I Watch TV 2013-2014 Season: The Broken Road Awards - Finale

I'm getting the "wrap it up music," so without further ado, the Broken Road Awards finale (winners in red italics)!

A reminder of the shows in contention:

Returning Shows:
Dexter (SHO, final season). Once Upon a Time (ABC). The Good Wife (CBS). The Mentalist (CBS). Mad Men (AMC). How I Met Your Mother (CBS, final season). 2 Broke Girls (CBS). Mike and Molly (CBS). Dallas (TNT). Chicago Fire (NBC). Person of Interest (CBS). Revolution (NBC, cancelled). The Middle (ABC). Law and Order: SVU (NBC). Modern Family (ABC). CSI (CBS). The Big Bang Theory (CBS). Grey's Anatomy (ABC). Scandal (ABC). Elementary (CBS). Parenthood (NBC). Last Man Standing (CBS). The Carrie Diaries (CW, cancelled). Blue Bloods (CBS).

New Shows:
Sleepy Hollow (FOX). Mom (CBS). The Blacklist (NBC). About a Boy (NBC). Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC, single season spinoff). Reign (CW). The Michael J Fox Show (NBC, cancelled midseason).

Summer Shows:
Low Winter Sun (AMC, new, cancelled). The Bridge (FX, new). Unforgettable (CBS). Motive (ABC, new).

Most Anticipated New Show
1. The Blacklist - Spader. Spader. Spader. Spader. Spader.
2. Reign - I almost never get into teen angsty drama, but those costumes. And the accents. I was intrigued from the first trailer.
3. The Bridge - We kept seeing trailers for the show. All we could tell was that it was some kind of murder-mystery-ish police drama. That's usually enough to pique our interest.

Most Disappointing Drama
1. Revolution - Oh, Revolution. You had so much potential and you let it slip away. You weren't even "so bad you're good." You were just a dismal failure.
2. Chicago Fire - Are you kidding me? How many things can go so terribly wrong in one fire house?
3. Dexter - I'm still not sure how that series finale was supposed to work.

Most Disappointing Comedy
1. 2 Broke Girls - This borders on unwatchable. The lines are so awkwardly and stiffly delivered. They should have gotten past that midway through the first season. There are three seasons in the books now. What's the excuse? If it weren't for Sophie, we'd stop watching all together.
2. Mike and Molly - Not a fan of this new direction they're taking Molly. She isn't funny. She's obnoxious.
3. How I Met Your Mother - Only one thing: HOW COULD THEY KILL OFF THE MOTHER?? ::weeps::

Most Disappointing New Show
1. The Michael J Fox Show - I do love MJF. I wanted to like this show. I really did. Other than him and Anne Heche, though, this show just fell flat.
2. Low Winter Sun - I was hoping for another summer show. What I got was a depressing, dark tale of dirty cops and druggies that never felt like it had a purpose.
3. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland - We knew from very early on that this was designed to be a single season spin-off. And that's fine. But the CGI in this show was so bad, it was nearly painful, to the point that sometimes it was difficult to pay attention to the story.

Best Episode, Drama
1. Parenthood S5E15 "Just Like at Home" - The Braverman sibling dance party, when the four adult siblings show up at Julia's house when they know she's at her lowest.
2. Grey's Anatomy S10E22 "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Who knew the return of Preston Burke would be such a satisfying piece of the story?
3. The Blacklist S1E11 "The Good Samaritan" - The Blacklister of the week was nothing special, but Red "cleaning house" after Anslo Garrick's attack, leading to Luli's murder, all while Johnny Cash's "When the Man Comes Around" plays was masterful. And then, there was the "Janice scene" which was brilliant in its own right.

Best Episode, Comedy
1. The Big Bang Theory S7E15, "The Locomotion Manipulation" - The Sheldon and Amy kiss!
2. The How I Met Your Mother series finale - I loved seeing how Ted and Tracy's life played out...until they killed her off.
3. Modern Family S5E23 "The Wedding (Part One)" - Cam and Mitchell getting ready for the wedding was hilarious, but it was Lily that stole the show when the dropped her in the chute at the dry cleaner and she got stuck on the carousel.

Best Season Finale
1. Grey's Anatomy - Holy bombshell, with the revelation that Ellis Grey may have borne Richard's child and given her up for adoption.
2. The Good Wife - Diane jumping ship at LG and offering to bring all her clients to Florrick-Agos. Whoa!
3. The Big Bang Theory - Penny and Leonard, finally engaged!

Best New Show
1. Reign - Lived up to my every expectation. It's pure brain candy and I do not care!
2. Sleepy Hollow - I actually resisted this show at first, but somehow I got roped in, and was shocked at just how much I ended up enjoying it.
3. The Blacklist - One of those shows we had to watch the next day (it airs too late for T to watch before bed) and we're on edge waiting for the next episode every week.

Best Drama
1. The Blacklist - James Spader never disappoints. Ever. I would watch this show if he were the only one on the screen for an hour every week.
2. Parenthood - It only occasionally fumbles with a story arc, but the emotions, the chemistry, how real it feels. Top notch.
3. The Good Wife - Best season of this show yet. Start to finish, they hit the ground running, with Alicia telling Cary she was in on starting their own firm straight through Will's death and still going with a stunning finish.

Best Comedy
1. The Big Bang Theory - Always good for a laugh.
2. How I Met Your Mother - This group of friends made me realize this is the first show I will miss as much as when Friends ended.
3. The Middle - They did an excellent job weaving Axl into the season, even though he was away at college, and Sue's relationship issues and junior year stresses made for great laughs.

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I Watch TV 2013-2014 Season:The Broken Road Awards - Part Three

Onward, to Part Three of the Broken Road Awards (winners in red italics)!

A reminder of the shows in contention:

Returning Shows:
Dexter (SHO, final season). Once Upon a Time (ABC). The Good Wife (CBS). The Mentalist (CBS). Mad Men (AMC). How I Met Your Mother (CBS, final season). 2 Broke Girls (CBS). Mike and Molly (CBS). Dallas (TNT). Chicago Fire (NBC). Person of Interest (CBS). Revolution (NBC, cancelled). The Middle (ABC). Law and Order: SVU (NBC). Modern Family (ABC). CSI (CBS). The Big Bang Theory (CBS). Grey's Anatomy (ABC). Scandal (ABC). Elementary (CBS). Parenthood (NBC). Last Man Standing (CBS). The Carrie Diaries (CW, cancelled). Blue Bloods (CBS).

New Shows:
Sleepy Hollow (FOX). Mom (CBS). The Blacklist (NBC). About a Boy (NBC). Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC, single season spinoff). Reign (CW). The Michael J Fox Show (NBC, cancelled midseason).

Summer Shows:
Low Winter Sun (AMC, new, cancelled). The Bridge (FX, new). Unforgettable (CBS). Motive (ABC, new).

Best Wardrobe, Female Character
1. Julia Braverman, Parenthood - She makes comfy-casual look so...put together.
2. Pamela Barnes Ewing, Dallas - Seriously, she can go from cocktail dress to jeans and cowboy boots, and never looks out of place.
3. Olivia Pope, Scandal - I have a crush on her closet. The end.

Best Wardrobe, Male Character
1. Raymond Reddington, The Blacklist - Red just always looks good. Suit. Hoodie and jeans. Trench coat and fedora. It all works.
2. Mr Reese, Person of Interest - Business casual with a side of badass. Bam.
3. Frank Reagan - The Commissioner is impeccable in his three-piece suits. Always.

Best Costume(s)
1. Once Upon a Time, in Fairy Tale Land - Storybrooke is nothing special, but the costumes they put together for our group, back in their home land, are out of this world, especially the outfits they dream up for Regina!
2. Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow - Abbie is constantly making fun of Ichabod's Revolutionary War get-up, but for heaven's sake, stop trying to stuff him into skinny jeans and just let him be. That period costume is played off to perfection!
3. Reign - I am certain these gowns the ladies wear are the furthest thing from historically accurate. I do not care. They are to. die. for.

