, lover, co-worker, friend or acquaintance who gaslights, will immediately understand how carefully someone like Harvey Weinstein was able to create and control the environment he enjoyed so thoroughly until he got cancelled. Watch this film, it is slow, precise and carefully controlled dance. </p><p><b>Kevin Hart: Zero F**ks Given (Netflix)</b> I used to really like Kevin Hart, funny, comedic, dirty, goofy, all the stuff a good comedian puts out there in a stand up special. He was still some of that in this comedy special but he also came off as being super duper defensive and wanting to even scores as he dove in to technology and how it can be used against people, cancel culture and how he was cancelled for a while at which point he took a left turn and spent 1 hour and 9 minutes being overly defensive. He should have called the special: "Kevin Hart: 1 hour and 9 minutes of caring too much" because that is all I could hear. Even the jokes were not funny because it was like he was settling some score or trying to get even. Creative? Yes, he did the special in a pajama looking get up in his basement fireplace/family room with a tiny audience and everyone had on masks. Best part of the special? His Jordan's, shout out for great footwear. But if I were you, I'd skip it - wait for the comedy special where he actually gives zero f**ks.</p><p>What are you watching? What is on your list? Are you running out of stuff yet?</p><p><br /></p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-61737861214131842022020-12-01T08:33:00.004-08:002020-12-01T12:09:23.268-08:00Take 8 or "how does she watch so many movies?"<p> My new favorite pastime is the free trial period - period. And with that having been said, here are some more movies that I have watched in the name of research so that either you don't have to or so that you can watch with glee. </p><p><b>Emma - HBO</b> Let us start with all things period piece please! If you love a period piece film then this one is for you. I struggled with the 1996 Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow because her English accent was terrible and she just didn't embody Emma for me. I also cannot forget that her Goop website features a $75 "This Smells Like My Vagina" candle currently and while I appreciate my body parts, I really really struggle with the thought of paying $75 dollars for something that half of the population gets for free and also did I mention that we are in a Pandemic and people have lost jobs and are struggling to put food on the table? Read the room Gwyneth, now is the time to worry about paying the bills not smelling your . . . . candle. Now that I have cleared that up, this remake is great - I am not familiar with either the actor who plays Emma or the actor who plays Mr. Knightly but they are both fantastic and Bill Nighy as the ever germaphobic Mr. Woodhouse is fabulous. Take the time to see it if you love a good period piece.</p><p><b>Force Majeure - Hulu </b> This film is in a combination of French, Swedish and English and is wonderful and brilliant. It is about a family that goes through a traumatic experience and one parent stays and protects and does the parenting thing and the other turns tail and runs. I cannot stress how important putting the most mundane parts of the film to Vivaldi's "Summer" concerto makes the film more layered. Rotten Tomatoes gives this film a 94% and I have to agree - it is so good, so human, so true and if you ever wanted to watch a film that delves in to the hypocrisy of male fragility in a very humorous way, this is the film! It is a great comedy but not the kind you will belly laugh with - take the time to see it.</p><p><b>Life In The Doghouse - Netflix</b> If you love dogs this film will make you love dogs even more and will make you hate pet stores and breeders. It is a documentary and tells the story of a couple that have a rescue in South Carolina and how it has taken over their lives and their home. They have dogs in the kitchen, in the living room, in their bedroom, in the dining room maybe even in the bathroom. This film is why I love documentaries and I will never buy a pedigree dog again. Watch this film, it is feel good all around.</p><p><b>Diana In Her Own Words - Netflix</b> For those of you that do not know, I lived in Kingston Jamaica from 1979 to 1983 and as a British Commonwealth the marriage of Lady Diana to Prince Charles was all consuming and on every dishtowel, stamp, bar of soap, drinking glass and the one television station. I was mesmerized and enthralled. So of course hearing about her disastrous marriage to Prince Charles in her own words was quite devastating but also flings the door wide open on what we are fed to believe and what is really happening. I would like to think that wherever she is now, she is much happier and at peace with the choices that others made for her. This film is like the Titanic, we all know what happens in the end so only watch it if you need a reminder.</p><p><b>I am Greta - Netfilx</b> This documentary is about the Climate Change Activist Greta Thunberg and is the kind of documentary that I will force my children to sit and watch. I know I know they have had enough Environmental disaster information shoved in their faces but I will still force them to watch it. Why? Because as a parent and a human I am so proud of the Malala's and the Greta's and the David Hogg's of the world. What amazing people to make changes and so young and so vibrant, strong and willing to face adversity to carry out their messages of women empowerment and education, gun law change and climate change activism. If you have teenagers this is a great one to sit down together and watch and discuss as a family.