Making the Love Last: Is there such a thing as too comfortable???

Yes, there is something refreshing about reaching the point in the relationship when you can let your guy see you without makeup, trade the skinny jeans for sweats, & burp without hiding in the bathroom. But when it comes to making love last, is there such a thing as too comfortable? This is not to say that your guy will love you any less for being real, but if you let all the mystery & romance die, will the relationship eventually die as well? We've yet to do our show & hear what different successful couples have to say on the matter, but in my humble opinion, what can often cause a perfectly good relationship to fizzle, is when the two people involved stop trying. Not just appearance-wise, but also in the little gestures & things we do & say in the beginning of a relationship.
When's the last time you put a little extra effort in? When's the last time you & your significant other got off the couch & went dancing? When's the last time that you said "You're beautiful", "You're Awesome", or even a simple "I love you"? It's not so much about what you say or do, it's that the person you're with knows that you are trying & that you don't take them for granted. Sometimes getting too comfortable in your relationship can seem like you don't care.
More to come this Wed....

Love Is On Air (Wednesday February 1st)

Not only is Spring-like weather in the air (despite the fact we are in the middle of winter) but LOVE is in the air too!  With Valentine's day around the corner, Sorry We Are Perfect is going to dedicate our next show on Successful Relationships!  We are going to interview three set's of couples; those who have been in a loving and lasting marriage, those who have had a happy and prosperous relationship without the goal of marriage in mind, and a gay couple whose relationship has been as fabulous and flourishing as the flowers will be come Spring.  We plan on digging down deep into what has made these relationships tic to a triumphant beat!  Whether you are looking for love, looking to make your love last, or wonder what might have gone wrong in your relationships past, be sure to tune in as Sorry We Perfect takes on LOVE!

We are still looking for couples to interview so if you, or someone you know, would like to be featured on our next show please email us at SorryWeArePerfect@gmail.com.

Becoming Debt Free: Stop Spending More Than You Have...

It sounds simple in theory- if you want to stay out of debt, don't spend more than you have. But the truth is, it's hard to remember that when there are credit cards involved. When you have basically what seems like unlimited plastic funds, your desire for that brand new Gucci bag or super sexy mini that you just know will transform your body into that of a Victoria Secret's model can quickly go from a want to a need. Differentiating the line between things you must have and things you can live without can be difficult, so when it comes to spending it might be better to say that no debt is acceptable-if you can't pay for it, don't get it.
But if you're already drowning in massive monthly credit card payments, student loans, car payments, or a mortgage, just knowing when to stop spending may not be the problem. You could stop spending today & still feel depressed & overwhelmed by your mountain of debt. It's never to late to get back on top however. So if your New Year's resolution was to stop spending & start saving, while also eliminating your current debt, here are some tips to help you along:

• Cut expenses. Now's the time to be honest with yourself. Do you really need 15 pairs of jeans? Would it be cheaper to have a few beers at home than it would to go out to the bars? Do you eat out more than you eat in? Maybe you can learn to love simpler foods & in the process write a best selling cookbook titled "A hundred and one fun things to do with Ramen Noodle"...

• Budget, budget and re-budget. Sit down with a pen & paper and be more honest with yourself than you are with the IRS. How much are you truly making, what are your monthly expenses (which should not include a massive budget for GTL situations), and where can you afford to trim, cut corners, & pull some extra funds. 

• Identify and change bad habits. If you are quicker than a cowboy in a duel to whip that credit card out of its holster, maybe you should leave the plastic at home. Or even better, cut up the credit cards & dump them in the trash. At first you might wonder how to live without them, but over time you will move on. 

• Adjust expectations for your lifestyle. Yes, we would all love to live the high life like Beyonce & Jay Z, but unfortunately that type of Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams lifestyle may not be possible when you're working the night shift at Walmart or waiting tables at the Texas Roadhouse (cue sad self-pitying music here). Someday, when you're debt free & not spending nearly half of your monthly income sending loan & credit card payments, you might be surprised at how much fancier your lifestyle can become. In the meantime, live within your means. 

• Take in a roommate. This was suggested on the Internet. However, if this is something you decide to do, be very careful with your selection process. Warning signs: Anyone with the following pets- bats, snakes, spiders, or ants. It's all fun & games until the pet gets loose, People who refuse to give references because it's a "violation of their privacy & the privacy of their victims", People with Crazy Eyes (you know who you are). Also, steer clear of Craig's List, which after watching enough Lifetime movies & episodes of Law & Order SVU you can clearly see is a breeding ground for crazies & serial killers. 