Strangest Story Arc
1. "Peter Pan," Once Upon a Time - The way they weave fairy tales together is masterful. Finding a way to tie it to Rumplestiltskin was pure genius. But that whole traipsing around Neverland with poison coursing through Charming's veins, fighting over Henry, and Emma acting like a school girl as she goes back and forth between Neal and Hook -- it all just felt kind of goofy to me.
2. "Kristina Braverman running for Mayor," Parenthood - Ok, I am the first one to rave about how they portrayed Kristina's battle with cancer, but this whole "running for Mayor bit? Come on. I don't care how many Bravermans there are in town, it still isn't enough to win her an election.
3. "Jane falls for Lisbon," The Mentalist - I found it completely awkward that, after all this time, Patrick Jane is suddenly staring at Lisbon longingly.

Best Story Arc
1. "Is Red Lizzie's father?" The Blacklist - All season, they danced around this topic. First making it look like maybe he was, the having him deny it, the whole time, dropping clues and subtle comments for the watcher to notice and add to the puzzle. There's still a lot to learn about Lizzie and Red, but this question was visited and revisited the entire season.
2. "Julia and Joel's separation," Parenthood - They nailed this. It felt raw and honest. It covered all the emotions, without glossing them over or speeding up the timeline.
3. "Cristina's farewell," Grey's Anatomy - This show is notorious for farewell to departing characters via the Grim Reaper, so I appreciated that with one of the original cast members making her exit, they took the whole season to tell her story, to say goodbye, to send her out on a high note but with a sense of resolution.

Worst Story Arc
1. The entire last season of Dexter. - What *was* that?? I mean, the Brain Surgeon part with Dr Vogel was certainly intense, but Dexter planning an escape with Hannah and that whole series finale bit, with Deb dying and Dexter burying her at sea during a hurricane and then turning up in a lumber yard in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest or where ever that was supposed to be? What a weird ending.
2. "Molly has a midlife crisis," Mike and Molly - How on earth did they get from that super storm season finale from the previous season and wanting a baby to Molly having a nervous breakdown, fleeing her classroom, and deciding to become a writer? Most abrupt transition ever.
3. "William Lewis," Law and Order: SVU - I thought this thing would never end. Every time they would finish with him (so it seemed), two weeks later he'd pop up again, like some kind of deranged jack-in-the-box. I realize, with the premise of the show, that there will often be uncomfortable subject matter, but this was twisted, the explicit means of torture and the weird obsession with Olivia.

Most Memorable Moment
1. "Ted's proposal," How I Met Your Mother - It was everything I wanted it to be.
2. "Sheldon and Amy's Valentine's Day kiss on the train," The Big Bang Theory - Now *that* was a move I never saw coming.
3. "Red's speech to Janice in the closet," The Blacklist - It's been nearly a year and it still comes up in conversation with friends who also watch. Everything about that scene was perfectly Red and classically Spader.

Biggest Shock
1. "Will Gardner's courtroom murder," The Good Wife - My jaw hung open and I just gaped at the tv. Out of the clear blue, in the middle of all the turmoil with Alicia and Carey leaving to start their own firm.
2. "Carter's death," Person of Interest - I couldn't believe they killed her off like that!
3. "Jake killing James," Scandal - I never expected James to end up dead. Shot maybe and then a recovery but...dead??

Most Disappointing Cancellation
1. The Carrie Diaries - This show was adorable. And they did an amazing job of casting young Carrie and young Samantha. I was looking forward to meeting Charlotte and Miranda, and seeing how these stories were told.
2. How I Met Your Mother - Less "cancellation" than an expected end to this show's run, but oh, how I wish we'd had more time with Tracy.
3.Revolution - This show had the potential to be excellent. Its basis held so much possibility. And then they just muffed the kick. It failed not once, but twice, after they pulled the plug on season one and blew up the whole show for a different direction season two.

Best Opening Song/Credits
1. Once Upon a Time - They are so clever, the way they work that episode's theme into the woods scene of the opening.
2. Dallas - Classic. Same format as the original. Same theme music. I stop and watch, with this goofy nostalgic grin plastered all over my face.
3. Reign - I loved the "long may she reign" voiceover they did for the first half of the season.

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I Watch TV 2013-2014 Season: The Broken Road Awards - Part Two

Part Two of the Broken Road Awards (winners in red italics)! This is making me look forward to the new television season like crazy!

A reminder of the shows in contention:

Returning Shows:
Dexter (SHO, final season). Once Upon a Time (ABC). The Good Wife (CBS). The Mentalist (CBS). Mad Men (AMC). How I Met Your Mother (CBS, final season). 2 Broke Girls (CBS). Mike and Molly (CBS). Dallas (TNT). Chicago Fire (NBC). Person of Interest (CBS). Revolution (NBC, cancelled). The Middle (ABC). Law and Order: SVU (NBC). Modern Family (ABC). CSI (CBS). The Big Bang Theory (CBS). Grey's Anatomy (ABC). Scandal (ABC). Elementary (CBS). Parenthood (NBC). Last Man Standing (CBS). The Carrie Diaries (CW, cancelled). Blue Bloods (CBS).

New Shows:
Sleepy Hollow (FOX). Mom (CBS). The Blacklist (NBC). About a Boy (NBC). Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC, single season spinoff). Reign (CW). The Michael J Fox Show (NBC, cancelled midseason).

Summer Shows:
Low Winter Sun (AMC, new, cancelled). The Bridge (FX, new). Unforgettable (CBS). Motive (ABC, new).

Best Hair, Female Character
1. Angie Flynn, Motive - I feel like she has a style I could realistically pull off without getting annoyed.
2. Kristina Braverman, Parenthood - Her hair was so ridiculously cute all season. My hair *never* looks that cute.
3. Alicia Florrick, The Good Wife - I don't know what it is about her hair. It's usually pretty no-nonsense. I just love how sleek it looks. And that color.

Best Hair, Male Character
1. Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow - Honest to God, I cannot believe a man with long hair is even on my list, but I would *kill* for his hair. For *myself*.
2. Hook, Once Upon a Time - I think it's the facial scruff that does me in, especially when his hair is a little messy.
3. Jake Ballard, Scandal - Clean cut, yes, please.

Most Enviable Style, Female Character
1. Olivia Pope, Scandal - No joke, I have a crush on the style she pretty much radiates. She has more style in one stray hair than I have had in my entire life, combined.
2. Joan Holloway Harris, Mad Men - I love the way Joan carries herself. She's ladylike and strong and very at ease in her own skin.
3. Alicia Florrick, The Good Wife - I like that she pulls off professional and sexy at the same time, but never looks trashy.

Creepiest Character
1. Peter Pan, Once Upon a Time - There was something one hundred percent unnerving about his eyes and his shadow. Pure evil.
2. Oliver Saxon aka "The Brain Surgeon," Dexter - There is something unspeakably unsettling about a person who can look and act so normal on the outside and be a brain-cutting serial killer in his free time.
3. The flying monkeys, Once Upon a Time - Straight out of my childhood nightmares!!

Best Villain
1. Rumplestiltskin, Once Upon a Time - He speaks out of both sides of his mouth. You never know whether or not to believe him. You *definitely* never trust him! And that cackle. ::shudder::
2. Catherine de' Medici, Reign - That woman stops at *nothing*. Finding yourself on her bad side can have no good ending.
3. Rowan "Eli" Pope, Scandal - Every single time I think maybe he's got Olivia's best interests in mind, he does something utterly ruthless.

Most Twisted Character
1. David Tate, The Bridge - All the ways he toyed with Marco, purely for revenge.
2. William Lewis, Law and Order: SVU - The numerous ways he tortured his victims, the way he worked his charms on so many women, the way he mercilessly tormented Olivia. Possibly one of the most terrifying characters I've ever encountered on television.
3. Cyrus Beene, Scandal - Is there anyone Cyrus *hasn't* tried to have knocked off?!

Character with the Most Straight-Up Crazy
1. Root, Person of Interest - There is something so humorous in the way she moves around, semi-detached and only half explaining herself while she talks to "Her."
2. Emma Ryland, Dallas - She bought the exact same lingerie as Pamela, wore it for John Ross, made him perform certain acts, then sent him home to kiss his wife. Are you kidding me?!
3. Maya Lewis, Scandal - Chewed through her own wrist. Need I say more?

Most Badass Character
1. Snow White, Once Upon a Time - Snow, before she became Mrs Charming and, later, Mary Margaret, was cheer-worthy levels of awesome.
2. Mr Reese, Person of Interest - He materializes out of the thin, exactly at the crucial moment, shoots without missing, then cracks a bemused half smile. That's the guy *I* want having my back!
3. Sebastian, Reign - He isn't afraid to declare his love *or* fight The Darkness.

