Encourage Ourselves

You ever notice that when you're going through something, there are people around you who like to 'encourage' you, but you know in your heart that the words they speak are not really coming from their heart? Most of the time, it's familiar catch phrases.

I've been hearing a lot of them lately and really thinking about what those phrases really mean to me. But, not matter the amount of encouragement I get from others, the only way that really works for me is when I encourage myself. I honestly don't like encouragement from others - I like the truth. I like for someone to tell me - "Oh, get over yourself and quit having a pity party." - than to hear - "We all must walk through difficult times sometimes, but the key is that we will get through them".

While I understand the sentiment behind the second statement, it really doesn't do me any good. I know that I will get through it - but my trouble is in the moment, not in the future. In a way, it's nursing the downcast sentiment. I don't need nursing, I need to get back to life at hand. In my life, the key to my happiness is found in the living everyday. My frustration and agony is present when I'm planning for tomorrow or thinking about the past. Regretting mistakes I've made and being afraid of making more - all the while missing what's right in front of me and living in the moment.

So, to live in the moment - I don't need a comforting hand, I need a reality check. I don't need words of encouragement that tell me things are going to be alright. I KNOW that things are going to be alright tomorrow, but I've got to get back to living today. I've learned that to do that - I must encourage myself and really think about what I'm saying.

As my spirit sings - I listen to what it's saying. "Draw me close to You, never let me go. I lay it all down again to hear You say that I'm Your friend. Help me find the way to bring me back to You. You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want. Help me know You are near. You are my desire, no one else will do. No one else can take Your place, to fill the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find the way to bring me back to You. "

I know I must encourage myself and allow the Comforter to minister to me, because His words are spirit and life, and He truly is my strong tower that I run to in my time of need. It's not just words I say or sing, but a way of life of how things truly are. I can't give that to anyone else. I can't even 'encourage' someone else to do the same, because my relationship is my own, developed over years of personal experiences and only I can walk in that relationship. Everyone must develop their own by encouraging their self.

"I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, Creator of the earth." Psalms 121:1-2

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 6:1

Wow, what an episode! I really enjoyed it. It was great to see, feel and hear something familiar amongst the world of change I've been going through lately.

The first episode after a long break is always the best for me. I thought the opening was fantastic with Clark in the Phantom Zone. I'm glad they used the same method from the Superman movies. I thought the graphics & special effects were great, especially when it came to the phantoms. I loved the continuity they have with Namek, but I thought the Phantom Zone fell a little short with the character of Raya. She started off strong, but then fell into a scripted information peddler. I was amazed though at how long her lip gloss lasted in the phantom zone, while poor Clark looked like his dehydrated lips would fall off at any moment. He must be a quick healer and learner. For someone who doesn't get hurt often, he can take pain pretty well.

I was a little disappointed with the opener. With a new network and a new season, I was hoping for a new opener. While I love the Remy Zero song, 'Save Me', I thought the rest could of changed. All they did was add a few new pictures to last year's intro. Perhaps next week, they'll have a better opener.

I loved that Martha and Lois went to the Fortress of Solitude. It wasn't a shocker that's where they ended up - seeing the snow-capped mountains gave it away, but it was refreshing to see Jor-El interacting with Martha. However, I think the conversation could have went down a little better than it did. Come on... this is Ma Kent speaking to the man she thinks has been responsible for her husband's death and her son's problems - I'd have a lot more questions to ask and a lot more to say than what she did. But, I understand time restrictions and needed to say what was necessary to move the plot along. I did love the fact that Lois thought she had died and went to heaven and her and Clark holding hands. It was a cute, touching moment.

I HATED the shaft that the Chlark moment fizzled. What the heck happened to all of Chloe's pent up emotions for Clark? It just disappeared in a matter of seconds at the sight of Jimmy Olsen. Now, granted - Chloe and Jimmy share a bond, but obviously not a strong one at this point - because they haven't even talked to each other for a couple of years. Here Chloe is, knowing everything about Clark and how great he is - and who she's carried an immense torch and love for over a decade and she loses sight of that in one moment? That bit of crap I can't seem to swallow. Clark seemed to have been considering a possible relationship with Chloe and he thought her feelings were true, to have her shoot him down before he even got his foot in the door. He's was great to back-up and let it go, but as a viewer who has strongly believed in the love that has been held between these two characters over the past six years - I felt cheated. I was really disappointed. While I do want to see Chloe persue a relationship with Jimmy - the way she just shut her feelings off - like simply turning a water spigot, didn't sit right with me.

Jimmy - I love the new Jimmy Olsen and I thought it was hilarious as he described his first day at the Daily Planet. I think he's going to do great! I loved the CK reference.

Lana - does the girl have to tempt EVERY man in the known galaxy? Is she the weakness of every member of the male population. Can she be something besides the object of desire or obsession??? If it isn't every run-of-the-mill FOTW, the football team, the local superhero, the arch nemesis that has fallen under her spell... she's now got the ultimate villian wanting her to have his heir. And they wonder why we 'women' don't like Lana. It's not Lana we don't like, but the way she's used and portrayed. She's the real Kryptonite of the show. While she may be able to kick some butt and take a beating, she never seems to have a blemish on that perfect face of hers. Is there any depth or substance to the girl?

Lionel - I loved that a few years ago, Lionel was trying to have Chloe killed and now we see him almost sacrificing himself to save her. What a turnaround. Also, he easily reconciled to the fact that he must kill his son, Lex. I think a little too quickly. While I agree - I can't help but to think that there is still part of the old manipulative Lionel in there somewhere. He's worked his whole life to develope the Lex we have before us - and to soo easily see that destroyed, I don't buy it. Besides, we know that he flat out lied to Martha about not being able to channel Jor-El anymore or not being able to understand Kryptonian. Perhaps he's not hearing Jor-El, but he's still retained some of his knowledge of the Kryptonian language. But, is he the new Lionel or the old one? It will be interesting to find out.

Lex/Zod - I loved it. I think Rosenbaum did an excellent job of being the mean, uncaring, manipulative overlord. It's a role I think he was meant to play. Being such the jokester he is, his playing serious bad dudes seem to work great for him. However, I do have one gripe and it deals with the delivery of the line I've waited to see for two years now.... "Kneel before Zod!" I was expecting a little bit more punch to that line. Terrance Stamp did such an impressionable delivery in Superman II, that he set the bar high. While Rosenbaum did an excellent job with the characterization of Zod, I think he missed the delivery of that particular line. BTW - I loved the phantom image of Stamp's Zod as he was pulled from Lex. AWESOME!

Clark - I saved the best for last and that's the way it should be. I thought Welling did an excellent job with Clark, other than perhaps being a little more overwhelmed and hurt in the Phantom Zone. I know he's a super man here on earth, but there he could be his young, inexperianced wimpy self. But, other than that - and that horrible bad judgement of not grabbing Chloe and laying one on her like he wanted to - he did a good job. There was this one moment when he got back from the Phantom Zone that I thought he was going to take off and fly - but he didn't. At the end of this series I better see the tights and the flight or else I will scream bloody horror. Clark's growing up and I think his vision of Jor-El is finally starting to change. He's starting to realize he's been wrong about him all this time and hopefully, will start to embrace his destiny, much like the way he embraced Lois' hand.

Well, that's about it for now. I'm sure I'm leaving a whole lot out, but that should have covered most of the major points.

Till next time!

Dream 09/07/06

As you all know, I'm a dreamer. I'm trying to pay close attention to my dreams lately, so I've decided to write them down. I'm praying for their interpretation, so let's see what happens.

The dream:

I was walking down the street when I came upon this gas station. It had many pump lines, but only a small square station in the middle where the attendant sat. Two boys worked the station. One pumped the gas, because it was full service during the day, and the other worked the attendent station. Neither was very good at their job.

The youngest of the two showed me around the station and tried to explain some parts of what he did, but he wasn't very consistent and often his methods didn't work. The station merely ran itself. The older boy, the attendant, seemed impatient with the younger boy and irritated at my presence, but they both remained polite.

During the day, I followed this cat to a house behind the station and discovered that it belonged to the owner of the station, though he hasn't been around for several months. The doors had been left open and the house was a mess. The attendent showed me around and I saw that dust covered everything.

I decided that I was going to stay at the house by the time the sun set. However, I needed to get rid of the wild cats and dogs that ran through the house. I started by locking the doors on one end of the house and pulling closed the curtains. I then 'shooed' the animals through the house and out the back door, which I locked. There are lots of glass sliding doors all through the house, with long curtains. After locking them all and drawing the curtains, turning on the lights and looking around, the house was a complete mess. I felt overwhelmed at the job that lay before me.

I started in the master bedroom. The room was dusty, musty and extremely messy. A huge king-sized bed sat against the wall; the headboard was a huge bookcase and held scattered books that lay half-open or oddly stacked. I straighted the books on the shelf and then peeked beneath the bed to find even more. I pulled them all out and stacked them on the bookshelf, arranging them in order by author.

Also stuffed under the bed was a mountain of puzzle pieces, children's costumes and games. As I pulled them out, two girls showed up in the bedroom, but I wasn't frightened by their presence. They were two daughters of the missing owner. They explained that their father was gone because he was looking for something that he lost and that they liked me being there. The older girl spoke, the younger remained quietly hid behind her big sister. I realized there had only been one other bedroom in the house and it must have belonged to the older daughter. She said she hasn't lived there since just after her younger sister was born.

The two girls disappear and I'm left in the house alone. I start sweeping out the dust.

So, what does it mean? I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with cleaning out some unresolved issues - moving on to something else. What those things can be; I don't know.
I'm sure there are a lot more meanings hidden in this dream, but until I can see them, I suppose they'll remain hidden.

