mimi's island

oh my heart. it sinks.

i love october road.

when i was enlightened by its magnificence last season...i was just as emotional. and look, i am nick garret in my own right...returning nearly ten years later where things are just as i had left it while some parts can be irrecognizably heartbreaking.

chills down my spine tonight in the final scenes when relationships were validated, friendships renewed, love strengthened, and even weakness and vulnerability...all to the tune of Bruce Hornsby's Mandolin Rain - anthem of defeat in my history of dramatic appearances.

i'm inspired by tv. i'm a sap. sometimes i wanna be hannah. sometimes i wanna be the one dating the football player. i want to write a book and come back to october road. i want to be wearing aubrey's clothes.

Posted by at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

it's not that i'm late. i've been paying attention, i swear. i just wanted to get it out there. it's not rocket science - this is good stuff.

you got served, how she move, step up, dancing with the stars, so you think you can dance (to name a few)...and now randy jackson presents america's best dance crew...

it's been running for weeks now but i am spending my sunday afternoon with tentative attention span to my slingbox streaming...i am throughly impressed and i have one major declaration...SINCE WHEN DID MARIO LOPEZ LOOK THIS HOT? who knew that 20 years later (or something like that)...slater would tone down the tan and jerry curl and make me forget that i was about 9 (?) years old when he was trying to get to class with zack and screech.

the innovation, the staging, the personality, the creativity...i really wish i had more coordination than that required of me to pump my pelvis. i have no grace whatsoever...my clumsiness, heavy footing, and overthinking makes me incapable of doing anything remotely smooth in this type of dance setting. suddenly, we forget that michael jackson is also considered a surgicallly-altered pedophile.

my favorites are my super asian-infused dance crews, kabba modern (pictured below, courtesy of mtv) and jabbawockeez flexing that filipino pride...i mean, who isn't a fan?

Posted by at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

american idol often makes grandiose self-proclamations and i must admit i haven't been too impressed with the past seasons. ultimately, the AI winner is always deserving...but the selections haven't been as inspiring as those i've seen tonight. i was tearful on more than one occasion, the night before the almost-top-24....and was even more impressed as i was reminded of how much music can really move me.

the new elimination process during hollywood week this season is genius....they got rid of that stupid group performance that did nothing but propagate drama. it was awesome that they were given the option to play an instrument for their first performance. it was awesome that they were given a second chance so that they wouldn't dismiss anyone immediately. it was awesome that they got to choose their own song and sing it with a real band and backup singers. it was just awesome.

i'm really excited to see the final walks tonight and i'm wondering if there's gonna be a way for me to schedule my lunches at 2pm so that i can vote when the crunch time comes. i'm kidding, seriously.

Posted by at 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

20 minutes into the season opener and i am fully enjoying survivor. too bad the part of micronesia they are in is not somewhere like urunao or orote point...

i was amazed that i held back tears when i saw yau man, cirie, and ozzy...my true survivor favorites. i can't believe jonny fairplay is labelled as a "favorite". he made one major lie and has capitalized on that evil act far too much.

i loved how jeff slowly annunciated "par var dee" when he uttered parvarti's name. she was just "poverty" back then.

yauman finding the idol was cute. yauman making fire was awesome.
parvarti is still poverty.
eliza is irritating.
and ozzy - is so. hot. i'll say it now.
james, i don't remember james.
amy - i don't care about amy.

from the new kids - mikey is hotter version of david arquette.
everyone, 'cept for the crazy lady...i don't care about or remember. but i was seriously loving it when they won the first immunity challenge.

i'm hooked.

Posted by at 3:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

did it miss me?

okay, after viewing the pre-finale episode of TAR just now...i was an emotional wreck and was yelling, clapping, and tearing all by myself. i'm so glad that i can leave it and come back to it and be just as in love with it. now a little bit about the teams. i'm so glad that the the "bad" and the "ugly" have been weeded out and this is my first time tuning in so late and not having been religiously watching throughout the season. blame it on happy hours, nights at the atrio, and holiday partying extravaganza. but WOW a season where i don't mind which team would take the million. it's been awhile.

ron and chris
they had me at "i love you, daddy" and based on what i've seen on the "previously on the amazing race" bit...so glad i didn't have to witness all their daddy drama. yay asians!

tk and rachel
yay for a couple that gets along and doesn't thrive on drama. plus, next to nate and jen...how can you NOT root for them?

nic and donald
not one, but two paternal couplings in the final three?! so glad for a finale with lack of an alpha male couple trying to use TAR as a relationship lithmus test. grand daddy and the boy are true underdogs. they get my vote but i know they won't win.

OR WILL THEY???!

AND WHAT THE HELL??? SURVIVOR MICRONESIA?!! FANS vs FAVORITES?!! have i been a hermit? yau-man, ozzy, jonny fairplay in company? okay i'm officially back on the slingbox. i admit i have no clue what went on with project runway, ANTM, grey's anatomy (just watched the last ep last night), and Survivor China...and i'm relieved that the world still continued to thrive in spite of me not tuning into the tube.

what i don't love and the reason why i've been sleeping with the slingbox turned on in recent days...is being out of touch with the national news. bad enough of me to not be on top of local news...i rely on word of mouth to hear local news. and lucky for me, i have friends in media to fill me in and this is guam...so if you haven' t already heard it by word of mouth, it's probably not newsworthy. lawdy lawd!...there's an election...i really must pay attention and start putting colbert report, the daily show, bill maher on my season pass manager. yay for absentee voting and a california address.

Posted by at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i've been doing excessive youtubing and found these videos....youtube "stars" from guam. they are worth viewing and have gotten tons of hits.