Most Friend-Worthy Character
1. The Mother aka Tracy McConnell, How I Met Your Mother - Clever, funny, wise, direct, sweet, quirky.
2. April Kepner, Grey's Anatomy - I try to be annoyed by her, but, secretly, she's exactly the kind of upbeat, optimistic person I'm drawn to.
3. Sue Heck, The Middle - Sue Heck is high school me. I'd be friends with me.

Most Swoon-Worthy Character
1. Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow - His bewildered disdain for modern life is only part of his charm. I could also listen to him talk all. day. long.
2. Sebastian, Reign - Holy crap, those eyes look right through a girl, even from the other side of a television screen. And the way he treats his lady? That's the kind of "hot" a real woman goes for!
3. Hook, Once Upon a Time - I don't usually go for bad boys, but that smoldering stare? ::fans self::

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I Watch TV 2013-2014 Season: The Broken Road Awards - Part One

I wanted to change things up a bit for my "tv season review" but I've struggled to figure out how, exactly, I wanted it to be constructed. After much consideration, I present: The Broken Road Awards.

And since the new television season is set to start on September 21, it's time to launch this baby! It will run in four parts, with the winner of each category in red italics.

Here are the shows in contention:

Returning Shows:
Dexter (SHO, final season). Once Upon a Time (ABC). The Good Wife (CBS). The Mentalist (CBS). Mad Men (AMC). How I Met Your Mother (CBS, final season). 2 Broke Girls (CBS). Mike and Molly (CBS). Dallas (TNT). Chicago Fire (NBC). Person of Interest (CBS). Revolution (NBC, cancelled). The Middle (ABC). Law and Order: SVU (NBC). Modern Family (ABC). CSI (CBS). The Big Bang Theory (CBS). Grey's Anatomy (ABC). Scandal (ABC). Elementary (CBS). Parenthood (NBC). Last Man Standing (CBS). The Carrie Diaries (CW, cancelled). Blue Bloods (CBS).

New Shows:
Sleepy Hollow (FOX). Mom (CBS). The Blacklist (NBC). About a Boy (NBC). Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC, single season spinoff). Reign (CW). The Michael J Fox Show (NBC, cancelled midseason).

Summer Shows:
Low Winter Sun (AMC, new, cancelled). The Bridge (FX, new). Unforgettable (CBS). Motive (ABC, new).

Favorite Character, Drama
1. James Spader as Raymond Reddington, The Blacklist - This character was made for Spader. Every line out of his mouth is pure gold. Every amused expression that passes over his face is genius.
2. Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan, Blue Bloods - As smooth, tough, and respectable as Frank is, I love that he also comes across as extremely real.
3. Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, The Good Wife - It's like she's straight out of one of my all-time favorite shows, Boston Legal. Quirky and smart.

Favorite Character, Comedy
1. Cristin Miliotti as The Mother (Tracy McConnell), How I Met Your Mother - I don't think I've ever loved a character as quickly as I did her.
2. Eden Sher as Sue Heck, The Middle - Oh, Sue Heck, I get you. It's rough to have a heart of gold and a totally awkward demeanor.
3. Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler, The Big Bang Theory - Pure hilarity.

Most Annoying Character Drama
1. Desmond Harrington as Joey Quinn, Dexter - I can't think of a more useless addition to a cast. He was constantly in a secondary role and that's exactly what he felt like: filler.
2. Tony Regbo as Prince Francis, Reign - Nowhere near as strong as he'd like to make everyone believe, he changes allegiance with the direction of the wind, even with his own wife.
3. Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Once Upon a Time - Three words: Grow a backbone. I don't care for the way they portray Belle. She doesn't come across as intelligent or curious, at all.

Most Annoying Character Comedy
1. Minnie Driver as Fiona, About a Boy - Holy helicopter mom.
2. Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn-Biggs, Mike and Molly - I know they decided to capitalize on Melissa McCarthy's slapstick movie humor payday, but the direction they've taken this show by reinventing Molly midstream feels caricature-ish.
3. Kat Dennings as Max Black, 2 Broke Girls - Hard to say which annoys me more: the stiff delivery of every line she's had over three seasons or The Joker lips painted on her face.

Best New Character on an Existing Show
1. The Mother aka Tracy McCarthy, How I Met Your Mother - Every appearance by The Mother, and they didn't come nearly often enough, was magic.
2. Zelena, Once Upon a Time - I enjoyed the way the writers wove the details of The Wizard of Oz in with the existing story and tied it to Regina.
3. Finn Polmar, The Good Wife - I immediately liked Finn. There's something humble about him, which is refreshing among so many huge (character) egos.

Favorite Couple
1. Sue and Darrin, The Middle - I was so sad when they broke up and was cheering (literally) when they decided to get back together.
2. Ted and Tracy, How I Met Your Mother - They are fifteen different kinds of adorable. So worth the wait for Ted.
3. Meredith and Derek, Grey's Anatomy - I appreciate that, even though they hit bumps and things aren't always easy, they stick together, fight through it together, and their marriage ends up stronger. It's so easy to just split marriages up on tv to create turmoil and change up the story. I like that they've survived.

Most Annoying Couple
1. Robin and Barney, How I Met Your Mother - I never really liked them together. They became more of a joke than anything else.
2. Kristin and Ryan, Last Man Standing - They set my teeth on edge the second they are on the screen.
3. Carrie and Sebastian, The Carrie Diaries - Too needy!

Family That Makes You Wish You Were One of Them
1. The Reagans, Blue Bloods - I want to go to family Sunday dinner!
2. The Pritchetts, Modern Family - I'd really just like to sit back and watch Phil's antics, and take some of these family vacations.
3. The Bravermans, Parenthood - I'm really just not sure how you wouldn't want to be part of this family.

Best Cast Chemistry
1. Parenthood - I can't think of a single line situation that has felt forced or awkward (unless it was *supposed* to feel that way). It doesn't even matter who is on the screen. They actually feel like a family.
2. The Good Wife - With such a high emotional intensity on this show, and the number of characters that may be on for an episode or a longer story arc, it's easy to pick up people who don't feel like they fit. This show never seems to miss a beat.
3. The Big Bang Theory - Even when they added new characters in previous seasons, it felt like they were always part of the gang. And their characters have continued to evolve in sync, which is really rather impressive.

Worst Cast Chemistry
1. 2 Broke Girls - Has there ever been a single episode of this show that the characters haven't felt as if they were reading off cue cards? After three seasons, they should feel more fluid in their delivery, at the very least.
2. The Michael J Fox Show - New shows, especially new comedies, seem to struggle to feel comfortable in their own skin. This one never seemed to get there.
3. Revolution - I never felt like this cast was cohesive. I understood that in season one, between being a new show and having characters killed off at an alarming pace, but that seemed to ease off a bit in the second season, and they still seemed to lack that spark that makes you want to suspend disbelief and feel as though they are real.

Part two, coming tomorrow...

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This Week on My TV: September 13, 2014

Disclaimer: Consider the fact that there could be spoilers ahead. You read at your own risk!



**(The Bridge, S2E9 "Rakshasa") I'm not sure how to process that Eleanor had a son. I wonder if he was the result of her father's abuse? -- When the Mexican police brought in the high girl, I did not expect her father to be that CLIO guy, Sebastian Cerisola (or whatever his name is)! -- I can't quite figure out why Fausto thinks Eleanor betrayed him. Why doesn't he suspect Sebastian? Or does he think Eleanor is working for Sebastian now? -- I guess Sonya will be back to trusting Marco again, now that he saved her from The Chopper. -- Still trying to piece the timeline together. Is this shootout that resulted in the bloody scene Monte walked into at the start of the season? Is this another gruesome scene? And now Charlotte is dead and Hank's...dead? Missing? Holy. Crap. -- Marco [to Sonya]: That war is here now. And the border won't be able to stop it.

**(Motive, S2E13 "For You I Die") I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get the full story on whatever case is resurfacing from Angie and Mark's past. -- I did NOT expect Samantha to be this week's victim! -- If Rule Number One of a horror movie is never run upstairs, then Rule Number One of a crime show is never find yourself alone in a dark alley. Either way, no good will come of you. -- Why didn't they just test Mark's hands against the handprints on the two victims? -- Angie can't really quit...can she??

