Instant happy - just add music.

I wasn't blessed with even a semblance of musical talent. I briefly attempted to play the piano when I was in 4th grade and mastered three half-songs on the recorder as part of our 6th grade choir requirement. I was in choir in junior high and stuck with it until sophomore year of high school. (Incidentally - I left to start taking a Journalism class, changing the course of my education plan.) And I, of course, will belt out the occasional show tune and break down the dopest rap beats you've ever heard in the comforts of my car. But that's it.

So - why is this important? Well, the point of this exposition is really just to admit that I have no more reason to love music than anyone else. It hasn't acted as any sort of life-changing force for me or helped me come to some epic revelation of sorts. But I do live my life by a soundtrack. It's not the simple background music behind a scene. It's the use of "Momentary Thing" by Something Happens during Veronica and Logan's first kiss. It sticks with you and makes an impact.

It's the ability of music to turn everything around that I'm really wanting to explore. It takes a sad day, and makes it better. The right song can do anything, really. But, what song is the right song? So, to find this out, I conducted an impromptu survey of the members of my phone book to figure out the right song. 

Simply put, I asked "What's your numero uno pick me up song?" and the results were pretty varied. Some people claimed they were too manly to need something so trivial as a pick me up song (I've mentally assigned this person with the pick me up song of "Porcelain Doll" by A.B.C.) and some people were greatly concerned with my mood. But most people had their right song.

It seemed only fitting to share the responses, as well as my own collection of pick me up songs. I made a play list, and it's called "Instant Happy" and I can only hope all you need is to add your own songs to the mix.

Theirs:

• Don't Stop Believing - Journey
• High - RyanDan
• Wannabe - Spice Girls
• Just Dance - Lady GaGa
• Funny Little Frog - Belle and Sebastian
• I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston
• TiK Tok - Ke$ha (this came from my little brother, FYI)
• Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
• Feeling Good - Michael Buble
• Beverly Hills - Weezer
• Get Back - The Beatles
• Grace Kelly - Mika
• Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
• Famous Last Words - My Chemical Romance
• Shots - LMAFO
• Sexy Bith - Akon/David Guetta
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham
• Everyday - Dave Matthews Band
• Dog and His Master - Marcy Playground
• Already Gone - The Eagles
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
• Don't Rain on My Parade - Lea Michele
• What's Up - 4 Non Blondes

Mine:

• Obe-La-Di, Obe-La-Da - The Beatles
• Hey Jude - The Beatles
• Paperback Writer - The Beatles
• Happy - N.E.R.D.
• Poison - Bell Biv DeVoe
• Sweet Sophia - Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
• Cecilia - Simon and Garfunkel
• September - Earth Wind and Fire
• Do Somethin' - Britney Spears
• Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus (I beg forgiveness, but I start doing the dance, and I just get happy!
• I'm on a Boat - The Lonely Island w/ T-Pain
• Breaker Down Like a Shotgun - Felt
• Male Prima Donna - Subtle Sexuality
• Faster - Third Eye Blind
• Volvo Driving Soccer Mom - Everclear

As I sit here writing this, I'm watching the Grammys - fitting, yes? - and life is just better. It's happier already with a little T-Pain, some Beyonce and a whole lot of Gaga. And, yes, I am totally breaking it down in the middle of my room. Blame it on the music.

 

"I just, just — I gotta change my pants. Jeans have no give!"

Sometimes I feel like I missed out on a quintessential part of college. It was the ability to roll out of bed ten minutes before class started, grab my books and bolt there. 

Truth be told, I did get this experience once during my four years at DePauw. It was the morning of my last final - ever. I woke up thirty minutes after the final started, slipped into my flip flops and ran with one pen to Julian to suffer through the final. A fitting end to my collegiate career.

But also one of the few times that I was able to wear sweat pants to class. You see DePauw is one of those places where you rock your Sunday best to class. It's just fancy. Now, not everyone subscribes to this concept, of course. I know plenty of people who strolled into class and lounged through the lecture in some comfy attire. But I wasn't one of those people. I was pretty bent on fitting in and trying to impress the rest of campus. I see now that this was a little ridiculous and probably not worth the time. Really, it was just a result of a complete lack of self-confidence along with a little bit of trouble breaking the habit of dressing up. I really should have dressed down more often at DePauw and said screw this attempt to be impressive. 

