Goodbye, Sweet Blog

Well, it's time.  As much fun as blogging has been, it's time for it to retire.  The main reason, my life is WAY too insane.  But the other reason, I wrote about in my upcoming May editor letter. Here is a sneak peek of the rough draft.  NOTE: I am by NO means judging anyone, this is just my opinion for myself.  Thanks to my "fans" -- and if you want to catch up or get my Dish opinions, call me or let's do lunch! :)

Editor Letter – May 09

For the Love of Blog
By Judy Hut

My daughter thinks my hobby is the computer. That’s what she told her teacher in an interview about me. When I asked her why she said that, she simply answered, “You eat, sleep and work on the computer.” Ouch. I always thought I was much more well-rounded, but she may be right.

Since I work from home, my laptop is never far from me. I try to get most of my work done during work hours, but I sometimes work on the evenings and weekends. I wish I could say all my computer time is work-related, but it’s not. I Google, I.M., email, shop online, text, download music and Facebook. I try to keep up on my blog and when I’m not doing mine, I’ll blog-stalk others. My only hold-out is Twitter. I really don’t need one more thing to add to the list.

My daughter’s observation got me thinking. Is a mom on her computer all day my generation’s version of the stereotypical mother who watches soaps and eats Bon Bons? Even though my tube of choice is a computer and not the TV, does all the time I spend still make me a couch potato? And the most importantly, am I wasting my time?

Oh, I can justify my computer use to make myself feel better. First, I’m a writer. The Internet is another outlet for me to express myself, right? Blogging is my online journal. It’s better than snail mail to send messages and pictures to my distant family and friends. Second, it’s my way to connect. I don’t have a lot of time to meet friends for lunch or spend hours on the phone. Instead, connecting online is a fast, convenient way to keep up my social life. I started hearing more about what my nieces and nephews are doing once I signed up for Facebook.

Are these really justifications or just excuses? There is so much attention put on how much time kids spend on the computer, but maybe it’s time for mom to evaluate the way she spends her free time too. Techno-savvy moms are complemented for keeping up with the changing times, but there’s a growing problem of moms getting addicted to the Internet and withdrawing from the real world. Some mothers may feel like they are above such things and that Internet addiction is reserved for teens or the socially challenged. Yet, more and more reports are showing that women are suffering from the same addiction.

Ironically, I Googled “are you addicted to the Internet?” and found several online quizzes, some serious and some not, to see if I was truly an Internet Addict. It came no surprise to me that (by their consensus) I am. The question I thought was most poignant was “do you have more friends in real life or online?” By my current 239 friend count on Facebook, the answer is probably online. If their definition of friend is people I keep in touch with frequently, then it is DEFINITELY online. I definitely don’t get together with that many people regularly. I’ve always been very social, but in my 30’s, a lot of friendships have fallen by the wayside thanks to my ever-growing family commitments. That’s understandable, but the more I think about it, I definitely don’t want my social circle to be limited to the World Wide Web.

It’s time for me to cut back. I could never go cold turkey. Nor would I want to. I’m going to start by -- dare I write this, giving up my blog. I don’t want to find out how my friends are doing solely online. Reading up on their lives via RSS feed shouldn’t be a substitute. I am missing out on real face-to-face interaction and relationships. I’m going to make a more concerted effort to make plans with my friends, reconnect in person with those from my past and attend more neighborhood and church functions to meet new people. I’m taking baby steps until I fully realize that life I envision for myself and then, hopefully, I will be well-rounded after all.

 

Jude's Thursday Dish

We are in the process of remodeling our bathroom and our living arrangements are split between our house and John's mom's home while we work on it.  Her house is empty and in the process of being ready to put on the market, therefore; I don't have Internet up there!  Of course, we did bring up a TV and hook it up to the cable, so I'm not completely in the dark.  But, I'm feeling very discombobulated and I don't like it one bit!  Very grateful though for the use of her house and VERY excited for the new bathroom!  Anyway, on to Dish!

