Books and Daily Affirmations/Home & Food

It’s Awards Time…go see a movie

Posted on by Jeanine / 2 Comments

FYI….I’M WRITING THIS BEFORE OSCAR NOMINATIONS ARE ANNOUNCED…WE’LL SEE HOW MY THOUGHTS MEASURE UP AGAINST THE ACADEMY’S

I’ve been on a theater going binge…trying to see all the Golden Globe nominees/winners ….and possible Oscar contenders before nominations were announced yesterday morning. It’s fun going to a matinee in the middle of the day…and cheaper…so grab some popcorn and head into the theater. Here’s my take on what I’ve seen in order of preference…

Brooklyn…My personal favorite so far. Visually it’s stunning and I think it should win for cinematography (but it probably won’t!). I read the book and the movie was true to the book…a good story. Favorite!

Spotlight…Fascinating, true, story about the cover-up of the priest pedophile scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic church. Second favorite!

Joy…I really enjoyed this movie….another true one! It’s basically the same cast as Silver Linings Playbook, which didn’t bother me at all. I could watch Bradley Cooper and J-Law in many more movies. Third favorite!

The Danish Girl…Eddie Redmayne is excellent! It’s a sad, true story…it might bum you out. I’d still recommend!

The Big Short…After watching this movie I came out of the theater thinking my head was going to explode…WOW!! So much information, very well explained, and mind-boggling why and how the financial collapse happened. I’d recommend…just for the information it communicates.

Concussion…Will Smith was amazing! Very sad, compelling story about the NFL and their dealing with the subject of concussions. Kind of made me feel bad about how much I love football. I’d recommend!

Carol…it was a good movie, again visually beautiful, and Cate Blanchett will probably be up for best actress, but I think it was a “forbidden love” story like Romeo & Juliet or Silver Linings Playbook. I think the reason it’s getting so much hype is because it’s one of the first mainstream movies dedicated to lesbian lovers. I know I’m more free-thinking than some people, but to me it was just a nice love story…yes, a lesbian love story…but a love story. It’s set in a time when lesbian love was not acceptable, like Brokeback Mountain, which is compelling, but eh? Am I wrong in my assumption that this is the reason it’s getting so much hype and press?? I’d wait for the DVD.

Beasts of No Nation (you can watch this on Netflix)…Sad, violent, movie, about child soldiers and war. Probably something you should see just to empathize with the unfortunate plight of those in the world (…and Syrian refugees?) who endure the atrocities of war.

Steve Jobs…Michael Fassbender was great as Jobs and Kate Winslet was even better as his assistant. I felt like it was more a story of how his assistant was the only one he listened to and a relationship he had, but doesn’t quite acknowledge. I’d wait for the DVD.

The Revenant….I’m thinking Leonardo DiCaprio will win the Oscar because he was really good, as was the whole cast, but it’s a cowboys and Indians kind of movie. Lots of fighting, blood, grudges, etc… It was visually beautiful, I’ll give it that….and the musical score was nice. Some things were just a little far-fetched (even though it’s based on true events) ….the guy would have died of hypothermia more than once. It’s like Bear Grylls on steroids. I’d wait for the DVD, although it probably won’t be as beautiful or powerful on your TV as the big screen.

I haven’t seen, nor will I see anytime soon, some of the really popular ones…like Star Wars, Mad Max, The Hateful Eight or The Martian…but I’m still planning on seeing The Lady in the Van, Room (I read the book…so good…read it before you see the movie!), Inside Out (I’ll Netflix this one too) and Son of Saul (foreign film from Hungary that won the Golden Globe).

That’s it…enjoy a movie this weekend!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Adventure/Life/Travel

New York, New York…a FABULOUS town!

Posted on by Jeanine / 4 Comments

“Is New York such a labyrinth? I thought it so straight up and downÔÇölike Fifth Avenue. And with all the cross streets numbered!” She seemed to guess his faint disapproval of this, and added, with the rare smile that enchanted her whole face: “If you knew how I like it for just thatÔÇöthe straight-up-and-downness, and the big honest labels on everything!”
...Age of Innocence/Edith Wharton

Fifth Avenue is heaven with the Rue de la Paix thrown in…Age of Innocence

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Are you sick of my NYC posts yet? I never tire of it…always something new!

