Day 17: SEXfest in the opera world.

Day 17 Sexfest in the opera world...

I know all of you think that the opera world is full of snobs and yes that is somewhat true comparatively speaking. Or are the “snobs” trying to uphold an art form. Could be. “Tis true, some do act like a stick has been surgically attached to the inner part of their ass. Yet, the opera world is not however full of prudes.
Case in point. I was at a coaching today and I told my coach who I adore by the way that I was afraid of singing for a certain famous opera singer because of this certain person’s reputation.
“I am not going to be his 1500th girl” I replied quite hautily.
“Grin and bear it.” said coach (jokingly, ?I hope)
“No way, forget it.”
He’s into oral anyway.”
“EEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!”
I shrieked.
See what I am getting at! The opera world is by nooo means the prim and proper vision you thought it was.
Now, the audience is a different story, very prim and proper for the most part. Side note: you can go to any opera and pay like 20 bucks and pretty much wear jeans, we really don’t care about the jeans and no one will look down on you. Besides, if they did they are most likely jealous that you are in jeans. At the MET you can sit up top for $25 or $20 and the sound is the best up there, just bring binoculars.
Back to it...
The first time I did a body shot was my freshman year at college with my opera director/professor. The first time I was hit on properly by an older “opera” coach/pianist was at the age of 20.
My friend lost her virginity to a fellow student while away at an all arts high school. She came back with a crap load of tattoos yet sang opera and played the french horn.
My first voice teacher told me to have affairs on the road or I’d be bored.

In conclusion: the opera world is pretty much a giant sexfest. So the next time you think of the “Opera” remember this...
The people may have sticks up their arses but there is a good chance someone else put them there.

Day 16: Spas, Ipod and Everybody Loves Raymond except for me.

Spas, Ipod and Everybody loves Raymond except for me.

Well, here I am at the spa on a mini-break. I tis suppose to be relaxing, quiet a place to unwind and it is if I turn on my Ipod.
Stop Talking, Stop Talking, stop TALKING!!
I am in the women’s locker room slash hot tub, sauna/steam room.
Its not very big, especially the sauna/steam room area which are the size of large bathrooms. There are women, a lot of women. I am sooo jealous of my guy cause he is on the men’s side and there is pretty much one other guy and they don’t talk, women on the other hand can’t seem to not talk.
Its said that women speak on average 20,000 words per day and I think here it doubles. Men, on the other hand are at 7,000 words per day here I think it goes down to something like 2, hello and goodbye.

