An appropriate subject heading escapes me...

Wishing Wisewoman/Dub/an Old One - a Happy Birthday!!!

Lots of birthdays today.

The history channel's documentary on the French Revolution is whispering in the background as I type, studying my newly painted nails. Did it myself this round - using the only nail polish I could find. Somewhat unsatisfied with it. My purpose in doing it? To make my nails look presentable - the old nail polish had chipped off and they were looking a tad ragged. The color hides a bit of that. But this color is a bit glitterier and redder than I'd like and isn't quite as clean looking. Why do I need to make them presentable? Have a party to go to tonight on Roosevelt Island - which is basically a bit of land in the East River between Manhattan and Queens that has apartments on it. Friend's birthday party. All these birthday parties this year - makes me wonder if I should do anything for mine? Not sure. Parties take work and I hate bars. Plus my apartment is far too small. Also had a nice one in a fun restaurant last year. What I might just do is buy myself a new CD player - I'd get an MP3 player if I could figure out how to download MP3's from dial-up, since haven't gotten around to getting DSL quite yet. Question? Should I get DSL or the slightly more expensive cable modem? Casey tells me cable modem. People at work suggest DSL. Am on the fence. Will ask Kidbro next weekend about Mp3 players, CD players, and Dsl vs. cable. He's the techie in the family.

What do I want for my birthday? (It's not until March...it's just the fact I have to go out soon and buy stuff that makes me think of this). No clue. Well that's not true - I do know, but it's not anything I can get. Outside the range of possibility of getting. Unless I win the lottery. ( Read more... )

TV

Of the television shows watched this week...my favorites were:

1. BattleStar Galatica (which I think may be the best new television series of 2005 and possibly the best of 2004, although I enjoyed The 4400. Nip/Tuck wasn't new.) Each episode is better than the last one, explores the characters and their relationships and human relationships on a deeper level and offers something new. The acting is flawless as is the direction, cinematography and writing. I can't find anything wrong here. (although I'm sure someone can, it's not "geek" friendly - which may be one of the reasons why I like it so much.) Last night's episode dealt with guilt and how one handles it, and the mistakes made. It also dealt with grief. Very raw performances from the leads.
2. The West Wing - which is making a comeback. Last week's episode was a tad too preachy and issue laden for me, this week's is an acting tour de force with stellar performances from Alan Alda, Jimmy Smits, Bradley Whitford, the actress who portrays Donna Moss, the actress from Home Improvement and a bevy of other character actors - showing a day in the life of three different political campaigns for President. Also exploring in an interesting way the sacrifice of ideals for a vote.
3. Veronica Mars - which was a repeat that I'd missed the first round. This little show is definitely growing on me. This week's episode dealt with the flawed parent/child relationship in a new way. Veronica's mom mysteriously has left her and her dad before the series began. In this episode, she is hunting down a boy's father, who the boy believed was dead and had hired her to hunt down in order to get close to her - only to discover, nope, alive, not only that but he's been driving 90 miles each day to see him. He didn't recognize him because his Dad had a sex change operation. I know it sounds hokey, but the writing is so spot on, the acting so flawless, and the direction so subtle that it works. They never lose the noir undertone.
4. Gilmore Girls - the by-play between Emily and Richard Gilmore continues to draw me in, even though the two leads, Lorelie and Rory occassionally grate.
Also enjoying the relationship between Luke and Lorelie and how Loreli's old relationships and past threatens to get between it. This is a series that deftly builds on its past episodes, without requiring that you've seen them.

(Lost was a re-run this week - and while I enjoy the series, I don't feel compelled to rewatch it. Very few shows do I watch more than once.)

Other series of notable interest, but not as good as the above:
1. Medium - lackluster, somewhat preachy/smulchy episode. Not as deft and subtle as prior two. Although I enjoy the actresses playing the kids and the family interaction. Also fond the scene where Jack Webber is attempting to find his daughter play dates, real and moving. Could have done without the religious overtones though - a little bit too much Touched by An Angel at the end.
2. 24 - yes, I'm still watching, there's nothing else on on Mondays to distract me. Also I adore Keither Sutherland as an actor and he continues to deliver flawless performances regardless of the material. This episode was better than the first three or four. 24 often gets better as the season moves forward and we learn the initial problem is just a mislead. This season is no exception. Here - stellar performances are delivered from William Devane, the actress playing the Terrorist's wife, her son, Sutherland, his girlfriend,
and Alberta Watson who provides depth to a bitchy role. Nice and twisty with a focus on father's betraying their sons.
3. Desperate Housewives - this is getting a little more interesting. Bree's story is finally beginning to take off and the interaction between Ryan O'Neal and Lynette's family worked. The stereotypes still grate at me, but more watchable this week than previous weeks.
4. Joan of Arcadia - some interesting tid-bits, the exploration of sexual harrassment from a female boss (not sure it works, but is interesting and we have good actors doing it), and the idea of hero-worship and how it doesn't work. The need to find your value in others and figure out what you want through them. There's also a few good lines: "Where'd you get your heads? From Mattel?" And one about how seeking value in someone else never works. Being human -They'll always let you down. You have to find it in yourself.
5. ER - yes, I'm still watching, no it hasn't gotten much better. But I like three characters: Carter, Neela, and Abby and I watch for them. Sooner or later I'll give up, but for now...sticking with it.

Show's I've just about given up on:

Alias
Point Pleasant
The Apprentice

For pretty much the same reason - they aren't holding my interest. I'm bored.
I keep flipping channels to something else.

In Alias' case - ( cut to protect those who still adore the show )

Point Pleasant. ( cut to protect people who enjoy it )

The Apprentice? Sigh. The sniping got to me finally.