Sherri's (Never A Dull Moment) World

TV Woes

Woe is me. Most of my favorite TV shows have wrapped up for the season. (sigh!)

1) Michael Scott (a.k.a. Steve Carrell) has left "The Office".

Though Will Farrell stepped in for a few funny episodes, his character is now in the hospital. That leaves Toby, Jim and Gabe in charge of finding the next best candidate for office manager:

The season finale showed many inner-office candidates interviewing for the position (Kelly, Darrell and Dwight K. Schrute), as well as some interesting outsiders.  I am not thrilled with some of the guest celebrity appearances (James Spader, Jim Carey, Ray Romano, Ricky Gervais).   I must be REALLY  tired from puppy training because I have no predictions for next season. (WHAT is WRONG with me????)

2) Tuesday nights will be very quiet without new episodes of "Glee":

 
Their season finale showed the Glee Club in New York City, competing for the national title...

Though Bill was making snarky comments in the background-- I did enjoy the episode and the minor suspense of whether Finn and Rachel were going to get back together again:

Turns out they did not win nationals (Darn!), they headed back to high school.... and yes, this season's on & off again romance ended up back ON again. :)

3) Oh, the drama on my favorite medical drama, "Grey's Anatomy"!

Though Season 7 began with an intense follow-up to last season's mass shooting in the hospital.... this prime time drama finally got back on track. I loved the character development of some of the minor characters (Callie, Mark, and Lexie) and the continued growth in the major characters (Meredith, Christina, Derek, Bailey and Chief Webber).  Should I (seriously) be surprised that within the season finale, Christina and Meredith are both messed up again???? Probably not:

And the finally married happy couple (Derek & Meredith) are now back on the skids:

Oh noooooooo.....

4) Just when I needed to be cheered up, along came the season finale of "Modern Family":

This show did not let me down! I laughed and laughed throughout the entire episode! I will actually ENJOY summer re-runs of this show.... please be quick with the DVD release of Season 2!

 

So what will I do now with all of this free time??? My TV radar is on, listening for leads on summer pilots or new shows to pick up. I have one on my list at the moment:

"Wilfred" airs on June 23 on the FX channel. I think I will LOVE this show! It looks quirky and funny and yes, full of dog humor..... which is RIGHT UP MY ALLEY at the moment.

You just might love it too!

 

Because It Made Me Laugh...

I just saw a television commercial that made me laugh out loud...

In my tired state (from raising a new baby)(I mean, puppy)-- it was too funny not to share:

 

Sonic Drive-In commercials often show relationship conflicts. This one was right up my alley...

That's right, it had a vampire in it. hahahahahaha

Sherri's TV Recap

Sometimes we are all in need of a little entertainment. And it is comforting when we can wear anything we want (pjs are my favorite) and be entertained in our own homes. 24 hours a day...

Here is what I am entertained with lately:

1) I LOVE this new sci-fi series:

 
It is about a modern-day vampire, werewolf and a ghost striving for some degree of "normalcy" as they share a townhouse in Boston:

The storylines are intriguing, sometimes humorous/sometimes horrifying, and I AM HOOKED!!! This week, Aiden's vampire clan is in a power struggle, Sally the ghost is in terrible shape due to a home exorcism and Josh found out his new girlfriend might be pregnant (with his werewolf baby???)... It is SO EXCITING!
2) Sadly, another of my favorite shows ended with a season finale:

That's right. "Top Chef All-Stars" was down to their two finalists-- Mike Isabella and Richard Blais. Mike, the New Jersey underdog, was on a gourmet hot streak after using his break from the show to advance his cooking skills. Richard, an all-star favorite, had won several competitions during the season and was known for his elaborate techniques (he uses liquid nitrogen a lot) and attention to the last detail. I liked them both (see earlier TV post) and .... Wooo Hooooo! I picked the winner, Richard Blais:

3) Then there is an old favorite of mine (I think I have watched every single season):

I keep saying I am going to give this show up. What could they do this season to make it worth watching??? Well, they brought back "Boston Rob" (this will be his fourth attempt to become the ultimate survivor) and Russell (in my book, !@#@$@#!#@# Russell) (this will be his third attempt to beat the game) to lead two separate tribes of new players in a tropical environment.

 
Several weeks ago, Russell was not only voted out of his tribe but he also failed at the Redemption Island challenge. I think I clapped my hands in glee when Jeff Probst told him he was out of the game! Thank you very much! The two tribes are now close to merging together and "Boston Rob" is safe (he also holds a hidden immunity idol).

4) Aughhhhh.... a Rodgers favorite:

 
I have speculated on earlier posts what is going to happen to Michael Scott at the end of this season. How can Michael leave Scranton? This was revealed last week when Michael proposed to Holly (OF COURSE, he set off the safety sprinkler system):

 
She said "Yes!". And Michael announced to the office that they are both headed to Colorado. End of that mystery. However, rumor has it that Will Farrell will be joining the office for a few episodes soon... I am secretly excited (I LOVE Will Farrell). He is going to play an interim office manager that will screw up things even more than Michael did. Now THAT makes sense. tee hee.

6) And then there is my all-time favorite guilty pleasure: 

 
Last season was soooooo boring that I almost decided to skip it on Thursday nights and just go to bed early. However, the season finale re-energized this medical drama. Many of the main characters have had to work through post-tramatic stress after the mass shooting at Seattle Grace. Within the new season storylines, there is more attention to character development than to random hook-ups. There has been a lot of speculation on the "musical" episode that aired this week...

