A friend shared this post tonight over on the facebooks. Check it out.
Sound advice
Talk about poetic licensing {Orange is the New Black}
**I was not asked to review either book or show. The views expressed here are mine and mine alone.**
For a few weeks many a friend had been going on and on about this show, Orange is the New Black, on Netflix. Now I’d tried to get into Netflix shows before…Hemlock Grove anyone? Fine maybe it isn’t a bad show, but I for one couldn’t get into it. Which was why I was a little leery to try out OitNB. But I bit the bullet and watched the first episode…which quickly lead to two more episodes and 2am!
But I quickly pumped the breaks when I found out it was a book first. I had to get the book and read it before I watched anymore of the show. I HAD TO DO IT. I always try to read the book before the movie or show. So I ordered it from Amazon and started reading and you know what happened??
I tossed a bookmark in it and BINGED on the last few episodes of the show in two days!
I found there to be very little shared between the book and show. Save the main character and where she was incarcerated. It pretty much ended there. The book made prison time seems like flowers and rainbows, while the show makes me want to stay as far away from prison as humanly possible. Was I disappointed in the book? Yup. I even see that Piper Kerman is listed as a writer and consultant for the show…really? Sigh…
DO I know that the show is supposed to be funny/realistic/a dram/etc. Indeed. But honestly this is one time I actually prefer the show to the book. The show was gross at times and certainly pushed the envelope several times, but it kept me wanting more (I just kept wanting the book to end). It doesn’t happen often, but this time it did. I really had to force myself to finish this book. It was very dry to me and yes, with a little too much “why me” thrown in for good measure.
Should you read Orange is the New Black? That’s your choice…for me that’s a few hours I will never get back. Meanwhile, bring on Season 2!
Share this:
The Common Place Book {and why I keep one}
Last week the Hubbins sent me the following link to this post. I suggest you go read it and the follow-up post. Go on I’ll wait. He thought I’d find it interesting. Oddly enough I’d actually seen the post before he mentioned it to me. Plus I’ve also been keeping a common place book (CPB) for some time now.
In fact I have several. Why? The simple reason is I misplace them. True story, we moved. I packed all my things…and some I packed a little too well it would seem. So somewhere in the boxes still to be unpacked are two or three commonplace books. Finding them will be a real treat to see what I was thinking about or forgot about because I didn’t have the book.
While I know there are sites like Evernote and Pinterest (I do use Pinterest sure), I still prefer to actually WRITE things down. Heck I even keep an actual day planner too. Sure I have a smart phone that could do all these things for me. But sometimes the “old” ways are better. Plus with pen and paper there’s no getting distracted by email noises or Facebook. Theres just me, the pen and paper.
So what do I keep in my commonplace books? Well, it depends on the book. Yes, I do have a few I’ve found. I use Moleskine to write in. All my CPB’s are, I just like the quality of the books. They really stand up to what I put them through. The larger style I use for story outlines/ideas. I have three story ideas going in one book at the moment.
I’m not sure what I’ll use them for. But I like to have at least two on hand…you never know when you’ll need one! I also picked up a replacement CPB for my purse.
The funny thing is story ideas may turn up in this book only to get transferred to the larger book later. But that’s ok too. The way I see it, there is no wrong way to keep a common place book! Sure you can keep one online, like I said I like Pinterest. But for me there’s just something about keeping little notes the old fashioned way.
Do you keep a common place book? If so what do you keep in it?
Share this:
‘The Private Life of BBC Sherlock Holmes’ {#WilderHolmes}
Saturday night there was a tweet-along to Billy Wilder’s ‘The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes’. It was awesome. Apparently so awesome that my tweeting (it was a tweet along) pissed someone off enough to unfollow me. Go me? Anyway, what we discovered was that there were many similarities between Wilder’s Sherlock and the Sherlock born from Moffat and Gastiss. I’m sure they’ve even mentioned their Sherlock was a bit based off the Wilder Sherlock. But I can’t seem to find it now. If you come across it…do let me know.
Let’s take this episode by episode shall we? Warning…if you have not seen either TV show or movie….you should stop now.
No seriously, right now!
You’ve been warned.
Season 1:
A Study in Pink:
In this episode Sherlock and John are on the case to find out who killed the woman in pink. Everything about this woman is pink, jacket, shoes, nails, even her missing pink case. Which Sherlock finds dumped in a trash bin not far from where the body was found. Meanwhile in the Wilder film a woman with apparent amnesia is dropped at the home of our dear detective. Missing her luggage!
Which Sherlock manages to find as the luggage ticket number has worn of on the ladies hand. Guess what she wears?
Oh you clever boys!
The Blind Banker
The only thing that seems to have been pulled from this episode is that a band of missing circus performer have gone missing…The Tumbling Picke-somethings. Which is as close to Chinese acrobats as we’re going to get here kids.
The Great Game
No Moriarty in this film at all. But there is a line in the movie about Holmes not filling himself up with useless knowledge…you know about things like the Solar System. Plus in our Wilder film John takes the sofa rather than the lie-low while our Wilder Woman takes his bed.
