Veronica Mars

For the past several days I've had the Veronica Mars theme song (We Used To Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols) stuck firmly in my brain. Of course, this is because I've been watching it non-stop for days. But, really, after a while, this can be a rather annoying song.

Highly pleased with the show, but it was marketed all wrong.

Yes, girl detective… but, oh so much more. Plus, it's one of those shows you watch, staring at characters thinking, "Where have I seen them before?" Answer? Daytime soaps, Home Improvement, CSI, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

At this time I'd like to send out my undying love to Deputy Leo D'Amato. (Max Greenfield) Undying love. Forever. Lemme at 'im… I'll have him saying "Veronica Who?" in no time.

This is one of those shows I'm happy I didn't start watching when it came out. Because then I would have had to wait through agonizing cliff hanging episodes and forget what the heck was going on. This way, I don't have the torture of waiting a week for the next episode… let alone a summer for the next season, and it's nearly impossible for me to forget what was going on. And, I actually recognize characters when they reappear 7 episodes later.

Sadly, in 10 episodes, I'll be all caught up and will expose myself to that kind of torture again. But, if you haven't seen it, it's recommended. But only if you start at the beginning and work your way to season three.

It's more rewarding that way.

End Blog.

Away From Home

This is slightly overdue, but… I got to drive around an unmarked police car this past week. Crown Vic, police interceptor. The speedometer goes up to 140 mph. I'm not sure if the car actually goes that fast. I didn't try. It does, however, go 85 without much effort. Also, I'm really too short to drive that car. Okay, maybe not too short, but I'm so used to driving my SUV and being all up high and junk, that cars now suck.

Also, I've never driven a car with the shifter do-dad thing up on the steering column and not on the floor. It took some getting used to. And after a week of reaching to the wrong spot to put 'er in reverse, I've come home and am still reaching in the wrong spot. Weird that I was retrained in a week.

I missed Henry. He's a good car. The Crown Vic has nothing on him. Well, except for lights and sirens and probably speed. But there's something to be said for loving your own things.

Speaking of missing things… the hotel bed was horrible compared to the loveliness which I've become accustomed to sleeping on. I never thought that beds were that big of a deal. I can pretty much sleep anywhere. But, as it turns out… there is a difference. Recently, my sleep number has been hovering around 35.

The hotel mattress offered support, but in all the wrong places. My bed was likely one of my smarter purchases. My back hurt in Jefferson City for the very first time in months. So, yay bed. You're doing your job exceedingly well.

Again… so wonderful to want the things you already have. Although, it's quite possible that I love my things because they are mine. That's probably true. I don't like change, much. Nor surprises. Apparently I like more control than even I would tend to think.

Sidetracked much?

Anyway. Yay car. Yay bed. Yay me.

End Blog.

Why am I not a Nielsen Family? Why?

I heard about this on the radio today. Seems nothing really changes in the television industry. Well written shows can't last more than a season because America wouldn't know a good series if it bit them on the ass. (As they don't know many good things that come along.) No, instead, America has to watch CSI: Miami.

Stupid CSI. Why are three of the top seven shows all CSI? How is that even possible!?

I don't agree with most of America, most of the time. This so reminds me of American Idol voting and Mom's response of, "America sucks! We should take all their phones away!" Agreed, Mom. Agreed.


L.A. Times:

Studio 60: Not Doing Well, May Be Mercifully Cancelled

By Patrick Day and Chris Barton, Times Staff Writer

Despite rave reviews, the public doesn't always love shows that critics think are sure things. Here are series that took off, only to crash.

Before the fall season ever began, television critics scrambled to heap praise on writer Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." With its big-name cast (Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford and D.L. Hughley!), top-shelf pedigree (from the writer-director team behind "The West Wing"!) and sexy subject matter (behind the scenes at a late night sketch comedy series!) the show seemed like a can't-miss, hit-one-out-of-the-ballpark prime time drama hit. Ratings-starved NBC probably envisioned people hosting "Studio 60" viewing parties, a new wave of yuppies naming their children Aaron or even Studio, and a long, long network run, loaded with the promise of syndication moolah and huge DVD sales.

