Fall is in the Air

It's getting to be late September and that means two things to my stomach: fresh donuts and apple cider from the cider mill. Yes, I can't get enough. Today, my loving husband made the trek to the cider stand (yes, we don't go to the mill because really we could give a care about pictures, hay rides and the madness that is hundreds of families with children all under the age of 5) - we head to the stand where the cider is cheaper and the donuts are fresh (yes made daily with the donut robot.)

I finally got a chance to sit down with TiVo today: so far, I have watched Beauty & the Geek and The Hills. (I am saving ANTM for tomorrow, I have waited this long and it will help me break up my school work tomorrow.) Yes, I am having a somewhat lazy Saturday. I am not complaining (but I guess it may sound like it) with two full classes at school and then two college classes, I am a busy gal, which means I don't have much time for TiVo except on the weekends. I also haven't made much time for running this week either. I also would like to point out to my loyal readers who I am sure already know, this schedule has also cramped my blogging style, however, I will do my best to pick that up. Despite the fact that I am still in my pajamas and it is 2:40 pm, I am going to make running the next thing on my to-do list (after finishing this blog.) Then from there I am going to finally join the living as I head to Mary's 30th Birthday celebration.

Set Your TiVo....
ANTM Returns September 19th

Well September has always been a big month for me. First and foremost it's my birthday month (KC, Meghan & Todd, you guys know what I am talking about), and when I say month I mean month (right Todd?) Second it is the start of the school year, third it is Bruce & my 3rd wedding anniversary... And last but not least it's the return of good television. Yes, when I say good, I mean everyone's favorite America's Next Top Model. And all the rest of the fall television line-up. But back to ANTM, this season is Cycle 9 and I can't wait... I can already feel the plot lines. The drama is ready to spew over the airways of the new CW. I can only imagine what Tyra has in store for us this year.

Here are a few of the other shows I will be tuning in to this fall. (Correction: My TiVo will be diligently recording for me this fall.)

Sunday
8pm - Desperate Housewives - I got back into this show last season, hopefully it continues to keep my attention. (September 30)
9pm - Brothers & Sisters - I kind of fell of this show as the end of the season approached, but I am hoping Calista & the gang can make a strong come back. (September 30)

Monday
9pm Heroes - This sci-fi action packed show has me hooked. I have to be honest, I am usually not into these type of shows, but this one is excellent. However, I have to be in the right mood because it is pretty intense, so I often watch it when I have time to pay attention. (New Shows Start September 24)

Tuesday
8pm - Beauty & the Geek returns to the New CW. Reality television at its finest. (September 18)

Wednesday
8pm -America's Next Top Model - Need I say more! (September 19)

Thursday
9pm - Grey's Anatomy - You can't get enough of McSteamy & McDreamy. (September 27)

And then there are all the MTV & Bravo favorites: The Hills (MTV) and Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List (Bravo.) Project Runway doesn't return with its fourth season until November 14. Will Tim Gunn return? He currently has a new show with supermodel Veronica Webb. I have meet Veronica Webb once in person, during that meeting she talked about herself in the third person. I wasn't as impressed with her as she was with herself. Despite my love for Tim Gunn I am not sure its enough to "make it work" for me.

It looks like I will have my weekends free.

What new shows will I add, well none have really tickled my fancy. To be honest since I have been home I haven't really been paying attention to what's ntew I am trying catch up on what I missed, while enjoyng my new found passion - Sudoku. Oh yes, I am addicted to this number crossword puzzle. I have found myself going to bed early so I can complete these puzzles in bed. Yes, I am that lame, but really are you shocked?

Two Days in Chicago

I just got home from Chicago and I am enjoying watching G. Love perform "Beautiful" with Tristan Prettyman on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. As I sit here with TiVo relaxing from a long car ride, I have realized that my cat's have gone crazy. They are acting really weird, chasing each other around. I am worried that they may need kitty Prozac.

