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1. I know it is silly, embarassingly so, actually, but am a little nervous about attending this Common Threads dinner thing tomorrow at my church. (I envy extroverts - life must be so easy, when you don't feel any anxiety doing stuff like this.) It's the tenth anniversary of an inter-faith - Muslim/Unitarian/Christian community dinner that the church I've joined has been holding since 9/11 - with the goal to bring people together. What I'm a little nervous about - is they need someone to attend and write an inspiring article/summary of the event to send to a newspaper. I decided to volunteer and I'm not entirely sure what I've gotten myself into. While I'm not a bad writer....
2. Today, on a random tv show which I'm not telling you the name of so don't ask, a character delivered this amazingly apropos monologue:
"My grandmother had a saying, Comparison is the killer of joy. And if you think about it- she was right. The minute you put yourself or what you have up against someone else, you'll feel inadequate or your ego gets so blown out of proportion - especially when you compare yourself to other people's relationships because there's always going to be another couple out there who is better off or worse off than you are and it's a false impression because no on really knows what works and doesn't work in that relationship except for the people who are in it."
(In the tv show the character's girlfriend was comparing their relationship to her parents epic romance and trying to live up to it, and he was telling her that it was impossible. Let that romance be theirs, this is ours. But I liked the quote because it is that rare speech that works beautifully out of context...and is universal. And well, it was what I need to hear. The problem with life is I'm reading or listening to other people's stories...and it hard not to compare them to my own. When by doing so, I'm doing both of us an egregious injustice. )
3. Speaking of relationships (and this may seem hypocritical in relation to the above, hopefully not - since it is really in regards to how relationships, specifically romantic ones are conveyed in a fictional setting) ...watching the Vampire Diaries has made me astutely aware of the fact that I've grown weary of the "love at first sight/endless love" trope, which while often confused with "Star-crossed" lovers, is not necessarily that. It appears in a lot of young adult romance novels - starting with Judy Blume's Forever (which I couldn't make it through) and ending with Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Or made quite popular in 1980s with the Brook Shields clunker - "Endless Love" and the 1990s Leo DiCaprio overhyped hit "Titantic". I liked it well enough in my 20s, now I find myself rolling my eyes. It just doesn't work for me anymore. I can see through the charade. I couldn't at 28. I can now. Odd how experience changes our outlook. Now, I look at a romance and I think, if you don't know the girl's friends, her family (particularly if she is close to them and lives with or near them), her hopes, her dreams, her fears, her mistakes and can't talk to her about things other than love ...then how is this love? Also if you are putting each other on pedestals, this love you have, is not going to last. Everyone argues. A little banter is good for the soul. I've seen healthy romantic relationships done well on tv - examples include Grey's Anatomy, The Good Wife, Brothers & Sisters, The West Wing, Parenthood, and As Time Goes By, not to mention Farscape. But for some reason or other, with the possible exception of Being Human, teen vampire shows can't handle it without either making my eyes roll at the syrupy dialogue or my inability to buy that these two people can love anyone. Is it the actors? Or just how it is written? I know Stefan and Elena talk about how to solve their dilemma (Caroline's a vamp) or (he's a vamp) but outside of that? Shrugs. Or maybe just the fact that the moment someone says the line "I have to know her" or "I saw you and I wanted to protect your heart, and hold it in my hands" or "when I kiss you, I want to die" or "I will 'always' love you..." I throw up in my mouth a little. (I almost didn't watch Vampire Diaries, because I had to get past Elena and Stefan, last night I realized - when their lives where once again potentially in danger (we should be so lucky), that I'd actually enjoy the show more if they weren't on it. I actually used to fast-forward through all their scenes.
( ridiculously long essay on romantic love in tv shows vs. actuality...and spoilers on Vampire Diaries - especially most recent episode. This isn't snarky, so much as vaguely critical and me musing on why the trope bothers me. )
[**Regarding essay and #2, please keep in mind that I'm well aware this is my opinion, I'm hardly an authority on this topic, and that mileage varies greatly. Also be mindful of my blood-pressure if you choose to disagree. Sort of tired of fighting. Do that all week, because work in an adversarial environment. So, am unlikely to fight online. Pooped or tired as it were.]
3. Big Bang Theory was awesome. Never laughed so hard during a comedy...outside of maybe MASH and Sienfield, also Fraiser on a good day. This is sort of the Seinfield of the new decade.
It lacks the model pretties of the other sitcoms, and the horrific physical embarrassment/practical joke humor that makes me cringe and flip the channel. Plus very witty.
With excellent one liners. I giggle uncontrollably during this show. And Penny is really starting to grow on me. The actress looks average, like most of us. Not stick thin. Pretty but not too pretty. I feel I know or have met these people and I really can't say that for 89% of the other comedies currently on tv. (Sigh nor do I want to know them. The temptation to throw pie in their faces would just overwhelm me.)
4. Rather enjoyed TV this week. Too frigging much of it though...and now they are adding the shows: Caprica, Wallender, Sherlock, and The Mistakes of Todd Martell or something (IFC Channel - about a salesman who moves to London to sell a toxic drink and makes a series of mistakes that put the entire city of London in jeopardy - it's a half-hour comedy by the guy who did Arrested Development. Has only six episodes.) I don't need more tv shows. Two Netflix DVDs have been sitting on my tv stand for the last two weeks now. My DVR is getting filled to the brim, and I feel like every night but Sat and Wed have five tv shows to watch.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday have gotten a tad bit crowded. Sunday is also having difficulties. Thank god for Wed and Sat! (And this in a nutshell is why I don't have HBO or bother with streaming video or download files - have enough tv shows to choose from as it is. Don't need more choices.)
