This is one of those blog things. I am to tell you ten things about my life having to do with a particular letter. Beth has picked the letter "A" for me. I guess I'm also supposed to ... pass this on? If you want to play, you reply, I tell you what letter and you make one of these in your own blog? It sounds very frightening and interactive.
But here goes.
1. Amy. As most of you probably know by now, my name is Amy. This seems like the most basic place to start, and I'd like to thank Beth for assigning me a letter with a freebie. That's a good friend, folks! Anyway, if you were to ask my father, he would tell you that my name is Amy Grace. And this is what he tends to call me. Neither he nor his sisters were given middle names at birth. What he uses as a middle name, Joseph, was his confirmation name, from my uncle. So in his mind, I don't have a middle name either; Amy Grace is my full first name. I put an official stop to that shortly before I turned four, when I had my first dance class. My father introduced me as Amy Grace, but I told Miss Roseanna that she should just call me Amy. I was also nearly named Amelia, though my mother would still have called me Amy. Amelia was the name of my great-great grandmother.
2. Anita. Anita is my sister, though I never call her Anita. We call each other Bud, which we vaguely understand may be odd to people who don't know us. I'm told this is an Irish thing, to have the nickname Bud, though it's really a nickname for a boy. My grandfather was Bud. My sister turned 15 ten days after I was born. Both my parents worked, and my sister was pretty much my primary caregiver when I was a small child. She changed me and doted on me and is probably the reason I'm so darn smart. I love her more than just about anything. However, she constantly (constantly!) reminds me about how she changed me and doted on me and is probably the reason I'm so darn smart. And that can get very annoying.
3. A boyfriend. Heeeeeeeee!!!! I could just leave this here, as it's perhaps more descriptive than anything I could say. I normally don't get publically gushy about my relationship. That's for us. But it's positively alarming how much I love and care for this person.
4. Acting. I almost wrote "art." This is probably the topic about which I could write the most, and about which I could probably never fully explain how I feel. Ever since I can first remember, there are only two things that I ever wanted to be in life: an "actress", or an "artist". I fervently hope that one day I might be both. It's a hard answer to give, though, and not just because it's a tough path to pursue. In the past, my answer was always tempered by the fact that I was young and I accomplished a lot in school. I don't have that anymore. I'm not used to people assuming that I'm stupid, but when it's widely known that you're trying to break into acting, that's what people assume. My mother told me that my chosen course is beneath me. I don't know how to respond, because I always felt like I was aspiring to something higher.
5. Ambidexterity. It's a thing that I have. Though according to the internet, I am not truly ambidextrous. And if I am, it's a sign that I have brain damage. What! I in fact am "cross-dominant" or something like that. The deal is, I do not have a specific hand/side/brain lobe that I favor over the other. I do not do all tasks equally well with both hands. One is usually more fine tuned than the other. I used to be able to write equally well with both. In second grade, in Catholic School, I was told that I would never achieve satisfactory penmanship unless I focused my writing energy on only one hand. Therefore, I would receive Cs in Penmanship until I picked a hand. ... And I had to pick the right. This is why, 90% of the time, I am to be seen writing with my right hand. My left hand is out of practice, but it still knows what it's doing. Here's something that fascinates me: I can write with my left with equal speed and clarity to my right, as long as I don't realize that I'm using my left hand. I have had many instances where I have been writing something with my left hand, and the thought occured to me: "Oh! I'm using my left hand!" and then my writing immediately deteriorates. It's one of my goals in life to rebuild my writing ability in my left hand.
6. Aldactone. This is the latest prescription drug that I have added to my daily regimine. This brings my total to five, though I take seven individual pills a day. It's actually a blood pressure medicine, but I take it to combat my excessive swarthiness due to the high levels of testosterone that my cystic ovaries produce. Whoo boy am I somatically fucked up! This is the first medication in a while that I've taken for what is, largely, a cosmetic issue. But it's important enough to me to suffer through the past few weeks of side effects while my body adapts to it. (These side effects include dips in my already low blood pressure and dizziness.) I have also taken other medications that start with A, including: Alesse, Atenolol, Allegra, and good old Advil.
