The Comeback Kids

The announcement of one of my many favorite shows making a return to the screen after a long hiatus has sent me into a spiralling search for others making their comeback. I hate committing to new shows for fear that they will be cancelled after one or two seasons. Here's what I've found so far:

One/Two Hit Wonders No More

Show Title: Notes From the Underbelly
Who would like it: A staple for anyone thinking about getting pregnant, has friends who are pregnant, or likes to hear the word "mucus" alot.
Premier Date/Time: Monday, November 26 8:30pm on ABC

Show Title: The Real Housewives of Orange County 3
Who would like it: Anyone who loves trashy, scripted reality shows about silver-platter spoiled middle aged women. ME!
Premier Date/Time: Tuesday, November 6 9:00pm on BRAVO (if you missed it, they re-run it ALL THE TIME!)

Mega Star With A Mega Late Premier Date
(Hurry up already!)

Show Title: Project Runway Season 4
Who would like it: Anyone with any since of style, need for clothing, or really into blond bombshells. Tim Gunn is one classy man. Also entertaining for those with an obsession for the phrase "in or out."
Premier Date/Time: Wednesday, November 14 9:00pm on BRAVO

No Show for the Ti-Vo (YET!)

Show Title: Deadliest Catch Season 4

Who would like it: Any fan of crab, cold, or close quarters for weeks at a time. Anyone needing a great idea to earn a quick $30,000.

Premier Date/Time: Unknown. But Discovery Channel has a few substitutes in the mean time: Lobster Wars and Ice Road Truckers. The latter wasn't half-bad, but it's no King. Crab that is.

Show Title: Work Out Season 3

Who would like it: Anyone craving some gym drama or anyone needing a visual confirmation of what exercise really looks like.

Premier Date/Time: Unknown. But according to a BRAVO cast member's MySpace, Season 3 started filming in October. If it's on MySpace, it HAS to be true!

Call Me Columbus

A list of things I wish I would have discovered sooner...

1. Ikea has a winter collection. (Hmmm... can we say "Roadtrip!"?)
2. Kashi Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Cookies
3. The 3 pairs of smaller size jeans buried in my closet.
4. The almighty power that is the DVR.
5. The stockpile of pricey play mice for Enid under my bed.
6. The warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from an organized hair product drawer.
7. "Blackened," as in blackened chicken, actually means lightly coated then FRIED! (No wonder it's yummy.)
8. Just because you BUY a treadmill, doesn't mean you USE the treadmill.
9. The Hungry-Girl website.
10. At our age, "going on an adventure" is defined by a last minute dinner with friends at POPS on! a! work! night! Can you imagine?!
11. Burger joints may surprise you with fresh strawberries and fantastic green beans.

Yeah, the goal was at least 20 discoveries, but the Edy's Slow Churned Pumpkin Ice Cream is calling my name. 2 WW points of heaven.

BeerFest 2007...Birthday of Champions

For over seven years and for as long as we have been dating, Nathan has always noted that my family takes birthdays to a whole new level. What can I say? Bradshaws do birthdays BIG! I'm pretty partial to big birthdays. No one's special day should go by without crepe paper, cake, dinner of your choice, presents and party games. Oh yes! There are party games.

My bro-in-law, Jim, can be blamed for the elaborate expectations for party games. It's a new staple in all of our b-day celebrations. That, and our special version of the birthday song. Those lucky enough have been able to hear the song in person. Others, well, they'll have to use their imagination. To help them out here's a hint: It sounds an awful like a certain bday song at the home of THE BEST! Mexican food in OKC. Now imagine it being sung by a bunch of cake-craving, koozie-toting, party rejects. THAT is what the Bradshaws and the Faux-shaws call a birthday.

One of my favorite birthdays to celebrate is my brother's. It's not that I favor Mark over any of my other family members; I leave that to my Mom and her inconsistent declaration of the #1 child. It really comes down to the fact that once HIS birthday is over, MY birthday season is underway. I like to say that I deserve a whole month of birthday attention, since I often have to share my birthday with a wobbly-necked, giblet-producing butterball.

