Holiday Hiatus

So between holiday shopping, random travel and eating sugar cookies until I make myself sick, there has been a lot of action on this site. And frankly, I don't expect that to change until I'm back from visiting my parents in early January.

Hope you all are having lovely holidays. Hope we've had a chance to meet for some laughs in the middle of all this madness. And certainly - wishing all of you the best in 2009 and always.

As an aside, January brings us Superstars of Dance on NBC, The Beast on A&E (featuring Patrick Swayze), Celebrity Rehab: Sober House on VH-1 and the return of Nip/Tuck and Damages on FX. Check your local listings!

Shaq IS Shaqtastic!

Shaq gives Peyton Manning a run for his money. I love when they ask him how he got so many Q's and he says "don't worry about it." Hee! Almost makes me want to watch ESPN, but then I remembered I hate that channel. Unless Kenny Mayne is on.



Also, no idea if this is really him or not - but it's hilarious.
Shaq on Twitter

I'm Pretty Qualified

Utica shout-out from SNL this weekend! And as a result, I think I'm completely qualified to be Senator.



Also, yes, this is the sketch that caught a lot of flack for being insensitive. But still - Utica!

Think of the Children, Celine!

Don't these kids have enough to worry about, without adding Celine Dion to the mix? If this sort of thing is your bag though, check it out here.

Excellence in Advertising: Peyton Manning

I saw this commercial for the first time last night and absolutely love it. I don't know much about Peyton Manning's football skills, but he's awesome in commercials.



So of course, I went to the web site and played around with the "Suite Talk" from Peyton feature. I highly recommend it!

The Superbowl of Awards Shows

You may not know that the Grammy Awards are basically the Superbowl of awards shows for me - hands down, my absolute favorite. Generally filled with a lot of performances and not too many boring award categories/speeches and you never know what might happen.

Like this - where my favorite part is "I bought an outfit that cost a lot of money" followed closely by "WuTang is for the children." Aaah, RIP Ol Dirty - you were, indeed, one in a million.



So - tonight, CBS is airing a music concert where the Grammy nominations will be announced. The concert will feature Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, B.B. King, Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters and (boo) John Mayer.The best awards show just got better...

Thanksgiving Eve Highlight, Part Deux

My mom and sister-in-law are no slouches either. Bring it!

Thanksgiving Eve Highlight

My brother and I are the life of the party. In our own minds, at least.

Fun with Maureen and Taylor!

Some photo highlights from my visit with Maureen and Taylor last weekend. I wish they lived closer so that I could see them more often!

Good News!

Check it out. Rice Chex is friend to all.

Holiday Medley

Yes, I know. This is turning into a bit of a "Sally" blog lately. But she's just so stinking cute that I can't help it - she must be shared.

Culture Corner Review: American Buffalo

A Chat Confession to Jason
Melanie: Mrs. Los Fitz got tix to American Buffalo and asked if I wanted to go and I said yes
Melanie: i'm sorry, baby
Jason: to you - WHATEVER.....to fitz - the hand right in her face!
Melanie: um, btw - that is totally going in the review if I ever write one

So, now I'm writing my review. Yes, I cheated on Jason and went to see a play with Christine.

First of all - this is what a seat upgrade looks like, bitches!



Now, onto the review. American Buffalo is the third David Mamet play I've seen this year and is probably my least favorite among them. 2 acts, 3 actors and over 2 hours of dialogue with nary a song to be heard. I felt both acts could have lost about 30 mintues (or more) of repetitive dialogue, easily. Haley Joel Osment creeps me out so much. I don't know why. But big time! So creepy. And kind of distractingly bad in this role. Cedric the Entertainer was really good. Understated for the most part, but he really delivers. And John Leguizamo? Though he might have questionable taste in shirts, he was awesome. Bottom line? If you're a fan of these actors, worth checking out. If you're a fan of Mamet, then worth checking out. But if you're not sure what you're looking for - then pass.

Christine says: Very much enjoyed the seat upgrades, the silver fox that tried to pick Melanie up and then changed seats when she rejected him, and the Ike and Tina shout out in the set design. Now for the actual show...obviously JLeg was awesome, and I was surprisingly impressed by Cedric the (they don't call him) Entertainer (for nothing). But Haley Joel Osmont just plain sucked. His portrayal of a junkie was more like a mentally challenged person. Not to mention he's kind of a scary looking teenager. All in all, I wouldn't pay to see it again but I'd pay to see JLeg in just about anything and now might actually watch a Cedric the Entertainer movie. Was I supposed to keep this brief?

Jason says: This show was great! The cast, well, I can't say enough about them and the...oh wait...I wasn't invited to see it!

Somebody's Got Some Splainin To Do!

Bet the girls were super-psyched to hang out with a great-grandpa!

It's Our Problem-Free Philosophy!

This latest entry into the Cute Kid Alert series features both a reminder that we should all remember Hakuna Matata, as well as a rundown of the rules you should follow if you want Santa to come. And I would like him to stop by, so I asked for the list (Sally loses her focus at this part of the video).

1. Good listening (check!)
2. Good manners (check!)
3. Be a nice kid (and check!)

Looks like I'll be seeing you later, Santa! Please don't leave me knives, money and thong underwear in my stocking again because that was creepy!

Culture Corner Review: In the Heights

Musings was well overdue for a Culture Corner segment - and you've got at least two others in the wings. You see, about a million years ago (or in October), Jason, Kristen, Alisa, Kara and I went to see In the Heights.

I feel like a lot of the press on this show talks about how different it is, so I went in expecting something closer to the dearly dparted Passing Strange rather than a fairly standard musical production. I mean - we're talking full-on, stop-the-action-and-face-the-audinence-and-sing-musical. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about that - it seemed a little disjointed, especially for solos - but as the show went on I got more used to it, but I'm still not sure I liked it. However - this kid? This kid was destined to be a star!



Jason says: "When Ken Rosato speaks, one should listen. It was one early morning around 5:30am and Ken spoke to me saying that I should go see this musical (well, not to me personally, but you get the drift). I immediately told Melanie that morning we needed to add it to the list, this new show about life above Manhattan. Though we didn't see it pre-Tony's, it was well worth the wait. An energetic, upbeat look at a life growing up different from my own. I enjoyed every bit of it, well, except for one minor thing...our seats were, how should I say it, 'in the heights' of the theater."

Determination - One Man's Definition

Special thanks to my friend Jaime for providing the following. Not sure what inspired him, but I think it's kind of awesome.

