Duff at the Movies 2017

Repeat from 2016 disaster: Um, what? I never created this list back in January? And I haven’t realized that until now (August?) Ughhhh….. Off to attempt to recreate… Might be missing something…

  • American Assassin (9/23)
  • Atomic Blonde (8/8)
  • A Ghost Story (7/x)
  • The Big Sick (7/18)
  • Baby Driver (7/17)
  • Wonder Woman (6/11)
  • Fate of the Furious (or as I call it “Fast 8”) (4/16)
  • Get Out (2/25)

Big Screen: La La Land

This was OK – probably a 3 on a 5-star scale.

The downfalls for me were a) not enough music and b) doesn’t seem to quite live up to its premise.

Also depends on why you chose that movie that day (don’t all our reactions somewhat depend on our expectations): I wanted a feel-good, make me grin happily at the end, movie. And this isn’t a fairytale romance, or a sing-along. This, when it comes down to it, is a very realistic look at the ebbs and flows, ups and downs, of an adult relationship, where often what you might want isn’t going to work with everything else in your life that has its own timeframe.

That said, both stars were lovely in this. And the thing that happens in the girl’s head at the end of the movie…is really lovely also. 😉

Big Screen: The Arrival

Fabulous. So many neat (and unique) ideas about the power of language and our understanding of time. Just super cool.

Somewhat spoiler below….

Also they did a great job of coming up with a completely different idea of what an alien life form would look like, sound like, act like, etc. So many alien movies fall into tropes. Not here.

Things I did today:

  • Worked at the salon from 8-3.
  • Determined that I can still eat from the freezer for another week so no need to buy groceries and cook lunches.
  • Got a pedicure.
  • Went to Mariano’s for cookie supplies and bought a pizza.
  • Updated the podcasts on my iPod.
  • Graded approximately 50 annotated articles.
  • Made two batch of sugar cookie dough (from two different recipes).

Got some baking’ to do tomorrow. And about 180 or so more articles to read.

Duff at the Movies 2016

Um, what? I never created this list back in January? And I haven’t realized that until now (July 10?) Ughhhh….. Off to attempt to recreate…

  • La-La Land (12/28)
  • The Arrival (12/?)
  • Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (7/22)
  • Ghostbusters (7/19)
  • The Meddler (7/4)
  • Central Intelligence (6/29)
  • X-Men: Apocalypse (6/26)
  • L’Attesa (6/24)
  • Keanu (5/13?)
  • Allegiant (4/1)
  • Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (3/? stub is illegible!)

Duff Does Live Music 2016

  • Sufjan Stevens (3rd x) (Pitchfork) (7/16)
  • Anderson Paak (Pitchfork) (7/16)
  • Brian Wilson (Pitchfork) (7/16)
  • Super Furry Animals (Pitchfork) (7/16)
  • Troye Sivan (2/23)
  • Josh Ritter (1/29)

Books Read in 2016

date refers to date finished; i.e., just b/c I finished two books in a given day doesn’t mean I read two entire books that day!

  • Because You’re Mine, by Lisa Kleypas (7/11)
  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (7/10)
  • Uprooted, by Naomi Novik (7/7)
  • Untold, by Sarah Rees Brennan (7/7)
  • The Hare, by Cesar Aira (7/5)
  • Until Friday Night, by Abbi Gilnes (7/5)
  • Stiletto, by Daniel O’Malley (7/2)
  • Hamilton: The Revolution, by Lin-Manuel Miranda (6/30) (nonfiction)
  • Fire Touched, by Patricia Briggs (6/29)
  • The Trees, Vol. 1: In Shadow, by Warren Ellis (6/26) (graphic novel)
  • The Last One, by Alexandra Oliva (6/25)
  • Snow Like Ashes, by Sara Raasch (6/22)
  • The Girl from Everywhere, by Heidi Heilig (6/17)
  • Unspoken, by Sarah Rees Brennan (6/14)
  • Article 5, by Kristen Simmons (6/11)
  • If I Was Your Girl, by Meredith Russo (6/10)
  • Sex Object, by Jessica Valenti (6/10) (nonfiction)
  • The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater (6/8) (reread)
  • Mr Fox, by Helen Oyeyemi (6/7)
  • I Kill Giants, by Joe Kelly (6/6) (graphic novel)
  • The Sellout, by Paul Beatty (5/31)
  • The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater (5/30)
  • Blue Lily, Lily Blue, by Maggie Stiefvater (5/29) (reread)
  • The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater (5/28) (reread)
  • The Dream Thieves, by Maggie Stiefvater (5/28) (reread)
  • Blaze, by Rachael Herron (5/27)
  • Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore( (5/21) (reread)
  • Fire, by Kristin Cashore (5/21) (reread)
  • Graceling, by Kristin Cashore (5/21) (reread)
  • Bolt, by Dick Francis (5/11) (reread)
  • Break In, by Dick Francis (5/9) (reread)
  • Notes from No Man’s Land: American Essays, by Eula Biss (5/7) (nonfiction)
  • The Turner House, by Angela Flournoy (5/5)
  • Booked, by Kwame Alexander (4/22)
  • Gym Candy, by Carl Deuker (4/21)
  • The Argonauts, by Maggie Nelson (4/19) (nonfiction)
  • Son, by Lois Lowry (4/17)
  • The Story of My Teeth, by Valeria Liuselli (4/17)
  • Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, by Sally Mann (4/17) (nonfiction)
  • Ancillary Mercy, by Ann Leckie (4/16)
  • The Crimson Skew, by S.E. Grove (4/12)
  • The Golden Specific, by S.E. Grove (4/12)
  • Giant Days, Vol 1, by John Allison (4/5) (graphic novel)
  • This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki (4/4) (graphic novel)
  • The Wicked + The Divine, Vol 1: The Faust Act, by Kieron Gillen (4/2) (graphic novel)
  • The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die, by April Henry (3/30)
  • Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie (3/27)
  • The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K. Jemisin (3/22)
  • Mara, by Brian Wood (3/19) (graphic novel)
  • The Radiant Road, by Katherine Catmull (3/16)
  • On Immunity, An Inoculation, by Eula Biss (3/5) (nonfiction)
  • An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir (3/4)
  • Messenger, by Lois Lowry (3/2)
  • Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry (2/29)
  • The Giver, by Lois Lowry (2/28) (reread)
  • The Darling Songbirds, by Rachael Herron (2/27) (romance)
  • The Door, by Magda Szabo (2/27)
  • The Raising, by Laura Kasischke (2/13)
  • Black Wolves, by Kate Elliott (1/23)
  • Loitering: New and Collected Essays, by Charles D’Ambrosio (1/19) (nonfiction) (essays)
  • It’s Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You’re Single, by Sara Eckel (1/10) (nonfiction)
  • Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown (1/5) (nonfiction) (advice)
  • The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown (1/2) (nonfiction) (advice)

Books Read in 2015.

date refers to date finished; i.e., just b/c I finished two books in a given day doesn’t mean I read two entire books that day!

  • Dear Mr. You, by Mary Louise Parker (12/29) (epistolary essays)
  • Descender, Vol 1, by Jeff Lemire (12/27) (graphic novel)
  • Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl, by Carrie Brownstein (12/26) (memoir)
  • Pretty Deadly, Vol 1, by Kelly Sue DeConnick (12/26)
  • Lumberjanes, Vol 1, by Noelle Stevenson (12/25) (graphic novel)
  • Dryland, by Sara Jaffe (12/25)
  • Yellowcake, by Margo Lanagan (12/4) (short stories)
  • Wytches, Vol 1, by Scott Snyder (11/30) (graphic novel)
  • Saga, Vol 5, by Brian K. Vaughn (11/29) (graphic novel)
  • Saga, Vol 4, by Brian K. Vaughn (11/29) (graphic novel)
  • Saga, Vol 3, by Brian K. Vaughn (11/29) (graphic novel)
  • Saga, Vol 2, by Brian K. Vaughn (11/29) (graphic novel)
  • Saga, Vol 1, by Brian K. Vaughn (11/29) (graphic novel) (reread)
  • The Promise, by Robert Crais (11/26)
  • Modern Romance, by Aziz Ansari (11/26) (nonfiction)
  • The Promise, by Robert Crais (11/26)
  • Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal, by G. Willow Wilson (11/25) (graphic novel)
  • Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo (11/24)
  • Back Lash, by Devon Monk (11/17)
  • The People in the Trees, by Hanya Yanagihara (11/17)
  • The Sins of the Fathers, by Lawrence Block (11/9)
  • Slade House, by David Mitchell (11/6)
  • The Glass Sentence, by S.E. Grove (11/4)
  • Through the Woods, by Emily Carroll (11/2) (graphic short stories)
  • Deadly Blessings, by Julie Hyzy (10/29)
  • The Invasion of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen (10/28)
  • The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley (10/22)
  • Bad Blood, by Aline Templeton (10/20)
  • Evil for Evil, by Aline Templeton (10/18)
  • Cradle to Grave, by Aline Templeton (10/16)
  • Dead in the Water, by Aline Templeton (10/14)
  • Lamb to the Slaughter, by Aline Templeton (10/12)
  • Lying Dead, by Aline Templeton (10/11)
  • The Darkness and the Deep, by Aline Templeton (10/9)
  • Cold in the Earth, by Aline Templeton (10/7)
  • Christopher’s Cloud: An Epic Adventure, Peter Pommer (10/5)
  • The Odyssey, by Homer (Fagles translation) (10/2) (poetry) (reread)
  • Make Me, by Lee Child (9/26)
  • Tinkers, by Paul Harding (9/21)
  • After the Apocalypse, by Maureen McHugh (9/18) (short stories)
  • Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (9/16)
  • Speak, by Louisa Hall (9/9)
  • The Warrior Laird, by Margo Maguire (9/4)
  • Harbor Island, by Carla Neggers (8/29)
  • Bring Up the Bodies, by Hilary Mantel (8/29)
  • Mind of Winter, by Laura Kasischke (8/24)
  • A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, by Anthony Marra (8/22)
  • The Tin Collectors, by Stephen J. Cannell (8/18)
  • Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel (8/12)
  • Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War, by Karen Abbott (8/10) (nonfiction!)
  • World Gone By, by Dennis Lehane (8/3)
  • Just Like Heaven, by Julia Quinn (7/23)
  • Lord of Misrule, by Jaimy Gordon (7/21)
  • Live by Night, by Dennis Lehane (7/4)
  • The Dragonet Prophecy, by Tui Sutherland (7/3)
  • Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline (7/2)
  • Just the Sexiest Man Alive, by Julie James (6/29)
  • Suddenly One Summer, by Julie James (6/28)
  • Practice Makes Perfect, by Julie James (6/28)
  • It Happened One Wedding, by Julie James (6/28)
  • Love Irresistibly, by Julie James (6/26)
  • About That Night, by Julie James (6/25)
  • A Lot Like Love, by Julie James (6/24)
  • Bet Me, by Jennifer Crusie (6/21)
  • Something About You, by Julie James (6/21)
  • World of Trouble, by Ben H. Winters (6/17)
  • Nimona, by Noelle Stevenson (6/13)
  • Countdown City, by Ben H. Winters (6/9)
  • Splinters of Light, by Rachael Herron (6/4)
  • The Last Policeman, by Ben H. Winters (6/4)
  • Foxglove Summer, by Ben Aaronovitch (5/31)
  • Hausfrau, by Jill Alexander Essbaum (5/23)
  • Blue Stars, by Emily Gray Tedrowe (5/2)
  • This Present Moment, by Gary Snyder (4/25) (poetry)
  • H is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald (4/25) (memoir)
  • Dead Heat, by Patricia Briggs (4/21)
  • Glow, by Ned Beauman (4/19)
  • All the Birds, Singing, by Evie Wyld (4/18)
  • Hell bent, by Devon Monk (4/18)
  • Stone Cold, by Devon Monk (4/18)
  • Kiss Me Hello, by Grace Burrowes (4/12)
  • The First Kiss, by Grace Burrowes (4/11)
  • A Single Kiss, by Grace Burrowes (4/11)
  • The Given Day, by Dennis Lehane (4/10)
  • Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading: Finding & Losing Myself in Books, by Maureen Corrigan (4/9) (essays)
  • Shadowscale (Seraphina #2), by Rachel Hartman (4/7)
  • Pioneer Girl, by Bich Minh Nguyen (4/6) (nonfiction)
  • A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall, by Will Chancellor (4/5)
  • Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson (3/21)
  • Tiny Beautiful Things, by Cheryl Strayed (3/20) (essays)
  • The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander (3/17)
  • Sugar, by Jewell Parker Rhodes (3/12)
  • Wool (Omnibus), by Hugh Howey (3/12)
  • The Manhattan Projects, Vol 1, by Jonathan Hickman (3/6) (graphic novel)
  • Rat Queens Vol 1, by Kurtis Wiebe (3/6) (graphic novel)
  • Motherland Fatherland Homelandsexuals, by Patricia Lockwood (3/6) (poetry)
  • Wittgenstein Jr, by Lars Iyer (3/5)
  • Silence Once Begun, by Jesse Ball (2/21)
  • Boxer, Beetle, by Ned Beauman (2/14)
  • The Paying Guests, by Sarah Waters (2/14)
  • Dept. of Speculation, by Jenny Offill (2/1)
  • The Blazing World, by Siri Hustvedt (1/25)
  • Horns, by Joe Hill (1/3)
  • The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson (1/3)

