This Week on My TV: February 7, 2015

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



**(Grey's Anatomy, S11E9 Where Do We Go From Here?) Nice job with the "shattered glass" credits. -- I have to think that Mer's reaction to caring for the woman responsible for mass injuries, many to children, including her own, by saying "maybe her foot slipped off the pedal, we don't know" when Jo started to act judgmental about providing care, that's a far more mature Mer than we knew, even just a few seasons ago. -- I kind of love Amelia's confidence in her skills. "Your tumor is smart, *brilliant*, but so am I." -- Jack's brother told him to be a brick wall.I find that humorous, since Bailey was the one attempting to get information out of him, If anyone can get through a brick wall, it's Bailey. -- April: I'm fine. Callie: No, you're not. And I know because I'm the queen of taking my personal crap out on other people. -- There is something so satisfying about seeing (what's left of) our little, flailing, baby surgeons from Season One as strong confident doctors now. -- Oh, Jackson and April. Oh, my heart. I hope that they can get the same sliver of hope Arizona is giving Dr Herman through Amelia. -- Speaking of a matured Mer, I was so happy that she called Derek and sent him on his way on better terms. People who love each other (even when they hate each other) find a way to make it work. Hanging their PostIt vows back on the wall over their bed, with the broken glass but still hanging, still in the frame: excellent imagery.

**(The Blacklist, S2E9 Luther Braxton (1)) OMG, this Braxton guy actually assembled a "team" at The Factory to help him execute whatever his plan is?? If Red's made a point to be there too, to warn the warden of all this, I wonder what's in it for him. -- Liz: How are we going to stop Braxton? He has an entire team. Red: Well, sadly, there isn't a prison on earth where I don't know a few guys. -- Braxton: So, tell me, how you gonna stop me, Red? Red: A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. Braxton: Was that Nietzsche? Red: No. Bruce Lee. -- So, is this blonde chick part of "the group" that doesn't want The Fulcrum contents to get out? Because we know that this unnamed "director" guy is. -- I audibly gasped when Braxton nearly hung Samar to prove a point to Harold. -- Red [to Liz]: I didn't want you to come here, follow me here, because the truth is, if I don't stop Braxton, what he'll discover is he can't get The Fulcrum without you. ... WHAT??? -- -- Red being down, Lizzie trying to to perform CPR on him, lacks urgency, because without him, there is no show. -- Red firing a gun, protecting Liz, is one of the single most badass things I have ever seen on tv. He is a man with only one thing to lose: her. -- Braxton: I know all the stories, Red. I know where it was twenty years and I know when it disappeared. I know about the house, the fire, and the girl. ... Whoa. WHOA. Watching all the pieces falling into place for Braxton and the look on Red's face. -- OMG, the missiles hit The Factory!!! With Red, Liz, Ressler, and Samar inside!

**(2 Broke Girls, S4E10 And the Move-In Meltdown) I have no idea what that was. The only thing remotely humorous was when Sophie pulled the carving knife on Oleg. I may need therapy after Oleg's acceptance of when he would be allowed to sit on the white furniture.

**(Mike and Molly, S5E8 Mike Check) Molly: Mike, I'm only a pest because I love you, but know this, I have not yet begun to nag. -- Mike had the fastest doctor ever. The nurse had barely pulled the door closed behind her. -- Playing up the whole "regular doctor visits" thing was both cleverly advocating taking care of yourself and chock full of good comedy material.

**(Reign, S2E12 Banished) I loved all the Snow Festival attire. The whites and blues, silvers and golds. Stunning and perfect. -- I like Lola. I liked her ability to verbally spar with Narcisse (even if I didn't want her *with* him). But I'm not sure I want her with Conde. -- I feel badly for Kenna. I believe she is being honest with Bash and never actually meant him harm. And she's right. Why *would* she tell him how it was for her with Henry? I also believe that she truly loves Bash now and he needs to let go of his anger toward her. -- Diane: I did it for Henry. All of it. Catherine: How perfect! He did it all for Henry too. -- And the truth comes out. It was Diane who killed the infant twins. Not the nanny. Not Claude. But I do wonder what Diane meant, saying it was all for Henry. Did he order her to? Was it her own misguided way of winning him back? -- With her dismissal of Henry and the twins, and killing Diane in a fit of rage, is Catherine back to her senses or has she gone totally off the deep end? -- I wonder if Greer is simply going to be gone, a la Nostradamus. I'll be bummed. I hope they find a way to forgive and reinstate Greer and Castleroy. -- I know we're supposed to be cheering a glimmer of hope between Mary and Francis, and he was very sweet to her, but he just bothers me. He's weak and jealous. -- Based on the episode title, I expected it to be Conde, not Greer, being sent away.

**(Marry Me, S1E12 F Me) Jake: This feels like a "pants on" conversation. -- Speaking of, why do guys on tv all wear tighty whities? No one wears boxers? Boxer briefs? -- This episode was funny but kind of predictable to me: Annie and Jake participate in some shenanigans that get them into trouble, but someone they wiggle out of it and everything's ok in the end. Over the top neighbor, Julie, is just the right amount of annoying that makes her occasional presence worth rolling my eyes through. And then The Kevins announce that there's only one more plus-one slot yet, requiring Dennah, Kay, and Gil to compete, game show style, to see which of them gets to bring a date to the wedding. Kevin-Dan is the host and Kevin-Tim is the camera man...who, of course, fails to record the entire thing.

**(About a Boy, S2E12 About a Prostitute) Andy's pimp voice. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! -- While I thought that Will being accused of prostituting himself out to a single mom who keeps paying for guitar lessons for her daughter and then ends up in bed with him was pretty funny (especially once Will stopped denying it and started worrying it was true), my favorite part was Fiona trying to fit in with the "popular moms," who are all envious that she snagged Mr Chris. When they start being catty, gossiping about the mom Will's involved with, Fiona declares she always wondered what it would have been like to be part of the "in crowd," but now that she knows, she has no interest. She has compassion on the "outcast moms" that get gossiped about because that's how it's always been for her.

**(The Middle, S6E12 Hecks on a Train) In Mike's defense, those train seats really were awkward for him to snuggle up with Frankie after her accusations that Mike never nurtures her. -- Brick: All of these years, I've been repeating myself. Turns out, I should have been repeating other people. -- LOL: The look on Frankie's face when she realized no one noticed she didn't make it back on  the train. -- Oh, Sue. Writing her college application essay on "shooting for the stars" (because colleges *love* that sort of thing!), typo-ing it as "shooting into cars," attempting to correct it just as the train lurched and accidentally sending it out that way. (I would so do that.) -- Thumbs up: After Axl freaked out upon learning that Sue applied to his college, Mike sat down and basically told him that Sue is allowed to do whatever she wants in life without taking everything Axl wants into consideration first, and that Axl can't tell Sue what to do, he can only decide how he's going to act himself. More people need to learn that life lesson. -- I loved the transformation of the Aunt Edie's "tiki paradise," where she honeymooned as a young woman, from tacky to fun as the day turned to night. -- Favorite moment: When Frankie was talking to the man from the funeral home about the details for Aunt Edie, and he keeps telling her that her husband already took care of everything she was asking about. Mike may not be as physically demonstrative as Frankie wishes, but when it comes right down to it, he takes care of her in ways she doesn't even realize, because she never *has* to think about it. I think that's a big key to any successful marriage.

**(Elementary, S3E12 The One That Got Away (2)) I liked getting to see some of the history between Sherlock and Kitty. My favorite part was when he was teaching her how to break in when a security chain was latched on the front door, using a rubber band. My second favorite part was when he told her that she had saved him just as much as he had saved her, at the moment she came into his life, and that no matter what she chose to do with the man who had traumatized her, she would always be his friend. Sherlock has come a long way since we first met him. I wonder of Joan sees that? -- I was wondering if Sherlock would be onto the fact that Kitty only pretended to fly back to London the first time, while really staying behind to exact her revenge on Del Gruner. I was glad he revealed that he had known all along, but disappointed to learn that it was due to the tracking device he'd installed on her phone. For a man of Sherlock's cunning and intellect, that almost feels like cheating. -- I appreciate that Sherlock and Joan can disagree with each other's tactics now, without it causing someone to skulk off and pout. Even better that they can give credit when the other's tactic works and gives them knowledge they didn't have.

