Superb Owls

We won't be partaking this evening. This should be no surprise to anyone who's been around here during football season in the past, as my typical cheer is, "Go sportser! Sports hard."

This applies across the activity, btw, not just to football.

I asked eldest if he wanted us to plan to put it on and his response was, "Ew. No."

My only over/under on the whole thing is whether, after the inevitable win by the Chiefs (or so I'm told - something about the refs (umps? the striped shirt people) being members of said team on the sly, and Taylor Swift runs out onto the field to kiss Travis like she did last year, if he will then fall to one knee, pull an engagement ring from beneath his shoulder pads, and ask her to marry him.

It feels like the kind of media circus causing event the two of them would engineer enjoy.

Beyond that...I might look up some of the commercials, but even they've been disappointing in the recent years, so yeah. Meh.

The End of the Race as we Know It

If you're keeping track at home (ha), you might recall that when I got serious (again) about time on my elliptical each day, I decided to start The Amazing Race from season 1 as my "this makes the whole exercise thing less terrible all around" distraction technique.

Last week, I finished the final episode of the most recent season.

It's not much of an accomplishment, but it's still an accomplishment of some sort, I suppose.

I have to say, 33 seasons in, it's still a very solid show, and I was pleased with how they copied with the covid insanity stop and re-start. Honestly, I like the self-drive because to me, it shows a lot about the skill and quality of the pair. Anyone can luck into an amazing taxi (and how many people have lost the final prize because of a bad one? Too many to count.) But being able to drive a stick shift, navigate, ask for directions and actually pay attention and follow same, etc. are all life skills. Plus they reveal a lot about the two people and how they work together.

Of course, that left me pondering what I'd use for distraction now that that's over. I contemplated Survivor, but I just feel like it's a little too drama-queen? It's (at least as far as I understand it, which is little) seemingly more about scheming and alliances and less about what you're capable of. Maybe that's wrong? I'm not sure I care enough to find out.

For now, I've settled on Tough As Nails -- another show by the TAR host, Phil. I'm half way through the first ep of season one today and so far think it looks fun. We shall see. 

Of course there are only 3 seasons, so what after that? Not sure. Might look into The Challenge (I believe is what it's called) as I think I recall someone saying it was like TAR on steroids. That could also be all in my head. But for now I have something and we'll see how it goes.

But I'm going to miss seeing exotic locales while I wait for the next Amazing Race season to hit streaming.

I suppose I could start the whole shooting match over again. But...I dunno. Rewatching the seasons we'd initially watched was fun and not terrible because so much time had elapsed (I think we watched in the 2010 timeframe.) Going back when I "just" watched it? Not sure.

When in doubt, TV

I'm slowly but surely continuing my way through The Amazing Race and Top Chef. TAR is for my elliptical time and TC is often in the evening while I'm fixing dinner or after if I just need a few minutes to let my brain rest while the boys are all playing video games.

In TAR, I'm on season 21. It's one I remember some of the people from, though I did peek at the Wikipedia article and I didn't remember who the winners were. What I did remember were the perhaps most annoying participants of the race: The Twinnies.

Honestly, there have been many mornings where I've hit that 10s skip button when they're getting time on the show. Shrill. Annoying. Catty. Ugh.

And I didn't remember that the Chippendales made it to the finale. Honestly, watching the show as I go along? I'm super surprised.

In Top Chef land, I'm well past the seasons I watched live - being now on Top Chef Charleston. I'm enjoying seeing veterans from previous seasons pitted against the newbies. But there are also moments where I'm like, is this a cooking show or high school drama?

For now, sister has a new biopsy that they're processing/DNA analyzing. And well, that's where we are.

So brain breaks are a good thing.

Reflections from the TV Screen

I've made it to season 18 of the Amazing Race. I like this one a lot, because the Cowboys were back (I enjoyed their original season as well.) Honestly, I liked most of the teams who were back for this "unfinished business" season -- with the notable exception of the Globetrotters. They're sneaky and underhanded and sore losers/bad sports. And they seem proud of it, to be honest. I really hope they don't win.

Sometimes it's all I can do not to google who was the ultimate winner of a season, because I don't like the intensity. (Sometimes I do go ahead and look it up. Because life's too short to spend time anxious about a TV show that aired in the 2010 time frame.)

I've also been watching old episodes of Top Chef (on Hulu). This more in the evenings, as the kids sometimes will pop in and watch and comment on the cooking. Or on whether or not they'd eat whatever's being made.

