40 posts tagged “qotd”
What television show do you never miss?
If you know me, you'll know I have no easy answer to this question. Perhaps a "normal" consumer of television could narrow it down to one show that's a given, but it was in the not-too-distant past that I had one show a day, in the spirit of celebrating my beloved boob-tube, I'm going to give the rundown of shows that have been this "go-to" activity in the past. Let's call it the best of the best television, Katie style. that I could not miss. Sadly because of schedules and activities and feeding the need to interact with humanity, those days are gone. But I miss them. So here's a rundown of what I need to watch these days and a quick look back down Memory Lane (and not Wisteria Lane because I've always found "Desperate Housewives" a completely abhorrent show.)
Present Day Television Needs:
- House (Fox): Hugh Laurie is da man on this Fox show that melted me with the inaugural "You idiot." Admittedly, the first season was absolutely must-see t.v. I never missed an episode and actually Netflixed the season to see it again. Not unlike many formula hour-longs, everything after that has been an attempt (sometimes successful) to rediscover that early magic. Now that Thirteen is a regular character, I've stopped watching because she drives me nuts. As soon as she kicks it from her Huntington's Disease, I'll be back.
- Damages (F/X): This is my current "rush home in a panic while possibly endangering others" show of choice.Glenn Close is not a pretty woman but she is a talented one and in its first season (last summer) it produced some of the greatest moments of television cliff-hangery I've seen in a long time. Can't say enough good about this show that unfolds like a novel.
- Top Chef (BRAVO): Like it's formulaic predecessor Project Runway, I consider this a high-end reality show. The people are interesting but *not* candidates for Maury (like they are on, oh, anything on Vh1). And they're talented. And let's face it; I have one of the most brilliant crushes on Tom Colicchio in all of his wonderful, sassy baldness. Yummy all around.
- 30 Rock (NBC): Because I think Tina Fey is a genius. It makes me laugh out loud at least once a week (I try to re-watch episodes online before the next week's "new" episode). And no matter how much of a real life jerk he might be, Alec Baldwin is a shining, shining, comedic leading man on television. Long live Jack Donoghy.
- Dexter (Showtime) (Honorable Mention): This one's hard to count because I don't get Showtime, so I have to wait whole seasons to see the next installment. This show is compelling in a wonderfully sick and twisted way (Dexter's a serial killer...with a humane side). When I do sit down to watch it, it's one of those that I'll watch for 5 hours in a row.
Wonder Shows of Yesteryear
- Ed: If you blinked at all during the 2000 calendar year, you might have missed this wonderfully creative, kitschy show about a lovable Manhattan lawyer (Tom Cavanaugh) whose high-powered wife dumps him so he returns home to small-town New York to reclaim his high school love Carol Vessey (Julie Bowen). Quirky-hilariousness ensues. This show gave Justin Long his veritable start as an up-and-coming star. Ever since this show, I've been looking for my own personal Ed.
- Gilmore Girls: Lorelai and Rory. I used to run home from graduate school to watch these two and the other Stars Hollow dwellers make their way through life. They talk fast. But they feel like your best friends. The first two seasons were to die for. By the 7th, I just got angry. I still love Luke, though, and still believe he and Lorelai were meant to be.
- The Wonder Years: Just good. Basically Charlie Brown as a non-cartoon. One of the first comedy/drama mixes that gave us realistic but still funny, 3-dimensional characters.
- ER: This show was in its heyday when I was in college. The whole floor of the dorm would take turns hosting "ER night." Now it's the saddest display of hourly television that exists. Proof that whatever John Stamos touches will inevitably turn to crap (i.e. Full House, The Beach Boys, Rebecca Romijn, etc.)
- The Amazing Race: This is still on but I have a hard time watching because it's taken the usual route of reality shows that have been on way too long--the contestants are getting truly bizarre. I watched around Seasons 4-8. Fantastic, riveting, fun. They traveled around the world and I felt like I was going with them. Really good. And Phil Keoghan has become my favorite host of these types of shows in that he often cannot cover his disdain for the people he has to be around. Love that guy.
