tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59699186453061251592024-03-12T16:50:07.477-06:00Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and BooksA book blog adhering to Bohemian principles.Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comBlogger1092125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-77899251270043463802021-09-26T16:06:00.000-06:002021-09-26T16:06:25.847-06:00Sunday Snapshot for the Start of Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qqFIA1Xqt4/YVDXPf5WbtI/AAAAAAAAF4U/R11hy1SkFEEaAKiebU504W5_Oq1PNE4cgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_0389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chaco canyon" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qqFIA1Xqt4/YVDXPf5WbtI/AAAAAAAAF4U/R11hy1SkFEEaAKiebU504W5_Oq1PNE4cgCPcBGAYYCw/w400-h300/IMG_0389.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Welcome to the first weekend of fall. I know a lot of people enjoy this time of year, but I hate it. Seasonal depression will do that to a person. Nevertheless, since my last post was <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2021/05/sunday-snapshot-for-start-of-summer.html">at the start of summer</a>, I thought it was a good time for an update.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Currently Reading:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Totally Folked</i> by Penny Reid: A fun, fast read. I might actually be able to finish this book in a weekend!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Your Money or Life</i> by Vicki Robin: Am I going to calculate every cent I've made in my entire life? No. No way.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Recent Memorable Reads:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Cellist</i> by Daniel Silva: Another excellent and super-relevant read from Silva.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Drops of God</i>, Vols. 1-44 by Tadashi Agi: Getting through this manga was my summer project. The last few volumes were MUCHO depressing and then they didn't even find the drops of god by the end!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Movies:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/ford-v-ferrari/" target="_blank"><i>Ford v Ferrari</i>, starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Such a dad movie. In fact, my dad actually watched it with me. An excellent, well-made film well worth the cost of a rental.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/le-mans/" target="_blank"><i>Le Mans</i>, starring Steve McQueen</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">If you liked <i>Ford v Ferrari</i>, why not watch the legendary Steve McQ in action at <i>Le Mans</i>?! This is the type of movie where no one speaks for the first 20 minutes and the rest of the movie is basically just race cars going around and around. Plus the '70s hair is doing McQueen no favors. But it was cool to see the actual <i>Le Mans</i> in action.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/ma-raineys-black-bottom/" target="_blank"><i>Ma Rainey's Black Bottom</i>, starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Not a fan. There was absolutely no effort to make this movie cinematic. Just film it on a stage and be done with it.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/the-beguiled-2017/" target="_blank"><i>The Beguiled</i>, starring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Colin Farrell</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Highly recommend this movie! Nicole Kidman is the headmistress of a girl's school in the south during the Civil War. When her students discover a Union soldier on the edge of death, she agrees to take him in and nurse him back to health. The soldier thinks he's a rooster who's landed in a hen house, but he's in for an unpleasant awakening in that regard.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/old-2021/" target="_blank"><i>Old</i>, starring Rufus Sewell and, like, other people.</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Proposed alternate title: Life's a Beach and Then You Die</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/zola/" target="_blank"><i>Zola</i>, starring Taylour Paige and Riley Keough</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">I think this movie scarred my parents for life. It's based on <a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/WDwyW" target="_blank">a twitter thread</a> about a stripper who goes down to FL with another stripper she's just met to make a few bucks pole dancing. She quickly realizes her traveling companions are not the greatest.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">The twitter thread is better.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/the-green-knight/" target="_blank"><i>The Green Knight</i>, starring Dev Patel</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">This movie takes itself WAY too seriously. The costumes are gorge, though. Does anyone know where I can get a scarf with bells on it?</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/american-honey/" target="_blank"><i>American Honey</i>, starring Sasha Lane and an unrecognizable Shia LeBeouf</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">This is another movie that would have probably scarred my parents for life, if they had seen it. It's about a teenager - we're talking like 14, 15 - who's lured into joining a group of traveling magazine salespeople and then proceeds to get into one dicey situation after another. It sounds like it might be a downer, or preachy, but it's neither. I wouldn't call it <b>uplifting</b>, but it is well worth the watch.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">An excellent film that reminded me of a young person's <i>Nomadland</i>.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/cinderella-2021/" target="_blank"><i>Cinderella</i>, starring Camila Cabello</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Normally Cinderella stories are my jam, but this one's BAD. BAAAAD BAD <b>BAAAAAAAAAAD</b>. The worst Cinderella film I've ever seen by far.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/the-last-letter-from-your-lover/" target="_blank"><i>The Last Letter from Your Lover</i>, starring Shailene Woodley, Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, and Joe Alwyn (TSwift's BF)</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Terrible title, surprisingly decent movie! In the 1960s, Jennifer Stirling finds a letter from a lover she can't remember, because amnesia. Who was he and what happened to him?! In modern tymes, Ellie Haworth is researching her magazine's first female editor and comes across the same letter, and has the same questions. The script and storytelling were excellent, with a lot of narrative tension. The ending was little on the lame side, but eh.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://letterboxd.com/heidenkind/film/cruella/" target="_blank"><i>Cruella</i>, starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson</a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Another surprisingly decent movie. I spent most of it worrying about the dog.</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of things are changing in the wake of COVID-19. People are moving, breaking up, quitting jobs. In my department at the university, we're staffed at 60% and two people are going on maternity leave in November. đŹ But on the plus side, we've finally filled my old position that's been vacant since June of 2020, so that takes some of the pressure off.</div><div><br /></div><div>My brother also moved to another state. But before he left, we went on a mini-road trip together to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm" target="_blank">Chaco Canyon</a>, one of the least-visited National Parks in the US. That's because it's a pain to get to! It's the center of an ancient pueblo culture that existed throughout the Four Corners area, and it's a place I've wanted to visit for years. I was pretty excited!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGTogshI6X8/YVDW0_yIHTI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/dmOFqIlp3jwuBnRcn1xL0x5vtmTGI5m3wCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/DSC_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="2048" height="162" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGTogshI6X8/YVDW0_yIHTI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/dmOFqIlp3jwuBnRcn1xL0x5vtmTGI5m3wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSC_2093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaco Canyon from a distance.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DINtRnpD2Lk/YVDXBVyT3YI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/h7KlAx0z_4cnzyc3_cUmYE56SBIcILqmwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/DSC_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DINtRnpD2Lk/YVDXBVyT3YI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/h7KlAx0z_4cnzyc3_cUmYE56SBIcILqmwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSC_2106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungo Pavi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNTbPD2BUdE/YVDW6LAcz2I/AAAAAAAAF38/znZ_XVEpaxQl85BsuW42Sj2cjMOnZ9UZACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/DSC_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNTbPD2BUdE/YVDW6LAcz2I/AAAAAAAAF38/znZ_XVEpaxQl85BsuW42Sj2cjMOnZ9UZACPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSC_2133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pueblo Bonito, the largest of the "houses"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DhKrWWq6TI/YVDXP42UNEI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/P6zEYdJm9EIunpAiJ1cvkRpGpG_FgcRMQCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/DSC_2140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DhKrWWq6TI/YVDXP42UNEI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/P6zEYdJm9EIunpAiJ1cvkRpGpG_FgcRMQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DSC_2140.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windows like this shine light in specific alcoves to mark the movement of the sun.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odEGW3Bmr68/YVDXA6kYuZI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/73qPOQkTwgE7vDIn-MiM6vEMoro7kD5zwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_0358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odEGW3Bmr68/YVDXA6kYuZI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/73qPOQkTwgE7vDIn-MiM6vEMoro7kD5zwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0358.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "road."</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1LfAMEeFTg/YVDXFj7gi4I/AAAAAAAAF4U/zlicfZG3LwMcENL-5FWe7CbfmlzmNalaQCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_0371%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1LfAMEeFTg/YVDXFj7gi4I/AAAAAAAAF4U/zlicfZG3LwMcENL-5FWe7CbfmlzmNalaQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0371%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pueblo del Arroyo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZN2EKkIzN8/YVDXHsofiGI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/FRNTuv0ZEz0x7sjqKYN_1GCd0U1RsG2ZACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZN2EKkIzN8/YVDXHsofiGI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/FRNTuv0ZEz0x7sjqKYN_1GCd0U1RsG2ZACPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0377.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpHtQShF630/YVDXMfKXS3I/AAAAAAAAF4Q/-rmIUx2cofsjMOoCQCyFUIbnOmNQwGyPgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpHtQShF630/YVDXMfKXS3I/AAAAAAAAF4Q/-rmIUx2cofsjMOoCQCyFUIbnOmNQwGyPgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0381.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUA9VITqs1M/YVDXMbvnedI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/vcSSpMBCPL8ttT8BDcewyEApv4MQa7fLwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUA9VITqs1M/YVDXMbvnedI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/vcSSpMBCPL8ttT8BDcewyEApv4MQa7fLwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0384.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to see, but there's a rock outcropping on the mesa in the distance that casts a shadow in the points of a spiral below during solstices.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>So that was pretty cool! Chaco Canyon would be an awesome place to camp, if I was into that sort of thing. But I'm not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other than that, not much has been going on. The fam has been happy and healthy and we're hanging in there.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's been going on in your neck of the woods?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-90333966123175247282021-07-31T16:27:00.000-06:002021-07-31T16:27:04.191-06:00Review: Gawain and the Green Knight<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4roLD2y7Ok/YQXKvxYIJaI/AAAAAAAAF3E/h7OsXwBdu8MdTGINtYh25VL-MQOTllDOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2838/Hunt_in_the_forest_by_paolo_uccello.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the hunt in the forest by paolo ucello" border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2838" height="156" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4roLD2y7Ok/YQXKvxYIJaI/AAAAAAAAF3E/h7OsXwBdu8MdTGINtYh25VL-MQOTllDOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h156/Hunt_in_the_forest_by_paolo_uccello.jpg" title="The Hunt in the Forest by Paolo Uccello, c. 1470" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Hunt in the Forest</i> by Paolo Uccello, c. 1470</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>I</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Gather all and put much thought </div><div>to a tale of noble Camelot.</div><div>On New Yearâs Eve the court did gather </div><div>With wine and beer and much blather</div><div>Ladies fair and knights bold </div><div>Plus Gweneviere and Arthur, we are told </div><div>When all at once, what should they see </div><div>But a walking, talking Christmas tree! </div><div><br /></div><div>(Actually itâs a man) </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, âtwas a man, but green </div><div>hair green, skin green, tongue green</div><div>Of great stature and much mass</div><div>Even his horse was the color of grass</div><div>Everything green, but eyes that were red</div><div>Even an idiot could guess where this led</div><div>But not Arthur and his patriotic knights</div><div>Who thought the green man rather nice</div><div><br /></div><div>(How stupid are they?)</div><div><br /></div><div>The Christmas Tree spoke, and offered a game</div><div>To anyone brave enough to issue his name</div><div>Strike a blow against the green man, and when the time came</div><div>A year from the next day, the green man would do the same.</div><div>Whatâs in it for the knights, one might wonder</div><div>But Sir Gawain this did not ponder.</div><div>He accepted the ax, and the green man knelt</div><div>Then to his neck, a fatal blow Wawain dealt.</div><div><br /></div><div>(He chopped the Christmas Treeâs head off)</div><div><br /></div><div>The head rolled about, the court watching whence it should land</div><div>Dismissing the Green Man, and thinking the matter at an end</div><div>Green blood spurted out from the tree</div><div>And Gawain anticipated congratulations thereâd be</div><div>But the Christmas Tree rose from where he sat</div><div>And calmly collected his bodyâs hat</div><div>Holding his head, he told Gawain the way to his home</div><div>To meet a year from then, and to come alone</div><div><br /></div><div>After which, he left.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>II</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Despite that Gawain was not too bright,</div><div>Even he knew to do what was right</div><div>Honor and chivalry demanded</div><div>He meet the Christmas Tree and be beheaded</div><div>Thus he set out in the morning</div><div>Uncertain about where he was going</div><div>A year later, and with much apprehension</div><div>For a view of reaching the Green Manâs mansion</div><div><br /></div><div>(Which Iâm guessing is in a forest)</div><div><br /></div><div>But alas our knight knew not left from right</div><div>(re: none too bright)</div><div>Far and wide our hero did bumble</div><div>Searching for Green Manâs Green Chapel.</div><div>He was cold, and hungry, and sad to boot</div><div>When what should he spy: a moat!</div><div>Connected to a grand castle with turrets and flags</div><div>And the friendliest host Gawainâd ever had.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Almost TOO friendly.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The man himself was handsome and wealthy</div><div>With two others in residence: an old woman quite stealthy,</div><div>And a wife so beautiful she left Gawain nonplussed;</div><div>They took one look at each other and fell into lust.</div><div>Then with Gawain, a bargain the host assayed</div><div>That he would go hunting during the day</div><div>Upon his return, his catch he would giveth</div><div>And Gawain his daily claims would returneth.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Sounds like another sketchy deal to me.)</div><div><br /></div><div>But Gawain, like an idiot, pronounced his agreement</div><div>And into more trouble our hero descendeth.</div><div>But I shall say no more of Wawainâs toil</div><div>For fear that his tale I will spoil</div><div>At first I thought this story difficult to read</div><div>I did not comprehend the why of the charactersâ deeds</div><div>But then Gawain met the lady, sorely tempting</div><div>And things got MUCH more entertaining.</div><div><br /></div><div>(But who doesnât like a little romance, right?)</div><div><br /></div><div>Tis clear that this tale is all about pursuit:</div><div>of animals, women, and bravery to salute.</div><div>For while the host was hunting game,</div><div>The hostess was chasing down Gawain</div><div>Quite a dilemma for him to be thinking about</div><div>But of course not much thinking is done by that clout</div><div>Still, thereâs a twist that I thought was grand</div><div>For in everything, a famous woman has a hand.</div><div><br /></div><div>Highly recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Originally posted at <a href="http://medievalbookworm.com/reviews/review-gawain-and-the-green-knight/" target="_blank">Medieval Bookworm</a> in 2010. So long ago!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-25631775877754675422021-05-30T16:31:00.003-06:002021-05-30T16:31:42.628-06:00Sunday Snapshot for the Start of Summer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSdMpI8vQro/YLP2vxDERbI/AAAAAAAAFw0/0GrvjW2p5IIAjzGhjLAlaqpDh3WFnIztQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0240.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oglethorpe Square in Savannah" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSdMpI8vQro/YLP2vxDERbI/AAAAAAAAFw0/0GrvjW2p5IIAjzGhjLAlaqpDh3WFnIztQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0240.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oglethorpe Square in Savannah, Georgia</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Hello, friends! It's almost officially summer, which means we made through one whole pandemic winter. It feels like things are starting to get back to normal, whatever that means. In fact, this past week I went on my first trip in over a year to Savannah, Georgia. But more about that later.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Currently reading:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i> by John Berendt: Naturally I had to reread the book that inspired my trip to Savannah in the first place! I first read this when I was quite young, and it's interesting the things you remember from books when you read them at a certain age. For example, I remembered Joe Odom's advice to, "Always stick around for one more drink. Thatâs when things happen. Thatâs when you find out what you need to know," like I had read it yesterday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not saying I have followed this advice religiously, but I'm also not NOT saying I did.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Drops of God</i>, vol. 6, by Tadashi Agi: Comixology released more volumes of <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2016/12/2016-year-end-wrap-up.html">this manga series I love</a> on Prime. Perfect airplane reading (truly).</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Savannah</i>: A compact little guidebook to Savannah I picked up in a bookstore there. It's pretty good.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Movies Recently Watched:</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0BQWrsMKqc/YLP-fNgEy6I/AAAAAAAAFw8/Q8CGYXoE4kMDoYNDYQmUxsohtFjafUcvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/operation%2Bvarsity%2Bblues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="operation varsity blues" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="630" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0BQWrsMKqc/YLP-fNgEy6I/AAAAAAAAFw8/Q8CGYXoE4kMDoYNDYQmUxsohtFjafUcvgCLcBGAsYHQ/w105-h200/operation%2Bvarsity%2Bblues.jpg" width="105" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>Operation Varsity Blues</i>, directed by Chris Smith<div><br /></div><div>This documentary about the 2019 college admissions scandal where a bunch of rich people paid a guy named Rick Singer (who is STILL walking around free, btw) to get their kids into college is definitely relevant to my interests. If you don't have a vested interest in college admissions, though, it's probably skippable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijjPW8Tmmcg/YLQAcnfXxpI/AAAAAAAAFxE/PAyWyIZV9OYHmPJiaz1ZBw4KSkJMqD-wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1111/this%2Bis%2Ba%2Brobber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="this is a robbery poster" border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijjPW8Tmmcg/YLQAcnfXxpI/AAAAAAAAFxE/PAyWyIZV9OYHmPJiaz1ZBw4KSkJMqD-wgCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/this%2Bis%2Ba%2Brobber.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>This is a Robbery: The World's Greatest Art Heist</i>, directed by Colin Barnicle<div><br /></div><div>Another documentary relevant to my interests. I found it pretty fascinating, but I didn't know all the ins and outs of the robbery and the connections to organized crime.</div><div><br /></div><div>Conclusion: these paintings will never be found! Or if they are, it will be a total accident and not the result of the FBI investigation at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shout out to A. Ryan McGuigan for seeming like a decent guy despite the fact that 1. he's a lawyer, and 2. he represents low-level criminals.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOUf-VwQAL8/YLQCbC1Ch_I/AAAAAAAAFxM/dWHjymTocgAow1HU4b8Q6JGXreKO4yzRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1892/the%2Binvitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the invitation poster" border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1301" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOUf-VwQAL8/YLQCbC1Ch_I/AAAAAAAAFxM/dWHjymTocgAow1HU4b8Q6JGXreKO4yzRgCLcBGAsYHQ/w138-h200/the%2Binvitation.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><br /><div><i>The Invitation</i>, starring Logan Marshall-Green and Tammy Blanchard</div><div><br /></div><div>I had high hopes for this one, but it was just okay. There was zero character development and the narrative tension fizzled out pretty early. Instead of wrapping things up, the "twist" at the end just highlighted the weaknesses in the script. <i>The Cabin</i> is a similar story that's way more effective, in my opinion.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baU2xlUUiPo/YLQDQQ8Uf9I/AAAAAAAAFxU/dULCBpAnLRUif75ACwLdUGVjSDuP3zMxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/the%2Bwoman%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bwindow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the woman in the window" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1383" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baU2xlUUiPo/YLQDQQ8Uf9I/AAAAAAAAFxU/dULCBpAnLRUif75ACwLdUGVjSDuP3zMxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/the%2Bwoman%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bwindow.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>The Woman in the Window</i>, starring Amy Adams</div><div><br /></div><div>Another movie I felt like had a lot of potential but fell short. There was a ton going on in the script, but it never came together to effectively create a feeling of paranoia or suspense. The ending was a downer. But Amy Adams did crush it, as usual.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I got my second vaccine early this month, and almost immediately started planning a trip to Savannah ("Savannah, Georgia?" Yes, Savannah, Georgia). That was the next place I was planning to visit after <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2020/02/sunday-snapshot-for-february.html">Bisbee</a> in 2020. Obviously that didn't happen. Until now! Ticket prices were decent and it all seemed to fall into place. Here are some more pics:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>River Street</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Where the action is!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXwTRP2OjPM/YLQH4rjvCiI/AAAAAAAAFxc/FEpC2-VWUnUwXtyX4EZan6phdumAZdQxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXwTRP2OjPM/YLQH4rjvCiI/AAAAAAAAFxc/FEpC2-VWUnUwXtyX4EZan6phdumAZdQxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K677TZiPR9o/YLQH5OtYANI/AAAAAAAAFxg/09dCN2gINpUcBwyPPsIusb3SfBQ6-T5PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K677TZiPR9o/YLQH5OtYANI/AAAAAAAAFxg/09dCN2gINpUcBwyPPsIusb3SfBQ6-T5PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Squares</b><div><br /></div><div>Savannah's famous for its 22 squares, four of which date to the city's founding as an English colony.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdQBb2-pCcQ/YLQIZlX7KXI/AAAAAAAAFxs/pPMJxiueX38ZJiTCDCqrF2NSl7uVPLZ8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdQBb2-pCcQ/YLQIZlX7KXI/AAAAAAAAFxs/pPMJxiueX38ZJiTCDCqrF2NSl7uVPLZ8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0175.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTsTfvS0ws8/YLQIa7RV18I/AAAAAAAAFx0/DBfuLkvYiEA1c_ThDznCz38UVVN_n9WLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTsTfvS0ws8/YLQIa7RV18I/AAAAAAAAFx0/DBfuLkvYiEA1c_ThDznCz38UVVN_n9WLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rl-YkyUqQHs/YLQIa5hxPEI/AAAAAAAAFxw/U2WMRzXiK-kdThxCG4Cj0Pb-vghyY897gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rl-YkyUqQHs/YLQIa5hxPEI/AAAAAAAAFxw/U2WMRzXiK-kdThxCG4Cj0Pb-vghyY897gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osteRjvgI6o/YLQIc1Q1Y3I/AAAAAAAAFx4/1XLyq73knLodFOhuF-E2i2LDTAzdJOlzACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1894" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osteRjvgI6o/YLQIc1Q1Y3I/AAAAAAAAFx4/1XLyq73knLodFOhuF-E2i2LDTAzdJOlzACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0181.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Savannah at Night</b><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QNZhMh-AX9A/YLQI9jKPjQI/AAAAAAAAFyE/jPpbsgiUGtwm4N7zItua2Gzfq_xldQkLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QNZhMh-AX9A/YLQI9jKPjQI/AAAAAAAAFyE/jPpbsgiUGtwm4N7zItua2Gzfq_xldQkLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0sbab0iV0A/YLQI9_kjNuI/AAAAAAAAFyI/CXRRoVkxmowpNDrJcw2gsCoT7ByVIkyzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0sbab0iV0A/YLQI9_kjNuI/AAAAAAAAFyI/CXRRoVkxmowpNDrJcw2gsCoT7ByVIkyzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0246.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Bonaventure Cemetery</b><br /><div><br /></div><div>A cemetery famous for its 19th-century statuary. John Muir once camped there for several days.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U1NKyUFRbyQ/YLQJk_EwH1I/AAAAAAAAFyU/U8Jmf28iYqohRDvOqr7r03MdnuO9NB63gCLcBGAsYHQ/s6016/DSC_2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U1NKyUFRbyQ/YLQJk_EwH1I/AAAAAAAAFyU/U8Jmf28iYqohRDvOqr7r03MdnuO9NB63gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC_2041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3KfR8ThTpM/YLQJlpcUX5I/AAAAAAAAFyY/8Il5YtmVyEUoiUuMhTt69vfFTr2xLq2GwCLcBGAsYHQ/s6016/DSC_2045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3KfR8ThTpM/YLQJlpcUX5I/AAAAAAAAFyY/8Il5YtmVyEUoiUuMhTt69vfFTr2xLq2GwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC_2045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJdJkBYK4jM/YLQJlj_y2EI/AAAAAAAAFyc/sGGTko98X50w17SyyF5ts__cPsZXtldJACLcBGAsYHQ/s6016/DSC_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJdJkBYK4jM/YLQJlj_y2EI/AAAAAAAAFyc/sGGTko98X50w17SyyF5ts__cPsZXtldJACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC_2047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Gracie Watson is the most visited in the cemetery. It's traditional to leave her toys and coins as gifts.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s8KkOv7xkY4/YLQJpcOVHII/AAAAAAAAFyo/PamU75fm3l42h_vrE4ZlwlX3wUqRf9qkACLcBGAsYHQ/s6016/DSC_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s8KkOv7xkY4/YLQJpcOVHII/AAAAAAAAFyo/PamU75fm3l42h_vrE4ZlwlX3wUqRf9qkACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC_2081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9aLUn2pY38/YLQJpKl7nkI/AAAAAAAAFyk/OUlL6fhzL0gTV7Nz_jdIUo9Q8bIypTzhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9aLUn2pY38/YLQJpKl7nkI/AAAAAAAAFyk/OUlL6fhzL0gTV7Nz_jdIUo9Q8bIypTzhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0212.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Bird Girl statue that was on the cover of <i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i>, now housed in the Telfair Museum of Art</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lpnqwsw6Tfg/YLQMBUhqoqI/AAAAAAAAFy8/BI82Dwo60Yk_OZ47cT8XBoXVv0P-g6wNACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lpnqwsw6Tfg/YLQMBUhqoqI/AAAAAAAAFy8/BI82Dwo60Yk_OZ47cT8XBoXVv0P-g6wNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA05iTVkNWU/YLQMBjhXAkI/AAAAAAAAFzA/W2zo-oXKYPQpB36sDhPfVlLb9GImJladACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA05iTVkNWU/YLQMBjhXAkI/AAAAAAAAFzA/W2zo-oXKYPQpB36sDhPfVlLb9GImJladACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Famous Houses of Savannah</b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LInEOqwWnYM/YLQNPunZw2I/AAAAAAAAFzU/H5Orx_zEStwoAfZzkO8AwMXGaIAowpNGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LInEOqwWnYM/YLQNPunZw2I/AAAAAAAAFzU/H5Orx_zEStwoAfZzkO8AwMXGaIAowpNGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Williams-Mercer House, former residence of Jim Williams, featured in <i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDxTKPJRTFw/YLQNOzv2GPI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/n3OTaxfd2187qJzbYW3QWSDXy5WsMR5kgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDxTKPJRTFw/YLQNOzv2GPI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/n3OTaxfd2187qJzbYW3QWSDXy5WsMR5kgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Telfair Museum of Art, former residence of Mary Telfair and home to the first public art museum in the South.