24: Episode 6, 12 PM - 1 PM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer, Plausible Deniability, Downing Street Memos, Secretary of Agriculture, Habeas Corpus, coup d'etat, The Bodyguard, Glenn Morshower, Elisha Cuthbert,


I'm SO not ready for this week's episode. I literally need 20 more minutes. Please Jack Bauer, please.
9:03: "Just so we're clear, this is about getting Cummings, not revenging David Palmer." Jack Bauer's, says "I understand." What he means is, "Uh, whatever, Samwise."
9:04: Audrey says, "When Cummings realizes you're alive, he'll come after you." That's her way of saying, "I'm still in love with you, Jack Bauer."
9:05: The gas was "stolen" from the airport? What exactly does that mean? Why was the gas at the airport, anyway? Don't they guard that? Or was this a case of hiding something in an obvious place and hoping no one realizes it?
9:06: "So good to hear your voice, Jack." Jack Bauer and Mike Novick had a tryst between the second and third season. No one knew, but that doesn't make it any less hot.
9:08: I've really got to get away from just making fun of the dialogue. That's no fun for anyone. What else have I got? Not very much.
9:14: Aaron the Secret Service Guy goes through so much, so robotically. What does he think about? Does he have friends? Frankly, I'm surprised he's still on the show. He must know the director. I do like him, though.
9:16: I think this suspicious bad guy looks like Viggo Mortensen a little, but he just might be the worst actor of all time.
9:17: Audrey and Dianne might throw down. With looks, if not fists. Looks can kill, you know.
9:19: Jack Bauer doesn't have time for emotions. Emotions are scared of him, though.
9:20: Aaron is putting himself on the line. Walt Cummings will be firing Aaron in a few moments.
9:21: Damn it, Walt. Don't you know anything about plausible deniability?!
9:22: If this is such an "unspeakable crime" why is he talking about it? Who exactly does President Logan call in this situation? I saw him reaching for the phone, but, I mean, it's not like you can just call the cops and have Walt Cummings arrested. There has to be a protocol for detaining a high level official from your own administration.
9:23: This is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Walt killed David Palmer?! My brain can't handle this. What do you do when you're the president and your top aide tells you he committed multiple felonies and crimes against national security just to frame a rouge nation in Asia? You must feel so helpless. I might have to start tracking the number of times "24" parallels the news of today. In the coming weeks and months you know that memos will leak out detailing Walt Cummings' plans to lead the country to war under false pretense.
9:29: What a warm embrace, they were definitely lovers. Mike Novick was the one who introduced Jack Bauer to Audrey.
9:29: Jack Bauer is in custody! Jack Bauer is in custody!
9:30: Mike Novick's not authorized to hear national secrets? Really? How is that possible? What is he, the Secretary of Agriculture? This is the second time the writers of "24" have allowed a president to ignore Habeas Corpus. Next thing you know, Jack Bauer is going to fake a relationship with a drug dealer's girlfriend for no reason.
9:32: Oh yeah, Aaron the Secret Service Guy also had a thing with Jack Bauer. Did you see that look?
9:33: YES! Samwise, you need to KNOW when to disregard a Presidential Order. It comes from EXPERIENCE. Rudy is disregarding the order, but he doesn't like it. Buchannon just schooled him.
9:36: Aaron the rogue Secret Service Guy? Let's hope so. It must be hard to be a robot. Protect the president, Pierce, protect him from himself. If Jack Bauer ever says coup d'etat again or anything in any other language I might give up.
9:40: "What about you?" the rookie Secret Service Guy asks. "I'm Aaron Pierce the Secret Service Guy. I do what I want around here." Do you think before each scene that Glenn Morshower is in, he asks the director, "How do you want me to play this one?" And the director says with exasperation, "Same as always, Glenn. You always ask that, it's never going to change. Pretend you're Kevin Costner in 'The Bodyguard', that's how we want you to play it."
9:41: JBKC: 1 (Walt Cummings). Torture: 1 (Walt Cummings). Normally, I'd give Jack Bauer extra points for torturing the PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF IN FRONT OF THE FREAKING PRESIDENT, but the numbers must be accurate so I can't bonus him.
9:43: There's all sorts of crazy stuff swirling around right now. C.T.U. ignoring President's Logan's turns out to be right. "Agent Piece, take back your shield and get Walt Cummings out of my sight." You know why, Walt, President Logan thinks to himself, "It's because of something you said earlier, I'm the PRESIDENT." You don't lie to the President and get away with it. Not in "24".
9:47: Now what I have to wonder is how does this relate to the current administration. Do we take the bait and fall for the first connection between the Logan administration and the Bush administration? Planting evidence to convince the country to go to war? Or do we take it one step further and use the scene of Pierce and Jack Bauer going against everything they've been taught and breaking multiple laws under the guise of protecting the country? I think that my main problem is trying to find parables in "24".
9:51: Margaret, come on, he's trying to apologize, don't be that way. You know he'd still love you if you weren't so crazy, right? Dry your eyes, honey.
9:53: Where is Mike Novick, by the way? If there's any president that needs a few extra aides around, it's President Logan.
9:53: I predict the gas doesn't go off. This music is driving me crazy.
9:54: NJBD: 1 (Agent Schaeffer).
9:55: How does it feel, Walt Cummings? You double cross the country (or break multiple international laws to start war, all with patriotic motives, either one), you get double crossed yourself, a perfect example of why not to look for the lessons "24" is trying to teach. BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXIST.
9:56: So let's get this straight: This Russian terrorist was going to teach Moscow a lesson, but then he realized something was fishy, somehow got a government agent to confess, and changed all those plans just to get back at Schaeffer, Cummings, and the USA? That doesn't make any sense. I don't know much about terrorists, but it seems like they're focused enough to attempt the elimination of the first mortal enemy before moving on down their hit list. Is this guy really that different?
Final Thoughts:
1 JBKC, 1 torture, 1 NJBD, Prediction Ratio 50% (1 out of 2).
Wow. That's about all I can say. I'll admit I've been somewhat of a "24" gadfly of late, but tonight's episode was about as good as they've had EVER. There were many surprises and finally almost all the characters seemed to be a bit smarter than the average mailbox. Big ups to Aaron Pierce for making it possible for Jack Bauer to torture President Logan's chief of staff right in front of him. That was probably the most unpredictable television or movie scene in the history of moving pictures. Whew. Can't wait for next week!