Mayne Street Episode 1: "Fixes"

You know I love me some Kenny Mayne!!! He's not wearing nearly enough make-up and I haven't watched it all the way through, but here it is so you can make your own decisions.

Remembering Veterans Day

Thank you.

For the history of Veterans Day, please click here.

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

GUEST BLOGGER - in case you need one

Thanks to Jason for being willing to fill in. Let's see if the pics come through!

------Original Message------
From: Jason
To: Melanie
Subject: GUEST BLOGGER - in case you need one
Sent: Nov 6, 2008 8:10 PM

As Melanie travels to the midwest this weekend, I thought I would take it upon myself to add another entry to the GUEST BLOGGER section...then again, I appear to be the only "guest blogger" to date.

I fell victim to QVC yet again. Wanting new flannel sheets, they got me one night as I was flipping through the channels, with the Northern Nights Super Chunky 5.4oz Supima Flannel Queen Sheet Set in Ivory - QVC Item #H10177 in case anyone wants to order a set (and yes, if you were wondering, I did order Item #H10190, the extra set of 2 pillowcases). I received them back in September and stored them away in the closet for the fall and winter to come.

Finally this evening as I sit at home relaxing, I took them out to wash, prepping them for the soon chill to be, when I came across this....


Displayed over my comforter for easy blog viewing, need I say more??? NO, it's not just a rip in them, it's an actual square missing from the sheets - about 5" x 8" in size. Good thing I have a good sense of humor, as I couldn't stop laughing at first.

I dug out the paperwork, called QVC and told them the story. The lady kept apologizing for laughing at me, in which I told her she was more than welcome to. She kindly noted the defect in my account, sent me a prepaid shipping label and after I send them back, with receive my COMPLETE set of sheets...just in time for winter!

Here ends my 2nd entry in the guest blogger section...and yes Fitz, I'm available should you need a break!

And So It Continues

I think this is Mr. Los Fitzes' favorite E-trade commercial, but I'm not sure. And yes, I'm obsessed.

A. Don't worry about it.

Check Your Feet

Something's in the air today. Cross your fingers and check your feet.

First, this from an unnamed reader. I'll call her "Dom."

I packed my gym bag this morning while I was on the phone with Dad, and when I was getting dressed at the gym, yep, I have two different shoes, both black, both nine west with the same height heel, one smooth leather, one croc pattern, fortunately, one right and one left. No one has noticed yet.

And then - Mrs. Los Fitz: Christne's Corner: Uh Oh!

Westward Ho(ffman and Hill)!

Congratulations to Alisa and Matt on their move to Los Angeles. Can't wait to come visit!

Looking for Public Facilities? Look No Further.

Just came across a genius article on a new site called Sit or Squat.

From the site:

Sitorsquat.com is a site that is dedicated to telling you where the closest place to relieve yourself is and whether or not that place is worth even sitting or squatting (or standing) at. We all find ourselves needing a public restroom every once in a while, whether it's walking down a city block or driving on a highway with a few whining kids in the backseat.

Currently, mobile applications are available for Blackberry and iPhone, with others being worked on.

Genius.

Election Day is Here

In case you hadn't heard, Election Day is tomorrow. You should vote. And not just because you can get free coffee from Starbucks.

Excellence in Advertising: E*Trade Baby

So, I think my love for the E*Trade baby is fairly well documented. This weekend at my brother's house, we spent way too long laughing way too hard at the E*Trade baby commercials. Here are our two favorites:

Dan's choice: I'm like - I'm getting a clown


My choice: Hey girl - can I hit you back?

Test Posting 2

Removed my automatic signature?

Test Posting

Testing to see if I can do mobile posts with my Blackberry because if I can, it is ON BITCHES!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Cute Kid Alert: 5 Pumpkins - and Happy Halloween!

So clearly, I am one of Sally's biggest fans. And equally clearly, with good reason. Check out her latest musical preformance.



I should probably mention that Kate puts in a nice performance too.

Happy Halloween!!!

Cute Kid Alert: Shout-out to Aunt Meyahnee!

This little one is sure good for what ails you. I'm one lucky Aunt Meyahnee.

It Will be a Miracle If I Survive Today

So, today is proving to be a bit of challenge to me. Exhibit A - the picture below of my thoroughly soaked pants - the result of spilling 20 oz of HOT TEA all over my lap, desk, chair, files, floor, etc. Awesome.

Jason and I Killed It

Just this weekend, Jason and I were saying how much we enjoy one of fall's new TV shows, The Ex List, on CBS. How it's cute and light-hearted and just a nice show to watch.

And now this:
CBS yanks low-rated `The Ex List' from schedule

In other news, be sure to check out Sons of Anarchy - Jamie McShane started his 3-episode run last week. You can catch the replay of last week's episode tonight at 11:00 PM and then new episodes on Wednesday nights at 10:00 PM.

Scenes From a Bar: You Are Not the Boss of Me

Friday night, I went out with Kelly, Maureen and Gail. Eventually, Kelly and I were lucky enough to be interrupted by the guy next to us and his bizarre friend. I'm thankful though, or I would have gotten to participate in the following conversation. Behold:

Guy that I'm not even remotely interested in: What are you drinking?
Me: Bud Light
G: Can I buy you one?
M: No, thanks. I'm good.
G: Why aren't you drinking wine?
M: Because I wanted Bud Light.
G: Why don't you try a nice Cabernet?
M: Because I am drinking Bud Light.
G: Cosmos are good. Why don't you have a cosmo?
M: I don't want a cosmo. I am happy to drink Bud Light. What do you care?
G: You shouldn't drink domestic beer. You should drink imported beer. Have you tried Stella Artois?
M: I have and I didn't like it. (Editor's note: I'm not sure I've ever tried Stella Artois but that really wasn't the point - especially not this deep into the conversation.) I like to buy American.
G: Domestic beer is only about $6 for a six-pack. Imported beer is twice that. Why don't you let me buy you an import?
M: Who buys six-packs? I don't want an import. I like Bud Light. Why don't you buy me a Bud Light and give me the cash difference?
G: That's funny. Just for that, I'm buying you a Bud Light.
(Editor's note: He also offers to buy Kelly a drink and then tries to backtrack when she orders later. We do not let him get away with it.)

Fast-forward a bit - he interrupts our conversation yet again, so that we can have this exchange.