Truth of the matter here is that I could easily keep going. But this isn't a book. I just wish all tv could be as good as the shows I've listed here. I do simply love television. It comforts me.On the docket for tonight: Network television sucks on Tuesdays since House moved to monday nights. I'm going to try to catch Chuck from last night on-line and then Lost reruns (which I'm watching for the first time!) on Sci-Fi. Recycled tv but still worthwhile.
The question of the day today on Vox asks what my Chinese Zodiac sign is. Now, in the "other," "normal," zodiac I'm a Libra through and through. Every description I've ever read sounds like a personal ad...that I didn't construct but should. So imagine my thrill with realizing that in the Chinese Zodiac, I'm a Dragon. I feel this could have been so much worse...I didn't want to be a rat or a rooster...you know, some barn yard animal. Interestingly, the dragon appears to be the only mythical creature on the whole list. That made me feel even better. So, to prove how much of a dragon I am, here's the description...my editorial commentary ensues.
Occupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Nice. This makes me feel invincible. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. I've been known to have these. The dominance thing rings particularly true. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. This is also true...I live for challenges and I've been known to be an enormous risk-taker. Possibly not in the good way all the time. I've done things that some have called irresponsible or even wreckless. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. This doing things in a grand fashion is very important to me. I love me a ritual, there's no doubt about that. I'm loud, I'm big. Even when I don't want to, I always make an entrance, usually signified by my laugh that precedes me wherever I go.Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and interestingly, unfulfilled. See the last 123098 blog posts starting with yesterdays. Reading this sentence is like therapy to me. That's the answer to my problems. I'm a Dragon. Now that I know, I can just go breathe fire on someone and feel better. But wait...there's more...While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Ridiculously true. I hate asking for help. It makes me feel like a failure. Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, Hmmmm...a blessing but also a curse...a lot of people think I'm just bizarre but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. I never would have agreed with this before this year but I have to admit this might actually be true. I covet "my space" and "my time." Perhaps that is because they’re most successful when working alone. I will kill any study group with my "colorful personality" and need to say roughly 12309808 words in one sitting. When I was little, group projects were the bain of my existence. This is why engineering and other truly "collaborative" professions are absolutely not for me. I don't really play well with others.Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, I'm often told I intimidate people...I have to believe this is where that fits in but these qualities aren’t applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast! TRUE. I've actually seen red in the past and I've been known to literally scream at people. It's a rare occurence and I've tried to tame this with Yoga but it's hard. I still can breathe fire when I'm really tired or my defenses are down.
Considering their hard-working nature, Dragons are healthy overall. They do get stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, likely because they take so many risks. Dragons could benefit from incorporating mild activity into their lives. Yoga or walking would be good as these activities can work both their minds and their bodies. This I find beyond bizarre and here's why. I've worked out my whole life and also have suffered the tension/headache thing chronically. But there are two activities that I will willingly do and actually look forward to: Yoga and walking. Not kidding. Ask my mom.
Dragons will give into love, but won’t give up their independence. TRUE. Some say I have commitment issues and they're absolutely right. I do. For this reason. I'm terrified of being trapped. I just learned that about myself recently. Because they have quick, sometimes vengeful tempers, their partners need to be tough-skinned. This also is a main reason I don't drag others into my world. It can be friggin' scary in here for them. I'll turn on ya...fast...and you'd best be ready. This is not my favorite quality in myself, clearly. Dragons enjoy others who are intriguing, Yes. And Yes. and Yes. and when they find the right partners, they’ll usually commit to that person for life. Despite what others must think, I know exactly what I'm lookin' for.
On top of this regular Dragon description, I happen to also be a Fire Dragon which apparently is dictated by year of birth. Here's the kicker...