**(The Last Ship, S1E6 "Lockdown") I sure hope the crew monitoring the transmissions is getting counseled by someone, because that has got to become severely depressing in a very short period of time. -- Rachel: The biggest breakthroughs almost always come after the most enormous setbacks. You just need to be patient. ... True about much more in life than scientific research on vaccines. -- I really like Tex. But I'm still not sure if he or CMC Jeter is my favorite. -- Eric Dane: master of indignant brooding. -- Quincy is a real pot stirrer. -- Tex: I'd follow you into the gates of hell. CO Chandler: That's only because you think it'd be exciting. -- Predictability: I knew Green wouldn't have the virus. And I knew none of the sailors would end up leaving the ship. I still understand why they have to set up tensions though. -- Teary eyes and goosebumps: when the sixteen sailors whose enlistment was up showed up on deck at the time appointed to get on their boat and leave, and one stepped forward to the CO with a folded flag...and said they all requested to re-enlist. I didn't know whether to cheer or weep, but I was moved. -- CO Chandler [to Quincy]: I hear you and Chandler have been doing a lot of talking. [pregnant pause with a smoldering stare] No more talking. ... Now *that* made me want to cheer, no question!

**(The Bridge, S2E10 "Eidolon") Finally some missing puzzle pieces in the timeline. What happened in that car with Eleanor's first thug. The moments leading up to Monte arriving at the bloody shootout and those after he looks up to see a woman looking back down at him from the landing. -- I'm so conflicted about how I feel regarding Cesar. He's been one of my favorite characters on this show, but working for Eleanor, I feel very uncomfortable liking him, though I do pity him. -- Lyle Lovett may be one of the best random characters on this show. So well cast! -- I feel really bad for Jaime. I don't know that he's actually done anything wrong, since I don't believe he really has any idea of right or wrong. His mind is too simple. I felt a little better when Sonya was able to communicate with him about why he was carting around all those bodies. -- Frye: C'mon you gotta give me something! Detective Cooper: I'm going to give you a boot in your ass if you don't get off my crime scene. -- Was Eleanor staring at Marco before she dropped to the ground, or was she just staring off into space?

**(Reckless, S1E7 "Deep Waters") Roy kinda has a point. Jamie seems to like them on opposite sides of as many cases as possible...so she doesn't have to face her feelings for him? -- That new judge brings new meaning to "no nonsense." -- I typically like the way Roy dresses, but, subtle or not, there was too much plaid going on with that suit, shirt, and tie, during the first part of this episode. -- I'm rather over Arliss and his "poor me" attitude. -- I can't figure out if Joyce Reed is sincerely trying to help Lee Anne or sabotage her case against the city. -- The dress Lee Anne wore for the ball looked like she had a dinner napkin poking up from her waistline. -- Because of course fancy-dressed Jamie and Roy had to dance, all slow and intimate, at the ball. Good glory, that was some steamy exchange. The sparks nearly shot off the screen of my tv. HOW DO YOU RESIST HIM, JAMIE?? -- I did not expect that steamy scene between Terry and Lee Anne. Jaw. On. Floor.

**(Reckless, S1E8 "When the Smoke Clears") Roy just has all the pretty ladies throwing themselves at his feet. -- I don't think I could actually care any less about Preston's undercover gun trade arc. -- Vi found Terry's spy cam that he blackmailed her daughter into installing! And if he's the one who installed it, shouldn't he have remembered that before he got all hot and heavy with Lee Anne in Jamie's office? Or...was that the idea?! -- ::pointing at screen:: Roy caught Lee Anne and Terry kissing in secret!! -- Ed, the computer geek, looks like a young Ray Barone (from Everybody Loves Raymond). -- That gun exchange shootout location looked like a bad video game scene come to life. -- I get the impression I was supposed to feel some kind of anxiety over Preston getting shot...except...nothing. Not even with Terry standing over him, telling him he planned to use the final two bullets in his gun on him.

**(Unforgettable, S3E9 "Admissions") When Carrie scans a bunch of framed photos, I always wonder which one she'll recall later and why. -- I'm always a sucker for a crime procedural episode that takes place in a private school, though I'm not sure why. -- The girl who did the hacking at the center of this case, Kendall, with the blonde hair, the dark thick eyebrows, and the huge black-rimmed glasses...that look was all a little much, all together. -- I pretty much loved the exchanges Eliot had with Jay and Cherie. They're humanizing him more, since the case that revealed he was having problems with his wife.

**(Reckless, S1E9 "Damage Control") They sure go out of their way to make sure we know what a lech Dec is. -- I'm not sure how I feel about them trying to make Dec more of a prominent character on the show, with his wife, his open marriage, his pregnant mistress, by putting him in the court room opposite Jamie, but I loved when she used one of his old case arguments against him to win. -- Who leaked Lee Anne's tape?? And what's happened to Arliss??

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5. 10. 15. 20.

1994, 20 years ago - Don't let that smile fool you. I was terrified. Uncertain of looming adulthood. Unsure of the direction I was going, into the complete unknown, out of the nest, shoved into thin air, where the options were either flight or gravity. I felt small, invisible, inadequate. I was the girl no one really saw. I lacked any degree of confidence, was uncomfortable in my own skin, and had no clue who I wanted to be.


1999, 15 years ago - Don't let that smile fool you. I was faking confidence. Even though I was gainfully employed, I felt like a fraud, like there was no way I was an adult. I slapped on that smile like it was part of my uniform. I learned to look sure of myself while I quaked inside. I was hesitant, but I never wanted it to show. I drew the conclusion that adulthood was an act in making everyone else believe you had confidence and some kind of clue, but I had no more definition than I did at seventeen.


2004, 10 years ago - Don't let that smile fool you. I could snap it onto my face just like Mr Potato Head over there. Adulthood was proving to be as terrifying as my worst nightmares when I wore that graduation cap a decade earlier. My skin was thin and my confidence was thinner. A decade had given me no more direction, just some baggage stuffed full of realized fears and underdeveloped confidence...and not much leading me to believe that this wasn't what life was just going to be like. Plaster on that smile and pretend it's all under control. Inner peace was, as far as I knew, a scam.


2009, 5 years ago - Don't let that small smile fool you. For the first time in my life, I thought I was maybe in on the secret. Pieces were clicking into place. I was more tentative than uncertain. I was more curious than afraid. I'd hit my thirties and suddenly, it was occurring to me that maybe, just maybe, I was someone worth knowing, no pretense, no act.


2014, present - That smile is the real deal. I feel no more need to justify the things I enjoy, pretend to be someone I'm not, or impress people who think I should be someone or something different. I've traded a thin skin and a shaky interior for a soft heart and a quiet confidence. Not everyone will love me, but not everyone needs to; I'm seen by the people who matter and who love me *because* I'm me. I know who I am, what I like, and how to use my own voice. When I'm shaken, I rebalance quickly. I'm comfortable moving in my own space, at my own pace. I've learned to look in the mirror and work hard to be a person I can look in the eye: genuine, pleasant, silly, cheerful, strong, grateful. A girl at peace is a beautiful thing.

Oh, what a difference the passage of time makes. If I could just reassure that poor girl in 1994 that it would all be ok, that she'd grow into herself, and look at life as an adventure, and hold her head high as she laughed from the tips of her toes to the top of her head...

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On: September 8, 2014

WHAT'S ON YOUR...

VANITY | Our bathroom vanity is one long stretch of counter with his-and-hers sinks. On my half, my toothbrush and a bottle of hand soap (Method Sweetwater). On his, a bottle of hand soap, his toothbrush and a little square white ceramic dish where he puts his wedding ring when he isn't wearing it. In the middle, a box of Puffs tissues in a brushed nickel cover, a matching cup filled with Q-tips, and a matching covered container with cotton rounds inside. The less stuff that's out all the time, the easier it is to keep clean!

PERENNIAL TO DO LIST | Exercise and make the bed first thing in the morning. Wipe down the bathroom sinks after getting ready for the day. Either cook or clean up after dinner (whoever cooks, the other cleans). Zap the sponge in the microwave (on high, 30 seconds) and get my lunch bag prepped before shutting down the house for the night. Balance-bills-budget every Sunday evening. Make sure my photos are backed up the first of every month.

