Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Making it through the week ... sort of


Here we are. Half way.




And no new episode of Arrow on tonight.






So I've been binge watching NCIS Los Angeles. I just finished Season 3.

I started at the two episodes in season one where Deeks was first introduced and I’m plowing on through the seasons until I go on to something else. Short attention span.

Wow. The contrast from then and now is amazing in terms of the partnership. At the beginning, they're brand new partners not necessarily getting along and end up this season finally engaged. Deeks was an outsider – from LAPD and a fill-in, a replacement partner. Comic relief. Kensi’s not-quite-contempt for her new LAPD-not-agent partner is there. It was sad in season 2 when Nate had his last episode but then the very next one was Nell’s first.

The character of Deeks was such a breath of fresh air and changed the dynamic as soon as he was on the scene. "Human Traffic" (S2Ep1) is still one of my favorite episodes.



I’d say Top Ten. And so much in that one alone had the kernel of the character — learn he’s a lawyer, he’s passionate about saving girls who are in danger. He’s Serious Deeks throughout the entire ep — and I like it.

It is also nostalgic to see the warm connection between Hetty and Deeks. “And Detective Deeks…. I”ll always love the Gaga.” There’s a scene in "Borderline" (S2Ep3) that shows how much can change in 8 years culturally. They have Deeks, for some odd reason, not wanting to go into the desert because of his fair skin (he’s a surfer, writers, remember? Hello sun on water.) And the painful dialogue does into why Sam would be better suited in the desert because of his skin color. It is cringe-worthy.  “Overwatch”(S2Ep12) and "Archangel"(S2Ep13) has good partner banter/get to know you stuff.

And of course, "Personal" (S2Ep17). Top Three.



One caveat, I’m sometimes skipping through an episode because I know the storyline of it and I’m interested in Deeks/Densi scenes mostly.

I had forgotten how good “Plan B” (S2Ep22) was. Just wow.


And it was the first time they mention their “thing”. Thanks, Ray. I think the writers started planting the seeds of their “thing” with “The Job” when Kensi was undercover and the guy was killed in front of her and she showed her vulnerable side which she’d never really shown in front of Deeks. She has always been Wonder Woman because that’s what you do on the job as a female. Deeks’ protectiveness of women kicked in — you can just see it. And showing up at her place at the end with food is such a long way from where they started at the beginning of just this same second season. When Deeks kissed Nicole (as Max) in “Plan B”, they cut to Kensi and you can start to see the jealous emotions happen, too. Or perhaps just starting to see him as more than a partner-at-work, someone who can be sexy. Even though they bantered all through this second season and talking about dates and being with other people, this was more personal between them. The writers knew Densi was an endgame eventually — taking advantage of their chemistry together which is smart and kind of the uniqueness of a male/female partnership on television but it has been a lovely slow build up. Season Two has definitely jumped up in my personal ratings now that I’m seeing it again. It is simply amazing in storytelling and character building. (Five is still my favorite though).

While Season 2 rose quite a bit in my ratings after re-watching the episodes, Season 3 has fallen in terms of Densi development. There’s a whole lot of nothing there. But we do have:

“The Debt” (S3Ep10) with Deeks going undercover on his own to see who the mole is and Kensi beside herself losing her partner.



“Blye, K.” Parts One and Two. (S3Ep 16, 17) Deeks is the only one Kensi trusts and the CIA handler asking Deeks if his boss “knows” about those two.

And the jewel of “Neighborhood Watch” (S3Ep22). ‘Nuff said.


When I watched the show previously, I seem to remember that it was Deeks who was the one who revealed more about a developing relationship. Yes, he cared about her but with this re-binge, I’m seeing that it is always Kensi who is shown being jealous of others in relationships with Deek or looking at him while someone is talking about the feelings about a partner … We do have “Greed” (S3Ep8), “Let me make this perfectly clear: if you harm her, this is going to be your last day on earth.” And the hot look Kensi gives back. (hee hee, love it).




