Zola

Just noticed this old poll I posted a few months back. Season 2 is the clear winner, and justifiably so. It was perhaps the most complete season of all (even though it never mentions what happened to Mandy!) Am surprised a couple of people voted for 6 and 7. They were pretty decent seasons, but for me pale Seasons 2 and 3.

Believe me: I have a singing voice that would peel paint off walls!

Thanks for the useful link! Unlike you I have to listen to music, especially on long lonesome runs of around 10-15 miles, otherwise I just can't stay focused, and I drift, and my breathing just goes out of whack! However, if I'm running alongside other people - either in a race or just casual, then I don't bother with my phone/mp3 player. But generally speaking music is my motivator! I also get some weird looks from people I pass on the street while running! Clearly my singing-out-loud must be quite appalling, lol

Good points, and I would agree that CJ's faux outrage was way off a times, but I admired her for her steadfast refusal to back down in her defence of the president despite of all the hardware the general regaled himself with. CJ does take to the moral high ground when it comes to "protecting" the president from bad news; the "Mandy Memo" in particular, she became irrational bordering on hysterical at both Mandy and Danny, who was about to publish it because it was in the public interest (just not hers!).

Season 2 If Season 1 turns out to be the winner here, I will watch every second of every minute of every episode of Season 5 back2back once a month until Jan 2018! <twitches nervously!>

There was another fine CJ scene that I really quite adored. It takes place in "And It's Surely to their Credit" (S2, 5), and CJ is confronting a retiring army general, whom is threatening to reveal all sorts of damning news about Bartlet's current military policy in a news interview with Tim Russert. But CJ tries to head him off at the pass. ...and all that coming from a gal who didn't know how the Census worked, lol (But she's still delicious)

When I used to work full-time for a company, more often that not I would take the cross-city train rather than suffer continual traffic jams on the road. But typically you're waiting on the platform for your train to arrive, and being the rush-hour the platform is becoming ever-more populated with other commuters. And when the train does finally arrive (usually late), you have to hope the train doors stop more or less where you're standing; and even then when the doors do open, there's no courtesy waiting to let passengers get off the train first. Instead its everyone for her/himself, and not for the first time I've been pushed, prodded, elbowed, even punched onto the train and hope to get a seat. Once on-board the carriage is crammed out with people tightly packed down the aisles. Old-style manners of letting women sit in a seat are long gone. Not that that really bothers me. But I recall one conversation between a sitting guy and a standing woman. The woman saying something like "would you be so kind to let me have your seat?" and the guy said "No way! you wanted equality and empowerment. Well go live with it!" And then an argument broke out. But it was my stop next so I don't know what happened on that score. But the real issue I have with packed trains is personal hygiene! If you're all standing in the aisle, arms in the air hanging onto the overhead grab-rails, it is very noticeable - especially on hot sticky days - how "smelly" some people are! Now I don't want to make a sweeping generalisation here because there can be any number of reasons why a person may give off BO - perhaps their particular deodorant wasn't very good or long-lasting; or perhaps they just forgot to put some on that day? But all the same it's not all that pleasant, especially when you can see people's sweaty pit areas on their shirts and blouses. Oh, and another irritation with crammed trains is the guy who "rubs" up against you under the pretext of everyone being squeezed together on a rocking & swaying train. I won't go into details, but it really is annoying to have to put up with this. I could challenge the guy and tell him off, but he'll just play dumb and sometimes shuffle off elsewhere. I don't bother with trains quite so much these days, and I certainly don't miss it either.

I guess like most people who exercise regularly, I have to listen to music at the same time otherwise I will either get bored, or lack motivation/momentum. What I find interesting is that when I'm running on the open road I prefer my music to be "gentle" - i.e. 30 or 40 minute ambient, relaxing sounds that will kind of "carry" me through the miles. Examples include "Carbon Life Forms", "Alucidnation", "Fragile State", "Kraftwork", "Tangerine Dream" Whereas, when I'm pounding the treadmill, exercise bike or rowing machine I have to listen to upbeat rock music, with a quick-fire tempo/beat that I can keep up with. Short tracks that are loud, brash, have a good rhythm and that I can sing too in time with my strokes on the rower, or steps on the treadmill. All of it helps pass the time as well as getting over the pain barrier, driving me on to the next track and the next mile or the next 5,000 steps (So bands like "Iron Maiden", "Whitesnake", "Rush", "Killswitch Engage", "Nickelback" and "Slipknot" - all do it for me) Does anyone else have a particular kind of music they listen to when working out?

"5 north", "PCH", "101" ?? I think I'm going to need to learn some Americanisms too! lol

And speaking of food, you reminded me of a Margaret/Leo scene relating to raisin muffins. (from "Let Bartlet be Bartlet") I adored those Leo/Margaret verbal clinches.

Monster is a great place to get yourself noticed by potential employers/recruiters. The downside is that you're giving out a lot of PI on your CV that could be sold or even misused. But by and large Monster is very good and pretty easy to use.

CJ - Is there anything I can say other than the President rode his bicycle into a tree? Leo - He hopes never to do it again. CJ - Seriously, they're laughing pretty hard. Leo - He rode his bicycle into a tree, CJ, what do you want me? The President, while riding his bicycle on his vacation in Jackson Hole, came to a sudden arboreal stop.

Thanks for the great feedback! I will certainly add these (and any more) to my provisional list. And if it appears that some of these places are located more or less in one particular area of the States, then I will focus on that particular area for this adventure/holiday. So many places - so little time, lol

I, and a couple of friends, are making tentative plans for a trip to the States in 2018 for four to five weeks. I have never been to North America, although my friends have on a couple of occasions. I don't really want to visit all the usual "Big City" tourist attractions if I'm being honest - much preferring to check out America's natural world. So am hoping to convince my companions to give the city lights a miss, and to get a little closer to nature. Although still 8-10 months away yet, my itinerary includes some or all of the following (and in no particular order):- The Everglades Redwood Forest Yosemite Carlsbad Caverns Mount Rushmore Monument Valley Grand Canyon Mammoth Cave Red Rock, Utah This is just provisional to begin with, and could therefore change quite a lot between now and then. I haven't even checked on the map yet as to exactly where these places are, distances involved, and in what order to visit etc. But most of the places have amazing National Parks that really appeal to me - I just want a "chillout" holiday, and not a 24hr shopping/eating/entertaining gig (which is what my friends want by visiting New York and the like)

Might try my hand at home made chicken fajitas this evening. Never tried it before, so won't risk it on friends or guests. Have got most of the ingredients, chicken, oregano, onions, garlic, mixed peppers, tortillas, coriander, paprika and Tabasco sauce. With perhaps some rice thrown in for good measure. Should be fun (hopefully!)

1 - Blame Mandy for that!

Now that I am a self-employed IT Consultant (not working through any agency either), I have to do everything myself, and not just going out to clients and sorting out their problems/projects ; but also the administration side, the diary management, and the book-keeping - which is all fine because it keeps my overheads down (although I do have an accountant). One niggle that I have noticed since becoming a consultant is how some clients cancel meetings on you more or less at the very last minute! There's been quite a few occasions where appointments/meetings have been arranged and accepted weeks in advance, only to get a call or mail on the morning to say they can't make it for one reason or another (either through illness/holiday/or double-booking) Ideally something like 24 hours notice would be preferred, but of course illness can happen at any time. Nevertheless, to be told just hours before the appointed time is a pain, especially if I have to drive, take the train or plane. And it's also unfortunate that the client couldn't arrange someone else to take that person's place - more so given that it's an IT-related issue and therefore must be known to just more than my appointee! I have also had two instances where I have driven 200 miles to a client, only to be told at reception that the appointee is actually on holiday and nobody bothered to check his diary to let me know sooner! (I did add the travelling cost to my bill to them, which they disputed because there was no actual meeting. But they subsequently paid up)

I don't generally bother with sticks these days preferring a more natural look (except for cold winter months when I look extremely pale) My usual favourite is the L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Gold Obsession range, and in particular the "Nude Gold", "Pink Gold" and "Rouge Gold" Very smooth to apply, no smears or greasiness. Great smell too!

1 and 4

Strictly speaking not novels as such, but I fancied something light and extremely funny during these hot sunny weeks. So am now wading my way through the marvellous comic-strip books of Gary Larson and his "The Far Side" universe starting with "The Far Side Gallery" (1982) Totally "out there" at times, very surreal, but incredibly funny! "Cow Tools" rock :)

Not so much a trope really; more of a grumble: In some films you always get a couple having hot sweaty sex in bed (you usually don't see anything because it's all implied with some subtle editing); but come the following morning, they wake up and they're both in their underwear! Or the phone rings on the bedside table, and the woman will lift herself out of bed to reach for it, but will make damn sure the sheets are covering her upper chest! But to hide from what exactly? Personally, sex scenes in films don't do much for me, but for the sake of realistic integrity the director/editor should just skip the whole waking up bit and move on (I can understand the reason why some actors/actresses don't want to do nude shots, and that's fine. But all the same who wears underwear in bed after a night of torrid sex!?)

Has probably been tagged here before, but I would certainly add "The Green Mile" and "Castaway" to my list of tear-jerkers. Both films starring Tom Hanks - not my favourite actor, but he has an uncanny ability to pull at the heart strings sometimes.

The Moon is slowing moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.78cm (1.5 inches) per year. The Moon was much closer to Earth hundreds of thousands of years ago, and also dominated the night sky, as well as having a stronger gravitational force on our ocean tides. But as it slowly moves away from us, our ocean tides will also become weaker. However, Earth's gravity should be strong enough to keep the Moon from ultimately drifting out into space (unless there is some alignment between the planets and Sun which could have a stronger gravitational effect than the Earth can deal with)

Excellent! I have the house to myself this weekend, so will indulge while trying hard not to think of Charlie in the role ?

Thank you! I will add them to my "things to watch" after I have done with Psych! I was about 1 year old when LA Law ended in 1994 and ER started in the same year!