The Cleaning Lady S2

I guess I’m in minority, because all what I’ve seen in the tags was fandom complaining about this seasons being boring (and hating Garrett as useless).

To me it was anything but boring, on the contrary, I found it even too nerve-wracking at times (mostly in a good way); there was one thing after the other, no catching any breaks for any characters, gah.

And it was so hard, rooting for multiple characters with conflicting interests.

It was perfectly normal and understandable that Thony and Fiona and JD would each prioritize their own kid(s), and the tension that was causing between them kept me on my toes throughout the season.

I think JD had come to realize that he can’t really break up Thony and Fiona and their kids no matter how much he wants to protect Jas.

Gah, and Chris and his struggle first for accidentally causing Marco’s death and then in the end choosing to stay with Thony for Luca’s sake despite, understandably, resenting Thony for Fi’s deportation.

I just. My heart breaks for this kid and how grown up he has to be due to the circumstances.

I am probably the only one who feels sorry that Garrett died.

I really liked how they wrote his character progression: he started as a rather shitty human being and a shitty FBI agent, but he’s made so much progress, he started following the rules, doing the right thing both law- and humanity-wise and he even came to realize that he does get too personally involved with his CIs.

And it could’ve been great to watch his development further.

I’d love to see him reconnecting with his son and becoming a good father.

I also really liked both Thony and Arman kinda working together with Garrett, especially the finale/the final scene.

Look, yes, I’ve been low-key shipping these two/three. Of course, I’d never expect the show to go there in canon, but it would be nice to see them occasionally pretend to work together or otherwise. ;)

Then again, I guess they can’t have Tony keep having her personal FBI agent to turn to whenever she’s in trouble with the law.

Especially now that she and Arman took over Kemdar’s crime empire (or at least the drug run.)

If we get S3 – which I hope we do – it’s going to be interesting.

(One speculation only: I do think Nadia will inevitably find out about Arman helping Thony again and kick him out for good. Which is both yay and nay, because I like Nadia and I am also on the verge of low-key shipping these three. :P)

But if it doesn’t get renewed for S3, I think this has been as good of an ending as any. I can just imagine Thony brings Fiona back and everyone lives happily ever after. ;)

The Cleaning Lady: Scenes at home in 2x08

This was supposed to be just a quick text message to @idealisticrealism, but as with everything TCL, it grew a life of its own, kicked my shins, stabbed me in the heart and then took off running. Sigh.

Amidst the bombshells and revelations in 2x08, the show finally deigned to grace us with Arman dropping by the De La Rosa abode not once or twice, but four times. Throughout the ep, it was striking to see Arman in Thony's space and the way they navigated around each other in that space.

So here are some very brief thoughts about the four scenes -- they are not fully formed, so please feel free to disagree or add to them!

(NB. To be fair, 2x08 shows us three different homes: the De La Rosa's, the Morales's, and JD's. There's a meta somewhere in there to be written about the contrasting visual design and interactions in all three spaces. Please, someone [not me], go write it.)

Well, I'm staying here... you shouldn't be alone.

In the first scene, we know that this is the morning after the harrowing events of 2x07. Arman comes in through the back door. While the conversation takes place in the laundry room, he has also walked in some ways inside to get a sense of the space, checking out Luca's room and clocking the fact that Thony's family has left.

Thony remains standing near the door. As she speaks of her anguish of what Arman was forced to do, and her discomfort of lying to Garrett, he walks to her, closing the distance between them and she accepts his embrace.

Please, come in.

I love the second scene so much. Thony brings Arman through the front door -- so his motorbike is parked out front too?? -- swinging open the door widely as she walks in. In my favourite recurring detail of the De La Rosa household, Thony slips off her shoes, and Arman -- probably too distracted with being around her in her space -- does not lol. But as she welcomes him to the living room, 'Please, come in', she keeps her jacket on, tying her visually (and emotionally) with Arman.

She sits on the sofa, cross-legged and tucking her feet underneath, while he chooses the smaller couch, perpendicular and closest to her. Despite the stresses of what is ahead of them -- and her hands, as usual, are folded in front of her in a protective gesture -- she is disarmed by his presence, as comfortable as she would ever be in this episode.

Look, Thony- // It's fine.

So much of the third scene screams caution, an emotional pulling back: it is now dark out; Thony, startled awake, wields a knife before hearing Arman's voice, and peeks through closed blinds before opening the back door to let him in. Like the first scene, they are meeting again in the laundry room, both now standing close to the door. But their stance is markedly less comfortable than earlier that day, though not (yet) as confrontational as in the next scene.

I sighed so loudly when she opens the door -- an unmistakable cue for him to go. She even holds on to the door as he hangs on to the frame, not quite ready to leave yet. As she closes the door behind him, a last glance at him as he goes home to Nadia.

I'm sorry.

Oh boy. The fourth and final scene is in her backyard -- our boy doesn't even get through the door this time. The visual arrangement of the scene is somewhat confrontational : arms braced on knees, Thony has been waiting for him to arrive, and walks up the path to preempt him halfway; he doesn't get anywhere near the house. And she's even got shoes on lol.

I love that as they walk toward each other, we see the clutter behind Thony -- fairy lights and window decals, mismatched pots and lounge chairs (JD and Fi's 'Sorry about the mess // Don't worry, it makes us feel right at home' comes to mind). It's proof of the home and the family that Thony is adamant about protecting, and with Arman intending to do the same with Nadia as well, they are uncomfortably at odds in that closing shot.

To end, I'm just gonna quote @idealisticrealism here, because she says it in words better than I can:

The way it reflects their relationship over the show so far, too? Growing closer and then being pushed apart again by outside circumstances, having to distance themselves when they don't want to? Help

Yeah, help is right; god help us all. This effing show, I tell you.