Stop talking Stop Talking please stop talking.
I am heading towards the steam room, don’t bring my ipod in cause I am scared it will get zapped. Am sooo wishing I had the underwater Ipod case which I heard exists. I hope it exists cause I am sure getting one.
Here I am in the steam room. Ahhhh, lovely steam make me relax. Nope, 2 minutes later here come 4 women, damn. Apparently they are oblivious to my being there because they talk and talk about there husbands dysfunctional body parts, money problems, their annoying children and the show Everybody loves raymond. they talk about Everybody loves raymond for most of the time they are in the steam room and then out into the lounge area. “Oh, I just love that Raymond, good thing we have reruns I just don’t know what I would do without Raymond.” “Oh I know, did you hear that the wife was an alcoholic?” “Really?!!” Well, yes. you know the lady who does the grocery commercials.”
Stop talking, stop talking stop talking!!
There used to be signs in here that read. “Please be quiet have consideration for others.” The signs are gone. I remember them because I used to stare at them when I was here 2 years ago. I stared at them whenever that hot tub filled up with women talking about various hair issues. Now, for some reason, the signs have given up. I think, perhaps, they became tired of all the talking and left.
Here I am on a lounge chair. YES!! Ipod Time!! Awesome Ipod, I love you I can take you anywhere. I can stand in line at Starbucks and not listen to the person behind talk on her cell phone about her bad kids. I can listen to Kings of convenience, Teitur, Emiliana Torrini. I don’t have to listen to anyone. Yes!!
Here I am on the lounge chair mit (with in German) sunglasses. Sun comes through the windows and its bright but there is another handy reason to wear sunglasses. Women seem to think you can’t see them staring at your body when you have sunglasses on. So I watch, I watch the women waiting, patiently waiting for the slip of the towel for that glimpse od cellulite on the skinny girl, for that glimpse of aged skin on the older woman. They study and wait, wait for someone’s flaw to show so they can feel better about themselves. Some women are name and some are not. Myself knowing that all eyes are on me I am covered in a towel. But they wait. “why is that girl in a towel?” they are thinking. Mmmm, does she have a scar? She’s thin she should remove her towel its nicer without the towel. “Oh that women should definitely put on a towel.” she needs to make friends with a trainer. Ahhh yes a skinny girl oh she’s gorgeous, wait...wait...waaaaaaiiiiit...............yeS!!! Cellulite bingo now I can go back to my candy bar.
I wait and wait until the room is clear. I slowly make my way to the hot tub, two steps, my ankle still hurts from my sprain and I want to soak it. I dangle my feet in and wait and wonder? Should I drop my towel? Should I get in? I want to get in. Ahhh yes, no one is around, the chatting women have gone. Up I go. I stand up, drop my towel and bingo here is the towel lady with her fresh towels staring right at me. I completely am outstretched and flashing her in all my glory. I sink into the tub.
“Ahhh, whatever like she hasn’t seen these bits and pieces before. Ohhh, great here comes a pack of 4 chatting women yet again.”
Stop Talking, Stop Talking, Stop Talking!!!
Ipod, take me away.

The end.

Day 10,11,12,13: vacation sans computer, write via pen.

Because I am going on vacation this week I have decided to write my entries via paper and pen to give my hands a much needed break from the computer keys. I will type everything up this coming weekend.
So dont think I have stopped the nottotv project.

Day NINE: Idiot, Paris and eatin' outside.

Life without TV this far:

Happy, Focused, Sleep better, relaxed. the day lasts longer and I feel like I can get everything done. The anxiety of the world ending due to whatever high alert color we are on is gone. The weight of not feeling good enough is being lifted. I don't need idiot movie stars, both fake and real to make me feel better about myself.

Many times while watching TV and eating dinner I have thought. "Man, I should be eating dinner outside, its beautiful out, I could go sit in the yard, I have a table in the yard. Hello!!! Go sit in the yard!! Nah, "Girls next door" is on next, lets watch them to make you feel better about yourself. Do you ever do that? Watch television knowing that you are going to be a better person than the one on television. C’mon, The girls next door seem like really nice, good human beings and I seriously have nothing against them at all but isn't there a part of you that’s saying. "Mmmmm, the three of them are pretty much hookers in a way." Aren't they polygamists or something? What do they do?
Then you see Mel Gibson, idiot. Seriously, what an idiot. He has got to agree with me. Here is a guy, insanely successful with a wife and a bunch of kids who goes out and obviusly flirts at some typical “hollywood/malibu party, which is fine to each their own, but you have kids!! You did a movie on Jesus dying for your sins, which dosn't mean you can go on sinnin'
Set an example for Chri-s sake. Plus, I am pretty tired of these "famous" people saying that they are not role models.
Well, actually, yes you are. You chose a job that exposes you to many, many people including children therefore you have a responsibilty to act like a civilised human being. You have a crap load of money, pay someone to come over and teach you that it ain't cool to walk into a gas station bathroom sans shoes, ala Britney Spears. I am sure you can pay someone to go through a list of the do's and don'ts of society.
When someone choses to be a Dr. they can't show up to work acting like a moron. Honestly, when they are off work they can't act like an idiot either. My Father can't go around driving like a nut ball and going to strip clubs he is a Cop and that wouldn't look good. Luckily he would never want to do it. SEeeee, you have a responsibilty famous people. If you want to act like a moron, go ahead, but fly to your private island and do it.

