Thankful for:

Although I’m not a fan of Thanksgiving (see last year’s post), I think that our world would be a better place if we more frequently focused on that for which we are thankful instead of nearly constantly complaining about the irksome, hateful and horrid things in our lives.  Granted when there are things in our life that are bad, we should do our best to change them.  The occasional grief and/or sadness in our life cannot always be “fixed”.  Only time and new priorities can help lessen the grief and sadness.  
 

So to avoid another day of complaints on my part, here’s a list of those things for which I am thankful.

1. I am so very grateful that I am a woman. 
2.  No turkey has been killed for my taste buds in over 23 years. 
3.  I have today and tomorrow off…….with pay. 
4.  My cats and dog. 
5.  A relatively pain free day, even though I’ve taken 2 prescription pain pills and 2 over the counter pain pills since 4 AM. 
6.  I have 4 clean litter boxes, with just 5 more to go. 
7.  I have decided not to cook today and, instead, doing that on Saturday. 
8.  I am thankful to have shared my life with numerous cats and dogs over the years.  I still miss those who have died, most especially the greatest cat ever born, my one and only soulmate, Casey Anansi.  The love and understanding I received from Casey forever changed my life for the better.  RIP my darling – gone, but never forgotten.  He has been gone since January 10, 1990. 
9.  Each day brings me closer to retirement.  I just hope I can hang on for another 2 years and 3 months.
10. My diabetes is under control. 
11.  I am able to take care of myself.
12. Although I broke a nail, I didn’t fall today when Tessa came running across the living room and nearly knocked me down.   
13. Joss Whedon and all of his work, especially Buffy the Vampire Slayer, followed closely by Firefly.
14. Aaron Sorkin and especially The West Wing. 

I’m going to leave it there.  I don’t want to push my luck.  So, what are you thankful for today?

 

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Many, if not most of you, have probably never heard of this television show.  It debuted in 2006, the same year that the very popular 30 Rock began it's run.  Both shows were about a late night comedy sketch show, however, the perspectives were entirely different.  After 22 episodes, Studio 60 was summarily cancelled.  So, why am I writing about it now?  That's simple - I LOVE IT.  Although I have attempted to watch 30 Rock on a couple of occasions, I find it unbearable.  I find the characters annoying, offensive, self-centered and, frankly, not terribly intelligent. 

When Studio 60 was announced, there was no question that I would watch it.  It was scripted by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Thomas Schlamme.  Both of them are geniuses in their fields. 

I have three screenwriters whom I positively adore, in no particular order:  Aaron Sorkin, Joss Whedon and Lawrence Kasdan.  All three have scripted my favorite television series and/or several of my favorite movies.  All three of these men are funny, witty and take me on an emotional roller coaster ride.  Their characters, both heroes and villains, are fully human and a joy to watch.

Studio 60 was Sorkin's third television series.  His first, Sports Night, was delightful.  It was critically acclaimed, but suffered from low ratings.  ABC gave it a chance and it lasted 3 seasons.  Before Sports Night was cancelled, Aaron had already started his masterpiece, The West Wing.  The two main stars of Studio 60, Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, met and worked together on The West Wing.  Their natural camaraderie was evident on screen.

Studio 60 is semi-autobiographical, with Matt Perry playing a Sorkin like character and Bradley Whitford playing a Tommy Schlamme like character.  Sarah Paulson's role is based upon Kristin Chenoweth.

A couple of years ago, I watched the series again online.  It was as fresh as it had been when it debuted.  I recently borrowed the DVD set from a friend and watched the first 8 episodes in the past 24 hours.  It is simply a travesty that this show wasn't renewed - the only show by Aaron Sorkin that didn't get green lighted for a second season.   If you have Netflix, subscribe to Hulu or can possibly get the DVDs from your local library - DO IT!  As with all of Aaron's work, the scripts are filled with fast paced, smart, funny dialog and great story lines.  The actors are at their best.  In addition to Matt Perry, Brad Whitford and Sarah Paulson, the cast includes Amanda Peete, Steven Weber, D. L. Hughley, Nate Corddry (he is wonderful and adorable), Timothy Busfield and Simon Helberg (of Big Bang Theory and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog fame).  Helberg does a killer imitation of Nicholas Cage and Sarah Paulson's Holly Hunter is a laugh riot. 

Instead of listing the works of Sorkin, Whedon and Kasdan, check them out on IMDB.  I hope you will watch the series.  It's really, really worth it.

AARON SORKIN

JOSS WHEDON

LAWRENCE KASDAN

TRUTH? Fa Gedda Bout It!

I am full to overflowing with the continuous BULL$HIT that has been flowing for the past year (or longer, it seems) and has solidified in Tampa this week.  I live not far from the middle of the famed Interstate 4 corridor.  In case you haven’t heard of the pivotal political pull of Florida’s Interstate 4, I have one question.  Have you been living in a cave?  Interstate 4 traverses my lovely state from Tampa on the west coast to Daytona Beach on the east coast.  Orlando is smack dab in the center of the state.  And the westerly winds, blowing in from the Tampa area, have carried the malodorous smell of ripe, putrefying BULL$HIT that is being heaped by the tons in Tampa this week.  For you cave dwellers, you may be asking “Why is there so much BULL$HIT in Tampa?”  Well, the Republican National Convention has been going on since Tuesday (delayed from Monday because of the threat of then tropical storm Isaac).  Isaac missed Tampa, no doubt because of all the devout Christians in town for the convention who prayed the storm away.  Isaac instead slammed into Sodom & Gomorrah, otherwise known as New Orleans, Louisiana.  I guess Republican governor and evangelical Christian, Bobby Jindal couldn’t gather enough folks to help with his prayers.  Or maybe he just spent too much time on television complaining to the world how President Obama wasn’t doing enough to help the state recover from the storm that had not even hit them yet.  

 

I’ve decided to throw in the towel and stop listening to the projections, prognostications, predictions and multi-faceted interpretations of this presidential campaign.  The massive amount of lies, half truths, and talking in circles by the various surrogates, candidates, public relations puppets has finally pushed me too darn close to the edge of the cliff.  I know who I’m going to vote for.  In fact, I’ve known for nearly a year.  It is crystal clear to me that those on the other side are not interested in facts or the truth.  They prefer listening to BULL$HIT that supports their distrust and absolute hatred of the opposition.  If these people can’t or won’t seek out honest politicians who have integrity, there isn’t anything I can do to change that.  The dice have been cast.  Minds are made up, except for a very few.  It is going to come down to how many people will bother to show up to vote and, of those, how many will even be allowed to vote. 

With the new voting regulations in over 30 states, many former voters – some who have been voting regularly for 40, 50, even 60 years – will be turned away.  Why?  Because they don’t have a valid state photo ID.  Why?  Because not everyone drives a vehicle, not everyone has a checking account so they haven’t needed a photo ID or they don’t have a passport.    They may not know they need such an ID.  They may not have the extra money to order a new birth certificate since they no longer have their original one.  They may not have access to a computer to order the birth certificate, or a credit card to pay for it online.  Many rely on public transportation, some may work two or three jobs and only have one day a week – probably Sunday – off.  Many of those folks relied on transportation provided by their church following Sunday services on the last Sunday before the official election day.  However many, if not all, of those 30 some states with new voting regulations have shut down weekend, early voting.  They’ve cancelled evening voting in many places as well.  

 

Let Freedom Ring.  America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.  At least that is what we tell ourselves and the rest of the world.  Well, surprise – that’s another load of BULL$HIT.  These states are worried about VOTER FRAUD.  Of course, during George W. Bush’s 8 years in office, about 196 million votes were cast.  Fraud cases?  That was a whopping 86 cases.  Who wouldn’t worry?  Maybe the SANE people?  Maybe the people who not only respect and uphold freedom, but also believe that the right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy?  Those would be the folks who remember that people were beaten, imprisoned, force-fed and even killed so they could WIN the right to vote.  

Aaron Sorkin can say all this much better than I ever could.  Here is a video from his latest series, The Newsroom, which sums it all up.

 
UPDATE: I just wanted to add another Newsroom video about The Tea Party & the Koch Brothers: