Random Philosphy

“One must first learn to swim in the dark before they can stand in the light.” OJM

This refrain has been in my head for the past month, and it boils down to this thought-before one can be great, they have to put in the work. Additionally, it is a reflection on depression and mental health problems that we might have. Sometimes, medications don’t work, or cause what it is they are made to prevent. When resources have all been utilized, there is one last avenue-no, I don’t mean suicide-I mean that sometimes we need to embrace that which is keeping us down. Easier said that done I know, but I have found that by embracing it, it stops controlling me. If I am able to control it, it does not control me and having that power, that hope that it brings, can help a person rise above their depression/MH problems and make the necessary changes they need to live in our society. At least, that is one path. There are many others, but for tonight/early morning, that is where I will choose to leave it at.

Wellness to all who follow and read.

OJM

 

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Long Collaborative Journey

Once on a journey, I stopped in a tavern

Upon ordering my beverage and food I was greeted by another,

My journey long and lonely, I invited him to supper,

Long into the night we did engage in prosperous discussion

Each with points to make and viewpoints that differed

We offered each our expertise, no one of us more than the other

With pauses in reflection but only moments long

Tis the best dialogue I have had in years gone on

It helped my inner dialogue, for which I wrestled a problem

And in that moment, was able to change my direction,

Ever grateful for the engaging supper, I wonder if he knew

He was speaking with one such as he,

A professional listener is what we both seem to be.

Clark.L(OJM). (2019)

New environment in which I now live–for the 40 and older crowd.

Not to add to the den of whiners that use their blog as an pubic diary forum-I opt instead to give some pointers about things to look out for should you be an old(er) person who finds themselves in this particular situation, that living with roommates at best, is meh and at worst is what the Frick did I just do. If you’re pushing 40 and find yourself in a situation that requires your to take on a roommate or move into another persons house, here is a small list of things to consider…

1. Is this a friend, and do they live like you do? What I mean is, are they a slob and you’re a neat freak? Do they pay their bills on time or do they have excuses why they are always late? If the latter, why are you moving in with them?
2. Are you looking for companionship or just someone to split the cost of rent?This is important. In an ideal world, the person you live with will be a person you can hang out with or be friends with, but if you’re looking for companionship and the other person is looking for just a more costly rent, how will this work out for you?
3. If moving into someone else’s house, are you a guest, or is this now your place too? It’s an important point to make as you don’t want to move the furniture around and cause someone to freak out because you moved their space around.
4. Pets? If you have pets, will they be accepted by the roommate? Do they have pets and you don’t, can you handle their pet, are there allergies to consider. Any issues with animals should be cleared before moving in. If not, someone might find themselves in a very awkward situation.
5. Are visiting friends a problem? Meaning, is this a place your friends can be comfortable? Can their friends be comfortable? Are you a shut in who doesn’t like people in your area? Are the roommates? These are good things to know going in so as not to create unnecessary tension.
6. Do you have to share a bathroom? This is definitely something to consider-Some people have strange bathroom rituals – nuff said.

These are just a few items that should be taken into consideration. And consider, the older you are the more set in your ways you/they are. Are you ready to rock the boat? And if so, how do you go about handling them? I would suggest an initial meeting prior to moving in. Hash out all your concerns and draw up a contract you both can agree upon. If you cannot agree this keeps you from signing anything that might make you have to stay somewhere longer than necessary while being miserable at the same time.

I would also recommend the person being someone you get along with. You don’t have to be friends before you move in, but wouldn’t it make things so much better if you could become so while living together? And lastly, just know that some people just don’t click. That is ok, in fact it is even ok to move in with this other person(s) so long as you can both respect one another’s boundaries.

On the move again

So new ventures have come around again, which means we are moving again as well. Not to far this time, just about an hour (give or take with traffic) from where we are now. No epic moves this time and yet, it feels more profound than previous moves, and here’s why;

1.) We are moving from our two bedroom apt into a 6 bedroom house

2.) Within this 6 bedroom house there are other people who already live there. So Roommate situation–of which I have no experience save my hubby and daughter

3.) Of the 5 adults that live there, only one is known to us

4.) There are children–Thankfully though, the small one will be moving out with his mother and her Fiance so don’t have to deal with that bit of energy. The older one is my friends son and he will be going to the U.S. Coast Guard come August so that is something I’m not worried about either

5.) One of the roommates appears to be a shut in–only in that he stays in his room alot when not at work. I only have my hubby’s word on it as I haven’t been over long enough to witness this myself.

Don’t get me wrong, everyone seems real nice. But for a 40 something who has always lived on their own or only with their family-well, that will take some getting used to. In addition, I will be looking for a new job and once had will be settling into that new routine as well. Hence the adventure.

Oh, and did I mention that we are introducing our 2 dogs and 1 cat to a new very very large Great Dane/Mastiff mix? I am sooo looking forward to this challenge .

Here is what I hope will happen:

Here is what I fear will happen:

No, I don’t have small chihuahua’s but I think the pictures are clear.

Don’t worry. I have read many articles on how to introduce pets into new homes. We are working on this. I shall let you all know how it goes. Wish us luck!

OJM

Movies in Review

I love to watch the occasional movie and more so to discuss them with my friends or even a random stranger I may meet in the store. My favorite part of working at the now closed Blockbuster Video (BV)was being able to help people find a video(s) to watch. Discussing the intricacies of an actor/actress and how well they did or how well rendered the special effects and CGI were-even whether or not the storyline was good or if it could have used some help.

My greatest skill was in picking out that perfect movie for someone without giving away the plot. Tell me what you like and chances are, I can pick you out a winner. It made for great repeat business. Since BV is no longer open I find I no longer have those great conversations. Or meet as many interesting people on a day to day business, where one conversation can lead to a lasting friendship.

That being said, I still like to share. Since I rarely go to the theaters anymore (too expensive) I stick to Netflix(NF) primarily and other times will rent from Redbox (RB).  This past week I took some time away from my crafts and watched 5 movies, 4 from our local Redbox (RB) and 1 from Netflix(NF).  You read right, 5 movies over one weekend. If that is nothing for you, great, but for me, well, it has been awhile since I have binge watched movies in that large a quantity. In fact, it has been a while since I have actually watched a movie(shh, don’t tell anyone).

I would have to say that my movie tastes are hardcore action, horror (not slasher), comedy, cartoons, chick flicks. Not so much into drama, but have watched a few. How I rate a movie is:

Gotta buy it–it was fantastic

Good- I would watch it again

Meh-I had nothing better to do and was too lazy to change the channel

Disappointing-Good points but mostly my expectations weren’t met

Not even if it was free–truly it was that bad.

So, now you have my rating system. It’s not elaborate, but effective I think. Nearly all descriptions of movies are pulled from IMBD (unless otherwise noted). So without further ado, here is my review of the 5 moves I watched:

Redbox Rentals:

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ARRIVAL–-Meh and Disappointing.

When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.

The actors did their jobs. Kinda. I was expecting Aliens, which were there, and awesomely done. But the description, not to mention the previews, were misleading. The tempo of the movie was slow with a few inserts that went quickly–almost too quickly. I think the problem was that a) they tried to put too much in a limited amount of time-there was potential for a longer movie (I am thankful it wasn’t though) b) Halfway through the script someone forgot what type of movie they were writing c) With an A List Cast, I was expecting more.

Forest Whitaker– was great in his role–it was good to see him in a non-drama movie again.

Amy Adams–I usually like her, I would even go so far as to say I am a fan and look for her movies, but the character she played was too downplayed. She could have been better.

Jeremy Renner– Also did his part well.

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JACK REACHER-NEVER GO BACK– This fell into the surprisingly GOOD category (or maybe after ARRIVAL anything would have been good)

Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.

Let’s start out by saying that the first Reacher movie was Meh, but I thought I would give it another try. It far exceeded my expectations-I had very low ones going into this movie.

• More action
• better written
• better acting

It’s a lot simpler than the other review I gave but it’s not something I feel I need to go indepth for. I would definitely watch it again when it comes to NF. It wasn’t slow and I was definitely engaged.

Tom Cruise–He can definitely still act. I have grown up watching him and while I think he’s a little out there, I cannot fault his acting skills.

Colbie Smulders- I was surprised at this role for her. I had only seen her in HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER so seeing her in such an active role was different but nice. It is good to see she is expanding her range (after my husband proofed it he pointed out she was also in the Avengers/Captain America movies-I guess I will have to go back and watch :))

Overall cast- While I didn’t really recognize the rest of the ensemble, I cannot find fault with any one person’s ability to act. The cast came together nicely to provide an entertaining movie.

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TARZAN– Gotta buy it (though I think that has something to do with his abs) otherwise it would definitely fit in the realm of GOOD

Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

 I have to say that I was taken by surprise by this one. I was expecting a remake with the same old story. What I got:

• Action–lots of it
• New story line
• Great Acting
• Romance without the naked sex scenes
• Full engagement

The scenery was exceptionally good, not too much apparent CGI, great bad guys. Once it started I was engaged and it definitely wasn’t something that you ever have to have a knowledge of Tarzan to follow along with. The native people were depicted as really smart and capable, which is something not often done. Kudos to the writers and staff who did that.

Alexander Skarsgard– Glad that his acting ability isn’t solely based on his looks (still like those abs). I enjoyed that fact that Skargard shares the screen with his co-stars and wasn’t the focal point in every scene. He did a great job with his character.

Margot Robbie–Someone to watch for. She wasn’t the normal weak heroine we are used to encountering with this story. She definitely lives up to being the wife of Tarzan in the film.

Samuel Jackson-I didn’t know he was in the film but like the role that he played and the fact that there didn’t seem a whole lot of sarcasm tied to this character

Djimon Hounsou-I love this actor. I have seen him in many things and have yet to be disappointed. He owned this character and made me happy to have watched the film.

Christoph Waltz-I have to say I truly liked this quiet menace. He did justice to his character. Does this man ever play a good guy?

All told, the entire cast of people did an awesome job. I wanted to restart the DVD when it was over and watch it again (and not because of Skarsgards’ Abs either!)It was a movie I went into not expecting to enjoy much of it, but was thoroughly caught up in the moment.

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THE ACCOUNTANT–Good!

As a math savant un-cooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise.

Before I go any further I will have to say I am not a Ben Affleck fan. I just don’t think he is that great an actor. It was my Husbands turn to pick and this is what he wanted to watch. That being said there are a couple of movies of his that I have liked and now I can add another. The writing was great and the movie flowed. There was a moment where it could have ended up in the MEH file but it was brief. Overall a pretty good movie.

• Action
• Story line
• Not a normal romance

There was a ton  of  action and gun play in this movie which were the best parts. If you are looking for action that moves through the story line this is it. The story line was kept simple without overdoing it too much and there is even a surprise at the end if you were paying attention throughout the film. The possibility of a romance was there but they didn’t ruin the movie by making it one. I would definitely watch it again, even with the little bit of MEH that was there.–Please note that Asperger’s’ is a real disease and is not treatable like in the movie! Find out more by clicking on this link :ASPERGER SYNDROME

Ben Affleck- Did a good job. This role seemed to fit him better than most

Anna Kendrick-Still on the fence about this actress, but I liked her in this. She did her character good, which was playing the damsel in distress

J.K.Simmons-He did an excellent job with this character. Didn’t know until the end whether he was a good guy or not

Jon Bernthal- had only seen him in THE WALKING DEAD before this, so don’t know much about this actor. I did like his portrayal of this character.

John Lithgow- It was a pleasant surprise to see him in a movie. Does the man ever age? He played his character quite well. I thought his role was obvious but let me know if you catch on in the beginning – didn’t get it until the end

Cynthia Addai-Robinson- Another up and coming actress. I enjoyed her role as much as anyone else’s. I will look forward to any other movies she might be in.

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Netflix

THE DO OVER-GOOD–LMAO GOOD!

Two down-on-their-luck guys decide to fake their own deaths and start over with new identities, only to find the people they’re pretending to be are in even deeper trouble.

 I saved the best one for last. It was hilarious! And a little surprising.

Nudity and sex-For an Adam Sandler movie there are usually hints and intonations suggesting nudity and there is definitely language. This one went further–So if you’re used to his humor, be prepared-he pushed the envelope!

• Comedy
• Action

There was a story which was good, but don’t expect anything deep. It was fun, and surprising. When I watch a Sandler film, I have an expectation of a certain type of humor. I won’t say anymore, but let me know what you think.

I am limiting the Actor list to the ones I laughed at the hardest.

Adam Sandler- Funny as always. Even though it was a comedy, it seemed a little different. My opinion only of course.

David Spade-Like Affleck, not a big fan but he did really good in this.

Luis Guzman-Good to see him in another comedy. I think he is ever the funny person

 

That’s it for this review. I know it’s a bit wordy, but I see it as having a written conversation. Feel free to commit, I look forward to it 🙂

 

BTW-I am not in any way endorsed by Redbox or Netflix or any of their subsidiaries. I just like letting people know where I obtain my sources 🙂

 

 

I Forgot to post my 15 minutes!!

What a crazy week! Software updates, temporary house hunting, cooking, pets etc.
A lot of good excuses I am sure, but excuses all the same. There were moments where I didn’t have to watch and episode of Last Man Standing or could taken a break from watching 5 movies this weekend. In short, I didn’t get it done. What I did do however, was some research for my next post which will be a run down ( or as most would call it, a “critique”) of those said 5 movies.  In addition I will also be critiquing those recipes used for this weeks meal plans (this will be done in a separate post) and possibly what might be/not be happening in my life. So, look forward to it in the next week-It will be a long one. I did watch 5 movies after all…

All About Themes

I realized that after accidentally switching my theme, that I will need to become more educated in this whole blog-o-sphere theme thingy. Yes, I am calling it a thingy, until I learn more that is.

The point of this short is to say that we are never to old to learn. Not that I am–old that is, but I am pushing the hill and while not on top yet, I don’t really want to get there not knowing how this works. It’s not as hard for me as others–I used to be a computer/software geek (still am at times)–but I have been away from it for some time now (read 10+ years) so getting back into the swing of things is a bit more difficult than I anticipated. This is an easy fix though, as all I need is one of those WordPress for Dummies books or even a class at the local library. If I can find neither, then I can always fall back on YouTube and friends and at some point become expert in the subject. At which point, I can then write about and teach others.

Sounds like a strong plan to me. So wish me luck, and if you have something to add, Please do.

I will look for your response. For now, I’m out to lunch (literally).

OJM

Food for thought…

Simone Weil in 1921.Notebooks of Simone Weil. Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1956Simone Weil (February 3,1909 – August 24,1943). French philosopher, anarchist, feminist, christian mystic. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Weil joined a French-speaking unit of an anarchist militia and fought the fascists. In 1942, she helped her family to safety in the U.S.A, and…

via Simone Weil: “The Needs of a Human Being are Sacred. Their Satisfaction Cannot be Subordinated Either to Reasons of State, or to Any Consideration of Money …” — Words of Power

I came across this in my reader and was immediatley interested. Read, then come back to my page and tell me what you think. I look forward to a good conversation.

Back in the Kitchen

Recently my husband and I started cooking again, and it started with me watching a youtube video of Bobby Parrish https://youtu.be/YYYNhFL3llo creating one of the most flavorful dishes I have ever had the opportunity to experience.

We decided to duplicate the recipe as well as one other and some how made it turn out right! Well, most of it anyway. We miscalculated on the type of lentils to get and so that part of our experiment was an epic fail–BUT we were able to use couscous set aside for another dish instead and it turned out all right.

 

I posted the pics up on Youtube as well with many technical difficulties. Since I felt it was important to post something I decided to go ahead with what I had, with the promise to later go back and fix it. What was the problem you ask? Well, a while ago my husband bought a microphone for another project. The microphone sat in the box for months until this project came along and I decided to use it. Only problem was that it was not a plug n play device. It requires more equipment. Someone didn’t read the smaller print when they purchased it. Hey, we all make mistakes :). That lead to no sound or recording to publish with the slideshow and a lack of conversion software for alternative methods. It’s ok. I am learning and am having a blast doing so. So, until then, I have all this learning time on my hands. As well as cooking, sewing, gardening, preparing for gardening…etc…So, this is what I am up to. How about you?

 

A little bit too messy…And how to minimize it all

This isn’t a ‘how to’ blog today, but more of a ‘what the heck’ and ‘someone please PLEASE HELP ME’  plea. The problem, low level hoarding…

So do you ever find yourself uncomfortable in your own surroundings? Like, there is way more crap and accumulated clutter around you then you know what to do with let alone know how to deal with it? If so I am soliciting advice on how to get rid of it all. I want to go back down to a bare bones, Spartan existence with room for everything I have and more space as well. I want to know what it is like to not have every corner of my apartment filled with things I am unable to use because I have run out of space to use them.

Point in sight, I have a fire place with boxes and a rolling computer desk and did I mention boxes of stuff that I cannot use because there is no place in which I can unpack said boxes and use it. Then there is the never ending quandary of if I should just get rid of it all so I can have the space but then what would I do, I got all this stuff to begin with to use in this space and now I have no space for it. It’s like a never stopping revolving door. And on top of all of that I cannot use the fireplace 🙂

So, what to do, what to do. I could get rid of everything and just enjoy the empty space. I could organize said space and make a go of sharing and putting away stuff at the end of each session–but then I have to worry about if I leave in the middle of a project and not being able to do that.

So.

I seek solutions. I am certain it is quite simple. I just need to find it.