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xARDloaKw0A/YLQNOAmsx2I/AAAAAAAAFzM/IxrtdWqrDd4Cb2_5A8bhVlxr7CycojQGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0239%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xARDloaKw0A/YLQNOAmsx2I/AAAAAAAAFzM/IxrtdWqrDd4Cb2_5A8bhVlxr7CycojQGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0239%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't a house per se - it's a famous restaurant called The Olde Pink House. Amazing food! Highly recommend!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8vPQGDnBbs/YLQNTlPiHCI/AAAAAAAAFzY/aQdWu6HiXi4OhJ8y5viMm57-WfS9pIAawCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8vPQGDnBbs/YLQNTlPiHCI/AAAAAAAAFzY/aQdWu6HiXi4OhJ8y5viMm57-WfS9pIAawCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, now part of the Telfair Museums.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raqHtz6BCjo/YLQNTp4OrtI/AAAAAAAAFzc/IlssiVXOKhoEEsj0F7nwKaTfn5UKkokagCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raqHtz6BCjo/YLQNTp4OrtI/AAAAAAAAFzc/IlssiVXOKhoEEsj0F7nwKaTfn5UKkokagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0276.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew Low House, former residence of the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>As you can tell, Savannah is a beautiful city full of history, art, wonderful food, and ghosts! Supposedly. I didn't see any.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a really wonderful and far overdue trip. And as a bonus, I was upgraded to first class on the flight home!</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you have any plans for the summer? Any places you're planning to travel because you read about them in a book?</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-75763079038510311512021-03-21T17:21:00.000-06:002021-03-21T17:21:24.258-06:00Spring Into Sunday Snapshot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvrxiST_CXg/YFfBFfR4GhI/AAAAAAAAFug/cVIo_HS06NkbWHqD9T3QfrglMYUtGcQ-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the broadmoor" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvrxiST_CXg/YFfBFfR4GhI/AAAAAAAAFug/cVIo_HS06NkbWHqD9T3QfrglMYUtGcQ-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/IMG_0100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It's spring! We made it! While spring in the Rockies can be volatile, I'm happy the days are getting longer and I have the occasional opportunity to work outside.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Currently Reading:</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qr79sNoNj0E/YFfDMM5yDWI/AAAAAAAAFuo/oswZE0A4E0QCRKS8J9uLDflu82S2bqp9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/nomadland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nomadland" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qr79sNoNj0E/YFfDMM5yDWI/AAAAAAAAFuo/oswZE0A4E0QCRKS8J9uLDflu82S2bqp9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/nomadland.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>Nomadland</i> by Jessica Bruder<div><br /></div><div>After watching the movie, I was curious what the book covers and how. I'm glad I watched the movie first because otherwise I probably wouldn't have made it very far into the book. It is a good book, it's just kind of a bummer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXOYZfn89Jg/YFfFGnZtkVI/AAAAAAAAFuw/NsJROy0AhWosEXtM_mv9t7Bsh4B5JIj2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s180/the%2Broyal%2Bbodyguard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the royal bodyguard" border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="120" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXOYZfn89Jg/YFfFGnZtkVI/AAAAAAAAFuw/NsJROy0AhWosEXtM_mv9t7Bsh4B5JIj2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/the%2Broyal%2Bbodyguard.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><i>The Royal Bodyguard</i> by Lindsay Emory</div><div><br /></div><div>I actually listened to this on audio in February. Then I read the previous book in this series, <i>The Runaway Royal</i>, and enjoyed it so much I decided to reread the sequel immediately afterward. There's a lot going on in this one and not all of it comes together or makes sense, but if royal romances are your jam it's worth checking out.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Movies Recently Watched:</b><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNwwbvSMFZ0/YFfHjBUKfYI/AAAAAAAAFu4/tzseTKC-MTcEErEnnOheGAm7LlXZC2t3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s326/Minari_%2528film%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="minari poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNwwbvSMFZ0/YFfHjBUKfYI/AAAAAAAAFu4/tzseTKC-MTcEErEnnOheGAm7LlXZC2t3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/Minari_%2528film%2529.png" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Minari</i>, starring Youn Yuh-jung, Han Ye-ri, and Steven Yeun</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't get as emotionally invested in this movie as a lot of other people, but it is really good and worth watching. Gorgeous cinematography and a quiet, heartfelt story about family and perseverance.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoIjPg9hI38/YFfLVqZ0ZrI/AAAAAAAAFvA/Bn6mphh0WTAZNfPRxmkR6r3bwmUroowBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s387/Nomadland_poster.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nomadland poster" border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="258" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoIjPg9hI38/YFfLVqZ0ZrI/AAAAAAAAFvA/Bn6mphh0WTAZNfPRxmkR6r3bwmUroowBwCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/Nomadland_poster.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Nomadland</i>, starring Frances McDormand</div><div><br /></div><div>The best movie I've seen in a LONG time. At first you think it's going to be about socio-economics; then it turns into a modern-day western with metaphors about freedom and discovering the landscape of America. Finally, at the very end it touches upon the meaning of life and death. Highly recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUnQvTLkJ0o/YFfMfp2HULI/AAAAAAAAFvI/Tb6JXHaTtCwtigTj_VqggTRLzF4kLa-bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/wandavision.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="wandavision poster" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUnQvTLkJ0o/YFfMfp2HULI/AAAAAAAAFvI/Tb6JXHaTtCwtigTj_VqggTRLzF4kLa-bQCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/wandavision.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div><i>WandaVision</i>, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany</div><div><br /></div><div>Technically not a movie, BUT OMG YOU GUYS THIS SERIES. I'm not usually a fan of the whole Marvel Comic Universe thing (why do I have to watch Winter Soldier to understand what's going on with Agents of SHIELD, huh?), but I <i>am</i> a fan of Paul Bettany, so I decided to give it a try. First they pull you in with the charming romantic comedy and the next thing you know, you're sobbing over an episode of Dick Van Dyke! Soooo so good. I haven't binge watched a series this hard since <i>Scandal</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOFy_Maqrb8/YFfOAeEyuZI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/EUUHcgquMG87CDhBdZv_kJ8pEo5QMYlBACLcBGAsYHQ/s326/I_Care_A_Lot_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="i care a lot poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOFy_Maqrb8/YFfOAeEyuZI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/EUUHcgquMG87CDhBdZv_kJ8pEo5QMYlBACLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/I_Care_A_Lot_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>I Care a Lot</i>, starring Rosamund Pike</div><div><br /></div><div>The message got pretty muddled there toward the end, but it's Rosamund Pike being a badass, soooo. ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ Also why does everything have to include gangsters.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UivFYK7yEAU/YFfOzk8rmrI/AAAAAAAAFvc/yK1PPm2nxfkSVnDN_0IDt7x0DxdsyY_0QCPcBGAYYCw/s384/The_Dig_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the dig" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UivFYK7yEAU/YFfOzk8rmrI/AAAAAAAAFvc/yK1PPm2nxfkSVnDN_0IDt7x0DxdsyY_0QCPcBGAYYCw/w135-h200/The_Dig_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i>The Dig</i>, starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes</div><div><br /></div><div>My big takeaway from this film? Archaeology is not worth it. So much mud.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't gotten the vaccine yet; I'm not even on a list to get the vaccine yet. But my parents have their second shot scheduled for this Monday, so there's progress being made.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite not having the vaccine yet, in February I decided I needed to take a staycation and get some physical separation from home for my own mental health. As much as being home and not working is nice, when you're home there's always projects and to-dos that need attention. What I really needed was a few days of forced inactivity and some new scenery to get a refresh.</div><div><br /></div><div>To that end, I spent three nights at a resort less than an hour away from my home. It wasn't really my scene â picture a lot of retirees â but the weather was gorgeous so I could walk around the grounds, go to the zoo, and sit outside and write and read. It was definitely the break I needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>A few pics:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLVfF4Y1zFI/YFfSbue9jqI/AAAAAAAAFvk/LlUZH41l250XhLZ4xYWrmCNxKV0dMk_OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="broadmoor entrance" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLVfF4Y1zFI/YFfSbue9jqI/AAAAAAAAFvk/LlUZH41l250XhLZ4xYWrmCNxKV0dMk_OQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/IMG_0043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu0w4qjVrAc/YFfSbJolHzI/AAAAAAAAFvg/iaoinYBoRbYO3kf--reOlRnBM0aM_XzCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu0w4qjVrAc/YFfSbJolHzI/AAAAAAAAFvg/iaoinYBoRbYO3kf--reOlRnBM0aM_XzCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedroom</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndF1NzxMqLw/YFfSdMgD7HI/AAAAAAAAFvo/jWabDdW3V88E7drDwyvjCmhG-3vxLN9bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ndF1NzxMqLw/YFfSdMgD7HI/AAAAAAAAFvo/jWabDdW3V88E7drDwyvjCmhG-3vxLN9bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0050.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The terrace cafĂ©</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqWuWY3yE2s/YFfSdIOdgsI/AAAAAAAAFvs/dGjMoG19DJkhGeq4RQF4Rtp1yXUkcC78QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqWuWY3yE2s/YFfSdIOdgsI/AAAAAAAAFvs/dGjMoG19DJkhGeq4RQF4Rtp1yXUkcC78QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The zoo is famous for its herd of giraffes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INsWCZtw8xg/YFfSdRTSM-I/AAAAAAAAFvw/Yja6o0dVDD0TXkBXAK7GA02s34jzomOygCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INsWCZtw8xg/YFfSdRTSM-I/AAAAAAAAFvw/Yja6o0dVDD0TXkBXAK7GA02s34jzomOygCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0095.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting outside in the sun</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The only major bummer was that only 2 of their restaurants were open for dinner, there was no live entertainment, and lunch options were basically a take-away cafĂ© (which actually had pretty good options, but still). But overall it was a nice break.<div><br /></div><div>I'm also still WFH 100%, although we CAN go onto campus if we want to, as long as we keep capacity at 25%. I may go onto campus sometime soon just to remind myself how much I hate the drive.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's the main things that have been going on here! What's been happening in your neck of the woods?<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-77160681785792497602021-01-17T17:19:00.005-07:002021-01-17T17:24:28.562-07:00First Sunday Snapshot of 2021<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cz04RRkVaoI/YATFv3aibYI/AAAAAAAAFrk/EBo2WNTyIiYKeyJFvQ8rv95BtjRsyDr0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/sofie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sofie with a bunny" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cz04RRkVaoI/YATFv3aibYI/AAAAAAAAFrk/EBo2WNTyIiYKeyJFvQ8rv95BtjRsyDr0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/sofie.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sofie with a bunny</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Happy 2021 everyone! Although the start of this year has been pretty rough, to put it mildly. But luckily we still have the blogs.<div><br /></div><div><b>Currently reading:</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3vw8wr_kXo/YATHZilFSvI/AAAAAAAAFrw/qgHR8qtTSTQv9xEVWc8lOtxvUFe496HjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s475/the%2Bsecret%2Bchapter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the secret chapter" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3vw8wr_kXo/YATHZilFSvI/AAAAAAAAFrw/qgHR8qtTSTQv9xEVWc8lOtxvUFe496HjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h200/the%2Bsecret%2Bchapter.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Secret Chapter</i> by Genevieve Cogman: Another book the Invisible Library series. Tbh it's taking me forever to read, but that's not unusual.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f43xQRmpefE/YATHkPKqeUI/AAAAAAAAFr0/Zu1sCUNEj5QObDRo5h-aQORbIbkLScAmACLcBGAsYHQ/s475/the%2Bdepth%2Bof%2Bwinter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the depth of winter" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f43xQRmpefE/YATHkPKqeUI/AAAAAAAAFr0/Zu1sCUNEj5QObDRo5h-aQORbIbkLScAmACLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/the%2Bdepth%2Bof%2Bwinter.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Depth of Winter</i> by Craig Johnson: I'll be honest, when Cady was kidnapped by the cartel at the end of <i>The Western Star</i>, I rolled my eyes HARD. But the setting of this book (Mexico) is actually working out pretty well.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Movies:</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5iXSe77ZFVg/YATIdZ1hxmI/AAAAAAAAFsA/KLXBVvZyzMcaMCu0WXlBddyBSP00GYtIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s326/Promising_Young_Woman_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="promising young woman poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5iXSe77ZFVg/YATIdZ1hxmI/AAAAAAAAFsA/KLXBVvZyzMcaMCu0WXlBddyBSP00GYtIgCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/Promising_Young_Woman_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Promising Young Woman</i>, starring Carey Mulligan</div><div><br /></div><div>I HIGHLY recommend this movie. It's a revenge tale about woman whose hobby is going to bars and pretending to be falling-down drunk. Inevitably some guy offers to "help get her home" but winds up taking her back to his place and trying to sleep with her instead. The end game isn't what you think. Unlike the typical revenge movie, this one is smart, snarky, with a genuine emotional core. And the more I think about it, the more I consider it reflective of our current times. All Cassie (played by Carey Mulligan who knocks it out of the park, as usual) wants is for people to acknowledge the reality of what happened, something that proves surprisinglyâor maybe just depressinglyâdifficult.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ7aOGb4wxI/YATLiV02CfI/AAAAAAAAFsM/V9U5ZQ7zMWQkI1FVSYB_N1O5ZKf0LE_IQCLcBGAsYHQ/s375/Another_Round_%2528film%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="another round poster" border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ7aOGb4wxI/YATLiV02CfI/AAAAAAAAFsM/V9U5ZQ7zMWQkI1FVSYB_N1O5ZKf0LE_IQCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/Another_Round_%2528film%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Another Round</i>, starring Mads Mikkelsen</div><div><br /></div><div>Four high school teachers decide to drink constantly in order to keep their blood alcohol level at .5%, "But only during working hours, like Hemingway." What could go wrong?!</div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't a movie about drinking so much as about mid-life crises and depression. Mads Mikkelsen's character, Martin, is so checked out at the beginning of the film his students stage an intervention. Then through drinking he rediscovers the energy and carefree fun of youth. Of course, there is a downside to this Jekyll/Hyde transformation, which the movie covers. But more ambiguously than you might expect.</div><div><br /></div><div>Worth watching.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVpFiSQWNrk/YATNi9PWNpI/AAAAAAAAFsY/VcCvUQjUYZ8jLoLeYrBrManMRWAxCHsvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s381/Mulan_%25282020_film%2529_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mulan poster" border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="257" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVpFiSQWNrk/YATNi9PWNpI/AAAAAAAAFsY/VcCvUQjUYZ8jLoLeYrBrManMRWAxCHsvwCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/Mulan_%25282020_film%2529_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div><i>Mulan</i>, starring Yifei Liu</div><div><br /></div><div>I normally avoid Disney's live action remakes, because why ruin my childhood with this unnecessary nonsense (actually, that's not true, I've SEEN all of them, I just went into it with a certain attitude that I'm sure you can surmise). But with <i>Mulan</i> I was actually like, "Okay, this might be good," because 1. the cartoon didn't have magic or singing mice; and 2. I wasn't really into the original anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whelp, I was wrong, Disney continues to ruin my childhood. First of all, removing the music was a terrible choice. Even my brother was like, "The hell." Secondly, why would you make a live action remake that's less historically accurate than the cartoon it was based on? Idk people, it just felt like the heart of the original film was ripped out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiYrCseAYaI/YATP8bl-VvI/AAAAAAAAFsk/sbqQE6eySHstDMDMCdBzjrumMidd-HAYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s370/The_Prom_%2528film%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the prom poster" border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiYrCseAYaI/YATP8bl-VvI/AAAAAAAAFsk/sbqQE6eySHstDMDMCdBzjrumMidd-HAYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/The_Prom_%2528film%2529.png" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div><i>The Prom</i>, starring Meryl Streep and James Corden</div><div><br /></div><div><div>"But would it play in Peoria?" Answer: No.</div><div><br /></div><div>The problem with this musical is you go into it thinking itâs going to be about a high school student, but it winds up being about a bunch of uninteresting Broadway actors nobody cares about. And then Auntie Mame, or whoever Meryl Streep is channeling in this role, gives up her career for a high school principal, which doesnât make a lick of sense.</div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, James Corden is as annoying in this film as everyone says. The American accent is not great.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>This year in heidenkindom:</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iX5e74KV2o/YATRbCePcPI/AAAAAAAAFsw/2AnxIgDIV5YNp0RAFewl2BqqQX0KTR4LACLcBGAsYHQ/s750/IMG_0006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="this is without a doubt the shittiest production of les mis I have ever seen" border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="750" height="309" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iX5e74KV2o/YATRbCePcPI/AAAAAAAAFsw/2AnxIgDIV5YNp0RAFewl2BqqQX0KTR4LACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h309/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Well, 2021 is off to... a start. Only 3 more days. Fingers crossed.</div><div><br /></div><div>The holidays were actually pretty nice. I was worried with the pandemic Christmas would be a total bummer, but it turned out to be cozy and less stressful than usual. We had our office Christmas party over Zoom and it was a definite improvement because 1. It lasted EXACTLY one hour; 2. I didn't have to pay for a meal at a restaurant I never wanted to go to in the first place; and 3. I didn't have to wrap a stupid white elephant present. Yay!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also had two whole weeks off from the university, which provided a mental break I definitely needed. Maybe not enough of a mental break, but a break.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for my 2021 goals, I have an appointment to look at a condo tomorrow. The HOA fees seem pretty high, they don't allow dogs (this could be a deal breaker tbh), and I kinda had my heart set on a house, but I do want to start looking at places to see what my options are.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all the news that's fit to print for January so far. How has your New Year been going?</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-49255283294763508562020-12-28T16:51:00.001-07:002020-12-28T16:51:22.004-07:00Year-End Round Up for 2020<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i17yRnsY4eo/X-pFWY3rWTI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/8tYkDRpeXe0TTd-iuLLQiyYjwarDaExVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1350/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="top nine insta images" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i17yRnsY4eo/X-pFWY3rWTI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/8tYkDRpeXe0TTd-iuLLQiyYjwarDaExVwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h400/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top 9 images for 2020</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Happy almost-2021, friends! Whelp, it's been a year. It's strange to think the year is ending when most days felt like they lasted a week. But time flies whether you're having fun or not, and it does almost seem like I blinked in March and when I opened my eyes it was December.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since it's been so quiet around here (by which I mean the blog), I thought I'd give a month-by-month snapshot of what happened in my life in 2020:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>January</b>: Went to Portland for a week for work-related training. Fulfilled <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2019/12/year-end-round-up-for-2019.html" target="_blank">my 2019 goal</a> of visiting Bisbee, Arizona. It was everything I was hoping and more; however, by the time I came home I was so tired and broke I swore I would spend my next vacation at home. LITTLE DID I KNOW.</div><div><br /><b>February</b>: Saw Josh Gates in Denver, another bucket list item! But again, driving up to Denver was a lot of time and stress, and we didn't even get to have him sign our books, so I questioned whether this was truly worth it.</div><div><br /><b>March</b>: Started shopping for a new mattress. Then everything went into lockdown. Moved to working 100% remote.</div><div><br /><b>April</b>: Had an emotional breakdown during Easter.</div><div><br /><b>May</b>: Bought a mattress; however, it was not in stock and they said it could be up to two weeks until it came in due to COVID-19. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also had a series of stressful Zoom job interviews. One would think interviewing over Zoom would be easier than in person; one would be wrong.</div><div><br /><b>June</b>: Still no mattress; now they say it won't be on the truck until the end of July. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, got the job I interviewed for.</div><div><br /><b>July</b>: Returned to working on-campus 2 days a week. Saw a movie in theaters for the first time in 4 months. New CRM we'd been working on since January went live.</div><div><br /><b>August</b>: Went down to the mattress place to demand my money back, since this whole mattress thing clearly wasn't working out. They pulled a mattress out of their asses and swore it was mine. I have my doubts.</div><div><br /><b>September</b>: The mattress is a brick.</div><div><br /><b>October</b>: Turned 40. Had an okay birthday by global pandemic standards.</div><div><br /><b>November</b>: Campus closed down and everyone moved back to 100% remote. They gave us all of Thanksgiving week off, which was good since I was starting to feel like the living embodiment of the Hang In There cat meme. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wrote a negative review of the mattress place and they said they would "try" to make it right.</div><div><br /><b>December</b>: Christmas was surprisingly nice. One of my friends took pity on me and gave me enough money to buy a new mattress somewhere else. In sadder news, the store I've been working at since 2014 closed permanently.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div>It was a very not-normal year, but some good things did happen. <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2020/02/sunday-snapshot-for-february.html" target="_blank">I got to see Bisbee</a>, as mentioned previously, and I got another job with more responsibility. And stress, don't get me wrong - but on the plus side I'm not bored anymore.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Overall I feel very grateful this year, for the fact that I can keep my job and work 100% remote, as well as for the support of my family, friends, and colleagues. 2020 brought unexpected blessings, and while I still have the occasional emotional freakout at how weird things are, I think I also learned some important lessons. Like don't complain about how tired I am after a vacation.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Year in Books</h3><div><br /></div><div>I wish I could say quarantine led to me reading more, but that's simply not the case. I've finished 33 books so far, about the same as <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2019/12/year-end-round-up-for-2019.html" target="_blank">last year</a>. But my reading habits did change a bit in response to current circumstances. Here are some of the highlights:</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Longmire Series</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vqFlUBBttY/X-pcICmMjLI/AAAAAAAAFqc/3IYns9yLiKQTE3cJBpGaJq-tWfXFtg9VACLcBGAsYHQ/s475/the%2Bwestern%2Bstar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the western star by craig johnson" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vqFlUBBttY/X-pcICmMjLI/AAAAAAAAFqc/3IYns9yLiKQTE3cJBpGaJq-tWfXFtg9VACLcBGAsYHQ/w212-h320/the%2Bwestern%2Bstar.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I listened to 5 Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson on audio. Some of the books are better than others. So far my favorites are <i>Hell Is Empty</i> and <i>An Obvious Fact</i>.<div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Twilight</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIdh4UFl17w/X-pdC-zKcLI/AAAAAAAAFqk/kkbflB3mZ-sXhwbjc97KvMY6RaSHQgt0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s675/midnight%2Bsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="midnight sun by stephenie meyer" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIdh4UFl17w/X-pdC-zKcLI/AAAAAAAAFqk/kkbflB3mZ-sXhwbjc97KvMY6RaSHQgt0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w212-h320/midnight%2Bsun.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div>As mentioned in <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2020/08/sunday-snapshot-quarantine-edition.html" target="_blank">my August Sunday Snapshot</a>, <i>Twilight</i> was my go-to comfort read and watch this year. I re-read all but the first book (and the year isn't over), and then I read Meyer's new release, <i>Midnight Sun</i>. Which was long. Good. But very, very long.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Rom-Coms</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIrFoV35KZc/X-pgRq_nHVI/AAAAAAAAFqw/DTrkZX5fVAcgs74KFiJgp29G-yrioS66wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/500%2Bmiles%2Bfrom%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="500 miles from you" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIrFoV35KZc/X-pgRq_nHVI/AAAAAAAAFqw/DTrkZX5fVAcgs74KFiJgp29G-yrioS66wCLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/500%2Bmiles%2Bfrom%2Byou.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z12tNR6wdvc/X-pgRtO1PpI/AAAAAAAAFq4/yZQXKobwciMa-D_D6uHfp42vNLZbzCbYACLcBGAsYHQ/s595/boyfriend%2Bmaterial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="boyfriend material" border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="396" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z12tNR6wdvc/X-pgRtO1PpI/AAAAAAAAFq4/yZQXKobwciMa-D_D6uHfp42vNLZbzCbYACLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/boyfriend%2Bmaterial.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4B4_6Rl7ZM/X-pgRiz8DCI/AAAAAAAAFq0/ygSHg-HJ444wYcen_ptoWv5_loE6PkkxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s475/red%2Bwhite%2Band%2Broyal%2Bblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="red, white and royal blue" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4B4_6Rl7ZM/X-pgRiz8DCI/AAAAAAAAFq0/ygSHg-HJ444wYcen_ptoWv5_loE6PkkxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w131-h200/red%2Bwhite%2Band%2Broyal%2Bblue.