Forever A Fangirl

Birthday: The Day After

My birthday was lovely.

Went out for lunch to Wildfire (Wildfire "transports you to the aura of a 1940's dinner club" ) with spouse:

Shared an order of: 

Wood Oven Roasted Crab Cakes
Mustard mayonnaise

...and then had

...Mediterranean Shrimp Salad Grilled shrimp skewers, spinach and chopped lettuce, goat cheese, olives, artichokes, snap peas, lemon vinaigrette dressing, roasted garlic flat bread

Oh, and for birthday desert Maple Pecan pie!

Total yumminess. Great ambiance. Fantastic, friendly service,

Went w/ the kids to Friday's for a birthday dinner. It was cool to go out as a family.

Got Dexter: Season One as a gift. Awesome.

Got money. That's cool, too. Bought myself ('cos I always get exactly what I want when I buy for me) a Bruce Sprinsteeen and the E Street Band 2007-08 tour t-shirt which I shall wear in March when I go to their show (squee!). I guess I also sprung for the tickets. Oh well. I'm worth it. Heh.

I Scored Bruce Springsteen Tickets!

You'll be fine as your pretty face holds out

Then it's gonna get pretty cold out

(You'll Be Comin' Down)

I love 'ya Bruce, I really do, but as I hit the big 48 did 'ya have to nail it on the head so succinctly?

However...I just scored very nice seats by doing the TicketMaster dance. Tickets to Bruce were face value plus a $10 handling "convenience" charge. Wait a minute--they didn't handle anything. And who's convenience?! I thought things were supposed to be cheaper because they didn't have to handle anything! I printed out the ticcies myself! And...there was a "facility" charge of $2.50. Dang. Anyway, I still got the $95 tickets at face value for Bruce in Milwaukee in March. I'm stoked!

I would love this shirt (left) if it weren't long-sleeved. But I may end up with this short-sleeved one. The graphic on the gray tee of the band in silhouette is cool.

Morbid Facts About My Birthday

122,328 People

November 29--not a great day for these folks: (after the jump)

Just down the road.

Sorry. I'm not fond of leaving an advert on top and this is NOT an advert, BTW.

(Below) Just a photo of some things I like (my car and photography).It was about minus 5 degrees F when I took this. (Photo isn't now/yet.)

And how is the weather in your neck of the woods? Anyone going into spring/summer right now? Aussies? Or live somewhere else with no real winter? Tell me how wonderful it is where you are. Or is it more like here?  Brrrr. Cold snap. Lasts about six months here.

An early Mustang GT photo taken with a long-ago-given away 2.1 pixel
Canon Powershot. Great camera.

Meh

Work has been slow (until today) but shockingly, I haven't been.

I'm _really_ busy scampering around finding as many Google alternatives as I can. The Yahoo page whose equivalent is iGoogle does not look bad--just who has time right now to worry about how much celebrity gossip I want served with my BBC, American/Foreign mixes (Reuters, AP, etc.), CBC, CNN, and the no-longer-wanted-nor-ever-all-that-great, Google news? Not to mention should I just stop the NYTimes from coming as an email and plunk it on there, too? Nah. I'll get back to settings for my not-Google-home page sooner or later.

Dirty Sexy Money~ Season One, Episode 7, The Wedding (Spoilers)

Synopsis: Karen is getting married, but her strong desire for Nick might be more of a distraction then she could have ever thought. The mother of Brian's son comes back into town trying to get back her son, but the once arrogant Brian has another idea.

Dirty Sexy Money~ Season One, Episode 7, The Wedding --First aired: 11/14/2007

This is the episode I've been waiting for. It was finally good. The actors seem to have settled into their roles and overall the "seams" of the episode didn't seem to be showing as they have. The plot didn't bowl me over but the characters are developing at last!

Karen Darling's (Natalie Zea) wedding is the centrepiece that the rest of the episode revolves around. She tells her mother, Letitia (Jill Clayburgh) of her misgivings about matrimony and Letitia's solution is to talk to Nick George (Peter Krause) for whom Karen has a massive crush/obsession and requests that he tell Karen about his lack of romantic feelings for her. This he does, but true to form and due to her belief that she and family lawyer Nick George are destined to be together, as the big moment draws near Karen gets more "confused" about the proceedings.

Meanwhile Tripp (Donald Sutherland), the patriarch of the Darling family does as is his stated custom "every time" Karen gets married--starts, and throughout the day and evening--finishes a fine bottle of booze. Mr. Sutherland does a great drunk.

Tripp appears to be happily intoxicated when passing by the minister of the wedding ceremony--Brian Darling (Glenn Fitzgerald)--and he affectionately slurs:

Tripp: (Drunk and with astonishment) Brian, what a wonderful wedding sermon, so much humanity, so much hope. There really is such a kind person buried deep down inside you. Deep, deep down! Inside you... somewhere!!?
Brian: Thanks dad.

The day unfolds with Rev. Brian Darling getting a visit from the woman-Laura Palmer! (Sheryl Lee)-who abruptly left their (previously unknown to him) son Brian, Jr. with him two months prior. They end up having sex after she discloses that she's returned for their son.

The wedding does take place but within moments of the nuptials, Karen stage-whispers to Nick that she wants a divorce. Nick takes care of the divorce--that evening--and ex-groom Freddy walks away, his pockets heavy with a 3-million-dollar settlement.

***Note: It's my understanding from teevee news sources that Dirty Sexy Money has been picked up for a "full season." This of course, will be like virtually every other show affected by the writer's strike (which as of this writing is ongoing). However, since it's been confirmed that DSM shall go on, I'll continue with my post-episode blogs after each show airs. Cheers!

Pretty Girls On Prozac~ Gina Gershon Tribute To Chrissie Hynde?

I first saw this video at Popbites. I have no idea how I got there. Seriously. This has not been a good four days. In lots of ways. Need holidays to be done with--more specifically the winter to be over but the holidays obv. gotta come first. The only holiday I want to plan for is Memorial Day (end of May) when the association opens our pool. I'm lost without it.

The video above is interesting. Popbites says it's "trippy." In the comments it's stated that Gina is riffing off Chrissie. I think Gina Gershon knows that she sounds like Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Gina is certainly the right age to be familiar with her and it's not a bad thing anyway IMO, to sound like her.

