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shadowkatDidn't feel well today or most of the weekend. No clue why. Possibly a combination of things - allergies, barometric pressure changes in the weather, blood sugar/diet, IBS...and not getting enough sleep.
At any rate, I'm relieved that I have tomorrow off. It would be hard to take it as a sick day - since I've a three day holiday.
Trying to figure out what to watch tonight - and got overwhelmed with content choices. Dear god there's a lot of content available on television now. It's kind of like getting lost in a multi-tiered blockbusters video store and you can rent anything for free (well not exactly free - I do pay for some of the services).
In attempt to find the first episode of "Gotham Knights" (it's currently airing on the CW and I've got everything but the first episode) on HBO Max (it's not there - which is odd. The Winchesters is there, so is well a lot of other things on CW but not Gotham Knights - maybe Netflix will get it?) - I ended up flirting with Designing Woman (Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall - which threw me, I didn't know they made a movie together - appears to be the 1960s (?) since both look older and its in color and directed by Vincent Minelli - so 1960s. It's leaving by April 20th - probably going to the MGM streaming service. I don't think I'll watch it before then - it's kind of annoying.). The Music Man - which made me hunt down the Hugh Jackman version on Youtube (it's available - people filmed various sections (long sections) in the audience - not great, but watchable), which sent me down the Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster Broadway performances rabbit hole on Youtube. (By the way, almost the entire show - Boy from Oz is available on Youtube - this is the bio-musical of Peter Allen's life, so is a recording of Hugh Jackman and Russel Crow singing the confrontation scene from Les Miz - which I still think the How I Met Your Mother castmates do a better job of, but watching those two go at it in a pub - is fun. )
Remember when it was hard to find content?
So far today..
1. I've watched:
New Amsterdam - I like the characters even if the plots are kind of fantastical at times. US medical shows aren't that realistic. This one, actually, is more realistic than most. The most fantastical is Grey's Anatomy and it's lasted the longest - hence the reason they are fantastical.
* Superman and Lois - darker than most of the Superman series, gritty, filmed like a film series. Also surprising - I thought they'd spend more time on the kids and parent/child relationship - but instead the focus is more on Superman and Lois's relationship and issues. It does like to deal with tragedy though and torture it's leads. Lois is kind of put through the ringer. But it does, by far, have among the best versions of Lana Lang. I also like this version of Superman, he manages to get the dorkiness of Clark Kent across - which not everyone can. It's important that Kent is kind of dorky or nerdy. While Superman seems to be cool and aloof. That duality is important - because otherwise people would see right through Superman's disguise. Also, it emphasizes how hard Superman's decision to save the world and use his powers to help others and not himself is - and his struggle to teach his son to do the same. The appeal of Superman - is here is this incredibly powerful being, who decides to use the gifts he's been given by earth's sun to help humanity, as opposed to ruling over it or destroying it. That's extraordinary. And that vision gives me hope. Nihilism is easy, a lot of people don't get that - Camus didn't have to work that hard to be nihilistic. It's a whole lot harder to write the opposite. Particularly when you are two Jewish guys in the 1940s, during WWII, writing for a DC comics - and creating an alien hero. I give the creators of Superman a lot of credit - the world wasn't nice to them. (I'm on the third season? HBO Max should have the other two?)
* a lot of Youtube videos - mainly Spike videos from Angel and Buffy, which I stumbled upon looking up something else. I can't remember what it was. I'm tempted to try a re-watch, but I'd have to hunt them down, since I no longer own a DVD player.
**
* Completed a painting (which I've mixed feelings about) - I was struggling with perspective, and I think the woman's physical body is kind of off in places that is noticeable. Not from a distance, but definitely close up. There's not enough space between waist and legs, also her legs are almost too short? The guy is more or less fine, just his face is slightly off.
* Started a new one (also mixed feelings about) - I screwed up the hands on the kid. Hands can be hard to draw and paint well. I can draw them, but drawing and painting them ...not always. Actually I do better with just a hand, it's when it is attached to a human and actually doing stuff that I struggle with it.
* Worked on revising my novel - which is slow going. I keep debating whether certain sections need to be deleted. Particularly ones that deal with supporting characters that kind of eventually drop out of the novel. My general rule is - do they further the plot and lead character's arcs at all. If they do, I keep the scene.
