This year's been tough so far. I've been dealing with some health issues and helping my mom, and you know, pandemic stuff, and life. So blogging about it all hasn't been a top priority but here's a little update.
We celebrated G's 12th birthday last week! Where does the time go? I do not know. It was just our little family, Minecraft decor, and cupcakes. G got some books and Minecraft and Roblox-related items and he was happy as a little tween clam. He's a good kid and such a trooper with this pandemic.
We also celebrated the Chinese New Year, year of the ox. DH was born in the year of the Ox. We made some yummy gyozas by hand, curry, and chicken karage.
We've been getting a ton of snow so we spent an afternoon making snow angels and snowmen! It was nice to get outside. We're quite the hermits right now.
Things I'm Grateful For:
1. My son. He's such a good kid and I'm just lucky to be apart of his life!
2. The Japanese candy Hi-chews. They've been a life-saver this week. lol.
3. I don't have to drive a lot in the snow this winter. I've been very thankful for that this week with all the snow storms we've been having!
4. That I got my dad in for his first vaccine jab! He goes in for his second dose in two weeks. One more things of the plate.
Reading:
- You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe
- Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon
- Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
- On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss
- A Voice of Her Own: Candlewick Biographies: The Story of Phyllis Wheatley, Slave Poet by Kathryn Lasky
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
- The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
- Black Heroes of the American Revolution by Burke Davis
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- Goldie Vance Vol. 1 by Hope Larson
- Goldie Vance Vol. 2 by Hope Larson
I'm currently reading The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Tales by Oliver Sacks, Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor (with G), The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.
Classics that I'm reading: Still working on Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I'm enjoying taking my time here. It's been a long time and it's the perfect classic to read as the weather gets chilly and the holidays approach. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas for my 1000 Books Project challenge and my Back to the Classics 2021 Challenge (19th century classic). I also started Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin for my Back to the Classics Challenge.
Philosophy: We are reading The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.
Listening to:
Wow, No Thank You: Essays by Samantha Irby. Hilarious. I love her. Also reading for my 2021 Nonfiction Reading Challenge, essay prompt.
Watching:
Movies:
La Llorona (Guatemala)
Director: Jayro Bustamente
Written by Jayro Bustamente and Lisandro Sanchez
Starring: Maria Mercedes Coroy
Tagline: The past will haunt you
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this horror on sins of the past and if you don't deal they literally come back to haunt you. I watched this on Shudder. Glad it's nominated for best foreign film.
Sound of Metal
Director: Darius Marder
Writers: Darius Marder, Abraham Marder
Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke
Tagline: Music was his world. Then silence revealed a new one.
My Thoughts: Riz Ahmed is amazing in this. Fantastic movie. Watched this on Amazon Prime. Definitely recommend this one.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Writer: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Sasha Baron Cohen, Alex Sharp
Tagline: In 1968, democracy refused to back down.
My Thoughts: Another great movie for awards season. Well-written and paced. I didn't know anything about this story and so glad I know now.
The Life Ahead (Italy)
Director: Edoardo Ponti
Writers: Ugo Chiti (screenplay), Romain Gary (book)
Starring: Sophia Loren, Ibrahima Gueye
Plotline: In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor takes in a Muslim immigrant boy who recently robbed her.
My Thoughts: Beautiful Italian film on unconditional love and finding one's true family.
Wolfwalkers
Directors: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart
Writers: Will Collins (screenplay), Tomm Moore (story)
Starring: Honor Kneafsey, Sean Bean, Eva Whittaker
Tagline: Be fierce. Be wild. Be free.
My Thoughts: Such a great movie. They can't make a bad one yet! I hope this one wins best animated feature. Hands down one of the best I've seen in a long time.
Judas and the Black Messiah
Director: Shaka King
Writers: Will Berson and Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
My Thoughts: I'd heard about Fred Hampton's murder but I didn't really know about it. Wow. This is a powerful film. Horrifying and tragic. The performances of Kaluuya and Stanfield are truly Oscar-worthy. They just get better and better.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Director: George C. Wolfe
Writers: Ruben Santiago-Hudson (screenplay), August Wilson (play)
Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman
Tagline: Everything comes out in the Blues.
