New Year Just Like Old Year

To be honest, most of what I'm still reading online has been political, which I try to avoid here on this blog. I had a political blog, but gave it up years ago. Now I just share those links on Facebook, which is easier, though depressing lately. So there hasn't been much by way of fun things to share, but here goes.

Tom Lenk's Instagram. I might've linked to it before, but it's worth a repeat. Actor Tom Lenk reenacts fashion looks from actresses on the Red Carpet. If you need a laugh, you can find one here.

That's pretty much it, actually. I had meant to share fun holiday links here, but forgot and it's a bit late for Chanukah and Christmas music now. I've really been in a funk since the election here in the US. I normally get in a funk this time of year as the days get shorter, but the political climate has exacerbated that. I suppose I could throw myself into finding fun things to post here as an antidote, but I haven't had the energy for it. Maybe now that the days are growing longer again, my mood will improve. I hope so. I love this old blog and I hate neglecting it. Think I'll go find some chocolate to stuff in my mouth. That usually helps!

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Latest Links

This year pretty much has sucked, health-wise. Been fighting off what probably is a cold the last few weeks. And been on a strict diet to try to combat IBS symptoms which excludes chocolate, so you can imagine how well that's going. Plus, it means no new chocolate to review. :(

I haven't seen too many movies this year, but I have been watching a lot of TV (Orphan Black has been awesome and so intense this season, which is saying a lot for a show that's always awesome and intense) and baseball and now that the weather is nice, getting out now and then to take photos. But mostly, I'm playing around online. Here are some links I enjoyed from the last couple of weeks.

The perfect gift for a Game of Thrones fan who's caught up with the show.
Superman will appear in season 2 of Supergirl, which makes me very happy. I can't wait to find out who gets cast in the role.
This behind-the-scenes video of how a recent Google Doodle was made is charming.



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All Their Heart

It's been a mostly quiet July, as I dealt with picky stuff like an ongoing bathroom repair. But all seems to be fixed, now.

Saw a couple of great movies: "Ant-Man" and "Far from the Madding Crowd."

Last night, after an amazing Mets game, one they won 15-2, hubby and I saw Heart in concert at Citi Field. They really rocked the stadium!

Heart

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Hello September

I really didn't realize how long it's been since my last post. Somehow, September sneaked up on me. I've been too busy stressing over a package I mailed 3-day Priority that apparently took a tour of the southeastern coast of the US before heading west to its destination, finally being delivered today, a day short of a week past its scheduled date of delivery. It contained something for a collaborative photo project, so I was a bit anxious that it arrive safely. More on that project soon, I hope.

Otherwise, I've been out taking lots of photos, but no new chocolate entered my life. *sigh*


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Wasted Week

I got out yesterday for a bit, but mostly, I've been sitting home waiting for repairmen and reading. I'm now on the 5th book of the "Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin, the books the HBO TV show "Games of Thrones" is based on. This is the last book, until he finishes writing the next one.

Meanwhile, here's an enhanced photo of today's fog.

Fog

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Same Old Same Old

So far, this year has been rather boring. The weather has pretty much sucked, so I've hunkered down and when I hunker down, I don't get out to find new chocolate to buy, eat, and write about. I could spend the time looking for tasty links to share, but to be honest, I've been lazy, too.

Looking back to 2013, I didn't see as many movies as I'd wanted, but I did see more than I thought. To review, I saw the following last year:

• Silver Linings Playbook (Loved it!)
• Les Miserables (Somewhat disappointing, and whoever thought Russell Crowe could sing was wrong. Very wrong.)
• 42 -- Excellent fictionalized version of how Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball.
• Iron Man 3 (Much fun. Robert Downey, Jr. can still bring it!)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (Saw it twice. Loved it both times.)
• Much Ado About Nothing (A little something Joss Whedon whipped up in his home with some friends. Very enjoyable, with a delightful cast. And it was nice seeing Whedon's house.)
• Blue Jasmine (Quite good. A solid character study of a woman falling apart.)
• Thor: The Dark World (I enjoyed the first one, but this was better now that we're past the origin aspect of the first film. And Tom Hiddleston as Loki is worth the admission price alone.)
• Catching Fire (The sequel to The Hunger Games. Nicely done, a good adaptation of the book.)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (I never read the book, so I've been enjoying these without reservation.)
• American Hustle (Great movie. Great cast. Nuff said.)

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Kinda Sorta Busy

What a week it's been! And yet, nothing exciting. Well, somewhat exciting for us. We finally got our new refrigerator. It's been a couple of months since our old one decided to no longer do its job, especially the freezing of food in the freezer section. And once the new one came, it had to be filled, so that was kinda exciting. I got a pint of Haagen Dazs Chocolate Gelato to try, so I'll report on that soonish.

We also went to a Peter Noone/Herman's Hermits concert on Sunday, which was nice. He's always fun.

And we had a mostly quiet Thanksgiving and Chanukah. And that pretty much sums up the week.

Chanukah Menorah

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Still Here

Still here, still eating chocolate, but suffering with a cold for the last few days. feh. But the weather has been gorgeous, and I've been out taking photos despite a sore throat and sniffly nose. Now rain's gonna move in, though the summer temps should continue. I just hope we don't get another hurricane this fall. That would suck.

So, really, I haven't had much to blog about. Hard to be creative when you feel like crap. ;)


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Hazy Hot and Humid

In other words, not fit for person or beast, so I've been mostly staying indoors, with the A/C on, reading and drinking chocolate malteds, except to run some errands yesterday. Took me hours to cool off/recover. I hope everyone is staying cool. It's hard to believe summer just started and we're already in the midst of mid-summer weather. Which, given how cool it's been, is even more amazing. Tell me again climate isn't changing.


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Still Here

First it was the hurricane, now a nor'easter that dropped snow on us. I've been hunkered down, venturing out to vote and for a medical appointment. Which makes for nothing much to blog about and my chocolate supply is getting low, which means I'll need to venture out again, soon. My Saturday plans for lunch with friends has already been canceled due to iffy public transportation for many of them.

Don't recall if I blogged about seeing Argo, the Saturday before Sandy struck. It's awesome and I highly recommend it. Even knowing the story is true, I was on the edge of my seat. Now I want to see Skyfall, which, weather permitting, I should get to next week, maybe. There are still some older movies I should see first before they disappear.

See? A boring post. I need to get out.

Feeling:  blah

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Life and Some Other Stuff

i've been busy cleaning out file cabinets. Generated lots of trash, but made no extra room. Not sure how that worked. Did mundane tasks like laundry.

TV in den is dying. No picture, so it's an expensive radio right now. New TV purchased, need to set it up. I'm just glad the TV season for the major networks has ended and the summer shows haven't started yet. It's been annoying.

Haven't done much else, hence the lack of posts here.

Feeling: blah

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Another Plastic 52 Photo

Still adjusting to being retired. Went from feeling like I'm on a vacation to feeling like I'm on a year's sabbatical. Been meeting friends for lunch, going out with a friend to take photos, cleaning....

Here's a photo of toys and chocolate, itty railroad figures and a Ghiradelli square.

Chocolate Island

Feeling: relaxed

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Happy Valentine's Day

Have an M&M?

After 10 days without shower doors, they were replaced on Friday with doors with safety glass, and I spent today cleaning and redoing the bathroom. To say the workman left a mess would be an understatement. There were bits of old plaster and new caulk all over. I'm glad that little adventure is over. Now I can get back to normal cleaning and reorganizing.

Feeling: accomplished

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Adjustment Takes Time

Retirement will take some getting used to. I keep thinking I'm on vacation and will have to go back to work soon. And I've had 3 work related dreams in the last 10 days, which is 2 more than I had in all the rest of 2011! I don't miss working -- really! But I do miss the routine. As soon as I can settle into a new routine, I think the dreams will go away. I hope, because they've been unsettling.

If you're so inclined, you can read my thoughts about it being the 100th anniversary of the birth of cartoonist Charles Addams.

Feeling: calm

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Chocolate Chocolate

You Are Sensitive

You tend to be overly sensitive and easily hurt, which can make loving you difficult. You get upset easily. A person's past is very interesting to you, good and bad parts included. You can learn a lot from the past. You're quite loyal to those you love most - friends and family. You have a sweet heart. You know your destiny. You may not share it with others, but you're always working toward it.

The Chocoholic Test

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

There! It's official. I'm sensitive. :)

Doctor Who is back! Yay! And in an awesome way! Double Yay!

Been enjoying Torchwood: Miracle Day. And the rest of summer TV. And the fall season starts in a few weeks, making this TV lover happy.

Went to a baseball game with someone I met in 2nd grade and haven't seen since high school. That's 40 years ago, folks! We had a great time.

Weathered Irene without a problem. We were lucky. A lot of people weren't. We didn't even lose power or cable/internet.

Feeling: tired


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The Weekend Report

Went to the Happy Together oldies concert Friday night: The Buckinghams, The Association, The Grass Roots (minus Rob Grill who is in the hospital, and no, I don't know why), Mark Lindsey of Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Turtles. No photos this time. I didn't take my camera, and felt like a civilian. ;)

Recorded Torchwood and watched it when I got home. Awesome start to the "Miracle Day" 10-parter!

Worked yesterday, then took a nice long walk after because it was just so nice out.

Slept late and stayed in today despite the gorgeous weather. Did some crafting.

Draft Blogger has the new Blogger layout for the dashboard. I like it, but the colors of the type and the size of the text are tough to read.

Feeling: accomplished

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Egads, February Already

Lost track of time. Been doing therapy for the tendonitis in my shoulder, getting sick of snow in particular and winter in general, and finding lots of cool shows to watch on TV.

Watched the new "Chicago Code" tonight and it makes a nice complement to two other serious and excellent cop shows on TV right now: Blue Bloods (NYC setting) and Southland (LA setting). Still loving Castle, and finding Hawaii Five-O entertaining, too.

So, keeping busy and eagerly waiting for spring.

Feeling: sick of snow


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I'd Rather Be Reading

Been feeling like crap lately. I don't handle heat and humidity well and it might be time to call my doctor.

Been too tired to blog much. Or do much of anything. Even the FB games have lost some luster this week. But one thing did keep my interest, almost to obsession: Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I don't have the best of luck reading highly praised, major bestsellers, but this one lived up to the hype. I just started the sequel: The Girl Who Played with Fire. So far, so good.

Feeling: blah


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