Monday, March 31, 2008

my favorite tv shows of all-time

I'm into lists much like the gang from High Fidelity. Every so often I put one out there for fun. I need help though because I am middle aged and have difficulty remembering all the shows I have seen since my youth. I used Time's list 100 BEST TV SHOWS OF ALL-TIME to refresh my memory.

My list of favorite shows of all-time(in no particular order)

1. NewsRadio
2. Arrested Development
3. Scrubs
4. The Monkees
5. Laugh-In
6. The West Wing
7. Friends
8. The Office
9. M*A*S*H
10. Cheers
11. Home Improvement
12. The Cosby Show
13. Gilmore Girls
14. Quantum Leap
15. Moonlighting
16. Murphy Brown
17. Sesame Street
18. The Letter People
19. That 70's Show
20. Fame
21. Welcome Back, Kotter
22. Happy Days
23. Laverne and Shirley - even after they moved to California
24. Homefront
25. The Nanny
26. Battlestar Galactica (2004)
27. Star Trek: Enterprise
28. The Muppet Show
29. The Jeffersons
30. Good Times
31. Early Edition
32. Family Ties
33. Who's The Boss
34. WKRP in Cincinnati
35. Sex and The City
36. Reba
37. George Lopez
38. How I Met Your Mother
39. 30 Rock

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Mom, what is the difference between soda and pop?

Today Devin asked me what the difference is between soda and pop. Honestly, I wasn't sure if there was one. The subject has been debated often. I remember years ago at ONU sitting in the lounge arguing that "pop" was the correct term for drinks like my beloved Pepsi, but only because that is what I grew up with. I had friends who grew up using the term "soda" (they came from southern Ohio and other states). Neither side won their argument for the simple fact that they are one in the same. The only compromise would be to call it soda pop. But that just feels wrong.

Dictionary.com answers this question plain and simple:

soda pop
–noun a carbonated, flavored, and sweetened soft drink.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1905–10]


—Regional variation note The terms soda pop, soda, and pop are widely used throughout the U.S., although pop is mainly associated with the Midland U.S. Dope is used as a synonym in the Southern U.S., esp. in the South Atlantic States, and tonic is used in eastern New England.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Why I won't see the big screen version of Pride and Prejudice

This article explains the main reason I have no interest in seeing the big screen version of Pride and Prejudice.

La-di-da London sets the stage for Playhouse production of Austen classic.
By Vince Grzegorek
Published: March 19, 2008

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the Bennet sisters' overbearing mom and pissed-off dad don't make matters any easier as the siblings are wooed by a couple of handsome suitors. A cavalcade of rumors and class struggles in 19th-century England also gets in the way of the relationships. "It's all about the education of the person," says Peter Amster, who's directing the Cleveland Play House's run of a play based on Austen's novel. "It's about not being stupid, allowing yourself to change your mind about somebody, and taking in more facts."While moviegoers will recognize the plot from the 2005 cinematic version of the book, the Play House has tried to restore Austen's thumbprint on the dialogue. "I felt like the movie version was being told by Emily Brontë. It was too romantic and all heaving bosoms," laughs Amster. "This is more about social structure and comedy. People will be surprised how funny it is." Find out for yourself at 2 p.m. Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, through Sunday, April 13, at the Cleveland Play House's Bolton Theatre, 8500 Euclid Avenue. Tickets are $38 to $62. Call 216-795-7000 or visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
Sundays, 2 p.m.; Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Starts: March 23. Continues through April 13, 2008

Friday, March 28, 2008

the best club sandwich I have ever had

Baker's Square has been around for as long as I can remember. David and I have a habit of eating out often which means there are few restaurants we have not tried. For some reason, we had forgotten about Baker's Square until recently. Aside from having some of the best pie, they also have the best club sandwich I have ever had. I have tried clubs from various places in the area and have found they all use lunch meat. BS uses hand-carved turkey and ham with hickory smoked bacon and mayo. I always order it with the bacon well done because 9 times out of 10, regardless of where I order it, it will be under cooked for my taste. I get it without mayo usually, but today I forgot to order it without. I wiped most of it off and it was still delicious.

There is a special running where you can get soup or salad paired with pie for only $3.99 when you buy a meal. The a la mode pies and cheese cake are not included. It was well worth it. David had the banana cream and I had the French Silk pie. We left feeling full, not stuffed. The waitresses and hostess are pleasant and helpful. The prices are reasonable. It only cost us $29 + tip.

Link to Tom Brown's Review of Pride and Prejudice at the Cleveland Playhouse

Today I found a review of Pride and Prejudice by Tom Brown who writes for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Tide Stain Commercial

I was on youtube yesterday trying to find the stain commercial that cracks me up. I found it and that if you go to www.mytalkingstain.com you can upload your own photo to be the stain. I used pictures of the boys and it found it wasn't as funny. But that's just me.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Eli Stone

The promos for this show are what sparked my interest but I have learned that promos, pilots, and in some cases, first seasons can be misleading. I like the plot of Eli Stone. I think because the main character has hallucinations, especially those including George Michael, there are infinite possibilities for story lines. The concept is similar to Dirt's with the most important difference being that Don Konkey is mentally ill whereas Eli has a brain aneurysm causing his all too realistic visions. That and Don's hallucinations don't determine which pictures to take. Eli has the burden of visions that have a purpose. He is guided to do good much like Gary Hobson in Early Edition. It is an all consuming task that alienates the people he is closest to. The brain aneurysm is supposed to be extremely risky to remove but as of tonight, Eli has elected to give it a go. Now one of two things are possible here, either the writers will come up with some story that will make it impossible to be done or (my personal favorite) he will still have the hallucinations after the aneurysm is removed. Humor me here. Let's say that his acupucturist is correct in his belief that Eli is a Prophet. That his visions serve a purpose and that removing what medically seems to be the cause will not stop them. I don't think they will go that route but I wanted to put it out there.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Greek

This show appeals to me not from a "been there done that" perspective but as one who was an independent with friends who were Greek. I was a Little Sis for the Kappa Psi fraternity because most of the guys I was friends with in the co-ed honors dorm were pharmacy majors. Our pledging was nothing compared to theirs. We had to perform one good deed, one bad deed (ours was legendary), learn the history of the Kappa Psi sisters, and I believe host a breakfast or something like that. No hell week for us or a need to fit in. I get a kick out of watching the show Greek because it is what I remember college being. Well, at least the whole year I went away to school in my youth anyway. The character Rusty (Jacob Zachar)is sweet. His sister Casey (Spencer Grammer) is growing on me. She is the daughter of Kelsey Grammer. I guess you could say that the show is a guilty pleasure of mine. It isn't thought provoking, just fun to watch.

My sister is pledging a sorority right now, so it also gives me a glimpse of what she is going through. Or not, I will have to get her perspective when I see her.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Glo-putt

I had the worst cabin fever today. The cold weather does not want to leave us even though Spring has officially begun. J has been asking to go bowling but I really didn't feel like it. David remembered a new place that opened up not far from us that we haven't tried yet that has glo-putt putt. I looked them up on the internet to see all they had to offer and pricing. In addition to the putt-putt they have glo-pool and a basketball shooting game. It cost us $25 for all four of us to play 18 holes (prices vary by age). David and Devin's shoes glowed best. They looked like something from Tron. The course wasn't that difficult but did have some unique challages such as the ferris wheel. If you hit it just right the wheel will take the ball for a ride to a hole in one. I imagine it is very cool to see at night. While the room is dark some light still peaks through. The place is clean and colorful. The gentleman working the counter was very nice.

We will definately go there again. I cannot wait to try the glo-pool!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

What is your life rated?

What is your life rated? (ESRB)
Everyone


Not set far from Ec, you are rated E for Everyone, ages 6 and up. You are very uptight, and politically correct. You are someone who is afraid to do wrong. Chances are you'll go out into the world but will take absolutely no risks whatsoever. I advise you to fix that.


http://quiz.myyearbook.com/myspace/Video_Games/40995/What_is_your_life_rated_ESRB.html

Monday, March 17, 2008

Horton Hears A Who!

Yesterday we headed out to the movie theater for a matinee. Jason and I saw Horton Hears A Who! and David and Devin saw Doomsday.

Horton Hears A Who! is charming. Jim Carrey is a cartoon character in real life so it is only fitting that he play Horton the elephant. Steve Carell is the Mayor of Whoville who communicates with Horton from The Speck. The Speck is a pollen like fluff floating in the air that Horton saves from doom and protects despite the fact that no one believes there are people living on the speck which Horton keeps safe on a flower. His biggest foe is the kangaroo (Carol Bernett) who is determined to get rid of The Speck and goes to great lengths to do so. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Whoville, has his own challenges to face. He must convince the perpetually positive rose colored glassed Whos that their world was in danger of being destroyed. The story has just the right amount of humor and action to keep you from looking at your watch.

The main themes of the movie are to do what you think is right no matter what or who tries to change your mind and that as Horton says,"Even though you can't see them at all...A person's a person, no matter how small."

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Breast Cancer Patient Petition

The following was sent to me from my friend Ava and I think worth a moment of your time:

From a nurse:

I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies.
So there I sat with my patients, giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank You they muttered.

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to
remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a Mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an
outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important .. Please take the time and do it really quick!
Please send this to everyone in your address book.
If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times.
If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others. You know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Pat ient Protection Act which will require Insurance Companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the Web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Happy Birthday Devin!!!

Today at 0306 Devin turned 14. We are snowed in so it hasn't exactly been an exciting day for him, but he doesn't seem to mind. Tomorrow is his party. The snow is supposed to subside by then.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Books...books...more books

In an attempt to broaden our minds, Saturday Devin and I headed out shopping for a long list of books. I decided to shop the Half Price bookstore first. There we found Moby Dick, Frankenstein, and Robin Hood (not on list but Devin wanted it). Then it was off to Barnes and Noble. There we spent the bulk of our time. We left with Dante's The Divine Comedy, Catcher in the Rye, No Fear Julius Caesar, No Fear Taming of the Shrew, and Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazof. Jason asked for books from the Wayside series by Louis Sachar. I bought him a book set and two others from that series.

The No Fear series of William Shakespeare is amusing and brilliant. It gives you a modern translation of the play on the opposite page throughout the book. I don't believe it was necessary for The Taming of the Shrew but I couldn't resist buying this version because the translations were amusing. The authors do an excellent job making the words understandable for kids. It is perfect for Devin to start with which is why I bought him the No Fear Julius Caesar. Up until now, I had only read Shakespeare in high school. Freshman year it was Julius Caesar and senior year I read MacBeth. I have read bits and pieces of Taming of the Shrew online after seeing Elizabeth Taylor's performance in the movie. It is my favorite by far. True to form, it is my nature to pick a love story over murder and incestuous story lines. It is what I can relate to most in life. Shakespeare writes with ease and good humor about the differences between men and women. Regardless of gender, one's temperament and overall personality prove to cause the most difficulty and so the most excitement in the human story. Shakespeare had a firm grasp of human nature which is why his work has stood the test of time.

I wanted to read the same books as Devin so we could talk about them. I am forcing myself to read Dante's The Divine Comedy which starts with the Inferno. It is a difficult and slow process for me, but I am trying. Devin and I have very different taste in literature and he reads as quickly as he breathes. His library is full of classics as well as Vampire books and comic books. It was my intention from the time he was very small for him to love to read because I never did. I read Pipi Longstocking, The Danny Dunn science mysteries, and Choose Your Own Adventure books as a kid for fun. I only read the classics when it was required for school. As an adult, I have read a dozen books, almost exclusively Jane Austen. I am trying to broaden my scope by reading Devin's kind of books. If nothing else, it will give us something in common to talk about.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Project Runway!

First let me say that I am not a fan of reality shows. I don't like drama. Well, not unless it has a good love story or football mixed in. This is usually true for movies not so much television. Project Runway has lots drama, no romance, and lots of clothes. I had no interest in it up until today. There was nothing on so I was flipping through channels and stopped when I saw Heidi Klum because I knew a little about the show from commercials. Fashion is not my thing. Anyone who knows me can attest to that. I spend most of my days in jeans and Nikes (or keds). But I have always loved beautiful clothes. When I was a little girl, I owned the Barbie Fashion Plates (Tomy 1978) and spent much of my time designing as well as sewing clothes for my dolls. As a matter of fact, Strawberry Shortcake is in my basement as I write in my last youthful creation. I kind of regret it now because I have no idea where her orginal dress and hat are which means it only has sentimental value. Anyway, my love for clothes remains.

Project Runway gives a number of designer want-to-bes assignments each week that can range from costumes for women wrestlers to outfits inspired by fine art. My personal favorite was when they took them to the Hershey Store in Time Square and had to use products from the store to create an outfit. They must design, sew (or glue as time would allow), and prepare their models for the final runway walk. And in true reality show fashion, they must also live together, boys and girls respectively.

While I had little interest in the drama of who gets along or how the results affect the participants, I very much enjoyed the challanges they were presented with and the clothes they created. I cannot believe a reality show finally hooked me. I swore I would never watch one. I guess it was only a matter of time given reality tv has been around now for over a decade.