JMA-PSOS

Finding myself redefining patience of late. I've managed to sink into a routine of not thinking, and just ambling through to the tune of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb.

Right now, half watching the pilot episode of The Rockford Files - Backlash of the Hunter (it's available on Amazon Prime, Roku and Friendly TV), which aired on March 24, 1974, and co-starred a very young Lindsey Wagner - before Bionic Woman. James Garner has an effortless charm, chiseled good looks, and is the best thing in it. It was created by Stephen J Cannel, who did a lot of these sort of action/mystery series. It's kind of a Sam Spade/Raymond Chandler light PI series. My father loved it.( Read more... ) This was one of the better 1970s television series, but it has bland dialogue, which Garner does his best with - better than the supporting actors. (The series gets better ones as it goes). But alas, I've been watching Angel which has better dialogue and is a lot more compelling - this is kind of boring and I don't really care? It reminds me a lot of the writing/direction and acting in Poker Face actually. I remember watching a lot of these shows in the 20th Century and early 21st. It doesn't date well in regards to sexual orientation - uses words like queer in a derogatory manner. (Welcome to 1970s network television!) Also not very diverse in its casting, although more so than other shows on at the time.

Cold is getting better, I think? But I cancelled the second PT appointment - Friday's. Mainly because I don't want to hurt anyone who may be sensitive to germs - and they frown on you coming to their offices with a cough or runny nose. Work isn't an issue - I'm not near anybody at the moment, and only have to mask in public areas (break room, halls, lobby, restroom, and the trains/platforms). And I'm not coughing enough for it to be an actual problem. Although I think this is probably just allergies or a cold. Since switching off the bedroom radiator helped tremendously. I'm taking plenty of Mucinex, cough drops, antihistamines, etc. Runny nose, eyes, and a persistent cough. Also, a sense of being out of breath, tired, and lack of appetite. But other than that, fine. Doesn't prevent me from eating chocolate, unfortunately.

Bee aka cubical mate was discussing a new television show that she'd binged over the weekend and couldn't stop watching - with someone. I kept trying to figure out what it was? She mentioned people starting a company, the FBI hunting them down, insane things happening, and it being kind of twisted in places, and fast paced. Also way off her radar.

I sat there for fifteen minutes trying to figure it out. Gave up. Tried to convince myself not to ask. Gave up. Curiosity killed the cat and all that?

Me: What's the television show that you are discussing?
Bee: I'm about to go on another call, but, it's Start-up.

Start Up??? I look it up. Or rather google "Start Up Television Show". (Weirdly Bing or my work browser has it only on Apple TV and Prime, while Google and Firefox show it is on Netflix. Work browser is not accurate and often brings up different things than home browser. I work on a PC, and at home on a Mac. I'm computer versatile.)

When she gets off the phone - I ask her if it's the one with Martin Freeman playing the FBI agent Rask, and about crypto. She pauses to think and says yes. And she's watching it on Netflix.

I tell her - that I'll try it - but does it require a lot of focus? She says yup. So, I may have to wait - I'm watching old television shows for a reason? Also, my ability to focus on a television series right now is about at the level of Bridgerton. I need characters I love, good dialogue, and plots that aren't too convoluted.

Has anyone else seen "Start Up"? Is it any good? It's an older series - 2016-2018.

I am having the same issues with reading at the moment. I'll read a page and have to re-read it more than once sometimes. So, I'm listening to "Twelve Months" the latest in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, narrated by James Marsters. And still reading The Botanist's Assistant on the train, and various digital comic books.

All I want to do is stare into space and think about nothing. I think it's a combination of the cold, NYC in February, the weather, work, and my knees. And not having much to look forward to at the moment? The knees are slowly getting better or stronger. The exercises appear to be working - and I am doing them every day. At least once a day. So there's that.

Off to do something else.

Spent thirty dollars, and over two hours in City MD urgent care - only to discover what I pretty much already knew? It's a head/chest cold, not the flu nor COVID. (Whew) Means I can work the rest of the week - without having to take sick time. YAY!

Side-effect? I find myself paralyzed with not caring all that much about anything. Apathy has kind of sunk in to stay. Head colds can do that. Well head colds, gray days, fluctuating weather/temperatures, and bad knees.

Ah, the February Uglies, appear to be here to stay.

Question a Day Memage

17. Chinese New Year begins today, and festivities continue until March 3rd – the year of the Fire Horse. What animal are you born under in Chinese astrology?

Happy Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year? It's the Year of the Horse, which I guess is slightly better than the year of the snake? Oh, and apparently not just any old Horse, but the Year of the Fire Horse for the first time in 60 years.

