The Drawing Room II

[Linda]

Thank you, Pooh! Right now, it's a question of them trying to be cheap and they're running out of time. We had 120 days from the time we filed before we get permission to sue. And they have to make a respectable offer soon, or we are going to file to sue, which means their private business gets splashed all over the news. Every day that I have to live like this, I run out of patience and become more and more determined that people will know what kinds of things happen there. Because I am not the first one that this has happened to. And I want to make certain that it doesn't happen to anyone again, so if there is public record of these things happening, someone down the road is going to have a bigger leg to stand on than i. That being said, I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot to be noble. My friends in Chicago have practically thrown money at me, because some allegations that they threw in last minute after I had been able to refute a lot of the original accusations offended them. So they said, "F it, we are in. Whatever you need.' (I've known her for about 30-35 yrs now)

[QNPoohBear]

Linda I am glad you have supportive friends who can help. Keep at it!

[Linda]

Thanks, Pooh. I just got off the phone with them. They're practically throwing money at me. I'd love to send her husband to talk to the attorneys, lol

[Marie]

I’m still here, though it’s popping in and out. Haven’t watched the shows, haven’t really been watching anything lately.

Linda, I’m so sorry that you’re still dealing with all of this, it’s just insane. Fingers crossed for you, I hope it will do some good

[Linda]

Thanks, Marie. It will. It's just a question of how much. My friend's husband just said, "nope, they we you the last of those years, so you can just be on the beach". :)

[QNPoohBear]

I recommend All Creatures Great and Small as an antidote to the real world. Season 3 brings up the World Wars a bit and fills in more character backstory but it's such a sweet, gentle show. Tricki Woo is back on Sunday night. I adore him. I read Derek, the dog actor, is a rescue! I don't know what insane person would give up such a sweet, loving little dog. I heard he loves everyone and is a real pro at playing pretend. As long as he gets held and adored, which he does LOL!

It's nice to watch the show before bedtime.

Ditto for Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. It's a cute movie and totally innocent like Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day.

Pass on Miss Scarlet if you don't like childish annoying heroines and writers who don't know much about Victorian London except there was sexism.

My parents seemed so-so on Vienna Blood since they haven't returned to it and Sanditon is not really my cup of tea but I'll support it. Still haven't seen Bridgerton. I just... can't.

[Marie]

My anxiety has been through the roof for a few months, so I unfortunately just don’t have it in me for series right now. Have a whole watchlist built up though

I’ve been catching up on movies when I feel like it. Don’t Worry Darling and White Noise we’re both good, if they’re your taste. I recommend The Wonder and My Policeman to everyone m, they were the best I saw last year. Still need to get to All Quiet on the Western Front, The Pale Blue Eye, and The Menu for now

I’ve been watching a lot of Romeo + Juliet and Titanic for the nostalgia when I don’t feel like anything else

[QNPoohBear]

Marie wrote: "My anxiety has been through the roof for a few months, so I unfortunately just don’t have it in me for series right now. Have a whole watchlist built up though

I’ve been catching up on movies when..."

Sorry to hear that. You definitely need All Creatures Great and Small! Don't watch the newest season if the war will make you feel worse and some of the animal stuff (horses) is a little tough but mostly it's very gentle and sweet.

[Marie]

QNPoohBear wrote: "Sorry to hear that. You definitely need All Creatures ..."

Thank you, QNPooh :) I’ll definitely check it out

[QNPoohBear]

Hmm All Creatures Season 3 is taking the animals from the book and throwing in human stories not in the books. Some scenes are funnier on page, showing what an amazing writer James Herriot was. I don't care for the scenes when he has his hand up the business end of a cow but the cows are cute in a way when you see their heads. I adore Tricki Woo, the pampered Pekinese. Even with the war and some domestic drama, the stories are gentle and sweet. No cliffhangers except a romantic one which you KNOW is going to end happily ever after even if you know nothing about Alf Wight/James Herriot. We enjoy watching it before bedtime on Sunday evenings.

I did not enjoy The Gilded Age in spite of the brief glimpses of Newport. Snooze. The story was the same old same old and the ONLY interesting and different storyline was for the Black woman, Peggy and in the end it reduced her to a stereotype as well. Been there. Done that. Watched the show, read the books. Julian Fellows you can retire now!

Anything is better than the new Persuasion with Dakota Johnson. Cute romcom but not Jane Austen or 19th-century.

