Porque pienso que Ellen DeGeneres es fantastico...y otros ideas

Why I think Ellen DeGeneres is fantastic....and other ideas.

I have never watched the Ellen show with any regularity, of course. But now, I've spent many a morning from 9 until 10 a.m. in my living room with the Queen of Pop Dancing and oxfords and tailored pants. It's really a pleasure. She is not only funny, but she is caring, compassionate, quirky and self-aware. The show is a serious breath of fresh air amongst all the crap that we find on television in general, let alone during the day.

This week, she spent one day with breast cancer survivors and their families working towards further awareness during this, Breast Cancer Awareness, month. She wore a pink sweater (unusal for her) and had four people who volunteered to cut their hair to donate to Locks for Love. The way she plays with guests is pleasing as well. She and Matthew Perry played tennis after his new show "Studio 60" promo interview.

The fact that I even have an opinion on daytime television scares me a little. I've been doing some other things that don't involve the couch or the tv, which is good. I went to see the first in a series in Boston this year called "Social Cinema" co-sponsored by Boston Cares, Hostelling International and WGBH. The documentary was called "The World According to Sesame Street" and it profiled how The Children's Television Workshop works with producers in other countries to produce international versions of Sesame Street. After the film, a children's programming professor from BU and a producer from the Children's Television Workshop in NYC both spoke and answered questions. Here's the link to info about the program and the films, which will also show on WGBH in New England, mostly on Tuesday nights at 10. http://www.bostoncares.org/AboutUs/index.php/citizen_academy/social_cinema/democracy_on_deadline.htm

I went to see Eve Ensler, creator of the Vagina Monologues, read from her new book, "Insecure at Last." She spoke in the Coolidge Corner Theatre, (http://www.coolidge.org/) of which I am a member, and was sponsored by the Brookline Booksmith, (http://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/) the best independent bookstore in Boston, in my opinion. Her book is about how we are totally obsessed with being secure and safe and that in fact, we are missing out on life and other gifts because of it. I left early, actually, because she was reading about Katrina and it was going on forever and ever. The first parts she read were good, though.

I volunteered at Jamaica Plain Open Studios last weekend. JP artists open their studio doors and congregate to sell their art all over the neighborhood on Saturday and Sunday. I sat on the rainy Sunday afternoon and greeted guests as they entered the Footlight Club, a local theatre in JP and sold raffle tickets to help support the Arts Council. I didn't end up buying anything, not even a pair of earrings, because I am trying so hard to keep spending under control. (http://www.jpopenstudios.com/) As a side note, Dorchester's Open Studios is the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22. This is my neighborhood. (http://www.thedac.org/dos2006).

I am waiting to get my work schedule at Uno at the middle to the end of next week, because I would really like to volunteer at a few other events that are highlighted on the Boston Cares website. I am attending a volunteer orientation there next Wednesday so I can begin to sign up for volunteer programs. Boston Cares is one of the organizations with whom I am interviewing for a position. I had my first interview Thursday and was told that I'd made it to the second round. The position is perfect for me and I'd really like to work with an organization such as this one. Take a look and sign up to volunteer while you are at it if you are here in Boston and have been putting off getting involved like many of us do. (www.bostoncares.org)
As another side note, the Life is Good Pumpkin Festival is on Boston Common on Saturday, October 21 and all the proceeds go to Camp Sunshine, a retreat for kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families. (http://www.campsunshine.org/) It's a great event. For more info, visit http://www.lifeisgood.com/festivals_pumpkin/ContentPlus.asp?cmd=CONTENT&articleID=195.

Speaking of Uno's, I'm almost done training. Just three days of what I'm cheekily calling "Pizza School" - 5 hour sessions three days this week about the menu, food, and other stuff - and I'll be on the floor alone, actually making some money. I had a great couple of training shifts this week and I'm reminded why I always loved to waitress. I haven't done it for almost 10 years now, but man, do I like it. I'm good at it and I enjoy it. I may be singing an entirely different tune relatively soon, considering I'm 10 years older, have never served full-time before, and it's HARD on the body and the mind. We'll see how I do. So far so good, though. It's like riding a bike. :)

I've been thinking about what I'm writing on this site. About how when I was away, the most mundane details of life were interesting to other people and how now, being in a US city, living in largely the same way as my audience, if that makes a difference, (or should) in how or what I write. I haven't decided yet. For now, I'm just plugging away, writing my musings and my thoughts down and figuring that in any case, I'll be glad I did if later I decide I'm actually going to make an attempt to write some sort of book or essay or something about this year.

It's definitely autumn. The leaves are turning and it's crisp out, especially at night. It's getting darker sooner and stupid, antiquated daylight-savings is coming soon. (Why the hell do we KEEP doing that? Why not just leave the sun ALONE?) School is in full swing and the colleges are just finishing up fall break. Family weekends have happened or are about to, and people have begun to talk about plans for Thanksgiving. We rented the house in Vermont and are already talking about when we'll go up for the first opening weekend of the season. I have started to be able to see the beginnings of my third winter of 2006. The winter of reflection. It follows the winter of applying and the winter of learning and leaving. So far, my time has been so full of logistics and worrying and figuring out what's next that I haven't had time for the reflection part. But I'm going to be mindful of it. I refuse to miss the reflection because I was too busy attacking the next step.

Let me know what you think. I'm interested. It's lonely sometimes here on the couch with only Ellen DeGeneres for company while everyone else is at work. Thanks for coming. Come again.