But no matter because I can assure you that I am more than making up for it now!

Sadly, it wasn't until after college that I really started to embrace the beauty of the sweat pants. It happened as soon as I settled into my apartment. It was early September and I had just gotten home from a long day at work. I kicked off my heels and felt the burning desire to cut loose - foot loose. But I knew I could not do it in my pencil skirt and blouse. Nay, I needed to don something designed for movement and comfort. I searched through my drawers, the high and the low and finally found the perfect attire. So simple, really: sweat pants. 

Now, I don't want you to think that I was not familiar with sweatpants before becoming an adult. I was. However, they had not become such a staple of my "in public" wardrobe before. You see, after I put on the sweats, cut loose - foot loose - and ate dinner. I realized I needed to go to the grocery. I grabbed for my flip flops and then turned to my closet. I paused and debated - to jean or not to jean? 

Not to jean. Not to effing jean. 

Sweat pants are the answer, my friends. From that day on, I became a dichotomy of fashion. Yes, I'll slip into heels, a dress and pearls for work. But the instant I step into my apartment, I shed the business and dive into casual. There is no greater feeling than the freedom of sweat pants. They work with any casual shoe - flip flop, boot or tennis shoe. I can rock any of those looks, and do with a growing frequency. I've also found that sweat pants are even MORE endearing and wonderful when paired with a dress. There's something almost mullet like about it. It almost says "Yes I'm professional, but I like to sleep." Not quite a full-blown mullet. But sleepier one. A rolled out of bed mullet? No partying, just napping.


In a more...introspective...way I think the sweat pants are a sign of growing up. It's a stamp of confidence, a giant shoulder shrug to what anyone else could think about the way I rock my black and pink DePauw sweat pants. Yes, they are loud and kind of obnoxious and represent a school most people haven't heard about, but it doesn't much matter because they are comfortable - and they are hot pink, which you can't help but love!

Without a doubt, the comfort of sweat pants is an ingredient to what adds up to my world of small, ridiculous wonders. So since this is a blog about the little things in life that provide that COURTNEY, ray of sunshine, bottled happiness kind of attitude, it seems appropriate that you should know that my attire for life comprises the corporate and the comfortable, the business and the baggy, the bold and the beautiful, the sassy and sweaty - wait...sweat pantsy?

It's this tangible thing that you can point to and say, 'I love you this many dollars worth.'

I've been putting off writing my Christmas blog this season. I wasn't really sure why, but now I'm happy that I did. Instead of just anticipating what will happen, I have the chance to tell you what did happen, and why it is that Christmas, like so many other things in my life, makes me so very happy. 

If I had written this blog a few weeks ago, I would have told you that Christmas at the Hime household is very formulaic - but in a good way. Christmas Eve is usually spent cooking for the next day or for that night. Usually a Christmas movie or some sort of Christmas programming is supplying the background for our day. We usually start actually getting dinner ready by 5:30. Eating by 6:30. Starting dominoes by 7:30 and watching 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' by 8:30 or 9 at night. Christmas Day is the standard get up early, open gifts, relax and head to wherever we are having our Christmas gathering. It really is a simple tradition, but one that has lasted for over 30 years - according to my father. And the truth is that we did hold true to the tradition this year. But things were still different.

First of all, it was exceedingly strange to not be home at least a week before Christmas. Even working on December 23 was strange. But that was actually kind of refreshing. It was nice to be home and not have to hold in just how excited I am to give gifts to my parents and Tucker. Only having to wait for a day was nice. 

The second kind of different aspect about Christmas this year was that my mother had put all of our presents downstairs before Christmas Eve. This might not be completely different for everyone else, but it was a change for me. Coupled with that - and kind of in direct contradiction - was the fact that I legitimately had no idea what to expect for Christmas this year.

