Tag Archives: quotes

July 21, 2023 – Sonny Sizes Up Austin, New Nanny, Will He, Transformed, Dueling Deckhands, New Chef, Dead Stuff, She’s Here, Robfusal, Sea Dog, Just Five Quotes & Her World

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Sonny says, to protecting our own, and clinks glasses with Nina and Ava. He asks Austin, what’s wrong? Does he have a problem with the toast?

As the doctor pokes at Curtis’s legs, TJ asks what he feels, but Curtis says he doesn’t feel a thing. He can’t feel anything. None of them seem surprised that he can’t feel his legs. Will somebody tell him what the hell is going on? He shouts, what’s going on?!

Diane walks into the hospital on the phone, and says she’s literally walking in the door… Don’t worry. She’ll find Sasha and take care of everything. Leaning on the counter, Robert says, everything? That’s a tall order, even for Killer Miller.

Sasha is wheeled out of the elevator, and Gladys says, she’s going to get better. She knows it doesn’t look like it, but she promises to do everything she can to get Sasha all the help she needs. Dr. Montague comes out and says he knows how upsetting this must be for Gladys, but he’s here now. He asks if Sasha remembers him. He’s Dr. Montague, and he’s here to help her. She says, help her? and he says, she’s not herself right now, but he promises she will be soon. He’ll make sure of that. He asks the officer to take Sasha to the exam room, and the officer leaves with Sasha. Gladys says, he never told her that Sasha would get this bad, but Montague says, her daughter-in-law is much worse off than she led him to believe. Gladys asks what he gave her. She hurt somebody. It’s lucky she didn’t kill him. And she’s in so much pain now. She never meant for Sasha to suffer… He says, shut up. They both know what she meant to happen. She did her part; now he’ll do his. He goes into the exam room, and closes the door. Gladys looks at Sasha through the window, and Montague closes the blinds.

Carly visits Drew in Pentenville, and says she knows she promised she wouldn’t visit so soon, but he says he’s glad she did. She says she knows he wanted to feel more settled, but she had to see him. She misses him so much. He says he misses her, and she says, here she is. He says, she looks so beautiful, even in a place like this, and she says, she talked to Sam. Scout’s determined to visit him ASAP. He says, she knows how Scout is when she sets her mind to something; you can’t change it. The last time he was locked in a cell, he etched her name in the wall, and that’s what kept him alive, but now he has so much more to live for. She says, this place is better than Crete, right? and he flashes back to Cyrus giving him a Bible with a screwdriver in it. Carly asks, what’s wrong?

At the pool, Dex tells Josslyn, other people were at the pool when the shooting happened. Anna Devane for one, and the police are even certain Curtis wasn’t the target. She says she’s certain. Curtis was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bullet was meant for Sonny. It could have been Dex. He says, no, but she says, he already got shot working for Sonny. What’s to say it won’t happen again? He says, because now he has more to live for. He’s never loved anyone as much as he loves her. He’s not going to give that up. They kiss.

TJ says, Curtis has every right to be concerned, and Portia says, TJ is right, but he doesn’t want to put too much stress on himself right now. That’s going to make it… Curtis says, stop. He can’t feel his legs. He needs them to stop talking to him like family. They’re doctors and he’s a patient. Why can’t he feel his legs? Dr. Barnsdall says he understands why Curtis is so concerned, but he’s just come through very extensive spinal surgery. Curtis is lucky to be alive. The bullet fragments he removed were lodged very close to Curtis’s spine. He was under very heavy sedation during the procedure. Every patient’s body reacts differently when that wears off. Curtis says, so the anesthesia is why he can’t feel his legs? and the doctor says, that’s one of the possibilities. Curtis says, cut it to him straight. What are the other possibilities? Dr. Barnsdall says he still needs to look at some of the other tests and scans they took after the surgery, and then he’ll better be able to answer some of Curtis’s questions. He’ll leave Curtis with his family now. The doctor leaves with the nurse, and TJ asks if Curtis heard what Dr. Barnsdall said. Very few people would have even survived that surgery. Portia says, if Aunt Stella were here, she thinks Stella would call it a miracle, and Curtis says, a miracle.

Diane tells Robert that she’s here to see her client Sasha Gilmore. Yes, she knows Sasha was recently represented by Martin Grey, but he asked her to take over when he was called away. He asks if Martin is going to be back, and she says, he is, but Maxie felt Sasha needed… He says, a killer shark, but she says, compassion and complete dedication. She will take care of everything. She knows why he’s here, and no, he won’t interrogate her client in her current state.

Gladys tells the guard that her daughter-in-law is not a criminal. He saw how gentle she was. She just needs a little psychological help, that’s all. He looks straight ahead like a guard at Buckingham Palace, and she says, oh God, and walks away.

Sasha says she knows he’s Dr. Montague, and he says, very good. Does she know why she’s here? She says, for more of those pills he gave her? but he says, no. Those pills would have helped her, but he warned her not to take too many. She says she only took three pills a day like he told her, and as he prepares a syringe, she notices blood on her clothes. He says, soon, all of her questions will be answered, and she sees the syringe. She asks, what’s that? No. He gives her the shot.

Austin says he really respects Sonny. Sonny is a powerful man and puts such a high value on family. Sonny says, nothing more important than family, and Austin says, absolutely. Let him try to put Sonny’s mind at ease. He hasn’t spent a lot of time with Avery, but the little time he’s spent with her, she’s lovely. He thinks she looks at him and sees him as not just her mom’s friend, but maybe her friend as well. Sonny says, Avery sees the good in everybody, and Austin says, that’s wonderful. He wonders if she got that from Ava, or is it a trait she inherited from Sonny? Sonny says he always gives people another chance, and Austin says, just the one? What happens when people disappoint him? Sonny asks, what happens when Austin loses a patient? and Austin says he thinks he can speak for every doctor in the world when he says, it’s hard to lose a patient. Sonny says, you’ve just got to move forward. It’s sad, but some people are beyond helping. You’ve just got to move on.

Portia says, please talk to them, and Curtis says he understands what the doctor was saying. He’s lucky to be alive, and he’s grateful for everything everyone at the hospital has done for him. But he wants to walk out of the hospital on his own, and that’s not going to happen. TJ tells him, that’s not what Dr. Barnsdall said, and Curtis says, yet. Portia says, no one can walk right after spinal surgery, and TJ says, Portia’s right. People going through the same kind of surgery, it can take weeks before they can walk. Curtis asks, how long before they can feel their legs again? when TJ gets paged, and Curtis tells him to go. He knows TJ has a job to do. TJ says he’ll be back as soon as he can, and leaves. Portia takes Curtis’s hand, and says, it’s going to be okay, and he says, yes, it will. As soon as he gets his life back. All of it.

Robert says he takes no pleasure in Sasha’s current predicament, but Cody Bell’s the real victim here, and Diane says, come on. They both know there was no intent. Sasha never meant to hurt the guy. He says, she stabbed him with a paring knife, and Diane says, it’s well-documented that Sasha hasn’t been herself since losing her baby and her husband. And might she point out, Heather Webber killed Sasha’s husband and came perilously close to killing yours truly, so she would think he’d have more… He says he’s not there to persecute her client, and she says, good. Why is he here? He says, after Maxie spoke to her, she called her Uncle Robert. She says, so Maxie asked him to look out for Sasha to make sure she was treated fairly, and he says, who’d have thunk it? Her and him on the same team. They get into the elevator together, and bump shoulders.

Sasha scrubs at the blood, and says she can’t get this off, but Montague says, don’t worry about that. He sets up a recorder, and says, they’ll take care of that later. Now tell him what she remembers. She says, there was a pool, and he says, what happened at the pool? She says, Gladys was there… and he grabbed her by the wrist. She flashes back to seeing Cyrus grab Gladys, and tells Montague, she saw him. He tried to ruin her life. He gave her drugs. Montague asks who she thinks she saw at the pool, and she says she knows she saw him. He grabbed Gladys and she knew she had to stop him. She had to stop Cyrus Renault.

Carly says she doesn’t understand. Cyrus is a murderer. She assumed Drew would be separated from people like him. Where did Drew run into him? Drew says, Cyrus found him. Cyrus wants to make him a fisher of men. She says, Cyrus Renault? and he says, what good is a messiah complex without disciples he’s recruiting? She asks if he told Cyrus to go to hell. Better yet, he has to tell the guards. They don’t know what kind of sick game Cyrus is playing, but Drew has to stay away from him. Drew doesn’t want to get on his bad side. He says she doesn’t have to worry about him, but she says, he just told her some maniac has him in their sights, and he doesn’t want her worrying about him? He says he’s got this; he can take care of himself. Cyrus knows not to make a move on him. She says she knows all the training he’s had, but he doesn’t know how many men Cyrus has under his control. He can’t fight everyone. He says, it’s okay, but she says, it’s not okay. He says, it’s taken care of, and she says, how, and by whom? He says, her ex-husband.

Ava says, Sonny is incorrigible, and tells Austin that his bark is far worse than his bite. Sonny says, the doctor knows he was joking, right? and they all laugh. Austin’s phone rings, and he asks them to excuse him. Sonny asks if there’s a problem, but Austin says, occupational hazard. He’ll be right back. He leaves, and Ava says, all right. Nina says, don’t get her wrong. Austin is awkward, but very nice and there’s some kind of chemistry there, but as a couple, she doesn’t really see it. I’m glad she said it, since I’ve been thinking it.

Outside on the phone, Austin tells someone, you could say that. It was super awkward. A lunatic walks into a restaurant and he’s with Sonny Corinthos. Not great. He guesses the question is, what’s Mason going to do about it?

TJ asks if Dr. Barnsdall reviewed all of Curtis’s latest test results, and the doctor says he did, and the final scans they took after Curtis’s surgery. TJ says, will his uncle ever be able to walk again?

Carly says, Sonny has people watching Drew’s back, and Drew says, she doesn’t sound completely surprised. She says, vintage Sonny, and Drew says, to protect him? She says, Sonny knows he’s a good guy, and deep down he knows Drew is good for her. She and Sonny will always be family, and at the end of the day, nothing’s more important to Sonny than family. He asks if this is Sonny’s way of welcoming him into the family, and she laughs, saying, she wouldn’t go that far. She just wants him to come home. Nothing’s more important. He says he’s working on it. So what else is going on? She says, Willow came home, and he says, that’s great. She says, the only reason Willow is okay is because he rescued Liesl. The only reason Willow’s okay is because of him. He says he’s just happy she’s home where she belongs. Are they planning a big party at the house for her already?… What’s going on? Carly says, nothing, but he says he knows her. He loves her. Tell him what it is.

Portia says, what Curtis needs right now is rest, and she’ll be right back. He doesn’t let go of her hand, and says, what he needs is her here. He also needs to tell her something before the doctor gets back. She says, they’ll have plenty of time to talk later, but he says, she’s wrong. Time is the one thing we’re never sure we have. When he came to find her at the pool, he’d just had a conversation with Sam, and she said something he didn’t think was important at the time. And now, he can’t forget it. Portia asks what she said, and he tells her, she said, you never have enough time with the people you love, and she’s right. He realized how much time he was wasting and came to find her. He’s not sorry he went to the pool looking for her, but he’s sorry he didn’t get to say what he wanted to say.

Robert and Diane come out of the elevator, and Gladys says, her daughter-in-law is in no condition to be hounded by lawyers right now. Diane says, Gladys might be Sasha’s guardian, but she’s not Sasha’s gatekeeper. She’s assuming Sasha is in the exam room. Gladys says, she’s getting the treatment she needs from her shrink, and Robert says, he’ll handle this. He goes over to the guard, and Gladys says she’s sure Diane means well, but Sasha is in pretty bad shape. If Diane makes her more upset, she swears she’ll… Diane asks, what will she do? Word to the wise; never, ever threaten her. Robert tells Diane, ten minutes max, and Diane asks Gladys to excuse her.

Sasha says, he was going to hurt Gladys like he hurt her, and she couldn’t let that happen. So she saw the knife, and… Diane walks in, and says, Sasha, stop right there. Not one more word. And you – she looks at Montague – turn off that recording device right now. He grabs it and shuts it off.

Ava says, she and Austin have only had a few dates. Of course (🍷) Nina doesn’t see them as a couple. Nina says, on the plus side, he’s nothing like Nikolas, and Ava says, that’s for sure. He is very… Nina says, alive, and Ava says, what? Nina says, don’t get her wrong. Ava and Nikolas had some connection and chemistry, but Nikolas always seemed like he was brooding. He was always serious all the time to her. At least Austin is mysteriously… expressive. Ava says, he’s definitely more alive, and Sonny says, he’s very attentive to his patients, because earlier, that guy Gordon was hostile. Austin could have blown him off, but he took the time to deal with the problem. Nina asks, what happened when Sonny went out after him? and Sonny says he’s pretty sure that Austin’s patient understands the situation. Austin comes back, and Ava says, Sonny was just complementing his bedside manner. Sonny’s phone rings, and he tells Gladys that he’s in the middle of something. Gladys says, it’s Sasha. She’s been arrested. Sonny asks, what the hell for? and Gladys says, she’s getting a psyche evaluation at GH right now. Sonny says he’ll be right there, and Nina asks, what’s going on? He says, Sasha’s in trouble. He has to go to GH. Nina says she’s going with him, and tells Ava and Austin that she’s so sorry. Ava says, no, go, and Sonny and Nina leave. Ava says, disaster averted, for now, and eats her martini olives off the stirrer.

Josslyn puts suntan lotion (I think… I hope) on Dex, when his phone rings. She says, don’t answer it, but he says, she knows he has to. Sonny says he knows it’s Dex’s day off. Something came up. Dex asks what he needs and Sonny says, surveillance. Port Charles Grill. Austin Gatlin-Holt.

Portia says she loves the sentiment, she really does, but is Curtis saying if he hadn’t spoken to Sam, he wouldn’t… He says, it’s done. They’re here. And what he wants her to know right now is, whatever happens, his feelings for her won’t change. And once he’s back on his feet… She says, and he will be, but she needs him to listen to his doctors… and his wife. She just wants him to relax and let his body heal as long as possible. He says he’s feeling stronger by the minute, and she says, good. That’s what she likes to hear. She has to check on a patient really quickly, but she promises she’ll be right back. She leaves, and cries in the hallway. Curtis pinches his leg, and sighs.

Dr. Barnsdall shows TJ his tablet, and says, they were successful in removing the bullet and every fragment. TJ says, Dr. Barnsdall always does good work, but was it enough?

Carly says, there’s nothing for Drew to worry about, but he says, something is going on. Is it the financial penalty from the SEC? She says she can handle it. She doesn’t want him to even think about it. He says he doesn’t want her thinking about it. That was a huge fine. He doesn’t want this weighing her down along with everything else. It’s really simple. He can sell Aurora. She says, no, he can’t. Diane made it crystal clear that she can’t accept anything from him, Michael, or Sonny. She could be hit with an even bigger fine, or worse. He says, Diane knows what she’s talking about. Did she come up with a Plan B? Carly says, she did, and Diane told her it’s going to take a while, but it doesn’t matter because she has resources. He says, tell him she’s not selling the house, and she says, the house is too big for them. He says, it’s not just the house, it’s the moss bowl’s🎍 her home, and she says, the home she had with Sonny. She has a lot of great memories of the kids growing up there, but those memories aren’t going away because she sells the house. She wants to focus on the future, and getting him out of here and sharing that future with him. No piece of real estate is going to change that. Life is too fragile to wait around. You think you have everything under control, and think the people you love are safe, then just like that… He says, what happened?

Dex puts his shirt on, and Josslyn asks if he really has to go. It’s his day off. What could be so important? He says, it’s no big deal. Nothing dangerous. Just a little surveillance. He kisses her, and she says, if it’s not important, why can’t they go back to his place right now? and he says, it’s not that he doesn’t want that. He made a choice when he decided to work for Sonny. She says she thought she was the choice he made, and he says, the best ever; the most important ever. But now he needs to go to work, and she – he takes a book out of their beach bag – needs to finish that mystery. The minute this job is done, he promises… She kisses him, and he says he promises. I gotta say it. I think she’s too immature for him.

Austin says he can’t tell. Did Sonny think he was okay, or does Sonny hate him? Ava shrugs and says she doesn’t know, but when he decides, believe her, Austin will know. He asks how she thinks it went, but she says she doesn’t know. Sonny plays things so close to the vest, but when it comes to Avery, he’s not going to take any chances. Austin says, Sonny has nothing to worry about with him and Avery. He loves kids. Ava says, that’s good, because Sonny said something he really meant; family is everything. He lives by that. Austin asks if he’s like that with all her lovers.

Gladys thanks Sonny for coming, and Sonny asks Robert, where’s Sasha? Robert says, she’s in there, indicating the exam room. Diane’s with her.

Montague says, how dare Diane barge in here and interrupt while he’s evaluating a patient. Get out! Diane says she’s not going anywhere. She’s Diane Miller, and she’s Sasha’s attorney. And that trumps his title any day of the week, and don’t turn that recorder on again. She gently asks if Sasha remembers her, and Sasha says, Diane. Diane says she’s Sasha’s attorney. She helped Sasha once before, and she’s going to help her again. Sasha tells her, Dr. Montague said… but Diane says, no. She doesn’t need to pay any attention to Dr. Montague. Just look right at her and she doesn’t say one more word. Montague says, unfortunately, Diane is a little too late. Sasha already told him more than enough.

Nina tells Gladys, this doesn’t make any sense. Why would Sasha stab Cody Bell? Gladys says, it was obvious she wasn’t herself. She would never hurt anyone. Something made her do it. Sonny says, like what? What made her do it?

Alone in the office, TJ yells, dammit! and pounds the desk with his fist. Portia walks in and says, no. He walks over to her, and she tells him, please don’t say it. She cries as he hugs her.

Gladys says she’s not a shrink. How would she know what’s wrong with Sasha? First there was the shoplifting, now she stabs Cody? Nina’s own journalist was there; she saw the whole thing. Nina says she talked to Alyse. She said it came out of nowhere. It doesn’t make any sense. When she was on Home & Heart, and someone did that horrible mind game on her, she handled it. Sonny says he saw her a few weeks ago and told her that she was ready to be on her own; to end Gladys’s guardianship. What changed?

Montague and Diane step away from Sasha, and he says, the police brought Miss Gilmore in for a psyche evaluation. As her lawyer, he’s sure Diane knows what that entails, what his responsibilities are. He’s sorry, but at this point, his hands are tied.

Robert tells Gladys, Sonny, and Nina that he just got off a call from Judge Palmer… Diane joins them and says, please, let her tell them. Sasha needs help. She’s being sent to Ferncliff Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Oh yeah, Ferncliff. We haven’t seen that place for a while.

Ava says she needs to make something very clear, she and Austin aren’t a couple, and they’re definitely not lovers. He says, what happened at Windymere… She says, means nothing. They’re nothing. She had a little moment of weakness. She’s regretted it ever since. He says he’s only regretted they haven’t done it again, and she says, he has an inflated opinion – he rubs her leg under the table – of his sexual prowess. And she assumes as a doctor – she picks up her knife – he has a need for that hand creeping up her thigh. He says, she wouldn’t, and she just looks at him. He removes his hand, and says, she didn’t answer his question. Sonny is a jealous guy? She says, Sonny doesn’t care who she sleeps with, as long as it doesn’t negatively impact Avery. He says, good to know. He assumes she sang his praises when he was away from the table, and she says, what praises might those be? His gymnastics in bed. He says, thank you, and she says, his willingness to help bury dead husbands? She told Sonny as little as possible about him; only what she thought he’d actually believe. He says, then how come he didn’t buy it?

Drew asks, what happened? and Carly says, Curtis was shot. Drew says, is he… She says, no. He’s in the hospital. He asks, how bad was it? and she says, it was touch and go. She heard this morning he’s out of surgery, he’s in recovery, but she doesn’t know his condition. Drew says, who shot him? and she says, they don’t know. It was at the MetroCourt pool. He asks if anyone else was hurt, and she says, no, luckily. He says he doesn’t get it. Who would want to kill Curtis? She says, the PCPD isn’t sure he was the target.

Curtis unsuccessfully tries to move his legs. In the hallway, Portia wipes the tears from her cheeks and puts on a smile. She goes into his room, and says, told him that she wouldn’t be long. He says he’s glad she’s back. Could she make sure they schedule a therapy session for him as soon as possible? She says, it’s way too soon for something like that, but he says, it’s never too soon. He’s not going to sit here in this bed and wait for another miracle. He knows it’s going to take hard work, but he’s here for it. Because no matter what it takes, he’s going to walk and stand up on his own two legs. Who knows? Someday, he might take her in his arms and they can dance the night away again. What does she think about that? She says she absolutely loves it. There’s something she wants to tell him. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, Dr. Barnsdall got the latest tests and scans back and he consulted with three other surgeons, and none of them think he’ll be able to walk again.

Carly says she’s sorry. As soon as she gets any information about Curtis, she’ll get it to Drew. He thanks her, and says, she told him Portia was with Curtis. Does she know who else was out there? She says, his attorney Zeke, Jordan Ashford… Dante, Anna, and Sonny. He says, Curtis is such a good man. They’d better find out who did this. A guard says, time’s up, and Carly says she’ll come back as soon as she can. Seeing him makes everything better. He says he loves her, and she says she loves him, and leaves after taking a last look.

Portia says, doctors have been wrong before, and this isn’t a death sentence. They almost lost him for good, and Dr. Barnsdall said there’s no reason he can’t live an absolutely… Curtis says, stop. Just stop. She says, but they all love him. No matter what. He says he needs some time, and she says, of course (🍷). Of course (🍷) he does. He says, alone, and she says she understands. She leaves, and stands in the hallway crying, when TJ sees her. In his room, Curtis looks lonely.

Josslyn reads her book, when her phone rings. She says, hello?… This is Josslyn Jax. Who’s this?… Excuse me?… What are you talking about?

Ava says, Sonny rarely makes snap judgements, but when he does, look out, and Austin says, so she doesn’t think Sonny’s judged him yet. She says, probably not, but she thinks she managed to convince him that he has nothing to worry about with Austin spending time around Avery. Austin says, he’s not the only one who can read people. And he gets the distinct feeling Sonny is on to them. Dex listens from the bar.

Cyrus sits on a couch reading, and looks up to see Drew.

Sasha is wheeled out, and Nina says, it’s horrible. Diane promises Nina that she’ll fight this tooth and nail. Gladys says, she’s going to a good place, right? and Montague says, that’s exactly where her daughter-in-law should be. She’ll get all the help she needs. Isn’t that what they all want? He gets in the elevator, and Sonny asks the guard for a moment. He asks if Sasha can hear him. He knows she’s in there. Listen to him. She’s not alone. Does she understand? She’s not alone. She thanks him, and the guard wheels her into the elevator.

On Monday, Carly tells Josslyn that she’s been entrusted with their family institution; Austin tells someone that everything will be okay; and Sonny tells Dex, stay with him. See what he can find out.

🧸 Bye Pilar…

The nanny Mason wants.

⚖️ Come On Back, Jack…

I feel ripped off. I was hoping he was going to be a regular.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Spreading Her Wings…

Now if they’d just give her a love life. Chad was great, but it’s been a minute… or two… or three…

⚓️ Two Stooges On Deck…

He needs to mansplain.

He’s got work to do, he’s just not sure what.

🥗 She’s the Top…

No one can replace Padma, but the show must go on.

⚰️ Let’s Talk About Dead…

Wow. Daryl hasn’t even had his first season yet.

https://www.avclub.com/amc-is-already-tossing-new-seasons-at-its-latest-walkin-1850665927

And coming up behind Daryl.

https://people.com/the-walking-dead-rick-michonne-spinoff-title-teaser-andrew-lincoln-danai-gurira-7564287

City recap.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-dead-city-season1-episode5-recap-spoilers/

🩰 Time To Shine…

Barbie in review.

https://www.avclub.com/barbie-movie-review-margot-robbie-greta-gerwig-1850646537

I love this song!

https://slate.com/culture/2023/07/barbie-girl-song-movie-aqua-nicki-minaj-ice-spice.html

When and where you can see it.

https://www.barbie-themovie.com/

📸 Meanie Meanie Jellybeanie…

I included this only because I thought it was odd and kind of funny.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/abby-lee-miller-slams-rob-lowe-for-refusing-to-take-a-picture-with-her-at-elton-johns-oscar-party-he-was-mean/ar-AA1e5DmS

🐶 The Old Man and The Sea, and The Dog…

I’ll bet he was glad for the company, and it’s a good pet parent who recognizes their dog would be happier in another home.

https://people.com/dog-lost-at-sea-with-sailor-adopted-by-crew-member-rescued-them-7563071

💫 Quotes of the Week

Today is a new day. Hiding from your history only shackles you to it. We can’t undo a single thing we have ever done, but we can make decisions today that propel us to the life we want and towards the healing we need. – Steve Maraboli

It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. – Dale Carnegie

To be nobody but yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. – e.e. cummings

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. – Henry Ward Beecher

I’m fast, cheap, but average. – Director Higurashi (Takayuki Hamatsu), One Cut of the Dead

🩱 Life In Plastic…

Meet me here on Monday really Tuesday for soap, and who knows what, since I can’t watch one more Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay making your own kind of music, and stay keeping in mind, time is the one thing we’re never sure we have.

July 14, 2023 – Anna Has a Plan, Busy Lady, No Guard Here, Yet Another, Spilling It, VanderLatest, Daryl’s Date, Dead Rank, Already, Next Last, Record Setter, Pet (!) Fashion, Just Enough Quotes & Wild

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Anna comes downstairs, hears something, and draws her gun. She opens the door to Dante telling a guy in a hoodie not to move.

Alexis tells Sonny, the details aren’t hers to give him, but their daughter is considering doing something Alexis believes she’s completely unprepared to do. He says, and she wants him to be the bad guy.

Arriving back home, Sasha tells Gladys that she’s not sure what happened. She was so sure she could take those clothes. How could she have misunderstood Deception’s agreement with Logan’s? Gladys says, it’s all over now. The PCPD let her go, Maxie took care of everything with Logan’s, they dropped the charges, and no one’s mad at Sasha. She looks tired. Has she taken her afternoon meds? Sasha says she is tired. She’s going to splash some water on her face and take her pills. She leaves, and Gladys’s phone rings. She says she’s glad they called. She’s so sorry she rushed out of the store like that… She definitely wants the coat and the belt… You know what? She’ll take it all. Leave the card on file. Can they send it over today? There’s knock at the door, and she opens it to Cody. She says, he’s the last thing they need right now, and slams it shut.

Sam says, he scared the hell out of her, and Mac says, for the last time, he’s sorry. She says, fine. Now will he tell her why he basically abducted her and took five years off her life? He says, not until she tells him why she was following Cody, but she says she wasn’t. Actually, she was following Selina Wu, but why does he think she was following Cody? Is he in trouble? Mac says, yes. He thinks Cody’s in trouble, and from the way things look, he doesn’t think he can get Cody out of it.

Portia asks if Curtis made it through surgery, and TJ says, he did. She asks if Dr. Barnsdall (settling on this name) was able to remove the bullet, and the doctor says, they were, but the bullet left significant damage.

Anna asks, what’s going on? and Dante says he saw this guy hanging around her house. He identified himself and the guy ran. He was also carrying, so he took the guy down. He helps the guy stand, and pulls back his hood. Dante asks if Anna recognizes him, but she says she’s never seen him before. Dante says, Ricky Vasquez, and Anna asks if Dante knows him. Dante says, he works for Sonny. What is he doing here? Ricky says, taking a walk; enjoying the pretty houses. Is it a crime to take an afternoon stroll now? Dante tells him, it’s going to go one of three ways. Ricky tells him what he’s doing here, or he takes Ricky down to the station and then Ricky tells him, or he asks Sonny about it. Anna says, it’s okay. She knows why he’s here.

Stella asks if Curtis has woken up yet, but TJ says, not yet. Portia asks if they can see him, and Dr. Barnsdall says, Mr. Ashford is being moved to ICU. Once he’s settled, he can have one visitor at a time. She thanks him, he says he’ll keep them posted, and leaves. Marshall asks, what’s the best way to do this? Should they wait here or what? Portia says, there’s a waiting room outside the ICU. Maybe they can all wait there. TJ tells them to go ahead; he’ll catch up.

Sonny says, Alexis wants him to say no. That way, he’s the bad parent and Kristina’s mad at him, not Alexis. She says, Kristina never gets mad at him, just at her, and he says, maybe they should consider why that’s true. Alexis says, because Kristina thinks everything he says is awesome, and whatever she says is critical and judgmental. He says he thought things were fine between them, and Alexis says, they are. That’s why she doesn’t want to screw it up. Kristina values his opinion. He says, maybe because he doesn’t criticize or judge her, and she says, maybe because he tells Kristina what she wants to hear, and she tells Kristina what she needs to hear. She’s already weighed in on this, so he can weigh out. He says, so Alexis wants him to tell her it’s a bad idea, whatever it is, but Alexis says she’s not telling him what to say. He asks if she’s going to have cue cards for him, or feed the lines through earbuds. She says, maybe he won’t even agree with her, and he says, but she thinks he will, and she says, any normal or rational person would. Kristina is going to do something because she thinks it’s a good thing to do, but Alexis knows she’s not thinking about how this is going to affect the rest of her life. He says, this sounds serious, so she needs to tell him what kind of trouble Kristina’s in for.

Nina tells Kristina that she’s calling Sonny. She promised to update him as soon as they heard something. She steps away, and Kristina sees Molly and TJ hugging. She goes over to them, and says, what a relief. She was so worried. TJ says, his uncle is still in critical condition, so it’s a little early to start celebrating, doesn’t she think? Kristina says, he made out of surgery, so she’s being positive, and he asks if she understand his uncle could have died. And he can still… TJ storms off, and Kristina turns to Molly, but Molly says, not now, and follows him.

