Thursday, October 13, 2011

Big Boy Cable: The TV Report

My child is off today with a bout of the yucky stomach virus, I should be using my time wisely in a domestic fashion, but I'll be continuing my breather break to share with you what we have found.  These are in no particular order.

1.  Chopped-  I love this show.  I love that they give them goofy things like herbal cough drops, ramen noodles, chocolate nibs and pre-made waffles that they have to make into something fantastic.

2.  Sweet Genius-  Tried it once.  Can't do it again.  It is Chopped on crack.  With a bad announcer.  And a old concept. 

3.  Long Island Medium-  Not my thing.  Tried it once.

4.  Sister Wives-  Not my thing.  Tried it twice. 

5.  Flipped Out-  Loved this show, but the drama made me scratch my head from time to time. 

6.  House Hunters-  It can be okay.  I've watched it from time to time.

7.  Extreme Couponing- I appreciate the stories where people help family or people in the community, but to have an extreme stock pile of things that -- HELLO PEOPLE, DEODORANT AND SHAMPOO DOES EXPIRE!-- they have and touch and tell it that it is all pretty like makes me so sad.  I'm glad that they've gotten such good deals, but really what's with all of the hot sauce and Yokisaba noodles?  Most of the things gotten are so extremely unhealthy it is awful.  Shelves of chips?  Those suckers don't have a long shelf life at all.  To me, it is mostly glorifying gluttony. 

8.  Toddlers & Tiaras- Perhaps I don't understand the extreme craziness of all of this because up north, we all don't do this.  We don't do the massive amounts of pageants and crap like that.  I mean, I'm sure that there is something, but the south corners the market on dressing their children up in dresses (on this show) that cost more than my entire catered wedding did, are sporting hair with hair pieces looking like they've rocked it right out of the 60's, fake lashes, fake tans, flippers and hoochie outfits that as an adult I would never consider.  There was one mom who had her child's hair bleached.  Really? 

9.  American Pickers-  We love Mike and Frank and their want to pay what is fair.  They aren't out there to steal people's items away from them for a song.  They'll give fair prices and even bump those up if the people give them a low-ball price.  We love the stories that go along with.

10.  Pawn Stars- We love the entire show.  It's amazing to see what people have squirreled away.  It is like Antiques Roadshow where you love to see the very valuable items, but chuckle a bit when there is something that comes down the pike that is fake.  It is so hilarious to see how when people know that their item isn't worth what they thought, yet they still want what they thought it was worth.  "Um, no."

11.  Storage Wars-  A new love for us.  I turned Hubs onto this one last night.  Now, grant you, I'd like to bean the guy (Dave) who belts out his bit in a Tourette's like repeat.  (We mean no offense to anyone with Tourette's, as we love someone in our family with it.)  Barry is my absolute favorite.  Darrell?  He seems like a whiner that stomps away in a huff.  Jarrod and Brandi?  I think that they'll work it out okay.  Jarrod just needs to pull up his big boy britches and act as such.

12.  Storm Chasers-  Of course.  We aren't a fan of the rework of the show, though.  Team Dominator, Team TIV and Team TWISTEX?  Really?  Just ditch the "team" part.  The music?  We miss the music that you've had for YEARS!  We aren't a fan of the new narrator, either.  We're thinking that Storm Chasers is declining and isn't going to be around much longer.

13.  Mythbusters-  This is a toss up.  Sometimes, it is really good.  Sometimes, it just sucks.  Adam is still my favorite, as Jamie seems a bit constipated.  The duct tape show is still my favorite so far.

14.  Dirty Jobs-  We used to love it, but now we hate it.  I don't know that we'll watch it again.  They reworked it and the "Dirty Mindbenders?"  Too much of the show is sucked up with banter and less is in the dirtiness part. 

15.  Bridezillas-  Train.  Wreck.  Do people actually act that way?  I've watched it a few times and all I can say is, "Jerry Springer!"

