I discovered Ashes to Ashes in a round about way.   I set our DVR to record an episode of Life on Mars each week.  When one of the episodes had a conflict, the DVR looked for an alternate showing, and instead recorded an episode of the British version of the show on BBC America.    So, I watched the British episode, and during it saw adverts for Ashes to Ashes.  It looked good, so I set it to record.  
As much as I was enjoying Life on Mars (which ABC, in their asinine stupidity has cancelled in favor of yet another craptastic reality show), I'm really getting hooked on Ashes to Ashes.
IMO, Harvey Keitel really made the US version of LOM work.  He is awesome as the crusty 70s-style copper, Gene Hunt.  I enjoyed his performance even more than Jason O’Mara's performance as Det. Sam Tyler. 
But after watching the first season of Ashes to Ashes, I must say that Philip Glenister's Gene Hunt is even better!  I'm not sure how he manages it, but he takes a middle-aged politically-incorrect, brutal, misogynistic, homophobic, overweight alcoholic and makes him seem damn sexy.  That's gotta take some wicked acting skills. 
(Side note: Thank goodness that the BBC has more sense than ABC -- they're keeping Ashes to Ashes going, and and season 2 starts this month on BBC One in the UK and May 2nd on BBC America in the US.)
In fact, based on these two shows, perhaps there should be a new genre created just for these time traveling, sci-fi, police dramas.  They are far more enjoyable than the yet-another-reality-show fluff that most channels run.

Yesterday, musicbyoscar  and I were driving out by the Rim, and we noticed that a Maggiano's Little Italy is being built facing I-10!  yeah!!!  Maggianos is one of my favoritist restaurants!!   (I am addicted to their Rigatoni-D.)   I checked their website this morning, and their grand opening is scheduled for November 13! 

Property values there must be totally whack.  Would you pay $429,000 for this 460 square foot pile of crap?



Found posted on yet another favorite blog of mine -- It's Lovely, I'll take it!

Almost a year ago, I was talking about the end of Threadbared, my favorite blog.  I was sad.  I was missing their witty attacks on fashion blunders.  I thought I'd never find blog-related snarkiness that was suited to the things *I* like to poke fun at.

So, as a part time cake decorator who has a degree in English, I must say, I totally love  this cake-grammar nightmare entry at CakeWrecks.com -- which is now filling the "favorite blog" void left by Threadbared (if you haven't read Threadbared -- read the blog online or buy the book.)

Thanks to dawntreader90 for blogging about CakeWrecks a few weeks ago.  Luv You!!