</p><p>What did you watch over the Thanksgiving holiday? And what will you watch over the December holiday? Please share your favorites and if you have recommended movies and shows to me, I have a long list and I promise I will get to them at some point.</p><p>Enjoy!</p><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style><style>.tb_button {padding:1px;cursor:pointer;border-right: 1px solid #8b8b8b;border-left: 1px solid #FFF;border-bottom: 1px solid #fff;}.tb_button.hover {borer:2px outset #def; background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}.ws_toolbar {z-index:100000} .ws_toolbar .ws_tb_btn {cursor:pointer;border:1px solid #555;padding:3px} .tb_highlight{background-color:yellow} .tb_hide {visibility:hidden} .ws_toolbar img {padding:2px;margin:0px}</style>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-88263210134552695272020-11-18T08:18:00.007-08:002020-11-24T06:23:18.814-08:00"More sitting around on my butt" Take 7<p> It is getting rough out there folks - people are very sick, hospitals are full, essential workers are struggling and so staying home is more important than ever! Here are some more movies to add to your list of things to do during Thanksgiving because cooking 10 dishes for 4 people is not going to happen this year.</p><p><b>Tom Hanks: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - Starz </b> I have really enjoyed signing up for 7 days or 14 days or 30 days free trial of all the streaming services out there. I really did NOT want to see another Tom Hanks movie as I seriously feel like Cast Away was his last goodie but I reluctantly watched this film because as a child Mr. Rogers was one of the only shows on the list of shows for fundamentalist kids even though some parents made you skip the make believe puppet world. I did not believe that Tom Hanks at any time was Fred Rogers, but I did believe that Tom Hanks was pretending to be Fred Rogers. That having been said, it was an ok film and had a good message and yes we need to include more forgiving in our lives and less anger. Only watch this if you have run out of all the good stuff and need filler.</p><p><b>Pain and Glory - Starz</b> This film is by my all time favorite director and writer Pedro Almodovar so right off the bat you will need to read this film unless you speak Spanish fluently. The Spanish accent is like music to my ears, it is like putting on a cashmere sweater and wearing it on the coldest day, it is like discovering umami flavor for the first time. This movie stars Antonio Banderas who does an amazing job harkening back to his Atame (Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down) and Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de los Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) days. Also not to be dismissed is Penelope Cruz who plays the mother to the protagonist as a child. See this movie - it is so beautiful and so Spanish and tells the story of an older person who comes to terms with his life while it is crumbling apart.</p><p><b>Cairo Time - Sundance </b> This movie stars one of my favorite actresses, Patricia Clarkson who also starred in The Station Agent, another one of my favorites. She is so good in this film and the film is so beautiful and draws me to Egypt which is one of the countries I have never visited. It is hypnotic and slow but so lovely and a beautiful story about a woman who travels to meet her husband only when she arrives he is not there.</p><p><b>My Hero Academia Seasons I-IV - Hulu</b> I was asked by my friend Fran to review anime shows so here goes, at the beginning of the pandemic we sat each night and watched 1 to 3 episodes of My Hero Academia from the beginning to the end of Season 4. That was a huge accomplishment and I am thinking about ways to put it on my professional resume but I am getting off track. A couple of things if you haven't watched anime series, first of all they have different theme songs each season which is fun and this show has 2 different theme songs per season - so we were introduced to 8 different theme songs during this show. At first it was weird but I quite like it now - and now I know 8 Japanese songs that I didn't previously. Also, there is a lot of anime themes that I learned like how to tell if someone is angry or sad or troubled or perplexed, emotions are different with characters that have gigantic eyes or ridiculous features. And finally sexism and stereotyping is not American - it is alive and well in Anime so there is that. Girls have gigantic boobs and small waists and are objectified, boys are strong and powerful and sometimes cry but are always unnerved around said girls and fat characters are funny and hilarious but never sexy or attractive. But as we watched, we grew to pick out our favorite characters and loved the fight episodes and loved the dynamics of each hero. Watch it with your kids - they will love it and you will love to see something new through their eyes.</p><p><b>After The Wedding - Starz</b> This film is a remake of a 2006 Danish/Swedish film of the same name starring Mads Mikkelsen and so I was hesitant to watch it but anything with Julianne Moore is usually a slam dunk. It was well done and the movie had twists and turns that I did not expect. I think that changing the films protagonist to a woman and the subtle changes made to this movie were great and I loved the actors they chose, Michelle Williams, Billy Crudup and Abby Quinn and of course Julianne Moore! Totally worth a watch and while you are at it, go see the one from 2006 too. Mads Mikkelsen is so good, so intense and can speak with his eyes only. Everything he touches is good.