Random Stuff

May 11, 2010

--I'm pretty excited that I'm going to be chaperoning Grad Nite this year. It's been a long time since I've signed on for that duty, mainly because when the kids were younger it was harder to get away over night. This year, though, they're having such a hard time getting people to sign up that there are extra spaces on the bus. If my sister can get away, she gets to join me, which would be so much fun! We've been to Disneyland together with our kids before, but never just the two of us. It will be a blast!

--Bree had AP Psych testing today and AP Comp testing tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be all kinds of relieved once she's done with all of that.

--Nicholas has grown like a weed this school year. I wouldn't doubt if he'd sprouted up five inches or so. He surpassed me at the beginning of the school year, and I think right now he's got at least an inch on his dad. He's definitely not done yet, either, since he's only in 7th grade.

--Danielle wants to attend Young Chef's Academy this summer. It's kind of expensive, but I think if we can swing it, we'll let her go. I think she'll get a lot out of it, and we'll get to be her taste-testers at home, too.

--I was reminded again today of one of my big pet peeves while in the drive-through at McDonald's. Danielle and I stopped there on our way to the Parent Club meeting at school this evening. She ordered a kids' meal, as she usually does, and the young man taking our order asked me if I wanted the "Boy Toy" or the "Girl Toy" to go with it. Why do they have to perpetuate stereotypes like that? Why can't they just ask if the kid wants a car or a doll? I spoke back to the speaker box and said, "SHE wants a car." "She wants the Boy Toy?" "She wants the CAR. Thank you!" Seriously, it makes me crazy. When Danielle was little, it really used to confuse her and make her cry, because she thought that if she wanted the "Boy Toy," people would think she was a boy .Now she's just amused that it annoys me.


--I read a headline today that said there was a Korean woman who took 960 tries to pass her driver's test. 960? Shouldn't there be a limit on that sort of thing? At some point, shouldn't someone take the girl aside and help her focus on picking up a different hobby? "Listen, Sweetie, maybe driving's not your thing. Have you thought about taking up knitting or cooking or fencing? Let's maybe leave the driving to the people who pass within, oh, say, the first five or six tries, huh?"

--Yesterday I found out that Mia Michaels is going to replace Mary Murphy as a permanent judge on So You Think You Can Dance this season. Finally! Mia isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love her. Mary will be back for the audition rounds and will appear now and then as guest judge, but we won't have to endure her every single week. Honestly, once you've become a caricature of yourself, it's time to move on. She was beginning to turn the show into a punchline.


--Doug has wistfully mentioned many times that all of his co-workers' wives make their lunches for them each day. I think it's only a little tongue in cheek when he says he wishes his wife loved him enough to make his lunch for him. I could, I guess, but my goodness--I don't even make the kids' lunches for school. I give them lunch money. Does that make me a bad mother? A bad wife? In the fifties, perhaps, but c'mon! It's not like I don't do lots of other things to take care of all of them. Why is that the one thing that seems to be stuck in old-school gender roles? I don't expect someone else to make my lunch for me when I go to work; I'm a grown-up and I know where the kitchen is. Doug's pretty handy in the kitchen, too. It doesn't mean I don't love him if he goes in and makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for himself to put in his lunch pail.

Because I've Got So Many Brain Cells To Kill

April 15, 2010

GLEE is back! I love that show, and I've been one of the many who has anxiously awaited its return. Some of the reasons I love GLEE? Lea Michelle has a fabulous voice, the character Brittany cracks me up ("Sometimes, I forget my middle name..."), Chris Colfer is from our home town, the dialogue is quick and witty, especially between Shu and Sue, and the muscial power numbers are fantastic. Add to that all the guest spots coming up (thank you, Neil Patrick Harris!) and themed shows--what more could you ask for? Oh--and how could I forget? My sister will be making an appearance in the show on one of the episodes this spring, which is very cool indeed.

Dancing With the Stars--Can anyone tell me how Kate Gosslin is still on DWTS? How does she still have fans? Are people just voting for her because she's got all those adorable kids? Voting for someone because they're good at procreating is incomprehensible. She either sleepwalks or stomps through her routine, and her facial expressions are zombie-like on the dance floor. Not appealing. Not at all. And her personality in the behind-the-scenes packages comes off as whiny and annoying--less than endearing. So why has she not been voted off yet??

