I’ve heard this question many times in my life: “You waited how long?” Followed by the inevitable: “Was it worth it?” And honestly, I don’t know that I’ve ever answered that question in the negative. I’ve waited for many an hour on many a line for my pop culture, and it’s totally worth it.

Most recently, I probably waited the longest I ever have on line, outside even, for Standing Room Only tickets to The Book of Mormon. Yes, not only did Emily and I wait eleven hours for tickets to a show we’d already seen, but the tickets we were waiting for entitled us to stand in the back of the theatre for the duration. No seats, no backrest. Just our feet and the seat-backs in front of us to lean on. And it was 100%, no doubt about it, worth it. I obviously knew the show would be worth it. But the wait itself was part of the fun:

Waiting on line is just like going on a roadtrip. Sure, it gets a little uncomfortable, sometimes boring, and long. But just like a roadtrip, you have to be prepared. Bring activities! Dress appropriately! Start sing-alongs! (You’d think this wouldn’t go over well, but since most of my line-waiting is music related, no one usually throws things at me.) And bring good company. Of course, if you go by yourself, make friends! When you’re waiting on line for something, all the other people on that line want it just as badly as you. They’re your people! Some of them are going to be weirdos, obviously, (I mean, I’m a weirdo), but some of them are going to be awesome. And even if you never talk to them again, you will always have this line.

I’ve waited on line for Broadway shows (obvi), signings (BBMak, Carol Channing, Patti LuPone), comedy shows (UCB), drag queens (Drag Race), midnight movie releases (HP), concerts (Adam Lambert), rollercoasters (Kingda Ka), after parties (*NSYNC), and screenings (HP), among other things. I even waited in line for a Harry Potter book release and wasn’t even buying the book. (I’m a fancypants and ordered the UK publications from Amazon.) So, if you’d rather take a plane somewhere or pay for the luxury of a seat, I’ll meet you on the other side. And while I’m waiting for you, I’ll pass the time with a good round of “Going on a Picnic.”

This weekend, my improv group, Dumpster Tequila, went on a road trip. And I have to say, it was just magical. In improv, there’s a thing called “group mind,” which is when everyone in the group is so linked in their collective consciousness, they instinctively know what moves the others are going to make. Well, it’s like Providence and Dumpster Tequila had developed some sort of group mind. We knew where to go, and it knew where to take us.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast in NYC, we hopped on the bus to Providence (after the Aaron Carter dance party in line, of course). Many rounds of Scrabble and road trip games ensued, and of course we got yelled at for being too loud. Sorry ‘bout it. Anyway, it quickly came to my attention that, though I was the one who brought it up in the planning of the trip, I hadn’t brought my bathing suit, while mostly everyone else had. You guys, I love swimming. I was devastated. But wouldn’t you know it, there was a mall within walking distance of our hotel (Providence!).

Everyone knows bathing suit shopping sucks balls. And this was no exception. There was barely anything for me to try on. At the second store I went to, I was about to settle for an ugly, too-expensive mom bathing suit, when I saw it. Right by the register, shining like a blue beacon. An adorable suit in my size that was ten dollars cheaper. After a quick trip to the dressing room, where it obviously fit, I bought it, only to find out it was on sale (Providence!).

After a delicious dinner in a fun bar with a weirdo painting of dead musical legends in a Last Supper-like pose (a smiling Kurt Cobain next to John Lennon with Biggie standing nearby), we took our swim. Later that night, we had a great show, but little did we know, the best was yet to come. As we came out of the beautiful theatre, we heard music. Not just any music, but…a marching band? Sure enough, we rounded the corner and saw a huge group of people spilling into the street being lead by a brass band. We quickly followed them into a park and were treated to an amazing impromptu encore by a band (we later found out) called What Cheer? Brigade. We stuck around dancing (though not as joyously as the band’s fans) until the cops came. It was maybe one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of (Providence!).

