October Movies

Yay! I am finally posting my October list of movies watched. I was pleased with most of the ones I watched, with The Good Witch Hallmark series being the highlight and Home for Harvest, a GAF (Great American Family) movie being the low-light. (I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding this channel, but I wanted to give it a fair chance. This was the first movie on this channel that I watched and the only one I watched on it this month.)

October was a crazy month for me and I didn't get to finish watching The Good Witch series of movies. That just means I have more to look forward to next year! My favorite non-Good Witch Hallmark movie was October Kiss. Sometimes they do produce something exceptional and this one definitely was. It was released in 2015. Unfortunately, none of the current October movies appealed to me as much as The Good Witch series and October Kiss did.

I really enjoyed Thor: Love and Thunder and I promise you I will review it soon. Unfortunately, Hocus Pocus 2 did not live up the excellence of the first one, but I guess that can be expected with sequels. It was okay, but not great. Also, I had forgotten how blah Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is.  I had seen it before and after this year I don't think I'll be watching it again.

So, here is the list of movies I watched in October, with the dates I watched them on the left and ghost/star ratings on the right. The sparkling heart indicates that it's a favorite even though it may not have earned all five ghosts.

2  Thor: Love and Thunder👻👻👻👻💖

3  Hocus Pocus👻👻👻👻👻💖

13 Hocus Pocus 2👻👻👻

14 October Kiss👻👻👻👻👻💖

16 The Good Witch👻👻👻👻👻💖

17 The Good Witch's Garden👻👻👻👻👻💖

19 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events👻👻👻

25 Autumn in the City👻👻👻👻💖

26 Pumpkin Everything👻👻👻

27 A Harvest Wedding👻👻👻

28 Home for Harvest👻👻

29 The Good Witch's Gift👻👻👻👻👻💖

30 The Good Witch's Family👻👻👻👻💖

31 Pumpkin Pie Wars👻👻👻👻💖  

31 The Good Witch's Charm👻👻👻👻💖

"Top Gun" (1986)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm finally going to be able to watch the sequel soon, so I decided to re-watch the original Top Gun because, you know, after seeing it more than a dozen times I just had to refresh my memory in case I forgot something. Plus, Bell and Fiona had never seen it before.

Pete Mitchell (a.k.a. Maverick) and his best friend and wingman, Nick Bradshaw (a.k.a. Goose), are admitted to the Naval Fighter Weapons School where the best of the best train to hone their skills as fighter pilots. Maverick's journey to grow as a pilot and as a person is set in motion.

There are some movies that I used to love and now when I watch them I ask myself, "What was I thinking?"

Top Gun is a rare exception. I still love this movie as much as I did the first time I watched it. I love movies that move me and make me feel something. This one does that in every way possible. It isn't about being the best, but it is about doing our own personal best. It's about love, loss, friendship, letting go, and moving on while still remembering those we've lost along the way. It's about leaving our ego behind so we can face what's in front of us. "Top Gun" makes me smile, laugh, cry, and reflect. It reminds me that in order to move on, I must let go.

The musical score accompanies the story with perfection. The movie wouldn't be as impactful without the soundtrack. The action scenes are engaging and purposeful. The movie is so good overall that some of the cheesy dialogue on the ground and the occasional foul language (I'm certain nowadays this would be rated PG-13, not PG) doesn't even bother me. There is also just the right amount of Hallmark-ish romance. The love story is there and I felt it, but it doesn't distract the viewer from the overall meaning of the movie.

I have some thoughts about the directions in which the sequel can go and I'm excited to see how it plays out. I've heard and read from so many people that the sequel is even better than the first movie, which is rare. Clearly, I loved the first one and it will be a tough act to follow. Stay tuned in the next few weeks for my follow-up review!

Puzzle 21

It's been a while since I've posted a puzzle, but here we go with another one! We are way past colorful leaves, but isn't it nice we can be there again through pictures? This puzzle took me 2:39 to complete with 35 non-rotating pieces. Would you like to give it a try? You should be able to change the number of pieces if you wish to make it easier or harder.