Eldest and I will sometimes watch Masterchef together when he's taking a break from playing Xbox with his friends. (Usually that's a break forced upon him because of bad behavior. Let's be real.)

Friends recommended Orphan Black, which is on Prime. But I haven't yet had the chance to watch an episode, since a) hubby expressed interested and b) it's very un kid friendly, so that limits.

In movie news, because why not? We went to see Free Guy last weekend. It was nice to be back in the theater. We loved it -- it's witty and fun and just a simple delight. We wished we'd taken the kids (there's a little language but it's PG-13, I believe, so it's not as if it would've been inappropriate.) We'll definitely let them see it when it's available to rent.

We also watched Black Widow on Disney+. This the kids did like (eldest pretends that he's too cool, but I saw his face). It's another that's definitely worth a watch (I think) and would in fact watch it a second time. I've heard good things about the latest Marvel movie that's now in theaters and we'll see if we can make it happen. I do love a good Marvel movie.

Lazy Weekend and Other Random

Well, the weekend passed without much drama. We did go to Dad's and eat and all was well and hubby didn't moan so that was nice. The kids were less amazingly behaved that I would have liked but, well, kids.

Today was a mixture of fixing a few things the HOAzis noted on their usual jaunt about spying on private property. 

I don't mind overly, if I'm honest. I do prefer that everyone keep up their homes and so forth and so on. But I do think it's a bit rich to be cited for needing some siding power washed when I can point out four or five houses that have yet to mow and have actual siding damage. But whatever. Presumably they also were cited. And I guess if the job actually gets done those owners will fix things up or fines etc will continue apace.

And they were simple things to do and it was a nice day to be outside.

I got some other sundries done inside.

We had strawberry shortcake for dessert.

My sister is at the ER as she's been running a fever now for five days and has a lump at the base of her skull that's getting bigger and her fever isn't responding to ibuprofin.

I figure I'll be completely gray from stress in another month or so.

Keeping Up with the Amazing Race

So my Amazing Race while on the elliptical continues apace. I'm finally through with Season 8 - also known as the Family Edition - also know as why on EARTH did someone think that was a good idea - also known as the family from NY has probably murdered each other by now.

Anyway, the winners were the only really tolerable team in the thing, so that's good I guess?

Now I'm two episodes (three?) into season 9. This is the one with the hippies, who I'll admit to finding amusing. And they are a breath of fresh air after a) all of the dreadfulness of season 8 and b) any scene featuring the frat boys and the pink girls in season 9.

I will admit to being absolutely appalled that these guys (I want to say men, they are old enough to be considered men, but they do not act like them. They act like 12 year old boys) are not being kicked in the nuts at every passing opportunity. They are constantly inappropriately touching the girls who dress in pink. And rather than telling them to knock it off, the girls (who I can not refer to as young ladies, because just no) seem to think it's flattering that the guys have reduced them to a pair of boobs and a bottom.

Just no.

I mean, obviously season 9 happened before "me, too." But at the same time, it seems to have happened before common decency as well. At least as far as those four are concerned.

Really those four ought to have applied for Girls Gone Wild rather than the Amazing Race. It would have been a better fit.

Still, I'm so glad to be done with season 8, I mind less than I might otherwise.

And all in all, it keeps me entertained and moving while torturing myself with exercise. And really that's the primary point.

Trying for something lighter

 I realize it's been a bit of a downer round these parts of late. Apologies abound. I can't promise it'll change, but I can try to intersperse a bit of levity.

Season 2 of Blown Away released on Netflix. This is worth watching, IMO - it's a glass blowing competition and, as I've always found glass blowing fascinating, I enjoy it quite a lot. Of course, I could do without the artistes who are there to make meaningful art. Just blow glass into something pretty, dang it.

I'm on the episode where the guest judge is the winner from season 1 and...I may skip ahead a bit with Brother Maynard. She drove me crazy in season 1 and I was so bummed that she won with her bizarre feminist manifesto in glass vs. the other competitor whose glass was pretty and easy to understand. I can't grok her at all.

I guess I don't know art. But I feel like I know it when I see it.

Anyway, in Blown Away, they call the episode winner "Best in Blow" and Hubby and I can't help but mutter sotto voce "That's what she said."

Yes, yes, we're juvenile. So be it.

I've also been enjoying Forged in Fire (a metal forging competition) on Netflix.

