![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kateHi dwircle!
Long time no see, I know. Sorry about that – we’ve hit a submission cycle here and I’m ridiculously busy. I have a bunch of hilarious stories that I keep meaning to post about, but my workload is at Hopkins levels, so I’m pretty much reduced to: work, veg in front of the TV, go to sleep, repeat ad nauseum.
I really hate being so completely wasted at the end of the day that I can’t do anything fun or interesting. If it is more complicated than spider solitaire, I’m unable to do it. I’m still writing here and there – finished a piece for McShep Match – but not regularly during the week, I’m too braindead.
But, I’m at work, surrounded by deadline applications (due tomorrow, the three I have left haven’t even uploaded their science yet), and I need to take some time thinking about something else or I will explode. So here, have an update.
Vegas was fun! Sort of. I was monstrously sick, so I toughed out about half of the work stuff, slept in and skipped the second day. The third day our presentation went well, and I was still sick, but we still managed to get out, going to our reservations at Craftsteak and then to see Ka, by Cirque du Soleil. It was lovely, and I haven’t had a dinner and show combo quite that awesome in a really long time – even with the sick. Sunday we spent the afternoon at the spa (facials? not my thing – and while the massage was nice, it wasn’t life-changing like I’d hoped it would be so I’m kind of “meh” about it all at the moment) and then wandered over to the Bellagio for the buffet and to catch the fountains. Unfortunately high winds meant the fountains were cancelled so we went back to the hotel instead and vegged out in front of the TV. (Rented Oblivion, which was crazy levels of OMGWTF, but Morgan Freeman looked great.) It was nice enough; I can see us going again to try more restaurants and Cirque shows, but definitely not for the gambling as I got a $25 credit from the hotel which I lost in 10 minutes flat. Whee.
SYTYCD: ALL STARS!!!! Okay, I am LOVING this season's format, though only one night a week is kind of tough. Those poor dancers that find out they're in the bottom before they have to dance! That's AWFUL. :( :( :( But all stars next week, I'm so so so excited! So far I like most of the guys well enough (Fik-Shun is my fave, and Nico my fave contemporary) and the girls are fine, but the only one I love a lot is Jasmine, OMG she is AMAZING - I want her to win it all.
Top Chef Masters: Skydiving? Seriously? It was cool, but I was really surprised on how many people went for it - even those with fear of heights. So far so interesting, I love that the sous-chefs are in on the competition and I adore Bryan Voltaggio (go MD folks!) so I was thrilled to see him move up to Masters status.
Project Runway: Skydiving for these guys too? HMMMMM. I think there's some weird theme going on. I don't have any love/hate things going on yet, though all the Molly's in my life were thrilled whats-his-name went home last week. I was just thrilled that there were two people from Milwaukee on the show. :D
Under the Dome: Currently way behind, but I will catch up as this has been interesting and I love wee!Sam Winchester. I mean, Colin Ford.
Perception: Haven't actually watched the first two episodes yet, but we'll probably watch it this weekend. High hopes for this - I really enjoyed first season.
Haven: watched this last weekend, and maybe some again this weekend. I would like to get caught up before S4 starts, I miss this show! I am an OT3 person on this show, though I love both Jess and Evie a lot.
Doctor Who: I don't know who the new doctor is, and while I don't mind watching this (Tenant is my favorite), it's not really part of my fannish landscape.soleta wants me to get caught up, she seems to think I'll enjoy this last season. Maybe more of that this weekend, too (we just got through Martha's season - I love Martha! - so on to the stuff I haven't seen yet (though I've watch at least a couple of eps of the next season).
I got through Dark Angel, finally, because I wanted to see a young Jensen Ackles, thinking it would really get me in the mood for writing my Wincestiel big bang. Unfortunately it seems to have put me off so I switched to writing the story I had planned out for the Sam/Cas big bang (which I didn’t sign up for because I know myself too well) and I’ve been writing here and there on that.
Dark Angel was interesting, and pretty, but man, Alec feels a whole lot like Dean, which was not at all what I was expecting. I enjoyed Jessica Alba immensely, and I liked Michael Weatherly in S1 and disliked him in S2. He went from adorable to butt ugly just like that. (Jessica took a turn for the worse in S2, too, that hair, ew.) I like the premise, I think there's a lot of good stuff there, and I'm glad I watched it as there's a Losers big bang that's crossing over with Dark Angel, so that should be excellent.
SPN thoughts to do with writing, mostly: It turns out that I was pretty much neutral on the brothers (with slight leanings away from Dean but not necessarily toward Sam) until season three or so, and then I kinda liked Sam but not tons and tons (except his hair) and I think Cas was actually my favorite once he came onscene. As I’m rewatching bits of canon (I cannot believe how much I am enjoying season six on the second go-round, so weird), I’m finding myself liking Sam more and more, and getting annoyed with Dean in the weirdest places. I was already annoyed with him for the obvious stuff, but other, subtler things come up and make me want to smack him. I also love him more now, his growth has made his earlier iterations grow on me. He backslides in S8 though, and that's got me pissed off again. It makes writing him a little hard, because random annoyances will pop up and make me mad at him, and then the writing goes sour. Meanwhile Sam is resonating more with me, so I have a hard time writing him as well-rounded, I get stuck on some facet of his personality and then the whole thing goes sideways again. I notice it when other people write him, how they pick out certain traits and write him with just those traits, and then I go back and look at my stuff - and realize I've done it too. Frustrating.
Despicable Me 2: DELIGHTFUL. I loved it. Loved loved loved it. The minions are the best and I really enjoyed Lucy, way more than I expected considering the bit they showed in the trailer was not at all indicative of her entire personality.
Pacific Rim: Eh. Loved the giant robots, Idris Elba, and Mako. Disliked the logic flaws and oddly awful racial/gender dynamics (especially considering Idris Elba and Mako). Still, giant robots and Idris Elba. I'll probably buy it on DVD.
Wolverine: Better than I expected but not great. I didn't expect much, so this was better than that very, very low-set bar, but it wasn't all that and a slice of cake. It was fine. Hugh looks fantastic, I wish they hadn't had the romantic entanglement part, but Mariko was pretty awesome, and Yukio was amazing - I want to be her when I grow up.
Holy crap! Just found out that Drum Corps International finals are this weekend! :D :D :DAs Indianapolis is now only a 4 hour drive, I am seriously debating going down to see the semis on Friday (with soleta, sounds like!). The finals are on Sunday, and since I fly out at ridiculous o'clock AM, that's just not happening. But I could see the semis on Friday afternoon/evening. THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. Any locals want to go with me?
ETA: Actually, the finals are Saturday night, so we'll probably be going to those, instead, they start at 5:25pm. Who's coming?
(And a seasonal plug, because I am so damn proud of it: my SGA drum corps fic.)
Long time no see, I know. Sorry about that – we’ve hit a submission cycle here and I’m ridiculously busy. I have a bunch of hilarious stories that I keep meaning to post about, but my workload is at Hopkins levels, so I’m pretty much reduced to: work, veg in front of the TV, go to sleep, repeat ad nauseum.
I really hate being so completely wasted at the end of the day that I can’t do anything fun or interesting. If it is more complicated than spider solitaire, I’m unable to do it. I’m still writing here and there – finished a piece for McShep Match – but not regularly during the week, I’m too braindead.
But, I’m at work, surrounded by deadline applications (due tomorrow, the three I have left haven’t even uploaded their science yet), and I need to take some time thinking about something else or I will explode. So here, have an update.
Vegas was fun! Sort of. I was monstrously sick, so I toughed out about half of the work stuff, slept in and skipped the second day. The third day our presentation went well, and I was still sick, but we still managed to get out, going to our reservations at Craftsteak and then to see Ka, by Cirque du Soleil. It was lovely, and I haven’t had a dinner and show combo quite that awesome in a really long time – even with the sick. Sunday we spent the afternoon at the spa (facials? not my thing – and while the massage was nice, it wasn’t life-changing like I’d hoped it would be so I’m kind of “meh” about it all at the moment) and then wandered over to the Bellagio for the buffet and to catch the fountains. Unfortunately high winds meant the fountains were cancelled so we went back to the hotel instead and vegged out in front of the TV. (Rented Oblivion, which was crazy levels of OMGWTF, but Morgan Freeman looked great.) It was nice enough; I can see us going again to try more restaurants and Cirque shows, but definitely not for the gambling as I got a $25 credit from the hotel which I lost in 10 minutes flat. Whee.
SYTYCD: ALL STARS!!!! Okay, I am LOVING this season's format, though only one night a week is kind of tough. Those poor dancers that find out they're in the bottom before they have to dance! That's AWFUL. :( :( :( But all stars next week, I'm so so so excited! So far I like most of the guys well enough (Fik-Shun is my fave, and Nico my fave contemporary) and the girls are fine, but the only one I love a lot is Jasmine, OMG she is AMAZING - I want her to win it all.
Top Chef Masters: Skydiving? Seriously? It was cool, but I was really surprised on how many people went for it - even those with fear of heights. So far so interesting, I love that the sous-chefs are in on the competition and I adore Bryan Voltaggio (go MD folks!) so I was thrilled to see him move up to Masters status.
Project Runway: Skydiving for these guys too? HMMMMM. I think there's some weird theme going on. I don't have any love/hate things going on yet, though all the Molly's in my life were thrilled whats-his-name went home last week. I was just thrilled that there were two people from Milwaukee on the show. :D
Under the Dome: Currently way behind, but I will catch up as this has been interesting and I love wee!Sam Winchester. I mean, Colin Ford.
Perception: Haven't actually watched the first two episodes yet, but we'll probably watch it this weekend. High hopes for this - I really enjoyed first season.