I'll Work For Your Love-Bruce Springsteen Fanwank

Pour me a drink Theresa in one of those glasses you dust off"

Maybe it's because I'm of a certain age or that I came of age on the East coast or fell hard for Springsteen when I was just starting sophomore year in high school. Which was a very. long. time. ago. But I believe that...*

At first, I knew no more than that he made the cover of Time and Newsweek in the same week. I got such a kick out of the fact that it was my high school library where I first found them, side by side. There was something slightly subversive and surreal about it. I didn't know that the scraggly bearded, skinny guy on the covers was the same dude who sang Born to Run, nor did I realize that the song Born to Run, great as it is, was a very commercial version of Bruce and that my favourite song on that album would end up being She's the One (or Night--I flip okay?). Sometimes it's Thunder Road.

It was and is obvious that Bruce wrote poetry set to music and on top of that*** he's the best rock and roll performer to come out of the seventies and he remains important still. One will never come away from his shows dissatisfied. One will never feel like she was shortchanged that he didn't give it his all --'cos he does every time. And you can read those words and nod but until you have seen him live--you don't know Bruce or E Street, for that matter.

I remember reading more than once when we were just passing the mid-point of the 1970's that we hadn't yet had the 70's version of Elvis and the Beatles.

I'm sure of who it is now.

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to attempt to get tickets to his show in Milwaukee as tics go on sale tomorrow Monday and he hasn't lined up any Chicago dates as of now. I know he will but I'm going to fret about it until he does and I'd rather drive the 100 miles to Milwaukee for a sure thing than wait.

/Edit I just read at backsteets.com, a site second only to Springsteen's official site that this is only the first leg of the tour and that the band will mostly likey have a second go 'round as well as add onto existing dates. Probably.

Now I'm torn. With Christmas expenditures, a pair of Bruce tickets are really coming at a inconvenient time!

I'll Work For Your Love" (Springsteen) Street)

Pour me a drink Theresa in one of those glasses you dust off
And I'll watch the bones in your back like the stations of the cross
'Round your hair the sun lifts a halo, at your lips a crown of thorns
Whatever the deal's going down, to this one I'm sworn

I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love

The dust of civilizations and love's sweet remains
Slip off of your fingers and come drifting down like rain
The pages of Revelation lie open in your empty eyes of blue
I watch you slip that comb through your hair and this I promise you

I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love

[Instrumental]

Well tears they fill the rosary, at your feet my temple of bones
Here in this perdition we go on and on
Now I see your pieces crumbled and our book of faith's been tossed
And I'm just down here searching for my own piece of the cross
In the late afternoon sun fills the room with a mist in the garden before the fall
I watch your hands smooth the front of your blouse and seven drops of blood fall

I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love

SPIN interview link   ...about those covers

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ... When I was 24 or 25, I ended up on the cover of Time and Newsweek, which I found both thrilling and embarrassing simultaneously. Everybody had different responses -- I remember [guitarist] Steve [Van Zandt] buying copies and handing them out by the pool at the Sunset Marquis. He was like, "This is the greatest, we've hit it!" And I was more like, "I'm going to go up to my room for a little while." I think if I had been by myself, it would have been a lot tougher. Having the band there -- knowing that ten years have gone by before this moment, knowing that tonight we're gonna go out and do the same thing we did in Asbury Park for 150 people -- provided an element of sanity. It's the bargain you ask for, but at the same time, it's nice to have your friends around you.

Battlestar Galactica Razor Flashback #7

Pretty cool stuff and Battlestar Galactica tomorrow (11.24)! Episodes one and two of Season Four are a mini-tele-film on the American SciFi network.

I shan't describe what you see here in the clip other than to say it shows near-present-time flashbacks as well and someone who is quite pivotal shows up at the very end, too. <squee! -- but not in that kind of way>

Last night when I was watching Mary McDonnell in Donnie Darko~ Director's Cut in which she was the Mom, Rose Darko, I was reminded how well she conveys great depths of emotion with just a small change in facial expression. I've missed all of Galactica but Mary McDonnell is a reason I can immediately point to as why it's been missed. 

There are many sunstained funny moments in Donnie Darko but it is certainly weird.

But then again, it's a mad world.

2001~Mary McDonnell and Jake Gyllenhall, son and mom in Donnie Darko (right)

(below) Battlestar Galactica Razor Flashback #7

Husker, Husker: The war is over!

Mary McDonnell

Bad news about Season 4 and the strike below...

Donnie Darko and Dexter

I remember when first I became aware of the "cult phenomenon" Donnie Darko back in 2003. I was constantly seeing references to it on a forum I belonged to.

There were loads of avatars of "Frank," the guy in the bunny suit, as well as lots of quotes from the film in people's signature areas in their posts.

It doesn't take all that much for my curiosity to be aroused so after about 3 months of repeatedly seeing references to Donnie Darko, I rented it. I watched it by myself the first time and I must admit some of it creeped me out. It was certainly compelling though and well acted, directed, and written. And it needed to be watched again because I was certain I had missed things. Important-to-understanding-the-film things.

Today I looked up a bit of information about Donnie Darko at Wikipedia and IMDb as I haven't watched it in a couple of years and I just rented it again so I can watch it with my spouse and 15 y.o. son, whose not yet seen it. (As I mentioned earlier, Thanksgiving no big deal here though we did invite someone over this year. It was spouse's Aunt, and it turned out to be her fourth invitation to be with friends or family--and she declined us as well as she is a widow and I was told that she stays home on holidays and cries. That's pretty sad. Though I doubt she would have enjoyed Donnie Darko, I wish she'd have accepted someone's invite.) So we shall see  how younger son reacts to Donnie Darko.  He's liked a number of must-see film's that we view after I reference the film, he gets a look of wha? on his face, and I rent it so he gets the cultural reference. He's a good sport that way--though overall I don't think he thinks I've steered him wrong. Previously I've introduced him to The Simpson's--he was about age 12 at the time--and he's caught up with much of the almost 2-decades long series. And when he really wasn't listening to any music--I thought he might like Weird Al Yankovic. He loved Weird Al. So yeah, apple/tree saying applies in a number of entertainment situations. Though sometimes it is Dad's apple, an example of which is Dr. Who.

I've not had as great luck with television shows, however. After some disappointing Battlestar Galactica episodes in Season 3 he gave up on it and when I got all excited about the BSG telefilm, Razor, which premiers on American teevee on 11/24, he reminded me that he doesn't watch it anymore. <sigh>

OTOH, he started watching Showtimes's Dexter with us which is both good and bad. The sex scenes on Dexter, which are much more numerous in Season 2 as Dexter has/had 2 girlfriends, are explicit so I squirm when they are on and Dexter after all, is a serial killer--so I didn't actually suggest that my son watch the show. He started on his own by catching up on episodes over the summer. When he told me of his intentions of watching S-2 when it started, I suggested we watch together--all the more chance for discussion afterwards and as anyone who watches Dex knows--every episode is discussion-worthy.

