Sunny Days...Chasin' the Clouds Away

Yesterday was beautiful.
The amazing thing about yesterday, only one person was absent. Go Figure. Friday. Beautiful Weather. Tough Material.
Not so amazing was the girl who sat through my class visibly bored out of her mind and rolling her eyes. This is the same girl who sent me an angry email last week.
Everyone else in the class was with me, so it shouldn't matter. However, when your teaching it doesn't seem to matter if you have 99% of everyone's interest and attention, you physically need that one percent even if you loose the other 99% in the process.
I know all of that and still I felt like a dolt when class ended.

It was so nice last night, and there is no food in the house except for string cheese, I walked up to the bar for dinner. I took "The Historian" with me and slogged through another few chapters. Am I the only one who just cannot get into this book? That's not important.
What is important is the quality of mullet at the bar. It was truly a sight to behold. Dog the Bounty Hunter without gel. Minding my own business, reading and ignoring the 65 year old men, the mullet called to me. It forced me to look up and behold it's blond glory.

My special mullet radar stems from a former bar tender. He was the king of all bartenders. Perfectly tan, orange, with bleach blond hair he wore shorts all winter (in MN) and bartended like it was a jazzercize class. You might think I'm being mean, but he made the best cosmo ever and always gave me the extra. You see my bartender didn't just have a mullet. He had a duckbill that was ever so slightly grown out to include a collar length mullet. It's difficult to describe, but a wonder to behold.
In case you can't quite picture the duckbill, here is a visual aid.


The mullet really wasn't the highlight of the bar trip. Next to the bar is a great little middle eastern market. After dinner I stopped for some imported cream soda and almond nugat. The almond nugat is the highlight of the trip.

The best part of it all was to come home, drink cream soda, eat a couple of pieces of almond nugat and watch "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," which is a heck of a lot better than "Dollhouse."

Explanation

Here's the deal. Helo was not my favorite BSG character, although I'm glad he lived. Sure he had his moments, but eh, which was my reaction to the whole BSG cast. I tried explaining that to everyone else....I did not watch BSG for the eye candy.





There are actually plenty of other shows I watch for eye candy and then I am just disappointed when I realize that all the men I'm attracted to remind me of the DH in some way. It's a sickness...trust me.




What I'm trying to explain is that when I say I developed a cruch on Tahmoh Penikett last night. It's true. It was a sudden inexplicable thing. Honestly, most of the time, I think he looks a little stunned. However, there was something about his fight scene with Echo that changed everything for me. Wait, wait, wait...before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, I was not turned on by the image of him hitting a girl, I was turned on by the way he would stride back into the fight. It was weird. There were just two or three fleeting seconds when he would turn and wade back into the brawl that just worked for me. Okay, and it did help that he spent a lot of the episode shirtless.
I cannot deny the power of the arms. I like arms.


Anyway, much like I fell into lust with Tahmoh. Poor guy, I'm sure he is the perfect active for many women. The show clicked for me last week. For the first time, there was something more to it all than the "Let's see who Echo is this week" aspect of all the other shows. I may not agree with every choice, but now I am interested in the characters and how each of them will be manipulated throughout this story. Before, I was just hanging in there for Reed Diamond, who was my least favorite H:Lots cast member.

Latenight

Here's to another late night.  

I really need to get my prescription filled or at least buy some Night time Tylenol.  

My in-laws are here.  It's fun to see them, which we will actually get to do often this year.  Tonight I finally got to watch this week's Episode of Dollhouse.  Everyone who said not to judge the show until this episode was right.  Hopefully it will all be like this.  The tone was darker and more intense.  For some reason, maybe the late hour, I also just developed a huge Tamoh Pennikett crush.  

Spoiler

The documentary meta-commentary was okay, but hopefully it was a one-off thing.  First.  I try not to get all worked up about the prostitution business, but sometimes they just don't let it go. That Echo wanted to "finish" her engagement was gross.  Just gross people, no matter what you are trying to do.  Oh, and does someone in every show have to be raped?  The story line was okay in terms of the trust between the active and handler, but the abuse story line masked the fact that every time an active is implanted and/or sent out on a job it is rape and abuse.  I'm also sad that Melanie is an active.  I think that was an unnecessary twist.  Finally, we need more Romo Lampkin.

