Old vs. New TV & Movies - Society/World

Looking back on when COVID began escalating and mandates were in place for everyone to be home, why didn’t the internet crash or why wasn’t there some global/national ordeal when it came to internet access and streaming? Or did I miss something? Am I the only one asking that question while scratching their head? Maybe…ok I shall digress with my opener squirrel moment.

Actually I suppose in a way my squirrel thought does tie into my topic. It’s amazing how many streaming companies/apps are out there instead of using regular cable or satellite now; you have Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, SlingTV, AmazonVideo, Paramount+, Vudu, and those are only to name a few! When the COVID pandemic was in full swing with closures and specific home mandates, with my use of the streaming apps I realized how many more reality shows were in circulation. I honestly don’t know what the appeal is about all these reality TV shows. What is so captivating about these shows; I’m sincerely asking. I personally am not a fan but don’t mean for my comment to insult or state there’s anything wrong with being a fan-if you like reality TV shows then hey whatever floats your boat. As for me, if I want to see some “reality time” I will/would just wait for my entire family to get together and watch the “show” in the room :) It’s quite entertaining what goes on at the table/gathering. 

You’re probably asking yourself or wondering where the point is in my starting my post out this way. So in having more “viewing time on the tube” - side note do people even know or understand what that phrase even means anymore? Well for one thing outside of the reality show’s created, I’ve noticed a slight decline in authentic, original, or newly creative TV shows from over the past-what two to three years. Some cartoons are basically remakes of the old, even some of the old classic shows are trying to make a comeback with a twist of a new script with perhaps original or an extension of old characters…where are the creative writers out there or the shows that intrigue us again! Even some of the new spinoff’s aren’t all that creative unless its (in my personal opinion) some of the most recent new shows such as Mayor of Kingstown, 1883, Yellowstone (which has been doing well with their fan base and seasons), Seal Team (has been going strong even after their transition to only streaming platforms also thanks to its fan base), Ozark, Harlem, Shark Tank (as much of a “reality tv show” as I can get), Restaurant Impossible (a food version of a “reality tv show” as I can get), Chopped (another food version of a “reality tv show” as I can get), Fixer Upper (ok who doesn’t admire and enjoy this home good feeling of a “reality tv show” because there’s no drama involved either), Will & Grace, Sons of Anarchy, Reba, Last Man Standing, Bones, Boston Legal, Suits, Law & Order; Organized Crime (which if you haven’t known already, Wolfe is doing another spinoff I believe from an article that was recently posted after the Super Bowl), The Good Doctor, America’s Book of Secrets, The Tonight Show, and a few others. I was an avid viewer of the show Last Man Standing but when they had a character dynamic change with “Mandy” even for me it’s hard to get back into it, so I resort to their reruns. Nothing against the show it just isn’t the same anymore. Or the best example would the the Nine successful season of FRIENDS, with the attempts of shows thereafter following in a similar pursuit of friendship takes but with a slight change in the plot line (like How I Met Your Mother). The shows I mentioned are just a few to name and I’ll admit some of the shows that I also avidly watch. When these shows aren’t renewed or I’m in that waiting period for the next season, I revert back to reruns of classics like I Dream of Jeanie, Designing Women, The Golden Girls, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Cosby Show, and yes FRIENDS can now be considered I think a classic show. For those of you about to say or are thinking, “how can you watch that show after what that man did” please just don’t! Point blank, I watch the show for it’s entertainment and the merit it stood for when it was created not because of the personal history of the one of the main characters. Last I checked, actor/actress who cheat on their wives at still making money from movies they’ve watched, same goes to actors/actresses or even athletes who have been violent publicly or to their significant others and yet are still employed with a fan base. So I digress and move on…

There are very seldom or close to no, cartoons or movies (or even music for that matter) that are new/have their own creative plot line without it being some form of a remake or spin off. Does anyone else see that? Take for example the old Looney Tunes versus the newer version. There are some parents who claim that the old Looney Tunes were rude and inappropriate for kids; if you ask me though after watching five episodes of the new, I felt and thought that the sarcasm and “rudeness” (for example in Daffy Duck’s character) are worse than before and there’s isn’t much left to the interpretation of the children. Disney and Pixar films have continued to do well in their creation of characters and in how the humor for adults is separated out from what the kids focus on.

