The End of Times

No, I'm not talking about Hurricane Irene nor the 5.8 earthquake that hit DC--I'm talking about the entire break down of the English language that the Oxford English Dictionary is partaking in.


I love words (clearly because I'm an avid reader and compulsive writer). So it was with horror--I mean, H.O.R.R.O.R.--that I read an article about what was being added/subtracted from the Oxford English Dictionary. And before I tell you this list, let me tell you that I'm not that old.


So the editors of the dictionary have decided that "cassette tape" no longer qualifies being mentioned in the dictionary. This is outrageous to me on so many levels. When I bought my car 6 1/2 years ago, I insisted that it had a CD player AND a cassette player (what can I say, I'm too cheap to upgrade my Paula Abdul and Wilson Phillips). But just because I haven't upgraded, doesn't mean I don't still want to hear "Rush, Rush" or "Hold On" from time to time.

This deletion wouldn't have me so up in arms if there weren't absurd things being added. I personally think you can add terms without deleting others. I'd rather have a dictionary that fills an entire library than have my descendants think their ancestors were vapid idiots. But aapparently these secret hipster editors are adding text talk: LOL, OMG, and <3. I'm sorry, but is this a joke? Two of those are abbreviations, and one is just a symbol! What warrants them being present in a dictionary? To further complicate the moronic values of these editors they've also included: sexting, mankini and jeggings. REALLY?!?

These additions are proof that the world is being taken over by pop culture and trash TV. I will fully admit I indulge in both to some degree, but I'm intelligent enough to know that the Jersey Shore broads getting colored contacts is not news. For any people who believe aliens exist in the universe, and wonder why they haven't made contact--just look at the cable line up, the "newspaper," and now the DICTIONARY! I wouldn't want to meet us either...

30 Things I've Learned

So, I turned 30 today. I can't help but wonder if I've really learned enough about life to qualify for this age. But decided I'd make a list and see if I can get the club card:

30. Artsy movies were much more fun when I was a young, pretentious film student. Now, while often beautiful they manage to make my depression meter dip beyond the deepest blue.

29. Pretending to like rap music or the NBA just because a guy thinks they're cool wins you no points. Nor does this game of make-believe make NBA players have the same heart they did while playing in college (assuming they went to college or ever had heart).

28. The mom that you clang to as a child, were annoyed by as a teenager, becomes your best friend as an adult if you're lucky. So, girls beware your actions if you're still in the awkward, heated teen years.

27. Once you have a real job in the real world, waking up early isn't a rarity--it's a routine.

26. Speaking of the real world, the old wives tale of attracting more bees with honey than vinegar is 100% true. If you treat everyone with respect, you're less likely to have to worry that someone won't come through for you or who could potentially spit in your food.

25. Just because you like something, doesn't mean it's "good;" it's just your taste, not necessarily everyone else's.

24. Constructive criticism isn't to hurt your feelings. It's given to make you better at whatever you are trying to accomplish...

23. On the other hand, insults should be dealt with respectively and effectively. If someone tells you that you're unworthy or a piece of work, please remind them that pieces of work are worth quite a bit of money all of the world.

22. And speaking of worthiness, the wisest quote ever said is, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ~Eleanor Roosevelt. In other words, don't give entrance to your soul to any one unless they've earned it and damn well deserve the ticket.

21. Your family can/will be all these things: loving, annoying, encouraging, embarrassing, frustrating, heartbreaking.

20. Also at the end of the day, you only get to choose your husband--not the rest of your family. You are either born in or get birthed in--so practice acceptance.

19. Not to sound like a self-help author, but until you know who you are, don't bother falling in love. You will be wasting every one's time, including your own.

18. Once you are in love don't confuse it with happiness--everyone has bad days. If you're happy 85-90% of the time you're ahead of the game.

17. Always work hard and try your best...

16. But remember just because you work hard, doesn't mean you get recognition. Just know that you've done the ultimate job you could, and rejoice in that--because your choir inside is the only one singing (sorry but it's true 99.9% of the time).

15. This one is common, but very true: You can't please all the people all the time... So, you should settle with pleasing yourself and try to please those you love.

14. The best definition of integrity is to own your successes and mistakes. Blaming someone else does nothing but make you look worse to those around you.

13. Always say "hello" with a sincere smile; you never know who's day you may make a difference in.

12. Don't hate anyone, it drains your energy. Although I fully support strongly disliking people.

11. This one breaks my heart, but vampires are NOT real. But that doesn't mean that authors should take liberties with old folklore and make them sparkle.

10. Some of your best friends hide who they are until a special moment or a crisis. Once they reveal themselves, hold on to them...

9. Also, make sure that you return the favor. Be the best friend you can be at all times--this includes pointing out food in teeth, saying "I love you" when appropriate, and driving to ER's at all hours (to name a few).

8. Speaking of saying "I love you," say it as often as possible to those you love you actually love. Life is short and you never want them to wonder if it's true or regret that you missed your chance to say so.

7. Letting go of bad things in your past doesn't mean forgetting. It means using that experience to become a better person without letting it rule you by fear or anger.

6. Daddy's Little Girls grow up to be bigger Daddy's Little Girls. We just learn to wear make-up while watching baseball, basketball and football.

5. The designated hitter is still an AWFUL idea!

4. Home isn't where you hang your hat, but who holds your heart.

3. Speaking of your heart, don't protect it too much. Let it get broken. Then revel when you find your best friend who protects with it his life for you! (I love you, Brian!)

2. Jeans and a cute top can make you feel just as sexy as a ball gown; and it takes a lot less effort/dieting/primping.

1. Lastly, age truly means nothing. Don't lose your spirit to goof off and have the time of your life every chance you get--from 5 years old to 100!

Nerd--Party of One?

I would like to confess, right here and now, that I'm a nerd (which can probably be deduced from my previous posts anyway), and I'm VERY proud of this fact. But it leads me to a very important (and slightly irritating to me) question: When did being a nerd became popular?

Comic-Con in San Diego is this weekend. I have yet to go...but in the past there was always tickets available leading about two weeks up and sometimes even the day of. Not this year. Comic Con has been completely sold out for at least a month. I started checking at the end of May for presenters/panels and booths. At the time the passes were already sold out, and no one I would eagerly want to see had announced their presence.

However, about two weeks ago (maybe a little longer) many of my favs announced they would in fact be in attendance. And, of course, I say to you again Comic-Con is completely sold out! Ugh!

Maybe I'm too frugal, but I just can't see dropping a couple hundred dollars with no guarantee that anything/one I want to see will be there. I just can't do it, captain.This is mainly because I know my luck--if I drop the dough before I see a panel I want to see announced, no announcement will ever come. I'm not saying that I can't find other panels and such to occupy my time; but if I'm going to drop money, I want it to at least be for something semi-specific.

But thanks to the currently trendy world of sci-fi/fantasy/horror/ and all things previously thought uncool (and my cheap ass), I will miss a screening of Jane Espenson's first episode of Torchwood accompanied by the cast (Hello, Captain Jack Harkness! er, I mean John Barrowman)! I will also miss Matt Smith and Karen Gillian at a Doctor Who presentation. Also Laurell K. Hamilton will have a booth...And this is where I kick myself for being said "cheap ass."

Although if anyone has access and wants to offer up an A-W-E-S-O-M-E(!) birthday present--the Torchwood screening would be a preference.

A Week Away

I'm roughly a week away from a "milestone" birthday, and I hate to admit it but I'm ambivalent on it's meaning. I'm grateful to be alive, more in love with my husband everyday, I have a family that always supports, a wonderful career, friends who make me laugh and accept me; so I'm not really sure where this birthday is supposed to leave (or start) me.

I love being the center of attention, so my birthday is a day I look forward to (the day, not the week--that's another post for another time). But this year turning the BIG 3-0, I have absolutely no clue how I want to spend/celebrate it. This could be for a number of reasons, but nevertheless it's not very like me. When I turned 21, a fairly large group went to the beach after my best friend threw me a blowout. 21 I understood, I could legally buy alcohol and was given a license to party. But 30? I'm afraid I'm kinda clueless.

Part of the reason could be that I know a celebration on the day is highly unlikely. The day falls on a Tuesday this year, and it just so happens my hubby teaches on Tuesday nights. So there is no way we'll have a birthday dinner at 11 PM , although there will probably be cake (I know at 30 I should know better, but whatever--you only live once!).

But I think the largest reason I'm ambivalent is that I'm completely content.  There is nothing I feel that I want or even need. Don't get me wrong, we all want things--cruises, houses, dresses, babies, bathing suits, Comic Con tickets; but while I may want some of these things, I'm not jumping out of my skin having to have them.

E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e keeps asking what I'm doing for my birthday, and I've been giving a classic shrug or a quiet "I'm not sure." My dear, loving husband is beyond frustrated (I think) with me saying "I don't know." I'm afraid that I've become boring in my young age: I have NO desire to party until the sun comes up, I have absolutely NO urge to drink more than 6 beers, and under NO circumstances do I want to go to a club (which isn't something I looked forward to at 21 either).