Golden Gratitude - Z is for Zumba on Zoom

I'm grateful I can do Zumba through Zoom with an instructor who is a wheelchair user. This way I don't have to improvise and modify the moves (since I also do seated Zumba). I also like being able to do it in the comfort of my own home.

Thanks for joining me for Golden Gratitude! It's not too late to join if you haven't already. Just scroll back and add yours for each letter in the comments.

Most importantly, may the spirit of gratitude stay with us every day.💝

Golden Gratitude - Y is for Yesterday

I'm grateful for the time spent with my family yesterday, chatting and dining on traditional Thanksgiving food.

Golden Gratitude - X is for X's and O's

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the U.S.!

I'm grateful for the all "x's and o's" I receive daily from Bell and Fiona.

Golden Gratitude - W is for Winnings

I'm grateful for all that I've won this year! Interestingly, all of my winnings revolved around grilled cheese. Earlier this year I won a gift card from Bingo and I was able to get a free grilled cheese sandwich on my birthday (also National Grilled Cheese Day). Mid year I won the second book in the Grilled Cheese Mystery series, and most recently I won another culinary cozy from the same author. I thought I had won the third one in the Grilled Cheese Mystery Series, but that was actually for the second one in the series. That was the one I had already won in July! So the author gave me the option to choose a different book. I chose one I would not have bought, the first in the Deep Fried Mystery Series. Now I'll have at least one book in all three of her cozy series - Grilled Cheese, Cat Lady, and Deep Fried Mysteries!

Golden Gratitude - V is for Vitality

 I'm grateful for those who add vitality to my life.💗

Golden Gratitude - U is for Umami

Umami translates to a "pleasant savory taste". I usually enjoy foods (and beverages) with this flavor. Some examples are green tea, mackerel, beef, chicken, mushrooms, corn, green peas, garlic, potatoes, and aged cheese such as cheddar.

Golden Gratitude - T is for Time

I'm grateful for time spent with loved ones. Today I will be watching the Ravens game with my brother and nephews. We'll also all be getting together on Thanksgiving Day, then again the weekend after that. This will be our first Thanksgiving spent together since 2019.

Golden Gratitude - S is for Sunshine

I'm grateful for sunshine even when I'm indoors and it comes in through the window. I'm especially appreciative of it at this time of year when the weather is colder.

Golden Gratitude - R is for Real Time

Communication in any form at any time is good, but in real time is extra special. It's those moments when I can connect with someone in real time no matter how close or far away they are that mean the most to me.

Golden Gratitude - Q is for Qandi

Although Qandi crossed Rainbow Bridge on April 3rd of this year, I still miss her and think of her everyday. She will always have a special place in my heart even though I also love Bell and Fiona with all my heart.

Golden Gratitude - P is for Popcorn

Okay, so while olives make a great substitute, nothing compares to the real deal. Popcorn is still my favorite snack food. I just have to be mindful of how often I eat it and how much I eat in one sitting so my TMJ issue doesn't flare up. I'm thankful I am able to eat it, though!

Golden Gratitude - O is for Olives

I have found that olives are a great substitute for popcorn!😃 Although I prefer pitted ones, I'll eat any that are not soaked in red wine vinegar. I never met an olive I didn't like.

Golden Gratitude - N is for New Books

When I say new books, I don't mean they necessarily are new releases. It just means the books are new to me because I haven't read them yet. I love going to the library and picking up ones that are new to me!

Golden Gratitude - M is for Marvel

I'm grateful not only for the Marvel Universe providing entertainment, but more so for the conversations I've had with those who share the same overall interest. Even when we disagree on certain movies, the conversations deepen and enrich my experience with them.

Golden Gratitude - L is for Love

 I'm grateful for those who love me and those whom I love, both near and far.💗

Golden Gratitude - K is for Kittens

I'm grateful for my two very rambunctious kittens, Bell and Fiona! To see pictures and read weekly updates on them, visit them at Caboodle of Cozies.

Golden Gratitude - J is for Jacket

I have had a certain jacket for years and I wear it every fall. It is a little worn on the inside, but the outer part is in good condition. It's very comfortable and it's perfect for the season because it has a leafy design on it. Sometimes when I look down at the ground it looks like the leaves have fallen off my jacket.😀