Happy Halloween knuckleheads! (I blatantly stole that from Wilbon on "Pardon the Interruption" - sorry, but I could not resist.)
To celebrate this fine holiday, I lit a pumpkin candle, watched "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and then ate some frozen yogurt and fruit. Don't judge me for my mundane choices. I've had some wild costumed fiascos in my past, and at this point, I am pretty content to just snuggle up with the family and savor some small goodies. I also usually suffer from a nasty head cold on All Hallow's Eve, and this year is no exception.
So, I shall enjoy the rest of this evening in my boring little world. And I'll love every minute of it.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
If It's Happened Before...
Well, it's happened again. That is the story of last night's fun at the Poling household. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (That little bit courtesy of The Princess Bride and Westley's birthday today!)
But, really, let me explain.
Last evening, I heard the pooches barking like lunatics, which is really nothing new. Except then I saw headlights in the driveway and realized that the commotion actually seemed to be warranted, as opposed to the usual howling at nothing. So, as you do, I answered the door.
On the front porch stood a nice-looking fellow, whom I greeted amidst reassurances that the canine calvary was intended not to bite but only to lick him him half to death. After he saw that I was right, he proceeded to ask me, "Is your dad the dentist?"
Now, this is hardly the first time this has happened - it just hasn't happened in a while, so I was a little out of practice in my response. Usually, I let it go with no correction. since it only proves awkward to set it straight. But, last night, I blurted out, "Not my dad. My husband."
Later, I told ol' Scotty P. about it and we had a laugh. Now, that part is new and unusual. Because in the past, he has found this whole confusion less than humorous. As an ode to those bygones, I reminded him of the more hysterical temper tantrums he has thrown after said mistaken identity. I now share these fine moments with you.
**When we still lived in good old Morgantown, WV, we were shopping at a department store in the mall. Ol' Scotty P. wandered into the Juniors section, where I diligently searched for the next great outfit to complete my closet. I had already stashed a few gems in the fitting rooms and one of the little helpers asked me if I needed to add anything to pile before I commenced to the trying-on phase. She glanced at Scott and asked if I had to "ask my dad first." I laughed. Ol' Scotty P. did not. He did, in fact, storm out of there in a pretty dramatic fashion. There may or may not have been under-the-breath cussing. Poor guy. He was not yet accustomed to this little fact of life.
**One of the very first things we did when we moved here to North Carolina was set up our gym memberships. We walked into the local recreation center and filled out all the necessary paperwork. I guess the lady wasn't paying attention to my forms because as she handed me my gym ID card, she asked me my age. I must have looked confused because she asked me again, and then looked at ol' Scotty P. as she explained the gym's policy that minors under the age of 16 need parental supervision to work out. Ol' Scotty P. stammered something inaudible. I corrected the lady. We left out of there in a jiffy.
While there have been so many other instances (the propane gas man who consistently asks if my dad is home, the various patients at the dental office who assume the doctor's faithful daughter has dropped in after school) ol' Scotty P. had learned to take it all in stride. We laugh now. The temper tantrums are over.
But, the memories live on, thank goodness. We all need some good laughs.
But, really, let me explain.
Last evening, I heard the pooches barking like lunatics, which is really nothing new. Except then I saw headlights in the driveway and realized that the commotion actually seemed to be warranted, as opposed to the usual howling at nothing. So, as you do, I answered the door.
On the front porch stood a nice-looking fellow, whom I greeted amidst reassurances that the canine calvary was intended not to bite but only to lick him him half to death. After he saw that I was right, he proceeded to ask me, "Is your dad the dentist?"
Now, this is hardly the first time this has happened - it just hasn't happened in a while, so I was a little out of practice in my response. Usually, I let it go with no correction. since it only proves awkward to set it straight. But, last night, I blurted out, "Not my dad. My husband."
Later, I told ol' Scotty P. about it and we had a laugh. Now, that part is new and unusual. Because in the past, he has found this whole confusion less than humorous. As an ode to those bygones, I reminded him of the more hysterical temper tantrums he has thrown after said mistaken identity. I now share these fine moments with you.
**When we still lived in good old Morgantown, WV, we were shopping at a department store in the mall. Ol' Scotty P. wandered into the Juniors section, where I diligently searched for the next great outfit to complete my closet. I had already stashed a few gems in the fitting rooms and one of the little helpers asked me if I needed to add anything to pile before I commenced to the trying-on phase. She glanced at Scott and asked if I had to "ask my dad first." I laughed. Ol' Scotty P. did not. He did, in fact, storm out of there in a pretty dramatic fashion. There may or may not have been under-the-breath cussing. Poor guy. He was not yet accustomed to this little fact of life.
**One of the very first things we did when we moved here to North Carolina was set up our gym memberships. We walked into the local recreation center and filled out all the necessary paperwork. I guess the lady wasn't paying attention to my forms because as she handed me my gym ID card, she asked me my age. I must have looked confused because she asked me again, and then looked at ol' Scotty P. as she explained the gym's policy that minors under the age of 16 need parental supervision to work out. Ol' Scotty P. stammered something inaudible. I corrected the lady. We left out of there in a jiffy.
While there have been so many other instances (the propane gas man who consistently asks if my dad is home, the various patients at the dental office who assume the doctor's faithful daughter has dropped in after school) ol' Scotty P. had learned to take it all in stride. We laugh now. The temper tantrums are over.
But, the memories live on, thank goodness. We all need some good laughs.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
You Know What?
