Pretty Sunday...
May. 29th, 2022 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatIt was a lovely day - so I actually got outside and frolicked. (Or about as much frolicking as a fifty-five year old woman going through menopause can actually do.)
1. Met Wales for Brunch. I moseyed to her neck of the city to do so - by city, I mean Brooklyn. Specifically Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hills, or my old neighborhood. (Wales and I both consider the "city" the five boroughs, most New Yorker's consider it Manhattan. You get used to it after a bit.) It was about fifteen to twenty minute subway ride and ten minute walk. I miscalculated - more like fifteen minutes, in part because the subway was waiting for me when I got to the station. As a result, I got there about fifteen to twenty minutes early, and Wales being Wales got there about ten minutes late. (I know better, but alas, I miscalculated). No harm, no foul - it was a lovely day. I just sat in the part, read, and played with my phone until Wales appeared.
We walked a ways down Smith and hit a lovely brunch spot on Bergen, which had outdoor seating, in the shade, and plenty of room between tables. It wasn't Korean - but neither of us were really in the mood - and the Korean places were crowded and on Smith which was busy with foot and other traffic. I ordered a herb and scallion frittata with roasted potatoes, and side salad, and Wales got Eggs Benedict, with pretty much the same sides. We also both caved and got Mimosas.
When we got the check - I pulled out my phone and the calculator app.
Me (looking at the amount): Eh, I can't add in my head. I know, I'll use the calculator.
Wales (noticing the calculator usage): Ah, you're being lazy.
Me: No, I can't add, subtract, divide etc in my head, at least not at the moment. So I'm using a calculator.
Wales: Oh I can.
Me: Bully for you. (I calculate.)
Wales: We can split it. 50/50, we pretty much got the same things.
(Not really, she forgot I got unsweetened ice tea.)
Wales: I'm paying in cash.
(I'm paying by credit card - I don't have enough cash on me.)
Wales: I'll just pay you. (She thinks it's $35 each, no, it's $33.31 cents each - hello, calculator. That includes tip. Let's face it computers are more accurate than the human brain when it comes to numbers.)
Wales: You're only giving $10?
ME: That's a 20% tip off of the actual amount.
Wales: I want to give more. (So she adds $5)
Me: Okay, you want to make it 15, that's fine - takes it up to about 21-25%. (But she makes me second guess myself so I do the calculation again.)
Loving the calculator on the smartphone. Smartphones are true god sends. You can do so much on them that has zip to do with phones. Also texting is easier - in regards to meeting up with folks and checking where they are, if they are running late.
Some days - I wonder how we survived without them?
We decide to go into the new millenial book store that popped up over the past few years. It's owned and run by the millenials, entitled "Books are Magic" and rather small. I'm not crazy about book stores and libraries because they cater to big publishing companies and tend to ignore the little guy, but this one is better than most - it actually does have POC books, and the little guy in stock. (No one self-published or non-traditionally published. Book stores can't afford to and libraries don't. That's why I like Amazon - it does. I'm not happy with the traditional publishing community.)
I'm tempted by Pachinko, which is also now a series on HBO Max or Apple TV, one or the other. I may start watching it or pick it up on Kindle. The book store was giving me a headache - because the print's small and requires reading glasses. I had a sinus headache, felt drained, going through a hot flash, and possibly dehydrated - so dizzy and tired. Wales felt tired and drained too. Neither of us were up for a long walk to the promenade, and chose to walk back to Carroll Park, sit for a bit, then to Planted, hunted for ice cream (none to be found - why is that? When you don't want it - it's readily available, when you do, it's impossible to find), and parted ways. She looked like she was going to hang out at her subway stop to watch a local band perform.
Oh as an aside - I discovered that I could dump my old clothing at the farmer's market in Carrol on Sundays between 8am-2pm. I may bring a couple of bags up and do that in the weeks ahead.
2. I've been going through old journal entries and grabbing the ones that seem like decent essays to deposit on Archive of Our Own. Mostly movie and book reviews, although there are a few essays in there. I almost threw a fanfic on it, but thought better of it.
Anyhow, in going through those entries - I realized that I've forgotten a lot of books and movies and television series I've seen. Almost as if I hadn't seen them at all. I have for example - a review of the film adaptation of Chaim Potem's The Chosen starring Robbie Benson, that I have zero memory of - I cannot remember anything about it - outside of the fact that it is about Orthodox Jews. I've read the book and seen the film twice, but can't remember it at all. Also can't remember the book Three Junes, or most of the Harry Potter books. It's very odd. Also, makes me realize that reading a ton of books that I don't want to read or find difficult to get through for posterity or whatever is a colossal waste of my time, since I'll just forget them. I read what I want to read or am in the mood for now, and no longer care about book clubs. I can't remember the books I read for all the book clubs I was in anyhow - well that's not entirely true I do remember some of them.
3. Conversation with mother..
Mother: I was speaking to my cousin A, and she said that she gets complimented on her honesty, how blunt and up front she is. That the problem with a lot of midwesterners is they aren't blunt or upfront. They aren't honest.
