From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Does anybody remember that book? It's the one about the kids who run away from home and spend the night in the museum. God I loved that book! Then I saw that movie Night at the Museum with Ben Stiller and the fantasy of spending the night in a museum went right out the damn window. Night at the Museum put everything right in your face and didn't leave anything behind for the imagination. I'm sorry I saw it.

Anyhoo... that's not what this post is about. This post is about all the shows that are sitting, unwatched thus far, on our DVR. My eclectic viewing tastes reminded me of the title of the book, which in turn made me mad at Ben Stiller. I'm having that kind of day.

DVR is a remarkable thing. Some of you may know it as Tivo. We've had the fancy, high definition cable with a DVR for about 5 years now. It's wonderful. I don't know when was the last time I watched a commercial.

The main problem with having a DVR is this: it gets full and some shows have to be either watched or deleted to make room for new recordings. Right now our DVR is at 94% capacity and mostly with my shows. MDH watches and gets his shows out of the way. I dawdle and procrastinate (yes, I procrastinate TV watching too) and now I've got a ton of stuff out there clogging up our disk space. I've been tasked by MDH to clean it up this week. Will the chores never end? (sigh)

I thought I'd share with you what I'm up against. So without further ado - here's the contents of our DVR (in alphabetical order by title):

A Night at the Opera - (1935) - the Marx Brothers movie. I've never seen it. Well, that's not totally true. I've started to watch it several times and always fall asleep. MDH recorded it and I've vowed to watch it with him without nodding off.

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations - Russia

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations - Brazil - We've had this episode sitting on our DVR since August. I'm kind of sick of travel shows about Brazil right now, but Tony Bourdain is my secret boyfriend so I can't bring myself to delete it.

Born Into Brothels (2004) Documentary - this is the IMDB synopsis:
"Amidst the apparent growing prosperity of India, there is a dark underbelly of poverty of another side of the nation that is little known. This film is a chronicle of filmmakers Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman's efforts to show that world of Calcutta's red light district. To do that, they inspired a special group of children of the prostitutes of the area to photograph the most reluctant subjects of it. As the kids excel in their new found art, the filmmakers struggle to help them have a chance for a better life away from the miserable poverty that threatens to crush their dreams."

Bukowski - Born Into This (2003) Documentary - Documentary on Charles Bukowski, author of 'Notes of a Dirty Old Man', 'Love Is a Dog from Hell', and the autobiographical novels, 'Women', 'Hollywood', and 'Post Office'

A Chef's Story - I've got 5 high definition episodes of this PBS series waiting for me.

Conversations with Other Women (2005) - I love Helena Bonham Carter and I've waited a long time to see this film. GR simply has no good movie theaters where films like this are shown. If you live in a big city and don't go to the movies, or worse, go to the movies but only see the big Hollywood blockbuster types of movies - shame on you.

Diner's, Drive-In's & Dives 4 Episodes - Each episode is kind of exactly like the next and the host of the show says stupid things like "off the hook" and "out of control" to describe the food, but I guess I enjoy watching truckers eat sloppy burgers and sausage gravy.

Dirty, Sexy Money - I like this show OK. I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I can commit to another new series, but I liked the character Lisa's hair so much that I took this picture with me to the salon and had the stylist cut and color my hair like hers. Unprecedented. Yes. I cut my hair in a style other than my standard blond bob.

5 Days - It's an HBO mini-series. I've watched the entire series and have the finale left to watch, but I've been putting it off.

French Beauty (2005) Documentary - "A story about the riddle of femininity in French cinema." - because I don't feel unattractive enough already.

Frontline "The Undertaking" - "A look at funeral homes, featuring poet Thomas Lynch". Yes.

Grey's Anatomy - 2 episodes - more proof that I can't commit, or has this show jumped the shark?

Iconoclasts - 3 episodes - it's a Sundance Channel series showcasing bizarre friendships between (usually) an actor and a less famous person with a talent other than acting. Some of the pairings make sense, like actor Samuel L. Jackson and "sports legend" Bill Russel. Some of the other pairings make no sense whatsoever like actor Renee Zellweger and journalist Christiane Amanpour. It's sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka who is constantly chiming in with annoying wistful ads of dreamy flying geese. Ultimately they are selling booze so what's with the gauzy dream? Also geese are really gross and always pooping on everything and not at all the animal that what I would want to represent my product (if I had one). They're like big giant pigeons really. This show is annoying, but also compelling. I will probably fast forward through most of them and especially the damn vodka ads.

