Fare Thee Well

It's a sad day for your fair SS, as the summer shows are coming to an end.  Sigh.  To the following pieces of trash, we now bid you adieu: 

1. Toddlers & Tiaras 
2. Royal Pains 
3. Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami 
4. Make It or Break It 
5. Rizolli & Isles
6. The Secret Life of the American Teenager

And the saddest of all...

     7. The Closer

We will miss you all so.  

But, life (and primetime programming) must go on.  Therefore we offer a resounding welcome to the NEW FALL LINEUP!!!  Including (but not limited to): 

1. Law & Order SVU
2. Grey's Anatomy 
3. Keeping Up with the Kardashians 
4. Weeds
5. (New) Hellcats
6. (New) Shit My Dad Says

And the greatest of all...

     7. gLee

As a public service, I have decided to publish the link to the September preview schedule for your review:

http://www.tvguide.com/special/fall-preview/images/fallpreview2010calendar.pdf

Now, go forth and rot your brains!

Trash Talk - Tuesday

(Yes, I know it's Thursday.  But to be fair, I started this entry on Tuesday.)

Why hello there, loyal readers!  Yes, I know I have not kept true to my word about updating all the time but, what can I say?  Life is crazy!!  I took the MPRE on Friday (which was much harder than I thought it would be, so I need extra fingers and toes crossed on my behalf), and I went to the beach this weekend with Deac, his cousin, and his cousin's wife.  Not my best beach weekend experience - in part because the Outer Banks No-See-Ems decided to use me as an all-you-can-eat buffet.  Inspired by Hyperbole and a Half, I decided to draw you guys a picture of my misery so that you might, perhaps, share in it with me (because misery certainly does love company!):

So now I'm back at home and at work, trying not to rip the flesh off of my body for the itching.  At least I got to move seats now so I'm not in a fishbowl anymore, and I can blog on my lunch break!  Hooray!  And now that I've gotten your skin empathetically crawling, I shall move on to today's true Trash Talk topic (say that three times fast!):

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OPINIONS AHEAD. 

PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

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Let me be clear here, though.  I LOOOOOVE The Closer.  Seriously LOVE it.  It's one of my most favoritest shows ever.  But it's the topic of Trash Talk this week because there IS something about it that bugs me.

Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (the lovely and talented Kyra Sedgwick) is a homicide detective in LA who hails from the ATL.  To be specific, she's from Roswell, GA - a suburb of Atlanta.  Who else lived in Roswell?  Yep - that would be yours truly.  Brenda's ridiculously southern accent does prove to be a major part of her charm, but - hate to break it to you - people from Atlanta really don't talk like that.  I spent 23 of my 31 years (and the most formidable 23 at that) in ATL 'burbs, and I have been told that I have no discernible accent.  None.  Sure, every now and then I'll say something that gives my (proud) southern heritage away, but I definitely don't come off as a hick.  Neither do my parents or siblings.

Atlanta is a varietal cornucopia of cultures, and is one of the most diverse cities in the country.  There are a crap-ton of relos (relocated persons) in the city and suburbs, which has contributed to the obliteration of the stereotypical redneck accent that is rumored to permeate the metropolis.

Note - I am NOT speaking for the rest of the state of Georgia (which is FILLED with "My Name is Earl-esque characters); I am just talking about the City of Atlanta, and the Atlanta-Metro area (which has a radius of roughly 100 miles).  

Roswell is only about 15 minutes from downtown, and borders the swanky suburbs of Dunwoody and Buckhead - the height of class in the ATL.  No hicks in sight. I know that, if you go way out to the outskirts of Roswell, you may find a heavy accent or two, but it's not the norm these days.  Brenda isn't old enough to have developed that accent as a result of growing up in Roswell (especially if she lived in the area where she would've been zoned to Roswell High School - which she states in the season 3 finale that she was).  So, the show gets the stink-eye from me for perpetuating the myth that Atlantans are hicks (and implying that southerners are slow and stupid - which is ironic, considering Brenda is actually a frickin' genius and mastermind of criminal justice).  If they wanted to do that, they should've written her character so that she was from Macon, or Millegeville, or Snellville or something.

End rant.

Oh - if you're not a Closer fan, or have no idea what I'm talking about, watch the following clips.  They should give you an idea.  And, friends and followers from the ATL - let me know if you agree with my assessment.  (Sorry - for some reason, embedding is disabled on all "The Closer" clips on YouTube.  Lame!)

