Bird House Days

 

"An hour in nature, prevents a year in the hospital."

~Abhijit Naskar, 

Yarasistan: My Wounds, My Crown

Hubby and I got in the car, pointed it toward the Cosumnes River Preserve wetlands walk, and took a long walk around, just looking at all the birds in the tress and birdhouses, and it was glorious! Just a couple hours of listening to the sound of about 40 different birds, or so, was enough to make my achy body feel better. I unclenched my fists, and concentrated on different angles with my camera, and depth of field shots. This one is not perfect, by any stretch, it just made me happy to try to feel better. Little forward steps. But boy oh boy is that first step forward a difficult one. Depression sucks, but I know with some effort I can move past it toward light and hope. Like with this photograph, I will get perfect this shot as the year moves on, and that's a good thing to look forward to, but if I don't strive for the perfect shot, this scene with remain forever in mediocrity. Who wants that?

Living Life La Vida Tippy-Top

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;

 and I am not sure about the universe."

~ Albert Einstein

Well That Was Embarrassing!

He did it again. 

He opened his mouth, and the stupid vomited out. 

The look on, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's, face, says it all! I think this incident might just be more embarrassing then the time, Volodymry Zelenskyy, was told he wasn't grateful enough, and followed it with a rabid journalist/podcaster/whatever telling Zelenskyy he wasn't dressed appropriately for a visit to the White House!

 Sigh. 

Welcome to the first day of Spring!

"The earth laughs in flowers."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here's an article with video, which runs a bit longer.

 Read The New York Times Article Here. 

This article and video is where he uses the words,

 "tippy-top."

Spring begins at 10:46 am Eastern Time

It's The Last Full Day Of Winter

 

"Not reassuring when the weatherman say, 

'Today will be terrible, but don't worry, it won't be as terrible as tomorrow or Friday."

~Jonah Goldberg

Today is the last full day of winter. Can you believe it? As of tomorrow afternoon, it will only take one more season to get me to autumn again! All the comforts are awaiting. Cozy sweaters. Hot chocolate. Amazing holidays. The midterm elections! I am giddy thinking about it! But first I have to get through the next 6 months! The very half of the year I despise the most. Spring and Summer. Look at those temperatures! It's been super hot the last few days, which I could live without! And there is no real end in sight. We are breaking temperatures in Northern California every day! There's just something rude about Summer temperatures just walking all over Spring to deliver days so hot you can't even think. The last full day of winter should have it's last bow in peace. Don't you think?

Now That Everything's Been Said

 

"Music gives a soul to the universe,

 wings to the mind,

 flight to the imagination

 and life to everything."

~Plato

When I was a little girl, I loved the Mod Squad, and I still do to this day! I mean, how groovy were they? My neighbors lovie that show too. I can remember sitting outside, on an especially hot night in August, listening to my friend's parents discussing trivial things. Grown up trivia. But when they began talking movies and tv shows, my ears perked up! I was really curious about what they watched and why! My friend Wendy had some chic parents, at least by my reasoning as an 7 year old. Mrs. Greg lived for the Mod Squad, and she was miserable that she couldn't just survive the house to watch it. No air-conditioner, meant you toughed it out inside, or took it outside, even if it was still blistering hot at 10:00 pm! I don't why that memory is so sealed in my mind, but it is. I guess it's just one of life's mysteries, what you remember and what you don't. Anyway, years later I bought the full series on DVD for hubby, because he had never seen the show! Can you believe it? So, if you are like darling hubby and you have never seen the amazing hip coolness, of the Mod Squad, here is a particularly wonderful clip of Peggy Lipton, from 1969, singing, Now That's Everything's Been Said, by Carole King. It's truly wonderful. It's peaceful. We need that right now. I need that right now. And the nostalgic feeling and memories it brings up aren't bad either.

Carole King

Now That Everything's Been Said

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... A Perfect Murder

 

"You steal the crown jewel of a man's soul,

 and your only excuse is some candy-ass Hallmark card sentiment?"

~Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas)

~A Perfect Murder

Here I go again. I am a purest when it comes to movies, and a remake is rarely done as well as the original, especially when the original is an Alfred Hitchcock film, but, A Perfect Murder, which is based on, Dial M For Murder, modernizes the story appropriately. That being said, there's something lacking, there's something that just doesn't resonate with me. Despite this movie's superior cast, perhaps it might be the chemistry between the actors? I am not sure, but don't get me wrong, while it seems I am being negative toward the film, I am not. I really liked this version of the classic, film. It's another great movie to curl up with on a Saturday afternoon, when all you want to do is shake off the world. I am grateful for movies like that, and you can count on me suggesting more movies that fit that bill as the year marches on. This movie has Viggo Mortenson, who makes my heart go pitty-patty with every syllable he takes. Michael Douglas who brings the sinister, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who brings more then one emotion to the story, in subtle and nuanced ways, is fun to watch, and did I mention, Viggo Mortensen? Sexy. It's worth watching for the elegance that the movie gets right, and the way it modernizes the tale, while paying respect to the original film. But worth noting, if you have never seen the original movie, give it a watch, and compare the two for yourself. I'm a picky cinephile, and even I know there's a lot like about this movie!

This film is worth watching!

Mondays, Magpies, And The DMV

 

"Hell is not other people, hell is the DMV."

~Unknown

Actually, I kinda think Hell is both other people AND the DMV. I have to be there in a little while, because it seems that my new license plates have not arrived, and it's been nearly a month! The dealership said it would be in a couple weeks. Sigh. You know how things work, it's a Monday, and I am going to the DMV so that means by the time I get home, the plates will be in the mailbox.

I will report back later on how it all went. 

In the meantime, enjoy these Yellow-billed Magpie photos!

The Swag Bag Hag

This year's Oscars Swag Bag is worth over $350,000! And I hate most of what's in it! I mean I'll take the exclusive Artic villa getaway, but what were they thinking with the Prenups? I kid you not, prenuptial agreements from, Trusted Prenups! Is that cynical or what? I'd love to have the tea and chocolate deliciousness though. I am sure this stuff comes in handy to the glamourous, like you and me, but the grateful and secure person that I am will just stay down here in the "extra's call room." On the other hand, if I could customize my dream swag bag, it would contain the following items.

My Dream Swag Bag

1. 10 days stay at the Hotel Le Negresco

With Learn French in France lessons at Centre International D' Antibes

2. A BMW 24 MA40i in San Francisco Metallic

3. Magnolia Bakery "Best Of New York" cupcakes

4. "Tiffany Hardware" watch in Tiffany Blue

5. Amish Popcorn from Williams Sonoma

6. Patricia Green Slippers 

7. 10 Days stay at the Four Seasons Hotel and Spa in Calistoga, Ca

8. !0 Days at the Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, Ca

9. Funko worth $500

10. Omaha Steaks $500

11. Z Chocolate French Macarons

12. $500 at Purr & Company

12. $500 at Ghirardelli Chocolate

13. Pumpkin Pecan Butter from Harry & David

10 Days stay at the. Royal Lancaster London

Hyde Park Suite

11. 10 Days Stay at the Hawthorn Hotel, Salem Massachusetts. 

In October

12. $2,000.00 at Barnes & Nobel

13. Dior Medium Book Tote In Green Floral

14. Christian Dior Poison Set

all versions in the Poison range

15. Lancôme Absolute Longevity Facial Cream

And that's it!

 I know, I know, it's a wee bit unreasonable. Expensive. But if I am going to get a retroactive Oscar for the two movies I starred as an extra in, or the Woody Allen movie my car starred in, then why not dream BIG! As you might gather from my choices, I need a vacation. I really wish I could just have a few days in an amazing hotel, with all the wonderful perks available, but I could settle for a stay at Extended Stay America, and all I need is Uber Eats and a book by the pool.

Maybe One Day/Someday

Okay, I got the dress. I got the snacks. I got the beverages.

I got the ballots, and I am ready to have a little fun.

Are you watching too?