Weekly TV Recap for July 30th

I told you it would be late this week.  Just finished, so here we go.

In Plain Sight - You know what impressed me most about this episode? The military was presented in a good light. Yes, we had the turn coats that our character of the week was going to testify against. But the rest of the military people we saw were good, caring people who really did want to look out for their own, even if Mary did butt heads with that priest from V at the beginning. But she had to or you wouldn't have this show.

White Collar - So, Jones finally got to see lots of action. I loved it. I especially loved how they started and ended this episode with talk about him being in the van. Way too funny. I hope that aren't putting him back in the van permanently, but we'll see. Meanwhile, that last scene was incredible. Neal talking on the phone to two different people, seeming to chose Peter over Mozzie. The storyline this season has just been incredible. And I can't forget about Sarah. What are they going to do with that relationship?

Covert Affairs - There were so many interesting developments. We've found the leak (I'd kind of forgotten about that). So what kind of trouble will this make for Jai? Joan in the field was a fun departure. Plus she got to see Annie thinking on her feet. Then there was Ben versus the doctor. I was glad they brought the doctor back. And the way Annie was so strong around Ben really impressed me. I like her character more as a result. I get that she isn't really that strong, which is fine with me, but it's nice to see she is becoming a much stronger character. But if they want us to care about Ben, they have to bring him around more often. Honestly, if she and Auggie got together tomorrow, I'd be perfectly happy.

Melissa & Joey - I was nice to see the main story not revolving around the two adults for a change but actually using the kids. Frankly, I thought both kids really got to shine, and they made the most of it. I'm not a big anti-fur guy, but I liked how they handled it here. It felt like character convictions and not preachy to us.

Royal Pains - This show always has happy endings, so I expect that. But the reunion between Eddie and Ted, while expected, really touched me. Maybe because we're talking about Hank and Evan's dad and grandpa. Or maybe it's because we're talking about the Fonz and Lou Grant. Yeah, it's been fun to see those two sitcom icons sharing a screen. Something told me last week that Jill's accident was no accident. Based on what we saw here, I think I'm right. So, why? Was Jill the target? Or Boris?

Necessary Roughness - I actually really enjoyed this episode. Again, the sub-plot with TK was interesting and not the exact same dynamic. The main story with the poker player was also interesting - the ending was obvious although I didn't see it coming. Not sure where they are going with Matt's ex, but that spiced things up. And the kids are turning into an interesting sub-plot as well. Could it be I am actually starting to like this show?

Burn Notice - I never expected to see anyone from the Burn Notice movie again, so it was lots of fun to see those CIA agents show up to give us grief this week. Also provided some great comic relief. Not that I was truly worried about Sam. I mean, really, they aren't going to kill off the main four. I was really expecting the fake Michael to die in the final scene of the episode and be a dead end, but since he bought a gun and walked away I'm wondering where they are going to go with that story line.

Suits - It was obvious Gabbi was innocent from the start, but I never thought her lawyer was really the one responsible for the insider trading. That was an interesting twist. And speaking of twists, Rachel now knows that Mike was helping people cheat on the test. What will she do with that? I'm betting that the seasons ends with someone finding out about him not actually have a law degree.

Wipeout - That third round obstacle seemed a little easy to me. Anyone else miss the baseball game they used to have there? That was their best third round obstacle. I was rooting for the comedy guys to win so the boss would have to clean the bathroom. Sounds like a fun guy to work for.

Expedition Impossible - Erik keeps impressing me. I would have a hard time jumping 40 feet into the water, there's no way I'd try it blind. Plus the kayaking was pretty hard, too. I had some self-inflicted issues with the DVR, so I missed seeing the top 5 teams come in, although I did read a recap and saw that the Gypsies are back on top, which makes me very happy. I'd be sorry to see the Fishermen go, but any time you start sniping at your team mates, I'm ready to see you leave.

New TV on DVD Reviews:
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe   

Too Busy

I feel like I've hardly been home all week.  Oh wait, maybe that's because I have hardly been home all week.