REFRIGERATOR SHELVES | Yogurt. Eggs. Sour cream. Salad dressing. Pickles. Tomorrow's lunches for work. A big bowl of salad. A bottle of grape juice and a bottle of milk.

ITINERARY | Saturday - Haircut, library run, Bath and Body Works. Later this month - Food and Wine Fest at Epcot, a Disney weekend for our anniversary, belated birthday meal for my guy (he was waiting til we were closer to Orlando before he cashed in on his request).

FANTASY ITINERARY | I'd love to get back to San Francisco again sometime. Another trip to Fenway. Really wanting to go museum and monument hopping in Washington DC. Hawaii.

PLAYLIST | I'm all over the place, as usual: Glitter in the Air (P!nk). The Shape of Us (Ian Britt). Glass (Thompson Square). I Won't Give Up (Jason Mraz). Made to Be Free (Tim McMorris). Home (Phillip Phillips). All My Days (Alexi Murdoch). In My Life (The Beatles). Good to Go (Jason Aldean). Strong (Will Hoge). Blessings (Laura Story). Future Days (Pearl Jam). Luck Be a Lady (Frank Sinatra). Overwhelmed (Tim McMorris). How Great Thou Art (Carrie Underwood).

NIGHTSTAND | Lamp. Glasses case. "Wolves of the Calla" (Stephen King). Another stack of books I've been wanting to work into the rotation. A wooden "memory" box. Box of Puffs tissues. Photo of me and my Gram that she used to keep on her own nightstand.

WORKOUT PLAN | Anywhere from 15-30 minutes in the morning, depending on how much time I have, before I start getting ready for work. I change it up. Something cardio to get my heart pumping. Choose an area for the day to target on toning. Some planking or (girlie) push-ups. Finish with a little more cardio and then some stretching to cool down.

IPHONE | Texts. Photos. MLB At Bat. Instagram and PicTapGo. Tweetbot. Cartwheel. Disney app.

TOP 5 LIST | That man I married. Disney. Red Sox. Photos. Laughter.

BUCKET LIST | Take an actual sleighride in the snow. See a game at every ballpark in MLB. Stay at the Wilderness Lodge at WDW.

MIND | How unbelievably blessed I am. Missing my girls (I haven't seen them in almost two years! Booooo...).

WALLS OF YOUR FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE | Barn red paint and nothing else. Our living room has limited all space!

LIQUOR SHELF | A bottle of port Daniel left behind at Christmas and some Chardonnay in the fridge.

LAST CREDIT CARD STATEMENT | A zero balance on one and a healthy payment on the other, thank you very much!

SCREENSAVER | A slide show of favorite Red Sox photos I've both taken and collected.

TV EVERY NIGHT | Around the Horn. PTI. Local news. NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Red Sox baseball.

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This Week on My TV: September 6, 2014

Disclaimer: Consider the fact that there could be spoilers ahead. You read at your own risk!



**(Unforgettable, S3E7 "Throwing Shade") Why is Al acting like wearing a shirt and tie is some kind of torture when he wears one in every episode? -- You're my kinda girl, Carrie!...Al: Too cool for a name tag? Carrie: Yeah, I'm too cool for a name tag. Name tags are designed to make other people feel comfortable so they can come up and talk to you. I want other people to feel really *uncomfortable* so they don't come up and talk to me at all. -- Eliot: grey suit (charcoal, this time), lavender shirt, (different) purple tie. -- A mobster eating a fat steak with a rack full of wine bottles behind him: *that's* original. Heh. -- Whoa! Eliot wore a navy suit, with a pink windowpane-pattern shirt and a navy-blue-and-pink striped tie, and then a light blue shirt with a burgundy tie in the second half of this episode...what?? -- That was a really sweet moment at the end, between Eliot and his wife.

**(The Bridge, S2E8 "Goliath") Was that junkie Sonya went to see her mother? I thought her mother was dead. -- We learned some interesting history about Marco and Fausto, that they grew up together, their fathers "did business" together. Yeah, I'll bet Marco doesn't like that getting out. -- Sometimes this show is so over-the-top disgusting. -- There are some seriously messed up people on this show. Horrible, twisted  personal histories. -- Gah! I hate when you can see someone lurking in the shadows! And now "The Chopper" has Sonya. Marco isn't going to be very happy with Fausto when he realizes Fausto put a hit out on Sonya.

**(Motive, S2E11 "A Bullet for Joey") Detective Lucas [while searching the victim's files for a connection to his murder]: Our vic had a lot of contempt for the alphabet. -- The story fell a little flat for me. The "firing squad" thing with the brothers in defense of their sister. Meh. What I want to know is what this case is involving Cross? We are getting only the tiniest snippets, and now Angie has been served by the defense...except all along, I've been thinking Cross was being accused of something. I wish they'd give me enough to actually be interested in this arc rather than merely confused by it.

**(Motive, S2E12 "Kiss of Death") Called that she was being poisoned in the first scene, when she acted "off" and took a sip of water. -- So, if the defense can subpoena Angie as a witness, why can't Samantha? And if Samantha can, and needs Angie's testimony so badly, why doesn't she? -- This was a really good episode. Well-placed twists. Good plot. Not your expected ending. -- A few more details on this case involving Cross. Or at least how Cross and Angie's past fits in with the testimony Samantha kept trying to get from Angie.

**(Unforgettable, S3E8 "The Island") Al [to Eliot]: Think about it as camping. Or what you've read about camping. -- That deserted "Typhoid Mary" island was creepy. I wonder if all of its history was true? Kind of makes me want to look it up and find out. -- The case felt a little far-fetched to me, but points for being unique. -- My two favorite things about this show: Jo, and the way Carrie and Al drive each other nuts (which is far better than the contentiousness of Season One).

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I Read Books: September 5, 2014

1. Favorite children's book:
Laura Ingalls Wilder's "The Little House" series. These were the books that made me love reading. I wanted that boxed set so badly that, when I finally received it as a gift (I think I was seven or eight years old), I think I read every single book in order starting almost immediately. I've read it through probably close to a dozen times, even more than once as an adult (it's like comfort food, only in book form). I still have that boxed set.

2. The last book you read: 
I just finished "The Lady of the Rivers" by Philippa Gregory. As the third book in a series I've liked, I expected to enjoy it. I was caught by surprise just how much I loved this one.

3. Books on your "to read" list: 
You're kidding, right? I will need several additional lifetimes to actually read all the books on my list, because it stands today at 1,466, and it's not like they've stopped writing books. How about the next three on my "on deck" shelf: Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier, No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark, and Beyond this Moment by Tamera Alexander.

4. Top 5 authors:  
In no particular order and subject to change...Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ayn Rand, M.L. Stedman, Philippa Gregory, and Lisa See.

5. Favorite genres:
Mysteries and historical fiction.

6. A book that has made you extremely mad: 
Extremely mad? I'm not sure there are any books that have made me mad, either in general or in their entirety, but there have been portions of books where the events have made me feel, among other emotions, somewhere on the spectrum of mad. The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Dreams of Joy by Lisa See, and The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff, to name a few. I'm far more likely to have gotten annoyed by a book, either a character or the author, than to get angry.

7. A book that you've cried over: 
The two that spring to mind most quickly are Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.

8. A book that made you laugh out loud: 
Couplehood by Paul Reiser. I have read this one multiple times and I still laugh til I weep. Don't even ask me to read portions of it out loud, because I can't.

9. Fiction or nonfiction?
Yes. I really try to mix up my reading. I do enjoy fiction in many genres, but I also like to learn, so a well-written piece of non-fiction also suits me just fine.

10. First book you read by your favorite author: 
I had a hard time figuring out my "top five," and now I need to narrow down to my single favorite author?? As if. How about my first favorite author: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

11. Best book-to-movie adaptation: 
I had to really give it some thought, but I almost never see book-to-movie adaptations! Here's the catch for me: I can see a movie before I read the book (or I may opt to never read it), but I cannot ever do it the other way around, because if I loved the book, I'm afraid the movie will ruin it for me, and if I hated the book, why spend the money to see the movie? So, I've read a fair number of books that have been made into movies, but never saw the movie. The three exceptions I can think of (and in each case, I saw the movie before reading the book) are Far and Away by Sonja Massie, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I enjoyed all the movies, but in each case, I am glad I saw them before reading the books. (With the exception of A Christmas Carol, which I have seen both before and after reading it.)

12. Do you read comics?
Comic strips, yes. I've never read a comic book or a graphic novel, though.

13. Hardcovers or paperbacks?
No preference. As long as it's a book made of paper, and not some kind of e-reader, I'm in.

14. Do you buy books as soon as they come out or wait a while? 
I almost never buy books anymore. I borrow from the library, or on rare occasion, from a friend. The only books I buy now are ones I read on loan and love so much, I know I will want to read them again.

15. Do you buy books spontaneously without any prior knowledge of what happens in it? 
Definitely not (based on my last answer).

16. Have you ever bought a book based on the cover alone? 
No. I need a synopsis. Haven't you heard? You never judge a book by its cover! Now, I've picked up a book, based on cover alone, but it's to read the synopsis and see if I'm interested.

17. Where do you usually buy your books? 
On the rare occasion that I do, either from Amazon or my local branch of Books-a-Million.

18. Book that had a strong impact on you:
Many books have impacted me--my view on a particular event, the way I think about life, my perspective. But the "Little House" books are what first inspired my love for reading, so that's a pretty strong impact to have, I'd say. Without that, would there be any others?

19. Historical or science fiction?
Historical, all the way. Science fiction is one the few genres that doesn't reel me in, as a rule.

20. Dystopian or Utopian?
Neither, really, I guess. I find the first troubling and depressing, and the second, unidentifiable.

21. Worst book-to-move adaptation?
I'm sure there are many. Hence, my rule about never seeing a movie for which I've already read the book. My expectations are way too high, and likely, unreachable.

22. Book that should have a movie adaptation?
For the most part, I think books and movies, both wonderful sources of entertainment, should exist in mutual exclusivity. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule. I'd guess that a mystery or an action thriller most easily cross planes.

23. The first book you've fallen in love with: 
How many times can I be asked a question for which the "Little House" series is the answer?

24. Humor or angst?
Humor. Definitely humor. Most novels have some angst, I'd say, and it plays an important role, but on a whole, I'm drawn more to soul-cleansing laughter.

25. How many books do you own?
After unloading a whole bunch when we moved (and I subsequently implemented my personal book rule), I would say no more than a hundred, including a fair number of reference type books.

26. Do you go the library?
At least twice a month, most months. I love my library! It's part of a county-wide co-operative, where, if a book I want isn't available at my local branch or if my branch doesn't shelve a particular book, but it is available from another library in the co-op, I put in my request online and the book is sent to my local branch for me to check out.

27. How many books do you read a year? 
I'll bet it was over a hundred when I was younger. And for a long time, I read very little. I realized how much I'd missed it a couple of years ago, though, and vowed to myself that I'd find the time again. In 2013, I read 38 books, after setting a goal of 25. This year, I set a goal for 40, and so far, I'm up to 27. That's up from 6 in 2011, and 16 in 2012.

28. Favorite "required reading" book? 
I struggle with required reading. I never had much of a rebellious side, but something about being forced to read something immediately turns me off. I've actually set a goal for myself to re-read some of those books from high school, to see if maybe they were better than I made them out to be, simply because I didn't choose to read them of my own accord. The only two I ever remember reading and loving (and I may have possibly read them on my own *before* they were assigned) were The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

29. Favorite quote? 
Oh, man. So many. *So* many! Here are two favorites:

“That smile was dangerous, she thought — a quicksand smile if there ever was one. Easy to wander in; perhaps more difficult to wander back out.”
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King

“'But how? How can you just get over these things, darling?…You've had so much strife but you're always happy. How do you do it?'
‘I choose to…I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened…or I can forgive and forget.’
‘But it’s not that easy.’
He smiled that Frank smile. ‘Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things…No’ - his voice became sober- ‘we always have a choice. All of us.’”
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

30. A book you absolutely hate: 
There are two books I had to abandon without finishing: Wicked by Gregory Maguire, and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella. And there were three from school that I hated so much, I couldn't even compel myself to attempt reading them as an adult, with an open mind, and of my own free will: The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men by George Steinbeck, and Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. I'd rather stick a rusty needle in my eye than to ever open up any of those books again. And to assist you with some persective, let me just tell you how much I like *anything* in, near, or around my eye.

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She vacationed.

As I was putting together my "month in review" for August, I nearly smacked myself in the head. I never mentioned my vacation!

It started with a delayed flight out of Orlando, courtesy of a powerful storm that stalled out over the airport. At one point, they were recording upwards of 300 lightning strikes in the area every fifteen minutes. The number of lightning strikes that can happen in the airport area within a fifteen minute time span for them to open up jetways for boarding? Zero.


Day one of vacation included some of this:

And some of this:



The next day was Disneyland. There were piranhas on Jungle Cruise.

 
Some adventuring with Indy.

A trip to the netherworld with J. Thaddeus Toad Esq. (It's so dark, but I laugh like a fool every time.)

Some pillaging and plundering and "wantsing of the redhead!"

And some tasty treats!



Saturday brought some wine tasting.

And baseball. With grilled cheese (!!!) because that's how we roll.


Actually, baseball came "two for the price of one."

Yes, we stayed the entire nineteen innings. Yes, we, along with everyone still there, cheered when Pujols hit a walkoff homer to end the game (didn't care who won, please just let us GO)...and contemplated tackling John Farrell on the field when he challenged it.

Less than twelve hours after the end of that game, we were back for Sunday's matinee. We had excellent seats...

...but before that, we ate a brunch that was to. die. for. And now I will bombard you with the photos. Because that is also how I roll. There was a BLT wedge salad with heirloom cherry tomatoes and crispy shallots.

A brisket quesadilla with fresh corn salsa.

A shrimp and edamame salad, and pork belly over cheesy polenta topped with a perfectly poached egg.

A summer flatbread with roasted heirloom tomatoes, grilled summer squash, mozzarella, and arugula, and basil pesto.

Charcuterie (I'm still dreaming about the prosciutto!).

And then there was dessert. Coconut and mango custard. Raspberry and lemon meringue. Passionfruit marshmallow.

Vanilla bean pudding with blackberries and oatmeal crisp.

Fig and maple bread pudding.

Devil's food cake with fresh cherries.

Black plums with vanilla cream, pomegranate gelatin, and brown sugar crisps.

The secret to eating all of that is that they come in tiny portions and you have to go with someone willing to go halvsies on everything. I will confess, though, that the only other thing I ate the rest of the day was this Peanut Butter Sandwich I got at Disneyland on Friday.

Brief ode to the Peanut Butter Sandwich:
Heavenly confection, no longer can I pay you homage in my homelands of Walt Disney World. I must wait for the opportunity to meet you on the far west coast, at the place of Mickey's birth. But I shall savor you, oh, I shall savor every last crumb. Until I find my nose pressed to the glass case of Candy Palace once again, you remain my beloved Disney treat.

And early Monday morning, I boarded an eastbound jet, relaxed, content, and happy to have spent some time with a dear friend.

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Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: August 2014

1) A photo of me:


2) Candle scents* this month:
Pink Sands. Clean Cotton. Wild Passion Fruit. Island Guava.Waikiki Melon. Kiwi Berries. Pomegranate Fruit. Starfruit and Orange.

3) What I am reading this month (you can find me on Goodreads!):
M is for Malice (Sue Grafton) - Finally! The last several books in this series left me feeling meh. The stories were only mildly compelling (not what I'm looking for in a whodunnit), the characters felt bland, and I was almost forcing myself to keep turning the pages, because I really didn't care who or why. Not bad enough to consider stopping all together, but close. This one was such an improvement! I liked the characters, I liked the "stuff" going on in Kinsey's personal life, and the plot kept me guessing. I never saw the ending coming. The only complaint I have is a couple of scenes in this book were given no resolution. They were similar in tone, and would have shared an answer, but the one alluded to seemed very out of character for the series. Either way, I'm actually hopeful that the series may be back on the upswing.
The Scent of Rain and Lightning (Nancy Pickard) - I had been anticipating this book since I first heard about it. It certainly lived up to my expectations. It was an easy, summer beach read (perfect while I was on vacation!). The characters were well fleshed out. I felt like I knew them quickly. I enjoyed the pace of the story, the way it moved on the timeline (present to past and back again). The mystery was engaging and the ending was satisfying.
The Lady of the Rivers (Philippa Gregory) - I'm a little over halfway through this one and I can't believe how much I've been enjoying it! I certainly liked the first two books in the series well enough (obviously, if I've kept up with the series) but I wasn't a huge fan of Jacquetta in the first book. But the more I'm learning of her story (this book actually pre-dates the first two, chronologically), the more I am liking her! I can't wait to see how this fits in with what I know from the events of the first two books.

