Several years ago, I was looking for a new apartment. It was to be my first one-bedroom and I was looking for a diamond in the rough, as much as I was looking forward to the possibility of no roommates. I searched high and low for a new apartment and finally found what I was looking for (shameless U2 reference, sorry).
After viewing the place and gathering the paperwork, I walked back to my car. I called my friend Tif to tell her all about my potential new home. As I walked around to the driver's side to get into my car, I realized that a huge chunk of my front end was missing. It seems that my parked car was the unfortunate victim of a clipping violation called on a rental truck. I was lucky that the driver of the truck left a note. Believe me, that is a rarity. I took some pics of the car (my dad made me, just in case) and called the number on the note.
The gentleman who hit my car was shocked that I wasn't angry. I told him, there wasn't any point to getting mad. The car was already damaged. I was just grateful that the person who hit the car was honest and left a note. He was surprised by my reaction. Which is sad. Why do we let ourselves worry, get frustrated and angry over things that have happened or those things that are out of our control? What good does it bring?
In that regard, what do you do when you sleep through your alarm and miss your flight? A flight destined for sunnier climates, relaxation and fun with friends? And the standby list is long? And you waited in the airport for nothing? And your luggage is en route on the vacation you are supposed to be taking, because it didn't have to fly standby? Get angry? Why? Its too late to change the course of the day? I say embrace the hilarity of it all and move forward. Don't let the anger hold you back.
Kudos to T. for doing just that. In the face of a vacation missed, he came up with these little bits of joy...
1) I have a $299 travel voucher. (Sucks that I had to pay $399 to get it…)
2) Long Term parking only cost me $6. (This almost cancels my loss on the travel voucher)
3) I will not be discovered by a Hollywood agent and let success go to my head.
4) I will not break my neck surfing; Probably wasn't going to surf, but now I can guarantee I won't.
5) I get to watch the Bulls tonight and the hockey game on Saturday and Monday.
6) My luggage is going on a great trip to the left coast. I hope it hooks up with a hot samsonite!
On a side note, upon returning home, T. realized that he had left his deodorant, gel and razor at home. So, he also gets to smell good and be clean-shaven this weekend as well. Which is another plus – at least for all of his friends.
Here’s to a weekend filled with the little bits of joy that make it all worthwhile.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Touching a hand, wondering why
Do you know where you were on February 28, 1983? If you were of TV viewing age, you were probably watching the final episode of MASH. Watched by 125 million people it is the most watched episode of a television series history – at least according to my trusty Wikipedia. Throughout its 11 years, we grew to know the people that made up the 4077 and that 2 ½ hour episode gave us the chance to say “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” to them.
Similarly, I remember watching the series finale of Family Ties. I remember Alex getting ready to move away from home for his first big job. I remember the packing and the crying. I remember tearing up a bit as we watched the actors come out for their final bows. It was a bit strange to say goodbye to a family that I felt like I had grown up alongside.
As I have gotten older, I have said a lot of TV goodbyes. To Cheers, Dawson Creek, 90210, Friends, Seinfeld, Sex in the City, West Wing…some stayed a bit too long, some left a bit too soon. Each one, though, gave me a finale. An ending. A culmination to all the years I had spent with them. Through the years, I saw Diane come back and each character impart one final quip or one last word of wisdom. I saw Joey and Pacey get together and Dawson write his movie. I saw David and Donna finally get married. I saw George, Jerry, Kramer and Elaine end up in prison, contemplating their lives and their impact. I saw Monica and Chandler get their babies, Ross and Rachel reunite and Joey go after his dream (too bad his dream was another bad sitcom). I saw Mr. Big a.k.a John (the only time his name is mentioned in the series) come to his senses and win Carrie back, Miranda become a loving caretaker, Charlotte get a baby and Samantha have a relationship. I saw the dawning of a new regime and a new President. For each show, I saw the end the way I had always thought it should be. I saw everything wrap up.
Thus, this recent trend of canceling long running shows with no pomp, no circumstance, no warning is killing me a bit. Not renewing the Gilmore Girls and Crossing Jordan left me with episodes that seemed like they were trying to tie up loose ends, but without enough time. While they were series finales, they felt like season finales. (The Gilmore Girls cast didn’t know the show was canceled until after they had shot the final scenes). Crossing Jordan had people just on the brink of new beginnings, but there seemed to be so many more possibilities. It seemed like it ended too soon.
