Dark Shadows 1991: 1.5

Continuing with my 1991 Revival Series episode summaries: 

“My name is Victoria Winters. Evening has descended at Collinwood, and for one man it is an evening filled with the promise of hope. But tonight betrayal awaits. The treachery of a confidant will shatter that hope, and his own true evil will be revealed.”

Willie serves dinner to Barnabas and Vikki. Barnabas dismisses him. Barnabas gives Vikki a gift—Josette’s music box. Vikki says that she cannot accept that, it she knows how much it means to him as a family heirloom. She comments that the tune is a minuet, and the two of them dance to the tune.

The next morning Vikki leaves the music box playing as she gets ready. Julia passes by the room and hears the familiar tune. She enters the room and closes the box. Vikki and Julia discuss the music box—Julia feigns ignorance as to where it came from. Vikki tells her that Barnabas gave it to her. Julia asks her the nature of the relationship, that she gets the feeling that Vikki wishes to talk to someone about the relationship. Is it love? Vikki asks her to keep quiet.

Julia goes to the Old House and asks after Barnabas. He went off for a walk, Willie says, even though he warns Barnabas about exposure to too much sun. She asks Willie about Barnabas’ relationship with Vikki. Willie confesses that he is a bit worried about the two of them. He shows her Josette’s room, and Julia immediately sees the resemblance of the portrait to Vikki. Willie says that Barnabas plans on marrying Vikki Winters as soon as he’s normal . Julia says that emotional attraction can cause a setback—Barnabas returns to the house and the two hide. Barnabas comes into the bedroom and talks to Josette’s portrait. Soon they will be together again, he tells her. At Collinwood, Julia writes in her journal about the relationship between the “subject and a certain young woman”. She feels it has proven harmful to the completion of the experiment and must put it on hold until the relationship is over.

Carolyn visits Joe at his boat. She asks if he believes in sailor’s superstition, and he says yes. She asks when he’s going to take her on the cruise he promised on her 13th birthday. The two sail off on Daphne. She attempts to seduce him, but he pushes her off. He can’t do this. I bet you can, she counters. He tells her to cool it and heads back to shore.

Julia gives Barnabas his next “dose”. How much longer? he asks. She warns him that they must proceed with moderation. He tells her he wants to be alive, to grow old, and to die.

At the Blue Whale, Carolyn and Joe eat dinner. Ketchup pools at the corner of his mouth, much like blood at the corner of a vampire’s—Carolyn cleans it off. Maggie watches and has a vision of Carolyn attacked by a monster. She says nothing. She and Sam close up.

Barnabas shares a drink with Vikki. She asks if he’s coming to Elizabeth’s costume party, where all the members of the family dress as their ancestors. Barnabas says that they may be able to find something for her in the attic. They find a dress that they believe is Josette’s. She says she enjoys the sense of ancestry at Collinwood. She knows nothing about her own family as she grew up in an orphanage. She says she feels connected to Josette. A storm begins, and Vikki is stuck at the Old House for a while. Barnabas suggests she spend the night there. She is unsure, but Barnabas said that Willie can make up the bed in Josette’s room and she can return in the morning. She prepares for bed and he wishes her a good night before leaving. “I’m in your room, I’m in your nightgown, and I’m going to sleep in your bed. I almost feel like I’m you,” Vikki says to the portrait.

Barnabas sits in front of the fireplace as the storm rages on. His mind goes back to Vikki in Josette’s room and Vikki’s slender, white throat. Barnabas roams the drawing room as Vikki sleeps upstairs. He walks up the stairs and into Josette’s room. He watches Vikki sleep and touches her neck. His teeth bared and eyes yellowed, he feels the urge to drink from her neck but manages to suppress it. Vikki sleeps on. Barnabas and Willie run outside to the Mausoleum. Barnabas insists that Willie chain himself into the coffin—he can no longer control himself.

Willie goes to Collinwood and wakes up Julia. He tells her she has to come immediately. He takes her to the mausoleum—Barnabas is no longer chained up. “What have you done to me, Julia?” he asks. He pushes Willie aside. She was only trying to protect him—that his relationship with Vikki is self-destructive. He grabs her face in his hand and demands that she tell him what she did. She diluted the serum. End this now, he tells her. She gets her bag and injects him with the serum.

The next morning all is well. Vikki is awake, and the two of them share breakfast. Barnabas notices that his hand has aged considerably. He knocks over a cup of coffee but says he’s fine. He insists that it is about time for Vikki to return and asks Willie to see her back when she’s finished with breakfast. He shows Willie his hands and tells him to bring Dr. Hoffman back her as soon as possible. Willie is detained by his aunt. Why is he there so early? To see her, of course! She asks why, and he tells her he’s thinking about planting a rose garden. They talk about the merits of fresh-cut flowers in the house. She’d be glad to help him in his garden! He declines his favorite breakfast. Thankfully, Julia walks down the stairs. He tells her that she must come to the Old House immediately, but she says that she can’t help him anymore. An agitated Willie leaves the house.

Carolyn enters the Old House looking for Barnabas. She sees Barnabas sitting near the window—only it’s not him, it’s a monster. He attacks her, and she tries to escape. Willie walks in the front door and hears her screams. It is too late. Barnabas has already fed off Carolyn. He cries out in pain at what he has done. He commands Willie to pull the drapes, which he quickly does. Immediately Barnabas changes from an old man back to his normal looks. Carolyn moans on the floor. “I had no choice, Willie,” Barnabas says as Willie cradles Carolyn in his arms. Barnabas looks in the mirror, but he cannot see his reflection. Willie understands the implications of this. Carolyn’s eyes open as Barnabas calls her name. She rises and goes to him. When he calls her, she will come. Dr. Hoffman will pay for what she has done to him.

Project Runway Season 5: Episode 1

I have loved Project Runway since Season 1. I had stumbled across it while flipping through the channels and caught up on four episodes on Saturday afternoon. I was hooked.  Then I had some cable issues and I didn't see Season 2, and I went through massive PR withdrawal. 

Luckily, I was back in cable with the third and fourth seasons. I loved it all! The fashion, the drama, the villains! Oh, the villains! My favorite so far is still Wendy Pepper, for the way she sucked everyone in with her motherly attitude and then willingly turned on them. Jeffrey from Season 3 I didn't see so much as a villain because I agreed with most of his feelings about whiny Angela. I just have to shove aside the fact that I wouldn't want anyone to talk that way to my mother, but sheesh, was that woman hard to work with! And the fleurshons? WTH? What grade are we in again? 

So, Season 5 began again this past week. I caught up on the episode today, and I have to admit, I was disappointed. 

Oh, it was all there--the mix of designers, Tim Gunn, Heidi, the grocery store challenge, and Austin Scarlet. But wow, what a lack of creativity and imagination. I remember the first time that Nina Garcia ripped into a designer for using trash bag couture, which has been so done. There was some seriously ugly going on there! I lost track of the amount of tablecloths that were used as the main part of the garment.  

I'm hoping that the designers kick it up a notch with the next episode, and I hope that a really great villain emerges. One episode was not enough for me to pin down who that person would be, but time will tell. 

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

The Masque of the Black Tulip is the second in Willig's series that began with The Secret of the Pink Carnation. As in a series, the set-up in both books are similar, with the main story of each book being historical and book-ended by a contemporary setting. 

Eloise the grad-student is researching her dissertation on Napoleonic-era spies. She stumbled across the most elusive of the flowery spies, the Pink Carnation, digging around archives and making friends with an elderly woman. Her main obstacle is not in the lack of resources but the access to them--currently blocked by the dishy Colin Selwick, descendent of an adventurous family. While at the Selwick family seat, she reads about the dangerous French spy, the Black Tulip, who is currently being tracked down by the Pink Carnation. 

The Pink Carnation herself plays a very small role in the book, with the bulk of the action with Henrietta Selwick and family friend Miles Dorrington. Miles works for the War Office and doesn't know that Henrietta receives communiques from the Pink Carnation in the form of letters highlighting events in the heart of Paris. Both are on the trail of the Black Tulip while trying desperately to not fall in love. 

