Saturday, March 6, 2021

Week-in-Review: Happy March

Where did February go? It's almost a whole week into March already. I'm not going to lie...it's been a tough month. I've been fighting a terrible sinus infection for three weeks and am only starting to feel human again. My writing has been very sporadic. I haven't done much to get out of the house. 

But the weather! It was freezing cold and snowy and icy just last week and now it's 65 and all my windows are open. G and I even got outside for some Frisbee during his lunch break. We're going to get the bikes out soon and pumped up.

We've also had lots of car stuff. Someone rear-ended us in the parking lot...one more thing. But it could've been worse. So grateful we have two working cars now.

Pictures have also been in short supply...


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G had to do a clay model of the planets! I thought he did a pretty good job.


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Here's a sweet Shadow photo. Basking in the sun.

That's all I got this week.

Things I'm Grateful For:


1. Warmer weather. It's too warm but I'm going to take it this week. I'll be able to get my flower beds pruned and weeded this week.

2. Having a grocery store within walking distance. I ran out of sugar while baking yesterday and I just quickly walked on over and picked it up.

3. Really glad my friend's husband is doing well despite testing positive for Covid. He lost his sense of taste and smell but other than that he's doing well.

Reading:


Books finished:

  • The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxane Gay

  • Strange Planet
    by Nathan W. Pyle
  • Big Mushy Lump by Sarah Anderson
  • The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
  • SumoKitty by David Biedrzycki
  • Goldie Vance Vol. 3 by Hope Larson
  • Goldie Vance Vol. 4 by Hope Larson
  • Goldie Vance: Larceny in La La Land by Hope Larson
  • Stay Curious!: A Brief History of Stephen Hawking by Kathleen Krull
  • A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
  • Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia
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:




Freaky (2020) (on demand)
Director: Christopher Landon
Written by Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton
Tagline: Friday the 13th of November. A body swap that cuts deep. Basic switch, killer new look.


My Thoughts: 

Fun little comedy horror film. Just what I needed. Vince Vaughn was really funny playing a teenager!



To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021) Netflix
Director: Michael Fimognari
Writers: Jenny Han (book) and Katie Lovejoy (screenplay)
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, John Corbett
Tagline: You never know where love will lead you.

My Thoughts: 

I liked it but it was a little lack-luster after the charming first movie. But still highly enjoyable.




The Little Things (2021) (HBO Max)
Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Tagline: Some things never let us go.

My Thoughts: 

Not a great movie. I can't get those 128 minutes back. Waste of such amazing talent.


The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (2021) (PBS)
Director: Shayla Harris
Writers: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Starring: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Plotline: 400-year-old story of the black church in America.

My Thoughts: 

Fascinating look at the history of the black church in America. I felt like some non-church going voices were very sparse but I guess it's not their story. Overall, a great documentary!


Mulan (2020) (Disney+)
Director: Niki Caro
Writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Starring: Liu Yifei, Jet Li, Tzi Ma
Tagline: Loyal. Brave. True

My Thoughts: 

Not as good as the original Disney musical but a solid live-action remake. It's the best one so far of Disney's remakes.


Nomadland (2021) (Hulu)
Director: Chloe Zhao
Writer: Chloe Zhao, Jessica Bruder (book)
Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn
Tagline: Surviving America in the twenty-first century.


My Thoughts: 

See this movie! It's absolutely heart-breaking and beautiful. One of the best I've seen. I'm going to read the book too.


Mank (2020) (Netflix)
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Jack Fincher
Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins
Plotline: Herman J. Mankiewicz (Mank), scathing social critic screenwriter

My Thoughts: 

I weirdly enjoyed this too-long movie on the man who wrote Citizen Kane. I didn't really know much about why Citizen Kane resembled William Randolph Hearst. Well, now I know! A very, very interesting time politically and culturally. Makes me want to read more on this history!


TV:                           



This is the fictionalized story of the actual case of the murder of Kim Wall, a journalist who was murdered back in 2017. I had never heard of it, though, before this mini-series. It's amazing. It completely focuses on the investigators and everyone on the team, and Kim Wall's parents. I can't even recall the accused...I love that they did this. It's well done. If you can see this, I highly recommend it.



I definitely don't think this TV show is for everyone. It's dark and super weird. Religious extremism/cults and magic? I have no idea where this is going but I'm fascinated. It's not the best but it's highly entertaining if this is your thing...(Apple TV+)


*all images for movies and TV were taken from IMDB

Reading Challenges:

I Read Horror Year-Round: I finished The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James in the Ghosts and Spirits prompt.

Looking forward to:

DH's birthday is coming up on Thursday! We usually head to a Mexican restaurant up in Salt Lake because they have an amazing selection of cocktails that he loves. But that's a no-go this year. So we'll be celebrating at home with some Mexican food take-out and I'll be whipping up some frozen daquiris and cupcakes!

