"That Couple"

I don't often watch The Biggest Loser, but every time I do I seem to be eating ice cream and/or potato chips.  This seems rather ironic to me.  But I know I'm not alone.  I think you do it too.

I've decided that part of the appeal of reality competition-type shows is that I get to judge and criticize to my heart's content.  You see, when watching American Idol, for example, I like to throw out my own expert critique, "Off pitch!"  "Where's the passion?"  "I'm not feelin' it dogg."  And then I feel like a real-life expert when my critiques happen to match up with what the judges say.  I know, I know, I'm no expert and I would never be caught dead singing on national television.  I do, however, enjoy singing in the shower.  I think you do it too.

So Kyle and I thought about going to see a movie tonight, but then we remembered we "have" to be home to watch Parenthood at 9:00.  And then it hit us:  we are becoming "that couple."  You know, that couple who plans their night around their favorite tv shows.  Who eat ice cream while watching The Biggest Loser.  And who make unjustified criticisms of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars contestants.  I refuse to take full responsibility for this decline in our marital social life.  I blame two people:  Comcast for making their DVR's more expensive than we want to pay for, and the sellers of the house we are trying to buy for sucking the very life from our tender souls. 

I would tell you more about it but Parenthood is on.

Boys Like Girls

Do you remember in elementary school when the boys would pick on the girls because they liked them?  Well, I don't think they ever grow out of that.  While attempting an evening nap, Kyle decided I needed to wrestle.  In the act of defending myself, I smacked his hand into my own face and now have an imprint of Kyle's fingernail placed perfectly on my forehead.  I must learn to better fight back. 

Did you see Sandra Bullock win an Oscar?  You better believe we were cheering her on!  I think we may have even shed some joyful tears in her behalf.  We love Sandra over here.  (Except not in All About Steve which was a horrible waste of time).  Kyle even has a little celebrity crush on that Sandra Bullock.  I don't mind, she's a classy choice (as long as you don't count the All About Steve disaster). 

My celebrity crush of choice?  Steve Carell.  I fell "in love" with Steve Carell in Dan in Real Life and you know what?  Kyle and Steve share a lot of similarities, especially in personality...  he says it's not true, but you can judge for yourself. 

Bandwagoneering

I have totally jumped on the Olympics bandwagon this year.  Seriously, I can't even get enough of it.  You better believe Kyle and I are watching every night!  And thanks to the movie Blades of Glory, Kyle has a newfound "interest" in figure skating and there's definitely an added humor when we watch it together.

I hate to admit it, but we also kinda like to see people screw up.  Now don't get me wrong, we don't want anyone to get hurt, we just watch with baited breath for the next skiier or skater to fall...  But we really are nice people, I promise!

I contribute some of my added enthusiasm for the winter Olympics to finally making it down the hill on a snowboard for the first time last winter.  Yes, I grew up in Colorado.  And no, I had never skiied or snowboarded prior to January 2009.  Yes, I realize that makes me markedly uncool.   Yes, I made a fool of myself on the mountain.  And yes, I looked pretty bad-a doing it too.  (or so I thought)  You know what happened was, all my friends I went with each thought I was with someone else and I pretty much got left at the top of the mountain to figure out on my own how to get down.  I had no choice but to get determined!

To say the least, I have a much better appreciation and awe of these Olympic athletes that can make it down a mountain in a minute or two.  They are not afraid of crashing.  They are not afraid of intense speed.  They are not experiencing abdominal muscle failure from trying miserably to get themselves back up after falling a hundred times. 

So I'm sure you're asking yourself right now, "But did she ever snowboard again?!?"  I tell you, I did not.  But I assure you I have high hopes of making it out again, I just have to convince Kyle to go with me. 

Guilty Pleasures

From ChaCha: A guilty pleasure is known as something one considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. Often, the "guilt" involved is simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes.

I confess. I have some rather lowbrow tastes.  In reality tv.  Kyle's theory is that women are drawn to reality tv because of the drama; women love drama.  On the other hand, I feel there's just something about watching others' lives unfold (often in embarassingly tragic ways) that makes the mundane details in our own lives seem more interesting.  Sometimes I see pieces of myself in these people, allowing me to study myself, through them.  And isn't it so fun to be the subject of your own self-psychoanalysis? Or maybe I do just love the drama.

Allow me to illustrate:

Keeping Up With The Kardashians

I think I'm hooked because of Kourtney, who's name is spelled just as mine!  AND she has a sister named Kim, and so do I!  She must be my ethnic alter-ego.  There's also the LA boutique, which is something I've always wanted to have.  Only not in LA.

The City

My fascination with The City is probably connected to my early college dreams of moving to New York to pursue a career in fashion.  It reminds me that I made a conscious decision to do different things with my life, and that I'm really, really quite happy, thank you. 

But what if I had moved to "the city?"... 

And that, my friends, is what keeps me watching.

Say Yes to the Dress

My very first most favorite job was working for a bridal salon in Loveland, Colorado.  In fact, I would probably still be there if it hadn't gone out of business.  While nothing like Kleinfelds, this little salon was Loveland's own little haven of taffeta, tulle, tears, and tantrums.  In fact, I first became interested in fashion as a high school junior, dreaming of one day owning my very own bridal shop.  Well, there you go.

 

 America's Next Top Model

 No, I do not have aspirations to become a model, expecially not a "top model."  I've thought long and hard about why I love ANTM... and I really can't pinpoint the reasons.  Maybe its my natural weakness for a good makeover show?  Or because Suzi and I love to make fun of Tyra?  My inherent love for all things fashionable? 

Hm...  this has me rather perplexed.

 

The Good News:  I do not often subject my sweet husband to reality tv and try to only indulge in these guilty pleasures when I'm home on a Saturday afternoon folding laundry.

We watch mainly 3 things in our house: The Office, Conan, and ESPN.  Oh but marriage has a way of keeping things balanced, don't you think?

How TV Used To Be

You know, TV just isn't what it used to be.  You don't believe me?  Let me take you back to the late 1980's...

Doogy Howser

Isn't he dreamy?!? I seriously had the biggest crush on Doogy.  When I was 6.  But tell me, who wouldn't fall for a 14-year-old pubescent surgeon?  I think he's gay now.

ALF

How the heck did this show last 4 years?!?!  Ok, so I watched ALF and I loved it too.  But I was 6 and 6-year-olds are supposed to love cuddly aliens that crash land into suburban homes.  And they called this a sitcom?  At least Doogy was cute.

Jem and the Holograms

PLEASE tell me you remember Jem too!!  She rocked my world.  Jem was like Barbie only cooler, edgier, and with her own TV show and backup singers.

Perfect Strangers

I'll be honest, I was probably too young to really get any of the humor out of Perfect Strangers.  But who didn't love the quirky Balki and his silly dance?  I rather enjoyed his accent too... wherever it was he was supposed to be from...

She-Ra

The twin sister of He-Man, She Ra was like the bad-a version of Jem.  I once pretended to be She-Ra and got punched in the stomach by He-Man (aka Scott Lathen).  I'm pretty sure it only made me stronger, just like She-Ra.  Seriously though, who came up with these names?  He-Man?  Seriously? Kids today would never go for that.