Mishmash Musings

Do any of you watch the TV show In Plain Sight on the USA Network? It stars Mary McCormack as a U.S. Marshall who is responsible for getting people into the Witness Protection program. I actually received a press kit for the show prior to its premiere last year, and thought the first few eps that I saw were pretty good, but then I lost interest.

However, I was surprised to see that In Plain Sight was renewed for a second season, which makes me think that there might be something to the show after all. Now I’m considering giving this show another chance and making it part of my summer viewing schedule (I can catch up via reruns or TiVo).

What do you think? Worth my time or not? I already watch Burn Notice, too, and liked the show well enough when it was on during the summers. Once USA moved it to the fall and put it on Thursday nights against “real” shows like Grey’s Anatomy, 30 Rock, Bones, and The Office, I just had no time for it anymore. Is one semi-cheesy USA show enough, or does In Plain Sight truly have something different to offer?

I love my best friend Jen dearly, but she has some of the most annoying phone habits ever. We’ve been friends since grade school, and speak to each other nearly every day, usually for 30 minutes or more.

Since we’re both busy moms, though, we often end up multitasking while talking. It wouldn’t be so bad if the other tasks were “quiet” ones, like checking email or writing out checks for bills. But Jen occasionally does things like eat on the phone (truly disgusting, like having someone chewing right in your ear), wash dishes (her kitchen faucets sound like Niagara Falls), or even going to the bathroom without bothering with the mute button! Sure, we’ve known each other for 30 years, but ewww!

I’ve told her a million times about these things, and yet she still persists. She thinks I’m being “too uptight” about everything, but I think I’m being fair. Would you enjoy talking to someone who does these things while you’re on the phone??

Wow, I tell you: I just can’t get enough of Susan Boyle! I’ve spent most of the afternoon watching YouTube clips of the various interviews she’s given since her amazing performance on Saturday, and she truly seems like a humble, genuine person. I really, really hope she wins and can finally achieve her dream of being a professional singer. And all this at an age (47) where most people have already given up on their dreams if they haven’t achieved them yet.

I also wanted to say that I think another reason Susan’s performance was so moving was the song that she chose. After hearing a bit of her background while bantering with the judges, knowing that she lived in subsidized housing and pretty much sacrificed her own life to care for her parents, to hear her sing “I Dreamed a Dream”… the lyrics were so fitting for her situation. Absolutely perfect.

Now I just hope the Britain’s Got Talent producers (I’m looking at you, Simon Cowell) don’t try to give Susan a makeover before her next performance. I can see them now, sending her to a stylist, getting her teeth whitened and capped, putting her on phenphedrine for a month before the next show…. Just don’t do it! We love Susan the way she is, perhaps because of the way she is. It would be different if she was just another glamorous package. Leave her alone, and let her tremendous talent do the talking!

If you still haven’t heard of Scottish wannabe singer Susan Boyle, then you’ve obviously been away from the Internet all week. Susan appeared last Saturday on the TV program Britain’s Got Talent, and her stunning rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables has taken the entire world by storm!

The biggest reason for this is that Susan doesn’t look like the kind of contestant that typically appears on these talent shows. She’s 47, kind of frumpy, and in her own words, has “never been kissed”. When she walked out onto the stage, the audience and the judges immediately began snickering at her, rolling their eyes and pretty much openly mocking her desire to be a professional singer or the next Elaine Paige.

But everything changed once she belted out the very first line of the song. There’s no question Susan has talent! What a moving performance — and I am absolutely the last person to get emotional about music.

I think 99% of the people supporting Susan are doing so because she’s a true underdog. As she told Simon at the beginning, no one has ever given her a chance to prove herself as a singer. It’s too bad that the chance is coming so late in life, but better late than never, right? You go, Susan! I just hope the inevitable backlash from all the jealous haters doesn’t come until after the Britain’s Got Talent finals.

(AP Photo)

I’m usually pretty good about cleaning in the bathroom. I scrub the tub at least twice a week and try to be vigilant about the floor, toilet, and sink as well. But tonight I noticed some black stuff on the ceiling in the shower area, and though I can’t identify it for certain, I’m pretty sure it’s mold.

The last thing I need right now is a widespread mold problem, so I’m going to buy some mold killer first thing in the morning and treat the spots right away. Let’s hope that does the trick, because I certainly don’t want to end up shelling out for a professional to come in!

Legendary NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden retired today at the age of 73 after spending 30 years in the booth. Madden has been the voice of Sunday Night Football for the past few years, used to be on the Monday Night crew, and has done the Thanksgiving broadcast for as long as I can remember. He’s one of those divisive personalities that most people either love or hate, and I have to say I’ve always liked him.

I wonder what he’ll do now that he’s retired. Most retired people with his kind of money would probably want to travel all over the world, but Madden is notoriously scared of flying. Maybe he’ll check into some cruises instead, as I’m sure there are a bunch leaving California (which is where I think he lives).

So the 2009 MLB season has started, but I simply haven’t had time to post any of my thoughts on the games thus far. I’m going to remedy that situation right now. Bear in mind that my favorite teams are the Cubs, White Sox, and Mariners, so that’s why most of the notes will focus on them.

– I just read that Scott Podsednik has be reacquired by the White Sox! He was an important part of the 2005 World Series team, but hasn’t done much in the majors since then. He had a minor league contract when the Sox bought his rights. I’m excited to see him come back, as he’s a very likable player. I just hope he still has some skills to bring to the table.

– The Cubs have looked pretty good through these first few games. Their record might not reflect it, but I’m confident about their chances of winning the division again. Zambrano and Lilly look strong in the early going, and if the middle relievers can get into a groove, then the Cubbies will be a tough team to beat.

– The Mariners have to be one of the most surprising teams in all of MLB right now. They were cellar dwellers all of last season, but are sitting atop the AL West right now. Ken Griffey, Jr. has been great in his return to the Pacific Northwest, Mike Sweeney has been a welcome addition, and Felix Hernandez has shown some grit and determination in the early going. Plus, they’ve done all of this without Ichiro, who’s slated to come back from injury within a couple of days. Wow!

– How about Josh Beckett getting suspended for 6 games for throwing at Bobby Abreu’s head during Boston’s recent matchup with the Angels? While I respect Beckett’s pitching abilities and think he’s one of the best in the game right now, his attitude has always been a big turnoff for me. He seems like such an arrogant ass. I hope he misses another 10 games for a hangnail or whatever other wuss injury he constantly complains about.

– Boy, the Yankees have been terrible in the early going! How can their fans put up with this crap? They consistently have the highest payroll in baseball, yet they haven’t won a title in almost a decade, while bitter rivals Boston have won two in recent years. It’s kind of sad seeing all the futility out there because there’s so much tradition tied up with that franchise. But at the same time, I love how it goes to show that you can’t simply buy a championship.

– Lots of baseball deaths in the past week, including young Angels rookie Nick Adenhart, longtime Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, and Mark Fidrych, a former All-Star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. They come in threes, huh? RIP.

The Obamas finally got the dog that the president first promised to the girls while on the campaign trail. They selected a Portuguese water dog (never heard of that breed) because apparently its supposed to be more “hypoallergenic” than other varieties. The 6-month-old puppy, which the girls have named Bo, was a gift from Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy, who has several of these dogs himself.

There was a veritable frenzy surrounding the Obamas’ selection of a pet, so I’m sure this is going to be “news” for at least a few days. I think the dog, with its predominantly black coat and white feet, looks like Socks, the old Clinton cat!

(AP Photo/The White House, Pete Souza)