Sunday, after a delicious brunch, we stumbled upon an amazing art project done by a group called Tape Art for the 375th anniversary of the city. They are making a mural inside an outdoor ice rink out of tape and plywood. We took lots of pictures and talked to the artists. They work on their pieces for weeks, but once complete, they’re only up for twenty-four hours. This will be done tomorrow and gone by Thursday. How lucky we got to see it (Providence!).

And after walking around seeing all the old houses, Brown University (No, Emma Watson doesn’t go there anymore), and the State House, our perfect road trip had to come to a perfect end. And even the most perfect road trip isn’t without its setbacks. Our three and a half hour bus trip home? It took five and a half hours. Thanks, Providence!

I have been bad. It’s been almost two weeks since my last post.  Fail.  Sorry, dudes.  I’ve experienced so much pop culture since then, I’m going to give you the highlights.  As I sit here listening to the Christmas music channel on digital cable (why do I always forget about those music channels?!), let’s look back on the past two weeks, shall we?

When last we talked, it was about Prince William’s engagement.  Well, he tried to steal the thunder of another Brit, but he was unsuccessful: HP7: Part 1 opened on the 19th, and I went to a midnight showing.  You know, I just realized how annoying it is that the movies aren’t numerically symmetrical with the books, what with seven being the most magical number.  Right, Jo?  That being said, I liked the movie.  The action sequences were good.  Though, the first movie didn’t quite make the case that a split was necessary.  It was a little too slow, so for it to be worth it for me, the second movie better not leave out any detail.  Again, though, I did enjoy it.  Especially Godric’s Hollow and Malfoy Manor.  Okay, HP geeking out is over now.

The second pop culture event I took part in was seeing the Broadway musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.  I’ll try to refrain from fagging out here (there will be plenty of time for that later), but the cast of this hot mess is amazing.  Patti LuPone, Sherie Rene Scott, Laura Benanti, Brian Stokes Mitchell…  If those names mean nothing to you, you should be ashamed.  This one should be familiar though: Justin Guarini!  Yep, that curly-haired moptop from season one of American Idol.  Anyway, if you love crazy trainwrecks, see this show.  It’s amazing.

The next big event (commence fagging out) was a midnight showing of Burlesque in Chelsea!  Oh.  My.  God.  That movie was amazing.  I don’t know if it was bad enough to be of Showgirls calibur, but it was pretty terrible.  And also fabulous.  The production numbers!  Cher!  Xtina!  And the fact that there was only one true burlesque number performed!  The rest were just girls doing hip-hop/jazz hybrid dances in underwear.  The audience applauded after each one, and laughed at the terrible writing/acting, which one woman got very upset about.  She kept asking her boyfriend (?), “What is so funny?  I’m not getting it.  Am I missing something?”  Brilliant.

Then there came Thanksgiving.  I spent the morning baking and watching my friends from Memphis perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (I hate the lip-syncing that happens during that parade).  I spent the afternoon/evening with my sister, sister-in-law, nephew, our Brooklyn family, and Emily.  That is a day to be thankful for.  Here are my pies:

Saturday, we went to the Christmas tree farm, and picked out two beautiful trees: one for me and one for my sister’s family.  My nephew was absolutely enamored with everything Christmas: Santa, snowmen, reindeer, etc.  And yesterday, I spent all day watching Fa La La La Lifetime movies (A Diva’s Christmas Carol?  Yes, please!) and decorating my tree.  As with last year, my tree is decorated with some cheap 99¢ store ornaments, but mostly handmade ones cut out from my Entertainment Weeklys, with Ellen Degeneres serving as my angel (as she is everyone’s).  This year, there were some new additions joining last year’s Tina Fey, Bones and Booth, Heidi Montag, Lady Gaga, and others.  My tree is proud to name these amongst its occupants: the Gilmore Girls, Cher, Justin Bieber, RuPaul, and Melissa and Joey.  ‘Tis the season!  Here’s a pic:

