This beats my "It's Ferngully, but with blue people" summation!!!

Go here.

HAHAHAHAHA!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Habits...

On Saturday (and now Sunday) morning, there are at least two, if not three or four, episodes of Law and Order. They aren't in order, so one hour it is the old school group, and then the next hour it is all the newbies--either way, I still love that show. And many of the new episodes I haven't seen because I have other things to watch/devote my time to during the week--and the Tivo is pretty full as it is with all of Louie's shows...

:)

And usually after Law and Order, on Saturdays, there is an ultra marathon of:

and even though I have seen them all (and many, several times), it is mindless background noise and I can get a good amount of planning/grading done with it on in the background. I do pause when they show the pictures--I love all the weird ideas that Tyra and her peeps come up with. I also like all the fantasy makeup and hair.

On Sundays, there aren't usually good mindless marathons on, so I turn to old faithful:

This is one of my favorites of all time..Second to, of course:

And all of Colin Firth's LARGE GIRTHY GLORY....

These awesome adaptations of Austen can take me away in a really good way. I can still work and grade, but the lively banter is entertaining and the boys in general, quite dreamy...

Before I go to bed, I can usually find an episode of Criminal Minds on...Usually A & E, but sometimes ION.

I don't know why I love the show--solid serial killer focus--but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

I love Garcia, and the young brainiac and the internal somber mourning of Hotch... And Shemar Moore is super pretty to look at and listen to...

Actually, any random murder investigation show helps lull me to sleep

That is really weird...

And of course, my most recent habit-->

I am only getting caught up with the re-runs--and thanks to all the advertising lead-up, I am aware that they "go out on a date" for the 100th episode, but right now I am enjoying the 2-3 episodes in a row during the week right after school. Especially because 24-hour fitness taps into the HD TNT--which means at 4 the episode starts. Which encourages me to stay the full hour to see who "done it."

I know that I laugh out loud as I am on the elliptical watching them--but I am in love with these early episodes and all the chemistry amongst characters.

And, all the skinny, pretty people can just suck it. I have to keep some fun in the boring hell that are the machines that take you nowhere (i.e. elliptical/stairclimber/treadmill/etc.).

I sound like a tv freak...I can be at times, but I do other things as well. I do read (I've read ten books already this year!! Which is more than MANY read in several years!!), I plan lessons, and grade...but I do enjoy the escapism my viewing habits afford. Sometimes it is nice to not think about all the random crap going on around me.

Guilty Pleasure...

I'll admit it...

I'm a Shear Genius fan.

Yep. The reality show on Bravo TV about hairdressers.

I don't admit this to my colleagues, or my family, only Louie knows that I TiVo it (but I also make him watch it if he's around, so I guess it's his secret as well!).

But, I enjoy the passion these people have for hair and all that is hair--even famous "well-known" hairdressers (I quote that because I have no idea whatsoever as to who these guest judges are, but the hairdressers are in awe whenever one shows up...) and that passion is very fun to watch. Also, there are some quirky people on this show!!

Initially, the new host (Camila Alves) bugged me...her weird accent, her cheesey "Ciao," basically, I thought she was as annoying as all hell. But she grew on me--last episode proved her diva-ness, but I'll let it slide.

Judge 1:

Kim Vo is another I used to really like from the previous two seasons. See picture on far left...

And then he became plastic man.

And now I can't listen to his annoying voice because I am so focused on his plastic-ness and fake-ness. And it makes me sad.

But his flame-y voice is entertaining.

Judge 2:

Jonathan Antin is beyond irritating. If the show was about the judges, I would not not spend five minutes on this show...luckily, viewers only get about 15 minutes of his pompous needling.

He plays favorites, thinks his shit doesn't stink, and one challenge that took place at a record release party, it was VERY evident that he had too much to drink. He was a total asshole.

The Remaining Contestants:

Matthew is smarmy, and it was said best on the most recent episode, his "signature" look is more like "a real estate agent." He also doesn't think his shit stinks, but he has been winner of MANY challenges throughout the competition. He bugs me. Part 1 of the "super-twins." See below for the other half.

I liked Janine at the beginning of the competition. I liked her style, her spark, her awesome tattoos, I loved her talent and passion around hair, and I loved how super-short she is!

But she's MEAN. Since more contestants have been leaving, and the competition has been heating up, she has gotten meaner and meaner towards Brig. This picture is the "fake" Janine, and the last episode with her "signature" picture showed the judges how fake she is. Camila said that Janine had been selling a completely different image of herself for the entirety of the competition--one that she was buying,--but her signature look was so fake that it was super disappointing.

It sucks, because she is SUPER good at what she does, and I was cheering for her and Brig to be in the final two. Now, I just want her to go home. She is Part 2 of the "super-twins."

Jon was a dark horse throughout the competition. He was just sent home, and I was totally bummed. He is an old-school rocker dude, and he has been doing hair for over 20 years, and his rough edges were fun to watch as the competition wore down. He was real and easily flustered when the judges would hound him as he was trying to work during the killer time constraints, and that was fun for me. Everything isn't super easy and flawless, and he made no apologies for his work, rather, he stuck by it and didn't get all petty and snarky like the terrible twosome above. I am sad he went home.

I saved my favorite for last. Brig is TOTALLY weird. I wouldn't let her near my head with a ten-foot pole, but her work is avant-garde, ideal for fashion-forward, progressive, MODERN needs. She has her own weird style and quirkyness--the 2nd or 3rd episode she wore rollerskates to do hair. And she did a good job!!!

Brig is loud and proud, and is the target for Janine's venom.

Yes, I know that we don't get the 100% full picture of what goes on behind the scenes, but seriously, just because she is loud and weird doesn't deserve the rude treatment she gets consistently (by the judges too!!!!!).

I want her to win.

This took way too long to write about. That was not the plan. I guess I am REALLY avoiding grading essays!!!!

My Perfect Day...

Group Blog Thursday (yes, I am aware that it is now Friday evening!) thanks to Stephanie, forces me to think about what I'd like to do on a perfect dream day.

Several scenarios come to mind, but as of this moment, here is what could be ideal:

Caribbean--one of the Virgin Islands or Barbados, Grenada, or Martinique. Louie and I would wake up and walk out directly onto the beach and swim in the super warm water. After some laying around in the sun, showering, coffee, and food would be in order. Good coffee, eggs, fruit, and other breakfasty deliciousness--and a mimosa would be in order as well.

Then more ocean. Snorkeling and swimming, more relaxing, snacking, and drinking in the sun. More showering, then a phenomenal 6 course meal cooked for us by Paley who happened to be down in the Caribbean, and then The Dave Matthews Band would play a show where we were staying and we'd have front-row seats.

Of course, sex would be a regular occurrence throughout the day, and there would be no worrying about money, work, the cats, family, school...no email, iPhone, iPod, computer, or tv. (This would have to take place between the end of football season and the beginning of baseball season for me to be ok with all of that--I'm the sports nut, not Louie!)

I could handle that decadence for a day....

Ahhhhhhhhh, wouldn't it be nice?!?!?!

If I had a billion dollars...

Thanks to Steph and her Group Blog Thursday, here is the topic at hand...

I wouldn't really have unlimited time, because at this point in my life, I haven't made the impact I want yet. I would need to keep teaching. Even though I complain, and it does suck a great deal of the time, I still love my students.

I would start looking into building a charter school that I could run the way I'd like...Well, I would have amazing people to run it, so I would enjoy teaching. I could hire the cream of the crop teachers that I know, and hold high expectations for my students and not have administration fight me.

I would make it like a boarding school, so those who can't afford to get to my school could stay, and even the least financially able students would be invited to attend. Prerequisite=desire to learn and work hard for that experience.

All natural and local foods, to help the local growers, and teach students that one can eat healthy food that tastes good--which would be good for me too!

Of course, I'd love to travel, see the world, and first and foremost, I'd help my family--my sister wouldn't have to worry about insurance any more, my mom and dad could retire without worry.

And L...I would take very very good care of him. I'd totally buy him his dream Ferrari. And surprise him with it.

That would be the best.

It is interesting to ponder what a pile of money could do for my life. My instant gut reactions have little to do with personal gain for myself and more to do with how awesome it could be for others...

Oh, how wonderful to dream...

Be sure to check out Steph's blog and blog about a pile of money too!!! MONEYFIGHT!!!