</p><p>What will you be watching this holiday?</p>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-34264244652301630072020-11-10T10:58:00.003-08:002020-11-10T11:04:40.098-08:00Pandemic Movie Recommendations Take 6<p> If you can't already tell the quality of the things I am watching is increasing and the quantity is decreasing. It can only mean that I am more busy than I was several months ago but it also means that I've gotten more selective in what I actually choose to watch from start to finish. There is a lot of crap out there people, a lot of crap! What I have done is, I've combed through the crap and narrowed the list so you don't have to but I've also taken recommendations from some of you and watched things that you have suggested to me.</p><p>Let's dig in!</p><p><b>Judy </b>- <b>Amazon</b> This movie is very sad, a very sad story of a very sad period in movies when young actors and actresses were owned by movie houses and they had no lives outside of movies and performing. And when they aged out of the movies they were penniless and homeless and shells of people. While this story is very sad the performance by Renee Zellweger is one of the best performances I have ever seen in a movie and that is why she won a butt load of awards. She also sings all her performances in this film which she didn't have to do - she could have asked they just have her lip sync to old Garland songs - they are iconic and she has that telltale 40's and 50's warbling vibrato but being a true craftswoman - she sings all the songs in the movie and nails the songs too. If you haven't seen it - you should - she is stunning, I felt like I was really watching Judy Garland throughout this film. </p><p><b>My Octopus Teacher - Netflix</b> Let me start by saying this Documentary was recommended to me by my friend Tami and at least 10 other people and I really really wanted to skip it. It looked exactly like the kind of stuff I hate to watch but I was driving the other day and Terry Gross was on Fresh Air on NPR and she was interviewing the guy who made it and so I felt drawn to his voice and his story and I was engrossed. I watched it from start to finish and wanted it to be longer but no spoilers, it couldn't be. If you love the ocean and you love animals and you love the relationship between animals and humans, take the time to watch it, you won't be sorry.</p><p><b>Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty - Netflix</b> Fortune Feimster is from North Carolina and so I had to watch this because she is a local gal. It took me a while to warm up to this style of stand up comedy but by the end I was belly laughing. She is funny and she is down to earth and she is relatable and I hope she does more stand up shows because I love a good stand up show. LOVE. And I feel like lately my favorite stand up performers are lesbian woman, Fortune, Hannah, Ellen and Tig. Watch it, she is funny and if you live or have lived in the South you will think it is even funnier.</p><p><b>The Guardians - Amazon</b> This movie is in French with English subtitles and checks all my boxes. French - check. Subtitles - check. Period Piece - check. Drama - check. It is about a family in 1915 during World War I and their struggles to maintain their farm so they hire a ward named Francine and the events that take place as she becomes like part of their family until a time that she no longer is. It is slow paced and gentle and beautiful and calm. I don't know why I love French cinema as much as I do but Rotten Tomatoes also liked it and gave it 93% so if you like reading your movies I suggest giving it a watch.</p><p><b>Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story - Amazon</b> This documentary is part stand up comedy and part documentary and really worth the watch. I watched it last night and was alarmed and angered by what I consider to be a real waste of taxpayers dollars and what our government considered worthy of resources and I am glad I didn't watch it 2 or 3 weeks ago because it would have angered me even more. Put your personal feelings about Kathy Griffin aside, yes she is a potty mouth, yes she has done some strident comedy, yes she can rub you the wrong way but her story is worth hearing. I am so so so so so glad that she has a back bone made of steel and she took her licking and kept on ticking because quite honestly anyone weaker would have been run out of show business, out of comedy and out of work forever. I love a strong and sassy woman! </p><p>Keep sending me your recommendations - the holidays are nearly here and I will be watching lots of Pandemic TV!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-41508071124039466842020-11-01T06:32:00.002-08:002020-11-01T06:32:25.344-08:00Pandemic Movie Recommendations Take 5When you watch a lot of films and shows you sometimes run into real stinkers. And previously I would have stopped watching and found something else but I am putting in the time and work folks so you don't have to. Here are some more recommendations for you - queue them up and save them for the Thanksgiving holiday or sneak them in after the kids go to bed or put one on while making dinner - keep in mind they are not all good to share with the kids.