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br /><div>Nearly all of my favorite reads of the year were contemporary rom-coms. <i>Red, White, and Royal Blue</i> is a delightful story about a romance between the son of the US president and the prince of England. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Boyfriend Material</i> is a completely hilarious romp that I bought by accident and then was too lazy to return. It's about the son of an aging rock star who's trying to patch up his public image by dating the most boring person he can think of.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>500 Miles from You</i> isn't so much of a haha comedy as a happy ending comedy (the first few chapters are honestly kind of a downer), but it offered total escapism to the Scottish Highlands, which was exactly what I needed when I was reading it.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Reading by the Numbers:</h4><div>Total books: 33</div><div>55% of those books were by women</div><div>42% were audiobooks</div><div>36% were romances</div><div>15% were by POC</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Year In Movies</h3><div><br /></div><div>I watched 56 movies this year, about 30% more than in 2019. Obviously only a few of them were new releases and even less were in theaters. Here are some of the favorites 2020 brought us:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbJGryG5Ll4/X0wdov0VmnI/AAAAAAAAFmM/RwbOgx320xcd-uY0zxG-rFHQ-_61nyg2QCPcBGAYYCw/s1000/hamilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hamiton" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbJGryG5Ll4/X0wdov0VmnI/AAAAAAAAFmM/RwbOgx320xcd-uY0zxG-rFHQ-_61nyg2QCPcBGAYYCw/w216-h320/hamilton.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Hamilton</b></div><div><br /></div><div>DUH. It was everything I wanted and more.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGanjoouxVY/X5XxwSIINQI/AAAAAAAAFn8/qu-6yeNmXhY-Xv0w9YJcCHmhi74nJkjjgCPcBGAYYCw/s385/Tenet_movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tenet" border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGanjoouxVY/X5XxwSIINQI/AAAAAAAAFn8/qu-6yeNmXhY-Xv0w9YJcCHmhi74nJkjjgCPcBGAYYCw/w216-h320/Tenet_movie_poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Tenet</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Not as layered and thoughtful as some of Nolan's other movies, but definitely cool. Well worth watching, imo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m57CtQ72fXM/X0welWnT5rI/AAAAAAAAFmU/afZkAl1G2JMgs5yuMXSP7gf_WuXNI0ovACPcBGAYYCw/s1000/palm%2Bsprings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="palm springs" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m57CtQ72fXM/X0welWnT5rI/AAAAAAAAFmU/afZkAl1G2JMgs5yuMXSP7gf_WuXNI0ovACPcBGAYYCw/w219-h320/palm%2Bsprings.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Palm Springs</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A super-duper smart twist on <i>Groundhog Day</i> that's also funny and sweet. Not to mention 100% appropriate for a year where all the days feel like they blend together.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--g816Lf0JIE/X-pnpsBD9hI/AAAAAAAAFrM/EIf46T3_WCgArIJ_8jKDKVxYK587HudegCLcBGAsYHQ/s383/The_Invisible_Man_%25282020_film%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the invisible man" border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--g816Lf0JIE/X-pnpsBD9hI/AAAAAAAAFrM/EIf46T3_WCgArIJ_8jKDKVxYK587HudegCLcBGAsYHQ/w216-h320/The_Invisible_Man_%25282020_film%2529.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>The Invisible Man</b><div><br /></div><div>This is Elisabeth Moss owning it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kaB0byXC0Us/X5X3SkJEQNI/AAAAAAAAFog/jGgT17EoTd0xUiKUr4q7UuqN3HlnLgEngCPcBGAYYCw/s326/Enola_Holmes_poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="enola holmes" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kaB0byXC0Us/X5X3SkJEQNI/AAAAAAAAFog/jGgT17EoTd0xUiKUr4q7UuqN3HlnLgEngCPcBGAYYCw/w216-h320/Enola_Holmes_poster.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Enola Holmes</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The beginning is boring and the ending is rushed, and Henry Cavill as Holmes is pretty hard to buy into. But overall a very enjoyable movie I would watch again. I'm hoping they release more movies in this series!<br /><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Looking Forward to 2021</h3><div>Hopefully 2021 will bring a return to life more normal and more improved for all of us. I believe it will, though I'm not sure how long it will take.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have any reading goals for next year, but I would like to buy a house. I've managed to save up enough for a down payment and have been pre-approved for a mortgage, so now I just need to find a Realtor and start looking!</div><div><br /></div><div>I would also like to start a new hobby. I need something non-work related to obsess over and get myself out of my own head. I'm just not sure what yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year and bright 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What were some of your favorite reads of the year? Do you have any resolutions for 2021?</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-72434307298014853572020-11-22T17:13:00.006-07:002020-11-22T17:14:21.129-07:00Sunday Snapshot: Pre-Thanksgiving Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LuCAWvbXNE/X7rugYLGQfI/AAAAAAAAFpE/jxoDLDDZzuUcBBbE0eKBUzUUlXrDqIcXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1445/IMG_0226.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="a fluffle of bunnies" border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1445" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LuCAWvbXNE/X7rugYLGQfI/AAAAAAAAFpE/jxoDLDDZzuUcBBbE0eKBUzUUlXrDqIcXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/IMG_0226.JPG" title="A fluffle of bunnies" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<br /><b>
Currently reading: </b><div><br /></div><div><i>The Western Star</i> by Craig Johnson: Love the train mystery /
Agatha Christie vibe to this one, but listening on audiobook it's hard to tell
if we're in the present day or 1972. Also, Martha seems very unreasonable. <div><br /></div><div><b>Movies watched: </b></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CjBvx8lG6A/X7rvhYQsx1I/AAAAAAAAFpM/rDOO7M6srPYh9Sio_892T2DzuJbMCiFcACLcBGAsYHQ/s326/Rebecca_poster.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="rebecca poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CjBvx8lG6A/X7rvhYQsx1I/AAAAAAAAFpM/rDOO7M6srPYh9Sio_892T2DzuJbMCiFcACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Rebecca_poster.jpeg" /></a></div><i>
Rebecca</i>, starring Lily James and Armie Hammer
<br />
<br />This movie is AWFUL. The only reason to watch it is to truly appreciate how good Hitchcock's version is. Otherwise, I almost feel sorry for everyone involved in this film because it's a complete waste of time. Everyone except Armie Hammer, that is: his interpretation of Maxim de Winter was a <b>T R A V E S T Y</b>. How on earth he took moody and mysterious Max and turned him into Generic Boring Rich Bloke I'll never understand, but if I was him I'd get IMDb to strike this from my page asap. It's just an embarrassing performance. Not recommended.<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUjwYINUPbc/X7ryvPuidNI/AAAAAAAAFpY/4nDwA6_s01k4B4iqSWXctBXNP5aDq9P5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s326/Holidate_film_poster.png" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="holidate poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUjwYINUPbc/X7ryvPuidNI/AAAAAAAAFpY/4nDwA6_s01k4B4iqSWXctBXNP5aDq9P5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Holidate_film_poster.png" /></a></div><i>Holidate</i>, starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey<br />
<br />
<br />Two people who can't find dates for holidays, because they are awful and unpleasant to be around, make a pact to be each other's "holidates." But then they sleep together and it's just like, "Well. This is probably the best we can do anyway."<br /><br />When this movie first started, I had the optimistic idea that it would be a clever twist on <i>Holiday Inn</i>. I'm not sure why I thought that but I was wrong. There isn't a single likable character in this sad excuse for a rom-com, except possibly the bunny suit-wearing doctor, Faarooq (and don't even get me started on how he's treated). But by far the least likable character is the romantic lead, Jackson. I wouldn't wish him as a boyfriend on my worst enemy, which Sloane (Emma Roberts' character) could potentially be. Give me <i>A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby</i> over this drech any day.<br /><br /><b>And, favorite Hallmark Christmas movie so far!</b><br />
<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ewLyexFwZYQ/X7r1Hf-bNmI/AAAAAAAAFpk/yzoEM-_4Zs0KArEzitpikzqPbhATM3IuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s268/a%2Btimeless%2Bchristmas.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="a timeless christmas" border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ewLyexFwZYQ/X7r1Hf-bNmI/AAAAAAAAFpk/yzoEM-_4Zs0KArEzitpikzqPbhATM3IuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/a%2Btimeless%2Bchristmas.jpg" /></a></div><i>A Timeless Christmas</i><br /><br /><br />Megan has been fascinated by early 20th-century inventor and businessman, Charles Whitley, ever since she learned of his mysterious disappearance - and saw his hot, hot portrait in the restored Whitley House and Museum. But when someone who claims to be and looks exactly Charles Whitley suddenly shows up at the house, she wonders if giving up her job as head of the museum is something she really wants to do.<br /><br />TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE, y'all! This was enjoyable and the lead was not boring, which is honestly about all I ask from Hallmark movies at this point. I also liked that Megan wrote her thesis on him and knew all his inside secrets. The ending kind of left things a bit unresolved, but I would watch this one again.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Since my last post, cases of COVID-19 have exploded in the state. I've never been so happy to unilaterally make the decision that me and my team were going to work 100% remote. Last week the university reported that 200+ students and faculty were in quarantine, either because they'd tested positive, lived with someone who tested positive, or were known to be in contact with someone who tested positive. In October, it was 30 for the whole month. For most of this pandemic, it seemed like I and most people I knew didn't personally know anyone who'd contracted the virus; now I know several people who've tested positive or are being tested.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, it's scary out there. And I have to say I'm grateful I can work from home, AND that the university gave everyone the whole week of Thanksgiving off. I was starting to feel like that "Hang in there!" cat meme, tbh, so I need the break. I do plan to work on some administrative stuff this coming week that needs to get done, but otherwise I am going to decorate for Christmas and prep for Thanksgiving and read and listen to records and watch Hallmark movies. And possibly re-read <i>Twilight</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the book front, I've read 3 paperback books in a row. That I bought on a whim. In an actual bookstore. For years, I've only ever bought physical copies of books <i>after</i> I'd read them in ebook format and decided I need to keep them for posterity. But for some reason - I don't know if it's the whole remote working thing and constantly being on Zoom or what - right now I'm just really digging actual physical books I can hold in my hand.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the books I just finished was <i>Spoiler Alert</i> by Olivia Dade, and I highly recommend it. It's super twisty and fun and meta fan-fiction-y and I honestly don't know how it works but it does.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Well Met</i> by Jenn DeLuca is another recent paperback read. It's less successful as a romance than it is as a coming of age story, and I was disappointed by the lack of clever banter I was promised, but it's definitely worth picking up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, now I have to pick another book to read, which will be difficult since all I have left are ebooks and the library's closed. (<i>Or I could re-read Twilight, she thought to herself.</i>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway! I hope you and your families are keeping healthy and safe, and that the holidays are bringing you peace and joy. I hope to catch up with you in the comments or on social, and if you live in the US have a happy Thanksgiving.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Discus this post with me on
<u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>,
<a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a>
or in the comments below.
</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-4186294409211769832020-10-25T17:08:00.001-06:002020-10-25T17:08:16.101-06:00Sunday Snapshot for Fall 2020<img alt="fall colors in colorado" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqHCs7X8Qew/X5Xu08RITeI/AAAAAAAAFns/uPD59czaAIsc7gBoOatYmpPkBAMDgnGuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/IMG_1337.jpg" width="320" /><br /><br />Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope you've all been doing well since I last posted in August. It's snowing like gangbusters here but luckily we were able to get up to the mountains and see some of the aspens turning before they lost their leaves.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, let's dive right in to the Sunday Snapshot!</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Currently Reading:</h4><div><i>Party of Two</i> by Jasmine Guillory: I bought a paper copy of this book for myself for my birthday. Like all of Guillory's books it's a light, fast-paced, enjoyable read.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>An Obvious Fact</i> by Craig Johnson: I've been working my way through the Walt Longmire series on audiobook. So far I'm enjoying this one: it's set during the Sturgis biker rally and features Henry's ex, Lola.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Movies:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGanjoouxVY/X5XxwSIINQI/AAAAAAAAFn4/_aKVNkljBAwQ91JgqghWpfXiRqYDc4_hgCLcBGAsYHQ/s385/Tenet_movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tenet poster" border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="260" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGanjoouxVY/X5XxwSIINQI/AAAAAAAAFn4/_aKVNkljBAwQ91JgqghWpfXiRqYDc4_hgCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/Tenet_movie_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><b><i>Tenet</i>, starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and a nearly completely unrecognizable Kenneth Branagh</b><div><br /></div><div>I am a huge Christopher Nolan fan, so nothing was going to keep me from seeing this movie in theaters. It is very, very cool. Is it as successful as <i>Inception</i> or <i>Interstellar</i>? In my opinion, no, and I think that's because unlike those two movies this one isn't based on mythology. It feels complex but not deep, like an ouroboros. That said, it is a wild ride and I would definitely watch it again.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a side note, is RPatt trying to pay down his mortgage all of a sudden or what? First <i>Tenet</i> and then <i>Batman</i>? I thought he'd sworn off blockbuster movies.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpRekMLuNZo/X5X0MaHiysI/AAAAAAAAFoE/kDtUuY3cEEMbpATbU9aZlm9dnKb5kPrkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s384/Where%2527d_You_Go_Bernadette_%2528film_poster%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="where'd you go bernadette poster" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpRekMLuNZo/X5X0MaHiysI/AAAAAAAAFoE/kDtUuY3cEEMbpATbU9aZlm9dnKb5kPrkQCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/Where%2527d_You_Go_Bernadette_%2528film_poster%2529.png" width="135" /></a></div><b><i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i>, starring Cate Blanchett</b><br /><div><br /><div>A frustrating and depressing movie based on a book that I mostly remember as enjoyable. I loved (/sarcasm) how everything is twisted around so that it's Bernadette's fault, including her completely unsupportive husband sleeping with his secretary! </div><div><br /></div><div>Do not recommend, and I plan to avoid any other Richard Linklater movies in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B66qjMloHuc/X5X1iiGFemI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/Tg8F6swh9-4ILr5BFQlYO2clm9STVPMagCLcBGAsYHQ/s327/Sorry_to_Bother_You.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sorry to bother you poster" border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B66qjMloHuc/X5X1iiGFemI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/Tg8F6swh9-4ILr5BFQlYO2clm9STVPMagCLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h200/Sorry_to_Bother_You.png" width="134" /></a></div><b><i>Sorry to Bother You</i>, starring Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A super duper weird, surrealistic movie. Broke and without many prospects, Cash Green gets a job at telemarketing firm where he's paid bupkis. But all that changes when he adopts a "white voice" over the phone. Suddenly he goes from zero to hero at the firm and starts earning major bonuses. Ensue hilarious social commentary? Not quite.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think if you like films like <i>The Cabin</i> and <i>Get Out </i>you'll want to watch this movie. I can guarantee you won't be able to predict where it's going.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kaB0byXC0Us/X5X3SkJEQNI/AAAAAAAAFoc/lPFHuFDZYY4xtnbKwbC7AiGNK78PqRLEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s326/Enola_Holmes_poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="enola holmes poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kaB0byXC0Us/X5X3SkJEQNI/AAAAAAAAFoc/lPFHuFDZYY4xtnbKwbC7AiGNK78PqRLEQCLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h200/Enola_Holmes_poster.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><b><i>Enola Holmes</i>, starring Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, and Henry Cavill</b><br /><div><br /><div>Who could have predicted I'd want to watch this??? Basically, the beginning was slow and boring, and the ending felt like a million things thrown together at once. But the middle part was fantastic! I really hope they continue these movies as a series so I can see more of this ridiculously attractive Sam Claflin person.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Quarantine Things:</h4><div>You'll all be happy to know that I've managed to keep myself from either reading or watching anything related to <i>Twilight</i> for the past few weeks. Well, except for that one time I rewatched the first movie again. But minor slip.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9X8PUvqBEa8/X5X8ayyXCyI/AAAAAAAAFow/pyU9FJbAWD0jzfpc6mladpgGD-XaYHcOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s680/Find-Me-in-Paris-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ballerinas performing a baroque dance off" border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9X8PUvqBEa8/X5X8ayyXCyI/AAAAAAAAFow/pyU9FJbAWD0jzfpc6mladpgGD-XaYHcOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/Find-Me-in-Paris-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>In <i>Find Me In Paris</i> news, I made it to season 3 and I'm super annoyed because Max left the show, and the way he left didn't even make sense! So in the final ep of season 2, Lena (the time traveling ballerina) told Max she was a time traveler and she was going back to 1905. And he BEGGED her not to go and even tried to go after her, but the portal closed. Fast forward to season 3: Lena returns to the present to find that Max has left to go to America, even though he's from London and said he was planning to go there. So he begs her to stay, tries to follow her, and then immediately leaves for another continent? What??? Also, they're not even in Paris anymore, they moved to the South of France, which. Not Paris. Just saying.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-heGAfZw3RjE/X5X7_DEZDiI/AAAAAAAAFoo/aoR6nKIVpS8h_Hp-wLRUukteg_FeLmVXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1400/emily%2Bin%2Bparis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="emily at a touristy cafe" border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-heGAfZw3RjE/X5X7_DEZDiI/AAAAAAAAFoo/aoR6nKIVpS8h_Hp-wLRUukteg_FeLmVXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h213/emily%2Bin%2Bparis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I felt like I needed a break from the time traveling ballerina after that, so I switched to <i>Emily in Paris</i>, which is a fantastic show that only has ten episodes and gives me all the Paris feels. And I could definitely use some glamorous Parisian escapism right now. Recommended!</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">These months in heidenkindom:</h4><div>Cabin fever is definitely setting in at chez heidenkind. School started at the university with 50% on-campus staffing limits. On the plus side, we didn't have to go through screenings anymore, which I was happy about because they were a pain. And it was nice to be with my team in person a couple days a week instead of communicating over email or zoom all the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>The week before last we moved into a space where I actually had my own office instead of sharing one or using the closet. Just in time for them to tell us they're rolling back the staffing limit to 25% and we'll all be 100% remote again after Thanksgiving break. At least they gave us a few days' notice this time instead of 12 hours like they did in March. But the sum of it is, since our team is so small and only one of us really needs to be on campus to do their job, I'm going back to 100% remote. I wouldn't say I'm broken up about it, especially on days like today when it's snowing and I know the roads will be awful the next morning, but still.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I've accumulated so many hours of annual leave that I HAVE to take at least 16 hours a month or I'll start losing hours. I don't know about you all, but I am going to take a looooooong vacation once this is all over.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, it was my birthday this month. I turned 40 (!). Yikes. I am officially old. Olllld old old. For a birthday during quarantine it was okay. I bought some champagne for myself, some books, and I got Japanese gin and a backup camera as presents.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also been reading some pretty good books lately. <i>Boyfriend Material</i> by Alexis Hall has to be my favorite read of the year so far: awesome characters, super fun story, a ton of Britishisms I immediately started throwing into casual conversation, and just an overall excellent romantic comedy. A few other recent reads I highly recommend:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>500 Miles from You</i> by Jenny Colgan: Colgan never disappoints in the escapism department. This book started off pretty depressing, but once the characters switched places it became a heartwarming tale of healing in a tiny Scottish village.</li><li><i>The Order</i> by Daniel Silva: Another author who rarely disappoints. I could see the "twist" at the end coming from a mile off, but otherwise this is another fast-paced suspense novel set right before a Vatican conclave. <b>Father Joshua lives!</b></li><li><i>Salvation of a Saint</i> by Keigo Higashino: Some serious Agatha Christie vibes with this one. As with all Higashino's novels, it's not so much a question of who did it but how. A very clever and twisty novel</li></ul><div>That's all that's been going on in my world! Do you have any books, movies, or television to recommend as we slide into the holiday season?</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-80082441268217063772020-08-30T17:25:00.004-06:002020-08-30T17:25:30.665-06:00Sunday Snapshot: Quarantine Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkFUOADV6UU/X0wYo6n6DWI/AAAAAAAAFl0/8Ue15EYPqfoXyAAGPn9KcqDO_uvcEgJWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FC119D5D-566E-45C5-9B94-E1A6264C5890.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: none;"><img alt="sunset photo with moon and clouds" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkFUOADV6UU/X0wYo6n6DWI/AAAAAAAAFl0/8Ue15EYPqfoXyAAGPn9KcqDO_uvcEgJWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FC119D5D-566E-45C5-9B94-E1A6264C5890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Hello again friends! Long time no post, although it weirdly doesn't feel like it's been six months since I last checked in. Time has no meaning anymore! Anyway, on with the post. <div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Currently reading:</b> </h3><div><br /></div><div><i>The Order</i> by Daniel Silva - Just started this one. It's giving me major <i>Angels and Demons</i> vibes.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Warlock Holmes: The Finality Problem</i> by GS Denning - Another fun volume in this highly recommendable series. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Movies:</b></h3><div><br /></div><div>
Most of the movies I've seen during quarantine are re-watches, but there were a couple of new (or new to me) movies that I've caught on Netflix or Hulu. Here are some of the more memorable.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hng53uOpSP0/X0wcku3DPFI/AAAAAAAAFmA/GeybMFttym8j-9aT2fnKIZc4QWeFhr46gCLcBGAsYHQ/s956/a%2Bdash%2Bof%2Blove.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="a dash of love" border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="637" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hng53uOpSP0/X0wcku3DPFI/AAAAAAAAFmA/GeybMFttym8j-9aT2fnKIZc4QWeFhr46gCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/a%2Bdash%2Bof%2Blove.jpg" /></a></div><b><i>A Dash of Love</i>, starring Jen Lilley and Brendan Penny</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, this is a Hallmark movie, I admit it. I started watching it when I woke up on the couch at 1 AM and it totally sucked me in. It's about two chefs who struggle for recognition against an evil celebrichef who steals their ideas. Way better than your average Hallmark movie.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbJGryG5Ll4/X0wdov0VmnI/AAAAAAAAFmI/CjUnaplfONY7tubZwzLfgv2KFk5TCy8CwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/hamilton.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="hamilton" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbJGryG5Ll4/X0wdov0VmnI/AAAAAAAAFmI/CjUnaplfONY7tubZwzLfgv2KFk5TCy8CwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/hamilton.jpg" /></a></div><b><i>Hamilton</i>, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, et. al.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>THANK YOU DISNEY FOR THIS GIFT. Of course I knew <i>Hamilton</i> was going to be good, and I knew I would like it, but I didn't know just how good and how much I would love it until I actually saw it performed. </div><div><br /></div><div>As an aside, there is a <i>Hamilton</i> song for every situation in life.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m57CtQ72fXM/X0welWnT5rI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/Q2FwZfGltM0FZG2hXrReoFNlefgUjKnpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/palm%2Bsprings.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="palm springs" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="683" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m57CtQ72fXM/X0welWnT5rI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/Q2FwZfGltM0FZG2hXrReoFNlefgUjKnpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/palm%2Bsprings.jpg" /></a></div><b><i>Palm Springs</i>, starring Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoy the movie <i>Groundhog Day</i> (full disclosure: I've never actually seen it), you will LOVE <i>Palm Springs</i>. It's a super clever and funny twist on a very familiar plot. Nyles and Sarah are trapped in a time loop that spans the day of Sarah's sister's wedding. Luckily, they have each other to make the never-ending day different and fun. At least until Sarah decides to make a break for it. Watch it on Hulu!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wED0YSJ2LPc/X0whvTduluI/AAAAAAAAFmc/nGSUQMZzjQ8x8CvnNzKgqk7N8IPFG5XfACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/a%2Bsimple%2Bfavor.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="a simple favor" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="657" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wED0YSJ2LPc/X0whvTduluI/AAAAAAAAFmc/nGSUQMZzjQ8x8CvnNzKgqk7N8IPFG5XfACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/a%2Bsimple%2Bfavor.jpg" /></a></div><b><i>A Simple Favor</i>, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively </b></div><div><br /></div><div>A lighter, brighter <i>Gone Girl</i>. Anna Kendrick is great in this movie and I loved the dynamic between her and Lively. Very much worth watching.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ7LLgf2EP4/X0wjMe4cklI/AAAAAAAAFmo/H2gKJMMig78NSbA3ILp2mwvTeaQrGXh1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/booksmart.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="booksmart" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="674" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ7LLgf2EP4/X0wjMe4cklI/AAAAAAAAFmo/H2gKJMMig78NSbA3ILp2mwvTeaQrGXh1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/booksmart.jpg" /></a></div><b><i>Booksmart</i>, starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein </b></div><div><br /></div><div>TBH I was kind of disappointed in this one. I've seen movies before with literally the exact same plot (two teenagers try to find an epic party to prove they're cool/make a move on their crush and in the process find themselves and discover their true friends) that were way funnier. I did appreciate the feminism, however. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>New segment! Quarantine things</b> </h3><div><br /></div><div>These are things that have taken over my life during the QT. What's been your quarantine thing the past few months?
