Was skimming faithharkness 's journal. She picked up this meme. I found it interesting, and thought "meh. why not?" So now I'm stealing it, too. Not like anyone cares what I post around here. Not like this journal isn't a total ghost town anyway.

So, here's the meme.

Empire Magazine (which has a terribly fun website) has revealed its list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows ever:
1. Bold the shows you watch/used to watch.
2. Italic the shows you've seen at least one episode of.
3. [apparently was to strikeout shows you'd never seen. But, please. That'd be waaaay too many. So, just extrapolate.]
4. Post your answers.


50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City
45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek -- not so much voluntarily. DH is a TOS junkie.
42. Only Food and Horses
41. Band of Brothers
40. Life on Mars UK and Life on Mars US
39. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted
35. Alias
34. Frasier -- for about a year with an old roommate
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood
30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf
25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK and US -- maybe 1.5 episodes each
22. The Shield
21. Angel
20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who
15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica original series and the new one. -- although, I've only watched the first ep of the ending 1/2 season.
12. Family Guy -- definitely wearing thin

11. Seinfeld
10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24
05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- 1 episode, maybe? I think I finished the pilot.
01. The Simpsons -- not much in the past 15 years or so. And isn't it really a bit sad that's a statement I can make?

This really reinforces the thought I had last night that I watch less actual television with each passing month. Although I'm caught up with HIMYM and through 1 1/2 seasons of Numb3rs. Which is just as annoying to type and it has been to read.

Also, AON, I really should get some new art going. I've got a bunch of 1/2 finished reaction icons, plus I want better mood theme. And a new header would be nice. Oh well, I guess if it were a priority, I'd do it.

I am sucking at keeping up with my writing posts. But, hey! I've been doing userpics! So at least I'm not wallowing in a pit of non-creativity. Only semi-non-creativity.


I'd love to see another year or even just a movie of "due South." If only for the awesome chemistry of CKR/PG or RM/PG. Not to mention the wonderful absurdity that U.S. TV just doesn't get.

Close 2nd is "Wolf Lake." I'd love to know WTF was next.

I totally LOVE the "Up to Something" series of crack-tastic goodness from skellerbvvt. So today I attempted to make her an icon. Hopefully, it's clear enough. I'm really used to working in much bigger media and probably should practice more. Just need some more inspiration.

Any way, skeller, I hope you like. Just a little return for all the happy you've given me.

I really want the Jetsons' car, that folds into a briefcase. I am so sick of having to spend more time looking for parking than it takes me to drive to work.

I've never gotten into posting properly, but I do want to flex my writing a bit more, so I am now vowing (to myself) that I will post at least three days a week. I'll try some memes, some writing exercises, and perhaps even doing some actual journaling. But I've been too stagnant, and something has to give. This is it.


Today's exercise comes from http://www.wakeupwriting.com/archives/date/2008/03/ and is the March 21 entry

As usual the coffee served at the diner was lukewarm and barely drinkable. I sat in the booth next to "mine." My nightly stop was going about as well as the rest of my day had.

Woke up late. Missed bus. Stained shirt at lunch. Missed deadline on report. Called on the carpet. Spilled copier toner all over floor, paper, and pants. Mom didn't recognize me during today's visit. Get here, my normal table's taken. All that's left is the booth with the wobbly table next to the door.

Lynn comes over to top me up. Asks if I know what I want tonight. I don't really feel like anything. Looking at the menu seems too much effort. I order whatever's the special. Her eyebrows raise in a sympathetic way. She doesn't ask anything, though. She's never once asked anything. Just greets me with a lukewarm smile to go with the coffee.

I've been eating dinner here everyday except Saturdays for seven months, two weeks, and three days. It's a couple buildings down from the station I catch the bus at for visiting Mom. She's been in that home, getting the same food all that time, plus Saturdays. Is forgetting the grinding routine 90 percent of the time a blessing for her? Is my remembrance for the better? For which of us will her eventual passing be the greater mercy?

Oddly, I figured I'd score way lower.

<center><table width="300px" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px #000000 solid; color: #000000;background-color: #ffffff;"><tr><td><img src="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/wife.jpg" width="72"height="72"></td><td><p style="text-align: center;"><font size="+3">47</font></p><p style="text-align: center;">As a 1930s wife, I am<br/><strong><font size="+2">Average</font></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/">Take the test!</a></small></p></td></tr></table></center>


To no great surprise, I guess, DH ranks just slightly higher than me when I answered the "husband" section for him. Not that he'll ever know. But still average.

<center><table width="300px" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px #000000 solid; color: #000000;background-color: #ffffff;"><tr><td><img src="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/husband.jpg" width="72"height="72"></td><td><p style="text-align: center;"><font size="+3">51</font></p><p style="text-align: center;">As a 1930s husband, I am<br/><strong><font size="+2">Average</font></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/">Take the test!</a></small></p></td></tr></table></center>

So I guess the lesson is: Neither of us should be married in the 1930s. Or, that we've got an average marriage (also believable.)