Back on the phone, Gladys says she wasn’t talking to them. She had some idiot knocking at her door. Cody knocks again, and she says, so they’ll send it over, right?… Thank you so much. She opens the door and asks if Cody can’t take a hint, but he says, no, sorry, and walks in. She says, it’s not a good time, and he says, good thing he’s not here to see her. Sasha comes out, and he says he got her message. He’s sorry he couldn’t answer the phone. She was at the police station? Gladys says, she called Cody? and Sasha says, Chase couldn’t reach Gladys, so she used her one phone call to call Cody. Gladys says, why? Don’t answer that. It doesn’t matter. Sasha says she’s glad Gladys sees it that way, and Gladys says, what does matter is that Cowboy Cody couldn’t bother to show up. He couldn’t even take time to answer Sasha’s call. What was more important than helping Sasha out in her time of need?

Sam asks if the PCPD is running surveillance on The Savoy, and Mac asks, what’s her interest in Selina Wu? She says she thinks Selina may have roped Cody into something shady, and he says, like what? She says, he’s a really good card player… and Mac says, she can relax. He knows all about Selina Wu’s illegal poker game.

Anna tells Dante that she gets it. He had a conceal/carry permit. He wasn’t really doing anything wrong. She knows why he was here. She knows why he was armed. Dante says, Sonny sent him here. Speaking of guns, is she always toting that thing around, or is it because of the shooting at the MetroCourt pool? She says, many reasons, and asks if he’s heard anything about Curtis. He says, Curtis is in surgery, and she says, if he hears anything, let her know. He says, of course (🍷), and she asks if she can run something by him. He says, officially? but she says, not yet. They sit on the sofa, and she says she has reason to believe she was the sniper’s target, not Sonny. He says, that would explain why she went up to the room the sniper was set up in, and she says, he knew about that? He says, of course (🍷). And officially, he has to tell her that she’s not law enforcement anymore, so she can’t do that. He’s the one to mess with this. She says, got it, and he says, now that they’ve gotten that out of the way, the reason he’s here is he wanted her impressions of the crime scene. She says, the pool area? but he says, the room the sniper was in. Think they missed anything? She says, there was nothing to notice. It was clean as a whistle. Other than what they found, the discarded rifle, the ammo… He says, it was clearly a professional, and she says, definitely. She heard the rifle was a ghost gun, so it was assembled at home, not mass manufactured. That means it’s untraceable? He says, it does, and she says, so the weapon’s a dead end, but he says, maybe not so much of a dead end as she thinks. Because he was able to trace where the weapon came from.

Alexis tells Sonny that she’s said all she can say. Now his job is to get Kristina to open up of her own accord. He says, just tell him if Kristina’s in any kind of danger, but she says, it’s nothing like that. If that was the case, she’d tell him. His phone rings, and he says, hold on. It could be about Curtis. He says, hi, and Nina says, hi. He’s out of surgery, but there were complications. He says, like what? and she says, that’s just it. The doctors don’t know just how extensive the damage was. They’re bringing Curtis to the ICU right now. He asks if she thinks Curtis could be paralyzed, but she says, the doctors didn’t say anything like that. She hopes not. She’s so worried about him. Sonny says, they all are. Is Curtis holding his own? She says, he is, and Sonny says, focus on that; that’s all that matters. She thanks him, and says, he always gives her great advice and knows how to make her feel better. He asks if she’s headed home, but she says, not yet. Maxie left her this vague voicemail. She has to follow up with her. She said something happened with Sasha.

Gladys says, he has nothing to say, but Cody says he has a few things to say. First, he doesn’t owe Gladys any explanations for anything. Gladys says she’s not asking him to explain his hurtful and negligent behavior to her. She’s asking him to explain it to Sasha, the poor woman he abandoned when she was under scrutiny by the authorities. Sasha says, that’s enough, and Cody says, and second, yes. He might not have been available when Sasha called, but the reason Sasha called him in the first place was that no one could find Gladys. So what was she up to? Care to share? Gladys says, don’t make this about her, and Sasha says, knock it off. Cody had no obligation to answer her call. They’re not even friends. Gladys says, is that right? and Sasha says she’s not even sure why she called him. Must have been an old impulse. Cody says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s glad she called him. He wishes he could have helped. Gladys says, if wishes were horses, he could ride them out of town, so get along, little doggy. Sasha asks to talk to Cody alone, and Gladys says, fine, but if he gives her any trouble, just let out a blood curdling scream. Gladys leaves, and Sasha says she’s so sorry about that. Cody says he’s not worried about Gladys. Is she okay? She says she screwed up. Big time.

Molly finds TJ, and says she knows it must have been rough in there, observing in the OR, while they were operating on Curtis. It must have been scary. He says, it was. Not a great sign if he wants to be a surgeon, is it? She says, this wasn’t just any surgery, and he says, now he has a greater understanding of why doctors aren’t allowed to operate on their loved ones. Seeing his uncle laying there, not knowing if he’ll ever walk again… It was horrible. She hugs him.

Portia, Trina, Marshall, and Stella go to the ICU waiting area, and Trina asks Portia if Curtis could still die. Portia tells her, from what Dr. Barnsdall said, Curtis’s condition is precarious, but they have faith in him. Stella says, they all do, and they join hands. Marshall says, they’re going to get through this together, as a family, and Stella says, including Curtis. Dr. Barnsdall comes out, and says, one of them can go in. Portia tells Trina to go in and see her dad, and Marshall says, go on in there and tell her father that they’re waiting on him. Trina says, okay, she will, and goes into Curtis’s room. He’s all hooked up to machines, and she says, dad.

Anna says, how was Dante able to traced an untraceable rifle? and he says he’s glad she asked. It was one of seventy-two rifles that were impounded back in 2021. She says, by the PCPD? but he says, by the WSB. That rifle should be locked up in Berlin, not in the streets. She says, the sniper has ties to the Bureau? Like a former agent or something? Dante says, or a current one. Maybe her resignation wasn’t enough. She asks what he’s saying; that the Bureau wants her dead?

Kristina finds Molly, and asks if TJ is okay. Molly says, he’ll be fine. He’s just upset about Curtis. She’s going to the ICU. Kristina follows her, and says, it seemed like something was off with him earlier, and Molly says, leave it alone. Kristina says, so there is something, and Kristina says, enough is enough. Not everything is about her.

Trina approaches Curtis’s bed, looks at all the equipment, and runs out. Portia says, what is it? Did something happen? Trina says, nothing happened. She’s sorry. He was just so still. She didn’t recognize him. She was so scared. She’s sorry. Portia says, there’s nothing to apologize for, and Trina says, Portia should go in. She’ll be in later. Portia asks if she’s sure, and Marshall says, they’ll take care of her. Trina says, go. She doesn’t want him to be alone.

Sam says, Mac knows about the poker game? Great. It will save them some time. How long? He says, between them, he’s known for months, which is why they’ve been staking out The Savoy. She asks if he’s going after Curtis, but he says, the target is Selina Wu. If Curtis is involved, it’s not because he wants to be. She says, so if the PCPD has been running surveillance for months, why haven’t they made their move? What’s taking so long?… Oh, it’s because he doesn’t want Cody caught in the trap they’ve set for Selina.

Sasha tells Cody that she thought Deception had a blanket agreement with Logan’s, and she could go in and take the things she wanted. She didn’t know she had to ask first. He says, it sounds like an honest mistake, and she thanks him. He says, its all over now, right? Will there be any charges? She says, no. Fortunately, the store dropped the charges. She’s just not sure she’s ever allowed back there. All she wanted was to get Willow a gift. Willow’s her best friend and she almost died. Oh my God. She needs to tell Michael and Willow… He says he bets Michael and Willow will understand. Can she finish the conversation with him right now? She says, sure, but that’s really all there is to the story. She’s so sorry she had him come all the way over here. She’ll never bug him again. He says, she can always call him if she needs him. He’s just sorry he couldn’t answer the phone. She says, it’s okay. They’re all busy people. He has his own life, right? There’s a knock at the door, and she says she hopes it’s not the police coming to arrest her again. It’s Nina, who says she’s so relieved that Sasha is okay. She is okay, right? Gladys comes out, and says, oh, it’s Nina. Cody asks if she was expecting someone else, and she says, it’s none of his damn business. Sasha asks if Gladys called Nina, but she says, no, and Nina says, Maxie left her a message that Sasha was at the PCPD, but she was coming home. What is going on? Sasha asks if Gladys would mind filling Nina in, and Gladys says, gladly. Sasha says she’s so thirsty, and asks if anyone wants anything. She and Cody go to the kitchen, and Nina takes Gladys aside. She asks if she should be worried, and Gladys says, our girl’s in trouble.

Alexis asks if Sonny is going to talk to Kristina, and he says he’ll give her a call, but if she doesn’t confide in him, he’s not going to push her. She says, of course (🍷) he’s not. She’s meeting with her editor, but she’s stopping at the hospital first. She thinks Kristina’s there… nudge-nudge. He says he was going to stop there anyway, and his phone dings. She asks if everything’s all right, and he says, there’s just something he has to take care of.

Anna says, one of the factors that contradict it being a WSB hit was that it was unsuccessful, and Dante says, but she knows even the best laid plans can go awry when you’re in the field. There’s a knock at the door, and she says she knows who this is. Sonny says, open up, and she says she was expecting him. He says he got a text from Ricky, and Dante says, saves him a trip to visit Sonny. Anna says, Sonny understood that if she needed any help, she’d ask for it, and he says, that’s what he’s doing. She says, but she didn’t ask, and he says he doesn’t apologize for putting someone on her to keep her safe. He apologizes because the person he put on her got caught. The next person he puts on her is going to be invisible and silent… Dante says, he should send a ninja, and Sonny says, so that way, he doesn’t have to apologize for keeping her safe. Anna says, that’s a shame, because he could certainly use the practice. I wonder if she means practice apologizing or keeping people safe, and Sonny says, on another note, he talked to Nina. Curtis made it out of surgery. Dante asks if he’s going to be okay, and Sonny says, it’s touch and go, but he’s alive, and that’s the only thing that matters at this point. Here’s what concerns him. The shooter. Who was he targeting? Dante says he’s happy that Sonny brought that up, since he has a question for him. Sonny asks if he needs an attorney, but Dante says, no. Can he think of any reason the WSB would want him dead?

Kristina says, so Molly is mad at her too. What did she do? Molly says, nothing… yet. She knows Kristina and she’s never going to let it go. Kristina says she’s going to need a translator for this conversation, and Molly says she overheard Kristina at The Savoy, telling Sam and mom that she can give TJ what Molly can’t. Kristina says, ew! That doesn’t even sound like her. Molly asks if Kristina’s forgetting she heard her. Kristina says, Molly knows she has no interest in TJ, and Molly says she knows that. Kristina asks what the hell they’re talking about here, and Molly says, Kristina wants to give TJ a baby since she can’t.

Portia tells Curtis that she’s right here with him and takes his hand. His dad, Trina, and Aunt Stella are right outside too. TJ is on his way with Molly, and Nina was here earlier. If she doesn’t make it back today, she’ll be here tomorrow. He’s surrounded by so many people who love him so much. His family loves him and they’re right here. They’re waiting for him to come back to them.

Trina says she can’t believe she ran out of that room like a scared little girl, and Stella asks, why? Trina says she’s supposed to be stronger than that, and Stella says, the reason she ran out of that room like a scared little girl was because, at that moment, that’s what she was. There’s no shame in that. Marshall says, none at all, and Stella says, a man who Trina just recently learned was her father was lying in front of her, hooked up to machines, and looking like the life was drained out of him. If that didn’t upset her down to her soul, Stella would think something was wrong with her. Marshall says, that’s why they keep her Great Aunt Stella around, for pep talks, and Stella says, they’ve all been here the better part of yesterday and today, praying for Curtis, all the while, scared out of their minds. Everybody’s nerves are fried, and Curtis would be the last person who’d want her beating up on herself. Marshall says, Trina can wait until he wakes up and talk to him then.

Gladys whispers, fortunately, Deception has a professional relationship with Logan’s which gave Maxie the clout to get them to drop the charges, but Nina says, Sasha insists it was just a misunderstanding. Gladys says, even if Deception had such an arrangement with Logans, which they don’t, what would make her think she could just take anything she wanted and walk out without telling anybody? It doesn’t make sense. Nina says, it doesn’t, and Gladys asks, why wouldLogan’s leave the security tags on if they knew Sasha was taking the clothes? Nina asks if Sasha didn’t set off the alarms, and Gladys says, she did, but she just showed them the receipt for the clothes she did pay for, so they thought it was just a glitch. Nina says, here’s the thing. She doesn’t think Sasha’s lying. Gladys says, that’s what worries her, as Sasha laughs in the kitchen. What if she’s getting confused again? What if she’s losing touch with reality?

Sonny says he doesn’t see any reason why he’d be on the WSB’s radar, and Anna says, it’s looking more and more like she was the intended target, not him. He asks why she’d say that, and Dante says, the gun that was used is the property of the WSB. Sonny asks if Anna thinks the Bureau feels she knows too much, and is trying to silence her. Anna says she can’t rule that out, but she can tell them both, if they were trying to get rid of her, they could just take her out like that. So efficiently, no one would be any the wiser. But shooting at her in a public pool like that, ignoring the possibility of collateral damage? It’s just too high profile for a Bureau assassination. Sonny says, then who else? and Anna says, making headline news like she has recently, internationally, because of her past as a double agent, gives any number of people a motive to want her dead. Sonny asks how they narrow down the suspects.

Mac tells Sam, even though they know about the illegal poker games, they don’t have enough to make the charges stick, especially for someone as slippery as Selina Wu. Sam says, and that’s the official reason? and he says, at least it’s legit. Also, if they’re going to catch a crime boss like Selina Wu, it has to be for something a helluva lot bigger than a casino racket. She says, it makes sense, but still… He says, still, Cody’s involvement has given him cause to hesitate. Cody may not be his son, but he is Dominique’s, and he wants to do right by him. She says, even though he’s in way over his head, and he says, especially then. Cody’s been doing pretty much whatever he wants his whole life. He’s used to doing what it takes to survive. Sam says, whether it’s legal or not? She’s not judging. She’s just saying she gets it; she’s been there. He says he thinks Cody has a good heart, and she says she’s known him only a little bit, and she thinks Cody has a well-paved road to hell. Mac says, he’s not doing himself any favors, especially with what happened with that bracelet at the Nurses Ball. Something was off about that. Sam asks if Mac thinks Cody stole the bracelet, and he says he thinks Cody’s smart enough not to put an expensive bracelet in his coat pocket, so no. She says, her neither, but she does think Selina helped Cody get the charges dropped. He asks what makes her say that.

Sasha asks if Nina and Gladys are whispering about her, and Nina says, no, but they’re worried about her. Sasha says she’s just kidding, but seriously, today could have been an even bigger disaster. After many, many public meltdowns and humiliations, the Face of Deception gets locked up for shoplifting? Throw away the keys. Does she look good in a straitjacket? Gladys says, even she has to admit it wasn’t that bad, and Sasha says she’s just grateful to Chase for bringing her in the back way to the station so photographers and reporters wouldn’t see her. Nina’s phone dings, and Sasha wonders if she talked too long, but Nina says, it’s just Ava. She was supposed to meet Ava, but she’ll cancel. Sasha says, no. Crisis averted. Everything is fine. Go meet Ava. Nina asks if she’s sure, but Sasha says she’ll be fine. Nina hugs Sasha, and says she’s going to call her a million times today. Gladys says she’ll walk Nina out. They leave, and Sasha asks if it’s just her, or was Nina being a little weird? Cody says he thinks Nina’s just worried about her. And honestly, so is he.

In the hallway, Nina says she’s assuming Gladys wants to talk about Sasha, and Gladys says she does. In fact, she needs Nina’s advice. Nina knows Sasha is seeing this psychiatrist as part of the process of dissolving this guardianship, right? Nina says, right, and Gladys says, Dr. Montague has to report to the court his professional opinion of Sasha’s mental health, and as her legal guardian, is it her responsibility to let the court know Sasha was caught shoplifting?

Kristina asks if Molly is talking about her being their surrogate, and Molly says, first, she plans a night out. Then Kristina spent the whole night talking about her shelter, her foundation. Kristina says, Molly told them she didn’t want to talk about babies, and Molly says, so Kristina automatically talks about herself? Kristina says, Molly was off-limits. Yes, she was talking about herself, because she’s actually doing something she’s proud of for the first time in her life. Is that a problem? Molly says, no. The problem is Kristina making Molly’s fertility issues all about her. Kristina asks, how? and Molly says, because if Kristina inserts herself as their surrogate, she and TJ having a baby becomes all about Kristina and her pregnancy. Kristina says, here’s a shocker for Molly. She wasn’t thinking about herself. She was thinking about her little sister and how upset she was and how she could help. She was willing to give up a year of her life, and give birth, so that Molly could have a baby, and she’s selfish?

Portia says she doesn’t know if Curtis remembers what happened, but if he does, everybody else is okay. She knows he worries about everybody else before himself, and she loves that about him. She loves his bravery and his big heart. But he’s got to look out for himself too. His family needs him. She needs him. She doesn’t want to live in a world without Curtis Ashford.

Molly tells Kristina that she doesn’t want to talk about this right now. They’re all upset about Curtis. Kristina says, they are all upset about Curtis, and now she’s upset because Molly and TJ think she’s making all of their problems about her, when she’s trying to help them have a baby. She was going to offer this to them sooner, but mom and Sam helped her realize it was too soon. Molly says, she needed mom and Sam to help her figure this out? and Kristina says she did, because she’s just Molly’s dumb, self-centered, narcissistic sister. She and TJ are right to think she shouldn’t be their surrogate, because God forbid their child is anything like her when Molly is this perfect… TJ walks up, and says he could hear them down the hall. What’s going on? Kristina says, nothing. They’re fine. Molly was just educating her on why she’s not good enough to be their surrogate. She storms off, and passes Alexis standing in the elevator. Alexis says, Kristina… but Kristina says, not now mom, and keeps walking. Alexis asks Molly and TJ, what happened?

Nina asks if Gladys is out of her mind. She wants to tell the court about this? Gladys says, of course (🍷) she doesn’t want to. The question is, should she? Nina says, no! but Gladys says, for her own good. They both know something isn’t right with her version of events. Nina wonders if Gladys is asking for her permission to tell the court about Sasha, and Gladys says, of course (🍷) not. Nina says she wants Gladys to listen to her, because nothing legally or officially happened. Gladys tells her, she wouldn’t say nothing, and Nina says, Gladys is going to say nothing. Sasha made a mistake. Logan’s is not pressing charges. Gladys wants to go to the court and tell them about this? If she does, she’s just causing Sasha trouble. Is that what she wants?

Sasha says, Cody is worried about her? and he says he is. Despite what she said before, he is her friend. She says, he’s the one who told her that they couldn’t be friends, and he tells her that he says stupid stuff all the time. If they’re going to be friends – which, hey, too late, they already are – she’s going to need to know when not to listen to him. So hold on to his number. If she ever needs anything, call. Gladys comes in with two shopping bags, and Sasha says, what now? Gladys says, don’t panic. These are for her. She ran into the delivery person in the hall. And Cody needs to leave. Sasha needs to rest. Sasha says, actually, she’s gotten her second wind, but Cody says he should get going. He has a horse to groom and a stable to clean. He tells Sasha to remember what he said, and she tells him that she will. He leaves, smiling at Gladys on his way out. Gladys says, here’s what she needs Sasha to remember. Whatever Cody said, Sasha can’t count on him. He’ll only get her into trouble.

Mac wonders why Selina would lift a finger to help Cody, and Sam tells him, at this point, the less said the better. He says, she’s probably right, and she says, he’s a good guy to worry about Cody, but she’s worried it’s too late for them to save him from himself.

Stella wants to check on Trina, but Marshall says, she’s just taking a minute to herself. She says, it’s been a long minute, and starts to get up, but then sways on her feet. Marshall says he’s got her, steadying her and helping her sit back down. He asks if it’s her heart again, but she says she’s fine. She’ll be even better once Curtis wakes up. He says, they’re in a hospital. Why don’t they get her checked out? Trina comes back, and Stella asks if she’s feeling better. Trina says, a little, and Stella says, nothing makes you feel better than a splash of water on your face. I can think of plenty of things, but okay. Trina asks if her mom is still in there, and Marshall says, she is. Stella says she knows Trina is worried, but it’s not unusual for patients to take their time waking up after surgery, especially one as difficult as Curtis’s. Trina says she knows, but until he wakes up, they won’t know how much damage the bullet did. He could be paralyzed.

Portia says, Curtis knows she hates this, not being able to do anything. But she’ll just stay right here, right by his side. She hates that she stayed away from him after she found out he kissed Jordan, because they made a commitment and she let her pride get in the way. But not anymore. Because she loves him so much. And her harsh words can’t be the last thing he hears her say. So open his eyes for her, so she can tell him how much she loves him. She squeezes his hand and says, please.

Dante says, Sonny’s got to keep his eyes open, and Sonny says, Dante knows him. He won’t drop his guard. Dante asks if there’s anything in Anna’s files with the WSB or DVX that could give them a lead, but she says she doubts any of it has been declassified, even after the leak. But they don’t need it because she remembers everyone. She remembers the name of every person who was ever compromised by her actions. He suggests they find out what they’re doing, but she says, it’s going to take too long. This person has proved they have little to no regard for human life, that they’re willing to sacrifice any innocent bystander… probably knowing she’d blame herself for that. She’s not going to let anyone else get hurt because of her. Sonny asks, what’s the plan? and Anna says she thinks they need to lure her enemy out in the open… using her as bait.

Tomorrow, Ned says, there’s only one way to settle this; Tracy says, there is only one person who can put things to right; and Sonny asks if it’s possible someone in the organization went rogue.

👵🏾 She’s His Mama…

She’s been in a million other things too.

💸 Life Imitating Art…

It sounds pretty messy.

🥀 What the What…

So many gone already this year.

💎 Keep Pouring…

Garcelle shares the tea.

🍸 Those Crazy Kids…

So should we call her Raquel now to be annoying? I bet her people told her to do this.

Bringing the new drama.

Is he still here?

🏍 See Him In September…

The latest on Daryl’s spin-off.

⚰️ Best Of the Dead…

Hard to believe there have been only four so far. It seems like there are always Dead around somewhere. No surprise about number one. It’s my favorite so far.

🗽 Rushing the Season…

Wow. We just got started.

Last On the Way…

2025… Wait. What?

🏆 Kudos…

I remember that episode vividly. He was excellent.

https://ew.com/awards/emmys/the-last-of-us-keivonn-montreal-woodard-sets-emmy-record-youngest-nominee/

🐕‍🦺 A Different Runway…

Some lovely pet fashions to usher you into your weekend.

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/new-york-pet-fashion-week/208

Going to the source.

www.petfashionweek.com

💐 Quotes of the Week

For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail. It’s just the opposite. We aim too low and succeed. – Sir Ken Robinson

But instead of spending our lives running towards our dreams, we are often running away from a fear of failure or a fear of criticism. – Erin Wright

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. – Steve Jobs

No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself; you are its custodian and entrance. No one else can see the world the way you see it. No one else can feel your life the way you feel it. Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground. When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.  – John O’Donohue

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. – Audrey Hepburn

The merit of all things lies in their difficulty. – Alexandre Dumas

Looks like he wipes his arse with his house. – Gaap (Paapa Essiedu), Black Mirror: Demon 79

⚾️ Put Me In Coach…

If you still use a calendar, start your week here on Monday really Tuesday with soap and a Reunion on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay giving more positive comments than you do negative ones, and stay being brave and having a big heart, but looking out for yourself too.

July 7, 2023 – Tracy Joins Finn’s Family Dinner, Why, On the Edge, Hotlanta, Crappie, Off Camera Drama, Bye-Bye Fame, VanderNext, She Wins, Dead Talk, Lotsa Cute, Not Ten Quotes & Habit

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt bar, Violet finishes another Shirley Temple, and tells Finn, that was delicious. She asks for another, and he says, she knows it’s 100% sugar, right? She nods enthusiastically, when Chase comes up behind her, and says, guess who? She says, Uncle Chase! and he asks what they’re doing at the bar. She says, they’re having cocktails before dinner. Everybody knows that’s when you have cocktails. He says, we already know that, do we? He asks if they’ve seen Brook, and Violet says, Brook bought her a Shirley Temple. Finn says he didn’t know Brook was joining them, and Chase asks if it’s okay. Finn says, absolutely. He last saw her by the pool with Tracy. Chase says he’d better rescue her… He’d better find her.

Tracy asks, why on earth would Brook confess to downloading proprietary information on The Deceptor? Why didn’t she just let Maxie take the fall? Brook says, because she has a conscience? A soul? A shred of decency? Tracy says, and she doesn’t? and Brook says, and she couldn’t stand to see Maxie and Lucy fight. Tracy asks, why not? and Brook says, because she likes them. That’s why she hates doing this so much. Tracy says she thinks Brook misspoke. She loves working at Deception. Otherwise, her boyfriend Detective Chase is going to know just what role Tracy played in getting his badge back. Chase walks in, and says, just the two he was looking for. Finn said they were by the pool. Brook says, they were, but they’re done, and Chase says, good evening, to Tracy. She asks if he had a busy day keeping the citizens of Port Charles safe.

Anna and Jordan sit at a table poolside, and Anna says she’s glad Jordan called. They haven’t really seen one another since her past was splashed across the newspapers. Jordan says, for the record, that’s not why she hasn’t called. Anna says she knows, but it has to be hard to process how she’s going to be friends with… basically a traitor. Jordan says, not for a second. How’s she handling all that? Anna says she guesses she’s been able to wait out her relevance in the news cycle. It’s almost insulting how reporters stop harassing you and just move on to the next thing. Jordan tells Anna to count her blessings, and Anna says her life is probably returning to a new normal. Jordan asks if she thinks it’s normal to find the word murderer spray painted across her front door.

Elizabeth asks how things are with Trina and Curtis, and Portia says, Trina approached her yesterday, and it’s the first time since the wedding. Elizabeth says, that’s amazing, but what about Curtis? and Portia says, they’ve yet to talk… because she’s been avoiding him.

Curtis says, sorry for the interruption, but TJ says, it’s cool. Curtis has a club to run. He should probably be going and get out of Curtis’s hair (which is funny, since Curtis doesn’t have hair). Curtis says he’ll always make time for TJ, and TJ says he appreciates that. Curtis says he appreciates TJ coming to him. TJ and Molly have been dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. TJ says, that’s an understatement, and Curtis says, if TJ wants to talk, he’s here. TJ thanks him, and says, because right now, he doesn’t know how to talk to Molly about having a child or not having a child without making her feel pressured. Curtis says, which reminds him. TJ never answered his question. How would he feel if Molly decides she doesn’t want to have children? The Davis girls walk in, and Molly locks eyes with TJ.

Having dinner at the MetroCourt, Sonny tells Dante that he has a confession to make, and Dante asks if he should take his phone out to record it. Sonny says, it’s nothing like that. He called Dante out to dinner under false pretenses. He needs a favor. He and Nina are getting married, and he wanted to know if Dante wanted to be his best man.

Brook says, nice talking to Tracy, but she and Chase have dinner plans. Tracy says, romantic night? Just the two of them? Chase says, actually, they’re meeting his brother. He and Violet are at the bar. Brook says, they can’t keep them waiting, and she and Chase leave.

Anna asks how Jordan knew about the spray paint on her door, and Jordan says, how does she think? Anna says, Valentin, and Jordan says, he called her before he left town. He told her about the vandalism at Anna’s house. It’s funny. She checked, but there was no police report on the incident. Anna says she didn’t make a report. It’s kids. It’s just a prank. It’s not a major crime. Valentin shouldn’t have bothered Jordan with that. Jordan says, Valentin is worried about her. He feels it’s a bad time to be gone, and from what she’s hearing, she agrees. Anna thanks her for her concern, but surely as the new Deputy Mayor, she’s got bigger things to focus on. How is the new job going? Jordan says, nice try and don’t call her Shirley, but Anna says she’s interested. Jordan is embarking on a whole new career. Jordan says she hasn’t really started yet; there’s not much to tell. Back to Anna. Has their been any fallout from the article? What about from her family? Anna says, nobody’s thrilled. Robin understands, but Emma… It’s more difficult with her. She’s just hoping with time, Emma gives her the benefit of the doubt. And her friends are her friends. Jordan takes Anna’s hands, and says she’ll always be one of them. Anna says she’s grateful for that, and she does feel, as lucky as she is with the people who love her, there are those that are really angry, and they have a right to be. Because she did hurt a lot of people. Jordan says, that was a long time ago. She’s helped countless others since then, and what she did was dangerous, no matter whose side she was on. Anna says she was on both. Ask Robin. Jordan says, undercover work is risky and complicated, both physically and emotionally. It takes a toll on you, your relationships, your whole life. Believe her. She knows. Anna says she knows Jordan does. What is she looking forward to in this new job? Jordan says, honestly, she’s hoping it will distract her from the rest of her life, and Anna says, what happened with her and the… Jordan says, the kiss, and Anna says, yeah, that. Jordan says, yes and no.

Curtis says he sees the Davis women showed up in full force tonight, and Alexis says, they sure did. Molly asks what TJ is doing here, and Alexis suggests they get a table, and let Molly and TJ have some privacy. Curtis says he’ll set them up. First drinks are on him. Kristina says, he should know, they’re drinking champagne, and Alexis says, club soda for her. Curtis says he’d expect nothing less, and tells them to enjoy their night. They go to their table, and Curtis asks if he can talk to Sam. She asks, what’s up? and he says he just wanted to check in; how’s Drew? She says, that’s a good question. Her head is still spinning. She doesn’t know how Drew’s plea deal went so wrong. Curtis says he heard that judge might be running for office, so maybe the judge wanted to prove he wasn’t soft on white collar crimes. She says, it still doesn’t justify Drew missing three years of his daughter’s life.

TJ says he’s sorry. He just came to talk to his Uncle Curtis. he was planning on leaving before she got here. He guesses he lost track of time. She’s here now, so he guesses he’ll head out. He tells her to have fun with her mom and sisters, and he’ll see her at home. Okay? She says, nothing about this is okay.