I'll tell you what: I am terrible at keeping my blog updated! But, now I have several reasons for doing so:
**I am writing a play! Which has its own blog, too! You can view it here!
http://www.betweenthetacklesplay.blogspot.com/
**The play is being written with a collaborator, who is far less of a procrastinator than am I. So, I must be more ambitious, organized, and on my game so she does not think I am a total loser. (It is okay if she thinks I am a little bit of a loser, just not an all-the-way loser. One can not, and should not, hide the truth.)
**Writing every day would be a good way to keep my writing skills in check since, you know, I am writing a play.
**It's football season! Out of an abundance of caution I will not blog right now about the heavenly aroma of a Brett Favre-less season, lest he catch wind of such notions, dust off his Wranglers, and decide to saunter back into the league. (Which I am sure will happen anyway, but it won't be because of my jinx, so don't blame me.)
Until next time - which will be sooner than it was last time - peace out!
**I am writing a play! Which has its own blog, too! You can view it here!
http://www.betweenthetacklesplay.blogspot.com/
**The play is being written with a collaborator, who is far less of a procrastinator than am I. So, I must be more ambitious, organized, and on my game so she does not think I am a total loser. (It is okay if she thinks I am a little bit of a loser, just not an all-the-way loser. One can not, and should not, hide the truth.)
**Writing every day would be a good way to keep my writing skills in check since, you know, I am writing a play.
**It's football season! Out of an abundance of caution I will not blog right now about the heavenly aroma of a Brett Favre-less season, lest he catch wind of such notions, dust off his Wranglers, and decide to saunter back into the league. (Which I am sure will happen anyway, but it won't be because of my jinx, so don't blame me.)
Until next time - which will be sooner than it was last time - peace out!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Memory Lane
It is no big secret that I absolutely, positively can not bear silence. Especially when I am working on something. So, being my own boss, I get to pick whatever I want to watch and listen to while lawyering away in my little office - sometimes a documentary from topdocumentaryfilms.com, sometimes a good old gem from Netflix streaming online, and, more often than not, a favorite from my massive library of DVD's.
The past few weeks, I have become addicted to Party of Five, Season One. (And, because I am uber-dork extraordinare, Seasons Two and Three will follow suit!) I watched this first season last summer, but it only seemed appropriate to break it out again - since it's so incredibly awesome and puts me into a fabulous, reminiscent state of mind.
Every time I see and hear it, it reminds me of where I was and what I was doing when I watched its first-run, in 1994 and 1995. Back when I was in college, living in a particularly crappy apartment and partying with my friends and studying just enough and acting awfully knowledgeable and finding my way.
I had no idea of what my life would turn out to be. I had no goals beyond successfully graduating with my bachelor's degree. I had no job and no money and no need for any, since my wonderful parents paid all my living expenses and tuition and provided me enough spare change to chip in my share for cases of Bud Dry bottles from the Dairy Mart and pizza from Papa John's - something for which I was always grateful, but did not appreciate to its fullest extent until later.
I knew it was a transient time, that I would graduate and move forward and probably go on to school and have a career and all that comes with it. As much as I loved that time, I realized its fleeting nature and the harsh fact that once those years are behind you, you can never get them back. So, I enjoyed the bejeezus out of that time.
And, every week, Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five were a part of my routine. The moving storylines, the enotional music, the drama - it propelled me along during those years, through my own post-adolescent storylines and drama. And in 1996, when I did graduate (quite successfully, I might add) those shows continued to be big parts of my ever-changing life - during my moves to other crappy apartments, and onto crappy jobs, and then less crappy jobs, and so on and so forth.
When Party of Five finally wrapped up in 2000, I was engaged to be married and getting ready to start law school. I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and really I still don't. And that ironic fact is not lost on me as I sit here, listening to those comfortable episodes all over again and practicing law for real in a state hundreds of miles from where this storyline originally took place.
But strolling down that memory lane makes me really happy - and I know that, although I still have few goals and still feel like that twenty-year-old girl deep down inside, I am still really happy. In a more grown-up way. I have a way better place to live and enough money to afford the more high-brow beer now, so there is all the proof you will ever need.
It is good to sometimes remind yourself of good times that are gone forever - not to torture yourself or allow yourself to wallow in some fuzzy, idealized past, but to just remember. Remember what it was like, what you were like, how things have changed. Like the Joni Mitchell song featured in this first season (which, incidentally, is only one of many brilliant musical choices which kind of made me fall in love with this show to begin with) so wisely tell us, "You can't return, you can only look behind from where you came..."
And that is okay, too.
The past few weeks, I have become addicted to Party of Five, Season One. (And, because I am uber-dork extraordinare, Seasons Two and Three will follow suit!) I watched this first season last summer, but it only seemed appropriate to break it out again - since it's so incredibly awesome and puts me into a fabulous, reminiscent state of mind.
Every time I see and hear it, it reminds me of where I was and what I was doing when I watched its first-run, in 1994 and 1995. Back when I was in college, living in a particularly crappy apartment and partying with my friends and studying just enough and acting awfully knowledgeable and finding my way.
I had no idea of what my life would turn out to be. I had no goals beyond successfully graduating with my bachelor's degree. I had no job and no money and no need for any, since my wonderful parents paid all my living expenses and tuition and provided me enough spare change to chip in my share for cases of Bud Dry bottles from the Dairy Mart and pizza from Papa John's - something for which I was always grateful, but did not appreciate to its fullest extent until later.
I knew it was a transient time, that I would graduate and move forward and probably go on to school and have a career and all that comes with it. As much as I loved that time, I realized its fleeting nature and the harsh fact that once those years are behind you, you can never get them back. So, I enjoyed the bejeezus out of that time.
And, every week, Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five were a part of my routine. The moving storylines, the enotional music, the drama - it propelled me along during those years, through my own post-adolescent storylines and drama. And in 1996, when I did graduate (quite successfully, I might add) those shows continued to be big parts of my ever-changing life - during my moves to other crappy apartments, and onto crappy jobs, and then less crappy jobs, and so on and so forth.
When Party of Five finally wrapped up in 2000, I was engaged to be married and getting ready to start law school. I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and really I still don't. And that ironic fact is not lost on me as I sit here, listening to those comfortable episodes all over again and practicing law for real in a state hundreds of miles from where this storyline originally took place.
But strolling down that memory lane makes me really happy - and I know that, although I still have few goals and still feel like that twenty-year-old girl deep down inside, I am still really happy. In a more grown-up way. I have a way better place to live and enough money to afford the more high-brow beer now, so there is all the proof you will ever need.
It is good to sometimes remind yourself of good times that are gone forever - not to torture yourself or allow yourself to wallow in some fuzzy, idealized past, but to just remember. Remember what it was like, what you were like, how things have changed. Like the Joni Mitchell song featured in this first season (which, incidentally, is only one of many brilliant musical choices which kind of made me fall in love with this show to begin with) so wisely tell us, "You can't return, you can only look behind from where you came..."
And that is okay, too.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Things For Which To Look Forward
I can feel it coming on quickly - though not quickly enough for me. It's almost that time of year: summer. And that can only mean tons of fun to anticipate. Because it isn't here yet, and I am impatient for it, I will make a list of all the things I simply can't wait to do and see and experience during a little thing I'll call SummerTime Extravaganza 2011.
**The dance recital. Yep, in less than a month I will wear some sequins and pull my hair into a curly ponytail with the rest of the teenagers and perform on a high school stage in the dance recital. It's silly and possibly (okay, let's be real: absolutely) age inappropriate. But I don't care one bit. I will never outgrow it or the excitement it brings. All the rehearsals leading up to it, sweating in the early June heat, running dances over and over - there are few things better. I know it will end eventually, but for this year, I will totally enjoy it. (I've never subscribed to this outdated notion of growing up anyway. This is just that belief put into motion.)
**Pool parties. In fact, until it turned into winter again, we already enjoyed this! Who knew that digging up your yard and filling it with water and concrete could turn into instant fun? (Okay, everyone knows it. I'm being flippant.) It's great to get all your friends together and chill out poolside. In fact, I had this great idea to begin my own "Real Housewives of Yancey County" every afternoon, until I had to resign my housewife position and go to work. (My sister, the true "Housewives" expert, tells me that some Housewives, in fact, work at the same time they claim to be Housewives. I just don't know if I have the time to both make a living defending the masses and sip cocktails every afternoon. I'm just not an overachiever.)
**Parkway Playhouse. Need I say more? I didn't think so. Even though I am on play restriction to one show a summer, it will be amazing and those daily rehearsals can't come soon enough.
**Company. Usually my family visits and this summer, a few friends are planning trips south. It's the perfect time to catch up and enjoy all that western North Carolina has to offer.
And that is pretty much how SummerTime Extravaganza 2011 is going to go down. The end.
**The dance recital. Yep, in less than a month I will wear some sequins and pull my hair into a curly ponytail with the rest of the teenagers and perform on a high school stage in the dance recital. It's silly and possibly (okay, let's be real: absolutely) age inappropriate. But I don't care one bit. I will never outgrow it or the excitement it brings. All the rehearsals leading up to it, sweating in the early June heat, running dances over and over - there are few things better. I know it will end eventually, but for this year, I will totally enjoy it. (I've never subscribed to this outdated notion of growing up anyway. This is just that belief put into motion.)
**Pool parties. In fact, until it turned into winter again, we already enjoyed this! Who knew that digging up your yard and filling it with water and concrete could turn into instant fun? (Okay, everyone knows it. I'm being flippant.) It's great to get all your friends together and chill out poolside. In fact, I had this great idea to begin my own "Real Housewives of Yancey County" every afternoon, until I had to resign my housewife position and go to work. (My sister, the true "Housewives" expert, tells me that some Housewives, in fact, work at the same time they claim to be Housewives. I just don't know if I have the time to both make a living defending the masses and sip cocktails every afternoon. I'm just not an overachiever.)
**Parkway Playhouse. Need I say more? I didn't think so. Even though I am on play restriction to one show a summer, it will be amazing and those daily rehearsals can't come soon enough.
**Company. Usually my family visits and this summer, a few friends are planning trips south. It's the perfect time to catch up and enjoy all that western North Carolina has to offer.
And that is pretty much how SummerTime Extravaganza 2011 is going to go down. The end.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Things I've Never Done (Though You Should Never Say "Never")
And I don't know if I ever will do any of these things, either. In fact, I don't even want to do some of them, even though it seems socially acceptable to desire otherwise.
**I have never, nor will I ever, participate in any of those numerous Facebook "challenges" - the photo-a-day thing, the 30-songs-in-30-days thing, the other 10,000 things I forget about. It isn't that I begrudge the people who do them. I kind of like seeing some of their choices. It's just that I myself am too lazy to stay focused on something which has no real purpose, yet takes me thinking about it every single day to accomplish.