Masterpiece Theatre, parts 3 & 4 "The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard" - if you haven't been watching this series you're missing out big time. It drew me in because it stars Jane Horrocks, who I love as a grocery store manager who becomes Prime Minister of England.

NOVA - 2 episodes

Oprah Winfrey - 3 episodes - you know I have this set a series recording. Yes I do. Quel surprise! I don't always watch it though. I think Oprah has some great topics and sometimes the show is a lot of fun, but she bugs me. She doesn't seem to let people finish talking and last year she did a series where she traveled across the country on a driving trip with her best friend Gayle and she was really a bitch and not very nice to Gayle. I think Miss Oprah has gotten above her raisin' and is totally out of touch with real life.
The Real Housewives of Orange County - Speaking of out of touch, these women are totally ridiculous. They are all puffed up, sucked in and display the worst parenting skills I've ever seen from rich (or semi-rich) people. The ostentation is nauseating and yet I can't take my eyes off their train wreck-ish-ness.

Seinfeld - 4 Episodes - I had trouble believing it but there are episodes of this show that I missed. I spent the better part of the late 90's evenings attending night school. So instead of Must See TV - for me it was Must Get Degree. I'm fairly certain I've seen every episode of Friends at least 5 times by now.

Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa - Vancouver & Victoria, British - Columbia - MDH and I have very different television preferences and one of the few types of programming that we enjoy watching together are travel shows. He gets especially excited when a travel show (or any show really) is available in high definition like Smart Travels is. We watch this show together, although I don't really care for Rudy Maxa. Between you and me, I think Rudy Maxa is an elitist girly man fucksicle, but I'm happy to put up with him so that I can watch TV while holding my darling's hand.

Sunday Morning - I like this show if only for the French horn theme music at the beginning. You hardly ever hear the French horn anywhere else. This show will get deleted without being watched. I keep forgetting to turn off the series recording.

The Departed (2006) Drama - My darling loves all movies filmed in or about Boston. I care because he cares, although I do not care to watch this film. I will watch it. Because I love him, I will watch this film that he has already seen twice without me, with him by my side, talking nonstop throughout the entire thing and pointing out in each scene how the location is relevant to his life somehow. I will do this for him out of love.

AKA OSU Beats Northwestern 27-16

Five years ago this very day, in the park down the street from our house, I wore an itchy white dress, 10 pounds of makeup and hairspray, stood in front of a rather large group of friends and family and held my darling MDH's hand while we recited lesbian inspired wedding vows (no mention of Jesus but lots of equal partnership kind of stuff) to each other with the aid of a Unitarian minister.

Yes. Today is my wedding anniversary.

Highlights of the day include:

• OSU Fans (which certainly don't include the Bride) RSVP'ing at the last minute until they know what time the game will be.
  
  


• When original hired musician backs out at last minute (like a fuckin' weasel), Groom's friend Jimmy and his big blond pompadour offer to play Hawaiian Wedding Song on ukulele.
  
  


• Hawaiian Wedding Song turns out a beautiful and unique choice, tearfully appreciated by Bride and Groom.
  
  


• Jimmy and his ukulele make Bride's uncle Paul laugh so loud it overpowers the music on the wedding video.
  



• Idiot cousin allows her 4 year old to run around like an animal and dig his filthy fingers into wedding cake.
  



• Bride's newly fused ankle swells to blimp-like proportions. Bride says "fuck it" and changes into white Nikes, photo op incites crowd.
  
  


• Father of bride get so choked up he forgets his beautiful speech and lovingly blubbers incoherently for 5 minutes.
  
  


• Father of Bride and Bride jitterbug together all afternoon.
  



• Idiot cousin who RSVP'd for 7 doesn't show up, leaves entire table empty.
  



• Professional pastry chefs and good friend couple mysteriously absent from festivities. Bride and Groom later discover wedding cake baker wife had severe allergic reaction to the lemon leaves used to mold cake decorations. Chef friends spend entire day in OSU ER.
  
  


• Idiot cousin's 4 year old unfortunately not allergic to lemon leaves.
  



• Groom gets hammered and invites 30 people to the newlywed's home after the wedding for "par-tay!!" on the wedding night.
  
  


• Bride becomes livid as couple set to leave for honeymoon the next day and has no food or libation.
  
  


• Bride orders 5 Sicilian style pizzas and 2 cases of beer from carry out down the street.
  
  


• Bride becomes pissy when par-tay guest asks why she is serving on good china and not paper plates. Replies snippily "Because I wasn't expecting to entertain guests on my wedding night".
  
  


• Bride becomes pissy when Grooms frat buddy makes fun of her for writing "Wedding Day" on kitchen calendar. She protests, "Go fuck yourself, I was excited!"
  
  


• Bride ends up having a great time in spite of herself, forgives Groom and all others. Remembers day as being one of the happiest in her life.

1300 Reasons To Love Casinos

And they all say "In God We Trust".

Yep, this weekend MDH and I were treated to an invitation only soiree for the high roller status members of the new gambling establishment about a 2 hour drive from our house. They made an offer a single income family, one Target trip away from financial despair and starvation, couldn't refuse. Two actually. A free junior suite and a free steak dinner. The junior suite was about 700 square feet (bigger than my old apartment) with a jetted tub, separate shower for two, separate WC, two flat screen HD TV's and an iPod docking station. The steak dinner turned out to be a 28-day dry aged filet so tender I could cut it with my fork. We also got 8 free top-shelf drinks so - cheers!

That's all great stuff, but it gets even better. If you've never been to a non Las Vegas casino you may not understand, but when MDH and I go to these types of places we are no longer the fattest, most un-hip people on the planet. In fact the moment MDH and I step into any number of casinos in Michigan, Indiana or even Canada we are the youngest, most fashionable, most attractive people there. Amid the uncombed, the combed over, the sweatsuited, the toothless, the fanny packed, and the holiday sweatered, we are downright dazzling.

I thought that last night would be different since we were at a VIP event in an elegant restaurant with only about 50 other couples. To my delight not so. We arrived for cocktail hour to discover a sparkling, softly lit space filled with formally attired casino staff members in tuxedos and evening gowns ministering to a roomful of the same types of unkempt zombies we always see farting around the casino. It was bizarre, confidence building and so very entertaining.

As we stood sipping our drinks and sampling the various snacks being offered, MDH and I watched fascinated as a cater waiter with a silver tray of oyster shooters, in some kind of fennel infused cream, approached a man wearing a dirty trucker hat (yes, indoors), a sideless shirt that I guessed he had earned by sending in cigarette carton proofs of purchase 15 years ago (when he lifted his beer to his mouth armpit hair was visible), jean shorts with hanging fringe and dirty flip-flop sandals. Sideless Marlboro and his female companion Split End Ponytail, decked out in the tightest white tapered jeans I have ever seen, some kind of sports jersey and grayish Keds, rolled their eyes at each other as they listened to the waiter describe the milky treat. When he was finished they made sour scary faces as if the waiter had asked them if they wanted to sample a sip of Draino.

The oyster turn down is understandable because many people including me find them repulsive. But a simple no thank you works wonders. No need to roll your eyes all up in your head and make faces and gagging noises. Similar reactions were elicited by Sideless and Split End to the other concoctions offered. Blinis with smoked salmon and some kind of creamy fluff, Tempura lump crab puff with asian chili chutney, medalions of brown sugar braised beef. C'mon people! Not even the braised beef? Reverse snobs they were.

We spent dinner and a good part of the rest of the evening wondering all about Sideless and Split End. Were they staying in the same kind of swanky junior suite as us or did they turn their noses up at that too? When they stay in hotels (or motor inns) do they unpack and hang up their clothes? What kind of appetizer would they have preferred? (My guess was Cool Ranch Doritos and Corn Nuts) Did they send back their medium rare filets and ask them to be well done? Were they on special diets? Have they spent all their money at the casino and thereby have enough points to qualify for elite status, but have to wear rags to all of the VIP events?

All in all we had a wonderful time. It's a drag to stay in a hotel all by yourself, especially when you do it all the time. So it was lovely to stay in such a nice hotel suite with MDH.

Oh, and I won $1300 at 25 cent video poker by landing a royal straight flush.

ps - don't ask how we have elite status - we just do