This Week on My TV: March 21, 2015

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



**(Blue Bloods, S5E18 Bad Company) I'm trying to piece together how I feel about Sarah's story. I can't imagine how I would feel about the person who had murdered my entire family when I was six years old and then, during the trial, said his only regret was that he hadn't killed me too. But when she went to meet him at the prison, at his request, to express his regret now, I thought her reaction, telling him he should try to kill himself again and succeed this time, was a little harsh. I can't imagine saying that without feeling like I had somehow sunk to his level. Also, her wedding processional was the traditional recessional and that bugged me. -- Pretty good first undercover gig for Janko. Although I don't get how she knocked that Serbian mob trafficker over the head with the lid from a toilet tank and it didn't break!

**(Mom, S2E17 A Commemorative Coin and a Misshapen Head) Violet: Oh no. He knows I grew up in the circus. He doesn't need to meet the clowns. -- Most of the time, I feel bad for Violet. She's a snot, but she had a really crappy childhood and I can see how it would leave her hardened and bitter. (Plus, there is something about her that reminds me of one of my best friends, in a good way, and I can't shake that off.) But I really wanted to smack her for her view on getting engaged and married. This guy is clearly head over heels for her and she just wants the big ring, the cool condo, the housekeeper. I guess I am sensitive to that, knowing good guys aren't a dime a dozen, and she's setting up to stomp all over one.

**(The Good Wife, S6E15 Open Source) When Marissa equated campaign tactics to high school, all I could think was YES!! -- Finn! I missed him. -- When Alicia visited Canning in the hospital and he was unconscious or asleep or whatever, I kept expecting him to crack an eye open. I wasn't actually shocked when he didn't. -- I can't decide if Johnny Elfman decided to have Alicia go after Peter because he has feelings for her and doesn't want to take the job on the west coast after all or because he's sick of Eli telling him what to do. T's theory is that it was Marissa saying "handsome men are always so weak" and it got under his skin. -- I cannot believe Diane had her husband served!! -- Regardless of how the election turns out, I'm going to be sad if this is the last we see of Frank Prady. I really like his character. -- Canning is such a snake. I wish I could say I'm surprised that he plotted with David Lee to set Alicia up...but I'm not. -- I am so conflicted about that kiss between Alicia and Johnny. On the one hand, I wanted to see her end up with Finn. But on the other, that kiss was smoking hot!

**(Mike and Molly, S5E14 What Ever Happened to Baby Peggy) Drunk Peggy was HILARIOUS. -- Man, they sure went the unexpected depressing route with the contents of that trunk up in Peggy's attic.

**(Scandal, S4E15 The Testimony of Diego Muñoz) Things I didn't like: The goofiness of Susan Ross's character, because if she were seriously named VP, I would be outraged. Abby and Leo together, which is awful, because she is clearly happy, but he gets on my nerves. Cyrus going...blonde? -- Things I did like: Abby showing up in Olivia's office to chat with her because that's what friends do. The compassion Olivia showed Rose when she told her "how Lois died." David telling Jake they weren't the bad guys anymore; they are the good guys and he is going after B613. -- Olivia is a mess. Even despite the fact that her love life is often a mess, I'm not used to seeing *her* messy. I get why she's a mess, but it's still so strange.

**(Better Call Saul, S1E7 Bingo) I feel so bad for Jimmy. He does the right thing, turning in the money and sending the Kettlemans back to Kim, but he probably won't be able to get the bigger offices. He can't win for losing. -- Mrs Kettleman is a whacknut. -- I saw him offering the big corner office and partnership in his firm to Kim. I saw it coming from a mile away. Just as clearly as I saw her declining it. -- Is this the beginning of a new, if tenuous, friendship between Jimmy and Mike? -- LOL: Jimmy's face on the Bingo cards.

**(Elementary, S3E17 T-Bone and the Iceman) Sherlock: I'm not easily surprised, but I do confess not expecting this. ... He says as they walk into a room filled with a bunch of frozen corpses. -- A case that surrounded a murder that tied to a cryogenic storage facility opened up the opportunity for Sherlock to refer to "corpsicles." That made the whole thing worth it. -- I am not sure about the story with Joan's mother and brother. Too many open ended questions. Does her mother have early stage dementia? Is her brother having an affair or not?

**(Chicago Fire, S3E18 Forgiving, Relentless, Unconditional) Cruz: What are you saying? That meatloaf can only hold so long onto prime rib? Otis: No. I'm saying any girl that makes you feel like meatloaf isn't prime rib. -- I'm kind of tired of this Mills-on-squad arc. I love the character of the Chaplain. I'm on the fence about this new thing with Severide and Dr April. I did not expect Cruz to break it off with Brett. -- Seriously, Otis?? You would even briefly entertain the idea of going after Brett the day after your best friend broke it off with her?

