Episodes, Shameless, and Being Human

Showtime has two new series that just began.  The first one is 'Episodes.'  This show is about a British couple who wrote/created a hit TV show in England.  A TV executive in the US buys the show for adaptation in the States--and the key word here is 'adaptation.'  The couple comes 'over the pond' and settles in LA to adapt their show to American tastes--and find that NOTHING goes their way.  The first thing to go awry is their lead actor--an overweight, older gentleman.  They find the lead of the show being taken over by actor Matt LeBlanc--much to their dismay.  And things go downhill from there.

So far, I'm okay with this show.  BUT, time will tell.  I don't know if I can handle all of the duplicity of the Hollywood types--EVERY word out of their mouths is a lie.  While I am cynical enough to believe this is the way things are handled in LaLaLand, I can't stand people like this and won't allow them in my own life, so why would I watch them as 'entertainment?'  Matt LeBlanc isn't a bad actor--I'm pleasantly surprised by his ability to change his character from one scene to another.  At one point, he is caring, pleasant, sweet, and nice and in the following scene he is crass, vitriolic, and downright mean.  He has more range than I ever thought.  He definitely isn't playing 'Joey' and I like the fact that he isn't the focus of every scene--not to say things won't change, but I hope not.  As I said, time will tell whether I will stay with this show.

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The second new show on Showtime is 'Shameless.'  I can't even describe this show.  On one hand, I'm loving it--and a lot has to do with the fact that I really like William H Macy as an actor--and on the other, I'm really disappointed.  My disappointment comes from what  I see as the writers saying, "We are writing this for a pay channel, so we can put in as much vulgar language, sex, and nudity as we want--so let's go WAY over the top and see what we can get away with!"  My sticking with this show completely depends on whether I can handle the sex/nudity and language.  Other than that, this show is like a train wreck:  You just can't look away!

Basically, this show is about a family that lives in Chicago.  The father is a drug-addicted alcoholic who gets his money from a bogus disability claim.  The mother is AWOL and the six kids are raising themselves, while they drink and smoke cigarettes and weed.  Add some off-the-wall neighbors, a boyfriend for the oldest daughter, and various other characters, and you have 'Shameless.'  And it is quite compelling in many ways--you just want to know what the hell is going to happen next.

Case in point for 'what is going to happen next':  The father wakes up (in the 2nd episode) in Canada, with no recollection of how he got there.  He winds up in jail and Macy gives one of the funniest monologues I have heard in a long, long time.  And here is his rant against Canada:

"How the hell did I end up in Canada?  I hate f---ing Canada!  I'm an American...apple pie, lower 48, Air Supply!"

 And a couple of minutes later:

 "Why would I want to come to Canada?  So your national health care can make me wait 60 years for a new kidney?  Whole country's a bunch of parka-wearing, draft-dodging, chickenshit cowards who didn't have the balls to stay home and fight the Vietcong and to preserve our American way of life.  No snow at the Winter Olympics?  What the hell was THAT?  It's the WINTER OLYMPICS!  What are you doing?  Holding your c----, handing out maple leaf sugarloafs?  You couldn't even get the Olympic torch to f---ing light right!"

And if this didn't come across as funny as it actually was, I apologize--but it was a great, great moment.  :D

I will be watching this again before I make my final decision on whether I continue.  But I have the feeling this WILL be a big hit for Showtime and will be on for quite a few years.

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The third show that I have watched recently is 'Being Human,' which is on Syfy.  This show revolves around three 20-somethings--a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost.  They share a house and are determined to try and be as normal as possible.

With a whole lot of the world crazy about 'Twilight,' and a lot of writers/producers/etc jumping on the bandwagon and doing way too many of the same books/shows/movies, 'Being Human' could be dismissed as just 'another one of those' shows.  However, I have the feeling this one will be different.  I liked the first show and think things will just get better from here.  And from all of the traffic on Twitter about this show, I think Syfy has a hit.

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Harry's Law and Another Show

It's a new year and the networks are bringing out their mid-season series--and there are quite a few I'm hoping to sample.  I already divorced 'The Cape'--actually, we didn't get to be anything beyond acquaintances before I gave up on the show.  I really think the show could possibly have been good, but the ones in charge couldn't decide just what it would be.  It was 'here's-a-joke-for-you' funny, 'over-the-top' campy, 'look-at-this-as-real' serious, and everything in between--if the show had a direction, it might have been good.  (And it has Summer Glau  as a co-star, so that was a good thing.  I LOVE her!)   Too bad the show isn't worth my time...