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nOK23J7CPyg/X0wk6DpTm_I/AAAAAAAAFm0/hF_H1DbMZ1Ed20MMezY9JOvQs3UCmDRbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s980/twilight.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: none;"><img alt="twilight <3 triangle" border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="980" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nOK23J7CPyg/X0wk6DpTm_I/AAAAAAAAFm0/hF_H1DbMZ1Ed20MMezY9JOvQs3UCmDRbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/twilight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">
Twilight </h4></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, I'm not going to say I'm proud of this, but I've watched <i>Twilight</i> three times since April. A movie has to be truly remarkably bad to be endlessly entertaining in its badness. And that's just the first movie! I also re-watched the other three movies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then I thought I should re-read <i>Eclipse</i> since I hadn't done that yet (and trust me, I never will again. The only reason to read that book is the scene in the tent). I WAS going to regroup and try to read something adultish afterwards, but then I was like, "But what will the wedding look like??" as if I didn't already know. So I reread <i>Breaking Dawn</i> and admittedly it was worse than I remembered. But babies chewing their way out of the womb FTW. </div><div><br /></div><div>AND THEN <i>Midnight Sun</i> was released and, well, what's person to do? It's like Stephanie Meyer is reading my mind or something. So I read that. It only took 3 weeks and by the end I was so read out I never wanted to look at another book again. Don't get me wrong, it was good, and so much of Edward's actions make more sense now. It was just sooooooooooooooo loooooooong. Like so long. When I first started it I thought it was going to cover the entire series, but no, it's just the first book. </div><div><br /></div><div> Anyway. I MAY have to re-read the first <i>Twilight</i> now but I'm trying to control myself.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bvqj_-6rd70/X0woyggSn0I/AAAAAAAAFnA/I2og65SUBjAB3en3-l-js5TSLUgV6H0rACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/find-me-in-paris.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: none;"><img alt="find me in paris" border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bvqj_-6rd70/X0woyggSn0I/AAAAAAAAFnA/I2og65SUBjAB3en3-l-js5TSLUgV6H0rACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/find-me-in-paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">
Find Me In Paris </h4></div><div><br /></div><div> TIME TRAVELING BALLERINA, Y'ALL. This is a series on Hulu. It's about teenagers. One of them is a ballerina from 1905 who's being pursued by bad guys who look like escapees from a steampunk convention. Her 1905 boyfriend is trying to stop them and get her back. Meanwhile, in 2018, there's a cute ballet dancer named Max who's obviously into her. </div><div><br /></div><div> This show is completely silly and cheesy and I can't stop watching it and I won't stop. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>These months in heidenkindom:</b> </h3><div><br /></div><div> Well, where to start. Things could be worse. The university moved to 100% remote work in late February, and I've been sheltering in place with my parents since then. You'd think if anyone was born to social distance it would be myself, but I've been surprised by how stressful and upsetting true quarantine has been. Yes, I've worked from home before, but I could also do things I enjoyed outside of home, like go to movies, or eat out, or go to a museum. Now, nothing. I had a major breakdown on Easter Sunday and that's not even a big holiday in our house. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, on the plus side, my friends and family are healthy so far and I was able to keep my job. </div><div><br /></div><div> In related job news, work was super stressful the past few months. My supervisor retired just as we started migrating to a new CRM. But that's a cakewalk compared to the new position I started in mid-June: first I was stressed out over whether or not to apply (I didn't meet all of the minimum qualifications). Then I applied and was stressed out over whether to withdraw my application or not. </div><div><br /></div><div> And then came the interviews. I NEVER WANT TO DO ANOTHER JOB INTERVIEW OVER ZOOM FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE. You'd think it'd be easier, but it's not. In fact, the interview with my current supervisor was cut off and had to be rescheduled because her baby woke up. Ahh that WFH life. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, so the hiring committee recommended me but since I didn't meet the minimum qualifications they had to fail the search. Luckily, the job description was rewritten to exclude the one qual I didn't meet, but that meant I had to reapply. Oy vey. But all's well that ends well I guess since I got the job. (just not the pay increase with it for 3 months and there's another long story). </div><div><br /></div><div> As for events, I was able to meet up with Colleen from back in the #hitchfest days as she was traveling through my area! We had a lovely chat and socially distanced lunch on the grass. Definitely the highlight of the last few months! </div><div><br /></div><div> Now things are starting to reopen, which in some ways is a blessing and other ways not so much. I went to see <i>Inception</i>, one of my favorite movies, in theaters for the first time, and it was actually better than it usually is. I like that I don't have to sit next to people in the theater and it's not as crowded. I also went to an exhibit of Venetian art glass at our local art museum. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was nice to get out and see something beautiful. </div><div><br /></div><div> I'm still nervous about eating in restaurants, though, and going onto campus with the mask and the screening is a pain. Not that I want us to go backwards back to 100% remote - hopefully we don't. But I think we all know that's a possibility and quite frankly I don't want to be the one who infects the entire admissions office with COVID-19.</div><div><br /></div><div> So, how have you all been? Is there anyone still out there? If so thanks for visiting and keeping up with this wildly quiet blog. Hope you're all doing well!! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, or in the comments below.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-44136842828237767892020-02-23T15:59:00.000-07:002020-02-23T15:59:28.142-07:00Sunday Snapshot for February<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello all! First of all, thank you to everyone who still stops by to see what's going on with this blog, and especially to those of you who take the time to comment. I know I've been terrible at replying lately but I really do appreciate it.<br />
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Anyway, let's get on with the Sunday Snapshot. There are a lot of snaps at the end of this post if you just want to skip to that.<br />
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<b>Currently Reading:</b><br />
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<i>Newcomer</i> by Keigo Higashino: I actually started reading this book last year, but couldn't get into it. Then I realized it was available on Hoopla as an audiobook and thought I'd give it another go. Let's just say, the detective has spent the last four chapters obsessing over a pair of scissors that have nothing to do with the crime. Uhg.<br />
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<i>The Wedding Party</i> by Jasmine Guillory: I think I would be enjoying this book a lot more if I'd made an effort to read it in a day or two. But it's a perfectly pleasant novel.<br />
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<b>Movies Watched:</b><br />
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Well, there's been a lot. Here are some highlights:<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/"><i>Parasite</i></a> (And I'll be honest, I don't really know which actor played what character so I'm just going to skip that part)<br />
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A really good movie. All the hype is well-deserved. I'm going to have to watch it at least one more time to sort out my feelings and interpretations of the subtext and social commentary, but even without that it's just a well-done thriller that's properly tense and creepy. Plus the art direction is spot-on. Definitely worth seeking out!<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8367814/"><i>The Gentlemen</i></a>, starring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, and Hugh Grant<br />
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OMG you guys. Charlie Hunnam is <b>SO HOT</b> in this movie. I was sure he was going to set his sweater on fire at any moment. I could stare at him in a suit for hours. Or the back of him in jeans.<br />
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As for the movie itself, I guess it was entertaining? ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ Typical Guy Ritchie stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2066051/"><i>Rocketman</i></a>, starring Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell<br />
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This movie is so much better than <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/search?q=bohemian+rhapsody"><i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i></a> that it's hard to believe they're the same genre of film. Lots of super memorable scenes, the music is incorporated both seamlessly and inventively, and the ending is uplifting and hopeful. Not to get all #ownvoices on you guys, but this movie in comparison to <i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i> really does show how much of difference telling your own story can make.<br />
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<b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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In my <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2019/12/year-end-round-up-for-2019.html">year-end wrap-up for 2019</a>, I mentioned I was interviewing for a job in the new year. Well, I didn't get it. But I'm honestly okay with that. I didn't feel 100% ready to fill that position, and I know the person they hired for it will be awesome at it. Plus work has been a lot less boring lately since my supervisor retired, so I'm not sitting in my closet wasting away or anything.<br />
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I also mentioned in my last post that I wanted to do more of what I enjoy, like travel, photography, and reading. 2020 has definitely delivered on some of those!<br />
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The second week of January I went to Portland for job-related training. I didn't get to see a lot of Portland, but I had a ton of wonderful meals there! I also got to check out Powell's, which I didn't think I would have a chance to, so that made me happy. If you're in Portland, be sure to stop by Q Restaurant, Bamboo Sushi, and Pépé le Moko.<br />
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Then, two weeks later I decided to take a mini-vacation to Bisbee, AZ. As I mentioned in the year-end post, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7520286/"><i>Bisbee '17</i></a> was my favorite documentary of 2019, and ever since I saw it I've been obsessed with going to see Bisbee for myself. Well ticket prices into Phoenix weren't bad so I just decided to go for it. I'm so happy I went! The town totally lived up to my expectations: super quaint, full of old Victorian buildings and cute little shops, good restaurants, and the people were very friendly. I took a ghost tour, visited the local museum, and realized caves and me are no longer compatible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Bisbee from my hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brewery gulch, once the seediest street in Arizona</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool gate</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lavender Pit, where copper was mined in Bisbee until the 1970s</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flies are a theme in Bisbee and refer to the early days of the city when there was no plumbing, running water, or soil to compost waste</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually a "suburb" of Bisbee. Now it's mainly a ghost town that a group of locals are restoring to look like it did in the 1950s, with old cars and storefronts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street art in Bisbee</td></tr>
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On the way to/from Bisbee, I stopped at the 17th-century mission church of San Xavier, which was awesome, and took a sunset photography hike at Saguaro National Park.<br />
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I also stopped in Tombstone. It was so lame. If you're going to visit a Old West town in Arizona, it should be Bisbee.<br />
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Finally, I crossed one more bucket list item off this weekend: I saw Josh Gates in person! Unfortunately I didn't get to meet him because they shut the line down before I found it, but it was still awesome. He's so down to earth and exactly like he is on his show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh Gates at the Travel & Adventure Show</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Botanical Gardens in winter</td></tr>
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Anyway, that's been my 2020 so far. Catch me up on what you all have been doing!<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-65053451688034792052019-12-31T15:08:00.000-07:002019-12-31T15:08:56.321-07:00Year-End Round Up for 2019!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My top 9 of 2019 are kinda creepy.</td></tr>
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Happy New Year's! According to the Gregorian calendar, it's that time of year wherein we take stock of the past 12 months (or ten years? Let's not go back that far) and look ahead to the next 12. Welcome to the Year-End Round Up!<br />
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To be honest, I'm approaching 2020 with mixed emotions. <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2019/05/sunday-snapshot-first-post-of-2019.html" target="_blank">As you may recall</a>, at the end of 2019 I started a new job at a university that was very boring. I'd committed to giving it a year, however, and now that I'm at the 13 month mark I have more to do, but I'm still not super engaged with it.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, it's an okay job. I don't dread going into work and I like the people I work with, but it's definitely not something I want to be doing for an extended period of time.<br />
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To that end I applied for another job within the university that feels like a huge jump up. It's a supervisory position in another department. Is that something that I'm 100% confident I will be able to pull off? I'll be honest, no. But I was 100% confident I could do my current job, and now I'm bored, so perhaps a challenge is what I really need. Also, I've suffered from imposter syndrome for a long time, not realizing until recently that that was what was going on, and honestly I'm done with it. <br />
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Either way, I'm stressing out about the interview and the prospect of getting the job and the prospect of not getting the job all simultaneously, so I've basically been like this all break:<br />
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My seasonal depression has also been really bad this year, which is probably another reason why I'm finding it difficult to put myself in the holiday frame of mind. It doesn't seem like I do a lot of what I used to enjoy anymore, like taking photographs, traveling, writing, visiting blogs, finding new cocktails to try, going through Insta, or reading.<br />
<h3>
Year in Reading</h3>
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And speaking of, let's get off the personal track and move on to my year in books in 2019! This year I read just 31 books, compared to last year's number of 51. Not great! Here are some stand-outs:<br />
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<b>Favorite Mystery:</b> <i>The Melting Clock</i> by Stuart M Kaminsky<br />
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Wartime PI Toby Peters is hired by Salvador DalĂ to find three missing paintings by the artist. This book is so much fun! I loved the surreal elements and DalĂ was hilarious. If you're into Old Hollywood, the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/68368-toby-peters">Toby Peters series</a> is totally up your alley.<br />
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<b>Favorite Romance:</b> <i>The Earl I Ruined</i> by Scarlett Peckham<br />
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Technically my favorite romance of the year was a reread of <i>The Chocolate Touch</i>, but for new-to-me books, this was a highly enjoyable historical romp with a smart, vivacious heroine and a tortured hero. You know I loves me some tortured heroes. His Dark Secret was completely crazy pants, but for some reason that didn't bother me too much.<br />
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<b>Favorite Non-Fiction Read:</b> <i>Fluent Forever</i> by Gabriel Wyner<br />
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If you've ever wanted to, or tried to, learn a language, this book is for you! There is a ton of interesting information about learning and memory, and Wyner has an excellent set of tools to help people learn and remember language. I used his method this past semester for my Italian class, and I think it really helped. I started having dreams in Italian the second week! Plus I love what a word nerd Wyner is.<br />
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<h3>
Year in Movies</h3>
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I watched 43 movies this year (not counting Hallmark movies... haha), and I have some Definite Opinions about them.<br />
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<b>Favorite Movie:</b> <i>Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood</i><br />
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This should come as no surprise! I was walking on air for days after seeing this movie; I loved it. I want to live in it. I've listened to the soundtrack so many times I have the commercials memorized.<br />
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<b>Favorite Movie, Runner Up:</b> <i>Knives Out</i><br />
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This twisty mystery is so much fun and you can just tell everyone on the film is having a blast. Will definitely be rewatching this one!<br />
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<b>Favorite Documentary:</b> <i>Bisbee '17</i><br />
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A surreal and super-relevant film about the Bisbee Deportation of 1917, this film proves that the more things change the more they still the same. I still want to go to Bisbee because of this movie.<br />
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<b>Favorite Cameo, possibly of all time:</b> <i>Always Be My Maybe</i><br />
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This romcom was already awesome, and then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnGTnGaRf_k">Keanu Reeves showed up</a> and made it one of greatest things I've ever laid eyes on.<br />
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<h3>
2019 by the Numbers</h3>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>31 books total</li>
<li>74% of those books were by women</li>
<li>41% were romance</li>
<li>50% were audiobooks</li>
<li>Only 4 were authors of color :(</li>
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So clearly for 2020 I need to read more books, read more AOC, be more confident, and travel more so I can take more photos to share with y'all on Insta!<br />
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<b>What were some of your favorite reads of the past year? Any New Year resolutions you want to share?</b><br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-56761174489529981012019-12-22T15:42:00.000-07:002019-12-22T15:42:23.910-07:00Favorite Not-Holiday Movies 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello everyone, and welcome to the third post of the year! Wow, it has been legit radio silent around here. Luckily I'm currently on winter break, so I have time to revive a Christmas tradition here at TBFB: Favorite not-holiday movies! In case you need a reminder, favorite not-holiday movies are movies I think of as "Christmas movies," even though they have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. You can find all of the previous not-holiday movies <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/search/label/favorite%20not%20holiday%20movies">here</a>. And if you can actually get Disqus to work, feel free to share your favorite holiday movies in the comments!<br />
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Without further ado, here are the movies that are giving me the holiday feels this year:<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: red;">She Loves Me</span></i></b>, starring Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi<br />
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This is actually a musical rather than a movie, but the 2016 Broadway revival was recorded and aired on Great Performances. I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH. If you've ever seen <i>You've Got Mail</i>, it's basically the same plot (and based on the same play, <i>Perfumerie</i>) but set in a 1930s Budapest department store. It's so much fun and romantic, but also real with some heartbreaking moments, and the performances and spot-on. The look on Zachary Levi's face when he realizes his pen pal is his work nemesis is priceless. Plus, if I'm not mistaken it takes place during the holidays.<br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #38761d;">A Very Murray Christmas</span></b></i>, starring Bill Murray<br />
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Okay, so sometimes a Christmas movie sneaks into my not-holiday movie list. This Christmas special goes a long way toward justifying Netflix's existence. It's delightful and heartwarming and Bill Murray is a national treasure. Also the scene with Chris Rock is HILARIOUS.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: red;">Knives Out</span></i></b>, starring Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig<br />
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's just not Christmas without Daniel Craig. This movie is sure to be one of my favorites of the year. If you love <i>Clue</i>, you MUST see it. It's a little too long for its own good, but it's so much fun to watch and it's the type of movie that's so chock full of detail, visual puns, and in-jokes, you could watch it 20 times and still notice something new. So it's perfect for annual re-watching!<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Bad Times at the El Royale</span></i></b>, starring Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Bridges<br />
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Groovy and atmospheric, this movie turned me into a die hard Cynthia Erivo fan. Her voice is AMAZING. I love how twisty turny this movie is and how no one is what they seem. Plus, there's a nice cozy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHGXkKUzMEk">fire</a> at the end to put you in the holiday spirit!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-34579989707869212952019-08-11T15:05:00.000-06:002019-08-11T15:05:28.369-06:00Sunday Snapshot for Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oj2H_eBhljw/XVBsEpjK_bI/AAAAAAAAFbg/P6Wvl1vLrQM-QNU3wUrrP7E0cqqxRfemgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="deer in my yard" border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1535" height="255" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oj2H_eBhljw/XVBsEpjK_bI/AAAAAAAAFbg/P6Wvl1vLrQM-QNU3wUrrP7E0cqqxRfemgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
<br />
<i>The New Girl</i> by Daniel Silva: Another excellent novel from Silva with the word girl in the title.<br />
<br />
<i>How to Quit Like a Millionaire</i> by Kristy Shen and Bruce Leung: The whole investing/portfolio thing is a little over my head, tbh. But some good tips nonetheless.<br />
<br />
<b>Posted elsewhere:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://bookriot.com/2019/07/29/fire-financial-books/">5 Books to Start You on FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early)</a><br />
<br />
<b>Movies watched:</b><br />
<br />
I've watched too many movies and if I have to download the posters, this post will never get done. Sorry!<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>John Wick 3</i>, starring all the people from other John Wick movies</h4>
<br />
I loved the kung fu/western vibe in this one, although I remain confused as to why John Wick is so determined to get back into the super secret organization that everyone seems to know about when he was determined to get out of it only one movie ago. But it was an improvement over John Wick 2! Can't wait to see where that cliffhanger ending takes us.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Always Be My Maybe</i>, starring Ali Wong and Randall Park</h4>
<br />
OMG, I love *everything* about this movie. This '90s kid retro vibe, the tension between old and new and working class and wealthy. But really this movie is worth watching purely for the absolutely hilarious <a href="https://youtu.be/Ex403ii_Bhs">Keanu Reeves cameo</a> that is CINEMATIC PERFECTION.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Godzilla: King of the Monsters</i>, starring Godzilla and Mothra</h4>
<br />
Enjoyable, but about 50 minutes too long. So many great lines, though! "I'm no scientist, but I'm guessing it has something to do with its head growing back." "We're not jump-starting a car here." And of course the ineffable, "SHUT UP, RICK!"<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Wine Country</i>, starring Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch</h4>
<br />
The sort of movie where you can see a bit of yourself and people you know in at least some of the characters. I was worried this film was going to be a downer or just ugly, but it was actually a sensitive-but-honest look at female friendship and getting older. Worth streaming.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Yesterday</i>, starring Lily James and Himesh Patel</h4>
<br />
I love the concept of this movie, and there were a lot of cute, funny, and sweet moments. The scene where Jack and Ed Sheeran get into a song write-off (which I think about whenever I hear The Long and Winding Road now) is still making laugh. That said, I have some issues with the ending and I feel like this movie is crying out for a deeper look at the music itself and why the Beatles' songs are so great, not just "Hey it's by the Beatles, so of course it's genius!" I mean, for all we know, the Beatles didn't write their own songs either, they were just the last four people on earth who remembered someone else's music. lol<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Bisbee '17</i>, directed by Robert Greene</h4>
<br />
A really fascinating look at the town of Bisbee, Arizona, set around the anniversary of the Bisbee Deportation of 1917. Prompted by a labor strike, about half the town was rounded up in a baseball field and eventually corralled onto trains, dropped off in the middle of the New Mexican desert, and told never to return. The Deportation literally tore households apart and set brother against brother. And, 100 years later, for some reason Bisbee decided to recreate the event. A super relevant documentary for today and highly recommended.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Crawl</i>, starring Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper</h4>
<br />
What can one say about a movie whose plot centers around giant man-eating gators? You're either going to see it or you won't. If you do, you won't be disappointed.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Love Shot</i>, starring Amy Tsang and Dakota Loesch</h4>
<br />
Reminded me of <i>Baby Driver</i> in that it's ostensibly a thriller about organized crime, but is really a movie all about the music and wrapped up in a love story. I enjoyed it!<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Jane Austen Book Club</i>, starring Kathy Baker and Hugh Dancy</h4>
<br />
The sort of movie you forget you've watched. lol But overall charming.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Chasing Liberty</i>, starring Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode</h4>
<br />
And you thought 41-year-old Matthew Goode was handsome.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Space Between Us</i>, starring Gary Oldman and some young people</h4>
<br />
Aside from the unnecessary, 40-minute prologue and the absolutely terrible ending, it was great.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i>, starring Leonardo di Caprio and Brad Pitt</h4>
