So.
This past weekend I went way (waaaaaay) outside of my comfort zone and spoke (briefly) at a conference in Atlanta, and if you’re thinking, “Um, you’re not a speaker – you’re a blogger,” YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT. I’m not a speaker. I’m not even close to one. But a friend of mine asked me to “share” for about 20 minutes, and I did, and I survived. And afterwards I went to Dreamland BBQ with my fellas and PUT DOWN some barbecue chicken.
Also, Alex ordered a bowl of the Dreamland macaroni and cheese, and he loved it so much that I am almost certain that if we had been in the privacy of our home, he would have picked up that bowl and licked it clean.
And I would’ve been so proud.
Anyway, we got home yesterday afternoon, and I immediately set about the business of trying to catch up on TV. I missed all of the Thursday night shows that aren’t on Bravo (just sayin’), so I tried to plow through as much as possible while a certain six year-old was having some room time. To his utter chagrin there was no Dreamland macaroni and cheese available during room time, but hey. Life is hard. And it’s best if he learns at a young age that cheesy, starch-laden foods don’t grow on trees. Or bunk beds, as it were.
So while I was playing catch-up yesterday afternoon and last night after A. went to bed, I realized that I have a veritable overflow of tv-related thoughts. With your blessing, I will share them at this juncture.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
– “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” is absolutely brilliant. When I finished last week’s episode, I CHEERED OUT LOUD, even though I really like the person who was voted off. Most of the contestants are just so dadgum smart, and it’s ever-so-much fun to watch them balance the physical game and the social game. My favorites are Colby and Boston Rob. In case you were wondering.
– The Oklahoma cowboys on “Amazing Race” are straight-shooters who are loaded with common sense. Delightful to watch.
– I don’t enjoy “Project Runway” nearly as much since it moved to Lifetime. I don’t know why. The show is still entertaining, but since Lifetime is a network that I rarely watch, I don’t feel at home there. And yes, I recognize that I sound ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. But it’s how I feel. I CAN’T FIGHT THESE FEELINGS.
– One of our favorite shows right now is “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” on Food Network. Ohmylands. Have y’all seen it? Each episode has a theme – like chocolate or guilty pleasure or pizza or breakfast – and chefs / food personalities (there’s a term that wasn’t around 20 years ago: “food personalities”) describe their absolute favorite dish in whatever the category happens to be. It’s fun to hear about different restaurants around the country, but more than that it’s downright infectious to hear a bunch of foodies rave about what they think is the perfect burger or surf and turf or street food. Such a treasure.
– This past Friday night I saw “Who Do You Think You Are?” on NBC, and I thought it was totally intriguing. Maybe it’s because I have a daddy who’s a genealogy buff, but it was so interesting to see someone (in this case, Sarah Jessica Parker) put together all the different parts of her family tree. I’m definitely adding this show to our DVR line-up; I think it would be so fun to watch as a family.
Okay. I believe that’s all. Except that this morning I woke up with a really sore foot, almost like I’d sprained it, but the only thing I could’ve done to sprain it would have been 1) driving 2) watching the Oscars or 3) sleeping. But then I remembered that last night I put on some flip-flops in anticipation of spring’s arrival, and I walked around in them for a little while because, well, as y’all know, breaking in a pair of flip-flops takes some practice.
And do you know what? I honestly think I pulled a muscle in the top of my foot when I was wearing the flip-flops. IS THAT NOT ASTOUNDING? Clearly THE WHOLE WORLD IS A HAZARD.
Be careful out there, my friends.
And p.s. – This post of Kristen’s is well worth your time. So, so good.
I am loving Best Thing I Ever Ate! The cheese episode had me drooling.
Also, love the cowboys. They’ve grown on me. Love the music that plays when they’re on screen. lol
Survivor’s been pretty good, too!
I love the cowboys too, though they had me a bit worried in the first episode where they changed all their money for the wrong currency, but maybe that was just to throw everyone off of their smarts.
I love the cowboys, although I suspect they are playing up the good ole country boy thing a little bit. But it doesn’t matter because I think they are great anyway. The Best Thing I Ever Ate – brilliant! Survivor is excellent this season – I love Tom and Colby — the villains, not so much.
As a former dreamland employee (birmingham) back in the day where we proudly and boldly exclaimed “no slaw, no beans, no potato salad, don’t ask”, I am ASTOUNDED at the bbq meat offerings & side dishes. My word!! ; )
Those Oklahoma cowboys went to the same college as me! My sister was actually in class with them. And we’re mighty proud of our straight shooting common sense around here!
Thank goodness someone else finally admitted to the workout that is the closed-toed shoes/flip-flop transition! I spend at least the first few weeks of April pretending my calves are sore from all of that “exercise” I’ve been doing.
I am so glad to know that I’m not the only one watching Survivor! As a total Survivor junkie, I love this season!! I have NO idea how it will turn out.
I also love Best Thing I Ever Ate and pretty much any Food Network show. Except it’s bad news when it’s 10:30 at night and the show makes me have some outlandish craving.
You did a great job speaking at the conference and lot of people were talking about how great you did afterwards. You can add public speaking to your long list of talents. I love Dreamland and wish I would have had time to get over there. I love the Cowboys! They had one of my favorite all time lines in Amazing Race “I wouldn’t call that a snuggle”. Too funny! Love them! And I can’t watch “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”. Because as soon as it’s over I’m researching airline tickets to get to that particular city. And I’m sorry there’s no crumb cake worth 4,000.
It was the flip flops! I too woke up with a sore foot yesterday that lingers today and couldn’t for the life of me figure out where it came from. I wore flip flops on Saturday for a while and that MUST be it. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Also? Love “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and “Diners, Drive Ins and Dives” Makes me say, “I want to go to there” every time!
I loved Cameron Diaz’s whole look…did you notice all the bright red red lipstick last night? Sandra Bullock’s (love her!) was a teensy bit off I thought but Cameron Diaz totally rocked the red lips.
I heart the Best Thing I Ever Ate! I think I gain the poundage just watching it…*drool*
Okay, at first I had my doubts about the cowboys because I thought it was quite mean of them to not tell the other team that they were at the wrong bus station, but they’re growing on me. At least as much as couple of Oklahomans can ever grow on a Texan. Which, as we all know, isn’t much because we’ll just end up hurting each other come football season.
Oh, and next time you’re in Atlanta, you should go try the OK Cafe’s mac and cheese. It’s like a heart attack on a gooey, delicious plate.
Sophie, we are also addicted to The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Did you see the bacon one? Oh yeah, best dishes with bacon.
My only regret is that I did not record it so I could plot out a bacon inspired road trip.
While I deeply love Dreamland’s M & C, I have discovered that Moe’s BBQ (not to be confused with “Welcome To Moe’s!”) M & C is otherwordly. They usually run out later in the dinner hour and I may or may not have shed tears in there during a particularly nasty craving episode when the person before me got the last of it.
If you liked “Who do you think you are” you should check out “Faces of America” on PBS. Yes, I said PBS. They have other shows besides that one with Street in the name and Antiques Roadshow. It features several celebs an episode and has less dramatic music. The downside is no commercials to fastforward through. A strange feeling, to be sure.
I feel so left out here in Kansas with no Mac and Cheese to savor (except Easy Mac). I must plan a trip to the Southern Regions soon….
I LOVE “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”!!!!! And it makes me want to fry us some ham, eggs, hashbrowns, and the like at eat it until I bloat. At midnight.
Hi Sophie,
Loved hearing you at the Beloved Retreat! I had people emailing me today wanting to know your blog address and if you blogged about it!
AND you are wrong, you are a good speaker.
I’m totally with you on the “Project Runway”/Lifetime situation. It’s just not the same for some reason. Even though it is. Weird.
“Survivor” is fantastic this season. I didn’t even watch last season (a new show, “The Vampire Diaries”, took it’s place). I think this season is the best, maybe ever.
The cowboys are too funny. Right now I’m kind of rooting for Jeff & Jordan because I watched them on Big Brother, but if they get eliminated (which unfortunately looks lik it will be soon), I’m all about the cowboys.
I have “Who Do You Think You Are?” on the DVR right now but haven’t taken the time to watch it yet. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Sophie, once again I think if my husband read your blog, he would think I have an alter-ego and am writing about my life in TV land. And as for licking the bowl… yes, I understand this too!
I totally agree about Project Runway on Lifetime. It isn’t the same and I don’t understand why. Maybe because I don’t randomly see it 10 times a week as I am flipping channels. And yes, I realize my last statement is a very sad commentary on my life.
I LURVE the cowboys, and I thought I would greatly enjoy the lesbians, but then they were mean to the cowboys so they’re out, at least in my head. Also, “Who do you think you are?” is inexplicably awesome to me.
Oh, my goodness—your dad and I need to compare notes. Annie will tell you that I LOVE genealogy. I even drug her along on a field trip! If your dad ever needs research done in GA, just let me know! And I loved “Faces of America” as well.
So, I’m quietly reading this in bed, trying to let my husband sleep doing just fine until the flip-flops comment.
I laughed out loud and woke him up. I just pulled a muscle in my right leg a week ago. Driving. Granted, it was from KY to FL. In a mini-van. With three children under three, the dog and my mom. Did I mention there was a car-top carrier? Because there was.
Anyhoo, couldn’t completely straighten the keg for a few days. Guess I need to use the cruise a little more on the way home.
Or let the dog drive.
Hope your ankle feels better soon, and I’m totally with you on the bravo/lifetime thing. It’s just not the same.
…..aaaaand now I’ve disturbed both the hubby and the dog bc I read my comment (clearly after it posted) and noticed that I typed keg instead of leg. Cracking myself up I am, cracking myself up.
Well. I was coming to tell you how much my mother loves genealogy, but that was apparently already established, thank you comment #22.
(And by field trip, she means we DROVE TO TEXAS FROM GEORGIA.)
OK. Your list was delightful.
*Colby & Boston Rob–also my favs (I’ve ALWAYS loved Colby!).
*I feel the same about Project Runway, but I watch. I’m a bit smitten with Anthony for some reason.
*We also love the Best Thing I Ever Ate. The bacon episode was a favorite in our house.
*Who Do You Think You Are? I wrote about that yesterday on my blog! My mom is the family historian and it has been a blast to dig deep. My grandpa is convinced that we have to have SOME sort of “dark past” somewhere. But so far–nothing. : )
One of our new favorites is Undercover Boss on Sunday nights.
Really enjoyable and so far pretty clean (although we were told there was a Hooters episode but we missed that).
And I have a strange facination with the show Horders on A & E -totally freaks the Hubs out!
Loved every bit of this post. I am with you on Survivor – my husband and I cheered when Cirie got bamboozled. Our favorites are Tom and Russell because he’s so over the top.
Love Amazing Race.
Liked the Who Do You Think You Are show too….I’m totally into geneaology stuff….but then I got roped into the Dateline special right after that and had to quit watching because I was spooked.
Love Undercover Boss too.
Please tell me you watch Chuck – one of the greatest campy shows on tv right now.
Love survivor vs. villians! I’m with you about Colby and Boston Rob. Is it because they were on so long ago?
Be careful with wearing your flip flops (I still want to call them thongs!). My niece had to have foot surgery. Her foot doctor said that she was wearing her flip flops too much and that they did not offer the support that our feet need. She was only 19 or 20 when she had to have the surgery…
I am totally with you on the Survivor season! Wow. I love when they have past players come back because the game is on the minute they hit the beach! So… two questions. Who do you think will win? And how long before they vote the Evil Russell off the show? (Oh please let it be soon!) Totally impressed with Rob though… what a lot of growth and maturity since he last played!
OK, I have not seen The Best Thing I Ever Ate, BUT I have relevant experience to share. I was in San Diego last month and we went to Cafe 222 for breakfast. PROMINANTLY displayed was a sign promoting that this restaurant had been featured on TBTIEA. I ordered the banana bread french toast (which was not on the show). It was a disappointment. So the next day we GO BACK to Cafe 222 and I order the dish that was on TBTIEA. It was the french toast with peanut butter and banana. ALSO A DISAPPOINTMENT! The only reason we went back there was because I was certain I must have mis-ordered the first time. But both meals were equally “meh.” Even though I’ve never watched it, that show is dead to me.
You were AWESOME this weekend!
Best comment of the night on last week’s Survivor – Boston Rob on Russell: “He’s like a Hobbit…on crack!” I think we all hit the floor laughing at my house. Can’t wait to see what this week brings – sad, I know!
I’m half tempted to send PW an email and ask if she knows our Oklahoma guys on Amazing Race. Love them and their common sense selves!! They’re cracking me up week after week. “Well, I just don’t know if she was really very sincere when she said that or not.” I really do hope they win.
p.s. We love “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” but couldn’t they have just named it “Favorites”?
OK. I feel the exact same way about Project Runway. Love Tim Gunn, Love Heidi, Love Michael, but there is something so not right. I just can not put my finger on it. And I LOVE the Housewives of any town. Love them! Ramona cracks me smooth up. And that was just a leetle bit too much Beth for me. Just saying.
Now on to sadder events, our Bulldogs, both male and female broke my ever loving heart on Saturday. Why, why?? But I am a true fan. And I am going to the Final Four in San Antonio and I will NOT cheer for Tennessee and I will NOT sing Rocky Top and I will NOT wear orange.
I love Colby and Boston Rob too! And I love Tom.
And I keep forgetting to watch project runway because I can’t get lifetime on my DVR so I have to watch it online and I never think to do that. So I’ve only seen like 2 shows this season. Darn.
AND I also love the amazing race and the cowboys.
And Idol was great tonight. Looking forward to your recap. But I’m too sick to stay up for it so I’ll catch ya in the a.m. :-)
I also added “Who Do You Think You Are?” to our DVR line-up after seeing something about it on Oprah. So interesting. My sister watched it and immediately got on ancestry.com to look up our kin, but apparently my grandmother did not exist. Oh well.