A Beautiful Thing...

Most of the time I lament the state of my imagination. It's alive and kicking. It's just not very interesting. Really, I can imagine the hell out of anything I've seen or heard, embellishing it until it fits the state of my life. However, I've never been able to make something whole out of nothing. It's like I only got half of the creative gene. Anyway most of the time it gets me down, but every once in a while it satisfies my every need.

When I have my iPod with me and playing something other than a book on tape, I like to imagine it is the soundtrack to my life. Whatever song is playing either reminds me of something or puts me in another mood. I walk faster, taller, and stronger when I listen to Pearl Jam or Soul Coughing. My best writing is done to the Bach Cello Concertos played by Pablo Casals. You get the idea. I assume this is what everyone does with their iPod.

Sometimes a song will play that is actually from a soundtrack of either a television show or movie. I remember the scene, the moment, whatever happened at that time. When I really want to kick some ass, or I just need some good energy, I play "Super Bon Bon." Suddenly I am Frank Pembleton kick in the doors of strip clubs hunting down Steve Buscemi. By the time the song is over and/or I've made it to class I'm ready to face the energy-sucking life force of 22 19 year olds. Just after Christmas I purchased some new music and my current kick-ass song is "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet. I didn't ever have the album or anything, but I love the song. It makes me remember being 19 and living in Bellingham (the good parts anyway.)

The other song in heavy rotation is "Beautiful Way" by Beck. The H:LOTS folks used it a couple of times. The last time I remember was in the movie, just before Timmy blows up the entire world. Don't worry that wasn't a spoiler, but if you've seen the movie you know what I mean. When I walk down the hall listening to "ooooh, it's a beautiful way to break your heart" Tim and Frank walk with me. I'm invincible. It's pretty cool, even if I do borrow the characters from somewhere else. It helps me get through the long days in the prison of my cubicle.

Record Breaking Heresy

I just want to see how many posts I can put up in one day. Plus, this way I can at least truthfully tell people I spent the day writing.
So, it's been three weeks. It's hardly enough time to tell if a show is going to make it or not, but it seems like it's been enough time to comment on Dollhouse.

Let me start by saying I like Joss Whedon's stuff. Like. Although I've rhapsodized about certain elements of Angel, I'm not a huge fan. I think other shows, like BSG, the Wire, and H:LOTS, have approached similar ideas differently and better. What?! You say it's not fair to compare the Whedonverse to such dramatic shows, but I think it is. At it's heart the Whedonverse takes some heavy topics, adds vampires or space, and a little comedic element to make it all palatable.

Dollhouse attempts to loose the less realistic factors of the Whedonverse and just give all out drama, which is where I think it goes wrong. The show actually needs to be darker. It needs a little of BSGs bleakness. The wise cracking characters in Dollhouse seem out of place with everyone and everything else. I'm willing to suspend belief. I don't need any explanations of the science, but in this case I need it to at least be serious. If other characters don't take their world seriously, why should I? A darker, bleaker world might also help me to feel more sympathetic to the "dolls" when they are no programmed. Right now the world they inhabit appears so plush and rosy that I am not as alarmed for them as I should be.

Here is the other issue. The show feels rushed. I know, I know I am supposedly a more sophisticated viewer and I can handle multiple plot lines; but, maybe I don't want to. It seems like there is a need to get too much of the mystery out there too soon. I know Whedon's had problems with Fox before (Firefly), but he seems driven to get all the mystery out there right now. I can't quite keep up. In fact, I need to go back to the third episode because I am still not sure how Tamoh Penikett's character got shot.

In short, I like the show, but I think it needed to be on SciFi or HBO or some other channel where it could have been darker and less rushed.

Old Stuff...

This is old stuff, which a lot of you can avoid. I don't think I've posted it here before, but Dr. Heidi made me think of it and I wanted to share.

