It's been a long time since I've gotten a good dose of daytime television. Over these past couple of weeks, though, I have had some major exposure to this niche of American programming. Here are the highlights of my viewing:
1.) Oprah is truly convinced that she's like a prophet of some sort, I think. The woman pulls people on her show, then gets all spiritual elitist with them. I am not arguing that, on occasion, she has a good show that turns out very informative. For instance, yesterday, she had Leonardo DiCaprio and a scientist from Princeton on, discussing environmental issues--something that definitely needs discussing. Another day, however, she had a set of parents on who were talking about the damaging consequences of having a stripper over for their son's 16th birthday party. If you find MTV's Sweet 16 juicy, this was something that far surpassed those rich spectacles. Overall, the hugest problem I have with Oprah is that she's getting way too self-aggrandizing in my opinion. Yes, she is very giving...yes, she follows through with her causes...but, she has some poor taste in words and such on her show most of the time.
2.) Phil McGraw also believes he has all answers. I think his show is like a more tasteful version of Montel or Maury. He has these bickering people on, and it turns into a three ring circus, and then he gives his lecture. The saddest I saw was a mother and two daughters, and the daughter said this was the only way to try to solve their problems because her mother always follows Dr. Phil's advice. Hello!? He's a talk show host! He may have a counseling Ph.D....but please...if my mother listened to Dr. Phil moreso than any other authority, I would be more concerned about that than our bickering.
3.) Last, but certainly not least, there has been the ongoing feud between Star Jones and ABC, Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell, Star Jones and the View executives, and the very visible feud between Star Jones and Barbara W
alters. The picture included here seems all too outdated for the show because only two of these five still remain on the show. But, the juiciest of the exits had to be Star Jones, and it totally heated up this week. There were rumblings when the show first signed Rosie O'Donnell to replace Meredith Viera in the fall, but that tension grew to a climactic degree this week as first Star took "on air" time to announce that she would not return. To boot, she interrupted a discussion to do so and also had not discussed this with executives prior to the live show. The following day, she was not back and Barbara Walters took her time in the spotlight to explain, in very tasteful terms I might add, that Star would not return again. I found this drama fascinating. I'm convinced that Star really just wanted a summer vacation as I have set up for myself!
In any case, I am psyched to see what other absurdities I will get to be witness to in these coming weeks.
When it comes to dining out, I'm a major creature of habit. In fact, I can name at least one place here at home where I have not once deviated from my original menu choice from years back when I first visited the establishment. Am I proud of this? No. But, my theory has always been that if you find something good, then you should stick with it. I blew my own theory to shreds last night as I ordered and ate my meal at Outback Steakhouse. And as the sign above indicates, breaking habits can be tough.
For years, I have eaten the same thing at Outback. I would order the potato soup as an appetizer, which went fabulously with the bread there, and I would round out the meal with the appetizer-size portion of coconut shrimp. Delicious combination. Last night, though, I went out on a limb and not only ordered something completely different but something that is making a trial run.
I ordered the bronzed chicken meal that comes with corn cakes. It has a vermouth sauce over it, and this was something that caught my attention. I love corn and vermouth sauce both, so I didn't think I could go wrong with this choice; I was, however, slightly concerned with the concept of bronzed chicken. What could this mean? Humans use bronzer to look tan...what on Earth could a chef be doing with chicken to bronze it?
To my satisfaction, I received a plate full of deliciously seasoned chicken with delicious corn cakes, and it was a very good portion. So, I guess sometimes it's good to try something new...even when you have no idea what the process is that takes place in order to present you with the result. I love food.
I met with my friend Mikey tonight...he's my friend who joined me throughout my undergraduate experience, including on my trip to Ireland. We began the night by having dinner at this very small German restaurant The Keg and Kraut. It was a delicious dinner of sauerkraut balls and German potato pancakes, among other things, but the ultimate moment came at the close of the Keg and Kraut experience.