<div><br /></div><div><b>My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)</b> - There are 3 seasons of this show and this seasons guests include Kim Kardashian, Dave Chapelle, Lizzo and Robert Downey Jr. I avoided the Kim Kardashian interview as a matter of principle but the Dave Chapelle, Lizzo and Robert Downey Jr. interviews were great as well as some of the others from season 1 and 2. Dave Letterman is great and he has a great sense of humor and he asks some great questions but he does it in the interest of learning about people and about learning about life. Worth the watch.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>After Life (Netflix)</b> - Season 2 is just a good as season 1 for this Ricky Gervais fan. I love everything this man touches starting with The Office, he is very versatile and shows a depth to his acting that is so much more than comedy. He plays a man who has lost his wife to a terminal disease and how he deals with the loss of a loved one, suicidal thoughts, depression, despair, work, friends, dating and how does life go on when you lose the person you thought you would spend it with? He has some familiar faces from other shows he has done, you can tell who his favorite co-workers are but they all make a great ensemble and I find myself laughing and crying at the same time. Lots of swearing but only in the most endearing and English way possible. Watch it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Hannah Gadsby: Nanette and Douglas (Netflix) </b>- These two stand up shows were recommended to me by friend who has read these posts (yes I will get to your recommendations and yes it will take time). I have to say that the first 15 minutes of Nanette was slow for me, was this a one woman show or a lecture series but half way through something clicked and I could not stop watching. She became incredibly human and likable and funny and relatable and by the end I loved it! And then I raced over to watch Douglas which was more of the same genius and funny stuff. She is great and she knows how to build a story and she knows how to tie stuff in and she is so much more than comedy! Thank you Francoise!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Holidate (Netflix)</b> - Ouch - this movie popped up as "most watched on Netflix" so of course I had to watch it. It took 2 days and I had to rewind it because I fell asleep during part of it. It was really really REALLY bad. The first thing that annoyed me was why they always pair 18 to 20 year old actresses with 45 to 50 year old actors but then I googled their ages and she is 29 and he is 31 - wow. I also really hate when you have a movie of mostly white actors and they throw in the Asian sidekick, the Black comedy friend and the Indian doctor - this is not diversity people - this is tired and stupid. And let me save you the horror of having to sit through this, the girl gets the boy in the end. Don't waste your time.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>365 Days (Netflix)</b> - I love the movie Atame (Tie Me Up Tie Me Down) by Pedro Almodovar so when this movie was compared to that movie by a reviewer I queued it up and boy was that reviewer stupid. This Polish film is categorized as Erotic Romantic Drama and got really bad reviews for the sexual violence and softcore themes; think Cinemax, think after 10pm. It is about a young woman from Poland who falls for a Sicilian man who imprisons her and tells her she has 365 days in which she must fall in love with him. If you must watch it, just fast forward to the sex parts and then stop. The things I do in the name of research.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-78789989346744758062020-10-28T12:34:00.003-07:002020-10-28T12:36:34.764-07:00Pandemic Movie Recommendations Take 4<p> Back by popular demand, I sat on my ass and watched more shows and am here to share them with you. We ended up cancelling Disney + as well as Hulu so currently we only have 2 streaming services, so these shows are all on either Amazon Prime or Netflix. But there is still lots of great stuff out there so buckle up and here we go.</p><p>Entre Nos (Amazon Prime) This movie is about a woman and her kids abandoned in NYC by her husband and the things she does to get by. If you love reading sub-titles like I do, this movie is for you. If you don't like the idea of sleeping on the street and getting dirty this movie is not for you. I liked the movie and at the end you find out it is a true story. Win-win</p><p>Sand Storm (Netflix) This movie was GREAT! It really shines the spotlight on the traditional bound Arab culture and how men enjoy the benefits of this culture while women are oppressed and also how women end up oppressing each other. Technology and education of young women are first and foremost in this film and showcase one young woman and her struggle to break free of her cultural and familial norms. Very well done film. </p><p>Time (Amazon Prime) This documentary is about a love story between Fox Rich and her husband Robert Richardson and what they go through as she lobbies for the release of her husband from Angola State Penitentiary. Instead of focusing on prison and the day to day life of a prisoner this film digs more in to the emotional toll, mental toll and psychological toll it takes on Fox through a series of her speeches and public appearances as she travels and speaks and lobbies for her husband's release. Slow and powerful but worth the investment.