Confessions of a Fannish Dinosaur

Hi. Is anyone else experiencing times when it's not possible to post on livejournal? I keep clicking on the "update journal" page to post but the button "post to AprilValentine" is often greyed out. It happens very frequently and this time it's been this way since last night. It wouldn't be so bad because I can always update via Dreamwidth, for my own journal. But I need to post on Crack_van -- and I can't! Frustrating!!

If you've had the same issues, let me know.

Also, almost Happy New Year wishes to all my friends!

I woke up with this fic half written in my head after I spent most of last night torturing myself by reading more fan reviews -- never has any ep been so universally hated on -- and then finding promo pics and an extended preview and then this video on CBS Press.com.

( Spoilers ahead. )

Yesterday I should have done my 30th day in my 30 Days of Blogging but I was feeling crummy at work and when I got home, just went straight to sleep. I woke up around 9:30 and went online a bit for chatting and then signed off with still some time left before midnight, but by then I'd developed a definite migraine.

I do plan to keep on posting regularly, perhaps as corvidology suggested, three times a week. I'll be commenting on the new episodes of Person of Interest on either Tuesday nights after they air or the following day when I've had a chance to collect my thoughts as well as trying to find interesting stuff to blog about, whether its fandom or my RL activities, crafts or anything else that seems to be not too trivial


I've really enjoyed doing this, and I know that some of the time I didn't exactly blog but only posted a fic that I'd done, but hey... it was something, right?

It's Saturday and I haven't had much to do. I'm watching "BUtterfield 8" which Elizabeth Taylor won an Academy Award for, though she and Eddie Fisher hated the film. She plays a call girl or "slut" as she refers to herself, whose phone exchange is Butterfield 8, hence the title. Susan Oliver plays Liz's character's childhood friend, played by Eddie Fisher. I met Susan Oliver at Bi-Centenial-10 Convention in NYC in 1976. It was the first performance of the Omicron Ceti Three and we won a third prize trohpy for "You're My Home, Entereprise" to the tune of John Denver's "Country Roads" in the Costume Call. When we took the stage again to get our trophy -- to the applause of 5,000 fans in the ballroom, I might add, Susan Oliver who was one of the judges complemented us. "Your song lyrics were so sincere," she told me. And I replied, "Star Trek fans are very sincere about the show," or some such. Not why I'm watching the movie, it's just what's on TMC right now. Lawrence Harvey is all brooding and his wife is Dina Merrill, trying to deal with his clandestine love for Liz Taylor. But it did bring back that memory of meeting Susan Oliver.

Here's a little pic I thought I'd share. I think it proves that the phenomenon of photo bombing isn't a new thing after all.

I thought the episode was really well done, especially since we didn't have a season cliffhanger (except for Root's phone call at the end of God Mode) and it was great to see all the characters involved, to greater or lesser degrees. (Actually, nobody decrees that all final eps of a show for the season have to be cliffhangers. Before "Who Shot J.R.?" they were just regular eps that happened to come last and weren't even considered "finales.")

I was thoroughly enthralled by Root -- she reminded me of Sarah Connor in the psychiatric hospital in Terminator 2. Her shrink, who like Carmichael, doesn't fully grasp what his patient is driving at, kept trying to intimidate her, promising her a visit with her son, only to put her back in solitary, while she kept saying judgement day was coming, all the while doing chin ups in her cell and eventually taking him hostage when she made her escape attempt. That chilling conversation she had where she started enumerating facts about his life and his face got more and more shocked was great.

I liked Carter in the episode and was glad she got a change of clothes, or several of them. I didn't see any flirting or the like between her and Reese, just the usual friendly talk and him being concerned about her demotion. I'd say telling her she looked "badass" wasn't the same kind of compliment than if he'd told her admiringly how hot she looked. At the bar, she flirted with the guy who wanted to buy her a drink and was all business with Reese. I half expected a guy to be in her bedroom when she got home -- thinking, whoa, that would be a shocker! But alas, in her closet was only her own wall of crime, much like Finch's, and it looks like she's got her own agenda going and is still investigating Beecher's death and the other unsolved murders. I do worry that when she learns who really killed those two cops, some serious s*** will be hitting the fan.