I finally got a chance to watch 'Harry's Law,' and I will say, without a doubt, David E Kelley has himself another monster hit.  Kelley DOES push his own political agenda with his shows, but the writing is so brilliant that I usually can ignore it.  (e.g., 'Boston Legal')  As long as Kelley keeps off of the political soapbox for the most part, this will become one of my favorite new shows.  The opening was hysterically funny and Kathy Bates is wonderful.  The entire show kept my attention and I really liked all of the characters.  It is quite unusual for me to like all of the characters in a show, but these are quirky and likable from the beginning.  (I'm hoping I still feel this way after a month.  ;))  Other than the opening--which had me running to the bathroom with laughter--the highlight of the show was toward the end when a character said, (talking about his mother) "She died during childbirth, when she had my older brother."  Unfortunately, when this line was said, I had a mouth FULL of water--which I proceeded to SPEW all over the kitchen!  LITERALLY!  I don't remember when I laughed so hard at a line in a show.

I'm hoping to get to 'Being Human' tonight--I have already watched 'Shameless' and 'Episodes' and should comment on them soon.  But, before then, find 'Harry's Law' and watch it RIGHT NOW!  You won't be sorry.

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Where's My Weather?

When my girls were young and were going to school, I would wake every morning and turn on the radio to a local station.  This was necessary, especially in the winter, in order to know how the girls were going to dress--and, whether it was too cold (in my opinion) to send them out in the -30* wind chills.  Also, the radio was where we would get school cancellation announcements, so we always had one in the kitchen.  I still hadn't gotten a TV for the kitchen, but it wouldn't have mattered if I had one:  the local TV station did not have early morning news, so I wouldn't have been any the wiser as to what the school or weather conditions were.  Then we got The Weather Channel.

My life got infinitely easier when The Weather Channel (TWC) made an appearance on our cable system.  I never had to worry that my kids were not going to be dressed properly for school and I always knew if it was going to be a good day to do any amount of driving.  My life quickly began to revolve around TWC and watching to see forecasts, etc.

Over the years, I have needed to rely on TWC less and less.  My girls graduated and moved away and I didn't have as many outside 'duties' and interests, so the weather conditions weren't as important to my every day life anymore.  As the interwebs got better and better, I have begun looking online more frequently for my weather news--which is all well and good while my computer is actually on.  But, I am one of those people who turns her computer off when she is done with it for the day, so it isn't always convenient to go online to see a forecast.  And then I must rely on TWC once again.  And that is where my problem lies.

WHAT THE F***ING HELL is wrong with The Weather Channel these days?  At one time they began a feature called Local On The 8s, which meant that the local weather conditions, radar, and forecast would be broadcast every ten minutes.  It was convenient and I never needed to wait more than ten minutes to know what was going on outside.  Okay, most people would just look outside to see what the weather conditions are, but where we live, looking outside is NOT representative of what is going on two blocks from our house.  So, I really need to see radar and forecasts, especially if I would be away from home for any length of time.  (Local On The 8s still is being broadcast, just not as consistently as it was at first.)  And then TWC decided that 24 hours of weather conditions and forecasts was boring and not necessary.  Before you knew it, we got to watch hour after hour of shows dealing with global warming, past devastating storms, 'what if' stories, and the Gulf crisis.  And in recent months, TWC has even been showing Hollywood movies.  Now, I guess some of the features could be considered interesting, but I really don't appreciate some of the preachiness and political leanings of some of them.  Also, if a channel is going to be named The Weather Channel, shouldn't it be doing what it is supposed to do:  forecast and report the weather news from around the world?  That is what I expect and wish the channel would get back to.  But until then, I watch it less and less every year--pretty soon, I will stop altogether.  And with the next smartphone I get, I probably won't need TWC at all.

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ANOTHER Website I Didn't Need To Find

Chuck Lorre has been part of some very successful sitcoms as a writer, director, or producer. He has been involved with Dharma & Greg, Grace Under Fire, Cybill, Two and a Half Men, and Big Bang Theory. For anyone who watches the final credits, the 'vanity cards' that often appear at the end of the credits are familiar. Unfortunately, they are onscreen for such a short time that they are hard to read without the use of a VCR or DVR, as you need to pause the credits to finish reading. Or there is always the interwebs, where you can find EVERYTHING! Yes, there is a site where all of the 'vanity cards' are and you can read them at your leisure. Go here for some extremely good reading--although, not all are winners, the majority are pretty good. I'm still chuckling over #280--and I will post it here for your enjoyment.

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #280

You know you're getting old when... You throw your back out on the toilet. You shave your ears. Your second wife calls your first wife “ma’am.” You're genuinely excited when your prescriptions arrive in the mail. You read the obits in the newspaper to check the ages of the dead people. You read a newspaper. You're bummed out that the smokin’ hot chick from Body Heat now looks like William Shatner in drag. You say “bummed out.” Women your age have real breasts and artificial hips. Masturbation leaves you winded. You try to amuse the kid hooking up your Blu-ray player by telling him about Betamax. You pee in morse code -- dots and dashes -- and have to look down to see when you’re done. Your car radio is set to “classic rock” so you have something to switch to during NPR pledge drives. Your doctor says things like, “that’s normal for a man your age” and “consider yourself lucky.” Beneath your chin is what appears to be a neck skin hammock. Beneath your penis is what appears to be two ping pong balls hanging from a flesh-colored bolo tie. You choose your new car because it offers great lumbar support and convenient cup holders. Watching “The Who” perform at the Superbowl made you inconsolably sad. You wonder if the orgasm you're about to have will actually end your life. Your doctor tells you a new medication will reduce the amount of semen in your body and your only response is, “so what.” Your car radio is set to “classic rock” so you have something to... oh, wait, I already did that one.

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Every Four Years

Just like the presidential elections, the Olympics come back to haunt us every four years. I used to look forward to the games, but these days, not so much. There was a time when anyone, through a lot of hard work and determination and a little bit of talent, could have become an Olympic athlete. Today, if you don't have big bucks coming at you, you aren't getting anywhere near the games. If there is enough money involved, I don't think a person needs to have a whole lot of natural talent anymore--just the right coaches and training. And all of that costs a lot of money. To me, the Olympics are a bunch of rich kids coming together to have a great big party and to play. And there is nothing close to an amateur athlete to be found within 500 miles of the games. Through endorsements or the fact they are paid to play their game in real life, these athletes are very rich--at the most--or well off--at the least. The spirit of the coming together of amateur athletes competing against each other, is long gone. But, I still will watch some of the Olympics--I'm just going to be very, very choosy.

Curling is a sport that I find absolutely fascinating. And that probably is because I have no idea what is going on! Also, I figure that is the only Olympic event I could POSSIBLY ever compete in. After all, I've been a homemaker for 36 years, so I should know how to sweep with the best of them. ;) I really can sit and watch curling for hours--but I don't do it very often, other than during the Olympics, so I can keep my fascination going. (We get a Canadian station on our cable system, so I DO have the opportunity to watch curling at other times, I just don't do it often.) So, curling is one event I will try to catch during these two+ weeks.

I will watch--and have already watched--women's hockey. I was very excited about it, but not so much anymore. As it is, the US and Canada have excellent hockey programs for women--mainly because it has been dictated by law. And after watching the games that Canada and the US have played already, the reports seem to be true: Either Canada or the US will win the gold and the other will win the silver. All other teams will fight over the bronze. I wasn't impressed with either the US or Canadian team, as they both ran up the scores of the games they played. So far, Canada has won the two games played by scores of 18-0 and 10-1. The US won by a score of 12-1. Not really interesting games to watch. I did, however, enjoy the Finns against the Russians--with the Finns winning 5-1. It was a good game and both teams played quite well. It is kind of difficult to find a game worth watching when the outcome is almost guaranteed--and that probably won't change for the US and Canada until the final game. Maybe I'll watch that one. I will want the US to win over the Canadians, but I certainly wouldn't cry if the Finns managed to upset everyone and take the gold. THAT I could get excited about.

And so we come to the event I normally would be waiting for the most: Men's hockey. Don't get me wrong, I WANT to be excited about this, but it is very difficult. First, I will NEVER back a team that has Sidney Crosby on it, so I want the Canadian team to crash and burn. I don't care WHO beats them, just so they beat them. And I also don't care how many people from the Red Wings organization are part of Team Canada--I just want them to lose. Of course, the hype is that Canada will take the gold because they are on home soil. Big whoop. And there are stories, ad nauseum, about how great it would be if Russia and Canada played for the gold--then every one can see the 'fantastic' Sidney Crosby play against the 'great' Alex Ovechkin. Sorry people, but I have to listen to this shit enough during the hockey season, so I don't need to hear it during the Olympics, also. Makes me want to puke. I'm not really a fan of Ovechkin, either, so I don't want the Russians to win, despite the fact that Datsyuk is part of the team. Sorry Pasha, but you have a teammate/countryman who is an ass.

Being an American citizen, I should want the US to win the gold in hockey. WRONG! After Patrick Kane's exploits of last summer, the GM of Team USA was asked if he would be allowed on the team. Burke--the GM--said there was no question about him NOT being on the team. He would be part of the team, no questions asked. I find Burke to be a loudmouth jerk (he is a GM in the NHL), but the rest of the USA organization could have stopped this from happening. I think this just made the US look very, very bad in the eyes of the world--as if there needs to be more stuff for the world to hate us over. I feel as if it would have shown the world that the US has a lot of class by banning him from playing--no matter what the outcome of the allegations were. (He plead to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct, was ordered to give a written apology to the cab driver, and pay $125 in court costs. A slap on the wrist for a star athlete. In my mind, short of pointing a gun in his face, NO 20-year-old should be beating up a 62-year-old. PERIOD.) I really feel as if the US dropped the ball on this one, so I don't want them to win the gold.

And that leaves me with only one team that I really want to win the gold: Finland. Of course, the reason is twofold. My Baby Boy is playing on the team and my ancestry is Finn. Plain and simple. Realistically, I don't think the team is as strong as some of the others, but they have an outside chance of pulling it off--and it would be quite an upset if they did. I don't actually see it happening, but I can hope. And if Finland can't do? Hopefully Sweden will repeat their gold-winning ways from the last Olympics. That, too, could make me happy.

I won't be crying when the games are done. I won't be waiting or them to begin again in four years. I'll just be happy to get back to my regular TV viewing and the rest of the hockey season. Other people can be excited over the Olympics.

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More TV Talk

The scheduling of TV show premiers is quite different today than it was years ago. I remember waiting for the fall premier week. All of the new and returning shows would begin in the same week and continue with new episodes till May. Then we would get summer programming: either re-runs or some kind of alternate programming. (Does anyone remember the daily gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Republican and Democrat national conventions every four years? Now THAT was entertaining TV. {sarcasm abounds}) Today, we get new 'seasons' every few weeks all through the year. I'm not too sure whether I like this, or not--but I have learned to adjust. Two new shows will be starting soon and I am anticipating them to become hits.

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The first show I'm waiting for will premier this Sunday on AMC. It is called The Prisoner and is a miniseries reworking of the 1960s British cult hit. Here is what the website has to say about it:

In November, AMC will present The Prisoner miniseries, a reinterpretation of the British 1960s cult hit series that starred and was co-created by Patrick McGoohan.

The Premise : A man, known as Six, finds himself inexplicably trapped in The Village with no memory of how he arrived. As he explores his environment, he discovers that his fellow inhabitants are identified by number instead of name, have no memory of any prior existence, and are under constant surveillance. Not knowing whom to trust, Six is driven by the need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly -- how he can escape.

Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ , The Thin Red Line) will play the role of Six; and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, The Da Vinci Code) will co-star as Two.

I remember the original series and think that may have been one of the reasons I love sci-fi and fantasy so much. (Of course, the other reason is Star Trek, but we won't go there. ;))

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The second show I can't wait to see is called Men of a Certain Age. It will be on TNT and begins on 7 December. I think one of the reasons I want to see this so much is because Scott Bakula is one of the stars. I have had a crush on him since Quantum Leap--and he is one who seems to get better with age. And this is what the website says about the show:

John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” For three men entering the second act of their lives, those words are starting to hit home in TNT’s newest original series, MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE. This wry drama stars Emmy® winner Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Golden Globe® winner Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) and Emmy winner Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street, TNT’s Salem’s Lot). It marks a return to series television for Romano, who created MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE with Everybody Loves Raymond Emmy winner Mike Royce. The two serve as executive producers, along with Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman.

MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE, from TNT Original Productions, is set to debut Monday, Dec. 7, at 10/9c, following an all-new episode of the network’s hit series THE CLOSER. The premiere episode is written by Romano and Royce and directed by two-time Emmy winner Scott Winant (thirtysomething).

MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE explores the unique bonds of male friendship among three men experiencing the changes and challenges of mid-life. They have been best friends since college but now, in their 40s, are navigating through the second act of their lives. Joe (Romano) is a friendly, slightly neurotic, recently separated father of two who had dreams of being a professional golfer. Now he owns and runs a party store. Terry (Bakula) is a laid-back, handsome actor who seems to breeze through life (and women). Lately, he’s spending more time working as a temp than as an actor. And Owen (Braugher) is an overstressed husband and father of three who endures constant criticism from his father, for whom he works as a car salesman.

These friends face very different challenges. Joe, who currently lives in a hotel, tries to connect with his kids and is dipping his toe in the dating pool, while also struggling with the gambling problem that may have ended his marriage. The unmarried Terry scoffs at domestic issues but sometimes wonders if his own single life is all it’s cracked up to be. Owen does everything he can to climb the sales board at his father’s car dealership and keep his cool over the seemingly endless renovation project in the home he can barely afford. Through it all, these men are there for each other when it counts.

I think this will be good--at least it has the potential to be good. Andre Braugher was one of the reasons Homicide: Life on the Street was such a good show.