So what do you think? Would you prefer a good majority of the older shows compared to the newer ones now a days or are you more caught up on the seldom good series created recently OR (yes this is the last “or”) are you just more into the reality tv shows period now? I mean do you remember any of these cartoons in the images below I’ve added on here from google…

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

I’m Back to Stay - General

Hi there!

I do apologize I haven’t been writing as much as I should it had planned, but to be frank I’ve been juggling a lot of different projects, in addition to life circumstances rearing their ugly heads, etc. 

No worries because I’ve got a lot of upcoming topics lined up, also some challenges for my readers, as well as marking off some things off my to do list! 🤗 Hope you all enjoy the read and the pics posted on the blogs Instagram page!

See you again on here soon!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Power vs. Force - Books

Power vs. Force

So I know it’s been a while since our last post about any book reviews or recommendations but there has been a lot of behind the scenes interferences. Hopefully things will be a little more organized for us started September! I shall digress for now…

We just finished up the book Power vs. Force and it was a pretty interesting read. I wouldn’t say it’s captivating but it’s insightful to the point that it has you curious to what each next chapter of information brings in the category it represents. It’s a lot more pages than our first read but still a pretty good daily and nightly read. If you like books that are intellectual, informative, intriguing to the point of divulging into your own philosophies in life without the true text tone being scientific or religious-then this is a good read for you. But don’t take my word for it-let me know what you think!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Etiquette - Society/World

Etiquette 

Do you think that only a person who is from a top tier education or who has had an education at all is the only one who has “Etiquette”. This is not to be confused with “Common Courtesy” by the way, although they both tend to overlap or to have common ground. Webster’s Dictionary defines etiquette as, “the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life” and Google defines it as “the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.” Both of those named websites defined “common courtesy” as, “the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group” and “politeness that people can usually be expected to show.”

So after reading those definitions I decided to process them and reflect on them...the common ground for both words is that it’s something observed, seen, or even expected to be demonstrated among society or the open public. While etiquette may require or perhaps have resources of a class like form/level of enhancing qualities for a person, the common courtesy seems to be something that’s almost “understood” on both words. So if there’s common ground among both words and they may tend to overlap, in addition to there’s is a level of human expectation for these words to be put into action among society or in the public eye...then why the hell is no one doing it!

I don’t mean for this to be an insult to one specific individual or individuals but it’s absolutely mind boggling to me in witnessing how degraded or how overlooked human courtesy is now a days. And please, spare me the excuse of COVID for some of the example I’m about to give and harp on because there was a down spiraling level of inadequacy towards how people’s levels of common decency towards one another was always in a decline. Some of you reading this may think I’m on a soap box of some kind, perhaps your right, or perhaps just be open minded and start reflecting or remembering on some of your moments in life whether it was you doing it towards another or perhaps someone else doing it towards you-whether you acknowledged it or disregarded it, I can’t speak on your behalf but still just think about it. I know there’s always going to be that someone that says something like, “oh that was back in the day, why do I need a man to do that-I can’t open the door myself just fine” or whatever else level of bullshit excuse to quantify the person not doing or not caring enough to change the small habit the world continues to allow. I think we’re all smart (on some level) human beings so don’t be too hasty on your judgement about what I’m about to type, or feel it an attack on you, instead just pay attention to these example the next time you’re out and about and really pay attention to your own response or how you react when this is done towards someone else. I won’t expand on them all but on the ones I have personally found to really have a domino effect.