I believe in Angel.
No, I am not some raving Joss Whedon fan who wishes she was a slayer and could (with her cadre of super cool friends) save the world and date sexy vampires. I didn't start watching until late in the game, and I don't own any seasons on dvd. Okay, so I do own Firefly, but that is a different essay.
Still, I believe in Angel. Rather, I should say I believe that we can all learn a little something from the vampire with soul. In "Deep Down," the opening episode to season four, Angel returns from being trapped in a coffin underwater for three months to confront his son, Connor, who put him there. Without getting too far into their complex story, their relationship is a little dysfunctional because Connor was raised to hate and destroy all vampires, especially Angel. Hence, the whole putting him in a coffin thing.

Angel explains to Connor what he figured out at the bottom of the ocean.
"I did get the time to think. About us. About the world. Nothing in this world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh. And cruel. But thats why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from. What we've done or suffered or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world was as it should be. To show it what it can be."

This is it, this is what makes me believe in Angel. "We live as though the world was as it should be. To show it what it can be." It's simple. But, say it out loud, give the appropriate pause for that period, and listen to how it sounds. It carries magic.
Not the magic that lets us dream of champions, believe that vampires can have souls, and find answers to life's questions in a television show, it's a deeper magic. There is hope in that passage, a hope I sometimes forget about, because there is another truth in that passage.

"Nothing in this world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh. And cruel." It is easy, especially today, to only see what is wrong with the world. From natural disasters to political outrages, from social injustice to individual assaults we are inundated by all the things that are wrong (and those don't cover the struggles we face in our personal lives). The occasional human interest story does nothing to ameliorate the despair that can set in when it seems as if nothing ever changes.

Josh Whedon is right. We need champions. If only to give us hope. Not the hope that they will save the day, the hope that we can save it ourselves. I know it sounds naive and starry-eyed, but what if we could believe in Angel. What if we could believe that if we show the world what it is capable of, the world will change? What if we believed in the magic of hope?
I could hardly be called a champion, but isn't that the point. Like Angel said, it doesn't matter if we make a difference, it's about how we live. There are sillier things than believing in vampires. So, I'll believe in Angel. "We live as though the world was as it should be. To show it what it can be."

Sunday Pulp

About a month ago, I was seriously ready for this semester to start. Now, it's way too soon. I don't start teaching until Wednesday. The last time I checked only 7 students registered for my class.

A friend almost lost his class and I kind of wish they would just take mine. Don't get me wrong, I'm ready to teach. It's makes me a little nervous right now. When my friend almost lost his class they were going to make him work the time equivalent in the WC. I volunteered to switch places. (He really needs to teach this semester for research.) Now, I think it would have been a nice way to ease back into things if I only worked in the WC this semester. It would fit because I am an intern in the WC training class. Instead, I get to teach my own class, intern, and maybe work in the WC. We're going to talk about it next week.
It's certainly not that WC work is easier. I think it is harder than teaching and I don't feel like I've ever been stellar at it. One to one communication is just easier for me. I wish we would have thought of a WC position earlier.

On a completely different note...as you may have noticed I've had a lot of time for TV these days. Because the 5pm-8pm time slot is so abysmal, I started watching NCIS. It's actually not a bad show, in spite of the fact that all the characters are a specific type. Ted Bundy...I mean Mark Harmon is the surly father figure who always goes with his gut. Abby (Pauley Perette) is the crazy goth-on-the-outside, but incredibly perky brilliant scientist. McGee is the newbie...sorry, proby (probationary). He's math whiz, geek kind of doughy faced, but thoughtful and tries to be manly. DiNozzo is the young-male lead, he's a womanizer with the heart of gold complete with the Italian name. He's always impugning McGee's masculinity. David McCallum returns to television as the eccentric, loquacious, m.e. who likes to talk to the bodies. You see this show is great, not because of the writing or acting, but because there is nothing to challenge the viewer.

