Wednesday with Ingy... FINALLY!

So, for the last three Wednesdays I have been off work--this is not a bad thing. For the last weeks there have been new episodes of The Good Wife--also, not a bad thing. BUT because I was off work, I've missed out on a very important part of my week: the post Good Wife Ingy/Polly time (this is the bad thing--very bad).

My cubemate and I both enjoy our fair amount of television. We don't have the exact same tastes in programs, but we have similar enough that after a good episode we both brim with anticipation to discuss it. Although we didn't figure this out until it seemed like we were the only two people in our office watching The Good Wife last year.

While we both always have the best of intentions of watching the show on Tuesday night at 10 PM when it airs (yes, I'm shamelessly plugging the show); every once in a while things (er, sleep) comes up and the talk is postponed. But despite feeling a little tired today, I feel the need to take a jolt of caffeine to make sure that I can have this very important conversation tomorrow.

To non-TV watchers or non-Good Wife fans (which if you are, you should rectify that because the show is brilliant!), this may not seem like a big deal. But discussing the Lockhart/Gardner/Former Bond firm's demise and relaunch, or who has Peter slept with now, or what is Kalinda's biggest secret, and could Alicia be ANY stronger? are very important to us.

The writing on the show is amazing. The performances are breathtaking. The fact that they took a real life circumstance (politicians cheating on their wives) and made it into a victorious woman's story is brilliant and satisfying to any viewer.


As I settle in tonight for my television viewing, I am truly giddy for the morning!

A Good Doctor

For anyone who thinks I'm going to talk about a strange medical condition or talk about an intrusive exam, do not worry--not going to happen. I firmly believe there is such a thing as TMI and I refuse to do that, at least at this point. Instead, I will be talking about my latest obsession: Doctor Who.

I have two very close friends who are to blame for this infatuation. But the truth is, I'm shocked I didn't find it on my own. The show as everything I love: snarky humor, sci-fi elements, supernatural elements, cleverly embedded foreshadowing, social commentary, a tortured guy who copes with humor, and a season long story arc. Not to mention one of my other favorite shows, Torchwood, spun off from Doctor Who.

I spent four days of my recent vacation doing nothing but watching the reboot of Doctor Who, spending time with my husband and sleeping. It's safe to say I became addicted to Russell T. Davies. I say to Davies and not the actual show because Davies is brilliant. I am in LOVE with the way he weaves story and drops subtle foreshadowing. His skill makes you want to immediately go back and re-watch an episode just to see if you missed any clues.

Couple that brilliance with the phenomenal David Tennant, and the show, for three years, could do no wrong. The first season of the re-boot were still fantastic, but Christopher Eccleston was a little too spastic for me. But you can't deny that he and Billie Piper were successful at relaunching this brand. I really liked Piper and once she was paired with Tennant it became adoration (I'll do an entire post on the Doctor's companions later, though).

Pulled from: http://www.streetprophets.com/story/2010/1/4/348/98729

However, this adoration made me very tentative about watching the most recent season with a new Doctor and show runner. That being said, I was able to watch the last 4 episodes on demand through cable television. Matt Smith didn't make me all warm and fuzzy like Tennant, but he's not a bad Doctor. The writing, to me wasn't as clever and crisp, but Smith was enjoyable and fun. In fact, one could say he's a good Doctor. We all have our favorite Doctor who we'd love to hitch a ride on the TARDIS with; but a favorite doesn't make them the only good Doctor.

Awareness Month?

April is an awareness month for a cause that is very dear to my heart--sexual assault. But I have yet to see a commercial for it; however I have seen other commercials for another cause-Parkinson's disease. I don't take issue with sharing a month; afterall there are more causes in the world than the 12 months the calendar provides. 

But I DO take issue with a cause that can't be prevented getting more (or any) attention to a cause that with enough awareness can protect some human beings from an assault that will stay with them in some way shape or form for the rest of their lives. Parkinson's is a worthy cause and research is very important for those diagnosed to be able to manage the disease or even find a cure. The same is true for MS, cancer, arthritis and any other disease that is incurable but manageable.


Statistics on Parkinson's states that 1 in 272 people are diagnosed with the disease. They also estimate that the number is really 1 in 90 people suffer from the disease but not all are diagnosed. The symptoms and characteristics of this disease increase over time and, until there is a cure, remain with the those diagnosed until death. 

Statistics on sexual assault say 1 out of 6 women are victims/survivors, and 1 out of 33 men are victims/survivors. By all accounts, these numbers are probably low because rape and other sexual assaults are not always reported. The effects of being a survivor of sexual assault include PTSD. PTSD's symptoms and characteristics also last a life time; although they are do not visually present as those of Parkinson's.


During this month I will post several other blogs about sexual assault and do my own part in raising awareness since the media seems to have forgotten. 

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please call and talk to someone: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or by logging on to the online hotline at http://www.rainn.org/.

Now Exiting Pleasantville

So, my Zags are out of the tourney (insert sad face here). I still say that we have an exceptionally young team, so all is not lost. Robert Sacre, who I contend is the best all around player of the Zags (despite the argument for Steven Gray), is a red shirt Junior--so barring drafting to the NBA early, we have at least one more year out of him. I speculate, although very early at this point, that those two years should be awesome. I also love the look of Harris, Stockton, Dower, Carter, etc for the following year.