7. Apple trees. I like apples. And since I was a small child I have been fascinated with the idea of having my very own apple tree. Or any fruit-bearing plant, but mostly apple. I have tried many times with little success to grow apple plants from seeds. Of course, these experiments were never monitored by someone who knew what she was doing (i.e. my mom) so I usually wound up drowning them. Turns out you shouldn't water plants every day. Who knew! I'm currently in the middle of my latest and most earnest attempt. I have five seedlings in a numbered row sitting on my sun porch. They are each about five inches tall. I also have a "cutting" that I kinda sorta stole from a tree at the Home Depot that I am trying to root in some soil. That's not going so swell. Anyway, not only do trees take a long time to grow, but apples are particularly fussy, and they require two separate individuals in order to produce fruit. My yard doesn't have the room for one apple tree, let alone two, but that's okay. I imagine that if my attempts are successful that I will carry my fledging trees around with me wherever I move, and I will plant them when I find the place I want to be my home.
8. Allie. Allie was my German Shepard. Because we didn't have enough people with "A" names already, we had to give them to our pets as well. Allie (her given name was Alexis) was bred to be a show dog in Mississippi. My sister got her when she was living in West Milford with some of the money she was awarded after being in a horrible car accident. Then she moved back home, and Allie moved with her. After a life of nothing but cats, we had to adjust to living with an ENORMOUS canine. She was 105 pounds, solidly fit. Despite being a cat person through and through, I loved Allie very much. I used to sit on the floor and hand feed her Kibbles 'N' Bits. She especially liked the cheese pieces. My perception of animals is sometimes unfortunately skewed. My neighbor had a Dalmatian named Ted who lived to be 17 years old. This meant that even though I knew intellectually that he was an exception, I was still shocked and confused when Allie developed a brain tumor at the age of ten. Allie is also the reason that most "big dogs" don't impress me very much. Eh. He's not that big. When you're eight years old and a dog stands on her back legs and you stare up at her towering over you, you're forever spoiled for size. Allie was an awesome dog. My sister wants to get another German Shepard. She says she'll know her when she sees her. I am fully in favor of this.
9. Annie. Not the girl. The movie, starring Aileen Quinn, Carol Burnett, and Albert Finney. Annie was my very first hardcore obsession. By the time I hit kindergarten I knew it word for word and sang the songs daily. Which of course did not deter me from also watching it daily. I directed my friends so that we would put on mini Annie-plays during the day. While it doesn't have the same cultural fluency as the Simpsons or Buffy, it was the precursor to all those entertainment loves. It set the tone and the pattern and also my love for redheaded heroines (others including Anne Shirley, Pippilotta Longstocking, and Strawberry Shortcake). This is probably the reason that there's still a part of me that desperately wants to be a redhead. Mr. Warbucks prefers redheaded children.
10. Accord. I drive a white 1995 Honda Accord. It's the car of choice for young and useless people. I don't really like it, and I wasn't thrilled to get it. Of course, I don't really like driving, so that could be a big part of it. And also the major headaches that were going on in my life around the time that I acquired it. I named my car Nerwin, because it was the very first name that came to me. I don't know what that means. Nerwin and I have a fairly neutral relationship. She gets me between points in efficient time and I've yet to die or be seriously injured. Right now Nerwin needs some gas and a trip to the car wash.
Wednesday
Sunday
I've been up to stuff!
I am in the midst of a six-day weekend, my friends. It's pretty awesome! I mean, I have activities planned for every day, but just the fact that I'm not going to work makes it highly enjoyable. If they didn't pay me, I don't think I'd go. Which, on one level: hah hah, but I believe that a worthwhile goal would be to exclusively do activities about which that is not true.
My mother and I took up the carpet in the dining room. (Because: CARPET IN A DINING ROOM. WHAT THE HELL.) It went okay! It was labor intensive.
Today we went to New York (only I managed to refer to it as "going into town") to see a play written by ejbronte of the WD. It was pretty good! Much better than I expected, really. Some, but not all, of the acting was very good, and the production values were decidely professional. They had some trouble with the lighting, though. And they spent twenty minutes at intermission trying to fix the problem. They should have just rolled with it. The important part, the writing, was crisp and clever. I was very impressed. And I also got to meet the lady herself (#72), who was nothing at all like I expected. She's very small and effervescent and full of smiles.
I considered writing this on the board, but I honestly did think anyone cared. The most important thing, though, is that I did *not* meet anyone who I would have had to punch in the neck. This is something that I have to worry about when I go into town, and at this locale the danger was slightly elevated. Although I probably never had to worry.
