I went a year without TV. I watched stuff on Netflix and Hulu and it was really fine. But I missed watching the news while I got ready, and the Food Network and HGTV. Because really, who is going to watch those things on Hulu? I like them in the background or when I'm working out, or even when I'm with my parents because they make the best comments.

So now I have a bunch of channels, more than I'll watch. And do you know what I've been watching? Nick at Nite and Sex and the City. Yeah. Shows I've seen a million times. There are too many choices! I don't even know what to watch. I hear great things about Intervention and Hoarders and Pawn Stars...but they all sound sort of sad to me. I tried a reality show about relationship experts On Demand, but I've never been good at watching people embarrass themselves.

What should I watch?

Oprah.

Maybe that's not so unexpected to some people, but I've never even seen an episode of Oprah. But a while ago, someone linked to the transcript of her final speech, and some of what she said has stayed with me.

"Nobody but you is responsible for your life. It doesn't matter what your mama did; it doesn't matter what your daddy didn't do. You are responsible for your life."
-my friend Sarah always says: "No one will get you out of bed in the morning but you." Oprah would be proud.

"There is a difference, you know, between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing you are worthy of happiness."

"What I got was we often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough...the show has taught me you're worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being here, your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough."
-I once read that creating a mantra and repeating it to yourself throughout the day, every day, changes your outlook. Mine was 'I am enough.' I think maybe I should bring it back. 



"I've talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common: They all wanted validation. If I could reach through this television and sit on your sofa or sit on a stool in your kitchen right now, I would tell you that every single person you will ever meet shares that common desire. They want to know: 'Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say mean anything to you?'"
-Sarah again. When we talk about relationships, we agree that we want a witness to our life. I think that's just another way of saying what Oprah is saying. We want someone to be with us in the small moments to validate our existence. Like the phrase from The Help: You are kind, you are smart, you are important. 

"What I've gleaned from this show: Whispers are always messages, and if you don't hear the message, the message turns into a problem. And if you don't handle the problem, the problem turns into a crisis. And if you don't handle the crisis, disaster. Your life is speaking to you. What is it saying?"
-Love love love. The still small voice...

You know what's the best? When you're watching a show, and the commercials start, and you realize it's recorded and you can fast forward.

Second best? Watching DVDs of a TV show, and it fades to black for the commercial and then fades right back up to picture. There's that moment of dread...and then sweet, sweet relief.

Love it!

Sometimes I don't understand why certain commercials are funny, and I don't know whether it's because I just don't get it, or because they aren't funny.

I'm home in PA! I wish I could say I'm doing something super exciting, but the truth is I'm watching Scrubs. My folks are asleep, and I don't really have anything else to do...

It's an episode where they play a bunch of clips from previous episodes, set to music.

It makes me wish I could make a 'best-of' video of my life, with my favorite moments set to music based on the mood.

I think I'll have to settle for making some fun videos this summer with my free time (which is most of my time).

I'm spending the night with Ben, Jerry (Boston Creme Pie flavor), Dawson and Pacey.

And tentatively saying that seasons 1 and 2 of Dawson's Creek are the best DVD purchases I've made in a long time.

I have to say, this series is magic. They don't make them like this anymore. Can I just live inside this show? I mean...my name is already Jo.

And she gets all the best lines: "Clap hard, Dawson, you may be Tinkerbell's last hope."

PS-I had forgotten that the first season included pre-Felicity Scott Foley!

Also, this: http://www.jamesvandermemes.com

If you've been watching TV lately you might have noticed all the Christmas commercials. My favorite is a Honda commercial that features Pomplamoose. I heard about them maybe a year ago when they did a cover of 'Single Ladies,' so I thought I'd share another of my favorite songs/videos by them:



Enjoy!

ps-I'm going to try to post more often in an effort to waste less time watching TV/playing games on my iphone.

Not feeling as light and glowy as I'd like to be.

Instead, I feel sort of like a half-full balloon. That might be the weirdest analogy I've ever applied to myself, but I'm sticking with it.

To add to the lack of sugar, our cable has been out this whole week, so I've been without my two favorite vices. Well, I have been watching hulu. But I am seriously missing my George Lopez on Nick at Nite.