As is typical in romances, the ending is predictable, but it is the journey that provides interest. The book transcends genre and falls into chick lit, romance, and historical fiction. The writing style is reminiscent of current historical romances, especially in subject and setting. Early nineteenth century England and spies are found in many romance novels written in the past decade, and this is the weakness of the series. Instead of being creative and jumping out of the box, it stays well inside current trends without being daring. Take away the frame story of Eloise and the book could be a Julia Quinn book. This is the greatest weakness of the book. Willig could have quite easily moved the action to the Crimean War and substitute the Russians for the French. That would be more challenging to write but more enjoyable to read. 

Despite that misgiving, I found the book delightful. The frame story with Eloise and Colin is interesting and is the main reason that I want to keep reading, for the story that composes about only 20% of the book! The story was well-paced with enough twists to keep me reading.  I loved the characters of Miles and Henrietta. 

One little quibble that glared at me: as knowledgeable she is about the early nineteenth century, Willig does not know her Greek philosophers. From page 391: 

"Was it worth it, Theresa?" 
"Can you ask?"
"Can you answer?"
 "Can you save the Platonic dialogue for some other occasion?" demanded Miles. 

Ugh. That would be Socrates. Socrates taught his students through questioning. When used in the classroom, this is known as "socratic seminar". Easy enough to check. So, of course it is galling to read this in her Historical Notes: 

During the Napoleonic Wars, espionage was largely conducted through a subdepartment of the Home Office called the Alien Office, to avoid confusion, and distressing images of extraterrestrials wandering around London, I followed the fictional tradition that ascribes stealthy deeds of daring to the War Office.

WTH? Don't insult the intelligence of your readers. I'm sure most of us could figure out what that meant without thinking of ET phoning home during 1803. 

So, for those few quibbles, I couldn't give a grade of an A. No, I have to give a B+. But it's a very high B+. 

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin's Baby Proof tells the story of Claudia and Ben, a couple at a cross-roads. Happily married for a few years, Claudia finds her marriage disintegrating because both have different views on having children. She feels betrayed because they both agreed early on in their relationship that they would be child-free, but the recent birth of a friend's baby has a shift in priorities for Ben. The book chronicles the end of their marriage and Claudia picking up the pieces of her life after the divorce. 

Giffin writes in first person, which has its place in fiction. The problem with first person is that it can be bogged down in narrative, causing the book to plod along. Many times I wonder if there is a point to Claudia's reminisces, and eventually there is, but the writing could have been done more cleanly. She spends over two pages talking about her relationship with her best friend, from when they met at Princeton (an Ivy-League education is a must for a Giffin-girl), all the way up until the present. Her interior monologues are also extensive, mostly Claudia waxing nostalgic or trying to put her thoughts in gear. While that is realistic, it only serves to slow the story down. One example is when Claudia is talking to a new man in her life about different types of facial hair--the soul patch vs. the goatee. Right in the middle of the conversation, interrupting the flow of their dialog: (p. 140) 

I describe the difference, pointing to my chin. Richard nods, looking enlightened. I am reminded of my favorite facial hair story. Years ago, Michael was in a mustache-growing contest with another guy at work. Michael was badly losing, and to demonstrate this point over lunch, he nodded toward a girl named Sally whom he actually had a minor crush on and said, "Even Sally would kick my ass." He was trying to be funny, but unfortunately, Sally was a dark-haired Italian and one of those girls who waxes her upper lip. Sally was horrified and humiliated, as was Michael when he realized his slip. I tell Richard the story now, and he laughs.

She also spends  a page describing Daphne's love for the cheesy and adolescent (p. 152-153). A reference to stuffed animals and Britney Spears would have been plenty enough for me to understand that point. And yet, when she and Richard have sex for the first time, all the reader gets is, "Moments later, Richard and I are having sex" (p. 160). Woo-woo. 

The book is also loaded with "baby talk". The reader already knows that Claudia doesn't want one and Ben does, but there is more. Their best friends, Ray and Annie, have a son who is the catalyst for the change. Claudia's sister Daphne and her husband have been trying unsuccessfully for years to have a child and conversations about her fertility treatments. Her other sister has three kids and a philandering husband. Her best friend Jess is seeing a married man and my be pregnant. In fact, one of the best moments of the book is when they all get together for her birthday and things become tense very quickly. For Claudia, everyone seems to be talking about babies when she has made a huge decision regarding not having babies. It's like the fact that I have a cat, I notice the neighborhood cats more often. I'm more attuned to them. Likewise, these issues have constantly been in Claudia's life, but since they are mirroring her own problems, she is more sensitive to them. 

I had a really tough time liking the characters in the book. All of Giffin's characters are Ivy-League educated and have spectacular jobs in New York. They wear designer clothes. They have huge Manhattan apartments or houses in the suburbs. Their main issues are their relationships. I have a hard time liking Claudia, mostly because when the chips are down, she runs. When she and Ben have their first real fight about children, she leaves, moves in with her best friend, and gets a divorce attorney. There are no moments when the two of them attempt counseling to see what is the real issue underlying their problems, or IF there is an issue. Yet, later in the book, Claudia seems to have twisted things: 

I sit at my desk... wondering whether Ben would have left if I had been diagnosed with a serious illness. If I had only a few years left to live. Or, if I couldn't conceive--as opposed to being unwilling to do so. I can't imagine Ben leaving me under any of those circumstances. So how could he leave simply because I didn't want kids? I wasn't throwing hardship at him; I just wanted things to stay the same. Couldn't my husband just love me enough to stay?

WTH? Claudia was the one that left, she was the one that initiated the divorce proceedings. I hate it when I question what happened earlier in the book and I certainly don't want to go back to look to see if I disremembered something. 

Then, when her sister contemplates divorce from the philanderer, Claudia questions if this is a bit quick, if Maura should think about it (p. 276). Perhaps Claudia is thinking of her own experience and wants to impart some wisdom, but I am so sick of her by this point. 

Overall, I found this book to be disappointing and a slow read. I rate it at the B-/C+ range. 

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Club Dead is the third installment in Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series. The series focuses on a young Louisiana woman with telepathic powers who is pulled into the world of the supernatural. Each book introduces the reader to new parts of the supernatural world, a world that for the most part is unseen to the average human. 

Because of her talent at reading people's thoughts, Sookie has found relationships difficult. Her boyfriend Bill, however, is a vampire, and therefore impervious to her telepathy. Bill has gone missing, and Sookie is sent to find him. She has mixed feelings about this, considering that Bill has probably cheated on her with an old vampire flame, and she's tired of acting on the whims of the vampire community. Her trip takes her to Mississippi in the company of Alcide, a werewolf. In order to find Bill, they must go into Club Dead, a local club for supernaturals. While there (of course), she gets into a bit of trouble that brings her into contact with the vampire King of Mississippi, who is responsible for Bill's abduction. And where humans are wary of her because of her mind-reading abilities, the vampires and Weres are more than willing to make her acquaintance. 

The Sookie Stackhouse series is one of those that has a beginning but no definable end is in sight. Like the Janet Evanovich Plum series, this series has the potential of going on with books into the teens. This means that we'll have books as long as Harris has ideas. 

Of the three books that I have read, this is the weakest. The action at the end was anticlimactic, with the troubles at the King of Mississippi's compound seemingly easy to overcome. I would have thought that there would have been more resistance. 

One thing I did find out is that I prefer the Weres over the vampires. I like Alcide's character more than boyfriend Bill and the seductive Eric (whose alias is Leif. Ha!). I have a feeling that Alcide will be popping up in future books. 

I enjoyed the book and was able to pick it up with anticipation. Sookie's first person narrative is easy to read and isn't filled with infodump and memories from previous books. Harris' books are one of the few authors that I enjoy reading the first person narrative. First person is not easy to write, so kudos! I give the book a solid B. 

Yarn Geek Love

I'm not usually the type of person that buys something merely because it's on sale. Now, if I want an item and it's on sale, that's a different matter. I need it, I have a place for it in my life, I can't live without it. But normally, if the item does not fill one of those three requirements, I don't buy it. 

For example, I don't usually buy yarn for the sake of buying yarn. I don't have the room to keep the stash. I try to limit it to one box. 

That plan didn't work so well. 

