Glee Duet

Saw the Glee duet tonight giving homage to Barbra Streisand's and Judy Garland's Happy Days/Get Happy duet.  I remember watching that on my dad's black and white TV 1000 years ago with my mouth open and my mind going, WOW! WOW!

And I love Youtube because it always gives me a chance to revisit that kind of memory.  Here is the original duet by the famous Divas.  Remember: No such thing as AUTOTUNE in those days. Amazing.

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The End Of A Series: Mostly Jack Bauer, Some TV, & A Tie-In About Romance Series

I love my post titles these days. It's as if my brain has decided that I need to cram every specific thing into them so I don't start meandering. As if I don't stay on topic or something. Pfft to my brain.

Most of you know I'm a die-hard Jack Bauer fan. It doesn't matter that the show has gotten a bit ridiculous (a bit? A BIT the size of India's population?!) but I still love him with the adoring love of a thousand almond creme cheese cake. It's not Jack Bauer that's gone wrong, you see. It's the writers for that show. He'd always be brilliant, angsty, crazy-tunnel vision, alpha, and overly efficient at killing people.

I started to wonder whether I feel the same about books that are series that follow a single/multiple characters? That I loved a character but hated the way the storyline went as the books continued? Loved the tone of the books, loved the voice, loved the characters, but somehow, when the series was done, I'm sort of relieved, not because my character's journey brought me great joy but that it was so heavy on a certain aspect of that it dragged my enjoyment down? Danny Valentine, your inability to give your lover a chance and your doubts really really REALLY ended that series by making me think you were wrong and stupid. And who wanted to end up with that opinion about the main character?

Or the series have gone so far off course that there is no recognizable thing between Book 1 and Book 111, except for the characters' names? Especially if it sort of changed genres in the middle too. Anita Blake, I'm looking at you.

Some people would read on to the bitter end, but I can't do that. I didn't do that to LOST, the TV series, because there were too many characters with too many storylines and not one solved mystery after two seasons. I couldn't do that with Anita Blake because the characters I've emotionally invested in changed into unrecognizable entities.

And yet, I hung on to Jack Bauer, season after season. There are plot holes galore in each season, with things happening that couldn't happen in the real world and in real time. 24 is called that because it follows an adventure through the course of a day, using a digital clock at the corner of the TV screen. It's a season-long fake reality show of following a CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) operative as he goes around the a metropolis destroying lots of things and causing havoc while chasing terrorists with accents bent on destroying that city (and the U.S.).

There are nuclear blasts that don't affect Jack's health. Hell, Jack gets shot and he walks and talks in the next hour as if it were just a flesh wound. There are water passageways that lead under the White House. There are non-existent car tunnels in New York City by named streets. There are resurrected characters who were good guys one season and now turned bad, and no, they aren't zombies. And there's always a mole inside CTU that shows how stupid and incapable CTU is.

A book with a plot like the above would have been thrown across the room many a time. And yet, every Monday for the last eight or nine years (with the exception of personal stuff), I've turned on the show and cheered Jack Bauer on, as he continued his fight to "save the world," as we fans like to say.

So my conclusion is that it must be the character. I couldn't take Danny Valentine any more as she changed into a morose and doubting heroine who seemed to side with her enemies more than her lover. I couldn't take Anita Blake any more as she metamorphosized from Vampire Hunter to...umm...Monster Mistress (couldn't come up with a better name) and destroyed the special triangle of metaphysical power that was set up in the first ten books. I couldn't follow Lost when The Others become the focus, and not the core group of survivors.

Don't get me wrong. These books and shows are very good and have mega fans. I'm just picking them as examples of how I, the reader, reach a point where they don't fit me any more. Many people, on the other hand, have stopped watching 24. So it's all about what floats your boat.

I do have series that I've read/enjoyed and put away with a happy sigh when they're done and reread and rewatched through the years. Some that I'm reading now tthat I look forward to the next book:

1) Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series
2) Briggs' Alpha and Omega series
3) Andrews' Kate Daniel series
4) Robb's Eve Dallas (although I'm books behind on this one but this is one series always satisfies me)

As you can see, the examples are mostly urban fantasies. I can't think of a historical series that I'm reading. Brockmann's Team 16 books have character arcs that move the series along and her most famous one was Sam and Alyssa's storyline, which I followed along until the part where Sam was tricked by a turkey baster and in subsequent books, cried buckets and became a drunk. I did read his happy ending with Alyssa a few books later, though, so it's possible to skip parts of a series you don't like and just read the ending ;-).