I have it on high authority that Kim Bauer makes her appearance on next week's episode. You heard it here first!

Totals for the season, 13 JBKCs, 1 torture, 14 NJBDs, Prediction Ratio 50% (3 out of 6).

24: Episode 5, 11 AM - 12 PM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer, Louis Lombardi, West Wing, Illegal Wiretaps

The first real week of "24". Can they make the magic using only 60 minutes instead of last week's 120? We’ll see.
9:03: Jack Bauer is in custody, but still being used as a resource, he must be steamed.
9:04: See, this is why you don’t drug a First Lady and leave her on a bed all asunder. You're bound to get caught, Walt. Jack Bauer is probably already on to you.
9:05: The energy crisis is hitting C.T.U. just like everyone else. They’re still driving SUVs, but each SUV is required to carry 5 passengers inside the vehicle and at least 4 hangers on.
9:08: Oh, ho ho. These terrorists are smuggling poisonous gasses OUT of the country. Is it possible Jack Bauer should be helping them?
9:11: Does the Secret Service protect a First Lady if she's in an asylum.
9:12: Why is it that C.T.U. is easier for bad guys to infiltrate than, well, there’s never ever been an entity easier to infiltrate, ever. I guess, that if Kim Bauer could get hired, they’ll hire any body off the street as long as they have agent training and clearance. Though if Walt can be a baddie and also President Logan’s most trusted aid, this alternate "24" universe is filled with the most gullible people of any work of fiction. I’m trying to suspend my disbelief so I can enjoy the show, but really.
9:19: Chloe sleeps with who she wants around here, Spencer, get used to it. Isn’t Spencer too obvious a bad guy to be the inside guy?
9:19: I'm still intrigued by how giant Edgar is. It’s like the actor who plays Edgar this year ate the actor who played Edgar last year whole and still hasn’t digested him yet.
9:20: And if Spencer is such a bad guy, won’t Mr. McGill catch him? Here’s what I think Audrey’s interrogation is going to be like. "Wait, you slept with Jack Bauer? That’s so funny, I did, too! Wow, what a small world, huh? Woo. So where was he when David Palmer was killed?"
9:22: Audrey says, "Yes, I knew him." While thinking, "In the Biblical sense."
9:27: LEVEL TWO CLEARANCE?! LEVEL TWO CLEARANCE? I can't believe that's all he got. Jack Bauer sprinkles Level Two Clearance on his oatmeal in the morning. That is, on the days that he’s eating. Lucky for Mr. McGill, today isn’t one of those days.
9:29: “So you don’t have a personal relationship with him?” That’s Audrey’s way of saying “Wait, do you KNOW him or not?"
9:31: "Jack, you made a hard decision." Come on, that’s too easy for me. Sheesh.
9:33: "I needed to get into your utilities volume." Oh, Chloe, stop it, you’re too much. Her days are filled with self-doubt and lust, just like all of us. Chloe reminds me of a rhinoceros, always has, anyone else?
9:36: Wait, so Spencer got this guy in to C.T.U. legitimately and he just happens to be an assassin? What a serendipitous twist of fate! I have to say, the terrorists have had Lady Luck on their side in each of the past three seasons and you know what? When Jack Bauer was done with Lady Luck she was begging him to stop while secretly wanting more and Jack Bauer gave it to her, too.
9:40: JR said it would be a big scandal for the First Lady to be committed. I said it would be a bigger scandal for her to commit suicide. We were both wrong. Don’t First Ladies get fitted for GPS tags or something? You’d think they would be after one of the daughters went missing on The West Wing a couple seasons ago?
9:52: Jack Bauer likes Derrick so much because he has never had a son with two arms before. Get it? Chase? Get it? Because Chase…Oh, nevermind.
9:52: Spencer is such a bad bad guy. Too bad to be bad? I think so. He must be good. Prediction? Chase isn’t a bad guy.
9:53: The first violence of the episode. What’s going to happen? Is there anyway for Jack Bauer to kill the assassin 11 times to get his JBKC up?
9:53: NJBD: 1 (Doctor Paulson). JBKC: 1 (The baddie who killed Doctor Paulson). Cracked rib, huh? How long does that slow Jack Bauer down for? Not long I’d bet.
9:56: Can Internal Affairs agents get in trouble? Walt Cummings wanted to make sure C.T.U. was operating within the rules, but he went outside the rules to do it. Just like last year with all torture all the time (Jack Bauer would have cut wholes in Spencer to get him to talk last year) this year is mirroring the new government scandal. What I haven’t been able to figure out yet, Is whether the writers of "24" are trying to portray this favorably or not. Do they have an opinion or are they just objectively putting in their commentary using Jack Bauer as their pen?
Final thoughts:
JBKC: 1, torture scenes 0, NJBD: 1, Prediction Ratio: 100%
A kindler, gentler "24"? Tonight it was, and I don’t think it was that bad, either.

Totals for the season, 12 JBKCs, 1 torture, NJBD: 13, Prediction Ratio 40% (2 out of 5).