Ever since I've discovered the evil that is Ravelry, my interest in knitting has resurged. That combined with the fact that I am making stuff for my future niece/nephew as well. So on my birthday, I walk into Hobby Lobby (part of the crafter's wallet axis of evil) and there is CLEARANCE YARN in two buggies. So, I buy some really cool yarn to make scarves. It's $.99. I have never seen yarn for $.99. And it's pretty. I can make scarves out of it. 

So, I have a plan for it. I start knitting with it (because the baby blanket has stalled). Christmas gifts. Cool. Most of the stuff I leave behind because I don't like the colors or the type of yarn it is. 

I go back today because I'm over in that general direction. The plan is to look for an affordable lamp (ha!) to put in my front room. My cart veers towards the yarn. I find MORE clearance yarn! And conveniently enough, it's the same stuff--different colors--of the baby blanket. It's purple. I love purple. Kate love's purple. It's originally $5.59 a skein. I pick it up for $1.99. I get 14 skeins. 

I'm in trouble. 

Doll Geek Love

Anyone who knows me or has checked out this blog knows that I love dolls. My aunt started me at the age of four with porcelain dolls, but the problem with them is that you can't play with them. Then it was the Barbies, which I collected for a good while. I still have most of my collection, though most of it is hardly MC-NRFB. I liked to take my dolls out of the boxes. And then I got the American Girl dolls, first Samantha, and then Molly. Lately I've been making doll clothes during my summer vacay, using up random material in my stash. When browsing through the American Girl website, I noticed that their limited edition 2008 doll, Mia, was a figure skater and a HOCKEY PLAYER! ! !  

And then I saw Mia's 2-1 Outfit, and I had to have. Since it didn't come with the skates, I had to buy Mia's Meet Accessories as well. Conveniently, my parents gave me money for my birthday, so I went ahead and ordered the two items. 

Here's the boring part of the outfit: 

The outfit has a cute sweater with long-sleeve mittens,  skate blade covers, skate bag, and an iPod style headphone set. It even plays music. Oh, and it came with leg-warmers, too. 

But this is the cool part of the outfit: 

She has a hockey jersey! And a stick with a puck! How adorable is that outfit? And the doll (which is Molly, BTW), even comes with frizzy long hair, just like mine. 

Next up: figuring out how to make a Carolina Hurricane's jersey for the doll. 

A Great Birthday Present from Time Magazine

Today is my birthday! And this morning I found an awesome article by Time Magazine about the most obnoxious tourists in the world. Guess what? Americans are no longer the most obnoxious tourists in the world! 

Cue the fireworks. 

According to the article, a non-scientific poll conducted by Expedia says that the French are the most obnoxious tourists in the world. The survey was given to 4000 hoteliers in France, the UK, the US, Germany, Italy, France, and Canada. Hotel workers see it all, have to deal with checking in clients, checking them out, dealing with room service, with payment issues, and rock star destruction. Here are the crimes committed by French tourists the world over: 

Will that move them to improve behavior the poll characterized as impolite, prone to loud carping and inattentive to local customs? If so, that's just the start: the study also describes the voyageur français as often unwilling or unable to communicate in foreign languages, and particularly disinclined to spending money when they don't have to — including on those non compris tips. 

Wow. "Unwilling or unable to communicate in foreign languages?" That shocked me. I always felt that as a matter of respect you should do as the Romans. After all, if I wanted to do things the same way as I do them at home, I'd have stayed home and save my money. When I was in England, I did my best to immerse myself in the culture. I wasn't completely successful because I had 20 years of being American behind me. But I mad the effort, and that's what is important. I may not know French really well (despite years of French language classes in high school and college), but I'd make an effort to je voudrais un coca at the McDo.  The same thing goes for people visiting different regions of the same country--I'm going to try the Philly cheese steak in Philly, I'm going to eat good Italian food in the Northeast, and I'm going to eat the barbecue in Texas. 

American tourists fared well in some surprising ways: despite being notoriously language-limited, for example, they top the list of tourists credited with trying to speak local languages the most, with the French, Chinese, Japanese, Italians and Russians coming in last in the local language rankings.

See? We try to speak the languages! And with my experience with teenagers, they love language--they just hate the grammar. Who wants to know how to spell? They want to know how to converse, what foods to ask for and, most importantly, what curse words to use.  My friend Anna came to talk to my students a few years ago and they wanted to know how to spell their names in Russian and ask simple questions. 

So, where's the good news for Americans? Where do we rank in the hotelier survey? 

Over all, French travelers landed 19th out of 21 nations worldwide, far behind the first-place Japanese, considered most polite, quiet and tidy. Following the Japanese as most-liked tourists were the Germans, British and Canadians. Americans finished in 11th place alongside the Thais.

Woo-hoo! We're middle of the pack! Take that, mediocrity! The Japanese bit didn't surprise me, though I would have thought the non-offensive Canadians would have rated hire than the British, though both are completely agreeable. 

Of course, this does nothing to dispel the "stupid American" myth, which irritate me to no end when I was in the UK. And it wasn't the Brits that said that to me (for the most part). One girl from Bulgaria said that I "was the smartest American" she had ever met. 

I was the second American she met. And the first didn't really count because she carried passports of three countries and grew up in Germany. Yeah, that's a scientific poll. 

So, perhaps our reputation is improving. Yeah, we're Puritanical and repressed, but we're also so wonderfully average. We'll never be as nice as the Japanese, but at least we're eight whole spots above the French. 

Ellen Fisher's The Light in the Darkness

The Light in the Darkness by Ellen Fisher was published ten years ago and is described as her first  historical romance. Since then she has written in a variety of sub-genres, including paranormal and contemporary romance. 

I can't remember when I first heard about this book, but I think it was one of the Smart Bitches "Help a Bitch Out" posts a while back. I then put it on my wish list at Paperback Swap and received it a few weeks ago. 

The hero at the center of the story is Edward Greyson, an extremely tortured hero that could teach other romance heroes a thing or two about the real meaning of "tortured hero". He is a drunk, wallowing in the pain of the tragic death of his first wife, Diana. His sister, fed up with being the social pariah of colonial Virginia, tells him that he has to find himself a wife. He does, and does he show her! He saves a tavern wench from a beating and marries her. He brings her back to his spectacular house, thinking to leave her to work in the kitchens, because he has no intention of truly making her his wife. 

The sister, Catherine, irritated that he brought home a dirty, bedraggled girl, intends to call his bluff.  She takes Jennifer in hand with the intent of making her into a proper Virginia lady. Jennifer, despite having a less than spectacular upbringing, proves to be intelligent and more than up to the task, especially since she has fallen in love with Grey. She knows he's a surly drunk, but after reading letters he sent to his first wife, she senses that there's something more underneath the gruff exterior. 

The strength of the book is its pacing. It unfolds over the period of one year, realistically allowing Jennifer to bloom into her own as well as describing the pitfalls in the relationship she wishes to have with Grey. Grey is very mercurial, mostly because he wishes to hold on to the memories of his dead wife while finding himself attracted to his new wife. 

The book is well-written, the pacing is good, and the character growth is excellent. The internal dialog of the characters is not overdone. She did her historical research without dumping it into the book. (There is one delightful cameo by a young Thomas Jefferson who can't hold his ale!) The one thing that stuck at me, though, was the constant switch in point of view. One minute the reader is in Jennifer's head, while in the next the reader is in Grey's. That is a minor quibble, though, when placed next to the good qualities of the book. 

My grade? A. 

Kirsten's Dirndl and Kerchief

Back when I first started collecting the American Girl dolls (first Samantha and then Molly), Pleasant Company sold an outfit known as Kirsten's Dirndl and Kerchief. From the little I remember from 17 years ago (when I first got my dolls), it is a traditional Swedish outfit that Kirsten wore on the long boat ride from Sweden to America. The outfit has long since been retired. Here's what the official dress looked like: 

I decided I liked it and tried to make it. Here's what I cam up with: 

I think it's pretty durn close. I used parts from three different patterns: 

• From Kirsten's Pretty Clothes, I used the pantalettes pattern and the skirt bottom from the School Dress. 
• From Molly's Pretty Clothes, I used the jumper top from her Plaid Jumper and Blouse pattern. 
• From Addy's Pretty Clothes, I used the blouse pattern from her School Outfit (which has also been retired!) 

