R.I.P.

I plan to honor Theresa's request and cover all the proposed topics, but the spirit of blogging is to discuss what is relevant in your life at the moment, right. So, I will first go with the drama of yesterday.

I have a really hard time sleeping. I am so jealous of those people who are very sound sleepers. My sister for one says to me, "as soon as my head hits the pillow I fall right to sleep". Yeah, well that's not me. I don't remember having tons of sleep issues pre-college, but adjusting to the noise of the dorm was really tough on me. I'm also someone who's mind races if I'm not tired enough to fall asleep. In college I quickly found love for a small fan; the cool breeze on me year round, and the beloved white noise that it created. That fan burned out in my junior year and I remember a humorous trip to Home Depot in the middle of the winter of 1998 trying to to purchase a new fan. That fan is still kicking.

Four years ago I moved to my new condo. Part of me knew there could be trouble because this place was basically on the second floor with someone else above me. This person has no rugs and is a stomper. Very quickly I went to Sharper Image to find a noise machine. It was love at first listen. This machine had all sorts of harmonious sounds; like Everglades, Rain, Summer Night, and Surf's Up. My only sound of choice- white noise. Oh, how I love white noise. In the summer I love that I get to have the fan, the noise machine, and the air conditioner. When the power goes out in the middle of the night, I immediately wake up because all of these go off, and along with the beep of my charging cell phone, and I feel like I am on many life support machines that are being shut down!

I've often joked that I should work for Consumer Reports. I'm kind of "tough" on my things, so that if they can survive me, they can survive anything. My beloved machine has traveled with me and there may have been some bumping, dropping, etc. It has the option to run on batteries, but I realized quickly that I would be sucking those puppies dry pretty quick in order to run the machine all night, every night. I had to buy a separate 12 V adapter- which is GIGANTIC, and weighs like five pounds.

I've had a busy few weeks and the machine has been many places with me. Our first morning back on our bed, around 6 a.m., the machine just went off. I reached for the button- nothing. Later in the day, I unplugged it, gave it a rest, and it resuscitated briefly. Now- nothing again. I'm off to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to see if I can find a replacement.

So, rest in peace my beloved noise machine. I wish we had had many more years together but you've been a great friend:)

"So much to say, so much to say, so much to say"

In the words of Dave Matthews.....

So have you totally forgotten about me! Did you know that this blog even still existed? Well it does- and since Lost is over I have some defnitely blog things to sort through!

I have several topics I would like to share with you my wide viewership (ha!) and I'm going to give you a choice about which topic you would like to hear about first.

1. My exhausting end of the school year/still waiting in job limbo agony

2. My recent road trip (In the past two weeks I've slept in five different beds- I'm so ready to be home!)

3. Russian Spy scandal- I have so many thoughts on this hillarity

4. The death of Reality TV

So please comment below and let me know which topic to start with!

Cheers!

Queen of the Re-runs!

I had long thought about writing this post about my favorite network, a network that 90% of the time is running programming that I've already seen before. Ahem, that I have memorized.

That network is SOAPnet. I had "heard" of SOAPnet for years and I was jealous of those who had it, especially when FX stopped airing the reruns of BH 90210 and they moved off of basic cable. A couple years ago when I changed cable plans, low and behold I had SOAPnet. Lord, I thought I am never leaving the house now. I love "Breakfast in Bed" every weekend as I get four or five of my precious 9-0 episodes, along with some One Tree Hill, OC, and Gilmore Girls. All shows I've watched and enjoyed; over and over and over again. (This isn't a new habit for me by any means. I spent all of college writing papers with a favorite move like "Shag" or "Steal Magnolias" playing in the background.)

SOAPnet also has a little bit of original programming- or newer programming that they've purchased from other countries like Canada. I know my friend Melissa was a big fan of their silly hockey show, MVP, with the tagline, "He shoots, she scores!". Truly one of my favorite things to watch is the delightful Being Erica. I think I may have mentioned this show before. It's a sweet little show that I really identify with in many ways. The main character is Toronto native Erica Strange. She is 33 years old and life hasn't turned out quite the way she thought. She beings "therapy" with Dr. Tom that allows her to relive her list of biggest regrets. Erica is played by the adorable Erin Karpluk.

You might recognize her from other roles on shows that are filmed in Canada- especially the CW's Life Unexpected. She plays the radio show producer and since this show was just picked up, I hope that means will be seeing more of her.

Erica is a bit of a disaster and although I say that I identify with her, I will say that my life is a lot more "together" than hers is. What you will love though is her flashbacks- to magical times like 1992 where you will revel in the fashions and the music that we all wore! They've had two seasons so far, and I honestly find that I wish there was a new season coming sooner than it is.

