fast forward

So the new tv season has started and though I have found a number of new shows I really want to watch,  I am upset with  ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX for scheduling the best shows opposite each other.  I realize it's just their way of capturing ratings.  It's what they do.  So my DVR is full and I'm spending a lot of time fast forwarding through commercials.  Problem is I can only record 2 shows in one time slot, sometimes there are three I want to see; and that's not counting cable shows coming up soon.  So I've got to go online, or use OnDemand and I can't always fast forward there.  Bummer.  But I'll get over it.  It won't be long before they start moving shows around.  And then for sure, they will cancel one of my favorites.  I could attempt to influence programming by contacting sponsors or advertizers like they did int the "olden days".  But I am not in the right demographic.  Besides...I fast forward through all the commercials.

In Search of a Theme

I was thinking that there should be something linking all of my posts together.  Something that would keep this blog from being just the meandering thoughts of an old lady.  So I decided to look for a theme, or purpose or something to tie all of my posts together.  First I googled baby boomer--27 million results. Next stop Wikipedia.  Here I found a much more managable amount of information and the name of the author of that book I read almost 30 years ago. His name is Landon Jones.  I also learned that the last half of the baby boomers-those born after 1954- are called Generation Jones.  This is new to me. Also logical.  I was born in 1949 and dont really feel any connection to those folks born in 1964.  I'm pretty sure they looked at Watergate, 9/11, and even the current economis problems differently. 

But I didn't really find a theme- not yet anyway.  Seems like a lot of work figuring it out.  Maybe I will just meander for awhile longer.

All About the Party

I was in 8th grade when President Kennedy was killed.  I wasn't particularly interested in politics at that time but I spent the entire weekend watching television--NBC and CBS mostly as I recall.  I still watch a lot of tv today, too much really.  But I think everyone spent that weekend watching tv.

Later I chose the Republican Party after listening to the 2 most popular boys in class debate politics.  I watched the almost the entire Republican National Convention on tv the year that Barry Goldwater was nominated.  After Goldwater lost the election I lost interest in politics again.  There were so many other things for a teenage girl to be interested in--music, movies, tv, basketball (our high school had a really good team for two years).

But then that pesky old war in Viet Nam refused to be ignored.  And in that tiny town in Wisconsin there was nothing I could do for Eugene McCarthy, but I could watch on tv.  And then everything went crazy.  I graduated from high school in 1968,and was somewhat protected from all the turmoil that summer because I lived in a very tiny town,and because I had very conservative and very strict parents.

In college things were different.  Even though McCarthy was out and Bobby had been murdered, now I could actually DO something other than watch.  I joined the Young Democrats and campaigned for some young guy  running for congress against some career politician.  His theory?  We needed new people in politics--if you're in there too long you are controlled by the system.  He won!! And he is still in congress 40 years later.  Or maybe not--he may have been beaten by one of those Tea Party people.  I moved away from Wisconsin years ago so I'm not sure.  But that was cool I thought.  A candidate I supported actually won.  There was a big party after, and all the "young dems" got drunk, even those who were under age.  And eventually I left the Young Democrats because there was just way too much partying.

I went to one SDS meeting, and they were all very serious.  But I discovered the were pretty much into parties as well and I wasn't cool enough to be invited.  For awhile I thought of myself as a hippie, but those folks partied in ways I didn't want to get involved with. 

My third year in college we had a really good basketball team--I went to every game that I could and a few parties after the games.  And I set political parties aside for awhile

Getting Started

I remember reading a book, oh maybe 30 years ago, about the baby boomers.Talked about how this massive group of people did, could and would affect our culture, finances,politics, and everything else.  Now it turns out that we will bankrupt the Social Security system, destroy Medicare and what we watch on TV doesn't matter anymore.  We thought we were important, but we have endangered future generations, and raised children who don't appear to be doing any better than we did.  I wonder if the guy that wrote that book is still around, or if he has plans for an update.

I've wanted to start a blog for some time now, whether I think I've got anything to say or not.  Maybe it will improve my attitude just to write things down.  I had big dreams back when the baby boomers crowded the schools, and big plans when we split into hippies and yuppies.  Now it may be too late for some things--for others....I'm just getting started.