I mentioned this one in Monkey Mind. A solid example of film noir. Not Fritz Lang’s best, but still worth watching. The story is reminiscent of Blue Beard– our heroine begins to suspect that her husband killed his previous wife. What it may lack in plot, it makes up for with camera work and gorgeous noir.
Camelias: Cheer in bleak winter
It took me a long time to come around about camellias… not sure why, but now I’m a fan. This is my favorite– candy stripe. And it’s cold hearty and blooms in winter! Mine is late this year– usually blooms for Christmas but here it is February, and the plant is loaded with buds about to pop.
Spanish Moss (isn’t a moss, it’s a bromeliad, related to the pineapple!)
I wrote a little about Spanish moss in Monkey Mind — it seems to like oak trees best, but will grow on other trees too. It looks parasitic, but it’s not. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension office,
” Most bromeliads, including Spanish moss, are epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on other plants, but do not rely on them for nutrients. They take nutrients from the air and debris that collects on the plant. Spanish moss has permeable scales that “catch” moisture and nutrients.” 
In days of yore, people used to use it to stuff cushions and pillows. This would work if you cleaned all the little sticks and acorns that get snagged in it BUT we do have chiggers in Florida… and chiggers seem to like to hang out in Spanish moss.
I mentioned this in the book, too: I decorated for a Halloween party (indoors) with Spanish moss, but to be sure I wasn’t inviting little bugs in, I microwaved it.
I don’t recommend this. It stank like cabbage! (It has a remarkable amount of water in it, and steamed beautifully– stink–y!!!
Bet you didn’t know:
“Songbirds build nests with the moss, and many other species use moss clumps for shelter, including bats, reptiles, and amphibians.”
I mean songbirds, sure… but bats? Really?
The ‘Burbs (1989)
I suspect the reason I love this movie is that it reminds me of my childhood. I lived on a U-shaped street; my best friend lived at the joint, so she could see both sides of the U. I don’t know how many calls we had that began, “Look out the window!”
I’ve watched this oodles of times, and would sit down and watch it again. It just cracks me up.
This is one of the few movies I can think of where I really noticed the music– it’s perfect.
All performances are just great. Terrific cast. A treat.
“It’s the Pizza Dude!”
Comedy
I’d like to think I have a pretty good sense of humor, but we’re all different. I don’t like inane comedy. Jerry Lewis makes me break out in hives. Mo, Larry and Curly make me crawl in my own skin.
Thai humor is really juvenile, but it does make me laugh for its simplicity.
Go figure.
I’m posting my favorites — see what you think!
Mongol The Rise of Genghis Khan (2008)
Visually stunning. Drama-adventure about the rise of Genghis Khan, with a touch of the supernatural.
Portrays Genghis in a far better light than the legends. Compelling.
This is one of my all-time favorite foreign films. Great story, cinematography, acting, costumes.
85% on Rotten Tomatoes!
Easy-peasy Baked Chicken and Peaches (or Apricots, or Cranberries)
ingredients:
- olive oil
- package of chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs (I prefer dark meat, so I do the thighs)
- can of peaches or apricots, or cranberries (Up to you about the sugar, I try to find fruit in light syrup)
- optional seasoning like tarragon, Herbs de Provence, or sprigs of rosemary
***
Preheat oven to 375
Put chicken in a glass pan and liberally drizzle olive oil over chicken– not so that it’s swimming, but there should be liquid at the bottom of the pan.
Open can of fruit, disperse fruit around pan. Sprinkle tarragon, HdP, or place sprigs of rosemary.
Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until chicken is fully cooked. Check occasionally. About halfway through bake time, I turn my chicken over–this mixes the juices and I think it cooks faster.
Chicken will be super juicy and delicious!!
A Note About Yoga for Beginners
The first yoga class I ever took was a hold-pose style. It started easily enough, but soon, I found myself teetering, holding my breath, eyes darting to the clock on the wall to see how many minutes were left. The twists made me have to pee. Great! That ate up some more minutes. Maybe I could make it to the end of the class. My muscles cramped. I strained. I was reminded to breath and realized I had been holding my breath. Again.
In short, it wasn’t fun. I felt clumsy and couldn’t see the allure at all.
But then I went to other classes–softer movements, flow-style where just about the time my eyes searched for the clock, we shifted positions. 
Yoga isn’t easy, but it shouldn’t be awful either. You have a different body every day. Some days you can balance, others you can’t. Some days you can reach your toes, others not.
Go at your own pace
Don’t judge yourself against others
Be kind with yourself
Over time, if you stick with it, you will see remarkable change
Philadelphia Story (1940)
One of my favorite old classics– super drunk scene performed by Jimmy Stewart!
Cary Grant is at his best with the breezy, suave charm. Not sure I’m so crazy about Katherine Hepburn’s character in this one, but she holds nothing back in her performance. The storyline: a young divorcee from a well-to-do family is about to get remarried. It seems that the person who understood her best was her ex-husband who is still in love with her. This film helped salvage Hepburn’s career. The dialogue is manic, the energy level is exhausting, but this is one of the great films of the 40s and it holds up in my opinion. A feel-good film with a message about airs and expectations and being real.
Link to some fun movie trivia on this one: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032904/trivia
Foreign Films– Asian
My brother Iggy was born in Japan, so I have fond early childhood memories of tiny streets, neighborhood festivals, rice paddies, massive bowls of noodles, and movies.
If you can’t handle subtitles, I get it. If you can, please feel free to browse. Japan, Thailand, India, China and even Bhutan have some terrific films and often fabulous scenery. Quite a few have underlying Buddhist themes going on, too.
Haint's Retreat 