1.31.2006

Baptism By Fire.

Fire and Water

Original airdate 01/25/06



So this is the one where Charlie slides down that slope to craziness, just like Michael. Or they've at least made a detour to irrational obsession.

They can't all be mind-blowing episodes and like last week's, this one was not. But I was drawn in to Fire and Water more than I was with The Hunting Party, for reasons I don't think I can explain.

The story was pretty straight foward and it didn't really touch (directly) on the island mystery, but there were a few items of interest (or questions raised) for me:

**I can almost sense a pattern emerging among the folks who have seen visions (or hallucinations, whatever you'd like to call them). The ones I can remember are

Jack - His father
Kate - The horse
Charlie - The baby in peril
Michael - The computer chat (tenuous, but he coud have been imagining it: 1) he used it for a purpose other than inputting the code and there wasn't another "incident" and 2) when Jack looked at the computer there was nothing on the screen)

All visions seem to spring from each person's strongest desire (subconscious or otherwise): Jack has unresolved issues with his dead father; Kate desires the freedom that the horse represents (weak, I know); Charlie, unable to 'save' his real family, is now faced with the loss of his new family; and Michael's desire is to find Walt, a child he let go of long ago and just got back in his life. Just food for thought. Can anyone think of others?

**I was disappointed with the characterization of Locke in this episode. I really thought he was acting out of character. I'm not sure what Locke has invested in Claire and the baby, at least emotionally, but he seemed to be awfully mean and unforgiving toward Charlie. I was as annoyed by Charlie's behavior as anyone else - he really is borderline retarded, I think - but to dismiss him outright was just plain wrong. It's not like weird shit doesn't happen on the island. Um, Locke, you not only survived a fairly catastrophic plane crash - you were no longer paralyzed, dude. At least give Charlie the benefit of the doubt.

**I think the casting people did a remarkable job with the Young Charlie - he was a dead ringer!

**So I think the loss of the piano (in both reality and in the dream with Aaron inside it) is supposed to represent the loss of family to Charlie. It was bought for him by his mother, who charged him with using it to save the family. Once his brother sold it from under him and left the country, he lost the last ties he had to his family.

**There was a ton of religious symbolism in this episode - the painting in Charlie's childhood home, the vision of his mother, Claire and Hurley as figures from the painting, the Virgin Mary statues, all the water/baptism stuff - but what significance it all had besides being representative of Charlie's religious background, I don't know.

**Why was Eko marking trees that he "liked"? And did Charlie burn those trees down when he started that fire?

**Is all this "baby danger" connected somehow with the psychic who put Claire on the plane?

**The Hurley/Libby stuff was nice. She gives me a weird vibe, though. Is she the mole? Or is she just hiding some horrible secret like the rest of them?

**I don't EVER - and I mean EVER - want to see that diaper commercial segment again in my life.

Next week: Repeat of season 1's "Numbers", the one where Hurley wins the lottery. I sense some number-related action in the next new episode!

And speaking of the next new episode (Feb 8), if they kill off Sun I swear I will never watch this show again. I swear.

Waiting for Tom Sawyer.


White picket fence.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

1.30.2006

Chain Link.


Chain Link.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

Part of the fence that separates our property from our neighbor's.

Berries in the Rhododendron.


Berries in the Rhododendron.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

Is that how you spell it? Anyway, the bush is in our front yard, under the living room window.

A great way to start a Monday morning.


A great way to start a Monday morning.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

I came out of the house this morning to find I had a flat tire. Oh, joy!

As I waited for AAA to come and change it on this beautiful and unseasonably warm January morning, I decided to see if I could find anything interesting to photograph from my front yard.

I'll post a few of those photos from my Flickr page.

The Emaciation of Hollywood Contiues.

Sandra Bullock tries not to crush her alarmingly thin 'Crash' co-star Thandie Newton.

My God, she's the worst I've seen.
Oops: "A museum visitor shattered three Qing dynasty Chinese vases when he tripped on his shoelace, stumbled down a stairway and brought the vases crashing to the floor, officials said Monday."

Drive-Thru Review

Wedding Crashers - I was wanting to like this more than I did. It was funny and worth the rental, but it was way too long - they could have dropped the entire last half hour - and way too predictable. Apparently Rachel McAdams is the new "it" girl, but she didn't really impress me all that much. And the girl that played opposite Vince Vaughn looked WAY too young for him - for any grown man, really - to the point of distraction. It looked like he was messing around with a 12-year-old. That's probably just me, though.

1.29.2006

BSG - Spoilers!

I really wanted to post more about each individual episode, but real life demands have gotten in the way and I haven't been able to devote as much of my attention as that would require. Instead, I'll do a quick recap:

Resurrection Ship, Part 2

Original airdate 1/13/06

Another outstanding hour of television, brings the Pegasus story arc to a close while setting in motion plenty of plotlines for the rest of the season.

This episode dealt with death - facing it, causing it and, in some cases, wanting it: At the end of RS Part 1, Starbuck and Fisk were each tasked with the assasination of the other's commander, a job neither of them was all that anxious to carry out; Apollo, faced with the knowledge that Roslin and his father are planning to kill Admiral Caine, has lost his hope and his naivete and attempts suicide; Gina begs Baltar to kill her, Baltar instead helps her escape and she kills Caine; the horrible beauty of the battle with and destruction of the Cylon Resurrection Ship and the disturbing sight of the thousands of Cylon bodies floating out into space; and finally, President Roslin's cancer has caught up with her.

Will Roslin die? Probably not, but on this show one can never be so sure. Did Dualla suspect that Apollo wasn't answering her radio call while he floated in space on purpose? I think so. Will she call him on that later? I liked that the space battle - a HUGE victory for the human race - was the background against which we got all of this character development, instead of the focus of the action. And since it's pretty certain that Roslin will not die, how will their moment of tenderness affect Adam and Roslin's future relationship? I think this was one of my favorite episodes of the season.

Epiphanies

Original airdate 1/20/06

This is the one where President Roslin does not die, and indeed is resurrected with and injection of some cylon/human hybrid blood. This is sort of a cop-out, but one I'll accept since we all knew they wouldn't kill her off and there probably wasn't any way of writing that that would have satisfied viewers. So how does her survival affect the prophesy? I think it referred to a "dying leader" - she was certainly dying, so I suppose it can still be true. We find out through Roslin's deathbed hallucinations/dreams/memories that she had a pretty bad last day on Caprica - finds out she has really, really terminal cancer, she breaks up with her boyfriend - who just happened to be the President - and the Cylons blew her world to smithereens, making her have to do an LBJ. We also see Baltar and Six in her dreams, making out around every corner. Is she really remembering them? Or is this her subconscious mind putting 2 and 2 together?

The hybrid blood of course comes from Helo and Boomer's baby, but only after Baltar comes up with the idea of using the blood in order to save the baby from termination ordered by Roslin. A termination that Boomer and Helo are naturally opposed to. We find out that Gina managed to not only escape Pegasus after killing Caine, but she has set herself up as the leader of a cylon-sympathizer terrorist group. After reading a not-so-nice letter the President has left for him "upon him becoming president after her death", even though she didn't die, Baltar is convinced by Six that the President doesn't appreciate him, is in fact afraid of him and he does something really stupid: delivers a nuclear warhead to Gina, in support of the militant group. Silly, silly Baltar.

Black Market

Original airdate 01/27/06

I'll start off by saying that this one really didn't do it for me. I find the Apollo character to be really BORING, and this one was all about Apollo. And some girlfriend (pregnant girlfriend?) who died on Caprica but who we never heard about before and some prostitute/single mother/current girlfriend he saves but who we also never heard about before. I know why we had to see all of this - to see the change in Apollo since he tried to kill himself - but still. Boring.

What did I like most? The scene between Roslin and Baltar. I can't recall much other than that. I guess I was just disappointed that they had to conjure up this run-of-the-mill storyline for Apollo when they could have just worked with the plotlines and charcter development they've already established. And it looks like we'll have more of the same next week but with Starbuck as the center of the story.

Still right up there with the best of television, but not up to the show's usual exacting standards.

1.26.2006

My God, as if she wasn't skeletal enough, Nicole Richie chooses to wear a vest that looks to be made from someone's rib cage?

Food is your friend, Nicole. Try eating some.

A lazy Saturday.


A lazy Saturday.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

Marty snuggles with me while Petie watches out the window during my movie marathon last weekend.

As you can see from the glare of the sun, it was a beautiful day and I really should have been out in it.

Shoulda coulda woulda.

Wow, things have changed!

Braces Become Teen Fashion Fad in Thailand: "Rather than getting fitted for the real and expensive option, teens have been buying do-it-yourself kits in stores and selecting colored rubber bands to match their outfits or moods."

Remember when kids who had braces got made fun of? Dr. Beck asked me the other day if I wanted a different color elastic this time, but I turned him down. Part of me wants to do something different, just not the part that's 41 years old and works in a law firm.

Speaking of braces, my temporary crown popped off when he was replacing the bottom wire. He stuck it back on with what he had available in his office (that was fun with no pain killer!) and we made appointments for me to get it fixed. So I get to spend part of my day off tomorrow getting the wire removed, then going to my dentist to get the crown fixed and then back over to Dr. Beck's to get the wire put back on.

Maybe I'll go for some color at that point...

Odd.

So did you guys see that Chris Penn died, and they haven't been able to find a cause? My first thought was heart attack - I had seen him recently on L&O: Criminal Intent and I thought he was going to drop dead mid-scene. Hmm, weird. I wonder how he died?
A Mountain of Documents on Hurricane Response, but Democrats Seek More: "'The president believes that Senator Lieberman ought to have the right to confidential conversations with his advisers, just like all presidents have asserted they ought to have that same right,' he said. 'That's what this is about.'"

Bull. Shit. What this is about is hiding from responsibility, plain and simple. And covering W's ass.

Frey Takes Another Hit.

Oprah Winfrey Calls Defense of Author 'a Mistake': "In an extraordinary reversal of her strident and angry defense of the author whose book she catapulted to the top of the best-seller list, Oprah Winfrey said today she believed that the author James Frey 'betrayed millions of people' by making up elements of his life in his best-selling memoir, 'A Million Little Pieces.' ... She added that she believed 'I made a mistake' when she said that the truth of the book mattered less then its story of redemption."

1.25.2006

A Million and One Little Lies?

Here are a couple more NYTimes articles on the allegations regarding the veracity of claims made by James Frey in his memoir "A Million Little Pieces":

Treatment Description in Memoir Is Disputed : "Among the episodes she and the other former counselors have called into question are Mr. Frey's claims of being physically abused by other residents of the treatment center, of being left to sleep on the floor of a common room overnight after an altercation, of regularly vomiting blood and of having his nose rebroken and set by a doctor. "He describes a level of medical care that would not occur at Hazelden," Ms. Jay said. "He would have been taken to an emergency room, and any violent behavior would have been met with a discharge."

Publisher Offers Witnesses to Disputed Addiction Book: "The two men, one a state judge in Louisiana who in June was convicted of mail fraud, were offered to The New York Times as witnesses by Mr. Frey's publishers, Doubleday and Anchor Books, imprints of Random House, to back up the accuracy of his descriptions in the book. Their names and telephone numbers were given in response to comments from former employees of Hazelden, the Minnesota rehabilitation center reportedly attended by Mr. Frey, who have said his portrayal of the treatment experience there was false and misleading. Mr. Frey has admitted to embellishing his past, but has maintained that his experiences in drug rehabilitation were real. "

1.23.2006

Attention, ladies and gentlemen. This is an official Marty bladder update.


Marty works it.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

This is a bit late, but...Marty had his x-ray taken on January 13, and he does still have the bladder stones. The decision was made to wait a few more weeks, let the prescription food continue doing what it's doing and see if he passes them. If not, then he'll be scheduled for the surgery.

You'd never know he had them, though. He seems to feeling just fine.

Drive-Thru Reviews

Constantine - P.U. It picked up in the second half, and Rachel Weisz does her darndest to make it worth watching, but the screenplay was awful and Keanu Reeves cements his reputation as one of the worst actors working today.

Unleashed - A good drama disguised as an action movie, with Jet Li as Danny, a young man kept as a trained dog by brutal mobster Bob Hoskins. Danny has been conditioned since a child to be essentially an attack dog. He wears a collar, the removal of which triggers his violence. Then Danny escapes and meets up with blind piano tuner Morgan Freeman and his 18-year-old stepdaughter and the real movie begins. There are fight scenes, yes and a good amount of violence at the beginning and the end, but this movie is so much more than that. Very well done.

