Relief
Teaching for this Spring is over, thank God. This has been the longest and most painful semester ever due to some heavy duty personal and professional stress, and now that it is nearly over, I want to dance like these guys in this song, jaate the japan, pahunch gaye chiin, samajh gaye na?” (Was off to Japan, but ended up in China instead, what say?) and throw my limbs and composure to the winds in sheer abandon.
Nothing like Kishore Kumar’s mad comic genius and wildly mobile body, face and voice, to liven up one’s spirits. The film in which it is featured, Chalti ka Naam Gaadi (If it runs, it’s a car) is available fully on youtube. See it – it is silly screwball comedy, as usual, but the soundtrack (by S D Burman), with lots of other Kishore songs, is superb. My favourite is Paanch rupaiyaa baarah aanaa.
The only silver lining to stress is that it keeps my fingers going feverishly. The Ribby Cardi body got done, and I added some buttons right away to see if it fits, closed. To my relief, it does.
Much of the knitting this semester got done as I obsessively watched TV episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, pretty much back to back. Netflix DVDs of TV series are perfect – mindless, and without the advertisements. But I thought I should take a break after an elaborate dream I had one night where Inspector Japp was complaining to me over a beer about Poirot’s dashed interference in everything, and I then took it up with Miss Lemon to tell Poirot to step back a bit, because his success rate was undermining Japp’s self-esteem. I woke up and was half-afraid that I would start lecturing in class in David Suchet’s affected voice and manner.
But last weekend in LA in the hotel room I saw an episode of something called “What Not to Wear” and I think I might have found another guilty pleasure. I cast on the Ribby’s sleeve with a DVD of its episodes. It is SO annoying in parts, but weirdly seductive. I oscillate between analyzing the coded messages the show transmits about the power of shopping and consumption to solve all kinds of self-esteem, body-image, emotional issues (“I want to dress better so my kids can be proud of me” – WTF????), and enjoying the Cinderella or Ugly Duckling story that unfolds every single time. Admittedly, it’s not as bad as another show I saw that night that involved all kinds of surgery and whatnot. Plus the two hosts are irritating and I don’t care for the whole “let’s make fun of you before we do your makeover”, but I’ve seen some of their advice about silhouette and fit and visual illusions on various Ravelry groups as well, and it’s most interesting. And of the few episodes I have seen, all the women were different ages and shapes, and it’s fun to see how they choose outfits for them.
So between Chalti ka Naam Gaadi and a feel-good Cinderella DVD this weekend, maybe my Ribby sleeves will get done soon too. Wish all my readers a relaxed weekend too!
I believe I have that very movie in my Netflix queue, so it’s nice to see it’s got an endorsement.
Sounds like a lovely way to spend the weekend! And I so enjoy it when you share dance videos. This one is a hoot — a real pick-me-up at the end of a long work week.
Love the colors you’ve chosen for the cardigan.
woohoo that another semester is over!
Agatha Christie reminds me of my teen years… and heart Poirot – the way he walks and talks and just his goofy self..
and i love the colors on your ribby cardi..
High-five, sistah – I like parts of WNTW too. In fact I tape it on Fridays and watch it later when I am by myself. Talk about guilty pleasure! I don’t find the hosts too irritating. They can be pretty smart actually, or maybe their charms have grown on me.
Which WNTW did you see? The American version or the BBC version?
The older BBC version, with Trinny & Susannah is by far the best! They are funny and spot on with their critiques.
The American version is okay and I enjoy it as a guilty pleasure, too.
I really like the buttons you chose for the cardi.
Netflix. My partner is obsessed with Netflix. He calls it his “whole new system”–I have no idea what that means.
I’m breathing a sigh of relief too–yesterday was my last final for the night classes I’ve been taking! Luckily they aren’t very hard classes
What Not to Wear–definitely a guilty pleasure! The thing that sometimes annoys me about it is that they tend to be kind of homogeneous in their outfits–I wish they’d take into account the individual’s personality a bit more. And stop with the damn heels, already!
Yahoooooo! Classes are done! This semester is just about over!!! Except for giving finals and the grading… but even the grading is not getting me down this time because its summer!!!!! I get to go home!!!!! I’m freeeeeeeeeee.
I’m thinkin’ I’m kinda having a kinesthetic flash back on that video you posted…
Love David Suchet. Never seen Poirot though. May have to check that out.
Looking forward to seeing your cardigan.
I’ve watched the British version of What Not to Wear and while the idea of someone showing you stuff anf giving you money is nice, I’m sometimes astounded by the colours and fabric they recommend. But I suppose they’ll do for the majority white population they cater for. (Or I might just be too inhibited).
Loved the video – KK is always one to crack me up and so endearing at the same time!!! You’re zipping along through your Ribby!!! Enjoy your weekend!
Looks like the ribbi will be totally awesome!
I find the American WNtW to be much more about getting everyone to dress in a certain cultural style, and the British WNtW (a few years ago, with Trinny and Susannah) to contain much more useful advice on dressing particular body shapes. Actually, if it’s the advice you’re after and not the tv, their book is pretty freaking awesome.
What season of WNTW are you watching? The first ones had some nasty Fabio wannabe guy with long floppy hair that I thought NEEDED a makeover and Stacy, the cute brunette. He TOTALLY brought out the worst in her, and they were often mean, just MEAN. Later they canned him and imported Clinton, tall, short haired, clean shaven, impeccably groomed. They are MUCH nicer and more considerate of the guest’s feelings, although they do give a good dose of tough love where it’s needed. A lot of that gets wrapped in humor, but it’s much easier to hear “You have such a cute figure – why are you dressing like you’re a rectangle” rather than “Why are you making yourself look this dumpy?”
Yeah, “What not to Wear” is a strange show. I agree that the “just dress better and all your problems will be solved” mentality is bothersome, but I too have actually learned something about shape and dress from it.
Oh, and I totally understand the feeling that you’ve watched too many episodes of one show–I used to have dreams about the West Wing when I was renting it via Netflix.
I’m so glad for you that semester stress is nearly done! And I really like the idea of the Ribby Cardi with buttons instead of a zipper – are the bottonholes right on the edge of the placket? It looks great!
I love the colors that you’ve chosen for your Ribby!
What Not to Wear is such a guilty pleasure. The show is so forumulaic, but it’s kind of fun to watch them present the rules, then skip to the end to see how it all turned out. I do think they give very good advice on dressing to accentuate the positives!