It has not been a particularly excellent week. Work is continuing to stress me out something fierce, to the point of turning me into an insomniac. There has to be a way to turn my brain off that doesn't involve drinking 3/4 of a bottle of wine. No one wants an alcoholic Gracie.

On top of the work nonsense, I had some issue with my house on Tuesday. Oh joy, oh bliss. Is it time to pay the mortgage again yet?

On the plus side, Matt Nathanson's new album comes out next Tuesday (which I am totally buying as an early birthday present to myself), and he is touring in support of said album, so I have bought two tickets and will finally get to see him live in October. Whee!

I haven't forgotten the remainder of the crossover fic prompts--life has just been a bit too hellish for any serious amount of writing. As of right now, I have no plans this weekend, which sounds like the best thing ever these days, so I'm hoping to knock a few more off then.

I also updated my personal fanfic site yesterday, Manifested Delusions. I don't know that anyone ever goes there but me, since all of my fics from about the past four years are easily accessible through my "fanfic" tag. On the other hand, the fic site has pictures of pretty boys on it, so I guess that's something.

I'm continuing to mostly ignore the latest LJ kerfluffle. I currently have no plans to backup my journal elsewhere, or jump ship. I don't feel like I post enough to make it worth the effort. And really, if all the psychotic HP fans (who seem to be the primary targets of the scuffles with LJ/6A; this is not to say that all HP fans are psychotic) disappeared, I'm not sure that would be a bad thing. If that makes me a bitch, enh. Life goes on.

In other fannish news, I'm still dreadfully behind with both Psych and entourage, but I've been starting to dive back into entourage the past few days. It's not a show that I desperately have to see the second it airs, but I really love it when I watch it. I'm sure I'll feel the same way once I sit down to watch Psych again. I'm still enjoying Greek a ridiculous amount (and would someone write Cappie/Casey fic already?), I'm thrilled that Burn Notice has been renewed, because Jeffrey Donovan rocks, and I'm still watching Night Shift, even though some of the production values are eye-rollingly bad. (The totally fake outdoor shots always make me giggle.) Also, So You Think You Can Dance is still all sorts of fun, but somehow not quite as satisfying this summer as last. Possibly because there is no Travis. On the other hand, even though I'm not a Neil fan, I was totally enjoying his pants last night. I still think Danny is the best dancer on the show.

I haven't seen a movie since POTC: AWE, but I really want to see Becoming Jane, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and The Bourne Ultimatum (not necessarily in that order). I'm in desperate need of a movie buddy. :(

Bought season 2 of entourage at Best Buy today, and it came with a t-shirt that says "Hug it out." I don't know that I'll ever wear it in public, but it's kind of fun anyway.

Speaking of TV on DVD...season 1 of Everwood is currently on sale at Amazon for $17.99. It has risen to number 8 on the Amazon DVD top seller list, and I'd love to see it go higher, in hopes it will spur TPTB to release further seasons. If you've ever considered buying it, that's a really good price.

Went back and retroactively tagged all of my old LJ entries, which took a while. But I was happy to see how many old Everwood posts I have. Right now the only TV show I've written about more is Veronica Mars.

Twenty-eight years ago today...Elvis Presley died. Moron.

Some other stuff happened, too, but we won't go into that.

Still enjoying entourage, although this week's episode was by no means the best of the season. The whole thing with Brooke Shields and Drama was just...awkward. And not especially funny. Ari continues to crack me up (as does Lloyd), and I think my favorite interactions on the show are the confrontations between Ari and Eric. But I don't like it when Vince and E fight. They're too pretty for that. :(

New Rescue Me tonight! I didn't write about last week's episode, although I did like it. I loved that Janet and Tommy actually talked to each other like rational adults for a change. The chief's relationship with his son breaks my heart, but I think he's slowly coming to terms. Sort of. Garrity is still an idiot, telling Laura about Franco and the Vicodin-chick. While I can understand Laura being upset, did Franco really lie to her? I thought she knew there were other women before, and was asking if there were other women now. And as far as we know, there aren't, right? I'm also starting to think some serious shit is going to go down between the cousin priest (Mick?) and the half-brother priest (Liam). And finally, because it cannot be said enough...DEAN WINTERS!