</p><p>Wild Prairie Rose (Amazon Prime) This film was a real sneaker - it snuck up on me and I enjoyed it. It tells the story of a woman who moves home to help her mother at her country home after she is diagnosed with terminal cancer and how she meets a deaf man in the town and forms a relationship with him against the town's approval. The acting was great and the story was heartwarming. I'm not familiar with either of the lead actors but they were fantastic. Also, there is no sex, violence, language or nudity in this film so perfect for the whole family if they enjoy the rom-com genre.</p><p>Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Netflix) Oh boy oh boy, get ready to cringe. I love Sasha Baron Cohen but he already did Borat and i thought everyone knew about Borat. But I didn't expect Borat to have a daughter. This film really takes you places you don't expect to go and it exposes a lot of racism in this country as well as the inability for people to stand up for what is right. When a cake decorator is faced with calling out racism, she doesn't, when a shop keeper is faced with it - they don't, and when the attorney to the President is faced with a 15 year interviewer . . . well, I will let you watch it so you can make your own decision but I probably cannot ever watch this film again. Funny yes, but I still can't watch it again.</p><p>Enjoy! </p>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-74549937202536552192020-10-20T10:15:00.001-07:002020-10-20T10:15:10.982-07:00Pandemic Recommendations Take 3<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you looking for some shows to watch? Have a couple of hours to waste today? Want to look back on the weekend and wonder where the time went? Back by popular demand - here are some more shows that you might consider or not consider:</span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Adrift: (Netflix-Movie) This movie has one of my favorite young actresses Shailene Woodley, (The Descendents, The Fault in our Stars, Divergent series) but it was a little too much forced drama for me. The story is about a couple that decides to sail across the Atlantic or the Pacific to bring a sailboat home for an older couple and all the terrible things that happen while they are sailing. This is an example of 2 hours of my life that I can't get back.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">American Murder: The Family Next Door: (Netflix, Documentary) This is the story of the murder of Shanann Watts and her unborn child and her two daughters by her husband and the kids' father. It is chilling. It is also very well done. And it is a true story. I do not like "who done it" "forensic files" type shows but something about this story really intrigued me - but based on my family history, those of you that know the story of my sister probably can understand my interest.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Emily in Paris: (Netflix, Series) First of all, I was one of the original true lovers of Sex And The City - so everything about this show appealed to me. I love the fashion, I love the shoes, I love the color, I love that it is in Paris, I love the idea, I love the set, I love the music choices, I love the script, I love the language, love love love. I had heard the buzz about it being panned by French people and I get it - but remember Sex And The City? 4 girls with $5,000 dollar handbags and gigantic apartments but only making minimum wage? It doesn't have to make sense it just has to appeal to the viewer. Final statement: there is a scene where Emily is walking and she has a Starbucks cup with a green straw and that ruined a small part of this show for me, no one should ever go to Paris and consider buying a Starbucks! Quelle nightmare!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Dolly Parton: Here I am (Netflix, Documentary) Who doesn't love Dolly? She is my spirit animal, she is a legend and she is Dolly. Take the time to see it - you may not like her music and you may not like the Grand Ol Opry but you will come away with a respect and admiration for her and what she has done in her career and life.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Love Guaranteed: (Netflix, Movie) This movie is a Hallmark movie from start to finish. But if you want to watch a rom-com and not have to pause it every time the kids walk through the room, this is it. No language, no making out, no nudity, no sexual content, no violence and a very chaste kiss at the end. The one thing that I did like about it was that it showcases a ethnically diverse couple and as a mixed race person, we need more shows and movies that showcase these types of relationships more mixed race, more LGBTQ and less status quo. The world is a colorful rainbow!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Please send me your recommendations for shows and movies!</div></div>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-86345472873760910472020-10-20T10:14:00.001-07:002020-10-20T10:14:14.106-07:00Pandemic Recommendations Take 2<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pandemic Movie or Series picks </span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Mulan - skip it. First of all you have to pay $6.95 a month for Disney Plus and then on top of it we paid $30 dollars to watch the live Action Mulan which was at best a snore fest. They left the music out! And the action scenes were not that good.