Back to me point. Don't you turn on the television knowing that when you turn it off you will feel better about yourself because here you are and honest hard working person who sometimes doesn't have their crap together and when you see someone, successful with money and accolades act like an idiot you reallize that you aren't doing so badly in life. Really, you haven't driven drunk and ripped apart an entire race of people. Now, what if you took that energy that is being sucked from the television and went out and actually helped yourself become a better person? You don’t need Paris or Mel to act like Idiots to make you feel better about yourself. Whether its going to a bar with a friend, or even staring at a wall for 2 hours and simply thinking about nothing, I garantee you will feel far better than had you watched Paris say “that’s hot” for the millionth time.

I had dinner in my yard tonight under a starry sky...

Day EIGHT: Goodbye Charlie, I'll miss you...

Goodbye Charlie

The opera world lost a great friend recently. Actually, the world lost a great guy.
I met Charles J. Riecker, better known as Charlie, on my first trip to NYC. He was giving a Masterclass for which I signed up. I knew no one in New York and here was smiling Charlie on my first trip out. How lucky was I? I immediately began coaching with him over on Riverside because we hit it off so well and I learned very quickly why. Charlie and I were the odd man out in our families, you see, we both hailed from what we termed “Cop” families. My Father is a cop, and Charlie’s brothers were cops as well. Irish catholic and German Catholic cops reigned in our families with huge personalies just like any opera singer. We both knew what it was to be teased about living the life of opera and we both could easily turn a phrase in “cop lingo” that would make anyone blush and switch right back to talking about Mozart. Charlie, to me, was just a regular guy transplanted into the magical world of opera which made him all the more special.

Charlie and Wally’s apartment was what everyone in the Midwest thinks a New York apartment should look like. Wall to wall books, records and actual paint that was a color other than white on the walls. Beautiful furniture filled the rooms that definitely didn’t come from IKEA and reminders of music graced every corner.
I would warm up in the living room while looking out across the river listening to whatever aria was pouring out of the student before me. After their coaching Mr. Riecker would greet me in the living room with his Irish flare. “Hello deary, and how are we today?” with a huge hug and a smile. How could you not love New York when you got to sing for Charlie. On I would go into the music room where there was a piano filled with pictures of his life at the MET. Sometimes midst singing I would be startled when I saw Freni and Charlie, or Pavarotti and Charlie laughing at a table out of the corner of my eye.

When I was just out of college I went to NYC seeking what I s’pose every singer seeks, “what should I do next?” Charlie gave me advice that I will forever be grateful for. “No matter what, you must learn your craft, study it, take time with it, don’t rush, train like a violinist and then you can have the kind of career that a singer deserves.” Charlie always told it like it is.
I will miss Charlie, New York will never be the same for me or for the many people he has touched. I just hope he knows how much he meant as simply this, a good human being who brought a realness to opera that is rare to see.

Side note for myself:
The last time I saw Charlie was this past June. He knew that I was working on my technique and I was very proud to be able to show him what I had accomplished by studying per his advice. He told me he had nevr hear a singers voice grow as much as mine had. I made the swtich from what I term “ina” roles into Puccini rep. the big stuff. He then said I was too little to sing this stuff but could obviously sing it.
He then grabbed both of my hands and said “You remind me of a young Stratas.” Thank you for that Charlie!! I’ll miss you!!
A wink and a smile!!

The Metropolitan Opera’s New York Times paid death notice reads:

“The Metropolitan Opera mourns the death of our dear friend and colleague Charles Riecker, a valued member of our artistic and technical staffs from 1959 to 1997. A close friend to many of our artists, Charlie will be remembered for his kindness and warmth to all. We extend our sincerest sympathy to his wife, Wally.
Peter Gelb, General Manager
James Levine, Music Director"

Day SEVEN: Van Gogh and my Mother

This morning I was thinking about my Mother. You see, my Mother thinks I am crazy for giving up television. “You know there are really great movies on television, I saw one last night.” ‘Well, is it out on dvd?” “Well no, but it was based on a true story and it had that guy from Friends in it.” “Mmmm, ok.” In my head I am thinking . “How would watching someone else's true story help me to create mine.” Perhaps I wasn’t that poetic on the spur of the moment but you get my point. This morning it struck me how incredibly creative my mother was once upon a time.

My Mother could make a stuffed animal from scratch without a pattern, which may sound like nothing to you but trust me when you see a 4 foot pony sitting in the living room you’d realize that it took some brains.
She would make these incredible monkey’s, bunny’s at Easter, spiders and pumpkins at halloween, homemade stockings at Christmas, and heart shaped pillows on Valentine’s Day. Whenever a new baby came into the family a giant, life sized homemade animal would leave ours.

Then she would draw and paint. Her paintings from high school were incredible with their own signature style apparently developed at a very young age. What I mean by that is when you see Van Gogh, its pretty obvious its a Van Gogh, and it took time to develope a signature style that would sell. Anyway, my Mother at 16 had her own style. There is a painting in my brothers room of a young soldier hiding behind some tall grass. The soldier has these huge sad eyes that draw you in. It isn’t an ugly painting but a welcoming one which is hard to achieve when it involves a soldier.

My mother can write. She has written children’s books, incredible poems and short stories. The children’s books I beg her to let me help publish, I have begged her to illustrate them as well, but her fear of rejection far surpasses her willingness to work.

For two years now she has been creating a card line that she’ll send out at holidays. Usually the cards involve with my Father in some kind of predicament. They are hilarious and witty.
But, they remain in the family or hidden in the basement.

When we were younger television was not a role in our lives. We played until the sun went down. We didn't’ know what shows were on when.
We hadn’t a clue. My little brothers and I played with the neighbors, we practiced our instruments. All the neighborhood kids played an instrument. The piano, violin, clarinet, trumpet and oboe could be heard coming out of the neighor’s windows. My brothers and I would bang away on the violin and trombone and I would also practice my singing. My mom was in the living room creating some new wonderment while baking chocolate chips cookies in the kitchen.

Life slowly changed, her parents passed on, we moved onto colleges and television got more channels. TV GOT more interesting, GOT more enticing. Now my parents sit in front of the television all night long. My Mom has it on all day and all night. I beg her to finish her children’s books illustrations. She tells me she isn’t inspired. Would she be inspired if the television was off? I think so. The minute I get restless and wonder what I should do next my brain is now clicking into a new kind of creativity, one that i had as a child and up through college. The one year in college that I didn't’ own a television was the year that I got straight A’s, there must be a correlation.
When I see my mother pace the house and then reside herself to the family room chair in front of AMC or Oprah I wonder if the tv wasn’t there would she perhaps be writing or drawing instead? I completely 100 percent believe so.

Just think of all the artists we are losing to television.
Had television been around for Van Gogh he would have self medicated with “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” fixed up his one room living quarters and the ear would have remained in tact, but then we would never have the painting “A starry night.” and life would be less magical without a starry night.

Day SIX: My Great Aunt, 90

DAY SIX,

My great aunt, 90.

