BUT, this weekend was an entirely different story. On Saturday, Becca strolled into my room and said “Mom, I forgot to watch the clock and now it says eight-three-three.”  Bonus.  Now the rules are that they have to stay upstairs and play in one or the other’s room.  Today Becca walked in and announced it was eight-zero-one.  Fine, I’ll take that!

So, I’m getting sleep, the kids are entertaining themselves, but I’m still having some problems finishing my to-do list.  It’s all because of one word.

Facebook.

I’ve really enjoyed getting back in touch with old friends and school mates.  But I find myself doing things like…

playing Bejeweled Blitz.  It’s really quite addictive.  And I’m pretty darn good at it.  But here’s the problem.  I start playing it, and all of a sudden it’s an hour later.  And I’m wondering why my butt is numb.

Today, I wasted some time over at JibJab.  A friend of mine made a little video of her family, so I decided to do the same thing.  Here are the end results:

That killed about a half an hour or so. But it DID make the kids giggle….so I guess it was all worth it

I lurves it.

Through and through, I’m a PC.  I’ve never had an Apple anything.  I have mp3 players, not iPods.  My laptop runs Vista (which was a pain at first, but all good now), my desktop runs Windows xp.  My father and brother can build computers.  They’ve never been Apple people.

So, I sorta felt like Eve taking a bite.

My brother got an iPod touch from his boss for Christmas.  I was playing with it a little last week (I think my brother only broke it out of the box recently.  I don’t know if he was having his own Apple issues).  Anyway, it was way cool.  I had already been thinking about a new phone, because we were due for an upgrade.  After playing with the iPod touch, the (Apple) seed was planted. (I crack myself up.  Apple.  Seed.  HA!)

I got my new iPhone on Friday, and it’s awesome.  I haven’t even really had a lot of time to put a ton of apps on it.  First off, the sales guy at AT&T was great.  His name is Geoff, and he gave me a quick crash course on the phone.  While I was there in the store, we set up one of my email accounts, installed the Facebook app, The Weather Channel app, Pittsburgh Traffic and Twitterific.  (All free apps, by the way).  I’ve since added a couple on my own.  A couple of games for the kids (they love Monkey Bash on the megatouch, so I found that), and a couple of games for me (Bejeweled 2 and Scramble – both of which I play on Facebook).  And, since I don’t have an iTunes subscription (PC, remember?), I got the Pandora app.  I already use Pandora on the laptop, and I really like it.

Will this turn me into an Apple lover?  I don’t think so.  But this phone IS my favorite material possession in the world right now. And the best birthday present Tony ever got for me.  Even though, like my Mother’s Day present, I told him that he bought it for me after I purchased it. 

Our latest indulgence? Wipeout on ABC. They really look forward to watching it every Wednesday (it’s on at 8:00).  It’s a big obstacle course.  A difficult obstacle course.  With lots of mud and foam, and tons of falls.  Just watching it makes you flinch and say ‘ow.’  Then, there are the big balls.  Yup, they repeatedly say big balls.  This is a part of the obstacle course that looks like this:

I have never seen anybody make it all the way across.  Granted, I haven’t watched every show, but they really get pummelled on this obstacle!

So, anyway, the kids love watching other people fall.  You know, just like when they’re infants and they see somebody trip and fall.  They get a kick out of it!

If you have kids my age, you probably have your ‘go to’ shows, also.  We have some other shows that give mom a little bit of quiet time.  They change pretty frequently.  Right now, we’re on a SpongeBob kick.  Classic.  Then there are a couple of other shows that are not quite as well known.

First, there’s Phineas and Ferb.  I think this show is hysterical!  It’s about two boys on summer vacation and their adventures.  They are always building or doing something crazy, and their older sister Candace is always trying to get them in trouble.  It’s from Disney, and it’s a good watch.

The other show (which is actually pretty good) is Johnny Test.  Really, the general story follows Phineas and Ferb a bit, except the show focuses on the younger brother (and his dog) who has two older sisters who are scientists.  The older sisters are the ones always creating crazy stuff.  And, Johnny Test’s hair is really cool. It’s on Cartoon Network.

So, relax.  Let the kids watch some trash.  Just even it out with some stuff to keep their brains sharp for the summer, and all will be good.

pf_graphic by Disney
Design personalized t-shirts using Zazzle

As I sat and watched Sunday’s episode, I got a little ticked off.  I think that because I really submerged myself in the books for a while there, I felt like I ‘knew’ Sookie and the other characters.  So, when I saw that Jason was starting to dance with the Fellowship of the  Sun, it really got under my skin.  Granted, there were some HUGE differences in the first season compared to the first book.  The whole V (vampire blood being used as a drug) aspect was really a gigantic part of the tv show.  But it didn’t have much of a role in the books.  I have no idea who the woman is that has a past with Sam and Tara is living with.  She wasn’t in any of the books.  And what was with that dungeon in the first episode?  At first I thought it was the dungeon in the bottom of the Texas church from the Fellowship of the Sun that was in the second book.  But towards the end of the show, it was revealed that it was run by vampires.  Hmmmmm.  ::::::::OK, no more spoilers after this:::::::

So, I am very interested to see what direction Alan Ball takes the characters.  It seems like he’s touching on some things that happen in the second book, with the Fellowship of the Sun and Texas.  And yes, there are some  times when I talk to the tv while the show is on.

