M.L. Skye's Blog, page 22

Sunday Snippet: Questionable Vision

Wow. The month is half over already. October is flying by. Not complaining because I'm super busy with work projects and that makes me happy. I'm also making steady progress on the whole clean and organize project.

Had a solid week of television viewing again. I watched two lessons of Master Class with Brandon McMillan. I got more valuable insight in dog behavior and I hope I can translate that to working with my doggos.

Caught two episodes of Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life. Winter and spring were each enjoyable. I didn't know how they'd handle Richard's death, but I like what they did. I'm very curious how summer is going to play out, especially with Loralie's therapy deal.

Enjoyed two specials about Cher. Artist to Iconand Life in the Spotlight both had great footage and details. I remember watching Sonny and Cher and her solo show on television when I was a kid. I sometimes miss that type of variety show. I'm so not into the idols and voice-type shows.

Watched another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. I thoroughly enjoy how the plotlines are playing out. I have to admit I really didn't think they'd go where they went with the Tyler storyline but I love that they did. Took me back to Farscape a little bit.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med and liked both. Rhodes keeps growing on me and I like how he stumbles every once in a while. I need to go back and do a crossover watch at some point also.

Thoroughly enjoyed an episode of Midsommer Murders. Old school in so many ways with being trapped on an island and having the case be about tabletop gaming. All in all, an excellent episode.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and started a new two-parter. Great to have Leo back in the morgue and out on cases. I also remembered how much I love Nikki and Harry's bantery conversations.

Started season twenty of Classic Who and, hello, Tegan's back. I watched two four-episode arcs and actually loved both. The second arc brought the Maya back and I'd forgotten they did that sometimes in the original series.

Began a new series with UFOs Over Earth. The first two episodes were fun. Fayetteville and Bucks County were the areas MUFON investigated. I've seen bit and pieces about both sightings but got some new information about each. Always enjoy when that happens.

Watched two episodes of The Muppet Show. Dudley Moore and Arlo Guthrie were the guest stars. I'm enjoying season four so far.

Started the fifth season of Prime Suspect and I'm pretty sure I remember how this one plays out. I love how fallible Jane is and watching that unfold on screen.

Got another episode of Peak Practice watched. This one ended up being a lot calmer than the last one. I'm really enjoying the trio of partners.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. The first season has so many great moments and I love revisiting them.

Also got in another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteriesand finished up season four. I'll be starting season five this week. I still truly love this show so much. I miss Jared a little but I think he might be in at least one more episode and I'm hoping to actually get to meet Roxy at some point.

That's pretty much it for the weekly television update. Tonight's post is from Questionable Vision, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Park Danielson doesn't want to fight anymore. Stuck in a warzone, he has one burning question. Why bother sticking around? Darby Young has the answer. He's not allowed to leave.

And a sneaky peek…

The conversation with Park left Darby shaken. Recriminations pinged in her brain. And maybe a little guilt.

"I've led Park on a merry chase." Up, down, forward, back, and hell, sometimes sideways and upside down. "No wonder he'd given up hope."

She needed to own part of the responsibility. She always taken it for granted he'd always be there, hovering in the background. She … they … didn't have to rush things for that reason, right?

But she'd misread all the signals. And damn near missed the forest for the trees. Well, she sure had a fire under her ass now. Whatever Park needed, she'd find a way to make it happen. And that included her.

She shivered a little. "Even though commitment terrifies me." Okay, a promise of time didn't bother her. She'd signed on the dotted line for military service.

Letting someone in, really in, freaked her the hell out. After watching her mother pine for a philandering man, why wouldn't she have concerns? The guy loved them, but couldn't keep his dick in his pants and every affair, each one-night stand, broke her mom's heart a little more until only a brittle shell remained.

Darby vowed she would never love someone enough to make putting up with affairs seem like a normal thing. She couldn't be like her mom and beg for any scrap of love her dad might be willing to share. But would she really have to?

Park represented the polar opposite of her wayward father. Honest, sometimes too much so, loyal, honorable … Park didn't have it in him to cheat like her old man had. Shouldn't she consider making a leap for him? He'd always, alwaysbeen there. Good, bad, ugly … didn't matter. Park came back for more and usually gave as good as he got.

Darby snorted. "Considering I dish out bitch pie on a semi-regular basis and he still sticks around … well, maybe that should tell me something."

And maybe she should listen and pay attention to what mattered most.

I love writing Darby and her internal journey to what matters most. Park might need to get prepared for some amazing revelations in the near future.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Quality of Care

October is starting out really well and I hope it's a sign of things to come. My work projects have picked up again and I'm so happy! I'm also making progress on the great clean out again. I've also taken to spending fifteen to thirty minutes before I go to bed reading something that interests me. I've got a ton of new research books and I love digging into them.

Pretty decent week for television viewing. I watched four episodes of The Muppet Show. The guest stars were Shields and Yarnell, Dyan Cannon, Victor Borge, and Linda Lavin. Pretty good episodes all in all.

Caught two episodes of Prime Suspect, which finished out season four. So far, the episodes are standing up and I like revisiting them.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. Will said good-bye and headed for Bristol and the newly formed trio is finding their footing. The second episode ended up being quite dramatic with explosions and emergencies all around.

Enjoyed the second lesson of Master Class with Brandon McMillan. He focused on variables that make dogs unique. I already have some good information based on the two types of dogs I have.

Caught Making the Witcher and liked diving deep into how everything gets put together behind the scenes. I'll probably be starting a new show this week.

Enjoyed Artist to Icon: Madonna. She came onto the music scene in my early adulthood and I've always enjoyed her music. Nice to see some new information about her long and storied career.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. As usual, I get sucked right back into the past when my oldest was a tiny baby and watching the show with my husband in the evenings.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like how the relationships and friendships work on the show and even when the characters make me angry, I can see where they're coming from.

Loved the latest episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Breen's discomfort whenever he tangled with the abrasive Trudy proved valid even if she ended up not quite fitting the mold most, including me, cast her in.

Watched the first part of Silent Witness. I remember this one but not how it turned out. I'm always interested when the characters end up on opposite sides of a case. Looking forward to seeing how this one plays out again.

Enjoyed Classic Who's finale arc of season nineteen. Looks like Teegan won't be returning for the twentieth season, leaving the Doctor with one companion. Should start the new season this week.

Finished out the season of UFO Conspiracies. I'll be starting a new UFO show this week and I'm kind of hoping it will be a good one.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Quality of Care, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Stuck on the fringe of space, cut off by an enemy blockade, Phoebe Point and Dane Moragson keep their ragtag crewmembers from going stark, raving mad. When food rations become non-existent, Phoebe and Dane plot a daring plan to improve the quality of care for their comrades—even if it means going against orders and risking court martial.

And a sneaky peek…

Noell Bartof skirted by the latest altercation Captain Moragson and Lieutenant Point got in the middle of. The CAG and deputy CAG spent way too much time keeping the peace between hungry, cranky pilots.

Ducking into a recessed alcove, he waited for the two superior officers to march the bickering pilots in the direction of separate decks. "With food sources being low, everyone's on edge." And with an enemy blockade between the space station and supply lanes, tempers would only get worse. "Ha. Try frayed beyond anything." Stepping out, Noell followed along behind Dane and Phoebe.

He got a good look at each and both looked dull and down. Then again, the duo had been making sure the other pilots got taken care of first—on top of playing babysitter and nanny along with maintaining some semblance of a flight roster. Noell hadn't seen either smile in over a week. Other than the morale boosting kind that didn't quite reach their eyes.

And even they'd been surly and snappish, but only with each other, and in such a quiet way it freaked everyone out. If Moragson and Point reached their breaking point, the whole station would be screwed. Noell doubted the top brass had any kind of clue how much the lower ranks relied on the CAG and deputy CAG to keep order and calm below decks. Or the toll it took on both.

He stopped. "Screw that." Time for someone to take care of the caregivers and Noell would start the process.

He ducked into the small gym on D-deck and glanced around. Empty. Good. He made his way to the heavy bag and peeled back the duct tape covering a torn section. Reaching inside, he withdrew a small pouch and opened the bag. He shook two small candy bars into his palm from the secret stash he'd hidden in case rationing got even worse.

Closing the pouch, he tucked it back inside the heavy bag. "This isn't enough. I gotta get more." Resealing the tape, he stuffed the candy into his pocket and retraced his steps.

First stop … pilot quarters. He'd bet his next full meal—if he ever got another one—he'd find others who had a little something squirreled away. And he wasn't above using blackmail and extortion to get it.

"Everyone's gonna give a little of what they have."

Or look like an ass if they didn't.

This story is set up a little differently from what I usually do and I'm enjoying the challenge of writing from a somewhat unique perspective by adding a third party POV.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Pushing Buttons

Welcome, October. It's been a week with a lot of ups and downs. Work went well and I got a bunch of projects close to being finished. My middle kid needed some help navigating a challenging week of appointments and mild setbacks with health care.

Not a bad week of television either. I caught two episodes of Prime Suspect. Finished up season three and started season four. Four begins single episodes and I'm looking forward to diving in.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. Both were pretty interesting and I like where season five is going.

Finished up Master Class with LeVar Burton and started a new course with Brandon McMillan about training dogs.

Completed Inside the Episodes: The Witcher and I'm looking forward to season two so much right now. To tide myself over, I'm going to watch the making of the series next.

Enjoyed watching Adele: Homecoming. I loved getting some insight into how she got her start and how she creates her music.

Started watching Classic Rugrats with the first episode about Tommy's birthday. I'll look forward to getting back into this show for the sheer nostalgia.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med. Both ended up making me emotional and all teary-eyed. I love this show!

Enjoyed another The Brokenwood Mysteries. Poor Mike being out of commission made an interesting dynamic change.

Started season thirteen of Silent Witness and vaguely remember the episode. The insurance adjuster woman is the reason. Her obnoxiousness rubbed me wrong the first time around also. I mean I literally want to slap her, she's that annoying.

Also began a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one should prove to be interesting and I have a feeling helicopter parents will be the reason.

Caught a two-part arc of Classic Who. Actually enjoyed it for the most part, even the hints about a possible return of the Master.

Watched another episode of UFO Conspiracies. This one had a focus on cold-climate sightings. A neat spin on the usual fare.

Got two more episodes of The Muppet Show in with John Denver and Crystal Gayle as the guest stars. Season four is officially underway.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. A lot going on in this one and I liked getting some additional insight in the second in command. I don't have all the names down yet.

Enjoyed an episode of Artist to Icon. This one featured Whitney Houston and I learned a few things I didn't know about her career. I'll probably stick to musicians for this series.

Finally, I caught an episode of Midsommer Murders. Hannah Waddington guest-starred and the episode ended up being such a good one.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Pushing Buttons, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Chet Vondallson hates complications—integrating two crews when a space cruiser goes down sits at the bottom of his list of fun things to do. Parson Browd, one of Chet's top pilots—and his lover—likes to push his buttons and get a reaction, something Chet knows but finds hard to resist.

And a sneaky peek…

Chet Vondallson stared at his recently promoted superior officer, the new admiral of the small fleet protecting a mining operation. "You know how this is going to look, sir." If he didn't, he should.

The newly appointed admiral gave a short grunt. "Yeah, I do. Don't have time to care." He leaned forward. "Right now, I gotta combine three crews into two and assume command of both. Who else can I trust to coordinate this and get it done the way it needs to be happen?" He pinned Chet with his gaze.

Chet sighed. "Dammit, Dad. It still reeks of nepotism and it'll make the job harder." How could he not see the problem? "There're half a dozen officers with the rank to do this. You could go with one of them and use me in the background."

Frank Vondallson narrowed his gaze. "You're saying you're not up for the job?" His eyebrow arched in the annoying way Chet hated.

Chet ground his teeth together. "Of course not. I'm saying this is gonna bite you on the ass in ways you haven't even thought of yet." Argh … why do I always let him push my buttons?  

Frank's lips twitched. "You think? Trust me when I say I already have. Don't for one moment assume I don't know what I'm doing." He slid a folder across his desk. "This is the starting roster of who I want where. Everything not filled in is your choice." He tapped the file. "There's gonna be some controversy. If anyone tries to be difficult, send them my way."

Chet opened the folder and briefly scanned the names. "Geez, Dad. We won't have time to even engage the enemy if we're fighting battles within the fleet." At least five of the new posts would be in immediate contention.

Frank gave Chet a grim smile. "I'll deal with it. You keep the planes in the air and integrate the crews. Everything else, all the bullshit jockeying and jousting is mine to handle." He pushed away from the desk and stood up.

Chet followed suit, tucking the roster under his arm. "Yes, sir. You can expect the first onslaught by end of first watch tomorrow." He started for the hatch.

His dad got in a parting shot. "Make sure Parson's not one of them. Use her where she works the best … leading the charge in and out of the cockpit."

Chet exited into the corridor and closed his eyes. "Like that won't blow up in my face." As much as he loved Parson Browd, he couldn't use her blunt-object style to get this project off the ground.

He needed a straight-edge razor wielded with finesse.

I have a lot of love for the father-son dynamic in this story. Frank and Chet don't always see eye-to-eye but there's no mistaking they trust each other to do what needs to be done.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Promise to Keep

Finally over the ick of the flu and a cold on top of it. Feeling so much better and happy about that. Got a good catch up on work projects and I'm relieved to be back on track.

Had a decent week of television again. I caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries and kind of missed Jared's presence. The episode ended up being pretty good and I enjoyed a twist I didn't quite see coming.

Watched both episodes of Silent Witness and actually remembered most of the plot line. Finished up season twelve and should get started on thirteen this week.

Caught two arcs of Classic Who. The first one didn't really thrill me but the second one ended up being better than I hoped. I'm liking the trio of companions.

Enjoyed two episodes of UFO Conspiracies. The first one had a series of stories about swarms of UFOs. The second had a series about footage caught on camera. Both were pretty interesting and I love seeing how military units in other countries handle sightings.

Ended up watching four episodes of The Muppet Show. Roger Miller, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Lynn Redgrave, and Cheryl Ladd were the guest stars. I loved the Lynn Redgrave episode and the Robin Hood enactment.

Started a new season of Prime Suspect. I have vague memories of this one and look forward to the second half when everything pretty much blows up for Tennison.

Caught the first episode of season five Peak Practice. Andrew is back and Will's significant other had their baby. Pretty good beginning to the new season.

Enjoyed another lesson of Master Class with LeVar Burton. He talked about his storytelling heroes and I appreciated the insight he gave.

Watched another Inside the Episodes: The Witcher. This one took a look at episode six where everything goes to hell for Geralt. Very cool to get some insight into how and why things happened the way they did.

Caught another London Live. This one featured Kelly Clarkson and I enjoyed the songs chosen. Still like Berlin Live better.

Enjoyed an episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Mudd returned and the repeating of the thirty minutes entertained me. Loved how many characters ended up being out of their comfort zone even if Burnham was the main focal point.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. This one kind of gutted me and I loved it. So glad I'm finally getting to see all of this show. I've said that before, right?

Started the next season of Midsommer Murders. I've kind of been putting it off because it's only two episodes with a few more starting this month, I think. Loved the first episode. I've missed Winter's facial expressions so much.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Promise to Keep, a novella that got a start with a writing prompt from a friend. I'm not completely sure where it's going to end up going.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Two elite marines try to forge a relationship during a time of war. But when a worse than usual dangerous situation ups the ante, a promise is made and must be kept, regardless of the personal toll. After all, the marine motto is anytime, anyplace, always ready.

And a sneaky peek…

The recently rescued detainees were all assembled, listening as Tiffen outlined the plan of action to get them the fuck off this rock.

One small glitch. They were counting on two battle cruisers.

Mathison hated to break it to them … but she did. “No Perseus. Just the Gibraltar.” And yeah … that got the resistance leaders’ attention.

Rosh peppered her with questions. “Why? Why no Perseus?” Her sharp glance was also tinged with concern. “What happened?”

The former president asked her? A marine following orders. “Don’t know, sir. Way beyond my pay grade.” But damned if that question didn't ping in everyone lower than an XO’s mind before they separated.

This plan had to be fucked at best, doomed to fail at worst. Being a marine, her training meant she followed orders and she didn't indulge in questioning the wisdom of their commanding officers. Often.

Unless she ended up sitting with Gunny in an empty mess, a bottle of amberline on the table between them. Grabbing what might be the last moments they’d spend together, their conversation naturally fell to debating the pros and cons of their respective missions.

Gunny would head out with the Perseus and the remaining fleet. She got tapped for the new world mission with the Gibraltar. Her assignment to protect the synth officer so she could make contact with the insurgence leaders.

Orders were orders … and she and Makepeace would follow them.

But not until Gunny had to catch the last transport out for the Perseus.

So they drank. Slowly. Knowing when the bottle reached empty it would be over. Neither really sure what it meant, but finding out wouldn't exactly be an option now.

Duty called.

When the last drop disappeared, Gunny stood, ready to make tracks for the hangar deck.

