Wishing
November 11th, 2007
To say that the writer’s strike is adding stress (mild, look, I know, MILD) to our household is a bit of an understatement, because I keep realizing that every show I watch could very well be — WILL very well be — the last one I’ll see for the rest of the season, leaving me trapped with nothing to watch but whatever reality show the networks have dreamed up, which will likely include defecation and perhaps the consumption of grubs in exotic locales.
Sigh. Anyone have any television shows that are worth picking up on DVD? I’ve added The Wire to the queue, as well as perhaps what, Dexter? Anything else?
Incidentally, it’s quite possible that I’ve gained five pounds over the last week for no other reason that I am entirely unstoppable around the buckets of Starburst we have lying about our house leftover from Halloween. Chocolate, I can totally resist, for chocolate does very little for me. If given the choice between something chocolatey and something fruity and/or creamy (CHEESECAKE GIVE ME CHEESECAKE OMG), I will choose fruity/creamy; and if it’s creamy AND caramel-y, then I’m virtually unstoppable. And though plasticky and unnatural, Starburst is delightfully fruity and irresistable, and our house is littered with discarded wrappers from “Fun Size” portions, which include — wait for it — a measly two Starburst per package, which is not fun for anyone, no no, it’s not.
Speaking of un-fun, things are a little un-fun in some areas of our lives right now — nothing life or death, just misery surrounding trying to sell our house in a down market, and by “down,” I mean that there are Realtors — many, many of them — who haven’t sold a house in more than a year and a half, and there are forty (40) homes for sale in my neighborhood alone. And, for a variety of reasons, most of which involve big things like our mental health and general financial future, waiting until the market improves is not an option (I mean, we won’t foreclose or anything, we can afford it, it’s just … well, God, it’s many things to be discussed when it’s all over, when it’s ALL OVER OH MY GOD). And while yes, it’s bad everywhere, oh I know, our market situation is … well, it’s among the most dire in the entire country. It’s bad. Oh so bad.
And tonight — well, in general lately — I’ve just been feeling very despondent about the whole thing, because we’re in such a miserable pickle that if I allow myself to think about it, I become positively overwhelmed with … despair really, which is ridiculously pathetic, because it’s not like we won’t SURVIVE, but there it is. And I’ve gotten a whole lot of “Remember, everything always works out!” from many people, and I guess I’m wondering, really? Does it really? Because for me, yes, it always has — I’ve been quite spoiled, actually, by most standards, but there are many people for whom it doesn’t work out, like, say, my neighbor, who is about to foreclose because no one will buy her house and her husband left her. And part of me can’t help but think that maybe my time for things not to work out so well might be just around the corner, and then I start imagining awful, awful things like the worst-case scenario that could play out if no one buys our house, and oh my God, I’m going to start wailing in a minute, PERKINS, BRING ME MY SMELLING SALTS.
Sorry. Enough whining, and I hate even saying anything like that, because look, things could be worse, I know that, and life is full of good stuff all the time, even when things suck. Like hey, Prince Harry broke up with Chelsey Davy because he’s a “playboy!” How hilarious is that? (Told you he was hot. HOTT.) How can things go wrong?
And tomorrow is another day, and the sun will rise and there will be Starburst to eat and again, like every other day of the week, I won’t shave my knees properly. Do you? Does anyone ever really get their knees baby-ass smooth? Even if I take my time and go over them carefully, I invariably find myself noticing spiky hair sprouting from my knees because goddammit, I still didn’t get it right.
And that reminds me, hey — I recently learned that one of my friends shaves her arms just after I complimented her on her lack of arm hair. And I ask, do any of you? Because while I’m not particularly hairy anywhere else, I am perpetually irked by my abnormally long-but-blond arm hair, but I cannot, I just CANNOT, imagine shaving them down to nothing every day. I imagine ingrown hairs and Neanderthal-like thickening and darkening. Gross.
And with that, I hope you have a great Monday. I really do plan to.
*ELO
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
38 Comments Add your own
1. Christine | November 11th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Uh, I don’t know if you watched it while it was on Showtime, but I vote for “Dead Like Me.” Love that show.