**(Person of Interest, S4E13 M.I.A.) Is Mr Reese using Just for Men Touch of Grey? His hair is less salt-and-pepper-y than I recall. -- You groped the wrong girl, Chief Wicker. Not only is Root fiesty, I'm pretty sure she doesn't like dudes. -- Hmmm. The return of Detective Silva, and she's working a number with Fusco (not that she's aware). I wonder if she'll keep being a recurring character? -- Fusco: No need for violence. We're having tea, remember? Silva: Bullets go great with tea. ... Sounds like Silva would get along great with Shaw and Root. -- Reese: When the shooting starts, duck. ... Sound advice, I would say! -- Totally freaky what Samaritan did with the town of Maple, making it a giant living science experiment, in order to study human behavior. -- Oh, boy. The Machine asked them to stop searching for Shaw. Root has bade Finch farewell. There's no way she's stopping. And she's always been a loose cannon. -- Holy crap. Shaw *is* still alive. And Greer has her. I wonder what he has planned for her...

**(The Big Bang Theory, S8E14 The Troll Manifestation) Sheldon: That's not just a sticker. It's a kitty saying Me-Wow. ... LOL!! -- Absolute funniest moment, for me: When Penny and Bernadette were so deeply invested in Amy's "Little House on the Prairie" fan fiction, that they shrieked in unison at Sheldon to "GET OUT!!!" when he interrupted right near the ending. -- My guess for the troll that was tormenting Leonard and Sheldon for "their" (Leonard's) scientific breakthrough was Kwipke Kripke. Having it be Stephen Hawking (which was T's last second theory before the big reveal) was freaking brilliant. Well played, Big Bang Theory.

**(Modern Family, S6E13 Rash Decisions) They did a nice job choreographing all the ways Andy's presence makes Luke feel replaced with Phil. I'm looking forward to Andy being Phil's realtor protege. -- Jay [to Claire regarding a female employee who needs to be reminded how to dress more...professionally]: You were supped to talk to her about keeping those zeppelins in a hangar! -- Jay [peering at a photo text on his phone]: What the hell am I looking at? Cam: What did I send you?? ... I don't think I even want to know what Cam was worried he might have sent. -- Oh, sweet Alex, you had to know channeling Haley -- LOL: Cam openly weeping while Jay was saying goodbye to Stella.

**(Chicago Fire, S3E13 Three Bells (1)) They sure were obsessed with pink lipstick in this episode. Captain Cunningham. Dawson. Brett. Even Shay's sister, who started out with a darker berry shade, ended up pink before link. -- Speaking of Shay's sister, was that the best casting could come up with? There was absolutely zero resemblance. -- I like when shows bring back former characters, but I felt like Hadley was a stretch here. -- How did Herrmann get into his dress uniform that quickly?? One minute, he was sitting in Shay's old bunk area, telling her sister that she wouldn't want to miss the ceremony they were about to do, the next, she's just walking outside and he's managed to completely change his clothes from casual to dress? -- I managed to stay completely tear-free...until they showed Cruz's face as they rang the bell in memorial of Shay. -- I liked the touch of making a monogram and memorial of Shay painted onto the ambulance at 51. -- Thumbs down on that conversation between Casey and Dawson about putting "them" on hold and revisiting it later, once things have settled down. You're either in or out. -- What is the story with Otis' grandmother?? What a weird way to, I guess, try to maintain a thread of levity. -- I am in total protest of all these stupid crossovers with Chicago PD. If I wanted to watch Chicago PD, I would be already. All this made me do was not watch the second half of this two-part story out of pure defiance.

**(The Blacklist, S2E10 Luther Braxton: Conclusion (2)) Red: You're out of your depth, Luther. You don't know the people you're dealing with. You're a fine thief. Meticulous and careful. But this is different. You're improvising. And you and I both know thinking on your feet is not your strong suit, Luther. You will make a mistake, and when you do, I will be there to indulge in the undeniable please and sweet satisfaction of I told you so. ... I love love *love* the way Red speaks. The choice of words. The cadence of his speech. The tone of voice. -- I wonder exactly how many people are in "the group" that wants The Fulcrum. We've seen a few people, heard fewer actually speak, and there are some hazy people in the background, but we've only "met" one of them outside their "meeting room" so far. -- Lizzie's "memory sequences" were seriously weird. Well conceived as being memories trying to surface, but so strange and fragmented and unsettling. -- You know what's really bugging me in all this? Where is Dembe?! He's so rarely far from Red's side. -- I don't think you attempt to negotiate with Red and live to tell about it. And if you *do* manage to live, you're probably not feeling so hot afterward. -- LOL: Red telling Luther "I told you so." -- Some of my favorite scenes are when Red is tender with Liz. He conveys so much without ever saying a single word. Whatever his ulterior motives, I have zero doubts that Red cares very deeply for Lizzie. -- So...the Director is CIA(?) and also a member of "the group" and he orchestrated Braxton and his team of "Level Ten criminals" to get The Fulcrum. So. Much. Information. -- Irony: saying "I'm someone not to be trifled with"...to Red. -- Words you never want to hear come out of Red's mouth: "Try me. Call my bluff. *Please*, call my bluff." -- I wonder what these results were that Harold received, because based on his wife's reaction, they aren't good. -- Dr Orchard: The people and the events may have been there, but in different roles. I know this is difficult to comprehend. Liz: Are you telling me I may never know what really happened that night? Dr Orchard: I'm telling you that the only people who can tell you what really happened are the people who want you to forget. -- T called the final scene, that The Fulcrum was inside Lizzie's stuffed bunny. -- The people in charge of selecting music for this show are absolutely brilliant. -- This like a puzzle answer one question leave you with 5 more -- New theory: Red was there, he saved Lizzie from the fire, which is how his back got burned...none of this has changed. But now we're thinking that, given the new knowledge that Dr Orchard told Lizzie that someone has "been inside" her memories before, we think Red hid the memory of the fire and The Fulcrum, and also possibly tried to access it, when she was a child.

**(Mom, S2E13 Cheeseburger Salad and Jazz) Violet [about Bonnie]: Wow. And I thought I was a good liar. Christy: Oh, honey, you're not even the second best in this house. -- Christy [to Bonnie, who just suggested all the guys would want a piece of her] What monkey doesn't wanna climb that tree? -- LOL: Christy's "feelings" drawing. That enraged face slayed me. -- Kinda meh episode, but I think it's funny Bonnie keeps finding herself attracted to guys who remind her of Alvin.

**(Last Man Standing, S4E15 Big Brother) Mike [to Vanessa, who is sneezing]: You coming down with something? Can I get you anything? Maybe a hotel room? ... LOL! So me!-- Mike's vlog, which I realize is meant tongue-in-cheek, poses a very valid point about the "safe haven" laws that exist: *Should* it really be easier to dispose of a baby than used motor oil? I *do* see its value, in the safety of the child, but gosh, they make you jump through more hoops for far less important acts. -- What on *earth* was going on with Kristin's hair?! It was like several people randomly braided her hair without being able to see what anyone else was doing? -- Regarding Mandy kissing another guy, I have to agree with Mike, not Vanessa. Clearing Mandy's conscience by telling Kyle only makes an innocent party left to feel bad. Mandy and Kyle aren't married. Now she knows she has no interest in being with anyone else. The burden of that lesson should remain hers, to remind her why she won't ever test the waters that way again. And yes, maybe she *should* be the one to feel bad.

**(Sleepy Hollow, S2E15 Spellcaster) LOL: Ichabod and the fake banana at the house he was looking at. ::squeaky squeaky:: -- Henry is back! (I don't think I'm supposed to be this excited about a return that will almost assuredly bring chaos and destruction, but John Noble!) -- I think it's hilarious that Abbie pulls out a handgun, but Ichabod carries around his crossbow. -- Solomon Kent is one creepy, bad news dude. -- I found Katrina's wardrobe much more satisfactory this episode. The bustier bit was feeling awkward. The long flowing sweater feels much more...witch-y, somehow. -- Ichabod: Curb thy foul stench, unholy minion! ... Ichabod smacktalk may have been one of the best things out of his mouth in weeks! LOL! The exploding bloody demon was pretty gross, though, -- Parts of this episode (like the boiling blood) felt rather Fringe-y, but the parts with Kent and Katrina tossing around magic felt downright Once-Upon-a-Time-ish, cheese factor and all. -- "The Witnesses and Company" always "only have a couple of hours." I don't think I could maintain that level of intensity without imploding. -- So, all of that warlock nonsense to reveal that Irving's return is exactly as troublesome as Abbie feared, and that he is indeed still owned by Henry. That can only mean ominous things are afoot. -- Speaking of ominous things. What lasting effect is Kent's...revelation to Katrina going to cause? Will we see more of this or will it simply never be discussed again, not unlike the Kindred?

