Plot points.

CC called me out of the blue. Well, not exactly out of the blue, because I tried to get her out for brunch a few weeks back, but that's the first contact we've had since... January?

Unsurprisingly, she wanted a favour. 

"I'll buy you dinner for it."

So I was sold.

It wasn't even that difficult a job: build some furniture. It took about 45 minutes. I think CC thought it would take longer. We adjourned to the nearest bar, which happened to be CC's local.

We chatted about various things: work, our families and TV. I don't watch a lot of (current) TV. I'm watching Daredevil at the moment and have just completed my annual rewatch of Community.

"I've started watching Euphoria" said CC.

"I've heard it's very good"

"Sydney Sweeney is in it. She gets her tits out a lot. It's a bonkers show."

"I can't say that Sydney Sweeney floats my boat, but I might give it a watch anyway."

"She what?"

"She's attractive. She has a GREAT figure. But she doesn't do it for me."

"Are you mad?"

"Not when I last checked."

And we moved on to other topics. 

Oh la la!

Despite not going to D's Superbowl party,  I did stay up to watch some of it. In fact, I watched all of the first half and the half time show with Bad Bunny.

I thought it was awful, from a musical standpoint, but was at least rewarded with the sight of Jessica Alba dancing. 

Dressed up

I've started watching "House" over the holidays. Jennifer Morrison is in it. I only know her from "How I Met Your Mother", but in the early episodes, she wears waistcoat a lot. I've mentioned my admiration for women in trouser suits before, but there's also an element of women in waistcoats. I don't know why I like the suits and/or waistcoats... I just do.

Nail on the head.

One of the topics covered by Nerdy Girl and myself last night as we did a slightly-longer than usual walk was what we're currently watching on television. I mentioned Supergirl. I know that Nerdy Girl has watched those DC TV programmes in the past.

"It's rubbish but attractive women in short skirts and boots keeps me interested."

"I thought you'd be more into the sister character?"

I was surprised. She hit the nail on the head, though I don't ever recall having a chat with NG about my taste in women.

Absolutely super.

 

I've started another run through of Supergirl. It'll take a while - 6 seasons, 126 episodes of roughly 45 mins per episode. But I'm bored and there's nothing new tickling my fancy. And, y'know, attractive women in short skirts and boots.

I should point out, if you haven't already guessed by my posts and comments on women that Chyler Leigh is much more my physical preference than Melissa Benoist, but it's hard to beat that skirt/boots combo.

Tripping

I was browsing IMDB earlier and I came across a reference to an animated sci-fi TV show called "Tripping the Rift". Noteworthy only because F once sent me the entire box set (copied, of course) as she thought I'd like it. And I did! But I'd not heard of it before F told me about it nor can I find it again.

I mean in the sense of being able to watch it. There are actually a load of references online, just nothing on the likes of Netflix etc..

Ouch

I've had terrible shoulder and neck pain since Friday morning. I assume that I slept funny on Thursday night, but I've been in near-constant pain since I woke up on Friday morning. It didn't cause me to miss my long-awaited day out with KfW2, but my movement was limited and large quantities of alcohol didn't seem to dull the pain.

But last night, I got maybe two hours of sleep. I woke at around 2 AM, tried to lie still to ease the now-excruciating pain, failed miserably and ended up getting out of bed at 4:30 AM because I was in less pain sitting upright than lying down.

I've done this before, but it has usually resulted in a few days of mild discomfort, but this is real pain. And painkillers just aren't doing anything. I don't even think they're taking the edge off the pain.

My eyes are hanging out of my head, though I've spent the morning watching Supergirl on TV with an inflatable travel pillow to keep my neck upright. Not even a pretty woman in a short skirt and boots has made me forget the pain.

Untitled Celebrity "Appreciation" Post.

I binged one of the more recent Star Trek series over the weekend - Strange New Worlds. I'm not a Star Trek fan really, at least not of the TV series. I quite like the newer films though, and SNW is actually really good.

Anyway, Jess Bush (Nurse Chapel) caught my eye. I think it's that platinum blonde shaggy bob haircut. See also Jennifer whatsherface in Passengers. I'm pretty sure that I've posted about it before.

Trouble.

I started watching "Fleishman is in Trouble" last night and I got about a third of the way through the second episode before I gave up. I found it a difficult watch, but can't quite put my finger on it. Was it the bratty daughter? I did find her annoying, but there was something more.

And I was surprised as it was the kind of thing I'd be interested in. Plus, I've always found Lizzy Caplan and Claire Danes to be good in anything that they've done before.

It seems well-reviewed, but it's not something I'm on board with.

Burn it down.

I've been continuing my bingeing of Burn Notice. I'm now at the start of Season 6, and quite frankly, it's now jumped the shark. Not even Lauren Stamile can save it as it stands.

How to brighten your day.

Over the past while, I've been binging "Burn Notice" - a weekly action series that's utter nonsense, but that I've always enjoyed. I've never sat and watched it religiously though. It's always been the kind of thing that I'll randomly find on the TV and end up watching, then lose track of for a while.

I might have mentioned it on the blog previously since it stars one of Ruuude's old crushes, Gabrielle Anwar and one episode featured another old crush, Stacy Haiduk.

So, guess who's been in recent episodes? Only Lauren Stamille (from Community), who gives off KfW2 vibes every time I see her.

And an added bonus in the latest episode that I've just finished... Charisma Carpenter! In a bikini!

I'm actually seeing, for the first time, definite similarities between CC and LS.

Just stuff.

When I first met USHW, years ago, she returned a book that I had loaned her. It was "The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl", by Brooke Magnanti (known at the time as Belle de Jour). I'd read (and loved) the blog. I read further works of hers. She even added me as a "friend" on Facebook due to USHW sending her a message explaining how I was a fan.

Even my sister was a fan due to my influence and we were both very interested in what was going to happen when she outed herself and when Billie Piper was due to star in an adaption of the blog/book for television.

As part of the lead-up to the TV series, Billie and Brooke met, and chatted. There's a picture below, though the written piece that accompanies it is long gone, or at least I can't remember where I first saw it.

When I'm feeling a little down, in a funk or lonely, I surf the internet, spending money I don't have. Is it expensive gadgets? Nice restaurants? Posh hotels to spend a few days? All of that! So, imagine my surprise when a picture appeared in a London hotel that reminded me of the picture above.

It couldn't be the same place, could it?

I think it is, you know!

It's well out of my budget, but that's the point of these little online window shopping scenarios - it's very definitely "lottery win" territory.

Boots ahoy!

I've started watching a programme called "Upload" on Amazon Prime. While I'm only three episodes in, I'm really enjoying it so far.

The synopsis from IMDB:
"A man is able to choose his own afterlife after his untimely death by having his consciousness uploaded into a virtual world. As he gets used to his new life and befriends his angel (real world handler) questions about his death arise."

And it's funny, and seems to be setting me up for a punch in the feels and thus is giving off a vibe like "Now and Again".

I'm also enjoying the deceased character's girlfriend's penchant for wearing short skirts and over the knee boots. I do love a skirt and boot combo on a woman. Shame I can't find any pictures.

When TV mirrors real life.

I was watching an episode of NCIS while eating my dinner and one of the characters mentioned "sociophobia" (or it might have been "social phobia") and described it as "a fear of being judged or analysed publicly".

This struck a nerve. I believe that I've recently admitted to something similar in a recent post about my health/weight. I knew it existed, but I'd never really given it any thought that it might actually be something.

I paused the programme and went off to the internet where I found this. I've quoted a bit of the page below.

Symptoms of social anxiety
Social anxiety is more than shyness. It's a fear that does not go away and affects everyday activities, self confidence, relationships and work or school life.

Many people occasionally worry about social situations, but someone with social anxiety feels overly worried before, during and after them.

You may have social anxiety if you:

• worry about everyday activities, such as meeting strangers, starting conversations, speaking on the phone, working or shopping
• avoid or worry a lot about social activities, such as group conversations, eating with company and parties
• always worry about doing something you think is embarrassing, such as blushing, sweating or appearing incompetent
• find it difficult to do things when others are watching – you may feel like you're being watched and judged all the time
• fear being criticised, avoid eye contact or have low self-esteem
• often have symptoms like feeling sick, sweating, trembling or a pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
• have panic attacks, where you have an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety, usually only for a few minutes

Many people with social anxiety also have other mental health issues, such as depression, generalised anxiety disorder or panic disorder.

The bits in bold above are things that have bothered me for some time. I believe the whole self-conscious thing ties into this like, for example, my reluctance to get into fancy dress, or my discomfort when I wear a suit (despite extremely positive comments from the likes of AM, QC1, KfW2 and CH amongst others).

I don't tend to have panic attacks (see the sentence in italics), but I did last year in the lead up to some job interviews, which is tied back into some of the things in bold.

Something to ponder, I think.

Oh la la.

Continuing with my pandemic TV bingeing, I'm up to the fifth season of Arrow on Amazon Prime. Who should pop up but old "Baby Needs" favourite Lexa Doig.

Just things...

I know I've said it before, but I am binge watching old Community and it's scary how often Alison Brie, as Annie, resembles CH. It's much more obvious than the glimpses of QC2.

Nothing more to say on that, just thought I'd share.

The final telly totty?

I was going to leave it with Sarah Wayne Callies, but then I remembered the stunning Lexa Doig. Given that she ranks very high in The List, I thought that it would be a shame if she wasn't given some airtime. Lexa's probably better known for her role in Andromeda as Andromeda, but recently she has cropped up on The 4400 (which E tells me is a cracking show) and Stargate SG:1 in recurring roles. Seeing as I rate her so highly (not quite Jessica Alba high, but not far off), she's going to get a few more pictures up than the others.