You can imagine my unhappiness on Friday when I glance at my phone and see a headline that my SOAPnet is going off the air! Now granted, not till January 2012, but still! Apparently parent company Disney is going to relaunch a Disney Junior station. (Damn kids....) Also annoying is the fact that viewership is up to SOAPnet 75 million viewers! I get it- it was launched as a platform for people to watch their soaps at night, and with streaming video online and DVR it really isn't necessary anymore. I can live without re-runs- I can watch them on DVD, but what about Being Erica? I hope that this show lives on and makes it to DVD!

So what's wrong with me that this is how I want to spend my time? Is this a greater indicator of the stress in society? I'm too tired to focus on watching and enjoying a new show, and would rather half pay attention to something I've seen before.

I guess I have to take this a sign- to find some new hobbies and get out of bed on the weekends and do something more productive. I guess I didn't need Dr. Tom or therapy to help me figure that out.

I think Erica Strange would be pleased.......

On this latest episode of "What the Helen"

I live on the edge apparently. Well, not really. If you know me (and most of you reading this are some of my nearest and dearest) you know me to be fairly cautious and not a huge risk taker.

Since about five years ago when I became aware of the idea of a USB drive, I was excited to find a away to hold a large amount of information and carry it around easily. I bought my first drive, a little pink one that probably had 1 GB at the most. I pretty quickly had tons of important things on it. I also found that I was bumping it and bending it a lot. I also lost the cover to it. This is me people. I soon discoverd a different kind of drive that would have a retractable usb piece. Perfect, I thought. Something I could protect more easily and not lose a cover to. (See I was problem solving.) I took my whole pink drive and dropped it onto my new SanDisk Black retractable drive. I've often thought I should work for Consumer Reports. If things could survive me, they can survive anything.

The little black drive mostly lived and traveled in the inside pocket of my handbags. Sometimes my bag would fall over in the car and I would find the drive between the front seats of my car. Again, that's my life. Eventually I thought I needed a little more security in carrying it, and I purchased a holder for two drives (and purchased a nother SanDisk drive for just pictures). The little black holder continued to live mostly in my purse. Sometimes I would leave it at school or forget it at home. Sometimes it would slide beneath the cushions on my couch. Are you starting to see a pattern with me here.....but see I always found it.

Two weeks ago, I was being especially lazy when putting my school laptop back in my Cole Hahn leather bag that I will sometimes carry it back and forth in. I left the drive sticking out. I will admit that I've done this before. Well it got bent. Now I think I mentioned that I bent the previous pink drive and I've kind of bent this one too- even though I bought it because I thought it was "unbendable". Here's where I make the big mistake- I bent it back. I'm pretty sure that this was the kiss of death. Now this was the night before a really, really big day at school (Thursday) and right before vacation. I never checked the drive situation until the following Monday.

On Monday, I needed to use the drive to retrieve something. Have I mentioned that basically my whole life was on this drive. I have a lot of stuff on my school server, but this black drive contained my GRADES, my REPORT CARDS, my COMMENTS, tons and tons of files everything. Ready for this- I haven't backed up any of these things. Nada. Zippo. You see, I live on the edge.



I don't know what would possess me not to have these things backed up, especially since we moved this year to a stupid electronic report card in Excel. I just "didn't". So, I'm freaking out realizing that the computer doesn't "recognize" the drive at all. It's not like the good old days when you could force the computer to recognize the disk drive. I try several different computers. Nothing.

I start hunting on line- for forums, or other people in the same boat. Some leads point to talking directly to the Sanddisk people may help. Guess where they are located? West Coast, of course.

Next morning, I'm waiting to talk "live" with someone at Sanddisk. To quell my stomach, I decide to go up to Best Buy and talk to the Geek Squad. Geek Squad makes me sign away my life before they will even stick it into one of their computers. They were back in like two minutes- sorry, there's nothing we can do. We could send it away and they can probably recover everything for HUNDREDS of dollars!


I begin to panic a little more. I go home and log on to the West Coast. The nice SanDisk guy says he can help me. Then he hears the break down and he delivers the bad news-he can't help me either but here's the name of company in Florida they use and their phone number.

Lord. So I immediately go to that company's website. I start scanning their information. Good news- my drive is so small, 1GB, and they have an arrangement with San Disk, that this will only cost me $75! I immediately call (which should show you I mean business since I hate to order pizza) I get to speak with Ray. He is very kind. Emails me something else I need, which I immediately fill out. I run to CVS and buy a little package mailer. Off to the Post Office.

This was Tuesday of my vacation. I mail away my "life" on a busted USB drive and my credit card number.

Friday, Ray calls and leaves me a message. Ready for this- all set Helen, we have all your files and they are on a CD and are in the mail back to you. I got them on Monday, one week after I mailed it away. I want to send SanDisk and this little company in Florida a big thank you!

That's my life, ladies. That is "What the Helen". I almost totally screwed myself, but it all worked out. And yes, I have learned my lesson. For this aspect of my life.....

Make me feel better- have you ever done something stupid like this, when you know better in theory?

To your corners, ladies...

Started this post a few weeks back....it's hard to keep up with both blogs:)

Raise your hand if you're watching "Real Housewives of New York City"? Good. I knew you must be out there. It's the only one of the trashy Bravo series that I indulge myself with and very much enjoyed the first two seasons of it.

Although I still enjoy it, lately I'm finding it kind of painful to watch. I really can't stand the setups anymore- the fake friendships, and the fake situations they are put in. The first few episodes back are spent with each of the ladies going after each other for things that were said behind each others backs, especially in the press during the "off season".

But the granddaddy of them all is....

Jill vs. Bethenny, Bethenny vs. Jill-

Ok, so I loved the two of these bozos the first season. They seemed to be genuinely friends (mean girl friends, al bet). Obviously their egos have gotten the better of them. Both of their stars on the rise, but Bethenny with her SkinnyGirl empire, own Bravo show, and now new husband and baby, has eclipsed the usually funny, "Jill Zarin". (Side note- is Bethenny's new main squeeze, Jason, too good to be true or what? Is there something about him that rubs anyone else the wrong way?)

They are bitching each other out left and right. And they are both "collecting" allies. I have to say that Jill seems to be the bitchier; love how she's adopted the "Countess" and Kelly. How funny that Alex and Bethenny are turning into "genuine" friends? (their words,not mine) How surprising that no one wants Ramona on their side? Bethenny tried to make amends. Jill wouldn't have it, she wasn't being ambushed. Even her beloved Bobby tried to tell her to talk it out with Bethenny.

What did it take Jill to want to talk to Bethenny? Her ring.....interesting......


Can these two be saved.....before Bethenny leaves for her own show?

Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, and Mary Anne

Did you know these fine young ladies? Were you as obsessed with The Babysitter's Club in the 1980s as I was? I'm not sure I can express the love I had for this Ann M. Martin series. I loved the girls' friendships and their misadventures. I was the last kid in Andover to ever get to go to Disney World (or at least it felt that way) and I lived vicariously through that Super Special Disney Edition for years!I can remember so clearly the excitement of the new book order paper coming out at school so you could see what the newest book cover would look like. I remember being tucked away in the back of Waldenbook's in Andover reading through the books and trying to figure out a way to convince my mother (who worked at the Andover Library) to buy me yet another one of these books. I think even then I realized the books weren't the greatest of literary merit- but I still loved them. I would definitely consider these books to be in the "digestible" category and as a teacher of ten/eleven year olds I work really hard to teach them how to balance their choices of reading; between the digestible, which everyone loves to read once and awhile, and the quality.

Well, apparently- Ann M. Martin has written a prequel- click below!

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/04/02/a-night-with-the-creator-of-the-baby-sitters-club-ann-m-martin/

How sad that I may have to run out and buy it! Well, I suppose I could write it off as necessary for my job:)

Did you have a favorite girl or storyline?

I (usually) love a parade!

Hi, My name is Helen and I am Olympic junkie. I love, love, love the Olympics. I'm not sure what it is because I wouldn't say I am a huge sports fan, but maybe it's the Social Studies teacher in me.

One of my favorite parts of the Olympics is the Opening Ceremony. I love to see the show that the host country puts on. I love to watch the countries march in. The geeky Social Studies teacher in me loves seeing the population of the country and the number of athletes they have brought to the games. (I believe that Russia brought the most athletes to these Vancouver games.)

My favorite was the 2004 Athens ceremony. The Art Historian in me was giddy when the performance art created a Cycladic figure! I remember vividly narrating the event, much to Natalie and Amy's enjoyment (or chagrin). You see, I am a wealth of useless information and I love relaying all the stupid factoids I know and learning a few more along the way.

For the parade of nations, Greece always enters first (summer or winter) as they were the inventors of the Olympic games. Followed by the other nations in alphabetical order, except for the host nation that comes in last. This past Friday, Canada and Vancouver gave us their stab at it- and, well. eh. It wasn't all bad. I was fascinated to see the country of Macedonia enter between Finland and France. Well, come to find out the official title of Macedonia is "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". (FYROM) I'm sure this tidbit of information will benefit me at some future cocktail party or trivial pursuit game:) I teach a very small amount of Canadian geography so I already knew that the whole country of Canada has less people than our state of California. I did not know, but find fascinating, that 90% of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the US border.

You have to expect some level of performance art at these opening ceremonies. I thought, Canada is home to Cirque de Soleil-this should be cool. Well, it was kind of painful. It just didn't seem to flow. A great deal of the performance was dedicated to the aboriginal native peoples of Canada. Which I'm totally fine with, but it seemed to go on, and on, and on.......

And seriously-

Two words = Slam Poetry

The torch was lit (even though the giant crystal thing malfunctioned) and the games have begun. Yay for figure skating, mogul skiing, biathlon, and even curling!

Thank goodness I'm on vacation to enjoy it all:)