Mom Wife Sister Vicki

Black box – manic highs and lows?... was just lows!

2014-04-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Cast: Kelly Reilly, Ditch Davey, David Chisum Vanessa Redgrave

I had déjà vu in the first 30 seconds of this show…I saw it the first time it was on… when it was called “do No Harm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_No_Harm_(TV_series))- which coincidentally was cancelled after airing only 2 episodes…after doing significant career harm to everyone on the cast.

Once again we see what we are supposed to believe is a brilliant doctor – in this case a neuroscientist – who is also bi-polar. So….well respected and smart, supportive aunt, involved in a healthy romantic relationship …but every now and then doesn’t take her meds and goes on crazy sex filled, hallucinogenic adventures?….hmmm…something about this is not adding up. I’m no neuroscientist but I don’t think that this is a recipe to the successful life that they would like us to believe she has been living.

Kelly Reilly is a newcomer to the North American small screen and in the beginning her charismatic nuances and her fresh face made me more interested in watching the plot unfold. Her opening scene with Vanessa Redgrave is quite compelling. Perhaps if Redgrave had been the main character I might have been more impressed with the remainder of the episode, because other than Redgrave, Black Box is severely lacking in likeable characters

In a nut shell – this show is overly busy, overacted, over explained and medical terms are delivered to the audience like directions to a 3 year old for potty training. There was too much, too soon, and it was all too obvious. It was tiring as a viewer to watch case, after crazy case, unfold in the first 25 minutes.

After 30 minutes I wantedto turn this show off but I had to keep watching. I wantedto be able to conclude at the half way mark that Black Box was the worst show ever I had ever seen. Instead, I found myself watching until the very end and was not disappointed as I got to see it hit the epic low I knew it would.

Conclusion is, the creators were using old ideas and the writers should get new meds!

Bad teacher…Is just plain bad

2014-04-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Cast: Ari Graynorplays the Cameron Diaz role, other top billed actors include: Sara Gilbert, Ryan Hansen, David Alan Grier, Kristin Davis and Sara Rodier

The cast was full of well known, somewhat respected actors. I recognised Ari Graynor from her role on Fringe – she played the role of Olivia’s sister (10 episodes) at least she can be happy she hasn't been type-casted! Sadly, Sarah Gilbert played her usual mousy/nerdy role that I have seen way too many times to be impressed and Kristen Davis played an uptight bitchy girl –“quelle surprise!”

The stereotypes throughout are so obvious that they are uncomfortable - including painting men as sex-hungry-anything-for-some-cleavage idiots - which I find insulting on their behalf. I hope there are no Principals in North America that hire based on bust size and blonde hair while never glancing at a resume.

If you enjoyed the original Cameron Diaz movie from 2011 then you may also enjoy this show. The movie was never set in any kind of reality and neither is this TV spin off. The premise is the same, but unfortunately so are the jokes. There is little to laugh at, other than the ending where they try desperately to salvage some respect by throwing in a Hail Mary warm moment. Saw it coming from a mile away. Didn’t buy it, didn’t care. Won’t tune in again.

Made in Jersey - Series Premiere Review

2012-10-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Made In Jersey

Premise (CBS) MADE IN JERSEY is a drama about a young working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete among her pedigreed Manhattan colleagues at a prestigious New York law firm. Martina Garretti finds her firm's cutthroat landscape challenging, but what she lacks in an Ivy League education she more than makes up for with tenacity and blue-collar insight. After just a few weeks, firm founder Donovan Stark takes note of Martina's ingenuity and resourcefulness, as does third-year chair Nolan Adams, who is part of Manhattan's royal literati; Riley Prescott, a second-year at Stark & Rowan and the daughter of the former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden; her sassy secretary, Cyndi Vega; and River, a former LAPD detective turned firm investigator. With the support of her big Italian family, including her sexy older sister Bonnie and her encouraging mother Darlene, Martina is able to stay true to her roots as a bold, passionate lawyer on the rise in a new intimidating environment.

First impression: Made In Jersey is like Legally Blonde but smarter and less fluffy. Martina is a pretty lawyer from the wrong side of the tracks who would like to be taken seriously. She is smart with working class knowledge that helps her to look at the cases in a different light than her upper crust colleagues.

Cast: Made in Jersey has a couple of recognisable faces, the most so for me is Kyle MacLachlan best known on TV for his recent work on Desperate Housewives.

Overall Feel: Made in Jersey is a courtroom/crime solving drama which we have seen too many times in shows such as LA Law, The Practice, Ally McBeal, and Boston Legal (to name a few) all of which have been quite successful. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Because the acting is quite strong, I think if the writer throws in some compelling character story lines I could see a season 2.

Prediction:Made in Jersey – 2 seasons…maybe more

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this 7 out of 10

666 Park Avenue - series premiere review

2012-10-02T19:03:00.004-07:00

666 Park Avenue

Premise (ABC) Based on the book series by Gabriella Pierce , 666 Park Avenue opens with Jane Van Veen (Rachael Taylor) and Henry Martin (Dave Annable), an idealistic young couple from the Midwest, arriving in New York City, the glamorous center of industry and media, they are offered the opportunity to manage the historic Drake. Jane, a small town girl with big ambitions, always knew she wanted to be an architect. Henry, a member of the Mayor's staff, is grounded, intelligent and tenacious. They are lured by the intoxicating lifestyle of New York's wealthy elite.

Gavin, who has many skeletons in his own closet, is at the height of his world and commands the dark power of The Drake. Olivia (Vanessa Williams), his beautiful but enigmatic, supportive wife, wears her elegance, wealth and position in society as armor… but cracks will slowly be revealed.

Jane and Henry not only fall prey to the machinations of Gavin and Olivia, but unwittingly live in the dark embrace of the building's supernatural forces which endanger the lives of its residents. These include Brian Leonard (Robert Buckley), a young playwright pining for his early success and promise. Brian's wife, Louise (Mercedes Masöhn), is a rising hot star in the world of fashion photography. Alexis Blume (Helena Mattsson) is a troubled young woman who is the picture of obsession -- what is her real connection to Gavin, and what part will she play in Brian and Louise's life? Tony DeMeo (Erik Palladino), The Drake's doorman, is the eyes and ears of the building. And then there is 14-year-old Nona Clark (Samantha Logan), who has a blossoming psychic ability, allowing her to look into the future of her fellow Drake occupants.

First impression: 666 Park Avenue is a show that is pretending to be scary and creepy without actually ever being either. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some scenes that are straight out of a good horror movie, but they seem to come out of nowhere. In some places there is no back story and in other places the storyline is too obvious and makes the audience feel like we are being spoon fed the details. It’s like there is someone off on the sidelines yelling “be scared…..NOW” and “do you get it now?” YES we get it! Someone needs to tell writers Gabriella Pierce and David Wilcox that the biggest part of creating that creepy feeling….is subtlety!

Cast: 666 Park Avenue stars Rachael Taylor (Charlie's Angels, Grey's Anatomy, Transformers) as Jane Van Veen, Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters, Reunion) as Henry Martin, with Vanessa Williams (Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Shaft, Soul Food) as Olivia Doran and Terry O'Quinn (Lost, Millennium, Hawaii Five-0, Alias, The West Wing, Jag) as Gavin Doran.

Overall Feel:666 Park Avenue is creepy but not in a scary way…this show needs a lot of work to make it a success. I’m already unsure if I am going to tune in for a second episode.

Prediction: The trailer for 666 Park Avenue gave viewers high expectations and it did not come close to meeting them. I don’t think that this will make it past 5 episodes unless something changes drastically.

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this 5 out of 10

Last Resort - Review of premiere episode

2012-10-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

Last Resort

Premise (ABC) 500 feet beneath the ocean's surface, the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado receives their orders. Over a radio channel, designed only to be used if their homeland has been wiped out, they're told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan.

Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders only to be unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) finds himself suddenly in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit. The submarine and its crew find themselves crippled on the ocean floor, declared rogue enemies of their own country. Now, with nowhere left to turn, Chaplin and Kendal take the sub on the run and bring the men and women of the Colorado to an exotic island. Here they will find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life, even as they try to clear their names and get home.

First impression: Lots of action, well-acted and full of suspense. Great exciting show!

Cast: Last Resort stars Scott Speedman (from 90’s show Felicity) as XO Sam Kendal and Robert Patrick who is most famous for his role in Terminator 2. I like the fact that the faces are somewhat new or at least not overexposed. Sometimes there is more believability in a fresh face.

Overall Feel: Last Resort find the right way to be political without confusing the audience with too much jargon. It moves quickly and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s not a show to put on in the background and ignore, you need to actively watch or you will miss something.

Prediction: I like it, I give it a GREAT first season, but the plot may be a little confining to have a second season.

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this 7 out of 10

Vegas - Review of the series premiere

2012-10-01T16:54:00.004-07:00

Premise (CBS)Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis star in this drama inspired by the true story of former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, a fourth-generation rancher tasked with bringing order to Las Vegas in the 1960s, a gambling and entertainment mecca emerging from the tumbleweeds. Ralph Lamb wants to be left in peace to run his ranch, but Las Vegas is now swelling with outsiders and corruption which are intruding on his simple life. Recalling Lamb's command as a military police officer during World War II, the Mayor appeals to his sense of duty to look into a murder of a casino worker - and so begins Lamb's clash with Vincent Savino, a ruthless Chicago gangster who plans to make Vegas his own. Assisting Lamb in keeping law and order are his two deputies: his diplomatic, even-keeled brother, Jack, and his charming but impulsive son, Dixon. Ambitious Assistant District Attorney Katherine O'Connell, who grew up on the ranch next to the Lambs, also lends a hand in preserving justice.

First impression: CSI meets American Outlaws meets Casino but with less technical jargon, aged cowboys and clean language. I loved it!

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis and Carrie-Anne Moss obviously the acting is excellent. With these talented and seasoned actors I’m happy to say they delivered and made the show an enjoyable watch.

Overall Feel: Set in the 60’s when Vegas was still mostly ranches and deserts I was really worried that this would be too much of a “period piece” to be something that I would enjoy. Writers Greg Walker and Nicholas Pileggi manage to make this setting current and entertaining while still appealing to a wide audience.

- Please note that the mobster violence does rule this out for younger viewers.

Prediction: We will see a full first season, and I would wageron a second seasons of Vegas.

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this a 7 out of 10

Are two breasts too much to ask for? ...Scores says yes!

2012-09-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday night, my oldest son is having a sleepover and I have my best friend over for dinner and we decide it's time for take-out. Wanting to have something moderately healthy, we choose Scores delivery.

I call the delivery hotline at 310.33.77 and I order the VALUE MEAL "The perfect meal for a small family. This meal deal consists of a quarter leg, a quarter breast, 2 chicken nugget meals as well as all the sides.". I request this meal and then ask them to please substitute a second quarter breast for the quarter leg because we only eat white meat. The call centre agent tells me that they are not able to do this because the value meal is priced at $23.99. I explain that I understand that there will be some nominal fee for a 2nd breast but that is ok and I would definitely like them to make this substitution and charge me the difference. She explains again that she is not able to do this because she cannot change the value meal at all. I feel immediately like this is odd because I am certainly not the first person to request a substitution of this nature and I ask to speak to a supervisor. I get put on hold for 5 minutes and hang up.

I call back and get a different call centre attendant who goes on to tell me the same thing. I express my disbelief and restate that I am certainly not the first person that has ever requested this, especially since it it the healthier choice ...and she continues to tell me that she cannot make the substitution. When I ask to speak to a supervisor, she puts me on hold for approximately 3 minutes and comes back to tell me that her supervisor is busy.....wow...so I tell her nevermind and I about to hang up when she says that she can ring it in separately. I inform her that I am certain that this won't add up to the same price as the value meal plus an extra charge for a 2nd breast substitution but she insists on checking. So once she has it punched in, she tells me my total would be $35.99 ...instead of the original value meal price of $23.99 ...so a 12 dollar penalty for white meat? really???? I tell her to nevermind again and i hang up ...again.

In complete disbelief I decide to call Scores Kanata location to see if I can get some assistance. I inform the person that answers the phone of the issue I am having with the call centre and ask if it is possible for me to place an order there. He explains that although the food comes from there and I can get take out there, I can not get delivery from there. I again find myself asking to speak to a manager and again I am put on hold for a solid 5 minutes. The person who answered the phone comes back and explains that their manager is busy as well and can't come to the phone. He asks if he can take my name and number and call me back. Since I have just been told that I cannot get delivery from this number I assume a call back is quite pointless so I decline.

In a desperate last attempt I call the 310 delivery number again....I bite the bullet and just order it all separately and 50 dollars and 25 minutes later my order is in front of me.

So here are my questions.
1. Am I really the only person who has ever asked to have a leg quarter switched for a breast quarter?
2. If I am, shouldn't there be some way to accommodate a customer when the request is not extraordinary? I didn't want the chicken breast glazed with gold and delivered by dancing Arabian horses!
3. Why on all of these occasions was a manager not available to solve this issue?
4. Will I ever choose Scores again.....doubtful...

Partners - Premiere Episode review

2012-09-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Partners

Premise Partners is a comedy based on the lives of creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, about two life-long best friends and business partners whose "bromance" is tested when one of them is engaged to be married. Joe is an accomplished architect who leads with his head and not his heart, especially in his love life. That's in stark contrast to his gay co-worker, Louis, who is spontaneous, emotional and prone to exaggeration. Both have found joy in their love lives: Joe is newly engaged to Ali, a beautiful and sophisticated jewelry designer, and Louis' companion is Wyatt, a vegan nurse who Louis insists is just a promotion away from becoming a doctor. As news of Joe's engagement settles, time will tell if their business and personal bond can adapt to the addition of two other important relationships.

First impression: Partners has a good cast and decent writing. The first episode left me thinking that the cast could gel well at some point down the line but for right now was overacted.

Cast: The main character of Partners (If I had to choose one) would be David Krumholtz who is best known for his role a few years back on the series Numbers. Playing his fiancé is Sophia Bush who is best known for her very long stint on One Tree Hill (not to mention her starring role in the remake of Texas Chain Saw Massacre). Both of these actors bring their characters to life in a way that makes them quite likeable, it’s the other two (Michael Urie and Brandon Routh) that need to polish up their acting skills and dial back the overacting.

Overall Feel: Partners is cute and with a little work could become funny.

Prediction: I believe that Partners will last the season if the actors get more comfortable with each other and their characters.

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this a 5 out of 10

Mob Doctor - Series Premiere Review

2012-09-19T20:21:00.001-07:00

Mob Doctor

Premise: (IMDB) A young thoracic surgeon (Jordana Spiro) becomes indebted to the South Chicago mafia and is forced to moonlight as a mob doctor, while also working full time at Chicago's most prominent hospital.

First impression: Mob Doctor has quick dialogue, witty without being unrealistically smart. It leaves you with a lot of questions about what has happened to this family in the past, but rather than making you feel lost, it actually makes you want to see the next episode.

Cast: Mob Doctor has a lot of faces that you will recognise - but I would pay you 10$ if you could name any of them. My favourite is the male doctor who plays the main character’s love interests, he is from Friday Night Lights. I loved him in that, however didn’t love him at all in “Off the Map” which was a really short lived show about doctors in the wild. I could buy him as a high school kid but I am really not sure I buy him as a doctor. He seems about 10 years younger than Spiro (in real life is 5 years younger) and he is very dull in comparison to her rule-bending, sarcastic, “I roll with the mob” personality.

Overall Feel: Mob Doctor is very fast paced and well written. I was worried that the “Mob” aspect would make it too violent for me but I found that it was just the right mix of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “the Godfather”

Prediction: I will definitely watch this again. It left me with the need to find out more about these characters and this storyline. I’m uncertain about where this show is going and that is concerning to me. I find myself wondering how many favours a doctor can do for a mob kingpin before her “debt” is paid off…

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this a 6 out of 10….the opening scene has her pulling a screwdriver out of a frontal lobe, that in itself is worth seeing!

Revolution - Series Premiere - Review

2012-09-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

Revolution

Premise: (Wikipedia) Revolution takes place in a post-apocalyptic future. Fifteen years earlier, an unknown phenomenon disabled all advanced technology on the planet, ranging from computers and electronics to car engines, jet engines, and batteries. People were forced to adapt to a world without technology, and due to the collapse of public order, many areas are ruled by warlords and militias. The series focuses on the Matheson family, who possess an item that is the key to not only finding out what happened fifteen years ago, but also a possible way to reverse its effects. However, they must elude various enemy groups who want to possess that power for themselves.

First impression: Fast moving, well cast and intriguing.

Cast: Billy Burke (AKA Dad from Twilight Saga) stars as the main character Miles and as always he is quite good. I found him to be underutilized and underrated in Twilight and I am excited to see him in a lead role. Elizabeth Mitchell is the only other face I recognized in this first episode. You’ve seen her in V (the 2011 version) and Lost (also JJ Abrams).

Overall Feel: I was expecting more “Land of the Lost” and found it was more “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Although I was impressed with the sword play and the well-directed action scenes I found that the difference between what the trailer had focused on and what the show was actually about really threw me off. I was expecting something similar to TerraNova where there was some focus on how they were surviving without power and found that the focus of the storyline …was an actual storyline. That being said, the plot was interesting, fast moving and intriguing – in JJ Abrams style…I hope it doesn’t drag on for 6 years only to end with a plane crash all kinds of unanswered questions.

Prediction: I am in the fence about this one, and as sad as it is to say I think it is just because of the JJ Abrams connection…I worry that this will go the way of “Lost”…that concerns me. This plot could be simple and exciting…but it could be convoluted with a rotating island controlled by a smoke monster that turns back time….

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this a 5 out of 10….worth a watch but don’t be surprised if it takes a turn for the worse…

Parenthood - Season 4 Premiere

2012-09-16T08:31:00.002-07:00

Parenthood - starring Craig T Nelson, Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Monica Potter and Erika Christensen. Not to mention Dax Shepard and Mae Whitman.

Premise:
Parenthood is a one-hour drama inspired by the box office hit of the same name. This re-imagined and updated Universal Media Studios/Imagine Television production follows the trials and tribulations of the very large, very colourful and imperfect Braverman family.

Sarah Braverman (Lauren Graham, "Gilmore Girls") is a financially strapped single mother trying to raise two teenaged kids, the bright but rebellious Amber (Mae Whitman, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"), and sullen and sensitive Drew (Miles Heizer, "ER").

On the home front, Sarah and her kids live with Sarah's larger-than-life, headstrong father, Zeek (Craig T. Nelson, "Family Stone," "Coach"), and pillar-of-strength mother Camille (Bonnie Bedelia, "Heart Like a Wheel"), who are dealing with their own marital issues.

Meanwhile, Sarah's sister and complete antithesis, Julia (Erika Christensen, "Traffic") is a successful corporate attorney trying to juggle work and motherhood, alongside her loving but increasingly restless stay-at-home husband, Joel (Sam Jaeger, "Eli Stone").

Commitment-phobe Crosby (Dax Shepard, "Baby Mama"), Sarah's younger brother, is helping raise a five-year-old son he had out of wedlock with former flame Jasmine (Joy Bryant "Antwone Fisher").
However, it's Adam (Peter Krause, "Six Feet Under"), the oldest Braverman sibling, who has had to relinquish his expectations about what constitutes a "normal" family, as he, his quietly forceful wife Kristina (Monica Potter, "Trust Me") and independent-minded teenage daughter Haddie (Sarah Ramos, "American Dreams"), struggle to cope with their eccentric son and Haddie's little brother Max (Max Burkholder, "Brother and Sisters"), who has Asperger's Syndrome.

Serving as executive producers are Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer ("A Beautiful Mind," "Frost/Nixon"); Jason Katims ("Friday Night Lights"), who wrote the pilot episode; and David Nevins ("Friday Night Lights," "Arrested Development").

First impression: This is a realistic family drama. Parenthood allows you to soar with them on their victories and cry with them when they suffer losses. This is a show that doesn't rely on special effects, super heroes or vampires but on pure talent of the actors and beautifully scripted episodes.
In season four we pick up where we left off after an adoption, a proposal and a wedding.

Cast: Episode 1 finds Ray Romano joining the cast and I found him fitting in nicely! With such a large line-up of experienced actors this show never runs out of storylines due to the infinite amount of possibilities as each character is equally compelling. From the grandfather's (Nelson) health problems to Amber's (Whitman) one night stands and heartbreaks ...we empathise.

Overall Feel: This show is warm, real and amazing. It appeals to you no matter what stage of life you are in. Everyone can relate to this show. Refreshingly there is nothing offensive, violent or naked in and I love that they are going into their 4th season being successful with a clean and responsible show.

Prediction: I can see this running for at least 10 seasons...

Rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this a 8 out of 10.

The New Normal - Premiere Review

2012-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

The New Normal starring Andrew Rannells, Justin Bartha, Jayson Blair (AKA no one).
Justin Bartha is recognisable from the Hangover movies as well as National Treasure with Nicholas Cage. Cast as the Grandmother is Ellen Barkin, however she is not listed in the TV listing...as I get a few minutes into this show I can understand why she would not want to be credited for it...

Premise: These days, families come in all forms - single dads, double moms, sperm donors, egg donors, one-night-stand donors... It's 2012 and anything goes. Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha, "The Hangover") are a Los Angeles couple, and they have it all. Well, almost. With successful careers and a committed, loving partnership, there is one thing that this couple is missing: a baby. And just when they think the stars will never align, enter Goldie (Georgia King, "One Day"), an extraordinary young woman with a checkered past. A Midwestern waitress and single mother looking to escape her dead-end life and small-minded grandmother (Ellen Barkin), Goldie decides to change everything and move to L.A. with her precocious eight-year-old daughter. Desperate and broke - but also fertile - Goldie quickly becomes the guys' surrogate and quite possibly the girl of their dreams.

First impression: Not funny and not interesting...I would have settled for one or the other.

Cast: The acting is over the top from all cast members other than Justin Bartha who is actually quite boring and forgettable. Shania - the daughter - is written as an odd, almost schizophrenic character who no one seems to notice is in desperate need of a Psych consult...This is definitely a case of writing gone awry...

overall feel: I feel like if they had drawn this as a cartoon rather than cast it as live action it may have been a great launch on YTV...but as an adult comedy? I am insulted that someone thinks that this is going to pass for TV in a time when there are far too many well written options.

prediction: You won't see more than 6 episodes...

rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this a 2 out of ten.

September and October 2012 - GRID- New fall shows for printing

2012-08-22T07:59:00.001-07:00

Go On - The Review

2012-08-16T12:11:00.001-07:00

So, the shows have started! First up: Go On starring Matt Perry.
Premise: An irreverent yet charming sportscaster who, after a loss, finds solace from members of his mandatory group therapy sessions. This has the possibility of being a setting that could be over the top to start with.

Cast: Matt Perry is "Chandler...-ish" but still manages to create a new and likable persona while keeping all the sarcasm and wit that we came to enjoy from his character in Friends. Around him, the supporting cast, both from the office and his therapy group are quirky and interesting while not being to the point of distraction. Each has their time and place for a humorous moment without overshadowing each other or themselves by being too over the top to be believable.

overall feel: Interesting, engaging, believable and funny. I rarely PVR comedies more than the first episode but this one has me hooked after one episode. Love it and like it. Go On has the perfect fit of fun and emotion.

prediction: If the writing remains this strong I see this show lasting all of this season for sure.

rating (1=low, 10=high): I give this an 8 out of ten

Really Bell?

2012-05-31T07:54:00.003-07:00

So I get a registered letter in the mail yesterday, it's from Bell Canada. This letter states "Great news! we have introduced newer TV receiver models that will provide you with an even wider selection of channels as they become available. The newer model will replace your current Bell TV HD9200 receiver, which will soon no longer work. The best news is that you are getting this receiver at no cost to you" ...and the worst news is that my old PVR will soon no longer work? How is that great news?

When I signed up for a dual HD PVR when I opened my account with Bell I did so because you boasted that I could record and keep over 180 hours of movies and TV shows...and now I will lose all of those because you have upgraded your software?

I called Bell to confirm the information in this letter and to see if there was some way to move all the movies and the last 2 months of my favourite TV shows from the old PVR (which will apparently "soon no longer work") to the new PVR...and the answer is NO. So I ask how long before this stops working and she says that because I called in I am am now on the list to have this replaced in the next 7-10 days.

I would hazard to guess that there are currently 20 movies on the PVR as well as 20 episodes of How I Met your Mother, 15 episodes of The Office and at least 9 episodes of Grimm...quick math, can I watch about 70 hours of programming in the next 7 - 10 days? Ok, arguably it COULD be done, but not without losing my job and probably my sanity.

So I ask if I can put off this "transition" and she says that I can't, because I called in. I spend the next ten minutes trying to convince her to forget that I called in and will now spend the next half hour trying to figure out how I will watch 70 hours of programming as fast as humanly possible...

If any of this messes with my girls night Bachelorette viewing I will be pissed!

Nutrilawn...why you should NOT bother

2012-05-28T09:07:00.001-07:00

Father's day is almost upon us, so I started thinking of what kind of gift I could give my husband that will let him know that I appreciate him and all the hard work that he does around the house. I want to somehow acknowledge that I know he has a lot on his plate and still gets so much done for the family. I tried to think about what I could take off his plate, how I could lighten his load and give him the well deserved gift of more free time!

One of the many things on his "to do" list this year is the front lawn... more weeds than actual lawn, I should maybe refer to it as our front "area" as the word lawn is really no longer a descriptive word that can be associated with what we have in front of our house.

I do a quick Google search on "dandelions and Ottawa", the first company that pops up is Nutrilawn. This is great, I have heard of them and they even have a little video about their dandelion service which includes not only getting rid of weeds but also fertilising the grass in between the weeds. (I think we may have about 12 blades of grass in total). I figured that if they could get rid of the weeds, I could take care of throwing down some top soil and seeds

Last summer I spent hours upon hours with a borrowed weed extractor call THE CLAW which seemed to have the magic ability to create calluses on both hands while doubling the amount of weeds that grew back the next day. I was definitely not going that route again this year.

So I call Nutrilawn and they are more than happy to get me set up on their appointment books, they have a great deal if you pay in advance and agree to continue their service for next year as well. So I go ahead and sign up and I am told that they will come to my house within 7-10 days depending on weather as their product does not work in the rain - this was May 3rd.

They arrive for the first service on May 10th before anyone is out of bed and leave a flyer about what they have done and the care that we need to provide in the mean time between treatments. Explaining that once the weeds have disappeared I can go ahead with the top soil and seeding. Although I did notice that some of the weeds had been affected almost immediately, there are still a great deal of them going strong so I call them that day to find out when the next treatment date is set for. They set up the next visit for the 17th of May. So far so good.

