S.J. Pajonas's Blog, page 22

Sunday Update – September 11, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Why are the short weeks the longest weeks? It's hard to believe that we had a holiday on Monday, and my kids didn't even go back to school until Wednesday. The week felt interminably long.

My parents were here on Monday, Labor Day, to drop off their dog, Cookie, and visit with us before I drove them to the airport. They are in Italy and we are watching Cookie while they're gone. As you know, they live in Charleston, and this time of year, there are usually a lot of hurricanes (though there haven't been lately). They felt that Cookie would be in better hands with us here instead of at her kennel in South Carolina that would be evacuated if there was a hurricane. So far, everything is going well. Cookie is a good, lazy dog, and Lulu is fine with her here. We do a few walks a day, and she gets some chew time in the evening, just like Lulu. She'll be here until Friday.

I didn't get as much writing done this week as I would have liked. The kids went back to school on Wednesday but that didn't give me any more time to get things done. With Cookie here, I am doing a lot more dog walking and that takes time out of my day. I also had to go grocery shopping twice because we were low on snacks I can only get from a different store.

Then on Friday I had a physical with my new primary care physician. It's my first physical in six years, at least. I'm happy to say that the blood work (so far) has been normal and I'm in good shape. She's helping me with my sleep issues, and I'm getting referrals for other doctors I need. They neglected to do a thyroid panel though so they drew blood again. Then I got both the flu shot and new new covid booster. All in the same day. Friday there was also field hockey game for one kid and a marching band performance at the football game for the other. I got nothing else done.

Saturday, I felt the shots in the afternoon and just couldn't concentrate. I worked out in the morning and walked Cookie in the evening, but the rest of the day was spent knitting and watching LOST. I went to bed exhausted.

I'm really hoping that this week is more fruitful for writing. I have plotted out the rest of the book I'm writing! It's only a few more chapters. I want to finish it and move on to edits. I have also decided to stop writing such long books. They are just too hard to keep moving.

Lots of Cookie and Lulu this week. Cookie is, unfortunately, on my parents' sleep schedule and that means she wants to go out at 5AM. It's slowly been creeping up to 6 and 6:30AM, but it's been an exhausting week of getting up early. Still, she's a great dog and we love having her here. Lulu is skeptical, but I think she knows it's temporary. Lol.

Here you can see how the dogs mostly stay apart. Lulu is in her bed on the right, and Cookie is in her bed on the left, by the fireplace. I took a quick Instagram Reel of them like this from a different angle.

We had a crazy big and orange full moon here this week!

And finally, yes, lots of knitting and watching LOST when I'm just not feeling well or I'm too tired to do anything else. I'm really hoping the meds my doctor gave me for sleep help me. I'm on my last thread of sanity surviving every day on only 5 hours of sleep.

I hope you all have a great week! Stay safe and healthy.

The post Sunday Update – September 11, 2022 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Meet Mochi! From Myra’s Big Mistake…

On the planet Orihimé, the native population has a special animal translation chip that people can opt-in to have implanted between the ages of 8 and 25. Once you have the chip, you are then able to pair with the animals of the planet, either wild or domesticated. Being paired means that you’re able to communicate with your animal, and you form a bond that lasts their lifetime.

Not everyone is lucky enough to meet their pair, and some people will pair with more than one animal in their lifetime. You just never know. In general, if you pair with a dog, then dogs are your animal. You tend to stick to the same kind of animal throughout your life.

Myra’s pair is a polite yet gossipy skunk named Mochi. He loves to cuddle in bed, play outside at night, and stay in the shadows listening to people talk. He’s sweet and kind, much like Myra, and they love to spend time together. He makes a great pair for Myra since she’s a line cook at a restaurant and this means there are a lot of late nights for her. Mochi, being a creature of the night, is always there to walk her home.

Fortunately (or unfortunately for some), Mochi comes with a built-in defense system! He knows better than to spray at home, but when Myra gets into a bit of trouble, he’s ready to raise his tail and aim his stink at the assailant. Great for her; terrible for her attacker. But really, Mochi’s best defense is a good attitude and a willingness to forgive others.

When Myra starts to date Nosuké, Mochi is the first to understand Nosuké’s intentions and coax Myra in the right direction. Nosuké’s pair, a raccoon named Ringo, is also a night creature like Mochi, and the two get along well, always out on the town when Myra and Nosuké are on a date. Every time Mochi walks off with his tail in the air and a little bounce to his step, Myra falls a little more in love with him. He will always be her best friend.

