Junkie

If you know me at all or have even briefly perused this blog, there is no denying - I am a TV and movie JUNKIE. Many people talk about how they don't watch much TV because it's trash - especially network television....but to them I say, "bah-humbug!" I enjoy TV - especially network TV - because I'm cheap and unwilling to continue shelling out money to pay for cable. At the same time, I love Netflix because it allows me to rediscover TV shows that were brilliant but only lasted for one season. Two such shows are Freaks & Geeks and Wonderfalls.

Paul Feig created Freaks & Geeks, but the now well-known Judd Apatow was also a preeminent writer, director, and producer on the show - you may recognize his name from such not-fit-for-network-television movies like "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up." Those movies may not recommend the viewing of Freaks & Geeks, but considering this show had to be tame enough to air on network television back in 1999 it is definitely worth watching. Freaks and Geeks puts the spotlight on what high school was like for those of us who didn't run with the popular crowd and probably encountered more embarrassing moments than we care to recall. It's also set in the early 80s, and who doesn't love the 80s? Especially notable is the main freshman character, Sam Weir, played by John Francis Daley - a name you probably don't recognize, but if you happen to be a fan of the current TV show Bones - you would know him as the FBI psychologist Sweets. Oh yes, that is right - if you watch Freaks & Geeks you get to see a pre-pubescent Sweets navigate his way through his torturous freshman year of high school, while his academically over-achieving sister has a crisis of identity after her grandfather's death and attempts to slide into the "freaks" stoner crowd. This show was also Seth Rogan's first foray into the acting realm in the US before he became Apatow's rated R comedy muse. You also get to see Jason Segel as a drum playing stoner well before he made his mark as the goofy Marshall on How I Met Your Mother, as well as James Franco before he became the worst Academy Awards host to date. This is just a kookie, hilarious, and sometimes poignant show that I definitely recommend watching.

As for my other one season only favorite, Wonderfalls is a quirky look at a college graduate who is not quite sure what she wants to do as her next step in life other than she's tired of trying to live up to everyone else's expectations. She's earned a prestigious degree from Brown University, but finds herself back home living in motor home and working at a souvenir shop in Niagara Falls. As she's pondering her life's choices, she starts having these "episodes" where inanimate objects (mostly the nicknacks from the store) begin talking to her and giving her seemingly obscure assignments to carry out. Of course, in the end all of these crazy tasks amount to helping someone unknowingly. This show is by the same creators of the critically acclaimed show Pushing Daisies (another favorite of mine - which lasted at least two seasons), but Wonderfalls is our first introduction in the US to actress Caroline Dhavernas, who is now on Off the Map, as well as our first chance to see the greatness of Lee Pace (who was the male lead on Pushing Daisies). If you haven't had a chance to see this show, or probably haven't even heard of it - you should definitely Netflix it, or if you're one of my friends in the DFW area, you can borrow my copy :-)

Wonderful God

Wow, it has been nearly two years since I last posted a blog! The past few years have been difficult, and when things get difficult - I hide. Or attempt to hide. It's not even as though there has been one particular event that has caused me to go into hiding - it's just been a struggle, and continues to be a struggle as I follow after the path He has for me. For most of it, I felt like I was being led with a bag over my head - swiped at occasionally by branches that are in the way, and stumbling and scraping my knees on rocks that seem to materialize from nowhere - but all the while trying to keep up with the One who is leading the way. While I realize this sounds like I'm being led away by a kidnapper, lately the Lord has helped me reframe this feeling so that it's not me feeling lost and led to my doom - which was kind of how the career aspect of my life felt these past couple of years...but now He's helped provide me with a new view - where it's more about awaiting a big surprise. I like surprises - happy surprises at least. So now the journey is more about the different surprises He has for me along the way. I can't see the whole picture, but eagerly await the surprise of each new day. And part of the surprise has been how quickly He orchestrated me getting my new job! In a matter of less than two weeks, I was offered my new position. Saw the posting for the job on a Friday, submitted my resume the following Monday, received a call on Thursday to go in for screening on Saturday, ended up interviewing on Saturday, and was offered the position the following Monday - and there was no networking involved! He is the One who ordained each step - and I am very thankful :-)

So the past two years...work was mostly filled with trudging and treading water to make it work - a means to an end financially. But outside of work, the Lord filled my life with MANY new friends - a whole new group of people that make up my DFW family. Such as my lovely Life Group ladies that I got to go to a Rangers game with last week:






Yep, our group has grown so much that we had to multiply and become two groups - but we still love it when we can all get together, too!

And I got to take a pretty awesome road trip with this group of godly ladies:


Apparently I didn't get the memo that we were supposed to wear a black jacket that day ;-) We explored two Nashvilles (Tennessee & Indiana), and I got to show off a little bit of Louisville. But really the majority of the trip was about us eating our way through the states ;-) It was a very yummy Spring Break! I may write a more extended blog about the spring break trip...we shall see, as I get back into the blogging groove.

But basically in the midst of the struggle - I have definitely been blessed with a fabulous support system!


So this is me - dipping my toe back into the blogging world! It is my goal to update you more than every two years - so hold me to it :-)