Fever Pitch - Very enjoyable, well-written and well-acted. Jimmy Fallon is no heartthrob, but he's goofy enough to make him very likeable. I think this was probably my favorite Drew Barrymore role (besides ET). Not much else to say - I mean, it's a romantic comedy for pete's sake, they're pretty formulaic - except if you've ever been a fan of anything - a sports team, a rock band, a TV show - to the point of obsession (and you know who you are), this is the movie for you.

Being Julia - Wired on caffeine, I settled in to watch this at midnight on Saturday. I was not at my most attentive, but I did enjoy it. Annette Bening was indeed very good and deserved her Oscar nomination (although I prefer he when she's less giddy, and she had some very giddy moments in this film), and Jeremy Irons was a delight, as usual. Being less than informed, I thought it was a more serious film than it was. It's quite funny, actually.

And finally, from the world of TV:

Bleak House - the BBC's adaptation of Dickens' Bleak House began airing last night on Masterpiece Theater (and will continue over the next 5 Sundays) and stars Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance and Ian Richardson, among many, many others. So far: excellent. I was hooked after 30 minutes. Gillian Anderson is a revelation - she is almost unrecognizable, in terms of voice and manner. I can't wait until next week.

1.20.2006

Oh tell me something I didn't already know.



This was probably my least favorite of all. A complete snooze, I thought. Most of my indifference stems from the flashbacks that told us once again that Jack has a savior complex and a pathological need to fix people. OK, WE GET IT.

Yet despite my boredom, there ended up being quite a bit to discuss.

Most of the characters annoyed me, except for Hurley and Charlie and Sun and Jin – their scenes were good. That island hillbilly coming out of the jungle was a good shock, but I was really disappointed with the way they’ve characterized him. A hillbilly. It just seemed so clichéd. Even Sawyer called him Zeke. I heard from a friend that when Zeke asked for Kate to be brought out, he said, “Alex, bring her out here.” Alex is Rousseau’s daughter. That's kind of huge! I was so uninvolved in the story that I wasn’t even aware that Zeke had addressed anyone by name.

Did anyone else think that Zeke sounded like Jack’s father when he came out of the woods? No? There is speculation that he is actually Greg DeGroot, of the Hanso Foundation DeGroots (from the orientation film). I think that's a great theory and there is evidence to support it. If you recall, Zeke said something along the lines of "A smarter man than us said 'From the dawn of our species, Man has been blessed with curiosity.'" Go to this page and read the Alvar Hanso quote. Hmmm. Also, If you click on the photo of Hanso you get brief video with a clue.

These people with Zeke – are they the “Others”? They are, right? The Others took Alex, right? Or were Goodwin and Ethan part of some other faction and they're the Others? I take it Zeke's gang has been observing our group, since they know everyone by name. Are they close enough to hear everything or do have some other way of surveilling them? And why don't any of our castaways ask these kind of questions?? Sigh.

You know, half the season has gone by and we still don’t know why they took Walt. How much time has passed since they took him? It’s really only been about a week, right? Maybe two? The kid who plays Walt is going to be shaving the next time we see him and it will only suppose to be a few weeks that he was gone.

Michael looked batshit crazy when he was locking Locke up, huh? I presume he must have done some more chatting and gotten a location (north) to head to. I’m sure he’s being lured there and that he wasn’t actually talking to Walt. Lured by whom or what, I don’t know. A "mole" perhaps?

A few other items of interest despite this being what I thought was a lackluster outing:

> You want to train an “army”? Alright. Who do you go to? The trigger-happy, short-fused woman who killed one of your group? Or the trained military officer you’ve had in your midst all along?

> Sawyer's real name: James Ford. Good name.

> I was thinking “Hell YEAH” when Locke asked Jack “who are we to tell anyone what they can and can’t do?” I wonder that all the time about Jack. What makes him think he's the boss of everyone? And it fits nicely with Locke’s first backstory, when he told the walkabout guide guy that he couldn’t tell him what he can’t do.

> Maybe there was more about this episode that I liked than I thought. Like Sayid’s “this music is quite depressing”.

>Dumbest line (paraphrased): "You can't come with us, you're still on antibiotics!" Huh?

> Did anyone else think Zeke looked somewhat surprised when Jack mentioned Ethan? Was Ethan not a part of Zeke’s group or did he just go by another name?

> The other thing I thought was odd was Jack’s wife’s choice of words when she said she was leaving him. She said, “I’ve been seeing someone. (pause) Someone else.” What did she mean by that? That she had cheated before, Jack knew about it, but this time it was a different person?

> Maybe she was sneaking around with Desmond. Remember, he was living in the same city as Jack. And remember Jack’s odd expression when he looked at that photo (in the hatch) of Desmond and a woman together in front of a skyline? Could that have been Sarah? Here's the photo, lightened up a bit:



I don't know, I don't think that's Sarah.

And that was The Hunting Party. It's amazing that I can start off saying I didn't really like the episode and yet still write more about it than I write about anything else.

Next week: Aaron parts the Pacific Ocean and they all walk home.

1.18.2006

How is it possible for Johnny Depp to look skeevy, weird and hot all at the same time?

Well Blow Me Down!

My sister Sheila went into NYC for business this morning on an early train and was delayed after a tree was blown by high winds onto the train track in the Bronx. I'm not sure how long she was sitting in a stopped train, but I do know it was at least an hour. And the wife of one of the attorneys I work with called to tell him that their power went out (in Washington, CT)and CL&P told her that it would take 4 days to restore it. Good grief.

So far, so good for me. I bet it's waiting to go in the middle of LOST tonight.
Shatner kidney stone goes for $25,000.

If Shatner could pass a stone in the shape of Jesus that cries real tears, widespread poverty would be a thing of the past.
Backstage at the Globes:

When a Canadian reporter attempted to ask a question, Carell offered an apology. "Sorry, we don't take questions from Canada."
Little old man cooties!

1.14.2006

Heading Out.

It's a 3-day weekend and I'm taking advantage of the extra and going up to Massachusetts to visit friends. I'll be back on Monday. Before I go, here's a little something from Go Fug Yourself:

You know what? It doesn't matter. They are what she says they are, because she makes the rules, you weak little maggot, so get down on your knees and beg mommy for a cookie before she rips out a hunk of your hair and spanks you with a slice of Honeybaked Ham.

Have a good one!

1.13.2006

That's one I haven't heard before.

'Perfect' Husband Takes a Terrifying Turn: "When her food tasted strange, Cheri refused to eat it. But Harald found another way to introduce the poison. After having sex, Cheri would become violently ill and even found green crystals afterward. Harald had put it on a condom before they had sex, Cheri says. "

They Don't Call It Hollyweird For Nothin'.

Rolling Stone : The Mystery of Larry Wachowski: "One night in January 2001, Larry Wachowski, co-director of the blockbuster Matrix movies, walked into a dark club in West Hollywood, where the rules of identity easily blurred, just like in his films. The Dungeon served the devoted BDSM -- bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism -- community in Los Angeles. It was a place where power dynamics between two different types of people were regularly played out: eager submissives, or slaves, and the dominatrixes who, for an hour or for a night, took complete charge of their minds and bodies, using ropes, whips, chains, knives and needles. Wachowski fell into the former category. And, friends say, he liked engaging in his pastime while dressed like a woman. "

Attention, Ladies!

All of this:



Can now be yours.

1.12.2006

The 23rd Psalm.



Another great episode, I thought. The guy who plays Eko is a wonderful actor. The priest thing wasn't a surprise, but the way he got to be one was. He made me cry when he found his brother in the plane and when he said he was a priest and when he recited the 23rd Psalm.

Charlie made me laugh out loud when he said, "What are you going to do? Beat me with your Jesus stick?" Claire pissed me off when she kicked him "out". OK, you never lied, Claire? Yeah, he can be annoying, but has Charlie ever hurt the baby? Has Charlie done any drugs since you've known him? Has Charlie ever done anything but help you? Where are you going to get your peanut butter now, huh?

I totally thought he was going to throw the statue in the fire that Eko had set. I was very disappointed about his stash, too. Based on what Claire knew, I think she was a bit premature in kicking him out, but in the end she may have done the right thing. For herself. It's not the right thing for Charlie, though.

