Ah, Television...

The selection of decent TV viewing fair has dwindled to depressing levels. What have I been watching? "Primeval", now that's a decent show, and one I make a point of catching when it's on. Cancelled. "Torchwood", another show that I really dig and watch. Cancelled. However, they are going to be airing a special five-part deal starting next month. Throwing us one last bone, I suppose. Better than nothing. I'll miss Captain Jack, but I'm hopeful that he might pop up now and again on future seasons of "Dr. Who". I mean, they can't kill him off in the final episode. The dude can't die.

Dr. Who. There's a show I really dig watching. I've watched the good doctor for many a year. Started during the Baker years, but later went back and watched the Troughton and Pertwee years. There was always a cheesy blue screen charm to the old series, but I do think it was one of the most original and consistent science fiction series around. Sure the low budgets were definitely apparent and some of the acting was questionable, but I always enjoyed it. Was a bit skeptical when I heard they were going to produce it again. Was hoping they wouldn't cock it up too much. So much of the charm had always been in the cheese. Would a new fangled slicker Dr. Who work? When I looked it up online and saw that Eccleston (apparently, he not only left after one season so he wouldn't be typecast as the doctor, he's also supposed to be starring in the new series of "The Prisoner") was going to be playing the doctor, I became quite excited. I've always liked him as an actor. Saw the first episode and decided it wasn't going to be bad after all. The characters and story elements from the old series have been retained in the new and built upon. Enjoy it thoroughly. Bit bummed that it looks like we'll have to wait until next year for new episodes though. Curious to see who this new doctor is since Tennant won't be returning.

Let's see, what else. "Sarah Conner Chronicles", cancelled. "Fringe"...think it was cancelled. "My Own Worst Enemy", a very original and entertaining show starring Christian Slater, cancelled. Why is everything worth watching getting cancelled?! Makes me think that the TV viewing public really loves watching crap since that's all that seems to keep going on and on, season after season.

What am I watching that appears to be sticking around? For a little while at least? Couple of shows on the USA network. Glenn has gotten into a rather new series called "Burn Notice". It's not bad. Stars Jeffrey Donovan, an actor who has charisma out the ying-yang. (He also played Detective David Creegan on "Touching Evil", which only made it one season. THAT was a great show. Very dark.) The always entertaining Bruce Campbell (Mr. "Evil Dead" himself) co-stars. Another show that airs in follow-up is "Royal Pains". A tad cute-sy at times, it's okay. Doctor who works in an ER gets wrongfully blamed, canned, and then blacklisted from every hospital in the NY area. He goes on a trip to the Hamptons and ends up moving there to be a doc for hire to rich people. So far, it doesn't have me wanting to turn it off, so I'm hopeful. Also plan to continue watching "The Ghost Whisperer" and "Supernatural", but they're both in reruns at the moment.

I have formed an addiction to a couple of shows on the G4 network. The goofily hosted "Attack of the Show" (that's where I first saw the above 'gem' of a video during their "Around the Net" segment), and "Ninja Warrior". Only the Japanese could come up with the seemingly impossible obstacle courses that have men from all over coming to try and gain the title. Apparently in Japan, once someone has made it through all phases of the competition, the endorsement deals, etc. come. Those guys are really serious about it, too. Many of them build their own versions of various points of the course so they can master them at home. A lot of contestants don't make it past the first couple of challenges, but it really sucks you in when you see someone who just might make it to the end.

Other than those shows (for the moment anyway), thank goodness for InDemand...

65 Questions You've Never Been Asked

Read this on a friends' blog, so figured I'd follow suit...

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
Hair

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Fuscia (I guess that's what it is) & Grey striped

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Yep

4. Do you plan outfits?
Depends. Sometimes. Usually I just grab what's clean, which is most times jeans and a t-shirt.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Neutral.

6. Whats the closest thing to you that’s red?
A file folder.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I was in a house from a book I've been writing.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
Nope.

9. What are you craving right now?
Nothing

10. Do you floss?
Yep.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Money

12. Are you emotional?
Occassionally, but I'm one to internalize things on the whole.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Uh...yeah.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Ice cream from a bowl or in a cone, lick. Klondike Bar, bite.

15. Do you like your hair?
I'm in desperate need of a haircut, so at the moment a definite 'NO'.

16. Do you like yourself?
These days, yep. If I were asked that question ten years ago...

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Sure, as long as he kept his mouth shut. Well, he could open it to put food in...

18. What are you listening to right now?
Glenn messing with his new cell phone in the living room, and a repeat of 'NCIS'.

19. Are your parents strict?
Define 'strict'...

20. Would you go sky diving?
I've gone through periods over the years where I might have said 'yes' to face a major fear, but I have a paralyzing fear of heights. I'll just say that if I ever were to go skydiving it would have to be a 'piggy-back' type o' deal, and whoever the diver was would be strapped to a corpse when they reached the ground as I'd probably suffer a major coronary.

