My TV viewing is mostly snippets of whatever my wife is watching

This is a common scene in our house:

Terry will be taking a break from one of the million tasks, large and small, that comprise her day. She often does this by plopping down on the couch with a cup of coffee to watch television.

She will be happily watching something when I come wandering into the living room. The screen catches my eye. I stand there for a few minutes watching with her.

I become sufficiently interested that I will ask her a few questions about the characters and the plot. Then I either stand and watch some more, or else I head off to do whatever it was I had intended to do in the first place.

Then it happens again in a day or two. Sometimes I will actually sit down and watch for 10 or 15 minutes. More often than not, though, I stand. Dads often do this and I don't know why. Maybe we simply don't want to commit.

Anyway, over time, I become familiar enough with the show that I can pop in six episodes later and quickly catch up on the action.

Sometimes it's a Netflix series, other times it's a competition show like "Dancing with the Stars." Either way, I never watch the whole thing with her, but rather just enough to establish a baseline level of knowledge that allows me to ask educated questions like, "Are those kids on 'The Fosters' still making bad choices?"

I don't think of myself as a TV guy, and it's not because I have any objections to TV. Nowadays, there's far more good writing and acting on TV than there is in movies.

It's just that, for the most part, I don't have time for it. I choose to fill my non-working hours with other things that aren't any better or worse than TV. They're just other choices.

But Terry has good taste in onscreen entertainment, so quite often when I shuffle through the living room, I see something interesting. I know I should be tackling a particular chore or getting ready to leave for a PA announcing gig or something, but I can't seem to look away.

So I end up watching maybe 15% of a multi-season series through a string of 10-minute (or smaller) chunks of viewing.

If there are important bits I know I've missed, YouTube will more often than not have those scenes and I can use that to fill in my knowledge gaps.

It's not the recommended way to enjoy high- (or low-) quality television, but I can tell you it works.

10 Reasons I Enjoy Having Daughters

My wife and I have three girls and two boys. I love 'em all, but this is what I like specifically about having daughters:

(1) The house always smell nice: Girls use all kinds of nice-smelling lotions, perfumes and shampoos, and the residual fragrance makes our house smell better. It's a nice perk, actually.

(2) If there's a delicate subject to be broached with them, it automatically falls to my wife: Not that I can't talk to my girls about anything, but really, when the subject is the three-letter word that starts with "S" and ends with "EX," or is anything to do with feminine hygiene, those are things best handled by Terry. And this is fine by me.

(3) They talk: And in some cases, they talk and talk and talk and talk, ad infinitum. But my point is, they communicate. My son Jared is a good kid, but his preferred method of communication is the Universal Grunt System. The girls use actual words, which as a marketing/PR professional I prefer.

(4) I have an excuse to watch girly shows: I kind of like "Dancing With the Stars." And "Pretty Little Liars." And just about any other show that's geared toward women (which is to say, 85% of television content these days). When someone calls me on it, I can just say, "Eh, Terry and the girls had control of the TV so I had to watch it."

(5) I can do a ponytail and operate a barrette: Well, sort of. I'm no expert, but my work in this area is passable. These are skills I obviously wouldn't have picked up had we had five sons.

(6) I get the opportunity to coach girls sports: That sounds kind of creepy on the surface, but what I mean is that I like coaching girls. They tend to be a little more compliant and coachable than boys, especially at older ages. Give me a team of 12-year-old female soccer players over their male counterparts any day (though if Jack keeps playing, I'll probably have a boys team to coach in just a couple of years).

(7) They like to cook and bake: I realize a lot of boys enjoy this, too (Jack being one of them). But generally speaking, girls get into this more than boys. The result is a variety of excellent desserts and other concoctions that I get to sample.

(8) Easier diaper changing: At least for me. My experience is that it's easier to clean and change a baby girl than it is a baby boy. And that's all I'll say about that.

(9) I learn new things all the time: Boy stuff I already know. I've been experiencing boy stuff for 42 years. But there's always something new to learn about girls. They surprise and fascinate me all the time.

(10) They really are Daddy's Little Girls: My wife has always said that our girls have me wrapped around their little fingers. She is, as is so often the case, exactly right. Maybe this is a bad thing, but I do enjoy spoiling my daughters when I get the chance.

COMING TOMORROW: 10 Reasons I Enjoy Having Sons

10 more random thoughts on a Friday

(1) My daughter is getting ready to send out graduation announcements. What is the function of the graduation announcement? I'll tell you what it is. It's a subtle way of telling people, "Pssssst! Hey! I won't say no if you choose to send me a graduation gift. I prefer check or money order."

(2) My wife is a genius when it comes to "Dancing With the Stars." (Yes, I do occasionally watch "Dancing With the Stars." Sue me.) A couple will perform, and even before the judges give their post-dance comments, she'll say something like, "Oh, that's going to be two 8's and a 9." And sure enough, at least three-quarters of the time when the judges reveal their scores, she'll be right on. I don't understand how someone can be so deeply connected with the DWTS judges...or would even want to be.

(3) I have not used a wash cloth in the shower since...forever. I have never used a washcloth in the shower. Am I supposed to? Do most adults use them? I always thought my hands, tiny as they are, were sufficient.

(4) I understand that society expects older women to have shorter hair. I just don't understand why.

(5) Hanes makes these t-shirts they call "Beefy T's." This absolutely cracks me up. I guess it's the use of the word "beefy." I have no desire to be described as "beefy," nor do I think my t-shirts need to fit that designation.

(6) Place I Want to Visit That No One From the U.S. Ever Travels To: Finland

(7) Mundane Everyday Activity That I Enjoy Far More Than Is Normal: Flossing

(8) Since the kids were little, I've done this thing where I try to get them to put their hands on the kitchen table so I can pound them (their hands, not any other part of the kids themselves). Now that they're older, it's getting harder and harder to trick them into putting their hand on the table. But I can usually get Jared to do it. I'll rub a spot on the table and say something like, "Feel this. It's like somebody spilled glue here." And then he'll rub it and I'll pound his hand and say, "What have I taught you? NEVER put your hand on the table!" These sorts of pointless memories are exactly what dads are for, you understand.

(9) I enjoy the little show my auto mechanic and I put on every time one of my cars needs fixing. He'll take a look at it, figure out the problem, and then explain it to me in very masculine terms. Many times I'll actually understand what he's talking about. But most of the time, not so much. Yet I continue to listen intently to his explanation and nod thoughtfully, even though I quickly realize I have no idea what he's saying, and he clearly knows I have no idea what he's saying. He does it simply to preserve my Manly Pride, and I admire him greatly for it.

(10) No matter how old I get, Hogan's Heroes will always be funny. Always.