Folinazzo

I normally do not write reviews for movies or television shows, and this post isn’t so much a review as it is a plea. Remember not too long ago I wrote about the HBO program, Rome, and about my then-current crush, Kevin McKidd, one of the stars of the show? McKidd now is in a new NBC drama called Journeyman and he is still my current crush. The show airs on Monday nights at 9:00 Central Time. Despite McKidd’s hotness and the fact that the show is pretty damn good, it is not getting the ratings it deserves. It’s doing so poorly, ratings-wise, that NBC has threatened to can it after the next episode if the ratings do not show a drastic increase. I cannot understand why more people do not watch the show. It has gotten better and better with each episode. I will admit that I started watching it only because McKidd plays the main character, a time-traveling, San Francisco newspaper writer named Dan Vasser. After the first two episodes I thought, “Yeah this show isn’t bad… but do I like it only because of McHott - er, I mean, McKidd?” Two more episodes later, I realized that the show is awesome on its own and McKidd is an added bonus. It only figures that a show I actually like and actually watch would be canceled. I do not watch a whole lot of television, mainly because the program line-up seems to be made up of nonsensical reality shows that do not interest me in the least. But when a good show does come along, I feel like I am the only American who watches it. These shows do not get the ratings they deserve because everyone else is tuning into said stupid reality shows. Well here’s where the plea comes in: please PLEASE tune in to Journeyman on NBC on Monday, November 26th, at 9:00 Central Time. The network only considers the actual viewership; episodes viewed online or recorded via TiVo or other DVR do not count. Please save Journeyman!

Posted by Francesca

Mark and I are finally making some set plans for our trip to Costa Rica in January. It’s been only four months since we bought our plane tickets; it’s about time we decide where we want to go and figure out where we’re going to stay!

After much discussion and a few disagreements, we decided to spend the majority of our time in Puerto Jimenez, which is on the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica. It seems to be the one area that offers everything we are interested in: beaches, kayaking, abundant wildlife, fishing, hiking, and panning for gold (that’s all Mark’s idea). From what I’ve learned so far, just about the entire peninsula is covered with pristine rainforest and opportunities for wildlife viewing are endless. I just have to watch out for crocodiles. We’ve reserved a “backpacker” room at The Palms Hotel (maybe it’s as nice as The Palms in Las Vegas? ) in Puerto Jimenez for five nights. The total cost of our stay is going to be under $200. Can’t beat that. This “backpacker” room has hot water, air conditioning, free wifi, and a queen bed.

Once our stay in Puerto Jimenez is over, we will have about three days left before it’s time to head back home. Our plan right now, although we haven’t made any arrangements for this leg of the journey yet, is to head up to Arenal Volcano. It’s closer to San Jose, the city into and from which we are flying, and it is the country’s most active volcano. Right up Mark’s alley. We probably will rent a car, as well - a 4WD, of course. There are many undisclosed costs and a lot of fine print associated with renting a vehicle in Costa Rica, I’ve learned, so we are still doing our research. But our trip is starting to come together. I am so looking forward to it, especially now that the temperatures here in Chicago are plummeting. That tropical weather and those beaches will be paradise for me come mid-January.

Posted by Francesca

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." --Marcus Tullius Cicero And for our freedom, we Americans should thank our veterans, on this Veteran's Day and every day. Posted by Francesca

The Blackhawks are finally going to televise their home games. I had a feeling this would happen as soon as the old man (Bill Wirtz) died. So now can we bring back Pat Foley? Posted by Francesca