Bravo for Passion--Reality Style!

Today's Wonder of the World is...Passionate Television--Reality Style!

Hey Tim! Hey Heidi!
I'm making it work, Tim! I really am!

And no, People Who Have Yet To Discover The Wonder of Reality TV, I didn't fall and hit my head.
Have you ever watched Project Runway, or The Next Food Network Star, or Ace of Cakes?
Haven't you? YOU MUST DO IT!
THAT'S AN ORDER.
Pretty Please.

I turned my nose up at those shows until a year or so ago.
I thought all reality television was trash TV, like this.

Recognize that icon? Maybe not, unless you watched Loft Story in France or its evil twin in Canada. (Actually they're both evil.)
Loft Story made big news in France back in spring of 2001. I watched a few episodes out of curiosity, but afterwards I always felt the need to take a bath.
Let's just say it was a little too passionate.
Tacky, tacky, tacky, mes amis.

But then last year I had a revelation!
B.R. (Before Revelation) I hardly ever watched TV. I was too busy writing, mothering, reading, and whatever else I do that gets undone a few hours later.

People would tell me about Project Runway, or America's Next Top Model and I'd think of Loft Story and roll my eyes.

It's not that I was a TV snob. I'd had my love affairs with TV shows. I'd been through the addictions, breaking out in a sweat when they'd split town and leave me hanging, craving just one more episode! Over the years I've had my share of lovers: West Wing, Law and Order, Northern Exposure, Cheers, and Murder She Wrote. (Stop laughing, you young whippersnappers!)
I understood how people could become addicted to TV. But to reality TV?

Weren't there better ways to spend their time?
Like...I don't know...clipping strangers' toenails or helping squirrels cross the street?

Then I watched my first Project Runway.
I nearly cried.
I had the urge to call up everyone I knew and beg them to watch this show!

Hey Christian! (He's so fierce.)
Here were these wildly talented people, competing in ridiculously impossible challenges, showing off their creativity in unbelievable ways!
Such passion for their art!
Such dedication!
Such tattoos!

So now I'm an addict.
And be afraid. There are plenty of others just like me.

Like my new friend Beth.

Hey there Beth!
People, this is Reverend Beth Templeton. She is an AMAZING person who runs United Ministries, a non-profit organization here in Greenville/Greer, and I've been wanting to meet her ever since we moved here in 1990.

I finally got my chance a couple of weeks ago! We sat beside each other at a Meet The Authors thingy at the 2008 national conference for the Church and Synagogue Library Association.
She was there to talk about her soon to be released book, Loving our Neighbor, A Thoughtful Approach to Helping People in Poverty, and she also teaches a seminar I've been wanting to attend: Helping Others: Servant or Sucker. (Read more about her and her philosophy HERE) We had a little time to chat as the crowds ebbed and flowed, so you'd think that I might ask her one or two of my hundreds of questions.

Oh no I didn't.

Guess what we talked about.


That dress!
Don't think I'm shallow. Don't think I don't care.
But people, this is A DRESS MADE OUT OF A PLASTIC TABLECLOTH, LETTUCE, AND TOMATOES!
Can you believe it?!

It turns out she's addicted to Project Runway too!
Once we started talking, we couldn't stop!
People were waiting to talk to us, and we tried to ignore them. (Actually she didn't. And neither did I. Mostly.)
But the minute they walked away, we moved on to this dress made out of plastic cups!

Plastic cups!
Don't get the wrong idea. Usually they use fabric, and make the dress (or whatever) within 24 hours, WITH NO PATTERN OR ANYTHING! JUST THEIR OWN INCREDIBLE BRAINS!
For this particular challenge they had to buy all their materials from the grocery store.

Oh, how I wish there was a rerun on right now.
It gets me so juiced (did I just say that?) to see such passion and skill for art!

And just when I thought I could handle adding one reality show to my busy schedule, my brother Steve introduced me to Ace of Cakes!

It's not a contest show, just a documentary- like hour of cake amazement from Charm City Cakes on the Food Network.
Here's a few examples of their work.





Amazing, huh? The whole cast of characters are wonderfully quirky and hilarious. And they love their jobs. And their art! And the cakes are entirely edible. People say they're delicious!

But this post isn't over yet! (Sorry, I'm OD-ing on the exclamation points, but they're absolutely necessary.)

Just last week at the beach I discovered a brand new show (new to me anyway!)
It was raining and Sam and I were flipping through channels. Guess what else I found on the Food Network?!
No, not Paula Dean eating a sausage and donut sandwich! Besides that!


The Next Food Network Star!
And they were having a marathon of all their shows!
Sam and I watched every one. I even let him stay up the other night to find out the winner.
It made us both grouchy but it was worth it!
Take a look and you'll see what I mean.


I think what attracts me to these programs is the same thing that attracts me to you lovely bloggers out there. You are so passionate about painting or sewing or tatting or design or writing or collage work or mothering or teaching or whatever you do...and YOUR TALENT INSPIRES ME!
I am in awe of what you can do. Not only that you can do it, but that you DO IT! You find the courage to try! And that gives me the courage to try as well.

So thank you!
And I hope to see you on a TV Reality show one day!

And don't worry. I will sign up for Beth's seminar. Maybe then I'll show restraint and ask my questions.
But I should probably wait until Season Five of Project Runway is over, just in case!

Have a Wonder-Full Weekend, y'all!
And tell me, how do you feel about these kinds of shows? Which ones do you love? Hate? (Perish the thought!)
And has anyone ever watched Groomer Has It? Beth says it's great!

Love,
Becky