As the new fall TV shows start their seasons, I will probably devote a blog post here and there about the ones I begin to watch. I always have a heavy roster at the beginning of the season, because using a DVR can help you juggle quite a load. By the middle of the season, fully half the shows will have dropped off my watch list. Nearing the end, it’s anybody’s guess.

I have high hopes for the fall. In fact, this season marks the first time ever I will be giving shows from The CW, of from its two old merged networks. Nothing thus far has ever appealed to me. This time around I am giving both Reaper and Gossip Girl on The CW a try.

Now, Gossip Girl mostly intrigues me due to the fact that a blog pretty much plays a character in the show. Well, more specifically a blogger, but she remains all but hidden. So, the blog is the real star in my eyes. As a blogger, I know the absolute power that blogs have to start and to perpetuate gossip. News (and gossip) spread like virtual wildfire when it comes to the blogging community. The mainstream media even goes to the extent of quoting “The Blogging Community” or “Bloggers” as some collective entity in hard news items. It’s mind boggling.

Gossip Girl premiers Wednesday, September 19 on CW. It follows several characters from NYC Upper East Side prep schools – basically, young, spoiled socialites with over-the-top privilege and opportunity.

It’s narrated by the all-knowing “Gossip Girl”, a blogger who dishes all the dirt on these particular people. She stirs the proverbial pot and all the while we are kept guessing as to her real identity.

Sounds intriguing. I’ll be giving this one a spot on my DVR. We shall see how long it lasts.

I like to dedicate a post on this blog from time to time to the free hair bow instructions I offer on my site Girly Things. Of course, now things begin to be confusing, because I also have a blog called Girly Things. In this case I am not talking about my new blog, but rather my website that focuses 100% of hair bows and other accessories.

You can tie a knot a zillion ways, and likewise a bow. I can hardly believe that the last bow to actually make it onto my site is the most popular style out there right now: the Basic Boutique Bow. Right now this is the bow style you seen sold most on eBay and in specialty boutique clothing stores. It is the most requested style when people order M2M (made to match) bows to go with special outfits or to perfectly match the colors in one of the new Gymboree or Baby Lulu lines.

By the way, thanks to Devon Fuentes of Sew Cute Bag for both the bow photo and the original boutique bow instructions.

I used to watch the Jetsons growing up. Remember how whenever they made phone calls it was a full on video exchange? Even Rosie the maid would get into that video phone technology. I remember thinking, how cool! Now that I am an adult, I’m living in a world where this is a reality.

I’m thinking there are both good and bad things about using a video phone…

Pros:

• No more awkward misunderstandings due to not seeing someone’s facial expressions
• You can stop trying to describe that cool pair of shows to me and just SHOW me
• I’ll know when you are lying!

Cons:

• I have to brush my hair before I use the phone
• I’ll know when you are lying!
• You’ll know when I am lying.

Packet8 is a VoIP company that is hitting the communications world with a wallop by putting video phones into he mix. By now most of you know that using VoIP technology for your phone calls means unlimited calls for one monthly fee. Packet 8 has a couple of video phone models available and although I think the Tango rocks the school, I’m rather in love with the DV326. It’s a stand-alone phone that operates so much like a standard push-button that even my mom will feel comfortable using it. As the website says about this model: there is no learning curve. That’s always a plus, because this whole issue about the Jetson’s world happening NOW is kinda’ catching her off guard

I already use a sort of clunky internet phone program with my webcam, so I’m hooked on the concept. I want better results, though, and the DV326 boasts “Smooth full-motion, near-TV quality video” and that’s a definite step up.

I was just looking at a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that goes like this:

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

How amazingly deep is that?

We all dream. We all wish. This is just part of human nature. Daydreams, though, can turn into solid reality when you stop just dreaming and actually pout a plan into place to make things happen. That is why the Doers in the is world are the ones who win out in the end.

I’ve got a handful of “wishes” fluttering around in my pretty little head and what I am going to do is take each one on its own and treat it like a business prospect. I am going to make lists and develop a plan. I am going to formulate steps that I can tackle one at a time. I’m going to walk toward my wishes like steps on a staircase, until I finally reach the landing.

Will I accomplish all of my wishes-turned-goals? Perhaps not, but the truth is that there is a zero percent chance if I just sit here and simply dream.

I like to travel, but I like to do as much travel as I can while driving my own car. I like being able to take as much luggage as I can pack into the van. I like being on my own time-table. I like the flexibility of being my own boss when it comes to my vacation plans.

I know our trip up to WV was hard, due to the 18-hour drive. Nonetheless, I find sitting in airports and on cramped airplanes a much less desirable option. The speed of flying is appealing, but everything else about flying is just so painfully irritating.

While this might be a simple decision when traveling from U.S. state to state, it becomes a little trickier when you decide to take your car with you when you cross the borders into Canada or Mexico. You can’t expect that things like auto or health insurance will just operate with exactly the same protection when you are not in your home country.

I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about travelers insurance. Well, setting up a little coverage for your vehicle is one form of that.

There are a couple precautions you can take when traveling out of the country in your own vehicle, one of which is to obtain a special car insurance policy specifically applicable in the country to where you are going. You can, for example, get Mexican insurance at the MexicanInsuranceStore.com. The laws in Mexico that apply to driving violations ands accidents are so much different than here in the U.S. That’s why it’s important to know that all of the plans offered through this site are GMAC approved; include legal assistance and bond service; and can be purchased in daily, six month, or annual policies.

Here’s the clincher, and I quote this from the insurance site:

In Mexico, it is considered a felony to have a traffic accident. While the police are concluding their investigation, your vehicle could be impounded and you could be detained by Mexican authorities. With Legal Aid, you have accessibility to an attorney hired specifically for this purpose by your insurer who will assist you and negotiate for you and your car’s release.

So, it’s in the traveler’s best interest to spend the money to be fully prepared for anything that may happen when you are driving your care outside of the country. Since you can buy policies instantly online, there is no hassle. And, the company I use as my example is actually a United States company, so communication is simple.

Drive happy, but stay wise.

I completely forgot to write about one of the things I did while I was up in West Virginia. I guess my old blog host pulling my blog access while I was my grandmother’s funeral threw me for a loop. What can I say?

Anyway, those of you who are art glass lovers are probably familiar with the Fenton Glass Company. They are located in Williamstown, WV so they were a regular stop when I visited family in Parkersburg. I’ve been through their factory tour several times and I’ve selectively purchased a few nice pieces over the years. As far as style goes, I am more a fan of the Blenco Glass Company. But, Fenton is classic and high quality and quite simply a part of the region from which my family hails.

Recently Fenton announced they would cease operations in the next few moths. The decision comes on the heels of financial restructuring for the company. They have been in operation since 1905, so it seems nearly unreal to me that they would one day not exist.

So, in light of this, my sister and I decided to go up to the factory and buy something for the kids to have as keepsakes. Unexpectedly, we found ourselves in the store at the same time that Mike Fenton was signing pieces! Talk about good luck. I picked up a lovely little pink butterfly for Gigi and a modern-looking vase for myself. It was not until we got to the front of the line that I realized they were not signing seconds. Since the store sells mostly seconds, both items I had picked up were second quality. I kept the butterfly, because Gigi had her heart set on it, but I quickly put back my own vase and instead picked up a more traditional purple basket with daffodil designs. Mike actually offered to sign both pieces, but I gave into the Angel on my shoulder and just had him sign the first quality piece.

My violet daffodil basket

Gigi’s butterfly (but her’s is pink)

I am thrilled we were in town to take advantage of such an opportunity. I wish the entire Fenton family nothing but the best and also that their reputation will live on indefinitely.