4) Calendar image for the month:

Sunset and birch trees. Two of my favorite things in nature.

5) New recipes tried this month:
Chicken Stir Fry  - Looks like a lot of ingredients but it came together very quickly.
Chicken Alfredo Lasanga - This one was T's baby. I won't say it was simple (it *is* a lasagna), but it was very tasty!

6) Restaurants where I ate:
Panera. Anton Schweiger's Jagerhaus (Anaheim, CA - while on vacation). Village Haus Restaurant (Disneyland). ESPN Zone (Downtown Disney, Disneyland). Corner Bakery (Irvine, CA - while on vacation). The Big Cheese (Angel Stadium). Diamond Club (Angel Stadium).  Olive Garden.

7) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Vacation. A little relaxation...
2. ...a little Disneyland...
3. ...a couple of Red Sox games...
4. ...and some friendship time. Just what a girl needs to recharge.
5. A lunch date with my husband, following my 6-month ring inspection. It's been *forever* since we went out to eat anywhere.

8) Three goals I had this month and three goals for next month:
1. Five blog posts from my stash of drafts. (I managed to do three of them, with big plans for a fourth, but I just couldn't find the right words. I'm going to try to be better about dipping into that inventory though. So many ideas in there, waiting.)
2. Make another batch of pesto. (Made and in the freezer! And based on what I see from my basil, I think I may need to whip up another batch soon.)
3. More magazines. I have a vacation coming up though, so scaling back to fifteen. (I lost my momentum. Only got to ten.)

1. I *will* get to fifteen magazines in September.
2. Find and participate in a month-long Disney photo challenge on Instagram.
3. Finish tidying up my music files on my laptop so I can finally get iTunes set up and buy a few songs I've been wanting to add to my collection.

9) The best part of this month and the worst part of this month:
The best: (oops! I left this empty at first! updated to add...) The great big hug I got from T when he got back from his trip. (I left the evening before his early morning departure, but got home Monday evening; he didn't get back until Wednesday night.)
The worst: Ten nights of sleeping poorly. I could fall asleep but then I would have crazy, vivid dream after dream, which would wake me up, repeating multiple times each night. I'm still trying to get caught up.

10) A photo I took this month:
.
Can you even just believe that sky? ::swoon::

*All scents are Yankee Candle, unless otherwise noted.

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What I Learned in August: 2014

1. I've long stated that I am not as big a fan of red wines. While on vacation, I learned that what I actually prefer are the red blends!

2. I spent a good hour or so fussing over the fact that laptop battery showed as "96% and not charging." I tried plugging it into different outlets, making sure the cord was pushed in all the way, rebooting it. Nothing worked. So I turned to trusty Google to see if this was a common problem with the laptop i just bought a couple of months ago. Turns out, laptops are smarter than I am. They know that keeping their batteries charged at full capacity while plugged in decreases their life, so they discharge for a while, then charge back up again. I also learned that it's a good habit to run your laptop on battery power regularly, at least down to about 50%, before plugging it back in to charge, to prolong battery life.

3. Publix premium started making Greek yogurt...and now I've found one I actually like! Or, well, to be accurate, I'm learning to like it. I've been growing increasingly more dissatisfied with the quality of my former yogurt (Yoplait) -- over the past several months, I found that at least once per week, my yogurts were starting to have curdled lumps in them, when for years they had all been smooth and creamy, and I know our refrigerator isn't the issue -- so I decided it was time to go shopping for a new breakfast staple.

4. After living in Florida for over twelve years, I finally know the intention of the phrase "bless your heart." (What can I say? I'll always be a New Englander, born and raised.) And may I say, the south has such a pleasant way of saying "up your nose with a rubber hose, buddy!"

5. I always apply eyeliner to my right eye with a heavier hand. Even when I am consciously trying to make it even with my left. No matter which eye I start with.


Every month, Chatting at the Sky shares what she learned. Big things and little things. Life lessons from the serious to the silly. I've decided I want to participate. Just another means of capturing who am I along this broken little road called life.

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This Week on My TV: August 30, 2014

Disclaimer: Consider the fact that there could be spoilers ahead. You read at your own risk!



**(Unforgettable, S3E2 "The Combination) I never get caught up in boxing related stories. Dr Jo is once again the highlight of the episode. That and Carrie's little fighting fists. And the rest was just meh, with the scorned older brother, the Albanian mob, and the riff on "Real Housewives."

**(Unforgettable, S3E3 "The Haircut") Now *this* is the type of episode I can enjoy. Some secret sources, a scandal to unravel, and a secret group of...spy types, I guess? Anyway, they were pulling some strings behind the scenes. I wonder if they will be like some of the arcs in Person of Interest and pop up with some regularity or if this was a one-and-done thing? -- So, Carrie and Al are each going to have love interests from Washington DC? Hmmm. Now of course everyone wants them to stop denying their chemistry and get back together (even though the viewer has never seen them actually together, since that is just part of their character back story). How long are we going to get toyed with before they cave and get to it?

**(Murder in the First, S1E6 "Punch Drunk") Another judge and a totally new court room? Just what is going on here? -- Terry had some moves in that bar with the drunk jerks that were harassing that couple. -- Holy crap! Mark Strauss is dead by "overdose" with a supposed "suicide note" admitting he killed Cindy?? Except, yeah, right. I still don't think Blunt did it, but it sure seems like every possible suspect they unearth ends up being eliminated, one way or another. So who? -- Speaking of Mark Strauss and his overdose, ewwwww.

**(The Bridge, S2E7 "Lamia") Oh, Daniel Frye, you colossal mess. Even if it gets you what you want to know, the addictions are going to kill you. Unless the CLIO people or Fausto's goons get you first.-- How did Robles know Sonya was at the Special Prosecutor's hotel room shootout with Marco?! -- I could have lived without witnessing a Fausto bathroom break. -- Ray: Stop your clock, sister. ... ::snort:: Ray's one-liners slay me. -- Marco had to sneak into the prison in a food delivery truck to get to Tate the first time, but after that he can just walk in, wearing street clothes, and stand outside the infirmary, staring at Tate through the window? -- Sonya has a lot on her plate. Dobbs' death seems to be bringing up feelings about her sister's death. She found out Hank had withheld the truth from her about what he did to Dobbs. Jack (still don't trust him), it turns out, suspected Sonya's sister wasn't his brother's first murder, and maybe if he'd said something, *anything*, it might have prevented her sister's death. Marco isn't telling her the whole story about his escapades in Juarez and she knows it. The Special Prosecutor is dead and Eva's statement has been compromised. How will Sonya handle all this upheaval? -- Eleanor's story is...terrifying. As I am sure Charlotte and Ray can attest, after hearing it in the diner. -- We seem to have just stopped mentioning the girls disappearing from Juarez. Will we circle back around to that at some point?

**(Murder in the First, S1E7 "Suck My Alibi") Someone in the background of Erich Blunt's trial keeps coughing and I find it very distracting. -- Curly haired chick has The Crazy Eyes. I also didn't think it was going to be her who killed Strauss! Or well, was there when he died anyway. -- THERE is the twist! Crazy Eyes admitted to typing the suicide note after Mark Strauss actually did OD. But whoa, with her parting question for Terry: "You wanna know if I killed Cindy Strauss?"

**(Murder in the First, S1E8 "Win Some, Lose Some") What was with the first-date chick telling Terry she loved him in bed and then pulling a coffee pot out of her purse? And then when he said he felt a bit crowded by it (understandably so), throwing hot coffee in his lap? It was amusing watching the reactions of his neighbors, though, as they heard what was (ahem) taking place in his bedroom before her inner crazy surfaced. -- Wasn't impressed by the twenty minutes of closing arguments that just rehashed what the viewer already knew. It did nothing to further the story and just felt like it was killing time. -- Did Erich seriously confess to Cindy's murder under protection of double jeopardy? I mean, Crazy Eyes sort of half-hinted she might have done it when Terry gave her immunity to tell him what really happened with Mark Strauss. So who was it??