**(Reign, S2E16 Tasting Revenge) This whole "find a mistress for Francis" thing is weird and awkward. I get that these things happen in this time and setting, but one would at least hope it would happen organically. -- Antoine [to his servant when Kenna arrives at his room]: Fetch me something. I don't care what it is, just fetch it from far away. ... Bleh. Don't stoop to his sliminess, Kenna! Make it work with Bash. He's a good guy. Also, OMG, Antoine, your "gravely ill" wife is just immensely pregnant?? Pig. -- I am disappointed that it seems Castleroy is done on the show. I liked him. There aren't enough decent people on this show to balance the evil. -- How far Greer has fallen, being a madam. Unlike most of the others who have fallen from grace, though, I wonder why we're still "keeping in touch with her." Her story must not be over yet. I know we're supposed to be happy that she and Leith are finally together, but I feel like that ship has sailed. -- The second Mary and Conde leaned toward one another to kiss outside, I knew there would be a witness. -- Was Mary wearing dagger earrings?! What does that foreshadow? And speaking of foreshadowing, after Bash stormed out, what about Kenna's hand resting on her abdomen, after that remark she made to Antoine about wanting children, unlike her husband? -- Well, I didn't expect that speech from Francis, giving Mary his blessing of sorts to be with Conde. But is Conde going to entertain the thought of involving himself with TWO queens?? That meeting at the end with the English envoy was...interesting. -- All this sneaking around for Mary and Conde, wondering if anyone is following or watching...why not just use Clarissa's old secret passages?

**(Grey's Anatomy, S11E16 Don't Dream It's Over) Meredith: She was perky. And she sounded happy and tall with a lot of great hair. -- Awkward: Maggie ranting about an Alzheimer's patient...to Richard...who lost both Adele and Ellis to the disease. -- They yell "clear!" before they shock a patient with the paddles. But what about when the patient is pregnant? The baby can't "get clear." -- What was up with that crying from Jo?? That was some seriously bad acting. -- That lecture Mer gave Stephanie about the streak, and the baby who is already motherless, and the father who will either die and leave his baby an orphan or live only to learn his wife did not survive...and how none of this is about her. I know a lot of people hate Mer's whiny moments, but I love who she has become. -- Loved: Bailey's speech to Alex about Jo freaking out over all the sadness, reminding him that death is scary and overwhelming for the residents, that they are obsessed with Mer's streak because they want to cling to anything that can defy death. -- Jackson is a really good guy. -- Yay: Gathering in the hallway on the mobile patient beds! -- LOL: Maggie's disgust with Alex. -- I like the relationships Maggie is forging with Mer and Richard. -- OMG CRUEL I HAVE TO KNOW IS HE???  All that waiting for Der to show up at home and all we get is "you called me and a woman answered my phone" and Mer repeating it back to him???

**(Once Upon a Time, S4E14 Unforgiven) Is no one else bothered by the fact that, when we first met Ariel, *Regina* was Ursula, and now, suddenly Ursula is someone completely different?! -- Ursula's thieving tentacle. ::shudder:: -- Sheriff Chisel Chin. ::snicker:: -- Ursula's fairytale hair slays me. -- Weirdest. Pregnancy. Test. Ever. -- How much can they string us along with this secret?? "Tell her the truth." "Tell Emma everything." JUST TELL ME!! -- Regina: I should have known Fish Sticks and Pound Puppies were up to no good. ... This show kills me with its nicknames. -- Snow: Because when you betray the people you love, when you make them see the worst parts of you, what you've done changes everything. There's no going back. You've shattered the bonds you worked so hard to forge. The stronger those bonds once were, the more difficult they are to put back together...if they can be repaired at all.

**(The Blacklist, S2E16 Tom Keen) Red [to Ressler, who wants to accompany Red in collecting Tom]: You look and feel and smell like cop. You are what you are. That's admirable. But this is my world and you're a tourist. You blink wrong, we'r both dead and your partner goes to prison. -- Red [as the German thugs shoot out the windows of the vehicle Red arrived in] See? That's why we got the insurance. -- The showdown of Connolly vs Judge Renner was pretty intense. -- So, is this really a case of Tom loves Liz? Did he fall for his assignment? If this is an act, I can't figure out what he gains. -- So, where's Tom now?? Just...gone with the wind? He called her, which likely won't make Red very happy, but what's the end game here? -- Well, crap. After all this mistrusting of Connolly, now I think I might like him. -- Red: Be careful, Lizzie, because the truth is, once you start down this road, there's no logical place to stop. You could see to her education, health insurance, housing. You could watch her or have her watched, keep her safe. Try to ascertain her hopes, dreams, desires. Pull strings, call in favors to discreetly smooth the path. And for the first few years, it may work. You'll draw some measure of virtue from being her invisible benefactor. But that won't last. It's all a fraud. And it's really not about her at all. It's all about *you*. And you're just...going through the motions to salve your own guilt. Look, all the money, all the time and effort, all the favors in the world cannot possibly equal what you took away from *her*. Everything else is...just a nice gesture. ... HOLY CRAP. HO. LEE. CRAP. -- Lizzie [to Red about how he gave Tom his life back for showing up in court to keep Lizzie out of prison]: You saved a man you hate to save me. -- I guess it's safe to say only Red holds the actual list of blacklisters, since, based on the episode opening, Tom is number 7 and I'm thinking that would have raised red flags with at least half a dozen people.

**(Last Man Standing, S4E19 Summer Internship) Mike: I'm the boss. I snuck out while I wasn't looking. -- OMG, Ryan is at Mike and Vanessa's house, doing their laundry?! When are those two going to be expected to grow up? -- Mandy is going to "live off her savings" while on her unpaid internship in New York City? Mandy...has that kind of savings?! -- I'm not sure what to make of Mandy's orange lipstick. Is that a thing? -- Unintentionally creepy: Kyle wants to finish learning taxidermy and then tells Mandy "once he's an expert at stuffing things he knows he'll always have her by his side" and he "wants to look at that face forever." -- Highlight of Mike's vlog: No, what I think what you want is a proper balance. You want to see enough of each other that you can pick your spouse out of a police lineup, but not so much that you end up, you know, *in* the police lineup. -- Second best highlight of the vlog was the promo for Outdoor Man Grill: Not only do we welcome lovebirds, but we serve them in a port wine sauce.

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Oh Hey Friday: March 20, 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 "Hello Spring!" Edition!

I struggle with the arrival of spring here in Florida. I know the relentless heat is coming -- or, as is the case this year, is already here, a whole two months early -- and that starts my hibernation time. The a/c is on almost all the time and I cringe when the electric bill lands in my inbox. I'm just not ready for this. Hold me. On second thought...don't. I'm already too sticky and sweaty.

In an effort to buck-up-buttercup, I am going to think of things I'm looking forward to, now that it's spring.

ONE|
Baseball is two weeks away from starting. If I'm going to be crawling into my cave for the next eight months, at least I'll have my Red Sox back to keep me company! In fact, I order our 2015 MLB Extra Innings package yesterday and, once again, it comes with complimentary MLBtv Premium, which is a nice touch for when I need to mute certain announcers and listen to the Red Sox home radio broadcast synced with the action on the tv.

TWO|
WDW starts staying open later into the evenings, now that the spring break crowds are arriving, which will bleed into the summer crowds, and while it is far too warm for much daylight time spent in the parks, venturing up there in the late afternoon and early evening holds a certain appeal. It's a fun change of pace from my usual morning trek up I-4. The parks have a totally unique personality from their daytime versions when they're lit up at night.

THREE|
Being born and raised in the northeast, I'm used to four definitive seasons. This whole "summer" and "not summer" bit hasn't really grown on me in the thirteen years I've been here. I need to manufacture traditional seasons, darn it! And one of the ways I do that is through scent. I have my spring inventory front and center. My lotions are changing from soft, warm scents to bolder, brighter, fruity scents, like Black Raspberry Vanilla and Apricot Vanilla (from my ridiculous Bath and Body Works stash). And my candles graduate from rich and spicy to fresh and airy.

FOUR|
Fresh fruit. February and March bring strawberry and blueberry seasons to Florida. They are tasty. They make me want more. Nectarines. Plums. Cherries. Pineapple. Melon.

FIVE|
I am potentially the least fashionable female alive, but even I can look forward to switching the darker, smokier palates for lighter eye makeup, trading out the clothes in jewel tones for softer pastels, and getting back to nail color on my toes (because let's be honest -- I stay properly groomed, but with my toes out of sight for the not-summer, I give them a breather from being showcased in sandals and open-toed shoes all summer long).

What does the arrival of spring mean where you are?

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Flower and Garden Fest 2015: Round Two

Round Two brings Festing with a Friend. I never mind Festing solo, but Daniel and I always have a blast when we Fest, so that's fun too!

We started off at...

THE SMOKEHOUSE


Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake with Maple Frosting and Pretzel Crunch.

We descended on the Fest about 38 seconds after it opened, so it was still only 11am. This was a good semi-breakfasty way to kick off the late morning. It's kind of like having pancakes and bacon in a different form. There is sweet (frosting, cake) and salty (bacon, pretzel). It's all just very satisfying. And check out all. that. bacon.



Tastebuds awake and clamoring for more!

BOTANAS BOTANICO


Seafood Ceviche (shrimp, scallops, and grouper with mango and avocado).

So much color! It was just as fresh (thank God) as it was bright. There is just so much visual appeal to a dish that is bursting with color...and flavor to match. With all those components, every forkful was a different combination of delicious. It was cool and refreshing, which was good, because the day was heating up in a hurry.


We were sitting at this little table, which was smack in the sun, and we needed to locate some shade.

FLEUR DE LYS


Confit de Canard with Pommes de Terre Sarladaise (pulled duck confit with garlic and parsley potatoes). La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush (Grey Goose vodka orange, St-Germain liquor, white and red cranberry juice).


I'm just going to be honest. I have dreamed of this dish since the last Flower and Garden Fest. I am not even kidding. The duck is so tender, it practically melts in your mouth. The potatoes have so much flavor, they practically reach out and slap your taste buds. The are soft and creamy in the center, but the potatoes that were on top in the oven (the baking dish is inverted onto your plate) are brown and crispy. And just...I'm drooling now, just thinking about it. The slushes they do in the "France" fest booths are always delicious. The description of this one claims orange and cranberry, but I have to tell you, it tastes like grapefruit to me. Despite the fact that it started melting almost immediately, it was still cold, tart, and so refreshing. By the time I finished here, I was sighing with that "I could die happy now" sort of contentment.