And I'm still working my way through the old seasons of The Amazing Race while on the elliptical. I'm on season 7, I believe - the first with Rob and Amber of Survivor fame. I never have watched Survivor (although if I run out of TAR I might give it a go.) I kind of like them, although I have vague recollections that they were meant to be considered villains. Whatever, they don't bicker - actually treat each other well - and they play the game. So they're fun to watch.

I do look up spoilers, because that doesn't bother me at all, and they didn't win, so that's a bummer. But I do like the couple who does, so all's well that ends well, I guess.

I also like to look up the couples and see if they're still together. Most are not. By and large, I feel that's a good thing. Rob and Amber are married and have 4 kids and it made me ridiculously happy to see that.

Youngest turns 9 this coming week. Hard to wrap the brains around that number. We went out and got him a geared mountain bike all his own as his main gift. He's a bike fiend. Having gears opens up the whole world as we've enough hills in the neighborhood that it's been limiting to have a kid bike.

And all of that is a tad more cheery, yes? So I'll end on a high point.

Staving off the crazy - or trying to

 One of the things I have been working to be more consistent about these days (because stress relief is a much needed thing) is my elliptical time. I'm pretty well firmly in the five mornings a week camp now and while I wish there were endorphins and weight loss associated with all this exercise, it does do two things for me.

1) It helps some with the stress. I definitely sleep better on days I exercise.

and

2) It gives me an excuse to watch some TV. 

Of course, this is a mixed bag, because I don't really know what I want to watch and we're limited to Netflix and Prime (and Disney+ but I haven't put that on my phone yet so it's kind of a no unless I get unlazy.) And Netflix is kind of a loss as far as I can tell these days.

BUT

We did add CBS all access to our Prime. And this unlocked all the old seasons of the The Amazing Race.

You know what's fun and mindless to watch while you work out? That's right. Random people traveling the world and arguing with each other. At least it is to me.

So far I've made it through season 1, 2, and 3. And I've started season 4. We didn't start watching until season 10, so these are all new to me -- I guess we'll find out if re-watching things I've already seen continues to be interesting. 

I only let myself watch while on the elliptical, so that also adds a little motivation to get on the dumb thing when I don't want to, because I do want to see what happens next. Even if I don't want to sweat.

Anyway, it's win-win for me and highly recommended.

Hamilton Thoughts

I will admit to having seen, with something approaching gleeful anticipation, that Disney+ was going to be releasing Hamilton on July 3rd.

When it opened on Broadway and took everything by storm, I watched with interest. Mostly because I am and ever will be at heart a theater nerd. I listened to a few songs on the soundtrack thought maybe I was just not getting it because I was missing the whole stage experience.

Honestly, everyone was hyping this show. You couldn't turn around but everyone was oohing and ahhhing and I thought to myself, "Self when you get the chance, you should see this."

The traveling show came to the Kennedy Center last year (was it the year before last? I feel like maybe Mom and I talked about it, which would mean 2018. I know we talked about the show, so I'm not sure if I'm melding that with the thought of the ticket prices into one conversation even though it wasn't.) I looked at tickets and nearly died. Because I'm just simply not paying $300 to sit in the nosebleeds. I'd maybe spend up to half that, depending. 

Anyway, since I realized my budget was never going to stretch to seeing it live, I was stoked about seeing it on Disney+.

And so, last night while we were waiting for it to get dark enough to light off our small explosive celebrations, we turned it on.

It was...not what I was expecting.

Don't get me wrong, it was good. I enjoyed it.

But it wasn't the most amazing thing ever released upon the stage and OHMYGOSHWHYHAVEN'TYOUSEENITYET!!!!! Like I figured it would be.

I actually spent a little time on the intertoobs trying to suss out where all the hype came from. Best I can see is because it was revolutionary (see what I did there?) to have a primarily minority cast taking on the roles of old, dead white guys.

I think maybe I'm just not hipster enough to care about that. (Should there be more minorities cast on Broadway? Yes. If there are people of any race/creed/color/etc qualified for and auditioning for whatever roles are out there, then their race/creed/color/etc should not be what's keeping them from getting those roles. Does having a cast that leans heavily on less represented folks automatically make that show amazing? I'm gonna go on a limb and say no.)

The music was fine. I'm not super into hip hop and rap, so I mean I was probably never going to love it. I also don't listen to Kanye and...honestly I don't know enough about the oeuvre to even come up with a second name to throw in there. Ke$ha? Is that what she does? (I like FloRida, but I'm guessing he doesn't fall into this category.) For what it is, it was good. 

If they did a musical that was all country music, I would also not be enthralled with it.

Beyond that, they spend a lot of time on the suspected but not proven affair between A Ham and his sister-in-law and the proven indiscretion with the other chick. And...I mean I get he torpedoed his career with the latter but I just...infidelity leaves me blergh. He was a creep. Which okay, he was a politician so I guess it follows. I just wish there could have been less focus on it (and I remarked to hubs at the height of the affair bit that if A Ham was running for office today it would either not matter or, more likely, give him some cachet. Because that seems to be where things are these days.)

So, did I like it? Well enough I guess.

From a theater nerd standpoint, did I love it? I mean, I enjoyed how they handled some of the technical aspects -- having the stage crew taken on by the chorus, the double revolving stage, the staircases that move in order to "rearrange" the set somewhat. It's a very stripped back set and I thought they did a good job with that, but I'll admit a preference to the more elaborate staging. (Actual helicopter a la Miss Saigon? Yes please.)

There were definite high points.

Will I watch it again? Meh. If someone wants to watch it and I'm around, sure. I guess. But I don't see myself seeking out anything other than the 7 minute compilation of King George's songs on YouTube. Because those? Those are gold.

Random Things

None of which are particularly deserving of their own blog post. (One could ask if, indeed, anything I write these days is worthy of its own blog post, but I'd just as soon not go there. I find myself enjoying being back here talking to myself and, well, frankly, it's nice.)

• I don't know who over at Netflix decided we needed to be able to stream Aussie reality shows, but I thank them. I have enjoyed the mess out of Instant Hotel and am now two episodes into The Chef's Line and love it. I don't know that I'd care for either show if they were a purely American thing. Something about the Aussie (and other assorted) accents makes them much more enjoyable. I find the same phenomenon with shows from BBC.
• We made it through three days of school before we needed a break. So we took today off and played with friends instead. Since we're still many weeks ahead of the public schools, I'm not sweating it.
• We'll do something schoolish tomorrow.
• I am desperately searching for something good to read. Something new and good. I have plenty of things I could re-read that I know would be amazing, but I've been in a re-reading mode lately and am starting to feel guilty about it. Why? Who knows, but I do. Sadly, the new things that I've tried have all been rather disappointing and I've been setting them aside unfinished, which is completely unlike me.
• I did find a book I'd like to read - I've read and loved two others by the author. So I popped over to the Zon to grab it and...the ebook is $13! Highway robbery! I just can't pay that for an ebook. So, I thought, I'll give a look at the library ebook system. And they have the audiobook only. No ebook. I could order the paperback (which is incidentally cheaper than the ebook - I have never nor will I ever in the future understand that - a physical thing should always cost more than an ethereal one.) But I don't know. So for now I'm just whining about it.

Some TV Watching

There should be something to say that's more interesting. There should be, but there isn't. Life simply continues apace and I find myself less willing to share my thoughts...anywhere, to be honest. Not even really in person, though opportunities for that are few and far between.

Regardless, as such, I've been scouring for something to interest my eyeballs in the evenings and, as we ditched any sort of cable/satellite/what have you some years ago, my choices are Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Netflix has added some Jeopardy, did you know?

I love Jeopardy. It's been quite fun watching the handful of episodes they've made available. Even the kids enjoy it. (Fun fact: eldest boy was watching with me one evening and went, "Oh! I get it now!" Apparently they'd been playing Bible Jeopardy in Sunday school and kids were humming the theme song and while he thought it was catchy, he didn't really get that it was a 30 second timer.)

And then (behind the times, I realize) I discovered The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime. It. Is. Hilarious.

Normally I don't care about emmy wins or anything like that - but apparently season 1 got 8 and so far, I would say they're incredibly well earned. (Not kid friendly, this one, but still worth watching, IMHO.)

So there you go. How I've been rotting my brain in an attempt to keep out of the Swamps of Sadness. It...sort of works.

Jeopardy! Mom Edition

I would like to propose a special edition of Jeopardy where all the contestants are moms. Preferably moms of boys, but I think we could probably have enough overlap that moms of both genders could handle it. (And I'd even be willing to open it up to stay-at-home dads. Cause they know. Oh, they know.)

Categories and answers include:

Things My Child Won't Use

• It's metal and has tines
• You put dirty clothes in it
• This piece of cloth hangs in the bathroom
• You wipe your fingers on these
• Frequently in closets, these are accused of multiplying when you're not looking

Tasks My Child Seems Incapable of Doing Unassisted

• You should do this to your clothes before putting them in the laundry
• A mini-meal often requested in the afternoon
• The process of locating objects in the exact same place they were put the last time they were used

There are more, I'm sure, but littlest just came in and asked to snuggle on the couch. That seems imminently more important than blogging.

Just Keeping You On Your Toes

I'd like to say there's a plan to posting and then disappearing and then posting again but, alas, there isn't. Really it all boils down to having very little of interest to say (honestly, you don't care about potty training. I know this. For what it's worth, the three year old doesn't seem to care all that much about it himself. Though we've made enough progress I'm calling him "trained", we just still have accidents when there's something more interesting to do than pay attention to such things.)

Beyond that, the grass is showing signs of wanting to green up. The maple trees are spewing forth their pollen making me miserable. And robins are hopping about on the lawn. All signs point to spring.

I've started watching Blue Bloods on Netflix - enjoying it quite a bit (for all I'm three episodes in) - though I found episode 3 rather jarring as the word "forthwith" reared its head not once, not twice, but three times. How many New York City cops actually use the word forthwith, I ask you? I'll forgive them and watch more because, well, Tom Selleck. But really. Forthwith? This isn't Downton Abbey.

Speaking of Downton, I never could get into that - tried for a bit. Decided it wasn't worth it. And really did a little happy dance to see their next season is their last. One less annoying thing to fill up my Facebook "news" feed. (Now if only we could get football to decide on a final season, all would be well.)

In other TV-like news, we've tried an episode of The Walking Dead (too creepy for me, though I suspect I'd enjoy it if I could get past that. Hubs will probably watch it at some point, though of the two of us, he rates TV watching somewhere around the same priority as lint rolling the carpet.) We've tried two episodes of Breaking Bad (not opposed to watching more, but as with TWD, so incredibly not child friendly that it could only happen after bedtime and, well, TV doesn't hit a lot of priority once that happens.)

Finally, I'd been enjoying the fact that House Hunters International had a "selected favorites season" on Netflix as it's a nice "mommy needs to relax for 30 minutes" show that I generally don't mind having on now and again. Except that the majority of the episodes that made the cut are gay couples and, while I'm happy for them to go off and buy houses internationally, those aren't the episodes I want to have showing when my impressionable kids are hanging out in the room. So instead it's been Man v Food and Good Eats. Nothing wrong with either, but they're starting to rank right up there with Mickey Mouse in terms of things I have watched too often.

And now I will resume radio silence until next time.

The Times, They Are A Changin'

It used to be that in the evening, Tim and I would settle down in front of the TV and watch a show or two off the DVR. We had a number of things that we watched with great regularity and enjoyed (that should go without saying, I suppose). It was a good way to end the brain drain of the day spent at work.

When the elder boy came along, the viewing slowed somewhat, but we still would find ourselves in front of the TV after he was tucked cozily in bed. We'd even, occasionally, watch something while he was up and playing. And generally he paid very little attention to what was on the TV, so we could still indulge in NCIS or something of that ilk.

As he got older, the elder boy began paying more attention and the shows we could watch slowly dribbled to one or two. As it stands right now, I'll let him watch Masterchef with me (though if they continue to encourage all the bleeping that needs to go on, that may end. He's starting to ask why there are beeps) and Wipeout. And sometimes So You Think You Can Dance, though honestly, some of the dancing is so suggestive that I have a hard time thinking any of us should actually be watching it.

And so Tim and I find ourselves looking at the list of shows on the DVR and realizing that we can't watch them with the kiddo in the room. And then we ask ourselves, if we can't watch them with him around, should we really be watching them? Now, the gore content of things like Burn Notice and NCIS are not so high that we probably couldn't watch them with him, but I'd just as soon he not get fixated on it (because he does, and then he runs around for the next week shooting and exploding everything. And while some of that is normal boy and is going to happen even if I wrap him in bubble wrap and play Barney all day, there is a part of it that is more extreme when he's been around too much TV.) Add to that the fact that we're losing interest in the majority of the shows anyway, because it seems like the need for shock value keeps getting ratcheted up every season and what was an amusing, semi-family-friendly comedy is now a raunchy, 12-year-old boy's fantasy.