As a preface, Mikey has made the decision to enter seminary school and proceed on to become a member of the priesthood. The very elderly woman who happens to be the one waitress that you'll get each and every trip to the Keg and Kraut asked Mikey how she might know him...recognize him. So, he explained that he went to WJU and frequented the restaurant oftentimes during his undergraduate years. She questioned what he's doing now, so he explained his current path. Following this, she first blurted out that she hopes he changes his mind and ultimately backs out of this. Then, she followed it up by looking at me and asked if I was going to be a nun.
It's when people say things like this and wave a very sincere goodbye (as this woman did) that I realize that I need to pass through life more guilt-free. She had no shame, and I would have to say I'm glad. I love the entertainment value of such stuff.
Before yesterday, I was not a particular fan of technical support. In fact, I pretty much did everything I could possibly do in order to avoid having to use it. It's not even that I had much prior experience with it, I think it was just that I didn't want to take the chance of looking incredibly ignorant. The other thing was that I couldn't imagine being successful with it because I'm a very visual person, so the thought of taking purely verbal directions over the phone while also having to precisely explain problems unknown to me was completely intimidating.
So, when I got my wireless router Monday night, I decided that I could easily install it using the provided wizard. Not surprisingly, however, I failed at this attempt. As a result, I boxed the router back up and was ready to seek out alternatives to even using it. After unpacking it and trying again only to fail again Tuesday morning, I finally broke down and called the Netgear number for help. As I did so, I felt zero ounces of confidence that this would end up good. After talking to the tech agent, though, and about an hour of doing so, I had officially installed a wireless network in my parents' home.
This experience was eye-opening. I will never view technical support the same way, and I may even call it much more often. Who knows! Maybe I'll never have to decipher the meaning behind a set of directions ever again!!!
Mother Nature is usually so good to me. I thoroughly enjoy virtually every aspect...wildlife, flora, seasons, weather, etc. Yesterday, however, a small corner of Mother Nature showed its wrath and made itself felt in my life.
Upon my return to West Virginia, I had to have my car inspected. This is the yearly responsibility that never really comes of anything for me. It's just a matter of getting the new sticker. This year, however, was different because I had noticed about a week ago that my reverse lights were not functioning. My dad had gone through my fuses with me to make sure it was not a blown fuse, but that did not remedy the problem. So, when I scheduled my appointment at the dealership for yesterday, I mentioned that I would need them to fix the lights as well. I dropped the car off, then I received a call from the very courteous (very hot) man..."Ms. Chase? It appears you have rodent damage on your car." What damage?! Rodent?! After his explanation that the wires for my reverse lights had been chewed up near the transmission, thus deeming them defunct, I realized what had happened.
Bryn Mawr was full of a squirrel population like you wouldn't believe unless you witnessed it. I have decided that what happened was one took up residence in my car, chewing these wires. Whatever the case, this was one expensive brush with the evils of Mother Nature, costing about $165. Even worse, the warranty wouldn't cover it because it was damage to the car and the insurance couldn't cover it because I have a $250 deductible. So, while squirrels have never been a favorite for me...they're now totally down on the list...like at the bottom.
As I prepared for my move this week, I had several generous friends give me things that made me reconsider gift-giving etiquette. What these folks made me realize is how important it is to both give what's appropriate and meaningful but also something with which the essence of yourself is hovering. I will not lie, I absolutely adore receiving gifts, and I often present them to myself; I do, however, hesitate to open gifts in front of others. I believe this is just one of the many results of my effort to stay out of the spotlight in a group...I'm more of an observer. In any case, let me highlight those gifts I received this week that have my stamp of approval for thought and originality.
The first of the gifts was a journal. This is, indeed, a standard sort of gift, but the giver personalized it by writing on the first page of the journal. This message was a emotionally powerful and meaningful message meant to leave a clear mark of her spirit. Another gift I received was a group of three toy pigs. While I do not maintain a collection of toy farm animals with which to entertain myself, these pigs will remain a staple part of my belongings for time. This gift was given by an individual who was familiar with German tradition, so the pigs were given under the German assumption that the pig brings fertility, good fortune, and sustenance. I received three, just so that no one pig had to take the burden of all three. As a result, I will be carrying well wishes with me, and with those well wishes (the pigs), I will also carry memories of a precious person from my time in Philadelphia. Another gift was a bunch of burnt DVDs and one with a huge volume of music--my favorite. This gift was given, based on my musical and television tastes, but they also are indelibly marked by the tastes of the giver. Hope's Cookies were also given to me. Now, while the actual cookies are already half gone, I will never forget that I received these from a person to whom I admitted, "I have a love affair with Hope's Cookies." Another one of my favorites from the week was a meal with a friend, it was her treat. But, it was something we both truly enjoyed.
Basically, what these people have proven to me is that they not only appreciate my interests and favorite things, but they also are interested in me remembering their places in my life. I, of course, would have remembered them without these gifts, but there's nothing like the material to serve as a post-it note reminder that things did and continue to exist--just like my interactions with the givers.
In these final Philadelphia days, I have quite a few farewells to wish. I have to say goodbye to the fine friends I've met here, my co-workers, and I cannot forget the great eating establishments that I will have to disengage from with my departure. Considering these farewells, I came to the conclusion that stuff here in Philadelphia took on a completely different meaning for me since I had none of my elements of comfort when I first came here. This, however, has also changed the mood of the farewells. One of my first farewells came last night. Unfortunately, Sara and Tim Dudley took off this morning for their summer Midwestern post--Tim's research gig in Ames, IA. So, Sara and I took yesterday evening to do it up well one last time here on the Main Line; what I should really say is that we did it up well for the last time, with us both being Main Line residents. We went to Primavera Pizza Kitchen in Ardmore, where we had Caesar salads and shared an entree of tri-colored tortellini in a delicious white sauce with mushrooms and ham. Then, we shared a tiramisu dessert and had coffee. Afterwards, we made our way to Old Navy and Borders. At the end of the night, Sara handed off one of her delicious loafs of banana bread, squeezes were exchanged, and farewells were expressed. Last August, I detested farewells; now, however, I see them in a pretty different way. They're not all laden with sadness and discontent. Now, I'm learning that they're just part of the movement into a new phase. Those who stick around for the next phase will prove just as special and as much a part of my life as before; those who will fade away in my timeline will always hold their place in my life. Sara's instruction gave me major perspective when I told her I may be sad for the first few days after our split: "How about more like 15 minutes?" By last night, she had decided there was no reason for either of us to spend a moment being sad, and she's right. Saying farewell is not an end. It's really just an opportunity to take inventory of what has been most satisfying up to the present, agreeing to hold tight to that, and allowing the separation of things that no longer remain satisfying.
As I sat in the office of the Managing Editor of the Wheeling News-Register and Intelligencer last Friday, interviewing for a reporter position, I pondered how incredibly uncomfortable interview situations can be. The very backwards aspect of this was the fact that what made this interview most uncomfortable were those things that were meant to "personalize" it. All of the stock questions were not ones to sweat for me. After all, I have had my share of interviews and have grown rather confident, self-assured, and convincing. The first sign of internal struggle and coming undone surfaced with Mike Myer's question, "What would you say is the greatest American novel ever written?" This threw me all off. In a casual discussion with a friend or friends, I could go on forever about this. Mr. Myer, however, stumped me. Now, I did not choke, I presented my answer and even provided a well-formed answer to his follow-up question, "Why do you think that?" But, just as I thought the interview would abandon this uncomfortable foreign yet strangely familiar and personal stage, it strayed from the normal, run of the mill questions once again, moments later...
Mr. Myer was attempting to grasp my general Ohio Valley knowledge, so he did so by asking three rather strange and unbelievably obscure questions. The first caught me way off guard...he asked, "What is the difference between a shot gun and a rifle?" Internal me: "Huh?" I quickly rebounded from my disbelief and mentioned my belief that it had to do something with the ammo of each. He was surprised at my expertise, and I explained that I have a father and brother who both are outdoor sports enthusiasts. He went on to provide the exact answer he was searching out. Next, he asked who the three representatives in Congress are for West Virginia. I threw out Mollahan and Byrd, but I wasn't positive on the third...the legendary Jay Rockefeller. We both sort of laughed this off since I came up very quickly with the most obscure of the three-Mollahan--yet remained stumped on the infamous. Finally, and perhaps the strangest question I will ever be asked, "What is the definition of sewage versus sewerage?" Again, internal me: "Huh?" I was armed with the answer, however, after a tip-off from a former newspaper interviewee. So, I answered the questions without so much as a heartbeat passing.
Still, I have been unable to shake the feeling of irony surrounding the juxtaposition of the familiar and personalization of this professional must with some of the most intense discomfort. One would assume that the opposite were true, making a stiff, standard questions situation the most uncomfortable. I guess it's the concept of sitting with a total stranger yet attempting to display your most comfortable and together self.
For the first time ever, I made a trip to the Dunkin' Donuts on Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr for an early morning, pre-work treat. As I was en route to my luscious destination, I felt as though I were on cloud 9. I've made my own hazelnut coffee at home in the morning, but I had never made the pilgrimmage to the actual Dunkin' Donuts establishment to buy an early morning cup to take to work. Most of this stemmed from pure laziness and lack of motivation to wake up a few minutes earlier to allow the time. In any case, as I approached the store, I drove past the most crowded Starbucks in existence only to see that the parking lot was, for once, virtually empty. So, my confidence that I could make my trip an easy in and out at Dunkin' Donuts skyrocketed. What I failed to take into consideration was the very loyal and obviously earlier risers who support the Dunkin' Donuts establishment. Then, as I am attempting to turn into the parking lot, a very fancy unnecessarily fancy car comes into view over the horizon. The driver seemed to be on a mission, so I waited for him to pass...only to find that he, too, was headed for his Dunkin' D's. I felt severely cheated since this man did end up in line in front of me. As I tried to exit the building, the line was backed up to its normal place, so my exiting required the woman standing in the doorway to move in order to permit me to get through. Would she do this? No. Would she even attempt to move a few centimeters so I could pass as I stood virtually nose-to-nose with her? Of course not. My case in point here is that rude people are always out there. However, I have to say this was one of my rudest Dunkin' Donuts experiences, and I am going to totally blame it on the fact that it was early in the morning and no one had had their coffee yet. Thus, while the hazelnut experience is usually worth it, I have to say that I will probably avoid ever placing myself in this situation again. I just don't like doing the two-step with people quite so early in the morning.
With the ever-popular summer weeks of vacation and the most regular week of Chase family vacations, the Fourth of July, quickly approaching, I've been reminiscing of the unique character of our more recent past years of vacation in Canaan Valley, WV. For those who have never seen this area, it's the typical mountain resort area: a golf course, a resort that includes a pool and restaurant, a variety of recreational activities, including whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, and scenic overlooks. The combination of Blackwater Falls, WV, and Canaan Valley, WV, the two being just minutes apart, are really quite the treat regardless of the season.
In any case, the great blog tale really stems more from a restaurant in Canaan Valley, called Tuckers. This is the best compromise between really casual and fancier dining available. And it's a place where you go, and you know you're surrounded by friendly folks. In fact, one of the favorite activities at this restaurant is to leave your table while waiting for your food because many gather at the huge windows at the back of the place. The reason is because the restaurant borders a vast field that's famous for it's bear inhabitants. So, you definitely become friendly and familiar with those around you as you peer out the windows, watching for the ever-elusive black creatures. This is not where the bear adventure ends, though, because after you finish your meal, you are to wander around to the side of the building to check out the dumpster area--yes, I know, a common post-dinner destination. In any case, it is pretty much "how you do it" at Tuckers.
This bear phenomena actually looms behind many other aspects of one's visit to Canaan Valley. Those who are most avid internet researchers can look further into this. But, for now, let's suffice to say that the most popular vacation homes in the area are those who serve as typical outposts for visits from bear families as well as human ones. For a sneak peek of the sights, visit either the Canaan or Blackwater websites.
What a year! As I pack up to head home, I thought the most appropriate blog entry would be one, paying equal time to both of my geographical love affairs.
10 Best Things about Philadelphia
1) The chance to experience a socially divergent strain of people whom I would have never experienced elsewhere...Philadelphians and especially Main Liners are truly one-of-a-kind.
2) Villanova--it has taught me how to stand on my own, using discretion and personal preference in educational decisions.