....

Donnie Darko Fun facts: The 2001 film was made in just 28 days for 4.5 million dollars.

Tagline: Life is one long insane trip. Some people just have better directions.

Talking Turkey

I moved to the states from Toronto when I was six years old after my father was transferred here by his company. We drove the 500 miles to Toronto for most every holiday--Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and to the Lake in the summer so in hindsight, we kept one foot in each country. My grandmother passed away when I was 10 y.o. and after that we may have made the trip to Canada another time or two for Canadian Thanksgiving but what is more clear in my recollection of growing up is that we celebrated two Thanksgivings each year.

One in October for Canadian T-Day and one in November for American T-Day. We never had anyone over to eat with us as the whole family was so far away. (People really didn't just up and fly places like they do now, not as much anyhow.)

In the tradition of replicating one's family of origin's behaviour the family I've made doesn't do much for American Thanksgiving, either. I'm Canadian so even if I felt like being polite--it wouldn't mean much. I have a spouse and two children and it appears that they too think very little of T-Day.

I've heard Christmas described as a lot of work but Thanksgiving--for the cook anyway--is too. I'm on the fence about it but since we have turkey at Christmas plus have turkey products throughout the year I'm just not feeling the need to do it up.

I don't mean it in a downer sort of way but I think I'm continuing a tradition just for the sake of...tradition when in fact Thanksgiving Day is just another day to me.

One thing that does get me excited about Thanksgiving is pie. Specifically, pecan pie. I'm going to check that spouse bought some. edit/ He got Dutch Apple--and it was my idea 'cos he and younger son eat apple. Bah. Pecan pie at Christmas, then!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone that celebrates! If you don't, well cheers just the same. :)

The Geek Factor

Found at Tina's blog

The word geek sure has taken on new connotations over the years. I can't imagine a scenario nowadays where unless one is a "dysfunctional geek," that there would be any offence taken if one were to be labelled a geek.
Generally, a geek is smart--that hasn't really changed but "geek" also used to mean  that  one lacked social skills. Though some geeks may lack social skills there are just so darn many people into techie stuff which pretty much put me into the the "geek" category by default--that there's no real stigma in relating better to some software or to people through a screen as there was when small clusters of geeks hung out together, shunned or mercilessly teased simply because they existed.

Back in high school I knew kids-- boys especially, who wore pocket protectors and too-short pants and hair (it was the late 70's-- short hair was out). If they had skin problems they usually went unchecked, and given that my high school was overrun with backwoods Connecticut kids the handful of smart people were the focus of much derision. (Except as I recall, "Brian" who was smart, cute, and blonde--and went on to an Ivy League school to become a MD).

I'm glad that's changed and former "geeks" are entitled to have the last laugh. It's a good thing IMO, that most geeks have enough company either online or off, so they are no longer cast out.

As for me, I aspire to be more geeky at least in terms of getting  more Internet savvy. I'm not nor will I ever be gamer--I've never liked games--even cards--so that ought to keep me out of the hardcore geek groups but I love Science Fiction and Fantasy and I would absolutely go to a Science Fiction based convention (a "Con")  but unlike a lot of people I probably wouldn't dress up as my favourite Science fiction/fantasy character. So despite the little icon above I don't think I rank as a "total geek"--I'm more an aspire-to-be geek.

I am taking on building my own webpage. I have some domain names--but I've narrowed it to one...and now I have a host but I don't want to rush in and I need to continue reading and be armed with as much information as I can...I'm sure there'll be moments when I'm feeling like tearing my hair out but I have faith that it'll turn out. I think that's something I've always had--a very steadfast belief that I can do it--whatever "it" is.

How many times do you usually re-edit posts? What is the most common reason for doing so?

Twelve times. I don't know. A lot. Too many. Not enough. Depends on who's reading I suppose. <shrug>

Most common reason to re-edit (wouldn't it suffice to just say "edit"? Editing is a repetative process,  at least that's the way I learned it)  Typographical errors. I blame it on the keyboard and my unwillingness to try a "smart keyboard" which would be  better designed for the actual act of typing. I was just reading about advantages of the Dvorak keyboard system vs. QWERTY--the one I and probably you use, the one designed for the English Language but not for use by a human.<snark>

Retraining one's finger muscles seems to be a problem for some people and QWERTY typing style popping up while you are using Dvorak, too.

I'm a bad typist but if I have the time--which seems to be in really short supply at the moment, I read over a piece a couple of times, checking for sentence construction. I change it a lot sometimes scraping half of it, all of it. I try to go over all posts that are mine (in ownership) with one of writer George Orwell's checklists (he had a few as he wrote a lot of literary commentary)  in mind.

1.What am I trying to say? (him)

Is what you wrote what you want to say? (me)

2. What words will best express it?

Words are important in writing. I think we all can agree on that. ;) I go back and fiddle around with them. Do a little self-censoring. Though probably not enough. :p

3. What (image or idiom) will make it clearer?      Qwerty keyboard (right)

The bane of my writing--trying to find the right words to convey from my head to the screen.

4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? ( Is it enjoyable or compelling to read?)

For me # 3  and #4 are on my mind simultaneously. 

5. Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?

I almost surely have but I'll keep practising and try not to. :)

(left) Dvorak keyboard

4. Could I put it more shortly? (Can I make this shorter in length?)

I trim all over the place to property edit a piece. But I add a lot too, sometimes.

Just say "No" to holiday spirit.

As you can see at left it is raining today. It is about 40 degrees F--my favourite weather. <insert heavy sarcasm>

I really struggle to stay centered with my moods when this shizz starts. The "experts" I believe, took far too long to figure out that less sunlight = more low moods or SAD or depression--whatever.

I suppose part of the reason is that in the "olden days" people still had to go outside and work, bad weather or not. The butter still had to be churned, chickens fed, animals slaughtered, wood gathered. Perhaps lack of "fresh air" goes hand in hand with SAD. I have no idea. All I know is that outside, the thermometer is just above and to the right of the pumpkin which will sit there until American Thanksgiving, then usually we get a hard freeze and it is unceremoniously plunked into the Dumpster. Pretty wasteful I suppose, though less so than all the artificial Halloween crapola and now, Thanksgiving/Christmas stuff.

