In Need of a Bailout from Daily Life?

Lately the news has been addressing the economic slump that we are all experiencing. These are the times when I tune out from the real world and tune in my must have TV shows.

You know, Grey’s Anatomy, LOST, Hero’s, House, and my all time fave Tom & Jerry.

*SIGH* Tom & Jerry. My favorite cartoon from my childhood. I do have to say that I did escape to Tom & Jerry’s world every Saturday morning. The plots of each cartoon short usually centers on Tom (the cat) who despite numerous attempts tries to capture Jerry (the mouse) and the mayhem and destruction that ensues. Since Tom rarely attempts to eat Jerry and because the pair actually seems to get along in some cartoons, it was somewhat confusing to my little brain at the time why Tom chases Jerry so much.

Never mind Looney Tunes, and Woody Woodpecker, I only wanted to watch Tom & Jerry! (I had very little friends as a child).

I have now carried on this quirky habit well into my adulthood and now my children are forced to watch Tom & Jerry at 12 noon on Cartoon Network (when they are not in school), and then at 7:30 PM on Boomerang. But they don’t mind, it’s the silly hijinks that Tom & Jerry commit that keeps them laughing. Its great family time for a well deserved get together at the end of the day.

Since I don’t have TIVO (not in the budget) I have to make due with putting it on timer with my satellite network. But I faithfully watch them everyday religiously. I’ve been known to have stranger habits.

On that note I’d like to announce that today is the 69^th anniversary of Tom & Jerry making their first appearance on the screen. You go boys for entertaining the world since 1940!

Some trivial trivia…

• When the cartoon first aired Tom (the cat) was actually called Jasper in the first cartoon short titled ‘Puss Gets the Boot’.
• Tom & Jerry won a total of seven Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (cartoons) tying with the infamous Walt Disney back in the day.
• In 1986 Tom & Jerry were bought by Turner Entertainment. Hanna Barbera owned them from 1940-1958. Gene Deitch then owned them from 1960-1962. Then Chuck Jones from 1963-1967.
• Tom & Jerry are well-known all over the world, especially in Saudia Arabia (big surprise), China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Mongolia, and South Korea.

So what was your favorite cartoon as a child?

When I see the word ‘Twilight’ I think of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Okay, as you can see I am not a ‘Twilight’ fan. I want to be, but I haven’t read the book as of yet. It may be because I am a big chicken when it comes to vampires. I can’t watch vampire movies, I can’t stand vampire costumes and I definitely can’t bring myself to even read about them. But you can’t rule me out yet. I did put the book ‘Twilight’ on my Shelfari shelf (check it out below) as a book I plan to read. (I get an A+ for effort) I know my newly sixteen year old is ready to read it. (If ever the library will stop lending it out).

I am also a little bummed out about the inauguration. I WANT TO GO!!! Okay, I know I sound like a whiny baby, but I do want to go. Plus, it’ll be an educational trip for my children. :-) Can you imagine being there watching Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States? It is not only history in the making but amazing just being able to witness something as remarkable that a black man will one day lead our country. A country that once had slaves, a country that not only barred blacks from voting but hosed them down or turned the dogs on them if they wanted to eat at the same lunch counter as them. This is so amazing and unbelievable. I still think that sometimes I will wake up and someone will say it was all a dream. But people’s enthusiasm is really hitting home hard. Did you hear that they named a school after Barack Obama? And he is also choosing Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State.

Okay, when Hilary was running I did want to vote her in the office, but I was a little wary as to what kind of job she would do. It could have been because I loved her husband so much. (I’m talking big crush here). Any who, I knew I wasn’t voting Republican this year, and I just knew that maybe a woman would do a better job than what these men did. I was all about WOMAN POWER! But, I think I breathed a deep sigh of relief when Hilary didn’t win the primary. I didn’t consciously do it, but it was more internal. I was hoping that Barack would win, but my belief in men running the country properly was worn out so thin that any woman would have done. (I know what you are thinking but Palin NEVER had a chance for my vote). McCain maybe, Palin hell no!

Anyway, anyone and anybody who reads my blog know I am a big TV junkie. (I will join a 12-step program one of these days I promise!). So you know my week of television review would include Grey’s Anatomy. Big bodonkadonk: Izzie is seeing dead people! Not people, but just Denny the guy she was to marry in season two. He’s back.

