I’ve been helping out in Virginia for what feels like forever now.  In actuality, it’s only been three weeks.  Nevertheless, this last week has been completely snow-filled leaving me with many hours to spend in front of the television.  I’m completely snoverwhelmed, but do enjoy the free time I’ve been given to catch up on my shows.  Oh wait, my TiVo is in NYC and my mom somehow manages to live sans DVRs.  I don’t know how she does it.

You’d think I’d be able to watch my CBS comedies, ABC comedies, the final episodes of Ugly Betty, and LOST.  But sadly, my mom HATES these shows.  I know what you’re thinking.  Is your mom crazy?  Well, no, not exactly.  She just prefers shows she doesn’t have to pay attention to every second to understand.  Luckily for me I got a gig reviewing The Vampire Diaries, so she’s had to suffer through that one.  And LOST.  I made her watch last night’s episode and her only response was ‘this is the dumbest show ever.’  “Why is Sayid alive if everyone is saying that he died?”  Long explanation, mom.

So in lieu of watching all my current shows, I’ve been catching up on old Law & Orders and realizing I’ve seen nearly every episode of Style’s Clean House.

I can not get to NYC soon enough.

I watch a lot of television.  It is my one true passion in this world.  Often I catch myself thinking about all it has to offer.  TV is not just a major cause of the increase in couch potatoes among us.  It’s not just something to be fought over for financial reasons.  (I’m looking at you NBC and Jay Leno!)  It is a tool for teaching and a way to make learning and storytelling enjoyable.  And occasionally, it offers mindless ways to pass the time.  But I believe its original intent was to teach, inspire, and provoke change.  It was a way to gather a majority of the nation in one place and share something with them, whether it be happy news like Neil Armstrong walking on the moon for the first time or sad like when JFK was shot.

My new plan is to use this platform to remind myself and everyone who reads it of the good in television.  I was inspired by the forthcoming premiere of LOST’s final season tomorrow, a truly brilliant television show, to share my opinion on what I’m watching, why I’m watching it, and what’s worth watching in the future.

I hope the clips below can tide you over until tomorrow when LOST becomes the only thing people will be talking about until it ends in May.

As I’m sure you gathered from the title, I did not get the PR job I interviewed for a couple weeks ago.  This is frustrating because I know I have the skills, experience, desire, and passion to do the job.  And the interview went so great!  But, isn’t that how it always goes?  You think it went so well, and then they choose someone else.  That’s life, I guess.  And it leaves me available to do something more important.

My mom is sick.  Has been for a while.  She’s diabetic and has serious issues with her feet, among many other things.  A few weeks ago a bowl shattered and glass went everywhere.  She thought she got it all up, but apparently not.  She stepped on some glass and her foot got infected.  Unfortunately, due to the diabetes, her feet are numb from the ankles down so she didn’t realize she’d stepped on anything for at least 10 days or so.  The infection has gotten worse and traditional medications aren’t working.  I am now going home for a little while to help her out and take care of both her and my younger brother.

I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the job, but more important things are calling me right now.  I’m lucky that I have the ability to help my mom out and I’m thankful for that.  I’ll update again when I return to NYC and find that perfect job.  I know it’s out there.  Can’t be as hard as it seems.

I decided to explore the world of Craigslist today looking for jobs.  Well lo and behold I found one.  And you’ll never believe this, but it actually pays.  I decided to apply and received a lovely message back saying my application totally stood out.  This is a good sign.  I should be positive about this.  Although I was positive before and just found out the magazine went with another EA who worked on a previous issue.  They decided I wasn’t worth training I guess.  But back to the current job.  It sounds great and is in a bit of a new field for me: PR/marketing.  I am thus super excited about my interview on Friday.  Trying not to count my chickens here, but it’s hard not to do when you’re excited.

I really wish I was Irish right about now… for the luck.  Cross whatever you can for me please.

2009 is hereby gone.  Thank God.  In the wake of this not so great year, I have put together a plan to get my life back on track.  While in college, it’s hard to get off track as long as you go to your classes, work hard, intern somewhere, and graduate.  You know you’re headed for a job somewhere.  But, if you’re one of those not so lucky people that doesn’t find a job immediately after graduation you end up feeling stuck and like a failure.  Or at least I do.  And now I am without employment, money, and something meaningful to do with my time.  None of that is okay.  So without further ado, here is the plan.

the plan:

-Limit my television consumption to 5 hours daily.  (A lot, yes.  But compared to what I’ve been doing, this is a good compromise)

-Get out of bed by 10 am no matter what, barring a wild and crazy night out.

-Apply to jobs.  Lots and lots and lots of jobs.  Even jobs I don’t think I’m qualified for or even really want.  Step out of my box.  Every day.

-Be consistent.  If I say I’m going to update my Oscar blog daily, update my Oscar blog daily.  Diligence will get me far.

-Reach out to people.  People will want to help me out if they can.

-Learn anything and everything I can about media, social networking, and the places I want to work.

-Go to the gym.  It’s in my building.  No excuses.  None.

This has been committed to memory and will be put into action upon my return to NYC next week.  2010, here I come.