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
Love it with pineapple chunks.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yep...tons of them.

23. Do you rent movies often?
Every now again, but I used to rent them all the time.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you’re in?
Besides my personality...? (cough, cough) No.

25. How many countries have you visited?
Never been out of the US.

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
When I was young. Was usually in the "Is your refridgerator running" vein.

27. Ever been on a train?
Yep. Last train trip was an overnight trip from L.A. to Albequerque. Was on my way with a friend to visit the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, NM. It's haunted. Oooooooo, scarey...

28. Brown or white eggs?
White. Not that I care, they're just more available and usually cheaper.

29. Do you have a cell-phone?
Yep.

30. Do you use chapstick?
Yep. All the time.

31. Do you own a gun?
Not at the moment, but I do want to get one in the near future.

32. Can you use chopsticks?
Yep.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
Glenn. If a trip out to shoot pool surfaces....a whole butt-load of people I don't feel like listing.

34. Are you too forgiving?
No.

35. Ever been in love?
Yep.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
No idea. He generally 'plays it as it lays'.

37. Ever have cream puffs?
Yep.

38. Last time you cried?
When I was in pain from a pinched nerve condition I have in my neck.

39. What was the last question you asked?
"Do I want to answer the ' 65 Questions I've Never Been Asked'? "

40. Favorite time of the year?
The fall. The colors, how everything looks like it's in a slightly different dimension than the rest of the year, the cool/not cold temps...it has a vibe like no other time. Fits my general mood more.

41. Who did you last call?
My friend, Soula, in Los Angeles.

42. Are you sarcastic?
No! Why would anyone ever think I was sarcastic?!

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
I refuse to watch any movie that has Kelso in it...

44. Ever walked into a wall?
Yep.

45. Favorite color?
Green.

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Yep.

47. Is your hair curly?
Far from it.

48. What was the last CD you bought?
Hmmmm...think it was an Audioslave CD...

49. Do looks matter?
Yep. Nope.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
That's a tough one. Next!

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
Nope.

52. Do you like your life right now?
Yep, most definitely.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
Only when I'm tired.

54. Can you handle the truth?
I think so. I suppose it would depend on what kind of truth and the delivery of the info.

55. Do you have good vision?
No. If I don't have my glasses on, I'd consider myself legally blind. Suppose most everyone would classify me as legally blind.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
If I really thought about it I could probably come up with three, but on the whole I don't dislike most people. Someone would really have to do something heinous for me to hate them. For me it's more about tolerance. Can I tolerate that person.

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
Not very often. Once a day if that.


58. The last person you held hands with?
Bo'friend.


59. What are you wearing?
Jeans & a grey shirt.

60.What is your favorite animal?
Wolf.

61. Where was your default picture taken?
Outside the West Hollywood apartment I no longer live in.

62. Can you hula hoop?
On a good day.

63. Do you have a job?
Define 'job'?.

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
Cigarettes & a newspaper.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yep.

Finished. What a deep sense of accomplishment I feel. (hehe)

I Have Returned

I've been more than a little remiss in keeping up with my blog. In other words, I started a blog to get my writing juices flowing, and had been failing to use it for the purpose intended. SO...I'm jumping back in...

I am now convinced that I'm falling apart. Physically, not mentally. (Although the physical does have a tendency to affect the mental.) Finally got set up at the local clinic here in Savannah, and have had my blood drained, and have been probed (won't go into finer detail than that) and prodded. Since July of '06, when I was hospitalized for three days due to a major thyroid storm that almost killed me, I have had to take pills for my hyper thyroid. The docs at UCLA hospital told me I have full blown Graves Disease, so...I suppose that's what I got. My current check-up appeared to be okay, but I have to go back in for a thyroid scan. The goiter on my neck feels pretty enlarged, so no telling what the scan will show. Maybe I'll always have an enlarged thyroid...I don't know. In addition to that, I got some uber-strength Ibuprofen for my RA (which has been in overtime - I'm assuming because of the humidity o' the south). Plus, I've known that I have bone deterioration in my neck as it was seen on x-rays taken when I was in the hospital, but it hadn't really seemed to cause any real problems until about three months ago. Major, tear inducing pain shooting down my right arm that (other than the neck pain of my thyroid storm) is the most pain I've ever felt. I'm suspecting it's pinched nerves. The clinics x-ray was down (of course), so hopefully by the time I go back in to see the doctor at the beginning of August, it'll be back in working order. The 'other' doc I saw thinks I might possibly be starting through my "change"...woo f-in' hoo... I mean, I'm not going to have any kids so it really wouldn't matter to me, but..."when it rains, it pours" springs to mind. Just a lot of big pain in the hoo-hah stuff hitting at the same time. Oh well, as I said, feel like I'm falling apart. Guess I should just be glad I'm getting it all checked out, and leave it at that.

Moving right along......