**(Elementary, S3E13 Hemlock) Was Sherlock using old unsolved murders as pillowtalk while, uh, entertaining two "ladies"?? I don't know whether to laugh or be horrified. -- Sherlock [to the secretary who was covering for the missing lawyer]: You're free to resume your life of tedium and petty deception. -- Sherlock: Oh thank goodness. Joan: For what? Sherlock: I found a way out of this conversation. -- I love the interactions between Sherlock and Joan regarding to relationship with Andrew. She gets so testy and he is barely concealing gleeful amusement. -- This show is at its best when they inject humor into the way Sherlock deals with people. -- Holy crap! What an ending. Clearly, someone tried to kill Joan, but got Andrew instead, since someone got the order backward. But how did they know that she would be at the coffee shop to break things off with Andrew?? And why are they trying to kill her?!

**(Blue Bloods, S5E14 The Poor Door) I don't ever remember Frank taking a political side to an investigation on a member of his force before. He's always been on the side of the uniform, not the suits. Even though Frank was right and Weems was taking advantage of his position for personal gain, gaming the system with loopholes, I've still never seen him at least take pause and *hope* the cop was on the up and up. -- Weems [when Frank asked him what he'd do, if he were a rookie and saw a detective doing what he was]: I make it my business to buy that detective a drink and get to know everything about him. -- What is going on with these Reagans? First, Frank. Then Jamie getting all handsy with a perp that triggered his temper. That's a Danny move, not Jamie! -- Frank tested Sid *hard* this episode. -- Garrett: I could be wrong. Frank: Have you ever said that and actually meant it? 

**(Law and Order: SVU, S16E13 Decaying Morality) Barba was all fancypants, arriving at the squad in his tux! He's finally grown on me. Carisi, however, still bugs me. -- I don't typically care for the ripped from the headlines episodes. Partially because it feels like an agenda, and partially because I feel like it's beating an already dead horse. They did pretty well with this one, though. They took "I can't breathe" and all the women coming forward years after the fact, saying Cosby assaulted them, and wrote a totally different story. I wish they did more of their episodes this way.

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Oh Hey Friday!: February 6, 2015

It's Oh Hey Friday! time, hosted by September FARM. The idea is that you talk about five things -- any five things, themed or random -- and away we go!



The "Things To Do in February" Edition!

ONE|
If I keep reminding myself it's strawberry season here in Florida, we won't forget to buy a big flat (from a roadside vendor or stand, not the grocery store) and freeze 'em up for prime strawberries all year long, right? Because last year, we dropped the ball on this one. By the time we went looking, it was past prime berry season, the prices weren't peak-season super low anymore, and we only picked up a half flat.

TWO|
Must get the stones in my wedding band and engagement ring in for their every-six-months inspection (hafta to maintain that all-important warranty!). That means they get a mini-spa and they will be all shiny clean with extra sparkle. I may have had my diamond for four years now and my wedding band for almost two and a half, but I never get tired of holding them in just the right light to make them dazzle.

THREE|
'Tis Walt Disney World Annual Pass renewal time! Sign. Me. Up. This will be my fourteenth consecutive pass -- it's my one gift to myself out of the tax return every year. I've never allowed it to lapse. This will be the closest I've ever gotten. My current pass expires on February 15. We'll be renewing it on Valentine's Day, because we'll already be there for...

FOUR|
Our Valentine's Day Date! We aren't big gifters for Valentine's Day. A card, a little candy perhaps. Nothing major. I don't actually have anything *against* the day. (As far as I'm concerned, the world can always use a little extra love, and I'm game to celebrate anything, no matter how silly, in some small way.) This year, we have a lunch date at Biergarten in the Germany pavilion of Epcot. We didn't plan it special for Valentine's Day or anything. I've just been wanting to go back there for ages and since I need to renew my pass and the weather is cool enough for T to be in the parks without being capital-M miserable, perfect timing!

FIVE|
I've earned two $5 vouchers from the Yankee Candle rewards program, one of which expires this month. That cannot be allowed. I'm eyeballing the new spring scents that have been released. I'll be getting a couple of each, in the Sampler size, but I'm especially excited about Red Raspberry, Picnic in the Park, and Peach Cobbler. I've been holding out, because I'm due for a new catalog sporting a coupon. Here's hoping it arrives before an expiration date forces me to use my vouchers!

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All sunshine and accessories.

I was thinking about her, especially, today. That lady on the left. My Gram. (The one on the right was my Gramp's sister, Emma.) It would have been her birthday today (my Gram's, that is, not my great aunt's). I pulled out some old photos, sifting through them, smiling and remembering her. Wondering what it would have been like to know her in this current stage of my life.

I would have liked to travel with her, to hear her talk about the things that caught her eye, the memories sparked of other trips, other sights, that surfaced. To sit in a car with her, mile after mile, and gather up her stories, the ones I already know and the ones that I never got to hear.

I would have liked to walk the pathways of Disney World with her. One of my favorite people in one of my favorite places.

I would have liked to show her the home I've built with T, to welcome her into it the way she always, *always* welcomed me into hers. With a smile and an exclamation. And a hug for her Sweetbug.

I would have liked to pick her brain. How she instinctively knew the way to make all the flowers bloom with such joy and exuberance. How to accessorize (because heaven knows I have no clue at all). How she always seemed to have all the answers, the right thing to do, the best advice.

I spent my childhood under her feet, in her home, stuck to her like glue. It was my normal, so I never thought to marvel at it. She was just this lovely lady that I loved a whole bunch. She'd be 98 today, but I have no doubt she'd be just as lovely as ever, all sunshine and accessories.

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Broken Road Confessionals: February 2, 2015

Disclaimer: This started as a Monday morning, get it off my chest edition of Broken Road Confessionals. And then I proofread myself and thought the better of it. You see, it isn't that I think I'm perfect. Far from it. But I can try to be a better person today than I was yesterday. The Confessions, in their original form, would be very authentic...but...that doesn't mean they need to be given voice. So with that, a revised version.

**I've noticed that when I take something too personally (whether or not it's meant as such) or if I feel like my space has been violated in some way (real or imagined, literally or figuratively), my knee-jerk response is either to become chilly or to "get off my lawn"-ish, which leads to some fairly passive-aggressive thoughts. Sometimes, I'm attempting to humor myself out of my present mood with some internal snark, but other times, I am, admittedly, just looking to sulk for a while. I recognize that this is childish and unreasonable. I'm working on it. Some days and some situations are...still a work in progress. I have managed to curb the passive-aggressive *behaviors*, but that doesn't mean I'm not still *thinking* it. I confess I could still use a lot of work here.

**One life lesson I feel fairly confident that I've mastered, to the point that it's no longer a "remind myself" response, but is now a genuine reaction is to "win with grace and lose with dignity." It's important to me that I act this way, because I don't like how it feels to be on the receiving end of poor sportsmanship (fandomship?). I confess that I still don't like how it feels, even when I know I shouldn't take it personally. (It's good lesson reinforcement, though.)

And with that, I'm signing off on this round of Confessionals. Because the remainder of my confessions fly in the face of my first. 

Baby steps, right?

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Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: January 2015

1) A photo of me:


2) Candle scents* this month:
Mistletoe. Holiday Garland. Vanilla Snowflake (Bath and Body Works). Peppermint Bark. Welcome Christmas. Snow Is Glistening. Angel's Wings. Christmas Cookie. Magical Frosted Forest. Red Velvet. In a Winter Wonderland. Holiday Sage. Sleigh Bells Ring (for approximately ten minutes before I had to blow it out and toss it, because YUCK, and this is why I prefer to test out new scents in votive size because I was only out two dollars). Harvest. Balsam and Cedar. Season of Peace. Hazelnut Coffee. Candy Corn.

