2011: Lessons Learned

I have been really down on 2011. I feel I have a good reasons. With the curtain coming down on the year, I’m realizing it is easier for me to blame external circumstances for the ‘stuff’ in life. It’s my “Default Position” if you will. I want to blame the stuff in life for disappointments. I want to point at someone and say it’s his/her fault that I suffered this misfortune. My “default position” became just that because It’s easier to be the victim. It’s easier to have people feel sorry for you and it’s certainly easier to let others to come to the rescue.

A friend recently told me that we make our own mojo. If I continue to move through life with a default position of negativity, then that’s where my mojo will be. In 2011, I survived the long overdue death of my first post-divorce relationship. Just like my marriage, I can point to an event long before the plug was finally pulled when the relationship died. I made excuses for why he was never home or able to make it to social events. Oh I am certainly not blameless; I did some things that I am not proud of. Yet, it took me almost two years of making excuses and waiting for some promise that was never going to occur before I grew a set and said no more.

I learned many lessons from the failure this relationship.

1. Value – I felt that I am damaged goods like the ugly shirt at Walmart that keeps getting marked down. I felt that I should feel lucky that he was giving me the time of day at all. I felt I should just keep marking down my standards because who else would want me? I learned that I have value. There is someone out there who will cherish me for who I am.
2. Money – Let me give you a bit of advice, don’t mix money. No matter how much that person says they love you and are committed to you forever and ever. I signed papers on a nice SUV while he batted his eyes at me in the dealership showroom and said he wasn’t going anywhere. That SUV was repossessed in 2011. I finally had to declare bankruptcy in 2011. I have spent a good chunk of 2011 without transportation because of the words “TRUST ME”. The lesson learned is this… What’s yours is yours... and mine is mine. We split living expenses, but don't share checking accounts or credit cards. I will never again allow someone else to have unfettered access to my bank account. If he doesn’t pay his share of the expenses, I will assume he has found someplace else to live. I will even help him out by placing his belongings out on the sidewalk… just like I did with his stuff in 2011.
3. Trust – I wasn’t only burned by misplaced trust in a significant other, I was burned badly by misplaced trust in people who told me they were helping me out in my time of need. The lesson learned here is quite simple, if someone is offering you a kindness… why? What is in it for them? My goal for 2012 is to do things myself. Self-sufficiency will be the hallmark for the new year.

In just over 24 hours a shiny happy new year will be ours… a blank page waiting to receive the marks which will make it memorable. One of my goals for 2012 is simple… Don’t Fuck it Up!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

Inspired by The Daily Post

This time of year we begin to analyze the events of the past 12 months to determine what went right, and what went wrong. I am planning on using the last week of 2011 to do just that. To those of you who follow my posts on Facebook, you know I can sum up 2011 in two words… IT SUCKED! It would be easy to leave it at that. It would be easy to simply call the last 12 months a wash, but that would be a waste of the human experience. Humans are supposed to learn from their mistakes and try not to commit them again. I am working to identify five things I’ve learned from my mistakes this year beginning Monday… stay tuned.

The challenge asked me to post a picture that represents the position we find ourselves in during this time of year when we are reflecting on what is past and what is to come.

For the last month I’ve been carrying two calendars. One chronicling the year past both personally and professionally. 2011 holds many highlights, notes, scribbles, and arrows that signify the good, the bad and the ugly. 2012 is starting to see some of those on the first pages; but for the most part it is pristine… and filled with promise.

Right now we are between the old & ragged and the fresh & pristine.

I’ll try not to fuck it up.

Blogging Challenge: 10, 11 & 12

The Challenge continues. See the tab above for links to previous posts and the inspiration of the Challenge.

Something I don’t leave the house without

Bible Verse

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.

Matthew 25:41-46 (NLT)

Dream House

My dream home is a houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle. A great house in a great city with great views to share with great friends over a great bottle of wine.

Christmas Time Is Here

**Wantonly stolen from Tony at West of Mayberry

I love Christmas-time. The decorations, the music, and my family. Like with many other things in my life, I know I am trying to make up for the dystopian nightmare that was my childhood.

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? I’m partial to Hot Chocolate, stirred with a peppermint stick to give it that holiday spirit.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Santa has a tremendous workforce who are able to wrap just about anything expedience allows. This means things like bicycles or scooters aren’t wrapped, but their giftedness is signified by an XL bow.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I’ve been using a set of pastel lights on the tree for the past three years. I want to move back to colored lights, but I’ve been resistant because I’m not that thrilled with the brilliant colors of the new fangled LED lights. I’ll see what the post-Christmas sales have to offer, I may make the leap. Outside, is predominantly colored lights as well.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I have, when I’ve had someone to fulfill the implied contract.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The tree and other interior decorations go up Thanksgiving weekend. The outdoor festivities are installed the 2nd weekend of December. I don’t feel like giving the electric company more money that absolutely necessary.
6. What is your favorite Christmas dish? I love HAM at Christmas with a side of scalloped potatoes.  
7. Favorite Christmas memory as a child? We were at my Grammy & Papa’s house one Christmas my sister and I slept on cots in the living room which made the threats “Santa won’t come until you’re asleep” so much harder to accomplish. That is, until I heard the sleigh bells outside… then Grammy came in and said, “Santa just passed us by”. There was much weeping and wailing. But sleep eventually came… and so did Santa.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I still believe. I believe that Santa is the personification of the joy, family and giving of the season. So long as you get joy in that feeling that comes from seeing someone truly enjoy the gift they have received… Santa lives.  
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope. The joy of Christmas morning… seeing what Santa left in the stockings… is all worth the wait.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? Nothing says “holiday” like sugar cookies… and Jack, Santa likes a shot of Jack.  
11. Snow! Love it or hate it? I love “looking” at the snow, but I hate going out into it… mainly because of the way snow makes other drivers lose their ever loving minds.
12. Can you ice skate? Good Lord! Can you imagine this body on rails?
13. Do you remember your favorite present? A Radio Flyer wagon
14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas to you? Building memories & traditions with my kids that they will share with their kids.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Russian Tea Cakes
16. Favorite tradition? Pizza and board games on Christmas Eve, Santa loads the stockings, watching Christmas movies (Muppet Christmas Carol, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation and The Christmas Story)
17. What tops your tree? A star.
18. Which do you prefer – giving or receiving? Giving (see #8) 
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? I love Christmas music. I have over 300 Christmas songs on my iTunes. I love Michael Buble, Harry Connick and of course Bing Crosby.
20. Candy Canes? meh… I use them to stir my hot chocolate.

Blogging Challenge–Favorite TV Shows

I think I’ve proven that this is not a “daily” blogging challenge. ‘Tis the season to make plans for what you want to accomplish when the calendar is replaced. Hope springs eternal…
I try to delude myself into believing that I don’t watch too much TV, but then I’m faced with the reality that I have a TV viewing routine and definite opinions on the shows I like and dislike. This is most apparent when the kids are here. While there are two other TV’s in the house, they seem to commandeer the main TV rather quickly… and that seems to annoy me.

Comedy

• 2 Broke Girls – Two women from different worlds come together in a moment of need. The awesomely sarcastic Max and the terminally blonde Caroline are the latest incarnation of Lucy & Ethel. Caroline's character is the daughter of a Bernie Madoff-esque crook who has lost everything, she befriends Max becomes her roommate and hilarity ensues. BONUS – Classic SNL actor Garrett Morris provides many LOL moments.
• Big Bang Theory – Two uber-geeks live across the hall from a beautiful waitress. Two additional uber-geeks stop by frequently… hilarity ensues.

Drama

• Criminal Minds – The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit helps local law enforcement solve crimes committed by sociopaths and psychopaths.
• CSI – I love the original best. I wasn’t sure I would continue watching after William Peterson left; it faltered a bit with Laurence Fishburne, but it has really picked up this season with the addition of Ted Danson. I don’t care much for CSI: Miami, but CSI: New York is good, just because Gary Sinise is SO cool.
• Blue Bloods – I started watching this for one reason… Tom Selleck. I keep watching because the stories are good.

Reality

• Crasher Shows on DIY – I love the idea that a hunky contractor is lurking around the aisles of Lowes looking for people who innocently came to the store looking for new tile or a hose. Josh Temple on House Crashers is my favorite. He’s nice to look at, funny and he’s a “guy”. That means he leans toward giving the husband what he wants as opposed to the wife. Matt Meunster on Bath Crashers is a close second. He’s scruffy cute and he makes amazing bathrooms.
• Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives – Guy Fieri can be irritating, but that doesn’t change the fact that the establishments he spotlights are pretty awesome. I don’t travel much (as I want), but I have eaten at two of the places he’s visited in Portland. I highly recommend the Byways Café in The Pearl.
• Brad Meltzer’s Decoded – It is the ONLY History Channel “conspiracy” show that I can handle; mainly because it is intelligent. It relies on research and finding first-person accounts from people who don’t appear to own a Tin Foil Hat.

Classic

• M*A*S*H – I catch this show on TV Land from time to time and it never fails.
• The West Wing – I’m geeky when it comes to history and politics. I actually own Seasons 1-5 on DVD. When GW was president, I wished Jed Bartlet was… and now that Obama is President… I still wish Bartlet was.

Sunday Stealing - It's going around...

 

A. Age: 42
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Finding new places to bury dead hookers.
D. Dogs: Are essential to keep the neighbors from getting too nosey.
E. Essential start to your day: Making the bed… once the dead hooker is removed.
F. Favorite color: Blue
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 6 foot-ish
I. Instruments you play: Does the Meat Flute count? ;-p
J. Job title: Baby Snatcher
K. Kids: Yes, they’re delicious.
L. Live: They are when I pick them up from the bus station.
M. Mother's name: “Mother”
N. Nicknames: “loner”
O. Overnight hospital stays: These are to be avoided. They ask too many questions and it gives people an opportunity to look under the tarp behind the garage.
P. Pet peeve: People looking under my tarp.
Q. Quote from a movie: “It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again”
R. Right or left handed: I normally use both
S. Siblings: The more, the merrier!
T. Time you wake up: Once the sedatives kick in.
U. Underwear: Under the tarp, silly.
V. Vegetable you hate: Brussels Sprouts… they smell like death.
W. What makes you run late: When they insist on asking questions; it only delays the onset of the sedatives.
X. X-Rays you've had: I avoid hospitals… they ask too many questions.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti
Z. Zoo animal: Mongoose

Blogging Challenge–Day 8

Something you’re afraid of…

If you ask my daughter, I’m afraid of spiders and snakes. I would disagree. I’m not afraid of them. It just startles me when they aren’t where they belong… outdoors in a place where I am not.

Now time for some introspection…

So far, I’ve determined that I’m scared of two things.

I am scared of anything happening to my kids that prevents them from fully achieving life’s potential.

and…

I’m scared I will always be alone. I’m scared I will be one of those people who you read about in the news who’s mummified remains are found several weeks later by a utility man.

Blogging Challenge–Day 7

Favorite Movie

I enjoy movies, I always have. The one ‘family’ thing we did when I was growing up was to gather around the TV to watch movies; sometimes we even went to the drive-in. My sister and I would dress in our jammies, and load into the back of the car with our blankets and pillows and head for the drive-in. It was one of the few times nobody was yelling and nobody was hitting.

I have a very hard time limiting my selection of favorite movies to JUST ONE. I have my “go to” movies that depend on my mood.

Classic

• You cannot go wrong with Casablanca… or any Bogart movie for that matter.

Adventure

• Indiana Jones Trilogy (I do not count the 4th movie as part of the franchise)

Comedy

This is a hard category to narrow down to just one. Again, it depends upon my mood.

• Tommy Boy
• What About Bob
• The Producers

Sci-Fi

• Star Wars Saga

Western

• Just about anything with John Wayne… McLintock! is my ‘go to’ film.

Inspirational

• Remember the Titans
• The Blind Side

… and finally…

Sentimental Hogwash

• It’s a Wonderful Life
• The Family Stone

Let me know what you think, leave a comment.

Blogging Challenge–Day 6

A picture of something that makes you happy….

That’s simple – The Oregon Coast

** Add in my kids, and I’m in Heaven.

This picture was taken on our 2011 Spring Break trip at Fort Stevens State Park; inside the Peter Iredale.

Blogging Challenge–3, 4 & 5

A challenge was made… I’m going to do my best to follow through.

Challenge #3

YOUR FIRST LOVE

Given my life story; this really is a difficult question to answer. I decided to look up the definition of LOVE (it didn’t help).

