pfeifferpack

1. Still doing the Buffy/Angel rewatch. Watched Episodes 4, 5, and 6 of Angel S2, and episodes 5, 6, and 7 of Buffy S5.

Takeaways?

Whomever designed Joyce's bedroom has no sense of design. Also it appears to be stuck in the 1970s? It's the worst set in the show, which is saying something, since we have Tara's entirely black bedroom. Joyce's entirely red bedroom vs. Tara's black one, decisions decisions.

Angel/Darla sequence in the Convent Basement in Dear Boy (Episode 5) is similar to Buffy/Spike sequence in the alley behind the Bronze in Fool for Love (Episode 7). ( Read more... )

Another thing I didn't previously pick up on? In Fool For Love - Spike's interaction with each slayer he is trying to kill - involves mothers, not sure the extent to which he's aware of it, though. ( Read more... )

Spike does actually provide some insightful information to Buffy and the audience, not necessarily intentionally - and from his perspective, it's relatively obvious. He doesn't appear to understand why Buffy and her friends don't get it. ( Read more... )

What doesn't quite work in the episode is Riley and her friends. It's also clear from the episode why the writers intend to write out Riley and how. ( Read more... )

2. Watched the 1968 film Rachel, Rachel yesterday on Apple + for $2.99. I rented it. It starred Joanne Woodward, Estelle Parsons, and Jim Olsen and was directed by Paul Newman. ( Read more... )

3. Finished Down Cemetery Road - the series by Mike Heron based on his book of the same name, on Apple +. Apple + has an annoying interface, that is similar to HBO's, in that it is hard to select episodes to watch on it. It automatically kicks you to the next one or makes you rewatch the one you just saw. Also, I can't always tell how many episodes there are, or if I've seen the last one. I looked it up - it only has eight episodes, the last one aired this week, on December 10.

( Read more... )

4. Re-started S2 of The Morning Show on Apple + - it's okay. Doesn't really start to take off until Episode 3, ( Read more... )

***

Other than that, and doing knee exercises, and icing my knee, and figuring out how to use my new cooking appliance (the NOSH steam/air fryer/bake/toaster oven) - I've not done much. I have tried out a few more video puzzle games - Royal Match (which starts simple then gets hard and feels rigged for money), various attempts at Mahjong games that don't have ads (they seem to acquire them after a certain point) and I have to delete the game entirely because the pop up ads freeze the phone. There's a nasty AI cleaner ad that really froze the phone and had me worried, but once I deleted the game - it went away.

Did manage to cook a biscuit (American version not the British - think small scone), and crisp some gluten free french bread in the oven.

It's easier to use than expected and meets my needs. Also smaller than expected and doesn't take up as much space as I feared. This may work. I'd been holding off getting one due to the spacing issue. But it doesn't appear to be a problem.

***

A little lonely this Xmas. Be happy when it's over. Mother is a little lonely too. Crazy Org is the reason I'm not spending it with Mother, which is annoying me to no end. (I'll save you the gory details.)

Oh, well, I have nice lights up, the lobby is well decorated, there's some snow on the ground, and presents wrapped in Amazon gift bags under the tree. I'd say I miss the other wrapping, but this is actually easier to recycle.

shadowkat

It's cold, and gray, and gloomy outside. The Oak Tree outside my window is finally shrugging off it's leaves.

Me: the tree outside my window is holding onto its leaves and stubbornly not letting go of them.
Mother: Is it an oak?
Me: An oak?
Mother: Oaks tend to hold onto their leaves for a long time.

Re-watched Buffy S5, Episode 6 "Family" written and directed by Whedon, and Angel S2, "Untouched", written by Mere Smith and directed by Whedon - and I thought whoa, both these episodes feature characters who have abusive and controlling fathers. And some of the same dialogue? Whedon literally took dialogue from Smith and inserted it in Family. The dialogue exchange between Bethany (the victim of the week in Angel) is the same as the exchange between Tara and her father in Family.