Last night I called and wished my Great Aunt a Happy Birthday as it was her 90th. We spoke for two hours about everything.
When I decided to turn off my tv I thought of her and here’s why. My Grandfather, who I dearly loved, my Great aunt and Uncle grew up playing music around the piano instead of planted in front of the TV because TV hadn’t been invented yet. Grandpa played trumpet, Aunt the sax, Uncle, the singer and violinist (like myself) and great, great grandmother the pianist and great-great grandfather the singer. They would talk, play games and play music.
When someone looks at me like I am nuts for getting rid of my television my reply is. “television was invented only 60 years ago.” People lived without it for a very, very long time. My Grandfather didn’t have television and he survived. My aunt told me that they couldn’t even afford a radio during the depression so someone made them a crystal set, whatever that is.
She spoke of Roosevelt and how he created unemployment benefits.
How she had to get a job welding parts for radios to help support the family at 18. My grandfather wanted to be a pilot and he was but only in the War. He commanded B-29 bombers over Japan and then worked for Pepsi. My great Uncle who had such an incredible operatic voice was a sailor in the navy and then worked as a janitor. My Aunt became a Mom and a wife.
Our generation sure takes life for granted. It gets worse with each one.
I am the last generation that needed to go to the library for schoolwork.
We were excited when we took a field trip to the Chicago Public library.
Now? Well, its proably unnecessary to go to a library. Sad, because it was a great place to socialize and wonder the aisles of books. I happened upon Hemingway's "The Garden of Eden" when I was just 15. Quite an interesting book at 15.

My Aunt. is 90, she bikes 2 miles everyday, reads, and still tries to play the sax because it is good for her lungs. She told me she learns something new about herself everyday. Life might be better in some ways now but we have definitely lost too much in the gain. My aunt, who is 90, told me that she learns something new about herself everyday. She grows everyday.
How can you grow everyday if television is doing the thinking for you? She doesn’t watch television everyday. Could there be a connection?
I believe so.
This blog is dedicated to her, my Great Aunt, who taught me its good to be different and she is 90.

1. Memorized, Turandot,
2. Started studying french verbs.
3. wrote friends in Italy about blog in italian
4. pilates for an entire hour, yes!!
5. saw Dr. about sprained ankle, bad, bad sprain.
6. created online store, still working on it...
7. Reading “Mozart’s women” awesome book btw.

Day Five: What happened to the bird flu?

TV 5


What happened to the Bird Flu?

Do you ever notice that once the news shifts to a different, heavier topic- like war for instance- we are no longer going to die from the latest trendy disease? Where does it go? Isn’t it coming?! Should I buy a mask?
Perhaps I shouldn’t eat chicken. Wait, isn’t chicken bad for me anyway? Oh wait, no, that was last week, this week eggs are bad for me. But wait, eggs come from birds, well chickens, so perhaps my not eating eggs will help in my fight against the bird flu. Huh? News flash?!? What’s going on with Israel and Lebanon? Forget about the bird flu season, its terrorism time!!! Now I can spend my nights flipping between CNN, FOX, MSNBC, CNN HEADLINE NEWS, BBC, CNBC, BLOOMBERG, C-SPAN 2, C-Span, The Weather Channel, CNBC WORLD, & MY LOCAL NEWS, AWESOME!! AM I MISSING SOMETHING? Gee, I wonder if Iran will enter the equation somehow? August 22nd, perhaps? The weapons showdown with NATO?

After we are done with the middle east, another disease will come out and then onto Korea. I get to live in a state of fear for my entire life, yippee!! What a great way to live!!?

Wow, can you imagine if life was for the people and by the people? Wasn’t there a time when the people did the choosing?

What happened to SARS?

Wasn’t SARS coming to America?
That was last years disease before Iraq. This years disease is bird flu.
OH yeah and a bed bug epidemic, I forgot about that. I remember seeing a little bug in my cupboard, well, actually more than one little bug, quite a bunch of them in fact. Some kind of bug liked my choice of tea. It was the time of the bed bug problem so I thought I had bed bugs in my cupboard and would wake up with soars on my body like that lady who went to some hotel, somewhere, and then wound up on The Today show with sores all over her body. She was suing them but stayed at that same hotel again.

Where did all the mad cows go?

Oh, they are in decline. Read this from the Center for Consumer Freedom.

