Sucktasticism

I'm very sorry, loyal readers. But I have been exploring a new creative endeavor: the Sucktasticism movement.

Sucktasticism (n.): The artistic movement in which one cannot get his or her shit together long enough to honor commitments and/or vague promises. Symptoms include watching large amount of television, dicking around on the internet, not blogging, playing The Sims, and not getting out of pajamas.

Basically, everything about you is garbage, and you sit around thinking up awesome ideas that never come to anything because you feel very lazy and don't want to do anything.

I'm trying to not completely submerge myself into Sucktasticism, but sometimes it's really hard--like when you come home every day and your parents have dinner ready. Or when you wake up at 11:30am and watch the Price is Right and then take a nap. Or when you just re-read all 7 Harry Potter books in one week.

I can give you life updates on my Sims (Mortimer Goth is boning Bella Bachelor, but she and his mom hate each other. Mortimer's dad quit his job as a CEO and became the Mayor of Sunset Valley.) That's art.

Take a voyage into Sucktasticism. But please, don't stay too long -- you might miss the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars.

Love Letter to Youtube

Dear YouTube,

I know I haven't been the best at proclaiming my feelings for you. I think that you are one relationship I take for granted on a daily basis. You are the one friend that is always there for me wherever I am. At my beck and call.

If I'm feeling lonely, I can watch Kittens Inspired by Kittens and feel better. I don't have to wait for you to respond to my call, text, email or Facebook post. Now that I'm a big kid and have internet on my phone, I can literally go to you whenever I want.

If I'm feeling nerdy, I can watch Leeroy Jenkins and feel like my life isn't as dorky as theirs. I can laugh at how mad they all get when Leeroy just goes charging unto the breach, stoned and brave, and giggle when they say "Leeroy, you are just stupid as hell."

If I'm feeling silly, I can watch the Total Eclipse of the Heart Literal Video and laugh till I cry. I actually have laughed that hard at this video, especially when I'm watching it with other people. It's gotten to the point where when this song comes on my iPod, I sing these lyrics instead of the real ones.

If I'm feeling nostalgic, I can watch Dramatic Reading of a Breakup Letter and think about the seventy thousand times we watched that at Harlaxton. It was quoted on a daily basis, a fact we exploited because we had a friend named Chris. In the same vein, if I ever feel like I want to relive some entertaining yet unsettling moments, I just watch the Ripple Effect, Ripple Nation or Ripple Nation UK.

If I'm feeling bored, I can watch any random old TV show via your services. David the Gnome! The Littl' Bits! Are You Afraid of the Dark! You have allowed me to re-explore my childhood in ways I'd never thought possible. For that, I am eternally grateful.

If I'm feeling energetic, I can watch Dancing at the Movies and dance in my chair. "Footloose" is one of those songs that I can't resist dancing to whenever I hear it. I think that if someone started playing it while I was asleep, I would unconsciously start snapping or tapping my foot.

So thank you, YouTube. I love the shit out of you. I apologize for all the wonderful videos I failed to mention here, but know that I couldn't possibly link to all the beautiful amazingness that you can provide.

All my love,

Janelle

A Thousand Yellow Daisies

I would be a little weirded out if a guy asked me to marry him by filling my place of work with a thousand yellow daisies. However, I do like Max Medina, and no one else does. I mean, duh, I think Luke and Lorelai are soul mates, but for me, if it couldn't have been Luke, it would have been Max. Alex and Christopher are stupid hogs.

Gilmore Girls. Sorry.

Why do people like American Idol? I don't see the appeal. People standing up on stage and singing . . . I'd rather just go to a bar on karaoke night. At least shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance are visually appealing (and, in the case of Buzz Aldrin, downright hilarious.) And why is Ellen an Idol judge? Don't get me wrong, I love her. Ellen is the shit. But . . . she shouldn't judge a singing competition.

I've never seen a full episode of Idol, and I don't plan on it.

