Points of Interest #1

So, here are some things I've read recently that got me thinking.  Both coincidentally come from the same "news" site, Huffington Post....

I am a hard core, nerdlicious fan of So You Think You Can Dance (airing Wed. and Thurs. nights on the Fox network).  As a mom of three, i rarely have a must see show.  The kind you schedule your day around, shut the ringer off on the phone, live and die by show.  I was never able to keep up with such convoluted, intricately plotted shows such as 24, Lost, Heroes or those of similar character, where you miss one episode and your screwed  (Lucky for me, they are all over and done with so i dont have to feel like the odd man out in pop-culture TV society).  There are many great shows i wish i had time for, but that still require a commitment, Weeds, Fringe, In Treatment...but somehow, over 5 seasons now, come SYTYCD time, i find a way to make time in my week for the one show that continues to bring me adolescent joy (cuz lets face it, its geared toward youth) and wonderful abandon (cuz some of the routines are so full of physical and emotional abandon you cant help but be swept away in it...).  Long story short, (i know, i know - too late) I read this article yesterday and was kinda thrilled by what it was getting at...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/the-most-culturally-radic_b_645943.html
...in short, SYTYCD is "the most culturally radical show on TV.  Here the cultural wars of the last 30 years appear over."  And i LOVE THAT - because its probably, mostly TRUE!  A-Mazing!  People from every walk of life come together - no exclusions - have talent, accepted! And that is one of the things i have truly always loved about this show.  It IS based on talent (not mediocre crap you can kinda fake and wing by on with cute but ditsy personality) - these people are the real deal; making some thing your life, and working at it, training day in and day out.  And ok, cheese ball time, its really inspiring.  Plus, the choreography just kicks ass.  The only downer is the over the top comments by the judges, which i noticed Mr. Mogulescu alluded to in his article.  Its not so much for me the constant reminder to "get in character," and play a role, as much as it is the fits of tears, rants and hysterics that drags the serious nature of the performances down into the whole world of corny realty TV.  Those kids perform/dance their hearts out, and when the judges let out and ear splitting scream, or when a lower lip starts to quiver from sheer rapture, one cant help but gag and feel a bit nauseated from the overt and seemingly fake enthusiasm. 

So, am i pleased that the only show on TV that I religiously watch and swoon over is gaining notoriety and praise?  You bet!  Even more so that its being celebrated for something as exciting and encouraging as equal rights and equality!!!  Come on SYTYCD, change the world one dance at a time - who knows, maybe one day even the news will be brought to you in interpretive dance! :)

A note from Kim

On a quick note - you may have noticed the format and overall look of our page has changed...aaaaaand it may do so again...and again. We're tinkering a bit with the feel and look.  After all, temperaments change, as do tastes; expect our page to do some changing as well.  In fact, if you dear readers (all 6 of you *smile*) have any input, feel free to share (unless KT says otherwise).

Summer: time for a good book!

So, i thought i would do some book reviews for the summer, but didn't quite know where to begin...
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20355856_20399391,00.html
...this is where i finally ended up. It's a top6 list by none other than America's own world renowned author Mr. Stephen King (have you ever been to a bookstore and stumbled into the shelves with King's novels, they take up their own case!).  However, it is not for his horror writing prowess that i trusted this man to a top reading list, or the fact that he lived in Boulder, CO for a short time, but his blurb in Entertainment Weekly, which i find acutely accurate and insightful regarding culture and life (true).  It will be interesting to see how the group as a whole reads; will they share a common thread, perhaps something in the more morbid vein?  Or, can I trust as an author his tastes will prove broader?  I'll keep you posted as i make my way through his selections :)  I confess, i'm awfully excited!

A word of Thanks

     So, I was watching The View today, yes, occasionally i catch Whoopi Goldberg, because i love her (the other women kinda drive me insane; who's too liberal, who's too conservative, who's too Barbara Walters...) and they discussed an article in New York magazine called, "I Love My Kids.  I Hate My Life."  Now, let me preface this rant with I HAVE NOT READ THE ARTICLE...i am responding to the discussion by the women on The View...

