I just found out the first two seasons of "Family" (1976-80) is on DVD! I immediately went to
Amazon and ordered. Yeah, I was really, really little when this was on, and couldn't "get" what I would today, but I have fuzzy memories of it and have always wanted to see it again. I think I got see reruns in the 80's when I was a little more cognizant. I remember wanting to be a cool, skateboarding teenager like Buddy (Kristy McNichol). And, I could swear Leif Garrett was Kristy McNichol's boyfriend, but maybe he was on an episode of Eight is Enough or something. Either scenario is entirely plausible. I can't wait to see Sada Thompson and James Broderick and I'm *confident* that the writing will be great. Even if I'm disappointed, just seeing the 70's decor will be worth it. I'm assuming there will be avocado kitchen appliances. And, as if it couldn't get better, I find out that my heroes, Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz (thirtysomething and My So Called Life) wrote 7 episodes. So yeah, I'm excited. I think they've written the best stuff that ever graced the small screen and I could go into a bunch of stuff about theatre and especially elitist grad school BS that pisses me awf, because apparently pathos is so not cool at this stage in my educational "career" but I won't. I'll save it for another day because I'm sure I'll be bitching about it when the semester rears its ugly head in August. For now, I'm totally content to be getting this on DVD!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
The Corey's, Scott Baio, and Bret Michaels
OMG!!111!eleventy!!11! So I just found out that all three upcoming bad reality shows that I can't wait to see are going to be on Sunday nights! This totally streamlines everything in one convenient night. Since I don't watch TV every night and have trouble remembering when something is on, even when I'm interested, this really works for me. Who here can't wait to see The Corey's, Scott Baio is Single and 45, and Rock of Love with Bret Michaels?! Can't wait for July 15, except for the whole summer is slipping away thing. Other than that, I'm completely stoked!
Random: It's raining again. Yaaay! No, I really mean that. This summer has been downright tolerable, if very wet. Sigh. I love summer rain.
Random: It's raining again. Yaaay! No, I really mean that. This summer has been downright tolerable, if very wet. Sigh. I love summer rain.
Friday, June 22, 2007
What About You?
Reposting this from Sticky:
1. Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favorite Movie:
5. Favorite Song or Album:
6. Favorite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:
9. Do we know each other outside of LJ?
10. What's your philosophy on life?
11. Is the bottle half-full or half-empty?
12. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
13. What is your favorite memory of us?
14. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
16. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' malarkey) - what are they :
17. Can we get together and make a cake?
18. Which country is your spiritual home?
19. What is your big weakness?
20. Do you think I'm a good person?
21. What was your best/favorite subject at school:
22. Describe your accent:
23. If you could change anything about me, would you?
24. What do you wear to sleep?
25. Trousers or skirts?
26. Cigarettes or alcohol?
27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
28. Will you repost this so I can fill it out for you?
1. Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favorite Movie:
5. Favorite Song or Album:
6. Favorite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:
9. Do we know each other outside of LJ?
10. What's your philosophy on life?
11. Is the bottle half-full or half-empty?
12. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
13. What is your favorite memory of us?
14. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
16. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' malarkey) - what are they :
17. Can we get together and make a cake?
18. Which country is your spiritual home?
19. What is your big weakness?
20. Do you think I'm a good person?
21. What was your best/favorite subject at school:
22. Describe your accent:
23. If you could change anything about me, would you?
24. What do you wear to sleep?
25. Trousers or skirts?
26. Cigarettes or alcohol?
27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
28. Will you repost this so I can fill it out for you?
Hope this one works
I'm writing this on my new Gateway laptop. When I took the HP back to BB, the guy wanted to do a system recovery on it, but I told him it was like driving a car off the lot and having it break down within the first mile. I told him I wanted a completely different one, and no HP's. So, I got one that was slightly cheaper. Do you think I get that money? Or a store credit? Hell no! They just exchange it and add on the difference. That doesn't seem ethical to me.
Also, I'm on hold with the cable company, because, earlier I couldn't get the internet to work, so I was on the phone with them forever, and when it still didn't connect, the guy told me he'd have someone come out to look at it. Exactly one minute after hanging up, I got it to work by right clicking and choosing repair. So now I'm trying to cancel the appt. So far I've eaten an entire meal and put on make-up, mascara included, I've checked a few websites, and I've written this blog.
I hope this laptop works out better than the last two. For some reason, I'm not very optimistic. And I never ask what more could go wrong, because I always, always find out the answer to that.
