My Last Netflix DVD

Above are pictures (sorry they're a bit blurry) of the last DVD I received from Netflix. Yesterday was the last shipping day. These past weeks, I've been rushing to watch the ones I had out in order to get as many as possible before yesterday. I did not receive any extra DVDs even after registering last month, but I did not expect that. 

As I have said, I'm not about to give on watching DVDs since I have so many at home already. And there is still the option of the library. Just last week, I got the Peanuts Halloween DVD at Target, since the specials don't seem to be shown on TV anymore (as far as I have seen). And in August, I ordered Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret on DVD.

The last DVDs customers receive from Netflix do not have to be returned, but those wishing to return them have until October 27. I'm pretty sure I won't be keeping the one I got. 

I'm going to miss seeing these red envelopes. I was surprised to learn they were once green. That was early on, before I had a DVD player. Even After getting the player in 2002, I did not begin getting Netflix until 2007. When I learned April that the DVDs would no longer be shipped out, I chose to keep going until then. ThEre are now about 12 movies queued that I won't be seeing☹️ In the weeks leading up to the end, I removed titles from the queue  that I could find at the library and on streaming for free. Not many could be found that way. Just the same, I did print out the remaining titles. Maybe they will turn up--who knows?

Fall Time!

 One day into fall.

Barbie Costumes

At least I think that's what these two Goodwill costume displays are supposed to be.  They were on the same rack, on different days.

The wigs on the rack look appropriate for Barbie and Ken. The male wig even looks a lot like Ryan's Gosling's Ken from the movie. The female wig incidentally, is labeled as  "Goddess Wig."

I'm now tempted to go the Barbie route for Halloween. I was already looking for ideas once I saw these pictures a friend posted on her Facebook and Instagram after seeing the movie in our home town. I now suspect this will be a hot costume this year. Over the summer, I got a new swimsuit top and bright pink skirt that might just work for this 🙂

And here are some "Barbenheimer" costumes that I found, worn by movie goers during the films' release week. Could there be more of these come October?

There are Barbie Box costumes for sale, but I could never wear one of those. 

Here is one suggestion for dressing as Oppenheimer. And this is what came up when entering  "Oppenheimer costume" on Amazon. I don't anticipate seeing a lot of  Oppenheimer outfits--do you?

Which is Scarier?

The other day, a friend on Facebook posted the photo below (and the same photo came up on my memories today). 

In response to the post yesterday, I posted the following:

What seems scarier to you?

Pumpkin Spice Red Vines

Yes, this is real. I took the picture to prove it. I just had to try these and they were not bad at all. 

This was not surprising to see, as there seems to be pumpkin Spice everything these days during the fall season. I can only wonder what will be next.

A Little More Than Two Weeks Left ...

 ... until people will stop seeing the following in their mailboxes:

Now only junk mail and bills will be in the boxes ☹️ I've always loved seeing these iconic red envelopes arrive, with and without the holiday doodles. Even though the service is about to end, envelopes this year had doodles to celebrate 25 years of Netflix. So weird that they chose to end celebrate something that's about to end. 

I now wonder how many more discs I will have coming during the remainder of the month. There are still about 20 titles left in my queue. I've been trying to eliminate titles I can see on streaming without paying. I have a feeling, though, that  a lot of the ones toward the bottom of the queue may not be available on streaming. Some are pretty obscure.  I may still get DVDs from the library, so I may see if some of the titles are available there, though some are not likely to be so. And even though library DVDs are free, at my library, we only get them for two weeks (though it did only used to be ONE week).  

Even without DVDs in a red envelope arriving every two to three days, I'm not about give up my player and the ones I already have. I knew I wanted to get "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret" and did do through Amazon. I now want to get the "Barbie" movie. At Target, I saw the Peanuts Halloween DVD for $10 and I am now considering getting that one. The Peanuts holidays specials are no longer available on TV, and the last year or so, I've been borrowing them from the library. This way I can see it when I want to, as many times as I choose. Netflix may be done with DVDs, but I'm not. Not now.

September Bookish Bingo

 Here is the card for this month.

My Books:

1. In Deeper Waters--F.T. Lukens (5 squares): E-Book, Pirate, Super Hero, Unusual Mode of Transport, Action/Adventure
2. The Hill We Climb--Amanda Gorman (2 squares): Audiobook, Book Club Read
3. With the Might of Angels--Andrea Davis Pinkney (4 squares): Shelf Love, Physical Book, In a Series, Impossible Odds
4. Nothing But Trouble--Jacqueline Davies (4 squares): Free Book, Not in a Series, Symbols on the Cover, Sarcasm/Wit
5. A Summer Affair--Elin Hilderbrand (8 squares): Library Book, Meant to Read Over the Summer, Holiday, Professional, Mistakes, Surprises, Ex-Relationship, Long--Over 400 Pages
6. Orange Volume 2--Ichigo Takano (2 squares): Color in the Title, Free Space

25 squares completed on September 11

Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) 18

Another seasonal challenge I look forward to. This runs from September 1 to October 31. I will read as many books as possible. It's hosted here on Instagram.

