I have my weekend’s work cut out for me. I received the page proofs for When the Night Comes Down this morning and I have to have them reviewed before Monday because the book has to go to press in time for it to be ready for World Horror, which is just over a month away. I only have to proof my own section, but that probably amounts to 60 or 70 pages of text.
I would also like to get my next Storytellers Unplugged essay written and maybe get the taxes finished, too. A tall order.
Though there was talk of flurries in parts of the greater Houston area yesterday and this morning, I didn’t see any. It’s a cold day, not even making it over 40° but we were spared the worst of the winterlike weather that’s hitting points north and east.
I posted my review of The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith last night.
I thought The Mentalist had one of its best episodes ever last night. Not only did they focus on a character who doesn’t normally get much play, they dispensed with much of the silliness. Jane’s shtick with the coin toss worked well as the episode’s obligatory levity. They still haven’t sold me on Cho being a former gangbanger–he seems too buttoned up or buttoned down for that–but it was a good installment.
It’s hard to know who to root for on the new season of Survivor. Though it’s popular to hate Boston Rob, I happen to think he’s a decent guy and it will be interesting to see how he fares this time ’round, especially given the medical emergency alluded to in the preview for next week. Kudos to him especially for getting a fire going despite all the nay-sayers. I suspect that Russell will get his ass handed to him on a platter fairly early on and Parvati might put together another all-female alliance. The big difference between this season and most others is that I’m familiar with most of the players right from the get-go. I don’t know Tom or a few others from the early seasons. It is an interesting experiment, to see if one tribe or the other will self-destruct, or if some of them will play the game against type. Hearing that shoulder get put back into its socket qualifies as one of the most grusome moments on the show. I can’t believe she isn’t suffering some repercussions. And Rupert — how much good is he going to be with a broken toe?
Funniest moment of the premiere: Jeff standing on the beach as the helicopters approached, pretending to be guiding them to their landing spots!
