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shadowkatSomewhat accomplished? I managed to get laundry done, switched out my torn padded bed pad, for the new less padded but not torn one. The torn had to be thrown out - it's not salvageable, unfortunately. I loved it - but can't find a similar one. Took out the recyclables. Washed the linens - it was mainly just the linens. Only two loads. So not that expensive.
Played more Mahjong. I lied when I said I don't like games? I do, but it depends on the game, and who I'm playing with. I can play that one for hours. Except it lies when it says it doesn't have ads - it does. Worse, to get out of the ad, I often have to offload and reload the game.
I also managed to schedule my flu shot for tomorrow. (I don't get the side-effects outside of a sore arm - I think I have a VERY strong immune system? But I'm doing it on Saturday morning, just in case.) Other goal is to clean out foyer closet and put up my Xmas lights in the window (if I can find them, I may need to get new ones), and the little Xmas tree with its lights, and take away the Thanksgiving decorations. Sent off Xmas list to family members, waiting on theirs.
Apparently sisterinlaw and niece's Thanksgivings included a Nantucket Pie. It's basically a fruit upside down cake with cranberries. I don't like cake and I like it even less now that I require substitutions, so I'm glad I had my pecan and pumpkin choices.
Watching Dancing with the Stars - which has some excellent dancing this season. I don't tend to pay attention to the scoring or the winners that much, since I figured out how much the likability factor - matters? (ie. the audience tends to vote for who they like the most not who dances the best? Mainly because the audience knows nothing about dancing, nor do a lot of the guest judges for that matter. ) Although they appear to have incorporated a few things in the latter season to ensure that a good dancer wins, not...well a dancer like Bobby Bones. So the audience scores don't overwhelm it. Because I've noticed that better dancers have been winning in recent years.
I liked the 20th Anniversary episode - with Tom B - who is actually my favorite of the reality show hosts in the US. And it's interesting to see how everyone has aged. The retrospective on the past winners who've died, was touching. I didn't realize how many had, and some so young.
I like the series for the most part - because I love to watch dancing.
Dinner was left-overs. Breakfast was fried eggs over spinach leaves, lemon, and grits. I combined Breakfast and Lunch.
Angel S1 Re-Watch - Episode 2 - Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
I remember being less than thrilled with this episode the first two times I saw it. But now, I see a lot of interesting things in it that I'd not seen before. Weirdly, I find I appreciate it more without the echo of others in the background or my desire to compare it against Buffy. The two shows are very different series, with different goals and aims. Distance helps, I think?
* The Hyperion Hotel reminds me a lot of the Stanely Hotel in Kubrick's the Shining, specifically the hallways and the lobby. Almost as if they used the same set and color scheme. They also film at the Conservatory where Rebel without a Cause was filmed in the 1950s, for the 1950s flashbacks.
* It's heavy with the noir twists, and the writers reference a lot of things in it? The 1930s-50s were when noir film and television series were prominent, with a heavy emphasis on paranoia. Partly due to the Blacklist and the McCarthy hearings - where they asked the question, "are you now or have you ever been a communist". (Outside of paranoia, the time period and the title - it has nothing to do with the hearings - I thought it had, so imagine my surprise - when I discovered, nope really not. Apparently all I remembered was the title.) This was the era of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho...and they reference so many of them? Consuela - the femme fatal in this episode, has stolen the funds from a bank robbery and is hiding out in the hotel - and if it weren't for the fact that I saw something on Psycho recently, I wouldn't have seen the reference. Janet Leigh in Psycho - has stolen funds, and is hiding out in a hotel. We also have the mysterious bag that is still in the hotel filled with money. And the PI with the broken nose - Chinatown, and the nerdy book store owner ...with the large rim glasses.
And the people arguing in the lobby - the Monsters are Due on Maple Street (Twilight Zone) or Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Finally the twist? There's always a twist in noir - and they have it here. Angel falls for sweet desperate Consulea, he identifies with her cause, and has gone to find a way to help her - by exorcising and destroying the demon feeding off of her and everyone in the hotel. In typical noir fashion - the hero falls for his client or the desperate woman, only to discover -
Consulea stabs him in the back metaphorically speaking. He returns from his errands, with the folks in the hotel pointing figures at each other regarding the recent death - and Conseula cornered points the finger at Angel. They hang him. (He's a vampire - he survives.) And upon reviving, he leaves them to their doom at the hands of the demon.
The noir story is firmly in the past, in the present, with the help of his friends Angel gets rid of the pesky demon, and then exorcises the last ghost - Consuela, who never left, from the hotel. He decides to take it over.
There's a lot of foreshadowing here - in how Cordelia and Wes both betray Angel due to their own insecurities, and Gunn does. And Angel betrays them.