Posted by at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

my slingbox brought me so much pleasure tonight....especially because how i met your mother has returned. i am so glad it has survived its weak viewership when it was new and is now its third season. i have yet to purchase all of season two for my viewing pleasure. i'm also absolutely thrilled that neil patrick harris received a nod at the emmy's by being nominated...this gives me high hopes for my legendary show.
i loved tonight's premiere....it had an endearing mandy moore and dreamy enrique iglesias as guest starrs....featured robin and ted's bounceback from their breakup....and exploited ted, my favorite architect on tv, in freakout mode over a butterfly tattoo of all things....with all the laughs i've been in need of.
laughter has kept me going strong through my breakup. i have so many new reasons to smile.
"wait for it" was the title of tonight's episode...and the ingenious writers of HIMYM are keeping me on my toes for "it".....barney outtakes to slapcountdown.com. i have it bookmared. curious, indeed.

Posted by at 9:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i did not turn the tv on even once while i was on Guam. its summer and programming is limited but i am glad to have the TiVo remote in my hand again. my lineup consists of the 4400, Big Love, Entourage, Rescue Me, and So You Think You Can Dance. i've already missed out on several episodes. i won't be purchasing cable service when i move since everything i watch is already online. although i might be tempted to get a slingbox.. i'm still doing my research.

Posted by at 1:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

my inner glee cannot be held back when i see Guam in the background of the previews of next week's Amazing Race episode!! i'll just have to wait and see how we are represented but am already excited that it's a task that involved the Air Force Base because that shows how Guam has a vital presence on the military forefront of this country. i wonder where Phil will be popping his eyebrow next week! speaking of the Amazing Race...i came this close to purchasing tickets to attend TARcon. but i know i have so many plans ahead of me that should really take priority.

Posted by at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

one may ask why i'm still up at this time. for one, i had sips of thai iced at about 1030 pm. but my new admitted reason is October Road. oh yeah, i can admit i'm not a bandwagon gal when it comes to these new shows. i figure what's the point, when i will be left hanging after sweeps fail to preserve the lineup. but how can i resist the small-town (possibly small-island), same-age-as-me, wanna-be grown-ups like myself trying to discern how life has unfolded before their very eyes?

friendships are challenged. love is doubted. ideals are questioned.
is it really TEN years after high school?

sounds familiar? how about that the main character used-to-be-an-attention-seeker in high school is now a single mom to a 10-year-old and trying to land on perfection? and now at 338am, i ask myself how on earth i am finding myself as one of knight's ridge, massachusetts.

see, this is why i stay away from tv but i'll still blame it on that damn potent thai iced tea. besides, its not technically tv.....it's online video streaming for heaven's sake!

great quote from episode 4:

the average penis is comprised mostly of equal parts muscle, tissue, blood vessels, and ambivalence

this is genius and true but i'll have to add if this is what penises (is this even the proper plural noun?) are made of, then...

vaginas are a few parts of muscle, tissue, blood vessels, and MOSTLY vulnerability

Posted by at 3:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

when in need, it's time to break out the big guns...duty calls for sex and the city. it's full of wisdom, laughter, and tears. right now i'm on season 6 and feelin' like charlotte.

Carrie: Remember when a break was a good thing....spring break, coffee break. Now it's break-up, breakdown. They keep getting worse....what's next?

Easter break is here and as the holiday nears, i am reminded of larger voids. familiar faces that once felt comfortable have all turned into silence, but without uttered goodbyes. common threads continue to unravel but i'm still keeping it together.

Posted by at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

george + izzie = gizzie

while i adore grey's anatomy....this recent development has me all in knots. for izzie to think that drunken sex with her MARRIED "best friend" was some fated sign that they were meant to be is utterly disturbing. i am never a homewrecker fan or one to condone adultery and i have no soft spot for what's in store for these two. i know its just a silly little tv show but i am not prepared to witness the ugliness that will ensue when i witness george confronting these truths with callie, his wife who adores him. regardless of the fact that he questions the decision he made to marry her....he has still committed himself to this responsibility. and the last scene where he cowardly withholds the truth from her is all too reminiscent of how men will either lie or withhold truths to keep them from feeling accountable for causing pain on someone they love. i will be so angry if izzie ends up pregnant.
i am enjoying seeing Derek having internal battles about Meredith. i find it heartwarming that his love is being portrayed as something real...where he has the desire to protect her yet you really see the depth of his concern.
i am enjoying christina realize that she has to step up burke's demands in their relationship. the last scene of wedding negotiations brought me to tears.
damn these tv shows!...they can be so engaging but at least it removes me from reality for a few seconds of the day.

Posted by at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

borat makes me laugh anytime of day and in any circumstance. it's the only movie that i have in my ipod...and for good reason. what's even funnier is when i try to do a borat impression...i not only get the accent wrong, i also mess up his words. you probably wouldn't even know i'm trying to be borat. i was trying to talk to jane about this on sunday and what's even more hilarious is that she's never heard of borat. i thought this movie would be so silly and refused to view it on the big screen. i pay per view-ed when i went to san diego and i fell asleep because i ordered it at 345am. now i must buy the dvd...that's what i'll treat myself to tomorrow.

Posted by at 12:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

yes its true i tune into battlestar galactica. just had to write about tonight's episode because it's after one of the main characters died and she wasn't a very likeable character at all. but tonight, witnessing her husband suffering was very excruciating. surprisingly (well not really), i relate more to the protrayal of relationships on this show. it can be considered uber geeky and sci-fi extrodinaire but it's really grown on me. its the most "un-mimi" show i've actually been paying attention to. now throw in anything with prophecies, battles, wars, trials....i have to do my homework first.

Posted by at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

...because Rob and Amber did not come in 1st place for this leg of the Amazing Race. and even better Team Chachacha....my favorite team, came in 1st!! and the creme de la creme is that Rob and Amber have been Philiminated.

Posted by at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Song of the Day[s o t d]: Show Me by John Legend

luke and lorelai's heartbreaking scene has been replaying in my head all week and i finally found the clip on youtube. this was last season and, of course, a lot has happened since then.lorelai wanted luke to deliver his promises because she's been waiting a long time. luke needs more time and can't make the necessary moves. lorelai walks out.