<br />
Self-indulgently long, but I totally want to live in this movie, so. Awesome soundtrack, set design, script (best line of the movie: "Don't cry in front of the Mexicans."), performances, everything was on point. Would watch again, immediately.<br />
<br />
<b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--cjVXWkxpMI/XVCBHYDtPGI/AAAAAAAAFbs/3gLxUoEhxc4nwfyTkkyVU61sGgqCCFDlACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0071.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="san diego" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--cjVXWkxpMI/XVCBHYDtPGI/AAAAAAAAFbs/3gLxUoEhxc4nwfyTkkyVU61sGgqCCFDlACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0071.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Only a few weeks off this time. I'm improving! Work this summer at the college has been crazy, but things are settling back down to normal. I'm planning to take a class this fall (Italian 101) because free classes is one of the perks of the job and one of the reasons I decided to accept the position. Hopefully the ol' noggin is still capable of learning and retaining information.<br />
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<br />
In June I went to a conference in San Diego. I didn't get to see a lot of SDCA, but it looked like a beautiful place. I did get to see a Tesla, though!<br />
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<br />
We also got a visit from a trio of deer last week. They came into the yard to eat the sour apples off our tree. They were super close!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5J3lNCDw-8/XVCBpv9QbYI/AAAAAAAAFcA/bu0t1dFh104_JJ93YAba_MvkChdQoLZJwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="deer jumping" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5J3lNCDw-8/XVCBpv9QbYI/AAAAAAAAFcA/bu0t1dFh104_JJ93YAba_MvkChdQoLZJwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As for how the rest of my summer is going, it's been pretty quiet. I haven't had time to read a lot of books or go on any other trips. The best book I've read all summer is probably The New Girl, which I haven't even finished yet (but almost!).<br />
<br />
How about you? How has your summer been going?<br />
<br />
<br />
Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-91395669946281349642019-05-26T17:27:00.000-06:002019-05-26T17:27:34.741-06:00Sunday Snapshot + First post of 2019!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBSSCgzS8l4/XOsFKnAy0LI/AAAAAAAAFVA/Y4SZnCfk7FUbApHJO9kjZJDKh8Tn8wrLwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cbe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the blue lagoon" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBSSCgzS8l4/XOsFKnAy0LI/AAAAAAAAFVA/Y4SZnCfk7FUbApHJO9kjZJDKh8Tn8wrLwCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cbe.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blue Lagoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31690153-the-mortal-word"><i>The Mortal World</i></a> (The Invisible Library #5) by Genevieve Cogman: w00t, another Invisible Library book.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39338454-the-bride-test"><i>The Bride Test</i></a> by Helen Hoang: I'm enjoying this one a lot more than <i>The Kiss Quotient</i>. Khai is pretty funny.<br />
<br />
<b>Posts elsewhere you may have missed:</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://bookriot.com/2019/02/28/reading-lisa-kleypas/">Where to start reading Lisa Kleypas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bookriot.com/2019/05/02/best-sous-vide-cookbooks/">The best sous vide cookbooks</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Movies:</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjMoq4vU4f0/XOsJcVYsuUI/AAAAAAAAFVM/-9fTJbtAUJMKxUJWnnvOtn0h3x0uEBbAgCLcBGAs/s1600/Cold_Pursuit_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="cold pursuit poster" border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="254" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjMoq4vU4f0/XOsJcVYsuUI/AAAAAAAAFVM/-9fTJbtAUJMKxUJWnnvOtn0h3x0uEBbAgCLcBGAs/s200/Cold_Pursuit_poster.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Pursuit"><i>Cold Pursuit</i></a>, starring Liam Neeson<br />
<br />
If I hadn't already seen the movie this was based on, <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2017/11/pre-thanksgiving-sunday-snapshot.html"><i>Kraftidioten</i></a>, I probably would have enjoyed it more. It didn't have the same sense of humor as its predecessor and Neeson doesn't bring a lot to the table in terms of acting. The final scene was pretty hilarious, though.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LH-tzsQtqkQ/XOsKSi56WtI/AAAAAAAAFVU/GB-HqmoUf28OubBnO2G80q1Rp-b370SYgCLcBGAs/s1600/Arctic_film_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="arctic poster" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="203" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LH-tzsQtqkQ/XOsKSi56WtI/AAAAAAAAFVU/GB-HqmoUf28OubBnO2G80q1Rp-b370SYgCLcBGAs/s200/Arctic_film_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_(film)"><i>Arctic</i></a>, starring Mads Mikkelsen <br />
<br />
You'll feel like YOU just spent a week in the arctic after watching this movie. A survivalist film where only about three words are spoken, if that. It's pretty intense and well-made but I don't think I want to go on that journey again.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Rhapsody_(film)"><i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i></a>, starring Rami Malek<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the first half of the movie, but the second half felt clichéd and repetitive. Plus, I feel like this movie was crying out for further exploration of the relationship between Freddy and whatever-her-name-was.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzoL_leYb3s/XOsMNjUNJaI/AAAAAAAAFVo/osBJ8kwn2nMnFEpeaREv9HFBObeDMB9GACLcBGAs/s1600/Stoker_teaser_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="stoker poster" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzoL_leYb3s/XOsMNjUNJaI/AAAAAAAAFVo/osBJ8kwn2nMnFEpeaREv9HFBObeDMB9GACLcBGAs/s200/Stoker_teaser_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoker_(film)"><i>Stoker</i></a>, starring Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, and Nicole Kidman<br />
<br />
This film is living proof Matthew Goode does not always make good decisions. I watched it on the plane and it is SO BAD. Like sooooooo bad. I almost quit watching it four times but there was literally nothing else available on the in-flight entertainment. Cloying, predictable, misogynistic, and obvious, with absolutely zero effort put into character development or logic. DO NOT WATCH. Don't make the same mistake me and Matthew Goode did.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ef0zdToEnSQ/XOsNP7IDQtI/AAAAAAAAFV0/R1xfi6KOxjEZ7YyqBvUFOHlt__REhJMFACLcBGAs/s1600/A_Star_is_Born.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="a star is born poster" border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ef0zdToEnSQ/XOsNP7IDQtI/AAAAAAAAFV0/R1xfi6KOxjEZ7YyqBvUFOHlt__REhJMFACLcBGAs/s200/A_Star_is_Born.png" width="133" /></a></div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Star_Is_Born_(2018_film)"><i>A Star is Born</i></a>, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper<br />
<br />
The best of the "A Star is Born" movies made so far, not that that's saying a lot coming from me. It was actually pretty good, but the ending came out of nowhere and felt pointless and manipulative.<br />
<br />
Also, everyone talks about how great Lady Gaga is in this movieâand she is good, I'm a fanâbut she was basically playing herself. Bradley Cooper was playing a character and he did a fantastic job of it. More props to Cooper.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukkjQtb6eeQ/XOsOiR7AJxI/AAAAAAAAFWA/Ed_hRt5s50gmbuyNqJt6YWjjCTjFLEQwQCLcBGAs/s1600/About_Time_%25282013_film%2529_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="about time poster" border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukkjQtb6eeQ/XOsOiR7AJxI/AAAAAAAAFWA/Ed_hRt5s50gmbuyNqJt6YWjjCTjFLEQwQCLcBGAs/s200/About_Time_%25282013_film%2529_Poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/About_Time_(2013_film)"><i>About Time</i></a>, starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams<br />
<br />
This movie starts out as a romantic comedy about a guy who keeps going back in time to get the girl, but ends up as a movie about life and the connection between fathers and sons. Unexpectedly touching and definitely worth streaming.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Basis_of_Sex"><i>On the Basis of Sex</i></a>, starring Felicity Jones<br />
<br />
There was a lot less lawyering going on this movie than I would have liked/anticipated. The first half of the film focuses on Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her life as one of a handful of women studying law at Harvard, all while:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Being first in her class</li>
<li>Raising a kid</li>
<li>Caring for her hubby, who has cancer</li>
<li>Taking her hubby's classes and typing his papers so he doesn't fall behind getting *his* law degree</li>
<li>Getting an additional degree at Columbia at some point (??? this was never really explained)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
HOW DID SHE DO IT, FOLKS. Darn if I know. Then it skips ahead to her struggle to find a job at a law firm, giving up, getting a job teaching at Rutgers; then skips ahead again to the '70s and her and her teenage daughter fighting constantly. Eventually we do get to see some lawyering and Dramatic Courtroom Scenes, and the story picks up steam, but the first half definitely feels slow and edited down to within an inch of its life. That said, I enjoyed watching it and learning more about RBG. Recommended.<br />
<br />
<b>These (almost) six months in heidenkindom:</b><br />
<br />
Whelp, it's definitely been radio silent around here for the past few months. With my new job, trying to keep my hand in freelance writing, and working at the store on Saturdays, I don't have a lot of free time to devote to blogging (I know what you're thinking: Ruth Bader Ginsburg would have managed it. But we can't all be RBG).<br />
<br />
However! This weekend I have two whole days off in a row and I just don't know what to do with myself, other than do what I've been wanting to for the past few weeks: share some photos with you all of my last couple of trips.<br />
<br />
In April we went on a crazy fast trip through Iceland, Normandy, London, and Ireland. Forgive the photos if they're a little out of order. Blogger. What can you do.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobster soup at the famous SĂŠgreifinn restaurant in Reykjavik</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A church on the southern coast of Iceland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JDcvHXW0YY/XOsX2Cz4aoI/AAAAAAAAFWY/r9iR4FgEbC0SHwizHl2gdsRT9Lgr5WUDQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JDcvHXW0YY/XOsX2Cz4aoI/AAAAAAAAFWY/r9iR4FgEbC0SHwizHl2gdsRT9Lgr5WUDQCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0653.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gullfoss "Golden Falls" (and yes, it's as cold as it looks)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hR33NynpaSA/XOsX2l2Y8mI/AAAAAAAAFWg/Wm47rPfHJAU8LJOXHSEO3HuxP5XhdbmQQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cc7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1126" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hR33NynpaSA/XOsX2l2Y8mI/AAAAAAAAFWg/Wm47rPfHJAU8LJOXHSEO3HuxP5XhdbmQQCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cc7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Icelandic lifeguard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XGhzMo_PWlM/XOsZLckOjuI/AAAAAAAAFW4/BV-zU5VYX8MQQSwhJxVx_TZBGGQDvMEhgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XGhzMo_PWlM/XOsZLckOjuI/AAAAAAAAFW4/BV-zU5VYX8MQQSwhJxVx_TZBGGQDvMEhgCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0659.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omaha Beach, Normandy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2hnpk0vu8U/XOsZLtz98_I/AAAAAAAAFW8/Lr7dqTqkiiEnmtD1996q708ly4b-HpDRgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2hnpk0vu8U/XOsZLtz98_I/AAAAAAAAFW8/Lr7dqTqkiiEnmtD1996q708ly4b-HpDRgCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omaha Beach Memorial</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fuJ9OCwV4wA/XOsZLRARIjI/AAAAAAAAFW0/pVaC9gLxquw-2HSDMOXqyB2g9btHe2KzgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fuJ9OCwV4wA/XOsZLRARIjI/AAAAAAAAFW0/pVaC9gLxquw-2HSDMOXqyB2g9btHe2KzgCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0693.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US WWII cemetery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqirlczE-3Q/XOsZN7WKKiI/AAAAAAAAFXA/rIIEaKh_lLgwKLHmpiGY_o9JlCW6-g82gCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqirlczE-3Q/XOsZN7WKKiI/AAAAAAAAFXA/rIIEaKh_lLgwKLHmpiGY_o9JlCW6-g82gCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0715.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A horse wandering out for a photo shoot on Inismoore</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgTExj7X_ko/XOsZPDF3kBI/AAAAAAAAFXE/zI1sgwSsi9s2GdbUf-RplTVF1jR11p_vACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgTExj7X_ko/XOsZPDF3kBI/AAAAAAAAFXE/zI1sgwSsi9s2GdbUf-RplTVF1jR11p_vACLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0764.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliffs on Inismoore Island in Ireland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgD_SdiTMV0/XOsZPuWdrAI/AAAAAAAAFXI/bGZpX4p0Ctk40bFbVuDjySQR0P4D4Oh7QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgD_SdiTMV0/XOsZPuWdrAI/AAAAAAAAFXI/bGZpX4p0Ctk40bFbVuDjySQR0P4D4Oh7QCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0770.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe you can see the Cliffs of Moher in the distance</td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-Q8KkYbUcA/XOsZQv6f1BI/AAAAAAAAFXM/KBJYYdVBfdIXz-53-DHqBE-9qYq5cvEggCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-Q8KkYbUcA/XOsZQv6f1BI/AAAAAAAAFXM/KBJYYdVBfdIXz-53-DHqBE-9qYq5cvEggCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0820.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S7wppDDITwE/XOsZRlckmnI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/HiK8sj7en0Y0vjlNMnumTaq7t61ysl2IgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S7wppDDITwE/XOsZRlckmnI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/HiK8sj7en0Y0vjlNMnumTaq7t61ysl2IgCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0869.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse on Valentia Island, Ireland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFsxgiu-CFs/XOsZSPpXL2I/AAAAAAAAFXU/W_MRw_tCUvUI71IZj5njORSiHdhtBuZ2QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFsxgiu-CFs/XOsZSPpXL2I/AAAAAAAAFXU/W_MRw_tCUvUI71IZj5njORSiHdhtBuZ2QCLcBGAs/s400/DSC_0920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ireland, Ring of Kerry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zDyH7LZBKI/XOsZU6ds13I/AAAAAAAAFXc/FXbcFhIKtCMMoA5OfVV3ne2gk1ymy7-JACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cb6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zDyH7LZBKI/XOsZU6ds13I/AAAAAAAAFXc/FXbcFhIKtCMMoA5OfVV3ne2gk1ymy7-JACLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cb6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have you ever felt like you're on the edge of the world?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uvB0VTfV810/XOsZXM4BALI/AAAAAAAAFXw/-LHBL3FmDU4olhvv9OMNQQKgIztkUDikACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cb8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uvB0VTfV810/XOsZXM4BALI/AAAAAAAAFXw/-LHBL3FmDU4olhvv9OMNQQKgIztkUDikACLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cb8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crypt beneath Bayeux Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hwyejd1gp0A/XOsZWfJEqfI/AAAAAAAAFXo/op9YvMfmj2c2gdDSYYjtRtLNz6KPTVvswCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cc2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hwyejd1gp0A/XOsZWfJEqfI/AAAAAAAAFXo/op9YvMfmj2c2gdDSYYjtRtLNz6KPTVvswCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cc2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Ireland...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cm7WxhLqsfo/XOsZXJls6eI/AAAAAAAAFXs/7t_1x5jElwQqS-VD1KlNuI42f7ib49GHQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cc5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cm7WxhLqsfo/XOsZXJls6eI/AAAAAAAAFXs/7t_1x5jElwQqS-VD1KlNuI42f7ib49GHQCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cc5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rock of Cashel, Ireland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fC5pIZiy4N8/XOsZXv9KdeI/AAAAAAAAFX0/ByWZo6y-UAcFilIoKYJkVFsL5RFvCbrHQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_cc6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fC5pIZiy4N8/XOsZXv9KdeI/AAAAAAAAFX0/ByWZo6y-UAcFilIoKYJkVFsL5RFvCbrHQCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_cc6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ancient standing stone on Valentia Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acOufk5I91c/XOsZadjxeEI/AAAAAAAAFX4/ZOuYhcqOFrM7FfSTMCZwSLOj4ujjbPipwCLcBGAs/s1600/shD8NSvESsmimKqvlvkzbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acOufk5I91c/XOsZadjxeEI/AAAAAAAAFX4/ZOuYhcqOFrM7FfSTMCZwSLOj4ujjbPipwCLcBGAs/s400/shD8NSvESsmimKqvlvkzbg.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, France</td></tr>
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<br />
Then in May I went to Los Angeles with my mom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7i2bvapWgk/XOsZ9rUPu9I/AAAAAAAAFYY/kZsQEOqiHQIhjRbemePLDhoqEvVD9WEoACLcBGAs/s1600/2SpMpt2RReuH7rEgp9niRw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7i2bvapWgk/XOsZ9rUPu9I/AAAAAAAAFYY/kZsQEOqiHQIhjRbemePLDhoqEvVD9WEoACLcBGAs/s400/2SpMpt2RReuH7rEgp9niRw.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the La Brea Tar Pits Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oibaQTWc3CE/XOsZ_v8tICI/AAAAAAAAFYg/DWcPD7KwFlUC5kjbQx8L7S8kKQaXaWUwQCLcBGAs/s1600/efI2%2525RbFSsiS484I7PaIew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oibaQTWc3CE/XOsZ_v8tICI/AAAAAAAAFYg/DWcPD7KwFlUC5kjbQx8L7S8kKQaXaWUwQCLcBGAs/s400/efI2%2525RbFSsiS484I7PaIew.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone at the La Brea Tar Pits is really into origami</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOCfPWRWLvk/XOsZ9kUwKAI/AAAAAAAAFYc/ZmnxdU8DygAaju2sqxpmhF-Z5ts5ZlMuQCLcBGAs/s1600/VV5IK7QtTcyHMg4foUADUg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOCfPWRWLvk/XOsZ9kUwKAI/AAAAAAAAFYc/ZmnxdU8DygAaju2sqxpmhF-Z5ts5ZlMuQCLcBGAs/s400/VV5IK7QtTcyHMg4foUADUg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the LACMA's parking garage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hjoR3SelQ0/XOsZ_xeeQpI/AAAAAAAAFYk/IB5D1tg00PA-s6uxjZg67YGyxPsB-USsgCLcBGAs/s1600/Y4iCeFfUQ5mNr5FgbWhSHQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hjoR3SelQ0/XOsZ_xeeQpI/AAAAAAAAFYk/IB5D1tg00PA-s6uxjZg67YGyxPsB-USsgCLcBGAs/s400/Y4iCeFfUQ5mNr5FgbWhSHQ.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tar still bubbles up at the La Brea Tar Pits</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6OECoKNfQM/XOsaTQpYwmI/AAAAAAAAFZA/kP1ViE4VvSsXpGJ50zt35eEThkZVqnAEQCLcBGAs/s1600/%252BWu5yj2nSnG77AWBVdoGDg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6OECoKNfQM/XOsaTQpYwmI/AAAAAAAAFZA/kP1ViE4VvSsXpGJ50zt35eEThkZVqnAEQCLcBGAs/s400/%252BWu5yj2nSnG77AWBVdoGDg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Griffith Observatory</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating at Musso and Frank's, a classic Hollywood haunt that's been open since 1919 and served the first fettuccine alfredo outside of Italy! They also make a mean martini.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of downtown LA from the Griffith Observatory</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollyhock House, a Frank Lloyd Wright historic home in Hollywood</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollywood sign in the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tapestry at the Getty Center's special exhibit, "Book of Beasts"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Getty Center</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More art from Book of Beasts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getty Center</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo I took with my phone accidentally that I think is pretty artistic</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous medieval tapestry at the Getty</td></tr>
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So what's been going on with you? Let me know in the comments!<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-49398182505525477102018-12-30T16:46:00.000-07:002018-12-30T16:46:52.633-07:00Last Sunday Snapshot of 2018 + Year-End Round Up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My top 9 Instagram pics of 2018</td></tr>
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16349.Hercule_Poirot_s_Christmas">Hercule Poirot's Christmas</a></i> and that's about it. I finished <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38126338-christmas-on-the-island">Christmas on the Island</a></i> yesterday morning after sitting up reading until 6:30 am and haven't settled on a new book yet.<br />
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<b>Movies:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7959026/"><i>The Mule</i></a>, starring Clint Eastwood<br />
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Not what I was expecting. I thought this would be yet another depressing Eastwood movie Ă la <i>Gran Torino</i> or <i>Million Dollar Baby</i>. Instead it shoots for more of a classic cat-and-mouse crime movie vibe. It's not about drug running per se, but about an old man who's looking for human connection, especially with his estranged family. Eastwood does a fantastic job, of course, and there are humorous moments to lighten it up. Overall quite entertaining, if predictable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6225520/"><i>The Man Who Invented Christmas</i></a>, starring Dan Stevens<br />
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I have my doubts this is an accurate portrayal of the life and times of Charles Dickens, but whatever. It's a little muddled and a bit too long, especially since it's basically an unnecessary rehashing of <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, but I'm not going to complain about watching a movie with Dan Stevens in it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5028340/"><i>Mary Poppins Returns</i></a>, starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda<br />
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I mean. It was okay. There were moments of magic and joyâI enjoyed the balloon scene at the endâbut other parts felt formulaic and beyond recycled. Which is sad considering there's only <i>one other </i>Mary Poppins movie. Blunt had some good lines ("We're embarking on an adventure, children, let's not ruin it with so many questions!"), but Miranda was in there WAY too much for no reason other than, I guess, he's Lin-Manuel Miranda.<br />
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Also, I was completely distracted trying to figure out what time period this is set in, AND the woman next to me kept treating the theater as her own personal living room, checking her phone and constantly explaining the plot of the first Mary Poppins to the person next to her. 1. IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED A PLOT, and 2., maybe you should have broken it down before seeing this movie.<br />
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Anyway. I'm not sad I saw it, but I have no desire to watch it again.<br />
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<b>This year in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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What a year! If you'd have told me 12 months ago I'd close out the year with a full-time (and so far deadly boring) job that started at 8 in the morning I would have said you were cray cray. But it happened.<br />
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Some major events from this year:<br />
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<a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2018/05/sunday-snapshot-is-back-from-paris.html">I went to Paris</a>! (In case you couldn't tell by all the photos of the Eiffel Tower, above.) This was truly an epic trip where I fell in love with Montmartre, kicked a few things off the bucket list, and drank champagne every day. Nice work if you can get it. I didn't meet the love of my life or anything (sorry, romantics), but it did make me do some revaluation of where I was, emotionally speaking, and what I really wanted.<br />
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I also got <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2018/07/sunday-snapshot-is-excited-for-summer.html">really into budgeting this year</a>, thanks to YNAB. It's kind of like <i>The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up</i> but for money. In just six months it's helped me get and stay clear of credit card debt! I was able to pay for all my Christmas gifts with cash I'd saved up, and I saved up for a new windshield for my car. I also started an investment fund for a new computer a few years down the line. I can't recommend this system or the book enough!<br />
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In sad news, my last living grandparent died in September, and I can't help but think that now the various branches of the family will go their separate ways, especially since we live in a different state. It's crazy how one person can hold a family together.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Year in Books</h4>
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As for my year in books, <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2017/12/2017-year-end-wrap-up.html">last year</a> I complained that I only read 80 books. Well, this year was even worse: I read a whole 51 books. Pa.the.tic.<br />
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On the plus side, I had the same number of 5-star reads this year as I did last year, and one less 4-star read (10 and 13, respectively), so percentage-wise that's a huge jump in quality! Here are some of my favorite books from the past year:<br />
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<b>Best Paris Guidebook: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28592984-rick-steves-paris-2017">Rick Steves Paris</a></b><br />
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With unique walking tours, humor, and spot-on advice, this is definitely the one guidebook to Paris you should buy if you can only buy one.<br />
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<b>Favorite historical/YA novel: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30640834-speak-easy-speak-love">Speak Easy, Speak Love</a></b><br />
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This adaptation of <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> set in 1920s Long Island is absolutely perfect. PERFECT. I adore the setting, the romance between Beatrice and Benedict is hilarious, the romance between Prince and Hero is swoon-worthy, and there are gangsters and speakeasies and government agents and jazz singers and everything you could want from a book set in the 1920s. Highly recommended!<br />
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<b>Best book to read while traveling: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36659620-kissing-tolstoy">Kissing Tolstoy</a></b><br />
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Penny Reid can be hit-and-miss for me, but I read this book while traveling to and from my grandmother's funeral and it was absolutely delightful. Short, smart, irreverent, funnyâbasically Reid at her best.<br />
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<b>Life-changing non-fiction read: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34670798-how-not-to-die">How Not to Die</a></b><br />
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I've seen docs on Netflix about how eating meat is terrible for you, but for some reason this book scared the bejesus out of me way when the documentaries didn't. It's stuffed full of a ton of information, all cited out the wazoo with peer-reviewed scientific studies.<br />
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And yes, I know the title is click-baity and sensationalistic. Admittedly the more accurate <i>How Not to Die of Completely Preventable Diseases by Changing Your Diet</i> just doesn't have the same ring to it.<br />
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<b>Favorite new series: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32497580-the-cafe-by-the-sea">Summer Seaside Kitchen</a> by Jenny Colgan</b><br />
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Colgan, take me away! I took a chance on <i>The Cafe by the Sea</i> after reading <a href="http://www.angie-ville.com/2018/06/review-cafe-by-sea-by-jenny-colgan.html">Angie's review</a> this year and I'm so glad I did. Colgan is brilliant at telling a story and building characters who are flawed but you come to love. The setting is a remote island in northern Scotland and I have never wanted to visit someplace so cold and dark before. Perfect escapist reading! (Although the whole thing with Saif and Lorna is beyond irritating at this point.)<br />
