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Year Four, Day 242: True Lies and Viking Red

Sunday evening:

I am looking at a plastic bin full of VHS tapes. 70 video tapes, neatly stacked and alphabetized and cataloged in a lined notebook. They belonged to my father. There are many many more at my parents house.



To be honest, there are only 69 in the bin. One us playing in my VCR. "True Lies" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I told myself I'd test all the videos before selling them. But I like this movie so much, in watching the whole thing.

It is high action, suspense and funny. Tom Arnold and Arnold Schwarzenegger have incredible chemistry. I wondered if Arnold Schwarzenegger did his own stunts. So I googled it:

"Arnold Schwarzenegger's biggest challenge for the movie was not doing all the physical stunts, but dancing a tango. He had to take dancing lessons to realistically perform the dance. He rehearsed the scene for about six months, as he wanted to make sure he was as good at the tango as Al Pacino was in Scent of a Woman (1992)."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111503/trivia

Jamie Lee Curtis was also very entertaining and in incredible physical shape. I read she did her own "hanging out if the helicopter" stunt. Knowing this before I watched the movie had my palms sweaty and heart racing since I'm afraid of heights.

I wonder what it was like for her?!

Monday afternoon:

So, my plan is to clear out all the videos and vcrs that my father has collected for the past 50 years. My mom thinks there are thousands. 

My father had a stroke 5 years ago. During his recovery, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. My mother, a retired RN has been doing all his care until now. She recently agreed to accept some help. My brother is doing much needed repairs on their house: Especially the roof and plumbing. My nephew us clearing yard debris. I am helping with moral support, cleaning and going through my dad's assorted "collections" which he finally agreed to part with.

I also encouraged them to sign up for Meals on Wheels. Thus has been a Godsend!

Oh and I still do breakfast once or twice a week with my mom. It is good for her to talk. Although I admit that lately I've been doing most of the talking. Much stress. 

I'm hoping to raise money for my incarcerated son with proceeds from the videos and vcrs.

He thankfully is in a local prison and started working immediately. But the pay is only $36 a month. He needs shoes and toiletry items. And much phone money.

Our family is stretched thin financially. We hope we can continue to help my parents so they can remain in their home.

I guess I am now part of the sandwich generation. Taking care if my aging parents, grandchildren and helping incarcerated son. 

No wonder I'm gray haired and tired.

O.K. just tired. I destroyed the gray hair with a box of red hair dye Saturday night. It's pretty extreme. Viking red is how I would describe it.

Also, my daily exercise is nonnegotiable. It is keeping me sane.

Speaking of which, the gym is calling.

I will be posting the videos and vcrs as soon as I make sure they all work. I discovered there is a safe zone at the police station in my neighborhood - I can meet people in the parking lot to make sales. I will send videos via mail, but not vcrs. I don't have that much time or trust in the mail system!

Talk soon.

Happy Monday!

Love,

Zita

P.S. I'm still hooping and doing Qi Gong. I hope to delve deeper into my Qi Gong practice. I have a few books I checked out from the library.
Vliking Red






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