His face solemn, he betrayed nothing. “You take care.” His eyes held everything … the regret of not knowing.

Mathison gave a curt nod. “Will do.” She kept her own gaze level … expressing her disappointment in running out of time.

They weren’t in uniform as each snagged downtime until they lit out for their respective posts. And they both held the same rank, but he still snapped off a salute, indicative of his respect for her.

Then he truly surprised her by stepping forward and leaning down to plant a quick, hard kiss on her lips.

Not one to beat about, when he made to pull back, Mathison fisted her hand in his shirt and yanked him into a much more heated embrace. Rising from the chair, lips still meshed with his, she backed him up against the bulkhead deepening the kiss as they went.

Not to be outdone, Gunny switched their positions, trapping her hips with his before lifting her up to gain access to her throat, scorching a line of kisses down to the collar of her shirt.

Wrapping a single leg around both of his, Mathison kept him pressed against her, letting the heat flare between them a moment, before regretfully dropping her foot to the floor. Neither spoke as Gunny snagged the empty bottle from the table and backed out of the mess. Too bad they couldn’t take things further … they didn’t have the time.

But it was a helluva goodbye.

The original version of this didn't have a happy ending. I'm now reworking because I think I found a way to give the characters the send-off they deserve. Here's hoping!

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Powering Down

Still battling the generalized blah left over from the flu. The good news is that I got lots of sleep with naps and getting to bed earlier. The bad news is I'm behind on work projects but I should be able to make up my lost time this week. Fingers crossed anyway.

Had a decent week with television. I caught two episodes of Chicago Med and the second one made me sad. It's kind of the first time I've been hit a little sideways by one of the plot lines.

Enjoyed a holiday episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I always find it cool to see how the holidays look in the middle of summer for shows set in New Zealand and Australia. Also started the fourth season of the show and, once again, I love seeing recurring characters pop up when I least expect them.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and actually enjoyed how it ended. It's another one I'd forgotten.

Watched another arc of Classic Who. I'll be honest, Teegan rather annoys me but I think the character will end up growing on me. I do like Five a lot.

UFO Conspiracies had an interesting episode focused on fireballs. I enjoy seeing how other countries handle sightings.

Caught two episodes of The Muppet Show. Elke Sommer and Sylvester Stallone were the guest stars. I enjoyed the Stallone episode more than I thought I would.

Skated through the season two finale of Prime Suspect. I'd forgotten how awkward and messy that episode ended up being.

Watched the season four finale of Peak Practice. I'm getting into the new partners and I'm glad Andrew is sticking around. Looking forward to starting season five.

Caught another Master Class with LeVar Burton. He talked about podcasting during this lesson and I have an interest in starting one at some point. I got some great information about how to approach the idea.

Enjoyed another episode of Inside the Episodes: The Witcher. Episode ended up being one of my favorites and I loved the behind the scenes insight.

Watched London Live: Jennifer Hudson. I think I like Berlin Live better, but I enjoyed the music from Jennifer.

Caught some New Rugrats episode shorts and a special cast episode. Oddly, there was some footage from episodes I haven't seen yet so I'm hoping that means new ones are on the way at some point. I'll be starting a rewatch of the classic show in the next week.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Powering Down, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A little enforced downtime leads to a small power struggle between Nicia Bowen and Jett Vanatta. Nicia isn't thrilled when Jett picks someone else to be his second in command, but once Jett explains his reason—they're too close—she can't argue the point. Instead she decides to accept his excuse and get even more personally involved.

And a sneaky peek…

The sound of ball bearings tumbling and the rattle of the autolock disengaging woke Jett from a light sleep. He sat slumped against the wall with Nicia's head in his lap. She jerked awake, blinking to clear her vision.

Yawning, she sat up slowly. "All good things get ruined." Her gaze met Jett's. "Referring to the nap, to be clear."

His lips twitched. "Good to know." He got to his feet just when the hatch slid open.

Karmony entered. "You two good?" She planted her hands on her hips. "Sorry about the outage. Engineering had a couple of glitches to work through."

Jett quirked a brow. "Did they solve them?" If not, he'd have to issue some off-limits areas.

The XO gave a nod. "For now, yes. I ordered them to give a six-hour notice if they needed to do additional work." She strolled further into the training area. "At least we know the backups work. You had illumination?"

Nicia answered. "Emergency lighting only. But water recycling remained intact." Her words lacked any kind of heat.

Slade shifted her gaze to the CAG. "Good to know." Her arm swept toward the hatch. "We should be back to normal."

Jett lifted his chin. "Good. You'll forward the after-action report?" He reached down to grab his bag.

Karmony turned toward the hatch. "Yes, sir. By shift end." She paused by the threshold, a smirk on her face. "So, you two finally got your shit together, then?"

Nicia narrowed her gaze, but kept her mouth shut.

Slade laughed. "About damned time. I thought it would take at least two more power outages before you'd finally cave." She strolled into the corridor. "It's good to be wrong."

Jett shot Nicia a sideways glance. "You don't think—" He took off toward the open hatch. "Karmony? Get your ass back here."

She responded to his order with laughter.

Nicia moved to stand by his side. "You want the good news or the bad news?"

Jett frowned. "The good." He might have to carefully go over the after-action report for discrepancies.

Nicia grinned. "She's not half bad."

Jett quirked an eyebrow. "And the bad?"

Nicia's lips twitched. "I'm starting to like her."

Jeff blinked and shook his head. "Oh, no. No, no, no. You will not start hanging out with my XO and teaching her your bad habits. Uh-uh." From one headache-inducing scenario to another.

Nicia gave him a wide grin. "Guess you'll just have to keep me busy, won't you?" She turned and dashed out into the corridor. "Hey, Karmony! Hold up."

