Review of Speechless Episode 5

Yeah, I'd make copies of the list, you guys. No need to demolish the wall.

Thank God Ray's not on videochat.

Those plans are lame, Kenneth.

Dude, I need a laser.

Jimmy's gonna wake up with bruises that Maya will have to explain, haha!

I'm with JJ. I could never go to parties because their houses wouldn't have been accessible. At least he was invited.

Dylan's idea sounds so cool.

Funny how his mind goes to "fourth kid". And wow! He really gets into Halloween, doesn't he?

Aw, I liked Kenneth's costume. Too bad it wasn't teen-appropriate.

Oh, he's so gonna regret the earring. I want that leather jacket.

Ray's going to have an ulcer by freshman year.

Tricksy, JJ. Very tricksy.

Jillian is going to grow up to be a tramp.

Oh, Kenneth. Sweet, clueless Kenneth. Maya is going to kill you dead.

Doesn't JJ have to pee?

I went to a wine-tasting, and was zig-zagging down Times Square.

Dylan's the sane one in the family, in spite of the pig's blood.

I love that this show emphasizes that JJ is just a normal teenager who does stupid stuff.

Best. Costume. Ever. But no one's going to open their door to you guys.

Review of Poldark Season 2 Episode 7

I half-expect Jack Sparrow to show up.

What do they want with poor Judd?

Good attack dog, boy.

Hope Mark Daniels was telling the truth, Ross.

Seriously, Ross. From now on, you're only allowed to come to Trenwith with Demelza. You know, your wife? Married men can can have female friends, yes, but this is too much.

That is one unhappy father-of-the-bride.

Haha! Ross doesn't even blink. He's seen these three wrestle before.

That's a burn, Judd. Think about it.

How'd Caroline get in? Did they exchange keys, and we missed it? She's already looking at his mail.

Eloping is only fun if your family is happy with your marriage, and you just want to save money and have a small wedding. Otherwise they might as well call themselves Romeo and Juliet.

That makes a strange sort of sense, Caroline.

The preacher comes to eat free food once a week?

If the soldier's friend is Dwight's patient, maybe Ross can use Dwight as an informant?

Ugh, George. You can't even do one good thing for the woman you claim to love without it benefitting you.

Aunt Agatha is smarter than all of them.

Don't forget that letter in your pocket.

Be free, Enys. Although, wasn't Caroline's whole goal to get him steady work here?

Maybe he has a life and a wife of his own, Elizabeth?

Looking good, Mark. Not. Surely being under the radar means you can get a haircut once in awhile.

Well, I hope Mark is right, if they decide to do what he said. And Dwight better hope he never runs into him again.

I'm with her aunt. George will use any excuse to see her, why not now? Even his lackey thinks this is dumb.

Annnd Auntie found a gun.

Nice save, Prudie.

Yeah, good plan, not trusting that doctor to do your work.

Damn your sense of decency, man! Just take Caroline and go! And will that little girl tell what she heard?

You did your good deed. RUN!

That guard is gonna get court-martialed.

Poor Caroline. He did want to be there.

If she doesn't give you a chance to explain, she doesn't really love you.

Fine talk for someone who pays someone to do your bidding, George.

Well, duh. Of course George plans to marry the poor, defenseless widow.

Hell-o, secret compartment in the secret compartment.

Meep. All episodes should end with a Ross and Demelza moment.

Review of Speechless Episode 4

And that's why all my doors are wide.

Ryan Gosling is hot.

Well, don't I feel special? I never realized how many things I can't do.

They so need a contractor.

I've had that happen. People can be nice.

This just got weird.

Oh, Ray.

Dylan is a cute mini-psychologist.

Aww, go JJ!

Nice voice, Ken.

Aw, Dylan, it's okay to have fun without JJ.

Slow your enthusiasm, Ken. Now you're just taking advantage.

What was in the backpack?

How is JJ driving? No really, how?

That is one evil sister.

Review of Poldark Season 2 Episode 6

I guess Elizabeth is done with the tears?

Demelza is pregnant? Or does it just look that way?

Crap! So Francis died for nothing?

Elizabeth, you're not fooling anybody, least of all Verity.

The day after Christmas is my birthday. If I were Ross, that would doubly suck. Stupid George!

Take care of your own family first, Ross. Your wife can take care of herself, and would have no trouble leaving you.

So that girl still limps.

What the hell, Dwight? What are you doing with that cleaver?

Ugh, come on, Ross. No one is buying your "everything will come up roses" act. Let them help!

Huh. Guess they were lucky they had a spare dead body.

"Pride cometh before the fall."

The "old hag" will haunt your butt, George. Good luck with that.

Getting to her through her mother. Devious.

Surely you can spare a few smiles for your son, Elizabeth.

Forty pounds! But he's doing noble work, Caroline.

Seriously, Ross? So you can go to prison for debt, come home, then go back for smuggling?

I believe if Caroline got married, her fortune goes to her husband at that time.

See, if you can't tell your wife you're doing something, you shouldn't do it.

Doctor Enys with the burns!

Every time I see the miners, I think of them

Knowing your house is being used for smuggling is one thing. Actually helping is another.

Where is Judd, anyway? And their son?

Ha! Ross is talking about himself!

For the love of...Go home to your wife!

Take that, Meddlesome Uncle! But don't give her too much power, Dwight.

Elizabeth's mother sure knows how to give a backhanded compliment, even to her own daughter. Doesn't she have any money she can give her daughter and grandson?

Slow your roll, George. The boy is not even ready for Eton!

Classy, George. You invite her, and then abandon her.

You rock, Caroline! If the mines stay open, Dwight has job security.

Don't question your good fortune, you two!

Happy Christmas, you two!

And to George (and his uncle), I say:

Aunt Agatha's face says it all. It's like accepting the poisoned apple.

