Peninsula Living, Part 2

SUMMARY: But don’t you have to drive a while to GET someplace? Lol

Answering this friend's question on Facebook Sept 11, 2023

Depends on what you mean by "someplace". Within 5 minutes I have Costco, Home Depot, Safeway (and 2 or 3 other local/organic/nonchain groceries), Walgreens, Rite Aid, YMCA, local medical center, hiking opportunities, Dairy Queen, Burger King, McDonald's, Papa Murphy, Applebees, Taco Bell (plus nonchain restaurants and cafes)... and Walmart if you're inclined. 15 minutes to Toyota dealer if I want them to do things on my car, Wendy's... trying to identify local places by familiar names.

I *do* miss: Target, Macy's, Trader Joe's, Penney's (yes there is one up here!), Panera, major movie theaters, ... but all and many more are in Silverdale usually <60 minutes from here, so we just make it a day (or morning or afternoon) and go enjoy ourselves and do the shopping we need.

The biggest issue: Closest 24 hour emergency vet is also in Silverdale.

Most of my doctors are in Port Townsend (by choice--that's where I started up here and I like the facility and the docs etc) which is 35-45 minutes, but I'm so used to driving it that it doesn't bother me at all, AND... no traffic! The only traffic lights are at the onramp to 101 by my house and maybe one in Port Townsend--and within town they use roundabouts.

But NO TRAFFIC getting to all these places is such an amazing benefit--

I mean, it could take me an hour to get home from work in San Jose because freeways were jammed (15-20 minutes on a weekend). So driving freely through quiet mostly wooded areas for 40-60 minutes is nothing.

Not everyone else up here thinks that way. They just shop at walmart and online.

Yes, then I do have to consider gas prices. [shrug] I'm far from wealthy, but it's not like I make those drives every week.

I do avoid going to events in Seattle--it looks close, but it's either a 2-plus-hour drive or a 2-hour trip with less driving but waiting for and riding a ferry, less gas, plus ferry ticket. Ferries are pretty reliable.

You can drive around locally and find eggs and fruits and veggies and flowers and more at people's homes or at local small farms etc. And often it's just a small booth with the product and a sign stating the price and a place for you to drop your payment. Pretty cool. Of course, as population grows and more thieves arrive, that might go away.

Any more-specific questions? 😉

• My previous post about ferries: https://dogblog.finchester.org/2023/04/peninsula-living.html 

Photos from various  visits  to Silverdale (I have selected a whole bunch more, but from blogger into photos on my iPad, there's no way I can find the ones that I want. So I'll have to come back later on my Mac and figure it out.) ...(OK, I give up, the captioning and things don't even work right on my iPad. Here's what I've got so far kinda.)

This is a couch I've been considering for months. Then I bought that tie-dye thing. Oh well.

Sister and husband buying rugs at Macy's in Silverdale.

Nothing Tastes Better Than--

SUMMARY: [Almost] Wordless Wednesday

Nothing tastes better than [only 2nd visit to an actual movie theater after 16 months of "lockdown"] served with [movie popcorn].

African Queen 70th anniversary

But the pandemic remains--

Pandemic addition: Order ahead instead of standing in line.

No more touching shared things! All gone--

>>  Visit the Wordless Wednesday site; lots of blogs. << 

Tuesday TShirt Tales: Doing The Best I Can

T-shirt tales—Because every t-shirt tells a story, don't it.
And I have so very many of them. Shirts. And stories. ---- Tell me more. or Read all t-shirt tales

SUMMARY: And sometimes just hanging out.

This is one of my two (so far) pandemic-specific shirts. Summarizes a world in which you're more or less isolated from everyone and everything.  And everything you do must be done with caution. 

My sister and her husb don't go out much*, either, and when they do, they also wear masks. Even though the restrictions were removed in California back in June. Because, at the same time, concern was growing about the rapidly increasing number of cases of the Delta Variant--much more contagious.  And since then, holyyyy moleyyy, getting worse. 

So caution is still critical. Wear masks. Keep distanced. Wash hands. Avoid crowds (particularly if filled with Unvaccinated idiots ... oops,sorry..).

And, in fact, this caution is multipurpose! Sister noted that, although she usually gets colds a few times a  year, she hasn't had any since March of last year.

This is at their house two weeks back. We agreed to be in the same place (that is, their place or mine) without masks, after months upon months of masked and outdoor-only caution, assuming it's low risk.  And glaring at each other suspiciously each time. Just to let each other know that we've got an eye on 'em.

Lounging on their Comfy Couch. Watching their television! How weird is that?!** Only because: Marvel Cinematic Universe. Loki, 6 episodes. Wanda Vision, 9 episodes. Specifically, Disney+ channel.

