Stuff. Things.
-- Our internet is still being wonky. First we were told it was our cable modem. We went down to a Comcast service station and spent 3 hours to exchange the modem. Then a tech came out and told us it was our router (because the three routers we'd tested were apparently non-functional). Fine. We went and bought a new router. Then... well, they're not sure. They swear we're getting good signal... so then why does my internet drop off several times during the day? Next tech is coming out on Thursday. If I'm not around much, this is a good reason why.
-- Working on a dribs and drabs update. Hopefully I can get it up on Friday.
-- I've been keeping prior social commitments but not trying to tax myself with creating too many new ones. I seriously need to sloooooooooow down. I do have to get back to a few people who are leaving or have made special requests, but aside from that, I think I am going to be a shameless hermit for most of December and January. I'm just not emotionally up for being socially ON lately, and I think it's more important to take the time to be home, especially since Olive's situation is so unclear. I apologize if I can't make it to a social shindig you're throwing, but I should come 'round in a few months.
-- I am forever grateful that I get along with my in-laws.
-- Things I did this week: Thanksgiving with Mom & Adrian & Fam. After-Thanksgiving with in-laws and Fam. Giant Ikea Run. Bought J's holiday gifts. Put up our tree. Put a big naked lady over our couch (Klimt's Water Snakes II.) Sent out the bulk of my holiday cards and Yuletide surprises. Did a massive cookie decorating at
ulfrslady's house. (And was reminded that if I decorate - and eat - cookies all afternoon, but nothing else substantial, I will crash hard.) Was late for several things because Bean wanted me to scratch her tummy (cuddling with Bean outranks most things right now). SoftPaws, round 2, with Mim. (She just lays there and naps, as though she's getting a manicure.)
-- Oh, and I watched some TV.
Boardwalk Empire:: I have not watched the finale yet... planning to do that today. But we got free HBO for six months, and everything was On Demand. I really like this show. Tone-wise and setup-wise, it seems very similar to Deadwood, especially in the fact that you're dropped straight into a fully-realized world from the get go. Steve Buscemi is the anchor, and I've been mostly satisfied with him, but it's hard not to compare him to Ian McShane's Al Swearengen and feel a tiny bit disappointed. Michael Pitt has been steadily improving throughout the series and has certainly found his footing. Margaret (character) sort of annoys me and sort of intrigues me. I felt she was much more interesting when she was attracted to Nucky in spite of her objections, but now she's trying to be all moral high-ground, so I'm patiently awaiting her return to awesome. I really have loved the background characters (Chalky White OMG) and the sets and the lavishness, though. It's got naked Paz de la Huerta and the CRAZIEST federal agent I've ever seen... Michael Shannon is committed to the crazy, too, which makes for fascinating viewing. So it's good. I'd recommend it. But in a lot of ways it does sort of seem like a paler version of Deadwood in terms of tone.
Dexter:: What a slow burn of a season. It's really ramped up! And I never disliked Lumen... a large segment seems to have an inexplicable hate-on for Julia Stiles... so I'm glad they did her progression to romantic partner / accomplice the way they did. Though I do admit that it really took Michael C. Hall's masterful performance to completely sell me on it. Julia is a capable actress, but was a little bit out of her depth before the chemistry really fell into place. But if they kill her off, I WILL BE SO PISSED. Partly because it'd just be a retread of fridging Rita, and I am EFFING TIRED of shows killing of women just to make the male heroes hurt. I hope she gets to be awesome. I hope she gets written out gently if she's not coming back next season. And I hope this show doesn't follow the FOUR YEAR pattern of "Dexter gets close to someone and reveals part of who he is, only to have to kill that person or discover them dead." Come on, show. You can do it.
The other thing is that I think Jennifer Carpenter's been doing an EXCELLENT job this season with Deb. She's really come into her own. (Though I did LOL last night when Quinn said that Deb doesn't play games because HELLO, we are talking about Deb the emotional fucktard who rarely says what she really wants.) But the acting has gotten a lot more nuanced, and Deb is developing in new and fascinating ways. Love it.
The Walking Dead:: What a letdown of a season ender, right? So freaking repetitive. They missed a lot of good character beats during the twenty minutes or so that the reluctant doctor was being grilled for answers. I can't judge it too harshly-- it really was only episode 6 in an experimental season, but I just felt it ended so abruptly and so expectedly... and there's a whole YEAR before I get more.
Next season, I want Rick to deal with lots of moral conflicts. I want more Morgan. I want Shane to either get his shit together or die... because I was totally with him up until the point he tried to rape Lori. Seriously, she's been trying to pin her guilt on him ever since Rick showed back up, and I get going a little crazy because the only thing that was holding you together in the face of a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE getting ripped away from you might make one a little unstable and angry. But the whole attempted rape thing? NO. Do not pass go. Either get your shit together or DIE. The end. Plus they are SO doing Dale/Andrea, so I'm glad they aged Andrea a little. But that's really all I have to say about that, since the ep left me so "bleh."
