When I'm home alone I'll often have the TV on in the other room for the sound of voices in conversation, to counter the "OMG! Last person alive in the world!" feeling. But right now it's not on. I'm, obviously, on the other Magic Box, with my music on in the background and Hubby behind me fiddling with his Warhammer army. A convivial Saturday night at Chez Neil.

KBD had the tv on from sunup to sundown and it drove. me. BONKERS. He would turn it off if I asked during meals but had to have music on instead. I will pause the tv if my roommate comes in to talk to me partly because it's rude, partly because I can't focus with the distraction, and partly because I watch tv to watch tv, most of the time. I don't just have it on in the background. I do frequently have music or NPR on, it helps motivate me and get me in a productive mood.

I get too easily distracted.

This is me too.

Truthfully, my 'magic box' is on way too much and/or audiobooks.

It's just when other folks are around that it wouldn't even occur to me to have it on.

Now, if you come over and have an interest in Primeval or summat, I'll make up the guest bed in preparation for a marathon...but not otherwise.

Bourbon and ginger: date was a pleasant evening of geekiness, no sparks for either of us. I may have talked too much. Ran into two former coworkers.

Haven't gotten confirmation from my potential date for tomorrow, which is mildly annoying. We've been struggling to find a time to get together.

Springing it on them at the front door is rude no matter how reasonable the request.

I concur.

two rounds of projectile vomitting later, it is evident that Mal the cat did indeed eat the purloined mouth guard bits that i was unable to find last week. They are no longer in his stomach. Neither are the two soft claws he chewed off while i was at work today. What is the opposite of wanting to make dinner? Because i am so not in the mood to prepare or consume food tonight.

Fred Pete, I am so glad Chloe had a good end-of-life with your husband and you.

If we are having a party, we never have the TV on. Occasionally, if we've forgotten to charge the ipod for a party, we will run a music channel, but it's not videos or anything. Unless we've invited people over to watch a movie or show (rare), we turn the TV off and play music low, because we want to talk to and interact with, the people we have invited into our home.

But I don't have a single friend who would be snotty enough to be all "turn the TV off, our child is TV-free." If someone came over, and M was watching a cartoon or D was watching a show, I would invite the friend to talk upstairs or outside, but I would expect the friend to adapt to whatever was going on in my home.

ION, we had a great time tonight at our anniversary date -- we ate at Extra Virgin, a Micheal Smith tapas restaurant. We got the pork belly, and then the chickpea frites (BLISS), duck gizzards, escargot with oyster mushrooms in a port-wine reduction and an apple-walnut pastry with cinnamon ice cream. And cocktails. And perfect weather.

It was a lovely evening. We wrapped up with geek talk on a friend's front porch with prosecco. I can only hope every anniversary will be so nice.

Yay Erin for such a lovely anniversary.

We went to dance party tonight for parents and kids, was a lot of fun. Kids were running around in little clutches, and I danced way more than either of my kids. Tired now.

Springing it on them at the front door is rude no matter how reasonable the request.

I would agree, except that people repeatedly forget to tell me that they have dogs. So I get to the front door, hear the barking and go 'crap', but it's too late to do much except offend people. But I'm nervous of dogs, so it's put them away or I leave, sadly.

But if people already know there are dogs around and don't bother to voice concerns till they get to the house, that's rude.

I would agree, except that people repeatedly forget to tell me that they have dogs.

Personally, I think that's rude. I have a cat, and if someone has never been over to my house before, I always make sure to ask if they have issues with cats (issues could be allergies, or simply a severe dislike). On more than one occasion, this has led to a change of venue, but that's cool.

As for Aimee's friends, the cynic in me is wondering if they're looking for an opportunity to show off what diligent parents they are.

I prefer not to have the TV on unless I'm specifically watching something. Even if the sound is off, the pictures will distract me.