MONDAY MUSINGS: INT'L WOMEN'S DAY

To help celebrate International Women's Day NETFLIX decided to  point me in the direction of Women in Focus with shows  with strong women like Just Alice, Bridgerton, The Big C, Nurse Jackie, etc... 

So what did I watch of their list which hadn't I seen nor felt would be different and mindless:  Boyfriend on Demand and when I bored with that series, Rizzoli and Isles. Strong women figuring out how to deal with what life deals them.

When I met Natureman, my partner in crime for 20 years, he really didn't watch TV nor movies. But he read a lot. We're talking about reading at least six books all at once per week.  He had a memory to regurgitate all sorts of facts among his many talents, including his knowledge re: people behavior. 

Natureman commented that my art centered on women.  He was right and subconsciously, my choices did center around women.

Look at what came back with me from my month in Costa Rica. My Tico family's uncle painted me a picture to take home. It just returned from the framer and is now joining all the other women in my abode.

FOTO FRIDAY: FAST OR FAMINE?

FOTO FRIDAY : Fasting for Ramadan or Feasting for Purim or in my case this week in Foreign Films the movie Lion, a powerful story i of a lost young boy who's adopted by an Australian couple and in his 20's goes in search of his biological mother.

Heart-wrenching film but we didn't have to watch it on an empty stomach...                          

                             What a spread!

MIDWEEK MUSINGS & TBT: RELIGIOUS TESTS IN AMERICA

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS & TBT: I posted this 2015 clip 10 years ago and ironically watched the Iranian film Separation today in my film class. Not much has changed...

I will post the 10 yr old video clip by Fareed Zacharias 

RELIGIOUS TESTS IN AMERICA

What hit me hard was our class discussion seemed to center on the cultural differences rather than the film's universality. Ironically, this film was chosen before the U.S. decided to convince Israel to join them in bombing Iran. We should be questioning the reasons why we are there. And how will this affect our Muslim brethren here in our country? Conspiracies? Fear mongering. Moral character?

The lines blur...

tUESDAY tUNES; JOY

tUESDAY tUNES  is one with one of my favorite couples, Ariella & Nickolaas, who will be performing on the 5th at the Continental in Houston. 

If they are ever in your 'hood performing, go treat yourself to some easy listening. This tune was on tiny desks...

.JOY

MONDAY MUSINGS: = SENIOR LEARNING

 Musing about my classes this quarter as I was truant for the beginning  couple of weeks as they started during my volunteering in Costa Rica. Most, fortunately, are not dependent upon previous classes.  Also there was a week wo classes due to ice so the quarter will be extended.

This quarter I registered for :

Socialism: HISTORY and Significance is held mostly on Zoom as our instructor lives in Fayetteville. The course synopsis caught my attention I have shared that Natureman's parents are buried in the Socialist Jewish Cemetery in the Twin Cities. I never met them but I lived with their son who ensured his life would embody their socialist thought in protecting our society's socialist programs. He always pointed out how socialism is misunderstood and scandalized in American politics as does the class...

Travel the World through Film Armchair travel through international films with an instructor who not only acts, but creates her own films.  We will travel to Paraguay, Landfill Harmonic.Japan Departures, France The Chorus, India/ Australia Lion... Last week class participants donned berets and we enjoyed gastronomic learning with baguettes, cheeses, marmelades, madelines, etc ...

Socrates Cafe:Exploring  participant's life questions  in a public, non academic dialogue. Last week's class voted for the discussion question  "What is a friend?" 

On Screen with Philip Martin; a film critic who gives us insight and review of themes, actors and their work in various films/ TV series. 

Leisure Sketching with useful skills and techniques for all drawinglevels. This will be Ken's last class for a while and I will miss his informative, well-planned lessons, handouts, PowerPoint presentations and knowledge. This past week was STILL LIFE and he set up the subject matter for us. 

Line Dancing with a variety of genres: country, pop and classics. This class is a terrific way to exercise both the mind and body. It gives my cowboy boots a workout.

LifeQuest is so blessed with teachers who love their subject matter. New brochures arrived for the next quarter. It's wonderful to have the time to participate and learn with seniors 52+ and make new friends too!

FOTO FRIDAY: SOMETHING NEW IN 'DA KITCHEN

 

FOTO FRIDAY: You never know what might come home in your suitcase as a memory but after having eaten GALLO PINTO, dirty rice, the Costa Rican daily staple almost once a day. It now is part of where I spend a lot of time -my kitchen.

TBT: DEJA VU?

TBT: Three years ago this was my den scene. Fast forward to 2026, and the tax papers are again strewn on the floor, but on a different rug in front of a red leather couch. 

This year, there's another difference as I have to drop the papers in a 'portal' for my accountant. My scanner is being fickle, and I'm super frustrated and ready to throw in the towel. 

Then, wouldn't you know my financial advisor also decided to go out on his own in December, meaning he and his people no longer have access with the info re: stock gifts I made last year.  You know like : number of shares and company. So I am yearning  for yesteryear when it was so much easier...  I have some legwork to do.

It's one of those weeks... I am super thankful my plumber made it out to fix the faucet that burst while I was away!

Never a dull moment!