I’d like to say that I haven’t posted since Monday because I’ve been soooo busy. I’d like to say that but it’s not true. What *is* true is that I got a new laptop and had my hair done last night and HAD to spend two freaking hours watching American Idol just because. By then, I was plumb out of creativity. So this morning I had a thought! (amazing, innit?) During my copious free time in front of a screen at work, I would write my blog post, save it to Google Docs and then upload it tonight. So, here it is.
Behold: Wednesday Whatevers
American Idol
Despite my better instincts, I’ve once again been pulled into watching this hideous show. I’m in need of some “community” and nothing creates that better than hanging on the edge of insanity that is being an AI fan. Trust me. Been there, done that, apparently doing it again. I was reading a recap over on Television without Pity and this snippet by recapper Jacob (who had a serious love/hate thing with sekrit boyfriend back in the day and was the reason I got banned like four hundred times over there) just cracked me up:
“One time the sun rose. Another time, the judges deliberated. Then it was nighttime. The lights were off in the Kodak but the judges kept deliberating. They held pictures of people we don’t know or care about in their hands, while children held hands in rooms and hotties and freaks alike sat around and acted weird. There were people in Room One. Like Kara said something was “genius” one time, and Randy said some shit, and somebody else didn’t impress Simon.”
That’s pretty much what it was like for two hours. What was I thinking? No wonder I always skip Hollywood week. I popped into the forums over on TWOP and quickly remembered why I never much ventured out of the DC forum. Those people are MEAN! Seriously. Mean. That vibration is just a bit too low for me to wade in. Blargh. I’ll wait until I have a favorite and then see what transpires from there.
Roger Ebert
Have you guys had the opportunity to read the article on him in Esquire magazine? I’ve never been a big fan (I’m not at all a moviephile) but knew who he was, of course. And I only vaguely remembered that he had some serious cancer issues but wasn’t at all aware that he’s had most of his jaw removed as a result. He is on my Twitter feed and I have to say that I find him to be one of the best ones out there. He’s on enough to be present but never too much so that you’re like “shut up already”. (As an aside, remind me to tell you about Prince tweeting. It is hiliarious.) The article in Esquire was really eye-opening and reminds me how some people find the joy in living even when some of the most basic things (in his case speaking, eating and drinking) are no longer possible.
He blogs over on the suntimes website – check it out. He writes about all kinds of stuff.
This, from the interview, is quite perfectly lovely:
“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.”
Go read the Esquire article – it’s not overly long and gave me a great sense of appreciation of his life, his work and beyond that, gratitude for what I take for granted each day.
Prince on Twitter
Listen, I was digging on Prince before anyone knew who he was – wayyy before Purple Rain. So I feel I have a right to tee-hee about him tweeting. First off, he typed in all caps. And what he was saying sounded oddly stilted. Like the new kid in school came over to your circle of friends and just started shouting really loudly about nothing at all. I figured it had to be the real Prince because I suspect that his social interactions with others are just as stilted and awkward as those tweets. (It’s kind of cute, actually. Like watching your child learn something new.) While he’s not quite up to Roger Ebert twitter standards, I predict that it will be a good medium for him. After all, he was speaking like that a long time ago. (“I would die 4U” anyone?)
And finally, now that I am home again, here is craptastic news: the pool at the gym (you know, my happy place??) is busted. Good thing my friend Christine strong-armed me into getting on the treadmill. I was so distraught, I almost cried right there. (Not really but I could have!) It won’t be fixed for at least another week. However will I lure myself to the gym now? (sigh)
I like Tyler. (American Idol…that’s what we’re talkin’ about, right?)
I’m a big fan of Roger’s, too. He’s one of the few (only?) movie reviewers to ever win a Pulitzer. And he’s handled his health struggles with great dignity. What I didn’t know, until Twitter, was how fucking funny he is! It doesn’t hurt that he, like you, is one of the few Twitter-ers who is even more progressive/liberal than I am. Nothing is worse than reading a tweet from someone and then being disappointed in their world view.
I missed AI last night, but then, I don’t usually watch this early. I’m sure I’ll be sucked in and addicted in no time. Especially since Comcast is nice enough to put each week’s new NCIS on On Demand the next morning, so there is no conflict between Idol and my “if only I could be the next ex-Mrs.-Special-Agent-Gibbs” fantasy. From what I’ve seen this year, though, I wish Paula had stayed and Randy had gone. I haven’t heard any good Randy speak yet. No “dawg,” no “keepin’ it real,” nothing. I feel like he’s bored with it. Whatever else we could say about Paula, she was never bored, or boring.