So I've finally caught up with the rest of the world, and bought myself a laptop. My desktop was purchased in 2001, and is not only outdated, but practically full and therefore very, very slow. Of course, this also meant that I needed to buy a wireless router and get a network set up, since what's the point of a laptop if you're stuck in one place? Actually getting it set up was a bit more challenging than I felt it should have been, but it's all good now.

Because, you know, I didn't spend enough time on the computer *already*.

In other news, I watched the season finale of Numb3rs last night, and...meh. It certainly didn't pack the same punch that "The Janus List" did last year. ( Oh, Charlie )

Also watched the season finale of CSI, but I was trying to set up the wireless router at the same time, and I think I missed a lot of the details. That said, however, ( Oh, Warrick )

Due to the impending disconnect from my much beloved TiVo and switch to a (hopefully functional) TiFaux, I've been playing catch-up with several of my shows. (Some, like Supernatural, I'm so far behind on that I have been transferring them to DVD for later viewing). As such, I am mostly up-to-date with Chuck, CSI, Gossip Girl, and Friday Night Lights. A few thoughts on each...

Chuck: With every successive episode of this show, I love it a little bit more. Who would have guessed that the same person who played irritating plot device Madison on Everwood would be so awesome as Ellie? Sarah Lancaster is great in the role, even though I'm still not used to her as a brunette. ( Captain Awesome and the erstwhile Jayne Cobb )

CSI: For so long, this was my favorite show. Now it's not even my favorite incarnation of the franchise. Non-memorable cases, irritating insertions of personal issues (no, I really don't want to know about Sara's abusive past, or her relationship with Gil, or Catherine's daddy issues, or Warrick's absentee wife), and a completely unbalanced use of cast members (Eric Szmanda got more face time when Greggo was just a lab tech) have all caused my love to fade. I still enjoy the show, but if a couple episodes stack up on my TiVo, I'm not all that concerned. Even the Miniature Killer case, which was so damn cool, devolved into The Tale of Gil and Sara and Their Secret Love That Makes Me Want to Spork My Eyes Out. ( Meh )

Gossip Girl: I have to say, this is totally a guilty pleasure show for me. I'm not sure it's reached the great heights of, say, The O.C. season 1, or even Dawson's Creek season 3, but it's a heck of a lot of fun to watch. Pretty people wearing crazy clothes and having inappropriate sex--what's not to love? ( Not just trash TV )

Friday Night Lights: My God, how I love this show. Over-the-top Tyra/Landry plot? Yeah, I don't care. Coach Taylor off at TMU? Forgiven. Because no matter what, Eric, Tami, Matt, Tyra, Landry, Riggins, Street, even effing Buddy Garrity...they are fabulous. ( Deep in the heart of Texas )

Having spoiled myself for tonight's episode of CSI, allow me to just say( yeah )

Two straight weekends of my parents is one too many. I love them dearly, and we have a good relationship, but there is a reason I moved out.

Anyway...after they left yesterday, I spent some time watching the trusty TiVo. I'm still ridiculously behind on several shows--oh well. Despite burning through four eps of Supernatural yesterday, I'm still seven behind.

I also watched last week's episode of CSI, and while I still enjoy the show, I feel like it's lost its balance somehow. Even though the entire team was working on a single case--a structure I generally enjoy--I never felt like they came together in a cohesive unit. ( Aliens among us )

Is it wrong that I'm enjoying Jeffrey Donovan's character on Crossing Jordan, even though he's an ass? It's Jeffrey Donovan! On my TV! Or is it just wrong that I still watch Crossing Jordan?

I spent the weekend up at my parents' house, which was pretty relaxing and featured good food. Of course, now I'm back at work, which sucks.

I did have the chance to catch up on some of my TV viewing, which is good, since the TiVo's getting awfully full.

First, and best, is Friday Night Lights. I just love it so much, even if I didn't think this episode was as overwhelmingly awesome as some previous ones. ( Kyle Chandler in boxers. Yum. )

I made sure to record Cold Case last night because it featured the music of U2. They chose good songs, and the episode was fine, but I just didn't feel the music was used as effectively as it could have been.

Now, I realize that this is total blasphemy for many CSI fans, but I really don't miss Grissom. Like, at all. I've felt for a while now that William Peterson is burned out with the show, and I just don't enjoy watching that. Plus, Grissom/Sara makes me gag. Perhaps his little sabbatical will re-energize him. ( Reverse Forensics )

I really think CSI: NY is my current favorite incarnation of the franchise. I genuinely like all the characters, and enjoy their interactions. Plus, none of the "personal stuff" that they've brought in so far has made me want to spork my eyes out. ( Fake Alibis, Inc. )

I also watched the last two episodes of Crossing Jordan last night. ( Poor Bug )

So, I'm a doofus. I completely forgot that there was a new episode of CSI last night. Thank God for TiVo.

I did, however, watch Ugly Betty, which was a bit disappointing. I think I read somewhere that this episode was filmed pretty early on, and it showed. The flashback framework was a bit clunky, and it was just weird to watch all the characters seemingly regress. I'm not sure I'd still be watching if Daniel, Marc, and Amanda had stayed the way they were in the beginning.

( Round, white, minimal )

Two of my favorite shows got underway last night. I watched the season premieres of both Grey's Anatomy and CSI. (For those keeping track of such things, I TiVoed both, but watched GA live, and then watched the recording of CSI.)

( George, Izzie, McDreamy, oh my )

Considering how annoyed I was with the way S6 ended, I was a little worried about the premiere of CSI. ( More than a John Mayer ad )

So...last night's episode of Veronica Mars was, um, interesting. A lot of stuff happened, and I'm not sure how I feel about all of it, but I'm going to trust Rob and the writers to do right by the show. There was a lot of awesome in the episode, but in a weird way I felt sort of let down when it was over. ( My Mother, the Fiend )

The fact that the return of Prison Break is being delayed until March so that FOX can air the sure-to-be-cringeworthy Skating With Celebrities makes me want to hurl.

Random note: I bought the CSI season 5 DVDs the other day, and while I'm not the biggest Sara Sidle fan, I was absolutely appalled by the box art. Jorja Fox practically disappears into the background, she's so much smaller than any of the other people. It's absurd.

And finally...I think my brain is being eaten by the bizarro Veronica/Lamb pairing. I'm writing another fic, and this time it's actually going to go the 'shippy route. It has some similar elements to a few of the stories I've read, which makes me feel weird (not like I'm plagiarizing so much as I feel like a lemming), so I'm setting it four years in the future and trying to throw in a couple other twists. It's hard. Ah, well. It's still fun.

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had an enjoyable weekend, and no one ended up in a retail-induced coma. I'm a firm believer in doing as much shopping as possible on-line, so there were no 5 a.m. adventures at Kohl's for me. Went up to the 'rents' house on Thursday morning. It was very low-key and pleasant--no psychotic extended family to deal with, yay!

Spent a large part of the weekend watching my Veronica Mars DVDs. I made it through the first sixteen episodes--great fun. I think I've got my dad hooked on the show, which amuses me greatly.

Speaking of VM...Wednesday's episode was pretty damn awesome. ( Ahoy, Mateys! )

Thursday's episode of CSI was revolting. Just thinking about eating contests makes me sick. I did get a kick out of Hal Sparks' guest-starring role. Not nearly enough Greg, and why must Grissom always be so mean to him? Buying every known brand of hotdogs to find a match to the stomach contents seemed perfectly legit, and I don't get why he wouldn't be reimbursed. And dammit, Nicky, shave the pornstache.

Still loving Numb3rs, although I think I enjoy the "character moments" even more than the mysteries. When Don, Charlie, and their dad were grilling Larry about his lunch with Megan, and he started blathering about gamma rays, I said "And...?" about two seconds before Judd Hirsch did. Very cute and funny exchange.

Which brings me to Sunday-night TV. I've really gotten hooked on Cold Case this season. It was weird seeing Megan Follows, who will always be Anne of Green Gables to me, playing a 40-something-year-old woman. Nice to see Meredith Monroe is still working, though.

It was also interesting seeing Alicia Coppola on Crossing Jordan. I always think of her as the woman with porphyria on that old episode of CSI. She's played a murderer at least twice now... ( Nigel rocks )

Dude, Grey's Anatomy continues to rock my world. Can I pretty please have a George of my very own? I love him so. ( Hey! It's Booger! )

While this week's episode of Veronica Mars wasn't quite as amazing as "Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang," it was still awesome. No Cassidy, but there was Weevil, with an added bonus of Mac. Plus, Veronica/Logan snark!

