Does This Make Me a Cougar?

I'm not even sure I want to admit this in writing, but the way I see it, maybe my massive embarrassment/confusion will help somebody else. Somebody else who is struggling.

So, after totally berating a friend of mine (I do have to add this is a MALE friend) about six months back for watching and enjoying 17 Again, I found myself sitting on the couch this last Sunday, flipping through HBO and there it was. My husband was deeply entrenched in World of Warcraft, so I was like, hey, why not? I never get to watch chick flicks (okay, I never get to watch anything besides Sci Fi or Action - blurgh).

I settled in and after a while, I realized I was entranced. And not with the fine filmmaking (even though admittedly, it was pretty funny).

No, I was entranced with the FINE boy.

Are you kidding me? Is he real? I realize I am about five years behind here, but I never had the misfortune to watch any of that High School Musical tomfoolery, so this is my first Efron experience.

It kind of hurts my eyes to look at him, he is so perfect. I can even get past his painfully tousled hair. And the fact that I'm pretty sure he's wearing makeup.

He's that strange kind of good looking where he's almost TOO pretty. Like Rob Lowe. In the 80's.

I mean, really, Rob Lowe? Your beauty is searing my retinas.

And now that I think about it, he bears a striking resemblance to Jordan Catalano Jared Leto. Oh my goodness, how I swooned while I watched My So Called Life. I really GOT how Angela kept going after him, no matter how douchey he was. I mean, HELLO?

Okay, so clearly, I have a type. Which is prettier than me. Dark hair, brooding eyes. I was told, back in the day, my husband strongly resembled Freddie Prize, Jr. By my mother.

How does my mom know who Freddie Prinze, Jr. is? That is something to ponder. Or maybe not.

Belly Laughs.

So I haven't laughed much lately, but I've got to give props to The Office last night.

I laughed out loud. And cried a little at the end. Cause seriously? Jim? Does such a man REALLY exist?

'I was waiting for my wife'. SOB.

I used to be a hardcore believer that the British version of The Office was superior. I have a weird little crush on Ricky Gervais (he is a genius). Though Steve Carrell is brilliant, Ricky Gervais is painfully hilarious.

So, yeah, this anglophile is maybe converting. The Yankee version, it's growing on me.

What Are They Going to Call It Now?

I want to talk about something happy today. I had the best intentions.

And then I go and watch my DVR'd episode of Jon & Kate Plus Eight...

Mistake.

I was in tears. For reals. I don't know why I'm so emotional. If I wasn't sure I couldn't be pregnant, I'd be buying an EPT. And if I am, I'm suing Mirena.

I won't go on about THAT show, because I think it's just all around tragic. All I'm going to say is:

a) I think Kate has always had her controlling personality.
b) Clearly Jon has changed and is having some kind of early mid-life crisis. The hair plugs somehow affected his brain.
c) Yes, Jon, she isn't very nice to you, but maybe you should have taken that into account before you FATHERED EIGHT CHILDREN WITH HER.

Okay, done.

Except...did you get a load of the ice on Jon's ears? I wonder if he's gone out and gotten a tribal armband tattoo and motorcycle? Oh yeah, check on the motorcycle. Orange County Choppers hooked him up.

Okay, now I'm REALLY done.

It's becoming obvious that I watch entirely too much television. I was thinking about maybe not watching for a spell.

But then I remembered So You Think You Can Dance. And True Blood. And The Next Food Network Star.

Maybe I'll just stop watching TLC.

Yeah, that's the ticket...

Separated at Birth?

Not a perfect match, but Michael Sarver from American Idol really reminds me of my brother.

It IS a Valid Question.

B and I were watching Dancing With the Stars a few weeks back and Gilles Marini came onscreen.
'Who is that guy? Why is he famous?'
I thought about it for a moment.
'He showed his junk in the Sex and the City movie.'
That's all I had.
Male full frontal gets you on DWTS. Sweet.
Now if someone could help me with why Denise Richards is famous, I'd be truly obliged.

Polygamy Going Mainstream?

One of my favorite guilty pleasures of late is the HBO show Big Love. I find it fascinating and have become hooked. On the same note, I was watching Oprah the other day (yes, I am a SAHM and I watch Oprah. Shut up.) and they had a Lisa Ling special where she went inside the Yearning for Zion Compound in El Dorado, Texas. They spoke with the men, the younger women and the girls. While I found the girls to be semi-brainwashed, I have to admit that I didn't find the people on the ranch to be all that crazy and/or evil. Then, the FLDS spokesman, Willie Jessop, came on and he was actually charming and cordial to Oprah. This morning I was cleaning up the kitchen and thinking about the show, and had a thought - are we softening up as a culture on plural marriage?
Growing up in a very Protestant household, I was always taught that Mormonism was a cult, and have always been very wary of the religion. I can't say I have any Mormon friends - not that I would dismiss someone simply on that basis - I just have never had the opportunity.
So with the whole Warren Jeffs drama and the YFZ Ranch raid, I have been very interested, wanting to know more - wanting to know what really goes on and why people choose to live like that. Though, granted, most don't feel it is a choice - it's what is deemed from above.
I absolutely do not condone young women or girls being forced into marriage. I'm positive that young girls have been abused, molested and raped at the hands of the much older husbands they are given to by their parents. So let me be very clear here - I am talking about plural marriage where all parties consent and all are of age.
During the Oprah interview, Willie Jessop raised a very thought provoking point - why does our society frown on plural marriage, yet seem to turn a blind eye to infidelity and men having children with many different women?
For me, neither infidelity or plural marriage is acceptable. But it is an interesting point. And as I watch Big Love and actually feel sympathy and compassion for the sister wives and the plights of their families, I wonder if I am the only one who has had to step back and tell myself - hey - polygamy - not cool.

Top Mess

I am addicted to Top Chef. I didn't start watching till last season but am completely hooked.
The finale was last Wednesday, but I needed a few days to decompress and calm down before writing about what transpired.
Everybody, I am so pissed off!
Hosea? Really?
Let's review. Carla pretty much rocked throughout at least the last half of the series. Her food always looked amazing. Plus, girlfriend is FUNN-AY!
Stefan reminded me of a little boy. You know, he'd figure out what buttons to push and then have no mercy. I adored his little lesbian crush on Jamie too. Love it.
Hosea? Meh. Honestly I was hoping Jeff or Fabio would make it into the finale. Fabio reminds me of the dog whisperer (yes, I know he's Italian and Cesar Milan is Mexican). And Jeff, well Jeff's restaurant name was enough to send me into hysterics every time I saw it...Dilido Grill? What kind of food do they serve?
Hosea, on the other hand...what a tool! His whole weird non-romance with Leah. So very high school. I just could never warm up to him. Plus his food just never interested me.
You think Stefan would bug me more - but he was just unapologetically annoying, which I found endearing. I mean, if you're going to be an arrogant jerk, you should own it, embrace it.
So, I'm disappointed. I need to move on.
America's Next Top Model starts this week!