Gofita's Pages

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Cat Thursday: Window Time

Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at True Book Addict) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!

We got new blinds in our bedroom so now we can actually raise them up again! Nala has been enjoying this immensely. Lots of window time.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Cat Thursday: Spring Cleaning

Tis that time of year again for cleaning and and organizing!

May your cleans be as springy as these kitties!

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Week-in-Review: Spring Has Sprung and Where Did April Go?

Our dear neighbors shipped out to Florida last month. We packed them all in tight. DH is a master packer. He packed their truck in tight even when they got a smaller truck than they were planning on! It really is something you need to do to help the grieving process when friends and family move far far away. Getting in there and packing and moving helps. It's so hard to see friends move 😭. But I'm happy for them and their new adventures.

We had a really warm weekend (a few weekends ago! ha), like unusually so. My flowers are coming in! I love my hyacinths and my tulips are almost full bloom. My crocuses didn't fare so well this year...They may not come back next year.

Weird angles on some of these but oh well! I am no photographer but they are still pretty.

We also went on Spring Break. Somewhere local. My friend and her husband had some extra time share points they let us use. So we got away for about a week and just relaxed and got some sun and good food.

We hiked, played games, puzzled, ate good food, watched movies, and just relaxed. One of the best spring breaks in a long time!

Tig Notaro came to Salt Lake last weekend so me and friends went and it was amazing! I don't leave the house often and I'm so glad I did. We hit a bar after and danced and laughed and had a great time. It was was wonderful to get out again. So glad I forced myself to do it. I ended up having the best time. COVID has wreaked havoc in so many ways and this felt like a small victory and a way toward recovery.

Also, the energy of youth! I almost felt like I was young again...just dancing and having fun with those in their 20s! So much fun. I can't do that every week, never could. But yeah, every once in awhile is rejuvenating.

Happy Easter. Egg coloring and basket goodies!

This week includes finally getting our new bed! It's been on back order for months. We are so excited!!!! But this week also includes minor surgery for G...My momma heart is worried but I know it'll be OK. G is excited to see how long he can withstand the anesthesia....😅 Whatever keeps him from worrying as well...

Currently Reading

Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker

Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media by Jacob Mchangama

Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science by Sean Kean

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (with G)

Persepolis Rising (The Expanse #7) by James S.A. Correy

Read

Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System that Keeps You Alive by Philipp Dettmer/ 2021 / 368 Pages / Hardcover / Science, Biology

My Thoughts:

Wow! Dettmer is quite the writer. He's an autodidact and those people amaze me. He has a YouTube science channel as well. I learned so much about the immune system and why and how vaccines work and all the different mechanisms of how our immune systems work together and how they fail. I can't recommend this book enough. Clear (ish) and Simple (ish...I mean it's still complex ideas but he knows how to explain for the lay person very well!)

Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse #6) by James S.A. Correy/ 2016/ 536 Pages/ Paperback/ Sci-fi

My Thoughts:

Loved the ending of this story arc. The next three books in the series take place decades in the future and constitute an almost separate trilogy. Exciting and satisfying.

The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn/ 2000/ 384 Pages/ Scribd audiobook/ Historical romance

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this. I ended up reading (OK listening) to the first four books of the series. I liked Quinn's character-building, which you don't always get in historical romances...The duke has a history and it truly takes love to overcome his trauma and grief. Overall, my favorite so far. And I just love the Netflix series.

The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2) by Julia Quinn/ 2000/ 354 Pages/ Scribd audiobook/ Historical romance

My Thoughts:

The second one isn't quite as good as the first one but overall I enjoyed the character development of Anthony and Kate and their similar ideas on taking care of family first and eventually finding a way to do that as well as find love for themselves. A strong love story. But it was hard to read after watching the second season of the TV series! They made Kate so much better! Overall, though, still enjoyable.

An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn/ 2001/ 390 Pages/ Scribd audiobook/ Historical romance

My Thoughts:

Wowser. This one was awful. I love Benedict in the TV series but he's awful in this! Julia Quinn does a retelling of the Cinderella storyline and it does not work at all. Let's just say Benedict uses his station to coerce and blackmail the woman he ends up falling in love with...Basically he kidnaps her as well and stalks her the whole book...yuck. I've heard they are not going to do Benedict's story for the third season...maybe they'll come up with something else for him. Please! I don't know what Quinn was thinking...

Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4) by Julia Quinn/ 2001/ 370 Pages/ Scribd audiobook/ Historical romance

My Thoughts:

I really wanted to get to this one...This is where Pen and Colin finally fall in love! It's not quite as "romantic" as the first two but still very satisfying and I really enjoyed seeing how Colin finally falls in love with Pen who's been pining for him since her youth. Can't wait to see it in the Netflix series as well.

I can only take so much romance so I'm taking a break before I read the last four in the series. I plan on getting to those this summer, though.

Movies Watched:

The mission that changes everything begins...

No Time to Die (2021). Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Starring Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, and Ralph Fiennes.

My Thoughts:

An excellent end to the Daniel Craig series. It's really the only Bond movies I'll watch. Though, I do have a love for the one Timothy Dalton was in back in the day! I love him.

Where will your dreams take you?

Sing 2 (2021). Directed by Garth Jennings. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, and Taron Egerton.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed the first Sing a lot more. The story was better and they had more endearing characters as well. This one was all over the map and two characters were written out which was very disappointing. But not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

When the past lets you in, the truth will come out

Last Night in Soho (2021). Directed by Edgar Wright. Starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this thriller. Quite the fancy psychological thriller. The last fourth of the film was a tad predictable but still really enjoyed this! Praise is well-deserved.

An ancient evil has awoken

The Cellar (2022). Directed by Brendan Muldowney. Starring Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken.

My Thoughts:

I was expecting a bit more from this indie Irish horror. There were some interesting ideas here but the story was slow and when it did get going it was a major let-down. Oh well.

The multiverse unleashed

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Directed by Jon Watts. Starring Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei.

My Thoughts:

Really fun movie. We had a great time catching up again with the Marvel world. And I loved the nod to the other past Spider-Mans...Toby McGuire and Andrew Garfield. I loved the Toby McGuire series so I'm really glad they were able to bring that all together one last time.

The plot was absolutely ridiculous...but overall, I didn't care and just went with it and had fun.

TV Watched:

Currently watching Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+), Moon Knight (Disney+), Life and Beth (Hulu), Slow Horses (Apple TV). Also slowly watching the PBS series on Benjamin Franklin.

Finished the second season of Bridgerton which was lovely. Sometimes you just need a good escape and Bridgerton is lush and gorgeous and I have no shame!

If you have Apple TV watch Severance! Such an interesting show. Check it out.

Watching lots of NBA playoffs as well.

Joining up with Deb from Readerbuzz and her Sunday Salon.

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Cat Thursday: Spring Kitties

We had a very warm weekend and my cats loved it! They got out and got dirty and enjoyed the sun. Then Nala came back in and puked up all the grass she ate...oh, Nala...

May we enjoy the sun as much as these two!

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Cat Thursday -- Stepan Is Safe

Image source @giantcat9 Twitter

Image source Washington Post article

What is happening in Ukraine is devastating. But I was pleased to hear about the cat influencer Stepan. He's OK. His followers were worried when his account on Instagram and TikTok went silent for nearly two weeks. When Stepan and his staff Anna and her two sons were back online, they were safe in France.

It's actually a story on the connected world of influencers. And how many can reach out to their followers to find safe haven. Please check out the whole article.

So happy to see Stepan safe and other cats and animals being rescued during this horrific time.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Week-in-Review: Van Gogh Art Experience, Snow, DH Birthday, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day...

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised at how busy we've been this month. A couple of weeks ago we visited the Van Gogh Art Experience at our local museum and it was amazing! I could sit through multiple experiences of various artists. It really transforms their art and their lives into something beautiful. I had no idea the different types of art Van Gogh produced. And having them tell us about where he was living and what life was like for him through his letters and then showing his art was, yes, definitely an experience. I highly recommend these art experiences. I think more are being produced so I'm excited to come back for other artists.

DH had his 49th birthday last weekend! Whew. Next year is the big 5-0. We kept it pretty simple. We ate out as a family and he wanted Coldstone ice cream cake. This weekend we're keeping the celebration going with friends.

We even made it up into the mountains for a quick overnighter for another friends birthday. Lots of snow up there as well.

A happy post Saint Patrick's Day. We don't do much but I do like to make bangers and mash and soda bread and to wash it all down with some stout!

This last weekend was a goodbye to our neighbors and good friends who are moving on to Florida. I am so, oh so sad but very excited for their new adventure.

We also enjoyed a nice outing with some good friends to a new wine bar. We took the train up and enjoyed a nice relaxing evening trying new wines and enjoying gelato before heading back to our kids. These friends will also be moving in a few months out-of-state 😭

We are looking forward to Spring break in two weeks. It’ll be a stay-cation but looking forward to a few hikes and seeing some local things that we haven’t done because of the pandemic.

G helped make family-style crème brulee

And happy Spring 🌷🌺 Our crocuses and tulips are sprouting!

Currently Reading

Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker

Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media by Jacob Mchangama

Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System that Keeps You Alive by Philipp Dettmer

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science by Sean Kean

Babylon’s Ashes (The Expanse #6) by James S.A. Corey

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

Read

Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth by Rochelle Strauss / 2004 / 40 Pages / Paperback / Science

My Thoughts: This is a lovely nonfiction book for kids. Great illustrations and easy-to-understand definitions and descriptions and ways to help the earth locally.

Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith / 2020/ 60 Pages / Paperback / History

My Thoughts:

Three stories in a graphic novel format about black historical figures in Old West. Great stories and lots of extra information to put the stories into context.

Drive (The Expanse #2.6) by James S.A. Corey / 2012/ 30 Pages / Kindle / Sci-fi

My Thoughts:

Great short story that talks about the origins of the Epstein drive and the man who invented it in The Expanse universe.

Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America by John McWhorter / 2021 / 224 Pages / Hardcover / Nonfiction

My Thoughts:

Interesting thoughts from John McWhorter. I've always enjoyed his books on language as a fellow language nerd. Not his best but still worth the read.

Nemesis Games (The Expanse #5) by James S.A. Corey / 2015 / 536 Pages / Paperback / Sci-fi

My Thoughts:

Another great book in the Expanse series. Really enjoyed diving into the Roci's crew this time around instead of adding new characters and perspectives.

Serafina and the Seven Stars by Robert Beatty / 2019 / 352 Pages / Paperback / Library / Fantasy

My Thoughts:

This is book four of the Serafina series. I read them all with G. Don't know if there will be another in the series. This one did not disappoint.

Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman / 1986 / 159 Pages / Paperback / Graphic Novel / History

My Thoughts:

I've been meaning to read this one for years. So glad I finally got to it. It's a devastating story but also brilliantly told about his father's experience of World War II and surviving the Holocaust. He also draws and writes about grief and trauma and how it continues to influence generations after. Just absolutely brilliant. Please read!

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff / 2011 / 320 Pages / Paperback / Psychology / Self-Help

My Thoughts:

This one took me about 2 1/2 months to read because of how much learning and exercises there are to do! It's a powerful book and one I'll be referencing often. Highly recommended!

Movies Watched:

Witness the bloody origin

The King's Man (2021) (HBO Max and Hulu) Directed and written by Matthew Vaughn. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Harris Dickinson, Djimon Hounsou, and Gemma Arterton.

My Thoughts:

I really liked the first one except for the ending...the second was still interesting...this one was even less so. Meh.

Fresh (2022) (Hulu) Directed by Mimi Cave. Written by Lauryn Kahn. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan.

My Thoughts:

This one premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and I can see why. It's a horrific story which I thought was going to be a bit more comical than horrific. But I still really really enjoyed it even though I doubt I'll ever watch that again. Watch if you are into Indie Horror!

Growing up is a beast

Turning Red (2022) (Disney+) Directed by Domee Shi. Written by Domee Shi, Julia Cho, and Sarah Streicher. Starring: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh

My Thoughts:

We watched this as a family! It was wonderful. We all really enjoyed it. Funny and heartfelt. This one digs into puberty and all the changes that come with it, including what that means for parental relationships and even friendships. Brilliant as always.