[Linda]

Marie, I saw The Menu. Can you watch that sort of thing with anxiety? Honest question

[Erik]

I'd say the same for All Quiet on the Western Front. Not a good movie for PTSD or anxiety... very VERY rough to watch. And not particularly aligned with the book... though some seem to favor the added material. Hope you are able to feel better; my wife suffers from it as well and she really struggles at times.

[QNPoohBear]

All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 was a dramatic departure from the books and includes the war. Even some of the animal stories were changed. I just read The Christmas Day Kitten because I unearthed it in the basement and gave it back to my sister now they have cats. The kitten on the cover looks like their baby, Emma. That story was fresh in my mind and the writers totally changed it. I don't understand he decision to include the war when the show was supposed to be an antidote to real life and it's not covered in the books. At least I don't think so.

[Marie]

Erik wrote: "I'd say the same for All Quiet on the Western Front. Not a good movie for PTSD or anxiety...

Linda wrote: Marie, I saw The Menu..."

Thanks you guys! I’ve been a little better the last couple of weeks. It’s some messy family legal issues; I’ve been temporarily living in Tennessee for the last year because of it.

Still haven’t gotten to either movie. All Quiet on the Western Front is one of my favorite books, so I know what to expect. Have heard some complaints that they left out return parts at the end though. With war movies it’s usually the sudden noise/explosions that effect me personally.

I know a bunch of people that have seen The Menu, so I basically know the whole movie already. It should be fine, but I can always turn it off if I’m not in the right place for it. It actually sounds similar to this old Helen Mirren movie, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover; it’s that same kind of absurd psychological exploration of class. Kind of crazy, but interesting to watch

Hope you guys are doing well! Linda, has there been any updates with everything you’ve been dealing with?

[Erik]

The book is indeed a classic, so I was personally a little disappointed of the movie deviations. That said, some of it was maybe better than then the previous movie attempts so at least it had that going for it.
I tend to frown on deviations from classic stories. I don't need adaptations for the modern audience. : )

[Linda]

Hi all,
Thanks, Marie. Finally had word that the Human Rights Commission heard from U (as it will be a federal case). Will spend weekend providing HRC with more info.
The Menu isn't just the absurd psycho stuff (though it does reach a level that makes it seem implausible), but it does get gory, too. That's why the heads up. Still, it was good enough that I didn't find myself saying "I've got the ending all figured out".

[QNPoohBear]

Good luck Linda! How has none of this made the news? I haven't heard a peep from any of the media outlets! I guess we will now if it's going federal.

[Linda]

This process that we are going through now is to allow them to save face without blasting their business all over the world. If they do not dismiss it at the Federal level, then it will be time for them to offer a decent settlement, or it will get filed and then the world will know

[Marie]

Good luck, Linda! It’s ridiculous it’s had to go this far, but I hope it works out as smoothly as possible for you

[Linda]

Thank you, Marie! The last year has been really rely rough. My friends are practically throwing money at me, though, because they know I've been wronged

[QNPoohBear]

I found a new period drama on Netflix that looks good.

Lidia Poët
"Lidia Poët is the first woman to ever practice law in Italy, before being told she can never do it again. Set in late-19th-century Turin, Poët's story unpacks the fight for gender equality at a time when it didn't exist."

In Italian with English subtitles. It looked good from the trailer but maybe a bit too racy for me. My parents checked it out last night without me! My dad enjoyed it but he also enjoyed Bridgerton and I have yet to make it through a whole episode. He also likes Sanditon and I can sit through that but not without wanting to strangle the writers.

[Marie]

QNPoohBear wrote: "I found a new period drama on Netflix that looks good..."

I hadn’t heard of it, so I went and looked it up. There isn’t a lot known about her personal life, so she kind of provides a blank slate to look at her struggle becoming a lawyer, but also a lens for feminist issues, while also having a humorous element. Might be interesting

If you’re worried about sex/nudity, yes. Apparently there’s a few sex scenes, probably more graphic than Bridgerton, more along the lines of Versailles, etc. Also just some people getting dressed, and fully nude bodies in the morgue

[QNPoohBear]

Marie wrote: "

If you’re worried about sex/nudity, yes. Apparently there’s a few sex scenes, probably more graphic than Bridgerton, more along the lines of Versailles, etc. Also just some people getting dressed, and fully nude bodies in the morgue.."

So don't watch it with my parents then? I'm not sure they liked it enough to continue. The trailer looked good though. I didn't see Bridgerton. I can't get through a whole episode without my head screaming "WRONG!" and wanting to throw things at the TV. There's also not enough world-building for me. I'd be fine with it if it was specifically stated it was a fantasy period piece- a what if?