My first novel, Lydia, Woman of Purple is being re-released as part of my Amazing Faith Quadruple Book Launch!
Also included in the launch are Her Most Precious Gift, a novel about Mary of Bethany, as well as the Devotional Study Guides to both novels.
Thanks for dropping by my website. Check back in again soon!
Day 4 of the June Blogging Challenge is to tell you about my guilty pleasure.
I’m an online shopper. I love amazon, among others sites. I don’t always buy, of course, but I love to look.
I browse books, music, movies, jewelry, clothes, appliances, baby clothes, make-up, electronics… that’s me. This morning when I hear the news reporter say that Pinterest was adding a “Buy Me” button I nearly swooned. My gracious! Pinterest is what I like to call “online pre-shopping.” This is going to really cut into my work time.
Confession over. Now back to “work.”
Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and others such services have really changed the way I watch TV and movies, for better or worse. Instead of just renting a video of a movie I missed at the theatre, I can now just stream one. If I missed an episode of my favorite sitcom or drama – never fear, just stream it.
But the real revolution in my life has been the way these services have provided me with a treasure trove of “found” series. Yes, there are lots of series that I have missed over the years because they aired on inconvenient nights. Before the days of digital recordings, setting a VCR to catch a whole TV series was time-consuming, and if you missed an episode or two, the whole experience could be spoiled.
DVR’s are convenient, but even then, if your receiver has technical problems caused by weather or power-outages, you could miss a crucial piece of the puzzle. But with a video streaming service, all you miss are the commercials, and I think I can get over that.
I love hearing about friends watching a whole season of their favorite show in one weekend. My weekends are usually so packed with stuff I didn’t get done during the week, that marathons are not often an option. Nevertheless, I do look forward to snuggling with my hubby and sneaking in a few episodes of Alias whenever possible.
Alias is my new obsession. I’m not sure how I didn’t see it first-run. Spies, romance, tech-geeks, shoes, world-travel, things exploding—it has all my favorite ingredients.
I just read a Facebook or twitter post by Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, wondering about how she missed Magnum PI in the ‘80’s. I loved it! With streaming video she now has the opportunity to see the young and handsome Tom Selleck in short-shorts and tube socks.
With streaming services, I’ve been able to introduce my kids to Quantum Leap, which has allowed them to appreciate a whole bunch of “inside” jokes on shows like Chuck and movies like Source Code. (Thank you, Scott Bakula.)
It’s also a terrific way to enjoy movie serials when marathon opportunities do come up. Not only can I cram all of the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings films into a weekend, but I can also re-watch movies like The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games to prepare for the new Jack Ryan flick. In the fall I can string all the classic creature-features together, and if I want to fill a day with martinis and witty banter, I can indulge in back-to-back Thin Man films.
Do you have a movie or TV series that you have “discovered” via your favorite streaming service? Let me know what it is. After all, every series comes to an end at some point, and we all need something to fill that little hole.
That’s a wrap for this Toast to Cinema. Thanks for reading.
Are you a Firefly or Serenity lover? I am!
Yes, I admit I was a little late to the party. I didn’t see the original series on FOX until after it was cancelled. I did see the movie in the theatre, and I was addicted. Once hooked, I spent a Saturday watching every episode—including the ones that never aired on TV.
Firefly is one of those shows that catches your attention right from the beginning. It’s a futuristic space Western and a full-fledged Joss Whedon spectacle in every way. It’s humorous, fraught with sadness and suspense, and violent at times, with a healthy dose of sensitivity for balance.
Every character is loveable and loathsome—real, in other words. Nathan Fillion (now on Castle) is Mal Reynolds, captain of the Serenity. Alan Tudyk (now on Suburgatory) is the pilot, Wash. Gina Torres (now on Suits) plays Zoe, the first mate, as well as Wash’s wife. Adam Baldwin (from Chuck) plays Jayne Cobb, resident mercenary. Jewel Staite (The L,A, Complex) plays adorable Kaylee, the ship’s mechanic.
The rest of the cast is rounded out with Serenity’s passengers: Morena Baccarin (Homeland) as a “companion,” Ron Glass (from Barney Miller) as a priest, Sean Maher (from Make It or Break It) as a doctor, and Summer Glau (most recently on Alphas) as the doctor’s younger sister who seems to be a victim of Manchurian Candidate-type brainwashing.
To say this series was well-done or ahead of its time is understating the facts. Why was it cancelled then? There’s way too much to tell here in my little blog. Suffice it to say that it’s worth watching. To help you out, I’m adding a link to the special Blu-ray deal available today on Amazon. Watch the series and you’ll soon find yourself swearing in Chinese and replacing “cool” with “Shiny!”
And if that’s not enough, I’m including a link to a book about Joss Whedon written by my sweet friend, Candace Havens! Grab a copy of it as well!
That’s a wrap for this Toast to Cinema. Thanks for reading!
