I watch entirely too much tv. Right now I am finally settling in to watch Lost...the show I have been assured is right up my alley. So far I have watched the first season and about 8 episodes of season 2. I still don't really care about the Others, but I have to admit the show does a good job of getting you involved in the backstories of the characters as well as watching how they develop relationships while marooned. However, when my biggest question is how does Kate end up choosing Sawyer (or so I hear), I guess I really could take or leave the show.

However, I am anxiously awaiting word on whether or not Eli Stone gets renewed. I started watching out boredom. I will admit it. However, it has morphed into the show I can't wait to watch. There is just something to earnest about Eli and his potential prophet status. I find some of the characters annoying, but the writers have even managed to humanize them as well. I had no idea they could soften the edges of the "Dowd" or turn Maggie into a character that didn't make me cringe every time she showed up on screen. And the cast is fantastic. I love Jonny Lee Miller. I don't know that I have ever seen him in anything other than Eli Stone or Hackers, but whatever he was doing in between was well worth it. He is fantastic. And Victor Garber can do no wrong. I really hope that this show gets a chance to show us the rest of Eli's journey. They have given us enough clues about the future that if it doesn't return, I won't be bitter...Just grateful that I got to see the few episodes that exist. I am not a terribly religious person, but I don't feel I am being beaten over the head with a Bible. I just feel like I am being challenged to consider things from another perspective...and that is what good television does...actually make you think instead of just absorb...

Spent Thursday through Monday in Dublin...My second trip to Ireland this year, my third total...I have to say I love the Emerald Isle...I can't quite put my finger on what makes it different from other places that I have traveled, but I love going there...There is just something about it...I like the pace and the atmosphere...and the people are great...We did a musical pub crawl, which I did not expect to enjoy at all, but was a ton of fun...We didn't really do all that much while there since most of us had been there before...but we did do some shopping and we met the most random people...We did do an organized tour down to Wicklow...which was eh...the people on the tour were nice and it was an eclectic mix, but I am not much for scenery and our tour guide talked the whole time...I appreciate that is his job, but seriously...it is amazing he has any voice left...And I am all for random stories...especially those told in an Irish brogue...Anyhow, ended up getting a permanent souvenir...a little shamrock tattoo...a friend of mine got one too...we had wanted to get them when we went to Dublin for St. Patrick's but couldn't find an open shop...so we got them this time...not sure how I feel about it....but randomly, the tattoo artist liked it so much he decided to give himself one too...

Random Thought of the Day: Spent most of April and May basking in the sunshine...it is now almost July and it is in the low 60s...Sometimes I hate the weather here....

So this week I saw the big 3-quels...Pirates, Shrek, and Spiderman...I have to say I was underwhelmed by almost all of them...or rather by most parts...The sums are not better than the whole...I think the Pirates franchise should have stopped after the first one...Seriously...I expected to hate the first one but really enjoyed it...I hated the second...Could they have fought longer on that stupid water wheel? I got a refill, came back, when to the bathroom, came back, and then got a refill for someone else, and came back and they were still on the thing...I actually fell asleep during part of  the last fight scene in the third one...I couldn't figure out how Jack ended up with the box...Although I have to give them props for not taking the easy way out...I did enjoy the third one more than the second one, but that is not saying much...As far as Shrek goes, could there have been a thinner plot? Although casting Justin Timberlake as a spoiled heir...well that was kind of funny...I don't really feel strongly about the third movie at all...The Princess Posse was kind of funny, but eh...I remember being so amused by the clever play on all things fairy tale in the first movie...and thought they tried to hard to recreate it in the second...but the third leaves me going...eh...Now for Spidey 3...I have to say I was not overly impressed with the first movie, but loved the second, although to be fair, I can't quite explain it...Good lessons and Doc Oc was a very cool villian...The third started slow...and when Spidey went all crazy with the black venom and danced his way through NYC with eyeliner...well...I have to say...I will take Smallville's Clark Kent on Red Kryptonite any day of the week over Peter Parker...but I have to say I am almost willing to tolerate that and commit to buying the third for the teamwork that occurs in the last fifteen minute...It made the other 2.5 hours almost worthwhile...I was very much looking forward to the month of May and its Big Three...but have to admit to being somewhat disappointed...I can't really remember the last good movie I saw...unless of course I am allowed to count sport movies...but those shouldn't count, because I am predisposed to like them even if they use every trick in the book to get a reaction...Anyhow...

Random Sidenote of the Day: I just saw The Office today for the first time...I had seen clips and wondered what the fuss was all about...I saw the diversity training episode and now I get it...It helps that my MBA class right now just focused on the impact of diversity...so it was nice to see such a great spoof...And can I say after just one episode...I love Jim...

VfB wins German Bundesliga Title!!!

VfB Stuttgart won their first title in 15 years...and I was at Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium to see it...What an experience...I have been going to their games for the last five seasons...I saw them beat Man U in the Champs League...I saw Germany beat Portugal in the World Cup there, but nothing compares to the craziness of Stuttgart winning the title...and they have the possibility of a double if they win in Berlin next week...Unbelievable...and they had to come from behind the last two weeks to do it...You have gotta love Hitz...The man made an unbelievable volley goal from outside the 18 off a corner kick to level the game...It was amazing...The only sad thing about the day was that it was Timo's last home game between the posts for Stuttgart...

