frenchtoast

Folks, can we bring this back around to Jana, please?

WOO HOO! Congrats! How exciting!!

FYI, this thread is meant for stuff not related to the Duggars. Per the pinned post: The Small Talk topic is for: Introductions Off-topic chatter Having virtual tea with forum buddies Sometimes they come up, and that's fine, but it's not necessary.

Such good news, wanderwoman. You, Maisie and the Mr. have been in my thoughts. Maisie is one lucky girl, and modern medicine is being practiced by such amazing people. Virtual hugs to all of you.

Thanks for the birthday wishes! It was awesome! Mr. Toast has been planning (unbeknownst to me) trying to have some far flung friends come and visit. So it was a surprise when on the way to pick up some last minute party supplies he said we were going someplace else. A surprise which turned out to be the airport to pick up my college roommate! A fun time was had by all! The weather is not cooperating today and her flight is cancelled and we hope the afternoon flight she was put on isn't, but at least work called and said I don't have to come in. I wasn't going to be able to anyway because the dealership service was closed when he went to pick it up! So we're down a car, but I'm glad I get to hang with my friend for a little while longer.

There was a throwaway line at the hospital that they found a book in his home recording all the crimes that Gruner committed, so he is most likely going to prison for a long time. I was glad to hear it because that's what Holmes was trying to steal in the original story, to dissuade the fiance. I would think Kitty might be in that book, too. I'm deeply impressed how they took a very brief, if intense, mention of a character in a short story and created an incredibly touching and powerful story.

I thought that Sherlock figured that Gruner framed de Merville by planting the ring. And then ordering the Albanian guy on to kill de Merville to tie up loose ends but de Merville got away. And Joan didn't think so because why would he use sex slaves and Holmes was all, yeah, he totally would. And he was using Joan's phone to find out what Joan and Sherlock knew which is why he was able to get to de Merville first. It was in a conversation between Sherlock and Joan, I think right at the beginning. They didn't mention the ring explicitly, but I got the feeling that's where they were going with it.

Disney for Star Wars Weekend at the end of May/beginning of June! Woo-hoo! First vacation with the kids ever.

I don't see anything either, KOB. I also know I took the picture from my dining room, so I know that's a hutch all the away over on the right and the dining room table is reflected in the center.

I find those barometric changes affect me most in summer. But I had a wicked toothache yesterday and I wonder if the low pressure was contributing to that. My two top wisdom teeth need to be taken out but I've been putting it off. Bottom wisdom can't be removed because too close to nerve in jaw. So, here's what we got, pretty close to Kev and smrou. And here's Mr. Toast standing in an area the wind carved out. The picture doesn't do it justice.

There have been two notes already to lay off the abortion discussion. Not only is it off topic, it's a discussion that is bound to end badly. Posts will be deleted.

Yeah, I posted too soon. Another snow day tomorrow. And, hopefully a delivery, so Mr. Toast will have to work from home. The wind has quieted down for me, so I'm hoping we keep power.

This is what it looked like a few hours ago. I hope the kids have school tomorrow because I am definitely going to have to work. The owners very reluctantly closed today with the caveat that if it was ok we should come in. Which, the forecast did live up to expectations here so I did not come in and am taking a true snow day. About to engage in Battleship with crostini.

Given how some of the episodes have ended, not exactly clear with an ending (I'm thinking of the Eternity Injection and the one with the Bella) I would say that ambiguity is not new to this show. I appreciate that the show depicts the messiness of life, that not everything is black and white and that people feel and react differently to situations. And considering that there is another episode to this story, I'd like to see how it plays out. I'm just glad that Kitty Winter as a character has been expanded so much. She made such an impression in the original story, I'm glad she was given this room to develop. And I also like what she brings out it Joan. Joan may not be effusive, but she does care for people and it's been fascinating to see Kitty react to that.

Having a dream about Jill is a very good reason why I shouldn't be reading this forum before going to bed ;) And of all the forums I read, it's pretty much just Jill that I have dreams about.

Congratulations, wanderwoman! You deserve every moment of joy!

Ok, folks, let's keep this about the Duggars and not each other.

Please let's keep this about Jessa and Ben and not a pro-choice v pro life debate. Understandably it has come up, but it is a hot button issue that is rapidly becoming off-topic.

Once someone pointed out that the actress playing Kitty is the servant of the Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy, she's pink girl to me. But I am really enjoying her and the relationship between her and Joan and Sherlock. I really love how this show has many "outcast" parts of society portrayed in such a positive and "normal" light. The Irregulars aren't just street urchins, they're all those who have difficulty fitting in, whether it's addicts, or car thieves, or gays or transgenders or tortoises, and they are all portrayed with dignity that I deeply appreciate. I also appreciate how the show is trying to have Joan be a real person and not just the bedknob Sherlock can talk to. In the stories Watson had his own friends and lived on his own, had his own practice. I like seeing Joan not be dependent on Sherlock, that she is able to be a fully functioning, contributing member of society. It makes her relationship and friendship with Sherlock richer, because it shows her as someone who is accepting, understanding and supportive without losing who she is. Even if she is trying to figure out the balance and reconcile the more unique and unusual part of herself with the desire to fit in and be "normal". This has been something we've seen since the very beginning and I'm glad we're still exploring because, like Sherlock's addiction story, it's not something that can be resolved in one episode, or even a season. It will be ongoing, threads that will tie the series together. And I like that Sherlock supports Watson in all of this. He explained to her mother what makes her special (And the duck is ah-may-zing never fails to make me laugh), he's encouraged and supported her in many ways, and he's backed off when he needed to. He doesn't always do the right thing, and neither does Joan, but I think they have a wonderful understanding of one another and it's such a joy to watch. So this new partnership dealio is them figuring things out about each other and themselves and I'm interested to see how it develops. And with the reveal about Kitty's tormentor in NYC, I am really looking forward to Joan and Sherlock working together again. God I love this show so much. Oh, and just to make this post waaay too long, but I loved how JLM can make the rage silently pour off of him when he was informed that it looks like Kitty's abductor was in NYC. So still, but so much intensity.

In other UK airing first shows, such as Downton Abbey, there is a no spoilers speculation thread for US viewers and for UK viewers (where current episodes could be included but not spoilers.) I can create those topics should people want. In this topic, spoilers abound, so posting speculation about what's aired in the UK would be fine.

Thanks to jtrattray for the episode description from Radio Times!

Even my daughter knows about the butt shot in the Avengers: "Here's your favorite part, mom!"

We have a "smart" tv and also a Roku. I prefer using the Roku for accessing VUDU (where we store our movies digitally, and some shows. It's those codes on the blu-ray packages. And you can buy and rent movies straight from there as well.) Anyway, back to the Roku--we have DirecTV for our satellite service and none of the channels that we'd want to watch new episodes (such as CBS or History etc) had that as option to stream new episodes. So, if you want Chrome or Roku to watch tv you will need a cable subscription to see new episodes. I would think Hulu Plus, having paid a subscription, will allow to see new episodes. (And when I say new, I don't mean live--I mean the next day or so.) We do like how Roku interfaces with VUDU and Netflix etc. We have been contemplating cutting our satellite and just purchasing seasons of the shows that we enjoy, but haven't quite been able to pull the trigger on that.

I do like it when they do mythology type episodes. Even though Kanaan still kind of bugs me as a character, I appreciate that we got to see both Ezra and Kanaan addressing what bothers me about them. And if I'm fair, they have every reason to be filled with doubt and fear. And it was lovely to hear Frank Oz as Yoda again. As annoying as it is that Yoda never answers directly, it's usually for a good reason. Still not a fan of the thin lightsabers. Nor do I like Ezra's with a handle. Maybe it's to prep for the movie?