Sunday, September 22, 2019
It Turns Out the Emmys are Tonight
Somehow I thought they were last week, and that I missed them. So obviously I'm the perfect person to make predictions about how they will turn out.
Outstanding Comedy Series -- I'm going to go with Barry, even though I've never seen a single episode (this will be a recurring theme here), because my understanding is that it's about actors, and boy do actors love watching things about themselves.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series -- Michael Douglas. He's a movie star, so the TV people have to reward him for slumming with them. It's like a state law, I think.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series -- Doesn't Julia Louis-Dreyfus always win this? I'm pretty sure she doesn't even have to be nominated to win. She's that good.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series -- I have no idea, so I'm going with Tony Shalhoub, since my parents used to like Monk so much.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series -- I want to give this one to Kate McKinnon, solely because her nomination is listed as for playing "various characters," which is such a metaphor for life.
Outstanding Drama Series -- Obviously it will be Game of Thrones, but wouldn't it be awesome if there were a mix-up and somehow The Wire was announced as the winner? Somebody get me Faye Dunaway.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series -- I think this probably has to be Kit Harrington, right? I'd rather see it as a lifetime achievement award encompassing his work in the major motion picture Pompeii, but oh well.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series -- Emilia Clarke cuz of the dragons, natch.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series -- Peter Dinklage is literally the only name I recognize here. Was he good? I assume he was good.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series -- Jesus, four people from Game of Thrones? Take your pick. I'm going home.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Betting, the Farm
We went to my friend's wedding in Michigan harbor country this weekend. I don't know that it could legally have been any more incredible. The wedding hotel was at a casino, which gave us the opportunity to lose $100, win about half of it back, and then spend that half on late-night sandwiches at the lobby shop. I had never gambled before, so I didn't realize that win or lose, it's confusing as all hell. The slot machines had all these different symbols on them that I didn't understand, and they turned my actual money into "credits" that sometimes did and sometimes did not equal a penny. I'm not worried that it's deceptive or exploitative, though; I'm sure the septuagenarians and people towing oxygen tanks behind them both understood exactly what was happening and had loads of disposable income to spare.
In other news, there was a Hard Rock Café at the casino, so we got to eat adjacent to something purporting to be Sting's bass. There was also an amazing buffet where I was able to eat omelets, nachos, and mac and cheese during the same meal, although we caused an international incident by ordering mimosas because the hotel was "out of champagne" on a random Saturday in September. Oh, and there was a pool, where I definitely felt like there were some middle aged couples swinging. All in all a five star venue.
But I don't want to neglect the wedding itself! The ceremony was very heartfelt and mercifully short, given how hot it turns out September can be when you're sitting in direct sunlight in a suit. They brought in a youth choir for the music, which was sort of like Glee before everyone stopped caring about it. It was at a winery, so there was plenty of wine, and the food was very good. And then there was much dancing, to an 8-piece band that didn't seem to mind watching lawyers spaz out. All in all, a glorious weekend, such that the dread of Monday is hitting harder than ever. Such is life, one supposes.
We went to my friend's wedding in Michigan harbor country this weekend. I don't know that it could legally have been any more incredible. The wedding hotel was at a casino, which gave us the opportunity to lose $100, win about half of it back, and then spend that half on late-night sandwiches at the lobby shop. I had never gambled before, so I didn't realize that win or lose, it's confusing as all hell. The slot machines had all these different symbols on them that I didn't understand, and they turned my actual money into "credits" that sometimes did and sometimes did not equal a penny. I'm not worried that it's deceptive or exploitative, though; I'm sure the septuagenarians and people towing oxygen tanks behind them both understood exactly what was happening and had loads of disposable income to spare.
In other news, there was a Hard Rock Café at the casino, so we got to eat adjacent to something purporting to be Sting's bass. There was also an amazing buffet where I was able to eat omelets, nachos, and mac and cheese during the same meal, although we caused an international incident by ordering mimosas because the hotel was "out of champagne" on a random Saturday in September. Oh, and there was a pool, where I definitely felt like there were some middle aged couples swinging. All in all a five star venue.
But I don't want to neglect the wedding itself! The ceremony was very heartfelt and mercifully short, given how hot it turns out September can be when you're sitting in direct sunlight in a suit. They brought in a youth choir for the music, which was sort of like Glee before everyone stopped caring about it. It was at a winery, so there was plenty of wine, and the food was very good. And then there was much dancing, to an 8-piece band that didn't seem to mind watching lawyers spaz out. All in all, a glorious weekend, such that the dread of Monday is hitting harder than ever. Such is life, one supposes.
Sunday, September 08, 2019
TV Guide
We've been on a roll with our TV watching lately. We flew through the third season of GLOW, which we really enjoyed despite the Geena Davis-ness of it all. I wasn't sure how the move to Vegas (theirs, not ours) would impact things, but it turned out to be pretty much a non issue. It's the sort of character-based humor that I really enjoy, and I really respect the fact that they let all of the leads be kind of horrible at times. Not in terms of like, decapitating people or anything, but just being kind of self centered and clueless, which is bad enough.
If it's decapitation you're after, though, there's always Mindhunter. It's been long enough since season one that I kind of forgot about it, but I'm tempted to say season two was even better. I'm not generally a fan of "slow TV," since I like stuff to happen and all, but this one is so psychologically interesting to me that I don't need them to catch a criminal every week like it's SVU or something. And again, it's fun that they just let their lead character be kind of insufferable. I would appreciate more nudity, though. Full frontal just seems like it would be so appropriate to the story.
We've also watched almost all four seasons of Real Housewives of Potomac, and I'm not embarrassed to say it. Those ladies bring it, week after week. Gizelle is beautiful but evil, Robyn is fun but sleepy, and Karen is one of the most delusional people ever to appear on reality television, if you can imagine such a thing. Even Ashley has kind of grown on me, and her "Coffee and Love" has earned a place in the pantheon of Housewife singles, perhaps not on the level of a "Money Can't Buy You Class," but certainly above a "Google Me." It's all worth a look.
We've been on a roll with our TV watching lately. We flew through the third season of GLOW, which we really enjoyed despite the Geena Davis-ness of it all. I wasn't sure how the move to Vegas (theirs, not ours) would impact things, but it turned out to be pretty much a non issue. It's the sort of character-based humor that I really enjoy, and I really respect the fact that they let all of the leads be kind of horrible at times. Not in terms of like, decapitating people or anything, but just being kind of self centered and clueless, which is bad enough.
If it's decapitation you're after, though, there's always Mindhunter. It's been long enough since season one that I kind of forgot about it, but I'm tempted to say season two was even better. I'm not generally a fan of "slow TV," since I like stuff to happen and all, but this one is so psychologically interesting to me that I don't need them to catch a criminal every week like it's SVU or something. And again, it's fun that they just let their lead character be kind of insufferable. I would appreciate more nudity, though. Full frontal just seems like it would be so appropriate to the story.
We've also watched almost all four seasons of Real Housewives of Potomac, and I'm not embarrassed to say it. Those ladies bring it, week after week. Gizelle is beautiful but evil, Robyn is fun but sleepy, and Karen is one of the most delusional people ever to appear on reality television, if you can imagine such a thing. Even Ashley has kind of grown on me, and her "Coffee and Love" has earned a place in the pantheon of Housewife singles, perhaps not on the level of a "Money Can't Buy You Class," but certainly above a "Google Me." It's all worth a look.
Monday, September 02, 2019
Home & Family
Ian and I went down to Quincy for the first time in so long that I can't actually remember for sure how long ago it was. I know I was there for my high school reunion in the summer of 2016, but I can't pin down whether there was another trip after that. It was before the Bergner's and the SEARS closed, I know that. And before the IHOP opened. None of which is very helpful.
But regardless, we had a nice visit with my mom. We took the dogs to the dog park, went for a run, and hit some of the hottest dining locales in the tri-state area. I also had a project this time, to go through all the papers that have been saved in my room since roughly the dawn of time. Apparently, I felt it was vital to hold onto not only all of my college syllabi, but also all of my daily planners and a surprising number of photocopies of excerpts from Walter Ong's Orality and Literacy. Those were easily sent to the shred bin, but I did also find some fun materials I had to hold on to, such as an AP Lit paper I wrote on zero sleep where I for some reason referenced zany TV dads in my introduction and a play my friend and I wrote based on the relationship haiku of Alexis Rotella, originally entitled Rotella! Clearly, these are treasures for the ages.
I always have ambiguous feelings when I come back to Chicago from Quincy. On the one hand, I have incredible memories of the people I met there and the experiences I had there. On the other hand, visiting the Quincy Wal Mart on a Saturday afternoon scares the bejeezus out of me. I'm sure these are universal emotions.
Ian and I went down to Quincy for the first time in so long that I can't actually remember for sure how long ago it was. I know I was there for my high school reunion in the summer of 2016, but I can't pin down whether there was another trip after that. It was before the Bergner's and the SEARS closed, I know that. And before the IHOP opened. None of which is very helpful.
But regardless, we had a nice visit with my mom. We took the dogs to the dog park, went for a run, and hit some of the hottest dining locales in the tri-state area. I also had a project this time, to go through all the papers that have been saved in my room since roughly the dawn of time. Apparently, I felt it was vital to hold onto not only all of my college syllabi, but also all of my daily planners and a surprising number of photocopies of excerpts from Walter Ong's Orality and Literacy. Those were easily sent to the shred bin, but I did also find some fun materials I had to hold on to, such as an AP Lit paper I wrote on zero sleep where I for some reason referenced zany TV dads in my introduction and a play my friend and I wrote based on the relationship haiku of Alexis Rotella, originally entitled Rotella! Clearly, these are treasures for the ages.
I always have ambiguous feelings when I come back to Chicago from Quincy. On the one hand, I have incredible memories of the people I met there and the experiences I had there. On the other hand, visiting the Quincy Wal Mart on a Saturday afternoon scares the bejeezus out of me. I'm sure these are universal emotions.