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<b>Favorite romance: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35259631-the-wedding-date">The Wedding Date</a></b><br />
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Perfect balance between swoon-worthy romance and a completely plausible story that feels grounded in reality. Not an easy combo to pull off. A definite must-read.<br />
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<b>Favorite non-romance novel: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36421604-the-other-woman">The Other Woman</a></b><br />
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Another winner from Silva, and an indictment of Putin and the Russians' grab for power across the globe. On par with <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-english-girl-by-daniel-silva.html"><i>The English Girl</i></a> imo.<br />
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That's my year in short! What books did you read or movies you watched this year that you loved? Have any New Year's Resolutions?<br />
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A happy New Year and wonderful 2019 to all my readers! See you on the flip side.<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-73143925573326317652018-12-02T17:53:00.001-07:002018-12-02T17:53:42.617-07:00Sunday Snapshot for the Start of December<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toiles from the House Dior</td></tr>
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<b>Currently Reading:</b><br />
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Still slogging through <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18214414-the-silkworm">The Silkworm</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5890.The_Woman_in_White">The Woman in White</a>. At this rate I'll probably finish TWiW before The Silkworm.<br />
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<b>Movies:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082096/"><i>Das Boot</i></a>, starring, idk, German guys<br />
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My dad made a friend who used to work on a submarine, and now he's forcing him to watch all these sub movies. I actually watched this in high school German class, but had forgotten a lot about it. For example, HOW FREAKING LONG IT IS. Other than that it's surprisingly good. It's more about the psychological warfare between the Germans and the English than explosions and shootings. And even though it is insanely longâI'm talking LotR level of self-indulgence hereâit's very tense and will keep your attention. A classic for a reason!<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4123430/"><i>The Crimes of Grindelwald</i></a>, starring all the people from <i>Fantastic Beasts</i> + Johnny Depp, Jude Law, someone who may or may not be Shawn Mendes, and Zoë Kravitz<br />
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UHG. Well, as you know, <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2016/12/sunday-snapshot-of-beasties-and-blinds.html">I liked Fantastic Beasts</a> even though it felt strangely hollow. But this movie... smh. Redmayne is still awesome, but the script is an absolute disaster. Everything the characters do comes out of nowhere, there doesn't seem to be a plot, and the actors spend an inordinate amount of time awkwardly STARING. At each other, at things, stare stare stare. I told my mom if they'd only cut the staring out the movie would have been 90 minutes long! But then the dialog wasn't exactly sparkling, so perhaps staring was the best option.<br />
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And don't get me started on the WTF elements like Queenie brainwashing Jacob, Nagini's role in the film, or the fact that I still have yet to know what crimes Grindelwald committed during the course of the movie. Aside from the crime of stealing two and half hours of my life, that is.<br />
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SKKIIIIIIPPPP<br />
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<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/green_book/"><i>Green Book</i></a>, starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen <br />
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In the 1960s a Brooklyn nightclub bouncer is hired by a record label to drive a pianist around and "take care of things" during his tour. Why? Because the tour is in the Deep South and the pianist is black.<br />
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This is a well-made film with awesome performances by Mortensen and Ali, great set and costume design, and a story that's entertaining and touching without being sappy or maudlin. I truly enjoyed watching it, but after thinking about it more, certain aspects started to bother me. For example, the hero of the story is clearly TonyâMortensen's characterâand Dr. Shirley's character is never really fleshed out. How did he wind up a fancy-pants piano player who lives above Carnegie Hall? Where was he born? Where did he go to school? Why aren't he and his brother speaking? None of these questions are ever addressed and others, like what's driving him to do this tour in the Deep South, are given the yada yada treatment. "You know, genius and stuff, yada yada yada." I don't think it's a bad movie by any means, it's just definitely a film about race for white people that feels like it didn't put a lot of thought into the one black character.<br />
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<b>This month in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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My big announcement this month is that I GOT A JOB! Like, a full-time job with benefits and whatnot. It's at a university and I'll be working in communications. Pretty exciting, although I'm not looking forward to getting up every morning.<br />
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Other happenings this past month included a trip to Denver for <a href="https://denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/dior">Dior: From Paris the World</a>. I'm no fashion expert, but this exhibit was pretty impressive. I loved the exhibition design and wish I'd taken an audioguide, as the signage was minimal. A show well worth seeing if you're in the area! Here's a link to <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/dj0y2b569vn3a99/dior%20from%20paris%20to%20the%20world.pdf?dl=0">my article about</a> it on Dropbox if you're interested in learning more.<br />
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I would write more but I'm STARVING and this computer keeps giving me the spinning ball of death whenever I try to add more pics to this post, so I think I'm just going to give up and make dinner. Have a great week everyone!<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-59588966845182408672018-11-04T17:40:00.001-07:002018-11-04T17:40:43.617-07:00Sunday Snapshot for November<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lt-G9eIYWFQ/W9-CD4JKMsI/AAAAAAAAFQI/WbzWz64e_CYzj9c3fjQayzmvOD6rX2_FwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tibetan mandala" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lt-G9eIYWFQ/W9-CD4JKMsI/AAAAAAAAFQI/WbzWz64e_CYzj9c3fjQayzmvOD6rX2_FwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2345.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18214414-the-silkworm"><i>The Silkworm</i></a> by Robert Galbraith: Giving this one another try. I'm getting farther than I did last time, but things that annoyed me about <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-of-cuckoos-calling-by-jk.html">the first book</a> still annoy me.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5890.The_Woman_in_White"><i>The Woman in White</i></a> by Wilkie Collins: Can you believe I've never read this book before?? Listening to it on audiobook while watching the miniseries on PBS. Obviously I haven't finished either, but so far I think the miniseries is doing a good job of modernizing the book while staying true to the spirit of the story.<br />
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<b>Movies watched:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3778644/"><i>Solo: A Star Wars Story</i></a>, starring Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke<br />
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I am so glad I didn't see this in theaters. What a waste of time and potential. I actually think the script is okay, but where this movie really starts to fall apart is in the editing and art direction. Visually it's a flat, dark mess and the pacing feels like one long scream down a slip-and-slide. I fell asleep watching it and I honestly dgaf.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6628394/"><i>Bad Times at the El Royale</i></a>, starring Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, and Lewis Pullman<br />
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And at the complete opposite end of the spectrum... In 1969 (according to Wikipedia; I thought from the movie it was 1974, but apparently I was wrong), a remarkably destructive group of guests arrive at the El Royale, a formerly swank hotel straddling the border between California and Nevada. Is this hotel as creepy as it appears to be? Yes. Yes it is.<br />
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Everyone should see this movie! It's worth it just to hear Erivo's singing, but everything else is spot-on as well: the performances, art direction, soundtrack, script, cinematography. I loved the creepy-cool vibe of the film and how it turned 1960s pop music into something ominous and sinister. Just imagine if Tarantino made a film like <i>LA Confidential</i>, but which takes place in one night in a claustrophobic hotel, and you have a good idea of this film's vibe.<br />
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<b>This week[s] in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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October was a busy, y'all! There were a ton of events going on and meetings.<br />
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One of the cooler events I attended with my mom was a mandala ceremony at the local library with a group of Tibetan monks. We saw both the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony where they destroy the finished mandala and pour it into the river. I wanted to see it just from an art and cultural perspective (how many times does someone in Colorado get to see something like that?), but it was unexpectedly moving as well. So happy I took the time to see it!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5ARzNFdvR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tasha (@tashaheidenkind)</a> on <time datetime="2018-10-13T22:53:26+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 13, 2018 at 3:53pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBniBzlVXI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tasha (@tashaheidenkind)</a> on <time datetime="2018-10-17T07:08:05+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 17, 2018 at 12:08am PDT</time></div>
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We also went to a Craig Johnson author talk and signing at the library. If you ever get the chance to see him in person, do it! He's an amazing public speaker who tells really good stories about the inspiration for his books and the people who work on the TV show.<br />
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In other news, I somehow managed to survive another Halloween. I'm just happy I don't work anywhere that requires employees to dress in costumes because that would be a HARD NO.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WO_4jn8spb8/W9-Px2j5AjI/AAAAAAAAFQs/YOnYsrJJTDQCgVWxE_jUYNvn5PfvcXfkQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="us with craig johnson" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WO_4jn8spb8/W9-Px2j5AjI/AAAAAAAAFQs/YOnYsrJJTDQCgVWxE_jUYNvn5PfvcXfkQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2419.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hope you all had a good October and here's to a good week!<br />
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<br />
Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-60823969826258878192018-10-07T17:54:00.002-06:002018-10-07T17:54:50.656-06:00Sunday Snapshot for a Birthday Weekend!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b4K8kCDBXo4/W7qXyDSFO-I/AAAAAAAAFPY/4FI_SWnV97EzDIgPa0Ap27VGU0HU1xAVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b4K8kCDBXo4/W7qXyDSFO-I/AAAAAAAAFPY/4FI_SWnV97EzDIgPa0Ap27VGU0HU1xAVgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2178.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying into Chicago</td></tr>
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<b>Currently Reading:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/356296.Wine_and_War"><i>Wine and War</i></a> by Don and Petie Kladstrup: On one hand I admire what the authors did with this work and I've enjoyed several of the stories. On the other hand I'm not that into reading about WWII (or any war, really) and the book occasionally feels too loosely connected.<br />
<br />
<b>Posted:</b> <a href="http://bookriot.com/2018/09/21/which-romance-novel-should-i-read/">Which Romance Novel Should I Read? Quiz!</a> On Book Riot.<br />
<br />
<b>Movies:</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh23_xd5Er4/W7lEdtNfZ-I/AAAAAAAAFO0/3ystoBBIYSY__SF8cEMGtxDEs60pv6xEgCLcBGAs/s1600/The_Spy_Who_Dumped_Me.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="221" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh23_xd5Er4/W7lEdtNfZ-I/AAAAAAAAFO0/3ystoBBIYSY__SF8cEMGtxDEs60pv6xEgCLcBGAs/s200/The_Spy_Who_Dumped_Me.png" width="130" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6663582/"></a><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6663582/"><i>The Spy Who Dumped Me</i></a>, starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon<br />
<br />
I actually enjoyed the first half of this movie, but in the second half it seemed like everyone was just relying on Kate McKinnon to make it funny and entertaining. The "plot" also went completely off the rails and stopped making any lick of sense.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FbLMR3kNKdA/W7lF9fYA4ZI/AAAAAAAAFPA/hps15n3bmmY6G3fCeBEOCwEB7p8pKrbeACLcBGAs/s1600/A-Taste-of-Romance-images-5a2af2fc-ca4d-4c7e-a2da-cd6cc4df963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="780" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FbLMR3kNKdA/W7lF9fYA4ZI/AAAAAAAAFPA/hps15n3bmmY6G3fCeBEOCwEB7p8pKrbeACLcBGAs/s200/A-Taste-of-Romance-images-5a2af2fc-ca4d-4c7e-a2da-cd6cc4df963.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1849868/"><i>A Taste of Romance</i></a>, starring Teri Polo and James Patrick Stuart<br />
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Possibly the greatest Hallmark movie I've ever seen. A French-trained chef who looks remarkably like Brooke from <i>Top Chef</i> struggles to find customers while the pizza and sandwich place next door, run by a David Tennant lookalike (thumbs up), is doing great! Naturally they hate each other, but when the chef makes friends with the ingrate's daughter they start to connect over food and what inspired them to open their restaurants. SO MANY FEELS, you guys. I love stories where the hero and heroine fight all the time, and I love movies with food, so naturally I was destined to enjoy this movie. But I was still surprised by how good it was. It felt more solidly grounded in reality than many Hallmark movies, and the elements of romance and comedy were perfectly placed. There was even just a soupçon hint of <i>The Parent Trap</i>, which was delightful. Very highly recommended if you're in the mood for a romcom.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P11VtB2bJdA/W7lJw5HPrTI/AAAAAAAAFPM/7ynH_hXyG1AqQ0hv0vajCFylrK1Z4rAQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Quincy_%2528film%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P11VtB2bJdA/W7lJw5HPrTI/AAAAAAAAFPM/7ynH_hXyG1AqQ0hv0vajCFylrK1Z4rAQwCLcBGAs/s200/Quincy_%2528film%2529.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7440432/"><i>Quincy</i></a>, directed by Rashida Jones and Alan Hicks<br />
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This documentary about the life of Quincy Jones is wayyyyyyyyy too long. I'm warning you right now. BUT. It's also a fascinating and moving portrait of a man who's even more remarkable than I realized. It's crazy how he escaped childhood poverty and gangs in Chicago, overcame a racist industry, and became a legend in everything from music to films and TV and theater. Not to mention that he's still crushing it! Well worth making the time for if you're into music documentaries.<br />
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<b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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Guess what, y'all? It's my birthday today! w00t w00t!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/xThuWkj1FAYH4wmGfC" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/refinery29-norahstone-xThuWkj1FAYH4wmGfC">via GIPHY</a><br />
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The universe has been kind to me and given me a new episode of <i>Doctor Who</i> AND <i>Expedition Unknown</i>, which are basically my two favorite TV shows, plus I got some nice presents, so I'm hashtag grateful y'all.<br />
<br />
September was a crazy month. Well, the first part wasn't too bad, but then one of the stores I work for had to close and move locations (and they're still closedâlong story), which turned out to be fine because at nearly the same time we had a death in the family and I had to fly out to Illinois for the funeral. Then, when we got back, I had to rush around to finish researching and writing an article I promised to get in the week before. Plus there's been a ton of fun things like dentist appointments and trying to find a new doctor (I've been doctorless since July). I tried a new productivity app to see if that would help me get more things done but so far it seems hit and miss.<br />
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Anyway, here are some photos from the last couple of weeks:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewd897rByhQ/W7qcAwQ_zmI/AAAAAAAAFP0/6XLjbewqv98CT1yOr8_oaS7T2BHaCc63gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewd897rByhQ/W7qcAwQ_zmI/AAAAAAAAFP0/6XLjbewqv98CT1yOr8_oaS7T2BHaCc63gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2154.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn (spot the tourist!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UPdK74r5tA/W7qb92csJVI/AAAAAAAAFPk/mJiCdGQrgIYWemKl2RuRiAfr_kClPEFYQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UPdK74r5tA/W7qb92csJVI/AAAAAAAAFPk/mJiCdGQrgIYWemKl2RuRiAfr_kClPEFYQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_2151.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Airplane reading</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iTy5RjrW2c/W7qb914a1GI/AAAAAAAAFPo/CwSsLhdxzysqEaFhOTuQTouowif3Nwv1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2179.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iTy5RjrW2c/W7qb914a1GI/AAAAAAAAFPo/CwSsLhdxzysqEaFhOTuQTouowif3Nwv1QCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_2179.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Six-Pack Colonialism by Julie Buffalohead @the Denver Art Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ok9Zjz-Y858/W7qb_20NDpI/AAAAAAAAFPs/-txm_CoVdd4df1u_fBcvG9x3mNWcYSTNQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ok9Zjz-Y858/W7qb_20NDpI/AAAAAAAAFPs/-txm_CoVdd4df1u_fBcvG9x3mNWcYSTNQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_2223.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best photo of Calypso I think I've ever taken so far</td></tr>
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That's it for today. Hope you're all having an awesome month!!<br />
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<br />
Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-85913339319889492422018-09-02T18:45:00.000-06:002018-09-02T18:45:17.492-06:00Sunday Snapshot for Labor Day Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HbghyaUoIJ4/W4x6eDIjczI/AAAAAAAAFN4/e1pvilojPLACVjinNEUZ4V8YfQ9dPV1uQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HbghyaUoIJ4/W4x6eDIjczI/AAAAAAAAFN4/e1pvilojPLACVjinNEUZ4V8YfQ9dPV1uQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<i>Doctor Strange Beard</i> by Penny Reid: I'll be honest, I don't really get the Winston Brothers. They all have weird names and beards and there seems to be an endless supply of them. Every time I turn around a new one pops up. Also, their father is supposed to be a jerk who was never around but he somehow fathered 12 or 14 kids with their mom???<br />
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<i>Cork Dork</i> by Bianca Bosker: I'm enjoying the heck out of this one. All the fun of being a NYC somm with none of the bitchiness and terror!<br />
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<b>Posted:</b> Nothing. IDK guys.<br />
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<b>Movies watched:</b><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMoMzmp30LM/W4yCawLsLhI/AAAAAAAAFOE/FopUThv2BW8n1VfddfL2Rm51i5-2dMLNwCLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Bguernsey%2Bliterary%2Band%2Bpotato%2Bpeel%2Bsociety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the guernsey literary and potato peel society" border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMoMzmp30LM/W4yCawLsLhI/AAAAAAAAFOE/FopUThv2BW8n1VfddfL2Rm51i5-2dMLNwCLcBGAs/s200/the%2Bguernsey%2Bliterary%2Band%2Bpotato%2Bpeel%2Bsociety.jpg" title="" width="136" /></a></div>
<i>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society</i>, starring Lily James<br />
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I think this is one of those movies where if you haven't read the book you love it, and if you have you're disappointed. I have readâand lovedâthe book, so. IT'S NOT BAD, it's just not the book, and yeah I know that's unfair, but ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ<br />
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<i>The Meg</i>, starring Jason Statham<br />
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It's predictable, but I enjoyed it. Still a little upset the meg died at the end though. #dontkillthecreature<br />
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<i>Mile 22</i>, starring Mark Wahlberg<br />
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It's as bad as you expect. Which is a pretty boring review. So instead of that, here's a fascinating factoid: Mark Wahlberg's character in this movie is based on Steve Bannon! <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/08/14/mark-wahlbergs-character-in-mile-22-inspired-by-steve-bannon-according-to-director.html">For real</a>! And yes, he's a terrible person.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh0M3OQnhmg/W4yC4hdvXQI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/R5AsS0NaessR7ccEpALgJAsKu-YDrtbKwCLcBGAs/s1600/To-All-the-Boys-I-ve-Loved-Before-721189-Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="to all the boys I've loved before" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qh0M3OQnhmg/W4yC4hdvXQI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/R5AsS0NaessR7ccEpALgJAsKu-YDrtbKwCLcBGAs/s200/To-All-the-Boys-I-ve-Loved-Before-721189-Detail.jpg" title="" width="134" /></a></div>
<i>To All the Boys I've Loved Before</i>, starring Lana Condor<br />
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I wasn't sure about the premise of this movie, but it's sooooo cute and sweet. Very <i>Sixteen Candles</i>-y. Would definitely watch again.<br />
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<i>Crazy Rich Asians</i>, starring Constance Wu<br />
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About half an hour too long and I was expecting way more crazy rich stuff, but it was a fun Cinderella story with a strong finish. I really enjoyed all the hot shirtless guys. Thumbs up on that!<br />
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<br />
<b>This month in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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August really sucked balls, friends. Like I'm usually hanging on to the end of summer by the skin of my teeth, begging time to slow down, but August was not my month. I couldn't wait for it to be over. Everything that could go wrong did, it seemed like everyone was in a bad mood, and I was so busy I didn't even care that my library borrows were WEEKS late. Yet it felt like I never got anything done. Plus the weather was awful. If I want it to be in the 70s I'll put in an order for October, mkay? No. Thank you.<br />
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Anyway, one good thing did happen in August: I found a new musician to obsess over. Charlie Puth. I'm probably the last person on earth to hear about him, but I'm acting like an early adopter anyway. I can't stop listening to his new single, "Done For Me". Love the '80s vibe and I HAVE LITERALLY NEVER SAID THAT BEFORE.<br />
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So what's going on with you? Happy September's here or waiting for it to end already?<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-69652979181394553002018-08-05T17:28:00.000-06:002018-08-05T17:28:39.202-06:00Sunday Snapshot for the First Week of August!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Posted:</b><br />
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What are <a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/07/18/highest-rated-books-on-goodreads/">Goodreads' highest rated books</a>? To be honest, I wish I'd never agreed to find out, because math.<br />
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<a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/07/18/highest-rated-books-on-goodreads/"></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y_ZMQwUX7k/W2eA2HClDnI/AAAAAAAAFM0/TRFnjXK25GU_Dx9QQwjgwSElgws2eL6JwCLcBGAs/s1600/highest%2Brated%2Bbooks%2Bon%2Bgoodreads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="highest rated books on goodreads" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y_ZMQwUX7k/W2eA2HClDnI/AAAAAAAAFM0/TRFnjXK25GU_Dx9QQwjgwSElgws2eL6JwCLcBGAs/s320/highest%2Brated%2Bbooks%2Bon%2Bgoodreads.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35180949-the-prince"><i>The Prince</i></a> by Katharine Ashe: I just finished chapter one, and so far the heroine is: 1., the beautiful daughter of duke; 2. a cross-dressing scientist; 3. attending medical dissections at Edinburgh Uni. Meanwhile the hero is: 2. named Ziyaeddin (that should be enough); 2. a celebrated society painter; 3. a Turkish prince living in hiding from assassins; 4. possessed of only one leg.<br />
<br />
Too much. Dial it back.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2706168-the-billionaire-s-vinegar"><i>The Billionaire's Vinegar</i></a> by Benjamin Wallace: Say what you want about the Koch brothers, but Bill Koch is doing Being a Billionaire right.<br />
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<b>Movies:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1620680/"><i>A Wrinkle In Time</i></a>, starring Oprah, Storm Reid, Deric McCabe, and Levi Miller<br />
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I'll be honest, I could never get into this book or understand why people liked it. And this movie did nothing to change my opinion. TOTAL. MESS.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3766354/"><i>The Equalizer 2</i></a>, starring Denzel Washington<br />
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Did you know that Denzel Washington has never agreed to be in a sequel, until this masterpiece came along? YES IT'S THAT EXTRAORDINARI... -ly predictable. But in terms of what it isâyet another revenge flick spurred on by the death of the one talking female characterâit's actually pretty good. The director gave Washington some emotional meat to chew on. It's just kinda weird that out of all the roles he's ever played, *this* is the one he chooses to reprise. I don't get it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6911608/"><i>Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again</i></a>, starring Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Christine Baranski, and Julie Waters<br />
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I'm not going to say I didn't enjoy watching it, because that would be admitting defeat. But the more I think about this movie, the more head-scratchy I get, and <a href="https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/mamma-mia-2-plot-holes-mistakes/">I'm not the only one</a>. Little things really bother me, like the fact that Sophie's friends who were in the first film are completely missing. I'm also annoyed that Cher only did one song, and it's stupid. You guys have Cher!!! C'mon. But really Cher was just a last-ditch effort to resurrect something interesting out of this shell of a script.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BSXkorAZmM/W2eGOQJY8_I/AAAAAAAAFNo/1NaGCskvHG8jnJ9Tj8UwEsybtWnd2YrTwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/MI_%25E2%2580%2593_Fallout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BSXkorAZmM/W2eGOQJY8_I/AAAAAAAAFNo/1NaGCskvHG8jnJ9Tj8UwEsybtWnd2YrTwCPcBGAYYCw/s200/MI_%25E2%2580%2593_Fallout.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4912910/"><i>Mission Impossible: Fallout</i></a>, starring Tom Cruise<br />
