A rare opportunity

Every now and then something comes along that I can add to my bucket list.  Last Thursday such an opportunity arose. 

 A town in Westworld

 

I don’t know if many of you are aware that countless westerns have been filmed in the area where I live.  It’s rugged and wild with a lot of scenery that would lend itself to western programs and movies.  A casting call has gone out for paid extras the producers need for background people for some episodes of an HBO TV series called Westworld starring Anthony Hopkins.  They pay you for being bystanders, feed you and also supply your costume of 1890’s apparel.  “Where do I sign up?”  I asked when I found out about this from a friend at work who does food demos with me.  Why not?  This would certainly be an experience to remember and something I’ve never done before.

The town of Westworld

Thursday night I decided to check with my old friend Google to find out more about this show as I don’t have HBO on my channel list for TV.  Maybe some of you have seen this television show.  For the ones who haven’t, it’s a western sci-fi, drama, adventure series.  Adults can go to a theme park where they can act out their fantasies of being the characters they want to be from the 1800’s.  The amusement park caters to adults with dark desires.  There is sex and violence that goes along with that.  Or people can be gunslingers in the artificial Wild West that is populated by androids.  Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Robert Ford, the creative director of Westworld.

 Actors/Actresses in Westworld

 

What a crazy concept for a show, but that kind of fits into what I expect from Anthony Hopkins.  So I’m in, why not?  I sure don’t have the chance of being picked if I don’t apply.  And what a great experience this would be, if I get picked out of the hundreds I’m sure will apply.

 Actor in Westworld

 

I had to write a letter sending information about me, sizes for clothing and shoes and current photos.  They want all ages of women and men, but the women have to have long hair so they’ll fit into the time period. 

 Actor/Actress in Westworld

 

Now several people from my work applied.  We don’t know yet where the filming will take place, but I’m hoping its Snow Canyon State Park because it’s only about a two miles from my house.  They filmed many John Wayne westerns there.  But it could also be Kanab because lots of western TV series from the 1950’s and 1960’s were filmed there.  If that’s the place I hope they bus us there and we’re not expected to drive there daily for filming.  That’s several hours from my house, plus I need new tires on my car.  If several of us at work get on, I’m sure we’ll carpool.  In any case, I’m not worrying about this now.  There’s a slim chance I’ll be selected anyway, depending on how many people apply.

The filming for season 3 is supposed to start soon.  The article said mid to late October, so I imagine I’ll find out pretty quick.  Stay tuned for an update on this.

If you’d like to watch the trailer for season 1, click here.

All photos courtesy of HBO for season 1.

Do you think time travel is possible?

Image from Wikipedia

The last couple of weeks I’ve been engrossed in the TV series Outlander, adapted from the book series of the same name.  I don’t know if any of you have read the books, or have seen this TV series, but I’ve watched sixteen episodes in a short length of time.  (This encompasses the first book in the series of eight very thick books.)

My hubby added Starz to the TV lineup as part of my birthday gift back in June and somehow I’ve been so busy that I didn’t get to start the series until lately.  Of course I set them to record right away.  The books are fabulous.  I read them several years ago and couldn’t put the books down, even taking them to the kitchen with me so I could read while I was cooking dinner at night.

The TV series won’t disappoint you either.  It’s way better than I expected it to be.  As we all know, usually there’s so much to be desired after reading the book first.  But Diana Gabaldan, author of the series, is a producer for this TV adaptation, so I imagine it has to meet her high standards.

Anyway, to boil it down to a few lines, this is a time travel, historical romance.  A woman, Claire, finds herself on holiday with her husband in Scotland after World War II.  They were both busy in the war so this is a second honeymoon because they’ve been away from each other for five years. 

They’re visiting the countryside and going to places that his ancestors lived when she touches the center stone in a stone circle and is transported back to 1743.  (Note she’s alone when this happens, as she goes back to the stone to gather an unusual flower she spotted there the day before.)

Of course she finds herself in a different world from there on, one that’s action packed with war, brawls, sicknesses we have cures for today, etc.  And a woman had a different place in society back in those times.  This causes a bit of a problem for Claire at times, but she eventually builds up a reputation as a healer among the people because of all the experience she has from being a war nurse.  Most of the people are suspicious of her for knowing all she knows and also from the fact she’s English and Scotland is at war with the English.  She’s mistaken for a spy, a witch and other things.  It’s a good thing Claire’s rescued by Jamie, a young Highlander, who will later become the love of her life.

Her husband in the twentieth century, Frank, has a relative who is “black hearted” and has horrible things in mind for Claire when she meets him fact-to-face upon her arrival.  Later she finds out what awful things this English officer is capable of as their paths cross from time-to-time.

If you haven’t read the books, or seen this series, it’s highly recommended.  I now want to read the books again.

Cats in Hats

I know I’ve posted a lot of photos of Raven wearing hats.  I think I have one for every occasion.  I’m so lucky he poses for me.

Raven in his first hat photo at almost 5 months old

Raven in his first St Patrick's Day hat

 

Raven's first Birthday

 

Raven in his Christmas hat

Raven in his New Year's hat

 

Raven in his spring hat - this one made it into a local magazine

 

Raven in his July Fourth hat

 

But he isn’t the only cat who wears hats.  Tootie did when she was younger.

Tootie age 14

Tootie at age 10
 

And a few weeks ago, hubby and I were watching some travel show on TV and I just had to get the camera and snap a pic of this feline in San Francisco.  Isn’t he stylin’?