Monday - returned from my trip

Tuesday - summer league ultimate frisbee game

Wednesday - I was supposed to go to the Dodger's game.  It was an alumni event here at the college, and we were supposed to be shuttled down.  The problem is, the second shuttle got stuck in horrific traffic and never showed.  I was supposed to go with one of my roommates, but we decided rather than drive (or even car pool) down to skip it.  Honestly, I'll week I've been struggling with wanting to go with everything else going on.  So what did we do instead?  We got a very last minute group together to go see Captain America.  We all enjoyed it; the rest of the group seemed to love it even if I didn't.  And it was definitely worth seeing in 3D.  It looked amazing.  So this turned what could have been a mild disappointment into a good day.

Thursday - More ultimate frisbee, this time with the pick up group I've found here in town.  I got there very late, but they were just getting the game started.  I played for over an hour straight, and I had so much more fun than I did Tuesday night.  Part of that was because the team I was on won.  But most of it was because it seemed like the disc was passing through everyone's hands at some point.  It's a friendly group, we're mainly there to have fun.  And fun we all seem to have together.  I'm actually bummed that I'm not going to be there the next two Thursdays, especially the one I will miss for my league game.  That's saying something.

Of course, all this means I am way behind on my TV watching.  I'm caught up through Tuesday night.  Tonight will be a marathon TV watching session, and I'll probably finish catching up tomorrow at some point.  Expect my weekly TV recap to be very delayed.

Trust me, this week was worth it.  I can always catch up on TV later.  I'd much rather do what I did, even though the baseball game didn't work out.

Another Game, Another Loss

Tuesday night was this week's ultimate Frsibee game.  We lost.  Surprised?  Not me.

I showed up about 20 minutes late (you can tell how much I care right now), and I was the first sub we had.  We wound up with two more over the course of the night, which was about what the other team had, too.

This was our first repeat game: we played this team in the first week.  That time it was a very close game.  It's also their only win.  We got crushed this time, finishing at 17-5.

On the plus side, I got the disc several times and only threw it away once when I had it (although I had some of my usual sloppy throws).  So I did feel like I contributed to things positively.  It was definitely a team effort to lose that much, and no one was blaming anyone else, at least that I could see.

And, as was pointed out after the game, we all fought hard for every point.  No where did we just give up.

At this point, I'm not holding out much hope for a second half rally like last season or even very long at the tournament in a few weeks.  It would be nice to win a game or two.  Playing ultimate is fun, but winning is funner.

Word Association for July 27th

Here we go - this week's word association.

1. Stewart :: Jimmy



2. Leafy :: Green



3. Ridiculous :: Stupid



4. Constipated :: Pain



5. Bullied :: Child



6. Permanent :: Solution



7. Surgery :: Painful



8. Mosquito :: Bite



9. Meat :: Beef



10. Stupefy :: Harry Potter

Weekend Up North

I took a couple days off work this weekend and headed north. I hadn't been up to see my parents since Christmas (although they had been down here for Easter). The trip definitely flew by, must more so than normal, in fact.

Of course, I got to see Donald and Heather on the way up and Donald on the way back down. It's always great to catch up with them. Donald's started a new job in the last few months, and we seemed to talk a lot more about work than normal. I hope we didn't bore Heather too much when we were doing that.

Saturday, Mom, Dad, and I headed down to San Francisco to finally visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. I'm sure it's not surprise to anyone, but I loved it. We spent 5 hours there and could have easily spent more time since we had to rush through the second half because they were closing. We all enjoyed it, too.

Sunday was church and then a walk around a lake in town. My parent's Borders is one of the ones closing, so I asked if we could stop by there. Sadly, there just wasn't anything worth waiting in the huge line for at only 10% off. Very little was at the "up to 40%" off they were advertising.

But the highlight of the day Sunday was when we got back and my sister-in-law called to ask if we wanted to Skyp with her and my niece. Naturally, we said yes. My niece is so cute and even knew who I was unprompted! I can't wait to see her in a week and a half.

We even managed to work in one of the movies I always bring but we never watching - Toy Story 3. They really seemed to enjoy it, too.

So as you can see if was very busy, but such a good visit.

Weekly TV Recap for July 23rd

Sorry for the lack of bolding this week, but blogger is being too difficult.
In Plain Sight - The way they play off our expectations with the mother/daughter main story was very interesting. I was glad to see that the daughter decided to give her mom a second chance at the end. And it looked like things were working out, too. I also found it interesting that all of the songs the daughter sang were hymns. Not sure why or whose decision that was, but I enjoyed it. And boy did she have an amazing voice. Not that found of the other story with the guy and his meditation. I'm really wondering where they are going with Mary and the baby and the dog for that matter. I'll be very interested to see where they end this season.

White Collar - Oh man, this is going to be very interesting now that Sarah knows what is going on. What will she do with the knowledge? I don't want to wait all week. Meanwhile, the episode was fun with Mozzie getting a girlfriend and scamming the scammer. Neal and Peter not working together was fun at times, too. But the best moment was Elizabeth reaching for her phone to call Mozzie. And when asked about it, she replies, "We talk." I laughed so hard at that.

Covert Affairs - I do believe this is the first time we had an episode that focused on someone other than Annie. Since Augie is my favorite character, I'm not complaining. It was interesting to finally get the back story on how he went blind, although I think we pretty much already knew the basics. The last scene with him on the plane was pretty intense, but I bought his fight scene.

Royal Pains - Wow, where to even begin. Things in Florida are certainly interesting, and we've left Divya and Jill behind to hold down the fort at home again. Anyway, I feel like a lot of this episode was set up for part two next week as the boys get to know their grandfather. And talk about great casting with Ed Asner in the part. The exchange between Divya and Boris at the end where he said, "Today you don't need to apologize for your professionalism" was wonderful. Jill will be fine, so I'm not that worried about the cliffhanger, although maybe this will be what keeps her in the Hamptons.

Necessary Roughness - There were parts I liked. For example, TK as dating coach was pretty funny. I appreciated the fact that they broke from him being a pain and getting fixed at the last minute this time. But the fact that he bought a replacement car bothers me. I really want the son to face the consequences for lying. And I'm still having trouble warming up to Dr. Dani. I like her with the patients, but when we get to her personal life her lack of patience really bothers me.

Expedition: Impossible - I've been rooting for the Gypies to come in second on at least one leg, but on the leg where they give up the reward to No Limits? That really upset me. I hope the one guy's ankle is okay. Meanwhile, we've lost the first all guy team. But I wonder just how long the California Girls can hang on.

Wipeout - When they find a good pun they can milk, this show is awesome. I love all the bee keeper jokes. I was routing for the Clownselour, but all three of those in the finals were okay this week.

Burn Notice - These guys are good. And there is no doubt they were trying to frame Michael. Now, how in the world is he going to prove he didn't do it? I have no doubt he will, but this is going to be interesting. In the main story, it's been a while since we had a client who insisted on being part of things and caused trouble. That was a fun complication. But I sure did feel for that guy.

Suits - Harvey isn't such a bad guy, but boy does he not want that secret to get out. I loved the way he handled the lawsuit with the cab driver. And I especially loved the fact that he stepped in to help Trevor. I hope they don't send him to Montana soon because I would love to see this story develop more.

Word Association for July 22nd

Word association on Friday again this week.

1. Puzzled :: Mystery



2. Ordered :: Restaurant



3. Unusual :: Suspects



4. Speculation :: Request



5. Tutorial:: Homework



6. Dangerous :: Assignment



7. Second :: Helping



8. Evidence :: Tampering



9. Course :: Work



10. Reason :: Why

Two Ultimate Games

I've already played two ultimate Frisbee game this week.  I'm planning to go to my pick up game tonight.  Hopefully, it goes better than the league games have gone.

Monday night was our regularly scheduled game.  Tuesday night was a make up for the game where we showed up and the lights were off.  We played that game at the same field, but they actually had the lights on for us.

Neither game went well.  The first one was 17-12 and the second was 17-7, or something like that.  We just can't seem to get our act back together after having a couple of weeks off.  I do think that's definitely hurt us.  We're missing one of our strong players, too, so that's not helping.

Personally, I feel like I have been contributing when I've been on the field.  Yes, I've been beaten a time or two on D, but I've always stuck with my man and shut his down a couple of times.  And both games have seen me actually get the disc and pass it on successfully, along with a drop or two.

Of course, with as badly as we've been playing, my mistakes aren't the focus of things.  Everybody's been making lots of mistakes, so it's hard to blame any one person.

And you can tell it in our attitude.  We seem to have given up.  I know I have.  It's hard to be upbeat when you keep getting beaten by those kind of scores.