Also, I'm on hold with the cable company, because, earlier I couldn't get the internet to work, so I was on the phone with them forever, and when it still didn't connect, the guy told me he'd have someone come out to look at it. Exactly one minute after hanging up, I got it to work by right clicking and choosing repair. So now I'm trying to cancel the appt. So far I've eaten an entire meal and put on make-up, mascara included, I've checked a few websites, and I've written this blog.
I hope this laptop works out better than the last two. For some reason, I'm not very optimistic. And I never ask what more could go wrong, because I always, always find out the answer to that.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Blue Screen Thrice
In my neverending computer saga, Best Buy offered to exchange my laptop. So, I picked one out, took it home, opened it up, set it up, etc. And I've already gotten the blue screen three times. I was just playing with Word 2007, trying to figure out its idiosyncracies each time it happened. When I set it up all I did was follow the prompts, nothing else. I just called BB and they told me to bring it in and they'd see what the deal was. Yippee...it's a 40 mile round trip and I just love spending even more gas money.
Nevermind that I didn't even want this one. I wanted to get one half as cheap as the old one and had already picked out a flat screen TV, a TV stand, a dock for my Zune, and various smaller items for the remainder of the balance. Then I go up to the customer service desk and it took them 45 minutes to figure out that I could only exchange it. So, whatever, I picked out the only laptop they had that cost the same as my old one, even though I really didn't want it. I figured since they weren't going to give me a store credit or a refund, I didn't want to let them be several hundred dollars ahead for something that wasn't my fault to begin with. The whole reason I didn't want this one is because it is too similar to the old laptop I had---and it was HP. Even though the brand names are really the only difference, since they're all assembled at the same place, I didn't want another HP, period. I hate being made to go against my instincts.
I'm really pissed.
Nevermind that I didn't even want this one. I wanted to get one half as cheap as the old one and had already picked out a flat screen TV, a TV stand, a dock for my Zune, and various smaller items for the remainder of the balance. Then I go up to the customer service desk and it took them 45 minutes to figure out that I could only exchange it. So, whatever, I picked out the only laptop they had that cost the same as my old one, even though I really didn't want it. I figured since they weren't going to give me a store credit or a refund, I didn't want to let them be several hundred dollars ahead for something that wasn't my fault to begin with. The whole reason I didn't want this one is because it is too similar to the old laptop I had---and it was HP. Even though the brand names are really the only difference, since they're all assembled at the same place, I didn't want another HP, period. I hate being made to go against my instincts.
I'm really pissed.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Rain, Rain, Rain and Academic Writing
*Warning: This will be extra bland, as it's all about my procrastination and academic writing.
So it's raining profusely this morning. Which is a sign that I need to get my butt in gear and write that abstract. Rain is ideal for me when it comes to research and writing. And yet, I sit here on this blog, because academic writing is a little more taxing than just pouring out a stream of consciousness like I am right now. (whine, whine, whine). After doing all the necessary research, it gets difficult to come up with an original thought. But, I'm at the point in school where I need to start presenting papers at conferences and I'm letting it overwhelm me. To my detriment. People don't make it through much of anything by allowing themselves to be intimidated and this is really no different. It's so easy to say doctoral level work is intimidating, because, really it is. If it wasn't, everyone would have a PhD.
This conference is seeking papers that deal with the idea of "America" (there's a reason that's in quotes) in literature, drama, music, and several other areas. Basically, it's looking at how we use our conflicting ideas of what "America" (because there is no singular definition, it's always being contested, as well it should be) is to include, exclude, celebrate, chastiste, etc. Since I'm thinking about doing my dissertation on how rural folk are represented, excluded, derided, and just plain made invisible in American literature, drama, and pop culture*, this is definitely a conference I need to attend, it's just a happy coincidence that it's in Austin. But really I'm just sitting here whining and procrastinating and "poor little me, I'm intimidated by those big, bad scholars" and I just make it more difficult than it has to be.
Mostly this is just me talking myself into applying the seat of pants to the chair so I can write this damned abstract. Carry on.
*the popularity of "white trash" theme parties and references to trailer parks, mullets, and ironic Def Leppard T-shirts on VH1 do not count (at least not until I come up with a new word for the "ism" that that stuff most definitely is, because I am trying to come up with a vocabulary to describe what I call "the problem with no name")
*Oooh! Random thought: I sent an email today, catching up with a friend and actually got to say "we went to the coast this weekend." How cool am I? And yeah, it was lots of fun.