We were on our way to use some Fast Passes (Spaceship Earth and Test Track), via a stand-by line detour at Living with the Land, so on our way, we stopped for some refreshment...

URBAN FARM EATS


Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider. Cucumber Lemon Spa Water.


We traded these back and forth as we strolled toward the Land Pavilion. The water was kind of meh, for me, but that is partially because I do not like lemon in my cold water and partially because we were in the upper 80s, so this could have used a little bit of ice to not become lukewarm. The cider, though, was incredible. I tasted far more blackberry than pear. It was sweet but refreshing.


When we finished our attractions, we headed straight back for more eating.

JARDIN DE FIESTAS


Veggie Quesadilla (flour tortilla filled with Monterrey Jack cheese and mixed vegetables).

I couldn't even tell you what was in here for sure, other than cheese. I believe there were mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, and onions. It was standard fare, but very tasty. I felt like it could have done with a little salsa or sour cream or something, though.


Circling back the direction from which we came...

PINEAPPLE PROMENADE


Pineapple Dog (spicy hot dog, pineapple chutney, and sriracha mayo). Sparkling Pineapple Wine. Ace Pineapple Hard Cider.

They were not kidding about spicy! This is the same hot dog they use for the Kimchi Dog during Food and Wine Fest, just with different toppings. This packed a ton of flavor, but it was just a bit too warm for my preferences, though, so I was glad to be sharing. (Seriously. Daniel was laughing at how pink my face got!) We shared the two beverages as well. Both were tasty -- and definitely pineapple! -- but I surprised myself and actually liked the cider more than the sparkling wine. I am typically very partial to the bubbles, but the cider was just plain delicious.


We meandered our way around the World Showcase. Daniel tried some various dishes, but I was busy digesting. But I couldn't resist a stop at...

PRIMAVERA KITCHEN


Bellini (sparkling wine and peach puree).

This is my kind of yummy. I sat in the setting sun and sipped my drink, while we chatted and people watched. I love that this is sweet from the peach, but it doesn't overpower the dryness of the sparkling wine. It's the perfect hot weather sip.


Room for one more...

FLORIDA FRESH


Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese, and Balsamic Reduction.


This is a repeat from last year and it's just really yummy. I would never think of putting watermelon into a salad with savory ingredients, but it's so refreshing. Actually, so much of what they put on the menus for this Fest is light and refreshing, with the emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It's perfect warm-weather eating. The onions were cut a bit thick for me, so I pawned them off on Daniel, but the rest was all mine. I am such a sucker for balsamic anything, and the serving was super generous. A great ending to the day.


Because Daniel was in town, there was another round on deck for the very next day! Stay tuned...

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Something Something: March 16, 2015

What you'll always find in my fridge...
Yogurt. Grape juice. Chocolate. Cheese.

Recipe I'm scared to try...
A two-crust pie from scratch. I am way intimidated.

Signature dish...
Either my stuffed shells or my meatloaf.

Household chore I enjoy...
Folding clean towels. Fun fact: Back a bazillion years ago, I worked on the early morning stock crew for a Caldor department store (think sort of like Target, before there was Target), and I had to fold all the towels "just so" for the shelves, when that was what we unloaded. And then a few years later, I worked in the receiving department for Bloomingdale's By Mail catalog distribution center, and sometimes I would get loads of towels to prep and bag for the picking floor. I learned to fold my towels neat, quickly, and precisely, so folding them now makes me feel super efficient and I like the way our linen closet looks when they're all stacked in there. (Did you read all that? You deserve a cookie.)

My secret cleaning weapon is...
Scrubbing Bubbles wipes in the bathroom. I wipe the sinks, light switches, and toilet handle every single morning and it makes the whole room look freshly cleaned.

Last thing I bought online...
A new iPad for T. It was an early gift from the Easter Bunny. I don't usually go that "big" for Easter, but I did this time. He deserves it.

I hate to shop for...
Furniture. Hate. Loathe.

On my bucket list...
Seeing the cherry blossoms in Washington DC.

I sleep in...
Pajama pants and a tank top.

I sleep on...
A king-sized bed. Moderately expensive sheets that were worth every penny. The right side of the bed (if you're standing at the foot and facing it).

I stay fit by...
I don't know if I'm fit, but I'm well within healthy. We walk almost every evening, after work, when it isn't summer. In the summer, I get in some exercise before I get ready for work.

I drive...
A car I own in full.

Etiquette pet peeve...
Not saying thank you.

I will never care about...
Survivor. Or the Bachelor(ette). Or most Hollywood gossip. Or basketball. Or golf.

I'd tell my younger self...
"Have no fear, these are nowhere near the best years of your life." (Thanks, Brad Paisley.)

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Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: 2015 - Week 10

Since November 2008, I've been documenting the bits of everyday life in a monthly format, through various incarnations. I've loved these "little life snapshots." But for approximately the past six months, I've been craving a change. More than a little tweak, this time, but a different perspective. After taking note of the bloggers I enjoy who do something similar on a weekly basis, I've finally blended my favorite aspects of their weekly posts with some of the framework of my monthly snapshots...and thus was born Snapshot from Along the Broken Road, v. 2.0

Checking in for the week of March 8 through March 14.

