May 9, 2011 issue, completed April 20, 2012

This issue was kind of a fast read...I read with amusement the article about "The Pioneer Woman" blog, because the irony of blogging one's lifestyle for profit is that if you're successful at doing so, that very lifestyle ultimately seems to disappear. I also really enjoyed the profile on Jane Fonda, who is exactly one week older than my dad. Because of this, I always know how old she is - and am therefore amazed by how great she looks and how modern many of her attitudes are. I mean, not only is she 74 and awesome, but she didn't even create the famous Jane Fonda workout until she was 44! Somehow, because I feel that by being born a week away from my dad she has some kind of affinity with him, she thereby has some kind of affinity with me - which makes no sense logically. It makes me think that at 40, maybe my greatest successes lie ahead of me as well. Or that - even though I'm dealing with a totally different set of genes here! - I could look that good and be that healthy and strong at 74, and beyond.

I had hoped that the article on reality TV would help me gain some understanding of how this genre can possibly appeal to so many and why the most asinine reality TV shows continue to be produced and bought by the networks. Unfortunately, it didn't.

Glad I got this issue wrapped up fairly quickly because I took a glance at the next one and it's gonna be a biggie.