Why This??

After recently getting "Let Go" from a job I had for 15 years AND not too anxious to get back into that groove - commuting 50 miles daily to NYC - I thought I'd try putting down some thoughts. I found I had time on my hands - thus the Time Killer blog.. So for those past 15 years and another similar job before that adding up to a total of 31 years I wasn't doing what I wanted.. And, what is that??? mmmm, I dunno but I thought I'd dust off my journalism degree to see if I actually learned anything in those four years back in the mid-70s. The easiest way to do that, I guess, is to clog up a blog and see if I have anything to say..

I'm not sure how to approach this or how often I'd make an entry but so far in these past two weeks I've had the time (to kill)...Those Monday through Friday hours formerly spent in the "office' taking care of mind numbing issues is now my own time. I think the first thing I've learned is TV is not an option. Where did these daytime shows come from? OK, news is important I guess but how many hours can one spend listening to the Today show paint the doom and gloom picture. Every negative issues seems to apply to me - the economy, unemployment, scary health issues (I'm 58). Of course there is the endless host laughter and chatter - always out of place right after they report about a missing girl in rural Florida. And, with four hours to fill (or maybe three if you don't count Kathy Lee Gifford) they are always rushing through each segement.. Some poor rube flipping shrimps on a BBQ and trying not to have them slip through the grill..

When I was a kid it was all game shows and soap operas on TV. Only got to see them when I was home sick so it was usually in a feverish haze..you know the daytime drill was almost over when Merv Griffin or Mike Douglas would show up and my mom would sit down after a day's chores were done. So now, what do we have besides the news..OK there ARE a few game shows (on the game show channel).. I've already mentioned Jeopardy.. I'm sure we all do well in our living rooms and would just panic if we tried the game for real. I think I could do OK on Wheel of Fortune.. I'd ask why the HELL they still need Vanna White to turn letters.. There's just no point!! There are many re-runs.. My favorites are Seinfeld (Jerry went to my high school), Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens, Curb Your Enthusiasm... I guess All in The Family too.. Once a year it's fun to watch the Honeymooners.. Hellllo Ballllllllllll...

But back to daytime --- where the HELL do they get the people to "perform" on Jerry Springer and Maury Povich. Isn't Maury's wife - Connie Chung - a legitimate journalist. Does SHE watch his show or just run out of the room. I always wonder what takes place before these shows. Are there prep sessions from producers ?---- " ok there's an extra $500 IF you punch your boyfriend in the face and then rip his new girlfriend's shirt off".."AND, be sure to mix it up with the studio audience.. keep yelling and pointing..and don't worry we will bleep every third word".."OHH, and take your dentures out.."..

So, daytime TV is not a good option.. Night time could be a little better.. tons of reality TV.. some of it really not too bad as long as it doesn't involve taking off your shirt, getting on a scale or bungee jumping off the side of a 400 foot high dam..Some of the production quality - as in Survivor and Idol are quite good. Really not bad for Time Killing..

Haven't figured out too many of these CSI cop type shows.. I just can't get into them and boy there are quite a few.. The Office and 30 Rock are pretty good for TK and who could have EVER predicted that Family Guy would come along and eclipse the Simpsons...Seth McFarland is really the best..

I need to make some decisions on how to handle this blog..To be honest I want to get back into a writing schedule. Most of my writing experience - besides lame work emails - are personal emails and some newspaper feature writing.. So in my quest to Kill Time I'll post here as often as I can (not that I have pressing issues to prevent that)..bioya