We choose to go to the moon...

Hello! I'm alive and smack in the middle of a 6 night visit to NY. Our Passover seders were delightful and this morning my sister had to pry Chase out of my arms for his morning nap. Vacation is fabulous.

In fannish news, reading my friends list it appears that I need to get caught up on SCC STAT. I did manage to watch Monday's House (WOE) but still have SPN, Criminal Minds, and Dollhouse in my queue. It's not easy to watch TV when your brother in law is obsessed with ESPN.

I quit CSI when Grissom left but nothing will keep me away from next week's episode. (At least, I think it's next week's. Maybe it was this week.) CSI meets a Sci-fi convention. The only thing missing is Grissom. This is just the kind of episode where he shines. Kate Vernon will have to do.



Off to my mom's for matzah brei! Yum, yum, yum.

ETA: For my future reference - Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart on Waiting For Godot

I keep reading that a concern with Obama's likely appointment of Steven Chu as Energy Secretary is that he doesn't have a political background. I argue with two points:

a) When it comes to energy, Nobel Laureate scientist > Arnold Schwarzenegger. I LOVE that the (presumptive) nominee for energy secretary isn't just a political appointment. It's a practical appointment.
b) No one should discount the absurd political maneuverings required to succeed in the ranks of academia.

Tangentially related, Michigan State Picked for Half-Billion-Dollar Accelerator. \o/ The only thing better would be replacing "Michigan State" with "University of Michigan."

The new Sci-fi Magazine has an article of season 4.5 of BSG. I didn't read it because I'm spoilerphobic but I scanned it in the event anyone else is interested. (If you do d/l and read the article, please let me know if there are spoilers or if, at the very least, I can read the bits about the actors.)



[Tag line is blurred to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen 4.0.]

Download 11 pages of scans here: right click/save, zip file, 12.4mb, please comment if you download.

Also in the BSG world: BSG: The 13 minute recap. It's funny (and, actually, a good refresher). Spoilers through season 4.0. Thanks to titti for the head's up.

arsenicjade tagged me to to talk about one thing that has made me happy for each of the last eight days.

( Here I go starting today and working my way back... )

Thank you to runerinrun, between_names, worldwouldend and cruisedirector for the holiday cards!!

I'm starting season 2 of The L Word tonight and then it's Grissom's penultimate episode on CSI. Tomorrow I'm off to NY for the weekend. My sister and Chase beckon!

I've got another four episodes before Gil Grissom leaves me which has me thinking about my favorite Grissom moments over the years. I could easily pick 20 but I narrowed it down to five.

Episode 03x04; “A Little Murder.” Grissom at the little people's convention is a classic. I love how easily he connects with, and relates to, Melanie Grace. One of his best traits is the way he relates to anyone who falls in a traditional category of “other.”

Which leads me to episode 05x05; “Ch-Ch-Changes.” He never judges. Case in point when Grissom investigates the murder of a transgendered murder:

• Grissom: Mercedes, I presume? We're with the Las Vegas Crime Lab, and we're looking for somebody.
  
• Mercedes: Isn't this where you say my P.O. would be interested to know that I'm hustling, and you ask for a freebie?
  
• Grissom: I'm actually not interested in your ass, but the person we're looking for is a human butcher who might be.

Speaking of never judging, 05x16; “Big Middle” is another classic. It's the episode set around the plus-sized convention and it's Grissom at his best. I will never get enough of Grissom's conversation over the purple teddy but the defining moment comes at the end when Greg asks Grissom, “So what do you like? What gets your juices flowing?” and Grissom answers, “Someone who doesn't judge me.” It's particularly perfect because that's exactly how he lives his own life.

I'm not sure if it's even possible to pick one Grissom/Lady Heather moment but, if I have to, it's in episode 06x15, “Pirates of the Third Reich.” Heather is going to town on the man who tortured and murdered her daughter and Grissom grabs the whip and says, “Heather, I said stop.” It all ties back perfectly to episode 03x15, “Lady Heather's Box” when Heather and Grissom have that intimate moment in the hallway. Grissom says, “You can always say "stop" and Heather replies, “So can you.” AAHFKSDHFKSKF. *cue brain melt* I'm a continuity whore and Lady Heather/Grissom continuity is the BEST KIND.

Episode 06x10; “Still Life.” Catherine and Grissom are in the home of the woman of the crazy woman who killer her son and, out of the blue, Grissom reveals that his father died suddenly when he was nine and no one would tell him what happened. He ended up in forensics because of a need to find answers to death! I just. I've got nothing people. GIL GRISSOM. The end.

Evidence is in: Gil Grissom is irreplaceable



Bed now. Sweet Grissom dreams.

Hello, Lazy Saturday. My friend Anne and I cooked dinner last night and sat around talking until 11:30pm. I finally got into bed around 1 and I've spent the morning working my way through my DVR queue.

( SGA. Fret, fret, fret. )

( CSI )

( SPN )

I wish I hadn't watched the scenes from next week's episode, though. The conclusion looks awesome but it gave away more than I wanted to know. (CSI, on the other hand, gave up just enough to have me counting down the days in anticipation.)

( House )

( And I don't think I've said anything about this week's Criminal Minds )

As soon as I post and read Lily's Drake & Josh fic I'm going to take a nap. Naps are the best. Then it's off to the A2 Rally For Equality at 3:30pm. I'm going by myself but I am assuming it will be a welcoming group (of college students) and I really want to add my voice to the rally so out in the cold rain I go! Then tonight I have a date for sushi. I love sushi almost as much as I love naps.

I am still riding the high from the preview for next week's CSI. Here is the extended preview from cbs.com. Next Thursday can not come soon enough! It looks SO GOOD! PS. It's nice to know how predictable my CSI interests are. At least I'm consistent. ;)

Yesterday's appointment at my bank was completely pointless. It took ten minutes for the guy to tell me that he can't help and I need to call someone at the 5/3 corporate office in Cincinnati. He couldn't have told me that over the phone? The good news is that I was home by 4:30 and was able to go for a run (outside!) by 5pm. It was perfect weather. The sky was clear blue and it was 55 degrees out. Running off rage = very cathartic.

I have a pile of links I've been meaning to post:

Following the Script: Obama, McCain and 'The West Wing'

BBC (video) interview with David Tennant on his decision not to return to Dr. Who in 2010. I share Kiffle's WOE over this news but am somewhat comforted by this opportunity to list to Tennant speak. He's dreamy.

And so is Viggo. Here he is in Rome. Wednesday night Viggo was presented with an award at the closing night of the Chicago film festival. I'm going to have to see if "Good" is coming to any theaters in MI.

Back to Dr. Who for a second...I'm curious to see how they use the 2009 movies to tie up open bits of canon from s4. In particular, I'm hoping we get to see the meeting between The Doctor and River Song. "The Library" left me with the impression that River Song knew the doctor in his current form and, given what was clearly between them, I'd love to see them meet rather than having to assume it's part of this Doctor's history that falls somewhere between movies. On the other hand, I'm very interested in seeing Jenny meet up with the next Doctor.

Carta turned me on to the next blog and today's entry sums up so many of my feeling about Obama and how far I've come in support of his candidacy from where I was during the primaries (and a vocally strong Hillary supporter): After the primaries, while there never was any doubt that Obama had my vote, my heart wasn't quite with him yet. It took time, both to heal and to grow. Slowly but surely, it happened. The more I heard him speak, the more I watched him work, the more I witnessed his temperament, the more I knew that this was the man who could create the America we yearn for. The America that is smart, the America that is just, the America that is kind.

And here's a quick poll:

[Poll #1288753]

After work I'm off to a friend's house where four of us will cook dinner and hand out candy to cute little kids. Today I'm dressed as a BSG fan wearing my "I [heart] Cylons" t-shirt or, as everyone at work is saying, I'm dressed as me. :)

ETA: I loooooved last night's SPN. I love this whole season! I'm so happy with the introduction of Castiel and where they're taking Sam & Dean.

I had plans earlier in the day and I'm doing dinner with friends tonight so I'm posting quickly and then trying to get in a run. The morning looked dismal but, all of a sudden, it's 60 degrees and sunny!

