30 Day TV meme, Day 3-7 (Sorry for the delays!)

Day 03-Your Favorite New Show
Well, That would have to be Breaking Bad, again. I am completely hooked on watching it, and as said before, I am freaking out about next season. Walter White is a BADASS!


Day 04-Your Favorite Show Ever

Hands down-Frasier. My parents used to let me watch Cheers (a close contender for favorite) with them when I was little and I loved the dry dynamic of Frasier and Lilith. When Frasier first premiered I was hooked. David Hyde Pierce remains my longest crush (besides David Bowie) and I still love watching the re-runs.

Day 05-A Show You Hate

Oh man, I can only choose ONE? I would have to say The Bachelor/Bachelorette or any show similar to the whole hookup game. I find it tragic that a show that trivializes relationships and marriage (especially when so many people in our country who are in long term, committed relationships are not allowed the freedom of marriage) is so popular. Seriously America, WTF? I truly loathe this show and everything it represents.

Day 06-Favorite Episode of Your Favorite TV show

I'd have to say any episode of Frasier when Lilith shows up-hilarity often ensues.

Day 07-Least Favorite Episode of Your Favorite TV Show

Season Finale of Frasier. It was a total letdown for me and I don't feel like they wrapped things up as well as they could have.


Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

30 Day TV meme, Day 2

Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Another show I have Nick to thank for-Breaking Bad. Oh. Mah. GAWD. I never got into TV dramas-The Sporanos was a mystery to me and the Dr. shows (ER, Grey's Anatomy, House, blah blah blah) never did anything to grab my attention. But Breaking bad-wow, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I wish more shows were this good!

I nabbed a good synopsis for ya'll that doesn't have a spoiler:

A struggling high school chemistry teacher, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), is diagnosed with terminal stage threelung cancer, and resorts to selling drugs to provide for his pregnant wife and handicapped son. On a ride along with his DEA agent brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris), he sees a former student of his, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), fleeing the scene of a meth lab. He contacts Jesse and devises a scheme to cook and distribute methamphetamine in order to pay for his treatment and leave his family financially stable.

Perhaps it is because I was laid off and had to face the question of how to support my son that this show really grabbed me. I can easily relate to Walter as he struggles to provide for the people he loves while covering up his illness. Hell, I am willing to bet a whole lot of people can relate to that stress in today's economic situation. Anyhow, I don't want to give much away-season three just ended so go rent the first three seasons and hang on for season four! WOO!

Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

Happy 4th of July, f-list! Over the years I have downplayed any real celebration of the 4th, but this year we went up to Nick's Grandparents house in Gold Run and participated in the parade. We rode around the block twice, and the parade ended in a giant water fight, started by the fire dept when they pulled out the truck hoses and blasted the kids. It was SO much fun! After the parade we headed back to the house to BBQ up some kebabs and chicken. Nick's mom brought up potato salad and corn on the cob, and Nick's mom and I made ice cream with fresh fruit that I brought up. I got very nostalgic for the celebrations I had a a little girl, when on the the 4th of July I would watch the musical 1776 with my mom and dad in the morning, then we'd go over to my grandma's house for BBQ and fireworks. Tonight we'll just watch any fireworks that will be over the lake, (if there are any, Place Country is always worried about fire danger) but as we drove home I started to think about all the things I love about America. Some of them are pretty big, others are kinda dorky and small. So, in honor of this nation, I am going to list five things I love about the good ol' USA.

Ahem.

1. The freedom to make fun of the government without fear of being killed or thrown in jail.

2. Free water in restaurants and public water fountains. Ya'll go to India or even parts of Europe and see what it's like being charged for water and extra for ice! It sucks! And it could get you totally sick!

3. The grand diversity of our nation-geographically and culturally, especially in my native state of CA. We have mountains, desert, surf and a rainforest! How is that not totally awesome???

4. Bucket Of God Damn Chicken. WORD.

5. Personal choice for so many things that aren't a choice at all for people in other countries. Dudes, I get we have a long way to go for equal rights and all, but in many, MANY places so many simple choices are taken away completely, or you can be locked up or killed by your family or government for daring to make your own personal choices. I am pretty sure that we will come around, and a lot sooner than those other places-if they ever consent to do so. Let me know :)

So there.

30 Days of TV Meme

Between my divorce and meeting Nick, I really did not watch a whole lot of TV. Nick has been catching me up on several good series (and some bad series-I'm looking at YOU, Lost!) and one in particular has been a lot of fun to watch.

Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled
I am talking about Arrested Development, of course. I vaguely remember when it came out, but at the time I didn't own a TV so no shows for me. When Nick kept quoting it and I kept looking at him with a puzzled look on his face, he insisted I watch it. We have already burned through seasons 1 and 2, and sometime this week we will start season 3. I am NOT looking forward to the end-why is it that Fox keeps canceling the good stuff?

So there.


Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

The 100 degree genuine summer weather has hit NorCal and I think it's here to stay. We aren't supposed to get any lower than the high 80's this week, so I am looking forward to the lake warming up and the snow in the mountains melting for some awesome rapids on the river.

