So no more "YESSSSS!" No more jokes about Mike Fratello, Czar of the Tellustrator. What about appearances on Letterman, Albert has been a frequent guest there and they (him and Letterman) are pretty good friends. Can you imagine the jokes about this we're going to hear about the force blow job and the parading around with panties, and Marv's toupee? This should last a good year or more. Quite a celebrity scandal. And then there's the threesome aspect to all this.

xactly the reason I have shunned the tv from my home.

You haven't missed much.

Now, now. If you read in the Austen or Bronte conferences, you'd think you've missed quite a lot. The excellent shows may be few and far between, but they are out there and not every good movie is shown in a commercial theater. I'm a fan of A&E, of the classic movie cable stations (and the original show "Remember WENN", and I love some current shows like "Highlander" and "Law and Order." I am living proof you can own a TV and have missed most of the OJ trial, or anything else you don't want to see. A ter all, you control the power and the channel changer!

Good point, Lorie, there are some bright spots.

Agreed Lorie. But you may just have more self control than I! If I had a tv... I'd watch CNN (just for 30 minutes!), Shark Week on Discovery (?), and USA "Up All Night" -- is that still on? The big 'B' movie fest with Gilbert Godfrey (Mr. Annoying)? I love the silly/stupid/old horror flicks!

Actually, there's another channel that does a silly movie fest on weekend nights called "Dinner & A Movie" that is fun, too. So I'm not always watching classics or uplifting the human spirit, either. The odd thing is, when we go on vacation we deliberately go where there's no TV, no phone, etc. And we love it, it is a very special time for us. But I know so many lonely older people depend on their TVs to keep them in touch, to make them feel like a part of life, to give them "friends" as their real friends age and die/move away. So I have to defend the TV, even though I know it can be a monster.

Sad that older people are so often lonely. I wonder if relying on an electronic device for a friend doesn't actually shorten your life span. I know many older people who enjoy getting out and living life as opposed to watching it. But I am also aware that many people cannot get out and tv is there only tether to the outside world. a sad situation. Interesting that you go on vacation to get away from tv. I know that B and I find it exciting to be in a hotel room with a tv. Saturday morning cartoons sure have changed but now there's a whole station with just old cartoons on it! Crazy stuff!

It felt refreshing to get out this weekend and away from all CRTs and tubes and get into the world of crystals, healers, massage therapists, and spiritual goings on. Such warm, good vibes.

welcome to Boulder.

Really, I was there years ago on the Caravan trip across the country, our spiritual community traveling in schoo buses. We had a great time picking rosehips up near Ward. Heard of it?

been to Ward, didn't pick up any rosehips.

We were up there in the snow. It felt great to be at that altitude, what's your favorite mountain spot in Colorado?

Top of Gray's peak, top of Mt. Democrat, top of Mt. Lincoln. Bottom of any mtn. on my way to climbing up. Rocky Mountain Nat. Park, Glenwood Springs, cycling on the Continental Divide, next to the train tracks that run through the mountains... driving due west at sunset...

What's the highest elevation you've reached?

30,000 feet (in a plane) *giggle* 14,286 was Democrat but I'm not sure if Gray's was higher or not. Oh, nevermind. Pikes Peak is higher and I've been there.

Since we're talking Marv Albert here, what was the most spectacular view you've seen from ahigh?

what kind of high? just joking. There are so many spectacular views that I believe the ones I keep close to my heart are the ones where I can still conjure the smells and emotions of the moment. Waking up in a humid tent, opening the fly, stepping out into a brand new morning overlooking the forest 1000s of feet below.

Where are you going next? I heard Marvellous turned down a job offer.

Kinda off the subject but... speaking of long shaggy do's.... I heard John Denver died. I just saw him last Monday at the Broncos game.

I just heard that too, he died in a light aircraft accident, he was a friend of the environment and a decent guy from everything I've heard.

Sad. An icon from my childhood to be sure...

And someone from your place.

Colorado doesn't feel completely like home yet... Its getting there though!

How was your weekend in Colorado, Stacey?

More snow, baby! Not like the "Blizzard of '97" but enough to play in! Lazy weekend, including lotsa cooking, writing and even a nap!

Alright, catchin' those zzzs.

Naps feel so sinful. I like 'em. Especially when you can nap with a good buddy!

Let me guess. Marv Albert?

Not my nap buddy type!

Just trying to stick to the topic. LIke we always do (not).

How 'bout that do?

Are you feeling marvelous?

I was over at Brandon's parents last night (the tv freaks -- 11 tvs, 3 VCRs) and we watched part of Marv on Letterman after seeing Voyager's Year in Hell -- they'd taped both parts for me. Fun to be a sloth with popcorn, tea a blanket and the boob tube.

So do you think more highly of Marv now, or less?

Eh... I really don't give a damn one way or the other.

One of those "frankly I don't give a damn" scenarios like in Gone with the Wind, or Gone with the Marv.

That was the visual I had going.

Are you marvelous today?

Simply.

Rather myself.

*smile* good.