One month later, it appears "Studio 60" will be lucky to last the season. Since its premiere on Sept. 19, the pricey series has been shedding viewers weekly, and those who once saw Aaron Sorkin as the Arthur Miller of network drama grumble about the poor quality of the show's comedy and the characters' endless back-patting claims that said tepid comedy is in fact boundary-pushing, hilarious, edgy fare.

If "Studio 60" meets its maker sooner, rather than later, it won't be the first "sure thing" series that never made it. In what's become an almost annual rite, one big, expensive, much-hyped series inevitably fails to make it past its freshman year.

Siiiiiiiigh.

Aaron, Please don't leave me.


End Blog.

It's Showtime

Erin Daniels lives on.

Sure, The L Word may have killed her off last season, but Showtime hasn't forgotten her completely. Imagine my surprise when Dana showed up as Rita's neighbor on Dexter last Sunday. I'm sure there's little hope of a reoccurring role. I just wanted to note her appearance and the excitement it brought seeing her again.

If you'd like a re-enactment, imagine me lying in bed watching this episode. Dexter knocks on a door, Erin Daniels opens it, I gasp, sit up, and scream very loudly, "Oh my God, it's DANA!!" I suppose it only matters if you've ever watched The L Word. Anyway… moving along…

If you're not watching this show, you should. Michael C Hall from Six Feet Under plays Dexter. He's a serial killer with a heart of gold. How weird and oddly satisfying it is to cheer for a murdering psychopath. Plus, he very much reminds me of Josh Duhamel, formerly of All My Children. You may know him from Win a Date with Chad Hamilton, or more notably from his role as Danny McCoy on Las Vegas. Although, he will always be Leo du Pres to me. Hall and Duhamel have many similarities. I don't care if you don't believe me. They could be brothers. In fact, I'm nearly certain they are.

Also something to talk about regarding this show - Dexter's girlfriend, Rita Bennett, is played by Julie Benz of Buffy/Angel fame. Not that she's so much "famous" from that, but remembering her as a vampire, who is now paired with Dexter, also brings joy. She, once obsessed with blood, hooked up to Dex, a forensic blood spatter pattern interpreter by day and killer by night… it's kinda poetic in a weird sort of TV history sense. Especially since Michael C Hall was also a funeral director (or something of the sort, I never really watched that show… yet) and as Darla, Benz played one of the undead. I mean, the delightfulness of this show astounds on so many levels.

And then there's Jennifer Carpenter, as Dexter's sister Debra - a police officer trying to impress her hardnosed boss and become a homicide detective. She loves her job. She loves her brother. And possibly, someday, down the road, the two shall meet in a very interesting sort of conflict of interests. Brilliant set up. Oh and also… she was Emily Rose. (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) Which, awesome acting, Jennifer. Really. This is kinda a step down for you. I hope they give you much more to work with soon.

And so… thank you Showtime. Not for booting Erin Daniels from her other series and angering people everywhere for forcing out the most relatable character on the show, but for at least throwing her a bone with your new series – and making it a good series at that. And though a few minor things about the forensic aspects of the show are somewhat bothersome, I will continue to watch. Because with the cast and writing set in place, I care more about the story you're telling than anything else. And when I don't get pissed off because someone's not wearing gloves or picking up guns with pencils or windows aren't breaking properly, you know I'm too involved with the rest of it to care. Which means it must be good.

Bravo. You're doing an excellent job so far.

Don't screw it up after episode 4.


End Blog.

Jefferson City

I'll be out of town for the next week attending the Advanced Polarized Light Microscopy course offered by McCrone Research Institute. This is the follow up class to the one I took in Chicago in July.

So, no internet for me until Friday evening.

I'll be off exploring the wonder that is my state capital. Although, I'm not sure what I'll do with the other three nights I'm there.

End Blog.

