Robin Sparkles

The area we live in is technology deficient. We do not have cell phone coverage, high-speed data lines, or cable TV. This isn’t because we’ve rejected the modern world and it certainly isn’t by choice, at least for the first two. We would like to have them but they are not available to us because our topography hinders cellular transmission signals and the houses are too far apart to make cable lines financially feasible. Heck, we can’t even get voice mail on our phone plan. Many homes have satellite dishes for TV and a few have them for Internet usage. We don’t watch enough TV to justify the monthly expense and data transmission with satellite is unreliable and frequently down due to local weather conditions. This explains why our TV viewing is limited to broadcast signals from Albany. We have evolved our viewing habits to what the three networks air because those are the only ones we receive.

One of our guilty pleasures is How I Met Your Mother. It has surprised me that the second season is better than the first and we look forward to watching it each week. Last night’s show was the best one yet. Part of the episode dealt with the mysterious past of Robin, the tall dark haired woman. Her boyfriend is Ted, the main character and all around nice guy, like the Jerry character on Seinfeld but without the stiffness and cynicism.

SPOILER ALERT! Plot development revealed.

Ted tries to discover what Robin is hiding in her past and discusses it with his friends: Barney, Lily, and Marshall. They reach the conclusion that Robin is hiding an early marriage she made in Canada. The best part is Robin uses the marital fiction to hide the real story – she used to be 80s pop princess Robin Sparkles. If you know Alanis Morrisette’s early background – another Canadian 80's pop princess – then her backstory is even funnier. The song and video are excellent at detailing the 80's elements and Robin shines as a video star, all with an impeccable accent.

Watch the video

ROBIN'S smash debut album released on Canadian Pop Records May 1993 (= Canada sometime in the 1980's)