Shorts #1: Netflix timeI'd like to think of myself as a tiny bit of a film snob. Notice me say film there, and not movies? Back when I was in college, I spent little scraps from my allowance on renting DVD's from our neighborhood video store. I developed period obsessions over every movie that I watched, a few of my personal favorites being: Malena, The Red Violin, Empire of the Sun, and Before Sunset. To me, these were art forms which delivered me to a plane of sensational high. Something I am able to replicate by visiting a museum, watching a performance, dancing, or going to a bar with great live music.
These days, Netflix is a household staple, at least here in the US. This great disruptor is responsible for the demise of our neighborhood DVD stores. Prior to my Netflix subscription, I would borrow movies from the public library. What a great discovery that was for me! Searching for interesting movies was just about as thrilling as finding gems of clothing at thrift stores! Fast forward to a life with two little ones, and I find myself trying to discover interesting movies from my couch. A great disruptor it is indeed - both saving me time, and to keep taking my time. Let me explain why. My List in my personal Netflix profile is probably about 50-movies long or more. If a movie averages 2-hours each, then we're talking a little over four straight 24-hour days of watching nonstop. Impossibly long for a mother of two young children, working full time, with a mega-commute. If I had four days all to myself, it will be my choice to not use them all watching movies, no matter how interesting they all are. It just might take me a lifetime to achieve that. But you know what the Netflix default does? It helps make that possible for you. First of all, you search movies and it provides you supposed cognates of the one you're looking for. That saves time. It also takes your time to search through a mound of "other interesting" flicks, and it asks you to come back and spend more time watching those "more" movies you just added to your list. And then you get to finally watching one such statistic from said list. You just spent more time. Hopefully it was beautiful enough for you to give a simple thumbs-up rating. Time well spent. When I have savored a film, I like to linger. Like the last person in the theater. Like the woman who does not want to move just yet after great sex. Like the desire to forego dessert altogether because the first three courses were impossibly delicious, and you're trying to hold on to those magical flavors still on your tongue. But 10-seconds after the credits begin to roll, Netflix says, "Time is up! Look at this movie! Want to watch it, right now? I've minimized the screen of the movie you just saw - the credits are not that important. And you can always search for the OST online anyways! So, watch this new trending movie? Now??!" I love Netflix. But it just disrupted my sensational high, and brought me to plummet from that plane. And sometimes, I do want to get to the fucking OST list, dammit! tags: Netflix, savor, film, sensational high, cognates, movies June 2, 2019 |
Imagination #1
Welcome to the first imagination post! In this space, I would like to document my musings, my lists of what-if's, and what-could-be's. So excited to start! Today's edition will make me venture into the realm of possibilities given the time to spend on little frivolities. If I had the time (and money), what little activities could I be enjoying? Qualifiers are that: these have to be such that I cannot commit to them at the moment due to a lack of resources (again, time, money). They will not be big projects, like planning a vacation, or a passion project. Rather, these are what can realistically be part of my regular programming. Lastly, they might otherwise be regarded to be of lesser priority at the present.
To myself: let loose, let be, and have fun!
In no particular order.
A: I would get my jewelry taken care of. Don't be fooled. Most of my jewelry are your notch above the fashion jewelry department. But something sounds real nice about the simple act of taking good care of your belongings. If I were to give this further reflection, this actually comes from a value deep within me of exactly that: giving proper care to the items you own, and especially those you love. I was raised that way by my family.
I remember how my Lolo (Grandpa) would keep his stuff neat and tidy. We put his long-lived Bally dress shoes with his cremation, because we fondly remembered how much he loved those. My Lola (Grandma) kept her closet in order at all times, with outfits ready to go at any time. She even merchandised her blouses with jewelry that she would pair together. Everything my Mama handled with her hands, she held with love. My Dad talked to me about stewardship. This trait helps keep me pretty green, in that I tend to hold on to stuff for a long time. So much that I hate even losing an item as minuscule as a hair tie. I give a lot of thought to purchasing new items, as in: "Do I really need this?"
But polishing jewelry - that's something I could be better about. Given the time, you would see me spend an afternoon relaxing with a soft cloth and silver polish. Or, I would go get some missing crystals replaced.
B: I would binge-watch the long list of movies and shows saved in my Netflix profile. Why can't I do that now? Full-time working mom. Ungodly long commute. Two toddlers.
C: I would design stationery. For myself. For friends and family as gifts.
D: I would clean out my closet. Almost completely. Perhaps completely. And then build it from the likes of The Real Real, Cuyana, and consignment stores. That's right. The ideal is nothing less than quality grade.
E: I would dedicate 30-minutes to an hour to learning Spanish and French everyday. I want to be quadri-lingual. Duolingo is free, and it has been great where you could do bite-sized lessons during a commute. I could try Babbel also.
F: I would assemble a group of gals, and do a makeup learning party. It will probably turn into a "Why is makeup important?" kind of a session also. Hmm, I think this could count as a passion project really, so I better put this up on my vision board. Still, perhaps makeup can be regarded as a bit of a frivolity, which is the reason it's on this list.
G: I would shop for Christmas presents for everyone. Year-round.
H: I would constantly have a furniture refurbishing project. Sell on etsy? Or a small shop? Is this becoming a passion project again?
I: I would go to art classes. And do piano lessons.
J: I would spend money on some Diptyque candles. And a small perfume collection.
K: I would take baths. Real baths.
L: I would take flying lessons.
M: I would learn about a car's mechanics.
N: I would sit down and read. Lots of books.
O: I would write thank-you notes, and just-because letters more. With my custom-designed eponymous stationery.
P: I would get my hair and makeup done everyday.
How did I do? I will come back to edit if I need to. Til the next one!
tags: imagination, imagining, what would you do if, what if, Duolingo, Babbel
To myself: let loose, let be, and have fun!
In no particular order.
A: I would get my jewelry taken care of. Don't be fooled. Most of my jewelry are your notch above the fashion jewelry department. But something sounds real nice about the simple act of taking good care of your belongings. If I were to give this further reflection, this actually comes from a value deep within me of exactly that: giving proper care to the items you own, and especially those you love. I was raised that way by my family.
I remember how my Lolo (Grandpa) would keep his stuff neat and tidy. We put his long-lived Bally dress shoes with his cremation, because we fondly remembered how much he loved those. My Lola (Grandma) kept her closet in order at all times, with outfits ready to go at any time. She even merchandised her blouses with jewelry that she would pair together. Everything my Mama handled with her hands, she held with love. My Dad talked to me about stewardship. This trait helps keep me pretty green, in that I tend to hold on to stuff for a long time. So much that I hate even losing an item as minuscule as a hair tie. I give a lot of thought to purchasing new items, as in: "Do I really need this?"
But polishing jewelry - that's something I could be better about. Given the time, you would see me spend an afternoon relaxing with a soft cloth and silver polish. Or, I would go get some missing crystals replaced.
B: I would binge-watch the long list of movies and shows saved in my Netflix profile. Why can't I do that now? Full-time working mom. Ungodly long commute. Two toddlers.
C: I would design stationery. For myself. For friends and family as gifts.
D: I would clean out my closet. Almost completely. Perhaps completely. And then build it from the likes of The Real Real, Cuyana, and consignment stores. That's right. The ideal is nothing less than quality grade.
E: I would dedicate 30-minutes to an hour to learning Spanish and French everyday. I want to be quadri-lingual. Duolingo is free, and it has been great where you could do bite-sized lessons during a commute. I could try Babbel also.
F: I would assemble a group of gals, and do a makeup learning party. It will probably turn into a "Why is makeup important?" kind of a session also. Hmm, I think this could count as a passion project really, so I better put this up on my vision board. Still, perhaps makeup can be regarded as a bit of a frivolity, which is the reason it's on this list.
G: I would shop for Christmas presents for everyone. Year-round.
H: I would constantly have a furniture refurbishing project. Sell on etsy? Or a small shop? Is this becoming a passion project again?
I: I would go to art classes. And do piano lessons.
J: I would spend money on some Diptyque candles. And a small perfume collection.
K: I would take baths. Real baths.
L: I would take flying lessons.
M: I would learn about a car's mechanics.
N: I would sit down and read. Lots of books.
O: I would write thank-you notes, and just-because letters more. With my custom-designed eponymous stationery.
P: I would get my hair and makeup done everyday.
How did I do? I will come back to edit if I need to. Til the next one!
tags: imagination, imagining, what would you do if, what if, Duolingo, Babbel