ME: It's not just the midwesterners...northeasterners and southerners also have this difficulty. Also I've been told the same thing, over and over again - how refreshingly honest I am. And how people appreciate my honesty.
Mother: Same with your cousin - she's gotten notes from folks thanking her.
Me: My coworker said it - "what I love about you is that you are so refreshingly honest.." makes me wonder about people.
Mother: I've been told the same - that I'm so honest.
ME: I've decided this is genetic, well genetic for the women in the family at any rate. I'm on the fence about my brother. Also, what does that mean exactly? That I'm so honest or refreshingly honest? Is everyone else lying their pants off 24/7? And if so, why do people put up with it? I mean do people like being lied to? I guess if they are lying as well, it doesn't matter - it's just a lie-a-thon?
Mother: Or its just superficial. Saying nothing. And not confronting anyone on anything..
Me: How incredibly passive aggressive. So most people are not only liars, but passive aggressive liars? And like to be around others who are the same? How cowardly of them. I mean I don't like conflict either...but seriously?
4. Horror Movies
I watched a portion of The Conjuring - which is supposed to be the scariest film ever. (eh, not really, I personally found the Shining to be more disturbing. I guess my difficulty with it - is similar to The Exorcist, I don't buy the premise.)
Me: Was watching this flick "The Conjuring" - which is a horror movie with plenty of scares, but it's not all that scary because I don't believe in demons. Ghosts yes, demons no.
Mother giggles.
The portion I watched of The Conjuring was creepy as all get out. Particularly the frigging doll, and the "clap" game. It's also well cast.
Read up on it - and the true story is creepier. The actual family eventually kicked the demonic/paranormal researchers out, and stayed in the house for about a decade (they couldn't afford to move). That had to mess with their heads. They kicked out the researchers for the wife's mental stability - they were driving her nuts.
A lot of hauntings are due to things like black mold poisoning, or mental illness brought on by other environmental poisonings or allergies. The mind can trick you. Our perception is no where near as reliable as we like to think.
Also watched a portion of The Night House another creepy psychological ghost story, that read up on and decided to nix.
I may try.."Wait Until Helen Comes" - that looks interesting, as does the "Orphanage". Thanks for the recs. I also may attempt Crimson Peak.
5. The movie - RESPECT
Disappointing. Jennifer Hudson's voice while excellent does not have quite the same range as Aretha Franklin's. She got pitchy with Amazing Grace - where the movie ends.
Also, the story was boring - the focus seemed to be more on the men or lack thereof in Aretha's life, not the women and her career.
I do not recommend. I barely watched, used it as background noise.
1. Met Wales for Brunch. I moseyed to her neck of the city to do so - by city, I mean Brooklyn. Specifically Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hills, or my old neighborhood. (Wales and I both consider the "city" the five boroughs, most New Yorker's consider it Manhattan. You get used to it after a bit.) It was about fifteen to twenty minute subway ride and ten minute walk. I miscalculated - more like fifteen minutes, in part because the subway was waiting for me when I got to the station. As a result, I got there about fifteen to twenty minutes early, and Wales being Wales got there about ten minutes late. (I know better, but alas, I miscalculated). No harm, no foul - it was a lovely day. I just sat in the part, read, and played with my phone until Wales appeared.
We walked a ways down Smith and hit a lovely brunch spot on Bergen, which had outdoor seating, in the shade, and plenty of room between tables. It wasn't Korean - but neither of us were really in the mood - and the Korean places were crowded and on Smith which was busy with foot and other traffic. I ordered a herb and scallion frittata with roasted potatoes, and side salad, and Wales got Eggs Benedict, with pretty much the same sides. We also both caved and got Mimosas.
When we got the check - I pulled out my phone and the calculator app.
Me (looking at the amount): Eh, I can't add in my head. I know, I'll use the calculator.
Wales (noticing the calculator usage): Ah, you're being lazy.
Me: No, I can't add, subtract, divide etc in my head, at least not at the moment. So I'm using a calculator.
Wales: Oh I can.
Me: Bully for you. (I calculate.)
Wales: We can split it. 50/50, we pretty much got the same things.
(Not really, she forgot I got unsweetened ice tea.)
Wales: I'm paying in cash.
(I'm paying by credit card - I don't have enough cash on me.)
Wales: I'll just pay you. (She thinks it's $35 each, no, it's $33.31 cents each - hello, calculator. That includes tip. Let's face it computers are more accurate than the human brain when it comes to numbers.)
Wales: You're only giving $10?
ME: That's a 20% tip off of the actual amount.
Wales: I want to give more. (So she adds $5)
Me: Okay, you want to make it 15, that's fine - takes it up to about 21-25%. (But she makes me second guess myself so I do the calculation again.)
Loving the calculator on the smartphone. Smartphones are true god sends. You can do so much on them that has zip to do with phones. Also texting is easier - in regards to meeting up with folks and checking where they are, if they are running late.
Some days - I wonder how we survived without them?