Within this episode, Callie (played by Sara Ramirez) has just been in a terrible car accident and cast members break out singing some of the classic Grey's Anatomy songs (ex. "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol, "How to Save a Life" by The Fray) in between trying to save her and her baby. They are not singing and dancing like "Glee", instead it is a peek at Callie's mental state as she wavers in between life and death. I thought it was brilliant. It showcased hidden talents within the cast without being self-indulgent. My only complaint was when Callie arrived at the hospital, EVERY single doctor/intern/surgeon was waiting for her (basically, every single main character).... come on, people! Was the hospital and the emergency room EMPTY???? Were there not any other patients in need of physicians??? This is where the soap opera storylines overlay the medical drama...

And I still love it.

"The Adjustment Bureau" - a review

Yes! We went to see this movie today:

 

This movie is about a young, aspiring politician (Matt Damon) who meets an intriguing woman (Emily Blunt) who just might change his future. However, members of the "Adjustment Bureau" step in to sabotage their budding relationship as they are destined for different outcomes...

It reminded us of an episode of the 1980s version of this TV show:

 
 We LOVED a particular episode called " A Matter of Time" (it is amazing that you can research these things on Wikipedia). Within this episode, an middle-class couple discovers a glitch in time in which everything around them stays still. They catch something moving ahead of them... it is a team of workers wearing blue coveralls, blue hats and blue masks that must move every physical object in between single seconds of time in order to create their FUTURE.

 
However, the blue people sometimes make mistakes. Like not moving your car keys forward, which means you they are not where you last saw them ---until their supervisor finds that mistake and makes them put them in the correct place again.

 
This is why you CANNOT find your car keys, but after looking at 10 other places, you find them again (where you looked the first time)! The characters on the "Twilight Zone" episode eventually made their way back to their family in real time...

Since then, Bill & I have blamed EVERY misplaced item and time-wasting effort on those "!@#!*&#@@ BLUE PEOPLE"! It has boosted our self-esteem (it's not MY fault I can't find that income tax document) and is one of our secrets for a happy marriage (we are not fighting over who had the remote control last and where did it go-- instead, those "blue people" took it!). It works for us.

So, back to "The Adjustment Bureau":

 
The plot was both simple and intelligent. The men of The Adjustment Bureau (TAB), wearing suits and fedora hats, are assigned to watch over different individuals through the course of their lifetimes in order to guarantee that they do not stray from their destiny. They track an individual with their record books, they must not be seen, and only intervene by creating mini-events (like causing a person to spill his coffee on his shirt, which might make him return home to change his clothes, which will make him miss the bus, which will prevent an interaction or conversation with another person which might might give him a new idea/inspiration/motivation to try something new). In essence, we think we live our lives with free will, but only if we follow our master plan.

This idea kind of ties into our "blue people" theory, only it has evolved. For example, every time you have a dropped cell call-- it is because of TAB!  Every time you get distracted and blow an appointment/are late for work/write down wrong information-- it is due to TAB! Now add the concept of falling in love. It screws everything up for TAB and that is why we really liked this movie. It was a love story after all. And we are suckers for true love.

We give "The Adjustment Bureau" a double Rodgers thumbs up.

Right Now...

Right now...

1) I am reading the book, "The Beauty of Different" by Karen Walrond:

 

It is one woman's perspective on meeting interesting people that have stories to tell and are each very beautiful in their own unique way. I love that. True beauty is not on the surface, but rather what is INSIDE. I know a lot of truly beautiful people.

2) I am still a GLEEK for "Glee Club":

 

The latest episode had the Glee Club preparing for a alcohol prevention school assembly while they experimented with the "juice" on the side. I shouldn't have been laughing BUT it was sooooo funny with uptight Rachel throwing a party and those Glee kids facing hangovers the next day. Seriously. Those Glee kids just want to "fit in". High school is so painful.

3) I am knitting a scarf.... for me:

I can't wait to wear it before winter is over... with a T-shirt and jeans.

 4) I just ordered this book on animal behavior from Barnes & Noble.com:

 

I already know that contrary to popular belief-- chickens are SMART (at least, Rodgers chicks are!). I have heard that mice and rats giggle when tickled, but at such a high pitch that we can't hear them. I know that many bird species sing, whales sing, why not bats too??  I can't wait to read more!

5) I am in love with these new oatmeal dark chocolate chip cookies by Kashi:

 

Mmmmmmmm..... delicious!

6) Bill & I are laughing over Season 1 of "Modern Family":

 

We have caught random episodes here and there that were sooooooo funny that we asked ourselves,
"WHY aren't we watching this ALL THE TIME????" So we decided to start it from the beginning. It is TOTALLY worth it.... I can't wait for the episode where Cam and Gloria go out for dinner to get to know each other better (as extended family members). Gloria chooses a Mexi restaurant and Cam insists on ordering the same thing as Gloria-- Enchilada Diablo. The dish is soooo hot that he is sweating profusely, protests that he is "just fine", until he sees the waiter walking by with a water pitcher. He grabs the pitcher to pour it in his mouth and exclaims, "Please save me! My mouth is like THE SUN!" (insert hysterical laughter here)

7) I am counting down until this movie arrives at the movie theater:

 

Woo Hoo! Even Bill wants to see it! (That means we ARE going.)

8) I heard this song on the radio this week and it totally took me back to the '80s:

 

Yes, that's right. It plays in the "Sixteen Candles" movie near the end, when Jake finally finds Samantha and wishes her a proper Happy Birthday in his parent's house (that is totally trashed from the party held the night before). Oh how  I LOVE '80s music! This song is by the Thompson Twins.

9) I have a new puppet for my biologist toy collection:

It is a snail and it is so cute!

10) We woke up to 5+ inches of snow today:

And it is STILL snowing.... I love that.

