playdate

Your Mission: To Boldly Go

I love science fiction, but I have never been a huge fan of the original Star Trek.  I've tried to see it as a "classic" or "ahead of it's time", but frankly - it was just kinda sad.  The special effects did not hold up over time (and I still like the look of Star Wars), the writing was bad and the acting was worse.  Okay, Nimoy was cool, but Shatner?  Yikes.  I think they invented the phrase 'couldn't act his way out of a paper bag' just for him.  Still, I was excited when I heard that one of my TV gods, JJ Abrams was going to do a remake.  Pretty much everything he touches turns to gold, and he has the draw to pull in a great pool of talent.

Singer or Idol?

So, it's been awhile since The Greatest Upset in American Idol Ever.  Everyone thought the judges' favourite, Adam Lambert would win, but when it came down to voting time, the darkest of dark horses won the race, Kris Allen.  Anyone watching Allen's face at the moment the winner was announced saw that even he was shocked. 

AlthoughI am a HUGE Adam Lambert fan, I was ready to admit that the title could go to either competitor.  What I don't believe is up for debate, however, is who is the better singer.

Earthly Treasures

Four is a really nice age.  My son is just starting to spread his wings and exert his independence.  But he doesn't go to school until September, so his sweet innocence has yet to be corrupted by the influence of the Big Kids.  One of the things that I'm liking most is watching the development of real friendships - ones not just based on whose mother I happen to be friends with - as well as the evolution of friendships that he's had, well, since birth, basically. 

But these frienships inevitably mean birthdays.  And birthdays mean presents.  And presents usually mean money.  Something which I'm a little short of these days.  So this month, I had to get a little creative.

Adventures of a SAHM: Parks

I've been a SAHM for four months now, and I think I'm finally starting to find my groove.  With the exception of the "lack of income" thing, it's a whole lot more fun than I thought it would be.  Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but I don't even really want to be with myself all day long, much less with anyone else.  And I doubt they want to hang out with me either - I'm old, crabby, and I make them wash their hands after they pee.  With the advent of spring, though, a whole new world has opened up to us:  The Park.

Are you a Swinger?

It's been my long-held belief that the tracks for our future social life are laid down way before we ever hit high school.  Before junior high, for that matter.  Not as far back as the womb, of course - I'm not part of the movement that subscribes to the wearing of headphones on the baby bump, pumping classical music straight to the womb.  Bunch of malarkey, that, and totally unproven.  But it should come as no great shocking theory that the preschool playground is a microcosm of the world at large.  And it begs the question:  which part do you play?

Can I bend your ear for a tick?

I just finished reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave for my book club.  Without revealing too much of the plot (the book jacket implores the reader to "please don't..tell what happens.  The magic is in how it unfolds."), there are many life lessons to learnt, but what most struck me was the idea of people wanting to make the world a better place.  It really got me thinking.  Now, I'm not a social activist.  You won't see me at a protest making a big stink about things.  And while I'd love to be a missionary in the field, the reality is that I have a family and a life here, and I'm not going to drag them with me.  I'm just not that kind of person.  But I do want to make a difference somehow.  I thought I might start with what I know.

TV's Best Kept Secrets

Well, it's no secret that I watch a lot of TV.  I mean a lot of TV.  I'm billing my time as 'research for my future career as a star actress'.  Ahem.  That being said, though, I don't just watch any old TV show.  I only watch the good ones.  But it's not terribly avantgarde to say that I love to watch House, Lost, The Office and Battlestar Galactica, no matter how good they are.  (And they are very, very good.)  No sir - those of discerning tastes like me (Ahem #2) also seek out the programmes that are excellent, but are not necessarily mainstream favourites...yet.

In (defense of) the Night Garden...

A few posts back, I wrote about my dislike for The Backyardigans, and was frankly surprised at the amount of responses I got.  Apparently, they have some staunch supporters.  I still cringe when the show comes on TV, but I don't deny that it has great appeal for some and the idea behind the show is a good one.  (So let's hear a big WOOT! for The Backyardigans,  you crazy pseudo-animals, you.)  But what really disconcerted me was the animosity displayed for a programme that I named as one of my top picks, In the Night Garden.  Not only do some people dislike it intensely, but apparently the message boards on Treehouse are awash with people trying to get the show banned from the air.  So, I felt compelled to add my support to an unfairly vituperated show.

Gone, Baby, Gone.

***WARNING:  SPOILER ALERT!***  If you haven't seen this week's House yet (and you really, REALLY should have) then stop reading now. 

With the amount of  TV I watch, it shouldn't come as such a surprise that I get attached.  I mean, if you saw the same group of people once a week for years, you'd consider them all friends, wouldn't you?  Even if you liked some people more than others?  So shouldn't that theory also be applicable to the people you see on TV regularly?  Aren't they kinda, sorta, maybe "friends" too?  Even if you don't, technically, "know" them and they aren't "real" people?  (Oh gawd, am I really this loser-ish that I consider TV characters to be friends?  Please tell me it's not just me...).  So it's like a punch to the gut when one of those "friends" dies...unexpectedly.

But can she read the Phone Book?

One of the things that I really love about my new status of Stay-at-Home Mom is that I have ample opportunity to check out what the city has to offer in the way of children's entertainment.  There are people out there doing something pretty amazing things in the name of enriching our children's youth and bringing us together as a community, if you know where to look.  And, if you have a lot of money.  Of course, I'm talking free entertainment here, people.  (No salary = No money.)  One of the things that is really popular in my neighbourhood is the Chapters Storytime.  I'm trying to stay open-minded about it because I really (truly!) appreciate what they're doing, but most of the time this half-hour of my life leaves me feeling cold...and bored.