SW 41: It’s Been A While…

by Cristina | Last Updated: February 4, 2021

Happy New Year

Happy 2021.  I think that by February we should probably stop saying Happy New Year! But it’s the first time in quite some time that I’ve sent a newsletter, and it only felt right to start there.  

I think we can all safely agree that last year, 2020, was an utter calamity.  A complete shit show wrapped in a dumpster fire that just wreaked havoc on any and everyone in it’s path.  

Our family has been very fortunate to have steered clear of COVID, but we were not without tragedy.  We lost my grandfather, Cesar Odio, to a very aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.  It was brutal for us, as it was about 3 weeks from the time of diagnosis to the time of his death.  There was not much time to process or cope. 

In the last three months, I have learned that grief comes in waves and these waves are very unexpected.   This last weekend was his birthday.  He would have been 85.  I wanted to send this newsletter last week in celebration, but it hit me that it would be the first time since I started this blog, that I would send a newsletter out and he wouldn’t be reading it.  I chickened out.

Every time I sent a newsletter I always knew at least one person was going to read it, and that person was going to be Beto (our nickname for him).  I knew without fail, I would hear from him after to tell me what he thought.  Sure enough a few hours after sending, there would be the reply I was waiting for.  A quick little something like this: 

I realized last week, that this would be the first time I would not be getting a reply like this back.  I’m not saying this to you for pity.  I’m not looking for one of you to send me this reply.  In fact what I think we can take from this, is a little inspiration to bring a little Beto to the people we love in the world.  Encourage your people.  Show them love.  Be their fan.  

The last thing you need here is a lecture, but living in this world is hard enough.  Especially now with all the negativity and division in the news cycles and in our feeds.  Be someone’s Beto.  And if one or two of you want to write back telling me how wonderful I am, I am not above admitting that I would obviously love that.  

xoxo,
Cristina 

The Big Reddit Short 

At this point you have heard about what happened in the stock market last week. You have been hearing the words Gamestop, short, hedgefund, Robinhood and so on in your feed in some form or another. The story is big. It has so many moving parts and could seem really intimidating for most of us who have no idea how any of that stuff works.

To be able to completely and thoroughly understand what happened last week, would take a lot more than reading a blog post. Especially this particular post, as I am in no way an expert in this area. So I naturally thought it would be fitting for me to give you a breakdown. Don’t worry I googled, watched MSNBC, and asked my husband to explain about 100 times. I got this. Ready? Click HERE for full article.


Standouts of the Week 

Mercury Retrograde.  I am sorry if I am the one that is breaking you this terrible news, but Mercury has indeed been retrograding down on all of us.  Please don’t comment to me telling me you don’t believe.  The universe is working overdrive right now.  Everyone I know is coming in hot.  I repeat, HOT!  On the bright side, it’s a built in excuse if you happen to lose your shit on one of your kids because they still haven’t put their shoes on.  Click HERE for a how to survive retrograde guide. 

Golden Globes Nominations Announced. I love to see the list of nominees, and see what movies or shows I might have missed.  This being the year I thought I had finished Netflix, turns out there are a few things I didn’t catch.  (Hillbilly Elegy, Black Monday, Unorthodox) I think they missed some Comedy actor and series nominees (Insecure and Never Have I Ever).  I mean look I watched Emily in Paris twice I enjoyed it so much, but should it have been nominated for “best” meh.  Unconvinced.  There is also a little controversy over Bridgerton not receiving any nominations.  Again- as someone who watched Bridgerton (probably more than twice) were you really watching for the writing, acting, and the compelling storyline? NO ONE BELIEVES YOU. However you decide for yourself.  HERE is the list for who is nominated and HERE is the list for who was “snubbed”.  This picture of the Duke was totally just to thirst trap you. 

Netflix Moves fast.   Netflix is already working on adapting the Gamestop short fiasco (see above or anywhere on the internet) and they have cast this guy: 

How many times can one be thirst trapped in one newsletter?  They have cast Noah Centineo, and I look forward to how the somehow get him to take his shirt off at some point in the film.  

Jeff Bezos is Retiring. That’s it.  Just thought you should know.  Can read full article HERE

TV Addict Update  

As we have established, time and time again, I watch too much TV.

HERE are my top shows of 2020.  Did I miss any?

What’s on my list to watch next?
For Drama?
Your Honor (Showtime): Starring Bryan Cranston who just got nominated for a Golden Globe for his role.  He plays a judge who has to help his son create an alibi after getting involved in a tragic accident.  You can click the picture for the trailer. Haven’t seen it, but I heard it’s excellent.  


Sports Entertainment
Tiger (HBO):
 I have heard from countless people that this two part documentary on Tiger Woods is incredible.  It’s about his career, all that drama (that I had completely forgotten about by the way).  Going to check it out. 

Have a suggestion? Let me know

Wreak:
Wreak is a verb that means “to inflict” or “to carry out.” It’s most commonly used with havoc. However, it can also be used with other words, like ragerevenge, or destruction. Someone who wreaks vengeance inflicts punishment on those who hurt them.

2020 wreaked havoc
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This is not an ad, I just think everyone should know