yo gabba huh?

Well I made it through yesterday and last night and am feeling much better today. I still have no desire to eat or be around food though, so I figured; instead of a lunch break, I would sit at my desk and write. Upon arriving home last night I crashed on the couch, and the Pea took care of me by: bringing me juice, patting my forehead with her little palms, kissing my nose and asking, every minute and a half or so, if I felt better. Well, since she was doing the caretaking, I figured it only appropriate that she got to pick the television programming and she, like she always does, asked for “my shows, mommy, my shows” which meant Noggin.

For those of you who don’t have the pleasure of small children at home; Noggin is a whole network for kids, without commercials, and is fantastic. Some of the programs though, are rather strange when you really take a close look (hell some of them are strange without the closer look). The other night I had a whole conversation with Mclovin about the bizarre nature of some of the shows because he called while I was hanging with the Pea and was surprised I was watching Max and Ruby instead of either basketball or golf. Unfortunately for me, if the Pea is awake, watching anything OTHER than what is on Noggin is a tough sell…here were some of my thoughts on a few of the shows we watch regularly.

Ok, Max and Ruby…two bunnies, older sister, little brother, everyday a new episode in which Ruby tries to accomplish something, Max pretty much screws it up, and then in the end it all works out. Does anyone else find it strange that there are NO parents? Grandma is around once in awhile, but she doesn’t live there, has her own place, and Max and Ruby are going about the day, cooking, cleaning, taking baths, not to mention their trips into town or over to a friend’s house on the bus…all by themselves. Ruby, as best I can tell, represents a six or seven year old, Max a two or three year old. Now granted, I was pretty unsupervised as a kid and did all those things as well, and Ruby seems to have a pretty good head on her shoulders for a rabbit, but HELLO? Weird.

Speakin’ of unsupervised; Dora the Explorer…Dora has parents, but she goes off into the world on all kinds of crazy adventures without them and with a pet monkey. I think there is a lady in Stamford CT who will tell you pet monkeys: NOT a good idea…but besides that, seriously…Dora gets into cars, takes hot air balloon rides, sails on boats…all without a parent and with a monkey…not only that, have you noticed the size of her head? It is freakin’ huge…HUGE…it disturbs me.

OOOH, talk about disturbing…ever watch Yo Gabba Gabba? Let me TRY to explain for those of you who haven’t…little tranny guy in a shiny orange jumpsuit and faux fur hat dances around with puppets that turn into life size “things,” interspersed with clips of kids dancing and random people doing random things. The one eyed puppet that looks like a dildo…CREEPTACULAR…the Pea loves the show, LOVES it…it frightens me.

I always wonder while watching these shows…who are the adults that put these things together? Are they kids at heart who act all silly and prank each other all day or are they stoners who sit around getting high and just throwing out random ideas to a chorus of “Totally man, that will be awesome…anyone seen the Cheetos?” And what about the people who do music for kids…ever watch a kid’s music video? Wardrobe alone will make you wonder what these people are smoking and how you can get some. Last night, don’t know if it was the dehydration and exhaustion or just a contemplative mood but, I got to thinking…is it just me, or do other mommies sit on the couch, head cocked to one side, eyebrows raised and think W.T.F?