TV shows: Babylon 5 comes to mind. A brilliant, brilliant five year-arc that had me riveted till today. Every SF show since pales in comparison. Except maybe La Femme Nikita, but it wasn't SF and its ending was an abomination. I did follow Alias and X-Files to the bitter, bitter, incomprehensible end, and maybe that's why I avoid JJ Abrams, who also produces/writes Lost, now. I just don't trust him any more.

The latest TV show that riveted me was Dollhouse and despite its flaws, its storyline was tantalizing and my Whedon love knows no bound, even though his endings never make me happy.

So. I'm thinking that my rules with character arcs are funky. You can write stupid but don't make the protagonist turn stupid. You can have plot holes, but make sure he doesn't make a 180 and turn into something he isn't (except for one episode, by magic, and resolved very soon!) Most of all, don't set me up with a promise that so and so will end up together and then end the series with them getting on with Other Loves. That is like turning Jack Bauer into a coward and have him save himself over others at the end of the show (please, TV gods, don't give the writers of 24 this idea because they'll think they're being damn clever and every fan will hunt them down and shoot their thighs).

What series, books or TV show, are you following? Are you happy with how it's going? And has there been a series that you've dropped because you just couldn't take it any more? Was it the plot or character?

Lots of questions, I know, but I'm always curious about my readers' internal rules about story-telling.

Also, who's going to save the world now that Jack Bauer is going off the air? Sob*

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Jack Bauer Is Back! Rooferwriter Excited

Each season, watching Jack Bauer is my crackalicious duty. The over-the-top plots, the crazy characters, the lack of logic--somehow I'm still riveted. Jack Bauer fascinates and amuses me as a character, with his alpha toughness that borders on lunacy (but in a good, protect-the-world way) and his inability to communicate other than with weapons. And of course, there's always the thigh-shooting and the JackSack (TM) that holds all weapons and yet look so innocently empty when he's carrying it. We Jack fans cackle every time a thigh is shot, with much beverage consumed for each mention of "perimeter."

It's great how we get to love certain characters, in books and shows, and stay with them through their journey. We enjoy their ticks and mannerisms; we love them in spite of their faults. How many of us have whole series of books with characters that have become part of our reading family (Eve and Roarke come to mind)? When they do bone-headed things, we yell at them; when they're in danger or in pain, we're totally concerned about their safety and emotional well-being, looking eagerly for the next chapter or book to let us know all is well...for a little while ;-).

That's why I'm enjoying writing my Virtual series. It's an exercise in learning how to write with many eyes. I've discovered that it's like being on an escalator that goes up pass different floors, one that I can choose to stop on the way to the top. Each floor has different "stores," ones that I could explore, if I chose to get off, and the stores give me items that tell yet another layer of my hero's and heroine's stories.

As a writer, knowing that there are readers who are taking an interest in one's characters to commit to a series is humbling, exciting, scary, exhilarating, and so much more. It can also be overwhelming because the challenges can turn into quicksand and cut off one's air.

Like Jack Bauer's plot lines, how much more over-the-top can it get before the fans walk away? For now, I'm still willing to let Jack Bauer save the day. Why? Because the character is iconic: he moves around in a time with the ease of Bionic Man when all of us are mired in a frozen state. He is unbelievable and unbelievably amazing, but then all superheros are supposed to be both.

It's more difficult in a romance with action because the writer has to take care of the romance, have the hero heroic without crossing that gray line of being unredeemable. That Jack Bauer is aware of how far gone he is makes him a challenging romantic hero, if one is inclined to pick up the challenge to give him a romance plot line ;-). I heard that this season, he might meet a heroine dark and damaged enough to actually take him on. Can't wait!

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Dollhouse Season 2-1

Are you still watching Dollhouse, the very darkly themed Whedon show starring Eliza Dushku as Echo, the brain-wiped human tabula rasa-slave? The last time we saw Echo, she was kidnapped by Alpha, the escaped Active, who then zapped all the personalities she'd been programmed with before all at once into her. The idea was to make her his Omega. As we know, he didn't succeed. Omega killed him and chose to return to her blank state.