When Reese in essence offered her a job so she wouldn't have to walk a beat, she turned him down, with the comment that she's a cop. I think she still prefers the idea of being a cop than being a vigilante. And she wants to bring down those resposible for the deaths and her demotion. Which is probably why she's kept Elias tucked away. I loved her scene with Elias and Scarface -- and Scarface thanking her for saving his boss. One of the reviews I read asked "is it bad that I now ship Carter/Scarface?" lol

I liked the number too. I've seen some comments around here and the web about some numbers not being as interesting or compelling... and yes, they aren't all that way. But I think the thing to remember is that the Machine tells about "irrelevants" about "ordinary people" who will be the victims of crimes, so expecting them all to be fascinating, compelling individuals or important people in their own right is kind of besides the point. This guy was honest and true to himself, as Reese said, and the Machine noted the connection he had to his less than honest buddy, thereby giving us his number. I loved finding out that Reese had his own reasons for going into the military, that we still don't know the full details on and how he counseled Salazar that when the CIA came calling, to say no.

Loved Reese's dead pan humor all through the ep. "Are you guys closed?" recalled his "have you seen the men's room?" to Anton and company back in the pilot. He was hilarious when he realized he was in the midst of a bar fight that he hadn't started. Loved the shoot out at the pawn shop -- that shot of him on the floor, legs spread while firing was one we haven't seen before. He identified with the number, again telling Finch he liked him, and he wanted to see him succeed and get out of trouble. Loved the way he complained about the nearly kidnapped diplomat's son at the beginning: "they never say thank you" and then us getting to see Salazar thank him with a handshake.

I enjoyed Shaw... I think that more than her being there to keep JC from having to do as much of the heavy lifting stunt-wise, they can put Reese into situations that even someone as skilled as he might have difficulty getting out of by himself, like the pawn shop. And her banter with Finch, Reese and Fusco was funny.

I liked Fusco being called to help and to defuse the bomb -- I'm sure they wouldn't have left him if Finch hadn't first learned he knew what he was doing. He was hilarious all mad at being a human shield for Shaw too, but I still say they make a cute couple. I think they'd be an even more adorable odd couple than Reese and Finch do.

Finch wasn't stuck in the Library, he got out and about more than once, which I liked. Loved him hacking into the bad guys' computer on the steps, walking Bear at night and with Reese as they passed by the ship and seeing him drink his boiler maker.

That leads me to saying that most of all I was so happy to see Reese and Finch together again. Just seeing them in the preview scene was enough to make me smile, at seeing our heroes on the job, back to what passes for normal with them since the events of God Mode. That's what was best about this episode, I think. Not just the two of them, but for new and old viewers alike to start the new season on its new night seeing more of the team effort and how the characters, old and new, are fitting together.

But it was an episode where the closeness between Reese and Finch was perfect. They were walking Bear together and discussing the new number. Reese teased Finch about the Fleet being in and what sailors so on shoreleave, to Finch's distaste. And they worked together to save Salazar's friend when he was strapped to the bomb (bombs are a squick of mine and this got to me nearly as much as Reese' bomb vest in Dead Reckoning). Then, at the end, they were together in the bar, having a drink. I'm not sure I totally believe it was Finch's first boiler maker -- it could be but then, I can imagine Nathan trying to convince him to drink one. And Reese's loving smile at Finch when he did pick it up! When John responded to Harold's comment about how he got into the service with that teasing "I never told you" his tone of voice did me in! So they're in a bar, doing what sailors do... what's next? Matching tatoos? They could get each other's names... wait, they don't use their real names. It'll have to be "John" and "Harold."

I am glad to see most fans enjoyed the episode and are glad to be having the show back again.

Darn! I completely forgot to set my dvr to record the Emmy's. When Ian came to pick me up from work he said that Carried Preston was a presenter! She'd won an Emmy for her guest starring performance on The Good Wife last week at the creative arts Emmys. Bob Newhart did too, and Ian said that he got to present too, with Jim Parsons who plays Sheldon. I figured they might show Carrie Preston and I'd really wanted to watch them when I got home. Shoot. Well, I guess I'll see some of them on YouTube soon.

I finally got to see Richard Burgi's performance on "Devious Maids." He's in episode 4, "Making the Bed" where he plays the brother of Susan Lucci's character, who romanced their maid 20 years ago and then dumped her to marry a rich woman. Now he's divorced and back for a visit, but she's too smart for him this time. Richard plays another not so lovable cad -- wish he wasn't so type cast in these kinds of roles. And he didn't even take his shirt off!

So the "Devious Maids" marathon kept recording but no Emmys. Sigh. At least I've probably got the episode where Brett Cullen is naked.

After writing the 10 fics in 10 days, I feel a little burned out here. And I don't have much to blog about tonight.

