little bitty girl

It feels like everyone on my team is addicted to this show. I remember that when it first came out, Stef and I were watching a lot of TV, so we made a point not to start watching a new series. Regardless, every so often in the past 4 seasons, I would occasionally watch one or two episodes and think,"Man! This show is SO fucked!"

I am ashamed to say, I still succumb to peer pressure from time to time and the girls decided it was time that I got into the loop. So for the past couple of weekends, I've been plowing through the DVDs. I am telling you (for you lucky US people who have TiVO, although I just found out that we now have it too) that THIS is the way to watch a show.

I don't have the time or attention span to sit through TV advertising lately. Most of them are so inane anyway. I like just being able to watch a show in its entirety with no interruptions.

I must say that I am really digging the show and so far my favourite characters are Hurley, Sawyer and Sayid (we just started season 2...I am guessing characters change over time).

The thing I keep bringing up is why does everyone look so good all the time? I mean, they were in a plane crash for Pete's sakes. They really need to stop putting so much make up on, especially on Kate. I know they have their luggage but who really has the time to put that much lip gloss on a deserted island where random things are trying to kill you? Ditto with the wardrobe changes. And Hurley? Why is he still SO big? I watch "Survivor" and I know if you're being physical and not eating carbs, you become the size of a twig.

Stefan tells me I have to stop telling him these same things after every episode. But secretly, you know you're thinking the same thing I am too.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

Someone needs to explain to me what the big deal is with Rachel Ray. Tons of people love her - she's got TV shows, books, magazines - I am just not one of them. I just find her bubbly personality so forced, insincere and incredibly annoying. I am right now, as we speak watching her "30 minute meal" show and let me tell you, what she's making is not "YUMM-O." In fact, it kind of looks like a dog's dinner.

On a side note, when I first started this blog I had complained about Giada of "Everyday Italian" fame for being too skinny to be a convincing cook. After watching "Chef-ography" where she explained her loss of weight due to nervousness of doing a new show, and her consequent weight gain to normalcy; I have to say, I've been all over her show like fresh herbs on a rack of lamb.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Homage to Hunger, What's Buggin' Me

Every so often, people will either ask about this or actually do this - have fake flowers and plants in their homes. Not only do they do this, but they try to justify their actions by saying the fakes are "really" good ones. To me, having fake plants or flora in your home or anywhere for that matter is like screaming out loud, "I have really, really BAD taste!"

Today while I was flipping through the channels, I caught an Oprah show on decorating and there was an audience question:

"Is having fake flowers in your home considered tacky?"

The decorator and Oprah looked sick and then vehemently said,"Yes! Nothing is tackier than fake plants or flowers."

They went on to explain how anything else, even nothing is better than going this route.

All I can say is, Hallelujah! Thank God, Oprah's said it out loud. Hopefully offenders have caught the same show, and are now currently, quietly, disposing of these eyesores.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, What's Buggin' Me

If you haven't heard, Paris Hilton is out of jail after serving a mere 4 days in her already shortened sentence. According to gossip blogs out there, the "medical" condition was due to the fact that she was not eating the food in jail (I bet many people who first go to jail, don't actually think it's exactly all gourmet either) and a psychiatrist thought she may have a mental break down.

Boo fucking hoo.

It's really awesome to see how the L.A Justice System works - if you're a white, stupid, celebrity with money, you can get away with the crime. I bet you if the EXACT same thing had happened to some poor, black person; not only would that person be in jail as soon as the infraction occured, they definitely would not be let out so quickly. Especially on such a flimsy excuse.

I personally am waiting for her to commit some other crime, so that (hopefully!) she will have to not only serve a full term but a longer one.

Update: YES!!!! The judge presiding over her case has ordered her back to jail to finish her sentence.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Star Gazing, What's Buggin' Me

I fell asleep to the sweet melodious sounds of hockey commentating again last night. There's nothing so peaceful or makes you want to poke your eye out with an ice cream scoop more. It's bad enough that they have two games on simultaneously so that Stefan has to maniacally flick between both stations but to make things even BETTER, right after the Eastern games are done, the Western games start. The joy!

