My Year in Time Well Wasted

2010 has been a great year. Well, for me. I can’t speak for anyone else. In fact, I know a lot of people who thought that 2010 sucked. But this is my blog, and I think 2010 was AWESOME!

Maybe it’s because, for me, 2009 sucked. Sucked hard.

I lost my job.

My uncle died.

I had major surgery.

I spent 16 days in the hospital.

I had to wear a “drain” for 56 days.

I literally celebrated Christmas and New Year’s with toxic bodily fluids strapped to the outside of my body.

The only positive in this situation?

The only place to go is up!!

So, to commemorate what has kept me in high spirits this year, this is a list of the top 5 things that kept my mind happy and busy during 2010.

(Note: this list does not include any boring things like family or my new job- which I got in January)

Ranked in order of time spent thinking/reading/watching:

5. Musicals: Thanks in a large part to GLEE, my love for musicals has been renewed. I’ve always liked music and movies/television… so of course I am going to love anything that combines the two! This year, I channeled that love of random-bursts-of-emotion-in-song to off Broadway. (Or perhaps it is off-off-Broadway since this is the dirty south?) I went to see the Wizard of Oz in Birmingham in April, where I rambled on and on pre-show about how much I love the munchkins and little people in general. Unbeknownst to me, there was indeed a littler person (not quite a total little person) sitting two seats down from me. Needless to say, they found seats elsewhere during intermission. But nonetheless, it was a wonderful show, with scenes and songs that were cut from the movie. Then, in May, I went to see Mary Poppins in Atlanta. It was splendid. I did get chastised by an usher because I was taking pictures, but the show itself was superb. It differed from the Disney classic, but in all the right places.

4. Train: The band, not the mode of transportation. I have loved Train since I was 14 years old. I feel like I need to say that now, because I would never want anyone to think I jumped on the “Hey, Soul Sister” bandwagon. I did not. I was driving this bandwagon long before anyone had even heard “Drops of Jupiter.” Now, with that out of the way, I did enjoy the success of Train this year. You know that feeling when your favorite song comes on the radio? Even though you could easily switch the radio off and turn on the CD, there is just something about hearing it by chance over the airwaves. Imagine that, times about 100. They covered “Soul Sister” on GLEE and the Sing-Off, and sampled it on commercials for everything from washing machines to Reebok. I couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing the lovely and talented Pat Monahan hitting notes that I couldn’t hit when I was 5. I saw them live in Orange Beach in August, and they did not disappoint. “Soul Sister” is not my favorite song on their album, but when Pat held the microphone out and let the crowd sing the chorus, I died. I died.

3. Gossip Girl: When you are coming off of a drama high in real life, the only thing to ease you back into normal society is a little hair-of-the-dog that I refer to as GG. We started out 2010, by wrapping up Season 3. Chuck found his mother, but she wasn’t his mother (but she was). Lily has cancer, but she doesn’t. Rufus cheated on Lily, but he didn’t. So, in other words, a lot of story with no purpose. But, then… the greatest cliff hanger in GG’s short history. Chuck is shot in the streets of Prague and left for dead. Gasp! With a ring he was going to use to propose to Blair. Presh. Then, in the first part of Season 4, we get to catch up with all the UES, and see Serena in awful Parisian clothes. If you want to read about it, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, or here. I look forward to Mondays ONLY because of GG, and that has been very beneficial in getting me back to the productive world of the employed.

2. Auburn Football: You can’t live in Alabama and not love, or at least like, football. As an Auburn Alum, this has been a great year. I was enrolled at and living in Auburn in 2004, the last time we went undefeated and thought we were going to play for the National Title. So, this year has seemed like a “do over” for me. We finally get to play for the big one, and I almost hope they’ll let Tubs and Cadillac watch from the sidelines. Auburn has always been the red-headed step child in the state of Alabama, because really, who can compete with Alabama’s 13 titles or Bear Bryant’s legacy? No one, honestly. And I can say that, as an Auburn fan. But this year, the Tigers adopted a team slogan, “Do What We Do,” and that’s exactly what they did. They didn’t attempt to be Bama, they were just Auburn. And they won. And then they won again. And again. And before you knew it, they had moved from a preseason ranking of 22, to numero uno, practicing for the big game. Not to mention, along the way, Cam Newton was breaking records like they were tackles and racked up the university’s third Heisman Trophy. Gene Chizik has endeared himself to the Auburn Family, and the Tigers are finally getting to taste the victory and recognition that was denied the 2004 team. War Eagle!

1. Real Housewives… of Wherever: I have a theory- you’re definitely addicted to the Real Housewives franchise if you watch RHO Atlanta or New Jersey. Well, I watch BOTH, so I am beyond intervention. Literally- my DVR Season Pass Manager’s first 7 spots read:

1. Gossip Girl

2. Real Housewives of NYC

3. Real Housewives of OC

4. Real Housewives of Atlanta

5. Real Housewives of NJ

6. Real Housewives of DC

7. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

I have a problem, and I acknowledge it. But I can’t, nor do I want to, stop. I can’t recap them all here, because, MY LORD, where would I start? In short, the girls from NYC went on a trip to Scary Island; they got evicted and divorced in the OC; someone gave birth to a full term baby at 7 months in the ATL; the NJ girls pulled out each other’s weave; they crashed White House parties in DC; and then we were introduced to what is sure to be the best RH of the whole franchise- Beverly Hills. These women have REAL money, are (for the most part) REAL housewives, and can throw down some REAL drama. I love it. So much. Too much.

Cindy Lou Who

My family was watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" last night, and my mother says,

"That little girl is so cute. What does she do now?"

I think that is what it would feel like to tell your child there is no Santa Claus.

Surgery is when you get saved, but post-op is when you heal

Swingers: I loved Meredith and Owen's scenes. They are both mad at Christina, but they feel helpless... so they take it out on each other because they don't want to blame themselves, or her. I also loved Christina and Derek's fishing trip. He just gets McDreamier with every show. Of course HE would know how to fix Christina. I mean he got dark and twisty Meredith to settle down; I can't believe Meredith ever doubted him.

I Bought You a Delicious Bass: Okay, I know that is from Napoleon Dynamite, but that's all I kept thinking when Christina was holding that fish (and I know it was a trout, not a bass). The significance? This may be too deep, but- I think she looked at her hands, and realized those hands had been in bodies, hearts... DEREK'S heart in particular. That she had saved people with those hands. And now? Now those hands were holding a trout. I think for her, that was her "I'm getting off the bathroom floor" moment that Izzie had after Denny died. She was waking up after her nightmare, and yes, she would still remember it, but she was moving on. Christina is back.

Fistula: I enjoy anything with Bailey, and this story was no different. Yes, it was kind of the funny filler for this episode, but I liked it. First of all, Avery is fine. Second, Lexie is my favorite right now. And the Virgin (sorry, I can't remember her name) was actually not annoying this time. I'm glad Eli will be around some more. Bailey needs some loving, and I like his attitude.

I Want to Marry Teddy: Do I like her? No. Am I switching teams? No. Do I have a pre-existing condition that makes it hard to pick up health care? Yes. What the crap kind of insurance does she have that he isn't going to have a "waiting period" where none of his pre-existing conditions are covered!? I have this problem... I can watch TV shows and fall into the most implausible storyline, but occasionally a small, mundane, nugget of that-would-never-happen pops up and I can't get past it. I completely recognize the fact that me being more upset at this than I was at say, Izzie having an affair with a GHOST, is MY thing. Grey's has great writing and great stories, and I am just a freak.

More on that: Aside from me being a freak show, I like Teddy marrying this guy. I don't think he'll die (We don't need a Denny part deux), and I've liked Scott Foley since Party of Five (wasn't that him?). As long as they don't make this some political platform for US health care, I am on board for this story and seeing how it plays out.

Lady Love: I'm glad Arizona is back. I love her. How is she going to react to the fact that Callie has been having comfort-hetero-sex with McSteamy? I think not so kindly. I'm not always the biggest Callie fan, so I'm not too invested in this.

Serena can have no visitors. Oh, Juliet, come on in

As a whole, I thought this was a good "cliff hanger" episode. It didn't leave me hanging on, mouth wide open in surprise, like the season finale with Chuck left for dead in the street... but it will keep my interest in the show for a month, which was probably the point.

Ben there, done that: (Am I the only one who, after seeing this picture, thought he was a priest? I am? Okay, moving on.) So they never sealed the deal; he was still acting super inappropriate with a student. Should it have warranted jail time? Doubt it. But he definitely shouldn’t have been teaching anymore. I just refuse to accept that Serena is some Helen of Troy that entrances men into giving up everything they have ever cared about. Her little, “He’s the only man that has ever turned me down,” line made me about vomit. I searched through my memory of GG trying to prove her wrong. Okay, so yeah, maybe he is. But what are we supposed to think? Kudos to Ben for not being a pedophile? This wasn’t last summer. She wasn’t a freshman in college. If I’m doing the math right, she was, what, 16? They shouldn’t have been driving to libraries or whatever it is they were doing. And it is insulting, to me as a viewer, that the writers keep forcing this Academic Career of Serena’s. I refuse to believe that she went from inventing drinks and getting smashed in the middle of the day, to visiting libraries, in what? A day? A week? Come on. Serena has an Academic Career as much as I have a Tennis Career. And I’ve only won one tennis match in my life. When my opponent didn’t show.

Regarding Serena: I have always been more Team Blair, than Team Serena, so this should come as no surprise: Serena gets on my nerves. In real life, I love Blake Lively; she's chill, gorgeous, and a pretty good actress. But I cannot stand Serena 90% of the time. She seems to be aloof and a tad too self assured. Of course, Serena is just as gorgeous as Blake, obviously, but S has this attitude of, “everyone always assumes the worst about me and I don’t know why.” Well, I know why- Because by the age of 16 you were a mini Tara Reid, running around Manhattan in designer gowns and flasks full of Courvoisier, taking V-cards and murdering drug dealers. One stint at a boarding school and a couple of studious boyfriends does not a “good girl” make. Not to mention, now that we have flash backed to her days at Cornwall, we know she wasn’t reformed by going to boarding school. If watching a man die at your hands, even if unintentionally, and even if he was a pretty sleazy guy to begin with, doesn’t end Party Time, then I would probably be on the “Serena Will Never Change” bandwagon, too. So, we are so sorry Princess Serena. We do assume the worst. But most of the time we are correct.

Rufus, you keep your mouth shut and bring me a scotch: Wow. Rufus is a wussy. Yeah, Lily is an all around bad person, but I was more turned off by Rufus’ tattling. For those that need a recap: Three years ago, Lily forged Serena’s signature on an affidavit (someone is losing their Notary stamp), thus sending a man to prison for statutory rape. And recently, she has made plans to sell Bass Industries, without telling the only heir (Chuck). However, the line of the night, for me, came from Mrs. Van der Woodson Bass Humphrey herself: When Wimpy Rufus said “Don’t you have something to tell Chuck?” and Lily responds with, “If I had something I wanted Chuck to know, I would have told him.” It was very deliciously evil, and it just slapped that little househusband in the FACE! Rufus was annoying this whole episode- questioning Lily’s drinking habits (albeit was hardly noon), and then going over her head to call her out in front of Chuck… has the phrase, “Can I talk to you in private?” never been uttered on the UES? What if she had some awesome plan that was going to help Chuck? What if it had been Chuck’s idea? Sheesh, Rufie, way to be a baby.

Good Luck Chuck: This kid cannot catch a break. First, his dad berates him his whole life. Then, Jack tries to steal the hotel and his girl. His momma lies and leaves him. And now Lily has betrayed him. I know he is going to New Zealand to find Uncle Jack, and I am wondering what that will bring with it. But overall, there was not a lot of Chuck Bass in this episode, and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

NAiveTЀ: Bless him. The boy has a heart of gold, but a brain of… well gold, but only because it is the most malleable element. The only thing that is harder to believe than Serena being concerned about her Academic Career is the fact that this Golden Boy doesn’t still believe in Santa. I get whiplash every episode trying to keep up with which side of an issue Nate is on; he switches teams (and I’m not referring to his relationship with Dan) with every new piece of info. Then, finally, but only after his mother all but says, “I am shallow, let it go,” he sides with the Commander or Captain or whatever pseudo-military nickname they call Mr. Archibald, and they plan to move into The Empire. I’m not sure who his parole officer is, but I can’t imagine living in Chuck Bass’s man cave is on any list of acceptable housing.

Do We Dair?: Dan and Blair? Is this going to happen? Would Chuck be more offended by this, or the Blair/Jack tryst that STILL hasn’t come out? I love Blair and Dan’s chemistry, but I don’t know that it would translate into a romance. Their road trip was wonderful, and I was cracking up at Damian riding in the backseat, while they were only talking to each other. However, their relationship hinges on loathing and judgment, so I can’t see how it would work if those were removed. Could it be just a “non-friends” with benefits? Maybe. But love? No. This is what I am most looking forward to in the New Year.

Great Lines:

"I wouldn't know how to feel. I would never do something like that." Worst Therapist Ever

“So long, friends. Dan.” Chuck Bass

“Eric, somewhere between a Marlins jersey and the absolute truth lies the better part of decorum.” Lily van der Woodson Bass Humphrey

“That's why we're going to end this experiment in middle class living and then call the housekeeper to clean up.” Nate Archibald

“I'm out buying you some new clothes. I know you've been locked away for awhile, but no one's wearing orange this season.” Nate Archibald

“You can't show up at a masked ball and not expect at least one social climbing doppelganger to try and impersonate you.” Blair Waldorf

Christmas Card Etiquette

I have a batch of adorable Christmas cards that I am sending to my Sunday School class. As I don't usually send cards for any holiday (I'm lazy), I wanted to check the etiquette on how early they can be mailed. Of course, I Googled it (Emily Post who?).

"When should you send Christmas Cards?"

This is what I found.


WHAT?!?

I can't even comment.

Oh, and anytime during December is appropriate for mailing Christmas cards.

Unless of course you have a sibling dating outside of their race.

Try to make me go to rehab, and I say, "No, no... okay I'll go."

Dorota is adorable. She and her baby are the cutest things on the UES right now... including Blair and Serena's clothes. (Was Blair wearing a table cloth? I love plaid, but that looked almost plastic.)

I cannot believe that Vanessa sold out Jenny. Why wouldn't she just blame it on Juliet? It would be just as plausible and wouldn't risk her relationship with the Humphreys. If I was Jessica Szohr I would go egg the writers' houses for making me such a loser this year.

Speaking of Juliet... you go to ALL that trouble to set Serena up, then you just leave the mask in your apartment? After she knows that Jenny and Vanessa and Nate all know where she lives... And her doorman sucks.

I swear Vanessa has gone running back to the commune 100 times this season. Just stay there. You're of no use to the show and its various plot lines anyway.

Nate got over Serena in a hurry.

So the Captain is faking for the parole hearing? Either way, this once again proves that Nate is the most gullible human being on the planet.

Chuck was kinda mean to Blair in the limo... I didn't really understand that. It seemed too forced to me. I didn't catch what her note said with the pumpkin pie. (And yes I have TiVo, but I'm lazier than you think.) My BFF Tallyho informed me that it said "Just because we can't be friends, doesn't mean we aren't. B" Presh.

I thought it was funny how defensive and offended Serena was that no one believed her, and then she saw a picture of someone snorting coke and was like, "Yeah, I'm a screw up." I don't blame any person in her life for not believing her in the first place, but I'm watching through a TV and even I could tell that wasn't Blake Lively's hair in the picture. ((Remember in the Traveling Pants books, how B's hair was like a thing of glory? Well there's a reason Blake got that role. She has a gorgeous mane, and Juliet's dyed hair looks nothing like it.))

Chuck talks like Batman. I notice it more each week.

Jenny is gross. I would bet she smells.

My brain hurts

I can't get used to this.

I tried. I really did.

I Googled birth dates to make me accept that he could not be her father.

I researched ways that they could possibly have crossed paths. (They are both rumored to be in the new movie, New Years Eve. A spin off of the movie, Valentine's Day, where she was kissing on Jacob Black! Ugh!)

But, nevertheless, I am still not comfortable.

What do they talk about?

Does he listen to her music?

Does she ask him intimate details about Reese Witherspoon? (I would.)

I don't feel that the universe can bring 2 people together when one of them has written a song about Joe Jonas, and the other has said, "I wish I could quit you," to HEATH LEDGER!

It's too much.

Too much.