All posts filed under: entertainment

Virtual Travel To Ireland

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Do you select a film to watch based on location? Let me clarify. I understand selecting a movie to watch is normally based upon genre, actors as well as the story line. But do you ever search for films based on location? I do and last night it was all about Ireland. You see, I haven’t been to Ireland and it is one destination that I put on my list of destinations to visit in 2020. And we know what happened to the world as we once knew it. So until I feel safe enough to travel, films on location will simply have to do. Finding You – based on a novel by Jenny B Jones is certainly worth seeing for a virtual tour of some of the most beautiful countryside in Ireland. I found myself swooning over the breathtaking scenery and the small towns along the way. The storyline was also interesting as it touched upon connections between generations and the ways of thinking and living. Shattered dreams, broken hearts, funny moments and some …

TV Show Recommend

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What are you watching on television these days? I normally list a handful of film recommends here for consideration or my recommendation. But The Chair requires a post of its own. Best show I stumbled upon on Netflix two nights ago was The Chair. And sadly with only six episodes (for season 1 – here’s to hoping for more) the series managed to deliver a wonderfully written story based around so many modern day topics. With a great cast, and perfect storytelling, we are introduced to… Single-mother attempting to do it all on her own for an adopted child who naturally hates her. Empty-nester syndrome. University life not so much based around the students (yet) but more of the faculty challenges in keeping up with the times. Power struggles as always in any story. There’s Color issues, gender issues and much more introduced in every 30-minute episode. I could not ask for a better distraction right about now. Thank you Amanda Peet! Can’t wait for season 2 (hopefully) {featured image source here}

What’s On Our Minds Lately

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As I stood in front of the cashier at Trader Joe’s (national chain grocery store) yesterday waiting for him to scan my groceries, he asked how my day was going. I was used to the question. It is one all of the friendly TJ cashiers ask. I told him it was fine. He then noticed the bouquet of flowers in my cart, and asked if they were for me or a gift for someone else. I told him it was a little of both. Some for my home-office desk (a ritual I started when we were only allowed to shop for essentials), and the rest for my mother. He then asked what line of work I was in. I told him. And he told me he was laid off last year, but was glad to be working again. One topic led to the next, and somehow we ended up exchanging opinions about the toll the pandemic has had on society and the eagerness to get back to ‘whatever normal was’. He asked if I was …

Interesting Articles From Around The World

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I woke up this morning feeling hopeful that I didn’t have to sit in darkness all day while I worked – along with many others around California and other parts of the world on fire currently.  Yet I stayed in bed for a while, thinking about how to proceed with my day.  Meaning, I have many projects to muddle through – work and my three novels currently in revision and edits –  and I am trying to figure out – in what order. Then I thumbed through Instagram, which I normally do and then did a bit of coloring on a paint by numbers app on my phone – all while thinking and pondering and contemplating about the future of social media, this platform and others having us tied to our cell phones as if our life depended on it – and well – it actually does. And this happened: Which then led to this interesting take:  But I couldn’t get enough – so I dove an article on what makes a good person:   And …

What Are Your Plans This Weekend

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The air quality near San Francisco is deemed very unhealthy this morning, seems almost overnight new fires have sparked or spread. Since by Thursday morning we were able to breathe a little, but throughout the night it became unbearable once again-this time the smell of rubber burning is the best way to describe  it.  What’s worse is that there is no rain  in the forecast, so the idea of this situation lingering on, is concerning. Our next door neighbor decided to have a small classroom in the garage of his home. Where six kids plus their parents would try their best to give their children the classroom experience needed for positive development. They kids have recess in the backyard, and a lunch time outdoors, all monitored by different parents each day. It’s kind of refreshing, since their time for a break, is the time I take my break from my computer, which I normally don’t do. Discovering new trails is pretty much out of the question for us this weekend, as there is nowhere to …