( Article Links )


I'm the year of the Fire Goat - Here's an article explaning it: the Year of the Fire Goat.

***

Got to work, and found out a key member of our team is leaving for another job, her last day is Friday. It's not good news for any of us. She was a consultant - so it is Crazy Org's fault she is leaving. Stupid Crazy Org.
Although honestly, I'm finding it hard to care at the moment?

Got home, discovered the apartment was 80-81 degrees F, it's 41 degrees F outside. I decided the radiator heat was making me ill - that and having to open the windows. Had to turn on the A/C and a window fan to get the apartment to cool down. But the super did close the valve on the radiator in the bedroom again (finally). So this should help tremendously. Since I could find an air purifying fan - this was my best bet. PT - I had to cancel, because of the head and chest cold. I may call them tomorrow to see if they allow people to show up with a cold? I doubt it. But it doesn't hurt to ask.

Wore a mask on the subway and at work - in the common or public areas. The doctor said I could go to work - just to mask up. I envy folks who can work remotely. I only could during the pandemic. Although I probably need the human interaction.

***

On Angel Rewatch S5 Lineage (Wes centric episode) - Greenwalt stated at the Angel Reunion in 2018 - that they didn't know what to do with Wes's character - and as a result he had one of the best arcs. This is a pattern with both series? The characters that weren't planned or they had no idea what to do with initially - have the best arcs. Spike, Fred, Wes, Anya, Lilah, Lindsey, Darla. While the characters they'd planned out - not as great an arc. I think the writers were more intuitive and not great planners. Which actually? Explains a lot?

Also, apparently Charisma had a crush on Denisof who played Wes. But as she puts it - "Aly wanted him." Actually even if Aly hadn't, Charisma didn't have a chance in hell - Denisof didn't date cast mates. He turned down Aly until he left Buffy and they were on separate shows. (As Marsters put it in a podcast - never ever date a member of the cast.)

Amber states that she accidentally gave Aly some tongue in one of their kissing scenes - and Aly was shocked, and per Amber, probably sweated the most in her life. (Amber does not say it in a complimentary manner.) Per Emma (Anya) - James (Spike) was the most adept at kissing, Tony was okay, and Brendan...well, he had a habit of eating disgusting onion and fish sandwiches prior. (There were practical jokers on the set - Brendan, Charisma, Sarah, and David.)

After watching the 2018 reunion, and various Q&A's including the one I watched on Monday? I am beginning to believe the rumor that Amber and Hannigan didn't get along nor liked each other. ( Read more... )

No matter what I do? Every ten years - I get sucked back into the Buffy fandom. I don't know why. I blame the internet. Bad internet.

Sigh, I think this is a nasty cold? At any rate, I cancelled tomorrow's PT, because they always ask if I've had a cough or fever recently, and I have the cough. Hopefully I can keep Friday's. And scheduled more into March.

Can't avoid work - they require a doctor's note and a form filled out. And that costs $25 or $30 - because the Doctor insists on a virtual. So, I'm going tomorrow - if it gets worse? I'll go to urgent care, pay the co-payment, and get the doctor's note/form signed. Also, they frown on taking a sick day next to a holiday. And we wonder why viruses spread?

***

After finishing the Buffy Re-watch - I want more Buffy (and all the other characters). But at least I get Season 5 - Angel, which I'm about five episodes into. It's worst episode is still better than many of the episodes in Angel's early seasons. They hit their stride in Season 5 and embraced the noir trope. It also handles the case of the week slightly better, and is less repetitive. Shame Angel didn't get more seasons. (It didn't because the WB decided to go with Dark Shadows (which failed), then merged with UPN to become the CW, and greenlight the far less enjoyable and far more formulaic series.

I re-watched the reunion specials, the Sci-Fi Panel Special after S6 and in 2002 (didn't make it very far), the Paley in 2008, and the 20th Reunion Photo Shoot in 2017. Also a few scattered Q&A's with Anya, Warren, Tara, and Cordy. And the Angel Reunion in 2018 (again didn't make it that far).

Take-aways?

It's very odd to watch this stuff after everything that has come out about Whedon and the writers room since then.
( Read more... )

Poor actors, they probably don't realize people are recording these things and saving them to youtube for posterity.

Off to bed. Hopefully this thing gets better and not worse.

I'm hoping that this is just allergies and I'm not actually coming down with anything? Hard to know. But my throat feels scratchy and I'm more fatigued than usual. Also having issues focusing on things.

Just finished watching the Springsteen bio-pic, "Deliver me from Nowhere" which is about Springsteen's bout with depression while writing and producing the album's Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A. It's a weirdly comforting film - in that it shows how depression can kind of hit anyone from anywhere and you can be pulled out of it. And how it seeps through the cracks, and is always a battle. Springsteen was lucky - in that he was able to find help and hope to pull him out of it, and much of his depression was tied to unresolved childhood parental traumas. Also the album he almost killed himself trying to create and get produced, Nebraska, was in fact a hit.

Kind of inspiring in its own way. I also like Bruce Springsteen's music, which probably helps. And alas, I kept drifting off to sleep during it, which means I may not sleep tonight.

Question a Day Meme - February catch-up

13. What’s the weather like today? Is it about average for the time of year?

It's currently snowing and 34 degrees F, and yes, this is typical for this time of year in NYC.

Just when it was beginning to melt.

14. How many flights of stairs would you consider walking up in a building, or do you always take the lift/elevator?

Right now? I try to take the elevator whenever possible. Bad knee. But, it's not always possible - so at least twice maybe three times a day commuting to and from work - I'm climbing four to six flights of steps. Stupid city is into steps.

15. Have you ever considered how you would leave your home in an emergency?

Probably through the front door - since the fire escape is just scary.

16. Do you own your own washing machine in your home, or do you use a laundry service/laundry room in the building or a launderette?

It's an apartment complex - so there's a laundry room in the basement with four washers and three industrial size dryers - that we share with people in 81 other units. Amazingly enough that is actually possible - partly because some folks send it out, and not everyone is around all the time.

Finished my Buffy Rewatch finally - and forgot how good the finale was, all things considered. They had a lot of character plot threads to juggle and somehow managed to land most of them. That and a lot of unnecessary back stage drama, burned out writers and exhausted actors.

Weird tid-bit? The "I Love You/No You Don't" exchange between Buffy and Spike in Chosen, isn't repeated in the flashback of it on Angelin S5 Episode 2. ( Read more... )

Re-watching it - it's kind of obvious to me that she's telling him that she really loves him, while he's saying - hey, don't do that again, go live your life. ( Read more... )

Anya - actually isn't completely forgotten - Xander looks for her, and he asks Andrew what happened to her, and Andrew tells him that Anya fought valiantly and saved him. Her character also gets a sense of closure - in that she and Andrew kind of bond, and Anya is showing bonding with guy, without sex being in the offing.

The writers do a good job of wrapping up all of the characters arcs neatly.
Even Faith and Wood. And they didn't kill off all of the potentials with speaking parts. It is interesting that it is only Dawn looking out of the back of the bus for Buffy. And Buffy says barely anything at the very end.
She jumps off the bus and looks back out over the crater, which she watched as she rode the top of the bus out of town and away from the carnage.
( Read more... )

I enjoyed S7 far more than I remembered. It's main flaw was too many characters and group scenes. But I'm not sure how they could have fixed it without losing track of the theme. Also, it fell into comic book plotting and comic book plot devices here and there. The Scythe is very comic bookish as is the Guardian who pops up out of nowhere. Both are connections to Whedon's comic book Fray - which he wrote and published around the same time S7 aired, and was clearly attempting (poorly) to connect the two. He continues to attempt to connect the two with the Buffy comics (which doesn't quite work). Fray was NOT that good a comic. But they kind of needed the Scythe to get out of the corner they'd written themselves into.

Angel S4 in comparison - kind of lays there like a limp noodle. (The actors on Angel didn't get paid as much as they did on Buffy - by the way. Nor did they make anywhere near the amount the folks on Bones were making.)
If Buffy had a lot of unnecessary back stage drama - Angel had it too, in spades. Whatever was going on between the show-runners, the studio, and Charisma/David Greenwalt - was affecting moral on set. VK states the series felt like a job that no one was really invested in and kind of tired of. The difficulty with Angel S4 was Connor and Cordelia. Mainly Cordelia. It does work thematically as a counterpoint to Buffy. Angel unlike Buffy - has to be the one to save the world, and doesn't necessarily share how. The series is neo-noir in nature, and in that type of series - the hero always inadvertently falls into the abyss while attempting to escape from it, and often pulls the world in after him. The gang is brought briefly together, then broken apart. At the end of the season - they don't trust each other, and are only still together because they have no where else to go. Angle unlike Buffy, doesn't inspire or empower anyone, and clearly cares mainly about Connor. (Kind of annoyingly, actually. The rest of the characters are clearly fed up with it and wish Connor would just go away.)
( Read more... )