Monday Mutterings

Here's an image from "High School Musical 2"'s "What Time Is It." Troy (Zac Efron), Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) are in the front row:



I changed the litter box so kitty can return to being nice to me. I hope. The station has gone off the air for a top-down reorganization. I've been asked to stay on to assist with the shifting of deck chairs. Duckie refused to advise me saying he knows I'll do it anyway. He's probably right. That's why I keep him around.

My fingers are doing better. Monday means Greek and Kyle XY on TV for me and kitty.

I've been having bizarre dreams. Last evening I dreamed of doing groceries with Mother (deceased). I remember the car vanished from the parking lot. Father (deceased) had run off with it and the groceries. I've had a few grocery shopping dreams over the past few days especially some involving perusing delis. I'm a little vague on recalling the details for now. It isn't grocery time yet so I'm not sure how the dreams fit in.

The so-called "Queen of Mean," real estate tycoon Leona Helmsley, has died at 87. She became most well known during her tax evasion trial in 1989s. The $5 billion holdings of she and her husband included managing the Empire State Building in NYC and two dozen luxury hotels. According to trial testimony, she allegedly told an employee only the "little people pay taxes," a statement she denied making. She survived a collapsed lung caused by a stabbing during a home robbery in 1973 and donated millions to New York-Presbyterian Hospital and related institutions.

High School Musical 2

Well, more than a few people watched "High School Musical 2" on Friday. It was a record cable viewing audience of over 17 million. Kitty and I were among them.

The first one was better, this one seemed more forced as a story. My real concern, as I watched it, was the message that somehow hanging out with your pals constantly is more important than setting up your future.

Since his family can't afford college, the friends should've supported Troy's chances to cultivate a possible scholarship opportunities rather than getting down on him. Even his girlfriend decides to turn away and returns his necklace.

As the climax approaches he's guilted into spiking his chances but--never fear--his friends have set him up with a rouse and it all works out. His opportunities still seem open, his friends forgive him and his girlfriend love's him again. In real life, some friends would support him while those who did not, would just write him off.

For me, other than "What Time Is It?" and "I Don't Dance," the musical numbers are generally uninspired and songs pretty forgettable. "I Don't Dance" features a baseball game with the villainess' brother and presumed gay character, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Troy's best friend Chad (Corbin Bleu) battling it out as pitcher and batter.

A young Rob Lowe look-alike, Troy (Zac Efron) is very fit while shirtless in several scenes and does his own singing this time.

The most annoying part, for me, was how evident the studio effects were in the over-dubbed music. There's at least one ballad which starts on screen with voice and piano only and suddenly it has a drum kit thumping away with no on screen source. That works for big production numbers but seemed bizarre with the spare ballad. PerhapsI should assume the resort's grand piano is enhanced with electronics like Elton John's concert pianos?

Riiight.

Worth a look but don't expect a whole lot from the plot. I'd hope a rumored third film will be a return to form but they may need to infuse the franchise with a new villain.