CYB #64: Emilia Perez, Things to Read, and Weightlifting

Hang on tight this January!

I started this last week pondering how 2025 might be different for me, and then the LA Fires hit, and that went out the window. Three family members had to evacuate from different parts of the city, two friends (and perhaps more) lost their homes, and everything is still on fire 5 days later.

Altadena–a historically Black and working-class community– burned down. Thousands of people with GoFundMe asks, and the fires are still burning. I am figuring out ways to support people, including donating to a friend’s Pasadena soup kitchen, helping individuals and Mutual Aid projects, and kicking some money to Watch Duty.

Meanwhile, I have some good movies, reads, and news to share.

ONE GREAT MOVIE

Emilia Perez: OMFG, this might be one of the most powerful films I have seen in a long while. Watching Zoe Saldana get emotional at the Golden Globes made me curious about the film, but I was unprepared for how powerful–and original–it is. (And now streaming on Netflix.) I don’t want to say too much and spoil the energy, but see it if you haven’t–and let me know what you think.

The three lead actresses–Selena Gomez, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Zoe Saldana, jointly received the Best Actress Award at Cannes this year, and I could see why.

BOOKS

Barefoot, by Elin Hildebrand,2007: As I have said repeatedly, reading Elin Hilderbrand romance novels has become a stress/coping mechanism. I’ve probably read 23 of her 36 published books, and this one, Barefoot, might be one of my favorites yet. It is so tender and sweet. It’s about three friends, their children, and the community on Nantucket, and it goes down like a spoonful of clover honey. If you’re curious, this might be a good start.

Playground by Richard Powers is another excellent read. Ultimately, I was not a fan of The Overstory; it had some wonderful writing but felt contrived and self-conscious. Playground also sees itself as an epic (and important) book, but the story is so well-written, powerful, and evocative that I could not stop reading (and was sad when it ended). Themes of climate change, AI, myth-making, and community thread together in a way that reminded me of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84, one of my favorite novels.

So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan. I became a fan of Claire Keegan last year and have been reading her books as they come from the library. So Late in the Day is a flawless collection of short stories, tight and moving, so I was happy to read it. However, halfway through, the stories and the book's overall tone started to feel repetitive. So, if you haven’t read Claire Keegan, start elsewhere, like the lovely read, Foster.

WEIGHTLIFTING NEWS: Planning to Compete This Spring

Two years ago, I started lifting weights, and it’s become one of my consistent activities. This month, I will attend my first local weightlifting meet as a spectator, and in May 2025, I plan to compete. No, I don’t expect to set any records (hah!), but I think training for the event and participating will be a great experience.

I’ll be in a Master’s category with other women my age and weight range and will execute three lifts: Deadlift, Squat, and Bench. Training started this week, and I am curious how it all goes. This commitment will get me into the gym 4 to 5 times weekly, build skills, strength, and endurance, and be something new.

I’ll share how it’s going and the changes and progress I observe. I don’t have any ambitious goals; I want to lift enough to fit into my category/class and see what it feels like. Wish me luck!

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As I finish this issue, I’m reminded how important it is to avoid burning out from all the stress. Finding things that sustain us and bring joy will be essential to getting through 2025.

Let me know what has inspired you lately. I’d love to hear.

Until next time, take care of yourself and those around you.

Warmly,
Susan