( Green-Eyed Monster )

I forgot to mention it last week, but I'm enjoying the addition of Anna Belknap to CSI: NY. I liked Vanessa Ferlito well enough, but I think Anna is doing a fine job as her replacement. Incidentally, Danny was totally checking her out in her first episode. :) I'm enjoying the new season--it's great that Hawkes is out in the field now. The exchange between him and Flack this week, when he handed out his card to the victim's mother, was interesting. Also, I'm seriously loving Flack's new haircut. Makes it easier to see Eddie Cahill's pretty, pretty eyes.

I thought CSI was really, really good last night. I know that a lot of people think that Billy Peterson as Grissom is the be-all, end-all of this show, but I really didn't mind an episode without him. He's a great actor, and it's a great character, but it was a nice change of pace. It was made even more interesting, I think, because Catherine's role was minimized as well. I liked seeing Nicky take point on the case, and I love that, even though statistics and precendent indicated that the little girl wouldn't be found alive, he went with his gut and kept searching. The scene at the hospital, when he teared up? Totally got me. I also liked seeing Sara's obvious concern for him--good to see her having emotions other than pathetic schmoopiness over Gris or rage for some victim. And finally...Greg's "Yoko" comment. Too. Damn. Funny. And did Eric Szmanda hit his head on the car in one scene? I can't imagine that was in the script...

Much gushing about Everwood to follow in a later post...

CSI is back! Woohoo! Is it really the 6th season already? That's just crazy. Hey, new credits! There are still plenty of echoes of the old opening, and the music hasn't changed, so I don't mind. At least they didn't go the route of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis.

It was nice to see the team back together, although I'm unclear what that means for Catherine. Wouldn't a move back to night shift, reporting to Grissom, constitute a demotion? *is confused*

( More thoughts )

New Numb3rs tonight! And two hours of Stargate: Atlantis!

This week has completely and utterly sucked. I have an upper respiratory infection (which was only officially diagnosed yesterday), so I've had an absolutely horrid, phlegmy cough since the weekend. I'm on antibiotics now, and I think they're starting to help, but I still feel pretty much like crap.

Of course, I might not have gotten as sick as I am if I hadn't been so busy this week. Lack of rest always debilitates my immune system. I went to the Cubs games both Sunday and Monday, which was fun, because they won both times, but I didn't get home until nearly midnight on Monday, when I was well on my way to being sick. Things have just gone downhill since then.

Since I was feeling so crappy, I left work a half an hour early both Monday and Tuesday, and then 45 minutes early yesterday, because I had a doctor's appointment. Which means that at some point, I had to make up those hours. I could actually probably get away with not making them up, because I'm salaried, but I would feel guilty doing it. So, I've been here since seven this morning, and I won't be leaving until around 5:15. Blech. Long days are never fun, but they're even less fun when sick.

As usual, I'm behind on my TV viewing, although I did see Veronica Mars on Tuesday. I seriously do not know how I am going to survive the next two weeks (well, week and a half, now) without knowing who Lilly's killer is. I absolutely have no clue who it is going to end up being. I know who I want it to be (Celeste), but I think it's going to end up being a more major character than she is. If it's either Logan or Weevil, I will cry buckets--Jason Dohring and Francis Capra are both much too phenomenal to not be around next season. Plus, they totally bring the hotness.

Speaking of Francis, I actually stayed up later than I intended last night, because A&E was airing the Crossing Jordan episode that he guest-starred in. I still only lasted through half of it, but I blame that on the drugs.

Anyway, the VM episode. I actually really enjoyed the Mystery of the Week--much more compelling than the dog subplot, plus it was important to the rape plotline. I was actually spoiled for the big reveal re: who provided the GHB, but it was still heartbreaking.

Logan and Veronica continue to be an absolutely disasterous yet utterly compelling relationship to watch. The actors have smokin' hot chemistry, and I don't feel like it's just been to pander to the fangirls, because, given what the inevitable fallout will be from the rape, it falls perfectly in line with the theme of, "Wow, Veronica's life is pretty fucked up these days."

I'm planning on buying season 3 of Gilmore Girls next Tuesday. It will actually be the first time I see a lot of those episodes, which should make it even more fun.

I'm so, so happy that Constantine got voted off American Idol. I realize that Scott has deserved to be booted every one of the past four or five weeks, but I don't even care anymore, because now I don't have to watch Constantsuck eye-fuck the camera every three seconds. Scott is pathetic and sad, but he doesn't make me feel like I need to wash the smarm off me after watching the show.