G: Where would you go on your dream vacation?
M: I don't know. I've always wanted to go to Germany so I think there.
G: Where in Germany?
M: Well, my cousin is near Frankfurt so probably there.
G: Oh no. Frankfurt is the financial city - you don't want to go there.
M: So, let me get this straight. You ask me what I'm drinking, and then proceed to tell me why I'm wrong to be drinking it. Then you ask me where I want to go on my dream vacation and proceed to tell me why I don't want to go there. Um, I have a list of people who are the boss of me - and you are nowhere near on that list.
G: I was just offering my opinion.
M: But I didn't ask your opinion on where I should go on my dream vacation. But thank you for your concern.

He then proceeded to tell me that I wouldn't be allergic to his cats. I guess he is very familiar with my medical history and also an allergy specialist of some sort. Jerk. He still didn't go away nearly soon enough, but eventually he did. Hard to believe, but I let that one get away.

Team Chik-Fil-A is, indeed, my jam

Back in September, I was supposed to run a 5K with Molly, Los Fitzes and my new best friend's The Silks as part of "Team Chik-Fil-A, That's My Jam!" but I had to bow out because it was the same weekend my dad was home. Not only did they clean up at the race (check out Christine's recap here and here), the team signed my shirt and brought it back to me.

Here's a pic of the team, minus the lovely Mrs. Silk who wasn't able to run:


And because Mrs. Los Fitz likes a good challenge and a little friendly competition, she's thrown down a Nike+ challenge at the team for whoever can run the most miles in a month. The challenge started almost 2 weeks ago. I've yet to figure out my Nike+ sportband. But stay tuned, this dark horse might make a comeback late in the game...

Out of the Mouths of Brats, er, Babes

This awesome exchange just in from my mom:

You know how sometimes when I wear my hair behind my ears, I leave a piece down in front of my ear? Cute, huh? Well Jocelyn was sitting on my lap and was tucking the hair behind my ear and I said, “no sweetie, it is supposed to be like that” and she said as sweet as could be, “no, it looks stupid.” Man! Crushed by an 11 year old in 4 words!!

Mommy, I think you're gorgeous all the time!

Bipartisan Pumpkins

The good folks at MSNBC have provided pumpkin stencils for download for the presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as Hilary, Oprah, Letterman, Colbert, Stewart (Jon not Martha) and Michael Phelps. Enjoy!

Here I Am! (And please, think of the children!)

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I've been a little under the weather and work has been busy. But never fear - I'll make it up to you.

Things you have to look forward to (in no particular order):

1. Highlights from my weekend in St. Louis
2. Highlights from my weekend in Philadelphia
3. A review of In the Heights
4. A return of TV listings

And, if you need something to keep you busy in the meantime, head over to the Tomato Nation Challenge on Donor's Choose. The challenge has almost raised $60,000 in just over two weeks - last year the challenge raised over $100,000 I think. There's still time for you to participate - and you can donate whatever you see fit - you don't have to fully fund something. I stopped by earlier today and now some kids in Illinois are going to get to dissect some frogs! Ah, the circle of life.

Song Obsession: In the Ayer by Flo Rida

Continuing this week's hip hop theme, I present to you my latest song obsession, courtesy of my trip to Missouri over the weekend where I heard it on the radio no less than 10 times. It's now my theme song for the weekend. Enjoy!

Nothing Says Hip Hop Like...

...an Ivy League school? Seems so, kids. This is not a joke - this is from an actual email I received today.

Cornell University Library invites you to attend . . .
Born in the Bronx: A Celebration of Hip Hop October 31- November 1, 2008

Cornell's "Born in the Bronx" conference and celebration brings hip hop's pioneers and leading scholars together for a two-day event that features lectures, music, and roundtable discussions. Afrika Bambaataa, Jeff Chang, Grandmaster Caz, Grandwizzard Theodore, Mark Anthony Neal, Popmaster Fabel, Tricia Rose, Tony Tone, J.Rocc and Disco Wiz are among those participating in the two-day event.

The conference and celebration marks the official opening of Cornell University Library's one-of-a-kind collection documenting the early days of hip hop, featuring nearly 1,000 sound recordings, the photographic archive of Bronx photographer Joe Conzo, Jr. and a collection of more than 500 original party fliers designed by Buddy Esquire.

Welcoming remarks begin at 2:00 pm on Friday at Bailey Hall with lectures and discussions ending at 6:00 pm; at 8:00 pm select artists and pioneers will perform in Bailey Auditorium. On Saturday, lectures and round table discussions will take place in the Statler Hotel Ballroom from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm. Stay tuned on the Web site, where updates will appear as details are finalized.



Be there or be square. Yo.

In The Kitchen: 5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

My mom and I received this recipe - the most dangerous recipe in the world - from an Army listserve that we belong to. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) (Wait, optional? What? I don't think so...)
Small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Culture Corner: Review of Spring Awakening

From Playbill.com: Based on Frank Wedekind's play of the same name, Spring Awakening boldly depicts how a dozen young people make their way through the thrilling, complicated, confusing and mysterious time of their sexual awakening.

This was one of the most bizarre shows I have seen this season. Alisa, Kara, Jason and Kristen and I went to see it on a Tuesday night. It was a lot of show to take in on a Tuesday night. Pretty heavy subject matter for me to process. And of course, there's the brief nudity. SCANDAL!!!!

The cast is very talented. I would say they are mainly singers first, then actors but regardless, they really are phenomenal. The music is really superb. Hunter Parrish of Weeds was in the production we saw and for the most part, he held his own.

Bottom line? Not for kids or the faint of heart or if you're looking for a fun, feel good time. However, it is a very well done and interesting show.

Jason says: BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. This was my second time seeing Spring Awakening, which I originally ranked as one of my top 3, if not THE top, plays I had ever seen. I saw the original cast, WAY before the TONY was won. Even though I enjoyed that version better (isn't the original always the best?), this one was up there as well. A great performance by all, including Weeds star Hunter Parrish, made for a delightful evening with friends...I wonder how these kids would do growing up IN THE HEIGHTS???

Think of the Children!

I can barely scan through the projects without choking up. If you can spare a few dollars (any amount is accepted towards completion of a project), then please do.

Scenes From the Train: Who Needs HIPPA?

As many of you know, I have the privilege of taking the train when I head to visit most family and some friends. Any time you rub elbows with the masses, interesting things are bound to happen. I present to you Exhibit B (exhibit A happened MONTHS ago and will be told at a later date) - excerpts from a phone conversation had by the guy sitting across the aisle in the row behind me. He actually had the EXACT SAME CONVERSATION about half a dozen times - I think he was calling everyone he knew. Let me also preface this story by saying that I feel very badly about this guy's situation and I hope everything worked out in his favor. But also - he shouldn't broadcast his business ALL OVER THE DAMN TRAIN!

