I hate to admit that I am one of those people who dreads Mondays. It isn’t just because I love weekends so much (as I often work through most of a weekend). It is that so much seems to happen over the weekend, that I can barely keep up. It is then complicated by the fact that most of my broadcast clients are HORRIBLE procrastinators, and load me up with stuff they need “ASAP!!!!!” that they “forgot to do last week.”
I have a sign on my door that says, “Your Procrastination Is Not My Emergency.” But, of course, radio people can’t see my sign…because they are mostly NOT huge on “Social Media,” “the Inter-webs” or “the Google.” But I digress…
The fact is, this weekend was jammed with seemingly unrelated events that all conspired to almost make sense as a single topic.
Almost.
Let’s see how this thread pulls itself together.
As many of you who were able to watch the latest chapter of “Addicts Live” can attest, my wife (aka she who puts up with he), made a surprise appearance in the middle of the “broadcast.” It was hilarious. It was also validation that even me, a CrankyOldGuy can actually start, build and maintain a relationship with a smart, beautiful, blonde who could certainly do much better if she tried very hard (and may be reading this at some point).
But, the ironic thread to this, was that I was talking to Alissa just before “air time” and how I was afraid to share some of the recent game dialogue with her, as Deb (aka Mrs. Miller) is a school teacher in a public school…and most of the dialogue was “less than complimentary” about public schools.
I had a whole defense in my mind about how they were actually making fun of Charter/Military Academies, and was going to deflect it all by using the diversionary tactic of reminding her that Tom Cruise (one of her “free pass” list fantasy listers) actually got his start playing a kid who went nuts in a military academy in the movie, “Taps” which also launched the careers of Tim Hutton and Sean Penn, and made George C Scott seem normal after the horrible role in “Hard Core.” (I’ll wait for you to hit the IMDB apps on your padular devices.”
This was all before Tom became a Scientologist and started harassing Wookie (he swears it is is the Scientologists who are messing with his schedule at Disneyland!). So…I wasn’t really sure if it would work or not.
Suffice it to say, that I was relieved that I didn’t have to talk about the insanity of trying to fund Oregon Schools with taxes on cannabis, cigarettes, booze and casinos…because it is the kind of topic that make Mrs. Miller crave a drink…which in some weirdly abstract way is “Self-funding” her school, I guess.
Anyway…just when I was almost done with the weekend, this week’s episode of the Simpsons was about one of my OTHER pet peeves…giving kids “participation trophies” and over-boarding their “rewards” for mediocrity.
BOOM! I said it. And, it has NOTHING to do with being “political,” and everything to do with being an athlete. There was a reason that you had to work your butt off to get to the All Star Team…and that everyone doesn’t get the same reward as those who EARNED the reward. I know…I know…those who can’t perform at the same level as others who were “gifted” with athletic ability (also known as practicing a TON more than those who aren’t as “gifted”) can’t earn the same praises and prizes. Well...life is like that. I wanted to be an NBA star…but was born with huge thighs, and am “height challenged” (and also hated basketball).
But, DON’T show Mrs. Miller this post, please. She does NOT agree with me…and has spent her life making sure that our daughters are all supported, loved, and very rewarded equally (you should see her worry over her gift lists at Christmas). Add to this she is very much in charge of MY “rewards” and you can see my dilemma.
So…to that point…as a father of five daughters, I often do things that I’m not sure other, large, burly men would do. Like go to one of the opening screenings of “Beauty and the Beast” in iMax/3D and weeping openly due to the combination of the amazing production, story-line, strong female lead character, and memories of my daughters when they were little, all dressing up as “Belle.”
I’m just going to say this…GO!!! SEE IT! Forget about anything else you have read about it…it is one of the most beautiful, amazing, complete musical/movie events you will ever see. It may even help you wash the “La La Land” (which I hated) from your pallet. There is just nothing bad to say about it. It is the best use of live action/CGI I have seen…and that includes all of the goofy (and waaaaaaaaaaaay too numerous) Super Hero movies that are out.
Mrs Miller loved it. A strong girl, with the right intentions wins in the end…and the misogynist jerk (who may have been an All Star in High School) gets his due!
Man. This wandered a ton.
I’m easily distracted these days… I thought the “talking microwave” was just a delusional hangover from watching talking candlesticks and clocks in the movie. Now I’m not so sure... It’s talking to me in an English accent, and asking if Tom is here!
But THAT can wait for another Monday…