Shows I need to watch, and soon: Curb Your Enthusiasm. Dexter. Better Off Ted. Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

Shows I need to catch up on, and soon: How I Met Your Mother. Greek.

I found myself thinking "I need to go to ASDA . . . " U.S.A. FAIL.

I really don't know why I'm even blogging, I have nothing substantial to say right now.

Review of Greek

I will now review one of my favorite shows, Greek.  

Recently, Casey got a new boyfriend, Max.  Max is alright.  He's smart (he majors in polymer science like Rusty) and he's pretty cute.  He's played by the same guy that played Kostos in the Traveling Pants movies!  Woop woop.  Anyway, Max and Casey are very different but they seem to work.  I'm not a fan of Casey in general, but she has been a lot more tolerable lately.  Although since the actor that plays Max is still listed as a guest star, I don't imagine it will last the entire season.  Sad but juicy!

There's a plot twist in which Rebecca Logan and Franny start their own sorority.  I hope this doesn't last long, because it's annoying.  Franny is ridiculous and scheming and conniving.  I suppose she makes the show more interesting, but her characterization is just nothing but evil, so it's hard to sympathize with her at all.  At least with Rebecca, you get some reason for why she is the way she is (senator's daughter, dad is absent, cheating on her mother, big scandal, always tries to buy her off).  

And Cappie!  I still love him.  He's charming and seems clueless, but he's actually very smart and knows a lot about people and relationships.  He knows he wants Casey back but sees that Casey is so happy with Max that he tries to be friends with him.  Last season, Casey and Cappie were kind of each others' go-to person for relationship advice, which is weird but awesome!  I'm glad he and Rebecca broke up because Rebecca is totally wrong for him.

Rusty needs to get a girl!  I'm sick of him being the cliche unlucky-in-love geek.  I kind of hope he starts dating a ZBZ.  Casey's reaction would be priceless.

And I want more of Dale, Rusty's old roommate.  He's super funny and I want him to get a girlfriend, too.  THAT would be awesome to watch.  He's socially awkward but thinks he isn't.  BEST combination ever!

I guess I need more practice writing reviews . . . that was more of a rant.

GREEK!

This is not a difficult blog for me!  I write about my favorite shows all the time; however, I think I will try to pick one that I have not blogged about yet.  I think I will pick the show Greek, which airs on Monday nights on ABC Family.

Many people may think that Greek is a stupid teenage show that glorifies the fraternity/sorority system and perpetuates stereotypes associated with Greek life.  In a way, I guess it is.  However, it also demonstrates that people can learn a lot from the Greek system; how to deal with all types of people, how to remain diplomatic even when your emotions get in the way, how to deal with silly politics, how to manage but not micromanage, and in many ways, how to run a business. 

Greek is about the Cartwright siblings.  Casey Cartwright is a student at Cyprus Rhodes University and the ultimate sorority girl.  She has been a member of Zeta Beta Zeta, the best sorority on campus, since her freshman year and aspires to be the President.  She is dating the big man on campus, rich kid Evan Chambers, a member of Omega Chi (appropriately, the best fraternity on campus).  Casey has the seemingly perfect life; however, things are always complicated by her ex-boyfriend, Cappie (no last name, no first name, no one knows!), who is the President of Kappa Tau Gamma, the slacker fraternity.

Enter Rusty Cartwright, Casey's younger brother, a freshman at CRU.  He's super-smart and majoring in polymer science.  He wants to pledge a fraternity to help his social skills and reinvent his geeky image.  At first, Rusty is interested in Omega Chi like all the other freshman.  However, when he witnesses Evan cheating on his sister Casey, he decides to join Kappa Tau -- with Casey's ex-boyfriend. 

 The show explores the relationships between college students in a fairly realistic manner.  I wouldn't say that it is always an accurate depiction of Greek life, since I'm in a sorority.  However, the show gets many things right.

I love the show because it's fun and funny.  It's surprisingly addicting, and I am constantly rooting for Cappie and Casey to get back together!  

You should all give it a try, and don't immediately write it off.  It took me a good 4 episodes to really get hooked.