3) What I am reading this month (you can find me on Goodreads!):
At Wit's End (Erma Bombeck) - Lighthearted, humorous, and with some nuggets of wisdom. Exactly the sort of book I was needing to read.
Promises to Keep (Ann Tatlock) - An easy read, I definitely was drawn to keep turning the pages. It was mildly predictable, but I enjoyed the characters so much, that despite having a good idea where the story was heading, I telling myself "one more chapter." I don't think I could choose a favorite character, there were so many I just genuinely liked. I found the conclusion satisfying, and the epilogue ended up being my favorite part of all, the perfect closure.
These Things Hidden (Heather Gudenkauf) - An easy read, sucked me right in and kept me turning the pages, needing to know what happened next. The story was sad, but good, and came with a twist I should probably have seen coming but never did.
The Imagineering Field Guild to Disney's Hollywood Studios (Alex Wright and the Imagineers) - Considering this is my least favorite of the four Florida parks, I went into this one with a little less enthusiasm than I did the others. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. There was a lot of history about Walt included in this one, which I found interesting. I also learned about some park details that I've never noticed. I'm going to have to grab my camera one day soon and head over for some exploring. I'm so glad I got around to reading this one!
Firefly Summer (Maeve Binchy) - Slowly, slowly getting more invested in this one.

4) Calendar image for the month:
I actually skipped it this month. I'm cooking something up...

5) New recipes tried this month:
Ring of Meat - This was actually really yummy. It was like eating a warmed Italian sub with a fork and knife.

6) Restaurants where I ate:
Five Guys.

7) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Lots of highs in the 60s.
2. The Patriots in the NFL playoffs.

3. My new "vintage travel poster" calendar that I scored for work at 50% off.

4. My new "system" of giving T gift ideas when they occur to me, instead of waiting til he asks as a gift-giving event nears. I don't think well when I'm put on the spot.
5. The new camera lens T got me for Christmas.
 

8) Three goals I had this month and three goals for next month:
1. Finally get my music files sorted and iTunes loaded onto the laptop. (I did not accomplish this. This task intimidates me. I need to suck it up and do just one letter of the alphabet at a time, so it doesn't seem so daunting.)
2. Set up my 2015 planner. (Done! I take enormous dorky pleasure in getting my new planner set up for the year.)
3. Get to WDW at least twice, while the crowds are somewhat lower and the weather is somewhat cooler. (Half success. I went to Animal Kingdom once, but my plans for my second visit were thwarted. Oh well. There's always February!)

Look!! The lion actually had his head up! That is probably the third time, in almost thirteen years of being an Annual Passholder, that I've ever seen him as anything more than a tuft of mane blowing in the breeze, as he naps mostly obscured from the view of the safari trucks.

1. And again with a skip because I'm cooking something up.
2.
3.

9) The best part of this month and the worst part of this month:
The best: Settling back into a relaxed routine, now that the hustle and pressure of the holidays are behind us.
The worst: The solid month of illness we passed back and forth at our house. Good grief. Enough!

10) A photo I took this month:

This photo of the meerkats slays me. They are so comical! You almost never see them all out, either. Score one for being there at feeding time!

*All scents are Yankee Candle, unless otherwise noted.

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This Week on My TV: January 31, 2015

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



**(Dallas, S3E13 Boxed In) It always weirds me out when bad guys act kindly. Case in point: Luis toward Ann and Emma (at least when they first arrived). -- I cannot think of a single other time that Judith Ryland has ever show an ounce of weakness. Emma being taken by the drug cartel has Judith turned inside out. -- Pamela has an interesting strategy, choosing to stay married to John Ross for the time being, at least until the time that he has some actual wealth for her to take when she goes. I can never decide whether or not I like her! -- I honestly wasn't sure whether or not Luis had really shot Emma when he pretended to, to make a point to Judith. -- Well then. Of all the people I expected to be responsible for the photographer following Nicolas and Elena, Nicolas' wife never even crossed my mind. -- Everything's bigger in Texas and Bobby went "go big or go home," with that offer to Luis in exchange for Ann and Emma. How is he ever going to choose though, since Luis only agreed to give up one of them??

**(CSI, S15E14 Merchants of Menace) Did I see a "Nate Haskell" t-shirt at that murder fanatics convention? Nice nod to the past, CSI. -- I will give credit where credit is due. I thought it was the Waters victim's father who killed the dealer at the show. And then I was surprised, but bought the mortician as a possible suspect. I *never* expected it to be the kid from the opening scene show.

**(CSI, S3E13 Boxed In) Just didn't hold my attention. Vigilante comic book super heroes? Meh.

**(CSI, S15E16 The Last Ride) CSI does serial killer arcs better than most shows, and they have been my favorite CSI stories (that feels weird to say, given the subject matter...). However, despite the unresolved Gig Harbour Killer arc, this episode was of my other favorite CSI variety: tied to the old "mob scene" in Vegas. I liked the way they wove in the old cars and the old mob hit, and how they tied it all together.

**(The Big Bang Theory, S8E13 The Anxiety Optimization) Sheldon [checking on Penny after he heard groans coming from her apartment]: You sounded in distress. I was worried something unpleasant was happening to you. ... I'd count working out as "something unpleasant." -- Penny: Sheldon, we are just people. We talk about the same things you guys talk about. Sheldon: You talk about if werewolves could swim? -- Why do Sheldon's feet hang off the end of his bed?? Why isn't it a normal length? --

**(Marry Me, S1E11 Friend Me) Annie's having NINE bridesmaids?? -- OMG. The Boyz made me want to gouge my ears out. So. Unbelievably. Annoying. Please tell me they won't be recurring characters. -- Annie has a sleep mask that matches her pajamas? AND ADULT FOOTIE PAJAMAS. Want. (The footie pajamas, to be clear.) -- Pyramid scheme? Seen that a hundred times. ::thumbs down::

**(About a Boy, S2E11 About a Hook) I get that they have to create conflict, because conflict moves a show along and creates opportunity for comedy, but Marcus was being a real butthead. At least they didn;t drag this on endlessly. -- OMG-seriously? moments: Marcus doesn't know how to use a shower. All this nonsense about a "love bubble" between Fiona and Marcus. -- As soon as Fiona started waxing poetic about how she will always have room in her love bubble for Marcus, I knew that was going to be Will's "hook" for his song.

**(Mom, S2E12 Kitty Litter and a Class A Felony) Christy just cannot catch a break. Alvin had a second will that would have left her and Bonnie with a hundred grand. He just never got around to signing it. -- Christy: You can visit him in your heart. Bonnie: No such place! -- I think we said "I still can't believe they killed off Alvin!" a minimum of three times during this episode. -- LOL: Bonnie's dream with Alvin when his ex-wife appears, then gets hit by a speeding truck. We're so twisted we laughed for a good two minutes over that one.

**(The McCarthys, S1E11 The Ref) Aaaaand...Jackie doesn't look pregnant again. -- Best jab at Jackie's red plaid shirt was definitely Sean's "Paula Bunyan." -- Marjorie's excuse for why Arthur can't remember Ronny's birthday is "they had too many kids." Sure, there are four kids, but two of them are twins! -- Aaaaand...Ronny is back to being annoying because he's flirting. -- I have a difficult time getting into the basketball-centric episodes, but Marjorie's insults and snark about Katrina slay me.

**(Sleepy Hollow, S2E14 Kali Yuga) I can't decide: Was Abbie's karaoke scene lip-syncing or real singing? -- My reaction when we first met Camilla: uhhh...who what now? Especially when she...morphed. -- I jumped out of my skin when Camilla the demon freak popped up on Jenny in the tunnels under the archives. This show isn't up to par if I don't jump out of my skin at least once per episode. -- Irving [after the judge showed some concern that his wife (ex-wife?) was representing him legally]: I tried going with an outside firm. That didn't go so well. ... Ha. Ya think? Fee = your soul. -- Hawley: I don't ask questions when I don't want to know the answers. -- Interesting glimpse into Hawley's past, though I'm still not his biggest fan. -- This show is good at leaving loose ends. Camilla escaped without being destroyed. Orion escaped without being destroyed. We haven't seen hide nor hair of Henry since he destroyed (maybe?) Moloch. The Kindred shuffled off after doing battle with the two Horsemen. -- Ichabod: We cannot rely on our bond to last unless we tend to it.  -- Circling back to my earlier question about Abbie's singing, following her duet with Ichabod: I am now firmly in the camp of no way they were really singing. -- I don't care what Katrina says about the binding (or lack thereof) of Irving's soul to the Horseman of War. Even before they showed that Irving has no reflection, I knew something wasn't quite kosher.

