So You Think You Can Drink

The first show full of tryouts for So You Think You Can Dance isn't even over yet and I've decided that as much as I LOVE it, fans may need a little help to block out the horrible auditions (ahem...The Wiggler) and Mary Murphy's LOUD LAUGH AND SCREAMS AND OMGYOUDON'TEVENKNOWWHATSHE'SSAYINGBECAUSESHE'SSOLOUD!!!

The Rules
With a drink of your choice and your finger on the volume button, enjoy SYTYCD responsibly.

1. Every time you hear a sob story or dancer's history....drink.

2. Mary Murphy crying...drink.

3. Audience members crying...drink twice.

4. Dancer crying...chug.

5. Girl with Adam Lambert hair...WATERFALL!

6. Every time a commercial featuring Siri comes on...order tomato soup.

7. Get on board the hot tamale train WOOWOOOOOO...shot of tequila.

8. Jesse Tyler Ferguson proposes marriage or makes hyperbolic comparisons...happily finish your drink.

9. Cat and Nigel flirt...drink until the awkwardness passes (be prepared)

10. When Lil'C notices a dancer "modifying your manipulation of movement" and he appreciates it...toast whatever it was Lil'C said.

11. Dance dedicated to mom...drink water so she doesn't yell about you getting dehydrated.

(To be continued as the season goes on...)

A little guilty pleasure television never hurt anybody...

The school year is winding down to a close and I could NOT.BE.HAPPIER. The end of the year means no happy medium between having to grade a lot at once and then having nothing to do for days. So, when I have nothing to do for days (or, realistically, when I've mastered the art of not caring and realizing why I have a planning block), I start flipping channels and begin rediscovering what I haven't watched all year long.

During the school year, the only television I will watch religiously is living sporting events and ESPN. I don't have a sitcom I tune in weekly to see; the same goes for a drama (Downton Abbey became the exception this year). Sure, we'll turn on cable and watch Law & Order: SVU reruns like we get paid per episode, but I don't find myself watching the new episodes each week. Why do I watch so much sports in the fall and winter? Well, for one, I thoroughly enjoy it. It's not scripted and the outcome is truly never known. Two, if a game is boring, I can tune it out and get some work done that I usually put off. I enjoy the background noise, but if San Diego is crushing Denver, I don't really care.

But in the summer, I'm COMPLETELY invested in two guilty pleasure shows: So You Think You Can Dance and Food Network Star. Hardcore, DVR, must-not-miss-or-else invested. I love the competition of both shows and openly rooting for (and against) certain people. With SYTYCD, I love watching the performances that bring tears to your eyes, especially this one from Melanie and Neil last year when SHE FLEW.




And maybe I love SYTYCD so much because I've never been a dancer and always wished I could.

As for FNS, the competition is fierce, the food looks like you could eat it off your screen, and there is SO MUCH DRAMA (retract the claws, Season 7's Penny). Plus, I kind of love watching celebrity chefs get annoyed with those who think they already are celebrity chefs. I watched this season's first episode, and Alton already looks bored (I love it!). The show gives me a little inspiration to play in my own kitchen, which I love to do anyways, but I always feel like I can do more.

What else will I be Netflixing when it's raining outside or simply too damn hot to exist? New Girl, which I've been told is hilarious, and Friday Night Lights, which, if it is anything at all like the movie, I will love.

Alrighty dearies, what guilty pleasure television will you be watching this summer?

Ode to a Saturday

Back when I was in high school, my girlfriends and I took a trip one night to a Mexican restaurant outside of Pittsburgh. This was a huge deal because driving to Pittsburgh from our houses without our parents was a huge deal. We were all babies who led happy (albeit sheltered) lives and we were spreading our delicate little wings. We tested the strength of those wings, were sufficiently happy with the results that night, and had a goofy, enjoyable night as any group of high school best friends could have. Naturally, no night could be complete without an abundance of inside jokes. On the way back home, we forever memorialized those jokes in a poem, titled "Ode to Saturday." I'm not sure my copy still exists, but I've no doubts that somebody has it, tucked in a box with notes and awards and yearbooks we can't bear to part with just yet.

Recalling this makes me not only miss my dears, but is making me think my Saturday 12 years later deserves its own dedication.

Ode to a Saturday

There is something to be said
for sleeping in, then lazily making breakfast,
for tea with honey and a touch of milk,
for pretty skirts purchased with discount codes,
for watching the garden grow,
for tea parties with
fancy dresses, high heels, and hats
and big dogs sniffing tiny babies,
for cooking with a wooden spoon in one hand,
a glass of wine in the other,
for books that should have been read
a long, long time ago
and catalogs fresh out of the mailbox,
for teams celebrating goals
and the roar of the crowd,
for the smell of spring, herbs,
and a hot, soapy shower.
There is something to be said
for love, hope, peace, and joy,
all warmly felt on a Saturday afternoon.