Dante says he’ll be honored to be Sonny’s best man, and Sonny says he appreciates Dante’s support when it comes to his relationship with Nina. Dante says, you got to do what makes you happy. Does he know when the big day is? Sonny says, sometime in the fall, and Dante says, pretty close. Sonny says, they want to keep it simple. Nina doesn’t want a big wedding. Dante asks if that’s the only reason, and Sonny asks if Dante thinks no one is going to show up at his wedding. Dante laughs, and says, Sonny could have a point, but that’s not what he was saying. Does Sonny think he should keep a low profile about this wedding because there could be trouble?

Elizabeth says, the last time she and Portia talked about Curtis, Portia was afraid she’d say something out of anger she didn’t mean. She doesn’t know what happened between them, but is Portia still angry… Portia says, yes, and Elizabeth says, no hesitation there. Portia says she’s angry and extremely hurt. The whole situation is sad, and she misses Curtis and knows that they need to talk. A part of her is worried that maybe it’s already too late. Given everything that’s already happened, and given everything they’ve done to each other at this point, do they even want to try again? Elizabeth says, that’s why Portia’s been avoiding him, and Portia says she knows they need to talk. Elizabeth says she totally gets why they haven’t, and why Portia keeps putting it off. After so much hurt, she has to consider is it even fair to ask him to risk his heart again. Portia asks if Elizabeth and Finn are talking about getting back together again, but Elizabeth says, they’re talking about Portia. Portia says, Elizabeth and Finn are getting closer again, aren’t they? and Elizabeth says, they have been talking about doing stuff together as a family for the kids. Portia says, that’s good, and Elizabeth says, it is, but she doesn’t think she should push it. It isn’t just about her and Finn. Violet’s happiness is also at stake. That little girl wants her and her dad to get back together so badly, she arranged for them to go on a date last night. Portia says, that sweet faced little girl is absolutely sneaky, and Elizabeth says, she is. After dinner, Finn just kept apologizing for Violet having the wrong idea about them. And if he wants to just be friends, she doesn’t want to jeopardize that. If they were to try again, and for some reason Elizabeth couldn’t make it work, she doesn’t want to be responsible for breaking that little girl’s heart again. Portia asks if it’s really Violet’s heart Elizabeth is worried about breaking, or is it her own?

Violet says, Chase lost Brook, and Finn says, Chase just found her. How did he lose her again so fast? Chase says, she told him she had something urgent, and asks, where’s dad? Finn says, he should be here any minute, and Violet says, grandpa’s sleeping over tonight. Does Uncle Chase want to sleep over too? He can bring Brook. Chase says, another time. How’s this weekend? She asks if he promises, when Tracy comes over. She says, they meet again, and Finn says, it’s been a whole twenty minutes, but always a pleasure. Violet says, Auntie Tracy, look. They’re having cocktails. Tracy says, you’re starting early, but Violet says, it’s not early; it’s almost dinnertime. Tracy says, that’s not what she meant, but she won’t intrude. She just wants to get some take-out. She hates dining alone. Violet says, she doesn’t have to eat alone, and asks Finn if Auntie Tracy can have dinner with them. Finn says he doesn’t think she’d… and Tracy says she’d loved to. She thanks Violet for her kind invitation, and Violet says, now they’ll have the same number of boys and girls. Tracy says, but Brook is joining them, and Violet says she knows. It will be Uncle Chase and Brook, her and Daddy, and Auntie Tracy and… grandpa! She runs over to Gregory, and he picks her up. Tracy says, this is going to be fun, and Chase asks Gregory how it’s going.

Molly says she can’t believe it’s come to this, and TJ says he swears he wasn’t trying to intrude on her night out. He knows she needs time. She says, that’s not why she’s upset. She’s upset because he thought he needed to sneak out before she got here. Has she made him feel like she can’t stand to be around him? He says, she hasn’t, but to be fair, she didn’t seem all that happy to see him. She says she was just surprised, and he says, then demanding to know what he’s doing here at his uncle’s club. She says she thought maybe this was… He says, like an ambush? and she says, maybe. Everything is so scrambled right now, but one thing she does know is that she’d never want to chase him away. He says, and he wants he to know that he’d understand if she needs some time away from him, but she says she’d never need that. What she needs is a break from her fertility issues, but not from her life partner; never from him. She would never want to shut him out, but if he wants to talk, they should talk. He says, not tonight. She needs a break. Go have fun. She says, only if he stays, and he says, if she insists, and they kiss.

Coming out of the elevator, Brook sees Tracy sitting down for dinner, and says, why God? What have I done to deserve this? On second thought, God, don’t answer that. At the table, Gregory says he didn’t realize Tracy was joining them, and Tracy says, how could she refuse his delightful granddaughter’s invitation? Brook comes over to the table, and Gregory says, speaking of delightful granddaughters… Tracy asks how many he has, and Brook says, he was talking about her. Chase says, she is delightful, and Finn says, now that she’s finally here, try not to lose her again. Chase says, never, and Tracy says she needs a drink. What’s everybody having? Violet says, the Shirley Temples are delightful (WOTD), and Tracy says she needs something stronger. Much, much stronger.

Elizabeth says she doesn’t want to hurt Finn, Violet, or her boys any more than she already has, and Portia says, she’s making it seem like everything that went down was her fault. Elizabeth says, wasn’t it though? but Portia says, no. From what she recalls, they both made plenty of mistakes, and they both were trying to protect people they care about, including one another. What if Finn does wants to try it out again? (Um.. it’s not a car.) Elizabeth says, what if he doesn’t? and Portia says she knows how hard it can be to put your heart on the line. She let her fear come between her and Curtis, and now she’ll never know what would have happened if she’d just told Curtis the truth from the beginning. And Elizabeth will never know what’s going to happen if she doesn’t tell Finn how she really feels. Elizabeth says, Portia’s right. She’s going for it. She walks out the door, and Portia says, she’s going for it right now? Elizabeth says, if she doesn’t do it right now, she’s going to lose her nerve. She knows Finn and Violet are having a date right now at the MetroCourt. So she’s just going to head over there, and see what happens. Portia says, that’s a great idea, but why doesn’t Elizabeth go home first, take a shower, and put something on she feels good in, and then meet him? She can show him what he’s really missing. Elizabeth says she has a better idea.

Anna says, Portia’s brother? To get over Curtis, Jordan slept with… Jordan says, his brother-in-law. Anna says, whoa, and Jordan says she knows; she was there. Had she known who he was, she certainly wouldn’t have told him that she recently kissed her ex-husband. Anna says, would she have slept with him anyway? and Jordan says, no… No. The point is that when Zeke realized who she was, he told Portia about the kiss. Anna says, no, and Jordan says, which was completely unnecessary. Curtis decided he wants to saved his marriage, which is the only reason she was with Zeke in the first place. Anna says, it’s the only reason? and Jordan says, well, not the only reason. Zeke is charming… and funny… and… Anna says, is he hot? and Jordan says, stupidly hot. There’s no reason he should be related to anyone she knows, but it doesn’t really matter now. Anna asks if Zeke left town or something, and Jordan sees Zeke walk in.

Dante says, something went down the night of the Nurses Ball; there were shots fired in the warehouse district; Sonny’s been beefing up his security detail. That’s the word on the street. Sonny says he doesn’t know what to tell Dante, and Dante asks, where’s Dex? Sonny says, why? and Dante says, he’s usually joined at Sonny’s hip. He was even staying with Sonny for a while, wasn’t he? Sonny says, what’s with the questions? What is Dante fishing for?

Sonny says he invited Dante here ask him to be his best man, and Dante says, and he proudly accepted. Sonny says, so what’s with all the questions? Unless the PCPD is trying to pin something on him. Dante says he’s not trying to pin anything on Sonny. They have an agreement, right? Sonny says, right, and Dante says, Sonny doesn’t tell him about his business, and he doesn’t ask. Sonny says, but here he is asking, and Dante says he’s not asking as a cop; he’s asking as Sonny’s son. He doesn’t want details. He’s just noticed some changes in Sonny’s routine. Sonny says he has everything under control. Dante doesn’t have to worry about it. Dante says he can’t help it, and Sonny asks if it’s because he’s a cop. Dante says, no. Because he’s Sonny’s son.

Violet shows Tracy some stuff on her phone, and everyone is laughing and having a good time. Chase asks if Brook is feeling okay, and she says she guesses. She’s sorry her grandmother hijacked their dinner. He says he’s kind of surprised she stayed. Brook doesn’t think… No. That’s a crazy idea. She says, what? and he says he’s just wondering. Does she think Tracy’s lonely? Brook says, she’s something all right.

In the hallway with Curtis, Sam says, so how are things going between him, Trina, and Portia? Curtis says, things with him and Trina were going good, but now he’s messed things up with Portia. She asks what he messed up, and he says he just hopes he and Trina can get through it. He always Admired Portia and Trina’s relationship, and subconsciously, he always knew if he was to establish a relationship with Trina, it would be secondary. There’s something about knowing that she’s his daughter, that he’s her biological father, that makes it different. Sam says she gets that. Before he found out, Portia connected him to Trina, but now he has his own connection whether he and Portia stay together or not. He says he sure hopes they do. He just hopes he and Trina can learn to be father and daughter no matter what. She says, they will, and he asks how she knows. She says she knows him, and that gives her faith that things will work out. He says, sometimes it feels like it takes a lifetime to get to know someone. Then you look back, and you realize it’s just a blink of an eye. Take his father for instance. He thought he’d never let that man back in his life after he abandoned them, but look at them now. He just wishes he’d let Marshall in sooner. She says, exactly, and sooner or later, Trina is going to realize that. Then she’s going to regret all the time she spent being angry at Curtis and judging him. Because in the end, we never have enough time with the people we love.

In the locker room, a nurse tells Portia, looking good, and asks if she’s going home. Portia says, nope. She’s going out. The nurse says, good for her, and Portia heads out.

Anna asks if that’s him, and Jordan says, mm-hm. Zeke comes over to the table, and says hi to Jordan. Jordan introduces her good friend Anna to Portia’s brother Zeke. Anna says, nice to meet him, and he says he didn’t mean to interrupt. Anna says she has to make a phone call, and Jordan says, really? Anna says, really, so if they’ll excuse her… She leaves, and Jordan says, he doesn’t have to stay. He says he knows his timing was bad, coming to her office when Curtis was there, and she says, ya think so? He asks her to please hear him out.

Anna calls Sonny, and asks where he is. She has to talk to him about something. He says he’s with Dante at the MetroCourt. They’re just wrapping up dinner. He can come to her. Where is she? She says she’s here too; she’s up by the pool. He says he’ll be there.

Zeke says he knows Jordan is mad about him telling his sister that she kissed Curtis, but she says she’s not mad at him. He asks if she’s sure. She seemed mad. She still seems mad. She says she was mad at him because he didn’t give her a heads up, not because he told Portia about her and Curtis. Portia is his sister, and he wants to protect her. She gets that. If Portia had found out about the kiss and he didn’t tell her, she’d feel betrayed. And family like that shouldn’t keep secrets from each other. Zeke barely knows her. He says he’d like to change that, now that they’ve cleared the air. Let’s just start over. She says she thinks it’s a little late for that, and he says, it doesn’t have to be, but it’s up to her. How about it? Will she give him another chance?

Dante asks if Sonny is cool with Anna, and Sonny says, she’s good. She just wants to talk to him. He and Dante are good? Dante says, they’re great. He just wants Sonny to be careful. Sonny says, Dante too. She’s by the pool. Does he want to say hi? Dante says he’d like to, but he should be getting home with dessert for the kids. Especially Scout; she could use the pick-me-up. Sonny asks how she’s doing, and Dante says, she’s doing her best, but not great. It’s tough. Sonny says, give her his love, and Dante says, same with Anna. Keep him posted with what he and Nina got going. He doesn’t want to be shirking his duties as best man. They hug, and Sonny leaves.

Gregory asks Brook how it is being back at Deception, and Brook says she’s glad to be back. Tracy says, things must be very busy over there with the success of their new product. What is it called?… The Deceptor. Brook says, yes, they’re very busy, and Gregory says, last time they spoke, she was excited about focusing on her song writing. Will she still be able to do that if she’s working full-time?

Anna thanks Sonny for meeting her, and he says she looks good. She thanks him, and says, better than she did the other night probably. She thanks him for coming over when he did. It made her feel a little less lonely. He says, she didn’t have to see him to thank him, but she says, that’s not what she’s doing. She has a message from Valentin.

Zeke says, his and Jordan’s night together wasn’t just about sex. At least not for him. She says, it was for her… At least that’s what she wanted it to be. He says, but it wasn’t. He thought they at least had some potential. Before everything that went down, before all that crazy, he was looking forward to seeing her again. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she felt the same way, and he says, great. Then let’s start over. She says she just started a new job, and she’s beyond busy, and he says, he’s a lawyer. He’s always busy too. But they’re both pretty free right now. Have dinner with him.  

Alexis asks Kristina to tell her about the plans for the shelter, and Kristina says she’s glad Alexis asked. She had a really interesting lunch with the head of the food pantry. Alexis says, where she’s volunteering, and Kristina says, he really helped her understand the whole manpower end of things, like how much staff they have to hire, and what tasks volunteers can handle. Alexis says, that’s great, and Kristina says, it’s a lot, but now that she understands what she’s up against, she thinks she can pull this off. Alexis says she knows Kristina can pull this off, and she’s very proud of her. Kristina says, this may come as a shock, but she’s proud of herself too. Getting this shelter off the ground is going to be a lot of work, way more than she imagined, but she’s going to see this through to the end. Alexis says she knew if Kristina found the right thing, she would soar, and Kristina says she doesn’t know if she’s soaring. She doesn’t know if she’s even on the runway. There’s so much she doesn’t know. Alexis says, if she doesn’t know, she’ll learn. If it’s too much, she can hire someone to advise her. She knows this is going to be great. Kristina can do this. Kristina thanks her.

Tracy says, Brook is just being practical. It’s always good to have back-up when you’re working in the arts. Gregory hopes she keeps writing songs. He really enjoys listening to them, especially when Chase is singing. Chase says, inspiration happens when it happens. Brook can do anything she sets her mind to. Whatever it is, it will work out. Brook says, Finn’s been quiet, and Chase asks how she can tell. Brook asks what he’s been up to, and Finn says, besides work, nothing much. Violet says, daddy, tell them about your date.

TJ asks if the shelter will provide basic medical care, and Kristina says she wants it to. LGBTQIA+ teens tend to avoid going to doctors because they’re concerned their gender identity isn’t going to be accepted, but she doesn’t know if it’s feasible. TJ says, let him know if he can help on that end, or anything at all. Whatever she needs. Kristina thanks him, and Molly says, he should be on the board. Kristina says, it’s not for profit, so she needs to assemble a board before she breaks ground; before she does anything really. Alexis says, she can’t do everything herself. She’s running a business. She’s the boss. Delegation is the key. Molly asks, who is she and what has she done with their mother? and Kristina says she’s worried that she’ll miss being with the kids directly and helping them, being behind a desk all day. Sam comes back with Curtis, and says, then plan it. That’s what mom or Molly would do. Molly says, she has to set time aside on her schedule to talk to the kids one-on-one, and TJ says, that way she can see what kids need more structure, and the ones who need more freedom. Curtis tells TJ, let’s get that champagne, and TJ leaves with him. By the bar, Curtis asks if things are good with TJ and Molly, and TJ says, somehow, they are. Curtis was right; they’ll get through this. He doesn’t know if a kid is in his future, but Molly definitely is. Curtis says he’s glad, and asks if TJ minds if he takes off. TJ says, no, and thanks him for listening. Curtis says, any time, and TJ asks where he’s headed. Curtis says he thinks it’s time he takes his own advice, and leaves.

The champagne has been poured, and TJ is back at the table. Molly asks if he’s ready to dance, and he says he thought she’d never ask. Molly asks if the others are coming, but Sam and Alexis beg off. Kristina says she’ll be there in a minute, and Molly says, don’t wait too long. She and TJ go onto the dance floor. Sam says, it looks like Molly is feeling better, and Alexis says she’s glad Molly is giving herself a break from all the pressure she’s putting on herself. Kristina says she wants to really make sure Molly knows she’s not alone in this, but Sam says, Molly knows they all have her back. Kristina says, of course (🍷). She knows that it’s their decision, but she wishes they’d move forward with having a baby. Sam says, so does she, if that’s what makes them happy, but she doesn’t want to pressure them about anything. Kristina says, of course (🍷), of course (🍷). She knows, but just wishes they could help make their decision easier… That’s it. Why didn’t she think of that before?

Anna says, obviously Sonny is aware Valentin went with Laura to find her son, right? and Sonny says, Charlotte’s staying with Sam and Dante. Dante filled him in, but he’s surprised that Valentin would have her pass along a message. He and Valentin don’t really say much to each other. Anna says, normally, she wouldn’t be a go-between with something quite so precarious, not even for Valentin, and Sonny says, why now? She says, Sonny is involved in a business venture with Valentin? Or rather, Valentin is involved with him. This is all she knows. She doesn’t know any of the details. She doesn’t think she really wants to. But right before he left, Valentin gave her the message. Knowing Sonny would rather do any kind of business in person than over the phone, he wanted her to pass on the message. Sonny says, go ahead, and she says, he’s not to speak to anyone new. If his contact person is to change, do not proceed until he’s spoken with his original contact person. Does that make sense? Sonny says, yeah, and she asks, does he want to tell her what’s going on with Valentin? Why Sonny would be in any kind of business with him?

Jordan says she doesn’t know how this is going to work, and Zeke says, only one way to find out, right? She says, and then what? This situation is just too messy. He says, when she told him that she was done with her ex, did she mean it? and she says, they are over. Whatever happens between Portia and Curtis, she’s moving on. He says, then what’s stopping them from seeing each other? and she says, reality? She’s sure Portia’s already given him an earful on why he should avoid her like the plague. He says he doesn’t let his family dictate who he sees. Does she? She says she doesn’t want to cause problems between him and his sister, and he says, Portia will cope. Portia walks in, and Jordan says, you think so? He turns and sees her.

Violet yawns, and Finn says he thinks someone’s tired and they’re going to be heading home. He reaches for Violet, who insists she’s not tired, as we all did at her age, and he picks her up. Tracy thanks him so much for allowing her to join his family for dinner, and he says, it was surprisingly fun having her here. She says, for her as well, and thanks him. She looks at Gregory, and says, and you? He says, yes? and she says, he’s a lucky man. He says he knows, and thanks her. He tells Chase that he’ll see him at the next tea party, and tells Brook, it’s always a pleasure. She says, he can’t imagine how nice that is to hear, and he says he thinks he can. He leaves with Finn and Violet, and Tracy says she’ll see Brook at home. Don’t stay out too late. She has work tomorrow. Brook says, goodnight, granny, I laugh, and Tracy leaves. Brook asks what Chase says about her and him getting a nightcap at the pool bar, and he says he’d love to. She says, great. The sooner, the better. He says, there’s something he needs to ask her first.

Elizabeth comes out of the elevator, and sees Finn, who says, hi. Violet says, she looks like a princess, and Elizabeth thanks her. Finn says, she looks beautiful, and she thanks him. She asks if they’re leaving, and Gregory says he and Violet are heading home, but Finn can stay. Finn says, he can stay? and Violet nods. Finn tells Elizabeth that he can stay, and hands off Violet to Gregory.

Brook says, whatever it is, can she and Chase talk about it on the way to the bar? and he asks, what’s going on with her? Something’s been off with her all evening. She says she knows, and her name is granny. She’s always on edge around her. Chase says, it’s not just Tracy. When his dad asked Brook about her job, he knew he was right. She says, about what? and he says, her work at Deception. Her heart’s not in it. She doesn’t want to be there. Brook says, of course (🍷) she does. It’s a day job. He says, exactly. She’d rather be writing music and managing artists. So he has to ask; why did she go back?

Kristina says, it solves so many problems. It’s perfect. Alexis says she shudders to think. What? Sam says, what’s her big idea? and Kristina says she can be Molly and TJ’s surrogate. Molly overhears.

Portia says, so this is why Zeke isn’t taking her calls. He’s on a little date with Jordan? Jordan says, that’s not what’s… She and Portia both see Curtis walk in.

Sonny asks what else Valentin said, when Dante walks in. He looks up, and yells, everybody down! We hear a gunshot.

On Monday, Spencer tells Esme, this is him cooperating; TJ asks why Molly doesn’t want to be around her mom and her sisters; Dex asks if Sonny is okay; and Chase reports that shots were fired at the MetroCourt pool.

🩺 Having His Reasons…

He’s one of my favorite actors. I got to see him as Ben in a revival of Follies on Broadway. He was filling in for someone else, and when I found that out, I thought, meh, but he was amazing. I’m glad he took this gig.

👩‍❤️‍👨 The Struggle Is Real…

Two Wives. Two roller coaster marriages.

As Dr. Phil says, better to come from a broken home than to live in one.

🍑 Next Peach…

The upcoming season of RHOA.

🗽 Andy Says It’s Good…

This sounds like a fun one.

https://www.etonline.com/sonja-morgan-and-luann-de-lesseps-on-their-crappie-lake-adventure-and-rhonys-return-to-scary-island

📹 Taking Their Word…

Juicy Joe’s phone call was definitely cringeworthy.

🎸 And Stay Out…

My heart is bleeding for him. For those not familiar with sarcasm, that’s an example.

🍸 Rules Coming Up…

The latest on the next season of VPR.

💃🏼 Dancing Like Everyone’s Watching…

For once, good triumphs over evil, and we all get to see it.

https://people.com/ariana-madix-joining-dancing-with-the-stars-7557819

⚰️ Unearthing The Dead…

Everyone’s looking for Rick.

https://screenrant.com/rick-grimes-walking-dead-biggest-priority-fear-spinoff/

The Fear reunion I’ve been waiting for.

There are no small parts.

A preview of the next Dead City episode.

🦎 Fuzzballs And Fluffballs And A Lizard, Oh My…

I spent more time than I care to admit looking at this page.

https://toofab.com/2023/01/01/celebrities-who-love-to-show-off-adorable-pets/

🎋 Quotes of the Week

Maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there’s a tomorrow. Maybe for you there’s one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around it, let it slide like coins through your fingers. So much time you can waste it. But for some of us there’s only today. And the truth is, you never really know. – Lauren Oliver

The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth. – Niels Bohr

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness. – the 14th Dalai Lama

No one forgets the truth, Frank. They just get better at lying. – April Wheeler (Kate Winslet), Revolutionary Road

We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. – Whoopi Goldberg

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. – Les Brown

Do your work with your whole heart, and you will succeed – there’s so little competition. – Elbert Hubbard

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. – Mark Twain

Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.  – Jimi Hendrix

🍺 Didn’t Come Here, Ain’t Leaving…

Come back on Monday really Tuesday for soap and a double Decker. Until then, stay safe, stay not making loud phone calls on the train (text for Pete’s sake), and stay remembering, in the end, we never have enough time with the people we love.

June 30, 2023 – Curtis Confronts Jordan, Returning, New Gig, Copy Cannoli, Shams Now, Runway, Vander This, Real Bonkers, Midyear Roll Call, Pick a Trailer, Winning, Mixed Quotes, Pet (!) Safety & Carry On

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Spencer leaves a message for Trina to call him, when Esme walks in with an ice pack. He screams at her to get out.

Finn says he’s sorry, and Elizabeth asks what he’s apologizing for. He says he’s not sure, but he thought he should, and she says, he has nothing to be sorry for. Tonight was really… Violet runs in, calling, daddy! and Finn asks, what’s wrong? She says, Aunt Elizabeth can’t leave; not yet.

Sonny thanks Sasha for coming by, and she says, of course (🍷). She always loves spending time with him. He asks if he can get her anything, but she says she’s good. She’s curious as to what he wanted to talk about, and he says, her future.

In Portia’s office, Trina hears Spencer yell at Esme to get out, and he says, sorry. He’ll call her later. Portia comes in and apologizes for keeping her waiting; she wanted to talk to Trina. Trina says she wanted to talk to Portia too, and Portia says, about Spencer? Trina says, no, about Curtis. She knows what he did.

Zeke calls Jordan and says he knows it’s late notice, but is she free for dinner tonight? She says she’s free, but she has no interest in spending time with him, and he asks if she doesn’t think they should clear the air. She says, as far as she’s concerned, the air is crystal clear; they’re done. There’s a knock at her office door, and she tells Zeke to hold on. She says, yes? and Curtis walks in.

Austin kisses Ava, and she pushes him away. But then she changes her mind and kisses him. Suddenly, they’re in the bedroom getting busy. Alrighty then.

Elizabeth asks if Violet had a bad dream, and Violet nods. Finn asks if it was the shadow again, and she says, it was. It was scary. She tried to find Finn, but she couldn’t. Aunt Elizabeth was gone too. He says, they’re both right here for her, and Elizabeth says, her dad has been here the whole time. They’ve both been here. Violet says, what if she falls asleep again? What if the shadow comes back, and she can’t find either of them again? Finn kisses the top of her head and tells her, it’s okay.

Sasha says, that wasn’t at all what she expected Sonny to say, and he tells her that he and Gladys were talking. She told him that Sasha was ready to end the guardianship. Sasha says, that is true. She’ll forever be grateful to Gladys for everything she’s done, but she doesn’t want to be a burden on her anymore. Sonny says, she’s not a burden to anyone. They just care about her and want to see her get on her own two feet. She says, that means a lot, but her decision is just partly about Gladys. She just thinks it’s time. He says, what if he told her that Gladys thinks she’s not ready, and she asks if Gladys came to see him about her. Sonny says, Gladys thinks she’s rushing things and she’s worried, and Sasha says, so is she.

Spencer says he told Esme that he was fine; now go. She says she’s not going anywhere. He could have a broken rib or internal bleeding. He says he has neither, and she says, because of all the medical expertise he has? What happened to him anyway? Did someone attack him? He says, we just got in a little fight, and she asks, who is we? Someone he knows or did he get in a fight with a complete stranger? He asks if it would matter. What does she care? She throws the ice bag, hitting him, and he yells, ow! She asks if he thought about what it would mean if he got hurt or arrested. Did he even stop and think what it would mean? He says, it happened kind of fast, and she says, then they answer is no. He didn’t think.  

Jordan tells Zeke that she’s sorry, but she can’t talk right now, and hangs up. She says she can guess what Curtis is here about, and he says, it’s not to get in an argument if that’s what she’s thinking. She says, good. He shouldn’t be angry. Not at her anyway. He says he just can’t understand why she’d tell Portia about their kiss when they agreed that it was best they keep it to themselves. If she changed her mind, why didn’t she talk to him first? She says she tried to warn him, and he says, right. Then she decided she knew what was best, and telling Portia couldn’t wait. She says she didn’t say a thing to Portia about their kiss. She never wanted Portia to find out at all. He says, if she didn’t tell Portia, who did?

Portia tells Trina, obviously, she’s very hurt. She and Curtis both made mistakes. Trina asks why Portia wants to let him off the hook that easy, but Portia says she’s not letting him off the hook. This is complicated. Trina says, he kissed another woman – his ex-wife. Why isn’t she angry at him? Portia asks why Trinia is getting all riled up about this? And Trina says, it was wrong. Is Portia really going to roll over and let him treat her like this? Portia says, this has nothing to do with Trina.

Like the Burger King employee who starts cleaning around your table while you’re still eating, Ava makes the bed around Austin. He asks if she’s really making the bed now; he’s still in it. She picks up his clothes, and wonders where his other sock is, and he says, on the sconce. She retrieves it, and he says, this is weird. Is this her thing? Is this like a post-coital clean-up thing? He’s okay with it, but it’s a little neurotic. She says she’s not neurotic, and he says, she’s orderly? She’s neat? She’s tidy, right? Is she coming back to bed? She looks at him, and he says, all right. Not too long ago, they were almost yelling at each other and were at each other’s throats, and they decided to do something else. Is that something they need to talk about? Ava says, they’re done talking, and she’s not coming back to bed. He’s leaving – she tosses his clothes at him – now.

Finn says he’ll be here if Violet needs him for anything, and she asks if Aunt Elizabeth can come in with him. He says, Aunt Elizabeth has to go home to her kids, but he promises she’ll come in and say goodnight before she leaves. She says she likes it when Aunt Elizabeth is here. Doesn’t he?

Jordan says she’s not getting in the middle of this. This is between Curtis and Portia. He asks if she’s respecting boundaries after the damage is already done, and she says, he can believe her or not. He says, she obviously knew it was coming. Otherwise, why would she try to warn him? If she didn’t tell Portia, who did? N’neka? She was at the club that night. Jordan asks if he really thinks N’neka saw them kissing and then went running to tell Portia, and he asks what he’s supposed to think. Who else could it have been? She says, it was his brother-in-law. Zeke is the one who told Portia.

Trina asks why Portia is trying to protect her. She’s not a child anymore. Portia says, Trina is always going to be her child. And she’s not protecting Trina in the way Trina thinks. Trust her. This is her attempt at being fair. She’s a grown woman and needs to figure out her relationship with Curtis on her own. Trina says, why? She’s right here. Portia can tell her anything. Portia says she appreciates Trina for saying that, but she doesn’t want Trina involved in any issues that she has, with Curtis or with her marriage. She doesn’t want Trina to have to think about that. She doesn’t want her to have baggage when she’s dealing with Curtis. Trina shouldn’t have to be taking sides or keeping secrets or any of that. She doesn’t want Trina to worry about any of this. Trina’s phone rings, and Trina looks at it and puts it back down, saying, it’s just Spencer. Portia says, she usually can’t pick up the phone fast enough for Spencer. Is she feeling okay? Did they have a fight? Trina says, no, they didn’t, but Spencer did.

