Madwoman Out of the Attic

a feminist trudging forward in a patriarchal world

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Conversation

Mike comes home from playing basketball, gets out of his sweaty clothes, and throws them into the hamper in the bathroom.

Me: Wow, those clothes are pretty odiferous. You must have some pretty potent sweat glands.
Mike: I'm just leaving my scent so that other males stay away from you.
Me: In that case, why don't you just pee on the floor and have done with it?
Mike: Who says I haven't?

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Sick Obsession with HGTV:

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted. Life is tripping on. I've discovered, to my shock, that the days I teach are way better than the weekends or the days I have off for holiday. Who would have thought? But the kids make me laugh and I do get a break from Evan. That's priceless.

Other than teaching and caretaking, I've spent a frightening amount of time watching HGTV. (That's the Home and Gardens channel, for those of you who are HGTV virgins.) House Hunters, Designed to Sell, Curb Appeal. What can I say, I'm obsessed with these programs. There's something riveting about watching people make unattractive spaces beautiful. Or find wonderful homes after living in something they hate.

I have mixed feelings about this strange interest I have in HGTV. On the one hand, there are positives. I keep the house cleaner and actually make the bed more when I watch HGTV. I care more about having a nicer home environment. On the other hand, it makes me avaricious. I want stainless steel appliances! I want a house with a view! I want up to date and stylish furnishings!

While my HGTV inspired interest in taking care of my house is probably a good thing, I can't help but wonder.... why? Is it truly more ethical to keep your house tidy and attractive than not? Why do RS leaders like to talk about the moral imperative of keeping an orderly house? Isn't it really just a matter of preference? Don't some people work better (or just as well) in messy spaces? And do programs like the ones above ultimately play into our materialistic and consumeristic impulses?

You can see my ambivalence. I love watching spaces transform from ugly to beautiful. But I can't help but wonder if the time and expense spent on such things is ultimately worthless, decadent, and entirely superficial.