* Read more of the Diabetes book (it's overwhelming and depressing - which is an accomplishment actually, if you think about it - so kudos),
* Watched Church service on Zoom (Unitarian Universalists have interesting Easter services - the sermon today was on "the rock" blocking Christ's tomb. And how it is in every version of the story - other things change, such as sometimes there's an Angel removing the rock, sometimes the Roman's remove it, sometimes it's just magically open, sometimes an Angel is sitting on top of it...sometimes the apostles remove it. But in every story the rock blocking the tomb is there. The Minister said this is interesting - because it symbolizes the things we have to overcome for spiritual renewal or Spring has to overcome to burst forth from Winter. The idea of renewal at this time of year is universal across faiths. So, our annual Easter ritual is to burn flash paper, which we've either written or thought of something we wish to release and let go of. (I think she's combined Yom Kippur with Easter - which actually works in a way.) I didn't have flash paper (as the folks on Zoom commented on) but instead lit a candle and blew out the match.)
* Took a walk - meant to go to Greenwood Cemetery. Instead walked by Scean Casey Animal Shelter - which apparently has always been opposite the school on the way to the Cemetery, I just never noticed it. An Orthodox Jewish family (not Hasidim) was returning a dog that it had taken out for a walk. All dogs had to be returned by 2 PM apparently, and kids weren't allowed to walk any additional ones. They then went into the Hamilton Dog House next door - which is adjacent to the shelter, and possibly part of it? This is where various rescue animals are housed - and then adopted.
Or so it says on the internet. I hope not - that store was depressing. It was small. And there were a lot of animals in confined spaces that weren't very appealing (the spaces not the animals). I was watching one small, yappy, white dog running back and forth in its cage looking at its owner and wondering what was up. The owner was saying goodbye and leaving him or her behind. I have no idea why. The dog was not listed as available. I felt sad for him. I felt sad for the cats who were sleeping in a cage with their food and litter box. I felt sad for the cat sleeping in the dark window, with various old climbing equipment, and the pretty birds in the cages. Looking into those animals eyes broke my heart and made me pull slightly inward, feeling ill.
It also made me feel slightly ashamed? Ashamed of my own species. Of my inability to do anything. I don't think we're doing a very good job of taking care of the living creatures in our world? I know Scean Casey is doing the best it can - rescuing and caring for these animals. It's currently filled to capacity and has informed the public that if they need to re-home their pet - it will help them find a new home for it, but it can't take any more. (When I was in college, my parents had to re-home a cat that we owned/cared for since I was in Junior High. They had to do it because my father discovered he was highly allergic. So they found a kind elderly woman to take care of the cat. And visited her, and visited the cat. My brother checked her out, and said goodbye and wrote to me about it - I was in Britain at the time on a summer theater program, so didn't get to say goodbye to my beloved pet.)
I wish people would stop buying, adopting or taking on pets if they aren't willing to be responsible for them. Pets are living things. How would you feel if someone did that to you? I couldn't decide who I felt more sorry for the woman or the dog she was leaving behind. I didn't know why she was leaving the dog behind or for how long...so I can't judge. Just that it was depressing.
The store was grimy. Dark. And tight. Not a lot of room. I couldn't walk by the animal cages without disturbing the animals. It was impossible to look at the birds with the Jewish Family doing the same - since there just wasn't enough room. It didn't appear that anyone had cleaned the store in a while. The floor was dirty, and dusty. I put on a mask fairly quickly once inside. And even through the mask - it smelled musty. The cages were old. As were the blankets inside. And the cats looked fearful and tired. There was a ginger cat going to the bathroom in her litter box, and her eyes told me that she felt exposed and trapped. I wanted to adopt them all or rescue them from their fate - whatever fate it may be.
It's hard to believe they wouldn't be better off in the wilds. In NY or any where - it's a toss-up. The world isn't a safe place for any of us, I think.
The animal shelter depressed me. But it was a lovely day. Blue skies. Flowering trees. Crisp wind that went right through me.
I came home and felt a bit woozy. So drank tea. Had a little chocolate. And watched television, painted, and tried working on my book.
I suppose I accomplished something today - just not what I'd planned - which was cleaning out a closet, going to church, and going to the Artist's Way. Oh well both will be there next week.
At any rate, I'm relieved that I have tomorrow off. It would be hard to take it as a sick day - since I've a three day holiday.
Trying to figure out what to watch tonight - and got overwhelmed with content choices. Dear god there's a lot of content available on television now. It's kind of like getting lost in a multi-tiered blockbusters video store and you can rent anything for free (well not exactly free - I do pay for some of the services).