So here is my two cents (because I have to have a theory on everything, whether or not I really give a shit) for NHL coaches out there on how to win the playoffs - get the best goalie.

Here's why -

One has to assume that by the time all the other teams are eliminated and your team has actually made it to the playoffs, that the rest of the teams are more or less on the same playing (skills-wise) field. Some teams will have better defense players and others will have better offence players but it all relatively evens out. After all, no one really gets to the playoffs on a complete fluke (except if Boston ever makes it in). In the end, the only thing stopping you from getting that tin can cup is your goalie. If you had two evenly talented teams and Team A has Martin Brodeur and Team B has Tim Thomas, who do you really think is going to win?

I'm just saying, is all.

Now that I've given you the "secret" to winning, maybe you can do me a favour:

Hockey season should end if 90% of all the teams' home cities no longer have snow or ice on the ground.
There should be less teams in the league.
Broadcasting of games should always be silent and only streamed through the internet.
Go on strike. Forever. (That was the best year of my life)

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Stefan

Almost, but not quite. I woke up today in an absolute chill. Our heater is not working again and it's a lovely 3 degrees celcius outside. It's spattering freezing rain. I am having a hard time being inspired to do my spring masthead with this type of weather.

But I can feel it coming, ever so slightly bursting through. I went to the market on the weekend and found some lovely organic heritage tomatoes and some freshly sprouted arugula. Nothing like a simple tomato pasta with freshly grated parmesan to make me believe that Spring is almost here.

I caught the new Jamie Oliver show where he cooks from his home. I am envious of his lovely garden. I can't wait one day to have a house with a huge garden so I can grow all my own organic veggies and eat them to my heart's content. It would really help if I didn't have such a black thumb. But I am sure gardening can be learned with patience and perseverance. Either that, or I'll just hire Mama Kang to be the full time resident gardener.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Homage to Hunger

Yes, I know that I am a couple days late on this but photoshop on my computer at work is working so very slowly that I had to wait until I came home to do this. How shall we start this? I think I will break this down by categories -

Thanks For Coming Out To Play
These were for the people who could have possibly been "Best Dressed" except for some little detail of their outfit.

Nicole Kidman - I usually love Nicole Kidman (especially more now after her wonderfully frank interview on the Oprah Oscar special). She's usually a pretty savvy dresser but I hated the huge half bow thing floating around her neck. If it wasn't for that one detail, she definitely would have been one the best dressed in my books. I loved the beautiful draping, the bright bold colour and if you can find a picture of the back, it was quite a stunning dress.

Jennifer Hudson - Lately at all the award shows, she's been just absolutely fabulously dressed. I like that she's not a stick, that she understands her body and is not afraid to be sexy and take fashion risks. The dress in itself was quite lovely but I was far too distracted by her kid space jacket to pay attention to it.

Maggie Gyllenhaal - I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of hers but she's growing on me. When she presented I was just blown away by her dress. I am really starting to fall in love with navy again and I thought the bodice was so unique. That is until I saw pictures of the full dress this morning. What the heck is that weird detailing at the hem?

Penelope Cruz - I honestly think that Penelope Cruz is one of the most underrated actresses and beauties in Hollywood. She makes bold choices in her acting roles and fashion. I loved the colour and that bodice, just the work and detailing is mind-blowing and I know that this part may just be me being picky, but I just hate feathery detailing on anything. It feels a little tacky to me and just conjures thoughts of ostriches' backsides. That's just my two cents.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Glued To The Tube

I thought I would do a little fashion blitz, a practice run before my annual Oscar fashion report. The 64th Golden Globes Awards were held last night and the colour of the evening was white. I really like the idea of a great white dress, it's a refreshing change to the basic black. As you can see, not everyone's interpretation of this trend had the desired result.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Glued To The Tube

I woke up to the sweet sounds of......HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS!

Ye Gads! Is it really that time of the year again? I feel like the season just ended. I can honestly say that one of the best years I have lived so far included the year that the NHL was on strike.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, What's Buggin' Me

Seriously.

Is it just me or is the new season of Grey's Anatomy sucking ass? Maybe it was just way too hyped up from the last season and they are facing the third year slump? This is what is bugging me about the show, (other than the generally lackluster dialogue and storyline) I hate that they're doing this whole Meredith, McDreamy and Finn trying to date story. What are we, stupid? You know she's just going to pick McDreamy at the end because Finn is too nice and appropriate. I don't like how Dr. Bailey is getting all soft and emotional and Izzie? If I have to see her tearful, woebegone face one more time....it makes me want to slap her character. If you ask me, this whole Denny dying thing is completely her fault to begin with, and she should just suck it up. And Yang being emotionless and uncaring was amusing for two seasons but surely at some point, someone's iciness is bound to melt? Even a little?

I don't know. Maybe I am just being a grumpy pants because my favourite show is putting me to sleep. It takes everything for me not to channel surf and back in the day, you would have to pry me away from the TV. I just think they're trying too hard to make it "fantastic" and not just going with what worked in the first place.

At least there's the new hotty Mark to watch out for and the music still rocks.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

Living in multicultural Toronto, there is simply no avoiding the World Cup and despite the endless honking, I would not have it any other way. It's really how surprising how many of my friends in the US don't even realize that it's on despite the fact that their team is participating. Even in New York where I thought the racial mix is pretty much the same as Toronto.

Anyway, it's always pretty fun here as everyone gets flags and puts it on their cars and just spend all day long driving around, honking. Obviously, a lot of people are playing hooky at their jobs. Sometimes, people have several different backgrounds and all of them are participating and then they have to buy multiple flags. It's kind of like Stefan who is both German and British. Depending on which parent he's talking to, he tells them that it's their team he roots for. (Although secretly he favours the British team over the German one). There's always good natured ribbing taking place. Like if Korea beat Italy, the Koreans would drive in Little Italy and honk while people on the street flips them the bird, and vice versa.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

Does anyone else watch Grey's Anatomy as much as I do?

It's always a happy Sunday in the Leyhane-Kang household when a new episode airs. Although I must say that I have not been as enamoured with it as of late. I am not really digging the story lines. I've never been a big fan of Meredith because she's such a sad character, always moping around. I think it's because I am not a big moper so I can't really relate to her. That, and the fact that she clearly has some eating disorder and that bothers me a lot. Izzy is being very self-absorbed but I love that the bone doctor so digs O'Malley because it's about time someone loves that kid. At least the music is still pretty groovy. Anyone else agree that they have a pretty cool playlist?

Anyway, the character that I relate to the most is Christina Yang, played by Sandra Oh. Not because of the obvious fact that she's Asian, although that helps too. I am definitely driven, ambitious and have a tendency to just blurt whatever is on my mind. No subject is ever taboo for me to talk about. I like to think that I have better people skills than she does however. I do know where to draw the line and how to be charming when I need to be.

Yesterday's episode was hilarious, especially when they showed her competitive side with Dr. Webber. When they played the first scene of her trying not to gloat at the fact that she was faster than Dr. Webber, Stefan just whipped around and looked at me and sputtered," That's SO YOU!"

And it really is. Stef and I are so competitive with each other. Despite the fact that he is better and faster than me in anything physical, I will always attempt to out-board, out-run or out-swim him. Board games can sometimes result in hours of sulking after.

Funny thing about Sandra Oh and me. I used to serve her drinks at the restaurant I worked at. This was back in the day when she used to live in Toronto and would have drinks with her fellow struggling actor friends, one of whom lived above the restaurant. She was always vibrant, funny and outrageous - very much like the characters she plays now. Needless to say, I've always had a soft spot for her ever since.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

I was watching one of those TV celebrity gossip shows like Access Hollywood or some other nonsense last night. Anyways, they had this "breaking" trend news story about how a lot of women are getting elective surgeries to make themselves "virgins" again. They replace the hymen and sometimes, they also get the vaginal canal tightened. Supposedly, this is becoming quite popular and is considered the new boob job.

I can understand if you're doing this if you live in a society that might kill you for not being a virgin in the name of honour. But to do this as a "gift" to your husband for Valentine's Day or Christmas at a price tag of $5000?

What is this crap? Whatever happened to doing Kegel exercises? And where are the sugeries for men to make them virgins again?

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Weirdness

Another random Monday musing....