But I was reminded of how much I’ve always hated the Jada storyline from the beginning. It is just not in Sam’s character to fall in love with wishy-washy Jada when he’s married to the amazing Michelle nor to do anything dishonorable like that. Bah.

On the way thumbs-up side, we have the introduction of Granger in “The Watchers” (S3Ep12) and one of my all-time-favorite snarks of his: “If anything, I probably saved Blye from having to fake more than her identity.” (wow) And Deeks aside to her, “I’m sure he means a headache.” And the great “Sans Voir Part 2” (S3Ep24) explosion.



On to season 4.

And I'm going to be meditating and reading tonight.



Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Because it is.


And we're back .



Started up reading again THE MAD MONK OF GIDLEIGH by Michael Jecks. 14th of 32 in series featuring Simon Puttock, medieval West County bailiff, and Sir Baldwin Furnshill, ex-Templar Knight, in Devon, England.




Alone in his isolated, windswept chapel on the edge of Dartmoor, who could blame the young priest, Mark, for seeking affection from the local miller's daughter, Mary? But when Mary's body is found brutally stabbed, Mark is the obvious suspect, and the discovery that she was pregnant seems to confirm his guilt. Called in to investigate, Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock soon begin to have their doubts. Could it not have been one of Mary's many admirers who murdered her in a fit of jealousy? Or her father, the miller, who is acting in an increasingly disturbed manner? And what exactly is the local Baron trying to hide? Will they be able to find the murderer before he strikes again?

Published 2002. 480 pages. 


Currently about to start THE CHALK PIT by Elly Griffiths. 9th out of 9 in series featuring Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and Harry Nelson, a detective chief inspector, in the Saltmarsh area near Norfolk, England.


Norwich is riddled with old chalk-mining tunnels, but no one’s sure exactly how many. When Ruth is called in to investigate a set of human remains found in one of them, she notices the bones are almost translucent, a sign they were boiled soon after death. Once more, she finds herself at the helm of a murder investigation. Meanwhile, DCI Nelson is hunting for a missing homeless woman, Barbara, who he hears has gone “underground.” Could she have disappeared into the labyrinth? And if so, is she connected to the body Ruth found? As Ruth, Nelson, and the rest of their team investigate the tunnels, they hear rumors of secret societies, cannibalism, and ritual killings. When a dead body is found with a map that appears to be of The Underground, they realize their quest to find the killer has only just begun—and that there may be more bodies underfoot.


Published 2017, 373 pages.

 Nothing on TV for me tonight. I need to meditate and then read before bed.


Because I've got about six of them going and I'm not finishing anything.



 See you later


Much love
PK the Bookeemonster 

Friday, May 26, 2017

Three-day weekend right .... there


TGIF!

Our receptionist called in so I'm on the phones today. Bah.



Quick update, the reading last night went well. And it was accurate, even the name I had received. Cool!


I've got my class tomorrow night (instead of Sunday) but then nothing else is planned for the rest of the three-day weekend.


And I like it. 


What I'd LIKE to do is clean out some junk from the house. But I'm realistic enough to know that that may not really happen.


I need to do a lot of reading, what, I have FIVE books going?


I've also started doing a re-watch binge of NCIS: Los Angeles from the beginning.


Yeeessss. It is amazing to see where the Deeks and Kensi partnership began at the end of season one and where it is now at the end of season 8.


And I have circle tonight which I'm really looking forward to.


And that's about it.



Have a good (long) weekend!



Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, May 25, 2017

The face says it all


So much.

So the Arrow finale was action packed. It had a tender moment between Oliver and Felicity.


Saying potentially goodbye. Again.


And it was getting to be 10 minutes until the end and I started getting worried. And suspicious. There was too much left. Yes, Arrow ended on a cliffhanger ...


  .....and won't be resolved until September or October.


Yeah. 

Nothing really on TV tonight. But I do have .... a reading for someone.