All of that would be fine. It helps to keep your mind on plot, which is usually topical and often takes a different approach to topics than you might think. Here it comes...wait for it, wait for it...HOWEVER, this show although it does have some strong women characters, completely reinforces some pretty typcial gender roles - particularly when it DiNozzo tries to woo a character. In short the character is the guy at the bar that you would end up throwing a drink on, but on the show it's supposed to be charming and endearing. I started paying attention and really thinking about this when I saw an episode set in a state park. I know therre are many, but this one is where they initially think the guy was mauled by a bear. One of the park rangers is really pretty, passionately anti-hunting, and loves her job. Of course, DiNozzo immediately tries to hit on her. She holds out for a while, but can't resist the charm. It's all going swimmingly. They're supposed to have a date, but then disaster strikes. As she sits on his dek, the ranger starts to rearrange her long hair. She lifts up her arms and..."Oh Noes!!!" She doesn't shave. DiNozzo actually gags, but hangs in there until she puts her leg up on a file cabinet and he can see her legs are nice and hairy too. He makes up some lame excuse to get out of the date and the park ranger looks confused.

Seriously. Do I need to even spell out the problem with the "Ewww...she's hairy" moment?
Don't worry, I know you can do that one on your own. I've got different fish to fry.

Let's talk about Ziva David, she is the third member of Gibbs' team. She's supposed to be a former Moussad agent, who now works for us. She's secretly in love with DiNozzo and she shaves. A position she earned by killing her half-brother. Eh. I warned you all about the writing. Cote de Pablo does a fine job. It's the character I have issues with. From what I've noticed there are not any amazingly anti-arab episodes, but the mere presence of her character is a comment on US/Israeli/Palesitinian relations. When she tosses off lines like, "I've seen a 12 yr. old suicide bomber." There's no doubt of whom she is referring. The show is so contemporary and topical, but because they have this character they avoid dealing with the US/Israeli relationship, while tacitly being pro-Israeli. It's a little weird.

That's probably enough analysis of a show that doesn't warrant it.

1 of 10

Battlestar Galactica came back on the air last night. Whoo Hoo! A couple of friends, who don't have cable, came over to watch it. We had fun even though we had to explain a lot to the CP and the DH. I'm sure I will go back and re-watch the episode sometime this week, my first impressions were okay.

SPOILERS






























They (possibly) reveal Ellen Tigh as the final cylon. I only say possibly because the realization came to Tigh in a flashback. I'm sure it's correct, but I was a little disappointed. My friends thought it might end up to be some unknown copy of Zack Adama, which I think would have been cool. I was also rooting for Kat. Ellen, well, she wasn't a very sympathetic character to begin with, but it does kind of explain why Saul put up with her.

I didn't like DuWalla, but her suicide was a little sudden. She was, next to the president, the most upset about Earth.

I'm not sure how I feel about the Starbuck trajectory. Once she found her body, I was pretty sure it would be some sort of "sent" back by the Cylon God thing, but I don't want to see her suddenly die or anything once her mission is complete.

Overall, I'm looking forward to the rest of the show. Oh, and I really like Lee in his new role as a politician. There is a different confidence about him that I like.

Full Names

During my undergraduate career I went to school with several Heathers, Davids, Sarah's. As a result, we would often call people by their full names. Soon it became normal. I have close friends I even think of with two names. It is, however, in other contexts pretty strange.

Since I've been blessed with some quality daytime television time, I've noticed that on shows like "The New Detectives" when they talk about a suspect, who is going to end up the killer, they always use a full name. For example, I just heard this, "Detectives went to John Smith's house to speak to him. John Smith's mother answered."

It's amazing what you notice when watching daytime television.

New Password...

My current password is the name of one of my animals and a number or two...so don't try to figure it out. Just know that it usually takes me about three tries to type it correctly.

The CP came over to the house this afternoon. We went to the store and then made nachos for dinner. It was really good and I ate way too much. Now, I'm procrastinating the clean up process.

It felt good to socialize a little. I've been spending way too much time with NCIS lately. Funny though, I still can't think of Mark Harmon as anyone but Ted Bundy. Some how it doesn't ruin the new character for me.

My mom called today. There are flood warnings for home. They canceled several different schools today. It's crazy out there. At least they don't have hurricane force winds....yet.

Distraction...

Really, I was going to post something academic, but I got distracted by this:



And now it's time for Project Runway.

End of civilization....

Really. Have you seen this? Fox's Hole in the Wall. Then again, I have just watched 20 minutes of it.