Our dubious Knight-in-Shining-Armor didn't quite rescue Echo either. In fact, he took the gray road, agreeing to work "with" the Dollhouse PTB in exchange for...I'm not sure what...and Melon'sDecember's freedom.

The first episode of Season Two started in a confusing manner for me. Ballard seemed to be using the Dollhouse to trap a bad guy (illegal weapons dealer) who he hadn't succeeded to catch during his FBI days. Echo was programmed as his "partner" who had lured the bad guy into marrying her.

This indicated that some time had passed since last season's finale, right, because it takes time for a bad guy to decide to marry some beautiful woman and have a big wedding. Right? If so, then I have the problem of Ballard actually doing unto Echo what he professed to abhor all last season--using her for sex (and other things) without permission. Granted, the sex wasn't with him, but with the weapons dealer, but heck, that's splitting hair.

Sure, he seemed uncomfortable about it and there were some funny moments spliced into the usual gratuitous shots of Echo naked under a male, like the insertion of Ballard doing some push-ups while the bad guy was on top of Echo doing some...umm...push-downs, heh. And yeah, in the end, Echo got the bad guy, with Ballard coming to the rescue when she was in danger, but what is Whedon doing with Ballard's character? He's no longer someone we root for.

Echo's story hasn't grown much, except her telling Ballard at the end that she knows about the "others" inside her. I'm not sure what she meant when she said she was going to look for these personalities. What was the point? Ballard knew they were just composites of people that Topher created. I suppose we could interpret that as part of the Caroline "got to save things/people/causes" personality waking up, but I thought last year's little hints were stronger than this premiere's memory lapses/flashbacks.

The most interesting subplot was Dr. Saunders, who had found out that she was a doll called Whiskey, reprogrammed because of her facial scars. Wow, a tortured angsty doll?! So are we to surmise that a doll who had been given her personality for too long will become that personality? What does that say about the mind? Dr. Saunders rejected her old "life," and was afraid that they would kill her (the Dr. Saunders personality), yet there were some sparks of that Whiskey wickedness showing. She tortured Topher with a zealousness that was totally unlike her Dr. Saunders kind demeanor; she was quite menacing toward Echo, looking at the razor and then taking the lollipop for herself (instead of the usual giving the lollipop to the doll after examination). In the end, she ran away, going into the "real" world. The doll wants to be real.

And what about Topher, our evil geeky smart-mouth genius? Turns out he had a human side, giving his reasons to reprogram Whiskey the way he did. He didn't want Whiskey as Dr. Saunders to be his "yes" sidekick. He wanted someone who would question him, so he gave her a dislike of himself, even his smell. Topher is very strange indeed. Yet, he made perfect sense. Best line: "I didn't make you hate me. You chose to do that." So again, there is the idea being tossed out that a programmed doll could "grow" as a person.

The friction between Boyd and Ballard is delicious. I can't wait to see them at odds even more as the season continues, especially now that Ballard had become Echo's handler. Boyd not gonna like that, no sirree.

That last bit was damning too. Ballard is now part of the Dollhouse, whether he had any good ulterior motive, or not. So who is left to save our Dolls?

(Almost must add--Viktor and Sierra holding hands in the end = glad to see them reconnecting).

So, what are your thoughts?

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Today's Gonna Be A Good Day

Did you see Oprah's Kick Off Party with 21000 of her fans dancing to Black Eye Peas? That was awesome! Put a smile on my face.



Why don't I have 21000 who would do the Jed Jiggy-Wiggy, huh?

Happy Weekend!

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New Link For Procrastination Station

TV-TROPESPEDIA

Everything you ever need to know about TV shows and the many tropes within the genres.

Just click on any of the sublinks, esp. the Random Item. Guarantee you're going to lose upto 30 minutes on Intertubes Television Inanity.

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Dollhouse Episode 9

I know, I know, you're just dying to hear my take on the latest Joss Whedon show :-).

Okay, this was an awesome yet odd episode overall. There were several horrifying revelations that really changed the way we and the characters view their reality. First. we finally met Ms. Lonely Hearts and it wasn't some old crone getting the services of Viktor/Roger--it was, Holy Kamolly, Adele! Yikes.