Then I went out to dinner with my mother at a restaurant on 46th called "No Pants." Okay, not really. It was called Le Sans Culottes, but I prefer to think of it as "No Pants." ... The name was the bulk of the reason we wound up going there. But the food was delicious. I had duck and creme brulee. And 3/4 a glass of red wine, which means that I was totally drunk. Possibly close to shit-faced. But I held it together. Mostly by reminding myself that the situation made me so incredibly lame. And then I bought four bottles of tea! Joy!!
Oh, also I watched the Lost finale. But you know that.
Tomorrow we will work on the floor some more.
On Tuesday I will be photographed for a multimedia project.
Last night I was inspired to write all sorts of things, but I was very tired and opted against writing any of it down. Instead, I just thought about it until I fell asleep, which means that I may have worked it out of my system, which means I will probably never write about those things. Or maybe I will! But probably not.
My mother and I took up the carpet in the dining room. (Because: CARPET IN A DINING ROOM. WHAT THE HELL.) It went okay! It was labor intensive.
Today we went to New York (only I managed to refer to it as "going into town") to see a play written by ejbronte of the WD. It was pretty good! Much better than I expected, really. Some, but not all, of the acting was very good, and the production values were decidely professional. They had some trouble with the lighting, though. And they spent twenty minutes at intermission trying to fix the problem. They should have just rolled with it. The important part, the writing, was crisp and clever. I was very impressed. And I also got to meet the lady herself (#72), who was nothing at all like I expected. She's very small and effervescent and full of smiles.
I considered writing this on the board, but I honestly did think anyone cared. The most important thing, though, is that I did *not* meet anyone who I would have had to punch in the neck. This is something that I have to worry about when I go into town, and at this locale the danger was slightly elevated. Although I probably never had to worry.
Then I went out to dinner with my mother at a restaurant on 46th called "No Pants." Okay, not really. It was called Le Sans Culottes, but I prefer to think of it as "No Pants." ... The name was the bulk of the reason we wound up going there. But the food was delicious. I had duck and creme brulee. And 3/4 a glass of red wine, which means that I was totally drunk. Possibly close to shit-faced. But I held it together. Mostly by reminding myself that the situation made me so incredibly lame. And then I bought four bottles of tea! Joy!!
Oh, also I watched the Lost finale. But you know that.
Tomorrow we will work on the floor some more.
On Tuesday I will be photographed for a multimedia project.
Last night I was inspired to write all sorts of things, but I was very tired and opted against writing any of it down. Instead, I just thought about it until I fell asleep, which means that I may have worked it out of my system, which means I will probably never write about those things. Or maybe I will! But probably not.
Saturday
I totally watched Lost tonight.
These are the things that I currently think, that condition being true:
[Begin Spoiler for Lost Season 2 Finale — Highlight to view]
That finale was better than 98% of the entire season that preceeded it. Seriously. Which is a compliment, really. Except for all the ways in which it isn't, I guess. But, seriously. It rocked quite hard.
Desmond's girlfriend needs to work on her accent if she wants to come back next season. Also, what?! Luckily, I have the whole thing taped, so if I need to, I can watch certain parts again. Which I may do. But not now. So there will be many question marks and vague trailing sentences in this post. But the name of his girlfriend's father ... sounds very familiar. Like maybe I read it when I followed that link to the Hanso Foundation site? I'm not sure. But if this man with too much time and money winds up being one of the higher-ups in this project, I will not be surprised.
The answer was magnets!! Or was it fate! No, it was magnets. Fated magnets! Magnets or fate?
I knew that Henry was the leader of the Others. And by knew I mean "had a feeling." (Magnets or fate?) Even though he is much, much shorter than the guy with the beard. Or rather, the guy without the beard. The ever continuing mystery of the Others continues to be mysterious. They're the good guys? I don't think so. If for no other reason than guys who talk about themselves while pretending that they're talking about someone else ("He is a great man, but he is not a forgiving man.") are always assholes. Always .
My brain is still trying to figure out why Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. Maybe the Others want them to knock off the love triangle shit, because even they find it boring. But working from what we assume is the Others' perspective, breaking people down into good and bad, Kate and Sawyer are probably two of the worst people on the island. Definitely bad. Hurley threw me, because he seems like a good person. And he was let go, so that follows. What about Jack, though? Did he ever do anything immoral or illegal that I'm forgetting about? Because Jack is occasionally a complete tool, but I don't think that's a crime.
They clearly didn't want to round up the good ones. Or Locke would have been there. They couldn't have been rounding up the bad ones, because Sayid would definitely be in there. Maybe they wanted Jack because he is Leader. But then again, Locke and Sayid (in my opinion) should also be there. Sayid's like the Secretary of Defense. Sawyer's Commerce. Kate's like, Interior, at best.
But Hurley gets to go back and tell everyone what happened. What will he say? Will he form a plan of rescue? Will he tell Sayid, is what I'm saying. Also, did he notice that the Others seem to know how to get away from the island? And that they just ... blurted that out? Michael wins! He gets to go home with his new fucked up conscience. Damn. They must have cut the scene where Michael wished to get Walt back on a monkey's paw. Although wouldn't it be funny if they lied? And when September rolls around Michael swerves right back to the island, and there's boatloads of awkwardness for everyone? The Others don't have cable, remember. They have to keep entertained somehow.
I hope Charlie makes up with Locke like he made up with Claire. I really liked them together.
Also, is Locke dead? Is Eko dead? Is Desmond dead? What, exactly, was that thing? I get that, metaphorically, it was the Key, and Self-Sacrifice is the Key, but, on a technical level, if we assume that Desmond is dead, then why wouldn't Charlie also be dead? Why wouldn't everyone on the island be dead? Because if its fucking-shit-up range extends so far that everyone had to cower and tremble at the might, why was its fatality range only "under the trapdoor"? Unless Desmond isn't actually dead. Like he wins the prize, or something. (Magnets or fate?)
Here's an actual thing that I said out loud: "Libby means Elizabeth!" Aww. I'm so cute. Maybe now that Libby is dead, she'll show up in everyone's flashbacks, like Jack's father.
In general, excellent episode. And I got to see it commercial-free!
[End Spoiler]
[Begin Spoiler for Lost Season 2 Finale — Highlight to view]
That finale was better than 98% of the entire season that preceeded it. Seriously. Which is a compliment, really. Except for all the ways in which it isn't, I guess. But, seriously. It rocked quite hard.
Desmond's girlfriend needs to work on her accent if she wants to come back next season. Also, what?! Luckily, I have the whole thing taped, so if I need to, I can watch certain parts again. Which I may do. But not now. So there will be many question marks and vague trailing sentences in this post. But the name of his girlfriend's father ... sounds very familiar. Like maybe I read it when I followed that link to the Hanso Foundation site? I'm not sure. But if this man with too much time and money winds up being one of the higher-ups in this project, I will not be surprised.
The answer was magnets!! Or was it fate! No, it was magnets. Fated magnets! Magnets or fate?
I knew that Henry was the leader of the Others. And by knew I mean "had a feeling." (Magnets or fate?) Even though he is much, much shorter than the guy with the beard. Or rather, the guy without the beard. The ever continuing mystery of the Others continues to be mysterious. They're the good guys? I don't think so. If for no other reason than guys who talk about themselves while pretending that they're talking about someone else ("He is a great man, but he is not a forgiving man.") are always assholes. Always .
My brain is still trying to figure out why Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. Maybe the Others want them to knock off the love triangle shit, because even they find it boring. But working from what we assume is the Others' perspective, breaking people down into good and bad, Kate and Sawyer are probably two of the worst people on the island. Definitely bad. Hurley threw me, because he seems like a good person. And he was let go, so that follows. What about Jack, though? Did he ever do anything immoral or illegal that I'm forgetting about? Because Jack is occasionally a complete tool, but I don't think that's a crime.
They clearly didn't want to round up the good ones. Or Locke would have been there. They couldn't have been rounding up the bad ones, because Sayid would definitely be in there. Maybe they wanted Jack because he is Leader. But then again, Locke and Sayid (in my opinion) should also be there. Sayid's like the Secretary of Defense. Sawyer's Commerce. Kate's like, Interior, at best.
But Hurley gets to go back and tell everyone what happened. What will he say? Will he form a plan of rescue? Will he tell Sayid, is what I'm saying. Also, did he notice that the Others seem to know how to get away from the island? And that they just ... blurted that out? Michael wins! He gets to go home with his new fucked up conscience. Damn. They must have cut the scene where Michael wished to get Walt back on a monkey's paw. Although wouldn't it be funny if they lied? And when September rolls around Michael swerves right back to the island, and there's boatloads of awkwardness for everyone? The Others don't have cable, remember. They have to keep entertained somehow.