Always struck a chord. Searching endlessly, unflaggingly, for his El Dorado. I don't know whether I've found mine, yet. I guess the need to keep looking says that I haven't.

Edgar Allan Poe: El Dorado

Gaily bedight,
A gallant night
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of El Dorado.

But he grew old --
This knight so bold --
And -- o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like El Dorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow --
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be --
This land of El Dorado?"

"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied --
"If you seek for El Dorado."

Doh! LJ is blocked from the network at work now. I hardly ever have time for stuff like this at home, so I'll never have a chance to keep up on all the awesome writing.

Dratted Natural Resources! Foiled!

I am *definitely* getting old. Every four weeks or so, I find myself thinking, "God, I can't beleive it's already [May]!" I have completely turned into my mother. Makes me wonder whether S will turn into me as she gets older, or if she'll be more like her bio-mom.

"The Long Good-Bye" (SGA) was reran on Friday. Both times Shep expressed potential interest in a woman (either by kissing or talking about "caring more than you know")-- even though he wasn't 'himself,' the editing cut directly to McKay. I must have missed that the first time it aired, but it strikes me as odd editing choices. Especially when considering how anti-slash TPTB (aka TIIC) have seemed.

I LOVE the new Doctor Who. "Father's Day" about ripped my heart to shreds. I rewatched it yesterday, and still spent half of it crying. I was leary of the format and some of the "modernizations," including the new TARDIS interior. Overall, though, it is just as great as ever. And, it's helped me learn that the concept of a platonic "traveling companion" no longer seems to exist in the English-speaking world.

There's a part of me that would really love to start writing again. I'm sure I could shoe-horn a half hour or so of writing every couple nights. I don't want to work on anything long, though. I'd like to start with drabble-ish stuff, but alas, have no muses right now. They all got tired of the dust bunnies and moved on.

It's the oddest thing. I'm happy, and healthy, enough, but....

I've been intermittently gripped by the strongest sense of ennui of late. I hope it passes once my birthday does. I seem to recall hearing that the 30th birthday is a time of dissatisfaction regardless of how one normally feels about age and aging. Of course, the 3rd wedding anniversary is also a significant one psychologically.

To have both literally one after the other likely isn't good for my emotional well-being this month. I think that may be more to the point.

Ron constantly wonders if I'm happy being married. I am. Really happy about it. But, at the same time, I'm frustrated. I'm not in the mood for sex as often, because I truly am tired. I get frustrated with him and the kids because I feel I do do an inordinate amount of the parenting. I don't know how to express these things to him without him getting all bent out of shape that I don't love him or the kids or whatever. I think I'm going to call Sherry about scheduling an hour for myself sometime.

Right after I finally call the accupunturist.

My mother's retirement is pushed back due to SNAFUs at the state retirement board. Because she was given the wrong deadline, they didn't review her request last week. Instead they'll get to it next month! So now I'll have to change my ticket. I'm going to wait until the weekend in hopes that she'll know more and I can just do a straight rescheduling. Otherwise, I'll have to pay the $50 fee to release the ticket, plus another $50 to reschedule. Assuming I can get another flight, since I used my mileage for a saver ticket. Now I have no idea when/if I'll get vacation. 

I have a board meeting this evening, so I'll get to feel useless.

On top of all that, Friday night I started Amatriptyline (sp?) to help me sleep. I've spent the last four days in some level of drug fog, which is just more depressing.

At least House is on tonight. I have something to look forward to, even if Ron's going to be a pain in the ass about it.

R's 10th birthday was Sunday. His party was at the laser tag place again. Only one of the six boys he invited came. I think two were sick. At least *someone* was there. Last year none of the four invitees showed up or even mentioned it. The kids had a great time, though.

I've been going through photos in order to put together an album for my trip. There are some pictures of R's sixth birthday, the first I was around for. I am always so immersed in the day-to-day things, that I forget just how much the kids are growing and changing. It completely floors me when I'm faced with it.

I flared Saturday morning. Couldn't move my right shoulder & all my joints hurt. I took some muscle relaxants and stayed in bed almost all day. I surfaced long enough to attempt some homework, but my internet was down all weekend. I was barely able to bypass the cable modem and dial in long enough to take my midterm.

I still feel like someone has beaten me with a bag of rocks, but at least I can sit up today. Gotta take the small victories.

I made my airline reservations last night. I didn't get anything that I wanted. The only available award tickets were either leaving here Wed. 5/24 or arriving in Reno Sun. 5/28. My mom's retirement party is the evening of the 27th, so going on Wednesday would only burn off more leave time then I have.

I get into SEATAC at 10 pm and don't leave until 7 am. I'm going to try to get a room to crash, so I don't have to sack on the airport floor. On the way home, I leave Reno at 6:30 am Monday. I'm going to have to fly out of St Louis Sunday and stay the night in Reno. I get two short hotel stays to myself. Not bad, I guess.

