Since my retirement from the day - to - day hustle and bustle I have had more time watch television. There seems to be some set patterns that have developed in the TV industry. Those who make movies and music albums seem to bounce from one talk show to the next with predictable frequency.

TV has been in the midst of the famous November sweeps. This is the month when television networks and individual stations throw everything they can to the viewer in hopes of winning the ratings battle. By getting the better ratings enables the network or station to charge more for their commercials and to attract more corporations and individual businesses to buy in to the media.

Little did Private Jessica Lynch think that while suffering in that hospital bed in Iraq that she would also become a prime feature in the November sweeps. The same can be said of Elizabeth Smart whose kidnapping gripped the nation’s hearts. Individual interviews with Katie Curic and Diane Sawyer plus hastily made movies for TV were a part of the exploitation of these girls in the rating battles.

Did you ever notice how many ladies on television have a never- ending battle with hair in their eyes? Some are constantly pushing their hair behind their ears only to have it pop out and drift across their eyes. Some ladies resort to flipping their heads around to throw the hair out of their eyes. There are others who seem to be at ease while hair covers at least one of their eyes.

Men are not to be left out as some of them have very noticeable toupees while others shave their heads. It’s kind of strange, but that’s the way it goes.

Then there are the guests on talk shows showing up wearing everything but outright rags while their hosts are prim and proper in three button suits. Is there a level in which you are rich enough to dress like a hobo?

Prior to the lunar eclipse one meteorologist said, “the moon will be low on the horizon when it rises”. Wow, how could he have known such an outstanding scientific fact?

Soon, if not already, the weathermen will be working the chill factor to death. This is just to add dramatics to a dull weather forecast. How many of us would know what a certain temperature feels like? The only temperature I can guess is 2 to three below zero. My nostrils stick together.

There is only one other TV irritant greater than all of those I just mentioned and that is the talking at once by guests and hosts of talk shows. The “View” is one of those shows. It seems as though that it does not matter what anyone else is saying, if someone thinks they can top what they hear, they just blurt it out and eventually you do not know what anyone is saying.

Recently Jeanne and I spent two nights on Put-In-Bay. We were guests at the Get Away Bed and Breakfast. This beautiful bed and breakfast establishment is rises up from the first structure on the island, a log cabin built around 1830. Even though the island was almost void of tourists, it was still a great experience. Having breakfast already prepared for you in the mornings is a tremendous thing. Walking around the island, we were soon aware of how friendly the people are on this rather historic island.

The islanders were quick to remind us that they were on “island time” which means nothing is on schedule except the Miller ferries. Stores would open only if the owner felt like it. This is much different than the busy schedules during the tourism season. This provided us with a new view of what relaxation is all about.

The United States government has built a new interpretation center on the west side of the Perry Peace Memorial. History books, artifacts of the Battle of Lake Erie, videos and live cameras from atop the memorial are just a few of the features of this new center. You will want to spend some time here.

A feature on the Internet about Put-In-Bay is the www.pibtv.com here you will be able to view live web cams showing the activity on the island. You will also be able to get a good idea of all the features you will see while visiting.