Tender Affection – I honestly believe I felt this way about the woman I married and who is the mother of my children.

Desire – A boy named Doug at Oregon State. He was as closeted as I was. Meaning, we both had “girlfriends” and were very careful how we acknowledged each other in public.

Unconditional – The first time I held each of my kids I knew what unconditional love is all about. Now that they are teenagers, I’ve learned that unconditional love hurts.

Challenge #4

YOUR PARENTS

My mom was born in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas and raised through her mid-teens there. My grandparents moved the family to Salem, OR in the mid-50’s where she graduated from North Salem HS and Salem Business college (now Chemeketa CC) and became and early keypunch operator on the computer systems of the State Welfare Department. How she got hooked up with my father, I have no idea.
My dad was born in the Salem area, he didn’t get his GED until he was in the Army. Through the late 50’s and 60’s he was stationed around the country before serving a tour in Vietnam. In the early 70’s he worked for the Oregon Dept. of Transportation in those little scale shacks you see along the freeway. By this time, my mom had become the supervisor of the data entry section at the central office of the Welfare Department. Her office was in the building just to the NE of the Capitol building. I have memories of playing on the Capitol Mall, waiting for her to get off work.

Apparently this arc was too positive and a decision was made where mom quit her job and the family was packed up and moved to Buttfuck, Eastern Oregon (picture circa 1978). Mom didn’t work outside of the home again until I was in high school. When she was dying of cancer in 1990, she told me how disappointed she was in the path her life had taken. All my sister and I can do is wonder how different life would have been if we would have stayed in Salem. My upbringing was steeped in abuse; my dad’s chief means of communication was verbal and physical aggression. I used to dream of my mom taking my sister and I back to Salem and leaving him in his misery. That never happened; they say “misery loves company” for a reason. Her death certificate says she died of cancer, but I feel she died of hopelessness. What did she have to live for?

In the 20 years since, I’ve attempted to relate to my dad as an adult. But he usually returns to emotional manipulation and triangulation between my sister and I. He will most likely die a miserable, lonely man… apparently this is what he spent his life working towards.

Challenge #5

A SONG TO MATCH YOUR MOOD

Sunday Stealing–Four Things

In the “old blog” I did memes. They are a fun way to get your thoughts onto the screen without too much heavy lifting… basically guided imagery.  One of my favorites was Sunday Stealing.

I have a special place in my heart for the “four things” meme, as it was my VERY FIRST post on February 20, 2006. This one is a variation on the theme, but the concept is the same.

Sunday Stealing: The "It's All About Four Freakin' Things" Meme

Four Places I go:

1. Work
2. Home
3. The Oregon Coast… not nearly enough.
4. Wherever Jenny’s bird flies

Four Crushes I Have:

1. My Man
2. Clay Matthews
3. Brady Quinn
4. Grady Sizemore (NSFW)

Four Smells that I Love:

1. Smoky BBQ
2. The Oregon Coast
3. Really good Coffee
4. A beautiful perfect Rose

Four Favorite TV Shows:

1. Glee
2. Anthony Bourdain
3. Pawn Stars
4. Yard Crashers

Four Favorite Movies:

1. The Hunt for Red October
2. Driving Miss Daisy
3. The Kings’ Speech
4. What About Bob?

Four Recommendations:

1. If you can’t pay for it today; you won’t be able to pay for it tomorrow.
2. If it sounds like bullshit… it is.
3. Humans are the only mammals who argue against their inner voice… try not to do that.
4. Enjoy REAL ethnic cuisine –this can only be accomplished in a restaurant or truck operated by people of that ethnicity.

Four People that I'd love to read their Fours:

**It’s been too long since I participated. I’ll need to re-acquaint myself with the denizens of Sunday Stealing.

Four Things about me that you don't know:

1. I am really getting tired of feeling this way.
2. I love watching movies that have an emotional hook.
3. As I age, I’m scared to realize that this is all there is… and it SUCKS.
4. I enjoy my job. I see it as a chance to help others bust out of a destructive cycle.

Four bands that I love:

1. JD Kindle & The Eastern Oregon Playboys
2. Michael Buble
3. Journey
4. Twenty Bucks

Rock n’ Roll Friday: R.E.M.

