Farewell, Dick Clark

I'm still struggling with the photo upload in Blogger right now, so I don't have a photo of Dick Clark, but I did want to acknowledge his passing.  I wasn't a huge fan of "American Bandstand" growing up just because we lived in Germany in the early years when I might have grown a taste for it.  Later, when we moved back to the States, my sister watched it on Saturdays when I wanted to watch cartoons. It was a bone of contention - I didn't want to watch ANYTHING she wanted to watch. In my teen years, in the 1980s, I did watch "Bandstand" until "Friday Night Videos" came on.  So I do have to thank him for all the music I was introduced to back then.

But I did appreciate Dick Clark for all his work in television (particularly "$25,000 Pyramid", music awards shows and "New Year's Rockin' Eve").  He seemed the last of a breed of gentlemen - hard working, kind, willing to share his knowledge, skills and experience.

I know his presence will be missed.  Farewell, Dick Clark.  Thanks for the memories.

Modem Madness

Apparently, Comcast gave me the wrong cable the last time I had to replace my modem - they gave me one that was a slower cable so that it made it difficult to watch video online. I have noticed issues for about a year now, but I just thought it was because my computer is older and FULL of stuff.

I was trying to watch the final episode of "America's Next Great Restaurant" (I love cooking shows) as the final was pre-empted on Sunday due to world events. I think it was absolutely appropriate to delay the show on the west coast, although I wish NBC would figure out a way to show their programs. I am not a fan of watching TV shows online anyway, but I know it is definitely wave of the future.

Anyway, my internet has been intermittently down this week so I have been trying to stay up on everything I need to do and I haven't been doing a great job of it. Hopefully, it is fixed for now and all will be well going forward.

Standing on Principle

So, I don't watch "CSI" or "SVU" or "Criminal Minds" or "Bones" or any of those other shows. The reason for this is that I can't bear to watch even the first five minutes of gruesomeness. I have a couple of shows I like - "Blue Bloods" tends to be a little different and I really like Nathan Fillion on "Castle".  I have enjoyed "Castle" for the most part, but tonight - just a few minutes ago, in fact, they went there. The first five minutes grossness that turned me off all those other programs.  I just turned it off. I refuse to be exposed to that kind of ick - even on a show that I have watched and sometimes enjoyed. I stopped watching most television because of the ick factor.

I'm just going to stick with my happy "American Idol" and "Amazing Race" - happy people doing some cool stuff. No bloody bodies, no grossness, no shock-value ick.

"The Color Purple" 25 Years Later

I was reading the newspaper today and when I came to the TV Listings, I read them (which I don't usually do...).  Oprah had a 25th Anniversary Reunion of  the cast of "The Color Purple" today.  I was so disappointed that I didn't know that until well after it was over - then I remembered that they have a "new" channel (since the change to digital television - meh) that shows the Oprah from that day at 10pm! Yay!

I loved seeing Oprah reunited with Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. You could see in all the actors this sense of relationship and the memories of doing the movie together. I can only imagine the sense of pride they must have about making one of the most splendid, brilliant movies ever.

I'm pretty sure I've written about "The Color Purple" here before, but I was so moved watching the show, I just had to gush about it again.

I'm pretty sure that Steven Spielberg made this movie as the preliminary movie leading him to "Schindler's List". What I KNOW is that he is responsible for at least two of the most incredible and heart-filled movie movies ever made.  "The Color Purple" is so amazing in terms of visuals, emotional depth, honesty, great acting...I love everything about this film and I always have.  I'm still blown away by the fact that it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and it didn't win ANY!  I'm sorry, but if that wasn't political, I don't know what is.  I remember watching the Academy Awards for 1993 and thinking, "If Steven Spielberg doesn't win ANYTHING, I'm never watching this show again."  Luckily, the Academy was fair and gave him and "Schindler's List" its due.  "The Color Purple" will just live on in infamy as one of the worst Oscar denials ever.

Anyway, Oprah asked everyone their favorite lines from the film and they were fun to listen to and I remembered one line from a young kid. Mister is in the old, run-down house and the kids are running wild through the house and one of the kids comes in and says, "It's gon' rain on your head!" - my favorite line.  But there are so many favorite moments in the film - I love the end, I love ANY scene with Nettie in it - she was really an amazing actress. When Celie gets her letters.  Shug Avery going back to the church.  Ahh.  I will have to watch the movie this weekend.  I wish they would have this on the big screen again for the 25th Anniversary. I know they won't, but it would be good to see that way again.