**(Scandal, S4E10 Run) That was one of the most stressful tv episodes I have ever watched. Ever. I was exhausted when it was over. I *knew* I didn't trust Ian McLeod though. As soon as he started speaking, the mental alarms went off: SUSPICIOUS. I did like that they backtracked to the final scene of the previous episode, showing what happened while Jake was in the bedroom. I couldn't believe Olivia was RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL for so long. Jake was right: They were *very* professional; so professional, in fact, that they even outsmarted him into thinking he was chasing the abductor's car down the street in his underoos, while memorizing a license plate, all to send him on a wild goose chase. So now we have three questions: Where *is* Olivia? (Showing her in an elaborately constructed set, designed to trick her into thinking she was somewhere else, reminded me of both an old Twilight Zone and, more recently, an episode of The Blacklist, where they played the same sort of mind games.) Who took her? What are they hoping to gain?

**(The Mentalist, S7E9 Copper Bullet) Lena Abbott: Dennis tells me you have one of the trickiest and most devious minds he's worked with. Patrick Jane: He did? Well, I didn't come here to be flattered, but please, go on. -- I love that Jane's old friend, Pete, greets him with "you crazy circus freak." -- Could Vega have been *any* more obvious while she was tailing Peterson, peering around corners and through the crack of a barely opened door? What is she? A cartoon? -- I love how they're in a time crunch with Peterson on his way home, and Jane's just sitting there, having a snack. -- Abbott: I have you, Bill. I have you by the short and curlies. ... ::snort:: I've never heard it put quite that way before. -- Thanks to Jane, Abbott has, quite literally, dodged a bullet. Heh. -- With Abbott moving to DC for his wife's new job, it's a promotion for Cho! Possibly the first time I've ever seen him smile! -- Duh, Lisbon. Jane is overprotective of you, because he's already lost two people he loved more than anything in a horrific way. He's *scared*.

**(Blue Bloods, S5E13 Love Stories) Even the great Frank Reagan stares into fridge, not knowing what he wants. That's actually one of my favorite things about this show. They make the characters real human beings that do things the viewer can understand and identify with. -- Danny: I like t-bones, cold beer and loud burps. ... Of course you do, Danny. LOL -- I called it backward: I thought the wife took out the hit on the husband, not the other way around. -- I like the way Linda and Danny handled Jack's first real crush on a girl. They didn't discouraging or overreact. They just let it play out. I'm not sure I can think of anything more uncomfortable than your parents being actual spectators of my first date ever, but I'm thinking Danny and Linda were pretty wrapped up in each other. Another of my favorite things about this show is how crazy Danny is about his wife, even though they have their struggles from time to time. -- Good call on deciding to give Danny that medal for valor, Frank. I fully approve that the writers made it for an actual case we saw in an earlier episode and not something "off screen," that the viewer couldn't identify with.

**(Last Man Standing, S4E14 Eve's Breakup) Oh no, dress shopping. They're really going to torture me with this Ryan-and-Kristin wedding, aren't they. -- What was with the bridal salon attendant looking over the door while Kristin was trying on a dress?? And why were the doors so short?! -- I had forgotten that Kristin dated Kyle for a while! -- While I appreciate the horrors of The First Break-Up, I'll admit to being a little disappointed that Eve finally caved at the end and called for her mom. Somehow, with Vanessa hovering right outside Eve's door, I would have thought it more appropriate if Eve had called for Mike. -- Best part of this whole episode: The Toy Story poster they had hanging in Ed's home theater. Nicely done, props department!

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On the 97th anniversary of his birth.

My Gramp (January 30, 1918 - January 6, 2003)

When I remember him, this is who I see. Rugged, square-jawed, Marlboro-Man-esque. His hair, under that straw hat, was slicked straight back, just as it always was -- I know that even without being able to see it.

I remember that his favorite bird was the cardinal. I know this, not because he ever outright said it, but because, he -- a man of as few words as necessary -- would always take the time to point one out to me.

I remember that his second favorite bird was the robin. I know this, because the return of Robin Redbreast -- he always called them Robin Redbreast --meant that spring was nearing, and soon, soon, he would be back in his element, working the soil and encouraging delicious produce to grow from it.

I remember that he taught me the value of comfortable silence, that not every quiet space in time needed to be filled with words. It's ok to just be, quietly, because you can see more when your mouth isn't moving.

I remember that he also taught me the value of those who wait to speak until they actually have something to say. Perhaps that's why I so often dread "small talk." If I'm talking about the weather, it isn't social filler for me; I actually have something to say about it -- an observation, legitimate commentary, whatever.

I remember that, instead of talking about what he was going to do, he *did* it. You *might* get a brief announcement: "I'm going to pull the weeds" ... as he was pulling the door closed behind himself and heading toward his gardens.

I remember his laugh. It remains one of my favorite sounds of all time.

I remember that his favorite dessert was my Gram's homemade apple pie, so fresh that it was still oven-warm, with a slice (or three) of Monterey Jack cheese. But on his birthday, she would make him a Boston Cream Pie "because that's his favorite." That always confused me, but I trust she knew her husband.

I know that I share some of his personality. That I will size you up, quietly and thoughtfully, while I decide whether or not to engage. That the more silent I become -- and trust me when I say that there is a world of difference between "quiet" and "silent" -- the more displeasure I am conveying. That you can learn a lot about what's taking place inside my head *if* you can learn to read my eyes, the set of my jaw, and my facial expressions.

(How about those puffy Reebok hightops with the two narrow Velcro strips at the ankle? And those shorts that make me choke on a snort-chuckle? Oh, 1988, you were not my friend. We are going to just pretend we don't notice that hair or those glasses, though, ok? Because, good Lord, hold me...those unforgivingly awkward pre-teen years.)

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Oh Hey Friday: January 30, 2015

I'm trying something new this week. It's called Oh Hey Friday! (in case you didn't bother to read the title of this post...or the big ol' image just below...ahem) and it's hosted by September FARM. The idea is that you talk about five things -- any five things -- and it can be themed or random. I've been quietly reading this particular blog since something like May of last year and these posts just keep drawing me in. It was time to give it a go!



ONE|
Everyone has been all about last night's Parenthood series finale. Me? I've watched the show since the very beginning. I watched the first episode of this season, got so sad that this was the last one, and promptly went into a state of denial. The remaining twelve episodes have been collecting on our DVR. But that isn't really what I wanted to talk about. There was this adorable new sitcom that premiered this past autumn called "A to Z," and tv business speak blah blah ratings blah, they decided about six weeks or so in, NBC decided to pull the plug on further production and just air the episodes that had already been made. Which was a bummer because this show was seriously adorable. (Have I mentioned that?) Well, they get to the final episode and...just...that's it. There's no sense of finality or closure. Hi, my name is Dawn, and I don't do well without closure. I do even worse when a show fails to get renewed after the end of the season and there was a cliffhanger (OMG, don't even get me started on Pan Am, Alcatraz, Reckless, or Dallas, which I haven't even watched yet, but I've heard there were multiple cliffhangers and I'm already dying). But I have a solution! Allow these shows to have a two-hour movie grand finale, where loose ends can be tied up and cliffhangers resolved and stories finished being told. Show it over the summer, in place of some of those awful miniseries or that endless parade of reality tv shows. Or don't even air it; just make it available OnDemand or on the network's website. I would even *pay* for this kind of closure. Seriously. Rescue me from my own crazy! Also, I really hope that Ben Feldman and Cristin Milioti (oh, girl crush!) land somewhere else, on something I deem even remotely watchable. Because, seriously, they're adorable.

That was really long-winded. I promise the rest will be quick.

TWO|

Honest to God, the amount of honey we have consumed in this house since the end of December is bordering on insane. I think we might...maybe...please? be done with all the coughing. Of course, I've been saying this for two weeks now. Not the honey's fault. It does actually help.

THREE|

Add another product to the list of "I love it so they must discontinue it." The woman who cuts my hair specifically recommended it for my hair and the Florida climate, because it is super light and can manage to do its job in the humidity without weighing down my fine-but-oh-so-much-of-it hair. Bonus that I could buy it at Target for $4.99 (full price). And then I noticed it isn't on any shelves anywhere anymore and I only have two bottles left and woe. So much woe. I loathe replacing products I love.

FOUR|

This time last year, my super talented husband was remodeling our master bathroom. 2014 was a fun year to be a homeowner. 2015? Not so much. Home improvements involve having a new drain field installed for our septic system. Necessary, yes. But far less glamorous and not at all fun. Especially when the next fun remodel is going to be our kitchen.

FIVE|
T has officially Facetimed more times than I have. (That would be: once.) I'm not sure how I feel about that.

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2015: Wishlist

Resolutions, schmesolutions. I do a list of goals and challenges, call it my "self wishlist," and see how they pan out over the course of the year. On the 2015 agenda, after a lot of thought (I take my time with this...obviously, since it's January 29), I have the following:

1. I really want to get my passport this year. I thought about it a good half dozen times in 2014, but never pulled the trigger. 

2. I admire the orchids, every time I walk past them at Lowes. I think I want to get one and see if I can refrain from killing it. 

3. I want to aim for two new recipes per month this year. This seems like a reasonable goal. I don't care if they are main dishes, sides, a dessert. Whatever, so long as they are new. I should try to make a couple of them easy breakfasts for work days though. I think I've been having yogurt and a granola bar every work day for the past five years.

4. We have a very casual dress code at work. Which means it's very easy to slip into the habit of wearing jeans almost every day. Not that I don't dress them up with a nice top and some heeled boots fairly regularly, but still: jeans. I am aiming to dress a little nicer, oh, say, twice a month. (I was originally going to say once a week, but let's not get carried away.)

5. I want to attempt one craft project per season. Something to get my creative juices flowing. And maybe make use of all the neat ideas I've collected on Pinterest.

6. This year's reading challenge: forty books. Same as last year, but I came up a bit short, thanks to putting some hefty books on the list and failing to balance them with something shorter.

7. I'd like to get another fifty old family photos scanned in. I love looking through them and, once I get on a roll, it doesn't take long to do five or ten.

8. I've been contemplating this and I want to try to send out one random happy mail per month. Not associated with any sort of special day. Just the arrival of a little unexpected smile in the mailbox of someone I happen to be thinking of.

9. I didn't manage to eliminate my big ol' stack of magazines in 2014, but I *did* manage to get myself on a good routine with staying current, so there are *no* magazines anywhere in the house that say 2014! Baby steps, right? I also decided not to renew three subscriptions, keeping just my very favorites, which helps. But while I did get *some* of the old stockpile into recycling, I'm going to hope 2015 is the year I can get the rest out the door.

10. Now that I am current on feed reader (within three days, probably the most current I have *ever* been) I want to get back to leaving blog comments regularly. I've missed that type of interaction.

Ten's enough. Let's go, 2015!

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2014: By the Numbers

Visits to WDW: 19 (further broken down: Magic Kingdom - 3, Epcot - 13, Hollywood Studios - 2, Animal Kingom - 1)
Books read: 34
Trips taken: 4
Blog posts: 199
Photos taken: 1,419
Major life events: 0 (for us, specifically, although there were several "peripheral" major life events with some births and deaths within the family)
Baseball games attended: 1 (during Spring Training)
Magazine subscriptions: 5
Pinterest projects completed: 0
New recipes tried: 20
Dishes eaten at Food and Wine Fest: 44
Miles driven: 6897
House guests: 3 (one came as a pair though)
Movies seen at the theater: 3 (Jack Reacher: Shadow Recruit. The Monuments Men. The Judge.)
New babies in the family: 2 (one niece on my side, one great-nephew on T's)

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2014: Resolutions My Way

My resolutions are based on fun. And nothing inspires more fun for me than a visit to one of my favorite places: Disney! It has become the inspiration for my one of my "January kick-off/year-in-review" posts. I'm in the parks enough that they should be quite do-able for me, as well as adding a new "dimension" to something I enjoy already.

My 2014 Disney Resolutions

1. This year, there *will* be a cupcake!
Yes there was! At it was. so. good. Red Velvet with the requisite cream cheese frosting. I have several others on my radar as a result.


2. Attempt two: I want to find at least five new details or perspectives to photograph WDW that I haven't before.
I'd call this a success!






3. Attempt two: I want to eat at two restaurants I haven't yet. There are so many amazing places to eat on property that it's easy to return again and again to the same locations. But each of these places was a "first time" once. I wonder what else I am missing!
Fail fail fail. I went with all kinds old favorites and no place new, *but* I did manage to say goodbye to one favorite, Kouzzina, before it closed!


4. Upon mental review, I neglected following attractions in 2013 and will make a point to do so this year: The Enchanted Tiki Room. Mickey's PhilharMagic. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Reflections of China. Toy Story Midway Mania.
I totally forgot about these. I needed a to-do list!

5. Attempt two: This year, I will visit at least five resort hotels when they are decked out in their Christmas finery, and at least one of them will be one from the list I haven't been to before.
I wanted to, but this just didn't happen. I did manage to see the decor at one resort hotel I'd never seen before at Christmas, Port Orleans Riverside. Decorated with pure old southern charm.




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My 2015 Disney Resolutions

1. Make a concerted effort to spend time in more parks than just Epcot. Due to the two Fests, which I love, I spend an awful lot of time there. That leaves the other three fairly neglected. I need to get reacquainted.

2. I recently read The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Since it's my least favorite of the four parks, I tend to spend the least amount of time there. Reading the book showed me there are a ton of details I've missed in this park, as a result of spending minimal time exploring it. So, armed with my new knowledge, I want to make a point of spending some time wandering around in Hollywood Studios.

3. I want to eat at the following restaurants - Old favorites: Biergarten, and The Wave, because I haven't been in forever. Places I haven't tried yet: The Plaza Restaurant, and Flame Tree Barbecue.

4. Attractions I haven't visited since 2012: The Enchanted Tiki Room. Mickey's PhilharMagic. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Reflections of China. Toy Story Midway Mania. Attractions I haven't visited since 2013: The Great Movie Ride. The Hall of Presidents. Liberty Square Riverboat. Walt Disney World Railroad.

5. Aiming a little lower, I'd like to visit three resort hotels at Christmastime, one of them new to me.

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Never Have I Ever...

...been able to wear flipflops (or any kind of thong sandal that has a strap that goes between my toes ::shudder::)

... successfully used a dustpan. I sweep up a pile and then break out the vacuum or the dustbuster. Dustpan = a line or debris that I cannot ever seem to get over the edge and into the actual dustpan.

...craved a cold beer on a hot day. Beer is yeast water. Blech.

...been able to handle caffeinated beverages. They make me feel jittery. One cup of coffee threatens that you may need to peel me off the ceiling. The lone exception to the rule: a can of Pepsi if I have a headache that just. won't. quit.

...tried Nutella. (I have enough food-related vices. Maybe I just need to leave well enough alone?)

...gotten the appeal of podcasts. Perhaps I am just at my social media/blogging/internet/information maximum?

...learned to style my hair on purpose. I bend to the mercy of its whims. Picking my battles, I suppose.

...watched a single episode of Gilmore Girls, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Scrubs, South Park, Doctor Who, 24, Lost, or Game of Thrones.

...managed to do a real push-up. I can do girlie push-ups and I can plank, but when I lower myself into a real push-up, that's it. I land on my face, cannot stop laughing, and there I stay.

...even remotely considered getting a tattoo. There are few things to which one can confidently say "that will never happen." This, for me, is one of those things.

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This Week on My TV: January 24, 2015

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



**(2 Broke Girls, S4E9 And the Past and the Furious) Did Caroline really ask Max "did you roofie me again?" Again?! -- As soon as Caroline got out of the car at the beach, all I could think of was all the sand they were about to get in that car. -- We've decided that Caroline is showing marginal improvement in her line delivery, but Max is *not*. -- What?? Not a single Sophie "hey. everybody!" FAIL. -- Sophie and Oleg, engaged? I can't decide if their wedding will be hilarious or horrifying.

**(Mike and Molly, S5E7 Support Your Local Samuel) I was a little worried we were going to have to stop calling him Samuel, but I see potential for humor in Samuel going into business with Vince.

**(Madam Secretary, S1E13 Chains of Command) I may or may not be Nadine-ish when one of my pens goes missing at work. Except I don't ask for mine back, because...ew. Dawn doesn't share pens. -- LOL: The look on Blake's face when Elizabeth speaks with familiarity and grabs Prince Yousif for a hug, not realizing they went to boarding school together. -- Interesting that Elizabeth was encouraging Yousif to push back against his father, while she wishes Stevie wouldn't push back against her. Not that I'm condoning Stevie's behavior, because I'd like nothing more than to smack her silly. -- I did not expect Prince Yousif to get assassinated during his announcement that he would prosecute the diplomat and his wife for the inhumane way they treated their housekeeper as a slave. Elizabeth has to feel a complicated mix of emotion: proud of her friend for standing up for the right thing and heartbroken that it resulted in his death and defeated that a progressive new leader would never take the throne and conflicted about whether to attend her friend's funeral in a way that makes it look bad for the United States or skip it, feel guilty, and potentially insult a culture. ... Henry: Friendship that insists upon agreement on all things isn't worth the name. That's Gandhi. Elizabeth: That one I get. Thank you. But Gandhi doesn't have to pick between his country and his friend in one hour. -- Stevie [to Elizabeth]: I need to stop defining you by your worst moments. It's like you said when I left, you know, life is complicated and I can hate some things you've done, but I can still respect you for everything else.

**(Blue Bloods, S5E12 Home Sweet Home) Pop's been cranky and oversensitive lately. What's his deal? Maybe he needs to find himself a lady friend. -- Frank at home, losing his mind, because he needs to stay off his injured foot. Exactly how I would have imagined: frustrated, exasperated, and stir crazy. -- This moral breakdown McCoy suffered has to spell the end to his clandestine relationship with Erin, right? -- Baez's informant [to Danny, about Baez]: She might bat her eyes and look pretty, but I'm telling you, it's better to be locked up than owe this girl a favor! ... LOL -- How long before all this digging around, investigating something that powerful people want to remain buried, results in Erin finding herself in a dangerous situation? -- I kind of felt like Linda could have listened to Danny a little better than she did, rather than lashing out. Even if she had some valid points and concerns about his priorities, she could have shown a little more compassion and paid attention to what Danny *is* doing for his family. -- I love that Danny went to Frank for marriage advice. The Reagans are the kind of family you just want to be a part of.

**(Grey's Anatomy, S11E7 Could We Start Again, Please?) Nothing like starting an episode bawling my eyes out for the man who tried to save his wife from a fire by holding her and jumping out of a building and then they had to tell him she died in his arms and he was so heartbroken...except, then they found a weak pulse, and just, oh, my heart. -- How horrible for Amelia, having that woman from Narcotics Anonymous blow her anonymity in front of the entire ER. I loved Richard counseling and supporting her, though. He's a good man to have on her side. -- It was really great seeing Bailey back to teaching the baby surgeons with tough love. -- Yay, budding relationship between Mer and Maggie! -- That bonding evening at Mer's old house was the best. The. Best. The reminiscing and the laughter at the awkward past and it was just awesome. -- Meredith [voice over monologue]: It's hard to give second chances. It's even harder to ask for them. A chance to do it again, knowing what you know now, what you've learned. A chance to do it completely differently. A chance to right our wrongs, to try and correct our mistakes. A chance to try and start over...from scratch. -- Two random thoughts: One, Dr Herman has THE Derek Shepard, neurosurgeon extraordinaire at her disposal, so why don't they have *him* check out this terminal inoperable tumor? Two, having this specialty of Dr Herman's, with Arizona under her instruction, right when Jackson and April are expecting a baby is foreboding, no? Especially with him saying that she and their baby were going to be "just fine."

**(The Mentalist, S7E8 The Whites of His Eyes) The mother who was the suspect: You can sneer at me all you like. Jane: Thank you, I will. -- Of course, Jane wears two-piece pajamas. It's strange seeing so much of his personal side, though, after this show mostly avoided personal lives for most of its duration. -- Lisbon singing "Livin' on a Prayer" to Jane was painful. -- Cringe-worthy: The assassin getting into disguise and sticking himself in the face with a needle. -- I didn't feel like the story of "save the key witness from the assassin" was anything new, but it definitely upped the tension of the episode to a level the show doesn't often hit. -- Lisbon and Jane attempting to navigate how to be in love usually feels awkward to me.

**(Grey's Anatomy, S11E8 Risk) I had to laugh when Dr Herman told Arizona "You are so annoying!" because that's pretty much how I've always felt about her character. -- I knew it about Jackson and April's baby. I knew something was going to go wrong. I didn't expect it to be fatal though. So the question is: Will they deal with heartbreak or will Dr Herman and/or Arizona come up with a Hail Mary Miracle to save baby (boy)? Avery? -- Love the Alex, Mer, Maggie, Callie lunch table. I feel like we're capturing some of the early seasons magic, with a dynamic I didn't consciously realize was missing. -- Dude. Arizona. You lied to get your hands on Dr Herman's medical records, which breaks all sorts of ethics. And now Amelia thinks she might be able to save Dr Herman from her fatal brain tumor. So...How do you explain to Dr Herman? Because can you really keep your mouth shut about this? -- Hmmmm. Budding friendship between Owen and Amelia? I could get on board with that. -- Well, crap. Jackson overheard just enough about Stephanie's conversation with Dr Herman about his baby's ultrasound to be concerned and know that it was his baby they were discussing. Now what? -- Something else that feels like a throwback to early seasons: Mer-Der angst. I'm ambivalent on this one though. It brings a familiar tension, but I miss them being in love.

**(Mom, S2E11 Three Smiles and an Unpainted Ceiling) They killed off Alvin?! And who the heck does his EX-wife think she is telling Bonnie, Christy and the kids not to come to the funeral?! But seriously. Alvin is dead?! This was possibly the most depressing episode of a sitcom since HIMYM killed off The Mother.

**(Reign, S2E11 Getaway) Catherine's illusion of Henry: I've missed the way you mix garlic with arsenic. -- My, my. The Cardinal has himself a little secret. -- Conde's brother has an interesting idea of...party games. -- Mary's vulnerability makes her look so young. -- I think my heart might have shattered into a million pieces for Conde, listening to Mary tell him that she read the letter confessing his love to her and telling him it makes her wary of anything he tells her, wondering if its colored by his love for her. -- Oh, Kenna. You have to let the long distant Back-and-Claude thing go. You have him now. He's grown to love you. Focus on that. After all, he knows you were his father's mistress, so you both have unfortunate pasts. -- Francis: That's love, when you care more about someone's suffering than your own. -- Leith has a point. Greer's jealousy is enough to encourage even a spark of hope and it's unintentionally cruel. -- I wonder if that's the last we'll see of Henry and the twins, now that Catherine seems to have made her peace with the twins dying. -- Oof. Every time Mary seems ready to mend her relationship with Francis, something stands in the way. Even if it's something as innocent as two people exhausted from caring for a fussy baby. And in the wings, she knows Conde loves her.

**(Law and Order: SVU, S16E12 Padre Sandunguero) A couple weeks ago, we learned about Rollins' personal past. Amaro's turn now, it seems. -- I was so sure this was not the same little girl who played Zara in the past, but I looked it up, and it's her. I stand corrected. -- The accents in this episode were so heavy that I understood only about half of what was said. -- Was IAB guy (imdb says his character name is Ed Tucker) hitting on Liv when they met in the car? -- Amaro's father made my skin crawl. *Crawl*.

**(A to Z, S1E13 M is for Meant to Be) Ah, yes. An ex-girlfriend is in town and wants to stay with Andrew. Let the hilarity ensue! -- Madeline: Sorry, I just got off the plane and did a quick ten-miler. Zelda: Ha. What a coincidence. I just ate onion rings at a red light. ... I heart Zelda. The girl crush marches on! -- Dear, sweet Andrew, you are *so* naive. All that intentional physical contact Madeline kept initiating was a dead giveaway. I appreciate that they allowed the story to be that Zelda was right about Madeline and Madeline confirmed it, rather than making Zelda unnecessarily "that jealous girlfriend." -- Lora: We all sensed it the moment we saw her. Andrew's ex is a complete boyfriend-stealer. Lydia: Takes one to know one. Back in the day, if I had a notch on my bedpost for every boyfriend I stole, you would have thought my roommate was a beaver. -- LOL at Zelda trying to explain how she ended up making out with her ex. She is so awkward and rambly when she gets frazzled. I DO THAT! -- Actual words that came out of my mouth following Andrew and Zelda's last window phone conversation about his "meant to be"line and her promotion that would move her to New York: "They have seven minutes left to fix this!!!" -- That ending was perfection. I love the voice mail Andrew was leaving Zelda from the bar where they went on their first date, while she is supposed to be in New York but is really walking into the bar, wearing the silver dress she had on the first time he ever saw her. -- Andrew: What are you doing back? Zelda: I didn't like the view from my office. ... And the my shattered into a zillion happy pieces. That was *almost* as good as Ross and Rachel and "I got off the plane," which, if you don't know, is the highest praise coming from me. -- I'm confused. Why was Stephie dropping pens in the office and snuggling up with Stu at the end? What happened to Joseph?! -- I am so sad this show is all but confirmed-by-NBC over. I thought the show and Andrew and Zelda were the cutest thing ever. Also, I hate lack of closure. I'll be pouting for a while over this.