WHAT I READ |
Merry Market Murder (Paige Shelton) - This was exactly what I needed, after the last book I read: quick, easy, and lighthearted (ish...I mean, it *is* a murder mystery). My initial suspect was the correct one, but I got sucked in by a red herring, and I never would have guessed all the details. A fun read all the way around.
When Crickets Cry (Charles Martin) - Oh, this book. The characters and the words and just...I'm almost finished and I don't want it to end.

WHAT WE ATE|
Do you ever play "how many meals can we make with what's on hand?" It's one of my favorite games, because it means we stay under our weekly spending goal. The things that excite me as an adult would baffle my younger self. We always have a ton of chicken in the freezer, so T grilled some up and slathered it in barbecue sauce, did up a packet of cheesy potatoes while he was out there, and we pulled out some freezer sweet corn. We threw together some goulash and a salad. Had some linguine with clam sauce. And then, Friday, we made ourselves subs.

WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED|
All the winter decor came down (almost -- I have a couple of things still there) and now everything looks empty, so I need to start thinking about spring. And then I spent the weekend at Epcot, enjoying some Flower and Garden Fest eats with my friend, Daniel, yet I still, somehow, managed to get a whole weekend's worth of laundry done, despite being gone twelve hours on Saturday and another nine on Sunday. I'll take that as a win!

CANDLE SCENTS|
Twisted Peppermint (BBW) - I'm starting to wonder if I will get this one finished before spring arrives. And if I don't, am I going to be returning an almost-but-not-quite done candle to the closet? Or will I just keep going with it until it's used up, even though I am dyyyying to get into my spring stockpile?
Holiday Bayberry (YC) - This one's a total classic and I kind of love it.
Celebrate Christmas (YC) - A little fruity, a little spicy.
Candy Cane Lane (YC) - I like this one in limited doses. It's definitely minty, which I enjoy, but combining it with vanilla and sugar makes it a bit sweet, because it's a stronger scent. I will say that when I'm sitting between Celebrate Christmas burning in the living room and Candy Cane Lane burning in the dining area, it makes the house smell like a Christmas kitchen: almost a total assault on the senses, but somehow it works.

WHAT THIS WEEK LOOKED LIKE|
It takes forever for the sun to come up now. ::grumble grumble Daylight Savings grumble:: This was almost 8am.


Morning glory.


Every cloud has a silver lining.


Attempting to accessorize like an adult who has any clue what she's doing.


The fish version of Grumpy Cat. If you look closely, you can see his down-turned mouth and everything.


Shrimp! (He's my favorite.)


Rain shower reflections.


I have seen a lot of lizards in the thirteen years I've lived in this state, but never one that looked like this guy.


All the cotton candy colors.


Sunkist.


Even the trees bloom sunshine here.


My favorite people are not afraid to embrace their dork side with me.


This was our Test Track sim car. Zoom zoom! (Fun fact: I always take a photo.)


I got to ride in the front seat. I never get the front seat!


Florida skies just quietly brag about being the best.

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This Week on My TV: March 14, 2015

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



**(Chicago Fire, S3E16 Red Rag the Bull) Pridgen's grudge is clearly responsible for the man who jumped out of the building after running back inside the burning building to look for the kid who was still in there. -- Of *course* Baby Boden's nursery is decorated in fire trucks. -- How do they come up with stuff like an ice skate stuck in a guy's head with his son's foot still in it? -- Casey: I thought you were on furlough. Boden: I know everything. -- I really like Mouch and Trudy together. -- Woohoo! Boden's back!

**(The Good Wife, S614 Mind's Eye) I liked the perspective of this episode, as we see Alicia's thought processes in "live action." The only real issues I had with it was sometimes it was difficult to switch gears between what was in Alicia's imagination and what was reality. -- The guy they got to play "Will" was all wrong. His profile looked nothing like Will. -- I about died when Alicia's fantasy went from Will to Johnny to Finn. (Finn!) -- I liked the way Alicia's imagination way in shades of black and white rather than color. -- Why on earth did Alicia keep picturing Zach as homeless?! -- What is going on with Grace and her faith, all of a sudden?

**(Scandal, S4E14 The Lawn Chair) I will keep this brief. I'm going to take the unpopular view of saying I didn't care for this episode. We may have many things in society that need to be addressed and discussed. I don't like it to seep into my entertainment. It is a long-standing position I take with every show I watch: "ripped from the headlines" always end up being some of my least favorite episodes. I am well-exposed to the news. I read, I watch, I observe...and I form my own opinions. I watch television to be entertained, not have more reality jammed down my throat, whether it be factual or soapbox in nature. I respect the rights of the writers and producers to have opinions and voice them, but I'd rather not be subjected to them during my wind-down time. They have a right to express their views and opinions because the venue is their own...but I have a right to enjoy (or not) what I'm watching for entertainment too. And I didn't. I hope we move forward with Scandal getting back to telling its outrageous, edge-of-seat intensity stories, because that's why I watch and it's what I feel they do best.

**(2 Broke Girls, S4E14 And the Cupcake Captives) Sometimes I can't figure out how this show is still on the air when better shows have been given the boot. -- Depressed Sophie doesn't put in all her hair. LOL! -- LOL: Sophie not realizing the FBI agent that showed up at her bridal shower was really an FBI agent.

**(Mike and Molly, S5E13 Buy The Book) Molly's publisher is all kinds of skeevy. -- So after all that, Molly's book is going to be a flop?? -- I'm trying to figure out whether or not Molly is seriously going to collaborate with Peggy on a book.

**(Once Upon a Time, S4E13 Darkness on the Edge of Town) LOL: Regina setting Snow's bluebird painting on fire when she took back her old mayor's office. -- Why is there a sign in the library that reads "Habla Espanol?" Who, in Storybrooke, speaks Spanish?! -- LOL: "Have a cluckity cluck cluck day." -- LOL: Emma's "buckle some swash" line. -- Hmmm... So, the Sorcerer and the Author are two different people... -- Regina: I suppose we should go out and see what's killing property values *this* time. -- I *almost* felt bad for Gold when he thought his evil cohorts had doublecrossed him. Almost. -- How, exactly, is Maleficent "not entirely" dead? -- Wait a second. That demon thing was after the person with the potential to have the darkest heart and that person is Emma?! -- Hmmm... Snow and Charming have a secret that ties to Ursula and Cruella?

**(Better Call Saul, S1E6 Five-O) I approve of getting the story on Mike. I guess now we know why he's so unhappy all the time. I knew he was setting up his murdered son's boss and partner, but I didn't expect the gun the gun he tricked them into taking off him to be unloaded when they attempted to use it on him. The only issue I really had was that they jumped around just enough in the timeline that a couple of time I felt a little lost.

**(Grey's Anatomy, S11E14 The Distance) I'm just going to cut to the chase: I loved this episode. I loved how badass Amelia was, and how real, and how vulnerable, and I really just love Amelia. I loved the way Richard stepped in and talked Amelia down and refused to call Derek. I loved how Mer came into the OR and knew exactly what to say; she may not have been "that resident" for a long time now, but I have to believe those hours she logged by Derek's side made her exactly what she needed to be for Amelia. I loved Arizona (who I rarely love) taking charge in her OR and telling Bailey to help or leave. I loved the intensity of Amelia ripping off the glove and handling the seeds, radiation exposure be damned, to get the job done (but a piece of me wonders if there isn't some fallout from that coming, maybe?). I loved the full gallery, pure throwback to the early glory days of Grey's. This episode didn't play out the way I expected (part of me, a tiny part, expected a total miracle for Dr Herman -- why can't I call her Nicole? -- and a big part of me expected Herman to not wake up and for Arizona to have to make the hard decisions), but I didn't expect the middle ground of Dr Herman surviving without her sight. But I loved the speech she gave Arizona, about how learning to deal with her new reality was great, because there was something to deal with, because she is *alive*. And I loved the speech Amelia gave Stephanie about how they defeated death. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the Callie and Arizona moment, because, seriously, please don't take us back there *again*; the back and forth is just...enough already. Bravo, Grey's. You just keep knocking it out of the park this season.

**(Person of Interest, S4E17 Karma) Fusco: Can I punch this guy in the face? Mr Reese: Get in line. -- I think I kind of love that Fusco calls Mr Finch "Glasses." -- Mr Finch: We may never know what really happened! Mr Reese: Guys, we don't even know what's happening now. -- Whenever Mr Reese is sitting in his therapist's office, he looks positively beaten down. -- Aaaaarrrrrgggg. I do not do well without closure (oh, the irony, given that lack of closure was the topic of the episode) Did Morris do it? Was he innocent after all? I need to know! -- Yet another episode where Root is missing and we have no update on Shaw.

**(Chicago Fire, S3E17 Forgive You Anything) I did really feel badly for Mouch second guessing himself over meeting his child. I'm glad he finally got to meet her by the end. -- I'm not sure how I feel about this Rice guy. He kind of got on my nerves. And he's "taking the spot on squad vacated by Newhouse?" So is Newhouse really gone for good, then? -- What the heck is Brett's issue? She is breaking up with Cruz because she likes him and is too comfortable? That makes no sense. -- Boden is completely baby drunk. It's pretty cute, actually. -- Mills and his whining about squad is rapidly getting old. -- They're really selling this Chicago Med bit. That's two episodes in a row now. Sorry, not buying. -- When did Severide get all salt-and-pepper-ish?

**(Reign, S2E15 Forbidden) Oof. Mary's mother is rough. Rough on Mary, rough on Lola. I'm sorry she's dying, but sheesh. -- LOL: Greer is turning into an honest to God madam. I was just kidding about saying so last episode but clearly that's exactly what she is. -- High Lola was fantastically amusing. Saying the baby that was being proposed to her son was ugly and had her mother's unibrow. Speaking to Francis of their time in Paris. Coming on to Narcisse (who actually turned her down?! I never know how to feel about him.). -- Francis in that robe, parading through the castle with an army of witnesses to "meet" Mary in her chambers. That was way weird and uncomfortable. -- Kenna looked like Cinderella coming down the stairs in the dress and jewels loaned to her by that scummy Antoine. I hate that he's messing up her marriage. -- Oh, Conde. Of course two queens are throwing themselves at you.