I think that I will enjoy the series more if I treat it as two different stories.  That’s pretty hard to do, though, because I feel like I know these characters so well.  I’m still gonna watch every darn episode, though.

Oh, one side note.  I saw a clip from the Jimmy Fallon show where Stephen Moyer (who plays Bill Compton) was on.  I really didn’t know anything about him, as an actor.  I was surprised that he had this HUGE English accent!  He’s doing a super fantastic job playing Bill.  I didn’t find the clip from Jimmy Fallon, but here’s a little snippet with Stephen Moyer.  He’s at about the one minute mark:

Consumed by, of all things, eight wonderful novels. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been reading the Sookie Stackhouse Novels. Well, for the past week, it’s about ALL I’ve been doing. If you’re looking for a good bunch of books, these are a great read!

I have to say, I am totally in awe of people who can write stories like this. The author, Charlaine Harris, has other books, too. And I’m sure I will eventually get around to reading them. I can’t imagine being able to sit down and weave the stores, characters, settings, and everything else. And this woman is either an extremely talented, creative and dedicated writer OR she’s something supernatural. I am amazed at how she has explored the supernatural, and made up the rules as she went along. Kudos to her!!!

If you don’t know, I’m not really casual about anything. When I start reading something and enjoy it, I jump right in, both feet first. I was walking to the bus stop while reading. I stayed up until 2:00 am many nights so I could finish the book I was on. When something gets my brain going, it takes me over. Needless to say, other areas of my life have suffered. The house is a mess, the kids are ready to kill each other, and I haven’t blogged (sorry) or tended to any of my other online ventures. As I finished book number eight last night, I had a whole mix of emotions. I was sad I was finished reading about Sookie. I was amazed that I got through these eight books while still feeding, clothing and tending to the kids and the restaurant. I was glad that I was going to go back to ‘normal’ life. Then it happened.

I went to the Charlaine Harris’ website. Yeah, there’s another one coming out next month. I pre-ordered Dead and Gone today. No big deal. What’s one more book, right? Um, WRONG! If you look under the bibliography on her website, you’ll see that there are quite a few books with short stories about Sookie (these stories sort of fill in the gaps). Yeah. Now I have to read those, too. I ordered one from Amazon. There is the great possibility that I will read the collection of short stories, find another author that is fantastic, and discover another five thousand books I want to read.

Oh well. The kids know how to get cereal for themselves.

If you remember, the whole reason I started reading this series was that it’s the inspiration for True Blood on HBO. I really enjoyed the first season of the series, and from what I understand, the second season is supposed to start this June. However, the series and the books are completely different. Well, not completely. Many of the characters are the same. But things happen differently. I’m not going to give out any spoilers here, but let’s just say I’m curious about what direction Alan Ball is going for the second season. I’ll probably enjoy the series. I may quite possibly enjoy it even more, because I’ll be so into the differences.

Anyway, for now, it’s back to my little spot here in Collier Township, PA and out of Bon Temps, Louisiana. And I’ll write more.

Promise.

My plan is to go on over to my friend Barb’s site, Barb’s Bookshelf, and post something on the forums over there. Many of the members there use CafePress, Zazzle,, and other POD’s (that’s Print-On-Demand for those who don’t know). They’re uber awesome, and make up a large portion of who I like to call my ‘online friends.’

And they’re frickin’ funny!

OK, I’m gonna catch up on some of that housework. The girls are at the neighbor’s house, running through a sprinkler. Yup, it’s April and it’s 86 degrees right now. But I’m not complaining.

Have a gerat weekend!

As you might know, I’m not a huge tv girl. There are a few shows that I will record on the DVR and watch when I get time. But Tony and I do have a Sunday night ritual. It’s been going on for years. Back when Sex And The City was on HBO, we started watching shows together on Sunday nights. Sex And The City was obviously my find, but I think Tony actually enjoyed watching it. Or maybe it was Oz. We’ve been through The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Deadwood. Sometimes we watch Entourage, too. But most times that’s when we sit at the kitchen table and chat.

But anyway, back to the original reason for this post. I really like the newest show I’ve found…The United States of Tara. This is the first Showtime series we’ve really gotten into. We’ve only had Showtime for a year or so. And honestly, I was about to cut back on the cable. And, cue Murphy’s Law. That’s exactly when I found this show. Nothing against Showtime, but we just don’t watch that much television.

This show just cracks me up. But it’s serious, too. In a nutshell, it’s about a woman who has multiple personalities. She has decided to go off her medication and just take one day at a time. She (and her husband) want to figure out WHY these personalities are coming out. It has John Corbett as the husband, and I just like him. Ever since Northern Exposure. Now if you haven’t watched the show, don’t read the next paragraph.

SPOILER: When Tony and I saw the writing on the mural a few weeks ago, I nailed it. “There’s another personality.” I said matter-of-factly. I can’t wait to find out more about the peeing red poncho gremlin! ::END SPOILER:

I think that we all have multiple personalities. I have mommy-me, wife-me, bar owner-me, I’m just meeting you, so I’m going to be really fake-me, and on and on. But I realize that I have these personalities. And I can pick and choose them as I wish. So, I’m looking forward to our Sunday night tv time tonight! If you haven’t seen the show, watch it! Grab it on On Demand, go to a friend’s house with Showtime…whatever. And I think that True Blood is coming back on HBO some time late summer. I’ve started reading the first book that this series is based on. Maybe I can read the next one before the series starts up again!

Anything’s better than Spongebob, Baby Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo. Although, I have to admit…Phineas and Ferb is pretty funny.

]]> http://blog.brainlint.net/2009/03/my-difference-my-personalities-all-know-each-other/feed/ 0 http://blog.brainlint.net/2009/01/i-was-craving-some-brain-candy/ http://blog.brainlint.net/2009/01/i-was-craving-some-brain-candy/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:16:00 +0000 Heather http://blog.brainlint.net/?p=117 Well, I feel a little better now. Last night (after falling asleep with Becca in her room) I watched a new episode of 30 Rock that got DVR-ed (OK, I’m not sure if that’s a word, but I’m going with it). It’s been a few weeks since I watched some new television. I’m surprised how much I missed the little escape it brings me from the millions of thoughts bouncing around in my head.

I really don’t watch too much tv. I’ll watch True Blood when it comes back (I think in the Summer). I watch How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory on Monday nights and The Office and 30 Rock on Thursdays. If I happen to watch live, I’ll get up and clean while the commercials are on. And I’m usually doing something on the laptop at the same time.

On to other things, Becca is going to a little cheer leading camp tomorrow. It’s a fundraiser for the High School cheerleaders. They take kids K-5 (K and First in the A.M. and 2-5 in the afternoon) teach them a cheer and give them a t shirt. Then they get to perform their cheer all together at a basketball game this week. For $30, I thought she would have some fun. I’m interested to see how it all goes.

Oh, and to get back to some boring, serious, political stuff…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that a judge told Dan Onorato that he couldn’t use the money from the drink tax for anything other than mass transit. Finally, Score one for the restaurant owners! Of course, he’s going to be a big ol’ weenie about lowering it down below 7%. Which irks me. He just can’t seem to be a big enough person to just admit that he screwed up and fix it. In fact, if he did just admit to his screw up and fix it, he may win back some votes later on down the road. But because of his pride (or male ego, or stubbornness…whatever) he won’t. So now his budget is screwed, and it looks something like this:

ROCK DAN ONORATO HARD PLACE

Well, enjoy the snow that they’re calling for this weekend! If you live in Pittsburgh, I’m sure you already made your mad dash for your milk and bread ‘cuz you’ll be stuck in your house for a whole whopping 24 hours.

You know, I’ve been thinking about some of my friends who are about to become parents for the first time. I just thought I’d post some of my thoughts about how it might change their lives. First, the good (‘cuz I’m a glass-is-half-full kind of gal)

• You can’t even imagine the feeling of all that love. It’s overwhelming.
• You always have somebody to cuddle with
• You get to play with toys again
• When they’re an infant and you have them in the grocery store, you can have a conversation with yourself and it looks like you’re talking to your baby.
• You get to buy cute little clothes
• You don’t get bored anymore

Next is the not so good. Not really BAD, but different

• You will never (especially if you are the MOM) have privacy again. Ever. Unless you leave the house and go and hide in your car.
• You won’t get nearly as much sleep as you’re used to. Ever. My kids are 3 1/2 and 5 1/2. I still don’t sleep, and I don’t have insomnia or anything like that. But, the silver lining is that you get used to functioning on less sleep. You just get a little more ‘dingy.’
• Your house will never be as clean as you want it to be. Ever. I could spend hours cleaning, and it would just get messed up right behind me.

OK, this is a short list. And as I’m sitting here with Chloe watching ‘Scooby Doo and the Alien Invaders’ for the hundredth time, it’s about as deep as I can go right now. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Ever.

So, on a lighter note, I was using stumbleupon the other night, and I came across this site. And it really made me giggle. Here’s the page (and I did pay the game, and did pretty well)

You can click on the link to play the game if you want to. That’s completely a pet peeve of mine…the whole lose/loose thing. Really makes me crazy.