Not to be all high and mighty, but WTF is wrong with people who feel the need to Christmas shop the day after Halloween?!? If you didn't buy that crap, the ridiculously early sales would stop. But you do, then you boast about how you have all your shopping done and that tells me either you have more money than brains or you have such a low sense of identity that decor-bloody-ations make you feel like you count more somehow than me. No? You didn't realize you come off that way? Oh, frak the hell off, you did so.

See, no holiday spirit here.

Let me ask, how does one maintain Christmas or "holiday" spirit for two solid months? Isn't there a point of diminishing returns?

Actor's Studio Ten Questions

Borrowed from American television's Inside the Actor's Studio interview of a name-brand actor. There's a segment where each guest is asked the same 10 questions (originally compiled by Bernard Pivot, slightly edited by me). These are my answers.

1.) What is your favourite word?
sunshine

2.) What is your least favourite word?
war

3.) What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Nature-- beautiful sunsets, the rustle of the trees in the breeze, snowflakes. Natural bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans). Rock formations. A starry night. A sunny day. The desert and its life. Fresh meadows and lush greenery.
All these things make me feel cleansed and more alive.

4.) What turns you off?
Constant complaining. Change yourself or change the situation.

5.) What is your favourite curse word?

My favourite substitute for the f-word is "frakk" also spelt "frak." The word is used on Battlestar Galactica. A lot. When I'm severely upset however, the f-bombs drop.

6.) What sound or noise do you love?
Sounds sappy, but little kids laughing. I love that whole-body laugh. 

7.) What sound or noise do you hate?
Commercials on the television. The mute  button exists for a reason.

8.) What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Tour guide in a tropical paradise.

9.) What profession would you not like to do?
Anything that involves sitting in a cube all day.

10.) If (a )heaven exists, what would you like to hear the gods say when you arrive...? "It's your choice--care for another go?"

Vox Hunt: My Hero

Show us a childhood hero.

Who else but my Dad?

Here he and I are (am?). I think I'm about four years old--maybe even three--I was big, taking after him bone structure and otherwise...so that would make him about  29? He was and is a good guy. A chemist here but quickly moving up and about to make us--just he, my mom and me at that time, in the next couple of years residents not of Toronto, Canada but of Watertown, Connecticut.

A Study In Sleep

Well I've now visited the sleep disorder clinic that I'll be spending the night of December 11th in.

It's located on the other side of town in an area that has a slew of executive-type mo/hotels so that part seems okay. There was no one there except the doctor and the the receptionist--both not native English speaking but fluent English speakers. The doctor was very anxious for my approval on my sleeping quarters which since this is brand new clinic, looked like a model-home bedroom. But the decor--oh my. Lot of gold and red brocade. Very, very rich-looking. Makes my bedroom  at home seem vanilla in the extreme.

Kind of like this in richness. Red and gold throughout.

I am absolutely taking my camera as I've had a sleep study before and for me there was actually a minimal amount of sleep involved.

Lots of wires and machinery and--the worst part is that a dude is watching you on a monitor. Who can sleep soundly with all that going on?

I don't have issues with sleeping anymore now that I've realized that I'm not "on" Central Time. When I visit California--a two hours earlier time zone--I can get to sleep around midnight-1 a.m. which is much different than not being able to sleep much before 3 a.m. here. I just can't cotton to the notion that because one can't sleep  on a so-called normal schedule--yet one gets about eight hours each 24--that there is a problem. The only reason I awake during the 8-hours that I usually sleep is the dog barking or a quick trip to the bathroom because I take a handful of pills at bedtime (have to). Otherwise, I'm all good. I could be wrong  though so the proof should be in the results of my night in the red and gold room.

As the doc explained what would happen--including being put to bed at 9:30 p.m. and coffee brought in for  me at 6 a.m. my mind drifted to what I'm usually doing through the wee hours of the morning--working online--so I asked if there was wi-fi and he said yes--but then went on to say that Internet would interfere with their machinery-- which I understand. I guess we had a bit of a breakdown in communications but no worries--I can take one night off from work.

Cheers!

11.14.07 Photos (Webcam shots) of the coast~Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai, Hawaii is the Garden Island so it rains a lot. We spent the day 2 years ago around the area that looks overcast in 2 pics below. It was incredibly beautiful. I'm kinda having fun with some of the time on my hands due to the Google smackdown and the teevee writer's strike. I rarely "surf" the web so finding that I can manipulate a crude camera and snap shots of tropical paradise's around the world--for now--is kinda fun. No Photoshop though. This is all quick 'cos it's on a timer and dirty--like the lenses of so many of the web cams. In fairness I'm sure they are a challenge to keep clean.

What sites show up if you type "S" into your browser?

Photobucket photo storage http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j161/CynCityTypepad/--

I use Photobucket when I remember to.  Years ago, before Web 2.0, :)  I used it for overflow from TypePad (which now offers way more storage space) and hosting for forums (which I do not use in the same way anymore). Now I only use Photobucket when I want to throw together a photo album. I know I'm in the minority of "serious" amateur photographers in not actively using Flickr. I have trouble reconciling their past actions and their need for me to convert to a paid member.  I currently pay for all the web services I'm going to and one of them gives me lots of photo-storage. I keep my free membership so I can comment on other's photos but I'm really not a fan of Flickr.

Salon People The Great Pretender http://www.salon.com/people/bc/1999/04/06/hynde/

Good article on my rock n' roll heroine, Chrissie Hynde.

Salvador Dali Art Gallery-- site is either defunct or down; years ago I was looking for an icon there.

Schipperke Rescue.net (went there once)

http://www.schipperkerescue.net/Pages/FRAll_about.htm-- As I mentioned the other day, my dog is "blowing coat" at the mo. I was searching through Schipperke websiteslooking for some advice and I got it. Brush her every day whilst she blows and add some fish oil to her food. The problem is almost not a problem now, I'm happy to report.

SciFi.com/battlestar--Skiffy's Official Battlestar page--Use it to keep up with the goings on of Battlestar Galactica--webisodes--scheduling news. Not for in-depth stuff. For that see Battlestar Wiki .

http://scotch.vox.com/ -- Miss Scotch's Vox blog--speaking  of icons (see Dali, above), Miss Scotch is one of Vox's most beloved.

So that's it  for the letter "s" today!

This is true

What did you do as a child that you feel guilty about even to this day?

I've been thinking on this question for a bit today and I've come to a couple of realizations. First, there's not much that I did as a kid that I feel guilty about because overall, I was a pretty good kid.