Anyway, I really liked the Eko stuff. (the rest of the ep was throwaway, except for the setup for Michael's freakout next week). When I thought he had been on the drug plane, I figured he must have been on the island for a while - was he by himself? Was he an "Other"? Then when we found out he was not on the drug plane, I wondered what brought him to the island? It can't be just a coincidence that he was on the flight that crashed on the same island as his brother. Also, what was it about Eko that made the black smoke thing back away? Who has the smoke monster actually killed? The pilot and who else? When the camera went inside the monster and we got its POV of Eko, it looked like it was scanning him. Like x-rays or something. Or maybe they were images from his past? Locke also got looked at by the same thing, and passed what seems like the same test.

I was annoyed by the fact that Michael and Locke were using a jar of FOOD for target practice. Um, guys, why don't you just plug up all your water sources while you're at it? It looked like tartar sauce, but still, lol. They couldn't shoot at a log or something? (apparently it was ranch dressing - making this even more of a crime) Also, is it wise to waste bullets to teach Michael how to shoot, especially when he's clearly not in his right mind and has already resorted to desperate measures to find Walt? Speaking of Walt, Michael using the computer to chat with him (or with who or what he thinks is Walt) doesn't seem to have brought about the end of the world yet.

It was nice of Sun and Jin to bring Ana some food. Did you guys check out her teeth??? Someone got some new ones. She looks like a completely different person. And I think Kate can leave her life of crime behind and open a little beauty salon on the island, if Sawyer's new do is any indication of her work.

Next week: Michael hunts him some Others.

Back with a Vengeance.

Last Friday's episode was amazing. Entitled "Resurrection Ship Part I", it was a bridge episode connecting the cliffhanger from earlier this season with tomorrow night's episode. Even as filler, it was better than most of what passes for drama on TV.

Things picked up right where they left off, with Pegasus and Galactica facing off, and quickly progressed from there. Within ten minutes a secret surveillance mission was completed, the face-off was ended and a temporary truce was called. The teasers for this show sometimes cram as much in as other shows do in an hour.

My favorite characters have always been Adama and Roslin, so I enjoyed their scenes in Resurrection Ship the most. They are the heart and soul of the show, I think, or Galactica's Mom and Dad, as some have called them. I can't imagine these characters in the hands of anyone other actors; Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos act the shit out of their scenes.

Besides the astounding acting and writing on this show, the most remarkable thing about it is the way it acts as a window on our humanity (or lack of) during a time of war, and how it filters current events through storytelling and reflects them back on us. Please, please, please, watch this show.

1.11.2006

Juan the Loitering Llama.

I'm a little late to this party, yeah, but do me a favor and check out this booking photo of Juan the Llama.

Freaky and Sad.

I wasn't going to link to this story about poor Cy, the kitten born with Holoprosencephaly. I was looking at the photo yesterday and I almost started crying. I didn't want to be too much of a downer. But I know there are those of you out there who would really like to see this photo, if you haven't already.

And I'm doing better today. I can look at the photo now without tearing up. Too badly.

1.10.2006

Home Base.


Home Base.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

That's no mummy...

That's what happens when you get hooked on the TV Crack.

1.09.2006

The Man Who Conned Oprah.



The Smoking Gun posted an article yesterday called A Million Little Lies. It is about the latest author and book to profit from inclusion in Oprah's Book Club, James Frey and "A Million Little Pieces". TSG meticulously reports on and investigates all of the alleged criminal activity that Frey writes about in his "memoir" and finds that it is almost completely fabricated. It is a long article, but is well worth the read, so please don't give up on it. Especially if you're one of the millions who have bought and read this book (I have not). You've been had.

Not So Everyday Italian.

It's a Giada Disaster!!: "Ever wonder what would happen if one of our favorite Food Network chefs created something they actually didn't like? Well, we were lucky enough to witness such an event when Giada De Laurentiis of Everyday Italian attempted to make some sort of sorbet. She claimed on the air that her facial expressions of disgust and malaise were merely a reaction to the icy treat, but we know better. Behold the Great Giada Disaster of 2006."

God, that's funny.