Random sidenote: This has totally been my year for sports...First the Gators beat Ohio State to win the Football National Championship (after a surprising run to cut the nets for the hoops championship)...Then Noah and Company repeat by beating Ohio State...To complete my year now that VfB has won, I just need the Red Sox to continue their winning ways and for the Packers' to make Brett's last season end with a ring...We shall see...

So Saturday...got off to a relatively bad start...the team I coach got beat and dropped from second to fourth, which means that at tournament they are in a pool of three instead of four, which means there is no room for mistakes...It was a tough loss for the girls, but it was nice to see some of the older kids really step up and take responsibility...reminds me why I coach...

Then I took a few of the girls down to Stuttgart's spring fest...it is like Octoberfest, but during the spring...I figure it is better to take the kids down if they want to go then to leave them to their own devices...sometimes the temptation is too much...Anyhow...we went down to watch VfB Stuttgart play...They were showing the game in a fest (beer) tent...it reminded me of watching World Cup games last summer at Schlossplatz....People were dancing and singing on the tables...Stuttgart came back from behind TWICE to win...they finished the day in first, since the other two teams lost...It means they are guarenteed a Champions League berth...and the possibility of a double still remains...They have one game remaining...It is a home game and I will be there on Saturday after Europeans...Hopefully, we will be successful, but I cannot wait to get to the stadium...It should be an awesome experience...It all comes down to the last game...And the following weekend they play Nuernburg for the German Cup...This was a team that no one gave a chance...They fired their coach...I am so stoked...

Anyhow, enough soccer rambling (if there can ever be enough)...we then went and rode practically every ride at fest...broke the bank, but it was worth it...These are just good kids...It is nice to be reminded...And now I am off for the rest of the week...so I have no complaints...Life is good...and I don't say that enough...Even though my MBA classes are driving me nuts...Life is good...it is my mantra for the week...Hope it treats the rest of you as well this week... 

So I just got back from spending the weekend in England...Saw Cambridge, Lakenheath (high school soccer game), Norwich, and London...It was my first time in England...I have been to Ireland a couple of times, but never to England...I have wanted to go to the British Museum since I was in high school, so we hit that in our limited time there...Had to pick and choose...But not getting to see everything gives me the perfect excuse to head back on up there...It wasn't quite what I expected...I definitely enjoyed the city, but I was kind of surprised at the Anti-American sentiment...I have been all over Europe in the last few years and London was the only place where we were harassed for being American...I get the war is unpopular in Europe...but I was still surprised...but what are you going to do? Stop travelling? I think not...To each his own...

Anyhow...I was travelling with a married couple and another lady who is also married...I ended up reading the map and navigating, because apparently the husband and wife come to blows over directions...The other married lady seconded the idea that she and her husband cannot talk civilly about directions...hence their recent purchase of a GPS system...I have no problem reading a map, so I didn't see what all the fuss was about...I was wondering about others' map skills...is this typical? I know girls are supposed to be spacially challenged and I admit that my sense of cardinal directions stinks, but I don't see the correlation between that and map reading...Anyhow...when all else fails...I refer to Joey...I get in the map...

Also, as a random sidenote...Stuttgart is sitting in second with two games to go...Champs League is looking more and more possible...Outstanding...Now if only if Schalke would falter...Also, while I was in London, I wanted to get an Arsenal home kit with Hleb's name on it...Can you believe that they didn't have a single one in the entire city? Apparently the sponsor's logo was peeling so they pulled them from the shelves...they told me to come back in a week...yet another reason to go back...and annoy those Brits with my Americaness...:) 

This morning I woke up to find the Red Sox came back against the Yanks...Then the girls' soccer team I coach beat their arch rivals 2-0. Then on top of that VfB won and Bayern lost, which basically assures them of qualifying spot in the Champs League at the very least...And the sun shone brightly the entire day...It was just one of those rare days, when you are just glad to be alive...

Moving on...

Which episode got you hooked on Bones? "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" It was the second or third episode I saw, but once it aired, I was hooked...read obsessed...

Top Favorite Episodes: "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" "Aliens in a Spaceship" "Judas on a Pole" "The Girl with the Curl" "The Man in the Morgue"

Which guest character do you enjoy most? (Recurring or one time guest star) Caroline Julian...I love her matter of fact way of speaking...and Booth's reactions to her are pretty hilarious...

Wong Foo's or Royal Diner? Diner

Favorite Quote
Brennan: Why are you nice to me?
Booth: Because. Because they think they get away with it.
Brennan: What?
Booth: They burn their victim. They blow him up. They toss him in the ocean. They bury them in the desert. They throw 'em to wood chippers. Sometimes, you know, years go by, they relax. Then they start living their lives like they didn't do anything wrong. Like they didn't spend somebody else's life in order to get what they got. They think they're safe from retribution. You make those bastards unsafe. That's why I'm nice to you.

Character you first fell in love with: Booth

Character you think you're most like:Probably a cross between Cam and Brennan

Character you never expected to like, but you do: Hodgins...I really didn't care for him in the earlier eps...but he has grown on me...Angela has been good for him...

Character you want to have a one night stand with: Booth

Character you want to marry: Booth

Pairing you LOVE: Booth/Brennan

Pairing you don't love: Booth/Rebecca

If you couldn't pick the usual pairings who would you put together? Booth/Angela

Best thing about the fandom: People get why I think this show is so great...course, every one I have ever convinced to watch it has agreed...they just didn't realize it...

Worst thing: Eh...

So here's the thing...I watch a lot of tv and read a lot of books, but of late it seems like shows are recycling storylines faster than ever before...Actually, that is not a completely accurate description...What I really mean to say is that it seems the shows I watch on different stations, but within the same genre seem to have some strange similiarities this year...Maybe I am only noticing them, because I am home sick today and just watched CSI: NY "Past Imperfect" but the idea has been kind of kicking around in a my head...Of course, at the moment the only example I can think are the deaths of two serial killers by falling from a roof/balcony (Epps and Dobson) which in turn sets off internal conflict and possibly have reprecussions at work. I am not the most creative person in the world, but I would think there are other ways to off serial killers besides dropping them off a roof. There are other examples too, but they fail me at the moment. Anyhow...Thought of another one...the concept of Game Theory...as used on Bones and Numbers this season...I also think that most of the similiarities that were rolling around my head were from these two shows...random I know...

Random sidenote of the day: I am getting new tires put on my car. I am going on business trip next week and wanted to get it taken care of before I left...I didn't notice they were practically bald...silly I know...anyhow, the tires came in and the car shop told me they could put the tires on this week, but they couldn't do the alignment until next week...My reaction, of couse, well doesn't that defeat the purpose of putting on new tires, since these are only a year old? No response...I am now concerned that I have left my little Jetta in the hands of people without a clue...

I am kidding...kind of...The guy is nice, but just not my cup of tea...I have tried everything I can think of from dropping subtle hints...talking about other guys...to not so subtle...like a minor flinch when he hugs/touches me...although to be fair I am a person with a fairly large personal space requirement...so maybe he just thinks it is kind of par for the course...and it is...Also, I have told him that we just have completely senses of humor...And I know that if someone said that to me, it would be a dealbreaker...how can you possibly have any type of meaningful relationship with someone who doesn't make you laugh? Does it deter him? Absolutely not...he just tells worse jokes...I hate to say it...but he is a punner...I am not sure there is a harsher indictment to be made... ;) Seriously, though he turns up everywhere...at work, at soccer games, at my house...I now screen my calls...He's not dangerous, just annoying...But at the same time, he is a really nice guy, so I don't want to hurt his feelings, but this is getting ridiculous...I am thinking of telling him to listen to Matt Wertz's "That for You"...which reminds me that we don't have similar tastes in music either...He totally doesn't get my need to have music on all the time...I am not even sure we can be friends what with the puns and lack of love for my ipod... ;)

Random Sidenote of the Day: I have been at work since 3 am...supposed to start at 8, but I procrastinated all Sunday long...and had a blast doing it, which means I had to come in early and play catch up...work accumulates with only one hand to make progress...Anyhow, I need to find a job where I can come in and work when no one else is around...I have gotten a ton accomplished without the distraction of ringing phones, demanding customers, whiny co-workers...Oops...looks like my Mondayitis is kicking in...Oh well...Only 10 more hours to go...

Currently playing: Nothing Fancy by Dave Barnes....if you like John Mayer...you should give him a try...same with Matt Wertz...yes...I am currently addicted...

I have not been a happy camper recently, because my job has been stressing me out...we are shortstaffed and this is my busiest time of the year without having to cover for three people...my favorite part is that I am covering positions that require typing...and currently I am a hand short...so it has been fun...anyhow...I also had to cover an info booth for activities that are going on this month to support military kids...I run all the special events here...As part of the month we are doing a service project that I am coordinating...We are collecting stuff to send downrange, to the wounded at Landstuhl, and also sports equipment down to Africa...It has been kind of slow going, but on Tuesday, after the VT tragedy, we were set up outside the commissary (a military grocery store) with info and a collection box...I had a terrible morning and am not the most social person on a good day, so I was expecting it to be a relatively miserable afternoon...Instead, I am very grateful that I got the chance to do it...I was out there for 5 hours and collected 15 boxes of stuff and some monetary donations...People were really generous...It kind reaffirmed my faith in humanity...I couldn't stop smiling...Sometimes I think we get caught up in our own stuff and lose sight of the bigger picture...It was nice to be reminded...

Random sidenote of the Day: One of the groups we are collecting for are African children. We have a unit here that spends alot of time down there. They have asked us to collect soccer balls and pumps. As a sport that requires only a ball and some space, it is hugely popular...The soldiers have told us in areas where they have left soccer balls and revisted, they have seen a marked decrease in violence and rape...I find it completely believable, but absolutely amazing at the same time...Soccer: Bringing people together...