A Long Time Ago, We Used to Be Friends

I don't think that TV programmers actually WATCH TV. My favorite TV show has just had the rug pulled out from under it by corporate types who think that people would prefer to watch a farmers' dating reality show. I am not even kidding.

It is utterly disappointing to learn of the cancellation of "Veronica Mars." It was a show with a smart and sassy young woman (if Veronica were my age, she SO would have had a subscription to Sassy) as the lead character, with a lot of fun pop culture references. Veronica Mars was a role model for young girls in an age where young girls have the Britneys, Parises and Lindseys of the world setting the trends. Veronica is bright, confident, friendly, helpful and law abiding (mostly anyhow.) Plus, she has a terrific relationship with her father... Heck, who cares about the young girls? I feel better watching Veronica save the day on Tuesday nights!

The CW could have been a real leader here, but instead they chose to give America the next Pussycat Dolls. (Because there aren't enough young women out there with body image issues.) There is a constant discussion about the "dumbing down" of America, and it looks like the future programming of the CW is following along in those footsteps. I hope that they are embarrassed. More importantly, I hope that they lose a lot of sponsorship because, clearly, the bottom line is all they care about. Supernatural fans, if I were you, I would be concerned because you and Smallville are all that's left before that network becomes All Reality, All the Time.

Life, or Something Suspiciously Like Life as I Remember It

I haven't posted anything of real significance in a while, mostly because I have been averaging 50 hour work weeks for the past five weeks. This is the first "normal" week I have had at the office in a while, and I have to admit it is marvellous, although the pace of the past month or so is really starting to catch up with me. There was a LOT of missed sleep, and 10:00pm is becoming my new regular bedtime. I have spent the past few nights at BJs, the grocery store, Target, and, tonight, CVS, replenishing my household stores. There is something so nice, so comforting about having a ready supply of food and laundry products and toiletries rather than replacing the necessities on an ad hoc basis.

I need a haircut. I am basically sporting a mop on my head, which I have to keep pulling off my face in one of the most unflattering ponytails on the planet. It has been two months since my last one, and while the shape of the cut is still really great, the length is too much for my short hair sensibilities. Plus, neither my head nor my profile were made to look good in a ponytail. (And don't even get me started about my inability to be bothered with makeup on a daily basis.)

My parents are in London this week, sans moi. Hopefully, they will do some of the activites I suggested and bring me back the stuff I requested. They are usually pretty good about that stuff so I am not really worried, although I am rather jealous. Right now, it is suppertime in London, or just past tea time, depending on which you have.

It is springtime here in Boston, which means that is is warm and sunny, and it is allergy season. Thank goodness for the lovely processed air in the office. I am using my office for its allergen free air, and I am not ashamed to admit it.

The Niblet (son of Punk Rock Mom) turned 8 at the end of March, and I still hadn't found him a good birthday gift. (I always buy him books.) Fortunately, I recalled a book I had LOVED which I think will really appeal to his imagination: Bob Fulton's Amazing Soda Pop Stretcher. It is about a young boy who invents a formula to turn one soda into fifty, which is a great way for him to save his allowance. Unfortunately, international spies find out about the formula and want to obtain it for their own dasterdly notions! The book has been out of print for a while; fortunately, I was able to locate a pretty good used copy on Amazon.com. It is a bit old for him, but if his mom helps him (as she is known to do,) I think that he will really enjoy it a lot. I love that, while at this point in life I don't have kids of my own to whom I can pass on the wonderful experience of books, I can pass them on to the Niblet and know that he will really enjoy them! (Last year, I got him Dominic by William Steig, and both he and his mom really liked it!)

Post This

Just a reminder to everyone that US postage increased today. Letters are now $0.41 and post cards are $0.26 to mail. As I have spent a good portion of this morning adding postage to pre-posted reply postcards to accommodate this increase, I thought I would give people a shout out about it in case they had forgotten and needed to get their bills in the mail.

Dogwood in bloom

Dogwood in bloom
Originally uploaded by melliemels.

The dogwood blossoms on the tree outside of my apartment make me realize that spring has finally arrived.

I am totally addicted to Grey's Anatomy... HELP!

Last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy" left much to be desired, but that didn't really matter, because I am totally hooked. I was utterly exhausted and was taping the episode for a friend and still had to stay up to watch the two hours of mindless soapy goodness. The tie in to next season's spin off was not as seemless as I think they hoped it would be, but the cast is certainly impressive!

I can't believe how good Tim Daly looks. He is getting hotter the older he gets, which, oddly enough, is the same thing that happened to McDreamy...er, Patrick Dempsey. I just MELTED when Tim first showed up in the elevator, and, then when he kissed Addison, I totally had this WHOA moment. I am so going to have to watch this show, aren't I? And I wasn't supposed to add any new shows to my Must See TV!! It was great to see two of my fave people from "Alias" (Francie/Alison and Sark) show up on last night's episode; I totally had a reunion squee!! I was also kind of upset to see Piz from "Veronica Mars" on the show, especially when he FINALLY smooched Veronica on Tuesday's episode!! I am afraid of the implications that means for "VM"; it better not be cancelled. (I like his hair much better on VM than GA anyhow.)

Thoughts for "GA" future ::SPOILERS:: :

1. How much do you want to bet that Burke and Christina don't get married? He keeps rushing her into stuff, and I think that last night he finally realized that.

2. Izzie and George are KILLING ME. I love Callie and don't want her to get hurt (she was HYSTERICAL about being a bridesmaid,) but I wanted Izzie and George together from the first season!!!

3. Do we think that Alex and Ava will get together? I think that he is really underexplored and there are many layers in there. He has been a hard nut to crack from the beginning, and his contradictions make him fascinating! I also think that Ava is a spy, which is why she knows languages... because that would be a really crazy twist.

4. I can't believe they killed Step-Mommy Mere Winingham!!! It was because of her that I was actually starting to like Meredith, which is something I never expected!

5. I have a horrible feeling that the person collapsed on the floor in next week's episode is my beloved Dr. Bailey!!! If they mess with Bailey, I am making a speedy departure.

Penalty Box

Today, a replacement box of archive boxes was delivered by Office Depot as we had run out. The box must have been stored near some rusty pipes because the whole top of it is covered in rust.

Guess who didn’t notice that and leaned next to the box in her light gray lightweight wool BR suit pants?

Guess who tried to get the resulting large orange stain on her left thigh out with soap from the bathroom and then with club soda?

Guess who now has a much much lighter rust stain next to a bizzarish water mark?

These pants are hitting the dry cleaners tomorrow. I made a sign for the box that no one is to go near it; it is in trouble with me.

God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut

I have been super busy the past few weeks, too busy to have even caught the news that author (and some time Cape Cod resident) Kurt Vonnegut has passed away.

After reading Slaughterhouse Five my junior year of high school, I began devouring his books. They helped me come to terms with my personal frustration with the establishment of that particular time: the Gulf War and the Thomas Supreme Court hearings. I found his novels accessible and evocative in a way that I am sure a generation before me found J.D. Salinger.

Anyhow, I like this quote that the NY Times chose to include in his obituary:

“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’ ”

So it goes.