...bit of musing, bit of gushing

[sharelle]

Just a few random things that have been beating around my brain these last few days while my LJ's been mostly idle:

• Made an honest attempt to watch TNT's version of Salem's Lot tonight.  Kept getting distracted, so now I haven't a clue about what's going on.  (Too bad, because I was in the mood for a good spooky flick.)  If anyone saw it and cares to share thoughts on whether or not it was any good, let me know.  It'll help me to decide if it's worth my while to try and catch it the next time it's on.
• On the upside, I'm squeeing over my new Wonderfalls collection!  I love, I love, I love Bit Torrent for making it possible for me to watch 4 unaired episodes!  (Epi. 5 is being cranky and, at 84% complete, seems to have decided that it doesn't wanna give me any more.  I'll have to try to reestablish a connection when I come back from the wedding on Sunday.  But I am the proud owner of episodes 1-4, 6-8, and 10!)  Yippeee!
• Jim Butcher is my latest obsession.  I'm loving his Dresden Files series and have finished the first 4 books during these past two weeks out of work.  (I'm saving 5 for my trip to D.C.)    At first I wasn't certain how I'd feel about these books, primarily due to how they are written using a first person POV.  Normally, I don't enjoy this, primarily due to what I feel is a cut-back on the suspense.  How does one get into the essense of a cliffhanging chapter?  Can you really get a sense of your protagonist being in danger when it's an "I" perspective and there are still 100 pages left?  I was happily surprised at how well Mr. Butcher pulled this off.  Harry is also pleasantly flawed (though, at times, too much so).  Don't think my MarySue/GaryStu radar wasn't in full effect as soon as I saw the POV.  Again, I was quite pleased.  I noticed quite a few pullers for a Harry/Karrin relationship online.  I've gotta say I like the idea -- goes with my opposites attract, snarky lovers-love that makes me delve into Spike/Buffy or Diana/Eric (from D&DC) plotlines.  I just wish she appeared in the books more.  For such a tough girl, it almost seems like she shows up just in time to get the ever-loving crud beat out of her, then disappears for the remainder (with the possible exception of Book #2).  Butcher seems to enjoy the Harry/Susan, relationship and, I do admit, I like that one too.  However, I have one book to get through so we'll see how things pan out on that front.  I'm looking forward to Book 6 in August and, of course, the upcoming series on Sci-Fi.  Surprisingly, I haven't found any fanfic for this particular series (surprising enough to make me wonder if it's discouraged, as with Anne Rice), though I did stumble across a vignette written by Jim Butcher to promote the books.
• Fencing level III ends this Tuesday.  I'm surprised at how well I'm doing -- not competitive, but fairly good.  I burst Val's balloon yesterday and, since she won the overall round-robin competition, I was quite proud of myself.
• Have to sing at Red's funeral on Tuesday.  While I'm more than happy to do it, and can't blame the bereaved for lack of music etiquette, I really wish if they wanted me to do something specific and special that I've never performed before, they'd get the sheet music to me instead of making me go out searching for it -- especially since I'm not going to be around this weekend.  If it were a wedding, I'd probably mention it, but since it's not, and they are friends, I'll just have to do my best.
• Round-trip to visit brother in Okinawa this summer will only run around $1200 for airfare.  I was impressed.  Of course, it means an 8-hour layover in Tokyo, but do you hear me complaining?  Now all I have to do is wait for bro to tell me when he has liberty.
• Bringing as-yet-untitled contribution to the post-Angel ficathon with me to D.C.  With any luck I'll have it finished soon.  (I really am having fun with that!)
• Fingers crossed that LJ has stopped hiccuping up my posts.  *g*