Diary of a Lost August: Movies, Politics, Target, and Whatever

by Jane Gassner

This was meant to be my month of ceaseless, productive activity.  Oh, the lists I made and the chores I set forth.  The tasks long put off that I would now finally complete.  After a monochromatic July, August was meant to explode in full color.  Then just two days into the month, I fell–don’t know how–hit my side against a rock (or was it a boulder, and how does one know the difference?) and cracked and/or broke and/or did something awful to my rib(s), such that any kind of activity is–well, have pity, won’t you.  Since in this state (i.e., the state of being on painkillers), my brain is floating in the ether, if you’re looking for sense here, turn away.  What will follow is just me babbling–stream of consciousness, if you will.  Aren’t you excited?

1. Let’s talk about movies.  Saw The Kids Are All Right last night.  Was it a comedy?  If so, my busted rib wasn’t bothered with much laughing.  Was it a promo for same sex relationships?  Not really: they seem to be just as ghastly as opposite sex relationships.  I was cheering for Paul to win the day because he at least had some life in him, as opposed to the Annette Bening character who was drab and dreary and, seemingly, dried up.  And the sex–what was with the lesbians getting off to gay male porno? Was this a plot point?  Is it typical?  They never really answered that question to my satisfaction or the son’s.

2.  Let’s talk about politics, shall we?  Let’s talk about Meg Whitman vs Jerry Brown.  Let’s talk about Meg Whitman buying the election and Jerry Brown sleeping through it.  Let’s talk about Meg Whitman thinking that running a company and running a state are in any way comparable.  Wasn’t that Arnold’s election ploy as well?  And didn’t that work well for the state of California?

3. Let’s talk about Target. Once the light of my shopping life–now, dead to me.  They just gave a bunch of money to some rightwing nut who thinks gays should be executed.

4. Today I watched the Real Housewives of DC.  Aren’t they a bunch of whatever?  There’s the Brit who seems to be somewhat racist (loves George Bush because he RSVPed to her wedding, is cool to Obama because he didn’t, and loathes Tyra.)  How could anyone loathe Tyra?  How could anyone love George Bush?  How could anyone base her political opinions on whether someone RSVPed to her wedding?   And if that’s not enough to put me off the entire Housewives franchise (which I was never on to begin with, I’ll admit), there’s that skinny blonde who crashed the State Dinner at the White House–she’s being set up to be the low-life anorexic, which seems to fit quite well.  Actually, I think she’s being cast as the anti-Snooki, the darling of Jersey Shore, another program I’ve never seen.  They’re each offering the world such a delightful view of American womanhood; we’ve gotta be proud.

So–that’s what’s on my mind.  And on yours??

Tagged as: business, films, Politics, the Economy and Other Serious Stuff, potpourri, rant, reality TV, the Economy and Other Serious Stuff