My shopping weekend

Black Friday was this past Friday. I shopped online. I had a cold anyway. I feel much better today.

There were some stuff I needed like thumb protectors when I play my clarinet. I had a strap, but lost the thumb cushion. Now these thumb protectors should help better because I won’t lose them.

I also got a blanket and a Petsmart gift card for Chris. My mother had took back her comforter claiming I wasn’t cleaning it good enough. That comforter Chris uses when he comes down for a visit. So I got a warm blanket for his visits. He has a cat and he needs to get some toys and good food for his cat.

I got some new bowls and toys for Lily. She tore a hole in one toy so she needed a new toy.

I also got a mp3 player so I can listen to my audiobooks in the living room since my new Kindle won’t play mp3 files.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

I watched Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I taped it when HBO was a free preview. I didn’t know this was a sequel. I do want to see the first one sometime. It has Jordi Mollà, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, John Shrapnel, Samantha Morton, Abbie Cornish, and Clive Owen in it.

Warning: there is a little violence.

This movie starts in 1588. Queen Elizabeth I almost gets assassinated. Mary Stuart Queen of Scots is imprisoned for treason. Queen Elizabeth has a hard time with it since Mary is her cousin. (I would too.) She also fancied Sir Walter Raleigh (who discovered the New World). But he ends up marrying one of Elizabeth’s ladies. After she kills Mary Stuart, Spain gets ready to attack England, but England wins the battle.

I did like this movie. Next week I’m watching Gifted.

Hidden Figures

I watched Hidden Figures yesterday. I had taped it when HBO was a free preview. It has Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, and Aldis Hodge in it.

In this movie, three black women become firsts in NASA history. They are inspiring and smart women.

I loved this movie. Next Monday I’m watching Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I finished listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling. It is the second book of the Harry Potter book series.

Warning: there is a little bit of violence and gross parts.

Since everyone knows the story here’s a quick summary: Harry Potter enters his second year at Hogwarts. Harry and his friends discover the meaning behind some mysterious writings on the wall and the voices Harry hears.

I watched the movie and there are a few differences between the movie and book:
1. In the book, Harry is invited to a ghost DeathDay party in the book. The movie doesn’t show the party.
2. When Harry arrives at the Wesley house, they were found by Mrs. Wesley outside who orders them to tend to the garden in the book. The movie doesn’t show this.
3. Harry doesn’t fall out the flying car in the book.
4. Harry looks at the KwikSpell letter in the book. He doesn’t really read it in the movie.
5. Professor Binns’ history is where they learn about the history of the Chamber of Secrets.
6. Draco doesn’t see the golden snitch in the book.
7. Ginny tries to tell Harry something, but Percy stops her in the book.

I did like this book. I’m reading next Cell by Stephen King. It is my next book to movie book.

Murder on the Orient Express 2017

I watched Murder On the Orient Express (2017) on Thursday. It has Kenneth Branagh, Leslie Odom Jr., Marwan Kenzari, Josh Gad, Tom Bateman, Johnny Depp, Sergei Polunin, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Judi Dench in it.

Warning: there is a little bit of violence.

Quick Summary: Poirot is on a train called The Orient Express. A body is discovered to be of a criminal in a kidnapping case. Poirot solves the murder.

There are a few differences between the movie and book:

1. Poirot doesn’t get shot in the book.
2. Poirot asks for water in the book.
3. there aren’t any black men in the book.
4. Mr. McQueen poisons Rachett and breaks the watch in the book. In this movie version Mrs. Hubbard does it and Rachett isn’t poisoned.

I did like this movie version better than the 2001 version, but it doesn’t beat the original. Next Monday I’m watching Hidden Figures.

Murder on the Orient Express 2001

I watched Murder On the Orient Express (2001) on Wednesday. It has Alfred Molina, Meredith Baxter, Nicolas Chagrin, Amira Casar, David Hunt, Adam James, and Peter Strauss.

Warning: there is a little bit of violence.Quick Summary: Poirot is on a train called The Orient Express. A body is discovered to be of a criminal in a kidnapping case. Poirot solves the murder.

There are many differences between the movie and book:

1. This a modern version so there is talk of airplanes, computers, and cell phones.

2. Poirot doesn’t ask for water in this version. He does in the book.

3. There were 12 stab wounds in the book. In this movie version, there were only nine

4. In this movie version, there was videotape, instead of a burned note.

5. No pipe cleaner was found, it was a stylus.

6. Mrs. Hubbard wasn’t loud in this version.

7. Some of the characters had modern jobs ( like computer software, personal trainer)

I didn’t really like this version. It doesn’t fit the era. Also, I think it was too rushed. I’m watching next the 2017 version. Next Monday I’m watching Hidden Figures.

Murder On THe Orient Express 1974

I watched Murder On the Orient Express (1974) on Tuesday. I taped it when it was on TCM. It has Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, Anthony Perkins, and Richard Widmark in it.

Warning: there is a little bit of violence.

Quick Summary: Poirot is on a train called The Orient Express. A body is discovered to be of a criminal in a kidnapping case. Poirot solves the murder.

There are a few differences between the movie and book:
1. Mrs. Hubbard keeps talking about her daughter in the book, but in this movie version she talks about her husband.
2. Poirot asks for water before the murder happens (in the book), but in this movie version he doesn’t.
3. The princess admits to owning the handkerchief in the book. In this movie version, Poirot tells everyone that the princess owns it.
4. Mrs. Hubbard tells the whole planning of the crime in the book. In this movie version, there was no given story of the planning of the crime.

I liked this movie. I’m watching next the 2001 version of Murder on The Orient Express. Next Monday I’m watching Hidden Figures.

Murder on the Orient Express (book)

I finished listening to Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. There are three movies based on the book. I’m watching all three this week.

Warning: there is a little bit of violence.

In this book, Hercule Poirot has to go to London. He gets on the train called The Orient Express. A man named Ratchett offers a job to Poirot. He said that he is in danger. Poirot turns down the job. Then Ratchett gets killed. He was stabbed 12 times. Poirot finds out that Ratchett was a fake name. Ratchett was one of the kidnappers of a child kidnapping case. Poirot takes the hard case which becomes complex.

I loved this book. Now I’m listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Roling.

You can find this book at Wordery.com, Kobo.com, and Downpour.com.

Restore Me

I finished reading Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi. Restore Me is the fourth book of The Shatter Me book series. I read the first three books. Like I said earlier I have written a story that is similar.

Warning: there is some violence and cliffhanger ending.

In this book, Juliette is made supreme commander after she killed Warner’s father. She fastly finds out that it is a tough job, and she is overwhelmed. But she is determined to have the job even though people told her Warner would be better suited for the job. Warner flatly refuses to take the job. When she meets one of the supreme commander’s daughter, she learns that Warner is keeping secrets. She finds out she has a sister and her parents are alive. She also finds out the Restablishment wants her back.

Even though I wrote a similar story, I really like this book series. There is a fifth book coming out next year. And I heard they are making a tv series of the show too. Here is a song that I think should a theme song for the book series:

Blade Runner 2049

I watched Blade Runner 2049 yesterday. I taped it when HBO was a free preview. It has Ryan Gosling, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto, and Harrison Ford in it.

Warning: there is some violence and sad parts.

In this movie, a blade runner (cop) named Joe kills a replicant (human clone/robot) and doing so undercovers a secret that was buried. The secret was a replicant (human clone/robot) had a baby. He (and I) thought the baby was him. He finds Deckard (the blade runner in the first movie) and he lets Deckard meet his daughter.

I did like this movie. Today I’m watching Murder on the Orient Express (1974) version since I’m listening to the book. I will be finishing the book today. Tomorrow I’m watching the 2001 version and Thursday I’m watching the 2017 version. Next Monday I’m watching Hidden Figures.