• Opening the Door - Why is this one SO HARD for people. You’re walking into a restaurant/store or place of business and you see/notice someone either hot on your heels or a few steps behind you...why is it such a hardship for you to simply keep the door open longer for your passing and the person behind you. Or even on the occurrences that someone is exiting the building/facility, why can’t you just open the door to let them pass first since you’re obviously on your way in? I’ve sadly seen where some punkass teenager knowingly see’s an elderly couple behind them and decides to open the door minimally so that it closes on them purposely. I’ve seen where some douche of a guy opens the door for himself and knows a mother with three is coming up behind him but makes no effort to prolong the door staying open and one of the kids faces hits the door in the process. I know perhaps comical to an outsider but the mother is already dealing with the three kids and now there’s a crying child in the mix. So someone please explain to me, what is the hardship of opening the door for someone else or keeping it open a little longer? What do you lose out of those additional seconds when you’re already going in the same direction as another person?...
• Saying Please/Thank You - This really irks me to no end! Whether in public or in a private setting. Why is it so hard for people to use an extra breath in saying please or thank you? Fine you’re a hard ass and you just don’t want to say it directly to the person, than saying indirectly by not visually acknowledging the person and say it to the air around you. But this common respectful action is what makes us connect with one another on minimal and small tokens of the day. You’re a waitress and you here this small level of human courtesy, you feel appreciated in your work shift on that table because they aren’t just treating you as a “hired help” per say or that they expect service period. I’ve seen a table at a restaurant with some very attractive males but yet they had no etiquette at the table nor did you witness a simply level of courtesy towards the wait staff period-their attractiveness went down about 60% and they became douches or a-holes (for lack of a better term). Yet one of the men decided to still stand out and you could hear him saying thank you and please at the moments you would expect for those two phrases to be used. He acknowledged every person even the rest of his a-hole buddies. I feel like bashing a door in a persons face when you hold the door for them and they simply breeze on by without even saying Thank you in the process! Um excuse me, the world doesn’t revolve around you and you shouldn’t expect for someone to always open your door BUT when someone does the least you can do to show appreciation (even if you aren’t looking that person in the eyes) is say freaking Thank You!
• Saying excuse me - This is one that bothers me on a multitude of levels. Human decency among others, respect to boundaries and someone’s space, and knowing that you aren’t the only on in the room! First off, if you don’t use this phrase enough and still expect people to move than that’s your error, because staying quiet (for example) in the grocery store and someone is purposely in your way but you need to get by and you’re just standing there waiting, well that person isn’t going to know you need to pass by if you’re just standing there with a sour facial expression and you haven’t made the effort to let the other individual know that you need to pass by! And you can’t get all pissy because they didn’t move when you wanted them to! There are so many instances where this can and should be used and people just don’t effin care. 
• Being mindful of kids in an area
• Parents being mindful of the public area - this one is a continual challenge for me because I am a mother and know I’ve teaching my kids this, so no one can argue with me say something like “oh well you don’t have kids so you don’t know what it’s like...yea bullshit! I’m working on it now and my kids are doing a lot of the above and what I’m about to expand on. First off, parent’s if you think you can “train” or “teach” your kids courtesy and etiquette until they’re older-HA-yea good luck with that! It starts when their young and it’s engraved in their heads when they’re young. You bitch and complain that your teenager isn’t saying thank you or please, well did you even educate them to do that as they were growing up or did you make life easy for them because you didn’t think it was important then? Hey this isn’t a bash towards parents, but we as parents also have to admit when we’ve done our errors and what we need to do to improve the situation. First off the respect for the public needs to be there, the fact that some kids are running around stores and restaurants...yea I’m sorry I would hate to be at your house during family meals and holidays because how they’re acting in the restaurant or store is a reflection of how they most likely are in their home. Last I checked there are restaurants that have playgrounds, so if you want your kids to be running around wild and without respect to the rest of the public in the establishment, take you’re kids to those places and let the rest of the civilized world enjoy their meal in peace. Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you get any other specific treatment than the rest of society. Granted there are cases where you can or perhaps the family oriented establishment tries to accommodate the family/kids side of things; parents however should not assume or take the liberty in thinking that because they have kids everyone else needs to adjust to your needs. Yeah, I’m sorry in what world are you living in and if you teach your kids that by not educating them in the typical human courtesies, you’re setting them up for failure in the world when they aren’t around you. 
• Looking someone in the eye when you’re conversing with them
• Not being on your phone while at the table for a meal-This one is not only entertaining for me to observe among couples but is also annoying for me to witness. Hey I get it, in the privacy of your own home do as you please, but I’m expanding on what I’ve seen in public on this one. Family meal at a restaurant and the kids are either doing their best to get the parent/s attention but the parent/s are too busy on their phones. Whether it’s business or not I don’t care, but you obviously have to eat so is it really going to kill you to NOT be on your phone until you and your family are done eating. Because this becomes a domino effect in your child won’t give a damn about you when they’re older and you’re actually wanting to have a conversation with him. Again it starts when they’re younger-good luck to you when they’re older...And oh my Atlanta when it comes to people on dates and they’ve spent almost their entire meal on their phones instead of conversing or getting to know one another. Good luck with that long lasting relationship you think you have when you’re only on your phones and don’t even spend the time to get to know each other. OH, is it because you think you’ve been together for a year or even 40 years that you still aren’t learning or getting to know you’re partner? Like I said, good luck with your long lasting relationship...
• Letting elderly go by first
• Allowing someone to assist you
• Men offering females a seat