I'm not saying I wouldn't enjoy going to a casino, karaoke dive bar, or something random that includes my amazing husband, amusing friends and seafood. But I can't seem to make a decision or even narrow down to a few decisions. I'm open for suggestions as long as I can stay in a tank top, jeans and flip flops...

Golden But Not Included

The Emmy nominations were announced today--and no, I did not wake up at 5:30 AM to watch; I checked once I woke up at a suitable hour (I am NOT a television addict). Truthfully, the one person that I immensely wanted nominated I wasn't worried about. I thought, " Katey Sagal won the freaking Golden Globe! No way is the academy going to miss her!"

I truly thought that Kurt Sutter (Sagal's husband and series creator of Sons of Anarchy) was being his usual dark and pessimistic self and paid no mind when he tweeted SOA would receive no nominations. Turns out Sutter was right, and I really didn't see it coming.

If you haven't watched Sons of Anarchy--you're a fool. My husband (the die hard Shield fan) tuned in before I did, but it didn't take me long; especially because I also love Sutter's work. The show is brilliantly written by Sutter and his staff. Granted because it's Sutter it's dark, depressing at times, dirty, bloody, some WTF moments (I mean, almost boinking your sister?!), but at the end of the day it's honest.

It's very rare that a show and an actress portray a rape survivor with such realism and heart. Sagal as Gemma embodies so much of what makes women powerful, vulnerable and calculating. Sutter and Sagal are so fantastic that at times, because of my experiences, the show can be hard to watch. But to not recognize an actress just because you may not want to discuss/like the experiences of the character is bull sh*t.

The reality is the nominations, in large part, are politics. For this reason, I salute Sutter. He, most likely, will never receive a nom because he isn't in this business for the politics; he wants to create art and tell stories. It's tragic that an award for television acting isn't based on the talent but on politics. Katey Sagal steals every scene she's in (sorry, Charlie) and you can't help but feel her emotions through your television. I have cheered her on, bawled my eyes out, thought "oh sh*t," been troubled by some of her decisions, and moved by her vulnerability.

There is no other show on any network that tells darker tales and yet still inspires a close knit family. That's right--family. Yes, SOA is about a biker gang; and yes, the premise was influenced by Hamlet (still praying Sutter doesn't kill everyone). But the base line and heartbeat of the show is family: Gemma and Jax, Jax and Abel, Clay and Jax, Gemma and Clay, Jax and Tara, and finally the large extended family of the Club. If you don't believe me, rent the first three seasons on DVD or Blu Ray (Season 3 will be released on August 30). Or if that's too much of a time commitment, tune into FX in September. As long as you don't expect rainbows and bunny rabbits, you won't be disappointed.

I won't say the Academy got all the nominations wrong; after all, Walton Goggins (the only reason I will probably see Cowboys vs Aliens) is finally recognized. But based on the screw up where nominations are concerned overall, I won't hold my breath (sadly) for him to win for fear of passing out.

The Death of Daytime?

I'm calling my own meeting of Soaps Anonymous. I don't watch a ton of soap operas; to be honest I only watch General Hospital. My reasons my surprise some, especially because some of the stories lines as of late haven't been my cup of tea. But let me tell you how my loyalty started.

One summer during my middle school years I stumbled upon this beginning and staple of daytime television. At the time Robin Scorpio (now Drake--played by Kimberly McCullough) was a teenager, and she was madly in love with Stone. I was drawn in because not long before this I found out that a family friend on contracted AIDS while on her job as a nurse. During this time AIDS wasn't as widely talked about and there really wasn't that much information about it, but GH was telling Stone's story and his journey with AIDS. They were one of the only shows--daytime, primetime, whatever, that actually opened a dialogue and I had so many questions that I went through the learning with Robin. Not only that, the emotional end was true and realistic that it was brilliant.

Robin & Stone

Then as I entered high school a new group of talent took center stage and they were my age. Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst), Emily (Amber Tamblyn), Nikolas (Christopher Tyler) and the one consistent from my first watching Lucky (Jonathan Jackson). These four characters were beyond brilliantly written. Granted Nikolas' backstory, a prince with a very gothic background, was/is a little far fetched, but the dynamics of the group couldn't have been more grounded. With this group of four GH took on another (unfortunately still) widely undiscussed issue for at least it's second time--rape. This story line and Elizabeth and Lucky are the reason I keep tuning in 15 years later. They ARE my Luke and Laura.

Elizabeth & Lucky, the early years.

Then the writer's added Carly (originally Sarah Brown, now Laura Wright) and the viewers couldn't have asked for a better villain turned champion. Through the years GH has added other characters who warm my heart--Sam (Kelly Monaco), grown up Maxie (Kristin Storms), grown up Lulu (Julie Berman), Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), Patrick (Jason Thompson), Jax (Ingo Rademacher) and please don't forget Alexis (Nancy Grahn).


