My father passed away last night after a very long and valiant struggle with Parkinson's's Disease. He took his final breath at home, with his family around him, and I am so grateful that he could leave this earth in such a manner. He was able to remain in the home that he, together with his beloved wife (my mother) of 53 years, built for his family. until his final day on this earth. He was in no pain and did not suffer. He is now at peace and will be forever missed.

God bless you, my beloved Dad. We miss you already so terribly but understand that you are in a better place. And we will follow you.

Just wanted to wish all my friends at TV.Com a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy Holidays!

And I wish everyone the very best for the New Year!

So... I take a couple of weeks off TV.Com only to return to a screen that I do not recognize... Where is my profile icon??? Where are my "friends"??? Why is everything so white??? It almost blinds me!!!

This is the second major redesign in the past 6 months or so. What's going on? Just when I thought I had figured out the last redesign, they had to go and change it all again! Geez!

I finally reached Level 19 and received the "Fall Guy" emblem!

Geez, these levels take longer and longer to climb; it took me nearly a year to get through Level 18!

What gives? Some of us have lives!

Wow, what a drastic redesign!! When they said that they were planning to change the look of TV.COM, they weren't kidding!

Personally, I find it a little overwhelming. I've been having trouble navigating the site and don't yet feel the least bit comfortable. Although that's to be expected when a site this big changes so drastically.

I'm not sure what I think of the redesign yet. It's a bit too early to tell. Ask me in a couple of months.

What do the rest of you all think?

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Just wanted to wish all of you a very Happy Easter!!!!

Don't eat too much chocolate!

Unfortunately we'll have to have our traditional egg hunt indoors this year, as there's still at least 1 1/2 feet of snow out on the lawn. Spring seems to have passed us by this year!

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I'm at Level 18, Land Shark. Woo hoo!!!

Took a couple of months. The percentages creep up ever so slowly once you hit level 12 or so. But I haven't been on TV.COM as much as I used to be. Perhaps that's another reason why it took so long to move up another level.

Today marks one year since I've been at TV.Com. It's my anniversary. Woo hooh!

I'm at Level 17 and I have over 3000 forum posts. Not too shabby!

So thanks to all of you TV.Com friends who I've met over the past year. It's been a real pleasure!

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a beautifully sunny day here, and unusually warm for October. But the weather did nothing for me. I was really sad. I'd broken up with my on-again-off-again beau of 7 years the evening before. I dumped him. Perhaps it was because my birthday was looming and I realized that I wasn't getting any younger and that our relationship was not really something that was making me happy. Who knows. So naturally he didn't call me yesterday on my birthday - but why should he - I dumped him the night before. He was probably still really angry and hurt.

My kids were all super busy - they all had before and after school activities so we couldn't even have a birthday dinner together. Not even a cake. They wished me a Happy Birthday and gave me hugs and I told them that it was ok, it's just another day. My Mum and one of my sisters phoned.

But the one sister who I'm closest to left me a voice mail message at the time when she knew that I would be out (driving my son to school). Her message was: Happy Birthday and oh, by the way, we won't be coming to your Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday because we're going out of town. Just like that. It's Thanksgiving here in Canada, this weekend. And for years now, my family has gotten together for the whole turkey thing. Plus we celebrate my birthday, my brother's birthday, and my daughter's birthday, which happen to occur around Thanksgiving. We've been getting together forever -- normally it was always my Mom who hosted, but in recent years my Dad has gotten so sick that he has become almost an invalid for my Mom and the whole dinner thing became too much for her to handle so last year I took over the "Thanksgiving dinner" role. I had 14 people here at the house and it was absolutely magnificent. I made a turkey and a ham, and the whole nine yards. The house was decorated, the table was elaborate - place-cards etc., and I had wonderfully festive decorations on my front porch with pumpkins, scarecrows, bales of hay, gourds, etc. It was wonderful. And I was looking forward to the same this year. I ordered a 20 pound turkey a week ago. And was so expecting that everyone would attend. Yet here's my sister on the phone yesterday - leaving me a phone message, telling me that "oh, by the way, we won't be at your house for Thanksgiving". No apology, no thank you for the invitation, no excuse. Nothing. I felt the "slap,slap, slap" on my face as I replayed the message over and over. Why is it that family can hurt you more than anyone else?

Anyhow, it was my birthday yesterday. And I cried and cried and cried.

Recently I noticed that I'd get the occasional pop up ad during my travels in TV.Com land. As if that weren't bad enough, tonight there's a huge annoying "in my face" pop up that takes up half my screen and is positioned at the top of the forum header so that I can't even see the forum without scrolling down half a screen.

This annoying pop up is stationary and appears to be pasted at the top of every TV.COM page I visit. It is entitled Emmy's Lounge or something to that effect. Under the title, there are about 50 lines of what appear to be posts by various people.

There is thankfully a minimize button at the bottom left of the pop up, but once I change to another forum, the same stupid pop up reappears, once again forcing me to scroll down in order to see the top of the forum. Grrrrr.....

What is all this crap and why is it on the site? Is anybody else peeved about this?

It's the most wonderful time of the year! (ok, except for Christmas, of course). This past week, my three kids went back to school after ten weeks of summer vacation. Some mothers may have shed a tear or two, but I was secretly relieved. Whew! Finally, some time for me, again!

Our summer was wonderful, don't get me wrong. And I love my kids dearly. But I am only human and require a few mandatory days of absolute quiet - sans enfants - in order that I may regain my sanity.

Here in Canada, there's been talk of year round schooling for a few years now. What it means, is that the kids would have only a very short summer vacation, and continue with their studies for the rest (with the standard week or so off at Christmas, and a Fall and Spring break). I am totally in favour of this idea. I mean, how much consecutive time off does achild really need? And, after ten weeks of summer vacation, there's a huge learning curve (not to mention behavioural issues) for these kids because they've been in "lazy mode" for far too long. So it's a real challenge for teachers to get the kids back on track, with studying, doing homework, being focused in class, etc. It's also a real challenge for parents who have to remind kids to get to bed before dark, do their homework, and wake up very early. We have to get them back into a rigorous schedule, and after ten weeks of goofing off, it's a real challenge.

I truly believe that year round schooling would be a win win situation for all. My origins are Swiss, and in Switzerland, kids have six weeks of summer vacation. That's it. I think that's more than enough. They also offer kids two weeks off in the dead of winter in order that they may pursue a winter sport such as skiing or skating, which is part of the school curriculum. These often take the form of winter camps, where kids travel to a winter resort (totally supervised) so they get their winter activities and parents are spared the expense of having to take time off work or hire babysitters to look after the kids while they work. I like this idea. I'd rather have my kids have a shorter summer holiday in the summer, and instead offer them a 2 week break in the dead of winter when it's freezing and everyone is dead tired and cranky. Currently, Canadianpublic school children have school from early September through to end of March with only a short break at Christmas. Then there is a one week "March Break", and school continues again until end of June. And the winters are very long! So a revamping of the current system gets my vote!

Anyhow, to all those parents out there, I share your happiness at this most wonderful time of the year!

Wow, I've been a member of TV.COM for less than a year and I just posted my 3000th forum post! Wooh hoo!

Wooh hoo! I'm "The Crazy Neighbour", Level 17. Rather appropriate, seeing as I'm a huge Seinfeld fan.

Wooh hoo!

Hi to all my friends,

Four more sleeps, is what I told my youngest son, Dominic, this evening as I tucked him into bed. We're leaving on Thursday for a 10 day camping trip. I cannot wait! I am so in need of a vacation after the hellish year that I've been through! So this weekend the kids and I shopped, packed, set up the sleeping tent and dining tent in our back-yard, purchased a gigantic cooler, washed and vacuumed out the car, and basically got our things in order for the big trip. I cannot wait.

Before we leave, however, I still have to visit the doctor who ordered the MRI on my youngest son Dominic's leg, where he has had this weird and painful lump for two months now. Hopefully the verdict will not be too awful. If all they have to do is shave off the bone that is sprouting the lump, I'll be happy. Just as long as my son can continue to play soccer, a sport that he adores and has an absolute passion for, I'll be grateful.

In the meantime, I still have to check on my parents' house in Toronto -- I visit twice weekly to gather their mail and water and dead-head their plants -- they're on vacation . And I still have to take our cat to the boarding kennel, get my car serviced, shop for groceries, and pick up my contact lenses from my eye doctor. Plus I have to visit the car rack rental place to have them install a roof rack and cargo box on top of my van (I'm renting it). Lots to do still. That's about it, other than that, I'm pretty much ready for our vacation. Hooray! I cant wait! So, my friends, I will be away for 10 days, beginning August 2nd. See you all when I return!

Ok, I really feel the need to vent tonight. My youngest son, aged 11, has a bone tumour on his leg. It started out as a lump which didn't seem to be a bruise or any sort of athletic injury (he plays competitive soccer) so I took him to the doctor and then to Emergency at the hospital and have since then seen two different doctors. At first they suspected it was simply fluid since it was close to his knee and they thought they could drain it. An x-ray revealed that it was in fact a bone malformation - his bone has grown a huge lump which is tender to the touch and now he can't kneel and has pain behind the upper leg, and the thing just won't stop growing. It seems he has a bone tumour, although the doctors were quick to tell us that it's likely not cancerous, and probably benign. Still... what an ordeal. He and I have just gotten over the shock of his diagnosis earlier this Spring of Tourette's Syndrome. And now this. And his dream is to play soccer in the FIFA World Cup some day. He has played rep soccer for four years now and is really gifted and has a real passion for the sport. Why, tell me, does he now have this bone tumour that will only hinder his game and negatively affect his well-being? If anyone should have a tumour, it's me. Heck, I'm 46 years old, I've had my good years, I've raised three kids, give this to me, please, and spare my kid. My kid is so innocent, so full of life, so vivacious and has such a positive outlook and a great sense of humour... it makes me weep knowing he may be incapacitated in sports because of this tumour. Who on earth is making these decisions? He is such a good kid, so innocent. Why on earth should kids be getting sick? I just don't get it. If it's karma, heck, bring it on to me but let it be me that gets hurt, not my kids. I haven't always been the nicest person and I've been a **** on more than one occasion. So if anyone should be punished, it's me. Please, God, don't take it out on my kids, they're so innocent and so optimistic and positive and love life so much. It breaks my heart to see them in pain. Why do bad things have to happen to good people?

Ok, it's become evident to me that the whole Levelling & Percentage increase thing is broken. Since July 1, 2007, I have 42 accepted submissions and umpteen forum posts and blog posts, etc. yet my level and percentage have remained the same (Level 15, 9%).

What I don't get, is why the TV.Com technical people don't just admit to everyone that they can't fix the bug and they're feeling pretty helpless. At least let us know that you're aware of the problem and you're working on it? There are a lot of brand new users who are feeling frustrated and unless there's a note from TV.Com explaining that there are problems and that they're being sorted out, these new users will leave and look elsewhere for their online television entertainment services.

Shame on you, TV.Com for not posting daily updates about this very annoying bug.

Oye veh. 15 of my submissions have been accepted since July 2nd and yet my Level and Percentage has not moved in over a week. Not moved. Is this another TV.Com glitch? Or did everyone take a week off for the American July 4th holiday? Grrrr...

Wow, I've reached Level 15, Ginsu Knife. Anyone know what Ginsu Knife means? Sometimes I'm convinced I'm too old for TV.Com...

I seem to be the only one who can't figure out how to add smilies to a blog comment...if I'm commenting on someone's blog, I don't have that toolbar with the smilies option on it in the box where I type my comment. When I post a new blog, like this one, the smilie is part of the toolbar so I can insert it no no problem. So why not when I type a comment on someone else's blog? And everyone else seems to be able to. Not fair.

Am I missing something here?