“If the recent news explosion about bird flu has taught us anything, it's that food scares abhor a vacuum. Now that the British government has declared the mad-cow scare has peaked and is in decline, the news media -- and animal rights groups -- are substituting one animal-disease panic for another. The predictable result can be found in a nationwide opinion survey that the Center for Consumer Freedom recently commissioned. Our polling data, released this morning, indicate that a whopping 47 percent of Americans believe the myth that they can contract bird flu by eating chicken.”

Man, guess I really shouldn’t eat chicken.

In conclusion:

Turns out, I didn’t get attacked by bed bugs. I put my tea in a plastic container and now, no more bugs. I didn’t get Sars & I doubt I will get the bird flu. When I was in Paris during the Mad Cow scare a table next to me ordered beef tartar, that is raw beef from cows. Apparently, they were not scared. Perhaps they wanted to commit suicide via crazy cow.
Guess what, if I do get the latest trendy disease I’ll deal with it then but why worry about it now?

Fact for the day:

“...between 1990 and 1998, when the nation’s murder rate declined by 20 percent, the number of murder stories on network newscasts increased 600 percent." said Barry Glassner in the book "The Culture Of Fear,"

Today:

1. Talked with family; brother, mother & father
2. called great aunt (90th birthday)
3. designed t-shirt
4. listened to cole song
5. ate dinner with guy
6. hurt foot, iced foot
7. tried exercising it.
8. did emails.
9. wrote blog

P.S. don't forget about the killer bees.

Day four: Friends of change

Day Four, August 16th.

Friends of change

It seems I have started a mini movement. Four friends are on board with my “No TV for One Year” adventure. Its odd how some people completely ignore me when I tell them about it and some want to join up. A healthier life can be had with action.
I know some people who wake up to tv and fall asleep with it on. Even my parent's dog can not sleep without the tv being on. I am not kidding. If the tv goes off the dog nuts out. Brother, even the dog is addicted. Not watching television forces you to be proactive about your life. You can’t simply lay on the couch wondering why you are not happy. You are not happy because you are stagnant, laying on the couch. Happiness takes action, living life takes work. You can either remain on the couch and watch life pass by or get out there and create one.

Once in awhile it will hit me that I am missing a show. I know what shows are on when. I wonder when I will stop wondering what I am missing.
I wonder when I will lose that connection to my friends who are obsessed with television and call to talk about the latest fat celebrity to tip the scale on whatever reality show. I wonder if Mel is meeting with a Rabbi right now? Are Jennifer and Vince getting married? Are they moving to a suburb in Chi-town? Will it be near my hometown in Illinois?
How long before Bradgelina break apart?
These are questions I am willing to leave un-answered in pursuit of my own life.

Today:

1. Made breakfast for musician friend staying at house.
2. worked
3. Freaked out about foot and went to see Dr. who said I’ll be ok
4. Talked to a friend on the phone for an hour, something I never do because of television shows. Had fun!!
5. Showed friend some music.
6. researched why teleivision is bad.
7. listened to music.

Day three: Theo and Le Depression

Day Three:

Theo and le depression...

Another reason I decided to stop saturating my brain with television was due to the fact that I felt depressed alot. By a lot I mean everyday. Who wouldn’t be depressed with all the crap going on these days? The depression would normally hit about 5 minutes after watching some morning talk show. Now, well today, I am noticing a lift in my mood, a huge lift. Gone are the sarcastic comments I used to conjure up in my head at the TV. Gone is the feeling of never being enough when I see the ever shrinking movie stars who seriously do not eat. Com’on!! Audrey Hepburn was bigger and she was malnourished during puberty during the war in Europe. Com’on!! Perhaps I will read her Bio next. Gone is the worrying about gas prices hitting $8 a gallon. What’s the point of worrying and wondering, I will deal with it when I see it at the pumps or read it in a headline. Le depression goodbye.
My mornings consisted of getting up early so that I could slowly wake up while watching Matt Lauer and Tom Cruise have a go at it. Now I am sitting on my porch, drinking coffee, answering emails and planning the day ahead. I feel lighter, like I am no longer carrying the images of the worlds burdens on my shoulders.