Enjoyed the series. Liked visiting. Enjoyed snuggling with their dog Abby. Took turns providing dinner. Still mostly staying home except for occasional errands or walks or hikes (short ones). And doing the best I can.***

-----

Footnotes:

* He and I both work from home. She is practicing being retired.

** I don't watch things on television. Normally maybe once or twice a year. But, not even movies mostly on my TV. So UnAmerican!

*** T-shirt from the Holderness Family. I particularly like Finn's (the husband's) music video parodies. But their other skits and activities can be rousingly funny, too. And you'll often see them wearing their various t-shirts, which you, too, could buy from their site!  

[I don't know them; no reward will come my way. But I have had so much pleasure from their videos over the last nearly 1 1/2 years that I'm happy to point them out to you.]

T-Shirt Tuesday Tales: Apparently Movies Aren't My Big Thing

T-shirt tales—Because every t-shirt tells a story, don't it.
And I have so very many of them. Shirts. And stories. ---- Tell me more. or Read all t-shirt tales

SUMMARY: Not a guilty pleasure. But then, once, I gave in.

Remember my unduly long post from a month ago,  T-Shirt Tuesday Tales: My Guilty Reading Pleasure...? The first-ever guilty pleasure t-shirt that I can recall buying about a book--or about anything, for that matter?

So, abandoning all hope at a good segue, here I am to discuss 50 Shades of Gray. Which, back in 2011, I had hoped would be a guilty pleasure. But the book--erk. Couldn't stand another word after about the 3rd chapter. Ever. My curiosity completely extinguished. And I didn't even feel guilty about it (see what I did there?).

But then they made a movie. And you know how I am about movies.

Screen Rant Pitch Meetings, three years ago, showed how the Pitch Meeting for the three Gray movies probably went. I loved the post back then, and I just stumbled across it again. So I watched it again and said:

I might have commented 3 years ago, but since these movies are some of my "favorites" and Pitch Meeting definitely highlighted some of their highlights, I'm commenting again.  

(1) I tried to read the book but my brain imploded by about chapter 3 and I never wanted to try again. 

(2) I figured the movie couldn't possibly be as bad as the book, so on a dull weekend when I had seen all other movies that were playing, some of them more than once, I went to this one.  Turns out I was wrong. So so so so horrifically wrong.  

(3) When the 2nd movie came out, a couple of critics said that both actors had improved since the first one, and for some inexplicable reason, probably brain damage from the 1st one I decided, I went to see it, too. I'm so so so so sorry, everyone, for tossing my money their way for content that would be lucky to ever be elevated to even "pure junk" and I regret every penny even though it was a discount matinee. So-- 

(4) --you nailed it again. Thank you, Pitch Meeting!

Therefore, Gray never became a guilty pleasure and I never (duh!) bought a t-shirt for either the book or the movie. (I'm glad, because my Captive Prince guilty pleasure is so so so so much better. IMHO.)  

In fact--to use another poor excuse of a segue--to the best of my recollection, I had never bought a t-shirt for a movie or movie characters at all, ever.  Until last year when, apparently, I started buying "first-ever" t-shirts.

 And it's because of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Loved. Those. Movies. Saw most more than once. And yet, couldn't find a shirt that rang my bell until I found this one. It particularly appealed because I've often commented about how, maybe, if some of those female characters had been prominent when I was a kid, maybe I'd have grown up not quite wishing I were Batman so much. And about how lucky girls are now, to have these movie characters.

... And I strongly recommend that no girls use the heroine in 50 Shades as a role model. What a milquetoast, idiotic, poor excuse of a character. 

IMHO.

All are characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Black Widow.
Captain Marvel. Valkyrie.
The Wasp. Pepper Potts. Mantis. Gamora.
Scarlet Witch. Nebula. Okoye. Shuri.

Appendix: 

Me hangin' with my favorite buds... because my real guilty pleasure here is that I have crushes on most of the male characters (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston (not included here), Chris Pratt (ditto), Benedict Cumberbatch (ditto))... I mean, who wouldn't?

Musicals

Part of the theater's art--featuring the musical Audrey Hepburn! -- Eastridge Mall, San Jose

SUMMARY: A meme thing from Facebook

I responded to a friend April 23, 2021. In my usual overly verbose way. How about you?

Original request:

• Musical I hate:
• Musical I think is overrated: 
• Musical I think is underrated: 
• Musicals I love: 
• Musical I cherish: 
• Musicals I could listen to on repeat: 
• Musical I still want to do: 
• Musicals that made me fall in love with musicals: 
• Musical that changed my life: 
• Guilty pleasure:
• Musical I am surprised I like: 
• Musical I should have seen (live and in person) by now but haven’t: 

Set for Hamilton, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco

Taj MuttHall's answer:

Most of my musical experience comes from the movies (or official videos of the live performances). FWIW.