This year though, Mark's birthday was one for the books. It marked the first annual BraHamBla BeerFest. BraHamBla is not only funny because it has the word bra in it (I'm so mature, I know); it's funny because, I don't even drink beer. It was still a blast. And, it was very ummmm ... Mark.

We each had a sampler-cup of 21 hand selected beers from around the world. Then all 9 party-goers ranked them on a scale of 1 to 10. I don't think I gave any of them over a 5. Let's be honest, the 3 of 21 tasters that I didn't pour out into the yard, still weren't as good as my drink of choice. What can I say? I'm an Arbor-Mist type of gal. I like it sweet, cheap and as close to water as possible.

The BraHamBla Beefest 2007 lineup: The Birthday Boy and his brews:

BeerFest attendees minus one taking the picture, and two who never made it to the "beer" part of Beerfest:
Yeah, we're a pretty scary looking bunch after 21 beers. Or before, for that matter. As you can see, Nathan had a good time. The random guy in the back, B, is a neighbor who joined in on the fun. Jane and I decided that he and his wife, A (taking the picture), were very nice; but the wife is too freakin' cute to be invited to future parties.

And for those interested, the winner was:
Erdinger Hefe-Weizen Dark
AKA
Foamy motor-oil.

Nate's Sports Bites

In case you missed it, Adrian Peterson broke the single-game NFL record for rushing yards with 296.....AS A ROOKIE! I'm not ashamed to admit a tear formed in my eye as I watched the following highlight video. If he stays healthy, I think he could become one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. Enjoy the highlights!


In other news, Kelvin Sampson appears to be in trouble again for making inappropriate phone calls, only one year after getting his dream job at Indiana. You would think that getting in trouble once would be enough for him to get the point. Maybe him leaving Oklahoma was a god-send after all. He took us to a Final Four and two Elite Eights, but might have also taken us to probation if he would have stuck around. Thanks for leaving, Kelvin.

How much is that kitty in the window? ...

The Principal of the Matter

For the most part, I love my job. I love the 8-5 schedule. I love the ridiculous amount of paid holidays and vacation time. I love my coworkers. Heck, I have even gotten used to the stale air and lack of vitamin D that comes from working two floors underground. Overall, its a pretty good set up for me.

Finding jobs for people can be a very rewarding career, for both me and the person actually getting the job. But for every person who gets the job, there is a long list of people who don't. Imagine telling someone that you cannot approve their application for them to be able to have a chance at a position. Imagine having to tell a person that the college degree that they spent four years to complete, is not from an accredited college. Imagine telling someone that even though they have been unemployed for a year and a half, that their experience is not actually what you are looking for and there is nothing you can do to approve them. Imagine doing this all day -every day.

Now, imagine telling any one of these things to your elementary school principal. Seems like a great opportunity right? Stick one to the old fart! Make 'em pay for all they did to torment you! Let THEM right on the board 100 times that they are not worthy for your position! While it seemed slightly ironic at the beginning, this real-life scenario, played out today, was actually pretty uncomfortable for me.

I would have thought that it would make me feel good to be in a position of power over someone who I had no choice but to obey many (many) years ago. I guess I would have felt much more successful to have been able to actually show off what I have become and find him a job, rather than disappointing him and ending it there. I guess I can only do what my new "principals" allow me to do.

Some days, you're just thankful that YOU'RE the only half of a "couple" that remembers the other half from a time long before. Some days, you're just thankful for sloughing your maiden name from your business card.

Up For The Challenge

Apparently, November has been designated as the month for bloggers to strive to make an entry every day. E-V-E-R-Y freakin' day?! Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm not that interesting. But, the Blais' have joined together in pinky-swear that one of us will make a new post at least once a day for the whole month. Good thing I found out about this challenge today, huh. Thanks, Jess.

November should present lots of activities for our house and therefore for our blog. Not only is November the host to my absolute favorite holiday, Turkey-day, I'm "thankful" that it's also the month of my favorite day : MY birthday!! This November also includes a visit from an out-of-town guest, Black Friday bargain hunting, and 4-count them- 4! paid holidays off work.

So strap-in! This ought to be interesting...