Review - Hotel California by Eagles (1976)

Hotel California by Eagles (1976)

I decided that one of the things I'd like to do for this blog was to have something like a memory lane for the music, movies, shows, books, etc that meant something to me throughout my lifetime.  Well after a bit of thought, I figured that I might take a look and a listen to things I've loved (or fucking hated) to feel if there was a different take on it for me now that I'm creeping up on a half-century of life (holy fuck!).  One of the obvious choices for me was Hotel California by Eagles.  (The Eagles?  Eagles?)  

On my way to work, on my lunch break and on my way home, I really listened to the entire album.  I don't think I've listened to it straight through ever before today.  You can't not know all the songs.  But I don't remember hearing them in the order they're in on the album. I may have since it was one of my mom's favs.  But definitely the first time on my own, on purpose.  I really did like all of it.  Not a snoozer among the songs.  You can't listen to Hotel California and not get almost a movie in your mind as you follow along with the lyrics and the melody.  They did a really remarkable job there.  Total visual in your mind with nothing to go on but Henley's lyrics and Felder's melody.  

Overall, you won't regret listening to this classic from beginning to end.  I noticed the songs don't really seem like they should blend in and out of each other as well as they do but somehow it works.  I don't pretend to know how musicians know about these things.  I grew up listening to the album and remember the 33 sitting in its sleeve on my parents' record player in our living room.  

But the one surprise was the last song on side A - Wasted Time.  It really hit home for me.  I felt like I was listening to my own internal struggle on if I'm really happy with my life, settling for my life, and if there's time (and energy) to keep striving for new things.  Wasted Time is a must listen!!!  Don Henley captures a much more soulful performance compared to the rest of the album.  I'd even push to say his vocals are a much better example of his abilities compared to any other songs I've heard from him.  I felt the song.  

Give it a listen.  Let me know what you think.  Any favorites?  

My take?  5 shots out of 5! 

Things to Think on ~ May 18, 2020

I was planning to do these quotes daily.  But I think I want to hold on to each one for at least a week.  Maybe these are little lessons that can help me more if I let them marinate.....

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.  The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world."  ~ John Burroughs 

Who is John Burroughs?

Via Wikipedia ~ John Burroughs (April 3, 1837 – March 29, 1921) was an American naturalist and nature essayist, active in the U.S. conservation movement.^[1] The first of his essay collections was Wake-Robin in 1871.

In the words of his biographer Edward Renehan, Burroughs' special identity was less that of a scientific naturalist than that of "a literary naturalist with a duty to record his own unique perceptions of the natural world." The result was a body of work whose resonance with the tone of its cultural moment explains both its popularity at that time, and its relative obscurity since.^[2]

Daily Quote - May 11, 2020

I cannot count the number of times I have been strengthened by another's heartfelt hug, appreciative note, surprise gift, or caring questions....

My friends are an oasis to me, encouraging me to go on.  They are essential to my well-being.

~ Dee Brestin

SlimPossible 226.7 lbs - May 10, 2020

I'm trying to keep myself positive.  But so many starts and stops on this weight loss journey are upsetting me.  I know exactly what to do except how to get out of my own way.  The only thing I can do is worry about today and plan for tomorrow because I have a dental appointment coming up.  Today is Sunday, May 10 and it's Mother's Day.  I didn't do much today because I let myself have today to do nothing.  I definitely earned this.  I felt guilty about it this afternoon, but that's because I know I could be doing better for myself.  It's about 9pm now and I'm ok with letting myself have an easy day. 

I took these photos below about 3 weeks or so ago.  My weight was 226.7 lbs.  I've lost about 3 lbs since then.  Not a huge loss but at least the scale is going in a direction I'm ok with for the moment.  LOL, I just noticed my face in the forward picture......gee I was a happy camper in that one.  LOL

Tomorrow, I'm going into work a bit early because I have to leave for an emergency dental appointment (cracked tooth ~ aaaggghhhh).  So I will either not be working out tomorrow or if I'm up for it, I'll at least walk home if I make it back to work.  It's kind of up in the air right now.   The worst-case scenario is I'll hit the exercise bike if my head doesn't explode in pain. 