Musical I hate:      I like musicals with some semblance of a story. Hence, not keen on Cats (singing about being cats, I guess) or Chicago (singing about the crimes they committed and who is more popular because of them, I guess--although at least it has more plot than cats. Not that that is hard to do). I haven't seen them enough to hate them, and I didn't see them live, so can't say I wasted money on them. They probably fall better into:

Musical I think is overrated:      Cats, Chicago, Mama Mia (it's ABBA songs. Period. Oh--wait--it also has more plot than Cats. I love ABBA music on its own.)

underrated.     .. no idea.      Maybe South Pacific? This site rated it #88! WOS100: The top 100 Musicals of all time!

I love: 

• My Fair Lady, 
• The King and I, 
• The Sound of Music, 
• JC Superstar, 
• Carousel, 
• A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum

I cherish:         pretty much the same. Maybe    Mary Poppins (the real one*)

I could listen to on repeat [and have!]:    JC Superstar

I still want to do:                                 As in, act in?

Made me fall in love with musicals:    See above

Changed my life:           Hm. A musical. Changing my life. Nope, don't think so.

Guilty Pleasure:               Pinball wizard [do "rock operas" count as musicals?]

Surprised I like:            drawing a blank

Should have seen (live and in person) but haven't:    There is no should, only do.

Musicals I *have* seen live pro (not community theater): 

• Les Miz. 
• The Wiz. 
• JC Superstar. 
• Wicked. 
• Book of Mormon. 
• Hamilton. 
• ... oh, surely I've seen more than that... (yeah, quite a bunch more in community/college/whatever theater)

Musicals I've seen the movie version of: at least 30 of the 100 on the aforementioned list. And, I realize, more that aren't on that list.

(Really what I like are Gilbert and Sullivan. But they're comic operas, not musicals.)

------------

* The recent travesty was, well, OK, but really why bother with the remake?

Book of Mormon backdrop, same theater, Angel Moroni at the apex

Academy Awards 2019

SUMMARY: Just a diversion--I like what I like, and Oscars don't affect that...but I do like to see all the noms because in theory there's something excellent about them!

Update: Feb 24, 8:20 p.m., added winners (well, I got 7 of the ones I voted for).


Summary: As usual, a fairly small number of films make up the full list of films with nominations.

(Notes Key: M= Was on my list to see; missed it.

? = Don't remember seeing anything about it

N = New, just recently saw previews, not in theaters yet
0 for # noms means was nominated for Golden Globes but not Oscars )

        (Bah, I messed up the table once, so counts might not be complete...)

# Noms	Movie	Saw It	Notes
0	A Private War		M
1	A Quiet Place		---
8	A Star Is Born	*
1	At Eternity's Gate	*
1	Avengers: Infinity War	*
3	The Ballad of Buster Scruggs		M
0	Beautiful Boy		M
6	BlacKkKlansman	*
7	Black Panther	*
5	Bohemian Rhapsody	*
1	Border		?
0	Boy Erased	*
3	Can You Ever Forgive Me?	*
1	Capernaum		?
1	Christopher Robin	*
3	Cold War		?
0	Crazy Rich Asians	*
0	Destroyer		M
0	Dumplin'		?
0	Eighth Grade		M
10	The Favourite	*
4	First Man		M
1	First Reformed		?
1	Free Solo	*
0	Girl		?
5	Green Book	*
3	If Beale Street Could Talk	*
1	Hale Country This Morning		?
1	Incredibles 2	*
3	Isle of Dogs	*
4	Mary Poppins Returns	*
2	Mary Queen of Scots	*
1	Minding the Gap		?
1	Mirai		M?
2	Never Look Away		N?
0	The Old Man and the Gun	*
1	Ralph Breaks the Internet	*
2	RBG	*
1	Ready Player One	*
10	Roma	*
1	Shoplifters		?
1	Solo: A Star Wars Story	*
1	Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse	*
0	Stan & Ollie	*
0	Tully	*
8	Vice	*
1	The Wife	*

Short Films: I don't think they're ever nominated for anything except best short, so I'm leaving them out of the preceding table.