In our house we’ve also been fans of “Weeds,” “Dexter,” “Californication,” if you have it On Demand (Comcast cable feature).
2. She Likes Purple | November 11th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Don’t shave my arms but I did in the sixth grade because I thought you were SUPPOSED to and I wanted to be normal and then on the bus home one day someone sort of loudly yelled out, “WHY DO YOU SHAVE YOUR ARMS?” And I realized right then that this life thing could very well kick my ass. And it did, for quite some time.
Also, never, ever, ever do I get my knees smooth enough. Not even on my wedding day although that’s a silly example as my dress was floor-length.
I totally second the Weeds recommendation. Also Dexter. And Entourage. And Veronica Mars.
3. Amy K | November 11th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I’ve never known an arm shaver. My arm hair is kind of on the long side, but the thought of shaving it and having yet another surface to worry about thicker, pricklier, darker hairs sprouting up if I don’t maintain it regularly irks me.
I recommend Curb Your Enthusiasm if you haven’t seen it.
4. Suebob | November 11th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
I watch Entourage on DVD because I love me some Ari Gold. The other 4 characters not so much.
Yes, housing and recession and falling dollar value…I wake up at 4 am and convince myself I need to get out of the stock market (because I have my great riches ahem there) and just buy boatloads of food and store it up because when the great crash hits, that will be all I care about anyway. Or maybe I should buy gold. Or Euros. Or or or it is all terrible and we are all going to be miserable oh my god!!! But if it wasn’t that it would be something else going on in my head.
I am an arm shaver, thanks for asking. I started doing it when I noticed my wintertime arms looking like Washoe the talking chimp’s. I also did it to see if MrStapler would notice. No, he didn’t. The hair grows back blonde, I dunno why. But I shave twice a week or so. No one has ever commented. I like them smooth.
5. Orange Peacock | November 11th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Holy crap, seconding the “Dead Like Me.” SO GOOD. And if you’re anything like me, re-watching the first six or so seasons of “West Wing” is always a fun way to pass the time. But I’m a poli-sci nerd.
And I’m so abominably bad at shaving my knees that I generally leave them unshaved and opt for cocktail-length dresses, because seriously, hairy knees are way better than hemorrhaging ones, and that’s the only other option I’ve managed. I have a ton of knee-scars. Man, I hate shaving.
6. Nilsa S. | November 11th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
The Wire – all four seasons of it will keep you occupied for a while. It’s fantastic writing (there was recently an article about it in The New Yorker).
Dexter – OMG. Just finished Season One through Netflix and immediately ordered it to own. So my family will begin watching it when they visit for Thanksgiving. How can you not like a forensics specialist for the police department turned serial killer at night?
Weeds – Cute. Fun.
Entourage – Cute guys. Fun.
I heard good things about Dead Like Me, but just couldn’t get into it myself. To each their own, right?!
BTW, I really feel for you in this housing market. Sigh. I can’t tell you everything will be OK all the time … but, you will learn so much about the outer reaches … our limits … as human beings … and it may make you more balanced during better times.
7. Josh | November 11th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Oh dear fucking god, does that mean no more Heroes? I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow. I’ll go kick every one of their writing asses if I have to to get my Heroes back. do not mess with me on this one!
Starburst = vomit.
Oh yeah, you’ve been tagged. If you feel like doing a seven things about you meme, go check out my latest blog. If not, fuck it.
8. Jeanne B. | November 11th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Dexter for sure. If you’re not offended by the sexual content, I’d like to recommend “the L Word” Seasons 1-4. It is fantastic (I’m straight, btw, and it’s my favorite show). Six Feet Under if you haven’t already seen it. The Tudors is also excellent and I think they’re replaying it on Canadian channels right now.
Shave my arms? Uh… why?
9. Blythe | November 12th, 2007 at 12:58 am
Veronica Mars is my drug of choice.
Does this mean they’re bringing back Rock Star? (You knew I would bring that up, didn’t you?)
I will keep my (unshaven) fingers crossed for your house sale.
10. Jeanne | November 12th, 2007 at 6:17 am
I’m with you on the Starburst vs. chocolate topic. It’s not that I don’t like chocolate, but it’s the fruity stuff that I crave.
I’ve never shaved my arms, but I have Nair’d them. Unfortunately it burned my too sensitive skin and I had little scabs all over. Sooo attractive.
Sorry, I have no suggestions for TV shows. Unfortunately the only shows I ever seem to be able to watch are on the Disney channel, or involve an Ultimate Fighting Challenge.
11. Sadie | November 12th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Just to alleviate your panic a bit, most scripted dramas are written and shot at least a half-season in advance, so your shows are probably safe from re-runs through the November Nielsen sweeps period and into December (when networks start airing repeats anyway because the sweep is over).
If I were to be graded on knee-shaving, I would get a B- in the summer, and a D in the winter. Luckily my hair is blonde, but that actually makes it even harder to get a good shave because I can’t SEE them. And arm-shaving – I’ve considered it, because though my arm hair is blonde, it is quite a thicket. A thatch, if you will. But I decided the ongoing upkeep would exhaust me, so no, no arm shaving.
Sorry about your real estate woes…granted, I don’t know the particulars of your market, but can you afford to price your house significantly lower than the others in your neighborhood? Even in a horrible market, if the price is right…this could be an annoying platitude, and if so, I apologize.
12. TwoBusy | November 12th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Remember, everything always works out.
(reassuring pat on the shoulder)
As for DVD series… I third (fourth?) Christine on Dead Like Me — a really engaging and offbeat show that died before its time. So to speak. Also, if The Wire whets your appetite for Baltimore crime drama, I can’t recommend its precursor Homicide highly enough.
13. jonniker | November 12th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Sadie: I’d say yes, but … no. Even homes priced to sell aren’t getting any showings. In fact, I was at an open house yesterday at a home that was priced so low I was almost SURE that at least several people would be interested in it, except … no.
I was the only one who’d come all day. It was the END OF THE OPEN HOUSE. And it was just me.
My neighbor (the one who’s foreclosing) lowered her price by more than $150K from her initial asking price, which was actually reasonable and not at all bubble-like.
*breathes into paper bag*
Even if it’s not okay, life could be worse. I do know that, I do.
14. RockyCat | November 12th, 2007 at 7:53 am
Yeah, the knees are impossible. The only thing that works for me is Nair.
Regarding the arms – I have long blond arm hair. And sometimes, if it is cold in the office and the hair is all, like, standing up – I grab the scissors and start trimming. I can’t believe I just told that.
15. Sadie | November 12th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Jonna – your neighbor dropped her asking price by *$150k* and still no bites…okay, that’s horrible. I don’t know what I’d do in that event. maybe breathe into a paper bag, much like yourself.
And RockyCat – wow, I actually thought to myself, “that is a good idea!” because my arm hair is always standing straight up from cold.
16. Cari | November 12th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I used to shave my arms, too. I was a massage therapist in a former life and I just felt better having my arms smooth. I quit (shaving and massaging) and the hair is exactly the same as it was before shaving, not thick and monkey-like.
Watch Dead Like Me and also Firefly, if you haven’t already. But I’m kind of a Sci-fi dork like that.
17. Beth | November 12th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I shaved my arms in fifth grade when I got my hands on a disposable razor and went nuts. My friends thought it was weird. Now I’m lucky if I have time to shave at all, although I do shave my toes because when I was in my early twenties and got a toe ring, my mom made a big face and said, “Ew! If you’re going to call attention to your toes, you’d better start shaving them.” So ever since then, I worry about Ugly Toes and shave them no matter what.
18. Andrea | November 12th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Me too on the fruity/creamy vs chocolate. I like chocolate okay, and occasionally get a craving, but my desk drawer candy stash consists of Jolly Ranchers, fruit flavored Twizzlers (which aren’t that great by the way, but were a new find so I thought I’d try), and a bag of Life Saver flavored jelly beans, because Starburst discontinued their jelly beans. Boo! Hiss! I loved those little bursts of fruit goodness that would make my mouth turn smiley all on their own.
Don’t know what to tell you about the shows. I don’t watch any of those, though I have been contemplating Dexter myself because I enjoyed the books very much. But I can’t seem to stay awake past 9:30 lately, and it’s not a show I would want to watch with my 3 yr old in the room, so it would have to wait until after he was asleep for the night, and again, I can’t seem to stay awake. So I don’t know. I’m so wishy-washy today.
I feel you on the house market/financial woes business. I really really do. Been there. Still sometimes worried about it, even though we took our house off the market.
19. ie | November 12th, 2007 at 10:16 am
I only shave from the knees down. The hair on my upper legs (and knees) is practically non-existent, which makes me wonder what would have happened if I had never picked up the razor in the first place…
I never knew that women shaved their arms until recently. That would make me seriously behind the times, but then, I don’t want to be worrying about stubble on my forearms…yeck, that’s not a good visual.
20. jonniker | November 12th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Oh Beth, dude, I shave my toes. And ah, a small sprout of a hair on the top of my feet. Just one! I swear! JUST ONE! I just don’t want to be mistaken for a hobbit, although it’s entirely possible I will be anyway, given that I just cannot get every single hair around my ankle, and some are getting perilously long.
I just grossed myself out.
21. Carolyn J. | November 12th, 2007 at 11:20 am
We are not worrying about arm hair unless you look like you’re carrying squirrel pelts.
I wax my legs in the winter – 3 or 4 times gets me through to Spring with smooth knees.
22. Kristin H | November 12th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Due to excessive bleeding of the knee and laziness, I quit shaving my knees and thighs years ago. It has never crossed my mind to shave my arms or toes, but I may be painfully out of touch with the rest of the world. I often find that is the case.
My dad told me once that when you’re young, you look ahead at your life and see all these branches, different direcitons that things might go, different paths you might take. But when you’re old, you look back and just see one straight line, leading from Point A (then) to Point B (now). This, I think, is why people say “it all works out”…because you see how it DID turn out and you don’t know any other life.
The only way I think this theory doesn’t hold up is if something truly tragic happens, like your kid dying. Because there’s no way I can see where that is having things “work out.”
Hmm…this doesn’t seem very uplifting OR helpful. That’s me, the helpful commenter!
23. jonniker | November 12th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Oh Kristin, I think about that a lot actually. Because as much as I’m whining now, I hate complaining. Hate. Because at the end of the day, I have Adam, my family is healthy and we’re financially solvent and relatively happy. And the fact that it could be worse — OH SO MUCH WORSE — is what makes me grateful for whatever we do have, and reminds me that very likely, it will all work out, relatively speaking.
I hate complaining about anything ever, really I do, because in the grand scheme of things, we have so much of what really matters. You know, except for any friends, given that we live in an intellectual wasteland, but a) that’s improving (Hi Tammie!) and b) we have friends elsewhere. So I am basically a brat who needs to grow up, realize what she has and go home to my cute husband and make some dinner, if only because I can.
24. jen from boston | November 12th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
“And tomorrow is another day, and the sun will rise and there will be Starburst to eat”. There’s the platitude of the day, eh? I know I heart it much.
I have a men’s razor that I keep by the sink to redo the knees, b/c Oh My GOD, I could braid that shit if I didn’t do the redo.
Have no words about the housing market. Hang in there.
The Freak & Geeks set on DVD? I also hear Tudors is a fan favorite.
25. Style Bard | November 12th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I used to be perfect at shaving my legs. I guess they just got… longer? Heh. I have no idea. Now the knees are a troublespot and they never were before. I feel like the bathroom lighting may be a laaaarge factor. I was just staying at a glorious Marriott hotel and every day I envied the big, bright light in the shower. I will have one in my home someday, I will.
I have to second everyone as far as TV: Dead Like Me, West Wing, Veronic Mars, Dexter.