If these are hardships for you to do on any given day than perhaps you should re-evaluate your way of life because courtesy to someone else could literally make their day; whether religious or not doing good provides good karma, what goes around comes around, and treat others the way you want to be treated. So the next time you’re out in public and parents regardless of your children’s age, demonstrate and teach different levels of etiquette and common courtesy, because if we can’t even do that among society, I’m sorry we’re no better involved than caveman (outside of technological advancements). Because at the end of the day you remember quality of service, how someone treated you (wait staff, host, etc), the experience overall you tend to lose the details of the technology and the money you spent as time goes by and you get older...Fruit for thoughts! :) 

Sincerely,

A Distinctive Woman

Careers - Work Life

Would you consider yourself a person who has a career or are you just passing through life day to day content with whatever job appeases you at that moment? I know, a little bit of an off question but I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately so I felt compelled to write about it some. Let’s first start with some background on what a career is and the associations with a career.

Career has two definitions that correlate to a person, well according to Webster’s Dictionary anyway. The first is, a profession that a person trains for which they take as a permanent calling. The second definition is, a field for or the pursuit of a consecutive progressive achievement in a public or professional/business setting. Basically, these definitions constitute why a person even goes to school or college for that matter; typically it’s for their career purpose. So now think about yourself; first off have you even gone to college and if not, would you have liked to in order to be able to achieve the career in life that you’ve wanted to pursue? If you have gone to college, did you go to school for the current career based job that you currently have, or are you like many American’s that end up pursuing a degree in one field and end up acquiring or retaining a job in a completely different field, than that you have tried to aspire for? Or are you comprising and trying to work the current job so that you can finish your schooling, because the end result is - that you will be acquiring that job that puts you into the industry that pertains to your career? I know it’s a lot of questions and things to think about (probably, maybe) but this is all that I’ve been pondering on lately. You might be asking yourself why, huh-well it’s because I’m going to be moving (yet again) for job purposes and I find myself literally asking, do I want to even move?…

