My Top 5*

So, a fellow blogger of mine recently posted her top 5 favorite shows on television, an idea she borrowed from a friend of hers. Anyway, since I believe all good ideas deserve to be recycled I thought I'd share my list of top tv shows. I try to tell myself I don't really watch that much tv, but then when I found myself trying to narrow down my list to 5, I felt like I was leaving off a few favorites. I guess I've become so dependant on my DVR that I don't really think about the fact that I follow several shows throughout the year. So, I decided to do my top 5, but then also share my honorable mentions!

30 Rock. Hands down my favorite show on tv. No matter what sort of mood I'm in I can always count on 30 Rock to deliver about 22 minutes of solid laughter. Tina Fey is a comedy genius, and I can never get enough of this show. It is also one that Josh loves so it's great to sit around and laugh together. If you've never watched this show, you are surely missing out. I have a few of my favorite episodes just sitting on my DVR. It would just pain me too much to delete them!

The Soup. Without question the only other show on tv that comes close to making me laugh out loud as much as 30 Rock. Take a 30-minute clip show that fills you in on all the ridiculousness and hilarity that has taken place on tv in the last week and combine it with witty (and not bad looking) Joel McHale's dead-on joke delivery and you've got The Soup. This show is the only reason I usually know when there is a popular reality show taking place, as I see all the funniest/most embarrassing/redeeming clips from The Bachelor, Dancing With the Stars, etc.

Mad Men. I first heard about this show when I read about it in Entertainment Weekly a few years ago. I decided to add it to the DVR schedule and give it a test run. The timer hasn't left my DVR since. It is dramatic, interesting and has the advantage of airing mostly during the summer and early fall. Mad Men has the chance to woo you when there really is nothing on tv and then you are hooked. The intriguing Don Draper, the inspiring yet sometimes confusing Peggy Olson, the debonair Roger Sterling, the annoying yet essential Peter Campbell. The list of fascinating characters is endless. Not to mention the whole thing takes place in the 60s. The time warp itself makes for interesting tv.

Grey's Anatomy. In case you've been living on another planet, this show is a medical drama that started by following a group of residents as they started their first day of their surgery residency. I never was a huge ER fan, but I guess I was lacking for a good drama in my rotation when this show began several years ago. Although the last couple of seasons seem to have been lacking in entertainment and a few of the initial characters have moved on, I'm still drawn to the show and interested in what happens to the characters. It also doesn't hurt that this show is one  I can count on to score me a Girls Night Out every now and then.



The Office.  Shot in a documentary style where the characters often make eye contact, gestures, etc. to the camera, this show is one that started slow. Like a fine wine (so they tell me), it has only gotten better with age. Steve Carell has made the fumbling idiotic boss Michael Scott a household name. Another show that Josh enjoys right alongside me, The Office rarely disappoints. I'm a little nervous about next season though. Carell is moving on, and I'm not sure the show will really be able to survive without him or his character.

And since I must share my remaining tv obsessions, here are my very highly ranking honorable mentions:

Law & Order: SVU. Since I couldn't rely on comedy alone, I enjoy the thrill and bit of twists that this crime drama brings. Another show that my hubby and I enjoy together, I've been an SVU fan for many years. Last year brought several great guest stars in some unusual roles.

Hoarders. A reality show that airs weekly on A&E, I stumbled upon Hoarders last year. Monday nights are my evenings to catch up on blogging, the DVR or in this case find new tv programming. Each week the show documents the struggles of two new sets of hoarders as they attempt to regain control of their stuff, their homes, their families and their lives. Incidentally, I have a much easier time parting with clutter these days.

Teen Mom. My other reality tv show obsession, Teen Mom, follows the lives of four young women struggling to find their way mostly because of the consequences surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. Maybe it's because I'm a mom to young kids, but I'm strangely curious about how these teens survive. Some of them make you proud while others infuriate you. Either way, I find myself watching.

Gossip Girl. A definite guilty pleasure, Gossip Girl is my time warp back to high school. It's a cross between Dawson's Creek, 90210 (the original) and Dallas. There is drama, suspense, ridiculous lavishness and often an intensely large vocabulary.

Thank goodness we're just covering current tv. Otherwise I'd have to give big shoutouts to a few of my old favorites, like this, this and of course this (pre-Tori, obviously)!

VIPs

For those of you that might have seen my husband or his truck at base camp for the filming of the movie  currently taking place in our sleepy community (or at least heard he was there), I thought I'd fill you in on what he's been up to. Several weeks back a friend contacted him about the fact that a movie production company was looking for a local physician to service the needs of their cast while in town filiming scenes for an upcoming movie. He agreed to be available. Filming has been taking place for a few weeks now, and he had gotten no call. We almost thought maybe they had found someone else. Well, on Monday and then again on Tuesday, he got called to the set to see a few of the actors. Most of them were familiar to him and somewhat famous actors but none were the actor or even this actor. Although, he tells me he did have a brief brush with Ms. Anniston as she was kindly asking about the well being of one of her castmates.

Despite his time with the Hollywood crowd, the biggest VIP he's treating this week may very well be his first born. Jack spiked a fever Tuesday afternoon and was a pitiful sight. A few other symptoms arose and today we got our first dose of antibiotics to treat what looks like strep. Hoping he doesn't share his ailments with anyone else in the house. He seems to be taking it pretty well, especially since it means watching lots of Toy Story and drinking lots of OJ.

It's me...Warla

So, just a few short months ago, Jack thought my name was Girl. Since then, he's caught on to the fact that most folks call me Laura. He's had Josh down pat for months, and even calls his daddy that every now and then. Well, Laura is just a bit more difficult to spit out, I guess. So, his version sounds a lot more like Warla.

jack: You are Warla?
me: Yes, my name is Laura.
jack: Hey, Warla.

So funny. I also managed to upload some of our latest adventures here.

His Fair Share

So, I've been meaning to update you on what's been going on around here, but I just haven't made the time. Here's hoping it happens soon. In the meantime, here's a little teaser:



I think he had his FAIR share of fun. What about you?



Hard Work

We're closing in on the seven month mark for our dear Sam. He's working those core muscles pretty hard these days really trying to master sitting up on his own. He sits pretty well in a high chair, but that may have more to do with his affection/obsession with eating. Anyway, most days I find some time to surround him with a few pillows or his boppy and let him practice his sitting up. Yesterday it happened to come at the same time as Jack's bath. With one eye on Sam and the other eye and both hands helping big brother, I notice this:

Yep, that sitting up business is hard work, folks. So hard in fact that this little guy decided to stretch back and just take a little cat nap. I guess it also could have been the fact that his mean mommy made him get a flu shot that morning too!

Some words from Pop (4th installment)

So, if you've been stopping by here for a decent length of time, you'll know that I've included some of my dad's eloquent words over the past few months. He's a wonderful writer and always seems to find a way to bring beauty, humor and truth to his columns no matter the subject. You probably also know my sweet little sis is off in Germany with her Army husband, and her goodbye was certainly cause for some of dad's words. Here's your latest installment of Words from Pop.

Bonus baby changed the definition of the perfect family

A quarter of a century ago, Jan and I thought we had the perfect family. We had each other, and we had a boy and a girl. John and Laura.

We were so certain that our birthing days were behind us that we gave away all the trappings of infant care. Well, we kept the high chair and loaned it out. It would come in handy one day for grandbabies.

It was 1985, one that marks a sad moment in family history. Having a baby was most definitely not on the to-do list. You see, Jan's mother died in September of that year. Annie Ruth Pulliam had only recently retired from her toil at Thomas Textiel, where she made clothes for toddlers.

She was suffering the effects of chemotherapy that year. It was thus a bittersweet moment to tell her about a grandchild that she would never see.

"Well, how did that happen?" she asked. Given that her son had already presented her with six grandchildren to go with our two, I suspect it was a rhetorical question.

We began assembling the paraphernalia necessary to bring up a little human being. And as we looked around, we noticed a house too small and cars built for four. So we started planning a move.

I'm not sure that many people can tell you the exact date that they moved into their home. We started moving furniture March 7, 1986, hindered not in the least bit by the chimney fire at my parents' house. Saturday, March 8 was moving date.

Sunday morning as I awoke in our new home, I caught Jan looking at the clock radio on a regular basis.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Timing contractions," she said.

"Doesn't look like we'll be going to church today," said I.

We had babies back in the dark ages when ultrasound was reserved for special considerations. We never knew. Boy or girl? Yet, in the weeks before the birth, we had picked out a girl's name, but not one for a boy. So maybe it was no big surprise when Emily Ruth, our "bonus baby," arrived that Sunday afternoon.

The date was March 9, 44 years to the day when Annie Ruth eloped to secretly marry James Pulliam.

For a while it seemed we had misplaced our parenting skills. Three seemed exponentially more difficult than two. And those two will tell you that Emily got away with a lot more than they ever did.

She gave us a scare when she was hospitalized with pneumonia before she was even a year old. But she gave us countless joys too.

Faithful readers of The Oconee Enterprise may remember that I introduced Emily to you last year as the bride whose wedding was moved around about three times to accommodate the Army's schedule for her husband, Jonathan Rupard. They were wed Aug. 8, and he left for duty in Cuba on Aug. 15. What a way to start a marriage.

She visited him in Guantanamo over the holidays, but they only really started their married life as a couple when he returned Aug. 14.

All summer long we have looked forward to his return with mixed emotions. Because we knew that once he got home, it would be just a few short days before they left for his next duty station.

Mannheim, Germany. For three years.

The world is smaller these days, thanks to electronic communication, so it is not like we can't talk and even see each other via the Internet. But the last hug for a while was last Friday, standing in the Atlanta airport, surrounded by luggage and travelers, blurred together by tears.

As a man who makes his living as a communicator, I had no grandiose message as we embraced. Just three words.

"I love you."

Of course, John and Laura are still close at hand, each married. Laura has children of her own.

There was a time when Jan and I would have considered that the perfect family.

Thanks to Emily, we know better now.

Blake Giles is the editor for The Oconee Enterprise. Opinions expressed are those of the writer.

The Rules

I know some rules were meant to be broken. Most of us gals raised in the South were probably brought up with a certain set of rules. ie. With your arms at your sides, your skirt should always reach your fingertips, etc. One of the rules I feel like my mama ingrained in me was "No wearing white after Labor Day." As a little girl, this usually applied to my Sunday dress shoes. The ones that had made their debut on Easter Sunday (and not a second before). Labor day approaching always signaled the retirement of those pretty white shoes and the welcoming of a pair of black (usually patent leather with a bow and strap) Sunday shoes. I still smile when I spot a little girl at church with similar shoes, especially when they are complemented with a pair of white lacey dress socks...folded down, of course.

Anyway, I have a pair of long white shorts that I wear all the time (at least once a week, sometimes more if they are clean). It certainly doesn't feel like Fall yet, and I hate to pack these go-to shorts away for the next several months. Is this one of those rules that is meant to be broken or at least bent these days? Tell me the truth, ladies. And, share with me what rules do you remember your moms passing down to you that you still carry with you today?

Someday I'll Miss...

If there is one phrase I hear more than any other it's usually something along the lines of: "Enjoy it. They grow up so fast." And, I believe it. I'm witnessing it. I mean I can't figure out how I have a near 3 year-old and an almost 7 month-old. It certainly doesn't feel like I've been doing this mothering thing for three years. Somedays it feels like I've never done it before. You know the kind of days where you forget to pack an extra set of clothes for your infant or one of those days when you have packed his bag to the brim with every essential and then some, but leave said bag behind at home. Or when you pride yourself on having remembered to not only check the bag for extra clothes and bring it along to find that the extra clothes or spare underwear (in most cases) is a leftover soiled pair.

Anyway, back to my point...I'm fully aware of how fast my children are growing. Today I found myself looking forward to a few things, which made me realize that someday I'll miss these mundane things. Although, I'm pretty sure it will take a few years. Someday I'll miss...

• all the tops, lids, valves, caps and various pieces that accompany bottles and sippy cups and the fact that sometimes they occupy the entire top drawer of the dishwasher, but not today.
• changing the diaper on a wiggly baby, cleaning poopy underwear, basically dealing with number 2, but not today.
• that my toddler needs my help to do the second set of buckles on his carseat and that he always waits for my help to get out of the same carseat when we arrive at our destination.
• shopping on the baby aisle at the grocery store, especially those itty, bitty jars/containers of baby food and how they hog your entire cart.
• the fact that I must accompany my boys when they want to play outside. I often dream of saying, "go outside and play." But, the truth is, it often means I get fresh air, a moment out of the house (and a break from housework, etc.), and a chance to just pretend I'm a kid again.
• washing loads and loads of laundry every week. I fondly remember having a laundry day usually once a week when Josh and I were a family of two. Adding Jack increased that immensely and then just as I'd gotten a handle on things and a system, we added Sam. Baby clothes are the worst. They are so tiny and these outfits with multiple pieces. I mean really, who needs socks, a bib & a hat to go with every outfit? Also, if you've got a spitter on your hands (like Sam) you may go through multiple outfits in a day, definitely multiple bibs in a day and count on having to Shout/OxyClean/SprayNWash every single spot if they have a chance at wearing it again. I feel I am in a constant state of putting laundry away. I think the ideal house would have a laundry room gigantic enough to hold several clothes racks, drawers, etc. and everyone's clothes would just be kept there. Then you'd just go grab everyone's clothes for the day the night before, etc.
• changing crib sheets, but as of now this task is the bane of my existence.

To my fellow mommy bloggers, what things are you eager to say goodbye to even though you know someday you'll miss them?

raNdOm tHouGhTs

A few of my random thoughts & observations from today:

• The Tuesday morning following a Monday holiday (ie. Memorial Day or Labor Day) is probably not the best time to try to buy hamburger buns at the grocery store. Guess we won't be having burgers tonight. (Update: Wal-Mart came through for me! And, we had the most delicious bacon cheddar burgers!)
• How insane would people think you are if you jump into the Sara Lee truck (spotted in the parking lot while leaving the bun-less grocery store) and look for hamburger buns? For the record, I did not do this...only thought about it!
• What is weirder? The fact that the little old lady working at the nail salon was wearing white pants the day after Labor Day or the fact that they were baseball pants? (And, yes, I'm sure. I saw the "Bike" logo and could tell by the reinforced areas on the knees.)

• I can't imagine there is a cuter firefighter in this world.

Raider Fun

Friday night we took in the first Habersham Central home football game. Jack was in absolute heaven all day on Friday as I kept telling him we were going to see football that night. In fact, he was a bit upset that we were tailgating before the game instead of heading right into the stadium! We had a lot of fun letting the kids run around and play ball before the big boys took the field.

Sam sure didn't seem to mind the noise and game going on...he fell asleep sometime during the first quarter. His nap was somewhat brief, but he was a trooper. We eventually headed out just before the fourth quarter before meltdowns had time to occur. Jack has been to the Raider games the last two years, but I think he's really starting to enjoy it this year.



Unfortunate side note: the Raiders lost. They fall to 0-2, but there's always next week!

This was his face/reaction when he saw the team running out. I like that his left hand is almost nudging Josh as if to say, "daddy, are you seeing this?"

Wednesday at the Park

Some days it's good to just get out of the house. Last Wednesday was definitely one of those. And what better way to do that than with some sweet friends. Thank you to Erin for not only inviting us to join her crew of three, but grabbing my camera and capturing some of the fun...

"Need a push, Gus?"

Is this not one of the sweetest faces ever? His mom says he's ornery, but I've never seen it! :)

And surely this is the scariest face you've seen, right?! Roar!

F is for Football

So, football season is here. South Carolina kicked off tonight, which is a nice warm-up to get ready for Saturday's slate of games. We also get to enjoy a little hometown action tomorrow night under the lights at Raider Stadium. Looking forward to a little bit of tailgating before the game too. We drive by the stadium almost daily, and Jack is always asking about going to the football game. In fact, I'm a little worried he may not be as easy to leave behind at with my mom every week in Athens. I think he's going to be asking where we are going!? Anyway, even though it stills feels mostly like summer, football has begun so that means fall is on the way! What are you most looking forward to about fall??