( in case you are at all curious a snapshot of my busy tv viewing schedule, non-tv sluts? shoo!, you know who you are... )
5.) Still reading Storm of Swords - keep in mind the book is 1152 pages long and tiny words.
Plus I'm not reading it all the time. ( Read more... )
2. Today, on a random tv show which I'm not telling you the name of so don't ask, a character delivered this amazingly apropos monologue:
"My grandmother had a saying, Comparison is the killer of joy. And if you think about it- she was right. The minute you put yourself or what you have up against someone else, you'll feel inadequate or your ego gets so blown out of proportion - especially when you compare yourself to other people's relationships because there's always going to be another couple out there who is better off or worse off than you are and it's a false impression because no on really knows what works and doesn't work in that relationship except for the people who are in it."
(In the tv show the character's girlfriend was comparing their relationship to her parents epic romance and trying to live up to it, and he was telling her that it was impossible. Let that romance be theirs, this is ours. But I liked the quote because it is that rare speech that works beautifully out of context...and is universal. And well, it was what I need to hear. The problem with life is I'm reading or listening to other people's stories...and it hard not to compare them to my own. When by doing so, I'm doing both of us an egregious injustice. )
3. Speaking of relationships (and this may seem hypocritical in relation to the above, hopefully not - since it is really in regards to how relationships, specifically romantic ones are conveyed in a fictional setting) ...watching the Vampire Diaries has made me astutely aware of the fact that I've grown weary of the "love at first sight/endless love" trope, which while often confused with "Star-crossed" lovers, is not necessarily that. It appears in a lot of young adult romance novels - starting with Judy Blume's Forever (which I couldn't make it through) and ending with Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Or made quite popular in 1980s with the Brook Shields clunker - "Endless Love" and the 1990s Leo DiCaprio overhyped hit "Titantic". I liked it well enough in my 20s, now I find myself rolling my eyes. It just doesn't work for me anymore. I can see through the charade. I couldn't at 28. I can now. Odd how experience changes our outlook. Now, I look at a romance and I think, if you don't know the girl's friends, her family (particularly if she is close to them and lives with or near them), her hopes, her dreams, her fears, her mistakes and can't talk to her about things other than love ...then how is this love? Also if you are putting each other on pedestals, this love you have, is not going to last. Everyone argues. A little banter is good for the soul. I've seen healthy romantic relationships done well on tv - examples include Grey's Anatomy, The Good Wife, Brothers & Sisters, The West Wing, Parenthood, and As Time Goes By, not to mention Farscape. But for some reason or other, with the possible exception of Being Human, teen vampire shows can't handle it without either making my eyes roll at the syrupy dialogue or my inability to buy that these two people can love anyone. Is it the actors? Or just how it is written? I know Stefan and Elena talk about how to solve their dilemma (Caroline's a vamp) or (he's a vamp) but outside of that? Shrugs. Or maybe just the fact that the moment someone says the line "I have to know her" or "I saw you and I wanted to protect your heart, and hold it in my hands" or "when I kiss you, I want to die" or "I will 'always' love you..." I throw up in my mouth a little. (I almost didn't watch Vampire Diaries, because I had to get past Elena and Stefan, last night I realized - when their lives where once again potentially in danger (we should be so lucky), that I'd actually enjoy the show more if they weren't on it. I actually used to fast-forward through all their scenes.
( ridiculously long essay on romantic love in tv shows vs. actuality...and spoilers on Vampire Diaries - especially most recent episode. This isn't snarky, so much as vaguely critical and me musing on why the trope bothers me. )
[**Regarding essay and #2, please keep in mind that I'm well aware this is my opinion, I'm hardly an authority on this topic, and that mileage varies greatly. Also be mindful of my blood-pressure if you choose to disagree. Sort of tired of fighting. Do that all week, because work in an adversarial environment. So, am unlikely to fight online. Pooped or tired as it were.]
3. Big Bang Theory was awesome. Never laughed so hard during a comedy...outside of maybe MASH and Sienfield, also Fraiser on a good day. This is sort of the Seinfield of the new decade.
It lacks the model pretties of the other sitcoms, and the horrific physical embarrassment/practical joke humor that makes me cringe and flip the channel. Plus very witty.
With excellent one liners. I giggle uncontrollably during this show. And Penny is really starting to grow on me. The actress looks average, like most of us. Not stick thin. Pretty but not too pretty. I feel I know or have met these people and I really can't say that for 89% of the other comedies currently on tv. (Sigh nor do I want to know them. The temptation to throw pie in their faces would just overwhelm me.)
4. Rather enjoyed TV this week. Too frigging much of it though...and now they are adding the shows: Caprica, Wallender, Sherlock, and The Mistakes of Todd Martell or something (IFC Channel - about a salesman who moves to London to sell a toxic drink and makes a series of mistakes that put the entire city of London in jeopardy - it's a half-hour comedy by the guy who did Arrested Development. Has only six episodes.) I don't need more tv shows. Two Netflix DVDs have been sitting on my tv stand for the last two weeks now. My DVR is getting filled to the brim, and I feel like every night but Sat and Wed have five tv shows to watch.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday have gotten a tad bit crowded. Sunday is also having difficulties. Thank god for Wed and Sat! (And this in a nutshell is why I don't have HBO or bother with streaming video or download files - have enough tv shows to choose from as it is. Don't need more choices.)
( in case you are at all curious a snapshot of my busy tv viewing schedule, non-tv sluts? shoo!, you know who you are... )
5.) Still reading Storm of Swords - keep in mind the book is 1152 pages long and tiny words.
Plus I'm not reading it all the time. ( Read more... )