Whedon definitely has a thing for "abusive fathers" in his stories.

Family is a better episode than I remembered - if you ignore Tara and her abusive family. ( Read more... )

I'd forgotten Untouched completely, and hadn't realized Whedon directed it, while Mere Smith wrote it. Or how various themes in it were similar to Family. Of course I hadn't watched them closely together either.
( Read more... )

shadowkat

Should go to bed. But my IBS is acting up, and going to see if it settles?

On Threads, at least I think it was threads, it might have been Twitter - someone asked, how do you respond if someone states "I don't like you."
( Read more... )
***

Speaking of liking things? Tried to read a negative review on Good Reads about a new Illona Andrews novel coming out. But half-way in, I realized the reviewer a) had only read 35% of the book, b) didn't really like Illona Andrews writing style all that much, c) wasn't much of a fan of the high fantasy or portal fantasy genre, d) hated a series of novels that I had enjoyed in that specific genre, and after checking their previous reviews/likes, discovered they loved Peter Watts' Blindsight - which I can't seem to read or listen to more than five percent of without going to sleep. (They also adore Martha Wells books and Miss Marple Mysteries (which I read when I was a kid and liked well enough.) In short, the reviewer is a hard speculative sci-fi fan, parlor room mystery reader, and Illona Andrews novels are NOT hard speculative science fiction or parlor room mysteries. That's not their genre. And outside of the Murderbot series and possibly Miss Marple, we do not like the same novels.

In short, I couldn't tell from their review whether I'd like the novel or not. Just that I don't tend to share their taste, and we'd most likely clash if we ever interacted online or off. ( Read more... )

That said? I admittedly read a lot of reviews - because I'm curious to see what folks thought about xyz, and have often seen or read the work prior to reading their review of it.

I'm a curious soul, and it often gets me into trouble - as being curious tends to do.

**

Off to bed, now that the IBS has quieted down.

shadowkat

I don't know what it is like elsewhere? But this is turning out to be a bitterly cold December in the Northeastern US, specifically New York. It felt like 18 degrees F or -7 C with windchill today, in actuality 34 degrees F or 1 degrees C. Bitter, bitter wind. But sunny and pretty outside with a blue sky and scattered white puffy clouds.

Mememage - Question a Day (because I'm slightly behind, too busy writing about Buffy for the upteenth time. You'd think I'd get bored of it eventually, but apparently not? I can't remember where I left off? I had to go back and check - can't have any repetition, can we? I might contradict myself.)

8. Today is Green Monday: the most lucrative shopping day of the year. This is usually the last day that people can shop online so that the purchases can still arrive in time for the holidays. What’s the last thing you bought from an online retailer?

Sudoko Book and Calendar for my mother, and I did on Thursday (as in today), but it can still arrive in time for the holidays.

9. If you have a battery smoke alarm in your home, do you check the batteries regularly?

No, it's one of those newfangled ones that has batteries which last ten years. Combo smoke/carbon dioxide detector. Although, now that I no longer have a gas stove/oven, less chance of carbon dioxide poisoning.

10. Do you have a blanket you can snuggle under on your couch/sofa?

Yes, but I don't own a couch or sofa. I own armchairs. And an ottoman/coffee table.
( Read more... )

11. How often do you chew gum (or bubble gum)?

I no longer do. I can't - high in sugar. Also it sticks to my teeth, and loses it's taste too quickly.

***

Knee was hurting last night, but it's better today. I've also been off of it more, giving it a rest. Did some exercises, but once it began to ache, pulled back a bit. Iced it as well.

***

Making headway through the Paul Newman Memoir - which is a lot better than the Ethan Hawk documentary, also a lot kinder to Newman. Making me think Hawk is a bit of a judgemental prick? ( Read more... )

Also making headway through "Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem" which is more romance than mystery, and there's no mischief or mayhem. It's okay. I'll most likely finish it? But I wouldn't rec it to anyone?

