Monday, February 13, 2017

Things That Make Me Happy

1.



2. That the Ninth Circuit Court did the right thing. Perhaps it's the courts that will save us.

3. This thrills me every time. 


4. That it is possible to create a TV show about spirituality that is neither saccharine nor disrespectful. Just brilliant. Every episode made me cry--in a good way. And every character had times of grace notes and moments of frailty.


5.That it is possible to meet a couple late in life that feel like home. Arnold and Elaine Shifman.

6.
Well, not happy in the traditional sense, but happy that his words and voice have been captured on this bracing film. Not easy to watch but watch we must.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like that approach to staying positive and balanced during these times, Patti. And like your list, too.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Just proving yet again that we all have different tastes, Jackie watched the first season of RECTIFY but found it totally depressing without any likable characters.

I'm happy you are enjoying your new neighborhood so much and have met like-minded people. That's a good thing at any age.

LION was a highlight of this week, despite certain faults. Also, even though I wasn't really thrilled with ROGUE ONE, I loved, loved, loved the newly renovated theater we saw it in, with individual plush leather seats. The movie was good but not great.

And I read three more books and a lot of short stories.

And even though Jackie is still not at her best, being in Florida in the 70s is SO much better than dealing with 10 inches of snow at home.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Every character in RECTIFY becomes likable over time although Phil never saw its charm either. Yes Lion became very ordinary in the middle. Often happens with stories based on fact, doesn't it? We were disappointed in ROGUE ONE too. Too much like every other SW movie.

Diane Kelley said...

I'm happy Melissa McCarthy continues to portray Sean Spicer on SNL. Of course, knowing Trump, those performances might cost Spicer his job!

James Reasoner said...

I helped run a high school math and science competition on Saturday. It's always great to be around smart kids who are passionate about learning and achieving. Also, I found an author I hadn't read before whose work I'm enjoying, and I can always use more of those.

pattinase (abbott) said...

What a great thing to do, James. I remember those competitions well. New authors are great.
Wasn't Melissa great! I think it was better than the first one although I was afraid that actress' face was coming off with the leaf blower!

Gerard said...

Saturday was a nice day. The weather was warm enough to walk the dog a couple miles. We finally took Boy #2 to his choice for a birthday meal after we were iced out in January.

My wife and Boy #2 then went to the Cat Cafe (http://themadcatcafe.com/) - which is one of his absolute favorite places - in Madison while Boy #1 and I drove to an REI store to look at camping stuff.

After a Trader's Joe visit and several mini-cups of free coffee we came home to find out neighbor had gifted us some beer as thanks for letting them park their VW-still-awaiting-buyback car in our driveway for the past few weeks.

Charles Gramlich said...

Gonna have to check out a couple of these.

Steve Oerkfitz said...

There were some great space battle sequences in ROGUE ONE, i thought thats what Star Wars movies were supposed to be all about ! ! !.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Nice family life, Gerard. Makes me feel good.
I don't know, Steve. Seems like they good shake it up a bit. Maybe have more humor, more dialogue.

Rick Robinson said...

Things that made me happy this past week:
- the sunshine, and temperatures into the 50s.
- A pair of Varied Thrushes have been visiting out yard and feeders. Beautiful birds!
- That you, Patti, continue to do Friday Forgotten Books
- Reading some Hemingway short stories
- Watching Grantchester episodes from Netflix.
- Yesterday, Girl Scout cookies arrived. Yum.

Rick Ollerman said...

I avoid politics like the plague. Yes, there is a political class and they are not mine. Either I've failed the republic or it has failed people like me.

On the subject of "Rectify," I think you're spot on, Patti. That show hurts, sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but it cuts deeply and there need to be more episodes out there instantly. TV, movies, books, music--anything that can make you feel that deeply is a powerful, powerful thing. In a collaborative art like filmmaking it almost seems a miracle that they can pull a show like "Rectify" out of a hat.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I would like to avoid them but am married to a political scientist whose specialty was the Presidency. Everyone I know is hypterpolitical. I never get away from it.
RECTIFY takes a lot of patience. I know that. But it has a spirituality that I have never seen on TV before. It gives its characters time to evolve, time to mistakes and time to "rectify" them.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I think I have seen all the Granchesters, Rick. Too bad. It has been quite sunny and mild here too. I don't know my birds despite having had a close friend who knew them all. Shame on me because she moved.

Jerry House said...

1 - Remembering The Smothers Brothers Comedy hour on its 50th anniversary
2 - That I still can laugh at the sad antics of the new administration instead of cowering in fear. (Although I may soon reach a tipping point.)
3 - Speaking of cowering, the new dog (whom I suspect may have been mistreating) no longer trembles when I hold her.
4. THE WALKING DEAD is back -- and none of the gang was killed last night!
5. Sunsets. I love them!

Jeff Meyerson said...

I've found the recent British series set in the 1950s (some appropriate to the original material, many not) to be not to my liking. It's my problem, no one else's, but I disliked the recent Father Brown series a lot. I don't like Grantchester either, and couldn't watch Tommy & Tuppence. Maybe it's the awful clothes, I don't know.

As I said, it's me.

The whole Negan thing made me quit THE WALKING DEAD, and even though I did watch last night I don't know how much longer I will watch unless they kill him quickly.

Steve Oerkfitz said...

That comment about Rogue One at 1:16 is not mine. I didn't even see the movie.

Seeing some sun and temps over 40 in Michigan is nice.
Spring Training is starting meaning baseball is not far away.

Have to check out Rectify-never watched it because for some strange reason Sundance is not Hd from Comcast.
Gave up on Walking Dead in the middle of the third season. Too many annoying characters such as the son.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Re #3 - Jackie just bought a "Starry Nights" Kindle cover, which will be delivered here in two days.