I'm a TV junkie. Yes, I'll gladly admit it, and here are some of my confessions.
I love Monday nights, Wednesday nights and Thursday nights. Oh yes, especially Thursdays, my absolute favorite. That's when I get to see and spend one hour — or two, if I am extremely lucky — with my man, McDreamy.
I wish there were a job out there somewhere for me that would put all my accumulating, useless medical knowledge that I've learned from my addictions to "Grey's Anatomy" and its spinoff, "Private Practice," to use. Or maybe I could do something with the fact that I can relate anything — yes, anything — to an episode of "Friends," of which I own all of the 10 seasons. Go ahead and test me.
The fajitas at lunch the other day … in season 10, episode 2, Ross makes fajitas for his double date with Joey and Rachel, trying to convince them he's just fine with the situation. I crack up just thinking about the way he screams "FAJITAS!" throughout the episode, in his drunken state.
I love drama, only because it's not happening to me. I love to gossip about how Peyton and Lucas (from "One Tree Hill") apparently are finally going to get married, after five seasons. But as a true fan, I have this feeling deep down and know that it's never going to happen. Why would Mark Schwahn give us a happy ending? Something bad always has to happen.
Sadly, I know that these shows are not actually "real," unless of course you count the local favorite, "Jon and Kate Plus 8," or those ladies from "The Hills," but that's still stretching the "real" factor.
I won't lie — every time I see a large black van driving in or near Lancaster, I hope it's Jon and Kate. Sorry to say, I don't think I've seen them. I tend to just find a Joe's Construction van.
And do you know what kills me the most as a TV junkie? Hiatuses. If you have any remote idea what I'm talking about, I know you are feeling it, too. For those who are lost right now, it just happens to be the worst time of every season. Regardless of any previous plot lines, it always happens after an incredibly spectacular episode — the month-or-so long break we fanatics dread, where our shows are no longer new. It's terrible to wait, to anticipate the restart, imagining all the things that could occur, all while watching repeats.
And the writers' strike last year? Let's not discuss that. It was a bad period of my life. It's up there with the episodes that my favorite couples break up (i.e. Ross/Rachel, Luke/Lorelai, Meredith/Derek … ). I'm not quite sure how I survived.
It's extremely difficult to try and balance my triple life as a student, athlete and television addict. I have to use my precious time sparingly, and that is where the heavenly gadget, the DVR, comes in. Easy directions — I record the show and watch it later. Plus, then I don't have to sit through the unnecessary, time-wasting commercials. Perfect.
To all of you who feel and are thinking the same way I am right now — congrats, I am declaring you a TV junkie, too. Those of you who don't — seriously, get a life.
Jenna Eiding is a senior at Cocalico High School. E-mail her at YourLife@LNPnews.com. 