Zen and the Art of Cleaning

I am cleaning in a cosmic sense. Well there is also dirt going away, but more than that, I am shedding. I tend to keep stuff, lots of stuff, generally revolving about someone who gave me something. I have stuff from people I don't care about and doubt they even remember me. It always just seemed rude to discard things that people gave me. It's not. It's clutter and I need less. So I'm down to the last two rooms. (That is not such a grand accomplishment considering I only have four spaces to worry about. Sounds better than half done. Then there is the garage..........{sigh}) I am taking pictures as I go along to remind myself of how it should look. Is that crazed or what?
On a positive note I hung my new painting! It is gorgeous and I'm so glad I broke down and bought it at the Art from the Streets show. All homeless or formerly homeless artists. I need it to be a good work to break down and spend that much money.
I'm off to IKEA this afternoon for new pans, my Christmas gift to myself. I have no lids that fit anything. Part of my making my life more simple. I want things that work!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. A Poirot Christmas is coming in next.

Joueux Noel : New Christmas Movie Review

Remember the story about WWI, when the opposing forces declared a truce on Christmas? Well this is the back story. Glorious, beautifully conceived, filmed and acted. This story is not about war, but peace. Each side is populated by husbands, sons and brothers that share a time and then find it difficult to continue war.
Filmed in France with subtitles for the French and German parts, you can't put it on and then putter around the room. Sit and watch and enjoy. Oh, and cry.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

I woke up this morning and my first thought was how lucky I was. I have my little house, which I love. I have food and clothes. I have a job I like that supports me and lets me make an impact on the world. I have wonderful sons, and brillant friendships. I live in a place I love. I have ways to help others and be spiritual in a way that suits me.
Life is good.

Halfway House Christmas

There are not words to describe how bad this movie is. A fake reality program about people in recovery being in a reality program. Bad in any way you look. A pimp dressed up like Santa. A producer who seeds the house with drugs to improve ratings. BAD BAD BAD
Now the question is, why did I watch it, or keep on watching it? I have no blessed idea. It was strangely , eeiriely fascinating. Don't repeat my mistake. It should never be seen by anyone ever again.

Christmas Movie marathon

I got on Netflix and searched Christmas movies. I selected the most obscure movies I could find and will share the results.


Movie #1
I'm not sure why this was called "Christmas in August" .
A young photographer is dying, and tells no one. I want to say the film is unsympathetic, but that is not quite the right description. Rather say it is an unflinching look at death and dying. Jung-won meets a young woman, falls in love, but never tells her about his love or that he is dying. A remarkable, lovely film, but not what you would thing of as Christmas fair.