• Documentary: Black Sheep, End Game, Lifeboat, A Night at the Garden, Period. End of Sentence.
• Live action: Detainment, Fauve, Marguerite, Mother, Skin
• Animated: Animal Behaviour, Bao, Late Afternoon, One Small Step, Weekends

Key below: "GG win"= won Golden Globe; "P" = My pref for Oscar; "W" = actual Oscar winner

Best Pic: Lots of good choices. I think Vice is the least of them. I still think Bohemian Rhapsody is just a shallow skim on what could've been a deep story, but Golden Globes gave it to them for the Drama award. My own favorites are Black Panther, Green Book, and A Star is Born, but I'm giving it to Green Book again.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Picture	Related info per wikipedia
		"Black Panther"	Kevin Feige
		"BlacKkKlansman"	Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, Jordan Peele and Spike Lee
	G (drama)	"Bohemian Rhapsody"	Graham King
		"The Favourite"	Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday and Yorgos Lanthimos
P W	G (com/mus)	"Green Book"	Jim Burke (film producer)|Jim Burke, Charles B. Wessler, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly and Nick Vallelonga
		"Roma"	Gabriela RodrÌguez and Alfonso CuarÛn
		"A Star Is Born"	Bill Gerber, Bradley Cooper and Lynette Howell Taylor
		"Vice"	Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adam McKay and Kevin J. Messick

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Director	Related info per wikipedia
		Spike Lee	"BlacKkKlansman"
		PaweB Pawlikowski	"Cold War"
		Yorgos Lanthimos	"The Favourite"
W	G	Alfonso CuarÛn	"Roma"
		Adam McKay	"Vice"

Best actor--same comments as before the Golden Globes: They are all pretty amazing. Very hard to narrow it down to 2 (which I finally did), let alone one. I could agree with any of these 5 as the winner.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Actor	Related info per wikipedia
P	G (com/mus)	Christian Bale	"Vice" as Dick Cheney
		Bradley Cooper	"A Star Is Born" as Jackson "Jack" Maine
		Willem Dafoe	"At Eternity's Gate" as Vincent van Gogh
W	G (drama)	Rami Malek	"Bohemian Rhapsody" as Freddie Mercury
P		Viggo Mortensen	"Green Book" as Tony Lip|Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga

Best actress, tough choices. Lady Gaga did a great job, particularly considering that she's essentially a newcomer. Glenn Close's portrayal of a woman gradually coming into her own was wonderful. Aparicio had me believing almost that we were watching a documentary, she was so real.  Melissa McCarthy I also thought did very well indeed, stepping out of some of the characters she's done in the past. Colman was excellent as Queen Anne, but she was really just one of 3 women in the film.  So, dunno. Stymied. I'll narrow it down to 2.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Actress	Related info per wikipedia
		Yalitza Aparicio	"Roma" as Cleodegaria "Cleo" GutiÈrrez
P	G (drama)	Glenn Close	"The Wife" as Joan Castleman
W	G (com/mus)	Olivia Colman	"The Favourite" as Anne, Queen of Great Britain
P		Lady Gaga	"A Star Is Born" as Ally Campana or Maine
		Melissa McCarthy	"Can You Ever Forgive Me?" as Lee Israel

Grant stole the show every time he was on screen, but Ali and Elliot were even deeper. Can't decide. Any of the 3 would make me happy.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Supporting Actor	Related info per wikipedia
P W	G	Mahershala Ali	"Green Book" as Don Shirley
		Adam Driver	"BlacKkKlansman" as Philip "Flip" Zimmerman
P		Sam Elliott	"A Star Is Born" as Bobby Maine
		Richard E. Grant	"Can You Ever Forgive Me?" as Jack Hock
		Sam Rockwell	"Vice" as George W. Bush

The Favorourite noms showed their talents, and King was excellent in Beale Street, but for my money, Adams fully inhabited Lynne Cheney like a virtual reincarnation; in fact, her version seems more real than the real one.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Supporting Actress	Related info per wikipedia
P		Amy Adams	"Vice" as Lynne Cheney
		Marina de Tavira	"Roma" as SofÌa
W	G	Regina King	"If Beale Street Could Talk" as Sharon Rivers
		Emma Stone	"The Favourite" as Abigail Masham, Baroness Masham
		Rachel Weisz	"The Favourite" as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Original Screenplay	Related info per wikipedia
		"The Favourite"	Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara (writer)|Tony McNamara
		"First Reformed"	Written by Paul Schrader
P W	G	"Green Book"	Written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter Farrelly
		"Roma"	Written by Alfonso CuarÛn
		"Vice"	Written by Adam McKay

