I know; I know. Shut up about Everwood

Mo Ryan, writer for the Chicago Tribune has written this eloquent article on Everwood. My heart is breaking about Monday's series finale. I know how I sobbed alone on my couch this week and how I will be sobbing alone on my couch next week. Probably for two straight hours. I wouldn't ever invite anyone over to see the blubbering mess that will be Jalehlabad. It will be so sad and wrong.

In other news, I have a pal here, who I will call Barista. Anyway, she doesn't own a television but she knows all about my telly obsessions. Barista wants me to pick any television show and she is going to watch a season with me. I am picking Everwood Season One. I think I shocked her with that choice since she hears me talk so much about Alias and Gilmore Girls. While my heart was sad by the end of Alias, I understood it's ending. It made sense for the show to end; although I could go on and on about all the unanswered things but I won't for Tricia's sake. And well, don't even get me started on the way Gilmore Girls was this season. ASP, you, well, you know what you did. Everwood, though, has been taken away before all the stories could be told. I feel like I have been robbed. It sounds crazy but those characters do feel real to me. They are characters I would love to be able to actually interact with. Anyway, I don't think enough people watched my beloved Everwood so I am going to force Barista to watch it. I think she might be pleasantly surprised at how good my favorite show is and was.

Sorceress

Sorceress by Celia Rees is the sequel to Witch Child. Witch Child details the everyday life of Mary Newberry, a young girl in 17th Century New England who is accused of being a witch. As Witch Child ends the reader has no idea what happens to Mary when she escapes certain death at the hands of the Puritans. Sorceress tells us the rest of Mary's story through her distant relative Agnes. Agnes is a modern day Native American girl who has recently discovered her ability as a healer. Through Agnes the reader learns the details of Mary's life after fleeing her town.

Even though these books are YA literature, they tell an amazing story. Check them out.

Books Read in 2006:
Sorceress by Celia Rees
Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

My first 5K

Saturday morning I got up very early and walked/jogged in my first 5K. I didn't break any records but I am pretty proud of myself for getting out there and, as a friend put it, beating the course. I finished it in about 40 minutes which isn't bad when you consider my only form of training was drinking a lot of beer. The funny thing is, now that I have finished this 5K, I feel compelled to start training and jogging more often. I mean, I can only improve my time in the next 5K I do. Also, I got a decent looking t-shirt out of it. More importantly, by virtue of my named being picked out of a hat, I was named the "Undisputed Winner" of the whole race. I even got a stone plaque to attest to this. Pretty cool, no? My body feels a bit sore today but overall I am extremely happy about my accomplishment.

In other news, while in Bloomington I went a little crazy at Borders. I bought a few books. I even finished reading two of them on Friday and Saturday. B-Mart just posted about reading Book V in the Princess Diaries series. Well, I picked up Volumes I and II, aptly named The Princess Diaries and Princess in the Spotlight. These books are cute and pure fluff. I mean, I read them both in maybe 4 hours. But they are wonderful in making you laugh out loud. Especially if you are a girl; because seriously, inside every woman is that girly teenager who had a crush on the wrong guy while the right guy was in front of you the whole time. Hee. Anyway, very fun books to read on a Saturday afternoon with a growler of Bloomington Brewing Co.'s Weisse Ale next to you.

Books Read in 2006:
Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Fuck off, CW

My fears have come true. It looks like Dawn Ostroff has decided that Everwood won't make the cut on to the CW lineup. I can't really put into words how sad this makes me. It borders on ridiculous as I sit at my desk, at work, and try to not cry or throw something.

Kiddies on the internets are putting up a hue and a cry over the renewal of 7th Heaven, one of the worst acted, written, and, in my mind, sadistic shows on television. Yet it's Everwood that gets the axe. Personally, I think Everwood got cancelled because it was too good. I dare you to find a more stellar cast of actors on television. I dare you to find a family drama, on television now, that deals with the realities of life better than Everwood. You can't. It doesn't exist. If the CW wants to pander to the lowest common denominator, I suppose I can't do anything about it. I am giving Gilmore Girls four episodes to turn shit around. If that doesn't happen, then the CW can go fcuk itself.

A Fine Balance

Have you ever read a book that made you feel so sad and depressed yet hopeful at the same time? I am talking seriously depressed here. I finished Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance yesterday and it's still haunting me.

The story, taking place in India in 1975, revolves around Dina, a widow and former seamstress who hires Om and Ishvar to work for her. Dina also has a paying rentee in her apartment; named Maneck. The story revolves around their pasts and presents as they become friends and then family. It sounds uplifting, no? But it's not; the trials the writer has these people endure are so heartbreaking.

I don't want to make the book sound all doom and gloom because there are moments of utter happiness in the book. Also, Mistry is almost Dickensonian in his tale telling skills. The reader finds out intricate details of the lives of many side characters but Mistry always comes back the four main characters.

Books Read in 2006:
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Beer can equal bad

Last night I went to Wednesday Night Social Club even though I was still a bit miffed about last week. It actually turned out to be a very fun night. I had possibly one or two beers too many. Here's how I know this.

I woke up and got ready this morning. I was heading out to get my oil changed when I noticed that my wallet was not in my purse. Nor was my wallet in my awesome knitting bag, Nor was my wallet anywhere in my house. I begin to freak.

Since I walked home from the bar, I decided to retrace my steps. It's only about a block so it wouldn't take but a few minutes. Alas, nothing. The bar doesn't have my wallet, neither do the police. My day has consisted of calling credit card companies, going to the bank, calling the BMV, and generally freaking out and being totally pissed off at myself.

On another level, I am pissed because someone has obviously found my wallet and has chosen to not return it. It's not like it would be hard for this person to find my house in my incredibly small town. Sigh. Anyway, why be a good samaritan when you can be a meth head seems to be par for the course around here.

I am afraid to ask if this week can get worse, you know, just in case it can get worse.

Curiosity? Please kill my neighbor's cat.

The last few weeks have been somewhat hiss and growl filled in Jalehlabad's world. It all started with my landlord fixing the screens for my windows. Finally, I am able to have fresh air in my house. It was blissful for about four minutes.

Maybe I should back up. My neighbors brought home a new cat last fall. The kitten was nice and seemed to integrate well with their other cat and also never bothered Zaria. Zaria likes to hang out in the windows and since Buddy arrived there hasn't been an issue. Until the screens.

I think Buddy may be in heat. I don't know; maybe he smells Zaria? I do know that he has taken it upon himself to hang out in or under any window Zaria is in. This has resulted in about 300 fights. And it's driving me and my neighbors nuts. My neighbors had been letting Buddy stay out all night but I put a stop to that after two nights of cat fights at 2, 3, and 4 am. I don't like being woken up.

Needless to say, the fighting ensued. I have found Buddy outside scaling my new screens. Ruining then with his fucking claws. And then the kicker came.

Stupidly, apparently, I have been leaving my windows open during the day since it's been warmish here. Yesterday I came home after work. I was piddling around the house and then I went back to my bedroom to get some laundry together. That's when I see it. All over my bedroom floor are chunks of cat hair. And it's white. Zaria is all grey. Buddy is white and grey. I go to the window to find the screen completely busted open. My cat is no where to be found. I start the freak out. I find the good treats to bait Zaria out of potential hiding spots and after a few minutes she comes strolling out of my closet. She seems fine; no major injuries. I can't find any bite or scratch marks.

However, I am pretty pissed. I mean, there is really nothing I can do to keep this cat away from my place. I refuse to close up my house. At the same time, I can't really ask my neighbors to coop their cat up, can I? I just don't know what to do. All I do know is that if I see that cat crossing the road, I may just have to speed up.

I finally finished a book!

Unlike last year, I have not really been reading many books lately. In fact, it was only this weekend that I finished a book I read for pleasure. I have to say, I really missed reading books and articles that I wanted to read.

I know I am a little behind in some of the classics, so, my pal Angie went about trying to fix that. She sent me Charolette Bronte's Jane Eyre for my birthday.

I really enjoyed this book. I am not so sure I found the ending believable but Angie says this is due to my being a modern woman. I am not so sure about all of that. I am just not big on men who lie. However, if you haven't ever picked up Jane Eyre, it is a fascinating read.

I am compelled to go to see M:I:3

So, even though I think Tom Cruise is a nut job; I really want to see Mission Impossible III. Why, you ask? Well, here's why:



1. Keri Russell being a bad ass.
2. I think Philip Seymour Hoffman might get to punch, kick, and/or bite Tom Cruise.
3. Jonathon Rhys Myers.
4. Did I mention that Keri Russell (aka Felicity) is going to kick some ass?
5. J.J. Abrahms. I am kind of his bitch.

Also, I don't know how many of you read GoFugYourself but if you don't read it, you should. Because it's funny. Especially this post on Mission Impossible. Hee. I have read this post at least five times and everytime I crack up. God, that Jessica is funny.

Anyway, against my better judgement, which says do not give Tom Cruise any money or support, I am going to see this flick probably next weekend.