Joining in with Readerbuzz's Sunday Salon

24 comments:

  1. Sinus infections can be so awful. I'm sorry you have been dealing with that. I hope you are feeling better. And to have someone rear end your car! Ugh. I hope it didn't cost too much to repair. I am glad the weather has turned better for you. Enjoy your bike ride!

    I need to move The Sun Down Motel up on my TBR pile. What did you think of it? I hope you are enjoying your reading!

    Happy Birthday to your husband! My daughter's birthday is coming up this week too. Like you, it will be take out for us too--likely from our favorite Italian restaurant. I ordered some balloons for her. She wants to make her own birthday cake this year (with help), so that should be fun.

    I hope you have a great week and a better March! Take care!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoyed The Sun Down Motel. Creepy and weird and had an interesting story.

      Thanks for the birthday wishes for my hubby. Happy birthday to your daughter! so hard with kids and all the things being missed this year. I hope it is still fun and enjoyable!

      Delete
  2. Hope you continue to feel better soon! Sinus instructions can be debilitating. Thank you for the reminder that I need to watch the final To All the Boys I Loved movie. I had forgotten about it.

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    Replies
    1. I hope you get to the third To All the Boys! It's fun and just what's needed right now.

      Delete
  3. I hope you have more sunny days this week!

    Wishing you a great reading week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It's very sunny, just super windy.

      Delete
  4. I hope your sinus clears up so you can enjoy the Takeout and your husbands birthday.
    You’ve finished an interesting variety of books , I’m glad you are enjoying Wow. No Thankyou.

    Wishing you a great reading week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Sinuses are finally starting to feel better! I've had a lot more downtime than normal trying to recoop. So yes, I have read some good books lately.

      I hope you have a great reading week as well!

      Delete
  5. A sinus infection...freezing weather...car repairs...you've had to deal with all of this on top of the pandemic? No wonder you haven't written much.

    Love the planets. I think we all must go through a model of the planets phase of life.

    I keep thinking about Tristan Strong. It would suit my mood, which is in need of boosting. I loved Warmth of Other Suns. My son recommended Nomadland to us this week. The book is solid.

    I hope you will have a good week!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it's been a doozy for all of us! You've had it rough too. Tristan Strong is an excellent middle grade series and so enjoyable. I do hope you get to it soon. I think there is one more book coming out this fall to finish it off.

      I definitely want to read Nomadland. It sounds like my kind of nonfiction right now. I was just blown away at how good the movie was!

      Delete
  6. What bad luck, I hope the sinus infection is clearing up, I know how painful they can be. That sucks about the car too, hope this month is easier on the nerves!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sinuses are starting to feel better and car is in for repairs! Hoping it's all smooth waters now! lol.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. Why was Kim Wall even murdered -- what an awful case eh? I still need to see Nomadland though I dont get Hulu, hmm. Sorry about the car stuff and your sinuses, ugh. What a drag. But it sounds nice to feel the sun again. Enjoy your week and your books. The planets display is good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes to what a crazy and awful case with Kim Wall. Just tragic.

      I'm sure Nomadland will come to on demand to rent soon enough so I hope you get to see it soon!

      My son had a good time putting that display together and loved how it turned out!

      Enjoy your week too.

      Delete
  8. I hope March is a much better month for you! I recently read A Raisin in the Sun, too, and listening to the original broadway show... so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, listening to the original play was excellent. Loved Raisin in the Sun. I wondered how it would be listening to it even when I couldn't see what was going on. But it worked really well as an audiobook.

      I sure hope March is better too! For all of us.

      Delete
  9. I'm sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. I have The Sun Down Motel to read. I just need to make some time.

    I hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Starting to feel better this week! But those sinus infections can really put me down for a while.

      I hope you get to The Sun Down Motel soon. I really liked it.

      Delete
  10. Happy birthday to your husband! Even if this year looks different, hope you'll be able to make it memorable. I hope I can say that Covid birthdays come only once in a lifetime for anyone in this generation.

    Gah, sorry about the car troubles. They are always a headache even without a crash involved. Hope you have a great week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Yes, that is for sure on the birthdays. Quite unique and memorable in one way or another!

      Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week too.

      Delete
  11. Hi here Heather! I am sooo glad to read your post and realize I'm not all alone on this planet. Life has really been a bit tough this past month or so!! Hectically busy and there are constantly things going wrong. Like people rear ending you. Or teachers who hurt their backs and can't work for 2 weeks right before assessment week....!

    But life always has a way to turn around again. And at least we still have some great books to read!

    Hope you had a good week.

    Elza Reads

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sinus infections are the worst :( I just got the book Nomadland from the library and want to read it before I see the movie. I still need to watch third Boys movie. After loving the first, the second had a little less magic so I haven't been hurrying to see it. Just Zoomed with my book club and 2 out of the 10 of us have had Covid in the last month, families too. Everyone seems to be okay, but still not 100% Hope you get to feeling better.

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    Replies
    1. So sorry about your book club! Hopefully no one got or if they that they are recovering well!

      I'd like to read Nomadland too. It'll have more of the facts along with the stories, I think.

      Delete

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