On TV and shiny new objects

S: "He wants me out, he wants to pretend we didn't happen, and that I didn't exist."

V: "Well he thinks that is going to make him feel better. But it won't, it will just make him feel ... alone."
S: "I know the feeling."
V: "Me too."
- Private Practice, 1/21/10

Work has gotten very busy and I have to say I'm enjoying the challenge. It is a topic I consciously do not blog about in detail, but when you spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week somewhere, it tends to be on your mind. The work world and personal world I've always kept separate and I plan to continue to do so. Generally, I can say that I'm enjoying myself and the projects I'm getting to work on. I guess it just feels good to be productive and value added.

Last week I saw the premiere of The Deep End on ABC. I liked the pilot, but I didn't like how the title was used twice in the dialogue between characters. The beginning of a series is always hard because if the show doesn't pan out for the network, you end up having invested time into a story and then it goes away. If you don't know, it is a show about 4 new attorneys in a firm. I'll see how I like the second episode today. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm not a Law and Order fan. Not that I don't like the show, there are just so many of them and I'm more full series oriented. I have other shameful things in my closest like not being a West Wing fan either. I just caught up to it too late and now it feels dated, so I would think. It is always hard to catch up on a show. While I'm here let me list more shows I don't watch, but should: Entourage, Mad Men, Dexter, CSI, 24 and Weeds. I watch enough TV though, so maybe that extra time is well spent doing other things.

I'm looking forward to the series finale of Dollhouse on Fox this Friday. I think it could have gone for one more season and still kept my interest. Joss Whedon does some great work. I'm kind of confused because the title of the episode is "epitaph two" and I never saw "epitaph one." I should research that.

On Wednesday, the iPad came out. I enjoy following these type of announcements, especially all the rumors leading up to them. I was hoping for some iPhone news, but there was none, so I guess I'll be waiting until June. It is probably a good time to upgrade if they come out with a cool new version. I wasn't happy with the name iPad, hoping it would be called the Slate or iTablet. It looks pretty cool, but it is more like a large iPod Touch. I don't think I'll get one, but I'm sure the second version I'll be wanting. I have an iPhone, a desktop PC computer at home, a PC at work, and a 13in Macbook Pro. I just don't think I have room for an iPad in my life. Here are my complaints since I'm on the internet and that is what the internet is for. I would have liked a webcam, an sd card slot and a usb slot. Multitasking would be nice as well. I'm very happy about the keyboard accessory, which I wish my iPhone had, though I'd probably never use it.

Wednesday night was the State of the Union. I don't think I have missed one since maybe 1997 or so. The speech was good I thought, but it seemed to be directly mainly at independents and conservatives and largely ignored the left. It focused mainly on the economy and jobs, which is very important. I don't know why I even worry about things I can't control like politics, but I still think about it a lot. The President is accused at times of being too liberal, but it seems likes most of his policies are too right wing for my tastes. But its a good attack tactic, since people start to believe it and it makes him move more right. Still no single payer option for healthcare, we have two wars going, and the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are still in place. I guess you could see regulating the banks/wallstreet and a jobs bill as liberal, but doing nothing isn't helping. Point is, I know the administration is dealing with a loud opposition who wishes to obstruct at every opportunity, but it doesn't mean running away from your values. If you believe in your ideology then create strong policy that works. If it doesn't work, then you are wrong and should be voted out. But to only create half measures that are watered down policies seem to be created to fail, why even waste your time. I admire his calls for bipartisanship, but if there isn't common ground, how about just doing what you think is best for America. Look at this job loss chart, as bad as things are, at least they are getting better. I'm sure the recovery bill has nothing to do with it.

Howard Zinn passed away this week. He wrote "A People's History of the United States." I borrowed the book from my friend Jorge in college and it really affected my political beliefs. I even cited it in a paper I wrote about the Civil Rights era in law school. I watched many of his interviews and thought he was a very intelligent historian and great American.

J.D. Salinger passed away this week too. I think I first read Catcher in the Rye at a summer camp while in Jr. High. It was a good book, but I thought Holden was totally a dick. Maybe I just missed the whole teenage alienation stage. It was one of those books on my list of must reads. There were some great lines I'll never forget like, "If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody." (not late as in late late). Or even, "It was that kind of crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road." If I recall he became a recluse which made him more interesting.

What is that cliche? "Patience is a virtue." Doesn't patience justify inaction? Couldn't a very lazy person be considered super patient. I'm like everyone else, I'm patient about some things and super impulsive about others. The best might come to those who wait, but I better you can find some damn good things when you just go out and get it. Maybe I'm just concerned that maybe I'm too patient and it is time to be more impulsive. It is probably one of those things where you should pick the right things to take action on and the right things to be patient about.

The getting a house plan is not going well. I'm not happy about this. When I first came up with this plan, I thought that six months down the road I'd be in a much better position, but somehow I'm slightly worse off. Go figure. I need to create some contingency plans. I really would have liked to have this off my list b430. It may not happen in the next 6 months, but it will within the year I have faith. I really do think I'm ready to purchase my stake in Austin and set up camp here for real.

being present