1.06.2006

This kitty looks just like my Uncle Peter's cat, Tommy (yes, another Tommy!), except Tom Tom is more white than black. Tommy is so fat that he has to be taken to a groomer to have his backend shaved and cleaned because he can't reach it himself. He's quite the character that one. When my Uncle and Aunt drive to our cabin in Maine, Tommy rides along in the back seat with a catbox with him. Too funny.

Our little piglet.


Our little piglet.
Originally uploaded by gina64.

Marty's new prescription food is making him fat.

Marty has bladder stones, and the prescription food has a high level of something that helps to bring his pH level in line, or something like that. (sorry, Sheila takes him to the vet and knows the details!) It's supposed to help prevent the development of new stones and hopefully break down the ones he has (5) so he can pass them without surgery.

He has improved significantly since he started with the food a couple of weeks ago and we'll find out if he passed any of the stones when he has his next x-ray on the 13th.

The prescription says to give him a can a day (half in morning, half at night), but we have a feeling that's a little bit too much for him. Sheila's going to cut back a little, before he gets too fat for his little legs to hold him up. He's not going to be happy.

It's too bad that being chubby isn't good for him. He's just so damn cute.

PBTTHHHHHHT!!

From the Gaza Strip to West Bank region...

Robertson Links Sharon Stroke, God's Wrath: "Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for 'dividing God's land.' 'God considers this land to be his,' Robertson said on his TV program 'The 700 Club.' 'You read the Bible and he says `This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, `No, this is mine.''"

I think Pat Robertson has some Divine Punishment coming to him. What the hell kind of Christian is this man?

1.05.2006

Drive-Thru Reviews

40 Year-Old Virgin - This is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a very, very long time. Warning: a lot of the humor is very raunchy so no kids allowed and do not watch with your parents, no matter how old you are. But don't miss the point of the raunch: the real object of ridicule in this movie is not Steve Carrell's virgin but his oversexed and clueless (and hilarious) co-workers. The movie had a lot of heart, some really sweet moments and is laugh out loud funny.

Layer Cake - British crime caper movie along the lines of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but smoother, less flashy and with more serious undertones. The accents are sometimes inscrutable, but I was able to follow along. Good movie with lots of plot twists. Also, if you were wondering who the heck the new Bond is (Daniel Craig), he's the star of this movie. I think he's going to make an awesome James Bond.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - I finally dragged myself to see this one. Very good, I thought. The kids are getting better with every film. It had been long enough since I read the book for a few things to surprise me. I'm very happy the films are following the more mature direction each successive book takes, and I think Mike Newell's more realistic and less fantastical approach worked well. Ralph Fiennes nails Voldemort.

Millions - From Danny Boyle, the man behind Trainspotting, Shallow Grave and 28 Days Later, comes this complete delight. A testament to the power of a child's imagination and its ability to heal the heart. Please see this.

Tommy Liam with his Daddy


Tommy Liam with his Daddy
Originally uploaded by gina64.

My brother and his son.



The second half of the second season of the awesome Battlestar Galactica returns tomorrow night, January 6, at 10:00 PM, on SciFi.

I think I made a big mistake.

I didn't know there was a new episode of Arrested Development on Monday night. Apparently I missed what may have been the best half hour of television. Ever.

What's the other 40%?

I didn't see this Letterman show, but man that makes me so happy.

"10, 9,...6,5,4,3,...

Doubts About Dick's Return: "A quick survey on Internet opinion in the days since Clark ? who was seriously affected by a stroke in 2004 and had not been seen on TV in nearly a year and a half ? shows that many thought it was 'courageous' of him to return before he was fully recovered. But others wrote that his halting speech and obvious inability to move about freely was 'disturbing.' "

I don't know that I'd go so far as to characterize it as disturbing, but it was certainly distracting. Almost as distracting as Mariah Carey's gigantic breasts.

I only watched the 10 minutes immediately surrounding midnight, and the was quite enough, thank you. Hearing Clark again was at once comforting and very sad. Especially when he shaved a couple seconds off the countdown and went from 9 to 6. Oops.

It looks like time has finally caught up with the perpetual teenager. I hope he continues to recover this year, but if he doesn't, it's time to pass the torch to his heir apparent, Ryan Seacrest.