Esme comes back into Spencer’s room, reading from her phone that rib fractures can have short term consequences, such as severe pain while breathing, pneumonia, or death. He says he thought she didn’t want to be around him, and she says, long term consequences are also possible, such as, decreased lung function and chronic pain. How is he going to yell at people if his lungs are damaged. Did he ever think of that? He says he didn’t realize she cared so much, and she says she’s calling a doctor, but he says, don’t do that. He doesn’t have a broken rib. She says, he might not know that until symptoms develop later, and he says, if they do, he’ll contact a doctor at that time. Please stop worrying about him. She tells him, who says she’s worried? She just doesn’t want to have to take him to the emergency room in the middle of the night. It would throw off Ace’s whole sleep schedule. He says, his mistake. It’s not about him, which makes sense, because in her eyes, he’s not worth worrying about. To her, he’s always going to be his father’s son.

Ava tries to toss Austin his keys, but misses, and they end up on the floor. She says, take a hint, will you? and he says, she’s throwing him out. She says, nothing gets by him, and he says, except his keys. They laugh, and she says, they both know this was a mistake, but they’re adults and can skillfully pretend it didn’t happen. Now get a move on. His shoes are next, and she’ll have much better aim. He says, she doesn’t need to do that. He doesn’t want to stay somewhere he’s not wanted. But just so she knows, he feels what went on here wasn’t a mistake. She says, if it weren’t for Nikolas’s accidental death, they wouldn’t even be here. They would hardly know each other. He says, but they do know each other, and they are here. And he thinks there are actual literal scratches on his back that let him know she thinks there are worse ways to spend an evening.

Finn says, yes, he likes when Elizabeth is here, but doesn’t Violet think her cousins would miss Elizabeth if she was here all the time? She says, they could come too, or she and Finn could go there, and he says, oh boy. Elizabeth comes out of the kitchen, and asks how Violet would like some of her special sleepy time magic milk. Finn asks how she knew about that, and she says, all the moms know. Violet asks if she put in the secret ingredient, and Elizabeth says, of course (🍷). It wouldn’t be magic without it. Violet takes a sip, and says, it tastes different than when daddy makes it. Aunt Elizabeth’s is better… but his is good too.

Sasha says she thinks she’s doing the right thing by ending her guardianship, but she wishes she was sure, and Sonny asks what doubts she’s having. She says, some days she feels strong and confident and healthy, and other days are just so-so; everything feels off. It feels like she’s just pretending to hold it together. Those don’t bother her so much. She’s used to those. He says, they all have so-so days, and she says, those aren’t the days that scare her. The days that terrify her are the bad days; the days when the darkness just comes back, because it will happen for no reason at all. She’ll be putting sugar in her coffee, then suddenly she’ll remember when she was pregnant and couldn’t have caffeine. It was the worst, but it was totally worth it. She loved her baby so much, and couldn’t wait to meet him. Then she’s remembering her baby is gone, and the sadness just takes over, and it just feels like a weight pressing down on her heart, and it scares her. She doesn’t know, was that a memory or was it just a delusion? Did she somehow think she was pregnant again? He says, they both know what grief does. It plays tricks on your mind, and messes with your sense of time. Sasha says, that’s what she thinks too. The next day might be so-so again, and the day after that might be good. So does it scare her thinking about being on her own again and making her own decisions? Yes, but something inside of her is telling her that she’s ready, and she thinks it’s time she starts listening to that voice. Maybe she’s making a mistake. What does he think? Does he think she’s doing the wrong thing in trusting herself?

Austin says he can see that Ava doesn’t want to discuss their relationship, and she says, they don’t even have a relationship. They’re being blackmailed together; that’s it. He says he does enjoy her company, and she says, they were yelling at each other just a while ago. He says, almost. They were trying to release some of the pressure, and clearly some tension… She says, he’s really sure of himself, but he says, not at all. It’s just really difficult for him to let people in. He doesn’t want to speak for her, but it’s hard to make a human connection. He’s just saying, let’s be honest, and admit to one another they just had a profound physical connection. She says, he lied to her. He kidnapped her daughter, and how he’s saying she owes him honesty? He says he can see where she’s going with this. Under certain terms… She says, a little advice for him. Don’t ever pull a stunt like that again. Because if he does, the next body she dumps in the stables is going to be his.

Esme tells Spencer that she doesn’t know much about Nikolas, except he kept her locked in a tower because he wanted to keep her baby away from her. She knows if given the chance, Spencer would do the same. Spencer flashes back to looking at the fake evidence and saying, just in case. He says he just wants to take care of his brother, and she says, that’s the difference between him and Nikolas. At least he’s here. Nikolas isn’t, and since they moved into Spencer’s grandmother’s, he’s been pretty reliable. Up until now. What happened tonight? He says he got into a fight with Josslyn’s new boyfriend. She says, why? and he says, because he was angry. Because he doesn’t like him. He doesn’t like what he did. Josslyn was dating Cameron when she met Dex, and she was still seeing him when Josslyn and Dex got together for the first time. She asks why he’s mad at Dex. Isn’t it Josslyn… He says, she wouldn’t understand; there’s more to it than that. He doesn’t understand why they’re talking about this, because she’s literally the last person he wants to confide in. She says, well, that’s dumb. Because she might be the only person who actually understands. He says, why is that? and she says, because she does it too. She gets angry. She lashes out. She makes choices she regrets. She makes mistakes, and the worst part is that when she does, everyone is just looking around judging her, like, oh look, here she goes again to her old lying ways. I knew she couldn’t be trusted. He says, and you’ve confirmed all of their worst suspicions about you, and she says, and they have no idea the entire time you were just trying to do the right thing.

Trina says, last night, she went to the Highsider, and Portia says, the biker bar where Oz Haggerty worked? Trina says, they were looking for evidence to prove Esme is guilty, and Portia says, let her guess. This little excursion was Spencer’s idea? Trina says, not exactly, and Portia says she doesn’t even care whose idea it was. She doesn’t like Trina going to that place. Trina says she wasn’t going to that place. Anyway, Joss had the same idea. She brought Dex, and Spencer picked a fight again. Portia says, so it looks like Spencer is back to his old ways, and Trina says, yes. She doesn’t even recognize him anymore. Portia says, really? Because she can. To her, he will always be the boy who lied to her daughter and put her in harm’s way.

Curtis asks how Zeke knew what happened between him and Jordan, and she says she told him. Curtis asks why she did that, and she says she didn’t know who he was. She just found out Curtis was moving back in with Portia, and needed someone to talk to. Zeke was just a friendly stranger with a sympathetic ear. They met at the MetroCourt, and she started venting. She didn’t use any names. She just told him that she’d kissed her ex, but it wasn’t going anywhere. He says, if she didn’t use any names, how did he figure it out? and she says, Portia introduced them. It didn’t take Zeke long to put two and two together. She told him to keep it to himself, but he said he had to tell her. Curtis doesn’t understand how she could tell a perfect stranger something so personal about them. It’s just not like her. She says she needed someone to confide in. He had Portia, and she was all alone. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, now that he knows, she doesn’t see what else there is to talk about. She opens the door, and Zeke is there. No surprise.

Jordan says, she didn’t have time to talk to Zeke on the phone. What made him think she had time for him to come by her office. He says he didn’t know Curtis was going to be here. Didn’t Curtis tell his sister that it was over between him and Jordan? Curtis says, that’s none of his business. Doesn’t he think he’s caused enough problems between him and Portia? Zeke says he wouldn’t have gotten involved if Curtis had just been honest with Portia from the beginning, and Curtis says he bets Zeke just can’t wait to run back to Portia and tell her that he was here. Zeke says, after what Curtis put his sister through, what does he expect? and Curtis says he expects Zeke to keep his damn mouth shut, or he and Curtis are going to have a problem.

Trina says she remembers how Spencer treated her, but he’s changed, and Portia says, has he though? Because the fight Trina’s describing makes her think he’s still working on it. Trina says, Portia thinks she’s being naïve, but Portia tells her that she didn’t say that. Portia tells Trina that she sees what Trina’s saying with Spencer. He has made significant strides in growing up since Trina’s met him. Largely because of Trina. Trina says, yes, he has, and Portia says, he’s more mature now, asking for help when he needs it… and he seems like he’s really taking the responsibility of Ace seriously with Esme. And Esme’s even seriously open to taking a parenting class with Spencer, which goes to show his responsibility, right? That’s a good sign. But by the look on Trina’s face, maybe it’s not a good sign? Trina says she’s glad Spencer is being responsible toward Ace, and Portia says, but what? Trina says, it’s nothing, but Portia says she’s Trina’s mom; she knows Trina. Trina can talk to her. Trina says she doesn’t care about the class. She can’t stand the thought of Spencer spending even one extra second with Esme.

Spencer says, sounds like they’re both trying to be better people, and Esme says, he’s just now figuring that out? Yes. Obviously, she’s been trying to be better. She takes the ice, and puts it on his side, and he holds it there. He says, it’s possible he hasn’t been giving her much of a chance, but she says, it’s not a big deal. She sits on the bed, and says she actually gets why it might be hard for him. He says, for him, why? and she says, he actually remembers the terrible person he was. She has to be told about herself over and over. He says, that’s hard, and she says, constantly hearing what a terrible person you are from everyone. He’s the only one who never talks about their history. They dated in boarding school, right? He sits on the other end of the bed, and says, for like a year. He doesn’t like to remember that time. She says, understandable. But tell her, were they really these awful people, destroying everything they touched? He laughs and says, no, not always. He was very unhappy when they met. He was estranged from his father and had a big chip on his shoulder because of that. He didn’t have any friends; just people who wanted to get close to him because he had money. So he was a bit of a jerk because of that. She says, him? A jerk? No way. He says he met her, and she really listened to him, and she took an interest in his life and didn’t just tell him what he wanted to hear because he’s a Cassadine. He started to depend on her, more than he thinks she knew, but none of it was real. She was manipulating him the entire time. She was his first love, and she was just using him.

Elizabeth asks how Violet is, and Finn says, finally asleep. Apparently, her milk is more magical than his. She says, cinnamon, and he says he can’t thank her enough. She’s really good with Violet. Elizabeth says she’s glad he feels that way. She was hoping she wasn’t overstepping with her magic milk. He says, not at all, and she says her boys are growing up. With Cameron all the way in California, she’s just been feeling it lately. He says, they’ll always need her, and she says she knows, but not in the same way. She guesses she has to let them grow up at some point; at least she’s been told. He says, Violet’s always here if her momage gets too strong. Violet always loves seeing her. She says, be careful. She’ll be over here every night making magic milk… She’s kidding. He says he knows, and they both get up and start talking at the same time. He says, she needs to get home to the boys, and she says she should. Even though they won’t be nearly as happy to see her as Violet was. He says, Violet, and him.

Sonny tells Sasha, know what he thinks? She didn’t tell him that she’s fine, she doesn’t need anybody, and she’s all better. She says she only wishes she were that confident, but he says, that’s a good thing. If she would have said that, he’d say she needed to spend a few more months with Gladys. In his experience, people who say everything’s great all the time usually aren’t. You can’t be great all the time, especially after what she’s gone through. She can handle a lot more than she thinks. That’s why he thinks it’s time for her to be on her own.

Zeke tells Curtis not to get mad at him because he kissed Jordan. He had to tell Portia. Curtis would have done the same thing if he’d been in Zeke’s position. Curtis says, that’s not what he’s talking about. Zeke told Trina – right after he found out Trina was his daughter – to steer clear of him? Zeke says he didn’t even get into any specifics with Curtis’s daughter, and Curtis says, that’s even worse, because he let her imagination run wild. She was just beginning to trust him. Zeke says, maybe she shouldn’t, and Jordan says, neither one of them should be trusted. Curtis asks her to remind him just how she and Zeke met in the first place.

Esme says she’s starting to see why Spencer’s so angry with her, but he says he’s angrier with himself for letting himself be manipulated by her. Esme tells him, sure, the old Esme was calculating, but she seriously doubts someone could fake a relationship for a whole year. He asks who she’s trying to make feel better, him or her? and she says, maybe both? She gets up, and says she thinks the old Esme must have really liked him… just a little. He says, it’s doubtful… Although… No. She says, what? and he says, there was this one time, he was trying to figure out what to get her for her birthday, so he was asking around. He asked the same friends who were leeching off him for money, and they told him that he should get her jewelry. Something expensive, which makes sense. So he did – she says, generous – but then there was this snow globe he got when he was a kid, and he’d taken it with him to school. It was so cheesy; two skiers on top of a mountain with a log cabin and fir trees. It was hideous. He doesn’t know why she liked it, but she did. She played with it every single time she came into his room. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out why. So at the last minute, he grabbed that as well. She says, instead of the jewelry? but he says he gave her both, just to be safe. Don’t get him wrong; she loved the jewelry. But her face when she saw the snow globe, the expression was pure joy. He’d never seen anything like it. He still can’t figure out why someone would have liked a regifted snow globe so much. She laughs and says she can. The old Esme really liked him.

Trina tells Portia, it wouldn’t bother her so much if it was anyone other than Esme. After what Esme did to her, Joss, and Cam, the thought of Esme being with Spencer makes her sick. Portia says, Esme needs to pay for her crimes, and hopefully, the evidence can be found to bring her to justice, but the PCPD have been down this road already, and they came up empty. Maybe they’ll never find anything. Hold on. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t they have evidence, and a collective decision was made to hold off on that? Trina says, then what? Esme will just be in her life forever? Portia says, no one can predict the future, but if Spencer’s in Trina’s life and Ace is in his, then Esme will be in hers.

Esme says, if Spencer wants to get some rest, she can take the night shift with Ace, and he says, that would be great, thanking her. She walks to the door, and says, oh. Would he be willing to take a parenting class with her at the hospital? She wouldn’t ask, but Dr. Robinson thought it would be helpful… He says, it’s for Ace, right? and she says, exactly. He says, just let him know, and she thanks him, telling him to keep the ice on for another ten minutes. She leaves, and in the hallway, she smiles.

Trina says she can’t accept that Esme is going to be in her life. She wants to be with Spencer… At least she thought she did. Just not like this, spending all of his time with Esme, or raising a child on his own. Portia says, that’s what she’s been trying to get Trina to see. She has to have her own life. She’s smart and beautiful, and has so many opportunities. She has this whole big world she hasn’t tapped into yet. Please don’t make it smaller. Not when she doesn’t have to.

Curtis says he sees what’s going on here, and Zeke tells him, back off. It’s none of his business. Jordan says she can handle her own ex-husband, thank you. But Zeke’s right. Stay out of it. Curtis says, what happens between Jordan and Zeke is none of his business, but what happens with his daughter is. Zeke better think twice before he interferes again. Curtis walks out, and Zeke says, that was awkward. Now that he’s gone, they should talk. She says, there’s nothing to discuss. He knows the way out. He leaves.

Sasha says she’s glad they had this talk. She wasn’t sure she was making the right decision. He says, you never know if it’s the right decision, but she’s on the right track. She’s on her own, but he’s always here to back her, and he thinks Gladys is too. They hug, and he tells her to get out of here and live her life. She thanks him.

Elizabeth says she had a good time too, and Finn says, what she got was an eight-year-old’s version of the perfect date. He can’t thank her enough for letting Violet do that. She says, it was fun, and he says he’d drive her home, but… She says, his baby’s asleep, and she drove herself here. They say goodnight, and she leaves.

Austin says, if he leaves now he has to wake the boat launching guy. Wouldn’t it be better if he spent the night? She says, he could swim, as she hustles him out the door, but he says he’s exhausted, and he thinks she knows why. In fact, he’s willing to bet she’s going to sleep pretty soundly tonight. She closes the door in his face, and smiles.

Tomorrow, Sasha asks when Gladys is going to admit the truth; Mac tells Dante that something interesting crossed his desk; Sonny tells Drew to keep his eyes open and his chin up; and Cyrus says, Drew’s place is with them.

💣 Bible Thumping Bad Guy…

The second I heard Pentenville, I knew it.

💰 A Little Typecasting…

Except this time, he’ll be playing a real-life entitled brat.

👩🏻‍🍳 Anything But the Cannoli…

Everyone involved has too much time on their hands.

💳 Gone But Not Forgotten…

I loved this show, although the fight between MJ and Reza was brutal.

👗 Ruling the Runway…

This week’s Project Runway. This site’s recaps are the best. It’s odd I would like this show so much, since I can’t sew worth a damn. In the same vein, there are endless cooking shows I also enjoy. I guess those who can’t do, watch other people doing.

🍸 VanderStuff…

The fans aren’t having it.

I have no doubt the producers pump (no pun intended) up the drama, although I find the editing tactics more off-putting. Especially the thing about the galaxy lights. This site and I don’t see eye to eye on who the bad guys are on several shows either.

Heaven forbid this should ever happen, but they’re spot-on with their choices.

🐻 Out There…

I don’t remember most of these, and didn’t watch much of the ones I remember. It’s probably just as well.

🥀 So Far This Year…

Only six months in, and it’s already an unbelievably long list. I was sad to hear Alan Arkin passed today. If you’ve never seen The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, you’re missing a classic and an amazing performance by him.

https://ew.com/celebrity/stars-we-lost-in-2023-celebrity-deaths/

📽 Trailer Yourself…

You know I love the Barbie one.

https://ew.com/movies/best-movie-trailers-2023-golden-trailer-awards/

🐕 So Ugly They’re Cute…

There are no ugly dogs, but if there were, these would win. Please note there was a Pekingese finalist this year.

https://people.com/photos-2023-ugliest-dog-contest-winners-7553615

🐡 Quotes of the Week

The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term, is the indispensable prerequisite for success. – Brian Tracy

Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering. – Santosh Kalwar

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love – then make that day count!Steve Maraboli

I’m a dirt person. I trust the dirt. I don’t trust diamonds and gold.Eartha Kitt

The best revenge is to be unlike those who performed the injury. – Marcus Aurelius

Having a cat is exactly like not having a cat except sometimes you see a cat.@uberjnet, Twitter

No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which anyone can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance. – Henry Miller

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. – Bob Marley

They’re filming this, Kevin. Shut up. – a hoarder to her husband on Hoarding: Buried Alive

That’s the trouble with your whole MTV, microwave dinner generation. You want it all now. You think you deserve it just because you want it? It doesn’t work like that. You have to earn it, you have to take it, you have to make it yours. but before you do that, Guy, you need to decide what it is you really want. – Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), Swimming with Sharks

🎆 Declaring My Independence…

There’s no soap or Deck on Monday, and I have no clue about Tuesday, since that’s the actual 4th, so see you whenever the soap falls next. Until then, stay safe, stay enjoying your 4th of July weekend, and stay not saying you’re great all the time if you really aren’t.

June 23, 2023 – Judge Kim Overrides Drew’s Sentence, Sketchy, Memorable, VanderFilming, Ranks On Deck, Next Fear, Back In, Other Gigs, Shark Boss, Super Rescue, Twice Three Quotes & Out

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Judge Kim sentences Drew to three years, and Carly jumps up, saying, no! You can’t do that.

Ned says, Deanna seems like a really nice person. Trust him. He doesn’t belong here. He feels fantastic. Ask the shrink. Deanna says she just needs to check his vitals, and she’ll be out of his hair, calling him Mr. Quartermaine. He says, Eddie. It’s Eddie Maine.

Doc goes over to the waiting area, and Olivia asks if she’s getting her husband back. Brook asks if her dad is going to be okay, and Doc says, those are all valid questions. He’s afraid he doesn’t know how to say this… Brook says, no. Her father really believes he’s Eddie Maine? Doc says, he doesn’t just believe it. He is Eddie Maine.

Tracy says, so Brook’s solution to rid her son of his delusions is to lean into them? and Alexis tells her, she’s simply saying, if Tracy would let Ned try to work this out on his own, in his own time without constant opposition from her – Gregory comes down the hall and ducks behind the corner, listening – it might help him get better a little faster. Tracy asks when Alexis got her therapist certification. Did they hand it out with her last sobriety chip? Alexis says, you’re impossible, and Tracy says, you’re an idiot. Alexis says, charming, and Tracy says, and by the way, you’d think Alexis’s twelve steps would teach her not to impose her neuroses on Tracy’s son. Gregory comes out, and tells Tracy, he was too much of a gentleman to say it last time, but back the hell off.

Lucy tells Sasha that she wants to apologize for bringing up all that Cody stuff earlier. She was bad, and promises to never do it again. Sasha thanks her, and Lucy says, except it would be great if… Sasha says, Lucy… and Lucy says, Cody could be just snapped up like that by somebody else. Sasha says, don’t be greedy; she has a guy. Lucy says she does, and she wouldn’t trade Marty for anything. At the beginning, it’s kind of delicious, when you’re wondering, not knowing… Sasha says she always found it torturous, but Lucy says, not her. Even as a little girl, she’d get a daisy and do that old petal pluck thing. He loves me, he loves me not… Martin shows up with a bouquet of daisies, and says, he definitely loves you, kissing her.

At The Savoy, Sonny says, nothing’s too good for the woman he’s going to marry, and he and Nina clink champagne glasses. She says, he’s making her blush; no easy task. He tells her, get used to it, when Dex walks in with Josslyn. They come over to Sonny’s table, and Dex says, it looks like they had the same idea. Josslyn asks if Sonny knows how it’s going for Drew and her mom.

Judge Kim says, one more outburst and he’ll have Carly removed, and Carly says she’s sorry, but there must be some kind of mistake. There was a deal on the table. They agreed six months in Spring Ridge, not three years. The judge says, there was a deal in place, however, sentencing is up to the court; not just duration, but location. Due to the gravity of the charges, the court has decided Andrew Cain will serve out those three years in Pentenville Penitentiary.

Tracy says, Gregory has a habit of sticking his nose in other people’s conversations, and Alexis thanks him, but says she doesn’t need defending from Tracy. She’s had years of practice. She sees Gregory has had some experience with her too. Gregory says, they just met the other day, when she was berating his son Chase, and Tracy asks if he means when she was reminding Chase of everything her granddaughter did to get him reinstated as a cop. And they’re back together, so you’re welcome. Feel free to apologize any time. He says he was hoping to clear the air when he saw her again, but after seeing how she treated his friend here, he thinks she’s entitled to something else from him. Tracy asks what that would be, and he says, a lesson in etiquette. He’d be happy to teach her free of charge. Alexis smiles.

Brook says, it’s only temporary, right? Her dad will be her dad again. Olivia says, of course (🍷) he will. He’ll be back to being impossible and lovable as ever… Right? Doc says he wishes he could tell them everything will be back to normal in no time, but he can’t. As she knows, Dr. Ashford ordered a battery of neurological tests, and the team has gone over the results. They’re dealing with a traumatic brain injury. But the neurological indicators and the behavior of the patient himself would indicate something else, something more than a simple case of memory loss. Olivia asks him to break it down, and Doc says, for everything they’ve learned about the human brain, it’s still a mystery. For some reason, Ned’s brain has superimposed over the thoughts and feelings of Ned Quartermaine, with the thoughts and feelings of…

Ned tells Deanna, Eddie Maine. M-A-I-N-E, like the state. He’s telling her, there’s nothing wrong with him – Deanna reaches into her pocket for a syringe – that some fresh air and a room of his own won’t cure. So please, get him out of here. She says, of course (🍷) she will, and injects him. He asks what she gave him, and immediately conks out.

Lucy asks how Martin knew she was thinking about daisies, and he says, it’s a lucky coincidence. He’s using her favorite flower to apologize for being so incredibly busy lately. After today, he promises his clients are going to be breathing a whole lot easier, and he can spend time on them. She says, he is a winner. He’s definitely the best lawyer in town. He says, it’s not his client’s case, but they definitely have a stake in the outcome, and Sasha asks who they are; anyone she knows? Martin flashes back to telling Nina that he’ll do everything in his power to make sure no one knows it was her who tipped off the SEC about Drew and Carly, and tells Sasha that he’s sorry. Attorney/client privilege, and he’s already said too much. What are they up to? Lucy says, Deception and more Deception, but specifically, The Deceptor. Sasha says, sales are through the roof. It seems their clients really appreciate a product that does what it promises to do. Lucy agrees, and says, she promises The Deceptor is going to change the lives of women, men, and human beings everywhere, especially the three humans sitting at this table. And to think she owes it all to him.

Sonny says he hasn’t heard anything from the courthouse, and Josslyn says she’s just glad her mom isn’t facing prison time, thanks to Drew. Nina says, it was very noble of Drew, and Josslyn says, some people know how to put aside their needs for the sake of others. Sonny asks if he can talk to Josslyn a second, and she says, sure. They step away, and Dex sits down. Nina says, they really haven’t had a chance to get to know each other. Now that she and Sonny are… Why don’t they start at the beginning. Please call her Nina. Despite what he might have heard about her, they want the same thing.

Carly asks why the judge would sentence Drew to Pentenville. He hasn’t committed a violent crime; he hasn’t committed a crime at all. This is one big mistake. Judge Kim tells Carly, sit down before I knock you down he holds her in contempt, and Drew asks her to sit. She does, and Zeke says, Miss Spencer may be out of order, but the point she made is valid. His client has admitted to insider trading. He’s taken responsibility for his actions, and the US Attorney has agreed to sentence him to a minimum-security facility; standard practice for a non-violent crime. Judge Kim says, standard practice is subject to circumstance and interpretation by the presiding judge. Zeke says, Mr. Cain is not a common criminal. He’s a respected member of the community. He’s a decorated Navy SEAL. Recently, he even worked with the government to save hostages taken by Victor Cassadine. Are all these things just going to be ignored and forgotten? The judge says, on the contrary. It’s actually because of all those things that he can’t look the other way. There aren’t two sets of laws in this community. One for the privileged – yes, that includes heroes – and one for the rest. No one is above the law. That’s why he’s having Mr. Cain taken from this courthouse and remanded to Pentenville immediately.

Zeke asks the judge to give Mr. Cain time to get his affairs in order. Mr. Cain has a family, including a young daughter, in addition to all the people at his business, Aurora Media, who depend on him. He’s not a flight risk. The SEC lawyer says, the government has no objection to counsel’s request, and Zeke says he agrees with the judge; no one is above the law. The days of privilege superseding accountability are rightly numbered. With that being said, he also believes justice without mercy is hollow and meaningless. Wouldn’t Judge Kim agree?

Martin says, Lucy is giving him way too much credit. The Deceptor is 100% her baby. The credit is 100% hers. Sasha says, Lucy just walked into the office that morning and started spinning this new idea. Could Martin have had something to do with it? Martin says he didn’t, but Lucy says, he did. Stop it. She loves the fact they did this together. Sasha says she wants details, and Lucy says, as she probably knows, every good story begins in bed. Isn’t that right, my magic man?

Tracy says, if anyone needs an etiquette class, it’s Gregory. Maybe he could get his other son to give him lessons, because Finn knows how to… Alexis says, all right. That’s enough. Take a breath. Everyone to their neutral corner. Tracy says she’ll leave Alexis to her friend, because she has real issues to deal with; her son and her family. Real issues that need real compassion. Something Gregory wouldn’t understand. Gregory says he understands a lot more than Tracy thinks. Do them both a favor and stay away from Chase. Tracy says, if he’s as smart as his son – and she means Finn, not the other one – he will stay the hell away from her. She walks off, and Gregory asks Alexis, friend of hers?

Brook says, her father’s brain wants him to be Eddie Maine? and Chase says he doesn’t understand. Ned has everything a man could want; a lobing family, a successful job, standing in the community. Why would he want to give up all that just to relive his glory days? Olivia says, this is all her fault, and Tracy joins them. Olivia says, if she’d just believed Ned about turning in Carly and Drew to the SEC. If she’d only believed him sooner… Tracy says, please. Leave it to Olivia to make this all about herself. Brook tells Olivia not to listen to her. She’s just as scared as the rest of them, but granny’s fear comes out as mean. Tracy says, scared? Her? What Ned needs is a cold splash of water and a good talking to. Olivia says, that is the last thing he needs right now, and Doc says he understands emotions are running high, but turning on each other won’t help anything. Brook says, no wonder dad wants to be Eddie Maine. Can they blame him for wanting a break from this family? She leaves, and Chase follows her.

Brook and Chase go into Ned’s room, and Brook asks if he’s okay. Deanna says she had to give him a sedative to calm him down. Deanna leaves, and Brook says, poor daddy. This whole thing started when they thought he blew the whistle on Carly and Drew. If someone else is to blame, why won’t they come forward?

Nina says she and Dex both care about Sonny. And don’t tell her it’s just a job when Dex took a bullet for him. Thank you for that, by the way. He says, boss dies, he loses his health plan, and Nina says, Dex likes him, she loves him. That makes them both Team Sonny. Now that she and Sonny are getting married, she hopes he keeps an open mind, despite what others say about her. He says, by others she means Josslyn? and she says, all she’s asking is that he reserve judgement until he realizes she wants to keep Sonny safe and happy even more than he does. He says, and she wants him to convince Joss to give her a chance.

Sonny says he’s surprised Josslyn and Dex are still together, and she asks, why? He says, she came to his office and wanted him to fire Dex. She didn’t like Dex working for him. She says, Sonny told her it was up to Dex to ask him that, and Sonny says, it was, but Dex wants to stay in the organization. He wants more than a paycheck; he wants to belong. Dex made peace with him. How about her?

Judge Kim says he’s granting Mr. Cain one week to get his affairs in order. However, he must surrender his passport and remain within the city limits of Port Charles until he turns himself in to the authorities for transport to Pentenville. Zeke thanks the judge, and Judge Kim says, should Zeke’s client not appear, he will be treated as a fugitive, and those three years in Pentenville will seem like a long weekend. This hearing is adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Zeke gives over Drew’s passport, and Carly hugs Drew.

Carly asks, what happened? It was supposed to be six months in Spring Ridge. Zeke says, this isn’t over. He knows with Drew’s skill set, it’s tempting to disappear, but Drew says, when he gives his word, he keeps it. Zeke leaves, and Drew says he’s going to be around here for a while, so why doesn’t Michael take his mother… Carly says she’s not leaving, but Drew says, it’s going to be a while. She says, they have seven days, and hugs him. Michael says, whatever Drew needs. If there are any resources he can provide, he’s here. Just like Drew has been for him and Willow. Michael leaves, and Carly and Drew hug some more.

Lucy says she remembers there was a half-moon shining through the window, and she was lying in Marty’s arms. It was almost like the moon was winking at her; like it knew something. She remembers thinking, this is so yummy, and maybe a little sad because they missed out on time together when they were apart. She wished they could just stop the clock. It was so interesting. All of a sudden, she guesses Martin heard her because he was awake. He said, what if there was a formula or product that could just stop time? Martin says, for heaven’s sake. He was just thinking out loud. She says, he’s being modest again. He was buzzing with so many ideas, and she fell asleep with all that going on in her head. Sasha says, and then? and Lucy says, and then, that’s the best part. Because when she woke up, she knew it wasn’t a dream. It was a product that could actually conquer time, or at least delay it. That was when The Deceptor was born, and Marty was her magic muse. Sasha says, wow, but Martin tells her, don’t dare believe what Lucy is telling her. He swears it was Lucy Coe who took a raw idea, a concept, and perfected it. She’s the one. She made it her own. She’s one sexy genius. He kisses Lucy, and she says, and he’s a handsome, sexy, gallant muse. Sasha says, all this story needs is a fairytale ending. How about it? When are they getting married? They both look at her and say, never.

Gregory says, Finn warned him that Tracy can be quite the dragon, but as Alexis can see, Tracy barely laid a claw on him. She asks if he’s okay. What Tracy said about him not dealing with any real issues was awful. She has a heart of stone, but even she wouldn’t have said that if she actually knew… He says, there’s no reason Tracy should know anything about him. But what he doesn’t understand is why Tracy came down so hard on Alexis. There’s obviously history there. What did Alexis do to her? (I literally lol.) Alexis says, it’s what Tracy did to her. Did he ever hear the expression, first hurt, then hate? That’s Tracy to a T. That’s her M.O. He says, go on. How did Tracy hurt her?

Tracy says she’s going to see her son, but Olivia says, no, she is not. Now sit down and shut up. Tracy says she’s his mother, and Olivia says she’s his wife. What he needs is love and understanding right now; the kind he can get from his daughter, not some horrendous, bitchy monologue from Tracy. Doc says he thinks they may have just gotten a window into why Ned might prefer to be Eddie Maine, and Olivia says, to get away from his mother? Tracy says, or his marriage? Doc says, let’s not look at it as an escape, but rather a journey to find his true self. Tracy rolls her eyes.

Brook says, he looks so peaceful, like all his problems are a things of the past, when Ned grabs her wrist. He says, she wants to solve his problems? Bust him out of here – now.

Drew says, seven days is like a lifetime. They just have to put it in perspective, and think about everything Willow and Michael have been through and how they live day by day. She kisses him, and says she wants more time. He says, they’ll just have to live every day, every minute like it’s their last, and create enough memories until he comes back. She says, what about Scout? and he says he’ll spend time with Scout. When he’s not with her, he’ll be with Carly. He kisses her, and she says she can’t believe this is happening. He says, let’s not think about it like three years. They’ll think about it like 36 car payments. She says she’s so sorry, but he says, it’s going to be okay. She hugs him.

Nina asks if a good relationship between her and Josslyn isn’t good for Sonny as well, and Dex says, no disrespect, but while he’s loyal to Sonny, he’s also loyal to Josslyn. and she gets to make up her own mind. Nina says, but they’re talking about peace, and that’s always a good thing. She wouldn’t even suggest for him to intervene if she didn’t think it would be helpful to everyone, including him. He says he’ll think about it, but just to be clear, he’d never let anyone hurt Mr. Corinthos or Josslyn. Nina says, or Sonny’s wife, I trust, and he says, that goes without saying. As long as she’s important to Mr. Corinthos, she’s important to him.

Josslyn tells Sonny, Dex had this job before she knew him. It’s his life and his decision. She was wrong to go behind his back to Sonny and ask Sonny to fire him. And Sonny was right to turn her down. So yeah, she has made peace with Dex working for Sonny. He says he’s glad to hear it, but that’s not the question he asked. Has she made her peace with him?

Sasha asks, what’s wrong with marriage? and Martin says, nothing, says half the population. It just so happens, he fell into the other half. Over and over again. Know what they say about baseball? Three strikes you’re out? He’s out. He asks if Lucy understands, and she says, I do. I have a history of saying I do when I wish I didn’t. What she and Marty have… He says, is perfect. Why spoil it with a prenup and a trip to Reno? He says he has a conference call, and has to leave. After that, he’s going to relax by the pool. In the meantime, Lucy should put the daisies in water. He leaves, and Sasha says she thought Lucy was the marrying kind. What changed? Lucy says, nothing. She was hoping when she said no, Marty would talk her into saying yes.

Alexis tells Gregory, then wouldn’t you know it? Chase was the arresting officer. He says he can’t believe what he’s hearing; that’s diabolical. Alexis says, Tracy thought she was saving Ned from her evil clutches. She and Ned almost got married a long time ago, and then a couple of years ago, he was married, and she was drunk, and they had a regrettable evening. Two lost souls. He says, say no more. He hopes Chase was smart enough to see through Tracy’s scheme and clear Alexis’s name. She says, it took a village, but in some way, Tracy did her a favor. She didn’t do any of the things Tracy was framing her for, but she was out of control. From that moment, she turned her life around. He says he admires her for rising from the ashes, but Tracy’s frame up could have had a very different ending. Alexis says, let it go; she’s not worth it. He says he agrees, but his son is.

Chase tells Ned that he’s a police officer, and he’s asking Ned to let go of Brook’s wrist. Brook says, he’s not hurting her, but Chase says, let her go. Ned releases her, and she says she promises, as soon as the doctors release him, she’ll take him home. He says, to Vegas? but she says he has a home in Port Charles too. He says he needs to get to Vegas, and she says she understands the need to perform; getting love back from the audience. He says, there’s nothing like it, is there? and she says she can think of some things. Like the love of the people who know you best. Your family.

Tracy says, the only journey she wants Ned taking is the one back to his senses, and Doc asks if she’s considered the possibility that in Ned’s mind, he’s being sensible. Olivia asks if he’s saying Ned being Eddie Maine is a good thing, but Tracy says, Eddie Maine isn’t real; it’s a stage name. Doc says, to her, but to Ned, Eddie Maine represents freedom, gratification, simplicity. And maybe just a touch of the fantasy he needs. Olivia says she needs Ned. She knows it might be selfish, but she just wants her husband back, warts and all, and Leo needs his father. Isn’t there any way they can coax him back? Tracy says, coax him? He needs another bump on the head.

Zeke comes back to the courtroom, and tells Drew that he’s requested a meeting with the judge. Carly asks if the judge is willing to listen to reason, and Zeke says, he is willing to listen, but only after Drew is remanded to Pentenville. Drew says, okay. As long as he’s being held accountable, and not above the law. Carly says, that could take months, or even a year, and the whole time he’ll be locked up in Pentenville. Drew says he’s been in Afghanistan. He’s a Navy SEAL. He’s not worried about Pentenville. Zeke says, the minute Drew goes to prison, he’ll be lobbying for that meeting, and Drew says, anything to expedite this, please. Zeke says, got it. He’d offer Drew a ride, but he has the feeling Drew has better things to do with his time. Drew thanks him, and Zeke says, this isn’t over. This is a significant setback. They’ll talk soon. He leaves, and Drew tells Carly, enough about him. She’s about to face a very stiff financial penalty. She says, that’s her problem, but he says, it’s their problem, and he knows how they’re going to solve it.

Josslyn says she’s working toward acceptance. Sonny is who he is, and he did what he did, and she doesn’t have the power to change that. When she’s angry at him, she hurts some of the people she loves, who also happen to love him. So she doesn’t know if that counts as making peace, but that’s the best she can do right now. He says he hopes someday they can both do better, but for now, he’ll take that. Michael comes in, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? Michael says, Josslyn texted him and said she’d be here with Dex. He wants them all to know, he just came from Drew’s hearing, and the judge gave him three years in Pentenville. Sonny says, son of a bitch, and Nina says, it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Josslyn says, oh really? How was it supposed to be?

Sasha says, it’s her fault for bringing up marriage in the first place, but Lucy tells her, don’t feel bad. She can’t believe Marty said, never. She thought if she said, never, Marty would say, my little snookums, never say never, but he didn’t say that. Sasha says, with three marriages and divorces, you can’t blame the guy for being a little gun-shy. Lucy says, maybe. According to Marty, those wives made his life a living hell, but she wishes she could exorcise it out of his head, and he’d be open to the idea of marriage again. Sasha says, Martin loves her. He’s not going anywhere. Not every guy would stay up late encouraging their partner to follow their dream, then help make that dream a reality. Lucy says, she’s right. He hasn’t asked for any share of the profit; not one single penny. Sasha says, that’s true love for you.

A text says, An electronic deposit of $50, 000 was credited to your account, and sitting with his feet in the pool, drink in hand, Martin says, every month, like clockwork. Trust me, Lucy. Marriage would only spoil everything.

Ned tells Brook, no offense, but the more he hears about her father, the less he envies him. Family life is nice and all, and he can tell she really loves the guy, but corporate life and all the ulcers that go with it, not his style. He has the feeling it’s not hers either.

Doc tells Tracy that he’s not aware of any traumatic brain injury being cured by another traumatic brain injury, and Olivia says, if Tracy is even thinking of taking a hammer to her husband… Tracy tells them, calm down. She was kidding. Olivia says, there’s nothing funny about this situation, and Tracy says, money is no object; whatever it takes. Doc says he’s in unchartered territory as well, but he knows a few experts. He’ll consult with them, and draw on every resource and database he can find. In the meantime, he does think Ned should start therapy. Tracy says, Ned or Eddie, because they’re supposed to be calling him Eddie now, right? How long do they have to buy into this fantasy? Doc says, and there’s the disconnect. Not Ned’s, hers. She can call it a fantasy, but to Ned, it’s his life. Whatever they do, don’t deny his reality. Give him space. Brook and Chase join them, and Brook says, he wants more than space. Olivia asks what he wants. Tell her. Brook says, a one-way ticket to Vegas.

Nina says, there was supposed to be a deal in place, wasn’t there? and Michael says, there was, but the judge overrode it. Josslyn says, mom must be devastated, and Sonny says he’ll reach out to Drew and help in any way he can. Michael says he already did. The US Attorney was as shocked as the rest of them. This is completely on the judge. Nina’s phone rings, and she goes to the table to answer it. She says, Ava heard… She just did… She knows. It’s awful, isn’t it?

Drew says he’s just going to get his affairs in order, and he’s going to put Aurora Media up for sale. They’ll use the proceeds to pay for Carly’s financial… She says, absolutely not. Aurora is his creation. It’s his legacy for Scout. He says, Scout is too young to care about that. She’s going to be fine; she’s got ELQ shares. He’s made other investments… Carly says she’s not going to let him give Aurora away. He’ll need it when he comes back. Whatever the penalty is, she’ll figure it out. He says he doesn’t like that, but she says she doesn’t want to think about this right now. She wants to make the most of whatever time they have left. He kisses her.

Lucy tells Sasha, okay. She’s thinking, you know how Marty planted the idea for The Deceptor in her head? Why can’t she plant the idea of wedding bells in his? Sasha says, why not? and Lucy says, okay. To the future, and may all those ex-wives and the damage they’ve done, be a thing of the past. They clink glasses.

Martin’s phone dings, and he says a text from Ex #3: You’ve been avoiding me. That’s a serious mistake. He says, oh God. He swears, the only thing worse than number two at the swimming pool is number three. He rolls over a little too far, and into the pool with his phone.

Alexis tells Gregory, don’t faint, but she’s going to the gym. Maybe they could meet for dinner afterwards. She’s thinking Thai food. He asks if she’s worried he’s going to track Tracy down and put the fear of God in her, but she says, first of all, he’s assuming Tracy fears God. Second of all, he’s too civilized for this… right? He says, Chase can hold his own, but what after she and Finn have told him, it’s clear that woman fights dirty. Alexis tells him not to sink to Tracy’s level. He has more important things to worry about. He says, there’s nothing more important than his sons.

Tracy says, her son thinks he’s a Vegas lounge lizard. This has gone on long enough. Doc can keep his therapy. She’s going old school. She starts to walk, and Brook asks where she’s going. She says, to knock some sense into Brook’s father.

Carly asks how Drew can be so calm, and he says, after weeks of uncertainty, now he knows what he’s facing. He can prioritize. He can do what means most in the time he has left. She says, they have to be strong, and he says, they will be. Seven precious days before he turns himself in. Let’s not spend another second in this courtroom. He kisses her hand, and suggests they get out of here. She looks like she might cry, and nods.

Tracy busts into Ned’s room, Brook, Chase, and Olivia following her. The bed is empty except for Ned’s pressure cuff and the links to the other medical equipment.

Josslyn says, her mom’s not responding to anything. Her phone must be off. Dex suggests they find her, and they leave. Sonny asks Michael how Carly is handling this, and Michael says, how does she think? She’s ready to go to war for Drew. Sonny says, war with who? Even if Ned’s responsible, he doesn’t even know who he is. Michael says, that’s convenient for Ned, and the worst possible outcome for Drew.

Having moved to the back of the club with the phone, Nina tells Ava that she didn’t plan for this. But now that it’s happened, there’s a tiny part of her that almost feels sorry for Carly. Ned comes into the club, and Nina says, what is Carly going to do without Drew for three long years?… She knows. She just feels awkward. Ned sees her, and comes toward her.

On Monday, Esme is afraid this is all going to fall apart; Felicia tells Robert, no matter what, don’t take no for an answer; Anna doesn’t believe her work is done; and Ned says, just the person he’s been looking for.

🚩 Flags Flying High…

Everything that makes Luis sketchy is… everything.

💎 Beverly Hills Memory Lane…

If you want to relive this sort of thing. Although the dinner party from hell is pretty entertaining. It did not benefit that psychic’s reputation.

🍸 Moving On…

You didn’t think I could let it go yet, did you? I’ve got the feeling Sandoval didn’t cancel shows because of filming. Not when he’s been giving twofers.

Who’s Your Boat Daddy…?

Captain Lee will always be my Stud of the Sea, but I have to admit, Captain Jason is quite easy on the eyes. Interesting how the Med lost viewers after the Hannah debacle.

💣 Fearsome Villain Afoot…

I wasn’t thrilled about how they made Victor so awful. Hopefully he doesn’t get eaten to even things out.

https://movieweb.com/fear-the-walking-deads-latest-trailer-reveals-the-return-of-an-old-villain/

⚰️ She’s On Again…

Carol is apparently back in the game.

🤹🏾‍♂️ Busy Guy…

And I swear he’s the voiceover on that Twizzlers ad where the guy on the beach ponders wearing white after Labor Day.

🦈 His Domain…

After zombies and the internet is evil, my third horror sub-genre favorite is giant sharks.

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/shark-week-jason-momoa-trailer-2023-streaming-details-discovery/

🐶 Real Life Superhero…

From Batman to Dogfather.

https://people.com/batman-actor-burt-ward-went-from-robin-to-dog-rescue-7547542

🧘🏽‍♀️ Quotes of the Week

People who are trying don’t vocalize it; they just do it. – John, Extreme Sisters

Hope is the destination that we seek. Love is the road that leads to hope. Courage is the motor that drives us. We travel out of darkness into faith. – Dean Koontz

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. – William Arthur Ward

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.Henry David Thoreau

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts. – Joshua Reynolds

I got a lot more respect when I was dead. – Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), General Hospital

💃🏽 Blaming It On the Bossa Nova…

Since Fear the Walking Dead is on a break, so am I, although I’ll be watching Dead City. Judging from the first episode, it looks extremely promising. But I’ll be here on Monday really Tuesday, dishing out soap and a double dose of Deck. Why does Bravo insist on being a pita? One episode a week is quite enough. Until then, stay safe, stay treating what you borrow as if it were your own, and when given the choice, stay going with love and understanding, rather than a horrendous, bitchy monologue.

June 16, 2023 – Ned Is Brought Out of Twilight Sleep, School’s Out, Not Too Late, Something, Après Rules, Messy Lou, Almost Here, Pets (!) Of the Famous, 3 Squared Quotes & Parade

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Finn plays a solo game of Backgammon in the breakroom, when Elizabeth walks in and asks if he’s playing against himself. He asks what she wants to hear, and she asks if he has no friends. He says, Tracy’s back in town, so he’s practicing. He can’t let her beat him. She’s impossible to deal with under normal circumstances. If she got a win… He’s got to stay on his toes. Elizabeth says, maybe she can help, and sits across from him.

Diane and Alexis find seats at the Bistro, and Diane says she keeps forgetting this place serves Earl Grey by default. She’s not a fan. Alexis says, take it back and get something else, but Diane says she can’t. Alexis calls her a martyr, and asks why she’s so cranky. Somebody on her mind? Diane says, if she’s referring to DA Scorpio, no. Holly left town; Robert told her himself. Alexis says, that sounds good… isn’t it? but Diane says, he couldn’t say if or when she was going to return. Alexis says, sounds like a win to her. She’s gone; he’s here. So is Diane.

On the phone, Cody says he knows they have a lot going on right now, but he wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important. Sam asks if he got arrested again, and he says, no, but he does need her help. She says, with what? and he says, exposing Gladys Corbin.

Sasha comes into Willow’s room, apologizing for being late, but Willow says she imagines it take time to get all suited up. Sasha says, that’s not what distracted her. She got hung up by an email. Willow says she has no concept of time in this room. She’s just glad Sasha’s here. Sasha says, Willow looks so much better, and Willow thanks her. She says she doesn’t want to sound insensitive, but Sasha’s eyes look red. Has she been crying? Sasha says, time to rethink Deception’s concealer formula (well, I would hope you don’t put it in your eyes), and Willow asks, what’s going on? Sasha says she was crying because of Nina.

On the phone, Michael asks Dex if there’s any news from the Pikeman camp… Keep him posted. It’s important Sonny thinks things are status quo. He doesn’t want Sonny to know they had any connection. Chase comes along and asks how Willow is doing. Michael says, she’s holding her own. Sasha’s in with her right now. Chase says, no more phones? and Michael says, they still have to wear masks and gowns to keep the room sterile, but she’s only allowed one visitor at a time. Chase says, that’s great. He’s sure she appreciates the human contact. Michael says, what about him? and Chase says he’s actually trying to avoid human contact. Everybody’s on the 10th floor, waiting for news about Ned, and he doesn’t want to get in the way of… Michael says, Brook’s sweet Granny Tracy?

TJ checks Ned’s vitals, as Olivia stands by nervously. Tracy and Brook come in, and Brook asks how he is. Olivia tells them, the doctor said, it’s time to bring Ned out of his twilight sleep. Brook says, sounds hopeful, and Tracy asks TJ, is it hopeful?

Finn tells Elizabeth that backgammon dates back 5000 years, and she says she didn’t realize she was in for a history lesson. Elizabeth makes a good move, and Finn says, that was lucky. Gilgamesh, the Mesopotamian king who wanted immortality, would play. She says she guesses he had to do something if he was going to live forever, and Finn says, big time player? Cleopatra. Elizabeth says, wow, and Finn says, maybe the best of all; Lucille Ball. She and Sammy Davis would just sit down at parties and start playing backgammon. She asks if he’s trying to distract her with this amazing information and his dazzling charm, and he says, the dazzling charm comes naturally. The backgammon history is a bonus. She says, so he’s a charmer and a nerd; it’s a winning combination. He asks if she just called him a nerd, and she makes a winning move, saying, she thinks she likes this game.

Diane tells Alexis, Robert said his complicated life just got less complicated. Isn’t that attractive? Then their uncomplicated conversation became more complicated after Olivia Quartermaine came over and started pressing Robert for inside information on the SEC case, and was there a possible deal on the table where her client Carly could give up her client Sonny. Alexis says, and Diane was all ears, and Diane says, of course (🍷) she was. Robert didn’t seem to appreciate that. She just doesn’t know if they’re compatible. Alexis says, Diane really likes those bad boy clients, doesn’t she? and Diane says, she likes the bad boy clients? She coughs, saying, Jerry Jax…. cough, cough… Julian Jerome. Alexis says, stop. Everyone to their corners. Diane says, that’s not what she wanted to talk about anyway. She’s consulting on a new case, and she needs Alexis’s great wisdom. Has she ever heard of Bidz Secure? With a Z. It’s crypto currency. Alexis says she doesn’t do that, and Diane says, neither does she. Just stay with her. It’s a digital currency security start-up. Their client is the CFO who’s been accused of stealing the keys to a big wallet which has somehow gone missing. Alexis says, a big wallet? and Diane says, it’s not a real wallet. It’s a digital wallet. He says he’s being framed by the CEO, who’s apparently a real crypto bro, according to her associate. Alexis says, that’s a he said/he said, and Diane says, the wife of the crypto bro CEO says she actually witnessed their client downloading funds, so it’s a he said/she said/he said. Alexis says, it sounds like Diane doesn’t believe what she said. Does she have any evidence? Diane says, no. The security is all in the digital ether, so there’s no paper trail. It’s keystrokes and clicks, and no, she doesn’t believe her. According to Diane’s associate, her husband is a real shark. Alexis says, so where does the shark swim? What does the shark eat? Diane asks if Alexis is having a stroke. What is she talking about? Alexis says, hunger. She may not know anything about tech bros, but she knows something about bros, and if it were her, she would be looking into the proclivities and the extracurricular activities of this certain CEO, and Diane might find something that his wife doesn’t like. If she’s going out on a limb for a lying cheater, or worse, she might think twice. Diane says, Alexis Davis, you are yummy and brilliant and devious, and Alexis says, all’s fair in love and law.

Cody tells Sam that he’ll fill her in when she gets here. He’s at the stables. He thanks her, and flashes back to talking to Brook saying he has the support of her entire family, granny aside. He says, Comet would miss him. Wouldn’t you boy? He puts his forehead against the horse, and says, apparently, there’s a few people out there who would. Don’t worry. Gladys won’t get rid of him that easily.

TJ says, his hope is that the sedation allowed Ned’s brain to rest, preventing any further swelling and maybe decreasing it. Tracy says, hope; that’s carefully worded. He says, medical professionals are discouraged from giving blanket assurances, but he can tell them that Ned’s medical team is cautiously optimistic. Brook thanks him, and asks, what’s next? TJ says, they’ll wake him up and assess his cognitive state, and Olivia says she was told there was a slight chance of lasting effects. Tracy says, like what? and he says, they’re getting ahead of themselves. Instead of rattling off a list of possible complications, they’ll start with removing Ned’s IV sedation, and work from there.

Diane says, Alexis misses being a lawyer; she can hear it. Alexis says, miss it? Being a lawyer is like voluntarily signing up to go into battle with an army of paperwork and legal jargon. It’s like navigating a perverse maze of precedents and cases that have no mercy. Diane says, but cracking the case. Wiping the smug grin off the face of opposing counsel. That was never done to her of course (🍷), but then there’s winning, winning, winning. Alexis says, pages and pages and pages of statutory law that you have to memorize, only to find out that it’s just been revised, and Diane says, it’s like putting together a giant puzzle. Alexis says, you get no sleep, you have no life, because you know you have to be in court for the next 20 days in a row, and Diane says, that’s why we have caffeine. Alexis says, to watch an innocent person get exonerated and order restored to a chaotic world. God, she misses it so much. It’s like losing a limb. She misses arguing in court; she loved arguing. And the thrill of advocating for justice. It’s who she is. She can’t just stand on the sidelines and watch. Diane says, like a reporter?

Sam arrives at the stables, and tells Cody, this better be important. She’s got to go back to the hospital. He asks, how’s Ned? Leo and Brook were here earlier. So was Tracy. Sam says, so he met Tracy, and he says, it was quite the experience. She’s a mother who’s worried about her son. They’re all worried. Sam says she and Dante are at the hospital supporting Dante’s mother, so if Cody wouldn’t mind being brief; what’s his plan? He says, that’s what he needs her help with, and she says she thought he needed help executing the plan, not brainstorming the whole damn thing. He’s never had problems executing his own schemes before. He says, way harsh. Besides, she has proximity to the Corinthos family. She can gain inside knowledge on Gladys a helluva lot easier than he could. Besides, she’s the only one who knows the whole story and believes him. She says she doesn’t know the whole story. He never told her Gladys’s motive for framing him. He says, she does believe him, right?

Willow says, Nina made Sasha cry? What has she done now? Sasha says, it’s not what Willow thinks. These are tears of joy. Willow asks if they’re in a parallel universe. Nina sparked joy? Sasha says, very funny. Willow must be feeling better. Willow says she’s just trying to process, and Sasha says she knows Willow’s relationship with Nina has been… Willow says, disastrous… fraught, and Sasha says, and this is all her fault. There was a time when she and Nina were at odds, remember? Willow says, now Sasha will tell her again how that’s all changed, and Sasha says, it has changed. Nina just wrote her the most wonderful letter of commendation to end her guardianship. Willow says, that’s great. She’s so proud of Sasha. Sasha thanks her, and says she’s finally ready to move forward. How about Willow?

Michael says, so Tracy is putting Chase through the paces, and Chase says, oh yeah. Now he knows how Comet feels. Michael says, she’s not as bad as she seems. When the chips are down, she loves her family, and she’s extremely loyal. Maybe too loyal, but she loves Brook. They have this whole love/hate thing going on. Chase says, but Brook can hold her own. It’s actually kind of fun to watch. Michael says, looks like someone is getting desensitized to the Quartermaine ways, and Chase asks how Michael is holding up through all this. Michael says, it’s a roller coaster. But they’ll get to the other side. He’s just really thankful for the nanny, because with Wiley’s endless energy and keeping Amelia on track is a non-stop juggling act. Chase says he can’t imagine that. It’s got to take a lot of strength and patience, especially while worrying about Willow.

Tracy asks, how long is this going to take? and Brook asks if she has a pickleball championship. Why doesn’t she wait outside with Dante? Olivia says, TJ told them, it could be twenty minutes; it could be a few hours. Tracy is acting like a six-year-old on a road trip. Stop. Tracy says, where is the doctor? Can’t they be doing more? What happened to the Quartermaine name? Monica left them… Olivia says, seriously? Tracy can’t sit in her own son’s ICU room without complaining about everything? Tracy says, he’s used to it. It’s like home. Ned moves his head, and Tracy says she rests her case. Olivia says, they’re here, and Ned opens his eyes, the three of them coming into focus. He closes his eyes again, as we all would.

Elizabeth sets up another game, and Finn says, today’s the last day of being just Nurse Baldwin. How does it feel? She says, it feels good. She’s happy to have been chosen for this position. She hopes she can do some good. Maybe bring some healing to this hospital. Lord knows they could use it after losing Epiphany. He says he thinks she’s the right person to bring back the humanity they need, and she thanks him. She says she keeps telling herself, this isn’t about her. It’s about her service to the patients and the staff who work so hard. She’s been linked to this hospital her entire life. One of her grandfathers was Dr. Hardy, the symbol of virtue, the true hero of General Hospital. I find myself nodding. It’s in this place she’s had her highest highs and her lowest lows. This place has put her back together more times than she’d like to count. Let’s not forget all the legends of the nurses station; Jessie Brewer, Bobbie Spencer, and Epiphany. Sometimes she wonders if she’s strong enough to be like them. Finn says, she is strong. In the end, she might be the strongest of them all.

Sam says she bailed Cody out. If she’d thought he was a thief, she wouldn’t have bothered. He thanks her, and she says, maybe it’s best if he does this legally. Why doesn’t he ask Dante for help? He says he doesn’t want to compromise Dante, and she laughs, and says, but he’s compromising her? He says he could just skip town, but she’d be out her bail money, and she says she’d find him in a heartbeat. He says he has no doubt, and feeds Comet some carrots. He says, it kills him that Sasha doesn’t know who Gladys really is, and Sam says, which is why they need to prove that the bracelet was planted. He says, Sasha needs to know that Gladys can’t be trusted. So does Port Charles. Sam suggests they just focus on keeping him out of jail, and not bite off more than they can chew. Feeding Comet more carrots, Cody tells her, Comet says, why limit ourselves?

Michael tells Chase that his heart breaks every time there’s a moment with Amelia, and Willow’s not there to experience it. The other day, Amelia looked up at him and smiled at him for the first time, like she really saw him. It was incredible, but Willow wasn’t there; she was here. He tries to record what he can on his phone, but it’s not the same. Willow needs to be there, experiencing it firsthand, to see the look on Amelia’s face when she lights up. It’s time she’ll never get back. Chase says, she’ll be able to watch those videos forever, and she’ll treasure every single one of them. Even more because she’ll know Michael took the time to record, even though he was going through his own hell.

Sasha tells Willow that she just met with Dr. Montague. He’s the psychiatrist the court appointed to evaluate her. Willow asks, how’d it go? and Sasha says, pretty good? She thinks. It’s hard to know for sure. Willow is sure Dr. Montague was very impressed. Why wouldn’t he be? Sasha has survived things that would have broken anyone else. Sasha says, Willow’s one to talk, and Willow says, having the support of family and friends has made all the difference. Sasha says, same, and Nina was a very big part of that for her. Nina was there for her when she gave Nina every reason to hate her. She pretended to be the thing Nina wanted more than anything. Nina was searching for her daughter, and what she and Valentin did was horrible, but Nina somehow found the strength and love to forgive her. That could not have been easy. Willow says she sees what Sasha is doing, but Nina has put her and the family she loves through the wringer. Some things can’t be forgiven.

Finn says, maybe it’s time for a Hardy to be in charge again. Elizabeth’s Gram was a legend in her own right. It’s kind of her destiny. Elizabeth says, those are some big shoes to fill, and he says, the shoe fits, Cinderella. He’s sorry he couldn’t join her celebration last night. She says, couldn’t or wouldn’t? She realizes girls night out isn’t for everyone, but we missed you. He says, we? and she says, I missed you. He says, hopefully, there will be many more celebrations, but he knew she needed a night out with her best friends. She says she’d like to think he’s one of them, and he says, no doubt about it.

Olivia says, thank God. She’s been praying so hard. She knew he’d wake up. Tracy tells her, back off. His brain’s been deprived of enough oxygen. She tells Ned, say something, but Brook says, don’t rush him. Ned says, water, and Brook gets a glass, Olivia putting the straw in his mouth. TJ comes in, and says, that was fast. Tracy says she wouldn’t expect any less, and TJ tells Ned, welcome back. Does he know why he’s in the hospital?

Alexis says, Diane’s not the only one she complains to about her job. While Diane was chatting it up at The Savoy with Robert’s ex, she was complaining to Felicia about her job. Diane says, her, complain? and Alexis says she believes in free press. She believes in reporters. And maybe that passion for complaining just fuels that commitment… She just wishes she were more fulfilled at The Invader. Diane says, but? and Alexis says she sometimes makes a difference. She sometimes shines a light on a story that’s important, but those stories hardly ever happen. For every impactful story, it’s like there’s a zillion mundane, stupid ones, like celebrity gossip or fashion. It’s like finding a needle of significance in a haystack of triviality. Diane says, it’s not exactly Woodward and Bernstein, and Alexis says, maybe she’s just spreading herself too thin, and needs to take advantage of her support team, and do some serious outreach. Diane says, yes, her support team. That now includes – she clears her throat – the wonderful Esme Prince.

Michael says, Chase is right. He needs to focus on the future. Once Willow is released, they’ll have the rest of their lives to make more moments together. Chase says, and they will, but until then, don’t forget to send a flare up when things get tough. His friends are here, and they want to help. Michael thanks him, and says, despite all the angst and craziness with the kids, he wouldn’t trade being a father for anything. Chase says he can see that, and Michael asks if Chase ever thinks about children. Chase says, talk about turning the tables, and Michael asks if it’s a touchy subject. Chase says, no, of course (🍷) not. He grew up in a great family. His dad was always there. His mom was kind of busy, but they both loved him. Michael says, so how about it? and Chase says, let him put it this way. He definitely loves kids, and he and Brook are back together, but as for his own, that’s a long way off in the future. Michael says, the future kind of has a habit of catching up to you sooner than you think.

Sasha says, Willow’s relationship with Nina is complicated, but so is hers. She lied to Nina, she conned her, she broke Nina’s heart. And she put Brando through hell with her addiction. Both times, she was the recipient of grace; forgiven. And recently, she wrongfully accused a friend of something. Willow says, and she was forgiven? but Sasha says, he doesn’t hold it against her, but he’s not sure he can be her friend. Willow says she’s sorry, and Sasha says, so is she. It’s painful wanting to connect to someone you’ve wronged, even if they don’t owe you a thing.

Sam says, Cody’s innocence is going to be a lot easier to prove than Gladys’s guilt, and Cody says, tell it to his lawyer. She says, what lawyer? and he says, Scott Baldwin. She asks why Scotty isn’t dealing with this, and he says, Scotty is working on something else for him. She says, bigger than a conviction for grand larceny? They have to prove Gladys was in his pants the night of the Nurses Ball. He says, she was in his jacket, thank you very much, and the PCPD already looked into all this. There was no surveillance footage. She says, there are other ways.

Finn asks if Elizabeth wants to play, and she says, yeah, she wants to play. He asks if they’re still talking about backgammon, and she laughs, saying, yes, they’re talking about backgammon. He says, just checking, and they sit back at the board. He says he’s a little afraid. He thinks she cheats. She says she wants that cup, and he hands her the cup with the dice. She shakes them up, and spills them onto the board. They play another game, and she beats him again.

Alexis says, Esme Prince, the latest entrant into the Cassadine family Squid Game, and Diane laughs. Alexis says she did that as a favor to Laura, and Diane says, that’s some favor. Esme is a… not nice person… snake. That’s mild. Is Alexis sure that’s wise? Alexis says, since when has she done anything that’s wise? and Diane says, Alexis is one of the wisest people she knows. Occasionally, she’s led astray by her passion and idealism. Alexis says, in this case, she was just trying to provide Esme with some stability, so she doesn’t run off with Laura’s grandchild in tow. Diane says, it’s generous of her, and Alexis says, actually, she has a soft spot for Esme. Alexis knows firsthand what it’s like to have a psychotic parent, and Esme’s got two. And Gregory actually keeps her calm. Diane says, Gregory? and Alexis says, he’s agreed to join the editorial board. Diane says she thought Alexis was persona non grata when she went over his head and called the dean, but Alexis says, they have an understanding now. She can be his friend and care about him; she just can’t meddle. And the editorial board is actually happy to have him, and he’s happy to be in his erudite element. Diane says, so all’s well that ends well, and Alexis says, to quote the Bard.

Sasha asks if she can read Willow something, and Willow says, sure. Sasha reads: Sasha Gilmore is not defined by her past. No matter our mistakes, shortcomings, or circumstances, everyone deserves another chance to build a life that once seemed impossible. Willow says, that’s what Nina wrote about Sasha, isn’t it? and Sasha nods. Willow says, she writes well, and Sasha says, she writes from her heart. But maybe she was also writing about herself. Maybe it’s a prayer of sorts. All she knows is that Nina’s capacity for forgiveness is massive. Something tells her, it might be hereditary.

In the elevator, Michael says he’s glad Chase and Brook are back together. They’re good for each other. Chase says, there’s never a dull moment, that’s for sure. Last weekend, she took him to the Beecher’s Corners flea market. She said she had a surprise for him, and whisked him away on this whirlwind tour. It was like she was possessed; like she had this sixth sense for finding vintage clothing. They leave the elevator, and Michael says, Brook is usually all over the place, but Chase grounds her. She can be her own worst enemy. Chase is like a moral compass for her. It’s important each person bring something to the relationship, so they can complement each other. That’s what Willow does for him. She really helped him focus on what really matters, and Chase does that for Brook. Chase asks what Brook does for him, but Michael says, you tell me.

Ned says, his head… hurts, and TJ says, he has a head injury. They’ll get him a drip to manage the pain. Does he know how he hurt his head? Ned says, did he fall? and Tracy says, yes, at the MetroCourt pool. Ned says, pool… and Olivia says, hopefully, he won’t sue the owner. Tracy says, what she wants to know is why he came barreling out like he had some earthshattering news to tell Drew. What got him all fired up?

Diane says, she and Alexis need to exercise together, and Alexis asks, what’s wrong with her? Diane says, come on, but Alexis says, no. Diane says she’s going to take Alexis to her trapeze class. It is such a good workout. Alexis says, she knows a girl who broke her foot playing pickleball (WOTD), and Diane says, then they’ll do yoga. It’s nice, it’s safe, it’s close to the ground. All that stretching and core. Alexis says, it sounds hard, and Diane says, you are impossible. Alexis says, but consistent, giving Diane a thumbs up before she leaves.

Finn says he thinks the tide is turning, and Elizabeth says, we’ll see. She rolls the dice, and he says, ouch. That’s got to hurt a little bit. She calls him Genghis Khan, and he says, Genghis Khan playing backgammon? Is she sure? She says, if he did, she’s sure this world would be a much different place. He says he’s sure it would, and she rolls again. She says she doesn’t like this game anymore, and she has to get back to work. She doesn’t want that head nurse breathing down her neck. He says, she’s okay; I’ve heard some good things about her. She says she hopes it stays that way, and he says he’s sure it will. She bids him goodnight and leaves. He sighs and rolls the dice, getting snake eyes. He says, the tide is turning, and moves his pieces.

Sam calls Spinelli, and Cody says, no, wait, but she doesn’t pay attention to him. She tells Spinelli that she’s got a job for him, making a shushing motion to Cody.

Willow asks if Sasha thinks she’s been too hard on Nina, but Sasha says she didn’t say that. There’s been real harm done. All she’s saying is, the story doesn’t have to end there. Willow says she told Wiley, new beginnings are always possible, and Sasha flashes back to Cody telling her that Gladys framed him. He says, even if she doesn’t believe that, at least she believes he’s not a thief, and he hopes someday she knows he’s the one telling her the truth. She tells Willow, he’s got a wise mommy, and Willow blows her a kiss.

Chase tells Michael that he’s going to check in on Brook, and see how Ned’s doing… or he could just text her, and avoid Tracy. Michael says, that’s not really Chase’s style though, is it? and Chase says, no. He has to face things head-on. He just doesn’t want Brook to have to run interference with Tracy. Then again, it might give her something to do to take her mind off her dad. Michael asks how Ned is doing, and Chase says, they were waiting for Dr. Ashford to wake him up from the induced coma. Brook brought Leo in to sit with him earlier. Michael says, tell Brook that he’s thinking about her, and Chase says, and send Willow his love. Michael says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks Chase would be a great dad. Chase heads for the elevator.

Ned says, this is all a bit fuzzy, and TJ says, totally normal. Let’s start with this. What year is it? Ned says, 2023, and TJ asks where they are. Ned says, Port Charles, New York, and everyone gets all happy. TJ says, seems like you’re on your way to recovery, Ned. He gave them a scare though. Ned says, his name is not Ned. And he and I say it together… My name is Eddie Maine. The happiness gets sucked out of the room.

On Monday, Austin tells Ava, it might be time for a new nanny; Brook tells someone that they need to step up; Ned wonders what they’re talking about; and Nina tells Sonny, once you know, there’s no going back.

🎓 They Made It…

It’s matriculation time.

🏆 How To See Them…

You can still watch the Daytime Emmys even if you missed them tonight.

🥪 Magical Sandwiches…

Stassi gives us a tour of Something About Her.

🍸 VanderHits Still Coming…

A million times hotter than Sandoval, who looks like a leftover beatnik from the 60s.

https://okmagazine.com/p/ariana-madix-new-boyfriend-daniel-wai-instagram-official-scandoval/

Again, when Jax is the voice of reason, we are living in Bizarro World.

https://okmagazine.com/p/jax-taylor-trolls-tom-sandoval-apart-inviting-brittany-cartwright-concert/

Eww.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/raquel-leviss-blasted-for-2013-post-about-making-your-ex-feel-uncomfortable-after-tom-sandoval-affair-not-much-has-changed/ar-AA1crJR1

At first I gave Schwartz credit.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1377111/where-tom-schwartz-stands-with-tom-sandoval-after-incredibly-messed-up-affair-with-raquel-leviss

And then I didn’t.

More about those not-so-secret revelations.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2023/06/14/vanderpump-rules-secrets-revealed-recap-tom-sandoval-raquel-leviss-lies-ariana-madix/70321716007/

Yeah, yeah. Hindsight is 20/20. I wouldn’t be so quick shame anyone for wanting a paycheck either. Still not loving Charli.

🍕 Just Another Juicy Joe…

I don’t believe for one second this guy’s on the up and up.

This time she didn’t understand the question.

🎉 Juneteenth Is Bustin’ Out All Over…

Read all about it.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

Juneteenth.com

🐖 Latest In Celebrity Fashion…

Pets never go out of style.

https://parade.com/celebrities/celebrity-pets-on-instagram

🐳 Quotes of the Week

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. – John Burroughs

Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.Annette Funicello

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Uh-oh.)

Happiness depends to some extent upon external conditions, but chiefly upon mental attitudes. – Paramahansa Yogananda

We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. – Steve Maraboli

Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant. — Robert Louis Stevenson

Sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes you have to make the decision right. – Dr. Phil

There’s a difference between undercooked and raw. – TomColicchio, Top Chef

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. – Elie Wiesel

📼 Made You a Mixtape…

If you still believe in weekends, do something outside of your usual routine. Then meet me on Sunday for a little Dead and/or on Monday for the usual soap and a lotta Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay using your time wisely, since there’s a limited supply, and stay believing new beginnings are always possible.

June 9, 2023 – No Soap For You, 2 Mollys, Jersey Mess, Vandermath, VanderNew, Sink It, Dead Dates, A Farewell, Star Releases, Sharks, Cuteness, Double 4 Quotes & Love

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Well there was this:

So I did this:

💼 Ups and Downs…

She’s doing a good job so far. She’s not straying too far from the already established character.

She’s lucky she didn’t kill someone.

👠 Jersey Devils…

They still don’t totally explain it. So like, what happened the next time Frankie and Louie spoke? Or haven’t they?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/frank-catania-shares-why-frankie-stopped-working-for-luis-ruelas

Where they are now.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhonj-season-13-finale-recap-cast-updates

This one doesn’t live in the real world with the rest of us. I don’t blame Andy for losing his sh*t. It was like, STFU already.

About that text.

And the rest.

🍸 Trying To Recover…

I don’t think there is a future for her on the show. At least, I hope not.

I guess, but I can’t imagine she didn’t want to smack Rachel’s bobblehead face. I thought she was restrained.

https://people.com/lala-kent-regrets-attacking-raquel-leviss-at-vanderpump-rules-reunion-7510310

Giving you more Lala.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/raquels-big-secret-on-vanderpump-rules-reunion-lala-reacts

She’ll be fine. She dodged a narcissistic bullet.

https://extratv.com/2023/06/08/ariana-madix-reveals-plans-for-the-future-and-thoughts-on-marriage-after-scandoval/

She was so funny on WWHL.

🎁 Just What We Need…

I still want more episodes of Overserved, but I’ll take what I can get. After I take a million showers to get the smell of the Reunion off.

⛵️ Aye, Aye, Captain…

She’s right. That boat needs to die. I’m sure Glenn and Colin are having a grand old time holding it together with duct tape and bubble gum, but it almost tanked the season.

⚰️ Moving Dead…

Updates on both Dead City’s premiere and Fear the Walking Dead’s mid-season finale.

https://screenrant.com/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-episode-6-airtime-change/

🥀 She’ll Be Missed…

I love this show, and was so sad to hear this.

https://people.com/bling-empire-anna-shay-dead-7508300

👽 When the Force Will Be With You…

Updates on Star Wars releases.

https://ew.com/movies/star-wars-movie-tv-show-release-dates/

🦈 Doo-Doo Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo…

Cue the music.

https://people.com/sharkfest-2023-how-to-watch-sharkfest-7509679

🦙 Take a Deep Breath…

Some relief from all the nasty, awful reality this week.

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/cute-animals

☄️ Quotes of the Week

Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy. – Dean Koontz

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.  — John Powell

The border to eternity is never ahead of us. It runs parallel to life and can be crossed over at any moment by old and young. – Reinhard Bonnke

A mathematical formula for happiness: Reality divided by Expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations.Jodi Picoult (I vote for lowering expectations.)

Even while we kill and punish we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves—to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured: in fact, to wish his good. That is what is meant in the Bible by loving him: wishing his good, not feeling fond of him nor saying he is nice when he is not. – C.S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity

I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant.Edward Enninful

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. – Plato

That wasn’t karaoke. It was you, a jukebox, and a bar full of angry people. – Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

🕺🏽 Curly Shuffling Away…

Tune in for a chance of Fear on Sunday, and on Monday really Tuesday for soap and double the Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay respecting your elders no matter how old you are, and stay making sure that when you’re singing karaoke, you’re really at karaoke.

June 2, 2023 – Mason Comes Calling, The Bureau, Hot Doc, Her Reality, Seeking Peace, VanderCompost, Chef Farewell, Dead Spin, Model Pup (!), Seven Solid Quotes & Born

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Jordan is about to knock on Curtis’s door, when she flashes back to their kiss. As she starts to knock, Curtis opens the door, surprised to see her, and she says he’s probably wondering how she knew he was here. He says, so she came to see him? and she says, yes. His wife told her where to find him.

The bank officer tells Spencer that everything seems to be in order, and brings him the safety deposit box. Per instructions of the late Victor Cassadine, the contents of the box now belong to him. He’s sorry for Spencer’s loss. Instead of laughing, Spencer thanks him, and he leaves. Spencer tells Trina, it’s not too late. They can leave the box and walk out of here. He knows his Uncle Victor, and no good will come from opening this box. She asks if he really doesn’t want to know what this box might be protecting his family from.

Ava finds Austin at the hospital, and wonders if she can ask him a question. He says, sure, and she says, it’s about her post-op recovery. She suggests they find somewhere private, and he says, you bet. His voice gets louder, and he says, if they’re going to discuss her post-op recovery, they should probably do it in his office. They walk down the hall, and she says, they’ve got a problem.

Michael walks into Sonny’s old kitchen, and Carly says, perfect timing. She just made brownies. What brings him by? Not wanting to admit he’s there to visit the moss bowl🎍, he flashes back to Josslyn telling him to give Carly the evidence to save herself. Carly says, it’s not bad news, is it?

Josslyn goes to Dex’s apartment, and says, they’re in private, so no one can listen to them. Can he please just email her the video of Sonny taking the shipment from Pikeman? He says he doesn’t have it.

Sonny sees Dante at the pool, and asks if he’s seen Nina, but Dante says he’s been too busy looking at that pretty girl over there, indicating Sam. Sonny says, it looks like they’re in a good place, and Dante says he can’t complain. Sonny seems lighter. Sonny says, maybe it has something to do with him and Nina being engaged, and Dante hugs him, saying, congratulations. That’s awesome news. Things are looking up in Sonny’s world. Sonny says, not everything, as Ned walks in. Sonny goes over to Ned, and Sam asks Dante, what’s going on with Sonny? Dante says he doesn’t know, and asks if Sam knew Sonny and Nina got engaged. She says she just overheard him telling Dante, but she guesses she shouldn’t be surprised. This means he and Carly have truly moved on.

Carly asks if Willow is okay, but he says he spoke to her this morning, and so far, so good. She asked about Carly. She’s worried; they both are. Carly says she doesn’t want Willow worrying about her. She has to focus on herself. Would he please tell Willow that she’s fine? He says, they both know she’s not fine, and from what she told him, she doesn’t have many options. She says she’ll take her chances in court, or go for a deal, okay? and he says, which means offering up Drew or dad to the Feds. She says she knows it’s not much of a choice… and he says, so she’s going to take her chance in court? She says she doesn’t know, but it’s her decision to make. That’s why she doesn’t want him and Josslyn fighting over this. This is her problem. He says, what affects her, affects them, and she says she knows that. Whatever decision she makes will be what’s best for this family. He asks what decision that will be.

Josslyn says, Dex doesn’t have the footage? and he says he gave the only copy to Michael. She asks, why? and he says, because it’s his property. Michael paid him, he gave Michael the footage; end of story. She says, it’s not end of story, because that video’s the one shot her mom has at not going to prison. He says, then she needs to get it from Michael, and she says she can’t believe he risked his life to get this video, and he doesn’t keep a copy for insurance. He says, that’s not how he works. He provides a service. When he was in the military, he had a mission, an objective, and he completed it. He didn’t take ownership of it. It’s the exact same thing now. Michael hired him; the footage belongs to him. Even if he had a copy, which he doesn’t, he couldn’t give it to her.

Ned says, no need for Sonny to get in his face. He has no beef with him. Sonny says, only with Carly, ratting her out to the SEC? That’s low, even for a Quartermaine. Ned says he doesn’t owe Sonny any explanations. He’s here to see his wife. Sonny says, Ned’s not going anywhere until he’s done with him.

Ava tells Austin that Nikolas inherited property in the Chechen Republic, and Laura thinks that’s where he’s been hiding out. Austin asks, why? and she says, the theory is that Victor hid him there once before, and Laura wants to fly to Chechnya, find him, and bring him home. He says, she told him they have a problem. If Laura wants to go to Chechnya, she’s not going to find him. Let her go. Let her try. Ava says, it’s dangerous. She could be hurt or worse. They have to stop her. He says he’s going to push back on that just a little bit. If Ava goes to Laura and tells her not to go to Chechnya to look for her long lost son, she’s going to want to know why. He totally understands that she’s worried, but she can’t say anything to Laura. She can’t do anything to raise suspicion. She says she can’t have any more blood on her hands, especially not Laura’s.

Curtis says, Jordan spoke to Portia about him? but she says, don’t worry. She didn’t tell Portia what happened with them at The Savoy. Isn’t he going to invite her in? He says, absolutely, and she walks in the house. She says, it really is lovely here. When was he going to tell her that he moved back home? He says, actually, he was coming to find her right now. He opened the door and there she was. She says, she’s always here when he needs her, except she’s not sure it works the other way around. He says, she’s angry, and she says, he can add hurt to that. Definitely confused. After they kissed, they agreed she’d wait, and while she was waiting, he reconciled with his new wife.

Spencer puts the key in the box, and tells Trina, if Pandora had left that box closed, the world would have been spared its evils. She says, hope also came out of that box. Stop stalling. He opens it, and she asks if that’s what she thinks it is. He says, what fresh hell? and takes out a tablet. He tries it, and says, of course (🍷). No juice. Maybe it’s sign. He puts it back in the box and closes it, but she says, it just needs a fresh charge. Good thing his girl always comes prepared. She digs in her bag, and says, her dad has a rule; she should never be without a charge. She takes out a charger, and he says, remind him to thank her dad the next time he sees him. She plugs in the tablet, and he takes an envelope out of the box, pulling out a paper. She asks if that’s a receipt, and he says, from an online pharmacy. This is a prescription filled from Esme for the same drug that almost killed Oz Haggerty. She says, and poisoned her.

Carly says she’s not selling anybody out, but Michael says, maybe she shouldn’t look at it that way. She asks how she’s supposed to see it. She either turns on the man she loves or the man she used to love, who happens to be the father of her kids. He says, she told Sonny that she wouldn’t double-cross him. While that’s admirable, from where he’s standing, Sonny hasn’t exactly extended the same courtesy to her or this family. She says, that’s not true. Sonny offered to give her information that she could offer the Feds; something he could defend himself against. She turned him down. She doesn’t want to open that door. He says, what if she had something Sonny couldn’t defend himself against?

Ned suggests he save Sonny and himself some time. If he doesn’t pull some strings and get the SEC to stop the investigation against Drew and Carly, Sonny makes him pay. Is that the gist of it? Sonny says, Ned’s going to pay, and Sam tells Dante that he may want to do something about this. Ned asks if Sonny is threatening him, but Sonny says he doesn’t threaten people; he gets even. He thought they had mutual respect, until Ned went after the mother of his kids. Ned says he had nothing to do with it, and they start yelling at each other. Dante comes over, and tells them to settle down, but Ned says he’s not the one who started this. Sonny says he’ll finish it. Is that what Ned wants? Olivia comes out, and asks, what the hell is going on here?

Ava tells Austin that she’s a mother too. She understands what Laura is going through, but she can’t risk anything happening to Laura while she searches for Nikolas, especially since it’s her fault he’s gone in the first place. He says, let’s do it. Let’s figure out a way to stop Laura. She thanks him, and he says he’d like to propose some terms though. She says, like what? and he says he doesn’t see any reason to rush things. It’s probably hard for anybody to go to Chechnya, let alone an American, and it’s probably not going to be easy for Laura to get out of Chechnya. So whatever plan Laura comes up with has to be well thought out and considered, and hopefully, that will give them some time to really think about how to stop her.

Curtis tells Jordan that him moving back in with Portia isn’t a reconciliation. It’s just a first step. She asks if Portia knows that, and he says he’s staying in the guest room. She says, even so, what gives? Was he ever considering reviving what they had together, or was she just there to help him sort out his feelings for his wife? He says he’d never play her like that. What happened between them was spontaneous. It was compulsive, but it was completely organic. She says, maybe this is on her. She got wrapped up in a single kiss. She misread the situation, didn’t she?

Spencer says he wasn’t sure Trina knew that Esme drugged her that night at the cabin, and she says, her mom and Curtis suspected it. She barely drank that night, and certainly not enough to make her feel so out of it. How did he know? Did Esme tell him? He says he found pills. He was going through all Esme’s things trying to find something that would clear Trina in court, and he brought one of the pills to Britt. She told him that it was an opioid analgesic, something if mixed with alcohol could cause a person to lose consciousness. He’s so sorry. She says, so is she, and he says he means he’s sorry he didn’t tell her about this sooner, but things just kept happening, one thing on top of another, and he guesses it just got buried. He’s sorry. She says, she knows. It’s okay. it’s been a lot, but it sure comes back up though. It was such a violation, and it started the whole revenge porn case. At least she didn’t end up like Oz Haggerty in a coma. He says he wanted to be the one to save her, but he didn’t have any actual proof. She picks up the prescription, and says, until now.

Ava thanks Austin, and says she feels so much better. It really helps her that she has someone to share this with. He says, literally any time. When she said there was a problem, he thought she might have heard from Mason, but she says, not a peep. He says, that’s great, but weird, because usually when he has his hooks in somebody, he’s not inclined to let go. She says, small favors, as he opens his office door. Can they hope that Mason has given up… Just outside the door, Mason says, given up on them? Never.

Dex opens his laptop and tells Josslyn, look for herself. She says, if he tells her it’s not there, she believes him. She has to. Because if he’s lying, they’ve got nothing. He says he spent months telling her half-truths and keeping secrets. He won’t do that again. She says, even if it’s his job? Just like it was his job to get the video for Michael, and not keep a copy, and not give it to her? He says, to him, honesty and evidence are two different things. He can tell her what he’s doing, but he can’t make her a part of it.

Ned says, he and Sonny were just having a friendly chat; one where he just shuts up and listens. Olivia says, in case Sonny’s forgotten, this is her place of business, and Sonny says, so he can’t have a conversation in her hotel? Sam says she thinks what Olivia means is, they should do this more privately, and Dante says, like not at a patio with a pool full of witnesses. Sonny says, to be continued, and Ned says he gets that Sonny is pissed. Had he done what Sonny is accusing him of doing, Sonny would have every right to threaten him, but as God is his witness, it wasn’t him.

 Michael says, at least he and Sonny are in agreement about one thing; they both don’t want Carly to go to prison. Carly says she knows he has huge issues with his dad, and he says he does. Despite everything that happened, he still had to come to grips with wanting to save his mother at the expense of his father. Carly says, it’s a good thing he doesn’t have to, and Michael says, Joss is worried about her and so is he. If it came down to the choice of saving her or Sonny… She says she’s not going to sacrifice Sonny to save her own skin; she won’t do that. He says, what if he does it instead?

Trina wonders how this receipt got here. Is there something else in that envelope? Spencer takes out a folded paper, and says, it’s a letter, handing it to Trina. She reads: Dear Maggie, I need your advice. I may be in a lot of trouble… He says, that’s Esme’s nanny, takes the letter and reads: That sleazy bartender I met has been harassing me. I tried to convince him to leave me alone, and things got out of control. I slipped him something so I could get away. I may have seriously hurt him. Trina asks if Spencer realizes what this is, and he says, evidence. She says, it’s got to be Esme’s handwriting, and he says, it looks like it. She says, isn’t that just like Esme, trying to slant things to make herself look like the victim? She’s the one who purposely drugged Oz Haggerty. You could never induce that girl to tell the truth. He says, total amnesia could, and Trina says, this is amazing. A receipt that proves Esme bought the drugs that could incapacitate two people, and a written confession. What else do they need? He asks if she thinks it’s enough, and she says, only one way to find out. She opens the fastest charging tablet in the world, and they look at it.

Curtis says, Jordan didn’t misread anything. His feelings for her are real, and him moving in here doesn’t change that. I call him an idiot, and she asks, how real are his feelings for Portia? He says he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have feelings for Portia as well, and she says she’s out of here. He says, she accused him of not giving their marriage the chance it needed, and she was right. When Jordan wanted to work on things, he walked away because he wasn’t ready to handle the pain at that time. Now he’s trying to learn from his mistake. It wouldn’t be fair to her and Portia if he walked away from his marriage before he sorted out his feelings. She asks how he plans on doing that, and he says, by not avoiding Portia, by committing to having the hard conversation, by doing what he didn’t do with her, and that’s putting in the hard work. She says, that’s admirable, and great news for Portia, but where does that leave her?

Ned says, Sonny is right. They’re families have had an ugly history, but they share a family member. They both prioritize family, and granted, the Quartermaines don’t always show it. But when push comes to shove, they’re loyal and they pull together. When he threatened Drew, he was angry, but that’s where it ended. And he considers Carly family, not just because she’s Michael’s mother, but she’s Olivia’s best friend, and loved by his son Leo. He would never hurt her. Sonny suggests they not pretend Ned would never act in his own self-interest. His family loyalty took a vacation when he threw in with Valentin, and that’s the reason Carly lost half her hotel. Ned says, and he regrets that, which is why he’d never kick her while she’s down. Olivia says, she and Sonny go way back, which is why she’s not asking him to believe Ned. She’s asking Sonny to believe her. Her husband didn’t do this.

Mason says, don’t Austin and Ava look comfortable; all cozy and at ease. Did they miss him? Mason comes in, and Austin closes the office door. Mason says, sorry he’s been gone so long. He was out of town on important business. But worry not. He didn’t forget about them. He’s keeping tabs. Austin asks, how? and Mason asks if anybody ever told Austin that he worries too much. He should be more like their girl Ava. She’s been living her life; carrying on without a care in the world. It’s almost as if she didn’t miss her husband.

Dex says he’s sorry. Josslyn’s scared about her mom, and she came to him thinking he could save her, but he can’t. He feels like he’s failing her. Josslyn says she came up with a plan that didn’t work. She thought he could give her something he literally doesn’t have. So it’s not his fault. None of this is his fault. It’s her family’s mess, and she doesn’t know how to fix it. If her mom doesn’t turn in that evidence, and goes to prison, then Donna literally has nobody except Sonny and Nina, and she needs her mom. He says, Donna will have her. He thinks Josslyn needs her mom too, and Josslyn says, but she’s grown, and she shouldn’t need her mom as much as she does. He says, we always need the people who care about us the most, and she says she can’t sit here and do nothing. She has to find a way to help her mom. He suggests she start by trusting her mom.

Carly tells Michael, the Feds have been circling this family for years. She hasn’t talked, and she’s not going to start now, even for a deal. He says, she could probably send Sonny away with what she already knows, and she shrugs. He says, but there’s a way to ensure she never has to open her mouth. He takes out the flashdrive, and tells her, what’s on this flashdrive is irrefutable evidence that Sonny violated the National Security Act. Just give him the word, and he’ll make sure the relevant parties see it. Her hands will be clean. She asks, what’s on the flashdrive? and he says, video footage of Sonny and his crew finalizing a deal to transport a dangerous weapon. She asks how he knows this. How did he even get that flashdrive? He says, because he commissioned it.

Sonny says, because of Olivia, this is over, but if he hears Ned had any part of this… Ned says he won’t, and Olivia tells Sonny, see you around, and leaves with Ned. Sam gives Sonny and Dante some space, and Dante says, what the hell was that? Sonny says, from what he knows, Ned had something to do with Carly’s problems with the SEC. What does Dante expect him to do? Dante says, not that. He wants to go to bat for the mother of his children, that’s fine, but don’t go after Ned in a public place. Ned has an accident or something, and who does Sonny think they’ll want him to talk to? Sonny. Does he really want both of Donna’s parents to end up behind bars?

Carly says, Michael paid someone to spy on Sonny? and he says he needed proof of criminal liability that could send Sonny to prison for the rest of his life, and this was more than he could ask for. Obviously upset, Carly asks what he was thinking. What’s on that drive could destroy their family. He says he knows. Willow told him the same thing. That’s why, after they got married, he decided to forget about taking Sonny down anymore. She says, but he still held on to it, and he says, it’s a good thing he did. This could be the only thing that’s standing between her and federal prison.

Dex says, Josslyn can’t tell Carly how to handle this, anymore than Carly can tell her how to handle her life. Josslyn says, she definitely has opinions, and he says, about him; about her being with him. Josslyn says, she told him; her mom just doesn’t want to see her get hurt. She never directly told Josslyn not to be with him. She knows Josslyn wouldn’t listen. He says, it would have solved all their problems if he’d done what Michael wanted and left Port Charles, but she says, not really, because she offered to go with him, and she meant it. He says he knows, and the fact that she was willing to do that terrified him.

Ava says, you freak, and Austin steps between her and Mason, who says, ouch. Is that really what she thinks of him? After everything he’s done for her? Does he need to refresh their memories about what would have happened if he hadn’t stepped in to solve their little problem? They don’t like sunshine and fresh air? Because he could go to the PCPD right now, and guarantee they never see those again. Austin asks, what’s his point? Is there one? Does he have a purpose, or is he just there to torment them? Mason says, don’t rush him. Although he appreciates the go-getter attitude. He’s going to need it. It’s time for the two of them to show poor old Mason some appreciation.

Looking at the tablet, Trina says, is that… Spencer says, Esme with the bartender, and she says, this looks like a still from the security camera on the docks. What are they doing? Spencer says, that’s a hand-off, and Trina asks if this is proof Esme paid for a burner phone; the same one she filmed Joss and Cam with? He says, sure looks like it, and she says, all this time they thought Esme could cover up her tracks so well. She guesses there’s no such thing as a perfect crime. He says, no. At least not where his Uncle Victor is concerned.

Curtis says he knows this is uncomfortable for Jordan, and he knows it isn’t fair. But he never would have asked her to wait if he thought she was some consolation prize. She asks if Portia knows she’s the other half of this equation, and he doesn’t say anything. She says, for someone who hates dishonesty, doesn’t he think he should be fully transparent to both women in his life? He says he does. There’s just more at play here. She says, Portia told her the news. He’s Trina’s father. He says he is, and she says, congratulations. He thanks her, and she says, he’s navigating so much. Is there really room in his life for another complication? He says, she’s much more than that. It just took him too long to realize it. Can she give him just a little bit more time?

Mason says, if it wasn’t for him, they would both be behind bars, and Austin suggests Mason just tell them what he has in mind. Mason says he has something he needs them to do, and Ava says she’d be happy to buy him a bus ticket out of town. He doesn’t even have to ask. Mason says, Ava’s attitude will come in handy, as well as her charisma and fearlessness. Ava’s got all the charisma they need. Ava says, his needs are not her problem, and her ample charisma is none of his damn business. Mason says, so feisty, and Austin says, she is. Why doesn’t he just explain to Ava what he wants from her? Mason says, we want to work your very specific connections, and Ava says, we who? And what connections is he talking about? Does he want a deal on a piece of art? Mason says, it’s not about her art. It’s about her family.

Trina says she has so many questions. How did Spencer’s uncle obtain all this evidence, and how long was he sitting on it for? And if he hadn’t died, would Spencer have ever known? Spencer says, those are all valid questions. This safety deposit box contains a smoking gun. This is exactly what he was hoping for. Trina suggests they get everything together and go to the PCPD. He has everything he needs to get custody of his baby brother.

Jordan says she’s been living in limbo since her and Curtis’s divorce. While he reunited with Portia, fell in love, and proposed, she found herself buried in work, even resisting going out on dates. He says he never wanted that for her, but she says she’s not blaming him. It was her choice not to move on. Maybe subconsciously she was holding out for hope. He says he doesn’t want to keep her waiting. That’s exactly why they’re having this conversation, so he can find out where he stands with Portia, and find out where he stands with her. She says she knows where they stand. She hopes he can find what he’s looking for here, and hopes he and Portia can be happy, together or apart. He says, and her? and she says she has to truly let go; finally. Two years was too long to put her life on hold. She leaves.

Olivia says she’s sorry, but Ned says he doesn’t blame her. He’s let her down before. She says, he’s also been there before, like with Leo. She should have never doubted him. Can he forgive her? He says, maybe. Can she remind him what she said to Sonny again? She says, my husband didn’t do this? and he says, one more time. She repeats it with tears in her voice, and he kisses her.

Josslyn tells Dex, she gets it. This is just too much. What started as a casual thing just got way too intense. He says, they’ve never put a label on their relationship. In the beginning, he was excited to just spend time with her, but usually she was tearing into him for working for Sonny. Then she rescued him from a meat hook, patched him up when he was shot. She even covered for him when he took a shot at that killer on the docks. She says, anyone would have done that, and he says, not anyone would have gone to the lengths for him that she has.

Sonny says, Donna shouldn’t have to lose time with her mother in jail, and Dante says, okay, but Carly’s actions bear some responsibility, no? Sonny says, she didn’t do it on purpose, but whoever pointed the SEC at Carly and Drew sure as hell did. There’s an agenda. Sam comes back with drinks, and Dante says, Sonny sounds like he has someone in mind other than Ned. Sam says, that tip to the SEC was anonymous, and Sonny says, anybody could be trying to get to Carly, or use Carly to get to him.

Carly covers her face with her hands, and Michael says he’d decided this information would never serve a good purpose, but now he realizes it could save her. Does she want to use it, or does she want him to? Carly says she’d prefer it didn’t exist, and he says he respects that, but if she changes her mind… She says she won’t. This footage can never see the light of day. Who else knows about this? Wait. I haven’t seen the moss bowl🎍since that first scene. Did Michael steal it when she wasn’t looking?

Dex says, Josslyn has defended him to her mom, gone to bat for him with her brother, and even pleaded his case to Sonny. She’s special; once in a lifetime. The thought of losing her scares him because he’s in love with her. Now it’s his turn to ask; is this too much for her? She says she loves him too, and they kiss.

Pfft! for a Friday ending.

On Monday, Tracy asks what the hell someone is doing; Mason wants Ava to use her connection to Sonny; and Trina asks Spencer what he’s keeping from her.

💣 Spy Vs Spy…

What the WSB is all about.

🧑🏽‍⚕️ Most Wanted…

It doesn’t surprise me that everyone wants to work with him. And he’s one of the few I’ll allow to have a man bun.

👏🏼 She Has the Clap…

My least favorite OC Housewife.

💎 Good Luck With That…

These people are just weird.

🍸 You Know the Drill…

Bombshells and rumors.

Ariana speaks.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Although I do think the reason she’s so vapid is that Ariana was right the first time; she finds her identity in men. Without a puppeteer, she’s a literal blank slate.

https://www.etonline.com/raquel-leviss-addresses-her-future-on-vanderpump-rules-after-scandoval-205751

Most of this isn’t shocking. It’s a little sad how Ariana feels about LVP. Of course LVP can do no wrong, but I actually see where she’s coming from. She’s a lot older than the cast, and she’s always taken on the mom role. It’s not that she condones what that awful weasel with a moustache did, but as one of her kids, she’s not totally turning her back. And seriously, is she supposed to pull out of her investment in TomTom?

https://screenrant.com/shocking-reveals-scandoval-unseen-vanderpump-rules-season-10/#production-pushed-raquel-to-text-ariana-an-apology

👩🏽‍🍳 Packing Her Knives…

Obviously I watch more than I recap, and this one’s a favorite of mine. She’ll be missed.

⚰️ Spinning In Their Graves…

What’s coming up on the Dead horizon.

🐕 Canine Recreation…

This is precious.

https://people.com/christie-brinkley-senior-dog-recreate-2014-people-cover-exclusive-7505871

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You’ll find they haven’t half the strength you think they have. – Norman Vincent Peale

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt (Oooh, snap!)

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. – Haruki Murakami

There’s diseases in mouse poops. – the son of a hoarder, Hoarders

Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let’s stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another. – Anne Raver

I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. – Malala Yousafzai

The haunted house was a success. We made people cry.Jonah Johnston, 7 Little Johnstons

🌿  Springing Into Summer…

Enjoy your break from the daily, unless enjoyment is your daily. If so, carry on. Perhaps there will be a dip in the Dead pool on Sunday, but definitely on Monday really Tuesday there will be soap, Deck, and awful Summer people for all. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping cool in hot situations, and stay opening any safety deposit box you’re bequeathed. You never know.

May 26, 2023 – Willow’s Transplant Begins, B&B Reunion, OC Coming Up, VanderNatter, Begging, Revelations, Who Is It, Fashion Cat, Half a Dozen Quotes Plus One & We Gotta

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Carly tells Sonny that Donna wants pancakes tomorrow, and he says, there’s plenty in the freezer. Carly tells him that Donna also wants to save some for Willow, and he says, it’s a great kid they’ve got. Carly’s phone rings, and she steps out to take it, leaving Sonny alone with the moss bowl🎍. Drew asks if there’s any word from the hospital, but Carly says, no, but they’re about to head over there because she wants to be there when Willow has her procedure. He says, of course (🍷). He’s sending good thoughts. She says, he’s not coming? and he says he thought he should stick around to see if he can dig up any dirt on Tracy to leverage Ned to use his influence on the SEC. She says, they’re going ahead with Plan A, huh? and he says, absolutely. There’s one way out of this, and they’re going to find it. She goes back in the kitchen, and Sonny tosses her a towel, and hands her a bowl to dry.

On the phone, Nina says, the patient’s name is Willow Corinthos… She is family. Nina Reeves. She’s Willow’s mother… Her daughter was scheduled to do a bone marrow transplant, and she just wants to see how she’s doing… She knows they can’t… There’s a knock at the door, and she says she’ll call them back. She tells them, thanks – she hangs up the phone – for nothing. She lets Diane in and says, Diane’s a lawyer. Diane agrees that she is, and Nina asks if there’s any way she can sue the hospital to get information on her daughter. Diane says she never – almost never – gives out free advice, but in this instance she will for the good of everyone involved. If Nina would like to find out about her daughter, ask her. Now will Nina tell Sonny that she’s here; he’s expecting her. Nina says, he’s not here. He had to share some news with Carly. Diane says, that’s right. May I? She says she heard congratulations are in order, and looks at Nina’s ring, adding, for the jeweler.

Anna meets Robert at the MetroCourt, and thanks him for making time in his busy schedule. He says, she made it sound important. Is it a business proposal? She says, personal. Holly. She’s trying to reach Holly, but she’s gone radio silent. Given their last conversation, she’s a little bit concerned something’s happened. Robert says, something has happened, and it’s all his fault.

Tracy says, that’s gratitude for you. After all she went through to get Brook and Chase back together. Olivia says, that explains the serenade on the terrace, and hugs Brook. She says she’s happy for Brook, and Ned says he’s glad Chase finally let Brook out of the doghouse. If only they could all be that lucky. Olivia says, it’s neither the time nor the place, and Brook says, Olivia still can’t think Ned is the one who blew the whistle on Carly and Drew, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) he did, and he deserves a medal. Ned says, no he doesn’t because he didn’t. Brook believes him. Why can’t his own wife? Drew comes in, and Olivia says she’d like to believe Ned. Drew says he’d like to believe Ned too. Just give him one good reason.

Sonny asks how the SEC situation with Carly and Drew is going (didn’t they just have this conversation?), and she says, they’re not going down without a fight. Sonny says his offer still stands. If she wants to turn him in to the Feds, she can. Just let him know what she’s going to do beforehand. She thanks him, but says, it’s too big of a risk, and he says, let him be the judge of that. She says, if the situations were reversed, would he turn her in? He asks what she thinks, when Josslyn walks in and asks, what’s he doing here?

TJ tells Willow that it’s not going to hurt. The donating was the hard part. The transplant itself isn’t that different from a blood transfusion. So all Willow needs to do is sit back and relax. Wiley knocks at the window, and says, hi mommy. Michael calls, and Willow asks, who is this, and how did you get my number? He says, her fan club misses her, but she says, not as much as she misses them. Wiley says he loves her, and she says, her too.

Ned asks how he could do this to Drew and Carly when Willow is so sick. The answer is simple; he couldn’t, and he didn’t. Drew says he would believe Ned, if he hadn’t threatened to do just that, and Olivia says, he’s right. Ned said he was going to do this. Ned tells her, he said he might consider it, which was an empty threat, but even if he had considered it, he never followed through with it. Brook says, that’s enough. Get back to their corners. Shame on Ned. And shame on Drew for focusing on the SEC and that whole mess. None of that matters compared to what Willow is facing today. Tracy says, exactly, and thanks Brook for reminding this family of what’s really important. Why can’t they come together instead of pulling each other apart? Olivia can’t believe this is what it’s come to, and Tracy says, when Brook is the voice of reason, no one is more surprised than she is. Olivia says, and Tracy being the voice of family unity, but Tracy says she’s always advocated for family unity. Drew asks if she didn’t withhold medication from Edward when he was having a heart attack (ha-ha!), and Brook says, she sure did. Ned says, famously, and Tracy says, if there was one person who could attest to her devotion to the well-being and the happiness and the harmony of this family, it would be her granddaughter. Olivia laughs, and says she gets it. Tracy got Brook and Chase back together, and now she wants Brook to feel like she owes her something. Tracy says, it’s not always quid pro quo. There are such things as altruism and sacrifice. Ned asks if Tracy is feeling well, but Olivia says, trust her. Tracy is feeling just fine. How exactly is doing right by her granddaughter’s heart a sacrifice? What exactly did she give up? Or by some chance did she stand to gain something. Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s grateful for her grandmother helping get her and Chase back together – Tracy says, Brook is more than welcome – but like her dad said, kindness in this house usually comes at a price. Ned says, whatever the price was, he hopes she can afford it, and Brook says, let’s just say she’s glad she’s back at work. Olivia asks, what work? and Brook says she’s back at Deception. Ned asks, what about her music? and she says, he knows she can’t sing anymore. He says he thought she was putting together a list of artists to manage. Things were going well, right? Why give that up?

Diane says, maybe she should just wait in the lobby until Sonny gets back, but Nina says, now that she and Sonny are engaged, she was hoping his friends can be her friends. Diane says she might just have to settle for cordial, and Nina says, in the spirit of cordiality, maybe they can get past their differences and try to get along. Diane says, their differences? Like the time she shredded Nina on the stand, and got a judge to deny her visitation to see her grandson? Nina says, Diane was doing her job; it wasn’t personal. Diane says, no, it wasn’t, and Nina says, the least she can do is admire Diane’s skill. Diane says, and she admires Nina’s, and Nina says she doesn’t think Diane is as cynical as she wants the world to believe. Diane says, Nina’s got her. She’s absolutely right. In fact, what Nina sees standing before her is the warm and fuzzy Diane. Nina says, let her just throw something out there. As one woman speaking to another… Diane says she’s going to be charging Sonny for this conversation, but Nina says, this isn’t legal advice. This is just a get to know ya thing. Diane says, now she’s charging him double, and I can totally see her in a Noel Coward play. Nina says she loves her job at Crimson, but it wasn’t until she was in Nixon Falls that she realized the magazine shouldn’t be her whole life. Diane asks if she’s considered a puppy, and Nina says she has a family, a small one; a daughter and two grandchildren who are in her thoughts. Is there someone in Diane’s? Is there anyone special in her life? If not, why? I’ve never thought of it before, but other than Max being a boyfriend for a time, we’ve never seen Diane’s family.

Carly says, Sonny stopped by to talk to Donna, and Donna insisted her daddy make her pancakes. I get distracted by the way they’re standing around the moss bowl🎍, and Josslyn asks if he told Carly that she stopped by his office. Carly says, he did; he did not tell her why. Sonny says, that’s because it was a private matter between Josslyn and him, and Josslyn says, she asked him for a favor, and he said no. Sonny says he told her to have her friend come to him, but they don’t need to rehash this. He’s got to go. He asks Carly to tell Michael and Willow that he’s praying for them, and she says she will. He leaves, and Josslyn says she thought there was a schedule for visitations. Carly says, there is, but some things need to be said face-to-face, and Josslyn says, like what? Carly says, like Sonny and Nina are engaged.

Wiley asks if Willow is coming home, and Willow says she’s going to do her best. TJ scraps his sterile jumpsuit, and Michael asks if there’s anything he can do to make things easier for Willow. TJ says, it looks like he’s already doing it. Seeing all of them is the best medicine she can get. Sasha joins them, and says, looks like a party. She takes the phone, and says, how’s the guest of honor? Willow says, just happy to see everybody, and Sasha suggests she keep the kids entertained so Michael can have some time with Willow. Michael asks if Wiley wants some playtime with Aunt Sasha, and Wiley says he’ll ask Amelia. He whispers to Amelia, then listens, and tells them, she says, yes. Sasha says, let’s do it, and TJ asks if he can join. Sasha says, the more, the merrier, and they leave. Willow thanks Michael for bringing them, and he says he didn’t have much of a choice; Wiley insisted. She says she’s so scared, and he says, him too. One thing he does know is, they didn’t make it this far, they didn’t go to hell and back just to lose each other now. She says she wishes she could kiss him one last time, and he says, she will, but it’s not going to be the last time. This is just the beginning.

Carly tells Josslyn that they need to get to the hospital. Willow’s procedure is starting soon, and she wants to be there for Michael. Josslyn says she doesn’t know if Michael wants to see her right now, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Josslyn says, they had a fight. And now Sonny wants to officially make Nina a member of the family that she set out to destroy? Carly says, first of all, this family is just fine, and Sonny and Nina being engaged is kind of a relief. Josslyn asks how Carly can say that, and Carly says, Sonny’s committed to Nina, and she’s committed to Drew. Josslyn says, so no harm, no foul? but Carly says, there was a lot of harm and a lot of foul, but it’s just like a clean break. Josslyn wonders why Sonny didn’t tell her when she was alone with him in his office, and Carly asks, why would he? He knows how she feels about Nina. Josslyn says she hasn’t made that a secret, and Carly says, the secret here is why Josslyn went to see Sonny in the first place. Josslyn says, she told Carly; she was asking him for a favor. Carly says, Dex, and Josslyn says, yes. She went to see him about Dex. Carly asks, why? Did she want Sonny to give Dex a raise? Josslyn says, no. She wanted Sonny to fire him.

Anna says, so Holly just left town without so much as a farewell, and Robert says, at least she didn’t have to fake an escape from the towering inferno, third degree burns, and hospitalization. This time it was just goodbye. Anna says, it never is just goodbye with the two of them though, is it? and Robert says, they decided you can’t recapture the past, no matter how much you might want to. And this time when they said their farewells, they really meant them. Anna takes his hand, and says, sorry. Did Holly tell him about Ethan? Robert says, yeah, and all the trouble he’s in, and she asks if Holly told him that she was willing to go back to the Bureau to pay off his debts. He says, apparently, she decided on a shortcut. A deal with the devil… Selina Wu. He told her there were alternatives; that he wanted to help. She doesn’t want him involved. Anna says, Holly’s protecting him, which proves she still does really care about him. He says, caring was never the issue, and she asks, what is the issue? Is her name Diane?

Diane tells Nina that she’s sorry. There seems to be some kind of confusion that she wants to dispel Nina of. They’re not friends, and as such, questions into her personal life and relationships are unwelcome. She knows Nina is going through a tough time, wanting to see Willow and not being able to do so. She feels for Nina. Nina say she gets it. She’s never been able to make friends very easily. Just so Diane knows, she’d be with Willow right now. She’d be in the hospital room if she didn’t owe Sonny so much. She didn’t want to run into Carly or Michael, and have another clash. She doesn’t want to make Sonny’s life more complicated than she already has. Diane says she admires that restraint, and just so Nina knows, she hopes Nina really does make him happy. Nina says she does, when Sonny walks in and asks if everything is okay. Diane says, yeah. Congratulations. Sonny says, thanks, and Nina asks how it went with Carly and Donna. He says he and Donna made pancakes, and Diane suggests they talk in private, but Sonny says he was going to tell Nina anyway. Diane says, there’s talk going around town, but Sonny already knows that, and Sonny says, it looks like the DOJ may have made Carly an offer. Nina asks if they’re pressuring Carly to turn on Drew, but Sonny says, no. They’re pressuring Carly to turn on him.

Drew says, it’s no secret how Brook feels about music. She must have had a compelling reason to go back to Deception. Brook says, after all the craziness with Linc, she was craving stability and a little less drama, and Ned says, but she really enjoyed being a manager, and she was damn good at it. Brook says she realized she wants to write music, not manage it, and working back at Deception allows her the freedom to do that. Drew says, she’s got romance, she’s got freedom, she’s got creativity. It’s almost like she has her own fairy godmother. He looks at Tracy, and Brook says, you could say that. Drew asks if Tracy doesn’t wish she had one. She could wish herself straight back to Amsterdam. Tracy says she could also buy a plane ticket, and everyone says, don’t let us stop you, in unison. Tracy says, wow. If she didn’t know better, she’d say her loving family couldn’t wait to get rid of her. Drew says, come on. They don’t feel that way… Do you? Everyone gives soap looks.

Tracy says, as much as she hates disappointing her loved ones, she has no plans on leaving any time soon. Don’t all cheer at once. Brook says she’s glad Tracy is here, and not just because Tracy helped get her and Chase back together. Tracy tells her that she’d say she did a little more than help, and Olivia says, and she has. Ned says, repeatedly, and Brook says, Tracy is always there when she needs her, even if it’s just to tell her no. Tracy asks when she’s ever denied Brook anything, and Ned says, this is all too much. Olivia says, on that happy note, she has to go. Big meeting at the MetroCourt. Tracy says, no words of reassurance for her mother-in-law? and Olivia says she has plenty of words for Tracy.

Ned follows Olivia out, and tells her that he’s not the one who turned them in. How can he convince her? Olivia says, as it happens, she ran into Carly at the MetroCourt last night. It was pretty tense. Carly was demanding to know why she didn’t kick him to the curb. He says, maybe because he’s her husband, and she says, and Carly’s her best friend. That’s not nothing. And asks much as she wants to believe him, the thing she can’t get out of her mind, he flat out accused Carly and Drew of insider trading, and the next thing anybody knows, somebody blows the whistle. He says, somebody, but not him.

Nina says, to think she felt sorry for Carly that she has to worry about Michael and Willow during all this, and now she’s going to throw Sonny under the bus to save herself? Sonny says, she won’t, but Nina asks how he can know that. Diane says she really thinks she and Sonny… but Sonny says, no. He wants Nina to hear it. It’s not the first time the Feds have come after him using someone who’s close to him. Nina says she knows Carly told him that she wouldn’t do it, but what else is she going to say? He’s making pancakes for the daughter he shares with her. She had to have been tempted. He says he told her that she should do it. The Feds come after him, he’s prepared. She made it clear she won’t do it. Nina says, what if the Feds come to Carly and make her choose between her children and him?

Michael tells Sasha that Willow’s asking for her, and she leaves. TJ says he should go check on the preparations. He’ll see Michael in a minute, and Michael sees Wiley coloring. He says he’s going to let Wiley in on a little secret. Color outside the lines. That hardly seems Michael type advice.

Carly asks if Dex wants out or does Josslyn want Dex out. Josslyn says, Dex wants out, and Carly says, then Dex can tell Sonny himself. Josslyn tells her, that’s what Sonny said, and Carly says, sounds like Sonny. What did Dex say? Josslyn says, he wasn’t happy about it at first, but… Carly says, he knew her heart was in the right place. Is this what’s going on with her and Michael? Josslyn says, Michael just doesn’t approve of her and Dex, and Carly says, overprotective big brother. Josslyn says, something like that, but if he needs them, that’s all that matters, and Carly says, he needs them. So let’s go.

Willow picks up the phone, and Sasha says, she rang? Willow says she did. She thought if anyone could understand, it was Sasha. She remembers when Sasha was in isolation. Sasha says she hated it, but she made it through, and so will Willow. Willow says, ever since she’s been in here, she’s felt like a soldier in a foxhole, and Sasha says, that just means Willow is a fighter, which they already knew. Willow says, it got her thinking. You hear about soldiers that with their last dying breath, call out for their mothers. If worse comes to worse, who does she call out for? The mother who raised her and turned out to be a fraud and a murderer, or the mother who gave birth to her and couldn’t stand her until she found out they were related? Sasha doesn’t need to answer that; she’s just being silly. Sasha says, it’s not silly. It’s just something she won’t know until it happens, and it’s not going to. Willow says, they don’t know that, but Sasha says, they know they’re in the homestretch. So don’t think about dying; think about living. Think about Michael and Wiley and Amelia. Think about all the people who love her so much, and need her. Today is just like any other day in her life, except she’s been given a great gift. Willow knows how precious life is, and how quickly it can disappear, so she can be the soldier who fights for every breath, for every second, and win. Willow says, no wonder Sasha was such a hit on TV. She can sell anything. Even hope.

Carly and Josslyn find Michael, and Carly asks if they missed the kids. Michael says, the nanny just took them home, but Wiley left him a crayon so he wouldn’t miss mommy. Carly says she loves Wiley, and she loves Michael so much. He says he loves her too, and they hug. He says, hi to Josslyn, and Carly says, everything is okay, right? Josslyn says, everything is fine. All that matters is that Willow gets better, right? Michael says, right.

Sonny says, Carly isn’t giving him up, and Nina says she’s sure he knows best. She has to go to the MetroCourt. She loves him. Just let her know how he is; let her know how Willow is. He says he’ll keep her posted. Willow is in good hands; so is he. Nina leaves, and Sonny tells Diane, go ahead. Tell him what she knows that he doesn’t.

Robert says, Holly’s a friend, and Anna says, he comes barging into her house, when she’s jetlagged and exhausted, demanding they talk. He bites Valentin’s head off, all because, she thinks, he’s love torn. He says he had a moment of weakness, but she says, no, he was flummoxed about how two bright, beautiful women could be interested in him. He says he wasn’t flummoxed or love torn, and she says, conflicted, confused, whatever. She thinks maybe Holly did him a favor by bowing out. Because while it might be disappointing not to have two women vying for his affections, on the bright side, he still does have one.

Olivia says she’s doing her best to stand by Ned. She knows how much ELQ means to him, and she knows how hurt he was when he felt pushed aside. He says he sided with Valentin because it was the right thing to do for ELQ. Yes, he lashed out when he thought the company – their family legacy – was being threatened by a hostile takeover, but he’s not a snitch and he’s going to prove it to her. She asks what he’s going to do, and he says, show her once and for all that he’s the man she married; a man deserving of her love and her trust. He kisses her, and she asks him to promise her that he’s not going to do anything stupid. She leaves, and Tracy says, that’s touching, but if he asks her, he’s wasting his time.

Drew says he gets the impression Brook is less than thrilled having her grandmother back, and she says she loves her grandmother, and owes her big time. He says, for helping her and Chase get back together, and she asks where he heard about that. He says, the tenth or eleventh time it was said, he picked up on it, and Brook says, she can be very generous, and he says, but? She says, but her grandmother’s generosity usually comes with a price.

Olivia asks if she’s late or Nina is early, and Nina tells her, let’s just say, we’re both here at exactly the right moment. Olivia says she’ll take it. She sees Nina’s ring, and says, that’s quite a rock. She sees why Nina and Sonny were in such a good mood last night. Nina says, they’re engaged, and Olivia says, congratulations. She wishes them every happiness, and Nina thanks her. She says, in case Olivia was wondering, Sonny already told the news to Carly and Donna, and they all made pancakes together. Olivia says, so Carly’s taking it in stride, and Nina says, apparently. She’s sure Carly will tell Olivia how she really feels, given how close they are. Olivia says, not anymore. Carly can’t understand why she hasn’t kicked Ned to the curb for what he did to her and Drew. Nina asks, what did Ned say? and Olivia says, Ned swears up and down he didn’t turn them in to the SEC, and Nina asks if Olivia believes him. Olivia says she’d really like to, but she keeps asking herself; if Ned didn’t do it, who did?

Diane says, it’s just a rumor, but Sonny said himself, it’s not the first time the Feds have come after him using someone close to him, and who’s closer to him than Carly? Sonny asks if the rumors say who gave up Carly and Drew, and Diane says, no. The insider trading tip was anonymous, but there’s a strong suspicion that it was Ned Quartermaine. He tells her, that’s what Carly says, but why would Ned do that to Carly and Drew a year after the fact? Now that the Feds are involved, he thinks Carly and Drew are just a means to an end. Diane says, so he thinks the Feds have been monitoring him, and saw Drew and Carly mess up, and pointed the SEC in her direction in order to pressure her to flip on him? That would mean there was no insider tip, and this whole thing was just an excuse to get this investigation rolling. That means the SEC is doing the Justice Department a favor. Sonny says, maybe, but he’s not letting Ned off the hook just yet, because he’s more than capable of stabbing Drew and Carly in the back. Do him a favor. Find out how and why the Feds got involved. Anything she can come up with. She says she’s pretty much exhausted all her resources, and he says, what about the DA? She says, Robert Scorpio? Why would the District Attorney of Port Charles have any information as to the government’s investigation? He says, it’s no secret that Robert has strong ties to DC through the Bureau, and she asks, what makes him think Robert would tell her? He says, because she’s the best. She has a way of being persuasive. She says she has to go, and he says, to see Carly? She says, confidential. She can’t possibly tell him. And as for Robert Scorpio, she’ll think about it. Before she goes, he tells her, don’t think too long. She leaves, and Sonny tells the guard, bring the car around now.

Carly and Josslyn come to the window, and Michael says, more of Willow’s fan club. Carly takes the phone, and says, they just want to tell her how much they love her. Josslyn says, she’s the best sister-in-law ever. Willow says, back at her, and TJ says he’s sorry, but he means it this time. Everyone leaves except Michael, and he says he had a speech planned, all these things he was going to say, but right now all that matters is she knows how much he loves her. She says she loves him too, and he leaves. She hangs up the phone, and tells TJ that she’s ready.

Robert tells Anna that as far as he knows, Diane isn’t interested anymore, beyond them sparring in court. Diane comes in, and Anna says, why doesn’t he ask her? She’s going to take her cue. She leaves, and Diane and Robert look at each other.

Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s sorry Olivia has cause to doubt Ned, and Olivia says, her too. Nina tells her, she can’t believe she’s saying this, but poor Carly and Drew to be put in this position, and Olivia says, what position? Nina says, it’s just rumors; she shouldn’t have said anything. Olivia says, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and knowledge is power. Why doesn’t Nina tell her the rumors, and she’ll decide for herself if she wants to believe them. Nina tells her, like she said, it’s just talk, but it seems like the government is using Carly and Drew’s legal problems to get to Sonny.

In the foyer, Ned asks if Tracy is home to stay, and she asks if that would be a problem. He says, of course (🍷) not, but you know what they say about idle hands. She says, don’t worry. She knows how to stay busy. He says, that’s what he’s afraid of.

Brook says, what makes Drew think he owes Tracy anything? and he says, maybe because she was trying so hard to sell everybody on the joys of being back at Deception. She says she loves her job; it’s steady and plays to her strengths. He says he knows what music means to her, writing it and managing artists, so if anything or anyone is making her choose… Tracy comes in and says she needs to borrow her granddaughter, and Drew leaves, turning to look at Brook before going out the door.

Sasha says, Willow may look fragile, but she’s tough as nails, and Michael thanks her for coming. She asks him to call her when Willow’s awake, and leaves. Josslyn says, Sasha’s right. Willow is unstoppable. Carly tells Michael that he and Willow love each other like crazy. Now there’s Wiley and Amelia, and their love is stronger than ever. Don’t forget that. She hugs him, and Sonny walks in.

TJ asks if Willow is ready, and she says she can’t wait. He tells her, like he said before, all she needs to do is sit back and relax. Let the bone marrow do its thing. If all goes well, she’ll have nothing but healthy cells in her body, and a whole new lease on life. The transplant begins, and Willow flashes back to bringing Amelia home, and telling Wiley that Amelia will need his help.

On (presumably) Tuesday, Curtis says he has two choices, give up or give in; Portia says she has other options; Spencer says, it’s funny how your life can change in an instant; and Drew says, the less someone knows, the better.

🕺🏻 Still Duke To Me…

He’s allowed in the clubhouse since he was once on GH.

🍊 What Happens In the OC…

Frankly, I was glad to see Tamra go. Now we have to watch her very lit throughout the season. Cringing at the thought.

🍸 Welcome To the Cheap Seats…

He’s not just the most awful human being on earth, a title once only held by Jax, he’s also an idiot.

Another genius and more tidbits.

About that open relationship thing.

Brittany deserves to be heard. Apparently she tamed the previously reigning king of awful people. Maybe. We’ll see.

🍑 Will Work For Hair Extensions…

I could definitely see her at the casino. It kind of bummed me out when the news of their divorce broke. Surprisingly, I liked their Don’t Be Tardy show with its kookie family vibe. Oh well.

👨🏻‍💼 Likes and Dislikes…

Andy reveals all. Well, some anyway.

⚰️ Guessing Game…

Something to ponder.

🐈‍⬛ Karl’s Furry Muse…

It’s not always about the dog… although it should be. (Just kidding. Kind of.)

🐡 Quotes of the Week

Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don’t really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren’t really an ending; some things are never-ending. – C. JoyBell C.

When you’re through changing, you’re through. – Martha Stewart

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.René Descartes

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed. – Edmund Burke

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.Albert Einstein

Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot

🪦 By hero, we tend to mean a heightened man who, more than other men, possesses qualities of courage, loyalty, resourcefulness, charisma, above all, selflessness. He is an example of right behavior; the sort of man who risks his life to protect his society’s values, sacrificing his personal needs for those of the community. Paul Zweig

🙃 And In Confusion…

Enjoy your long weekend if weekends are on your agenda in this new world. If not, enjoy whatever you want to call it. Join me on Monday really Tuesday for what’s on Deck and a reunion of awful Summer people – GH will be a rerun. Until then, stay safe, stay not chewing with your mouth open, and stay remembering, it’s not always quid pro quo. There are such things as altruism and sacrifice.

May 19, 2023 – Josslyn Asks Sonny To Fire Dex, See You, Returning, New Gig, Ramona’s a Jerk, She Knows, VanderDirt, Upcoming Dead, Cute Pets (!), Precisely 10 Quotes & Places

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Jordan says she’s sorry Curtis is hurting, but if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that Curtis Ashford can weather whatever comes his way. And he won’t have to go through it alone. She takes his hand, and says, he has so many people who love him, and they’ll be right by his side, no matter what. He kisses her. Then he kisses her again.

Walking into Portia’s office, Taggert says, Portia can’t go off half-cocked gunning for Spencer. It’s going to backfire on her. Portia says she’s tried to look the other way, especially since it might alienate Trina, but all the while, Spencer keeps becoming more and more a part of her life, and alienating Trina from her. He says, but she’s seeing progress. Why blow it now? She asks why he’s not with her on this. She doesn’t get it. He says, when Trina was rescued from the Haunted Star, he told her to back off, but she’s doing the exact opposite; she’s doubling down. Portia says, maybe that’s because Trina came back closer to Spencer than ever before, and he says, which they anticipated, given what they went through. Are there valid concerns about Spencer being in Trina’s life? Hell yes. But he’s starting to wonder if she’s laser focused on Spencer because she doesn’t want to focus on herself, her husband, and the state of her marriage.

Outside Kelly’s, Cody tells Scotty that he’s not asking for a team to salvage the Haunted Star like it was the Titanic. The necklace was on the boat when it went down. So why can’t they just cut through the red tape… Scotty says, because the WSB is all about the red tape. They’ve been down this road before. Scotty told him, it’s because they have to establish that the necklace belongs to Cody, which means he has to sign an affidavit that says he’s Leopold Taub’s son. Cody says, more red tape. Is that absolutely necessary? Scotty says he knows it’s like saying Genghis Khan is Cody’s father, but the WSB isn’t going to give Cody money just because he says so. They go inside, and Scotty says, Cody has to suck it up for 35 million dollars, and say he was the Taub he was born to be. Sitting at a table, Obrecht and James watch them.

Nina looks at a glossy color photo of Sasha that says, Beauty isn’t magic, it’s Deception, and another photo of Sasha with The Deceptor. Sasha asks if those are the new ads, and Nina shows her. Sasha says, it is amazing what good lighting can do, but Nina says, the woman in these ads doesn’t need any lighting to look beautiful. And she also looked beautiful on the Home & Heart shopping channel. Sasha says, Nina saw that? She’s not going to lie; it was white-knuckle time in front of those cameras, especially when she heard the sound of a baby crying in her earpiece. Nina says she couldn’t believe it when Lucy told her that someone deliberately tried to sabotage Sasha, and Sasha tells her not to underestimate how low some people will sink to get what they want. Nina says she never has, and she never will.

On the phone at the hospital, Michael tells Carly not to worry. He’s honoring Willow’s wishes. Nina won’t get anywhere near her. Dante comes out of the elevator, and says he couldn’t help overhearing, and Michael can tell him to mind his own business. Is that what Willow wants, or is that what Michael wants for her?

There’s a knock at Sonny’s office door, and Frank says, he has a visitor. Josslyn comes in, and Sonny says, this is a surprise. Is everything good with her mom and Donna? She says, everyone’s fine. This is about her. He tells her, go on, and Josslyn tells him that he always says he’d do anything for her. He says, no matter how she treats him, that always stands, and she says, good, because she’s about to take him up on that offer. He asks if she’s in some kind of trouble, but she says, it’s not about her. He says, then what’s it about? and she says, Dex. She wants Sonny to fire him.

Gladys walks into Pozzulo’s as Dex is saying hello to Frank. Dex says he needs to speak with Sonny, but Gladys says, take a number. Family first.

Michael says, Dante is right. It’s none of his business. Dante says, that’s not the first time he’s heard that today. He was interviewing a perp in the ER who said the same thing. He was in the building and thought he’d check in on them, but he’ll take his nosy butt out of here. Michael tells him, wait. He doesn’t tell Willow what to do. If she wants to make room for Nina, he won’t stand in her way, but she’s going through a lot right now, and he won’t stand for Nina intruding. Dante says he hopes for Michael’s sake and his kids’ sake, that changes. He had Sonny at his wedding. Anything can happen.

Sasha tells Nina that she’s gathering something else is brewing besides Deception’s ad campaign. Would it have to do with Carly or Willow? Nina says, no psychic channeling please. Sasha isn’t here to give her a reading or to listen to her sob stories. Sasha’s here so they can talk about the Crimson spread for her new product, The Deceptor; which she tried and it’s great. Isn’t Maxie joining them? Sasha says, of course (🍷). Maxie knows Deception has a lot riding on this campaign.

Scotty tells Cody, as Taub’s heir, they have to stake a legal claim. He knows Cody doesn’t like his father, but 35 million dollars will buy him a lot of sports cars, and a lot of therapy. Is Cody listening to him? Cody says, give him a minute, and walks over to Obrecht’s table. Scotty says, these kids have no priorities, and Obrecht introduces Cody to her grandson James. James shakes Cody’s hand and says, nice to meet him. Cody says, they have an ice cream sundae here, so is it a celebration? Obrecht says, yes. They just came from James’s moving up ceremony. Cody says, congrats; that’s awesome. Does James have any plans for the summer? Obrecht says, James is going to a great summer camp. She tells James to guess where Cody works, and James says, where? Cody says he works at the stables. Does James like horses? James looks away, and Obrecht says, James is a little afraid of horses, which might be a problem at his camp. Cody says, maybe they can do something about that.

Portia says, worrying to death about Trina going missing is the only thing that’s keeping her from replaying every wrong move she made with Curtis. She can’t stop thinking about hearing the hurt that was in his voice, and seeing the distrust and betrayal in his eyes when he looked at her. Taggert doesn’t know how hard she prayed for forgiveness, and wished she could go back in time and tell him and Curtis the truth from the start. Taggert asks if she’s told Curtis that, and she says she’s tried, but he won’t stick around long enough to listen, much less have a conversation with her. And Jordan, of all people, warned her more than once that lies are what drove a wedge between them. So how can she even blame Curtis for being mad about being deceived all over again? Taggert says, Curtis loves Portia and will forgive her, but she has to forgive herself. She has to stop feeling guilty and stop tiptoeing around Curtis. Tell Curtis she loves him, before it’s too late.

Jordan pushes away from Curtis, and he says, come on. Let’s get out of here. She says she’s tempted; he doesn’t know how much. But this isn’t the first time they felt that old spark. He says, maybe they should do something about it, but she says, before this goes any further – if this goes any further – they need to know why.

Cody says, James is friends with Leo, right? So is he. Something else they have in common is, Cody went to camp too. Is James looking forward to going? James says he doesn’t know. He hates mosquitos. Cody says, that’s something else they have in common. Take it from him, camp is worth a couple bug bites. James asks, why? and Cody says, when he was James’s age, his summers were really lonely. Until he went to camp, and met his best friend ever, Dante Falconari. They had a blast. James says, Cody knows Dante; he’s James’s godfather. Cody says, Dante is his oldest friend, meaning he’s known Dante the longest; not that he’s old. Funny. I always feel the need to clarify that too. He taught Dante how to ride horses, and Dante taught him how to paddle a canoe. James says, at camp? and Cody says, that’s where they first became friends. He bets when James goes to camp, he’s going to meet a kid he’ll become friends with forever too. And he might be able to paddle a canoe. James asks if Cody likes sundaes, and Cody says, who doesn’t? Of course (🍷). James hands him a spoon, and says he’s kind of scared of canoes too… and bats. Cody says, bats are awesome; they eat mosquitos. He takes a bite of James’s sundae, and James smiles.

Sasha says she thinks the text in the headline would pop more in white, but other than that, everything looks great. What does Nina think? Nina says, sorry. Sasha was talking to her. Sasha said, color, white… Yes, she can see that. Sasha says, Maxie’s not here, but it seems neither is Nina. They can reschedule. Nina apologizes, and says she can’t get her mind off of Willow. She’s alone in the isolation room; she doesn’t have the ability to hold her own children. Sasha says, or be held by her own mother, and Nina says, stop getting into her head. Sasha says she understands in her own way. Nina can talk to her. Nina says, it’s just that, if Michael and Carly have it their way, she’s never going to get close to Willow. She’s trying not to dwell on that. She just wants this transplant to give Willow her life back, whether she’s in it or not. Sasha says she’s going to talk to Carly and Michael on Nina’s behalf, and Nina says she appreciates the offer, but she wouldn’t put Sasha in that position. She has enough to handle lately. Sasha says, actually, she’s feeling very confident lately. Despite that attempt to get her to melt down on television, she held it together and came away stronger than ever. Nina says, yes, she did, and Sasha says she’s made up her mind. She’s going to petition the court to end Gladys’s guardianship. She’s taking charge of her life again.

Gladys says, tell Sonny that his Cousin Gladys is waiting, but Frank says, he’s in a meeting; door’s closed. Even the President and the Pope would have to wait. Gladys steps away, and Frank gives Dex and envelope, and says, the boss gave him this to give to Dex. He said Dex earned it. Gladys sees that there’s a ton of cash in it.

On the phone, Sonny says, let him know what they come up with. He apologizes to Josslyn, and asks why she wants him to kick Dex to the curb. She says, because she wants him to be free to make his own choices and live his own life, and Sonny says, if that’s what Dex wants, Dex should respect him enough to ask him to his face and not send her. Josslyn says, Dex doesn’t even know she’s here; she’s the one asking. Sonny says, she knew Dex was on his payroll when she met him. So why is she coming now. What’s changed?

Scotty comes over to Obrecht’s table with a bakery box, and says, the waitress said these cupcakes are for her, and James asks if he can have a cupcake, but she says, these are for later. James asks if Cody can come home with them and have one, but Scotty says, he and Cody have to take care of some legal business. Cody has to sign an affidavit. Cody says, he’s right. Sorry, pal. Obrecht says, an affidavit? and Scotty says, it’s no big deal. Cody tells her that he needs a legal document to establish his family background. It is nothing, but Scotty’s right; they have to get back to work. James asks if Cody can’t stay, and Cody says, for a few minutes. Does James like brownies? James says he loves them, Cody says, cupcakes later, brownies now, and they go to the counter.

Nina says, that’s great news that Sasha is taking charge of her finances and her life again. She’s so proud of Sasha. Sasha says she’s honored Nina is proud of her. She’s still a very important person in Sasha’s life. Nina says, it’s ironic, isn’t it? She once thought Sasha was the daughter she’d always wanted, and that turned out to not be the case, but now she’s closer to Sasha than her own biological child. Sasha says, Willow doesn’t know what she’s missing. For Willow’s sake, she hopes that changes soon. Nina says, Sasha’s a little biased, and Sasha says she is. Nina could have turned her back on Sasha when she found out Sasha misled her. Nina says, she kinda did, but Sasha says, after a while, Nina forgave her. If she’s the daughter Nina always wanted, Nina is the mother that she always wished she had. They hug.

Dante says he’s glad Willow could at least wave at them before she went to sleep, and Michael says, him too. Glimpses of her awake and alert are rare occurrences these days. Dante asks if Michael is okay, and Michael says he just has to keep telling himself that this will be over soon, and Willow will have a full recovery. Home stretch. Dante says he believes that, and tells Michael not to feel he can’t reach out for support if he needs to. He knows they don’t agree on some things, but Michael knows Dante’s got him, right? Michael says he does; thanks. About Sonny, they’re actually in a better place. As long as Sonny doesn’t lobby for Nina. Dante says, he’s going to do that; he loves her. Michael flashes back to Sonny agreeing to let Nina and Willow figure out their relationship on their own. Can Michael do the same? Michael tells Dante, at the end of the day, he’s counting on Sonny to choose his family over Nina, but Dante says he doesn’t know about that. It’s a long shot. Michael says, maybe; maybe not.

Josslyn tells Sonny, nothing’s changed. She fell for Dex, despite the fact he works for Sonny, and she owns that. I laugh, since I can’t imagine telling my father that I fell for someone. Sonny says, she’s her mother’s daughter; direct, and honest to a fault. She says she thought he valued honesty, and he says he’s come to an understanding with her brother Michael. Does she think they can’t also? She says she’s game. He can start by letting Dex go. He says, if Dex wants that, he knows where to find Sonny.

Dex puts the envelope in his pocket, and Gladys says, nice work if you can get it, huh? What did he do? Place a bet for Sonny? Ponies? Something else. Dex says he only bets on sure things; Sonny’s one of them. Josslyn comes out, and Gladys jets into Sonny’s office. She closes the door, and says, Cousin Sonny, this is your lucky day. Outside, Dex asks Josslyn what she’s doing here.

Portia says, it might be too late for her and Curtis, and asks if Taggert knows something. He says he doesn’t know anything. He just knows from experience that things can get out of hand. They can go too far, and you can’t go back. She asks if he’s saying she and Curtis have reached some sort of turning point, and he says, the guy dropped everything and risked everything to bring Trina back home. A lot of it was because of Trina, but a lot of it was because of her. Now it’s her turn. She has to decide what she wants, and then she needs to fight for it. He’s talking about the focus and tenacity she has when she fights for her patients. She says, what about fighting for their daughter? Is she supposed to just let Trina fend for herself against Spencer Cassadine? They both know how that ends. He says, she can’t send Trina to her room any more than she can make Trina forgive and forget what she’s done to her by turning her life upside down. Trina’s not her little girl any more. Portia says, she might be his though, and he says, she’s always going to be his, no matter what the tests say. Nobody can tell Trina how to run her life. He knows how stubborn Portia is, and no matter how hard it is to let this go, Portia has got to let Trina live her life. Then maybe Portia can concentrate on living hers.

Curtis says, he and Jordan have always had strong feelings, which is why they got together in the first place. Those feelings… He’s always had them. Maybe he always will. Jordan says he had other feelings about her too. Remember? Ones he couldn’t get past, involving mistrust and betrayal. She lets go of his hand, and says, that’s why they split up, and he moved on to Portia. The two of them rekindled their relationship and fell in love. He says, but that was before… and she says, let her finish. He and Portia were happy. She saw that. They bought a house together, and made it a home for Trina and his father. They exchanged heartfelt vows and got married in front of their friends and family. They had the fairytale ending. He says, but they didn’t, and she knows why. And here we are. She says, yes, here we are, but is this the last grasp for something that’s ended? Something they should let be over? Or will these feelings always be here, just waiting for them to rekindle them?

Josslyn says she’s not here, and leaves with Dex. Sonny asks what Gladys wants, and she says she has a proposal that’s in their mutual interest. As he knows, she’s in charge of Sasha’s day to day decision making, including investments. He says, for the time being. He heard during Sasha’s last TV appearance, she was doing okay and holding her own. Gladys says, thankfully, Sasha didn’t fall to pieces like the last time, but Sasha isn’t ready to handle her finances. He says, so Sasha should keep trusting her, and laughs. She says she knew he’d understand, and sits down. As it turns out, she has a knack for finances, which is why she’s letting him in on the ground floor of an amazing opportunity. Take it from her, it can’t miss.

At the Bistro, Maxie thanks Sasha for meeting her, and Sasha asks, what’s so important that Maxie had her run out of Nina’s office where they were supposed to have a meeting about Deception? Maxie says, that can wait. She has something to tell Sasha, and thinks she’ll want to know.

At Kelly’s counter, Cody shows James how to tie knots, and Scotty tells Obrecht that he thinks that kid is going to have a hell of a stomachache. She says, Nathan never got the chance to spend time with his son, and Scotty says he’s sorry about that. Nathan would have made a hell of a father. James has got a lot of people who care about him; even Cody. He’s not family, but maybe they’ll have more of these outings. She asks where this new and unexpected fondness for Cody came from. What’s his legal action all about? Scotty says he thought they weren’t speaking any more, and she says, they’re speaking now. He says, then hear this. He doesn’t want to ruin the surprise.

Portia says, if living her own life means ignoring all the big flashing warning signs when she sees Trina and Spencer together, Taggert can forget that. She won’t let this go. He says he’s not asking her to let this go. He’s just asking her to be smart about how she approaches their daughter. Trina has them, Curtis, Marshall, Jordan; all these people who care about her. Portia asks what he means by Jordan, and he asks if Portia thinks it’s a coincidence that Jordan was stuck in the elevator long enough for Portia to talk to that bartender and convince him to testify on Trina’s behalf. Portia asks if he’s telling her that Jordan did that deliberately. Did she tell him that? He says, she didn’t have to. They’ve been partners long enough; he knows her. The point is, Jordan also cares about Trina. Which means Portia can stop using Trina as an excuse, and start putting her energy into working on her marriage.

Jordan tells Curtis, it never ended for her. Even when things were at their worst, she was still ready to fight for them. He walked away from her… right into Portia’s arms. She’s not blaming him, or Portia. She’s come to terms with her part in things, and trying to be more mindful going forward, but did she ever stop caring, stop feeling, loving him? Never. She truly wanted him and Portia to be happy. She told Portia that she needed to tell him the truth, so Portia wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did. He tells her that he always said she was a class act, but Jordan says she wouldn’t give herself much credit. Does he know why she didn’t come to his wedding? In part, she was sitting it out because she knew what Portia was keeping from him. But mainly, it was because she couldn’t bear to hear him pledge his love to someone else. She still loved him that much. So before they go any further, she needs to know where he is, what he feels, what he wants. Is he on the rebound or are he and Portia really over? And if so, do they get a second chance?

Outside somewhere, Dex says, it’s just him and Josslyn now. What went down in Sonny’s office? She says she told Sonny that she wanted him to cut Dex loose, and Dex says, she told Sonny to fire him? She says, it was the only way she knew how to get him out of Sonny’s world, and he says, unbelievable. What did he say?… Don’t bother. Sonny said, if he wanted out, it was up to him to ask for himself. She says, he knows Sonny well, and he asks why she got involved in this. She says, maybe because Sonny will kill Dex if he finds out Dex has been working against him, and he says he knew the risk when he took the job. He doesn’t need her constantly trying to rescue him. She asks if he’s sure. So far, her track record’s awesome. He says he appreciates that. He appreciates her. They’re supposed to be in this together. She says, exactly. So no more risking his neck without telling her. He says, that’s unrealistic. He can’t run it by her every time Sonny asks him to do something, and he can’t have her going to Sonny on his behalf and asking Sonny to fire him when he doesn’t even know about it. She says she wants him free and clear of Sonny. She’s sorry. She thought that’s what he wanted too. He says, she knows he does, and kisses her.

Sonny tells Gladys, they have to wrap this up. He has somewhere he needs to be and something he needs to do. She says she’ll make it quick. It’s about Deception – the company. The thing Sasha was hyping on the Home & Heart shopping channel was just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole new line in the works; maybe a whole new division. New products need new investing. He says he’s sure Lucy and Maxie have all the financing taken care of, but Gladys says, there’s always room for more. This is a golden opportunity. He gets in now, he makes bank when this line hits the market. He asks, what’s in it for her? and she says she was thinking a finder’s fee. He laughs and asks, how big? She says she hadn’t thought of a percentage. She was just circling around, doing some calculating. He says, it sounds like a winner, but it’s a no from him, because his portfolio is fine. And she knows about the trouble Carly got in with the insider trading thing. It pretty much falls under the same umbrella. And she doesn’t want to open herself up to that, does she? She can thank him later, because he does everything he can to protect his family. He hustles her out the door, and asks Frank to get his cousin a big box of biscotti. He leaves, and Gladys wonders what just happened.

Dante looks at his phone, and tells Michael, apparently his perp just remembered he had a partner. He has to go back to the ER. Michael says he’s glad Dante stopped by, and Dante says, he is too. Michael sounded cryptic before. Is everything cool with him and Sonny? Michael tells him, let’s just say they found one point of understanding, and Dante asks, with Willow or Nina? Michael suggests Dante save his skills for he perp downstairs, and Dante asks him to tell Willow that they’re thinking about her; him, Sam, and the kids love her. Michael says, will do, and Dante says, don’t make Sonny choose between him and Nina. Michael tells him, say hi to Sam, and Dante says he gave it his best shot. He goes to the elevator.

Sasha says, Cody was in the studio the day of The Deceptor pitch? and Maxie says, according to Lucy, Cody found out they were messing with Sasha, and threatened to streak in front of the camera. And she believes it. He did it at the Nurses Ball. Sasha wonders if he’s still at Kelly’s, and Maxie says, when she spoke to Liesl, he was still there, checking up on James. Sasha says, excuse her. There’s something she needs to take care of.

Curtis tells Jordan that he’d love to say he has all the answers. But the truth is, his life’s up in the air. Jordan says, because of the DNA test? and he says, that’s a big part of it. He’d be lying if he said he knows how he’ll react if he finds out he’s Trina’s biological father. Or if he’s not. She says, that’s understandable. What about the other parts? He says he guesses after what he experienced in Greenland – that Victor Cassadine madness – coming out of an intense experience like that, shook things up for him. What is he doing with his life? He’s made this place a success, and he’s proud of that, but then he wonders, is this all there is? Because he’s feeling like it’s not enough. She says, sounds like he’s restless again. Is he wondering where his heart lies? He says he doesn’t know. He cares about Jordan way to much to make promises he’s not sure he can deliver. She says, why couldn’t she have been a little more honest with him, and him, a little less honest with her? He says, we are who we are, and asks if she can give him some time until he can figure out the rest.

Dex and Josslyn kiss, and she says she’s got it; they’re in this together. He says, they have to trust each other, and she says, she’ll trust him when he has to act alone sometimes, and he has to trust her. Does he? He says, of course (🍷), and she quickly kisses him, saying she’ll see him later. He asks where she’s going, but she says, trust me, and leaves.

Jordan tells Curtis to take the time he needs. Once he unravels the knots in his marriage, and deals with the results of the DNA test, he knows where to find her. He kisses her cheek, tells her, take care, and she leaves.

Portia and Taggert walk down the hall, and she says she’s glad he stopped by. He says he feels like he did all the talking. Did any of it stick? She says she heard what he had to say, and appreciates it, but she can’t be the only one to make their marriage work. Curtis has to want it too. Curtis knows how desperately she wants things to work out. So in the meantime, she’s not going to take her eyes off the other love of her life. She’s not going to let Trina become another casualty of the Cassadines. She’s going to make sure Trina sees Spencer Cassadine for who he really is.

Frank gives Gladys the biscotti, and she says she saw him hand Dex that big fat envelope earlier. What was that about? Some big deal he and Sonny pulled off? Frank says, she knows better than to ask that, being family and all. Gladys takes out her phone, and goes outside. She calls Selina, and says, she knows what she owes Selina, but she may have something that’s more valuable than money.

Josslyn asks if she and Michael can talk somewhere private, and he asks what she wants to talk about. She says, him… and Dex.

Scotty says, he and Cody have to get that thing signed ASAP, and Cody tells James that he’ll talk to James’s grandma or mom, and they’ll figure out a time James can come to the stables with him and Leo. Scotty walks them out, and says he has his car. Can he give them a lift? Obrecht asks where he parked, and he says, in the lot. She walks toward the parking lot, and Scotty says, things are looking up.

Cody eats the cherry from James’s sundae, when Sasha walks into Kelly’s, obviously looking for him.

On Monday, Carly asks how she and Drew beat this without turning on each other; Tracy tells Chase, forgive her and skip off into the sunset, or cut her loose; and Sonny tells Nina, peace comes with a condition.

🪀 Hello I Must Be Going…

The door is always open though.

🏥 Coming Back…

Hopefully, he stays put a while.

🕺🏽 It’s Carrrlos…

And he was the guru at the end of Mad Men.

🗽 She Also Forgets Her Age…

Typical Ramona. I met Kristen once at a cocktail party and she was lovely.

🐀 Not the Rat…

But she was there? What does that mean?

🍸 Just a Little…

If you can’t get enough, a blow-by-blow of the VanderMess.

https://people.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-season-10-finale-sandoval-and-ariana-address-raquel-affair-fallout/

Not for one second did I think it was staged.

https://www.insider.com/vanderpump-rules-ariana-madix-scandoval-not-staged-2023-5

⚰️ Spawn Of the Dead…

What’s happening soon in the Deadverse.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-midseason-finale-dead-city-premiere-amc-plus-specials/

🦔 Boop That Nose…

Cute animal videos. No need to say more.

https://digg.com/animals/link/tiktok-cute-animal-videos-5cHGPcMnYu

🐚 Quotes of the Week

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.Jesse Jackson

Faith is daring to put your dream to the test. It is better to try to do something and fail than to try to do nothing and succeed. – Robert H. Schuller

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. – Maya Angelou

It’s a general moral principle that the more power you have over someone, the greater your duty is to use that power benevolently. Well, who is the one person in the world you have the greatest power over? It’s your future self. You hold that life in your hands, and what it will be depends on how you care for it. – Rick Hanson

Listen to what you know instead of what you fear. – Richard Bach

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. – Khalil Gibran

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. – attributed to Edmund Burke

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Clichés are tropes because they’re true. – Wesley Fists (Austin Crute), Daybreak

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain

🌪 Never Was In Kansas…

There will perhaps be some Dead here on Sunday, but for sure there will be soap, Sailing, and awful Summer people on Monday really Tuesday. Until then, stay safe, stay letting other people finish their sentences, and stay not making promises you’re not sure you can deliver.