In attempt to find the first episode of "Gotham Knights" (it's currently airing on the CW and I've got everything but the first episode) on HBO Max (it's not there - which is odd. The Winchesters is there, so is well a lot of other things on CW but not Gotham Knights - maybe Netflix will get it?) - I ended up flirting with Designing Woman (Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall - which threw me, I didn't know they made a movie together - appears to be the 1960s (?) since both look older and its in color and directed by Vincent Minelli - so 1960s. It's leaving by April 20th - probably going to the MGM streaming service. I don't think I'll watch it before then - it's kind of annoying.). The Music Man - which made me hunt down the Hugh Jackman version on Youtube (it's available - people filmed various sections (long sections) in the audience - not great, but watchable), which sent me down the Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster Broadway performances rabbit hole on Youtube. (By the way, almost the entire show - Boy from Oz is available on Youtube - this is the bio-musical of Peter Allen's life, so is a recording of Hugh Jackman and Russel Crow singing the confrontation scene from Les Miz - which I still think the How I Met Your Mother castmates do a better job of, but watching those two go at it in a pub - is fun. )
Remember when it was hard to find content?
So far today..
1. I've watched:
New Amsterdam - I like the characters even if the plots are kind of fantastical at times. US medical shows aren't that realistic. This one, actually, is more realistic than most. The most fantastical is Grey's Anatomy and it's lasted the longest - hence the reason they are fantastical.
* Superman and Lois - darker than most of the Superman series, gritty, filmed like a film series. Also surprising - I thought they'd spend more time on the kids and parent/child relationship - but instead the focus is more on Superman and Lois's relationship and issues. It does like to deal with tragedy though and torture it's leads. Lois is kind of put through the ringer. But it does, by far, have among the best versions of Lana Lang. I also like this version of Superman, he manages to get the dorkiness of Clark Kent across - which not everyone can. It's important that Kent is kind of dorky or nerdy. While Superman seems to be cool and aloof. That duality is important - because otherwise people would see right through Superman's disguise. Also, it emphasizes how hard Superman's decision to save the world and use his powers to help others and not himself is - and his struggle to teach his son to do the same. The appeal of Superman - is here is this incredibly powerful being, who decides to use the gifts he's been given by earth's sun to help humanity, as opposed to ruling over it or destroying it. That's extraordinary. And that vision gives me hope. Nihilism is easy, a lot of people don't get that - Camus didn't have to work that hard to be nihilistic. It's a whole lot harder to write the opposite. Particularly when you are two Jewish guys in the 1940s, during WWII, writing for a DC comics - and creating an alien hero. I give the creators of Superman a lot of credit - the world wasn't nice to them. (I'm on the third season? HBO Max should have the other two?)
* a lot of Youtube videos - mainly Spike videos from Angel and Buffy, which I stumbled upon looking up something else. I can't remember what it was. I'm tempted to try a re-watch, but I'd have to hunt them down, since I no longer own a DVD player.
**
* Completed a painting (which I've mixed feelings about) - I was struggling with perspective, and I think the woman's physical body is kind of off in places that is noticeable. Not from a distance, but definitely close up. There's not enough space between waist and legs, also her legs are almost too short? The guy is more or less fine, just his face is slightly off.
* Started a new one (also mixed feelings about) - I screwed up the hands on the kid. Hands can be hard to draw and paint well. I can draw them, but drawing and painting them ...not always. Actually I do better with just a hand, it's when it is attached to a human and actually doing stuff that I struggle with it.
* Worked on revising my novel - which is slow going. I keep debating whether certain sections need to be deleted. Particularly ones that deal with supporting characters that kind of eventually drop out of the novel. My general rule is - do they further the plot and lead character's arcs at all. If they do, I keep the scene.
* Read more of the Diabetes book (it's overwhelming and depressing - which is an accomplishment actually, if you think about it - so kudos),
* Watched Church service on Zoom (Unitarian Universalists have interesting Easter services - the sermon today was on "the rock" blocking Christ's tomb. And how it is in every version of the story - other things change, such as sometimes there's an Angel removing the rock, sometimes the Roman's remove it, sometimes it's just magically open, sometimes an Angel is sitting on top of it...sometimes the apostles remove it. But in every story the rock blocking the tomb is there. The Minister said this is interesting - because it symbolizes the things we have to overcome for spiritual renewal or Spring has to overcome to burst forth from Winter. The idea of renewal at this time of year is universal across faiths. So, our annual Easter ritual is to burn flash paper, which we've either written or thought of something we wish to release and let go of. (I think she's combined Yom Kippur with Easter - which actually works in a way.) I didn't have flash paper (as the folks on Zoom commented on) but instead lit a candle and blew out the match.)
