What I Was Watching Q3 ~ July, August, September

 

Not as many shows ... especially not as many downstairs in the gym. There has been less gym time happening. My motivation and energy just hasn't been enough to get me there. It is what it is ...

Television Series ...

• Cult Massacre: The story of Jim Jones, lots of real footage. Hubs had watched this during his workouts, so I figured I'd watch it to. Interesting and sad. 
• Aftershock: My son had watched this, it was interesting. Sometimes I have to wonder where I was, if news of this breached out little world when it happened. I don't really remember it ...
• My Lady Jane: Heard some good things, and this was cute ... and lots of sex!
• From: October/Spooky show ... I started it and got a notification that season 1 was leaving prime in eight days. There were 10 episodes. Could I finish it? This provided a little push for a few extra workouts. The show annoyed me though, too many out-there, unanswered questions (there are further seasons). I felt little like it was trying to be a new "Lost" (which I loved). 
• Your Honor: Seasons 1 & 2 ... Hubs really likes "Walter White" and this was a sad/tense story.
• The Boys: Season 4 ... I had erroneously thought this was a series end this season, but no, totally ended on a cliff-hanger.
• Kaos: Heard some buzz and this captured my attention. Very different Greek mythological story!
• Baby Reindeer: Not a pleasant watch, and there's some controversy about how "true" it is and damage to the people who "inspired" it ... Hubs and I watched some of an interview from the "real Martha" ...

Movies ...

• Anyone But You: That was over the top silly and crude. Makes me NOT like the main guy and I don't think I can take him seriously in anything else now!
• The Idea of You: Older woman, younger man ... of course Anne looks great!
• A Family Affair: Older woman, younger man ... of course Nicole looks great!
• The Boys in the Boat: I'd read the book and remember really liking it, but not really remembering the "story" per se. Liked the movie.
• Unbroken: I'd read the book and actually hadn't loved it ... didn't love the movie. So much misery, and I just wonder how much has corroboration. 
• Bank of Dave: Random one I'd heard about, again, based on a true story. Very low-key but enjoyable and inspirational.
• The Spiderman Across the SpiderVerse: #4 encouraged me to watch this (as he had the first one). It was good, and tied in with a bookclub read "Dark Matter" (multiverse). 
• Mean Girls - The Musical: I remember seeing some buzz about this (mostly negative) and I had just thought it was a remake, hadn't realized it was a musical (although I had seen there was a stage musical). Going in knowing what to expect, I liked it. 
• Everyone Says I Love You: A rewatch for me, whilst in a musical mood.
• Ford vs Ferrari: I saw this pop up on one of the streaming services and recommended it to #3 who hadn't seen it yet, and gave it a rewatch myself. Good show.
• The Martian: I'd seen the movie years ago, since then read the book ... figured I'd get some back to back Matt D. 
• Everest: This was actually a rewatch for me too (I forgot to include it in that count). I watched it on my own downstair after reading "Into Thin Air" ... and as Hubs read the book too, we then watched the movie together upstairs. So double re-watch for me.
• The Dawn Wall: Hubs went on to read a book PUSH a memoir from climber Tommy Caldwell, and then we read another memoir (from his first wife/fellow climber), so we followed that up with this documentary about his most well-known climb. It wasn't streaming anywhere, we had to get the DVD from the library. It had been a while since we'd used our DVD player!

Shows CAN really motivate me to spend a little extra time in the gym ... but now it's usually just 30-40 minutes. Once upon a time, I'd get an hour of elliptical in early (three 20min sessions) and then do a treadmill later. I could generally finish a full movie in a day. But that was once upon a time, in my younger years, pre-health issues. Screen time with Hubs is more about a little bit of together time, holding hands, than really caring about what we are watching. 

Q3 2024 ~ July, August, September

 I'm actually putting up this post in a timely manner ...

Well ... I flirted with dropping back into "ONEderland" ... even did a time or two on the scale, but still tipping at 200. Back in the day, I never thought I'd be here. I thought my "high" was 180 (other than pregnancy). 

I caught Covid again in July, which didn't affect steps/minutes as much as a "spinz" did in August.