I really, really need to go on a diet and start exercising. They weighed me at the doctor's office yesterday, and wow, am I depressed now. Here's the thing: I live alone, and cooking for one really, really sucks. It's so much faster and easier to just buy frozen pizzas or frozen dinners, or snack instead of eating a proper meal, and I end up eating crap most of the time. If anyone has any suggestions for easy meals for one, or recommendations for meals that can be divided into individual portions and frozen easily, I would love to hear them. I have a bicycle that I should start riding, or at the very least I should start walking around my neighborhood. Finding a tennis partner would also be good.

New Numb3rs tonight! I do love me some David Krumholtz and Rob Morrow. I'm also considering watching the series finale of JAG, because I really did love it for many years, and I would kind of like to see how it all ends. But I'm afraid it will piss me off, because it looks very Harm/Mac-centric, and that 'ship has turned my stomach for a long time now.

Have there now been two episodes in a row of CSI without Catherine in them? I don't recall seeing her in last night's or in the LA one last week. If she was in them at all, they were very brief appearances. I have to say, I was very glad that they didn't pull any 'shippy bullshit last night after Sara's life was threatened. Grissom/Sara squicks me out. I missed Greggo and Warrick last night, though. :(

Next week's episode of CSI: New York looks pretty intense. They better not do anything too bad to my sweet Danny-boy, even it does look like he shot a cop...

Sometimes I really, really hate my life. Just once, I'd like to find a nice guy and not have him already be dating someone else.

Here's the deal: now that N has gotten to know our whole group of friends, he's pretty much going to be invited to every event we have. That includes an annual game we're having tomorrow. He's coming, which I was quite pleased to learn. But he's also bringing The Girlfriend, who's actually very nice, which means I can't even hate her, which somehow makes me hate her even more. How f-ed up is that?

It's been literally years since I was genuinely interested in a guy like this. Now I remember why I avoided it for so long...

The Veronica Mars story is coming along fairly well, albeit slower than I would like. It would help if I didn't have a gazillion other things to do. It's a good big longer and quite a bit smuttier than I had originally intended, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I don't write smut all that often, primarily because I'm not confident in my ability to do it well. (The very few examples of my adult fic can be found at my website, Manifested Delusions, if anyone wants to check them out. They're in the Gilmore Girls section.) So, I'm a little bit nervous about posting the finished product (whenever that time comes), but c'est la vie.

Watched CSI and Without a Trace last night. I enjoyed CSI, and thought the storytelling technique was fairly interesting, but honestly, the episodes just don't make me go "Wow" the way they used to. And I haven't seen the last few episodes of WaT (I think I have them on tape somewhere), so I didn't realize how far Vivian's storyline had advanced. Samantha irritated me last night, because Martin is so ridiculously sweet and kind, and she just treats him like crap. I'm starting to think she and Jack deserve each other, since they both piss me off. Danny is still awesome, though. They should make a spinoff that is just the Adventure of Danny and Martin, or something.

New episode of Numb3rs tonight! Woohoo!

I watched the rerun of CSI last night, 'cause I was working on a project and needed some background noise. I'm glad I did, because I got to see the previews for next week. All I have to say is ( cut for the unspoiled )

I might get to see N tonight! I'm going to J and M's place in the city, and I'm really hoping that he'll be there too. And that his girlfriend won't. :P

Stolen from multiple people, but most recently trixalicious:

( four things meme )

Stolen from thepurpleswitch:

( 10 fandoms meme )

Watched Veronica Mars last night, and absolutely adored it, of course. Still have no idea who killed Lilly or raped Veronica, but I sure am loving the journey.

Glancing at my LJ today, it occurred to me that I haven't really done a gushy fandom post in a while. My bad. Of course, part of the problem is that my beloved Everwood and Veronica Mars are both on hiatus or in reruns right now, which sucks all sorts of ass.

I have been enjoying American Idol in all its cheesetastic glory. My two favorites are Bo and Nadia. Constantine is all kinds of smarmy, but he actually did pretty well this week, which struck me as a sign of the apocalypse or something.

I'm three weeks behind on Alias, and I have no idea when I am going to catch up, because I am never fucking home anymore.

I really enjoyed CSI last week, in large part because none of the principle characters were fighting with each other. And Nicky's smackdown of Cavaliere at the end was 10 kinds of awesome. Loved, loved, loved seeing Wil Wheaton as Walter the Crazy Homeless Guy. I knew he was going to be on the show, thanks to his super-cool blog, Wil Wheaton DOT Net, and I was not disappointed in his performance. Quite the departure from squeaky-clean Wesley Crusher. (And yes, I liked Wesley on ST:TNG. I was 10 when the show premiered. And he was cute. Shut up.)

Numb3rs continues to kick ass, and my love for Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz grows by leaps and bounds every week. Rob Morrow's non-Botoxed face with its adorable eye crinkles make me swoon. And I just want to run my hands through David's gorgeous curly hair and get lost in those dark chocolate eyes. Yum. Also, Sabrina Lloyd is v.v. cool. And Navi Rawat should be a regular on the show.

I've been dorking out over Star Wars ever since the Episode III trailer premiered on The O.C. last week. I'm really excited to see the movie, and hoping against hope that I won't be disappointed this time around. I have to admit, the lightsaber duels in the prequel trilogy are far superior to those in the classic films.

Hmm, maybe I need a Star Wars icon too...

Oh! I'm completely addicted to House as well. That show rocks. And Jesse Spencer is just so very, very pretty. Mmmmm.

My house is a complete and utter disaster. Seriously. There is crap everywhere. It's not, like, gross or moldy, it's just super-duper cluttered. I so need to put stuff away. What a fab way to spend a Friday night. At least Numb3rs is on...

Watched The O.C. last night, and I mostly enjoyed it. Am I the only one who likes Zack? 'Cause I seriously think he's adorable, and I want him to stick around. Besides, Seth and Ryan need him in the comic book club!

Also watched CSI, and can I just say? Greg is the cutest thing ever! So sweet and dorky and clueless. Lurve him.

Without a Trace has kinda been boring my lately. I really watch for the prettiness that is Eric Close. Mmmm. Eric Close.

People need to write more Veronica Mars fic. Particularly smutty V/L or V/W. Or even L/V/W. And they need to write it NOW.

Stolen from a variety of people: ( 5 by 5 fandom meme )

Okay, this whole lesbian storyline is freaking me out. Not because of the lesbians, but because it's actually, kinda, sorta, maybe, a little bit making me like Marissa more. I don't feel the urge to throw things at the screen when she has scenes with Alex, which was pretty much my standard reaction when she was with Ryan, or Luke, or DJ, or...anyone else, really.

People, I don't want to like Marissa. I am secure in my hatred of her. Gah.

( More O.C. thoughts )

I think my CSI love is fading. I'll keep watching, and I know I'll buy the DVDs, but I don't go "that rocked" after watching episodes anymore. ( Fuck, isn't the SS Geek Love dead yet? )

Barely watched Without a Trace. Ah, well.

This week has just flown by, it's insane. I can't believe that it's already been a week since I was getting ready to head up to the retreat. Have I mentioned what an absolutely fantastic time I had? I totally miss the kids. It's experiences like that which make me kind of wish I got to work with them on a more regular basis. I can hardly wait until March; I'm sure the next group of staff and participants will be just as amazing.

I've pretty much been going non-stop since I got home last Sunday, aside from being in bed sick on Monday. Last night my parents came over and helped me decorate my house for Christmas. Originally it was just going to be me and my mom, but with my dad out of a job, he came along as well. Didn't really do any of the decorating, but at least he wasn't sitting at home by himself.

Watched The O.C. last night, my enjoyment of which was dampened by my mother's need to talk all the time. Not as much squeeage as last week, I didn't think, but I loved that Lindsay and Ryan hooked up at the end. How cute that they were playing video games! And the whole twist with ( spoiler for those who haven't seen )

And as always, Ben McKenzie is hot. :)

Also watched C.S.I., as per usual, and I'm really not digging the split-shifts thing. Bleah. Pretty much all my favorite episodes of the show have involved the whole group working on a single case. And Whatshername from day shift bugs. Double bleah. I thought the dynamic between Catherine and Warrick was interesting, when she was reiterating that she wasn't Grissom. I wonder how long she'll survive in a supervisory capacity.

And now we know that Sara was a foster kid for as least part of her childhood. I wonder what her mother did to her? I find this storyline much more interesting than the "Sara is an alcoholic" or "Sara wants a promotion" or "Sara pines after Grissom" debacles.

I found Without a Trace to be rather boring, honestly. I don't really care all that much about Jack's divorce, just so long as he and Samantha don't hook up again. And how cute are Sam and Martin? And how adorable was Martin in that Santa hat? Squee!

So glad it's Friday.

And finally...I'm getting ready to send out Christmas cards. If you would like one, shoot me an e-mail with your full name and address (anglgrace@hotmail.com)