**(Dallas, S3E9 "Denial, Anger, Acceptance") It had to be a rude awakening for Emma to see John Ross all but ignore her, other than barking at her to call the paramedics, while he tended to the unconscious Pamela. And yet, she sat in the hospital, talking to John Ross about what they do now that Pamela knows? Snap out of it, girl. Even John Ross knows the jig is up. -- Judith Ryland is the creepiest "mommy dearest" ever. Bringing Harris a glass of milk, and telling him it isn't "mommy's milk"?! Nasty. -- Judith calling Ann a "pretty packet of poison" is rich, considering the source. -- Ann, when will you learn to stop the lies? Bobby has every right to be furious at you and you know it. -- Bobby [to John Ross]: You say you want to be a better person, that you didn't mean to betray the people you love and you feel so bad for doing it. Well, words are cheap. You are what you do. You wanna be a better man?...*Be* one. -- I was seriously sweating Sue Ellen lifting that bottle of aftershave from the hospital gift shop, because she needed a drink so badly. And equally relieved when she battled back the temptation to actually drink it. And proud of her for being brave, admitting to Bobby and Ann that she accidentally started the fire by trying to burn John Ross and Pamela's wedding invitation, then passing out drunk, and finally acknowledging her alcoholism. -- ::tires screeching:: *Drew* was trying to burn down Southfork and basically got away with it, since Sue Ellen believes *she* started it?? And if Nicolas was going to have a hard time explaining to Elena why he sent Pamela that video of John Ross and Emma, well, it's going to be impossible to get her to understand why Drew is now dead. Holy crap.

**(Murder in the First, S1E9 "Family Matters") Hildy's response to watching Blunt do the "Larry King interview" on tv was a lot like the way I watch tv. I am constantly talking to the people on the television as if they can hear me. -- D'oh! Hildy totally busted Lieutenant and DA making out in the parking garage. That look on her face, the "I really wanna un-see this" expression, was spot on. -- They made it totally obvious that Blunt's grandfather knew exactly why Terry was  there, the way he got defensive and surly. It was like a big, flashing neon "guilty" sign was hanging over his head. -- As scary crazy as I found Ivana, her loyalty to Erich was pretty remarkable. I can totally see why, when he took credit for running his company all through the trial, which, in fact, he didn't, but she did, that loyalty was off the table. Her perfect revenge was leaving to start a competitive business with Blunt's scorned former business partner, Jeremy. -- I wish I were more familiar with the San Francisco landmarks, so I could better appreciate some of the aerial views of the city between scenes. -- I couldn't help but think that when Terry met Walton on his release from prison, after being cleared of the charge for Nyers' murder, that was probably the first time in his life someone had shown him kindness. -- Is Daniels the only rich-guy lawyer in San Francisco? Seems like (assuming the show is picked up for a second season) he will just keep popping up on cases, making Terry and Hildy's job that much more challenging. I actually wondered if they were going to attempt to tie in that dead woman in the tub with the Blunt murders too, but I guess not. So maybe it was just a "space filler" for the show (wouldn't be the first time)? Or is this a potential dangling thread to pick back up for a season two, should there be one?

**(Murder in the First, S1E10 "Blunt the Edge") When they showed the preview for the season finale, I couldn't figure out why it would look like Wilkerson was sitting on Blunt's couch, naked. I never imagined it happening the way it happened, Blunt making him strip down because he thought Wilkerson was wearing a wire. I don't know how, after all that insanity spewing out of Blunt's mouth, Wilkerson didn't just go crazy and shove him out that giant window. -- Daniels [David Hertzberg, about why he won't represent Blunt again]: My money? I keep it. So I have it. So I can say no to men like Erich Blunt. -- When I watched how quickly things feel apart for the arrogant Blunt, all I could think was "my, how the mighty have fallen." Wilkerson has not shown him the gratitude he feels he has earned "for all he's done." Daniels refuses to be his legal defense. He can't effectively threaten Terry English off his trail. Ivana is gone. And, in the end, he doesn't even have his personal lawyer, Hertzberg, in his corner any more. -- More proof I have the softest (most foolish) heart on the planet: I was so sad for Blunt's grandmother, as she struggled with her husband's suicide, how to navigate life alone for the first time in fifty years, her only family is that toad, Blunt, and she just seemed so vulnerable. Also, when Terry stops to see Walton, and learns that Walton plans to move up north, near family, to start fresh, I had this overwhelming sense of hope for him, that he would shake off his demons and succeed. I NEED TO STOP HAVING ALL THESE FEELINGS FOR PRETEND CHARACTERS ON TV. -- My thoughts on the final outcome: When the call came through that someone was obviously dead in connection with the Strauss/Nyers murders, first I was worried for Walton, then the grandmother, and finally Wilkerson, in rapid, frantic succession. But of course it was Blunt, because he wouldn't ever face the consequences for all he did. I'm not sure if that was a satisfying ending, but I think they chose the right one. I have to give the writers credit, making Blunt the killer. I thought it was too obvious. And he never showed the "obvious signs" his grandfather did. They made him a great, stonecold psychopath.

**(Reckless, S1E5 "Bloodstone") I don't know which is more steamy: Charleston in the summer or the chemistry smoldering between Roy and Jamie. When Roy was checking out Jamie in her denim mini skirt, I'm fairly certain sparks flew off my tv screen. -- Who is this blonde chick that keeps appearing at Roy's place, half dressed in one of his shirts? -- That was some interesting intel on Jamie's background that Roy got from his mentor (Emmett?), who was opposing counsel in the Carlisle case she's working on. A drug addict mother who didn't want her and left her to grow up in foster care. -- Holy. Heck. Max, the wrongly accused pro bono case, is Jamie's half brother?? And he doesn't know it, because they were separated by the system when they were assigned the foster homes?! -- I'm fully invested in the lawyering and Lee Anne's lawsuit and in the Jamie and Roy sizzle, but I could not care less about Terry and his gun hustling. -- Between her brother and Lee Anne, Jamie is practically running a homeless shelter in her house. I totally knew Max was going to be gone, though, when Jamie got back with dinner.

**(Reckless, S1E6 "Family Plot") Call me crazy, but I could have sworn that Lee Anne's chair in Arliss' hospital room was between the bed and the door last episode, but this one started with her waking up in the chair between the bed and the window, even though it was supposed to pick up right where the last scene of the previous episode ended, with Arliss tucking a blanket over a sleeping Lee Anne just before he slipped out of his hospital room. -- Nothing like having your ex-wife show up in your office and ask you to represent her new fiance in a legal matter. Could they make Roy and his situation any more of a heartbreaker? -- I'm not at all sure how I feel about them trying to make Terry even remotely likable. -- Of course they are dangling that sizzling kiss in front of the viewers before snapping it back with "can't be involved with opposing counsel."

**(Unforgettable, S3E4 "Cashing Out") I think it's funny that Eliot did his research on Carrie and Al, so he already knew about her gambling habits, but learned that Al was...boring? -- Jay: I've seen her use her memory hundreds of times and she still hustles me. -- During the shootout in the casino, Al leaned against a "cinder block" wall that MOVED. Oops. -- I honestly thought, for a fleeting moment, that Eliot was somehow involved in the raid, when it appeared the ringleaders had been tipped off.

**(Unforgettable, S3E5 "A Movable Feast") I like the way they are finding different ways to showcase Carrie's memory in each episode, unrelated to the cases. -- If the victim was such a great guy, why did his son's mother leave him? Weird. -- The Coast Guard officer told Carrie and Al that a brick of C4 could take down a building, but all it did was take off the back side of a boat? Hmmm. -- I feel like Eliot wears that grey suit with the lavender shirt and the purple tie a lot. -- I enjoyed this episode, since the chef/restaurant angle isn't as overdone as some other "case profiles" that get used on crime procedurals.

**(Unforgettable, S3E6 "Stray Bullet") Eliot: grey suit, lavender shirt, purple tie. And I thought it was bad that Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods rotates between three ties! -- Jo, the self-proclaimed "Dirty Harry of MEs." LOL! -- It was an interesting story, Al being framed by the jilted former fiance of a female officer because that officer was in love with Al, but what I hate about stories like this is that we lose the intensity. There was no way Al wasn't going to be cleared.

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