"The Office"-- A Prediction!

For you, "The Office" fans out there-- WHAT do you think about this opener of the latest episode???

 

FACT: Steve Carell (a.k.a. Michael Scott) is retiring from the show after this season.

FACT: Producers of "The Office" say the show will go on...

FACT: Then the employees at Dunder Mifflin will need a new boss.

FACT: British Ricky Gervais not only played the office manager during the British run of this show; he is also the executive producer of our American version.

(Drumroll, please..............) Here is my prediction:

PREDICTION: Either 1) this clip is a hint of what is coming?!?! and Ricky Gervais' character has just been introduced to Dunder Mifflin (via the chance meeting with Michael Scott) and could POTENTIALLY be the next boss

or 2) it was all just fun & games to keep us guessing and for them to share some TV screen time.

OMG! What do you think?

New Sherri TV

1) I LOVE this new show on the SCIFI channel called "Being Human"! It is about a werewolf, vampire and a ghost who are struggling with their "monster" tendencies.  They wish to be "human"-- that is, to exist without a) changing with the moon cycle, b) needing blood for fuel, and c) being invisible to the one you love.

 

2) I am enjoying the new "Top Chef - All Stars" season. I recognized about 1/2 of the cast from the last few seasons that I have watched:

 
I had great hopes for Jennifer Carroll, who was voted off WAY too early:

 
I did not know Fabio Vivani ... now he is one of my favorite personalities!

 
Mike Isabella may not make it until the end, but I love the way he shakes up the house with his NJ "in-your-face" attitude and quick wit:

 
Who do I want to win??? Richard Blais, who is EXTREMELY talented and a breath of fresh air in a kitchen filled with giant egos:

 
3) Three out of four Rodgers households are in awe with the STARZ original series, "Spartacus" (Natasha is the only Rodgers who hasn't watched the whole thing). There is a new pre-quel out now, that is on my DVR waiting to be watched:

 

It is history laden with sensuality, art, and special (green screen) effects .  (Think: the movie, "300") Each episode leaves you on the edge of your seat, sometimes holding your mouth in disbelief!

December Stress Relief

Yes, December is a very stressful month. So many things to do.... so little time. However, I found a little stress relief in one of our favorite things this week-- watching "The Office".

Most of the Rodgers family (Bill, Sherri, Nick & Natasha) LOVE "The Office" on NBC:

 
Bill & I were watching the new "Classy Christmas" episode (Season 7)-- one of the storylines featured yet another confrontation between Dwight K. Schrute and Jim Halpert:

 

Can you believe this??? We were laughing sooooo hard that a) I thought I would pee my pants and b) I almost fell over in my spinning computer chair. And when Bill is laughing about the same thing I am laughing about-- it makes me laugh that much harder.

Poor Jim. Sneaky Dwight.

Cost of this version of stress relief: priceless.

 

 

Speaking of Zombies...

Okay, maybe you were not speaking of zombies. However, we were out to dinner with friends tonight and we did speak of zombies. We told them the following story:

We sent Nick a care package for Thanksgiving since he could not be home with family & friends. Inside the care package was this:

 
That's right. A 2011 calendar featuring zombies and a special bonus! For each month of the year, you get to punch out a paper zombie and fold it to create a little collection of zombies. This was TOTALLY Nick and we knew he would love it.

Yesterday, Nick sent us text messages while we were all 3 at work. His first text read, "I don't think I can wait until January". His next text read, "Oh No! Zombies are all over my desk and attacking my laptop. What should I do?" I knew IMMEDIATELY that he was referring to his zombie calendar kit and he had probably put a few together... So I texted back," Just shoot them in the head so you can get some work done... heh heh heh". Unbeknownst to me, Bill had received the same messages. He texted Nick, "Don't forget to 'double-tap'".  [Note: that is a classic rule in the movie, "Zombieland"] Nick replied, "Thanks for the good advice!".

At the end of the day, when all of pieces of this story came together, I couldn't help but laugh that we were all in sync during our afternoon text conversations. After all, we do LOVE zombies. And we are Rodgers. That is just how we roll.

On another zombie-related topic, I am sad and a little distraught that the last episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead" mini-series aired last week.

 
It was so exciting! The ill-fated group of human survivors finally made it to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta to find only one scientist alive inside. They celebrated their safety with hot showers, food and wine. Unfortunately, their reprieve was short-lived--the Center's generators were running out of fuel and the Center was on a countdown for self-destruction. Of course, this was the perfect cliff-hanger for a mini-series final episode! 

What I know is this: many of the main characters escaped the CDC only to be back in (zombie) danger. What I am dying to know is what the doctor whispered in the state trooper's ear before they all made a run for it. I know I am HOOKED on this new series! But it won't air its second season until October 2011. WHAT!?!?!??! My compliments to this new cast of actors & actresses, to the writers and the make-up artists for pulling off six fantastic episodes.

 
Go ZOMBIES!

 

Five Things I Love...

on Friday! Here are a few of my favorite things today:

1) Starbuck's Peppermint Brownie-- it's back! It is my favorite Starbucks treat during the holiday season.

 
2) The new throw pillows that I bought at Pier One Imports... they are sooooo pretty in my living room:

 
and

 
3) Pink's new song called "Raise Your Glass".  I have always been a Pink fan and I particularly love her new song, coming out on her greatest hits CD this month. This song makes me want to car-dance and raise my own glass in gratitude for all of the great things in my life:

 

4) A new AMC TV mini-series called "The Walking Dead".  It is about a small-town deputy sheriff in a society afflicted with zombies, searching for his family and any other survivors. As I have said before, THE RODGERS LOVE ZOMBIES and it is totally worth staying up to watch at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights. However, I woke up exhausted Monday morning after last Sunday's episode.  In my dreams, I was fighting off zombies and trying to get from town to town without being eaten. Maybe this week, I should just use my DVR and watch the episode during daylight hours?

 

5) My new favorite TV commerical is this. I don't know who this guy is, but he just cracks me up while he is driving his new Hyundai Sonata Turbo car. Bill has a Sonata and he doesn't make these faces when I am with him.... Hmmmmm. Maybe it is because he doesn't have the Turbo model? Or is he just holding back and driving the speed limit???  

OMG Project Runway!

I have confessed multiple times that I have a secret love of reality TV shows. But I am picky. I added Lifetime's "Project Runway" to my list last year...  the sewing, the creativity, the drama...Oh my! I honestly don't know why I didn't watch the first six seasons. Because I think I am a fashion designer in a parallel universe.

So here are the contenders for Project Runway, Season 8:

 
I watched 6 or 7 episodes before I made my predictions for the final three. I thought that Gretchen, Mondo and Ivy would wow the judges with their skill level and amazing potential. Ivy lost her mojo near the end and Andy edged ahead with some beautiful detail-work. In my head, I was cheering for Mondo to become the grand prize winner:

 
This was my favorite of Mondo's creations, inspired by Jackie Kennedy:

 

Here are some of the gorgeous looks that he presented at Fashion Week:

 
and

 
and

 

and

 
Terrific! Fabulous! Incredible!

So the judges picked their Project Runway winner last night and it was....

 
Gretchen! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Mondo placed second. If Bill wasn't already asleep while I watched TV in our bedroom, I would have screamed out loud. AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHH.

Oh well. I hope Mondo wins some big designer contracts and makes some $$$ with his talent. He deserves it.
 

Dwight K. Schrute

It was another event weekend at Hallmarkland...This time we were releasing 150+ new Christmas ornaments! So I asked each of my workers to dress up as their favorite ornament.

It occurred to me last Monday that I had not taken my own advice-- I had forgotten to look for a costume that looked like an ornament! So I went to Party City to check out their Halloween costume selection and maybe find a match. I stood in front of their picture wall, with a Dream Book in hand. [Note: The Dream Book is a mini-catalog that shows 300+ ornaments that make up the 2010 collection.] So I flipped pages, whispering to myself, "No... No....No... Maybe (Minnie Mouse but it was $49.99) No... No... No... Maybe (Tinkerbell but also $49.99)...." No to slutty gangster. No to sexy nurse. No to slinky vampire. No, no, no! I left 30 minutes later... empty-handed and frustrated for not having a costume.

So I went to Value Village. They also have a Halloween costume section! I flipped through the racks, once again whispering, "No... No... No... Never....No.... I don't think so".I tried on hats. I looked at their wigs. I started to roam the aisles looking for inspiration. Then I had an idea! I was in the men's section, looking for a potential cowboy shirt to look like Jessie, the cowgirl, from "Toy Story". I found a brown tweed suit, size Small. I found a mustard-colored men's short-sleeve button-up shirt. I went back to wigs and found a man's haircut wig. This is who I was going to be:

 
That's right. Dwight K. Schrute, Assistant (to the) Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin-- from "The Office"!

We happen to have a 2010 Hallmark Keepsake ornament of an accessory on Dwight's desk-- the Dwight Schrute Bobblehead:

 
So I gave my new wig a makeover last night. I laid out my accessories. And I left the house this morning satisfied with my appearance (which Bill thought was HYSTERICAL).  I had several visitors throughout the day. First, my mom came to see me. She has no idea who Dwight Schrute is but she wanted to see me dressed up as a man:

 
Then, Bill came to see me (and was still laughing as he straightened my tie):

 
Then the other Rodgers came to see me... Angela thought I was so funny! Elijah looked and looked at me. I thought for sure he would start crying (from stranger anxiety), but I told him, "Look! It's me, Honey! Honey has funny hair today!!"

He figured it out (hooray!) and he reached for me! So I took Elijah around the store, looking at toys and introducing my cute grandson to people. However, Jeremiah didn't like it one bit (but then, he is the only Rodgers that doesn't LOVE "The Office").   He said, "Mom, take off that wig. You are FREAKING ME OUT!" I said, "Come on! Let's take a picture together!" He said, "NO WAY. Go back to looking like my mother again. I will NOT call you "Dad"!"

I took a picture of myself frowning and sent it to Nick as a text message (who also LOVES "The Office")-- he texted me back and said I looked AWESOME. I leaked my idea earlier this week to Natasha (who also LOVES "The Office") and she emailed back that she could hardly wait to see it!

As for my other gals, Linnea dressed up as Peanuts' Lucy with her psychiatric booth:

 
Keiko was Scarlet, from "Gone With The Wind":

 
Pat was dressed as Frosty the Snowman:

 
I think we were FABULOUS...

 
You might be thinking, "Why the smirk, Sherri? Why do you have to have such ATTITUDE?" Because that is Dwight:

 
And that's how we roll... heh heh heh

TV Commercial

I have a new favorite TV commercial for fall.... 

It features NFL's Troy Polamula and Head & Shoulders Shampoo

 
Remember, I am not a sporty kind of girl. I really don't pay attention to professional sports, not even our home teams. I am a Rodgers anomaly as I am the only one in my family who does not have a favorite NFL football team. I told you, I am unbiased and completely neutral-- like Switzerland.