**I have never watched the original "Terminator" movie all the way to the end. Weird? Probably. Do I regret this? Not really.
**I have never taken an honest history class. (I don't count anything that happened prior to my high school graduation, since I don't consider any of those meetings of individuals "honest classes" in anything...plus, I truly never had a history class.) I do kind of feel bad about this. My college career was quite enlightening, but I just never needed to take a history class to round out my requirements. It's too bad, since I have an interest in history and would have enjoyed it a lot. I am not regretful enough to go back and do it at this point in my life, but still.
**I've never liked ketchup from the get-go. Not. One. Bit.
**Even though I really, really want to go, I've never been to Europe.
**Even though I really, really don't care one way or the other, I've never been on a cruise.
**I've never eaten Spam. I have sung the Monty Python song by the same name, but the food upon which it is based? It has not touched my list. And I'm fairly confident that, at this point, it never will.
Though one should probably never say "never." Though I just did. And I don't regret it, either. Not. One. Bit.
**I have never, nor will I ever, participate in any of those numerous Facebook "challenges" - the photo-a-day thing, the 30-songs-in-30-days thing, the other 10,000 things I forget about. It isn't that I begrudge the people who do them. I kind of like seeing some of their choices. It's just that I myself am too lazy to stay focused on something which has no real purpose, yet takes me thinking about it every single day to accomplish.
**I have never watched the original "Terminator" movie all the way to the end. Weird? Probably. Do I regret this? Not really.
**I have never taken an honest history class. (I don't count anything that happened prior to my high school graduation, since I don't consider any of those meetings of individuals "honest classes" in anything...plus, I truly never had a history class.) I do kind of feel bad about this. My college career was quite enlightening, but I just never needed to take a history class to round out my requirements. It's too bad, since I have an interest in history and would have enjoyed it a lot. I am not regretful enough to go back and do it at this point in my life, but still.
**I've never liked ketchup from the get-go. Not. One. Bit.
**Even though I really, really want to go, I've never been to Europe.
**Even though I really, really don't care one way or the other, I've never been on a cruise.
**I've never eaten Spam. I have sung the Monty Python song by the same name, but the food upon which it is based? It has not touched my list. And I'm fairly confident that, at this point, it never will.
Though one should probably never say "never." Though I just did. And I don't regret it, either. Not. One. Bit.
Friday, May 13, 2011
'Cause Oprah Said So!
I don't really consider myself a true Oprah junkie. In fact, I used to be pro-O, until she fatefully had Bill O'Reilly on her show as an ally, at which time I vowed to never, EVER watch her again. But, like Kathy Griffin likes to say, if you are not with her, watch your back because she can have you killed at her whim. So, I guess I'm on board again, if only for the dramatic episodes where she spends less time patting herself on her own back and more time bringing her audience to tears.
And now, since Oprah is hanging it up after 25 years, I think it's only fair to go back and credit her for the things she has taught me over that time.
**Don't text and drive. This might be the worst possible thing you could do, according to that day's show. I believe Oprah might have you spontaneously turned into a pillar of salt if you dare disobey her. You just should not try and tempt her power. Like she said, if you have to text someone that badly, pull over to the side of the road to do it. And she will know if you don't. Because she sees all.
**Tell your husband "I appreciate you" every day when he comes home from work. This goes both ways, of course. Everyone should tell each other how much they are "appreciated." I admit that sometimes (okay, mostly every single day for the past 11 years) I forget to do it. But, I think I had better get on the stick.
**Make sure you remember this mantra for all time: "When you know better, you do better." I don't really have anything snarky to say about this because it's actually a really good life lesson, especially when you realize that most people genuinely don't know better and that's why they never do better. Sad, but true. Those people clearly should be watching more Oprah instead of doing whatever is keeping them in such sorry states.
**Write in a journal as often as possible. I really did start to do this back in law school and kept a pretty consistent journal of my life for years. I guess blogging is kind of the same thing, but far less histrionic. Oprah would probably not approve.
**If you happen to have a toddler in your car's backseat, try not to forget about it and leave it there to swelter in the sun all day. This happened, fatally, to a poor lady in Ohio. And though she did get on the Oprah show, this is hardly worth it. Here's the point: make sure you "slow down" in your life and don't become a slave to routine - or this could happen to you. (I find it fascinating that a tip to avoid this is to leave your purse on the backseat, so that you have to look back there before locking the vehicle. I know my purses mean a lot to me, but I didn't realize that love and care could save a life!) Seriously, though, that story kind of haunted me - even though I had to extrapolate it to dogs, since I am sans children. Powerful nonetheless.
**Don't write a book, claim it's true, and then admit you made it all up - unless you enjoy being destroyed by Oprah in a dramatic smack-down.
Speaking of said smack-downs, James Frey is coming back for more (Please, ma'am, may I have another?!) next week. Stay tuned faithful viewers - I guess I will!!
And now, since Oprah is hanging it up after 25 years, I think it's only fair to go back and credit her for the things she has taught me over that time.
**Don't text and drive. This might be the worst possible thing you could do, according to that day's show. I believe Oprah might have you spontaneously turned into a pillar of salt if you dare disobey her. You just should not try and tempt her power. Like she said, if you have to text someone that badly, pull over to the side of the road to do it. And she will know if you don't. Because she sees all.
