How many times can I break till I shatter? / Over the line can’t define what I’m after / I always turn the car around / Give me a break let me make my own pattern
O.A.R. / “Shattered“October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I’ve gone pink. As pink as I can go with this particular template, anyway. As of the end of this month, my mom will be an eight-year breast cancer survivor, a fact for which I thank God every night in my prayers. And anyone who knows me knows that it’s because of her that I have participated in the American Cancer Society‘s Relay for Life eight years (as of this June); for next year, my ninth participating, I am serving as the Event Chair for the Downtown Knoxville Relay for Life. (Anyone interested in serving on the committee, starting a team, or just volunteering, e-mail me.) I’ll try to share my cancer story later this month; even though I’m one of the lucky ones, Mom’s illness is still something that’s really hard for me to put into words, written or spoken. When I talk about it I still cry almost as hard as I did the day I heard her diagnosis. So I’ll do my best to work up my nerve to share it.
Phew. Now that that’s out of the way …
Show Him You Care: Give Him Bronchitis
A few months ago, I told a friend how I hadn’t had bronchitis once since moving home four years ago. Apparently God overheard and said “Oh, yeah? Take THIS! Bwahahahahahahaha!” and I thought I was going to die I was so miserable. This past Saturday, as Troubadour and I enjoyed watching TiVoed episodes of Leverage, I felt a familiar congestion taking root in my chest. I did my best to ignore it and will it with all my might to go away, but I woke up Sunday with that tell-tale cough. I slept all day Monday and made it to the doctor Tuesday morning, where I was diagnosed with bronchitis. Second time this year. Guess who went to the doctor today and got the same diagnosis? I tell you, one sick spouse at a time is bad enough, but when both of you are sick and miserable, you begin to see the appeal of euthanasia.
Step Away From the Remote …
After telling myself I would not pick up any new TV shows this year, I’ve gotten hooked on a few more this new TV season. (Bad Pattie! Bad!) It goes without saying that Glee is my happy show (oh, how I wish I could sing). Modern Family has, after only two episodes, become one of the highlights of my TV-watching week. Go watch this week’s episode, “The Bicycle Thief,” right now to see why. I’m also enjoying Cougar Town, although I’m pretty sure that was a stunt squishy stomach in the pilot. I mean, have you seen Courteney Cox? No unsightly squishy parts there. Two new sitcoms that are genuinely funny? I thought that was a dying breed. At the very least on the edge of extinction. Community is entertaining enough, although it needs to find its footing soon or I’m bailing. And even though we’ve got the first two episodes of FlashForward waiting in our TiVo queue waiting to be watched, I’m pretty sure I’ll end up liking it. It’s by JJ Abrams and the premise has potential. As for shows that are new this year but have already completed their runs, I’m also a fan of HBO’s Hung on HBO and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie. Oh, and that little vampire-ghost-werewolf show I wrote about recently, Being Human. I only watched it three times through (ahem). Dear Santa …
I don’t have time to get into the returning TV shows I’m enjoying this season too. Shit, that’s its own whole post waiting to be written.
Reviews Due
I haven’t forgotten about writing mini-reviews of all the movies I saw on vacation. I just haven’t had time to write about them the way I’d like. (Being sick also took the wind out of my sails. I’m pretty sure my Facebook friends think I’m dead.) Also, I’m fond of links and visual aids, so that takes some time, too. In the meantime, though, I will say that you should see Whip It this weekend — it’s a terrific movie. Funny, dramatic, and it WILL make you want to see a roller derby. I know I want to go to one now. And I’m surprised Jennifer’s Body didn’t do better at the box office; it’s really funny, scary, and gory — everything you want from a horror comedy. It’s a hoot, actually. I think the R rating really hurt it. When your star’s biggest fans are horny 15-year-old boys (and my husband), an R rating leaves most of the movie’s audience out in the cold. Although having seen it, I’m glad it was an R movie; too many PG-13 horror movies wuss out.
And that’s my two cents for tonight.
