TGIF...or, maybe not.....?

Fridays evenings used mean so much to me and mine - the freedom of the weekend, no restrictions imposed by time or space or responsibility. We could stay up, drink up, and have a wild ol' time watching Conan burn up the TV with his comedic hi-jinx. Of course, we watched during the week as well, but in a more restrained peeking-through-the-eyelids way that a 6am wake-up call will bring. On Fridays, it was anything goes!! Party like it's 1999 and all that kind of merry-making!
AND....even though the last strains of Max and the band brought the atmosphere down a bit, the same way the lights coming up at the club mean it's time to find your keys and get a good look at the person you were dirty dancing with (MY GOD!)....there was always the sweet knowledge that peeking just around the other side of the weekend was another grouping of Conan's shows, and all seemed right with the world.
But the ice cold water of reality, and lack of Conan, has slapped us in the face and/or groin in a way that makes Friday seem like just another weeknight. Those of us who frequent the "I'm With Coco" board have had to come up with ways to fill our late evening hours. Many have acquired well-protected Coco clips from past shows (hidden Anne Frank-style from the NBC stormtroopers now patrolling the 'net) and will cautiously share them to brighten our dark hours. Some have tried other late-night offerings, finding a laugh or two but usually only perking up when Conan is mentioned in a monologue (or that OTHER guy is slammed - oh, delicious retribution!)
Some have taken to sleeping, a novel idea for late night; some to reading or writing or rocking and rolling. Many of us just flock to the site itself and talk about how funny it would be if Conan were still on......Oh, the laughs we'd be having!!! In many ways, it makes the empty nights almost bearable.... Now that Conan is on Twitter many hang out there, as well. I do not. While I will pop on once a day or so to pretend like I know what I am doing, I don't linger for fear of being spotted by the "cool kids." I have even made up a term for myself - I am a Twittiot. But I try, for Conan I try.....
And as for Mondays.....well, this upcoming Monday will be a particularly bitter one for we the Coco-Nuts. Under ordinary circumstances, we'd be rejoicing that the Olympics are FINALLY over and the Tonight Show is returning. Only, in this dark parallel universe from which there is no escape (cue building sinister music) this event to come is now salt in a still fresh wound. Because while the show (or whatever skeleton remains) is returning, Conan is not. The King has been disposed and the Town Idiot has acquired the throne. "It is 11:35pm (10:35 central) and all is NOT well...."
So we wait. Fridays are still fun in many ways, I don't have to lay out my kids' clothes or check homework or rotate through bath times. I can stay up, drink up, and maybe read a good book or give my husband a "come hither" look....(That rhyme was intentional, but unnecessary now that I look at it. Hmmm....) Life is still full and wonderful, no TV show or lack thereof can alter THAT reality. But just like Barbara Streisand sang all those years ago, it is the laughter we will remember....and right now it just doesn't seem like we are building enough memories.