Welcome to Rock 'n Roll Fridays. Like other memes; I’m asked thirteen questions. But, the "twist" is that each week the author of the meme will pick a singer, band, era or category and pick thirteen of their songs. Each of the questions will be based on the lyrics. 

1. MAN IN THE MOON “If you believe, they put a man on the moon…”
What public scandal such as Roswell, Kennedy Shooting, Agent Orange, etc. do you question?

• I have a problem with conspiracy theorists' in general. What purpose would anyone have in ‘faking’ the moon landing or blowing up the World Trade Center? Although, I  do believe there was ‘something’ going on with the JFK Assassination.

2. RADIO FREE EUROPE “Radio Free Europe, radio free Europe, calling out…”
Have you ever used a shortwave radio or listened to another country’s radio broadcast?

• My best friend growing up somehow had access to a shortwave radio. When I would spend the night at his house we would play around with it and listen to the voices from around the world.
• When I was in the Radio business; we would get tapes from Arctic Circle countries who had recorded our AM station. They would describe the equipment they used to make the reception. Usually they would include some trinket or a postcard. I would send them a bumper sticker for their collection. I thought it was nice that they were passionate about hearing my station.

3. IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT “It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine”
What would you eat if you knew it was the end of the world soon?

• Clam chowder from Fisherman’s Warf in San Francisco

4. LOSING MY RELIGION “Losing my religion, and I don’t know, oh no I’ve said too much…”
Have you ever said something to someone that was negative about a religion only to find that person was of the faith you were speaking about?

• All the time. I generally don’t have many positive things to say about religion; mainly because of the way it seems to give people license to be assholes.

5. NIGHTSWIMMING “Nightswimming, remembering that night…”
Have you ever gone skinny dipping at night, or night swimming in a lake, pond, river, beach, pool?

• Night is the best time for me to go skinny dipping. There’s less of a chance of scaring the humans.

6. THE ONE I LOVE “This one goes out to the one I love. This one goes out to the one I left behind”
Is there a song you hear that reminds you of someone in your past every time you hear it?

• Of course…. but I can’t think of one right now.

7. STAND “Stand in the place where you work, now face west…”
What was the last childhood game you played as an adult?

• I had a great day at work today… because I got to play with some kids at the end of the day. We were having fun in the van when I took them home. Once we got there, I did some sweet WWE moves on them that had them giggling hysterically.

8. EVERYBODY HURTS “Everybody hurts, everybody cries, sometimes, sometimes everything is wrong…”
What is wrong right now?

• That is such a LOADED question; one I don’t feel like answering right now.

9. DON’T GO BACK TO ROCKVILLE “Don’t go back to Rockville, and waste another year”
Where will you never go back to?

• God help me if I ever consider moving back to Ontario, OR.

10. ORANGE CRUSH “I’ve got my spine, I’ve got my orange crush”
What is your favorite fruit flavor and your favorite way to have it?

• I love Orange… GO BEAVS!

11. SOUTH CENTRAL RAIN “Did you never call? I waited for your call…”
What was the last call you were waiting for?

• With spring sports; my kids are understandably busy, but not too busy to send a text message to their old dad.

12. DRIVE “What if you did what if you walked? What if you rocked around the clock?”
What was the last thing you did that took hours and hours to finish?

• I moved two months ago… there are still boxes that I need to empty.

13. POP SONG “Should we talk about the weather…Should we talk about the government?”
What was the last thing you said about the weather and the government.

• Weather – It’s getting to be the end of April; we can stop the freezing temperatures every night, OK?
• Government – While I have made my first financial contribution to the Obama campaign, I am a bit disappointed by his seeming rush to compromise.

Blogging Challenge: Day 2

** Turn your attention to yesterday’s post for an explanation.

Day 2: The meaning behind your blog name.

The title of my previous blog, was based on an Adam Savage quote and it seemed to fit the chapter of my life it chronicled. As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been wanting to start a new blog to chronicle where I am now and where I’m going.
I have always been a political junkie and I fully admit there are aspects of both sides of the political spectrum that has their merits, at this point in my journey on this rock I more closely align myself with the Liberal end of the spectrum. Ergo, Progressive.
When I was in Grad School I enjoyed the writings of Jane Addams. Ms. Addams was a pioneering Social Worker and the first female winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. I was inspired by Ms. Addams quote that you see above.

