Lots of TV

So why do people keep on watching? The answer, by now, should be perfectly obvious: we love television because television brings us a world in which television does not exist. In fact, deep in their hearts, this is what the spuds crave most: a rich, new, participatory life.
-- Barbara Ehrenreich

Monday, February 1, 1999
One year ago: Seeking

A year ago I was dating Jason, for about seven weeks total. Not long, but it was my first relationship for a long time. I did have a crush on him! But fortunately several men asked me out shortly after he broke up with me, which helped me recover quickly.

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I succeeded in giving away my pass to the Women in Cinema Film Festival, since I won't be going to any more of the shows in the next few nights. This isn't strictly according to the rules, but I'd like someone to get some good out of it, and the shows aren't sold out. I put a notice in the Movies Discussion public folder at work, and got an email from someone in a few hours.

I'd arranged with Jack that I should come over to his place this evening. It was so good to see him! When I hugged him and said this, he said, "It hasn't been that long, has it?" But it's been more than a week! This was partly by my choice, since I'd decided to go to the film festival instead of driving up to the mountains to go sledding. I don't have the proper snow gear for that kind of play! He told me that A----, his older daughter, had sat in the car the whole time anyway.

While A--- was doing some kitchen cleanup before dinner, Jack and I went for a walk. It was drizzling and dark, but we both needed to stretch our legs. Jack did a braindump about the database and development project that's been occupying him lately. I did understand most of what he was talking about.

There was a minor blowup just as dinner was being served; A--- was rather rude to Jack and tempers flared on both sides. A---- is still so young (almost fifteen) that she doesn't know yet when to let it go or admit being wrong when in the wrong. She just kept digging the hole deeper! Her friend that was going to eat with us, took off home instead. But things calmed down quickly, and A--- and her dad were working on her schoolwork together while I went and checked my email.

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Jack and I watched the second episode of Dilbert tonight, which was better than the premiere, I think. But Daniel Stern as Dilbert's voice just isn't right! I don't know who would be, exactly. Chris Elliot (I've always liked his work) is just fine as Dogbert.

Tom Clancy's Netforce was up next. I wasn't as perturbed by the completely nonsensical tech stuff as Jack was. Oh, but it was bland tripe anyway, and I don't think we watched the entire thing.

We ended up with Jack's fave, Jay Leno, doing the headlines. I'm a Letterman fan from way back, but the headlines are funny. Jack especially likes the wedding announcements where the combination of last names turns into a funny phrase or dirty joke. I enjoyed seeing him howl with laughter.

I watch very little TV in the normal way of things these days. I'm online instead! But I do have the TV-sound radio on sometimes. Lots of sitcoms work very well that way, as radio plays!