Disappointed In Disjointed

I love me some Kathy Bates.    I think the woman is an amazing talent who deserves every accolade she gets.  I can't pick a favourite role of hers - Fried Green Tomatoes...Misery...About Schmidt...Mike & Molly - she's so good! She can do comedy, drama, suspense.  I used to think she could do no wrong. And then...

Disjointed.  {Sigh}  I was so looking forward to this show.  And I'm so disappointed.

Can we all agree that laugh tracks need to go away? What an absolutely annoying, unnecessary distraction. I realize it is filmed in front of a live studio audience, but what is the point? Look at the sheer fabulousness of Modern Family.  No laugh track, no limit to what you can film or do.  Netflix has the opportunity to do some really amazing work here, & this just falls short.  Just like The Ranch --- {Snort} Don't even get me started on The Ranch.

Kathy Bates is, as usual, stellar in her role.  Where Disjointed falls short is the writing & supporting cast. The supporting cast is trying too hard; too hard for laughs & too hard to "act". The writers are putting it all on Kathy Bates' shoulders.  Is this supposed to be an ensemble or is it a 'star vehicle' for Kathy?  I feel like they can't decide, which has left me disengaged in the whole show.  I don't care about any of these characters.  & the side-story of the security guard with the delusions & possible PTSD feels like they're playing it for laughs.  PTSD sufferers deserve better.

& so do the viewers of Disjointed.

After 2 episodes, I'm throwing in the towel.  There are too many other quality programs out there competing for my limited time.

Currently Jamming To...

The Hunter Has Put Away Her Gun

I have always been a bargain hunter.  I come by it honestly.  As the child of parents who grew up with less not more, mayhaps one step up from poverty, I saw my mother actively seek out the cheapest of all things.    If there was a bulk purchase option that resulted in spending less per item, she bought bulk.  If she could use a coupon to save a little extra, she clipped.  If there was a way to make it herself, she did.  If she could grow it, sew it, bake it, make it cheaper & healthier than she could buy in stores, that's what she would do.


When I was growing up, I was terribly embarrassed of these things.  I didn't want home-made bread & cookies in my lunch kit.  I didn't want to wear something she had sewn or knit.  & I certainly didn't want her cutting & perming my hair. Oh, the old Toni Home Permanent Wave ~ will that smell ever leave me?  I didn't understand why we couldn't just buy things like everyone else.


Little did I know just how little my dad earned.  We didn't seem poor.  We always had food.  We always had clothes.  We weren't encouraged to participate in after-school activities, but if we had our hearts set on something, they found a way to make it work.  When I look back now, with the knowledge I have now, I cringe at my naivete & ignorance for our situation while I simultaneously marvel at their creativity & resilience, & applaud their budgeting skills. 


So, this upbringing led to me seeking out bargains.  Why would I buy a $40 sweater if there was a similar one for $15?  Why wouldn't I furnish my kitchen with Zellers & later WalMart items?  It just seemed fiscally responsible.  & yet....


The poor cannot afford cheap things. 


Schmutzie has opened my eyes.  

a brief excerpt:

I remember my father explaining to me that going with the more cheaply made product might save you a little money in the short run, but replacing a cheaper product ends up being more expensive and stressful in the long run. It's better to have something that successfully satisfies your needs for ten years than something that doesn't work very well and needs repeated fixing for two.

So true.  So very, very true.

I urge you to read the whole post ~ it may very well change your way of thinking as it has mine.


We are currently in the market for our 4th electric frypan ~ each lasting less time than the one before ~ & I am insisting we shell out for quality this time.  It just makes sense.

Words To Live By

Great article on taking care of yourself & treating yourself as well as you treat others.  Take a moment {or 7, it's long} to read it & think about how you can use this advice to improve your life/situation/world.


30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself


Words to live by.  Literally.

There Isn't Much In The World Better Than This

The More You Know...

Schmutzie recently wrote a very informative article dealing with copyright, fair use, & hotlinking with regard to blogging & internet posts.  She writes:

The internet is often looked upon as a Wild West, a new frontier not bound by traditional rules. It seems an apt metaphor, but in truth it's overly simple, and to treat the web as a place where anything goes not only shows how very ten-years-ago your thinking is but also belies your ignorance of the very real social, professional, and legal implications of your actions.

You can read the rest of the article here, & if you're a blogger, I strongly suggest that you do.


I have to say it was an eye-opener for me, as I have been guilty of using images from other sites without permission.  I do embed a link to the original site where I found it, but that, boys & girls, is just not good enough.  You have to get PERMISSION to use people's work. 

Well, D'UH!  Why did I not think of that?

As a {hobby} playwright, I should know this.  As a {hobby} photographer, I should know this.  & now I do.

Sincere thanx to Schmutzie for edumacating me on this topic. 

I'm A Little In Love & A Lot Amused

You know those Cosmo polls?  You know those ones where they ask 50 random women what they find most attractive in a man & all the women lie & say "Sense of humour" is more important than "Shitloads of Cash"?  You know those?


Well, I actually do believe that a sense of humour is the most important thing that anyone, man or woman, can possess, followed immediately by "Lots of Smarts".  There is nothing, NOTHING better than a smart smart-ass in my book. Boys & girls, if you combine these two traits, you get David Thorne.


You need to go there right now & read his email correspondence with a....um.... disgruntled reader.  Go Now.  It will amuse.

Fine Talent Abounds

Ever wonder what happens when your computer is left on at night?

Check out this website for the answer & some amazing talent! 

Fat & Full

The restaurant at our local hotel recently re-opened after undergoing several months of renovations, & several months before that of intermittent operating hours.  

Our theatre troupe had already checked out the reno'd lounge much to our amazement & approval, so tonight Puffy & I went out for supper.


It is, in a word, incredible.  


The menu, though limited, is great.  The ambiance ~ classy.  The decor ~ stunning.  The people ~ friendly & accommodating.


You honestly wouldn't believe you were in small-town Dodge if someone dropped you there blindfolded.  You just wouldn't.  Well, don't take my word for it... see for yourself.

FINALLY a restaurant you can bring visitors to without cringing.  FINALLY a place to get a good meal.  FINALLY something other than "truck stop" food.  


An enthusiastic 2 thumbs up!

I'm All Abuzz!

So, here's the scoop.


Thursday night at Festivus, a local Moose Jaw band entertained in the green room.  A friend described their sound/style as "co-dependent rock".  Uh... what? says I, as I'm sure you are saying, too.


I don't care what they call it, they were good!  Being the little fan-girly that I am, I have now become a fan on their Facebook page.  You can check out their sound on their myspace.

Remember this name: Brain Sauce. 

It's 3 Months 'Til My Birthday

I'm just sayin'.   If you're looking to buy me something, & why wouldn't you, really?  I mean....1) I'm covered in awesome sauce & B) I lurve presents & those who buy me presents.  Isn't that enough reason to get me this:

or any of the other myriad of fabulouso Wilma-themed wares for purchase at Cafe Press?


Come on...You know you wanna.  Don't bother with this, though.

We all know it's totally not true.  No one would evah choose Betty over Wilma.  At least, not this Wilma.

It Smells Like No Tanning Lotion You've Evah Used

Read Anything Good Lately?

Schmutzie the Amazing {as I call her in my brain} has come up with a, well... an amazing idea.  

She does some 'plainin' here.  Check it out. 

Then visit The Canadian Weblog Awards & nominate someone who moves you.

Think Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. How unfortunate that we have to dedicate a whole month to remind us to do self-exams, to support fundraisers for research into a cure, to remember those who have fought/are fighting/lost their fight with this freakin' disease.




We all are touched by this. Every single one of us. I think of T2, who has been living with the shadow for 10 years. I think of Miss Sally, currently going through her rounds of chemo after surgery. I think of my Aunt B, who has faced this demon several times in her life & is currently, thankfully, in remission after several trips to Mexico for unconventional treatment. I think of two friends {sisters} whose mother has been recently diagnosed & is facing surgery. One is running in the CIBC Run For The Cure this Sunday October 4th with her daughter & a team of others who have their own stories.

To find out what you can do, if you wanna do something, check out the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation website.



Then, take some advice from Supertramp. Cuz they are Supah Cool.

UPDATE: "Rethink Breast Cancer is a charity helping young people who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer through innovative breast cancer education, research and support programs. Rethink is a national volunteer-driven registered charity with a bold, enterprising and entrepreneurial approach. We are thinking differently about how to beat breast cancer. " Check them out.

The Men Who Stare At Goats

I will be watching this movie...

f.m.l.

I'm not so up on the latest internet slang, the short codes that all the cool kids are using to text & twitter & update their facebook statuses with. Let's just put that out there right now.

So, when I saw my niece's facebook status say "F.M.L." I decided to put on my deerstalker cap & investigate what the heck that was all about. Turns out, it stands for "Fuck My Life". Turns out, there is a website. Turns out, said website made me laugh & hurt myself. Damn me, my curiousity, & my amazing sense of humour.

This is what caused me internal bleeding today:

"Today, my nose was itchy. As I reached towards it to itch it, I sneezed ridiculously hard. I punched myself in the eye and now it’s all purple and puffy. FML"


I don't care who you are: that's funny. & you know it's going to end up in a play someday.

Very Pretty, Very Nice ~ Me Likey!

Jose Gonzalez does an acoustic cover of "Heartbeats" originally done by The Knife. Beautiful. Haunting.

Satire & Star Trek ~ What A Fabulouso Combination!

Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As 'Fun, Watchable'

For Safety In An Unsafe World

Erin Weed started Girls Fight Back in 2001, after her friend was murdered on a college campus, to "help women realize it's not necessary to be a black belt to save your own life. Our mission is to empower women across the globe through personal safety and self-defense."


Check out the website, order the books or DVDs for your loved ones, & learn all you can to stay safe & protect yourself! The stats on violence against women, especially young women, are shocking. Let's do all we can to change them.




Sometimes, fighting is a good thing.

New Fav Song

Heard this little gem opening the 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' repeat episode tonight. Enjoy the melodic beauty that is "Pride" by Syntax.