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">21 below - This documentary was very good and covered so many topics - family and solutions, trauma, abuse, drugs, interracial relationships, and more. It hit close to home for me for many reasons but the relationship between sisters was so special and heartbreaking at the same time.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Because We Are Girls - This documentary follows the lives of 3 Indian girls whose family migrated to Canada and who suffered abuse at the hand of a family member and the way it was handled by not only the Canadian government but also the way the family hid their collective shame from what happened and even tried to victim blame 3 girls under the age of 12 for abuse they suffered. This film begins slowly and sometimes jumps around but focuses on how different cultures struggle issues such as abuse and family dynamics.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Travels With My Father - Funny! Season 4 has dropped and it follows hilarious Brit Jack Whitehall and his madcap adventures around the globe with his 80 something, vest wearing, proper father and occasionally his mother and his doll brother. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">This is Paris - So I was on the fence about this one - the Paris Hilton documentary about the Provo Utah boarding school she was forced to go to by her family due to her "troubled teen" years. It is very well done however and if you have ever gone to a boarding school run by a religious organization or happen to know someone who has been sent to one of these "wayward kid" schools - you know what her experience was like and how it has affected her - ptsd, anxiety, panic disorder, memory loss, insomnia, and the list goes on. Why these places exist is a mystery to me and why people send children to these places is even a bigger mystery but I guess the almighty dollar brings out the best in people. If you are the parent of a tween or teen this is worth a watch but don't be surprised if you end up cancelling your kids Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Tiktok, and more.</div></div>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-64895532209945811012020-10-20T10:11:00.005-07:002020-10-20T10:18:11.314-07:00Pandemic Recommendations Take 1During the Pandemic I started posting movie and series recommendations on Facebook. Here is the first one I posted:<div><br /></div><div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">The New Yorker Presents on Amazon Prime - it is so so so good. It is everything that is right about the New Yorker Magazine and can do no wrong. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">If you can stomach anything by Mark Burnett (douchebag of reality TV fame, Survivor, Apprentice) The Worlds Toughest Race is an amazing Eco-challenge that takes place in Fiji.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">The Last Dance on Netflix is a 10 part series that originally aired on ESPN and is all about Michael Jordan and has some amazing basketball footage.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">My obsession with French cinema is complete with one of the best films I've seen in years, Portrait of a Lady on Fire - so well done and a delight for those of us that prefer to read a movie.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">And finally, always in search of a comedy that produces belly laughs - The Wrong Missy was the winner of the year. While I find David Spade tired and lackluster, the woman who plays his opposite is vibrant, hysterical and carries this film!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">Enjoy!</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-12440965929998453142020-07-31T05:39:00.002-07:002020-07-31T05:39:53.792-07:00Pandemic PostWe have the stupidest president in the history of this country and the history of presidents. That's it.Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-91138831330233336572020-02-19T05:47:00.001-08:002020-02-19T07:17:02.296-08:00ForgottenMy sister has been in prison for nearly 15 years now. When she was transferred from jail to prison, she was in a dormitory with inmates but after a certain amount of time she was issued a cell and that came with a roommate or "cellie". Her cellie, Gloria, watched as she got letters, books, cards, money and visits from lawyers, family friends, family members, pastors, church friends and old school friends, she was very busy. This went on for quite some time - nearly 2 years. One day Gloria sat Angela down and explained to her that while the initial outpouring of support was wonderful and overwhelming, there would come a day when everyone would forget her.<br />
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Angela called me crying, she was sure that her friends and family would not forgot her. She knew us better than that and it was a mean and cruel thing for Gloria to say - especially when she was still adjusting to being incarcerated. After all, she was 2 years in to a 17.5 year sentence and people were still visiting and sending supportive letters and cards. Gloria didn't know what she was talking about, or did she?<br />
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Fast forward almost 15 years and I can say that except for 2 or 3 people, everyone has forgotten about my sister. She is after all, in prison - it is the landfill of human beings - where we put people when we throw them away when they have done something wrong. And once the shock of her being in prison wore off, people got down to the activities of life, living, growing, having babies, raising children, moving, working, gaining weight, losing weight, winning the lottery, going to college and so much more. I'm not saying that her name doesn't pop up now and then in conversation but those conversations happen with my Mom, my niece and my husband.<br />