16.  Say Yes to the Dress-  I don't mind this one.  My years as a bridal consultant doing this very thing makes me appreciate what these folks are going through.  Believe me.  This show is no lie.

17.  Top Chef, Desserts-  I don't mind it, but I like Chopped better.  I watched it a time or two and that was enough.

18.  Iron Chef-  I don't seek it out, but I'm good with watching/listening to it. 

19.  American Handyman-  (or something to that effect)  Mike Holmes, we plead to you-- please stop doing this show and go back to Holmes on Homes or Holmes Inspection! 

20.  VH1- I love the 80's-  Oh. my. goodness.  I loved it!  Hubs had me sit down and watch it.  I'm such a child of the 80's that it is disgusting.

21.  19 and counting-  I'm okay with it.  It's not something that I seek out, but it is on in the AM when I drop K- off to the bus stop and come back to eat my cereal. 

What is your take on big boy cable?  We've come to the conclusion that we are very happy that we don't pay for it and that when it does go away, we will miss certain things.  Still, we won't miss quite enough to increase the subscription.

In final post news, we're so sad.  Mike, our neighbor, just let us know this evening that his pit bull Brandy has been given 2 weeks - 2 months to live.  Brandy has been a bit of a fixture, waiting for me to come home when Mike is out toodling in the yard.  She loves K- (through supervised visits, of course) and I've taken care of her more times than I can count over the 12 years that he has had her.  Mike will not do well when Brandy is no longer here and it's safe to say that we will be in the same boat with him.  K- and I went over this evening to give her a good ole fashioned scratch on the nose.  Our hearts are sad.  We'll miss having Brandy around, lounging in the shade of the purple plum and forever leaving dead strips of grass behind from her peeing all over our front yard.  She'll be missed.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Bulk shopping by phone.

My husband phones me on my cell and says, "I'm at Sam's Club.  Do you need anything?"

"Cheese sticks and lunch meat."

"Do you need anything else?"

:insert non-pregnant pause:

"I can't think of anything."

"If you do, give me a call back."

Suddenly, the thought comes to my mind.  I call Hubs and say, "Give me a call when you get to the feminine products aisle." 

:ring, ring:

"I'm in the feminine products aisle."

"Good!  Do they have Tampax Pearl?"

"Yes."

I go on to continue with the remainder of the make, model and serial number. 

"Yep.  They have it.  They actually have both."

"I have Always," he says. 

"Thin?"

"Ultra thin."

"Wings?"

"I have wings."

"I'm not a big fan of wings, but I can do it.  How much?"

He told me and I can't recall, but I think it was $13.00 or so for 60.

"Don't worry about it.  I can get those elsewhere."

"Oh, wait!  I have Always Maxi!  They are $7.48."

"Thick?"

"I think!"

"Uh, no.  I don't need to feel diapered."

:insert husband laugh:

My husband walked away with two 96 count boxes of tampons for me.  What a man.  Considering that I'm 38 and still have a ways to go with this, I'm thinking that 192 tampons should last me for a while.

"Do we need Purell?" he asked.

"I think so." 

"Ooo!  Go on down to the vitamins and look for K-'s vitamins." 

"Gummy, gummy, gummy, gummy . . . "

"Nope.  No gummy.  She would have to take two and that doesn't save money.  Just look for the average chewable." 

"Ahh!  Flintstone?"

"Yes!  How much?"

It was $13+ and I wasn't willing to pay that much.

"Forget that.  I'll get them somewhere else.  Can you check Calcium with D for me?"

"I have a bottle of 300 for $12.00."

"Well, I just bought a bottle of 60 for $3.99, so that is good."

"Wait!  I just found a bottle!  It's a bigger bottle!  It's 600 for $7.48!"

"Sounds great!"

"What about prenatal vitamins?"  (Again, not pregnant, but I do take prenatals as they have the extra vitamins I need to balance the blood clotting disorders.)