A look at Lifecycle ... I do need to double check things. I had to go in and correct a couple items in September that hadn't logged, or logged incorrectly (I knew I'd hit ONE basketball game ...)

Sleep ... Zzzzzz. I got a new bed mid-September ...

... still snoring, but down a little? June was in the 50s too (lower)

Family Stuff ...

Blackham Update

... and books.

What I Was Watching ~ Q2 2024

Got in quite a few movies during the second quarter of 2024 ...  Half with Hubs upstairs (left side, checked out some Oscar nominees), and the rest (right side) in the gym while walking. We also saw Come From Away as a live play production (then I watched the filmed Broadway version myself) ...

• LongShot: This was cute, had been recommended by son #3.
• Unfrosted: We were Seinfeld fans, and this was all about the 80s ... we grew up in those years. Silly, but fun and nostalgic. 
• Air: We liked this a lot. I remember we started it on a Monday night and I thought for sure we'd be breaking it into to showings (because ... sleep) but ended up watching it all in one night. 
• Oppenheimer: Interesting.
• Poor Things: Um ... that was so weird.
• The Holdovers: Just okay
• American Fiction: Just okay.
• The Beekeeper: Bad ... so bad. I was honestly trying to keep from laughing out loud at how ridiculous is was and kept waiting for Hubs to shake his head and turn it off. Unfortunately he didn't ... we finished it. Oye.
• Encanto: I'd seen this myself, we watched it together. I think I liked it more than Hubs.
• The Banker: Interesting, based on a true story.
• Chowchilla: A documentary-ish production, with interviews (the kids now grown), actual pictures and footage, and recreations. I hadn't heard of this happening. I would have just been six at the time.
• Zodiac: Another "based on a true story" Hollywood-ized.
• Free State of Jones: Whatever service I was watching this on pulled it early. I went to finish up the final 20min or so at 10:00 at night, and it was gone. I actually didn't care much. But then it popped up on another platform, so I was able to finish (not that night, but a few days later). 
• The Departed: Several Matt Dameon movies this month! Another one #3 had watched.
• A Simple Favor: Um, dumb ...
• Mr & Mrs Smith: I have to admit how things have gone between the real life actors affects my enjoyment of the film somewhat. 
• The Storied Life of AJ Fikry: I'd read the book. It had been long enough that I didn't really remember it to make comparisons. Just not sure how much story there is here ...
• Leave The World Behind: I haven't read the book ... and don't think I will. Just blah. I liked "Done Look Up" but this, just blah. 
• Come From Away: I'd really enjoyed the play, and was pleased to find a filmed version on Apple TV. It was pretty much identical to the production we'd seen, several of the same actors in fact. I loved having subtitles and closeups and angles not seen when in the audience. Upped my appreciation a lot!

... onto some series. Nine shows. Ten seasons.

(bottom row was watched with Hubs)

• Daisy Jones and the Six: I'd read the book, liked it. The series dragged for me though. Had a "How I Met Your Mother" feel that honestly I hadn't really remembered from the book ... more memorable in the mini-series (at least for me). Interesting how they'd have to come up with actual songs for the show (not the book). 
• Masters of the Air: I'd started watching this, then given up on it ... then came back and pushed to finish just to have closure. Didn't like the leads for some reason. Sorry ...
• Calls: Very different production. Some big names/voices, but no faces. Just talking, and some simply imagery. Short "episodes" felt very "Twilight Zone" and yet then they were all tied together.
• All The Light We Cannot See: Read the book for June bookclub. Liked the tv adaptation fine (they switched up the ending some). I have to say that Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things ruined Mark Ruffalo in this one (both with a French accent). 
• Bridgerton S3: Back to Bridgerton. Quite a bit of buzz this season over a "larger" actress/character getting the guy and having sexy screen time.
• Queen Charlotte: As I enjoyed Bridgerton more than I thought, I added this one. Liked it.
• The Gentlemen: The original movie had just been okay for me (actually had to try it twice before finishing). Hubs and #3 really like it. The series was more a prequel. Some super strange. Very dark. 
• Resident Alien S1 & S2: Very quirky, but a nice shift from some of the darker shows.
• 3 Body Problem: I like Sci-Fi ... this was quite complex and Hubs lost interest. I finished up watching down in the gym. 

It's just interesting to have a recap and record.

Q2 2024 ~ April, May, June

 I can't even keep up with the quarterly posts ... here's a look at Q2

Weight - I just can't seem to do anything about it.

Just being under 200 would be better mentally.

Steps/Minutes ... totals and averages from Stridekick

I checked my journal - April 7th was a "dizzy day" with no exercise minutes.

A look at Lifecycle ...

My pickleball and Zumba top the activities ...

Zzzzzzzz... I like sleep

... sleep ala Fitbit ...

Still snoring ...

... still getting my books in ....

#jenBsBooks

What I Was Watching ~ Q1 2024

 

Five series/seasons watched downstairs while walking, seven series upstairs with Hubs ... our "together time" wind down watch in the evenings. We'd been waiting for the third season of The Morning Show to drop in its entirety, and I was looking forward to Lessons in Chemistry. I was able to snag a "Three Months AppleTV+ free" with a recent Best Buy purchase. Definitely binged on the Apple offerings. 

• The Morning Show S3 ... we'd actually started this last quarter, finished it up here.
• Severance S1 ... I'd watched this on my own (downstairs) a while back but thought Hubs should get in on it. I didn't mind watching it again.
• Slow Horses S1 ... liked this fine. Our Apple subscription was up and I didn't like it enough to continue paying just to watch more.
• Billions S1 ... on Amazon, very dark! Maybe we'll watch more seasons? 
• True Detective/Night Country ... I actually wish they didn't say this "True Detective" was a series, when they really aren't related at all. This reminded me of Fortitude (another mystery in the arctic). While it hooked me at the start, it went off the rails, I didn't like it in the end.
• Reacher S1 ... boy he's big! Reminded me a bit of Banshee. Just okay for me. Not sure if we'll continue on with further seasons. 
• Jury Duty ... this was my suggestion. I'd been interested in it a while back when it was on "freevee" but that had commercials. I can't do commercial breaks. Then it was adopted into Amazon Prime (ironically then Prime added commercials, but you can pay an additional $3 a month for ad-free).  Hubs laughed SO hard at times during this one!
• Lessons in Chemistry ... I'd read the book long enough ago that I didn't remember too many details (and therefore wasn't thinking "wait that was different than the book!") ... really liked it!
• HiJack ... this started strong ... and then just became more and more unbelievable, until I had to push to finish and was left not liking it at all. 
• Five Days at Memorial ... I thought this was excellent. I know it's based on a book, and now I'm debating reading it. This presented all sides well in my opinion, made you feel for everyone involved. Tough decisions, horrible situation. This will definitely stick in my memory.
• Monarch ... I'd watched most of the "monster" movies, although I don't remember them much. I didn't end up caring for this much, had to push to finish. 
• Silo ... I'd read the book ages ago and really liked it. I'm not sure why this adaptation didn't grab me, but it didn't. Had to push to finish. 

I alternate between movies and shorter shows downstairs, and we do that upstairs too ... 

I got in 12 movies while walking, and three movies upstairs with Hubs. 

• Reacher: As Hubs and I had watched the Amazon series version (which I know people like the casting better, as he is big as described in the books) ... I figured I'd give the movies a try. I haven't read the books, so didn't have preconcieved notions of what Reacher "should" be like. I liked the movie. Enough to watch the second ...
• Reacher/Never Go Back: I liked this one too.
• Mission Impossible/Dead Reckoning: I actually spaced this one out with a few different movies in between, as Reacher and Hunt are similar (lots of action and such) beyond both being played by Cruise. I liked this. 
• Lone Survivor: Well the title is a bit of a spoiler, isn't it!? That, and we get a peek at the "end" right at the start, so not only do we know only one survives, but we know who it is. Still, pretty good. Sad.
• FinestKind: Gritty and dark, decent. 
• Safe House: Basic action flick, I liked it.
• Joy Ride: Super crude, kind of funny. 
• The Family Plan: Super silly, over the top, but enjoyable enough. 
• Captain Phillips: This kept my attention more than I would have thought. Liked it a lot.
• The Whale: Super sad ... impactful.
• Speak: I was re-reading the book for book club. I thought they did a good job with the movie.
• Past Lives: Just okay.
• No Hard Feelings: Hubs had watched this and liked it, so I gave it a go. Crude and crazy, I don't think I liked it as much as he did ;) 
• The Equalizer 3: I liked the first, I think the second ... third one struck out for me though.
• Killers of the Flower Moon: I'd read the book, it was interesting enough. The movie dragged for me.
• Barbie: Finally got around to watching this. Cute enough. 