Intriguing as this was, there were things that made me scratch my head. I gathered that this was meant to show the dark side of Adele and yet, we were also meant to see her vulnerable side, with a bit of her past snuck in there. I suspected that she recreated an old lover out of Viktor, Continental accent and all. But in essence, she's not much different from Sierra's ex-handler who raped her, right? She acted as if that act was such a crime and killed that bastard, but what about herself? Her using Viktor, even with imprintment, was really no different from Sierra's ex-handler, who used her imprinted trust of him.

But the fencing scene and the conversations in bed are making Adele a very rounded bad guy. Her decision to give up her make-believe Roger also signaled her realization that the real world around her was in danger; her most trusted man himself a fake. That was one cool thematic use of nothing black and white about this show, even for the bad guys.

Second, the Mellie of the Melons reveal to Ballard. Oh, man. Poor, poor Ballard. Nice juxtaposition too, that he found that HIS reality was also not quite what it seemed. The woman he had slept with was a doll and now, we the audience are also questioning the dilemma of whether his future sexing of her would be rape. He couldn't tell Mellie because her kill trigger would be activated and yet he also couldn't change the relationship too drastically because that would make the Dollhouse suspicious. Like I said, poor Ballard.

Third, Dominic's reveal as the NSA mole. That was quite a surprise punch for me. Never saw that happening. So we now know that the NSA was trying to control the technology from spreading and our perception of Dominic as Really Bad Guy also changed; in the overall pic, he had a mission to stop the Dollhouse technology from spreading to terrorist countries, etc.

But he was caught by...ECHO/spyhunter who I'm sure was now truly composited (if that's a word). She controlled the whole situation from the getgo--getting Topher to imprint her ("did I just lose an argument to a Doll?" best quote of the night), then asking questions from each of the people who had control of her and showing some kind of insight of their inner workings, and then that classic Faith-inspired fight at the end with Dominic (awesome use of glass table, hee).

We now see the reality of the Attic. I was a bit disappointed about that, just a bunch of wires to torture? What made the Dolls any different from an Atticked Doll? I'm imagining the Atticked Dolls lying comatose somewhere. What point would that serve if that was true? They just sit in the Attic for decades? Plot hole there for me.

Another confusing element is the number of spies against the Dollhouse running around inside and around the place. We have Alpha. We have Alpha's insider. We have the NSA insider. We have Ballard. And maybe we have more. Here's the best I could understand what was happening:

1) Last week Echo's destruction of electrical components gave Topher some problems with his imprintment equipment.

2) They imprinted Mellie before the discovery of whatever that thing was that was NSA technology, hence they knew it was NSA, in the chair.

3) Dominic, the NSA undercover op, pretended to be angry and then had Sierra imprinted with Sydney Bristow's brain ;-) so she could run an Alias-like operation at NSA. Of course, this was a set-up and that's why no one could recognize that Sierra looked nothing like the Asian girl she was pretending to be :-). Sierra/SydneyBristow was supposed to steal something that would reveal the identity of the NSA mole. We already know that Dominic had set up Ivy as the mole.

4) Meanwhile, imprinted Mellie revealed stuff to Ballard. Her words pointed to ANOTHER agent, who wanted Ballard to find out why and not where. I'm saying this because Dominic was pretty damn sure he was protected, yet here, Mellie, who had no idea what was happening at the Dollhouse, said their inside agent had been compromised. I'm thinking maybe Ivy is a mole too, but not for NSA.

5) Back at the Dollhouse, we get the Dominic reveal and Ivy is saved from the Attic.

6) Adele atticked Dominic. Their conversation was very revealing (ahem) too--he was working to stop the technology from improving and he could see that Alpha was just the beginning of what could be done to the human mind. He could see it happening to Echo. Of course, that didn't make him any less the bastard he was for trying to off Echo.

7) So, in the end, one mole caught, Alpha still on the loose, and his inside Mole might not have been compromised yet.

Last few thoughts: Adele as Wonder Woman with the Bullet hole was pretty cool ;-). Also, Topher's and Dr. Saunders' motivation for being the Dollhouse were interesting. Boyd was as mysterious as ever and yes, I think he could be a mole too. Echo's final re-imprintment to trust a new handler--her trigger words were said with her eyes on Boyd and not on her handler. Wonder what that means?