Anyway, that was my dream last night. I never have a boring night. It's always one adventure to the next. If you think you know what it means, I'd love to hear from you.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Mitzi and Her Bug

I'm going to try my hand at writing a short story today about one of my passions.... my dream car - a fire-engine red Volkswagon Beetle, with black vinyl top, decaled with a huge yellow daisy across the hood and fully loaded. Wow, I'm getting excited just thinking about it.

On another note - I had a great time at church last night. I can still smell the mhyrr of the anointing oil. I was blessed watching my family be blessed.

I'm looking forward to my son's success in this gifts and talents and am excited by his uniqueness and can't wait to see what he does.

A smile crossed my face when my shy daughter stepped out in courage. I'm excited to see that boldness grow in her as she uses her creativity and her ability to read things.

My heart leapt to see my oldest take a step toward faith and desire to have a relationship with Christ. That is my deepest desire - that Christ becomes the ultimate love in her life. She's such a devoted person - and when something has her heart, it has all of it. She's precious to me and she's beautiful. I'm hard on her, because I want to protect her and keep her safe. I don't want her to walk the hard road I've had to travel. I want her to be successful in everything she does.

I'm expecting that new wisdom and boldness to fill my husband. I can't wait to hear the words of knowledge flow from his heart and out of his mouth. He's a man of integrity and creatitivity and I can't wait to see him pour out his wisdom and pass down his gifts to the next generation.

There's a group of teens in our church family that are excited about their faith and are filled with a wonderful gift for music. They're coming together and I can't wait to see what happens with them. I believe they're going to make an awesome impact on the world and I feel priveledged to see it up close.

As I sit, wafting in the faint scent of mhyrr, I smile. It's going to be a good day.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Morning Poem

I haven't written a poem in a long time, so I thought I'd pen a small, quick one here this morning.

Nose tingling, heavy eyes
bent and aching back
Breath exhaling, beating heart
stiff and aching neck

Water heating, red light on
pot is warming up
beans brewing, wafting scent
hold onto my cup

Eyes opening, curt smile
smell of rich coffee
last yawning, rubbing eyes
flavor rescue me

New Round of Crits Today

It's Wednesday and as always, a new round of stories have been posted - which means I have a new round of crits to do. But, I have to wait a few more minutes before I start - because I haven't had my morning cup of Joe... yet.

I smell its rich, flavorful aroma as it wafts through the air. I hear the constant pop of percolation, beating like an African drum. My mouth is starting to water and my eyelids are starting to open. The dreams of the night are beginning to fade - my dashing hero returns to his secret hiding place just beyond the horizon, to wait patiently for the next adventure.

The sound of keys tapping on the keyboard, reports running on huge printers, the sound of the air conditioning vibrating the fluorescent light bulb fixtures fill my ears. The sound of footsteps and occasional 'hello's' pass by.

The world is in constant motion, moving forward, spinning around. It never stops and it's never completely silent. It has a beat - like that of the heart - constantly pounding and pumping. I breathe in and I breathe out. I'm a part of it, but I'm also something more. I open my eyes to the new day - not sure what it holds, but filled with hope knowing that I'm blessed and highly favored. I offer a thanks to my God in heaven, Creator of all things. "Good morning to you."

Now, to the coffee pot I go.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

The Year of the Unicorn - Update

I've written two more chapters on this second novel and am coming really close to the end of it. I have another chapter in queue this week and hopefully I'll be through with this novel, including crits and all, by the end of the year.

It's good sometimes to step back from a story for a while and then come back, refreshed with brighter ideas. I thought I'd be tired of this story by now, but find that I fall more in love with it everyday.

I feel like a proud parent. I suppose, in a way, these are my babies.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Disturbing Dream

As I've mentioned before, I'm a dreamer. I probably have a dozen dreams a night. It's like I get to watch a plethora of movies every night while I sleep. While many are comical, some are a panacea.

This weekend I had a disturbing dream that left me so tired when I woke, I didn't want to stretch the muscles in my ankles, it hurt to raise my eyelids and I felt exhausted, hungry and weak. My head felt like an icy dagger had been rammed through it and my entrails pulled from my nose. I felt beaten and battered, yet I don't remember doing any fighting in my dream.

The dream: My seventeen-year old daughter had a small fender bender in the Wendy's parking lot. She wasn't hurt and there was no damage to her car or the other car, which seemed to pull out in front of her from nowhere. The police arrived and began taking notes of the accident when they cuffed and arrested my daughter. I tried to get to her before they whisked her away, but was too late.

I followed them to the police station and then demanded that someone tell me what happened and the location of my daughter. The police chief appeared through a double-paned window and he smiled at me. Behind him, I saw my daughter sitting in the interrogation room, afraid.

I argued with the police chief about releasing my daughter, but he laughed at me. This made me angry. I felt my heart pound in my chest, each thump sending a violent rush of blood to my head. I yelled through the window, "You have no right to keep her."

A sly grin formed on his face and he stepped through the door. I could see behind him a large opening filled with girls walking around in what looked like a stupor. They held no emotion on their faces and no life in their eyes. Around this square arena, a fenced walkway filled with girls being led down long corridors.

I saw my daughter pulled by this tall, lanky boy. She didn't hesitate and the fear she once held on her face, disappeared. The boy turned and grinned at me, taunting me as if to say, "Look who has her now."

I felt every muscle in my body tense and the hair on the back of my neck prickled as a rush of hot air blew around me. I followed the police chief to a small room at the end of the corridor. My daughter sat with this boy, who’s beady, onyx eyes narrowed at me. He tried to act tough, but I saw a glint of fear in his eyes. He grinned and then shouted, "She wants to be with me!"

I glared at him and said, "She’s already spoken for, you've no claim to her."

He stroked her hair as she gazed groggily into his eyes, "But, she wants to be with me and it's her choice."

I looked up to the chief who stood in the corner and shouted, "You only have the right to hold her for 36 hours. After that - you HAVE to let her go."

His face scrunched and he arched his eyebrows. "You need to calm down, Ma'am."

I balled my fists and through clenched teeth replied, "I will not calm down. You have taken what does not belong to you and I want her back! You have no idea who you’re messing with."

The police chief pulled out a syringe filled with a green-yellow liquid that seemed to almost glow. He snickered and said, "Ma'am, you need to calm down or else I'll have to take measures to calm you down. We cannot have irate, irrational parents losing their tempers in this facility. It is a danger to our health and yours as well."

I took a step toward him. "Are you threatening me?"

The chief took the cap off of the syringe and took a step back. "I'm warning you." He acted like he was going to take another step backward, but then leaped forward and jabbed the syringe into my hip.

I didn't feel the jab of the needle, but I felt a burning sensation begin to course through my veins. I felt the room around me spin and everything went silent, except for the sound a rustling wind. I stumbled back toward the wall and looked down at the spinning vision of my daughter, the boy who held her captive and the police chief. Their faces swam before me, contorting into melting images.

I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth and breathed deeply and then slowly exhaled. When I opened my eyes, the room stood perfectly clear. The boy gasped and the chief stumbled back against the wall. I felt power course through my veins. It felt like warm, rushing water pumped through my body with every forceful heartbeat. I began speaking in tongues. At the sound of the angelic language, my daughter's head lifted up in acknowledgement and her eyes focused. She looked around and became afraid.

The boy jumped from his chair and hid beneath the desk, but the police chief narrowed his eyes and scowled, "You cannot take her. She must choose for herself."

I begin to rise in the air, feeling the wind whip around me, howling through the room as it rustled paper and pushed the chief against the wall. I looked up toward the ceiling and saw a white ball of power blow a hole through the roof, revealing the bright stars in the night sky. I looked down toward my daughter and stretched out my hand. "I can't make you come with me, you must choose for yourself. The only power they have over you is by what you give them. I can take you with me or you can stay in this bondage."

She looks around the room and hesitates. I felt myself being pulled upwards toward the opening in the ceiling, feeling my heart break with every inch I rose. Just as I was about to reach the ceiling, I felt a hand grab my foot. I looked down into the sorrowful eyes of my daughter. I reached down and grabbed her by the hand and we both flew out of the hole at the top of the roof.

The police chief screamed and swore; his voice bouncing off the walls of the tiny interrogation room until his curses were silenced as the hole sealed itself.

A few seconds later, our feet touched the ground and we took off running. We met up with the rest of my family, waiting in our mini-van. With my husband driving, we sped out of sight, leaving nothing but a trail of dust in our wake.

I woke up, tired, exhausted and drained of all energy, but that dream remained vivid in my mind. I've thought about that disturbing dream several times over the weekend. I know in my heart that it was much more than just a dream, but unfortunately, I do not have the gift to interpret dreams. However, that doesn't mean I won't.

Till next time, ~T.L. Gray

Milledgeville Misfit - A Critic Coverted

It's official!

I'm really, really proud of Milledgeville Misfit. Not because 'I' think it's great, but because it excited someone (who no matter how hard I've tried to encourage to read, wouldn't) actually read it, liked it and is now demanding that I write a sequel (which at this time I don't even want to think about).

This, of course, is my eleven-year old daughter, Kelly. She took after father and has never been an advid reader. I've tried to get her to read everything. She made it only to the fourth chapter of Harry Potter before she laid it down. She actually made it through eleven chapters of my Necromancer series, Orientation - yet she hasn't touched The Year of the Unicorn. I've tried to get her to read Chronicles of Narnia, Keys to the Kingdom, Eragon, The Wizard of Earthsea and so on and so forth - but, she wasn't interested. She'd rather see the movie than read the book.

This behavior of not desiring to read is something that I personally cannot understand. I've been reading for as long as I can remember. My two oldest children are advid readers and started reading at an early age, but my baby... she doesn't like to read - yet. At least, she DIDN'T like to read until Milledgeville Misfit.