• Move. As in back in with your parents. Yes, it's a little embarrassing & it may drive you crazy, but there is something to be said for living rent free. And mom's meatloaf.

• Triple and quadruple your minimum credit card payments. Stop paying the minimum. It gets you nowhere. Even sending an extra $20 a month will lower the principle a lot faster.

• Save a cushion for emergencies. When an emergency arises, you will be even more likely to use your cards, which will drive up the balance & you will end up paying interest. Keep some savings on hand. If you can't be trusted, get one of those mechanical banks that cuts your hand off if you try to remove money for a late-night Taco Bell run. 

• Rely on automatic payments. You won't miss a payment & therefore you won't be charged late fees. 

• Find ways to earn more money. Like invent a mechanical bank that cuts your hand off if you try to remove money for a late-night Taco Bell run. 

• Get honest with friends, family and ourselves about this priority. While big Christmas gifts are always appreciated and family vacations are super fun (sometimes...), while you're trying to become debt free, they just might not be possible. Ditto on your friends wanting to go out all the time. You may have a moment of weakness (every time) when they ask. Let people who are close to you know what you're working towards. Their support could really help you stick to your goals. 

Now who's down for a shopping spree??? Kidding, kidding...

Get Ready to Get Fit!

We are only a couple days away from our next episode and we are super excited about our guest!  We will have fitness celebrity Becky Schaller join us to help those of us with weight-loss New Years Resolutions.  I first met Becky when she was a personal trainer at FX Studios in Hunt Valley MD.  She was Matt and I's personal trainer years ago, before she moved out to LA to fulfill her Fitness dreams.  Becky is not only extremely knowledgeable and talented  but is a beautiful person inside and out!  I highly recommend you follow her on FB, as she will inspire you throughout the day with workout clips, motivational sayings and a bubbly personality that is sure to get you fired up and in the zone to work it! 

If you have any fitness and health related questions that you would like for us to ask Becky live Wednesday at 11pm EST, please feel free to post below, or call in live during the show!

Smokers are People too...

****SIDEBAR****  In response to yesterdays post... message received Cassandra!  I get it, you think my smoking is a dirty dirty habit...its not bad enough smokers these days are treated like second class citizens, being cast outside of bars, and clubs; and treated as if we are some sort of sex offender being forced to stay 50 feet from public doors...Oh and don't even get me started on the looks people give us.  When I am at someone's house party and gently tell the crowd I am entertaining, that I am going to slip outside to smoke a cig (ps, calling your cigarette a "cig", "ciggie", or even the British's favorite, "fag" IS a much cuter word and will help cut the tension) eyes of judgment are cast my way!  How dare you demonize my "habit" society, after all we all know smoking kills, but what doesn't these days.  After all, obesity related deaths are much higher than smoking related deaths.  Now I am not advocating kids out there pick up a ciggie instead of a twinkie, neither should be consumed, but at the same time at least obese people can eat in a restaurant whereas I cant smoke in a bar?! WTF!  Oh and little Susie Q, next time I am forced to remove myself from the room, as to not infect your lungs with my nasty fag, save yourself the effort of sneering with your eyes and take a good hard look in the mirror...that apple martini, yeah the one you have had three of, isn't so great for your liver, the tenth helping of dip you think no one noticed that you ate, isn't so good for your arteries, and that fucking pock-a-dotted dress is sin that surely will keep you from ever entering the pearly gates of heaven...
ANNNNYWAYS....I was going to post about how my weight loss resolution was going but now I have worked myself up and need a cigarette!

(in other news, we have received our first corporate sponsor and it is Marlboro)

Quitting Smoking.

I had my first cigarette when I was sixteen years old. By the time I was eighteen, in correlation with my ability to buy them on my own, I was a full time smoker. Coming from my background, I should have been the anti-smoking poster child. My beloved grandmother died of Emphysema & after many vacations spent suffering in her smoke-clouded house, I grew up with a healthy dislike of cigarettes. By the time I was a freshmen in high school, my brother was a heavy smoker. I used to love borrowing his comfortable flannels & hoodies to wear to school, but they reeked of smoke, causing everyone to believe I was a smoker. I can remember feeling mortified as people would sniff me, wrinkle their noses in disgust, and ask, “You’re a smoker?” I would adamantly deny it, swearing I would never be that.

