Pretty Sunday...

It 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. ( my outing with Wales )

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.