Television Addict

Hello, my name is Bobbi and I'm a television addict.

Sounds like the beginning of a 12-step program to me. I've always known that I loved watching television, but with two children already out of the house, and one more on the way, I think my obsession has gotten worse.

I start the morning with the TODAY show - checking in with Matt, Meridith, Ann and Al while I'm eating breakfast and getting ready for work. I get off work at noon, so I'm usually catching up with the political news on MSNBC while I eat lunch. Most days, I spend the afternoon writing, but the television is always on. It's amazing how much Dr. Phil, Oprah, or Martha Stewart you can absorb while you're writing. Some people write to music; I write to television.
Of course, I have daily and weekly programs that are "must see" habits of vital importance to my health and well-being, not to mention my sanity.

On a daily basis, the first thing I have to watch is All My Children. I have been watching this soap opera for 30+ years. Pine Valley is like a modern day Peyton Place and Erica Kane is the Queen of all things. The second thing I have to watch is Countdown with Keith Olbermann; to me Keith is the King of all news; not to mention Oddball and Worst Person in the World. These are two hours I absolutely must have in my day; and actually, if you count using the DVR, it's only like an hour and a half.

On a weekly basis, I have several series that are "must see" in our home. The first one is Bones (check the TV & Movie forum for a thread on Bones). Tonight was the last episode of this season, so I'm going to have to wait several months before catching up with Booth, Bones and the rest of the gang. Robin Hood is another show my family loves and thankfully, it has just started a new season; I have visions of robbing the rich to feed the poor.

Other shows on the must see list, but which have ended for the season, include: Medium, Heroes, Breaking Bad, and Terminator: the Sarah Conners' Chronicles. The last big three I watch are all on cable and will be returning this summer: Weeds, Big Love, and Californication. Of course, my hubby has his favorites as well, so I get to watch My Name Is Earl, How I Met Your Mother, Last Comic Standing, and Hell's Kitchen (and Kitchen Nightmares.)

Like I said, I'm addicted to television. Even when I'm reading, I have the television on. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem; who are they? And if I admit I have a problem, then I'll be obligated to correct the problem, right?

On second thought, maybe I'm not addicted to television after all. Yeah, that's it, I just like watching the TV. Yeah, there's no problem here; no problem at all ...

Live from Harrodsburg, it's Saturday Night

Here I am on a beautiful Saturday night - sitting in front of my computer. How pathetic is that? Actually, as boring as it may sound, I'm doing just what I want to be doing and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

My husband and my daughter are both working tonight, so I have the house to myself. For the next four hours I can do anything I want. As soon as I finish this blog, I have a short story I need to edit and a new story I want to "flesh out." I'll spend the evening with my computer in my lap, the television on and a stack of books and notebooks at my side; not to mention the ice-cold glass of Coke and last slice of pizza.

At 10 o'clock I'll watch this week's episode of Robin Hood on the BBC. This is one of my favorite television shows and it keeps getting better every week. It actually comes on at 9, but I hate commericals, so I'll wait and use the DVR to fast forward through all the ads; this way I can get some writing in before hand.

I'm currently writing a children's book, so I have several character sketches I need to work on. I have already done some research, but I haven't had time to sit down and work on it, so I'm looking forward to doing this. I have notebooks full of words and doodles; tonight I'll open computer files and start organizing all the information.

I also want to do some reading tonight. I've started on a new series of books by Charlaine Harris called The Southern Vampire Mysteries, so I'm half-way through the first book. I'm also reading a series of children's books called Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan; I'm on the second book. To complicate matters, I'm also reading on a third series of books by John Sanford called the Prey series. It drives my husband crazy when I'm reading more than one book at a time. There are some books I can read straight through, like Stephenie Meyer's new book The Host, but there are many books that I will literally only read three or four chapters before skipping ahead to the next book and then back again. That's just the way my brain works.

So while most people are out on the town or socializing on a Saturday night, I'm home with three of my favorite things: my computer, the televison and my books. And I'm waiting for my top two favorite things to come home: my hubby and my daughter.

It's my Saturday and I'll do as I like!