Quarantine-TV

One of the unexpected upsides of quarantining has been rewatching old tv series we loved. Really, our only criteria was something that would make us laugh; something to lighten the mood and give us something positive to focus on. Thank god for satellites, subscriptions and streaming, right? So far, here’s what’s saved the days:

• 30 Rock
• Wings
• NewsRadio
• Community
• Parks and Recreation
• Everybody Hates Chris
• Monk
• Psych
• Frasier

These shows reminded me of some of the greatest characters written: Jack Donaghy, Liz Lemon, Jimmy James, Rochelle, Leslie Knope … as a fiction author myself, it’s important to see interesting, compelling characters with depth and complexity that make it easy for everyone to connect with.

Once we’re done with Monk, we’ve got Psych and Cheers on the docket. Though, I think I may go really old school and look for WKRP in Cincinnati, Fame or Square Pegs. Think I can find those? I mean, Thanksgiving is coming up and on this COVID-19 schedule, it’ll be right around the corner, in the blink of an eye. I need to beef up on my turkey facts and get ready for the turkey drop!

Blixxkrieged

Holy cow, I realized last night that once again, I’m one step away from greatness.

In 2008, while I was a freelance writer with WRAL.com, I had the opportunity to interview a mighty tough contender–my first professional wrestler, in fact–even if he was only about three feet tall. If you recognize his signature move in my title, the you know I’m talking about Blixx.

Blixx is one of the micro-wrestlers on TruTV’s new show, Hulk Hogan’s Micro-Championship Wrestling. And he’s awesome. Don’t let the lack of height fool you … rather, take a look at that black lipstick, tattoos, stretchy wrastlin’ pants, and long locks: he’s badass. Here’s the WRAL interview. That’s his dad, by the way, doing the ‘El Kabong’ on him, not some strange preacher-dude wailing on him. See his championship belt?

I will tell you, however, that the day I interviewed Blixx, I nearly had a wreck turning into the church parking lot where we did the deed–he was sitting on a bench outside smoking a cigarette. And he looked like a little boy smoking out there, in the church yard. I had a very guilty moment of hysterical laughing. But even better than the shock of smoking was the details of the day: he was hanging out with the youth group at his father’s church before going to a wrestling match at a strip joint. As my managing editor said at the time, “He’s getting his church on before he gets his freak on.” One of the funniest sentiments ever voiced.

Indeed he was.

So good luck, Blixx. Hopefully you’re still in the running for whatever winning title you’ll receive by participating with Hulk Hogan. If nothing else, perhaps you’ll get an insider’s look at how to maintain that California boy tan and natural hair color. Yikes.

Lunchtime Logic

My husband makes lunch for our son every night. It used to be my gig, but the mister’s creations are far more exciting than mine so I’ve agreed to sit by the wayside, sipping champagne and letting him break a sweat for the mini me.

What makes his lunches far superior, you ask? Could it be the sandwich, celery sticks, M&M/peanut/raisin snack mix, fruit, juice box, and cookie contained within? Nay. Could it be the lowbrow brown paper bag, which has replaced the paid-for lunch boxes? Nay. It’s the damn logic problem. And my husband knows I failed logic in college. Three times. I hate it when he wins.

Everyday on the front of the bag, Matt writes a logic, math or word problem. The mini me and his friends sit at lunch and rack their brains figuring out the puzzles, and then he reports back in during dinner. Apparently, what started out as lunchtime busy work for Peyton and his friend Bobby the “goat killer” has ballooned into three tables worth of kids working on it, and my husband’s colleagues–who call him each morning to find out the puzzle of the day. Stupid logic.

On Fridays–well, when I can remember to grab it, anyway–I’m going to post it for your viewing pleasure. So mine isn’t the only noodle that’s baked.

• What’s your answer?

A Playlist to Beat the Band

Last week I dropped by Romancing the Book to share my playlist that I used while writing my latest romance, Icing on the Cake. I thought it was a fun exercise … but when my husband sent me a selection of more “relevant iPod graphics,” I figured it might be fun to list the top ten albums on my iPod. Here they are, in no particular or

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mother’s Milk
2. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
3. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand
4. Judas Priest, Screaming for Vengeance
5. Pink Martini, Sympathique
6. Motley Crue, Too Fast For Love
7. War, The Very Best of War
8. The Killers, Hot Fuss
9. The White Stripes, Seven Nation Army
10. Madeleine Peyroux, Careless Love

What’s on your playlist?

Fall Movie Excitement

As much as I love to read, I love to go to the movies. It’s the imagination and the other worlds, and the escape that appeal to me. So I was very excited for the fall movie preview in today’s News & Observer. Looks like I’m going to have to save all my pennies:

• Contagion (Sept. 9)
• Moneyball (Sept. 9)
• Footloose (Oct. 14)
• The Thing (Oct. 14)
• The Big Year (Oct. 14)
• The Three Musketeers (Oct. 14)
• Tower Heist (Nov. 4)
• Hugo (Nov. 23)
• The Muppets (Nov. 23)
• Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Dec. 16)
• Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (Dec. 23)

PS. Let’s not forget Columbiana (out today) and The Debt (Aug. 31).

Got any movies you’re dying to see this fall?