More lessons from pop culture

So, I've talked before about how much I love me some Criminal Minds.

Ironically, during my last visit to Amazing Therapist, I mentioned how the new boss, the Good Doctor, would be a prime "unsub" for the profilers to investigate. Complete lack of rationality, compiled with unwaivering commitment to arbitrary rules and an inherent need to prove superiority regardless of conflict or lack thereof. Hmmmm.

Tonight's episode was even more synchronistic.

On tonight's episode, Garcia tries to take on a bit too much. While that is a problem, the bigger concern is that Garcia is surpressing her personality - her je ne sais qua, her joie de vivre, her larger-than-life-amazingly-effective-extremely-competant personality.

The gist of the episode is that Garcia will do her job better - more fully - once she stops trying to be someone she's not and starts being the person she is.

The Good Doctor wants me to "be more professional." No more jokes, no more comics, no more inane, personal banter during business calls.

Unfortunately, those traits are what make me exceptionally good at my job.

I can call in favors when needed. I can ask questions or make requests that other folks can't. I get to know - and respect and like - the people that I work with so that work seems less painful and more joyful. And expressing these aspects of my personality allow me to get joy from my work. And a joyful employee is a motivated employee.

If The Good Doctor could, for just one moment, let his "unsubness" take over, he'd see that he is undermining that which could make the job, the team, the company more effective.

I loved seeing Garcia find herself again.

Havin a Laugh

Tomorrow night, your's truly will get another opportunity to take in some fine stand-up comedy.

Joe Rogan is coming to town.

So, I'll be celebrating, then giggling, then stage door stalking and then crashing in the lovely Marriott Copley Plaza.

I invited LTRman because I thought he could use a night on the town. And then I informed him, if I actually meet Mr. Rogan and somehow convince him to join me in some highjinx, well...

No seriously.

Would you kick this guy out of bed for eating Eggo's?

And speaking of eating Eggo's, check out Joe's open letter to Kellog's from a few years back. Awesome. My favorite line? "Pop tarts? Are you kidding me? I would be willing to bet that 50% of the people buying pop tarts are stoned out of their fucking minds."

More Avoidance

Sorry - still trying to delay the logging onto of the VPNage.

Here is Morten (by the way, did I mention I met Morten Harkett?) in fabulous voice in one of the most amazing vocal feats ever (3:28 - 3:45 - seriously):



Sighhhhhhhh

Damn Leftist Elitists

So, I'm almost halfway through Team Bonding Extravaganza 2010 Part One. I hate this shit. I like some of the people I work with. I love some of the people I work with. I hate some of the people I work with. And others? Well, it's wicked complicated.

(And yes, I know there are many dangling participles in the previous 'graph. Deal.)

So this Group Hug shit drives me wicked crazy.

Regardless. Or irregardless. (They mean the same thing btw.) We all went to Blue Man Group tonite. Just so happens I wind up sitting next to CBL.

Not going to pretend the show wasn't mesmerizing. The "actors" were phenomenal. And even though the show was a visual and aural extravaganza, I also was really blown away by the social and metaphorical commentary the show offered.

Or maybe that was just me.

Because CBL sat there and laughed and giggled at the silly bits and couldn't seem to understand why I was disturbed at some bits or gleeful at others.

So, yes, I spent a lot of the show evaluating and comparing my reaction to the performance to the reaction of those around me. Which, I guess, is pretty Meta. And I guess I'm still on the fence about whether this is a good thing or bad thing.

But I do know that it made me realize I am glad that I have friends who could go out for coffee with me after this show and discuss/debate the meaning behind the cool drumming, the boggling blacklight effects, the atmospheric use of audience participation, A community to evaluate the commentary on decadence/consumerist nature of society, the duality of seeing and being seen, the effects of conformity and non-conformity, and the commercialization of art.

Because CBL thought it was just really funny to see a bunch of guys force feeding Cap'n Crunch.

I saw an expose on the commercialization and devaluation of consumption and the loss of communal values.

Does this make me a damn elitist? Probably. Am I glad that it does? Probably. But the jury is still out on the issue...

I love good advertising

Went out for a pedicure with a lost and found friend. I am so glad she is back in my life. She's wonderful and bright but we also can just be silly and frivolous. What my mother calls "having a sense of whimsy."

We went and got pedicures. We'd tried to get them last week, but there was a mix up at the spa. So we got them this week - for free. Ain't nothing better than someone pampering your feet and knowing it's not costing you a thing. They don't even expect a back-rub in return.

After the "hard work" was over, we had the important task of sitting under the polish dryer machine and flipping through magazines. If you've ever spent any time in a spa or salon, you know that most of the reading is not hi-brow. You won't be finding Dostoevsky here. What you will find is plenty of Us, People, and Entertainment Weekly. We paged through picture after picture of celebs being beautiful, being horrifying, hooking up, breaking up, and entering rehab. Also, lots of great ads. Most of them for things that would make you more beautiful, more sexy, more appealing, or less fat. And then there was this ad.

First thought - funny as all get out. Second thought - who are the market researchers who decided to pay for placement in this magazine. Seems a little ... odd. But, then again, I didn't remember one single underwear, perfume or makeup ad. And I blogged about this one. So I guess they earned their paycheck on this one.

Me and the Mo's

I seem to attrack Mormons like moths to a flame.

What? you ask? How random!

I offer the following evidence:

My first boyfriend - you know, the boy you "married" when you're four and playing kickball or flashlight tag out in the suburban neighborhood that is your great big world before you enter school? - was a morman. His mother thought I was a bad influence because I took ballet classes. Clearly, she knew of my demonic tendencies to plie and releve. (Tendu, anyone?)

One of my favorite movies, Latter Days, is about a gay Mormon boy.

I lived in Belmont just during the time the LDS temple was getting built. Can you imagine how many Mormons there were running around Belmont when that thing opened?

Earlier this spring, I was randomly in Harvard Square (I'm NEVER in Hvd Sq these days...), enjoying a slice of pizza at The Garage, when three Elders walked in and sat down at the table next to me.

On my way to Baltimore a few weeks ago, there was an entire HERD of them waiting at the baggage carousel.

And now, there's a cluster in Gloucester.

I kid you not. I saw two of them walking while I was bicycling to the Cape Ann Farmers Market last Thursday. I nearly bowled them over as the wandered along the side of the street without sidewlak.

"On your left. ON YOUR LEFT! ON! YOUR! LEFT!"

I should have added, "So far on your left you'll get whiplash if you even try to catch my eye."

But I didn't.

So, is this enough "Mo" to convince you of the random connection? No? How about this?

THERE ARE THREE MORMONS SITTING BEHIND ME ON THE TRAIN. READING SCRIPTURE. OUT LOUD.

Oy vey!

A Guy Named Eddy

Standing in line at the now infamous Serenity Now! event, I had the pleasure of standing next to A Guy Named Eddy. He took the below photo of me and my crew. And he's got some very cool art and photo work on his website. I especially like the Teople.

Thanks Eddy!

Re Animation - Literally

I still maintain A-ha! is the most brilliant band ever. Still, this IS pretty darned funny. Frunkiss!!

Let's Lighten the Mood

Because I'm reading his book. Because I really relate to him. Because he loves Mozza (happy belated birthday). I give you, the amazing, the prophetic, the inscrutable, the infamous, RUSSELL BRAND!

Pause for Intermission

Brilliant!

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