Duff at the Movies 2015

  • The Danish Girl (12/31)
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12/30)
  • Brooklyn (11/27)
  • Spotlight (11/25)
  • The Martian (11/21)
  • Spectre (11/14)
  • Truth (11/7)
  • Pawn Sacrifice (9/27)
  • Sleeping with Other People (9/19)
  • Grandma (8/30)
  • Diary of a Teenage Girl (8/28)
  • American Ultra (8/26)
  • Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (8/3)
  • Iris (7/31)
  • Mr. Holmes (7/29)
  • Trainwreck (7/24)
  • Magic Mike XXL (7/14) & (7/25) & (8/?)
  • Testament of Youth (7/10)
  • Inside Out (7/1)
  • A Little Chaos (6/30)
  • Mad Max: Fury Road (6/21)
  • Spy (6/6 & 8/6)
  • Clouds of Sil Maria (5/9)
  • Mr Turner (4/25)
  • Furious 7 (4/9 & 4/11)
  • Divergent: Insurgent (4/6)
  • Kingsman: The Secret Service (3/28)
  • American Sniper (1/16)
  • Big Eyes (1/2)

NaBloPoMo 29:

Even for me, I have gotten an impressive amount of nothing done for the past few days. That 900-item to-do list I jotted down on Tuesday night didn’t even get looked at once. I did pay bills today (which wasn’t on the list, ha) and got all freaked out and worried about money since they’re muttering that our likely strike that will likely happen sometime after February 10 will likely go on for a month. I just don’t see how my life can handle that and still have enough money to get through the summer (which is of course unpaid time off, just like Wednesday was an unpaid day off).
Inside the harbor
I didn’t even do my usual Sunday lunch food cooking! I’m going to eat out of the freezer this week. 😉