Posted by at 2:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the show of my life (yeah right!...i wish.)....the Amazing Race is back with an All-Stars Edition and I am in an absolutely euphoric state seeing all these familiar faces. this means i won't have to "get to know" anyone and i imagine (keyword here) it to be like an orgy beteween friends....except the competition is much fiercer. (bad analogy i know!)
After viewing the premiere...I am just absolutely irritated at Rob and Amber. I actually did meet them in New York and they are just as smug in person (hence no picture below). The previews for the next episode don't give much hope as to how much all the teams are obsessing about beating them and I'm not sure I'm prepared to hear "Rob and Amber, Rob and Amber, Rob and Amber" repeatedly.

Continue reading "my all stars are baaaack" »

Posted by at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

i've repeatedly claimed my love for those that flex their brains and if you were within the vicinity when Padma announced that Marcel would get to duke it out on Top Chef's 2nd Season finale...you might've been startled as i cheered for my top geeky chef. i had to excitingly tip toe to vent my delight since it was past midnight on my tivo. maybe i feel bad for the verbal abuse that he's subjected himself to but i also truly appreciate the depths of his gastronomy at his young age and his arrogant naivete that fueled him and kept him above the all the hate.
on another top chef note....exbf's sister (wow 2 mentions in a row!) went to school with Elan (the other finalist) and now that she's confirmed it, i totally remember him from her graduation because he was a few of the younger chefs that stood out in her class....he was dating a gal from hawaii at the time and was one of her buddies at the CIA's (Culinary Institute of America) Greystone in Napa Valley.
that was particularly gratifying and an on-screen decision hasn't gotten me this worked up since Yul's brains saved himself on last season's survivor. my tivo is back in full swing as survivor, the amazing race (ALL STARS!), american idol, grey's anatomy, and how i met your mother are new again or just about to get started for a new season.

Posted by at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

what would bring me to youtube you ask? its a treasure trove of Amazing Race Asia episodes....a version of TAR that I never even knew existed and I'm really impressed at its intensity. The racers and the edit are a whole lot different from the American edit....waaaay less drama (no "ugly americans") way more RAAAACE! This is awesome....except for no Phil.

Continue reading "the Amazing Race....ASIA" »

Posted by at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

FYI for all TV and TiVo'ers...
Grey's Anatomy new ep is not 'til Jan. 4
Desperate Housewives is not 'til Jan. 7
Lost is not til Feb. 7
America's Next Top Model British Invasion premieres on Wednesday.
Survivor Finale is next Sunday, Dec. 17.
The Amazing Race: All-Stars Edition premiers Feb. 1.

Posted by at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

this week, my tivo was filled with these. gilmore girls, how i met your mother, and grey's anatomy were repeats. survivor and grey's showed "flashback" clip shows, and then finally weeds was a MAJOR cliffhanger!!...a threesome of such that makes me angry that i have to wait until next year, which i'm realizing is actually not too far from now.

Posted by at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My acclaimed sit-com fave, How I Met Your Mother, has recently aired some episodes giving insight on Ted's (the main character) life as an architect. i wondered if he was "really" an architect until it was made clear in tonight's episode when his boss corrected his lack of an architectural license prevents him from qualifying himself as an architect. Ted's really like most practicing "architects" out there....project-managering and job-captaining their way to the top for recognition.

Continue reading "ted's really an architect" »

Posted by at 9:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I haven't fully dove into all the new shows this season because my tivo is still not fully functional. I am awaiting a cable from the tivo store...and they've messed up on my order so I am hugely upset. My love for tivo will not diminish though. Here's a little bit of what I've already seen. I am looking forward to the return of Lost, Battlestar Galactica, and Top Chef. I have yet to try other newcomers, the Class and Thirty Rock.

Continue reading "Preliminary TV" »

Posted by at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

after thursday night....you could bring up grey's anatomy almost anywhere (at least 20 times for me) and if you wanna be cool....you had better have something to say about it. this show has gotten so big and the grand gesture of moving it to thursday is even more telling of its success. it's not grey's anatomy if my tears don't come a flowin'.

Continue reading "my bits on grey's" »

Posted by at 3:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

i have to do my obligatory amazing race rant! it's back and better than E V E R! the season opener had a seaplane landing in seattle, eleven diverse teams that are beyond the usual cast, routing to the east....to BEIJING!....where you see them eat fish eyeballs, greet the imperial army in the forbidden city, and scale the Great Wall! hair-raising goosebumps at the beginning and tears at the end....this show deserves the FOUR emmy awards and it's officially baaack! i can't contain myself. you are sOooOOO missing out if you haven't tuned in. now all i need is my grey's anatomy fix.

Continue reading "amazing start" »

Posted by at 12:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prime Time is officially back with the premiere of "Survivor: Cook Islands" and this time, if you haven't already heard, Mark Burnett pulls out the race card. There won't be any token black divas, or little asian intellects....now you get a tribe-full of Caucasians, Blacks, Asians, and Latinos. Wow Filipinos on Prime Time....that is some cool shit.

Continue reading "Karma is a bizzle!" »

Posted by at 11:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

my last tv blog entry was about project runway but when my boss at work mentioned HGTV's Designstar, i was immediately intrigued. the lure of Project Runway to me is the designer/artist perspective and with Design Star, they have 10 designers/architects who compete in weekly challenges...and of course get voted off based on the performance/drama they bring. i've only seen the first episode and i've been able to identify with some of the contenders. i'm biased and am definitely rooting for the architects above all. in particular, there's a struggling-architect type guy from Boston who i found to be humble and talented but was unfortunately sent home on the 2nd episode. and there's also a young, energetic 26-yr old interiors gal from New Jersey who is doing really well so far. i have yet to see all their talents play out but i highly recommend this show. for the first challenge, the designers had to work off a budget to decorate their contestant quarters and my two faves were actually the shining players.

Continue reading "not just another reality show" »

Posted by at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

as i've said before summer is the time to find a gem amongst all the crappy filler programming and reruns out there. but alas there is Rescue Me and now Project Runway to make me feel like i'm not wasting time in front of TiVo. this season's project runway is as intriguing as usual but i'm also noticing how huge this show has gotten. all the marketing....all the commercials....heidi's wardrobe changes...and now the Emmy nominations. all of this attention is worthy of course but i am always impartial to things motivated by marketing...which is undoubtedly the underlying reason for everything wonderful in life that we pay for. my favored to win people are Michael and Allison so i'll just hang tight.

Continue reading "this one's for monica" »

Posted by at 12:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the scoop on the summer lineup - i am watching waaay more MTV than i should be

Continue reading "the report" »

Posted by at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

its that time of year...summer means reruns and scarce primetime shows. this week i am looking forward to the premieres of Rescue Me on FX and The Hills on MTV. I'll have to watch the season pilot episodes to give a full report.

Posted by at 1:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

yay my beloved hippies finished first and strutted their greatest muscles...their brains! BEST. ENDING. EVER. they had to find the flags of the countires they visited and put them in order. this was an extremely creative exercise to test their skills and how well they've absorbed their race experience. happy birthday to me from Betram Van Munster, creator of the best show on earth.

Posted by at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i am thirty minutes shy of finishing season 2's finale of grey's anatomy and what damn good tv. i am in awe...just simply in awe about how deep these writers dig to really get to you....and how skilled these actors are to play these lives so well. i'm reminded of SATC....where their lives become entangled in mine and uncontrollably i am there shedding a tear, sighing under my breath, or laughing along at everything before my eyes. and then when the credits roll i am slapped with that relief that my life is much less complex and forced than what i am seeing and i am in deslusional to think that my life is even remotely as entertaining. i guess that's why it takes a team of writers and actors to make an award winning show.
okay live updating now and damn this show is just too much. damn shoulda tivo'd and remembered that instant gratification can be so awesome! but not right now i have to find ways to consume my time and occupy my mind so that i'll stop being so impatient and so depressed that i'll have to wait god knows how long for the 3rd season to start.
ohmifucking god what an ending!!!! cry me a river for heaven's sake.

Posted by at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the Amazing Race is getting down to the wire and i'm really afraid for "the hippies". they are representin' the bay area and unfortunately tonight, came in last place. it was an awesome episode but it was also gut wreching! they were spared from elimination because it was a non-elimination leg. in the world of TAR this means the last team to arrive stays in but must continue with only the clothes on their back. the last task on this leg was a hike through the wet jungles and one team member was running without shoes! my heart stopped because i would rather have this be their fate than to go home. it was also an awesome episode because the usual trailing team, a male/female team that is actually likeable, came in 1st...only the second m/f team to come in 1st! the shuffling and unpredicability is exactly why this is the BEST show on earth! i'm really sad i won't be in NYC for TARcon this year but relieved to a greater degree that i've already gone 2x. there was also a skydiving task tonight and it made me even more giddy about my jump from the sky on the 14th of May!!

Posted by at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

so why am i all of sudden privileged with dishing about my tivo again? here in fremont i've finally figured out how to manually record my programs. you see our network and cable hasn't been the best of service provided so i haven't been able to settle into my tivo routine. my tivo has not received life, connected to the network, since moving from Union City. its definitely not rocket science but i guess i never bothered to do enough exploring in my tivo menu. i've been fending for myself by using meevee as my tv guide and then resorting to downloading missed programs. the only shows that i absolutely must see are the amazing race, grey's anatomy, and how i met your mother....which brings me to the purpose of this entry.
tonight's episode was SOOo worth the wait (3 weeks with no new episode!!) and i am more than relieved that the show has been confirmed for a second season. this ted/robyn fiasco is absolutely reminding me of the ross/rachel days where in my favorite episode ross says "over me....when were you under me?" and then "without or without you" by U2 chimes in at the end. i can't believe i can actually care about these sit-com characters as much as i do when i am only given 30 minutes to comprehend. might i add that HIMYM is the only sit-com that uses flash back as a consistent tool and they are unique in that they rarely tape their scenes in front of a live audience because there is so much editing to be done.
please lord don't take this show away....it's legendary. *hee.
in other tv news...i am extreeeeeeeeeeeemely tempted to purchase a 26" HDTV flat panel tv from dell for $799 for my new room at the new house. thats what i call too much. i feel almost a slight gush of testosterone inside of me for coveting such a manly possession (although a real man would go no less than 36") when i can get a 32" refurbished open box flat screen tv from best buy for $199 like what Jules did. i am the girl who rummages through the as-is section at ikea or the open box pile at best buy and i am the girl that gets giddy over loehmann's and whose eyes brighten up at the bottom line savings on my grocery store receipt (which by the way my largest record was $29.01 resulting in in 28% savings!).

Posted by at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

yet another reality tv elimination show has caught my attention. this is actually the 2nd season but it's caught my attention because there are THREE bay area contenders...and that's something to be proud of. i will stand firm in saying that there is no better region in the world to EAT than the bay area....where fresh ingredients, the merging of cultures, and diverse palettes give way to so much quality and variety in culinary expertise. whether it's filipino, spanish, cambodian, korean, french, japanese, or californian...i can easily name a go-to place to recommend. the creative and competitive aspects of this show is reminding me of the entertainment value and engaging quality of Project Runway!! you must go check it out. although some of the "personalities" are already biting. i am enjoying the check on culinary skills...like knife skills or presentation skills!...really interesting for someone who spends lotsa time in the kitchen...like me.

Posted by at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So it seems like the next bachelor will be an Architect. This article from the New York Daily News (forwarded from a coworker) cites the challenges in finding one to market to the whole world:

I used to believe I'd want to marry an architect...then I learned the god-awful truth when all my instructors and classmates were miserable stinky men who frequently complained about how little money they made or how overworked they were (and I'm only referring to the "successful" ones). Of course Ted on How I Met Your Mother (my new favorite sit-com) is an architect. He's more fiction than fact for now....hehehe. I've only worked with one maybe-hot architect hetero man. I'll stick to my geeks.