Season 2:
A Scandal in Belgravia
Now here is where we hit PAY DIRT! We have a WOMAN, trying to get the better of Holmes and Watson, but mostly Holmes. Much like Ms. Adler in the Belgravia episode. Plus when our Wilder Woman really meets Sherlock it looks a little something like this:
But we don’t stop there people…oh no, no we don’t. There are little things like Sherlock being a total jerk to Watson. There’s also a bit where our Wilder Woman tells Watson she knows he doesn’t like her very much. Sound familiar? It should. Irene said basically the same thing to Watson when she turned up “not” dead.
Note the long table, chair, and suits of armor there…now where have I seen that….
EVEN the furniture…come on guys… Honestly those of us watching were starting to wonder if Moffat and Gatiss pulled anything as their own. Even our Wilder Woman is killed by a fire squad. Ok, fine Sherlock DID save Irene, but still….
The whole episode seems practically torn from this movie. Hell when our Wilder Woman kisses Sherlock on the cheek he even tells her it wasn’t necessary . I’m pretty sure our BBC Holmes said the same thing…
The Hounds of Baskerville
In the movie it was just a mention…but damn there were a lot of sheep in this movie. But really that’s pretty much where it ends.
The Reichenbach Fall
I’ve got nothing.
There was so much more. The only thing I can suggest if you want to get in on the fun is to join us on another tweet along. Follow @Sherlock_DC on Twitter to join us next time.
Share this:
MOFFAAATTT!!
The Hubbins and I finally watched ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’ tonight. I know we are SERIOUSLY behind in our Doctor Who viewing. But we like to take our time and enjoy each episode. What can I say? Ok, fine we don’t have cable and must wait on Netflix and/or Amazon Prime.
What I can say about the episode is summed up in the title of this post.
Seriously I was crying like the girl I am when the episode was over. BUT I look over to see my husband was too. Nice Moffat, real nice. Making two gown adults cry like that. I can’t tell you the last time he made me cry like a little girl. Oh wait…
Anywho, it was a lovely episode. I suggest watching if you haven’t.
I was hoping to write more today, but my neck/shoulder seem to have quite the knot in them and are not making me want to sit and type for long periods of time. Which sucks as I have a lovely post that came out of a Tweet along last night.
Which reminds me…I guess some people don’t like it when you participate in a tweet along of a movie or show. Turns out they unfollow you because of it. Well, last night I let it feel my anxiety monster. Tonight I realize I’m better off. So yay for me and for all the cool kids who stuck with me after said tweet along! You people are the best!
Hopefully I can sit a little longer to get this post hammered out. You know while it’s still fresh in my brain.
Share this:
That was yesterday, this is today…
Yesterday I talked about boobs. To be more specific (it turns out) the left boob belonging to Amanda Palmer and my own left boob. Lots of people liked it and a few (500+) of you read it. Thanks. I even got some interesting comments from friends including on suggestion that I rebrand myself as the Gal in the Grey Bra. Sorry to say, but that isn’t happening anytime soon. Mostly because I just got this sweet new logo AND I don’t own a grey bra. Ha!
Today I’m back to more normal crap that happened to me today. Which mostly involved difficult clients at work, an amazing lunch, and a trip to Target for some camping chairs. There we were (the Hubbins and I) in the “outdoor” section of Target lining up chairs and sitting in them. You know to test them out. I felt a little like Goldilocks – minus the bears. We got a few looks from the swarm of back to school shoppers. But in the end found some comfy and cheap-ish chairs for the new fire pit the Hubbins picked up last weekend.
No photos we were trying not to cause a scene…sorry kids. Honestly sometimes I only add photos so I can pin these to Pinterest. But sometimes the pictures have something to do with the post. Like this one….
Sorry the picture is blurry. I am not left handed and should not have attempted to take a photo with said hand. But the Fall cider is here and if Fall had a true taste – this would be it. Forget apples and pumpkin…THIS IS IT. End of story. Thanks for playing. The trick will be not to drink all six of them in one night.
Ty’s medicine also arrived today. Our poor Senior cat takes thyroid meds for his overactive thyroid. Well, today PetMeds sent us his meds with a new little “treat” in the box. Usually we get catnip. Hello the meds are for a cat. But today, today we got a dog bone. Oh yeah you read that right. So my Hubbins put it on the floor and Ty and Allie sniffed it. Then wandered off. I was opening my cider when I heard something moving on the floor and another noise. I grabbed my phone in time to snag this…
Yes, that would be Georgia. Yes, she was licking the DOG bone and trying to gnaw on it! We have weird cats. Not much more I can say about them than that!
Tonight I hope the weather holds long enough to start a fire in the fire pit. I haven’t been able to sit out there yet and I’ve been dying to get the chance. Fingers crossed. Oh and I promise someday soon I’ll talk about the day at the track….maybe.
Share this:
On the “girls” and @amandapalmer
This post does contain a NSFW image you have been warned. Oh and I’ve had a hard cider or two…so this post may make no sense.
