She Likes Purple

ATX Festival

Did you know I like a few TV shows? (Just a few.) (And a few more.) So, it's almost as if the ATX Television Festival was created just for me. It certainly sounds like my kind of weekend, an entire weekend of panels and screenings for TV shows past and present. I got to find out if it was indeed my kind of weekend this past weekend.

I snatched up a ticket last fall, determined for the chance see a few Friday Night Lights stars in person but really nothing could have prepared me for just how awesome a weekend it would turn out to be for a TV fan like me.

For the cost of your ticket, you can get into 3-4 panels/screenings a day. I chose FNL, Party of Five, Parenthood, and Veronica Mars on Saturday, and then an Actor's Roundtable on Sunday. Because of my work trip two weeks ago and also because of a pretty full plate, I couldn't head out of town for any of the Friday panels (next year, Friday, I am coming for you), but it was still a perfect weekend.

I hung out with Julie and Erica most of the weekend with a special shout-out to Natalie for letting us stay with her and drink coffee on her lovely back porch each morning.

The screenings and panels (at least this year) were all great sizes. You were near the actors, and it felt personal and like the cost of the ticket was absolutely worth it. The moderators, volunteers, and organizers were all great, too, and everything ran smoothly. 

Our first screening was Friday Night Lights, and we ended up in the first row of Austin's Paramount Theater. Oh, and I also ended up in the concession stand line behind Mae Whitman, which was a cool way to kick off the morning. I nearly said "You stink Justin Matisse" to her but resisted. She's probably thankful for that. As is security.

After they brought out some of the show's actors...

No big deal, just sitting in front of Scott Porter and Matt Lauria

...they introduced a clip from the show, a clip that was (as the audience probably noticed) just of Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler. Then the moderator went ahead and made all of our days (years, quite possibly) by INTRODUCING CONNINE BRITTON AND KYLE CHANDLER (they weren't previously announced to be there, total surprise).

I resisted the urge to jump on stage and touch her hair. Most restraint I've ever showed in my entire life.

This was my favorite panel of the weekend not only because of Tami's hair (although that was 90% of it), but also because the panel was a perfect combination of show clips, the actors talking about the clips, and then a time for audience questions.

The other panels were still really good, though.

 (From top to bottom, left to right: Party of Five, Chris Lowell & Rob Thomas from the Veronica Mars panel, my Veronica Mars ticket, and the Actor's Roundtable with a bunch of awesome actors including JOSHUA MALINA.)

SPEAKING OF JOSHUA MALINA:

Basically two degress away from Aaron Sorkin, no bigs. He was so gracious and kind, too, although his expression in this particular picture isn't proof of that. Really, so nice.

After that picture was taken, we had an actual conversation with Scott Porter, who is also incredibly nice. He said he'd be back next year "if they'd have him." Oh, Jason Street, I think any TV festival would have you. 

It was a great weekend, so worth the ticket cost and the drive down. I plan to be there next year, and if you like TV at all, you should come too.

If TV doesn't appeal to you, did you know Austin has both queso and margaritas? 

Seven Quick (TV) Takes

(Obviously we have some spoilers ahead so tread lightly.)

I know, I know, I should just start a TV blog and be done with it. (What if I told you that was in the works? Would you read?) Anyway, that's obviously not available today, and I do have some Very Important TV Thoughts I'd like to share. I won't be offended if you close your browser with an eye-roll, though! But, warning, you will miss a tidbit on Mike's proposal to me and how it's now connected forever to Leslie Knope.

1. I watch and love The Vampire Diaries. No apologies will be made for that, you should know, because I genuinely think it's a stellar show. I hope someone out there watches (hi Liz!) and can commiserate with me over my rage toward Matt. This is a guy who broke up with Caroline because he couldn't deal with her being a vampire. And now he's Elena's chomping toy. I know! He has mad guilt from the accident but if he doesn't high-tail it over to Caroline's house and offer up one helluva an apology soon, I'm going to throw my remote at the TV. Do it, Matt! Apologize! Mike hates it when I throw the remote.

2. Guys, I'm hearing very bad things about Nashville's ratings. Please don't make this another Veronica Mars situation (although we did get three seasons there). Watch! It's good! It's not just about country music! Don't make me weep over its cancellation. Do you want me to weep?

3. I think I'm giving up on Grey's Anatomy. I feel like I was one of the last viewers, loyal even when the show tried its best to make all of his break our loyalty (I will forever have a softness for Meredith Grey; she speaks to me for some reason), but then they went and killed off Lexie and Mark and I think I'm out.

