I'm having a good morning so far, so I hate to rant, but I'm listening to "A Gleeful Podcast" - my first time to listen to a Glee podcast. I was so excited to listen to the discussion of the "Grilled Cheezus" episode that I love so much. So far I'm mostly just really annoyed, especially with the guy who's talking, Josh. He is so critical! And he doesn't get his facts straight. Finn didn't sing the Billy Joel song, Puck did. Finn wasn't in the hospital scene at all. And Chris Colfer didn't lose the Emmy to Aaron Paul from "Breaking Bad," because that was the drama category. Chris lost to Eric Stonestreet from "Modern Family." I understand no one's perfect, but if you're going to discuss a show, the characters and the people who play them, at least know what you're talking about most of the time.
I don't expect everyone to have the reactions I do. And I can see some validity to some of his criticisms. But I just felt like he was way too picky. Does he even like the show?
Now I'm listening to the podcast on the Britney Spears episode. Nearly ten minutes into the podcast, and they have not said one word about the episode yet; they're going on and on about other stuff. These people come across as quite self-absorbed. I'm disappointed. I expected people who make a Glee podcast to really like the show, and what I've heard so far is a little praise and a lot of pickiness.
Maybe I need to do a Glee podcast. :)
librarianintx
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
more on Glee
from last week's episode:
Mercedes to Kurt (in the church): "I know you don't believe in G-d. You don't believe in the power of prayer, and that's okay. To each his own. But you've gotta believe in something. Something more than you can touch, taste, or see. Cause life is too hard to go through it alone. Without something to hold on to. And without something that's sacred. Anyway, Kurt, this song is for you."
From this week's episode:
Kurt to his father: "I'm the only openly gay kid in my high school. In this town. I mean, why can't I walk hand-in-hand down the hall with the person that I like? Why can't I slow dance at my prom?"
Burt: "You think I don't want those things for you? I do. You know, until you find somebody as open, and as brave, as you are, you're just gonna have to get used to goin' it alone."
Also from this week's episode:
Rachel to Kurt: "I know you're lonely. I cant' even imagine how hard it must be to have feelings in high school you can't act on for fear of being humiliated, ridiculed, or worse...That's 12 people who love you, Kurt, for being exactly who you are. I know you're lonely, but you're not alone."
After last week's spectacular episode, I was a little nervous that this week would be a let down. Luckily, I was wrong. "Duets" gave the audience a little bit of everything we expect from Glee - laughter, heartbreak, surprises, conflict, and show-stopping performances.
Since last week was basically a total Kurt episode, I expected him to be relegated to the background this week. I am so glad I was wrong. Building on the feelings of isolation from last week, one of the major themes from this week's episode was Kurt wanting to sing a duet with the new boy in the club, Sam, as well as Kurt's belief that Sam "bats for his team." With the topics of gay teen suicide and bullying so much in the news these days, as well as the ongoing debate about gay marriage and "Don't Ask Don't Tell," Kurt's loneliness and frustration, communicated so brilliantly by Chris Colfer, were so vital for the viewing audience to witness. Add to this another poignant scene between Kurt and his dad, and a verbal argument between Finn and Kurt, with Finn asking Kurt to back off of Sam for the good of the glee club, and you've got a wonderfully complex mix of emotion and hot button issues for family discussion.
And while I'm on the subject of Chris Colfer (when am I not these days?) :-) let's talk about his two numbers in the show. "Le Jazz Hot" from Victor/Victoria...are you serious? No professional experience before Glee? So hard to believe. That was one of the biggest production numbers on the show to date, and he NAILED it! Wow!
And then at the end of the show, we are treated to a performance by two of the biggest divas on the show, singing together simply for the love of performing, not because they were trying to win the duets competition. Rachel's supportive comments and finally a smile from Kurt after so much pain made the Streisand/Garland homage of "Happy Days/Get Happy" an absolute joy to experience. Rachel beamed, Kurt exuded confidence, and their voices blended gloriously. It was the kind of performance that you witness with a smile on your face and tears in your eyes. This is what Glee is all about.
There was so much emotional depth to this episode. Kurt's plea for understanding. Rachel's altruism. Quinn's hesistant steps toward a new relationship. Sam's maturity for not breaking his promise to sing with Kurt. And in the surprise of the night, Brittany feeling guilty for taking advantage of Artie in hopes of winning the contest. I did not see that one coming. For Artie, sex is a more complicated issue. Here, the tables were turned, and the man was the vulnerable one who got played. For the first time we get to see Brittany as a person with real feelings, not the dumb blonde cheerleader. Oh, the tangled webs these kids weave. And the next few weeks will only yield further complications.