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Adapted Screenplay	Related info per wikipedia
		"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"	Screenplay by Coen brothers|Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, based on the short stories "All Gold Canyon" by Jack London, "The Gal Who Got Rattled" by Stewart Edward White, and short stories by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
W		"BlacKkKlansman"	Screenplay by Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee, based on the memoir "Black Klansman" by Ron Stallworth
P		"Can You Ever Forgive Me?"	Screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, based on the memoir by Lee Israel
		"If Beale Street Could Talk"	Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, based on If Beale Street Could Talk|the novel by James Baldwin
P		"A Star Is Born"	Screenplay by Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters; based on the A Star Is Born 1954 screenplay by Moss Hart and the A Star Is Born 1976 screenplay by Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne & Frank Pierson; based on a story by Robert Carson (writer)|Robert Carson & William A. Wellman

Spider-Verse is hands down the best of these in every way.  GG agreed; I wonder whether The Academy will go with Isle of Dogs or Mirai because they're not superhero movies and are pretty stylish.  However, my 2nd favorite is Incredibles 2.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Animated Feature	Related info per wikipedia
		"Incredibles 2"	Brad Bird, John Walker (film producer)|John Walker and Nicole Paradis Grindle
		"Isle of Dogs"	Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven M. Rales|Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson (producer)|Jeremy Dawson
		"Mirai"	Mamoru Hosoda and Yk ichirM SaitM
		"Ralph Breaks the Internet"	Rich Moore, Phil Johnston (filmmaker)|Phil Johnston and Clark Spencer
P W	G	"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"	Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Foreign Language; I saw only Roma so far, so I can't vote.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Foreign Language Film	Related info per wikipedia
		"Capernaum" | Arabic	Directed by Nadine Labaki
		"Cold War" |Polish and French language|French	Directed by PaweB Pawlikowski
		"Never Look Away" |German	Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
W	G	"Roma" |Spanish and Mixtec language|Mixtec	Directed by Alfonso CuarÛn
		"Shoplifters" |Japanese	Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Documentaries: I've seen only Free Solo and RBG. Latter was excellent. Former was amazing.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Documentary Feature	Related info per wikipedia
P W		"Free Solo"	Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Evan Hayes and Shannon Dill
		"Hale County This Morning, This Evening" 	RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes and Su Kim
		"Minding the Gap" 	Bing Liu (filmmaker)|Bing Liu and Diane Quon
		"Of Fathers and Sons" 	Talal Derki, Ansgar Frerich, Eva Kemme and Tobias N. Siebert
		"RBG"	Betsy West and Julie Cohen

NOTE ABOUT SHORT FILMS: I don't usually get to see these unless some theater plays a collection of them after oscars are announced. This year some of them are playing at local first-run theaters, but sadly only while I'm stuck at home post-surgery. Most likely to see Animated ones along with animated features. UPDATE: I found all the animated shorts online, so I've seen them all now. Others, didn't look yet.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Documentary (Short Subject)	Related info per wikipedia
		"Black Sheep" 	Ed Perkins and Jonathan Chinn
		"End Game" 	Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (filmmaker)|Jeffrey Friedman
		"Lifeboat" 	Skye Fitzgerald and Bryn Mooser
		"A Night at the Garden" 	Marshall Curry
W		"Period. End of Sentence." 	Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Live Action Short Film	Related info per wikipedia
		"Detainment" 	Vincent Lambe and Darren Mahon
		"Fauve" 	JÈrÈmy Comte and Maria Gracia Turgeon
		"Marguerite" 	Marianne Farley and Marie-HÈlËne Panisset
		"Mother" 	Rodrigo Sorogoyen and MarÌa del Puy Alvarado
W		"Skin" 	Guy Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Animated Short Film	Related info per wikipedia
		"Animal Behaviour" 	Alison Snowden and David Fine (filmmaker)|David Fine
P W		"Bao" 	Domee Shi and Becky Neiman-Cobb
		"Late Afternoon" 	Louise Bagnall and Nuria Gonz·lez Blanco
		"One Small Step" 	Andrew Chesworth and Bobby Pontillas
		"Weekends" 	Trevor Jimenez

Pref/Win	GG win*	Best Original Score	Related info per wikipedia
W		"Black Panther"	Ludwig Gˆransson
		"BlacKkKlansman"	Terence Blanchard
		"If Beale Street Could Talk"	Nicholas Britell
		"Isle of Dogs"	Alexandre Desplat
		"Mary Poppins Returns"	Marc Shaiman

* Won by "First Man"

I like the Mary Poppins Song, but although Shallow's lyrics feel at times shallow, still, it pulled me in emotionally.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Original Song	Related info per wikipedia
		"All the Stars" from "Black Panther"	Music by Sounwave|Mark Spears, Kendrick Lamar|Kendrick Lamar Duckworth and Anthony Tiffith; Lyrics by Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Anthony Tiffith and SZA (singer)|Sol·na Rowe
		"I'll Fight" from "RBG"	Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren
		"The Place Where Lost Things Go" from "Mary Poppins Returns"	Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
P W	G	"Shallow" from "A Star Is Born"	Music and Lyrics by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt
		"When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" from "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"	Music and Lyrics by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Sound Editing	Related info per wikipedia
		"Black Panther"	Benjamin A. Burtt and Steve Boeddeker
W		"Bohemian Rhapsody"	John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone
		"First Man"	Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan
		"A Quiet Place"	Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
		"Roma"	Sergio DÌaz and Skip Lievsay

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Sound Mixing	Related info per wikipedia
		"Black Panther"	Steve Boeddeker, Brandon Proctor and Peter J. Devlin
W		"Bohemian Rhapsody"	Paul Massey (sound engineer)|Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali
		"First Man"	Jon Taylor (sound mixer)|Jon Taylor, Frank A. MontaÒo, Ai-Ling Lee and Mary H. Ellis
		"Roma"	Skip Lievsay, Craig Henighan and JosÈ Antonio Garcia (sound mixer)|JosÈ Antonio Garcia
		"A Star Is Born"	Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic, Jason Ruder and Steve A. Morrow

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Production Design	Related info per wikipedia
W		"Black Panther"	Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Jay Hart
		"The Favourite"	Production Design: Fiona Crombie; Set Decoration: Alice Felton
		"First Man"	Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas
		"Mary Poppins Returns"	Production Design: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
		"Roma"	Production Design: Eugenio Caballero; Set Decoration: B·rbara EnrÌquez

Cinematography: Again, have seen only 3, and none of Favourite, Roma, or Star struck me particularly in this area--in fact, Star did way too much herky-jerky video for my taste.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Cinematography	Related info per wikipedia
		"Cold War"	A ukasz
		"The Favourite"	Robbie Ryan (cinematographer)|Robbie Ryan
		"Never Look Away"	Caleb Deschanel
W		"Roma"	Alfonso CuarÛn
		"A Star Is Born"	Matthew Libatique

Mary, Queen of Scots' costumes, hairstyles, and makeup put me into their reality more than any others. I know that it's a costume film so more obvious, but I'm going with it.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Makeup and Hairstyling	Related info per wikipedia
		"Border"	Gˆran Lundstrˆm and Pamela Goldammer
P		"Mary Queen of Scots"	Jenny Shircore, Marc Pilcher and Jessica Brooks
W		"Vice"	Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe and Patricia Dehaney

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Costume Design	Related info per wikipedia
		"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"	Mary Zophres
W		"Black Panther"	Ruth E. Carter
		"The Favourite"	Sandy Powell (costume designer)|Sandy Powell
		"Mary Poppins Returns"	Sandy Powell
P		"Mary Queen of Scots"	Alexandra Byrne

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Film Editing	Related info per wikipedia
		"BlacKkKlansman"	Barry Alexander Brown
W		"Bohemian Rhapsody"	John Ottman
		"The Favourite"	Yorgos Mavropsaridis
		"Green Book"	Patrick J. Don Vito
		"Vice"	Hank Corwin

Visual Effects: Still haven't seen First Man at time of voting. They included Christopher Robin but not Black Panther? Interesting.

Pref/Win	GG win	Best Visual Effects	Related info per wikipedia
P		"Avengers: Infinity War"	Dan DeLeeuw, Kelly Port, Russell Earl and Dan Sudick
		"Christopher Robin"	Chris Lawrence (visual effects)|Christopher Lawrence, Michael Eames, Theo Jones and Chris Corbould
W		"First Man"	Paul Lambert (special effects artist)|Paul Lambert, Ian Hunter (visual effects supervisor)|Ian Hunter, Tristan Myles and J. D. Schwalm
		"Ready Player One"	Roger Guyett, Grady Cofer, Matthew E. Butler and Dave Shirk|David Shirk
		"Solo: A Star Wars Story"	Rob Bredow, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan and Dominic Tuohy

Golden Globe Nominees

SUMMARY: What I've seen, what I think

Update: Feb 21, 2019, with actual winners "(W)" in the lists at the end.

Summary: As usual, a fairly small number of films make up the full list of films with nominations.

(Notes Key: M= Was on my list to see; missed it.