One quick Stargate: Atlantis note ( behind the cut )

I'm going through yet another obsessed-with-tennis phase. ESPN2 has been airing various tournaments as part of the US Open Series, and I've been watching it whenever I can. I'm even TiVoing some of it. It kind of freaks me out that I've been watching Andre Agassi play since I was in the 7th grade... I really like Andy Roddick, and Marat Safin, and I'm gaining an appreciation for Rafael Nadal. Good time. :) But Roger Federer bores the heck out of me. Bleargh.

Thoughts on entourage will be brief, as I desperately need to go to bed...

Ari continues to be the awesome. He totally had me swooning with his speech about his little girl changing his life. I realize that a lot of it was probably Ari-bullshit, and he kinda ruined it when he started getting all territorial about Vince, but it was lovely while it lasted. Although, he never, ever needs to say the words "star crush" again. Bleargh.

Yay for E getting some action with a girl who so far is not a bitch! Woohoo! I mean, I liked Emily well enough in S1, but Sloane seems cool so far. Also, that suit he splurged on? Damn. Apparently that is why Armani costs so much.

I think Drama and Turtle are growing on me. Like fungus, admittedly, but I'm kind of enjoying their dumb and dumber schtick.

It was very odd seeing Melinda Clarke playing herself but married to a fictional guy. And her solo dancing after Ari dragged off Malcolm McDowell lasted a wee bit too long.

And am I the only one who thinks their car is the most boring looking luxury vehicle in the world? It's a friggin' sedan, people. Shouldn't a guy Vince's age have something a little flashier?

'kay, that's all. *yawn*

Watched swimming on NBC today, [cue dramatic announcer voice]The Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool[/end dramatic announcer voice]. Actually watched a bit of it yesterday, as well, so two days in a row of seeing my pretty, pretty Aaron Peirsol. Too bad he's only 22. And completely out of my league. :P But still, the pretty!

Rented and watched both Miss Congeniality 2 and In Good Company today (I had a card for two free Blockbuster rentals, yay!), and I really enjoyed both. I thought that I would miss Benjamin Bratt more in MC2, but I thought Enrique Murciano was a suitable replacement, despite not being a love interest for Gracie. (Which was fine with me, I totally get that Sandra Bullock wanted to do a female buddy movie instead of another romantic comedy.) Of course, I've really only seen Enrique on Without a Trace (is he being typecast as an FBI agent?), and when it comes to that show, I'm really all about the Eric Close, but after seeing this movie, I think I will...appreciate him more in the coming season. He was totally adorable and sweet.

It also freaks me out how much William Shatner has grown on me the past couple years. Ever since he started being all publicly self-deprecating and funny, I have a new appreciation for him. This coming from someone who literally started clapping in the movie theater when Capt. Kirk bit it in the, uh, seventh? Star Trek movie. (Yes, I saw a Star Trek movie in the theater. Shut up.)

Loved, loved, loved In Good Company. This is probably blasphemous, but I can pretty much take or leave Scarlett Johannsen. Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace, on the other hand, I completely adore. And it was nice to see Marg Helgenberger as not!Catherine Willows. The movie even had me a little teary at the end. I think I'm going to put it on my Christmas list.

Thoughts about entourage tomorrow, although I will say that it was totally weird having Malcolm McDowell pop up in both In Good Company and entourage, since I watched them one after the other... Also, Melinda Clarke! Whee!

Wow, it's been a few days since I posted... Guess I'll just go through the shows in chronological order, then.

First up: Stargate SG-1. In a weird way, it makes me a little sad how much I don't miss Jack as a regular character. Richard Dean Anderson did (and still does, in his guest appearances) a great job in the role, but I'm very much enjoying the infusion of new blood. Plus, Ben Browder is just. So. Yummy. Danny has always been my boy on this show, but I think Cameron could give him a run for his money. ( More raves and rambles )

And now, on to Stargate: Atlantis! Wow, I am loving this show so much. I'm totally peeved with myself for missing the first season. Admittedly, I've only seen two episodes, but how can anyone not see the Sheppard/Weir sparkage? It practically jumps off the screen and hits you in the nose. This 'ship is eating my brain, y'all. I still maintain that it's mspooh's fault... Next thing you know, I'll be writing fic!

