Comment on my returning tv faves.....

So

So I'm not going to give this post a grand introduction-there's too much to talk about anyway. At the request of my friend Tiffany I'm going to give a review of my returning favorite tv shows. I was a little reluctant to write this post because it shows just how MUCH tv I watch-but if you've known me for awhile this should be no shock to you. Also, I like tv more than movies so there it is. So in no order of importance whatsoever-here goes:

Desparate Housewives, ABC-I've gone back and forth on this show. I started watching it when it first started and loved it, then I thought it got boring. For some reason last season I got back into it and I'm loving every minute of it! I like the addition of Vanessa Willians as the new "Edie", and what's the deal with Paul coming back and bringing that weird chick he married from prison? Also love that Bree will be having a fling with Brian Austin Green. Hot! 

 Amazing Race, CBS-My parents got me into this show when I got back from my mission. I love that it's reality tv but it's more focused on navigating through foregin lands on a time crunch and making it through the challenges as well as dealing with taxi drivers who don't speak your language. There's still the element of competition but it's not as down and diry as Survivor because let's face it, they just don't have time for all that!

 

Biggest Loser, NBC-It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you wish Jillian and Bob could come to your gym and beat the crap out of you! So maybe I don't do too much laughing while watching the show-there's not a lot of joking going on. And maybe the editing COMPLETELY SUCKS. I mean seriously-why do they have to replay the last 30 seconds before the commercial break all over again after the commercial break? It makes no sense and it's definitely not going to win them any Emmys. But if you can watch this via your DVR and if you enjoy working out and watching people change their lives in amazing ways-this is the show for you. And really, I do want Jillian to kick my butt.

Glee, FOX-Oh Glee, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First of all, the music. You sucked me in with Don't Stop Believin' and I've never turned back. Itunes thanks you for the money they've sucked out of me ever since. Secondly, Sue Sylvester your sarcastic stabs kill me. Third, the members of the Glee Club, Rachel, Finn, Brittany, Arnie, etc...you're all so weird yet loveable in your own way. Fourth-Grilled Cheesus? I laugh a-loud every time I think about the preview for this week's episode. Let's be honest-Glee is hot right now. Everyone should be watching. And then downloading. And then blasting in your car and singing embarassingly loud. It's fine.  

Life Unexpected, The CW-The little show that almost didn't. I don't know if I can pinpoint exactly why I like this show except I just think it's good. You've got the love triangle between Baze, Kate and Ryan, and then Lux (Kate and Baze's daughter) is there trying to fit in with having the parents she'd never thought she'd have, but in a very unconventional way. It's a CW show, the characters are interesting, it's set in Portland, I can't say much more than that.

Gossip Girl, The CW-So it took me a little bit to get into this show, it wasn't until the summer after the first season that I was like hey, I need to get into this. Maybe it was all the huge OMFG billboards in Time Square when I went to NYC that summer that got me in but here I am. I LOVE this show. It's a total guilty pleasure. It's set in the Upper East side, the clothes are there, the guys are hot, there's lots of scheming and subterfuge and the music rocks. I think last season got a little weird/ho-hum, but this season there's more focus on the friendship of Serena and Blair and they're taking on Columbia by storm, and I love it (not that you ever see them in class or anything).

 Bones, FOX-This show is my X-Files substitute/or the X-Files of the next generation. Basically you've got two people with amazing chemistry solving crimes. Booth is hilarious and hot and Brennan is painfully intelligent to a fault, but it makes for great tv. Love the rest of the cast as well. And this season Booth has a girlfriend which if eonline is correct, will make Brennan realize her feelings for Booth which makes me happy. Also if you can watch the opening scenes for this show while eating that says a lot-they like to make things disgustingly goopy and you can practically smell the stank through the screen. It's fun though.

Grey's Anatomy, ABC-Ok, so when Grey's first started I was in LOVE. I was in nursing school doing clinicals and I related to their fear of being first time doctors. The second season ender with Denny dying was AMAZING. I thought the show would go nowhere but up. Unfortunately I think it's been struggling, at least for me. I can't quite put my finger on it but it's not the same. I blame Shonda Rhimes for veering off with Private Practice too soon. Anyway I felt like it was coming back with the shooter at the end of last season. That was disturbing, yet riveting. I was at work at the time so I couldn't watch it but I was amazed at the amount of facebook status updates about it. As the show has come back for this season I'm not as intrigued as I thought I would be, but I've only seen the first episode. Maybe it gets better. But no matter what, I'll keep watching just because it's a Thursday night tradition.

 

Modern Family, ABC-There's a reason this show won Best Comedy at the Emmy's this year. It is HILARIOUS. I love Phil. I love Gloria. I LOVE Manny. Actually, there's no one I don't love. I especially enjoy the "documentary" style it's filmed in-it makes you feel like you're watching reality tv (which I love) which makes you feel like these characters could be real people. Maybe even people in your own family. So great. For laughs check out the episode last season when Claire and Mitchell recreate their brother/sister pairs figure skating routine-on dry land. Talk about side-splitting comedy! 