Crazy Bride Scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSxTzm-EScQ&feature=related

Lt. Provenza Mimics Brenda (VERY funny):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-F4Gwor1ao

(Sorry my posts kind of suck these days, by the way.  I'm trying to get back in the groove.  A month-long blogging hiatus has a way of stealing your muse and putting up quite the writer's block.  Don't give up on me yet, though.  I promise to tell you when it's hopeless and you can stop reading...)

Random's Manifest - Thursday Thoughts

Back home from Disney, and in the office.  Figured, what better time for some RANDOM THOUGHTS??

Moving Day 

No, not from my house.  From the office.  We're moving from our holding space in the 'hood to our new, beautiful building Uptown.  As glad as I will be to say goodbye to the rif-raff around here, I am not looking forward to the longer commute and expensive parking.  Nor am I terribly thrilled about the "Workplace of the Future", in which my cubicle will be out in the middle of everything, and all of my doings will be everyone's business.  I'll have to figure out a way to hide my blogging breaks from the masses... 

We're in the midst of packing right now, and this place looks like World War III at the moment.  Awesome.  I kinda like it for some reason.  First, it's an opportunity to purge and get reorganized which, contrary to popular belief (based on the chaotic state of my house), is actually one of my favorite things.  As disastrous as my home might be, my workspace is psychotically organized, albeit cluttered.  Now, I can reorganize my organization, and de-clutter at the same time!  What could be better??  Yay!  Second, it's a little invigorating to have everyone working together to get stuff done.  We're normally kind of on our own, and we don't interact much.  But, when we're all having to clean and pack and organize, we have to all just get along.  It's a complete wreck at the moment though.   I am going to try to take a picture of this nightmare to post for you guys.  I know you'd positively LOVE to see our mess.  :) 

Strange That Glee Makes Me Cry.  And ALMOST like Lady GaGa... 

I've cried the last three episodes.  A good cry though, I suppose.  Tuesday's season finale was awesome, but I am absolutely devastated to see it go for the summer. I will miss it so!  I'm listening to the soundtrack from the episode as I type.  Outstanding stuff.  If you haven't already, download it NOW.  

Here's a sampling: 

I was also shockingly pleased with the Lady GaGa episode.  As aforementioned, I am not a GaGa fan, but I gotta say, I LOVE Bad Romance now.  But, not her version still.  This version: 

Rachel and her surprise mom also do a pretty great version of Poker Face.  When you check out the soundtrack from the season finale, look into that, too.  You won't be sorry.

eShakti, have a sale already!

The online clothier bombards me with daily emails showcasing their beautiful summer dresses, but not since I made my first purchase (see this edition of Random Thoughts: http://stolensentiments.blogspot.com/2010/02/randoms-manifest.html) have they offered any deals!  There are so many cute things I want from this store, including these: 

Don't they know that if they just lowered the prices a smidgen, I'd order again?  Sigh... 


Ok, so I'm not the best at keeping my resolutions...
Remember when May was going to be a great month for new beginnings?  (see: Brand New May)  Yeah, so, not so much...  


Haven't done Weight Watchers at all and, in fact, have gained quite a bit.  That is the direct result of the work project from hell, though.  Things are quieting down a little, so I need to get back in the groove.  I can't cross back over into the bad place.  I just can't.  


Along that same vein, I haven't worked out in literally MONTHS.  Unless you count walking around the theme parks, which, I don't.  That has to change.  I feel like hell right now, so I need to get off my once again fat ass and MOVE.  Doc said I'm at risk for blood clots if I don't.  That should seriously scare me straight, but as of yet, it hasn't.  Maybe I'll get on the elliptical when I get out of here today.  Maybe... 


Some other resolutions I made in the past: 

• Watch all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (again)
• Read at least 3 books/month
• Pass the CPA exam and the Bar
• Join a book club
• Get in shape
• Meet my future husband

Hmm... Well, I did do the first one.  Yep.  ALL SEVEN.  And, I remember why it's my favorite show of all time.  As for the second item, although I've still been reading a lot, I haven't kept to my 3 book/month rule.  Just too busy.  For number three - I did in fact fail the CPA exam yet again.  Scheduled to retake it on July 3.  I really need to not make the same mistake for the bar.  I am starting that study plan TONIGHT.  Fourth, no book club.  Haven't found one, and don't have enough hours in the day.  Maybe that'll change soon, though.  Fifth, YEAH RIGHT!  We just had that conversation.  Last - not yet.  Still waiting for him, it seems... 

Another Bloggy Award!!! 
In the midst of my utter madness (aka getting that application done), I received a lovely blogger award from Donda at: http://www.dailylifewithbipolar.blogspot.com/?zx=adaafc79cc2a3242. 


