I’m not sure how this happened, but I only just started watching “Mad Men” with only five episodes left in season three. It’s especially weird because it is so my kind of show–drama mixed with social commentary mixed with tragically flawed characters (including a couple of struggling writers no less!).
Seriously, where have I been?
Despite the fact I am woefully under-informed about who these characters are and how they have ended up where they are now, I found myself deeply moved by the main character, Don Draper’s simple proclamation in this season’s finale episode:
There has been a lot of press the past couple of days regarding the behavior of a New Mexico female soccer player that has been deemed by some as “unsportsmanlike”. If you haven’t seen the footage yet, check it out:
Unbelievable, right?
I know what you’re thinking–Elizabeth Lambert is my freakin’ hero.
My daughter plays soccer and it is a physical game. There is elbowing, pushing and tripping happening all over the place (and she’s only nine). I used to worry she would get hurt, but now, I realize those mean girls are just prepping her for college ball and beyond. I should thank them.
I’m putting Elizabeth Lambert’s picture up on my daughter’s wall. After all, this is exactly what people pay money to see.
The reality is that my girl has got to toughen up if she’s going to compete. Sports isn’t about winning or losing–it’s about who can do the most damage to whom AND get the most press coverage.
Because how else are girls going to get people to come watch their games?
Men have been battling it out on the field or court for the benefit of the audience for years–seriously, does anyone really watch hockey for the players’ skating skills?
For the women, I think it started with Tonya Harting and her psycho ex-husband–they were a spectackular train wreck no one could take their eyes off. Sure they almost ruined Nancy Kerrigan’s career, but millions tuned in to see the ultimate battle unfold–and that’s just good television. We should thank Tonya for her efforts to propel the popularity of women’s figure skating.
And football? Bull riding? Running of the bulls? Who doesn’t watch these things in the hopes of seeing someone paralyzed, trampled or gored?
Cheap shots, fights, breaking the rules and horrible injuries. This is the stuff we admire. This is the stuff we watch.
Unsportsmanlike? I think not. It’s exactly sportsmanlike.
And that itself bugs me because I try not to immediately get annoyed by a successful, beautiful woman because…well, that’s what women do. They are quick to criticize. Other women. And I like to think I’m better than those women.
But, nevertheless, Maria is bugging the crap out of me this week with her “A Woman’s Nation” special reports on NBC.
Not that I don’t agree that woman are earning more money and sharing the burden of managing the home and the kids with their husbands more than 30 years ago, but it just irks me that we need to highlight it like it’s some unbelievable phenomenon. Read the rest of this entry »
Every year, I look forward to picking out a Halloween outfit for my girl. She was a pumpkin the first couple years; then Peter Pan (I was so proud she didn’t want to be Tinker Bell); then Snow White; then Cinderella; then a couple witches.
My daughter, my one and only child, will be ten this winter. Ten. Double freakin’ digits.
And do you know what double digits means? It means the end of the little girl I’ve been holding on to. The one I’d like to stay nine forever. The one that has no idea what growing up means. The one that still believes in Santa and the Tooth Fairy and thinks her mom knows the answer to everything.
It means we’ll be having the “talk” soon. The talk that dispels all the mystery and reveals the secret lives of ADULTS. Read the rest of this entry »
Again, sorry for the long lapses between posts. Unemployment can be a real time-sucker.
Thought I’d update everyone on my recent activities since my life is that interesting and I know you are all dying to know. Read the rest of this entry »
Just wanted to apologize for not writing more posts lately. I’m unemployed, I know, but that apparently doesn’t stop me from wasting time and neglecting to write a post now and then.
Time is my enemy and my blog has suffered, so I sincerely apologize if my lack of posting has left an empty space in your life.
As consolation, I did write a guest post on another blog recently. You can check it out if you miss me that much, but if you don’t I’ll understand.
Hoping to have a new blog up and running soon too, but progress on that front is slow since I need to spend some time fleshing it out.
Anyway, don’t hate me because I’m human. Now that my daughter is back in school and I have all day to brood about my life, I’ll be sure to post more Mother Shaffer commentary soon.
I’ll admit it. I was a bit freaked out when I first thought about being laid off. But since then I’ve come to terms with my new found “unemployed” status and am actually quite happy with the whole arrangement. In fact, I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t been unemployed before. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m not sure how this happened, but I only just started watching “Mad Men” with only five episodes left in season three. It’s especially weird because it is so my kind of show–drama mixed with social commentary mixed with tragically flawed characters (including a couple of struggling writers no less!).
