The Not-So-Amazing-Race

I've been a fan of CBS' "The Amazing Race" for many seasons, and my mom and I even applied to be on the show earlier this year (we would've been part of the current season, which just started Sunday night).

We were bummed that we weren't called, but after watching the premiere on Sunday I found myself less bummed and more angry - seriously, THESE are the people you've chosen to compete on the show?? THESE are the people you think America will find interesting enough to watch for several months?? My mom and I are real people with an actual, meaningful relationship - sure, we might not provide the drama of "ooh, are they gonna break up?!?," but at least we would've been LIKABLE (I think).

Here were my thoughts after watching:


Could they make worse casting choices?!?

In past seasons, the teams I found the least interesting were always the young, "dating" couples, the ones who ALWAYS say the race will either make them or break them - supposedly they're either headed for a separation or marriage.

Well, guess what - if you're facing that sort of dilemma, chances are good you aren't right for each other. Booooring.

Yet this season is chock full of these teams - so many, in fact, that I'm having trouble distinguishing them.

The rest of the field is made up of semi-famous people who don't really seem like they need the money, so why should I root for them?? There are only a couple of teams that actually feel like "real" people, and no one seems particularly smart - what happened to having some brainiacs on the Race? Half the fun is watching the competition between brains and brawn - seeing the smartypants dominate the mind puzzles while the athletes win the physical challenges.

I used to love this show, but I'm not sure I can stick out this season - and I've heard the same from many others who used to be fans. Here's to hoping the producers & casting peeps try a little harder next time around.

BITCH FEST #3

BITCH FEST #3: People parked in their cars on the side of a busy street who decide to unceremoniously throw their driver's side door wide open into oncoming traffic.

You know what I mean.

You're driving along in the right-hand lane of a busy street - I mean, it's got to be at least SOMEWHAT busy, after all, there is more than one lane going on here. You're rolling along, minding your own driving bidness, when out of the blue you see what looks to be a fairly large object flying at the front of your car.

Giant, angry sewer rat? Misplaced tumbleweed? No, sir. Just some d-brain who decided it was time to give some innocent motorists a little taste of cardiac arrest.

If I'm in my parked car on a busy street, here's what I usually do. I crack my door carefully, wait for traffic to slow (if not totally stop), then I gradually open the door inch by cautious inch, until I can just barely squeeze my side-turned butt out of the car. I do the same when re-entering the vehicle. Stop, stand, look, wait, open/jump-in all at once.

But not everyone follows these simple steps...oh nooooooo. Some a-munchers clearly think they're the only people on the planet, as evidenced by their blatant ignorance of the vehicular death they nearly caused.

Why in god's name would you ever - EVER - throw your door completely WIDE OPEN into traffic?!? I've only got about a foot and a half of room to spare in the first place, and your 3 foot long door suddenly entering my airspace means I have to choose between swerving dangerously close to the car in the left-hand lane or risk leaving a good chunk of my paint on yours, either of which could result in any number of catastrophic outcomes.

So please, idiot person in your parked car, the next time you're about to fling open your door into the middle of crazy L.A.-style traffic, stop and think a moment about the fact that you could seriously harm someone...and the fact that I've vowed to take your hand off with my side-view mirror the next time it happens.

Sorry - I guess I just didn't see you there! Sucks that you can't drive anymore, what with your one-hand and all. (And to the rest of the human race....you're welcome.)

My Brain, the Nerf Football

Why does it have to be so d*mn difficult to get back into the swing of things after a great vacation???

Granted, I'm not doing much these days...writing from home, walking the dog, taking some classes...but even that stuff seems like the ultimate grind after a long weekend of complete and total R & R.

If only life could be an endless stream of vacation days...

Of course, if I had a more solid feeling of where I'm going with my life (professionally, not personally), that might help. This state of constant flux, not knowing what I'm meant to do with myself, not sure what my future will hold or if I'll ever, EVER find a career path that I find (at the least) tolerable...it's a bit much at times. Particularly after a break from it all, not thinking about these overarching concerns for five whole days...let's just say that I've had a fairly rough time slipping back into the realm of self-flagellation.

Ugh.