~ Glee & Me ~

Glee & Me

On any given day if you met me at a stoplight, I would be singing along with my MP3 play-list. The most-played here lately are Volumes 1 and 2 of Glee: The Music. I can’t get any of the songs out of my head. I even have Smile — the Lily Allen cover — as my ring-tone, and Defying Gravity before that. Since the show’s break, I am going through withdrawals. Luckily, I have the music to keep me company until they grace my television set next month on April 13th. Oh, the anticipation…

I have always had a favorite show for one reason or another. But why do I love Glee so much? I have been out of high school for so long that I don’t really want to even think about it, some of the comedy is a little kooky for my taste, and I was never in any kind of chorus and/or glee club. Oh, and did I mention that I can’t really sing? What I do love most of all is the music. The plethora of music does bring me back to my high school years. So I guess that can give you and idea how old I am.

The beginning of the year, the show announced an open casting call. I was so excited even though I would have no chance as my age does not fit in the 16-26 years of age range. I’m some 10 years too late. Oops! Busted. I have always loved to sing no matter how much I’m out of tune — just ask my husband — as I couldn’t live without music in my life. Rachel (Lea Michelle’s character) is always teased about her wardrobe and ambitions, whereas I think her outfits are cute and wish I knew what she knows at her age.

The show has reminded me how much I loved music and musicals as a kid. Grease and Sounds of Music were watched every year when they came on TV. My sister and I would have concerts in our family music room as our dad was in a band, and our parents had a variety of LP’s to choose from to play on the record player. I do think the importance of the show gives us, the viewers — whatever our age — a reminder to keep a hold of our dreams and be ourselves. I hope there are many more years of Glee to come.

~ Think for Yourself ~

Recently my husband and I — along with my mom and a couple of our friends — went to see one of this world’s legendary comedians, Gallagher. I have to say out of all of the comedians, Gallagher IS my favorite. There is no other like him. The man is still the funniest I have ever heard still at 63-years-old.

I can remember watching the array of videos from my video-store job back in the ’90s. Granted I was just a young tyke when Gallagher was first known; it took me a few years to catch up. And, well, to be age-appropriate truth be told. I fell in love at first sight. Now at 36, I have now seen him twice over the past year since he’s come around my neck of  the woods.

This past February performance was him at his best. We got the whole shebang; his stand-up act along with the one & only Sledge-o-Matic! Seats in the second row-center made it for an interesting evening I might add, and the fact that my husband forgot the $.99 ponchos. Luckily, my smart momma brought hers where I found some refuge.

Before Gallagher painted his audience with rice pies and sauerkraut delight, I think his most important message was to inspire Americans to “Think for Yourself.” I would say for the most part, I do carry out that request. I agree with a remark he made regarding boys wearing pants past their ass showing their underwear whereas “underwear” is meant to go “under” something. I know my girls better not bring home a boy who is “baggy pants” challenged! I have to say that is a concern for me. My mother just had to worry if I brought some boy home with long hair. I would take that over baggy drawers.

I can’t say I ever followed a bad trend. Yeah, there was the time in high school where I folded my jeans like everybody else. But that was cool, right?  I can  say that I never — well, one time when I let my sister fix my hair for picture day — had “big hair” in the ’80s/’90s like the other girls. That was not for me! I even had a teacher ask me one day why I didn’t fix my hair like all the other girls. I just didn’t know how to respond to that. I guess that shows I was “thinking for myself.”

So Gallagher’s show had me really thinking about myself. This is why I love Gallagher! The show rose some questions for me:  How do I see this world; What do I think is different; Do I know everything there is to know or understand what goes on around me? I think it’s time for some grown-up soul searching, and learning about the world in which we live.

Though the new year is now in its third month, I’m thinking of spring as a time to start off my year. Spring is not in full swing as of yet, but I’m getting a head start. March is just as good of a time as any. Time to renew. Time to think for myself again. I did know something in high school!