Issues Today and What it Takes to Be Heroic

There are so many issues these days, it’s hard to separate the heroes and the villains, because it’s not all black and white. There is so much hate in the world right now, we need to keep talking, keep fighting, and break down those walls we try to put up.

One unique kind of vigilante, portrayed by our very own Queen Latifah, is from the series, The Equalizer. An exceptionally strong African American woman, who has retired from the CIA, now works to help those who have nowhere to turn to. She uses her guts, and skill set, alongside her friends from the old days, including an awesome Asian American lady, played by Liza Lapira, and her hacker husband, Adam Goldberg.

More recently is the story of an Asian American female warrior, who grew up in Chinatown, San Francisco. Let me pause right now, and tell you I grew up in California, and we went on day trips there, so this setting is somewhat familiar to me, but it also gives us a look into the culture of this area, and community, which makes it even more special to me. This series in a culmination of my favorite things, including Chinese food, martial arts, and romance. This young woman is fighting for her home, family, friends, community, not to mention, saving the world.

When we come across the people in reality who want to hate on people because of differences, or circumstances, it’s important to remember what heroes look like and how we can stand up to them. So, you tell me, what makes a hero today?

Inspiration for Moving Forward this Summer

If any of what we’re seeing and hearing is true, then the vaccine for COVID is a serious game changer. Recently, I saw a Google ad video on YouTube, using search terms, business listings and events to illustrate the country's transition to life after COVID-19 closings lift. Hopefully, we’re going to able to do so much more, as long as we try and stay healthy.

Time to do some serious Spring and Summer cleaning. Everything that doesn’t fit or have serious meaning must go! I’m also thinking of getting a new look and being more active. Recently, after the 3^rd Stimulus installment, we took care of a lot of bills, and then, I was able to replace my phone, and do some other stuff. I’ve been going outside, and walking, along with getting back to stretching and exercises in the morning with my mom. It has been invigorating, and I’ve been able to be inspired by a lot around me, I’ve been taking so many pictures.

Going forward, we all must be better, not just with our health. We need be inspired by the future and remember to count our blessings every day. For example, I’m working on getting up early so I can help my mom for work, and get the housework done. Time to do what I want for a while, and lastly, get a meal, or even just tea ready for when she gets home. It’s important for us to work together and take care of each other, as well as the world we live in right now.

Going Forward in the Story: 1x06-08 T@gged

Continuing where we left off, I’m getting back to finish the video series I was edited, for my favorite moments. Starting with T@gged, an interesting thriller I discovered a while back, I hope to be able to post more videos, and share some awesome moments from my favorite storylines.

After finding, and rescuing Elisia, the girls, plus Ash, try to figure out what happens next, considering there still a timer set. Hailey starts losing it with all the pressure mounting up. While thinking she’s meeting Ash, she falls into a ditch, right next to the dead body of the girl in the video that started everything.

Now, the girls wrestle with telling their secrets, in order to trust each other figure out what this “Monkey Man” wants from them. Please keep checking in to see more.

Check out more series storyline videos in the link above in the menu. I'll be posting more videos and clips soon.

People Need to Be Looking Back

Plans for the spring include working on my videos, starting my podcast I keep talking about, and try to ride my back again. I would like to be more active since I received my Fitbit Tracker, and live healthier after all we’ve been through.

I’ve been enjoying a lot more anime, and going back to some of my favorites lately, which has also sparked by interest in the Japanese culture again. I’ve also been looking at other cultures as well, French, and Italian, and I’ve been really interested in a lot of the different foods. The cultures of the other countries like Japan have fascinated be over many years, and I would like to apply some of that into my life.

Lately, a lot more shows have been back in the swing, and even some awesome new movies like Disney’s Raya. It’s made for some awesome watch time. I’ve even found some new anime, like the continuation of Inuyasha, which is all about his and his brother’s, Sesshōmaru, daughters, Yashahime. On some of the social media, there’s been a bit of negative feedback, though, about Charmed and GH too. Everyone is continually criticizing about something, when they need to stop, and wait for the good stuff. Particularly on soaps, and drama series, they like to wait until the middle, or right around the seasons middle, or end for things to get really good.

In about a year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, things have changed, and nothing feels quite normal, or how it used to be, but maybe that’s a good thing. It gives a chance for all of us to do better. We’ll see what happens during and after the summer.

Investigating Coffee Presentations

I saw this amazing coffee drink on one of my favorite coffeehouse’s Instagram account. It was presented in a mason like jar, and it got me thinking, how could you use a jar like that? Does it have to be brand new, or can you recycle and reuse them? So, I got to make a special trip and got some of these questions answered.

The drinks in the mason jar are only available for staying inside. There’s a lot of prep that goes into getting them ready to serve. They’re bought in pristine condition, probably online, and they washed with specific cleaning solutions because of the pandemic.

In the end, I took the drink to go, rather than sitting down. It was a tasty treat, sweet but not overwhelming. I think this was a good experiment, and I enjoyed it a lot.

Through the Early 1810's: Starting with Bridgerton

On the streaming series, Bridgerton, starting in 1813, Great Britain was under the reign of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and King George III (also known as Mad King George). In the series, Queen Charlotte was the face of the crown, she was the one who debutantes presented to, and Her Majesty was presented at various events for the royal family.

They King and Queen had 15 children in total, 13 of whom survived to adulthood, two of whom were future British monarchs, George IV, and William IV; as well as Charlotte, Princess Royal, who became Queen of Württemberg; Prince Edward, the father of Queen Victoria; and Prince Ernest Augustus, who became King of Hanover. Early in King George's reign, Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, becoming the dominant European power in North America and India. Further wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France from 1793 concluded in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Fashions of the Period

The fashion style between 1813 and 1815 was inspired by the classical antiquity, modeled into the high-waisted neoclassical silhouette, increasingly broken by trim, colors, and a new angularity as the tubular skirts were gradually replaced by triangular versions. I focus on the women, because I am a woman, and their clothes always fascinate me.

First was the shifts, or chemises, that were meant to protect the rest of the undergarments from the body’s perspiration. Corsets were necessary, yet unbelievably uncomfortable, made with whale bone, and tightened to give women a more feminine figure. And then a petticoat, which was a layer between the women’s clothing and underwear.

Clothes worn inside the home was called the morning dress, and lacked a whole lot of decoration, and was modest, simple, and hopefully comfortable. While, evening gowns were meant to be seen at parties, and were styled with more colors, accessories, and embellishments.

The classical influence extended to hairstyles. Often masses of curls were worn over the forehead and ears, with the longer back hair drawn up into loose buns or Psyche knots influenced by Greek and Roman styles. Here are some videos of modern versions of the styles I’ve been inspired by. This is just a small sample of the period, and culture in the early 1810’s.

First Month of the New Year 2021

This January, there has been so much going on, I’m just now getting caught up, and posting. A lot of new seasons, and even some new series on streaming channels, have begun, and I’ve even got caught up in plenty of older series, so now I would like to share so much.

For starters, I’ve been discovering a lot of interesting period dramas, going back to Bridgerton, and finding other series connecting to that time frame. Belgravia takes place in 1815 which is two years after, right around the Battle of Waterloo. Queen Charlotte and King George’s reign was during the Napoleon wars, and their descendants including Queen Victoria, who along side Prince Alfred were mentioned in Belgravia, twenty years after the first scenes.

The CW, along with a few other channels, have released new seasons of their series. Starting with a brand new Batwoman. Kate Kane has been presumed dead after a plane crash, she was on. Now, Ryan Wilder has found the suit, and wants to take up the mantle to give justice to those in Gotham. On Netflix, the rebirth of interesting story, Fate: Winx Saga; Bloom and her friends reimagined in an interesting tale.

All of these and more, there is so much starting with this new year, I hope to keep writing and sharing, without fall behind.

"Bridgerton" in the Timeline

The new series on Netflix, based on a series of books by author Julia Quinn, is a period drama and is awesome. I have read the first four books of the series, and I loved the storyline. After watching the series, it is pretty different, but also pretty incredible too.

While several young women are making their debut into society, in order to find suitable matches for marriage, a society paper, kind of like a gossip column (a little like Gossip Girl), premiers as well, a tell-all about the Ton, a reference used during this time period, a term commonly used to refer to Britain's high society during the late Regency and the reign of George IV, and later. The first season focuses on Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter, and fourth in an exceptional large, loving family, and her finding love with the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset, portrayed by Phoebe Dynevor, and Regé-Jean Page.

Capturing Authentic Moments

Based loosely on the Regency period, in 1813 London, the show gives a glimpse at some fashion, and culture of this era. Starting with fashion, I recognized the empire dress, a silhouette also from Pride and Prejudice. This one of my favorites, because of the slim, elegant look, even on slightly small forms, was inspired apparently by the neoclassical look, meaning a simpler and elegant style of women’s fashion. Corsets were also in style, and while these were beautiful in design, they were probably not as comfortable, back then in history, or present for the actresses who had to wear half corsets for the show, while the bloomers were a little different.

While women were meant for extraordinarily little, we see in both the books, and the Netflix version, that they were a force to be reckoned with, and had ways to manage any situation they found themselves in. Particularly in the social seasons, the mothers were a driving force, for their sons and daughters.

How much of all this is historically accurate, the creators left some wiggle room, but did a lot of research to show a truly inspired period of time, and an incredible story. The first season was amazing and I’m excited to see what happens next.