Let me explain. I'm learning to be a psychic/medium. We all have the ability of this but most don't do anything with it. So long story short, at last Friday's circle, I had a message from spirit to deliver but I didn't deliver it because I was confused by the sensation of it. Last night during the meditation that I try to do every day, I figured out the message or I got it again. Either way, I told my teacher about it and she said I have to give a private reading tonight to the person to whom it is intended. That part I'm not nervous about because I can tell him what message I already received. But my teacher also wants me to give a reading to his wife who was also there last Friday. THAT is what is making me nervous.


I'm not good at this yet. But this is how one does get better, I know.



Much much cooler today. Had to switch my cardigan at noon to a hoodie. Better now. Have a great day!



Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

"PK, the Arrow finale is about to start ... "


I can relate.

Arrow finale is tonight


"Lian Yu":


The battle between Oliver and Adrian Chase culminates in a final epic battle on Lian Yu, as Season 5 ends. Oliver recruits a group of unlikely allies, Slade, Nyssa, Merlyn and Digger Harkness, to defeat Chase. However, Chase has his own army that includes Black Siren, Evelyn Sharp and Talia al Ghul.

Lord, I hope it's good. They're promising it to be better than season 2 finale. And they've got a guest cast line up that is a who's who from past seasons.


I've started an audiobook of STONE AND A HARD PLACE by R. L. King. 1st of nine in the Alistair Stone Chronicles.



It’s hard enough for Alastair Stone to keep his two lives—powerful mage and mundane Occult Studies professor—separate without an old friend asking him to take on a new apprentice. Especially after a university colleague wants him to investigate a massive old house for things that go bump in the night. Still, Stone figures it’s an easy job: just turn up, put on a little show, and announce that the house is clean. Only it isn’t. A malevolent spirit is reawakening in the basement, imprisoned between dimensions and intent on escape. If it succeeds, countless people will die. Worse, a trio of dark mages want to help it break free so they can control it for their own sinister purposes. They’ll do whatever it takes—including seducing Stone’s young apprentice and using him against his master—to get what they’re after. With time running out, Stone has to stay alive long enough to uncover the spirit’s secrets. But even if he does, he fears that his own power won’t be enough to send it back.
Published in 2015, it has 364 pages.  It was 99 cents for the first four books in compilation via an Amazon promotion so I thought I'd give it a try. Then I found the first book on Audible with a good narrator so I can listen to it while I'm working.

Also started THE JANE AUSTEN PROJECT by Kathleen A. Flynn. Stand alone. So far. 



London, 1815: Two travelers—Rachel Katzman and Liam Finucane—arrive in a field in rural England, disheveled and weighed down with hidden money. Turned away at a nearby inn, they are forced to travel by coach all night to London. They are not what they seem, but rather colleagues who have come back in time from a technologically advanced future, posing as wealthy West Indies planters—a doctor and his spinster sister. While Rachel and Liam aren’t the first team from the future to “go back,” their mission is by far the most audacious: meet, befriend, and steal from Jane Austen herself. Carefully selected and rigorously trained by The Royal Institute for Special Topics in Physics, disaster-relief doctor Rachel and actor-turned-scholar Liam have little in common besides the extraordinary circumstances they find themselves in. Circumstances that call for Rachel to stifle her independent nature and let Liam take the lead as they infiltrate Austen’s circle via her favorite brother, Henry. But diagnosing Jane’s fatal illness and obtaining an unpublished novel hinted at in her letters pose enough of a challenge without the continuous convolutions of living a lie. While her friendship with Jane deepens and her relationship with Liam grows complicated, Rachel fights to reconcile the woman she is with the proper lady nineteenth-century society expects her to be. As their portal to the future prepares to close, Rachel and Liam struggle with their directive to leave history intact and exactly as they found it…however heartbreaking that may prove.
Published in 2017, 384 pages. This is the author's debut book. Time travel. Jane Austen. Interesting concept. I'll try it. Speaking of ...

A hot one today. 90 expected.



Have a good day. Stay cool. But will we ever be David-Caruso-putting-on-sunglasses-and-walking away-from-an-exploding-car cool? I think not.



Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Oh. You found me.




 













Have a good day




Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster