I’m a Card-Carrying Member of the TV Generation!

When I was a kid, there were 3 channels.  Black and White Television.  No remote channel changers…unless you count my brother and me.  We were the human channel changers.  And I vividly remember when we got our first color television.  I could not get enough of those three channels.  And then…there were four!  How were we possibly going to have enough time to see all there was to see?  I know, that makes me old.

I loved watching the old Shirley Temple movies.  And there was nothing better than seeing commercials in color.  I could finally see the avocado green appliances and the color of the shag rugs in the homes of the characters who were wearing bell bottom jeans and psychedelic mini dresses.  They were awesome colors!  But I also remember being shocked that black & white movies didn’t turn to color just because the tv was a color tv. 

This love of television did not stop at the shows.  Since my early childhood, I have been fascinated by commercials.  The funny ones, the sad ones, the ones with catchy jingles.  I love commercials.  Nothing made me cry as much as the Hallmark card commercials.  And the old commercials like “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop” and “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan…” still run through my head like they were just shown yesterday.  And who can forget the Spot commercials from 7-Up? My favorite was Spot climbing up the chimney and finding a forgotten toy on the roof (and then swooping down the roof in that toy fire engine, through the tree and a window, landing under the Christmas tree).

Looking back now, I can’t get over how much fun television was back then.  Sometimes, I wish we could go back to that simpler time.  And then I turn on the tv and find hundreds of channels to view…and one dedicated to old movies, another dedicated to old sitcoms from back in the day…and the Food Network.  I LOVE the Food Network. And since we CAN’T go back in time, I’ll stay in the here-and-now and enjoy it.

Although the shows have changed and the channels have drastically increased over the years, my fascination with television ( and with commercials) hasn’t changed at all.

“Television is more interesting than people. If it were not, we would have people standing in the corners of our rooms.” ~ Alan Corenk

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The View, The Chew and…

Well, I started watching The View years ago.  And that was before the rolling heads (Star, Rosie, Debbie, Elizabeth).  My mother has quite a fascination with The Chew.  At first, I thought she was talking about The View, until I realized it was a new show. It tickled my funny-bone that the shows’ titles rhymed.  And then, today, my brain just went with that thought and I started imagining an entire line-up of talk shows…with names all rhyming with The View.

So, first of all is the new crafting show called The Glue.  Can you imagine the corporate sponsorship possibilities?  Between Elmers and Loctite alone, the show will do well.

My husband was fascinated with The Sue, a look at all those crazy court cases where people sue corporations and each other over things like too hot coffee or sandwiches that don’t quite measure 12 inches.

Then there’s The Pew…Jim Bakker’s next foray into televangelism.  And who would want to miss out on The Shrew, Joy Behar’s newest talk show, now that she won’t be on The View anymore.  Her first guest will be Joan Rivers.

And my favorite…The Cue.  It’s all about the theatre scene, with shows being reviewed, guests from Broadway productions and performances from some of the best shows being produced on the road.  And that’s my cue…to ask you what show you would have on this new network called The Zoo.

“Life doesn’t imitate art, it imitates bad television.” ~ Woody Allen

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Is Being Pretty So Important?

Why do we teach little girls practically from birth that their looks are important?  Why? Every time we see a pretty little girl, we say something like “Oh, look how cute she is!” “Look at that pretty face!” “Isn’t she adorable?”  “Aren’t you pretty?”

From the positive feelings they get, the tone is set for the rest of their lives. Their looks matter. Not only do they matter, but they get much more attention if they are pretty. I know we are a society that values appearance, but people look at little boys in a completely different way. “Oh, my, isn’t he a big boy?!” “Feel that grip he has.” “My, aren’t you strong?” Power. It is important…if you are male.