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Wow! Surprisingly so, so good. It might even surpass <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2013/12/virtual-advent-favorite-not-holiday.html"><i>Skyfall</i></a> as my favorite spy/action flick of all time. Seriously, I know all the other MI movies have been total crap, but this one is definitely worth seeing in theaters.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3685236/"><i>Ibiza</i></a>, starring Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer, and Phoebe Robinson<br />
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If you're expecting a movie titled Ibiza to be a series of club scenes strung together and EDM blasting continuously, well, you would not be far off. Luckily the DJ our heroine falls for is Richard Madden and he is so freaking dishy I can't even. So I liked the travelogue parts and the romance but the rest was pretty meh.<br />
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<b>This month in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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Hey look, I'm averaging a post a month now! It's an improving trend!<br />
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Anyway, what's been going on with me? Not much. July was a sucky month for me, reading-wise. I hardly got any reading done during the readathon because I had to work. Sigh. And I DNF'd at least three books. Not great.<br />
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Now it's August and I'm bummed summer's almost over. Why does summer have to end?? I hate fall. Just the thought that fall is several weeks off is sending me into an emotional spiral.<br />
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In other news, I'm writing more lately and even started drafting the outline for two stories! It's been forever since I felt inspired to write fiction, so this is awesome.<br />
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<b>Bonus:</b><br />
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My mom and I just finished S2 of <i>Queer Eye</i> on Netflix and I thought this article on <a href="https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-queer-art-of-failing-better-penny">how the show reflects shifting attitudes toward masculinity</a> and how the Fab Five do the "emotional labor" usually expected of women was pretty enlightening (found this article through Gin Jenny, btw!).<br />
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<a href="https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-queer-art-of-failing-better-penny"></a><br />
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Let me know what's going on with you this month and have a wonderful week!<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-38713696081367963142018-07-08T15:51:00.001-06:002018-07-08T15:52:24.226-06:00Sunday Snapshot is Excited for Summer!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7gCT15H5cM/Wx2qyKiqK4I/AAAAAAAAFJc/XhFyAUyYO8QLU2SWYxewdissLd_Q4eKFACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7gCT15H5cM/Wx2qyKiqK4I/AAAAAAAAFJc/XhFyAUyYO8QLU2SWYxewdissLd_Q4eKFACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A summer sunset<br />
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39326122-the-henchmen-of-zenda" target="_blank">The Henchmen of Zenda</a></i> by KJ Charles: This book is insanely boring. Such a disappointment.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32051912-the-alice-network" target="_blank">The Alice Network</a></i> by Kate Quinn: Gets progressively more depressing as the book goes on.<br />
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<b>Posted:</b><br />
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Take a virtual tour of <a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/06/03/book-towns-of-france/">the book towns of France</a> with me! Plus some <a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/06/25/more-literary-wines/" target="_blank">literary wines</a> to whet your palate.<br />
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<a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/06/03/book-towns-of-france/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="book towns of france" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9OCG6Vjurxw/W0JU7eDOvNI/AAAAAAAAFK4/RCpBRazv8BQpy37QuLWDs01D6FwgcXk-ACLcBGAs/s400/book%2Btowns%2Bof%2Bfrance%2B%257C%2Bbookriot.png" title="" width="265" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/06/25/more-literary-wines/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="literary wine labels" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfsx0FFH1xM/W0JU7Z3VAgI/AAAAAAAAFK8/4CGDBUkb-HUuT1r5ZE4MRyinXnos2JySgCLcBGAs/s400/Literary%2BWines%2B%257C%2BBookriot.png" title="" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>Movies:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80233611"><i>Hannah Gadsby: Nanette</i></a><br />
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Calling this stand up special a "comedy" seems like a misnomer, considering I spent most it crying and am getting choked up [read: barely holding it together] right now just thinking about it, but it is really good. It's actually kinda fascinating, because it's a comedy routine that critiques the comedy industry and how we even tell jokes to begin with. Pretty powerful stuff. Plus there are a ton of art history jokes and y'all know that's my jam.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052474/"><i>Sicario: Day of the Soldado</i></a>, starring Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro<br />
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When this movie started I thought I was going to be in for another iteration of <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>, of which I am NOT a fan. However, it turned out to be pretty good! Sure, it's the type of movie where no one is innocent, not even the little girl they kidnap; and the whole thing with her needing to cross back into the US to be "safe" didn't make a whole lot of sense (where are her parents in all this?). But for what it is, it's a quality film with a ton of great actors. And Benicio del Toro is very handsome, even after he gets shot in the face.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_f4ZQX6tWVQ/W0Jcxs09YrI/AAAAAAAAFLk/1KnlxXhxUm8ysl2J84KCRhMMQdwrKhS2gCLcBGAs/s1600/Set_It_Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="set it up poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_f4ZQX6tWVQ/W0Jcxs09YrI/AAAAAAAAFLk/1KnlxXhxUm8ysl2J84KCRhMMQdwrKhS2gCLcBGAs/s200/Set_It_Up.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80184100"><i>Set it Up</i></a>, starring Lucy Liu, Zoey Deutsch, Glen Powell, and Taye Diggs<br />
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The best romantic comedy I've seen in years. Seriously. So much fun, and pitch perfect from start to finish. It reminded me of <i>The Hating Game</i>, which was one of <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2016/12/2016-year-end-wrap-up.html">my favorite books in 2016</a> and which needs to be made into a movie of its own asap.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZRrYJKOXgI/W0JfcIOF0aI/AAAAAAAAFLw/37Xq-GHaKUk1rgBhBpTNb47vGonug7-6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Jurassic_World_Fallen_Kingdom.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="jurassic world fallen kingdom poster" border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZRrYJKOXgI/W0JfcIOF0aI/AAAAAAAAFLw/37Xq-GHaKUk1rgBhBpTNb47vGonug7-6ACLcBGAs/s200/Jurassic_World_Fallen_Kingdom.png" width="126" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/"><i>Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom</i></a>, starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt<br />
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Feels like a movie for 8 yos. Yes, all the <i>Jurassic Park</i> movies are kid-friendly, but in this one, everything is dumbed down. Even the dinosaurs go from Fearsome Prehistoric Creatures to scavengers sorting through suburban trashcans like raccoons. I might wait for the third movie in this trilogy to come out on DVD.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052448/"><i>Get Out</i></a>, starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams<br />
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I was super duper looking forward to watching this movie, and I was not disappointed! It's scary, but it's more of a psychological horror with pervasive creepiness a good amount of social satire thrown in the mix. A smart, old skool scary movie with a modern twist. I think Hitchcock would approve.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5615976/"><i>Date with Love</i></a>, starring Shenae Grimes-Beech, Andrew W. Walker, Bailee Madison<br />
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Pretty decent by Hallmark movie standards. I liked how there were two romances in the movie and that the adult romance was balanced by a teen movie vibe. The ending was incredibly dumb.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b><br />
<br />
Well, I disappeared for a little bit again there. With one thing and another I didn't find a time to sit down and post anything in June. Whomp whomp. But I'm back now!<br />
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What have I been up to the past few weeks, besides working and writing? I've developed a new obsession: budgeting.<br />
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Apparently every June I start thinking about my finances (<a href="https://wallethub.com/" target="_blank">WalletHub</a> was kind enough to remind me that I downloaded their app last June). But this year I've moved beyond just monitoring my credit score and accounts to actual budgeting.<br />
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It all started when I took a <a href="https://www.travelmiles101.com/travel-rewards-course-registration" target="_blank">Travel Miles 101</a> course and decided to start using my cards more for points and cash back. But it's difficult for me to keep track of my spending with credit cards, which is why I stopped using them in the first place.<br />
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As I was pondering this conundrum (j/k, I was merrily using my cards to buy <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/shoes/ten-out-of-tentacle-ballet-flat/100000291409.html" target="_blank">octopus shoes</a> from ModCloth), I came across a book on Goodreads titled <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34950841-you-need-a-budget?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">You Need a Budget</a></i>. I do need a budget, I thought to myself. Unbeknownst to me at the time YNAB is <a href="https://www.youneedabudget.com/" target="_blank">a HUGE thing on the internet</a>. It's not just a budgeting system, it's like a whole community/movement/the word cult's been thrown around a few times. The app costs $84 (outrageous) but I could get the book for free from the library, so I did. And I immediately fell for the concept.<br />
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YNAB is basically the perfect budgeting system for me because my income is so variable. With standard budgets they want to know what you're going to make in a month and most of the time I have no idea. But YNAB focuses only on the money you physically have <b>today</b>. You give every dollar a job, embrace your true expenses, and then you can start building a buffer so you're not living paycheck to paycheck. Plus you're tracking credit card transactions as they happen and treating them the same as you would a debit card transaction, so there's no "float" where you're spending money you don't have today and planning to pay off next month.<br />
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The book is just an introduction to the system. There are a ton of how-to videos online, free classes through the website, and subreddits where people discuss budgeting. Not that I've joined the subreddits. Yet.<br />
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To be honest, now that I've started using YNAB, I'm way more stressed out about money than I was previously. But then I probably should have been more aware of the state of my finances all along, instead of waiting until an unexpected expense popped up to make me start freaking out and trying to get my unpaid invoices settled.<br />
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I've also been thinking about opening an online money market account to take advantage of a higher interest rate, but I think I'll wait on that for a bit and see if I can save any more money using the YNAB system.<br />
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If you've been searching for a budgeting system or app, I recommend YNAB. There's a bit of a learning curve, but the book gives you a good introduction and for more details you can always watch some videos on YouTube.<br />
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<i><b>Do you have a favorite budgeting app or system? Is this topic way too boring? Also, have you seen Nanette, because I want to discuss! Hope you all have a good week.</b></i><br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-8504038136809548332018-05-27T18:54:00.002-06:002018-07-08T15:52:12.466-06:00Sunday Snapshot has More Paris Pics!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6SHGm1UaDw/Wwsql1gV-KI/AAAAAAAAFCk/9IwUeS2kQkgW-rYBrHOSBj6Xv9_T56ibwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_959.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6SHGm1UaDw/Wwsql1gV-KI/AAAAAAAAFCk/9IwUeS2kQkgW-rYBrHOSBj6Xv9_T56ibwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_959.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stepped in a massive puddle and got drenched taking this shot. So, you're welcome.</td></tr>
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38462886-warlock-holmes---my-grave-ritual"><i>Warlock Holmes: My Grave Ritual</i></a> by GS Denning: The boys are back!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36533218-making-up"><i>Making Up</i></a> by Lucy Parker: MUCH better than Parker's previous outing.<br />
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<b>Movies:</b><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Av5dL8xTDAw/WwsrxziMuoI/AAAAAAAAFCw/FOXdGgj8RegRVKhwMg5OMTD6FP4tAnGqACLcBGAs/s1600/The_Post_%2528film%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the post" border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Av5dL8xTDAw/WwsrxziMuoI/AAAAAAAAFCw/FOXdGgj8RegRVKhwMg5OMTD6FP4tAnGqACLcBGAs/s200/The_Post_%2528film%2529.png" title="" width="137" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6294822/"><i>The Post</i></a>, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks<br />
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MASSIVE eye roll. First of all, there's an unnecessary prologue wherein people xerox documents very dramatically. Second of all, watching a movie about the Pentagon Papers set in the offices of The Washington Post is like watching a TV show about space colonies set on earth (on the plus side, I'm now very interested in this awesome newspaper called The Failing New York Times). Thirdly, I hated Meryl Streep's performance. She was totally phoning it in (because the role didn't scream Oscar, perhaps?), and she wasn't the only one. There was absolutely nothing in this movie to indicate Steven Spielberg was ever on set; maybe he directed it over Skype. And don't get me started on the faux feminism bullshit the filmmakers seemed determined to pat themselves on the back for.<br />
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<b>Paris Ă la heidenkindom part deux:</b><br />
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<a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2018/05/sunday-snapshot-is-back-from-paris.html">Last week</a> I shared photos from The Louvre, Seine ducks, the National Archives, PĂšre Lachaise Cemetery, and a cooking class. Now for the trip's exciting conclusion!<br />
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Day 5: I had an appointment to tour the Paris Catacombs in the afternoon, so I spent the morning wandering around the Notre Dame area. I was going to visit the Musée de Cluny (Museum of the Middle Ages), but it was closed for reno. Whomp whomp.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ElUJEUwM76I/WwsyFJcq7NI/AAAAAAAAFDI/mInvCmAgwn0XqVKqxlXwSi5COOALN-nmwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ElUJEUwM76I/WwsyFJcq7NI/AAAAAAAAFDI/mInvCmAgwn0XqVKqxlXwSi5COOALN-nmwCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNzIqQ2XeTI/WwsyKGQSCZI/AAAAAAAAFDo/FRG6QOTymwob5Zqk7sDa_a6QGSCGK651gCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_97f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1324" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNzIqQ2XeTI/WwsyKGQSCZI/AAAAAAAAFDo/FRG6QOTymwob5Zqk7sDa_a6QGSCGK651gCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_97f.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun street art</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5fpWKmz8N4/WwsyF1rrLZI/AAAAAAAAFDU/gvO9WjJDOEAtyd-_8XtVFCGKoxlN6OjlwCLcBGAs/s1600/TUYZW5oSQrS97VR6dbAVCA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5fpWKmz8N4/WwsyF1rrLZI/AAAAAAAAFDU/gvO9WjJDOEAtyd-_8XtVFCGKoxlN6OjlwCLcBGAs/s320/TUYZW5oSQrS97VR6dbAVCA.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture from the Archaeological Crypt, a new museum right in front of Notre Dame with artifacts and excavations dating from Roman times.</td></tr>
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Then, bucket list item: the Paris Catacombs! The line was insanely long so I was glad I bought my ticket ahead of time online, even if I did have to take an Uber to get there. Thanks train strike.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JrEhzpqXyTk/WwsyEXYjG_I/AAAAAAAAFDA/QtYXxYA7Dj0kJNG6b4EUV6ksc_baiZklwCLcBGAs/s1600/3MszcasYR4W%252BREImQy7EWQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JrEhzpqXyTk/WwsyEXYjG_I/AAAAAAAAFDA/QtYXxYA7Dj0kJNG6b4EUV6ksc_baiZklwCLcBGAs/s320/3MszcasYR4W%252BREImQy7EWQ.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the catacombs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of the original stone quarries</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">According to audioguide, people used to sneak down into this room for macabre concerts and parties.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nreY8XJtvU/WwsyOI6vAxI/AAAAAAAAFD4/80TwgQudUIwgF2q6llu8wxtcrsmrsPEJgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_981.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3nreY8XJtvU/WwsyOI6vAxI/AAAAAAAAFD4/80TwgQudUIwgF2q6llu8wxtcrsmrsPEJgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_981.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I was surprised by how creeped out I was by the catacombsâusually that sort of stuff doesn't bother me, but it was really creepy down there. I was also surprised by how short the route through the catacombs actually was. More than half of it was just climbing in and out, and the whole thing took about 20 minutes! They really don't let you see very much. But it was still cool.<br />
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I also visited the Musée Zadkine, which was okay but nothing to write home about.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Closerie des Lilas, an old haunt of Hemingway's that now charges $22 for the cheapest drink on the menu. Protip: do not drink where Hemingway used to drink. They're still trying to make up for his unpaid bills, apparently.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame at twilight</td></tr>
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Day 6 was miserable weather, so I decided to go to the Musée du Quai Branly, a new-ish museum of non-western art. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train strike graffiti at the bus stop </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me getting creative with shots of the Eiffel Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Musée Quai Branly is very thoughtfully laid out and presented. I was impressed, though I wish I'd picked up an audioguide, as the paper guide wasn't terribly informative.</td></tr>
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After the Musée du Quai Branly, the weather was even worse. So I stopped in at the Orangerie, which has <i>the best</i> bathrooms. Seriously, I'm talking Japanese-level bathrooms here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before #metoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Lilies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool building in evil weather</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucket list item: drinking a sidecar at Harry's New York Bar. This is an awesome bar! It's the type of place where you go in for one drink, end up staying three hours, and leave having made new friends.</td></tr>
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Day 7: St. Denis, one of my favorite stops on this trip! If you took an art history class you're probably familiar with St. Denis, since it's the first French Gothic cathedral. It's famous for the stained glass windows that paint the interior of the church like abstract watercolors; it's really breathtaking. The cathedral also houses the bodies of every French monarch, and some of their relatives, starting with Clovis I.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mummified heart of Louis XVII, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's son. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truly heart stoppingly gorgeous</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The graves of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their son, and a few other people I forgot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cathedral's original crypt, which was looted during the Revolution and is now empty. The bodies of France's kings and queens were dumped in a mass grave, but escaped destruction and were recovered once the monarchy was restored. You get the sense that St. Denis' new tombs and effigies are something of a penance for the Revolution.</td></tr>
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After St. Denis it was back to the Eiffel Tower for dinner. Yes, there's a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower now!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As far as eating in the Eiffel Tower goes, you're paying for the viewâliterally, what you're charged depends on where you sit, not what you eat. Therefor it should probably come as no surprise that the food was just okay, although the main course was quite good. The view, however, was pretty spectacular, and it was definitely a unique experience.</td></tr>
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Day 8: Reims! Champagne country! Unfortunately I didn't get to do as much as I wanted, as the train was over 2 hours late. Uhg. But I did get to see the cathedral and tour a champagne house, so yaa!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral of Reims</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea who this supposed to be, but I love her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the cellars of GH Mumm. Very cool! Literally and figuratively.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HREkRMJjtqk/Wws0WRv4v_I/AAAAAAAAFGk/s4XXI5CTU9A5xtuc6FyEKRKT0yDf-Am9QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HREkRMJjtqk/Wws0WRv4v_I/AAAAAAAAFGk/s4XXI5CTU9A5xtuc6FyEKRKT0yDf-Am9QCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mumm wine library containing all their best vintages, dating back to the 19th century.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over Champagne (this is the greatest train station I've ever been in, btw)</td></tr>
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Day 9: Montmartre. I loved Montmartre, even if the weather was miserable (again). It was so rustic and ridiculously charming and completely unlike any other neighborhood I visited in Paris. If I moved to Paris, this is where I would want to live.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suzanne Valadon's studio in the Musée de Montmartre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat eye door</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That one alley in Montmartre that's in, like, every movie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last vineyard in Paris</td></tr>
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Day 10: Didn't do a lot. I wandered around soaking up some rare sunshine, then went to the Musée des Arts et Métiers, which I had confused with The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie and wasn't too impressed with as a result. I wish I'd gone to the zoo instead! Oh well.<br />
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Anyway, I promised I would give you some restaurant recommendations, so here they are!<br />
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<li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d1449935-Reviews-L_Etincelle-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" target="_blank">L'Etincelle</a>: The first place I ate in Paris, and the perfect way to kick off the trip! The staff was super nice and my meal (I had the duck, at the not-so-subtle suggestion of the waiter) was delicious. I also took my café and croissant there in the morning and they were also very gracious and friendly.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d718129-Reviews-L_As_du_Fallafel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" target="_blank">L'As du Falafel</a>: There aren't a lot of cheap meals in Paris, but at about 10 bucks, this is a bargain. You order from the window, like a food truck, then follow the locals to one of the hidden gardens around the Marais and have a wonderful picnic lunch. The crepe place down the street is also good.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d813472-Reviews-Au_Bougnat-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" target="_blank">Au Bougnat</a>: Surprisingly affordable, considering it's just a few steps away from Notre Dame, plus really good food.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d4553851-Reviews-La_petite_place-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" target="_blank">La Petite Place</a>: A random place I picked because I was hungry. I thought I was ordering a green bean tarte Tatin, I'm not sure why, but nope! It was beef <i>tartare</i> with green beans. And you know what? It was freaking delicious.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d1336641-Reviews-Le_Ceni_s-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" target="_blank">Le Ceni's</a>: Nice atmosphere and plenty of food for the price.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d736855-Reviews-58_Tour_Eiffel-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" target="_blank">58 Tour Eiffel</a>: As I said earlier, you're paying for the view, but it's a unique if touristy experience I'd definitely recommend. After all, how many people can say they had dinner in the Eiffel Tower?</li>
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That all for now! Hope I didn't bore you all with the Paris photos. Have a great week and fun Memorial Day weekend if you live in the US.<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-60901332095584005272018-05-20T18:33:00.000-06:002018-05-20T18:33:10.421-06:00Sunday Snapshot is Back from Paris!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oooh la la!<br />
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36533218-making-up"><i>Making Up</i></a> by Lucy Parker: Giving this author another try.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38610587-10x-marketing-formula"><i>The 10x Marketing Formula</i></a> by Garrett Moon: ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187230-the-woman-in-cabin-10"><i>The Woman in Cabin 10</i></a> by Ruth Ware: Very <i>The Lady Vanishes</i><br />
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<b>Posted:</b><br />
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The Bookstore Bars of Paris on <a href="https://bookriot.com/2018/05/13/paris-bookstore-bars-and-cafes/">Bookriot</a><br />
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<b>Movies:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390/"><i>The Shape of Water</i></a>, starring Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon<br />
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Not del Toro's best movie, in my opinion, but of course still pretty damn good. Not only is it gorgeous to look at, it's about more than just a monster. My only complaint is that the monster was in desperate need of some more character development.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521126/"><i>The Disaster Artist</i></a>, starring James Franco and Dave Franco<br />