This weekend Bruce, my mom and I made the trip to Chicago. My niece & nephew's school was having a benefit called Blossom, which I produced a photo montage of all the students for the benefit. I was also a photo auction item, well not me, but I offered, ok convinced to edit a photo a photo montage. I made $430 for the cause, well at least that was the high bid. Josh, my brother-in-law won the silent auction for a $30 Hooters gift card. Bruce and I were in a bidding war for a painting at the end we didn't even want it we just wanted to push the price up, which we did. Bruce wore his sweet new argyle sweater, he was hot.

Grandma or as Max my nephew call her Bubba was at home babysitting the kids. We spent all day with them before the benefit. It was fun. They have so much personality. It is fun to see them, they are so loveable. I have some videos... of course which I will post later. I am too tired to up load them tonight.

Today we stopped in downtown Chicago and we ate at the Billy Goat Tavern, which was made famous by John Belushi's Saturday Night Live skit: Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger. Here are some of the pictures of my lunch, I must admit it wasn't the best food I have ever had, but it was fun. Here are a couple pictures from Billy Goat Tavern. It's not easy to find, it's on Michigan Avenue, but you have to go down stairs, it's like below the street. It's in the Road Food Book along with Garrett's Popcorn, which of course we stopped by. It was everyone first time to go to the the "tavern" but it was only my mom's first trip to Garret's popcorn. And of course we got the Chicago mix: cheese and caramel. It was a delicious treat as always.

I watched the Beauty & the Geek reunion show. It was less than stellar. I was hoping for something equally as entertaining as the show, but it wasn't that great. But the good news is the new CW is going to be revived next Wednesday night with the return of Tyra and ANTM.

Now I am in tears, yes, tears watching Grey's Anatomy. It's the third of the ferry episode and Meredith is in "limbo" with a cast of people who have died on the show. I am still not quite sure what is going to happen, but I am pulling for her to leave this "limbo" and go back to the living. Good news, the show just ended and she pulled through. I am glad. I am not sure if I could have kept watching if she died.

Next Post: The St. Clair TEC staff and feather bowling. I was on the winning teams both times, can you see any constant... Ha ha ... I am hardly the key.

I Love Coffee...
Especially Starbucks when they give me a free T-shirt.

Yes, I am a coffee junky. I should have given it up for lent, but I went with another beverage pop. I did coffee last year, and frankly two years in a row wouldn't have worked for me. But anyways I saw an ad on myspace (Angie I know what you were thinking, but I was just reading the G. Love blogs.. ok that is bad. No comments Todd) for a free t-shirt with your favorite drink. The added bonus is that Michael from the last Project Runway is the designer. So I was hooked, however the kicker is they give a limited number away a day until February 28th. They open up the shirt giveaway at 1:00pm EST. I tried yesterday at 1:02pm and they were already gone. Today I was determined. So at 12:58 pm I had the page loaded and I was ready. And with the quickness of my typing abilities I was able to get my shirt. By 1:01 pm they were out of shirts! I can't lie, I am a little proud. My design is above, my drink if you are buying: Grande - Non-fat - Peppermint - White Mocha With Whip! Click here to get yours: Good luck!

Also set your TiVo's G Love is going to be on Conan tomorrow night singing Beautiful off the new Lemonade Album. My TiVo will be primed and ready for me on Sunday with not only that but so much, including Beauty & the Geek which I haven't watched yet... so don't tell. Bruce and I are headed to Chicago tomorrow via Manchester to hang out with my Sista & the kids. So I will have a lot to catch up on including: Grey's Anatomy, which it's clearly too late for me to get into tonight, because I am almost falling asleep writing this blog and I have yet to pack.

The G. Love After-Glow

So it's been a couple days and well I am still obsessing over the G. Love concert. I am trying to figure out ways to see them again. However, it looks more and more unlikely. I did get a set list from the show and will be posting it soon, it's helping me continue the nonsense.You may ask, why not post it now, well it's upstairs and I am too lazy to go and get it. Plus I like the tease. I just found out my friends in Chicago: Mindy & Casey went to see him there. They however saw him living it up before the show and on the L platform after the show. Again, I never get in on any of that action. All I have to say guys is where is the picture... come on, puh-lease, let's not be so selfish and think of your friend in Michigan. Oh well, I guess it was not meant to be. I am wondering how long it will be for me to come down from this concert high.

