Rebecca's behind in her fanfiction again. And here's why!

[rebecca_in_blue]

On top of losing my debit card and getting ready for the High Holy Days, here's what else has happened this week...

Monday: I met Sassy Jewish Grandparents #1 at the coffee shop. They're helping me learn the Torah blessing that I have to say on Rosh Hashanah. I don't think the real problem will be learning the Hebrew as much as getting up on the bema and saying it in front of the whole congregation. Also, I have to find something nice to wear, since apparently my ratty old jeans, t-shirt, and AB shoes are not appropriate bema attire.

Tuesday: While putting some things up in Grandma's old garage, just for the heck of it, I stepped on an upturned, rusty nail! Ugh! Fortunately, it came under the arch of my foot and didn't break the skin, but my foot has still been sore as heck! That evening, of course, was the NCIS Season 9 premiere! Hooray! (My notes are at the bottom.)

Wednesday: I drove right past my mom's house on my way home, only to remember after I got home that I needed to use her printer to print up some forms for a job interview. So I biked back to her house in the dark, only to discover when I arrived that their printer isn't working. So I biked back home, only to realize that the homecoming pep rally at my old high school (which lies inbetween us) was just letting out! So not only was it dark, but the sidewalks were jammed with football players, cheerleaders, and a few of Rebecca's old high school teachers (some of whom I wouldn't mind running over on my bike). I also managed to bike right through a big pile of dog crap, and that stuff is a bitch to clean off your wheels. On the plus side, I scored some free stuff on Wednesday.

Thursday: This morning I was almost late for a job interview for yet another job that I almost certainly won't get. Le sigh.

Friday: Despite trying to bike all I can to save on gas money, I might have to take up driving to temple for a while. My Jewish grandparents cautioned me against biking there after one member of our congregation found the words You Dirty Jew written on his car in the temple parking lot. Scary, huh? When I told Sara about it, she immediately said, "Ha! And you promised to cast your lot in with them come what may!"

Looking forward to cooking pumpkin bread with Grandma this weekend.

P.S. And just because I always have to have a countdown going, TWO WEEKS LEFT until Rebecca's birthday! Funny that no one has asked me what I want yet. Hmph. And now...

Notes for episode 9x01 Nature of the Beast (Season 9 Premiere)
Featuring EJ Barrett, Simon Cade, SecNav Jarvis, all last seen in Pyramid, and Dr. Cranston, last seen in A Man Walks Into a Bar. First appearance of FBI Agent Casey Stratton.

Writer: Gary Glasberg (Pyramid).

- Okay, we all remember that Pyramid went out on a weak, confusing final scene that introduced a whole new arc about Tony handling a mole at NCIS. (The mole's identity wasn't revealed. There's been speculation about this all summer.) So, it's fitting that Nature of the Beast opens with a similarly awful scene. I was tempted to turn my TV off as soon as I saw Dr. Cranston. I really hate that character. In addition to bringing nothing to the show, I think she's just a horrible person. Listen to her asking "So he shot the son of a bitch?" like she's bad-ass. As if. Why did Gibbs bring her in?

- Ugh, what Convenient Plot Device Amnesia. Yes, a lot of TV shows have had a case of this, but NCIS already did it back in Twisted Sister. Glasberg probably thinks he's brave for reusing this idea.

- "I wasn't asking you." Ugh, where does this bitchy little shrink get off being so disrespectful to Gibbs? Didn't you just want to head-smack her?

- "Short-term memory loss is a protective response to trauma." Yes, because we all know how realistically this show deals with trauma.

+ Holy smokes, how hot was Michael Weatherly in the golf course scene? Yummy.

- So Ziva is still sending e-mails to Ray, even though he probably won't be able to read them? Yeah, that makes about as much sense as Gibbs bringing in Cranston.

+ Yay, Ziva is now an official, non-probationary NCIS agent! I loved Gibbs congratulating her and giving her her new badge! So sweet. I watched this bit a few times. Even though Tony was kinda snarky to her, I don't think it dampened her moment. I loved her offering to take the team somewhere fun to celebrate.

+/- Gibbs trying to get Tony to open up about his secret assignment at the gun range. On the one hand, it was sweet that Gibbs cared. On the other hand, when Tony did try to talk to him back in Dead Reflection, Gibbs shut down and refused to listen! And you expect him to open up to you now, Gibbs? Ugh.

- "You don't know anything about me." - "Actually, I know quite a lot." Cranston really does seem to love making the team uncomfortable and reminding them that she knows more about them than they'd like. How unprofessional can you get? She should be stripped of her license.

+/- The scene between Tony and Ziva in the bullpen was way too Tiva for me. It was sweet that she and the rest of the team were concerned for him, though.

+ Ducky telling Gibbs that EJ cut a microchip out of Levin's dead arm. It seems like this should've come earlier on in the episode.

+ Gibbs asking Vance how well he knows Jarvis. He obviously doesn't trust the new SecNav. Of course, there's no better way to get on Gibbs's bad side than to assign one of his team to keep a secret from him. Papa Bear can be very possessive of his kids.

+ Wright had an incision in his arm identical to Levin's. Finally, this episode is getting interesting!

+ I admit, when Vance said "on the DL," my dirty mind immediately wondered how he knows about the DL.

- Tony telling Cranston where he was when his mother died. Ugh, why is he telling her this? It felt so out-of-character.

+ "I'll be the judge of that." - "No, you won't." I loved Gibbs getting an attitude with Stratton and putting him back on the elevator!

- Cranston telling Tony that he has a thing for dysfunctional women. Ugh! Even more than before, I wanted to fast-forward past all her scenes.

- The scene between Gibbs, Vance, and Latham in the director's office made me yawn.

+ Gibbs telling Tony and EJ to cook dinner when they showed up at his house. Haha!

+ Cranston asking Tony if his team was like family to him, and Tony answering, "No, my family's way less dependable." I loved this exchange! (It was the only one of Cranston's scenes that I didn't hate.) Very sad, but very sweet too.

- Wow, Stratton is obviously not good at thinking on his feet. He went into Tony's hospital room intending to kill him, but when he saw Cranston there, he panicked and made up some flimsy excuse about wanting to check on Tony. Wouldn't it have made more sense just to kill them both? And saying stuff like "thank heaven" and "pal"? Who talks like that?

+/- Ziva: "You and Ray are cut from the same quilt." Gibbs: "Cloth." Tony: "Don't interrupt her, Boss, she's on a roll." I loved this exchange! It felt so old-school to me. Did you notice how when Ziva said "of course" in that sultry voice and sidled up to Tony, Gibbs and McGee both got very wary looks on their faces? I felt the same way, like, "Uh oh, incoming Tiva anvil..."

- The confrontation scene between Tony and Jarvis. It wasn't bad, but I just felt like it could've been better.

- Oh, how convenient that Stratton shoots EJ and Cade dead-center, but only gets Tony in the shoulder.

- It saddens me that the season premiere has left me so completely un-thrilled. Again, I just don't understand why Glasberg would want to use a finale to introduce a whole new arc!