We still have one game to make up, but our official game for next week is back to the beginning of the roster, meaning we'll play teams we've already played.  Those first few games were close.  Maybe we can come up with a win against one of them and start turning things around.

Fun Weekend

Wednesday already?  Where does the week go?

I'll tell you where the weekend went - lots of fun.

This weekend was Ornament Debut for Hallmark, so I had some fun going to all the Hallmarks in town.  I bought 10 ornaments plus a set from last year (like I need more ornaments).  But my persistence paid off since I won the drawings that Hallmark had for some free ornaments.  Free is always good.

Saturday last afternoon, I caught the last Harry Potter film with a group of friends.  I loved it!  Sounds like it might be a good thing that I haven't read the book recently because those who have came up with the usual list of nitpicks, but as I said, I loved it.

Sunday was pretty much the usual.  I went to church in the morning and out to lunch with friends.  Spent the afternoon at home before heading out to hang out with friends in the evening.

All in all, it was pretty busy but very fun.

Weekly TV Recap - July 16th

Another week, way too much TV.

In Plain Sight - So, I've been figuring all along that Mary would wind up giving the baby to Brandi and Peter. I was surprised that wasn't how this episode ended. But maybe they'll build up to that. And I wonder if she will tell Mark. The plot for this week was very well done. I could sympathize with both brothers are one point or another. But was it just me or did the brothers look like Peter? That kind of threw me off at first, but I soon got used to it.

White Collar - They are really milking this treasure story for all it is worth. And I don't just mean the complications along the way like Sara finding the passport in the final scene. I'm talking about all the scenes between Neal and Peter that have two different meanings - the surface meaning and the warning undercurrent. I love that. I also enjoyed this episode. It was nice to see Sara have a large part; here largest to date, I think. Plenty of great lines, and I liked Neal working with a young version of himself. Despite the rift they've got going on right now, you can still see the respect that Neal and Peter have for each other.

Covert Affairs - I was thrilled to see Reva back and get her out in the field. In fact, I found all the characters great tonight. Aggie gets the best lines. And the sub-plot they gave the sister was pretty ingenious, too. A good way to use her and have it actually count for something.

Royal Pains - Seriously, what is up with Paige? If they drag this out over their break, I am going to be most frustrated. The friendship of our A story guest stars was so heartwarming. And I loved Divya and Hank's exchange at the end about hoping they will behave like that when they've been friends that long.

Necessary Roughness - I think I might be warming up to the show. It helped that Dani actually talked to her kids a little instead of just yelling at them. I did like the fact that the person who came in to evaluate them saw them as a normal family. I certainly can't deny that. I realize TK is a main character, but I'd like an episode where he wasn't out of control and then in control at the end. That's getting old already.

Melissa and Joey - The translations were pretty funny, although I sure felt for Mel. And the subplot with Lenix and her former friend didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If they were such good friends at one time, how could Melissa have never even heard of her. I realize she's only the aunt, but a long time best friend would be someone you'd know about.

Burn Notice - Wow. That was a very intense climax. Usually, it's compelling but not so dangerous. I immediately recognized Barry's brother as Barry from Big Bang Theory, and it kept throwing me off all night that he wasn't speaking with that horrible lisp. But let's talk the ending. I never saw Michael being framed for murder coming. I think we now have our overarching story for the season. But who is behind it? The people who burned him still or someone else?

Suits - How I love this show! Both of the cases tonight were interesting with some good twists to them. And how can you not love seeing Mike on his first solo case. Once again, the endings were perfect. I already can't wait for next week.

Wipeout - So, what does it say about these All Stars that I maybe remembered a third of them, and even then it wasn't that strong a memory? Yeah, that's what I thought. They just have too many contestants on and too many episodes to really keep track. They picked some real weirdos to come back, too. A few you could tell were putting it on, but many of them were just strange. Plenty of great laughs, however.

Expedition Impossible - Can they come up with a few different and exciting tasks? I realize this is the hot new show of the summer, but I'm only watching (and semi-watching at that) because I need to know how some of these teams do. Once this season is over, I won't be back to watch any more. The show is just walk here, ride here, do something quick and then go back to walking. Makes me really appreciate The Amazing Race.