? = Don't remember seeing anything about it

N = New, just recently saw previews, not in theaters yet )

Noms	Movie	Saw It	Notes
2	A Private War		M
5	A Star Is Born	*
1	At Eternity's Gate		M
1	Beautiful Boy		M
4	BlacKkKlansman	*
3	Black Panther	*
2	Bohemian Rhapsody	*
2	Boy Erased	*
2	Can You Ever Forgive Me?	*
1	Capernaum		?
2	Crazy Rich Asians	*
1	Destroyer		N
1	Dumplin'		?
1	Eighth Grade		M
5	The Favourite	*
2	First Man		M
1	Girl		?
5	Green Book	*
3	If Beale Street Could Talk	*
1	Incredibles 2	*
2	Isle of Dogs	*
4	Mary Poppins Returns	*
1	Mirai		N
1	Never Look Away		?
1	The Old Man and the Gun	*
1	Ralph Breaks the Internet	*
3	Roma	*
1	Shoplifters		?
1	Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse	*
1	Stan & Ollie		*
1	Tully	*
6	Vice	*
1	The Wife	*

Best Movie: Drama
I think Star is the best of the lot (personal preference), but doubtful they'll give it to a remake. Probably won't do a superhero film.  Bohemian Rhapsody was interesting but shallow.  So--I'm guessing it'll go to BlackkK or Beale Street.
* Black Panther
* BlacKkKlansman
* Bohemian Rhapsody (W - boy, was I wrong!)
* If Beale Street Could Talk
* A Star Is Born

Best Movie: Musical or Comedy
Green Book hands down IMHO. I just have a weird feeling that the voters will love The Favourite, though.
* Crazy Rich Asians
* The Favourite
* Green Book (W - yay!)
* Mary Poppins Returns
* Vice

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama
Actor

* Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born as Jackson Maine
   Willem Dafoe – At Eternity's Gate as Vincent van Gogh
* Lucas Hedges – Boy Erased as Jared Eamons
* Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody as Freddie Mercury  (W)
* John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman as Ron Stallworth

Actress

* Glenn Close – The Wife as Joan Castleman  (W)
* Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born as Ally Maine
   Nicole Kidman – Destroyer as Erin Bell
* Melissa McCarthy – Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Lee Israel
   Rosamund Pike – A Private War as Marie Colvin

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Actor

Bale and Mortensen: Both showing their amazing versatility as actors; hard to pick between them.  On the other hand, Redford has never won best actor in Golden Globe or Academy, soooo -- maybe? Not sure it's worth it, though.

* Christian Bale – Vice as Dick Cheney  (W)
* Lin-Manuel Miranda – Mary Poppins Returns as Jack
* Viggo Mortensen – Green Book as Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga
* Robert Redford – The Old Man & the Gun as Forrest Tucker
   John C. Reilly – Stan & Ollie as Oliver Hardy

Actress

* Emily Blunt – Mary Poppins Returns as Mary Poppins
* Olivia Colman – The Favourite as Queen Anne (W)
   Elsie Fisher – Eighth Grade as Kayla Day
* Charlize Theron – Tully as Marlo Moreau
* Constance Wu – Crazy Rich Asians as Rachel Chu


Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture
Supporting Actor
* Mahershala Ali – Green Book as Don Shirley  (W)
   Timothée Chalamet – Beautiful Boy as Nic Sheff
* Adam Driver – BlacKkKlansman as Flip Zimmerman
* Richard E. Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Jack Hock
* Sam Rockwell – Vice as George W. Bush

Supporting Actress
* Amy Adams – Vice as Lynne Cheney
   Claire Foy – First Man as Janet Shearon Armstrong
* Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk as Sharon Rivers   (W)
* Emma Stone – The Favourite as Abigail Hill
* Rachel Weisz – The Favourite as Sarah Churchill


Best Director
* Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
* Alfonso Cuarón – Roma  (W)
* Peter Farrelly – Green Book
* Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman
* Adam McKay – Vice

Best Screenplay
Vice: Too silly and shallow. The Favourite: Didn't like the characters. Green book: Excellent but predictable. Going with Roma.
* Alfonso Cuarón – Roma
* Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly, and Nick Vallelonga – Green Book (W)
* Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara – The Favourite
* Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk
* Adam McKay – Vice

Best Original Score
I'm not into scores particularly; no vote.
   Marco Beltrami – A Quiet Place
* Alexandre Desplat – Isle of Dogs
* Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther
   Justin Hurwitz – First Man  (W)
* Marc Shaiman – Mary Poppins Returns

Best Original Song
Haven't seen Dumplin' or Girl.  Of the others, the only one I recall hearing is Shallow, so I have to vote for that.
* "All the Stars" (Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Sounwave, Al Shux) – Black Panther
   "Girl in the Movies" (Dolly Parton, Linda Perry) – Dumplin'
   "Requiem for a Private War" (Annie Lennox) – A Private War
* "Revelation" (Jónsi, Troye Sivan, Leland) – Boy Erased
* "Shallow" (Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt) – A Star Is Born  (W)

Best Animated Feature Film
Spider-Man should win. Fabulous. But I'll bet they won't give it to a superhero film. Haven't seen Mirai yet so have to leave it out for now; 2nd guess: Isle of Dogs
* Incredibles 2
* Isle of Dogs
   Mirai
* Ralph Breaks the Internet
* Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (W: Yessss!)

