The Idiot Box

I haven't had a good week, as some of you may already know. But I'm not going to talk about it, it just gets way too depressing. I am going to put it behind me and focus on straightening out things and living my life the way I always do. So I'm done about that.

That being said, let me talk about something else: television. I used to have a great deal of love for TV, until I discovered the internet haha. But ever since 2007 started, I found out that TV is now worthwhile going back to once more. In between WWE wrestling and some good reality shows like The Amazing Race and American Idol (yes Mike, I know you hate Idol), some really good dramas have come back to the screen. Let me tell you what I'm currently following in my offline time.

1. Heroes
This show is currently gaining a tremendous following over in the States. It's about a group of individuals around the world who suddenly discover that they have special abilities. A cheerleader finds herself being able to heal from any injury. A young man keeps dreaming that he can fly. A Japanese man discovers he can stop time and even teleport himself from place to place. A comicbook artist is horrified to discover his paintings are predictions of things that have yet to happen. A single mother realises her reflection in the mirror is alive. And under all this, a young Indian geneticist travels to New York to investigate his father's mysterious death, which may be connected to all these special people.

2. Kidnapped
This show is similar to Lost and 24, where a single plot thread connects it from start to finish. A wealthy couple's teenage son is kidnapped. Enter a man named Knapp, who specialises in retrieving kidnap victims for a fee, and off the record. He tries to keep off the FBI's radar, but the couple's reputation attracts the Feds somehow, and now Knapp has to work with his former boss Latimer King to track the boy and bring him home. However, the kidnappers are well-prepared and smarter than they realised, and a complex cat-and-mouse game ensues.

3. E.R.
This show began in 1994, and has since run for 13 seasons till now, something which I had just discovered prior to writing this. I had always loved this medical drama, but was unable to follow it after local stations stopped playing it beyond season 6. Now thankfully a cable TV station has picked it up and started airing it last month, back from season 1 again. This drama takes place within the Chicago County Hospital, and follows the lives of 4 doctors, an upcoming student doctor and a nurse who struggle with their pressuring career of saving lives on a daily basis. Unlike Grey's Anatomy (which I am also watching), the problems encountered by the characters are more realistic, such as peer competition, tough bosses, financial burdens and family obligations. I am glad to be able to watch this again.

4. Law & Order
This is said to be one of the longest running shows on American TV. The season currently being played is rather old, but the compelling cases presented still makes it worthwhile. It shows the process taken to solve a crime, from the police who investigate to the lawyers who prosecute the guilty. Best of all, the cast do it without getting into too much personal melodrama. Another old favourite I'm glad to watch again.

5. 24
The title refers to the happenings in a full day of Counter Terrorist Agent Jack Bauer, as he tries desperately to stop a major threat to the USA. Each episode represents an hour of the day in question. Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack with great realism, as he often has to break rules and juggle all kinds of problems in order to save the day. The current season I'm watching is the 4th, which is rather slow since the US is playing the sixth one right now.

I am still waiting for the new seasons of Lost, House, CSI New York and Supernatural to come on air, but till then I'll settle for these. And the new season of Deadwood is coming soon this month, I'll be looking forward to that too.

I wonder if you guys watch TV, and if you do, what do you watch?

Difficult Simplicity

This is hard. It always has been. I've been through this before, and somehow it ends up the same way almost every time. The fact is, the solution is pretty simple. But I just can't do it.

This time it's a little different. In the past, I had somehow believed that no matter the odds, there was a chance for me to succeed. No, I don't mean succeed in carrying out the solution, but in pursuing what my heart feels. This time, I knew from the beginning that following my heart would spell doom. It would never work out. So I resisted. I tried my best to stay away, and be smart. And I did just that. But you know what? The heart is a really powerful thing. It can override almost any decision you make, and before you know it, you're sucked in. Now I'm in deep, sort of.

I wish things were different between me and her. I miss the past times, when she would greet me with a smile, treat me well, and not hesitate to engage in a conversation about anything. Now, silence and tension fill the space between us. But there are times when I feel like all hope is not lost. I know she doesn't hate me. However I don't really know what she thinks of me. I can only predict what she may think, perhaps I'm not good at reading people and their behaviour. I'm not Dr House.

The fact is, I can end this with a simple solution. Just turn a blind eye and close my senses. Then perhaps I can forget her, and the way she makes me feel in her presence. But like I said, I just can't. The simplest solution isn't easy at all. And every day I walk the line between reality and recklessness. Trying to get her attention and at the same time keeping things real.

If she and I were friends, maybe it'd be less taxing for me. I guess right now I just miss her, even though I see her almost every day. If only we were the last two people on earth, and everything else was gone. Wouldn't that be something?

Thirty

And here it comes again. This day. A day that marks yet another year of my life gone by. You know, I don't exactly have as much enthusiasm about birthdays as some people I know. And it's not just about my age, it's the fact that every year I spend my birthday the same way. Perhaps sometime in future, if given the opportunity, I'd like to celebrate it differently, otherwise celebrating this day would not mean anything. But that's another story.

So what's it like today for me? Well, nothing dramatic, as always. But it's better that way. It's just a day where I'd like to do what I want to do, and not get flak about it. It's my day, so to speak. And it's been fun....had a nice lunch, spent the day at the mall, found something worth every penny, not bad at all.

But the best part was getting some really nice birthday wishes, some which I hadn't expected. To all of you who remembered, thank you. The fact that you remembered is a gift enough to me.

So now I'm older. Being reminded of that isn't exactly fun, because my friends happen to be so much younger, and it makes me miss being at that age. Mayleen says I'm wiser now, but am I? There are many times when I feel like I have a lot more to learn. I guess the learning process doesn't stop till we die. But I do want to see more of the world, and getting older isn't doing me any favors as far as that is concerned.

But there's one thing I hope to be, and that is to be better. In every sense. A better person, brother, colleague, worker, friend. I know I can be, and I need to be. Because somewhere out there, there are some people I care about deeply, and I need to be there for them. I need to be better for them. Take care, dear friends.

Week One

Welcome to 2007, everyone. How has the first week been for you? If some of you are still in a Christmas mood (I know someone is), I don't really blame you. I think some Christmas trees at the malls are still up, and some people are still in the New Year celebration. Some of my colleagues took the whole week off and will return on Monday. I don't think I can ever do that, unless I'm going someplace far away. I can't really stay away from work for too long, makes me feel lazy just sitting at home.

So what was my week like? Hmm, it didn't get off to a very good start, to be honest. Some things went wrong, some people had to make me cross, some people got cross with me, I did some stupid things, and MSN was really crappy all week. Most of these things are trivial, but lots of times I just lose it and let my anger and frustration take over. I shouldn't do that, I know I'm better than that.

And in all honesty, there was a moment when I felt really lonely, like there was no one there for me when I needed someone to count on. I guess not everyone can be there for us when we need them. But that's okay, in some ways it makes you stronger when you have to face the world by yourself. You need to stand on your own and arm yourself for whatever that's coming. And I am lucky to have good people beside me to teach me a thing or two. I have learned a lot from them, and I am thankful for that.

So what's good about this week? Well, one of my all time favourite TV shows, E.R. is back. On reruns haha. But that's ok, I haven't watched it for a long time, so now I can start over and enjoy it all over again. What else? I got a Christmas card in the mail, tusen takk;) (you know who you are) And MSN seems to be working again, though I don't know for how long.

By the way, do you like that picture? I love it. From the moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it. That's the cover to the next hardcover volume of Justice the comicbook. On the left you'll recognise the famous heroes of the Justice League, and on the right are their respective foes. A brilliant piece of artwork by Alex Ross.

Just a few days away from an important day, though in some ways it's not that important. But don't mind me. Thanks for reading.