I have watched some of the shows mentioned. I like reality shows. I know that a lot of it is fake or edited to create drama etc, but I think it's so interesting to see how other people live their lives. I don't have to agree or understand it, but I'm fasicnated with it. I love House Hunters, but I'm not embarassed about that. I know lots of people who like to "look" through the different houses. I learn a little bit from the House Flipping shows or Mike Holmes construction type shows. Primetime television is so filled with trash, sex and violence so I don't want my DD's to see that (they are 3 & 6) My family likes watching some of the Food Network shows. My DD's love Unwrapped where they show you how certain foods are made (usually fun ones like ice cream or snack foods). My DH likes the history part of it and the kids just like the candy! Kid in a Candy Store or Cupcake Wars too. We were even watching a game show last night! But when they are in bed-My guilty pleasures would be...Sister Wives, Hoarders, My Strange Obssession, and throw in Days of our Lives once in a while! When I was single I would spend my Sundays doing laundry and watching cheesy Lifetime movies! Used to LOVE them! There is also another one-a Canadian show for Teens called Degrassi. I watched it when I was a kid and it's still on (new characters). Even though I am old enough to be their parents now I still like the new shows!

I have fairly eclectic taste in music, but as a general rule I find myself more drawn to music that works on more than one level, especially music in which you can hear the virtuosity of the performers. Either their skill on their respective instruments or in the voice of the vocalist, or in the poetic beauty of the lyrics. For my tastes much of the popular music spectrum fails at one or more of the above, and demonstrates instead the skill of the post-production crew in hiding the flaws of the performers who are often famous more for being pretty or sexy or dancing well. Furthermore if a piece of music requires me to listen carefully to the lyrics to enjoy it, or even to differentiate it from other works within its genre, I'd rather have silence. To this includes pretty much everything that would be called "hip-hop" or "heavy metal" as well as much of the new pop-country and the old country music.

I could care less about the things they do to their own bodies, what really bothers me about Phil, his family and most importantly his show is that it exploits people who are obviously suffering or have problems.. Someone has to be pretty desparate for help or attention to go on his show, he's no better than Jerry Springer; actually he's worse because as a medical professional or former professional he knows what he's doing to those people is wrong. All for the sake of the mighty dollar.

I appreciate any concerns about my feelings about the past and Christmas, but don't fret, happily things did get better, much better when I became an adult. I did my best to make Christmas a happy and memorial time of the year for my family with what little life experience I had. I didn't tell that story for pity, just to emphasize that passing judgements on people who for whatever reason just don't share the same warm and fuzzy feelings about Christmas music or Christmas anything is not very Christian-like. There are many sad stories surrounding the Holiday causing people to have a hard time dealing with others insisting that they be merry and jolly because it's Christmas and they are supposed to be too. I don't begrudge people of their music and traditions at Christmas, or their joy, but I do wish that it wasn't shoved into our faces everywhere we go months before the holiday. Amy seems to be saying that people are not wanting her to be able to enjoy her Christmas music anytime she wants to hear it. I don't think anyone is trying to keep her from it, but she might think of being considerate enough to realize that not everyone else wants to.