The 17th of May comes and goes without a visit. I give them a couple of days leeway and then call them on the 25th of May. They indicate that they "have no record" of providing me with that date and tell me that in fact they try NOT to provide clients with dates for upcoming service appointments (now I see why)...and then they proceed to give me a date for my upcoming service appointment. REALLY?

They tell me that they will treat my lawn again on the 26th of May (so the following day) and that they will be there in the morning because we are the third lawn of the day to be done. The 26th happens to be the same day that I was planning a garage sale and when I tell them this they indicate it's not a problem because their treatments are not toxic and if I can just avoid putting my sale items on the lawn they can still come in and do the treatment. Perfect.

The 26th comes and goes without a visit...REALLY?

This morning I call them and get greeted by "Hello Nutrilawn how can I help you?" to which I reply "well after 2 missed visits, you can help me by giving me back my money and cancelling my contract.". The gentleman on the phone tells me that he will check my file to see what happened. He comes back and indicates that "the team went to your house to do the treatment and found that there were too many items on your back yard to be able to provide the treatment so they left". The issues with this are:

1. There is nothing on my back lawn
2. They were supposed to be providing service on the front lawn ONLY
3. I was sitting in my driveway from 7am to 3pm having a garage sale so unless they came in an unmarked car and/or they sent invisible workers...they never showed up.

Now I am angry...I go on to tell him that whoever provided that report to him "is 100% full of shit". At which point he indicates that I would have my money refunded and that my contract would indeed be cancelled.

Wow Nutrilawn...really? do you know there are approximately 60 other lawn companies in the Ottawa area alone that would gladly take my business? This is the service that you offer, it's what you do...and you can't even come to our house and at least spray water on our lawn??? Come on, I wouldn't know the difference, but to not even show up? REALLY?

Ideal Protein - follow up

2011-10-19T07:56:00.001-07:00

So...it's been a while since I "graduated" from Ideal protein. I started at 131 pounds and I am currently 115 pounds.

I wanted to update these posts because I know that for myself I have tried so many diets that were quick results but they didn't last. This is the thinnest I have been since I was about 20 and I am no longer dieting, but I am maintaining the weight loss.

Ideal protein works under the premise of resetting your metabolism and teaching your body to only make as much insulin as it needs to breakdown what you bring in. I truly feel like I am living in a new body. Not only in shape, but in reaction to foods. When I was hungry before this diet, I used to get jittery and sweaty and I needed to eat the first thing that I saw, which was usually something horrible for me, a muffin, cookie, etc. Now don't get me wrong, I still get hungry, and I still love cookies...but now I don't get that horrible weak feeling when I am hungry, I just feel hungry, which I can normally appease with a glass of water until I can make myself a nutritious snack. Overall the word I would use to describe myself now is: healthy.

I still monitor what I eat and I am logging it all into Livestrong (http://www.Livestrong.com) so that I can see what it is that I am putting in my body. Livestrong gives a great breakdown of each food and it's calories, protein, carbs, fats etc. I can't ever decide to live a life with no junk food, or no carbs. Here are the general rules I now live by:

I only have carbs twice a day (if that) and I try not to have them after lunch.
I eat a large meal at breakfast, a regular meal at lunch and a small dinner
Dinner is usually meat and veggies ONLY
I don't snack after dinner
snacks are usually fruit, veggies or low fat yogurt

and most importantly: I CHEAT ON ALL THESE RULES ONCE IN A WHILE ...and I don't feel bad about it. You can be disciplined 90% of the time, but you still have to enjoy those foods that you know are not good for you. The key? knowing that they aren't good for you, it means you will have smaller portions and you won't eat them every day.

For me, Ideal Protein has been the best diet and lifestyle change that I have discovered, but I look forward to hearing about your experiences and successes as well.

For Ideal Protein and me...I think this is my last Blog, we will check this off as a success!

September 30th, Ideal Protein graduation day

2011-10-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

Friday was my last day of dieting! I went to my Ideal Protein location to get final wieght and measurement. I had moved into phase three 2 weeks before and I was curious to see what that would mean in my results. In phase three you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and have 1 Ideal Protein snack a day.

Breakfast includes a carb, a fat and a protein. I have been having shredded wheat with 1% milk and a fruit. Lunch and dinner is still a protein and an approved veggie.

When you start phase three you are done losing weight and in fact you should be prepared to put on 3 pounds of glycogen reserve from eating carbs again. knowing that, I wanted to be at 117 before I started phase three so I could end up at my goal wight of 120 when the diet was complete.

Shoes off, sweater off, I step on the machine to view my results.......It turned out I had no put on three pounds, in fact I WAS DOWN ANOTHER POUND! ...and as my measurements went on, it turned out I had lost another .75 inches. YAY!

So, for 48 days of dieting the total was 15 pounds and 17 inches lost. I am eating normally and maintaining my weight. I could not be happier.

In phase four, the maintain, (or life) phase - you should maintain a healthy eating style and keep fit and active. Carbs are allowed twice a day, but should not be combined with a fat (so don't put sour cream on that baked potato) and cheat days are MANDATORY. Cheat days are days where you eat what you want and you don't feel guilty, I am definitely on board with that!

So I will keep you posted on any big changes or exciting news, but in the mean time I welcome your questions and comments, AND ...I guess I need to think of a new blog topic while I enjoy my yummy pasta for lunch!.

Ideal Protein - Day 33 - Sept 15 2011

2011-09-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

I am now in week 2 of Phase 2, which means that I am eating lunch, which is super awesome! The meal plan in Phase 2 is:

Breakfast : Ideal Protein Food
Lunch: lean protein + 2 cups of veggies
Snack: Ideal Protein Food
Dinner: Lean protein + 2 cups of veggies

EASY!

On day 23 I went for my weigh in and measurements. I was down 10 pounds and 15.75 inches. Incredible, but I was still worried about going on to phase 2. Although 10 pounds had been my original weight loss goal, I had heard that when you start eating carbs again you can put back on up to three pounds. I was wondering if 13 pounds would be a better weight loss goal? After going over all my numbers, including my percent of fat vs muscle, my visceral fat number and my "body age" which was now 38 instead of the original 44, I decided to move on to phase 2. I went home and ate lunch!

Day 24 I was down another .6 pounds and every day after that I was either down or maintaining despite the fact that now I was eating a great meal at lunch every day. I had more energy and was really happy to spend more of each day feeling full!

Day 28 something exciting happened! The kids and I were out and about and we ran into Sprartycat and Feligno from the Ottawa Senators. Without hesitation the kids and I jumped in for a picture. Now usually, I would have grabbed a photo of them, but this time I hopped right in! I actually liked the way I looked in a full body picture!! I definitely cant remember the last time that happened! I was so excited I sent it to all my friends and posted it on Facebook. Definitely the best thing about this diet is that it gives you back your self confidence.

On Monday - day 30 - I started a cardio kickboxing class. It's 45 minutes of extreme cardio, it was so hard but so amazing. I was happy not only that I was able to get through it, but that when I put on my sports bra...I actually liked the way I looked!

So, here I am at day 33 and I am at 116.8 pounds. I have not been that weight since high school.

This week I ran out of multivitamins so I purchased a generic multivitamin at the grocery store. It did not have every mineral in it that the Ideal Protein vitamins do, but it had 90% of what theirs did. I figured that since I was a week away from starting phase three (where I get to eat fruit) I was ok to do that. This week I am going to do the same with the calcium-Magnesium pills. I am sure they are cheaper at the grocery store and in phase three you start to eat on dairy products as well.

Overall - I am super happy at where I am at. I didn't really think I would reach a weight where I felt like I had lost enough. I am exercising with the kickboxing class once a week and then doing some exercise ball and elliptical at home twice a week as well. I am so excited to keep the body I have now!

As always, I welcome questions or comments!

Ideal Protein – Day 20 – September 2 2011

2011-09-15T08:23:00.002-07:00

Current weight 119.8 - I thought I would lead with the good stuff!!
So by this point I thought I would be on phase two, but stupid me cheated! So here I am still on phase two. I only lost 2.5 pounds last week, and here is why! On Saturday I took part in an Aerial Adventure at Lafleche, it was a grueling workout. That morning when I got on the scale I had officially lost 10 pounds. Those two things combined made me believe that a small fry from a chip wagon in Quebec was a good idea. :(
What actually happened is that I lost three days of weight loss! My body stored those deep-fried carbs in my Glycogen reserve and it was like starting the diet all over again! It took 3 days for my body to then deplete that reserve and start losing fat again. I am such an idiot! I went through the whole first week all over again. I was tired, hungry, low energy levels. The moral here is DON'T CHEAT! omg so not worth it!
I have my next weigh in and measuring on Monday at noon. I can't wait! I have been really good this week and have been following these tips that seem to be helping:
1- Eat my salad and restricted food at lunch, then have my lunch shake as my afternoon snack. This means I am eating less as the day goes on and eating more in the beginning of the day. As you move through this program and back to regular food the motto is: At breakfast eat like a king, at lunch eat like a prince and at dinner eat like a poor man. I figure if I start applying that now it is going to prepare me for the next phases.
2- don't get the restricted food! I thought that you had to, but you don't! In phase 1 have 3 shakes, in phase 2 have 2 shakes, phase 1 have 1 shake. They are lower in calories and will make the weight come off faster!
Last Monday I was down a total of 13.75 inches, can't wait to see what this monday brings!!! Monday I also start phase 2 as I have actually surpassed my weight goal (which was 120)

Ideal Protein - Day 13 - August 26 2011

2011-09-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here I am at day thirteen! On day nine I went for my official mesurements. I have lost 11.5 inches! I could not beleive it! I have lost 2 inches in my chest, 2 in my torso, 4 (YES I SAID 4) on my waist 2, on my hips and 1 on my thighs! I see a huge difference! All my clothes are loose and comfortable again, some ever now even too big!! But, where I can really see the difference in is my face. I will post 2 pics below, see if you can choose the before and after!

I am still finding this a really easy diet and my energy and hunger levels are now what I would consider to be normal. This week the weight loss has slowed somewhat, I have only lost one pound since Sunday, but I am still seeing small incremental changes. From 122.8 to 122.6 to 122.4 so at least I am going in the right direction.

My next weigh in is on Monday and I can't wait! Seing the tally of what I had lost on inches alone was great! But also my viceral fat has decreased from a 6 to a 5 - "Visceral fat is different from other body fat. Visceral fat, also called intra-abdominal fat, refers to the fat that surrounds the internal organs" "Visceral fat is harder to lose than subcutaneous fat because it is more deeply embedded in the body's tissues." - and as I had noted on my home scale my overall body fat had decreased by 2%.

This week I have to decide if I am staying on phase one or moving on to phase two. Originally I had a numeric weight in mind as my goal, but now, I am changing my view as I see the inches melt away...I beleive I will wait until Monday, see what the weigh in says and go from there. At this energy level I beleive that I could start working out again and do phase one for one more week. I can see how this could get addictive!

