BrowserMetrics

Lately, I've come to really dig anything that Greta Gerwig, the writer and director of Lady Bird does. Completely loved 20th Century Women from earlier this year of which she plays a supporting role. She's great in Frances Ha. She's even better as an adorkable girl than the ultimate adorkable Zooey Deschannel. I really like her style.

That said, this coming of age tale of a Sacramento misfit is touching. It makes you realize how much you love your family even though you hate them all. It's a good film and should win some awards coming up.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: movies, review

I made a big deal about my New Year's Resolution for 2017, and I failed to keep at it. Not completely, but at a few of the items I earmarked.

I believe the hardest part was to blog about it. I think it was because there was a format to the post that I wanted to follow. Formatting the post was a bitch to do so eventually I stopped posting. Perhaps, that made me fail to accomplish some of those goals. Sadly, isn't that the deal with resolutions -- that they are made and never completed.

Anyhow, let's see how I did.

Health
* Resolution: weigh 210 lbs. Results: weight 224 and rising because of the Holidays. I'll revisit this on next year with probably the same goal. It's always the same year in and year out: lose weight.
* Resolution: lose 5 inches on around the waist. Results: perhaps an inch or two. The pants fit, but they may not soon. Got to get back on this one too.
* Resolution: Lower my resting heart rate by 4 BPM. Results: 83 BPM. Some change. This one is too tough to measure as I don't think the apps I am using are fine grained enough.
* Resolution: Lower blood pressure to 120/85. Resolved: Unknown. This is bad. I had to get this down to stave off the diabetes. It's coming isn't it.

Exercise
* Resolution: 150 miles on a bike. Results: 2 rides a total of 25 miles. Way too short. I should've gotten this one. Still scared about riding on the rode. Must be overcome because I miss biking.
* Resolution: 120 outdoor walks. Results: 142! Killed it. Do I up this next year?
* Resolution: 5 rowing per month. Results: Hit the goals in January, February, March, and May. Did not row the other times. It's because of my elbow and how my form contributes to making it hurt.

Professional Life
* Resolution: learn a new language. Results: did not do
* Resolution: get a new job. Results: did not happen. Although I am doing something different. Still need to explore this in 2018

Personal
* Resolution: blog more on different topics. Results: Failed as most of the time it was still movie reviews. Although, I did have that bookstore haul thing going on.
* Resolution: Cook more and cut dining spending by 25%. Results: Failed. Spending is down just not 25%. It doesn't help when you have to pay for many big birthday meals.
* Resolution: Read more books. Results: Failed. I bought more books. Did not read the ones on the night stand.
* Resolution: Japan. Results: Failed. Sadly I really wanted this to happen, but I chickened out because of traveling alone.
* Resolution: Study Japanese. Results: Failed. Although I am now working on it via Duolingo. I should've been slightly proficient if I started from the new year.


Once more. I failed. Will I resolve next year for the better? We'll see.

Labels: better late than never, DNF, resolute

Little did I know when I saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi the first night, that it would turn out to be such a divisive entry into the Star Wars filmology. I came out smiling throwing thumbs up to the next batch of folks in line. I went to sleep that night, then all things broke out over the weekend. I spent the next couple days watching the growing genre of YouTube rants against the film. It made me laugh and a little sad. Why did it come to this?

Admittedly, I know that there are flaws -- space Leia, the casino planet, and that timeline, but it did give us the hero turn of Kylo Ren, Rey reaching out for the light saber, and that slow motion beginning to the throne room fight. Just one of the most amazing things they've done in the series. It had me gasping, then giggling and then shouting out in glee.

But still, space Leia?!

It's changed up the story. It no longer follows the beats of the original series. It's now gonna be surprise. And this entry was also surprising! Can Kylo Ren be redeemed? Or is he the worst? Who cares about the parents of Rey? I did until they just threw it into my face again. Yet, I loved it because who cares? It was the Shatner on SNL of Star Wars movies, "Get a life!" I'm looking forward to the next installment.

4 of 5 stars.

Labels: movies, review

I hope this finds you with your family and friends enjoying your dear time together. Merry Christmas!

Labels: tis the season

Have a Merry Christmas!

Labels: tis the season

Longest night of the year.

Shortest blog post?

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html

Labels: lotd, tis the season

I have never seen The Room, the movie that was the basis for The Disaster Artist. Maybe I should've because I didn't understand how weird the movie was -- The Room and not The Disaster Artist. That Tommy guy was freaky-deaky. I wonder how weird he was in the movie -- The Room and not The Disaster Artist. I wonder if there really was a gay subtext to those dudes relationship. But it would be too weird to think of the brothers Franco in such as situation. Too weird. I don't understand. Need to watch The Room except that was enough of it for a lifetime.

Not sure how that could be a cult hit -- The Room and not The Disaster Artist.

It would be worth a watch -- The Disaster Artist and not The Room.

3 of 5 stars.

Labels: movies, review

Referencing this post. Who was that guy? How do I get rid of that one though?

Labels: iPhone, wintry mix

Today I am not gonna list out the haul. That's because I bought your present. I don't want to spoil it, so you'll have to wait until the 25th for a better understanding of this blog post.

Of course, I didn't report the first time I went for presents last week. It's still the same. If I could, I would get all presents at the bookstore. They don't just have books. They have other stuff. Games. Toys. Cards. Just stuff for presents.

And I get a discount. Which came in handy. Last week it was an extra 10% on top of the 10% discount of being a member. This week it was 20%. Plus, I had coupons. So I saved on my presents. Cool.

Merry Yule to you to!

Labels: bookstore haul, tis the season

Started to begin the wrapping of presents. Rummaged around the closet for the big roll of Christmas wrap. Won't you know it it's gone. In it's place is another roll. This one's close to done, too. I must use it.

Unfortunately, it's a glittery kind.

Now I remember. I bought it last year towards the last days before Christmas when most of the rolls were gone from the local Target. Desperate straights. I need to wrap the final presents so here it was.

I also remember that it would leave a smattering of glitter all over the place. I have it now on my pants. But last Christmas, it was all under the tree. Ridiculous.

I wrapped one present in this glittery Christmas wrap, and I'm done with it.

I should get to Target before they're all out of wrap. I was there earlier and it looked like there was still a ton left. Crossing my fingers...

Labels: gifts that keep on gifting, tis the season

Went for the annual eye exam this morning in the early snow.

Now lately, I've been trying to learn Japanese via the duolingo app. I'm on my longest streak of 8 days.

Anyhow, while sitting in the chair and looking at the eye chart, when the letters went fuzzy they looked like hiragana. So much so that I was really tempted to pronounce them when the doctor asked what I saw.

Maybe. Just maybe. I'm starting to learn Japanese.

Labels: 4 Eyes, health is your wealth, learning japanese

Ikuta doing a Christmas Show for MTV Unplugged Japan.

I would try to get tickets but I think there's something important about December 25. Something about family.

Anyhow. I wonder how many Nogi songs she will sing? And how many she will play the piano on? Maybe if she's still playing we will get her on the sanshin, a traditional Okinawan string instrument?

Labels: gifts that keep on gifting, Nogizaka46