Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in verseblack's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, July 9th, 2009
1:37 pm	Hope everyone is gearing up for the latest movie! London was wonderful. Lots of great food and great art. Managed to get front row tickets to "Wicked" which was lovely. Mr. Black was very impressed. Before the trip he kept saying, "Everyone refers to musicals as 'the one with the chandelier,' or 'the one with the helicopter,' or 'the one with the bridge.' I want to see the one with the dragon!" So we were both tickled to find that "Wicked" indeed had an impressive dragon clock! Finally managed to get inside the Temple Church. I'd tried on my last 2 trips to London, but never managed to catch it open. After going through the delightful Sir John Soan's museum, we asked one of the workers there for directions. After some trouble getting across the Church I was looking for (she asked if it was the one from the DaVinci Code, but I wasn't sure if that was it. Turned out it was. I just wanted to see it after having read about it in a guide book and then having been thwarted so many times it had become a matter of principle to get inside), she was able to point us the right way. Before we left she added rather doubtfully, something to the effect that, "It keeps really odd hours and is closed quite a bit!" In sadder news, I discovered that I am truly a muggle :) Tried to find platform 9 and 3/4, but never did manage to find the sign! I really wanted to get my picture taken with the cart halfway through the wall... Currently enjoying the deer that keep visiting the yard. One has twin and they are so much fun to watch! Hope everyone is well out in LJ-land. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
3:23 pm	Hmmm, riding the horse bareback during shedding season might not be the brightest idea I ever had. Not only is there all the fur, but shedding season also corresponds to warmer days and more grass which in turn leads to bouncier horses. I hadn't ridden bareback in a while, so I think Moon was a little surprised when I jumped up there without putting the saddle on. (One would think my normally bright horse would figure out what was coming when I lead her up to the mounting block and go through all the little before mounting rituals we usually do, but nooo.) She turned her nose around to my leg, whickered, then gave a little hop. I grabbed her mane, kicked her, and she decided that it was easier to be good than bad. All in all, a pretty nice ride, even with the opening bounce. (Comment on this)
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
1:34 pm	Phineas! The Daily Snitch has issued a call for story recs dealing with (drumroll please) PHINEAS NIGELLUS! http://community.livejournal.com/daily_snitch/458632.html?view=1115272#t1115272 I've go on and posted links to most of my stories featuring my OTP (One True Painting), but I have not gone through all my old posts to hunt down everyone else's stories yet. If you have a fic (or know of a fic) featuring this snarky portrait, please post the links over to the Snitch! I'm going to try and hunt down as many as I can, but things are busy in my neck of the woods right now... Thanks! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
9:47 am	!!!!!!! I'm sitting here in shock right now. I'm going to London. LONDON! Mr. Black and I had been planning a summer trip to Yellowstone. I've never been camping and have barely ever stuck my toe past the Mississippi River, so it was going to be A Learning Experience for me. Then, after seeing a new report on fares going down the night before last, Mr. Black suggested I run an internet check on prices. It was a lot cheaper than we expected, so last night I wound up with hands shaking on the mouse making a purchase. Naturally, I am convinced that Something Will Go Wrong and the trip won't really happen. (Before my high school trip across the little pond I was *convinced* that I would die before I made it to England.) I just can't believe it. I've been making lists of all the things I want to go back to, double checking online that certain restaurants are still open. I'm freaking out about having to deal with Heathrow (I've always gone through Gatwick with the nice train ride in to the city to shake out all the airplane cobwebs.) I get to lay out itineraries. I need to find out when the Temple Church is actually open, having never managed to show up on a day you could get inside. I need to train Mr. Black not to talk on the Tube ;) So here's to my honeymoon! (Only 3 1/2 years after the wedding ;) I'M GOING TO LONDON. (13 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, February 13th, 2009