Jett grabbed her by the arm and dragged her back into the empty training room. "Forget that. I'm giving you an assignment. You need to think of a way to top what happened here." He cocked his head. "Say by end of watch tonight?"

Nicia grinned. "Challenge accepted." She glanced over her shoulder. "Don't let your imagination go into overdrive." With a low, throaty laugh, she wandered out the door.

Jett huffed out a breath. "As if my imagination could top anything she'll come up with."

I'm having a good time writing Jett and Nicia. Karmony is a hoot and I love her acting as a foil to Nicia.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Power Play

Ugh, so far September is kicking my butt. I've been down with the flu pretty much all week because of course I haven't had a chance to get a flu shot yet. Lots of chills, fever, aches, and long slogs of sleep. Here's hoping I'm over the hump and on my way to recovery.

Very slow week in television. I started the week with New Rugrats and thoroughly enjoyed both episodes.

Also caught another episode of Chicago Med. I think this might be my favorite of all the Chicago shows.

Watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Once again, this show makes me so happy. A great mystery that had a few twists.

Started another two-parter of Silent Witness and vaguely remembered the first episode.

Enjoyed the first arc of Five's run on Classic Who. So far, I have to admit I like the trio of companions and how they're interacting with each other and the doctor.

Caught the second episode of UFO Conspiracies. I'm enjoying how the stories are presented in this series. There's a theme and the conspiracy revolves around it, with usually at least two different scenarios.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Spike Milligan and Leslie Uggams were the guest stars, along with a special appearance by Big Bird.

Last but not least, I started the second season of Prime Suspect. I'd forgotten just how messy Jane could make things and I'm enjoying that angle.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Power Play, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hailey March, a dedicated officer, receives a plum assignment she's wanted for a long time. But when she has to give orders to Rab McKee, she must ignore their long friendship, which is impossible because she needs him on her side.

And a sneaky peek…

Why didn't Rab get it?

Ha! Because she had her head so twisted around, she didn't know which end pointed up. And if she didn't know … how could he?

Well, shit. She wanted to explain so badly, but her conversation with Kidwell took prominence in her mind.

"Do you understand your orders, Captain?" Admiral Kidwell asked her newly appointed CAG.

Hailey gave a quick nod. "Yes, Sir." The rank sounded foreign to her ears.

She hadn't anticipated making it past lieutenant. Not unless they lost half the crew of the Kalliope. Frankly, at this rate with Kidwell in charge, they might.

The admiral rose. "Good. I'm glad we reached this understanding." She waited for Hailey to stand before continuing. "It goes against my better judgment, but as long as you keep your former CAG on the right track, you can have him for the mission."

Hailey snapped off a crisp salute. "Yes, Sir." Easier said than done, but she'd find a way.

Admiral Kidwell nodded. "Dismissed."

Hailey maintained her military posture and composure until she exited Kidwell's quarters. Once the hatch slid shut, she heaved a sigh then drew in a shaky breath and collapsed against the bulkhead. She'd made it through her meeting with the admiral and came out with almost everything she wanted. No easy feat. A shrewd woman, Kidwell didn't negotiate. She ran roughshod over everyone and steamrolled anyone who didn't fall in. The woman rarely made any kind of concession, yet she'd let Hailey present her case and accepted her reasons for wanting Rab McKee on her team. Taking a hands-off approach to Kidwell's treatment of Ty and Hibbs seemed a small price to pay. Until she had to face Rab and not say anything about why.

Who the hell am I kidding? This is impossible.

Hailey had so many plates spinning in the air she considered it lucky only one had fallen so far. But the one she wanted and needed still kept spinning and she couldn't exactly inform Rab. She had to find a way to make him get on board.

Or everything she'd set in motion would crash and burn.

This is a little different from my standard and I'm enjoying weaving things together in a slightly altered way. Hailey and Rab are going to face some internal and external obstacles and I love writing the outcome.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Poetry in Motion

Wow. September snuck up on me even though I've been talking about how close August was to ending. 2021 is a weird year, just saying.

Had a solid week of working with a potential new project coming in and several more lurking in the wings. I finished up a great manuscript and can't wait for the book to release. It featured a tornado!

Not a bad week of television. I started with Master Class with LeVar Burton and lesson eight with focused on performative storytelling. I love watching LeVar break down how he approaches telling and sharing stories.

Watched two episodes of Inside the Episodes: The Witcher. The shows broke down episodes two and three. It's very interesting to go back and see where the production side of things is coming from after seeing the entire first season. I'm really looking forward to season two.

Caught two episodes of Berlin Live. The first featured Blondie and I thoroughly enjoyed the string of hits minus one of my very faves. Boy George and Culture Club also put on a great show and I'm love diving back into some music from my formative years.

Enjoyed another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. I'm slowly getting to know the characters and I'm starting to like how everything is coming together. Really interesting to see a character from Star Trek: TOS. Looking forward to seeing if anything comes from that.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and ended up really liking it. I'm once again really happy to finally be able to watch this show from the beginning and fill in so many blanks.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I love this quirky and fun show even though there's always a murder to solve. As I've mentioned before, having characters that pop up with frequency makes me happy.

Finished out the second episode of Silent Witness. I'm getting toward the end of season twelve. I think I've got four more episodes to go. I'm also remembering why I really liked this show when I watched it the first time.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one feature country music, which I always find interesting when it's in another country.

Finished out season eighteen of Classic Who and Four's tenure. Five is taking over the controls of the Tardis and I'm looking forward to seeing his take on the Doctor.

Started UFO Conspiracies and it's not bad. I'm always interested in digging into what other countries experience with UFO sightings and this series seems to include those takes.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lesley Ann Warren and Danny Kaye were the guest stars. Very fun episodes.