Also, as a Zag fan I took great joy in the BYU fans' signs that read: "Zags have Stockton, BYU has Jimmer." This sign was hilarious to me on two fronts. The first: they could be comparing him to David Stockton; which is awesome--a senior to our walk on freshman. The second is perhaps they were comparing him to David's dad John. All I have to say to that is, John was a Zag 30 years ago, and college play means nothing to the NBA (i.e.: lame comparison, talk to me after almost 20 years in the NBA).


I could go on pouring out my undying love for the Zags, and I'm sure I will at a later date. (Please take note of the photo below and the Zags' fan in training.) But I have never been so happy to exit Pleasantville.  

My niece, the youngest Zag fan in the family!

I don't know if you've ever seen the Reese Witherspoon movie or not, but Jimmer Fredette of BYU is straight from that fictional town in my eyes. During the movie, the Pleasantville High School basketball team can't miss a shot; it doesn't matter where the shot is taken from. This was Jimmer the ENTIRE game. People were guarding, the shot went in. Shot taken feet, and I mean FEET, above the arc and it went in. Just passed the ball and immediately went up--it went in. It would have been pretty... if I wasn't a Zag fan. 


All that being said, I'm very happy he's graduating. BYU joins the WCC next year. I look forward to seeing them again, especially without Fredette (and Jackson Emery for that matter).  We'll see them in conference play in January 2012, and am certain (and pray) that it won't be a repeat of this game.

Will the Seed Flower?

That's the question that being a Zags fan I have to ask. For the past 12 years, we've performed underwhelmingly for 68% of our appearances.  That being said, we've performed exceptionally well (75%) of the time we were a number 10 seed or lower in the bracket (lowest being a 12 seed).

Simply put: the Gonzaga Bulldogs are on the top of their game when they are the underdog. I firmly believe we can make to the Elite Eight this year, and it's not just because I'm a Zag-faithful. Even Dick Vitale has the Zags going that far.

The Zags aren't even playing a "new" team in the tourney for their first game. They, in fact, played St. John's the opening round in 2000--a tourney in which they were a 10 seed and went to the Sweet 16.

Matt Santangelo scoring over St. John's in 2000. Photo from azstar.net

Beyond the seed and the team the Zags will play, if you're superstitious--and I am--you can also look at the bracket they are playing in. This year they are in the "southeast" bracket, which in the past was usually referred to as the "south" bracket. The two times the Zags have been in the "South/southeast" bracket, they've also made it to the Sweet 16.

I realize I'm making a great superstitious argument for why my Zags should go far in the Big Dance. But the truth is, out of the four brackets, the Southeast bracket is a wild card. It will truly depend on who plays the best game on which day; not, "they don't stand a chance against that powerhouse." As long as Mark Few brings the young Zags to play, the biggest competition in our bracket is Wisconsin.

So, let the Madness begin and I have my fingers crossed that we indeed see Wisconsin this tourney!

 

Feel Like Dancing!

 My Zags did it again! Mark Few is going to the Big Dance again and I can feel a jig coming on! To say I'm excited is putting it mildly. Last night I about drove my television crazy by constantly turning it back to the game to check the score, and I was thrilled when I could finally celebrate. (I also want to note here that I knew the Zags would continue to dominate.)

The ZAGS!!!!

I know what you're wondering, why wasn't I watching the game. The basic answer: I'm superstitious. The long answer is: When I've been able to watch conference (WCC) games this season, the Zags have lost. Out of conference play, they've won. So, I eagerly waited for score updates and refused to tune into my boys for longer than 8.5 seconds. Superstitious much? Very when it comes to my teams. I will make sure to where the right shirt, shoes, sit in the same chair, and even drink the same type of beer if the moment calls for it.

Posted by GonzagaBulldogs twitter account. The trophy is back home!

Also, last night means I'm not quite as angry that I was traveling this coming Sunday. I was on pins and needles trying to figure out how I was going to watch Selection Sunday while on a plane. Now it's just a question of where in the bracket the Zags are, not are we in a bracket. I will still be eager to see, but I won't be grumpy I can't watch.

All that being said, if (and hopefully when) the Zags make the Sweet 16, I pray they go to Anaheim. Parts of my superstitions will go out the window because I. WILL. be. there.

PS-If you love March Madness, don't forget to fill out your bracket after Selection Sunday!

Speech Trumps Privacy

I was a political science minor in college and I thought that I learned alot from one of my favorite people: Dr. Robert Carley. But this week I have to question how much I really learned based upon a Supreme Court ruling.

One of my favorite people: Dr. Robert "Doc" Carley.

In my Constitutional Law class we learned that a person's rights only existed as far as someone else's rights started. In other words, your rights are sacred as long as they don't infringe upon someone else's. Apparently, the Supreme Court of the United States doesn't agree... at least not in regard to Freedom of Speech and Right to Privacy.

The horrible, non-profit "church" I mentioned in an earlier post was granted their right to freedom of speech by the Supreme Court. This allows them to continue picketing/protesting families' private funerals for soldiers and any other funeral they think will earn them press. It's disgusting that the Supreme Court finds that right more important than protecting the privacy of those who lost loved ones fighting for the very rights we are discussing here.

I expected more from our esteemed Justices. I thought that our "sensitive" society would hold the privacy of mourning more dear. Clearly, I was wrong; but I having a sneaking suspicion that I wasn't the only one proved wrong.