Anway, check out the pics an see what you think!

Ideal Protein - Day 6 - Aug 19 2011

2011-09-15T08:22:00.001-07:00

BOOM! 124 Baby! I am so excited! Last night I had a steak stir fry for dinner. The Diet says don’t fry...but I tend to think that means don’t deep fry? Or don’t fry in oil? I fried the steak in a bit of water, then drained off all the drippings and then added garlic, broccoli, green pepper and zucchini. It was delicious! The great part about it was that everyone ate it and I just served theirs over noodles! I think that the best part about this diet for me is that I can have the same meal that my family is having. In a family of four, I couldn't make myself a different meal every night, that would just be annoying!
Tonight everyone is having pizza, except me. I will have chicken and zucchini! With the weight loss I am seeing, I really don’t think that I will mind not eating pizza. I know that once I am done this diet, I will be able to have it from time to time, so I am ok with not having it one time! I really see this diet as something that is worth doing, so why not do it 100%? I know that cheating will set me back and I just not interested in doing that. When I make something for the kids that I am not allowed to have, I don’t even lick my fingers! Of course this is also easier because I am a rule follower, not a rule breaker! I drive the speed limit, I don't download pirated copies of movies and I don’t cheat on my diet. It's just who I am.
I'm also excited to lose this weight because part of the weigh in process included calculating my metabolic age...it was 44 - not cool. So I really feel like I am doing something not only for my outward appearance but for my health in general. Why carry around 10-15 extra pounds that my body doesn’t need? It's just healthier to be a better weight...and I am well on my way!

Ideal Protein - day 5 - aug 18 2011

2011-09-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Last night's dinner turned out to be amazing! Thanks to a suggestion from a friend and my list of approved foods. I combined the ground beef with green peppers, hot sauce, garlic and salt and pepper and baked it like a meatloaf. It was super delicious and it is how I will probably continue to make meatloaf in the future! My son tried it and loved it! I know it is much healthier for him than how I usually make it.
When I went to bed last night I had a bit of a stomach ache, I think it may be indigestion issues but I woke up this morning feeling great! I
got on the scale and I was down another half a pound, and my body fat was down 2%. YAY!!!
Today I had the cappuccino drink for breakfast and I really love that, it is such a great start to the day and feels like a treat and not a diet. I had cucumbers as my snack today and then at lunch I had broccoli and cabbage as my veggies.
It is now 3pm and I have not even had my lunch shake yet! I am going to have it on my way home which will help keep me full until dinner. I
may not even have my snack today! Wow, I didn’t think that I would say that! I was pretty hungry my first couple of days.
Tonight dinner may be late because I have to run to the store first, but I think I will be ok, and then home to have steak and veggies. Today was the first day that my body should be burning fat instead
of carbs, and I feel like I have the bad breath that was warned in the "side effect" as my body changes into that mode. I am curious to see what will happen from now until my weigh-in since I have already had a good loss for this week.

Ideal Protein - Day 4 - Aug 17 2011

2011-09-15T08:20:00.001-07:00

Good Morning!
This morning I woke up STARVING! I was hoping that meant that my body was hard at work eating all my calories overnight!
I got on the scale...and I had lost another pound! 125 baby! I was so excited!!!
Todays meals are:
Breakfast: IP Cappuccino drink - super delicious! I threw in some crushed ice and it was really great to have during my drive in to work!
Snack - 1/2 cucumber with vinegar (11:19 am)
Lunch - strawberry pudding
Snack - Dill pickle flavoured Zippers (like chips)
Dinner - this will be a challenge. I have meatloaf and broccoli planned, but I certainly cant eat that! all the rice, and sauce etc... So I am trying to figure out what I can do with my portion of the ground beef? (suggestions welcome)
I am definitely feeling more energentic today and when I see the numbers on the scale that are constantly going down it really is motivating. At work there is currently muffins and fruit sitting in the kitchen, usually i would load up a plate and have a morning snack, but I have a surprising amount of self control and I am really happy about that! My son't birthday party is on Saturday, there will be loads of stuff I cant have, but I really think I will be ok! I am trying to figure out what to wear to show off my weight loss!! :)

Ideal Protein – Day 3 – Aug 16 2011

2011-09-15T08:19:00.001-07:00

Woke up this morning feeling great! I got on the scale – and I was 126! I have not seen that number in a long time! I felt super about that! It brings my weight loss to 5 pounds in 48 hours – that is nuts! Breakfast today was a chocolate shake and lunch will be a blueberry pudding. I have cucumbers and cabbage for snacks plus a peanut butter bar, I love those!
Dinner is eggs and zucchini, this will be tough because I can’t put ketchup on my eggs and I have to make my scrambled eggs with water instead of milk…oh well. I think the best thing about this diet is that when you see these results it makes it REALLY easy to stick to the diet and not cheat because I really want to keep seeing the pounds fall off!
UPDATE: I went and picked up all my food for next week today. I even traded in the stuff I was not fond of, what a great system! I made my eggs last night and added green peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, garlic, sea salt and pepper. It was amazing. With that I also had zucchini, done up in olive oil and garlic. I had a huge plate full! I almost took a picture of it as proof that you can do this diet and still eat! I can see already how this diet changes my eating habits and my thinking when it comes to food.
I ended up in bed early last night with a headache. They do warn that this can happen in the first couple of days, I took a Tylenol and fell asleep quickly.