It was also the first year where we had to set a wake up time for Tucker - not a "don't wake us up before X:XX" but a "you should probably be up by X:XX." We set this time as 9:30 and mom and I had every intention of working out, ut we canceled at the last minute and slept for another half an hour. Then we were both up by 8:50, arranged the presents by the tree and then were stuck with what to do until Tucker would be up by 9:30. So we played a quick game of Scrabble, where I managed to work in "jingle," "Santa" and "DPU." Yes, I realize that Santa is a proper noun and that DPU isn't a word, but mom let it slide as she created the word "IDFA" to play wolf. It was ridiculously fun and a great way to kill a half an hour. 

And finally, this is the first year that I was absolutely in love with the gifts I gave to my family. I bought their gifts in early November and had to wait for a month and a half without saying anything - which killed me. BUT! It was definitely worth the wait. I think they really liked the gift. I ordered personalized license plate frames. My parents' said "Class of 19XX" on the top and "DePauw University" on the bottom. Tucker's said "Class of 2012" and "Greensburg Pirates" on the bottom.  

In case you were wondering - I loved all of the gifts my parents got me. Dorkily, this is my favorite of them all. Tomorrow is the real day of Christmas presenting - shopping with Mom. It may seem selfish (maybe?) but it's the day - not the purchases - that really stands out. 
After present opening we headed to watch "Up in the Air" which was/is getting great reviews. I really enjoyed it, but I have to say that I wished it had a happier ending. It was a good day. It was a mellow day, really. 

I am realizing now, sevenish paragraphs into this blog, that I haven't really pinpointed what it is about today, this season, that makes me so happy. But it's simple. It's family, right? I mean it really is that clear cut and apparent to me that the whole point of the season - aside from the birth of our Lord and Savior - is to really appreciate the people who are in your life. All of them. I know I'm only writing about the fearless foursome, but my friends hold such an amazing place in this season of love as well. I've been given such thoughtful gifts and hopefully given a few in return. It's an abundance of love and appreciation all around and I am so thankful for it all. 

And yes, now eightish paragraphs in, maybe I haven't totally hit it on the head. I feel very scatterbrained about this post because I don't have a nice bow to tie it all up in to cover up the really crappy wrapping job that I did. Regardless, hopefully you'll appreciate the gift underneath, and if not the gift, the thought. 

"Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand."

Keep it simple, stupid. Great advice. Hurts my feelings every time: The Power of the List

Of all the things being a journalist taught me about life, the best was that there is beauty in simplicity. You shouldn't be saying something in five words that you can say in two. There is nearly always a better single word to replace multiple words. Simplicity in writing, as you may recall, is something that I completely appreciate. I have the attention span of a five-year-old, so I like getting information as quickly as possible - as do most in my generation, I imagine.

Which is why, as you might have guessed by my blog's title, I love lists. I love every form they can take. Shopping lists. To-do lists. Goal lists. 25 things about me Lists. Things I'm thinking about lists. Things I should be doing lists. Word lists. Words I shouldn't say lists. Types of shoes I own lists. Christmas lists. Playlists. Bills list (admittedly, this one is not my favorite, but still). Movies I've loved lists. Desert Island lists. 

There are also a great many wonderful things that are just fancy lists. Schedules, for example, are just lists with an assigned time. Mnemonic devices? Just lists with letters. Think about it. My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine (Pizzas). Just a list in a specific order. Lists like to dress it up every once in a while - who doesn't? - but, all the same, they remain lists at heart. 
Almost anything complex is a better when turned into a list. Take, for example, complex physics. You could very easily get a large book and use that to teach yourself physics. Or you could make a list:

1. Summer in Greece staring at stars.
2. Observation.
3. Newton. 
4. Blah blah blah.
5. Many years pass.
6. Einstein. 
7. More years pass.
8. Sheldon Cooper. 

See?! Big book or 8 point list? The choice is obvious. Now, I never claimed that the list was more informative. In fact, more often than not, the list is less informative because it's condensing something big into something small. The list is an organized summary, which is why the list is not always the most effective device - though usually the more enjoyable. I mean think of how much you lose if you tried to condense Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet into a list:

1. Family 1 hates Family 2 in old city in Europe.
2. Boy from Family 1 is sulking, decides to crash party with friends.
3. Boy meets girl from Family 2 and stalks her outside of a window.
4. Girl still falls for boy, despite creepiness.
5. Teenagers learn each others last names, grow upset and rebel by getting married.
6. Person in girl's family kills person in boy's family, fueling tensions. 
7. Boy and girl stage girl's death.
8. Confusion amounts, and boy thinks girl is really dead; kills self.
9. Girl awakes to dead boy, kills self. Audience cries.
10. Moral: fighting is bad.

