Squid Game: I Have Some Thoughts!

Okay, first of all, What. The. Hell? I've seen some twisted stuff, but man oh man is this show a piece of work. I remember when I first heard something - vaguely - about it. I actually thought it was a legit Japanese game show and they were joking about contestants actually DYING as part of the games.

So when I realized it was actually a South Korean TV show that was insanely popular, I thought i'd give it a whirl. I'm generally a fan of Korean cinema, and know they do a lot of dark, DARK stuff (e.g., Oldboy, Parasite, the Handmaiden, etc.). Still I was not prepared for the....level of....of....evil.  

That being said, it IS extremely compelling. Extremely appalling, and yet extremely compelling. I think it was the pathos.  I don't know that I've experienced the level of pathos I felt while watching this. I was torn between wanting to stop watching because it was so emotionally exhausting, and yet couldn't STOP watching. TV show as a huge car wreck on the highway you can't help but gawk at.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely not. I mean, very well done, technically, good production values, good acting, etc.  Villains to root against and plenty of folks to root FOR - for what it's worth since (spoiler alert but not really) literally everybody dies. I would be interested to hear what others thought of this?

Of course the ending teased an American version, but I absolutely will NOT watch it. You know it will be even MORE violent, MORE grotesque, and with even slimier villains.  BUT let me share my rankings of the best heroes, worst villains, and most appalling games (SEVERAL SPOILERS BELOW):

THE 3 MOST APPALLING GAMES:

1) Hide & Seek.  While I was very emotional during most of the games, this one was the only one that had me full on crying at the end. Obviously, turnning them full on loose on each other made this one intense, but the trans character getting it - and how/by whom - was bad enough, but sympathetic old lady being forced to kill her own son, while he APOLOGIZES  to her, and then ends up hanging herself in grief?  Seriously, kill me now.

2) Flying Squid Game. I was a Nervous. Wreck. all during the last game just because of the baby. I thought, "Surely, they won't kill a baby!" But then I remembered all the other things they'd done and all I could do is chant to myself as the game started/played out, "I'm so unhappy! I"m so unhappy!"

3)  Mingle. I was almost sobbing and begging them to stop as this one went on. "Please, don't do another round, PLEASE don't do another round!" 

Honorable mention: Glass Bridge and Marbles. I would have lost for sure on glass bridge as - discounting my fear of heights - my "lucky" numbers are 2 and 5 so I would have picked one of those. And died. Marbles was awful coz folks picked buddies/relatives to pair up with  and then.....well, you know.

THE 3 BEST CHARACTERS:

1) Seong Gi-Hun. At first, I thought, THIS is the main character? He ws NOT very sympathetic or likable at first, but he grew. And he tried really hard to be a hero. And I was very, very angry when he died.

2) Ali Abdul. The rage I felt when this dude got gypped in marbles! And how I then hated #3 below because of it!

3) Cho Hyun-Ju & Jang Geum-ja (tie). They ended up being tied together in wonderful and horrible ways and I was devastated when each died - particularly the horrible way the latter went.

THE 3 WORST CHARACTERS:

1) Collectively, the VIPs. I was SO grossed out by these people - while also totally seeing these folks as plausible in this day & age of shitty human being billionaires - that I actually started tuning out the scenes with them with their disgusting commentary. Seriously, off with their heads.

2) Jeong-dae. This sorry old bastard couldn't die soon enough for me.

3) Cho Sang-woo. Sad and yet also utterly despicable and vile. Cloaking his evil in "pragmatism" made him no more likable.

Okay, folks, let me hear your thoughts if you've seen this. Am I too delicate? Will you be watching the American version?  Which games freaked you out most? Favorite and least favorite characters?  Tell all!

Wait, these tacos are WHAT kind of meat?

So lots of folks here have 4X4s to get around which is kinda cool and makes sense, what with the hills and cobblestone streets. DJ is jealous to see kids driving them often and of course wants one of his own.

We've navigated the steep hill that leads down a block from our place now enough that DJ no longer needs to cling and hang on to me (ostensibly, he's trying to "help" me - ha!). Still get out of breath coming back home/up the last hill but definitely some improvement in our cardiovascular health, I'm hoping. Here's a pic of the last block up to our place - pic doesn't do it justice. It's hella steep!

Movies! There are two decent theaters here - well actually in next door Ajijic, which is about a 10 minute bus ride that costs about $1.30 total for both of us. One theater is a little "nicer"/more modern in terms of overall look and feel, while the other is just fine with better seats (recline, footrests, etc.). When we go for Sunday matinees or Wednesday discount days, it costs about $5 total for the both of us.  A large popcorn and two large drinks is about $10 - so just like the states you pay way more for refreshments!

My favorite little taco place in town expanded! Apparently, our frequent business gave them the capital to buy the space next to them and now instead of being a little hole in the wall with a few tables outside on the sidewalk, it's now more of a little restaurant with inside seating. You're welcome, local business! lol

It's the place we went on Father's Day and while I normally stick with chorizo or the occasional al pastor taco, and DJ sticks to quesadillas with the occasional chorizo taco (which he tried for the first time here), for Father's Day we tried one of each of their tacos, even tho we didn't know the English for Suadero, Cabeza (I do now!), and Labio. When we got home, I discovered we'd "enjoyed" head meat tacos, lip meat tacos, and leg meat tacos! We found most pretty "bleh," but at least we're trying new things!

Speaking of trying new things, DJ had his first churro! While I like them okay, the ones we got here are VERY good - easily the best I've had, and DJ fell in love with them and asks for them every time we walk by the place now ("conveniently" located right at the bottom of the hill from us). 

Final random note: unsurprisingly,  I eat a lot of beans here. Interestingly, they sell refired beans in pouches rather than cans. They have regular, with chorizo (yum!), and chipotle flavored. Chipotle flavored stuff here is much spicier than in the states, while chorizo is about the same. I eat a lot of tostadas - Mexican style.

Coming in a few a weeks: my final overall assessment of Chapala as a retirement option and if I think it will make the final cut! 

Naps, Noise, and other Miscellany in Mexico

One thing that's been interesting about our time here so far is that DJ and I have both been sleeping much better.  For me, at least, I'm sure it's no longer having the stress of worrying about selling all my stuff, planning all the travel, dealing with the adoption, etc.  Not sure why for DJ - partly maybe diet, and I would say partly due to not wondering about the adoption anymore, but since his behavior hasn't improved, not sure.

It seems like cicada season is finally over, thank god. I mean, I've lived in OK and experienced locusts back in the day, but those aren't NEARLY as loud and annoying as the fucking cicadas. At first I actually thought it was the high pitched whine of some electrical machine someone was using and I was ready to scour the neighborhood to find it and give them stink eye. But then I finally googled, "What is that annoying, loud whistling sound around Chapala all the time?" and discovered it was cicadas. Seriously, what awful creatures. Thank god THAT is over.

Also apparently done is our hot weather. I knew coming in that May was their hottest month, and it has indeed been more pleasant on the whole since June. Typcial highs around 80, but also humid in the mornings. Also, June ushered in their "monsoon season," but even that has been bearable as usually the rains are at night. But man oh man have there been some downpours!  Again, I've certainly experienced my share of weather in Oklahoma, but we've had 1-2 storms that were INSANE regarding the intensity of rain and wind - and the THUNDER. Among the loudest I've ever epxerienced, probably helped by the echo/the fact we're surrounded by mountains. Exciting stuff. I don't know why, but it also seems like weird weather to have while on a lake.

Luckily, our place has a generator so when the storm knocks out the electricity, we still have precious internet and can still stream Netflix! Lol

Otherwise, the dogs still bark their fucking heads off, and I'm over THAT - and we also had a "fun" evening of a very loud domestic squabble in the street next to our building. Typical husband chest thumping/haranguing while the wife yells back and cries. Exciting times.  All that being said, it's still pretty chill on the whole and both of us are starting to get a little bored in this sleepy burg.

Speaking of sleepy, taking advantage of the lazy summer to get a nap in every day and man oh man am I digging THAT! Fun fact: the DNA/family geneaology test I did says I have a marker that means I am "genetically predisposed" to enjoy napping.

One other "noise" thing: periodically, cars or trucks will drive around the neighborhood with loudspeakers on their cars making announcements, selling water, etc.  Another one of those things that, when I first heard it, I was like, "What the fuck is THAT?" lol  And while I'm still plugging away with learning Spanish, I'm still not fluent enough to understand what the hell they're yammering on about! 

Finally, in additon to better sleep, both me and the little monster have lost weight from eating better (well, eating less junk/fast food) and walking a lot more. While I'm still panting and out of breath whenever we make it back to the top of the hill from shopping or eating out, I don't have to stop and rest halfway up, and DJ no longers gets a stich in his side from the effort. But then he's quite the little delicate flower.