My leave has been approved. My itinerary has been sent around. For the first time in years .... [sings] I'm goin' on vacation! I'm goin' on vacation![/sings]

My family is *nuts*. Maybe I'm hearing about it because I'm furthest away, but everyone keeps calling me to hash over all the relocation drama and issues. I hear about each discussion from all three angles, even if it's just Barb telling me what's going on between mom & A. This is especially unproductive, since most of the time, I've already heard it from *both* mom & A.

Mom's older dog may need to be put down due to cancer. As much as it makes me a bad person to say so, that would make the trip soooo much easier. One dog and a ferret for 1,500 miles is quite enough. As I told Barb, I'm happy to contribute by driving most of the way with Mom, but I really don't anticipate that this will be one of my greatest memories. Of course, I could be wrong. I'm sure it'll be fine and I can't wait to see Mom. There are so many variables, though, something's bound to go awry.

Although I'm really pretty close to my mother, I haven't seen her since the wedding (2 yrs 11 months ago) and haven't been back to Nevada since 2001. I've never met my MIL, who also has never met the kids, although we've talked on the phone.

We have MIL scheduled to fly up here for 3 weeks in the end of August. I'm nervous as all get out. Our house is too small for another person to share for any length of time. The kids aren't used to having someone else (essentially a stranger) around for so long. School starts back up a week after her arrival. I really don't know what we're going to do. She's blind, so it's not like we'll be up all night playing cards like Mom & I would.

Speaking of Mom, she's moving in with B (older sister) in New Jersey this summer. She wants me to drive with her from Lovelock to St. Louis. I used almost all my miles for MIL's ticket, and having the ticket split like that is a pain in the tuchus.

On top of all this, Ron still seems to occasionally forget that I am an adult. He got so accustomed to single parenting that he sometimes tries to railroad me the way he used to the kids. Of course, this annoys the H*LL out of me and I get stubborn & passive-aggressive in response, which doesn't really help.

Monday is Seward's Day, so we have it off. It's also the start of Spring Break, so the kids are off, too. Sunday school has been canceled as well. We get three days together. Woo Hoo.

I'm almost done with the database at work. I can't wait to get to do something else. Today I emptied binders for the handbook. I'm tired and will likely have sore shoulders tomorrow, but it was terrific to do something other than stare at data all day.

My hubby is a severe cuddler. He is perpetually cold and tries to siphon off all my extra body heat. Unfortunately, he is always coldest when I'm most sore.

Last night I couldn't sleep because of the pain, and any time I managed to doze off, I'd wake up 20 minutes later with him partially draped over me. I spent more time fighting him off -- which never even woke him up -- than I did sleeping. I'm blinking exhausted.

Unfortunately, our place is too small to have a spare bed anyplace, so there aren't any other places to sleep. I'm tired and tired of being part-mattress. The really lousy part is that when I wake him, he's very apologetic and concerned. Then he falls asleep and it starts up again.

Does anybody sleep with a very cuddly person? How do you deal?

I just got off the phone w/ the principal at S's school. Ten minutes talking about retaining her in seventh grade next year. This morning, after discovering $33 gone from my pocket, I went into R's room and found so many food wrappers that I filled a grocery bag cleaning them up.

Good Lord, I hate their mother so much. Parenting can't be easy at all, but these two are so fracked up because of her. How am I supposed to raise them to be good people when they started off with such a deficit? I don't feel cut out to be anyone's mother; why did I think I'd be able to not screw this up royally?

Wow. The past couple of days have been pretty dull around here. I don't want a crisis or anything, but going through this database is certainly not a fun time to be had by anyone. Thank heaven for slash.

I'm finding new authors and new works by authors I've read in the past. Right now it's the only thing keeping me from going around the bend.

Pretty soon, I'll have to put up a rec list or something. Of course, I haven't even updated the CSS site for over a month. Plus I need to start work on the Pesach newsletter. And my homework. Gah! I need to learn to say no more often.

I've been really unfocused the past couple of days. I don't know if it's the residual cold and the change of weather, or what, but it's making me out-of-sorts.

The church across from my office burned to the ground Sunday morning. The house next to it is gutted also. The church was the second oldest building in town. I never really thought much about it, but it's a damn shame. Luckily no one was injured.

Ron is starting to get better. He was able to hold food down yesterday. He's still not going to work. He said that he'll try to get his strength back and go tomorrow. It'll be a relief to get him out of the house.

It's in the single digits here, but the wind chill is knocking the temp down to the negative single digits. Not as cold as Fairbanks, certainly, but enough of a shift to make my joints hurt. Plus, the kids have lost all of this year's gloves, so I loaned them mine & have none.

I cannot *believe* Galactica! My mind is still spinning about the finale. I'm going to listen to the podcast at lunch while I work on my homework.

I really need to get a couple icons together. I keep meaning to, but wind up doing something else, because I'm not sure what I want to use.

I should get back to work. The database isn't going to analyze itself.