24: Episode 4, 10 AM - 11 AM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer

9:00: One day someone is going to capture Jack Bauer and kill him immediately. When that happens, the bad guys will win. Until that time, there is always hope.
9:01: “Your president is a weak man.” You’re damn right he is and he’s definitely the type of president who would reverse American policy if it seems like a good idea in the short term.
9:02: NJBD: 1 (hostage).
9:04: So right here a woman has proof that her husband was wrong and she’s not going to bring it immediately to his attention? This show is less realistic than I thought. You know in real life Martha would bring the transcripts right to him.
9:06: Sean Astin! Yes! Samwise in the house!
9:08: Mr. Lynn McGill is such a sport. He takes the office, but Bill Buchannon can call him whatever he wants, as long as it’s not sweetheart.
9:09: The president is scheduled to sign the treaty at 9:39, Curtis is scheduled to storm the airport at 9:29.
9:16: What is that little personal media viewer that the terrorist has? I want one.
9:17: Derrick does something in this episode that we’re not expecting. I’d guess he was going to get himself killed saving Jack, but I’m not sure they’re going to let him die. My prediction ratio of 50% is on the line. I’m saying he gets hurt trying to do something heroic, but doesn’t die.
9:29: Prediction number 2. The president makes a spur of the moment decision not to sign the treaty during this episode.
9:36: Curtis took 7 extra minutes to get ready. This is the kind of critical time management errors that get people killed. Get your head in the game Curtis.
9:40: The treaty is being signed right on time, though. President Logan doesn’t mess around when it comes to time.
9:41: JBKC: 3 (I’m giving him one for the terrorist he shot right before the terrorist blew himself up).
NJBD: 7 (That’s just an estimate, there were too many people being killed, too fast.)
9:42: 0-2 on the predictions. They keep me guessing. Or maybe I’m just trying to predict the wrong things.
9:48: I can’t believe Jack Bauer is sending Derrick and Dianne to CTU to be safe. Remember a couple seasons ago when people blew up CTU.
9:48: It was “10:51” at 9:48, we’ll see if that time differential holds up.
9:52: Jack Bauer is in custody. Jack Bauer is in custody.
9:55: Walt must be pretty desperate to attack the wife of the president. Aren’t there ANY cameras around? And how exactly is an aid that highly placed going to turn bad?
9:55: See, did you see? Right there. They went from 10:51 at 9:48 to 11:00 at 9:55. Real time, my ass.
Final thoughts:
JBKC: 3, torture scenes 0, NJBD: 8, Prediction Ratio: 0%
I’m already tired of watching 24, so it’s a good thing I have this journal and all it’s readers to keep me going. What do you think? Any statistics you think I should begin tracking?

Totals for the season, 11 JBKCs, 1 torture, NJBD: 12, Prediction Ratio 25% (1 out of 4).

24: Episode 3, 9 AM - 10 AM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer

Last night’s part of the four hour premier party has us all hot and heavy. Let’s get right into it.
8:01: The scenes from last week lead off with the Martha Logan/David Palmer phone call conspiracy. Seems to lend it a lot of credence. The intrigue begins.
8:03: I should have been counting how many people that were killed by someone else besides Jack Bauer. I’ll start now remembering from last episode as much as possible. These will be called Non Jack Bauer Deaths: (3, David Palmer (episode 1), Security Guard from Airport (episode 2), Hostage with cell phone (episode 3))
8:07: Jack Bauer just put technology to work about 2 seasons too late. I wonder how handy a picture phone would have been in either of the last two seasons.
8:11: The first foreigner has been identified as a Russian. Or a former Russian, he’s from one of the breakaways.
8:14: President Logan showing again that he’s unfit to lead the country. Anger? Check. Inability to deal with opinions counter to his own? Check. Who does this sound like?
8:16: Jack Bauer isn’t fighting for just the country anymore, he’s fighting for Dianne.
8:20: “Spare the agency patter, just get it done.” President Logan was born to delegate.
8:22: NJBD: 1 (Hostage)
8:32: Spencer knows more about bandwidth processing than anyone. Glad he’s on the team.
8:32: Aaron the Secret Service guy is back! Yay! I thought Secret Service guys were one president men. The sluts.
8:33: I think that that was the first time I ever saw anyone peeing on TV. That was new and fresh!
8:35: Nice to see a first lady using her dwindling sexuality to get what she wants. She wasn’t born yesterday you know.
8:38: OK here’s the thing. The terrorist said they were going to kill Derrick in 15 minutes. That was 14 minutes ago. Jack just said they’re going to kill Derrick in less than 3 minutes. What gives? I’m thinking this isn’t going to be the last time that the chronology of the show comes into question.
8:40: What an engaging and charming terrorist, trying to keep Derrick calm before he kills him.
8:41: Is Jack going to kill the terrorists with his cell phone?
8:41: Yes. JBKC: 1 (terrorist)
8:43: “The man we’re talking about is Jack Bauer.” Isn’t it always? If not, it should be.
8:44: “You tell me everything and I will decide which details are important.” President Logan is George W. Bush.
8:49: “How dare you barge in here!” Matha’s assistant, Evelyn, isn’t too convincing.
8:50: Why exactly are the communications archives in Los Angeles?
8:53: I wonder if that airport terminal has Wi-Fi, the terrorist seems to think so.
8:55: Jack Bauer is in custody. Jack Bauer is in custody.
Final Thoughts:
JBKC: 1, torture scenes 0, NJBD: 2, Prediction Ratio: n/a
I’m not quite sure what to think except the show is going to be pretty boring if Jack Bauer is in custody for an entire hour.

Totals for the season, 8 JBKCs, 1 torture, NJBD: 4, Prediction Ratio 50%.

24: Episode 2, 8 AM - 9 AM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer, Die Hard, Political Capital,


9:13: Edgar just provided conclusive proof that Jack Bauer was the guy who killed Palmer. Doesn't Frank Flynn have a pretty good alibi? "Audrey, I don't want to believe this any more than you do" but we're going to need something to keep the authorities from helping Jack Bauer for as long as possible.
9:27: JBKC: 1 (FBI agent, wrong place, wrong time)
9:30: Jack Bauer is in. Am I the only one who finds this completely unbelievable? I mean Jack Bauer walks into a building full of officers from every agency involved in law enforcement and not a single one of those officers recognizes Jack Bauer from the convention in Miami a couple years back? No one from academy? What kind of show is this?
9:30: (Palmer uses an iMac) Jack Bauer is on the computer in the study and the only one who catches him is David Palmer’s brother. Right.
9:33: David Palmer got elected with a 60% plurality? That’s what I would call a mandate. Imagine the "political capital" he had to spend. Last year I was convinced that all the brutal torture in the show was a way of showing the American people why American’s shouldn’t torture. (Because torture sucks). Then I got confused because Fox would probably be the last channel on the dial to be sending that type of message. Now they’ve mentioned political capital twice. What gives?
9:37: CTU uses HP computers. No wonder they can’t do anything right, they’re hindered technologically.
9:38: Does anyone else think that the David Palmer All State commercials are kind of strange? This is sort of like when newscasters are in movies giving fake news. Now that David Palmer is dead are the All State commercials going to be less effective? I think so.
9:42: First foreigner. What does this mean?
9:44: JBKC: 2 (Random good guy, wrong place wrong time.)
9:45: JBKC: 3(Random good guy, wrong place wrong time.)
9:45: I bet Derrick is driving the van.
9:46: Damn it, just Chloe.
9:51: If it were me, I would leave Derrick at a mall somewhere and tell his mom to pick him up there. But, you know, that’s just me. I don’t have the training that Jack Bauer has.
9:53: Oh and if I had dropped Derrick off, I wouldn’t have been able to have this conversation with him, telling him, "I really do care about you. I care about your mother. I hope one day you can understand that." This is why 24 wins Emmys, the drama.
9:56: YES! Martha IS insane and they didn’t make us wait 6 weeks to prove it. Thank you, 24!
9:58: I’m sensing that we’re supposed to think the Russian President’s helicopter is the target, but that that’s just what they want us to think. So far I’m 0 for 1 on predictions, though.
10:03: “I lied to you, I lied to you about a lot of things.” You’re damn right you did, Jack Bauer. Now how can Derrick and his mom get involved in danger?
10:06: I’m conflicted. I was going to give a JBKC for Chevinsky, the chubby security guard, but Jack Bauer just pushed him down and he was fully conscious when he ate his poison pill. Also, I’m not sure whether to count this as a torture scene or not. I’m saying yes to torture, no to JBKC.
10:06: Oh, this is how Derrick and his mom are going to get into danger. Derrick is a spy in training and he’s going to warn Jack Bauer. An attack on the airport? My second prediction was correct. 24 prediction ratio: 50%. 10:08: 24 just turned into one of my favorite movies. WHO THE F CREATES A HOSTAGE SITUATION OUT OF AN AIRPORT TERMINAL? I mean, come on! Really?! They couldn’t go to a bank? A school wouldn’t have less security?
10:09: Walt’s a bad guy? Martha Logan was right? Oh man. They’ve just gone and flipped so many switches.
Final thoughts:
3 JBKCs, 1 torture, Prediction Ratio: 50%. I think I’m not going to get into discussing the “Next week on 24” as that stuff is never as important as it should be.

Totals for the season, 7 JBKCs, 1 torture, Prediction Ratio: 50%.

24: Episode 1, 7 AM - 8 AM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris, Go Bag, Political Capital,

James Brown, a football analyst, just introduced "arguably the most exciting" program on TV. Who argues this?

I'm going to journal it. Why? I don't know. No one will read this, and I'm going to stop by week 4. At least this will give me a reason to watch. There's nothing else redeeming about this show. I reserve the right to make up rules and statistics as I go along. I’m going to track the number of people that die by Jack Bauer’s hand, the number of people who are tortured, and the number of my predictions that turn out to be correct. I may add trackable items as I go along, so bear with me.

8:13: Jack Bauer died at the end of last year, or did he? He didn't. 7 AM in "24 time". That means there will be another conclusion in 20 weeks when most of the city is asleep.
8:16: Repeat characters this year? President Logan, President David Palmer and his brother.
8:18: Woah, David Palmer is down. Of course Jack Bauer could get up from that in 25 minutes, as long as someone needed torturing.
8:18: Repeat character, Mike Novick is back.
8:20: Did we ever find out if the president from last year died? It seems like most of last year's cast is back so I'm going to stop tracking repeating characters. What's wrong with this Russian Treaty? Who wants to stop it? Arms dealers or major gun companies? Both? President Logan just referenced his "political capital".
8:22: Chloe gets guys? I don't think so. A newer, softer Chloe this year? I hope she doesn't make it through the entire season.
8:24: Jack Bauer hasn't loosened up even though he's supposed to be dead? What's with the gun? I would have thought Jack Bauer/Frank Flynn would kill anyone who doesn't drink OJ out of a glass. Chuck Norris would.
8:27: Tony and Michelle fighting again, all year? One can only hope. Tony is putting his capitalist dream before his duty to the country?
8:28: Now he doesn't have a choice, Car bomb!
8:33: Edgar looks bigger this year. Is that Jon Favreau? He's warning Chloe. She seems to have transformed from a desk jockey to a super agent. I guess all you need to be on 24 is a sixth sense! And Jack Bauer's telephone number. Jack Bauer has a Go Bag and he's not afraid to use it.
8:38: Audrey is back, this could cause a conflict between Jack Bauer and his new lady. Now all we need is Jack Bauer’s squeeze from the 2nd season. Also, let's get Nina Myers back, too, Jack Bauer I don't know if Jack Bauer got enough closure for him to be over that relationship.
8:39: I think the First Lady might be insane. She was right, though, she did look like a wedding cake. Yup, definitely insane. And people were critical of the way Hilary looked, wait until they get a load of Martha Logan. It's too bad they couldn't get someone like Stockard Channing to play THEIR First Lady.
8:48: Jack Bauer can spot any sign of someone following him, but not when its the disgruntled son of his new lover. He must have an invisible cloak. This kid is probably going to get hurt, especially now that Jack Bauer is involving his new love. "Get in the car and start driving towards Los Angeles", straight to Audrey and my past. Jack Bauer knockout count: 1 (Helicopter Pilot)
8:53: You know what? I'd love for Mike Logan to say definitively to Walt that his wife was delusionally placing herself in the middle of a conspiracy theory and actually be right. It would at least keep it interesting. We've already seen this "crazy character with important information not being listened to" in about 400 different movies and TV shows over the years. We knew this, but 24 is no longer exciting or fresh.
9:00: Didn't they change some things after 9/11 to make helicopters and airplanes harder to steal? Shouldn't the air force have arrived by now?
9:02: Because all rescue helicopters keep their smoke bombs in the same place.
9:03: Jack Bauer death count: 2. (Bald bad guy)
9:04: I was going to try to definitively track the number of people JB killed and those he knocked out. I realized, however, that I'm not going to be able to really count how many people Jack Bauer kills and how many he knocked out. And how do you count people that Jack Bauer knocks out who later die from injuries sustained by an interaction with Jack Bauer? Instead, I'm going to refer to both knock outs and killings as knockdowns. I will call these JBKCs. JBKC: 3 (Bad Guy in Car)
9:06: JBKC: 4 (Palmer Assassin who was surprisingly chatty).
Final Thoughts:
4 JBKCs, no torture. That's it, folks, first episode is over. No scenes from next week, as next week is right now. What did we learn? Jack Bauer is going to be considered, at some point in the coming episode, to be the main target in the Palmer assassination investigation.

Totals for the season, 7 JBKCs, 1 torture.

5 Months Later!

It's now been about five months since my last blog post. I'm not quite sure what happened except that it's possible that I began filling the time I used to spend writing blog posts beginning to plan a wedding.
Well, with the new year almost a week old and no other viable New Year's resolutions, I resolve to try to blog more often.
In my last post, I told you about getting engaged. I also pledged to continually update you on the trials and tribulations of planning a wedding. That hasn't quite happened, but there's still plenty of planning before this thing gets done. We've picked a place, saved a date, and, well, that's about it. Still up? A florist, photographer, dresses, invitations, and plenty of other important details I don't currently know.

Some anecdotes and statistics from the last 5 months of planning?

We visited 8 different locations and saw the good and the bad in each of them. In order to assist in this difficult decision, we turned to the numbers. I created a complex matrix that weighted different aspects of each location and made clear which choice we needed to make. It was probably the dorkiest exercise I ever took part in.

JR has gone dress shopping twice and picked out a couple potential winners. It's unclear whether she'll continue shopping or not. I don't know anything about any of the dresses and I'm not sure I'm supposed to talk about it.

Since JR and I got engaged, 7 of our friends got engaged. Including our own, we have 7 weddings between April and November, one that we're not going to on a Monday in Mexico, and one in 2007. This should be interesting.

After receiving wedding menus from about 40 different venues, we've determined that scallops wrapped in bacon are, indeed, the most popular wedding appetizer.

The next several months should be pretty interesting, I'll definitely do a better job keeping you updated on this and the aspects of my life and the lives of others that I find exciting.

PS: Dancing with the Stars started tonight and though I didn't feel like throwing myself out the window like last year, the new Thursday/Friday schedule makes it unlikely I'll tune in. Watching Master P cha cha should be exciting, though.