***

Me: So where did you get that strap that we're using for the exercises?
PT: Amazon.
Me: What do you call it?
PT: Stretch Strap for exercises or stretching strap.

Sure enough that's what it is. Stretching Yoga Straps for Physical Therapy

I've noticed a pattern of late? I see something I want, I ask people where they got it, and they state: From Amazon.

Damn. Amazon is doing well.

I also bought humidifiers. My skin is drying out, I have a dry cough, and my lips are chapped. Time for humidifiers.

***

Saw a stray cat (at least I think it is - might not be) on the way home. It's fairly healthy for a stray, so may be just out and about. But thought, it's awfully cold for a cat. Granted they have fur but still.

shadowkat

Per the PT, I've an irritated or nappy meniscus:
( Read more... )
***

Watched Buffy S5 episode 5, "No Place Like Home", which oddly, I liked better than Episode 4. (Hmm,as an aside, television writers seem to like annoying characters, and somewhat whiny characters, don't they?)
( Read more... )

Off to bed. I hope.

shadowkat

Had another PT appointment on Monday, which...went okay, I guess? ( Read more... )

Work party and work in general made me want to walk out the door and retire today. But alas, I can't. I'm not positive, but I have a feeling Breaking Bad felt much the same way.
( Read more... )
Today was my father's birthday - which FB decided to alert me to. Annoying considering my father was never on FB and disliked it. My father, had he lived, would have turned 90. He died in 2022 at the age of 86 just short of his 87th birthday.

So feeling a bit down and out today. Not helped by the bitter cold snap plaguing New York and the East Coast at the moment. It was 18 F degrees this morning, I think that is -6 C. Tomorrow it is supposed to get up to 45 and possibly rain, practically balmy.
****

Buffy S5 Rewatch

Episode S5.4 Out of My Mind

Definitely enjoying Angel more this go-around, probably because I've watched this season one too many times? That said, the dialogue in this episode for the most part is rather good. And there are some good bits here and there.

The episode is mainly about Riley and Spike.
( Read more... )

Off to bed and other things.

shadowkat

I have to make dinner - but alas, I am procrastinating. Probably due to a late lunch of salad and snickerdoodles (gluten-free softbaked, tiny snickerdoodle cookies courtesy of Trader Joes). I did go grocery shopping and scored Beechers World Famous Mac and Cheese (gluten free), Capullo's frozen almond crust pizza, Capullo's almond dough spinach and cheese ravioli, spicey salad greens, grilled salmon, and almond/coconut creamer.

Managed to watch a bit more of Down Cemetery Road with Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, it's not as good as Slow Horses. By the same guy, Mike Herron. But it drags in places, Ruth Wilson (Sarah) is getting on my nerves and I can't decide if it is the actress or the role? She's gotten on my nerves on everything I've seen her in - so it may well be the actress? Emma Thompson on the other hand is excellent in it - I'm watching for her. I don't like the plot though. (I've seen it done one too many times, I think?)

Outside of that, haven't done all that much? I did manage to clear a space for the upcoming steam oven/air fryer. That I'm hoping works. It should.
It will help tremendously with the nutritious gluten free cooking - if it does. 98% of cooking nowadays is having access to the right appliance.

December Question a Day Mememage

2. Are there Christmas lights in your local town/city? Post a photo if you have one.

Weirdly enough, not. In previous years everyone lit up the outside of their houses in my area, but not this year.

I do have lights on in my apartment, and they have them on in the lobby of the building - which is insanely decorated. (Not sure that's the same thing, though?)

( Insanely Large and Decorated Lobby of my apartment building )

Think 1920s Pre-War Art Deco, with Christmas Decorations.

3. Have you ever hand made a gift (or a card) for someone?

Yes. From the age of four roughly to the age of 21, my brother and I handmade all the Xmas cards that our family sent. My father joined us in later years, then eventually, my mother printed off a watercolor of my Dad's and sent that out. We were famous for our hand made cards.

