And now a word from our sponsors

Does it seem odd that these days, commercials are often the best part of an event on television? I've yet to see one full minute of Super Bowl play that compares to the worst minute of advertising during the game, and some of the commercials on the Olympics are much more interesting than the games themselves. My favorite -- the baby Clydesdale who goes into the barn, finds the big collar-thing hooked up to the wagon, sticks his head in and strains and strains until the wagon slowly starts moving. He prances outside, and as the wagon comes out of the barn, you see two grown Clydesdales at the back, pushing it with their heads. Too cute! And the Dan Jansen/delivery company ad, featuring footage of countless falls he's taken on the ice, is a good one, too. Again, too cute. (FYI, Dan's responsible for my interest in speed skating. I remember a snippet of an interview years ago -- I think with him -- following one of those falls, and the commentator said something about the rink being slick. Dan -- or whoever -- responded, "It's ice." 'Nuff said.)

In the Olympics in particular, it's partly the commentators who make the commercials seem such a relief. (Nope, I'm not going to smack the figure skating folks again.) Last night some ski event was on -- aerials, I think -- where they launch themselves into the air and do all kinds of cool acrobatic stuff.

Anyway, the first skier I saw did her stuff, and the guys commented on it, mentioned that she was in first, "but the top skiers are still to come." Th second woman did her thing, took over first, and the guys said, "Yes, but the top skiers are still to come." The third skier took over first, and the guys said, "But you have to keep in mind, the top competitors in this event are yet to come."

We turned it off and put a DVD in instead.

I know, I know -- it's really easy to pick up the phone, call the satellite people, and get a dish installed. But the problem is, if we get satellite with beau coup channels, I'll watch it.

That's the point, you say. No, I mean I'll watch. All day. All night. HGTV. The History Channel. USA Today. TNT. Anything. Everything. I'll never get anything done, because I'll be staring at the television, in awe of all the programming available. My editors and agents will hate me, my husband will hate me, my dogs will hate me, because we'll be homeless and hungry all because of that small satellite dish.

Besides, what would I complain about then? Rachel4:26 PM