The peaches on the tree in the backyard are getting big! They are in-between the size of a golf ball and a baseball, hooray! I plan on making peach ice cream and peach cobbler for my birthday in late July, it would be great if I could use my own fruit. Or my mom's fruit. Whatever.

I have a mere five weeks of summer school, then I have a bit of a break before fall semester starts up again. In the meantime, Nick and I got tickets to see Spamalot on the 10th-I am SO excited! I am not sure what I will be doing on my break between semesters, other than I will head to the gulf coast and help out in whatever way I can to clean up the oil mess. I used to work as a nanny for the senior vice president of Audubon centers, so she has been a great resource in helping me get my volunteer on :)

Anyhow, it's horribly hot out-it's only 2:30 and I wish it were later so things would cool down. Oh well, I am sure once I adjust to the heat I'll be out enjoying the warmth!

So there.

Scenes From A Marriage

One of my favorite films of all time is Scenes From A Marriage, a Swedish TV drama (think The Sporanos or Angels in America) from 1973 about the disintegration of a marriage between Johan and Marianne, a couple living in Sweden. I watched the series for the first time after I was divorced. There were several areas that have touched me and will remain with me for the rest of my life.

One scene in particular has always resonated with me. The main characters have another couple over for supper, and it is revealed that they are on the brink of divorce. Part of the monologue (by Peter, in regards to his verbally abusive, soon-to-be-ex-wife, Katarina) is terribly tragic:

"August Strindberg once said "could there be anything more terrifying than a husband and wife who hate each other?" What do you say? Child abuse could possibly be worse. But then again, Katarina and I are children. Deep down, Katarina is a little girl who cries because no one comforts her when she falls. And in the opposite corner, I'm a little boy who cries because Katarina can't love me."

I see this sort of predicament happen to many married couples. I was mentally and physically abused by my ex husband, but psychological abuse is often the favored form of abuse these days. Anything and everything is used as an excuse for their accountability to their commitment and responsibility to marriage and family-even acting like a tantrumy child and blaming "alleged" mental instability issues on the rapid disintegration of their own commitment to their marriage. Speaking as someone who has had bipolar disorder for well over a decade, this pitiful excuse is bullshit. Abuse is abuse is abuse, and you cannot blame your mental health on your choice to abuse your family. It's a load of crap and those of us who do have mental diseases see right through this shallow bullshit. Perhaps if people realized that a marriage isn't something for children and that they ARE NOT children, they would respect their marriage more, and truly if they had a spine and any sense of real maturity, they would seek help for their mental instability and counsel for their marriage. After all, thirty-something is a ridiculous age to start behaving like a spoiled, bratty, petulant child. Especially in a marriage.

Just sayin'...

This week has been pretty good so far, I'm glad it seems short because of the holiday.

School starts next week, I'll be going to classes wed-fri. I'm actually excited because I feel so lazy! I'll be taking introduction to photography and photoshop, death and dying (thanatology) and introduction to mortuary business. The photo class is actually at Sierra, so I'll be in Rocklin on Wednesdays with my friend Jess. We decided to take as many photography classes as we can, when we can so someday we can be photographers together. It's a hobby we've both enjoyed since we were in HS and we have had a lot of fun getting back into it since I came back to CA. My dad was a photography teacher at El Camino HS in Sacramento for 35 years so I picked up the hobby when I was a kid. Jess and I became friends in Jr. High and she really got into photography in HS and college but put it aside when she had her kids.

Anyhow, it's exciting to be doing something I love with a good friend.

Oh! Last night I discovered my new favorite place for *good* sushi. Tabs and I were skyping and we both started feeding each others' craving for sushi (We know. We are addicts. Don't judge us.) and she suggested a place I've never heard of out in Rancho Cordova. I am super picky about sushi, and I have my favorite places so I was a little bit wary. Ok, I totally didn't believe her. Sushi places are a dime a dozen on the west coast, and a lot of them suck. When I was living in the PI, I ate sushi almost every day at a small sushi bar across the street from my apartment. The owners were japanese, didn't speak English, and everything they made was fresh and delicious. I swear I was their best customer. They knew who I was and the husband would wave and start making tasty treats for me. When I got back to the US (NY in particular) all the sushi seemed bland and pretty much...blah. It's a lot better out west, but you still have to be pretty careful.

Anyhow, I digress. I am glad I was proven wrong, because last night I was a complete piggy. Nick and I shared edamame as an appetizer, four (HUGE) rolls, red bean ice cream and oranges drizzled in plum wine for dessert. So. Stinkin'. Good. I ate so much I felt lethargic and slightly drunk. I am sorely tempted to go back for lunch so I can try their hot pots and udon. I am kicking myself for not taking pictures, so I feel justified in returning so I can get some good pics and throw them up on the blog. Or maybe I can get their lunch rolls because they are half off. Oooooh! Decisions, decisions!

Fast week, delicious surprises-love it. I hope it continues like this for the rest of the week and beyond.

So there.