Okay - begin scene:

Hey (insert name here), it's Steve (or whatever). Yeah, I'm not going to be at work tomorrow. I'm getting my prostate removed on Friday. Yeah, the surgery is at noon on Friday at the Cornell Medical Center. No, they can do things there that they can't do in Albany.

Okay - so imagine hearing basically that exact same conversation about 5 times in a row. And you think he's done, and then it starts all over again.

No, they can do things there that they can't do in Albany. The cancer is only on one side, so they can save the nerve. They can't do that in Albany.

And now - now he really takes it up a couple notches. This time he's clearly talking to a VERY close friend.

In a nutshell (and this is when I started to giggle, because honestly how could I not), they can save the nerve and they can't do that in Albany.

But then, then comes the crowning jewel -

Buddy, you need to go to the doctor to get checked at least once a year. And you need to make sure he PUTS HIS FINGER UP IN THERE cause they can feel things they can't see on the scan.

Now, let me just say that I hope his surgery was a success and that he makes a full recovery. Cancer is not funny. But hearing the guy behind you on the train talk about prostate exams for 30 minutes as candidly as if he were in his own living room is funny.

Weekly Watchings

Same disclaimer as always - there are definitely other things on TV, but here's what I'll be checking out this week.

Monday
Dancing with the Stars - sad to see Ted McGinley gone already. Hoping this week it's Kim or Cloris going home; Gossip Girl; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; Chuck (premiere) - really happy this show is back; Big Bang Theory; How I Met Your Mother; Two and a Half Men; Worst Week; One Tree Hill; Prison Break; Heroes; Boston Legal; CSI: Miami; Life (premiere) - this show will be airing new episodes on Monday and Friday for a couple weeks; The Hills

Tuesday
NCIS; 90210; House; Biggest Loser: Families; Dancing with the Stars - results; The Mentalist; Privileged - this show is definitely growing on me; Fringe - I thought I was out but the last 2 minutes of last week's show sucked me back in - we'll see how it goes; Without a Trace; Law & Order: SVU

Wednesday
Through some poor planning on my part, I'll be at a show on Wednesday night instead of parked in front of my TV to catch the ABC line-up. It'll be the first thing I cue up on my DVR when I get home.
Pushing Daisies (premiere); America's Next Top Model; Bones; Knight Rider - the premiere episode didn't inspire a lot of confidence, but I'm a still intrigued to see where it goes; New Adventures of Old Christine; Gary Unmarried; Project Runway; Private Practice (premiere); Criminal Minds; Dirty Sexy Money (premiere); Top Design; Lipstick Jungle - thought the premiere was a little disjointed but it was still very good

Thursday
Ugly Betty; Survivor; Supernatural; Vice Presidential Debate

Friday
Ghost Whisperer (premiere);Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader; The Ex List (premiere); Supernanny; Life; NUMB3RS

Sunday
Amazing Race; Desperate Housewives; Cold Case; Brothers & Sisters; The Unit; Mad Men; Army Wives; Dexter; Entourage

Dirty Sexy Marathon

Season 2 of Dirty Sexy Money doesn't premiere until next Wednesday, but this weekend SoapNet is doing us all a favor and airing a marathon. I cannot tell you enough how much I love this show. It's like if Dynasty and Melrose Place had a baby, but even more awesome. If you can imagine. But you don't have to imagine - you can just watch Dirty Sexy Money.

Weekly Watchings - Part Deux

Yeah, I missed yesterday's listings. Sorry about that. Hopefully you managed to soldier on - there were plenty of options for you. The rest of the TV week is jam-packed too. Here are my recommendations.

Wednesday
Dancing with the Stars (Jonas Brothers perform?); New Adventures of Old Christine; Gary Unmarried; America's Next Top Model (will re-run on Sunday); Knight Rider (I'm scared it's going to be unwatchable, but think I need to watch); Bones (extra gore-filled this year); Criminal Minds (a member of the team dies, I think); Project Runway (LL Cool J!); Do Not Disturb (after last week, I'm officially in - it's mindless, but fun): CSI: NY; Lipstick Jungle; Top Design (not sure if Rick Schroder's wife is still on, but if she is - she's kind of a bitch)

Thursday
Ugly Betty (filmed in New York this season - partially in my neighborhood!); Survivor (2 hours); Grey's Anatomy (2 hours); Supernatural; Kitchen Nightmares; The Office (1 hour, yay!); CSI (last season's finale); Tabatha's Salon Takeover

Friday
The Mentalist (re-run of last night's episode); Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; Presidential Debate

Saturday
Saturday Night Live (Anna Faris and Duffy!)

Sunday
Amazing Race (yay!); Desperate Housewives (5 years later); Cold Case; The Unit (new night); Brothers & Sisters (search for a new sibling); Entourage; Dexter (premiere - Jimmy Smits joins the cast this season)

Well, That's One Way to Look at It

Thanks to John for sending this to me about a billion years ago, even though I never got around to watching it. Until now. And then immediately had to share.

Weekly Watchings - Part I

It's is officially ON this week and by "it" I mean the fall TV season. Sure, a few shows have been trickling in here and there, but this week most networks bring out their big guns starting tonight. New TV on every major network tonight - most notably 2 hours of Dancing with the Stars and 3 hours of Heroes. I'd detail every show, but seriously - new episode of something on every major network during all primtime hours tonight. In addition to what I mentioned already, CBS has their comedies and CSI: Miami; Fox has stressful action dramas that I love; and the CW has their teen dramas. My DVR cannot handle it all. ABC wasn't kidding when they named this "National Stay at Home" week.

More detailed listing about what's stressing me out for the rest of the week later tonight.

Congrats to the Murphy's!

Congrats to the Murphy's on a job well done at their half marathon this weekend! They look fab!

There May Be 409...

but I'm definitely the most awesome!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 409 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Just Got Better

Stephen Colbert to host musical Christmas special

November 23, one hour special. God loves us, each and every one.

The Man Has Rhythm!

My dad always wanted to be a drummer. Here's his big break:

Weekly Watchings

Yes, there are other shows on TV, but here's what I'll be watching this week.

Monday
Gossip Girl; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; One Tree Hill (a death? - yet again); Prison Break (it is GOOD this season); The Closer; The Hills; Raising the Bar (still not sure on this one); Weeds

Tuesday
Wipeout; 90210; Fringe (premiere - Pacey's back!); Biggest Loser: Families (couples versus parent/child teams); Privileged; The Cleaner; Million Dollar Listing; Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency

Wednesday
America's Next Top Model (Makeovers!!!!!!); Bones; Do Not Disturb (eh); Project Runway; Top Design; Sons of Anarchy

Thursday
Hole in the Wall; Kitchen Nightmares; Flashpoint; Burn Notice

Friday
Nothing noteworthy.

Saturday
Saturday Night Live

Sunday
Emmy Awards; True Blood; Mad Men; Army Wives; Entourage

Dancing Machines!

So, Mrs. Los Fitz and I were having a lovely conversation about how little girls (maybe me, maybe her) make up dance routines. Which made me recall, how Chrissy from down the street and I would work on routine after routine - usually to some oldies cassettes that I had. But one routine sticks out in particular. Not from oldies, but from something even better - the song City of Crime from the movie Dragnet featuring Tom Hanks and Dan Akroyd. Once upon a time, I knew this song by heart.

Behold - my inspiration (apologies for the quality):

In Remembrance - September 11, 2001

I'll never forget...

Photo from www.september-11th.us

I love this city, more than ever.

Culture Corner: Review of Xanadu

Fun! Fun! Fun! No other way to describe it. I know, I know. All of you (well, except Jason, Alisa and Kristen - who went with me) are probably like - are you kidding me? You paid money to see Xanadu. And yes, we did. Discounted tickets, but still. Cash money was paid. And boy, was it worth it. From the glow sticks that were passed out at the beginning to the final number where we waved them around, this show was super enjoyable. The cast is all pretty great - Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson especially - and the music is fantastic. Definitely takes me back to being a kid and listening our Olivia Newton-John records. Or to my Greatest Hits cd.

Don't believe me? Check out this clip from their appearance on The View, featuring Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson. Superb!



My bottom line? If you're looking for a night of fun and not too much thinking, then this is the show for you.

Jason says: "Xana-maybe. Worth seeing if you have nothing to do one evening. But I suggest waiting until Whoopi is out of it. To me, she dragged the show down a bit, like it was getting in the way of her evening. I didn't feel that she was as into it as she could've and should've been. I went to see her mainly in it and was sadly disappointed."

I Can Only Deduce That Jessica Simpson Hates Our Troops

Why else would she subject them to this? This is from Sunday night's America United: In Support of Our Troops. Check out her awesome "moves" - she's seriously like one bad album away from stripping or a Playboy pictorial.



Even worse than that, it's possible thats the most insulting part of the entire special was that poor Kathy Griffin had to introduce Girlicious. That's right kids - the supergroup put together on The CW. All I can say is that I can't wait to hear Kathy's take on her role in her next comedy special or season of the D-List. Cause that was wrong.

PS - I spoke too soon - ZZ Top had to perform with her. Inappropriate. So beneath them.



But not at all beneath her. She sure is shaking what her mama gave her. I hope she was properly ashamed when she watched the playback. But I imagine she wasn't. Gross. And sadly, there's something about the display that reminds me of Britney at last year's VMAs. Is J. Simp on her way to a head shaving meltdown? Or will her true love Tony Romo keep her grounded?

Cute Kid Alert: Happy Birthday, Aidan

Wishing Aidan a very happy first birthday!

And then there were none...

Long overdue write-up about the wine tasting that I went to in late July with Alisa, her sister Kara and Jason. Presented in part by Italian Wine Merchants, we tasted eight wines throughout the course of the evening. I was expecting the wine to be paired with food. It wasn't. There was some food available at the beginning (bruschetta mostly) and then a bit of a spread at the end (like one big giant antipasto buffet), but nothing while we were tasting the wines. Oh - and we were by far the youngest people in the room. We spent most of the evening trying to get Alisa's sister to hit on the wine intern (she wasn't going for it) and trying to decide if the cute guy sitting in front of us was hitting on me or if I wasn't quite his type (cause I'm a girl). And though he ended up at the bar downstairs with his friend and some blonde chick, I'm still not clear.

At any rate, I wasn't too blown away by any of the wines, but thankfully - good company more than made up for it.

Weekly Watchings

Yes, there are other shows on TV, but here's what I'll be watching this week.

Monday
Gossip Girl; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (premiere); One Tree Hill (wedding plans - yet again); Prison Break (it is GOOD this season); The Closer; CMA Music Festival; The Hills; Raising the Bar (still not sure on this one); Weeds

Tuesday
Wipeout (2 hours! someone loves me); 90210; Fringe (premiere - Pacey's back!); Privileged (premiere - heard it described as Gilmore Girls meets Gossip Girl, we'll see); The Cleaner; Million Dollar Listing; Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency

Wednesday
America's Next Top Model (Benny Ninja!!!!!!); Bones; Do Not Disturb (premiere?); Project Runway; Top Design; Sons of Anarchy

Thursday
Hole in the Wall; Kitchen Nightmares; 102 Minutes that Changed the World; Flashpoint; Burn Notice

Friday
2008 ALMA Awards (shout-out to all my Latino/a readers); Gym Teacher: The Movie (featuring Chris Meloni - it's on Nickelodeon so I'm guessing no dead bodies or child molestation - must have been a nice change of pace for him; Monk; Psych

Saturday
Saturday Night Live (Michael Phelps - that's going to be so awkward, I fear)

Sunday
Fringe (re-run); True Blood; Mad Men; Army Wives; Entourage. It's also worth noting that ABC Family is running a marathon of the Bring It On movies/sequels.

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

38 glorious years. Happy anniversary to the best parents ever!

Reminder - Weekend TV Listings Posted

You can find them here.

Fall TV Analysis: Weekend

Combining the weekend analysis into one post. Nothing new happens on Saturday nights (except Mad TV and Saturday Night Live which both premiere on 9/13), so I'm not bothering to cover. As always, my picks are marked with an asterisk.

Friday's Analysis

CW
Everybody Hates Chris (10/3)
The Game (10/3)
Top Model repeats

Fox
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (9/5)
Don't Forget the Lyrics! (9/12)

ABC
Wife Swap (10/3)
Supernanny* (10/3 - I love to sit in judgement!)
20/20

CBS
Ghost Whisperer* (10/3 - you know I love me some J. Lo. Hew.)
The Ex List* (new - 10/3 - looks cute so I'll give it a shot)
Numbers* (10/3)

NBC
Crusoe (10/17 - new - um, I'm not sure but you know I watch anything once)
Deal or No Deal
Life* (9/29)

Sunday's Analysis

CW
Valentine (9/21- new - Greek gods bringing soulmates together - could be cute if it's anything like Xanadu...)
Easy Money (9/21 - new - drama about loan sharks)

FOX
The Simpsons (9/28)
King of the Hill (9/28)
Family Guy (9/28)
American Dad (9/28)

ABC
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (9/28)
Desperate Housewives* (9/28)
Brothers & Sisters* (9/28 - cannot recommend this show enough)

CBS
Amazing Race* (9/28)
Cold Case* (9/28)
The Unit* (9/28)

NBC
Sunday Night Football (9/4)

Cable
Entourage* (HBO - 9/7)
True Blood* (HBO - 9/7 - new - about vampires living as regular people - I think the creator of Six Feet Under is working on this show so I'll give it a shot)
Dexter* (Showtime - 9/23)
Californication (Showtime - 9/23)

You Better Work!

In honor of tonight's America's Next Top Model premiere episode, and the first admitted transgender contestant (there were some suspect "ladies" in past seasons), I give to you the one and only, RuPaul.



Sashay, Chante people!

Cute Kid Alert: Christian's First Day of School

Look out world! Happy first day of school, Christian!

Fall TV Analysis: Thursday

Thursday night has some good solid entries - something for everyone. My picks are marked with an asterisk.

CW
Smallville (9/18)
Supernatural* (9/18)

Fox
Hole in the Wall (new - Japanese game show import - 9/11)
Kitchen Nightmares (9/11)

ABC
Ugly Betty* (9/25)
Grey's Anatomy (9/25)
Life on Mars* (new - British drama import with a great cast - I'll give it a shot - 10/9)

CBS
Survivor: Gabon (9/18)
CSI (10/9)
Eleventh Hour* (new - unusual scientific happenings! I'll give it a shot - 10/9)

NBC
My Name Is Earl (9/25 - one hour premiere)
Kath & Kim (new - Molly Shannon and Selma Blair - 10/9)
The Office* (9/25 - one hour premiere)
SNL Weekend Update Thursday (new - I think primarily election coverage - 10/9) (30 Rock returns on 10/30)
ER (9/25)

Weekly Watchings

I should note that the Republican National Convention is on all week, in case election coverage is your thing.

Tuesday
Big Brother (I got bored this season, but you might not be); Wipeout (big balls! love it!); 90210 (Rob Estes, Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty (eventually) and an entirely new group of kids - definitely going to check out this two-hour premiere); Million Dollar Listing (thanks to Jason for the heads-up on this one - the guys on this show are supreme douchebags, but it's fairly addictive just the same); The Shield (final season); Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Janice does not disappoint!)

Wednesday
America's Next Top Model (an actual tranny is on the show this year - looking forward to Tyra handling that with her usual dignity and grace); Bones (field trip to London!); Project Runway; Sons of Anarchy (new show); Top Design (season two premiere); Run's House (really love this show and this family)

Thursday
Big Brother; Kitchen Nightmares (in case you're not getting enough bleeped out dialogue, Gordon Ramsay is back!); NFL Football Kick-off (Giants and Redskins - and possibly Usher in the pre-game show? I don't know); Tabatha's Salon Takeover (Bravo's reality obsession continues - there's a good chance for some more bleeped out dialogue); and repeat of 90210's premiere

Friday
Stand Up to Cancer (on all three major networks); Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; Monk; Psych; Swingtown (not sure how many more chances you're going to get to savor Grant Show's mustache so you better get while the getting's good!)

Saturday
Nothing noteworthy.

Sunday
Big Brother; True Blood (new HBO show); Entourage (premiere); America United: In Support of Our Troops (concert special); Army Wives; Mad Men; 2008 Video Music Awards; and repeats of Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and America's Next Top Model premieres

Happy Labor Day!

I think it's safe to say that most readers of this blog currently work for THE MAN, or at least did once upon a time. So, you likely already know that Monday is a day off for the lowly people - and also the unofficial end of summer.

But even more important than that - it's the premiere of Gossip Girl, bitches! Set your DVRs accordingly.

And enjoy your day off. I know I will!

Fall TV Analysis: Wednesday

Wednesday might be my favorite television night of the week. I am really LOVING ABC's line-up - it really didn't get a fair shake due to the writer's strike so I'm really hoping it's more successful this season because I do not want any of those shows (Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, or my favorite - Dirty Sexy Money) to get canceled. Once again, my picks are noted with an asterisk.

CW
America's Next Top Model* (9/3)
Sylista (new - 10/29 - competing for a job at Elle) (I might check it out)

Fox
Bones* (9/3 - Two hour premiere)
'Til Death (9/10)
Do Not Disturb* (new - 9/10) (Niecy Nash and Jerry O'Connell mean I'll give it a shot, but we'll see)

ABC
Pushing Daisies* (10/1)
Private Practice* (10/1)
Dirty Sexy Money* (10/1)

CBS
New Adventures of Old Christine* (9/24)
Gary Unmarried (new - 9/24)
Criminal Minds * (9/24)
CSI: NY

NBC
Knight Rider* (new - 9/24) (The TV movie used to reboot the series was less than stellar, but I need to give it a shot)
Deal or No Deal (8/25)
Lipstick Jungle * (9/24)

Cable
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV - 10/1 but will be on NBC in January) - I absolutely positively cannot wait for that premiere because this show might be one of the most fantastic shows on television. Don't let the football theme throw you off. I almost didn't watch it because I thought it was too football and that would have been one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

Baseball Boogie

It's pretty fitting that just yesterday I was congratulating Los Fitzes on their anniversary because today, more than ever, I am so glad that Christine snatched Andrew up. Otherwise, he might not have shared the following gem with us.



Turns out, 1986 was a big year for sports team music videos. I think that the Dodgers have more natural rhythm than the Patriots or Bears. I wonder if that goes for baseball players over football players in general?

Fall TV Analysis: Tuesday

Once again, my picks are noted with an asterisk.

CW
90210* (new show who wisely chose to cast Rob Estes – 9/2)
Privileged (New drama about rich teens maybe? – 9/9) (will give it a try, but no promises)

Fox
House* (9/16)
Fringe* (New show by J.J. Abrams with Pacey – 90 minute premiere on 9/9)

ABC
Opportunity Knocks (new game show – 9/23)
Dancing with the Stars*
Eli Stone* (10/14)

CBS
NCIS (9/23)
The Mentalist* (new drama with Simon Baker as a private investigator – 9/23)
Without a Trace* (9/23)

NBC
The Biggest Loser: Families* (9/16) (time to stock up on cookies!)
Law & Order: SVU* (9/23)

Cable
The Shield (FX – 9/2)

Update: Fall TV Analysis - Monday

My Monday Fall TV analysis was missing a mention of Raising the Bar (TNT), yet another entry into the courtroom drama series world but this time starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek. Oh, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar's hair. Because, yikes.

The Fug Girls had something to say on this as well, and no one says it better than them.

But at any rate, I'll be checking out the show anyway.

NFL Kickoff Party - Part Deux

I'm so happy I didn't make this up. I thought I had dreamed the song because no one else had any memory of it. Not even Mrs. Los Fitz and she's from MA. It's no Superbowl Shuffle, but the special effects are, um, a sight to see.

Los Fitzes on Their Wedding Day

Too pretty not to share.

Fall TV Analysis: Monday

The most wonderful time of the year officially kicks off next week. No, it's not Christmas - though I do enjoy that (aside from the fact that Christmas generally means reruns). No, it's time for the new fall tv season. Now, most shows won't premiere until late September or early October, but we should all take a minute to give thanks for the CW and Fox who say eff that noise and start their seasons next week.

I think I'm going to mount my attack on this monster in a day-by-day approach. However, if you're anxious to see how everything is going to shape up and can't wait for my expert analysis (or perhaps your TV tastes differ from a 14-year-old girl), then feel free to jump over to my sources. But prepare to be bored on my blog for the next week or so.

Day-by-Day Schedule
Premiere Calendar
Shows A-Z

And now for the good stuff! My picks are noted with an asterisk.

Monday's Analysis

CW
Gossip Girl* (9/1)
One Tree Hill* (9/1)

Fox
Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles* (9/8)
Prison Break* (9/1 - Two hour event)

ABC
Dancing with the Stars* (9/22)
Samantha Who?* (10/6)
Boston Legal* (9/22)

CBS
Big Bang Theory* (9/22)
How I Met Your Mother* (9/22)
Two and a Half Men (9/22)
Worst Week (New) (9/22)
CSI: Miami (9/22)

NBC
Chuck* (9/29)
Heroes* (9/22 - Three hour event!)
My Own Worst Enemy* (new - with Christian Slater) (10/13)

Cable TV
Californication (Showtime - 9/22)

Happy Anniversary, Los Fitzes!

Wishing you many more years of wedded bliss, Mr. & Mrs. Los Fitz!

NFL Kickoff Party

So, we all know I'm not much of a football fan. But I am a fan of choreographed dancing and the 80s. So in honor of the official start of the season later this week - here's something we can call enjoy.



Please note the guy in charge of playing the cowbell in his fancy hat.

Boats and Bats in Brooklyn

First of all, the NYC subway system absolutely hates me this week as I barely made it to the park in time for the Twilight Tour. I called Gail as soon as I got off the train and she and her friend Elizabeth (who rocks, by the way) were already at the park at the boat basin. Trav tells me that the boat is going to board soon so I haul ass to get there - including RUNNING down the pathway which is thankfully marked by duck prints. I get there and see people boarding the boat but no sign of Trav. I call again and she tells me that they are upstairs. However, the doors are locked and keep in mind that I still think we're trying to catch a 7 pm boat THAT IS CURRENTLY BOARDING as it's just after 7 now. Someone happens to leave the building, so I head in and run upstairs where I find Trav and Elizabeth sitting and chatting, drinking wine and eating little snacks. Oh, turns out we can take a 7:30 boat. I think that this that would have been excellent information to have BEFORE I ran through the park, but I don't actually say that out loud until we are rehashing much later in the evening.

So, we hang out for a bit before the 7:30 boat. Our tour guide was quite chatty and informative - far more informative than I personally care for at 7:30 on a Thursday night when I'm trying to drink wine and chat with my friends. He proceeds to tell us how bats are the only thing saving us from the apocalypse because they eat insects and if they didn't eat insects, the insects would take over the world and we'd have to live in domes and grow food in domes. Then he pointed out an island inhabited by raccoons who only leave it to swim to the park to eat trash. Which - um, thanks for the nightmares, pal. Mercifully, the boat tour ends but marks the "hike" portion of our evening, which turns out to mean we walk down a path to a bridge and use some sort of "radar" to isolate bat noises. But I think this was mostly a ruse to get us to a bridge so we had no choice but to listen to him talk. Cause he wouldn't shut up. Before he even started the bat portion of the tour, he was standing there telling us what a small window we had to see and all I could think was - if the window to observe bats is so small, then why are we standing here? Also - there are 1000 species of bats and some can live to be 30, and grow to almost 3 feet in size with a 6 foot wing span. Oh, and bats are key in the production of something that is necessary to make tequila but I had long stopped listening closely at that point.

Ooh - almost forgot the super awesome sassy black older lady on the tour who asked kind of sarcastic, but sort of serious questions including: what if I wake up a hibernating bat (it dies), do bats live in my brownstone (perhaps), and do they attack men (only if rabid and even then - not really). She was fantastic. I told her that we should hang out and that my schedule is pretty wide open - and she told me she was booked.

So THEN it's time for us to leave the park. Instead of walking down the way we came and going where there is a little bit of a lit pathway - Gail leads us into the park and down a completely black trail and really didn't seem to know where she was going. Thank goodness I always carry this little teeny flashlight (ever since I was trapped on the subway during the blackout in 2003) - so I get it out so we can at least see a little bit. We finally come out on the other end - though not where Gail expected us to come out. Of course. But she's the best - last night she emailed me this:

thank you for guiding myself and elizabeth with your flashlight... i feel strongly that is a sign of your strength and amazing brilliance as a friend....

Which - it totally is. You all are pretty lucky to know me.

So, we survive Trav leading us through the pitch black woods with promises of "this way" only to be met with "where the eff are we" but luckily Elizabeth not only knew where the eff we were but could properly direct us to Farm (with a little help from Google), where we had fancy bar food (i.e. less fried than I prefer) and a bartender who took our picture and let Trav finish the bottle of organic wine she was drinking. Then Elizabeth and I took the train home and some old lady kind of got all up in Elizabeth's face for flaunting her whiteness - which Elizabeth wasn't even remotely doing and pointed out to me (after the lady got off the train) that she is actually Mexican so if she were going to flaunt anything, it might be that.

