Archive for the 'Audience Participation' Category
June 14th, 2009 by Blythe
-Good Manners
I never pictured myself as one of those parents who says, “WHAT DO YOU SAY?” to her child after the checker at the grocery store hands him a sticker, but I have become the please-and-thank-you police.
-A Clean In-Box
Allowing e-mail sit in my in-box for more than a few days gives me hives. This affliction can lead to premature archiving.
-A flattering Facebook profile photo
Why, I’m not sure, considering that so many of my FB friends saw me in junior high, high school, and college, wearing an unspeakably frizzy permed mullet, braces, and/or stirrup pants. But I tried to put up a goofy one and I just couldn’t stand it.
-Comfortable shoes
I love my red patent leather heels but I can barely bring myself to wear them. I wish I could banish the worn-out Born oxfords from my closet, but they make my feet happy.
-Lipstick
I’ll wear it even if I’m not wearing any other makeup.
-Knowing all the words
I go out of my way to research the words to songs that I enjoy so that I can sing along correctly. Seriously. I’ve googled the lyrics to “Little Red Corvette.”
It’s the little things, isn’t it? What matters to you?
January 27th, 2009 by Blythe
I haven’t seen a single nominated movie this year. I saw Gran Torino but apparently Clint and the Hmong are on the outs with the Academy this year. Maybe I’ll make progress in the next three weeks.
Anyway, it’s time for my fourth annual Oscar pool!
Just fill out this form:
Blythe’s Oscar Pool
and submit it by midnight wherever you are on Thursday, February 19, 2009.
Yes, indeed, there will be prizes.
Last year’s results
Results from 2007
And the results from 2006
A great Oscar info site
January 12th, 2009 by Blythe
Today’s the day to comment. Why?
Because it makes me feel popular and neat, and after that last post you know I need all the help I can get in the self-esteem department.
Also, because there’s a prize!
Comment below with your latest favorite song (add a link to your fave version on YouTube if you’d like). It doesn’t have to be new music, just something you’re enjoying right now. I’ll pick one random commenter and send him/her a $10 iTunes or Amazon gift card (your choice). Because I need some new musical inspiration and I need to feel loved.
AMENDED
I would also appreciate suggestions for sappy background music to be used in Theo’s Year Two video, if and when I ever take the time to fight with the moviemaking software. You might remember last year’s video, which was only a month late. Two months late for year two? That’s a good goal. Anyway, this amendment was inspired by Jonniker’s comment below. I am a shameless music/inspiration thief.
P.S.
Speaking of prizes, we’re giving away a really cool booster chair over at Mamas Worldwide. The deadline for entry is tomorrow at midnight.
September 16th, 2008 by Blythe
Elections don’t always bring out my warmest feelings toward our country. Frankly, they make me think it’s broken. I feel pummeled by voices enumerating all the ways people running for office are going to fail and take America down with them. I worry that we’re headed for bad things. Right now, especially, when nothing seems to be going right (the economy is bad, we’re still at war, people are driving to Mexico to get their teeth fixed, and the fabulous shoes I bought online make my feet hurt), it’s easy to think there are better places to live.
Before I moved to Germany, I thought I might be more comfortable living somewhere else. I didn’t feel patriotic. I was frequently critical of my country and it seemed like my views didn’t fit with most of the opinions I heard were from “typical middle America.” I looked forward to escaping the advertising that seemed to hit me over the head everywhere I went. I thought the health insurance system had to be better outside my country’s borders. And I was ready to live in a place where religion wasn’t starting to encroach on the government. I knew I would miss my native language and all of my friends and family, but I was ready to take a break from American culture, including bad reality television, shopping as recreation, and the idea that our leaders must sound and act less intelligent than they are in order to get elected.
After three years away, I still think our health care system is broken, in fact it’s even worse than I remember. I wish my son’s diapers didn’t have Blue’s Clues plastered across them. And I am doing my best never to watch an episode of The Hills. But I’m so grateful to be here anyway.
America is the land of choice. At the grocery store, we get to choose from twelve different flavors of pickles, sliced five different ways. We can listen to talk radio where people argue about gas prices or we can switch the dial and hear heavy metal from the 1970’s. We can wear our clothing backwards and though people might stare, they’re not going to stop us in the street and tell us to turn those pants around, Daddy Mac.
Americans mean well. They want to be liked and so they begin and end conversations by being nice. They ask questions. They really want to know about you. They actually care (or they know it’s their job to care) whether or not you’re finding the organic whole milk you’re looking for. And they think your kids are cute.
Americans need to know why there are rules, and are careful about making new ones. They ask a lot of questions, and they expect answers. They want it like they want it. They don’t care if no one else eats peanut butter on the pancakes, they’d like some please and they’d like it on the side. And, usually, they get it, without argument.
Before I left, I thought America was without a singular culture. We don’t have a special hat or ethnic dance or anything except McDonald’s (which, incidentally, has moved waaaay past symbolizing America and now just means fried potatoes in your language of choice) and bad TV to distinguish us to the world. But we do have a culture, and it includes pride, openness, and high expectations. Like any culture, some members take the defining qualities too far. But at a basic level, they are good traits.