Recently, I was watching Toddlers and Tiaras. Oh, my, what are these mothers thinking? They are creating plastic monsters! Plastic looks…little girls covered in FAKE. Make-up, wigs, false eyelashes, “flippers” or false teeth, dresses that cost far more than the prizes could ever cover, adult dance moves and flirting, and these overworked, over-tired, over-pampered little girls have turned into bad-tempered, hateful little girls and it’s all the fault of mothers who cannot accept that they are aging and no longer (or never did) fit the beauty queen image.

Why aren’t little girls and women rewarded for being powerful or intelligent instead of beautiful?  Powerful women, women who rise in the corporate or political world, are considered battleaxes…or worse.  They have the nerve to speak their opinions, push for what they believe in.  Men who do this are assertive.  Women who do this are aggressive.  Okay, so they are referred to as that lovely word that begins with B…you know the one.  Rhymes with witch.  (I’m not really a goody-two-shoes, just don’t really think I want to get into cuss words in my blog.)

I keep thinking of those mothers and their little temper-tantrum-throwing tots.  Yikes!  And the girls who are so obsessed with appearance that they resort to anorexia, bulemia, crazy diets and outrageous forms of plastic surgery when they should be studying, working to be as successful as possible in school and working towards a college degree and a career.  And work with charities builds character, something far more important than looks.  Intelligence and consideration of others will be there for you far after your looks are fading.

“Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.” ~ Aesop

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The Proposal

I was watching “Friends” this evening and they were showing the episode where Chandler is trying to propose to Monica. Funny…and charming. And it made me think about all the different ways men choose to “make it special”. When I was in my late teens or early twenties, I tried to imagine how I would like to get that proposal and so many things crossed my mind, based on movies, things I saw on TV and read in books. But nothing prepared me for the actual event.

Maybe  it was because my husband is far more sentimental and aware than some guys or maybe I don’t have as good an imagination as I thought, but I never would have dreamed that I would be proposed to in a cemetery.  Okay, I know, it may sound bizarre or even gruesome to some people, but it was the loveliest and most loving thing he could have done for me.

My father died when I was 18 and my stepfather also died before our engagement.  Besides, I never lived with my stepfather, so I didn’t look at him as someone who would walk me down the aisle anyway. In talking about getting married, I had already mentioned how sad I was that my father would not be there to walk me down the aisle and he would miss out on all of the special moments of my wedding. So, Beau drove me to the cemetery one evening and walked me to my father’s grave.

And as I sit here, I can still feel the emotion I felt that night and the tears spring in my eyes, remembering how he turned to the grave and started talking to my father, telling him how much he loved me, how he promised to take care of me and then he asked if it would be okay if he asked me to marry him. Then Beau turned to me and asked me to be his wife. And he gave me my ring.

He could not have picked a more special way or a better location to propose. My father was there, at the most special moment of my life.  And for that, if nothing else, I will always love Beau.

“For what is love itself, for the one we love best? An enfolding of immeasurable cares which yet are better than any joys outside our love.” ~ George Eliot

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What Happens in Vegas…

The commercials are a hoot! However, I think of all the things that have happened to me in Las Vegas,  nothing seems interesting or naughty enough to warrant saying that.  Oh, well.  I do love Las Vegas, though.  The first time I visited, it was actually on the way to my California vacation and was a convenient stop for the evening (a long evening).  I probably could have gotten closer to my destination by driving further that day, but the slots were calling.  I had a great time and got up early the next morning, headed up to Mammoth, California and started my real vacation. 

But, I had the bug.  I enjoyed my stay in Vegas and wanted to go back.  A few years later, I won a trip from the casino where I worked in Kansas City.  Being in the top 4 collectors for United Way there earned me the trip and I had a great time!  It was the only visit to Las Vegas where I actually left with my entire stay free…including all of my gambling.  I came home with all the money I had gone with and more.  The third visit was with my hubby and we had a great time.  I did win enough to basically break even and even had time to see a show.  It was a short visit on our way back from Sedona and the Grand Canyon, but I’m glad we went.  Now I’m ready to go back again!  Every visit is different!  So, there you go.  What happened in Vegas (for me) didn’t stay in Vegas!!

