THE WINNER IS: Well, no one guessed correctly but what I’d like to do is give a book to the 4 people who made a guess: Laney4, 80s Tart, Katie, and Laurie. If you gals will email ME julietburns@gmail.com and give me your snail mail addresses, I’ll send you a copy of something from my backlist you don’t already have.
And, oh yeah, I was the second from the left on the back row with the big floppy hat on.

Okay, I admit it. I was a Choir Geek. From 7th grade on, I was in choir and I loved it. But it wasn’t anything like GLEE. We were definitely lumped in with the Band Nerds when it came to being LOSERS. We were made fun of and never allowed at the popular table. I never got a Slurpie thrown in my face, but I never got dates either. Of course we weren’t singing songs by Foreigner and Journey either. Our usual choir selections tended to be more from the classical genre, and maybe for the Spring Musical we would get to do some show tunes.
Now, I watch Glee mainly for the music. Ok, and for Finn. He’s a cutie.
But almost every episode I get frustrated by the (in my opinion) bad characterization. Maybe only a writer would notice things like this, but even if one didn’t know exactly why, I bet other fans get frustrated sometimes. And here’s why.
It seems like characters can behave any way that suits the storyline for that particular week. There’s no consistency. I admit, Rachel can be a bit of a diva and blatant about grabbing the spotlight –and solos—but the glee group has come down much harder on her for much lesser offenses than, say Santana and Brittany, who are spying on them, actual traitors. Rachel is ostracized by the entire choir and Quinn is given sympathy and support when she’s cheated on and lied to Finn. Then there was the week that Rachel sent that poor girl to a crack house. The Rachel I’ve come to know would never do something that bad.
And Kurt’s anger at Finn for not wanting to share a girly room with him was way over the top. Kurt is intelligent enough, and sensitive enough to understand that a straight guy wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.
But staying true to the characters and making sure motivation is strong enough for their actions doesn’t seem to be Glee writers’ strong suit.
Reality in general doesn’t seem to be a top priority on Glee. Musical numbers happen perfectly with little or no rehearsal, and they seem to have an unlimited budget for the costumes.
Oh well, the music is so fantastic, so totally awesome, I watch anyway. The voices on these “kids” (and Mr. Schuster) are beyond amazing. I’m completely addicted. And I’ve spent way more than I should at i-tunes downloading songs.
And where else on network television can you find serious story lines about gay, physically disabled and developmentally-disabled kids that show they have all the same mainstream issues that every high-schooler has?
But perhaps the best thing about Glee is how it’s made being a choir geek a little bit more okay.
Still, though I knew being in choir was not a popular choice, I never regretted it. I loved my fellow choir members and I loved being a part of a talented group that made such beautiful music. Being in choir in school was a joy every day and I missed it terribly after I graduated. Soon after high school I directed a Young Adult choir at my church with electric guitars, piano, bass, drums, congas, flutes and woodwinds and an amazingly talented group of singers who brought gorgeous 4-part harmonies to beautiful songs every week. We rocked that church for fifteen amazing years. I still sing at weddings, funerals, and baptisms. For me, the Joy is still in the music.
I love the song Mercedes sang, I Look To You
And this one
So, how many of you saw the Rocky Horror Glee Show last night? My one crit? Finn shoulda worn REAL tighty-whities not boxers. (U)
I’ll give away a copy of LET IT RIDE the prequel to this month’s SEDUCE AND RESCUE to the first commenter to correctly identify ME in that old choir trip photo.

Okay, I admit it, I’m a Glee addict. I am so excited about the second season beginning tonight. This show combines so many fun elements, the big musical numbers, the intertwining stories of high school ambition and heartache, the delicious villain Sue Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch, who I think is one of the funniest women on the planet, and my personal favorite, Matthew Morrison. And here’s why I think my Glee gushing is remotely relevant to a Blaze post: Matthew Morrison is hot. And part of his appeal, to me, is that there’s an adorable geekiness to this high school teacher who puts his own time and money into reviving the seriously uncool Glee club. The kind of men who make a woman’s heart pound range from the pure alpha, a warrior who will sweep a woman off her feet in spite of hersel

f, and the more metrosexual guys who wear earrings and make cooking look sexy. Morrison is the latter kind of hero. He’ll listen when a young girl has a problem, will take on a second job as a janitor to help pay for his very unlovable wife’s whims, and will stifle his attraction to the much more lovable school guidance counselor. But, best of all, he sings.
And he dances.
And I can’t get enough of it. It’s not that I don’t mind the odd viking, CEO, hockey star, cop or other alpha hero, because they can make my heart pound too, but the older I get, the more I appreciate a lower key guy. One who will cook, and take out the trash without complaining, and sing and dance.

How about you?