Second, though I recall being a pretty good kid, my memory is getting a bit dull in places so I could be wrong about that.

So the "guilty" story goes like this.

When I was about ten, our dog had a litter of puppies. We kept the puppies in the basement as though technically the basement was finished, the floor was tile and it was easier to keep clean.

Prior to the basement being the puppies playground however, it was the teevee room--with my dad's  huge rocking chair smack in front of the television. The puppies pretty much were all over the basement and one day I went downstairs and without thinking plopped into my dad's big ole rocking chair and promptly rocked on a puppy, breaking one of it's legs. I recall my parents telling me not to worry about it because it would mend quickly.  But very soon after I repeated the same action--and I broke the same puppy's other leg. This time I didn't tell anyone. Plus, I was ready to blame my six-years younger brother if anyone did find out. Now that's pretty bad. And it's also the third thing I realized: I don't feel guilty about any of the times I did something wrong accidentally or otherwise and blamed it on my brother. Because that's what older sibs do. Maybe I'll work harder on mustering up some guilt about it.

Huntington Beach/H.B. Pier~ 11.13.07

This is my alone time. Even the dog has been put to bed for the night.

I am a little emotional. Also I'm thinking with ♥ about several Vox friends having some particularly tough days right now.

I'm glad though, for those that sound like they are having a good time of it. (Anyone for some Spicy Guacamole Pringles?)

Below: Took remote webcam pics today of where I used to live. Where my heart is. Still. I had such fun (back then, too)!

I :heart: being in and on the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii was the best (So far. I have much more of the world to see.). In H.B., once of the places I lived was on a corner-floor apartment on 2nd street--walking distance from this shot.

There are no fires in Huntington Beach or big hills that slide into the ocean. There is Disneyland just a bit about 25 miles inland. Not too close or far. Just right at the time. :)

Yes I know, I've been back--"it's changed." Bummer is some steps on which I used to sit when I lived on 14th St.late at night and enjoy the surf and sky are now gone.

There's way too much asphalt. :/ And not just in CA.

Ruby's At Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach Pier near shore~11.13.07

I admit that there was a big storm a number of years ago but I'd already moved to Illinois by then. It did sort of take down the wooden pier which was pretty rustic-looking. (I took a walk on the Pier every night when I lived on 2nd St. ) Actually, the storm-when-I-didn't-live-there took off just the end of the Pier; Other piers, like the one in Malibu (if I remember correctly) were completely demolished. But that's not going to happen again as you can see below. The whole thing is like this--concrete, including the benches--much less charm but safer. For the next hugetastic storm! :p

Clean Beaches. Sparse tourists, hardcore surfers and tanners. beach people.

Hb23

Conditions were considered "clear." today. To me, the sky has smokey hue. Also the camera has, to put it delicately, bird and other residue on it, mucking with the otherwise nice view.

Last one, I promise.

Huntington Beach, Pacific Ocean

I will pay them to clean the lens!

Which person from your past, who you've lost touch with, do you wonder about the most?

Jerry Goldstein, of New York City and Huntington Beach, California.                                     (webshot taken  on 11.13.07)

We met in Southern California. I was very young and on my own after moving out to California with my then-boyfriend fiancé--then splitting with him but not being able to get my own place.

Jerry was my across-the-courtyard neighbour in Huntington Beach and he kind of took me in when my ex-bf was around. He was ten years older than me, changing careers working on become a teacher, divorced with a precocious six-year-old daughter, Eve. He had visitation but other than when Eve was there every other weekend his place was an open door--to anyone who needed it. Jerry was not highly active. He liked Tai Chi, television, and Springsteen. We'd watch MASH reruns, listen to the Bruce. He had some cool friends who introduced me to Tarot. We had some good day trips to places like Santa Barbara. We all were weed smokers, not drinkers. We sat upon oversize pillows and the futon and passed the bong around. (To put this in perspective, this was the late, late 70's and possession of personal amounts was very minor, so no judging (about this) in comments, okay?)

When I was away from my family for the first time one Christmas he had me over to his place while he and Eve made Brownies. Jerry was a non-observant Jew--no Christmas either.

Anyway, I lost Jerry's friendship when I hooked up with the father of my oldest son. When he found out that I'd visited Jerry he'd knock me around. I didn't have the sense to leave that hellish relationship and once my fiance stormed into Jerry's house and dragged me out by the hair, having threatened everyone there with death if they ever contacted me, I didn't ever chance seeing Jerry again. It was and still is one of the biggest regrets of my life as Jerry was my first true-blue platonic guy friend. I can't say that I've ever had that depth of friendship with a man since. And it's a real loss.

"Let's, uh, let's execute Baltar..."/Battlestar Galactica: "Razor"

A Battlestar Galactica quote from Battlestar Wiki, IMO one of best the Battlestar Galactica information websites:

Gaius getting his JC on

Number Eight: We're here to find a new way to live in peace, as God wants us to live! Cavil: And it's been a fun ride, so far. But I want to clarify our objectives. If we're bringing the word of "God," then it follows we should employ any means necessary to so, any means.
Another Cavil: Yes. Fear is a key article of faith, as I understand it. So, perhaps it's time to instill a little more fear into the people's hearts and minds. Let's, uh, let's execute Baltar.
Gaius Baltar: Wha... WHAT?
--Occupation

Current writer's strike news via  Battlestar Wiki

According to the Los Angeles Times, Battlestar Galactica has been affected by the Writers' Guild of America strike. Specifically, the Times indicates that Galactica has ten hours of programming ready to go, along with Razor.

I cannot believe I did this but I came across a copy of the teevee movie "Razor" (release date 11/24/07) and I've watched it. Bad, bad me.

I have to watch it again. There's a lot to digest and I never catch all I need to on the first view--especially two episodes all at once. That's all for now.

edit/

Oh, but there are free viewings at movie theatres on 11.12.07. Nevermind then, we're being encouraged to see it two weeks early. I think it's called generating buzz...

Tina Fey On Writer's Strike Picket Line

The writer's strike has a produced cool photo of everyone's heroine, writer-actor, Tina Fey.

(It appears that she's chanting.)