Contrary to what fairy tales like Cinderella, (terrible) movies like The Prince & Me, and even some people’s real lives like Grace Kelly having been telling me all my life, I guess this regular girl is not going to be a princess.  Not Prince Willam’s princess anyway.  It finally happened: Wills and Catherine “Kate” Middleton are engaged.  (Does anyone else find it weird that she spells Catherine with a C but Kate with a K?  No?  Just me?  Okay.)  So just like my mom did when Diana got married, and just like I did when Diana died, I’ll wake up at some ungodly hour to watch it all go down across the pond, and for those few hours wish I were British.

I’ve always been a bit of an Anglophile.  I’m a big fan of Brit Lit, contemporary and classic: Harry Potter, all Jane Austen.  And their pop music has always been fantastic — Why does America hate dance music so much?!  And while I’m not one of those crazies who know/follow everything the Royals do, I did love Diana.  (Sorry, Wills, this blog post about you is going to be about your mom too.  You know how it goes.)  I was fourteen when she died, so not only did I have the romanticized view of her as everyone else, I also had this teen angst connection with her.  You know: they didn’t understand her, and she was so strong.  Who knows how much of what we know about her is true, but I know one thing.  In 1997, they made a Beanie Baby in her memory.  And in 1997, there could be no greater honor.

The press was pretty kind to William and Harry after that, and we only saw them occasionally, especially stateside, I’m sure.  But I did notice that William was getting super cute (as would Harry eventually, minus that Nazi thing…).  And in 2000, I just happened to be in England when Williamania hit, i.e. his 18th birthday.  There were so many specials on Brit TV.  And he did his first official photo shoot, allowing cameras into Eton.  There were pictures of him cooking!  And in a Union Jack vest!  This was also when I first learned the term “prefect,” which would come in handy when I started reading HP the following fall.  I also looked up if I, as an American, could marry him.  Yep.  If I’m remembering correctly, I could.  I think I could even be Queen because the King is more in charge or whatever.  The only hitch was, I was a confirmed Catholic, so I’d have to get excommunicated.  For Wills, I would have done it.

Alas, it seems it is not to be.  I never did do that semester abroad at St. Andrews I fantasized about.  (Fun fact: Jonathan Taylor Thomas also did a semester there.)  Had I, perhaps it would be our engagement the Prince of Wales would be announcing.  At least that’s how it went in my dreams.  Instead, I’ll just have to be content waking up to watch his wedding at 3:00am. 

Oh, and here is the “Prince William” section from my magazine collection:

It’s always best to be cautious when welcoming in a new season. Those first couple of weeks are dicey — you never know if it’s going to be t-shirt warm or jacket cold. In fact, I’m outside, and it went from one to the other as I sat here. But I’m not afraid to say it: I’m so glad it’s finally fall! In my rankings of the seasons, fall comes in at two, behind winter and ahead of spring, with summer bringing up the rear. Weather-wise, I think fall and spring might tie, but in activities and treats, fall takes the (pumpkin-flavored) cake.

Perhaps my favorite thing about the fall is Halloween. Oh man, do I love Halloween. I love getting dressed up. I’m totally going to be that mom who still wears a full costume to hand out candy. And if you’ve read this blog, you know my stance on Halloween candy — maybe this year, trick-or-treaters! I pride myself on never having repeated a costume (at least once I started choosing them myself), and can tell you what I’ve been every year since kindergarten. Some highlights: 3rd grade: The Statue of Liberty, 5th grade: a Stop Sign, 9th grade: Pippi Longstocking, 11th grade: a Newsie (duh), 12th grade: Daria, Soph year of college: Kelly Osbourne, last year: a Walk of Shame. I also have this (apparently annoying) habit of keeping my costumes a surprise. It’s not because I think they’re super amazing, but just because I think it’s fun for everyone to show up to work or school or wherever and all be surprised. So, I do have an idea of what I’m going to be this year, but I’m certainly not going to tell you!

I’m also a huge fan of all things food that come with fall. Pumpkin flavored everything. Apple cider, hot and cold. Thanksgiving-y and harvest-y foods. You know it’s fall when you walk into a Starbucks and see the Pumpkin Spice latte up on their specials board. I got one the other day! Not from Starbucks, but still… Food related activities are also super fun. When I was little, we always went apple picking every fall, an extremely country thing for our very suburban family to do. It was so much fun. And the pies that would be made! Oh, the pies! Two years ago, my mom, sisters, and little nieces came out in September, and we went apple picking. Well, they (and a zillion other relatives, including my dad and a nephew who hadn’t been born yet) are coming back in a few weeks, and apple picking is penciled in on the itinerary. Plus, there’s always the trip to the pumpkin patch! Now that I have a nephew in the city, Halloween is going to be even more fun!

As for fall entertainment, there’s obviously great TV to look forward to (as previously blogged about), and fall baseball! It’s one of the best times to go see a ball game (depending on how your team is doing). Hopefully my White Sox can “cinch it up, and hunker down” as Hawk Harrleson says, and end this season with a bang! The theatre season is also starting, and while many shows I’m excited for aren’t opening until 2011, there are some great shows opening this fall. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which I missed at The Public, is thankfully coming to Broadway. I’m also interested to see Elf and can’t wait for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, obvi (Patti! Sherie! Laura!) And don’t forget movies. The one I’m absolutely salivating over is The Social Network. Oh, man. It. Looks. Epic. Not to mention Part 1 of HP and The Deathly Hallows. All in all, I think this fall is shaping up to be pretty shamzing!

So pretty much anything anyone could talk about today was Steven Slater, the flight attendant who lost his shit after dealing with one idiot too many.  I’ve worked service jobs; I get it.  I think most people do.  And while some of us may be more predisposed to act on those feelings, haven’t we all at least fantasized about leaving somewhere in a dramatic fashion?  Really leave an imprint.  Well, congrats, buddy.  You not only left an imprint on Flight 1052, but you left one on America and also the world.  I think it may have been the most dramatic exit since Fred and George left Hogwarts and Umbridge in a blaze of glory on their Cleansweeps.  I like to think that when Steve left with those two beers, he looked back at one of his coworkers and said, “Give ‘em hell from me, Janet!”  And just like Peeves, Janet saluted.  Oh, sorry if I lost you non-Harry Potter lovers.  Back to Steven.

It’s odd to think that he started his day presumably just like any other and ended it a folk hero and, for the time being anyway, a part of pop culture.  It’s so easy to get your fifteen minutes of fame these days, it’s hard to imagine someone getting it without trying.  I mean, look at the Balloon Boy incident!  Though, to be fair, it wasn’t really Balloon Boy who was looking for fame, but his parents.  BTW, everyone at my office was riveted to our computers that day.  I’m still mad at those jerks for making me think that boy was in there.  Jerks.  Anyway, Steven Slater has made it!  For who knows how long, people will be at their boring jobs, a friend’s birthday, or a family get together cracking jokes about where the nearest inflatable slide is.  Also, it has to be said: what a whimsical way to make an exit.

Perhaps Steven should call another Steve for advice on how to handle this sudden attention — Steve Bartman.  That right, the guy who “lost” Game 6 of the NLCS for the Cubs in 2003.  Oh, and just so you know, the Cubs had another chance to clinch it.  It’s not like Steve was at Game 7 to screw it up for you, Cubs.  No excuses.  (Go White Sox!)  Poor Steve Bartman.  What a sweet deal he thought he had.  Watching the Cubs from great seats competing in the postseason when they actually had a chance (except not) to reach the World Series for the first time since 1945!  All he did was what many a baseball fan (including several around him who did it too) would do: stick his hand out for what he thought was a foul ball.  He got in the way of a Cubs player trying to catch it.  Whoops.  And now, Steve Bartman, you’re not only a part of baseball history, but also pop culture.  Here’s video of him being escorted out of the stadium after the incident.

You don’t have to go crazy or ruin the dreams of thousands of Cubs fans though to become famous.  You can do a good deed!  Take the Subway Hero, for example.  Wesley Autrey (to be honest, I had to look up his name because I only know him as the Subway Hero) gained NYC and national fame a few years ago when he saved a twenty-year old who fell onto the tracks after having a seizure.  He jumped on the tracks and lay on top of the guy in the space between the rails.  Amazing.  Who knows if any of us would have the guts to do something like that.  Aside from saving a human life, though, there’s another incentive.  30 Rock did an episode about it.  I just hope this season Kenneth freaks out on everyone and slides down into the Plaza.

I am a fan of adaptations: books to movies, movies to musicals, plays to movies, movies to plays, TV shows to YA book series, the list goes on and on. I have no problem with this so long as the intentions and integrity of the original are maintained, and the new medium to which it’s adapted also maintains its integrity. Just with any original material, things can turn out well or badly:

Books to movies: Harry Potter = Yay! The Baby-sitters Club (1995) = Boo!

Movies to musicals: Legally Blonde = Yay! Fame = Boo!

TV shows to YA book series: Full House Stephanie books = Yay! Full House Michelle books = Boo!

So, here’s a thought I had the other day: why aren’t more songs adapted into other mediums? I mean, we have rock operas based on concept albums (The Who’s Tommy, American Idiot). Why not a movie based on a story song? “Now, Patty,” you ask, “whatever could have brought on this thought?” And I reply, “Well, I was listening to my iPod on shuffle, as I am want to do, and the 2002 Avril Lavigne hit Sk8er Boi came on. Then I thought, ‘Wouldn’t this make a great movie?’”

Paramount Pictures thought so, at least for a hot second. The song was optioned in 2003, but according to Wikipedia, the project has been shelved. What?! No! While I don’t think this is actually a “good” idea, who wouldn’t watch this movie? Just listening to the song, you really get to feel for these tortured teens. I mean, he was a punk and she did ballet! What more can I say?! It’s a classic story of star-crossed lovers, and I would watch it. If only to see my dream cast of Ryan Sheckler playing Sk8er Boi opposite Taylor Swift’s Ballerina. And since the end of the song is set in the future, Avril can play “herself” and be in the studio singing that they wrote about a girl he used to know. Now, we just throw in some other high school stereotypes and celebrity cameos, and we’re good to go! Miley Cyrus will be cast as the bitchy friend, who in the future gets tickets to Sk8er Boi’s rock show (without inviting her old high school friend Ballerina. See, told ya she was a bitch). Stephen Colbert as Ballerina’s disapproving father will also end up at the rock show (also not having invited his daughter) and fall in love with Sk8ter Boi’s mom, played by Courtney Love. Zac Efron will play against type and be Ballerina’s jerk future husband (remember, Ballerina has a baby in the in song!). Tell me this isn’t a blockbuster in the making.

Now, if I could only have gotten GEICO to adapt their Tiny House commercial into a TV show instead of the Cavemen, I’d be the happiest girl alive.

This is Entertainment Weekly’s 20th anniversary year, so they’re doing a lot of looking back.  In this week’s issue, they count down the 100 Greatest Characters of the past 20 years.  Now, there are some I feel are missing (No Daria? No Angela Chase? No Camden family from 7th Heaven?!  Okay, that last one was a joke), but it’s a really good list overall.  And I just wanted to share some thoughts about some charaters who jumped out at me.  Next to them is where they fell in the order of the list.

