(no subject)

1. More and more this feels like the Big Mutant Zombie Apocalypse That Wasn't, metaphorically and kind of literally speaking.

ponygirl (on FB) posts: Okay, I figured zombies would show up at some point, but I didn't think it would be zombie minks

Friend: Oh, I almost got it - I put zombie badgers on my apocalypse Bingo chart.

ponygirl: I think that's close enough to count.

2. Watched The New Mutants film last night via VOD. It cost about $5.
And...I can see why they critics were less than enthralled. They sold it as a horror film - but it's not that scary. And much like Dark Phoenix and X-men Apocalypse, the writing is lacking.

That's not to say, I didn't enjoy it. I did. BUT. I also read the comics and am a fan of the X-men, and the movie really is geared to that nitch audience. I'm not certain it works for those who didn't?

Added bonus? During the movie - our teen mutant heroes are watching a television series in their break room. The movie is clearly taking place during the late 1990s early 00s based on what they are watching as it aired on a small color television set. The breakroom has seen better days, and the facility they are in is beyond drab and depressing.

At any rate, they are watching the Buffy S4 Episode "HUSH" on the television set. With various scenes highlight to foreshadow or emphasize the action taking place in the film. Clearly whoever wrote or directed this film was a fan of Buffy.

But to have two favorite fandom oriented things in the same place, was a definitive squee moment for me.

It's more of a character piece in some respects, dealing with each of the characters fears - and has a rather interesting message at its heart - which is the legend of the two bears. We each have two bears inside us, one that feeds on fear, and hate, and pain, and the other that feeds on love, compassion and kindness and understanding. The one we feed - is the one that grows and has power over us. We can choose which we feed.

The episode's main character or POV character is a Native American, Dani Moonstar, who has the psionic ability to bring people's fears and dreams into reality. She's haunted by a demon bear - her own fear, which has grown over time and destroys her family and village. Taken in by the myterious Essex Corporation - she's sequestered in a remote hospital facility with four other troubled teens with mutant powers, and a psychiatrist, Dr. Celia Reyes who is monitoring them. Ana Taylor Joy with wonderful aplomb portrays Illyana Rasputin aka Magick - my favorite. Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things plays Sam Gutheri - Cannonball, and Maisie Williams (GoT) plays Rahne (the wolf). The others are less notable and also not as strong, the aforementioned kind of overwhelm them on screen.

It's worth a look, although I'm not sure I'd pay much for it.

And no, it's not scary. I'm a wimp and it didn't scare me at all. X-Files, Supernatural and Buffy is scarier. Which may have been the problem, since it was advertised as scary. But the trailer is misleading - nothing that happens in the trailer seems to happen on screen. I think they edited out all the creepy, scary bits and put them in the trailer.




3. Despite what your twitter feed may have told you? NYC is doing quite well. They even have their window displays and light shows up for the season.

Holiday Window Displays

A friend went into the city and did a live video of the Christmas Tree and Saks, and showed how nice everything is - at night. Mellow. Not heavy crowds. People wearing masks.

We're actually doing better than other spots around the country.

I keep thinking I should go into the city and check it out, but honestly, it's not like I did that last year - when there wasn't a pandemic.

4. How to press flowers and leaves onto stationary courtesy of NY Times.

5. The Republicans Who Fought Back and Blocked Trump's Campaign's Efforts To Overthrow the Election
( excerpt )

6. New Corona Virus cases pass the the 4 million mark in November doubling the record set in October with over 2,000 dying in the US a day now.

Wear a Mask. Socially distance. Hand Sanitize. Stay home if you can.

Sigh, I keep getting tempted to take group hikes outside. But I don't really like hiking with strangers, and I'm not certain how I'd get to know them with a mask on and socially distancing in a Park, crowded with socially distancing hikers. I wondered today if I was letting my fear rule me.
There a lot of group hikes being scheduled around NYC area and Long Island, not to mention neighborhood hikes by a guy in Ditmas. But I don't know any of them - and if they are willing to go on a group hike, what else are they doing?