**Tell your husband "I appreciate you" every day when he comes home from work. This goes both ways, of course. Everyone should tell each other how much they are "appreciated." I admit that sometimes (okay, mostly every single day for the past 11 years) I forget to do it. But, I think I had better get on the stick.
**Make sure you remember this mantra for all time: "When you know better, you do better." I don't really have anything snarky to say about this because it's actually a really good life lesson, especially when you realize that most people genuinely don't know better and that's why they never do better. Sad, but true. Those people clearly should be watching more Oprah instead of doing whatever is keeping them in such sorry states.
**Write in a journal as often as possible. I really did start to do this back in law school and kept a pretty consistent journal of my life for years. I guess blogging is kind of the same thing, but far less histrionic. Oprah would probably not approve.
**If you happen to have a toddler in your car's backseat, try not to forget about it and leave it there to swelter in the sun all day. This happened, fatally, to a poor lady in Ohio. And though she did get on the Oprah show, this is hardly worth it. Here's the point: make sure you "slow down" in your life and don't become a slave to routine - or this could happen to you. (I find it fascinating that a tip to avoid this is to leave your purse on the backseat, so that you have to look back there before locking the vehicle. I know my purses mean a lot to me, but I didn't realize that love and care could save a life!) Seriously, though, that story kind of haunted me - even though I had to extrapolate it to dogs, since I am sans children. Powerful nonetheless.
**Don't write a book, claim it's true, and then admit you made it all up - unless you enjoy being destroyed by Oprah in a dramatic smack-down.
Speaking of said smack-downs, James Frey is coming back for more (Please, ma'am, may I have another?!) next week. Stay tuned faithful viewers - I guess I will!!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I Believe...
In these things, though they might not be the most popular ideas in the whole wide world:
**I believe that 9/11 was an inside job.
**I believe that the football really did cross the plane of the goal line when Big Ben dove for that touchdown in Super Bowl XL - and I've only watched that game roughly 10,000 times so I should know. (And, you know, I'm not biased or anything.)
**I believe that watching shows on MTV (or VH1 for that matter) really, literally could rot out your brain. I also believe that there is no better way to waste your own time or boost your own self-esteem.
**I believe that you can tell everything you need to know about a person with one question: Elvis or The Beatles?
**I believe that adults today think kids today have too much stuff - and when those adults were kids, the other adults thought those kids had too much stuff. It's all relative. And the same percentage of kids will turn out all right as the ones who will turn out to be losers and the stuff doesn't really matter as much as the parenting those adults should be doing instead of bitching about all the stuff they bought the kids in the first place.
**I believe HBO makes the best shows on television, and if I aspired to be a writer anywhere, it would be for HBO.
**I believe this blog post is finished!
**I believe that 9/11 was an inside job.
**I believe that the football really did cross the plane of the goal line when Big Ben dove for that touchdown in Super Bowl XL - and I've only watched that game roughly 10,000 times so I should know. (And, you know, I'm not biased or anything.)
**I believe that watching shows on MTV (or VH1 for that matter) really, literally could rot out your brain. I also believe that there is no better way to waste your own time or boost your own self-esteem.
**I believe that you can tell everything you need to know about a person with one question: Elvis or The Beatles?
**I believe that adults today think kids today have too much stuff - and when those adults were kids, the other adults thought those kids had too much stuff. It's all relative. And the same percentage of kids will turn out all right as the ones who will turn out to be losers and the stuff doesn't really matter as much as the parenting those adults should be doing instead of bitching about all the stuff they bought the kids in the first place.
**I believe HBO makes the best shows on television, and if I aspired to be a writer anywhere, it would be for HBO.
**I believe this blog post is finished!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Springtime
I used to believe, whole-heartedly, that no season could ever beat autumn as the best ever. Not only do I love the brilliant leaves and crisp,cool air and unique smells, but come on. It trumpets in the best season of them all: football season. It's like heaven, only you are alive and it definitely exists. (Except for this year, due to the NFL lockout, which I really. Can't. Talk. About. Right. Now.)
Lately, I have awoken to the bright blue sky and gorgeous green trees of springtime. Maybe it's because here in North Carolina, as opposed to western PA or wild and wonderful WV, there is actually a real-life season known as spring - not just a few months on the calendar which claim to be so, while the view from the window looks a whole lot more like a slightly warmer winter with (mostly) rain instead of snow. The days are longer and not too hot, but never cold. The rain is usually brief and necessary. The sky is colored something other than gray. It is a marvel.
Sometimes, I think I may have learned to enjoy this time of year even more than the sexier choice: summer. All the life emerging from the wintery blanket of cold and ice is refreshing and wonderful. I feel like I'm emerging too - able to go outside, drink in the breeze and buds...at least until the allergies force me back inside.
Yes, I will always pine for autumn. But, at least now I can do so whilst taking in the majesty of what is around me in the meantime.
Lately, I have awoken to the bright blue sky and gorgeous green trees of springtime. Maybe it's because here in North Carolina, as opposed to western PA or wild and wonderful WV, there is actually a real-life season known as spring - not just a few months on the calendar which claim to be so, while the view from the window looks a whole lot more like a slightly warmer winter with (mostly) rain instead of snow. The days are longer and not too hot, but never cold. The rain is usually brief and necessary. The sky is colored something other than gray. It is a marvel.
Sometimes, I think I may have learned to enjoy this time of year even more than the sexier choice: summer. All the life emerging from the wintery blanket of cold and ice is refreshing and wonderful. I feel like I'm emerging too - able to go outside, drink in the breeze and buds...at least until the allergies force me back inside.
Yes, I will always pine for autumn. But, at least now I can do so whilst taking in the majesty of what is around me in the meantime.
Monday, April 18, 2011
I Have No Good Excuse...
But that doesn't mean I don't have a slew of really bad excuses - as to why this blog has been abandoned for as long as it has. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
**I have been otherwise occupied trolling the Television Without Pity (TWOP) forum boards to find other seemingly mature adults totally and pathetically obsessed with the true piece of crap show called "Teen Mom 2." I am severely not proud of the fact that I watch the show at all - never mind my ridiculous and appalling need for more information on teenagers for whom I have nothing but fond contempt. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and hope to high heaven that no one ever finds me out. But, I have come clean like the addict I am, and from here on, I will just have to take whatever repercussions come my way.
**I have begun working out on the treadmill more often, which means I have had to switch around my other time-wasters to different points in the day, leaving less creative energy with which to post my random meanderings. (On the flip side, I have begun re-watching Beverly Hills 90210's amazingly terrific sixth season as I run. There are really no words as to the gleeful happiness this provides my soul. Really. Those are the only words I have.)
**I have actual human friends in the area with whom I spend social time. This is not something usual since my move to North Carolina. Of course, I knew people and we did things. But, these "things" were mainly sporadic, and the usual "people" in my day-to-day were either married to me or, technically, not people. (Hint: They are of a canine variety.) Now, my social calendar has picked up, and my postings have dwindled. But, fear not - I intend to turn this around! (And we all know that no roads to any place less desirable were ever paved with good intentions...)
**Actual work has gotten in the way of the aforementioned activities, rudely taking the time I might have used to update this venture. Although on one hand unacceptable, this is apparently the cultural norm. Unlike positions I may have held in the past (and I will not incriminate myself, since I plunked down $50,000-plus on a legal education wherein I learned at least this much) I now don't always have as much time for, um, extracurriculars during the workday. I am working to adapt the best I know how.
That is pretty much all I have. What can I say? I will try to do better.
Thank you.
**I have been otherwise occupied trolling the Television Without Pity (TWOP) forum boards to find other seemingly mature adults totally and pathetically obsessed with the true piece of crap show called "Teen Mom 2." I am severely not proud of the fact that I watch the show at all - never mind my ridiculous and appalling need for more information on teenagers for whom I have nothing but fond contempt. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and hope to high heaven that no one ever finds me out. But, I have come clean like the addict I am, and from here on, I will just have to take whatever repercussions come my way.
**I have begun working out on the treadmill more often, which means I have had to switch around my other time-wasters to different points in the day, leaving less creative energy with which to post my random meanderings. (On the flip side, I have begun re-watching Beverly Hills 90210's amazingly terrific sixth season as I run. There are really no words as to the gleeful happiness this provides my soul. Really. Those are the only words I have.)
**I have actual human friends in the area with whom I spend social time. This is not something usual since my move to North Carolina. Of course, I knew people and we did things. But, these "things" were mainly sporadic, and the usual "people" in my day-to-day were either married to me or, technically, not people. (Hint: They are of a canine variety.) Now, my social calendar has picked up, and my postings have dwindled. But, fear not - I intend to turn this around! (And we all know that no roads to any place less desirable were ever paved with good intentions...)
**Actual work has gotten in the way of the aforementioned activities, rudely taking the time I might have used to update this venture. Although on one hand unacceptable, this is apparently the cultural norm. Unlike positions I may have held in the past (and I will not incriminate myself, since I plunked down $50,000-plus on a legal education wherein I learned at least this much) I now don't always have as much time for, um, extracurriculars during the workday. I am working to adapt the best I know how.
That is pretty much all I have. What can I say? I will try to do better.
Thank you.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Oscar Watch 2011
Due to the unfortunate, time-consuming process of studying endlessly for the bar examination last year at this time, I was forced to cease my critiques of the Oscar nominated films. That was a bummer on several levels, though I guess it turned out okay in the end and I enjoyed the Oscars just as much anyway.
But, this year, I can resume, even if it's just for my own benefit. So, I will!
Generally speaking, I hate the new format of ten nominated movies. It's just kind of dumb, since the Academy still nominates only five directors, begging the question of whether a nominated film with no nominated director will ever win the big prize. But, logic has not been the Academy's strong suit ever, so we'll just go with it.
So far, I've seen nine of the ten nominated films. I am pretty proud of myself, but must confess I had seen a good deal of them prior to the nominations being announced, so maybe I was just lucky. The following is a list of the nominated films and the five nominated directors:
**The Fighter - director David O. Russell
**The Black Swan - director Darren Aronofsky
**True Grit - directors Joel and Ethan Coen
**The Social Network - director David Fincher
**The King's Speech - director Tom Hooper
**Winter's Bone
**Toy Story 3
**127 Hours
**Inception
**The Kids Are All Right
All in all, a pretty interesting group. (I haven't seen Toy Story 3 yet, mostly because I've never seen any Toy Story movies ever. Don't kick me out of America. I plan to catch up on them all before the big night.) I have really enjoyed this year's crop of nominations, and look forward to going through them in more detail, as well as the nominated performances. There are a few I may not see, but I do try my best to be as thorough as humanly possible.