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Tbh I wasn't expecting much from this movie, and probably would have never watched it had I not been on a plane and desperate for in-flight entertainment. It was surprisingly hilarious and very weirdly touching! I'd never even heard of <i>The Room</i> before this movie came out, so if you're worried it's just for fans of <i>The Room</i>, don't be. It's really about friendship, following your dreams, and an incredibly strange guy named Tommy. A must-see for anyone who's a film buff.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4765284/"><i>Pitch Perfect 3</i></a>, starring all the people from the other Pitch Perfect movies.<br />
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Not as good as the first Pitch Perfect, but certainly <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2015/11/sunday-snapshot.html">better than</a> Pitch Perfect 2. I'm happy they figured out it's a good idea to have a script before they started filming.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/"><i>Deadpool 2</i></a>, starring Ryan Reynolds<br />
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I <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2016/12/sunday-snapshot-of-beasties-and-blinds.html">loved</a> the first <i>Deadpool</i>, but I struggled with this one a bit. The beginning feels very meandery and it takes the script a long damn time to get to the point. But once Wade went into rescue mode it recovered its momentum and humor. I also liked Domino and the twist with Cable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/"><i>Up in the Air</i></a>, starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick<br />
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My favorite part of this movie were the two female leads, so much so that I thought for a moment it might have been directed or written by a woman! It wasn't, but there are several female characters in this movie who aren't just there for the male lead to lust after, have their own stuff going on, and speak more than three lines! It's kind of sad that's progressive, but hey, I'll take what I can get. Unfortunately this film has no resolution, so even though I enjoyed the journey I kind of felt like it left me up in the air. Still trying to decide if that was on purpose re: the title.<br />
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As a side note, I'd like to ask Netflix to stop listing movies like this under the category "romantic comedies." kthnx.<br />
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<b>Paris a la heidenkindom:</b><br />
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I'm baaaack! Actually I've been back a while, but didn't want to post anything until I'd had a chance to edit some of my pics. But I had a fabulous trip and I can't wait to tell you all about it!<br />
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First off, my hotel, the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-s1-g187147-d188745-Reviews-Hotel_Caron_de_Beaumarchais-Paris_Ile_de_France.html">Caron de Beaumarchais</a>, was absolutely wonderful. It was a block up from the Rue de Rivoli in the Marais. My room was super cozy (good luck doing nightly yoga in there), but the shower had plenty of water pressure and the bed was super comfy. It was a surprisingly modern hotel considering the building dates from the 17th century. I would recommend it, although skip the 13 euro breakfast â there's an excellent cafĂ©, not to mention a Starbucks with free wifi, right down the street.<br />
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And speaking of breakfast, a word on budget: you might remember I was <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2017/12/sunay-snapshot-is-getting-ready-for-new.html">freaking out a bit</a> before I left because Rick Steves recommended a daily budget of $140, not including accommodation. Well, he was more or less on the nose with that, not because of museums fees or transportation, but because of food. It's super expensive to eat out in Paris, even if you just go to regular bistros. I had some excellent meals, though (more on that later).<br />
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As for travel hiccups, the main one was the <a href="https://www.thelocal.fr/20180518/french-train-strikes-latest-services-hit-on-thursday">train strike</a>, which is still going. The strike was only 2 days a week, but it just so happened those were the days I needed to get to/from the airport OF COURSE. I was planning to spend the last 3 days of my trip in Reims mainlining champagne like a glamorous MFB, but because of the train strike I canceled my B&B reservation there and just spent one day touring a champagne house and walking around the cityâwhich is beautiful, btwâbefore returning to Paris.<br />
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Anyway, pictures! That's what you came here for!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling of the hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Might seem strange that this is in Spanish, but the President of Paris is Spanish and lives around the corner from where this was written.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sein ducks!</td></tr>
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Day 2: in the Louvre...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new exhibit at the Louvre I really enjoyed traces the history of the palace from when it was first established in the 13th century. This is one of the walls of the original palace, which was surrounded by a moat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top floor of the Louvre. That's a lot steps, people.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the courtyard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicolas Flamel's house! For real!</td></tr>
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Day 3: Museum of the National Archives đ, tour of the Marais, and the Centre Pompidou<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Museum of the National Archives was filled with cool historical artifacts. This one's my favorite: it's Robespierre's table, and if you look closely you can kind of see the red stain of Robespierre's blood still visible under the glass.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zs3rJ0hy2L0/WwIMc5ntA8I/AAAAAAAAFBA/vwk7mkar0NA3LiRJcshTQBneAhdmQw41wCLcBGAs/s320/ZNLEf6t1Rye%25253EKcK55A9Q.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a walking tour of Paris with Paris Greeters and it was one of the highlights of my trip. My tour guide showed me so many hidden historical nooks and crannies around the Marais. Here is the last surviving medieval street in Paris.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il873UTt0AI/WwIMZTPyUeI/AAAAAAAAFA0/HyOTG24VWeY39HCXCkSbkCy90sRo9geRQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il873UTt0AI/WwIMZTPyUeI/AAAAAAAAFA0/HyOTG24VWeY39HCXCkSbkCy90sRo9geRQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0749.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from the Centre Pompidou</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUDeTET4AvM/WwIMZVewovI/AAAAAAAAFAw/JIIAJWHafPoFv9Kohb67-DbmSLL4NniiQCLcBGAs/s1600/InaRM4cBRvuOBhzZ%2525OGpMA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUDeTET4AvM/WwIMZVewovI/AAAAAAAAFAw/JIIAJWHafPoFv9Kohb67-DbmSLL4NniiQCLcBGAs/s320/InaRM4cBRvuOBhzZ%2525OGpMA.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite paintings! A portrait of Philippe Soupault by Robert Delaunay.</td></tr>
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Day 4: Cooking class and PĂšre Lachaise Cemetery<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parisian cooking class with a French chef! Very Audrey Hepburn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coquilles St. Jacques, or scallops baked in their shells with cream, cheese, and mushrooms. Such a low-cal lunch, no? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YykXAb_oWk/WwIS2lwpmCI/AAAAAAAAFCE/b9J0gv5rSBsrYihK0nxB0pGPYHtifG1KACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_9a5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YykXAb_oWk/WwIS2lwpmCI/AAAAAAAAFCE/b9J0gv5rSBsrYihK0nxB0pGPYHtifG1KACLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_9a5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ate scallop eyes</td></tr>
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Fish in paper<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucket list item: Oscar Wilde's grave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tree by Jim Morrison's grave covered in discarded gum. WHY.</td></tr>
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Well, I have to go make dinner now, but I will back with more pics from the rest of my trip, plus some restaurant recs, next week. I promise!<br />
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<br />
Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-38447835840583094042018-03-25T19:18:00.000-06:002018-03-25T19:18:44.714-06:00Sunday Snapshot is Getting Ready for Paris!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_H3YK3dk_rU/WrgQK1pyU6I/AAAAAAAAE9E/E9dLW7No7SsGfnpG1YlQvKKXrdMsnLiXwCLcBGAs/s1600/bonjour%2Bparis.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="bonjour paris gif" border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_H3YK3dk_rU/WrgQK1pyU6I/AAAAAAAAE9E/E9dLW7No7SsGfnpG1YlQvKKXrdMsnLiXwCLcBGAs/s1600/bonjour%2Bparis.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will be me in a few days </td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34379276-hello-stranger"><i>Hello, Stranger</i></a> by Lisa Kleypas: Pretty swoon worthy, even though it requires a hefty suspension of disbelief.<br />
<br />
Instead of listening to an audiobook, I'm currently going through <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rick-steves-paris/id364271931?mt=2">Rick Steves' Paris-related podcasts</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Posted:</b><br />
<br />
Nothing. But I did find some articles of mine online that I hadn't realized were posted by the publication! Read my guide to the <a href="http://pueblopulp.com/her-paris/">Her Paris exhibition</a>, which focused on female artists in 19th century Paris; and a review of that <a href="http://pueblopulp.com/exotic-strangeness-americas-display-cs-fine-arts-center/">Haitian art exhibit</a> I mentioned in <a href="https://heidenkind.blogspot.com/2018/02/sunday-snapshot-is-starting-to-get-sick.html">my last Sunday Snapshot</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Movies:</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="112" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gy0RVDM1sNA" width="200"></iframe><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3262342/"><i>Loving Vincent</i></a>, starring Douglas Booth<br />
<br />
I've been wanting to see this film ever since I first heard about the Kickstarter years ago. A year after the death of Vincent Van Gogh, Armand Roulin is asked by his father to take one of his letters to his brother, Theo. But when Armand arrives in Paris, it's to find Theo dead and his wife and child gone. As Armand tries to search for someone, ANYONE, to take possession of the letter, he's drawn into the mystery of Van Gogh's death. Was it suicide? A tragic accident? Murder? Everyone in Arles seems to have a different theory, and a different reason to either hate or love the celebrated artist.<br />
<br />
I ADORE this movie. It's absolutely gorgeous: 125 professional artists hand-painted every still of the film, bringing Van Gogh's paintings to life. I loved the visual quotes of Van Gogh's work and you really get a feel for how his paintings are a diary of sorts, documenting all the places he went and all the people he met.<br />
<br />
I also enjoyed the film noir-esque atmosphere and storyline, which is particularly appropriate for such <a href="https://www.filminquiry.com/german-expressionism/">an expressive artist</a>.<br />
<br />
My only criticism is I don't understand why they didn't full-out animate the movie instead of filming it in live action and <i>then</i> hand animating it. It doesn't quite make sense to me: not only did they add an extra (and expensive) step, I'd rather look at a character in this film and think, "Oh look, it's Doctor Gachet!" or, "It's Postman Roulin!" than, "Oh look it's Chris O'Dowd and Aiden Turner!" It was just distracting and pulled me out of the movie. But otherwise I think this is probably the best movie about Van Gogh I've ever seen.<br />
<br />
And PS, "Starry Night" at the end COMPLETELY wrecked me.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="112" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F-eMt3SrfFU" width="200"></iframe><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/"><i>Dunkirk</i></a>, starring, like, sooo many white guys.<br />
<br />
Normally Christopher Nolan is my spirit animal, but this movie didn't do much for me. I appreciated the reportage angle Nolan was going for, but my mind started to wander about halfway through. There were just so many boats. And so much water. And the Germans were hardly ever mentioned or shown, which I found kinda weird and it made the whole thing a bit hollow. I mean, the Brits could have been fighting against the French for all we knew. There was certainly enough antagonism between the two. But war movies aren't really my thing, so.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="112" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HzILu6yyA20" width="200"></iframe><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1137450/"><i>Death Wish</i></a>, starring Bruce Willis, Elizabeth Shue<br />
<br />
Honestly pretty entertaining! It's not a good movie, mind (the presence of Elizabeth Shue should tell you that much), but I enjoyed the '70s B-movie vibe and some parts were just too hilarious. Plus Bruce Willis actually looked like he was having a good time! If you do go see it, expect a slow start, predictable plot, and lots of blood and gore.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="112" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZzW6_hR068" width="200"></iframe><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431308/"><i>PS I Love You</i></a>, starring Hilary Swank<br />
<br />
Uhg. First of all, there's a long and completely pointless prologue. Then Gerard Butler dies and leaves notes for Hilary Swank to send her on a treasure hunt to overcome her grief, or something. Question: <i>WHO WOULD DO THIS?</i> It's nutso. Also, let's say for the sake of argument someone would do that. Would their widow then proceed to fall for [[[redacted]]]? Hard to believe. This movie made me happy I refused to read the book.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="112" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gl45jx7zMmc" width="200"></iframe><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0141098/"><i>Forces of Nature</i></a>, starring Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck<br />
<br />
A complete trash fire. Sandra Bullock looks terrible and the story is stupid and hateful. Avoid at all costs.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="112" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/erpUF2ToUls" width="200"></iframe><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4258698/"><i>Southside With You</i></a>, starring Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers<br />
<br />
I realize this is supposed to be a "slice of life" film and not a drawn out romcom, but there was absolutely nothing going on of interest in this movie. It felt like a stage play where the characters just stand around and talk about their backstory. Tika Sumpter does do an excellent Michelle Obama impression, though.<br />
<br />
<b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b><br />
<br />
My trip to Paris is nigh and I spent yesterday afternoon pre-packing. I like to prepack because it reduces my stress, and also my packing process is basically: pick out everything I think I'll need, realize there's no way I'll be able to fit it all into my extremely tiny suitcase, and then edit it down.<br />
<br />
That's something I don't want to be facing for the first time at 8pm the night before I'm set to take off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fh14r7X9uN0/WrhG_XjIxzI/AAAAAAAAE9U/jQyaRLKEayUdJ7LGgjFjGCgmb0HV-jtawCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fh14r7X9uN0/WrhG_XjIxzI/AAAAAAAAE9U/jQyaRLKEayUdJ7LGgjFjGCgmb0HV-jtawCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0612.JPG" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The extremely tiny suitcase</td></tr>
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<br />
Plus, when you prepack you realize what you need and what you may be packing two of for no good reason.<br />
<br />
As you can see from the photo above, I'm a big fan of packing cubes. If you're the type of person who has crap spread out all over your bed 10 minutes after you check into your hotel, these will make your life about 100x easier and more organized. They're like drawers for your suitcase!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I always enjoy seeing what other people pack, so I thought I'd share my still-tentative packing list:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A shit ton of socks. Guidebooks always tell you to only bring 5 pairs of socks, but once I was on a trip in the winter and ALL my socks got wet. There were no dryers and the suckers wouldn't air dry because it was cold. I was miserable. As a result, I now pack about 50x more socks than I think I'll need, and I've yet to regret it.</li>
<li>Undies</li>
<li>Shoes! I always pack two pairs of shoes, but I'm still undecided on which I'll bring to Paris. I actually bought two pairs of shoes specifically for this trip, and they're good shoes, but I kinda just want to wear my Merrill's and bring casual flats even thoughâagainâthe guidebooks are like, "Don't wear sneakers! You'll be spotted as a tourist immediately!" Okay, but I'm also going to be walking a lot. What's your answer to that, guidebooks?</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoes! But which to bring?</td></tr>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Pants, another area I'm undecided about. I was going to bring a pair of jeans and black slacks for going out to a fancy-ish restaurant and/or trying to get a free upgrade on the plane, but I realized through the magic of trying on clothes that the slacks I have don't fit anymore. And all the dresses I have are sleeveless, so now I don't know what I'm going to bring exactly.</li>
<li>Pajamas</li>
<li>Tops (4 long sleeve, 1 button down, 1 short sleeve, 4 sweaters)</li>
<li>Adapter</li>
<li>Ziploc bags</li>
<li>Duct tape</li>
<li>Door lock</li>
<li>Clothing detergent & sink stopper</li>
<li>Jackets are something else I'm going back and forth on. It's supposed to be rainy and in the 50s, which is pretty darn cold for me, so I don't want to just bring a thin rain jacket because I will freeze and be miserable (see socks, above). I was going to take my black trench, but then the blahgs (uhg why do I read this stuff) were like, "Don't wear heavy coats through security, especially if they have a bunch of zippers!" I can see their point, but unfortunately the black trench will not fit into my extremely small suitcase. So now I'm back to the rain jacket and just layering it over a sweatshirt, but again, if I go out somewhere nice to eat...</li>
<li>Camera</li>
<li>All the charging cables</li>
<li>Portable charger</li>
<li>iPad</li>
<li>Kindle</li>
<li>iPhone</li>
<li>A scarf, if I can remember it</li>
<li>Toiletries</li>
<li>Earbuds (set of two)</li>
<li>Journal & pen</li>
<li>Umbrella</li>
<li>Small wallet-sized purse</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28592984-rick-steves-paris-2017" target="_blank">Rick Steves' Paris</a></i>âRick Steves is not the hippest person on the planet. But this guidebook is packed with a TON of useful information and unique tours you can't find anywhere else. If I had to recommend one guidebook to Paris, it'd be this one.</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35450129-paris-by-the-book?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Paris by the Book</a></i>âA publisher sent me this last week and I was like, "That's a weird coincidence!" So I'm going to give it a try on the trip. If it sucks I'll just leave it in the airport or something.</li>
</ul>
Basically all my packing indecision comes down to the fact that I feel the need to dress like an adult, because PARIS. But it's stressing me out since I usually don't dress like that. What to do.<br />
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Anyway. If you have any packing tips you live and travel by send them my way! I'll be adjusting as needed until it's time to leave for the airport.<br />
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Hope you all have a great week and Happy Easter if you celebrate it!<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5969918645306125159.post-44654940550032274972018-02-25T17:47:00.002-07:002018-02-25T17:47:46.722-07:00Sunday Snapshot is Starting to Get Sick of Winter (Not That That's Much of a Challenge)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ijmifqq7JWk/WpNIgojo7iI/AAAAAAAAE7g/7pPUvw1ym-cBQ0lWXq04IQswJ5Wgb_k0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sugar boat by edouard duval-carrie" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ijmifqq7JWk/WpNIgojo7iI/AAAAAAAAE7g/7pPUvw1ym-cBQ0lWXq04IQswJ5Wgb_k0QCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sugar Boat</i> by Edouard Duval-Carrié</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Currently reading:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34670798-how-not-to-die"><i>How Not to Die</i></a> by Dr. Michael Greger: I may never be able to eat chicken again.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23010019-party-lines?ac=1&from_search=true"><i>Party Lines</i></a> by Emma Barry: Just started this one. We'll see.<br />
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<b>Watched:</b><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6J5GIXt9vYA/WpNKJEkuKZI/AAAAAAAAE7s/i8V4HexLphANKINwtBeCUhws7754XrvAwCLcBGAs/s1600/The_Incredible_Jessica_James_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the incredible jessica james poster" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6J5GIXt9vYA/WpNKJEkuKZI/AAAAAAAAE7s/i8V4HexLphANKINwtBeCUhws7754XrvAwCLcBGAs/s200/The_Incredible_Jessica_James_poster.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5990342/"><i>The Incredible Jessica James</i></a>, starring Jessica Williams<br />
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I loved Jessica Williams in this, but the romantic comedy plot felt like an afterthought.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcVD20f9K48/WpNK6grRVRI/AAAAAAAAE70/CH8hZ1K0M24titxJbkMvbFUexE84l3VowCLcBGAs/s1600/Invictus-poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="invictus" border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcVD20f9K48/WpNK6grRVRI/AAAAAAAAE70/CH8hZ1K0M24titxJbkMvbFUexE84l3VowCLcBGAs/s200/Invictus-poster.png" width="135" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/">Invictus</a></i>, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon<br />
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Not one of Clint Eastwood's better movies. The start is very slow and meandery, and there's practically no character development, so the detente between Afrikaners and black South Africans comes across as cheesy and pandering. Also, I'm kinda shocked both Freeman and Damon were nominated for Academy Awards on this film, since Freeman's performance was unconvincing and Damon had so little material to work with.<br />
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But I did enjoy learning more about South Africa and how Mandela worked to bring the country together after the end of Apartheid. We could all definitely stand to take inspiration from him and his story.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRFFK9T2OXw/WpNOk6n31UI/AAAAAAAAE8A/rsysyr6y3uU0dvmcaXOXk8phIXXWafRMwCLcBGAs/s1600/olympics%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="125" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRFFK9T2OXw/WpNOk6n31UI/AAAAAAAAE8A/rsysyr6y3uU0dvmcaXOXk8phIXXWafRMwCLcBGAs/s200/olympics%2B2018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2018/2/25/17050058/russia-hacked-olympics-pyeongchang-north-korea">The Olympics</a><br />
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Normally I'm all over the Olympics, but this one was kinda blah. And don't even get me started on how NBC covered figure skating this year. RAGE INDUCING. I almost sent them an angry tweet.<br />
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<b>These weeks in heidenkindom:</b><br />
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Winter has finally hit SoCO, and I'm already sick of it. Wearing a bunch of clothing is just a bummer, not to mention being stuck indoors all day.<br />
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So on the first big snow storm of the year, my mom and I went up to Springs to catch the opening of <a href="https://www.csfineartscenter.org/exhibits/loas-history-and-memory/">Art of Haiti: Loas, History, Memory</a>. I became fascinated with Haitian history and art when I was a freshman in college and was assigned to do a presentation on it, so I was pretty pumped about seeing some Haitian art up close and personal.<br />
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The exhibit was okay. It wasn't what I was expecting at all, and it wasn't very well organized or interpreted. But it did have some really cool pieces. Here are a few of my favorites:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4IfIM3lDmo/WpNTWo91PYI/AAAAAAAAE8U/3AFY6NKyuhsadtyhyi7TDuin43z-lqOOwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Memory Window #1 by Edouard Duval-Carrié" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4IfIM3lDmo/WpNTWo91PYI/AAAAAAAAE8U/3AFY6NKyuhsadtyhyi7TDuin43z-lqOOwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Memory Window #1</i> by Edouard Duval-Carrié</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj_8GhrPMyM/WpNTVEI5CwI/AAAAAAAAE8M/iiou685R6tE-efGsY2JGX1BPxkTfBv7EACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mistress Erzuile by Ralph Allen" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj_8GhrPMyM/WpNTVEI5CwI/AAAAAAAAE8M/iiou685R6tE-efGsY2JGX1BPxkTfBv7EACPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0402.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mistress Erzuile</i> by Ralph Allen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uvQPpPSN8k/WpNTWCANSLI/AAAAAAAAE8Q/7s9-V7Ja9q4R4mMUjVt3XM47hSNbnrfJwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Aunts and Uncles" Tessa Mars" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uvQPpPSN8k/WpNTWCANSLI/AAAAAAAAE8Q/7s9-V7Ja9q4R4mMUjVt3XM47hSNbnrfJwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aunts and Uncles</i> by Tessa Mars</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yh-rVO4tkVM/WpNTWjAFVOI/AAAAAAAAE8Y/PDammbHSFl899_6zeH_IK79lZ4AT-D6mgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gede at the Graveyard by Wilson Bigaud" border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yh-rVO4tkVM/WpNTWjAFVOI/AAAAAAAAE8Y/PDammbHSFl899_6zeH_IK79lZ4AT-D6mgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0404.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gede at the Graveyard</i> by Wilson Bigaud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j0UF9Fljsy0/WpNTYlhc6HI/AAAAAAAAE84/BW3ypyX7YRgrlY6XST17F1aWyYuXx5vGACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Millionyearseeds by Yoshitomo Saito" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j0UF9Fljsy0/WpNTYlhc6HI/AAAAAAAAE84/BW3ypyX7YRgrlY6XST17F1aWyYuXx5vGACPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_0407.JPG" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Millionyearseeds</i> by Yoshitomo Saito (not part of the Haitian art exhibit but still very cool)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In other news, I'm getting ready/nervous for my trip to Paris in close to a month! I still haven't reserved the cooking classes or tours I was looking at, nor have I figured out on which days I want to do what, so I feel completely unprepared. That usually means I end up creating a spreadsheet. The night is still young.<br />
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Oh, one more thing: I gave up meat for Lent. I was on the fence about it up until the last minute, because I knew it would be difficult, but I decided to just go for it. I never realized how many calories I got from meat until I stopped eating it. By the third day I was STARVING. I'm better now, but I have to eat a lot more to stay full on this diet. Don't become a vegetarian if you don't like to eat, like, all the time. That's my advice.<br />
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Hope you all had an excellent Valentine's Day and that next week is full of fantastic things for you!<br />
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Discus this post with me on <u><a href="http://twitter.com/heidenkind">Twitter</a></u>, <u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heidenkinds.Hideaway">FaceBook</a></u>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/113554098207968874307?rel=author"><u>Google+</u></a> or in the comments below.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This content is original to Truth Beauty Freedom and Books.</div>Heidenkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.com