 The Office, NBC-I love The Office. I have all of the season on my ipod and I even listen to them every night to fall asleep (not all of them, just one at a time, and I usually only make it through the first couple of minutes. Some people use a glass of wine, I use this show. That doesn't mean it's so boring it puts me to sleep though, it's just, well, never mind). Anyway I thought it was kind of losing the funny factor in the last couple of seasons. But this season being Steve Carell's finale and all, it feels like they're pulling all the stops. It's almost as if it's the show it was back in seasons 2 and 3. I mean seriously-Michael having therapy sessions with Toby his nemesis? Doesn't get better than that. Until Jan comes back. I can't wait.

Survivor, CBS-I've tried to stop. Really, I have. I've even missed a few episodes here and there. But then I found the episodes were available On Demand, and my parents watch it and like to talk about it, and it is kind of fun to watch, and really I've only missed one season out of 21 so...........yeah, that's where that stands.....



Vampire Diaries, The CW-Yes, this may be my favorite show this season, second only to Glee. But that's not the reason this pic is centered, that would be the fault of Blogger. This show is a fantastic guilty pleasure. Ian Sommerhalder is freaking hot. Talk about eye candy. Doesn't get any better than him. You may also find Stefan hot as well. I found the book to be the poor man's Twilight but this show is better than the Twilight movies. No lie. And this season they've brought in werewolves. And Caroline's a vampire. And let's not overlook the fact that Katherine is back in town. KATHERINE! Let the games begin.

My DVR is 80% full. Not surprising, right?

Happy Watching!

Comment on the newest fall tv shows......

So I'm currently in Florida visiting my parents. You'd think that being on vacation during the fall season premiere week I would miss out on catching the latest shows. Well, you would be right on the money if I hadn't gotten sick my 2nd day here. While my bro, SIL and mother were gallivanting around Orlando enjoying all the attractions this area has to offer, I was home on the couch up to my ears in kleenexes and cough drops knee deep in a Rachel Zoe marathon on Bravo. Once that got over I turned to On Demand where I was able to catch new shows that I hadn't originally planned on viewing. Unfortuantely this has resulted in finding new shows to add to my repertoire. I thought I'd review these shows here just in case you were on the fence:

Monday Nights:



Hawaii Five-0, CBS 9pm



Hawaii Five-0 with Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan and Daniel Dae Kim. I was looking forward to this one early on and it did not disappoint. If you miss gazing at hot dudes in Hawaii on Lost, you'll enjoy this show.






The Event, NBC 8pm



The Event with Jason Ritter (son of John Ritter) and Blair Underwood along with Dr. Weaver from ER. I hadn't planned on watching this but I'm kind of sucked in. It's got that whole Lost flash-forwards/backwards things. Plus, it's got a small role played by Luke from Gilmore Girls-what a surprise! I'll definitely keep this one on tap.



Chase NBC 9pm

Chase starring people I've never heard of before except for Jesse Metcalfe (hot lawn boy from Desperate Housewives) who plays a newly hired Texas Ranger. Hence, this show is about Texas Rangers, but is much better than it's TR predecessor, Walker, Texas Ranger. Also, it's produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, so you know it's gotta be good. I'm looking forward to enjoying this one.



Tuesday Nights:


Running Wilde, Fox 8:30pm

 

Running Wilde with Will Arnett and Keri Russell. That right there should clinche it for you. Also it's brought to us by some of the same people behind Arrested Development. We found it to be a little slow in the beginning but it started gaining momentum. I want it to work but I'm nervous for it. No matter what, I'll be tuning in.

Wednesday Nights:


Undercover, NBC 7pm



Undercovers starring more people I don't recognize. I wanted to like this show, but I kept comparing it to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I loved that movie, the chemistry between Brad and Angie jumped off the screen (as much as I hate to admit that-I'm Team Aniston all the way) . Unfortunately, despite my love for JJ Abrams, I didn't feel chemistry between these characters and actually fell asleep towards the end of the show. Sad.



Hellcats, CW 8pm


Hellcats with Ashley Tisdale started a week before everything else (or maybe 2?) so I watched it and actually didn't mind it-it could be a guilty pleasure. Bring It On is one of my all-time fave movies. But now that I have so many other shows that I plan on watching this one could easily fall into the category of "if nothing else is on".






The Defenders, CBS 9pm



The Defenders with Jerry O'Connell and Jim Belushi. Another show I didn't plan on watching but ended up seeing it whilst on the couch. It actually wasn't too bad and is one I would throw into the "if I'm around and nothing else is on" group.  



So that's about it for what I've seen. Two shows that I have yet to preview are Nikita and My Generation. They're waiting for me on my dvr. As for my regular shows-I don't even want to get into that. Holy cow. It's a great tv season!

Happy watching!



Comment on the culmination* of a summer's work....

AKA putting my family to work/payback for me taking off so much time for all the weddings....

