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It's Peanut Butter and Jelly Time

My DVR Doesn't Want Me to Watch American Idol

For two weeks now, my DVR has conspired against me. It has failed to record American Idol (the performance show). Last week, I had mistakenly decided it might be fun to record some episodes of Jon and Kate plus Eight. Who knew TLC played it all the goddamn time! So, it got AI got squeezed out by that and by the Dancing with the Stars results show.

This week, what with the basketball tournament, AI got squeezed out again. Survivor was moved to Wednesday, AI was moved to Wednesday, America's Next Top Model is already on at Wednesday. Why did it choose to ignore AI and record ANTM instead?

I'll tell you what, my reality TV schedule is brutal right now. I go for months with nothing but ANTM to watch (it's always on) and now, all of a sudden, all my favorites are on and now I have a backlog of TV to watch. It's actually starting to feel like work, trying to keep up. And last night, there was an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation on that featured one of my very favorite characters: Q and there was a Murder She Wrote episode that featured John DeLancie (who plays Q)! It created quite a nexus of TV joy for me, which actually helped heal the pain of missing AI.

So what's a girl to do? Read the instructions for the DVR (wherever they are) and figure out how to prioritize my recordings? Give up ANTM? Or DWTS? Or just chuck it all and go shopping with John DeLancie?

Man, I'm Glad I'm Done With School!

Every now and then I think back to times when I was in school...elementary, secondary, college, graduate school. And I am overcome with relief and pleasure that I'm not there. Don't get me wrong, I loved being in school. But I love even more being able to do what I need to do rather than learning about and preparing to be able to do what I need to do.

Also? No homework. Granted, there's still housework, but I'm not sitting up late, back aching and eyes burning, and writing a paper about something I have a moderate interest in. When I sit down to play Shopmania!, I do experience a twinge of guilt and think: Shouldn't I be doing something better with my time? Possibly, but I'm not required to be doing anything else. No deadlines. No required reading. My mental real estate is all my own. And then I feel glee.

When I stay up late to watch an episode of Mythbusters with my night owl, Lucy, I don't have to worry whether I studied enough for my test. My life is rather free of demands, other than the usual ones that come with being part of a family and a work place and those demands are ones I chose to sign up for. I guess this is what it feels like to have paid your dues.

As we apporoach our third summer in our current house, I think back to the time right before we moved in and my life began to change. It was a time when I took my destiny in my own hands and began to urge that river to change it's course. It was hard. It took a lot of time. I moved back to my hometown and spent over 3 hours a day commuting for year. Then my dreams came true and I was laid off. Less than a week later, I had a job that was nearly perfect for me and had me surrounded by a great group of people. It was also 9 miles from my house.

As a result, the anxiety in my life has dropped significantly. I'm coasting along watching time fly. I wonder if I'm not living up to my potential, though. But I'm comforted in the fact that I rarely ever have so why should I start now? I believe I could write a good novel. I'm pretty sure I could drive my way up some corporate ladder. But I just made Super Quota on Level 3.5 and the boss man is upping the ante...I think I'll play one more round...

What's In It For God?

Really, I mean since He's all-knowing and all-powerful, why should he care about us? He knows how it's all going to end, right? There's no real mystery for Him. What is in it for Him? What keeps him tuning in from week to week? If you believe in predestination, we all have a plotline, story arc, and motivations that are obvious to Him. Is he some sort of divine Norma Desmond, spending time watching reel after reel of the Rube Goldberg machine He built and tapped into motion?

I'm not posing this question because I'm feeling bitter or anything. I've never really had the expectation that He would reach into my life and directly influence it in any way. I don't expect Him to see to parts in the machine that, in my opionion, should be adjusted 10 degrees to the left or should have their torque increased. I also don't blame Him when important pieces (to me) appear to fall off the table or break.

But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Whenever I see a Rube Goldberg machine in action, I can't take my eyes off of it either. Especially when I see (or do) the work that goes on behind the scenes to set it up. It's really impressive. Once it finally works, it's remarkable to behold and it's also important not to interfere with it.

So that begs the next question: Why build the machine in the first place? Did He just need some toast?

The Crazy Eight Besties!

Coaster Punchman named me as one of his Crazy Eights! I fall into a great company of bloggers, who ask me to post these words:

“These bloggers are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

It’s a tag game where Coaster Punchman had me at "exceedingly charming." And I always say "It takes one to know one!" CP hosted me in NYC and I was not only charmed, I was bewitched. This one's for you, CP!

Tanya Espanya, whose name comes up first when I think Crazy Eights. She is totally interested in self-aggrandizement, which should boot her out of the running, but her exceeding charm and friendship cancels that out. Go over there now and crush her with your love.

Skyler's Dad is an American Hero. He's here to make us laugh and remind us what life is all about. And all the times I post something, he's right there to chime in. God bless you, old friend. Read his stuff and leave him a comment.

Evil Genius, a rock and roll astronaught with an eye for beauty that is captured by argyle. Watch as his walkman starts to melt and he takes over the universe.