3:15 pm	Happy Friday the 13th! Friday the 13th has long been a favorite day of mine. The very first Friday the 13th I was aware of, I won a drawing with my library's children's reading program and received a wonderful gift certificate to our local book store. (I had read 13 books and so my name was in the pot 13 times :) Ever since then, I've always thought fondly of the date, and have been prone to noticing good things that happen. Today did not let me down! While skimming my f-list I noticed the SS/HG Digest had a story listed with the title "What Did Phineas Have To Do With It?" Immediately, I thought, "Oh, please let that be my gift in the Exchange!" And sure enough, it was!! Go http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/156329.html to read it. Very fun, very witty, with an utterly delicious twist in the tale. The piece features a hysterical section from an owl's POV. Didn't you always want to see Snape racing madly through the halls of Hogwarts, firing spells at an owl who's just trying to do his job? I simply must get a little toy owl and name it Erasmas now. (I have a crochet pattern for a little owl, and I'm thinking I'm going to make that my next project. Oh, and the book also has a hedgehog pattern, so I can make my very own magical Google hedgehog of the sort Ursula made for Phineas in "Letters and Secrets" http://community.livejournal.com/romancingwizard/321290.html.) Oh, other nice things that today is bringing include a fantastic oriental umbrella stand that was such a good deal I feel like I stole it and my husband is taking me to "Tartuffe" tonight :) (Comment on this)
Saturday, January 24th, 2009
9:51 am	Recently read/reading: Last week I polished off MacAvory's lovely, slim little book "Tea With the Black Dragon." (I think there is a rather famous SS/HG fic by the same name that I have not yet read.) Very fast, fun book. The dragon was delightful, and it was nice to see a heroine who was about 50 or so help save the day and get her fellow (er, her dragon). Plus, it was fascinating to see a book set in the early '80s with computers as part of the plot. Looking very much forward to reading more by this author. Am working my way through Guy Gavriel Kay's Tapesty trilogy. I think these books will re-read better than they read. His writing is so georgous, so poetic that it's easy to get side tracked on the story. Good for lingering reading. A bit dark for my taste and too many people are dying, but stunningly beautiful use of words. Am listening to "Coraline" on tape in anticipation of the movie that comes out next month. It's read by Neil Gaiman, and I was quite pleasantly surprised at what a wonderful reader he is. I've listened to a few other authors reading their own work on tape and my reaction has been tepid. He does not sound at all like I thought he would, so that was a bit of a shock. I read "Coraline" a few years ago and thought it was nicely creepy, but didn't remember much more than the fact that the cat was all sorts of awesome. I'm enjoying it more listening to it, but the cat still steals the show. Usually I have a hard time listening to books when the narrator is opposite the gender I imagine the words in. (For example there is a Brother Cadfael book on tape read by a woman and I just can't finish it. Yes, I know the books were written by a woman.) So I was leery of listening to a man read "Coraline." But, no problems so far. I hope the movie makes a ridiculous amount of money so maybe we can get a proper movie version of "Neverwhere." (And then maybe people would start writing fanfic for it...) I've never wanted a fandom for anything as badly as I would love a Neverwhere fandom. Come on people, this is a world where all your "American exchange student has crazy adventures" plots would actually *work.* Where is the fic? Where are the nice character sketches of Door playing with her powers? Where are the humorous pieces with the Marquis? Where is the crazy story that somehow, someway convinces readers for half a heartbeat that Door/Mr. Croup could actually *work?* (Now if that last wish isn't proof that HP fandom has completely and utterly fried my brain beyond any hope, I don't know what is.) SS/HG exchange is rolling along. Some lovely things out there and I need to get myself in gear and do some more reading and squeeing. I'm not one to go hunt down fan art, but there was a picture of our couple dancing that I want as a postcard and a lovely little black and white piece with Hermione reading and Snape as a cat that I so want for a bookplate. How everyone who's in on this loves their gifts! (And everyone else's gifts as well!) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009
1:44 pm	In which Verse illustrates that she is so not over it... The "it" in question being the fact that Doctor Who is moving on to Doctor 11. The other day I was at the store and stopped by the craft department. I have a chest of drawers full of fabric, but that doesn't stop me from oohing and ahhing over the latest pretty prints and colors. One moment I was harmlessly admiring a nifty pink and green floral and the next moment I was standing in from of the yarn practically squeeing--"It's the same color as the TARDIS!" Naturally, something that can elicit such an emotional response and cost less than $2 went into the cart. But it made me realize just how sad I am about the end of this era. My feelings are awfully intense for someone who isn't a part of the fandom and has only been watching the series for just over a year. I've known for a while now that part of my "Doctor depression" is because my very sadness reminds me that I am Not British. Many of the long time British fans who grew up watching the series seem to be reacting to the implosion and denial