My Thanksgiving weekend was splendid. I ate more food than I probably ever have ever and watched more episodes of Brothers & Sisters than should be allowed. Boy when Netflix has a show on instant, I waste no time in plowing through the episodes. I’m on the 5th and final season now and I’ve only been watching this show for about six weeks now. I love that I don’t have to deal with season finales and cliffhanger endings. Not like I do now with shows like Revenge or when Lost was on.

I avoided black friday shopping almost completely. Thom and I lazed around the house a bit until the afternoon. Then we went to Home Depot to buy a part for the furnace. Our pilot light wouldn’t stay lit and thanks to a friend (the same friend who installed my gas line for my new range) suggesting some things over the phone to Thom, he was able to buy the replacement part and put it in himself. And it only cost us $13. How great is that? Remind me to send that guy a Christmas present.

Saturday I went shopping with my sister and I finally got my hands on a white Christmas tree. I’ve been wanting a white tree for about four years now, but they’re so expensive. All I’ve managed to get my hands on have been tiny little one foot trees. And while this is a fairly small full sized tree, it’s pretty perfect for us. And it was only $25. I was finally able to bust out a huge bucket of sparkly ornaments I bought at Target a few years ago.

I’ve decided I’m doing super low key Christmas this year. In an effort to not stress out about money and the holidays I’m going to be making more gifts this year and buying from local shops. Sure my version of “making gifts” is like Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade cooking, but I’m ok with that. I won’t be buying gift cards this year or trying to rack my brain over what to get someone and then worry if it’s good enough. Besides, Christmas isn’t really about the gifts. It’s about being with people I love and celebrating the birth of Christ. Regardless of when Jesus was actually born, this is the day we choose to celebrate it. I had a bit of remorse over the weekend. Not because I didn’t go out of town to visit family, but because I didn’t volunteer to go feed the homeless. The local Christian station spent all week promoting the John 3:16 mission and asking for donations and I was completely humbled.

I know what it’s like not to have enough money to pay all your bills, but I don’t know what it’s like to go hungry. I’ve never had to steal food from a grocery store to feed myself. I’m so thankful that John 3:16 exists for those who need it. And there’s absolutely no reason why I shouldn’t be volunteering my time or donating my money to them. As I sit here and worry about the bills I can’t pay right now, I’m thankful for the roof over my head. For the furnace that was fixed for cheap. For the car I have to drive to the job I’m fortunate to have.

And instead of sitting around worrying about what bills I can’t pay, I should look for something I can do. If you need a blessing, be a blessing to someone else. You reap what you sow and all that jazz.

Happy Holidays folks.

Can you believe we’re already into October and I haven’t blogged about fall tv yet? Lots of good new shows this season. Here are the newbies that I’m checking out.

• 2 Broke Girls – loving it so far. It’s funny and witty and fits in well with HIMYM and Mike & Molly. (I do NOT watch Two and Half Men)
• Up All Night – Will Arnett, Christina Applegate, and Maya Rudolph. What’s not to love? Seriously, this one is funny.
• Free Agents – I liked this one, but they’ve already canceled it.
• The Playboy Club – Ditto for this one. Poor Eddie Cibrian can’t keep a show on the air.
• Pan Am – I fear this one will also get canceled, but I’m digging it. I love Christina Ricci and what’s not to love about the 60′s?
• Revenge – Quite possibly my favorite new show thus far. The trailers made me think I might not like this one since I’m all sunshine and rainbows. Boy was I wrong. Good stuff.
• Whitney- I though for sure I would hate this one. I do not. She’s pretty funny. And she’s one of the co-creators or executive producers of 2 Broke Girls.
• New Girl- Zooey Deschanel. Enough said.
• Terra Nova- I’ve only seen the pilot thus far, but it was enough to grab my attention.
• A Gifted Man- I feel like this one is on the chopping block. It does seem a little ridiculous, but I can see myself liking it.
• Person Of Interest- I lasted one episode then I quit. It’s a shame too because I really loved Michael Emerson as Benjamin Linus. He’s an amazing actor.
• Ringer- I’m enjoying this one, but I rarely ever care for the shows on the CW so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one canceled or me lose interest.
• Suburgatory- Only one episode in so far, but I like me some Jeremy Sisto. And sarcastic cynical teens. Plus is has the girl from Weeds in it.
• How To Be A Gentleman- Meh, the pilot didn’t wow me. Not sure if I’ll keep this one in the rotation or not.
• Grimm- It hasn’t aired yet, but Thom and I are eagerly awaiting its arrival.
• Once Upon A Time- Ditto with this one.
• American Horror Story- The pilot just aired last night and I haven’t watched it yet. But it has Connie Britton and Dylan McDermot and Frances Conroy. And a quirky scary theme. Good enough for me.

I’ve also started in on season one of The Good Wife via Netflix. I’m only 3 discs in so far, but I really like it. It would appear that I watch a ridiculous amount of tv. However, please note that I do not watch any reality tv. And I’ve narrowed my competition shows down to three: Big Brother, Design Star, and the Great Food Truck Race. So at least I’m not rotting my brain with Jersey Shore or Real Housewives of ______.

I should get a medal just for that. I really wish people would stop watching those shows so that they would cease to exist and we could stop indulging these J list celebrities.

I have a new addiction folks. Or rather a new sub addiction of an already existing addiction.

Friday Night Lights

I’ve been hearing people talk about this show for years now. Usually it’s because they are sad and/or worried that the show is going to be canceled and they’re upset about it and fighting for it.
I never bothered to watch it because it was about football. What a silly girl I was.

I finally watched the pilot on Christmas Day. I liked it so I watched a second episode. Then I got up and did other things and forgot about it until two weeks ago. I had nothing good on the dvr so I started browsing Netflix instant and decided to pick back up where I left off. And it’s turned into this insatiable desire to watch it 24/7. Which makes it very hard when you have a full time job. And sleep to be had and chores to be done. I just can’t help it though. Between Coach Taylor and Matt Saracen and Tim Riggins and Landry Clarke (yes I said Landry), I’m finding myself crushing like like a teen girl on Joey McIntrye circa 1990.

Even the women on the show have me all upside down. Connie Britton is incredible as Tami Taylor and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t girl crushing on Tyra Collette.

This show is so much more than football. It takes you through every range of emotions in just one episode. One minute I hate Buddy Garrity and the next I’m cheering him on.

In the last two weeks I’ve watched all of season one and about a third of season two. It’s all I want to watch anymore. My dvr is now piling up with shows that I normally can’t wait to watch.

So far it looks like only the first four seasons are on Netflix instant. And I know season six starts up tonight. I plan on recording it and praying that by the time I’m done with season four that season five is available to watch.

Please don’t let me down Netflix. And thank you NBC for giving them six seasons.

This new tv season is a little bit bittersweet in that there’s no more Lost. Sure, Lost hadn’t been premiering in the fall for a few years now, but still. It stings a little. That sting is comforted by the return of Modern Family.

So let’s take a look at the fall lineup shall we? I will tell you exactly what I’ll be watching. Also, not having a dvr anymore just plain sucks. Especially on a night like tonight when a gajillion things are on. I do have digital cable, so a lot of stuff can be watched on demand. Unless it’s on cbs, then I have to watch it as it airs or online. What’s with that cbs? Why don’t you like on demand?

Mondays- How I Met Your Mother, Mike and Molly*, Hawaii Five-O*, The Event*, Weeds, The Big C*

Tuesdays- Glee, The Biggest Loser, Parenthood, Raising Hope**, Into The Wilde**

Wednesdays- Better With You**, Modern Family, Cougar Town, The Whole Truth*

Thursdays- Shit My Dad Says*, My Generation*, Grey’s Anatomy***, Private Practice, 30 Rock, Parks & Recreation, The Office, Outsourced*

Fridays- Blue Bloods*

Saturdays & Sundays are for catching up on all the stuff I have to watch on Demand. And for Dexter.

*new shows that I am looking forward to
**new shows I watched but wasn’t wowed about and may not watch again
***shows I don’t watch anymore but might catch on demand if I feel like it

Ok so as for new shows I’ve watched this week…

The Event, The Whole Truth, The Big C- Have watched all three so far and I like them. Here’s hoping they continue to be good.

Hawaii Five-O- Liked it just fine. Could take it or leave it though.

Raising Hope & Into The Wilde- Not wowed by either one of these. Raising Hope had it’s funny moments, and I’m happy to see Martha Plimpton again, but I won’t be upset if I never see it again. As for Into The Wilde, I really wanted this to be funny. It just wasn’t. Someone please let me know if it happens to become funny as I could give it another shot.

Mike & Molly – I haven’t watched it yet, but Thom said he really liked it. Of course it could have something to do with this gal:

He has a bit of a crush on her. (she kind of looks like Susan Ward from my beloved Make It Or Break It)

I watched Better With You, and it was good. And I can see myself watching it again, but mainly because it comes on right before Modern Family which I adore. I wouldn’t be heartbroken if it got canceled though.

I’m looking forward to My Generation, although I know I need to be cautious. I get the feeling I will really like it and ABC will cancel it faster than CBS canceled Viva Laughlin. (which let me just say that canceling a show after one episode is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Give a show a chance to gain an audience will ya? I’m looking at you Fox.. regarding Lone Star. Lone Star is one I had on my want to watch list, but since it’s probably getting canceled after one episode, I’ll just save myself the trouble until I hear further)

Shows that look so dumb I’m not even going to bother: Hellcats, Chase, The Defenders, Undercovers

So, what are you looking forward to? Did I miss any good premiers?