We did block prints, finger paints, watercolors, drawings, everything. My brother, myself, and my Dad are all artistically inclined. My mother handled the mailing, addressing, signing, and printing if required, also the coordination of the effort.

I don't do it now. Don't have addresses for anyone to send them to - even if I wanted to do it. People just don't provide addresses any longer - hello social media and the internet.

YMMV.

4. International Day of Banks. Do you use more than one bank for your investments/savings/general bill paying, or is everything in one place?

One bank for all the bill paying. Savings/Investments is in more than one place.

5. Do you own anything with fake (or real) fur trim?

Fake fur trim. I don't own real - can't afford it, and...not a fan. I'd rather spend the money on travel or something/anything else.

6. Do you own a microwave oven? What do you use it for?

Yes, contemplating using it to heat up gluten free mac and cheese at the moment. I use it to defrost and heat up items. Sometimes to steam - but the steam oven will do away with that issue. I usually use it to melt butter, heat up stuff, and do it quickly. Don't use it that often.

7. Have you ever tried an alcoholic cocktail, or a non-alcoholic mocktail? Do you have a favourite?

Yes. Both. Favorite? Either a lime Margarita, or a Vodka Tonic with Lemon.
I used to like Cosmopolitians, and for a while Cranberry and Seltzer.

Now? I don't drink any of the above. Off sugary drinks and alcohol for the most part.

shadowkat

The folks singing in the lobby - aka the apartment Christmas Party, can't sing. So, I put on my headphones and decided to listen to EMDR Bilateral Simulation to block it out, and to calm my nervous system, which is kind of keyed up.

The apartment building Christmas Party - was not what I'd expected? Instead of a party for the complex celebrating the building's 100th birthday, it was more a gathering of a select group of people and their kids to visit with Santa, get gifts, sing songs with audio equipment, and have a pizza party with cupcakes, brownies, cookies and snacks.
( Read more... )

So, having been weirdly triggered food wise, I came back up and had left-over chili (I make a mean vegetarian gluten-free chili, if I say so myself), gluten free NY Cheesecake (small) with berries, and some pumpkin latte ice cream with nuts. Oatmilk eggnog with a touch of brandy to drink.

Then watched the rest of Otto Preminger's classic adaptation of Leon Uris' epic "Exodus" on Amazon Prime, starring Paul Newman, Eva Marie Saint, Sal Mineo, John Derek, Sir Ralph Richardson, and Lee J. Cob. I'd been watching it off and on most of the day.

(The book was actually better - I read it in high school, but the film has some excellent and understated performances in it, even if it shows it's age - it was done in 1960.) Not to be confused with the Moses Story, this is the story of the battle to create Israel in 1948, after WWII during the British occupation. ( Read more... )

I watched it - because I remembered it being one my favorite Paul Newman films. Also I've been listening to the Newman memoir on audible. Newman keeps stating in his book that he wasn't a great actor, he was just good enough, and it didn't set his world on fire or anything. He hadn't found his calling. And he is convinced he probably had a learning disability - because he struggled with reading his entire life, and struggled to memorize lines - as if he didn't quite do it properly or something, but he didn't quite know why or how. (Sounds like dyslexia to me? I struggled with memorizing lines too for similar reasons.) I read well now - but I had to work at it, and still do, I have all sorts of tricks that I apply, most of which I'm no longer aware of doing, and couldn't explain to anyone.

It's astonishing that he actually thinks this - because his acting seems effortless. He's effortlessly charming, charismatic, and pulls in the audience - even in a film like Exodus. He also didn't think of himself as attractive to women or anyone. He reminds me of my brother - who didn't see it either. Often the most attractive people are the ones who are the most oblivious to it.

