What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

Don’t miss the return of SYTYCD, JUN 12 on FOX! 8/7C

TV, Movies and Music, What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

I live and breathe acronyms which is why the title of this post has SYTYCD vs. So You Think You Can Dance.  “Yeah Baby” said in my 1990s Michael Myers as Austin Powers voice over voice. Hehe.  I am giddy!!!!!!!

I LOVE this show!  LOVE<3 LOVE<3 LOVE!

How many LOVEs are too many LOVEs for a post.  Answer: You can never have too much LOVE!

I have no idea when the show started or how I found out about it.  Google to the rescue.  The show premiered July 20, 2005.  Twelve fantastic years and I’ve been hooked since day one.

Even as the show morphed themes:  Allstars, new dance genres – Bollywood and Krump et. al, and a kids version … No matter what change may come, I hung on.  My M.O. aka modus operandi is to tape the shows.  Showing my age, ahem, 29 and holding :).  I mean that I record the shows.  My DVR over runneth.  Eventually Big B gets mad at me for taking up real estate and I delete but not until I have had my fill and watched the recordings many many many many times.

How many, MANYs are too many MANYs for a post?  Answer: NONE

Check out this clip that makes me SMILE to this day!!  Watch and see for yourself.   I double dog dare you NOT to smile.  I triple dog dare you NOT to bust your own move.

J4 with Cyrus and Fik Shun

And I will take stock in Kleenex because you better bet that there will some routines that bring on the HAPPY tears.  A picture is word a thousand words.  Dance is a picture telling a story without the benefit of words.  I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

As always, more to come.

#18

14 To Infinity, What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

My bedroom.  In particular, my bed.  And the comforter.  Temp controlled nirvana.  Every morning when I wake up, I revel in the stillness and that feeling of security under the covers.  Snug.  As A Bug.  In A Rug!

This has not always been the case.  Insomnia has interfered with a good night’s rest since my 40’s.  I have tips to deal now though and for the most part, those tips work.  Lilac, lavendar and other assorted scents.  Sleepy-time tea, no caffeine after 3, turn off all electronics an hour before bedtime.  With that, I can sleep again.  Yay!  And as I was thinking about something else to add to the infinity list, these last few mornings made me think about my BED.

I work downtown and every morning I pass several bus stops on my way to the office.  As I get closer, I see the walking wounded.  This past Monday, a cooler than usual morning,  I saw a man sitting there at the bus stop, hunched over, head almost on knees.  As I sat at the red light, waiting for green, I could see him from the corner of my eye, sleeping, breathing slow and shallow breaths.  In.  Out.

That’s when I thought damn, how awful to have to sleep outside, wherever one can.  How bone tired and weary one must be to be able to sleep at a bus stop bench.  There are even days when people are on the sidewalks asleep.  Grabbing a restless nap before moving along.  What an existence?  And then I thought about my bed.  How the feel of the comforter brings peace.  How I wish that peace for everyone.  Simple really.  Everyone needs a bed.

Then I remembered, the best scene in the Blindside.

As always, more to come.

Kicking & Screaming 

What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

And this one is not the Will Ferrell soccer movie.   This show is America’s reality TV at its finest.  Survivalists are paired with divas and they’re competing to win 500k.  The poor man’s Survivor with a twist.  So far I recommend as laugh out loud/snort funny.  

Maxwell: “Elaine, Elaine that is not proper food etiquette!” 

As Elaine hurls her body across a table, hands tied behind her back while grabbing BBQ sausage and chicken with her mouth.  Whoever got 10 lbs of food passed through the netting first won.  Elaine’s team rocked it and got 2nd place.  Last place faces off against the team voted to participate in the elimination contest. 

Hilarious! Don’t think so? Well I guess you had to be there.  Even B is laughing.  

As always, more to come. 

Master Chef Jr.

What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

❤ these kids.   I really ❤ them.  I’m amazed at all the talent in the kitchen.  Adorable too.  Jasmine’s oysters – yummy.  Syd got the gross giblets and turned them into BBQ. Rooting for Gonzalo.  He shared his flour.  They’re competing but they still help each other too.  ❤️ and why am I 😢.  They’re family forever!  That’s why!

As always, more to come.  