My main concern at this point is Kurt fatigue. Chris Colfer is so adept at communicating pain, and the writers are giving him numerous opportunities to showcase that talent. The character of Kurt is receiving quite a bit of sympathy and support, and the young man who portrays him is enjoying well-deserved praise and very early Emmy buzz. But there are already rumblings of discontent. "I'm tired of every episode being about Kurt." "I want to be entertained when I watch Glee, not look at Kurt's sour expression every two minutes." "Enough with the gay storyline, I'm sick of it." I'm not too worried yet, though. There have been Kurt-haters from the beginning, as well as Rachel and Quinn-haters as well. The haters are a small and not very vocal subset of the Gleek population.
Another surprise in the episode: Brittany and Santana's little makeout scene. Tame though it was, this is a prime time television show on a major network that families often watch together. While I'm happy to note that I haven't heard much criticism of the scene, I know how our country operates, and it saddens me to firmly believe that Kurt and his boyfriend of the future will not have an opportunity to display such affection for each other. I would be thrilled to be proven wrong on this point.
librarianintx
Mercedes to Kurt (in the church): "I know you don't believe in G-d. You don't believe in the power of prayer, and that's okay. To each his own. But you've gotta believe in something. Something more than you can touch, taste, or see. Cause life is too hard to go through it alone. Without something to hold on to. And without something that's sacred. Anyway, Kurt, this song is for you."
From this week's episode:
Kurt to his father: "I'm the only openly gay kid in my high school. In this town. I mean, why can't I walk hand-in-hand down the hall with the person that I like? Why can't I slow dance at my prom?"
Burt: "You think I don't want those things for you? I do. You know, until you find somebody as open, and as brave, as you are, you're just gonna have to get used to goin' it alone."
Also from this week's episode:
Rachel to Kurt: "I know you're lonely. I cant' even imagine how hard it must be to have feelings in high school you can't act on for fear of being humiliated, ridiculed, or worse...That's 12 people who love you, Kurt, for being exactly who you are. I know you're lonely, but you're not alone."
After last week's spectacular episode, I was a little nervous that this week would be a let down. Luckily, I was wrong. "Duets" gave the audience a little bit of everything we expect from Glee - laughter, heartbreak, surprises, conflict, and show-stopping performances.
Since last week was basically a total Kurt episode, I expected him to be relegated to the background this week. I am so glad I was wrong. Building on the feelings of isolation from last week, one of the major themes from this week's episode was Kurt wanting to sing a duet with the new boy in the club, Sam, as well as Kurt's belief that Sam "bats for his team." With the topics of gay teen suicide and bullying so much in the news these days, as well as the ongoing debate about gay marriage and "Don't Ask Don't Tell," Kurt's loneliness and frustration, communicated so brilliantly by Chris Colfer, were so vital for the viewing audience to witness. Add to this another poignant scene between Kurt and his dad, and a verbal argument between Finn and Kurt, with Finn asking Kurt to back off of Sam for the good of the glee club, and you've got a wonderfully complex mix of emotion and hot button issues for family discussion.
And while I'm on the subject of Chris Colfer (when am I not these days?) :-) let's talk about his two numbers in the show. "Le Jazz Hot" from Victor/Victoria...are you serious? No professional experience before Glee? So hard to believe. That was one of the biggest production numbers on the show to date, and he NAILED it! Wow!
And then at the end of the show, we are treated to a performance by two of the biggest divas on the show, singing together simply for the love of performing, not because they were trying to win the duets competition. Rachel's supportive comments and finally a smile from Kurt after so much pain made the Streisand/Garland homage of "Happy Days/Get Happy" an absolute joy to experience. Rachel beamed, Kurt exuded confidence, and their voices blended gloriously. It was the kind of performance that you witness with a smile on your face and tears in your eyes. This is what Glee is all about.
There was so much emotional depth to this episode. Kurt's plea for understanding. Rachel's altruism. Quinn's hesistant steps toward a new relationship. Sam's maturity for not breaking his promise to sing with Kurt. And in the surprise of the night, Brittany feeling guilty for taking advantage of Artie in hopes of winning the contest. I did not see that one coming. For Artie, sex is a more complicated issue. Here, the tables were turned, and the man was the vulnerable one who got played. For the first time we get to see Brittany as a person with real feelings, not the dumb blonde cheerleader. Oh, the tangled webs these kids weave. And the next few weeks will only yield further complications.
My main concern at this point is Kurt fatigue. Chris Colfer is so adept at communicating pain, and the writers are giving him numerous opportunities to showcase that talent. The character of Kurt is receiving quite a bit of sympathy and support, and the young man who portrays him is enjoying well-deserved praise and very early Emmy buzz. But there are already rumblings of discontent. "I'm tired of every episode being about Kurt." "I want to be entertained when I watch Glee, not look at Kurt's sour expression every two minutes." "Enough with the gay storyline, I'm sick of it." I'm not too worried yet, though. There have been Kurt-haters from the beginning, as well as Rachel and Quinn-haters as well. The haters are a small and not very vocal subset of the Gleek population.
Another surprise in the episode: Brittany and Santana's little makeout scene. Tame though it was, this is a prime time television show on a major network that families often watch together. While I'm happy to note that I haven't heard much criticism of the scene, I know how our country operates, and it saddens me to firmly believe that Kurt and his boyfriend of the future will not have an opportunity to display such affection for each other. I would be thrilled to be proven wrong on this point.
librarianintx
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Glee
It was a profoundly moving episode of "Glee" last week. I'm still processing my reaction to it. For those of you who haven't seen it, find it on the Internet and watch it!! :)
In the episode, Kurt's dad has a heart attack and nearly dies. As his glee club friends do their best to support him by singing spiritual songs and taking turns praying for his father at his bedside, Kurt struggles with his grief and fear, as well as his firm belief that G-d does not exist. People in pain often lash out when loved ones are trying to help, and Kurt's frustrations with his peers' constant religious interruptions further alienates him at a time when he really needs his friends around him.
This episode was sheer genius to me. The writing was truly inspired. In typical Glee fashion, the dialogue went from laugh out loud funny to achingly poignant to rather odball.
Several of the cast members were given the opportunity to shine, but no one as brightly or dramatically as Chris Colfer. WOW. The level of despair and heartbreak he communicated was overwhelming. His rendition of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was breathtaking. I have said before that he is a scene stealer on this show. On this episode, he brought his craft to a whole new level. I can't believe this is his first acting gig.
So much of this episode resonated with me. Losing one parent and constantly worrying about losing the other. Feeling alone in grief and pain. And being treated negatively because your beliefs are different from the majority.
Kurt singing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was riveting enough. But there was another scene that really affected me. When Finn was singling "Losing My Religion," he walked into the library, and the camera panned to Kurt sitting in a chair, ostensibly reading, with tears on his face, as fellow students moved around him, going on about their lives. I lost a close friend when I was in graduate school. I remember sitting in the dorm study lounge, a book open in front of me, crying quietly, as people chatted and studied and laughed around me. I felt invisible, hurt, and terribly alone.
Glee is a show that can truly make you laugh one minute and cry the next. Its a show that both entertains and makes you think about larger life issues. People who haven't seen it probably think its a silly show about a bunch of high school kids. I think Glee is an important show as well as a fun show. I hope its around for a long, long time.
In the episode, Kurt's dad has a heart attack and nearly dies. As his glee club friends do their best to support him by singing spiritual songs and taking turns praying for his father at his bedside, Kurt struggles with his grief and fear, as well as his firm belief that G-d does not exist. People in pain often lash out when loved ones are trying to help, and Kurt's frustrations with his peers' constant religious interruptions further alienates him at a time when he really needs his friends around him.
This episode was sheer genius to me. The writing was truly inspired. In typical Glee fashion, the dialogue went from laugh out loud funny to achingly poignant to rather odball.
Several of the cast members were given the opportunity to shine, but no one as brightly or dramatically as Chris Colfer. WOW. The level of despair and heartbreak he communicated was overwhelming. His rendition of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was breathtaking. I have said before that he is a scene stealer on this show. On this episode, he brought his craft to a whole new level. I can't believe this is his first acting gig.
So much of this episode resonated with me. Losing one parent and constantly worrying about losing the other. Feeling alone in grief and pain. And being treated negatively because your beliefs are different from the majority.
Kurt singing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was riveting enough. But there was another scene that really affected me. When Finn was singling "Losing My Religion," he walked into the library, and the camera panned to Kurt sitting in a chair, ostensibly reading, with tears on his face, as fellow students moved around him, going on about their lives. I lost a close friend when I was in graduate school. I remember sitting in the dorm study lounge, a book open in front of me, crying quietly, as people chatted and studied and laughed around me. I felt invisible, hurt, and terribly alone.
Glee is a show that can truly make you laugh one minute and cry the next. Its a show that both entertains and makes you think about larger life issues. People who haven't seen it probably think its a silly show about a bunch of high school kids. I think Glee is an important show as well as a fun show. I hope its around for a long, long time.
Monday, October 04, 2010
failure
"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default" - JK Rowling
Its the fear of failure that often keeps people from truly living. Sometimes its also the fear of success that keeps people from truly living. In each case, its the fear of something.
Is anyone truly fearless? I don't think so. I think every person is afraid of something, but some people are better at handling their fear. And some people are afraid of things that they don't have to encounter on a regular basis, like snakes or giant spiders or something.
