DWTS

I love "Dancing With the Stars".  I like it because I am always interested in the progress of each contestant.  It's an amazingly hard process and I identify with it even if I'm not the one dancing.  This season, I am already rooting for Jennifer Grey.  Why?  She captivated me in "Dirty Dancing" and she has great genes thanks to dad, Joel Grey.  Who can forget Patrick Swayze's `admonishment to Jerry Orbach, her father: 

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner!"

Rick Fox went first and, damn, if he wasn't good doing the quick step.  The guy is huge.  He has my favorite dancer, Cheryl, as his partner, and he pulled it off.  Following Rick was Florence Henderson, Ma Brady herself.  The judges were falling all over her and pandering to her.  bleech.  She just wasn't that good.

Plus, anybody see this?  As Lurch would say, "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........."

 No.  I did not embed the video.  TMI.

Anyway, DWTS is a rigged show.  No doubt in my mind.  I should not watch it but I am hooked and I do and I bemoan the silly voting allowed by the stupid tv audience who are all about favoritism over talent.  While I approached this season thinking Jennifer Grey might be the best, I have now watched two shows and am convinced.  Plus, she has Derek, the best choreographer...



With DWTS, however, one never knows who might emerge as a superb dancer.  Sometimes, I am genuinely surprised. 

Now, the worst part of the show...Sarah Palin.  Jesus Christ, WTF.  I get it.  Bristol's on the show but, do we have to showcase Mama Grizzly?  I mean, really!  Barf barf barf.  I don't know what Bristol is like but I sure as shit feel sorry for her.  She is so totally at the mercy of her mother and the RNC, Tea Partiers, etc.  As Bob Dylan would sing,  "...only a pawn in their game."

Okay, enough of my ranting.    Tomorrow night:  another elimination.

To Bryan

Bryan, my wonderful first born son, went to see Bob Dylan in concert for the first time Tuesday night and he was blown away.  He excitedly called his father the next evening to tell him it was...

"...one of the best experiences of  my life" and he "couldn't believe he (Dylan) was real."

He went, in part, because of his father's undying admiration for Dylan.  He wasn't sure if he'd like the music or his singing but came away with an appreciation for all, particularly his musicianship.  He told my husband

"I really wished you were there but I felt like you really were there through me."  My husband was thrilled.

 Bryan is a self taught guitarist and he's very good.  He bought a second hand guitar his senior year in high school and began to learn via computer programs on the internet.  By graduation, he was so into it, we bought him a week's stay at an acoustic music camp on Lake Winnepesaukee where he ate, slept and learned the ropes from hundreds of devoted bluegrass musicians from around the world. 

Since then, he has taught himself electric guitar and now plays in a group in the city where he lives and goes to college.  He sometimes performs solo, singing and accompanying himself on his acoustic guitar.  When my father died two years ago, he left his harmonicas to my sons.  Bryan began teaching himself harmonica listening to Dylan and Stevie Wonder.  He made a harmonica holder out of a coat hangar, then broke down and bought a professional one.

My husband and I have surrounded the boys with music, mostly the rock n' roll we grew up with.  They  appreciate music from our era and have an eclectic selection on their ipods.  I am proud of my son's courage to get up there and perform.  Takes guts and a certain amount of confidence which I certainly don't have! 

His favorite song from the live concert the other night, "To Ramona".