Anyway, I'm floating on a little purple cloud right now. :)

"Secret Millionaire" and Techology Rant

Topic 1: "Secret Millionaire" is my new favorite television program. I love seeing the good work that people are doing in the world despite sometimes overwhelming obstacles. It makes me appreciate what I have a lot more and think about what I can do to help make the world a better place. And it makes me cry every time I watch it.

Topic 2: I'm so tired of hearing about the Android iPad Super-3G 4G extra-fast smart coverage super-duper phones and computers and the cloud and how we can manipulate photos and everything should be faster and we can now watch television and walk the dog and talk on the phone and email and text and listen to music all a the same time. I'm tired of having to dodge people as I am walking because they are looking down at their phones and not paying attention to where they are walking. Or having to listen to people's phone conversations because I am in proximity to the conversation. Please use your ear piece and not speaker phone. It makes no sense that our television screens and computer monitors are getting bigger but we are being encouraged to utilize smaller and smaller screens to access the same information/entertainment. I barely use my smart phone for anything, I don't watch television on a tiny screen and my eyes can definitely feel when I have been on the computer for too long.

I'm not against technology or even against technological improvements. I just wonder how fast is fast enough. I just prefer humans. I like all my gadgets and I use them, but they don't control my life. The more crazy it seems, the more I want to back away.

I think I have just felt barraged this week by commercials and speaker phone calls and lots of technology "stuff". It will all work itself out. I just needed to rant.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Rogers

I have to admit to you all that I was not a fan of Mr. Rogers as a child. He had a number of strikes against him out of the gate: 1. My sister loved him 2. He spoke in a quiet voice 3. I had seen Sesame Street and The Electric Company first

Now that I'm an adult, I respect and admire Fred Rogers for his love of children and his ability to be a stable and consistent presence in a world that can be so chaotic for kids (and adults, for that matter).

I was reminded today that it is Mr. Rogers' birthday and my friend added a lovely quote that I thought was worth sharing: "Why in the world couldn't we use this thing called television for the broadcasting of grace through the land"~Fred Rogers (March 20, 1928 - February 27, 2003)

Below is a video of the Daytime Emmy Awards 1997 Presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred Rogers and his acceptance speech. Lovely.

Oscars, Thai Food, San Jose and Update

So, we met another friend for breakfast this morning, but I couldn't eat or drink anything. :( It sucks. Gonna be one of those long haul instances. Luckily, all of them have been around when it happens and they know not to fuss about it.

After breakfast, we went to the movies and saw "No Strings Attached" with Ashton Kucher and Natalie Portman. It was sweet and funny and made me laugh. I'm moving pretty slowly - my energy is draining because I feel dehydrated. It's a weird thing, but I did enjoy the movie and I was able to relax a bit.

When the movie was done, we went back to the house, played more "Bananas" until it was time for the Oscars at a cousin's house. I was bummed because they were going to order Thai food and I was SO EXCITED for it. Finally, at about 8pm (when the show was almost over), the spasm ended and I was able to eat and drink. I was so happy. It made the Thai food the best Thai I've had in a LONG TIME. We had pineapple fried rice, Pad See Ew (spelling), and a bunch of appetizers plus some brown rice. This is the second time I have had the Pad See Ew and I really liked it! I think I'm going to order it next time and eat it while it is hot! :)

The Oscars kind of sucked. There were some good moments, but James Franco was not a good host. It was almost painful to watch him and then see how hard Anne Hathaway was trying. When Billy Crystal came on stage for a few minutes, I almost cried from relief for those few minutes. I don't know if I have the heart for the Oscars anymore. Ever since "No Country for Old Men Staring at Goats for Oil" year, the Oscars have left a lot to be desired. Maybe next year I will tape it and THEN watch it so that I can forward past all the pain.

After the Oscars, we had to pack up the truck and drive to San Jose so that I would be ready for the meetings tomorrow. The hotel is Hayes Mansion. The room is nice and the grounds are a giant maze. I hope I can find my way around tomorrow. I'm excited to see everyone. And I'm thrilled to be able to drink WATER again! You don't know how much you miss it until you CAN'T have it.

All right - good night! More tomorrow!

Scattered Sunday

I slept restlessly last night.  When I woke up, I did some art journal work, I read for a while, worked on the computer.  I watched a little bit of "Eyes on the Prize" about James Meriweather entering the University of Mississippi and how the Governor was determined to maintain "their way of life". It was incredibly moving and made me want to see the whole series. I keep seeing parts of it, but I have never seen the whole thing. It is on sale at the PBS store, so I'm going to buy it so that I can also support public broadcasting.

I didn't take photos of the art journaling from today just because I was too lazy to go get the camera out of my car. I will do it tomorrow. :) Now I'm off to watch Bill Cosby accept the Mark Twain award on PBS. That is television worth watching - not the stuff I have been complaining about. (I really do learn my lessons - sometimes it just takes me a while.)

News Noise

I am compelled to watch at least the first few minutes of the news on a semi-regular basis, but it is getting harder and harder. I try to make it to the weather forecast most of the time, but sometimes I can't do it.

A sampling of today's news noise: A very sad story about animals rescued from a neglectful situation with a very effective shot of a reporter standing out in the dark and cold at the Humane Society after dark. A story about caramel coloring in colas causing cancer without information about how many thousands of pounds of coloring they had to feed the rats before they got the effect they wanted. Banter from the anchor people. Bed bugs. Baldness and cancer. Fear. Robbery. Fear. Snowpocolypse 2011.

If I listened to all of this and took it all seriously, I would feel more like rolling up into a ball and pulling the covers over my head than I already do.

Sometimes I wonder what the anchor people think as they read their ridiculous fodder.

Oh. OH! And don't EVEN get me started on one of the most horrific commercials EVER!  Isn't it bad enough that there is a local commercial that actually shows a close up shot of dog poop or the commercials where the bears have toilet paper stuck to their behinds. EW.  But last night. Last night's entry took the cake. Or pie, as it were.  It is a Mac and Cheese commercial and the very cute little girl who is about 8 years old (give or take a year) complaining about the food her mother has made for her.  I believe the phrase "shove...down my pie hole" actually came out of her mouth.  The first time I heard it, I doubted myself. After the 4th time I saw it last night, I was flabbergasted. I don't eat macaroni and cheese, so my lack of consumption will not make any impact, but I am seriously considering writing a letter to the company about it.  I have always considered that phrase to be equal to swearing.

B+ for Effort

Today was a better day and I know that it was all due to my attitude adjustment. It really does help to get up in the morning and say, "Today is going to be good. It's all in your hands."  I didn't get rid of all the weird energy, frustration, struggle, but I tried to focus on doing nice things for people, being grateful, and trying to focus on what I can change and do in myself to keep things on an even keel.  I give myself a B+ for effort. I really tried, but as I got more tired, it was harder to keep it up.

I watched an entire CSI episode with guest stars Marlee Matlin and Phyllis Frelich (I love her - if you haven't seen the movie "Love is Never Silent"...brilliant!).  I don't like those shows because they are normally gruesome and gory and I prefer not to fill my overactive imagination with that kind of imagery.  They kept the gruesomeness to a minimum for this episode. I'm glad I watched it, but I will never be a regular CSI viewer.

I'm off to read for a while, then to bed. Tomorrow is Friday, which is good. I am working for an A in attitude tomorrow.  I'm not expecting perfection. I'd like to get to a 90% if possible. Aim high, right?

On Entertainment

I turned on my television tonight when I got home from work and it was on whatever station shows "Entertainment Tonight". I normally don't watch that show, but my ABC channel isn't working well right now (I don't have cable, so I'm at the mercy of the weather, apparently. Gosh, don't you just love digital television? NOT!).

A few months (?) ago, I watched an episode of ET and Mary Hart was talking all about her experience at the funeral of some relative of some celebrity and how she had been very moved and choked up at the service. I was struck by the fact that she was making the story about HER, not about the family who was grieving for the loss of a loved one...