A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals, I love this. I'd like to say it's not true but it totally is. and because they react quickly and recklessly, My knee jerk reactions are something to behold and usually involve completely cutting people out of my life. This has happened multiple times. they sometimes make wrong decisions. And I've always regretted those decisions and actually live in a constant state of guilt and trying to figure out how to fix it. Fire Dragons need to slow down and keep their tempers in check as that’s when they’re best. This so absolutely does not surprise me I almost can't stand it.
I always thought Libra was right on but after having read this, I think I'm actually a Dragon. And if I merge the two together, I'm not kidding, it's me. To a tee. In a frighteningly real way. I'd love to say there's nothing about this stuff that's believable...but I can't. It's freakin' me out.
Check your's out and let me know what you think.
What's the most complicated part of your life right now?
What's going to go on here is a very complicated answer to a simple question about complication. Brace yourselves (all two of ya.) Over the past couple weeks, I've wracked up quite a list of complications. So what, exactly, is GOING ON HERE? How can I fail to get it so many times?Everything seems complicated these days. So many details, so much time spent figuring things out, so many times I've said the exact words, "It's complicated." Whenever I've had this amount of apparent turmoil go on in my life I force myself to stop and ask, "Does it have to be this way?" The answer is always no.
It's these moments when I feel like a particular failure at yoga. Although I've been practicing it for 10 years, I still haven't been able to effectively grip onto the basic tenet of yoga which is letting go. Even that sentence is ironic. I just can't get the stranglehold on letting go that I'd like to have. Huh. Can't imagine why. And here's what I've come to conclude about myself at this point in my life: I'm bored.
I know that sounds crazy, especially when I put the words "doctoral student" and "teacher" and "social butterfly" out there. None of these roles should indicate boredom, but I'm convinced this is the problem. Why? Because I'm also in possession of one of those wildly imaginative, day-dream prone minds that when bored will whip up fictional accounts of what's going on around me. Thus, what seems complicated is actually simple in disguise. And I let it happen because there's either things I don't want to think about out there or I'm just an idle mind. And we all know how that's just asking to be the devil's playground.
Some may chide me for having no discipline (which isn't totally true; I have it but where they're right is that I'm choosing not to use it) or being easily distractable (also a choice). But, the truth of the matter is that my mind goes to what I find interesting--that's the people around me in my life right now. Not my work (which fills a niche,yes, but always has to be qualified--"that's interesting for work") and sadly not my schoolwork either. I suspect this will change before too long but until I make that choice, I'm gonna be bored and, thus, also frustrated, discontented, searching, lost.
So what's complicated in my life. Me. Hands down.
What's your favorite TV commercial?
Submitted by MexicanRobot.I don't know why they make me laugh but there are two cell phone commercials that just literally crack me up every time. They're objectively not funny at all but there's something about the delivery of a line or gesture in particular that completely sells the whole thing.
1. T-Mobile Family Plan
A "Dad" comes up the stairs and announces to the fam that he just got the T-mobile family plan. All of the kids chime in with all the people they can call. The little kid says to the Dad, "Now you can call the lady at soccer that you always stare at." That line is hilarious. But then. The ultimate exchange.
I can't rationally explain why, but this last line makes me laugh EVERY SINGLE TIME I see this. I actually stop what I'm doing to watch this commercial. I think it's because the dad uses the word "dude" in a way that I always do and it probably sounds like I do when I use it. So it's a moment of self-reflection...that I sound like a tool when I say the word "dude" which might be very nearly every other.
2. AT&T "Milky Minutes"
We first saw this one during the Olympics this summer and it's ultimately for the roll-over minutes plans. But it's a mom, 2 sons, and dad. Mom finds old "minutes" in the trash and yells at the boys who threw them away because they're still good, mimicking that conversation that all of us cereal eaters but not cereal-milk drinkers have had with parents one time or another. What kills me about this commercial is that it ends with the best combo finger-waggle/face on the mom I have ever seen or has ever existed in the history of the world. It's hilarious. But it's the only one in the series that's remotely funny. Even now, I'm fairly confident I'm the only one who feels this way.
I also think a nod should be given here to the worst commercial ever. I'd have to give that to any commercial from the Olive Garden. Sappy, gross, cliche statements of what Americans are. Also translated into what they're food is like. Ugh.
When was the last time you drove out of town? Where'd you go and why?
I love driving. Despite wanting to foster a planet that doesn't have an average temperature of 128, I consider driving a hobby. And an enjoyable one at that. And now that I have the CMB3K
(Chevy Malibu 3000 because CMB2K just doesn't describe its greatness...otherwise lovingly titled the Chevy Malibu-ty Call by some), I will take off practically anywhere. But my last adventure was fleeing to the Cleve for Thanksgiving. A wonderful 6 hour jaunt directly east on the turnpikes and toll roads of the The Heartland. I'll rinse and repeat on Dec. 25 for Christmas. There's just something about that drive that makes me so utterly happy. And in both directions. I think it's because this was the first time since I've moved here that I feel like, whichever way I'm driving, I'm going home. There's that warm and fuzzy feeling we were hoping for.
Of course, this time when I go I'll actually be taking with me my driver's license which, for the past month including aforementioned driving trip, has been conveniently stationed on my desk under a pile of papers, not giving me any indication that it was there. It's fantastic to sit back and imagine all of the ways that could have been a disaster but actually was not.
I'm already countin' down.
How often do you do laundry? Do you have your own washer and dryer or do you have to leave your home?
Here's how laundry goes down in the Katie Pacyna household: when I run out of underwear, I have to do laundry. That's the only real determiner of it. Because I rent and apartment that has 3 crappy washers and 2 semi-crappy dryers, I'm not one of those people that's just going to "throw a load in." No, no. Laundry is a project. And since, over the past 10 years really, I've been able to build up an underwear collection that lasts me about 4 weeks (and I'm completely not kidding), about once a month I take one of my days off and devote it almost solely to the doing of laundry. Up and down the stairs at least six times. Of course, added to my penchant for utter procrastination, the done laundry could sit in the basket for up to 3 weeks without being folded. I know. I'm such a crapster when it comes to household chores. I just don't care enough. This mortifies my mom who doesn't get it at all. And I get that. Still doesn't make me fold, though.
I will say this absolutely: One day I will live in a situation that will allow me to have my own washer and dryer. That will be literally one of the happiest days of my life. And should anyone deign to buy me these things, if I'm not already married to them, I will marry them without hesitation. On the spot.
Clothing, dinners, make-up, or gadgets... We all have things we like to splurge on. What do you think you buy too much of?
Oh, that's easy.
SHOES.
Which color do you think best represents you and why?
Submitted by hocuspocus88.I sincerely love this question. I think about it all the time. I'm a blue for sure. I know, that's so cliche. Everybody loves blue. But I am a blue and here's why. The utility of blue is fantastic--it can be royal, sky, azure, navy, sea, powder, cornflower...the possibilities are endless. I could wear blue to literally every type of event every day of the year and rock it out. With blue, the potentials are endless. It can be a celebratory color. It can be a sad color. It can be contemplative. But it's always the alternative to the other more "symbolic" colors.
Blue's got potential to be molded into whatever it needs to be. It's your typical utility infielder, your jack-of-all-trades color, your comforting "go-to" when the flashy oranges and pinks run their course. I'd like to think I'm a little bit of all of those things. And if I'm not, I'm hoping to get there some day.
I'm going to think "blue."