3) Sara Dudley. This is another person I would have never met otherwise, and she is perhaps one of the best people with whom I've ever come into contact.
4) Tim Dudley. This is a dude who has made his way in academia, and very successfully so, and yet he's one of the most well-rounded and kind men I've met.
5) Borders in Bryn Mawr. This, my friends, is the place for psychological study. If you need a project, I beg you to start here.
6) Springfield. Affectionately referred to as "the Midwest" by Sara and I, this suburb of Philadelphia allowed us the shopping options and layout with which we were much more familiar.
7) Plymouth Meeting. Target...the one place that I needed to have be accessible to me at all times, and the Plymouth Meeting location permitted my naive self the indulgent pleasure of Target shopping whenever the urge hit.
8) Philly Cheesesteaks. While I did go all out and do the regular cheesesteaks for several of my first weeks, mostly at Pizzi's on Lancaster, I have found my one cheesesteak true love in the Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak at Campus Corner.
9) Variety. No matter what it was that we came up with, Philadelphia seemed capable of meeting the challenge. Whether meeting Nicholas Sparks or Dan Aykroyd or just wanting to try a random Cuban meal, Philly proved the means to do so.
10) Thai Pepper. I will miss this so much. It was my weekend companion many weeks, and it's flavor was a true taste sensation.
10 Best Things about Wheeling
1) Sydni Shannon. This little girl is the one thing capable of putting a smile on my face regardless of my mood or the situation.
2) The remainder of my family. Things change a lot with time. I feel fortunate to have, at my age, realized what I want to accomplish within this sphere of my life as well as my professional life.
3) The Italian Festival. Funnel Cakes, several food vendors, and many familiar faces.
4) Wheeling Coffee Shop. Yes, I've experienced several new, and probably better, venues for this...but, there's something about my first coffee shop on Washington Avenue.
5) Ohio County Public Library. A place I love to go and just wander through the stacks.
6) Oglebay Park. Whether it be a meal at Wilson Lodge or some time at Schenk Lake, this is one of my favorite places out of everywhere I've been.
7) Uncertainty. Yes, I think this is a good thing...for me. I occasionally get carried away with planning, and I think that this move will reintroduce variables--something that's good.
8) Perkins. Breakfast is so good, but so are the late-nite Sante Fe Mini Chimis.
9) Nogales. Great little Mexican restaurant that many have underestimated.
10) The Hills. I miss being surrounded by hills at all times.
So, now you know what I like best from both of these locations. I will miss Philly just as I missed Wheeling this past year. And I will never forget that Philly was home for some time. It taught me a lot, and it has prepared me for this next phase. Best case scenario? I will find success and a new meaning behind my origins. Worst case scenario? I will miss school like crazy and return sooner than planned.
As a result of this impending move, I may not be updating frequently until I settle back in. But, this blog is not going to disappear.
It's been a long time since I've gotten a good dose of daytime television. Over these past couple of weeks, though, I have had some major exposure to this niche of American programming. Here are the highlights of my viewing:
2.) Phil McGraw also believes he has all answers. I think his show is like a more tasteful version of Montel or Maury. He has these bickering people on, and it turns into a three ring circus, and then he gives his lecture. The saddest I saw was a mother and two daughters, and the daughter said this was the only way to try to solve their problems because her mother always follows Dr. Phil's advice. Hello!? He's a talk show host! He may have a counseling Ph.D....but please...if my mother listened to Dr. Phil moreso than any other authority, I would be more concerned about that than our bickering.
alters. The picture included here seems all too outdated for the show because only two of these five still remain on the show. But, the juiciest of the exits had to be Star Jones, and it totally heated up this week. There were rumblings when the show first signed Rosie O'Donnell to replace Meredith Viera in the fall, but that tension grew to a climactic degree this week as first Star took "on air" time to announce that she would not return. To boot, she interrupted a discussion to do so and also had not discussed this with executives prior to the live show. The following day, she was not back and Barbara Walters took her time in the spotlight to explain, in very tasteful terms I might add, that Star would not return again. I found this drama fascinating. I'm convinced that Star really just wanted a summer vacation as I have set up for myself!