Whether anything ever comes of this story or not, it's already fulfilled the deepest desire of my heart - to inspire and introduce a child to the wonderful world of reading. To have someone open a book and step into a different world, take an adventure and in the end, desire for more. That's what it's all about. That's why I write. I'm just honored that it was my daughter that got inspired this time.

So, I thank God for Milledgeville Misfit. It was worth it!

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

New Web Site

I am in the process of creating a new website - an author's site at http://www.tlgray.net .
If you get time, go check it out, but remember it is still a work in progress - so excuse the mess.

I still have my Necromancer website at http://www.thenecromancers.com and this blog site (which won't change), but I wanted a place to showcase the different stories that I've written. I was inspired when I completed Milledgeville Misfit and had no where to showcase her.

I still have a few pages to add, like a bio page. What do I put in a bio page? How can I write novels, yet stumble over something as simple as listing my writing credits and personal information. Perhaps I'm like Junebug and prefer the impossible over the rational? I blame that on Jesus. He's the one who said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible," and "Everything is possible for him who believes." However, Paul warns that while all things are possible, not all are beneficial.

I will keep those words in mind as I work on my new web page, go through the final edits on Milledgeville Misfit and then ship her off to my agent to shop to publishers. I still have several crits to do with my critique group and a party to attend this evening. So, looks like I'm in for a busy day... but all things are possible. LOL!

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

BTW - I watched Smallville and Supernatural last night. Man, do I miss those shows! Thanks to a good friend who keeps me updated, the new season should start in mid-September. I suppose I'll have to be content with Medium, The Dead Zone, Psych, Kyle XY and 4400 till then. (Does anyone see a patterened theme?) Does anyone know about the new show coming this fall called Heroes? It looks awesome! I watched Fallen last week and it was pretty good too.

Milledgeville Misfit - I'm Done!

I wrote the last chapter to Milledgeville Misfit yesterday and I cried, yet I was so excited.
It feels good to finish something, yet sad at the same time, because that adventure is over - or is it.

The way that I left the book open - there's room to write more stories in this adventure if I want. I think I'll leave it as is, go through one more round of edits and then send her off to my agent and see what happens.

Now I have to write the outline, synopsis and blurbs. I suppose I need to create my own website to showcase the many different stories that I have. I have a website designated specifically for the Necromancer series, but I suppose I need one for me, as an author.

Anyway, I'm happy to have completed another story. I don't think I'm going to write anything new until I complete The Year of the Unicorn. I'm currently at the half-way point with chapter fifteen.

Have a blessed and fruitful day.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Supernatural - The Production

Things are moving along quite well with this production.

• I've already selected the song titles, burned copies for the singers and musicians and ordered the sheet music.
• I've made arrangements to have (10) ten swords made from a woodcarver. (They're going to be awesome!)
• My list of props, cast and budget is filling up everyday. (I'm going to rummage through the props we currently have in storage to find what I can. What I need most is fog machines, black, strobe and spot lights.)

I'm excited about it and the people seem to be excited about it, too.

I had a dream about this production - and it was awesome! I was standing outside of the double doors that lead to the sanctuary. There was a golden sign above it that said, "Welcome to the Supernatural" and in front of them, with his head held high and his expression fixed, stood a georgous angel. His hair was spun gold, his eyes blazing fire. He had a gold band around his forehead and he held a golden sword by the hilt with his arms extended evenly across his chest. His lashes glittered in the light.

The angel stepped aside and let me pass. When he moved, the doors swung out and I stepped through them - into another world. It looked like the santuary I've worshipped in for the past ten years, but it was transformed. A dense, billowing fog hugged the ground. On the right side against the wall stood five angels, evenly spaced apart down the length of the room. Mirroring them stood five angels on the left side. Their white rainment illuminated, yet they stood perfectly still. I watched one closely to see if it breathed, but I saw no movement. His eyes glared straight ahead.

Beautiful music filled the room. It's golden musical notes, weaved in and out of the chairs, as if it floated with an invisible current. Hundreds of people stood with their hands raised and were praising God. However, they weren't alone. Also weaving in and out of the people crawled small demons and imps. Dressed in black, they had white words written across them like "hate, jealousy, lust, deception, religion, unbelief, anger, doubt, dispair, pride & oppression." The people didn't seem to notice their presence.

(Supernatural) I whipped my head around and stared at the angels, urging them to move to intercept those demons, but they remained perfectly still. I looked down from their eyes and noticed they all wore these white sashes that read, "love, relationship, belief, truth, self-control, peace, trust, hope, passion & faith."

One by one, as the people bowed in prayer, the angels moved and fought with the demons until the room cleared.

(Prodigal) Upon the stage staggered a man, withered and worn, crying. He's surrounded by demons, tormenting him. His robes are torn and he's covered in mud. He calls out to his father for forgiveness and drops to his knees. When his knees touch the ground, the statuesque angels instantly move and surround him, sending the demons fleeing into the shadows. The man is restored to his father and they walk off together.

(Susan Rager) Beautiful white-robed ladies fill the front of the sanctuary with colorful silk scarves. The angels turn their attention toward the movement and they begin to weep. When the dance is finished, they all have bent to one knee. There room is silent.

(Set Me Free) I looked upon the stage once more and saw a man full of demons. Chains bound his hands and feet and the demons yanked him down everytime he tried to pull away from them. He cries out into the night for help, but no one hears. Then in the back of the room enters a man with people surrounding him. The demons instantly scatter, shriek and scream. They try to pull the man away, but he notices how the man affects them, and cries out to the man, "Jesus, save me."

Jesus grabs his chains and lifts a key into the air. He asks the man, "Do you want to be free? Lift your chains, I hold the key. All power on heaven and earth belong to me." The demons that are attached to him by the chains desperately pull on them to get out of Jesus' way, but they cannot. The man clings to Christ and he opens the lock on the chains and sets him free. The demons scatter into the shadows. Christ turns toward the crowd and asks them the same thing. Several within the crowd lift their own set of chains and they break open. Jesus exits out the back, followed by the now freed man.

(Praise You in This Storm) Thunder roars, the room is shaken and peals of lightning crash to the ground and then silence, except the sound of a woman crying. Suddenly, we see a woman holding the body of her dead son, Jesus. She sings the song, "Praise You in This Storm", while images of Christ's life and crucifiction flash upon the screen. The angels kneel around the broken body of Christ. They lift him up and carry him out and the room fades to dark, except the illumated angels that remain. More thunder and lighting ensue. The demons begin cheering, but their cheers are silenced and they begin running for the exits. Standing upon the stage is radiant Christ - glowing in white rainment with a crown upon his head and a scepter in his hand. He takes a seat on his throne.

(Jean's song) The people worship him and sing praises to him. The angels bow down before him. The Pastor and his wife bow down before him, followed by the elders and deacons. The musicians offer their instruments. The saxophone player lays his instument before the Lord. He blesses it and the saxophone player picks up his gift and plays before the lord. He is followed by the guitarist, bassists, keyboardest, congo player and drummer (who lays his sticks before the Lord). Each play before him and then they play together. Then the singers (including Rebekah) gather around him and he blesses them and they each sing to the Lord. The the whole congregation bown down before him. They then lift up their heads and their hands and they sing praises to Him.

(Supernatural)

Pastor concludes the service and the people walk out the door, back into the natural realm. The angels follow some, but so do the demons.

So, as you can see - I'm excited and can't wait to see that dream made into a real production.

Superman - Human or Alien?

There is a debate going on throughout the Superman fan community resulting from the new movie's portrayal of the Man of Steel. Many, including myself, have expressed their disappointment with the effort to humanize Superman in the film, while other's protest that he's already human and his actions are not surprising.

I must disagree. Superman is not human. If he was human, he wouldn't be Superman. It's because he's not human, doesn't succumb to all of humanities weaknesses, but rises above them because of the confidence and knowledge of who he truly is - makes him super.

The word 'super' means - above, beyond, over, superior, exceeding the norm, exessive in degree or intensity. So, as a human I expect my 'alien' superhero with the name Superman to be above, beyond, over, superior and exceeding the norm of the wiles of humanity with an excessive degree of intensity. I don't expect him to be just like me, to think just like me, to act just like me or overcome - just like me. If that were the case, I wouldn't need a hero. Superman would just be a man flying around in his pajamas doing what everybody else could do if they truly wanted to.

This of course, is in the world of fantasy. In the world of reality there are many human superheroes that I run into or hear about on a daily basis. A soldier fighting on the battlefield, a mother thinking of the welfare of her child above her own selfish desires, a dad who walks with integrity and honor, a teacher who dedicates themselves to enriching someone else's lives with their widsom, a police office fighting to protect and serve and on and on and on.

What makes them a hero? They go above and beyond was was necessary and do what must be done for the benefit of someone else.

The greatest superhero of them all is Jesus Christ - who gave his life to save us all. He overcome all our weaknesses, endured our heartless, evil acts and still loved us in the face of our sin. He was 'super' in every sense of the word.

So, do I love superheroes, yes! Should they try to make Superman human - no!

This, of course, is just my own opinion. The funny thing about opinions is that everyone has them.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Pirates Vs. Superman

Over the weekend I watched Pirates of the Caribbean and I loved it. I loved everything about it. It was funny, adventurous, wild and exciting. I saw my favorite characters from the first movie return and not once during the movie did I find myself bored, frustrated or confused.

This was not the experiance I had when I watched Superman the weekend before.

So, I've thought about what made the difference.

Pirates stayed true to its characters. It didn't try to change them to conform to the wiles of society. The pirates were pirates. Captain Jack Sparrow was Captain Jack Sparrow and the rest ended up as true pirates, especially Elizabeth Swan and the former Commodore. It was what truly lay in their hearts- and they gave into what that heart desired - to be a pirate (in every way). The movie was awesome!