“ If you wish to preserve your secret, wrap it up in frankness.” ~ Alexander Smith

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Murder, She Read…

Yes, that’s right. I don’t write murder mysteries, but I sure do read them! I love a good murder mystery. My dear, sweet hubby jokes that I’m studying up and he’s worried I may try out what I’m learning! I have to emphasize…HE’S JOKING! But he doesn’t understand my fascination with the gruesome details of the books I find so captivating. I become completely engrossed and can’t put the book down until I find out “who done it”!

I guess that could explain why I also love shows like Law & Order, Hill Street Blues (yes, I’m that old) and Murder, She Wrote. And there are so many others. What is it about some of us that we are so intrigued by murder? I can’t imagine working as an investigator. The reality would bother me. I like fiction. I can walk away from a murder mystery, knowing it isn’t true. I don’t like to think that real people could do that to someone. Yet, the books I read keep me on the edge of my seat until I reach that ever-important conclusion and finally can understand all the twists and turns and see (hopefully) that my suspicions were correct.

So bring on the fiction!

“At least half the mystery novels published violate the law that the solution, once revealed, must seem to be inevitable.” ~ Raymond Chandler

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Dream a Little Dream…

I loved watching American Idol tonight. They showed the final three returning home to huge fanfare, thousands of cheering fans and proclamations of the day being “David Cook/Syesha Mercado/David Archuleta” Day. The similarities didn’t stop there. Each was touched so much they were tearing up. And then I realized how it must feel, to reach a goal like that, to dream a little dream and see it come true! We all dream about what it would be like to be famous, what it would be like to have thousands of people screaming and cheering and calling your name, what it would be like to be one step away from a possible lifetime of fame. It has to be numbing, thrilling and so fantastic as to be unreal, all at the same time. No wonder there were tears for each of them. They each dreamed of where they are right now.

What separates those who actually achieve the dream is, in some instances, being at the right place at the right time. But what makes it possible to begin with is preparation. And then there is the sweat equity. Hard work, preparation and luck, luck that is created by jumping on an opportunity and not being afraid. And that is why I’m NOT famous. I’ve been told that I should have a recording contract (and I don’t say that to be conceited, but to prove a point). I don’t and won’t have a recording contract. I don’t have the willingness to jump on an opportunity, giving up all else to succeed. I value security too much. I need that steady paycheck and the certainty that I won’t be living on next to nothing, while banging on the doors of the recording studios.

So, I live vicariously through the talented and not-so-talented contestants of American Idol, wondering what my life would have been like if this show had existed back in the day (yes, that time of my life when I was actually young enough to be a contestant). And I sit on the edge of my seat, agreeing or disagreeing with the judges’ comments and the decisions of the American public, making my predictions of who will or should win. And the excitement of it all is a small window into their world, into their dreams.

“Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don’t.” ~Brett Butler

 

 

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Makeovers…gotta love ‘em!

I love the “reality” shows that do home makeovers, room makeovers, clothing makeovers and appearance makeovers. These shows are addictive. I know…I can’t seem to turn the channel if one is on.

I also am working on my own makeover. I’ve managed to lose a total of 20 lbs so far… I’m hoping that by the end of the month, that will be closer to 25. The best part of my diet is that I don’t feel that I’m having to give up anything I like. I just have to eat less of what’s bad for me and get back to lots of veggies, fruit, lean meats, healthy fats (in limited quantities) and lots of water. I did give up drinking sodas almost completely. If I get a massive craving for something fizzy, I allow myself one diet Sprite a week. Strangely, I don’t usually miss them. I’ve gotten hooked on Crystal Light that can be added to the 1/2 Liter bottled waters. How convenient they are. Of course, I love the lemonade, but strangely, my fav is the fruit punch flavor. I’m almost addicted! So, now I’m trying to add exercise to my life (beyond the basic walking). So, ebay came in handy and I hate to admit it, but I actually bought (oh, God, don’t tell anyone!) the Richard Simmons Sweatin’ to the Oldies! Okay, I know they’re cheesy, but I figured it would be something I could do inside when the sweltering heat tears down my desire to walk outdoors. Living in San Antonio, that is pretty much all the year!

Since it’s Friday evening, I’m relaxing, thinking about weekend plans and getting ready for some sleep (I get to sleep in tomorrow!!!!!!!!!). Just watching some “What Not to Wear” and then I’m heading for bed. Good night…gotta get my beauty rest to keep my new healthy lifestyle going.

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” ~ Albert Einstein

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Fun Weekend

We spent today visiting some of the small towns in the area I hadn’t seen before. We hit the road this morning and stopped in La Vernia, TX, for a BBQ cook-off. It was HOT! The temperatures were in the upper 90′s to lower 100′s without the grills going, so we were pretty well bbq’d ourselves. I had never been to a bbq cook-off before, but I was surprised at how different it seemed at this one that at the one in Kansas City I had heard about from friends. They mentioned that as they walked around, they were constantly being offered samples of the bbq at each entry and left stuffed. Today, we were offered ribs (I shared one with Beau and it was delicious) and brisket at one entry and we got “lei’d” at another, but overall, it was not the friendly environment I was expecting. Most of the bbq people seemed pretty stand-offish. Oh, well. We had an interesting time, then hit the road for Seguin, Texas, which had a beautiful historic district. After we went through Seguin, we went to New Braunfels and, although I’d been there before, we saw things I didn’t know were there. We also stopped and bought some new shoes for Beau at the Bass Shoe store and then we headed home. It was such a hot day and we were so roasted from the day, we laid down for a nap. Three hours later, I woke up and realized it was after 8 o’clock! A quick trip across the street to feed a neighbor’s fish (they’re on vacation) and I was ready to relax for the night. So, I turned on the boob-tube and watched an episode of Iron Chef America while Beau and I shared a big bowl of popcorn I had made with a little olive oil and some Mazola butter-flavored spray. It was enjoyable and relaxing! Now, it’s a little time on the computer before bed (again) and then tomorrow is another day. Who knows what kind of fun I have in store for me.

“Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.” ~ M.F.K. Fisher

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My Favorite Things

I started thinking today about “My Favorite Things”. Yes, the song, but also, just those things in life I truly enjoy. I love my rose bushes…the one in the front yard right now has about 30 buds or blooms on it and it’s gorgeous. The ones in the back yard are blooming quite well, too. The vincas in the front are beautiful, too. There is just something about pink flowers. I love them!

I also love practical jokes. My mother actually succeeded in playing a practical joke on me recently! I’m a big fan of American Idol and we both watch it and call each other after the singers perform. Well, the show came to an end a little over a week ago and on Tuesday, when we’d normally watch, she called and asked what I thought of that last blonde girl. I was watching another show (So, You Think You Can Dance) and then she said, wasn’t she a good singer? I sat for a second before it dawned on me that she’d NOT said “dancer”, but had indeed said “singer”. WHAT????? Then she started laughing and said she thought since it was Tuesday, I’d be missing American Idol. That’s okay, though. I’ll get even!! (Or ahead)

Singing…I love singing! Right now, though, I’m fighting a cold and can’t sing. But I listen to the radio and imagine singing the songs.

Reading. I love to read. Mysteries, humorous stories, historical novels, medical mysteries…those are my favorites. However, I also like to read about women who inspire me with their humor and ability to overcome life’s issues. Recently, I finished reading two books…The Red Hat Club and The Red Hat Club Rides Again. They were wonderful. I laughed, felt sad and KNEW these characters. It was sad when I realized I’d finished the books and won’t be able to have these characters around anymore. The woman who wrote these books also wrote “Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch” and I loved that book, too. The main character in that book was so real, too.

Travel…as you can probably tell from my previous post.

For now, that’s what comes to mind. I’m sure I’ll probably wake up in the middle of the night with more things in mind.

“There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.” ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

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