Cut to a few years later & you would be hard-pressed to find me out & about without my trusted Marlboro Reds. Who can explain the appeal of cigarettes to someone who doesn’t or has never smoked? That first drag in the morning, the standard smoke with your coffee or beer, the social aspect of taking your work time smoke breaks? The post-sex cigarette? It is a need so strong that you will brave single digit weather to stand shivering outside, clutching your cigarette and taking a deep drag despite a hearty bout of bronchitis.

Yes, you know it’s gross. You know it’s bad for you. You’ve heard the same warnings & stories as every other non-smoker who feels the need to remind you of the dangers of smoking. But you don’t care…because you’re ADDICTED.

You tell yourself I smoke because I like it. I’ll quit when I’m ready. It’s not like I’m gonna smoke forever. You get annoyed with your friends, family, & random strangers who nag you about your habit. After all, it’s NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS.

I finally quit because I was tired of feeling like crap. Every year like clockwork I suffered through colds, bronchitis, etc. It was ruining my skin, my teeth, and my hair. I stunk. And guys would tell me, faces displaying their disgust, “I’m sorry-you taste like an ashtray.”

It was soooooooooooo hard to quit. The truth was, yes I was addicted. But I also LIKED smoking. I was a smoker-it was part of my identity. Quitting not only temporarily made me feel like a raging madwoman coming off the tracks, but it required me to change many of my behaviors, habits, and daily routines.

Every year, tons of people make it their New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. And often, those people fall of the wagon. Once they do, they feel discouraged & they give up. I’ve been there-done that. I know how hard it is to quit. But the truth is, I did quit. I have also watched many of my friends & family quit. I can say for certain, I have never met a former smoker who regrets the decision to kick the habit.

Our next episode of Sorry We’re Perfect is all about maintaining your New Year’s resolution. Quitting smoking is one of the most common resolutions and a very difficult one to keep, but difficult doesn’t mean impossible. If you made it your resolution to become smoke free, this year or in years past, or if you have just decided you want to quit, there are many resources to help you.  

I’ve had many friends find success with the Patch, but they all suggest following the full program that weans you off. It’s a little pricey, but no more than you spend on a week of cigarettes. Others like the gum (although I’ve tried it & I think it’s disgusting) or good old-fashioned cold turkey. There are even those who swear by less conventional methods like hypnotherapy & acupuncture. How easy/hard it is to quit depends on the person, the will power, and the length of time you’ve been smoking, but it’s totally doable.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to hotlines, support groups, and your loved ones. There is no shame in quitting smoking, in fact it’s quite the achievement, and if you fall off the wagon you just have to get back on. For more information or resources on quitting smoking, check out  http://www.smokefree.gov/ & be sure to listen to our show this coming Wed. 

New Years Resolution

Our next episode is going to focuss on popular New Years resolutions, how to make them and how to keep them.  One of my New Years goals is to get back into shape, which is undoubtedly one of the most popular to make and difficult to keep.  But alas I have a family cruise in 6 weeks so I have NO CHOICE but to put the pedal to the medal and get my ass in gear!

Usually when I embark on losing weight I do it several months before a big trip.  I generally leave enough time to make a dent but only with the aid of some insanse diet...cut to...me doing the Adkins Diet prior to Mike and Cassandras wedding; I tried a 700 calorie juice diet before I went out to Europe; and I even tried MediFast which was absolutely the worse!  Sure, I lost the weight (or at least for the most part) but as soon as the trip was over I went back to my old ways, mostly because I had deprived my body of the common nutrients and pleaures it was used to eating.

So, can I learn my mistakes from the many diets past, and make 2012 the year that I live a healthier life beyond just my upcoming family vacay!?!  I sure hope so.

Today I began this journey by trying to eat smarter meals.  For breakfast I had a bowl of hearty maple and brown sugar oatmeal, it was not only yummy but it tied me over for several hours.  For lunch I had half a turkey sandwich on 7 grain wheat bread.  I am one to usually indulge the turkey with a heavy load of mayo, but instead I teased the sandwich with a healthier homemade alternative.  I took plain yellow mustard and horseradish sauce and mixed them together.  It wa absolutely delicious and spicy, my two favorite combinations!

Afterwards, I busted out Debbie Siebers "Slim In Six" DVD and decided to go through that program.  Since it was my first time excercising in quite some time, I decided to just do the DVD, and will progressively add other activities such as lifting and tredmill once my body gets used to the idea that OOPS we are at it again!

I will be sure to keep you guys posted on my New Years Resolution and hope you share with us any resolutions you have made and whether or not you are able to keep it.

I

In the Year 2024...

In case you missed last night's show, check out this segment and do not forget to download the episode on Itunes!