Apparently, more and more parents are coming out and admitting this "truth."  For them, there is a direct correlation between having children and their unhappiness.  I canNOT relate to this.  Jokingly the other day on my FB page, i said, "how can one minute my children make me so insane i want to scream and the next cry because they are growing up so fast i feel like its all slipping away; and i want to squeeze them and hold them and never let them go. Parenthood sucks. I mean its amazingly joyful blah blah blah."  This is a good opportunity to qualify that remark.  My children are air to me.  They are what makes the sun come up and go down.  They are why i get out of bed, put my best foot forward, try each day to be a better person...they are the glue that keeps my heart held together.  Thus, you may understand how they are the first and quickest to break it.  When my child is left out of a game of tag on the playground - when he is teased for his speech - when they have to monitor her respiratory rate because she "isn't thriving" - when when when - and God Help Me - IF IF IF (dont even get me started on the world of IF's)....its enough to bring you to your knees.  On top of that you worry; you choke on thoughts like, "am i getting this right?  Doing a good job?  Teaching them to have a good moral compass?   Am i screwing them up completely????  What are other mom and dads doing?"   And finally, lets face it, they are not always little rays of sunshine; "who chipped their brother's tooth?  You fed the baby WHAT?  Why, WHY would you think its o.k. to use your SOCK as WIPE YOUR ASS?!?"  So, what I'm saying is...every day, in every way, you feel like an emotionally worn out dish rag - so yeah, it sucks sometimes.  But then - they put their hand on your cheek when you're sad, (really), they kiss your boo boo's better, they tell you "good job" for cooking dinner, and you watch as they hand their baby sister her binki and dolly when she cries...they giggle until they cry, run like there is nothing holding them back, smile at you like you make their sun come up and go down....and you know, you know that if there is no heaven its because you've been given this time.  With these children.  And though there are days when you shatter apart, theirs are the little hands that pick up the pieces and hold you together.  They drive me insane, and keep me sane.

But though i cannot relate to these parents who "Love their kids. Hate their lives..." I have seen how there are responsibilities and anxieties and needs and unfair lots dealt and obstacles that can keep the joy away - so this is not a critique or a judgment of others....i guess its just my way of saying how grateful i am.  I am unfamiliar with this sad sentiment (and it is sad indeed) - and I am fortunate enough to Love my kids. Love my Life.  Thank you my babies, thank you.

Full to Bursting

I feel like I'm about to explode!  I've got so many emotions jumbled up and rumbling around inside that I just know it means something wonderful is changing within me.

Every negative day has a positive outcome, something I learn or take away from it.

And, more importantly, I am having fantastic days!  Day in which I feel good - like myself again.  Confident, clever, pretty, and full of win.  I am no longer second-guessing myself every minute of every day.  I'm worrying less, and laughing more.  I'm listening to music and bopping.  My smiles are becoming contagious.

And I know that whatever happens, however things turn out, I am a worthwhile person.

~Dorkopotamus (aka Katy)

Untitled

Like grasping at water, I could not close
My fists tight enough amidst the onslaught
To compress a reflection. Here, I froze,
Trapped within the very confines I sought.

Every pinprick was a bell toll sounding
The minute come hour coming undone.
I crumpled, over nothing, surrounding
Myself with echoes of my frustration.

What is come undone resolves and unblurs
The carousel - each animal now free
To wander. But freedom can be a curse;
More walls cultivate the sanctuary.

Therein lies the calm, but too calms the lies.
Muffled by echoes, I’m deaf to my cries.

~Dorkopotamus (aka Katy)

Learninating the Peasants

So for the past month I've done a lot of thinking, educating, learning, and self-affirming.  And I feel like I'm at once becoming a whole new person, and rediscovering a person inside that I'd forgotten all about.

Yeah, it's kinda confusing.

But awesome.  And I've got wonderful support all around me that's helping me through it.

I know the outcome of all this change will be good, and that's really exciting.

I'm beginning to realize that I'm actually pretty darn amazing. 

Why didn't I allow myself to know this sooner?

~Dorkopotamus (aka Katy)