And Spooky McGee is correct: Moonlight Feels Right! Spooky is a dear friend who's seen her share of adversity (and yours) and still manages to be fabulous. Spend an evening with her and a glass of wine...you won't be sorry.

Deadspot is anything but. He's a watchdog and pop culture vulture, read: totally up my alley. Visit him and you'll find tasty zingers and recaps of your favorite shows. Also look for his wit right here in the comments section...

Beth will knock you out with her mix tapes and is there in a pinch when you find yourself in need of REM covering Tom's Diner. She's sweet and sassy and ready to start something fun.

Chris is another blogger I met face to face and someone I'd call a friend. I mean who else can you rely on for politics and poop in the same breath. Wait...that doesn't sound right. Check him out and you'll see what I mean.

Grant Miller must be mentioned here as one of my Crazy Eights. I was blogging a short time before I found him through a site I can't find anymore "You so drunk." The lab coat got me and I've laughed almost every time I visited him. And without him, I probably wouldn't have found most of the people above. Grant Miller Media: A nexus of blogging.

And there you have it, boys and girls...your homework. Now get on out of here and go visit my friends.

Riley the Bureaucrat, Level 6

I told you about Riley and her contracts, right? It was very cute and it made me very proud that she has the imagination to apply contracts to play time. She's also applied agendas to playdates. It's enough to make my bureaucratic heart burst with three-part forms requisitioning my pride in measured amounts.

Well, there has been a new development in Riley red-tapery.

My parents have a fabulous walk in closet, the back corner of which Riley has staked out as her secret hideout. Last week, when I arrived at my Mom's house to pick up the girls after work, Riley presented me with a "Security Pass."

"Yours is level SOLL," she informed me, "It's not as high as Grandma's, which is level DOLL, but it is higher than Lucy's, which is BOLL."

"What do I have access to with this, then?" I asked.

"It's for my secret hideout. The higher the security, the more you're allowed to see when you come visit me. Don't forget to bring your security pass!" She explained then took off running to her hideout.

I looked at my pass that had SOLL written on it among other things. I'd tell you more about it, but I don't know what your security level is, so I'd better not say. I might get fined. I took my pass back to the secret hideout and handed it to Riley. She opened up the little cherry wood lap desk and place the security pass inside it.

"By the way, you've been upgraded," she said. "You can now see more things when you visit like my calendar and my dolls."

"Great!" I said.

At this point, Lucy brought in a basket filled with toys and said, "I brought those toys you asked for, Riley."

"OK," she said, "Let me just change Mom's security pass and we can play."

I waited for her to file her paper work and started mentally running through a list of possible law schools that might have an early admissions policy.

The Blog Card!

Ok, so here it is! The Card! It arrived safely in my hands a couple of days ago (ahem...weeks...ahem) and I'm pleased to have an opportunity to review it and add to it. Dale kindly offered me his photos so I wouldn't have to wear my fingers to the bone copying and pasting. But that still proved too labor intensive at this point. So, I filmed the card. Enjoy the virtual tour (with bonus ambient work noise)! And please visit the lovely contributors listed below.

Thank you so much for deeming me worthy, Dale! I plan to take your suggestion and forward it to another worthy one...Barbara at Bad Tempered Zombie!






Amy




Teri




Jen




Miss Alex




Nobody




Midleah




Sushiboy




Sans Pantaloons




Skyler's Dad




Scarlet




Dale

By the way, there are rules for this kind of thing and here they are:

Official rules & regulations:
• When You Get "The Card"post a photograph/scan of it's arrival & contents

• Ask readers to leave a comment if they want the card next

• Pick the blogger who is worthy...Dale asked me to send it to Barbara at Bad Tempered Zombie, so I shall!

• THEN add your name / url plus a nice message or creative addition to the card

• Include a copy of the official rules with the card• Send it on it's way to the next worthy recipient•

Send it out fast..- no putting it on the mantle an admiring it for 3 weeks...(Sorry!)

• Can a blogger who has already received the card - be sent the card again? - Yes!

• What if there is no room left on the card? -ADD A NEW PAGE - IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!~

You Guys Are Clever With Words, Right?

How about coming up with a billboard slogan for Rush Limbaugh? The Democratic Party invited me to submit a slogan for a billboard that will appear in RL's home town that will basically tell him to shut the hell up. It's fun and you could win a t-shirt or something!

Where have I been?

Life is whizzing by, that's for sure. I'm busy at work. I'm busy at home. I really need to get myself organized. So I have more time to check in with you guys. Here are some of the highlights until I have more time (and I'm done playing Dress Shop Hop):

• Doc and I had a date night this weekend
• I locked him out of the house (accidentally) in the cold for 25 minutes last night
• I've got a piece of glass lodged in my foot that I haven't had time to see to
• I've had my windshield replaced
• I've done my taxes and received the refund already
• I've paid for the Lucy's school for the rest of the year (yippee!!!)

Things are tripping along merrily. I plan on posting an extra special post about the globe-trotting blog card that's currently in my possession.

I hope you are well too...it's really been too long since we've had a chance to chat...