Yay for this time of year, when movies are even more central a part of my life than the rest of the year!
To be continued...
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Yinz Gonna Make Me Lose My Mind
Since attending the AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh approximately ten days ago, I have been living in a noxious state of excitement and sheer terror, all the while presumably looking forward to Super Bowl XLV this Sunday. This is the conundrum on the edge of the universe: wait in anxious anticipation all year, on every snap of every quarter of every game, to get to the playoffs to get to the championship game to get to the Super Bowl, so that the stress of that Super Bowl game can drive you mad in the interim. So simple and succinct.
Every die-hard fan lives like this. Entire days, weeks, and months are hinged upon the outcome of any one Steelers' game. If you think things are tense in the middle of the season for some divisional round showdown, rachet it up tenfold for playoff games. And as for the Super Bowl? All you might need to know is there was a guy who burned down his house during Super Bowl XLIII, a game in which the Steelers were victorious.
So pardon me if I could not put down in words just how I felt after being moved to tears by 66,000 freezing-cold Steeler fans singing in unison that Pittsburgh was, indeed, "going to the Super Bowl." Forgive me if I can't fully explain the joy I felt when the defense held on four downs of a goal-line stand. (If I ever procreate and that kid ends up walking the length of a stage to receive a diploma, I can say the pride will be equalled...probably.) Excuse my lack of eloquence as I describe how it was to watch Franco and Rocky wave their towels from the makeshift stage when awarding an eighth Lamar Hunt trophy to the Rooneys.
That Sunday night in Pittsburgh, with a wind chill below zero and an anxiety level through the roof, was maybe one of the best nights of my life. To see it in person, thanks to the generosity of my parents, allowed me access to a dream come true.
Yes, I have wanted this all year long, to know that my team is in the Super Bowl, one of the last two standing. Now that it is here, so is that familiar anxious pit in my stomach, the eager and cautious anticipation of the big game. I want the Steelers to win a seventh Lombardi, even though I know as I write the words it might be tempting the Gods of Greed and Fate. I know they might not win the game, allowing for morbid disappointment.
But I do know that, having been there, in that moment at Heinz Field, Steeler Nation will love those fellows just the same, for allowing us to witness greatness, participate in two more weeks of football-inspired madness, and revel in being champions in the AFC.
Even if we all did lose our minds just a bit in the process.
Every die-hard fan lives like this. Entire days, weeks, and months are hinged upon the outcome of any one Steelers' game. If you think things are tense in the middle of the season for some divisional round showdown, rachet it up tenfold for playoff games. And as for the Super Bowl? All you might need to know is there was a guy who burned down his house during Super Bowl XLIII, a game in which the Steelers were victorious.
So pardon me if I could not put down in words just how I felt after being moved to tears by 66,000 freezing-cold Steeler fans singing in unison that Pittsburgh was, indeed, "going to the Super Bowl." Forgive me if I can't fully explain the joy I felt when the defense held on four downs of a goal-line stand. (If I ever procreate and that kid ends up walking the length of a stage to receive a diploma, I can say the pride will be equalled...probably.) Excuse my lack of eloquence as I describe how it was to watch Franco and Rocky wave their towels from the makeshift stage when awarding an eighth Lamar Hunt trophy to the Rooneys.
That Sunday night in Pittsburgh, with a wind chill below zero and an anxiety level through the roof, was maybe one of the best nights of my life. To see it in person, thanks to the generosity of my parents, allowed me access to a dream come true.
Yes, I have wanted this all year long, to know that my team is in the Super Bowl, one of the last two standing. Now that it is here, so is that familiar anxious pit in my stomach, the eager and cautious anticipation of the big game. I want the Steelers to win a seventh Lombardi, even though I know as I write the words it might be tempting the Gods of Greed and Fate. I know they might not win the game, allowing for morbid disappointment.
But I do know that, having been there, in that moment at Heinz Field, Steeler Nation will love those fellows just the same, for allowing us to witness greatness, participate in two more weeks of football-inspired madness, and revel in being champions in the AFC.
Even if we all did lose our minds just a bit in the process.
Friday, January 14, 2011
That Would Be Weird, Huh?
You know what would be weird? Watching "The Social Network" (i.e. the "Facebook movie") while actually being on Facebook.
I did not do this. I just watched the movie to watch the movie. It made me appreciate the line uttered by the Stanford girl about Facebook being "freakishly addictive." I wish sometimes I had never even heard of Facebook, never created a profile, never uploaded a photo, never become "freakishly addicted" to this ridiculous idea.
Why? Because, to paraphrase another line in the film, "it's exhausting." Mentally and physically and emotionally. I can't pinpoint exactly why I feel like this, but I do. I would be happy to know if other people feel like this, too. They'll probably post it on Facebook if they have opinions on the matter. Then other people will just comment on those posts and there you go. Exhausting.
But, that's how it is now in the world, and I could just turn off the computer and disable the Blackberry alert tied to Facebook and be done with it. Except we all know I'm not going to do that anymore than you are going to do that. And damn Mark Zuckerburg for all that, too.
Because what would that leave, then? I would miss out on the good links and the sports trash-talking and the voyeurism and the love/hate relationship with the whole deal. I'd just have to wonder about how old acquaintances and people I don't really know are doing, where they live, what their kids look like, whether they went to lunch already, how many smileys they will put at the end of specific status updates, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Yeah, that would be...weird.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Things I Learned in 2010 (Some For the Very First Time!)