Look at this cool dude from San Francisco

Now I wouldn’t dare take my cats outside.  I know they’d freak out.  I did take Raven out once when it was storming, but I had him clamped tightly in my arms.  He was happy to go back indoors after he discovered it was nicer inside.  This cat must have been trained as a kitten.  I bet he travels like this all the time and is a real conversation starter.

I just had to share.  Have you ever taken a picture of something on the TV screen?

Any Survivor fans out there.

Cast photo from International business Times

Season thirty-one of Survivor just started last week.  The first episode of the show was fifteen years ago and I’ve watched every episode.  I’m a huge fan.  Naturally, I was excited about it.  They selected the contestants different this time around, letting the viewers vote on who they wanted to see play again.  All of these people have played before over the previous fifteen years, but didn’t win.

In case anyone wants to watch, it's on CBS on Wednesday nights, which is channel two where I live.

If you’d like to view the players and read the article, click here.

There’s nothing on TV on the weekends

Did any of you realize this?  I’m not a big TV watcher, but usually record some mysteries I like and gory doctor shows.  Tonight we were trying to find something lighthearted to watch after dinner.  We usually do our own thing around here, but it is Valentines Day.  My husband said let’s find something, as long as there are no swords, missing limbs and blood.  I don’t mind those things, but he won’t watch that kind of anything, be it TV or movies.

So we started scrolling down the menu, laughing at tonight’s offerings.  I really don’t know where this stuff comes from and who watches these programs, but here are some of the titles:  Sexy Beasts, Wicked Tuna, Animals in Love, Sex Sent me to the ER, Hair Jacked, along with a couple of horror movies like Bride of Chucky, the usual cooking and travel shows that we always watch if politics isn’t on.

The further we scrolled the crazier it became.  You’d think something would jump out with over 250 channels, but nada.  So it’s back to the same thing we usually do here.  I’m at the computer upstairs and he’s watching sports downstairs.  It’s just as well because I need to work on my book.

At least the weather is nice enough to open the windows.

A Day in My Life

Free Clipart

My life consists of writing and more writing after I get my act together in the morning. As I’m a night owl, this isn’t always busy. I usually hit the computer early with a cup of coffee and go downstairs later to get dressed and have breakfast. Besides drinking coffee and writing, I cook dinner and wash dishes a couple of times a day. I usually just snack for lunch, or graze as my husband calls it.

 This is Comet

This is Koki

Generally, I have at least one cat sitting on my desk or computer during the day and evening. I have to deal with this from time to time when they begin playing footsies with my keyboard and mouse. Or give them some extra attention when they start giving me those lover eyes.

These two cats are the most frequent visitors to my office.

In the evenings, before or after dinner, I like to sit out on the patio. We have a nice bench that allows me to look at the desert and listen to all the birds as they gather their families for the night. It’s quiet and tranquil out there and I’m all about peacefulness.

 Desert Walk - Sunni's Photo's

Sometimes I’ll take a walk back there where I am totally alone on the dirt trails that meander through the sagebrush and cactus.  Sunsets are also spectacular.

Desert Sunset - Sunni's Photo's



At night is usually more writing, or reading, unless I watch something I recorded on the DVR. My husband and I have different likes in TV, although we do watch international homes frequently before I come back upstairs to get back to it.

Books - Free Clipart

The last thing I usually do up here is check my email and then head downstairs to do all the night time chores, like scooping the litter boxes, and setting up the coffee for tomorrow morning.

About once or twice a month, I’ll go out and spend the day shopping or meandering through some stores to see what’s new and to get out amongst people.

Shopping - Free Clipart

So there you have it – the boring life of a writer. I am never bored with my routine though, which is a good thing. I do a lot of searching on the internet and there is always something new to learn that I didn’t know.

Relaxing time in front of the TV

Sunni's Artwork



Okay, I never get much time to do this, so I watch TV selectively.


Has anyone seen The Firm? I’m talking about the “made for TV series” out of John Grisham’s book by the same name. If so, what did you think of it?

Yes, I realize this was on a few months ago, but I’m not much of a TV watcher so I recorded it thanks to the DVR. What would we do without this device?

The last couple of weeks I’ve been watching it, one episode at a time, mainly just to relax and clear my head. It gets me away from the computer screen and my writing. I don’t have this book and I enjoy mysteries anyway so that prompted me to record this in the first place. Now I’m glad I did. I’m wondering if the TV series is anything at all like the book. Many times when they make things for TV from a book they change it up, but then I’ve only seen movies made for TV from books, so I’m sure there is the element of time there.

Anyway, I find most of Mr. Grisham’s books move slowly, but this TV show is very intense and full of intrigue. Did the producers pick this book for the series for this reason, or is this book suspenseful? I find it hard to turn the TV off and that is so unlike me. One thing is for sure, now, I have to buy this book and read it. When I do, I’ll post a review here later.

The Remote Control

How does anyone watch TV with their husbands?

I swear this is an impossible thing to do when he has control of the remote, which is like an additional appendage.  I don’t think I’m the only one, but this drives me absolutely crazy! 

My husband takes the remote everywhere with him and always wants me to stop disappearing and to watch TV with him, but by the time I’m focused on something the channel is changed and something totally different is on.  This happens daily.  He can’t watch TV without changing the channel every 5 minutes.  Am I alone here???  I don’t think so, but I would love to hear from you on this subject. 

Personally, I just can’t stand it!  Of course I have to excuse myself after awhile and go upstairs to watch the other TV, or get into a book, or perhaps more work, or anything else worthwhile.  When subjected to this constant flipping of channels, I’d rather do just about anything else.