I… am also an arm-shaver. When I lapse they never grow in scary, which was my big fear. They’re lighter than they used to be when they grow in some. My second biggest fear was being too lazy for the upkeep, but it’s easy I swear. It takes no time at all and the angles are learnable. And while once in awhile I run into someone who thinks it’s odd (my sisters), I have to remember how much it always irked me before, how much I enjoy the perfect smoothness now, and all those jerks who used to make fun of me in grade school. I will be the biggest supporter of any woman considering shaving her arms. Dooo it. And then, like me, you can be that proud girl thrusting her arms at new people she meets and saying ‘Yes! I shave them! Feel my arms! Feeeeel them! Baby smooth!’
26. Allison | November 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I shave my toes too. EW. I cannot believe I just admitted that. They are disgusting if I don’t though. I never get my knees just right.
The whole selling/buying/blahblah that goes along with having a house sucks.
27. Janssen | November 12th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
The perfectly shaven knee is a total fantasy for me – one that I know will never come true.
Also, in high school, I remember bumping into a girl in a hallway and being horrified at how prickly her arms were. YUUUUCK. I can’t even shave my legs every day – there is no way I could do my arms too.
28. Melissa | November 12th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Knees are done properly only if I take a bath. I don’t wallow around in bubble bath and hair leavings, mind you – I sit on the edge of the tub in a towel and shave at the end of the soak. With my poor vision and the inadvisability of wearing glasses in the shower, I can barely see my knees unless I’m bent right over them.
Never tried the arm shaving, but hell yes on the weird big toe sprouts. In summer, anyway.
29. GJR | November 12th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Doctor Who! The newer series with Christopher Eccleston and now David Tennant is great! I’m not a big sci fi fan, but I love this show. And I still miss Rose.
30. Mauigirl52 | November 12th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I am in withdrawal from not being able to watch new episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. How long will this go on???
I gave up on the knees unless I’m going to the beach. And no, I don’t shave the arms. I can’t imagine committing to something that would require such upkeep.
I hear ya on the housing market thing. My 86-year-old aunt just moved into a senior citizens apartment building and now we have to sell her house. First I have to get it painted inside so it at least seems clean and bright and smelling good. Then we have to suffer through lord knows how many months before it sells, while she still has to pay the taxes on it. Good luck to you, let’s hope they both sell quickly!
31. Susan | November 12th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
My So-Called Life just came out on DVD- great show that ended too soon. Also, I really enjoyed the HBO series Deadwood, though I have to warn you that it is extremely vulgar and not for the easily offended. Cool story nonetheless.
I’ve never shaved my arms, though lately I’ve been considering it more and more. The blonde arm hair, though light, just seems so… hairy.
32. lonelygurl21 | November 13th, 2007 at 3:56 am
hello, i found you via josh’s blog…
i shaved my arms wen i discovered shaving my legs.. luckily both still grow back blonde lol
i live in new zeland (if your not sure google it lol) and we’re behind in most tv shows. i do hope they can days of our lives. serously we’re 7 years behind. im not too fussed if hereos is canned. i dont watch it…
gilmore girls is good and they should all be on dvd
friends is always a winner
NCIS, CSI etc are all good.
the O/C
desperate house wives
greys anatomy
all on dvd all good
is saving grace still on?
good luck with your house
33. maya | November 15th, 2007 at 1:00 am
I’m late to this party, so to speak, but would like to weigh in on the shaving bit: do the arms!!! My arm hair, UNlike my leg hair is long and goes blonde in summer and dark to black in winter. A couple of times a week I zip a razor over my arms and they are so so so smooth!
My shaving secret: use a man’s razor!
Tv shows: May I reccomend playing my Bear Grylls/man vs. Wild drinking game? Twill make the nights short, haha.
34. Mymsie | November 22nd, 2007 at 8:27 pm
This isn’t a particularly proud moment but I too admit to having sort-of-long but thankfully-blondish arm hair. (Why am I not on a date RIGHT NOW?) From other arm-shaving acquaintances, I’m told the cycle of depilating (?) is vicious and never-ending, burdening the victim with a bitter heart and more pernicious arm hair. Please let me know if you find something that works but doesn’t require too much effort, as those are qualifications for most activities in my life.
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