"Unless our conception of patriotism is progressive, it cannot hope to embody the real affection and the real interest of the nation." --Jane Addams

UPDATE - I have returned to the original name of this blog... it suits my life best.

Blogging Challenge: Day 1

OK… This time I REALLY mean it.
No, seriously!
Stop laughing…. Hello? Is this thing on?
I’ve been talking about getting into blogging again, I make a post that I think is going to be the one to get me back into the swing of things, then three weeks later… BUPKUS!
Originally, I saw this interesting blogging challenge offered by the incredibly good looking and talented author of West of Mayberry back in January. I thought, “Yes, this will do it”. I set up the special tab you can see above and that’s as far as it went. Yesterday, the equally good looking and talented author of Nice to See Stevie B, called me out as a participant. I’m glad he did that. Sometimes we just need a kick in the ass.

Day 1: Intro and 15 Facts

1. I spent a good portion of my adult life as a radio DJ.
2. I had a daily talk show for three years.
3. I have one sibling… whom I haven’t seen in over 10 years.
4. I once lost 140 lbs.
5. I found it again
6. I’ve been to 27 states and one Canadian province.
7. I have three daughters, a son and an X-wife from a previous life.
8. My son is everything I wish I was at that age (and he will probably continue to be so).
9. I am mocked by my co-workers for leaving a tidy desk every night.
10. I was once investigated by the Secret Service as a threat to a President I now idolize.
11. I broke my leg falling off my parents house while trying to emulate Clark Griswold’s holiday lighting mastery.
12. I have very low self-esteem. Maybe that’s why I’m compelled to make a go at blogging again.
13. I become maniacally devoted to one show at a time. Currently, it is GLEE. The last one was The West Wing.
14. I get myself into personal “issues” that I am embarrassed to talk about. I’m in one right now. I can look back and see the exact moment I should have known better and I ignored it.
15. I’m a self-taught football fan.

The TV Meme

For the record, I have many thoughts about current events or activities in which my kids or myself are participating. I just choose not to put the info out there because the last time I did, I got my hand slapped. My sister was asking why I wasn't posting the other day and it got me thinking... I should and just see what happens.

We shall start with a meme. Friends who know my previous blogging endeavors, know that I loves me some memes.  This particular one was wantonly stolen from Patently Queer. My tastes (or lack thereof) will become obvious shortly.

Back in the Day — 5 TV Shows You Loved As A Kid
Mork & Mindy
The Cosby Show
The Dukes of Hazzard
Magnum PI
Designing Women

That’s Hot — 5 TV Characters You Would Do
Bo Duke (Dukes of Hazzard)
Rick Simon (Simon & Simon)
Thomas Magnum (Magnum PI)
Tony Micelli (Who's the Boss)
Woody Boyd (Cheers)

“Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs” — 5 TV Theme Songs You Know (and Love) By Heart
Cheers (Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got)
Laverne & Shirley (Schlameel, Schlamozzle, Hassenfeffer Incorporated)
All in the Family (mister we could sure use a man like Herbert Hoover again)
The Golden Girls (thank you for being a friend, travelled down that road and back again)
WKRP in Cincinnati (Baby, in case you ever wondered, wondered what ever became of me)

Meh — 5 “Hit” Shows You Never Could Get Into
The Office
China Beach
24
Murder, She Wrote
NYPD Blue

The Starting Line-Up — 5 Channels You Go To First When You Sit Down to Watch TV
History
MSNBC
Travel
DIY
Food

“That’s What She Said” — 5 Quotes That Still Resonate
Col. Hannibal Smith (The A-Team)
"I love it when a plan comes together"
Dr. Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
"There is a problem, you haven't eaten yet!"
Capt. Benjamin F. Pierce (MASH)
"Who would name their kid BJ?" BJ in response "Maybe my mom Bea Hunnicut or my dad, Jay Hunnicut"
Dorothy Zbornak (The Golden Girls)
"Of course you're not a communist Ma, you grew up in Italy; you're a fascist"
Mork (Mork & Mindy)
"They're so intent on looking out for number one, there's no room for number two"

“Gimme More” — 5 Shows You Can Never Get Enough Of
Glee
The Big Bang Theory
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Holmes on Holmes
NCIS