she's using a machete to cut through red tape

[inmyriadbits]

So, I'm essentially on vacation, working infrequently, and also kinda sick at the moment. When such is the case (okay, fine, I really don't even need the excuse), I tend to spend a lot of time with stories, reading and watching media. My current obsessions:

1. Reading Sherlock Holmes with thespatz.
Katie and I discovered that we both enjoy Doyle about ten times more when read aloud, because otherwise we tend to skim the big blocks of description and miss the delightful subtleties, which are happily brought out in the dramatic reading. We plan to work our way through the entire collected adventures!

2. The Pretender!
Wow, talk about a blast from the past. I think this one started because we were re-watching the Burn Notice episode where Michael and his antagonist are held hostage in a bank and forced to work together. Katie mentioned the Pretender episode where that also happened, which I didn't remember, so we downloaded it for kicks. And then watched the one where Parker and Jarod are handcuffed and trapped in a hurricane. And then the pilot, and it was all downhill/the rest of S1 from there. I'd forgotten how much I loved that show, and happily, the re-watch is revealing new dimensions that I didn't really understand when I was nine. Katie stole all the things I wanted to say that were actually thoughtful, so we'll leave it at that. :)

3. Vorkosigan. Miles Vorkosigan
I'm re-reading Komarr. Um, again. This is at least the sixth time, at a conservative estimate. And then I plan to re-read A Civil Campaign, which is for more like the tenth time. :D? It's been just long enough since I last did it that I'm really enjoying the experience. *happy sigh* Gosh, I love this series.

4. Nate Fick
Okay, fiction/non-fiction collision. Along with the Generation Kill DVDs Katie and I bought, we got Evan Wright's book that inspired it, and the book that the real-life Nathaniel Fick wrote about his career as a Marine officer, One Bullet Away. I keep having to stop reading because I'm getting waaaay too emotionally over-invested. I can't help it! He talks about things like honor and duty and means it, and man, that gets to me enough when it's fictional characters. Anyway, it's serious personality-crush/fascination territory, so I'm keep avoiding/not-avoiding the book because I don't have the energy.
(side note: when buying this book from Amazon, Katie was browsing the reviews and, after reading a particularly complimentary one, went to see who wrote it – and realized it was written by Rudy Reyes, one of the Marines in Fick's unit in Iraq. It's worth a read.)

In other news, I have been coughing and wheezing at night so badly that it's kept me from sleeping, so I went to the doctor today. To my surprise, they gave me an inhaler (short-term), and hydrocodone cough syrup. I...am not sure this isn't overkill, but whatever. I'm just glad to know I won't be up until dawn tonight.

Also, I totally called that they were going to do something to remove Dom from the show. Namely, because they were giving the guy more lines than usual in last week's episode; I concluded that they were either committing to giving the guy a personality (possible, but not likely considering how belated the attempt was), or they were gearing up to get rid of him and wanted to build sympathy (supported by his mysterious absence at the end of the previous ep). I personally thought they would kill him off, but I see how kidnapped/missing/held hostage leaves their options open.

Comments

[jaydeyn-sitari.livejournal.com]

I want a girl with short skirt and a looooooooooong jacket! :D

I really want to rewatch the one where Miss Parker and Lyle are trapped in the shipping container. That was made of awesome.

And yikes. Have you checked for whooping cough??

:/
Jaydeyn

[maribouquet.livejournal.com]

Oh no, sickies! Good that your doc cracked open the codeine. Those big coughs are nothing to fiddle around with! I hope you are feeling better soon. I prescribe lots more television and reading about 221B Baker st!

Just was telling Katie that I have been rereading Sherlock Holmes (first reading was at summer camp, age 12. It's been a while.) and I finished Study in Scarlet two nights ago. Nice timing is nice!

I think my mom knows the Fick's - she has an insane memory and is super sociable and sometimes it seems like she knows just about everybody in the Boston area! She saw Nathan speak shortly after his book came out and loved to tell the back-jacket story of his life thusfar. I haven't read it, or seen GK - I'm guessing I should? It sounds really cool.

I have news! Nothing super amazing, just lots of life stuff. Any chance of a phone date this weekend? I miss you and would love us to catch up, if you're feeling up to it!

xox Cassandra

[second-batgirl.livejournal.com]

I love the Miles in love books so much. ♥ ♥ ♥

Feel better!

[trialia]

Hee. I'm re-reading The Warrior's Apprentice again.