-rlk7m, 5.12.12

Just keep singing, just keep singing

My life as of late has involved grading, prom, more grading, and more prom. Thankfully, both are over. And both were successful.

When I get stressed out, I sing. It's only in my car. It's loud. And it runs the gamut from showtunes to classic rock, from (only a tiny bit) pop country to Madonna. It's random, and that's why I love keeping my iPod on shuffle.

Now, I'm no music connoisseur. I know what I like and what I don't. And I almost never judge (but seriously, if you're listening to today's country music you need.to.stop.). Without further ado, here are some of the songs that recently popped up and made me remember why I loved them so much in the first place.



Barenaked Ladies, "Break Your Heart" (Live)
I have always been a huge BNL fan (like, concert-going, photo-posting-in-the-locker, giant-poster-in-my-dorm-room FAN), but their Rock Spectacle album is forever one of my favorites. And Steven Page's vocals on this one get me every single time. (Bonus: Look at the Mulder & Scully-era cell phone at the 3:39 mark! Love it!)



Vonda Shepard & Robert Downey, Jr., "Chances Are"
First of all, I LOVED Ally McBeal. And then I loved it even more when RDJ joined the cast. And then he started singing, and it was all over from there. Swoon.



Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice"
Confession: I love the Dixie Chicks, but I like Taking the Long Way the best, as it felt like a theme when I decided to go to grad school. And honestly, once the country music industry shunned them for having their own thoughts, I became a bigger fan. The whole album is incredible, but I have a hard time letting things go, and this song just fits me when I'm in one of "those" moods. And who doesn't love signing along with angry chick music (Kelly, Alanis, etc....)



Ke$ha, "Take It Off"
Shush, it's catchy.
Where we go hardcore, and there's glitter on the floor...



Natasha Richardson, "Cabaret" (from the New Broadway Cast Recording)
Because I saw her sing this live. Because her vocals were never incredible, just like Sally Bowles is supposed to be. Because even though I love Liza (and her eyelashes) in the movie, it was Natasha's Sally I saw first.

So there is my list of what makes other drivers stare at me in traffic. Do share what you unabashedly sing, whether it's in the car, in the shower, or while dancing in the kitchen!

Not-so-freaky Friday the 13th

Why not-so-freaky? I'm not a superstitious person. If I was, then I probably would've decided to hide in bed all day after my black cat crossed my path about 40 times trying to wake me up this morning. Also, if I was superstitious, I'd change my hockey jersey, earrings, and beer choice for tonight. I may change the beer, but the Malkin jersey stays. Sorry, Crosby.

I apologize for my absence, as I haven't been feeling very inspired lately to write, but I finally came around. I have lots of post ideas that bubble underneath my little surface, but some of them I just don't know if they're worthy of clicking Publish Post. Maybe one day. I digress.

Here's a small list of what has inspired me or made me stupidly happy today, this week, lately, etc.

• Swimming, and even sharing a lane. Why? Because now when I'm forced to share a lane, I'm challenging myself against the other swimmer, whether he or she has blue hair or looks like a triathlete. It feels good.
• Taking classes. Last night, I signed up for a computer science course. What?! It's free. There are no textbooks. It's online. And it's taught by a UVa professor. Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Now, to sign up for those library media courses...
• This site, which has made me drool over my keyboard (HT to jcs for sharing, when I needed food inspiration so terribly badly).
• Knowing that I'm big enough of a dork to do this to a pan of brownies.
• Playoff hockey. I love having multiple heart attacks at 30. I love the yelling. I love the intensity, the hits, the goals, the saves, and the fans. Basically, I love everything about it (except the heartbreak of an overtime loss, but hopefully there will be no more of that anytime soon). Go Pens.
• This Vanity Fair article about juicy gossip from the filming of Cabaret.
• Reading The House at Tyneford. I'm only 60-some pages in, but I LOVE IT. Love it. If I didn't want to go out and enjoy the rest of this beautiful day, I would curl up in bed and just read it forever. Did I mention that I love it so far?
• The belief that one day, my house will be perfectly organized. It may not be any time soon, but one day.
• I'm such a bad person for laughing so hard at this, but the @FatBettyFrancis Twitter account cracks me up every single time. At least Hell will be full of fun people and Bugles, and it'll be warm.
• Knowing that I have seven measly weeks of work left, and that afterwards, I'm teaching the most awesome class on The Hunger Games. My excitement for this is almost scary.
• Trying new restaurants. Will tonight's dinner finally prove that C'ville isn't a black hole for Italian food? Please, dear God, be authentic.