"Centrum, but no prenatal."

"No.  Forget it.  Need the extra vitamins.  I'm good."

"I'm glad that I called back," said Hubs probably relieved that our marathon phone shopping session in the H&BA aisle of Sam's was done. 

What a sport.

Smiles in my day:
-  Getting Hubs hooked on Storage Wars.
-  Catching the last 15 minutes of Along Came Polly with Hubs.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

PTA should have a time clock and employment benefits.

Vacation.

Over time.

Sick pay.

Shoot, a time card would be nice.  (Our school is working on that with KeepnTrack.  They are still setting it up.)

At any rate, I have not fallen off the face of our dirt and water covered orb.  I had the walkathon that we did this past Friday.  Of course, I couldn't actually walk (against doctor's orders) and realized today that I won't be able to trick or treat (but Hubs is determined to find something to haul me around and has threatened a wheel chair.  I said I'd rather a wagon.)  That's beside the point.  I've spent the better part of the last two weeks organizing and attempting to get things approved.  Then, Kay (the wonder friend and fellow PTA board member) stayed with me to help count, account and deposit the $10,500. that we earned from our walkathon venture. 

Saturday was the pioneer festival.  Though K- and I got caught in a traffic jam, on a Saturday and in podunk, we arrived and did our volunteer duties.  (Yes, there are pictures, but thanks to the fact that I erased the Kodak printer from our computer, it took the camera software with it that I use for my Nikon, put my pictures somewhere in my box (I'm hoping) and I need to go through reinstall, which I don't have time for), but rest assured, K- and I were dressed all pioneer-- well except for the Tevas, Birkenstock t-strap and the aircast cam boot. 

Sunday took us to our friend's church again, which is fine.  It's small enough to where people know us, know our names and my daughter enjoys it.  We'll be back again this week, as Hubs isn't going to be able to attend with us.  We had made the pact to go to the next church on our list together.

After church, we made a quick run through the local Walmart (yes, I see you cringing Rachael, but I was desperate) and bought a roasted chicken and a few items that I needed for a chicken pot pie.  I didn't have time to cook the bird, so I ran with a rotisserie, steamed the veggies while I picked the chick, rolled the shell out of the package (don't cringe, it does the trick just fine) and then made my gravy with the chick leftovers.  I was able to assemble the pie, roll on to soccer and have enough time to cook the assembled yumminess before Hubs got home.  Well, it always takes a little longer to bake than I actually think, but it all worked out fine.  We ate that pie on Sunday and Monday.

Monday morning, I had a PTA board meeting before school.  Monday evening, I went and cut glass for a window project that someone had.  I was paid a handsome sum for my time (Christmas money!) and went on home to work on some fundraiser bits before bed. 

My day today began with a splitting eye headache, the room parent PTA tea and some inaccurate information rolling forth from my mouth since my head felt like someone was standing and twisting a knife into my optical loveliness.  It only took two Advil, two Tylenol and a can of Coke to kill it.  The breakfast was lovely.   I mean, how could you turn down little custard puffs of loveliness for breakfast?  Delicious! 

It brings me to tonight.  Mom just called to report that she did come to my house, she picked tomatoes and picked tomatoes and picked tomatoes and she is certain that she didn't even put a dent into the tomato-ism that I still have going on.  Right at the time that the tomatoes and pears were ready to can, I busted my foot and to stand for the hours required to can, I just can't do it this year.  She found parsley and was in love.  She said that she would have pulled tomato plants out, but there were far too many tomatoes still on to toss.  Believe me, I understand what she means.  She took two bags and one bowl full home.  I invited her to come back.  She said that she's good.  I may be going to work next week with boxes of free tomatoes. 

Now if you'll pardon me, I must go make reward certificates for the winners of our major awards for the fundraiser.  A PTA board member never sleeps.  Well, at least we may sleep, but not as much as most.

Have a great day!