**(The Big Bang Theory, S8E18 The Leftover Thermalization) Sheldon was actually very empathetic to Leonard in regard to Leonard not being given credit in a magazine article...at least at first. -- I'm really not liking Penny's hair short. -- Sheldon's "ideas": Reverse SeaWorld where the dolphins can pet the humans. A size between medium and large called marge. -- Howard [looking through his mother's freezer at everything she saved in there]: If I find my foreskin in here, I'm going to have to kill myself. -- LOL: The look on everyone's faces at the table as they listened to Bernadette yell at Leonard and Sheldon...and Howard realized how much she sounds like his mom. -- This episode wasn't nearly as sad as the previews made it out to be.

**(Elementary, S3E16 For All You Know) Interesting twist, making Sherlock the suspect. I felt like this whole episode was turned on its head, though, between wondering if he'd actually committed a murder in his doped up state. And then seeing him get attacked and beaten and kicked. (At least it felt normal when it turned out he had managed to pickpocket both a wallet and phone off one of the attackers.) By the time they reached the point where Sherlock was outright shouting at Joan about how she has no idea who he was when he was in his darkest point of using, I felt flipped inside out. I had no idea he spoke above a muttered, rushed whisper!

**(Grey's Anatomy, S11E15 I Feel the Earth Move) Maggie's reaction to the earthquake was pretty on par with mine. Only I wasn't in an elevator. I would have *freaked* in an elevator. -- I love when they make Jackson act a little dorky. -- They've gotten very creative with the Grey's logo in the opening. This week, it shook for the earthquake. Last week, they made an incision like the one Amelia was about to do on Dr Herman's scalp. -- Ha. I love that they treated Mer's streak and jinxing it the exact same way we treat no-hitters as baseball fans. -- I couldn't get into the story of Ruby and her mom, because it just felt too implausible to me...and then I totally cried when Ruby launched into Owen when she got off the helicopter. I did kinda love Owen, Amelia, and Richard all singing "Stayin' Alive" on the phone to help Ruby give her mom CPR, even though I feel like that song being linked to CPR is like the most annoying irony ever. -- I like Maggie, but I'm just not feeling her budding romance. -- After the brilliance of the previous episode, I knew this one was going to struggle to keep any sort of pace, but I just felt next to nothing about it...until the final sixty seconds. WHO ANSWERED DEREK'S PHONE???

**(The Blacklist, S2E15 The Major) I cannot help but laugh with how matter-of-fact Red is about how they will talk to the diplomat he says they need: "You'll need to abduct him." -- That was some interesting insight on Tom's backstory. -- The Look Red gave to Ressler when Ressler's grabbed Red's arm. I don't even know what to say about that, other than I wish I looked that intimidating when someone was up in *my* personal space. -- I'm guessing Dembe may be the only person who can call Red on his B.S. totally without repercussion. -- And now for the big question: What was the deal with that judge and all his questions? Is he one of The Major's people? Is he part of The Group that wants the Fulcrum to stay missing? Is he just annoyingly and perilously curious? I can't decide!

**(Last Man Standing, S3E16 Red Rag the Bull) Vanessa: I have seen that bathing suit and there is room for it in my wallet. -- Mike: Closing the highway in Colorado because it snowed is like closing California because they're wrong about everything. -- LOL: Ed's rule of giving cheap stuff for wedding gifts because it's easier to split if the marriage ends in divorce. -- I would have said "awwww" when Ed told Kristin he only invests in things that succeed and that's why he plans to give them a weekend at the Four Seasons booked for their tenth anniversary...except that he's talking about Kristin and Ryan.

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Oh Hey Friday!: March 13, 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 "Language" Edition!

ONE|
We've probably all heard of The Five Love Languages at this point. I can tell you that mine are "Words of Affirmation," with a side of "Physical Touch" -- there was just one point separating the two scores, because like a good little Libra, I can't just be one thing. I didn't even have to take the survey to have told you that, though. I recorded just a couple of points under "Acts of Service" and "Quality Time," and none under "Receiving Gifts" -- while I certainly appreciate them, I don't need things done for me or to be showered with gifts to feel loved, nor do I need lots of attention focused on me or to be wined and dined. I just need to hear that I am loved and noticed and appreciated. Words (or lack thereof) have a lot of power over me. Likewise, something as simple as a hug or the brush of hand as my loved one passes by makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

TWO|
I bring this up, because apparently there is also an Apology Language profile. Having heard nothing about this one, before, I was pretty curious how I would score. Predictably, I once again scored with my top two languages a single point apart, and again, my results did not surprise me. I need "Expressing Regret," followed closely by "Accepting Responsibility." This is huge, for me. HUGE. Because when I've been hurt, I don't want excuses or reasons. I don't need the person to beat their chest and wail or beg my forgiveness. I don't need to make a plan going forward or exact justice. First and foremost, I need a direct and sincere "I'm sorry." If the damage was minimal, then that's enough for me. If the hurt goes deeper, well, then I guess the apology needs to be deeper as well, with an acknowledgment accepting responsibility: "I shouldn't have [done what I did], you didn't deserve to be treated that way." It shows me that in addition to noticing my hurt and being regretful, that the person understands what they did to cause it. You would be surprised how hard those two languages are for most people though.

