I haven’t had cable in three years. Well, two and a half to be exact. It’s been a while, and that’s a good thing. Not having cable meant not watching stupid television. Not having cable meant not wasting my time.

Oh how things have changed.

As of September 1st, I have cable. And one of the first channels I tuned into was none other than MTV. Ah, the most mindless, self-absorbed, superficial, plastic station in the history of television. Honestly, who has a life like anyone on The Real World? And when does this station show videos, even if they are crappy songs? Even the commercials, like the one I just watched, “how are you going to pay for college? *ominous stare at the screen* Just one more decision to make this election.” are terrible. And yes, as I’m writing this, as I watch this Godforsaken station.
But not everything (surprisingly) is bad on MTV. The single shining moment in MTV’s lineup, as I have discovered, is Made, a show with normal people who want to accomplish something more than sleeping with a Real World buddy or showing off their Cribs (run-on?). Maybe I like it (addicted, really) because it depicts young people willing to work for something.

For instance, in the three hour marathon I watched on Saturday, Andi, a regular “geek” labeled “Duck tape Girl” wanted to be homecoming queen. And she wanted to win while wearing a Duck tape dress she made. Congrats, Andi, you look stunning in silver. Or Mike and the other kid (Brandon?) who want to write and direct a high school play. Touché! There was the heavy-set girl who wanted to dance on the Hochie-Mamma team (I forget the actual team name). She didn’t make it, but she at least she shook her booty. And then there was the Brant Stacy kid. Sure, he had a hundred pounds on Brant and was Jewish, but pretty close in all other regards. He wanted to compete in a triathlon. He lost a lot of weight, and in 5 weeks accomplished his goals and staid true to his homosexual self…I discovered this “gem” on Saturday, and in the three days I’ve watched tv, I have seen six episodes. Oh, and the season debut (I prefer day-but) is October 6th. I’m sure I’ll be treated and teased with the hopes and dreams of a few young pups pushing their dreams to the limit and reaching for the lofty goals of high school.

Wow, this entry really wasn’t funny at all. That is the real reason why I don’t update.

Now I must paint the bedroom.

So, it's coming to this. I can't say that I'm really very proud of it, but all signs are pointing in this direction...So let's take this time to have an open forum, a discussion really. Should I/Should I not buy Usher's album that I'd like to call new, but that'd be going too far. He is everywhere. I don't listen to R & B stations. And I'd be the first to admit that I am a music snob. "See, the thing is" I've really been digging his music. And now he's everywhere (yes, I'm watching SNL). So I'm asking you. Should I buy his cd or not? I will buy or not buy depending on the comments here. Choose or lose. Rock the vote. Pick your own MTV voting slogan.

Next time, I promise a real post. Only it might come months or weeks or days later...

Yes, I too noticed that I ended my blog with later kis, and never fixed it...and I thought about it a few times. But when a blog is as sad as mine, it just doesn't get the tender loving care that it should. But never the less. I am updating this blog today because I had several hits in the past couple of weeks. And because I don't want kittens to die.

So I figured now that I'm in Jersey and married, I have a lot going on. Surely there is something I can post on my website...something something something, yes. Hum, but what? What out there can possibly be slightly worth posting? Actually, I got the urge to update after I sent an email a few days ago, and decided I'd share with everyone my story of The Move.

The Move

So Deanna and I have an apartment full of stuff. Mostly used stuff and barely worth taking. But we have a bunch of new wedding gifts and pictures and rug and GameCube...so some things worth the trip. So we rent a truck and one of those tow trailers, for the car. So this is like, the biggest thing I've ever driven, and when it boils down to it, my entire life is in/connected to what I am in control of. The wife, the car, the GameCube, the new couch...if I wreck this beast, I'm in some real trouble. That's a lot of pressure. So I start out the trip a little tense. I refuse to drive the truck over 55 and I never pass a soul.

That lasts about a day.

By day two, I'm feeling pretty good behind the giant truck and even though I can't see the car I'm towing (the truck was too wide), I feel certain that it's probably still connected. Actually, I knew it had to be because I never saw a car wreck behind us as ours fell of the tow, nor did I see flames from the road behind. That's how I knew I was good.

Day three rolls around, and now I'm driving at around 70. I think I'm feeling a bit too at ease with it all. But still, no flames, wrecks, or damage done, as far as I know. At this point in the trip, we haven't been lost, not even once. After three days, this is amazing news.

Then we missed a turn. Just right out side of New Jersey. After three days, we're => 30 minutes from Princeton and we missed the highway we needed. No problem, we'll just take a little longer way and get there. No harm no foul.

So we're driving and driving and driving...and I'm not feeling too good about how long it's taking us. It's been three long days, and I'm tired and super hungry. I just want to get there, with the giant truck, the car, and the goods still good. I ask again for Deanna to double check the map, so we know we're in the right direction when, oh no, we're almost to New York City. Two minutes later, we're at the end of the toll road and entering the southern most part of NYC...during rush hour...with my whole life on wheels. If you've not seen rush hour in New York, you then I can't do this justice. No joke, there must have been 75 cars trying to all fit into 4 lanes of traffic, at one time. No joke.

So there I am, and nothing I can do but force my way into the traffic and drive until we get to an exit. This was the hardest part of the trip. It's like, remember that game Operation, with the naked man who's got not package and somehow managed to need all his bones taken out? And if you touched the edge, you lost. That's how I felt with all these cars around me. "Sorry sir, I just hit your Bends with my Ford Escort. Sorry miss, didn't mean to run you into the ditch. Good luck with the tow service..." But thank the Lord, we managed to get by without killing anyone.

So we get back on the right way and into Princeton. Starving, though I don't like the term, is all I can say to describe how I was feeling, well, also tired, angry and stressed. So we eat at a Ruby Tuesdays, cause those are only in the east. About halfway during dinner, while Deanna eats her salad she discovers...a roach.

Waitress: "Can I help you?"
Me: "Hi, um, there's a bug in our food. Can you get the manager?"
Waitress: "Oh, that's really gross."
Me: "Yeah."
Manager three minutes later: "How are we doing here?"
Me: "Um, well, we have a roach in our food."

It goes on like this. She offers a new plate or some cake or pie or something...
Me: "I think we're going to pass."
Manager: "You know what, I'm going to take care of this bill for you."

Yeah, thanks for being so kind. But honestly, I felt bad for the lady. It wasn't her fault.

So we get our hotel and move in the next day....but that's where it gets a bit dull again. So I'll end there for the night and I hope you all enjoy this post. And I hope no more kitties die.