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theclaravoyant · 7 years ago

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She... plays softball. Plays for the other team, as it were.

a Skimmons Coffee Shop AU, ft. happily platonic FitzSimmons, and ever-helpful gayngel & captain shipper Bobbi Morse

taking a leaf from the wonderful @the-nerdy-stjarna’s book to re-release an old fic with a new banner for @aosadvent2017 prompt “food”. I love Coffee Shop AUs, I have one for every occasion, but this one seemed especially fitting as I wrote the fic itself for last year’s @skimmonssecretsanta.

Rated G/T. ~3600wd. the original fic post is here, you can read it on AO3 here, or below. Enjoy!

Swinging my way, Baby?

It was a Tuesday afternoon, when it had first happened.

A Tuesday, around 3:30 in the afternoon. When recounting later, she was unable to consistently say what month, let alone what date, because it had begun just like every other Tuesday, and had continued much the same, save for a moment of lightning in the middle.

Jemma Simmons, aspiring PhD, was meeting up with Fitz for Chem study, just like every other Tuesday afternoon. She wasn’t running late, because she never did, but surprisingly, Fitz was already there, and talking to another girl. A girl whose face Jemma had memorised from across the classroom, but had never seen up close like this before. A girl whose name she probably knew, but couldn’t pick out of a lineup, for all the face was familiar to her. A girl with sharp black eyes, a quick smile, and a tank top bearing shoulders that made Jemma’s knees quake.

With considerably less smoothness and dignity than she might have liked, Jemma feigned indifference to Fitz’ visitor. She took her usual seat at the large library table and began separating out her books and notes with precision. Still, she couldn’t help peeking every now and then, up at where Fitz and his friend were talking. Her hair was short, about shoulder length, and flared about her face, bouncing as she spoke or animatedly responded. Her bag was slung over one shoulder, and one of Jemma’s covert glances caught her hitching the bag up, causing the muscles of her shoulder to ripple. Jemma’s face flushed at that, and she buried her nose in her books until Fitz and the girl parted ways and he came to sit down.

“Sorry I’m late,” he greeted, scooting his chair in and scrabbling to pull his notes and books out of his bag to catch up with Jemma.

“It’s no problem.” It was a nice view. Jemma bit her lip, and instead tried, with a casualness that was on second thoughts, too forced to have been worth the pretence, asked, “who was that?”

“Who?” Fitz glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, Daisy. Yeah. Daisy Johnson, you know, she’s in Computing with me. She was just after some help with a Physics assignment.”

“Oh. So. She’s not – I mean…You don’t…like her?”

Fitz laughed.

“I used to have a crush on her, actually,” he explained, amused by the memory. “We almost went to the middle-school dance together. ‘Cept turns out she, you know, plays softball.”

“Softball! Of course!” Just in time, she stopped herself from commenting on how those arms would be wasted on anything else. But still, Fitz shook his head.

“No, I mean – well, yes, she does play softball. And football, actually. But I mean she, you know. Plays softball. Plays for the other team, as it were.“

“Oh. Right. Right. Yes. I’m with you now. I follow. I – yes.”

Smooth, Jemma. She stuck her nose into the nearest book and hoped she wasn’t sweating as profusely as it was starting to feel like she was.

And then it happened. The bolt of lightning. The realisation that she might, in all honesty, have an iota of a chance. It was like flicking a switch, turning a fleeting fantasy into a blooming, consuming desire in the blink of an eye. Situational affection? A mind-boggling if temporary crush? Or cupid’s arrow through her heart, turning everything Daisy into diamonds in an effort to lure Jemma into a love story for the ages? Not knowing was half the fun of it. And more than half the terror.

“Why do you ask?” Fitz wondered after a moment. “Do you like her?”

Jemma fidgeted in her seat.

“I was just thinking about trying out myself,” she said, as smooth a derailment as she could hope for under the circumstances. “For softball, I mean.”

Fitz snorted. “I’d like to see that.”

Jemma slapped her pen onto the desk.

“I totally could!”

“I’m sure you could! I just don’t think it’s your style. Hideous uniforms, pointless running around in circles, lots of sweating and effort for no discernable reason –“

“Except fitness! And – and fun! And teamwork! And competition, you know I love competition –“

Soon enough the argument shifted away from Daisy, and even from softball, and onto the two of them challenging each other’s sporting abilities and willingness to suffer hard work and dirt. Jemma’s crush didn’t fade though. It only took a back seat. For a few hours, she even had herself convinced that she should indeed pick up a bat and try out.

Eventually, of course – and for which Jemma was eternally grateful - the heady optimism of inspiration faded and she realised that she had neither the skill, nor the money, nor even the desire to try out for softball, or any other kind of sport really. She would never be able to maintain it, if nothing else. Plus, her running around getting sweaty and failing at everything was, to say the least, not nearly as alluring as she would like to come across. Instead, after a few days of denial and indecision, she picked herself up and sought out Carter’s, the café where most of the campus’s sports and arts – and queer – communities were reputed to hang out. Being a hard science student who spent most of her time across campus these days, Jemma had not been to Carter’s for some time. It was not as she remembered it, and as she walked in, a combination of nerves, surprise and marvel took her breath away.

Only a few steps through the door, Jemma’s purposeful stride faded into a slow turn, like a young woman in a film arriving in The Big City. She stared so wide and for so long she felt like a freshman. She probably looked like one too, but she couldn’t help it. The place was decked out like a 1950s milkshake bar or diner, right down to the stools at the lunch bar, juke box in the corner, and musk-candy colour scheme of pink and green. Not to mention, the pillbox hats and matching collared uniforms that the feminist in Jemma was a little ashamed to admit, made her heart flutter. It felt like she had stepped back in time, or at least into one of those handcrafted, overly perfect horror-movie villages in Florida where nothing was ever as it seemed.