(my last night at Adagio apts in my bed-sleeping with puppy)


So as mentioned in my previous posts from forever ago-I bought a townhouse. It was a quick process that seemed to consume my entire life for a couple of months, which was a total departure from what I thought I'd be doing this summer. But when I get this idea in my head-"hey buy a residence" I have to run with those thoughts. And when things fall into place easily then it makes even more sense.

Not that it was easy. There was a lot of prayer and phone calls and research and stress and loss of sleep that went into this decision. First of all-the decision to buy the townhouse verses the condo with the unattractive door. It was a pro/con list that was pretty even. What tipped me over the edge was my mom saying "your dad wouldn't want me to tell you this-but he thinks you should get the townhouse, it's a smarter decision". That pretty much sealed the deal. Plus I love the carpet! And the master bathroom! And the stairs!

Then the negotiation. Little did I know that the former owner, we'll call her Crazy, was, in fact, crazy. She didn't like my offer (I low-balled of course! I haven't watched hours of HGTV House Hunters and My First Place for nothing!), she didn't even want to counter-offer, then she was ridiculous on the moving in date which caused me to have heated conversations with my realtor (a saint-Keith Callister Equity Realty) whilst getting my hair colored-my voice was raised, I may have been worked up-I know, hard to believe. Right now as I'm typing this I'm thinking this wasn't too bad, but at the time it was serious. The fact that I work nights and would do all of this negotiating and document finding and sending and such during the day compounded the problem I'm sure.

My moratorium on diet coke ended during this time. So did my moratorium on swearing.

When we actually decided on a move-in date that worked for Crazy and her realtor which was, of course, the day we needed to be out of our apartment, things kicked into high gear. I had the carpets cleaned the day before, due to negotiation times (I won't bore you here), Crazy was still finishing up "cleaning" whilst I was waiting for the carpet guys. She was nice but so weird! She had to walk through the place a few times before she left for the last time. She told me I could pay her to come back and clean regularly because she does that sometimes (no freaking way!). I had the locks changed the day I moved in.

You'd think I'd be done with Crazy, but I'm not. She's still plaguing my Saintly Realtor with phone calls about her mail. Apparently she's very concerned about her mail still coming to this address. Keith in all of his wisdom told her she couldn't have my phone number, so she keeps calling him, then he calls me. The best thing is that no mail has ever come here for her since she's moved. Keith says she's told him she'll only call one more time. Keith says he longs for that day.

Anyway enough about Crazy. The good thing about her is that she kept a very clean, spotless house with one of the best inspections every seen by my house inspector. Fabulous.

I expected signing the closing papers to be stressful, but it wasn't at all. The most stressful part was that I worked the four nights before and had to sign at 10am after a shift. Also a member of the carpool was on a lifeflight trip to montana and was therefore running late. Don't worry-I drank an entire rockstar at 6am (entertaining for my co-workers I've been told) and was able to get home in time (thanks to some sacrifice on the part of our driver). Signing the papers took all of 15 minutes. The most annoying part is that I couldn't get ahold of anyone in my family afterwards to say hey guys I'm done!

Move-in day was fantastic. If it wasn't for my fantastic family it would have been horrific. The siblings and in-laws drove down from Pocatello Friday night with plans to move in on Saturday with Lisa's dad bringing up a trailer for the big furniture pieces. Well, with DJ (little bro) and Kory (BIL) being who they are, they decided a good idea would be to move as much as possible in the night on Friday. It was a great plan-it was dark, not so hot and not as much traffic. With my parent's Tahoe and the CR-V we got the majority of it done. They worked so hard and it was actually pretty fun! I love my family so much! And they've almost made up for the fact that I took 3 weeks of vacation time for all of their weddings-haha!

So here's a few pics (Jenny (SIL) and Jenna (sister) have more but I still need to educate Jenny on downloading pictures on a computer. Seriously.

Saturday morning: DJ fully snoozing-note that Jenny has already rolled up her sleeping bag and is getting ready for the day:


This is Kory 10 minutes before RJ was arriving with the trailer. Everyone wondered if Kory was going to emerge from his self-made bear cave


And he's up! Oh and so is DJ! Success!


Roxy was not handling the bustling of moving well. So she was relegated* to my closet in the apartment with the door of her cage facing the wall so she would know she was in time-out. She was TICKED!


Jenny hard at work


Kory hard at work: (don't you love this-welcome to the family in-laws-Let's move J's into her new place-talk about initiation!)


And at the townhouse:

Jenna works with Roxy to go through the doggy door. This is hard for Roxy. She'll go through it now but you have to actually lift the "door" for her. She's too much of a princess to push it with her head.


A final picture of the help hard at work:

All in all it's been a whirlwind but it's been a good decision. Thanks to all of you who had to listen to me complain and stress out about everything and to my family and the Pope's for helping us move-you guys are amazing!

*I know these are big words but I am using them correctly-I had to check google just to be sure I hadn't made them up in my mind or something