Arachnophobia

I killed another spider in my apartment recently. It was brown and had two tan diamonds on its back. Something about this particular spider really creeped me out. And although I know it's not the dreaded brown recluse – whose home area covers the entire state of Missouri – it was scary just the same. For some reason, because it had those two distinctive markings on its back, I feel that it had more potential to kill me. I know that's insane and irrational, but when dealing with spiders, it's really the only logic I can apply.

So, I decided to try to find a picture of this spider online and figure out exactly what it was. This was possibly the worst idea I've had in a long time. It totally skeezed me out. Spiders are so scary and gross. I hate them. Loathe them. Despise them. Abhor them. They are utterly revolting in every way. And yet, there I was looking at pictures of them and cringing at every single one. Stupid idea. I gave up before I found a picture of the one I was looking for.

The longer I live here, the more I don't like them. I remember the years we lived in South Carolina and having scary spiders all over. But at that point I had two sisters and a mom and a heroic daddy who probably all stepped up and killed them for me. All I had to do was scream and someone else would take care of it.

I no longer have that.

And inside, I'm still the little girl that doesn't like them. Although I don't scream anymore, I still feel like I want to.

I know I've written about this several times. I don't know why I'm so horrified when I see one. But I am. Most flying insects don't bother me. I'm okay with bees and wasps. But pretty much all other bugs… I just don't like them.

In college I took invertebrate physiology – in part because I liked the professor, and in part to overcome some of these fears based on "the grossness factor". It didn't work. I still hate worms. I still hate bugs. I'd still rather eat mollusks and crustaceans than befriend them.

You will never see me on Fear Factor.

I'm still terrified that one day I'll have a poisonous spider in my apartment that kills me. It's really quite an annoying fear that I wish I could just get over. I'm quite sick of it.

Gross gross gross gross gross gross.

Ick.

End Blog.

Walking in Circles Gets Me Somewhere

Tonight I'll be at UMKC's indoor track walking around in 18 oblong circles. If I do this within the alotted 30 minute time period, the department will just hand over two lovely days of vacation time that must be used within the next 12 month period.

Woo!

See, the police DO believe in bribery.

End Blog.

I'm Still Blonde

I drove my car to the automatic carwash today because it was dirty. I paid for it and pulled up to the garage stall thing. I was watching the green "pull forward" sign when...

SPLASH!

Dude, they turned the sprayer for the water on waaaaaay before I was ready. My window was still down. I got kinda wet.

Along with the inside of my car and the interior of the windshield. Which I wiped off with the only thing I could find suitable within my car - a bank deposit envelope. So now my interior window is all streaky which poses a problem for night driving.

So now I have to remember to take things out to my car to clean my window.

Some days I just can't help being blonde. I think the first sign shouldn't be a green "pull forward" sign. It should be a red "roll up your window" sign. I know this has happened to more people than just me.

End Blog.

I Blame TM Most of All

I had my first Irish car bomb tonight. I don't know why it was my first one because it will not be my last.

I have no idea why you didn't get me to drink one of these with you, TM. I mean, I know I can't compete with the speed at which you drink them, but you could have told me how delicious they were. I curse you. (And... also thank you a little bit because I would have been way more wasted at a certain wedding reception afterparty if I had been drinking them.)

So, I thank the boys of trivia night for introducing me to the wonderfulness that is the Irish car bomb. Plus, they're only 4 bucks on Wednesday nights at O'Dowd's. Pretty sweet.


End Blog.

Student Becomes Teacher

So, Thursday at 8am I'm lecturing at crime scene school for an hour on sexual assault evidence - preservation, recovery, concerns, lab capabilites, etc. Remember back in June when I attended crime scene school? Yeah, same one.

Currently I'm debating if I should take out the one horribly graphic picture I have in my powerpoint during the case study section. Because if I'm saying it's horribly graphic, that should mean something to the rest of you normal folk. But, I'm already talking about the case, so... I might as well let the picture speak for me so I don't have to say anything beyond "the man brutilized her". Plus, they're all law enforcement anyway. I assume they sort of expect that kind of thing.