That's what I was watching...

Q1 2024 ~ January,February,March

 Quarterly review and recording of stats ... 2024, a new year

Wish I could get a handle on the weight, even just to drop and stay below 200.

Can't seem to find the motivation to do it.

Steps and Active Minutes ...

... calendar notes (steps and recorded activity)

... a look at Lifecycle

Sleep ...

The graph above comes from AppleHealth, and I believe it pulls data from my Oura ring.

Here's the Fitbit sleep chart (below) ...

... and Snoring

... I am behind on the family calendars. JANUARY: Basketball season for #5 ... start of a winning streak! #1 ACL diagnosis and move into his own apartment. Room rearrange at home. Hubs to SanDiego. AuntDiane funeral. FEBRUARY: Basketball senior night and state playoffs. Valentines and the Superbowl.  MARCH: Car repairsRZR wreck. ACL surgery for #1. Track season for #5. New digs for #3. Basement bathroom renovation. Hubs half marathon. Moab & St. George getaways. Fiddler on the Roof at Hale Theater. Passport for #4. 

Books ... always have an audiobook in. 

Set up a Little Free Library at the end of March ...

#jenBsBooks

(1st quarter review ... finally posted as Q2 ends ...)

Q4 2023 ~ October/November/December

 

Not only are the stats lousy, I'm also months late in even recapping. Life has been fine, I've just been dragging. Maybe the new medication (started in August) ...or am I just looking for justification? I've tried a few times to get back on the wagon with eating. Back to counting calories and fasting, but I've been starving all the time, and I want my sugar and carbs.

Steps and Active Minutes are also down across the board ...

#4 got 10k every day in 2023. I did not ... and I didn't really care. 

... the visuals below aren't as pretty/clean as the graphs, but I like the calendar record.

Steps and exercise/activity.

... ah sleep. I do pretty good with sleep.

... not so great with snoring.

I'm super self-conscious about it.

A look at Life Cycle ... activities out of the house.

I'm a homebody ... life cycle, but I have very little life.

Book ... no struggles there.

I upped my listening speed a little, which upped the books each month.

... all books are rated and reviewed on Goodreads and Storygraph. #jenBsBooks

I failed a little on the family photo collages and updates too ... it's currently February, and I haven't done an update since August (even though I did make a September photo collage for the last quarterly report).  I haven't created my calendars either. I'm behind, and I don't really have any/many excuses. October ... lots of basketball, #5 got to play at the Delta Center (NBA venue). A couple Bear Lake trips for some of the guys. Moving Aunt Ana, and #1 tore his ACL (which we didn't find out until recently). Uncle Kolby came for a visit.  #3 passed his Journeyman electrical and went back to work at Camsen. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Birthdays in November and December.  #5 made the basketball team and started his senior season. I'll eventually create collages and update.

Annual "What I Was Watching" - Movies/TV 2023

 

 

Previous years ... I should make up a comparison chart showing the numbers.

Honestly, I used to be in the home gym a lot more.