My Books: 

1. The Silmarillion--J.R.R. Tolkien
2. One of Us is Next--Karen M. McManus
3. Macbeth--Jo Nesbo
4. Elatsoe--Darcy Little Badger
5. Dune--Frank Herbert
6. The Witch's Daughter--Paula Brackston

It's That Time!

I saw the following on my Facebook memories today:

And even more Halloween in the stores. The photos below are from our TJ Maxx store the opened last November. Thus these are their first Halloween displays. It's the same stuff I always saw when working at Home Goods, since they are owned by the same company as TJ Maxx.

Target, last I saw, still hasn't gotten the Halloween yet. I guess they are waiting until September 1. Not long now. I still miss Kmart. They always had a better Halloween selection that Target.

And some Halloween at Goodwill, though the racks of medical scrubs, scouting uniforms, and flowered dresses have not as of yet been put out. The displays of masks, wigs, make-up and such has been out for a few days now. 

Now waiting for the nearest Spirit store to open, though I'm not sure I will buy anything from them when I can make something myself. Though I'd like to see what they have, to get some ideas.

Bibliolifestyle Fall 2023 Reading Challenge

 Only three categories on this one.

Set at a School: Nothing But Trouble--Jacqueline Davies

Classic Novel:

Murder Mystery:

Autumn/Fall Reading 2023@Alisylvi

 Still not on Storygraph myself, but I'm doing this one.

Starts: Friday, 01 September 2023

Ends: Thursday, 30 November 2023

Hello! 
This is a reading challenge featuring autumn themed prompts for you to feel all those fall feelings! Read books from your physical TBR, library books, or new ones - it's up to you! Feel free to combine prompts! Have a lovely autumn!! 

All prompt pictures were found from Pinterest!

1. A Warm Sweater:

It's finally time to retrieve your favorite cosy sweater from the closet! Read a comforting book that will warm your heart and protect you from the cold of the season.  

2. Mysterious Circumstances

Was that the wind howling or someone screaming from being murdered?! - Read a mystery:

Tatiana--Martin Cruz Smith

 

3. A Black Cat 

Black cats are creatures for all kinds of superstition - both good and evil. Read a book with supernatural elements!: The Silmarillion--J.R.R. Tolkien

 

 

4. "It was a dark and stormy night…" 

Fall is the time for athmospheric reading! Read a book with an autumnal, gothic or moody setting. 

5. Children's Cartoons:

In the colder months the couch is calling and the TV is playing. Give the screen a rest and look at pictures in a book instead. Read a graphic novel, manga or a book with illustrations!:

Orange Volume 2--Ichigo Takano

6. Trick or Treat? 

Trick - There will be a lot of witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and other creatures and monsters knocking at your door soon! Best get ready to meet them by reading a book featuring a mythical creature or monster so that you will be prepared for all their tricks!
Treat - Halloween is a good time for all the sweet tooths (teeth?) and you are a giver of candy. The spooky scary vibes aren’t for you, so you can take a break from them by reading a lighthearted book! 

The Witch's Daughter--Paula Brackston

7. Ghosts from the Past:

Fall is mysterious and supernatural with its darkness and strange sounds. When passing by the graveyard you might meet someone who wants to tell their tale. Read a historical novel or a book featuring ghosts!     

 

8. A Warm Soup:

We all know that soup is better when it's been stewing for a while, right? The same might apply to books! Read a book that you've been meaning to read for a while! 

 

9. Old Libraries:

With school and academia starting in the autumn it is the perfect time to finally cross out that required reading. Read a classic or a book with an academic setting: One of Us is Next--Karen M. McManus 

 

10. Autumn Colors:

When the leaves turn yellow, orange, red and brown the world becomes magical. Match a book cover to the falling leaves! Feel free to combine with other prompts! 

11. Apple Picking:

Apples are known as the forbidden fruits of knowledge. Read a book about a topic you wish to learn more about!     

12. Crisp Autumn Air:

Autumn weather is severely underrated, it might be cold but it is beyond beautiful. Dress for the weather and read a book or parts of a book outside. Don't forget to bring your hot beverage of choice! Feel free to combine your outdoor adventure with other prompts!

 

13. The Nightmare Before Christmas:

It's November and still fall outside, but you're starting to long for another season's traditions...? Those spooky autumn tunes you've been listening to have started to become something more ...festive?
 - Don't worry, I got you. Feel free to start off the coming season in secret by reading a book not quite suited to the fall atmosphere. 

 

 

Fall 2023 Reading Challenge @Beyond the Bookends

 Here is the bingo card for fall.