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TV Talk

I don't remember if it was during the first season or just before the second started, but I found the show Mad Men and fell in love! Last night was the third-season finale and WOW!

Mad Men is a show set in the 1960s about an ad agency in New York--and all of the people who work there. I think what got me hooked at first was seeing all of the period clothing and furniture, etc. It is unbelievably well done. It really takes me back to see all of the characters chain-smoking and drinking in their offices. Gone are THOSE days, for sure.

*spoiler alert*

So much happened in the show. The 'big guys' left the ad agency to begin a new one. Betty left for Reno to get a quicky divorce. Joan came back to help start the new agency. Several of the old agency's employees were taken away to the new one. Many, many things happened that I didn't see coming.

While a lot of people feel badly for Betty--and I guess I do, too, in a way--because of Don's behavior (especially his many, many affairs), I can't completely blame him. She is such a stuck-up spoiled rich bitch and has always had an air of superiority when it has come to him. And she REALLY let it come to the surface after she found out his 'real' story. Now, I'm definitely NOT an advocate for violence against women, but I really wanted him to slap her silly last night when he found out about her sneaking around with her new guy. She just acted way too superior and really needs to be taken down a peg or two. When someone talks about a woman being an 'ice princess,' the character of Betty Draper is the perfect example. (And the actress who plays her is brilliant!)

The character of Pete is such a weasel, that I almost wish he would just go away, However, he makes for some great conflict. He is so whiny and sniveling that I can barely stand seeing him on screen. (Again, a great performance by the actor. However, I don't know if I EVER will be able to watch the actor do anything else without cringing.) His wife is playing the part of the 'power behind the man' to perfection.

I think this show is quite an accurate portrayal--to a certain extent--of what was going on with people involved in corporate America in the '60s. With all of the changes going on in the show, I can't wait for the next season to begin.

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My real guilty pleasure--as far as TV shows are concerned--is Sons of Anarchy. It is all about a motorcycle gang and it is now in the middle of its second season. I really think this show taps into my inner sense of always wanting to be a 'bad girl'--even though I always was too afraid to actually BE a bad girl. :)

It is always interesting to see Katey Sagal--aka Peg Bundy--in a serious role. She plays the Queen Bee to perfection--NOBODY craps on her or her family and gets away with it. A very, very tough individual. It is hard to watch her character when she is vulnerable, as she IS so tough--and Sagal is very good. Another interesting casting is Ron Perlman--aka Hellboy and 'Beast' from the TV series Beauty and the Beast. He is Sagal's second husband and the leader of the 'Sons.'

This show deals with a lot of violence and quite a bit of sex. There are times I'm amazed at what I am seeing, as this is NOT on a pay channel. The relationships between the characters is what keeps me going back--and the story lines can be very compelling. While I'm sure this is extremely exaggerated, it is interesting to see the inner workings of a life style I have no experience with. I hope this show is on for quite a while.

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Another Reason NOT To Watch The News

I haven't really watched a news broadcast for the last two years or so. I quit at some point during the last presidential campaign--just couldn't take all of the hype and pushing of non-issues. Tonight I had the news on, basically because I wanted to listen to a story about the swine flu vaccine. After the story, I left the channel on as background noise. And then the story came. A big enough story to make the national news broadcast--a place where we as citizens are supposed to find out what is going on in the world. And the story? Bo, the dog, has shit in Airforce One. More than once.

Excuse me? This is a story that needs to make the news? No wonder I don't get my news from the TV. And some people wonder why viewership is going down.

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Hump Day Funny

I've always liked Conan O'Brien, but don't always watch him. Actually, I don't think I've seen the Tonight Show since he took over. After seeing this, I may have to make a point of tuning in. These made me giggle like a little girl.

(Sorry for the links--the embedded video feed doesn't seem to be working.)

Puppies dressed as cats.

More puppies dressed as cats.

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Bear Report

As I wrote a few weeks ago, we have had black bear sightings in our town/neighborhood. This happens at least once a summer, but is a more regular occurrence in other non-city areas of the UP. Living with black bears is just a way of life here and most of us have seen one in the wild at least one time in our lives. Our local TV station has reports every year, as does the local 'wildlife' show that is broadcast weekly. So, just from our little TV station, there is probably hours worth of footage of black bears. When you throw National Geographic, as well as other movie, TV, and cable sources, I am sure there is more footage than can be looked at in a lifetime. Why the news team from this station just didn't use stock footage in this report, is beyond understanding:

I'm really trying to figure out whether or not this was done as a joke, or if the reporter was serious. Unbelievable!

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???????

Obviously, I don't share the way a great many people feel, but I have to ask: What the hell is this country/world coming to? Have you watched any television today? Have you even had your television on? Every other channel is devoted to Michael Jackson. While the coverage of all of this has been absolutely ridiculous up to now, today is even worse--if you can believe it. I. DON'T. GET. IT. He didn't find the cure for some disease, he didn't have great wisdom to explain the meaning of life, he didn't save the world from any of the ills that are here, he didn't contribute anything significant but some songs and videos, and yet he is being deified and glorified more than any leader--governmental or religious--that I have ever seen. He was a man who groped himself in public and probably did the same to little boys in private--just WHAT is there to admire about him. I hope someone has enough guts--and doesn't look for the money the family will pay to keep quiet--to come out and tell the truth. Because, the truth IS out there.

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Like Anyone Didn't See This Coming

Jon and Kate have filed for divorce. And if you don't know who I'm talking about, you haven't been anywhere near the internet for a long, long time. These people drive me absolutely insane. I watched their show one time and only got through five minutes before I couldn't take it anymore. She was such an absolute bitch that I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to watch the show and having to see her for however many minutes it ran. Anyway, I hope this doesn't mean each of them will get their own show now. WHY don't they just go away? But there is hope that they will, at some time. J Lo went away, right? :)

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A Little Of This, A Little Of That

Last night brought the first of the final episodes of Prison Break. While I think it is time for it to end--actually, it could have ended a season or two ago--I think I will miss it. Hopefully it will go out in a real big way.

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Yesterday the temp was about 72 degrees. Today it was no more than 44. Tomorrow night we just may be getting 'significant accumulations of wet snow.' Welcome to my world.

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I'm really tired of people implying--subtly, of course--that because I don't have a job and don't bring home a paycheck, I don't need to voice my opinion on taxes, unions, or the economy. Pardon me, but just because YOU have a job doesn't mean YOU are any smarter than I am.

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It took me a bit, but I finally figured out why I have been on such a horrid eating binge: it is April. What does April have to do with anything? Well, the month of May means I have to see The Mother because of her birthday and Mother's Day. My stress level goes up EVERY time it gets to this time of year--and it ISN'T only because it is playoff time.

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And that brings me to the playoffs. So far--and it IS only two games--the Wings have been doing very well. They have been 'putting on a clinic' and Columbus has seemed to be quite out of it. Again, it HAS been only two games and the next one is in Columbus, so things can change fast. This is why I can never let my guard down and feel good for more than hours at a time--the end of the next game could see me crying in my beer!

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While I never quite embraced Twitter, I enjoyed it as much as I could with the limited time I was on it. Since the 'contest' between Ashton Kutcher and CNN and the fact that Oprah is now 'tweeting,' I just may need to delete my account. I think Twitter is over with. Thank you Oprah for screwing up something else for me. :/

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More Ramblings

I have never seen an entire episode of Spongebob Squarepants, Family Man, the Simpsons, or South Park. Some of these, I have TRIED to watch, but just couldn't do it. I hope I'm not missing much!

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On Saturday, the truck died. K was able to get it going so he could drive it home from work, but it has been parked on the street since then. The first appointment he could get to fix it was for Wednesday. At noon. This means I have to get up in the morning, drive to where the truck will be fixed (provided the truck can be started and he can actually drive it there), wait till the truck is done, drive him back to pick it up, and drive home. The only good to all of this: I will have my Envoy back. He has been driving it to work and I have been vehicle-less.

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I have never been a fan of Apple products. When I started with computers, I went with a PC and have stayed with them. I like the fact that I can actually figure out how my computer works--which I never feel is the case with an Apple. PC's allow a lot more 'tinkering' than Apples do--and I don't like the feeling of having my hand held that you get from Apple. Apple seems to think that everyone is an idiot and has to have everything done for them. I NEVER feel that way with a PC. (However, it isn't ALWAYS a good thing, either. :))

Despite all of the hype, I don't believe Apple products are all that great. Before I purchased any of my music players, for example, I read ALL of the reviews--even the ones for iPods. Granted, they can do quite a lot of things, but no more than what my Creative Zen X-Fi can do--and my Zen cost a whole lot less! While I want a phone that can do a few more things than mine can, the iPhone does WAY too much--and from a lot of reviews, not all that well. I sometimes believe Apple product owners won't admit when what they have doesn't work right--they just are too ashamed of paying the exorbitant prices that are charged.

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Pavel Datsyuk has come out with his own clothing line. Actually, just some T-shirts right now, but there probably will be more to come. They went on sale on Monday--the 13th, because his number is 13--and I managed to snag one right away. Don't know how fast they will go, but I didn't want to chance not getting one. Kind of cool:

It has the number 13 all over it and the tag line: "Lucky for me, unlucky for them."