However, this commercial cracks me  up! As Troy (of course, Bill had to tell me it is a real player) denies that he is using his teammate's shampoo-- his hair grows in volume. It gets BIGGER and BIGGER.  I only wish the end of the commercial showed Troy TRYING to put his football helmut on over his completely volumized-hair. THAT would be FUNNY!!!

Good-Bye Summer...

Summer sure feels like fall now that the rain is here, accompanied by foggy mornings and falling leaves.

I am also seeing the end of summer as many of my summer TV series are wrapping up and the new fall shows are just around the corner! Here is what I am saying good-bye to now:

"True Blood", Season 3 just aired its season finale. Some of the new episodes were so action-packed and full of vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters-- that is was hard to remember all of the plot twists and who killed who! However, the finale was lame in comparison. Sookie broke up with Bill, the vampire... AGAIN. Eric, the vampire sheriff (who also wants Sookie) almost died due to a last-minute trick by Bill. Sam fired a gunshot at his white trash, shape-shifter brother... but you don't know if it was a kill shot or warning shot. Tara is seen driving out of town, reflecting on all of her horrible luck & life experiences. Jason, Sookie's brother is just plain stupid and gets caught in a drug raid. (yawn) Jessica, the new red-headed vampire (our Season 3 favorite) was adorable as she is going to movie in with her (human) boyfriend. I think that was the highlight of the entire hour.

How about my reality TV shows?

 Yes, it is true. I am a summer "Big Brother" junkie.  The "show-mances", both in-your-face (Rachel & Brendan) and secret (Hayden & Kristen), were entertaining, to say the least. There were two inside "saboteurs" who were told to stir things up without being caught. And the insurance agent from New Jersey, Enzo (a.k.a. the "Meow-meow") had the best social game. I was rooting for Lane from Texas, but instead the college student, Hayden was the grand-prize winner:

 
And what about "Top Chef, Washington D.C."?

This season was filled with some pretty BIG EGOS and many delectable dishes. They flew the final four chefs to Singapore to sweat (literally) over cooking authentic street food with woks and experiment with new market ingredients and exotic spices. Unfortunately, Kelly was eliminated and that left Kevin, Angelo and Ed (the three dudes below) to wow the judges:

I was happy to see the family-man, Kevin S., as the grand prize winner! He deserved it as he was consistent in his talent, presentation, and ability to create wonderful, savory comfort foods.

As for the fall TV season... my DVR is set to record all of my favorite series! First off to bat is the new season of "Survivor: Nicaragua":

Older vs. Younger? Seriously?? This will only go so far before it gets "old" (literally)... However, I was totally impressed when the blonde dog trainer (in the middle of the front row) started a fire with coconut husk and someone's glasses within the first 1/2 hour at their new camp! I always feel sorry for the first survior voted off...

"Gray's Anatomy" will be off to a messy season opener after the traumatic season finale which had a gunman roaming the halls of Seattle Grace, determined to kill the surgeons that killed his wife. Will Meredith tell Derek that she was pregnant (even though the stress caused her to have a miscarriage)? Will they EVER be happy? Will anyone be happy??

And then there is "The Office". Rumor has it that this will be the last season with Steve Carell, who plays the RIDICULOUS Michael Scott:

Will Michael get back together with Holly? Will Jim get promoted? Will Dwight & Angela go through with their contract for having a baby??

And then I will be back onto reality TV with the newest "Amazing Race"...

 
Unknown destinations and unknown couples racing...

Last, but not least, I am REALLY looking forward to the new season of "Glee"!

What is NOT to love??? I can't wait...

   
 
 

C.S.I. For A Day...

Jeremiah and Angela used to be HUGE fans of the original "CSI" TV series set in Las Vegas. Jeremiah used to walk around his San Diego apartment singing the theme song, "Who are you? Who, who... who who?" They bought every season when it came out on DVD. They took turns trying to figure out what happened to the victim(s) in each episode. They loved the medical terms and the post-mortem drama.

I watched it too-- until my other Thursday night shows cut into "CSI" time slots. I remember when I was trying to finish my Ph.D. (and REALLY hating it) that I suggested to Bill I should change my major to criminal justice and become a CSI agent. He looked surprised. But then he said, "Why not?? You have all of your biology classes done. You don't get grossed out by blood. You don't mind dissections. What else would you need to do?" Just a few days later, I watched the "CSI" episode where they found a duffle bag with a dead body inside... only it had turned to liquid! Can you imagine THE STENCH??? I thought maybe that scenario would do me in as a future CSI agent. (And went back to writing my thesis...)

Sometimes life is funny and you get to practice doing something you always wanted to do. Which is why we all signed up to be crime scene investigators for a day in Las Vegas...

We were given the choice of three different crime scenes to investigate. Jeremiah and Angela teamed up on a waitress, named Penny, who was found murdered in an alley. Bill chose to analyze a dead body found buried up to the neck in the desert. They all looked pretty confident with their official clipboards and data sheets...

I was on my own, investigating a car that had crashed into someone's living room. Murder or accident? Hmmm....

You were supposed to make observations at your designated crime scene and take notes of anything that was evidence-worthy. There were muddy footprints on the floor. There was a bloody handprint on the hood of the car. The victim/dummy was slumped over inside the car. There was blood on the couch cushions, a half-eaten pizza on the floor, etc. There was a metal railing that kept you from entering the (fake) living room and flashlights attached to it by chains. I am a real "go-getter" so I was using the flashlights to look under the crashed car to see if there were more potential victims... (you never know)

Next, you proceed with your clipboard and notes to the crime labs where you compare specific pieces of evidence to test results.

Last, you go to the (fake) morgue and you listen to the autopsy results specific to your crime scene victim.  You then enter your conclusions from each of your crime scene categories (ex. physical data, DNA analysis, fingerprint analysis, interview results, autopsy results) into the computer and select your final determination.... accident or homicide?

I guess CSI intelligence runs in the Rodgers family-- we ALL figured out our crime scenes and picked the correct outcomes! Ta daaaa! We ended up in the CSI gift shop where we picked up our free T-shirts.

For the record, my victim's evil twin brother (just released from prison) went to settle family matters with his brother by running his car into the living room and killing him on the couch where he was innocently eating pizza & watching TV. He dragged his brother's body into the driver's seat of the car and then ran away. Both fingerprints and shoe prints did not match the vic's.... that's jargon for the "victim".  Pretty funny, huh?

10 Things I Love Right Now...

1. The intoxicating smell of honeysuckle in my front yard...

2. Babysitting Baby Elijah... he is 8 months old now!

 
 3. Running my car through the carwash...

4. Treating myself to a summer pedicure (No, it isn't black nail polish-- it is metallic green!):

5. I cracked yesterday and bought my new favorite cookie, these delicious fudge drop shortbread rounds made fresh in Safeway's bakery (mmmmmmmmm!):

6. I have a new piece of art hanging in my kitchen :)...

 
7. Bill has been packing my lunch for me this summer-- he fills this cute container with cheese & crackers, makes me a mystery juice in my thermos and adds a delicious dessert (this time, Godiva dark chocolate pearls). Yes, he is THE MAN!

8.  I planted stargazer lily bulbs last summer and this year they are HUGE!

 

9. Bill & I are both on our computers right now, and we have a rerun of "The Office" on in the background. It is the episode when Pam & Jim get married. I LOVE this episode!!

10. And at the end of this episode, the cast replicates that famous wedding party shown on YouTube that danced into the church with this song playing....It makes me happy whenever I hear Chris Brown's "Forever".

Life is good! :)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Five Things

Here are 5 things on my mind right now:

1) Nick played this song for me in N. Carolina, "Nothin' On You" by B.o.B., featuring Bruno Mars. I not only LOVE the song, the video is just as sweet.

 

2) Movie trailers for "Inception" are showing and I can hardly wait to see it!

3) Summer usually means reruns of our favorite shows on television. However, Wipeout! is back on and that means new obstacle courses, quirky contestants, and more fun with the big red balls ...

4) This  ["BP Spills Coffee"] is the funniest thing I have seen on YouTube lately. You should watch it!

5) When Bill & I travel, there is a good chance I will have time to read fiction. I read two books during our trip to N.C. and this is the one I finished first:

I give it a solid "B".

What is on YOUR mind???
 

Vampires On The Brain

I have always had a "thing" for vampires. This was my favorite vampire movie of the '80s:

 

During Summer 2008, I read all four "Twilight" books by Stephenie Meyer:

Then HBO debuted its series, "True Blood". I asked Bill to watch it with me-- it had potential.

We were both hooked! We watched every single episode of Season 1 until the finale revealed who was killing all of the innocent folks at Bon Temp, Louisiana. (Surprise! It was a human, not those new vampires in town...)  We told Jeremiah & Angela about it and they watched it. Natasha watched it. I think we even had Nick tuned into "True Blood" while he was serving his year in Iraq.

Last year we decided to cancel our HBO to save a few $$. Oh no! No more "True Blood"! We comforted ourselves with the thought that we could wait for Season 2 to come out on DVD.

This spring it was time to renegotiate our cable package and I was able to add HBO again, at no extra cost. After serious channel surfing, HBO began to air last year's "True Blood" episodes in anticipation of their upcoming Season 3.  Oh boy! Season 2!!

Long story short... Bill & I are on a mini-vampire marathon with "True Blood". We are 2/3 into Season 2 and we are captivated! The last three nights in a row, we have watched an episode before bedtime. Now we are both having vampire dreams. We just tell ourselves we will be "cured" once we are all caught up and can get on with our lives again. But, seriously. The trailers for "True Blood" Season 3 are killing me:

And...

And...

 

The tagline for these Season 3 teasers is... "Waiting Sucks". We are so glad we are almost ready for it!
 
 
  

Oh, the DRAMA!

Last night was the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy".

As I mentioned earlier this year, I have not been a fan of Season 7. The dialogue was no longer witty, the characters were getting dull,  the relationship patterns were becoming predictable and it seemed as though the show was losing its energy. To sum it up..... BORING.

But, last week promised a season finale with a shocking twist-- the sound of a gunshot and it reeled through all of the characters. Who would live? Who would die?? So I tuned in....

I have to say I was sitting on the edge of the couch for most of the 2-hour finale-- and I think I held my breath a little. The storyline was gripping, with a grieving husband going on a shooting rampage throughout the hospital due to the unexpected death of his wife.  OMG!!! No more happy characters-- as many will need major counseling to make it to next season!

Those GA writers just re-injected the DRAMA into their medical drama! Woo Hoooooo!

Reality TV Recap

My favorite TV night of the week is undoubtedly Thursday nights. Why? It is EXPLODING with Sherri shows! 'Survivor" is on! "The Office" is on! "Grey's Anatomy" is on! "Project Runway" is on! Need I say more?

Last night held a couple of surprises on the reality TV shows.  I will not rant. Instead I will say the first thing that comes to (my) mind when I show these pictures:

J.T. got what he deserved last night as he was voted off at Tribal Council. In my opinion, J.T = Too Stupid To Survive.

Heroes... do you not see through Russell's smirk?  You should vote him off!!

I am soooooooo tired of this "I'm just a sexy girl" strategy. All Pavarti does around camp is lounge around in her bikini.  Vote her off too!!

Regarding "Project Runway: Season Finale", Whooo Hoooo! I called it!

Seth Aaron Henderson from Vancouver, WA = wacky and cool at the same time. It was so nice to see him kiss his family as he walked off the runway...

Seriously, I do NOT watch "Dancing With The Stars". And I do not live under a rock. The whole world knows when a celebrity is voted off and it came as no surprise to hear that her number was up:

Message from Sherri to Kate: Go home to your kids. The most important job in the world is with them.

Happy Friday Everyone!

10 Things I Love Right Now...

It is time for a new Sherri's Top Ten List!  Are you ready?

1) It may be spring but there is still a chill in the air. I have been warming up in the morning with a Starbucks Vanilla Chai Latte (I hate coffee) (extra hot so it will last for awhile) and a molasses cookie. YUM!

 

2) Did you know that we are only a week away from Disney's new movie, "Oceans"???? I can hardly wait!

3) Natasha made a music CD for me to listen to on my way home last weekend. I think this British pop/punk singer is pretty fabulous. Her name is Lily Allen and I have been humming one of her tunes all week... Her lyrics are clever and sassy and her accent is adorable.

4) This song was also on Natasha's music mix and I recognized it immediately:

"Be OK" by Ingrid Michaelson. After surviving a week like this, I know that I will also "Be OK"!

5) My sweet chicken, Chickita, is back on the egg-train! 

She took two months off from egg-laying duty due to molting. Why?? Birds often "molt", or replace feathers, once a year and when that is happening-- it is too energy-expensive to lay eggs and regrow feathers at the same time. Chickita's eggs are unique-- she is the only chicken in my group that lays lovely, lovely green eggs.

We LOVE Chickita's green eggs!

6) OMG! The TV show, "Glee" is back! Hooray!!! Their new episode aired this week without missing a beat from where they left off with this musical-high-school-drama:

 

The cheerleader coach, Sue Sylvester, is still as mean as ever as she is back to take down her nemesis, the Glee Club.  I am already looking forward to next week as they are doing a Madonna-theme!

7) I can't help but smile every time I see this commercial for Amazon Kindle.  The stop-motion animation is fabulous down to the minute details...

 

8) I had a craving for Swedish (gummy) fish yesterday. I stopped at the store, bought a bag, and even incorporated them into my Biology 100 exam today!

At the beginning of the hour, I passed out the exams and then had each student take a gummy fish from my bag. I used it as a "prop" for Question #5 that read, "Examine the object Sherri has given you. If this were REAL, which kingdom would it belong in?"  I haven't graded exams yet, but I seriously hope every student got this particular question RIGHT. ha! [Answer: Kingdom Animalia]

9) Another one of my favorite TV shows is about to climax. Project Runway (Season 7) is now down to their final three fashion designers to compete during Fashion Week in Bryant Park. I was rooting for different designers along the way... My new favorite is Seth Aaron Henderson from Vancouver, WA. He is slightly eccentric in personality, dresses like a preppy punk rocker, loves vinyl and lots of zippers. Would I wear his clothes? No, not me. BUT... he is very, very creative and innovative in all of his endeavors. His clothing is meticulously made. He is a family man and loves his wife & kids. I like that he is willing to take risks. 

Underneath his spiky, black-dyed hair, tattoos and black fingernail polish-- he is very grounded. He is confident without back-stabbing his fellow fashion designers. Good luck, Seth Aaron!

9) I am soooooo relieved. I am finished lecturing on chemical compounds:

[This is NH3; also known as ammonia.] On Monday, I can begin a new set of lectures on CELLS:

10) College exams don't have to be all work and no play. I had a chemistry professor many years ago that always put a cartoon on the last page of his exams. Though I struggled with that course (my "ah-haaaa!" moment for Chemistry happened a year or two later), he always made me feel better on the last page. When I became a professor-- I adopted his practice. Here is a classic "The Far Side" cartoon by Gary Larson that usually shows up once in my exam pages:

 

Happy Friday!

"Survivior" Shocker!

OMG! As a self-confessed "Survivor" fan, I was shocked and dismayed by last night's episode.

That's right... Villain Boston Rob was voted off at tribal council.

Okay, okay... so he is smart, confident and a charmer. But he is more likeable than his Villain nemesis, Russell. I couldn't stand Russell in the last season and I can't stand him now. Each player in the game has his or her own skill set and strategy to win it-- I guess I liked how Rob played his game better than how Russell continues to play his. Poor Rob. He did see it coming but I was hoping the blind side would go in the other direction last night....

Got to go to work!

Confessions of a Reality TV Junkie

It is true-- I am a reality TV junkie. And I have been one for a long, long time. In my defense, I am very picky about which reality TV shows I waste my time on. And I know I am not alone, we ALL waste time on things! Sometimes it is "junk" viewing (TV), "junk" reading (books or magazines), "junk" surfing (the Internet), "junk gaming", or whatever else features your guilty pleasure.

I read somewhere last summer that there are two "approaches" to reality TV: 1) some shows are based on interactions between individuals competing for a prize (ex. "Survivor", "Big Brother", "The Biggest Loser") or 2) other shows entice you to watch individuals in either a fabricated situation (ex. "The Real World", "Jersey Shore") or as a kind of real-life documentary (ex. "Jon & Kate Plus Eight", "The Cake Boss","Living with the Kardashians").  When I mentally scrolled through my favorite shows, I found that I watch a little bit of both.  Bill scowls at my affinity for reality TV shows. But then I bring up WOW (World of Warcraft) and we politely agree to disagree.