Sadly, I imagine my portion of class will be rather boring. But I guess most lectures are. I'm going to have to practice it tomorrow after work. It's supposed to be an hour and I've managed to prepare an 85 slide powerpoint. I'm hoping that works out properly, but if not, I'm sure they won't mind a longer break before the DNA lecture... which will be more boring than me. So, that's a plus at least.


Aaaaanyway... I just wanted to point out how odd it is that I'm teaching this four months after I was sitting in the back row of the very same class. And I hope I don't screw anything up. But, on a scale of things, I'd rather be doing this than sitting on the witness stand in court.


Oh, hey, sidenote: they restructured the civilian jobs at work. My "official" title is now Forensic Specialist 3. It's like I got promoted two steps without getting any more money. Luckily, we're keeping the "Criminalist" title for everybody that already has it because I recently ordered business cards. I wonder if they're ever coming in...


End Blog.

Television Dreams Come True

Lauren Graham was on Studio 60 tonight and will be on the show again next week.

Things like this make me happy. It really doesn't take much.


Oh, and Sting was on too.

How cool is this show?


End Blog.

Hey! A Will Ferrell Movie I Actually Want to See!

Stranger than Fiction

This is probably the most creative storyline I've heard about in a long time. So much so that I wish I had come up with it.

So, who's gonna see it with me on the 10th? C'mon, you know you want to. And Jake's older sister Maggie Gyllenhaal is in it!

(Beth, I'm basically just talking to you here, aren't I?)


End Blog.

Earthquake Strikes Hawaii

By Greg Small

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1:00 p.m. October 15, 2006

HONOLULU – A strong earthquake shook Hawaii early Sunday, causing a landslide that blocked a major highway on Hawaii Island and knocking out power across the state, authorities said.

The state Civil Defense had unconfirmed reports of injuries, but communication problems prevented more definite reports. People were also trapped in elevators in Oahu, authorities said.

Gov. Linda Lingle said in a radio interview with KSSK from Hawaii Island that she had no report of any fatalities. She said boulders fell on highways, rock walls collapsed and television had been knocked off stands.

“We were rocking and rolling,” said Anne LaVasseur, who was on the second floor of a two-story, wood-framed house on the east side of the Big Island when the temblor struck. “I was pretty scared. We were swaying back and forth, like King Kong's pushing your house back and forth.”

The quake hit at 7:07 a.m. local time, 10 miles north-northwest of Kailua Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island, said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Center reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, while the U.S. Geological Survey gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.3. It was followed by several strong aftershocks, including one measuring a magnitude of 5.8, the Geological Survey said.

Blakeman said there was no risk of a Pacific-wide tsunami, but a possibility of significant wave activity in Hawaii.

On Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, there was some damage in Kailua-Kona and landslide along a major highway, said Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Center.

Officials were concerned there may be “structural integrity” problems at the big hospital in Kona in the Big Island, Lingle said. Rod Haraga, director of the state Transportation Department, told KSSK the hospital was being evacuated.

Betsy Garties, who lives in North Kohala, on the northern tip of Hawaii Island said she was lying in bed with one of her two young children when the quake struck.

“First I heard a rumbling. Then the house started to shake. Then broken glass,” Garties said. She first stood under a door frame as safety experts advise, then found that too wobbly for comfort and ran into the yard.

“It was strong enough that it was wobbling, so you almost lost your balance running out into the yard,” Garties said. “The house was visibly rocking.”

Peggy Cardoza, an assistant manager at a fast food restaurant in Hilo, said she was at work when the earthquake struck.

“We just felt the ground shaking,” Cardoza said. “We just stood here and watched everything shake.”

Power at least partially knocked out on every island, said Civil Defense spokesman Lani Goldman. On Oahu, 95 percent of customers were without power, he said.

Airports were functioning despite the power outages.

