Pushing Daisies Redux

So, after reading Kent's comment to my post about "Pushing Daisies", I realized I do have to modify my initial glowing review. He was right that the episodes this season have been resolved deus ex machina. This last week was the first one in awhile that the characters actually figured out the crime and caught the criminal as opposed to the announcer coming on at the end and saying "Here's what happened . . . ". Also, the show this season has been way dirtier. Last season certainly had its sexiness -- I mean, Olive does show a lot of cleavage -- but the show itself was pretty innocent even if you the viewer couldn't help wondering how Ned and Charlotte got along living in the same apartment unable to touch. This season, however, we've seen Charlotte drop her robe for Ned, Emerson get it on with Simone, and just a general uptick in sexual references and innuendo. I'm also appalled at the direction they've taken Ned's character. He was a sweet piemaker, but now they're turning him into Rambo. He's plotting revenge, telling people he's going to kick so and so's a**, and throwing out random s.o.b.'s. Finally, what's up with the stupid plot lines of Ned suddenly having two twin half-brothers and Charlotte's aunt actually being her mother? Last season, "Pushing Daisies" was refreshing; this season, it's chasing Hollywood cliches. Writers: leave the show alone! You had it right last year, Why are you changing it? Anyway, I'm going to keep watching because it gives me something to do when I'm home watching Carter, but unless the next few episodes get a lot better, I probably won't be too sad if it does get axed.

He's intellectually gifted

So Sterling can roll over and Carter can't even though Sterling is 2 weeks younger than Carter. Big deal. Does Sterling read himself bedtime stories?

Fight On SC vs. Eight Clap UCLA

Lorein's boss was out of town so Carter and I accompanied Lorein to work. We parked in the USC parking structure and made our way across campus to Lorein's office. People kept casting sidelong glances at us, rolling their eyes, etc. I was thinking, "Haven't these people ever seen a baby before?!" After one particularly egregious glare, however, I happened to look down and realized I was wearing my UCLA shirt. I can't believe I wasn't shot! (you know how dangerous it is over by USC; it's not like the eden of Westwood Hills) I walked the rest of the way holding Lorein's laptop across my chest and was able to avoid any further incidents.

And just for the heck of it, here's a picture of Carter planning how he will continue his Machiavellian and tyrannic rule over our apartment.

Carter and Me, Me and Carter

Now that Carter is officially 4 months old, I feel it is time to compare his personality to mine in order to see how far the apple fell from the tree. I have devised this controlled double-blind scientific study to determine with exactness whether he's a chip off the old block or not. The methodology consists of a list of our similarities compared with a list of our differences; whichever list has more will answer the question.

So, here are our similarities:
1. We both love to watch football
2. We both like it when Lorein furnishes us with dinner
3. We both like to take naps
4. We both like to take walks
5. We both like baths
6. We're both morning people
7. We both like luxury vehicles
8. We both like fountains
9. We both like to wear pajamas
10. We both dance by wildly flailing our arms and legs.

















And here are our differences:
1. I don't cry when I have gas
2. I don't have blue eyes
3. I don't cry whenever the organ starts playing
4. I don't cry whenever a bus drives by
5. I don't cry whenever I enter the apartment and the lights aren't turned on
6. I don't cry when I'm tired
7. I'm okay if other people want to sit down; I don't cry until they stand up

















Well, the final tally shows 10 similarities and 7 differences. Therefore, this scientific study proves by a wide margin that Carter is a chip off the old block (as this picture further evidences).

"Yo People! Bring me a soda and some nachos!"

Adventures in Relief Society

I took Carter to Relief Society with me today. Because I'm a counselor, I sit up front where everybody can see me. So, at one point during the lesson, the teacher turned around to write on the chalkboard and Carter sneezed a couple times. The room was super quiet so the sound drew everybody's attention to us. Of course, right then, Carter let out the biggest poop ever. It was so loud!! Everybody started to laugh, my face turned red, and I apologized to the teacher. I don't know why I was embarrassed though since I wasn't the one who pooped.

Voting

A couple of times I've thought it would be neat to participate in a transformational election where people stand in line for hours to cast their vote. You know, like the elections you see on BBC World News where people trek from miles away and there is a palpable excitement surrounding the whole affair. I thought it would be a great experience to actually have to sacrifice to vote -- that it would show people how important the whole process is. Well, on Tuesday, we got to our polling station at 8:30ish and the line stretched out the door, down the sidewalk, around the corner, along the building, and then out into the parking lot; we stood in line for just over an hour. I can now officially say that standing in line for a long time to vote is not neat. There was none of the excitement of an election where it's the first time the people have gotten to vote in decades, and all I got was a sore back from standing still with Carter in the baby carrier. When I drove by an hour later and saw there were only five people in line, I realized that's the true American way to make one's voice heard, and the method I will be using in the future. No more of this voting at peak polling time!
Anyway, here's a picture of Carter enjoying his life in the lap of luxury.