Blue Hour Sky
Some Thoughts on the X-Files
This post is going to be one for the ages, he said sarcastically.
So last Spring (I think) I started an epic rewatch of both The X-Files and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. At first I spent more time on the X-Files, but then I stopped both shows and embraced the insanity of 60 years worth of Doctor Who. When that ended I went back to Deep Space Nine and kept the X-Files on the side. When DS9 was over I slowly started getting back to Mulder and Scully-land and now I am burning through it once again.
I have seen every episode in the past. The original run of the show (nine seasons and a movie, I think) was completed on DVD and the later stuff (two more seasons and another movie, I think) were watched as they happened. I didn’t start watching the show when it originally aired until (I think) the movie came out. That was in between seasons five and six… again, I think.
As with most of America, before I started watching I was aware of the fan bases desire to see Mulder and Scully hook up. As far as I know the term “shipping” was coined for the two characters and the audiences desire to see them couple up. If I recall correctly, there is a moment in the movie where they almost kiss but are interrupted somehow. I don’t exactly recall.
Now that I am up to my eyeballs in a rewatch I am almost up to the movie. I am on season five episode eight right now. I feel as though there was a conscious decision made by the producers, writers, and show runners at the start of season five to buy in to the shippers. Maybe I am missing something here but I feel like there are oodles of examples of the show hinting at a possible romantic relationship that really kicked off at the start of season five. They are a little more flirty with each other, they are repeatedly getting physically close to each other, and there are instances where other people ask them if they are a couple.
Is it just me? Was there a change in the way they handled the two characters or was there a change (unconsciously) in the way I am watching the show? I don’t know. What I do know, is that when I started rewatching this incredibly long series I forgot about the movies. A quick search tells me that neither of them are available for streaming… which means I have to find another way to watch them. I also need to get cracking on that as I need to have the first one ready for when I finish my current season.
The truth is out there, kiddies, and I want to believe.
Game Day
We bought a ton of stuff at Lowe’s yesterday, thinking we weren’t going to have enough counter top to cover everything we needed. We were wrong. I had to bring it all back today. I also brought a small stash of groceries to my father. He has Covid but he’s doing much better. He had another positive test today though, after a week’s worth. Crud.
Anyway, pics from the errand runs.
Returns
Lots of stuff to return to various home improvement stores.
Three Objects
Okay, I am not going to take this question so literally that I answer food, water, and shelter. I am going to take it literally enough that I don’t gloss over the word “objects” and answer Jen, Bellana, and Harry. I am going to take it seriously and try to come up with three material items that I really can’t get along without. Okay? Now that I have established the ground rules, we’re good to go?
Right then, three objects I can’t really live without.
- My glasses. I’ve been wandering around the house this morning, getting things ready for the wall/tile guy who’s coming over today for the next phase of the kitchen remodeling, and when I got up and started getting stuff done I forgot to put on my glasses. I couldn’t read my watch, I couldn’t read the receipt from Lowe’s, I couldn’t see anything clearly. I need my glasses. I can’t get along without them.
- I need a computer to do my job. I also need it to keep track of my food and water post-gastric bypass surgery. I also need it to keep in touch with everyone I need to keep in touch with. It’s also more or less my TV and movie and book and music connection. I could get by with my iPhone, but I am more efficient and productive with an actual computer. It’s sort of a necessity for life at this point.
- My car. Since Covid started I haven’t been driving nearly as much as I used to, but it is still absolutely a necessity. If the kids have a problem, I need to be able to get to them. If anyone in the extended family has a problem, I need to be able to get to them. If the contractor realizes he doesn’t have enough tile to finish the kitchen back splash, then I need to be able to go out and get him more quickly. My car allows me to do all of that, as well as a million other things. It would be nice to not need a car, but I wouldn’t be very good in a world like that. I need my car.
So there you go. I took the question seriously, but not too literally. Here’s hoping you all have a good Sunday. The Boston Bruins aren’t playing today, which is disappointing, but after getting shelled by the Islanders last night it’s probably a good thing. Other than that, may your Sunday be grande.
Feline Freedom
We’ve kept the cats locked in a bedroom during all of the construction over the last two days. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we let them out tonight. They are reveling in their freedom but not realizing that they go back in the bedroom in the morning. Sorry, cats.
Forgiven
Lily appears to have forgiven us for locking her in a room during the kitchen work.
Installation: Complete
They are finished installing our new IKEA kitchen. I am thrilled and amazed. I love it!
The walls will be patched and tiled tomorrow and the plumber will finish the sink and dishwasher installation on Monday.
Wow!
Errands
I snuck out for some errands this morning before the work crew got here. I drove around town to a Home Depot and a Lowe’s, prepping for phase two which starts tomorrow.
How about some pics from the road?
So what was input getting? Wall tiles, adhesive, grout, and paint. There is still so much to do, even though they are miles ahead of where I thought they would be.
Tiles and touch ups tomorrow.
Growth
Would it be easier to ask what experiences did not help me grow? Every experience leads to growth. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it? We’re human. That’s what we do. Theoretically of course. Maybe not if you’re a maga cult member. Who knows.
Here are some things. I am not going into details about how each thing changed me. Mostly because it’s kind of obvious when you think about it. We’re probably all just about the same in these respects. I will also try to keep the sarcasm at a minimum, but I can promise you that I will fail in that regard. Spoiler alert.
- Failing at my first attempt at college, and similarly succeeding in my second
- Starting a career and not failing miserably at it
- Starting a relationship with Jen
- Literally everything that has happened with respect to being both a husband and a step father. There are a lot of failures in there, but a few glowing successes too
- Becoming a home owner… who knew?
- Having weight loss surgery. I don’t know who I am anymore, or what I am, or how to be who or what I am. My entire identity has been shuffled. Jen got annoyed with me the other day when I referred to myself as “fat boy”. Thankfully I still have red hair, but for how long?
- Losing my mother
- After 86 years of colossal failures, the 2004 Boston Red Sox finally won the World Series. That lead to so much personal growth. The Bruins winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 did too, but they had actually previously won it in my lifetime so it felt a little different. Granted that previous win came when I was about one year old, but it still counts.
- Seeing Star Wars for the first time. Seeing the original trilogy end. Then decades later getting a second trilogy that I never thought would happen. Then another decade after that getting the third trilogy and seeing that through. Then getting a bunch of television series and more movies. All of this Star Wars has lead to oh so very much personal growth
- After almost 14 years of talking about it, getting the kitchen remodeled. I feel like a new man when I stand in the new kitchen, and it isn’t even done yet
How’s that list. We just have to accept the fact that the Red Sox are going to finish in last place again, and our championship run is long over and won’t be coming back for quite a while. Let’s just hope the current drought doesn’t last 86 years like that last one did. The new season is just a few short weeks away though. Eternal optimism, even in the face of certain baseball doom.
What was I talking about?
Inside the Red Head's Head 