* Took a walk - meant to go to Greenwood Cemetery. Instead walked by Scean Casey Animal Shelter - which apparently has always been opposite the school on the way to the Cemetery, I just never noticed it. An Orthodox Jewish family (not Hasidim) was returning a dog that it had taken out for a walk. All dogs had to be returned by 2 PM apparently, and kids weren't allowed to walk any additional ones. They then went into the Hamilton Dog House next door - which is adjacent to the shelter, and possibly part of it? This is where various rescue animals are housed - and then adopted.
Or so it says on the internet. I hope not - that store was depressing. It was small. And there were a lot of animals in confined spaces that weren't very appealing (the spaces not the animals). I was watching one small, yappy, white dog running back and forth in its cage looking at its owner and wondering what was up. The owner was saying goodbye and leaving him or her behind. I have no idea why. The dog was not listed as available. I felt sad for him. I felt sad for the cats who were sleeping in a cage with their food and litter box. I felt sad for the cat sleeping in the dark window, with various old climbing equipment, and the pretty birds in the cages. Looking into those animals eyes broke my heart and made me pull slightly inward, feeling ill.
It also made me feel slightly ashamed? Ashamed of my own species. Of my inability to do anything. I don't think we're doing a very good job of taking care of the living creatures in our world? I know Scean Casey is doing the best it can - rescuing and caring for these animals. It's currently filled to capacity and has informed the public that if they need to re-home their pet - it will help them find a new home for it, but it can't take any more. (When I was in college, my parents had to re-home a cat that we owned/cared for since I was in Junior High. They had to do it because my father discovered he was highly allergic. So they found a kind elderly woman to take care of the cat. And visited her, and visited the cat. My brother checked her out, and said goodbye and wrote to me about it - I was in Britain at the time on a summer theater program, so didn't get to say goodbye to my beloved pet.)
I wish people would stop buying, adopting or taking on pets if they aren't willing to be responsible for them. Pets are living things. How would you feel if someone did that to you? I couldn't decide who I felt more sorry for the woman or the dog she was leaving behind. I didn't know why she was leaving the dog behind or for how long...so I can't judge. Just that it was depressing.
The store was grimy. Dark. And tight. Not a lot of room. I couldn't walk by the animal cages without disturbing the animals. It was impossible to look at the birds with the Jewish Family doing the same - since there just wasn't enough room. It didn't appear that anyone had cleaned the store in a while. The floor was dirty, and dusty. I put on a mask fairly quickly once inside. And even through the mask - it smelled musty. The cages were old. As were the blankets inside. And the cats looked fearful and tired. There was a ginger cat going to the bathroom in her litter box, and her eyes told me that she felt exposed and trapped. I wanted to adopt them all or rescue them from their fate - whatever fate it may be.
It's hard to believe they wouldn't be better off in the wilds. In NY or any where - it's a toss-up. The world isn't a safe place for any of us, I think.
The animal shelter depressed me. But it was a lovely day. Blue skies. Flowering trees. Crisp wind that went right through me.
I came home and felt a bit woozy. So drank tea. Had a little chocolate. And watched television, painted, and tried working on my book.
I suppose I accomplished something today - just not what I'd planned - which was cleaning out a closet, going to church, and going to the Artist's Way. Oh well both will be there next week.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-10 01:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-11 12:16 am (UTC)It did win something. Ah best screen play. LOL!
Designing Woman is a 1957 American Metrocolor romantic comedy film, in CinemaScope, about two young, whirlwind-romanced newlywed professionals and their misadventures in adjusting to each other's lifestyles. Vincente Minnelli directed the film, which stars Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, and Dolores Gray, and features Sam Levene and Chuck Connors. The film earned George Wells an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
It was apparently supposed to star Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart, but Grace Kelly pulled out when she got engaged to marry Prince Rainer, and Jimmy Stewart pulled out when she did, but later regretted it.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-11 01:09 am (UTC)But the film is kind of dated...
Right! But I was just thinking this morning that 70 and 80 year old movies aren't so bad, considering that 70 or 80 years before them there was no such art form!
no subject
Date: 2023-04-12 12:00 am (UTC)You do have a point though, say what you will about Peck and Bacall - Tracy and Hepburn pulled of a certain type of rom-com that no one else could. I'm not entirely sure Gregory Peck or Bacall work here? I just can't imagine them in a rom-com together. Also, it's kind of like having Hepburn and Tracy doing a Bacall and Bogart flick or for that matter a Gregory Peck flick. Peck doesn't scream sports writer, he always played the intellectual in films, and Bacall was more femme fatal type. It was clearly a Hepburn/Tracy style comedy - or Stewart and Grace Kelly - Jimmy Stewart played that type of role very well. It's not really what Peck excelled at.