Memoirs of a Moorings

TiVo/Reality TV Junkie

"It's the menace that everyone loves to hate but can't seem to live without."  ~Paddy Chayevsky

I admit that I'm one of those people who has a love/hate relationship with television. Somedays it's just too much and I love silence in the house. Other days, I'm so excited about what is waiting for me on TiVo. While I have a love/hate relationship with TV, I love me some TiVo. I especially love being able to download shows to my MP3 player! Rhyan does too. And I'm now going to go out on a limb and actually reveal the shows that are on my Now Playing list.

Real Housewives of Orange County-I guess in some way I find comfort in knowing that big houses and nice cars do not equal a lovely life. Makes me feel good about my little life.

Gotti's Way-When I saw the previews, I said I would NOT watch this show--4 episodes later, what can I say?

The Amazing Race 12- A favorite of mine. Love the adventure, the interaction between the teams, everything about this show.

I Love New York- Everybody has a guilty pleasure. Sadly, this is mine.

Real Simple- Love the show just as much as the magazine.

Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is- Feeds the reality TV junkie in me.

Run's House-Just plain funny.

Oprah-Don't watch every episode, but like to know what's going on in her world.

Dr. Phil-Been watching since day one, and just never stopped. Even Rhyan knows who Dr. Phil is.

And when I'm not watching TiVo, I'm watching HGTV. Is anybody else out there excited aout the new HGTV HD channel?!!

Banning the Box-Revisited

"Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other." ~ Ann Landers (1918 - 2002)

My mini TV fast was such a productive time that I've been incorporating more time in the house with the TV off. And I'm better for it. That's not that constant whirring in my head of conversations and images. There's a quiet, lulling calm. A sweet running brook of my own thoughts and God's Word.

It was my delight to run across a blog challenge at Unplug Your Kids for National TV turnoff week which runs next week April 23-29. I'm thoroughly convinced that, while TV is a good thing, too much of it stifles creativity and imagination. I mean...I find myself watching people do creative things wishing I could do the same thing. Well, I could be doing the same thing if I wasn't sitting in front of the television wishing. So I'm excited about the prospect of a whole week without TV. Of course, I know it won't be easy because I know how easy it is to get sucked back into old habits. How that couch and remote can sing your name so beautifully. So I'm going to start looking for some fun non-TV related activities for me and my little guy--my big guy too! Won't you join me? Even if it's only for a day.

So Much, So Fast

Of course, as soon as I proclaim a TV fast, there would come along a show that I want to see. I'm a big documentary fan and just read about So Much, So Fast, a documentary that is airing on PBS this week.

It's the story of Stephen Heywood, who at age 29, discovered he had the paralyzing neural disorder Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ninety percent of victims die within 5 years of their diagnosis. You keep your mind, but lose speech and motor control, and the ability to eat and breath unassisted.

Instead of shrinking up and dying Stephen decided to marry his girlfriend and raise a son. "What will people say? Doesn't matter," his wife said. "Yes, I would have this man's baby. I would live any amount of time with this man." They are a fearless, strong, hopeful family.

The film So Much, So Fast is a compelling journey, following Stephen's and his family's choices over a five year period as his condition worsens, his son grows and his family rallies around him—all the while with Stephen keeping his sense of humor.

We don't know how long we have left on this earth, but what would you do if you only had five years to live? Now that's a question to ponder. That and should I really break my TV fast for this show? After all, it technically falls under educational television. Right? *smile* 

Banning the Box

"All television is educational television. The question is:what is it teaching?"  ~Nicholas Johnson

I'm finding that TiVo is an addiction. All of the shows you want to see but don't have time to available at the click of a button. Even Rhyan has been bitten by the TiVo bug. Once a show is over he'll ask to see it again or just grab the remote and start clicking away. I've never been one to watch a lot of television until TiVo. There's the Wish List where TiVo automatically records by actor or keyword and of course the Season Pass where you don't miss a show.

Lately Rhyan has been saying, "Mommy, turn the TV off." He's been content to flip through what he calls "my very own magazine" which is really a tattered and dog-earred copy of a toy catalog. So I'm going to take heed to my wise little one and give that big box a break for a while. We'll see what unfolds.

Reality TV Junkie

Oh my goodness I couldn't get Rhyan out of the bath and into bed quick enough tonight. It's Sunday night and that means "The Amazing Race" on CBS. I admit it. I'm hooked. Not since this show have I been so addicted to television. Okay, okay I admit I'm also addicted to this train wreck of a show and was briefly addicted to this..I know ::gasp::.......but I digress. Tonight on The Amazing Race 10, single moms Lyn and Karlyn made it to the top three. Yay for them. They actually beat out the blondes. Whoo Hooo. Speaking of reality TV, I must redeem myself by saying that not all the reality TV I watch is junk like the VH1 train wreck show I can't stop tuning in for. I think this is going to be one of my new favorite reality shows. I just saw an episode yesterday. Cute.