I hope Charlie makes up with Locke like he made up with Claire. I really liked them together.
Also, is Locke dead? Is Eko dead? Is Desmond dead? What, exactly, was that thing? I get that, metaphorically, it was the Key, and Self-Sacrifice is the Key, but, on a technical level, if we assume that Desmond is dead, then why wouldn't Charlie also be dead? Why wouldn't everyone on the island be dead? Because if its fucking-shit-up range extends so far that everyone had to cower and tremble at the might, why was its fatality range only "under the trapdoor"? Unless Desmond isn't actually dead. Like he wins the prize, or something. (Magnets or fate?)
Here's an actual thing that I said out loud: "Libby means Elizabeth!" Aww. I'm so cute. Maybe now that Libby is dead, she'll show up in everyone's flashbacks, like Jack's father.
In general, excellent episode. And I got to see it commercial-free!
[End Spoiler]
I have been "tagged."
I think that's what the kids call it! I thought that meant graffiti! In other words, Caz suggested that I do this.
5 Snacks you enjoy
1. Honeydew melon
2. Applesauce
3. Cheerios with honey
4. Matzo
5. Terra chips
5 Songs (you think) you know by heart
1. Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin (although, really, I could have picked any song here)
2. Happy Birthday - Anonymous
3. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
4. Levon - Elton John
5. Maybe Sparrow - Neko Case
5 Things you would do with a LOT of money
1. "So long student loan payments!"
2. Exchange my car for a Toyota Prius.
3. Obtain a flat abroad for my mother.
4. Get in good with all the right people.
5. Tell everyone that I'm taking time to focus on my art, whatever the hell I mean by that.
5 Things you would never wear
1. Pants with something written across the ass.
2. A sports jersey.
3. Jeans that create a roll of flesh at the hip-level.
4. Fur.
5. Jewelry with my name on it.
5 Things you should never have worn
1. White stretch pants.
2. Sports bras under clothes (In sixth grade, I got handed a whole lot of boob, and I had no idea what to do with it).
3. Keds, that one time.
4. Terrycloth shorts.
5. Anything my father ever bought me.
5 Things you enjoy doing
1. Sleeping.
2. Acting.
3. Sitting in front of a glowing electronic box.
4. Crosstitch.
5. Being excellent.
5 Bad habits you have
1. Procrastinating, procrastinating, procrastinating.
2. Imagining my own horrible death to the extent that it diminishes my social activities.
3. Not confronting people or issues.
4. Not establishing a history of credit. Which is not to say that I have bad credit; I don't have any credit.
5. Not eating a varied and nutritious diet, thereby robbing my body of essential nutrients, or so I would imagine.
5 people you would like to do this
1. Anyone who wants to.
2. I don't really like singling people out, because they may not be into that.
3. Also, it was pretty hard to come up with things, and I don't want to put that kind of pressure on people.
4. But anyone who thinks they would find it enjoyable should go for it.
5. So if you'd like, you can pretend I put your name in this slot.
5 Snacks you enjoy
1. Honeydew melon
2. Applesauce
3. Cheerios with honey
4. Matzo
5. Terra chips
5 Songs (you think) you know by heart
1. Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin (although, really, I could have picked any song here)
2. Happy Birthday - Anonymous
3. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
4. Levon - Elton John
5. Maybe Sparrow - Neko Case
5 Things you would do with a LOT of money
1. "So long student loan payments!"
2. Exchange my car for a Toyota Prius.
3. Obtain a flat abroad for my mother.
4. Get in good with all the right people.
5. Tell everyone that I'm taking time to focus on my art, whatever the hell I mean by that.
5 Things you would never wear
1. Pants with something written across the ass.
2. A sports jersey.
3. Jeans that create a roll of flesh at the hip-level.
4. Fur.
5. Jewelry with my name on it.
5 Things you should never have worn
1. White stretch pants.
2. Sports bras under clothes (In sixth grade, I got handed a whole lot of boob, and I had no idea what to do with it).
3. Keds, that one time.
4. Terrycloth shorts.
5. Anything my father ever bought me.
5 Things you enjoy doing
1. Sleeping.
2. Acting.
3. Sitting in front of a glowing electronic box.
4. Crosstitch.
5. Being excellent.
5 Bad habits you have
1. Procrastinating, procrastinating, procrastinating.
2. Imagining my own horrible death to the extent that it diminishes my social activities.
3. Not confronting people or issues.
4. Not establishing a history of credit. Which is not to say that I have bad credit; I don't have any credit.
5. Not eating a varied and nutritious diet, thereby robbing my body of essential nutrients, or so I would imagine.
5 people you would like to do this
1. Anyone who wants to.
2. I don't really like singling people out, because they may not be into that.
3. Also, it was pretty hard to come up with things, and I don't want to put that kind of pressure on people.
4. But anyone who thinks they would find it enjoyable should go for it.
5. So if you'd like, you can pretend I put your name in this slot.
Thursday
This entry is about Veronica Mars.
Kirk would be so happy. I mean, he would be if this weren't the exact same thing I already discussed with him in email. I added more thoughts, though!
[Begin Spoiler for "Not Pictured" - Season 2 Finale — Highlight to view]
I am of two minds about this episode. On the one hand, it was jaw-dropping and all around awesome. And I was very entertained. On the other hand, it was completely unbelievable.
Beaver blew up the bus. And killed Curly. And raped Veronica. Holy shit. And also: bullshit. I mean, I accept the outcome, because it makes sense from the evidence. It's clear that Beaver was always the killer, and this is what they've been building towards and hint dropping about. Plotwise, they did a bang up job. In the sense of character? It was ridiculously inconsistent.
I really liked the Beav. And the reason I did is because, as written and as acted, he was very complex, but seemed like a pretty decent person. He did not seem like a completely remorseless sociopath. And here is my thing: if he's really always been such a bastard, why didn't we ever get a glipse of that? Some outburst of aggression or nastiness that would seem out of character, but that you could look back on and say, "Oh yeah, remember that?" I don't buy that his normal demeanor was a facade. If they had given an indication of that, I would be okay. It's not that I don't accept Beaver as the killer, it's just that I don't accept the character that they've created as the killer.
Alternatively, I could have bought it if he'd been a lot more conflicted, and probably a little crazier. The boy who cried out, "My name is Cassidy!" before deciding to throw himself off a building seems compatible with the Beaver that I've seen all season. But he wasn't consistent with the Beaver of the entire preceeding scene.
My problem with this gelled in one specific scene: the flashback where Beaver hits Curly with his car. And then scribbles on his corpse. And dumps the body of a cliff. I didn't believe it. It looked ridiculous. It looked silly. What was great about the first season finale was that I did not see the reveal coming, and my reaction was: "Oh my God, of course!" Because even though I wouldn't have pegged Aaron as a murderer, it made perfect sense. At this reveal, my gut reaction was completely different: "Oh, there's no way!"
Here are some other minor issues. In the TWoP recap of "Plan B", guest reviewer Jacob, whom I freaking love, immediately got the vibe that Beaver had been molested. I don't want to know how he figured that out, because it was definitely not a conclusion that I jumped to. But he was right, clearly. What wound up bothering me afterwards was semi-logic of television that followed: Beaver was molested as a kid. Woody molested kids. Therefore, Woody must have molested Beaver. In a similar way: Veronica contracted chylamidia. Woody had chylamidia. Therefore there must be a direct link between Woody and Veronica. I mean, I get that these points never would have been brought up if they didn't relate to other plot points. It's not real life, it's television. But for some reason, I found these two things annoying.
I was impressed at the death of Aaron Echolls, and I was quietly excited to see Wiedman pull the trigger. However, my immediate thought was that Jake Kane had sent him. (Kirk pointed out that last year, he did vow to kill Aaron.) But it was Duncan. I like my idea better. I guess they had to use Duncan in the scene to round out his arc, or maybe they couldn't get the parents back for this episode, but I can't think of anything, storywise, that wouldn't make Jake a more satisfying option. Also, this must mean that Wiedman, and therefore Ma and Pa Kane know of Duncan's whereabouts. So what's going on with that?
I knew that Keith wasn't dead. Because I knew that the plane was going to blow up as soon as Woody got on it. And they never showed the plane taking off with Keith inside. It was predictable, but not in the sense that I was unhappy with it. I felt the thrill of anticipation, and the drama was well played out. I just knew how it was going to end.
I found it pleasantly entertaining that Kendall wound up on top at the end. Of course, alarmingly, it seems that she was actually the least reprehensible of all the Casablancases. ...Unless you want to bestow that honor on Dick. It's so fucked up, it's great. Of course, what is the deal with her and Aaron, please? It's pretty certain that she could never have gotten out of the suite before Aaron was shot, and it's even possible that she saw Wiedman there. But she seemed most unphased. I wish I knew what was up with that. But I'm actually happy to think that, assuming there's a third season, it looks like Kendall is going to play a large part in it.
Despite some nitpicks and the one large criticism, I thought the episode was great. I'm repeating that just in case I sound too angry. The first season finale was better, though. The first season, period, was better. I cannot agree with people who say otherwise. Bigger shocks do not equal better stories.
Lastly, I kind of love Jackie. This is bizarre, because when she first showed up, I hated Jackie. And Tessa Thompson's acting. "Acting." I don't know what kind of spiritual experience that girl had, but her improvement is proof that miracles happen. I hope this is not the last that we've seen of her. Poor tiny Wallace.
[End Spoiler]
[Begin Spoiler for "Not Pictured" - Season 2 Finale — Highlight to view]
I am of two minds about this episode. On the one hand, it was jaw-dropping and all around awesome. And I was very entertained. On the other hand, it was completely unbelievable.
Beaver blew up the bus. And killed Curly. And raped Veronica. Holy shit. And also: bullshit. I mean, I accept the outcome, because it makes sense from the evidence. It's clear that Beaver was always the killer, and this is what they've been building towards and hint dropping about. Plotwise, they did a bang up job. In the sense of character? It was ridiculously inconsistent.
I really liked the Beav. And the reason I did is because, as written and as acted, he was very complex, but seemed like a pretty decent person. He did not seem like a completely remorseless sociopath. And here is my thing: if he's really always been such a bastard, why didn't we ever get a glipse of that? Some outburst of aggression or nastiness that would seem out of character, but that you could look back on and say, "Oh yeah, remember that?" I don't buy that his normal demeanor was a facade. If they had given an indication of that, I would be okay. It's not that I don't accept Beaver as the killer, it's just that I don't accept the character that they've created as the killer.
Alternatively, I could have bought it if he'd been a lot more conflicted, and probably a little crazier. The boy who cried out, "My name is Cassidy!" before deciding to throw himself off a building seems compatible with the Beaver that I've seen all season. But he wasn't consistent with the Beaver of the entire preceeding scene.
My problem with this gelled in one specific scene: the flashback where Beaver hits Curly with his car. And then scribbles on his corpse. And dumps the body of a cliff. I didn't believe it. It looked ridiculous. It looked silly. What was great about the first season finale was that I did not see the reveal coming, and my reaction was: "Oh my God, of course!" Because even though I wouldn't have pegged Aaron as a murderer, it made perfect sense. At this reveal, my gut reaction was completely different: "Oh, there's no way!"
Here are some other minor issues. In the TWoP recap of "Plan B", guest reviewer Jacob, whom I freaking love, immediately got the vibe that Beaver had been molested. I don't want to know how he figured that out, because it was definitely not a conclusion that I jumped to. But he was right, clearly. What wound up bothering me afterwards was semi-logic of television that followed: Beaver was molested as a kid. Woody molested kids. Therefore, Woody must have molested Beaver. In a similar way: Veronica contracted chylamidia. Woody had chylamidia. Therefore there must be a direct link between Woody and Veronica. I mean, I get that these points never would have been brought up if they didn't relate to other plot points. It's not real life, it's television. But for some reason, I found these two things annoying.
I was impressed at the death of Aaron Echolls, and I was quietly excited to see Wiedman pull the trigger. However, my immediate thought was that Jake Kane had sent him. (Kirk pointed out that last year, he did vow to kill Aaron.) But it was Duncan. I like my idea better. I guess they had to use Duncan in the scene to round out his arc, or maybe they couldn't get the parents back for this episode, but I can't think of anything, storywise, that wouldn't make Jake a more satisfying option. Also, this must mean that Wiedman, and therefore Ma and Pa Kane know of Duncan's whereabouts. So what's going on with that?