***

I'm enjoying S2 Angel much more than expected. [Even though, David Boreanze is not as thin and hot as he was in Buffy S1-3.] Most likely assisted by the fact that I couldn't remember most of it - having not watched it since it aired or shortly thereafter? I thought I remembered it better than I had? But I totally forgot about Angel's Darla dreams, or how Darla was seducing Angel in his sleep. I also forgot about the scenes with Cordelia and Gunn bonding. They have some nifty platonic scenes between Cordelia/Gunn, and Cordelia/Wes - indicating that Cordelia most likely gets along better with men than women? Cordelia is growing on me, and I don't remember liking Cordy this much when I watched the series back in the day? (I think the difficulty was I came in and out of it, and like all the characters, she has her ups and downs.)

Finished watching First Impressions - which is the third episode of Angel S2. It establishes Lorne's club as another new set. We've moved from the Bar that Angel met Kate at in S1, to Lorne's Demon Bar. In this episode, Angel dreams of singing Send in the Clowns and Tears of the Clown, at Lorne's club - apparently he was going for a medley (which was thankfully off screen - since David Boreanze can't sing to save his life. And I'd rather he didn't butcher one of my favorite Sondheim songs.) Believe it or not, Tears of the Clown is actually a song by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles with a lyric like "there's sad things around but nothing sadder than the tears of a clown when there's no one around".

I'm thinking okay, where are we going with this? Is this a dream? It is - he's meeting Darla at Lorne's bar, and starts dating her, and having a relationship with her in his dreams.
( Read more... )

Interesting episode, all things considered. Only quibble is sigh, Gunn.
He's annoyingly stereotypical, and kind of cringe. I've seen it done better elsewhere. I honestly don't think the writers knew what to do with the character?

**

On a final note?

My contacts came today. I was told they'd shipped on Friday. And they arrived today. That was fast. Considering they were ordered November 8.
How much you want to bet that they forgot to order them, and didn't do it until I reminded them to, this week?

Ah. As predicted the party in the lobby finally ended - and prior to 10 pm. The plus side of families with small children throwing a party - is it is never a late one.

Off to bed.

shadowkat

Contemplating taking up chair yoga at home. All I need is my chair which I bought for the peddler that I got rid of. I don't know what it is about December and the Christmas season that seems to instill me with anxiety and depression - often at the same time. I'm fighting both at the moment.

Called the optometrist to find out what the status was on my contacts, which I'd ordered way back on November 8. I left two messages.

Optometrist: We didn't order any contacts for you.
Me: Yes, you did. Either that or it was an incredibly expensive exam.
Optometrist: Let me check - oh, wait, yes, we did. (flustered). My mistake. Sorry about that. I'll look into it and get back to you.
ME: Whew. You had me worried. Considering I ordered them way back on November 8 - they should be ready by now, that was over a month ago.
Optometrist: Yes, yes, we're so sorry. We'll get back to you.

How much you want to bet that that order hadn't gone through in November or they stupidly gave it to someone else and now have to order them again? Thank god, I have enough for another two-three months.

People are stressing me out. Work is always stressful at this time of year - our fiscal year ends in December, so there's this mad rush by all the idiotic procrastinators to send work my way. (I don't procrastinate at work, elsewhere yes, but not at work.) Honestly, sometimes I wish I could take off sometime around November to some exotic island somewhere, and not return until March 30. Solves the seasonal depression issue, and the anxiety issue. I am prone to seasonal depression because I need sunlight and blue skies. Drab, gray, rainy skies make me hurt and depress me. Hence the reason I don't live further north than NYC, nor in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, or Canada. I don't mind darkness at night? But I need sunshine.

**

Buffy S5 Rewatch ( Buffy is my mental health/comfort series, particularly the later seasons. I don't know why exactly? But something about it comforts me when I get stressed, frustrated or depressed. More than anything else. It's one of those things that you either get or you don't?)

