Well, The Sopranos is over and I’ve seen exactly 0 minutes of “America’s Favourite Drama Series.” Obviously, since I’ve never seen it, I didn’t not watch it because I didn’t like it. It’s just another one of those shows that was either on during another show I was already into, or it was a show I didn’t get, or it was a show that I respected enough to want to start from the beginning. In this case it was more than likely the latter.

There are several series that I have on my back ordered list of shows to watch. Most of the time the shows are hour long episodes that I didn’t want to waste my time on if they sucked; shows like 24 (which I was nervous about due to Keifer as the leading man), The Sopranos (which I didn’t think James Gandolfini could carry), Heroes (nerdies rejoice), and Lost (actually, I’m still on the fence over whether I’m interested in this one). But there are now a whole list of comedies that are on my list and I don’t know when I’ll find the time. I’ve had Arrested Development on my list ever since I saw Dodgeball.  I’ve always liked Jason Lee so My Name is Earl made the list.  I saw 20 minutes of one episode of the British The Office so it made my list, and people here at work won’t stop talking about the American The Office so now it’s on my list too.

The truth is, as long as the UFC stays popular, CSI continues to pump out episodes (and series[es?]) and America’s Funniest Videos is still running, I just don’t have any hours left in the TV-watching day. CSI is on 4 times a night so most of the time I can find an episode I haven’t seen. I am finding myself enjoying :New York even though I didn’t want to. :Miami has taken a strange turn and is completely unrealistic but is exactly like a train wreck - I can’t look away.

My watching CSI at all is a bit of a fluke. It was, at one time, in my back ordered shows list but while my wife and I were in Finland with my parents, it was the only show we got at my grandmother’s farm that was in English. I hate jumping into the middle of a series but CSI had me hooked the first time we met Greg in the lab. He sold me.

I guess what will eventually happen is that I’ll get to the point in my life where I am complaining that everything on TV is crap (and the music is too loud) and I’ll be able to go back and watch all of these series like they were brand new. The key will be maintaining a complete list of all of these shows I deem worthy. I’ll start it right now.

1. The Sopranos…

I completely forgot to write about my REAL Father’s Day treat.  My wonderful wife, Lesley, set up a surprise visit to the Picton Children’s Centre for Ella and me where the Reptile Zoo was putting on a show.  Ella and I got to check out a bunch of reptiles like a blue-tongued skink, a milk snake, a boa, and even an alligator!

I have to say that the girl putting on the show really knew her stuff - and I don’t mean the reptiles.  She was excellent with the kids and knew all the right ways to keep them involved and interested.  It was probably a younger crowd than she’s used to but really handled it well.

From a people-watching perspective it was hilarious.  I only see about 5-7 kids on a regular basis so seeing other little ones in action really makes me appreciate my own even more.  One kid just HAD to ask a question and had his hand up, crying, “I have a question” in a little whimpering voice.  Heart-breaking and hilarious at the same time.  Of course, had he not been so concerned about being ignored he would have realized that his question was answered while he was crying (”do you have any pythons” after she’d just said that the one she was holding was a python).

My Ella is such an interesting bird.  She didn’t really seem like she was too into the show at the time but when we quizzed her about a few things later, she had the whole thing memorized!  She remembered that we leave snakes alone, that if we were snakes we’d be able to eat a whole pizza in one gulp, and she remembered the skink surprise face.  Very cool.

Anyway, it was the real treat of the weekend, I just forgot to mention it.  One of those forest for the trees sort of deals.  Extra special thanks to Les for putting it together - that’s why she’s the best.