This Bird You'll Never Change

I've been doing quite a bit of reading during these several months of at-home joblessness. The urban fantasy genre has really captured my attention. Especially the Alex Verus books by Benedict Jacka. British author, British setting. I've read all but one, and I'm waiting for the next one to come out (this August, I believe) so I can read them back-to-back. But until then, I'm occupying myself with other books. Like the Dresden Files. Just finished the 6th - Blood Rites - and now moving on to Dead Beat. (And I love the way Blood Rites ended, that very last line: "Why did you get the large breed puppy chow?")

Oh and lately there's also been a lot of SimCity play on my iPad. Whiskey Bend is thriving. So far.

My show Hannibal moved to Saturdays rather than Thursday a couple weeks ago. What's left of the show, anyway. (Got cancelled.) The episode before last... The whole Mason/Margot/Hannibal episode... I believe it was my favorite of this season so far. Several jaw-dropping moments. While still missing the important element that is Clarice Starling, it was pretty good.

I just realized that I quite like almost any movie scene that the song Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd is in.

#1 - Kingsmen: The Secret Service (the church scene)
#2 - Elizabethtown (the memorial service)
#3 - Forrest Gump (Jenny's scene)
#4 - The Devil's Rejects (end scene) (spoiler alert)

They are all done very well, in my opinion.

And can't forget Conan O'brien's last hosting of The Tonight Show. I still get emotional hearing what he says here. Still love this man.

I'm employed! Signed the contract this week. Just a few more things to tie up (benefits, security badge, etc) and I'll be ready for the teachers institute in a couple weeks. Woo!

Shows & Tunes, But Not Showtunes

Thursday nights are my tv nights. For now, anyway.

First up is Food Fighters, which is a cooking show I enjoy. It's different from the others. A "home chef" - an unknown man or woman who cooks at home - prepares 5 of his or her best dishes... Against 5 celebrated/accomplished/famous chefs cooking their version of the same dish. Each in a limited amount of time. And when their time is up, their food is taste-tested by 5 people who vote on which of the two dishes they liked best. It truly is enjoyable to watch.

Next is Wayward Pines. The mini-series adaptation of the Blake Crouch trilogy I recently read. While the tv show isn't quite following the books to a T, they are doing well enough to keep me interested and looking forward to the next episode.

And finally is Hannibal. Which, unfortunately, has been cancelled. They'll air the remaining episodes of Season 2, but unless another network picks it up, it's done for. As for this last episode... 1) I think that what was originally the Hannibal/Clarice/Krendler dinner - if done right - could have encompassed a whole episode. Or at least, much longer than the mere minutes - and that's being generous - that was shown in this week's installment. 2) Initial impression of Margot in this episode: I think I prefer her with her hair in the tight bun, but no matter because 3) The scene with her and Alana Bloom...!... First of all, Nice! Second - guess my invitation got lost in the mail... Or spammed, in this day and age... Either way, kinda feeling like I missed out.

My kid was supposed to be away at camp all week this week. He lasted about a day. We got a phone call saying he was feverish and not really eating. So we drove the 45 minutes to get him. The same 45 minutes to drop him off the night before. And then that very same 45 minutes to get back home. Ug. But, as is common knowledge, tis best to be home when one is feeling icky. While a tad inconvenient (we were in the middle of painting his room, and supper was seriously just done cooking when we received the call) I was and am very happy to have him back home and in our care.

I don't intend to have a gravestone after I pass, but if I were to have one, I know what I'd want inscribed on it.

I'll leave you with that thought.