The Replacement - Season 5, Episode 3. The first three episodes spend a lot of time setting the stage for what is coming, and setting up the characters, also depending on the previous year - placing the characters in either a good spot or a bad one. You can always tell how the season will end, based on where everyone is in the beginning of the season. If a character is isolated from everyone in the beginning of the season - they won't be at the end for example? Or if a character is happy, and in a relationship, and seemingly doing great - they won't be at the end. They also set the tone and the theme. It's pretty clear by the time we get to this episode that this season is about duality.
( Read more... )

Book Meme

1. Still reading "The Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem" - which is spending way too much time developing a romance between a newspaper owner and a police inspector, and not enough time on the friendship between two female journalists, investigating the murder, and well the promised mischief and mayhem. I may jump over to the Ill-Manner Ladies Guide to Utter Ruin Book 2 instead. Or Gideon The Ninth.

2. Am making more headway listening to the Paul Newman memoir - which is all the transcripts of all the audio recordings. (Newman burned the audio recordings in a fit of self-revulsion and embarrassment (he was a private man, and not comfortable talking about himself), but, alas they were all transcribed by his best friend a year or so prior to the burning and his kids found them a few years after both he and his friend died, and after much hemming and hawing, decided to publish them in a book - they also gave them to the actor and director Ethan Hawk (for reasons that I fail to completely understand) to make a documentary. This by the way proves that I'm wrong about why Hawk didn't delve into Paul's relationships with his family and siblings and the Sporting Goods Store. It wasn't because he didn't have access or was necessarily forbidden? I think it was because it was already in the memoir and already out there and didn't interest Hawk, the actor and director, all that much? Actors and Directors tend to be somewhat introspective and self-involved? And like to well talk about their own field more than dysfunctional families and Sporting Goods Stores? Hawk focused on what interested Hawk and ignored everything else.)

I started this after I finished re-listening to Graphic Audio's dramatization of the entire Kate Daniels Magic Series - which is excellent by the way. It has a full cast. Like a movie in your mind.
( Read more... )

shadowkat

Leg and knee didn't hurt as much today as they did on Saturday, making me think arthritis may be a factor, and sigh shifts in the weather.

The Super decorated the lobby of the apartment in style - we have poinsettias, a tree, a mechanical elf climbing a ladder to decorate the tree, and a carousel on top of the mail boxes, among other things. It's quite festive. Never thought I'd say this?? But I actually prefer a pre-war building of 77 units to a brownstone. Also the building is older - it's 100 years old, and quite sturdy all things considered.

And Momma got a Xmas present for me - today - I know what it is - she got it on Cyber Monday before it went up in price. ( kitchen appliances and where to put them )

I did partake of Cyber Monday. Got shoes for $22 on Lands End, and a pair of pants fo $21. And some underwear via Amazon. Yesterday at Walgreens I bought a cup warmer for work - worked like a dream. Plugged it in and it kept the cups warm. My tea, decafe coffee, and matcha lattes kept getting cold fast. Now they stay warm. It was only $5.

I'm embracing my love of my city and neighborhood. I love NYC. I was talking to Breaking Bad today, and describing how my entire family is spread around the US and lives in suburban and rural areas (ie. you need a plane and car, or in the case of my brother, a train and car to get to them).

Breaking Bad: So you're the sole urbanite?
Me (I think about it): Yup pretty much. I like cities.

I read on Calm or somewhere recently that anxious folks tend to prefer walk in city streets or places where they know all the threats instantly than a nature walk outside of the city. They feel safer. ( Read more... )

***

December Memage:

1. Do you use serviettes/napkins when you eat, or are they just for fancy meals/when you have guests?

When have guests or fancy. I rarely use them other than that. Don't have that many, and I can't find them?

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pfeifferpack

December 2011

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Reading

Mainly reviews and nattering on about television shows...

Buffy S5 and Angel S2 Rewatch Family & Untouched

I'm just glad it's Friday...

Thursday is tired and wishes it was Friday

Wednesday is tired, and nursing a bum knee

Tuesday is cold but hanging in there...

Sunday ran errands, laid about, and well memage...

Saturday...is hanging loose or trying to?

This that and Buffy S5 Rewatch...and book meme

Monday is just feeling grateful ...a few days late and a dollar short, but there you go

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December 2011

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