Caught another episode of Prime Suspect and finished out the first season. I'll start season two this week.

Peak Practice had an interesting episode and I enjoyed it. Andrew definitely has some issues and I like how the show is exploring them.

That finishes up this week's television update. Tonight's post is from Poetry in Motion, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ian Flannigan, a talented athlete, wants to take the crown on the planetary Sky Dawg circuit. But when he inadvertently causes the death of a competitor, he has to decide if he can keep it together enough to win, which won't be easy with the coach's daughter constantly pushing for him to lose control.

And a sneaky peek…

"A little hard on him, weren't you?"

Reagan shrugged. "He deserved it."

Ramsey studied his daughter. "It eats at you, doesn't it? You want him so badly but can't—won't—change your mind about your rules." Ramsey tsked. "And he won't play by 'em."

Reagan got up. "I'm so not having this conversation with you, Ram." She stalked toward the door.

Ramsey got off another shot. "He's not Stuart. You'd do well to remember that, Reg."

She sucked in a harsh breath. "Low blow, Dad." She did not want to discuss her asshole ex.

Ramsey shrugged. "Maybe. But you needed to hear it." His voice gentled. "Stuart Abercrombie twisted you up and turned you inside out."

Reagan slowly made her way back to the bench and sat down. "He used me."

Ramsey nodded. "That, too." He met Reagan's gaze. "But you set him straight—and showed him the door when he thought to keep his spot on the team because he warmed your bed."

Reagan rolled her eyes. "Geez, Ram. Can we not talk about this?" She shook her head. "You know way too much about my sex life."

He snorted. "Reagan, it's hard not to. The circuit's a close-knit group. An incestuous bunch on a bad day. I usually know within hours when you hook up with someone new—people can't wait to keep me informed—but I give you your space and keep my mouth shut."

She couldn't resist a sarcastic comeback. "Yeah, thanks for that, Dad."

Ramsey sent her a level look and lifted a brow.

Reagan backed down. "Okay. You're right." She tilted her head. "But I don't have to like the fact you are." She paused a moment. "And why stick your nose in now? With Ian?"

Ramsey gave it to her straight. "Because he's got it bad for you and you need to back off and let him figure shit out on his own." He cut deeper. "You don't help when you pull the bitch card and club him over the head with it."

The accusation hurt … but she could see his point. "Fine. I'll quit jamming him up." She dropped her gaze to her hands, twisting her fingers together. "I just wanted to see if I could get Ian to lose it … just once."

Ramsey chuckled. "Reagan, my girl, if and when Ian decides to step up and let go, you'll know. He's got some decisions to make and a path to choose. Hell, when he puts his foot on the road to victory, everyone'll know."

Reagan muttered. "I hope you're right, Dad."

Ramsey snorted. "Trust me on this, Reg. He's headed in the right direction."

Her father had never called it wrong. He'd known Stuart didn't have the chops from day one … but gave the jackass a chance anyway.

I love, love, love writing Reagan and Bruce's family dynamic. They don't have a typical father / daughter relationship and I really want and hope that comes through.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Personal Involvement

Ugh. A long week again. At least it was more about recovery than ongoing crises. Had a flurry of work projects come in and I'm glad to have some new stuff to dive into.

Had a short week of television viewing. I started with The Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed the episode, which featured sharks and spiders and I'm not a huge fans of either so there's that.

Finished up an episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I'm kind of amazed how themes from almost twenty years ago are even more prevalent today. The episode focuses on colonization and theft of indigenous artifacts. Very interesting.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I remembered bits of this one but not all of it. Should finish up the second part this week.

Caught the second to last arc of season 18 of Classic Who. The Master has returned and I'm pretty sure he'll be then end of Four. Sometimes I like not remembering how and when the regenerations occur.

Finished up UFO Witness and enjoyed the series overall. I'll be starting a new series this week but haven't decided what it'll be yet.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Helen Reddy and Harry Belefonte were the guest stars. I really enjoyed Harry's episode.

Started a rewatch of Prime Suspect. I'd forgotten how thoroughly asshattish the men were toward Jane in the early seasons. I wanted to kick all of them in the balls.

Finished out the week with Peak Practice. Can't say I'm a big fan of Will's lady friend but I can't quite put a finger on why I'm not fond of her. Overall a good episode.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Personal Involvement, a novella with family drama and a hot romance in spite of it.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tarin Glade gets caught up in a nightmare when she's brought before a disciplinary council for her personal involvement with a student who failed basic flight. When Ellis Spector, the brother of the complainant, speaks on Tarin's behalf, it rocks the foundation of his family—especially since the commandant who brings the charges is Ellis's father.

And a sneaky peek…

Tarin Glade carefully counted down the minutes before she'd call her class to order. She loved teaching basic flight—even if she gave some of the old-timers heart palpitations with her unorthodox teaching methods. Someone needs to bring the curriculum into this century.

Her lips twitched. "Bet the fab four are even now going over my course material to see if they can find fault." The group of flight instructors used to be five men, but one of the old buzzards finally had to retire.

Fresh from the new instructor program, Tarin entered the school and set the fab four on their asses with an accelerated class schedule that put the students in simulators by the second week. The old guard battled back and beginning with her third class—the one she'd start in two minutes—she had to wait until week three to put her cadets in the cockpit.

Flipping open the roster, she started to run down the names of her newest recruits. Commotion at the door drew her attention and her mouth dropped open when her current flame, Eddie Spector, strolled into the room.

She snagged the file, jumped up, and cut him off before he cleared the back row of desks. "What are you doing here?" Her voice hissed between her lips.

Eddie smirked. "Hey, babe. I'm reporting to class."

She grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hall outside the classroom. "You're not in my class. And don't call me babe anywhere on campus. Ever." She hated the endearment and absolutely wouldn't tolerate anything resembling that kind of familiarity while Eddie went through training.

Eddie waved a piece of paper. "I'm definitely in your class." He nodded toward the folder tucked under her arm. "Check your roster, ba—er, Lieutenant. I'm there."

Sure enough, when she reviewed the names, Eddie's took up the bottom space on the page. Her heart sank. She couldn't have her significant other in her class—even if she regularly thumbed her nose at propriety.

Folding her arms over her chest, she shook her head. "This can't happen, Eddie. You're going to have to switch instructors." How in the world did he think this could work?

Eddie's lips formed a pout. "I can't switch now. I specifically requested you."

Her face flamed with anger. "Are you insane? Why would you think it was a good idea to request the person you're dating as your instructor?"

Eddie's mouth twisted into a grin. "Because I can earn all kinds of extra credit when I'm not in class."

The anger bloomed into red-alert status. "Geez, Eddie. No. No. Get your ass out of this building and think about what you just said. There's no way I'm going to let you into my classroom." She'd be stupid if she did.

"Is there a problem here?"

Her head angled around and she met the questioning gaze of Eddie's brother, Ellis.

Can this day get any worse?

I love writing family dynamics and Ellis is going to jump head-first into a hot mess between Tarin and his brother and the outcome might not be pretty.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Perfect Conversation

Wow, another rough week on the home front. My middle kiddo is really struggling right now and I hate not being able to help him even though he's an adult. He's really tired of landing in the emergency department but we might be getting closer to figuring out what's going on with him. A few specialist appointments in September might help even more.

Didn't get as much television viewed but had a decent amount nonetheless. Started out with The Brokenwood Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I really like seeing previous characters in their recurring roles.

Finished up Silent Witness's second episode and don't remember watching it during my first viewing. Glad I got to see it.

Watched an arc of Classic Who and should be finished up with season eighteen soon. I think it might be the last one for Four.

Got another episode of UFO Witness viewed and rather enjoyed this one. Still feels staged but I liked the deep dive into whether there's a secret underground base of operations for aliens.

Caught two episodes of The Muppet Show with Raquel Welch and James Coco as the guest stars. About halfway through season three and looking forward to more.

Finished out McCartney 3, 2, 1 and would love to see more. So many great moments and songs in this brief look into Paul McCartney's journey as a musician.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and ended up liking it a lot. Will can be such a prat sometimes but I like that about his character.

Enjoyed another lesson on Master Class. LeVar Burton focused on reading to children and interacting with them about the source material. Very interesting!

Started Inside the Episodes: The Witcher and loved going back to revisit the first episode. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Caught another episode of New Rugrats and loved it. I really enjoy the updated version of this show.

Finishing out the week with Chicago Med and it's a heat wave episode. I'm totally feeling that this week. It got hot again.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Perfect Conversation, a novella that has the main characters reuniting under less than ideal circumstances.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gigi Morse ran away from Scott Alamead because she didn't want to risk losing him. But when she returns, a very different Scott greets her and Gigi realizes she's right back on the hot seat.

And a sneaky peek…

Gigi had a point and Scott hated it. "Yeah, I jumped the gun with wanting to execute the prisoner." Riva Dinari.

He couldn't even say her name out loud. Way too close to the situation, he made himself step back and recognize his reckless decision for what it meant. A knee-jerk reaction because he left the man he loved like a father before knowing if he made it or not.

He shook his head. "The minister of defense needs intel and if we can get it from her, well…" They should make every effort to do so.

Having the artifact helped. But, damn, not even that proof would sway his uncle's second in command. Bart Lambert had total control right now and wouldn't give the power up without a compelling reason. Learning why Riva wanted the old man dead could get their foot in the door.

"Then again, what the hell do I know? I'm way out of his element." Scott questioned every decision he'd made in the last two weeks.

He didn't regret following the MoD. Better to leave with her than take out the 2IC for incompetence. And he would have … the man declared martial law for fuck's sake. A power trip gone mad and not a damn thing Scott could do about it.

He took another step back and examined his interaction with Gigi. "I can't believe I kissed her." After everything…

But he'd been so damn relieved to have her back, had missed her so much, he didn't even think about it. Just hauled her forward and planted one on her. And she responded … which surprised the hell out of him. Especially considering how they'd left things.

Gigi didn't like being called on her bullshit.

Her response made him want to drag her off and see what else might happen. But he wouldn't. He'd promised to be a friend and nothing more.

Geez, he needed to get a grip. "Being all over the map doesn't work for me." Like losing his shit after catching sight of the prisoner.

His blood boiled and the first trickle of rage bit in and held fast with gnawing teeth. He had her shoved back against the wall, his hands around her throat, before anyone thought to stop him. The violence felt good—squeezing off her air supply until she gasped for breath. But … having it take three men—and Gigi getting in his face—to slice through the urge to kill and make him let go? So not him.

He usually had infamous control on his impulses. The MoD, displeased and cranky over his actions, said nothing about his major over step. Scott appreciated the tolerance and leeway. "But I'd better toe the line going forward or prepare to spend time in the brig beside the prisoner." He'd learned enough about Maureen Regis to realize his luck wouldn't hold out if he didn't get a grip on himself.

Another thing he'd learned? When Gigi left, he lost his balance. She evened things out for him with her wild ideas and sometimes questionable logic. Owning that admission cost him nothing but a little pride.

"But I'll keep it myself for now." Why give Gigi ammunition, right?

This story is meandering all over the place because the scenes aren't coming to me in chronological order, which is making things interesting when trying to figure out the timeline.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Passing Ships in the Night

Ugh. Had a rough week in general. My work project is coming along nicely but we had storms blow through and lost power a couple of times, which kind of harshed my vibe in a big way.

I got less television viewed but I did get to finish out the second season of the Passionflix original Driven. Man … what an ending. I'm truly excited for season three next year.

I did catch another episode of New Rugrats. I'm thoroughly enjoying this show and I'll state for the record that I hope there will be another season. So much fun.

Watched a full episode of Chicago Med and started another one. I'm not sure about the new head of Rhodes's department but their interactions are very interesting.

Got another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries out of the way and one of my favorite things about this show is how we see some familiar faces from other episodes pop up. I really like that, especially since they were suspects before in a different case. Very cool.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. Interesting concept on this one and I vaguely remember bits and pieces from the episodes but can't remember how things got resolved. I'll look forward to seeing the second part.

Enjoyed another arc of Classic Who. Interesting concept and the resolution ended up being something I didn't expect. Hope to start a new arc this week.

Caught another episode of UFO Witness and rather enjoyed it. This one had a regression so an abductee could maybe remember what happened to him. Ended up being pretty interesting to watch.

Watched two episodes of The Muppet Show with Liberace and Marisa Berenson as the guest stars. Enjoyed both.

Still loving McCartney 3, 2, 1. I always end up being blown away by something every episode. It's also a lot of fun to watch Paul pick up an instrument and play or see him sing along at the mixing board. Love this show.

Enjoyed another Master Class with LeVar Burton. This lesson focused on the imagination being our superpower. I love listening to LeVar talk about storytelling.

Started an episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and … well … I didn't finish it. I really enjoy most of the characters, especially Hilda and Ambrose, Doctor Cee, Theo, Harvey, and Roz. I like Nick a lot. Even the weird sisters are often entertaining. But it really bugs me how Sabrina started out being decent at communication and now she massively sucks at it. The whole asking for advice then doing the exact opposite—without a really good reason other than it's what she wants to do—is starting to annoy me enough to stop watching for now. I might come back to the show eventually but there are other things on Netflix I'd like to get to so Sabrina can wait for bit.

Watched another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Man. I'm starting to really love this show. There's a lot of nuance, which I enjoy and I like trying to figure out if Lorca is an asshole or a genius … or both. Michael intrigues me to no end. I love mix of Vulcan logic with human foibles. She's such a cool character.

That's pretty much it for the weekly viewing update. Tonight's post is from Passing Ships in the Night, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Renny Spur and Chad Raxton have something of an understanding—they meet at the Moonstar shipyard whenever they're in the Milky Way galaxy. When Chad's late for a connection, Renny gets angry and makes a bad choice—one Chad has to decide if he can overlook.

And a sneaky peek…

Chad stood outside Renny's quarters while she ducked in to stow her gear. "Can't believe my luck." A stunning dinner partner falling into his lap … not what he expected on the short visit to Moonstar.

And his brother more or less handed her over on a silver platter. Good thing he's currently hot for the armory sergeant. Mac didn't care about gender. When his interest got piqued, he pursued his heart's desire.

Chad braced his shoulders on the wall. "Why can't I do that?" His luck with dating bordered on laughable.

He went out and hooked up frequently, but as of yet, no one sparked a yearning for more. Between recruiting and his other military duties, he didn't exactly have a lot of time to dedicate to a relationship. But … he'd like to find someone to share things with.

The door slid open and Renny stepped out. Something about her drew him in. She looked fantastic, even in a standard-issue uniform. Am I being fanciful? Maybe, but she intrigued him.

He pushed away from the wall and grinned. "All set?" When she nodded, he jerked his head toward the causeway. "Food options are on level six. We can take the lift or we can use the autostairs. Any preference?" He hoped she'd opt for the steps … they'd see more of the base that way.

Renny shook her head. "No. Apparently, I'm here until the 1350 flight to the Ulysses tomorrow. I didn't think I'd get my assignment until the morning watch." She fell into step beside him. "Since this'll be the main hub I ship out from, let's take the autostairs." She paused a moment. "Unless you're starving?" Her head tilted to one side.

I'm starving for time with you.

Chad lifted a shoulder. "I'm hungry but I like taking the scenic route." He made a left and headed for the first set of rolling steps. "They have a good selection of eateries here. Pretty much anything you're in the mood for." He placed his foot on the first stair and held on to the side rail. "That's definitely not always the case with the star stations."

Renny followed quickly behind him then moved up to stand beside him. "How many have you been to?"

He snorted. "All but one. It's on my roster for next month." Out of twelve total … not bad for two years in his new post.

Her eyes widened. "You're not in one place very long, are you?"

His lips twitched. "It depends. I'm in recruiting and inspecting for flight squadrons. Sometimes I have a long jaunt at a star station or aboard a ship, but two weeks tends to be the standard." He wouldn't bore her with the mundane details. "Is the Ulysses your first star cruiser posting?" They stepped off the stairs on the third level and made their way to the next set.

Her head bobbed up and down. "It is. I've been stationed planetside for eighteen months. But my flying skill coupled with a degree in mechanical engineering put me on a fast track for deep space missions." She got on first this time.

His eyes went wide. "A degree and you fly? Damn, that's a heady mix." He chuckled. "You'll be in demand when you assume your post. Do you plan to go career in the military?" Reaching level six, he eased off the steps and quickly moved to the side.

She shrugged and glided off the stairs. "I'm not sure yet. I wanted practical experience and didn't want to wait for it. The firms I interviewed with had long probationary periods." She slid him a sideways glance. "I'm not known for having patience."

He laughed. "Good to know. How about we do a quick walk around up here so I can give you the rundown on the great food and not-so-great places." He swept an arm out. "Then you can choose where we eat."

She gave him a wide smile. "Sounds perfect."

He couldn't wait to hear more about her plans for the future.

I think I know where this one is going but it hasn't completely gelled yet, which I kind of enjoy. Chad and Renny definitely won't have a traditional or typical relationship.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye