For Your Entertainment: Zombies, Books, Movies & More

Thanks for all of the thoughtful discussion yesterday’s strength training post. Keep those questions coming and again, please let me know if there are any specific fitness topics you’d like me to address in these “weekly workout” posts.

I’m going to take a little more of a lighthearted approach with today’s post and share with you some things that have been keeping me entertained lately.

1. The Walking Dead

I ran out of shows to watch so I reluctantly started The Walking Dead a couple of months ago. OH MY GOD. I’m now having recurring nightmares about zombies. I’m not kidding…I’ve had three very memorable zombie dreams in the last week. I can’t believe the rate in which main characters are killed off the show. One friend told me, “try not to get too attached to anyone.” I’m on season three and I’m wondering what’s going to happen? So far it’s kind of the same thing over and over but in a new place with different characters. All I’ve gotta say is that I do not wish to be around should a real zombie apocalypse strike.

2. The Language of Flowers

“The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.”

I read The Language of Flowers for my book club this month and loved it so. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful story and I actually really enjoyed reading about the various flowers and their meanings. There’s even a list of flowers and their meanings in the back of the book.

3. The Grand Budapest Hotel

I wanted to see a movie last night but there’s not much out that I’m interested in. I want to catch Divergent but not on opening weekend! I checked the listings at our local independent film theater and saw they were showing Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. After reading the reviews on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes and watching the trailer, I decided to give it a shot.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.

The verdict? HILARIOUS! I laughed the whole way through. The film was so imaginative and the acting was great. I also liked that it had an actual story. I feel like that’s something that’s lacking in many of these more out there comedies.

4. CHVRCHES

I discovered CHVRCHES through yoga and my The Naked & Famous station on Pandora. This catchy song is one of my favorites. (Side note: you should also DEFINITELY check out The Naked & Famous.)

5. Sullie

An ongoing source of entertainment and smiles. I just bought her that new pink pig toy last week. Given the amount of enjoyment I get out of giving Sullie a new toy, I can only imagine what it must be like with kids! How do you resist!? She loves to play with one toy while laying on another and is so active with using her paws to hold things down.

What are you reading? What shows are you watching? What are you listening to? Have you seen any good movies lately?