But all the fans are worried about GH's future with so many other soaps are getting canned. Television viewing has changed in so many ways just in the last few years that ratings aren't completely accurate until two weeks later so that the DVR viewings are factored. Unfortunately for a show that airs every day, people only look at the immediate results.


Clearly from my first paragraph I don't think the show is perfect; as a matter of fact I would say that the last 4-5 years the writing hasn't been it's best (with exception of the Domestic Violence storyline). During big months of the years the writers try to jump the shark (train crashes, serial killers, oh my), and have forgotten what brought them viewers in the first place: their social commentary, realistic emotions, and the ability that even the farthest fetched idea is grounded in a raw, common human trait.


There are a couple things that I hope the new writing regime accomplish: 1. Please get rid of Siobhan McKenna. No offense to Erin Chambers, I'm sure she's lovely. But the Irish accent is awful and I truly hate her with Jonathan Jackson (and in Port Charles in general unless she goes mute). 2. While I love Vanessa Marcil, Brenda's return is driving me batty. I don't like anyone blindly hating Carly. Robin and Carly spent years cultivating their dislike. Brenda has become like a dog with two bones--Sonny and Jax. I'll be honest, the way she's been written makes me fast-forward through those scenes. 3. PLEASE make Spinelli go back to his original incoherent babble.


But if the worst happens, and GH is added to the chopping block. The Spencer clan will be my most missed, followed closely by the Quartermaines. For me this families include the estranged, Carly and Jason, rarely scene now Monica and Bobbie. My best advice to the new writer's to keep that from happening: you have the talent, give them something amazing to do. Luke's Intervention, Carly's love for Michael, Nikolas and Lucky saying goodbye--all of these a recent great examples. Lucky finding Elizabeth after she was raped, Emily grieving her mother, Carly coping with post partum are some from longer ago. Please do amazing work so that loyal fans don't get annoyed and irritated and start turning the channel (or chose not to record) too! (Although as long as Jonathan Jackson and Rebecca Herbst stay, so will I).

See You Soon...

A month ago she told me there was no crying--I only broke this rule once in front of her. A week ago she told me to act like she wasn't leaving...so I ignored the elephant in the room. Two days ago she said it wasn't a goodbye, but a see you soon. And then yesterday came and her desk was empty.

A very special person is on a road trip right now. The sad part is that this road trip is not a round trip. Ingy's on her way to the next big step in her life...in Chicago. The Windy City is beyond lucky to have such a witty, beautiful, and wonderful gal; and LA is missing a piece of itself and feeling empty right now (especially in the office).

Ingrid has helped to keep me sane over the last few years and I, honestly, (even though it's already a reality) can't imagine not having her across from me. To help with this ode to Ingrid, I had a couple of people give me their thoughts on the matter:

"Ingrid Alberts is a strange and lovely combination of West Coast bombshell and Midwest tomboy…  When I think Ingrid, I think: football and Louboutins, dive bars and J Brands, ponytails that can be blown out into the best hair in the business.  Ingrid is a selfless and loyal friend.  She is one of the most genuine people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and I miss her already."  ~Anne

"I am oh so going to miss being able to save your day at the drop of a dime! And yes, I will not forget you are just a phone call or an email away! I am excited for all that is to come in your life! Thank you for sharing the 10-10-10; it is my go to for sure! XX" ~Jess

"You’re not even half way through your travels to Chicago and we’re all missing you so very much! For the past 6 Seasons, I have looked up to see your light shining bright (not only your desk light but your big smile that lights up the room). What are we going to do without you? Poor Polly…she is moping around already….I know you will stay in touch by Facebook, but you know you can always call me for anything! We have no doubts that you will be a shining star! Love you!" ~Wendy  

Ingy, for me, you've been solid ground on days that seem to spin with no slowing down; the biggest cheerleader for even the smallest positive things; the most hysterical comments that can make me crack a smile like no one else.

I'm not sure how I will function without the sametime commentary on noises. Or who else will convince me about beauty tricks that at first sound filthy? (I think my longest was 4 days; you were 8, I think. I've still got some learning to do.) College football season in this office may have just dried up, but when I watch the Badgers I pull for them because of you.

To say that I'm going to miss you, my friend, is to put it mildly. I know that we will have texts, phone calls, gchats, etc (we have a very important date on Monday, September 26th). But I eagerly await your November visit already! I know that you are going to do magnificent things wherever you are! Wishing you all the best and bitterly (and selfishly) wishing you didn't have to go. XXXOOO

PS-I promised no crying before you left, but you're on the road now--it's fair game.