All in all, a pretty excellent night.

Safe travels, Trav. Already miss you and can't wait until you're back.

The 7:00 PM boat that we were not on:

The lovely water. Apparently that's duck weed on top of it, which you could eat if you were desperate and is also key in preventing the apocolypse.


Us at Farm courtesy of the bartender:

I Do Love a Dance-Off

I've seen this dancing guy in Jersey City. Apparently know he's relocated to Hoboken - and the locals aren't wild about it. Behold:



It's not really for the faint of heart. Some of those moves - oh my!

Mommy's Home!

Tuesday nights at 10 PM on Oxygen, starting August 26! Miss Janice is back - and this time she's moving in with the models.

This is going to be good.

Cute Kid Alert: She Stole All My Best Moves!

I'm not going to say I taught her everything she knows, but...y'all have seen me dance.

Yo, Yo, Where My Wasps At?

I'm pretty sure we saw one of these guys at last night's beer tasting at The Harvard Club. You know who you are, Mr. Salmon Pants.

Also - Main Line shout out! Love it.



A tea in the parlor, makes the ladies holla...

Jamie McShane on The Closer

Brought to you by Los Fitzes:

Please watch The Closer on TNT Monday, August 18th at 9pm EST. Our brother-in-law Jamie will be on. Not sure exactly what his role entails, but he is happy about it so it must be good!

Listening Lounge Farewell: Katy Perry

Not entirely sure who is going to be taking her place, but it's time for Katy to step aside for a bit. Parental advisory due to the racy subject matter!

Winner: Best Salon Name Ever

Their tag line? Home of the happy ending...

The Murphy's Rock (or I Love the Suburbs, Part II)

The Reintroduction to Society Summer Tour brought us the infamous Dan Gordon Party at Casa de Murphy this past weekend. I'm pleased to say that shirtless DanGordit! lived up to the hype - not just for Sally (who was obsessed with him), but for all of us I think. To recap:

• I kicked off the weekend with Dan and his shirt at Wheeltapper Pub. Hilarity ensued.
• I continue to awesome Alisa's house (well, technically Boyfriend Matt's) for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies where I feast upon delicious Chinese food, Alisa's killer Olympic cake and Matt's dynamite lychee martinis. A lot of lychee martinis.
• I take the most entertaining ride home where the driver tells me about the men who don't have any money to pay the driver because they've spent all their money at the clubs trying to get the "boom boom." Pretty sure this would have still been entertaining even without a pitcher of lychee martinis in my belly.
• I wake up to pack and make my way to Penn Station to meet up with Dan. I may not be sober from the night before.
• I stop to get breakfast sandwiches for the train, as Dan is bringing the gatorosas. I get a text from him telling me he's running late. I immediately text him back to hurry as I'm almost sober.
• We commence our train ride with fierce blue gatorosas. I decide Dan Gordon might actually be a genius.
• Some red-headed lady tries to make a move on Dan Gordon, or maybe just his gatorosas. I refrain from shanking her because I do not want to get kicked off Amtrak for life just for that biotch. Besides, Dan didn't think she was "pretty from the front." And more importantly, he didn't dare offer her a gatorosa or he might have gotten shanked himself.
• We run out of gatorosas just as the cafe car closes. Dan valiantly tries to score some booze at 30th Street station, but comes up empty. We're booze-free for about 30 minutes until the train is moving again and the cafe car reopens. Dan comes back with a half bottle of pinot grigio that we proceed to mix with cranberry juice. It is a vile combination that we chug down and finish in about 15 minutes. Because we are committed.
• Kate picks us up at the train with Sally who is a little surprised that Dangordit exists, but is pleased about it - especially when he presents her with a stuff Big Bird. She pauses in her celebration long enough to ask Aunt Meyahnee if she remembered the M&Ms. Luckily, I did. She resumes celebration.
• We get to Casa de Murphy, where John is prepping some of the most delicious food we will ever eat. Dan falls in love with the 16 pounds of ribs the Murphy's have on deck. Much eating and drinking commences.
• Kate's brother Tom shows up with the Future Mrs. Tom, aka Rebecca. They bring soft pretzels. I immediately fall in love with the pretzels.
• Other activities that took place? Frisbee, Sally showing us her muscles, Kate showing us her muscles, Kate letting/making us feel her muscles, arm-wrestling (Dan Gordon knocked down both Aichele kids before John Murphy reminded him who's house he was in), a push-up competition (a dispute over proper form and Kate sabotaging John kept us from crowning a clear winner but Dan did take his shirt off so we had that going for us), and perhaps a short demonstration of how I would perform Proud Mary at karaoke with Kate as back-up.
• The following morning Sally showed us all how awesome she is at running and jumping and Dan even showed off his somersault skills - all pre-breakfast. A trip to the diner (bacon!), a drive around to see houses we can't afford and then back to the house to pack up and head out. And most importantly, pick up the makings for a round of gatorosas on the way home. SWEET!
• Cap off the weekend with Dan leading me out of Penn Station through a secret tunnel (well, maybe not secret but I wouldn't have gone that way on my own. I watch Lifetime, I know how that can end) and then weaving through the crowds waiting for the Jonas Brothers. We both manage to get through it without shanking any screaming little girls. Barely.

Best exchange of the weekend:
John (watching the Olympics - men's swimming): He's just not a good breaststroker.
Melanie: That's what she said!
FYI - That kicked off a full scale "that's what she said" assault by me for the rest of the day and evening. I had mixed success - not all instances were accepted by the crowd - but even when I was denied they were still pretty amused. So, mission accomplished!

A picture is worth a thousand words. Behold:



And a video is priceless, especially if it is video of a push-up competition. I can't figure out why they are so dark, but I'm going to see if I can do anything to fix it. The videos are much better in their full glory. Suggestions welcome.

The Shirtless Wonder Dangordit shows what he's made of

Tom trys a slightly "different" approach

John gets sabotaged by his own wife

So, who won the battle of the burbs? I think I did because I got to have two really awesome weekends with great friends. I would road trip with Dangordit any day of the week - even with his shirt on. And as for the Murphy Family and Los Fitzes? I guarantee I'll be back to visit each of them as soon as they'll have me. Wait - that's what she said? Hmmm... Nah. She probably didn't say that. But she might. She just might.