TV

I don't watch the reality shows, although "Amazing Race" does sound interesting, and I want to get G on "Survivor"--he'd probably do very well. I used to love Star Search back in the 80s, but can't bring myself to watch more than a few minutes of "American Idol" at a time. However, from what I've seen, I'm really sorry Anwar is gone. He's a hottie, and I find him to be more "idol"ish star material than any of the others. I caught a few moments of Carrie's performance the other night, and couldn't understand why they thought it was good. She's also pretty stiff on stage.

I wish people would watch the shows I like. Sure, I like "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" and they're doing ratings-wise, but I'm soooo sick of all the hype. I remember when the little (formerly known as Close-Up) boxes in TV Guide used to be reserved for special episodes of shows, but those shows get a box every week, not to mention article after article and interview after interview on every TV network. My favorite shows few are watching are "Scrubs" and "Arrested Development". I enjoy a comedy without a laugh track. I don't need to be told when to laugh. "Scrubs" was renewed for 2 years at the end of last season, so I guess it'll be back next year, but I don't hold out much hope for "Arrested Development". It makes me so sad that "The Apprentice" goes on, despite the repugnant Mr. T, and "American Idol" sometimes gets 3 nights (!!) a week, but clever, intelligent, original writing gets no notice from viewers.

Been thinkin'...

like many, about this pharmacists and birth control thing. I guess I just wonder why some of these people got into that line of work in the first place. It's a scientific field. If we follow through with the anti-birth control line of thought, should we have prescription medicine at all? Do any pharmacists have a moral dilemma when dispensing Vi*gra? Maybe it's God's plan that we have high blood pressure and not try to control it. Maybe we shouldn't take ibuprofen or any other painkillers and should just smile through pain. And with that logic, we probably shouldn't have surgery. I suppose I should've died several years back since my gall bladder most likely would've exploded had I not had it out. While we're at it, let's be like the Amish, because God surely must not have meant us to have electricity, or cars. He must not have intended us to use our brains, the ones He gave us.

Bonus!

It's fun to be 40! Yesterday at my exam, I got an extra poke, one my GYN said would make Katie Couric happy (I love my dr.). She also wrote an order for a mammogram, which I knew was coming. I had one at 35, so it's not a big deal. My dr. is leaving her current practice, the second she's been with since I've seeing her, and going into a gynecology-only practice with another doctor. I won't have to run into all the preggers that way. And, if by a miracle I get pregnant, I can just go back to that practice. I'm nothing if not ever hopeful.

The visit was pretty entertaining, as she came into the exam room wheeling a computer. They have a new system for ALL of your medical info. My RE hadn't forwarded her the info about my second IVF and my lap of a year and a half ago. He'd sent the first results, maybe he was too sad the second time. This computer program is pretty thorough. I've been having an irritation problem and she said the skin in that area looked a bit paler and thinner, possibly a result of all the fertility drugs. Well, yay. She noted this in my chart and then typed "SEE DIAGRAM." After typing, she pulled up a picture of a naked woman, and commented on her hairless (except for her head) state. She then goosed (her word) the picture's nether region with the cursor, which brought up the woman's hairless splayed glory. She used the cursor to indicate my thin-skinned lip, and was able to make it the approximate color.

"Picture b*ok,

Pictures of my c*oter,
On my gyno's 'puter,
Just a day ago."

Rock and Roll!!!

I'm trying to plan a trip to Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over Memorial Day weekend, but am waiting to see how bad our tax bills will be. I started to plan this trip a couple of years ago when I thought I'd be asking for a raise, but that's when the bottom started to crumble away from the company where I was working. We haven't had a vacation trip for over two years, and I could really use one. The botanical garden in Cleveland has a big flower show that weekend that I believe G would really enjoy. Here's hoping the accountant does a great job keeping what we owe low, low, low!

I've seen most of my favorite groups/singers in concert, but have never seen Eric Carmen, whom I love. I was too young to appreciate his group, the Raspberries, when they were popular. I was only about 7 when they started getting popular, and at that point I was into Donny Osmond, the Partridge Family and the Monkees still, even though they had broken up a few years before. I fell in love with the song "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" when I was 11, and became an Eric Carmen fan. He performed with the "Dirty Dancing" tour, but hasn't done any real touring that I know of, and I certainly never dreamed the Raspberries would reunite. I found out, too late, that they had, to do a couple of weekend shows in Cleveland (their hometown) over Thanksgiving weekend, or we could have gone then. By the time I found out it was sold out. Even after 30 years, they apparently have rabid fans, and they're doing some scattered shows now. They had a show in Chicago that I also missed, and will be in NYC and Denver. I have a good friend in Colorado Springs, and I'm tempted to go out and visit and see if she wants to go with me, but if I did that I'd have to offer to pay for her ticket, and she'd have to get a sitter (her husband's in Iraq). Plus, there'd be the plane ticket, rental car, etc. So unless I get a windfall, no Raspberries for me, unless they come a little closer to here.

Lazy

I am very, very lazy. Hence, the lack of entries. If you saw my house, you'd agree about the indolence. Heck, you'd probably say I needed professional help (housekeeping, organizing, deep, mind-probing counseling) and I do. I sheepishly called our accountants the other day and asked if we could bring our info today, and the smiling receptionist said "Sure!" I'm sure they hate us now. I used to do our taxes, which inspired headaches and crying jags, mainly after G started his own business. When I had my game show winnings to include, I insisted we use an accountant, and G was so pleased with the results that we've continued using them, even though I probably could have done it with Turbotax last year. This year's forms are so scary, with my multitude of W-2s and 1099s, that I didn't want to chance it. Hopefully G has everything turned in by now.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday literally shoveling out insulation that G pumped into our attic a couple of months ago. We'd never cleaned up the excess, because I was too lazy until yesterday. I think it's kind of funny that the insulation is made of recycled newspaper--makes me feel good and green (the good kind of green). I'm sure it gives conservatives in my community a lot of pleasure to think they were using the grindings of our local newspaper to plug up holes in their houses. There's still so much to do. G's sister is hounding him to help her at her house, and he's futzing with the garden and other things that he wants done, so he's telling her he'll help her when he finishes his giant list. I told him to tell her I'm leaving him if he works on her house before our bedroom is done. I bought border paper 2 months ago and paint about 3 weeks ago, and I can't get him to finish sanding and prepping our walls for paint. Sigh.

First visit to my portal maintenance tech in two years tomorrow. I'm making a list of things to ask her about, all probably due to pre-menopause. My previous 2 cycles had been 27 days, and I was hoping this one would be the same, so everything would be all spic and span for the stirrups, but of course, this month it didn't come 'til Day 29. I suppose she's seen worse.

Minty Fresh

I love this, and not just because there's a song called "Tracy Hide", which is lovely. The link actually has the wrong album title, it's supposed to be self-titled. If you like Beatlesque-Brian Wilson-pop, this is so cool. Problem is, it's about 10 years old and an import, so picking it up will probably require going through Amazon, ebay, or finding it in a bin at your favorite used record store. I'm a huge Raspberries/Eric Carmen fan, and the Wondermints must be, too.

Oh, I guess all is now safe. UK lost. Damn. Double overtime. Double damn.