Superman tried to change from what he truly was. It was his morals and virtue that made him super - to rise above the frivolty of the ever-changing humanity. The movie tried to make him just as human as you and me - which made him dim in his greatness. A constant in a world that's ever-changing is super - not changing with it.

While I loved both movies, Pirates won my heart. I'll probably see it a half-dozen times before it goes to DVD, which then I'll own.

I don't think I'm alone in my opinion - the box office sales seem to tell the same story.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

A Prophetic Word - July 5, 2006 - The Prophet Elijah

A word of prophecy was spoken over me yesterday, so I wanted to write it down.

The battle that I'm going through right now is a physical manifestation of a spiritual battle and my strength lay in my praise. This battle is an intercessory battle and I will prevail.

I know there are no coincidences when it comes to God. Over the past few weeks, as I've struggled through this ear infection, I've been pulled into the Word and have been studying about Elijah and Elisha, two great prophets. So, I do not find it strange that as I study of prophets, I receive a word of prophecy. But, how does this all relate to me? I haven't received the revelation of it, yet.

Elijah is a great prophet of God. Through him, God did amazing things and showed the might of his power. He also showed the might of his mercy. I used to think that I didn't have anything in common with Elijah, but as I've been reading - perhaps I do.

When Elijah displayed God's power and might to the people by calling down fire from heaven and it burned up the soaked altar before it - convincing the people that Jehovah was the true God and Baal the false god - and Elijah killing all the prophets of Baal - that was a great moment. However, I was astounded to see that immediately following that great display of power and surety, Elijah ran for his life in fear of Jezebel. This I find truly amazing.

I'd like to think that I'd never do that. I'd like to say that had I just seen God perform all these great amazing displays of power and had been so sure of His word and will that I killed all of the prophets of the enemy - I wouldn't worry what some old witch said about me. So, Jezebel threatened to kill him? Who hadn't by this time? The life of a prophet is not easy. They are hated more than praised. I'm astounded to see a man of God, who continually speaks with God and to kings is suddenly so afraid that he sits down under a tree and falls into a depression so deep he wants to die, because some woman (whom God has already prophesied to die) wants to kill him. I'd like to say that'd never be me. But, I won't.

I know I'm capable of the highest act of weakness, even had I just been in the presence of God. I know that even if God pulled me into a quiet place, showed me a mighty wind, sent me an earthquake, a burst fire from heaven and then whispered in my ear, that I could still be whinny and selfish instead of relying on the strength and power that He has given to me and hidden within my praise.

So, I accept the word of the Lord from my sister-in-Christ - and know that this battle I now fight is not physical, but a spiritual battle of intercession, and my strength to it's victory is hidden and found in my praise of God.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Happy Birthday, Necromancers!

Today is June 21st - the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, but most importantly, the shared birthday of all Necromancers around the world. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

For those of you who are turning thirteen today, I hope that you take your day of transformation very well and that you don't have too much difficulty with it. Be careful of all those voices - they have a tendency to get to you, if you let them.

A Solstice coincidence - last summer I started querying literary agents for the first time. I sent out my first batch on June 21st. I received the following response from my current agent on July 19th:

"This is one of the most clever queries I have ever received. It's originality earns you a request to send the full ms via hard mail to: "

A few months later, after several more requests and a few exclusive requests, I signed with my current agent. She started submitting my manuscript to publishers at the beginning of this year.

Here's to hoping that this June 21st will bring an offer from a great publisher. There are several that have my manuscript in their hands, but I just need one to make an offer.

Again, Happy Birthday, Necromancers!

Till next time,
T.L. Gray

Editing - The Year of the Unicorn

I think I will work on editing the next chapter of The Year of the Unicorn and upload it into my critique group for review next week. It looks to be a long chapter. Hopefully, I'll get it complete today.

I'm about half-way through the edits of book two of my Necromancer series. I can't wait until I have it all nice and polished, so that I could send it along to my literary agent and she can start shopping it around.

I'd like to write the next couple of chapters of Milledgeville Misfit this weekend. Perhaps I'll catch up on my sleep, be rejuvinated and have a refreshed mind to get busy.

On another note:

A prophecy was given to me that things are being lined up for me right now, and that this line is an endless one. I'm to be patient. A change is coming, for the good; a wave of peace and clear direction. It's not just for me, but through me - and will change the lives of me, my husband, my family and even my friends. When I see a direction that seems to go the wrong way, I'm not to worry - it's part of the shifting, but in line with the plan.

Here's to the journey - and to those who are ready to take it with me.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Smallville - Superman Transition Dream

I haven't had much thoughts about Smallville for the past few weeks, at least not since I watched the season finale. However, last night I had a dream about it. It was great! I even had great special effects. I will try to be as true to the dream as possible - even the embarrassing details. LOL!

The dream starts with Clark and Chloe. They're in Clark's loft (his homemade Fortress of Solitude) and things are getting pretty steamy. Clark yeilds with concerns for Chloe's safety, but she tells him she's willing to try. They take their game of cat and mouse out into the cornfields - and let's just say that when it was over the field had a new symbol burned into it - a 'C*'. Don't know what it means. You know how dreams go - they have a life of their own. The main thing - they're happy and she survived.

But, Clark doesn't sleep very well. He starts having these dreams of chaos. Disturbed by his dreams, he visits the real FOS to speak to Jor-El. His hopes of a great life with Chloe are dashed as Jor-El speaks of the dangers of Kryptonians and humans mixing. How it is life threatening to Chloe and the product of such a union would bring disaster upon the earth (like all of Clark's other decisions).

Clark immediately tells Chloe - because he's completely honest and open with her. She is heart-broken, but says that she could love him and be with him without having relations - pointing out in her factoid way that there are hundreds of couples who live good lives together without the pleasure of sex. She reminds him of woman married to paraplegics (hint, hint Christopher Reeve) and are happy. Clark reminds her that she would never be able to have children if she remains with him. She tells him they could adopt.

They seem to be working out all of the details, but Clark still feels that they don't know enough to make a complete and final decision on the matter and asks Chloe if she's up for a little trip - and he takes her with him back to the FOS. It's a fun scene when she hops into his arms and says, "let's fly" - though he really just runs.

They reach the FOS and Jor-El repeats what he told Clark earlier, but he adds more this time - reminding Clark of the dangers of a Krytponian/Human heir and the complications that are associated with it. Clark tells Jor-El that he and Chloe have discussed that - that they made a decision to abstain from sex and adopt. Jor-El tells Clark that he doesn't know enough about his Kryptonian heritage to make such a decision. Clark concedes his lack of knowledge, as does Chloe. Jor-El tries to tell him of destiny once more and how important Clark needs to learn his origins before he could make any lifelong plans on earth - including marriage and family.

Clark tells Jor-El how much he loves Chloe and Jor-El tells him that if he truly loves her, he would not ask her to make such a commitment without all the facts. (He used her own strength of journalism and fact-finding as the premise of the conversation.) Chloe agrees with Jor-El. She tells Clark that she loves him, but she feels that this world has a bigger purpose for him than just her and that he needs to learn the truth - all of it. Jor-El tells him that his training would take 14 earth years to complete. Clark refuses, but Chloe convinces him that she'd wait for him. "Fourteen years compared to a lifetime is nothing," she said. Clark concedes.

Clark and Chloe spend a month together in various places throughout the world. Clark takes her to all the places she's always wanted to see. Tuscany, Paris, Germany, Norway, Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef, Madagascar, Istanbul, Greece, Oslo, Great Britain & Ireland. They are happy. Chloe returns to Met-U and the Daily Planet, while Clark returns to the FOS and begins his training.

Fourteen years later he re-emerges as Kal-El/Superman and flies off from the FOS. His first stop is Metropolis - to find Chloe at the DP, but as he arrives he notices a helicopter hanging off the top of the Daily Planet and so he introduces the world and Lois Lane to Superman. He saves the day, but then flies off to Smallville to see his mother - thinking he'd show back up in Metropolis as Clark Kent to find Chloe.

Clark walks into the farmhouse to find Martha sitting on the sofa watching the news. She looks up - (she's gray-headed now) and smiles when she sees her son. "I'm back, mother," he says. She embraces him and asks, "But, not home?" He hugs her tightly and responds, "This will always be home, but I'm not just Clark Kent anymore. I'm Kal-El from Krypton." Martha smiled. "I know". Clark visits his old loft, which is now dusty and dark. Martha joins him, bringing him a cup of coffee. He asks about Chloe and a pained look crosses Martha's face.

"Clark, you have to understand that Chloe was happy and she had no regrets. I was with her in the end." Clark stumbles backward and falls back onto the old, dusty sofa. "You know how fearless she was, always tackling the next big story. Well, she found a story that was a little bigger than she was. She could never let go of investigating Lex."

Clark jumped up from the couch. "What did he do, mother? Tell me!"

Martha stood by the open door of the loft. "It was during my re-election campaign. Things were getting pretty nasty and Lex was down quite a bit in the poles. Chloe wanted to make sure I was safe and that Lex wasn't planning on anything to cause me harm so that he could win, but she stumbled on a plan of his to knock me out of the race. She never told me what that plan was, but she told me she was going to stop it. I tried to convince her to let it go, that I planned on stepping down once I've gained the seat, to allow a good ally to take my place. We just had to prevent Lex from gaining the seat."

Martha turned around and stared at Clark in the face. Tears ran down her cheeks. "Chloe got caught sneaking into Lex's mansion. We don't know what happened to her and she couldn't remember, but she got sick afterward. It started off like a mild case of the flu, but it kept getting worse. I stayed with her night and day in the hospital, both Lois and I. We never left her for one moment. Toward the end, she knew she wasn't going to make it and she wanted me to tell you that she was happy, that the time she had with you was enough to fill a lifetime and that she had no regrets. She says for you to stay strong, to search for the truth and seek justice. She called you her 'Superman' and to tell you that you she loved you - she always had."

