Forever Twenty-One

I’ve been tagged by two different bloggers with two different sets of questions, for a total of twenty-one questions. I will not be passing this along, ‘cause I’m a rebel (and a loner, Dottie), but I will answer them to the best of my ability on a weekend.

First on the block, elevensies! Not a Hobbit reference, but the eleven questions sent my way by Mike Schulenberg. I responded to this tagging mostly because he referenced Monty Python in his. Awesome.

If you could live in a fictional world, where would that be?

When the hubs and I were dating, one of the first gifts he gave me was Myst – the book, not the video game, although the video game is also way awesome and I would live there. I always thought that world was so serene (in its own way) and intricate.

And of course, I would want to ability to create worlds by writing them.

Fiction or non-fiction?

Both. Don’t make me choose!

If I was forced to choose one for the rest of my life I would probably go with non-fiction. I can always make up fictional stories for myself. Learning that comes from reading non-fiction fuels new stories, so I wouldn’t want to miss out on that.

Do you read in noisy or quiet places?

I have a toddler. Yes, that is an answer.

But seriously, I like having music on at ALL times, so I guess noisy, although I don’t really think of music as “noise”.

Do reviews influence your choice of reads?

They can, but they aren’t the only criteria. Reviews that just say, “Dis book bitez” don’t really tell me anything. But if a bad review reveals details about poor writing or story development, or ideas that I might find bothersome, it may hinder my purchase.

I do enjoy reading bad reviews, though. Like this one for A Confederacy of Dunces, a book I loved as a teen:

“If you want to read about a bunch of dunces go for it, because that is ALL this book is!”

[Well, reviewer, yes. I guess the book should have mentioned it was a confederacy of...oh WAIT A MINUTE!]

A review from a trusted friend holds way more weight than a random stranger on the interwebs. But even than, books are very personal choices.

Audio books or paperbacks?

I haven’t actually tried audio books. If I had a commute to work, I imagine I would enjoy them. Especially if this guy was reading to me.

But, since I don’t, I prefer the voice in my head with a paperback.

What was the first book you remember reading?

Something by Dr. Seuss, I’m sure.

First “grown up” book I recall reading was Jane Eyre. I was in fourth or fifth grade and my mom had just finished reading it. She may not remember, but she handed me a list of words from the book that she didn’t think I would understand and told me that I could read the book once I defined all the words on the list.

I sat with the dictionary, looked them all up and wrote down the definitions, then traded the paper in for the book.

I kind of love that my mom made me work for it.

Favorite author?

This is happening.

I don’t think I really have one. I loved Roald Dahl as a kid and still think his books are great, but as an adult I don’t have one that stands out in my mind. I mean, there are classics like Shakespeare and Gabriel Garcia Marquez that I couldn’t be without, but I don’t know that they are my favorite.

Also, when typing this, I totally typed Sharkespeare.

Classic or Modern Novels?

Hard choice.

I have really varied taste. On my bookshelf you might find Love in the Time of Cholera next to a Sophie Kinsella novel, sitting on top of Cervantes and Dante, sandwiched between Tad Williams and C.S. Lewis. I don’t like to choose between them.

So, I won’t. You can’t make me.

Have you ever met your favorite author?

Since I don’t have one, no. And other than some of the lovely authors I’ve met online, I have never met one of them in person.

My kid brother (I say “kid”, but he is 26) met Mo Willems and got him to sign Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus for me. That’s about as close as I’ve been.

I was appropriately stoked. The Pigeon books are the awesome.

At this moment, I would love to meet A.J. Jacobs. I adore his books.

Book groups or solitary reading?

I have never been part of a book club. I am not against it, but it would take the right group of people for me to enjoy it. I have not met that group of people yet.

Actually, I take that back. The people that would make the perfect book group for me happen to live in Seattle and Arizona. So, unless we start having some sort of Google Video Chat book club, I see little book clubbing in my future.

If you could read only one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The rest of my life? That’s mean. But, I’d want something useful in various situations, so…

The Bible. Surprised?

And on to the next set of questions, brought to you by Tiffany White.

Do you prefer coffee or tea in the mornings?

Coffee. It’s not so much the caffeine as it is the ritual. I could probably replace the morning coffee with tea and be fine with it, since I do love tea.

What book have you read over and over again?

I’ve read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead a number of times. I love reading plays – which probably explains why I am such a dialog junkie when I write. I’ve read quite a few of Shakespeare’s comedies over and over as well.

What’s your favorite outdoor activity?

I despise the heat and I live in Florida. Obviously, those two things don’t really mix, so, if I have to be outside and active (ergo, increasing the heat factor) then I want to be in the water, swimming.

When I lived in Washington state, the idea of hiking appealed to me, since I love to explore in the woods and found the mountains breathtaking. Alas, my faulty heart valves made real hiking incredibly difficult.

Do you cook and/or bake straight from the recipe, or do you get creative and throw things together in the kitchen?

Definitely creative. I love cookbooks for the ideas they plant, but I often just go to the cupboard and see what I can make happen. I love pairing flavors that people don’t necessarily imagine working.

I recently even attempted baking by ratios rather than recipe. Math is hard, ya’ll.

Where is your favorite place to visit in the United States?

Hmmm. Seattle tops the list because my two very best friends in the whole wide world live there. Oh, and it’s full of bookstores, coffee, and gorgeous scenery.

Number two…probably New York. I kind of adore Brooklyn.

From my last zoo visit.

Which animals must you see when visiting a zoo?

Sloths. Lllamas. Lemurs. Pretty much everything. I am an animal lover. Even the creepy crawly stuff, like snakes, lizards, and scorpions. I love it all.

What’s your favorite television show airing today?

I don’t know what my favorite is. Love BBC’s Downton Abbey and Sherlock (eagerly awaiting the new seasons of both).

