The days are growning shorter, which is always rather sad to me. I love the long days of summer. This particular summer flew by and without a lot of hoopla. There have been a couple of quick, day trips close to home and that's about it. Otherwise, it's been the same old same slog through the months. That said, this summer has had one dynamic aspect to it....there was actually some fantastic summer tv. It's been since Einstein was a boy that we've had really "unplug the phone, put out the dog" tv. This year had it in spades. There were a couple of returning summer programs that rarely disappoint, but the real kicker this year were all the new and exciting summer shows. My particular favorites this summer have been Saving Grace, Hotel Babylon, Mad Men, Burn Notice, Top Gear, Torchwood, and Damages. If there are that half that many shows during the fall/spring season that I wait for breathlessly, I feel fortunate. These have all been this summer! Incredible!

What's so encouraging about most of the dramas listed here, is just how original they are and how they push the envelope of what we're used to seeing on most dramas. It's such a treat to watch a show where you hear people saying things you don't usually hear on network tv. Original, entertaining and edgy conversations and stories. What a concept!!!

The comedy or comedy/drama shows have been cleverly written and seem brighter and more engaging than the usual, too.

All in all, even though I barely moved outside my house this summer, I feel like I had a great vacation sitting in the living room with some fabulous and compelling tv.

I've been thinking a lot lately about service and "the public". This came after a number of particularly odd occurances. Recently I saw a sign on an establishment, "starting next week we'll be closed on Saturdays - to serve you better." I remember having one of those "huh?" moments. They're closing on Saturdays to serve you better. How exactly does that work?? There was no notice of staying open later to make up the difference, nor was there any indication anything was changing except they had another day off from work. Now, far be it for me to mind anyone time off from work, but in what way is this serving "me" better?? Were they promising to work ever harder once they are there?? Are they promising to be nicer, more efficient, or are they intending to lower their prices??? Not that I saw. Just makes you wonder sometimes. It harkens back to one of my favorite moments from the movie, "Back to the Future". The movie was shot in 1985, and by then we were smack in the "self service" craze of all things. In the film, Marty is in the past and sees a car pull into a filling station. Close to 3, emaculately dressed attendants rush out (wearing clean white uniforms with little bow ties firmly in place), to give this car the once over. One was checking tires, one filling the gas and the other was checking under the hood. Even then, this caused the audience I was with to gasp and laugh in unison. It was as foreign to all of us, as if they'd been in walking upside down. The idea of that kind of service is just a long memory away.

Now, to the public.....whoever said they loved working with the public, was either kidding themselves or they were filling out a job application. I can say this, because I've done it for many years. Don't get me wrong.....I like the public, the public are great....but they can be a royal pain in the b***, too. Somewhere (I think it harkens back to the 80's again), people started "looking out for Numero Uno", and it stuck. Boy, did it stick! Now, everyone has road rage, taps their foot in irritation if they have to wait, cut in line, grab, crab and jab! The amount of irritation in the most minor inconvenience and you'd think they had to cross the Grand Canyon down one side and up the other dragging a canoe behind them. Enough with the complaining when you happen to be 3rd in line. Just get over yourself!

I feel better already, thank you very much.

Just when I thought this would be a total wash-out of a weekend. When I was parched, hot, and angry at the world in general.....I stopped into my neighborhood Starbucks and two miracles occurred. One, was that the new McCartney cd Starbucks is pushing was not playing in the store, and two.....they have a new Raspberry Mocha Frappaccino. That has got to be one of the closest moments to heaven before I depart this world!

Ahhh.....things seem much better with a high count of butter fat.