And now, my Veronica Mars is gone. One of my favorite shows of the last few years and the only one I really look forward to every week. It was witty. It was fast. It was smart. It was sassy. It was doomed. And what of it now? Next week’s season finale is its series finale? To be honest, I had an inkling it was coming. The writing was on the wall. My favorite TV site, Spoiler Fix, said it might happen. But I kept holding out hope. I tried to believe that the stupid CW wouldn’t think that The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll was quality television. I hoped that they would want people to tune in for more than Beauty and the Geek and Friday Night Smackdown. I was wrong.
And now, one of the best and brightest shows out there is ending. Where is my buildup? Where is my countdown to the finale? Where is my goodbye, farewell and amen?
Similarly, I remember watching the series finale of Family Ties. I remember Alex getting ready to move away from home for his first big job. I remember the packing and the crying. I remember tearing up a bit as we watched the actors come out for their final bows. It was a bit strange to say goodbye to a family that I felt like I had grown up alongside.
As I have gotten older, I have said a lot of TV goodbyes. To Cheers, Dawson Creek, 90210, Friends, Seinfeld, Sex in the City, West Wing…some stayed a bit too long, some left a bit too soon. Each one, though, gave me a finale. An ending. A culmination to all the years I had spent with them. Through the years, I saw Diane come back and each character impart one final quip or one last word of wisdom. I saw Joey and Pacey get together and Dawson write his movie. I saw David and Donna finally get married. I saw George, Jerry, Kramer and Elaine end up in prison, contemplating their lives and their impact. I saw Monica and Chandler get their babies, Ross and Rachel reunite and Joey go after his dream (too bad his dream was another bad sitcom). I saw Mr. Big a.k.a John (the only time his name is mentioned in the series) come to his senses and win Carrie back, Miranda become a loving caretaker, Charlotte get a baby and Samantha have a relationship. I saw the dawning of a new regime and a new President. For each show, I saw the end the way I had always thought it should be. I saw everything wrap up.
Thus, this recent trend of canceling long running shows with no pomp, no circumstance, no warning is killing me a bit. Not renewing the Gilmore Girls and Crossing Jordan left me with episodes that seemed like they were trying to tie up loose ends, but without enough time. While they were series finales, they felt like season finales. (The Gilmore Girls cast didn’t know the show was canceled until after they had shot the final scenes). Crossing Jordan had people just on the brink of new beginnings, but there seemed to be so many more possibilities. It seemed like it ended too soon.
And now, my Veronica Mars is gone. One of my favorite shows of the last few years and the only one I really look forward to every week. It was witty. It was fast. It was smart. It was sassy. It was doomed. And what of it now? Next week’s season finale is its series finale? To be honest, I had an inkling it was coming. The writing was on the wall. My favorite TV site, Spoiler Fix, said it might happen. But I kept holding out hope. I tried to believe that the stupid CW wouldn’t think that The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll was quality television. I hoped that they would want people to tune in for more than Beauty and the Geek and Friday Night Smackdown. I was wrong.
And now, one of the best and brightest shows out there is ending. Where is my buildup? Where is my countdown to the finale? Where is my goodbye, farewell and amen?
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Back in the ring
I originally started this early-April...just finally came back and finished it. I'm back. I promise. The benefit is over with and the final details are getting wrapped up slowly, but surely. My Y-Me race goal is taking a serious hit this year, because I have played every fundraising card I had. It is only a bummer, because I realized that this year is our 10th Anniversary of doing the race. Thought that I would be a lot more fantastic. On a good note though, my dad is officially joining us this year, as is Deb's fiance and a bunch of cousins. The team will be bigger than it has ever been and that is completely exciting to me.
I am not quite sure where the month of April went, but it is now May 1st and I have been away for awhile. I apologize for that, think that my brain and body needed a break.
I went to Cleveland for Easter. I have family there and Jason's family lives there. This was the blending of the families Easter celebration. Except for the fact that it snowed for 2 straight days, it was wonderful. Who thought that Easter would bring 2 feet of snow?
The weekend was a flurry of activity and tradition. We had lentils on Friday and made Italian sausage (only 20 lbs.) and dyed Easter eggs. On Saturday, we baked 4 (yes, I said 4) Lamb cakes and a batch of kolachkies. It was a wonderful weekend.
After the weekend, I headed home and to the bar for the annual Opening Day celebration. I love that it is baseball season, just wish that it would stay warmer and that the Cubs would do better. Seems that it is always my hope in the month of April.
At any rate, I am back. Sorry to all for the vanishing act. I promise to be back for awhile.
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