I realize this may elicit a duh but she is a writer--loved her on Weekend Update on SNL, her films do well and she seems to be scoring with 30 Rock. I watched her show exactly once and feel sort of bad--because it sounds like it's funny--but I just can't stomach A.B., who is prominently featured on it. None of the Baldwin brothers do anything for me, in fact. <shrug>

I really like Tina Fey though as both a writer and an actress. I also respect her choice of retaining a rather large scar on her face and what message by keeping it, she sends. In Hollywood, it's unheard of for a woman of her career-type. So Tina Fey is groundbreaking, too--for being herself. 

Tina Fey on the picket line at Rockefeller Center (AP) ~

Battlestar Galactica "Razor" Flashback #5 (Spoilers)

This 2-minute "mini" freaks me out a little bit. Though knowing Adama survives does lessen the anxiety. (That's not a spoiler!) ;) The guy there on the video still is one reason but it gets creepier. I've seen a few comments on the movie "Razor" in it's entirety. The only people who would have gone to the trouble of watching it two weeks before it's initial broadcast have to be hard-core BSG fans and they have not given it a "10" yet. Which makes me a bit apprehensive. I suppose November 24 shall answer some questions--unless I read some more "reviews" of it before then.

Human Guinea Pig

Allow me to feel a wee bit sorry for myself for about five minutes.

My heart failure specialist up and took a great job on the east coast (I'm in the Midwest US). I'd trusted him for years with my health which in general, has been good. Before he left he made sure I had another doctor and set my appointment 6 months down the road. Last night around 10 p.m., as we were walking the dog, spouse joked about how early I'd have to get up today. I was pretty mystified until he explained that there was a VM message from the doc's office last night confirming my appointment for this morning.

Shit!

New doctor.

A million questions later he's ordered a sleep study (not again!) blood work, an echo cardiogram, and a return office visit in two months. Also, he doesn't like the life extension drug I'm on--wants to go back to a better one--Coreg which made me sick as they raised the levels on it when I first tried it. I didn't argue as body chemistry changes.<shrug>

And Dad, if you read this, despite not ever meeting you, my new heart failure specialist is convinced that you have sleep apnea and need treatment ASAP! Plus he'll recommend a "brilliant doctor" out of Johns Hopkins!

He was very big on genetic connections which is interesting and all but I'm more of a big picture gal.

Damn. I'm such a baby. Scrutinized. Analyzed, How much did I weigh when I graduated high school? (I went through a horrible breakup with my first love just prior to graduation and had lost weight--which number means something? I hate this stuff!)

High School Graduation

I will give myself an ever-so-slight pat on the back as I went and got stabbed directly from the doctor's office so the blood work was done but the phlebotomist was awful! Huge stabby pain, ginormous bruise now.

I had to page the sleep study doctor to make an appointment (wha?). To his credit, he returned my call fairly quickly.

Okay. I'm done with my bitch-and-moan-fest. I'll save the rest for post-sleep study.

Meanwhile, feel free to refer to me as the human guinea pig.

QotD: Never Going Back Again

What's been your worst experience at a restaurant?

This stuff is disgusting

Boston Chicken, which since their food is so sucky, has been renamed Boston Market.

Ten years ago,"Boston Chicken" was new to me, we saw a few commercials and had a picky eater of a 5-year-old who subsisted mostly on chicken and raw veggies, so "roasted chicken" sounded like a good alternative to KFC fast food--which we all know is nutritionally horrible.

The set up was semi-fast food/semi-buffet. One looked through the glass and pointed at the sides they wished to have, it was scooped on to your plate and handed to you. The chicken was a given. It all looked better on teevee. In person, it all looked sort of yellowish-gray.

What sticks in my mind and turns my stomach the most was the greasiest chicken that's ever crossed my lips. And the sides, which are pretty much the same dreck that they push now at Boston Market, were heavy, overcooked, grease-laden, and tasteless.

Even our chicken-loving son wouldn't touch anything on his plate. I struggled through about one-third of mine before declaring it the worst food I'd ever eaten. To this day, when a commerical for "Boston Market" comes on in this house there's a collective groan in response.

Have Some Faith--Joss Whedon Does

Eliza Dushku (left) and Joss Whedon from Buffy are now making Dollhouse.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Firefly/Serenity/Angel creator Joss Whedon is heading back to TV, along with his Buffy co-star Eliza Dushku, with Dollhouse, an SF series that Fox has given a seven-episode order, Variety reported.

Dollhouse follows a top-secret world of people programmed with different personalities, abilities and memories, depending on their mission.

After each assignment—which can be physical, romantic or even illegal—the characters have their memories wiped clean and are sent back to a lab (dubbed the Dollhouse). The show centers on Dushku’s character, Echo, as she slowly begins to develop some self-awareness. (Source)

A new Joss Whedon TV show is welcome, indeed. Eliza just needs the right vehicle, IMO. Perhaps this will be it. (More Eliza and Whedon-related pics after the jump.)

My Dog Blows

Our Schipperke dog, Raven has been blowing for the past few days and it's really not pleasant. Forgive the non-PC-ness but she is like chemo-dog with great clumps of her undercoat  just dropping from her  body to the bedspread, couch, all over the house, whereever she goes. Two times so far--fur in my eye--yuck and it hurts as I wear contacts.

And no matter what they say about brushing you can do that until you are blue in the face and she still sheds and will continue to do so in great volumes until she gets herself fully prepared for winter.

The Schipperke dog is small, with oval brown eyes, triangular upright ears and a face that resembles that of a fox. The body must appear to be square when viewed from the side while the chest must be wide and should reach the elbows. It also has a distinctive double coat – a soft undercoat covered by a rough, shaggy outer coat. A long ruff also surrounds the Schipperke’s neck, particularly the nape, the chest as well as the back of its hind legs.

QotD: WGA Strike

Film & TV writers are on strike, which means everything except reality TV could halt production.  Do you support the strike?  Are any of your favorite shows in jeopardy?

Surprised

Oh that's funny. Someone thinks that reality teevee is unscripted!

My son's high school teachers are threatening a strike this week. Television writers (are they allowed to call themelves writers?!) can strike all they like.

Teacher's salaries and bennies in this district are obscenely high and as a property owner I pay their salaries. I think that they either get this resolved ON THEIR OWN TIME NOT MY KID'S or hire the next person who would love to work in one of the highest-paid high school districts in the nation.

As far as film writers--I really don't care about them, either. I mean do they care about me?

Are my favourite shows in jeopardy!?! PMSL!

Ahhhhhhh!!

Woo! Another Teacher Institute Day!

Happy Monday!
It's a Teacher Institute Day which means just one thing--it may as well still be the weekend --without the fun times!

Actually, I'm getting in the quality (and quantity, lol) parent time  and though some may think "ugh" when that  includes a 15 year-old kid, it's really sort of fun assisting my son in printing out one-hundred business cards for his presentation for World History class in which he becomes the great Greek, Pericles.

(left) Yesterday: A boy and his dog

I have some business card templates which son modified to his liking--plus he needed an icon for Pericles--a natural choice seemed to be an image of the Parthenon for which Pericles is primarily responsible.  So today we've done stuff which is pretty standard in some homes, I guess. Really, I just don't print out that much so it was matter of making sure my wonderfully behaved Lexmark ( niiiice Lexmark) does what it is  supposed to do (it's printing as I type), mainly not smear and stay within the business-card lines!

History teacher, whom think is a swell guy, asked that the business cards be double-sided as the cards are not in fact truly business cards  rather they serve as a thumbnail sketch of who Pericles was/what he did and there's to be enough cards for all three World History classes.

It's a neat idea especially when one considers that the kids will dress as their chosen leader. We are to tackle the toga-like clothing Pericles will be wearing Tuesday night. I can only hope that it goes as smoothly as the b-cards have. We are using white sheets and safety pins as per the teacher's instructions. My son purchased a beard the day after Halloween (and Mr.History teacher, big props as I know you timed this to coincide with H'ween--it's appreciated!) and will wear sandals and after that, all he has to do is give an outstanding oration as Pericles was known for his speaking abilities and this is worth about two Exam grades--so no pressure here! :p

Actually, I'm kinda proud because  in re: the business cards all I've done is shown him the templates then left him to choose the font and format. I didn't mean to make the printing of the cards take forever because I said he could use a colour background so he did and they look pretty cool. And he was futzing 'round a bit trying to find a symbol for Pericles and since the guy was quite prolific I suggested a drawing of the Parthenon that I found that could be reduced to icon-size and still look okay. He did the formatting on that, too.

So that's it from Casa de Pericles today.  Hope you are having a swell day, too. :)

Jung Explorer Test/My Comments

This Jungian-type inventory is interesting only if you are me. It was about 150 questions and I was an honest as possible.

The test explores Jung dimensions (I-E S-N F-T J-P) from three perspectives: who you are, who you prefer to be, and what you are attracted to.

This is kind of fun to take to have a baseline--then see year-to-year if there is any "shifting." It was a bit different when I first took the real version of this in grad school. You had to be moderately sane and truthful to get into the program I was in. And there were a couple of people that the university chair suggested pursue other vocations. No lie.

Jung Explorer Test
Actualized type: INFJ
(who you are)

INFJ - "Author". Strong drive and enjoyment to help others. Complex personality. 1.5% of total population.

Preferred type: ESFJ
(who you prefer to be)

ESFJ - "Seller". Most sociable of all types. Nurturer of harmony. Outstanding host or hostesses. 12.3% of total population.

Attraction type: ENFP

(who you are attracted to)

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Take Jung Explorer Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

What Classic Movie Are You?/Moxie Saves The Day

Moxie saves the day with her test as I've had an awful time getting some phone camera pics to "travel" to the desktop Verizon account. It worked before so I..maybe I should just use what I'm used to which is the real camera. :/

I took this test a number of years ago and I did not get this result. I answered 27 questions for this which I realize is not all that scientific. :p

The weekend so far is kind of "meh" with weather to match. With any luck, tomorrow will be more upbeat. Will pro ably hit the Salt Creek Trail with son and dog. Spouse is back to working  weekends though there may be light on the horizon.  We'll see. Fingers crossed.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I'm going to take the longer version as I'm putting off writing adverts.

Ha! I like this one better. Forty-five questions.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

QotD: Unforgettable Crush

What's the most memorable crush you have had? 

I'm going for celebrity crush.

David Cassidy was not my first celebrity crush but he's the most memorable because his mug took up the most wall space in my bedroom .

He is 10 years older than me and I remember calculating that in just 8 years I'd be a reasonable age to date him.

(right) David Cassidy, with a pretty, tired/bored-looking white dog.
I like the series of shots that were taken with him on a white Palamino horse. I seem to recall reading that at one point he kept a small stable, had a couple of horses and the Palomino was in fact, his. Anyway, to continue with this fan-wank, David looks really cute in the David w/ the White Palamino series of shots but I can't find any on the web, atm. I cannot believe that more people haven't..aww nevermind.  hahah told you! :) I was in lurve!

Somehow, I never quite got around to that. I do still kind of prefer the less manly-man types with Johnny Depp being the most prominent among them. (Yeah, I still have crushes. Love is what make the world go 'round, baby!)

So...Are You Still Insane?

Ha ha ha! I love hugh.

I'm helping my son with a costume  that he must wear as he discusses "Pericles" in his World History Class. Each of the students was to have picked a great world leader and he sort of got stuck with this guy. He wondered though not aloud at the time, why Adolf Hitler was not among the choices. He'd studied him sort of at length for a prior project so I think he wants to use what he's learned--kind of a shortcut.  He is the kind of person who doesn't automatically shut down when the word "Hitler" is mentioned. There's certainly lots to learn from that whole time in World history.  Anyway. Pericles. Have to Google him. It's a Greek name and that's about as far as I know. brb.

Here's what Wikipedia say about Pericles.

Pericles (also spelled Perikles) (ca. 495–429 BC, Greek: Περικλῆς, meaning "surrounded by glory") was a prominent and influential statesman, orator, and general of Athens during the city's Golden Age–specifically, the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. He was descended, through his mother, from the powerful and historically influential Alcmaeonid family.

Pericles had such a profound influence on Athenian society that Thucydides, his contemporary historian, acclaimed him as "the first citizen of Athens." Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War. The period during which he led Athens, roughly from 461 to 429 BC, is sometimes known as the "Age of Pericles," though the period thus denoted can include times as early as the Persian Wars, or as late as the next century.

Pericles promoted the arts and literature; this was a chief reason Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural centre of the ancient Greek world. He started an ambitious project that built most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people.^[1] Furthermore, Pericles fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist.

Sounds sort of like a Renaissance man only during the Greek Golden Age. Cool. I like the arts and literature angle to Pericles and I know my son --a heavy read-for-pleasure person, can dig the literary aspects of Pericles.

QotD: Indecision 2008/Colbert Loses Bid For Presidency

What do you think of Stephen Colbert's satirical bid for the U.S. Presidency?

I had no idea he was "serious" about this. I hardly watch his show and when I did hear about it I thought he was kidding with him staying in character for the Colbert Report in a role--not spending money to be on the ballot.