Whew. I know, I think too much about a TV show. Joss does that to me. //bow

Your thoughts?

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Weekly Dollhouse Ruminations: Episode 8

Okay, so it's basically a Reset Button episode, a fake run-through of "Dollhouse Doomsday" by the PTB. The idea has merit and there were several cool twists and aspects, but overall, I came away thinking something was off with the story.

First, the good stuff:

1) character background.
Yay, we now have some back stories so we could cheer for the main characters. Can I say Victor, whom I didn't like in the first couple of episodes, has grown into my favorite character? Definitely an interesting idea to give the "actives" their basic personalities back without their memories. Victor, again, was the standout and most interesting. I'm thinking he "volunteered" because he suffered from PTSD. Mellie of the Melons obviously did out of the pain of losing a child (maybe she wanted to forget?). Caroline, in the two years after her boyfriend's death, has grown tougher because she sure didn't know how to fight like that in the lab chase in college, which tells that something more happened than mere running. Sierra's character is the darkest, much to my surprise, and it cast a very horrifying light about the Dollhouse.

2) overall arc
The mythos is very clear--the Dollhouse will do and can do whatever necessary to keep going/making money. For whom, it isn't quite clear yet and Alpha was underutilized in this episode. Contrasting their personalities with the dolls walking around was good too, e.g., Victor's muttering of baseball in an effort to not look around in the community bath. The scenes showing outside of the Dollhouse main area was interesting too--the giant clothes room (also very disturbing but with one funny moment showing Victor quickly putting back his thongs) and the

The Bad.
Sierra's background story with the douchebag who sold her and then the Dollhouse RENTING HER BACK TO HIM for more abuse? That was a WTF moment for me. Could be a major dealbreaker for me if not addressed sometime soon. This episode emphasized closure for the characters to sort of shut off that memory valve in their brains, but how the hell is this closure for Sierra?!

Also, wtf again with the Dollhouse doing that to Sierra? They had one of the Handlers killed off for raping her, but they allowed her to be rape via rental? Gag. Joss Whedon, no. Take that back. Nolan must die soon.

Really did NOT like Echo's original mind, Caroline. Gag. Hate that kind of PETA-Savior complex. I was amused, though, by Adele's observation that Caroline wasn't exactly smart. Because YES the woman is stupid. Instead of going to the cops and perhaps having a chance of going against people with guns, she put on a one-woman Save-The-World operation on her own. She was going to release the dolls the same way she was going to with the lab monkeys in her earlier life. Dumbass.

Anyway, the test run was meant to normalize the growing doll glitches. The doctor (forever Fred in my mind) was also a neat surprise. I can't decide whether she is for or against the dolls. She doesn't approved of looking at them as "pets," yet she was the one who initiated this retooling and reset idea.

Joss's very dark aspect of Sierra's chilling fate really underlined that the Dollhouse is evil, no matter how kick-ass Adele is or how amusing and smartmouth Topher is. It's an emphasis on the same disturbing theme of human trafficking from the first episode, only this time, it's even more personal for us because we've gotten to know Sierra through several episodes.

One more quickie thought--what the heck was the opening scene?! Yeah, Shirtless (now ex-)Agent Ballard was nice but having a nightmare-seduction dream with Caroline? With Mellie as the voice of conscience? So obviously ploy of meaninglessness eye-candy. I mean, Shallow Jenn thank you for Shirtless Ballard, but I know visual bribery when I see it. Bad boy fantasy. Yes, looking at you, Joss.

Oh, final words. Nolan. Must. Die.

Your thoughts?

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Post #2: RIP Andy Hallect

I was just writing about Whedon and Buffy and Angel, wasn't I? ;-( RIP Andy Hallect (Lorne). He was a memorable character on Angel. Sniff.

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Dollhouse Episodes 6 & 7

Hey, someone emailed and asked where my Friday Dollhouse post was. I didn't know anyone was interested in those mini thoughts ;-).

Let's see. I'm still watching because His Geniusness, Joss Whedon, has hooked me with Episode 6. He'd promised that that particular episode was untampered by any Wolfram and HartFox Execs, and the pacing definitely picked up with Echo and Paul Ballard finally connecting. Kewl Buffy-esque fight scene between them as Echo was programmed to be an assassin.

Loved, loved the scene where Melly of the Melons turned deadly. And Paul has his confirmation that the Dollhouse did exist (on a shallow note...Paul can be my nekkid neighbor any time, 'kay?).

This week was a complete turnabout from that serious Dollhouse vs Paul/documentary to a funny (but with serious implications) episode. It wasn't perfect but I enjoyed Adelle de Witt and Topher getting high together. That was pure Whedon humor, especially Topher's telling his superior, Adelle, "You haven't seen my drawer of inappropriate starches." OMG. I wanted that line for my own. And Adelle's, in her drunken Brit accent, "Indomitable! Oooh. I can eat that word."

The twist with the Dolls getting some of their memories back...that one had a bit of a plot hole problem for me. The explanation for their "dollness," the way I understood it, is that their mind/memories were wiped and they are essentially blank slates. Meaning, there are NO memories in there to get flashbacks of, so the drug shouldn't affect the memory compartment of their brains the way it was portrayed.

As for Echo--the show is hinting that she is still different from the others because she was having flashbacks without ever coming in contact with the drug. The sight of the uni on TV started her recollection. So I'm still thinking that there is something special about Echo.

Her flashbacks of her previous (real) life explained a lot about how she ended up at the Dollhouse, so Whedon is doing his job in making me root for her "self" to come back. I'm now wondering whether Alpha is her presumed-dead boyfriend? She was also on the run for two years before Adelle found her--what was she doing? Joss is still reeling me in ;-).

Next week looks kick-ass as the main characters wake up with their memories intact. I keep wondering how this series is going to keep going if by next week we're getting a mini rebellion. Or maybe it's just another mind-imprint by Dollhouse to test their dolls???? Ooooh! Or maybe we're going to get Joss' version of Prison Break, heh.

There you go. Happy now, Casee?

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Post #2: Grrr. ArRrr. I'm Joss Whedon's Bitch.

Dollhouse tonight was the one over which Joss Whedon was given total control without any FOX executive meddling.

Holy smokes. I'm now a believer of the concept. There's still that disturbing "high-class" prostitution theme), but now there is SOMETHING/SOMEONE I can root for.

Joss, please accept my adoring worship.

P/S I want Joss Whedon's genius programmed into the writing compartment of my brain, please, thank you.

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Original Whedon Dollhouse Script

This was supposedly the way Whedon envisioned the pilot for Dollhouse. Fox chopped it all up and dispersed the fragments in the first six episodes, thus confusing the heck out of many viewers. I think this script was tight and actually took out a lot of the sleaze factor problems I got from the first two shows that were aired. Anyway, it's interesting to see a writer's original vision and see what the PTB (Wolfram and Hart, ha!) do with it when they assume control.


Script_Dollhouse_1x01_-_Echo - Free Legal Forms

If you're still watching this show with me, what do you think of this script as the introduction into Echo's world and storyline?

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Post #2--Dollhouse: Aha Moment

Okay, I'm still watching, mainly because of the little furtive awareness that Echo is displaying.

But I have the most interesting lightbulb moment:

What if Detective Paul Hotbod was a doll? He served his five years and had his mind wiped but like Alpha and released, but now he's getting some flashbacks (even that boxing scene could be one of them)? That would explain how he took down the three Mafiaso guys like such a hot assassin, yes?

Just my mind clicking along....

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Dollhouse: Uber Icky?

So any of you watching Joss Whedon's newest baby, Dollhouse, on Fox? I worship at the Whedon altar. The pilot last week left me a bit uncomfortable, using imprintment (hey, familiar concept!) on blank minds to create whatever the customer wants. The first situation suggests that the "active" from the Dollhouse, Echo (Eliza Dushku), has been paid to be a pleasure fun- and fast-loving weekend companion. Umm...yeah, I was thinking high class prostitute.

Tonight's episode was action-packed but it still reminded me of the same thing--girl bought by a client to be imprinted to please him, even though it isn't about pleasure, more of a hunt-or-be-hunted game. Wonder what the Great Josh has in mind to make the characters more sympathetic to me.

I'm sticking to this show for a few more episodes. The premise, like I said, isn't very appealing and might be a hot button issue for many women, but this is Joss Whedon, the creator of kick-ass females who are ultimately special as they find their place in the world. So I'm going to trust him a bit longer.