I would normally have my food worked out for tomorrow but again, this is a dental thing so I'm just not quite sure what I should be doing and not doing.  I did work out a few smoothie and protein shake drinks to keep me going in addition to water and my beloved morning coffee.  I guess we'll see how it goes. 

I'll keep you posted......I'm not planning for Tuesday until tomorrow when I see how I'm feeling.  I will do my best to get my 30 minutes of exercise in for the day.  What are your plans for this week? 

Healthy Living Update #1

I'm very much still struggling with the snacking and the workouts.  Today, I did my workout (upper body and core) via FitnessBlender.com's free YouTube channel called Kelli's Abs and Upper Body Strength Training Workout - Chest, Back, Arms and Abs Superset Workout.  (I think I just got a mini-workout typing that title.)

Yesterday, I snacked pretty much all day without eating any meals.  I justified it in my mind that I wasn't consuming any other calories so I could do this without hurting my goals.  Lies, lies, lies.

I don't know why I do this.  It's like I'm a child hiding my candy bar in my room.  I hide my eating all the time.  I fight myself from and for snacking daily.  I don't eat my veggies while getting on my kids backs about them not eating healthy. 

For the rest of the day, I will be better.  I will do better than yesterday.

Anyway, today's workout is done.  I even got a badge from my Apple watch for it!  Woo Hoo!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Review: Don't F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer by Netflix

Review:  Don't F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer by Netflix

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Premiering today, December 18, on Netflix is a 3 episode long documentary on the hunt for the murderer of Jun Lin.  While the documentary is completely fascinating and keeps you at the edge of your seat, there's an interview near the end of episode 3 with Jun Lin's best friend, Dong Dong Xu, which is what stuck with me the most. "The really sad thing is talking about "the killer" and nobody has ever remembered Jun Lin.  Doesn't seem fair at all to my friend.  He doesn't deserve that.  "The killer" didn't just kill a person...but also destroyed an entire family's hope.  People don't understand.  In the Chinese culture, it's always the son that carries the responsibility to take care of the parents...when they.....when they become old.  Now it's gone.  And it's not fair."  He is, of course, absolutely correct.  We don't remember the names of the victims.  Just the killers.  Maybe remembering the victims is more frightening.  Maybe concentrating on the killers and those details about those killers will give us enough information to avoid becoming a victim ourselves.  I'm not sure why we don't concentrate on the victims more. 

So yes, I'm writing this review on the story of a killer.  A killer who took the life of Jun Lin.  Out of respect to Jun Lin, I'll not use any names or likeness of the killer. 

Jun Lin's father, Darrin Lin, crying at his son's funeral. 

This film shows the craziness of the details that not only the killer was following in his crime spree but also how regular people using the internet were able to track him down.  I've never seen anything like this before and I pray it's never repeated.  The documentary is filmed in what is really a timeline of events as it unfolded.  It's done very well.  I'd already been aware of the case and the outcome.  But the film really "took me there" if you get my meaning.  It keeps you tied to your seat.  Watching for the 3 hours it took, it was worth it to stay in that loop. 

Many animal rights activists seeing the first videos of the killer torturing and killing kittens is what started this in the first place.  But even those people question how their actions could be said to have stopped this killer............or did they push him into killing?  This delves into their actions and conversations with each other.  It tells of their ordeal with trying to get the police to understand what they were seeing. 

The police didn't listen to these activists.  It may or may not have had any change in what went down.  But I do try to think about how many hoaxes, lies, and bullshit calls they have to deal with on a day to day basis in addition to the real calls.  Real calls about real shit.  And real calls about real bullshit.  Once they were aware, they really were able to do the impossible and find him.  Even that seems like a thriller of a movie plot and less like a real-life case. 

Mom of the killer.................she's wrapped up in his lies.  She believes what he says.  I get where she's coming from.  It's hard to believe the worst is possible about our children without reflecting on how we must have contributed to that personally.  How did I as his mom fuck him up so bad that he became a murderer?  What did I do wrong?  How am I responsible?  At some point, she's going to have to accept it what he's done......or maybe she won't.  She's another victim but she's not really aware of it and it's very clearly conveyed in the film. 

