The Sunday Rounds, Volume 152
The season turns, the sky in the northwest goes from blue to gray in a hurry, and before you know it you have to change the thermostat setting from "Cool" to "Heat". And its dark outside while I wait for the coffee to finish brewing. My Indian summer has gone marching.
On to The Rounds...
"Running Out of Time"
I really haven't got a lot to write about this morning. I think 'The Rounds' may be in a bit of a rut, from a combination of factors. First and foremost, my life and schedule used to dictate me having to get up very early on Sundays and writing this weekly sucker was actually quite helpful and therapeutic both in terms of waking up and of compensating for a major lack of sleep.
Well, now I get more rest. And the later I get up the less I want to write, either because I just want a lazy Sunday or because (for now) Saturdays are Soccer Day in our house and today is the only day to get anything done, in or out of the house. Add hockey season to the mix (Avalanche vs. Sharks later today, thanks) and the so-called 'demands' on my time get a little lengthier.
I've been waiting for my political junkie side to kick in, as it is usually does when there is about 12 months and counting before a major election. But call it a combination of these candidates being really boring and uninspired and growing too cynical in my (rapidly approaching) middle age but I just can't "get there". I suspect once the primary season gets under way early next year my tune will change, because I actually do expect some interesting surprises (Democratic voters perhaps having a "God, do we really think a woman -- and this woman -- can win?!" panic attack or Republicans going into a collective depression over the very real prospect they're going to get their asses handed to them even worse than in 2006 and trying to do whatever they can to save themselves). Right now that part of my mind is in a holding pattern.
For now I just want to get through some work projects this month, a birthday for Bailey and Thanksgiving next month, and the mammoth onset of Christmas and the holiday season, all the while hoping the Avalanche can have a good first half of the season.
"Chase This Light"
I'm actually going to devote a few inches here to TV. Go figure...
- I really am not a big fan of reality TV unless it is of the absurd wink and a smile nature (see also: Rock of Love or Tommy Lee Goes to College) but I do like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because, as reality TV, it displays our better angels. And if you want to a glimpse of my city, tune in tonight because this week's show puts the community I call home on display.
- New shows tend to frustrate me because in recent years it seems like anything new that I like gets canceled straight away because it doesn't play to the lowest common denominator and/or it gets squashed by American Idol or Grey's Anatomy (two shows I don't watch).
That said, I'm digging the new Bionic Woman...its fun, she's hot with a little more hot sprinkled on top, and it reminds me of Alias (which I miss).
Dirty, Sexy Money would suck if Peter Krause wasn't an exceptionally likable actor and if Donald Sutherland couldn't be good in just about anything. So with those factors at play I've dug the show.
Big Shots is like my wife's PG-13 version of a porn fantasy...or something. She is a big Dylan McDermott and Michael Vartan fan so having them on the same show is kind of nice, actually. It consolidates. :) And truth be told I think its a pretty fun show.
Pushing Daisies had better 1) Find an audience, because I really want to see it play out and not be canceled and 2) Hold up in the coming weeks after a really strong, wonderfully whimsical pilot/first episode. The brilliant, insta-solution to the classic "Will they or won't they?" romantic tension between the two leads was answered in Episode One. They won't... because they can't! Brilliant!
I expected The Office to decline now that they got Jim and Pam together but, so far, it has held up pretty good. Rainn Wilson is still the MVP because Dwight just kicks ass week in and week out.
Finally, I'm very glad this is ER's final season. Its still pretty good but, wow, has it ever run its course. In fact, it ran it's course two seasons ago but I'm loyal and will continue tuning in as the final season plays out.
So there you have it... a peek inside my DVR.
"First Week"
A few NHL thoughts after the first week of action...
It is really, really early in the season but there are a few things that stand out:
- Reports of Nashville's demise and slide may have been premature because, wow, did they ever dominate two solid teams (Colorado and Dallas) in their first two games.
- Ottawa looks like a team that got 'this close' and now wants the whole enchilada. Anaheim, who defeated the Senators to win it all this past season, look mortal and burnt out. The travel to England for the back-to-back opener followed by a road trip to start the season hasn't helped.
- My Avalanche looked good on opening night, breaking Dallas' opening night unbeaten streak and showing some wicked offensive depth. But then they came out flatter than 5 day old soda left on the counter the next night against Nashville. Hopefully they can bounce back today against San Jose. Speaking of which...
- San Jose is looking good and, wow, was it cool to see Jeremy Roenick get two goals on their opening night, inching closer to the 500 career goals mark and showing that he may actually have one good season left in the tank.
- Best game I've seen yet was last night's Vancouver vs. Calgary game. Great goaltending, a great rally by Calgary to send it to OT, big hits, and a winner in OT with just seconds left. Pretty damn cool.
That's all I've got. I'll try much harder next week.
J
************
CD of the Week: I was a busy boy this week, picking up a few different things but what really stood out was a compilation, For the Kids Three. As the name implies, it is a third in a series. And I'd say this one has the least well-know names of the 3, with Moby and Barenaked Ladies being the only real household names on board. But that makes it all the better because it is a real kick to hear bands and artists like Of Montreal, The Format, Jolie Holland, Over The Rhine, Hem, and many others presenting either original kid-friendly songs or covering staples from the universe of children's music. Like the other two CDs in the series, it makes for non-annoying-to-the-parents tunes for the kiddos. You don't have to have kids to dig this one!
*************
No Weekly Survey this season. I haven't got it in me. Comments are cool though. :)
Have a good Sunday.
On to The Rounds...
"Running Out of Time"
I really haven't got a lot to write about this morning. I think 'The Rounds' may be in a bit of a rut, from a combination of factors. First and foremost, my life and schedule used to dictate me having to get up very early on Sundays and writing this weekly sucker was actually quite helpful and therapeutic both in terms of waking up and of compensating for a major lack of sleep.
Well, now I get more rest. And the later I get up the less I want to write, either because I just want a lazy Sunday or because (for now) Saturdays are Soccer Day in our house and today is the only day to get anything done, in or out of the house. Add hockey season to the mix (Avalanche vs. Sharks later today, thanks) and the so-called 'demands' on my time get a little lengthier.
I've been waiting for my political junkie side to kick in, as it is usually does when there is about 12 months and counting before a major election. But call it a combination of these candidates being really boring and uninspired and growing too cynical in my (rapidly approaching) middle age but I just can't "get there". I suspect once the primary season gets under way early next year my tune will change, because I actually do expect some interesting surprises (Democratic voters perhaps having a "God, do we really think a woman -- and this woman -- can win?!" panic attack or Republicans going into a collective depression over the very real prospect they're going to get their asses handed to them even worse than in 2006 and trying to do whatever they can to save themselves). Right now that part of my mind is in a holding pattern.
For now I just want to get through some work projects this month, a birthday for Bailey and Thanksgiving next month, and the mammoth onset of Christmas and the holiday season, all the while hoping the Avalanche can have a good first half of the season.
"Chase This Light"
I'm actually going to devote a few inches here to TV. Go figure...
- I really am not a big fan of reality TV unless it is of the absurd wink and a smile nature (see also: Rock of Love or Tommy Lee Goes to College) but I do like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because, as reality TV, it displays our better angels. And if you want to a glimpse of my city, tune in tonight because this week's show puts the community I call home on display.
- New shows tend to frustrate me because in recent years it seems like anything new that I like gets canceled straight away because it doesn't play to the lowest common denominator and/or it gets squashed by American Idol or Grey's Anatomy (two shows I don't watch).
That said, I'm digging the new Bionic Woman...its fun, she's hot with a little more hot sprinkled on top, and it reminds me of Alias (which I miss).
Dirty, Sexy Money would suck if Peter Krause wasn't an exceptionally likable actor and if Donald Sutherland couldn't be good in just about anything. So with those factors at play I've dug the show.
Big Shots is like my wife's PG-13 version of a porn fantasy...or something. She is a big Dylan McDermott and Michael Vartan fan so having them on the same show is kind of nice, actually. It consolidates. :) And truth be told I think its a pretty fun show.
Pushing Daisies had better 1) Find an audience, because I really want to see it play out and not be canceled and 2) Hold up in the coming weeks after a really strong, wonderfully whimsical pilot/first episode. The brilliant, insta-solution to the classic "Will they or won't they?" romantic tension between the two leads was answered in Episode One. They won't... because they can't! Brilliant!
I expected The Office to decline now that they got Jim and Pam together but, so far, it has held up pretty good. Rainn Wilson is still the MVP because Dwight just kicks ass week in and week out.
Finally, I'm very glad this is ER's final season. Its still pretty good but, wow, has it ever run its course. In fact, it ran it's course two seasons ago but I'm loyal and will continue tuning in as the final season plays out.
So there you have it... a peek inside my DVR.
"First Week"
A few NHL thoughts after the first week of action...
It is really, really early in the season but there are a few things that stand out:
- Reports of Nashville's demise and slide may have been premature because, wow, did they ever dominate two solid teams (Colorado and Dallas) in their first two games.
- Ottawa looks like a team that got 'this close' and now wants the whole enchilada. Anaheim, who defeated the Senators to win it all this past season, look mortal and burnt out. The travel to England for the back-to-back opener followed by a road trip to start the season hasn't helped.
- My Avalanche looked good on opening night, breaking Dallas' opening night unbeaten streak and showing some wicked offensive depth. But then they came out flatter than 5 day old soda left on the counter the next night against Nashville. Hopefully they can bounce back today against San Jose. Speaking of which...
- San Jose is looking good and, wow, was it cool to see Jeremy Roenick get two goals on their opening night, inching closer to the 500 career goals mark and showing that he may actually have one good season left in the tank.
- Best game I've seen yet was last night's Vancouver vs. Calgary game. Great goaltending, a great rally by Calgary to send it to OT, big hits, and a winner in OT with just seconds left. Pretty damn cool.
That's all I've got. I'll try much harder next week.
J
************
CD of the Week: I was a busy boy this week, picking up a few different things but what really stood out was a compilation, For the Kids Three. As the name implies, it is a third in a series. And I'd say this one has the least well-know names of the 3, with Moby and Barenaked Ladies being the only real household names on board. But that makes it all the better because it is a real kick to hear bands and artists like Of Montreal, The Format, Jolie Holland, Over The Rhine, Hem, and many others presenting either original kid-friendly songs or covering staples from the universe of children's music. Like the other two CDs in the series, it makes for non-annoying-to-the-parents tunes for the kiddos. You don't have to have kids to dig this one!
*************
No Weekly Survey this season. I haven't got it in me. Comments are cool though. :)
Have a good Sunday.