I knew that Keith wasn't dead. Because I knew that the plane was going to blow up as soon as Woody got on it. And they never showed the plane taking off with Keith inside. It was predictable, but not in the sense that I was unhappy with it. I felt the thrill of anticipation, and the drama was well played out. I just knew how it was going to end.
I found it pleasantly entertaining that Kendall wound up on top at the end. Of course, alarmingly, it seems that she was actually the least reprehensible of all the Casablancases. ...Unless you want to bestow that honor on Dick. It's so fucked up, it's great. Of course, what is the deal with her and Aaron, please? It's pretty certain that she could never have gotten out of the suite before Aaron was shot, and it's even possible that she saw Wiedman there. But she seemed most unphased. I wish I knew what was up with that. But I'm actually happy to think that, assuming there's a third season, it looks like Kendall is going to play a large part in it.
Despite some nitpicks and the one large criticism, I thought the episode was great. I'm repeating that just in case I sound too angry. The first season finale was better, though. The first season, period, was better. I cannot agree with people who say otherwise. Bigger shocks do not equal better stories.
Lastly, I kind of love Jackie. This is bizarre, because when she first showed up, I hated Jackie. And Tessa Thompson's acting. "Acting." I don't know what kind of spiritual experience that girl had, but her improvement is proof that miracles happen. I hope this is not the last that we've seen of her. Poor tiny Wallace.
[End Spoiler]
Friday
That was the worst funeral I've ever been to.
Um. Heh. Remember how I mentioned how I haven't felt like talking?
It passed. Or I broke it. I feel like a weight lifted off. And now I'm Chatty Cathy.
... She said, in a very short entry.
Seriously though, I feel a lot better right now. Even though things still suck a little bit? I'm working through it.
It passed. Or I broke it. I feel like a weight lifted off. And now I'm Chatty Cathy.
... She said, in a very short entry.
Seriously though, I feel a lot better right now. Even though things still suck a little bit? I'm working through it.
Tuesday
Oh boy oh boy.
I would like to announce that I have emerged, technologically speaking, from the dark murky atmosphere of the early 2000s, and have landed myself firmly in the middle 2000s. With my brand new broadband connection.
Heee. It's pretty sweet. Look at how fast it goes! Wheeeeee!
My computer is still slow, though. Slow like a South American tree beast. ... By which I guess I mean a sloth. I have no intentions of getting a new one, though. But I would like to look into how I can frankencomputer what I have. That sounds like good times.
Also, in NON-ELECTRONIC news, I went outside this weekend. A little tardy of Arbor Day, I planted a tree. In the process, I managed to get some impressive and alarming sunburn almost entirely on my left arm. Here are some pictures! I must stress that the photographs do not do justice to the vibrant, blood red color. Seriously, I couldn't even look at it.
Picture 1 (If you're wondering what the hell this meat hank is, it's my upper arm, from shoulder to a bit below the elbow. I'm turning it slightly to get the best view.)
Picture 2 (This is more recognizable as an arm, though the color is not as striking. Also, that's my bed! I was getting ready for sleeping.)
When I woke up in the morning, it was about 80% better. And now, I'm lightly tanned. This is what happens in life when you're half Mediterranean.
In conclusion ... high-speed! I can't wait to watch some streaming video!
Heee. It's pretty sweet. Look at how fast it goes! Wheeeeee!
My computer is still slow, though. Slow like a South American tree beast. ... By which I guess I mean a sloth. I have no intentions of getting a new one, though. But I would like to look into how I can frankencomputer what I have. That sounds like good times.
Also, in NON-ELECTRONIC news, I went outside this weekend. A little tardy of Arbor Day, I planted a tree. In the process, I managed to get some impressive and alarming sunburn almost entirely on my left arm. Here are some pictures! I must stress that the photographs do not do justice to the vibrant, blood red color. Seriously, I couldn't even look at it.
Picture 1 (If you're wondering what the hell this meat hank is, it's my upper arm, from shoulder to a bit below the elbow. I'm turning it slightly to get the best view.)
Picture 2 (This is more recognizable as an arm, though the color is not as striking. Also, that's my bed! I was getting ready for sleeping.)
When I woke up in the morning, it was about 80% better. And now, I'm lightly tanned. This is what happens in life when you're half Mediterranean.
In conclusion ... high-speed! I can't wait to watch some streaming video!
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