I religiously watch Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and Jersey Shore. Still reading?

Hello from Lotus Land.

That's just another way of saying "hello from a place where it's constantly grey and raining."

This is going to me more of a smattering of thoughts, without a set topic. Why? Because for the past two days I have done nothing significantly social or interactive, therefore my blog will consist only of random thought patterns and experiences. I tried to find a common theme, but couldn't. Well, the common theme is that I don't get out enough and January fucking sucks ass, but I couldn't find a more eloquent way of saying that.

I'm about to hit the one month mark of my medical LOA. In other words, in one month I have to have a job or I'm pretty much up poop creek without a paddle. I'm surprisingly nonchalant about the fact, as I (perhaps naively) seem to think I'm rather employable. This may have something to do with the fact that while I believe it is my destiny to work in a job which includes my social work skills, I'm also okay with fucking around for a few months until I find something I want to stick with. By fucking around, I mean working low-paying and often demeaning jobs which inevitably include the phrases "the customer is always right" and "if you have time to lean, you have time to clean." I can't tell you how many times I've passed the Pho restaurant I live above and considered submitting a resume for the position of full-time "help" they are offering. Though I'm curious as to what kind of help they demand, considering that I've never seen through the window more than four people dining. Of course, there's something to be said about working ten paces from your place of residence.

I've also considered knitting for consignment. The result of that would mean paying $20 for wool and MAYBE getting $25 for the piece on commission - without even factoring in labour. But who are we kidding. What the hell else do I have to do except knit and re-watch the entire series of House, M.D.

Speaking of House. I know, I know, there are lovers and haters of the show. I watch it for two reasons: 1) I love the medical mysteries despite the fact that I'm sure that they are far-fetched and unrealistic. Though I'm getting a bit tired of those in the sciences scoffing at the show because it's "unrealistic." I also watch Star Trek TNG, and last I heard the teleportation system has not yet been invented. Though - keep me up to date on that one, as it may be my only hope to see the world.

Oh yeah, there was a second reason for loving the show. 2) I want to, and have wanted to (since Jeeves and Wooster) fuck Hugh Laurie. Since going on SSRI's I have had a very active brain during REM sleep, so I like to feed as many stubbly, sexy, broody men into my subconscious to counter-act all the childhood shit I dream about, in hopes of having a pleasant sleep.

So yes, I watch House M.D. I also watch a LOT of other shows, most of them shit. I have no qualms about admitting this, because I am not insecure about my intelligence. Here's my view on shit television. It was created to be entertaining, and there is NO shame in being entertained by it - even in its lowest forms. Hell, the lowest forms are often tailored even more to hit that place in our brain that just wants to shut down after a long day and... disconnect. If I had children, I would obviously monitor their television intake. But as a consenting adult, I am proud to say I am up on all the latest shows and celebrity gossip. Why am I proud? Because I'm also proud to say that I am up on the more intelligent aspects of life, as well.

I read novels regularly, I've attended classes at a university (but that's just privileged book learning so some say it doesn't really count). I enjoy listening to CBC and I read multiple news sources every day. I generally start with the Globe and Mail, Guardian, and NY Times, then I move onto my celebrity gossip. No, I'm not kidding. I can tell you the latest scandals in Canadian and world politics, and I can tell you that Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal recently broke up (for reals!).

I used to feel a bit embarassed about these things. Until I graduated from university and went to work. I worked with youth, and mainly females between the ages of 12 and 19. May I just say, that while I would read all my news sources daily, the ones that benefitted my work and my relationship with my clients was NOT what I read in the Globe and Mail that morning.

Here's the deal. People who judge me for watching shit television can go ahead and do so. I don't feel the need to defend it. I'm just saying that while I enjoy a good doorstop of a book like Grapes of Wrath or Anna Karenina, and while I find it interesting (and my obligation as a politically active woman) to keep up with current events from my community to my world, I also see the benefits in watching some enjoyable crap television and reading some celebrity gossip. Sometimes you never know the power that mindless entertainment can contribute to in connecting with another person.

xoxo - Gossip Pyjama Smoker.