Want to meet Mochi? Pre-order Pets in Space 7 today and you'll be reading about Myra, Mochi, and Nosuké in Myra's Big Mistake!

Find all the purchase links right here on my website! I'd love for you to pick up this book now and support this great anthology and charity. Available October 4, 2022.

Pre-order Pets in Space 7 now!

The post Meet Mochi! From Myra’s Big Mistake… appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

TV Chat #19 – Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Tokyo Vice, For All Mankind, Severance, Blown Away 3

I'm now limiting my TV and Book Chats to 6 items per post, and there was more TV than this during my summer break, so I'll write up another post soon.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch
| May 4, 2021 (United States)


7.8











Writer: , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

I never had the chance to watch any of the animated Star Wars shows, so I'm hoping to get caught up with them all at some point. I started with Bad Batch, and it was fun to watch. After I got used to the animation style, I found it really enjoyable. I especially loved all the cameos from different characters throughout the Star Wars universe.

Obi-Wan Kenobi
| May 27, 2022 (United States)


7.1











Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

I was so excited for Obi-Wan Kenobi and then it just fell flat for me. I wanted to love it, I really did. But ultimately, I feel that the Disney execs just want to destroy all of our Star Wars heroes for DRAMA. And there were so many timeline inconsistencies that I caught, it was hard for me to accept the storyline. We watched the whole season, but it just didn't do it for me. Bummer.

Tokyo Vice
| April 7, 2022 (United States)


8











Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

Tokyo Vice was really, really good. Like, I couldn't stop thinking about it ALL THE TIME, even after we finished it and moved on to another show. The protagonist, Jake Adelstein, is actually a Japanese news blogger and pretty “famous” foreigner in Japan. I used to read his stuff online in the late 2000s. Everything about this show felt authentic, from his time in Tokyo, to the way he was treated as a foreigner, to the Tokyo crime underground. Even all the little details were perfect. I was amazed that someone greenlit this show because it has a lot of Japanese in it, authentic Japanese that Westerners aren't used to. Gotta say that it made me want to go back to Japan SO BAD. This is the Japan I know and love. Sigh. If you like my books and the Japanese that I include in them, you will love this show. WATCH IT NOW.

For All Mankind
| November 1, 2019 (United States)


7.9











Writer: , , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

Season 3 of For All Mankind was PHENOMENAL. So so good. I loved all the twists and turns the narrative took along the way to Mars. And the ending? Wow. They left us with a lot to think about. I really wonder what's going to happen next here. This is some of the best sci-fi on TV right now. Strong women, strong stories. I expect nothing less from Ronald D. Moore. He really is a fantastic writer. If you're hesitant to subscribe to Apple TV+, do it for just one month and you can watch this, Ted Lasso, and Severance…

Severance
| February 18, 2022 (United States)


8.7











Writer: Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

Severance. Just wow. There's a damned good reason why this has such a high IMDB rating. I had an inkling of what to expect when we decided to watch this show and my husband knew nothing. NOTHING. He's not on social media so he didn't see people talking about it like I did. I won't explain the concept behind this one because it's better if you experience it episode by episode. The scenes on the “severed floor” were so tense, and I can't really pinpoint why. Was it the unnatural lighting? (Seriously, it looks like the space station and inside the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Damned creepy.) The complete uselessness of the work that happened there? The mystery of why they were there? I don't know. I only know that after the first two episodes I wanted to watch more and figure out what was going on. Then the last show of the season freaking BLEW ME AWAY. I'm still thinking about it. I can't wait to watch more of this one. I hope the next season will be out soon.

Blown Away
| July 12, 2019 (United States)


7.1











Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

Season 3 of Blown Away was just as good as the previous seasons. I love that this is both about competition and artistry, plus as a viewer, I get to learn about glass blowing too. Glass blowing is something I've always been interested in, but I hate being THAT HOT so it's not a hobby for me. This season kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I was happy with the outcome. I will definitely watch another season when it airs. I hope they will continue this one!

And that's it for now. I still have plenty more TV to talk about it, but it'll have to come in another TV Chat sometime soon.

The post TV Chat #19 – Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Tokyo Vice, For All Mankind, Severance, Blown Away 3 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Sunday Update – September 4, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Hello, everyone! I'm back. We had quite the summer around here. I can hardly believe it's over! Actually, I can hardly believe it's September. I have no idea where the whole darned year went, at this point.