We decide to go into the new millenial book store that popped up over the past few years. It's owned and run by the millenials, entitled "Books are Magic" and rather small. I'm not crazy about book stores and libraries because they cater to big publishing companies and tend to ignore the little guy, but this one is better than most - it actually does have POC books, and the little guy in stock. (No one self-published or non-traditionally published. Book stores can't afford to and libraries don't. That's why I like Amazon - it does. I'm not happy with the traditional publishing community.)
I'm tempted by Pachinko, which is also now a series on HBO Max or Apple TV, one or the other. I may start watching it or pick it up on Kindle. The book store was giving me a headache - because the print's small and requires reading glasses. I had a sinus headache, felt drained, going through a hot flash, and possibly dehydrated - so dizzy and tired. Wales felt tired and drained too. Neither of us were up for a long walk to the promenade, and chose to walk back to Carroll Park, sit for a bit, then to Planted, hunted for ice cream (none to be found - why is that? When you don't want it - it's readily available, when you do, it's impossible to find), and parted ways. She looked like she was going to hang out at her subway stop to watch a local band perform.
Oh as an aside - I discovered that I could dump my old clothing at the farmer's market in Carrol on Sundays between 8am-2pm. I may bring a couple of bags up and do that in the weeks ahead.
2. I've been going through old journal entries and grabbing the ones that seem like decent essays to deposit on Archive of Our Own. Mostly movie and book reviews, although there are a few essays in there. I almost threw a fanfic on it, but thought better of it.
Anyhow, in going through those entries - I realized that I've forgotten a lot of books and movies and television series I've seen. Almost as if I hadn't seen them at all. I have for example - a review of the film adaptation of Chaim Potem's The Chosen starring Robbie Benson, that I have zero memory of - I cannot remember anything about it - outside of the fact that it is about Orthodox Jews. I've read the book and seen the film twice, but can't remember it at all. Also can't remember the book Three Junes, or most of the Harry Potter books. It's very odd. Also, makes me realize that reading a ton of books that I don't want to read or find difficult to get through for posterity or whatever is a colossal waste of my time, since I'll just forget them. I read what I want to read or am in the mood for now, and no longer care about book clubs. I can't remember the books I read for all the book clubs I was in anyhow - well that's not entirely true I do remember some of them.
3. Conversation with mother..
Mother: I was speaking to my cousin A, and she said that she gets complimented on her honesty, how blunt and up front she is. That the problem with a lot of midwesterners is they aren't blunt or upfront. They aren't honest.
ME: It's not just the midwesterners...northeasterners and southerners also have this difficulty. Also I've been told the same thing, over and over again - how refreshingly honest I am. And how people appreciate my honesty.
Mother: Same with your cousin - she's gotten notes from folks thanking her.
Me: My coworker said it - "what I love about you is that you are so refreshingly honest.." makes me wonder about people.
Mother: I've been told the same - that I'm so honest.
ME: I've decided this is genetic, well genetic for the women in the family at any rate. I'm on the fence about my brother. Also, what does that mean exactly? That I'm so honest or refreshingly honest? Is everyone else lying their pants off 24/7? And if so, why do people put up with it? I mean do people like being lied to? I guess if they are lying as well, it doesn't matter - it's just a lie-a-thon?
Mother: Or its just superficial. Saying nothing. And not confronting anyone on anything..
Me: How incredibly passive aggressive. So most people are not only liars, but passive aggressive liars? And like to be around others who are the same? How cowardly of them. I mean I don't like conflict either...but seriously?
4. Horror Movies
I watched a portion of The Conjuring - which is supposed to be the scariest film ever. (eh, not really, I personally found the Shining to be more disturbing. I guess my difficulty with it - is similar to The Exorcist, I don't buy the premise.)
Me: Was watching this flick "The Conjuring" - which is a horror movie with plenty of scares, but it's not all that scary because I don't believe in demons. Ghosts yes, demons no.
Mother giggles.
The portion I watched of The Conjuring was creepy as all get out. Particularly the frigging doll, and the "clap" game. It's also well cast.
Read up on it - and the true story is creepier. The actual family eventually kicked the demonic/paranormal researchers out, and stayed in the house for about a decade (they couldn't afford to move). That had to mess with their heads. They kicked out the researchers for the wife's mental stability - they were driving her nuts.
A lot of hauntings are due to things like black mold poisoning, or mental illness brought on by other environmental poisonings or allergies. The mind can trick you. Our perception is no where near as reliable as we like to think.
Also watched a portion of The Night House another creepy psychological ghost story, that read up on and decided to nix.
I may try.."Wait Until Helen Comes" - that looks interesting, as does the "Orphanage". Thanks for the recs. I also may attempt Crimson Peak.
5. The movie - RESPECT
Disappointing. Jennifer Hudson's voice while excellent does not have quite the same range as Aretha Franklin's. She got pitchy with Amazing Grace - where the movie ends.
Also, the story was boring - the focus seemed to be more on the men or lack thereof in Aretha's life, not the women and her career.
I do not recommend. I barely watched, used it as background noise.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-31 10:40 pm (UTC)