Best Foreign Language Film
Have seen only one of these so can't comment
   Capernaum ( Lebanon)
   Girl ( Belgium)
   Never Look Away ( Germany)
* Roma ( Mexico)  (W)
   Shoplifters ( Japan)

Catching Up: Idaho for the Eclipse Day 2

SUMMARY: Elko, NV to Victor, ID

Backfill: (Aug 20)

Today I took 800 photos.  This is 1/16 of them. Have photos of many more interesting things in those 500 miles, but trying to learn to limit myself...  at least for the moment.

Hotel last night was nice. Lush bedding. Mr Fox No.12 and his new friend and their current reading material bedded down comfortably.

Well...  the view out my bedroom window wasn't so plush.

Nice-enough bathroom.  This is one way in which I ensure that there are photos of me on trips.

We took only the healthiest of snacks to keep up our energy and enthusiasm.  Anyway, it's OK, they're in a Smithsonian bag, so they have to be good. Am I right?

Hotel room had artsy lamps.

No matter where you go, there they are.

Breakfast at the hotel. Nice, free assortment of buffet food. Yowza. Linda assembles hers.

The entrance to the hotel parking lot. This boot is taller than I am.

Back to admiring desert landscapes.

The highway went on, and on, and on, and on...

So, this was cool.  Not only were there blatantly obvious warning signs...

...but they also provided migration bridges across the freeway!  (There is no road across that bridge.)

This is your basic Hail Mary, grab the camera, shoot over the shoulder as we whiz by at 80 MPH photo of a pronghorn.  Only one I saw the whole trip. Linda saw another one but no photo.

Not saying that it wasn't, at times, a bit of a long drive...

Linda and her friend the cell phone.  It came in quite handy many times.

Looking for a new business opportunity for your retirement years? How about a hot springs resort?  (It's for sale!)  Note the little individual hot-spring spa huts behind the tree on the right side.

Mother Nature is amazing at providing apparently completely level surfaces. No wonder they're called tables (mesas).

This is another way that I ensure that there are photos of me on trips.

More and different stunning formations and colors, with Paul.

Linda: "Huh--all of a sudden I have great cell reception? What?"

Intriguing layers of different hardness and textures.

Roadside flowers and my turkey feather.

In Idaho, not Nevada, and boom, all of a sudden there's agriculture, and lovely mow patterns in the fields.

Google maps took us off the freeway to get around one of the Idaho cities.  It didn't really mean for us to take this dirt road, though--that was our... um... choice.

Ya won't see *this* in California!

Also, now that we're in Idaho, it's all about tomorrow's total eclipse of the sun.

("I flew my new car up to Idaho to see the total eclipse of the sun...")

Checking out one of the many emigrant trails through the area. Here, you can still see the wagon-wheel ruts (sort of) off the side of the highway. Shows how very many wagons made that trip.

Um, OK, let's not go there.

...um...  OK...    Neat.  (https://www.cirkuspandemonium.net/)

("Because it's all about eclipse, 'bout eclipse (no trouble)")

Now here's an idea I can get behind.

Smoke from huge wildfires in the Pacific Northwest obscured the skies in Oregon and, until last night, Idaho. We got lucky. Oregon eclipse trippers, not so much (they could see the eclipse OK but no stars at night).

And now we're in Victor...

... and every little field and farm is hoping to make a bundle off of eclipse visitors.

The only preexisting campground in Victor was packed to the gills with tents and RVs.

Yep, making money off the tourists. Hopefully.

This guy apparently spent tens of thousands setting up all kinds of fancy stuff and arranged for live bands and who knows what all.  But there just weren't that many tourists in Victor.  (They all went to Oregon or to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, over the pass.)

Our destination! Lovely home of our lovely hosts.

The view from my bedroom window. Beats the one from the Marriott back in Elko any day.

Some of our hosts.

Here we be at The Spud, a wonderful old but still functional drive-in theater.  All of those are gone from here in Silicon Valley except maybe one.

Even The Spud was renting out its field for Eclipsers.  There were maybe a couple dozen.

Yep, even the school district is hopeful about eclipse tourists.

We drove up the road a few miles to get a view of the Grand Tetons. Amazing mountains.

Hosts' home's backyard consisted of a couple of acres of wildflowers. Delightful.

Someone else who probably wasn't going to earn out his eclipse hopes.  We hope that our eclipse hopes for tomorrow turn out as lovely as our hosts and their homes and the weather and the beautiful valley here.