The Vampire Diaries:: I'm 4 episodes back. I need to catch up. It's generally my bathtub viewing, but I've not been taking long baths lately. I want to get back into it for Caroline, but Damon's eye-bulgy-thing with EVERY LINE has made me put it off. Must get back on the horse.
-- Working on a dribs and drabs update. Hopefully I can get it up on Friday.
-- I've been keeping prior social commitments but not trying to tax myself with creating too many new ones. I seriously need to sloooooooooow down. I do have to get back to a few people who are leaving or have made special requests, but aside from that, I think I am going to be a shameless hermit for most of December and January. I'm just not emotionally up for being socially ON lately, and I think it's more important to take the time to be home, especially since Olive's situation is so unclear. I apologize if I can't make it to a social shindig you're throwing, but I should come 'round in a few months.
-- I am forever grateful that I get along with my in-laws.
-- Things I did this week: Thanksgiving with Mom & Adrian & Fam. After-Thanksgiving with in-laws and Fam. Giant Ikea Run. Bought J's holiday gifts. Put up our tree. Put a big naked lady over our couch (Klimt's Water Snakes II.) Sent out the bulk of my holiday cards and Yuletide surprises. Did a massive cookie decorating at
ulfrslady's house. (And was reminded that if I decorate - and eat - cookies all afternoon, but nothing else substantial, I will crash hard.) Was late for several things because Bean wanted me to scratch her tummy (cuddling with Bean outranks most things right now). SoftPaws, round 2, with Mim. (She just lays there and naps, as though she's getting a manicure.) -- Oh, and I watched some TV.
Boardwalk Empire:: I have not watched the finale yet... planning to do that today. But we got free HBO for six months, and everything was On Demand. I really like this show. Tone-wise and setup-wise, it seems very similar to Deadwood, especially in the fact that you're dropped straight into a fully-realized world from the get go. Steve Buscemi is the anchor, and I've been mostly satisfied with him, but it's hard not to compare him to Ian McShane's Al Swearengen and feel a tiny bit disappointed. Michael Pitt has been steadily improving throughout the series and has certainly found his footing. Margaret (character) sort of annoys me and sort of intrigues me. I felt she was much more interesting when she was attracted to Nucky in spite of her objections, but now she's trying to be all moral high-ground, so I'm patiently awaiting her return to awesome. I really have loved the background characters (Chalky White OMG) and the sets and the lavishness, though. It's got naked Paz de la Huerta and the CRAZIEST federal agent I've ever seen... Michael Shannon is committed to the crazy, too, which makes for fascinating viewing. So it's good. I'd recommend it. But in a lot of ways it does sort of seem like a paler version of Deadwood in terms of tone.
Dexter:: What a slow burn of a season. It's really ramped up! And I never disliked Lumen... a large segment seems to have an inexplicable hate-on for Julia Stiles... so I'm glad they did her progression to romantic partner / accomplice the way they did. Though I do admit that it really took Michael C. Hall's masterful performance to completely sell me on it. Julia is a capable actress, but was a little bit out of her depth before the chemistry really fell into place. But if they kill her off, I WILL BE SO PISSED. Partly because it'd just be a retread of fridging Rita, and I am EFFING TIRED of shows killing of women just to make the male heroes hurt. I hope she gets to be awesome. I hope she gets written out gently if she's not coming back next season. And I hope this show doesn't follow the FOUR YEAR pattern of "Dexter gets close to someone and reveals part of who he is, only to have to kill that person or discover them dead." Come on, show. You can do it.
The other thing is that I think Jennifer Carpenter's been doing an EXCELLENT job this season with Deb. She's really come into her own. (Though I did LOL last night when Quinn said that Deb doesn't play games because HELLO, we are talking about Deb the emotional fucktard who rarely says what she really wants.) But the acting has gotten a lot more nuanced, and Deb is developing in new and fascinating ways. Love it.
The Walking Dead:: What a letdown of a season ender, right? So freaking repetitive. They missed a lot of good character beats during the twenty minutes or so that the reluctant doctor was being grilled for answers. I can't judge it too harshly-- it really was only episode 6 in an experimental season, but I just felt it ended so abruptly and so expectedly... and there's a whole YEAR before I get more.
Next season, I want Rick to deal with lots of moral conflicts. I want more Morgan. I want Shane to either get his shit together or die... because I was totally with him up until the point he tried to rape Lori. Seriously, she's been trying to pin her guilt on him ever since Rick showed back up, and I get going a little crazy because the only thing that was holding you together in the face of a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE getting ripped away from you might make one a little unstable and angry. But the whole attempted rape thing? NO. Do not pass go. Either get your shit together or DIE. The end. Plus they are SO doing Dale/Andrea, so I'm glad they aged Andrea a little. But that's really all I have to say about that, since the ep left me so "bleh."
The Vampire Diaries:: I'm 4 episodes back. I need to catch up. It's generally my bathtub viewing, but I've not been taking long baths lately. I want to get back into it for Caroline, but Damon's eye-bulgy-thing with EVERY LINE has made me put it off. Must get back on the horse.