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I don't fault people for forgetting her, I really don't. I understand that life is busy and that we run sometimes to keep up. I also understand that 17.5 years is a long time to be gone - to be removed from society - to be made invisible. But the thing is - she is not dead. As a matter of fact in 3 short years she will be released from prison, her time will be up, she will have paid her debt to society and she can return and pick up and carry on. She can go to church again, get a job, drive a car, shop at the grocery store, get her hair done, go for a walk at a park, get a dog or cat, dye her hair pink and get a tattoo. Once she adjusts to life on the outside she will get to do all the things she used to do - or at least within the scope of her parole restrictions.<br />
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But I think about what her experience has been like. Having to fill the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and months of a 17.5 year sentence and having people forget about you slowly over time until you become forgotten.<br />
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<br />Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294081227243750127.post-74648931796916702692020-01-22T08:10:00.001-08:002020-01-22T08:32:56.576-08:00LunchToday I took my work with me and treated myself to a lunch at a cute store that has a gas pump outside and yummy grilled sandwiches and something called duck fries, inside. It was cold outside, in the 40's and sunny, so that brought a lot of people in to the store for lunch. There was a long community table that I sat at, it allowed me to sit next to other people who were working and eating or on a date or grabbing a quick bite before getting back on the road. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a dad and his teenage daughter.<br />
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Because we were in such close proximity I got to hear their entire conversation. He had a salad and she had a burger. They didn't get to see each other very often, he worked a lot, lived in a different town, had a girlfriend in the UK and traveled there for work, and the girlfriend had kids. He liked to buy her lots of things, he bought her whatever she wanted on Amazon and had them shipped to her and he could do the same thing for his daughter. He offered to buy her a cool set of headphones but she mentioned he had already bought her the same pair he was trying to offer her again. He was taking her to the UK to meet his girlfriend over Spring Break. He explained customs, the baggage claim, security and what she could and could not take on a flight. He explained to her that he would walk her through it since she had never left the country before. He said that it wasn't hard, it just sounded hard. It was a tough conversation to listen in on and he was trying really really hard.<br />
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And suddenly I realized - as of Monday I had two teenagers in my house instead of just one. And while I imagined that there will be plenty of eye rolls and snarky comments and dismissive behavior and some will require correction or comments and others will not, I never imagined I would have to try so hard. And there will be plenty of conversations and trips and homework and burgers and headphones but I hope I will do more listening (like I did at that lunch) and less talking (like he did at that lunch). And I hope that I will try as hard as he did to connect with my teenagers as he did to his.<br />
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I'm at an age where I have decided to start telling people what to do. So do this: listen to your kids and to take time to talk to them and ask them questions. Find out what they are thinking and what they are doing. Find out what new hobbies they like and what the newest vine or meme is. Ask them how they are feeling and what they did during the day. Sit down and have a meal with them and then do it the next day and the day after that and the day after that. Put your phone down, step away from the computer and turn off the TV or NPR (which is what I like to listen to) and listen.<br />
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And standby for the blogs where I tell people that pets are not children and never will be, where texting and driving is just mental, where buying your kid a phone in middle school is a cop out, where living in the south is no walk in the park, where just because you say you are not racist doesn't mean you are not a racist and where the brown stuff under your fingernails that smells like poop most likely is poop, you don't have to taste it to find out. I have less years left on this planet than I have already lived and I imagine the last years will go much faster than the previous 51. So don't waste your time being offended at stuff I say and enjoy it. After all, I won't be here in 50 years and no one but my children will remember any of it anyway.<br />
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<br />Runlikejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16263858971486080532noreply@blogger.com0