This Week’s Lessons From TV 

What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

I love all art forms. Many would argue TV is not one of them.  I disagree.  And certain sitcom writers may too as evidenced by the close of American Housewife  … 

Katie: “Do you wanna just watch TV instead?” 

Greg: “That’s a really good idea. TV is just better entertainment”. 

Katie: “It really is!”

I expected the season finale of This Is Us to be that for me last night but it wasn’t.  What a let down! … and this from one of the show’s biggest fans.  I guess topping Memphis and What Now? proved too difficult.  

I knew we wouldn’t find out how Jack died … too soon and an accident going to Rebecca’s show too predictable. While I appreciated seeing  more of Jack’s and Rebecca’s pasts and finding out how they met, I missed the multiple story lines going at once.  Even Jack’s speech at the end didn’t give me the knockdown ugly cry punch of the two prior episodes. 

Then today I’m catching up on what I recorded.  While watching the Real O’Neal’s, the tears finally came. Partially because I am overly emotional and needed a good cry. But also in laughter there was truth.  And truth can be moving.  

Clive proposes to Eileen.  He equates his time with the family to joining the circus.  He’s funny. It’s relatable.  Many families have a circus theme.  Shannon is the ring master, Pat the lion, Jimmy the clown, Jody tickets and promotions and Eileen the acrobat. 

Clive: “Kenny is of course the bearded lady.”

Kenny: “That’s offensive but honestly I’m just glad I’m not tickets and promotions”

Eileen’s response hit close to home.  

“For so long I’ve been worried about doing the right thing and what other people think. I’ve lived by those rules and look where it’s gotten me. I’m on a new adventure now and while it’s not one I’ve chosen, I want to see where it takes me.”

Relatable right?  To a myriad of issues.  My new adventure is the empty nest.  What’s yours?  I hope you have an adventure you’re living because YOU deserve the best. 

What really got to me though was Jimmy’s college essay.   Paraphrased here:

A lot can happen to a family in a year. They can get divorced but grow closer.  They can find what makes them happy even if it’s weird. They can find joy in completely unexpected moments. And they can stand up for what they believe in even if it’s scary.

Wow! Pass the tissues.  

As always, more to come.  

I Get My Best Inspiration From Sit-Coms

Life, What Are You Watching? Scenes That Move You

The Great Indoors starring the talk soup guy had the best millennial comeback “Don’t forget my generation is only like this because of the bad parenting of your generation”

Yep.  This is another if only post.  If only, I knew then what I know now.  If only, I had a second chance.  If only, I could forgive myself for all my wrongs.

Damn empty nest full of regret. The weather today is affecting my mood.  I’d swear I have seasonal depression but supposedly I live too far from the equator.  Rainy mood on this rainy day.

For the past few Saturdays, there has been a “crisis” of some sort for Lulu.  I am powerless to help being geographically separated.  Then I think maybe that is really for best because how else will she adapt and grow?  She will figure things out.  At least I hope she will figure things out.  Yet Hope can be like Karma – two bitches!!!

Last night, coming down from the “crisis”, our hope sparkled conversation went something like this:

Me: “You know you have nothing to prove right?  No one decides their life’s profession in 2nd grade.  If the course work is not what you thought and/or something you don’t like, change your major.”

Lulu: “I know but I have not changed my mind.”

Me: “Remember I told you about my friend who’s daughter was going to major in math just like she did and become an actuary. After one semester she was miserable and switched.  She never looked back is very successful in her chosen field.”

Lulu: “I remember!  How could I forget?!??  Repeat Polly!!! Stop trying to change my mind would you?  Things are hard enough.  I just miss you guys and can’t wait to be home for Spring Break.”

Me: “Okay I’ll quit.  And I’m not trying to change your mind.  I just don’t want you to make choices based on what you think WE want.  This is YOUR life.”

Lulu: “I know, you’re a broken record mom!  Remember, those things they had in the 70s or 80s … before I was even born.”

Me: “That’s my girl! Sarcasm will take you far :).  I just don’t like it when you are so upset.  If things are so bad away at school, do you want to come home next semester?  You can always finish school from here.”

Lulu: “No, I will just plan better for next semester so I do not have any more nights like this.”

Me: “Well alrighty then.”

As always, more to come.