watching and reading
March 4th, 2007 @ 11:26 pm | miscellany | Post a CommentMy sweet husband is still unemployed, which means he has been playing lots of hockey and poker in his extra free time. Even though I do miss him in the evenings, I am actually fine with this, because 1) hockey is hot and manly (as long as no teeth are lost); 2) poker winnings = income; and 3) more time for me to watch lots of bad television.
The newest season of the best bad television ever made premiered tonight: The Girls Next Door. I heard a rumor that Holly and Hef are getting married. Is it true? I’m sure that fellow fans Laurel (aka Kendra) and Lindsay (aka Bridget) will know more. (By the way, I’m aka Holly. Yes, we are dorks.)
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Many of you ladies are devoted book readers. Will you still be my friend when I admit I haven’t read a book in months? I have a stack of them I’ve started, but I am terrible about finishing them. I always fall asleep before I get into the story.
I do, however, love magazines. We (and by we I mean Andrew) got a subscription to The New Yorker for Christmas, and I’ve been reading it cover to cover every week. I realize the fact that I read it only makes me more of a stereotypical liberal, latte-drinking, Jetta-driving northeasterner, but whatever. (PS. I am so NOT a northeasterner, okay?) In what other magazine can you find an article on the U.S. foreign policy on Iran right next to a story about woman obsessed with hunting deadly spiders in the basement of a Los Angeles Goodwill? Nowhere, I tell ya.
I’ve also been known to steal USWeekly from the gym and Newsweek from my office (shhh don’t tell!). I often get sucked into buying Real Simple at the airport, even though that magazine makes me feel super unorganized and like I need to go spend a ton of money. I also like Vanity Fair, Washingtonian, Atlantic Monthly, Cooking Light, and, ummmmmm, some of the articles in Playboy. (Is it okay that I read that? I already admitted I love the show.)
What are all your faves? And if you say Cosmo I will have to hurt you, because that magazine is awful!
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Our Clean Sweep went really well this weekend, although I have no idea how those people on tv can do an entire house in just a few days. It took us like five hours to get through half a room! They must have a big crew working in the background. It was fun to throw stuff away and rearrange the rest. Afterward, we were both totally exhausted and I felt sick from my dust allergies. I guess there are health hazards to cleaning. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, all you crazy packrat readers!
So I have to ask.. who gets to be Hef in your Girls Next Door version? We have that on cable here, it is that sort of mindless television that sucks time away from you (like ANTM) and all of a sudden the sun has gone down and you need to back away slowly…
I’m a book freak, I carry them around all over the house and cause everyone grief. Why do I need a book in the lounge room? In case I’m ever bored of course. Bathroom? I like to read taking a spa. Kitchen? I need SOMETHING to do while eating my cereal. Magazines I’m not big on, mainly because they are absolute CRAP over here.
Well done on your cleaning.. my room has reverted back to mess again.. sigh..
written by alyndabear
March 5th, 2007 @ 1:30 am
I had the same question as alyndabear - Who’s Hef? I cop to watching Real Housewives of OC - but that’s more to get to make fun of them than anything else. Magazines? I flip through Santa Barbara magazine in hopes of seeing a wedding I’ve done in it (twice, thus far), but if I were pressed to pick a list I’d like to subscribe to?
-National Geographic
-Architectural Digest (I refer to this as ‘home porn’ - for all the things you see but will never exist in real life for more than six seconds)
Brain…stopped. Will check back later.
written by Meepers
March 5th, 2007 @ 2:27 am
Magazines can’t keep my attention. I will get a year subscription and love the first 4-6 issues, and then just get bored. I’ve done Real Simple on and off over the years, but I think it kind of tends to repeat itself after awhile. Same with Cooking Light. I tried Rachel Ray last year, but am now bored with that… And I’m into books that Time or any weekly news subscription which would enlighten me, just cut into my reading time too much…
Congrats on getting through the Clean Sweep. I re-organized my hall closet, and it looks like I threw a bunch of stuff out, but I think I just folded towels more neatly!
written by Jane
March 5th, 2007 @ 7:47 am
i like real simple, good housekeeping, rachael ray’s magazine and cooking light, just to name a few. i tend to go through them pretty quickly though. heh.