1. MEL AND MIKE from The Amazing Race!  Amelia, I think I was in denial and that's why I didn't write about them last week.  But, I'm ready to eulogize my favorite couple. I'm TOTALLY bummed these guys got Philiminated.  I love those two. Not just because Mike wrote "School of Rock" AND was a writer on one of the best, cut-too-short-dead-before-its-time series "Freaks and Geeks" (he acted in that too), but he just seems really cool.  And Mel is this dad that I think I'd totally get along with.  I read an interview with the two and Mel said that Mike is a Vegan and along the way, there wasn't anything for him to eat, so sometimes he'd go 2 whole days without eating.   I'm not really feeling the love for any other team.  I haven't been crazy about Victor and Tammy, but in that same interview, Mike said they are actually really cool, were having fun and the producers were depicting them as being sneaky and uber-competitive.  He actually said Margie and Luke are cool, but a lot more like that than they portrayed them.   I guess Luke was unhappy all the time and would "yell" at his mom a lot.  He'd play mind games with the other contestants when he knew information and wouldn't share with them.  Mike even said he was worse than the cheerleaders, which is pretty interesting because I don't like them at all, especially the rude one who is the epitome of an Ugly American Tourist yelling at everyone.  Anyway, it was sad to see them go over a stupid taxi driver getting lost. It always comes down to transportation, I swear.  On a side note, Mike is working on producing and acting in another one of Jared Hess' movies ("Napoleon Dynamite" and "Nacho Libre" fame).

2. Amy Poehler's "Parks and Recreation" starts tonight!  Set your DVRs.  And give it 5 episodes at least.  I hear it takes a while to warm up to it, but that's how "The Office" was for their first season.

3. Still needing "Twilight" the movie.  Anyone willing to let me borrow their copy?

4. For all of us who got the DVR shaft and didn't get to see Adam Glambert (or Flambert -- depends on if you think he's Glamorous or Flamboyant) and his whole performance.  Here you go... (and Em, SO SORRY I spoiled last night's results for you!).  It's not great quality, but it's better than nothing. I couldn't find a copy to embed, but here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz-pNrj_MHY

5. Quick Lunch Rush of Entertainment News Bits I Couldn't Care Less About...

Is it just me or does Samantha look like LiLo's brother?  Or the male version of Lindsay?  Maybe that's all she really wanted...was to date herself.

So what if Britney Spears walked off stage during a concert? Does that really need to be all over the TV and radio?

I am SO sick of all seeing plastic surgery stories. Except I do have to say this picture is pretty bad. That's Daryl Hannah and not the Tiger Lady (or Ron Pearlman). Why can't people just grow old gracefully?

Stay tuned tomorrow for a belated LOSTapooloza!

That's it for this week!

Kate the Great is 8 (and this is late!)

I'm such the poet.  Well, my Baby Girl turned 8 on Friday.   I can't believe she's that grown-up!  There's a lot of change for her since she's officially a "tween".  No more car seat, getting baptized, starting Activity Days, she'll start fasting, starting piano lessons and soccer.  We could've started the latter before she was 8 and all, but we finally got a keyboard and found the opportunity for her to play soccer.  Anyway, she's thrilled by it all.  

Here's some pictures from her 8th birthday party at Boondock's and her first soccer game.  She loves when I post about her, so here you are, Katie Bug.  

Happy Birthday and I LOVE YOU!

Jude's Thursday Dish (as if I write anything else lately)

I survived the last couple weeks of my life and for that, I'm very grateful.  The first week of April is always insane at the Hut house with my birthday on the 1st and Katie's on the 3rd.  With the celebrations, Katie's party, etc. and then we go into Conference Weekend that holds more get-togethers, it's non-stop.  And tomorrow, I've got the Highland Park Elementary Arts Night that I'm on the Silent Auction committee.  I think by Monday, I'm going to crawl into bed for a mental health day!  Enough of all that, on to Dish!

1. I'm saying it.  "The Office" has officially Jumped the Shark.  Michael quitting?  Pam leaving with him?  SPOILER ALERT: The new bleached blond Ryan we saw in the commercial is working as a manager at a bowling alley and he leaves to go work with Michael.  And rumors are going around that another Dunder Mifflin-ite is going to defect over to Michael's new company.  This is when producers need to stick with their creative integrity and go out on a high note.  Yes, the show is awesome and has turned into a cash cow/audience fav for NBC.  But don't let it go on and on.  Take a cue book from HBO or the BBC.  Let your shows end before they wear out their welcome.  I'd much rather it leave with fond memories than exhaust me on the way out like a bad break-up!

To remind me of funnier days, "My horn can pierce the sky!"

2.  Speaking of a show exhausting itself, does anyone still watch E/R?  Did anyone see the George Clooney return?  I was going to tune in, but forgot.  If you saw it, tell me how it was.  I guess tonight is the last episode and there's a show before it reminiscing on the series.  I may DVR it, but I lost interest in that show when Carter and Luka started going to Africa.