America feels like home to me. Before I left, I thought another place might feel more comfortable, but I was wrong. I realized that, no matter where I go (and I hope I visit many more places, because there are some fantastic ones I haven’t seen yet), I’ll always be a visitor anywhere but my own country. It’s a terribly imperfect place, but it’s the only one I know where I can drive thru and order fake cheese nachos at any hour of the day or night.
Cecily over at Uppercase Woman invited her readers to write about why they love America. I invite you to join me in my response. Tell me in the comments why you love our country. Or, if you have a blog, write a post and link to it here.
April 25th, 2008 by Blythe
I loved hearing what we were all like in high school. It’s too bad we couldn’t have formed our own clique, quoting Star Trek and dating underclassmen who listened to They Might Be Giants and feeling awkward together. If only I had heard of They Might Be Giants in high school. This exercise just reminded me of exactly how isolated I was. I recall asking my mom to buy whatever cassette tape was on the top of the charts at the record store in Billings – I didn’t know or care what album it was – when she visited there, just so I could listen to something popular and new. It’s no wonder I’m an internet junkie now; I feel like I need to know everything, all the time, since I spent my formative years feeling like I was missing out on the big world outside my hometown. Of course, now I like to go back and unplug the computer and look at the mountains. Just for a while.
Thanks again for playing.
CN Heidelberg:
I love that you think of Ames, Iowa as a big city. If I had lived anywhere near a college town (or Omaha!) I would have been hanging out there every weekend too. (If I’d first received full parental approval, of course, because I was all about following every rule to the letter back then. It was good training for living in Germany.)
Christina:
I am so impressed that you received an official slacker notification letter.
missbeegail:
Me too.
britten:
I quoted The Cure and tried to seem dark. Which just confused people, since I was usually sporting a perky perm and wearing pink socks that matched my pink Esprit sweatshirt.
Anonymous:
Eric? Is that you? It must be. I’m glad to know that you will forever be remembered in the Polson High School trophy case.
Eurotrippen:
I’m still waiting for my pound of flesh to appreciate. Any tips?
Tom:
I had no idea you were dating freshmen. Who came in second?
distracted:
I could have joined your ‘honest & good’ club. My best friend and I used to leave campus and get frozen yogurt when we were supposed to be helping grade papers in the study hall. We were living ON THE EDGE.
Katie:
I’m pretty sure it was below freezing on my high school graduation day. In May.
Mego:
I heartily agree. I was so grateful at my ten-year class reunion when everyone was nice to me. I half-expected them all to glare at me because their memories revolved around me trying to get everyone to Just Say No and to attend pep assemblies. But they had apparently forgotten (or forgiven) all that and we had a good time just being happy to see each other. That’s how life should work.
April 24th, 2008 by Blythe
While I was away, the following was accomplished:
-I spent my thirty-seventh birthday in Croatia, visiting the town my great-grandparents left to begin a new life under the stars and stripes.
-I read the latest Vanity Fair and was frightened by Madonna’s footwear.
-Theo learned to say “yucky.”
-I picked a winner from your comments on my last post. Congratulations to our big winner, Erin, who I’m certain will thoroughly appreciate receiving some German treats. Erin, leave a comment or send me an e-mail with any special requests. I loved reading all of your responses to my question. I’m mulling over a post on this topic. I know you can’t wait.
April 9th, 2008 by Blythe
I’m headed out for a little vacation (WHAT? You don’t think I deserve a vacation just three weeks after my last vacation?) so I’ll be MIA for a short while.
However! That doesn’t mean you can just ignore me. It’s your turn to answer one of my favorite questions from the Q&A series. And, as a reward, I’ll randomly choose one commenter to receive an assortment of his/her favorite German treats! If you don’t know what you want, I’ll pop a wad of Haribo in the mail and you can thank me later.
Here’s the question:
What were you like in high school?
Those of you who asked questions in my earlier post are obligated to participate. The rest of you, well, you want a prize, don’t you?
April 7th, 2008 by Blythe
What’s Jeff’s most endearing quirk or habit?
He can never remember how to sing any particular song (words or melody) so he makes them up. His version of My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music includes the line “raindrops on noses and soft subtle kittens.”
When do you think Theo will get hair?
I’m kind of hoping he stays bald until he is old enough to wash his own hair.
Does Theo know any German?
I’m not sure. Maybe that’s why we can’t understand half of what he says.
Seriously, though, the words he’s learned are all English as far as we know. He doesn’t hear that much German on a consistent basis – we speak to him in English and our TV is in English – so probably not. I know you’re dying to know what words he says, so here they are:
Car (assigned to anything vaguely mechanical)
Ball (assigned to anything vaguely round)
Mama
Daddy
Gigi (his stuffed giraffe’s name)
Bye bye
Banana
Up
Hi
Uh oh
Cracker
Do you prefer Jeff’s hair long (like now) or short?
I really like it long.
How did you choose Theo’s name? Do you pronounce it in both the English and German ways? What other names did you consider?
We wanted a name that was slightly unusual yet familiar and pronounceable. We pronounce it in English (The-o) unless we’re introducing him to a German-speaker; then it’s just easier to say it in German (TAY-o).
A man is hiking up a snowy mountain and comes across a cabin. Inside the cabin is a small fire and two dead men. How did they die? (They did not burn to death)
Asphyxiation from smoke inhalation. There was a dead varmint blocking the chimney.
Q&A Part 3 – Life in Europe
Q&A Part 2 – Pop Culture
Q&A Part 1 – About Me
April 2nd, 2008 by Blythe
What’s your favorite place in Nürnberg?
The whole Altstadt is picturesque and pretty. I also love the Furth Stadtparkt, particularly the cafe and surrounding gardens.
Least favorite?
The stairwell in our apartment building. Most days, I’m practically dead by the time I reach the top.
What is Easter like in Spain? It looks really quiet. But Easter in Italy was a loud affair, so I’m surprised the Spaniards aren’t more wild.
We’ve visited Spain twice during Easter weekend; two years ago we were in Barcelona, and this year we were in Madrid. Good Friday seemed like the more important holiday in both places – stores and attractions (including the Prado) were closed. The somber Good Friday processions in Madrid attracted medium-sized crowds. It was back to business as usual on Saturday and Sunday (stores closed on Sunday but everything else was open). I can’t report on the nightlife since we went against every Spanish cultural custom and went to bed early.
What about you has changed the most since you’ve been in Germany (besides having Theo)?
To steal a phrase from my pal Katie, I’ve become much more comfortable with ambiguity. I still don’t enjoy being clueless about my surroundings, but I can live with the feeling. That’s a big change for a planner-organizer like me.
If/when you move back to the US, what will you miss most about Germany?
The pace of our life here is slow and quiet. We don’t have many nearby options for things to do or movies to see or friends to visit or restaurants to try. That can be the worst thing about living here, but it keeps our days simple. My stress level is very low, and I more readily enjoy small activities like taking a walk or getting an ice cream cone.
How do you suggest a person meet new people when moving to Germany?
Take a group language course, and be open to making friends with anyone, even those younger/older/different than you. Your language skills will match, and you’ll be able to explore your new home together. Invite someone in your class to visit a museum or shop for groceries with you. Activities smooth the way when you can’t communicate well.
What’s your favorite German pastry/dessert?
I love the hot waffles sold at outdoor markets. They usually have a yummy nutmeg flavor and I usually get them dusted with powdered sugar.
Where else in the world would you like to live?
London or New York, if I could also be guaranteed a huge salary.
I would give almost any large European capitol a try. I haven’t traveled much outside Europe, so it’s hard for me to say if I’d like to live in Asia or South America, for example.
March 31st, 2008 by Blythe
What would The Matrix have been like if Will Smith had played Neo?(he turned the role down)
Lame.
I’m no advocate for Keanu Reeves’s acting abilities, but he (or probably his agent) is a genius when it comes to choosing roles suited for his wooden delivery. He looked cool and animatronic and that’s what Neo was all about. Will Smith as Neo would have meant The Matrix as (Insert Forgettable Action/Adventure Movie Here).
In your opinion is Britney Spears a bad mother?
I could write an entire blog filled with my opinions (based on biased popular media coverage and my own highly untechnical and wholly uninformed armchair psychology) on the Britney situation. I think her current behavior is due to a collision of fame, immaturity, money, bad advice, stubbornness, cultural values (her culture being lower-income American south), and a case of postpartum depression. I don’t think she’s a bad mother, I just think she needs to get the right kind of help and to grow up a little before she can be a good one. I suspect millions of mothers make the same kinds of choices she has made, but their mistakes happen behind closed doors. I hope she turns things around, but to do so she needs to give up the media attention she’s lived with for her entire adult life, and I’m not sure she can imagine how to do that.
I finally started reading some Chuck Klosterman — how do you feel about Billy Joel?
“Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits” is one of my top-five sing-along albums for long car trips. I once spent a long stretch of highway memorizing all the lyrics to “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”
Christopher Hitchens: total pompous douchebag; really smart; little bit of both?
Both. And that’s why gets the big bucks. But I’m glad I don’t have to sit in the cubicle next to his.
You’re invited to attend the Oscars. Which designers would YOU invite to create YOUR gown?
First, I would hire a stylist, preferably whoever styles Jodie Foster because I have the feeling she doesn’t have fantastic dress sense but she always manages to look good at red-carpet events. Then, I would have my stylist place a call to Narciso Rodriguez’s people, and have Valentino’s people on the line as backup. Also, s/he could do some shopping at the Chanel warehouse because vintage Chanel might work in a pinch.
Who are your writer crushes?
Jon Stewart goes without saying, right? And, since I’m all about the funny geeks, Cameron Crowe and Joss Whedon are right up there too. I can’t come up with anyone outside the TV/Movie realm. Maybe I’m too jealous of print writers to have crushes on them?
Q&A Part 1 – About Me