Bullying
Bullying will look very different.  After decades of Americans gluttonous ways, and by McDonalds subsidizing our failing schools by turning the school cafeteria into a McDonalds....finally overweight children will outweigh the number of healthier kids...thus teachers and guidance counselors will have to keep their eyes out for the gang of giant kids picking on outcast athletes...

Stock Market
The stock market will be relocated to Las Vegas completing its transformation into becoming an actual casino....atleast this way when you lose your pension you can enjoy a free Sorry We Are Perfect Cocktail!

President and Vice President
We will have elected our first Lesbian President and Gay Vice President, when our nation finally gets a grip on reality realizing that gays werent detroying  the institution of marriage, and were in fact a great contribution to society.  With America facing a dismal economy they decided to elect financial guru and lady lover, Suzie Orman to whip our country back into fiscal shape...and the fact that her running mate could improve the perception people have about the US, just simply by being Legen-....VOTE FOR IT---Neil Patrick Harris...who could pass up this incredibly gay duo.....for better or for worse, their first order of business was NOT to force  each state to allow gays to marry but rather forced those state who did NOT allow gay marriage to make getting a divorce illegal...

2011, What Did This Past Year Mean to You?!

We have finally made it to our countdown to 2011, all while ringing in the new year of 2012!  Join us on tonight's show and share with us what 2011 and the decade that preceded it meant to you.  What was your favorite moment, celebrity, book, reality tv star of the past decade?

I have to say that when I think of 2011, one of the proudest moments was when Navy Seal team 6 (which Casandra's husband's brother was a part of!!!) courageouly lead by Barack Obama and his team, killed  Osama Bin Laden, who as we all know was responsible for the terrorist attacks on 9/11 that claimed thousands of American lives.   It was a day American united together in the streets, in our homes, in tears and in hope.  We could put our differences aside, and embrace the fact that we are all proud to be Americans!

Beyond this extremely important victory, it proved what many in the intelligence field have proclaimed for years in regards to the effort to battle terrorists.  We do not need to occupy countries and wage war against nations like we did decades ago in other types of war.  When fighting a terrorist organization you can be more successful by treating it like fighting other organized crime groups.  Afterall, we didn't declare war on cities such as Chicago or New York when we fought to destroy the Mafia in the U.S..  With that said, in the latter part of 2011 we finally got to bring our AMAZING troops from Iraq home!  Mission Accomplished!

2010

2010

We all continued to struggle and stress over the economy in 2010 as the financial crisis and high unemployment continued with house prices still depressed due to the large number of foreclosures. Europe and America begin to pursue different courses to address the problems with Europe addressing budget deficits and the U.S. continuing to try and spend the way out of the recession by creating more jobs.

But the economy wasnt the only devastating memory of 2010.  Who could forget the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Haiti leaving the country paralized.  However, as usual, in great times of despair the greatest testament to our human spirit come through.  6 months after the earthquake, non profit raised over 1.3 billion dollars, proving that even in economically stressed times, there are some of us who will reach deep in our pockets and give back.
Unfortunately, the other side of humanity can also be seen in this Haiti fundraiing efforts when you take a closer look at how much an organization has raised vs. how much they actually spent.  Go to http://philanthropy.com/article/How-Charities-Are-Helping/66243 to see what I am talking about...ie- the Clinton Bush Haiti fund raised an astounding 50 million dollars, yet only biparted their account with a measly 4 million spent!  Now, the article doesn't explain where the remaining amount of the money raised in each organization went so there is a chance the remaining 46 million was spent appopriately, but it does make you wonder.  Especially when you have organizations like
The Entertainment Industry Foundation/Hope for Haiti Now telethon that raised 66 million and spent 66 million on relief!

Speaking of which, that telethon highlighted some of 2010's most sought after entertainers in 2010 including, Beyonce, Madonna, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith with Muhammad Ali, and More

2008 & 2009

2008 was in interesting year, with a full lunar & solar eclipse that stretched halfway across the world. It was also the year that Fidel Castro stepped down in Cuba & President Barack Obama, the first African American President in US history, stepped up. It was a landslide victory for Obama & Biden, who beat out McCain & Palin in the election. Americans were proud to see a moment that civil activists throughout history only dreamed would ever happen & they celebrated in DC & across the nation as the votes were counted.
Amidst Americans rejoicing over that major milestone, there was much fear & concern over the economy, with bank bailouts and the biggest DOW decline in one day EVER. Americans feared the economy was being plunged into the worst time ever since the Great Depression.
2008 was also the year that many wealthy people took a hit, including my favorite Kevin Bacon, as Bernie Madoff was proven to be a lying, thieving bastard. Speaking of pirates, there were several pirate attacks on ships in 2008, which I hope had nothing to do with the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean series starring the ever delicious Johnny Depp.
Remember Brad Renfro, from such movies as The Cure & The Client? Well, in 2008 he was unfortunately laid to rest, along with Heath Ledger, Charlton Heston, Sydney Pollack, George Carlin, & Paul Newman.
2009 was a troublesome year internationally. Iceland's economy & banking system crumbled, Israel was in the midst of major political turmoil, and the Taliban released a video showing the beheading of a polish geologist. North Korea played around with nuclear weapons as the heads of several governments were either overthrown, taken over, or committed suicide. It seemed a year in which many governments were unraveling while our own government scrambled to fix the the struggling economy & come to some sort of bi-partisan agreement. 
As if that wasn't stressful enough, helloooooo Swine Flu, something new to worry about worldwide!!!
Perhaps the biggest news story of 2009 was the death of controversial pop sensation Michael Jackson. While not my personal taste, post Thriller that is, many Americans mourned the loss of that pop icon. 
Also lost that year were two other icons, Farrah Fawcett & Patrick Swayzee. Both passed away after long battles with Cancer. Farrah was best known for her work on Charlie's Angels, but she was a beautiful fashion icon who's famed poster of her in a red bathing suit, nipples ablaze, was a best seller among men & boys for years. It helped that she had a luxurious feathered mane more famous than "The Rachel" cut of the 90's. Many a woman waltzed into a salon during the 70's asking for "The Farrah", although not many pulled it off as well as her. 
As for Patrick Swayzee, name me one woman that didn't allow Johnny Castle to dirty dance his way into their hearts for just a moment. For me, he stayed there through many notable films including Donnie Darko, Roadhouse, Ghost, & The Outsiders. Not only was he an amazing family man with a successful marriage that's often unheard of in Hollywood, but he was a talented actor, dancer, and director. I will never forget his work in one of my favorite SNL skits with Chris Farley, where they both played Chip N Dale Dancers. Patrick, you are SORELY missed!
We do not want to overlook Brittany Murphy, John Hughes, & Ted Kennedy who also passed away in 2009. 
On the charts in '09 were Carrie Underwood, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Brittney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Susan Boyle, Beyonce, & Taylor Swift. Adele also won best new artist, making 2009 the year of the ladies in my opinion---you go girls!
If you weren't listening to music, then you were DEFINITELY watching movies & in 2009 that meant checking out the smash hits Avatar, Harry Potter, Twilight New Moon, or The Hangover. Maybe by 2013 I will have actually seen a Harry Potter movie...

2007

If you were a dreamer or a Dream Girl, 2007 just might have been your year.  For American Idol superstar, Jenifer Hudson, her reprising role as Effe White in the hit movie remake of Dream Girls, 2007 meant she had finally arrived in Hollywood.  She beat out a heavy lit of competition and nabbed Best Actress Supporting Role at the Oscars.  For the late Steve Jobs, his big dream and turning his uber popular Ipod into the world's most sought after cell phone became a reality in 2007 when he unveiled the IPhone!  As for myself and of course the millions of Simpsons fans, our dream came true when the hit tv show made its way to the big screen debuting The Simpson Movie.

However, The Simpson Movie wasn't the only hit cartoon movie in 2007, Shrek the Third raked in record profits and even managed to land the voculs of hit sensation Justin Timberlake.  Which with the absence of Mrs. Timberlake on the music scene left the opportunity of other great pop stars to dominate in 2007 including Beyonce, Plain White T's, Rihanna, Avril Levine, and Sean Kington.

I would love to say 2007 was just full of dreams, however as we all know, there were as many nightmares (and I am not just talking about Avril)

One of the most devastating included a student on Virginia Tech's Campus going on a killing spree killing over 30 students. And who could forget the US housing bubble bursts when year on year home prices drop by up to 2 - 15% in areas of the country causing increasing numbers of Foreclosures.  A financial epedemic that will continue to unfold and nearly destroy not only the US economy, but worldwide economies a like...

2005 and 2006

2005

2005 continued to provide devastating events such as Hurricane Katrina which led the levees breaking and killing over 1600 people! and flooding 80% of New Orleans.  Other natural disasters that struck the U.S. include an F3 tornado that hit Evanville IN which killed 25 people making it one of the deadliest single tornadoes on record.

But not everything in 2005 was a big tragedy, especially when it comes to technological advances (no we did not cure cancer) but we did revolutionize the home gaming system when we debuted XBoX 360! And Steve Fossett breaks world record by completing the first non-stop, non-refueled, solo flight around the world in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.

On that long flight I am sure Steve entertained himself by watching popular movies such as Mr. & Mrs. Smith (also known as Bye Bye Jenny)  Batman Begins, Brokeback Mountain (I can't quit yoooou!), Walk the Line.  And when he wasnt watching those 2005 hit movies he was probablly shimmying down the aisle dancing to Gwen Steffani, Rascal Flats, Black Eyed Peas and Carrie Underwood!


2006

I wasnt blessed just because my mom took my partner and I to Hawaii for an 11 day tropical vacation full or submarine tours, exotic food and boat rides, but that it was right before Hawaii was hit by a 6.6 earthquake.  Timing is everything, and sometimes you just have to be thankful that you were in the right place at the right time, or, that you werent in the right place at the wrong time.

But not everyone, or everything were as lucky (or tan) as I was in 2006.  For example, Pluto was downgraded from a Planet to a dwarf planet by The International Astronomical Union ( IAU )
And in related news, the popular pet of Goofy, Pluto, was downgraded from a dog to a cat.

2003 & 2004

2003 was a scary time for the world with political unrest, suicide bombings, & SARS posing a threat to everyone's safety. It was also a scary time for tax-evading celebs as famed Miss Manners homemaker Martha Stuart was indicted. Interestingly enough, as she walked head held high on two feet into court, upright human footprints nearly 400,000 years old were discovered in Italy...coincidence? I think not. What  would our early human relatives have thought of taxes and space shuttles? In 2003, massive tornadoes, power outages, hurricanes, and record breaking hail stones, combined with the fighting in Iraq & Baghdad, led Americans to ask "Is this the end of the world???"
But in the midst of all that terror, both man-made and natural disasters, a tiny baby deer named Dewey was cloned (no relation to Bambi), showing that science was growing by leaps and bounds. The Terminator was also elected as governor of California...spawning both admiration & a plethora of late night jokes.
2003 also saw the deaths of many American legends, including Bob Hope, Gregory Peck, Katherine Hepburn, Barry White, Nina Simone, & Johnny & June Cash.
2004 was a leap year that started with a bang as NASA's Spirit landed on Mars. And in science, it was on from deers & onto humans in the field of cloning, as Korea announced the cloning of over 30 human embryos.
Sadly in 2004, Americans said goodbye to their favorite group of Friends as the show aired its finale. It was one of the most popular sitcoms EVER as well as a launching pad for some very big careers, most notably those of TV's BFFs Courtney Cox & Jen Aniston.
But as Friends turned out their set lights for the last time, a new pilot light was lit with the insanely popular show Lost.
The Yankees set a record for longest 9-inning baseball game ever against the Boston Red Sox in game 3 of the World Series.
And the United States saw its first ever female Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who also happened to be African American, when Colin Powell resigned.
Deaths in 2004 included Ann Miller, Johnny Ramone, Rick James, Christopher Reeve, & Ol' Dirty Bastard.
While a huge tsunami, one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history, claimed over 200,000 lives, much more shocking waves made the news when the CIA announced that there had been no imminent threat of weapons of mass destruction prior to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Both events drenched Americans with fear, doubt, & anger.

The Last Palindrone We Will See, 2002

2002 was the last palidrome year we will likely see and also a year that was full of pop culture.  The year after we survived the worst terrorist attack the U.S. has ever faced, also highlighted other devastating events including the two snipers who brough fear to people in the DC/MD/VA area.  I was in my second year of college at University of MD College Park and remember wanting to pee my pants anytime I was out and about in sheer fear that the sniper would strike.  Fortunately Dubya created the Department of Homeland Security which has succeeded in  foiling many terrorist plots including a Dirty Bomb Plot that was foiled in 2002. 

It wasn't a great year for many large businesses, many of which filed for bankruptcy including K-Mart and WorldCom (which was the largest such filing in the US), but we have the latter part of the decade to depress us about economic collapse.

2002 was also the year that the extremely talented Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, beating runner up Sideshow Bob.  America fell in love with such movies as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Gangs of New York and The Lord of the Rings Twin Towers. 

We also spent much of 2002 trying to figure out the difference between Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton (I still think they are the same person).  We also enjoyed such artits as Christina Aquillera, Counting Crows, Linkin Park, Celine Dion, and Creed.