That’s Entertainment

Happy Friday! Thought I’d do another what I’ve been reading and watching post. And throw in mention of a few games we’ve been playing at our once a month outing with friends.

Games:

Once a month we get together with friends to honor a friend who passed away in 2021. After dinner, we  play card or board games. We started with playing Uno, very fun! Then, we expanded our choices a bit. The games pictured above are the games we have here at our house. Some of them are from this previous Christmas. G gave his dad the Cards Against Humanity game (Warning: that one is NOT for young children/all audiences). I gave my husband the Password game (very fun!) and then, G gave me the Ted Lasso game (we’ve not played that one yet).

Our current favorites (played with our friends) are: Uno (especially the write your own cards version), Mexican train dominoes, Skip-Bo, and sometimes silly trivia games. Last time we played the original Trivial Pursuit (It’s hard and why my husband pulled the family edition we own out of our closet for next time).

Do you have any game suggestions for large groups (there are roughly 9 of us)?

On TV

Regular TV

On regular tv, haven’t been watching too much. We tried the new Night Court show. I thought it was ok, needs to find its way still. Caught a couple episodes of a new game show called Lingo. Nothing I’d seek out.

And of course, this weekend, we’ll be watching football. Well, I’ll be listening to it as I run my son to band practice.

Streaming

I completely binge-watched two series both on Netflix:

That 90’s Show: Had a good premise but I think they were trying to make 90’s kids fit into a 70’s mindset with the writing and it didn’t quite work. I think should they get a second season, it would work if they focused more on the issues of the 90’s and less on trying to reboot the kids into a setting of doing things kids/teens in the 70’s did.

Wednesday: It definitely lived up to the hype but I was so mad at myself for not figuring out the mystery. I literally guessed every other person in the show. Told my son it did give me a bit of a Harry Potter vibe while watching it but in a good way. Glad it’s getting a season 2.

Movies

Tortured the husband (and myself) by making us sit through Minions: The Rise of Gru. Should’ve known better as none of the preschool kids were really talking about it. Not good though I usually like those movies. Time to let that series of movies end. (This was on Peacock but I think it might be gone now, don’t worry you didn’t miss much)

Then, my husband has a talent for picking out random movies from 10-20 years ago that none of us remember and they turn out to be good. Case in point, random movie called The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds from 2009 on Hulu. Really enjoyed it! I guess it makes up for him making us sit through the oddity of Mr. Harrigan’s Phone on Netflix. He didn’t like it either, guess they were talking about it on the radio.

It was based on a book, so at least it gave me something to request at the library. So let’s move on.

However, before we do, I don’t know why this song popped into my head for the post title but here’s a clip of it from you-tube:

Books

Currently I’m reading A Conjuring of Light, the conclusion of the Darker Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab. It’s a bit better than the last book in the series. I’m really hoping they reveal the big secrets about the pasts of a couple characters.

Prior to this one I had a quick read of one called Five Winters by Kitty Wilson. I enjoyed the technique of showing what happened to the character during each of the winters. Interesting way to mark the passage of time. Basically, the main character is in love with her best friend’s brother who basically sees her as sister. Her life was a bit tragic and his parents took her in as a young girl. Will he see her differently?

My favorite of the books I’ve read recently was one I didn’t even expect to like. Figured Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus was probably overhyped. However, it did not disappoint. Took a minute to get into it but once I did, couldn’t stop reading. And I’d have probably kept reading if she hadn’t ended the book. I was satisfied with the ending just wanted more. It chronicles the life of Elizabeth, a woman chemist in the 1950’s, who is clearly ahead of her time in regards to equal rights. She also seems to have a bit of a problem reading people. It’s one of those makes you think at the same time you are laughing kind of books. I think it would make a terrific book club choice especially in a book club of mixed ages.

What’s keeping you entertained this winter? Any game, television, or book suggestions for me?

*******************

day 27/365