Photo Memories of My Younger Years-THD Winner of Best of Senior Living Award, 2024

I came to the US as a Graduate Student at the University of Illinois in 1960. I was only 26 years old. I came with a Student visa.  Before the start of the Fall Semester at UI in Chicago, I visited New York City for the first time. I was at the top floor of the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center, Winter of 1959. Here's my photo taken at the Rockefeller Center with my first winter outfit in the US.

1961- With Other Foreign Students at the University of Illinois during our tour of Central Illinois sponsored by the Chicago Hospitality Center

The third photo I treasured was taken at the University of Illinois Student Cafeteria with Fellow Filipino Graduate students and Research Assistants, Virgie Aguilar and Auring Aro. Virgie and I were in our laboratory coats enjoying our lunch break, 1963

Ditas(my youngest daughter) and Me in 1982. Ditas was elected High School Queen, Pinole Valley High, Pinole, CA 

The 4th photo was my picture featured in the Stauffer Company Ads in 1981

My photo with Macrine -5th Photo taken with a Morion, San Francisco, 1990

The 6th photo I treasured was taken in 1994 during our one week vacation in Cancun Mexico.

Trip to Cancun, Mexico. Ditas and I enjoying the white beach at the back of the Royal Mayan Hotel where we stayed for one week., 1994

Last photo I will always tresure was our 1957 Wedding Day-May 8, Boac, Marinduque. Philippines 

I have more than 500 hundred photos in my blogs and photo albums, but the above photos I will always remember. Pleasant Memories indeed of my younger years!

For Comparative Purposes here's my latest photo of our Zumba Group taken Feb 3. 2024

  Am I still good Looking? 

Meanwhile,THD won again the 2024 Best Senior Living Award by Place for Mom.com-a repeat of 2023

My Congratulations to THD for Repeat Winner of A Place for Mom, Best of Senior Living Award for 2024.  

My Movie Review of Past Lives

I finally had a chance to watch the Movie Past Lives. I have read a few positive comments of the movie from friends in my FaceBook page. About 4 weeks ago after reading that the movie has been Oscar nominated for Best Picture and best Original Screen Play, I decided to watch it in Prime Video. 

It was a decision I will never regret. I enjoyed the movie very much, that when I woke early this morning, I still remember a few scenes and story line that touches my heart. 

One of the scenes I identified with was a conversation of the heroine ( a lady writer- South Korean immigrant)  to her Caucasian husband. Her husband asked her if  SHE loved him and not marry him because she just want a Green Card. A green card is a permanent resident visa, a pathway to US citizenship.    

This is not only one scene that is typical on the life of Asian immigrants that I can personally identify with being a former Asian immigrant myself.  The adjustment of Asian immigrants to American society is very close to my heart.         

I would not be surprise if it beats Oppenheimer as best picture for this coming Oscar Award next month. 

 Here's a summary from Wikipedia.

"Past Lives is a 2023 American romantic drama film written and directed by Celine Song in her feature directorial debut. Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro, it follows two childhood friends over the course of 24 years while they contemplate the nature of their relationship as they grow apart, living different lives. The plot is semi-autobiographical and inspired by real events from Song's life.

Past Lives premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023, and was released theatrically in the United States on June 2, 2023. The film received largely positive reviews and was named one of the top ten films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute and received various accolades including five nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama. At the 96th Academy Awards, it received nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 280 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 9.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "A remarkable debut for writer-director Celine Song, Past Lives uses the bonds between its sensitively sketched central characters to support trenchant observations on the human condition." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 94 out of 100, based on 51 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Manola Darghis writing for The New York Times compared the film to French romantic cinema complimenting its restraint in the presentation of its main themes stating: "The movie’s modesty — its intimacy, human scale, humble locations and lack of visual oomph — is one of its strengths. The characters live in homes that are pleasant yet ordinary, the kind that you can imagine hanging out in, the kind you want to hang out in. 

There are few big, look-at-me details, though you might notice a poster for Jacques Rivette’s 1974 classic Céline and Julie Go Boating in Nora’s father’s home office in Seoul." Writing in The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw was fulsome in his praise of the film comparing it to those of Richard Linklater, Noah Baumbach, and Greta Gerwig. He said of the film: "Past Lives is a glorious date movie, and a movie for every occasion, too. As ever with films like this, there is an auxiliary pleasure in wondering how much of her own past life Song has used. It's a must-see."

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan also praised the film and named it one of his favorites, describing it as "subtle in a beautiful sort of way."

Collider ranked it number 7 on its list of the "20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far," calling it "a story that could only exist because of modern circumstances, but feels timeless in its approach. How does someone choose between two lovers, one that represents the most fruitful days of her youth, and the other someone she has grown to love as part of her reality? Celine Song examines these critical conversations through the perspective of an immigrant story."

For Details visit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Past_Lives_(film)

I highly recommend this movie. The length is perfect. If you are an Asian Immigrant yourself, the story will touch your heart. It is a love story, but there is no kissing scene in the movie.  There is a cuddling scene but very tame. Again, the movie acting is terrific and its beauty is its simplicity and the emotionally-loaded dialogs between Greta Lee and Teo Yoo in the story.

The movie will be shown at our Cinema on February 18, Sunday at 7PM

As I mentioned above, it is available for viewing at Amazon Prime Video.