(Don't get discouraged if a Blogger warning pops up - there's no dangerous content in her great blog - just real life tales of living with Bi-Polar disorder.  Accept the warning and enter.  That's an order.)  

Thank you Donda, for the award!  I appreciate it!  I promise I will pay it forward and fulfill my award requirements soon. 

That kid's got some problems. 

My name is Kristen, and I'm addicted to some REALLY bad TV.  Including some shows geared towards tween-age girls.  There.  I admit it.  I am ashamed.  I will not go into greater detail than that, but I will share with you a video made for one of the horrible, horrible half hours of crap I ingest with my eyes.  It's a great song and a pretty cool concept, if you ask me.  Enjoy!

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And with that, I bid you adieu.  Off to finish packing my junk and then I'm getting out of here early.  Gonna work from home and maybe exercise.  I'll keep you posted on my progress (or lack thereof).  


Have a fabu day! 

Trash Talk Tuesday

OPINIONS AHEAD. 

PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

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Today's topic: 

Yep - It's BACK!  Been back for three weeks, actually.  Wow, time flies.  Feels like 5 minutes ago that I was anxiously awaiting the premiere, but missing it because I was out of town for work.  

I am a HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE gLeek.  I watched the special premiere of the first episode with my sister last summer, and it was true love by the first commercial break.  The music? Incredible.  The acting?  Incredible. The comedic timing?  Incredible.  I love it so much that I already own the first half of the first season on DVD, and I've already watched it all the way through, even after seeing every single episode live the nights they aired.  Granted, it was mainly to introduce J-Non to the wonder that is high school show choir, but even still... 

Since I missed out on that initial viewing of the April 13th return (luckily I was able to catch up the next night via Fox.com's full-length episodes. J-Non did you catch that?  You can watch all of the episodes online the day after they air.  If you hurry, you can get caught up!), I read several articles on the spring premiere to gear myself up for the big [make-up] night.  I was saddened, I must admit.  A lot of them weren't so positive.

Glee is so novel, that it actually makes me a bit nervous.  Were any of you Pushing Daisies fans?  I was - and not just because I worshiped Chuck's wardrobe.  

PD was pretty, and sweet, and quirky, and just plain weird.  The acting was great, the stories fresh.  The concept - totally unique.  So, of course it was doomed from the start.  Pushing Daisies only made it through 2 seasons. 

Glee is everything that PD was.  Totally novel, and beautifully done.  And it terrifies me that it will meet the same fate. 

The problem with shows like this is that it's really hard to keep up the momentum.  Eventually, you're gonna run out of ideas.  (Point in case - my soap.  See Trash Talk from two weeks ago.)  So, unless you change your approach, you risk coming up empty.  Unfortunately, Glee already started making that change...

The first week back (April 13th's episode), I admit - I was bored.  And utterly appalled by where they took Will's character.  The second week brought us the hyped "Madonna" episode.  It was much better.  Sue Sylvester's version of Vogue?  Priceless.  

Tonight's episode featured the return of April - the druken 40-year-old glee club understudy from last season.  (Ironically, April is played by Kristin Chenoweth (LOVE HER!!!), who incidentally starred opposite of Chuck in Pushing Daisies.  Her voice is absolutely amazing.)  It was good.  Not great, but good.  

(Do yourself a favor and check out this kick-ass clip from April's first appearance last fall.  I couldn't embed it properly, so click: Last Name)

Glee's new M.O. is fill the show with musical numbers until it's busting at the seams, even if that means cutting back on actual storylines.  Now, I admit that the best part of Glee is the INCREDIBLE music, but even still - the stories are pretty awesome, too.  I was really getting into the whole Fin/Quinn/Rachel/Puck drama, and I audibly cheered when Will and Emma kissed for the first time.  I fell in love with Kirk and Artie, and laughed my ass off at Britney and Santana (one thing Glee is definitely getting right - much more of these two in the new episodes).  I hate to see the show shy away from character development in order to avoid writer's block.  Hopefully, either the last few episodes have been a fluke and Glee will hit its stride again soon, or, at the very least, the writers will take the SVU approach and just develop the characters sloooooowly.  


I'm not writing Glee off yet.  I just love it too much to do that.  So, fingers and toes crossed that it picks back up again.  Maybe next week's guest appearance by Olivia Newton John will do the trick.  Or Joss Whedon's (Hello!  Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Pure GENIUS!) direction on the May 20th episode will be Glee's saving grace.  Either way, you can bet I'll be tuning in.  I'm glued to the ride to the very end.