Summer TV blahs

David Tennant in Broadchurch, beginning August 4 on Showcase

I find it boring.  I'm not into the Amazing Race: Canada; What's the point? How come we only do Canada, while the U.S. has the entire world?  Generally I've had it with reality television though. Sharknado just has no appeal for me, even though I hear it's so horrible, it's good

I've given The Listener a second chance; or tried to.  It's changed too much since I first watched it.  I loved its otential as a science-fiction mystery show.  But now it's just a procedural crime show where a guy uses his mind-reading ability to solve crimes.  I liked Toby's mystery; where did his mindreading ability come from? Are there others like him? There's still a few open questions left to be solved there.

I watched the first season of Showcase's Continuum.  I've only seen bits and pieces of its second season; and it looks like it's even better maintaining its constant questioning of how your actions affect the future.  I've definitely got some catching up to do there.  I am looking forward to David Tennant in Broadchurch beginning August 4, 2013. 

I've loved  Saving Hope so far this year.  There was a huge pay-off with Charlie (Michael Shanks) finally waking up in the season 1 finale, and the new wrench into the relationship of Charlie's talent.   I like seeing what's going on with the other characters too; it's developed into an ensemble show.

The one good thing about summer is having a chance to catch up on reruns.  CBC is rerunning a lot of last season's lineup; Murdoch Mysteries, Arctic Air, and Republic of Doyle.  If you've missed any of those, now's the time to catch  up on them.

I'm turning to Netflix a lot.  I've watched  House of Cards,  and have got a couple of episodes of  Hemlock Grove left on season one.  It's filmed in Canada, and I think I read somewhere even in Milton.  I'm also starting to re-live old favourites like Foyle's War.  All are worth checking out if you're look for something to watch.

Other than that, I'm more likely to watch a movie, or spend time on the web than watch tv.  The fall television season can't come soon enough.

Summer Reading 2013

Looking up on my blog I have an entry about Summer reading from last year.  This year though I have nothing.  I've been reading George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones' series and have returned library books unread.

I've got 190 pages of book 5: "Dance with Dragons."  The whole series so far has been a work of art.  Martin has created his own world; complete with its religions.  It is as detailed as Lord of the Rings, but I find it faster-paced thanks to the way he switches points-of-view every chapter.  I keep waiting for story lines to merge and it seems like I'm about to be rewarded for my persistence.  And yes, you should be reading the first four books before you read this one.  If you spend your summer reading one series, make it this one, it'll make you forget how hot it is outside.

I still have a few on my table waiting to be read- Hilary Mantel's sequel to Wolf Hall; I think this one takes on Anne Boleyn.  It could be good for a break from the fantasy world. There's also Jack Layton's "Speaking Out Louder" which, I can't seem to get through without arguing with myself.  I'd love to go back and read more Kelley Armstrong, for a bit of Canadian content.

The last book in Ken Follett's Fall of Giants' trilogy is due out later this year. This series follows the fortunes of five interrelated families across the 20th century.  Think of this as historical fiction with the pacing of his thrillers.  The first two books seamlessly blended elements of both.  Like with Game Of Thrones, you should read them first.

What have you guys been reading this summer? Any books I should add to my reading list?  Hit that comment button below

Writing distractions

I don't need much to write; my laptop, my blackberry and its usb connector (aka the charger). A notebook or two, a few pens. Usually I need a silent, or low-distraction environment; the fewer people around the better which I get at my home office.  I haven't written in my home office for a good two weeks now due to renovations; it was just easier to move around the house or even go to a coffee shop.

This week it's been different.  I've been living in a hotel for the last week; restricted mostly to my one room with a king-sized bed, television, and bathroom within a few feet of each other.  As far as places to write go, that sounds like paradise doesn't it? I mean you don't need to leave the room accept to eat.  But do I write in there? Have I done anything with my laptop besides fool around on Facebook and check email? No, at least not until today.

Today I broke out.  I left the room with its huge comfortable bed (did I mention there was room for  probably three of me) and took the small step of moving out to the breakfast bar for a while and watched TV.  Then my parents left, and shortly after so did I.  I was bound for the lobby or "Great room," or lobby home to both breakfast buffets, and dinner receptions.  I snagged a table right beside an outlet and set up shop.  Then went and grabbed my laundry basket with the goal of multitasking; laundry plus writing.  I was determined to be productive either domestically (laundry) or professionally (writing).

I managed to do both.  There was one other person using the "great room" as his office; we chatted a little about the cabinet shuffle, then went back to work- I to my interview audio, and he to his transcript.  Of course it being a semi-public place there were a few distractions; people passing down the hall, stopping at the front desk.  But it didn't stop me.  Within a couple of hours (that includes stops for laundry checks) I had what I consider a passable draft of an article.

In my bedroom, I would have watched tv, read my book, and enjoyed that giant bed.  Hotel rooms have always equalled vacation, coziness, and relaxation. The lobby distractions focused me, knowing I had a limited amount of time to get it done before dinner.  Knowing I had another chore on the go at the same time helped too.  It was as if the more distractions, the more the focused I became.