Sites of Note

There is no doubt in my mind that I spend way too much time wandering around the internet. Imagine all that I would have accomplished if I didn't have a computer in my house, and big chunks of time where I am not accountable to anyone. I could have learned Spanish, or how change the oil in the car or the basics of home dental work; instead, I know just how much the neighbours are asking for their house, what everyone else thinks of last night's tv show and what do to with sweet gelationous mutant coconut.
Some of my most egregious time wasters are:

Television Without Pity: (http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/) ("Spare the snark, spoil the networks" )is one of my favorite sites. Apart from the absolutley hilarious recaps of just about any show on tv, the forums are full of amazing, witty, intelligent contributors. And who ever thought you could type a sentance like that in connection with tv?

The Straight Dope (http://www.straightdope.com/) The forums on this site kill me.Where else can you find a discussion about Britney Spears' child custodial problems that include a line like "Ah, the kids'll be fine once the reality show finds them new parents." There have also been lively debates on the merits of buffets vs. sit-down restaurants, lists of songs people sing to their pets and useless things people have memorized.

Go Fug Yourself (http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/) See? Even famous people with all sorts of fashion-stylist advisors get it wrong now and again. It makes me feel much, much better about my own sartorial choices. ("Well, at least I didn't show up in public wearing that.)

Dooce (http://www.dooce.com/) A seriously funny blog. I think maybe this woman and I would get along beautifully.

Stumble Upon (http://www.stumbleupon.com/) I can (and do) spend wa-a-a-a-ay too much time wandering around here. Where else would I find links to stuff like this and this and this ?
All very cool stuff.

And the biggest granddaddy time-waster of 'em all: YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/) I heartily ashamed at the considerable time I have spent on this site; none of it useful. This video makes me laugh each and every time I see it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2yNzw00mpA&mode=related&search=) ("There's just so many things") and if I could explain my delight in this one, I would, but I just can't (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt8bJdmUlSo) and this I've seen a hundred times.

I also check out the real-estate listings in my area regularly, not because I'm interested in buying a new house, but because I'm never quite finished buying the house I'm in. I visit the Library website obsessively, because I want to see what exactly I have on hold, and when it's coming in, and what's over due. And, of course, I waste hours checking my e-mail a hundred times a day, and writing this blog.

Luckily, my family wouldn't notice much if the housework got done, unless the dust bunnies under the bed actually came to life, and as long as I keep a thin, fragile coating of respectability around the place, no one would ever suspect the amount of time I spend keeping myself amused. Until now.