So it's raining profusely this morning. Which is a sign that I need to get my butt in gear and write that abstract. Rain is ideal for me when it comes to research and writing. And yet, I sit here on this blog, because academic writing is a little more taxing than just pouring out a stream of consciousness like I am right now. (whine, whine, whine). After doing all the necessary research, it gets difficult to come up with an original thought. But, I'm at the point in school where I need to start presenting papers at conferences and I'm letting it overwhelm me. To my detriment. People don't make it through much of anything by allowing themselves to be intimidated and this is really no different. It's so easy to say doctoral level work is intimidating, because, really it is. If it wasn't, everyone would have a PhD.
This conference is seeking papers that deal with the idea of "America" (there's a reason that's in quotes) in literature, drama, music, and several other areas. Basically, it's looking at how we use our conflicting ideas of what "America" (because there is no singular definition, it's always being contested, as well it should be) is to include, exclude, celebrate, chastiste, etc. Since I'm thinking about doing my dissertation on how rural folk are represented, excluded, derided, and just plain made invisible in American literature, drama, and pop culture*, this is definitely a conference I need to attend, it's just a happy coincidence that it's in Austin. But really I'm just sitting here whining and procrastinating and "poor little me, I'm intimidated by those big, bad scholars" and I just make it more difficult than it has to be.
Mostly this is just me talking myself into applying the seat of pants to the chair so I can write this damned abstract. Carry on.
*the popularity of "white trash" theme parties and references to trailer parks, mullets, and ironic Def Leppard T-shirts on VH1 do not count (at least not until I come up with a new word for the "ism" that that stuff most definitely is, because I am trying to come up with a vocabulary to describe what I call "the problem with no name")
*Oooh! Random thought: I sent an email today, catching up with a friend and actually got to say "we went to the coast this weekend." How cool am I? And yeah, it was lots of fun.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Internet Time Suckage
I don't know how your Internet time suckage has been lately, but I was deeply amused the other day when I realized I'd found the same poster on two completely unrelated boards...so no, this isn't a thing where it's related boards with cross-posters or something like that. Playing Internet Dectective has been a major pastime for me to the detriment of much productivity. I guess the most entertaining aspect of this is that I used to post at a couple of related boards where one of the major pastimes was figuring out reincarnated and cross-posters. Except I found this one out in the wild, all on my own, completely by accident, so it is doubly comical.
Anyway, as I said, these two boards are completely different and totally unrelated. This is sheer coincidence! Also, I always wondered if this particular person is as bitchy in real life or if it's just keyboard courage. I wondered if she just put on a persona, and, to a degree, it seems that may be the case. On one board she really stood out because she is a prolific poster as well as prolifically bitchy. I'm sure she speaks her mind in real life and all, but I doubt it works as much to her advantage as she pretends. She revels in being one of the "Mean Girls" so much it is sad and hilarious all at the same time, because she tries so hard. She really puts effort into it, that's for sure. Some of her posts are great though, because she doesn't hold back and speaks her mind. But, that isn't necessarily a virtue in and of itself and I think she has some hard lessons to learn. She's so hell-bent on speaking her mind bluntly and rudely so that she almost seems like a caricuture at times. And then, for other reasons, I think there is more depth there and she's probably not as bad in real life. In fact, bitchy as she is, I'm not surprised that several posters have reported meeting her IRL and having drinks and good times with her.
So, one board is all about Hawaii and the other is a Greek board, for current/alumnae sorority/frat people. The reason I'm so amused is that it's unmistakably the same person and yet I see how she presents herself differently at both boards. She really seems like such a rude, obnoxious person at the Greek site, that sometimes you can't fathom how she'd have any real life friends willing to tolerate her. On that board she's rather insufferable much of the time. On the Hawaii board, she's a little more humble and down to earth, because that's how they roll. It's just funny to have noticed what she puts out on the one board and how she acts on the other. I know we're all social chameleons to a degree and hers isn't really any different, but I am reveling in some Internet Time Suckage watching her Zelig it up at one place and then the other.