Fast forward to tonight - yet another recap of the Golden Globe awards (um, can we be done with that now?). This was from the perspective of the unknown guy who was at the Globes interviewing celebs for ET on the red carpet. They showed him mopping his brow from various angles, showed people yelling at him, showed him not paying attention to instruction when the director was telling him to wrap the interview he was doing. The WHOLE STORY was about HIM. I don't even know his name. Not only do I not want to watch ANOTHER wrap up of a show that aired on Sunday, but I particularly don't want to watch ET make itself and its reporters the story. If you don't have anything to say about ENTERTAINMENT, perhaps the show is old and tired and needs to be put to rest. I mean, really...

Oy. I'm glad it is Friday.

Crazy Target Lady Ads

I miss "Joe Boxer" Target commercials with the happy guy in his happy boxer shorts doing a little dance. Every time I saw that, it made me smile.

Now, we have crazed Target sale lady (aka Maria Bamford). Seriously, if I saw this woman in real life, I would run, not walk, in the opposite direction. The look in her eyes is SCARY. I have known mentally ill people and they have THAT look.  I know that Target is trying to be funny, but I think "Carol of the Bells" is permanently ruined by the ad where our sale-obsessed heroine is tied down with Christmas lights and alarm clocks so that she will wake up in time for the Day after Thanksgiving sales and she is "bing ding ding dinging" to the tune.

When I stopped to think about the difference between the two ad campaigns, I realized that they are really indicative of the state of the world right now. Happiness and sanity are not really in plentiful supply at this point. Everyone feels crazed and worried and anxious. For me, this makes me want to at least SEE happy people to remind me what it looks like. I don't want to see more unhappy, psychotic people. I want to imagine what life COULD be like again and will...

I hope the crazy Target lady goes away after Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling that she is here to stay, at least through the holidays. She is even worse than the shrill-voiced shrieking woman in the Old Navy ads. That's saying a lot.

**Just for the record, I'm not the only one who thinks this way...A more intelligent, articulate posting is here.

A Bit of Fluff

Last night, while I was checking my email and looking at Facebook, etc., I had "Dancing with the Stars" on. I usually have it on and watch it periodically.  I like this kind of show because I don't have to devote my full attention to it.  I also like this kind of show because you can see people grow and change. I love to see this kind of evolution - for example, Kelly Osbourne's transformation as she realized she could devote herself to something and really become quite successful.

This week's swan story was Margaret Cho.  Last week, she had to do a waltz and she seemed very uncomfortable with the whole "I am an elegant lady" concept and made her routine into a comedy act. It was funny, but the judges didn't like it and encouraged her to just focus on dancing, which she did this week.  As I was watching, I realized that if she lets it, this experience could change her life. I love to see people grow in confidence and I could already see that tiny glimmer in her last night.

The surprise of the evening for me is that I felt badly for Michael Bolton. I'm not a huge fan of his music, so I didn't think it would bother me if he gets sent home or if he wasn't good.  I was wrong.  He tried so hard and said that the first week was traumatizing for him because he hadn't done well.  This week, he had to do a jive (I think).  He seemed very nervous, but he worked really hard.  I found myself pulling for him to just have those couple of weeks to build his confidence and not leave him feeling like he should never have done this in the first place.  I'm definitely pulling for the underdog here.

Anyway, that is my little bit of Monday fluff. It is hot and muggy here, so that's about all I could muster.

Abandoning "Parenthood"

On Saturday evenings, NBC has given up actually showing movies or having a Saturday night line up - they usually just show 2-3 hours of "Parenthood".  I tried watching it much of last year as Saturday night is often a night that I am home dinking around the house. I like many of the actors who are on the show and had been planning to watch it since I heard that Maura Tierney was going to be on the show.  When she had to drop out due to a breast cancer diagnosis, I was saddened but I decided to watch anyway.

Over the course of last year, I began to feel the same about "Parenthood" as I felt about "Brothers and Sisters". Both shows have powerhouse casts that should become a good ensemble. There is good chemistry amongst the actors, good premise, good acting, smart writing for the most part but NOT ONE ADULT I could relate to or admire or even LIKE.  "Parenthood" only really has one character on the whole show that I can stand to watch. This is a problem.  I decided I was not going to watch the show this year based on that information.

About two weeks ago, NBC showed three episodes of the show from the end of last season (focused on the character I like). I had the TV on and got sucked into the episodes. That night, I decided to give the show another chance. I watched the first episode of the season - not impressed, but not totally turned off.

THEN, I watched the show this week. Frenetic is the only word that comes close to the feeling that was portrayed on this show. Everyone talks at each other, loudly and in whiny voices, often talking over each other. There is very little to like about any of these people, although they remind you of the most neurotic, passive aggressive and just plain selfish people you have in your life. I spent most of the hour trying to keep my blood pressure under control.  I realized that these folks are too much like some of the people I actually have to deal with in my life and the others are too annoying to invite into my home in the evening when I am trying to relax.

I miss well-written sitcoms, to tell you the truth.  There are so few of them these days. Sitcoms are easier - they are not bloody (CSI) or disturbing (Law and Order:SVU) or soap opera silly (Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice).  A smart, funny comedy allows your mind to relax, think about something else and laugh. That's what I want in a television show. It helps me understand why people like so-called "reality" shows - at least most of those aren't stressful. In fact, last night, as I was watching the new "Hell's Kitchen"  episodes I taped this week, I was a little jealous of Gordon Ramsey - he gets to throw things, swear, yell at people and throw them out.

If you want to watch "Parenthood", I highly recommend you watch the movie. Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Rick Moranis, Diane Weist, Jason Robards,  Keanu Reeves, Joaquin Phoenix (then Leaf),  Harley Jane Kozak, and a few other notables. The movie was funny, sweet, moving, gentle. The characters had foibles, but they were a family that loved and supported each other through all their trials and tribulations. There is an element of frenetic-ness, but Mary Steenburgen has a calming influence as the matriarch who stands in her gentle power and the love she has for her family.  This is what I was looking for in the television show, since it was "inspired by" the movie.

A Little Help from My "Friends"

To avoid a repeat of last week, I just turned on a "Friends" DVD. Season 5 disc 3 (I'm working my way through them all).  This has one of my favorite episodes "The One Where Everyone Finds Out" about Chandler and Monica's relationship.  I love the whole, "They don't know we know they know we know," part when everyone is deciding to try to fake each other out.  Funny, and it prevented me from bursting a blood vessel while watching terrible TV.

I did work on my art journal a bit - I'm not entirely satisfied with it and I know the pages aren't done.  In my head, I see one thing but I'm not executing well.  I just have to power through and try different stuff. It is for ME - it doesn't have to be perfect, I just want to be creative. Some pages I will like and some I won't like.  So, a couple of pages that are works in progress:

 

  

 

"Idol" Thoughts

Tonight as I watched delusional contestants warble and screech and cry and challenge on "American Idol", I realized that I was really happy that this kind of show wasn't around during my formative years.  I'm not sure how I would have handled seeing the desperation and humiliation of so many people. I think it would have hurt my heart to watch a show like this. I have a much harder shell than I used to (I know it is hard to believe...), but I still have a hard time watching person after person come in, talent-free, and embarrass themselves.

The first couple of years I watched "Idol", I liked the audition process because you could spot the really good people.  Then for a couple of years, they only showed the really, truly bad singers and "personalities".  I think they are giving more air time to the good singers now, but I still find the length of the audition process a bit much. I would much rather see them focus on "Hollywood Week" and start us on the path to getting to know some of the better contestants.  I don't need to see the scores of untalented people sobbing and cursing the camera and the judges.

I'm not old in years, but I'm old in spirit in some ways.  I'm out of patience with this process. I just want to hear the final group sing. I love the process of watching the people grow and take feedback and come back week after week. I get attached to the contestants and I am eager to see what they will do next.  I think that part of it is much more nurturing - even with the voting people off...  I guess they wouldn't have as much interest if everything was nice and everyone sang well.

I guess this is why I'm not in television. :)

Bad Night of Television - Spoilers Possible

I watched a bunch of crap on TV tonight that I don't normally watch and I so regret it right now.

I watched the premier of "The Deep End" - a show about a bunch of over-eager first year lawyers who join a law firm of smarmy, jaded lawyers and they all wander around making excuses for their unethical, immoral behavior and sleep with anyone that moves in their general direction.  This show should not be on at 8pm.

Then, I watched "Grey's Anatomy", a show that I have tried to like and even watched the first year it was on.  After that, I kept feeling like "if real hospitals are like this, I can't know about it."  I can't stand Meredith except in her voice-overs.  I want them all to wash their hair and take a shower.  They are all smarmy, unethical, promiscuous people here, too.  Tonight, a couple who had split up then came clean about having an affair on the other one and each of them was outraged by the behavior of the other.  I realized tonight that there is not one character on the entire show that I like. I like the actors - all of them except for the one playing Meredith, but I don't like the characters. None of them seem redeemable to me.

Then, as if that weren't enough, I watched "Private Practice" where all the hypocritical doctors have all slept with each other and treat each other and behave in highly inappropriate, unethical and possibly illegal ways.  Tonight, one doctor's 15 year old daughter turns up pregnant and while trying to scare the kid straight, the mom drags the daughter into the private room of a patient giving birth and forces the daughter to watch a total stranger and PATIENT give birth. Ummm...HIPAA anyone?  Lawsuit anyone?  Then, the psychologist of the group tries to help a grieving husband go home for the first time after his wife died...then dumps on the guy about abandoning her child and bawling in his arms.  Um...boundaries much?  I want to like this show SO MUCH...Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Audra McDonald...  I can't stand any of the characters.  Addison is the most steady and she started out the show by sleeping with everyone in sight.

The lovely end of the evening was the teaser on the news - Tiger in Sex Addiction Treatment...

I give up. I'm going to bed.  Thursday nights are a total wash right now.

Bea Arthur: Television Trailblazer

I remember watching pieces of "Maude" on T.V. when I was little. I didn't always understand why people were laughing, but I remember recognizing this woman who seemed fearless and powerful and commanded attention. She had a deep voice like my mom. There was something about her that I admired, even when I was just 6 or 7 years old. Something about her presence resonated deep in me - even before I turned out to be 5'11" + with an alto voice.

Bea Arthur, Broadway actress, T.V. Hall of Fame member, star of "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" and Tony Award Winner for "Mame", passed away this morning in her sleep. She was 86.

Wouldn't it be great to be a role model like that? To leave a legacy for women to look up to? Not necessarily on that large of a scale, but to know you made a difference somehow...that is a life well-lived, I think.

I'm gonna have to go out and get some episodes of "Maude" to watch...

Harry, 24, Meg and Gandhi

In an effort to escape more commentary about the Biden/Palin debate on Thursday night, I put in "24" Season 4 last night. I have to wait between seasons...it is like crack or meth. I can't just watch one episode. I have loved Keifer Sutherland since "The Lost Boys" came out...but I also love the format, the suspense. I'm having a hard time reconciling my love of this show and most of the action movies I love with what I believe and who I am as a person. I haven't quite made it there. I see myself in peaceful ways and I understand the impact that viewing violence has on young people (as well as everyone else). In fact, my own viewing habits have changed greatly since I was a teenager. I used to be able to watch ANY scary movie. Then I saw "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Aliens" a few too many times... As I get older, I find it harder and harder to watch violence of any kind. I have to look away and often have to cover my ears so I can't HEAR the shooting, screaming, punching, tearing... Weird, I know.

So, in the last 2 days, I watched the first 4 episodes of Season 4 of "24".


We were talking about "You've Got Mail" at work the other day, so of course, I wanted to watch it. I got up early this morning and looked for it. And looked for it. And looked for it. I'm sure the day after I rent and watch it, I will find my copy of the stupid thing. GRR. But I found out that I have 2 copies of "When Harry Met Sally" on DVD. I watched it about 2 weeks ago, so it wasn't really the replacement I was looking for. I put in "Sleepless in Seattle" and slept through the entire thing.


In an effort to not have a completely useless Saturday, I tried watching "Gandhi", which I am sad to say, I have never seen. I am a big fan of Gandhi and had the opportunity to interpret for his grandson, Arun Gandhi, a few years ago. He was amazing. I love Ben Kingsley - I think he is my favorite living actor right now...but I have never seen the whole movie. I started watching, but I just couldn't go there...So, instead, I am watching "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Not quite the same, but there you go.

And of course, episodes of "Buffy" to sleep by. :) Season 5 - Just finished the episodes where Joyce dies. Hard to watch.

Editorial comment:  So, yes, this is a lot of viewing time for just 2 days, however, I justify it by telling you that yesterday was one of my "don't leave the house all day" days.  I didn't finish "Harry Potter" either...No movie luck yesterday.