Where is the thumb biting? Where is the rose by any other name? Where is thy happy dagger? Gone for the sake of the list. Lists are enjoyable - admit it, you totally laughed at the micro-version of this classic love story. But the purpose of the list is not to stand alone, despite its concise nature. No, the purpose of the list is to summarize, to remind, to jump off of.

Your shopping list? A summary of material things you lack. You write down toilet paper - but you mean that that morning when you had to pee you panicked because you only had one roll left. Your 25 Things about Me list - admit it, you have one - just a summary of your life, with each point pointing to a story about something that's happened to you. Top 10 Lists - just a way to get into a debate about the merits of the winners or who should have made the list. Funny, it seems that lists often begat more lists. It's a vicious cycle, but one that only serves to illustrate just how great a device a list can be. But maybe that's just how I look at things...maybe everything is really just a spring board to something else, a reminder of another person which can lead to a quip about that one time.

Which reminds me...as if by some form of list magic, Time just released this - this which is everything great about lists. It's the exact definition of a list with more umph, as each list item is a link to something more. 

Enjoy.

"Right now, this is a job. If I advance any higher, this would be my career....

...And if this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train."

Do not let the title throw you off - that is not at all how I feel about my job. Quite the contrary in fact - hence the blog all about work. Yes, I count my self lucky that to be one of those people that genuinely enjoys going to work each day. 

Today, you see, marks six months that I have been working at the Bradford and it felt fitting that the next installment focus on this very important aspect of my life.

But let's rewind back to about eight months ago, the beginning of April when I was applying for any and all jobs that I could find. CareerBuilder and I became very, very close friends and I slept with my cell phone near my pillow, just in case a potential employer would feel the need to call and offer me a job at 2 a.m. It sucked. And then God smiled on me and put me in the position where I was going to choose between doing something I loved as a hobby and taking a chance on an entirely different life. It was a hard choice. You could go straight into a job where you knew what you were doing. Or, you could inch closer to the cliff, peer down and hold your breath. And so, I jumped...in to an entirely different life.

I knew nothing about Credit Unions when I started my job. I didn't - and don't - even belong to one. I had never stepped foot into a class that involved credits or debits. I couldn't tell you what a GL was. And here I am 6 months later, and I can't believe what I've learned. This isn't supposed to be about what I've learned, though. Everyone in a job pretty much takes away the same skills - takes away or ignores, at least. You learn about people. You learn how you work. You learn soft skills, hard skills, medium skills and easy skills. It doesn't vary that much, really. But what does change are the details. 

And the details of my job are what make me love it. Its every person I work with. It's being the new girl but exceeding expectations. It's taking ten-minute YouTube breaks to refuel. It's coming up with co-worker crosswords. It's winning the gnome. I love the details of my job. 

But that wasn't really what I was wanting to express, either. I wanted to try to convey why I like having a job, why I like working. Of course part of it is the paycheck. But I could be hooking and bring in a paycheck - well cash. (Jokes...) The money helps, obviously. But there's something about getting it right that makes it all worth it - no matter what job you're in. Whether it's getting out of KFC by 10:30 on a Friday night or figuring out why a loan form isn't printing correctly, when you get it right, you just know. You know you made the right choice. I've always thrived on winning and getting it right is really just a miniature victory. 

"After Stacey left, it was...it did not go well for a while...and it was hard to see...It's just nice to win one." Kevin Malone - The Office

Weeding out that Family Guy in a Community like Smallville: TV Part 3

Admittedly, my love and consumption of television is a slightly more than what should be consumed by the average bear, or even the average human. Even more ridiculous, I imagine, is the way that it becomes a part of my life. I don't think I could go for more than a few hours without some clever reference or quip directly linked to one of my favorite shows. And, having read my short novella on television for my last post, you're likely getting the idea. It's important to me and to the connections that I have in my life. It's an instant smile. And I thrive on smiling. So without further ado, let's wrap this up...


