Barbara Stanwyck Box Set

broderic on October 31, 2007

No need to get me this for Christmas. I picked it up today. I’ve exhausted Netflix of her films. Still, I get this box set, and I haven’t seen half of them. I can’t wait for some free time to pop them into the DVD player.

Here’s one final list of Miss Stanwyck films to round out celebrating her 100th and the release of this box set. It’s Kim Morgan’s top 5 (Baby Face, Forty Guns, Double Indemnity, Ball of Fire, The Lady Eve), but make sure to click through to her top 10. Anyone who ranks The Lady Eve as her best film over Ball of Fire is aces in my book. As is Miss Stanwyck.

Not Tivo

broderic on October 31, 2007

After arriving home from Spain, I find out my Tivo isn’t working. This particular model is connected with my DirectTV receiver. The shows were coming in fine, but it didn’t record.

So naturally, I reboot.

Big mistake.

The shows from the satellite stop showing and I’m forever stuck at the start up screen.

First of all, this is the second machine that’s done this. I think also I went away for the week and came back to find Tivo gone. I think I turned up the thermostat causing the hard drive to overheat and go bye-bye.

Second, that is the worst design ever. I can’t use my satellite receiver once I restarted the machine. What bone head designed this thing. They should’ve been separate processes with barely any dependencies upon them.

So any way I solve my problem the way I know best. I buy another DirectTV receiver with DVR.

Let me stress that, WITH DVR.

It’s not Tivo, but some lame ass DVR.

It doesn’t work like Tivo.

It’s not elegant like Tivo.

It feels funny and acts totally different.

It’s not Tivo.

I don’t like it.

Like a Windows machine.

España 2007: Adios to Costa Blanca

broderic on October 31, 2007

Missed Arroces Bags packed Closing up Villa Ellicott Hasta pronto Monte Pego

Aug. 16, 2007

12:17 Villa Ellicott
This countries 11:00pm news begins @ 1am. Just packing. Ate at Buena Vista Restaurante. No paella. It had to be preordered which we didn’t know. Bummer. The waitress was tres linda. Brunette, tall, and glasses. The meal was okay. I got the fish baked in salt. It wasn’t served in it. Bummer.

7:55
Adios, Villa Ellicott. Muchas gracias for all the fun. Voya con dios. Mira en 15 anos.

Pardon the bad spanish. I really don’t know what I am writing. It was morning and I faced a long drive. No thanks to CapitolSwell.

España 2007: Assumption

broderic on October 25, 2007

CAM for money Skoda on the road Menus Spanish Serenade El torre de castille

Aug 15, 2007

4:35 Villa Ellicott
Went to fix up the water bill this morning. La oficina est cerrado. You know it is the feast of the assumption. It’s a national holiday. The stores are all closed. In America, every store would be open w/a sale. We need to eliminate the separation of church and state so we can also have more holidays.

Walked La Via again in Denia. Tried to get to the castillo. Hoodlums were guarding the gate.

España 2007: Ice cream on the beach

broderic on October 24, 2007

Full House Aces and Fours Calpe y Pinyon d'ifache Lunch Menu Ombra for mom Horchaterria

Aug 14, 2007

1:20
Done playing Texas Hold’em. Busted out on nothing. Zack takes it all w/a full house A’s and 10’s. Went to Denia early in the evening w/mom and got some ice cream. It was a nice walk on the promenade. Saw a Spanish episode of The Simpsons. Krusty the Klown’s theme park.

7:53 Villa Ellicott
Went finally to Calpe. Swam on the beach for an hour. Then got up and had helado. Ate lunch before swimming w/hamburgeusa con patatas.

Been to Mas y Mas again. Spent more time there than anywhere. Bought ceramic plate and an ashtray.

Oh my, Calpe

broderic on October 23, 2007



Checking out my referrers and I see someone searching for “rain” and “pego.” It seems they had a storm on Costa Blanca. What a mess. These are pictures of Calpe. The place is very familiar since we were just there. Ask CapitolSwell where these were taken and he’ll know exactly.

Anyway, reverse lookup for the search leads me to a discussion board about the storm. It sounds and looks awful.

I just had to share these pics which I got from there. It’s my favorite beach on Costa Blanca. I would hate to know that it’s damaged like this.

Gone Baby Gone

broderic on October 23, 2007

Ben Affleck’s first foray into the director’s chair was this adaption of a Dennis Lahane novel, Gone Baby Gone.

I didn’t like the twist and turns set up. It seemed to be almost forced like many bad movies. But this one wasn’t because of Casey Affleck’s character. Very believable, but the twist and turns were not.

3 of 5 stars.

España 2007: A day lost

broderic on October 23, 2007

Wake up, sleepy heads! Basement door The day at home Villas in the evening Denia la via

Aug 13, 2007

1:00 Villa Ellicott
Days consist of the same. I wake up earlier than everyone. Wait for them to get up at noon. Eat lunch. Then wait to go wherever. Read my book.

7:55
The waiting took the form of staying. Walter had some kind of ailment and didn’t allow us to go to Calpe. He was dizzy and mom blamed it on hypertension. So we stayed and Bernard took them to a hike on the Pinyon d-ifache. That dude sucks. Always taking his good old time. I hate waiting for them.

I wanted to get out of the house. Mostly to see Calpe which is a neat beach. What happened, Walt?

España 2007: Rainout

broderic on October 17, 2007

Cheers Flattened perspective of a villa Ombra The rain in spain stays mainly on the plain Chinese Restaurant in Pego Shrimp Chips!

Aug 12, 2007

7:45 Villa Ellicott
Tossed and turned all night. It’s pretty warm in the house. I got up early and went for a morning constitution around back towards Rafol. I woke up some sleeping dogs.

Yesterday, I left my hat at the Monte Pego restaurant. That’s one thing wrong with bringing a hat. We also got worried about Bernardo and family who didn’t turn up until 2:00 AM. They’re real spaniards now.

8:15
Showered outside!! First time in days. Fanta for breakfast. It’s got 80% zumo.

1:12
Done some swimming in the pool. Drunk some San Miguel. Waiting for the kids to get up. Domingo en España. Let’s do something. Earlier we got some cafe con leche at the Buena Vista apartments. There’s free wi-fi so we have to go back sas not to kill our cell phone bill.

9:09 Villa Ellicott
Back from a big disappointing day. First to la cueva de calvera, “the cave of skulls,” in Bendrilieg. Another English lady bartending. There we watched the rain come in. And it rained. Rained out our excursion to Ondara for the toreros. No bullfighting. Dang. Ate in Pego at the chinese restaurant. We have lots of leftovers.

Usually, the bullfight in Ondara is the best thing about visiting the villa. You watch minor league torreadors fighting the bull. You hope to see a pretty girl on a horse, too. Yet, it rained a thunderstorm with hail. Frightening. And the bullfight was called due to a rain out. So we settled for chines food. According to the couple that takes care of our villa, it’s the best in the area. These dudes are british. I doubt they have a sensible palate. I’ll let CapitolSwell write up a review. We had the eight course meal for eight people. Big mistake. Should’ve had the six course for six people. I could’ve done without some of the dishes. I just wanted the sweet and sour pork.