The Handmaid's Tale TV Series

I just finished binging on three seasons of The Handmaid's Tale TV series on Hulu. Season 4 was supposed to be released last March but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I enjoyed the series so much, I highly recommend it. Here's a summary from Wikipedia in case you have not viewed this series. 

The Handmaid's Tale, originally published in 1985, is a dystopian novel written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. It is set in a near-future New England, in a totalitarian state, known as Gilead, that has overthrown the United States government.

The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of subjugated women in a patriarchal society and the various means by which these women resist and attempt to gain individuality and independence. The novel's title echoes the component parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, which is a series of connected stories ("The Merchant's Tale", "The Parson's Tale", etc.)

The Handmaid's Tale is structured into two parts, by night and by other various events. This novel can be interpreted as a double narrative, Offred's tale and the handmaids' tales. The night sections are solely about Offred, and the other sections (shopping, waiting room, household, etc.) are the stories that describe the possible life of every handmaid, though from the perspective of Offred. In many of these sections, Offred jumps between past and present as she retells the events leading up to the fall of women's rights and the current details of the life that she now lives.

The Handmaid's Tale won the 1985 Governor General's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987; it was also nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award, the 1986 Booker Prize, and the 1987 Prometheus Award. The book has been adapted into a 1990 film, a 2000 opera, a 2017 television series, and other media. In 2019, a sequel novel, The Testaments, was published.

For details read:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo of our recent dinner:

Butter-Lemon baked Trout

Forest Bathing, Hiking and Relaxation

This weekend Ditas, Carenna and their two dogs ( Sierra and Leif) went to Sierra City(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_City,_California )for relaxation and as well as to relieve the boredom of staying at home due to Covid-19. The following photos are from Ditas FB page for your viewing pleasure. I wish I could be there to do forest bathing- the Japanese way.

For centuries, we all know how good being in nature can make us feel.  The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us. For more details about Japanese forest bathing read the following:


https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/

Meanwhile,enjoy this photo of Brookside Gardens, Maryland about 0.4 miles from our former residence in  Colesville, Maryland.

I'm Not Who You Think I Am

Just finish reading this book! Enjoyed it very much. Recognized and have associated with a couple of names in the book when we were still residing in the Washington DC area. Highly recommended to all Asian-American of both genders. Here's a write-up/review from Amazon.

Ditas Father's Day Gift to Me

This book is both a memoir and a political history. It is the personal story of an Asian American woman’s journey from political neophyte to seasoned insider, the first to reach the top of an all-male, nearly all-white power elite in the California capitol. And it is the story of a political movement’s coming of age, founded in California, but leading all the way to Washington, D.C. and beyond.

Maeley Tom grew up far removed from politics, the child of high-living Chinese Opera celebrities in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Her parents’ neglect forced her to learn early on how to fend for herself, but this impressive self-reliance still could not erase her insecurity and need for acceptance. Her personal journey was at the forefront of a growing Asian American presence in California politics, which she, together with a core group of close friends and colleagues, helped to create and advance.

Maeley dedicated herself to giving voice to an under-represented community, leading by example, and her actions and accomplishments became inseparable from the rise of the Asian American political community. She has seen great success, as well as setbacks, hardship, and scandal—all part of coming to the realization that politics is not for the faint of heart. The Clinton Asian fundraising scandal forced Maeley to endure prejudice and discrimination in the media and from the Washington establishment, but her perseverance and integrity helped the Asian community emerge from the ordeal stronger and more powerful.Many leading political figures of the last 40 years, Democrats and Republicans alike, have touched her life or played a role in her career, as mentors, colleagues, and peers—including Norman Mineta, Art Torres, Maxine Waters, and Willie Brown, among many others.

Her path also led her to presidents, with memorable and meaningful interactions with both Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. Her position as a Democrat never stopped her from successfully reaching across the aisle to form alliances that would further a cause, build a strong organization, or create a team with the clout to make real change.This is a story of a life well-led, with hard-fought gains and deeply-felt sacrifices; a story of painful struggles for professional recognition, self-knowledge, and personal fulfillment; a story of the rewarding, but often harsh, intersection of the personal and the political.

Throughout, the story illuminates Maeley’s inner strength and steadfast commitment to principles. At its end, it is a story with a universal lesson: that even success in the bare-knuckled, ambitious world of big-league politics takes a back seat to the best measure of success—love of family and friends.

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo of what I will cook for dinner tonight!

Main Ingredients for Oyster Rockefeller-Spinach and Oysters

Philippines Not Listed in Top Ten Countries for Retirement

Are you planning to retire next year outside the US? I have a number of friends who informed me that if Moron DJT( https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-bolton-book-trump-revelations-the-room-where-it-happened/ ) gets reelected, they will retire abroad.

I did some search and here's the latest top 10 best countries for retirement from marketwatch.com dated February, 2020 based on housing, benefits/discounts, visas/residency, ease of fitting in, development, climate, health care, governance, cost of living and other factors.

Ten best countries to retire abroad
1. Portugal
2. Panama
3. Costa Rica
4. Mexico
5. Colombia
6. Ecuador
7. Malaysia
8. Spain
9. France
10. Vietnam

For details read:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-gorgeous-country-is-the-no-1-place-to-retire-abroad-and-you-can-do-it-on-just-2200-a-month-2020-01-02

Note: Personally, Marinduque, Philippines is still my number #1 Choice for Retirement.  https://whyretireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/search?q=place+for+retirement 

Related Article: https://hubpages.com/health/How-to-Live-or-Retire-in-the-Philippines-for-Less-than-1-500-a-Month

Macrine and I enjoying the Sunset at Our Retirement Home in the Philippines

A Controversial TV Show about High School Bullying and Racism

The show also depicts about school shootings and police brutality(topic of today).

Macrine and I just finished binging on 4 seasons of the controversial TV series " 13 Reasons Why" on Netflix. Last week it was the #1 TV show on Netflix,  so it attracted our attention.  We were entertained and wanted more, but the producers decided there will only be 4 seasons since high school is only four years and that made sense.

We enjoyed Season 1 very much.  The other seasons were average, but once you have seen Season 1, you are hooked and get addicted to the TV series.

Season 4 ended last week with fans criticizing the killing of an important character due to HIV infection. The series depicts not only teenage bullying, but also suicide, rape( both gender), domestic violence, depression, anxiety,  gay and lesbian love, bisexuality as well as murder and racism. It also depicts police brutality-a timely topic of the month.    

In case you have not seen this show or read the book, here's a summary from Wikipedia.

13 Reasons Why (stylized onscreen as the TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY) is an American teen drama web television series originally developed for Netflix as a limited series by Brian Yorkey, based on the 2007 novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

The series revolves around high school student Clay Jensen and the aftermath of high school student Hannah Baker’s suicide  when she leaves a box of cassette tapes in which she details why she chose to end her life. Through its various storylines, the show explores and depicts a wide range of social issues affecting modern youth, including suicide, sexual assault, bullying, racism, jock culture, mental health, drug addiction, domestic violence, homophobia, deportation, police brutality, steroid use, homelessness, HIV, abortion and school shootings.

The series is produced by July Moon Productions, Kicked to the Curb Productions, Anonymous Content and Paramount Television, with Yorkey and Diana Son serving as showrunners.

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of our most recent dinner

Served on the Side with Green Beans and Boktoy and Shrimp Paste( bagoong)

New Haircuts After over 90 Days of Quarantine

Macrine and I had haircuts the other day(home service) after over 90 stays of self-quarantine at home. I had been searching for a local barber or hair stylist that do home service in our area for the last couple of months after our regular barber refused to do home service because of Covid-19 restrictions.

My neighbor suggested that I post a request for home service in our neighborhood newspaper-on-line. Lo and Behold I got a response last week. Leslie ( named of hair stylish) said she will be available in the next couple of days. Needless to say Macrine and I had haircuts yesterday. Leslie got a good tip and Macrine and I are happy with our new look ( see Photos attached ). 

Meanwhile enjoy my new recipe of back ribs and ox tails soup.

Green Beans and Bok choy vegetables served on the Side

Memories of a Declamation Contest

In commemoration of the Philippines Independence Celebration today, I am reposting an article I wrote on Jose Rizal's -My Last Farewell ( Ultimo Adios) poem.

Philippines Independence Day(Filipino: Araw ng Kasarinlán; also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, "Day of Freedom") is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on June 12, commemorating the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898. Philippines Independence from US was on July 4, 1946. 

