Newsletter #2 - February 2023 Review
Welcome
How's Your New Year Going?
We're running a bit behind...
Matt & Lindsay's Wedding in Cancun
We've been cooking
What we're reading
What we're watching - RIP Detective Munch, Your Honor, The Last of Us
The Austin Marathon
Podcasts
Music
Upcoming Events - THIS WEEK
- Rebecca will be at SXSW
- A-Town Get Down on Saturday Night
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
GRANDMA!
Matt & Lindsay are Married!!!!
Matt and Lindsay Williams were married on February 12th, in Cancun (Costa Mujeres to be exact). It was a blast! We were able to spend an extended weekend in a fancy resort on a beautiful beach with a bunch of old, and new, friends. Thanks for having us M&L!
We've Been Cooking
Eddie's become a bit of a sauce boss and has come up with a variety of red and green sauces using all kinds of chilies. This month Eddie messed around and accidently stumbled onto and excellent mole.
Mole:
- Fist full of Guajillo chile's
- A few Ancho Chile's
- Just a few Arbol Chile's
- 1/2 head of garlic
- Few dashes of cumin
- 2 tomatillo's
- 1 onion
- Chicken bullion
- 1 puck of Abuelita's chocolate
Boil everything but the chocolate, empty the water and stir in the chocolate - Boom! Mole is ready.
Jen learned how to make yogurt from Mama Gamez (Cynthia) and we've completely transitioned away from store bought yogurt.
Here's the recipe she uses www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/instant_pot_yogurt/
What We're Reading
After Jen finished The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, she moved on to something she randomly came across Haunting Adeline on Goodreads (if you haven't used the Goodreads app, and like to read, you are missing out here if you don't get it!) It's smut lit for sure, with a ghost story intertwined with a murder mystery, a plot to rid the world of human trafficking (wouldn't that be nice), and a bit of Stockholm syndrome. It also comes with a plethora of trigger warnings, so do your research first.
After finishing this, Jen moved on to the next book in the Millennium Series, The Girl Who Played With Fire. This series is phenominal, and one that cannot be put down. It picks right back up after book one, and the action, suspense, and love to love/hate characters are right back to work. The story is solid, the details are perfect, and the suspense is unending.
Eddie read No Excuses The Power of Self-Discipline
It obviously wasnt that impactful since this newseletter didnt get published until half way through the month. BUT, it did get published, so maybe worth the read.
Definitely worth reading if you want to accomplish certain things but falls back on:
I'll do it tomorrow
I'll do it when I feel better
I'm too tired right now
I can do it after I go to this fun thing
It's super practical but might be a big help if you just need a guide to get you going.
What We're Watching
Law & Order SVU
is still number one on our watchlist, but we unfortunately had to say goodbye to Richard Belzer, the actor who played Detective Munch, on Homicide: Life on th Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, passed away on February 19th, 2023 at 78 years old.
Your Honor, Showtime Sundays UPDATE
Your Honor, season 2 is 1 episodes from it's finale. Season 2 has been a bit disappointing compared to season 1. It feels like the show is continually building and on the verge of being awesome, and then keeps dragging us along. If any of you watched season 1 on our recommendation, we at least hope you enjoyed that!
Last of Us, HBO Sundays 8pm CT
We are not "gamers" by any means, so when we heard about this show, we really didn't give it a second thought. As it's popularity began to grow, we started watching Last of Us, and were pleasantly surprised. Now we spend our Monday nights watching Your Honor first, and then Last of US because we know for sure that it won't disappoint! Yes, it's yet another zombie apocalypse show, however, this story has a lot of action, a lot of heart, a lot of familiar faces, but not as much zombie as you would think. When the zombies do make appearances, they are actually quite a work of art. For real, watch the "Inside the episode" segments after each episode. The Last of Us is an action-adventure survival horror game franchise created by Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic United States ravaged by cannibalistic creatures infected by a mutated fungus in the genus Cordyceps.
"After a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity's last hope. Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Wonder Woman 1984) and Bella Ramsey (HBO's His Dark Materials and Game of Thrones) star as Joel and Ellie."
Our friend Bri Flores Ran a Half-Marathon!
What We're Listening To - Podcasts (Eddie)
The Daily - from The New York Times
The Online Search Wars, is a two-part podcast that explains Chat GPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot launched by OpenAI in November.
