Welcome To 2011. AKA 1811.

Let me put this out there: I love the TV show SouthLAnd. I haven't loved a show this much since the days I dreamed I would marry Brandon Walsh. No, I don't mean Jason Priestly (although I have since met him, and he's an extremely nice guy), but Brandon Walsh. This was clearly before my bad-boy phase (which lasted all of one crush on a bartender I worked with. He had... a soul patch.)

So. Back to SouthLAnd. Amazing show. Gritty, dirty, real. And in the news a lot lately, not necessarily for the right reasons. In the last episode, a male character was revealed to be gay*, and to say "shit hit the fan" would be a gross understatement. Said shit hit the fan, twirled around, splattered about, re-entered the fan, and repeated the process. People hit the SouthLAnd Facebook page with a feverish pitch to launch their complaints. Straight men ranted the guys-guy cop was suddenly a flaming fairy, and straight women flipped out because the handsome man in a uniform was suddenly unavailable. The amount of posts where people claimed they would never (NEVER!!!!!) watch the show again was staggering. Any attempt to calm the fray was met with sentences that began with "I'm not homophobic, but..." And in my life experience, anytime someone starts a sentence like that, they're about to quantify it with a homophobic statement. It's also in my experience that those people probably won't stop watching- they'll keep watching in the hopes of being offended. It's why some listen to shock jocks, or watch a news station with an opposing view. It's a sick part of the human genetic makeup.

*while it became obvious that this character is gay in this past episode, there's been a slow reveal including a somewhat subtle-read-between-the-lines "coming out" statement in the previous 2 seasons.

The roar has dulled over the past couple of days, but there's been more blogs and Facebook posts about a 10 second scene in a 1-hour show than there has been in the show's entire 3-season run. This is one of the best shows on TV. Ever. Period. And this is what people are chosing to focus on? A small facet of a person that we should realize and understand is no different than a person being blonde. Or having blue eyes. Or being tall. You get my point.

Welcome to 2011. Please tie up your horses outside the canteen, and check your pistols with the sheriff.

If you are a fan of SouthLAnd, TNT has not announced a fourth season yet. Please take a moment to sign the petition to keep this amazing show on the air.

Idle Thumbs...

So one month in to my resolutions. And you thought I forgot, eh? OK, so I kinda did. I meant to blog, but then the bubonic plague hit work, and for some strange reason I felt it better to sit in bed feebly attempting to sleep despite the owl hooting outside my window, than sit at the computer and attempt to be witty. (I know, I'm healthy now and you're still waiting for the wit, aren't you?)

So.

Resolution 1: Blog. Kinda iffy on that. We'll give it a pass. That garbage full of kleenex says it's cool.

Resolution 2: Stop Biting My Nails. You know the saying "idle hands are the devil's plaything"? Well, idle thumbs are Steph's chewtoys. 7/10 fingernails remain absolutely chew-free, so much so I had to find our nail file the other day. And 1 nail actually snagged, I didn't bit it off. But those thumbs... I gotta invest in those Stanley Cup gloves. Serious.

Resolution 3: Run Faster. Kicking ass and so taking names at this one. My running buddy (and all-around fabulous friend) Colleen said to me yesterday "we will DO this 10K and we will look HOT doing it!" I'm vain. I can get behind this. My other absolute all-around fabulous friend Shannon, who shalst not run, but promised me hot Starbucks at the finish line. Motivation. It comes in all forms.

I've also invested in about $200 worth of running "stuff" lately. You know you're getting serious when you can't find any "normal" clothes to wear, but would seriously consider meeting a friend in your sweaty sports bra and running tights because they're just so darn awesome and comfy.

Resolution 4: Binge and Purge. Look, we don't have a lot of stuff. Nor do we have a money tree outside our apartment. (We do however, have an inlet filled with geese, otter, swans, ducks, a field mouse, one very persistant raccoon and an annoying hooting owl.) So I've reduced us down to what we can handle for now. Unfortunately until that money tree pops up, or someone in Ontario stops winning Lotto Max, we're stuck with our furniture bought from a particular big box store that is known for its greeters.

Resolution 5: Read More. I recently finished Portia de Rossi's Unbearable Lightness. I have thankfully never experienced an eating disorder myself, or through anyone I know. This book gives you the low down through Portia's own experience- and it's a dark place. A crazy place. The control it takes over one's mind/body is utterly insane. Very well written, and something I would recommend- especially for women.

Just today, I took out Runners World Guide To Road Racing and The Idiots Guide To Running. No, it's not just putting one foot in front of the other at a speed faster than walking. Hey, I have Starbucks waiting for me at the finish line. I kinda wanna get there as fast as I can, man.