4. Oh, Sons of Anarchy, you are doing all you can to shred my sensitive feelings this season, aren't you? I don't remember being this wrecked after past episodes when I was watching them THREE IN A ROW. But each week this year I feel I've been punched in the gut when the show fades to black and then I think, it can't get worse, it just can't, AND THEN IT GETS WORSE. Oof, Kurt Sutter, ease up, would you! With all that said, I think Charlie Hunnam has been outstanding this season. I have barely noticed his horrible haircut because he's continually blowing me away with his acting. Which means he'll get absolutely zero award nominations. I think that's how those things work. (Also, what do we think, was Gemma high, drunk, or just tired this past week? I am stumped.)

5. Last night's Parks & Rec will stay on my DVR forever and ever. Oh, Ben Wyatt, you perfect TV man, you. (Related note: It's hard to watch Adam Scott in anything else these days because I always feel like he's cheating on Leslie. Stop kissing other women, Adam! Including your real-life wife, please.) Anyway, during his proposal, Leslie said yes before he could finish asking and I DID THIS TO MIKE. I took the ring out of his hand before he was done just like the crazy woman everyone knows me to be. Last night, as we watched, we both got a little excited that Leslie stole my move. I've always wanted to be more like Leslie Knope! Last night I said, "Babe! I Leslie Knoped you!"

6. I've recorded all of Arrow and haven't watched any of it yet. Should I? Is it good? (I use "good" relatively, of course. I know we're talking about the CW here, but I'm a regular voluntary watcher of CW shows. I love some quality TV but I also love some teen love triangles.)

7. This is a general TV thing, but I've noticed that I do this one particular thing when I'm watching a show I really love. I continually pause the TV throughout it. I want to make the hour last longer and when I'm obviously enjoying a scene, I'll pause it in the middle and go make a snack or send an email or just relish the moment, which sounds RIDICULOUS as I type it out, but it's become my measuring stick for enjoyable TV. If I recommend something it's likely I've paused it mid-way a few times.

Share any TV thoughts below!

TNT's Dallas Premiere

I was invited to a screening of TNT's new version of Dallas -- set to premiere June 13 -- last night, and when I read "screening" in the email, I thought I'd sit in a room with other bloggers, watching the pilot and tweeting. (My brain, it is adorable.) Guys, I can watch/tweet the heck out of a TV show, just ask anyone who has ever met me, and I also like going out on work nights from time to time, where there might be adult beverages and fancy snacks. So, yeah. I was game.

I noticed the screening was at a somewhat fancyish opera house in town, but the dress said business casual, so my mind assumed it was in a room within the opera house or maybe that was just the point of reference and it would be nearby? Or maybe they were pulling out the stops for a small group of tv-loving bloggers.

I invited A'Dell and we grabbed dinner beforehand. I was wearing a (cute, I think) dress from Target, and while I wasn't going to stop traffic, I thought it was appropriate for a small blogger-type event with a business casual dress-code.

Yeah. My thoughts. They were off-base.

It was the premiere! Of the show! With all the actors and media and probably C-list stars from Dallas-based reality shows! On a red carpet!

As far as I could tell, not a single other person was wearing Target.

There were plenty of people wearing ballgowns, though. With sequins. That kicked-off a fun game in my head I now call Who Invited the Poor Suburban Mom to This Fancy Event?

(At one point, we had to actually walk down the red carpet and on one side was a fountain-type wading pool and A'Dell said, "Please don't fall in," as I was taking a picture. She said it with experience as my friend, you guys. She said it because if there was anyone in the world to be invited to a fancy tv show premiere and then FALL IN THE FOUNTAIN, it would be me.)

Still, you know, it was a crazy awesome people-watching opportunity and I don't think I'll ever be in a room with Patrick Duffy again (or Parker from Veronica Mars!) so I enjoyed it. Even though I kept thinking WHY AM I WEARING COTTON? It was exciting. Also, a high-up at TNT gave a very sweet talk about how he took his now-wife out on their first date the night of the original Dallas series finale and they're still married and look! He's J.R.'s boss now! It was really cute.

Unfortunately, the show was....oh guys....not great. I know, this is coming from a girl who is very liberal with her DVR "record" button and who just last week watched (and enjoyed!) a few episodes of Hart of Dixie.

I thought it might have potential, being filmed in Dallas -- a grittier, less-produced feel or something -- but it fell short. The storyline also went wildly all over the place and the dialogue was so cheesy and emotionless, I literally rolled my eyes at times. While the end had a fun twist (sorta) that might lure viewers to tune in again, the twist happened standing on the star of Cowboys Stadium. Who schemes on the 50-yard-line of a football field? It was reminding you, too often, that this was happening in Texas, YEE-HAW.

Pilots are generally bad, I know, so perhaps the kinks will get worked out. I just couldn't help but think of Friday Night Lights, a show also filmed in Texas -- a show with "Texas Forever" as one of its catchphrases -- but a show that was basically about Anytown USA. It had such heart. (Why was I not invited to THAT premiere, I wonder!)

Anyway, some photos I snapped.

You can't tell, but I'm wearing my new Texas necklace. This is what I planned to lead with if anyone questioned my non-ballgown-attire. DO YOU SEE MY TEXAS NECKLACE. I HAVE MAD STATE PRIDE.

Do you see the very faint arrow? That guy was hugging a lot of people. He was either Someone Very Important or just huggy. Hard to tell.

You can kinda see the pool at the mid-left section of the photo. I did not fall in, praise everything.

I've circled Jesse Metcalfe. He's very pretty. He's also quite possibly the worst actor there has ever been.

This is Josh Henderson. He has been in ... some shows and stuff. I mainly know him as the guy who was dating Ashlee Simpson when her reality show first kicked off. (And I have vague memories of him dumping her via...text or something? Jessica was not impressed.) Anyway, if you just cringed because I WATCHED the Ashlee Simpson Show, I should tell you that it was better than Dallas.

Things of Note: Lately

Television this fall has been .... shitty, am I right? I love television, and I watch a helluva lot of it, but I'm almost always doing something else. Laundry, blogging, writing thank-you notes or to-do lists, flipping through a magazine. There are very few shows I turn everything off and stop everything I'm doing to watch. In fact, I can think of just two: The Vampire Diaries and Friday Night Lights (I have DirecTV, so am currently watching (and enjoying) season five).

What's the show you turn everything off for?

***

Kyle is finally (!!) saying mama regularly. He's not the most verbal child there ever was, but he speaks plenty and he's been saying dada and daddy for probably a year now. And he could point me out if you ever asked him where mama was, but he just so rarely SAID it.

He says it now.

Hallelujah, I don't have to start guilt-tripping him with details of my labor.

We were in Wal-mart last night (I hate that I ever have to write that sentence), and I was getting frozen veggies on one aisle and Mike was getting something a few aisles away, and I heard Kyle over and over and over going, "mama, mommy, mama, mommy, mama, MOMMMMMMMMY" and I just have never heard a more perfect inappropriate hollering.

***

I'm organizing a blogging meet-up dinner thing for people nearby. I think I may officially call it that, even. It's for people who happen to live in North Texas (or anywhere near North Texas, if you happen to enjoy long drives with horrible scenery!). Do you fit that description and want to be on the invite list? Let me know!

***

You should really make this lasagna. Jonna made it for us when we were in Boston and then I made it for my in-laws a couple weeks ago and MULTIPLE people told me it was the best lasagna they'd ever had. And I know I told Jonna this same thing.

It's delicious!

And easy!

And...DELICIOUSLY EASY OMG IT'S SO GOOD.

***

Kyle's teacher told me he's scrappy, which I sort of loved hearing. She then went onto tell me she thinks this, in part, because a much bigger kid pushed him down pretty hard the other day and he didn't cry or look upset, he just stood up, walked over to a chair and attempted to throw it at this kid.

Like a mini mobster!

My friend Kim said, "Come on, that's a kid you don't have to worry about. He's going to make it in life."

I'm ... proud? Maybe? Or terrified? Either or!

***

I'm honored to have one of my posts up at Story Bleed today. Thanks, Jennifer, for selecting it.

***

Finally, I finished Mockingjay this weekend (and, therefore, the Hunger Games series) and I just loved it. I cried at the end! Like a very sappy book reader! But, it was ... so good. And so rewarding without being cheesy. I was grumpy the rest of the day after finishing it and Mike finally said, "I know you're upset your book is over, but can you please snap out of it."

I don't even know what book to read next because IT WILL NOT COMPARE. NO NOPE WON'T.

(But, do you have a book you loved recently? Yes, I've asked this MULTIPLE times before and I have a super long to-do read list already, but I love talking books, so let me hear it.)

***

Thanksgiving is next week, which is a great way to show how grateful we are for family and friends and ... BLAH BLAH BLAH MASHED POTATOES DAY!!!

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

LVS

I didn't plan on a gushy Valentine's post. Our nine-month anniversary is right around the corner, and I try and keep the sap level under control until the 19th of each month rolls around. (And then, of course, I let the cheese fly.) I actually had plans to instead share the story of how I spent Valentine's Day the year before I met Mike, and I'll still do that soon; it's a great story. It ends with my date saying the words, "I may call you, but I probably won't." (No. Really.)

But, well, I've changed my mind.

Yesterday our shower broke and I had to wash my hair in the bathroom sink. (All day I heard Fergie's "Glamorous" playing in my head as an ironic background song to our fancy situation.) My car is falling apart. It does this slow, clunking thing when I brake which makes me pray for green lights like never before. We're waiting ON PINS AND NEEDLES for word about this new house, but I have so many worries. I dream every night about getting it, not getting it, living on the street, living out of the clunky car. Months and months ago, when I thought I was pregnant, I dreamed about revealing the news to the Internet on Valentine's Day. I had this whole post worked up in my head in which I'd ramble on about the day I realized I wanted Mike to be the father of my baby. Now I fear that post will stay in draft from forever, never seeing the light of the publish button. I've recently discovered a friendship I valued is nearing its end for reasons I'll never be able to talk about. Reasons that make me sad and, what's worse, reasons that don't really surprise me.

Life, they say, is just one damn thing after another.

Mike fixed the shower last night, after I fell asleep. I awoke to a note taped to our shower curtain: "Be gentle with the hot water knob, baby. Happy Valentine's Day." Last night, after we left the hospital (visiting our newly born and beautiful nephew), we stopped at Taco Cabana for dinner and Mike hit a pot hole—HARD—in the parking lot. I think he braced himself for me to yell at him, but I said instead, "Sampson is not happy with you right now." And his eyes warmed and we laughed. When we see a Murano (our dream car of choice) one of us will usually say, "I think that Murano is mocking Sampson. What do you think?" and the other will respond with, "Definitely. Stupid Murano." Every time I voice one of my stupid, paranoid, negative thoughts on our house situation, Mike says what he always says, "It'll work out. It'll work out. It'll work out." And sometimes, if I look particularly pathetic, he'll kiss me to either make it that much better or to shut me right the hell up. When I was talking to Mike last night about the situation with my friend, he reminded me about my other friends and how incredible they are. He said, "You're lucky, baby. Focus on the good ones." Last night, leaving the hospital, we tried to get our parking ticket validated and the security guard (who quite obviously didn't enjoy her work) pushed a sign in front of our eyes and said, "WE DON'T VALIDATE. SIGN'S POSTED." Mike said to her, "Well, then. If the sign's posted." And for the rest of the night, we'd fall over ourselves saying, "Sign's posted!" "Baby, is this the exit?" "SIGN'S POSTED." "Where do you want to stop for dinner?" "SIGN'S POSTED."

When we got home last night, we snuggled into bed and Mike said he'd watch whatever show I wanted if I scratched his back. So I did, and we watched One Tree Hill, a show Mike has never watched a minute of in the five years it's been on the air. I had to catch him up to speed and that wasn't too difficult: "See that girl? That's Brooke. We love her. See that other one, with the ridiculous torn tank and stupid curly hair? That's Peyton. We hate her. She's a whore." "She's not even cute." "WHO?" "The one we think is a whore." "Baby, I just fell in love with you all over again."

(Side note: Brooke? He loved you once! It hasn't always been about him and Peyton, even if the writers so DESPERATELY want to shove their "True Love Always" crap down our throats. Do you NOT remember the time on the beach? The time in the rain? When he gave you his room? When he said he'd never let you go again?)

Mike and I rewind Sonic commercials to watch them three, four, 15 times. We sign all of our e-mails "LVS" because ages ago, when we used to sign them "loves," he accidentally left off the "O" and the "E" one day, and I found it incredibly hilarious—that loves forgot to buy its vowels—so LVS it became. It's engraved on my wedding band. We give our dog, our Build-A-Bear, our car, our TiVo their own thoughts. In fact, we give voices to practically every inanimate object we come across. When I see a preview for the 27th season of Smallville and question HOW ON EARTH that show keeps making it past CW execs and Veronica Mars couldn't, he'll say, "I know, baby. I know." We travel well together. We laugh together. When we fight—and we fight—we always make up in time for me to sleep on his stomach. Every now and again he'll tell me something I should blog about—he'll say, "I thought of a gripping post idea for you." And, yes, he actually does use the word gripping. I kiss him goodbye each morning, even when he's still asleep. He'll e-mail me sometimes and say, "I don't remember you kissing me goodbye. Did you?" And I'll say, "Yes, love." What I don't say is I watched him sleep for a few moments before I left, right after I kissed him. I don't say I'd rather be late to work—I'd rather be late to life—than miss those moments.

Four years ago he gave me a dozen of my favorite flower—a lavender rose—on our first Valentine's together. The card said, "To my Valentine. Let's keep this tradition going." That was a month after our first date.

Life, I say, it's just one beautiful damn thing after another.

Internet Interview

A couple of weeks ago, I signed up to be part of The Great Interview Experiment and I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Miguelina, someone whose blog I already read regularly. She sent me the questions yesterday and, honestly, I was impressed. As she mentioned in her e-mail to me, I am fairly forthcoming on my blog—I also recently completed the world's longest FAQ—so creating original (and good!) questions was an obvious challenge and one I think she handled beautifully. Thank you, Miguelina.

So, her questions:

1. Why don't we start with you telling us something the internet doesn't know about you?
I hate potato salad. No, really, I have an actual physical aversion to it. Even being near it makes me squirm. And, please, don't try to convince me your potato salad is the potato salad that will change all that. I won't like it. IT WILL MAKE ME WANT TO THROW UP. I promise.   

2.  I like how you compare blogging to your sorority experience here:

It's why sororities were formed—many of them more than a century ago. Women wanted sisterhood and service and philanthropy. They wanted ritual and something to be proud of and to be a part of, and even though that's not what I wanted when I walked through the doors for the first time, it was what I took with me when I left.... Aside from the freedom to write and post as many pictures of Molly as I want, I blog because the blogging community, to me, reminds me of the group of women I found in college, supportive and encouraging and beautiful and smart and fucking funny. (Taken from this post.)

Now that you have a few more months of blogging under your belt, do you still feel the same way about it? Why or why not?
First, I was so proud of that post when I wrote it and now, in retrospect, it's kind of poorly written, isn't it? I remember the sentiment, though. The blogging community, to me, is like a sorority: lots of different women with different backgrounds and goals, all bonded by something bigger than themselves. I realize your sorority experience may have been vastly different and your sorority sisters may have left you—drunk off trash-can punch—in front of the Kappa Sig house but my experience wasn't like that. I left my sorority with really incredible friends, and as I mentioned in the above post, three of those women stood beside me on my wedding day.

I was also fortunate enough to have been on my sorority's council, where I was awarded the opportunity to visit our National Headquarters in Memphis. During that trip I realized our organization is much bigger and more important than date parties and T-shirts; it is ultimately about making a difference and forming invaluable friendships. Likewise, blogging is so much more than stats and blogrolls; it's about community and connection.

I realize it may seem like a silly comparison, but in my eyes it all boils down to community. I found a strong community in my sorority and I find a strong community through the blogs I read and the readers I have.

3. You're a newlywed (congratulations!)—tell me three things you wish someone had told you before getting married and three things you're glad they didn't.
(Thanks for the congrats!)

What I wish someone would have told me:
1) If he didn't do the dishes before the wedding, he's not going to do the dishes after the wedding. That wedding ring requires him to do nothing that he wasn't doing before except maybe lend you some of his debt (so thoughtful). If you really, really wish he'd do the dishes, ask him. Marrying him won't be enough.

2) Changing your name is kind of a pain in the ass. Take a day off work (once your official marriage license arrives) and get everything taken care of—credit cards, drivers license, social security card, checks, etc. Don't put it off or you'll wake up one day and realize half the world considers you one person while the other half considers you another, harder-to-pronounce person. Also, at the end of that day, buy yourself a bottle of something strong. Spending that much time in government buildings is going to drive you painfully crazy. (Also, I'm not necessarily a proponent of changing your name. I simply had my maiden name for 25 years and I thought it would be fun to have a different name for the next 25. My new last name is IMPOSSIBLE to spell, and listening to someone attempt to pronounce/spell it makes me want to bash my head against the nearest wall, so I obviously didn't make a pros/cons list before the wedding.)

3) Be nice to one another. I truly believe this is the key to a happy relationship. AND I CAN FEEL YOU ROLLING YOUR EYES. QUIT THAT. Some of you will think, It's not that simple, so let me respond with this: Of course it's not that simple. When you spend eight hours at work, two hours commuting and another hour at the grocery store, it's not simple to bite your tongue when you realize he forgot (AGAIN!) to take the trash out. It's not simple to resist the urge to correct him when he pronounces words incorrectly. It's not simple to continuously pause All my Children so he can tell you all about something he read in Popular Science. It's not simple to stop by the store and pick up his favorite candy bar just because. (Twix these days, which is odd. It's never been Twix before.) It's not easy to let him go out with his friends on a Friday night—no complaints—leaving you home alone with an empty TiVo and an empty fridge. It's NOT AT ALL EASY to smile when he tells you the new hard drive was "a deal I couldn't pass up" instead of kicking him square in the head for spending all that money on something you CANNOT WEAR ON YOUR FOOT. We're programmed to be polite to strangers, to bosses, to blog crushes, even, but not to our spouses. So I certainly don't think it's easy but I do think it's vital and the best relationship decision you'll ever make.

What I am glad no one told me:
1-3) Credit scores don't forget.

4. Other than your husband and your dog, what makes you happiest?
The little things: getting a card from an out-of-town friend, receiving a nice e-mail from a stranger, having drinks with co-workers, a great episode of one of my favorite TV shows, a good book, a snuggly nap, warm weather, champagne, new shoes, chips and queso, an impromptu weekend away. I believe happiness is having something to look forward to. I think I stay consistently (not constantly) happy by looking forward to something, regardless of how little it may be.

5. I saw that your friends read your blog—how do they feel about it? How do you explain blogging to people that don't get it?
Most of my friends know about my blog. (Hi Lauren! Hi Cherie! Hi Crystal! Hi Natalie!) They know because I'm fairly open about it. I don't think all of my friends would choose to post the ins and outs of their life on the Internet, and, sure, I've gotten a few raised eyebrows, but for the most part the people in my life support me. My mother, who is a frequent reader/commenter, said to me just this weekend, "The people who love you won't be upset if you're honest." And, seriously, with a mom like that would you be worried if someone else didn't "approve"? Now, I will say I am protective of Mike's family. We are all very close and they are each wonderful, but they didn't choose me—Mike did. They have a right to be protected and I take that right seriously. Ultimately, I won't keep this outlet a secret from anyone and I won't apologize for it, but I also won't use this as a platform to say whatever is on my mind, regardless of who it may offend or sting. I think it's possible to have both, the freedom to be expressive and the ability to keep some things where they belong—off the Internet.

6. What are you most proud of?
This answer changes day-to-day. Most Mondays I'm seriously proudest of getting out of bed and in the shower before 8am. If I take a big, giant step back, though, I'd say I'm proudest of my diploma. Not because I think everyone should graduate college or because I think it gives me any kind of edge. (I graduated with HISTORY and ENGLISH degrees—the valets in my building make more than I do.) But, it's something I did on my own, start to finish. And no matter what I do in life—motherhood, marriage, career, etc.—graduating college is one of the few things I'll ever be able to take full and complete credit for.

7. I read that there's a huge Veronica Mars-sized gaping hole in your heart. Have you found a show (or shows) that have the potential to fill it? Do you watch Gossip Girl? What do you think about it?
I've watched Gossip Girl but it does very little for me, so I don't watch it regularly. Of course there are other shows I just love, such as: The Office, Weeds, The Amazing Race, Pushing Daisies, Entourage. But—and you're going to groan, so consider yourself warned—there have only been three shows IN MY LIFE I've become obsessed with on a completely different level and those are: Dawson's Creek, Veronica Mars and One Tree Hill. Something about an angsty soundtrack, a great love triangle and a strong, quippy lead actress (that would be Brooke on OTH, not whorey Peyton). That winning combination sucks me in and forces me to surf YouTube for fan videos. I KID YOU NOT. Some runners up, in case you care: Party of Five, Felicity, Gilmore Girls and General Hospital, during the Brenda years. (You've lost a ton of respect for me, haven't you?)

8. Who or what inspires you?
Authenticity. In however many forms I discover it. I don't think you have to be blatantly different to be authentic, I simply think you have to make choices with yourself in mind. I'm also inspired by people who are both brilliant and kind. It's a combination I don't encounter as much as I'd like to. I'm inspired when I do.

9. What would you do to make a living if you weren't in publishing?
I'd love to be a travel writer. Care to hire me? In all honesty, I spent most of my life wanting to teach, so something tells me if I weren't working in the field I'm in, I'd be teaching.

10. So you like purple. How do you feel about orange?
Well, orange reminds of the University of Texas. Now, maroon? That's a beautiful color.

::

Again, thanks. This was heaps of fun.

::

(I owe someone an interview, and it's coming. Soon. Ish.)

If you can't think of a post title, should you rethink the post altogether?

I've been tagged for a handful of memes lately. And I want to do them all, I do. I like talking about myself (love shoes, dog thinks I'm a superhero, slight addiction to a petite detective by the name of Veronica Mars), but there's only so much you lovelies can take of me ranting about, well, only me. If I posted meme after meme, I fear your eyes would become permanently lodged in the back of your skull, because there would be eye rolling. I WOULD ENCOURAGE IT, EVEN.

So, my favorite color is purple. It's not as if you didn't know.

But I've noticed and appreciated and said "AWESOME!" right out loud when I see my blog name linked to. There may even be fist pumping, I can't lie. I can also assure you that I plan to do them, eventually. Just as soon as I pass along my blog awards and finish the laundry and vacuum and catch up on sleep and get my husband over this surgery hurdle and, also, bake a pumpkin pie that is only FOUR POINTS per slice. (I'm going to make Thanksgiving my bitch, I swear it.) I really do plan to get to them all. But I hope you don't hold it against me if when that may be is a bit indeterminable.

Speaking of points, yesterday was a long, exhausting, FOOT-SUFFERING day, and by the time I got home, at nearly 10PM, the day really couldn't have wrapped up any sooner. Unfortunately I was up until 2AM working and blog surfing. (You're wondering how on earth this is going to segue into points and you're kind of hoping I'll forget about the points, right, because I know how THRILLING blogs become when they talk only about the point values of every food on the planet. WHERE'S MY BLOG AWARD?) When I did finally get home, THIRTEEN HOURS after I had left, there was a package from Amazon waiting for me. It was from my sister-in-law (Mike's sister). It was a Weight Watchers cookbook (all recipes under 8 points a serving!). The note that came with the gift said that she'd been reading my blog and was proud of me and wanted to give me something to help me find balance.

Ric, I cried. You knew I would, though, right? 

I try really hard to keep Mike's family off these posts because blogging is very odd and it's very hard to explain and where my mother has to love me, Mike's family doesn't. And I don't want to do anything (ANYTHING!) to make them uncomfortable. But, in short, I married into the greatest family I have ever known (apart from my own). Mike's mother (aside from my own) is the nicest human being I've ever met. Mike's parents have been happily married for more than 30 years and to say they inspire Mike and me is QUITE THE UNDERSTATEMENT. Mike's extended family is large and brimming with love and laughter. They are a normal family with normal flaws, but I don't love Mike despite the group he came from, I love him in large part because of the group he came from.

Mike's sister is grounded and calm and together and beautiful and smart and funny and she may or may not realize, but her older brother is more protective of her than any other person alive.

Richelle came to visit me a few years back, when Mike was out of town. While she was here she introduced me to someone I didn't know. She introduced me as her friend, not as her brother's girlfriend. And although I'm so fortunate, so lucky, so honored to have her as my sister-in-law, I'm even luckier to have her as my friend.

And just so you can see that genes, they are no myth, here ya go. And, another from our wedding day.

Thanks, Ric. I'm making broccoli and chicken pizza and chocolate angel food cake for dinner/dessert tonight!

::

I'm considering adding a recipe section to my sidebar. I need to figure out the logistics, but would you be interested? I'm also considering adding a section where I'll link to my favorite blog post of the day. Again, need someone to do it for me to figure it all out. But if it does work, I promise to only link to myself once a week. Fine, twice.   

Love Quotes

Mike: Am I your one?

Jennie: Well, you're one of three.

Mike: Wait. There's me, Molly and...?

Jennie: Veronica Mars.

Mike: I'm not even surprised you said that.

::

Mike: Do you think you'll say things to our kids like, "ACT YOUR AGE!"

Jennie: No.

Mike: Really?

Jennie: I think I'll say things to our kids like, "QUIT ACTING LIKE YOUR FATHER."

::

Jennie: I just need...

Mike: Yeah?

Jennie: ...you to act a little more like Jim Halpert.

::

Mike: We could have Snuggle Fest 2007.

Jennie: Yeah, that's not going to help your "I'm not gay" case.