Movies & TV 2022

Movies  ~ 2021

TV~ 2021

Movies ~ 2020

Movies ~ 2019

Movies ~  2017/2018

2023 ~ #JenBsBooks

 

2023 is in the books, the annual review. I don't really set a goal per se, but input 223 (where a goal was requested on GoodReads and Storygraph) to match the year (2023), and easily surpassed it. I am a numbers nerd, and it's always interesting to get the data crunch at the end of the year. Books and pages, average pages, average rating, the book shelved by the most other people/by the least amount of others (basically unknown! The title "Pride and Prejudice and Pickleball" just caught my eye, and it was included in KindleUnlimited, so I grabbed it). The long and the short of it ...

Here's a look at tiny covers and ratings. 

38 of the 289 got a 5* rating from me. 

Lots of 3* and 4* books too. 

I discovered Storygraph at the start of 2023 ... and while I'm a GoodReads gal all the way, Storygraph has been a great backup, and it has a lot of great visual data ... graphs and charts.  I don't know how much stock I put in the "moods" ... but it is interesting to see and compare to others. I challenged myself in October to see if I could get the pie chart to shift to dark/tense/mysterious (with Halloween that month) ... orange/emotional does seem to get top billing most of the time.

The pie chart for Fiction/Nonfiction definitely pushed me to go for a larger slice of non-fiction pie (again, a personal challenge #nonfictionNovember, non-fiction portion larger than the fiction part). I've tried to make sure I get in some longer reads (500+), at least one per month, and for format, trying to get in some ebooks, and even physical reads, so I'm not all audio. 

On GoodReads, I have 100+ shelves to track all sorts of things. On Storygraph, I've kept my tags streamlined to track some specific stats. Where I get my books (library, KU, purchases, etc. There is actually ONE "review copy" on the graph ... once upon a time I did quite a few reviews, getting a free book in exchange for a review), Stand Alone vs Series, and tense, POV, narration, and if it has the F-bomb in it (only started tracking that part way through the year ... just curious). 

A few other stats collected by Storygraph's Reading Wrap-Up for the year ...

• Longest book listen was 43 hours 59 minutes (let's just round up to 44 hours, right?)
• Book Length Average: 323 (close, but a little different than GoodReads). 
• Highest Rated Month: January, 3.89
• Most Pages Read: October, 9212
• New Authors: 180
• Books in a Series: 87 (by my record, 94)
• Re-Reads: 11 
• DNF: 12 Books

2023 ...some memorable additions:

• Joined two bookclubs: I posted in a neighborhood group asking if anyone knew of any local book clubs, and there was one right in the neighborhood. I found out on a Sunday in January, and the meeting was on Wednesday, but I got the book and finished it before the discussion. This neighborhood bookclub meets the 4th Wednesday of each month (taking off July and December). In a city group on FB, another gal posted about a book club, and we've been meeting on the first Wednesday of the month at Kneaders in Jordan Landing. It's been fun to discuss books, and be challenged to read some that might not have been ones I'd select myself. 
• The Boys: #3 changed jobs (from residential electrical to commercial) and had fairly easy/repetitive work, where he could have an earbud in. He decided to try some audiobooks rather than just listening to the same music repeatedly. #4 decided to try some audiobooks during his work shift as well. I. Was. Thrilled. SO fun to have some books to recommend to them, the hear what they thought. Unfortunately, work shifted for both so the "book brothers" only lasted a couple of months ... but I enjoyed it while it lasted!
• Audio Speed: I've heard of a ton of people speeding up their audio ... I've never done it. While my personal reading speed is much faster than audio narration, the time or two I tried shifting the speed, it just didn't sound natural. Midway through the year, one narrator was very slow. I upped the narration a little for that book ... then forgot to turn it back down, and it felt fine for the next book too. I tried it more and more. Just 1.25 speed for the most part, but it has upped my book count. 
• Graphic Novels/Physical Books: I re-read "To Kill a MockingBird" (one #3 had read in school and decided to listen to during his book time) and when looking it up to record it, saw a graphic novel version. While digital copies were available, they were hard to navigate. I ended up grabbing a physical copy from the library. I've not been one for graphic novels, but I found the adaptation fascinating. The different format made me notice different things. I checked out some more graphic novels ... and they are adding my "slice of pie" to the format chart in Storygraph. 

Here's a look at my reads (via GoodReads)

Check out the post on the family blog for the monthly collages.