I learned the following lessons in 2010, though some of them are better categorized as things I re-learned:
**Ricky Martin is gay. Okay, I'll admit, when I first "learned" this in the holy bible of all things pop culture (i.e. People magazine) I thought to myself, "Hey, didn't I learn this in, like, 1996?" But, after reading the insightful article, I realized that I could only have suspected this in 1996, since ol' Ricky is just coming out now. So, technically, I learned something I already knew! Maybe I'm smart! Or, maybe, I'm just not stupid! (These things do not mean the same thing. They don't.)
For 2011, I hope to "learn" the same thing about Ryan Seacrest. I know he went to Paris with his, um, "girlfriend" Julianne Hough, but come on. They went with his mom and sister and they all went shoe shopping. In Paris. Wow. That is pretty much the straightest, non-gay thing I know I've ever heard. Right?
**There are really not as many murders as the true-crime lineup on TV would have you believe. I should have learned this before because I've been watching these lineups for years, but I have put it together now: they are pretty much the same murders, given different treatments on various programs. The same wife shooting her husband can be told in different ways on Snapped, Notorious, Dateline ID, 48 Hours Mystery - you get the picture. And then, if you are really special, you might get your own "inspired by real events" episode on one of the flavors of Law and Order. It's reassuring to know, really, when you consider how many less murders are being sensationalized on television.
**People in general, whether famous, infamous, or otherwise, are not so much interested in "the truth" as they are interested in saying they are "interested in the truth." Get it? This is why I basically don't believe anyone about anything, unless I find uncontroverted, neutral evidence to support it. This might sound cynical - and I know Conan told us all to not be cynical - but I believe this works for me and my defense mechanisms. Plus, I might just have been born this way. Like Ricky. And Ryan.
**It really all is about perspective. Like, a year and a half ago I really wanted to lose about 10 pounds. And now, I would almost give up a non-vital limb to be back at that weight I was about a year and a half ago. So, this has taught me a valuable lesson in my old(er) age: be happy about where you are, since you seriously do not know how good you have it when you have it good. You don't know when it might get better or worse, so you had better laugh it up and enjoy. Everyday. Take all the opportunities to make your life the fullest it can be. No matter what.
Do you hear me Ryan?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Heaps and Heaps of Crappin' Snow
We're snowed in again. I don't know how this happened. One reason we moved to NC was to (allegedly) get away from this kind of weather. That plan simply did not work out.
At least we can take solace in the fact that no one cares how lazy or unproductive you are here once the first snowflake falls...or even threatens to fall. (I've heard school cancelled because the forecast called for snow. I know. That's nuts...unless you are a kid in school, in which case, that's flippin' awesome!) Up north, if the snow didn't completely cover the top of your house, you had better get out there and go for it.
Now, all four of us in this family are holed up inside and left to our own devices. Those devices include a Chessie and Beagle curled up on the bed with me snoozing away while I watch ESPN First Take, and ol' Scotty P. downstairs catching up on a BBC television series. At least we are all safe and warm and happy, even if we will be broke by the end of winter, since we never work anymore. (Not that I'll complain about that loudly, in public, on the internet...)
So, I guess the crappin' snow can fall all day and into the night and we'll just continue our little experiment in family time together. It's fun, unless you ever want to leave your house for any reason, in which case it's depressing. But, the weather is that one constant about which we can do nothing except be left to its peril. And so I'll just sleep, watch movies, eat, drink, and be merry.
And someday, maybe, it will be spring. But I wouldn't bet on it.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New Year, New Energy
It's a new year, in case you were too drunk to remember Snooki falling down in that ball last Saturday morning about 12:00 midnight. That means that, though I refuse to resolve or vow any vague, pointless notions, I will put more energy into this blog.
I also will put more energy into various activities in my life, like my brand new business. Because, I have come to realize, if you happen to work for yourself and you don't, in fact, do any work, you will not, in fact, get a paycheck. This is a huge bummer and a blow to my normal work ethic, which has, to this point, been succinctly summed up as : "Just show up, keep your head down, get the work done as quickly as possible so you can goof off the rest of the time, collect those dollars, and go home."
This new idea for getting money is not fun. It is not refreshing. I guess there are good things about it, like the boss won't get on you for being late or waiting an extra five minutes because you wanted to hear the "Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks" on Mike and Mike in the Morning, or not coming in at all. Of course, the boss also won't be able to pay you anything, either, so it's pretty much a lose-lose. On the bright side, I do get as many unpaid vacation days as I want and if I choose to sleep at my desk in a pool of my own slobber, no one will say a gosh-darn thing. (Not that I've tried that or anything. Honestly, I haven't...at least, not yet...)
There are some other changes on the horizon, like I plan to play less Bejeweled Blitz this year, I no longer plan to take the anti-anxiety drugs, and I have more activities to add to my repertoire. There might be more things, too, but if I show my hand now, then what would I write about in future blog posts? For now, we'll leave it at that.
I'll probably write my next blog post from my new office, just like I used to in the good old days. Of course, I won't be getting paid for it anymore. Depressing.
What is it "they" say about change? Oh yeah, it SUCKS!!
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About Me
- Stephanie Stark Poling
- Steph's days are complete with little Franco/Mr. Buddy Pants, Pittsburgh Steelers football, Penguins hockey, all things WVU, cold beverages, new handbags, shoe-shopping, pups, and lots and lots of movies. And, of course, her glorious, nutty family.