So you know my "No TV During Summer" rule? That lasted a whole ... let's see, when did I post it? ... um, nine hours.

Wow. That's a record.

Ok, so I'm amending my rule. For some reason, it was a lot easier to do in previous years, when I actually had a life.

So now, I can still watch TV, but only if it's a repeat, i.e., not something I can get hooked on. I will not, for example, be watching "Rock Star" or "Big Brother: All Stars," no matter how much I really, really, really want to. I can, however, catch up on "NCIS," since I missed the show when it was opposite "American Idol." And I can also see repeats of "CSI," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and all those other shows that will make me too scared to sleep at night.

Another change to the rule is that I can't watch the shows live, only if I TiVo them. This is a weird distinction to make, yes, but it makes sense in my head, so just go with it.

The last amendment is that I can't watch I've seen before. So I can't watch a "CSI" episode for the 16th time. Or that "Law & Order: CI" show I already now the ending to but am compelled to watch anyway. If I've seen it before, I can't see it again.

Oh, and I can't watch shows that are on daily, like "Oprah" or "The Daily Show." This last one kills me, but it's too much of a time commitment and the whole point of the rule is to cut down on that.

So anyway, I gotta go. There's a Summer Preview issue of TV Guide with my name on it.

Well, today is the official start of my "No TV During Summer" rule.

Whose stupid idea was this anyway? I mean, what am I supposed to do for three months? If I had a life, I wouldn't be watching so much TV that I'd have to create a rule not to watch it. Sheesh.

Ok, so nearly a month of that will be spent in Spain, but that still leaves me with two months of nothing to do. Assuming I count from 6-11 p.m. for weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends, that's 51 hours a week with no TV.

I'll continue taking tennis and yoga lessons, and I start kickboxing again next week. And if you count eating time, long walks and a movie here and there, we're down to about 24 hours. Then there's shopping. We all know I can spend a full day shopping, but I'm not sure my checkbook can take it, so let's just say five hours of shopping a week. Plus you gotta count the blogging -- you can't leave that off.

So that leaves me with ... let's see ... hold on ... carry the 1 ... yep, that leaves me with about 18 hours a week. Sigh. I really thought I'd be a lot further ahead on the whole time thing. I mean, what's left to do that would take up 18 hours every week? I've covered all the important things -- eating, shopping. What else could there be to possibly do?

Stupid rule. I hate rules.

Here's what I don't get: How could you steal your colleague's lunch? I mean, I could maybe understand it if it were an office where you're just visiting for the day, or if you're never going to see the people again. But your co-workers? You have to face them every day.

I love Morningstar Farms chik patties. To me, they taste better than actual chicken. I also love that they're freezable, so they make great lunches. I usually put the patty on an English muffin with a slice of Swiss cheese and a side of green peppers or carrots. It's a delicious, satisfying lunch.

So imagine my disappointment when I went to the freezer today and did not find my box of patties.

Never mind that I had to nosh on just an English muffin with Swiss cheese. What most disappoints me is that it had to be someone in this office, someone who wishes me a good morning or a good night. And you know it's gonna drive me nuts, right? Was it you? Or was it you? Or maybe it was you?

Yes, I can always buy another lunch at the cafeteria downstairs. Now if I could just do the same with new co-workers...

I recently did a count of how many television shows I regularly watch: 18. Seriously. I watch 18 television programs every week:

Prison Break
24
CSI: Miami
American Idol (or NCIS, when Idol is off the air)
The Unit
The Closer
Lost
CSI: NY
Survivor
CSI
Without a Trace
Close to Home
Numbers (alternatively, Battlestar Galactica)
Monk
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Grey's Anatomy
The Daily Show
Oprah

These aren't shows I watch every now and then -- I watch them regularly. They're all TiVo'd, in case I can't watch them live. And if you count the fact that "The Daily Show" and "Oprah" are on four and five times a week, respectively, that makes 25 hours of television per week. One full day per week. Thanks goodness my "No TV during summer" rule will be starting soon.

Now, if I could just figure out a way to make money off my TV-watching ...

How much do I love "Grey's Anatomy"?

Last night's season finale was amazing. I pretty much cried from 10:15 to 11:00.

My favorite moments:

· When Alex comforts Izzie after Denny died. He just scooped her up and held her. Sigh.
· When Christina tells Burke that she just did her best "supportive girlfriend" and he ruined it by asking about Denny.
· When Christina finally wises up and goes to Burke and holds his hand.
· When George apologizes to Meredith for sleeping with her even though he knew she didn't feel the same way about him as he did about her.
· When the dog is dying, and Meredith and Derek are both holding him, and Derek touches her hand.
· When Derek tells Meredith, "Do you think I want to be looking at you, instead of my wife?"
· When Callie walks in on Derek and Meredith. That look on her face was priceless.
· The very last moment, when Derek says, "Meredith," and tilts his head, to signal her to go with him.

Oh, and how amazing is Patrick Dempsey? If he doesn't win an Emmy, there is no justice in this world. He is just so unbelievably fantastic. It's a testament to his talent that you almost don't notice how awful an actress Ellen Pompeo is as Meredith. That's how good he is.

I don't know if I'll be able to wait four months for a new episode...

I hate TV network executives. I hate 'em. I hate 'em. I hate 'em.

Why do they have to pit my favorite shows against each other? Why should I have to pick between the "Grey's Anatomy" finale and "24"? Or between the "Lost" and "American Idol" finales?

Now, I'm sure all you the-glass-is-half-full types will say that this just means that there's so much good TV nowadays that there's no choice but to pit good shows against other good shows. And I agree ... somewhat. For every "Lost," there's a "War at Home." For each "Grey's Anatomy," there's a "Rodney." And for every "American Idol," there's an "American Idol."

And even if there were so many good shows on TV that networks had no choice but to air them opposite each other, do the finales have to be on the same night?

So I'll opt for the "Grey's Anatomy" finale over "24," and I'll definitely be watching "Lost," not "American Idol." But a girl shouldn't have to choose.

I know I haven't posted in a while, but nothing is going on. Seriously ... absolutely nothing. My life is so boring right now. I mean, I haven't even had a fight with a priest lately. Totally boring.

Let's hope things pick up soon. I mean, who'll write my blog if I'm in a coma?

I had my first tennis lesson yesterday. It was fun, but it's much harder than I thought. Just learning how to grip the handle was hard. I actually split open the skin on one of my knuckles. Hey, I'm a delicate flower, what can I say?

But the instructor did say I have good form. (Ahem.) I hope I learn enough in the next five weeks to be able to play with another person and not totally embarrass myself. I totally want to be one of those people who goes, "Hey, you wanna play a little tennis?" Yeah, I know, I'm really easy to please. (Spread it around.)