When I was in 6th grade, I participated in a declamation contest sponsored by our school district. There were ten schools in our district from three neighboring towns. If you have not heard of a declamation contest: It is just public speaking contest reciting and acting poetry, a short story or an article. My English teacher was my coach. I remember memorizing for 4 weeks, a short story titled "A Yankee in Love". The short article were filled with American slang words that I could barely understand. The piece was more suited to an older teenager, possibly someone who has already fallen in love. As a result I delivered my declamation piece without any feelings or emotion but with an American accent taught by my coach. But I was surprise to win 5th place ( among 10 contestants). The winner was from the school in the next town and I remember very well her declamation piece was Jose Rizal famous poem, My Last Farewell.( Ultimo Adios in Spanish). Jose Rizal is Philippines number one national hero. December 30 is Rizal Day in the Philippines.

Here's the first and last stanzas of this patriotic poem both in its original Spanish and an English translation. The poem has 14 five-lines stanzas and has been translated into 30 languages. I will never forget this poem as long as I live because of the Declamation Contest that I lost during my elementary school days in the Philippines.

Mi Ultimo Adiós.

Adios, Patria adorada, región del sol querida,
Perla del Mar del Oriente, nuestro perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante más fresca, más florida,
Tambien por tí la diera, la diera por tu bien.

Adios, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adios, dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria,
Adios, queridos seres, morir es descansar.

An English Translation

My Final Farewell

Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress’d
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!,
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life’s best,
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.

Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,
Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed!
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day!
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;
Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!


The last phrase, "In death there is rest" ( morir es descansar) is appropriate in Rizal's Life. Dr. Jose Rizal who was executed by the Spanish colonizers of the Philippines on December 30, 1896 for his alleged role in the armed revolution against Spain. He was in prison and on the night before his execution, he wrote this poem as a final statement to his fellow Filipino countrymen. Here's a partial video of the poem sang in English and Tagalog translations.

https://youtu.be/K15A8GgQ5Kc

The "Mi Ultimo Adios"(My Last Farewell) was originally written in Spanish. I feel that the English translation loses the depth of emotion Dr. Rizal felt at the time he wrote it. The poem is so inspiring, I do not get tired reading it again and again. How about you?

Have You Heard of Asperger Syndrome?

What is Asperger Syndrome? 

Several years ago I was told that one of my relative may have Asperger Syndrome(AS). That was the first time I heard of AS. However just recently this relative visited us. The more I observed this relative's behavior and social skills and INTERACTION (now an adult), the more I believed that he may have a mild type of AS indeed.

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/aspergers/what-are-the-symptoms-of-mild-aspergers-in-adults/

So I did some Internet search ( Wikipedia) and here's a brief summary of what I learn and like sharing it with you.  Asperger syndrome generally involves:

• Difficulty with social interactions
• Restricted interests
• Desire for sameness
• Distinctive strengths

Strengths can include:

• Remarkable focus and persistence
• Aptitude for recognizing patterns
• Attention to detail

Challenges can include:

• Hypersensitivities (to lights, sounds, tastes, etc.)
• Difficulty with the give and take of conversation
• Difficulty with nonverbal conversation skills (distance, loudness, tone, etc.)
• Uncoordinated movements, or clumsiness
• Anxiety and depression
• 
  

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a developmental disorder characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
As a milder autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it differs from other ASDs by relatively normal language and intelligence. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and unusual use of language are common. Signs usually begin before two years of age and typically last for a person's entire life. For details on Empathy and Asperger's, watch this video.

 https://youtu.be/TajItoz3ftI

Meanwhile, enjoy this short video/photo on the latest wedding reception at Chateau Du Mer

https://www.facebook.com/razastillsandmotions/videos/654125195156022/
Also, enjoy my latest recipe of baked salmon Baked in Lemon Butter with Vidalia Onions and Cherry Tomatoes with Dash of Parsley and Garlic Salt

Sunflower Pinwheels in Our Front Yard

Last Mother's Day, Carenna placed nine sunflowers pinwheels and one rainbow pinwheel in our front yard.  I took a short video and happy to share it with you! Carenna also gave us one Candy Cane pinwheel. It is in our backyard. 

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my file: