Friday night our Replay TV bit the dust. It is perpetually stuck on a “Please Wait…” screen. We’ve tried to reboot the machine. We’ve disconnected everything and reconnected it. Nothing works. We’d call Replay Customer Service but they only work Monday-Friday, 8-6 Pacific, EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS. So, basically we are hosed until Tuesday. We had a one year waranty on parts, but guess what. We bought this unit exactly one year and two weeks ago. Coincindence? Perhaps.

We are so dependant upon this very expensive and very dead piece of equipment that we decided to buy a replacement and if by chance they agreed to fix our machine for little or no cost we would use it upstairs. So, we go on a hunt to find another Replay TV. A year ago it was easy to find, but apparently most stores are no longer carrying the Replay TV. We specifically want a Replay TV for the auto commercial advance. Upon further investigation we find out that even if we bought a new Replay TV, they no longer have auto commercial advance. Not only have they taken away commercial advance, but the company has filed bankruptcy. Why have they filed bankruptcy? Because the networks have sued them into the ground for having commerical advance.

I’m pissed off on so many levels. First, my replay tv is broken and we had three movies, several tv shows recorded, plus all our favorite shows set up to record regularly. Second, the customer service is closed. Third, the warranty is expired. Fourth, we can’t find a replay tv without special ordering. Fifth, even if we ordered a new unit it wouldn’t have commercial advance. Sixth, the company is Bankrupt which means we’d be taking a risk to stay with this company. You want to know what pisses me off the most?

The damned networks. I’m not going to watch their damned commercials. I shouldn’t have to watch them. I can fast forward through them with any DVR. Why not give me a damned commercial advance. Even if I couldn’t fast forward through them, I’m going to use the laptop, go to the bathroom, do the laundry, etc. so I don’t have to watch the stupid commercials.

Well, guess what? Tomorrow, we are buying a Tivo machine with no commercial advance.

The hubby and I got caught up on our current Netflix selections and among the group was Big Fish. We waited for weeks while this movie had a long wait in the queue due to popularity. I think it was worth the wait although I do have some mixed feeling on this one though.

It was a fun, brilliant and bizarre story. I was surprised to find that it moved kind of slow through some parts. With all the flash in strangeness, I expected it to move pretty quickly. Most of the acting was excellent, but I was very disappointed with Billy Crudup as Will Bloom. His character seemed lifeless to me. I realize given the story, we were supposed to dislike his character, but it wasn’t just that. I didn’t believe him more than I disliked him.

The other actors, especially Ewan McGregor, did an excellent job. I become increasingly impressed with McGregor each time I’ve seen him. He has spectacular range. As he continues to develop and mature, I think he will become one of the “greats”. Both Albert Finney and Jessica Lange did a remarkable job too. I believed their characters had an undying love that could weather all storms.

The movie was visually spectacular and worth seeing for the gorgeous and bizarre Tim Burton design.

For those of you still curious about the pickles quote mentioned a couple of days ago, the answer to the bonus question is:

My blogmaze this week:

1) Infinite Pink – Well, pink is my favorite color so I had to pick this one. It’s a great blog. She digs the memes like myself. She’s funny too. Scroll down and get into her posts for a good chuckle. Even talking about her tooth extraction offered a little laugh.

2) Brain Fizz – This is a cute little blog with a great name. Stop by and give her some love. She’s feeling a little blue and could use a pick me up.

3) Spewing 4th Art – Now this is a hot looking blog. I LOVE the design. All the color makes me so very happy. She has a gorgeous garden too. For that reason, I think I must hate her. LOL Just kidding. Everything about her blog screams “Artist”!

Well, three is a good number, right? I wonder if anyone is gonna pick me!

The Friday Five

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? Singing with my Mom. We’d sing in the car. Sometimes she’d sing sad songs that made me cry. Sometimes she’d turn up the stereo, while cleaning the house and listening to Diana Ross and the Supremes. We’d dance and sing. We would grab anything (a brush, a trophe, a salt shaker) and pretend it was our microphone.
2. If you could be reincarnated as anything besides human, who would you want to be? This is tough. Truthfully, I don’t want to be reincarnated. This world is tough. When I make it through this, I’m ready for heaven. If I had to pick, I’d say a bird. I’d love to be able to fly.
3. If you had to start your life all over, what are three things you would change? Nothing! I’m a remarkably strong and stable woman. Everything that happened to me in this life helped to mold me into the person I am today.
4. If you had to forget everything in your life, except one thing, what would it be? My love for my husband. I could give everything else up, but I don’t want to give that up. EVER.
5. Do you have a lucky charm? Nah, I don’t believe in luck. Life is what we make it.

Onesome: Learning– Hey, what would you like to learn how to do this Summer? I already know how to drive a motorcycle. I really want to get started on some home decorating, so maybe some painting techniques.

Twosome: to– Too? Two? Okay, two things you are positively not going to learn how to do! Ever! Play football and skateboarding.

Threesome: Ride– Speaking of motorcycles: Do you ride? Did you ever ride? …or do you just enjoy them? …or maybe, “No way!”? I love to ride. I have an ongoing fantasy about owning one someday. I’d love to teach my husband how to ride. I really think he’d enjoy it if he knew how and we could go riding together.

What’s On your ‘favorite summertime snacks’ list Right Now?

Pickles! Man, I love pickles. They are my favorite all-time snack ever.

For bonus points: name the movie quoted in my title.

My Dad and Step-Mom are selling their home. While visiting this weekend, hubby and I did a quick walk-through. We were asking about the condition and then we asked about the neighbors. The following description was provided as if it is something spoken in every day conversation…

“The neigbors are all good. They don’t never bother anyone. Those people are crack heads but they don’t bother anyone. The guy next door just keeps to himself. The gal across the alley is a crack whore but she doesn’t cause any problems.”

I’m sure there was even more that I didn’t record to memory, but I kid you not, she said it just as plain as day. As if everyone has a handful of drug addict neighbors. I couldn’t help but think aobut my husband’s folks. I’m fairly certain that the words “crack head” and “crack whore” have never been uttered from their lips.

Part 1

If you had a theme song, what song would you pick?

“I Will Survive.”

Let’s see…Before I can remember, my parents went through their first divorce (Mom and Dad). I was molested at the age of 4. 2nd Divorce (Mom & Ex-Step Dad). I raised my little brother at the age of 9 when my Mom was a little too messed up to do it. My Mother decided to be gay when I was 11. I couldn’t handle it at the time so I went to live with my Dad. I endured brutal abuse at the hand of my ex-step-mother. When neither parent wanted me, I went to live with a legal guardian several states away. She was also physically abusive. When I was 13, legal guardian got pregnant and didn’t want a child that wasn’t hers anymore. I went back to my Mom. 3rd Divorce (Dad & Ex-Step Mom). My Mom was living with a woman who both hated me and was terrified of me. My Mother quit buying clothes for me until I lost weight. I was a size 16 through High School. Months before graduating, I was kicked out of the house because they suspected that I wouldn’t graduate. I moved in with my Dad who lived 1.5 hours from school and I did whatever I had to in order to finish with my diploma. At age 19 I met the person, I thought I’d spend my life with. At age 20 I had a miscarriage. At age 23, 1 month before our wedding, he told me he was gay.

Today, all that is behind me and I’m happily married to a wonderful and devistatingly handsome man that I will spend the rest of my life with. Still, I think “I Will Survive” fits…