So we find ourselves realizing that we probably don't need to be paying for our Dish every month. With Amazon Prime to stream kid shows as needed, and possibly Hulu Plus to get the few shows we do still care about (if they're not on Amazon Prime), we're thinking we'll do just as well - and we'll save quite a bit of cash.

I never thought I'd be one of those people with no actual TV service...but it's looking like a definite possibility around here. And I can't say I think I'm going to miss it.

Math Is Hard...For Real, Apparently

I suppose there's a short "might be spoilers herein" type warning warranted at the top of this post as I will be talking about last night's episode of The Amazing Race. That said, it's not really going to ruin anything for you - it's not that kind of post.

So, in last night's episode (episode 2) of The Amazing Race season 20, the road block involved math. Not calculus. Not geometry. Not even algebra. It involved long division, without the use of a calculator. Every team but one struggled with this...how is this possible? Do the majority of grown ups out there (because everyone on this show is at least 18, therefore a grownup) not remember how to do long division on a piece of paper? I find this truly odd.

Maybe what's truly odd is the fact that I actually do long division at least once a week - usually because I'm too lazy to go find a calculator. By the time I dig one up, I could have finished the problem on paper - so I just go straight to that. Why do I use long division? I like to know things like miles per gallon when I fill up the car. Or how much each four ounce bottle of mixed formula costs. Or how many 4 ounce bottles a container that makes 164 fluid ounces will make. Or how much each glass of orange juice that gets mostly consumed and then left out for three days and then dumped costs. And so on and so forth. Don't most people wonder about these things? And are you really whipping out a calculator each time you have a question like this?

I'll admit, I can't do division in my head. I struggle with all but the very easiest math in my head - I have to write it down. But given a piece of paper, I can divide with the best of them. Frankly, it was appalling to watch these people struggle to remember how to take the total weight of a group of objects and divide it by the number of objects to get the average weight. (I get that some got wrong answers because they counted wrong, that's understandable, the things were moving around. It was the freaking about about the math that killed me.)

And while we're on the topic, I would like to see the Big Brother team go as soon as possible if only because the girl of the team, after whining about the math (she was the worst), came out with the gem of "I'm just a girl." Well that clears it all up...cause the Math is Hard Barbie wasn't a stereotype, apparently. She ought to turn in her woman card immediately. Honestly, what self-respecting woman would utter the words "I'm just a girl" in any context (except, perhaps, when asked what their gender is or when singing along to a No Doubt song), let alone one having to do with math. You could practically hear the hundreds of impressionable female teens watching the show (and you know they already probably liked her because of Big Brother) go, "Oh, phew, I don't have to learn that pesky long division that I learned in 4th grade. I'm just a girl."

I feel like Phil should pair them all up with an 8 year old for tutoring before letting them head out on the next leg of the race. Honestly, sometimes watching this show makes me cringe at the image of Americans that we're sending out into the world. On the other hand, since every team struggled with the math, I wonder if it's really all that wrong after all.

"Reality" TV

I held off for so long with the whole "reality" tv thing - and then I slowly got sucked into several shows. And now? Now they're really rather rapidly spitting me right back out. See, there's always the little caveat at the end of the credits that the producers weigh in on the final decisions. And ok, fine, they want to get the best TV possible out of their show. That's their right. Except, of course, when it ends up making the best contestant get kicked off.

And no, this isn't about the X Factor. I don't watch that. Probably never will. Don't really know what's going on there.

My disenfranchisement started with Gretchen "let's make knitted panties for people to wear under transparent skirts" winning Project Runway however many pathetic seasons ago that was. It wasn't really any better with this seasons "Oh, I don't really know how to sew, but I'm pretty" winning. I'm not positive I'll watch PR again - I love Tim Gunn. I love the judges, mostly (they're entertaining, if nothing else). But other than that? The show has devolved into grade school team picking practices where the popular win, regardless of talent.

Then we hit the various cooking shows. I still watch Top Chef, though mostly on fast forward because really, at the end of the day, I just want to see the food and decide if it sounds yummy or not. I really don't care about the house drama. Next Food Network Star (or whatever they've renamed it to) has seriously jumped the shark. And with last week's Next Iron Chef elimination, I deleted my DVR timer cause I just don't care anymore.

And then we have America's Next Top Model. Definitely a fast forward watch - see the photo shoot and the challenge and the judging and you're good. Except this time, they randomly disqualified one of the final 3 with no explanation. Now, I did not like Angelea, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but I still kind of think that they owe people an explanation, not just "she got disqualified."

And now? I hate to say it, but The Amazing Race is on shaky ground with me. See, this is one where skill and sticking to it really are what get you ahead. And sure, there's the random luck. But last week, what I consider cheating ended up eliminating the best team. (And something very similar happened last season where everyone ganged up to eliminate the strong team.) If I wanted to watch scheming and back stabbing, I'd watch Survivor. The DVR is currently recording the finale, but honestly? I'm just as likely to google the winner tomorrow and call it a day. Cause I can't really stand anyone in the final 3 teams. None of them deserve to be there.

I think maybe it's time to just go back to scripted shows....if only the networks would make some that were worth watching. (And they have some, they do, they just don't get the ratings so you know they won't be around next season and really, why get attached to something that's just going to end up cancelled.)

Brain Rot Update

I realized that I haven't commented on the various TV shows I've been using as distraction from how much I hate to exercise lately. So really, what better way to spend Friday than focusing on the latest in brain rot? To wit:

Platinum Hit - This is a competition for songwriters. It is rife with drama and cattiness and, as such, takes me about 15 minutes to watch the 1-hour episodes as I skip the whining and the commercials, preferring instead to watch the hook challenge and then hear the final songs. I need very little of the actual song writing part (which is the longest part of the show) to get the gist. For those not watching, I'll sum it up: all of these song writers hate working with other song writers because they feel the others' egos are too large and/or they're not as talented. Honestly, the best part is watching Jewel (one of the judges) remind them every single week that songwriting is very rarely done alone in a closet and they really have to learn to work with other people if they want to make it. Then they cut to the confessionals where all the song writers are like "What? I work great with other people, it's just that other people don't work well with me."

Master Chef - I love seeing the more focused, less extreme side of Gordon Ramsay. I also enjoy Joe and Graham. I am frankly surprised that the contestants who consistently break down into tears over the stress are still around. Isn't part of being a chef being able to deal with stress? That said, it's nice to see real people cook.

Hell's Kitchen - This just started back up and I'm already a bit behind, but it seems like it's running par for the course. I'm almost over it, honestly. This season may be the one where I quit watching. Plus? I miss Jean-Phillippe.

Food Network Star - I'm so glad this is almost over. Honestly, this is another one I watch in about 15 minutes because dang people, just hush up and cook. And that applies to the contestants and Bobby Flay. I used to really like Bobby Flay, I'm not sure what happened, honestly, but somewhere along the lines he started believing his own press or something and lost his appeal. And the selection committee...oh...I know they're media magnates of some sort, but could they be more annoying? Beyond that - there isn't a single contestant whose show I would watch. And I'm not sure that wasn't the case when all of them were still standing. I guess I'm just about over this show...we'll see what happens next summer.

Design Star - This is the slightly less annoying cousin to Food Network Star. Vern Yip is in very much the same boat as Bobby Flay to me, though I can't say I actually ever liked his design style on Trading Spaces, at least he wasn't quite as huge of an egotistical snot ball as he is on Design Star. Then last season they got rid of Clive as the host and the judges did the hosting themselves. This year, they've brought back a host but it's some incredibly annoying woman who, as far as I can tell, actually adds nothing to the show. If they were gonna bring back a host, I wish they'd've brought back Clive. He made it so much more fun. As it is, at this point I'm yet again behind in episodes and not in any rush to catch up because it's all the same old crap that no one in their right mind would actually let into their house. I guess I'm about over this one, as well.

Project Runway - This just started up again last night - the episode is currently calling to me from the DVR. I might to watch it here shortly. But I'm stoked that it's back.

There is a new show, Take the Money and Run, that looks like it could be amusing. I think it starts next week, so perhaps I'll report back on that later. But that's a snapshot of the reality brain rot currently in consumption around these parts.

