Square eyed cabin fever

Braeden's insistence on drinking from other kids' drink bottles ensured he caught that rotten flu that's going the rounds. And of course, he passed it on to me.

So we've spent a fair bit of the last 10 days feeling decidedly ick, sick and thick in the head, and neither of us had a lot of energy for terribly much.

As a result, we vegged in front of the Disney Playhouse Channel a fair bit. Now I'm not a total stranger to the kids' channel; Braeden usually gets about 45 minutes most mornings after breakfast and while he's waiting for me to get the dishes & the most basic housework done (can't wait until he's older and I can take advantage of slave labour, bwahahahahahaha!).

But apart from diving in to do the interactivity bits on Little Einsteins (can we say "pat pat pat BLAST OFF!" ??), I haven't taken too much notice.

Hmmph. I'm now on intimate terms with them all, and I'm having to watch my acerbic asides to young Master Braeden because it's not fun for him to grow up realising his mother entertains grisly fantasies about some of his screen idols.

Seeing as I mentioned Little Einsteins, let's start there. Great show, love the art and the geography and of course the music that they incorporate, but guys, PLEASE! There were more than five great classical tunes ever written, and I'm totally sick of seeing you recycle the same old ones for different story lines. And it's von Beethoven, not van. He wasn't Dutch. Sheesh. But that pales to the most aggravating thing about this show... Annie. Her whiny nasally voice is nails down the blackboard material, and what IDIOT thought she could sing? She must be related to the show's producers or something, for them to fail to recognise total lack of vocal talent.

"Oh isn't she a darling twee little thing. Let's give her the main singing role!"

I've heard more tuneful renditions coming from a tomcat with his ghoulies caught in a barb wire fence.

Check this out: http://www.theblogfathers.com/2006/11/07/anniegive-me-your-gun/ This writer has some rather pertinent comments on quite a few kids' shows, and I agree with every point he makes. Those Doodlebops are just plain creepy, and it's not cool the way they plaigarise popular songs and turn them into Doodlepoop.

But speaking of plaigarism, what about Johnny and the Sprites? I've had "Delta Dawn" in my head for days because he's adapted that tune to an episode. Bwah! And surely the guy has too many teeth to be real? I'm sorry Johnny, I'm probably being hard on you, but your whole show screams "Failed Broadway Queen Who Intends To Get Noticed NO MATTER WHAT!".

(You're quite cute though, for a wee princess. Nice tan!)

JoJo's Circus is also sick-making, especially with their PC-er than thou attitude towards kids' fitness and moralising. And another nasal whiny female voice.. sheesh. Get your adenoids seen to, will ya?

And that "Nutrition With Captain Carlos" surely HAS to be taking the piss out of itself!!?? If you haven't seen it, I urge you to surf the Playhouse Channel in the hopes of lucking on to it. It's a filler, so you never know when it's likely to be on. Remember those cautionary news stories/docudramas of the 50's etc, warning you of the perils of anything from The Bomb to sex to voting liberal? You know the type: patronising middle aged male narrator, really bad cinematography, unbelievably obvious moralising, and only really good for unintentional laughs. Well "Captain Carlos" is another just like it.

But it's not all bad :-) I think Bob the Builder is fantastic (so does Brae), and we also enjoy The Wiggles (ooooh that Captain Feathersword can shiver me timbers any time he likes), and Handy Manny.

Thank goodness Braeden is feeling better, and we can get back to our usual routine with a bit more gusto. Another day of TV and I think I'd have run screaming. I'm already waking up at night humming one of the theme tunes or other, and entertaining luscious fantasies about slapping Annie and the like.

Btw, Uni is coming along. Not easy finding time to study AND nurse a sickly child & self, and all the other shit I do in a day. I'm starting to get the hang of this study lark, which is why I'm online tonight, waiting for my caffiene rush to wind down enough to make going to bed less of a farcial exercise.