My Thoughts: Fantastic performances! It was so sad watching Boseman's last performance. Just heart-breaking. But I found the film a bit hard to follow. I'd rather just see it on the stage, in person. But no denying the acting chops of these two amazing actors.
TV:
 |
Finished off the fourth and final season and was not super impressed. It was a bit thrown together. Not its best season. |
Surprisingly really good! I watched it while I organized a bunch of stuff in my living room.
Best light-hearted and endearing series! Loved everything about this adorable feel-good show.
This just gets better and better! I keep reading all the fan theories...
Looking forward to a Skype get-together with friends on Sunday! It's the little things...
*all images for movies and TV were taken from IMDB
Joining in with Readerbuzz's Sunday Salon
Happy birthday to your son! I remember well when my sons turned twelve. Enjoy these wonderful times.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you got lots of snow last week. We did, too. I am terrified of slipping on ice so I mostly looked at it from the window.
Did you feel a huge sense of relief when your dad got his vaccine? It feels life-changing.
We did get a lot of snow last week and two weeks before that! The weather has been drier than usual, though.
DeleteI'm very happy my dad got his vaccine! I think he gets his second dose next week. Looking forward to when my mom will be able to get one brought into her.
It sounds like you had a nice week. Happy Birthday to your son! My daughter has a birthday coming up next month. Hi Chews are very popular in our house too. :-) I would like to read The Akata Witch. I don't know if my daughter would be interested yet, but it's one I had gotten for myself awhile ago to try. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your daughter next month!
DeleteAkata Witch series has been fantastic! I hope you and maybe your daughter get to it soon. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Birthday to G. Happy 12!! Have you really got a lot of snow? We haven't had much of anything here in SoCal. I'm sure the ski resorts are loving it near where you are. I want to see the Judas movie and the Sound of Metal. I haven't seen those yet. thx for the tips on all these shows/& movies. Much to see & read.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWe've gotten a ton of snow in the mountains so yes the ski resorts are loving it. But we are having avalanches and a few people have died this month. We're not getting as much snow as we need, though. And the snow is melting too quickly.
I hope you get to those movies soon. They are excellent!
Happy Birthday Gabe! You sure had a lot of snow. But at least you could build a snowman and got some reading done. Not all bad! And lots of tv and movies! I am going to see if anything on here tickles my fancy, I need a new show or two.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week and stay warm and safe!
Elza Reads
Thank you! We did quite a bit of snow but it's already melted down here in the valley, unfortunately.
DeleteThose movies were watched over a few weeks. Looking back at my post it looks like I watched and read all those in a week. lol.
I hope you have a great week too!
Happy birthday to Gabe ! My daughter made a snowman last week and it's melted under these days's warm sun (I went out in t-shirt today). I keep hearing about Wandavision, I'll definitely need to watch this - when I'm done catching up on Dr Who. I'm glad your father will be completely vaccinated soon, good news ! Enjoy your week :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! The snowmen melt too fast, that's for sure. It's been cold but all the snow is melting here in the valleys. I can't wait for T-shirt weather! nice.
DeleteWandaVision is quite good and hope you get to it soon.
Enjoy your week too!
I’m glad your son had a good birthday. My granddaughter turns seven this month and it’s really hard organizing any kind of a festivity. It’s so hard on kids, especially when they’re old enough to remember when they were big parties.
ReplyDeleteThanks for highlighting Ted Lasso. I hadn’t heard of it before
It is tough on the kiddos. I hope your granddaughter has a wonderful birthday!
DeleteI hope you enjoy Ted Lasso. A truly inspiring show.
Happy birthday wishes for your son 🥳
ReplyDeleteYou’ve certainly been keeping yourself busy with some great reading and watching.
I look forward to your thoughts on Irby’s essays.
Wishing you a great reading week
Thank you!
DeleteThose books and show were over a few weeks! But I like to catch up on award nominees for the award shows. I'm loving Irby's essays. She is so funny.
Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy your week too!