3. For my birthday yesterday, I decided to relax and watch a movie I ordered On Demand.  "Twilight" -- which I still hadn't seen.  I was into it, but unfortunately, Katie called from school saying she was sick and I had to go pick her up.  I didn't want to finish watching it with her around.  On Demand shows last 24 hours, so this morning, I went to finish the movie and it was gone out of my Saved Programs.  I think I barely missed the 24 hour mark.  I'm so annoyed.  And I'm not paying another $4.99 to watch the 2nd half.  Anyone near me have it and can I borrow it, so I can finish and review? :)

4. Since I have no time to go SEE movies, my latest past time is watching trailers online.  I guess I'm fantasizing for the day I have a chance to actually GO to the theater and by looking at trailers, it makes me think I might slow down enough to catch that film when it hits the theaters. That, and for rated R movies, I guess this is as close as I'll get until it comes out on ClearPlay.  So, I guess this spot was on during the Super Bowl, but we were having a family birthday party and the game was on in the background, so I didn't see it.  This is probably old news for most of you, but I actually laughed out loud at this clip when I found it online.  Especially seeing Tobias playing Cain.   My favorite part: "What do I continue to do?"

4. And on to LOSTapooloza! If you haven't seen it, GO AWAY!

Last night's episode was solid. Maybe not as flashy or as "big reveal" as others, but definitely a good show. I'm digging the new Jack, even though Kate isn't, I guess. I loved how he stood up to her and said, "You didn't like the old me." I was also pleased to see Sawyer not just go to mush over Kate and he's staying true to his new woman. That might end, but for now, it's very realistic that he'd be loyal to Juliet since they've been together so long. It was interesting to see Juliet confront Jack (in the shower, naked! Hello? Neither seemed affected at all that he walked out all bare-nekkid.) Was she anguished that Jack came back or was she upset that he brought KATE back? I thought it was interesting how everybody wanted to save young Benry. Sure, I get the whole thing about him being a child and it doesn't matter who he becomes, but hey... Producers, read 1st Nephi. It's better than ONE man perish than a whole nation dwindle in unbelief! Ha ha! Why did Kate care so much about Benry living? I thought for sure that Benry TOOK Aaron and she would want him to live because she knew that was the only way in the future she would find him. I was actually VERY surprised that Kate gave Aaron back to his grandma and she's going back to the Island to find Clair. (Is Claire alive or dead or resurrected?) John thought it was totally out of character, but I think it's her turning point and her only true way to redeem herself. She's FINALLY taking steps to be a better person. It was a great performance and truly heartwrenching. Kate wanted to save Benry because of her growth as a woman and as a mom. She is turning into a real heroine. I totally bought it.

Still loving that Hurley's thoughts and questions about the time travel mirror the audiences. John and I even discussed the whole "Back to the Future" theory, so when Hurley voiced that, it was like a shout-out to all the Geeks like us out there. And when he asked Miles why didn't Benry remember Sayid shooting him as a kid, classic. Like we haven't all been wondering that.

One point of mythology clarification came up. Charles Widmore was part of the Richard Alpert Others and not the Dharma Others. The Ellie they referred to had to be Eloise Hawking. Were they an item? Maybe Penny and Faraday are 1/2 siblings? Or maybe Eloise IS Penny's mom? Those 2 were obviously in charge, but it's odd to me that Eloise will help Big Benry go back to the Island and Charles Widmore is totally on the outs. They must've had some falling out. That makes me wonder how does Benry grow up with the Richard Alpert peeps and overtake Charles? But how does that fit in with Benry going back to the Dharma peeps and killing his dad and everybody else?

Coming Up: Benry says he's back at the Island to atone for his sins. Whatever. If he is, he's only doing that to get back into the good graces of Jacob. In the preview for next week, you can see that he's talking with a young Rousseau in the temple. So, Locke, Benry, Sun, Frank and the survivors of the plane crash must have landed in 1985-ish. Will we ever get back to 2008 -2009? There are rampant rumors online about who the 2 deaths are going to be this season. One is floating around that Sawyer is going to die in the season finale. I will have a REALLY hard time watching next season if that happens. There's been confirmation that it's not Kate or Penny (thank heaven!!!), but other than that, everyone else is wide open. I'm thinking it's got to be Sayid. How is he can stay on the Island with the Dharma peeps all after him for shooting young Benry? Plus, his story arc seems to be running out.

That's it for this week!