( Squees and 'ships and sealing wax )

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Jeremy Piven is the best part of entourage. He should be in every scene. ( Tonight on 'entourage,' it's a 'Chasing Liberty' reunion! )

I swear, the Chicago Cubs are trying to kill me. Just when I'm ready to give up hope, they take 2 of 3 from the Cardinals in St. Louis, and stage back-to-back, come-from-behind victories against the Cards and Giants. Heart failure, people.

Finally had a chance to watch Sunday's episode of entourage. The show just keeps getting better--it has far surpassed last season, IMO. Definitely a larger focus on Drama and Turtle this week, which went in an...interesting direction. ( Hug it out, bitch )

I'm debating whether I should buy Earth 2, which was released on DVD today. I'm kind of leaning towards "no." I liked it, but I didn't love it.

Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica (the UK version, which I guess has a different opening) is being released as a Best Buy exclusive next Tuesday. Should I buy it, despite never having seen an episode? Counsel me, O wise people of my flist.

I really think that this season of entourage is better than last season. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I find it even more entertaining, and the episodes just fly by. Maybe it's because this season seems to be focusing more on the ups and downs of being an actor, rather than Vince and the boys' romantic escapades. I'm thinking less Emily and Kristin is a good thing--E is more interesting as a fledgling manager than as just another hapless guy. ( More thoughts behind the cut )

Watched Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events with my parents this weekend. It was...weird. And I've read the books. My dad hated it, and actually left the room before it was over. It just didn't seem like a good kids movie to me, but at the same time, as an adult, I was annoyed by what seemed like a cop-out of an ending. Having read the books, I know that there is currently nothing resembling a happy ending as yet for the Baudelaire orphans, so to even imply that there might be seemed like it went against the whole tone of the books. I was surprised by how many faces I recognized in small roles. I had no idea that Meryl Streep was in the movie, and it was interesting seeing Dustin Hoffman and Jennifer Coolidge pop up.

I was also distracted by the fact that the kid who played Klaus Baudelaire looked really familiar, but I couldn't place him.

And finally...I hate Mondays.

Managed to watch entourage almost completely by accident tonight. I was flipping through the on-screen guide and saw that it was on about a minute before it started. I blame my flakiness on the three-day weekend--it doesn't feel like Sunday to me. Enjoyable episode, but not spectacular. Ari still rocks, though.

And I'm really only posting so I can use my new Ari icon.

I'm an idiot. I got caught up in the Cubs game, and forgot to switch over to Rescue Me. Anyone know what it reairs?

At least I remembered to watch entourage which was awesome, as always. One question, though: when exactly did Ari's last name become "Gold"? I could swear that it was "Jacobs" last season. That's annoying...I'll have to ask filmobsessed137 to fix the page over at Manifested Delusions that features Ari.

I so need a "Hug it out, bitch" icon.

Oh. My. God. I work with some seriously ignorant people. Somehow, the topic of organ donation came up this morning, and one guy said he isn't an organ donor. I asked why, and he explained that it's his "little protest"--that everyone is so concerned with saving 50,000 people a year via organ donation, when we can save 2.5 million (these are his numbers--no claim as to accuracy) people a year by stopping abortion.

Arguments like that make me want to scream. People on the organ donor lists should be punished because you don't agree with this country's abortion policy? You, in all your "pro-life" (which is a term that annoys me) moral high ground, think more people should die to make a point? This is about as logical as bombing abortion clinics. For your politics and policy of life to truly make sense, all life should be sacred. (For the record, I'm pro-choice, even though I don't think abortion is necessarily right. And while I am in favor of organ donation, I think people have every right to choose whether to donate. But I think this is a dumb reason not to be an organ donor.)

Grr. Now I'm all cranky.

On a lighter note, I watched the AFI Life Achievement Award special for George Lucas last night. Even though I haven't agreed with all the choices he's made with the Star Wars saga, I will always and forever believe he is a genius for creating that universe in the first place, and for all the amazing advancements he has made in the field of special effects (how cool would it be to work for Industrial Light & Magic?). I admit, I got a little weepy watching parts of it, although I laughed out loud several times when Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford gave their tributes. Carrie Fisher is just caustically funny...but something about her lips scared me. They were...collagen-y or something.

