So Wonderful, So Marvelous: Wholesome TV

Hi! I’m Jen, and I’m your guest blogger for Friday! I don’t have my own fun blog to link to, but I hope I can entertain you anyway.

When M asked me to blog for her, I thought, “WTF am I going to write about that is both wonderful and marvelous?” Then it hit me. I’ll write about a little Canadian TV show called Degrassi. Now, I know this show is aimed at ‘tweens, but it’s SO wonderful and marvelous that I can’t help but be addicted.

It started in 1987 when PBS showed the original Degrassi series. You might remember it. If you don’t, I’m sorry. You’ve missed out.

The original Degrassi followed a group of Canadian kids through junior high and into high school. They faced all sorts of after-school special issues. They had drugs. They had sex. They had alcohol. They had teen pregnancy. Abortion (oh, wait, that was edited out in the US). They even had a rock band. They had cute boys and girls. They conquered all of the issues while still being entertaining, not preachy.

That was the end of Degrassi…until recently. Remember that teen pregnancy? Little Emma is all grown up. She’s in junior high, and on the night of her single mom’s class reunion, she sneaks out to go to a hotel to meet a boy she met on the internet. While Spike’s out watching Joey get into a fight at the reunion with Caitlin’s bigshot fiancé, Emma is discovering internet predators. Thus begins Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Degrassi: TNG features some of the original cast. (Remember that cute kid Joey? Grownup Joey? Yum.) We’ve got the next generation, too, and they’re full of all of the issues the adults faced years ago and then some. We’ve even got more drama that's too controversial for US TV. How many people noticed that Manny was pregnant in one episode, then there were reruns for 3 weeks, and then she wasn’t pregnant anymore? Hmmm…

Where else can we find TV that’s not afraid to tackle rape, bullying, eating disorders, school shootings, abortion, adoption, cutting, testicular cancer, and Kevin Smith? And they do it in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re watching a message. Yeah, the chances are kind of slim that the same group of students at the same small school will have all of these problems – but what other show on TV tackles real issues?

So go grab your popcorn and find The N on TV. Tonight in “Hungry Eyes” Emma’s going to prove to Sean that she’s not the same girl he left behind. Next week in “Pass the Dutchie” Spinner takes comfort in weed, and Darcy needs some comforting, too. How can you go wrong with TV like this?

Don’t get The N? You can watch selected episodes on the-n.com, or you can get the DVDs through Netflix.

One is Silver & the Other Gold

Hi, ya'll! I'm Bunny Mendelbaum and I'm honored to be guestblogging! You can check out my house renovation antics on my blog.

I like, Amy was very excited to do this! I had notions of find cool new products or services and raving them up, down and sideways here. But then something truly So wonderful, So marvelous happened yesterday, and I discovered a trick that I just must share with as many people as possible.

Here is the trick, it is simple really. So we all have those dear, hilarious friends that now live in another city. We had a blast when we lived close, but now we don't call because frankly, the joy in your friendship was the time you spent together and you just can't do that over the phone.

Enter the internet. The glorious, wonderful internet, add in some ridiculous, petty exhilarating reality TV and BASTA! Friendship is back in all its glory!

So my friend Adam has been begging me to get cable so we can watch Project Runway "together". Here's the backstory on our friendship. Eons ago, I interviewed for a job at an architecture firm in NYC. Adam gave me my CAD test after the interview, we bonded immediately. Turns out we both went to U of Arizona, but he left as I was coming. Fast forward thru 3 years of sitting next to each other sharing an office phone and many, many happy hours to my wedding which he officiated with the most touching, beautiful speeches. I love the guy, and I miss him dearly.

Because hours and hours of our friendship was spent in gay bars drinking rum and watching guys in pink polo shirts, so it was only fitting that we renew our bond by doing the same, but only via the internet. It went a little like this:

Is that a wig? Why is Heidi wearing a bad wig? Who does she think she is? Tyra?

This guy has Something About Mary Hair if you know what I mean...
and an octopus tatoo. WTF?

OMG, enough with the draping already.
LOL. LOL. Could that guy get any gayer? Look at that wrist action!
I can't believe I'm admitting that I like an outfit that involves pantaloons.

etc. etc. etc.

I tell you you must try it. Email that long-lost friend that you still pine for and settle on a trashy TV show (I suggest PR or ANTM (america's next top model)). Next, get on instant messenger. If you don't already have this, just use yahoo's. It is on the same page as it's webmail. And finally, laugh your butts off at the show and catch up turning the commercials. Make it a weekly standing date.

I get goosebumps just thinking about it. That is how fun it was. So let the 21st century revive your old friendships, because just like the girl scouts song:

Make new friends
but keep the old
one is silver and
the other gold.

You are gold Adam. Pure, pleated, synthetic microfiber Gold.

I feel like a teenager whose parents are out of town...

...I can't decide whether to have my boyfriend over to make out, or thow a huge party!
Hello, faithful readers of So wonderful, so marvelous! I'm filling in for M while she soaks up the rays in flo 'RIDA, and I am giddy, GIDDY I tell you, with the opportunity to blog on her behalf. I can't decide whether to give you some Libertarian rantings, an in-depth discussion of recycling and global warming (strangely, not at all related to the proposed Libertarian rantings), or show you some more of my tampon crafts.

Instead, I think I will stick with the theme of bringing you all things wonderful and marvelous, and share with you something that I think is indeed, both of the above. I bring you:
PLAIN CHEERIOS!! More than just a cute British farewell, Cheerios are the most perfect food ever! They are great for breakfast (obviously), a midday meal, even a late night snack! Sometimes, nothing hits the spot, quite like a bowl of delicious whole grain oaty goodness with a splash of ice cold milk. YUM!! Cheerios are fantastic dry as well, and when placed in a ziplock bag, make the perfect traveling companion. I have been saved from falling asleep at the wheel numerous times by the instant pick me up of plain Cheerios.

Cholesterol reducing, lowfat magic in a happy round shape. What could be better?

Anyway, I hope you try a bowl sometime, and think fondly of me. And then, brush your teeth. The last thing you need is some skank-cheerio breath. ;)

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!!!

Come say hi to ME sometime. Peace out, biotches!

Oh Google, how I love thee...

Aside from the rockinest search engine to hit the internet and the best email ever. Hello, you can group chat! If you have a blog, I highly recommend getting Google Analytics. When I started So Wonderful, So Marvelous, my friend recommended it to me.

It shows you how many hits you're getting a day and from where. Hello to my reader in Rossford, you there in California, oh and you in France!

It also shows you anywhere (shhhh... I won't tell if you don't!) that links to your blog and how many hits per day you're getting from those links. I expect this post will see lots of hits from my clever stalkers, er readers. He he he.

It also shows fun things like which google key words bring new readers to your site. Loads of people want a "baby shower extravaganza" apparently!

It also gives you visiter trending, visitor loyalty, and shows you how many absolutely unique visitors you've had. (176 as of today, woooo!)

Anywho, I highly recommend it for those entering the blog world or those of you who have been here awhile if you don't have it. And thanks to J, you smart cookie, for recommending it to me.

**Note after the fact: You can also use http://www.statcounter.com/ as an alternative to Google Analytics or both!**