August Update

6:08 AM Elizabeth Seckman 32 Comments

August is great because it's the month of my birth and my anniversary, so that means presents and I like those. What I don't like about August is that it means the end of summer. I'm not a fan of summer ending. I don't love pumpkins and I loathe back to school. I acquired the disdain for summer as a child with school phobia issues and I've fostered the feeling for decades. Honestly, school buses break me out in hives- figuratively speaking.

Other than grumping about the end of summer, here's a recap of the best of August shows and movies. And a recipe perfect for all those delicious tomatoes that are soon about to stop growing in the garden because, well, summer is ending and Jack Frost is headed our way.


Movies this month
Ready or Not  I enjoyed this movie. Horror movies can get trite after a bit and I thought this one had a fresh spin. It also had some humor.
Brightburn Creepy. What if Superman turned out to be a bad guy? This movies was a gory cringe-fest. Interesting concept. Definitely gives horror movies a run for flinch-worthiness.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood I'm not usually a Tarantino fan. I get tired of the gore, but I enjoyed this movie. The gore was kept to a minimum and I was in total love with Brad Pitt's character. I know, it's Brad Pitt, what's not to love, but as Cliff Booth, he was doubly endearing and adorable.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? Notice the singular chick flick in the line-up of man movies? It was my birthday, so my day, my pick. I'd never read the book, so I had very little plot expectations. I picked it because the trailers were funny. It wasn't quite as funny as I thought it would be, but it was a good story. Very appropriate for a 50th birthday.

TV shows. With all the boys at home, we spend a lot of time on the weekends binge watching shows on Hulu and Netflix. Then there are all those extra hours I spend in the kitchen while they are home and I get to choose whatever I want. No one bothers me in the kitchen where they might be put to work.
My 600 Pound Life My kids hate this show and make fun of me for watching it. They see human misery exploited; I see people with issues and problems offered the tools they need to overcome adversity.
The Handmaid's Tale I had very high expectations for this show and I like it, but sometimes I have a hard time connecting with June. But that may be part of her character arc as she is becoming more likable. A reminder to protect our freedoms, even when they're not the popular.
Mindhunter Always interesting. This season chronicles the child murders in Atlanta. I was a young girl when these murders were taking place, so I remembered that feeling of horror when week after week, another child would go missing or be found dead.
Deadwood Love this show, even if I do wonder how accurate the language is. I don't doubt that people in in the Wild West could be crude, but the potty mouths on these people. Makes me wonder.
Harlots I enjoy drama add in castles and ball gowns and I'm ready to tune in.
Schitt's Creek This show always makes me laugh. Maybe it's my small town roots that makes me enjoy the hodgepodge of eclectic personalities.

About those tomatoes. Nothing is tastier than a fresh-from-the-garden tomato, whether it's by itself with Miracle Whip or toasted.

In a skillet, add buttered bread,  slices of tomato sprinkled with garlic salt,  spinach leaves, and mozzarella cheese.  Cover with another slice of buttered bread and toast.

Delicious!

Last week was also National Dog Day. I missed posting on Facebook, but since my dogs can't read a calendar, they weren't offended. But here's a quick tribute to our best friends.

Happy Doggie Day from the Seckman canine crew: Grizzly, Jack, and Artemis