Back to the Cosby’s, or what I like to call the first drug offered to me before the harder ones came along, like E. So, my guy is a musician as well and being in LA we do meet celebrities from time to time. Well this time it happened to be Theo, Malcolm Jamal Warner I am sure he would prefer to be called. Yep, Theo, Theo was at my house. I had had my last day of voice lessons for the week, which is tough work and tiring so when I got home I opened up some wine, made some pasta and put on the last dvd to Sex and the City. Meanwhile my guy was in the studio laying down a party track for a new CD. There were some people in the back but I remained in the house, I had already sang on the track anyway so I figured I was done.
Around 10pm my guy runs in the house and says Theo is over, his guitar player had called him to help with the track. Ooops, I was unintentionally sloshed but gussied up and went out to add to the track. I acted like a complete idiot moron. We had to make up stuff so I kept saying “Hey don't’ smoke that, that’s mistletoe.” in a groovy kinda tone. Yep, total loser. But, I met him, was completely cordial, asked him where he was from, (idiot) and didn’t call him Theo.
Talented guy that Theo.

Today:
1. Cleaned like crazy because I could walk. (recently sprained ankle badly)
2. Gathered music for guy’s movie project.
3. Went to movie set for guy’s movie project. Amazingly bored and insanely happy not to be an actor.
4. Went to Barnes on the way to move set bought 4 magazines. 3 italian food magazines and one about books. Sans tv will be doing beacoup de reading. goodnight.........................

Day two. Where did it all begin?

Day two
Where did it all begin?

The roots of my addiction may reside in my high school years.
I was a very busy student running from rehearsals to rehearsal and job to job but anytime I grabbed dinner at home it was alone in my room in front of my television with the Cosby’s-my surrogate family. If I remember correctly the Cosby reruns were on WGN, channel 9 in Chicago at 5:30pm, I would get home from orchestra from the Elgin youth symphony around that time, run up to my room and watch television for an hour depending on what I had going on that night. Off I would go to the next thing.
My parents didn’t get along at all so eating together was not possible. I remember eating with my little brother when we were really little and then again with my Grandfather when my Grandma died. Sad when I look back because I didn’t really get to know my 2 younger brothers and do not have many memories of them in my high school years but I suppose a lot of teenagers are busy surviving and struggling with school, work, family & friends. I always wondered why my Father didn’t leave us, he could have but I guess he knew no other life to live.
I told my brother last night of my plan to stop watching television. His first sarcastic, yet endearing response “To become more intellectual?” I suppose that would happen. I used to read more, study my languages more, work on projects more. Perhaps I got burned out. I told him of my hidden addiction. “I’d be addicted to TV if I had 300 channels.” was his reply. True, we have Dish network along with Rai from Italy and TV 5 monde from France. Am missing the news from Paris right now but it would probably just depress me and then I would see a commercial with some pill to cure my depression, which would depress me more because then I would have to see my Dr. to get said pill and Dr.’s are depressing; it means something is wrong.

My addiction started hitting me again this week because A. I sprained my ankle while hiking a week ago with my brother. 2. I lost a dear friend of mine, well more like a colleague who I considered a friend. Back to my brother. My brother predicted that I would wake up in the middle of the night drawing televisions on the wall containing my favorite shows and episodes. “Friends” would make the cut along with "How I met my Mother" and ROME, loved ROME.
Last night my guy told me I was muttering in my sleep a dialogue from Seinfield.
Yeah right, like I am that nuts. However, If I were “nuts” this would probably make a better read. Perhaps I should consider losing it. No, that would mean I would have to turn on the television and wait for one of those depression/anxiety/social disorder pill commercials to come on (which really would only take about 30 seconds) in order to write down the name of the pill that I would then tell my Dr. to get me but he wouldn’t get me the one that I wanted because his kick back comes from a different company. Darn it anyhow.
PS. Perhaps people do not need social anxiety pills, perhaps they really don't like socialzing and that is OK. It's ok to be different and even unhappy from time to time.