I love watching "Inside the Actor's Studio" as James Lipton tends to ask very riveting questions. Yesterday's episode, (a rerun) featured Robin Williams who I swear, is one of the funniest human beings alive and a very underated dramatic actor.

At the end of the show, James always asks the same ten questions and one of them was "What is your favourite sound?"

Robin had answered with a sound that sounded like a repressed fart, saying how it was the common denominator among men. How the pope could be giving a prayer and still have a "poot!" come out from his ass. I found that very funny.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Me-ness

As my friend once said, "Sandra Oh's character stereotypes Asian women as stoic and devoid of emotion and contrast drastically from the frazzled and emotional (and more attractive) Meredith and Izzy. She needs double eyelid surgery, a facelift and breast implants." The Bastardly

I really cannot even begin to start to explain how much this type of bullshit just pisses me off. People need to accept that there are many different types of beauty and not everyone fits into a certain mold. This is why our society is so fucked. Why does anyone need to change their boobs, or their laugh lines? Why do we all need to be plastic to fit into the definition of someone else's beauty? Why is it always women who have to do this? Most men do not have hard bodies and yet they feel they have the right to define what a woman should look like.

Plastic surgery is such a personal choice but I really don't believe in having to radically alter one's self. I hate those Extreme Makeover shows because it gives people, especially women, this false sense of beauty. If you get all your teeth replaced and capped, are the size of your teenage daughter, and get your bones restructured, then you suddenly become a worthy person in society?

The knock against Sandra Oh -- and directly taking a shot at her Asian features -- is completely unacceptable. No person should have to change a part of themselves that is so much a part of their heritage to be considered "beautiful." I am so against the double eyelid surgery. There is a growing trend in Asia for people who do it because it gives them an edge, to look more western and I think it's disgusting. It definitely doesn't help for those who are not of the Asian race, to say that the Asian features need cosmetic help. We're not judging you by your race's facial definitions.

I think this is also another reason why I refuse to change my last name. There are, of course, so many other reasons for this, but one of the main ones is that I am an Asian person. I am proud to be Asian. I am proud to have an Asian name. I am proud to have Asian eyes. I am proud to be who I am.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, What's Buggin' Me

I was watching one of those "baby birth" stories on TV. I am not really sure why I do so because it just makes me more determined to either adopt or be "too posh to push." Regardless, it's almost like watching a car wreck. You don't really want to stare but you are completely riveted.

This particular one seemed worse that others. The poor woman was whimpering and crying in agony. The doctor and nurses didn't tell her so that she would not freak out, but the baby was coming out, not just its head as normal but with one shoulder as well. Halfway through, she cried out, "Someone PLEASE help me!" to which her husband replied, "Sweetie, you were the one who decided not to take any pain killers. You can't turn back now."

W-H-A-T?

It immediately brought to mind a Margaret Atwood contribution in an anthology about women. I loosely quote this because I don't have the book on hand but she said something about men's brains not being wired the same way as a woman's. The left brain and right brain has it's own compartment and there is a very small connection between them, letting very limited information through -- unlike a woman's brain whose two sides are connected by a huge infomation superhighway.

I mentioned the show to Stefan and asked him whether he would ever say such an idiotic thing if I was in the midst of pushing out his 11lb child and he just said, "Do I look stupid? I like being alive."

Smart boy.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

He says that I am obsessed with the show, that he doesn't actually watch it and that the only reason why he sometimes watches it, is because of me. Yet....

He's always the first one to remind me what time it's on.

He gets mad if I should even try to surf during commercials.

He knows all the doctor's TV names (I watch it all the time and I still call them by their real names or by the roles they did before).

I've caught him watching it by himself when I've been out that night.

Who's obsessed now?

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Stefan

Marie just told me that her mother has satelite, which means she could so totally watch the show during the same time as I.

Why put me through the agony of having to wait until the next morning?

Sheesh!

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Joy-Friends

He knows he is not allowed to make a sound.

He knows how much I need to absorb Grey's Anatomy and all of it's delightful, no-way-it-would-happen-in-real-life storylines.

He knows that the only time there can be any sound during the show is when it is a commercial.

Yet, he insisted on talking to me during the last 10 minutes of the show! Not only did he insist on talking to me, he pretended to talk to me in the way I would talk to my girlfriend, Marie, when I discuss the show. Except he made me sound like this completely inane, prepubescent little girl. Do you know how weird that looks? THEN he proceeded to laugh at me as I pretended to flail at him.

Still.

One can't stay too mad at someone who will patiently fold all of your teeny underwear (even the unfoldable thongs) despite the fact that I will only rummage through it all the next morning.

But.

He really should know better.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Stefan

Phew! Whenever I think I am crazy, Dooce always makes me feel like I am a perfectly normal person. I just read her latest entry. Like her, I am completely obsessed with Grey's Anatomy. After all, what's not to love? Sharp, witty dialogue, explorations of the heart, a little(a lot of) drama and great humour. I eagerly await my Sunday nights with spine tingling anticipation.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Joy-Friends

I know that TV ads are the networks main source of income but they are really irritating. There are so many annoying ads right now I can't even list every one. Needless to say, I try to find several different shows to watch at the same time to avoid watching the actual ads. This sometimes doesn't work so well because there is some TV ad conspiracy, I am sure, where they program the shows all at the same time, making it so regardless of my constant flipping, all I get are more ads. Tonight, I was watching Grey's Anatomy and it was absolutely KILLING ME to have wait in between. More reasons for TiVo to be in Canada so I can just fast forward through all the bullshit.

Posted in Glued To The Tube, What's Buggin' Me

I haven't done one of these gossip blurbs in a really long time and today seems like the perfect day for it. I love that I have some friends who work in P.R and entertainment magazines because they always keep me on the D.L. Nothing perks me up like a juicy piece of news about some celebrity. I sometimes feel a little guilty about it but you know, some celebrities really ask for all the attention (you never see stuff on Johnny Depp as he seems to be pretty protective of his privacy) and they get paid a bajillion dollars just for being them (more than some third world country's GNP). So for those who whine about it and then are always in the paparazzi's face - Cry me a river already!

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Star Gazing

There is nothing that I love better than the new Fall TV season. After a whole summer of nothingness, my favourite shows have begun their showing their new shows. I have promised myself that I would only limit myself to some shows because it's really ridiculous already especially with all the added CSI's and Law and Orders. I have decided that my "to watch" shows this Fall, will be the following: CSI:Miami, CSI, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy, Everybody Hates Chris and everything else will be random watches.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

I am sure that you all have heard by now about the the case of the "bride-who-they-thought-was-abducted-but-really-she-had-cold-feet." And if you haven't, here is what she looks like, it's already plastered all over the news so it's not like I am violating her rights to privacy -

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

Sundays are usually not big TV days for me, it's usually a reading day. Fortunately for me, I stumbled onto a little gem of a show called Grey's Anatomy, on ABC and I am so hooked!!

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Posted in Glued To The Tube

So the other day Stef and I were watching TV, well he was watching and I was surfing, when this totally normal looking ad came on. Usually, I just tend to block out the ads but it was one of the pharmaceutical ads and I like listening to them. Do you notice that they usually start off with innocent looking enough people, looking VERY normal and extra peppy, and the commentator usually speaks in a very calm voice. The medical warnings are usually at the end and then spoken in a very hasty
manner.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Weirdness

I just happened to be channel surfing where a show on the Food Network managed to catch my two second eye. I have never been a fan of the The Surreal Gourmet, and I think now more than ever, this guy should not have a TV show on how to cook food. Tonight, he was showing some girl how to cook a stir-fry. Since the stir fry has Asian origins, I usually find that white chefs don't really demonstrate how to do it very well. The few non Asian chefs (of the shows that I watch regularly) that have seemed to do Asian really well have been Guy Rubino, from Made to Order and the Domestic Goddess herself, Nigella Lawson.

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Good Monkey, Bad Monkey, Homage to Hunger, What's Buggin' Me

I have no idea but for some reason, I am really into America's Next Top Model this season. My only problem is that they picked really unattractive people this year, physically and personality wise. So, here are my thoughts on last night's show and the girls that are left-

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Posted in Glued To The Tube, Good Monkey, Bad Monkey