My obsession.

Here is my obsession each summer. Big Brother, the reality t.v. show.

Summery is they throw 16 strangers (not so much strangers this year) into a house. Making them socialize and play games, vote each other out to see who wins the $500,000 final prize.

They have ZERO contact with the outside world. Live in house set on a studio, with a ‘back yard’ of sorts. I like it because you can watch the show two different ways.

You can be a normal viewer. Watch the show on CBS on Sundays, Wednesday and the best is Thursday because it’s live, and they vote out someone.

OR you could be like me. I pay (or ask for my birthday each year) for the fantastic price of $29.99 and get 3 months of 24/7 live feeds of the house. I get to watch these people who live like hamsters ALL day. Creepy? Sure. Do I watch them sleep? I don’t sit and STARE at them sleeping but I bring up the site and if they are all sleeping I leave it be.

So check out the fun screen shot I took today…

 

If you’re a BB fan and you don’t get the feeds this is what they look like. I have 4 screens to choose from, or the Quad to see all 4 (hard because they are ALL talking at once)

I have to say the two features I use the most are LIVE FEEDS, and FLASHBACKS *( I can pick a date and time and see any past footage I want) AND if you’re a real junkie you know that Morty’s Hamster Watch is THE BEST site to sign up for your 24/7 feeds each year, AND for your daily updates on his blog.

And onto the picture I took. So this is when the CBS crew needs to set up the rest of the house for the live show tonight. So the houseguests go on ‘LOCKDOWN’ this is sucky for them. ALL of them in the main bedroom. (there is a bathroom to access too)

But I loved how they ALL are in here, right now there is 11 all curled up on the floor, bed and couch. Well that’s my BIGGEST t.v. obsession. so on days like today when it’s 95 in the shade, we stay in clean house and pray the WIFI never goes out, so we can keep the ‘feeds’ on.

I <3 Big Brother.

Feisty

Jon & Kate

Watching the show Jon & Kate plus 8 on and off for years, I have grown to love the family. I love the kids, and I cry watching them grow up so fast.

I have grown to love Kate, she is a strong mom, and as many see that she is bossy, and nags all the time. My god I would HATE to see a camera on me 24/7, and I only have 2 kids!


Jon is a cool guy, that reminds me of Spaghetti. He seems to go along with everything, he seems more patient. And yep, like Spaghetti he seems to put up with Kate, and her bossy side. But with 8 kids, we have NO idea what they go through.


I saw somewhere, that Kate knew that they could never go back. To before TLC, and before they became reality stars. Before the paparazzi and body guards. Who's to say that TLC and all the reality t.v. did this to them. And I mean pull Jon and Kate apart. Maybe it would have happened anyway.


Tonight's episode was the start of the season. It was the kids 5th birthday party. It seemed good, and the parents were both there. The seemed to go through the party being there TOTALLY for the kids. And everyone had a great time.


Kate mentioned this may be the last family picture. And they asked at the end of the show where they were. Neither of them knew. They both said they were there for the kids. And that is what matters.


I am sad that they are leading two different lives. And that parents of multiples have 3x the divorce rate. But hell, we get stressed with just the two. I wish the best for the family, for the kids, and whatever comes there way in life.


I do have to say the interesting thing about this show, is they started out these parents with SO many kids at once, trying to be normal. Well as normal as they could. But then I think the big turn off to so many of us fans, was ALL the free trips, and vacations, and perks because of who they were. And in times like these, it was a turn off. I did love the family, and the show, I did still watch, but I was sad that I wasn't' given so many hand outs. But now this season started out real.
(again about as real could get with paparazzi in the woods)


I hope for Jon & Kate, that they don't read what the papers say. And for that matter I hope the kids don't either. I wish them happiness, and luck. And a big thank you, for putting themselves out there, for our entertainment.

"The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" a daily adventure we should all take

I watched Michael J. Fox's documentary of "The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" it was a journey he took, trying to find out different things about us optimists.

If being an Optimist is genetic? If your into the arts are you more Optimistic, since your working to be in a field were they say it will not pay? How does an optimistic person get by on day to day? And do we function as Optimists as a group?

I enjoyed the paper guy, a guy who stands at the top of the subway, handing out the free papers. His other job. He said "each day is a new opportunity"

I agree. A new day to be a new me. A skinnier, happier, more organized, less lazy, more the old happy go lucky me, then the bitter, and short tempered newer me.

I think optimism is genetic, I do believe that my parents were real with me. But we always looked to the brighter side. It's much prettier then the other side.

Now don't get me wrong. I am realistic at times. I have to be. We all do. But I see each challenge in my life as a tool to learn, and to grow from. It could always be worse, a line my mother often says. And it's true. Sure I have RLS (restless leg syndrome) and my back and legs are crazy right now. But it could be SO much worse, my problem is temporary, and will go away if I sleep it off.

I have been asked many times by people how I am so optimistic when my sister, Frances, has a muscle disorder, Dystonia, that cut out any conversation with her since she was about 13 (she is now 28. Or that she had to have brain surgery for 12 hours. How? Well she is mentally just as smartassed, witty, and normal as you and me. But she just can't express it verbally.

And that is what I cherish, is that I still have my sister, and that even though we can't chat, scream, or even whisper to each other. We are still around each other. So I look at it that way.

My brain wouldn't let me google Cystic Fibrosis until after I knew it was needed to be done. Sure I might Google it, just for curiosity, but I needed to not go there. Not this week. I couldn't get myself sick over it, until I needed to. Call it denial. I call it my natural instinct to survive. You do it your way. I will do it my way.

I also enjoyed Michael J. Fox visiting Wrigley Field. And pointing out that we Cubs fans, are a breed that are optimistic because we stick together as a group. And eventually it will happen... right?

Now I don't see anything wrong with a Pessimistic person. They dive into the problem, and then some. They hit there problem head on, and deal with it from there. It helps them cope.

Realist, well they are two different kinds. The Realist that do see the problem, and tries to find the best solution, and is hopeful of a good outcome. A realist optimist.

Then there are the Realist that sees the problem, and then some, and just to me is a bit more negative then need be.

I just don't do negativity. It won't help, it, to me it will actually hinder any progress. I want to think that now that we have hope with Obama, and the stem cell research bill he signed, we can move forward, much faster, find a cure for Parkinson's and maybe more help for Dystonia. Maybe even a cure too.

Thanks to Michael J. Fox for reminding us that you should "Do the next right thing" instead of "Doing the next thing right" yeah, I had to rethink that one a few times. But it's great once you get it.

Glass is half full, and tomorrow is a new day. Here's to it.

February 12th!!!

The new season of Survivor starts Thursday February 12th! Check out all the players!!