Honestly, if I didn't have a LIFE-- there would be plenty of reality TV shows to watch day & night. Instead, I pick a couple to follow each season and that takes care of my "craving".  Currently, my inner reality TV junkie is very, very happy. I may have too many shows to watch! Here are a few of my favorites:

1) "Survivor", Season 20--Heroes vs. Villains:

I have been a loyal "Survivor" fan from the beginning. And I love "all-star" competitions where the contestants are returning to go after the prize... again. This season pits some of the most likeable contestants against others that you (perhaps) loved to hate. Thank goodness that Sugar was just voted off the show-- what a waste of a "Hero"!  I would love for James, Rupert or Stephanie to win.

2) "The Amazing Race", Season 16:

This show is exciting to watch as pairs of individuals race from destination to destination around the world. It feeds my love for travel! The first episode airs tomorrow night, but already I am rooting for Jeff and Jordan-- reality TV sweethearts from last summer's "Big Brother"!

3) "The Real World, Washington, D.C.":

MTV was the inventor of reality TV with the creation of "Real World, New York City". I was raising babies when this show premiered sometime in the 1980's-- I watched it during naptime when they would run a mini-marathon to get new viewers. I have watched many seasons since then-- it was funny when my teenagers began watching it too. I must have some kind of built-in quality control, because I thought "Real World, Hollywood" and "Real World, Mexico" were too trashy to watch.

4) Both "Project Runway" and "Shear Genius" satisfy my inner creative diva:

I love the design challenges! However, I detest Heidi Klum and the fake tans of the "Project Runway" judges.

Same comment, different show! I love the hair challenges but hate the new supermodel hostess and the Botox-injected judges of "Shear Genius".

Seriously, I can say "NO" to some reality TV shows. For example, I just revealed that I have been a long-term viewer of "The Real World" but I refuse to watch the new MTV "Jersey Shore". During the summer months, I enjoy watching "So You Think You Can Dance", but I don't like "Dancing With The Stars" at all. I used to be a regular viewer of "American Idol" but my heart just hasn't been into it the last few years (I think the whole show is rigged now). I love the strategic plotting on "Survivor" but you can't pay me to watch 20 women fighting over one man in "The Bachelor".

And here is one of my new reality TV shows from last year, "Top Chef, Las Vegas":

I do not enjoy cooking, but I do love watching contestants cook! Maybe I am also a secret "foodie" (=someone who lives for great food), because I drool over some of the dishes that are created during each challenge. Natasha & I were both rooting for the Voltaggio brothers, Bryan & Michael:

The older brother, Bryan, was an established restaurant owner while his maverick, younger brother, Michael, was determined to make a name for himself. Michael ended up winning the season, with Bryan coming in second. This cast of competitors was one of their best seasons yet!

Maybe you are a reality TV junkie too. If so, we should talk "characters" sometime...

Seriously?!? [Grey's Anatomy]

Natasha & I have been die-hard "Grey's Anatomy" fans for many years now.. ..When she is home, we watch it together. When she is away, we watch it solo and then analyze the episode the next day.

OMG! This season is "SERIOUSLY" a HUGE let-down. For you fellow G.A. fans, the season 6 finale was a genuine tearjerker!!! You were left hanging all summer long wondering (amidst raising chickens, work, and tending to a garden)-- is George dead (from getting hit by a bus)? is Izzy dead (from cancer)? Are they BOTH dead? And finally you received the outcome in late September when Season 7 began.

Since then, the writers must be on a permanent vacation. They must have "temp" writers filling in for them that used to write for daytime soap operas. Because this show is no longer "smart", no longer "endearing", no longer "character driven". Instead, the characters just take turns rotating through predictable romances, the hospital element is whittled down to fake drama regarding a hospital merger, and the characters have lost their perpetual charm. Whoever you loved before (ex. Meredith, Derek, Christina, Izzy, Alex, Bailey, the Chief, or the others that arrived in later seasons)-- is merely just a script-driven shell. Hardly anything is believable -- or magical enough so that you want to believe it for an hour of television.

I know I am ranting about a dumb TV show-- but this has been one of my favorite shows for years and it is hard to let something go when it begins to get worn down.  I faithfully waited during the holiday series break for this show to come back on and .... get better. Instead, last week's episode was a yawner and made me wonder why I even bothered to stay up to watch it until the very end. Seriously.

P.S. She was right!

This is a follow-up to yesterday's conversation with my local pharmacist.

While she was handing me my new prescription, she warned me that they might make me "turn into a woman on the go, go, go"...

So I took 2 pills again this morning and then left for work. I have to say that I was DEFINITELY in a high-energy mode today! I think I was walking faster than usual (and I normally walk pretty fast)! I think I might have been talking faster than usual-- I told Natasha what to do and she told me to slow down and repeat it! I think I was multi-tasking even MORE than usual (trust me, I am really good at multi-tasking)!

I was laughing on the inside, because I was like Mrs. Howell on sugar beets. Who grew up watching every single episode of "Gilligan's Island" about a thousand times??? That would be me. Bill says he did too. Well, my favorite "G.I." episode OF ALL is the one where the radioactive seeds wash up on the beach in a crate. The castaways all pry open the crate to see what is inside (and toss aside the lid which says "Caution! Radioactive Material Inside!"). They are soooo excited to see the seed packets that they each pick out their favorite seeds and grow a garden on the island. Mary Ann grows carrots and -- what do you know?! After eating them, she has GREAT vision! Gilligan grows spinache (?) and after eating it is INSTANTLY stronger! Mrs. Howell grows sugar beets and she is so jacked up that she is cleaning her hut like crazy!

So, that was me at work today. Pretty funny, huh? However, the buzz doesn't last all day-- right now I am exhausted. No more radioactive sugar beets for me.... haha