of the new American fans with a mixture of superiority and bewilderment--to these fans the changing face of the Doctor is part of the show, a fundamental part of the mythology and one thing that makes the series so special. And these reactions only serve to remind me that I am Not British, that I did not grow up watching this series and my interaction with the show is quite different from a huge majority of fans. Now, having spent 30+ of my 31 years on this earth Somewhere Other than the British Isles (namely, the Southern United States), one would think that I would have had plenty of time to adjust to the fact that I am Not British. Just because people comment on my "English accent" does not make me British. (To some Americans, proper English spoken with a southern accent sounds "English." The Arkansas actor who played the butler on "The Nanny" said the main thing he did to get his "accent" was to speak in a gramaticaly correct fashion.) Just because I understand the political situations described in a nineteenth century Englishman's journal better than the events described in my own newspapers does not make me British... During my undergrad years I found myself in a clique where all things British were highly celebrated. Scorn of American literature in favor of Brit Lit was accepted in my circle. We read Jane Austen and Iris Murdoch and sniffed that the other girls only liked Faulkner because they thought the professor was hot. I often found myself saying with a slight smirk that "The only American writers I will confess to liking are Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, and Ray Bradbury." Landing a spot in the school's study abroad program in London was a feat highly celebrated. Once in London we found ourselves celebrating our first times past the "Big Red Bus" tours without being asked if we needed a tour of the city. "Maybe we don't look so obviously American now, maybe we're fitting in," we told ourselves. I still laugh about the untold number of times I was asked for directions around the city by someone with an English accent. (Got some funny looks when I offered those directions in my Southern drawl.) In grad school I found myself in an "American Literature before 1750" class and I and several other students consoled ourselves with the though that we were actually reading "English" "French" "Spanish" and "Native American" literature. But history books, Lewis Carroll, a semester in London, and a summer at Exeter College, Oxford cannot make one British. And I'm reminded of that whenever I face the departure of the only Doctor I've ever seen "in real time." As much as I like to think I've matured out of my "British is Best" youth, it still makes me sad. I can't fully understand what it means to have grown up with this show, and I can't help but think I missed out on something special because of that. (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, December 20th, 2008
8:48 pm	Three Days of Happy The rules are that for eight days you have to post something that made you happy that day. Ack! I'm three days behind! Not because I haven't had things to be happy about, but more because I've been too sick (blech cold) to fully aprreciate them. So here, to get me on track are three things that are making me smile. 1. Got to ride Moon today. It had been a while, between grading stress and ailing I hadn't felt like climbing aboard my little firecracker. Yesterday I briefly pondered it, but the wind sounded like it was about to blow the barn down, so I stayed on the ground. Barn did not blow away, but one of the stall doors did blow open. Happily, it was not the stallion's door. It was however, the door to the double stall/run that housed the two new horses. While running after any horse in a windstorm is not my idea of fun, running after two horses who don't have a clue who I am would be even less fun. Thankfully, I managed to get the door closed before anyone realized escape was an option. 2. My story for Romancing the Wizard is done! Phineas, Ursula, and a magic hedgehog :) 3. My desk is clean! Er, well as clean as it gets ;) I'm going to reward myself by setting out the McDonad's My Little Pony I just got. Yes, 31 years old and those little pastel ponies make me smile. I was treating myself to junk food on the last day of school and couldn't resist. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
10:36 am	Day Two for The rules are that for eight days you have to post something that made you happy that day. One good thing about the cold is that it makes the cat lovey-dovey. He curled up purring on the couch with me for a good long time. He's fluffy, and it was nice to have a little cat-heater on a cold morning. Have been reading Guy Kay's "Ysabel" and am enjoying it. I've neglected Kay for many years, so I'm trying to fix that. Just finished "The Summer Tree" and have the next book in his "Tapestry" series on call for library loan. There are some nice things about that book, but I also had some issues with it as well. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