A chill ran down her spine at the sudden expectation that something might jump out at her. Nothing did, but she was unceremoniously dropped out of her timeless bubble and into a world where she should, by all accounts, order something or sit down. One look at the tall, muscled blonde behind the counter, making fiercely cheerful eye contact with her latest customer and smiling that familiar smile, told Jemma she was not up for that yet. So she sat, simply grabbing for the nearest empty table and pulling out her notebook and anatomy textbook. She’d come in here to eat – or at least, that’s what she had been planning to tell anyone who asked – but there was always work to be done.

Soon enough, in fact, she was so absorbed in her readings that she didn’t even notice the true reason for her presence there slip in through the door.

Daisy Johnson.

Carter’s had been a staple of Daisy’s college life. Situated between the gym and the theatre, it was where some of the most interesting people gathered, and where many of the girls on her team – both literally, and euphemistically – worked and hung out. Being near the theatre as it was, and relatively near the food and design schools, Carter’s tended to go through renovations a lot. Its latest incarnation resembled a 1950s diner and aside from its renewal of her love for Back to the Future, Daisy didn’t care for it all that much. She was hoping for something more outrageous next, like a Wild West saloon, or some kind of situation in which everybody wore rollerblades. But for now, at least the food was good and the milkshakes – and the uniforms, of course – were widely celebrated.

“Lookin’ good, Bobbi,” Daisy greeted, as she dropped into the stool nearest the cash register. Barbara was today’s resident supervisor’s intensely loathed full name, and in the spirit of the vintage theme under which she currently worked, she had easily heard it more times in the past three months than in the three years before that. Even so, Daisy had to bite her lip to stop herself bringing it up for a laugh. Bobbi glared, and Daisy beamed innocently and ducked her head below the counter for a moment, trying to reach simultaneously for her purse, and for the pastries under the cover beside the register.

Bobbi rolled her eyes good-naturedly, and lifted the cover for Daisy’s blindly reaching hand.

“Pink or sprinkles?” Bobbi asked.

“Surprise me.”

Bobbi handed Daisy a pink one with rainbow sprinkles, just as Daisy’s head reappeared over the counter. Her eyes widened at Bobbi’s selection and she took a large bite, humming in satisfaction through the mouthful of donut.

“Ah, you know just how I like it.”

Bobbi eyed her with an exaggerated expression of disgust as Daisy fished out coins from her purse, the donut now dangling from her mouth where she had sunk her teeth into it in order to free up her hands.

“Not if you like it like that, I don’t,” Bobbi remarked.

“Shut up.”

Daisy took the donut out of her mouth and added a coffee to her order, but as she did so, looked over her shoulder. It had just now clicked in her brain that she had recognised somebody when she’d come in. Somebody who didn’t usually come here, and who fit in a little too well, with her A-line skirt and pastel colours, and the way she kept twirling her fingers in her stray lock of hair.

“Oh my god.”

Daisy swung back around to the counter and ducked, wishing she had a menu or something to cover her face, though that hardly would have been less conspicuous. Blushing furiously, Daisy tried to recover by taking a sip of her coffee, and burnt her tongue instead. She cursed herself as Bobbi asked, inevitably,

“Who’s that?”

“A girl. Just a girl. No biggie.” Coffee, coffee. Ouch! Damn it.

“No biggie because she barely reaches my elbow?” Bobbi speculated. “Or no biggie in the lesser known, ‘if I hide behind this menu and she never sees me I’ll never have to confront my feelings,’ sense of ‘no biggie.’”

Daisy sighed.

“Ah, I really hope you become a fully fledged bartender one day,” she said, resignation in her tone. “Your talents are wasted here.”

Bobbi pouted, and reached for a towel just so that she could brush it across the counter and lean on it dramatically.

“So this girl, huh?” she inquired.

Daisy sighed again. Feelings confrontation time. “Her name is Jemma, she’s in my Physics class.“

“You take Physics?”

“Yes. What did you think I was taking?”

“The Science of Harry Potter?” Bobbi suggested. Daisy glared.

“Don’t even joke about that. I would kill.”

Bobbi smiled, and prompted: “So, Physics.”

“So Physics. Anyway. She’s there and she’s pretty and, well, I thought that was the end of the story…“

“Buuuuut…“

“Iiiiiiif you’d let me finish….but see, I’d thought she was with Fitz. I’d just assumed. Only, I mentioned something about it - y’know, them – to him today and I’m pretty sure he’ll still be laughing at graduation. They’re just friends! So totally friends! Kinda weirdly close friends, but still!”

“So why the long face?”

“I got my hopes up for a bit. But then I remembered. Jemma’s had certified boyfriends. Milton, Will. So I’m back where I started. At least I was. Til just now. And she’s here. I mean…do you think she knows? About this place?”

Daisy raked her hands through her hair, anxious, only to find Bobbi smirking, a mischievous glint of victory in her eyes.

“Oh, sweetie, she knows,” Bobbi assured Daisy. “And as for that ‘certified boyfriends’ thing…she’s had certified girlfriends too.”

Daisy’s eyes narrowed.

“Me!” Bobbi confirmed, with a flourish. “She’s a bit of a Bambi but don’t be fooled. That girl can go.”

“So what happened with you two?” Daisy wondered. Bobbi shrugged, her expression softening.

“We were both high achievers,” she explained, “and both in the same field. Competing for attention, grants, grades… Neither of us wanted to compromise and well, too much competition stops being fun. It put a strain on us and luckily, we stepped out before we snapped. No hard feelings. Some that suck, of course, but we don’t hate each other, so that’s a plus.”

“Hmph.” Daisy’s shoulders slumped, and she resumed picking at her donut, pensive and somewhat put out.

“Hmph?” Bobbi repeated, curious.

“Well, Jemma’s still a high achiever. She probably wouldn’t have time for me anyway. It’s just going to collapse, it’s not – Never mind, I’ll just get over it.”

Bobbi shook her head, made a note on a cup, and passed it to the coffee girl without taking her eyes off Daisy for more than a moment.