written by cady
March 5th, 2007 @ 8:26 am
I subscribe to Real Simple and Cooking Light, but the latter was a gift from my mom with a note to reassure me that “food can be fun!” Uh, yes. Because I was so anti-food before this magazine… so, I haven’t quite gotten into that one as much, but, oh, how I love Real Simple. The New Yorker is one of those aspirational magazines that I’d love to just have around, kind of like National Geographic.
written by RA
March 5th, 2007 @ 8:59 am
We get Cooking Light and that’s it. I love it. Michael is becoming morally opposed to any media which cannot be viewed over an ipod. Problematic? Yes.
written by Sarah
March 5th, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Health Magazine is pretty decent because it contains a variety of information- including some good recipes. We also get Harper’s, but are considering the New Yorker instead but are scared off by the weekly commitment.
The Girls Next Door is funny- but I was shocked yesterday when there was a rerun of their mag photo shoot that E! only blurred their the smallest possible areas. Eew. I dont watch for the peep show.
written by alexa
March 5th, 2007 @ 9:15 am
At least you’re reading all those articles in the magazines. The total amount of books a person reads isn’t a good indication of how much they really “read.” Because look at all the magazines you read, and blogs, and online articles. I think all that stuff should count, too, even though it’s harder to quantify.
written by Zandria
March 5th, 2007 @ 10:21 am
I read Rolling Stone cover to cover. I think you’d like it too. It has the political articles next to justin timberlake puff piece! Tricky thing is that the articles are sooo loooong - you might fall asleep!
written by alison
March 5th, 2007 @ 10:44 am
I love The Girls Next Door. I think I read somewhere that Hef is thinking about having a baby with Holly. I think that girl is smart. It’s all about the money!! And you’ve hear that Kendra is gay, right??
Magazines? We get all types of house mags. Surprise, I know. Met Home, Dwell, Elle Home (or whatever it’s called), RealSimple, and Esquire. I read them all. I love magazines!!
(Oh, and we usually end up with 2 copies of Dwell. Ken can’t wait for it to come in the mail and usually goes out and buys a copy. Dork.)
written by Isabel
March 5th, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
I wish I could comment on your good-bad TV obsession… however I am one of those rarities in America that doesn’t watch TV - I’m a bookworm. And no - I don’t think less of you for your magazine habits. It’s part of your charm. ;o)
written by heidikins
March 5th, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
I subscribe to-
The New Yorker
Lucky
Domino
Rolling Stone
Rachel Ray- Everyday
BHG
But I love Us Weekly also, and do sometimes steal it from my gym… ahhh
written by Julie
March 5th, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Where do you find GND gossip?! I love that stupid show.
As for magazines, I get both Self and Shape, I LOVE Real Simple, I too purchase it in the airport, but when you’re traveling for business 3-4 times a month and you’re in roughly 6-12 airports, you need other things to tide you over. Dwell and Blueprint are always interesting. Rachael Ray’s magazine annoys me for some reason. I buy Cooking Light, and rarely Gourmet or Bon Appetite.
Yes, I have purchased a Cosmo here and there if I want pure mindless drivel. I stay away from the gossip mags because I read PerezHilton too much to find out any new information there.
I’ll buy O if I like the Cover, I always like Games, Vogue if I’m looking to just spend money, InStyle is fun sometimes, Believer if I’m feeling deep, I LOVE Domino, You would probably love Esquire.
Ugh. there’s really only so mcuh you can do in a plane and I don’t like typing and I get bored of my iPod after a while. I only have one 3/4 cross country trip this month (Denver) so I have to plan my actitivies for that, but then my next LONG flight is in July, right after Harry Potter is realeased, so my loser butt will be reading that. Maybe. I bought The Omnivore’s Dilemma to read this week (Chicago) and didn’t. What did I do? Oh, I’m so glad you asked. I downloaded Bam’s Unholy Union and watched that. I can’t do that with GND, I need to watch that one right away.
written by Nic
March 5th, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Wow, you have a smart group of readers. I read drivel. Seriously.
I love the little offshoot cheap-o magazines with the gossip (life & style/intouch) because they are super easy to read at the gym.
I love allure (I’m a makeup junkie) and Glamour (usually a good feature on whatever actress is on the cover). Plus Cooking Light (still haven’t cooked anything though).
I’m happier with Marie Claire too, now that they featured Maggie Gyllenhaal on the cover. LOVE.
written by Aimee
March 5th, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
US Weekly.
It’s a dirty, dirty habit.
Oooh, also Lucky! That redeems me only somewhat, I know.
written by elise
March 5th, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
Since I don’t have cable and rarely watch anything on TV besides the morning news and the occasional CSI, I have no clue what shows are “in” and who the cast are. I hear about American Idol and Survivor on The Early Show, and I sometimes watch Dora and Little Bill on Saturday mornings. Aside from that, it’s movies for me!
Magazines I read: Organic Gardening (by far the most useful and helpful gardening magazine I have ever read!), Natural Health (again, quite the winner with useful, helpful articles), Garden Deck & Landscape, Cottage Living, and the random Better Homes & Garden Special Edition. I also like the Costco Connection, Westways (from being a AAA member), and National Geographic (I literaly grew up on it).
written by Chiada
March 5th, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
I got a great deal on Cooking Light and Real Simple (I love their photography and layouts). I got a year subscription for both for a total of $20!! Check around online… you might find some deals.
written by Heather
March 6th, 2007 @ 7:12 am
My husband plays hockey….and yes it is very HOT and manly…yummo!
written by beingmccrary
March 6th, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Oh! and! for work: Martha Stewart weddings (shamefully, I buy it off the rack IF its good) Grace Ormonde wedding style, various other wedding-y mags. For enjoyment, if I had time, I think I’d go with:
-The New Yorker
-Better Homes and Gardens
-other design/craft type mags.
written by Meepers
March 6th, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
I don’t get that into magazines, except that NOTHING comes between me and my digital photo mag. I am RABID about that magazine. I currently have subscriptions to: Allure, Marie Claire and one more, but I haven’t read any of them in at least 6 months. They keep renewing. How? But, whatever. Good bathroom, gym or BART reading.
written by Jurgen Nation
March 6th, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
I am a sucker for modern interior design mags, such as Dwell. I write down all sorts of notes for things that I want to do if we ever build a new house. Then I go look up the price tags online and have a heart attack. Pretty fun stuff.
I also read design mags, such as Print, HOW, Archive and Communication Arts. I don’t subscribe to these because I am cheap and they are super pricey, but that’s what spending the afternoon at Barnes & Noble is for.
written by angela
March 7th, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Yikes! Will you still be my friend when I admit I haven’t read a book in months, and I didn’t get married during that time? That’s embarrassing to say, on BOTH COUNTS! : (
written by kris
March 7th, 2007 @ 11:29 am
OK, I have not seen the season premiere of our SHOW yet due to my vacation. Boo hiss.
Also, reading the New Yorker from cover to cover may be yuppie… but, um, it’s AWESOME.
And I bought AS an US Weekly for the plane home and he scrutinized the thing. I had to break it to him that, to be up-to-the-minute, he really should be reading Perez Hilton.
written by Laurel
March 7th, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Sometimes I look through lists of magazines and I see a bunch that I think would be fun to have: National Geographic, Blueprint, Everyday food, People,… the list is long. But I’ve been proud of myself for not succombing to the temptation. I know it will just create even more clutter (hey, weren’t you just talking about that, too?;-)) and I won’t have enough time to look through them all, anyway. give me a good book any day. But sometimes in waiting rooms I love scouring the magazine table and catching up on all the great stuff I’m missing.
written by Sijbrich
March 7th, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Yeah I heard you are marrying Hef! I was wondering if it was true, but I figured you would know since you ARE Holly. I want to know for real if it’s true though!! The premiere was sooo cute. I loved it.
I agree about Cosmo magazine–hate hate hate. I used to like it when I was like 19, but it’s such crap. I read Marie Claire and USWeekly–nothing crappy about USWeekly! I have stolen a magazine or two from my gym from time to time too. Don’t turn me in. I will admit I haven’t gotten through a single book in probably 6 months. I read blogs, not books. Let’s start a blogs not books campaign. Yeah. Super idea, if I do say so myself.
written by Lindsey
March 7th, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Poker? heh. Tell your husband to email me. I know of a very lucrative 1-2 game in Alexandria. pigletoffire@gmail.com
written by bones
March 9th, 2007 @ 2:27 pm