The Death of Enthusiasm

Let me make myself clear: I like "The Office." I really do.

BUT, I am beginning to feel like I've missed something about the show because apparently it is the greatest show in the history of recorded time and all eternity. Seriously guys, an "Office Party" for every episode? Also, for the last two weeks I was privileged enough to have heard nothing but excited office chatter from schoolmates, "Holy crap! The Office is coming back on!!!! I'm making nachos!"

Maybe the reason I don't understand the depth of "Office" fanaticism is because I am a man. I'm not saying that The Office is a show made for women, or even that there aren't male fanatics of the show, but almost all of the most ardent fans I've met are girls and all of them absolutely love the show with the passion of one thousand suns. Here is why: The Office is a cleverly designed soap opera/sitcom hybrid, but it's subtle enough that you can ignore the part that bores you. Girls love watching Jim and Pam struggle to finally reach relationship nirvana and guys like it when Creed says weird stuff.

I know I'm generalizing here, but honestly how many girls would be extremely upset and possibly cry if Jim and Pam suddenly left the show? All of them? For me, the Jim/Pam storyline is kind of getting stale anyways now that they're together, so all the writers can do is throw vague obstacles in their path to avoid a Sam/Dianne (Cheers) situation. Did you see that there is already a potential rival suitor in the mix (that chubby college kid who drew the professor)?

Also, the greatest aspect of the show, and what makes it truly funny/devastating is the existential angst of the characters, but whenever they make a show that kicks the misery up a few notches (the "Dinner Party" episode from last season) it seems like everyone deems it "too dark." I would prefer dark, harrowing episodes like the one where Pam and Jim stay at Dwight's bed and breakfast (if you remember, Dwight kept them up with his haunting cries of anguish) rather than the ridiculous "Michael acts like a wacky insane person" episodes like when he drives into the lake or holds the pizza guy ransom.

Summary: The Office is very funny, but not the funniest sitcom of all time (Arrested Development"), or even the funniest sitcom currently airing ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or even "30 Rock"?). Girls, if you want to watch a soap opera, there's always Grey's Anatomy.

Labels: TV

So, all the good pictures were of my family and nephews. Here are the rest.




"Hey Dad, do you think the t-shirts with our names on the back are overkill?" "No son, you must wear the Petherick name with pride!"


Sleeping man on bench.



"I heard Will Wheaton once ate at this restaurant!" "My goodness! Wesley Crusher himself! We are truly in the shadow of greatness."



You will respect the balloon lady's authority.



I saw an appallingly large number of people wearing these "bride and groom" Mickey Mouse hats. I hope I die before I think something like this is cool.



Skywriting! What does it say? PRA S LOVA?

Labels: vacation photos

In a few days I'll be in the warm sunshine of Florida, visiting Walt Disney World with my family. Anyone who knows my family will tell you that we really like Disneyland (really!) and that we go all the time. Many people would also say that my Mom is a little bit OCD when it comes to planning vacations, so it would be no surprise to find out that we (my Mom and older sister) have been planning this vacation for MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF.

Here are some of the things we've done to prepare:

1. Buy Disney themed t-shirts for every one of the nine people coming on the trip. I was told I could go to a website and order several if I wanted, but I settled on a classic looking Mickey Mouse one. If any of you think that Mickey Mouse t-shirts are not cool enough for my ultra-hip image, may I submit this photo of Emilio Estavez wearing one in the classic 1983 film, The Outsiders:



2. Proper footwear was purchased months in advance and then worn to make sure that they were broken in.

3. Different strategies of how to best carry our SPF lip balm were discussed. (I think the verdict was that some sort of pocket would be best.)

4. In addition to the store bought Disney shirts, my sister made some iron-on ones for my nephews and parents that have personalized sayings on them. I made one for me that used a Muppet character since Disney technically owns the Muppets:



BORK!

5. Spreadsheets were created that detail what we will be doing and where down the hour. This will help us be able to go on virtually every ride much like J.T. Lambert was able to do when he went there as part of Step By Step's obligatory Disney world episode. (Some of my most vivid TGIF memories are from those episodes, like remember when Danny Tanner was trying to propose to that chick by scuba diving in the aquarium restaurant? We're going to eat there!)

I leave you with Jesse and the Rippers. Truly magical.

Labels: Disneyworld

Labels: excitement, guitar stuff

The title pretty much says it all. I have given up trying to stop judging people based on their musical preferences. It's not going to happen. I will judge you. I will judge you HARD.

I know this makes me look like a pretentious douche, but I can't do anything about it. If you absolutely love Daughtry, I judge you. If you can't get enough Hinder, I judge you quickly and harshly.

In my experience, people that have "bad" (I realize this is totally subjective)taste in music either don't actually like music, (in which case they will still listen to the same 15 CD's they bought in High School and nothing else) or they just haven't cared to broaden their musical horizons. Either way, I find it hard to not form some sort of preconception about their personality based on their terrible, terrible music selection. Sorry.

Remember that time I said that I didn't think less of you due to your undying devotion to The Gin Blossoms? I was lying.

NOTE: My friend Amber likes Nickelback and Hinder, but I was able to overcome the initial judgement. Congrats Amber, you're cool in my book!

Labels: judgement, music