We discussed, quite a while back, the spending of my Jeopardy! money. Well, it finally came a couple weeks ago, and I bought something wonderful.
Man, that is so much bigger than my old tv. Also, it receives both digital and analog channels, so I have nothing to worry about come 2009. (And I get 5 digital PBSes, for some reason. My hunch is that that's more PBS than any human needs.)
And I get so much more John Adams bang for my John Adams buck! (Whatever that means.)
Sweeeeeeet.
The only downside is that now I'm all tempted to get cable; this tv cries out to have sports watched upon it, and the major networks just don't have enough Aggie games to satisfy it.
(Just as a warning, some of you aren't going to like this. But I maintain that it is apt.)
Remember when Britney Spears divorced Kevin Federline?
There was this outpouring of sympathy and support, but then she quickly blew all the goodwill she had gotten by doing a bunch of stupid things and alienating people, because she no longer cared what they thought about her; she was determined to do whatever she wanted, no matter who it hurt (in this case, I mean her baby boys) or how it made her look to the world.
And this is rather like the United States after September 11th.
Once it happened, people all around the world (with the exception of a handful of committed haters) expressed their sympathy and support, but then we decided to blow up stuff and more stuff and more stuff, and gave the diplomatic equivalent a hearty "screw you" to all the countries that questioned the policy of blowing up.
All I'm saying is, I hope the odds of other countries liking us again are better than Britney's of releasing another successful album.
I was checking in over at CuteOverload the other day, and it suggested that I watch the following cartoon. (I know it's probably not everybody's cup of tea, but I pretty much love it. Especially the theme song.)
I'm taking Latin for Reading Knowledge. Delightfully [sigh], it meets for three hours a day, three days a week. My teacher is an Irishman, and after listening to him for a considerable chunk of time in the morning, I sometimes find myself thinking with an Irish accent.
This phenomenon was at its most interesting when it converged with a song running through my head, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy."
The newest Teen Girl Squad over at homestarrunner.com contains a Weird Al reference. The first person to spot it (and leave me a comment about it--here's hoping people are still reading this blog after my summer hiatus) wins a virtual cookie!
I was reading a post on Go Fug Yourself (as I am wont to do), and felt I recognized the fuggee. I couldn't place her, and so journeyed to IMDB--and I know most people are familiar with IMDB, but I just want to emphasize: it's one of the sites that justifies the very existence of the internet. It's so useful--to find her.
Here's the upshot:
There are two listings for "Kimberly McCullough": Kimberly Anne McCullough, who has been on soap operas, apparently, and whom I remembered from the late, lamented Joan of Arcadia (she was Joan's older brother's ex- and sometimes current girlfriend for those of you wondering); and also, special effects technician Kimberly Chainsaw McCullough.
No offense to my parents, but I totally wish I had a "Chainsaw" instead of an "Anne."
I took a newspaper class in high school, and so I was taught to use my imagination to come up with varied and interesting verbs to use in headlines. I often notice this principle at work in sports headlines, what with all the synonyms they think of for "win" and "lose." Never, though, have I so respected a headline writer as I do the person who thought up:
Well, this isn't going to be easy, but I think we've both known this was coming for quite a while now. I . . . we . . . it's over between us. It just is.
Don't get me wrong, we had a lot of fun. Remember when George was a sweetie? And when Burke and Cristina were just starting their relationship? And when Bailey got lots of screen time and was constantly awesome? Those were good times. But, I've got to be honest with you, you've changed. It's all weird, dark, unbelievable drama with you now. It's all bizarre, too-quickly-paced relationship plots and none of the good old-fashioned hospital stuff. And nobody has fun anymore, Grey's Anatomy. Not the characters, and not me.
Your creator has told me the fun will be back next year, but I can't keep waiting around for promises I don't think you're going to keep.
I'll cherish your Season One and Two DVDs for a long time, but you're going to have to carry on with Season Four (and any other seasons you may get to do--word of friendly warning: I'm not sure how many that will be) without me.
Best wishes, Rachel
* * * * * * *
Dear Kelly Clarkson,
How do I put this? . . . You are SO AWESOME. I mean, who knew, after you won that dumb show, that you'd become a real/interesting singer? I love your new song* and I love that you wrote it yourself and I love that it's pure, unbridled anger. I mean, you know how I feel about Angry White Girl Music (LOVE IT), and I really think you're the reigning queen of the genre. (Don't tell Avril I said that. I think it would hurt her feelings. She'd try to hide it, but it would.)
I want to be you when I grow up.
Love, Rachel
PS: I also love that you look like a real (albeit real cute) person. Well done on not weighing 85 pounds.
This is the real thing, you guys. I mean, it's written by David McCullough, stars Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, and is produced by Tom Hanks. Tom everlovin' Hanks! (But also, creepy David Morse plays George Washington. Weird.)
We'll all have to wait patiently to see it until 2008, unfortunately, but I bet it will totally be worth it.
And don't worry, I'll keep you posted as I find out more about it.
Rachel: I am very enthusiastic. I am such a nerd that I love reading, school, and was once on Jeopardy!. I am a Fightin' Texas Aggie. Many of the actions of historical figures make me laugh. "Weird Al" Yankovic is my hero.
Neal: In addition to being an Eagle Scout and a real-life Kentucky Colonel, Neal graduated from the University of Tennessee after reading a lot about history. Now, he is studying even more history at the University of Wisconsin.
We met at the University of Wisconsin and then a couple of years later we got married in Wisconsin. Adventurous!
Man, that is so much bigger than my old tv. Also, it receives both digital and analog channels, so I have nothing to worry about come 2009. (And I get 5 digital PBSes, for some reason. My hunch is that that's more PBS than any human needs.) 
Sweeeeeeet.
