TV Wrap, Save Electricity Edition

"Heroes" was OK last week, nothing monumental. "House" held interest although I wasn't thrilled to see Cameron. House told her she looked like a hooker as a blond.

Dale, the resident gay, came in second at "Top Chef" although from the tasting panel comments I felt he had a real shot at winning. Unfortunately, it was pretty obvious over the weeks they were setting up Hung, the Ego, for the win. Only 20% of the poll voters wanted Hung to win. Most voted for Casey.

I was disappointed in Casey's dishes and I think she was also. Dale had one 'bad' dish--his lobster course. Hung had one great dish and went safe on his last by doing chocolate cake which didn't fit with his asian-inspired dishes at all. Wednesday is the postmortem reunion show. I'll probably tune in to see what Tre, Casey and Dale have been up to.

I'm trying to figure out why they had the "live" announcement in Chicago rather than Aspen where the finale took place or back in Miami where the season was centered.

Bored, I watched "Desperate Housewives" on Sunday. Even Bree breaking-and-entering to steal a pie recipe couldn't prop up a show so clearly past its prime. Listed as "Also Starring," Shawn Pyfrom hasn't appeared yet. I tried to stay tuned for "Brothers and Sisters" but the political manure was getting too deep. I hate that show although I've liked Bat Getty, Emily Van Camp ("Everwood") and Rob Lowe ("West Wing") in past roles.

Thanks to free downloads on iTunes I caught up to the pilot of "Gossip Girl" which features Kristen Bell as narrator. She was the highlight. I might watch this week. I also saw the vampire detective show "Moonlight" which has another "Veronica Mars" alum--"Logan." The show was painful and free was almost too heavy a price. I know "Piz" is on "Private Practice" but nothing short of a six-figure bribe will get me to watch.

TV Struggles To Entertain

It's been a long-and-dull feeling premier week for me so far. I skipped the "Television Event of the Year." I wasn't feeling like torturing myself with the new "Bionic Woman" so I asked someone who happened to be watching in another time zone. Wondering if it was worth the electricity use, he replied, "absolutely not." Even a desire to savage it couldn't coerce me to tune in. Kitty did not complain when I promised we'd watch something later.

We watched part 1 of the "Top Chef" finale. The "Quickfire Challenge" involved some trout and a Coleman camping stove. Casey, my current favorite, won that challenge. The cocky cook that is Hung finished his dish with five minutes to spare but forgot to add lemon juice. Mother would have loved Brian's comment that in cookie, trout isn't even considered seafood! Preferring salt water fish, like sea bass, she did not like trout. Trout is pretty much all we ever fished for under Father's direction and probably the only fish I cleaned.

For the elimination round, they were challenged to cooked elk. The (not really) San Diego guy got axed. This left the last woman standing (Casey), the Ego (Hung), and the gay (Dale) to battle it out for the final victory next week.

Dale actually won the Elimination Challenge by playing on his strength of well received sauces. It was his first Elimination win. I'd like to see Casey crowned next week. Or Dale. Just as long as it isn't Hung. He's got great technical skill but his supreme confidence is often not reflected in the dishes.

The water meter got replaced. Garage access was needed. Kitty was not happy to have her afternoon nap interrupted. Took up hiding out in the closet for a couple hours until she felt confident the interlopers were gone. As it happens, four hours into sleep, I woke only moments before the doorbell rang. I need to catch up on rest. The energy expended running a marathon in my latest dream cannot be helping matters.

A Trek And A Tre

I strolled to the grocery and to the bank between 4 and 6am. I'm pretty sure that's the first I've left the community since early July. I hadn't planned to do a month's worth of grocery shopping but the urge overtook me. The night was clouded and felt warm, probably from humidity. Once again I managed to dump my groceries in the street thanks to a bungled attempt to avoid just that.

Along the way a few things tried to escape out bags and my new postage stamps flew from my pocket too. Yes, I finally got the new more expensive stamps. Even better, these are those "forever" stamps which means if he price goes up before I run out, I don't need to buy addition postage or wastefully double-up stamps.

I seem to remember the grocery kept stamps in the registers, even earlier this year, but someone had to unlock the service desk to get a book for me this morning.

I paid the rent. There's someone new in the office! She looks to be early 20s and only started yesterday. I hope that doesn't mean my favorite has left us. If she did, I hope she got a better gig.

There's a scent of wildfire smoke in the air from dual fires. One is in Mexico and the other in a county further north. Add in the fresh cut grass and humidity and I think I'll stay indoors the rest of the day.

Kitty is napping in her lounge chair and has been generally non-plussed at my comings and goings. Ok, she was hiding when I got back from my early morning errands but with all the noise I probably made dragging things up stairs, who could blame her for expecting the worst? I promptly shed my sweaty attire, filled a glass with ice and put on the A/C.

Last night we watched Flipping Out and Top Chef. I'm very sorry to see Tre eliminated on Top Chef. It was a surprise. He'd won three of the nine elimination challenges.