10:18 am	This has hit my f-list this morning and I thought it was a neat idea. The rules are that for eight days you have to post something that made you happy that day. So, my happy thing for Day 1 is that I have an orchid blooming!!! YEA! First bud is open, and I have several more buds getting ready. I also have a couple of plants that have put out spikes and should bloom sometime over the next few weeks. Classes are finished. Papers are marked and grades are in and I'm now watching it snow (or snow/sleet/ice/ick, cant's really tell as I'm inside at the computer :P I have a few more Christmas presents to buy, a quilt to finish, cookies and candy to make, and cards to mail, but work is done for the year! I have started on my "Romancing the Wizard" challenge fic. Not very far along, but I'm going to claim successful progress. In other HP news, I saw the new HBP trailer and the exchange between Harry and Dumbledore cracked me up! I may get some of the wording wrong, but basically it went something like this: Dumbledore: I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you here. Harry: Not really. Now I just sort of go with it. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
8:01 am	Halloween party was fun--it was great seeing all the costumes. The three blind mice, some Twilighters, and a set of helicopter parents (we were on campus)were some of the highlights. Mr. Black wound up going as Doctor Who. Oddly enough, most people around here were not familiar with the show (!) But we did come across one other Doctor at the party, complete with Rose who was even pulling off the accent. It was quite fun seeing the both Doctors whip out the sonic screwdrivers and compare shoes :) But the absolute best line of the evening was curtsy of a Sarah Palin moose. He spotted my husband and figured out the costume right away, then saw me as Hermione Granger. Looking back and forth between the two of us he said, "You know, I'm sure there's fanfic for that out there somewhere." Hoping to get pictures up soon. Nano novel is tentativly started. I'm not sure it's a good thing that not even 300 words in I somehow wound up with an entirely new set of characters. These seem marginally more interesting that the previous set, but that isn't saying much ;) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, October 31st, 2008
9:20 am	Sad... Was very unhappy to hear that My Favorite Doctor is leaving Doctor Who :(:( *sigh* first Donna and now this. I was just sure we'd get at least another full season out of dear Barty Crouch Jr. And there is no good news about "Pushing Daisies." And my beloved NCIS showed an icky episode that I couldn't even watch all the way through this week. Blast it all, entertainment is supposed to be FUN :( (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, September 26th, 2008
9:52 am	After two weeks of crazy, I'm starting to feel human again :) First, there were the 6 days of no power. Yep, Ike hit us. A hurricane hit Indiana. I'm still shaking my head over that one. It is so nice to have the internet back (along with, you know, lights and the washing machine)! For the first couple of days we did not have water either. Now that was a bit stressful, and as a result I did not take the outage with quite the level of grace I might have. When the cat is drinking bottled water, things seem askew ;) It was rather fun to read the Dresden Files by candlelight--espcially one deliciouly creepy scene in Small Favor where the bad guys take out the lights. Most of the branches and debris are up out of the yard, but it is sad to drive around and see broken trees and smashed houses. Thankfully, the stable stayed more in the realm of civilization than did my house. Moon basically just got a week off of work--she still had running water! After the lights came back, there was a mad rush to catch up on everything that had been postponed. Restocking the refridgerator, cleaning the house for a visit from in-laws (who we had not seen for a long, long time), tracking down people for interviews (and discovering some people were out of contact 'til after my deadline--ouch!), writing articles based on said interviews, preparing for confernces with my students, various bits of family drama from corners of the family that are usually quite undramatic, all leave me still here wiped out. I kept telling myself just to hang on until the end of class yesterday, and my body seems to have taken me at my word. I spend much of the afternoon crashed out on the couch, too tired to even sleep. (The fact that I just had to re-type "sleep" four times to get the spelling correct shows just how out of it I still am!) Today I have a library booksale to go to, and I expect to reward myself for all my hard work over the past couple of weeks. Saturday is the huge community art show, and I may be rewarding myself a bit more then as well. Last year I picked up my rosemary plant, and as she's still doing well, maybe I can get a few more herbs. And Saturday a friend is hosting a "yea! we have power again" party, so that should be fun. I'm thinking I will bring candles :) I had planned to get a piece from Sarah Orgen in celebration of my survival. She really has some lovely and strange pieces of work. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=86028 notably this wooden fox collage doll http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10051953 However, I suddenly realized that what I thought was a Mr. Fox in a frockcoat might be a Ms. Fox in a dress. I e--mailed the artist, and sure enough, it's a girl. Sigh. I was really wanting a dapper Mr. Fox straight out of fairy tales of evil suitors to sit on my shelf :( I hope all is well with everyone out in LJ-land. I *really* need to get busy on my SS/HG Exchange fic! EEK! (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, September 5th, 2008