A few weeks ago I was giving the girls their monthly exam. And ladies I cannot stress this enough but….feel your boobies. It could just save your life. Seriously. I check the girls after every visit from my ahem “Aunt”. I’ve been a fanatical checker once I had something to check.
Right so I was doing the usual check when I found something. I didn’t freak out because freaking out gets you thinking you have the “C” word and next thing you know…. Well, you find yourself in the corning rocking in the fetal position, sucking on your thumb. Instead I cracked jokes and forgot to call my ob for a week. As you can see I was super worried here. But I finally got to the doctor and like I thought I was sent off for a mammogram.
That took place today. I will admit to being nervous. But it wasn’t because I thought they’d find something bad. No, I was nervous because I knew this was going to be uncomfortable. I for one am not at all well endowed in the “girls” department. So when the big squeeze happens boy do I feel it! As I thought the tech came back in telling me I was normal. I tell you I laughed right out loud there for a moment. She looked confused…I win!
So what do my “girls” have to do with Amanda Palmer? Well, we both have ’em for one. Duh! But that’s really about it. However, her “girls” well her “girl” recently made news in The Daily Mail. There was an “incident” where one of them broke free during a show.
Yup that there is a bit of boob and some nipple. Which caused quite the OMG heard around the world. I have to say really? It’s a little bit of boob and some nipple. What’s the big deal. I’m pretty sure Ms. Palmer was rocking out and bam! Escape happens people. That’s what boobs do! Plus forget all the times Amanda Palmer has intentionally showed her ladies to fans and non fans alike. To my knowledge no one freaked out then…so why the big freak out now? Probably because there was nothing better to write about that day….”sigh”.
I mean seriously today I accidentally flashed my girls to two people in the waiting room…those gowns DO NOT tie right EVER! When I noticed I apologized to the two women I flashed. Did they care? Nope. The response was happened to me too. Sure I only flashed two people compared to the loads that Ms. Palmer flashed. But to her fans it was no big deal. So why should it be to anyone else? Well, it shouldn’t. End sort of rant.
I will tell you that everything did turn out to be non cancerous. YAY! However, there are six fibroids in there that have got to go! Plus the cyst taking up half my left little lady. Yep I think it’s time you lot cleared out. I mean sure they’ve been with me since 2011 (at least), it’s been fun, but time to move a long now. Buh-bye!
Oh and speaking of Amanda Palmer, my super cool AFP Pen Friend sent me some sweet swag from the AFP London show for my birthday!!
Seriously… Best. Gift. Ever. How I will top this I do not know. But I will find a way!! I promise. That’s all I have for this rain soaked Monday. Perhaps I shall tell you stories of my Sunday spent at the race track tomorrow. Complete with embarrassing photos of me and the sister.
Share this:
Happy Birthday Angel Baby
I know I’ve been lacking in posting for a few days. I was busy with family things and tired from work. But I couldn’t miss this day. It might seem odd to do to some of you, but for me it helps the healing process. Sadly I have two more to remember in 2014.
On this day a year ago I was due with our first baby. Now I know he or she could have been early or late…but we’ll call this the date to keep things simple.
Dear Angel Baby,
Today would have been your first birthday. I can only imagine what a year of firsts would have been like with you….no sleep for momma or daddy, you crawling, talking, maybe even walking, tormenting your fur siblings, and so much more…
Even though I never saw your sweet face or had the chance to hold you close I still wanted to wish you a very happy 1st birthday angel baby. I’m sure cousin D, Grammy, Pop, and the rest of the family up there are showing you a good time.
Love, Mommy
Share this:
You ponder one little question and ignite quite the “fire”
Today I threw this question out to the Twitterverse:
As you can see one little question sparked 14 retweets and 34 Twitter folks who liked the idea. In fact my first response came from Neil Gaiman! But by the time I thought enough to photo it…well, it looked like this…
But the question caused a spark, while lead to a fire that spread through my mention feed thing. By the end of it a few of us made a plan to contact the folks who put together the AFP Tarot Kickstarter! The internets are a powerful tool kids. Will this idea go anywhere? I don’t know.
I’ll tell you this. Even if it doesn’t I made some very amazing Twitter friends today and for that I’m very grateful. Trust me I’ll keep you all posted on if this takes off or not. I would love it to become something. Mostly because a project like this brings people together in a great way…working together for a common goal.
Share this:
A little change never hurt anyone
Recently (ahem today) “The Hat” got a bit of an upgrade in the header department here on the blog and elsewhere on Twitter and Facebook. This due to the amazing talent of Michelle Cavigliano artist and owner of the site My Zoetrope. Michelle has helped me design other things in the past including a logo for my sadly closed tea business and some other projects not yet ready for prime time.
This time around I gave her the following pic
With these (bad) photos Michelle worked her magic and came up with the header you see here on the blog with all the grey hats as well as the picture of me to the right. To see the rest click the link to the Facebook page here. Hey while you are on the Facebook page give me a like too!
So I hope you like what the lovely Michelle has worked up for me. Give her work a look and see what she can do for you!
tures:
Gal In The Grey Hat 