Sometimes my biggest dilemma at night is whether or not to watch another episode of TV. It's late, time to sleep, time to close your eyes so that you will be fresh and productive the next day. Open-eye time being less than 8 hours away already (yes, I am like a child, but I love proper sleep). An episode of 30 Rock is about 22 minutes or so if you get through the commercials quickly using your DVR remote control. Typically, that is justifiable. Unless you are on a 30 Rock spree, in which case those series of 22 minute episodes add up quickly. But an episode of Law and Order SVU -- now that is a different calculus altogether.
Because it is not just about the time it takes to watch an episode (say about 45 minutes?). It is also about the additional pleasure derived from watching such fantastic television late at night. That additional pleasure has to be weighed against the dismay over waking up too early in the morning, having had insufficient sleep, the subsequent cutting off the face that occurs when I shave in the morning with sleep deprivation, the blotting of the ensuing splotches, the walk to work at a hastier pace, resulting in sweat and unhappiness, the (a) turn on computer quickly, (b) put on desk fan (too hot! too hot! from the quick walk!), (c) the run to the kitchen meanwhile to get myself (i) tea -- but too hot to drink when it's so hot! so hot! and (ii) a bottle of pellegrino, sometimes (iii) another bottle of pellegrino to water the office plants depending on whether or not they look droopy. I like to think that the bubbles aerate the soil or something. Oh I am not a gardener.).
Law and Order SVU usually wins. Which is why last night I found myself surprised when I turned off the episode . . . mid-way. I wondered, "Is this what it feels like when a relationship loses novelty?" Doubts crept into my mind: "SVU, do I really love you? Like I have loved you in the past?" Maybe this is the point when a parent stops rushing out of bed every the baby cries in the room next door. As the parent thinks, "Oh, s/he'll be fine," I, too, thought, "Oh SVU, you will be on my DVR tomorrow."
I don't despair yet. No, I have faith that this was a one-off.
2 comments:
I find your love of SVU weird and endearing.
In the second graf, you say "the subsequent cutting OFF the face. . ." Quite an alarming picture, that, (although somewhat in keeping with the SVU theme, I suppose). I hope it's a typo.
And. . .you water your plants with Pellegrino??!?! Ummm. . .
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