THREE|
On a lighter note. (Ahem.) People who understand the awesomeness of Dunkin Donuts and the treasure of photos (especially old ones! ) (photos, that is, not old donuts) speak my language. I consider these my "lesser love languages."

FOUR|
I took four years of French in high school. Other than the extreme, kindergarten level basics, the only phrases I remember now are "at the pool," "at the library," and "I have a hangover." Never underestimate the power of a) a good word association, b) a word that is fun to say, or c) a funny anecdote.

FIVE|
I am so close to expressing some language in regard to Level 27 of the Two Dots game. I cannot beat that fool level, no matter what I try, and it is driving me loony.

What about you? Do you know your love language? Have you heard of the apology languages before? What are your "lesser love languages"? Do you speak a second language at all? Do you play Two Dots and have you beaten Level 27?! (Please save me from myself.)

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Flower and Garden Fest 2015: Round One

Well. This week has gotten away from me. Last Saturday, I hit my initial round of this year's Flower and Garden Fest. It took me til last night to actually get the photos off my various cameras and into my web albums. And so far, I've only even edited those that I needed specifically for this post. And here we are, Thursday now. I figured I better get this one in the books before it's the weekend again and I'm back for more.



Had to grab my Garden Passport and make my initial circuit to get my requisite booth and menu photos. By the time I finished that, I was ready to do some eating. So I started right where I was.

JARDIN DE FIESTAS


Taco al Pastor (corn tortilla filled with achiote marinated pork, garnished with grilled diced pineapple, onions, cilantro, and salsa verde).


They had this one last year, as well, but the pineapple was cut into much smaller pieces this time, making it more juicy, and there was a lot more of the sauce on the pork. The flavors were just as bright as last year, but with the extra juice and sauce, it was a little messy to eat. There is a little zip, the pineapple and cilantro are still the stars of the show, but I could have done with the handful of "taco juice."


I wasn't sure, exactly, what I wanted next, despite having a loose plan for the day, so I just kept wandering ahead, until I found something that jumped out at me.

PRIMAVERA KITCHEN


Fior di Latte, Prosciutto e Pane di Casa (pinwheel of mozzarella and prosciutto, drizzled with olive oil, with a slice of ciabatta bread).

As I shared over on Instagram (where I share them "live"), "And now I can die happy because OMG." Truly. They had me at 'prosciutto', but as a pleasant surprise, mozzarella was almost creamy. The two, together, were absolutely perfect. I had bites of each, separately. I had them together. I had some on a bite of the bread. I used the crusty pieces to soak up the leftover olive oil. Bliss. I don't know what else to say about it, if I haven't already driven home the point.


I figured it was going to be difficult to beat this one anywhere else in the Fest, much less the very next thing I tried. The line was short, so next up...

THE SMOKEHOUSE


Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapenos.

I feel like this one was slightly misrepresented, but to its benefit. "Burnt ends" makes me think of tough, chewy, charred pieces of meat. That wasn't the case at all! If you can picture a brisket in a slow cooker, these would be the outer most portion of the roast, the part that would typically be seared before being put in to cook slowly. They were certainly welldone, but not overly so. There was so much flavor. Round it out with the potatoes, peppers and onions in the hash, and it was hearty and tasty. The fondue was thinner, rather than stretchy melty cheese. Similar to a Hollandaise sauce with its creaminess but with more of a cheese presence. It really did a lot to pull the whole dish together. (I skipped the jalapenos. I don't mind a little heat, but that's out of my wheelhouse.) All in all, not a bad follow up to the dish that came before it.


I was about ready for some dessert at this point. I knew right where I wanted to go.

FLEUR DE LYS


Macaron Guimauve a la Fraise (strawberry marshmallow macaron).

After how delicious last year's orange blossom and white chocolate macaron turned out to be, I was really looking forward to this. Last year, they just plopped it on a little plate. I appreciated the "upgraded' presentation this time.

Unfortunately, that's where my appreciation ended. The strawberry flavoring to the cookie tasted a bit artificial and the marshmallow filling made it way too sweet -- and I have a definite sweet tooth, so...

If you can see right there in the middle, there was a strawberry preserves center. *That* part I really liked. It tasted like real berries and their slightly tart freshness really balanced out the marshmallow. But there wasn't nearly enough of it.


All told, it was a successful start. By my calculation, I have another four rounds worth of tasting to do, and plenty of time to get to my Grand Finale Best of the Fest Tour. There are fewer booths (they are called Outdoor Kitchens for this Fest, Marketplaces for Food and Wine) and I have ten more weeks to get to the rest. With a double tour set for nest weekend -- Daniel will be in town for some Festing with a Friend! -- I should be able to get it all complete before the weather really starts to heat up in May!

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