Boo to Recap Episodes

There are some things in life that are just plain annoying.  One of the (smaller and doesn't really matter at all in the grand scheme of things) things that I find aggravating are recap episodes to t.v. shows.

You know the ones that I'm talking about.  They are a montage of previous scenes mashed together--some better than others--in an effort to "catch the viewer up" with anything that he might have missed.  However, there is little to no progress in the show's story arcs.

Personally, I find them insulting.  If I care enough about the show to be watching it in the first place I already know the back story.  I don't need an entire episode to remind me.  Maybe a brief "last time on" at the beginning of an episode could be helpful if there is a particular tricky or pivotal plot development.  (Shows that I have found a brief recap helpful on include, but are not limited to: Battlestar Galactica, DS9, and Lost.)

I currently watch most of my t.v. shows from Hulu or Netflix, so when there is a recap episode I normally just skip it. Or read a book, clean, cook, etc. with the television on in the background.  With the shows that I watch weekly (such as The Office) it would be immensely disappointing to tune in to a recap.  All that anticipation would be for nothing.

A Couple of Thoughts on "The Biggest Loser"

It's Tuesday, which means that The Biggest Loser will be on NBC tonight.  The Hubby and I will most likely switch between that and the Phillies game this evening.  (And I am thinking that we might even fit a game or two of Carcassonne in there somewhere!)  A lazy, relaxing, fun evening--which is exactly what I need tonight!

I like the Biggest Loser.  I think that it is reality t.v. with a very positive and motivating message: to get fit and healthy.

The show has had its fair share of controversy.  People say that the contestants lose too much too quickly; that it is unrealistic; that they won't be able to maintain their weight loss; that the trainers use faulty methods; etc.

So with so much controversy, what is there to like?

The contestants are inspired to live better lives by taking care of their bodies.  This healthy attitude is infectious.  I know that after watching an episode I work harder during my workouts and I make better food choices.  (Although, for some reason it seems like I always *need* dessert on Tuesdays.  Today is no different, as I am currently snacking on cookies.)

I love seeing how the people change week to week--and not just how much they lose.  It is really wonderful to hear that someone who was on various medications for high blood pressure, etc, now doesn't need to take a prescription.  And this happens every season!  I'm not anti-medicine, but I really think that in general Americans pop too many pills, especially for things that are in their control!

It also is inspiring to watch someone barely able to walk a mile in week one run a marathon a couple of months later.  It is a good reminder that everyone starts somewhere, and sometimes all you have to do is start.  When I watch someone that is twice, or three times, or even more, my weight doing push-ups I am reminded that I have no excuse not to drop and give 50, or maybe just 15.

The people that participate on this show are lucky to have access to trainers, a gym available to them 24/7, doctors and dietitians helping them, and very importantly being removed from all other distractions. This combination really helps them to succeed, when they have failed in the past.  Of course, it is still reality t.v., so there is also the drama of who gets voted out, how the teams work, etc.  And the producers do their job and make it as sensational as possible.

Sadly, not all of the contestants are able to keep the weight off when they return home from the Ranch.  This doesn't seem that surprising to me, considering that while there they spend 4-6 hours a day exercising and a very strict food plan.  I don't know about you, but I have a hard enough time fitting in an hour of exercise a day and I'm a stay-at-home-mom!  Also, I imagine that it is easier to fall into old habits by yourself at home than at the Ranch on national television.
 
Well, that ends my ramblings for now--the show will be on in a few minutes.

I beg your forgiveness if this is completely incoherent, a certain little girl 

thought that she might miss something last night between 3:30 and 6:15 a.m. and 

I am in a sleep-deprived daze.

THE Dress

One of my (many) guilty pleasures is TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress".  We don't have cable, but I recently stumbled across it on Netflix.  (I should admit that my first introduction was when we had free cable--and yes we told the company that we got it, we didn't want it--I mean we didn't want to pay for it, and they should take it away.  They said it would take a few days, which in reality was almost two years.  Sigh, I miss HGTV, the Food Network, and USA.)

The amount of money that some brides are willing to drop for a dress sometimes truly astounds me.  Some of these women spend more on their dresses than our little house in South Bend cost!  (Granted, it was a very small house in a very sad and dejected market . . . but still!)  Almost all of the dresses on the show cost more than our current Ford Taurus; and I think I've only seen one dress cost less than my first car, the Hyundai Elantra.

I can't find a full length picture that is already on the computer to
show you the awesomeness of my dress, so here's a sampling.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand wanting the perfect dress for your wedding day.  It is a once in a lifetime experience.  The feeling of walking down the aisle, feeling your best, with the man of your dreams waiting at the foot of the altar is almost impossible to describe.  It is an amazingly special day and your attire should reflect the awesomeness that is happening.  But, the dresses the cost as much as a house or car don't really seem that much better than an . . . gasp . . . off the rack dress.

Personally, I loved my dress!  I was able to find almost exactly what I wanted at David's Bridal and a very talented friend of mine was able to add gorgeous straps--with beading to match the rest of the dress!  (She really did a fantastic job!)  I could gush about it for a long time . . .

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I have a quick rant before I finish.  It bothers me when people refer to the wedding as "the best day of your life".  It certainly is ONE of them, but the implication that it is all downhill from there is just wrong and downright depressing!

One of My Hobbies

I love couponing!

I have been having fun with it for a couple of years now. It isn't something that controls my like (think TLC's Extreme Couponing) but is a definite presence. There will be a month or two that I won't really find any deals, or really even look for them, but then I will have a month or two of fantastic deals!

I am still trying to come up with the "perfect" system for me. I have a large binder and a small organizer that fits in my purse. The binder is large enough to fit all the store ads and uncut coupons in the front pouch and then I put the cut coupons in baseball card sleeves in the main section. The tough aspect of this system is I have to cut the coupons pretty quickly and put them in the binder--which can be difficult with Catherine hanging onto me (and trying her best to eat the coupons). I put special coupons (free items and high value) and coupons that I know I will use in the small organizer.

I have so much to say on this topic, but I need to go...I have to run to the store and use coupons for two free gallons of milk that expire today!