Mike and Music

My last day of work was Tuesday, so I had Wed., Thurs., and Fri. to relax and run errands (I start my new job on Monday).  Wednesday, I slept in and then went to lunch with friends, hung out with my mom for a bit and then went out for drinks with another friend.  Thursday, I went shopping (and got a kick ass pair of gladiator sandals) and met a friend for coffee.  Today, I took my car to the shop, then did some grocery shopping and got my eyebrows waxed.  Right now, I’m watching yet another episode of “What Not to Wear,” waiting for Mike to come home so we can go to dinner.  What a life!  I am incredibly excited about my new job, but I wouldn’t mind having another week or so of vacation to keep me entertained.

When I did media for the school district, I worked with a local television personality who did live broadcasts from our schools on a regular basis.  The thing about tv is that you need to show something visual.  Kids and teachers doing something.  Motion.  Activity.  Sound.  Colorful personalities.  That, the tv guy would always tell me, is “good tv.”  People sitting around not doing anything is “bad tv.”

Watching “Top Chef” last night, I couldn’t help but think about “good tv” and “bad tv.”  One of the contestants, Jeff, was sent home over another contestant, Fabio.  Jeff’s food seemed to be better, both in that day’s competition and on the whole, but Fabio is an attractive Italian guy who charms judges and viewers.  Jeff is bad tv and Fabio is good tv.  And so Jeff was off the show and Fabio continued.  If I were Jeff, I’d be really annoyed, but I guess that’s how the cookie crumbles.

Mike’s been gone at Survivor auditions all day, so the dog and I have had the house to ourselves.  We’ve had a pretty lazy day so far.  I’ve watched literally HOURS worth of “What Not to Wear” today.  Like probably 5 hours’ worth.  Maybe more.  And WNTW came on after I’d watched a couple of episodes of some Miss America Countdown to the Crown show on TLC.  Is that pathetic?  I like to think of it as self-indulgent.

Tomorrow I’ll be shooting Survivor auditions for the folks at the home office in Television City. The last time around I uploaded photos from my phone straight to my flickr page, and this time I have a direct youtube link as well! If you have a free moment tomorrow, check in to see the craziness that we’re experiencing!

http://flickr.com/photomikey

http://www.youtube.com/photomikey

These lines from a New York Times article ring true for me, so I wanted to share:

“Across the country, at half-filled lunch counters and in Vegas showrooms, in break rooms and back rooms, Americans gathered to watch the rare sight of a dusty old cliché — that anyone, even a little black child, could some day be president — actually squaring up to reality. For many who continued to doubt up to the last minute that this was truly going to happen, the sight of a black man taking the oath of office seemed to be breaking news even if, technically, it was not.”

That sums up, so well, the way I felt as I watched the inauguration.  I am surprised at the depth of my awe, my disbelief, my genuine joy at seeing a half black person become president.  I had no idea I’d feel this way!

I also am very excited to see a woman become president during my lifetime!

Just some random thoughts as I watch the inauguration.

–How incredible is it to have so many living presidents?  Wow.

–Malia and Sasha Obama are adorable.  They look so cute!  Their lives have just changed in a way I can’t even imagine.

–Michelle Obama’s outfit is GORGEOUS.  The color is great, and I love all the embellishment.  It reminds me of an Indian outfit for some reason.

–HD t.v. kicks butt.  It’s such an amazing picture.  Initially, I was watching in standard def, though our Direct TV, but Mike suggested I switch to over-the-air HD.  Good call, Mike.

–Rey doesn’t seem to understand that this is a historic moment.  He isn’t nearly as excited as I am.  Ha ha.

–Here comes G.W., walking out as president for the last time.  And Cheney, being wheeled out.  Here comes Biden.

–The anticipation!  The anticipation!

–I’m tearing up at the first sight of Barack Obama as he approaches for his swearing-in.  What a moment!  I honestly don’t know if I ever expected to see a half-black (like me!) person as President of the United States.  But here we are.

–I wish I were in DC!

–They introduced him as “Barack H. Obama.”  Why no Hussein?!?  Come on, Barack, that’s your name– be proud!

–I don’t know if I’ve ever watched the inauguration before.  I always vote, but never participate in this part of the ceremony.

–”Peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time,” Rick Warren said.  Does the transfer of power from Kennedy to Johnson count as “peaceful?”  I guess technically, the transfer was, but the circumstances certainly weren’t.  Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.

–I’ve gotta get a hat with a big bow on it, like Aretha’s.

–Biden is sworn in!  He’s very tan.  But it makes his blue tie pop.   And you have to love John Paul Stevens.

–”Unique musical performance.”  Nice.

–Presidential oath of office.  Here we go!  Oh, they threw in the Hussein.  Woo hoo!  Look at Barack, nervous.  Having a hard time with the oath.  Too funny.  And Michelle, willing him on.

–AMAZING.  Oh my God.  I’m not a religious person, but I pray for our new president’s safety.  I am in awe right now.

–So much hope, all placed in one person.  What a load to carry.

–”We are ready to lead once more.”  Amen!

–I was in D.C. in 2000, before Bush was sworn-in, and the atmosphere was so festive.  Even I, a Dem, caught some of the excitement.  That’s how exciting it was.  Can you imagine what it’s like there, now?

–Every once in a while, in his speech, Obama sounds like a fiery black preacher.  It’s interesting.

–I’m so excited to have an intelligent president again!

–I wonder how hard it is for Bush and Cheney to sit there and listen to Obama signal a break with some of their policies.

–I love the poem.  The line about building the place they’d then keep clean…  Fabulous.

–The last lines of the benediction rocked!

Okay.  I have to go to work now.  What a glorious day.  What a great nation.

Can you imagine how Barack Obama and Joe Biden must be feeling right now?  At this very moment, 7: 45 a.m. (PST), I’m watching them make their way from the White House into their armored car, soon to be transported to the site of the inauguration.  What sort of butterflies must be flying around their stomachs?  How happy must G.W. feel right now, to be able to go back to being a Texan rancher?  My goodness.  It’s just amazing.

Today, Mike and I walked downtown to have breakfast.  After we were done, we meandered our way down to Horton Plaza, where I dragged him into a couple of stores.  So many sales!  I always hit the “mismatched” rack in the suit department of Macy’s– where they have shells that somehow weren’t sold with a suit or where the extra pieces go when someone takes a size 4 jacket and size 8 pants– because they have great deals.  It’s a good way to get a cute suit jacket for a steal, or a camisole to go under a suit I already own.  Today I outdid myself, getting a great pair of black, lined Calvin Klein pants for $9.99.  Amazing!  If you haven’t looked for the mismatched rack before reading this post, consider yourself informed.

Mike finally set up the blog with a stat counter so we can have some idea of if people are looking at our blog.  It turns out, they are!  Nearly 10% of our vsitors are from Australia, and the Americans that make up the other 90% are from all over, including cities I’ve never heard of (Livingston, NJ, Herndon, VA, and Havre de Grace, MD, for example).  So I’m asking– who and where are you?  Leave a comment on this post to let us know!

You may remember a post a few days ago about a dog we found.  We took the dog to the shelter but had first right of refusal to adopt her.  Well, I went this morning to see her and, due to a variety of factors, opted to take a pass on her.  She is cute and sweet and I know she will find a good home– in fact, there was a second hold on her so that if we chose not to adopt, someone else could snag her.  I feel good knowing I got her off the street and that she will be with people who love her.  But it was a very hard decision to make!