Maybe I can bide my time with another TiVo show... Yes that is right set your tuners kids, its that time of year again, next week February 28th, that's a Wednesday America's Next Top Model with our friend Tyra starts. Also do not forget to TiVo the last of Beauty & the Geek this Wednesday, tomorrow. Who is getting married? Is it Nate and JennyLee? Could it be Scooter and Megan? (That one I don't think is at all possible however, people are searching the web with these questions and ending up here.) It's part of the reason, the TiVo Changed My Life Blog had a record day yesterday with 43 hits. Yeah! Now if I can just get people to leave comments, HINT, HINT, NUDGE, NUDGE.

Today I had professional development, however, by the end of the day I felt underdeveloped. I probably went to the wrong session, it was more targeted for English teachers. The woman managed to slam journalism many times. I wanted to raise my hand and be like as a member of the journalism society (ok I am not a member of any society but well I have a bachelors in journalism from the prestigious University of Missouri-Journalism School so close enough) I object to these false statements and journalist are writers. At least I proclaim to be one, the proof: TiVo Changed My Life Blog. You had to ask?

Wait A Minute... Grey's Anatomy

Ok, the name of the show is Grey's Anatomy. The lead character is Meredith Grey, so I keep telling myself that there is no possible way she is dead. However, it seemed like that is what happened at the end of last night's show.

I know there are TV miracles, but I fear that suddenly Grey's Anatomy is going to become like Desperate Housewives and we will only hear Meredith's voice as the narrator. That is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Ok now that I have made myself clear to Ms. Shonda Rhimes, becuase she sounds really nice and friendly when I listen to her on the podcasts, so clearly my TiVoing opinon matters to her, clearly. Now I must admit that these past two shows have been excellent, despite the fact that someone kicked Meredith into the drink only to have McDreamy dive into find her and pull her out to save her. The key word here is SAVE. So if Meredith is trully dead will they have to change the name of the show to Anatomy? Come on people, it's Grey's Anatomy.

In other TiVoing news: Beauty and the Geek had it's season finale this Wednesday night. It ended with the rest of the cast voting between Nate & CeCe and Scooter & Megan to see who had really changed. Well Nate actually campaigned for Scooter & Megan, after CeCe went on a rant to him about how she didn't change and no one could blah blah blah. But I definately think that both Scooter and Megan changed. Scooter stopped wearing clothes that could have been consider Boy Scout uniforms from the early 1950's and Megan who seemed repulsed by Scooter when she first met him seemed to genuinely enjoy his company by the end. Now the big question for the reunion show is "did Nate and JennyLee get married or are they getting married?" At least that is what people are asking google to end up at this blog. I can't really see that as being true, but hey this is the girl that thinks they won't kill Meredth Grey of Grey's Anatomy. So anything could happen tune in... Then don't forget too that next week another round of American's Next Top Model begins on the same great station.... The New CW - that's quality TV.

Also this week, I am golden, because tomorrow, I will be at the G. Love concert. YEAH!

Then there were THREE....

Three days that is until G. Love. So I am sure you are asking yourself how am I occupying my time as I am anticipating this super awesome day. But until then you can listen to some tunes by clicking here.

Well let's see, now that we are back home from our conference. (I have to admit that today's session were much better for me than yesterday's.) But now that I am back home, it's time to reunite with TiVo. I am excitedly watching Beauty and the Geek, which is such a guilty pleasure. Today they are going out on a farm. Oh I am just to the point where they are showing their outfits. CeCe and Megan choose to wear the worlds shortest shorts very uncomfortable boots and bikini tops. They got to the farm and then they had to complete three task. One included herding sheep. Scooter and Megan won the challenge. I am starting to really like Megan. It came down to Jenny Lee & Niels and Nate & CeCe facing off in the elimination room. In the end Nate & CeCe won the challenge. And wow what was CeCe saying something really ridiculous at the end. I am not sure really what she said at the end. Something about taking a blonde to the ranch but you can't take the swimsuit out of the blonde. WHAT does that mean? The sad thing is now there is no more romance between JennyLee and Nate.

BREAKING NEWS: I just saw the promo for America's Next Top Mode, it's back February 28th. Oh my word set your TiVo for Tyra and ANTM! I know I am.

Set your TiVo it's Beauty & The Geek

Tonight is another round of Beauty & the Geek. I am having a really hard time because well Nate is my fav however he is partnered with Cece and well not so much my favorite. So we will see if he can last another round.

I have been very busy as of late, not a lot of time for TiVo. Also when I am home I have been indulging in the first season of Arrested Development. I love it! E=MC2 lent me her DVD's of the first season. It stars Jason Bateman and Portia de Rossi and it's freaking hilarious. You have the father in the jail, the son trying to hold everything together and his twin sister struggling with her "never nude" husband Tobias Fünke. Fünke: say it... it's just fun: Fünke. It's Fünke Fünke Fünke. Then there is Micheal Bluth's (Jason Bateman) son George Michael Bluth who's in love with his cousin Maeby Fünke. So find the reruns and TiVo it. I know they are out there. Because I am sure you all don't have giving students who are willing to loan you their DVD's. And we all know how great TiVo is all you need to do is type in the title and it does the rest.

A New Must See
Must Add to the Season Pass

So one of my students E=MC2 (as she likes to go by now) told me I needed to watch "Beauty & the Geek" on "the new CW." In my head, I was reluctant, because I thought how could any show on "the new CW" be good without Tyra Banks. I mean come on people can Ashton Kutcher's "Beauty & the Geek" even compare to "America's Next Top Model."

So last night, I sat down with TiVo to watch the Encore season 3 premiere of the show (yes, season 3 and I am just jumping on board, I know what you are thinking.) So here is the gist of the show: it's a reality show, go figure. The basics, for those of you like me who didn't know, are they team up a "geek" i.e. Harvard, MIT: Math Science Grads. They have a myriad of hobbies like collecting 35,000 comic books, being the lead singer of the a Star Wars Tribute Band, a Trekky (no I mean Trekker, which I learned is the appropriate term) and the list goes on. The beauties are swimsuit models, beauty queens etc. and let's say they are not so smart.

So they beauty and geeks are teamed up together as partners. It's almost a blind pick. They then compete in challenges: the beauties are given intellectual challenges and the geeks get social ones. In this episode the first challenge was for the beauties to find three books in the library using the Dewey Decimal System. It was much more difficult than it sounds... well for these girls at least. Then when the got the books and gave them to their partner there were tasks in each of their books that the "geek" had to complete. 1. Get someone to rub sunscreen on your back. 2. Get a girl's number. 3. Borrow a cell phone to make a call. Well needless to say it was painfully amusing.

Then the teams got a chance to decide if they really wanted to be there or take a $20K buyout. Well no one took the buyout so they got their next assignment, which they had the night to prepare. The guys had to do a comedy routine, which I think is hard regardless if you are a geek or not. I couldn't see how the girls would do any better. The girls got to interview the author of "Freakonomics." Well some of the guys were mildly funny, while the others BOMBED. Like the little Asian guy name Piao pronounced Pi, like the number, got up and told the most foul jokes ever. You could hear a pin drop. The audience picked the winner.

Then the girls, who many were quoted saying "look at all these words" about the book prior to the interview did even worse than the stand-up. They had a horrible time with the prompter. The word enigmatic really stumped them. Well as I am sure you figured most sucked it up. Two of them did a surprisingly good job. In this one two TV journalist (ok I know what my newspaper friends from Mizzou are thinking... and stop) picked the winner.

Then two people Sinjay & Tori where voted off at the end. All and all it was freaking hilarious! I mean, I feel that my description doesn't do it justice. So get a season pass on the TiVo and watch it. Its regular time is Wednesday nights.

Next Post: You can TiVo it, but you NEED to find it and watch it! Arrested Development