Tears ran down Clark's cheeks as he embraced his mother. After a few minutes, he pulled her away from him and asked, 'What is Lex up to, mother?"

"I think he's creating a new chemical weapon made out of the meteor rocks. I think it was this chemical weapon that killed Chloe. He's been on a campaign to rid the world of Kryptonite - at least that's what he's been telling everyone - and there is hardly any left in the world now. He's dug up most of Smallville now. Once he won the Senate seat, he's had truckloads of the rocks shipped out. He says he's destroying it, but there's no telling what he's really doing with it. It has cut down on the appearance of meteor freaks, but I worry about what he's doing with it. He thinks you're dead. He was sure you'd come back when Chloe got ill, but you didn't. He's dangerous, Clark. I'm glad you're back. The world needs you - there's no telling what Lex is capable of."

Clark flies off to Metropolis and shows up for work at the Daily Planet. He meets Lois outside of Perry White's office.

"Well, I'll be, if it ain't Smallville. You mother told me you were back and that she told you what happened to Chloe. You should have been there."

Clark looked down, pushing his black framed glasses farther up his nose. "I know," he mumbles.

Lois looks at him curiously, "You look different."

Clark points to the glasses. "I had some trouble with my vision. I'm stuck wearing these babies now."

Lois looks at him indifferently. "You do know they have a thing called Lasik surgery now that can fix those."

He laughs, "I tried that, didn't work."

Lois shrugs, "Oh, well - what ever floats your boat. So, you want to be a mild-mannered reporter, huh?"

Clark arched his eyebrows and replied, "Uh - I was doing this before I left. What I can't figure out is why YOU'RE a reporter - and for the Planet."

Lois - "Well, after Chloe died I was determined to find out what really happened to her and discovered I'm actually good at this investigative stuff. I don't spell too well, but that's what spell check is for. I find I can get to the bottom of story well enough. Which reminds me, can you believe what's going on in the world today?” Lois grabs a hamburger at 9am in the morning and walks around to her desk, which sits opposite of Clark. “ There's some alien dude flying around saving people. He just shows up out of nowhere. I tell you, Smallville, this is the story of the century.” She takes a big bit of her hamburger and with a full mouth replies, “I’m going to get the scoop on him, you watch.” After she swallows she says, “He's amazing, Smallville. I've never seen anything like him."

Clark shifts uncomfortably. "Yeah, some kind of Superman I hear."

Lois' eyes light up and she slams her burger down on her desk. "Superman! That's what I'm going to call him." She turns to Clark, not really noticing him. "What do you think, Smallville? Do you think the world is ready for a 'Superman'?"

Clark follows after her, "Well, Lois... I-"

Awe.... my heart just goes pitter patter. I'm really sad that Chloe was gone - but this makes perfect sense to me. Anyway. There's no telling how Smallville will end, but this is how it ends in my heart.

I thought I'd share my dream with you - and there it is.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:22 Finale

Boy... they seemed to pull out all the stops, didn't they? I was on the edge of my seat the whole episode. With no word on next season's renewal yet, I'm not sure if I could live with that ending should it not be picked up. It just has to picked up!

I have to start off with Clark in the Phantom Zone - Has the boy not got super speed as one of his abilities? I suppose having it doesn't guarantee super reflexes. When it comes to Smallville, I think by this point in time no one should ever just stand and stare at any object. If you see a shiny thing in the sky... RUN! But, Clark hasn't been known to have super intelligence... yet.

So, how is Boy Wonder going to get himself out of this one? Will Daddy Dearest have to help him out again. For a dead man, Jor-El seems to be pretty handy. He might actually get to enjoy that eternal rest if his son would just learn to do what he tells him. Yet, I suppose that if Jor-El would speak a little plainer, Clark might understand. This time however, "Kill the Vessel" seemed pretty straight forward to me. It didn't sound like "Try to attack the Kryptonian computer that you've destroyed twice already... you never know... third time might be the charm." Oh, Clark's loyalties are so misguided.

Well, I'll admit that I was wrong about Lana. I had this small glimmer of hope that she had been using Lex, while all along still loving Clark, to find the answers that nobody wanted to give her. Instead, I get saddled with a misguided, selfish, moronic prude, who can't see farther than her own stuck up nose and has a huge memory problem. I'm asking the same thing, "How could she have ever loved Clark?" She's never loved herself. You can't love someone else unless you first love yourself. That's always been Lana's problem. She tries to find her identity by wrapping it up into someone else. She's dependent on the affections of others to validate her own. She's a mess and I'm glad Clark is finally moving on.

Okay... I know many of you are waiting for this part (Chloe & Clark). But, before I get into that, I have to express this one point.... THEY BETTER NOT KILL HER!!!! She's the best character on this show. She's the backbone of it... and if it weren't for her, our hero wouldn't look as good as he does. She's the most selfless character. I'll say, she's even the true hero. She's the model that Clark will use to shape his own super identity, because Chloe has spelled it all out for him. What to do, how to act, how to be selfless and diligent, how to sacrifice and serve, how to put your desires second to your call in life, how to be a hero. She doesn't have super strength in her hands, but she has strength of character. She's not faster than a speeding bullet, but have you seen anyone hack into security faster than her? She's not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but she's able to make giant leaps into whatever she's put her mind to. She's not an alien from another world, but there's no one else just like her.

It's time for Chloe to become that catalyst... but, NOT YET! Give her just a little more time with Clark. Just one more moment - to hear that validation that her sacrifice wasn't for nothing. To hear the words that she's longed to hear for years. To see his eyes finally looking back at her -with no shadows of another woman. Even if it's just a short while... it would be justice. Isn't that what Clark is for.... truth & justice? Chloe deserves both. But, then she can't stick around too long or else she'll become the shadow of the other woman to Lois.

When Clark was walking away from Chloe and he hesitated, I screamed at my television for him to turn around and kiss her. Then, Chloe did it for me and he definitely kissed back and not because of a physical attraction - because of an emotional one. He loves her and always have. He's beginning to understand what love is - and it ain't Lana Lang.

I'm hoping that Jor-El will once again use Lionel to help save Chloe - because she's going to somehow help free Clark from the Phantom Zone. She knows how to use the cave to get to the Fortress of Solitude and she'll go get help from Jor-El. Her helping... will cost her dearly -as she mentioned.

I think Lionel will die by the hands of Lex/Zod.

Okay... now to the supervillian I've waited five years to see... Lex Luthor. This is the BEST version of Lex Luthor in the history of Lex Luthor's. This is the bar for everyone else to try and live up to, but I doubt that will happen. Probably, forever in my heart - Michael Rosenbaum's portrayal of Lex will be the true one for me. He does a fantastic job! How bad did Lex look on the rooftop of LuthorCorp? I know that right now he's Zod... but, before Zod took control, Lex showed his true colors. He finally let down his guard and revealed what I've known about him since the first episode. I knew his infatuation with Lana wasn't because he loved her and she fit into his profile... but that he desired her because she belonged to Clark. Lex has always wanted everything that Clark had, but he wasn't willing to be what Clark is to get it. Clark is so loved, because of the way that he loves. Lex doesn't know how to love, he knows how to take, manipulate and play mind games. You can't reap what you didn't sow. You can't have grapes if you've planted corn. It's soooo good to see him finally embracing his destiny. NOW, the story really starts.

Of course we know that Martha and Lois survive the plane - which is driven by Brainiac or is it? When Zod come through - doesn't Braniac disappear? If he does - who's flying the plane now? Hmmm? How they're going to get out of this one, I don't know. But, they must survive because of canon - unless they want to change cannon. (**Martha and Lois dies, Chloe assumes Lois' identity, etc, etc. ) Oops, sorry! Got a little carried away in land of wishful thinking.

So many questions left unanswered... and so much time to wait to find out the answers.

Well... here's to another agonizing summer of rolling theories and candid speculations.

Till next time,
T.L. Gray

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:21 Oracle

**Rubs temples with eyes closed chanting to self**
"Do not think about the finale. Do not think about Lex Luthor having super powers. Do not think about General Zod. Do not think about the finale. Do not think about Lex Luthor having super powers. Do not think about General Zod. Do not think about..."

I think you get the picture.

This review isn't about the season finale, but about Oracle.

**Takes a deep breath and slowly exhales**

Okay...

Chloe Sullivan has the best lines, ever. I laughed so hard when she said something along the lines of "What, Hell froze over two hours ago and you're just now telling me?" at the sight of Clark and Lionel standing together with lots of papers written in Kryptonian, working together. When just a few hours before Clark was telling her that his dad wanted him to kill Lionel, and they suspected that Lionel was going to use Clark as a weapon. Which, BTW - Did Clark and Lionel talk about what Lionel planned to do concerning knowing Clark's secret, because Clark felt comfortable sharing what they knew about everything, when just a few hours before they had broken into Lionel's office. Lionel's not mad they were snooping through his things and their not even trying to hide the fact that they did? ODD. That was priceless. But, then when Chloe went to scan the documents to look for language patterns, I was confused. Wasn't Clark downloaded with the ability to read Kryptonian after he visited the caves back in Season 2? Why does he all of a sudden have Kryptonian illiteracy? I suppose that's one of those things the new writers forgot. Also, that Chloe line about putting on a cape and calling her "Horatio" was priceless too. Lois had a few good one-liners, as well. It must run in the family.