I could listen to Demelza sing forever.

Damn, girl. Where'd you find a razor in 1700's England? Back to the sexiness...

See what can happen when you give the right woman attention, Ross?

Team Demelza Forever

Stand Up for Yourself...Always

I try to be polite and not create waves in public. It's bad enough when able-bodied people are annoying. I don't want to give wheelchair users a bad name. If I said everything I was thinking, people wouldn't think I was "sweet" and I wouldn't get "you have such a nice smile" all the time.

If I can get into your restaurant, great. If I can use your bathroom, even better. If not, I go somewhere else. Do I plan ahead as much as possible? Yes. Do restaurant staffers lie when I call, and say their restaurant is accessible when they know it's not or are unsure? Yes. Does it bug me? You betcha. I'm a human being, albeit with fewer nerves than most people. Literally.

See? I have a sense of humor about it.

REading other blogs from people who use wheelchairs, primarily The Disabled Foodie (http://www.thedisabledfoodie.com/), I realized that I don't have to be silent. In fact, I shouldn't. It's harmful, on both sides. Why shouldn't I eat there, and comfortably? And if I don't mention it, how will the staff know they're doing something wrong? Shouldn't I encourage them to do something, so that more wheelchair users will come?

I recently visited Cock & Bull here in NYC. It's a British-themed restaurant. You can even buy English food products from shelves behind the bar (they had Irn Bru!). I called ahead, even after making a reservation through OpenTable. I've learned that calling is necessary. They told me they would set aside a table for me, as the main seating area is upstairs with no elevator. I got there early, and they happily seated me, across from the bathrooms haha. If you know me, that is the best place to put me!

The bathroom was totally accessible. I was pleasantly surprised. I could transfer easily, and the soap, sink and grab bars were all on my level. That is like finding a unicorn! Even the purse hook was at eye-level! 

Until I went to lock the door. Now, oftentimes, the handicapped bathroom is the least maintained. There's usually no soap at all, or the lock is broken and no one bothered to fix it. Here, the lock was too high. I couldn't lock the door! That's important, man!

I mentioned it to my waiter. The manager came over to apologize. He said he would make a note of it and mention it to the owner. And then he had the bartender make me a free drink! You guys! This is New York! That just doesn't happen!

So what have I learned? I don't need to "hold it" and wait for someplace I know is accessible. All I have to do is ask for help. Get the manager's attention. A little embarrassment on your side will go a long way towards a lot on theirs. And it's worth it.

And try the Shepherd's Pie and Pimm's Cup at Cock & Bull http://www.cockandbullnyc.com/

Review of Speechless Episode 3

Why is Ray naked?

Is it wrong that I sometimes use myself as a snowplow?

Well, that's wrong.

You so need a better excuse, Maya.

Huh. That makes sense, Kenneth.

That is one janitor who is super hip and in-the-know with his school's students.

Aww. The class that vandalizes together, stays together.

You broke her, dude.

Hell-o steroids.

Look at JJ with the mom jokes!

I've been there. But I've been able to have a lot of cool experiences doing other stuff. It just takes planning.

What. The hell. DiMeo, remember that whole "I want my kid to have friends" thing? Go back to that!

Has no one heard of a beach chair?!

How does one grow a beard like that? And way to bring down team spirit, Dylan.

I guess it's good that they see him and not his chair...?

Whoops! Breathe, Ray.

I love the dad's speech.

Poor Eastlake, haha!

Why did you mess with the boy's board, woman?

Review of Poldark Season 2 Episode 5

We're at the halfway point. I'll miss the views.

Ooh, intrigue.

Francis is a magistrate? Who thought that was a good idea?

I guess some time has passed, haha. The kid got big! And he's adorable.

Listen to Demelza, Ross. She's the smart one in this relationship.

Dude, should you be at the "I think so" stage when you're supposed to announce your engagement tonight? Hasn't she had a year to say yes? I still maintain you play for the other team.

How goes the stepmother gig, Verity?

Hey, Francis looks good in a wig! And he's playing this guy like a fiddle.

Dwight knows what's up, George.

Burn!

Attaboy, Francis. But why is Verity dressed so dowdily?

Elizabeth and Demelza are on the same level, at in regards to fashion.

The bromance lives! Be afraid, George. I hope you've practicing your "boxing" moves whilst in Town.

Ooh, Demelza, being brought into supper by your host? My, how you've moved up in the world.

Yeah, an engagement is imminent. Not.

You're both married. Stop looking at each other like that! I'm talking to you, Elizabeth.

M-A-R-R-I-E-D.

Hope you get laid, Francis. Although, does Elizabeth feel like she's cheating on Ross with her husband, given her whole "I wish I married you" speech?

Your go-to move is a head-butt, Ross? No wonder you didn't do much in the War.

Well, that's not good.

Ugh, George scenes.

He's taken, girlie

Damn, you should talk more often, Dwight!

Francis, out. Cue the slow clap.

You really thought you were wise, Ross?

I so love all the Ross and Demelza moments.

Yup, Dwight's right. Ross knows he married up, despite what Society thinks.

So glad we have the postal service. No more getting letters delivered by random people.

Does Caroline ever go out without a hat and gloves?

You know you got game, Enys.

Dwight is so happy right now.

Okay, when a character on a TV show pours his heart out like this, it does not bode well.

And to think there was once a time when Francis was so not Team Demelza.

Dammit, Francis, don't go searching through the dark by yourself. Have you never seen a horror film?

What just happened?!

Trudie's a good friend.

Not the time for that, Ross.

Peace out, Francis. This is the best day ever for George. Ross aged overnight. Don't lose heart, Demelza.

Aunt Agatha should play lotto. She always knows when it's going to be a bad day, so theoretically she should know when it's going to be a good one. Right?