So, my lieblings, what has inspired you lately, or what has made you stupidly happy? Do share!

Cook-Out vs. Five Guys

I usually try to make VERY healthy food choices. Soy milk, yogurt, and coffee creamer. I will only buy local eggs, bread, jams, produce, and honey from my favorite little market. I eat less meat. I devour books about the food industry like I devour Mission Home Bakery German chocolate cupcakes. But sometimes I'm bad. Really bad.

Truth? I kind of love an occasional trip to Five Guys. For all my preaching about industrialized beef and fast food and GOOD GOD ALL THE GREASE, about three times a year I need a giant styrofoam cup of fries. I feel like death afterwards, but for about 20 minutes, it's worth it.

And last night was one of those nights when a burger was a good idea, when the husband and I decided to see what all the fuss was about on Emmet Street. C'ville has plenty of Five Guys locations. But Cook-Out, the North Carolina chain, recently opened. The parking lot and drive-thru were so busy, they had a guy directing traffic. We were barely inside the door and the line kept growing. Thankfully, we were handed a menu and were able to make our choices before reaching the counter (though, if they had an automated way to place orders, we're sure things would go A LOT faster -- take note, owners). I pounced on a table vacated by some UVa undergrads (who populated the place) and patiently waited for my food.

Our order? A Cheddar Style burger (with cheddar, grilled onions, mayo, and bacon), a Cook-Out Style burger (chili, slaw, mustard, and onions), fries, a large Cheerwine, and a chocolate shake (my apologies for a lack of photos).

The verdict? Five Guys wins.

The fries were good and better than most fast food fries, but in no way compare to what Five Guys shovels into that brown paper bag. Ketchup was Heinz (WIN), but in packets which are difficult to open with greasy fingers. My burger was a little heavy on the onions and so hot I almost burned my mouth. I felt a little forced to order one of the speciality burgers, when I would've rather picked my own toppings. I don't know if this was because of the crowd or the reputation. The husband (who is about as anti-fast food as I am) even thought a Five Guys burger was better and he almost never goes there. With that said, the chocolate shake was smooth, thick, and just chocolaty enough, and I'd sit in a drive-thru line for another one.

I think we wanted to like it more than we did. Maybe once the mad rush dies down, we'll give it another shot. Yes, it's cheaper than Five Guys, but you get what you pay for, and honestly? I'd rather pay double at Five Guys.

Frustrations

I am a public school teacher, and I am frustrated. I am frustrated with the state making cuts and demanding more tests. I am frustrated with focusing on essential knowledge versus essential understandings because last time I checked, learning was essential. I'm frustrated with the amount of pressure I feel at every corner I turn, every day, with every face I see. I am frustrated that I can't leave my job AT my job, that I think about what I need to do when I shower in the morning and before I go to bed at night. I'm frustrated that I feel like I'm no longer doing what I thought I was getting into, which was making students happy when they read. I'm frustrated when I'm surrounded by negativity. I'm frustrated that I'm a completely different person during the school year than I know I REALLY am. I'm frustrated with the coddling we're forced to do. I'm frustrated that failure isn't an option (because it's not for me). I'm frustrated that I'm forced to care about test scores and graduation rates and diploma types when honestly, I don't give a shit about any of that.

I'm there for my students. My students who are crying over boys and girls. My students who are hungry. My students who want to learn, but are faced with difficulties I cannot imagine facing every damn day. My students who want to learn for the sake of learning. My students who are so smart, but can't afford to continue their education. My students from broken homes. My students who see me as one of the only positives in their lives. My students who bring me fresh flowers from their yards. My students who make me laugh so hard I actually cry during class. And yes, even the students who make me wish the bell would ring sooner. They are my priority.

I need to be at my best for them, day in and day out. And when you have all of those frustrations weighing on you, it's hard to be at your best. It's hard to be cheerful or know the perfect thing to say to the student who is having just as bad a day as you are. It's hard when the frivolities get in the way. It's hard when I don't have time to do the work I need to do because I'm forced to do so many other things, to wear so many other hats that I never thought I'd be forced to wear.

The rewards are great. I know I'm in a noble profession. I know I didn't go into this just so I could say I'm in a noble profession. I know I'm not the only teacher who feels this way. But until some serious changes take place in education, a summer off and two weeks at Christmas are not enough of a reward.