I think sometimes we need ghosts to remind us that we are living. It does no good when you can touch them, so I’m totally not getting the touching part in the story line but that’s Shonda Rhimes story, not mine. I think having ghosts around can remind us of what and why life is such a blessing. We need that someone in our life that will make us realize that life is worth living (If they are worth hanging around with). Not to be able to be with our loved ones is pretty tragic. And I wonder how it is on the other side as well. Not that I am looking to find out anytime soon!

Any who, the whole episode was really good and I was so proud that Alex was showing some kind of compassion. As I think of it, perhaps Denny showed up because Izzie was in need of some companionship. Plus she seemed to get a good lay out of it!

I also watched Oprah this week and the beauty tips from around the world were pretty interesting. Drinking Collagen in Japan, hair weaves from India, fat, divorced, with stretch marks is beautiful in Mauritania, the average weight for a woman in Brazil is 110-125 lbs, and Iran is the nose-job capitol of the world! Pretty informative and very enlightening. I never would have guessed at these beauty cliché in other countries.

Well you guys, keep it light and have fun this weekend!

Grey's Anatomy is not so predictable as I thought.

Okay, I'm a TV junkie. I admit it and I am not ashamed. (I am also a junk food addict but we'll discuss that another time).

So my discussion is about Grey's anatomy tonight, and rumors have been swirling that Dr. Han is leaving. Oh well, it wasn't going to work between Kallie and her anyway.

I wonder what Meredith will find in her mother's diaries. Will she regret what she reads? She will ponder it but I am quite sure she will work McDreamys' nerves raw or will she? Derrick seems to like Merediths' constant barrage of questions and uncertainty. I think it makes him feel more 'manly' that Meredith is so dependent on his opinion. (Men are such sensitive souls ;-).

Anyhow, It is now 8:06 P.M. and I have to get up and watch Ugly Betty or Survivor. (PIP is so great).

First there was G.I. Jane, then Anatomy Jane. Who’s next economic crisis Jane?

Did any of you catch the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ episode last night? And yes that was a doll (anatomy Jane) that Meredith had since she was five years old but unknown to her, was buried along with her mothers things for years. Is this what our girls are subjected to as role models when they want to pursue their dreams? Anyone remember the G.I.Jane movie that was to inspire girls that they can do anything they put their minds to? I guess the idea is not so bad when your little girl wants to become a surgeon give her an anatomy Jane doll and perhaps she will be able to solve medical dilemmas. Sounds like a good idea, but I thought we had Barbie for that. Never mind, Barbie can never be as smart or as helpful as anatomy Jane was to Meredith last night. Sorry Barbie fans!

Okay the doll did help Meredith and the Docs solve a case of how to operate on an inoperable tumor in the child’s aorta near the abdomen, but really, a doll? Meredith is smart but I thought the writers kind of used a cheesy plot to get Meredith to solve a medical emergency using something that requires her revisiting her childhood that would require Meredith whining some more and wondering why she is soooo screwed up. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ but a doll? Is this how medical miracles made these days?

Okay, maybe I’m just upset about the whole episode with the pigs, Torres and Han, and Alex and Izzie. Well, at least Alex did sort of admit that he was jerk and that he needed help. That was kind of cute, and I always like a man who can admit his weaknesses.

Anyway, what do you think will happen next people? Is Meredith going to read all of those diaries that her mother left? Will she revert back to being clingy and whiny with Derek? Maybe, this will make her stronger. Perhaps she will find an all new reason to blame her mother for all of the things that are going wrong in her life.

I also missed ‘Survivor’ on CBS last night because I simply lost track of time and my children began hogging the living room T.V. while I prepared dinner. I am so bummed about that. I have always loved ‘Survivor’ since it premiered. I was never a ‘Big Brother’ fan, but I do occasionally watch ‘The Amazing Race’.

Also another newsworthy flash in the entertainment world, Ralph Macchio made a guest appearance on ‘Ugly Betty’ last night which my daughters happen to be watching last night. Will we see more of him, will the fans be asking for more? Only ABC knows.

I guess now that everyone officially has the sniffles, we will be in the house tonight.
No sugary treats or any tricks, just soup and crackers. What joy! I can’t wait to see their faces when I give them their dinner tonight.

Happy candy hunting everyone.