Just.... Frustrated

One of my current favorite shows on TV is The Little Couple on TLC. The show follows Bill and Jen - two newlywed little people. I have written about Jen before as I find her to be an inspiring person in more ways than one, and lately that has really been no different. Recently, they have been dealing with starting a family and the reality that Jen physically probably shouldn't carry a child because of her size. While this is totally different than the issues I face with infertility, I still find myself relating to her and finding encouragement in her struggles to become a mother.

A few weeks back, the episode was about their travels to Florida to celebrate Christmas with their families and of course the subject of starting a family came up. Both Bill and Jen's family asked about it, but there was a scene with Bill's father that really struck me. He was asking them about starting a family and saying how disappointed he was that they weren't really sure of their plans and that they weren't sure if there would be a baby within the year. It was such an odd thing because you would think that he would know the situation they are in the decisions they have to make. Why would you put that pressure on them? I only watched a tidbit of the scene because I made my husband fast forward through it because I was uncomfortable watching it. You could see though on their faces that they weren't really sure how to respond because it can be such a sensitive subject and I felt physically uncomfortable watching the scene.

The reason I felt so uncomfortable is because I have been in situations similar to that more than once. It's always hard when someone asks when we are going to start a family. I know that they don't mean anything by it and they couldn't possibly know, so I don't blame people for asking. I've taken to being blunt about it by simply saying we would like to have a family someday but we are having problems. I don't mean to make them uncomfortable or make them feel bad, but I want them know. Otherwise I find that they keep asking which only makes the situation more awkward. Which is what I don't understand. I can understand asking someone in casual conversation, but sometimes it feels like I'm being badgered about it. I once even had someone tell me that "I wasn't getting any younger". Um, thanks for pointing that out, I guess? I would like to say that I handle these situations with grace and finesse, but I am not sure that I always do. In situations like that, when I don't feel comfortable explaining my problems, I usually smile and shrug my shoulders. What else can you do? What I would like to do is yell "I AM INFERTILE, BUT THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT MY AGING UTERUS!!" But I am a nice person and wouldn't want them to feel the discomfort that I feel.

So what is my point? I'm not really sure other than I just felt like sharing what was on my mind.

That's a Fact

With every good show on hiatus, I am lacking on TV blogging ideas so I thought I'd write a little more about myself because I am that vain. So without further ado here are 25 random factoids about moi (in no particular order):

• I met my husband when we were in high school. Yes, high school. We went to different but we met through mutual friends. We then went to the same college and married and lived happily ever after.
  


• I hold a special place in my heart for all things pink and green and turtles. Whenever I see anything with this color combination or with a turtle, I stop and attention must be paid.
  

• On the other hand, I am not a fan of the pink and blue combination. You will never see me wearing this colors together.
  


• I love peppermint. I could eat it all day long. Here's a hint: for a special treat, place a peppermint in your coffee. It is sure to brighten your morning!



• I have a sweet golden retriever mix named Carly. She is my child, and for right now, I prefer it that way.



• I am sarcastic (as if you couldn't tell). Sometimes I think I am too sarcastic for my own good.
  


• I love to quote movies and/or TV shows. I could probably have a whole conversation in entirely movie quotes.



• My wedding colors were bright pink and orange with a hint of green. I know it sounds retched, but I think it was quite lovely.





• In keeping with the wedding - I got married on the biggest wedding day ever - 7/7/07. And as if that weren't enough seven's, we had 7 bridesmaids, 7 groomsmen and the wedding started at 7. All of the 7's were purely coincidental. I promise.



• When it comes to cleaning, I would prefer to clean the bathroom than ever do dishes.



• I once shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.



• Ok, that last one was a lie.



• I love to read. It's an escape from the every day life. For a brief moment in time, I can slip into another world entirely and forget about my problems for a while.



• I love TV (duh), much for the same reasons I love reading. I have so many favorite shows, but my all time favorites are Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. Apparently I love shows with strong female characters.
  



• Any show, movie, character, TV personality, etc. that deals with infertility causes me to tear up just a little because I am all too familiar with the experience.



• That being said, I just adore Jen Arnold from TLC's The Little Couple. The woman is not even four feet tall and she is conquering the world. The show in currently chronicling her journey to become a mother (carrying a child is not really an option for her) and I find her courage and optimism inspiring. I wish that I could be more like Jen Arnold. Add her to my list of people I want to be friends with.



• In case you weren't keeping track that list includes Tim Gunn, Kelly Cutrone and now Jen Arnold.



• I have a major fear of vomiting. I mean major. I don't want to do it and I don't want to be around people who are doing it. That's all I'm going to say about that.



• I love purses. LOVE them. I could buy a new purse every week if my husband and bank account let me. I love everything from the very expensive to the cheapest of cheap. I'm not picky.



• I went to Catholic School for 12 years and I thank God and parents every day that I had the privilege. I am proud of my Catholic school education and wouldn't trade it for anything.



• I was in a sorority in college (if you look real closely at this list, you can probably figure out which one) and I loved it to bits and pieces. I still love it and wish everyday that I could go back.
  


• I can't cook to save my life. Ok, I can make things from a box, but that is about it. Thank goodness I married a man who is a good cook.
  


• I enjoy traveling, but don't get to do it nearly enough. Last year, I went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Mackinac Island, MI; Norris Lake in TN; Sacramento/San Francisco/Napa Valley, CA. This year so far all I have planned is a night in Indianapolis, IN and a week in Seagrove Beach, FL.




• I truly enjoy my job and the people I work with. I don't think many people can actually say that.



• I'm not much for sports, but if there is one sport I can watch an entire game of and not be extremely bored, it's basketball. More specifially Kentucky Basketball. There is just something about it. If you're not from here, you wouldn't understand.
  



• And an extra since I wasted one with the Reno comment - I am from Kentucky and proud of it! I wear shoes, I am not married to my cousin, I have never dated a cousin, I can read, I have all my teeth, I don't smoke, I don't farm tobacco and No, I have never been to the Kentucky Derby.
  
  

I hope you enjoyed! Any questions, just ask!

This Cake is for Today!

My husband informed me this week that I am like, "the worst blogger ever" which I beg to differ. Surely there are other bloggers out there that are worse than I. Bloggers that don't write ever, or their content really sucks. Ok, so my content sucks, but that is neither here nor there. What my husband fails to realize is that TV has been rather... well boring lately. With shows on hiatus and whatnot, it is hard to feel motivated to write. However, it appears that many shows are now back in the regular rotation so I guess that means..... A NEW ENTRY! Hooray!

Now where were we? Oh yes, Cake Boss. Cake Boss is a hybrid show that TLC pulled out over the summer that mixes two very hot topics - specialty cakes (as in Ace of Cakes) and New Jersey (are New Jersey-ites upset about the exploitation of their people?). So immediately, I fell in love with the show because it mixed two of my favorite things. Then the second season started and it was such a disappointment. I don't know if the issues that I am seeing now were in the first season or if I was just blinded but now I am almost offended as a viewer as they stuff they expect me to believe.

The overall concept of the show is good - or at least it should be good when you mix creativity and talent with Jersey, but alas it is not so. The show and it's content all seems a bit too contrived. The things they expect us to believe insult my intelligence. For example, in one of the first episodes of the season, Buddy is asked to make a cake for an engagement and the cake is to include the ring. The guy proposing makes a big deal about giving Buddy the ring and how he is trusting Buddy with this big responsibility. Later, the ring is upstairs and while Buddy isn't looking one of his sisters takes the ring and starts showing it to everyone. Uh oh! I wonder what is going to happen? Will the ring get lost? Will Buddy have to pay for a new ring? Oh my! As can be expected, Buddy later goes to put the ring on the cake and alas, the ring is missing!! How can this be? Buddy launches into a tirade and lo and behold his sister comes waltzing in with the ring and says that she took it to have it cleaned. What a nice person! How totally, contrived by TLC!

And here lies my biggest gripe about most reality TV, it's not really real. Is most of reality TV in fact reality? I'd say probably not, but at least with some of them it doesn't feel so set up. I feel like earlier episodes of the Real World and Road Rules and now even Jersey Shore are for the most part real - just people living their lives on TV. Then along comes the reality show fad and suddenly things aren't so reality based. TLC has a history of this with Jon and Kate. The first few seasons you saw a family who struggled to make ends meet and did things that a normal family did. Then TLC planned trips for them and gave them free swag and suddenly life really isn't life anymore is it? No it's just TLC and their puppets. This is what I feel has happened with Cake Boss. Suddenly it's not enough to just watch a guy and his crew make some pretty awesome cakes. Instead you have to have some made up drama and silly fights and really, it's just old. When in the first five minutes of the episode you can call exactly what is going to happen in the episode, it's not really reality now is it? No, it's just another sitcom if you ask me.

So while the episode of Cake Boss was new on Tuesday, it wasn't so "new" if you know what I mean. Buddy made some cakes, Buddy got pissed because people weren't doing it the way he thought is should be done, Buddy worries his idiot cousin won't deliver the BIG.IMORTANT.CAKE on time!!!! and then he does.

And that is all I have to say about that.