1. Homer Simpson

    I love The Simpsons, but that’s probably because I stopped watching it a while ago.  When I did watch it, man was I into it.  I’ve seen every episode of at least the first half of the series.  When it first came out, I put a self-imposed ban on the show (I felt it was inappropriate), but I finally came to my senses in junior high and became a hardcore fan.  The Simpsons were a huge part of my introduction to the Internet.  I spent my time in the early days of dial-up in Simpsons chatrooms and taking Simpsons trivia tests.  While I love every character on the show, I get why Homer was singled out.  Way to go, Homie!

2. Harry Potter

    Oh, HP, where would I be without you?  JK’s amazing world routinely takes me out of the reality of smelly New York subways and into the ever-confusing halls of Hogwarts.  At the center of this complex world is a complex character who we get to see grow up before our eyes.  A self-proclaimed fangirl, I must address the movie adaptations, which I find to be flawed (as most movie adaptaions are), but extremely well done.  If you’re a non-reader and are confused, I have no sympathy for you.  There’s an easy and enjoyable remedy if the movies seem to have plot holes.  Read the books, and fill them in like the rest of us.  You won’t be sorry.  One thing though: how hard is it to get Daniel Radcliffe some green contact lenses?!

7. Edward Scissorhands

    I have a confession to make: I’ve never seen the end of this movie.  Edward Scissorhands scares the shit out of me.  When I turned the page and saw his picture, I gasped and proceeded to cover it up so I could read the accompanying story.  I understand it’s a beautiful tale about an outsider finding acceptance, but all I see is the creepy guy who made me cry and lock myself in the bathroom at the age of eight.  One day I’ll watch this movie, but I’ll be in a safe place, surrounded by those who love me.

18. Sue Sylvester

    Not even one season into the show, and Sue’s on the list?!  Bravo, I say!  Jane Lynch is a genius and deserves to be on this list several times over for memorable characters she’s helped to create.  You know whenever Sue comes on screen, she’s going to say something insane, delivered to perfection by Jane Lynch.  The occasional glimpse at Sue’s soft side (being romantically rejected, interacting with her sister) add depth to this character, who could come across as just plain bitchy.  One word: Outstanding!

34. Cher Horowitz

    Clueless was an important movie of my youth.  Cher was hilariously ignorant of how ignorant she was.  Yet, she really just wanted to make the people around her happy.  True, sometimes it was for personal gain, but what teenager wasn’t a little selfish?  In the end, it didn’t matter that she ended up with her ex-step-brother (weird) because we wanted to see her happy.  Not to mention Paul Rudd’s Josh was super adorable.  Cher helped usher in fashion trends, some of which are back (knee socks, babydoll dresses) and slang, most of which I still use.  I’m outie!

47. Corky St. Clair

    Waiting for Guffman was the movie that made me realize I was a “theatre person.”  I had worked with Corky St. Clair.  Anyone who has done community theatre has worked with Corky St. Clair.  I understood the jokes in this movie as if they were written for me.  You know when you get a really good joke, and you just have to say out loud, “Yes! That is true! That’s exactly how it is!”  All of Waiting for Guffman is that joke.

65. Lorelai and Rory Gilmore

    We all already know how much I love Gilmore Girls.  I miss these women.  I miss their relationship.  I wish I knew what they were up to now.  I imagine they’re talking about Heidi and Spencer splitting up and Emily has no idea what they’re saying.  I wish I could bring this show back.

75. David Brent

    When I first saw the American Office, I, like many others, hated it.  Mostly because the pilot was just a rehashing of the British pilot.  And the Brits did it better.  Now, I love and can appreciate the show that was inspired by the original, but there’s nothing quite like the original.  David Brent is indescribably awkward, and the discomfort I get when watching him interact with other people is oddly pleasurable.  You know what I would love to see?  Extras’ Andy Millman having a conversation with David Brent.  Amazing.

77. Mimi Marquez

    One of the few characters I disagree with being on this list.  I love that Rent is represented here, but if I were to pick a character from the show, it would have to be Angel.  Angel is the heart of Rent.  His is a character of joy, love, and acceptance.  The spirit he embodies is eventually what brings Mimi back from the edge.  Oh, it probably doesn’t help that I can’t stand Daphne Rubin-Vega’s voice.

79. Elphaba

    If only you could remove the flaws from the musical Wicked and the book Wicked, then I think you’d have the perfect Elphaba.  I love the mainstream spotlight that Wicked and Elphaba put on musical theatre, but I feel the Elphaba in the book is a much more complex and well-rounded character.  I know a lot of people rag on the book, and I agree, it wasn’t the easiest of reads.  However, I think because I know the musical version and the book version of Elphaba, I have a better understanding of the potential character she could be.

86. Karen Walker and Jack McFarland

    The apex of a fag/hag duo, Jack and Karen are everything I want to be in life.  They’re irreverent (sometimes downright mean) and do what they love for the pure joy of it.  While their questionable behavior often gets them in trouble, we can learn a lot from them.  If we could all be that free with our friends and ourselves every now and then, it would make those days where we have to be responsible a little easier. 

92. Christopher Boone

    I don’t read a lot of contemporary literature; I’m not familiar with what’s out there, and I try to only take suggestions from people whose taste I trust.  My sister gave me The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time as a present, and luckily I’ve always trusted her taste.  Christopher, a fifteen-year-old with Aspergers, narrates this touching and funny mystery novel.  I’ve reread it countless times, and never get tired of entering Christopher’s interesting and complex world.

If there is one thing weekends are good for, it’s a marathon.  And if you thought I meant running 26 ½ miles, you obviously don’t know me.  I mean the kind of marathon where you break out your DVDs of the entire run of a TV show, where a basic cable channel shows innumerable back-to-back episodes of a show, or where you decide to watch all six Harry Potter movies in a row.

I rarely have days where I just do nothing.  Even my vacations are overscheduled and a little too busy.  Sometimes, however, I have one or, if I’m super lucky, two days to sit around.  If this happens too often, I’ll get bored in my apartment by myself.  If my life is crazy busy and days off are a rare occurrence, I relish this time away from the annoyance of people and work.  This weekend was one of those occasions.  And I watched TV.  The entire time (with the exception of writing this, obvi).

Even on those weekend nights where I have something to do, Oxygen Network almost always has something for me to fill the day with: an ANTM marathon.  They pretty consistently run day-long marathons of entire “Cycles” of America’s Next Top Model on Saturday and Sunday every weekend.  Yesterday, it was Cycle 11, with awkward Marjorie, sexy Sheena, adorable Sam, transgendered (gasp!) Isis, and one of my least favorite winners: McKey.

No, I didn’t spend all day watching ANTM.  Not because I didn’t want to, but because I’ve been in the process of watching my recently purchased first and second seasons of Bones for a few weeks now.  I’ll watch an episode here and there, but until this weekend, I haven’t had a chance to sit down and watch a bunch all at once.

The show’s currently in its fifth season, so I have to get on buying seasons three and four soon. It’s daunting looking at $60+ DVD sets when there are seven or eight seasons worth you want to buy.  It’s much easier to buy them as they come out.  It took me awhile to buy all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, since season five was already out when I bought season one.  It was worth the wait, though, because I love Gilmore Girls marathons.  One problem, I somehow lost the last disc of season four, so if anyone can help me out with that, I’d appreciate it…

Including the rest of Bones, when I buy it, and the fourth season of Psych, of which I own the first three, I anticipate many more marathons in my future.  I just bought a new computer, which should arrive in a couple of weeks!  The computer I’m currently typing on is an old, sad laptop I got in 2005.  My new laptop is red and small and has a Web cam!  Plus, I’ll be able to watch videos on it without it freezing every few seconds, meaning I’ll get streaming Netflix.  Can you just imagine the movie and TV marathons in my future?!