If you were stranded on an island, what five books would you bring?
submitted by CJPI'm starting to have an issue with these questions of the day...I think I've already answered this one last year. So, because of that, I'm going to innovate. If I'm stranded on a desert island, reading is going to be of no comfort to me. No, I'm going to have to go full out and say that I'm gonna need television and I'm gonna need it now. So, these are the five television shows that I'd absolutely need for "stranded on an island" relief. And you know what? Don't question the technicalities here, okay. Since I couldn't be further from an island or the possibility of being stranded on one, the possibility of having cable tv there if I am is just as real. So here we go:
Television Shows I Must Have if Stranded on an Island:
1. Lost. Duh. Not only an excellently written show (although Season 2 is a little bit of a disappointment, I'll admit) with compelling characters and a wicked fascinating story arc but helpful in navigating the little mundanities of life in the new world? Sawyer, help me please. There are 48 people all with special "nature" skills just waiting for such an occasion to help me. This is entertaining but also educational and how can you hope for more than that, really? (and yes, I made up that word.) How do I build a fire? Let's watch Locke. How do I reset a dislocated shoulder or cure a gunshot wound with rudimentary tropical plants? Jack's your man. How do I horde resources and then sell them to my fellow castaways to turn a profit thereby establishing the first free-market economy
2. Scrubs. I'm thoroughly addicted to this now. It's like my down blanket on a cool afternoon. It's like my Dunkin' Donuts coffee at exactly 9:30am every day. Pure, weird fun even when it was waning in the last 3 seasons.
3. House. Because every deserted island needs a loveable but gruff ass who possesses such stunning brilliance that you can't not have him around. And Hugh Laurie...well, he's a hot British dude with an amazing American accent. I just love this show and can't get enough.
4. Gilmore Girls (Seasons 1-5). I'm just gonna hope that seasons 6-7 got wrecked in whatever tragic occurrence left me stranded. How else would I ever keep up my lightning-fast witty banter skills? A little Lorelai, a little Rory, add me some Luke and Suki and you've got a good afternoon. Another great, comfortable, smart show.
5. Survivor. I know, an off-beat choice for my last one. But given the newest crop of complete idiots populating this show, I think I'd be comforted to know that if they can survive in horrible, awful conditions, then anyone can. I think the winner of this current season is going to be a girl (again, we have this concept of woman-child which doesn't sound as demeaning as man-child does but it should because that's what I mean) named Sugar who wears her hair in pigtails and talks in a baby voice. Ultimately, I just think this would give me an ultimate sense of hope.
How do you stay organized?
Huh. Well, I don't. But I'd like to discuss all of the ways I wish I could. I've actually started multiple strategies in the effort to *get* organized ( I can't even talk about staying organized) and they haven't actually worked but in and of themselves I thought they were good ideas. So, here's what I've tried:
- The Inbox/Outbox system for home use. I tried to put bills and mail and stuff into this quasi-business system which just became a partial disaster of mixed up paper. How do I define what's Inbox vs. Outbox when I pay my bills online. The outbox was always empty. Meanwhile the inbox...totally crammed to the hilt with a random mix of useless junk and very, very important paperwork. Ugh. A nightmare.
- I bought a white board. Thinking this would help organize my "to do" tasks, I invested in a humongous white board. It partially worked, especially when I was trying to remember long lists of things to do. Of course, the key to this success is actually hanging it up. It's been sitting on the floor in a plastic bag with other random wall adornments since June. Not so effective at the moment.
- Immediate sorting of laundry. This was by the far the most effective strategy and it still works to this day if I make an effort to keep it up. I have 4 hampers. If I sort immediately, it saves me a lot of time before I do laundry. And now that I have to tote it to a remote location (because the washer/dryer situation in my apartment building is that they're standing there completely broken), it also helps me devise a time frame to get this stuff done.
- I moved important info to an online calendar. I hate to admit it. I used to love paper calendars, but I find it completely annoying to carry it with me. This helps me not always think about my appointments 24/7...and I get handy reminders in my e-mail. A good move, but I still feel a little dirty about it.
Basically, my problem with organization is that I'm a piler and always have been. To the outsider it looks like complete chaos: random stacks of things from paper to clothes to magazines and books. But the honest-to-god truth is I know exactly where everything is. When I move the stacks and try to "get organized,"...well that's when the chaos ensues. So I'm trying to make my peace with being a piler and turn my attention to more pressing matters...like finishing the 2nd season of Lost on DVD.