On the bottom of each entry I will put a list of things I did today instead of watching TV:

1. Went out to breakfast instead of watching mind numbing morning shows.
2. worked
3. Looked up Opera, Die Tote Stadt, read it, and wrote out English translation of my aria from opera. Practiced aria.
4. Scheduled lessons with Bill and Jim
5. Made duck confit ravioli for dinner
6. Wrote friends regarding new Imac. Is it true?
7. Had withdrawal symptoms during dinner because I usually eat in front of TV. Sat on porch with guy instead who, btw, doesn’t care for TV

DAY ONE: Sand holes and Bradgelina.

Day One:

Well, today is my first day without television. I am experiencing some withdrawal symptoms but they are not as bad as I thought they would be. A couple headaches, some dizziness but nothing too serious. Tomorrow morning will be the “test” because I will not be able to watch my normal fix “The Today show.” Luckily, “The Today show” was one of the catalysts for prompting my decision to quite TV once and for all which I will explain below but first let me tell you when my addiction began. Let me take you back.

It was the week of 9/11 and I was all alone when the s--- hit the fan. I woke up not realizing I was watching a tape of what had happened and thought I was watching it live. I was alone because my guy was in Illinois, luckily with his parents but I was out in La La land (not my choice) alone. Of course there were worst places to be at that time, NYC for instance. Still I was scared and no one knew what would happen next.
I became glued to the television, GLUED! All day I flipped between FOX, MSNBC, CNN and “friends.” Luckily “friends” was on 4 times a day that week and I watched all 4 of them. I even watched Leave it to Beaver in the mornings. If only life were like that drug.
At night planes would fly over the house, not knowing they were military I ran outside thinking here comes another horrific event. Another night a helicopter searched the yard with flood lights. E.T. came to mind.
Thus began my addiction to television.

I weaned myself off for awhile but then began fighting with my mother more and more probably because my patience was wearing thin after seeing real suffering. I couldn’t deal with her complaining about everyday annoyances anymore so I turned to my drug of choice, E. I watched the birth of Lohan and the popularizing of Paris via sex tape. I got pissed when movie stars paraded their gazillion dollar jewelry and houses but then told us to give to charity.
Side note: Speaking of charity another catalyst for my going cold turkey was watching the birthday of Bradgelina’s 5 year old kid. They spent something like $30,000. Huh? I thought they were about charity. I thought Brad was going to live simply, what happened to that? No one holds them accountable. What if they spent $500 on cake and ice cream (a ton of money in Illinois, where I am from) and give the rest to a local school for new books and a new playground. Or perhaps throw the kids dying of cancer in the local hospital a party. That is charity. Don’t ask me to spend my hard earned money Mr. pitt if you spend someone’s salary on a kids b-day!!
Ya see!! I am way too addicted to television. I do give to Habitat for Humanity however.

Back to the Today show. Do I really need to hear stories of how some dumb kid got buried alive at the beach (he survived fine btw) and listen to his Mom tell all of us not to let kids dig holes. How about tell your dumb kid not to get buried in one. Uhhh, duh! Do I need to know that leopard prints are now in style, I don’t like leopard prints. Do I need to know that feeding your kid junk food isn’t good. Duh, really? BTW, I don’t have kids. “”The Today show” should be called “Common sense for the stupid plus news to make you appear not stupid.” Have I ever learned anything from staring at Katie Courics orange legs and listening to Matt have a go with movie stars. Actually, I did learn one thing. Did you know you can buy padlocks with word codes? That’s cool. I have one on my fence and the code is brain, which is something I hope to nurture once again sans TV.
Stay tuned for Day TWO!!