Forgot to mention that I watched entourage late Sunday night. Still loving the show. Of course, I would happily watch it if it was just The Ari and E Show. Those two are freaking hysterical together. "You carry about as much weight as Lara Flynn Boyle." BWAH! Totally priceless. And how funny was it to see Ralph Macchio and Pauly Shore, of all people? Hee.

I was ridiculously happy when I surfed over to TVShowsOnDVD.com this morning, and saw a listing for The Pretender in their News section. I already have the first season on DVD, and I enjoyed watching it so much that I immediately began scouring the web for info about when S2 might be released. Now, I know that it will be arriving on September 13th! Woohoo! If you never saw the show when it originally aired (or caught the reruns on TNT), I highly recommend checking it out. Season 1 can usually be found retailing for $40 or less, which I think is quite reasonable for a full 22-episode set of an hour-long drama. It stars Michael T. Weiss (who also has guest-starred as Jordan's mysterious, vaguely evil half-brother on Crossing Jordan) as Jarod, the titular "pretender"; Andrea Parker (who apparently costars on Less Than Perfect, which I never watch) as Ms. Parker, a driven woman sent to track down Jarod; and Patrick Bachau (who guest-starred on House this season as Dr. Chase's father) as Sydney, Jarod's mentor.

As I was at Wrigley Field Sunday night watching the Cubs get pounded by the Red Sox, I didn't get to see entourage until last night. As always, I really enjoyed the episode. I think I need to get S1 on DVD so I can enjoy it all over again. ( Contains spoilers for the last episode )

I've been much busier at work this week, which is great, because the hours go by faster and I don't feel guilty, but it's severely cut into my fic-writing time. Unfortunately, ImbecileBoy has moved up the Jackass Ladder to the rank of Insensitive Bastard of Epic Proportions, and I am now only speaking to him when it is necessary for work. Luckily, this week my boss started me on a project for the other side of the business, which IBoEP does not work on, and so I've hardly had to talk to him at all since Monday afternoon, when he crossed the line. Without going into detail, I'll just say that he was making jokes about a subject that I'm extremely sensitive about (suicide), and when I called him on it, he continued to argue that he was just being funny until I finally lost it. I literally called him an insensitive bastard.

For further proof of his asshattery, look no further than his reaction yesterday upon finding out a friend was nearly killed in a motorcycle accident: rather than expressing concern for his friend's well-being, he remarked that the accident ruined his chances of convincing his wife to let him get a bike. Moron.

Needless to say, I've been getting a lot more work done by pretty much ignoring him completely.

Watched House last night--it was an episode I hadn't seen before. It was sad--I don't like it when babies get sick--but I thought it was really well done. And I liked it so much better when Chase wasn't a rat bastard. Oh well; at least he's still pretty.

I got my hair chopped off this weekend. No particular reason, it just seemed like a good idea. Got it done yesterday morning, and I'm still getting used to it. It felt very strange to wash it this morning--there just wasn't enough of it. I think this is the shortest I've ever had it. I think I like it... People at work are telling me it's cute, but it still feels weird.

Can I just say how incredibly sick I am of the whole men's all-around gymnastics controvery? It's just annoying me. Part of me, which likes math and reason, thinks that yeah, the South Korean should have gotten the gold. But another part of me believes it is unrealistic to think it's that cut-and-dried. If he had indeed gotten the higher score that he (allegedly) deserved, we have no way of knowing if the rest of the competition would have proceeded in exactly the same way. Obviously, it's regrettable that a mistake was made, but the judges are human. This wasn't some vast conspiracy--it was human error. There's a reason that marks can't be changed after the fact.

But enough about that... Congratulations to Annia Hatch, Courtney Kupets, and Terin Humphreys for the Event Finals medals! And even though I'm not a big fan of hers, I thought it was really sweet that Carly Patterson prepped Courtney's bars for her. Too cute, and a nice indication of their friendship.

Lovedlovedloved the world-record setting 4 x 100 men's medley relay. Aaron Peirsol is just ridiculously delicious, and what a kick-ass first leg he had. Woohoo! I actually went mini-golfing on Saturday night, so I taped all four hours of NBC coverage so as not to miss that race. I ended up seeing it "plausibly live" at my friends' house anyway, but it's nice to have it on tape. :) And I am seriously considering going to the world championships in Indianapolis in October. ageofaquarius, you up for a road trip?

I am in a complete counted-cross stitching frenzy these days. Fun. :)

Loved last night's episode of entourage, although, get the fuck off my TV, Gary Busey. You are an asshat, and I loathe you. I think a big part of what made this ep so great was the increased Piven screen time. Lurve him. He and Eric could bitch at each other for the entire show with nothing else happening, and I would happily watch every week. Oh, and when Ari left the birthday party to go crash tha beach party? The Piven was looking magically delicious in that outfit. Damn.

So I finally had a chance to watch the second half of last week's Rescue Me episode. Wow, I just love this show so much. I do not, however, love Janet. Granted, Tommy is by no means perfect, and perhaps things are skewed because we see things through his perspective, but Janet comes off as such a bitch. I am so sick of her throwing it in Tommy's face that he is never home. Um, it's called a job, skank. Get one, instead of just mooching off your soon-to-be-ex-husband. Although I don't approve of violence towards women (or men, really), I could totally understand Tommy going after her outside the hospital. Where the hell was she when Colleen was sneaking off with Sean? On a fucking date with Roger the uber-tool. And who was watching the younger kids? Is Colleen so spoiled (she just had to have new shoes) that she is never expected to babysit her younger siblings? Or did Janet know that Colleen was going to be out that night, just not where she would be? Gah. Janet pisses me off so much, I can't even formulate a coherent analysis of the rest of the episode. Although, every time Nez was on-screen, I was like, "It's Anck Su Namun!"

Still loving Entourage. Last night's episode was amusing, and I'm loving all the guest stars, without any hype about "very special guest stars." (Take notes, NBC. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Will & Grace. Fucking J. Lo?) ( More thoughts behind the cut )

So, the Olympics are underway, and my interest is minimal, to be honest. Maybe it's because I live alone--they're much more fun in groups. But really, I think it has more to do with the split summer/winter format they've been employing since 1994. The Olympics, to me, seemed much more special and exciting when they only occurred every four years. Now it's every other year. Yeah, it's not the same sports every other year, but a part of me is like, "Oh, the Olympics again. Yippee." And I absolutely cannot watch the US women's gymnastics team on the balance beam. Any other event is fine, but the balance beam makes me want to hurl. Other teams I can watch, 'cause I don't care if they fall on their asses. But not the US girls.

I really like Entourage. I just can't help it. I mean, nothing really happens, which is usually a huge turn-off for me (I absolutely loathed Seinfeld, which was pretty much the ultimate show about nothing). But this is just a nice half-hour of brain candy. And Vince seems to be slowly growing a personality, which is a good thing.

Actually went to the movies this weekend, which is a rarity for me. Saw Little Black Book, and I really liked it. ( More thoughts behind the cut )

Watched my new Bourne Identity DVD yesterday. The much-hyped "alternate ending" was totally lame. Not radically different enough from the actual ending to make it interesting. I had forgotten how much fun the movie was, so that was good. And damn, Matt Damon is hot in it. I was a longtime Ben girl up until the J. Lo debacle, but this movie put me firmly in the Matt camp. I might have to go see The Bourne Supremacy now.

Yesterday was pretty much an all-day movie extravaganza for me, mostly because I was sewing, and needed background noise. 28 Days was on cable, and since I'd never seen it before, I decided to watch. Liked it. Probably won't rush out and buy it--there's not quite enough Viggo for that. :) It was cool seeing Marianne Jean-Baptiste (from Without a Trace) in a different role. And I really, really like Azura Skye.

Also caught the end of Armageddon on FX, which always makes me bawl. Yeah, I know it's a big, brainless movie, but the whole father-daughter dynamic gets me every time.

My sunburn is peeling, which is very, very annoying. It's like my shoulders have dandruff. Blech.

Got to babysit for my godson (20 months) and his brother (7 1/2 months) on Saturday for a few hours, which was so much fun. At one point, I had the younger one on my lap, and the older one climbed on too, and we read a book. They're so freaking cute. And my godson gave me a kiss and a hug goodbye. :) *sigh* I so want kids.

So tired. Hate Mondays...

I finally had a chance to watch last week's episode of Rescue Me. Was Denis Leary always hot, or is that a new development? Because that scene with the blond chick from the bar? Egads. Just, YUM.

On a less shallow note, I found the episode to be really compelling. This series is incredibly well-written and acted, and it certainly doesn't shy away from the less savory aspects of reality. The scene between the Chief and Teflon was horrifying to watch, and yet I could completely understand the motivations for such violence. Teflon came off as a real asshole. Obviously, he didn't deserve to be beaten to that extent, but he was by no means blameless.

The argument between Tommy and Janet was amazing, and painful to watch. That's how real people argue, and it's awful. Tommy's no saint, but Janet is really starting to piss me off. My mom was a housewife when I was growing up, and it's definitely a full-time job. But it was a choice that Tommy and Janet made; if she wanted to stay home with the kids, then he had to work multiple jobs. For her to continually throw his absence in his face is bullshit. Even bigger bullshit is that she is barring him from a house that he is financially responsible for, while demanding additional money from him, and allowing her millionaire boyfriend unlimited access. And don't even get me started on her contemplating moving the kids to California. I'm sorry that she's having a hard time dealing with a post-9/11 world, but does she honestly think that tearing her kids away from their father--a father they were fortunate enough not to lose at the WTC--is the best solution? Selfish bitch.

Loved, loved, loved the brief appearance by Dean Winters as Tommy's brother Johnny. I really hope he is a recurring character. I love watching old episodes of SVU where he plays Cassidy solely for the eye-candy factor.

The "I see dead people" subplot has me quite intrigued. I like that only Jimmy seems to be recurring, and that Tommy sees different people that he encounters. Having the dead teenager pop up on the TV screen while he was having sex was a powerful, disturbing image.

Needless to say, I can hardly wait for the next episode. :)

Also watched Entourage last night, and while nothing important ever seems to happen on the show, I still like watching it. The celebrity cameos are fun, and I really, really enjoy Kevin Connolly. Although, seriously, couldn't he show a little more skin during the breakup sex, instead of just a little post-coital furry chest? So disappointing. Turtle is still fucking useless, but Drama is growing on me. And the Piven? Still kicks all sorts of ass. "I'm not trying to fuck you, I'm trying to sign you." BWAH!

Grr. I hate being sick. I was literarlly up all Sunday night, sweating, feverish, and puking. Needless to say, I did not go to work yesterday. Have I mentioned how much I cannot afford to miss work? Because I so can't.

Oh my God, I watched Entourage, and I am completely enamored of it. Oddly, my lust is totally focused on Eric, and I find it somewhat disturbing that he is played by Kevin Connolly, whose previous acting credits include the weenie brother on Unhappily Ever After... When the hell did he become hot? And have Adrian Grenier's always been blue? Are they actually blue, or did I just hallucinate that onto my TV Sunday night? Also, I've been a little more than half in love with Jeremy Piven since his star turn on the late, lamented Cupid, so I'm thrilled to see him on a series, even if his character is kind of a jerk.

And last night I watched Summerland, which was just...why did I watch it? I mean, it wasn't as cringe-worthily awful as, say, the first few episodes of One Tree Hill, but it's not great, either. But Shawn Christian is so pretty... I've liked him ever since he was Mike Kasnoff (spelling?) on As the World Turns. The Australian guy is cute, too, although that might be the awesome accent. Don't really care about the kids, although early in the episode I was wondering if Nikki might have a crush on Jay. Yeah, don't ask. Fandom ate my brain.

And finally... Damn you, trixalicious! You had to go and rec the Stephanie Plum books, didn't you? I bought One for the Money on Sunday, and I read the entire thing that night. And now I want to go buy the rest of them! Don't you understand that I don't have time for this? I'm trying to resist by reading The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald, but seriously, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" simply does not have the same appeal as possible Ranger or Morelli sex. Gah.