I knew that Jonathan was not Jonathan back at the graveyard, but I didn't think it was Milton Fine until the second appearance with Martha. Jonathan would never have been jealous like that and blaming Martha for having an inappropriate relationship with Lionel. My only question, or more-or-less comment about that scene, is that I wish that the love and adoration that she poured out concerning Jonathan would have effected Fine, visibly. He wouldn't let her touch him, but it would have been nice to see "love" being incomprehensible to a machine. By the time he showed up in the barn, I'd done made my mind up that Lionel is on the good side. I hadn't known for sure where his loyalties have lain, but by that point I knew that he's only been trying to help Clark, stop Lex and save the world. It wasn't his fault that Jonathan died, even if he played some part in it. It was essentially Jonathan's own stubborn pride that killed him. I have a feeling that Lionel will die in the next episode though - and by Lex's super-hand.

Ah, the Lex/Lana quandary. I do believe she's using the boy, masking her own feelings for Clark in order to work incognito to find out the truth about what's going on and the truth about Clark. She's still in love with Clark, she's not in love with Lex and when Lex finds out that he is yet betrayed by another brown-haired beauty, I think it will send him over the edge. I think Lana told Lois some of what she was doing, and that's why Lois was trying to talk to Clark. She wasn't really referring to Clark's emotional agenda (with the reference to motorcycles and Harley's) but to Lana's, referring to her plan of deception. But, I have a feeling that when the whole truth comes out, Clark will have really moved on and has embraced his destiny - and to go back to Lana would be to go backward.

So, Zod is coming. Well, he needs to hurry up and come on, because I'm ready to see another glimpse of my superhero. I'm getting tired of the boy. It's time he became a man. They've been talking about it all season, and especially since Jonathan died, but they've only given us small morsels. I want the whole cake (but, God please not a piece of Lois'!)

I really liked this episode and I'm really looking forward to next weeks. I don't look forward to a whole summer hanging onto another cliff hangar, but I'd be crazy to think they wouldn't do that. Especially, after the huge one with Supernatural.

There's lots more I could comment on about this episode, but I didn't want to write another book. LOL!

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Another Weird Dream

Last night I dreamt that I was visiting my agent in California and while there I met Allison Mack, Michael Rosenbaum, Tom Welling and Erica Durance. Now, as most of you who know me, know these names, because they are my favorite actors from Smallville.

Dreaming about them wasn't what was weird, it was what they were doing. There were also some other 'stars' there as well like Tara Reid and the guy from House.

Anyway, back to the dream. We were on a location for a movie in a small Mexican town. When I arrived, I was met by Allison and Erica and we had a blast riding around in a Jeep Wrangler with the top down, cruising the beach. We acted like three giddy high-school girls.

We arrived on the lot and I was taken to my trailer - that I was to share with my agent. She wasn't there. Obviously she was off signing some big deal with one of her other clients. Anyway, I made myself at home and was invited out to eat with the cast and crew. I changed into my favorite pair of jeans and tee-shirt, pulled my hair into a pony tail and was ready to go. I met up with everyone outside of my trailer and they were all dressed semi-casual, some with coats and ties. I felt way underdressed, but no one seemed to notice except Michael, who leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I was going to go for grundge look to, but they wouldn't let me." I laughed. He made me feel comfortable.

We are seated at the restaurant and the Hispanic waiter makes his way around the table taking everyone's order. I couldn't find anything I liked on the menu and instead of looking for something, I kept watching the waiter struggle with everyone's English. When he got to me, I simply folded my menu and began speaking to him in Spanish. "Buenos dias, Senior. Mucho Gusto....." I ordered grilled chicken w/asparagus spears and steamed rice. Everyone was speechless and impressed with my Spanish. The waiter smiled a smile of relief and walked away.

Dinner was fun, but the evening was cut short and we all returned back to our trailers. Allison, Erica, Tara and Tom came to visit me and we played a game of poker. Michael stayed in the back bedroom, studying math for his biology class he was taking. What does math have to do with biology? I don't know, you'll have to speak to the dream fairies about that. I tried to invite him to the game, but he said he really needed to study. He looked sort of depressed.

Anyway, during our poker game Tara asked what our plans were for dinner the next night, because she had to leave and wanted to catch back up. No one knew the plan and she said she'd call later, wished everyone a good night and left. Michael had walked into the room when she left and stood by the door. Tom asked Michael what he thought about Tara and he said, "Man, she's hot." Everyone laughed. I looked over to Tom and said, "Call me later and tell me what he says about me after you both leave." Everyone laughed.

Then Allison mimicked Tara about her choice in foods to eat, saying that she's just about allergic to every kind of green vegetable and is a pain to take out. I made a comment about the importance of green vegetables, backed up by our biologist in training - Michael. I told them that I loved cooking and so I ended up volunteering to cook lots of green vegetables for dinner the next night. We never spoke about it, but I'm assuming Tara wouldn't be there.

The next day at the filming location, they were shooting a water stunt. I watched Tom jump off this huge pier into this river of cold water. He had to do it several times. By lunchtime, he was exhausted I didn't blame him. He made the comment, "Some people think I'm Superman, but I'm just a regular guy." Wow, I wonder where that came from??? LOL!

Back at the trailer I had found this frilly, dazzling and fluffy pink skirt and gave it Allison. She went nuts over it, saying that she's been looking for that particular skirt for years. Erica scrunched her nose and shook her head, sticking out her tongue behind her. I'm sure she meant that she would drop dead before she was ever caught wearing it.

I gave Tom a directing job, because apparently I was the Executive Producer/Writer of this movie that was based on one of my books. (Don't know which one, but I'll keep my eyes open for diving into rivers while in Mexico scenes.

I asked Michael why he wanted to be a biologist and he said he wanted to have something to fall back on if this acting thing didn't work out. He asked me why I wanted to be a writer and I told him, "Why do you breathe? It's just what I am and comes natural to me."

Anyway, that was my dream in a nutshell. It's not supposed to make sense and I don't know if there was a point to it. Perhaps some of my Fruedian friends could figure it out for me. I just thought it was interesting and wanted to share it with you while it was still fresh on my mind.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

The Gunslinger Series by Stephen King

I've just completed book four Wizard & Glass in this series and I have to tell you, it's the best so far. I loved going back and revisiting Roland Deschain's past, learning about when he first became a gunslinger and experiancing his first love and loss, Susan & his mother.

I think this book was written better than the first three combined. It was more engaging and the pacing much better.

One of the things I've notice about Stephen King, is he likes to insert every little detail. I think the man has controls issues. He wants to guide your every step, create the picture for you and let you sit back and try to soak it all in. However, most of us retain more when we feel we are a part of something - not on the outside looking in. I like to form my own pictures - as the artist paints - not having him describe it to me afterwards. Anyway - this book drew me more into the story - it made me fall in love with Roland, Cuthbert and Alain. I was able to sympathize with Susan and learned to detest those who were against Roland and his ka-tet.

In the earlier books, I related more to Roland's new Ka-tet, than I did with Roland. I was drawn into the characters of Odetta/Detta/Susannah, Eddie, Jake and Oy - but Roland was hard to identify with. He was this hard edge character that kept himself closed off from the rest. But, in Wizard and Glass - he opened up and we got to finally meet the man beneath the guns.

I loved the way this story also overlapped with The Stand and the Wizard of Oz. King is a mastermind when it comes to layering a story. Though, I still think he could cut back on some of the details. I found myself skimming - and I hate to skim over anything.

Well, I'll start book five - Calla sometime this week.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:20 Fade

I wouldn't call this episode a 'filler', but more of a bridge. It wasn't the best, but it had it moments.

I'm not sure what's happening to me as a fan, but my feelings are changing. There is still that little girl that fell in love with Superman many years ago that jumps up and down on the inside every time she gets a little peak at her hero, but those times are few and far between. Here lately, they've come in subtle hints, which I'm not sure is a bad thing.

Then, there is the other side - the one that would like to see the story move on. Which is really out of character for me. I'm very much into characterizations. In the books that I write, I center the story around the character - not the action. My young adult series that I'm writing now is a lot like Smallville in so many ways. I'm after the story 'behind' the hero. I want the readers to identify with the metamorphosis that goes into the making of - not the actions of a superhero. It isn't their powers that make them great, it's what they choose to do with them.

So, there in-lies the problem. That's the element that I love about Smallville, yet what's been irritating me lately. I want to move on - I want to see the cape. Perhaps I believe that Clark's been through enough metamorphosis that we should be seeing our hero clearly now. Perhaps we are, but like Lois - we don't recognize what's in front of us. We need to be Chloes and see the greatness that is wrapped up in Clark and move away from his emotional issues with Lana.

I saw a few peaks of that greatness: When Clark saved the FOTW in Metropolis, then when he saved Lex & Lana without them knowing about it, when he walked away after seeing Lana & Lex together, when he apologized to Chloe for getting angry with her about her knowing about Lana's relationship and not telling him and most of all - when he confronted the FOTW by clearly showing a contrast between a selfless and selfish act.

I also saw a lot of Jonathan Kent last night, though I didn't see his face. Clark Kent is every bit his father. When he returned the gifts that (sorry, I can't remember his name) FOTW sent him, he reminded me so much of Jonathan every time Lex tried to give the Kents a gift. The younger Clark would have kept it. This more mature Clark did what was right. Clark did a lot of what was right in this episode, which is sad because I feel that it will get lost because it wasn't filled with all the bells and whistles. It will be classified as another 'filler' episode, when it was really a strong bridge.

So, my review is a little different this morning, because I wanted you to know how I was changing my view of Smallville.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Smallville Review 5:18 Fragile

Crazy4Smallville’s Weekly Review
Episode 18
Season 5
"Fragile”

I don’t know if it is from the long hiatus or the fact that I’ve missed the last two episodes, but I really enjoyed last night’s episode. It was sort of nostalgic for me, like I was taken back to the early years of Smallville, yet it was mixed with all the changes of the recent events.