So, I spent a week visiting my favorite son and daughter-in-law in NYC…and had a blast…just because they’re fun, and hell it’s NYC!! From their warm hospitality & sense of adventure, to the bright lights and big city, it’s always a memorable trip. I know I do quite a few posts on NYC, but there are never-ending new ideas, restaurants, or shows to share…so there’ll definitely be more. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a new restaurant, exhibit or show, would you??

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My friend, Val, and I took the red-eye on Christmas night, arriving early on the 26th, with a delicious breakfast waiting for us at Austin & Kate’s adorable apartment in Brooklyn. After a quick nap we were off and running into Manhattan. It was a day of walking…. stopping at the Bryant Park Holiday Market, A visit to the lions watching guard at the NYC public library (note: the regal Rose Main Reading Room is closed for renovation until late 2016 or early 2017), 5th Avenue Christmas windows at Saks, Rockefeller Center, Times Square…with a pic of Val in front of her distant relative, George M. Cohan’s, statue…, then on to Central Park and a glass of wine at Tavern on the Green. I hadn’t been to Tavern since they were newly renovated and just a visitor’s center with food trucks. The new decor, a soothing jazz band and the ambience at the holiday season, with roaring fireplace were so welcoming. We stayed awhile! We ended our first day with a saunter around Brooklyn’s Artists and Fleas (they have one in Chelsea Market too) and, having a hankering for pizza, walked to dinner at Fornino just down the street from A&K apartment.

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Tavern on the Green
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the courtyard at Tavern..in the summer there’s outdoor seating…I look a little disheveled after the flight and walking all day
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Artists and Fleas

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Day two was football, Buvette and singing show-tunes. Seeing Tom Brady play was on my bucket list, so when I noticed back in September that they’d be playing the Jets, another favorite team, I just had to go….and it would be right around my 55th birthday, Happy Birthday to me! It was a great game, with some crazy decisions by the Patriots and weird calls from the refs. Why did Tom Brady take a knee when there was plenty of time in the first half to make a couple of plays or even a hail-mary pass….wouldn’t have hurt? …and the end of regulation coin toss..what a joke! My Tom did not win, but it was a fun game to attend…including the train ride out to Met-Life Stadium with all the other fans. There was great energy in the air!

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I had stopped in for a quick bite at Buvette last time I was in NYC, but wanted to go back for a meal. It is a quintessential Parisian restaurant (the only other one is in Paris) with small bites that we all shared. There were mussels, cauliflowers au-gratin, shaved brussel sprout salad, to name a few. It’s a small menu with a few specials and the waiter recommended that we order six dishes for the four of us, which was perfect! After dinner we ventured across the street and sang Broadway show tunes for a little while at Marie’s Crisis.

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Monday was my 55th birthday and it started out as a lazy morning in the apartment, heading into the city around 11. We made a quick stop to fuel up at Empire Szechuan with their cold sesame noodles. We took a brisk walk past The Dakota, across Central Park to see Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Terrace, CP Boathouse and a walk down 5th avenue to The Plaza Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel. We had such a nice time just sitting at the counter of an open kitchen being entertained by two chefs assembling and cooking dishes at a dizzying pace. We then strolled down fifth to see the holiday windows at Bergdorf’s and Tiffany’s…and walk around a favorite store of mine, McKenzie Childs on 57th. By now it was around 5:00…cocktail time…so we made our way over to 11th Ave to a place I’d heard had a great view of the city at night….The Press Lounge. It, indeed, has a great view and lovely atmosphere and I’d recommend it for an early evening stop (apparently there’s quite a line if you get there much after 5:30.) We were off to see Fun Home on Broadway, but, in what was a comedy of errors on my part, our tickets were for Tuesday night…ugh!! So, Austin & Kate met us a little earlier than planned at Friend of a Farmer, a quaint place in Gramercy Park.

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a trip to NYC wouldn’t be complete without Empire Szechuan cold sesame noodles!

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The Food Hall at the Plaza

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Bright Lights, Big City at The Press Lounge

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….to be continued…stay tuned for a new fun culinary adventure (Eatwith.com)

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Books and Daily Affirmations/Life

WORD!

Posted on by Jeanine / 6 Comments

So, have you decided what your “word” or intention is for 2016? My friend Maggie has said your “word” chooses you, but I’ve kind of chosen mine the past two years to what I feel suits me. This year I laid out my angel cards and eliminated the ones that didn’t apply and the ones I’ve already chosen and my eyes were drawn to the word “Synthesis.” To be honest I had to look it up, but for some reason it just seemed like the right word when I saw it, even without knowing the meaning.

Synthesis, according to Wikipedia “refers to a combination of two or more entities that together form something new” or Dictionary.com “a complex whole formed by combining….Chemistry. the forming or building of a more complex substance or compound from elements or simpler compounds.”

Basically, I interpreted it as the combination of two things. For me it’s the feeling of being happy and content as I am…independent and single at the moment…combined with the desire to share my life, joie de vivre , love of travel & my fun family with someone…even if it’s just for fun. It’s taken over three years, but I think I’m finally ready! I like the word synthesis because it doesn’t exclude something to get something else…it combines them. I can still be independent and myself…and share my life with someone. Isn’t that awesome!

Most popular tags for this image include: single, Relationship, cute, heart and happy

…if it happens, great…and if it doesn’t, that’s okay too. I feel like my 2014 & 2015 words, Discovery and Hope, will continue to guide me through this year as well! Maybe that becomes part of the combination?!

What’s your word for 2016?

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Life

What’s new in 2016…some laws and executive action

Posted on by Jeanine / 1 Comment

So how’s your first week of 2016 going?! For me, so far, so good….a relaxing weekend and then back to work this past Monday. As much as I love those two weeks off, it’s always nice to get up and get going every day, back into a routine.

I think the best, and most positive, part of the week was the unveiling by President Obama of his executive action to curb gun control. Here are the highlights…

  • sellers at gun shows would have to register as licensed gun dealers
  • requires sellers at gun shows and online to do background checks (the fact that they don’t have to right now is absurd!)
  • Increase funding for enforcement agencies and mental health facilities

Yes, if a Republican wins the Presidency they can, and probably will, repeal these executive orders, but only a sitting President can do that. Hopefully the American people will rally behind Obama’s executive actions and any new President will hear us loud and clear. For more information watch Obama’s town hall meeting, “Guns in America,” tomorrow night on CNN (5pm P.T./8pm E.T.) By the way, I’m not against the second amendment. I have a very good friend who hunts and has many guns, but he is a responsible gun owner and he’s not the person I fear that buys guns at gun shows. Why not add a little extra safety feature to the purchasing of a firearm….can’t hurt!

…and read up on this new group that may give the NRA a run for their money in the coming election year…LET’S HOPE SO!! Everytown for Gun Safety, a group backed by billionaire former New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is seeking to be a counterweight to the National Rifle Association’s lobbying of state lawmakers. Both groups are expected to be active in legislatures in the coming year.

As you ease into 2016 I did a little research and thought I’d share a few new laws and bills that go into effect this year that might affect you…

California…

  • Doctors will be allowed to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients. (This law takes effect 90 days after a special session on healthcare adjourns. That date has not yet been set, but the adjournment could happen as early as this month.)
  • The state suspends for three years California’s high school exit exam, which is normally a requirement for students to receive diplomas. The law also allows about 32,000 students who did not pass the exam, either since it became mandatory or during its early phase-in years, to receive diplomas so long as they have completed all other graduation requirements.
  • The state’s minimum wage increases from $9 to $10 per hour.
  • Requires the California Interscholastic Federation to develop guidelines to classify competition cheer as an official interscholastic sport.
  • City water agencies must examine their pipes and holding systems to determine whether they are vulnerable to damage in earthquakes.
  • …and here’s an important one!!…Designates lace lichen, commonly known as Spanish moss, as California’s official lichen.
  • One of only three states without a personal-belief exemption for parents who do not want to vaccinate their children. Children whose parents refuse to have them immunized against several diseases will not be allowed to enroll in public or private school and would instead have to be homeschooled. There is an exemption for children with serious health problems.

National/Other…

  • Fast-food workers in New York state will receive their first pay bump under a new law that eventually will push their minimum wage to $15. The full amount will kick in at the end of 2018 in New York City and 2021 in the rest of the state.
  • If you are traveling from Alaska, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Washington state, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands you may need more than your driver’s license to travel in 2016 according to the new guidelines set up by the Department of Homeland Security. A secondary form of photo I.D. may be required, but there will be a three-month grace period from the time the DHS decides it will take effect. Get out those passports!!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Home & Food/Travel

2015…looking back

Posted on by Jeanine / 0 Comment

2015…what a year! For me, personally, it was an amazing celebration of events and new beginnings. For the world, it seemed a constant state of turmoil.

From the attacks by the Islamic State in January at Charlie Hedbo in Paris, to the attacks in San Bernardino that were too close to home, to more attacks in Paris, it seems a daunting task to reign in the terror that this group has caused world wide. This past week there was some good news about the global effort to defeat ISIS, as their numbers seem to be shrinking with some success in Ramadi. Let’s hope the trend and momentum continues in 2016.

Every month of 2015 brought news of refugees fleeing their war-torn homelands, earthquakes in Nepal, climate change, racial unrest from Ferguson to Baltimore, attacks on Planned Parenthood and the frustrating debate on gun control. How many more innocent lives have to be lost here in the U.S. before there is a serious conversation and legislation on gun control. Sadly, I’m not sure it will ever happen in my lifetime due to the incredible power of the NRA.

….and there were some events in 2015 that were important and positive….the Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage, Caitlyn Jenner and Pope Francis…

…to the just plain silly..”The Donald” keeping us entertained with his ridiculousness…and who can forget the Patriots and Tom Brady’s deflate-gate.

In my own personal bubble, 2015 was an amazing year of travel and events….pics you’ve seen and I don’t mind posting again….

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first dance
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Happy New Year and Cheers to 2016! What will your “WORD” be for 2016?

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Books and Daily Affirmations/Home & Food

Holiday Movies

Posted on by Jeanine / 0 Comment

I’m not much of a binge watcher of TV or movies, but I love re-watching all the old holiday movies at this time of year. I discovered Elf a few nights ago (thanks Kelly!) and really enjoyed it. Just in case you’re stumped on what to watch in the next day or so before Christmas, I give you my favorite holiday movies list (in no particular order..I love them all!)…..

It’s a Wonderful Life


Elf


Miracle on 34th St….the original 1947 version


The Holiday


Holiday Inn


Love Actually


White Christmas


Home Alone (actually haven’t watched this one in awhile, but it’s funny!)


Scrooge…1970 version with Albert Finney

…and if you don’t have any of these movies, fear not!….AMC Channel is having a holiday movie marathon today & tomorrow! Light the fire, pour yourself some hot chocolate or eggnog and get in the holiday spirit.

“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep counting my blessings….”….Bing Crosby in White Christmas

Merry Christmas to all…and to all a good night!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Books and Daily Affirmations

Motivational Mondays…Holiday Edition II

Posted on by Jeanine / 6 Comments

As you grow older your gift list gets smaller
and
the things you really want can’t be bought.

Happy (belated) Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa
…and happy anything you celebrate!

It occurred to me that my post last week on the gift of gratefulness didn’t include my expression of what I’m grateful for (although I’ve written about it quite a bit!)

I am overwhelmingly grateful for my amazing kids & kids-in-law, my family, my friends…and my neighbors & team-mates who are my friends! I’m also grateful to each of you that reads this little blog that I love writing. Some weeks and posts are more inspired than others, but I enjoy every minute of the creative process.

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!