10:57 am	Book news: I now have in my hot little hands a copy of Calvino's "Castle of Crossed Destinies!" I've read only the first few pages but so far it's wonderful. Calvino (like Borges) is an author whose words set a match to my mind. The story is about travelers telling each other stories. But, since no one can talk, they are having to use tarot cards to do so. While I have some revulsion toward tarot cards, the device of telling tales in such a manner is still appealing to me. I remember sitting in a Paris train station with a friend and we did a very sleep-deprived version of the same thing using a normal pack of cards. I also checked out Calvino's "Baron in the Trees" yesterday. That book did not have a bar code on it so I had to wait for the librarian to get that sorted out. Curiously, I asked how long that meant it had been since the book was checked out. At least since 1990 she replied. That got me thinking how much I missed the old cards that used to be attached in the back of library books that were stamped with the due date. I always enjoyed seeing how popular or obscure the book was that I was reading. In elementary school the book cards included the names of the people who had checked the books out. I'm sure privacy laws have something to say about that nowadays, but I was always amused to see names I knew on the list, or my own name appearing over and over and over again. Something for me to smile about: One of my orchids is blooming. This is the first one that I've managed to spike and bloom myself. Doubly exciting is the fact that this is the one I thought was dying a few weeks ago. Something I thought I'd never say: I so need to stop by campaign headquarters and pick up a button. Growing up I was given the sense that it was vaguely tacky to wear one's politics pinned to your shirt or stamped across the back of your car. The fact that my father is a yellow dog Democrat and my mother is the Republican equivalent likely had something to do with this. But I'm headed to an art show soon and last campaign cycle I was just about assaulted by Democrats trying to plaster me with their stickers. So I'm hoping a nice McCain/Palin button may stave some of them off and allow me to look at the art in relative peace. I'm so conservative I knew who Palin was before McCain picked her. I was *literally* dancing in the aisles when my mother said he'd selected "the governor of Alaska." Honest, I was at a flea market and there were aisles there :) While I usually vote, I don't think I've set foot in a campaign headquarters since the Bush/Dukakis race and I was trying to pick up "stuff" to use in an elementary school project. I still remember that the the Republicans gave me a stack of bumper stickers and so on while the Democrats would not give me a thing. Granted, one nice couple who was picking up signs for their yard overheard my request (and refusal) and gave me a few pieces when we got outside the building. So my project was as bi-partisan as I could make it. While I don't blame that incident for my Republican-ness, it makes for a funny story on getting my politics set for me at a young age. (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
10:26 am	Someone *has* to have written this... So with all the teachers out there reading and writing Snape-fic, someone has to have written a "Snape responds to student evaluations" piece or something similar. I'm not up to writing one myself, but if anyone has done one or seen one, I would love to read it ;) Hope all the Twilight fans out there are enjoying their latest book! I'm hoping I get a chance to get back on this series soon. (Right now my husband and I are racing throught the Dresden Files books. They are borrowed from a friend so we *have* to read them RIGHT AWAY so that we can give them back, right?) Anniversary was yesterday! Woo Hoo! Three years of wedded bliss :) Like a lot of celebrations, we're spreading this one out. Currently trying to decide whether we will go see the Mummy movie or the Hellboy movie today. We may very well decide in a moment of decadent geekiness to go to them both back to back if the run times and race across town work out... (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