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It is April and that means only one thing--to me, at least. Yup--the Stanley Cup playoffs are starting. While they begin on Wednesday, the Wings don't play until Thursday. I'm not sure WHAT will happen this year--but I don't have very good feelings about things. IF Detroit can get through the first round, they might have a chance to go far. But Columbus has a goalie who has played very well--and I think the Wings have let him get in their heads. NOT a good thing. I am working on my bleeding ulcer already. Only one good thing comes from the Wings exiting early: my ulcer won't get to the bleeding stage. >:/

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Watching TV

Just how much are we LOVING the show Leverage? This week's episode was absolutely hysterical! I loved watching the various characters trying to do their fake jobs. Come on now, can we ALL agree that Parker is just not suited to be a flight attendant? When she started her comments during the emergency landing talk, I though I was going to spit. (" In the event of a water landing, your seat cushion can be used as a floatation device. But let’s face it, if this thing goes down in the water, more than likely, the impact will kill you.”) She is becoming quite a fav. Spencer as an air marshal, I understand, but I loved how he just talked his way past everyone just by flashing a badge. But I think I found Hardison as a 'corporate guy' the funniest. Him convincing everyone in that office that he had worked there for a while and that they all knew him, was priceless--and then they even threw him a birthday party. And to top it ALL off, Jeremy fricking Roenick was one of the guards at the office building. (Roenick plays for the San Jose Sharks--NOT a favorite player by any means, but a hockey player nonetheless.) A show that makes me laugh AND throws hockey some love is a winner in my book!

Now, on to Lost. I have watched the show from day one and I'm not sure I understand WHAT is going on. I still want to know what is happening to the characters, but things better start straightening out fast or I will have to break up with the show--and I really don't want to do that. I'm really loving the Hurley character more and more--he just is a big, cuddly teddy bear--about the only one with a real conscience. I will stick with the show for a few more weeks, but if I find myself looking at the TV, shaking my head, and saying to myself "HUH???" too many more times, I will have to stop. And that would be a shame.

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The Fox Network

Fox has said that this, the fourth season, will be Prison Break's last. While I have enjoyed the show, I think this is the right decision. It is surprising that it has gone on for four seasons.

It also was announced that Fringe will continue. YAY!!!

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Jack Is Back!

I finished watching all four hours of the season premiere of 24 and all I can say is, "Thank goodness Jack is back making the world safe for us all!" The show seems to be following the same format: good guys turn out to be bad; bad guys turn out to be good; long lost characters come back; dead people are suddenly alive, etc. The pace of the four hours was, as usual, fast and there wasn't any time to get bored. At times some of the side stories have the 'WTF?' feeling to them, but fear not, they ALL come together in the end. It will be interesting to see how far away from the beginning storylines the show will be at the end of the season.

In the first or second hour, a character said something that made me laugh out loud. The line? "Jack, you are coming with me and you're doing this MY way." Yeah, right--you don't know Jack, do you? (Sorry about that. ;))

I'm really looking forward to this season--it's been too long.

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Let's Get Ready To Ramble

This is the phone call you don't want to get: A co-worker at your spouse's workplace calls to talk to your spouse--while he is supposed to be at work! Yep, I got that call today! The co-worker explained that she didn't look at the schedule before making the call and apologized, but it sure sent my heart pumping for a minute. She made sure to tell K to, once again, apologize when he got home.

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We are under a lake effect snow advisory again. I was hoping the snow wouldn't be here yet, but I think it won't be going away till April. I KNOW it is going to come every year, but it still seems too early whenever it gets here. Last week it was reported that at the National Weather Service office 10 miles away 44" have fallen so far this season. The average for this time of year is 22", so we might have a record-breaker in the making.

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Today I went for my pre-appointment blood-letting. My internist has moved to a new office and I'm not sure I am pleased. The only way to explain the atmosphere in this new office is to think of a combination emergency room and walk-in clinic--complete with kids. Not only does this office have internists, but there is also a pediatrician. It has been YEARS since I had to sit in a waiting room with kids. The people in the waiting room were stacked like cord wood and no one seemed to be going anywhere. I would think about changing doctors, but I have been seeing him for about 10 years and like him very much, so I guess I have to put up with the place. Yuck.

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Last week the TV series The Shield ran the final episode. I don't know what exactly I expected to happen, but whatever I thought, DIDN'T. It seemed almost anti-climactic in a way. While there were some deaths that were kind of expected, the absolute ending was so quiet that it almost faded away. It was very disappointing on some level.