Posted by at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Had to divulge this American Idol tidbit.....
I thought Kevin Covais, the little man who couldn't bring "IT"...until tonight. He sang Stevie's Part Time Lover and had a performance that to me, was more appealing that his usual mess. Not that I'm ready to crown him the next American Idol...but he exceeded expectatations (not that they were that high to begin with, LOL).

Posted by at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is the Premiere of the eighth season of the Amazing Race...and I have no cable. Not even snowy cable. I will attempt to McGyver the attena at home to get reception and will have my sister record it on VHS as backup. Oh of all the woes of moving...this is the top of the list ! I have never missed an Amazing Race premiere since I discovered it before Season 2.

Posted by at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I have been devoured, sucked in, without conscience.

I rarely pay attention to Idol...usually only towards the end. And this year I am indeed a latecomer to join the band aids - tuning in only last week - but I am enjoying myself. I've actually tuned in earlier than last year and am already more intrigued than last year. I will have to admit I was not completely buying Bo Bice or Carrie Underwood because they were so limited to their genres of rock and country. This year the hopefuls have more adaptability...and more "it" factors. I've been holding my breath until after seeing the male competitors during this week's first round of finalist filtering...and now I can let it out a little.

I was a little afraid for the men after the females did well....hence the worry. There are a handful of finalists that are absolutely noteworthy....not just 1 or 2 in the bunch...and some of them even make me giddy. I had dfiferent sentiments between the two groupings. For the girls, I felt like the few exceptional were really awesome and they set the bar extremely high (dare I say even higher standard than the guys) that they easily let you forget about the average singers and easily realize the ones that didn't belong. For me, the guys were a bit more evenly skilled....while I was also WOWed, I feel many were on similar footing and there were less extremely terrible contenders - it was a lot of great song/okay voice or bad song/good voice or good voice/okay performance. I found myself rooting for more of the guys to stay in than the girls....who I could easily say "Eww, go home". Maybe its a girl thing...I'm playing the hater game and I think the guys have more "like-ability" as they say. It was also easier for me to pick whom I wanted to stay amongst the guys than the girls.

The standouts, so far, are Paris Benett, Katherine McPhee, Elliot Yamin, and Ace Young (pictured here, hehhehe!) These are the ones that showed they have it all....voice, charisma, likeability, and performance. They were all very evocative and effortless performers who you just can't question. And most importantly - they had GREAT song choices!

These past 2 nights invited viewers to vote for who they like to filter out the least-favored performers...but I am voting to keep the ones that I would like to see remain in the competition, so they won't go home just yet. They struggled a bit or are controversial but I genuinely enjoyed them - that would be Ayla Brown, Kevin Covais, Will Makar, and David Radford. The rest are either easily in or easily out. My bottoms are Heather Cox, Brenna Gethers, Patrick Hall, and Bucky Covington. They are in the "too weak, boring, and seen it before" category. The ones I didn't mention are either forgettable, safe, and I'm still dwelling on. I really really like Chris Daugherty and Taylor Hicks as well but I am waiting for them to be less predicatble and break out of their genre to see how far they can go

By the way, pictured above is Ace Young showing off his "it" factor. Now I finally realize who he reminds me of...Smith Jared from Sex and the City! Maybe that's why I think he's got "it"...especially when he sang "warm and naked at your side" and "I'll be your daddy" (from George Michael's Father Figure) - I think I wouldn't mind that at all. It's just funny how seriously he took the song. I couldn't help but laugh as the camera zoomed in on this gaze

Well it's only Week 1 so it's a big "we'll see".

Posted by at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

It was a bittersweet viewing of Arrested Development's Season Finale on Friday night. If it were'n't for TIVO doing its job, I would've been even more heartbroken that I missed them. My reading on Google news tells me that ABC and Showtime are figthing to take over the show and I sure hope someone will take good care of it because Fox hasn't even promoted their award-winning show. How are they gonna get viewership if they don't tell people about it? Lately some other shows, Emily's Reason's Why Not and Love Monkey, were also given the axe after just one episode....even before I was able to give them a shot. Kitchen Confidential was cut after five episodes and while in the past I've lamented over the loss of shows such as Dead Like Me and Kevin Hill....I still don't understand why these good shows are being put away when crap like Wife Swap and the Bachelor can be brought back for repeat seasons. For now I'll say a prayer that How I Met Your Mother won't go away! I get really scared when I keep seeing reruns come back.

And now for more words on Grey's. The continuation from last week's intense episode finally came to fruition and it was well done! I am getting way too attached to the characters on the show. And it must be that every episode I shed a tear over something. I am really becoming displeased with the whole McDreamy triangle. I am starting to hate his game - he is not being honest towards his wife and is still entertaining his romance with Meredith. He has to pick one because it is so painful for me to watch. I read the Grey's forums and a lot of people are in love with George - I, for one, have not caught on. I become too irritated by his whining, his akward demeanor, his passive ways, and hs overgrown and greasy hair. Okay *rant over*

Posted by at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night's Grey's Anatomy was damn good TV!!! (So good it's worth a blog entry :)) The 2-parter really leaves you hanging but I'm so happy to have been hooked to this show since the very first episode. I know the first few seconds were to lure the Superbowl viewers but the rest of the show was heart-stopping and breath-taking. I've been thinking about it all morning and before I slept last night. For a moment, it was starting to feel ER-ish with everything happening at once and the previews showing "you've never seen anything like this" hype.....but last night was SOOoo worth it and yes so true...unexpectedly and above and beyond awesome TV! I'll have to admit that I googled "code black" last week to discover that it signified a bomb threat but I didn't know how that was going to be integrated into the OR and it was such a skillfully-acted episode as well....painstaking Bailey, sincere Addison, ominous Meredith, somber Sheperd...and all the comic relief in between.

I watched the Superbowl on Mute and with subtitles because I stayed in bed all day long, resting. Seems I've been hit with a sore throat.
Its almost that time...the only time I brace myself for exciting TV is when the Amazing Race is coming around again...February 28

Posted by at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There is only ONE show that'll absolutely infuse me with good (holiday) spirit and that is Oprah's Favorite Things episode. If you've never seen such a phenomenon....she spends the full hour gifting the audience with thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of material items to covet. It used to be that she would surprise an ususpecting audience but now it seems she gathers "special" sets of people. While I do agree that they are probably more deserving than most...I am sad that it ruins my chances of possibly being one of those "special" people sitting in that lucky audience. Her Favorite Things episode is on Monday and I can't wait to record it. It brings to my attention that Holidays are here and shopping, too. I think the hardest thing is trying NOT to "Christmas" myself more than everyone else. Things just get dirt cheap during Christmas. This year I'll be bargain hunting on ebay.

Posted by at 12:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I got sucked into the abyss of itunes 6 and ended up watching about 22 episodes of LOST. Not that I was entirely enthralled the whole time...but I'm just glad I can skip to the next episode or fast forward to my liking. I had high expectations because of all the talk and the awards and I can see why it gets so much viewership. But coming from an island (not liked I lived in the jungle) or watching a lot of survivor makes me critical of the some of the aspects of life, survival, and rescue. What I do like is the human side of the storylines....showing the lives and secrets behind each castaway...most of them more far-fetched that relatable. I have just a few more episodes and I'm all caught up. But surprisingly, this wasn't all that I accomplished this weekend. My sister volunteered for an impromptu barbecue on Saturday and everyone came over. Afterwards..it was off to the club and my, I have never seen so much tongue action on the dance floor (that's as far as I'll go in divulging information LOL). I'll have to admit that I was more of a spectator throughout the night but it was still fun regardless. Finally, I've been craving cupcakes since last weekend. The Food Network was hosting the Cupcake Challenge and I was on a mission since then. Cupcakes came up again in 3 separate instances throughout the week so I just knew I had to satiate my craving. I baked butter yellow cupcakes with chocolate buttercream filing and frosting...I'll share the pictures later :) They look and taste pretty damn good for my first try and I even topped them with chocolate shavings. YUM.

Posted by at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOB LOBLAW?
Hillarious I tell you! Scott Bayo of all people plays the family lawyer, Bob Loblaw, who replaces that-guy-who-was-Fonzie. I'm talking about Arrested Development, if you don't already know. It's back and it's on Monday nights. This new time slot gives the viewership hopes of staying on longer, because it sure is funny as ever. The Emmies say it all.

Blah blah blah. get it?!

LMAO

And even funnier...there actually is a Bob Loblaw wandering this free world!

Posted by at 3:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Of all nights to peruse the CBS websight, it's the night I find out I missed meeting Phil Kheogan IN PERSON. He appeared in San Francisco at the Learning Annex on October 6, to talk about The Amazing Race and sign The Amazing Race Season 1 Dvds and No Opportunity Wasted books!! How could I let my guard down? Punish me. I must share that I am so off my TAR love this week because Kylan cancelled my recording to record Seconds from Disaster!! Oh the agony, I must tell you. I came home late on Tuesday night and savored Tivo Time only to discover that TAR wasn't even recording. So not only am I outta the loop on the episodes...but to miss Phil in San Francisco. I know...enough.

Posted by at 2:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to Diddy, there's a lil' black in all of us....I believe in this inner blackness :) I'm all for ghetto-fabulous when needed and am so entertained by Making The Band 3, Season 2. It just premiered and I must say, I can dig hot chicks that can dance and sing their asses off. Like the Pussycat Dolls...I dig em. I listen to "Don't Cha" when I work out and I believe it :) Anyway....whenever girls get together...bitches power trip and drama is inevitable. So here's some drama that I'm actually condoning. It might just be that I actually like Diddy.

Posted by at 1:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's September and my Tivo is back in business. I must say right now I am enjoying Martha. Not from the reality TV aspect but I guess I'm just a Martha fan....and she's got good shit. Donald's Apprentice is nothing really new this season...men vs. women trying to outdo each other in tasks that I've already seen before. The Amazing Race's family edition is a different show...should be renamed to Family RoadTrip America. BUT I still love it and it's only been one episode so I can't be too critical just yet. What I really am enjoying are all the scripted shows...Grey's Anatomy and Rome. These are good picks which give you a break from Reality TV...which we are so easily saturated with. MTV even has their own Reality TV contest...and I can't believe I watched it for a whole 10 minutes. I found this website, Reailty TV Blurred, which posts current articles on all the stuff you're watching on Reality TV....very useful information! For instance, this week, Markus from Donald's Apprentice is explaining his behavior in defense of the way he has been portrayed. Also, Martha is announcing another reality show. Martha is everywhere! She has a daytime show with guests, her usual homemaking/cooking show, Good Things, another Sewing Show, the Apprentice...GOOD HEAVENS. I like that she is very open about her quandries past. She never denied or refused punishment and kept working with her anklet on. I wonder if she'll ever show it.LOL.

Posted by at 12:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had to think about wAaaay back and realized where it all began with this Amazing Race fixation. In the 80's, the first movie I remember loving was Midnight Madness. Remember this flick? Big scavenger hunt with colored teams? (Okay maybe you don't). Wlell then there was Million Dollar Mystery and the Rat Race? These fictitous tales of scavenging for a million are all realized in the Amazing Race, except it is exponentially spectacular and even more exciting. I should seriously plan a scavenger hunt party once....I can think of so many detours and roadblocks in the Bay Area. Brings back to mind that aspiration to sky dive. The last time I planned a jump was September 15, 2001 (for exbf's Birthday) and planes were grounded after 9/11. Just let me know when you're ready to plummet to the face of the earth. I will hold off on uttering Amazing Race factoids because some people (like Monica) might not have seen it yet!

Posted by at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anybody who knows me well knows that I absolutely, not just live for, but live IN the amazing race and its back on TONIGHT. Seasons ago when I started watching TAR no one even gave a care about this show because, well it started around the same time as other reality flop-outs, The Mole and Lost (not to be confused with the new drama series).
And now after THREE emmy awards, my show has it come a long way! I admittingly feel territorial when other people just started liking it...like they're not allowed to claim the love but really I'm lovin the love....The more people like it, the longer it'll be on - And the longer it'll stay running, the more chances i have of actually being on the show. Delusional, I know.
This season of TAR will be different as it is a family edition. The course of the race usually runs for about 40,000 miles, but with more players and even children in the mix - the race will be "dumbed down" and less mileage will be trekked. I don't know how I feel about this. I hope I don't lose any love for the true TAR.

Posted by at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That's right! Time for the Amazing Race to start up again...I'm so thrilled that GSN (The Game Show Network, a network I never knew existed) is now playing episodes from previous seasons. I get so teary-eyed everytime! I don't know how many Amazing Race references I make on a daily basis. I have to slap myself.

Posted by at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My Thoughts ExactlY! I don't know how or why but this was on the bottom of my list of "TiVo Suggestions". I thought it was a joke but the description is "A look at gynecomastia, on over-development of male breast tissue". Poor men (poor women with these men, if any). I will never tease a man with man-boobs again, ever! or i guess its just boobs, not man-boobs.

Posted by at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i am so glad that laguna beach's 2nd season has started up again on mtv. while some people may think that is on the verge of juvenile, i will stick to my delusion that its REAL! i will not let it be staged reality tv.

i caught the pilot episode of Weeds on showtime and I highly recommend it for a good laugh and for something undeniably different and candid. I've already added it to my "to-do" list. if only everything was so easy "to-do"

i will also be proud to say that i've caught up to entourage. i'm trying to get exbf into this show so that i don't feel like such a tivo hog. the girl from that nsync movie, "on the line" is in it and she is mighty hawt.

finally, another one of my favorite shows, six feet under, is near close! the last episode was sobbingly sad...i recommend you watch it for a good cry! oh wait, am i the only one who does that?

Posted by at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

well there's nothing to watch on tv! err tivo. first time ever i've come home with nothing newly recorded. well there are a few things to look forward to....like more time for working out and managing finances and oh yeah, going out!! my newly-awarded driving freedom has once-again made me human! i am now once again among the masses. this summer is already REALLY feeling like summer...bbqs, nights out, warm weather, super cool shopping deals....and oh yes, travel plans!! going back to guam is exciting but i'm also excited to go to the philippines and get some dirt-cheap shopping done. i'm into dirt when it comes to shopping! maybe squeeze in some cosmetic surgery...j/k! but all this means more spending....hotel stays, transportation, gas, clubbing, drinking, shopping....so yeah time for another job. usually my consulting job keeps me with some kind of cash flow but not lately...so i'm on a hunt for a second job. hrmm valet parking for $25/hr sounds promising! yeah right! i was thinking something like event planning or personal assistant...for a good price of course. the only thing i need to make my summer complete would be a memorable concert. i also have the premieres of six feet under and laguna beach to look forward to. i like to joke that "i only watch the real OC"....LOL.

Posted by at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i've been using TIVO waaaAyy too much...I've dangerously tried to "fast forward" a little bit of everything. And I'm not just talking about "real time" TV but I'm afraid to admit that occassionally I've looked for a remote to skip a scene in REAL LIFE(no joke!!)....like when people are talking to me or if my web page is loading too slow. what's wrong with me!? Tivo is certainly one of those gadgets i thought i could live without and now i consider it my second boyfriend.

Posted by at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

im desperately trying to find some scripted show to take a break from reality tv....(with, of course, the exception of the Amazing Race) and here I am watching the L word on Showtime. Its often paralelled to Sex and the City and I'm quite insulted. Every scene is girl on girl action and even though I don't change the channel, I get irritated at the oozing vaginas in front of me. Maybe because I think girl on girl action belongs on porn. Nothing wrong with porn. And to stay on the topic of TV, I'm getting the biggest Amazing Race gift ever. The finale is on my birthday this season! Happy Birthday to me from Bertram Von Munster (the creator). New York part deux anyone?

Posted by at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

one thing i sure do love about the olympics is the commercials!! great marketing...inventive integration...ingenius creativity!! i caught the americans taking the gold in both the women's and men's 4 X 400 relay races tonight and am still stunned at their lead. i'm also stunned at how tight their suits are and how very visible their packages are....which stuns me even more because when the women wear the tight suits...their boobs seem smooshed and smaller but the men's you know what look quite large. it would be funny if they employed tricks to make them look bigger. and im still confused about the whole sunglasses at night trend. yes i love americha...but im a bad underog-rooter...i like it when non-dominating nations take the lead!....i feel good for them but yes am happy when we win too. oh another disturbing thing is that people hardly sing when it comes to their flag ceremony. did they forget the words? or are they so into the moment that they are merely observing? i would have to say that the most astonishing event is the hurdles....its like WOW..simply amazing that that feat can be done so fast and so well. and one final thing, i promise, is the argentinians winning the gold in the world's 2 most popular sports...soccer and basketball. they've never won gold since forever...so yay underdogs again. i guess the U.S. dream team got a reality check.

Posted by at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

if that's even a word, i am officially it. im watching the tour de france on tv and to my delight tivo's brain has decided to record the program automatically. but even more remarkable than my new best friend tivo, is lance armstrong. i never realized the hype until recently and after watching his "insatiable appetite for victory" on tv....he is one bad-ass mofo. even more gut-wrenching is the mob of support that he's received at a world-wide level. and to think he really only got my attention after watching dodge ball. i'm seeing him push from seconds behind the other bikers and wow!....cheryl crow is one lucky lady (as the rumors say)

Posted by at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

oh geez. amazing race 7 apps are out and im disheartened because teams that have previously applied cannot re-apply (i can hear exbf cheering now!!), unless you have a new teammate. and gosh darn-it i cant think of anyone else that would like to or that i would like to travel around the world for a million bucks with!! i mean who else could i share this money with? and furthermore...who else is qualified? you'd have to be an excellent swimmer (exbf), willing to eat anything (thats exbf, except for kare kare), an excellent runner (hello...exbf? ex-track...i know its been 7 years but thats good enough for me), a killa at heart (this is synonymous with exbf), and then of course...the capacity to put up with me. geez. im screwed. any takers? im so excited...but nowhere to go. the amazing race is my life...i breathe it you know? im so glad we have tivo now. everything i do i compare to the race....like if im going somewhere new, or trying to beat a car on the freeway, or maybe even finding transportation...("ooh gotta get to my destination for this leg of the race!") yes this sounds so unbelievably insane but its true i tell YOU!

Posted by at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

earlier this week i caught an episode of the UK edition of queer eye and i am utterly impressed by their good looks, particularly with dane. he blows carson right outta the water. those gay guys really know how to turn a girl on, eh?

Posted by at 5:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

its 155 am and i just finished watching a recorded vhs tape of tonight's premier episode (i DESPERATELY need TIVO!!!!!!) and i didn't care what time it was....i yelled and cheered on with glee (and glee is a word i never use)! my excitement was delayed because i ran some event errands and chauferred my cousin to the house. i was more than happy to watch amazing race by my lonesome at 1230 in the morning. i'll consider the "little person" as my replacement. putting her in the race would be a good PR move and so they dropped me and exbf from the race! so yeah now i root for her since she's my replacement. but seriously...her team did real well and her jersey girl (at least sounded like it) cousin was so funnY! she couldnt carry a 100 lb slab of raw meat for 2 miles while the littler person carried all the bags...in the end it was the little person carrying the bulk of the cow. and then...between going down a zip line and playing roulette with 20 chips...she considered gambling a "sign" since they were in the casino every week...and what happens? she wins on her LAST chip!!! and even funnier was that she wanted to play a hand of blackjack before continuing. but the most memorable mirna (her name) moment was saying "i can't wait to see phil...he's so gorgeous..." before crossing the finish line. yeah that jersey-sounding girl was so entertaining. a good laugh is always healthy. for now i'll call her "mermorable mirna". turns out their a couple of syrian immigrants from Maryland. i woulda never guessed. my other favorite teams (as if anyone cares) are the military dad and his daughter and the old couple! gheee can you tell i go for the underdog? well i'll keep rooting for the underdogs. at this point my pre-judging was a waste...the team that i thought would do well was the first eliminated. you would think the nice guy and the girl he loves would win but apparently his "nice-ness" made him lose because he let other people take a cab for him and held tickets for other teams before continuing. okay enough amazing race talk! i've added 2 events this month. July 9 and July 17. July 9 will be at Jitney's on Broadway and its for a trial promotions gig for a friend and then July 17 will be the BIG one because it'll be at the former DOT....now called blue lounge.

Posted by at 1:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

tune in tonight at 930 pm on CBS channel 5 to see me and exbf contend to win the million dollars while travelling around the world. see how far we get on the first leg of the race!! don't forget to cheer us on and vote for us on the cbs website polls as your favorite team!!

I WISH!!...
that was the future as i had planned it. i'll be forcing exbf to line up at the next auditions!

Posted by at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

new show on bravo and i've thoroughly enjoyed the first episode. it's reminiscent of "the restaurant"...another bravo baby but for some reason its more appealing. the lead guy is not hunky hot but he's very appealing....confident but not cocky, stylish but nowhere near gay...and to quote him-his dream was to make beautiful women more beautiful--simple ingenunity i thinK! anyhoo the show is about him opening his big beverly hills salon...and its so far from boring. its pretty inspring too...i can tell tell he's not just in it for the money. but this is reality tv...so i'm sure that its gonna get ugly. im just glad i have something new to watch on tv. july 6 is the day that amazing race comes back!!!! in the meantime...im also happy that my ipod is back from repair. but its not quite what it used to...im gonna call applecare and complain again because it keeps freezing up on me....and it never did that before. im guessing they just took my case and put in a new body. i was so bored and gadgetless that i resorted to using my cell phone to keep me occupied. for instance, i discovered 3gupload.com and downloaded a whole slew of songs for my ringtones. i was elated to find the ones i've been wanting for the longest time...like d12's my band, and jay z's dirt off your shoulders! its a really good deal to join 3gupload....5.99 for 6 mos and thats UNLIMITED downloading..way better than sprint's 1.50 per ringer for 90 days! my other finds were, nas & fugees' "if i ruled the world", anita baker's "sweet love", janet's "thats the love goes", and 311's "amber". well i've been playing with my phone so much that now i want a new one. i have the sanyo 8100 and now i want the 8200 because the camera phone has flash and it also has a speaker phone. my biggest setback....it doesn't come in purple!!! well my phone right now is lavender and its so pretty!...good part about it is that it stays pretty because the white finish hides the scratches. oh yeah it also has that new sprint feature...thats like nextel's talkabouts...the walky talky things! anyhoo...time for real world. which yes now i've succumbed to. its the show that taught me everything gets ugly on reality tv!!

Posted by at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i missed the return of arrested development to fox....new episodes are back!! woohoo. something to look forward to on a sunday night. i just realized that there are lots of things happening in june. for instance we have the dave chappelle tour on the 16th and then next weekend there are two events for the scene. i wanted to see a concert next monday, too!...jason mraz is playing in berkeley. now to find someone who'll go with me. on top of all that..i'll have family visiting...that'll be 4 more bodies in the house and possibly 5 if margaret comes into town! yikes. jepp comes back on tuesday, too...talk about a full house. it won't be pretty. we had an impromptu gathering tonight...and it was fun. just bbq'ed some ribs and had some red rice and fried chicken. i was able to get a recipe for chinese-inspired salad dressing and boy was it a hit. you could seriously drink the stuff..it was that good!

where the hell is don!?

Posted by at 1:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)