David and Maddie: Why I Love Moonlighting (at least, the first three seasons)

Once in a blue moon, a television series comes along that gives me a thrilling satisfaction, that meets and exceeds not only my expectations, but my hopes and dreams. In fall of 1996, it was "Blue's Clues," arriving just in the nick of time to reassure me that my infant daughter would be watching the show I would have created.

But eleven years earlier, back when getting coffee still meant from a pot, it was "Moonlighting."

In an era when nighttime television was dominated by soap operas and buddy detective shows, comedy was consigned to family sitcoms and romance replaced by sex and dysfunction. That is, until the premiere of "Moonlighting."

So what do I love about Moonlighting? I love that, in the 1980s, a show was allowed to be intelligent, funny, irreverent, and original. That it gave us two characters who were so right for each other that the fans went berserk every time there was a hint of another romantic interest. (Let's face it -- it takes a lot to not like Mark Harmon!)

It is filled with literary and contemporary cultural references. It seemed like it was written by my contemporaries (it was). In its own wacky way, it was more real life in its realm of fantasy than the night time soaps. The office staff looked like real people. It's quick, witty, and always acknowledges the audience, whether by breaking the 4th wall, or David reminding Maddie they're on television. ("Get serious? Maddie, I just touched your rear end. If I get any more serious, they're gonna move us to cable!")

I love "Moonlighting" because I fell desperately in love with David Addison, but desperately wanted to see him with Maddie. I love it because I couldn't predict what David and Maddie would say. I love it because, for three years, I could sit down and watch Hawksian comedy. I love it because, from the first episode, Maddie was David's and David was Maddie's, and Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis played them that way. I love it because I thought it was a niche show written just for me, and I'm not the only one.

But mostly, I love "Moonlighting because, when I saw it, I slapped my forehead and cried, "Why didn't I think of this?"

Lisa was robbed!

Friday night when Lisa Rinna was eliminated from "Dancing With The Stars" my girls sobbed. I had tried to prepare them for the possibility, but she danced so beautifully on Thursday night that they just couldn't believe it.

My older daughter was so distraught that the only way I could get her to calm down was to suggest she write a letter to Lisa. She asked if she could send her an email instead. I found an email contact for Lisa at the website of her talk show on Soapnet, and she happily typed away at a heartfelt note. Like most talk shows, the communication is one way. But I think the mere act of writing was enough to help her resolve her disappointment.

Still, Lisa Rinner has worked so hard, and danced so well, that it is a shame we won't get to see her dance one more time. There is no question that Jerry Rice has improved enormously, but there is a difference. Everyone knows that he is not on par with Stacy & Tony, or Drew & Cheryl, but Lisa had the potential for 10s.

The finals, without Lisa, just won't be the same.

Plumbing & frozen pipes in thePacific Northwest

I live in the Seattle area, and, for the past couple of days we have had an arctic air front hovering around, creating colder than normal temperatures. Lows in some places have even gone as low as the teens, although the lowest I've seen at our house is 21F.

Late this morning, I happened to glance out the front window of my house, and saw a river of water running down the driveway on a sunny, clear day. What the -- I went to check to see if the spigot for the outside hose had burst. When I opened the door to the garage, I discovered a small waterfall from the ceiling. The water was running under the garage door, and out.

Fortunately for us (at least, this time, the floor is slightly slanted, and the door doesn't seal shut completely, or the garage would have been ankle deep in water. Instead, there was just a little pooling. I turned off the main water valve (which, coincidentally, we had replaced last year after it sprung a leak and caused all kinds of damage inside our home, since it is, ineplicably, in the hall closet) and called my husband, who was in Canada for the weekend. He happened to be driving, and turned around and headed home.

After digging fruitlessly for the business card for the plumber we'd used before (who had someone at our house in 90 minutes on an evening phone call), we finally figured out the name, and I called. They have been busy with emergencies for cold complications (mostly burst pipes), but he was able to promise someone in four hours. Then I called the drying people, who had done an amazing job preserving our hardwood floors.

Turns out it was -- you guessed it -- a burst pipe. And, surprise! it was plastic (well, pvc), even though the exposed pipes in the garage were copper. So they will replace a majority of the pipe. The good news is, we were able to turn back on the main water valve, because there is a shutoff valve in the garage for the exterior water fixtures, so we can use the toilet. And the sink. And the tub.

Of course, this doesn't happen very often in other parts of the country where the weather is sub-freezing for most of the winter, and people insulate their pipes and bury them. But it's an added cost most people (and builders) think isn't necessary here.

So, thank God for plumbers! And for people who specialize in drying out saturated wood so preserve the integrity of a house. Because, otherwise, we would all have to rely on our own ability, or lack thereof, to fix our own leaks.

Why Alberto Gonzales Won't Recuse Himself

By now it seems pretty apparent that lobbyist Jack Abramoff's influence with the Republican Party was widespread. A photo recently released from the White House, shows Abramoff with President Bush.

A group of Democratic senators wrote a letter to Alberto Gonzales, the Attorney General of the United States, that he resign. Remember, Gonzales was Chief White House Counsel before he became Attorney General.

In spite of that, which, it seems to me, as well as others, presents at least the appearance of conflict of interest, if not in reality. But Alberto Gonzales doesn't think it is necessary.

Not necessary? Why would someone who is a member of the Republican Party, the party of the Religious Right and, one would therefore surmise, one of ethics, not care about a conflict of interest? Aren't fundamental Christians the most ethical of all people?

The reality is, scandals like Abramoff's influence in the party may embarrass them, but it doesn't concern them.

The only thing that is important to the Republicans, including George Bush, is making abortion illegal, and prohibiting marital rights for gays.

So how does this relate to Alberto Gonzales? Gonzales doesn't think there is a conflict of interest. Why? Because he doesn't care about this investigation. He cares about ensuring the "culture of life" becomes the standard.

The reality is this: Jack Abramoff got what he wanted, when he wanted. That should scare the heck out of the Republicans, and they should be scurrying to distance themselves from him and anyone in the administration he dealt with, and try to salvage their own careers. But they won't. Because they know that their supporters are only interested in two things -- banning abortion and banning gay marriage. And, I suppose, disintigrating the Democratic Party. Alberto Gonzales won't recuse himself -- he doesn't have to.