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Speaking of disappointing: Now that I have movie channels and On Demand on the TV in the kitchen, I have decided to try and catch up on movies that I haven't seen. I wish I hadn't. In the past couple of weeks I have watched Children of Men, Apocalypto, Pan's Labyrinth, and Mr Bean's Holiday. Of these, I couldn't watch all of Mr Bean--I LOVE Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean--as I found it quite dull; Pan's Labyrinth disappointed because I thought it was going to be something like one of the Narnia movies and it wasn't at all; and I feel they didn't do enough with Children of Men. Apocalypto was filmed beautifully and had a compelling story, but it seems as if MORE could have been done with it--it held my attention, but not much beyond that. I have recorded Babel and Bridge to Terebithia, so I hope those are better watching.

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The thing that WASN'T disappointing was the win the Wings had over the Ducks tonight, 2-1. We finally saw a glimpse of the Wings that SHOULD be playing--they hustled for most of the 60 minutes and worked harder than they have most of this season. They had 47 shots on goal and kept the Ducks to only 16. Once again--or should I say STILL--the question is: what the hell do the Wings have to do to actually get the damn puck to go into the net? With that many shots on goal, the score should have been 14-1, at least! Giguere hadn't played for a few games, he has had personal troubles, and he couldn't have had his head in the game, yet the Wings couldn't get that puck past him. They did, however, chase him out of the goal--he couldn't play the third period due to dehydration. I guess all the work they made him do...

The Wings don't have to play again till Thursday, so they will have time to do practices and address some of the problems they have had. Holmstrom is skating again and should be back by the end of the week and Chelios is skating and may be back within two weeks, so things are getting better. It is hard to complain when they ARE winning and have such a good record, but, as a Red Wing fan, I always want more! Oh, well.

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Let's Get Ready To Ramble

Tonight was truly a momentous occasion--24 began a new season! Jack Bauer is back, people! I recorded it so that I can sit back and savor every moment of the show--I have really missed 24. So, are there any other fans who read this blog?

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Don't know if I will get a chance to watch 24 anymore tonight--I have a dentist appointment in the AM. Yup, that is like MORNING! I can't believe I actually made an appointment for the morning. Oh, well, it will give us a chance to go shopping after I'm done.

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So, shopping. We need a new couch. We also need a new recliner/rocker to replace the one K uses all of the time. But, then, we have needed a new recliner for years BEFORE we bought our last couch, so... Anyway, our couch has busted a spring in the back, so it is time to replace. We replace our couches every 5 years or so, because I refuse to spend too much money on them. Why? you may ask. Well, it is because K spends about half of all of his sleeping hours on the couch, so our couches wind up in very bad shape in very short order. You just CAN'T roll around on a couch all of the time and expect it to hold up, so I won't get an expensive couch for him to ruin. I don't expect this to be too hard of a shopping trip, however. I have decided the color I want and how much I want to spend, so as soon as K says a couch is comfortable enough, I will say, "SOLD!" My biggest problem will be trying to convince him that the recliner needs replacing--THAT will be a job!

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I very much enjoy living in a small city and wouldn't want to live elsewhere. One thing that bothers me, though, is our local newspaper. Thank goodness for the internet! Anyway, I was reading our paper today and went looking for the story about the Red Wings' game last night and NOTHING! Absolutely. Nothing. And the reason for this blasphemous thing? The game was a west coast game, so it was still being played when the paper was being printed. Excuse me, but the game WAS done by 1:00 AM! Much, much joy in living in a small city.

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For several weeks now, WGN America--the 'superstation' out of Chicago--has been running old TV series on Sunday. WKRP In Cincinnati, Newhart, ALF, and others are shown. It certainly has been fun re-watching these shows. They seem to hold up quite well--I guess that goes to show what quality shows they were in the first place.

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I visit the Cute Overload site every day. Today (or was it yesterday?) a video was posted that caused a GREAT amount of negative feedback--along with positive comments. Before you watch this, I must give some info: it is in Spanish, but you DON'T need to understand the language to know what is going on; it is a bit disturbing, in a black-humor sort of way; and it is NOT real--it is a commercial for an Argentinian internet company. The people who HATED this didn't feel as if it was appropriate in any way, shape, or form--and those of us who appreciate warped humor enjoyed it. Watch and see what you think--and you MAY need to watch it a couple of times just to get all of the nuances. (There is NO sex, nudity, violence, or bad language.)

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I'm Happy--For a Little While

Thursday will be a happy day for me--Burn Notice is beginning its second season. I LOVE this show and can't wait to see if I'm right about who the person is that put the burn notice out on Michael. I'm pretty sure I'm right--we'll see. If you have never seen this show, you can watch the first season online in preparation for Thursday. It IS a spy show, but with a sense of humor--a fun summer watch. Besides, I need SOMETHING to do while waiting for hockey to start again! (Less than three months till the start of the season--HOORAY!!)

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