I can totally see how she spins things one way at one board and then adjusts it slightly at the other board. It's not really totally out of whack, that's not what I'm saying, but she definitely puts up a different front at the Greek board. Basically, she tries to look "cooler" at the Greek board, because it really doesn't matter as much at the Hawaii board. For example, she mentioned at the Hawaii board that a bunch of girls were mean to her in high school and how she couldn't wait to show them up at a reunion. Pretty garden variety stuff, right? At the Greek board, the only way she'd admit that a bunch of girls made fun of her is by qualifying it with how she was a cheerleader and they were jealous of her status or something like that, but not saying it that explicitly. It would be more like how she and all her friends were cheerleaders and all the other girls were mean to them because of it. She would never admit to being left out any reindeer games at the Greek board, but probably wouldn't have any problem saying so at the other. Oh, and when she said she got dumped at the Hawaii board, she said it was time for the relationship to end, so it wasn't that bad, but that she'd never have been able to be the one to call it off herself. She'd never put that out on the Greek board because it would make her look a little vulnerable. For some reason, something tells me her persona is actually closer to the one on the Hawaii boards, because frankly, it's more believable. It's certainly more likeable, that's for sure. I pity her and those around her if she's actually more like she appears on the Greek board.
What tipped me off was that she made the exact same post at both boards. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, it's just what tipped me off. The fact that two people said exactly the same thing about the passing of Mr. Wizard was odd to me. Then, there were two other posts that were quite similar about a friend's class reunion that she'd just attended where her ex-boyfriend and his fiance were. So, I went through their posting history and realized that OTW and Lei Liko are the same person. Heh. So that's the lastest in my Internet Time Suckage. Amusing only to me, I realize, but I had to share anyway.
Anyway, as I said, these two boards are completely different and totally unrelated. This is sheer coincidence! Also, I always wondered if this particular person is as bitchy in real life or if it's just keyboard courage. I wondered if she just put on a persona, and, to a degree, it seems that may be the case. On one board she really stood out because she is a prolific poster as well as prolifically bitchy. I'm sure she speaks her mind in real life and all, but I doubt it works as much to her advantage as she pretends. She revels in being one of the "Mean Girls" so much it is sad and hilarious all at the same time, because she tries so hard. She really puts effort into it, that's for sure. Some of her posts are great though, because she doesn't hold back and speaks her mind. But, that isn't necessarily a virtue in and of itself and I think she has some hard lessons to learn. She's so hell-bent on speaking her mind bluntly and rudely so that she almost seems like a caricuture at times. And then, for other reasons, I think there is more depth there and she's probably not as bad in real life. In fact, bitchy as she is, I'm not surprised that several posters have reported meeting her IRL and having drinks and good times with her.
So, one board is all about Hawaii and the other is a Greek board, for current/alumnae sorority/frat people. The reason I'm so amused is that it's unmistakably the same person and yet I see how she presents herself differently at both boards. She really seems like such a rude, obnoxious person at the Greek site, that sometimes you can't fathom how she'd have any real life friends willing to tolerate her. On that board she's rather insufferable much of the time. On the Hawaii board, she's a little more humble and down to earth, because that's how they roll. It's just funny to have noticed what she puts out on the one board and how she acts on the other. I know we're all social chameleons to a degree and hers isn't really any different, but I am reveling in some Internet Time Suckage watching her Zelig it up at one place and then the other.
I can totally see how she spins things one way at one board and then adjusts it slightly at the other board. It's not really totally out of whack, that's not what I'm saying, but she definitely puts up a different front at the Greek board. Basically, she tries to look "cooler" at the Greek board, because it really doesn't matter as much at the Hawaii board. For example, she mentioned at the Hawaii board that a bunch of girls were mean to her in high school and how she couldn't wait to show them up at a reunion. Pretty garden variety stuff, right? At the Greek board, the only way she'd admit that a bunch of girls made fun of her is by qualifying it with how she was a cheerleader and they were jealous of her status or something like that, but not saying it that explicitly. It would be more like how she and all her friends were cheerleaders and all the other girls were mean to them because of it. She would never admit to being left out any reindeer games at the Greek board, but probably wouldn't have any problem saying so at the other. Oh, and when she said she got dumped at the Hawaii board, she said it was time for the relationship to end, so it wasn't that bad, but that she'd never have been able to be the one to call it off herself. She'd never put that out on the Greek board because it would make her look a little vulnerable. For some reason, something tells me her persona is actually closer to the one on the Hawaii boards, because frankly, it's more believable. It's certainly more likeable, that's for sure. I pity her and those around her if she's actually more like she appears on the Greek board.
What tipped me off was that she made the exact same post at both boards. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, it's just what tipped me off. The fact that two people said exactly the same thing about the passing of Mr. Wizard was odd to me. Then, there were two other posts that were quite similar about a friend's class reunion that she'd just attended where her ex-boyfriend and his fiance were. So, I went through their posting history and realized that OTW and Lei Liko are the same person. Heh. So that's the lastest in my Internet Time Suckage. Amusing only to me, I realize, but I had to share anyway.
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