So You Think You Can Dance vs. American Idol

I just want to rant for a moment. I'm addicted to SYTYCD. I have dancing dreams and I like to pretend that I have a secret life as a dancer. And some hidden talents.

I was thinking about how SYTYCD is like the AI of dancing. However, let me point some things out. 1) For the most part I HATE cover songs. There are a lot of exceptions, but it's typically when the musicians do something interesting or unique or cool with it. But when post-teens on AI sing cover songs, they typically do NOT do anything other than utterly destroy and bring shame to the original.
2) AI is BORING!!! Have you ever actually tried to sit and watch that show??? So painful.
3) The overall talent level on AI is much lower. A bunch of pubescents who have had way to much alone time with their karaoke machines, or rock band or whatever. You can't get on SYTYCD by merely playing too much dance dance revolution.
4) Another point on talent, SYTYCD actually has super awesome choreographers from various genres of dance and they work with the dancers and they come up with amazing & creative dances. Don't get me wrong, the dancers are amazingly talented, but combine them with these choreographers and it's actually impressive.

Minus points:
1) Mary--the wannabe Marie Osmond is probably the most obnoxious person on the earth and I think she knows that and is pleased and that makes me hate her even more.
2) I really hate that all of these America's choice shows think they can take up 2 nights of your week. Greedy. We have other things to do. And more importantly other tv shows to watch. I get that they need to count the votes of the American people, but seriously. It's ridic.
3) I get that it's partly the judges and partly the American people who get to determine who can dance and who can't. I get that. But it bugs me when they give the judges time right before the American people cast their votes to allow the judges to put in their 2 cents to try to sway the American people. I think we already heard enough of them throughout the show. This should be our time, as the American people, to have OUR voices heard. Not just regurgitation of judges' opinions.

Anyway, that's my thoughts. Surely more to come.

My Thoughts on Chocolate...

I have some important words to say about chocolate. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Well, I think about it a lot in general. Probably more than the average human. But more recently than normal.

I love chocolate. A lot. It's like you put this smooth, comforting little brown chunk of stuff in your mouth. And it makes out with you from inside your mouth. Sorry if that was too graphic. It really does make me feel happy. And it's gotten me through some rough times. I know there are people in this world who don't like chocolate. I'm not one of those people. And neither is Cathy. But I've been trying to explore some of the possible reasons why people might not like chocolate. Here are some that I've come up with.

1) You haven't ever had good chocolate. I mean GOOD chocolate. I don't claim to be any sort of chocolate snob or connoisseur. Not even at all. But all chocolate is NOT created equally. And there is a difference between good chocolate and crap. If all you've ever had is a hershey's bar, go do yourself a favor and go try something good.
2) You don't know how to eat chocolate. I personally cringe when I see someone take a big bite of a chocolate bar, chew it up quick, and swallow it. It's just not right. You have to let it soak on your tongue for a while to allow it to work it's magic. If you don't, you're missing the whole point and all the joy that comes.
3) You're immature. Maybe you're one of those people who, when your sweet tooth perks up, you go looking for some skittles, smarties, pixie stix, fun dip lick-a-maid, or whatever? Well, congratulations to you for being able to read this blog at only 7 years old! That's a big accomplishment!! Oh, and if you're over 7 and those candies sound good to you, maybe it's time to grow up?
4) You're not a real woman yet. This reason is pretty similar to the last reason. Being a real, natural woman, I know that I need chocolate. I know how important and useful it is. I'm not saying that it's just for women, but when you become a real woman, you'll know you're there because you'll know when you need chocolate. Not saying this doesn't happen to men too. But I just know from a real woman's perspective. And if you're a real man, you'll be capable of providing the woman in your life with the chocolate that she needs.
5) You have no libido. Maybe this is too harsh? And I don't actually have any evidence to prove this is true, but it's something to consider.
6) You like to punish yourself. You think it makes you a better person to deny yourself good and beautiful things in life. And maybe you're right.

I think I might have some more reasons, but this is where I'm starting.

Bikes? Yay!!!

I suppose the most reasonable follow-up to my moaning about ridic gas prices is to praise my bike. And bikes in general. What a brilliant invention. Lately anytime I'm going anywhere around town, I ride my bike. I love doing bike errands. I ride to the movies, to the markets, to the parties, and restaurants. AND I'm getting an awesome work out in the meantime. AND I have awesome conversations and encounters with people on the streets of Salt Lake. My favorite--a couple of days ago I was riding my bike down to the gateway to see a movie with mp & cf. I was waiting at a red stop light. A little hunched over old lady with long gray braids was shuffling across the street. She looked up at me and said in a thick accent, "Oh goodie, goodie! I was buy a new bicycle too!" and it was maybe the cutest thing that's ever happened to me. All I could do was smile and say, oh good! Also, last week I rode my bike to lil em's wedding at the SLC temple. For some reason riding my bike to someone's wedding was a thrilling experience. Unfortunately for me it was a breezy day and I was wearing a billowy dress, so I think I might have given some homeless dudes downtown a show. But I don't regret it. Maybe someday I'll figure a way to ride my bike to my own wedding. Bikes!!

Gas Prices? Ridic!!