**(Dallas, S3E12 Victims of Love) I'd love to know who is busy snapping all those photos of Elena and Nicolas. The gloved hands suggest Bum, to me, but that would be too obvious, no? I also wonder who they're doing it for and what this person hopes to gain, since isn't everyone in the Ewing family already aware that Elena and Nicolas are a thing? -- Carmen calling Nicolas a "good boy" compared to those "dirty, scheming Ewings" to Christopher's face was about the most backward statement possible. She's going to feel foolish later, when she learns the truth. -- LOL at John Ross's definition of bribery: "I prefer to call it a significant liquidity opportunity." That boy is a chip off his Daddy's block, albeit without the smooth charm only JR possessed. -- They've gotten very "artistic" with their between-scenes scenery shots, in a way that reminds me a lot of Scandal. -- There are so many parties after the Ewing Energies IPO that I can't keep track of who they all are, who is with which party, and who is doublecrossing the party they are with for personal benefit or for another party! Arg. Now I just confused myself more, trying to put it into words. -- Hunter McKay is (was) kinda douche-y. -- They have not been very smooth about conveying the details of backstory. They discuss history, for the sake of the audience, like the characters don't already know it. It feels awkward. -- I don't know whether or not I'm shocked by Pamela leaving Cliff to rot in Mexican prison, but I do know that Cliff's apology for making her lose her babies was the least sincere expression of remorse ever. Cliff Barnes has never been sorry for anything. -- Judith Ryland [to John Ross]: Time for you to get back to that pit of broken marriages you call Southfork. -- Ew, at the hands the drug cartel brought as a gift for Judith. Two things about that. One: How was she not immediately concerned by a box from a drug cartel? Was she expecting fancy chocolates? Boxes from drug cartels are always bad news. Even I know that. Two: Those hands supposedly belonged to Candace, the former girl who worked in Judith's high end brothel? They looked far too large, un-manicured, and masculine for me to buy that. Either the cartel is bluffing or the props department dropped the ball.

**(Sleepy Hollow, S2E13 Pittura Infamante) Abbie: No name-dropping Founding Fathers tonight. No firsthand accounts of your apprenticeship with Ben Franklin or your fling with Betsy Ross. Katrina [opening the bedroom door after getting ready for date night]: You had a dalliance with Betsy Ross? Ichabod [looking appreciatively at Katrina]: Betsy who? Abbie: Good answer... -- Died. Laughing. Died. When Ichabod explained to Katrina that physical contact was permitted in modern society and she grabbed his butt. -- Katrina: Since when have you been reading the tarot? Ichabod: Since someone left a deck in our parlor one summer. I assumed it was for recreation. Katrina: Well, now you know better. -- It's a very good thing I didn't watch this at night, because holy creep factor. -- I think Abbie is right to question Irving's return. The fact that they watched him die, buried him themselves, and know Henry owns his soul is enough to treat his return with caution, if not outright suspicion. -- I don't know which was the most creepy: James Colby as the murderer in the painting, Miller getting sucked into the painting, Katrina and Ichabod walking around inside the painting/mind of a murderer, or that zombie that grabbed Jenny when she was pulled the last "bullet made from the gates of hell" out of his decaying corpse. -- I actually jumped and screamed when Colby's hand came out of that painting and grabbed Ichabod's throat. -- Just when I thought I could consider disliking the sheriff a little less, after she spoke nicely of Ichabod to Katrina...and then she reprimands Abbie for talking to Irving without listening to what Abbie has to say, and...nope!

**(The Last Ship, S1E10 No Place Like Home) I knew it was bad news when Chandler's wife was acting like she didn't feel well at the end of the last episode. I hope the Nathan James' crew can reach her in time! -- When Rachel was about to vaccinate Chandler, I thought he was going to kiss her there, for a second. -- LOL: Tex slays me. "You make me want to love again. I actually *said* that." -- The stuff going on on the mainland reminds me of what the show Revolution wanted to be, but couldn't get out of its own way to accomplish. -- The look on Chandler's face as he watched Amy Granderson talk to her daughter via webcam makes me wonder if he doesn't consider the possibility that she may not quite be the friendly face she seems to be. -- I saw that "no likey" look you gave Tex when he flirted with that girl, Rachel. -- There's something about the way Chandler carried himself, a quiet pride, that I just love. -- Way to leave a girl longing for you, Tex. What a kiss for Rachel! (This cannot be the last we see of him!) -- I can't figure out who the bigger threat is: Granderson or the war lords? -- OMG they are *exterminating* the sick people at Olympia?! Thank God, Chandler got to his family in time to lose only his wife. But can he get back to the Nathan James in time?! And can they collect Rachel and all the crew from Granderson's grasp, eradicate the siege on the ship, and get the heck out before they lose anyone else? AAAAHHHHH!! (Thank God this show was renewed.)

**(Elementary, S3E11 The Illustrious Client (1)) When they busted into the place where Kitty's attacker was keeping all his women, they found a girl there that was shown earlier in the episode. But when they first showed that woman, I thought it was a flashback of when he attacked Kitty. That was a bit confusing. -- Sherlock: My name is Sherlock and I have allowed empathetic thoughts to clutter my mind and reduce the clarity of my perception. ... ::snort:: Only Sherlock would find kindness to be a hindrance. -- As T is my witness, before Kitty revealed that Watson's new boss was the man who raped and tortured her, I said "I bet it's that guy" when Joan was on the phone with Del at the insurance agency where she has her new job.

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2014: I Read Books

A little more 2014 wrap-up. I challenged myself to read 40 books in 2014. I managed to finish 34.

1. Best Book(s) You Read In 2014? 
The Kommandant's Girl.

2. Most Disappointing Book?
Toxic Bachelors.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book?
My Husband's Sweethearts.

4. Book(s) you recommended to people most in 2014?
I don't think I actually recommended any books to anyone. It would be tough for me to pick one, in general, from what I read in 2014. It would vary depending on the person.

5. Best series you discovered in 2014?
The Kommandant's Girl. Timber Ridge Reflections.

6. Favorite new author(s) you discovered in 2014?
Pam Jenoff.

7. Most thrilling, un-put-down-able book in 2014?
The Other Life.

8. Book you most anticipated in 2014?
The Diplomat's Wife.

9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?


10. Most memorable character in 2014?
John Bessom (My Husband's Sweethearts). Paul (The Diplomat's Wife). James McPherson (Beyond This Moment).

11. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
Dreams of Joy.

12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2014?
The Lady of the Rivers.

13. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?
Eat, Pray, Love.

14. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2014?
“Your peers when you’re a teenager will always be the keepers of your embarrassment and regret. It was one of life’s great injustices, that you can move on and be accomplished and happy, but the moment you see someone from high school you immediately become the person you were then, not the person you are now.” (from "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" by Sarah Addison Allen)

"Willpower and dedication are good words," Roland remarked. "There's a bad one, though, that means the same thing. That one is 'obsession'." (from "Wizard and Glass," by Stephen King)

15. Authors you'd like to read more of in 2015? 
Philippa Gregory. Pam Jenoff. Both made history come alive for me.

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Daydreaming on a Thursday.

Well-documented fact: Thursdays are not my favorite. Mostly because they're mean and make me think they're Friday and then "ha ha, no, it's not," twirl the mustache, "gotcha again!" I'mma take a little field trip in my mind today.

Shall we?



I'd like about three rounds of Midway Mania.


I could go for some Confit de Canard and Pommes de Terre Sarladaise from the Fleur de Lys Flower and Garden Fest Outdoor Kitchen...

...but I'll stick to being realistic. Since it's not yet Flower and Garden Fest (and, though I am hoping against hope that this delicious dish makes a reprise appearance, the 2015 menus haven't even been released yet), I'd like to cobble together a meal. I'd like a La Maiala plate from Tutto Gusto...

...the Wok-Fried Green Beans from Yak and Yeti (which, apparently, I scarf down like an animal, because I have not a single photo of the actual dish, pretty insane, when you consider how many photos I take of, well, everything)...

...and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich from Sleepy Hollow.


Some quiet time is required for all that food to digest, I would think. A little time travel and a catchy tune is a good place to start.

And the zippy little Peoplemover.


And then, finally, a giggle-inducing spin on the wildest ride in the wilderness!

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