IMT Bolulu breaks down unconventional picks, remains positive as LCS Summer Split nears end

Over the past few months, both in solo queue and in competitive play, mages and the updated Statikk Shiv have been the two most essential elements of the mid lane meta in League of Legends. Selecting a champion that fits one or both of these roles—or both—is essential to quickly dispatching waves of minions and enemy health bars in almost any circumstance. Unfortunately, this has done very little to help the problem the mid lane champion pool has struggled with for a number of years: vastness in size but difficulties in maintaining each champion’s efficiency. As League is an ever-changing MOBA, players often focus on learning matchups with champions that sit atop the meta, leaving the less-popular picks waiting for their chance to shine in some future patch. But that’s exactly why Immortals’ Bolulu has brought unconventional picks to the LCS stage. What teams were preparing to play against Vel’Koz or Zoe in a meta where LeBlanc, Azir, and Neeko run rampant? Either they had to waste ban slots targeting Bolulu’s vast unorthodox champion pool or they’d be forced to play against champions that are normally only seen by one-tricks in solo queue. “I’ve been leaning more towards my pocket picks now, because I feel like it’s where I can have a lot of impact and change the course of the game,” Bolulu told Dot Esports. “I remember a lot of times scrimming with the Vel’Koz and one-shotting people at level six. The team adapt to , and I do a good job telling the team what I need—enemies are just a bit dizzy of how to play against that.” https://twitter.com/BoluluLol/status/1669142407261175808 Bolulu made his unexpected LCS debut last split, being called up from Immortals’ Challengers roster after the departure of then-starting mid laner, Ablazeolive, due to personal reasons. Within only a few months in the North American scene, Bolulu was suddenly thrust onto the main stage alongside a group of players who he only had experience with in practice and scrims. Luckily, the mid laner had extensive experience elsewhere that helped make him a major talking point. For nearly half a decade, Bolulu competed within the Turkish Challenger League (TCL), emerging from multiple playoff series victorious alongside a handful of teams—even taking part in previous international tournaments, including MSI 2019 and the 2021 World Championship. He quickly took over the scene thanks to his expertise with more obscure, off-meta picks like Vel’Koz and Zoe in metas where they were most certainly not priority picks.  While opting for these champions over others would normally be considered a “troll” move, they allowed Bolulu to assume vocal leadership positions within his teams, hand-crafting situations where his teammates would set him up to carry games. To this day, Bolulu has amassed a 69-percent win rate on Vel’Koz across his entire career, according to League stats site Oracle’s Elixir, having mastered the unique teamfighting angles that this champion can bring to games. But these picks can only do so well on a team lacking coordination. Immortals currently sit in last place in the 2023 LCS Summer Split standings with a 2-10 record, falling behind FlyQuest, who recently surged with a handful of victories of their own. As Bolulu has continued to opt for his comfort picks, they’ve been scarcely contributors to victories for the team—now with only a small number of games remaining for Bolulu and the rest of Immortals to try to qualify for the upcoming LCS Championship bracket. https://twitter.com/Immortals/status/1677122204989882369 Despite this precarious situation and the possibility of not making the playoffs being an all-too-real possibility, Bolulu is doing everything he can to not only get himself to refocus on what’s in the immediate future but identify any quick fixes that the team can institute with such little time left in the split. “The kind of stance you have to take in this situation is, we’re aware of our mistakes and we’re disoriented in some parts, so now you just have to put band-aids on it and try to optimize as much as possible,” Bolulu said. “Accept that you have flaws, accept that you are not perfect, accept that you are playing bad with some comps. Try to just adapt the game plan, that’s our stance for the remainder of the split.” While he’s tried to bring his central team voice to the LCS, aiming to continue his shot-calling ways that led him through the TCL, Bolulu admits he hasn’t had much success. Between the circumstances of his debut in the Spring Split to the current iteration of the roster that sports players with “seven or more years of experience,” he’s felt rather drowned out by the number of veteran voices trying to have a say at once—a change to his methodology that he has not yet adjusted to and feels is impeding his skills. “I am a player that, when I am on a team, I like to kind of control how the team plays and communicates—but with this roster, I found that we had three, four people that wanted to do this as well.” Bolulu said. “You just have to compromise and try to find the best way, but then people can disagree on what is the best way, so we don’t actually have that good synergy. It’s a bit harder this split to kind of showcase myself as a player, just because of how we kind of come together as a team.” https://twitter.com/Immortals/status/1679220064644485120 As someone who has competed in various leagues professionally for half a decade, Bolulu has used his experiences to become a more confident player, particularly in terms of allowing himself to stand out among others. His continuous drive stems from his unwillingness to have any regrets when a split comes to a close, acknowledging the sacrifices he’s made to get where he is and attain years of success. But it was only in the last few years that he truly became comfortable to admit this to himself, to step on the stage and play as himself rather than as a pawn of an ever-changing meta. He equates much of this comfortability in paving his own path to his former coach on Papara SuperMassive, GBM, whose teachings he hopes to pass on to those looking to step into the professional scene themselves. “Everything comes down to how you are as a person, what are your strengths as a player?” Bolulu said. “Big props to GBM for also helping me to kind of figure myself out. I had a lot of doubt before like, ‘oh, I need to play meta’ or ‘I shouldn’t play these champions.’ But then, once I pick it, enemies struggle a lot.” Immortals will look toward their last chance at an upwards climb through the LCS from the bottom of the standings as the penultimate week of the Summer Split begins today, July 12, where the team will first be confronted by 100 Thieves—with the chance of being eliminated from playoff contention creeping nearer. Regardless of the outcome for the team, Bolulu is sure to emerge feeling like he’s done all he set out to do, before getting ready to do it all over again next year. Read the full article

your posts & tags on thony/arman are killing me, man. the way that he keeps making a point of SEEING her and recognizing her because he knows how invisibilizing this kind of life is and he knows how poorly his own parents were treated and he wants to be an answer for that somehow. even when it's a stupid choice! even when he has other things to think about! the spirals of loyalty/obligation/connection here!!!

Oh my god hi, YES! I am right there with you. 

I love how clearly both of their motivations have been set up to coincide with each other. In one corner we have Thony: full of drive and determination and heart, loving mother and sister, skilled doctor, willing to sacrifice everything for her son, who through necessity and design is living a life of invisibility.  Her son’s life literally depends on her not being noticed/deported, but that same invisibility has left her easy to ignore, belittle and discard by the very people she needs help from the most.

And in the other we have Arman, the violent mob lieutenant, who at first seems like the second to last person (other than ICE) that Thony would like to be perceived by AND YET!  Arman — as someone who wanted nothing more than for his overworked, underappreciated mother to be happy, who has pursued his station in life as a means to protect those he loves in ways his family was and wasn’t protected — is THE only person who makes the deliberate choice to SEE Thony and has the power and importantly the desire to help her.

Even though Thony has the love and support of her family, she desperately needs actual actionable assistance and has been stuck in a purgatory where she’s been struggling and sacrificing unnoticed.  Arman notices. By the end of the first episode he has seen her dignity, her competence, her bravery, the lengths she’ll go to and the love she has for her son. He recognizes in Thony the chance to figuratively repay the sacrifices of his own mom, and help someone in ways no one ever helped her. 