And no, I’ve never been to England. A shame, right?

What’s your favorite television show of all time?

Another tough one! I’ll go with the only two I bothered to actually purchase on DVD. Firefly and Arrested Development. I am sure there are others that I like just as well, but those are the first two that come to mind.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Again, with the favorites. I am horrible at these questions. I am sure after this is posted I’ll think, “Gah! I totally love Movie X and didn’t mention it!”

I love Emma, Ever After, and Sliding Doors. Mildly interesting sidenote, I don’t really love Gwyneth Paltrow, yet she is in two movies I have an attachment to. Go figure.

What do you like to snack on when at the movie theater?

I am not a huge fan of the traditional snacks (I tire of the fake butter popcorn rather quickly and will be sick if I eat a box of candy) but I do allow myself a big ole Cherry Coke when I watch a movie at the theater.

Unless it’s a three hour epic film, in which case I avoid the mega large drink and stick to a small water. ‘Cause, you know, can’t take a pee break in the middle of a movie I am paying to see.

We have an independent movie house here that I LOVE where you can order real food before the movie starts and a waitress brings it to you. I can watch an indie film and get my grub on.

Sigh.

Who is your current Hollywood or otherwise famous crush?

How much time do you have?

Oddly enough, I was never that girl when I was younger. You know, the one with the NKOTB Trapper Keeper, doodling Mrs. Amber McIntire on the back of my homework. (That’s one of those guys, right?)

Even now, when other women talk about dudes like Paul Walker and Matthew McConahowdoyouspellit or whatever hard body is the flavor of the day, I don’t get it. I mean, I get it, aesthetically and what not. It just doesn’t do anything for me.

Of the guys to lately catch my attention, Richard Armitage is probably the one that most ladies would be quick to approve. It’s his voice that I love, and the intensity he brings to the characters he plays. And, yeah, he doesn’t hurt the eyes any.

Among my geekier flames:

David Tennant, for being funny, Scottish, and The Doctor (because, really, there need be no other reasons than those).

Hugh Laurie for the funny. I’ve long been a fan of the British when it comes to humor.

And, because Tiffany asked this and I am sure she is thinking I left someone out, if I find a guy funny and interesting, then he tends to falls into the “I adore you” category (like Chris Hardwick, Craig Bierko, et al.). Therefore, I reserve the right to add someone to this list at any time, or refer to an actor as “my boyfriend” in conversation.

That about covers all the questions. If this bored you out of your mind, you can thank Tiffany and Mike.

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – A Guide

My TV watching buddy and I came to a realization recently. Why It’s Worth a Watch has been going strong for quite some time. With so many posts under our belts, we thought now would be a good time to give you a full recap of what shows will be satisfying your entertainment appetite, and which dishes you should pass on.

Going from the worst to best choices, here are the shows I’ve reviewed. Be sure to check out Tiffany’s list for a full guide of what’s worth watching. First off, a quick recap of the Watchwed rating system:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

I’ve only had to suffer through one Liver and Onions worthy show, Hawthorne. Thankfully, the show was not renewed for another season, so unless you run into it in syndication, it will be easy to avoid this awful dish.

I was a bit surprised that I only have one awful review, but don’t get too excited. This is less of a sign of better TV shows as it is my reluctance to give anyone a truly awful review, and Tiffany’s reluctance to make me watch something I already think I’m going to hate.

Which probably explains why I came up with Nyquil Induced Viewing. There are a few shows that fall in the “only when under the influence and trapped in bed” category. Sadly, both shows feature a female lead. Hollywood, please, I beg of you, write more quality roles for women. I know you can do it. The Protector and Body of Proof definitely are not evidence of that. (Incidentally, The Protector was not renewed for a second season. Body of Proof has been, but struggles in the ratings.)

When I’m looking for empty calories, my Junk Food TV shows were Chloe King on ABC Family and Harry’s Law. Being that I never returned to watching The Nine Lives of Chloe King, it was junk food that didn’t really grab my sweet tooth. This treat was discontinued (cancelled) in September, but others must still be looking for it, as ABC Family is in talks for a movie version. Harry’s Law sits in the DVR queue for weeks at a time and only gets a watch if there is nothing else around to satisfy my TV craving, but last I heard the network ordered six more episodes, so it’s still safe in the candy drawer.

Going back through the reviews, I noticed that one solitary show was sitting on the back burner still. Necessary Roughness caught my eye initially with Craig Bierko involved, but episodes without him didn’t hold my interest. It wasn’t bad, so it at least deserves to be tossed in the back of my junk drawer for later.

Now, judging by the amount of shows that fall in the MacTV and GTV rating categories, I love TV more than I care to admit.

While I haven’t watched the latest season, my very first #watchwed post fell between Junk Food and MacTV viewing, an impressive feat for a show on a network I never watched previous to this series. Switched at Birth, while predictable, was easy to watch drama on ABC Family. In the same category, a show I enjoy (but don’t get too upset if I miss) is Royal Pains, a light medical drama on USA. Also a simple, enjoyable watch.

Although blessed with a huge budget and substantial names backing it, Terra Nova only garnered a MacTV rating upon additional review. And that’s mostly because I kind of dig dinosaurs. I’m more excited about another newcomer, Falling Skies, set to return in the summer, as well as Once Upon a Time, a fairy tale based series created by the fellows that brought you Lost. Despite having somewhat favorable #watchwed ratings, sci-fi and fantasy shows don’t have a great track record lately, even popular ones, as I discovered when I went to review Eureka. We’ll see if Terra Nova or Falling Skies can break the trend.

That's the fear of cancellation in their eyes.

Comedy sitcoms have been pretty surprising this past year. With ratings ranging from the questionable macaroni salad that is Community to the gourmet mac that is Parks and Recreation, there seems to be something for everyone. Newcomers Suburgatory and New Girl have both been pleasant surprises, shows that I look forward to and even rewatch.

A Mac rated show I haven’t kept up with, but perhaps should, is Covert Affairs. With the soon to be absence of Chuck on my TV (::moment of silence: I could use something to fill the gap, and this just might be the right show. For now.

Pourin' a 40...

My favorite of my MacTV shows has to be Person of Interest. Great action, premise, and actors. I really look forward to settling in for this one, living up to its Gourmet MacTV rating.

So, what were my favorites of the “Why It’s Worth a Watch…” series thus far?

Initially, my Gourmet rating bore the kiss of death. Men of a Certain Age, a well written and acted drama, was too slow for the TV watching majority and didn’t survive. House, a show that I admit is probably MacTV viewing for most by now, but still held a special place with me, is also being considered for cancellation.

But the success of some of my other GTV shows gives me hope. The Mentalist continues to move forward with the Red John storyline, but in a way that keeps me interested. The Good Wife and Mad Men are proof that strong female leads can be written on TV (they have more female writers than most shows…take a hint TV). Castle continues to keep me and many others entertained, particularly with its winks and nods to loyal fans with inside jokes and Firefly references.

And Nathan Fillion, of course.

But more than all of them, the fanciest most gourmet meal on my plate goes to:

I just swoon.

Downton Abbey. Season two began last week and I am once more swooning over everything about this show. Originally a “Queue It Up!” selection in our series, it’s back on PBS in full swing and should not be missed. If you watch nothing else, watch this show. It is, without a doubt, absolutely delicious.

WATCH IT NOW!

Ahem.

If that’s not enough for you, Tiffany and I each gave a couple of our Netflix queue favorites in addition to our regular reviews. On my list was Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Sherlock, and of course, Firefly.

We’ve got more new shows coming, so many more reviews to come! What shows already in progress need to be in our list? What new shows are you looking forward to? 

Thank you to all of our readers for your continued support of the Why It’s Worth a Watch series. If you aren’t chatting with us about your favorites on Twitter, come find us using the #watchwed tag.

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – All About the Law

This week on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday, Tiffany and I talk some more legal drama, with her take on the last surviving member of the Law and Order franchise, and my views on the much newer Harry’s Law.

For you regular readers, you’ll recall last week that I confessed an unexplained love for legal TV shows.  It would stand to reason that I would be excited about a new addition to my list.

Harriet Korn (Kathy Bates), or “Harry”, was a successful patent lawyer.  That is, until she loses her drive and is fired when her boss finds her watching cartoons and smoking pot in her office.  Shortly after this, a man trying to commit suicide jumps off a building and lands on her.  She survives, only to be hit by a car right after being released from the hospital.

Um.  Okay.

It gets better.  The guy who hits her, Adam (Nate Corddry) happens to be a young lawyer who thinks she is amazing and wants to work for her.  So, of course, it only makes sense then the two lawyers, along with Harry’s former assistant Jenna (Brittany Snow) go into business together.  They set up shop in a high end shoe store in the ghetto.

Yes.  For reals.

So, here is the thing about David E. Kelley, the show’s creator.  He knows how to write and he knows law, having had a practice in Boston.  This isn’t the first time he’s combined his talents, not by a long shot.  L.A. Law, The Practice, Ally McBeal, The Practice, not to mention non-legal drama like Doogie Howser, Chicago Hope and Boston Public.

Kelley often writes quirky, if not odd characters, doing it so well that you find yourself willing to go along for an unrealistic ride. I’m not hating on that fact.  As a matter of fact, Boston Legal is currently sitting in my DVD player (and not just for James Spader and Craig Bierko).  I can’t recall a closing argument delivered in Boston Legal, no matter how silly the case, that I wasn’t pulled in by the witty, heartfelt delivery.

Harry’s Law, however, seems to have gone just a bit too far into ridiculous territory.  As I mentioned the lawyer sets up shop in a shoe store, which just happens to still have a stockroom full of designer shows.  Jenna the assistant sees no reason why they shouldn’t sell shoes and be a law practice.  Well, Jenna, maybe because that sounds dumb.  What purpose does this serve beyond quirk?

Don’t get me wrong, there are some watch worthy moments, with the comedic timing of Nate Corddry and the talents of Kathy Bates.  However, even a Bates-delivered closing argument, while heartfelt and even moving, seems to be missing the wit of Kelley’s past shows.

For that reason, I can only give Harry’s Law a JFTV.  I will still tune in, because Kelley’s undeniable style is present, and I hope the show tightens up. It’s okay to be quirky, silly, and perhaps unbelievable, but it still needs to be witty and smart.

What do you think of David E. Kelley’s latest legal dramedy?  Are you generally a Kelley fan?  What’s your favorite past Kelley production?

Now, for more opinions on the law, or at least the law on TV, check out Tiffany’s take on Law and Order: SVU.

Come back next week when we switch over to FOX and review two supernatural programs – the new hit, Terra Nova, and the returning favorite, Fringe.

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.  We’re currently working on our September schedule and would love to chat with you!

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Thursday Tweets – #Hashtaggin’!

It’s Thursday, so I feel the need to blog about something that starts with “T”.

I probably should be blogging about something that starts with “Th”, but that limits me greatly, and I don’t really have the know how to write a solid post entitled “The Thursday Theremin”.

Maybe another Thursday...

(Although seriously, that thing is pretty awesome. Just sayin’)

So, how about Twitter? I mean, after all, there are a lot of people navigating the waters of social media, and I did take the time to talk about Google+.

Why not talk Tweets?

I should preempt this with the warning that I have no plans of making this a regular thing.  Nor will I have a Facebook Friday. And a MySpace Monday? Please. I wouldn’t have had one of those if it was 10 years ago. Ick.

But Twitter is the choice of businesses and celebs alike. And I have to admit, as neither of those things, I still find it pretty useful. Of all the social media platforms out there I’ve found Twitter the most useful for expanding my network.

When I first started using it, quite some time ago, I didn’t see the appeal right away. After all, for a verbose person like myself, why not use Facebook where I can say what I want and not be limited to 140 characters?

Twitter is great when you know how to use it. If you plan on using it, the first thing I recommend is using an app like TweetDeck. (Check out posts like this one on how to get the most out of TD – this blogger has more than one post on the topic, so look feel free to browse when you get there.)

The piece that I was missing at the beginning that made a world of difference for me?

Hashtags.

When you are on Twitter, you’ll notice users doing things like this:

I wrote a post about #bacon. Check it out. {link} #baconlovers #ameating #pigsaremagical

I talk pork at #baconsuitsaresexy

If you are wondering what the deal is with all those # (hashtags), these tags enable Tweeps (Twitter People) to follow certain topics. If I love bacon, I might have a column in Tweetdeck where I follow #bacon. Or, I might be a part of a group that discusses the virtues of every porcine piece at #pigsaremagical. If you tweet a message using those tags, anyone following the tag will see it, even if they don’t follow you.

If what you tweeted using those tags is of particular interest to those watching the tags, they might even take the leap and start following you personally.

Cool, right?

Well, before you start adding every tag imaginable to your post, some caveats.

He follows me. In a non-creepy way.

One of the things I enjoy about Twitter is how public it is. If I want to follow the swoonworthy @NathanFillion, I can. He doesn’t have to accept me as friend, I just follow him. If I am especially fortunate, someone I adore and follow might follow me back (thanks, Craig Bierko). Same idea tends to go with tags. You can use tags as you see fit. No one is stopping you from following or using a given hashtag.

BUT, some tags are used more like a specific group chat than a social hangout. Know your tags before you use them. If a tag is used primarily for chatting and you attempt to use it to spread a link to your blog or a cause you want to promote, you could unintentionally upset the users of the tag.

This goes for retweeting, too. Pay attention to the tags on a tweet. If you aren’t familiar with them, either get familiar or take them off. It may seem silly, but some tags have rules, and it doesn’t behoove you to upset the regulars.

Tweetiquette is important. Prevents angry mobs.

For your own benefit and those you are retweeting, spread the link love around to different tags. Whether you are promoting your own blog post, or the post of a fellow blogger, if everyone tweets the same link to the same tag in the same span of 30 minutes, guess what? The same people see the link. Over and over. A few times is emphasis. More than that is annoying. Don’t keep retweeting with the same hashtag.

What if you really adore someone’s link, but aren’t familiar with very many tags? Favorite the tweet to save it for later.  Keeping it in your favorites makes it easy to return to it and broadcast another time.  A different time of day, or a different day entirely will bring a new audience to your fellow bloggers link. You’ll be doing them a favor, and keeping one tweet from cluttering up a particular tag. Once you’ve retweeted, you can always unfavorite (or keep it there if you really love it).

Of course, hashtags don’t have to just be about networkingt. Sometimes, they can just be for fun. Some are used for games, like #replacebooktitleswithbacon. If I tweet “Gone with the Bacon” followed by that tag, anyone playing along can see my contribution.

You can also use them on a smaller scale to add humor to your tweets. There are varying opinions on that, but being that I am one of those people that use them that way, I say go for it. Others might enjoy the tag enough to start using it themselves.

Like #tweetjack. (The act of jumping in on a conversation between two people)

And now, I’m off. All this talk of bacon and hash has me craving some breakfast.

Just getting started and need a quick shot of the basics?  Check out this post.  

Want to know more about making your Twitter life easier? Have questions? Leave them in the comments, or send me a Tweet at @amberwest. I don’t guarantee I have the answers, but I will at least attempt to be entertaining.

Blackbird has the right idea...

The A&W Chat Show

A few weeks ago, I did my very first interview on the blog. Much to my surprise (and quite possibly, my chagrin) it was popular. Wildly popular.

So, another installment seemed to make sense. All questions within the interview were inspired, if not directly taken, from comments on the blog and Twitter. If you don’t like the interview, I blame you.

That’s not nice, you really shouldn’t…

Please welcome back our guest, me!

*applauds and cheers*

Uh, there is no applause. Or cheering. Unless it’s in your head.

Which is your head, so…

Ah yes. Cheer away.

Let’s get started then. Your blog doesn’t have nearly enough mommy posts, which is probably why some of your readers started you with mom related questions. Now, just to be clear, you are a mom, right?

Yes. I have a two year old. As of yesterday.

Whew. That’s hard work.

There are worse things. He’s cute enough to make up for the lack of sleep.

Cute.

What is the cutest thing he has done?

Does any mom have one good answer to that? Let’s see, there was the time the dishwasher repairman came over and the little guy walked into the kitchen, put his hand on the guy’s shoulder and said, “Why sad?” The guy seemed perfectly fine to me, but he laughed and explained that someone keyed his Harley that morning. Sad, indeed.

He then leaned in and kissed the air next to the man’s face and said, “You happy!”

That was pretty cute.

Also, the face he makes when he poops. Maybe it’s more funny than cute, but I sadly have to admit, I get a kick out of it.

You are incapable of blogging without mentioning poop. Sigh. Let’s try something a little more high brow. What do you read to your little guy?

I read all sorts of things, but he has favorites. Currently, The Giant Jam Sandwich is high on the list. But he more or less “reads” that to me, since he knows it by heart. I love when he gets to the part that says “Good question!” Makes me laugh each time. He’s a bit of a mimic, and I am fairly dramatic when I read to him, so he “reads” with feeling.

I guess that falls back under the cute question, eh?

I’ll let it slide. Is there a book you read over and over as a kid?

I know I read Dr. Suess a lot when I was really little. Aside from that, Matilda by Roald Dahl is one I read many times. I loved that the brilliant awkward girl triumphs in the end.

Uhhh…spoiler alert much? Anyhoo, given your love of reading, which world would you rather reside in, fairy tale or sci-fi?

Wow. That’s a really broad question. I mean, Disney fairy tales are all happy endings and all, but the old school fairy tales that I like are the original Grimm tales, or Struwwelpeter, dark creepy stuff. Great reads, wouldn’t want to live there.

Science fiction has a lot of technology turning on its creator, but I think I’ll take my chances with an interslice in my brain. Let’s go sci-fi.

So, you’re a geek then?

Meh. I enjoy some of the geekier things in life.

You’ve mentioned Firefly on the blog before. That falls into the geek category.

I am ok with that.

If they brought the show back and hired you as a staff writer, what character would you write to replace Wash? (For those of you who don’t speak geek, the movie Serenity kills off a character from the series…)

And you got on me for spoiler alerts. Hmmm…that is a crazy good question.

The part of me that wants to keep the girl to guy ratio balanced would want another guy, but I can’t imagine any other man piloting the Firefly, so it would have to be a female character. One who was supposed to train as a companion, but rejected the life to be a pilot. She’d give Mal a run for his money, and make Inara very uncomfortable. And Jayne would have a school-boy like crush on her, due to her knowledge of weaponry. And her hotness.

Was that geeky enough for you? Do I win a prize?

….snore…snarfle… What? What was that? Sorry, I got bored.

Very funny.

Since we seem to be dealing with questions that are well outside the world of reality, if you were trapped on a deserted island and could have one food dropped to you by helicopter, what food would it be?

Same thing every day? PB&J. It’s comfort food. It’s protein, carbs, and sugar. And I like it. Also, why the heck isn’t this helicopter picking me up? What kind of crazy is flying by with sandwiches every day but can’t be bothered with rescuing me?

Probably someone you bored to death with your blog.

Touché.

Say it was possible to escape the island by swimming across the sea. If you could do it, but the sea had to be turned into a beverage (not water) what beverage would it be?

Chamomile tea. It’s calming. And probably wouldn’t sting my eyes.

And the volleyball you take back with you, since we are getting all “Castaway” with this line of questioning, what would you name it?

Whichever sponsor paid the most.

Being on a deserted island could have it’s benefits. Like never hearing your least favorite song, or movie, or word. What would be banished from your island?

Anything by Rebecca Black or anything that remotely resembles it. Movie? I don’t know. I generally know I am going to absolutely despise a movie before seeing it, so I just don’t. Let’s just say that anything with Hilary Duff in it is not allowed. That seems safe.

And I could do without “moist”. Just give me a regular ole wet towelette. While we’re at it, could we find a new word for “blog”?

Hey now, don’t hate on your bread and butter.

What does that even mea…

WALTER GROGGINS!

*silence*

Wow. That is as effective as I had hoped. Also, a good name for that volleyball. What is the best/worst/craziest thing you have ever done?

All those things in one? Moving cross country I guess. Great fun, but exhausting, going to live with a roommate sight unseen, to be closer to a boyfriend I was dating long distance. It was quite the roller coaster. But I’ve been married 9 years and have that cute kid I mentioned, so it was a good thing.

I’M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!!

Are you even listening?

Not really. I know all this stuff already. I really wish I were interviewing someone else. If you could interview anyone, who would it be?

I’m not going to get all deep on you and bust out with some historical figure or literary god or something. I love every interview I’ve ever heard Craig Bierko give. He’s smart and funny, and, well, the accolades could go on.

I’d be completely intimidated and pretty sure I would sound like an idiot, but still, I’d make it work. Even if he made fun of me, I’d still enjoy it.

Does he know he’s in your book?

He isn’t IN my book. He just plays the character in my head.

You should ask him about his motivation when he is playing the character.

Yes. And then I can wait for the “this chick is crazy” silence. Thanks for your input.

Any time. I am a seasoned interviewer, you know. It’s what I’ve always wanted to be, ever since I was a little girl.

Um. No it’s not. You wanted to be a writer.

Your face wants to be a writer.

Well, yes, I guess that is accurate.

Your face is accurate.

Uh oh, are we in a loop? Tech support?

I bet if you were in a circus, that would be your job. Cause you’re boring. You’d be tech support in a circus.

Have you ever been to Cirque du Soleil? Tech support is probably pretty exciting.

Whatever, nerd.

I’d probably want to take care of the animals. And by that, I mean steal them and set them free.

Here at The A&W Chat show, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of our show.

That isn’t entirely tr…

Crazy tree hugger. If you love animals so much, which one would you be? (Oh, I totally nailed that segue.)

Right now, I’m kinda feeling the tree sloth. They hang around in a tree, keepin’ cool, eatin’ leaves. They sort of have the life. People would help me cross the street and stuff.

Basically, I want to be 80.

Snoring, boring. So if you lived in the 19th century, I’m guessing you would have stayed “back East” while people around you headed west?

Yeah. Mostly because I like the East Coast. And I’d be a woman in the 19th century, which, according to the movies, means I would probably just be cooking and doing laundry for some land seeking man if I headed west, waiting to catch some traveling disease. If I stayed East I might be able to do something more. Or marry some rich dude.

For love, of course.

You disgust me. I need to get far, far away from you. But I don’t feel like moving, so what foreign country would you go to if you could choose?

I like the idea of Italy, because I have it in the blood. And it looks beautiful. And the food. Ahhhh…the food.

I was wondering when you’d make this about food, fatty.

Hey, I am wearing my “not so fat” jeans now, I’ll have you know. I never owned skinny jeans. Even when I was skinny.

Good for you. No one wants to hear about that.

Fine.

Fine.

*glares*

Thanks for joining us for another interview! Who knows, maybe next time I’ll actually interview someone interesting.

That’s it. *takes off microphone, storms out*

Currently Listening to: All This Beauty by The Weepies

You face is weepy.

We’re not even having an interview anymore. Stop!!

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Summer Recap

It’s recap time!

After a summer of watching whatever there was to watch and reporting back, we thought it would be best to follow up and let you know if our relationships with Summer TV viewing have waned, are growing stronger, or remain rock steady.

You may remember that we began this summer spending some time with ABC Family, unfamiliar territory for this viewer.  I talked about Switched at Birth and Nine Lives of Chloe King.  Back when I first watched these premieres, as a reluctant viewer mind you, I gave them both a SSTV.  I felt I couldn’t make a proper call without more time.

Switched at Birth is a solid JFTV, perhaps even creeping into MACTV viewing.  Even though I find elements predictable, I have to admit, it’s made it into my DVR queue, no small feat these days.  I think if I were an ABC Family kind of gal, I’d be more willing to give thus a MACTV rating, but since I’m not, Junk Food it remains.

How about catgirl?  Er, Chloe King?  I  have to admit.  I didn’t follow up.  I started to watch a second episode, got bored, and never switched back.  I can’t make an actual judgement on something I’m not watching, can I?  So, I’ll put this in the JFTV category.  But it’s more circus peanuts than candy corn.

Now, a moment of silence for my first Gourmet TV rating.  Men of a Certain Age, a completely solid program worthy of every bit of it’s gourmet rating, has been cancelled.  Pretty sure I predicted that.   *shakes fist at network executives*

RIP, MOCA.  (If you were a fan, you can sign a petition for another network to pick them up here.)

Moving on, let’s talk about two of my lowest ratings.

The Protector showed itself worthy of a newly created rating.  Sadly, this worthiness wasn’t exactly a good thing.  Like most programs on Lifetime, it was Nyquil Induced Viewing - just the sort of thing I might turn on the TV when I’m laid up in bed, under the influence, not concerned with knowing how it ended.  Hopefully the new cop drama, Against the Wall, which recently premiered can prove that Lifetime can produce shows worthy of viewing when healthy and sober.

HawthoRNe was the first show to receive a Liver and Onions rating.  I shuddered through a little more, just to be fair.  Am I glad I did?

*Gag*

No.  End of story.

The USA Network has held the most noteworthy offerings across both Tiffany and I’s summer review radar, and I’m holding on to my findings for Covert Affairs and Royal Pains – both MACTV, which the occasional fancy cheeses and fixings giving these shows that extra something special.

What about Necessary Roughness?  A rare thing, but this show is still simmering for me.  (Pssst…if there could be more Craig Bierko, I’d be inclined to give this a bump.  Just sayin’.)

Worth a watch.

Last, but not least, our summer scifi offering, Falling Skies.  It’s made me reignite a one time crush on Noah Wylie (ahh…ER, we were so young then) and I have been a faithful viewer since I watched it for the purpose of #watchwed reviewing.

Is it sappy and predictable in moments?  Sure.  But I don’t mind.  So it remains a solid MACTV as well.

What are your thoughts on the shows of the summer?  Have any of them unexpectedly won your heart, or at least space in your DVR?

Next week, we bring you a very special edition of #watchwed – Netflix!  I’m pretty psyched, as we tell you what’s worth queuing up, old and new.  Tiffany and I are going to take a blind run at it – let’s see if any of our recommendations match.  Be sure to chime in with your streaming favorites.

Also, don’t forget, The Tambernies are coming!  Have you picked out what you’ll be wearing on the red carpet?

Now head over to Tiffany’s and check out her recap of the summer.

 

*A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:

GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Tuesday Treats

I have a busy day ahead.  And, because this is the way things work, I am a blinding headache this morning.

In the interest of getting what needs to be done done, I bring you some recommendations of other things to go read and see.

For the watchers of things:

Leap Year - Five friends. Five startups. A contest worth half a million dollars in funding. One will win. A comedy series about the highs and lows of starting a business.

More and more content is popping up via the web.  I had hopes that this might force TV to start giving us some better written shows, but I instead I keep getting Housewives from yet another rich town I don’t care about.  Go check it out.  And hug Hulu for me.

For the readers of things: 

The Formula - Fascinating article from The New Yorker archives.  If you are an artist of any kind, I think this read should appeal.  And don’t give me the “Too long, didn’t read” spiel.  That’s just stupid.

For the listeners of things:

Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine – This song has been playing a lot while I’ve been writing the past few days.  It’s nothing new, but I am really loving it lately.  If you don’t know it, go check it out.

Samson by Regina Spektor – I really love her.  Her music in on a bit of a loop in my house. This song, from what I’ve heard, is actually about someone she loved who died from cancer. Sad and beautiful.

For the askers of questions:

That person you admire, what prevents you from telling them? (via @MrCraigBierko)

For the seekers of cuteness:

My beautiful niece, Sylvie

What?  You didn’t think I could spend the past several days with visiting family and not sneak a kid picture in, did you?

 

Have a great Tuesday everyone.

Currently listening to: Say it Ain’t So by Weezer

Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – USA! USA!

This week on #watchwed, Tiffany and I take on the USA network in a big way.  We review two shows each, one brand new and one already in progress.  I’ll be discussing Covert Affairs and Necessary Roughness; head over to Tiffany’s blog for the already popular Burn Notice and the new legal drama Suits.

A little something about the USA network.  Their branding, in my mind, is brilliant.

“Characters welcome.”

For me, the most important part of a story is it’s character development.  I can forgive you for a predictable plot.  Or even a meandering one.  If the characters are really great, I may even go as far as overlooking a lack of plot altogether (rare case, but possible).

USA prides itself in characters you can get into.  The obsessive-compulsive neurotic Monk.  The hilarious and observant slacker Sean in Psych. Even their syndicated viewing includes the curmudgeonly brilliant Dr. House.

In reviewing these shows, I was looking for characters I could love.  Or hate.  Characters that I want to be.  Or be friends with.

Covert Affairs surprisingly hits that mark.  I say surprisingly, because I thought it was unlikely that I would relate to the perky and perfect Piper Perabo, who plays the main character, Annie Walker.  Annie is a newly assigned CIA agent, pulled in to work in the covert division because of her grasp of many languages and, well, her hotness.

The good looking cast.

Being hot is helpful when your first assignment requires that you look like a high class call girl.

Sound familiar at all?  (*Alias fans raising hands*)

Despite the familiar formula of gorgeous girl kicking butt while navigating relationships with family who don’t know about her CIA status, Annie’s character is truly likable.  She’s great at what she does, but doesn’t always get it right.  Despite being smart and seemingly perfect, she has to deal with the discomfort of a new job like the rest of us.

Well, except for the high tech gadgetry and an attractive blind tech genius (Christopher Gorham, Ugly Betty) helping her along the way.

Is this a show that will challenge your mental muscles?  Perhaps not.  Will it entertain you?  For sure.  If you were looking for a show to fill the void Alias left years ago, this is for you.

That’s why I give Covert Affairs MacTV rating.  While it’s not absolutely riveting, it may have you on the edge of your seat from time to time, and the characters make you want to watch more.

But wait, there’s more!

Necessary Roughness, a newcomer to the USA lineup, follows the life of Dr. Dani Santino (Callie Thorne, Rescue Me, Burn Notice), a therapist who quickly finds her life thrown in a spin when she finds out her husband (Craig Bierko) has been cheating on her.

A lot.

Oops.

Excuse me a moment while I discuss the awesomeness that is Craig Bierko as the philandering spouse.  Remember the part about hating a character being a good thing?  You will hate him.  There is a line he delivers in the pilot to Callie’s character that literally made me cringe.  It’s not just the line, it’s the way he says it.

Awesome.  Please, writers of this show, give us more Bierko.

While I take issue with the main character immediately hitting a club and bedding the first charmer she meets (Marc Blucas), who just happens to be the trainer for an NFL team, I do enjoy the feisty nature of Callie Thorne’s character.

Which is necessary with the high profile clients she obtains through her newfound relationship with the aforementioned trainer.  Her primary client is a troubled star athlete (Mehcad Brooks) who, in the pilot, can’t catch a ball and has an attitude that needs to be checked.

The show is trying to give us a strong female lead, and I am hoping they can deliver.  I am hoping that “feisty and tough” doesn’t turn into “screams and whines a lot”.

I want to root for the mother taking on her rebellious daughter, her well-read teenage son (who seems to have his father’s smarmy charm…they must keep it in their hair), her wonderfully awful ex, and her high maintenance patients.

More pretty people.

And then, I’ll root for her to get the guy.  Just maybe not that trainer.  (Keep an eye on the team “fixer” (Scott Cohen, Gilmore Girls) and you’ll understand.)

That’s right.  I just told you to watch it.  I’m giving it an SSTV.  I see it’s potential.  Solid cast.  I just need the writers to win me over.

Now, it’s your turn.  Are you a fan of Covert Affairs?  Did you watch the Necessary Roughness premiere?  Will you be watching these shows now?  Do you love the USA network as much as everyone else?  Leave your comments or discuss with us on Twitter using #watchwed.

Head over to Tiffany’s blog to find out about Burn Notice and, one of my new favorites, Suits.

Next week, we get our science fiction on with TNT’s “Falling Skies” and SyFy’s “Alphas”.

The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

Monday Meme

This is one of those things. You know, those lists where you get tagged and need to answer things.

Not that it’s a bad thing.

As a matter of fact, I may be out and about most of the day, so this can alleviate the stress of posting something quickly in the AM.

I was tagged by Angela Wallace, who I know little about, but am enjoying in the #MyWANA Twitterverse.

We joke about My Little Ponies. She must be cool.

So, without further adieu…

Do you think you’re hot?

I can often be found dancing in my underwear singing K$ha songs into a hairbrush, whipping my hair around and…

Strike that.

That’s not remotely me. I have fleeting moments of feeling “cute”. That’s about as far as it goes.

Upload a picture or wallpaper that you’re using at the moment.

Norweigan painter Odd Nerdrum…I don’t remember the name of this piece. Some of his art gives me chills. Creepy.

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?

After not eating any for about 50 days, I had some today in pasta.

Blerg.

The song(s) you listened to recently.

If I don’t have to count the numerous versions of “ABC” I’ve been listening to (and “Rubber Ducky”, which is playing in the background as I type this), it would be Oasis by Tarja. She’s Finnish.

I kinda dig the mood of this song. If I ever wrote in the Fantasy genre, I think I would play this a lot.

What were you thinking as you were doing this?

Trying to remember what life was like before the kid. Not in a big philosophical way. More of a, “I wonder when I’ll be able to watch what I want on TV again”.

Yeah, I’m deep.

Do you have nicknames? What are they?

From my dad: Monkey face, Cara Luna, Rambo. This may explain my answer to the first question.

From coworkers at my first “grown up” job: Funky Cold Medina

From coworker at last job: Ambidextrous

And recently, from Craig Bierko: Amby

Tag 8 blogging friends…

1. Girl Parker
2. Eden
3. Bella
4. Erika
5. Monica
6. Kim
7. June
8. Shannon

Who’s listed as No. 1?

Girl Parker, one of my very best friends, who lives entirely too far away. I make it a point to tell her on a regular basis to move the Florida (even though she lives in beautiful Seattle).

Say something about No. 5

Monica is Volunteer Co-Coordinator with me at SheWrites.com. And her last name is my maiden name! No relation, though.

How did you get to know No. 3?

I followed a post on She Writes that led me to her. I visited her blog once and that was that. She is funny and wonderfully supportive.

How about No. 4.

I came across Erika’s blog through another “mom” blog. Since then, we’ve exchanged tweets, comments, emails (and soon, exercise videos!). She is awesome. For those of you that were here for my first real vlog entry, she inspired it. Also, we have the same on camera voice.

Weird.

Leave a message for No. 6

Kim, thanks for your comments here. You have a way of always leaving me with the feeling that someone just gave me a hug.

Leave a lovey dovey message for No. 2.

You are amazing. We’ve endured frightening Mexican bus rides up steep terrain, bathrooms we had to share with a rooster, and much much more. I can say without hesitation that I love you like my flesh and blood and curse the 3000 miles that separate us on a daily basis.

Do No. 7 and No. 8 have any similarities?

I only know June via her blog, and Shannon I know through an old job, but I can tell you that both have a great sense of humor, complete with sarcastic streak.

There you have it. Thanks, Angela, for the tag.

*for those of you tagged here, don’t feel obligated to follow through…I know these aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but figured no one would mind the linkage

Currently Listening to: an alphabet song that teaches it phonetically

The Dangers of the Internet

My mind is always going. No matter how tired I am, it takes ages for me to fall asleep. The rest of my body lays there waiting for my brain to finally give up and rest.

Even then, it’s still working. I have never* had a dreamless night of sleep.

In addition to having lots of dreams, they tend to be very real. I’ve woken up more than once sweating, heart racing, believing that the events I witnessed really did happen.

My brain even incorporates sounds around me into the dream. (Let me tell you, no one should fall asleep listening to NPR late at night. World events can make for some frighteningly realistic nightmares.)

Saturday evening I had a particularly odd dream. And I decided, why not share my madness with the rest of you.

I know. I am so thoughtful.

Before I begin, a little background.

When I am working on a story/novel/book, I often picture the characters as actors or people I know. In the current novel I am working on, a rather major role in the story is currently being occupied by the actor Craig Bierko.

A friend and I once compared our brain to a computer database. In the evening, it goes through its reindexing process, sorting and rearranging items to get the most efficient use out of it the next day. This is why we sometimes have dreams involving people or things we haven’t seen in ages (the “database” is moving that “data” around).

Why did I feel the need to tell you those two things? Because I don’t like the idea of sounding like an obsessed teeny bopper because an actor was in my dream. I was never that girl. Even when I was of “teeny bopper” age. So there.

On to the dream…

I’m at my parents house, the one I grew up in, chatting in the kitchen with Craig. Judging by the interaction, I would assume this isn’t the first time we’ve met. We’re chummy. Making jokes and laughing. The conversations are indistinct at this point. Just laughing, drinking some iced tea while my father looks on, disapproving.

Craig thanks my mother for the hospitality and we walk out to his car, which looks like a normal sedan, except the doors lift up, like a Dolorean.

“Let’s go for a drive.”

I hop in, the door comes down, and we take off.

“Where are we headed?”

“Check the glovebox,” he says with a grin, “There’s a clue inside.”

I open the glovebox and find a manilla envelope. I hold it up, eyebrows raised, as if to ask if this is it.

“Open it.”

I open the envelope. Inside are a series of photos. In each photo, there is Craig. Smiling. In the first photo, he’s smiling holding a rope. In the next, a knife. In another, heavy duty trash bags. In the last, he is standing with a shovel, pointing to a spot in an empty field. Smiling.

“Well, this doesn’t bode well for me, now does it?” I say this out loud, while inside my head I am thinking, don’t freak out, stay calm, don’t freak out.

“Just because you know someone online, doesn’t mean you know them,” Craig answers.

He starts driving faster, glancing at me from the corner of his eye, then back at the road.

Don’t freak out.

I look at the photos in my lap again. At his smile. And, perhaps out of nervousness, I giggle. I mean, the ridiculousness of it all. My nervous giggle grows into full on laughter.

Craig looks at me, brow furrowed, “Really? Laughing?”

I gesture towards the array of creepy photos in my lap. “You gotta admit, these are pretty funny looking. If you leave out the whole “I’m about to be killed” part.”

He shakes his head, disbelief crossing his face, then starts to laugh, too. Hard.

“I’m sorry. It’s a joke. I was making fun. You know, all this online stuff. People should be careful. You haven’t known me that long. Probably not a good idea to get in a car with some guy you barely know. No matter how nice he seems on Twitter. You just don’t know who might turn out to be crazy.”

“Well, you may not be homicidal, but I am pretty sure this qualifies as being at least a little crazy.”

As the word crazy came out of my mouth, he whipped the car off the road, threw it into park and leaned uncomfortably close to my side of the car.

“What did you call me?!”

I held my breath, saying nothing, only returning his stare. The seconds passing felt like hours.

He leaned in closer. And smiled.

“Kidding!”

I slid back into my seat, exhaling and letting out a nervous laugh. Pulling back into the road, Craig threw his arm casually over my seat, his hand on the headrest.

“So, what sounds good for dinner?”

Indistinct conversation about where to eat, laughter, fade out to next day.

I am walking to my car alone. I open the door and a flood of ping pong balls come spilling out. I’m not upset, and only slightly surprised. There, on the steering wheel is a note.

“Thanks for everything. See you in a few weeks. ~CB”

End dream.

There he is. Smiling.

There you have it. A window into the craziness that goes on in this head of mine.

Sidenote: I related this to the hubs. He pointed out that while he feels that he should be jealous of Craig’s appearance in my dream, he has no chance of fighting for me. I mean, have you seen the guy’s right hook? (If you haven’t watched Cinderella Man, do.)

*I know “never” sounds like an exaggeration, but I can not recall a single night of dreamless sleep.