TV Season

I am a tv addict! I love watching television shows. Most of the items on my NetFlix account are shows, so I felt I should comment on this year's season.

The regular television networks are wrapping up this season. And what a season it has been. We started off strong. I had many new shows and old favorites to enjoy. Now that I am in my last week of regular programming, my list of shows to watch has shrunk considerably. Why is it every time you start to really like a show, they cancel it? Why do they wait to the last minute to cancel shows after the season finale has been filmed? This leads to many shows having an unfortunate ending.

This season has been frustrating. The writer's strike has caused many issues to arise. First we had to miss many of our shows for months. Secondly, the new shows that had strong followings at the beginning of the season never recuperated from the strike. Several of these shows were canceled since they could not maintain a following. Unfair to the new shows. How can they have a loyal fan base after a few months?

Third, some show writers made drastic decisions in their writing to make up for the missing episodes. One of the worst offenders of this were the writers of Bones. Fourth, we have to wait a really long time until we see what happens on some shows who decided to wrap during the strike. Hopefully they will maintain their following or suffer the unforgiving network chopping block.

So as I finish up my season with Lost this week, I debate whether I should try some new shows next year after the dismal season we've just experienced. Some of the shows I've really enjoyed are now gone and others have become quite disappointing.

Happy TV Viewing!

House Away

So my realtor called this week to inform me that someone else had placed an offer on the house that my husband and I were interested in. We have been debating the wisdom of purchasing this house for about a month. We even went and looked at other houses and kept coming back to "the one". The house had everything we could want in a home.

After a month of agonizing over the decision and discussing it with everyone who would listen. A few of those poor souls had to listen to me change my mind every day.(Thank you, thank you for your patience.) The debates kept coming back to the same thing; we are renters, not homeowners. A house feels like a trap to us. We are forever putting money into it, having to think about it, and living there until someone else decides to purchase it.

The debates were hilarious since I was the one continuously advising my husband of how owning a home was a financially smart idea. Then he told me to make an offer. He had to tell me three days in a row before he realized I wasn't reacting. Suddenly, we were making an offer and I froze. My life of freedom, travel, non-responsibility was over. I couldn't do it. No matter how I tried to rationalize it. The fear had taken control.

So I told our realtor (who by the way is great, so if you are home shopping let me know) that at this time we couldn't make an offer. I have decided to compromise, so if anyone knows of a good rental home or even if you pass a sign, could you let me know.

Spring is in the Air

Part of the reason for me moving away from Florida was so I could experience seasons. Living in Florida my whole life, I had heard of seasons, but never truly experienced it. Sure it got cold down south, we had 1 week of maybe 40 degree weather then back into the 70s, 80s, and those horrendous 90s. We started to see 90 degrees somewhere in April and it would continue through October. Too many months of sweltering heat!

I arrived up north in the fall last year and fell in love. The cooler weather, the fall colors, the leaves falling. It was a wonderful experience. Then I discovered winter. I know I'm crazy, but I love the winter. The beauty of the snow falling is breathtaking. Playing in the snow was a new experience for me as well. I won't deny I hate icy rain, but I have adapted to the cold. Of course, I wear 5 layers of clothes during the winter.

I first noticed the transition into spring in April. It was astonishing to wake up one morning and discover color outside after so many months of bleakness. Don't get me wrong, I loved the bleakness, but the bright splash of color was instant. The grass was brightly green and flowers were blooming. It was beautiful. I have thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it is May and it is still cool outside. I like not being in sweltering heat and enjoying a cool breeze.

So I have adapted to the seasons this year. It has been wonderful discovering them in all their glory. Spring is beautiful, but it does reek havoc on my allergies. I am preparing for the summer. This year it won't be as oppressive since I'll have an end in sight. This year I may enjoy the summer knowing fall will follow soon enough.

Not That Old!

So when I was visiting with my sister, we were listening to the "Classic Rock" station. I was appalled to hear Pearl Jam playing. I turned to my sister and said..."I'm not that old. This is not classic rock."

I guess age is defined differently for each person. I have always viewed myself as the younger one in my relationships. My friends have always been older than me, my husband is by a few years. I've always been the "kiddo" of the bunch and quite content with it. Yes, I passed one of those milestone birthdays a few years ago. I was excited and went out with my friends for a civilized dinner and martinis. I saw the way my life was better in my 30s than in my 20s.

When I visited with my friends in Florida recently, I realized I wasn't the kid anymore. Mind you, there are plenty of times I still act like one. Most of my friends are still older than me. One of my friends likes to remind me I could be her daughter, while one of my friends in Florida told me I was the daughter she never had (Miss you Abby!). But I do have a few friends who are younger than me.

One of my friends is creeping up on a milestone birthday, but she's a little distressed by it. She has a different view of approaching these milestones than I. I understand her reasons and still feel she should be proud of the accomplishments in her life and plan for the next set. Another door is opening, another path is being discovered; and this is the time for her to go full steam ahead and see where it leads.

So I guess each of us views age differently. One thing I do know, it will take me some time to accept "Classic Rock".

Family

I traveled to Pennsylvania and West Virginia this past week. You may ask why I would choose these states to visit. The answer is family. Family can be wonderful things, but if you're like my family...you may have issues.

I won't deny this was a slightly difficult trip. Some members of my family are extremely old-fashioned and can not understand a "career-oriented" "book-learned" "citified" woman like me. I had one family member mention to me that I had not accomplished the goal of women, to procreate. Enough said. More comments to this effect were made on my one visit.

I did have a grand time with my sister and nieces. Sis flew to PA and I met her there at my Uncle's house (5 acres nestled in the hills). It was beautiful. I had the joy of playing chase and swinging on a board hanging off a tree with my niece and sister. Childhood memories have nothing on being an adult swinging around like a child. My niece tumbling down the hill while keeping her hair from getting dirty was hilarious. Lounging on the front porch in rockers. It was wonderful!

We traveled down to WV to stay with another aunt. Curvy roads and hills are not good for my sister. She has always been carsick. We started singing songs like "Bingo" to keep her mind occupied. My aunt and cousins were a hoot to visit. My one cousin who I share a birthday with (Missy and Cissy) stopped by and we started talking like old times. My uncle said he hadn't heard so much laughter in a long time.

We visited my parents best friends who are our "aunt and uncle". My niece enjoyed it since once again she got to roll down another large hill and play on mini-John Deeres. I was told several times how like my father I am. Coming from his best friends, I was a little unnerved :)

It was an enjoyable trip with some genealogy thrown in. The only dilemma is when those "family issues" come up. So to the aunts, uncles, and cousins who made this trip wonderful...thank you. It's good to see family.