“Planes are able to fly in and out,” said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the FAA in Los Angeles. “Our air traffic facilities at the airport appear to be unaffected, but the airport itself doesn't have power. There's no power for the screening machines.”

Authorities said some of the power outages may have been due to heavy rainfall.

This message was brought to you by the Letter E.
As in:
End Blog.

Someone Tell This Cricket We're Not in Asia

The cricket that could easily win a world record for the loudest chirp is currently residing somewhere in the deep recesses of my kitchen. He's excellent at hide and seek because I cannot find the damn thing. It's also extremely possible that he's a ventriloquist.

It's a male cricket, as his goddamned chirping won't stop. And because I like to keep my apartment warm, he's chirping LOTS. Although, stupid cricket, it's only 78 degrees in here, not 81 as you calculate (count how many times they chirp in 15 seconds and add 39).

Give up already. You're in my apartment. There are no female crickets here. Your calling is not helping. We're both alone. Got it?

I have no idea how people in China thought that keeping them as pets was somehow a good idea. Unless they had female crickets. They make for quieter companions.

Currently the only cricket I like is the toy cricket that sits on the dashboard of my car. He's the only one I consider good luck. And if I could find this damn thing, I'd kill it. Or at least shoo it outside to die in the 40 degree weather that snuck in unexpectedly.

Okay, maybe not... Guess what I just read on wikipedia.

In Barbados a loud cricket means money is coming, hence no one must kill or evict the cricket if it chirps inside a house.

Sigh. Guess he stays. Loudness and all. It'd be really cool if he'd start pulling his weight around here and kill a bunch of spiders for me though.

Shh, Crickey! It's bedtime!

End Blog.

CW Tuesday Commercial

So American Eagle is running these aerie ads in conjunction with Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars (the reasons to be alive on Tuesdays, and the only thing I watch on the network).

Here's the thing I don't get. The song over the commercial sounds remarkably like Lilly Allen. (I'll eat an AE hat if I'm not right about that.) Who is very much British. And sounds like it.

Isn't it odd for a store with "American" in the title to have a British singer in their commercials? Is that just me?

Okay, here's the real reason I complain:
I love Lily Allen and for that reason I don't want her doing any commercials for anything whatsoever. I want her to be big without that kind of exposure. I don't want people to associate her with commercials or think she has less talent than she does because of that.

I really think it's her. I tried to look it up, but couldn't confirm my suspicions.

Maybe Veronica will look into it for me.

End Blog.

What the World Needs Now...

is hugs, FREE HUGS! It's the only thing that there's just too little of.


This includes me.

I miss having a roommate sometimes. Or a dog. Usually both are willing to indulge me.

Hug someone today.


End Blog.

Baking's Easier Than Chemistry

I made zucchini bread this evening. I also made a considerable mess in my kitchen after I found out that I no longer have a grater. It must have either A) not been mine or B) never moved here with me. So, I improvised and it wasn't that big of a problem.

It's really damn good. I haven't had it in years. I'm the awesomest baker around these parts. (Mostly meaning my apartment.)

But you know what the coolest part was? I made it in a silicone loaf pan. Have you seen these? They're the most amazing thing, ever. The loaf comes out easily and absolutely perfectly. I now want to fill my entire kitchen with these. And I really wanna buy a set of silicone spatulas because I can't melt them unless I'm cooking over 500 degrees.

Sweetest invention, ever.

I totally bet they cause cancer.

Who's for a slice of cancer bread!?


End Blog.

Return to Cook Islands

Okay, so I don't have a whole lot of things to say about Survior this week. But I do have a few.

1. Parvati. Is this her actual name or have I confused her with a Harry Potter character? I mean, this is the girl that went to the Yule Ball with Harry Potter, right? You know, after the smart Asian chick (Cho) turned him down. Why has no one else made this connection? I'd be walking around the island asking her how Lavendar Brown was doing... oh, ALL the time. Then I'd tell her to teach me stuff she learned in Divination class. She'd probably vote me off the island first. (although, with that name, she should totally be Indian, which fits into none of the racial categories.)