I find the virus and how we've reacted to it - head-ache inducing at times.
Also I'm worried again about being laid off - because crazy workplace threatened lay-offs in the news again. Working for a public transportation agency has its pitfalls. (It's ALWAYS in the news. I often find out crucial bits of information via the news prior to finding out at work.)

The Seemingly Endless Book Challenge

Next prompt in the seemingly endless book challenge:

A book set somewhere that you've always wanted to visit

Eh... The Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte

A“diabolically good” hacker puts a message on the pope’s computer, pleading for him to save a seventeenth-century Spanish church—a church that is killing to defend itself.Although Our Lady of the Tears is but a crumbling baroque building in the heart of Seville, it is also the center of a multilayered mystery—one that will force ecclesiastical sleuth Father Lorenzo Quart to question his loyalty, his vow of chastity, and his faith itself.

Read it about fifteen or sixteen years ago. Can't remember it very well. Can't even remember exactly when I read it - except that it was somewhere around 2002.

I do remember loving it at the time. I don't know if it holds up well or not. Just that I've always wanted to visit Seville, Spain - maybe in five years? I'll visit Peru when the pandemic is over, then possibly Hawaii, and then New Zealand, and then Africa, and then Seville - or maybe London or Canada if my niece ends up going to school there.

Day #25 of the Endless Gratitude Challenge

Day #25 of 60 Day of Gratitude Meme.

The prompt is What about your city, town or area are you most grateful for?

The Mass Transportation System - the intricate interlocking system of subways, trains, buses and ferries that make it possible for me to go anywhere I desire without a car. I've not had to drive in over 20 years, and I feel liberated. I can go anywhere in my city, and travel to places out on Long Island, outside of New York, upstate, without a car.

So many New Yorker's take it for granted, but without it - there would be gridlock 24/7, and you can get places quickly and efficiently. I've read on the subway, written on the subway, listened to music and books on the subway, and watched musical acts.

New York City wouldn't be New York without the subway.

(no subject)

1. Uhm..wow...reading this had me sobbing half-way through. It's so moving.

Every year since 1917, Nova Scotia sends a Christmas Tree to Boston Common, Why?

2. Apparently Amazon renewed The Expanse for a Sixth and final season. (I've still to watch S4 and S5, I'm behind.) I like The Expanse, also liked the first book - so I'll continue with it.

It cancelled Gillian Flynn's Utopia - which I haven't watched because I despise Gillian Flynn and her writing. I won't read or watch writers that I don't like. I've made exceptions, here and there, to my regret. So I don't do it any longer. I can't read Orson Scott Card either - I've tried. I don't like him. Feel the same way about Virigina Woolf, Marian Zimmer Bradely (who wrote Mists of Avalon), Nathanial Hawthorn, Margaret Mitchell and various others.

I don't recommend reading or watching works from artists that you personally dislike and turn you off. Life is too short for that. It's kind of like forcing yourself to eat licorice or gummy bears or cotton candy or some food that provide no nutritional value, and just clogs up the digestive system.

3. UTah built a Wildlife Bridge and it's actually working.

4. The critics aren't crazy about it, but I'm loving Virgin River on Netflix. It's brainless, comforting, with likable characters, and just a tad of melodrama but not much. Also fairly realistic with beautiful scenery and a decent use of vets, Annette O'Toole and Tim Mathession.

I couldn't get myself to watch the Hillary Swank space series "Away" which got cancelled - too dark. Too painful. I may eventually. And I've no interest in anything dark, depressing, or requires too much thought at the moment. I'll probably watch His Dark Materials, The Crown, Clone Wars (although I think I already saw it when it first aired, before The Clone Wars film came out), and The Expanse over the Christmas Holidays.

Virgin River is kind of like She-Rah and British Bake Off...a nice comfort show.

5. Todays photos from my walk around Greenwood Cemetery.

A redtail hawk...talking up a storm:

( hawk )

( twilight in the cemetery )

While walking around the Cemetery, I listened to the Audio book version of "How To Be an Anti-Racist" - which I found oddly calming. At any rate, I was less irritable on today's walk, even if there was the same number of people wandering about.

Those who say you can't walk in a city during a pandemic - don't live in New York City.