This recap containers *spoilers*. Stop here if you have yet to see True Blood 7.1!
True Blood's final season premiere didn't waste any time picking up right where it left off in the season six finale, with great intensity, and putting the axe to major and minor characters alike. The final minutes of episode 6.10, "Radioactive" fast forwarded the characters and audience six months ahead where Sookie and Alcide are lovers living in Gran's house (something tells me Gran would "tsk" about that), Sam is the new mayor with a pregnant girlfriend, and Hepatitus-V is spreading, turning big bad vamps into zombie-like creatures. On orders of Mayor Sam, every human has a vampire bodyguard. As season seven opens at a vamp-human mixer, Hep-V 'Zompires' attack and kill Tara, deputy Kevin Ellis, and many other Bon Temps citizens. Holly, Arlene, and Sam's pregnant girlfriend Nicole are kidnapped and held under Fangtasia in-line to become 'Zompire' meals. Despite being able to turn into literally any animal (many with heightened sense of smell), Sam decides to turn into his usual Border Collie during Nicole's kidnapping. It took everything inside of me to not flip a table...again.
Let's just take a minute to address Tara's death, shall we? Tara (Rutina Wesley), who has been a shining star on this show (I don't care what anyone else says), was on screen for about two minutes attempting to get her mother to shelter before taking on a jacked up 'Zompire.' The last moments you see of Tara are her stomping a mud-hole in said 'Zompire' with her snazzy kicks. A few minutes later, however, Lettie Mae laments the death of her daughter while sitting in a pool of blood with blood covered clothes.
Everyone in Bon Temps seems to blame Sookie for the 'Zompire' attack. Even during the fallout of the attack, Alcide resents her past choice for loving vampires, as if that love conceived Hepatitus-V. Sookie mopes about a bit, walking home alone in the woods, ignoring Alcide's calls, and I was ready for the next scene.
In another part of the world the radiant Pam plays a game of Russian Roulette with another vampire and boasts about her impending threesome with the devil. That Pam. So colorful. It turns out that Pam is on the hunt for her Maker in South Africa. It should be pointed out that Pam was unable to feel the demise of Tara after having released her to search for Eric. It will be interesting to see how Pam responds to the news; that is to say her storyline even leads her back to Bon Temps.
Speaking of reactions, or lack thereof, to Tara's death, LaFayette reveals to vampire James (formerly played by Luke Grimes) that he feels relief. After having grieved Tara's first death, he now feels nothing. He and James then have a heart to heart about the Vietnam War and the uselessness of personal attachments.
Jason got his sex. A "f*** for f***'s sake".
Chris Bauer's stellar performance stole the show for me tonight. Between his speech on the severity of taking a life, referring to his kidnapped loved one as "my Holly," and letting Bill know that they will never be good, I couldn't take my eyes or ears off of Andy Bellefleur.
Jessica redeemed herself, somewhat, by sticking to her promise to protect the Bellefleur residence from 'Zompires', even in impending sunrise. After being invited in by Adilyn, Jessica resists the urge to eat her.
At the town church service, Lettie Mae rebuffs Sookie's attempt to console her and continues the blame game. Upon her graceful exit, which is marred by the angry, insulting thoughts of citizens, Sookie begs the town to let her help them as I sat and wondered why she didn't point out the hypocrisy of all those people sitting in church thinking horrid thoughts about her. One crisis at a time, I suppose. The season overview of what's to come on True Blood continues the look of intensity and I can only wonder how this show will come to an end.
What did you think of tonight's episode of True Blood? Are you excited about what comes next?
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
A Day in the Life: Heels, Cramps, and Harassment
I remember a quote I read from Sofia Vergara’s Covergirl page to the effect that women should wear heels! Flats weren’t as flirtatious or fun. I, personally, love wearing heels; I love the way they make my calves, outfits, and height look. My goal, however, isn’t mass flirtation. I just love to feel and look good. Nonetheless, what I also have to consider is that I may have to use said heels for protection against the advances of someone who thinks my choice to wear heels down the street is his green light to pinch or grab me. There is no reason women should feel the need to cover up for fear that a man won’t be able to control his sexual urges and physically act upon them. Whether a woman is wearing a pencil skirt and blazer or crop top and hot pants, no one is entitled to another person’s body but that person alone.
I’d like to live in a world where my biggest concern as a woman is why manufacturers have yet to expand upon a larger assortment of tampon variety packs. A box of Super Plus and Light? Ding, ding, ding! However, the world we live in almost forces women to continuously campaign that they are not inferior, walking music videos here for some men’s grinding or verbal bashing pleasure. I put my pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else, in addition to wrestling out of my skinny jeans like a WWE champ. Therefore, when I go out I would like to go about my business without living in a constant state of awareness of my safety.
Snickers Australia had an advertisement where construction worker actors yelled out intellectually positive, empowering comments to unsuspecting women walking down the street. The ad ended with its usual slogan of, “you’re not you when you’re hungry,” implying that what these men would normally be doing on a full stomach is practically pounding on their chests while yelling out brutish, unintelligible, sexual remarks. The ad was an insult to all involved and acknowledged a national awareness and acceptance of the roles society has come to believe genders should be playing and tolerating when we are in our right minds. Further, it illustrates that women should be okay either way when a lone man or group of men yell and single her out on the street. Honestly, unless you’re yelling in a state of caution for her to watch out for a sinkhole or bee hive, it is unnecessary. I don’t need to be told to smile by a man who will see my face in passing for about 6 seconds out of life and knows nothing about me; neither whistled at; offered a suggestively vulgar “ride;” or told that my breasts, butt, and thighs look good in my clothes. The fact that women often subconsciously contemplate these things as they dress and plan for their day is one of the major problems resulting from this social acceptance in and of itself. It is horrible to think that a man exhibiting harassment against a woman feels comfortable doing so in the presence of other men because either they, too, subtly take pleasure in the degradation, or they would rather not cause contention in the name of pack mentality.
Women move through their daily lives in a world where it is almost socially tolerable for a man to walk up on her in a public place thrusting his pelvis at her, grabbing her hair on a subway, cornering her at a bus stop, and the majority of eyes around sheepishly fall only upon her as the single voice that speaks up is her own; that is to say she is even motivated to do so without the lingering fear that a rejection of such harassment will lead to additional verbal berating or physical assault.
Santa Barbara murderer Elliot Rodger is a prime example of the misogyny and violence women often receive when they don’t fulfill a male sense of entitlement to their bodies. There have been many arguments towards Rodger’s mental health, and while there may be something to that, based on his premeditated video announcing his “retribution” and “revenge” before his killing spree, I see an angry pubescent with a superiority complex who, with malice and forethought, sought to kill as many women and minorities he could with the weapons and ammunition he meticulously acquired. He collectively resented young women who may, or may not, have rejected him as though sex should have been based solely on his anatomy and not his character. Here is an example of entitlement to women’s bodies and a belief that we should have little to no standards at all to ensure that every youthful male loses his virginity at a socially appropriate age.
I often wonder if the number one question some women hear in severe situations is a variation of, “well, what did you do to him?” It could be related to a man’s resulting road rage, domestic violence, rape, etc. It seems that society has an accepted mindset that every woman’s action results in an unequal and extreme reaction from a man. My hope is that as tragedies, like the one resulting from Rodger’s killing spree, and the countless other acts of violence and harassment upon women are acknowledged for the true offenses that they are and not the “occurrences” many have grown numb to expect, we will see a decline and, ultimately, an end.
I’d like to live in a world where my biggest concern as a woman is why manufacturers have yet to expand upon a larger assortment of tampon variety packs. A box of Super Plus and Light? Ding, ding, ding! However, the world we live in almost forces women to continuously campaign that they are not inferior, walking music videos here for some men’s grinding or verbal bashing pleasure. I put my pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else, in addition to wrestling out of my skinny jeans like a WWE champ. Therefore, when I go out I would like to go about my business without living in a constant state of awareness of my safety.
Snickers Australia had an advertisement where construction worker actors yelled out intellectually positive, empowering comments to unsuspecting women walking down the street. The ad ended with its usual slogan of, “you’re not you when you’re hungry,” implying that what these men would normally be doing on a full stomach is practically pounding on their chests while yelling out brutish, unintelligible, sexual remarks. The ad was an insult to all involved and acknowledged a national awareness and acceptance of the roles society has come to believe genders should be playing and tolerating when we are in our right minds. Further, it illustrates that women should be okay either way when a lone man or group of men yell and single her out on the street. Honestly, unless you’re yelling in a state of caution for her to watch out for a sinkhole or bee hive, it is unnecessary. I don’t need to be told to smile by a man who will see my face in passing for about 6 seconds out of life and knows nothing about me; neither whistled at; offered a suggestively vulgar “ride;” or told that my breasts, butt, and thighs look good in my clothes. The fact that women often subconsciously contemplate these things as they dress and plan for their day is one of the major problems resulting from this social acceptance in and of itself. It is horrible to think that a man exhibiting harassment against a woman feels comfortable doing so in the presence of other men because either they, too, subtly take pleasure in the degradation, or they would rather not cause contention in the name of pack mentality.
Women move through their daily lives in a world where it is almost socially tolerable for a man to walk up on her in a public place thrusting his pelvis at her, grabbing her hair on a subway, cornering her at a bus stop, and the majority of eyes around sheepishly fall only upon her as the single voice that speaks up is her own; that is to say she is even motivated to do so without the lingering fear that a rejection of such harassment will lead to additional verbal berating or physical assault.
Santa Barbara murderer Elliot Rodger is a prime example of the misogyny and violence women often receive when they don’t fulfill a male sense of entitlement to their bodies. There have been many arguments towards Rodger’s mental health, and while there may be something to that, based on his premeditated video announcing his “retribution” and “revenge” before his killing spree, I see an angry pubescent with a superiority complex who, with malice and forethought, sought to kill as many women and minorities he could with the weapons and ammunition he meticulously acquired. He collectively resented young women who may, or may not, have rejected him as though sex should have been based solely on his anatomy and not his character. Here is an example of entitlement to women’s bodies and a belief that we should have little to no standards at all to ensure that every youthful male loses his virginity at a socially appropriate age.
I often wonder if the number one question some women hear in severe situations is a variation of, “well, what did you do to him?” It could be related to a man’s resulting road rage, domestic violence, rape, etc. It seems that society has an accepted mindset that every woman’s action results in an unequal and extreme reaction from a man. My hope is that as tragedies, like the one resulting from Rodger’s killing spree, and the countless other acts of violence and harassment upon women are acknowledged for the true offenses that they are and not the “occurrences” many have grown numb to expect, we will see a decline and, ultimately, an end.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Model Behavior: April 2014
Hello blogosphere! Wowzers, Batman! I can't believe I haven't written on my blog since December! I may be hitting you with a few within the next couple of hours to make up for lost time, but I guarantee they will be entertaining!Lots of changes going on in this here life. A personal spring cleaning, if you will. And it feels good. Plus I have a birthday coming up. I am definitely feeling blessed to see another year. (Birthday treats and freebies don't hurt, either.) I feel like I'm focused on my destined path, with other changes and opportunities just waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. Modeling has been picking up for me recently and I absolutely love it! Some fashion shows I have done have been benefit shows raising money for charities, and that always feels good. I have learned a lot of neat makeup and hair tricks too that I apply to my daily and nightly routines. so many looks; so much fun! Obviously I'm not usually going for the runway bold look, but extra tips and tricks are a gal's best friend. Well, one of them anyway, topping out the list with chocolate, jewelry, and bacon. ;-) Going forward, I plan on documenting and sharing some of my backstage fashion show adventures with you and I hope you enjoy. If you've ever seen America's Next Top Model, towards the end of the season there is often a series of fashion shows the models walk in to test how they fare in that aspect of the fashion industry.
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| Dress / Jewelry: Flaunt Boutique |
In backstage scenes you often see numerous models in cramped spaces and
hallways running around in 6 inch heels, half-dressed with a trail of
designers adjusting outfits, hairstylists attempting to do last minute
hair adjustments, makeup artists applying minor retouches, and fashion
show volunteers on walkie-talkies aggressively whispering for models to
hurry up to their places.
Yes.
It indeed can be as hectic as it looks
backstage, but once I, personally, get from behind the curtains, it's rip the runway time. It's a truly exhilarating feeling and I can't wait to see
where this journey goes. In hindsight, it's always funny to think about the
hours that go into fittings, rehearsal, hair, and makeup for only a handful of
minutes on the runway. It's all worth it though; every minute.This has been and is going to be quite the journey. I hope, through this blog, you'll be here with me!
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| Dress: OuterSkin2 |
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| Add caption |
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Supernatural 9.9 -"Holy Terror" Recap *Spoilers
*SPOILERS: If you have not yet seen Supernatural episode 9.9 “Holy Terror” do NOT read any further…
If I’ve learned anything from watching eight years’ worth of Supernatural, it’s that: my heart is bound to get broken on countless occasions; forming attachments with loveable, awesome characters may end in tragic loss; angels and demons are all dicks; there can never be too many hugs shared between Sam and Dean; and the Breather episodes interspersed between the heavy, emotional episodes are literally like gasps of air in a sinking dilemma. With that being said, last night’s fall finale episode “Holy Terror” brought with it a devious identity revelation of angelic proportions and the shocking death Kevin Tran.
After Sam’s physical and mental fallout from the Trials, Dean manipulated Sam into allowing the angel “Ezekiel” to enter him to seemingly heal them both from the inside. For months Dean was weighed down with the lie staring him straight in the face, literally acting as a barrier between him and Sammy. At first, “Ezekiel” appeared to have Dean and Sam’s best interests in mind by physically defending Dean after answering his prayer, resurrecting both Castiel and Charlie, and always keeping Sam safe. However, he also displayed a suspiciously strong self-preservation instinct when it came to Castiel’s presence and being discovered by other angels. That suspicion was confirmed last night when “Ezekiel” was actually revealed to be Gadriel, the angel who fell asleep on the job and allowed the Serpent to enter the Garden of Eden and fudge up things for the rest of humanity. Gadriel was locked up in Heaven’s deepest dungeon for his failure, but fell to earth, injured, with the other angels. He took on the deceased Ezekiel’s identity to make amends for his past actions since Ezekiel was known as a noble angel and soldier in Heaven.
After being kidnapped and tortured by angels in the ensuing battle between Bartholomew and Malachi’s angelic forces, Castiel outwits one of his captors and takes his grace, once again imbuing Castiel with powers. Castiel lets Dean know that Ezekiel died in the fall from heaven and could not have been the one to have helped Sam. Dean seeks Kevin’s help in an attempt to create a sigil in order to talk to Sam without “Ezekiel” interfering. Unfortunately, Dean and Kevin’s conversation is overheard by Gadriel, he impersonates Sam, and he breaks a line in the sigill marking. (It’s worth mentioning that this moment is marked with acting brilliance as Jared Padalecki plays Sam, playing Ezekiel, pretending to be Sam. Whew!) Though at first declaring that he is not a killer, Gadriel chooses to prove his loyalty to Metatron, in an attempt to get back up to heaven, by killing Kevin. After burning out Kevin’s eyes, Gadriel pins a previously incapacitated Dean against the wall and then takes the Tablet, leaving Dean grieving over Kevin’s dead body.
The preview for the next episode premiering in January showed Castiel in his illustrious trench coat as he and Dean seek Crowley’s help in stopping Gadriel, within Sam’s body. Viewers see Sam in a torture device similar to that used on Samandriel when Crowley tortured him for information on the other seven prophets. It is hard to tell whether Castiel will be able to resurrect Kevin, but I hope so. And if the void of Kevin as prophet remains, it will be interesting to see if writers bring in another prophet. As was stated in 8.7 “A Little Slice of Kevin” only one prophet can be active at a time. Sort of like Buffy; however, if you remember, when Buffy died and was resuscitated, that allowed two Slayers to be active at one time from then on. I’m just bouncing ideas around because I was so shocked and hurt to see Kevin die so gruesomely after all the good he has done, and Dean letting him know that he is family. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen, often it’s those closest to Sam and Dean, whom they consider family, who meet unfortunate, untimely ends.
What did you think of last night’s episode? Do you think Castiel will bring Kevin back?
If I’ve learned anything from watching eight years’ worth of Supernatural, it’s that: my heart is bound to get broken on countless occasions; forming attachments with loveable, awesome characters may end in tragic loss; angels and demons are all dicks; there can never be too many hugs shared between Sam and Dean; and the Breather episodes interspersed between the heavy, emotional episodes are literally like gasps of air in a sinking dilemma. With that being said, last night’s fall finale episode “Holy Terror” brought with it a devious identity revelation of angelic proportions and the shocking death Kevin Tran.
After Sam’s physical and mental fallout from the Trials, Dean manipulated Sam into allowing the angel “Ezekiel” to enter him to seemingly heal them both from the inside. For months Dean was weighed down with the lie staring him straight in the face, literally acting as a barrier between him and Sammy. At first, “Ezekiel” appeared to have Dean and Sam’s best interests in mind by physically defending Dean after answering his prayer, resurrecting both Castiel and Charlie, and always keeping Sam safe. However, he also displayed a suspiciously strong self-preservation instinct when it came to Castiel’s presence and being discovered by other angels. That suspicion was confirmed last night when “Ezekiel” was actually revealed to be Gadriel, the angel who fell asleep on the job and allowed the Serpent to enter the Garden of Eden and fudge up things for the rest of humanity. Gadriel was locked up in Heaven’s deepest dungeon for his failure, but fell to earth, injured, with the other angels. He took on the deceased Ezekiel’s identity to make amends for his past actions since Ezekiel was known as a noble angel and soldier in Heaven.
After being kidnapped and tortured by angels in the ensuing battle between Bartholomew and Malachi’s angelic forces, Castiel outwits one of his captors and takes his grace, once again imbuing Castiel with powers. Castiel lets Dean know that Ezekiel died in the fall from heaven and could not have been the one to have helped Sam. Dean seeks Kevin’s help in an attempt to create a sigil in order to talk to Sam without “Ezekiel” interfering. Unfortunately, Dean and Kevin’s conversation is overheard by Gadriel, he impersonates Sam, and he breaks a line in the sigill marking. (It’s worth mentioning that this moment is marked with acting brilliance as Jared Padalecki plays Sam, playing Ezekiel, pretending to be Sam. Whew!) Though at first declaring that he is not a killer, Gadriel chooses to prove his loyalty to Metatron, in an attempt to get back up to heaven, by killing Kevin. After burning out Kevin’s eyes, Gadriel pins a previously incapacitated Dean against the wall and then takes the Tablet, leaving Dean grieving over Kevin’s dead body.
| https://www.facebook.com/Supernatural |
What did you think of last night’s episode? Do you think Castiel will bring Kevin back?
Friday, November 29, 2013
NC COMICON 2013
This month I had the opportunity to geek out so hard that I could barely contain my phaser beam. Hehe. I jest, but in all seriousness, NC Comicon was so cool that I've been grinning and talking about it for weeks now. There were thousands of fans there, mostly all strangers, yet there was a strong sense of camaraderie in the air and photos being taken together at every turn. It was fantastic! The three day event began with a NC Comicon Pre Party on Friday, November 8 at the Armory, and Saturday and Sunday was the big show! I found out about this awesome event on Friday so I wasn't able to join in on the festivities until Sunday. However, next year it is on all weekend! 
Over the last four years NC Comicon has consistently grown into its own entity that has taken over the Durham Convention Center, nearby hotels, and has partnered with the Carolina Theater to provide a film festival including classics like Dick Tracy, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, The Crow, etc. I got to watch one of my favorite films, The Crow, in 35 mm on the big screen! I was transported back to 1994 and felt the sadness all over again of the loss of Brandon Lee-an actor and man with so much promise, taken too soon from this world. NC Comicon gave me the opportunity to watch him once again.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
The Power of Pie
Chef Pierre Pre-Sliced Pie. Who knew such a tiny thing could cause a small stampede? Every year my job graciously offers sweet treats for all major holidays. However, it is the Thanksgiving pie treat I wait all year for. I even put it in my calendar next to the entry of my Thanksgiving to-do list. There is a sweet potato, pumpkin, and pecan pie option. Pecan pie is immediately eliminated for me due to my allergy to nuts, pumpkin pie is yummy, but it is the warm sweet potato pie covered with whipped cream that has me fist pumping the air. Today there was an email sent out after the scheduled offering of pie that there were leftover boxes of whole pies remaining on a first come, first serve basis. Apparently I was not alone in my heartfelt love for CP pie because as I made my way down the stairs a small stampede ensued, gradually picking up speed, with people from departments I had never even seen before hustling to grab a pie. I was about five people away from getting a pie, but my delight over the swift, ninja-like moves of fellow coworkers made my day. Though not quite as intense, to get a better idea of what I mean, if you've ever seen Fun With Dick and Jane, it went a little something like this (minus the fire extinguisher):
I tell ya. That pie is really something. ;-)
I tell ya. That pie is really something. ;-)
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