This might sound a little snobbish or perhaps “geek” like but the fact is I was fortunate enough to have been not only exposed to my career choice but I’ve been in it since I was in High School. Sophomore year was when it all started and I was able to experience and excel in the construction industry. During high school it was structural detailing/design and at that time the “state of the art” software being used was SDS/2 but I was already knowledgeable in AutoCAD (which at that time was Stru-CAD and a few other versions I was happy to learn). Then I ventured into MEP during college, which in turn led me to what I’ve been currently doing for a while now, towards the end of my college life and thereafter. I studied a double major in Engineering and Psychology however my career path has stayed within the engineering side of things. The only thing left is a Masters Degree, well no that’s not 100% accurate either, actually the last thing would be just getting my seal…well that sounds great in theory but what will I have to show for it after that’s done…I don’t want to own my own company and I’ve already excelled to the point of being an Office Manager so I’ve already done everything I’ve wanted to for my career. So see why I’m contemplating the move? Yes there would be more opportunities I’m sure and a better possibility at a better life for my children and I but is it necessary to make yet another move? I’m at a point in my life where I have no problem working hard but it’s to enjoy my family and the time we have together, before my children grow up and start their own careers and lives…

So what do you think? What would you do? What are you doing to fulfill your career?

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Family History - Family Life

Family History

I see all these commercials and packages in the aisle of Walgreens or CVS that will provide you information on your blood line and the history of your ancestors…On one side of the spectrum I see that and I’m mind boggled at why this is something we can now just buy. Then there’s my fascination of how far we’ve come in modern technology/science as well as the evolving human curiosity that sparks these things you can buy to have some form of tangible conclusion, when you receive your results. So how wonderful it is that people can either find this information out and perhaps have a better understanding of their background or find out more about their past family members in general.

Although in turn this brings out my observational curiosity. What is it about the past six plus years or so that’s prompted this high rise in the fascination of someone’s lineage/family history? What’s changed in people or in society altogether to invest time and money into doing this? Why is it so important to have this information at hand? More importantly why are you resorting to these methods instead of the ole traditional method in finding out about your family tree and history? Why aren’t you asking the ones in your family that have the most information and knowledge of your family history - that’s right great grandparents (if they’re alive) and/or grandparents? With that being said (or I guess asked), I understand that’s something not always a possibility for some especially broken families or perhaps families that have disintegrated over the years or families that have just separated lives altogether. Regardless of all that, it’s really not too late to ask your own parents, grandparents, and/or great grandparents. If you haven’t done so I urge you to do it! Oh right, you’re swamped with work or so busy with the kids (believe me I can appreciate that number) or perhaps you’re workings two jobs while juggling school and barely have enough time for yourself…whatever excuse you have, the fact remains that the information is at your disposal so just either pick up the phone, drive to visit that family member or family members, or shoot get a pen and paper and write a damn letter to those older generations of wisdom who are used to written letters instead of emails. Because if you have time to swipe left/right on tinder, see what the newest video is on TikTock or whatever social media is out there, I’m pretty darn sure that you can spare the time to figure out what your family history and blood line is. 

I’ll admit that I used to be a person who didn’t care enough to ask my grandparents either, thankfully becoming a mom changed that. I actually took the time to draw out a family tree because I knew that once my daughters were older, there are going to be questions of people in pictures with them…questions about the family altogether and unfortunately many people they will have grown up with may not be here to explain it or tell them stories of the past-as I was blessed to have and perhaps on occasion even took for granted in the initial phase of adulthood. Don’t waste your time and money yet at the aisles of a convenience store, instead use that as your last resort after you’ve tried talking to your own family members. I mean what a grand thought right? To actually have a conversation with family around you - mind blowing information huh? (That was sarcasm by the way :) )

Yours Truly,

A Distinct Woman

Body Language - Books

“Body Language”

This book was a pretty good and easy read. I believe that regardless of how fast of a reader you are it’s a simple one to two week read (maybe three at max-probably also from your schedule).  Otherwise it was insightful and valuable read. Whether for personal, working, or love relationships - the information this book provides is similar to that of what you can find when you google “Body Language” but it’s enough of information condensed for the whatever your personal purposes are for reading for it. However, we don’t suggest this read if you are looking to manipulate circumstances in your relationships with others or if it’s for selfish reasons outside of just educational reads. You could use some of the information involved for unintentional reasons that may harm others. Regardless it’s a great read and recommended!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman