From the Inside Out

Entertainment Weekly recently published its list of 18 “Awesome” Imaginary Worlds. These are the fabulous locales that you might like to visit if they really existed. While I agree with many of the locations on the list, there are others that I’d like to visit too.

With that in mind, here’s my customized list of “Top 5 Imaginary Worlds” in no particular order:

• Narnia: I wasn’t surprised to find this imaginary world on EW’s list — not only is it beautiful, but it also has its own rap song (check out the video by Andy Sanberg).

• Stargate Atlantis: Who wouldn’t want to live in a city created by the “Ancients” and be able to visit a new planet every day? If not for the pesky Wraith, it would be ideal.

• Lost Island: Mix the Dharma initiative with an island that looks like Kaui, and you’ve got a fantastic place to visit. A gorgeous blue ocean, luscious green scenery AND mystique — it’s the perfect combo.

• Mars (Life on Mars): Life on Mars is an original BBC police drama that premiered a couple of years ago. After a car accident, Sam Tyler finds himself in Manchester in 1973. The world he created while in a coma is full of interesting characters, and as an added bonus, there are the fabulous 70s fashions.

• Middle-Earth (Lord of the Rings): Another world on EW’s list, “Tolkien’s Middle-earth is home to hobbits and dragons and elves and jewelry of imponderable power.” Hobbits and dragons are cool. Jewelry that holds magical powers is every little girl’s dream.

That’s my “top 5″. What are yours?

Fans of Joss Whedon may soon have reason to rejoice. He’s working on a new show with Eliza Dushku (some may remember her as Faith from one of Whedon’s other popular television shows). 

According to comingsoon.net, his new show titled “Dollhouse” revolves around a group of young men and women, aka “Dolls,” who are imprinted with different personalities for different assignments. They have no memories of their previous lives, until Echo (Dushku) begins to try to find out who she was.”

The show will air on Fox, most likely in the Fall. Amazingly enough, Joss Whedon came up with the idea and the title by accident. He was having lunch with Eliza and offering career advice when it hit him.

A few days after lunch, he wrote a treatment and then an episode guide, pilot outline and poster. A couple of days later he approached Fox with the idea for the pilot. Soon after, they wanted more than a pilot. They offered a seven-episode commitment.

Wouldn’t it be nice if others could get their ideas picked up that easily! Of course if your name is Joss Whedon, you have instant credibility with the studios. The man is a genius. I envy admire his writing — it’s witty, smart, and unique.

I can’t wait for the Fall premiere.  It will be a breath of fresh air when Joss comes back to the small screen. It’s been lonely (and a bit boring) without him.

In one of the opening monologues of the Seinfeld show, Jerry Seinfeld did a bit that I’ve never forgotten.  Why, you ask?  Well, it resonated with me.  Some might argue that it is me.  It’s certainly how I felt after last night.  Here’s the bit:

“I never get enough sleep. I stay up late at night, cause I’m Night Guy. Night Guy wants to stay up late. What about getting up after five hours sleep? Oh, that’s Morning Guy’s problem. That’s not my problem, I’m Night Guy. I stay up as late as I want.

So you get up in the morning, you’re cranky, you’re exhausted, groggy…oooh, you hate that Night Guy! See, Night Guy always screws Morning Guy. There’s nothing Morning Guy can do. The only thing Morning Guy can do is try and oversleep often enough so that Day Guy looses his job and Night Guy has no money to go out anymore.”

It’s funny, but it’s also true.  My “Night Guy” stayed up so late that Morning Guy only got four hours of sleep. The sad thing is I wasn’t doing anything important or fun.  I just didn’t want to go to sleep.

Today was tough, especially because I was scheduled to sing in both services at church.  So, I got up at 6:45 am, muddled through practice, and tried to fake being awake during both services.  I put forth a valiant effort, but my concentration was greatly impaired. 

According to Sleep-deprivation.com, inadequate rest impairs our ability to think, to handle stress, to maintain a healthy immune system and to moderate our emotions. In fact, sleep is so important to our overall health that total sleep deprivation has been proven to be fatal: lab rats denied the chance to rest die within two to three weeks.

Without adequate rest, the brain’s ability to function quickly deteriorates. The brain works harder to counteract sleep deprivation effects, but operates less effectively: concentration levels drop, and memory becomes impaired. Insufficient rest can also cause people to have hallucinations.

So, I’m not going to let Night Guy win this evening.  I’m signing off early before I start hallucinating. 

Have a great week!

My family met for dinner tonight to celebrate my Mom’s birthday.  After arriving home, Gary and I sat down in the media room and got ready to watch the latest episode of Survivor.  We fired up the DVR, hit play and…wait…that’s not Survivor.  It’s a man standing in front of a storm radar.  No problem, I thought.  It should be over in a couple of minutes, and then they’ll return to regular programming.  Wrong.

Why does every meteorologist think it’s a good idea to interrupt prime time television when a storm blows through town?  C’mon people, it’s spring in Dallas.  There are plenty of storms this time of year.  They don’t all justify a meteorologist breaking into local programming and showcasing his radar screen for 30 minutes to an hour (or longer).  Why can’t they just break in for one or two minutes?  Better yet, let people read the scrolling text at the bottom of the screen.

Not only did we miss the entire Survivor episode because the meteorologist was getting his “hour of fame”, but we also missed a few other shows due to the continuing storm coverage.  It’s frustrating and unwarranted.  You would have thought there were twenty tornadoes on the ground.  There weren’t.

I realize people may be a little edgy because of the storms that blew through town last week, but tonight’s storm didn’t warrant a 2 hour newscast.  It was just a typical springtime storm.  Sure, there was a small tornado (which caused no damage) and hail, but it paled in comparison to last week’s storm.  So, let’s save the detailed coverage for the 9:00 and 10:00 newscast and let everyone else enjoy their regular programming.   

Actually, Ali is the biggest loser.  In tonight’s season finale of The Biggest Loser Couples, Ali did something no female has done since the show’s inception.  She won!  And I have to say it’s about time that a female took top honors.

When the show started, Ali weighed a whopping 234 pounds.  In a few short months, she dropped 112 pounds (or 47.86 percent of her weight).  It was amazing and inspiring.  At one point, this girl was eliminated from the show.  When she walked away, she proclaimed that she would be the biggest loser — she was right. 

Eventually, she was given an opportunity to compete and win her way back onto the show.  Once she made it back, she was a fierce competitor.  Her dedication paid off.  As the winner, she will take home the $250,000 grand prize, but she has gained more than that.  She has gained a healthy lifestyle and a confidence that will stay with her for the rest of her life. 

Many of the contestants lost over 100 pounds.  The transformations were staggering.  It just goes to show that it can be done.  It’s not impossible, but it requires dedication and hard work  — A LOT of dedication and hard work.  A good trainer helps too (I can’t begin to tell you how much I love Bob and Jillian.  It would be amazing to train with them.)

One of the great things about this show is that it motivates people to live healthier lifestyles.  Not only have the participants lost weight, but they have learned how to eat correctly and exercise right.  They are in better shape than I am.  This inspires me.  It also reminds me…I need to get my butt to the gym.

Anyway, I’d like to say ”congrats Ali”!  You are an inspiration to females around the world.  Wear the title of the first female “biggest loser” proudly.  You deserve it.