esprit de l'escalier

In Montana

I am currently visiting my younger sister in Missoula, MT for the week. Her house is situated on a hill overlooking the town and then mountains in the distance. I can see how one could get used to a view like that. She and her boyfriend have two adorable puppies, who are cuddly bugs, and I've been enjoying pampering them with attention and belly rubs. Yesterday we went on a float down the Blackfoot River and today was spent lounging around, due to a late night at a friend's birthday party. Photos of all will be forthcoming when I return.

Thoughts on Primeval

BBC America has a new show for their Sci-Fi Saturday line-up called Primeval. I watched the three first episodes this past weekend, on demand on cable and on air, and was really impressed. The premise sounds a little silly, especially as it involves dinosaurs, but it seems to work.

Eight years ago, evolutionary zoologist Nick Cutter’s wife Helen, also a scientist, went missing without a trace. Now Cutter (Douglas Henshall) and colleague Stephen Hart (James Murray) find that there are anomalies in space and time allowing for prehistoric creatures to come through into our time. And it turns out, Helen might not be dead as believed, but hanging out in different prehistoric times. Cutter and his crew must work each episode to manage new anomalies, and any creatures that may come through them. It’s a little bit like if Buffy’s Hellmouth was mobile and opened onto the Land of the Lost instead of hell.

Sounds a bit silly, right? But it works. I think it’s the tone that makes it work. It plays straight, almost like a standard British police procedural. It doesn’t wink at us at its silliness, like Torchwood does, but gives the anomalies a weight in terms of science. As Cutter says, as he’s trying to explain the magnitude and impact of what is happening to a room full of bureaucrats, they are, “doorways in time – conclusive proof that the past exists.” For anyone who was ever a kid who wondered about dinosaurs, it’s an exciting proposition.

It doesn’t hurt that there is believable chemistry and triangulated interest between several of the characters. The fact that Cutter’s wife may have been avoiding him in prehistory while he pined, twists his interest in the anomalies. The cast is strong and there seems to be set-up for some interesting character arcs. Plus the monsters are awesome. (So far there have been dinosaurs, giant spider/scorpion beasts, ancient crocodiles, and this week's preview promises dodos.)

If you’re interested in Sci-Fi, or are interested in a different type of show before your favorites come back from summer holiday, check out Primeval on BBC America at 9 pm. 

(This is cross-posted at newcritics.)

No way, no how, no McCain

It's raining today and I decided to take the day off of work, even though I'm taking off Friday and all of next week to go to Montana and Idaho to visit my sister and friends.  I have to finish a paper for my Dresden class that's due, a paper I've been avoiding.

The last couple of nights I have been staying up too late to watch some amazing speeches at the Democratic National Convention.  I couldn't believe Teddy Kennedy - he looked and sounded better than I ever expected - and his speech had such an energizing, fighting tone.  Michelle Obama's speech was outstanding.  She is such an inspiring woman and I am so excited to have her as first lady.  And last night Hillary Clinton knocked her speech out of the park. I thought she got off to a slow start, but man when she hit her stride, she was amazing.  Her quote of Harriet Tubman was brilliant.

If you hear the dogs, keep going.
If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.
If they're shouting after you, keep going.
Don't ever stop. Keep going.
If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.
Even in the darkest of moments, ordinary Americans have found the faith to keep going.

I've never watched the conventions straight like this before and I am excited.  My mother said that when she was younger her family would always follow both.  We reminisced about her mother, who was a political junkie, and talked about how excited she would be with this convention.  Hillary and Michelle would have both made her proud.

Anyhow, I'm curious to see how Bill Clinton, with his wounded ego, will handle his speech tonight. 

(Oh, and do you think I can get, "No way, no how, no McCain" on a button?)

Brief end-of-summer interlude

Miss you friends.

(Amanda and Mike, I haven't developed the roll you're on, or you'd be up here too.)

Short berry break

I swear I'm still on a blogging break, but I had to show you these berries I just bought.  Oh, HECK YES.  And I got a bag of amazing local nectarines, too.

Blogging break

Clearly I'm on a bit of a blogging break. I had three most excellent friends in town over the weekend. We had perfect, unseasonably cool weather, watched the Olympics, drank Pimm's, ate ice cream, had a bonfire and made s'mores, and talked and talked. Seeing them was good for the soul. Thanks Elaine, George and Natasha!

I've been needing a break, so I've been on a bit of one. Here's a photo of Frank, to keep you occupied for a bit.

Also, have you made your own Manga avatar yet? I did, because apparently I'm a follower.

International PFR - 1

I decided before I left for Europe that I wanted to do an International Pie Field Research expedition while I was there. A savory pie PFR was discussed in Scotland, but when it came to eating them, we ate them with little discussion. By the time I got to Rotterdam, I was a little desperate. Luckily my hostess did not think I was completely nuts when I explained to her my schtick. We were got lucky when we found Proef, a small bakery that Nan's friend had suggested to her.

IPFR: Proef, caramel pie
Guest judge: Nan, American expat living in Rotterdam

Now, I said I was a little desperate, and as you can see above, a caramel torte is not the normal pie I look for, but for a caramel torte, I'd make exceptions.

Nan's review: The crust was more cakey than normal pie, she described it as "dense, straight-up butter cake" topped with "clearly homemade caramel." While I saw the crust as merely crumbly, she saw it as "a vehicle of delivery." The caramel reminded us of caramel apples, or those expensive, specialty caramels.

Ultimately she gave it a 3.5: very good, but unexpected. She thought it had "the richness and satisfaction of chocolate, but it didn't have perfect execution."

All in all, we had an excellent snack, though a bit on the sweet side. (That could have something to do with the fact we ate dense carrot cake with this torte.) It made me think about the existential question, "what IS the definition of pie?" I'm welcome to any definition that would include caramel torte.

When will then be now? Soon.

I'm feeling a bit peaky.  Okay, actually, I feel worn out, through and through.  Gave my She & Him tickets to a couple of the Pink House girls.  Just watched the above clip on tv.  Both Mel Brooks and Rick Moranis are geniuses.