4:30 pm	I think I picked the right time to jump back into fandom :) Romancing the Wizard has a great summer drabble challenge running right now. Go check it out at http://community.livejournal.com/romancingwizard/ ! I'm running a bit behind on reviews as I had to finish my final two drabbles this morning... Be sure not to miss Seaislewitch's swoon-worthy Phineas/Ursula piece. I know I'll never look at mazes the same way again! My pairings were Phineas/Ursula (surprise, surprise), SS/HG (can't ignore The Good Ship), Neville/Luna, Remus/Tonks, and a Bellatrix/Rodolphus one that's as in-character AND sweet as I could possibly make it. I just heard a rumor that the HBP trailer will be shown with The Mummy movie. That means I may *have* to see it in the theater now. I love those silly Mummy movies! And I'm currently refusing to be mad that they have a new actress playing Evelyn. Whew! Guess my break is over and I need to run back to cooking. Making zuchinni bread for the first time, so we'll see how that goes. Need to get started on the meatballs next! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, July 25th, 2008
3:32 pm	Today I seem to be Verse (almost) Red. Last night I gathered up the courage to dye my hair, but between being nervous and rinsing it off too quick and having an awful lot of hair, it turned out to be more red highlights. So this weekend I'm going to try and hit some of the spots that were missed. It doesn't look half bad as it is, but I think another go will do it some good. I've only thrown red into my brown hair a couple of times, and I'm terrified of ruining my long hair. All well, it's supposed to be non-permanant and if all else fails it will grow out in, oh, 3-4 years... Fandom seems to be heating up in my neck of the woods. In addition to deciding to join in for the next round of the SS/HG exchange, the latest Romancing the Wizard challenge is due to be released soon! Hurray! Reason 2398526475826 my husband is wonderful--he bought me a sonic screwdriver as an early anniversary gift :) Part one of the Doctor Who finale is tonight and I'm trying to prepare myself (I've read a LOT of spoilers...) Picked up a few books at a recent hobby convention. A couple of horse anthologies (it *was* a convention for model horses ;), as well as a few fantasies. Outlander--don't know a lot about it but it keeps showing up on lots of lists, a couple of dragon books my husband has presently claimed, a Sherlock Holmes/Jeckle and Hyde crossover, and a Tanith Lee book (I think it's called White As Snow) with a lovely cover that is said to be a mix of Snow White and Persephone. Think I made a pretty good haul! Been watching a few of the "Fear Itself" episodes. While most of them are pretty bland, straightforward horror, the zombie episode had to be the best "zombie movie" I've seen yet. (Granted, I have not seen many AT ALL.) Very nice twist that even this "Raised on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Ray Bradbury stories" watcher didn't see coming. Currently listening to Inkheart on tape. I'm enjoying all the descriptions of books and characters' relationships with books; any novel where the superpower is being able to read characters to life out of stories is going to get my attention. But some of the characters are just spectacularly stupid and that makes it a bit trying at times. But Dustfinger is a delicious character that makes the story worth the price of admission all by himself. I hear the movie (with Brenden Frasier--star of my beloved Mummy movies) is coming out soon. Inheart got me thinking about just how much I love books about books. Whether it's the breakneck fun of "The Club Dumas," the enchanting "If on a Winter's Evening," or Borges's short stories filled with impossible books, I'm a huge fan. I still need to get a copy of "The Neverending Story" with the different colors of ink! So, any suggestions for good books about books? Magical books are my favorites, but I'm interested in even more "muggle" stories as well ;) (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
11:28 am	TV thoughts Possible spoilers for Bones, House, and NCIS   My reaction to the Bones season finale can best be summed up as-- what? What?? WHAT!?!   I like the show and all, but I consider myself a casual fan.  I whine a bit if I miss an episode, but don't think I'm terribly wrapped up in it.  The fact that this episode is still bothering me hours later probably shows that I have too much time on my hands...  I can't believe the writers did THAT to Zach.  (I'm also peeved they did that to the actor--he wasn't looking to get off the show and he sounds unhappy that Zach's "I'm sorry" was even left off the final cut.)  While meta-wise I could see it coming, I think the series did a rotten job making this twist believable.  Come on, smart, logical, socially inept guy does not equal apprentice serial killer/murderer.  We need a few more hints if the "sweet, endearing" character who's been on the show for years is going to pull something like this stunt.  I guess it will be argued that Zach's experience in war hit him hard, but it seems like a cheap shot.  Perhaps I've just known a few too many people who I think would, if they were translated to a TV show, be written a lot like Zach.  I think that's one of the things that is so off-putting to me.  I currently plan to pretend this episode NEVER HAPPENED and the character is happily puttering around another lab.  (Hey, it's a fictional character, so I don't see anything wrong in choosing to go with my own version.  As they say on Mythbusters, "I reject your reality and substitute my own" ;)  Wow, I guess that sounds a wee bit nutty, but honestly, I don't do things like that in real life, just shows/movies/books...)      