If you caught the pilot and this week's episode, your thoughts?

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Post #2: I'm Dusted

So I'm watching American Idol to air my tired brain out. Does the new format SUCK or what? Geez, talk about stretching the time to meaninglessness. Why would they put the parents there and then yak yak about nothing after their performances, especially when some of them were clearly out of depth? Or maybe I'm just in a tired bad mood. I'm also growling because Bad Puppy stole my ice-cream cone and wolfed it down. No one gets between me and my ice-cream. Grrr.

Book Updates

1) No news about Virtually Hers or any of my proposals yet. Told you this is a slow, slow process. I'm really hoping Diamond and T's story get sold this time because I love them so much.

2) Big Bad Wolf's sales numbers, including this past week, is now at 263. Yeeha! I have a feeling many readers who went to Amazon looking for Virtually Hers picked it up when they saw BBW there instead of VHers. The sale has been very steady since its debut on Dec. 24, 2009 seven weeks ago. Thank you for helping me by posing on other forums, everyone. Deeply appreciated.

Of course, 263 is not quite anywhere near these authors' sales numbers. LOL. Check out this list of top guns and see whether you can spot your favorite romance authors. I...uh...have a long way to go. Heh.

3) Still haven't made up my mind about what stories to pick for the anthology. For sure, there will be a novella about Rick and Nikki. Methinks there are some important fears to face still for both of them.

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I'm still at that labor job with the long, long commute. Today was interesting. I learned how to tile. And yes, my lungs are now caked with the dust. I think I'm trying to die young.

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Post #2: The Real McDreamy

I just found out that my future husband, George Clooney, has been confirmed to play the first Dr. McDreamy Doug Ross again for ER's finale.

ER used to be my Thursday night staple in the mid-nineties and wicked Dr. Ross and his sexy smile was the epitome of all those Mills and Boons hospital romances that I grew up reading. I'm so looking forward to catch him in scrubs again! He'll look a bit grayer, but heck, I think he's even prettier now. Check these out:

Hmm...John Stamos, who is on the show now, kinda look like the young Clooney, doesn't he?

Thursday nights on NBC in the 80s and early 90s. Cosby, Seinfeld. L.A. Law, ER. Do you remember the great Thursday night shows during NBC's heyday? Good times.

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He Was The First Roarke

Ricardo Montalban, Mr. Roarke of Fantasy Island, passed away today. FI was one of my favorite shows when I still lived in Malaysia; in fact, I think it was my first paranormal TV program that didn't include genies or witches. Instead of just Blink! Blink! or Twitch! Twitch! magic, the stories on this show, especially the first two seasons, always made me think about possibilities and philosophy, and how people were always looking for a happy ending.

Also, I just loved that name ;-). Ricardo Montalban. I would roll his name off my tongue and dream of Harlequin romance tycoons seducing their women in that accent.

RIP, Mr. Roarke.

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A Little Bit Heartbroken

I just found out in the last few minutes that my cheeky little monkey, Craig Ferguson, got married over New Year. //shock //clutching heart //looking that flustered-ferguson way at you and saying, "I...know!"

Craig, how could you do this to me? You're my late night flirtation, my secret smirk, my midnight snack. Now you have a ring on your finger. Wahhhh.

Sniff.

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Quick Midnight Snack

I'm up this late watching The Legend of the Seeker and the actor playing Richard Cypher's beautiful abs.

What's your excuse? ;-) Oh yeah, you expect me to believe you're wrapping presents, right? Yawn. Can you believe I have to work today (Sunday)? Yah. I need ze money.

So while I work, enjoy the eye candy of Richard Cypher's chest. Them Aussie boys, man, they grow them good Down Under, don't they?



As you can see, I only watch this show for its sword and sorcery ;-).

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UBER SPY IS BACK!

Hey Jack Bauer Fiends, do not forget, my sweeties, 24: REDEMPTION is on at 8pm tonight. You know what I'll be doing.

There is no TV love like Jack Bauer Lurv. I so miss the torture and the perimeter stakeouts. I so need to catch a glimpse of Jack Bauer Hoodie and Satchel Bag. Oh, where are you, my Countdown Clock?

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