Summer Homework!

Happy Thursday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

The next round of my adventures is about to start!  I have found that during my most busy times I need to set aside some time to coordinate and organize myself - put form around the day to day functions to help guide myself forward versus just spinning in circles.  

Although it has been centuries since I have been in school, I find summer to be almost a time for New Year's Resolutions.  A New Season's Resolution, perhaps.  A time when once again I can stop and ask myself:  "What's It All About, Alfie?"

I have to say that the state of reality television on Bravo TV has declined dramatically in the past few years.  I literally hate myself for watching it.  This past weekend, I volunteered 14 hours of my time for two different causes.  Sunday night, I came home exhausted.  My DVR was filled with the most ridiculous of fake scripted drama.  Now I appreciate TV and movies as a distraction, but I don't need my blood pressure rising following stupidity.  What a waste!  

So I decided after this season of Game of Thrones ends, I am ending my cable subscription.  Goodbye television!  (Hopefully, I will find a hot man who has cable by this October when "The Walking Dead" starts!)  I am taking the summer off!  In my childhood, I used to be a ferociously avid reader.  Now I go in spurts- I may read five books in a couple weeks and then not read again (other than magazines and online newspapers) for months.  Yet for some reason, I keep buying books.  I have an entire bookshelf just waiting for me.

In trying to "better myself," instead of TV this summer I set a goal to read 12 books between June 16 - September 16.  Now I know what you might be thinking "Ooooh this is a great time to read all the classics that you may have not read in high school and college."  Um yeah, that would be a good idea but if I am forgoing TV I want to read for entertainment and some element of distraction from my stressful work.  If I make the task too "homework-like," I won't do it.  That's just me.  

And like I said, I already have an entire bookshelf filled with tomes waiting for me to crack their bindings and enjoy.  My summer resolution starts June 16 … I'll keep you posted on how bad my television detox gets and whether I stay on track of my goal!

P.S.  The Jake Jarmusch movie "Only Lovers Left Alive" is at the Burns Court Cinema in Sarasota, FL for all you Central Gulf coastal Floridians.  I saw it in New York City.  It's not the best movie in the world, but I just loved watching Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as these swank, hipster vampires.  Check it out!

Keep Track of Your Favorite Reality Shows More Efficiently!

Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Happy Sunday!  Where did the weekend go?  I swear my weekends have been evaporating like ice cubes on a hot day.  While I am sad that AMC's The Walking Dead is over for the season, I am happy that HBO's Game of Thrones is back.  (Maybe I need to stop watching so much television?)

I have been a huge Bravo TV show fan for years.  However lately, I must admit that I am having a difficult time watching some of the Real Housewives shows.  The episodes were always catty and biatchy, but now I feel like the "mean girl" quotient has been exponentially amplified.  

To me, it's like the difference between a 2 second scuffle between pro hockey players during a game versus a lethal bullfight.  I may cheer when two hockey players throw down their helmets and charge each other (and are separated by referees and other teammates before anything happens), but I take no joy or entertainment in watching a bull get stabbed and then slowly die before my eyes.  (And yes, I did see a bullfight years ago in Spain in my wayward youth.  It was horrific and sad.  I would never go to one again.)  

I don't want to make a sweeping generalization, but I do think women get pitted against each other.  Look at working moms vs. stay-at-home mom issues.  Emotions flare whenever any one questions what makes a good mother.  It is very easy to accidentally hurt someone's feelings or ego.  So watching women tear each other apart on the Real Housewives series has gone from entertainment to leaving me feeling sick to my stomach.  

I hate to use a reference to the TV show "Charmed" but it definitely reminds me when Alyssa Milano's character was pregnant with a demon baby and was being given a "pre-natal potion" that was "pure evil" to feed the demon.  I didn't know evil came in liquid form, but I guess that's besides the point!  When I spend my time watching people treat each other with blatant disrespect, I feel like I am drinking in pure evil too!

I stopped watching "Real Housewives of New York" and let me tell you if "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is as bad next season as it was this season, I'll be crossing it off my list as well.  

I know some people read the reality TV show recaps instead of spending an hour of their lives watching the nonsense.  I wasn't a big recap reader since I usually would watch the episodes.  However when AllAboutTheTea.com asked me if I'd be interested in writing some reality show episode recaps, I was intrigued.  I figure if I can write deposition summaries, I could handle a TV episode recap.

So while I am staying away from recapping the Real Housewives shows, I will be putting my excess TV watching to good use by writing some content for AllAboutTheTea.com.        I enjoy the reader compliments.  One of the women who was on an episode of Bravo's "Married To Medicine" also chimed in with her views in the comments section of one of my recaps.  It's a small world!

If you're interested in reading some reality TV episode recaps, check out my writing here.  It may save you some time - reading a recap instead of watching an episode.

Of course it could also intrigue you to watch an episode … so maybe it's not a time saver but a time waster?  Whoops!  Didn't think this through very well - ha ha!

If you're a reality TV show fan, check out my recaps!

"Gay of Thrones" Is Back!

Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

If you are an HBO's Game of Thrones fan and a sassy biatch, you have to check out Jonathan Van Ness' series on FunnyOrDie.com called "Gay of Thrones."  It is a sassy recap series by California hair dresser, Jonathan.  He started recapping season three in a series that had a surprise twist!  Now he's back to take on season four.

But warning - don't drink any liquids while watching - you will probably spit it out all over your laptop while laughing hysterically!  Consider yourself warned.

"Gay of Thrones" is a must see after you watch each episode of Game of Thones if you like sassy, snarky humor!  If you don't, well … I guess there's always feeding pigeons in the park!

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!     

Farewell HIMYM - How I Met Your Mother - Paley Fest 2014

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

SPOILER ALERT - Do not read this if you haven't watched the series finale of the TV show "How I Met Your Mother" and at some point in your life, you might do so.

I mean it!

OK … disclaimer done.

After nine seasons, the TV show "How I Met Your Mother" had its series finale Monday night.  Some people loved it, some people hated it.  I really enjoyed the show and stuck with it even when some of the episodes were less than "legen - wait for it - dary."  I loved the Neil Patrick Harris - Barney has a daughter - storyline in the series finale.  I may have gotten a little misty in the eyeball region … but would deny it in public.  However like many people it seems, I was not 100% happy with the series finale ending.

As I read all the commentary in the Twittersphere - and Michelle Stark's well-written critique in the Tampa Bay Times, I tried to ascertain why I personally did not like it.

The show is called "How I Met Your Mother" and no matter how old, bitter or cynical I get, there is some part of me that wants to believe in the fairy tale.  That there is one karmic true love and when you meet that person, everything falls in place and you live happily ever after.  I wasn't born yesterday, so I am not sure why some small part of me still believes in this … but it does.

Then in season nine, the TV show introduced actress Cristin Milioti.  I had never seen her work before and after years of fan speculation hoping "The Mother" in "How I Met Your Mother" would be a big name actress, I was disappointed.  But call it show biz charisma, Cristin Milioti gradually won me over throughout season nine.  

In March 2014, I attended the "How I Met Your Mother" panel at PaleyFest.  I was incredibly disappointed that neither Neil Patrick Harris nor Jason Segel was there.  But Wayne Brady was the moderator - which made me very happy.  And Neil Patrick Harris joined by Skype.

Cristin Milioti ("The Mother") and Josh Radnor (Ted) sat next to each other at the event - and I could see immediately why Cristin Milioti was cast.  She and Josh Radnor had such tangible chemistry - just laughing and enjoying the event.  

I realized that the reason I did not 100% enjoy the HIMYM series finale is because of this amazing chemistry between the actors Cristin Milioti and Josh Radnor.  I never felt that same chemistry between actors Cobie Smulders and Josh Radnor in their on-again/off-again scenes as boyfriend/girlfriend.  

Had I disliked Cristin Milioti more or if she and Josh Radnor didn't have such great on-screen chemistry, I probably would have loved the HIMYM season finale.  So basically thanks a lot Cristin Milioti and your lovable persona, you've ruined the end of a nine year show for me.  HA HA HA!

I don't think there's ever been a series finale that all people loved unconditionally, so I wasn't expecting that HIMYM would be any different.  But I do know I will miss the characters.  I rarely watch regular network TV shows anymore … basically HIMYM, Hannibal and Scandal, I think.  The list keeps getting shorter!

But in tribute to nine years of "How I Met Your Mother" here are some pictures from their session at PaleyFest for your viewing pleasure:

Wayne Brady

Alyson Hannigan

Getting Miked up - Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor

Creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas join the cast on stage with Director Nancy Travis 

Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor, Cristin Milioti

Neil Patrick Harris in NYC by Skype

Neil Patrick Harris took off his shirt on Skype - getting ready to do a Pop Up Hedwig & The Angry Inch concert

Best chemistry ever - Josh Radnor & Cristin Milioti

One more shot of the HIMYM cast

       
The HIMYM PaleyFest was wonderful.  The fans brought yellow umbrellas and T-shirts with various HIMYM themes.  Some members of the crew also attended the event.  Including this woman who worked in wardrobe and brought an iconic HIMYM item …

Ted's Red Cowboy Boots!

After the event, the HIMYM team stayed for autographs.  It was definitely a great TV fan event. 

Even though I wasn't 100% happy with the series finale, it was still overall a great show.  As Craig Thomas said - "we can't believe you stuck with us for nine years, waiting for the Mother!"  When the nine years was so funny, it was not a chore to go along for the ride!