phyncke

It is the weekend and I am having a relaxing time of it. My plans last night cancelled and so I did not go to the movies last night. I was supposed to go see Malificent. Oh well. I will see that soon. I hope to go before it is out of the theatre. I will likely get to that this week.

I have spent the last two weeks binge watching Orange is the New Black. Really good show. It is about a middle-upper class woman who spends 15 months in a minimum security prison. Loosely based on her memoir of the same name, the show is a compelling portrayal of prison life. Piper Kerman - who wrote the book - made the point that the United States has the largest prison population in the world so inmates are a significant percentage of our population. The Netflix series is much more dramatic than the book and there are major differences between the book and the series but both are very good. I am now reading the memoir and find it also very interesting.

I was somewhat bereft when I finished Orange is the New Black - that kind of sad feeling you get when you finish a really good book. But now I am on to watching House of Cards - also on Netflix. Who knew Netflix did such good programming? Impressive.

So on to reality - work is a little boring right now which is ok with me. It is summer at the Uni and it is quiet. We have a new Assistant Dean starting in August so that will be an adjustment. I am going to take a vacation sometime so have to work on that. But I am doing background and catch up work. I have to have a review this summer and think that my current supervisor does not know anything about what I do. So how well can that go. Not great. I will stay positive. I think the best thing to do is for me to write my review and let him have input. That will work.

I am going to start exercising. Walking is what I want to do. The weather is so nice and I have a good walk route that I can do. I will listen to audible books while I go walking. So that is what I will do. I need to get going on it. Time is wasting.

I am going to LA for July 4 and will see aglarien. Very excited about that. Woot.

That is about all I have here. Hope all is well with you and that you are having a good summer (or winter depending on where you are).

Cheers.



by vapor at tincturing on livejournal

So here I am and I am going to blurb and do a quickie post here.

-I am obsessively catching up on The Walking Dead. I have watched most of it now. Who knew? This is brilliant TV in the form of zombie stuff. I tell you. I love this show. Excellent pacing, characters and ick factor all combine to make this my new favorite show on TV. It is an AMC original show and wow. I think Daryl is my favorite character but I love them all. No spoilers here. I am finishing up the last season now. Any Walking Deadheads on my list? Let's chat about this. Comments welcome.

-I saw Man of Steel on Sunday. Oh the dream that is Henry Cavill. I really feel that he embodied the ideal of Superman. Here is my FB post in a short review thing. Man of Steel review - While the film did feel long at times, Henry Cavill made up for it with a great performance as Superman. Lois Lane's role somewhat confused in this and some omissions to the canon in the storyline. All in all a positive but there were some things that could have been edited out here and some things they could have included. Ultimately, I did like it. ( Cut for spoilers )

-Had a great Monday today and I hate Mondays. We met with a caterer today for a "let's see if we can do business" meeting and they brought us in a full on lunch sample of their food. Beautiful presentation and delish. The cutest thing were the desserts - tartlets and cheese cake lolipops - basically mini cheese cakes on a stick covered in chocolate - OMG so good. Good way to sell the food by giving us a taste. I might just see if I can work them in. They are a little bit spendy. Have to see.

-My friend's kid N*** graduated from HS last Friday. I went to the ceremony. Had moments of joy and disbelief. I mean - I was there when he was born and now he is off to college next year. Where did the time go.

This post is longer than I planned. I am here and around. Hope all is well with you on your end. I have more Walking Dead on the queue. Got to go!

A detective who is a neuroscientist. Interesting premise for a show. I like the actor who is starring in this. His name escapes but I recognize him from other things. Anyhoo. I am intrigued enough to watch the first one. This looks quirky but that could get annoying fast. Will see.



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post 64/100 in the 100 things challenge

I am intrigued by this show that starts on A&E tonight so I am going to check it out. It is a cop drama set in big sky country and adds the complexity of reservation life. They have been promo-ing this all over the place. On TV and in movie theaters. I like the grizzled look of the sheriff and the hope of beautiful scenery there. I think it looks worth checking out the premiere episode anyway. 7pm tonight on A&E.



This is an early trailer. They have been showing a different one. Also - Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck - Battlestar Galactica) is in this too. Could be good!

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post 38/100 in the 100 things challenge


by sailinghome

Once Upon a Time(2011-2012)
Adaptation of classic fairy tales
ABC

Summary:
Fairy tale characters are stranded in the town of Story Brook by the evil queen. Can Emma Swan save them?

I am writing this review as I sit here watching my DVR of the season finale. This is an amazing episode - action packed, culmination, tense, on the edge of my seat. I have been faithfully following this series each week and really enjoying how they unveil their adaptation and interpretation of the classic fairy tales. There is even one Alice in Wonderland character in a cross-over sort of thing. Lots of license taken in this show as it pushes the boundaries of fantasy and story telling. Each episode builds the story so you really have to watch from the first to understand it. Start from the beginning and watch it unfold. It is like reading a very well written story...with themes and story lines that intersect.

Really good television. Like, the best!

TV show web page:
http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time

Overall rating:
Excellent television and truly interesting adaptation of classic fairy tales

Recommend:
Highly!

Warnings:
None. Very dramatic if that gets you going.

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post 21/100 in the 100 things challenge


by crescive

Elimination cooking programs. Specifically this one CHOPPED! I just love this idea. They get a basket of really hard to work with ingredients and then on the timer, have to come up with something edible, competitive and delicious all at the same time. The rounds start with appetizer, to entree to dessert and there is an elimination each round going from 4 chefs down to 1 winner. They win that show and $10k.

They have two versions of this one, CHOPPED and CHOPPED ALL STARS (with the judges competing for $50K). I love them both. These cooks are incredible and watching them work under pressure is just amazing. I do think I learn a bit about cooking too and get some ideas for my own kitchen and dinners. Food Network, right on.

In other news...I think I have a cavity. Back molar. Total bummer. I bought some Orajel and it feels better but I have to go to the dentist right away. It has been a while since I went to the dentist. Bad on me. So uggles. UGH.

Work is good, busy but I am doing well. All good there.

So that is my mid-week post. Hope all is well with you there. Me, not so much.


My latest creation!

I just loved the performance and song choices for New Directions

Jackson Five's - ABC
Janet Jackson - Control
Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror

I was trying to find the video on youtube but that has been lame lately and not finding it for the Glee stuff. Anyways. It was just brilliantly staged and a fitting tribute to the talent of the Jacksons. So good. Catch it if you can. I watched it three times and am keeping that in the DVR for sure.

Cheers.

Once Upon a Time

From the producers of Lost. I never got into Lost that much but this one has elements that I really like. Be patient with this youtube - it stops at points and you just have to wait.



This looks interesting to me. There is another show on fairytales called Grimm and I am not sure how they compare. Personally, I love them and think it is a great idea for a TV series.

Comments?

So I never really caught Two and a Half Men that much with Charlie Sheen - enough to say yeah, that was funny. But tonight is the premiere of the show with Ashton Crutcher replacing Charlie Sheen on CBS. I am curious enough to watch it to see how they work him into the story line. I really am. I found the Fall of Sheen also mildly entertaining and really too bad as he is so talented.

Yep. I will DVR the Dancing with the Stars thing and watch highlights to catch Chaz Bono on that.

Anyhoo. Good day today...did some walking, swimming and activity...a very small bit of writing.

Cheers to all. That is the TV report for tonight!


by hisescape

Talk about some good television. This is just amazing. I am sitting here trying to figure out why I did not watch this all along. What a good show. The retrospective montages just great here and as he becomes Superman here. Just really good television. What television should be.

Love this!


by autumn_mist