The Riesling I Love This*

I've read entries around the blogosphere about bloggers' "real life" friends not understanding why they post on the Internet (aka, porn mecca). And I think some of my friends don't quite "get it" either. We're taught to be skeptical of Cyberspace, and for good and valid reasons. We're taught to keep our hearts and our confessions where they belong: OFF OUR SLEEVES. (Or, if we're being more literal, off any potential Google search results list; it's not exactly comforting when some weirdo nut job individual searches how to make girlfriend turn purple and decides your site must have the answer.) (If you've found your way back, Barney-fetish friend, welcome! Lovely to have you return!)

Oh, yes, back to my point.

My favorite book is Melissa Bank's The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, and one of my favorite passages from the book is this exchange:

Voice inside Jane's head: He'll think you're a weirdo.
Jane: I am a weirdo.
VIJH: Well, don't go wearing it on your sleeve.

And suffice it to say, at the end of that book, Jane put her weirdness out there. And did I ever love her for it. As that's the only way I know how to be, candid about my crazy. I imagine if you're a regular reader, there's a good chance you've caught yourself—at one time or another—rolling your eyes and/or wishing I'd just, you know, take it down a notch. And I could definitely try to make things easier and more pleasant around here, sure, but it would be exhausting, and I need every last ounce of energy to prepare myself for The Office's season premiere next week. And to continually mourn the end of Veronica Mars. (No. I won't get over it. But thank you for asking.)

So this is what I do. I blog about big chunks of my life, and I love it. It's therapy. It's an outlet. It's a way to remember. It's a way to let go. It's a part of me, and you don't have to get it, but I thank you all the same for trying. And if you do get it, I thank you more than you'll ever know.

(All that above: grand build-up to the following.)

I'm not exactly sure how, but a few months (?) ago I stumbled upon Le Petit Chic and I think I may have sent an "I'm a newlywed! Hi! Wanna be friends?" e-mail, and apparently didn't scare her which says oodles about how awesome she is. She wrote back. We began mutually commenting and e-mailing, while cooking up grand BlogHer '08 plans.

Katie is also newly married and adorable and a gem. Today, when I got home from work, there was a bottle of wine waiting for me. From her.

I have no idea what she's referring to. Tequlia? Me? No. Never. And 175 pictures from my bachelorette party, where I'm taking a tequlia shot OFF A STRANGER, do not exist.

Katie! I too have personalized stationary!

Angella, the quasi-blurry background is all because of you! Thank you for your Foto Fridays!

Katie went to a wine festival this past weekend and bought me—technically a stranger—this bottle of Riesling-esque wine. In the words of my husband, "I wouldn't have believed someone could be so nice if I wasn't holding the proof."

It is such a comfort to know that these daily confessions I insist on making are embraced by total strangers. And that through this lovely little hobby of mine, I've found a friend.

The world is vast and enormous and there's little chance I would ever have met Katie without the Internet, bridging a million gaps every day.

I think Al Gore would be proud.

Thank you, Katie.

(And Happy Birthday!)

::

I'm tempted to save the bottle and bring it with me to BlogHer. But, I'm also tempted to open it this very second and pour it into my stemless wine glasses while watching seasons one and two of The Office in EAGER ANTICIPATION OF NEXT WEEK.

::

We're off tomorrow morning, earlier than Saturdays should be allowed to begin at. We're going to our nephew's first birthday party. We'll be back Sunday, with pictures and more exhaustion than we took with us, I'm sure.

::

Happy weekend, Internet.

::

*You're laughing, right? At the fabulous pun I just pulled off? You promise?

Perfecting Mondays This Fall

Just in case you thought I was only going to bring the batshit crazy today, well, here's proof that you're spot on! I AM SO FLIPPING EXCITED ABOUT THIS:

I have Jess. And now I have Veronica. All on my husband's favorite show. 

And a new movie! By Judd Apatow!

Now, if Logan could pop in and do my dishes ... naked ... life would be as perfect as it's ever been.

How I Know I'm Still Not Over Veronica Mars' Cancellation

Every time the CW plays a preview for one of their new fall shows, I scream at the television:

I'M NOT WATCHING YOU!

Changed, Forever

My husband is sick (therefore a giant, whining, pain in my ass), our house is disturbingly messy, Blake didn't win American Idol, Veronica Mars was canceled, Green Day performed on American Idol and, also, in our disturbingly messy home, we're out of Diet Dr. Pepper and unopened wedding presents. Still, oddly enough, all feels right with the world. Perhaps it's this second ring I'm wearing. And the ring he's wearing, too.