It's noir after-all - betrayal is inevitable. The Hyperion set is a bit of a game changer - and provides a more fitting noir horror setting to the series than Cordy's breezy and sunny apartment, or Angel's PI office.
It's a much better episode than I remembered and in keeping with the overall tone of the show. Angel is at its best when it dives into the noir themes and twists, and this one does. Partly in how Angel doesn't tell his crew up front or at all really - why he's investigating the hotel or needs to clear the demon. They don't know the inhabitants of the hotel hanged him. And that's in keeping with Angel throughout the series (Buffy and Angel) - Angel keeps his cards close to his vest. Only people who know Angel are his vampire family, he hides a lot of his darkness from his friends.
Angel is portrayed throughout as a recovering alcoholic. Like many addicts, he gets no pleasure from food or flavors, his an alcoholic. He isn't into mixed drinks. Blood is his addiction. Sex is an addiction. When he reaches a moment of bliss - his soul escapes his body, and the demon takes control - it's akin to falling off the wagon. Although he can fall off without that. The demon is always there as is the whispering.
Angel the series is actually a rather decent portrayal of addiction, and the struggle with it.
The other thing evident in the episode is getting rid of the demon isn't quite as important, as why Angel did it? And why he waited so long to do so? He knew it was there, and he knew Consuela was suffering. Why now? He's finally able to forgive her, possibly because Buffy, Cordelia, Willow, and to a degree Giles forgave him for what he did when he became Angelus, which was far worse. Wes forgave him for helping Faith. And to a degree forgave Faith for torturing him. Being forgiven for the unforgivable - has in a way changed Angel. So now, he is able to free Conseula from her prison of fear - because he can finally forgive her. Angel has learned the power of forgiveness.
Question a Day Mememage - November
Catching up on the Mememage - I'm dreadfully behind.
24. Do you have throw pillows/cushions around the house?
Yes. Although apartment.
25. Is lunch a snack, a light meal, or your main meal of the day?
Snack or light meal - I'm not a lunch person. I even skip it sometimes on weekends.
26. On National Cake Day – what is your favourite cake?
Flourless Chocolate Cake - which is technically the only cake I have any longer.
Or
Angel food, but I haven't found much in the Gluten Free versions. It's hard to find. I like it because it is light, and can serve it without icing. Also butter mochi cake, which is kind of similar.
27. Have you ever slept in socks at night?
Yes, and I always end up kicking them off in the middle of the night. So I don't.
28. November is part of World Vegan Month – have you tried any vegan food this month?
Yes. My chocolate chip cookies that I get from Insominac Cookies are vegan.
Played more Mahjong. I lied when I said I don't like games? I do, but it depends on the game, and who I'm playing with. I can play that one for hours. Except it lies when it says it doesn't have ads - it does. Worse, to get out of the ad, I often have to offload and reload the game.
I also managed to schedule my flu shot for tomorrow. (I don't get the side-effects outside of a sore arm - I think I have a VERY strong immune system? But I'm doing it on Saturday morning, just in case.) Other goal is to clean out foyer closet and put up my Xmas lights in the window (if I can find them, I may need to get new ones), and the little Xmas tree with its lights, and take away the Thanksgiving decorations. Sent off Xmas list to family members, waiting on theirs.
Apparently sisterinlaw and niece's Thanksgivings included a Nantucket Pie. It's basically a fruit upside down cake with cranberries. I don't like cake and I like it even less now that I require substitutions, so I'm glad I had my pecan and pumpkin choices.
Watching Dancing with the Stars - which has some excellent dancing this season. I don't tend to pay attention to the scoring or the winners that much, since I figured out how much the likability factor - matters? (ie. the audience tends to vote for who they like the most not who dances the best? Mainly because the audience knows nothing about dancing, nor do a lot of the guest judges for that matter. ) Although they appear to have incorporated a few things in the latter season to ensure that a good dancer wins, not...well a dancer like Bobby Bones. So the audience scores don't overwhelm it. Because I've noticed that better dancers have been winning in recent years.
I liked the 20th Anniversary episode - with Tom B - who is actually my favorite of the reality show hosts in the US. And it's interesting to see how everyone has aged. The retrospective on the past winners who've died, was touching. I didn't realize how many had, and some so young.
I like the series for the most part - because I love to watch dancing.
Dinner was left-overs. Breakfast was fried eggs over spinach leaves, lemon, and grits. I combined Breakfast and Lunch.
Angel S1 Re-Watch - Episode 2 - Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
I remember being less than thrilled with this episode the first two times I saw it. But now, I see a lot of interesting things in it that I'd not seen before. Weirdly, I find I appreciate it more without the echo of others in the background or my desire to compare it against Buffy. The two shows are very different series, with different goals and aims. Distance helps, I think?
