The Joy
January 13th, 2010I have a love hate relationship with our DVR. I love being able to record shows and watch them later. I love being able to skip through all the commercials and turning an hour show into a 30 minute show. I love being able to rewind the show to hear what I missed because a kid was screaming “MOM” at the top of their lungs over some travesty that has taken place between siblings. I love that you can now move and take your Direct TV with you where ever you go. Because I am seriously thinking of moving to the southern most tip of Florida. It hasn’t been above freezing here in over a week. Seriously folks…I am usually not one to complain much about the weather, well except when it is 100 degrees with air so humid you can’t think straight. But all of this arctic air is driving me stir crazy. So, as I was catching up on the 500 shows that I have recorded and am WAY behind on I saw the commercial where you can pack up and move Direct TV in Florida or wherever else you want to move to. And it was such a tempting thought.Except I would hate having sand in my every nook and cranny 24/7. And it is flat. And crowded.
Now, I feel guilty because I have like 500 TV shows recorded. Most of which I think that I really want to watch and then never find the time for. So I look at all these shows and feel guilty that I have given Nelsons a false reading as I dit delete instead of play. Ahhh, the ups and downs of DVR. I love Technology. I love Directv. Because without it, I would have no TV. Remember, I live in the GA Mountains. Where it is freezing…literally. And where I still have snow from almost a week ago. That my friends is unheard of in this neck of the woods!
Sing Scene
November 22nd, 2009
If you have a young one who loves to sing, JAKKS Pacific has a hot new toy for you. The new Sing Scene line delivers a premium music game experience contained in a single plug and play microphone. You can sing to the latest licensed Pop, Rock and Country hits built right inside the microphone. The Sing Scene provides quality entertainment right in your own home allowing you and your friends to sing along with hit stars such as Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Taylor Swift and many, many more. Just plug into any TV and rock right out of the box…no video game console or software needed! Hit the right notes with the vocal meter and score big points! No additional consoles or cartridges are needed with the Sing Scene. It is recommended for ages 6-15, but we have all had a ball with it so I think it would just depend on the individual. Kids will love finding the Sing Scene under the tree this Christmas!

Accckkkk! And some Winners
November 4th, 2009Ok, I am a slacker. I admit it. Life gets in the way, I get behind and things turn to chaos.
I have this new thing that we just can’t help snuggling with. She is just too adorable!

She will cuddle in just as close as she can. She is such a people dog. She likes being in the thick of things and loves all of the attention you are willing to lavish on her and then some. We think she is such a star that she should be receiving tv deals. And oh my goodness, those little puppy licks will get you every time!
And we had company over for dinner and cards last night. And to prepare for that I had to do a gazillion loads of laundry. Seriously…and I still don’t have it all caught up. Why I have so much laundry I have no idea. But I have done about 7 loads a day for the past 3 days. AND JUST LET ME SAY…I am SICK of laundry!
Karate is every night this week, we are preparring for a tournament this weekend. Tate will not be competing because…on Monday he received his Yellow Belt. So, with him moving up a belt and a tournament so soon he decided that we would just go watch, support his fellow teammates and volunteer our services to support our studio in the tournament. It is sponsored by UKS, where Tate takes and they will need people to run for stuff, ScoreKeepers, TimeKeepers, etc. DO I have a picture of Tate getting his Yellow Belt? NOOooo, this well prepared mother forgot her camera at home.
Now, the whole point of this post is to announce some winners. Well, that is at least what it started out having the intention of.
Yoplait - #1 - JamieZ
Tacofuness - #49 - Melanie
Congrats on your wins!!
Durham County
September 16th, 2009
Award-Winning Series Marks ION’s First Venture Into Original Programming
What you don‟t know about your neighbors could kill you. That’s just everyday reality in “Durham County,” the new original scripted prime time series premiering this Fall to U.S. audiences on ION Television. “Durham County” is an eerie combination of suspense and family drama that marks the first original prime time series to premiere on ION Television. The show will bow to U.S. audiences in early September.
Produced by Muse Entertainment and Back Alley Films, the Award-Winning “Durham County” series follows the troubled world of Homicide Detective Mike Sweeney (Hugh Dillon, CBS‟ “Flashpoint”) who moves his family to quiet suburbia for a fresh start after his partner is killed and his wife Audrey (Hélène Joy) is diagnosed with breast cancer. While Durham County seems like the perfect place to begin again, Sweeney soon discovers that his neighbor Ray Prager (Justin Louis) may be a serial killer. What’s more, Prager is not just a random stranger - he is Sweeney’s arch high school nemesis. As events unfold and young women begin disappearing, an intense showdown develops between the two complex men and their families.
Durham County - Behind The Secrets
Uploaded by IonTelevision2009. - Classic TV and last night’s shows, online.
“‟Durham County‟ is the perfect new show to serve as a prime time anchor as we build our schedule of compelling original and hit off-network series,” said Leslie Chesloff, Executive Vice President, Programming, ION Media Networks. “‟Durham County‟ is unlike anything else on television and it will instantly grab and hold onto viewers, particularly our key 25-54 demographic. It is this kind of programming that makes ION Television a destination for anyone who is looking for TV that is truly different.”
This is the kind of show that will grip your mind and emotions and keep you hanging on. The critically acclaimed “Durham County,” ION Television’s first original series, premieres September 7th and will air Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. Check your local listing for the channel in your area.
In addition, check out the Durham County micro-site, http://www.durhamcountysecrets.com to help you explore more of the show. On the site, you can check out the exclusive clips, sound bites and photos. You can also upload your own secrets, view secrets from others and send them to a friend.
iCarly
September 5th, 2009
In case you have never seen it, iCarly is a TV series about 3 teenagers who make a web-show. They do it on their own without any adult assistance. They use technology like green screens, video camera, a sound effect machine and computers. There are no rules when it comes to their web-show titled “iCarly”. Every web-show focuses on something new and they try their best to do funny and outrageous things to attract more viewers. Sometimes landing themselves in a mess. iCarly has grown into TV’s No. 1 series among kids (ages 2 to 11) and tweens (ages 9 to 14), drawing an average 5.6 total million viewers to new episodes. So how did Carly do it? She’s got the Web working with her instead of against her.
By design, “iCarly” is the only kids’ show plugged seamlessly into the online world, a playing field populated by blurbs of random, often outrageous comedy. Series creator Dan Schneider has been savvy enough to plot the “iCarly” Web segments as randomly as any teen would their YouTube channel.
During the show-within-a-show webcasts, which the characters film in Carly’s attic, Carly and her friend Sam (Jennette McCurdy) demonstrate making chicken soup in a toilet. They create trailers spoofing teen movies (you can actually find “Kelly Cooper, Terrible Movie” making the rounds on YouTube). They morph Carly’s head on to a picture of Sam’s rabid cat. They improvise short sketches with names like “The Cowboy With a Mustache and the Idiot Farm Girl Who Thought the Mustache Was a Squirrel.”And, iCarly also has it’s own real website where you can read blogs, see photos, play games, send in your own videos and watch bonus videos that are not on the TV show.
iCarly: Season 2, Volume 1 (Nickelodeon)
In Stores: 8/18/09
Carly, Sam and Freddie keep the camera and the laughs rolling in an all new season of Nickelodeon’s hit show-within-a-show — iCarly: Season 2, Volume 1 on DVD. Starring tween sensation Miranda Cosgrove, the latest installment of the groundbreaking series finds Carly and Sam vying for the same guy, iCarly’s first web award nomination and the kiss that shocked the world - all while crankin’ out the best web show out there on iCarly.com! Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, iCarly Season 2, Volume 1 will be available August 18, 2009, for the suggested retail price of $26.99.
iCarly Season 1, Volume 2 features 12 new-to-DVD episodes, along with the making of the first iCarly TV movie “iGo To Japan” and behind-the-scenes extras. The set also includes an exclusive CD single featuring a song from Miranda Cosgrove’s new album hitting stores later this year.
I have to say…We all LOVE iCarly. And have since the first time that we saw it. iCarly is just a great show that is funny, yet wholesome…a great all around show that even as an adult I like, but the kids love…and in this house, that is rare to find.
We have already watched these DVD’s over and over again. Call us addicted, but you can bet that at least once a day iCarly:Season 2, Vol.1 will be on and kids will be laughing. Thanks Nickelodeon for such a great show!
Atlanta!
August 11th, 2009We had tons of fun in the big city yesterday. Telling you all about it is going to take a few days so I decided that today, we would just cover the city.

Tall building are everywhere. We were only on the North side of the city, but all over Atlanta there are big beautiful buildings. The city feels alive with hustle, bustle and noise. A vast contrast from the quiet life in HickTown.

I don’t think I could ever live in a big city. But I love to go visit if that counts for anything. I love the beauty in all of the angles. It is hard and stark.

Yes, there are trees immersed here and there, but it is not the same as walking out your door and walking into the woods. Or seeing deer play in your front yard. Or coming home to a bear. Whew, that one was a little scary. Almost as scary as some of the vagrants you see in the big cities.

Ahhh, the age old institution of Georgia Tech. This is where my not so little little girl will be attending college before I know it. It is a beautiful school. The only thing I hate about it is that it is in Atlanta. How will my little country girl ever get around? How will she ever navigate rush hour traffic? How will she make do in a school that is predominately made up of boys? How will I make it more the question!

LOOK! Tru TV! Cartoon Network! TBS! TCM! Boomerang! TNT!
Some of my favorites. They are headquartered in Atlanta. I remember when my Dad was in the hospital at Emory University for many, many long months awaiting a transplant and when going to visit we would pass TNT and affiliates. They were located in this little hole in the wall building near the Hospital. They have sure moved up in the world since those days.

And last but not least…the Olympic Torch at Olympic Park. When the Olympics were held in Atlanta it was a really big deal for the city and for our State. They made a public park for all to use once the Olympics were over.
So, that is a small tour of the North side of Atlanta. Join me tomorrow for lunch! It is an experience you will never forget!