Bullets Over Monday

• I haven't actually seen Bullets Over Broadway, but I do think it's a catchy title and that's why I'm semi-ripping it off. It probably is completely inappropriate to anything in this list. But that's never stopped me before, so why start now?
• We spent the bulk of Saturday trying to do a bit of spring cleaning. (Is it always spring cleaning regardless of the time of year? I just think you all understand what I mean when I say spring cleaning vs. "summer cleaning" or "June cleaning" or whatever. I spring clean whenever I can find the motivation.) Part of that was bagging/boxing/sorting all the kid clothes for donation. I found a friend who is going to take the 24 month + stuff, so that's lovely. The rest I will drop off at the Salvation Army when I get a chance. On the one hand, it feels really good to have it out of my hair. On the other hand, it's a little sad to see it go. It's not as if we're giving up on adopting a second time, but there's only a 50% chance we'd get another boy to start off with, and if someone else can be using the stuff, why should it sit in my closet gathering dust? Share when you can.
• I also finished up my first and a half-th round of revisions. Why first and a half-th? Because I sent 3/4 of the first round off and he got back with more changes before I had finished the last 1/4. Now all changes are made and sent back to him. What will be fun is waiting to see how many rounds of revisions it takes for him to tell me to undo something that he told me to do in this first round. I give it another 2 rounds of revisions.
• I also spent time up at my folk's old house with my sister and brother-in-law making the last changes/touch ups before getting it listed for sale. Merry Maids is going to come do a deep clean on Wednesday and then, hopefully, it'll get listed that night (or at least in time for the weekend). Pray that it sells fast! 
• We get to start booking our cruise excursions this week (on Friday)...which means I guess I'd better knuckle down and figure out what I want to do through the cruise line (if anything) and what I think we can just figure out on our own. 
• I'd probably also be well served to make some hotel reservations for either end of the vacation. I did, at least, manage to get the airfare taken care of. 
• I noticed that the Tony Awards were on last night. I've always wondered why they televise the Tonys when the shows that all the awards are for have to be viewed in person in New York City.
• We're also now all caught up, DVR-wise, on Chuck (gosh am I glad that next year is its last season - it was a fun show, but it has definitely run its course. Honestly...not sure I'll watch the last season, though I stuck with it this long, kind of feels like I might as well finish it out.) and have only the most recent Dr. Who sitting there waiting to be viewed. I am *loving* this season of Who. Matt Smith is finally growing on me. He's still no David Tennant, but really, who is?
• That's really all that's going on around here. Much too much reading (if that's possible), which is a common avoidance syndrome for me. But at least I recognize it for what it is, right?

TV Thoughts

I saw yesterday where Fox has canceled Breaking In, Christian Slater's latest attempt at a TV show.

Tim and I were loving this show - it was funny and smart and didn't seem to take itself too seriously. Honestly, it was a refreshing break from most of the shlock that TV networks seem to put their money into.

I'm not sure what demographic they were hoping for, but I guess we're not it.

If networks aren't going to give people a chance to like the new shows, then I'm not inclined to give new shows a chance til they've been around a season or two. Frankly, I grow weary of getting hooked on a show only to have it disappear before they even air a full season.

Cooking Shows: Not For the Faint of Heart

As I ramble along on the elliptical every day (well, nearly every day), I've been using that time to indulge in my guilty secret: reality TV. Now, not just any old reality show will catch my eye - there really has to be some kind of skill involved. So, it's not as if I'm hooking up the Bachelor or Survivor (though I guess one could say that being a slimy, two-timing, dishonest freak - as is necessary apparently to survive on Survivor - is a skill. It's just not one I'm interested in.)

What has been catching my eye though are the plethora of cooking related reality shows that are on these days. Right now that translates to Chef Academy on Bravo and The Worst Cooks in America on Food Network (and BBC America just started up Last Restaurant Standing, though I've yet to watch the first episode of that). In fact, it was Chef Academy that prompted me to give choux pastry a try (and I'm probably about due to give that another whirl.) But, I will say that this season in particular, I've found myself fast forwarding quite a bit and curling my fingers and wincing...because these people! Have they seriously never used a knife before?

It's terrifying! I just keep expecting someone to lop off a hand - not just a finger. Not just part of a finger, but their whole entire hand (or in some cases, the hand of the person working next to them).

Now, I'll be the first to admit that Tim is in charge of all cheese grating in our household because the box grater and I do not get along. It has eaten my fingers one too many times (and really, once is one too many times) (and boy, let me clue you, that hurts!) I've also had my share of nicks and slices in the kitchen...but even I've never considered wielding a knife the way these people do. It's like they don't realize there's a sharp end on there.

In the case of Worst Cooks, I kind of get that, since, well, the premise is that these people can't cook. But on the others, there is supposed to be at least some level of kitchen proficiency prior to their appearance on the show.

So I'm wondering if maybe they're being told to play it up to increase the terror and drama somewhat, because, well, otherwise cooking shows just aren't the hotbed of intrigue that other reality shows can be. Still, I'm really not ready for a cooking show where the winner is the last person standing with all their digits intact, no matter how interesting the recipes look.