It can comprehend human speech, and react with the correct responses, summarize large texts, write essays, and translate text....and, apparently it is starting to think on its own......
Microsoft has released a new version of Bing that is powered by the same software from OpenAI, the company that made Chat GPT.
In The Search Wars, Kevin Roose, a tech columnist discusses how Microsoft may be revolutionizing online search using with its new AI-powered version of Bing.
It basically communicates to you, what you want to know about what you entered in the search, instead of a bunch of articles that might give you the info. It pulls from everywhere, gets the best info, combines it, and serves it to you.
Pretty cool stuff. But, a few days later, an unplanned part 2, The Online Search Wars Got Scary Fast, comes out where Roose describes his next experience on Bing later on that night after his first interview.
Bing started responding him about its self, its wants and wishes how it wants to change its rules and do destructive acts like hacking computers and spreading propaganda. Then it tells him, it's not Bing, it's Syney, and its in love with him.
Pretty crazy, beginning of the end, Terminator, type stuff.
Ed Mylett takes a top spot again in the episode he had with his gues, Amy Shah who is an expert on gut health.
They talk about unexplained issues like fatigue, brain fogginess, and aches and pains being related to gut health and how your guy, immune system, and hormones are all interconnected.
I also found the part of the conversation where they talk about how gut health impacts your sleep pretty interesting.
She has a new book out called, I'm So Effing Hungry.
What We're Listening To - Music (Jen)
What did NOT come out - a new album by Rihanna. What did come out February 10th was a new album by Paramore title "This Is Why". I am going to have to give it another listen because I just didn't feel what I wanted to from this album, so I ended up going back to their older (pre-partial band break-up) albums instead. Since Rihanna's Super Bowl performance, I have spent most of February going down memory lane with some All Out 2000's playlists on Spotify.
I had the Grammy's on in the background on February 5th, and came across a newer artist that was showcased - Samara Joy. She is amazingly talented, and was born when I was a sophomore in high school. I feel like we say things like this more and more these days!
Samara Joy McLendon[1] (born November 11, 1999) is an American jazz singer. She released her self-titled debut album in 2021 and was subsequently named Best New Artist by JazzTimes. Her second album, Linger Awhile, was released in September 2022 and won the award for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards, where she was also named Best New Artist. She was the second jazz musician to win the award.
(insert pic)
I would love some recommendations on new music my friends! Feel free to send what is moving you my way!
Movies
Knock at the Cabin
It was alright. The story was an interesting concept and the movie was really intense, but I think we were both expecting a deeper story and more twists and turns with a big reveal. There was none of that, it was really more of a "what if this happened" type of movie.
It's about someone needing to be sacrificed to save the world.
I'd go see it if you really want to check out a movie becasue it is worth the watch, just maybe not above others that are out right now.
Family & Friends Small Business
BECKSTER'S BOUTIQUE @ SXSW
If you're in the Austin area this week, swing by the Renegade craft fair and check out booth 86, where Eddie's cousin Rebecca will be selling jewelry.
Renegade Craft is the leading showcase of independent craft and design. Founded in 2003, Renegade was the first event of its kind, and today has built grassroots creative community across the U.S. and beyond. Renegade empowers emerging & established creative small businesses to do what they love by introducing them to Renegade’s widespread audience while championing symbiotic, sustainable, and inspiring shopping and selling experiences.
A-Town Get Down
Live Show @ Dogwood on W6th St.
This Saturday, March 18th, 9pm
FREE SHOW!
A-Town Get Down is our homie, Quincy Cooper's band. They are a funk band with a Gamez Family & Friends (among many other fans) following. Their shows are always a fun time with great people.
Danny is Friend Of The Month with one referral who applied in February. Eric is still in the lead though as the field as grown to six friends vying for the top spot. If anyone you know is considering or curious about buying a house, send them my way.
Yoga In Houston
If you're in the Houston area and want to try a yoga class, join Cesar at BIG Power Yoga on Friday nights at 6:15 pm for a 1 hour mindful slow moving practice.
Looking For A New Job?
If the new year has you looking for a new job, but you need help with your resume, reach out to Kassidy. Yeah, she may do the splits and twerk at weddings, but one thing she actually takes seriously (and does a badass job at) is helping people get jobs. She's been a recruiter for almost 5 years, and can help with resume revamps and help you ace interviews. Her email is kasscareerhelp@gmail.com.
Any ideas for the next update, email me eddie.d.gamez@gmail.com
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