Saturday Circle Game

It's been a year since T and I bought our new TV and decided to join the world of cable. DVR is amazing. So I want to know:

If you had to narrow your TV viewing to TWO shows, which two would you pick?

So You Think You Can Dance

This was the week T took me to see the live performance of So You Think You Can Dance...dance...dance. I loved it! Here are some thoughts.

1) Jeannine is great, but in my humble opinion Brandon should have won season 5.
2) Phillip is just cool.
3) They performed so many dances that I absolutely loved. My favorite...the addiction dance with Capuno and Kayla. Some more favorites...the Breast Cancer dance with Ade and Melissa and the Pick Dance with Ade and Jeanette.
4) I was disappointed they only performed one new dance.
5) The dancers MCed the performance. I'm trying to figure out how to say this nicely...Loved their dancing, would have been OK with less talking.
6) T was completely outnumbered at this performance. It must have been a ratio that was somewhere along the lines of 20 females to 1 male.

My Harry Potter Addiction

I'm in the midst of reading all seven Harry Potter books...it's my third time through, so I'm no stranger to the series. Currently I'm somewhere around page 400 in book 4 and loving every minute of it...again.

I've decided that to be a true Harry Potter fan, though, I need to watch all of the movies as well. I'm lacking in the silver screen rendition of the books; I've only seen the first three so I have some catching up to do. Has anybody seen the sixth? Any comments? I've heard rumors that book 7 will be divided into two movies. Anyone else heard the same?

So You Think You Can Dance?

I LOVE this show!!

I LOVE that there is only three weeks between season 5 and season 6.

I LOVE that Mary Murphy talked about her inability to raise her eyebrowns because of BOTOX on national television.

I LOVE watching all the different types of choreography.

I LOVE hearing about the dancers' stories and seeing how they bring life to the choreography.

I LOVE that my husband HATES this show but bought us tickets to the live performance anyway. Thanks, T! I can't wait for our date!

Guilty Secret

I'm addicted to Big Brother 11. I'm not proud of it. It's not great TV. It raises my blood pressure whenever it is on. But I can't stop watching it. Thank goodness the season will be over soon!

NPF

T and I went to watch our first NPF (National Professional Fastpitch League) softball game on Saturday. For me the experience was a cool one for many reasons. The main reason was to see the women getting a chance to play the game they love at a high level of competition and getting paid for it. Society has given this opportunity to men for a long time in many sports. It is fun to feel like perhaps I live in the era when this same opportunity is being extended to women. It will take a while for the organization to have widespread recognition. But as I watched the little girls and boys scramble for autographs after the game, I am convinced that the NPF has a future. I know I will return.

My favorite part of the game...the left fielder breaking through the fence to prevent a home run. Second highlight...the pitcher laying out to catch a foul ball to end the top of the inning. The Racers won the game in the 7th inning 3-2.

Cirque du Soleil

Recently T took me to see a Cirque du Soleil performance as a late birthday present. It was great...just as I expected. This was my second Cirque performance and in my opinion it was as wonderful as the first. If you haven't seen a show, I would highly suggest it. It is a fabulous combination of fantasy, music, humor, and acrobatics. My favorite part was the women who performed on the chandeliers pictured above. It was absolutely, stunningly beautiful.

Amused

My dad sent my mom, my brother, and I an article today from the New York Times that talked about the essential items needed for a kitchen and how much (or little, actually) you should spend on them. I am amused by this article for two reasons.

1) I am not sure that I've ever seen my dad hold a pot besides to dry it after it was washed. (No offense, Dad. It's just that the kitchen never seemed to be your realm, I picture you more in the electronics area...perhaps that's changing?) So I was shocked when the article was not his typical math/science/world event article that he usually sends to us but instead was a cooking/kitchen article. It gave me a small chuckle. I do appreciate the fact that even though he was probably not interested in the article, he sent it on to the three of us knowing we probably would be.

2) I never realized that I was a kitchen essentials snob until I read this article. (What does the author mean that a $10 plastic handle knife is ok? I've ALWAYS heard one should go with the stainless steel.) The aritcle was certainly informative and interesting, although I am not sure I can break out of my ways. My favorite quote: "The point is not so much that you can equip a real kitchen without much money, but the fear of buying the wrong kind of equipment is unfounded. It needs only to be functional, not prestigious, lavish or expensive." Thank you, Mr. Bittman. Point well taken. I will try to remember this in the future and break free from my kitchen equipment bias that I seem to possess. Click here if you are interested in reading the rest of the article.

HAPPY COOKING!

Favorite Cartoons

As a math teacher, I love the cartoons by S. Harris. Click HERE to see more of his work. At some point I would like to buy some various prints to decorate my walls. I know, dorky, but I can't help it. It's my nature.

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

Free next Friday night? Come hear the Boondogglers play! Check out their link on the left.

You have one month to get ready

Come join the fun! The Boondogglers will be back at Mickey's on May 4th. Check them out at www.myspace.com/boondogglers or at the link provided on the left. Don't miss out!

Boondogglers

I have to brag a little on my cousin-in-law (the lead singer of the Boondogglers - yes, I can get autographs) and the rest of the band. (click here for the definition of a boondoggler). The band is terrific and knows how to entertain and the band's followers know how to enjoy themselves. If you are in Columbus on a night of a gig it is well worth your time to stop by and enjoy the music as well as the company. Thanks for the entertainment Friday night...as always it was a great time. And to the friends and family that enjoyed it with T. and I, we appreciated you coming.

36 Sports in 36 Months

My cousin, M, came up with a great idea. She is determined to watch all of the 36 sports at least once at our local university. The idea snowballed and it became 36 sports in 36 months. She decided to make shirts, and I decided to enjoy her in her endeavor.

(PS. The shirts are AWESOME (thanks, M!). Red with black and white letters the include all 36 sports - Iron-on letters rock.)

Why am I doing this?

For several reasons: 1) I love spending time with my cousin and other loved ones who might be joining us. 2) All student athletes deserve our support, not just the football players or basketball players that get constant media and public attention. 3) I love goals and objectives, especially when they are fun.

Saturday we attended our first sporting event...Men's ice hockey. Only need 35 more by Feb. 9th, 2010.

Super Bowl XLI

So my beloved Bengals didn't make the Big Game. Well, they didn't even make the playoffs, but that's beside the point. I'll still watch today. I am casting my vote for the Colts...I have to stay within the league. I feel Peyton Manning deserves a Super Bowl win. He's a great quarterback (quarterback rating slightly over 101) and, yes, I have to say it...his commercials are hilarious. So, here's the only time you'll hear me say this...Go Colts.

Calley O'Malley

What a GREAT SHOW! How cute were Burke and Christina at the end? But I was truly bummed for Meredith. I am intrigued by next week's previews, although a three part show seems a little much.