I have lived with fear all my life. Big fears and little fears. Everyday fears and one-in-a-million-chance-of-happening fears.
The other day I was watching a reality show, and a young man was about to parachute out of an airplane. As the camera showed him preparing to jump, we hear him saying in a voice-over, "I'm not nervous; I'm trying to get that nervous feeling." Intellectually I understood what he was saying. Nervousness fuels the adrenaline high that comes from engaging in such an activity. But emotionally - it was absolutely mind-boggling to me that someone was actually WISHING to be nervous. When you've spent a good chunk of the forty plus years that you've been on this earth struggling with anxiety, you can not imagine anyone wanting to feel nervous.
Considering how much I have struggled, I would say that I have at least made some strides in my life. I have a Master's Degree, and I have a job. I go out to eat and attend social events. I have more of a handle on my anxiety than I used to. But in other avenues of my life, I still let fear win.
I try to remember that we are all a work in progress.
I'm not the only one who struggles.
I'm not the only one who's stuck.
librarianintx
Its the fear of failure that often keeps people from truly living. Sometimes its also the fear of success that keeps people from truly living. In each case, its the fear of something.
Is anyone truly fearless? I don't think so. I think every person is afraid of something, but some people are better at handling their fear. And some people are afraid of things that they don't have to encounter on a regular basis, like snakes or giant spiders or something.
I have lived with fear all my life. Big fears and little fears. Everyday fears and one-in-a-million-chance-of-happening fears.
The other day I was watching a reality show, and a young man was about to parachute out of an airplane. As the camera showed him preparing to jump, we hear him saying in a voice-over, "I'm not nervous; I'm trying to get that nervous feeling." Intellectually I understood what he was saying. Nervousness fuels the adrenaline high that comes from engaging in such an activity. But emotionally - it was absolutely mind-boggling to me that someone was actually WISHING to be nervous. When you've spent a good chunk of the forty plus years that you've been on this earth struggling with anxiety, you can not imagine anyone wanting to feel nervous.
Considering how much I have struggled, I would say that I have at least made some strides in my life. I have a Master's Degree, and I have a job. I go out to eat and attend social events. I have more of a handle on my anxiety than I used to. But in other avenues of my life, I still let fear win.
I try to remember that we are all a work in progress.
I'm not the only one who struggles.
I'm not the only one who's stuck.
librarianintx
Sunday, October 03, 2010
My Personality
Its cool how little things in life make me happy. Things that I think most people don't think about, or things that are taken for granted. Silly things sometimes. For example, I bought this food container from a friend who sells Avon. Its a three-in-one container; it will hold a sandwich and then two side items, like chips and fruit. The sandwich section has a cover on it, so when you clasp it together the three sections stay separate. Even though its a little bigger than an average sandwich container, it still fits in my lunch tote.
I am really happy with this food container. Now instead of having to take and later wash three separate containers for the cereal, cheese cubes (or hard boiled egg), and bread slices that I take to work nearly every day, I can just use this one container. Its great. I used it for the first time on Friday, and was darn pleased with it. I even bought two of them, so one could be drying while the other one is in use. Its made of plastic and supposedly safe for the microwave, but I'm not going to use it in the microwave. If I did, I could use if for even more types of food, even at home. But that's okay. Using it for lunch with refrigerated or non-refrigerated foods is good enough.
I guess finding ways to make your life easier is probably a cool thing for many people, so maybe I'm not so different. I think this is especially true for people with disabilities. When we find ways to maintain whatever level of independence we have been able to achieve, the result can be very exciting. Or when we have people in our lives that are willing and able to help us without guilt or negativity, that is very important as well.
Unfortunately the flip side of this easy happiness is that I am also easily hurt and frustrated by circumstances and individuals. Sensitivity can be both a blessing and a curse.
librarianintx
I am really happy with this food container. Now instead of having to take and later wash three separate containers for the cereal, cheese cubes (or hard boiled egg), and bread slices that I take to work nearly every day, I can just use this one container. Its great. I used it for the first time on Friday, and was darn pleased with it. I even bought two of them, so one could be drying while the other one is in use. Its made of plastic and supposedly safe for the microwave, but I'm not going to use it in the microwave. If I did, I could use if for even more types of food, even at home. But that's okay. Using it for lunch with refrigerated or non-refrigerated foods is good enough.
I guess finding ways to make your life easier is probably a cool thing for many people, so maybe I'm not so different. I think this is especially true for people with disabilities. When we find ways to maintain whatever level of independence we have been able to achieve, the result can be very exciting. Or when we have people in our lives that are willing and able to help us without guilt or negativity, that is very important as well.
Unfortunately the flip side of this easy happiness is that I am also easily hurt and frustrated by circumstances and individuals. Sensitivity can be both a blessing and a curse.
librarianintx
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