“There’s only one way to know for sure,” she insisted. Daisy moped, but Bobbi slapped down an apricot danish in a napkin and drew her attention.

“Ask. The girl. Out,” Bobbi commanded. “Bring her something, make her laugh, get a conversation going. Come on, Daisy, I don’t have to coach you.”

“I don’t even know what she likes!” Daisy whined, though her defenses were falling left right and centre. “I could get her an Americano, that’s what I have- but then, what does that say about what I think about her? Or me? Cheap, basic, unoriginal. Great. But then if I get her something else, something fancier, she might not like it, or she could be allergic. Or tea? Maybe she likes tea. I mean she’s English, they must like tea right? No, that’s ridiculous. Not all English people like tea. So what then?”

Daisy met Bobbi’s eyes, desperate.

“As the ex, it is my duty to let you work all this out on your own, young Padawan,” Bobbi informed her sagely. But before Daisy could give up, Bobbi received her secret order from the coffee girl and pushed it across the counter to Daisy, alongside the apricot danish. Bobbi met her confused glance with a wink, and added: “As your best friend, it’s my duty to wingman you to the best of my ability. It’s a fine line.”

“You’re fantastic. I love you.”

“Ah, save it for Bambi!” Bobbi shooed Daisy away from the counter and Daisy went, gleefully, singing in her head, over to Jemma’s table. She had a moment to take in the dusky pinks and browns of Jemma’s outfit, and the way the light seemed to fall softer on her, and then Jemma looked up.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “can I help you?”

And just like that, the moment was gone, evaporated by the sudden grip of panic.

Jemma looked up, and she could have sworn her heart skipped a beat. Here was Daisy, so close her eyes were sparkling, and with an absent smile on her face like she didn’t have to think about it. And with an apricot danish in one hand, and what appeared to be a chai latte – though the label was partially covered – in the other. Jemma’s stomach rumbled. It was like a vision from the gods.

“I – I’m sorry,” she stammered, snapping herself out of her distraction. “Ah, can I help you?”

��Um. Yes. Maybe.” Don’t look at Bobbi, don’t look at Bobbi. It had been far too long since she’d had a proper date, especially with someone like Jemma. And even though Bobbi had promised, Daisy still wasn’t sure…

“I was wondering…”

Make her laugh.

“Did you swallow a magnet?”

Jemma blinked. “What?”

“Did you swallow a magnet?” Daisy repeated, her mouth bone-dry all of a sudden. “Because…you’re attractive.”

Jemma snorted. “That’s terrible.”

“I know,” Daisy groaned.

“No, I love it!”

“Really? Because I’ve got plenty more.” Daisy cleared her throat and leaned into the cheese, listing off pick-up lines in a variety of voices as she slid into the seat next to Jemma’s. “’Baby, I’ve got my ion you.’ ‘What’s your sine?’ ‘Are you full of berillium, gold and titanium? Because you are B-E-A-U-Ti-ful.’”

Jemma snorted again and curled up, giggling.

“Ten points for delivery,” she awarded.

“Oh! Speaking of delivery, these are for you.” Daisy pushed the gifts across the table, and Jemma bet into the danish with relish.

“Thank you, my favourite!”

“I had help,” Daisy confessed with a smirk. “A little birdie told me.” Jemma raised an eyebrow over Daisy’s shoulder at Bobbi, who shrugged innocently and went about wiping down and rearranging the counter.

“Well, are you having anything? I don’t have my little birdie on me today, but I’d be happy to return the favour.”

“Not a favour,” Daisy insisted. “A gift. A…hm, a –“

“A date?” Jemma grinned broadly. “With me? Really?”

“Wait, did you not get that?” Daisy frowned.

“No,” Jemma replied sarcastically, “the string of pick-up lines was completely lost on me. Yes, of course I got it! I just thought it was sweet how you got all flustered. I’ve been too intimidated to speak to you all year.”

“Intimidated?” Daisy laughed. “Why?”

“Because…” Jemma blushed. “You’ve swallowed a magnet.”

“Aw! That’s terrible!” Daisy crooned, flattered, as if the word terrible was sweet.

“I know!” Jemma moaned, but she couldn’t help smiling. “I couldn’t even remember your name until the other day, I’ve just been sitting in class pining all year!”

“You should’ve asked Fitz to hook us up! Does he know? About you?”

“Yes! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I guess it still feels a little weird to talk to people about it. It’s strange being bi, I feel like I’m faking it half the time. Plus, I mean, I didn’t even know that you were – that you could even be interested until he told me. Oh, I hope you don’t mind about that, by the way.”

Daisy shrugged. “I’ve already told him I’m cool with it. I’m pretty out.”

“Oh. Good.”

“Obviously not out enough, though, if you didn’t pick up on it. I should start wearing rainbow flags to school…or plaid, at least. I could rock some plaid, don’t you think?”

“You already play softball!”

“I do roller-derby too, actually,” Daisy added. Jemma’s eyes widened.

“I have always wanted to try that!”

“It’s a load of fun. You will get the crap beaten out of you though.”

Jemma’s eyes lit up immediately.

“Any gruesome injury stories?”

“Ew! We’re eating!”

“Well, I’m eating,” Jemma corrected. “And I’m a bio student. I’m used to it.”

“You fascinate me,” Daisy said, more sincere than she had been expecting. Belatedly, she realised Jemma was right and that she still did not have her food with her. She glanced over her shoulder at it, and saw the coffee and donut and her bag still by the counter.

“Um. I’ll be right back.“

Bobbi met her eyes pointedly, and pushed the coffee and donut across the counter with a salacious sparkle.

“I’ll bring you guys a lunch menu later.”

“Shut up,” Daisy scoffed, blushing.

She returned to Jemma’s table, to find Jemma eagerly awaiting her arrival.

“We don’t have to talk about gory injuries if you don’t want to,” Jemma clarified. “I can be a bit gross. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. I have some killer stories! I just like to keep my blood and bones separate from my icing and sprinkles.”

“Fair enough. We’ll just have to find something different to talk about, then.”

Jemma pulled her anatomy notebook toward her and Daisy frowned, confused. Shouldn’t they be heading away from blood and bones? But as she watched, Jemma turned to a blank page, tore off a corner and started writing on it. A phone number.

“Just in case you wanted to tell me those stories some other time,” she explained as she slid it over to Daisy.

“Can’t wait!”

“But for now, blood-free, hm?” Jemma mused. “Well, okay, let’s start at the beginning.”

She held out her hand for a shake.

“Jemma Simmons. Biochemistry.”

“Daisy Johnson. Counterterrorism.”

From there, they launched into a lively conversation, swinging from favourite foods and seasons of the year to mockeries of dating advertisements, anecdotes, relatives and ancestors, life goals and hobbies and home and everything in between. They had lunch, and then Jemma walked Daisy to class, and grinned at nothing and rocked on her heels and shivered with delight after Daisy went inside. Daisy had given Jemma her number too, and Jemma rolled and flipped the paper between her fingers gleefully. It had been a long time since she’d had a date with someone special, lost track of time, kept them on her mind. It had been a long time since she’d felt this sort of chemistry with anyone, or had it reciprocated so enthusiastically or with a warmth and vibrancy that reminded her this is real.

Jemma ambled toward home without a rush, floating on the high of her blissfully, unexpectedly successful day. She sat on the train, barely but contentedly containing the urge to introduce herself to everyone that walked on with, “hi, I’m Jemma Simmons, I have a girlfriend. She’s amazing.” Then, as they pulled away from the station at last, her phone buzzed. A message from Daisy.

Remind me to show you a proper bat grip tomorrow. McLean Field, 9am.

Jemma smiled so wide she had to bite her lip to contain it, and proceeded to spend most of the rest of the trip home entering their next date, with care and flourish, into her diary.

#skimmons #bioquake #aospositivitynet #aosfemslash #buskidsnet #aosficnet2 #aosadvent2017 #prompt: food #clara's fic tag

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toyfrog · 8 years ago

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Spader' Portguese Interview: Planting a Massive Oak Tree and Breaking Away!

Oh, yes he is.

Without a Doubt: Spader isn’t happy. And it seems his own fanbase are out of touch with his true feelings on the subject of fame, and why he just wants a simple work schedule like he had in Season 1?

Is that too much to ask? Apparently so. And because he’s been forced to work all the time, it’s taking him away from his private life.

HES NOT HAPPY.

But those who follow me *know* this already.

James Spader stars in “The Blacklist” since 2013. It’s more of a dark character in his career, the ones he’s drawn to.

[I’VE MENTIONED THIS: WHENEVER A LEAD ACTOR BECOMES FRUSTRATED WITH STORY, OR IN SPADER’S CASE, ADD THE SHOOTING SCHEDULE, THEYRE GOING TO VENT. NOT IN THE STATES BECAUSE THEY ARE PROTESTING IN THEIR OWN WAY THEIR DISTRESS OVER THE CURRENT STORY DIRECTION. ILL EVEN ADD ON THAT THE INTERVIEWEES ARE HAND PICKED BY THE SAME SOFTBALL CREW WHO WILL WRITE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO HYPE A BAD SHOW OR INTERVIEW THE SAME ACTOR OVER AND OVER THE ACTOR WHO LOVES TO HEAR HIMSELF TALK, LIVES THE SPOTLIGHT, NILS IS A TERRIBLE DISEASE FOR ROOKIE ACTORS. THEY START BELIEVING THEIR OWN PRESS UNTILL THOSE RATINGS CRASH THEIR Q SCORE]

[SO WHILE AMIR ARISON, AND RE TWEET THEIR ‘LOYALTY’ BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING THE MOTHERLODE OF AIRTIME AND STORY, OTHER ACTORS REMAIN SILENT AND FOR GOOD REASON. THE SHOW IS ALARMINGLY IMBALANCED.]

James Spader’s debut in the art of representation took place in the cinema in the early 1980s, but in the nearly four decades of his career, the actor stood out as a TV character in “gray” or completely dark. That was the unethical Alan Shore of Fair Cause and Boston Legal or the puzzling Robert California of The Office. But also from Raymond “Red” Reddington from The Blacklist, NBC series issued in Portugal by SIC. Dressing the skin to these villains is not an imposition, but Spader admits in an interview that DN had access that feels “a certain attraction” by them.

“I’ve always found anti-heroes very attractive and of course playing a villain who mixes his evil with humor and irreverence can be a lot of fun,” he explains. [HERES THE DISCONNECT: RED IS A VILLAIN-HIS FANS REFUSE TO SEE THAT. INSTEAD THEY FEEL RED IS THE LONG SUFFERING HERO HOPELESSLY IN LOVE WITH LIZ. YEA. THATS *NOT* WHATS GOING ON HERE AT ALL. IN THE END, “HE MUST PAY.” READ THE FARMER PARABLE AND YOU’LL KNOW THE ENDING. It DOES NOT MATTER WHAT GOOD RED DOES IN THE FIVE YEARS….IN THE END, “HE KNOWS IN HIS HEART THAT HE MUST PAY.”]

In fiction, he believes, tyranny represents “in many respects the extremes of society” and is a “kind of morbid curiosity” in knowing these extremes that impels it.

[DO WE SEE HOW SPADER AND KLATTENHOFF APPROACH THEIR INTERVIEWS? ALL ABOUT THE CRAFT NOT THE STORYLINE. NEVER ABOUT THE STORYLINE BECAUSE PROFESSIONALS LEAVE IT TO THE WRITERS. BUT IF RATINGS SINK BECAUSE OF THOSE CHOICES, THE ACTORS THROW SHADE IN A PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE WAY AND SPADER BROUGHT HIS OAK TREE]

The success of his “Red”, the man most wanted by the FBI - who gave himself on the condition of being released and in turn helping to catch criminals on a blacklist - is also due to “luck” On television had come “at a time when anti-heroes were not plentiful.” “Now there’s probably more, though I do not have time to watch TV. I’m too busy doing it,” stresses the interpreter. [HE DOESNT WATCH TV HE DOESNT WATCH BLACKLIST ITS WHY HES NOT ON TWITTER HE GOES SHOOTS HIS SCENES AND GOES HOME. HE DOES NOT HANG OUT WITH ACTORS OR STAFF HE IS LIKE MANY ACTORS WHO PREFER TO AVOID THE SPOTLIGHT EXCEPT WHEN THE DIRECTOR SHOUTS, “ACTION”]

In his house, he says, “there is not a single television yet.” “I’ll move in soon, who knows if there will not be?” Jokes Spader, 57. “I do not know if this is not a paradox … I spend so much time, so many hours, [NOTICE HE KEEPS BRINGING UP HIS SHOOTING SCHEDULE? TRY MEMORIZING HIS DIALOGUE THE WINTER FINALE SHOWCASED SPADER FOR 21 MINUTES. THATS EXCESSIVE. He’d prefer ten maybe 8. 21 MINUTES LEAVES NO ROOM FOR ANYONE ELSE. FANS MAY BE FINE WITH THAT BUT SPADER ISNT. THATS OVERTIME] so many days, weeks and months to live within the television fiction and within the television drama … [SPADER IS TIRED. SPADER WANTS WHAT HE WAS PROMISED IN SEASON 1.I dedicate so much of my life to television as when I do not I’m working, I do not want to waste time with her, "he explains. [Her AS IN HIS GF? I would assume?]

Incidentally, probably not watching the fiction on the small screen is that James Spader does not have a formed and "objective” opinion on the evolution of the industry. “I do not know if I understand the business, I know it’s changing, it’s getting more involved and growing, it’s expanding in a dizzying way, [AND HERE COMES THE OAK TREE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH SHADE TO REACH LOS ANGELES] but it’s very complicated to be aware of what happens if we spend a lot of time working, [WORKING SHOOTING, NO TIME WITH HIS GF OR FAMILY NO TVS IN THE HOUSE DOESNT WATCH THE SHOW NOT ABSORBED IN RED ITS NOT HIM AND HES TIRED OF THE CHAOS-MY BELIEF, THE BAD WRITING. USING HIM TO FIX THE WRITING. USING HIS CHARACTER TO CARRY THE SHOW AND THE IMBALANCE TO THE SHOW] Which is my case, "he explains.

Compared to other NBC hit series such as This Is Us, Chicago Fire, Chicago Justice, or Timeless, [ALL THESE SHOWS HAVE BETTER RATINGS THAN THE BLACKLIST. THATS HOW BAD THE SHOW IS. WHEN ACTOR DOESNT USE THE EXCUSES OH, THERES MORE SHOWS ON TV, WE HAVE A BAD TIME SLOT, THE LIve 7 PPL WATCH-YEAH NO HE MAKES ZERO EXCUSES BECAUSE HE KNOWS.

ITS THE STORY TIER. HE WANTS IT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS WHERE HE HAD LESS OF A SHOOTING SCHEDULE. SO FOR THOSE THAT SCREAM MORE RED AND LIZ AH THATS NOT WHAT SPADER WANTS. HE WANTS LESS.] The Blacklist ranks 13th among the 18 issued by the North American station. But it was once one of the biggest audiences. [BUT IT WAS ONCE ONE OF THE BIGGEST AUDIENCES. RECALL SALKE SAYING THE BLACKLIST IS POPULAR OVERSEAS? RECALL ME SAYING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BAD WRITING SHOWS UP? When PRESS DO INTERVIEWS THEY GET TO VIEW THE SEASON EPISODES. THATS WHY THIS INTERVIEW HAS BLACKLIST ON ITS DEATHBED] The fourth season, currently on display in the US, debuted in September last year with 6397 million viewers. The most recent episodes were below five million. [A BLOW INDEED ALL BECAUSE OF TOM PIMPING, ARAM PIMPING, ELISE PIMPING ALEXANDER KIRK PIMPING, SARAM PIMPING KEEN2 PIMPING AND FINALLY PLOT DRIVEN STORY WITHOUT PIMPING THE THREE MAIN LEADS AS THE SMASH CREDITS INDICATE FOR A REASON: RED/LIZ/RESSLER. NO INTERACTION WITH THE MAIN LEADS REFLECTS THE RATINGS-THE WRITERS KNOW WHAT THEY DID THATS WHY THEY ARE SILENT AND SO DO THE ACTORS. CURRENT STORY DIRECTION SINCE 3B KILLED THE SHOW] A blow that has left the doubt in the air: will NBC cancel or renew the story? [TWO MILLION VIEWERS LOST AND COUNTING. EUROPE SENDING THE SIGNAL TO NBC AND THE SHOW:FIX IT]

Spader remains optimistic, and believes that what has so far kept this story on air "is a strange mix of things,” [HERE COMES THAT MASSIVE OAK TREE AGAIN JUST PLANT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WRITERS ROOM OR ON TOP OF EISENDRATH'S DESK] including the fact that screenwriters are in Los Angeles [OMG WRITERS YOU ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MECHANICS OF NEW YORK AND OF COURSE BY THE TIME NY GETS THE SCRIPTS EDITS HAPPEN ADJUSTMENTS HAPPEN REGULARLY] and recordings take place in New York. “We do not even live our lives at the same time … [HE HATES HIS SHOOTING SCHEDULE DID I MENTION THAT? IF LA IS WRITING AT FOUR PM SPADER AND GANG ARE FILMING AT 7 PM OR 9 pm, OR TEN PM OR SIX AM OR 8 AM TO ACCOMODATE LOS ANGELES AND TO ACCOMODATE A SPIN OFF] The series is strange, sometimes surprising [SOMETIMES SURPRISING IOW HELL GET A GOOD SCRIPT LIKE CAPE MAY OR IN S3 IN MARVIN GERARD BUT MOST OF THE TIME ITS STAGNANT, PREDICTABLE AND PLOT DRIVEN] and intense, sometimes irreverent, [OAK TREE] sometimes passive [PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE] and still volatile.” [IOW IF THEY DO A 180 STORY FLIP BACK TO ITS As DIEGO SAID REGARDING S3 A MAGICAL FORMULA, NOT PLOT DRIVEN BS THE SHOW CAN LAST. BUT HE DOESNT WAX POETIC NOR DOES HE SUGARCOAT THE HYPE AND HE BRINGS UP IRREVERENT SOMETIMES? Yeah look it up. HES NOT HAPPY. ]

