Here is my 1SE for July.
1SE for July 2019
Posted August 1, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: 1 Sec Every Day, 1SE, Pictures
Tags: 1SE
Lion King (2019)
Posted July 24, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Movies, Reviews
Tags: Lion King. Lion-King, Movies
Tuesday again was date night. We went to see the new Lion King. Prices at the Terraces Cinema is $5 on Tuesday. That’s hard to pass up. Usually, the films that we see on Tuesdays are not that well attended. Yesterday (5pm show) was different from normal Tuesday’s. It was at about 50-60% capacity.
The theater was starting a new play about every hour. This week is early in its run. Film length is about 2 hours.
My first comment is “WOW!!!”. How’d they do that. All of the images of the animals looked really, really real. You can’t tell that this is CGI other than the fact that the animals are talking.
So one of the big things about this film was that Beyonce appears in it. All I can say about that is “Meh!”. I am not a huge Beyonce fan.
The story is more or less the same as the original. Young Simba is tricked by his evil Uncle Scar into believing that he (Simba) caused his father’s death. Simba grows up and understands his responsibilities as an adult. Simba returns to the pride, and takes his proper place.
So the film was rated PG for violence. Probably not too good for the little ones. Surprisingly enough, none of the animals ever bleed. Some of them die but they don’t bleed while that was happening. This is the magic of PG. If there was blood, it certainly would be PG13. We will need to be thinking about what to see next Tuesday.
I downloaded the sound track from iTunes. It’s kind of hard to figure out which of the albums is from the 2019 version. There’s a Broadway version and a 90’s version. It’s kind of hard to tell them apart.
We had a good time. Long line at the refreshment stand. Just as well, I don’t need any popcorn. We went out to “Marie Calender’s” for a light dinner. Very tasty
Call the Midwife
Posted July 21, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Books, Reviews
Tags: books, Call the Midwife, Jennifer Worth, PBS
I just finished “Call the Midwife” by Jennifer Worth. “Call the Midwife” was the basis for a PBS series of the same name. This book is actually book one of a three book series, but stands alone pretty well on its own.
The books tells the stories of midwifes, nursing and medicine in the East End of London during the 1950’s.
Paula and I had watched the PBS TV series a few years ago and our friend Roberta recommended that we read the books that were the basis for the TV series.
Indeed, the TV show is still going strong with season 8 just released. I just checked the PBS web site and found that Call the Midwife is on season 9. Still going strong. Click here to see the PBS site for Call the Midwife.
I really enjoyed reading book one and I will probably go back and read books two and three when I get around to it.
One of the comments in the book is about family size. It says that women in the East End typically had about 10 children over their child bearing years. Indeed, I learned later in life that my father had about 10 siblings. I only knew three of his brothers who we saw often when we were growing up. Many of his siblings had never reached adulthood, having died of a variety of diseases that are preventable in this day and age.
The book probably goes deeper into the lives of her patients in the East End. It seems to me that there are stories in the book are a bit too much for television.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Posted July 11, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Books, Reviews
Tags: books, Crawdads
“Where the Crawdads Sing” is a both a love story and a murder mystery. It is the story of Kya, the marsh girl, who lives deep in the wetlands of North Carolina. The book has been on the Amazon best seller list for 43 weeks now.
Kya’s story starts with her mother leaving her to be alone with her drunken father. She learns to adapt to the marsh lands of North Carolina. Eventually her father leaves her, never to be heard from again. The story follows her learning to adapt and survive in her surroundings.
The story jumps between Kya adapting to her situation in the wetlands of NC and a murder investigation of a young man who was romantically involved with Kya. Did Kya do it? You will have to read it to find out.
I would write more but that would give away too much. This is a great story. Definitely worth reading.
Knee Update
Posted July 9, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Aging, Health-Care
Tags: knees
Tomorrow will be the 5 week anniversary of my knee surgery. Everything seems to be going well. I saw my surgeon today and got an excellent review. Pain is beginning to wane. I am still having some trouble getting comfortable while sleeping.
Starting next week, I do PT once per week for three more weeks, then done.
1SE for June
Posted June 30, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: 1 Sec Every Day, 1SE, Family
Tags: 1SE, Family
Week 3
Posted June 25, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Health-Care, Medical
Tags: knees, PT, Surgery
Wednesday will be my three week anniversary of my knee surgery. Slowly improving. I am now going to outpatient physical therapy.
Yesterday, they started me with 10 minutes on the stationary bike. (Or as I call it the torture machines). Actually, it wasn’t too awful. 
The incision site is healing nicely. All staples and terri strips removed.
Going forward, outpatient PT twice a week for the next four weeks and visit with surgeon in July. Still a lot of swelling but getting better.
Toy Story 4
Posted June 22, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Kids, Movies, Reviews
Tags: Movies, Toy Story
This weekend my wife and I are caring for our two grand-children while Mom and Dad take a much needed R&R trip to Hawaii. So yesterday, we decided to take the kids to see Toy Story 4, which had just opened. Click here for the trailer.
We saw the movie at a Regal cinema in Ranch Palos Verdes that has wide, comfy seats that recline. Plenty of leg room. One of may favorite cinemas.
I was wondering to myself how did the writers and producers manage to come up with yet another “Toy Story” episode. I am also am wondering if they will manage to come up with a “Toy Story 5”.
So Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Annie Potts are once again astounding in their voicing of their characters.
So Tom Hanks again plays Woody, Tim Allen plays Buzz Light-Year and Annie Potts plays Bo Peep. So the theme is similar but different. Woody and Buzz are once again facing being left behind by children growing up and moving away. And they get right into action to save the situation.
The adults in the room liked it and the kids did too. Definitely worth going to see it.
Knee Update
Posted June 17, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Health-Care, Medical
Tags: Knee, Knee Replacement
So first, a big thank you to all of you that sent me get well messages either by email, facebook or snail mail. As you can see from my greeting card shelf, there have been many cards sent. Awesome. Thanks.
Second, today was my day to get the staples removed. Good to get that done.
Pain is beginning to subside (a little bit). I am trying to wean myself off of the narcotic pain meds and just stick to Tylenol. The narcotics have a side effect of constipation (not fun). Every day gets just a little bit better.
No more PT exercises until Wednesday’s outpatient PT appointment. Then my PT will give me new exercises to inflict pain.
Father’s Day
Posted June 16, 2019 by joebowkerCategories: Family, Pictures
Tags: Dad, Father's Day
Well tomorrow is Father’s Day. So, I thought I would write about my Dad. My Dad died in early 1968 at the age of 6o something. He died of cardiac arrest.
I have often thought of how far we have come on heart health issues. My dad suffered a heart attack in the mid fifties. Back then, they didn’t have much treatment for heart disease. I don’t know much about what happened seeing as I was 7 or 8.
But I do remember this. My dad asked the doctor how he was going to make upstairs into our home. We lived in two family house in Brighton, MA and we occupied the second floor portion.
So the doctor’s answer was he should take it slow. Say one Hail Mary on each step. That would do it.
So fast forward ten years. He was scheduled for gall bladder surgery. He had excessive bleeding from the surgery and surgeons scheduled him for a return visit to the OR to try to find the source of the bleed. So he arrested on the table in OR. The surgeons revived him but he never regained consciousness and died about eight weeks later. Sigh.
He was a great father and I have always missed him.
In honor of Father’s Day here are a couple of my favorite photos of him.
Dad with his pipe. Sitting in his chair.
Mom and Dad. Berkshires. C 1950
calherewecome 