Speaking of dancing, I'm not sure I'm a big fan of all the changes that are coming to So You Think You Can Dance. Old contestants are coming back to partner with new dancers, but they're cutting down the finalists to a Top Ten, instead of a Top Twenty. Have they exhausted the pool of good dancers? Probably not, but I guess the producers feel that re-introducing familiar faces will draw more viewers. I have to admit, though, there are a few of the dancers I'm excited to see returning--Pasha, Mark, Twitch, Anya, Allison, and Dominic. I think there are a few more they have yet to announce, too. Is it too much to ask for to have Nick or Blake back from Season One? I also think it's a pretty safe bet to assume that dancers like Travis and Benji will continue to be around in the role of choreographer, which is great. I can't wait to see Adam as judge again, and I'm hoping Wade will still be a part of the show. Mary I could do without.

I'm not going to admit to watching American Idol, because I've already given away that I watch too much T.V., but if I WERE going to admit it, I would have to note here how happy I was to see Nuttin' But Stringz putting on a performance the other night. Those boys are just fantastic, and to be visually represented by Travis Wall's amazing dance number was the perfect complement to their music.

While we're on the subject of television, let's talk about Modern Family. This is the best show to hit the airwaves in a long time. Witty dialogue, dead-on delivery, characters that are completely believable and relatable, and flat-out funny situations. This is a true ensemble cast--I can't pick out a member among them who is dead weight.

Between the shows, of course, are all the commercials. Obviously, in today's world of Tivo/DVRs, many of us fast-forward through all the commercials. Some of them still sneak into our consciousness, though, either because their arresting images make us rewind the DVR to see what we missed, or because (gasp!) we're watching a show in real time. Here are a few commercials that have caught my attention, for better or worse:

The Crazy Burger King: This guy has got to be the creepiest mascot in the history of mascots. They used to have him standing outside bedroom windows at night, staring ominously in. Then they had him standing over unsuspecting sleepers in their bedrooms. (If I woke up and saw that guy standing over my bed, I would NOT be thinking, "Hey, I'm kinda hungry for a burger." I'd grab the mace or the baseball bat by my bed and start swinging.) Now, instead of being a silent stalker, he's grabbing food out of people's hands and running through plate glass windows. Doesn't that make you hungry? No? Me neither.

Flo the Progressive Girl: Doesn't everybody love this girl? What an infectious personality! I wish she'd move next door to us. She seems like she'd make the perfect BFF. Wouldn't it be fun to go shopping with her? She'd convince everyone to let us name our own prices and we could carry around our own pricing guns. We tried to get Bree to dress up as Flo for Halloween last year, but she didn't go for it. I think it would have been an awesome costume.

I'm On a Horse Guy: Look at me. Now look at your man. Now BACK TO ME. Who cares what this guy is selling--you've just got to follow his commands, no? What is he selling, anyway? (According to the picture, I guess it's Old Spice.)

Stolen Butterfinger Commercial: Okay, so I'm no fan of violent means to an end, but that commercial is funny! I hate to say it serves him right, but...there's an app for that.
Oh, I'm sure there are lots more I could talk about, but my DVR is overflowing. I've got to go clear some space.

Escapism

I spent my evening last night in the company of some fine people--talented, funny, and interesting. Oh yeah--and fictional, some of them. I'm pretty excited about the return of GLEE. Hubby and daughter and I all watched the premiere several months ago, and have been anxiously awaiting the beginning of the actual season. The show was lots of fun--a good combination of quirky and funny and touching. (Not to mention the powerhouse voices!) I was also thrilled that we wouldn't have to wait nearly as long as usual for the newest season of So You Think You Can Dance, which premiered its new season last night as well. (We are huge fans--we've even gone to see the tours each year, and won backstage passes one year as well. It was quite cool!) Finally, although last night wasn't the 1st episode of the season, it was Top Chef night. I'll tune in to see Tom and Padma any day. (Plus, watching the show makes hubby want to try all kinds of new culinary adventures, so that's a bonus!)