When I last left you all, I was feeling fairly burned out and tired. I hate to say it, but I am still burned out and tired. The summer was crazy busy. We drove back and forth to the beach house four times, hosted guests there, worked on setting it up more and keeping it clean. We love it down there, but it is a lot of work. My sleeping hasn't improved (I don't think you expected it to), so I'm going into the new school year exhausted. I've started just getting up in the morning when I wake, which is usually sometime between 5 and 6:30AM. Even on the weekends. Lying in bed and wishing for sleep to come back to me is too stressful and doesn't help. Might as well just get up and get busy.

I'm currently struggling my way through the last Hikoboshi book. This week was tough to get any writing done. It was marching band camp week for my oldest and my youngest started field hockey AND my husband was out of town. Every waking moment was spent getting the family stuff done between carpooling, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, organizing, prepping for school, etc. I think I wrote a total of 2000 words the whole week. Then yesterday, my previously broken leg started hurting out of the blue. Normally, I don't have any troubles with this leg anymore. So it's been weird and draining. The pain has sucked my creative mojo away. I had planned on writing this weekend but I haven't. I'm disappointed since I really want to finish this book and move on. I'm almost at the point where I just want to set it aside and work on something else because the writing has been sooooo slow and I'm getting bored. No, Stephanie! FINISH IT!

We don't have any plans for this long weekend. It looks like it's going to rain here on Labor Day, so I doubt we'll do much. My kids are finally back to school on Wednesday!

We got our back deck refinished and it looks so much better now! Lulu loves it, of course.

Lulu continues to be a bright spot in every day. We went out on a lot of walks while my husband was out of town (another reason why I'm so tired). She loves to lie down in the clothes at the end of the bed, and of course next to me on the couch.

Treated myself and kids to Chipotle this week so I wouldn't have to cook dinner.

I got my new little 5-cup coffee maker. I only now drink coffee in the afternoon. I can't drink it on an empty stomach in the morning. For a long time, I hadn't been drinking caffeine in the afternoons and now it's back in my life (see previous issue of ‘being tired') so I decided it was time to buy a coffee maker. We didn't have one at home. I had been relying on a french press or cold brew or buying it from a café. Not any longer!

I've been rewatching LOST. I decided that I wanted to watch long-form TV and it had been a while since I last watched this show. I still love it. I don't care how much people hate on it. It's such fun storytelling.

I've been in a lot of hip and knee pain lately and I believe it's because my walking shoes were getting old. So I purchased new Nikes this week (got them on discount with a sale and a coupon). I hope this does the trick!

I've gotten good at making my own martinis and that's a plus because my husband is going to be traveling a lot in the coming months. I can't rely on him being here to make them!

That's it for this week! If you're in the States, have a restful Labor Day weekend. Stay safe and healthy.

The post Sunday Update – September 4, 2022 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Pets In Space 7 Is Now Available For Pre-order!

I'm excited to announce that I am once again a part of the annual Pets in Space® anthology. I'm so honored to have been chosen, and I'm in great company this year too. In case you don't remember, Pets in Space® is a charity focused anthology that pairs science fiction romance with pets and the Hero Dogs organization that provides support dogs to vets. It's a fantastic organization and it's always wonderful to know that our hard work goes to people who need it. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month of sales will be donated to Hero Dogs, so I would love it if you pre-ordered today!

The Pets in Space® 7 authors are: S.E. Smith, R.J. Blain, Grace Goodwin, Skye MacKinnon, Carol Van Natta, Honey Phillips, Carysa Locke, S. J. Pajonas, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Leslie Chase, Winnie Winkle, and Candace Colt.

I am continuing with my tradition of including a Kimura Sisters Series book to this anthology! Myra's Big Mistake follows second daughter Myra Kimura as she works at the local izakaya with her sidekick pair, Mochi the skunk. It's at a local festival that she runs into her best friend's ex-boyfriend, and a spark is lit! But that's a complicated situation, not just because he's an ex of her best friend but also because he's a big shot casino owner and his family is “connected.” Yes, that kind of connected.

This book was so much fun to write and it really cemented my desire to write about all the women (and the brother) in the Kimura family. I hope you'll be along for the ride!

Coming up soon, I'll also reveal the cover for the individual book (for when it's released from Pets in Space 7) and give you a chance to meet Mochi and the other animals in this anthology. Stay Tuned!

