Distractify Me!

By Alison

I've got two -- count 'em -- TWO big projects I'm hoping to finish within the next few weeks: The graphic novel I'm writing with Megan Abbott (we've hit the third act!) and my non-graphic novel, AND SHE WAS (eye-deep in revisions and sinking fast...) I know I can do it.  I'm a hard worker and a caffeine lover, so I'm reasonably confident I can hunker down, get these suckers done and emerge with that wonderful mix of exhaustion and accomplishment.

There's only one problem: It's distraction season! 

Distraction season happens every year around this time -- the beautiful spring weather hits and stuff starts cropping up on TV and movie screens, in stores and restauarants and newsstands... all this stuff that, for me at least, is the human equivalent of little feathery fake mice dipped in catnip. I want to stop working, pounce on it and spend hours and hours in its presence.

Know what I'm saying? No? Okay, then. Here are a few examples:

1. The KFC Double Down: I would call this a textbook example of brilliant PR (I'm pretty sure I've seen it everywhere from Entertainment Tonight to the NPR website) But really now... It's a bacon and cheese sandwich with greasy chicken where the bread is supposed to be -- with no press at all, it would still be news.  The Double Down is not a meal - it's a pre-existing condition. And I want to try one. NOW.

2. Glee: My inner musical theater geek is jumping for joy (in a really embarassing way.) Truth be told, I find this show irresistable (rather than cringe-worthy) because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Even without all the fabulous dance numbers, the script is hilarious. And for God's sake, Idina is on it now!!!

3. 3-D: LOVE. IT. So far, I've seen Avatar 3-D, Alice in Wonderland 3-D and  (possibly my favorite of all) the Hubble Space Telescope 3-D movie. I now think everything  should be 3-D: the Super Bowl, porn, Double Down commercials... If magazines were in 3-D, it would singlehandedly save print media.

4.  Crystal Bowersox: The only reason I keep watching American Idol. I mean it. If it wasn't for her, I'd have hours of extra writing time on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

5. Smart phones: An ad for one comes on, I drop everything and stare at it longingly. I'm still not jonesing for an iPad -- but give me a BlackBerry, Droid or iPhone (especially an iPhone) and -- much as Lori may make fun of me -- my life would be complete. Sorry, but I'm sick and tired of having to go to Kinkos to check my damn email when I'm in the city. And those phones are so cute. And the last time I saw Jeff, he laughed so hard at my cell phone and made me feel inadequate.

6. Treme: I've read the press and it sounds sooooo good. In fact, the only reason why I'm not living for this show right now is we don't get HBO. Once the DVDs come out, though, there's another thing to pull me away from writing.

Okay, it's about time I got back to work except... what's that bright and shiny thing over there?

What are your biggest springtime distractions?

Comments

[Mike Dennis]

Spring distraction: after five cold, despondent months of nothing but football and basketball, the jubilant return of baseball to TV.

Summer distraction: the new MAD MEN season.

Fall distraction: the new DEXTER season.

[Lori Armstrong]

The weather, for sure. Yesterday I spent 45 minutes staring at 3 little dogs treeing a squirrel - it was the funniest damn thing I'd seen since...I caught turkeys mating on the driveway the day before.

Kid stuff is distracting, even with the college girl. Standardized tests, final projects, concerts, practices, extra rehearsals, and now I'm looking at high school graduation distractions, which means, yes, this year, I will have to plant flowers before the grad party.

TV shows I'm loving?

1) LOST

2) SUPERNATURAL

3)JUSTIFIED - omigod I cannot even tell you how much I fucking dig this new show

4)10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU

5)THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Ooh, and I"m looking forward to the new season of TRUEBLOOD

[Karen Olson]

We've seen the first episode of Treme and it's really very good. Looking forward to the rest of it.

As for backward looking phones, I've got one, but not for long. Today our new phones arrived. Complete with little keyboards for messaging. Yup, we have a teenager and the text messaging will commence. Although no Internet. When I'm in the city, I don't check email.

Totally agree about Crystal Bowersox. No other reason to watch AI this season. And why they saved that big Mike guy last week is beyond me.

I agree with Lori about Justified. Very cool show.

[N]

Herman!

[Kathleen McLaughlin]

I have seen porn in 3D! "Emmanuel in Space" in 3d at the Music Box in Chicago. There was a weird 70s orgy scene that will forever be etched in my brain!

Definitely get a blackberry, I just converted and love mine for checking emails. I tell myself it makes me more efficient but it comes with the distraction of pac man and solitaire!