The film left me feeling like we should all be doing more.  This now feels like a mission we should all be in on, helping to solve more crimes when we can instead of expecting the police to do it all.  It's our duty to ourselves, our families, communities, etc. 

Jun Lin and his amazing smile!  RIP

Here's the trailer for the documentary. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x41SMm-9-i4

I give this 3.8 out of 5 stars. 

R Kelly: Famous to Infamous

I didn't want to watch this docu-series from Lifetime on R&B legend R. Kelly at all.  So many women have come forward for years and many of us did nothing but support him by listening to his music.  Nothing to get them their justice, nothing to prevent it from happening again.  We just kept supporting his lifestyle of abusing and using girls and young women by continuing to listen and purchase his music.  That funded his actions.  We gave him the money to keep abusing our sisters, our friends. 

This past weekend, he was brought up on even more charges.  There's really not much to say on this.  It's all been said.  His supporters will continue to say he could never do this.  They won't believe some girl they don't know.  But they'll believe a celebrity they don't know, either.  It's fucked up.  Stop throwing away these girls and young women. 

All R Kelly music that pops up in my timelines........fuck you, you lil prick.  Thumbs down!

No Avocados and Tequila!!!!!!!!!!

So the orange one is threatening to shut down the border between the USA and Mexico.  If that happens, where will you get your next shot of Tequila?  No more avocado toast for you folks that live on that for your breakfast each morning.  Apparently, nearly 50% of all vegetables bought in the USA are imported from Mexico, as well as nearly 40% of fruits.  This would include almost 100% of avocados as California's crops won't be ready for another month or so.

Supposedly, we would run through our current inventory within 3 weeks.  If this happens, I'll be running to buy up all the tequila so it'll be more like 2 weeks.  OMG, I might be able to make a lot of money if this happens...........hmmmmmm.

I mean, I guess I already knew he was an asshole..............but if I can't have a margarita because he continues to spill his lies and racist tirades to his shit-porters (see shitty supporters) someone is gonna be very unhappy when I can't get my chill on properly.

Joking aside, he's setting up businesses on both sides of the border to fail.  There are tons of restaurants, grocery chains, suppliers, truck drivers, etc that are involved in this production.  He's a not thinking it's what we need.........he's thinking it's what his supporters want to hear - WE'RE NOT GONNA LET ANYMORE BROWN PEOPLE HERE IN OUR LILLY WHITE COUNTRY.

Now the next step for them is how to keep enough brown people here to do the work the LW's don't want to do but still get rid of the excess brown people they don't want living here.  To live in that sort of ignorant mind..............the hardest part of their day is trying to figure out how to explain they're not racist when they really are.

Netflix Original - Ellen Degeneres Relatable (2018) Review

No Spoilers!!!

In her first stand up routine in 15 years, Ellen Degeneres hooks up with Netflix in this new original that was filmed live in Seattle, Washington. Ellen (who will be celebrating her 61st birthday next month) began her career in the early 1980’s doing stand up in her hometown, New Orleans, before touring the country and being named Showtime’s funniest person in the country (1984).

You can’t help but admire Ellen’s approach to her audience as she comes out on stage dressed COMFORTABLY! Black sweatshirt, black loose pants and white sneakers. One of my personal pet peeves with many performers is how many of them just look so uncomfortable in these outfits they need to wear for fans or themselves. I get it, but it is nice to see a woman comfortable in her own skin……..not to mention not really trying to worry about what others might think of her choice of attire.

She touches on many topics in her routine showing how we’re all relatable to each other. Definitely of a few moments where it just seemed like ‘eh, whatever’. But overall, I was glad to watch this. There was enough personal moments of her sharing her life, her views and who she is to make you feel as though you know her a bit better than you did before. Her favorite joke is also now my favorite joke, just very sweet.

I was ready to do a solid 3.5 shots out of 5. Her favorite joke and the way she closed her show topped it over to  4 shots.

