Skyfoos.

I love when people write up what their favorite Netflix shows are - in case I get to find a new one that I would love. So here's a list for you of my favorite Netflix shows right now: 1. My NUMBER ONE ALL-TIME THIS-IS-THE-BEST-SHOW-EVER (okay just right now) is Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. I usually shorten it when I'm talking to Bonnie and just say "ComCarCoff."    I have seen every episode more than once (actually, there is one  episode that I skip every time). I sorta just realized lately how interested I am in comedy/comedians, and that mixed with the laid back, sipping coffee and trying to make each other laugh style of the show is perfect for me to love it. I have a few screen shots above this paragraph of my favorite episodes, in case you only want to try a few.  My other favorite thing about this show is that it doesn't focus on a specific time it has to fill. With streaming being the new norm, shows don't have to be rigid about...

If you haven't heard, The Last Jedi has gotten some really varied feedback. It seems like there's a very vocal section of fans that didn't like the film at all, and a seeming majority who enjoyed it, but VERY FEW who felt ambivalent. Here's the Rotten Tomatoes score:  So, like Kramer before me, I've got some stuff here I've been trying to say just right: Rian Johnson wrote and directed The Last Jedi. He's a film artist, and he created a thing in the Star Wars galaxy. So that's what happened in real life.  In fiction, Luke Skywalker made some decisions that seemed contrary to his character...or at least that's what detractors are saying. In fiction, Leia assumed the superman pose and flew through space to save herself. In real life, The Last Jedi made lots of us laugh, including kids. It was so funny that it might've been too funny. With all of those complaints in mind, though, I still can't get behind anyone who i...

I guess I should be more clear. He woke up as Fred. He went to sleep as Max. There was not a direct time this changed, but it had changed. He remembered Max; he liked Max; but he was Fred.             He showered, made his bed, changed into his work clothes (his own personal yellow vest included), and made breakfast – all as Fred. Moving forward, he got in his small, ‘96 Civic and began to drive. Still Fred.           “It’s Tuesday. That’s why I’m Fred,” Fred thought. He was always Fred on Tuesdays. His little car that used to be maroon did not bob, nor weave, nor speed. He drove behind the car in front of him, conforming to their speed and to their habits. If he became the leader of the pack on the freeway, he would quietly drop into the right lane, hoping someone else would take the lead. If they would not…Fred didn’t know what he would do. Probably use an emergency stop and hope no one sto...

It is whether He is friend or foe For which I contend and which, for me, cannot be known. I suppose when I am a friend to me, It is that also He seems to be. When I and me do not agree, however, He has not been a party to me, no...never. I accept Him as a friend, or so endeavor, But for me, His foeship is all too clever. He and I have been planning for some time. Myself misunderstanding what we will do. For me and my line, We strive to continue. He and I have been perfecting a rhythm, a rhyme. He taps His toes in half time. My hope is to hit the up beat. Though His down is stronger than mine.

I was looking through the Instagram hashtag, #BooksToReadBeforeYouDie, which is a pretty common way of looking for new books for me. While doing that, I saw one girl (@thesrishkebab on Instagram) who was not going to read any books in 2018 that were written by white men. Women, people of color - books that were written by the publishing world's minorities. I thought that was pretty clever. Timely, caring, interested in new ideas. But first I wanted to check on my Goodreads list, where I write down all the books I've read. How many authors have I read that are not white guys? It turns out, I've read a good bit from women, so I won't show you all of those. However, I have read VERY little from people who are not white - people of color. Here's that list - authors I've read who are not white: Jhumpa Lahiri - The Lowland [Edit: a friend pointed out that I've read Augustine's "Confessions," which is by a North African church father. So I...

I LOVE THE HOBBIT. It's my favorite book and it's the best of the things that exist, and so I've put together a list of quotes from the book. Honestly, it's only a third of what I have highlighted or underlined from my multiple readings (3 times? 4 times?). What is highlighted in this post, though, are the ones that are my absolute favorite quotes or ideas from the book. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER AND HERE'S WHY: Yo u could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him. He may have lost the neighbours’ respect, but he gained—well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end. There is little or no magic about them , except the ordinary everyday sort... He suddenly felt he would go without bed and breakfast to be thought fierce. As for little fellow bobbing on the mat it almost made him really fierce. The explanation did not seem to explain. baggages, packages, parcels, and paraphernalia. I am a good cook myself...

Are you fully committed? Is your heart dead-set. When you go, do you return? Is your life a climb, or a churn. How to judge devotion. What maxim? What proof? Could evince your dedication to your vocation. Would you go to the brink And jump off it? The Best Adventurer's title is earned By the adventurer who does not return.

I like to remember my favorite bits of books by highlighting in my Kindle, which lets me go back and see just a list of my favorite lines. Every once in a while, I'll write a list. Here's some of those from books I read in 2017. 1. Lasting Impact by Carey Nieuwhof. I like this guy because he is proud of his crazy hard to spell last name. Here are some favorite tidbits from his book (all direct quotes). Workoholism is the most rewarded addiction in America. When was the last time you hung out with a friend you didn't need to minister to? I really think sleep is one of the most underrated leadership weapons there is. For a book about leadership, he really focused on the leader (or maybe those are just the parts that made me love it!). 2. War & Peace. It took me about a year to finish War & Peace - it was so long and drawn out! But here are some of my favorite bits of the behemoth: The conversation seemed interesting to him, and he stopped, waiting for ...

A: Well, I suppose my happiness comes from the mundane, everyday, simple, extreme, rare, and perfect moments. Like - if I read something that was meant to be serious and can be made readily ridiculous. Better still is the intentionally ridiculous that can be made understood seriously. All of that makes me smile (or more honestly, smirk).        It's the Magic of the Ordinary Person.        Profundity found in the silly.       Honesty found in lies (but not the reverse).  Funnily enough, thinking of them makes me smile, but it is overwhelmingly better to experience them. And you can! Everyday!      Smile at frowns - it's easy & fun.      See truth in lies - it's difficult & worth it.      Find whimsy in everything you do and see - it's next to godliness. The best, most smilest thing I know, however... CREATE. Fill out God's creation with your own, ...

Some stories are set in wartime. There are bombs, drunken songs. Friends and foes, times of woe.  Still others are ocean-bound There are waves and wharfs, Beaches and bluffs, sinking and swimming. Alternatively, I write of the trail.  Twisty turns over crumbling buildings. Less blue, more green. My crow's nest is a hilltop. Trail mix is preferable to a gun's pop. I'm not this way for ease. Or for peace. But for goodness. For trees. For Time-Tested. And Bridges Mended. For Grace Given. And Drifting, Drifting, Drifting ENDED.

When Disney bought out Lucasfilm, we knew there was going to be awesome Star Wars stuff coming...but did we really know how awesome? I recently finished the Tarkin novel by James Luceno, author of the extra-cononical Darth Plagueis novels and others. Man, it was worth the read. Here are a few of my favorite reasons why: The whole Vader vs. Tarkin plot hole is nicely patched up. Everyone who has seen Episode IV a few times has thought about how the interaction between Vader and Tarkin doesn't seem right...why can Tarkin boss Vader around? Isn't Vader the Emperor's right hand man? Without giving away any spoilers, that character issue is subtly cleared up in Tarkin. Tarkin’s cruelty matches his dark past. And his future role in the Alderaan incident makes total sense. He should be that cruel, ruthless and yet calm. He should be in charge of shutting down the rebellion. He should be who he is, and James Luceno made me believe that.  I kind of like Tarkin as a person...