I was hoping it would be Sweets and then we could get the nice British shrink back...    Now I'm doubly worried about who is getting knocked off NCIS.  I'm very much hoping it will be Jenny as I don't think I could stand to lose any one other than her.  The show got very, very lucky with Ziva coming in after Kate (Cate?), and I don't think that will happen again.  I'm scared it will be Ducky because the actor is getting older and I could imagine him wanting some time off.   House--eh, I think their finales are a bit wild.  I felt sad while watching the scenes that were supposed to be sad, but I never really cared for CTB and thought the show was getting a bit soap-operay.  There is a reason I despise Grey's Anatomy with a passion ;)  I'm hoping the series goes back to the "House is a funny jerk who solves a medical mystery each week" formula.  I really don't want to focus on the personal lives of these characters, thanks.   Oh, on a happier TV front, I am loving Donna on Doctor Who.  I found her annoying as the Bride, so I am quite tickled to find her so enjoyable now. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 19th, 2008
3:19 pm	Yesterday I went hiking in the woods around our house.  Now, much as I might wish it were otherwise, I'm not naturally outdoor-sy.  My fair skin has a near vampiric reaction to sunlight, and my, ahem, lack of innate grace makes me less than trustworthy on level surfaces much less rolling, sloping ground. Sure enough I had a slight slide down a hill.  In my defense it was wet and slick, and my tennis shoes have terrible traction.  But I carried on, wanting to see the creek since we'd had some rain and the water would be flowing.  Made it down to the banks and noticed a trail I hadn't seen before.  The trails around the school are maintained by one of the clubs, so sometimes it can be a bit hit or miss on what is a trail and what isn't.  This bend was clearly used by something, but whether that somthing was of the hiking variety or the deer variety I couldn't be certain.  I followed it back and with a bit of climbing got a nicer view of one of the little waterfalls than I'd managed before.  I was tempted to go for an even better view, but a couple of slips and the slight ache from my earlier fall persuaded me against it.  Besides I could just imagine the call to my husband (assuming I could even get any reception), trying to explain that I needed to be rescued from of the trails that very well might not be a trail.  The place where I had to turn back seemed to be the stomping grounds of some critter--there were several snail shells that had the snails eaten out of them and a bone of some sort.  Had some fun pondering what sort of magical creature would fit into that environment, then some more fun trying to decide if I would wind up in a fantasy or horror novel if I continued my explorations :)  I haven't been writing much lately, and need a bit of an inspiration boost.  I'd planned to go exploring further today and even had on my more sensible shoes, but it's raining out.  And while rain may not deter imaginary forest dwelling monsters, it does keep this klutzy maid inside! (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
3:41 pm	So, um, do all the clouds that have moved in mean that sparkly vampires will be showing up in Southern Indiana soon?  We've had so much rain, wet, fog, and wind that I am actually going to say that I am ready for some sun.  I want to go hiking!  I live not even half a block from a trail but it's been so wet lately I'm afraid I would slip, roll, and tumble down a cliff with no vampire to rescue me ;)    Horse seemed in a bit of a better mood today.  With the longer days and fresh grass her spring hormones have been kicking in so she's been a bit grumpy.  Of course today the wind was stirring up horrible horse eating monsters and the evil human decided to worm her so she had to be bribed back to a sweet temper with treats.   I'll steal the top five meme from  redvelvetcanopy, because she's a superhero :) Give me any listing that you're curious about as to my Top Five.  As a freebie I'll give you the top five books on my reading list I'm most looking forward to reading.   1. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer 2. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer (I should have these in my hot little hands next week!!!!) 3. Summerlong by Peter S. Beagle  I heard him read an exerpt from a book he was working on, oh, it must have been at least five years ago.  Today I find out that it should be out this year!!  Check here http://greenmanreview.com/book/selection_beagle_summerlong.psb.html for the first chapter.  The idea that people look different in different times is one I have held for a while and so I was thrilled to hear someone else articulate it. 4. The Mythic Imagination: The Quest for Meaning Through Personal Mythology by Stephen Larsen.  It's about seeing myth and archetypes in everyday life.  This thing has been on my "to read" list for years.  I keep meaning to put it on inter-library loan, but keep getting sidetracked by other things. 5. The Quest of Three Abbots: The Golden Age of Celtic Christianity by Brendan Lehane     (3 Comments |Comment on this)