TV, books and tunderstorms

[fajrdrako]

A good day. First, I went for a run and a walk by the canal. A beautiful morning.

Then I joined maaboroshi for breakfast - she made coffee, I made bacon and eggs, and we sat and watched the first episode of the new season of Battlestar Galactica, "Scattered". I just said to someone yesterday that The Inside was so clever and so intense that everything else on TV looks insipid.

I take it back. Battlestar Galactica is not insipid by any measure. It must be the best TV SF I've ever seen - well, okay, not better than Firefly but still pretty damn good. And a good story besides, and it continues to keep me guessing.... and reacting. And I love so many of the characters. Even Boomer now - all the Boomers - for a while I like her/them less. No longer. Heck, I even like Tighe now.

Then maaboroshi showed me the first episode ("Avalon 1") of the new season - what season is it? 8? 9? - of Stargate SG-1. I'm not much of a fan, but wanted to see it because I was curious, for various reasons, one of which was wanting to see Claudia Black. And though the Top Gun stuff in planes made me cross-eyed with boredom, maaboroshi kindly fast-forwarded through that and I thoroughly enjoyed the stuff with Mitchell, Jackson and Vala. I particularly enjoyed Vala - seems to me she has exactly the same personality as Gambit (Remy LeBeau). Which is just fine with me. And Claudia Black is brilliant. In fact, all three - Ben Browder, Michael Shanks and Claudia Black, were brilliant together. Loved seeing Mitchel and Jackson do a mirror-image-of-each-other thing.

After that, I went back home and Beulah and Lyn came over to see episode 2 of the new season of Slings and Arrows. Next, we went to Chapters because we had a few minutes to kill before going to Tasia's - and then I had to herd them out of the bookstore, kicking and screaming.

Then we went in four cars to The Book Gallery in Carleton Place. Browsing books is one of the greatest of pleasures! It would have been even more of a pleasure had it not been stifling hot, but still. I bought a pile of books:

• Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly


• Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle


• Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hood


• The Persian Expedition by Xenophon


• A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (I need a second copy)


• Dragonshadow by Barbara Hambly


• The Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones


• Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones


• Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones


• Life of Alexander the Great by Arrian


• Wet Grave by Barbara Hambly


• The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones


• Ordeal at Lichfield by Anthony Clarke


• The King's General by Daphne du Maurier


• Celia's Grand Passion by Lynn Kerstan

That's 15 books for $50, not bad! With a few exceptions, these were all recommended by people who are either Dunnett fans or on the piffle mailing list.

After that, we went to Carp to have dinner at The Cheshire Cat. We had a table for ten upstairs - I hadn't even known they had an upstairs! It was quite a wait for supper, but worth it, and we talked about books, movies, summer travel - and planned a video-party for next week. And Dennis might join Apaplexy. I can only hope.

There was a lost dog named Sasha barking outside the restaurant - someone on their way there had found her on the road, unharmed but wandering, and they had her tied to a tree (with water to drink) while they had dinner. She looked well cared-for and happy; we knew her name from her collar. Hardly more than a puppy. Lyn said she was a young rottweiler. I hope they find her owner soon. I suspect someone is worried.