The Doctor Has Regenerated. Long Live the Doctor!

I have been a fan of Doctor Who for as long as I can remember. How big a fan? Somewhere in this house of mine I have a VHS recording of the made for TV movie with Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor. For real! (I wish they would have made some BBC episodes with McGann as the Doctor. He would have been great.)

When the BBC decided to resurrect the series, I was pumped. I didn't know what kind of job they would do. I only hoped that they would treat it with respect. Enter Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. Fantastic! (With apologies to Eccleston for stealing his tag line.) He had energy, smarminess, and just the right feel for the role. Then, after a solitary season, he was gone. What? One season? Come on! Even my wife, who was new to the series, was ticked. Still, she was willing to give the show a chance once she understood how things worked in the world of Doctor Who. Eccleston was the 9th actor to play the role, and the whole concept of regeneration meant that the new actor would still be the Doctor, but could bring a new take to the role. And he did...

David Tennant, the skinny Scottish Doctor number 10 was great as well. Amazingly, his popularity surpassed just about every other Doctor, except maybe #4 Tom Baker. Still, he was great, and his intensity, humor, and energy carried the series along through Rose, Martha, and Donna as sidekicks. The wife loved him. And then, at the height of his popularity, David decided the time was right for him to leave. Allons-y and goodbye. (Yes, I'm stealing again.)

Oooh. Was my wife mad. Me? I was fine. I have been a fan long enough to know how this works. But when I saw the actor they chose for the role, I must admit I was taken aback. He was a skinny, long-faced...well...kid!! Matt Smith was chosen for the role, along with Karen Gillan as Amelia Pond, the new companion. But, despite my somewhat hesitant acceptance, I grew more excited as the first new episode neared.

I won't go into details about the episode. Watch it yourself, for goodness sakes! But I will say the following:

Matt Smith (the Doctor): PRO - Funny (fish fingers and custard after spitting evil beans into the sink), energetic, expressive, with just a tad bit of overconfidence (that appears well-deserved...DUCK!). The swimming pool IS in the library. "Is this world protected?" "Yes." "Now...run" Raggedy Doctor. CON - He's so young! Don't say "hell" so much. Terrible outfit.

Karen Gillan: PRO - Beautiful, great accent, her own person...not the timid scaredy-cat. Love the look on her face as the Doctor was undressing. Priceless! CON - None yet. Really like the character.

Overall, I give the new series very high marks to start. Even the wife has decided she really liked the show and the new Doctor. Now THAT is high praise! If you have never seen the show, watch it, preferably from the season starting with Eccleston. As for me? I'll be in front of the screen, every week, eagerly anticipating whatever comes next. Or, as Matt Smith is fond of saying..."Geronimo!"

UFL in Sacramento

OK...I admit I'm glad to see football in Sacramento again. Even if it is the UFL.

But come on...the Sacramento Mountain Lions? Really?? That's the best you could come up with? That's almost as bad as the California Redwoods. (Last I checked, trees aren't really good at running.)

Why not bring back a bit of Sacramento history? I suggested the classic "Sacramento Surge". The only problem is that the NFL might not give that up from the WLAF days. Sacramento Gold Miners is another part of history (remember the CFL in the United States?). But they might not want to give that up either.

Still...the Mountain Lions? Couldn't use the Pumas? Is there some conflict with Nike or Reebok here?

No wonder the UFL stinks.

No Word Yet

Earlier, I said that whatever my biological mother decided was fine with me. I was simply hoping to get some information about my biological father. So, last Monday, I sent my letter with little hope of response.

As of today, almost two weeks later, I still have no response. I expected this...really. And yet, I find myself a bit annoyed. Why? If I expected nothing, I should be fine with nothing. But I have to admit to myself that I was hoping that she would come through. I was hoping that her interest would be piqued enough to scribble a note or something to acknowledge my existence. Is she rude? Was she traumatized by her pregnancy at the time? I don't know. Still, it is 46 years after the fact. Would a note be asking too much.

Perhaps she will write. Perhaps she will do me the favor of giving me a clue of the other branch of the tree. I don't think that I am asking too much, am I?

I guess I care more than I thought.