There are a few obvious differences between the original and mine: 

• The skirt in my version is not stripes, but plaid like the jumper section. 
• The jumper section is different as well. I don't have the lacing in the front. I have a problem with making the grommets work on the material, even with using interfacing in between the layers. Maybe I don't use enough force or pressure. 

Overall, I like the way that it turned out. It may be different, but it is original! 

Addy's WInter Coat

Today I made the Winter Coat out of Pleasant Company's Addy doll patterns. I don't have an Addy doll, so Samantha is wearing the coat: 

I made few modifications to this pattern: 

• I didn't add separate fringe to the "scarf". Instead I fringed the bottom of the material to make it more like a real scarf. 
• I added three buttons instead of four because of their size. They're probably too big for the size of the outfit, but they were all that I had. 

I really like this pattern. It was not very difficult to execute. 

Kirsten's Underclothes

Last night I made Kirsten's Underclothes, one of Kirsten's patterns bought when Pleasant Company made dress patterns for the dolls. It was one of the easier patterns and I had the white flannel material to make it with, so I went for it. 

A few modifications: 

• Instead of quilting the bottom of the petticoat with white thread, I used a nice pale, variegated thread in shades of pink, blue, green, and white. I also used that thread for the top-stitching on the chemise. 
• I used a snap on the back of the chemise instead of a small button because my buttonholer and I weren't getting along. 

Books I'm Reading

Okay, I'm going to be honest. Those books on the sidebar? Most of them I'm not reading. Most of them are up there because they are currently bookmarked at various parts. 

The only one that I can really say I'm reading is Ellen Fisher's The Light in the Darkness. I stalled two pages into High School Confidential, 50 pages into Victoire, and 100 pages into Club Dead. I just got so tired of them. 

Instead I finish the one book and keep replacing it with another book. But I'm thinking, if I actually list those three other books up there, I may read them, if only to get them off that list. 

Maybe. 

Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley

Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley is the third installment in the Heiress Bride trilogy. I like trilogies. They're just long enough to get me attached to the characters and want to see a bit more of them, but they don't drag on forever and ruin those characters. 

The premise behind the series is that Hamish Pickering left his 15,000 pound inheritance to the first female in the three generations following him to marry a duke. Not just a title, but a duke. That was the only one good enough for the female descendent of a grasping Cit. 

The opportunities were left to his three great-granddaughters, Phoebe, Deirdre, and Sophie. Phoebe gave up her chance at the fortune for true love, and Deirdre's husband was heir to a duke.  Sophie was the quiet, bookish one whose eyes were set on only one man: Graham Cavendish. Through a rather bizarre set of circumstances, within short order he become the Duke of Edencourt. 

What follows is the journey that Graham and Sophie take on their courtship. There are some stumbling blocks on the way: he has to battle some of her more ardent suitors, she's keeping secrets, and he has tenants to feed. He must marry money in order to bring his estate back to order, and Sophie could quite possibly be that person. 

There were a few periods in the book where I could not suspend my disbelief. At one point in the narration Bradley makes mention of "The Wicked Witch of the West Wing." That was out of place due to the fact that Baum and The Wizard of Oz were written well after the setting of this book. But a minor quibble. 

Bradley also attempted to inject a bit of satire in her book as well. Graham is at a ball where he refers to the debs he needs to court as Miss Millionpound, Miss Richpapa, and Miss Shippinggold. This was heavy-handed and unnecessary, as we know that he needs to court moneyed women.  Again, a minor quibble, but it stood out and irritated me. 

Lastly, another small quibble in names was that his valet, Peabody, had the same name as the hostess of a musicale, Lady Peabody. It did serve to confuse the reader, as I thought perhaps there may be a weird relationship there. That would have been an easy mistake to fix in an edit. 

My grade for this book is a B+, oh so close to an A! 

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

I can't say that I'm a Jane Austen addict. I've read most of her books, with the exception of Mansfield Park, and Colin Firth is my favorite Mr. Darcy. I love her books and the stories she told. 

That being said, I believe that had authors wanted sequels written to their books, they would have written them during their lifetimes. Now there are so many "sequels" to Pride and Prejudice, they make my head spin. There are so many endings to the Darcys life! Here I was, perfectly happy with the ending that Austen wrote for Lizzie and Darcy, imagining them living in bliss at Pemberley, eventually with a brood of children. 

That's not to say that I haven't tried to read a few sequels. I read one following the life of Margaret Dashwood, and I attempted to read Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll before I chucked it against the wall. So it was with great trepidation that I read Laurie Viera Rigler's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.  

Courtney Stone is a Jane Austen addict, having read every single Austen book multiple times. She has recently come off a rather nasty break-up, and she self-medicated with vodka and ice cream. When she wakes up, she finds herself in early 19th century England, the daughter of a wealthy gentleman. While in the body of Jane Mansfield (get it? ha ha), she has to figure out how to survive in the nineteenth century with twenty-first century sensibilities, especially with a mother who is more than willing to put her thirty-year old daughter in an asylum. Courtney tries to figure out how to get back to the future while not messing up Jane's life too much. 

The concept is interesting, though the execution is lacking. I always wonder if books are actually read by editors and proof-readers, or if they are green-lighted because Jane Austen is in the title. The author tries to explain how Courtney goes back in time, but that is difficult with the first-person narration, because Courtney doesn't know how she went back in time. This made the time plot confusing. Combine that with Courtney waxing philosophical and I spent a good bit of the time confused on how she went back in time. Much of her inner thought process was her asking herself questions--questions that are never answered by the end of the book. On page 101: 

So what will become of who I really am? What will become of that bundle of memories called Courtney, my real self that resides, hidden from view, inside this body? Will I/it slowly disappear, inexorably surrender to the onslaught of synaptic activities, the cumulative effect of cellular memory that is now evolving into conscious thought?

Courtney is obsessed with how people smell in the past, making sure she has sufficient baths and a handkerchief to mask her face. Much mention is made of how the people smell. She is also obsessed with her new looks. In her old life she was a petite, dumpy blonde, while Jane was tall, slender, and brunette. Even by the end of the book she is still babbling on about how unused she is to her new body. 

Courtney also gets quite caught up in what is acceptable and not acceptable for a woman of that time. I am surprised that she does not know how to act since she is such an "addict". There are also a few quibbles I have with the plotting. Pre-Courtney, Jane seems to have formed an attachment to a servant in her father's house. Her friend Mary, whose brother courts Jane, mistakenly thought that her brother fathered a servant's child and wishes him to marry said servant! p. 113

"Of course I suggested that Charles marry the girl, despite the fact that all our friends would shun her society. And his."
"And?"
"He said he was sorry for her but he had no intention of taking on another man's duties. He is the most unfeeling creature I have ever known."

Um, no? Jane Austen's heroes always married their social equals--never a servant! This wouldn't even have happened in reality, and I can't imagine that a gently-bred miss would even consider that her brother marry a servant. England's society was very rigid and very difficult to cross.

Overall, I found the book a very interesting idea, but lacking in execution, a project run out of time. Had this been a project in my class, I'd grade it on the D+/C- level. 

NHL Draft '08

Last night I watched the NHL draft, not because I found it interesting and was on tenterhooks to see who the 'Canes were able to pick, but because I was bored and wanted to subject my mom to something she'd never understand. (There's nothing like the filial piety our family shows.) 

Oh, that and to see if I could make fun of the New Jersey Devils. My dislike for them has no concrete beginning but is more of a visceral response whenever I hear "New Jersey". That and my brother prefers Jersey above all other teams. And then there was that event two Christmases ago when I received my Carolina Hurricanes jersey (all I need is a cute belt and it's a dress!) and my Jersey uncle says, "What is that? Some kinda New Jersey Devils shirt?" 

Yeah, the dislike runs deep. 

By the time I turned it on, I missed Carolina's pick of Zach Boychuck, but I did notice a few petty things that I could not let go: 

• The commish, Gary Bettman, is short. Not that I have a lot of room to talk, but next to all those hockey players and former hockey players, the man is the size of a garden gnome. 
• What is the deal with listing one's height at 6' 1-1/2"? At that height, do you honestly need that other HALF-INCH? That's just being mean to all us short people. It's one thing for me to list my height at 5' 0-1/2" because I need every little bit I have, but to add a 1/2" to an already tall frame is just cruel. It's like when a six-year old says she's not six but "six and three-quarters." 

As far as the substance of the draft, I can't explain it. I'm not going to. There are plenty of other blogs and websites that will break down the draft and explain what it means for each team. That means I can just sit back and relax. 

Dark Shadows 1991: 1.4

Dark Shadows 1991, episode 1.4

The sheriff and Julia walk up to Michael’s front door. His car is in the drive and lights are on in the house. Michael opens the door and lets the two of them in. Patterson mentions they’ve been trying to get in touch with him for hours, but his phone has been dead. The sheriff asks why Michael has been calling him, and Michael apologizes. He stumbled down another dead end regarding Barnabas Collins and the killer. He mentions a diary—Julia realizes he means hers—and Patterson says his deputy told him Michael had photographed evidence. He hands Patterson the camera, and the sheriff takes the film to be developed. As George and Julia leave, Michael attacks the sheriff. Patterson shoots him, but the vampire Michael still comes after him. Julia sees a wooden spear and manages to stake Woodard just in time. He goes after Julia, but Patterson pulls him off and pushes the stake farther in.

Julia and George Patterson head back to the sheriff’s office, where they leave Michael’s body in the custody of the coroner. He hands the film over to the deputy to be developed. He hands over his bloody raincoat as well, wanting it to be disposed of. Julia and George share a drink and wait for the photos to be developed. He goes off to the dark room, while Julia waits nervously in his office. The pictures are nothing more than black images for each. The film had not been exposed.

Roger and Elizabeth are at Collinwood. Liz wonders what is happening, that some dark cloud has come over Collinwood. (None connected to a mysterious cousin, however!) Julia gives Barnabas another injection, and he tells her that he had no choice regarding Michael Woodard. It was for the best, he said, but Julia is still upset. She is as much a part of his death as Barnabas was, he tells her. She says that he can now spend only limited times in the sunlight. He wants them to finish what has started, together. He plays Josette’s music box for her. He says he looks forward to the day when he can give it to the woman who will take her place. (No doubt Julia thinks that is her.)

David plays with Revolutionary War soldiers. One of the soldiers moves magically by itself. “Sarah?” he asks. She appears and they discuss the war. She doesn’t wish to discuss now now, but then. Vikki hears David talking to a young girl, and she walks into his room. She asks if he was talking with Sarah. Yes, he says. Sarah gave him the soldiers as well. She leaves him to his play. Vikki leaves and walks down the hall. She sees someone walking down the hall and follows. It is a young girl who disappears into a door. Vikki runs to the door and there is nothing there. It is locked. A key is on the floor, and she uses it to unlock the door. She finds an abandoned hallway, filled with old furniture. She follows Sarah deeper inside to a library, where Sarah sits behind a desk. She turns the pages of a book. Vikki asks what she is reading. She read about her brother, Barnabas and hands Vikki the book—the diary of Sarah Collins, 1787. David is at the door. “Now do you believe me?” He says Sarah is trying to tell her something—that someone is going to get hurt. They agree to tell only each other if they see Sarah again—especially not Barnabas.

Vikki is at the cemetery, and she finds a covered headstone that says Sarah Collins. She and Barnabas then go for a walk on the beach. She gives Barnabas the diary of Sarah, despite David’s warning. He asks where she got it and grabs her by the arms. She tells him he’s hurting her. She asks why he’s so upset over it. He says it’s just that his family history means so much to him. Where did you find it? He asks. In a library in the west wing, she says. He thanks her. They talk about how Josette married his brother, Jeremiah, and Vikki wonders why.

Barnabas reads aloud from Sarah’s diary that night. He talks to Willie about how much he loved his sister. Willie asks why she was so young—nine years old—when she died. Barnabas said she was very ill. He asks Barnabas if David really sees Sarah, and Barnabas believes that he has. He thinks that Sarah is trying to tell him something—he finds a small portrait of a blonde woman. He throws it into the fire, where it bursts into flames. A flaming specter comes out of the fireplace. Willie is frightened and asks what that was. Barnabas says her name was Angelique, the true cures of his existence, a force so evil, so powerful, that even now she reaches out to destroy him.

In the schoolroom, David is peering into his desk. Vikki asks him what is in there. “Are you sure you want to see?” Vikki grabs a book to kill whatever it is, but there is only a small painting. David said he got it in a room he’s not supposed to go to. She promises not to tell Roger but that they should put the painting back. David leads her to a locked room set up as a painting studio. Stacked against the wall are many paintings, and Vikki asks who painted them. David wishes to leave. Roger arrives, and Vikki tells him it was her idea to come up. Roger is irate and tells her to go downstairs—that the room does not exist anymore.

Maggie is sculpting in her studio. Roger arrives. While he’s gone, David goes into Roger’s room and takes some hair from a brush and a coat button. Roger and Maggie discuss their relationship. Maggie asks what will happen if she comes back; Roger doubts that will happen. Maggie said she’s not like other people. David fashioned a wax doll using the items from his father’s room and sets it on fire. At Maggie’s, Roger begins convulsing. Vicki manages to set the flames off, and Roger recovers.

Vikki tells Liz about the incident with David. She says that David was in some sort of trance and hands Liz the button from Roger’s coat. Liz confesses that David was asked to leave the town school because he started a terrible fire and almost burnt it down. Vikki has a phone call from Maggie Evans. She meets Maggie in town. Maggie tells Vikki about her affair with Roger and that Vikki must be very careful with David. She also tells Vikki that she has certain powers, that she can see things, and she saw David burning the doll. Talk turns to David’s mother, who is in an institution in England but is somehow controlling David. David’s mother knows what’s happening, she’s evil, and she’s a witch. Watch David carefully, Maggie warns again.

Barnabas and Willie are in the Old House, preparing for dinner. Barnabas sees Sarah’s diary out on the table and asks Willie what it’s doing out. Willie does not know. Barnabas tells Willie to make sure everything is ready when the window bursts open and the fire flares. The candles flicker and Sarah’s diary opens. They both watch as writing appears, warning Barnabas to keep Vikki out of his plans—they are both in danger. It means nothing, Barnabas says. Willie insists that Sarah is trying to warn them, and Barnabas flies into a rage. Barnabas apologizes, and Willie goes to put the diary back. After he leaves, the pages flip open to a picture of Angelique

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

Lately I have fallen out of love with  historical romance novels. I used to be able to suspend my disbelief at some of the wild circumstances, but I eventually grew tired of the spies, the spinsters, the rogues, and the heiresses. More and more the books became cookie-cutters of previous books I had read. That and the fact that many of the Regency-era novels written for the American market seemed to be less historical and more Jane Austen role-playing. The characters acted so modern. And I am not one to buy a book after an author has disappointed me, not with the price of books at $8.00 a piece. 

So it was with trepidation that I picked up Julia Quinn's The Lost Duke of Wyndham. The last three books of the Bridgerton series had been a miss with me, a series that had gone on a few books too long. 

But this book I enjoyed. It's part of a two book series, and Quinn's trademark wit was there. 

According to the back cover: 

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham. 

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the Dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine... until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have... 

The plot is completely out there and fantastic: the Dowager Duchess of Wyndham swears the highwayman that just accosted her coach is her grandson. Not only is he her grandson, but she is certain he is the son of her favorite son. She sees it in his masked face and hears it in his voice. She is so certain that he is her grandson that she accosts him to bring him to his rightful place. 

Unfortunately, her other grandson is the current Duke of Wyndham, and if Jack does turn out to be legitimate, he will take Thomas' place as duke. Both men go through severe angst at the thought that Jack is legitimate: Jack because he is unsuitable for the role and does not want it; Thomas because all he has known is his role as Duke. His fiancee will even become Jack's along with all the land holdings and duties.  

Both are united, however, in the face of their grandmother, possibly the least likable character in Quinn's books. She is the closest to a villain this book has, as she is against everyone and the world. She would rather have Jack as duke than Thomas, despite the fact she has known Thomas all his life--she is happy enough that Jack is charming like his father. She has no problem putting people out or making them uncomfortable in the face of her own interests, especially that of her companion, Grace. She seems to throw Grace in Jack's path, making Jack uncomfortable despite his growing attraction to Grace. The duchess is rude and unlikable, with no redeeming qualities. I failed to feel sorry for her at all. That is one of the weakest parts of the book for me, the lack of character development. We are never told of her motivations apart from the "favorite son" angle. I would like to know, if not what she loved about her son the most, then what she disliked about the other two. There's always a reason! 

Jack's motivations were uneven as well. His reasons for not wanting to become duke are always hinted at but not mentioned until the end of the book. He is always charming and seems suited to the role, but he has doubts that the reader is not privy to. Perhaps if there were more hints scattered throughout the book I would not have been confused. 

Quinn is redeemed by the ending, which was emotional and perfect for the story. The reader is never in doubt of the outcome, but it is the journey that is more important than the end. Also a positive for Quinn is her homage to Steven Colbert, found on page 118: 

He flashed her a smile that shook her to her toes. "I would never claim that men and women are interchangeable, but in matters of truthiness, neither sex earns high marks. "

She looked at him in surprise. "I don't think truthiness is a word. In fact, I am quite certain it is not."

"No?" His eyes darted to the side. Just for a second--not even a second, but it was long enough for her to wonder if she'd embarrassed him.... his smile grew jaunty and lopsided, and his eyes positively twinkled as he said, "Well, it should be."

Ah, truthiness!  I was delighted to see it in there, though I think that Colbert should have gotten credit in some endnotes. 

For that alone, Quinn receives a B+. 

Delicious Library 2

Lately I've had an organization bug. I cleared out my craft room, throwing out all the crap fabric and stuff I haven't used and will never use. I organized my patterns. I put magazines in binders. 

Then I remembered my friend Kellie told me about a book inventory that she used for her Mac. All she did was hold the book up to her camera and it scanned the book in! I had to have it! Of course, I didn't remember the name of it, but that's the beauty of internet search engines--you can look it up. 

And that's how I ended up with Delicious Library 2.  The software is solely for Mac computers, which means that I was lucky. And the more I read the website, the more I wanted it. So I bought it. The download was done in minutes, and I could get started immediately. They also offer a barcode scanner that you can purchase. It can hold information on up to 400 books so you can move away from the computer. I decided not to purchase that because  I don't have that many books. 

I have 325. 

I have 71 movies. 

I can also inventory things that aren't media. Anything with a barcode can be scanned and looked up. I haven't moved past those categories yet--I have enough to scan before moving on to other ideas. 

I also like that I can use my Address Book to keep track of who has borrowed books from me. They remain on my shelf, but are shadowed out to show they aren't on my physical shelf. It is also very easy to get delete books once I get rid of them. 

The scanner was hard to use, because I had to hold the book a certain way. This was mostly due to human error though, because once I turned the light on in the room, the scanning became easier (this genius figured out it was a camera!). The main problem is that a lot of the books didn't scan into the proper item. By using the UPC code on the back of the book, especially mass market paperbacks, I kept being told that I had a "pink butterfly watch." 

I can guarantee you, I own no "pink butterfly watch". 

This was quickly resolved by using the barcode on the inside of the book. This would pick up the correct title of the book. 

Of course, if it didn't scan at all, I could hand-enter the UPC or ISBN into the database to get my data. This worked, too, but took longer than the scanner, and wasn't as much fun. 

One question I do have is why the book details are sometimes listed in UK pounds sterling and not US dollars. I know that I bought my books in the US, but the approximate value of a mass-market paperback isn't a high issue for me. 

ETA: On 6/22/08, I downloaded an update that is intended to fix the "UK" bug. I don't know how to automatically update it, though, unless I have to rescan the books involved back in. Which will be a pain.

Overall, I give this product an "A" and would recommend it to any book lover with a Mac. 

Doll Cape

The following project is from Vogue Patterns, Pattern V7923.  It is now out-of print, as is the pattern for the doll, V7868. I have made the pattern for the cape as seen below on my American Girl doll. 

It was my first attempt at using satin, and it made me realize what a horrible material satin is to work with. It's one letter away from "satan" for a reason. 

I know it's hard to see the detail on this, but that's okay. You don't need to see it, just like you don't need to see the spot on the front where I accidently cut a hole. I'm still trying to figure out how to fix that. It's right there, plain as day, too, which is why this picture is fine. You don't need to see it. 

The other issue I had was with the gathered trim on it. I had to gather somewhere around a mile of satin, from it into a Mobius strip  and then attach it to the outside of the cape. The end result was a disordered mess of gathering, with very little of the trim having the requisite "gather".  

Sigh. I would rather pleat nine and three-quarters feet of ribbon. 

Here's the back, hood up. I like the back. 

Felicity's Christmas Dress

It took me a week, but it's done! The satin was a bitch to sew, so I took my time so I wouldn't screw it up too bad. Overall, it was easier than the raincoat I finished last week, so that was a relief. I love the way it turned out, though I used to wide of lace for the arms. 

Like the raincoat, this was one of the American Girl patterns that was sold through Pleasant Company before being acquired by Mattel. In this case the pattern was Felicity's. 

I made a few modifications from the pattern: 

• I left off the decorative cuff. I had it made and gathered, but I didn't like how it looked sewed on to the sleeve. I replaced it with some trim that I had from another project. 
• I only made one stomacher. I didn't make the alternate with ribbon because I didn't have white ribbon, only cream. I know it's something that only I would notice, but I WOULD NOTICE. 

Oh, and pleating nine and three-quarters yard of ribbon? Painful. Literally. There must have been a hundred pins in that length of ribbon. 

Dark Shadows 1991: 1.3

Okay, a few days late, but better late than never. Continuing the Revival series with episode 3: 
Dark Shadows 1991, Episode 1.3

“My name is Victoria Winters. Night has fallen on the Old House, a night of promise and forboding. For a being older than time, a tortured creature, may soon free himself of his torment, if only he can conquer the evil that drives him.”

Julia arrives at the Old House. Barnabas says she was late, and she apologizes. She had to wait until the other were asleep. She asks if he can fight it. If he couldn’t, he replies, you wouldn’t be alive to ask that question. She warns him about the serum and its toxicity. Nothing could be worse than this, he said. She injects him with the serum. He feels its heat in his veins, his blood boiling. He passes out from the pain. When he gains consciousness, he says the pain is gone.

Julia is back at her office and taking notes on her experiment. Dawn. Julia looks at a vial of blood that begins boiling. The vial bursts. She touches the blood with a gloved hand.

Night. Vikki and Barnabas stand at Widow’s Cliff. He tells her the story of the Widows who would wait for their husbands’ ships to come in, many of them throwing themselves off the cliff to join them. Vikki asks if this is where Josette died. Yes. He holds her close.

David hears a door open at Collinwood. He asks whose in the room. Carolyn comes down the hallway. He asks what’s wrong with her, asks her to say something. She’s a vampire! David runs up the stairs to his room, where Daphne is waiting for him. He runs to Vicki’s room—she, too, is a vampire. He screams. Vicki runs into his bedroom and wakes him from his dream. He tells her about his dream.

In the morning, David goes outside. He ends up outside the family cemetery and walks up to the mausoleum. He goes inside. Sarah comes up behind him. She is a young girl in old-fashioned dress. She tells him not to worry about Daphne, she is gone for good. “Daphne is ashes, Daphne is dust.” There is someone who needs his help, but Sarah can’t tell him anything but that it’s someone he knows, someone he’s close to. She leads him back upstairs and disappears.

Julia continues her experiment with exploding blood. The blood has become more resistant to daylight each day. Two months have passed since they began the experiment, and Barnabas’ desire to feed lessens each day. She injects Barnabas with the serum, but they no longer cause him the pain they once did. She thinks it’s time for an experiment. Willie pulls a cloth of a mirror. Barnabas looks in the mirror. He sees his reflection. Barnabas goes to Josette’s room and tells her soon they will be together again.

Joe sits outside on the verandah. He looks rough. Carolyn brings him some lunch. He tells her he needs to get out of there, too many memories everywhere he looked.

Michael cooked dinner for Julia. He asks about her work. She says it’s going well. He asks her what’s left to do now that Daphne’s gone. She says she’s still taking care of Joe, but Michael doesn’t buy it. He knows she still believes it’s a vampire and is waiting for it to strike again. It didn’t just vanish into thin air, and the sheriff has three unsolved murders. The likely suspect is Barnabas Collins. He fits all the prerequisites: new to town and doesn’t appear at night.

At the Old House, Barnabas is reading poetry to Vicki in the dead girl’s room. The poem was written by his “namesake” for Josette. They kiss. A lot. Barnabas moves his way down her neck and the need to feed overcomes him. He looks at her pale, silky neck… and pushes away. She asks him what’s wrong, if he’s all right. He asks her to leave.

Julia comes to Barnabas. “It’s now Julia, we can’t wait any longer. I’m losing control.” He tells her about the desire to feed. Julia says it’s a risk to up the dosage. Barnabas tells her it’s now or never. He wants to see morning. She injects him twice.

Dawn. Barnabas is still up, and Julia sets a vial of blood by the window. Willie and Julia watch as the sun rises. Barnabas feels “stinging points of heat” on his skin, his blood warming. He sees the sun for the first time in two hundred years. The blood in the vial begins to boil. Julia tells Willie to pull the drapes. Barnabas tells him no. He collapses on the floor, and Willie pulls the drapes. There is a knock on the front door. Julia and Willie put Barnabas to bed. Willie answers the door to Roger, Michael, and the sheriff. He says that Barnabas is still asleep. The men are suspicious, wanting to see him before he leaves for Boston, Portland, or wherever.

Julia arrives at the door. Michael asks what she’s doing there, and Julia says that Barnabas is very ill. Michael asks if he has the plague. The sheriff says he needs to speak to Barnabas about Daphne and the others this morning. In the daylight. The sheriff pulls out a search warrant. Barnabas, looking ill, pulls himself down the stairs. They see that he is ill. Roger apologizes for the intrusion, but Michael is still suspicious. He says Barnabas is looking very pale. Barnabas walks down the stairs into a patch of sunlight. Julia makes them leave and Barnabas returns to bed. The gentlemen leave. Michael is still suspicious and makes Julia aware of that fact. Michael is still insistent about his theory, but the sheriff and Roger dismiss it.

Willie watches over Barnabas. There is another knock at the door. Willie runs to open it and sees Mrs. Johnson. He’s actually glad to see her, which surprises her. He lets her in, and Aunt Sarah is amazed by how much they’ve fixed the Old House. She brought him a nut loaf (nut loaf for a nut), which he proceeds to eat. Willie seems nervous, and she asks him what’s wrong. He brushes off her concern and rushes her out of the house.

Michael Woodard shows up at Collinwood. He accepts responsibility for the incident that happened that morning. He asks after Julia, who is by the lily pond, reading. Michael goes off to search for her, but ends up in Julia’s office. He opens the refrigerator and finds the vials of blood. He pulls the case out and holds it up to the sunlight—it bursts in his hand. He also finds in her desk her journal. He takes pictures of them with a min-camera. He leaves Collinwood and tells Elizabeth on the way out that he found her.

Julia returns inside. Elizabeth stops her and mentions Michael’s visit to apologize. Julia had no idea about his visit. Julia rushes upstairs where she finds the broken vial on the floor and the desk drawer ajar.

Julia tells Barnabas about Michael finding her journal. Barnabas leaves. There is business to attend to. They argue; Julia doesn’t want anything to happen to Michael. Barnabas insists Willie escort her back to Collinwood. At Michael’s house, the electricity and telephone go out due to the storm. He hears an upstairs window breaking and attempts to close the shutters. He hears more noises and goes to investigate. A hand reaches out of the darkness and grabs his throat. Barnabas warns Woodard that he has made a serious mistake and now he is a part of Barnabas's universe.

WTH: I Love the New Millennium Already?

I was excited when VH1 began their "I Love..." series with the 1980s. I was a little tot in the 80s, so I was feeling nostalgic, and why not? I was even on board with "I Love the 80s Strikes Back" and even "I Love the 80s 3-D" even though I didn't have the 3-D glasses. Then I realized that only backgrounds were 3-D, so it didn't really matter. 

Even though I spent only six months in the 1970s, I was in for "I Love the 70s" and "I Love the 70s Volume II." But I felt that the "I Love the 90s" series were too soon. We barely had five years perspective when those series began, and a lot of it was painful. I hadn't fully purged the 1990s out of my life and worse than that, it brought back horrible memories of middle school. Who wants to remember those grades? And here I was, for the years of 1991-1993, reliving them in all their glory. And there was stuff I didn't even remember and swore they made up. 

So I have reservations about "I Love the New Millennium", mostly because we're still living in them. There's no perspective there, and there's only seven years they can work with. What, they couldn't wait another five years? Or go back to the 1960s? Maybe they couldn't find enough D-List panelists to use. 

Molly's Rain Gear

About a year ago, I decided to unearth my American Girl Doll patterns and make Molly's raincoat. Remember those patterns? Back before Mattel bought Pleasant Company, PC actually made patterns that you could use to make your own doll clothes, patterned after the dresses made from the books. The big problem with the patterns is that the directions are horrible. Like English translated into Romanian translated into Russian translated in Farsi and back to English again bad. 

The other reason finishing this project took so long is the stupid vinyl I used. Oh, it's horrible. Even with using tissue paper to help the feed it was horrible. And like most patterns, I made some modifications. I couldn't do all of the top-stitching on the hat because it's so small. And I didn't add the grommets because my pliers were too short. And it's vinyl. 

Otherwise, I think it came out very well. Next time I'll use some other type of material, though. 

And from the back: 

Dark Shadows 1991: 1.2

Dark Shadows 1991, Episode 1.2

“My name is Victoria Winters. I am a stranger in the great house at Collinwood, but there are other strangers here, too. A man with riveting eyes, new to the land but not to its past. The [?] has also sent a third, uninvited guest, one who’s swept through the once quiet village and come to Widow’s Hill, where they say cries of sorrow have been heard for centuries. Tonight, they will be heard again, for the third visitor is Death. “

Joe watches as Dr. Hoffman gives Daphne her injection. The professor arrives and asks her about her accident. She remembers nothing, but says it may have something to do with the needles. The professor asks Daphne to wear a cross necklace. Dr. Hoffman looks alarmed. Daphne agrees to wear it. Hoffman asks Michael to talk to her alone. Daphne asks Joe to promise her they will always be together. He promises, then kisses her.

Julia questions Michael about the necklace, and he tells her it was something he felt he needed to do. He asks her about Daphne’s “sleepwalking”, but Julia says there is nothing to say, that Daphne just collapsed. She believes that something frightened Daphne and asks Michael if he thinks whatever did this to her will come back. Michael believes he doesn’t have a choice but to return. He leaves Collinwood.

The deputy wakes Joe up to take his turn watching over Daphne. Joe settles down to read a book. Daphne stirs in her sleep. Outside, a dog howls. Barnabas waits outside, needing to drink blood. Inside, Joe becomes sleepy and cannot stay awake. He falls asleep, and Daphne wakes up. She pulls the cross from around her neck then leaves the room through the conveniently opened window. She walks outside and meets Barnabas, who is calling to her. She walks to him, tears off her bandage, and they kiss before Barnabas feeds off her.

In the morning, Joe wakes up to find Daphne missing from her room. He wakes the deputy, and they run off to find her. They search the grounds and find Daphne’s body, the blood drained from her.

The rain pours down at Daphne’s funeral. Her coffin is carried into the family crypt.

Julia analyzes Daphne’s blood. She tells the professor that she had been trying a vaccine on Daphne, something she had been able to isolate from the abnormal cell she found on the other victims. She says it had been working. The professor asks her if she believes in the existence of vampires. He tells her the evidence that points to a vampire but that he didn’t mention it to the police. If he is right, Julia says that the “creature” could possibly be cured. “Vampirism isn’t a disease, Julia,” the professor says, “vampires are the living dead.” He says his proof will be forthcoming very soon.

David is outside playing ball. “If I catch this one, Daphne isn’t dead,” he chants each time he throws the ball against the stairs. He stops when he notices it is getting late and he needed to get back. Fog pours in around the property. He hears his name being called. “Who is it? Who’s calling me?” he asks. Daphne’s voice continues to call him, and she walks out of the fog. He tells her he knew she wasn’t dead. She tells him not to be afraid, that she wouldn’t hurt him, but he is frightened when she shows her teeth.

The rest of the family is inside eating dinner when David runs in. “I saw her! I saw her!” Roger asks him what he’s talking about, and David says he saw Daphne. Roger tells him this is not time for one of his pranks. The professor asks where he saw her, and Joe objects. The professor keeps asking his questions, and Joe becomes upset, saying David couldn’t have seen Daphne. He tries to tell David it’s just his imagination, then leaves to get air. The professor tells him to be careful. “Of what, ghosts?” Vicki takes David up to his room. Michael suggests they open Daphne’s grave. Elizabeth refuses, and Julia asks that she listen to what Michael has to say. Michael says that Daphne is a vampire. Roger is skeptical, as is the rest of the family.

Joe does not heed the professor’s warning and goes to the tomb. He walks down the steps. Daphne appears behind him, calling his name. She tells him not to be afraid, that they will be together forever. She bites him, drinking his blood.

Julia tends to Joe’s wounds at Collinwood. They found him wandering around the cemetery that morning, barely conscious. Roger says they opened Daphne’s coffin. Michael informs them that Sheriff Patterson has instituted a curfew with no one allowed out after dawn.

Maggie Evans is reading tarot cards at the Blue Whale. She tells Sam that someone else is going to die. Roger walks in, and Maggie asks him about Joe. He tells Maggie that Carolyn would like to see her at Collinwood, and Roger would be more than happy to give her a ride there and home. She asks Roger what Carolyn wants, and he says that it’s not what Carolyn wants, but what he wants. They go off to their secret love nest. After making love, they talk about the strange things going on in town. Maggie tells him she thinks it’s a vampire and that it’s only the beginning.

Barnabas arrives at Collinwood that night. Mrs. Johnson asks if Willie is okay. Barnabas meets with Elizabeth and Roger in the Drawing Room. He says he was in Boston for business and gives his sentiments for the death of Daphne. He asks what the sheriff’s deputies are on the estate. Roger says that no one knows where Daphne is but that she will find Joe. Barnabas says he finds this unbelievable and asks for Julia’s explanation. Nothing she’d submit to medical journals for publication, she says. He asks about Vikki, who is with David. Julia notices that Barnabas has no reflection in the mirror—all she sees is Elizabeth sitting by herself on the couch, Barnabas’ spot vacant. Barnabas leaves a few moments later.

A sheriff’s patrol car rides around Collinwood. Doctor Hoffman checks Joe’s vital signs. She tells Carolyn to get some rest. A deputy is left behind. Vicki is in David’s room, a notebook on her lap. She keeps writing the name “Josette”. Roger comes in, grateful that David is asleep. She says that David is very frightened but probably doesn’t understand.

The deputy looks out the window of Joe’s room. Joe is still. The deputy turns away and Joe’s eyes open. He pulls the bandage off his arm and sneaks up behind the deputy. Joe sneaks past Roger, the sheriff, and the professor. He makes it outside, saying Daphne’s name. She is above the carriage house (garage?), beckoning to him. He pulls the bandage off his neck and walks towards her. They kiss and Daphne begins to feed off him again.

Patrol cars pull up in front of the carriage house. A deputy sneaks upstairs, a giant cross in his hand. Joe lays on the floor, Daphne laying on top of him. She knocks a can over, and the deputy comes back up the stairs. She comes after him. She advances, but the presence of the cross pushes her back. She runs, but each of the cops holds a cross in front of her. Joe attempts to protect her. More cops arrive, along with the professor carrying a case. Joe is pulled away from Daphne, who is held onto the ground as Michael drives a wooden stake into her heart.

Julia is in her office at Collinwood and writes in her journal. She decides to confront Barnabas at the Old House. The sun goes down. Julia walks over to the Old House. Willie stops as she sneaks in. She asks where Barnabas is. Willie says he’s not there, but Julie thinks that he’ll be here soon because the sun will set soon and that’s when he comes to life. Willie pleads ignorance. She asks where a door leads to, and Willie says nowhere. He attempts to stop her from going down to the basement. She finds the room where the coffin is. She opens the lid, holds a cross out, and Barnabas covers his face. Barnabas tells her to put it away and promises not to hurt her. She wants his word. He gives it to her, and she puts the cross away.

Barnabas tells Dr. Hoffman she is very brave. She says she would’ve have come if she felt she couldn’t trust his word—or help him. “Help me?” he asks. She offers him a normal life, and Barnabas laughs. She tells him what she discovered about his cell and her theory. He says his curse is beyond the realm of science. He tells her he is repulsed by what he has become, and he would give anything to be normal again. She asks him for the chance to help her. “All right, doctor. When shall we begin?

Doll Outfit

This weekend I made the dress that my Molly doll is currently wearing. The pattern for the dress is McCall's Crafts 2609 , Gotz "Time to Dream", view B.  Overall, the pattern was very easy to execute, though I did make modifications to the order of the pattern. 

• I sewed the ruffle to the skirt before sewing the bodice on. 
• I did not hand-sew the cuffs to the sleeve, as that required more patience than I have. 
• I closed the dress and pinafore with velcro. 

The dress should have more volume, but the doll is not wearing a petticoat underneath it. The set does include a petticoat pattern with it, though it is not shown on the package. (It is shown in the link, though.) The bodice also seems to be too large for the American Girl dolls, but perhaps the addition of the petticoat and undershirt would bulk up  the torso and make for a better fit. 

The pattern was made for the Gotz dolls, but seems to fit 18 inch dolls. 

Diana Palmer's Lawman

Note to self: Alison's book recommendation score is 0-1. 

First off, I want to say that I hate the term "cheesy romance novel." I have read a lot of romance novels that had no cheese in them whatsoever. It's a preconceived notion uttered by those who have never read a romance novel before or have only read a few pretty bad ones. 

It's like saying all literary fiction is good. It's not. Sure, Oprah has a pretty good track record when it comes to picking out great works of literary fiction, but for every Oprah hit, there's a Da Vinci Code miss. And no, I don't want to here about how riveting that book was, because it wasn't for me. That book is more under the lines of popular fiction. 

But I digress. The book at hand is Diana Palmer's The Lawman, a contemporary romance set in small-town Texas. The two main characters are Garon Grier (with only the name "Colby" sounding more ridiculous, with my apologies going out to all Colbys.) and Grace Carver. Garon works for the FBI, and Grace is a small-town girl with a shadowy past. The case he is currently working on involves Grace, though he doesn't realize that at first. 

The main characters are, unfortunately, the "typical" romance novel stereotypes: he's the alpha-male lawman, and she's the meek, quiet dishrag. While I had no doubt of Grace's love for Garon by the end of the book, I was not so sure of his. Garon was the typical FBI agent, nearly emotionless and preoccupied with work. I understand part of Grace's dishrag persona and distrust of men was due to her past, but by the time she was comfortable enough with Garon, she should've shown some spunk! Apart from that, she seemed perfect: a card-carrying member of MENSA, she sewed and had business skills, she cooked, she was thrifty, and she could plant roses. What man wouldn't want her? I'm more confused as to why she would want Garon. Sure, he's good-looking, but he's an absolute brute to her when they've broken up, accusing her of stalking him in a town of 2000: 

His dark eyes seemed to explode in rage. "Good God, not again!" he raged. "Do you have radar? Every damned place I go, you turn up! How did you know I was coming here? Do you have someone spying on me, to make sure you don't waste an opportunity to ruin my day?" he demanded. 

There were also continuity issues in the book. At one point Garon is talking to a doctor, and six pages later, he is introduced to that doctor as if they had never met. If this was overlooked by the author, then the copy editor should have picked up on it. Then there was the constant head-hopping, to the point where I was unsure whose head I was in, not to mention the incredible amounts of info-dump.  

Overall, a disappointing read. Perhaps one of Palmer's earlier books are better, but this one is a solid D+. 

lolcat Fun

more cat pictures

Confession Time:  I have never seen Office Space. 

I know that I should, because I have a feeling that I would totally get it. I don't work in an office atmosphere, but I do work at a high school, which means my things go missing all the time. Pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, jackets, staplers, erasers, dry erase markers, test keys, discs... If it's in my classroom, it has probably been stolen at one time or another. 

Combine Office Space with lolcats and the above picture is the result. I died of laugher. 

You?