I caught up on SGA, SPN, and CSI yesterday. SGA didn't thrill me. SPN did thrill me just as much as I expected from all of the flailing about on my friends list. Jensen Ackles for the win.

When I watch CSI these days I'm very focused on how they're going to write out Gil. I still have a terrible suspicion that he's going to leave Vegas to be with Sara and I'm (naively) waiting for Lady Heather to swoop in and save the day.

The SYTYCD show was awesome. I could do without all of the dumb (and not funny) banter between dances but the dancing was spectacular. It was so much fun to see Chelsie, Courtney, Katie, Mark, Twitch & Joshua up close and in their element. I left liking Gev, Comfort and Kherington much more than during the show and I can still live without Jessica. Especially when she speaks.

My favorite numbers of the night were the Argentine Tango (Chelsie/Joshua), Katie & Joshua's contemporary, and Bleeding Love (Chelsie/Mark). Actually, I also loved Chelsie's jive with Gev, Courtney's latin number with Gev, the Garden Dance with Jessica & Will, and No Air. It would probably be easier to say what I didn't love: both Viennese Waltzes (because Danny & Anya still own that dance) and the jail break hip hop. I loved the rest of it!

Jenniferh2525 has 900+ So You Think You Can Dance tour photos. They're fantastic. Here's one of my favorites. It's from Chelsie's solo.



Run time!

ETA: Two college kids just came canvassing for Obama. It was so much fun to tell them I'm voting for Obama on the 4th.

Okay, I totally wasn't done with this post.

Here's a list of what I know I need to get in the mail this week. Am I missing anything for anyone?
Twilight calendar to timberho
Twilight calendar to lilysaid
The Friday Night Knitting Club and Knit Two to carta
Anne Geddes calendars to friend in FL
I also have an extra copy of Stargate: Continuum free to the first person who requests it. Just comment here and then send me your address at saturn92103[at]hotmail.com. ETA: Continuum is claimed.

In Viggo movie reviews/news:

Hollywood Reporter review of “Good”

An entertainment writer form The Kanas City Star shares my pov on the delay of “The Road.”

I'm am home from work to observe Yom Kippur and fasting to the best of my ability. (A few years ago I received medical instructions to forgo a full fast but I won't have more than a bowl of cereal before sunset. Just something to keep me conscious. :) )

Moving on:

I CAN NOT WAIT for tonight's CSI. I have a feeling CBS is going to ruin it for me with some kind of vomit inducing Grissom/Sara reunion but, even with that, it will be SO GOOD. Poor Warrick!

Here's what I've been up to over the past few days:

The 2008 winners for the Nobel Prize in physics were announced on Monday. It always amazes me that people win Nobel Prizes for work they did decades prior. I totally get that the theories and discoveries need to bear out over time but it's been 40 years since Nambu did the work he was rewarded for and 30 years for the two other winners. Not quite immediate gratification.

Somewhat related, over in physics, someone recently asked: Why is E exactly equal to M multiplied by the square of the speed of light? Or to look at it in a way which illustrates the point of the question more keenly, why does light travel at a speed exactly equal to the square root of mass' relationship to energy? There are some interesting answers and arguments in comments.

Another Appoloosa review: Appaloosa: 10 Things I Liked, 5 I Didn’t

I had a date on Tuesday night for dinner & the debate. Watching a presidential debate is a great way to get to know someone. I forgot, though, that House was on so Tuesday's episode is sitting on my DVD waiting for me and on the agenda for today.

Snapfish is having a $0.01 photo sale. Promo code is FALLPENNY08.

Bones was so witty with last night's episode title: The He in the She. Hahahaha. I love Bones. And Booth. And this rotation of grad students. I wasn't sure the in & out of characters would work but I love seeing who shows up each week.

I spoke with a real estate attorney about my housing options. He gave me some advice but it was, generally speaking, a depressing conversation. I have some action items, though. If I can't sell the FL property, I need to at least feel like I'm doing something proactive.

Here are 7 deleted scenes from season 4.0 of BSG. They're excellent and fill in some interesting gaps. (DVD is out January 6th. Why do they keep waiting until after Christmas???)

Last, but certainly not least, are photos of David Tennant rehearsing for Love's Labour's Lost and some stills from the show. *loves*

Where am I? That's right. At HOME. We got back to Naples from Key West in record time so I flew back to MI last night and I'm taking today's planned vacation day anyway. I caught up on CSI, SPN, and SGA and now I'm sitting on my couch, cuddling with Sally, contemplating a nap. The only thing that makes the thought of tomorrow bearable is the fact that I'm off again on Thursday and Friday.

Key West was awesome. Too much fun. Not enough sleep. My friend Steph and I got down a night earlier than our other 4 friends so Friday was a late morning and yummy brunch and pedicures and naps. Once the rest of our friends got down, the R&R ended in favor of bars and dancing and SO MUCH FOOD OMG. Really, really good food.

This non-highlight but must be told story of the trip involves us getting locked in the backyard of the rental house with no cell phones and no shoes. I won't bore you with the details but believe me when I tell you that we tried every MacGyver trick in our arsenal before screaming for help. Seriously. Picking locks looks much easier on TV. Fortunately, neighbor Richard heard us yelling and, after two hours and some creative bathroom breaks, a locksmith rescued us. Not our finest moment.

I came damn close to buying a puppy this weekend. I don't need one, don't have time to care for one, and it would probably drive Sally crazy but this pet shop had a chocolate brown chihuahua puppy that I named Winchester and fell in love with. I have no business getting a dog, though. Especially a spur of the moment puppy in Key West. Apparently, however, I was channeling cranberryink who does have an awesome new dog!

Other stuff:

• Breaking News: Carr will retire as Michigan's coach. To be honest, I can't believe I actually care but I live 1 mile from Michigan Stadium and the football fever in this town is kind of hard to resist.
  
  
• Cute with Baby: David Hewlett makes my heart explode.
  
  
• Books: I finally finished The Elegant Universe and I read Twilight on the flight down to FL. The book sells like mad and I've heard great things about it but I was terribly disappointed. It was a fine, quick read but nothing at all what I expected after the endless raving at work. I don't think I'm even going to bother with New Moon or Eclipse. Has anyone else read the series? kaelie??? I think you mentioned you read the books. What did you think? Was I expecting too much out of a YA vampire romance series?
  
  
• SPN: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE. I don't know what else to say about "Fresh Blood." I love them so much it hurts.
  
  
• CSI: ( Cut for spoilers )
  
  
  
• SGA: Jason Momoa at a UK con. He's so hot. I reverse my position on the hair. I loved the dreads but I can totally make this new look work for me.
  
  
• BSG: I listened to the "Crossroads Part II" podcast on the flight home last night and I'm absolutely dying for more BSG. I'll watch "Razor" but that doesn't quite cut it. I want Adama and Roslin and Number Three and the fallout from the reveal of the four cylons. Ron Moore damn well better deliver on the promise of this show.

What to do next? Read or sleep?

Yesterday was relatively ruined by an e-mail I received after I left the office. That's what I get for looking at my blackberry over the weekend. I stewed about it all night and finally went to bed at 10:30pm rather than watching SGA because I wasn't going to enjoy it anyway. I slept for 11 hours and I'm feeling significantly better provided I don't let myself think about that damn e-mail I'll have to deal with on Monday.

Today is American Gangster at 12:45pm and then a drive to Detroit for SYTYCD and Danny! It's just what I need to the nth power. Even tomorrow's 8am call at work is improved by daylight savings time which allows me to convince myself I don't really have to be in until 9am.

I did catch up on Thursday's SPN last night and agree with the rest of the universe: Dean is stunning. charlidos made this cap that I've been staring at on and off for the better part of the morning.

On the horizon is next week's CSI/Without a Trace 2 hour crossover extravaganza. I've never seen Without a Trace but I'm sold on the previews and I'm excited to see Grissom in someone else's playground.

Billy Petersen and Anthony LaPaglia were interviewed in this week's TV Guide and Petersen said this about his reason for sticking with the show after so many years, "And you have fans. You can't discount them. These people have made you. You have to be responsible to them, more than anything else really."

*loves* I'm not an active Petersen fan outside of his work as Grissom (or maybe because I'll never see him as anything but Grissom) but I definitely respect him (and wish he'd grow his beard back).