Here's the blurb for Myra's Big Mistake!

She’s burdened by a lifetime of disappointment. He’s been her secret admirer for years. Will a roll of the dice lead to a cosmic courtship?

Myra Kimura thinks she’s hit a dead end. Failing the entrance exams for the Interstellar Agency and feeling unattractive, the perpetually single twenty-something believes no one will ever want her. And the only two good things she has are her bestie and a genetically engineered skunk companion… until a handsome millionaire asks for her help.

Casino tycoon Nosuké Maeda has almost everything. Patiently waiting to make a move on the one who’s always had his eye, he’s not happy when her mayor father threatens to shut down his plans for a new gambling house. But he’s quick to offer the beautiful, unassuming woman a deal: If she works with him to win over her dad, he’ll use his money for her heart’s desire.

As Myra tries to keep her distance from the businessman who once dated her friend, her resolve crumbles under his charming attentions. And though Nosuké chips away at her walls, getting his way could be speeding them closer to an unhappily ever after ending.

Will this mismatched couple beat the odds to find love in the stars?

Myra's Big Mistake is the engaging second book in The Kimura Sisters science fiction romance series. If you like three-dimensional characters, adorably unusual pets, and a planetful of fun, then you’ll adore S. J. Pajonas’s outer-space romp.

Find all the purchase links right here on my website! I'd love for you to pick up this book now and support this great anthology and charity. Available October 4, 2022.

Pre-order Pets in Space 7 now!

The post Pets In Space 7 Is Now Available For Pre-order! appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

September 2022 Goals

Summer break is over, and that makes me sad. But let's get back to business!

What happened with July's and August's Goals?

Keep writing Escape from Shin-Osaka, the last book in the Hikoboshi Series. Note: This is now titled The Fate of Shin-Osaka. I thought I would be at 50-60k by the time August was over and I've definitely made my goal! Now I just need to finish it so that I can move on.

Keep up with Italian on Duolingo. I kept up with this and I will continue to do so.

Send my oldest child off to Italy! She left and returned! And she had a great time despite lots of stomach troubles while she was there.

Host friends and family at the beach house. My parents came to the beach house in July and that gave us a great preview of what it will take to host people there. Then in August, my cousin and her family came for a week but stayed in a hotel. Still, we had them over often until they had to leave early because her son got covid.

Continue to stay on top of my fitness routine. I finished the Power Zone Pack challenge and felt like I gained back some of my fitness from having covid in April. I then continued to work out on a regular schedule. Next week, I start a new challenge!

I will continue to ignore my sales and not stress over my published books. I did okay with this. I caught myself checking sales once or twice and looking at my review numbers. It's hard not to look when it's something I've been doing for almost a decade now.

Reading, watching TV, and knitting. I definitely read and watched TV. But knitting isn't really happening. I think I realize that I do a lot of my knitting when I'm not writing. And since I was writing pretty much all summer, not much knitting got done.

September Goals

Finish The Fate of Shin-Osaka. Okay, I have about 20k left to write, and I'm at the last act of the book. I need to finish this and be done with it already.

Post some promo for Pets in Space 7. Yes, I'm in Pets in Space 7! My book, Myra's Big Mistake, will be featured in there with plenty of other great books. There'll be more news about this tomorrow on the blog and in my newsletter on Friday. I would like to post some excerpts and some quick Instagram/FB Reels.

Get caught up on all my back blog posts. I have a lot to share in TV and Book Chats. So I hope to get those written and posted before the end of the month.

Stay on top of my Duolingo Italian. People, I hate to say it, but I don't think Japanese is going to happen this year. I just run out of time every day and I don't want to be working 100% of my awake-time every darned day. It's too much. So I'm going to stick to the Duolingo Italian. It's too bad the Duolingo Japanese sucks or I would have stuck with that.

Stick with my new low-sugar diet. I decided on my youngest's birthday (July 12) that I would cut out sugar almost entirely from my diet. Sugar I'm allowed to have: some dark chocolate, maple syrup as a sweetener in salad dressing, alcohol, a little fruit, and that's pretty much it. No desserts. No ice cream. None of that stuff that I love. I miss cake already. But I know this is for the best. My body doesn't react well to sugar anymore. I should probably cut carbs too, but at this point, I need them or I start to lose my mind. So, low-sugar it is.

Continue with my fitness goals. I'm not doing as well with this this year as I did last year. Covid really threw me off, and I believe I have a mild form of long covid now because I'm battling depression and weight gain almost every single day. So I need to stay on top of my fitness and continue to be active every single day. Taking time off is not an option especially since my mental health really relies on it.

Reading, TV, and knitting. The usual here. I've started a rewatch of LOST. Maybe I shouldn't do that to myself, but I really miss that kind of storytelling.

Make it through this month in one piece. Honestly, September is going to suck. My kids are super busy with marching band and field hockey. My husband is going to be out of town a lot. I have doctors and dentist appointments. I'll be happy if I make it through without a nervous breakdown.

PS) If you want to see more moments from my summer, please follow me on Instagram or make sure you're signed up for my newsletter. I include photos there too.

That's it for this month! Have a great September everyone!

The post September 2022 Goals appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

July and August 2022 Goals

I'm taking some time off from the blog and newsletter, so let's set goals for my summer break!

What happened with June's Goals?

Keep writing Escape from Shin-Osaka, the last book in the Hikoboshi Series. I wanted to hit 40,000 words, but I only hit 30,000 words, and that's okay. I'm writing every weekday, and the story is coming along. That's the best I could have really hoped for this month. June is always busier than I think it's going to be.

Start Japanese self-study for JLPT N5. I didn't study Japanese at all. And I think I'm going to hold off on this till September.

Continue to stay on top of my fitness routine. I am on top of my fitness!! This is going well.

Reading, watching TV, and knitting. I'm continuing to watch TV, read, and knit. All of these things are important to me, and I'm getting them done.

July and August Goals

Keep writing Escape from Shin-Osaka, the last book in the Hikoboshi Series. If I do 5-7k per week, I should be around 50-60k on this book by the time August is over. I may do more than that, but not less. My goal for this book is 80k so it's going to take me a while. I will get it done eventually.

Keep up with Italian on Duolingo. I'm still working on this! I do my Duolingo almost every day. Some days I'm able to do a lot of lessons. Other days, I do the bare minimum. I will keep it up!

Send my oldest child off to Italy! This lucky girl is traveling in Italy with her high school on a tour group. I'm a little worried about her. It will be hot there, and I hope she won't get sick, but you have to let go sometime, right? This is a hard part of parenthood. She'll be gone the first two weeks in July, and then she'll be home again for the rest of the summer.

Host friends and family at the beach house. My parents are coming to the beach house for a short stay and it's possible we'll have other friends and family there too in late July and August. It will be a fun time!

Continue to stay on top of my fitness routine. This is going really well, and I'm in the middle of the summer Power Zone Pack challenge right now. Yay!

I will continue to ignore my sales and not stress over my published books. I am taking a break from advertising for this next quarter, and I will not look at my sales again until the end of September.

Reading, watching TV, and knitting. I will continue to work through all the TV shows I'm interested in, on all the streaming services I have. Reading will also continue both at home and at the beach house. Knitting happens when I watch TV.

That's it for this month! Have a great summer everyone!

The post July and August 2022 Goals appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Book Chat #76 – Books By Rachel Bach, Julia Quinn, and Tracy Krimmer

I have been reading a lot! And right now I have a new book I'm reading, plus I'm listening to the second Bridgerton book in audio. I fully expect to come back from my summer break to the blog and have more books to share with you then.

Honor's Knight and Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach (ebook)

Since I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I decided to just keep on going and read the next two books in a row. I'm so glad I did. This was a fantastic series! It had everything I love about a good space opera romance. Plenty of aliens and political intrigue and a capable heroine that I could believe in. Looking back on these two books, I couldn't tell you where one started and the other began. Because I read them all right in a row, it was like one long story, which suits me just fine. Each book was well written with its own story arc and conclusions that still managed to keep me wanting more. (No cliffhangers.) There were also plenty of twists and turns and things that I didn't see coming. I love that! I like to be surprised but not so much that it's unbelievable. There was a point where I thought the book wasn't going to be a romance, but ultimately, I assure you, it has a happily ever after. Just keep reading to the end. Highly recommend this whole series!

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (audio)

Since I enjoyed the Netflix show so much, I decided to pick up the audiobook and listen to the first book in the series. It was delightful all on its own. And with the actors in my head, it was fun to imagine them in all the different roles. It was actually better to really hear Daphne's inner thought about her time with Simon and know that she didn't have a lot of malice in her heart for what happened. The narration was really good, too, and it kept me listening on all of my walks with Lulu. I loved it so much, I immediately picked up Book 2 in audio and I'm listening to that now.

The Baker and the Badge by Tracy Krimmer (ebook)

I read all of Tracy's books as she's one of my best friends and I adore her writing. This was a cute and fun book. It had an uplifting story (even though I hated Emma's ex-husband) and a warm hometown feel to it. The romance was sweet and there were no sex scenes (if that's important to you), but I felt the love jump right off the page. The policeman in the story, Aaron, had an interesting side story with his brother too that kept me intrigued and wondering how he was going to handle it. I really enjoyed this one! It was a light read coming off a lot of heavy science fiction. Lol.

And that's it for now! Much more reading to come over my summer break.

The post Book Chat #76 – Books By Rachel Bach, Julia Quinn, and Tracy Krimmer appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

TV Chat #18 – Grey’s Anatomy, Yellowstone, Ozark, The Prestige, Never Let Me Go, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks

There's been a lot of TV around here! Let's dive into the things we've watched in the last few months.

Grey's Anatomy
| March 27, 2005 (United States)


7.6











Writer: Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

People, I watched all 18 seasons of Grey's Anatomy, all in a row, from mid-February to the end of May. It was quite the ride. There were several points where I could see someone giving up on the show. Especially when beloved characters died or left. But overall, I think it was a solid show all the way through. Maybe I'm lucky because I was able to sit down and watch it, day after day, so I never lost the threads of the multiple storylines? Hard to say. All I know is that I learned a lot about human anatomy and storytelling from this show! There were several medical plot lines that I thought, “What? That can't be true!” and then I googled and found out I was wrong. Lol. Like uterus transplants! Did you know that's a thing? I didn't! Anyway, for storytelling I learned that there can be ensemble casts where you sort-of low-key dislike everyone, but still love the whole thing together. And that you CAN have plot points that happened in season 1 show up again in season 18 and people will get it. Brilliant. I highly recommend this show if you haven't seen it.

Yellowstone
| June 20, 2018 (United States)


8.7











Writer: , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

If you haven't watched Yellowstone, you are missing out. This is also some great storytelling, full of one-liners and gravelly voiced sage advice delivered with a tip of a cowboy hat and a wink as Kevin Costner rides off into the sunset. Yes, it is a lot of cowboy stuff. Holy crap, I had no idea there was such a subculture here in the US. It seems so… out-of-touch, but I know it can't be. Maybe this is how outsiders see us? I'm not sure. Anyway, the twists and turns of this show will keep you on your toes. And the beauty of ranches, horses, and Montana will keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Ozark
| July 21, 2017 (United States)


8.5











Writer: , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

We finally finished Ozark. I'm not sure what to say about this one. The ending is ambiguous, much like how the Sopranos ended. And I understand why they ended it the way they did, but … come on. The Byrds deserved a lot more than they got! Overall, it was a really good show and worth watching, even if I'm meh about the ending. Some great performances here from Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Julia Garner.

The Prestige
| October 20, 2006 (United States)


8.5











Director: Writer: , , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

My husband said to me one night, “Hey, I bought this Christopher Nolan movie and I was thinking we should watch it.” I had never heard of The Prestige, but I LOVE Christopher Nolan and pretty much everything he's done, so I said why not? This is a great movie, people. My husband and I talked about it for days after seeing it. There are a lot of twists and turns and little mysteries that get revealed along the way. Those mysteries make you consider earlier facts as suspect, and it just goes on and on. Don't be fooled by the costumes. It's not really a period piece. And how can you say no to David Bowie as Nicola Tesla? You can't. Watch this movie and tell me why Alfred doesn't remember the knot he used to bind Julia's hands or why his wife doesn't believe he loves her all the time. Go on. (It's so good, I want to watch it again.)

Never Let Me Go
| October 15, 2010 (United States)


7.1











Director: Writer: , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

The book this movie is based on, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, has always stuck with me, and kind of haunted me for years. It's a beautiful book and I highly recommend it. The movie is a little slow, and without the context of things in the book, it's hard to know what's going on. But hell, let's face it, the book never really explained everything either. Is it a dystopian? Hard to tell with the few clues we get. Is this post-apocalyptic? Like after a war? I tend to think so, although this too is left up to the reader. Anyway, I was making a list of movies I had always wanted to see but didn't because work-adulthood-parenthood-etc. and this was one of them. I watched it while finishing up the blanket I was working on.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
| May 5, 2022 (United States)


8.2











Writer: , , Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

We moved from Ozark to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and boy am I happy we did. What a great show! I'm really loving it so far. There's a lot of Star Trek nostalgia, but newer with its own spin. It's finally the Star Trek I WANT to watch. I haven't felt this way since watching Voyager. I totally love Anson Mount as Captain Pike. His hair is as epic as his acting. And Christian Chong as La'an Noonien-Singh, who has really strong Expanse Drummer vibes. The whole cast is pretty great, but those two really stand out for me. I'm looking forward to more of these in the future!