Haven: watched this last weekend, and maybe some again this weekend. I would like to get caught up before S4 starts, I miss this show! I am an OT3 person on this show, though I love both Jess and Evie a lot.
Doctor Who: I don't know who the new doctor is, and while I don't mind watching this (Tenant is my favorite), it's not really part of my fannish landscape.
soleta wants me to get caught up, she seems to think I'll enjoy this last season. Maybe more of that this weekend, too (we just got through Martha's season - I love Martha! - so on to the stuff I haven't seen yet (though I've watch at least a couple of eps of the next season).I got through Dark Angel, finally, because I wanted to see a young Jensen Ackles, thinking it would really get me in the mood for writing my Wincestiel big bang. Unfortunately it seems to have put me off so I switched to writing the story I had planned out for the Sam/Cas big bang (which I didn’t sign up for because I know myself too well) and I’ve been writing here and there on that.
Dark Angel was interesting, and pretty, but man, Alec feels a whole lot like Dean, which was not at all what I was expecting. I enjoyed Jessica Alba immensely, and I liked Michael Weatherly in S1 and disliked him in S2. He went from adorable to butt ugly just like that. (Jessica took a turn for the worse in S2, too, that hair, ew.) I like the premise, I think there's a lot of good stuff there, and I'm glad I watched it as there's a Losers big bang that's crossing over with Dark Angel, so that should be excellent.
SPN thoughts to do with writing, mostly: It turns out that I was pretty much neutral on the brothers (with slight leanings away from Dean but not necessarily toward Sam) until season three or so, and then I kinda liked Sam but not tons and tons (except his hair) and I think Cas was actually my favorite once he came onscene. As I’m rewatching bits of canon (I cannot believe how much I am enjoying season six on the second go-round, so weird), I’m finding myself liking Sam more and more, and getting annoyed with Dean in the weirdest places. I was already annoyed with him for the obvious stuff, but other, subtler things come up and make me want to smack him. I also love him more now, his growth has made his earlier iterations grow on me. He backslides in S8 though, and that's got me pissed off again. It makes writing him a little hard, because random annoyances will pop up and make me mad at him, and then the writing goes sour. Meanwhile Sam is resonating more with me, so I have a hard time writing him as well-rounded, I get stuck on some facet of his personality and then the whole thing goes sideways again. I notice it when other people write him, how they pick out certain traits and write him with just those traits, and then I go back and look at my stuff - and realize I've done it too. Frustrating.
Despicable Me 2: DELIGHTFUL. I loved it. Loved loved loved it. The minions are the best and I really enjoyed Lucy, way more than I expected considering the bit they showed in the trailer was not at all indicative of her entire personality.
Pacific Rim: Eh. Loved the giant robots, Idris Elba, and Mako. Disliked the logic flaws and oddly awful racial/gender dynamics (especially considering Idris Elba and Mako). Still, giant robots and Idris Elba. I'll probably buy it on DVD.
Wolverine: Better than I expected but not great. I didn't expect much, so this was better than that very, very low-set bar, but it wasn't all that and a slice of cake. It was fine. Hugh looks fantastic, I wish they hadn't had the romantic entanglement part, but Mariko was pretty awesome, and Yukio was amazing - I want to be her when I grow up.
Holy crap! Just found out that Drum Corps International finals are this weekend! :D :D :D
soleta, sounds like!). The finals are on Sunday, and since I fly out at ridiculous o'clock AM, that's just not happening. But I could see the semis on Friday afternoon/evening.ETA: Actually, the finals are Saturday night, so we'll probably be going to those, instead, they start at 5:25pm. Who's coming?
(And a seasonal plug, because I am so damn proud of it: my SGA drum corps fic.)
For easy organization later:
no subject
on 8/8/13 12:14 am (UTC)Under the Dome is totally cool. I'm behind some eps, though.
The new doctor looks interesting. I hope it will refresh the show.
I agree that it was wonderful that what's his name went home on Project Runway last week.
no subject
on 8/8/13 08:02 pm (UTC)The back-story on this is that I spent the latter half of last week at Frostburg State University for Quaker-related purposes - and the group I was with were sharing the campus with a few other groups: a never-ending rotation of soccer and baseball camps, plus THE PHANTOM REGIMENT! And THEY allowed the rest of the groups to sit in on the run-throughs they were doing on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Which were fantastic. And totally made me think of your story (among others - I commented to
no subject
on 8/10/13 05:56 pm (UTC)I wish I could spend more time watching the Top Chefs cook, but I'm kind of enjoying watching the sous. It's interesting how even with celebrity chefs who describe themselves as working chefs, you can still see a huge difference between their technical skills and the skills of someone who actively works the line every day. Although, as a huge fan of pomegranates from childhood, I was kind of embarrassed for almost all of them during the mise challenge.
I managed to finish a McShep Match story too, although by the time I finished cutting away everything that didn't look like a duck, I was left with kind of a small duck. All the same, I'm glad I was in the last one.