Thoughts for Today

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As the world moves forward and we stagnate or worse in the U.S. in terms of COVID-19, I cannot help but wonder what topics are on everyone’s mind from across the world these days? Are Europeans thinking about travel? Is the continent of Asia in mixed state, some exploring Disneyland in their own ways while others are being arrested for protesting? Why isn’t anyone talking about Africa? Is the pandemic worse or stabilized in those nations? I feel the news is often contradicting and my stress level elevating and my hopelessness growing. Is anyone else feeling this way on this first day of July? Or your thoughts are shifting based on this thought process? And then there is this weirdly happy/scary scene… Have we stopped caring? Or is this our way of coping and warding off the stress and anxiety about what the future holds? These are the thoughts going through my mind today. I apologize if this is not in line with what you have hoped to see on RS&S today.

State of Mind For This Thursday

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I stayed in bed this morning, and went back to sleep. I guess my body was telling me I needed to slow down or take a few moments to simply relax. I it seemed the universe was sensing my need, because all of a sudden, out of nowhere I heard classical music. So I finally opened my eyes to see where the beautiful rendition was coming from.  Naturally discovering from my phone – in case you must know , it was Symphony no 3 in F, Op. 90:2 Andante performed by Berliner Philharmoniker & Claudio Abaddo – making me feel as if I’d woken up in a field of Spring flowers, and a dozen or more butterflies fluttering all around. It actually was a nice change to my usual quiet crawl out of bed at 4 in the morning to relieve my dog and feed him, and jump on the computer for work – since I’m part of a global software company – we tend to redefine normal work hours. The idea of waking up …

What Has Placed A Smile On My Face This Week

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I went for a long walk across the city, through neighborhoods I assumed would be less crowded. But I think I’ve seen more humans walking about the city during the social distancing then I used to in the past years, doing the walk. It was the most invigorating feeling to see families walking together, talking, and while wearing masks, keeping their distance. I prepared lunch for myself, thinking I might eat while I walked, since the park I normally go to with these walks might be closed. Instead, there were signs at every entrance to the park, simply asking that we keep six-feet apart, but take our time to enjoy the park. So I sat on a bench, ate my sandwich and grapes, and stared out to the views of the ocean. The most interesting gatherings in the park were families, or friends, who met up, and sat six feet apart on blankets, and enjoyed catching up in person. I suppose this was a good idea or one that’s been happening for the duration? I …

Weekend Recap and Some Questions

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Hello Everyone! I decided to take a mini break from my computer this weekend, and instead spent more time in the kitchen learning our traditional cooking from my mother. A task I find myself needing more of these days – mostly because of the bonding we seem to have taken for granted in the past – being so busy with our lives.  But really – don’t you wonder now, why we were so busy or too busy for some things that seem to have become the more important of things since COVID-19? Besides the cooking and sharing of stories with mom,  I watched a few films which I feel the need to share since it brought up more questions. Like… The Humming Bird Project – touches on the greed factor in how businesses are run in the U.S. (in this case) where the race to build  the fastest high-frequency  fiber optic cable is at stake . The interesting part about this film was the many times human morals and behaviors were questioned and each time, …

Monday Updates and A Few Lovely Things

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Hello Everyone – hope you had a lovely weekend, or made it lovely in your own creative way during these difficult of times.  I have to say, I tried my best to focus only on the good over the weekend, even while the weather outside was gloomy, and the lockdown in full force, I felt the goodness of Easter by… Watching the heart-warming concert – by Andrea Bocelli   Made Easter Sunday Roast with my mother – which is both funny and sad, because I am forcing her to remember all of her old-world recipes and after the challenge of producing the final meal,  she reminds me she’d forgotten an ingredient or two.  I took several virtual tours of Italy and allowed the experience to take me away  Watched a pretty funny – cheesy rom-com on Netflix which reminded me so much of Four Weddings and  A Funeral  And for sure the winner of happiest moments  was watching  an in-home Easter egg hunt over FaceTime with loved ones currently on lock down in England  It is …