* The Hyperion Hotel reminds me a lot of the Stanely Hotel in Kubrick's the Shining, specifically the hallways and the lobby. Almost as if they used the same set and color scheme. They also film at the Conservatory where Rebel without a Cause was filmed in the 1950s, for the 1950s flashbacks.
* It's heavy with the noir twists, and the writers reference a lot of things in it? The 1930s-50s were when noir film and television series were prominent, with a heavy emphasis on paranoia. Partly due to the Blacklist and the McCarthy hearings - where they asked the question, "are you now or have you ever been a communist". (Outside of paranoia, the time period and the title - it has nothing to do with the hearings - I thought it had, so imagine my surprise - when I discovered, nope really not. Apparently all I remembered was the title.) This was the era of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho...and they reference so many of them? Consuela - the femme fatal in this episode, has stolen the funds from a bank robbery and is hiding out in the hotel - and if it weren't for the fact that I saw something on Psycho recently, I wouldn't have seen the reference. Janet Leigh in Psycho - has stolen funds, and is hiding out in a hotel. We also have the mysterious bag that is still in the hotel filled with money. And the PI with the broken nose - Chinatown, and the nerdy book store owner ...with the large rim glasses.
And the people arguing in the lobby - the Monsters are Due on Maple Street (Twilight Zone) or Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Finally the twist? There's always a twist in noir - and they have it here. Angel falls for sweet desperate Consulea, he identifies with her cause, and has gone to find a way to help her - by exorcising and destroying the demon feeding off of her and everyone in the hotel. In typical noir fashion - the hero falls for his client or the desperate woman, only to discover -
Consulea stabs him in the back metaphorically speaking. He returns from his errands, with the folks in the hotel pointing figures at each other regarding the recent death - and Conseula cornered points the finger at Angel. They hang him. (He's a vampire - he survives.) And upon reviving, he leaves them to their doom at the hands of the demon.
The noir story is firmly in the past, in the present, with the help of his friends Angel gets rid of the pesky demon, and then exorcises the last ghost - Consuela, who never left, from the hotel. He decides to take it over.
There's a lot of foreshadowing here - in how Cordelia and Wes both betray Angel due to their own insecurities, and Gunn does. And Angel betrays them.
It's noir after-all - betrayal is inevitable. The Hyperion set is a bit of a game changer - and provides a more fitting noir horror setting to the series than Cordy's breezy and sunny apartment, or Angel's PI office.
It's a much better episode than I remembered and in keeping with the overall tone of the show. Angel is at its best when it dives into the noir themes and twists, and this one does. Partly in how Angel doesn't tell his crew up front or at all really - why he's investigating the hotel or needs to clear the demon. They don't know the inhabitants of the hotel hanged him. And that's in keeping with Angel throughout the series (Buffy and Angel) - Angel keeps his cards close to his vest. Only people who know Angel are his vampire family, he hides a lot of his darkness from his friends.
Angel is portrayed throughout as a recovering alcoholic. Like many addicts, he gets no pleasure from food or flavors, his an alcoholic. He isn't into mixed drinks. Blood is his addiction. Sex is an addiction. When he reaches a moment of bliss - his soul escapes his body, and the demon takes control - it's akin to falling off the wagon. Although he can fall off without that. The demon is always there as is the whispering.
Angel the series is actually a rather decent portrayal of addiction, and the struggle with it.
The other thing evident in the episode is getting rid of the demon isn't quite as important, as why Angel did it? And why he waited so long to do so? He knew it was there, and he knew Consuela was suffering. Why now? He's finally able to forgive her, possibly because Buffy, Cordelia, Willow, and to a degree Giles forgave him for what he did when he became Angelus, which was far worse. Wes forgave him for helping Faith. And to a degree forgave Faith for torturing him. Being forgiven for the unforgivable - has in a way changed Angel. So now, he is able to free Conseula from her prison of fear - because he can finally forgive her. Angel has learned the power of forgiveness.
Question a Day Mememage - November
Catching up on the Mememage - I'm dreadfully behind.
24. Do you have throw pillows/cushions around the house?
Yes. Although apartment.
25. Is lunch a snack, a light meal, or your main meal of the day?
Snack or light meal - I'm not a lunch person. I even skip it sometimes on weekends.
26. On National Cake Day – what is your favourite cake?
Flourless Chocolate Cake - which is technically the only cake I have any longer.
Or
Angel food, but I haven't found much in the Gluten Free versions. It's hard to find. I like it because it is light, and can serve it without icing. Also butter mochi cake, which is kind of similar.
27. Have you ever slept in socks at night?
Yes, and I always end up kicking them off in the middle of the night. So I don't.
28. November is part of World Vegan Month – have you tried any vegan food this month?
Yes. My chocolate chip cookies that I get from Insominac Cookies are vegan.
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Date: 2025-11-29 09:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-29 02:39 pm (UTC)