Smallville - I know this is a strange thing to share, but I was in the shower before I settled in to write this and I was trying to come up with things to say about why I love this show. It's kind of hard to do at first glance because so many people will dog this show. And, really, for good reason. It's in its ninth season, they've killed off a central character to the Superman story, and Smallville is just now growing into Clark Kent - star reporter. It's not as easy to swallow for everyone...but it is for me. I love this show and there are several reasons why. The first is that I enjoy the usage of the inside joke for the show. The show's premise all just an insider look. We all know Clark Kent, but no one else does. And the writers love this. There are great throw ins - like comments about how great he looks in blue and red, or random "S" logos all over the place, or even jokes that Clark is unrecognizable in glasses. I love the inside jokes in the show. I also love how the show has had to keep changing. The feel of the show in season 9 is drastically different than the feel of the show in season 3. This is due, mostly, to an ongoing shift in characters. But it's also due to the fact that Clark Kent grew up. Of course he dealt with high school issues in high school. And now he's dealing with saving the world issues as a 23-year-old. It's not a perfect show, but it's one that has slid by and still managed to keep my attention. It's a comfortable show, it fits well, and the honor and values in the show remain the same - despite the shift in mood and pace. It sounds preachy, but it's true. Clark Kent will always do the right thing - and you have to admit that it's pretty super.



Supernatural - Speaking of super...let me tell you about this show. This show, more than any other, reminds me of the Trio. It took their pushing to get me to watch it and I don't ever enjoy it more than when I am watching it with them. It's premise is, well, just a little far-fetched. I mean...demons and monsters and djinns...oh my! But there is something so real about Sam and Dean and their relationship...it's a piece of human instinct and nature in the middle of some of the most fantastic situations. They make the show, their interactions, their idiosyncrasies are the back bone of why people keep watching. I mean sure, it's nice to see what it would be like if Bloody Mary really existed or if angels and demons decided to fight in a war. It's a fun look into the "What if...." part of our brains. But the real brilliance in the show is that you connect most with what's human, what the natural, albeit bad-ass, reaction would be. You can't help but fall in love with the boys. They are flawed, but dreamy. And yeah, it is a little fan-girl-esque of me, but it's true. The other amazing thing about the show is its ability to laugh at itself and at its actors. Jared and Jensen must be the ABSOLUTELY best people in the world with whom to work because they seem to be just...fun. And the show, despite its dark moments, always brings the fun. Even if it is somewhat twisted.



The West Wing - I've long debated whether or not I would love this show as much if I hadn't spent a semester in DC. You see, this show has been a part of my life for years. I can remember this being the first show that my parents actively taped and watched together. They loved it and I loved the idea that it would bring them together. And then I saw "The American President" for the first time - which, push come to shove, might be my favorite movie - and fell in love with the writing. I loved it, especially President Andrew Shepard's final speech about what it meant to be an American. I mean really - how could you not be inspired. Fast forward years later to a girl in her makeshift DC apartment on a federal holiday. Every morning Bravo played (and probably still does play) a few episodes of the West Wing. And one time I caught one...and it was awesome. I mean I had no idea, plot-wise, what was going on, but the writing was so on point. And I had been there. I had driven past the Kennedy Center just the other day. I knew I had to invest some time in this. And so I did. I spent most of my summer watching the show and missing DC and feeling proud to be an American. I missed being a reporter and longed to be a politician and even aspired to be president all in the course of an hour of television. But it's a powerful show. It made me thrilled to be an American each episode, thrilled to be a writer each episode. I can, without a doubt, see why The West Wing was a show that captured the hearts and awards of the late 90s and early 00's. And part of me really wishes that I had been along for the ride. But I think I can say, definitively, that I would not have loved, understood or connected to this show if I hadn't, even in just a small part, lived it.



Weeds - There is a part of me that will never really be able to understand this show. It's that angelic part of me that doesn't get the risque nature of the show. But damn do I love the Botwins. They are a family who just keeps digging their life in a little bit deeper each season. Did I at all anticipate that we'd end up in Mexico when I first saw Nancy Botwin sell pot to her uppity friends in Agrestic? No. No I did not. But I'm there. Any look into the world unknown is worth it. And Agrestic put right up against Conrad's world of drug producing and selling is unknown to me. That is why I think the show works. It takes so many things that don't belong together and throws them in some sort of upper-class, ghetto gumbo. But it works. And our heroine is so frustrating but captivating that you can't help but ride along with her as she gets herself into one situation after another. Much like the rest of the shows on my list, the show thrives even when you want to ring our main character's neck because of the supporting cast. Her kids are amazing - even more amazing than you would originally suspect. And Lord love Andy Botwin for making the show just...wow. You will hate Celia. And you will sometimes even hate Nancy. But you will love the show - and its theme song. And if you ever find yourself in suburbia, you will have a recipe for how to make those little boxes interesting.



Veronica Mars - I thought this show was about an alien girl when I heard it mentioned in passing. I mean, she had mars in her name. She was technically from Neptune. As it turns out, though, Veronica Mars was just another television show about high school life in southern California...or not. The show is everything but the drama-filled ridiculousness that southern California high schools can be. It's just so. effing. clever. Kristen Bell - henceforth to be known as K-Bell - nails this character. I tried so hard to find the perfect quote for this selection, but there isn't one that really works because it's all in her delivery. The title character is the reason to watch the show. She has the rare ability to be completely likable in nearly every situation - something that shows with a central title character sometimes find issues with. But they manage to capture what it means to be a title character perfectly in Veronica. She's a blonde, pint-sized, detective teenager with the witty comebacks and dorky side to boot. She's everything I wanted to be in high school and more. I totally lacked the balls or private eye detective father to pull it all off, though. And the reason that they are able to make her so wonderful is that she's got the best supporting cast. Keith Mars, Wallace, Logan, Mack and Weevel are just brilliantly written and placed throughout the show. And it's not just those main-supporting characters. Even the less-important characters are right on point. It's just a sharp show. It's so underrated and really was cut too short. It's hard to expand on the show without just quoting endlessly. And it's a hard show to quote, because it's so situational and character-based. I find myself stumbling over how best to dote on this show, but I think it's simply because I can't imagine anyone not loving this show. It's a show that, I think, often falls into the 'guilty pleasure' column of television viewing because it's set in a high school. No one wants to own up to loving a show about high-schoolers. But it does manage to transcend those walls into a genuinely funny, poignant and well-written slice of life. Veronica Mars is a show of mine. So, Ha! Take that high school guidance counselor!


And our honorable mentions:

The Big Bang Theory - This is the one show that I would likely bump up into full-blown favorite status if I hadn't already cemented my list. This show is great for one reason - Sheldon. Sheldon Cooper is the best part of the show. Match Sheldon up with anyone on that show and he will shine - especially Penny. I read somewhere that their dynamic is the rare non-sexual male-female relationship that just shines. The whole premise is great, though. It's beauty and the geeks, but beauty isn't a bitch and the geeks are so freaking adorable. Their chemistry is great and the show can put any of the five featured characters together and it will work. The reason, though, that the show remains off the list for the time being is that it fails to deliver the plot excitement that so many of the shows I love seem to have down. I want to keep watching because I love the chemistry of the characters, but I am not driven to watch week to week because I don't know for sure where these characters are going, or if I will necessarily NEED to know what will happen. That being said, I usually laugh harder at this show than any on television. The one-liners are great and I love that I often love the dorky things that these four nerds indulge in. And the show also contains one of my favorite moments in television history in a Christmas gift exchange for the ages. I, too, would like to grow my own Leonard Nimoy. All I need now is an in with The Cheesecake Factory....



Community/Modern Family - I have no doubt in my mind that after one or two more seasons these shows will find their place firmly on the top of the list of my favorite shows. I group them together and slide them on the short list because between the two of them, there have been less than 20 episodes - and I don't want to jinx them quite yet. However, each one of the shows has managed to shine. They both have a very distinct feel to them and they both are ridiculously hilarious. They are not afraid to venture outside of the box of reality where most sitcoms live. Community has a cast of characters that work together unexpectedly well. It's looking at the common un-commonality of the collegiate experience from every different age and perspective - and it's managed to pull in two big names (Joel McHale and Chevy Chase) for the show without bringing them down. And the show has done a great job of sticking to pairings that work time and time again. And then Modern Family - well I am in love with this show. It borrows from the mockumentary style of The Office but focuses on one family that comprise three smaller families and how today's family actually works. Each episode takes a familiar situation and adds the spin of the ensemble to it. From extension cord belts to coal digging, the show rarely hits a sour note - an impressive feat for a show that hasn't even made it into 2010!



Family Guy - This show is more of an old favorite than a current flame, but the history is unmistakable. There are so many references and connections to be made with this show. I don't crave it like most of my plot-driven shows, but I do love it every time it's on. And it's genius in its complete lack of long-term plot. I love the random nature of the show. It feels very thrown together but that's very easy to relate to. Who wouldn't want to create a story line about Medieval Times but still be able to use some great references from the Hulk and old school Superman. The show works a lot like my train of thought - in tangents. It says here's what I'm about to tell you. It should take fifteen minutes, but I'm going to stretch it out to thirty because there are some other, slightly unrelated, things that you need to know too. Yes, it is kind of disorganized. But it's hilarious. And, more than anything, it knows its audience. It knows that the characters won't be going anywhere. It knows who the characters are and isn't afraid to keep them as those people. We saw Stewie grown up, and it was scary. Let's keep him as an effeminate toddler forever!


And so there you have it. You have successfully seen just how my crazy brain looks at the boob tube. It's not normal, but it is so sublimely happy. These shows, this writing is indeed comforting. It's a background to life. It's a snapshot of the world. It's a guide book for nearly any situation. And yes, perhaps, it sets some unrealistic expectations for life. But it is a common denominator and a great unifier and every other cheesy expression you can throw at something to just simply say that it brings people together. 

I was looking for some zinger of a quote - a bazinga, if you will - to add to the end of my blog. Unfortunately, the only quotes that I could find painted television as a negative - either a mind-controlling machine or Hollywood's rejects. Milton Mayer, for example, said "The marvels of film, radio and television are marvels of one-way communication, which is not communication at all." I totally disagree with this. True - TV doesn't outright encourage communication. You cannot physically speak or interact with that box. But you can take what you get from it and go out and talk. Talk in references. Talk news. Talk that amazing speech that President Bartlett gave. Talk the idea of being the master of space and time. Talk which superpower of Clark Kent's you'd want. Just don't keep it to yourself - make it social and make it your own. Make it you :-)

"Bankruptcy, Michael, is nature's do-over. It's a fresh start, it's a clean slate."

I don't mean to keep putting off the third installment of the television blog - believe me, it's coming. And no, I did not get myself into a situation where I would need to declare bankruptcy - though I did just spend way too much money getting my car fixed. The title is merely for my own enjoyment. However, something just happened to me and I think that it warrants a sunny-side-up, slice-of-happy-pie type blog from myself. 

You see my entire iTunes library decided to evaporate. And while, yes, I do have a job that involves computers and, yes, I do consider myself to be somewhat computer-literate, I wasn't entirely sure how to get it back. But - I didn't try very hard. All of my music was still intact and in its proper location, so all was not lost. And then, I did the entirely me thing to do, and I said 'You know, this is an opportunity!'

The situation of having to redo my iTunes library has happened to me on several occasions. The first two when my computer crashed and the third when I got my new computer. It's a little daunting, sure, but it's not really as bad as it seems. And lucky for me, I had my iPod fully-charged and fully-loaded with all of my favorite play lists for quick copying of those that were small-ish. But for the most part, it's a clean slate. I have one play list that is my main iPod list, however, that is way too big to deal with (twss) or to copy song for song.

So, rebuilding this ever important play list for my iPod is not as simple as it sounds. In fact, it takes FOREVER to skim through my library and decide which songs I actually listen to versus which songs I just like having. After all, my iPod only holds a certain amount of music and I must be somewhat picky as to the music that ends up there. But I actually really enjoy it. It's a chance to reevaluate the music that provides the soundtrack for my life. Who doesn't want a shift from a horror movie to a romantic comedy every so often? Regardless, I just think that it's nice to get a clean slate every so often. Sometimes I wish a magic Swiffer would come through and just grab everything I own, put it in a box and let me redecorate my life.


But I know that it doesn't really work like that, despite some ill-conceived advice from Creed!