On the direction he would like to see the plot follow, [MAN I LOVE THIS YES JAMES WHAT PLOTLINE DO YOU WISH FOR BOKENKAMP AND EISENDRATH TO FOLLOW IM GOING TO GUESS ITS NOT KEEN 2 ITS NOT THE BABY, ITS NOT THIS ISOLATION OF THE LEADS AND HE NEVER MENTIONS RED AND LIZ NOTICE THAT?] the actor only says that “the most satisfying is when there is an abrupt change.” [ABRUPT CHANGE OR AS WE SAY IN THE INDUSTRY A 180 STORY FLIP. End KEEN2, SHAKE THINGS UP GO BACK TO RED/LIZ/RESSLER ENOUGH OF ARAM HES HAD THREE STORYLINES IN ONE YEAR AND TOM HAS HAD THE MOST EXPOSURE THAN ANY ACTOR COMBINED AND WHAT DID THEY GET? LOSS OF ADVERTISING 0.7! KEEP IN MIND IF TBL DEBUTS AT 0.8 ITS TOAST. It needs 1.0 TO STAY IN CONTENTION] “I think we’ve already been successful in that aspect and it was precisely these heights I most liked The Blacklist.”

[OY SPADER IS NOT HAPPY. FANS ARE NOT HAPPY ADVERTISERS AND NETWORK ARE NOT HAPPY AND NOW WRITERS ARE SILENT. FOR SPADER, ITS JUST A PAYCHECK NOW. BETTING ON RE WAS STUPID. GO BACK TO ORIGINAL STORY DIRECTION LIKE I SAID-A 180 STORY FLIP…SEEMS THATS EXACTLY WHAT SPADER WANTS: ABRUPT CHANGE AND IF THEY DONT DO IT AND LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS I DONT THINK HE WILL RENEW HIS CONTRACT BUT CONTINUE TO PLANT THAT MASSIVE OAK TREE .]

#theblacklist #jamesspader #Interview #Breakdown #TheWritersAdvocate #raymond reddington

10 notes · View notes

andrewmawby · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Hey, I think I see a new subscriber! It's you! After writing my newsletter for nigh on twenty-five years, I’ve gotten pretty good at spotting newcomers! Welcome and thanks for signing up. I think you’ll like the prizes I have in store for you in this issue.

You should know I listen to music while creating the newsletter. It always puts me in a great mood. There was a time when I could call you up invest a dime and you say you belong to me to ease my mind. What am I listening to? CLICK or TAP HERE to discover what song put a smile on my face as I typed these words.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

A few days ago, John invested in one of my 15-Minute Consult calls. He didn’t want to make a mistake repainting the roof of his Florida home. John told me it’s already reaching the mid-90s there each day so you might imagine how hot his roof is to the touch.

John was interested in my opinion about paint colors. The conversation was fascinating and within five minutes I had decided to do a test for him. Since he’s not painting for three weeks, I have plenty of time. Once my test is complete, I’ll email the results to John.

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

Isn’t that interesting? Most of us don’t hang up anymore from a call. That sure ages me! Here’s a photo of the phone I used to call my first girlfriend as well as the few others that would go out with me. You did have to hang the handset back up in the cradle. Now, of course, you just swipe or tap a button.

I told John I’d put the three painted samples out on my deck table on the next really sunny day, about 30 minutes before solar noon. Solar noon is when the sun is as high in the sky as it’s going to get that day. The sun’s rays are most intense at this point of the day because they go through the least amount of atmosphere. But, you probably knew that.

Once the samples get nice and toasty warm, which should only take a few minutes, I’ll snap some photos using my FLIR infrared camera. CLICK or TAP HERE to see my growing collection of infrared photos taken with the FLIR.

The painted metal samples are vibrant green, white, and flat black. You probably know which one will be the hottest, but will you be able to guess the temperature spread between the three? WATCH for this upcoming report!

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

If I’m able to satisfy my older sister, then I know I’m hitting the mark. Here’s what she shared with me a few days ago, “By the way, I enjoy your new games (quizzes) of interesting facts. I’ve only had one winner....”

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

What’s the best cleaner for stainless steel sinks? Better yet, what's the WORST thing you can do to a stainless steel sink other than try to clean a motorcycle engine in one? Yes, it’s been done…

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from builders feed https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

manuelclapid · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from Home https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

williamccreynolds · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from Real Estate https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

thegregorybruce · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from Home https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

mrtroy · 6 years ago

Text

Starter

Every time I go to Wikipedia to look something up – either for work or when I’m writing for fun – I chuckle a little bit thinking back to high school writing classes. <Artificially nostalgic voice > Way back in the early 2000s, the Wikipedia was very much frowned upon in the realm of the academic trustworthiness. <End artificial voice usage>

Now, I mostly just use it to get a quick blurb of information about subjects I don’t know much about. And whether the academic community frowns upon that or not, I like it. I like Wikipedia. And today, I really liked it.

I’m writing this post about bread starter and in the midst of doing my cursory research on what makes up a starter, I learned one of its alternate names is ‘mother dough.’ As you’ll soon find out, this was a very fitting thing to learn, indeed.

- -

In August of 1986, my mother was given a sourdough bread starter. I don’t have a lot of details on the origin of the starter, but given some other things I know about my mom’s life in the mid 80s, if I had to guess, it was given to her by a lady with a Midwestern sounding name from the neighborhood. My parents have lived in a picturesque suburban neighborhood since 1984, and back in the early days of the neighborhood, residents did a lot of neighborly activities together. Ladies named Kathy hosted bi-monthly games of mahjong and bunko. I seem to remember at least two different Sharons that hosted Tupperware parties. My dad played on a neighborhood softball team and looking back on it now, it seems like the kind of place that developers have in mind when they pitch the idea of a large sprawling neighborhood to a Chamber of Commerce.

I realize there’s a twinge of sarcasm in setting things up this way. And while the Sharons and Kathys – and the 80s hair I am picturing them with – are both real and tongue-and-cheek all at the same time, there’s something spectacular about the fact that the neighborhood functioned the way neighborhoods are supposed to function. More on that in another post, perhaps. Let’s get back to bread.

I was moved to write on this topic today when I cut myself a few slices of sourdough bread for breakfast. The same sourdough bread, from the same starter, that my mom has been making every few weeks since August of 1986. The sheer fact that this bread has been a part of our family for 32 years now is amazing in its own right. What it means beyond that is what makes this topic worthy to write about.

- -

A bread starter works when a pre-ferment is made (thanks Wikipedia). The pre-ferment contains an active ingredient like yeast that grows, is fed, can be split, and then grows again. In the process of bread making, this translates to starting with a ‘starter,’ which is like your base. You feed the base by adding ingredients to it, it grows, you take half of what grew and make bread out of it, and you put half of it back to start the process all over again in a few weeks.

This is more of an old fashioned or artisanal way of making bread. There are ways to make bread – even using yeast to make it – that don’t require the use of a starter. There are also bread machines that can be used to speed the process of making bread as well. Mom’s bread doesn’t use a bread machine, and is very much old fashioned. She feeds the starter, she lets the new dough rise over night. She then punches the starter down do some sort of air releasing, or yeast activating something or other and bakes the bread in the oven at a low and slow 275 degrees for one hour. In the midst of this process, she saves half of the starter and puts it in the refrigerator to grow again over the next few weeks until she begins the process again.

The loaves of bread that come from this process are nearly magical in my own mind.

I’ve eaten this bread since I was a year old.

It was in my lunches slathered with peanut butter and honey when I sat at the lunch tables in elementary school. I probably had the bread a little less than half the time for those lunches. It takes time for the starter to revitalize itself, and the time that took was always longer than the time it took to eat the loaves it produced. So, that meant that there were days when you got a sandwich on ‘Mom’s bread,’ and there were days you got a sandwich on something from the store. I always knew which days those were going to be – as I was acutely aware of what the Mom’s bread inventory was – but even knowing this, un-Velcro-ing my lunchbox to find a sandwich on Mom’s bread was always one of the best feelings. Early on in my school career, Mom sent me with Tuppeware containers (probably purchased at one of the Sharons Tupperware parties). After losing the lids on those containers, Mom switched to packing sandwiches in the fold top sandwich bags. Never Ziploc. Always fold top. Fold top bags require a certain level of care during the process of bagging and unbagging the sandwich. Gentle on the way in and on the way out – so as not to damage the corners of the sandwich masterpiece. Mom’s sourdough can be a bit crumbly, so achieving a perfect extraction from the fold top bag without breaking off a corner of the sandwich became one of my favorite daily challenges.

As a family, we also ate the Mom’s bread prepared as toast with a topping of cinnamon sugar. Few things in this world taste better than a piping hot slice of bread with a crunchy layer of cinnamon and sugar. We had a toaster oven in our kitchen growing up, and I used to enjoy watching each slice crisp to a goldenness that just started to show some burnt corners. This level of doneness guaranteed that the center of the slice was amply toasted. After removing the slice from the toaster oven, you had about fifteen seconds to apply the slightest amount of butter and then sprinkle cinnamon sugar over top to ensure that the bread was still hot enough to fully melt the butter and create the optimal level of cohesion between the sugary mixture and the breaded base. Mmmm. My mouth is watering right now as I think about it! Some of my fondest memories from growing up are in the kitchen with each of us preparing our slices of toast. Mom – if she ever did add cinnamon sugar – applying it ever so lightly. Patch applying his much more liberally, however, always taking great care with sugar application so as not to lose any of the precious topping. And Pops, well, he liked his toast a little more well done. After his sugar application there was a distinctively crunchier sound as he bit into each of his slices. I loved Sunday mornings when the whole family was together eating toast on Mom’s bread.

And while I’ve described both a breakfast and a lunch scenario where Mom’s bread shined, I’d be remiss not to mention its versatility around dinner time.

At more formal occasions, it serves perfectly as an accompaniment to a fine dinner. Cut each of the normal-sized, large-loaf-pan slices in half width-wise, and you have yourself a perfect morsel to have along with your meal. (Although, this has spawned the great butter debate with my grandfather. One of our only true arguments in life. He insists on having his with butter. I contend that sourdough never needs butter. I feel deep in my heart that I’m right on this one, but we’ve been at a stalemate on the issue for years….)

Beyond its use as a side item, Mom’s bread is also the foundation for a mean – if not the meanest – grilled cheese sandwich you may ever have. Pair a perfectly golden brown sandwich with two and a half slices of your favorite cheese, and you have yourself a perfect Fall dinner. Served with apple slices, and if you’re my dad, a bowl of tomato soup, it’s hard to top this classic.

Now, I’ve made it through each of the meals – and I could have spent more time on the viability of a Mom’s slice with a thick layer of peanut butter, open face, heated in the microwave for eight seconds – but I want to go beyond this bread’s tangible value into the intangible.

- -

For 32 years my mom has made this bread. Let’s say roughly 650 times. Every few weeks she has fed the starter, mixed in the other ingredients, punched down the dough, split that ball of dough into two smaller loaves to put in loaf pans. Etc. Etc.

As I stop and think about this, it blows me away. What has any of us done for 32 straight years? For me, breathing is all I’ve got…

Now, it hasn’t come without trial.

A few times, Mom has experimented with different flour. Sometimes it’s all white flour. Sometimes all wheat. Sometimes a mixture. Some of those times have produced good results, others have fallen flat. There have been times she has absentmindedly forgotten to add the requisite sugar called for in the recipe. Those were NOT good loaves. There have been times where the duration in between making the bread was too long, and the starter had over-fermented to the point where the made bread hardly rose. There was even a time when the started died all together. Luckily, she had split it and given a batch to her best friend who was then able to re-split it and give it back to her to keep it alive.

As I was cutting myself a slice today, it was the above paragraph that provided the perspective I really wanted to share in this post.

Life isn’t perfect. Sometimes you experiment and in those experiments things work out well. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes we forget key ingredients and things fall flat. Sometimes we have close calls to the point where we almost ruin things and we have to endure the consequences. Sometimes we can literally almost kill the best things we ever have going for us. And when that happens, if we’re lucky, we have best friends who can bail us out.

Mom has given me her starter two different times. I’ve successfully made her bread a few times. A few other times I messed up somewhere in the process and my loaves have fallen woefully flat. One time, I accidentally let the starter die. Another, I gave it back to her right before I moved. Someday, I hope I can get it back again and keep it going. I hope it’s something I can pass down through the family until it’s 100 years old.

I hope I can give it to dozens more people if they’d like it. To use it as a tool to teach about baking and about life. To model longevity and discipline. To provide a tangible link to an intangible love.

As I finish this post and go to close the Wikipedia tab on my Internet browser, I am reminded that a starter is sometimes referred to as Mother Dough because new bread and new life grows from the original. And yes, I think this is quite fitting.

Mom, thank you for starting that starter 32 years ago. I’m sure you had no idea at the time what it would eventually start, but man, has it started something special. Thank you for your dedication to keeping it going. Thank you for all of the life lessons and good times it has spawned. Thank you for perfectly timing when you make fresh loaves with holidays, or the times Patch is home to enjoy it. Thank you for giving me loaves to take home when I know you and Pops would enjoy it so much for yourselves. I know you already know how I feel about your bread, but I figured you might like to see it in print – it’s the best.

- -

To anyone else reading this note, what can be your starter?

It might not be sourdough bread, but it can be just as meaningful. Start something meaningful today. Commit to it. Keep at it. Share it with those that you care about. It doesn’t have to be anything on a grand scale. It doesn’t have to be a once-a-year holiday tradition or anything that costs a lot of money. But whatever it is, know that it has the power to do amazing things as an example of longevity and of love.

0 notes

andrewmawby · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from builders feed https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

manuelclapid · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from Home https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

andrewmawby · 5 years ago

Text

May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your groove on listening to past newsletter songs. Most of them cause me to dance and flail my arms around up in my cave!

I know, you’re one of my seasoned subscribers! I remember you, silly! Speaking of seasoning, do you remember what I did to win the war against the pesky woodpecker?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what that winged devil bird did to my house in just a few days! But better yet, CLICK or TAP to see what I did to STOP HIM/HER!

John’s Roof Paint

You may be wondering about the fine points of our conversation. I’m going to share all that and much more when I publish my test results next week.

Look at the pieces of metal I painted after hanging up from the call.

The Fun Quiz

How much fun is my new easy-to-play one-question quiz?

It’s important to realize that we kid each other incessantly, most often in the age department. She tendered an excuse for her inability to get more answers right.

But being the loving younger brother, I didn’t take a swing at that softball pitch across the plate even though I could have hit a grand slam home run with it. I love you, Big Sister!

Please take a look at the quiz illustration for today. It’s just below. Each panel represents one of the five answers.

If these drawings I made for you don’t convince you to invest 30 seconds taking the quiz, NOTHING WILL.

I GUARANTEE you’ll discover a very cool fact you can share with your friends and family! CLICK or TAP HERE and have some FUN.

Hose Bib Dreams Come True

I’ll be honest. I never thought a mundane topic like hose bibs would garner your attention. It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the line bet desk in a casino and wager!

I knew the magic wand question would generate some very interesting answers. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Hot water to a hose bib, wonderful, but that’s a dream!”

“Attachable. Quick-release.”

“Easy connection, doesn't leak, can provide hot water”

“Have two faucets, hot and cold that could be mixed to make warm water.”

I think you see two common themes here, right? Look at this photo of the hose faucet (bib) I'm about to install at my own home.

CLICK or TAP HERE and understand that dreams do, indeed, come true.

You MUST CLICK or TAP HERE to see two unbelievable and AFFORDABLE hose faucets.

I GUARANTEE you'll buy ONE OF THEM and have it installed in an hour or two.

Painting Your Rusty Stuff

It’s that time of year where you may be re-painting something that gets wet and rusty outdoors. Look at this photo and tell me which of the two paint samples you’d want to use:

I intend to repaint the inside of a steel wheelbarrow I use.

Fortunately, I know the BEST paint to use for steel so it will take a while for it to rust again.

CLICK or TAP HERE do discover what paint I’ll be using.

Phil’s Water Damage Drywall Repair

Phil’s a virtual friend of mine. You may be one too. I’m so very lucky to have made friends with folks all over the world via this newsletter.

Phil lives in Australia and has helped me in the past with many ideas about AsktheBuilder.com. It was time for me to reciprocate by helping him with a water issue he has at his home.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I have to say about:

an ingenious way to STOP the water damage

an easy-to-use product to do the repair

a secret tip about painting corner bead

That’s enough for a Sunday, wouldn’t you say?

The wretched black flies are flitting around here in central New Hampshire. I’m convinced God was having a rough morning climbing over boulders and logs when He created these despicable insects.

Tim Carter Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com Happiness Comes in Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you know this factoid.

The post May 17, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from builders feed https://www.askthebuilder.com/may-17-2020-askthebuilder-newsletter/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes