Lockdown Two months In

We are two months in of Lockdown .The time is passing so fast. Being at home all the time is way more work than working outside. I enjoy most of the same things I did before like errands  and grocery shopping  What I notice the most is that it’s very quiet in my city.  No one is out and about only food markets and pharmacies are open so no one is having a coffee or aperitivo . It’s wild to see your city completely closed up with no life outside. The climate also has been very beautiful! It’s super warm and always sunny. I like to do a thirty minute meditation and  yoga in the morning and night. It keeps me feeling healthy, peaceful. This is the time I connect with myself.  If I don’t do yoga I don’t sleep good.

Last year we had snow until May and the climate at this time last year was so cold but now it’s hot and windy. I don’t like wind it has always made me feel anxious and “prickly”. I’ve been passing my time with studying, and I’m really focused this go around with food chemistry.  I’m studying soil and ecosystems. I never watch the news. I find that since March everyone is just consumed with it. So many people are either panicked, paranoid, stoned or drinking . I see people without healthy outlets… I’m not here to judge It may seem like I am but I’m not. I’m just making an observation on how I see people taking in what’s going on in the world right now. I mean what even  is healthy anymore? What’s healthy to me may not work for you and vice versa.  Many people on Social Media go down the rabbit hole with their “theories” about what’s really going on right now…  I just observe never engage in discussion. I like to see people reading, researching and looking at things with open eyes or  a “woke” mentality. That’s healthy.

Life as we know is shifting and changing. It has been in the works for some time and there have been signs if you believe that .If we had a lockdown who’s to say that it just couldn’t randomly happen again? Are we prepared? How are you going to handle it? We have to learn how to evolve and be prepared. I’m not saying start shopping and hoarding TP and canned food, although that’s a start maybe! We have to stay mentally and physically strong. Don’t neglect your workouts whatever that may be. You can get such an effective workout in your home . Your brain is a muscle too and needs  you to feed it. Instead of social media or binging on tv shows, try some documentaries. Crime ones are rad but they don’t do much for your psyche. I’ve  been watching my classics at night. I love Black and White film noir. The lighting, the intelligent dialogue and how  the interaction between male and female costars is romantic and mysterious, not lustful or graphic. Here’s a list of some of my favorites I’ve watched and rewatched so far;

Movies for Lockdown

1. Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. This is one of Audreys more serious roles and this movie has so many plot twists! Walter Matthau plays a great bad guy again in this one and the number two on my list. I LOVE him in these roles!

2. Strangers when we meet with Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak. This movie is shot so beautifully. It’s sweet and sad .I could see all sides of each character and it’s always a pleasure to watch for me. I love how the women look and dress in this film.  So elegant .

3. Wicked woman with Beverley Michaels (1953)  It’s simply hot, kitchy,  and fun to watch her hustle! https://youtu.be/BZSICG1L5x8?si=eTAZApbm9jKYFPdn

4. Killer Bait with Lisabeth Scott also known as “Too late for tears” This is a true Crime film noir. She’s such a femme fatale. I  love how LA looked back then and seeing all of the locations. I watched it here on youtube , gotta love that!! https://youtu.be/LGD_Brjpmak?si=GcyxBtnW-Pqwp8LT

5. Sunset Blvd. Gloria Swanson How can you not LOVE Norma Desmond ! She’s the modern day LSP!! Ok maybe this is only a reference I get  but it’s a brilliant movie and true classic.

6. Gilda Rita Hayworth .Rita is just perfection. I read her biography “If this was Happiness”  and that was heavy. https://books.google.com/books/about/If_this_was_Happiness.html?id=IXVZAAAAMAAJIt made me deeply sad to know she endured so much in her life. Watching her movies now I think “wow she was going through all of that yet she made such an incredible career for herself. It goes to show how professional and devoted she was to her craft.” Like so many entertainers I guess……….

7. Strangers on a Train, Rope, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Spellbound, The man who knew too much. Every single Alfred Hitchcock movie is perfect to me but start with the ones I suggested.

8. The Killing  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_(film)1956 Sterling Hayden. This is I think one of Stanley Kubrick’s first films. Maybe his first? I watched this for the first time since I hadn’t seen this one and I loved it. Such a good story, so good!!

9. Phone call from a Stranger and Of Human Bondage With Bette Davis My two favorite movies with her:}}

10. Ok I’m just going to list a BUNCH of my favorite movies here. Some you may have seen or hey just rewatch them for laughs I mean what else are you doing right!!! Many are from the 80’s so some of you may think what !! But they are classics and so good ! At least I think so.

Romancing the Stone (1984) Kathleen Turner -Michael Douglas, After Hours (1985) Griffin Dunne, Best in Show (2000) -Waiting for Guffman (1996) – Spinal Tap (1984) – A Mighty Wind All by Christopher Guest F$$$ing hilarious I think he’s brilliant, Once upon a Crime (1992) such a great cast and everyone chasing a Bassotto (Dachshund) dog It’s so freaking funny and sweet !

I hope I haven’t inundated you. I just wanted to give you some stuff to do, watch and read about. I’m going to make Ramen my super comfort food and bingeon some film -noir. My husband bought me a beautiful Japanese cook book. I love to cook so much and being locked down at home has me preparing every meal from scratch three times a day. I wanted some new  inspiration. You can never learn too much especially when it comes to food! I posted some pics from home today and here’s the cookbook. The Japanese Larder by chef Luiz Hara. http://luizhara.com I’ve been Listening to A lot of Soundgarden and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Anything from the 60’s really. I find so much of that music relevant right now. I wish you all a beautiful day and night XOTera