And Thony, a strong and capable woman who was used to “commanding respect” but has been continually dismissed or demeaned in America, suddenly has someone in a position of power that sees her as a PERSON.  It’s not just about what she can do for him. He wouldn’t have raced back to the warehouse to save her if all he valued were her cleaning skills.   

And what kills me is that because Arman sees her so clearly, he wants HER to see HIM. I never expected this archetype of character to be so actively vulnerable/open like this. The show didn’t need to show Thony this side of Arman, they could have just shown the viewers.  BUT THEY DID.  And like you said, it has created all these threads of connection between them that are weaving into something stronger, like obligation and loyalty.  Add onto that them physically saving each other’s lives, and the accountability they have to one another?  

Because what might have started as a vague idea of offered assistance from Arman, has been increasingly cemented into something much more binding by Thony repeatedly holding him accountable. I love this about her so much. If she has to risk her life for Arman, by god he’s going to have to back up his words with actions.  Again and again, she is forcing him to make a conscious choice of whether he will honor his promises to her, even when it’s not convenient, even if it’s detrimental to himself. Yes, there’s a complicated power imbalance here, but when you look at everything going on underneath there’s a clear attempt at evening out the scales.  Arman may have turned her world upside down but she’s already such a disruptive, transformative force in his.  In seeing her, and allowing her to see him, whether he realizes it or not there’s already been a transfer of power.

“When you’re in, you’re in.  Do you understand?” Do YOU, Arman? Because I think you’re about to!

This connection between them is only going to get more complicated and tested and intertwined and I cannot wait.  Thanks so much for the message!

So, we know that Isabel is in next week's TCL episode, but she is also in the following week's. I don't necessarily have a problem with her, but I do have an issue with all of these ladies around Arman. What is the goal, here? I kind of gathered that Arman is a ladies' man, and Hayak even says he's given him women (maybe a business thing for the hotel...I can only hope). It almost seems like a character inconsistency. Like, is he a mobster with a good head on his shoulders and morality? Or isn't he? I know it's early in the series, but I already feel like I've been watching for two years. I have dealt with quadrangles before. It never ends well. All you get is warring fandom. I feel like there is going to be progress made between Arman and Thony within the next two weeks where they become more intricately connected, in more ways than one. But still, there are things that seem to need to be contended with.

Hi, anon! :)

I totally get where you're coming from but I'm not really worried about Isabel (or Nadia). I'll try to explain what I mean, so apologies if this gets long-winded and too elaborate lmao. (But also thank you for sending this ask because I love talking about the show!)

This meta is long, so I'll put everything under the cut in case someone's interested in my analysis of Arman and his relationships with Isabel/Nadia/Thony. <3

We know that there are two versions of Arman. I don't mean that one version of his isn't honest or real but rather that Arman had to leave his vulnerable side behind when he joined Hayak's operation. It seems like he fell in love with Isabel in his early Hayak days, where he was just considered some tool. She broke his heart (because Hayak forced her to) and he let it happen, focused on his job and making Hayak proud instead. He lost contact with his family and obviously poured his entire heart and soul into this new "family". He's incredibly loyal, which is an intricate part of Arman that is true to both versions of him (which is his best quality and his downfall at the same time *angsty chef kisses*). I don't know if Arman considers Hayak his family but I'm absolutely sure he'd still die for Hayak. We've seen week after week that Hayak doesn't see Arman as a part of his family and he will never be accepted into Hayak's family either. Arman might get more opportunities and responsibilities but that's just because he's incredibly good at his job and Hayak knows and uses that. But at the end of the day Hayak still sees Arman as a tool he can use to achieve his goals.

When it comes to the women in Arman's life, his mom, Isabel and Nadia and Thony represent different focal points (or maybe influences).

His mom obviously raised this vulnerable, loyal, incredibly attentive and (emotionally) intelligent man. He was aware of his family's struggles and wished more for his mom. I do think they had a good relationship and that definitely shaped his respect for women and his relationships with them. This is the Arman we're all drawn to (and I'm including Thony here lmao).

Then, he met Isabel and fell in love with her. She's the daughter of his boss, which, of course, made their relationship infinitely more complicated. Isabel probably got to know him in his early days, not entirely shaped by Hayak. I'm sure he did a lot to make Hayak happy because he wanted to make a good impression on the father of his love. Arman was probably softer around the edges, there was less blood on his hands and more idealism in his mind. Isabel represents the past in a way, one of the last genuine relationships he made with no direct connections to his job. But that relationship got tainted at the end because Hayak intervened to end it once and for all. No doubt, she will remind him of his more vulnerable side. But it's a double-edged sword because she will also always remind him of the fact that he will NEVER be a part of Hayak's family (and I'm sure that's her main narrative role.)

Now, there's Nadia. She's a really interesting character that isn't entirely tangible to me, yet. I think Arman likes her well enough, he obviously trusts her when it comes to business. He might even love her but I doubt he's in love with her (or ever was for that matter) and I think that applies to both of them tbh. I think they either have an open marriage or it's for business (and some pleasure on the side lmao) entirely. But the narrative makes sure to include a lot of business talks in their scenes together and I think that's important because it showcases her role in Arman's life. Her role isn't to be the romantic partner in Arman's life, she is directly tied to his "criminal life" and therefore Hayak. She represents his current life, his present in some way which is filled with work relationships that he conveniently paints as family ties even though he hasn't had a genuine relationship since Isabel broke up with him and he lost all contact with his actual family. There's a reason why Nadia specifically reminds Arman that Thony's only the help. The narrative wanted to tie Nadia to Hayak (!).

Then, there's Thony. She brings out this "old" side of Arman. The man his mother raised, the man Isabel fell in love with. She makes him vulnerable or rather he wants to be more vulnerable with (and for) her. She makes him question himself constantly because she doesn't let him get away with anything. She lashes out when she's scared and always manages to see right through him (and hurts him in the process). She's a person that values family above anything else, she's incredibly loyal to her family and I'm sure Arman is drawn to that. He aches for something like that, I think, and it's so obvious because just look at his face when Thony gives him Luca's drawing? I think Thony represents the Arman he was before he became who he is right now. But Thony isn't tied to Hayak (at least in a metaphorical sense). She's loyal to her family and cares about Arman in some way but that's about it. She represents his future: The only way Arman can actually change and grow as a person is if he rejects Hayak and chooses himself. Arman hasn't been loyal to himself and his own morals for so long and I think Thony let him realize that. And because Thony is connected to him in that way, by choosing himself, he will choose her.

I'm personally SO ready to see the episode when he will have to make a decision and choose Thony and by that automatically reject Hayak and Nadia (I could actually imagine Isabel helping Arman with Thony? It'd make sense in this narrative construct at least).

Long story, short, anon (I've been writing this for an hour now, don't mind any mistakes lmao): That's why I'm not worried about Isabel or Nadia at all. Arman's introduction, his very first scene with Thony, was without a doubt romantically coded. The writers are aware of their relationship: People like them together because we're supposed to like them together. They're written to be read romantically from the very first episode. And I'm very excited to see how their relationship will develop, however long it'll take for them to actually be canon 'in an exclusive relationship and us against the world together'- kind of way! :)

As most of you already know, I recently left the cold, wet, dour grayness of New York City to bask in the bright, warm, sunshiny glory of Los Angeles. Oh my, I had a fucking wonderful time.

And so, in this and in upcoming blog posts, I will share with you my adventures in El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula, aka the City of Angels, aka La La Land.

Day 1

After arriving at the hotel and dropping off my bags, the first thing I did was hit In-N-Out Burger. As I was staying in the heart of Hollywood (like I always do), I visited the In-N-Out on Sunset Boulevard, right across from Hollywood High.

Lemme tell y’all. I love In-N-Out. It is, by far, the best fast-food burger in existence. Better than the far overrated Shake Shack, that’s for goddamn sure.

Another thing I like about In-N-Out: Despite always being busy whenever I visit, things move quickly. The menu is very simple, so there’s no excuse for customers to dawdle while in line, and the staff is always on-point and friendly.

My only regret is that I forgot to pick up an In-N-Out T-shirt while I was there. But that’s OK — I can always order one online!

After chowing down on my Double-Double (no “animal style” for me, sorry!), I walked around Hollywood, taking random pictures, before hitting up my “regular” bar, Big Wangs.

BIG WANGS

Look at this big-ass goblet of ice-cold beer!

Big Wangs Hollywood

Big Wangs Hollywood

Big Wangs Hollywood

Enjoying a chalice of beer at Big Wangs

The Wangs is your typical sports bar, but there’s something about its staff (and its prices) that makes it very appealing. I mean, you can double the size of your drink for an extra $2.

Afterward, I hit up Jack in the Box for an order of their supercheap yet tasty tacos (two for, like, a $1.19, yo!) before heading to the hotel to get a bit of rest.

Might not look like much, but Jack in the Box tacos are cheap and fuckin’ tasty!

But the night was not over! No, no, no!

Once I was fully refreshed, I made the trek to the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex, where I found myself at the bar in Dave & Buster’s. I know, I know, but it was a Saturday night, sports were on the televisions, good music was pumpin’, and I was able to indulge in an inexpensive spread of sliders and beer.

Sliders and fries at Dave and Busters

Beer at Dave and Busters

You see, I was pregaming —

FOR THOR: RAGNAROK!

I’d purchased tickets for the Marvel masterpiece way in advance, and I was excited as I’d never seen a movie at the iconic Grauman’s TCL Chinese Theatre before. Lemme tell y’all, that place is gorgeous.

The ceiling inside the Chinese Theatre

Its facade is framed around a 90-foot tall pagoda, complete with masks and authentic Chinese artifacts such as stone figures and temple bells. And of course the world-famous courtyard boasts movie stars’ handprints and footprints preserved in cement. The interior is very ornate and detailed, and, thanks to a renovation a few years back, the theater is has been converted to IMAX.

Oh, and the movie?

FANTASTIC. I loved it — hey, I didn’t refer to it as a masterpiece for nothing. Thor: Ragnarok is a wry love letter to the comic-book film genre. It’s hilarious, it’s smart, and it’s a load of fun.

Afterward, I took my ass home and went to sleep. It had been a long day, son.

Day 2

The next day I got up to make the journey out to Santa Monica. But first — brunch!

I decided to swing by Mel’s Drive-In in Hollywood.

Mel’s Drive-In Hollywood

Mel’s Drive-In Hollywood

Beautiful yellow roses at my table

Mel’s Drive-In menu

Mel’s Drive-In brunch menu

Mimosa!

The New Orleans scramble

The Hollywood location is one of my favorite dining destinations, yet I was surprised to find that they have an actual brunch menu! As you can see above, I ordered the New Orleans scramble — eggs with andouille sausage and red & green bell peppers served with red beans and rice, and all topped with scallions 😋 — along with brunch staples such as coffee and a mimosa.

Afterward, I stopped by the Chinese Theatre again, just to take in the crowd and vibe.

Then I was off to Santa Monica! Along the way, I passed a few notable places such as the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, the Directors Guild of America, the Laugh Factory, Carney’s, Whisky a Go Go, the Comedy Store, and the West Hollywood outpost of Mel’s Drive-In, which is housed in a dope-looking Googie-style edifice.

Hollywood Roosevelt hotel

Directors Guild of America

The Laugh Factory

Carney’s

Whisky a Go Go

Mel’s Drive-In West Hollywood

The Comedy Store

Route 66 in West Hollywood

I also went through Beverly Hills, making good use of the public Wi-Fi while I was there.

The famous Beverly Hills sign

Using dat Beverly Hills Wi-Fi!

I am such a tourist

Trees in the Hills

Finally, I arrived to the city of Santa Monica, where I spent most of the day walking the world-famous pier, listening to some awesome music, eating good food, taking photos, walking the Third Street Promenade (where there’s a friggin’ Tesla dealership), and looking out onto the ocean. I dunno, y’all. There’s something I like more about the Pacific than the Atlantic. Just sayin’.

The world-famous Santa Monica pier sign

A smaller sign, atop the piers map

Santa Monica pier

Selfie on the pier!

The Pacific Park Ferris wheel

Arlington West memorial on the beach

Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, Calif.

This clown was blasting Frankie Beverly and Maze

SMFD

Popeye sign, outside the Albright

Route 66: End of the trail

Another pier selfie

The rest of the day was pretty chill. I came back to Hollywood, where I hunkered down with my iPad at Starbucks and began editing Side Chick, the second of my Zero Draft Thirty scripts.

But hey, the trip ain’t over yet! Stay tuned — there are more pics and fabulous L.A. adventures to come! 😁

Oh yeah, so on each of these posts I’m going to link a music video for a song I first heard during this trip. Some of these songs are new, others are simply new to me, but they will always remind me of this Los Angeles trip — aka The Charm!

Here’s the first video, “La La La” by Naughty Boy x Sam Smith.

📸 | My Trip to Los Angeles, Days 1 & 2 As most of you already know, I recently left the cold, wet, dour grayness of New York City…

An Alternative Author Interview:

TCL’s Countdown Questions.

This week I’m featuring author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard

There are many subjects that, when included in novels, will pique my interest immediately, be they historical or contemporary fiction. One of them is music of any kind (’cause there’s lots of musical talent in my family). That’s why I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read “Temptation Rag” before publication, which also introduced me to Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard. I caught her just as she was on her way to the Highlands of Scotland to research her next novel (oooh… tell me more!), but she was generous enough to take the time prior to her travels to write these replies…

If you could visit five (5) places you’ve never been, where would you go and why?

I’m actually on my way now to the Scottish Highlands, where I have never been before. Because I am always thinking about my next book (the one I’ve recently begun writing takes place in the Highlands during the Victorian Era through WWI), this trip is largely about research. I will be touring castles, interviewing an earl, and tromping through the woods and boggy lowlands (hoping to escape the notice of those awful biting midges!). Second on my list would be the haunted castles of England. I’ve been to various parts of England but not had the opportunity to stay in a genuinely haunted castle. Again, this has to do with my novel-writing as much as anything else, though I have always had an interest in the paranormal. Third choice: a small island anywhere that is warm and verdant and relatively safe from wild beasts where I could “chill” for a little while as the lone inhabitant. I love nature and I love solitude—though I’m sure I would invite my husband and our frisky 10-year-old black lab. Fourth, a long journey through a tropical rainforest to cultivate my primal side. Fifth, I would like to be a guest at Eko-in, a Japanese ryokan (inn) based in a 1000-year-old Buddhist temple, where I would meditate, join the Goma fire ritual, and enjoy Japanese vegetarian cuisine. I find traditional Japanese culture very interesting and beautiful, and Eko-in would be the ultimate way to experience it.

http://www.ekoin.jp/en/innai/index.html

http://www.ekoin.jp/en/innai/index.html

http://www.ekoin.jp/en/innai/index.html

http://www.ekoin.jp/en/innai/index.html

http://www.ekoin.jp/en/innai/index.html

Name four (4) foods or dishes that you enjoy so much that they’ve practically become part of your personality.

I am very spoiled when it comes to food, because my husband is a fantastic cook who does all the meal preparation at our house. But I also enjoy really simple, basic foods. If I had to choose four basic foods to eat exclusively for the rest of my life, they would probably be salmon, cheese, roasted peanuts in the shell (like you get at baseball games), and, of course, chocolate. A combo of fresh, salty, and sweet.

There is the past, the present, and the future – if you could choose, which of these three (3) would you prefer to live in, and why?

Even though I am an author of historical fiction and fascinated with the past, I prefer living in the present. In many parts of the world, this is the best time ever to be a woman. There is nothing we can’t be or do. So thanks, but I think I’ll stay right here in 2019.

Best and worst – you choose which – name two (2) of either your best moments of your life, worst moments of your life, or one of each.

One of my best moments occurred when I was attending Northwestern University. This was ten years later than most people go to college, since I was involved in my music career as a touring vocalist until I was 28. I was taking a wonderful course about mythology and literature taught by a brilliant Jungian psychologist. For “extra credit,” I wrote a song on the piano with lyrics based on the myth of Narcissus and recorded myself playing and singing it. I brought the recording to class, and when my professor heard it, he turned to me, looking very surprised, and said, “Why, you’re an artist.” That moment was one I will never forget because, though I had spent nearly a decade as a performer, I was still searching for my identity as a serious artist and to be acknowledged by someone I respected so much meant a great deal.

My worst moment was when I received the news that the Coast Guard was calling off the search for a boat on which my late husband and two of his friends had been fishing in Lake Michigan. The two friends were eventually found in the water wearing life jackets. They were dead from hypothermia. My husband was never found, though it is presumed he went down with the boat (pieces of which were found). While all this occurred many years ago, the exact circumstances of what happened still are not known.

Name one (1) book you’ve read in the past year (or so) that you wish you had written, and why.

Hard to choose, but one of my favorite books of the past year is The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck. I thought the author did a great job presenting the difficult social and political climate of postwar Germany. Most of all, I loved the way she developed the complex relationships between the book’s female characters. And I always love a good castle!

Thanks Elizabeth! Hope your Scotland trip was bonny and successful, and as midge free as possible!

Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is an award-winning author of historical fiction.  Her debut novel “The Beauty Doctor” is an historical thriller that takes place in the early days of cosmetic surgery, when the world of medicine was a bit like the Wild West and “beauty doctors” were the newest breed of outlaw. The Beauty Doctor was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, National Indie Excellence Awards, AZ Literary Awards, and is a Medallion Honoree of the Book Readers Appreciation Group. Bernard’s second book, “Temptation Rag: A Novel,” immerses readers in the bawdy atmosphere of vaudeville and early 20th century African American musical theater in a story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness. Publishers Weekly wrote “Bernard’s resonant novel . . . about the birth and demise of ragtime . . . is a lively tale in which romance and creative passions abound.” Temptation Rag is a Readers’ Favorite 5-star pick and a Medallion Honoree of the Book Readers Appreciation Group.

  TCL's Countdown Questions #17: Author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard @EHBernardAuthor who wrote both #TemptationRag and #TheBeautyDoctor. Thanks for this! An Alternative Author Interview: TCL's Countdown Questions. This week I’m featuring author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard There are many subjects that, when included in novels, will pique my interest immediately, be they historical or contemporary fiction.

Worlds 2017

Worlds, THE largest riot organized annual League of Legends tournament. Teams from all over the world come to compete in this tournament to give their best display of skill to get a chance at winning the Summoner’s Cup. Some teams come from here in the U.S. and others are as far as Korea making the name “Worlds” appropriate for this setting really is a global competition between every regions best teams. Becoming victorious would not only present you with a generous cash prize of $2,130,000 (USD) of fan contributions but it also grants you the right of the title, “The Best League Team In The World”.

The world is spread out by regions and each one of those regions has some sort of league. The teams in those leagues have to qualify for worlds in order to be able to participate in the Worlds tournament. The U.S. which is in NA LCS or North American League Champion series, is represented by Team Solo Mid, Cloud9, and Immortals. The OPL, Oceanic Pro League, is represented by the Dire Wolves. The TCL, the Turkey region, is represented by 1907 Fenerbahçe Espor making their debut on the Worlds stage. The CB LOL or the Brazilian region, is represented Team One Esports. The CLS, the Latin America region, is represented by Koas Latin Gamers. The EU LCS or the Europe region is represented by G2 Esports, Misfits, and Fnatic. The GPL or the Southeast Asian region, is represented by Gigabyte Marines and Young Generations. The LCK or the Korean region, is represented by Longzhu Gaming, SK Telecom T1, and Samsung Galaxy. The LCL or the  the Commonwealth of Independent States, region is represented by Gambit Esports. The LJL or the Japanese region, is represented by Rampage. The LLN or the Latin America North Region, is represented by Lyon Gaming. The LMS or the Dark Horse region mainly compiled of players from Hong Kong, They’re represented by Flash Wolves, AHQ Esports Club, and Hong Kong Attitude. The LPL or the LoL pro League is the Chinese region and is represented by Edward Gaming, Team We, and Royal Never Give Up.

There are a lot of teams in Worlds which can make the whole tournament confusing and overwhelming at first so ill narrow it down to teams I would keep my eye on. Lets start with our home team Cloud9 or C9 for short. C9′s line up; impact as top,  contractz as jungle, Jensen as Mid, Sneaky as ADC, and Smoothie as Support. C9 was the strongest NA team last year being the only ones that made as far as the quarter finals. They’re have a very unique and funny personality as a team that works hard for their fans. Another team I want to bring attention to is the LCK champions SKT T1. The League of Legends Champion Series Korea is inarguable the best region in the world. The Korean Region has 4 out of 6 of the total Worlds Championships, influences the rest of the worlds meta, and their skill range is the highest compared to any other region. The Korean Region is the most dominant region in the world and SKT T1 is their best team having won 2 out of the 4 total Korean Worlds championships. Their midlaner is the notorious Faker, the best League of Legends player in the world. Now that isn't an official title he owns but if you ever seen him play you would agree that this kid is on a whole other level. Its like he’s playing chess and we’re still playing checkers.

Worlds is a very exciting time for the League of Legends community. Everyone will be cheering their teams on and will be hyped up for the largest competition of the year. I too am hyped up for this year and am anxious to see the outcome of Worlds 2017.

LOS ANGELES | Bob Einstein of Super Dave and "Curb" fame dies at 76

LOS ANGELES | Bob Einstein of Super Dave and “Curb” fame dies at 76

LOS ANGELES  —Jan 02, 2019— Bob Einstein, the veteran comedy writer and performer known for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” ”Curb Your Enthusiasm” and his spoof daredevil character Super Dave Osborne, has died, according to his brother, filmmaker Albert Brooks. Einstein was 76.

Einstein will be “missed forever,” Brooks said in a post Wednesday on his verified Twitter account.

“R.I.P. My dear…

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Josh Duhamel Net Worth

Josh Duhamel Net Worth

Josh Duhamel Net Worth Latest and Fresh Updates

Josh Duhamel Net Worth, Joshua David Duhamelis an American based Actor. He got his first leap forward as an Actor in All My Children in which he depicted Leo du Pres which was exceptionally valued by the crowd. A while later he got a call from NBC’s Las Vegas in which he played Danny McCoy. Duhamel has dazed the gathering of people with his acting…

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TCL 560 Review: Are you planning to purchase android smartphone under 6k rupee. If you really do then we are glad that you fond this place. My friend using this smartphone from last 6 months and he is quiet happy with it’s performance. So here are the things which I like, dislike and worth to mention about TCL 560 mobile.

Technical Details:

OS Android M RAM 2 GB Item Weight 154 g Product Dimensions 15.1 x 0.8 x 7.7 cm Item model number TCL 560 (Metal Gold) Wireless communication technologies Wifi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth4.1 Connectivity technologies VoLTE, WiFi; Bluetooth4.1 Special features VoLTE support,Eye verify, IPS FL display, front and back camera with flash, TCL cloud storage Other camera features 5 MP Form factor Touchscreen Phone Weight 155 Grams Colour Metal Gold Battery Power Rating 2500 Phone Talk Time 15 Hours Phone Standby Time (with data) 480 Hours Whats in the box Handset, Battery, Charger (5V/1A) without Wire, Micro USB Cable, Headset, Screenguard

TCL 560 Review

TCL is an Indian company, that promises a near stock Android experience, 4G capabilities, and an iris scanner that unlocks the device. All things comes with one device with the price tag of Rs. 6,499.

Design and Display: The TCL 560 boasts of an all plastic build, with a rather sleek design all around. The good thing, however, is that the device does not feel cheap in the hands, and actually is very comfortable to hold because of its light weight, and slim profile.

The device can be quite difficult to hold sometimes, especially if you have smaller hands, but that is largely same with any smartphone with a display larger than 5 inches.

Performance: On the hardware side of things, the TCL 560 is powered by a 1.1Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 210 chipset, coupled with 2GB of RAM. Smartphone really works like a charm while paying heavy games and doing multitasking for hours.

Camera: The 8MP camera featured on the rear of the TCL 560 is an average one. In properly lit condition, it produces good enough results, but really starts to show its shortcomings when there isn’t enough light. There is also a 5MP shooter on the front with an LED flash, meant to help you with your selfie habits. Both front and rear camera works like charm.

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Buttons: Both the volume rocker and power button sit on the right of the device, and are placed appropriately under your thumb so reaching them is not a hassle.

Battery and Storage: The back cover can be removed to reveal a non-removable 2500mAh battery, which might be a turnoff for some. There also are two micro-sim card slots, and a microSD card slot to expand your phone’s storage upto 32GB. The TCL 560 comes packed with a 2500mAh battery, which is quite sufficient if you’re an average user.

Earphone: The pair of earphones you get with the device might as well not have been included, as they are really cheap, and the volume, again, is very low. We tried using other earphones like the Apple Earpods with the TCL 560, but the results weren’t much better, so the issue likely has something to do with the quality of the headphone jack used in the smartphone.

Welcome Addition – the front facing flash. The TCL also houses an LED notification light, which usually stays lit for far too long.

Pros:

Build Quality is Great.

Good Battery Life.

Amazing Display.

Smooth Touch.

Good Camera.

Fast 4G Speed.

Speakers Sound is impressive.

Cons:

Non removable battery.

Minor heating problem.

Final Words:

According to us this is one of the best smartphone available in the market that you can purchase under 6k rupee. Large display, amazing sound, high performance and amazing camera. What all you need, if you are planning to purchase it then simply go for it.

BUY NOW

#TCL 560 Review #ChopNews TCL 560 Review: Are you planning to purchase android smartphone under 6k rupee. If you really do then we are glad that you fond this place.

Okay, yeah, this was GOOD. And from what I read, there's a decent chance for S2. Which I need like right now.

I'll try to write up my thinky thoughts some time soon (probably not before the weekend, because I have too much to do) because I have a LOT of them.

Spider-Man: Homecoming had its star-studded world premiere in Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre and we’ve got all the goods, including photos and interviews!

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Happy Spider-Man: Homecoming week!

Friends, I can’t lie, when I first heard that another Spider-Man reboot was in the works, I was a little skeptical. With the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield versions being so recent, was it really necessary to explore this origin story again? But then we learned that Spidey would be coming home to Marvel (via a collaboration with Sony), which opened a ton of new possibilities! There were lots of interesting storylines to explore with Peter Parker as a part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus many speculated that there were intriguing potential casting choices, like bringing in Miles Morales as the hero. However, Tom Holland was cast as the lead, and while I didn’t know much about him, I figured this would be another conventional story.

And then I saw Captain America: Civil War and Tom Holland completely blew me away as Peter Parker. His comedic time, the heart and dauntlessness he conveyed in the character, along with the HILARIOUS interactions with Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, were all fantastically entertaining. I left that movie really looking forward to Spider-Man: Homecoming, and this excitement increased the more we learned about new cast members like Zendaya, Donald Glover, Laura Harrier, Abraham Attah, Garcelle Beauvais, and Marissa Tomei.

Here we are, finally at the film’s release week. And with the initial rave reviews, I’m counting down to Friday, July 7 like it’s my job!

Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s cast and creators came together last week (Wednesday, June 28) for the film’s world premiere! The star-studded event took place in Los Angeles at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre.

Check out 30+ images below of Tom Holland, Stan Lee, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Marissa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., and more meeting fans, walking the red carpet, and generally having a blast. Tamara Krinsky (Marvel’s West Coast correspondent) also interviewed several of our faves, and you can also check out the brief clips below.

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Sony Pictures/AP Images

  Remember, Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters this Friday July 7, 2017! Tickets are on-sale now, so grab yours HERE.

  A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man, who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May, under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark, Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. (via IMDB)

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Swings into LA for World Premiere Spider-Man: Homecoming had its star-studded world premiere in Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theatre and we've got all the goods, including photos and interviews!

Evan Rachel Wood Gushes Over Her 3-Year-Old Son With Ex Jamie Bell

Evan Rachel Wood Gushes Over Her 3-Year-Old Son With Ex Jamie Bell

Evan Rachel Wood has learned a lot from motherhood. The Westworld star opened up about her 3-year-old son with ex-husband Jamie Bell in the May issue of Elle Canada. “Bless him. He’s a gypsy by proxy because his parents are,” Wood said. “He’s only ​ 3 now, but he’s starting to understand. He hears one of my songs and he knows that that’s me, and he has seen…

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The Cleaning Lady S1

It’s been a week since the season finale, so my feelings had the time to settle and I need to write out some things.

Mainly, look, I’m a simple, shallow fangirl. ;) I came here for a ship. The ship. Of the not quite enemies but maybe adversaries-to-lovers (hopefully :P) variety. And the show has definitely delivered on that with off-the-charts chemistry and real connection despite everything.

But also so much more.

For airing on Fox, this show was really good about how it tackled the topic of immigrants/undocumented workers and the difficulties they face and the unfairness of it all.

But mostly, I liked how it dealt with the notions of morality and really showed the complexity good and evil. (Emphasis on showed, because it really did that, not told, so of course it may have flown over some people’s heads.)

I loved how they wrote the characters to show that what’s legal is not always good and what’s illegal is not always bad and that and belonging to the group designated as good does not make one a good person.

That said, I do not hate Garrett (yes, this is about him, in part).

(I read some meta/opinions along watching while hunting for pretty gifs to reblog (and there’s barely any of Garrett, oh well [enter something about having to them myself but not doing it :P])and he seems to be universally hated and people seem to be mostly focused on shipping (which is fine, I’m too, but…).

As opposed to some other shows (okay, one in particularly), what I liked about TCL is that Garret as an FBI agent is clearly designated as the supposed good guy. But he is a) shit at his job (skirting and breaking the law) and a) often a disaster of a human being, although he means well, and sometimes, when he realises/acknowledges his fuck-ups, he tries to fix things and makes up for it.

And that’s what makes him not hate-able, not lovable-either, but interesting. And it’s what I loved the most in TCL: showing that and/or when the designated ‘good guy’ is not good at all and making it clear, clearly framing it as him being in the wrong. A fucking +++++++ job!

In the opposite way, they show Arman, the mobster who should be in the ‘evil’ group as often much more decent human being.

And then there’s Thony, clearly ‘violating the law’, but obviously set up as good, as the protagonist to sympathise with and root for.

Marco is a whole another issue I have not spoons or desire to deal with but again I liked the dichotomy between Thony leaving with Luca to get Luca treatment and him leaving with Luca (I called that, btw!) because of, I guess, his manly pride & need to be in charge, and maybe a bit of vengefulness (or a lot of the latter.) And I’m not even getting into his gambling (although at least he had some decency to save some money for Luca).

But, maybe somewhere behind there’s something good in him, too. At least, I think, he does love Luca.

So, yeah, I don’t like Marco, but I don’t quite hate him, either. Okay, maybe a bit, more than Garrett at least. Which says something. Maybe because we really didn’t learn much about Marco, definitely less than about Garrett, so he doesn’t seem as interesting. (And a boring/uninteresting character is worse than evil.) But they might flesh him out in S2, considering how S1 ended.

So, yeah, from what I read there are good chances for S2 considering the ratings and TPTB’s enthusiasm, but what worries me is it being on Fox. I guess we have to wait and see.

I do hope there is another season, because there’s a lot of potential from Thony (hopefully) getting Luca back to trying her new criminal enterprise and manoeuvring between working with Arman and not going to jail (I guess the deportation trial is still on? I forgot.) and everything else.

I also loved Fiona and the kids and Fiona and Thony’s friendship and would love to see more of them, too.

An Alternative Author Interview:

TCL’s Countdown Questions.

This week I’m featuring author, editor, speaker, writing coach, ghost-writer, (and my friend) Roz Morris.

I came to know Roz Morris when she contacted me with a request to read and review one of her books. Now, normally, when someone pitches me a novel in a genre I don’t usually read, I back off immediately. But there was something about that email that caught my attention, so I agreed, albeit reluctantly. Then, by chance (maybe because she recognized my reluctance), she told me she was also coming out with a memoir/travel book, Not Quite Lost. Well, that was it! I quickly begged off the novel and with my usual chutzpah, asked for the non-fiction book instead. And what a pleasure it was! (It even prompted me to ask her to do a guest post for me, and the book got an honorable mention as my favorite non-fiction book of that year.) Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting up with her twice on our (frequent) visits to London. That’s why I had to ask her to answer my questions, and she lovingly replied…

If you could visit five (5) places you’ve never been, where would you go and why?

This is prose, not reality, so I’ll make full use of my poetic licence.

My first choice is the underwater ballroom in my novel Lifeform Three. Years ago, I read about a ballroom on the bed of a lake, the last remaining piece of a stately home in Surrey, UK. I have an over-romantic mind and have always loved stately homes, especially ones that have been demolished (this one burned down). I imagine the air retains their shape, a morphic resonance of attics, passageways and the dramas that were played there. But I digress. This underwater room is still in existence. It’s made of glass, grimed by algae and reached by a tunnel. Isn’t that amazing? It isn’t open to the public, though if you look on line you’ll find pictures from urban explorers.

My two next choices are also hidden.

Number two is the cubby hole where the transatlantic internet cables enter the UK. The pixels you’re seeing right now are probably streaming through there. I want to stand in that room and know I’m next to the aorta of our modern lives.

Choice three is the disused Tube Station at Down Street, London, between Green Park and Hyde Park on the Piccadilly Line. Or any disused Tube station. You can sometimes see them from the trains, though not much is visible. But as you stare into the darkness you can imagine old tiling, torn posters tattering in the wind. They are time capsules of the day they were closed. Get me there.

By Mike Quinn, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22849243

By Mike Quinn, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22849243

Choice four is outer space. This is not hidden, unlike my other choices, but I’d probably need special magic to visit it as I’m short sighted, and poor astronaut material.

For my fifth choice, may I have time travel? (TCL: of course!) Take me to 1909. That’s the year my childhood home was built. A couple of years ago I discovered it was knocked down, so I wrote an obituary for it in my travel memoir Not Quite Lost. If time travel is possible, I’d like to see it in its original Arts & Crafts glory, with its stained glass, leaded light windows overlooking the rolling lawns, carriages in the coach house and horses in the stables.   (Roz took most of these pictures, which also appear on an article she did at this website.)

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Name four (4) foods or dishes that you enjoy so much that they’ve practically become part of your personality.

I like a lot of food so this is a difficult answer.

My first choice is taramasalata. I first encountered it when I moved to London to start college. In Cheshire where I grew up, it was regarded as improper and uncivilised – if you even saw it at all. I’d never even heard of dips and suddenly, in London, here was this Greek stuff, invitingly gloopy, intriguingly savoury. And pink. It marked the start of an exciting, exotic, cosmopolitan kind of life. It’s still my go-to comfort food, or one of them.

My second choice is millionaire’s shortbread. Shortbread, caramel and chocolate. Essentially, it’s a posh version of Twix, which I like well enough anyway, but I’m on a mission to find the ultimate millionaire’s shortbread.

My third choice needs a preamble. I love adventurous ingredients and I have an enormous collection of recipe books. When people come to dinner, I ask ‘is there anything you hate to eat or will kill you? Tell me everything, even if you think it’s unlikely I’ll cook it’. Here’s a dish to represent this – belly pork braised in coffee, star anise, liquorice, quince and mushrooms, from Peter Gordon’s Fusion. You have been warned.

My fourth choice is aged steak, cooked rare. Sometimes a slab of bloody meat exactly hits the spot.

There is the past, the present, and the future – if you could choose, which of these three (3) would you prefer to live in, and why?

The present. The older I get, the more comfortable I am in my skin, and the more I cherish the people, creatures and places that are dear to me. I wouldn’t want to be without them or the history that has made me appreciate them. I hope I will always want to live in the present (but I wouldn’t mind a spot of time travel as mentioned above).

Best and worst – you choose which – name two (2) of either your best moments of your life, worst moments of your life, or one of each.

Worst – having to ask the vet to put my horse down. He was very old and arthritic, and I didn’t doubt it was the right decision. But I thought when the time came that the vet would say, as with any other treatment: ‘I think we should do this’ and I could say ‘I agree’. But it seemed she couldn’t make this a ‘yes or no’ question. I had to formulate a sentence to make the request. I felt bad about it in a complex way. I knew it was right, yet I was asking her to do something terrible. But you cannot kill a horse yourself. I then had to ask for the assistance of the stable yard who’d helped me look after him, and thus there were several people I involved in this terrible thing.

The best? When Dave asked me to marry him (and I realised I should take him seriously). I told you I’m a romantic. More than 26 years on we’re still very amused by each other.

Name one (1) book you’ve read in the past year (or so) that you wish you had written, and why.

Only one! Such cruelty. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. A group of people held hostage in an embassy in an unnamed country gradually form a kind of uneasy Eden with their captors, triggered by their reactions to the singing of a world-class soprano. It’s haunting and human, beautifully written. The pace may look slow but something is unfolding all the time. I first read it years ago, but reread it recently so I think it fits your criterion. (TCL: “or so” can be interpreted in any way you wish!)

Thanks Roz! I hope we can meet up again next time we’re in London. It is always fun! By the way, my husband read Bel Canto, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. Perhaps I should!

Roz Morris is an award-nominated novelist (“My Memories of a Future Life” and “Lifeform Three”), and has branched into travel memoir with “Not Quite Lost – Travels Without A Sense of Direction”. She is also a professional book doctor to award-winning writers (Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012), teaches writing masterclasses for The Guardian and has sold 4 million books as a ghost-writer. Find her at her website and on her blog, contact her on Facebook , find her newsletter and tweet her as @Roz_Morris. 

Links: My Memories of a Future Life Lifeform Three Not Quite Lost

TCL's Countdown Questions #15: Author Roz Morris. Find out how the most famous, best-selling, ghostwriter you've never heard of, who graciously answered my five, fast and fun questions. Thank you @Roz_Morris for participating in this. An Alternative Author Interview: TCL's Countdown Questions. This week I’m featuring author, editor, speaker, writing coach, ghost-writer, (and my friend)