Monday 17 November 2008

Obsessed. Strictly Speaking.

I have added yet another addiction to my list.

Joining the ranks of chocolate, Pepsi, Blogging and laminating is my current obsession, Strictly Come Dancing. (That'd be Dancing with the Stars for my US readers. Pretty much the same show even including Len & Bruno but much more traditional in format, you know us Brits we love tradition.)

I got slightly engrossed at the very end of Season 4 back in 2006.

I was an avid viewer of season 5 last year.

This year I admit I am a truly obsessed super fan.

Phew, feels so much better to say that out loud. Well in type anyhow. I watch the show on Saturday, I watch the result show on Sunday and every week day I watch the behind scenes show to see who is dancing what on Saturday and how they're getting along.

See I really wasn't exaggerating when I used the word addicted, was I?

Looking back to how this addiction may have started I can look back no further than my first ever viewing of Dirty Dancing, at the tender age of 11 I got to watch it at the cinema despite being 4 years too young for the age 15 certificate. Lucky for me the light of good fortune favoured me because my mum worked there so I just sneaked in the back and stood completely enthralled watching the whole thing. What girl didn't want to be Baby? And who didn't want to marry Johnny? Patrick Swayze you will always have a special place in my heart (and probably a few billion others).

After the first viewing I was totally hooked. I remember watching it on video over and over and over again. Even attempting to write all the dialogue down in script fashion (though I got bored on about scene 4, I was lazy it would appear even then). I wanted desperately to be a dancer.

But I was missing one particularly vital thing.

Any sense of coordination.

Being somewhat statuesque in build, well maybe that's too generous, a more apt term to describe me would be gangly.

It's true, I admit it. I am gangly. At 5' 10'' I have arms that are longer than most women's legs and hands that truly are bigger than most boys.

I was never gonna be a dancer. Aerobics is too challenging a feat for my level of coordination let alone actual dancing where you're supposed to look refined and elegant while you do it.

But still in my heart I want to wear those divine gowns (even the really immodest ones) and have gorgeous hair and make up and wear those dainty heels.

But in reality even one of those gowns wouldn't distract from my truly hideous varicose vein on my left calf (courtesy of pregnancy number 1), even if I managed to get my pig trotter type feet into dainty heels there is no chance I'd actually manage to walk in them, never mind dance. I don't even remember the last time I wore heels, at least 10 years, I have none in my shoe collection. Victoria Beckham would be utterly appalled.

But that is why Strictly Come Dancing brings me such tremendous joy. Ordinary celebrity people get to fulfil my fantasy. Some are excellent and some are appalling (which entertains me to a completely other degree I have to tell you) but they are dancing and every week I feel a little bit fulfilled just from watching them.

Oh and the eye candy in tight pants and shirts split to the waist really doesn't hurt either.

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15 lovely comments:

Mama Smurf said...

No body puts Carol in the corner!

;) Bad joke I know...Couldn't help myself.

Wanna know a secret? I'm a HUGE fan of "So You Think You Can Dance". I TIVO the episodes when it's airing and when I'm in my house all by myself....I play the recording over and over again and try to learn the dances.

You should try it.

It's quite liberating!

EmmaP said...

too funny! you're right - patrick swayze...hmm-mmm! And you're right - you are addicted, tee hee!

Clare said...

oh fun!! i love dancing with the stars:) i can just picture you trying to dance:)

Melissa said...

yah, I don't wear heels either.... I'm too tall and have NO balance!

I like "So You Think You Can Dance" a bit better than "Dancing With the Stars", but don't really watch either cause Curt HATES dancing shows or any kind of reality tv for that matter! LOL!

Jen said...

For some reason, I have yet to get into these dancing shows. I know a lot of people like them so maybe I should give them a chance.

Btw, stop by my place. I have something for you.

Claire said...

I was disturbed by Dirty Dancing... though I didn't see it til a few years after it was released, so I really was about 15/16 when I saw it. And I was appalled that Baby (being just that) went off with some old sleay guy. No wonder her parents went nuts. I know, I know... I'm probably the only one who feels that way about that film... but hey ho!

I do love the blokes in their tight fitting attire too. Though not that bloke from GMTV. Sick.

Carn Family said...

Carol,

Check out Ryan Trimble's blog - I just connected wtih him again for the first time in YEARS!

http://www.mindyryanandfamily.blogspot.com/

Charlie

Miss Lisa said...

I'd like to know more about this laminating thing ;)

Dancing With the Stars is HUGE here--I am betting for the reason you mentioned!

Mindy said...

So Carol, you are surrounded by boys and i am surrounded by girls. God must have known he good we are with the opposite sex. I just know how to handle women. See, i havent changed. Still an old pervert. Anyway, your family is beautiful and good to see you. Good ol'Chuck. I miss that guy.....and Hadley too. its awesome that all of you stay in touch so well. My wife runs the blog and i dont do this much but lets chat every now and again. would love to hear how life is. Chuck has my email address.

Anonymous said...

LOL! Have you seen the film Strictly Ballroom? You could obsess over that too.

Here in Sweden we have celebs doing the dancing thing .. and the latest gig is that we have a Come Dancing on Ice - where they try to do ice skating!!

Angela said...

I really enjoy Dancing with the Stars....although my husband protests too much for me to watch it all of the time. I'm right there with you on the whole gangly thing. I'm 5'7" and most of my body is leg. I have a very short torso. So finding pants that are long enough has always been a problem. I'm sure you can empathize!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Bad addiction! Bad! My IL's love the US show...we just can't watch it.

Anti-Supermom said...

Why are British shows so awesome?!

I love that you love dancing shows with people tight pants. Love it.

Heidi said...

Oooh. I love Dancing with the Stars. Nice to know we're still the same people, just on different sides of the Atlantic.

the rogers blog said...

Has the laminating got something to do with primary cos I was farely obsessed with it while I served in there too!!