comedy and tragedy? or both?

Lately I have been really bothered about something.  I've been really disappointed in just people in general.  Not necessarily specific people, but just the Nation as a whole.  What they find funny.  What they find exceptable.  For example.  Why do they not hold celebrities up to the same standards they hold everyone else.  If I had a friend and I found out he or she beat their significant other to the point that they were unrecognizable, unless I felt I could in some way help this person in some way, I'd probably consider not being their friend any more.  If they were strung out on cocaine, and not making any sense, and possibly acting dangerously, I would stay away from them.  So, if a singer, say, beats the crap out of his girlfriend, why would I still buy his cd?  If an actor, who has been said to be repeatedly abusive toward women, goes nuts and says he's "winning" because he can "handle his cocaine socially", why would I continue to watch his tv show?  If a drug addict actress feels she's above the law, drives without a license while under the influence, steals from people and doesn't seem to even give a shit that she's been caught, why would I go see her movie?  I realize that they are a lot of celebrities out there that have done some bad things in their past and I am probably not aware of it.  I couldn't possibly check out every single movie I see and make sure know one has done anything wrong.  I know its unrealistic to close myself off from all forms of entertainment that might tainted, because lets face it, that's just about everything these days.  However, it sometimes seems people don't even CARE if bad things are happening, they just want to be entertained and be fans of these people.

Another thing that has recently bothered me.  What people find funny.  Someone forwarded me an email this week that was a bunch of "funny" pictures of people at Walmart.  Basically making fun of people and what they wear and how they look.  Most of the pictures were of fat people.  Sure sometimes they were wearing something that might be considered by most as too small for them.  But some of them were just comfy clothes.  Why is it funny to laugh at someone because they have trouble controlling their weight?  Why is it funny to make fun of someone because they have bad teeth or are just generally unattractive.  I'd hate to think that someone forwarded that email to one of the people in it.  I would be horrified to find my picture among them.  And its not entirely impossible.  I've gone to Walmart in the middle of the night in my pjs.  Walmart's always been that place where people just wear what they are wearing.  They are comfy.  They could be in the middle of doing their laundry and wearing something they'd otherwise avoid, and Walmart's the one place they'd go and not care.  Also, today there was an article about Richard Simmons commenting on George Lopez making fat jokes about Kirstie Alley.  Personally I think Kirstie Alley is a grown woman and has heard plenty in her life about her weight and has probably figured out people are just idiots and to not let it bother her.  She probably doesn't need Richard Simmons backing her up.  But I read some of the comments that were made about the article by cnn.com readers.  Here is a sampling:

" Kirstie Alley is not fat, but she shows up on my GPS as a navigation hazard."
"If a fat joke hurts your feelings, lose weight. If you cannot lose weight."
"Being fat is a choice, being ugly is not. it's not nice to laugh at ugly people, but by all means do make fun of fat people, cause that was their choice"

I understand, a lot of people ARE fat because they don't give a care, but while I'm not morbidly obese, I'm overweight and can tell you, its not because I don't care.  It has a lot to do with the fact that I easily get depressed, I easily get unmotivated, and I also have crappy genes (no offense mom and dad, love you, but you're families are covered in diabetics)  There are just a lot of insensitive people out there.

Okay, another article I read was about Lea Michele from Glee walking away after being hit by a car.  I'm guessing a minor hit, not really big news.  However, in the comments:

"She's Jewish. You think she is going to have a hard time finding a good lawyer? "
"wish she wouldve taken one for the earth and gotten injured to end Glee. "

Seriously people?  Have sucken so low as to have to randomly point out a person's religion any time there's an article about her?  How is her religion relevant???  And wishing someone dead.  That's swell.  When a driver cuts me off on the road and pisses me off, I don't even have the heart to wish that they have an accident, I just wish a bird poops on their windshield.  How would this person feel if she died after they made the comment, would they also find that funny?

I know I'm probably being too sensitive.  People have always had bad taste in humor.  I know I've found things that are distasteful funny before.  Heck, I passed on a joke about Charlie Sheen just a couple of weeks ago.  "How many drugs did Charlie Sheen take.  Enough to kill two and half men."  I still find it clever, but there may be someone out there that says that's insensitive to people with drug problems.  Perhaps its seeing so much of it in such a short period of time that I've noticed the tackiness of people.  I was a fan of George Carlin before he died and he did nothing but point out politically incorrect, distasteful humor.  I probably just need to get over myself, its just been on my radar and in my mind a lot lately. 

what if there WAS an Adjustment Bureau.

This afternoon I went to see "The Adjustment Bureau".  It was probably one of the most enjoyable movies I've seen in quite a while and I just went through the 2010 Oscar season.  It was really well written.  Very interesting concept.  The special effects were simple, but effective.  The acting was great.  The story is a man, on the road to becoming a very successful politcian, due to chance, meets a girl that will make him veer off his path.  In comes "The Adjustment Bureau", a group of men who try to make changes to this man's world to get him back on track.  Big snag, he accidentally walks in on them doing their thing and discovers what he thought was his own freewill isn't at all free.  I won't go any further in the plot because this movie is so worth watching, I don't want to ruin it.  However, it does pose some interesting questions about freewill and destiny.  The one that stuck out to me the most.  If you could see what the consequences to your actions were before you chose, would you make a different choice, specifically when choosing your mate. 

Lets say you met your significant other.  They are everything you suddenly want.  They are companion, lover, and comfort.  Then someone told you, okay, you have a choice.  You can spend the rest of your life with this person, be perfectly content in the life you create together, and have the security of a wonderful partner.  OR, you can forget you ever met this person and be successful at your biggest dreams.  Which you prefer?  Contentment with someone, or an extraordinary existence alone.  If you knew your mate would hold you back from your dreams, or you would hold your mate back from theirs, would you leave them.  It's a tough question.  Ideallly your "perfect mate" would help you achieve your dreams, and better you.  But that's not necessarily realistic.  Sometimes, finding the "right person" makes you happy with what you have and you don't push as hard to achieve greatness.  I know lots of people that went to school thinking they would be this or that, and ended up meeting someone they love and became a smaller version of what they pictured.  Some of them are perfectly happy with their choice, some of them aren't.  Of course, they may not of reached that original goal anyways.  In fact, they might not have been AS successful without meeting their spouse.  Something we in reality would never really know.  I'm thankful we do not know the consequences to our actions before we make them.  I'm grateful I can just live my life and see what happens.  If such a "Adjustment Bureau" really exists, I think I'm perfectly happy being unaware of the fact. 

I've made several big decisions in my life that completely altered my future.  What if I had taken the scholarship to Rolla and graduated as an engineer?  What if I hadn't left Oklahoma when I did and stayed with the guy I was seeing?  What if I hadn't gone to work at Blockbuster in Texas, but instead taken the job at the University Bookstore?  What if I had made different friends?  What if I hadn't decided to move to Arkansas to be closer to my brother again? 

All I know is if I hadn't done those things, I wouldn't have just been on stage singing in front of a bunch of friends to 1950s music.  I wouldn't have met when of my best friend's and mentor Maureen who has helped me discover who I am and helped me gain back some of the self esteem I lost when I was young.  I probably wouldn't see my brother, who is really my best friend, as much as I do.  I wouldn't have gotten to know my sister-in-law Kristi as well as I do and found a sister in her.  I might not be as close to my parents as I am today.  I might not be the confident, independent, opinionated woman I am today.  And hopefully the path I've taken thus far will someday introduce me to the man I will spend the rest of my life with. 

If you have a free afternoon, consider seeing The Adjustment Bureau.  It is well worth it.

The Adjustment Bureau on imdb.

the sound of music. now appearing on Wednesday nights.

After finishing up The Taffetas I've got the Musical Bug, so I've decided to start a new tradition for a while.  Wednesday night will from here, until further notice, be Musical night.  I have "Singing in the Rain" on its way via netflix.  I actually have a goal in mind.  I'm looking for a musical that my theatre group can put on in the next couple of years.  If you have any suggestions, something you'd like to see, something you've always loved please comment.  If anyone is every bored on Wednesday night and likes musicals they are more than welcome to come over to join me. 

My favortie musical of all time is probably Oklahoma.  Being from the state definitely doesn't hurt.  I was exposed to this play/movie from a pretty early age.  But I also just love Rodges and Hammerstein.  They write so beautifully together.  I am also a really big fan of Meet Me in St. Louis.  It's become a habit of mine to watch it before Christmas every year.  I like the idea of falling in love with a guy while riding a tram, just seeing him.  Not particulary realistic, but awfully fun.  When I was a little girl, any time I was at home sick or stuck inside because it was nasty out I watched two movies, over and over again.  The first was Parent Trap, a disney movie (and of course I am talking about Haley Mills, not the copycat with Lindsey Lohan) and Annie.  I wanted to be Annie when I was a kid.  I thought she was just the greatest thing every.  Of course now that I'm older, I'm probably closer to Mrs. Hannigan.