2. Why does it seem like Candice is always chewing gum? (Or was that just part of her 'playing dumb' strategy?) Is gum something that is deemed a necessity for survival? It's driving me crazy. Chew with your mouth closed.

3. For having a self proclaimed 'strong' team, Raro isn't winning all that much. The muscle bound boys aren't working well with their women.

4. Woo! Lookit the women power breaking up the men's alliance! I wonder if voting JP off was really a wise choice though.

5. I wanted Ozzy gone as soon as he claimed he didn't want to be there anymore. Until I saw him catching fish.

But mostly... I want Harry Potter jokes. I know someone MUST have read them.

End Blog.

Studio 60

I'm doing this as a public service for EVERYONE. Read the next sentence carefully.

Watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on NBC Monday nights as 10/9C.

Unless you actually work in television, where you can sit around and point out how that's totally not how things happen, this is currently the best show of the new season. (You're right, I haven't watched any others.)

The writing is brilliant. Amanda Pete, Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford, Steven Weber… all doing an amazing job. But then again, it comes from the great Aaron Sorkin. We're already three episodes in. It took me some time to actually settle into watching TV because I don't know the schedule and I'm too lazy to set up my VCR, as I don't have a DVR on my cable box as I should. But, through the magic that is the internet, I'm all caught up.

This is something worth devoting your time to. It really is entertainment. Not only that, it's real. It refers to real people in entertainment who you know. It addresses the issue of politics and the polarization of America. It picks on religion. And it's even funny. Plus, much opportunity to have cool guest stars. It does everything you've always wanted from SNL.

(Tangent – I've been looking forward to (exec producer/writer) Tina Fey's new show, 30 Rock. It premieres this week, Wednesday, NBC, 8/7C. Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan are in it too, but Tina's my major drawing point. I used to watch SNL just for Weekend Update. I liked Mean Girls. Tina Fey... much is resting on your shoulders. Is it possible that NBC can have two shows about writers of Friday night variety shows? PS - Have you seen the commercial with Alec Baldwin about this? Cracks me up. Anyway, reining myself in...)

Plus, as all TV shows... Studio 60 has pretty people.

I doubt that you will be disappointed. I was overly pleased with all three episodes so far. And, they're even airing the last episode on nbc.com in case you missed it.

Oh, and in case you actually do listen to me about this kind of stuff, you'll appreciate this - one of the guys from Weeds is also in this show. Fun times!

I'll leave you with this because I think it was probably a fun line to say:
"Thieves get rich and saints get shot and God don't answer prayers a lot." ~ Jack Rudolph (Steven Weber)


End Blog.

CSI: Mystery Solved

I finally figured it out - The reason that CSI is so unrealistic for me.

Not enough panties!

You think I should keep a running tally of the number of underwear I look at during my career? Maybe not. I'm not sure if that's even possible...

But, hey... CSI - take note. I mean, this is an excuse to have more underclothing on television. You should be all over this. Truly entertainment.


End Blog.


Edit to add: Whoa. CSI has hit a whole new level of insanity tonight. Completely ignoring the fact that they let their dead talk in this episode, they figured out what happened to SIX dead bodies in 42 minutes tonight. Six. Six cases. I guess they were making up for not solving the case last week.

SIX!!

Out of Town

I'll be out of town in Ankeny, Iowa until Wednesday evening. It's a pretty sweet deal. I get off three days of work for two days of class and I get $120 in food spending money. Which, we all know, if I applied myself, I could live for a whole month off of.

I know it's been a whole five days since I've said it last, but... I love my job!

The class is on courtroom testimony. Should be interesting. And someday, very handy to have had, I'm sure. Time is closing in on my "honeymoon period" at work where I didn't have to make appearances in court.

The whole lawyer thing is kinda intimidating.

Although, somewhere inside of me, I long to get up there and scream "You can't handle the truth!!"

Alas, my Jack Nicholson is not very good.

See you back here Thursday.

End Blog.