At the end of this………...she made me cry. She’s a strong person and has undoubtedly inspired others to come out. Listen to her story about the finch. We’re all that finch at some point in our lives. Be who you are…….give yourself that gift. Whatever your gift is, unwrap it and live it the best way you can.

Film Review - Vice 2018 (Spoilers and Commentary Ahead)

FYI - all of my reviews are done while watching the movie........sort of a play by play. I think my reviews are more about the story and less about the movie.  I'll try to keep that in mind going forward.

Vice (2018) stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry, Alison Pill and Jesse Plemons.  Bale plays the main character, former Vice President and all around asshole who shoots his friends, Dick Cheney.  

Gotta love a movie that starts off with this as the first thing you read:  The following is a true story. Or as true as it can be given that Dick Cheney is known as one of the most secretive leaders in history.  But we did our fucking best.

The movie kicks off going from a drunk Dick being pulled over by a cop early in his life to the day 9/11 happened.  

10:00 into the movie - From this viewpoint, I can now blame Lynne Cheney for everything that happens.  Or so it seems. I love a stand-up, take charge woman who isn't afraid of anything more than living the shitty life she's already living enough to stand her ground and kick the ass of those not living up to their own potential.  And she's well aware of the status of the world on why she's unable to achieve her goals herself as a woman..........so she'll build on this man she has.

Oohhh, another screen quote:  Beware the quiet man. For while others speak, he watches.  And while others act, he plans. And when they finally rest...he strikes. - Anonymous

20:00 into the movie - No windows but he has an office after working with Rumsfeld for a bit.  Steve Carell playing Donald Rumsfeld gives Rumsfeld more personality that I gave him credit for.  

OMG I didn't know that Lynne's mom was murdered!  Wow! To witness all of that as a child, then deal with no justice for her mom as an adult.....that's a lot.  It really really explains so much about who she became.

I should be writing the review but this trip through history is interesting. I'm also losing interest in the very boring personality belongs to Dick.  

40:50 into the movie - Once upon A Time.......there was Ronald Reagan.  Reaganomics, Mr. T, trump,

Paused the movie to use the bathroom and had these two thoughts.  #1 - Pausing a story on Dick Cheney to shit seems very appropriate.  #2 - we're at a scene where he's just had a heart attack. As someone who doesn't necessarily believe in a god, maybe that's his god trying to tell him to use that heart of his for more than just beating.  

At no point in this movie (mind you, I don't know how accurate it is) do I feel like he loves this country.  He and Lynne obviously love each other but it feels more to be the passion to be in charge of the place they happened to live.  

Oh wow, big turn just now in seeing how he feels about his daughter when she comes out of the closet.  He chose his daughter. That's a good dad moment!

Wait?  We're 49 minutes in and the information on the screen is saying that they gave up politics for the sake of their daughter, raised golden retrievers and lived happily ever after......followed by the credits for the movie?  There's still an hour to go.

I'm guessing that ^^^ would have been the decent, human with more than a beating heart would do.  

It's very weird that I always had this view of George W Bush of a silly, normal everyday guy with a well-connected family pushing him to be more than he actually wanted to be.  

This feels more like a documentary than a movie.  The acting thus far is only so-so. The movie seems boring but then it might just be the subject is boring and not the fault of the movie.  

There's a narrator throughout the movie.......at this point, curiosity got the better of me and I Googled it to avoid the moment of Lynn and Dick kissing in bed.  My heart was filled with fear, I didn't want to see this at all. Mercifully, it was exceedingly brief. The reveal of who the narrator is will probably go down as my favorite piece of this movie.  Genius. Pure genius. I will NOT reveal it in this review. Gotta keep something in the movie for you to be surprised by. However, I did add it as a link out......click where it says narrator and it'll link out to reveal that information.  

Ok, back to his daughter, Mary.  He really does love his daughter.  It's obvious he supports her.

While I am finding the movie boring, I love information.  Any information. So this information and the details of things I thought I knew (but didn't really) about that time in our history has been very eye-opening.  

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  1:50:00 into the movie - OBAMA IS PRESIDENT!!!!  

This old Dick was likely put ahead of thousands of others who were younger, healthier and MORE deserving of a heart transplant than this man on a purely physical/health level.  

1:59:03 into the movie - another bit of information to read on screen - Lynne and Dick split time between their homes in Wyoming and Virginia.  In 2016, Liz was elected as Wyoming's sole delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Mary Cheney was asked in 2015 whether she and Liz had mended their relationship.  She replied, " I don't have to answer that". So it's apparent that in this family, personal careers come before family. What a sad fucking existence. thank goodness there's only 12 minutes left.

1:59:32 into the movie - shocker - more info to read on screen - 4,550 US soldiers were killed in the Iraq War with over 32,325 casualties.  Suicide among American service members has increased by 31% since 2001. More than 600,000 Iraqi civilians died as a result of the war. ISIS is responsible for an estimated 150,000 civilians in Syria and Iraq with more than 2,000 murdered in international terror attacks.  Who is responsible for these numbers. Cheney by his manipulation and Bush by his head in the sand during?

2:02:00 into the movie - I'll just let you read it yourself when it comes on the screen but just note there's another information bit.  Let's just say any republican pissed off about HC's emails should study this screen for one hour and then give a reason as to why this is ok.  

My take away from this movie - fear anyone that wants to be president and all the people around them.  It's been hard to write a review for this and keep my personal opinions out of it. I apologize for any offensiveness (kind of) if you only wanted a review of the movie.  The movie itself is interesting, enlightening and depressing. I think that's what they wanted it to be so job well done. The acting was ok, but all the attention Christian Bale has received is well earned.  

3 shots out of 5.  Although this movie did make me wish I had a lot of more liquor.  

Film Review - Black Panther 2018 (Spoilers and Commentary Ahead)

FYI - all of my reviews are done while watching the movie........sort of a play by play.  Beware of opinions that probably don't matter to the quality of the movie.  I just can't keep my opinions to myself.  And remember, the shorter the review, the more into the movie I probably was.  LOL read on McDuff. 

The intro was way different than I had expected, although I don't know what I was going to expect anyway.  From Wakanda to Oakland to Nigeria to Wakanda.  

The cinematography is fucking amazing.  It shows the beauty of Africa.  

You've gotta love how this showcases the strength of black women.  That they are shown to be warriors is how we all want to be seen.  Strong, valued, intelligent, capable and competent.  

How do I get Lynn Whitfield to be my mom?  

27:36 into the movie - Prince T'Challa ceremony to be king has brought a challenger wishing to keep him from the throne.  This fight will be to the death or yield.  I'm amazed again at the cinematography.  The ledges of people in beautiful garments surrounding by the natural beauty of the waterfall and landscape make you really appreciate what most of us never get to live with in our daily existence.  

It's great to see how they show these individual tribes are still doing their own thing, maintaining who they each are and respecting each tribes' right to be who they are.......all while maintaining Wakanda.  Oh that the rest of the world could be this way.  

OMG his father's death!  It's really something to see him buried alive while showing the death of his father, King T'Chaka.  Now he's in heaven, but he's alive.  This low key feels like the Lion King.  Awwww his dad! 

This entire South Korea scene is a really good action sequence.  Lots of fighting, lots of great choreography.  They did a wonderful job on this. Incredible camera work.   

So the King is a murderer?  Of his own brother?  Wow!

In reality, (can I say that in a completely made up story) this is the story of a son fixing the mistakes made by his father.  This is a story of family, heritage and protecting the future while making it easier for those not considered equal.  

Favorite Quote:  "Bury me in the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage."  This is also the saddest quote ever. 

The score is over the top and fits perfectly.  It pulls me through each scene keeping me on the edge of my seat.  

I'm so much more impressed with the women of Wakanda than I am with Black Panther.  

I stepped away from this review for a little bit to let it marinate.  I wasn't overly impressed with the movie itself.  But in thinking it over, I'm impressed by the story, the amazing revelation of what a nation such as Wakanda could teach the world.......bringing the world to its knees in science, in faith in mankind and in the lesson that selfishness has ruled us for too long.  The lesson that people of color can be the teachers and professors in a world that's peaceful because of their knowledge and experience.

4 shots out of 5 for Black Panther