Today is September 20. It would be my dad's birthday. He died in 1980, but if he was alive, he'd be 100 today. His birthday's today, my ex husband's is next Friday and mine is the following Friday. We were all in a line, back then. I don't celebrate with my ex anymore, obviously. But I spoke to my son today and said I'd like to go out on my birthday and see that new Sandra Bullock/George Clooney movie, "Gravity" since it's opening on my birthday. So I think that's what we're going to do. I'm not into counting years or anything or having a big do, but going out with family is always nice.

I found out that the Person of Interest cast will be doing autographs at ComicCon -- and to get them you have to be selected in a lottery they are having on FB. You go to the ComicCon FB page and register on Sept. 25. I didn't even see their autograph sessions listed, but I think since they are special -- i.e. the lottery -- they must not have been listed. The big stars like John Barrowman and Shatner aren't on this lottery system. So that is making me feel a little stressed. I think if you don't get in the first time there's a "second chance" lottery. Sigh. It would be nice not to have to stand in a line for hours though, so I'm going to try. I'm not usually an autograph seeker but in this case, I would like to do it. It's not real easy to get a chance to say 'hi' to this cast. When I was watching them film back in March, I didn't approach Jim Caviezel, so if I do get in, it will be nice.

Off to bed to continue to rest up from the writing marathon.

I've reached the end of the Ten in Ten challenge! This one was suggested by Esteefee. It's light and sweet, a first time with Bear's help.

Bear Knows Best

I avoid spoilers up to a point. But that point has been reached! The first clip (not a promo) of the first new ep has been posted! It's under the cut for those who want to skip it but I'm dying here! I won't tell you what is happening, but it's so wonderful to see Reese and Finch walking and talking in a scene I've never seen before! I want to make screen grabs and icons and do fanart!!! I want the whole episode!

This is like what they've been doing since last year, posting an early scene from the ep for us to see ahead of time. I am soooo happy!

( under the cut )

I had a great weekend... though I got up on Saturday much earlier than I get up for work. We had a jewelry flea market at my church to make money for some of our projects in the community. Tons of gorgeous stuff was donated, from cheapo stuff we sold for 25 or 50 cents to nice silver jewelry and some leather handbangs and silk scarves. I helped out during the week by doing some organizing and then came to help sell on Saturday. It was chilly and I'd forgotten a jacket but eventually it got a little warmer when the sun finally came out all the way. We didn't seem to have many customers but we managed to take in nearly two thousand dollars anyway. I think a lot of the spending was by those of us there who came to help out. I got a pair of little grape earrings for my DIL, a tie tack for my son, a couple of things for gifts for others, a pair of CZ stud earrings for only $5 -- and they are really nice with good posts, not cheap nickle/base metal ones so they don't bother my ears, a lovely heart shaped purse mirror with a hand made case and a gorgeous feather ladies hat. It is in brand new condition, the close to the head type of hat from the fifites, with a tag from a now closed store here in town, Hutzlers It was donated by a 90 year old man in choir; it belonged to his late wife, and when I found out it was hers, I eagerly bought it. I will possibly use it with a steampunk outfit at some point, but right now it's sitting on dislpay on my entertainment center! I went to church today and since choir has started again, we sang. We're trying to get more people to join and we had a few come up with us to help us do a lovely arrangement of "Amazing Grace" -- which of course has Star Trek connotations.

Speaking of Trek, I got my copy of Into Darkness this week, but since I have my Amazon deliveries go to my DIL's office now, I didn't get it til Saturday. I watched the special features on the blu ray that night and started the movie but fell asleep before it ended -- I did see it in the theater at least and will watch again later.

After church, I did lunch with some friends -- and I wasn't the oldest this time. That was fun and it's good to get out socially, even if it's with people who aren't fans, lol.

I decided to use a fic I've been working on as my Ten in Ten, and post the next chapters/parts of it in the coming few days. I'm not sure if it will be complete by then but as I'm having no trouble rocking along with these fics every night, it shouldn't be long.

I've titled it "Turning Like the Sky" which will make sense eventually. In this first chapter, Reese takes Zoe up to the penthouse in the hotel, but things don't go as planned. This is going to be an agnsty fic, folks. Hope you enjoy.

http://archiveofourown.org/works/968828

I did much better tonight, even though I finished just in time due to having to take a nap after work, but I love this one... havent' really check for mistakes since it's so close to deadline, but I promise to go over it again tomorrow. I have to get up way early in the morning to help with a jewelry flea market we're doing at church -- not sure why I volunteered to be there at 7 a.m. but there you go.

At any rate, I offer "Finch's Hobby" set after the end of Risk. It's another take on the tailor!Finch idea but with a twist.

For mamahub from her plot bunny. It's Reese/Finch, first time, explicit.

( Finch's Hobby )