I try to avoid being stuck at home watching TV on New Years Eve. I know for a lot of people it’s a tradition to watch the ball drop in New York City. Since I’m on Mountain time I’m usually still working or shopping for sports gifts when everything is happening in NYC.

The show Friends always seemed to really celebrate New Year’s & made it seem so exciting. I think the only show that has ever really depicted New Year’s accurately is the Hills. Lauren said that she never had a good New Year’s & then she got in a fight with her boyfriend & left the club. Heidi went with her. Jason then showed up with flowers to kiss her exactly at midnight. Ok, so maybe the last part wasn’t an accurate depiction of New Year’s Eve. Overall, I don’t think the holiday is nearly as much fun as it looks on TV.

I often read The Secret Garden when I was a kid. I remember going to the movie theater when it came out in 1993. I just assumed that I knew the story. When the movie was actually on today I realized that I couldn’t remember the plot at all. I knew that there was a secret garden & that’s about it. I forgot the phrase “Everyone needs a bit of earth.” This book made me want to garden when I was a kid & I never really have. It also tells the story of how complicated families can be.

I’ve been reading so many books for so many years trying to discover new things that I forgot the things I already knew. Yes, there are everyday items that have to be taken care of like finding cheap auto insurance & household chores. However, I need to take more time to dream & imagine.

I really have never figured out if watching too much TV causes violence in children. However, I have seen that TV causes me to have delusions. I watch cooking programs & think “Ohh, I would love to entertain. I can so do that.” I can’t. What you never see on the Food Network is:

• Kids crying because the gourmet Mac & Cheese is green.
• Tough farmers wandering around wondering where the real food is.
• Burnt hands.
• Messy kitchens.
• People who only own two or three pans.