Watching Clark with Mattie was great. If that’s not her name, excuse me. I’m terrible with names and that’s what jumps out at me. He showed the world his soft, mild-mannered side. He’s starting to fill the shoes of his father – both of them.

I think this storyline was foreshadowing of the confusion Clark has about his own father, Jor-El. It was great to help Clark understand how important and wonderful his father, Jonathan Kent, has been in his life – but hopefully he got a clue to not be so judgmental when it comes to Jor-El. It’s clear to see that Clark doesn’t view Jor-El is a positive light, if not to the point of holding Jor-El responsible for Jonathan’s death – even though it was his choice to interfere with destiny to save Lana. This is very typical in a state of denial.

I also like the way that Clark is becoming in tune with Chloe’s feelings. He knew she was upset, yet she didn’t divulge the source of it. All he understands is that it has something to do with Lana. He wasn’t quick to jump to Lana’s defense, but showed he was worried about Chloe’s feelings. It was clear that she was hurt and he wanted to know why. He’s beginning to understand her moods. They are beginning to communicate without words. That happens with complete trust.

Lois was a little irritating at first, with the way she treated Mattie, but soon realized the error of her ways. Sometimes older siblings can be like that. But, what I loved about Lois the most was her banter with Clark about how he would have been hurt had he been there. That’s the subtle little things I love. They say so much. It shows that Lois still believes Clark to be the bumbling farm boy – who needs rescued himself – and she’s the tough one to do it. This was the magic that I loved about Superman & Lois in the movies. Superman would save the day, but Lois would think that she was the true hero – never suspecting the bumbling Clark and infatuated with the man in the cape. Not many notice that little subtlety, but I do and I love it!

Lex’s heart is getting colder and more sinister by the second it seems. His obsession is beginning to show it’s ugly face – and I’m glad. Though I understand his obsession with Lana (which is really a stem from his obsession with Clark – wanting all things that Clark has/had), I find it pathetic that Lana is yet once again going to play such a pivotal role in the legacy of our lead characters – first Clark and now Lex – and possibly Chloe too.
It’s not Lana I hate, but the power that TPTB have given her. In essence they’ve made her the true hero/villain of the story. She’s the subterfuge that everything else revolves around, when this is the story about Superman. Not only will she now be the true love of Clark’s life – the one he had to let go to save, but will also be the reason for the final breakdown and fall of our nemesis, Lex. So, in retrospect – it was Lana Lang that waved the battle flags into greatest rival of all times – apart from God vs. Satan. Somehow, they’ll try to make her the reason for the feud too.

But, aside from that – for a brief moment, I actually liked Lana in this episode. Well, now that I think about it, I take that back. I hated her righteous, or should I say unrighteous, indignation towards Chloe – for pointing out the obvious. It’s clear she can’t stand being faced with the truth. On that note, neither can Lex. I think she owes Chloe a huge apology, but I won’t hold my breath for it. Also, I hate the fact that Lana thinks she has to have somebody in her life. She jumps from one guy to the next. She’s never been alone – for very long. Usually, just long enough to make up her mind which one she wants. I feel sorry for her – because as long as she keeps latching onto one guy after the next, she’ll never figure out whom she is or what she wants. I suppose this portrayal is meant to show the ‘down side’ to being beautiful???

What did Lex mean when he told Chloe that now he understands why she’s never had a boyfriend? Was he being cruel-hearted and mean because Chloe got too close to the truth? Lex doesn’t like people to get too close – she might need to watch her back a little more closely than she’s doing right now. However, kudos to Chloe - Not only does she have the cohunes to stand up to Papa Luthor, but she doesn’t back down from Jr. either. She’s the true hero of the story.

So, now we have a new task of reading Lex’s daily blog. I wonder how long that will last. One, maybe two weeks before they pull the plug out from under us, just like the Ezra prophesies, the Classified ads of the Ledger, the Verizon emails, etc.

All in all, I think Tom did a great job. I loved the symbolism and backgrounds he used to tell the story. The glass in the background, the flowers on the porch, the fireplace in the mansion were great. Not excluding those awesome special effects when Mattie stopped her dad. The little girl who played Mattie did an excellent job and I thought the episode was great. It was the subtle things, like Mattie whispering into Shelby’s ear that won me over and told even more story than the dialogue.

This has been Crazy4Smallville’s weekly review. Till Next Time!

"Rent" Review

I'm not sure if you've seen either the musical or the live show on Broadway, but I really hated this movie. Well... not hated, but was disturbed by its message or meaning. Maybe it was because of what I was initially led to believe it was about and what actually came across the screen.

I was under the impression that this movie was about the struggles of group of friends who had to deal with AIDS. That's not what the movie was about. It was about blaming others for the situations you've chosen for your life. It was very clear in this movie who the bad guys were - it wasn't the dope pusher, the strip club owner, the addict, the squatter, the stripper, the violent, the disrespectful, the free-loader and the lazy, etc. No, it was the restaurant owner, the police, the manager, the average family unit, the married, corporate America, the heterosexual, the religious and the educated.

I did not hear one morsel of personal responsibility in this movie. Most of the characters were living with AIDS, but they did not deal with the prevention or cause of those AIDS. It was as if the disease was the problem and the behavior was the consequence, when it was the other way around. The AIDS was a result of the lifestyle they had chosen for themselves. It was their choice to be junkies and have unprotected sex - not Corporate America.

Then they shirk their responsibility as productive citizens. They lived in this studio apartment that they haven't paid the rent on in a year, because they refuse to work a steady job in the name of squealching their creativity. Here's creativity for you - get a job, pay your rent all the while pursuing your dream. When did the Landlord become the bad guy? This was his property (regarldess how he obtained it). It didn't belong to them, yet they took advantage of his friendship and completely disrespected him. They told him that he 'used to be' an artist, but sold out. Why.... because he's got a paycheck and doesn't live off the charity of others? No, I don't think he was the sell out, they were. He still had his dreams. He wanted to build his studio. It's wasn't the squatters dream, so they call him a 'sell out'. So much for compassion and understanding. This group had none unless it dealt with themselves.

I saw them all as selfish.

Joanne - she wanted Maureen - and nothing else mattered. Maureen tried to make her feel bad because she was educated and a lawyer.

Maureen - tried to blame hormones for being a slut. "I can't help it - since puberty I've received this type of attention from both male and females". You receive the attention you seek after. Everyone controls how they behave. All dogs know when a female is in heat - so does the dog herself. Maureen was self-absorbed. Everything was about her, even Cohen's documentary, the protest and even her relationship with Joanne. Not once did I see her think about anyone else.

Yet despite their difference, lack of trust in one another or any common group, the relationship stood in the end.

Cohen - he thought himself a traitor to work a 9-5. It stifled his creativity - he was a sell out. His Jewish parents called him on Christmas and he was revolted by their happy family demeanor. A functionaly family unit was obviously disgusting to him. How selfish of him! His family called to tell them they love him - and not even an "I love you" in return! No, only selfish contempt and a resolidification that of his desire to be rid of them. He of course never got the girl - or anyone for that matter.

Mimi - a drug addict stripper who wants to be loved, yet can't love herself. She expects the guitar player to do what - hold her hand while she binges and dies? How fair is that to him? Especially since he's already buried one AIDS effective addict. What was she willing to bring to the relationship? She dies in the end, only to have experiance a near-death experiance that had Angel (who had died earlier) sending her back to 'carry on'. Carry on doing what?

The guitar player (forgot his name... I'm terrible with names). Poor guy - he can't find his song, so he does nothing. He doesn't work, doesn't try to help support his friends, but sits around wallowing in self-pity. Then, he seems to have a little bit of a backbone by refusing to give into Mimi's seduction - but then caves. He takes a little trip to New Mexico (which I haven't understood why it's so bad to go to be there), but realizes that he's just as much a bum there as he was in New York, so he heads back home. At least he wouldn't have to squat alone. He finds his song and it's all about Mimi. It was like his life didn't exist before her. He goes home to find that his girlfriend is now homeless (never knew she had a home, being as she was a squatter like the rest of them). He sings her her song, which brings her back to life.

Angel/Teacher (Can't remember his name either) - Angel just wants a thousand kisses and he'll keep his teacher financially covered. Isn't that being a sugar-daddy/prostitute? What was the other guys contribution to the relationship? He was a teacher, but never seemed to have a job. However, he was there to be with Angel in the end, which was admirable. The most functional relationship in this whole movie was between Angel and his teacher. However, what kind of message is that sending? That money solves everything? It couldn't be, because none of them thought that they needed it - and hated the world for having it and for the condition they found themselves in.

Throughout this movie they talked about the intolerance, biggotry and condemnation of the world around them... and they did all in the name of tolerance, acceptance and excuses. This movie wasn't the story about people living with AIDS - it was as much a mouthpiece of hate as any Ku Klux Klan rally or Abortion Clinic Protest. Yet, race and abortion were the only two issues that didn't come up.

Though the singers had wonderfully talented voices, this was the worst movie I've ever seen. I guess because I'm a responsible adult - I just don't get it.

Till next time,
T.L. Gray

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:14 Tomb

Episode 14
Season 5
"Tomb”

Wow, what an episode – but what was I watching? It didn’t feel like Smallville – it was better! I actually felt like I was watching an episode of Supernatural or some motion picture thriller. It was great all over. It was filled with great writing, great acting and great visual effects. I was literally on the edge of my seat during most of the show and on the verge of tears at the end.

OMG – a Chloe shower scene! I didn’t think I’d live to see the day – and in the same shower that Lana had once used – Go figure! I thought it might have been Lois in the shower, because it was her voice I heard first, but it turned out to be Chloe. I was shocked. Did anyone see the scary face in the shower curtain? It sent chills down my spine.

I thought that something had to be wrong with Chloe. As smart as she was, I couldn’t believe she was taking a shower during a thunderstorm. I suppose since her mother left when she was younger that was one of the lessons she missed out on. Anyway, the whole scene was creepy. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the body rush past while Chloe lit her candle. Then when she wiped the mirror and the girl, who looked like she might have been related to that freak from The Ring, popped in – I screamed! My poor fingernails are gone now!!!

Couldn’t Lois tell that Chloe wasn’t acting herself when she opened the door and saw her sitting there with her slit wrists? I mean, come on! This is Chloe Sullivan, one of the most driven girls in the world. Why would anyone just believe that she tried to kill herself? A person with goals and aspirations are not suicidal. Besides that… she was in Smallville. By this time EVERYONE should question EVERYTHING that happens in Smallville. Yet, Lois doesn’t question her cousin’s actions?

Tom Welling is getting so good at his craft. His facial expressions alone in this episode spoke more than his lines ever did or ever will. He was excellent!

Clark was the only one in Smallville who suspected that something wasn’t right. When he showed up at the hospital and Lois told him that Chloe had tried to kill herself, you saw this look on his face that screamed, “Ain’t no way… Chloe?” Then, he didn’t treat Chloe like a porcelain doll and just came right out and asked her why she did it. He knew that something wasn’t right. Also, I loved Chloe’s line about being a writer and if she wanted to kill herself she’d have one heck of a suicide note. I don’t know why anyone else wouldn’t have thought the same thing. I had been screaming for ten minutes, “This is Chloe Sullivan – if she wanted to kill herself, she’d make sure it would make the front page of the Daily Planet!” I did do the checklist as the doctor listed the symptoms of possible causes and Chloe had all of them, but Chloe’s not your typical ace reporter – she’s the best friend of Superman.

Then Lana shows up. It didn’t bother me that she showed up, I expected that. Chloe is supposed to be her best friend and her roommate. (Yet, I’ve never quite understood the friends’ thing because I’ve never thought Lana had been much of a friend to Chloe, but that’s another story.) Lana doesn’t question anything and she completely forgets everything about all the past events that have happened at Belle Reve – including what happened to Lex. But, she runs to Lex (which is understandable now that she doesn’t feel comfortable talking with Clark) and asks him to help ensure that Chloe is committed? Who the heck does she think she is? It’s obvious that Lana doesn’t know anything about Chloe. She should have run to her boyfriend and Chloe’s best friend, Clark, or at least her cousin, Lois. This moment wasn’t about her – it was about Chloe. She knew how Clark and Chloe feel about Lex and how they both feel about Belle Reve. Okay – I’ll stop there and get right onto Lex.

Lex could care less about Chloe, yet he had two alternate reasons to try and help her. 1. To win favor from Lana and be viewed as someone who cared. 2. To get Chloe into Belle Reve so that he can probe her mind and find out what she knows about Clark. I saw his stripes as plain as day when he showed contempt towards Clark outside of the dorm-room. He knew he had an opportunity to try and make Clark look bad at the same time making himself look like the mature one – in front of Lana. I hope she felt really bad and like a cheater when Clark came around the corner. She had no business involving Lex. Clark noticed her betrayal I think for the first time.

Does Clark not tell his mother what goes on anymore or does she just not care about Chloe? She acted like she didn’t know anything, not even a “How is Chloe doing?” I suppose Lionel’s appearance still had her all shook up. BTW – why was Lionel at the backdoor instead of the front? Is he a peeping Tom? I don’t know why Martha didn’t just kick his butt right back out of the door. Why does she tolerate him?

So, Lex is looking for Professor Fine? I thought he was dead? But, then again – if he was neither human nor Kryptonian, combined with the fact that his spaceship also disappeared, I think we will be seeing him again.

So, what exactly was the FOTW’s gift? To make (crazy)girls feel comfortable with him and tell them their secrets, yet he also told them his – so he had to kill them? Was it sort of like the gift of truth that Chloe once had? Could that have been the reason why only she could see the girl – or was fused because of the lightening? I don’t’ think it was the lightening, because we saw her face in the shower curtain long before the lightening strike hit. Sometimes I think its best not to try and figure out the FOTWs gifts and just go with it. I thought he did a great job acting psychotically freaky and the ghost girl did a great job of acting scary and Chloe did an excellent job of acting possessed.

And now… Chloe’s mom! I HATED that they didn’t show me her face, but am appreciative that they focused on Chloe’s. I choked up. The hard lump in my throat took at least ten minutes to go away. Clark’s facial expressions when he was talking to Chloe about her mom were excellent as well. It showed how much he cared about Chloe. It was completely selfless and had nothing to do with him. He was only concerned with her well-being and he used his own loss as a way to reach out to her. That was love. They’re comfortable together and they can be their true selves.

Like I said before, I think this was one of the best episodes I’ve ever seen. It didn’t really feel like Smallville, but it was great. Maybe this is how Smallville should be!


This has been Crazy4Smallville’s weekly review. Till Next Time!

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:13 Vengence

Wow... let me wipe these tears from eyes before I get started. I was very touched in the last scene. Not only I, but the whole room was deathly muted for a whole two minutes. That was, until my sob broke the silence.

But, I don't want to start at the end.

Clark/Martha - That darn old tractor. Just about everytime we saw Jonathan, he was always repairing that tractor and now Clark has resumed his role, but he's not as good at it (or is he?) I mean, come on - can't they figure out how to fix it right the first time? Besides, Clark is Superman - why don't he just do the work that the tractor was meant to do.

This brings up another question. Clearly Martha can see that her son was not destined to be a farmer. Clearly Clark knows there's more in-store for him or else he wouldn't be off in college. So, why don't the Kent's sell the farm, now that Jonathan is gone? It takes a lot of work to run a farm and niether Martha (who runs a coffee shop) nor Clark seems inclined to do so. Perhaps this will be the next emotional struggle that Clark will face - to take his father's place on the farm or his biological father's place as a leader.

Martha getting rid of Jonathan's clothes was a sad moment in the beginning. When she offered them to Clark, in his grief and denial he refused them. Then he refused the watch. But, why would Martha take the watch with her to the community center? Anyway, I think her getting mugged was what brought Clark's anger to the surface, not just the watch. Once again one of his parents were in danger, yet he wasn't there to save them. With all these powers and gifts that he has and has used to save so many, he seems to fail with saving those closest to him.

Clark/Chloe - I love their interaction. We get to see more of the real Clark when he's with Chloe. He get's to be himself and I think the more he's free to be himself around someone he trusts, the more he'll develope into who he's supposed to be. She keeps him 'grounded'. Their fake mugging scene was hilarious and when Clark snatched that hood off of his head, I've never seen him look more sexy. Even my eleven-year old went, "Oooo".

Even though Clark didn't give heed to all of Chloe's advice, it still calmed him. Imagine the level of his anger had she not been there?

Martha/Chloe - It's about time! Chloe has known Clark's secret for how long now and without hardly any acknowledgement from the Kent's? Even though Martha went to Chloe for that support, and Chloe delivered magnificiantly, I felt there was still a wall up on Martha's end. Martha has, with open arms, accepted Lana, who has caused Clark more emotional pain than anyone,and made her feel as part of the family. She has also opened up her heart to Lois. Yet, neither of them know about Clark, nor can offer Clark the support he needs. Yet, here is Chloe, who has been Clark's best friend for years, she knows his secret and has been giving him support all this time, but she's only acknowledged when they need something. Like when Jonathan needed Kara's fingerprints and now Martha when she can't find Clark. The fact that she knew that Clark would be with Chloe should be reason enough to be accepted as much, if not more, than Lana or Lois in their life.

Clark/Lana - Okay, now I'm really confused as to the state of their relationship. The beginning of the episode was believable, given the state of Clark's anger and the separation at the funeral. When he pushed her away - it was plausible. However, her going out to find the watch (I won't talk about the plausibility of her getting to Metropolis and back to Smallville)seemed somewhat out of place. Yet, from a different angle it could make sense. In the sense that now the tables have turned. Lana was the one who walked away from Clark, because he won't be honest with her and open up to her, after all these years of him chasing after her. Now, she's the one chasing him, and he's the one walking away. Isn't that the way it was supposed to be in the first place?

Lionel/Lex - Who the heck is Lionel? I'm so confused by this character. I think he knows all about Clark's secret. Not just that he has super powers, but the whole Kryptonian history. Remember, Lionel studied the caves, he was downloaded with information concerning General Zod, he was possessed by Jor-El, etc. I think he knows everything. The reason he's against Lex, is because the son he wants right now isn't the one he's created, but the one he's discovered. I think in his deranged mind, he thinks that he can win over Clark and mold him into the son that he's always wanted. Lex has always been too weak for him (in his mind), but Clark is super. Besides the fact that he also has a thing for Martha Kent. However, Lionel doesn't realize how powerful of a son he has created.

How the heck did Lex know about Lionel and Jonathan's meeting, unless he's got camera's set up in the Kent barn. Wouldn't be a stretch, since Lex knows a lot happens in that barn. Someone Lex knows every move that Lionel takes - it makes me wonder exactly how much he truly knows about Clark. If he knows about Clark, he must also know what his father truly desires - and that is why he's able to foil his plans. It could also be the driving wedge in his heart, knowing his own father prefers Clark - much like everyone else - including Lana.

The FOTW - Angel of Vengence - She had a purpose - to show Clark that he can't let his anger rule over him. She also was a catalyst to drop some great ideas and direction for Clark in the future. But, other than that - I didn't really see a purpose for her, other than for product placement. I thought she was okay, but nothing spectacular. I think it would have been a better touch had she been the one to return the watch - as a sign of repentence and a possible future alliance with Clark.

So, overall - I liked this episode. It had a lot of elements crammed into it, but most of them were not plain and obvious to see. They were more on the subconscience level.

Till next time!