It's not news that a comedian is running for political office but the brief few times recently that I've heard Stephen Colbert mention it, I thought he was being satirical.

   But while Colbert took the necessary steps to be on the Democratic ballot, he didn't get the necessary votes. In South Carolina, the Democratic Party requires all would-be candidates to win the approval of an executive committee. (The state's Republican party requires no such extra step—pay the $35,000, and you're in.)

That's a huge disparity in getting on Republican v. Demcratic Ballots. And a screening process by the Dems. to get on the ballot? Besides the age and citizenship status, I thought if you had enough signatures and all else was in order you could run. Guess not in S.Carolina.

Article follows: Colbert Loses Bid For Presidency

U.S. / Politics

Colbert’s Presidential Bid Ends After a ‘No’ in South Carolina

November 2, 2007

The Democratic Party in South Carolina decided Stephen Colbert was not serious and turned down his application to get his name on the primary ballot. Also: from E!Online. In the end, Colbert's campaign, which the candidate swore was real, only followed through on its efforts with the Democrats, paying the $2,500 filing fee to the state party by Thursday's deadline. According to the South Carolina Republican Party, Colbert did not produce its required $35,000 filing fee by its 5 p.m. (ET) close-out time. Colbert had earlier announced on his TV show that he wasn't going to cough up the five figures required to get on the GOP ballot, noting that he'd paid less "for my black-market liver."

But while Colbert took the necessary steps to be on the Democratic ballot, he didn't get the necessary votes. In South Carolina, the Democratic Party requires all would-be candidates to win the approval of an executive committee. (The state's Republican party requires no such extra step—pay the $35,000, and you're in.) On Thursday, South Carolina Democratic leaders voted 13-3 against Colbert. Nine "ayes" would have gotten him on the ballot.

Fifteen Minutes Of Fame

Welp, my 15 minutes of fame are now over.

It was fantastic while it lasted but now it's back to no publicity-induced sky-high hits. <sigh>

 

Blogging wasn't a commonly known thing even as recently as 2003, when I put together the Cyn City blog. Though I saw references in mainstream publications to "weblogging" there was invariably a sentence afterward explaining what that was. On a personal level, I had difficulty explaining what I was doing and in fact, was in no hurry to give up the level of anonymity that non-Interent, non blog-savvy folks provided.

That's all changed now. It seems with my family fully online, including my children, whatever is said on here may as well be said with everyone sitting in the room. Now we just need everyone to have their own blog so it doesn't feel like a one-sided conversation. :)

I did get to a sort of burned-out on blogging period--though at most maybe a week went by between postings.

Since July of this year my TypePad Blog has been monetized in my ongoing effort to augment the paltry most generous full disability check from the US government (my heart broke and they can't put it back together again).

(To the person who childed me that paid blog posts are not "real blogging," I urge you to expand your definition of blogging as between every paid post there is at least one un-paid post--often more--and photographs--which I've always used plentifully-- "don't count" as paid posts. As is often said, if you don't like it, scroll past or click away.)

I was rather chagrined however that out of the four years of posts TypePad could've chosen from they picked two paid posts --plus a post which supposedly showcased a photograph I took but though I credited the shot and used it as it's creator asked, it was referred to as " a snapshot of my life" in the blurb. I am truly grateful however that one out of the four links led to my actual work, though sadly I had un-listed it form public view as they are summer sphotgraphs.

Does it sound like I'm complaining? I'm not. Much. :p This is actually pretty frakking funny, now that I'm really thinking on it. (I was too excited before to give this stuff much thought.) So...this is how life works. The ebbing, the flowing. It's all good.

Hallowe'en 2007

We had fun. Raven not so much until we came upon the dog-loving folks giving out...doggie treats.

The penguin got shout outs everywhere which surprised us all. He was both a chick and little kid magnet, lol. And there were folks giving out candy who almost bust a gut laughing when he showed up--and gave him extra candy just for the costume! Really surprising.

I'm wanting to go raid the penguin's pillowcase o' candy before he gets home from school.

Dirty Sexy Money~ Season 1, Episode 5, The Bridge

First aired: 10/24/2007   

Synopsis:

Nick finds he has a lot in common with Simon, Tripp's nemesis. In a case of sibling rivalry Jeremy and Juliet decide to try and outdo each other for their separate birthday parties. Brian Jr. wants to tell Brian's wife the truth. Karen tries to get Freddy into a fancy country club.

This episode was probably the most uneven so far, though I mean that in a good way.

At least it had a few moments when one  thought "There, there it is--good acting, good flow to the story!" then we'd cut away to something shallow/silly spouting from one of the twin's mouths.<sigh>

As I've said repeatedly the problem is not with Donald Sutherland, Peter  Krause, Jill Clayburgh or even now, finally that I've seen him do more than one note, actor Glenn Fitzgerald as the priest with an illegitimate son who he's been hiding in plain sight as an "orphan." Fitzgerald did finally get to show empathy towards the boy! And he was convincing both then and when he appeared very distraught when his wife discovered his lies and demanded a divorce. But he seemed way out of character being nice to Nick (Krause) when he went to him for help. (I know he made one semi-disparaging remark but mostly he treated him as a normal person would). They need to be careful with Fitzgerald's  character's development unless he is just supposed to be a bully who occasionally gets his feelings hurt and makes nice.

The Darling twins continue to annoy. I just do not care if they get cut off from their turn-25-and- get 25-million-dollars inheritance (which comes from their mother's side of the family) or not. I don't care if suddenly, they both realize that a. they really do need each other, or b. they need to grow up, or c. both. Neither actor gives me any reason to care. Again, same same goes for the much-married Karen Darling. There's just nothing to like there for me. And someone, please, this women is super rich. Do something with her Farrah Fawcett-circa-1974 hairdo!

William Baldwin--I still don't see beyond that patented brand of smoothness that he must have picked up from his older brother, Alex. It just does nothing for me. Maybe they need to bring in Candis Cayne (his transsexual girlfriend on the show) more often to spice things up for him.

Nick's wife: Still cute, still bland.

Finally, in this episode we met Simon Elder, the multi-gazillionaire philanthropist who seems like a combo of Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Donald Trump. Played by Blair Underwood he's okay but they aren't giving him much in terms of script to work with and that needs to happen since so much of the rest of the story is coasting by on fluff.

So tomorrow (Halloween) is Episode 6.  I'll TiVo it but my internal debate continues about whether this show is worth my time or not.