1. Read a cookbook or book about food: No Bake Cookies, Bars & Pies
2. Book by a female BIPOC author: With the Might of Angels--Andrea Davis Pinkney
3. Magical realism:
4. Grumpy sunshine romance:
5. Book set in winter:
6. Book about politics (fiction or non-fiction):
7. Listen to a book read by your favorite narrator: The Hill We Climb--Amanda Gorman
8. Read one of the best books from the past 5 years:
9. Horror Thriller:

 

DVD or Streaming?

This is the question I have been asking myself ever since Netflix announced it would be ending its DVDs-by-mail service at the end of September.  Even more so now the end is more than a month away, as I was reminded in an email form Netflix last week. 

Not knowing how many more discs I will get in the next month and a half, I decided to see what I could watch on streaming free, and chose to remove those titles from my queue. Sadly there are some titles I can't find on either disc or streaming, and if they are on streaming, you have to pay to view some of the titles. I'm hoping some of the titles will be available to watch without paying at later dates.

When I began getting Netflix DVDs in 2007, I was often eager to watch a disc as soon as I could. But in the last few years, I have tended not to watch them immediately. This even happened during the pandemic, when I was stuck at home and had more than enough time to watch DVDs. Since I have tended to not watch most DVDs right away, I got to wondering how many I will be getting until the end of September, and if I will get to all the ones I have queued right now. This is why I decided to see what I could watch on streaming without paying, and delete those titles from the DVD queue.

I don't have Netflix streaming, BTW, and it's hard to explain why. And I don't plan on having up on watching DVDs either, with so many I already have. I can still get them t the library. The pro to this method is that they are free, of course, but the con is that I only get them for two weeks (though it used to only be for ONE week!) Though there are plenty of movies I have that I have not watched in years, though that's typical of anyone with such a collection. And it was just how I was with cassettes and CDs. 

Often when I would see a movie in the theater, I would decide if I liked it enough to get the DVD when it came out. I felt this way when watching Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret in the theater. I looked for the DVD at Target, but was unable to find it, so I may just order it from Amazon soon.  And I kind of felt the same way about Barbie. That one remains to be seen, however.

One of the things I'm going to miss about Netlix is seeing the iconic red envelopes in my mail box. It was always to find something other that bills and junk in the box. Alas....

And I came across this article today. I have to agree with most of the stuff it says. Another reason I will miss getting DVDs by mail, though I still have the option of getting them at the library. Though this might not be how to see new releases right when they come out.

Netflix has been promoting its 25th anniversary on its envelopes just as they are  about to wind down the service. That seems so sad....

August Bookish Bingo

 The new card is here.

My Books:

1. Islandborn--Junot Diaz (3 squares): Audiobook, Origin Story, Foreign Country
2. Transformed: The Perils of the Frog Prince (5 squares): E-Book, Royalty, Alternative Worlds, Historical Setting, Friendship
3. How to Murder Your Life--Cat Marnell (4 squares): Shelf Love, Physical Book, Book Club Read, Not in a Series
4. Eyes of Wynter--Emmy R. Bennett (7 squares): Free Book, In a Series, Empowered Female, Fantasy, Coat of Arms, Free Space, Library
5. The Start of World War II: The Flood of the German Tide--Christopher Chant (3 squares): Take Flight, Negotiations, Spies
6. The Da Vinci Code--Dan Brown (3 squares): Library Book, Made Into a Movie, Dreams or Nightmares

25 squares completed on August 9

Already Seeing This

 Yes, it always seems to happen this early. The first two photos are from the TJ Maxx that opened in my hometown last fall. I have not yet bought anything form the store, or any of the other new stores that opened last year as well, including Ross, Boot Barn, Ulta Beauty and Famous Footwear.

And I don't know what I am doing just yet!  But I have already been looking at the Barbie costumes that will be for sale on Spirit Halloween. Though I could easily do one myself I that is what I choose to do.  Someone I know from school went to the Barbie movie last weekend with others. They all wore costumes. She posted a video on Facebook and Instagram. They are standing in front of the movie poster at our local cinema.

I almost want to steal one of these ideas! But that remains to be seen.

Barbie or Oppenheimer?

Which, if either, did you see this weekend? For me it was Barbie. As the release date for the two films neared, photos like these were all over the web:

After seeing the Barbie trailer several months ahead of time, I began to get tempted to see the movie. And as last Friday neared, I got more into the idea of seeing Barbie and began looking up Barbie stuff (more on that to come). A film like Oppenheimer is way out of my league of interest. I'm not going to bother with that one, at least not now. Maybe not at all...

After doing laundry on Saturday afternoon, I went to see Barbie. On a side note, I went to a play in my home town that night. Our local stage company is currently putting on Footloose. It was fun to see and to get out. This was the first play I went to since the one I saw in 2020 just before the pandemic shutdown. (I never saw that movie, BTW). 

And now there are Barbie movie costumes for sale. I now wonder how many, if any, of these I will see this year. I can't imagine Oppenheimer as a costume, though.