Lastly my quote of the day: To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. - Anatole France, 1844-1924, French Writer 

Sarah Mckenzie at the Lesher Center for the Arts

Yesterday afternoon, ten residents of THD enjoyed a free concert ( courtesy of THD) to the Sarah McKenzie Jazz Concert at the Lesher Center for the Arts in downtown Walnut Creek ( see photo above). It was an afternoon of popular jazz music, and was worth more than the Ticket Price of $37.50 . My favorite piece was a special arrangement of "Embraceable You" featuring the guitar and later the piano. Besides the piano, the concert had a 5-men band ensemble consisting of the trumpet, saxophone, guitar, drums and the Base.   

A short bio of Sarah indicated she grew up in Australia and took classical piano lessons at the young age of 5. A teacher introduced her to jazz, rock and boogie-woogie when she was nine. This inspired her to pursue jazz piano and singing. 

Sarah not only plays the piano and sings but also composed and arranged songs. Her album Close Your Eyes won the 2012 ARIA Music Award for Best Jazz Album. She was also nominated for the same award in 2011 with Don't Tempt Me and in 2015 for We Could Be Lovers. We Could Be Lovers won an Australian Jazz Bell Award in 2015 for Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album.

She has won a few singing and performance awards in Australia and performed at Montreux Jazz Festival. She has several acclaimed albums, but the release of "Without You"💥 added  to her reputation as a creative jazz pianist and singer. She is now based in Los Angeles and tours internationally.  

I personally enjoyed the concert very much and it was an afternoon not wasted. Thank You THD for providing us with the free tickets and to our Chaperon, Activity Director Galen Carson as well as to our capable driver Joseph Woo. We encourage THD to provide  similar musical programs to improve the quality of life and well-being of its senior residents.   

For Complete Details on the Music and Recordings of Sarah Mckensie read: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_McKenzie

💥https://www.jazziz.com/album-of-the-week-sarah-mckenzie-without-you/

Meanwhile, here's my quote of the Day:

'Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, 

To have lived light in the spring, 

To have loved, to have thought, to have done?"

Mathew Arnold, 1822-1888, English Poet and Essayist 
 

World Radio Day and the Valentine Dinner

I found the following message on my E-mail the other day. I was surprised of the statistical data, so I am reposting it for your reading pleasure.  I thought TV has replaced Radio viewing, on the contrary radio listening is not declining.  I could identify the with sentiments in the following posting.

February 13^th is World Radio Day.

"I grew up in a household in the Philippines where the family radio was played every morning, late afternoon and in the evening.

I just know that the radio played a significant part in developing my mental faculties, imagination and general curiosity.

And now that we are in 2024 – in the age of the internet, podcasts and streaming media –  radio is simply far from passe.

Here in the United States, 88 percent of Americans (or 293 million strong) listen to AM/FM radio on a weekly basis according to Nielsen Media Research (based on 2021 data).

In the Philippines, 62 percent of respondents to a survey conducted by Kantar Media indicated accessing media through radio or audio in 2018.

The theme for World Radio Day 2024 is "Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating."

Happy listening".

For complete Details visit:

https://musicalpursuits.com/radio/

Personal Note: I listened to Alexa for news, music, weather and other information that I need every day.  How about You? Do you still listen to the Radio? 

Meanwhile enjoy these photos I took at our Special Valentine Dinner last night. Long-stem Red Roses were given to all Residents at Dessert time. Thank You, THD  for the beautiful red rose. 

I heard that the viola concert from 4 to 5 PM was not well attended. I was not able to attend since I took a nap after playing bridge from 1 to 4PM.   

Lively Brass Band Music Here at THD Yesterday Afternoon

 

The bright, lively and melodic sounds from the 1st Gabriel 's Celestial Brass Band reverberated and echoed loudly from the Lobby up to the Newton's Restaurant of THD last Tuesday Afternoon during our Mardi Gras Celebration.  Hurricane cocktail💥 and other libations flowed freely and the hors d'oeuvre plentiful and delicious. 

💥Hurricane cocktail is a sweet alcoholic drink made with rum, lemon juice, and either passion fruit syrup or fassionola. It is one of many popular drinks served in New Orleans.

It was one of the most entertaining and lively musical afternoons, I have experienced at THD since I moved here 8 months ago. 

 I took several pictures during the concert and then at the Mardi Gras dinner with the company of Mary Ann DeWald, Susan Bramson and Jay Pollack ( see photo below). 

Photo Credit: Martha Rodriguez. I had the skewered shrimps and sausage for Dinner. 

Here are some of the photos I took during the concert.

I also took pictures of Mary Ann and her new beautiful Ear Piercings as follows:

Lastly, a photo from the THD FaceBook Page: Judy Mesick and Sue Kaplan( The Twins) with their beautiful Mardi Gras Mask and Beads provided by THD to all the Attendees. 

Meanwhile tonite is our special Valentine Dinner, I am looking forward too. There will be violin music at the Lobby from 4-5PM today also. 

   

Mardi Gras and Valentine Day Celebration Here at THD

Another numerous hectic activities is underway here at THD this week of February 12 to 18.  The are several events( see list above and below) to mention, but two of my favorite activities is Mardi Gras and Valentine Days Celebration.  Mardi Gras is the French translation for 'Fat Tuesday', also called Carnival Tuesday and Pancake Tuesday as well. The day, filled with indulgence and celebration, always comes before Ash Wednesday, which marks the season of fasting for Christians. Fat Tuesday became an official holiday in Louisiana in 1875.

There is a Valentine Special Dinner that I posted the other day.

Here are some Photos I took of the Valentine and Mardi Grass Decorations Here at THD

Here's the Special Valentine Dinner Menu for Wednesday Feb 14, 2024

Looking forward to the Grilled Rib Eye Dinner, Lobster Bisque Soup and Crab Cakes