Wow. It's really shocking. I remember when I was 18 and I worked in Yosemite and we were driving through the Sierras and I saw a gas station in the mountains and the gas was $1.80. I was dumbfounded. I wanted to stop and take a picture because I was sure no one back home would believe that gas was so expensive anywhere... Man. If I could turn back time. If I could find a way.
So because of this I've done some thinking. I hate to break it to some of you, but if you don't live close enough that I can walk or ride my bike to your house, I don't think we can be friends anymore. It's been fun and you all mean a lot to me, but I don't see any other way. But I will let you know if any more apartments become available in my building so that EVERYONE I know can live with me. We could start a commune!!!

Some Inspirational Thoughts on Blonde on Blonde...

When I was 14 and my brother was getting ready to go on his mission, I hurried and made some trips to Radioshack to buy some blank 90 min cassette tapes so I could copy some of his cd's before he packed them all up and didn't want me to touch them. One of the tapes I made was Blonde on Blonde. This album has been a timeless masterpiece and a source of continual inspiration to me. It's the kind of album that I can listen to for years and years and never get sick of. I listen to it still, in fact, this morning. Unlike a lot of other albums I was into when I was 14, I don't just listen to this for nostalgic purposes. It still affects me. I don't claim to be any kind of Dylan expert, but to me his tone in this album has a sarcastic, bitter edge--like someone has who has been deeply wounded but is only passively able to admit it. There are lyrics in this album that have stuck with me for over 10 years since I first started listening to it. And just like old Mormon ladies and their fascination with James Christensen paintings, I keep discovering some new magical tidbit that I never noticed before and it inspires me. I'm going to remark on some of the album highlights for me.
First of all, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35... no offense Bob. I think you're a genius and this album is nearly flawless, but I almost always skip this song. For some reason it doesn't sit right with me. I allow myself one skip on every Bob Dylan album. Blood on the Tracks--Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts. New Morning--When Dogs Run Free. You get the picture. Anyway. Moving on...
Visions of Johanna--beautiful, beautiful song. Never in all my days on this earth will I get tired of this song. My favorite line that I've loved since high school is, "Inside the museum, infinity goes up on trial. Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while..." I love it. So deep. It speaks to me.
I Want You--Okay. The chorus of this song is, "I want you. I want you. I want you. So bad." I love it. Is there any other song that is more straight forward without being crude? I love it.
Temporary Like Achilles--"I'm trying to read your portrait but I'm helpless, like a rich man's child". I've known some rich men's children in my lifetime and it's true. They can be pretty helpless. This line has popped into my head on many occasions dealing with these people. (Love you though!!!)
Leopard Skin Pill-box Hat--"Well I see you got a new boyfriend, you know I've never seen him before, well I saw you makin' love to him, you forgot to close the garage door"... do I need to say more about this song??!!??
Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine--Okay, this is probably the most empowering song ever written, maybe after I Will Survive. In the chorus he says, "I'm gonna let you pass". I'm not totally sure what was going on in the story of this song, but it's kind of ambiguous who dumped who. But in my interpretation it's the kind of thing where you are the one who gets dumped or treated wrongly, but you still feel like you're coming out the victor. And although that may not be the case at all, you've told yourself that and you've done a pretty convincing job. It's kind of like reading "He's Just Not That Into You" and feeling awesome and empowered even when you've totally been rejected. This song has helped me through some pretty rough times.
4th Time Around--"I never took much. I never asked for your crutch. Now don't ask for mine." BOOM!!! That's a real eff-you if I ever heard one.
Huh. I just noticed a pattern. Unless my most inspirational line is in the chorus, it tends to be almost at the very end of the song. I wonder what that means. Sweet! I have a topic for my dissertation.
I hope you all enjoy this album as much as I do. Just don't tell me if you've never listened to it. That would be too embarrassing. Go borrow someone's cd and make a cassette tape and act like you've had it forev! Ha. jk. Does anyone else have any thoughts to add?

What I've Been Reading...

I thought I might share with you bloggers what I've been reading lately. Well, some of the things I've been reading. I have about 14 books next to my bed, all of which I dabble in occasionally. I've been reading a lot of psychology books. Have you ever heard of Csikszentmihalyi? He's fascinating. Here's an article that's a good overview: http://austega.com/education/articles/flow.htm
I read a book called Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. It 's about optimal experiences, or flow--where we do things that are not so easy that we're bored and not so difficult that we feel anxious (hence the name). It was great.

In a similar vein I've been reading some of Abraham Maslow's books. Similar to Csikszentmihalyi's flow, Maslow writes about "peak experiences". Most people know him for his Hierarchy of Needs. It's all related. In order to be a self-actualizing person you need to have your basic needs met. If you are driven by deficiency in life you won't have the power to go beyond that. Right now I'm reading Toward a Psychology of Being. Fascinating too. I got this book at the library and I'm wishing I would have just bought it. There's so many things I want to underline and notes I want to take. Here's a link that has a good overview and a lot of exerpts: http://www.psychedelic-library.org/maslow.htm
Maybe this isn't interesting to anyone, but I'm excited about it all and I thought I should share.

More Travelling ALONE!!

I also got to go to Vernal and Roosevelt for my job. I love it out there. I don't feel like I fit in because I don't drive a huge truck. In fact, I drove a Toyota Prius. Everyone out there must have thought I was a total sissy. One of my favorite places to go in Vernal is to the Vernal D.I.'s. Here is a picture of a seashell kitty that I wanted to buy, but not really. I thought I could share it with more people if I put it on my blog. Plus I'm getting a little crowded with creepy stuff in my apartment:










Here is the drive-in in Vernal. I hope to go there this summer. It looks really cool. The one in Roosevelt is cool too. It has a swingset in the front. I hope Melissa had a good 22nd!!