Star Trek: Lower Decks
| August 6, 2020 (United States)


7.3











Writer: Stars: , , Summary:





Photos


See all photos >>


Source: imdb.com

During my lunch breaks, I have been watching Star Trek: Below Decks, and I'm totally loving it. It's a fun, quirky, nerdy, hilarious take on the lower decks officers on a middling Federation starship. This is not the Enterprise. These are people who do Second Contact, not First Contact. Lol. I found the first season totally addictive and funny, and I'm looking forward to watching the second season now.

PS) For all the Trekkies out there, be sure to watch the bonus Ready Room episodes that are available in the Paramount+ app. I just adore Wil Wheaton and his enthusiasm for all things Star Trek. Watching him interview people and geek out about Star Trek stuff just makes my heart happy.

Not mentioned in this post: Seasons 10 and 11 of Call the Midwife. I watched all of Season 10 and then found Season 11 on my PBS app! Score! But I only got 3 episodes into Season 11 before they pulled the plug and took them down from the app. Boo. I'll mention it again when I finally finish the season. I'm sure it'll be on Netflix eventually.

The post TV Chat #18 – Grey’s Anatomy, Yellowstone, Ozark, The Prestige, Never Let Me Go, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Sunday Update – June 26, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This will be the last Sunday Update until September. I'm feeling very burned out on all things, even normal everyday stuff, so I need to take some time off. This school year with one kid in high school and another in middle school really did me in. There was a lot of drama and tears and so many discussions about grades, friends, teachers, etc that it has left me totally spent. Add to that my own difficulties with writing and publishing, and you can probably understand that I need a vacation. I am beyond tired.

So, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to update the blog this week with a Book Chat and a TV Chat. I have lots for each of those! And then a Monthly Goals post for both July and August combined. Then my newsletter will go out on Friday. After that, it'll be radio silence until September 1st. I WILL be updating on Instagram all summer! If you follow me there, you'll see what I'm up to. (If you're mostly here for Lulu, she will be on Instagram too. Lol.)

This week was finally the end of school for my kids. It was a lot of half days for them which meant more interruptions for me in my work days. I had to run them around to band practices or performances and help them with other chores of ending school.

On Friday, we took off in the morning for the beach house and we're still here, thankfully. It's been good to be away, but it's still exhausting here as well. We have lots of work to do on this house to get it ready for the summer and having people here to visit. Plus, we've had plumbing troubles here and we are still waiting for the pool to be installed. It's a lot of work but in the end it'll be worth it.

Add on top of everything the end of Roe v. Wade, and I am just feeling beaten. These are dark times. It's going to take a lot to get through everything. I have two daughters and I fear for their future.

(ETA: I accidentally labeled this June 27 instead of June 26. I fixed it here but the permalink is still June 27th. See? I'm tired. I can't even get the date right!)

We're having fun at the beach! I'm reading a lot while sitting in the shade of the beach umbrella. We went to the boardwalk last night to play games and ride the rides.

No trip to the beach is complete without a lobster roll. Yum.

Lulu is always waiting for me to return from my walks.

Last Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day in style with champagne.

I've been meal planning more, and this week I bought mussels for Thai curry mussels. They were delicious.

I've been so exhausted in the afternoons that I've been thinking about going back to afternoon caffeine. But ultimately, I think I just need some time off.

Popcorn has become my afternoon snack. This one I made with coconut oil and topped with furikake!

And finally, I've started a new blanket (I know I still need to post about the one I finished). I got this yarn from La Bien Aimee and it's a Spirited Away colorway, No Face and Chihiru. I love how different it looks between the skein/hank on the left and the wound-up ball on the right. So fun!

Okay, that's it for now. I'll be back with more posts this week and Sunday Updates again in September. Hugs to you all! Stay safe and healthy.

The post Sunday Update – June 26, 2022 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.