CV Book Club - To Kill A Mockingbird

Didn't have much to contribute to the discussion. Glad I read some of it, but not really in the mood, 'cause couldn't summon much enthusiasm.

IRS Cashes Our Check

On one hand, very pleased that they hadn't gotten our cash any earlier, on other hand was getting a little worried when it wasn't cashed sooner, and the tracking didn't show it making any progress towards Fresno. Wouldn't want our info in the wrong hands. But they did take our money today. Will restrain myself from epithets, although several choice ones running thru my mind at moment.

Flowers - Tradescant Rose

Book - In The Presence of the Enemy

Ok, this was much better. Still with the emotional crap, but more bearable, and the story was more engrossing. Really liked the unexpected villian (although had already seen the TV show).

Today's Catnip - Camouflaged Pixie

Oh yes, I'm always very well hidden. I can see you, but you can't see me. That's right. That's why you have such a perplexed look on your face when I meow and you can't tell where it's coming from. But why are you laughing?

TV - Me & Mrs. Jones

Loved him in a romantic role! Silly, silly fluff but entertaining diversion, wonderful to curl up with a glass of red. What a treat to see him in something that lets him smile. God, he has such a fantastic smile. Loved Peter Firth too, even though a minor role.

Hmmm, seen more chick flicks the last year than I've seen in a lifetime. Getting sentimental and mushy in mid-life? Oh no!

Book - Playing For The Ashes

Didn't engage me. Couldn't make sense of the characters, they never connected for me, and I was constantly wondering what in the hell they were thinking. Very impatient with it, and was so bored I almost wanted to just drop it.

TV - Wire in the Blood 3

Haven't seen 1 or 2 yet, this was what was available. Still sexy as hell, aging very gracefully! Good character but liked Creegan better. Keeps in excellent shape, impressed. Stories good, esp. Nothing But The Night. Really liked the opening/credits music.

Book - Payment in Blood

Really disliked the whole emoting aspects of the book, the whole feelings thing really irritates the hell out of me. Read more like some touchy-feely chick book than a grittier mystery. Hope they're not all like this, I have several more to go. Not liking her any better than Grimes.

Asian Art Museum w/ L&P

Had a nice afternoon at the exhibit again with Hubby & friends. Lunched there too, funny to get fried chicken! But very good. The Tom Ka Gai's not very good there, bland and watery.

Finally stopped using the meters and parked at the underground garage. About the same price, and no running out constantly to feed the meter.

Frontline Plus

Only had enough for 3 cats, now anxiously watching them to make sure they don't have bad reactions. Mozart gets lethargic and they all have no appetite usually. Didn't give it to Kayla, found a 15mg Revolution and thought I'd give that to her, but it's way expired. So I'll just leave it.

Only put it on them cause I tracked in a flea after gardening outside. Found it, but only by chance. Must find better way to guard against fleas, this whole toxic pesticide thing is no good. Was on another site reading about horrible reactions to various treatments, and made me really ask again if I want to risk my kitties' health like this.

Repotted Souvenir de la Malmaison

Had a good day today. Got more stuff done. Did quite a bit of weeding, and even repotted a rose. Edged & mowed lawn. Got 2 hrs of French lessons in. Even cooked dinner.

The Caregiver came in, watched it. Ok. Still such a hottie. Can't wait for the others. Even tried to get Reckless, and saw a bit of it on Youtube. Hmmm, seems to act the same way. Doesn't matter, what eye candy.

Mailed Off the Coffee!

YEAH!! Finally mailed it off.

Got the car in for regular maintenance. All done.

Woohoo - IRS All Done For Now

Excellent - mailed off the damned Fed taxes today. All done.

After shopping for some necessities, rewarded myself with a nice trip to the City, to see the Asian Art exhibit, and enjoy lunch there.

Got a couple French and Spanish lessons in.

Trying to get back my routine. A little at a time. Setbacks are ok.

Very Good (And Windy) Day

Got so much stuff done today, feeling a lot better! Got the coffee for our friends all packaged up and ready to ship, although I think I'll wait till Thursday to send it out. Bills done. Tomorrow is IRS day, must mail the freaking taxes out (yeah we owe and it sucks eggs). Boy, I've visited the P.O. more in one week than I've done for the last 9 mths.

Even the fiduciary acct was relatively painless, if a little long, since I had questions, and we ended up doing 2 accts. Nice to get that done, now to set up the Quicken accts.

Freaking blowing like no one's business, although sunny, so can't complain much.

Treated myself to a nice little Japanese lunch.

Special Night Out

Had a romantic dinner with Hubby to celebrate. Low-key "French" restaurant for some home-y food. Decided to go closer to home instead of the City, but still nice, although the service was lacking at that price point. Food was decent enough.

TV - Touching Evil Series 2 & 3

Saw the 1st and 3rd of 2. Pretty good. Bit overdramatic with the relocation of the family. What really aggravated me was the weapons in the 3rd, but I won't get into a diatribe. Suffice it to say that I'm glad that there's more accurate handling and treatment of weapons in other TV shows after these early years.

1st episode of 3 was really great. Very good writing, the cast finally came together and really worked like an ensemble. What a shocker end. 2nd episode was really great until the end, which just sucked. But little sad there aren't more, although if they were going to continue in the sucky ending vein, maybe it's better that way.

TV - Touching Evil Series 1

I really like this series! Wish I'd discovered it earlier. Not too dated at all, I just sorta ignore the tech stuff. Robson Green is such a hunk, sexy as hell. (Can't wait to see Wire in the Blood.) Stories are well written, well directed, and excellent top TV fare. Of course, seeing the stories this far later makes the twists standard fare nowadays, BUT...I still got surprised by what Amathus really meant.... laughed my head off. The woman playing the convict was excellent.

Movie - Charlie & The Chocolate Factory 2005

OMG one hilarious movie when it first came out. Just finished watching it again, and still freaking hilarious! Johnny Depp is utterly fantastic. I think it's such an entertaining commentary on raising kids, and living in dignity, and money doesn't buy happiness, and several other themes running thru the movie.

(In the candy room.) "You can eat the grass?" "Of course you can! Everything in this room is eatable. Even I'm eatable. But that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies."

(At Bucket House) "Oh, my dear boy, of course they can't. You can't run a chocolate factory with a family hanging over you like an old, dead goose. No offense." "None taken, jerk."

The oompa-loompas are just freakish and the songs so funny!

TV - Prime Suspect

Gosford reminded me to mention seeing all of the Prime Suspect series again back in February. Helen Mirren is SPECTACULAR. Love her. Most of the stories were well done, can't remember exactly, but vaguely recall thinking a couple weren't so good. But she was fantastic every time.

Movie - Gosford Park

Loved this movie. Have re-watched it often over the years, most recently last week. Wow. Standing up wonderfully to time. I found the multiple threads and interwoven characters deftly handled, and the entire cast just perfect and talented. Entertaining period study of the class structure woven loosely around a practically peripheral murder mystery.

Of course, it has two of my favorite actors, Northam and Owen, which enhances my viewing pleasure. LOL.

"I didn't poison him."
"But then you didn't kill him! Did you stab him? Even if you did, he was already dead, and whoever did it must have known that. No one can stab a corpse and not know it!"
"Really? When was the last time you stabbed a corpse?"

"Why does everyone treat me as if I were one of these stupid snobs! I spent half the week downstairs with all of you!"
"Can't play on both teams at once, sir."

Friend Visit

Did a nice little tourist evening with a good friend and his sister last night. Highlight was looking at the city from Twin Peaks. So beautiful up there. A little surprised by North Beach, lot less people than I expected.

Great timing this morning, picked Hubby up fr SFO and met them on their way out of the city. Got to see each other for coffee before they left; his sister's back home to Nigeria Sat.

TV - Sense and Sensibility

Beautiful production!! Of course, seen on HD, which enhances it. MUCH better adaptation than Persuasion, better camerawork and direction. Of course, it hacks up the book too, but less ridiculously than Persuasion. Very broad strokes. Irritating at first, but it's more 'updated' and 'modern', so I stopped comparing it to the book, and watched it on its own merits. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Of course, now I will re-read it anyway.

The women were all perfectly cast and all so talented! The flighty silliness and evil women characters were very toned down. I loved the dignity of Mrs. Dashwood. Gorgeous woman too. While Elinor is done up plainer, she's no less pretty, and great performance. Marianne is pretty, and Margaret is a most beautiful little girl! Even creepy Fanny, Lucy and Mrs. Jennings were right on and entertaining.

The men were somewhat disappointing. Only Edward was dashing enough, kinda, but didn't appeal. Brandon was great, but looked 45 rather than 35, which I couldn't get past, especially as he wants to get it on with a 17 yr-old. Willoughby was not good-looking at all, and he didn't appeal either. And he's supposed to be even cuter than Edward.

All the negative points aside, on the whole it was very entertaining and well-done.

Flowers - Rhododendron Anah Kruschke

Beautiful flowers.

Sister Visit

Just wrapped up a wk-long visit from my younger sis. Ok, somewhat tense, considering everything that happened. She was up to mostly packing up stuff, so didn't do much except visit her favorite restaurants, and a quick trip up to Napa.

Was very disappointed that I had to miss my book club meeting, was too close time-wise to go and drop sis off at airport.