Happy Birthday To Meeeee

[kv0925]

-Ooh, I'm in the latest LJ Photophile poll--up against both a cat AND a zebra, and crushing them so far. Nice!

-Several of my colleagues here are always talking up Breaking Bad, especially now that the series is coming to an end. So I thought what the heck, I'll see if I can find time for a few episodes and see what I think. I was able to watch the first 4 episodes over the last couple days, and so far I like it very much. It strikes me as a really long-form movie of just the sort I enjoy, gritty stuff with average people thrust out of their comfort (or discomfort) zone. I've heard just enough about the show to know that my current desire to be Walter White won't last. But it's a goods ride so far, very well-written, great cast and performances, just high-quality stuff all around. And not the sort of thing my wife would like at all, so I'll have to watch it on my own as I can. No way I'll get caught up before the finale, but that's okay.

-It's been a really dreary, rainy week. This time of year the cold fronts make it down to northern Florida and then stall there when they run into our still-hot-and-humid air mass. This particular one has just been sitting up there, pumping in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and making for a wet few days. Yesterday I went over to St. Pete, and before I left I looked at the radar--clear here in central FL, huge mass of rain over on the west coast, right where I was driving. Made me not want to go, but luckily the drive was relatively smooth.

-No big plans today. I'm at work, figuring I may as well save my remaining days off for better weather. I did go out to lunch with Heather and the girls, though, so that was nice. And I haven't actually been working very much so far, but I'm about to buckle down and crank some stuff out. I guess I should get to it, really. Hope everyone is having a good day!

Comments

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

I'm rooting for your bird. It's a great photo.

Did you get the v-gift I sent you?

[cp.livejournal.com]

I did, and it is well-chosen indeed, thanks! It took me a minute to figure out where to see it, I can't say I get many of those! :)

There have been a lot of really good pics in LJ-P in recent months, so I'm always happy to make the poll. But it seems like whenever there's a cat photo in the poll, it wins because.. Yay cats, I guess? Usually they aren't even great shots, they just happen to have a cat and the Internet loves cats. Not that there's anything WRONG with cats, we have 4 in our family. But it's almost an Internet reflex. Anyway, thanks for the vote too!

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

I know. There are a lot of cat lovers here. Something about cats & computers. It's created a culture. I love it too.

The contest should be not so much about the subject. But the impact of the photo itself. What I love about yours is the simple beauty and the feeling of freedom.

[cp.livejournal.com]

It stands out to me because of the quality of light--it really was Magic Hour! And the ghosts of the hills in the background, I love that too. :)

[midnightmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm just waiting until BB is over completely, then I'm going to marathon / binge watch it. Probably after my mad Halloween season is over.

[cp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not particularly fussed about catching up as fast as I can to avoid the inevitable spoilers, just figured it was as good a time as any. And after I downloaded the first season I watched the opening couple minutes of the first episode just to make sure the files were good, and whoa--intense, good stuff. :) The whole thing has a real Fargo-esque feel to it, in my mind. I kinda see Walter White as the Jerry Lundegaard character, an unremarkable and beaten-down guy who gets in over his head and sees no choice but to roll with it. Really digging it so far.

[goblue.livejournal.com]

Wait, you are in an internet photo contest, against a cat, and you are *winning*! You sir are the master indeed!

Happy birthday!!!

[cp.livejournal.com]

It's funny, the pic that's giving me a run for my money so far (only one vote behind!) is easily the worst of the lot--what's the focus? What's the interest? Not seeing it. Yes, that's petty, but dammit, my pic is awesome! ;)

And thank you, sir!

[liquidmistletoe.livejournal.com]

I agree that the flower photo is kinda meh. But I dunno if I'd call it the worst, I kinda thought the hot air balloon photo was pretty boring and flat. And then there's the cat and you know how I feel about that ;)

I'm a little surprised the b&w one didn't take off, but maybe that's a personal bias because I really like that one. But I definitely like yours the best here. You are right about the ghost mountains being so intriguing :)

[cp.livejournal.com]

I dunno, the flower one is a photo where I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at, you know? There's no real point of focus and interest. The flowers are a nice splash of color against the grey stone and black water, but what else? The girl? She's faced away, not much to look at there. She looks like she's in motion, which could be interesting if the photographer had emphasized that with a slower shutter speed. I dunno, it just doesn't speak to me. I think the balloons are interesting with some above and below the horizon, though it would benefit greatly from some good post-processing. The castle looks a bit flat but is at least nicely composed with negative space. The cat isn't a BAD photo, it's sharp and I like the color, but as you know I just hate the must-vote-for-kitty phenomenon. :) I do really like the B&W one, that one would easily get my vote if I weren't voting for myself. :) It's catching up, which does make me happy!

This is fun! :) It almost makes me want to do Shutterbuggery posts that dissect the LJ-P poll entries. :) Probably wouldn't be too cool to do that behind the backs of the LJ-P submitters, though. :)

[bex.livejournal.com]

See, I voted for the girl and the flowers. It was the most visually interesting to me. Not perfect, but beautiful anyway.

[cp.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a potentially interesting moment, it just didn't speak to me. But that's why it's art, right? :)

[nick-101.livejournal.com]

I'd do anything for a rainy week here. It's going to be H-O-T again this weekend.

Oh, happy birthday!

[cp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is a bit of a break from the 90Fs--today's barely even getting up to 80F since it's all gloomy and overcast, but the next few days will be back up to the upper 80Fs. Oh well, one reason I love my birthday is that it means cooler weather is just around the corner, as is Halloween. :) And thanks!

[re-vised.livejournal.com]

I love your photo, I hope it wins!

Breaking Bad is a great series. I'm Netflixing it (and very far behind the current season) like it's going out of style!

Happy actual birthday! :)

[cp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so far I sorta want to be like Walter, like when he rigged that complete-asshole-businessman's BMW to catch fire at the gas station. :) But I know just enough about how things progress to know that I won't keep feeling that way!

Also, thanks and thanks! :)

[re-vised.livejournal.com]

Yes, he becomes not so pleasant later... Hah! I like Jesse.

Welcome!

[girlguitarist.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday!

I really think Breaking Bad is the greatest TV show EVER made. It is just brilliant. The character development is phenomenal, and the acting... so much is said without words once you get into later seasons. It gets so much better than season 1. The sick thing is that in a way you will cheer Walt on till the bitter end! I feel almost physically ill after each episode this last season, it's been that intense! You need to marathon it out :P (I think we watched the first 3 seasons in a week.)

[cp.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

I'm definitely enjoying BrBa so far, trying to squeeze it in where and when I can, but that's not easy. Entertainment is definitely one area where I can side with the childfree crowd--it's not easy to ingest all the movies and stuff I'd like to when I'm the only one in the house who wants to watch certain things! :)

[scriptdelalune.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about checking out 'Breaking Bad' myself, considering all the kerfuffle made about it :P Glad to hear you're enjoying it!

[cp.livejournal.com]

As I said in another comment, the movie it most resembles so far in my mind is Fargo. The cleverness, the twistiness, the sorts of characters who populate its world, the general black-comedy feel. With a bit of Pulp Fiction thrown in, perhaps. So if you enjoy stuff like that, you should definitely check it out. :)

[geekmomof2.livejournal.com]

Happy belated birthday

[cp.livejournal.com]

Thank you! All in all, it was a pretty good one. :)

[mspeacockwi.livejournal.com]

happy belated birthday!

I am so tempted to watch Breaking Bad. So many people around me are talking about it as well. I think I might hold off until I complete a lot of the projects I have going on around the house :) I don't need another good show to distract me!

[cp.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

I just finished the first season of BrBa, which was only 7 episodes. Really well-done stuff, if you like things of its stripe. As I've said in other comments, the movie I most compare it to is Fargo, in terms of characters and story and overall feel. Interestingly, I'd heard there was a Fargo television series currently in development, and I just read that the lead has been cast--Sherlock's Martin Freeman. That should be interesting! One of the guys who worked on BrBa is involved too. Definitely gonna check that out when it comes around. :)

[audamy.livejournal.com]

Happy (very belated) birthday!

[cp.livejournal.com]

And I'm late replying too, but thanks! :)