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Monday, March 06, 2006

Cowboy Diplomacy




So, I'm watching the Oscars last night, even though being the parent of a toddler I am completely out of touch with the mainstream movie scene. I'm watching because Jon Stewart is hosting, and I love Jon Stewart. I would watch a televised log rolling competition if it were hosted by Jon Stewart.

Seriously.

So, I'm watching the Oscars, and I'm feeling more and more sorry for my main man Jon Stewart, because he looks nervous from the moment he steps on the stage, and the uptight Oscar audience can't seem to to find its sense of humor with two hands and a flashlight, and their consequent awkward inability to laugh sincerely at jokes about themselves is clearly freaking him out, and the show seems to be drowning even a little more than usual in its own pretentiousness, and he just can't seem to pull it out. But I'm not sure what I was expecting. Sure, the man is funny, but he's no superhero. The Oscars always suck.

Anyway, as I continue watching, I realize that I really, truly haven't seen any of the movies that have gotten non-techinical nominations. I mean, I really, truly, seriously haven't seen a SINGLE ONE. I saw the Harry Potter movie, back in November-- that got nominated for Art Direction,--and I saw part of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which got nominated for costumes, on DVD at a friend's house during a party, but Isaac started screaming uncontrollably once he caught a glimpse of the Squirrel Attack scene, and after that I spent most of the rest of the party in another room trying to keep him from breaking stuff.

But I hadn't seen anything that got nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director . . .

You get the picture. Or lack thereof.

So I start complaining to my husband about how we never see any movies anymore since the baby was born, and saying how a lot of these Oscar-nominated films are already out or are coming out soon on DVD, and proposing that we rent or buy a few, and he says to me, "I don't want to see that Brokeback Mountain."

Before I can respond, he continues, "It has cowboys in it. I don't want to watch a movie about cowboys . . . you know I can't stand anything that makes me think of country music."

That's right, fair readers. I'll come right out and say it. I just found out my husband suffers from COWBOYPHOBIA.

Guess I'll have to watch that one by myself.

8 comments:

Lisa said...

That is so funny. In the last year we realized we haven't seen any movies either. So we got our trusty babysitter, skipped dinner and went to a movie. Its a pretty cheap date when you just do a movie and some ice cream later. Or movie and a drink.

Jaelithe said...

Ah, yes-- it's that "we got our trusty babysitter" bit that can't seem to be managed here . . . I have been trying to find a "trusty babysitter" for nearly 22 months . . .

Dawn said...

Ah, another "realizing I am a parent" moment.

When the only films you have seen is animated and or at most, PG.

Lisa said...

I saw what wrote for a comment on my Memories post. That is too funny! Actually, I agree with your mom. My parents are Catholics and thinking for yourself is something the Catholic faith highly, HIGHLY discourages. (This is one of 500 reasons I am not Catholic anymore. heehee.)

Lisa said...

Oh and if you live near Webster Groves, our trusty babysitter lives there. I can give you her name and phone number if you like.... Also, we do a Parents Nite out at The Little Gym. Seth LOVES them.

Peter said...

i think i have seen teh jungle book (also know as 'doobie doobie') and shrek (known as 'donky') now also 500 bazillion times .. I think steve jobs said something like that when they let themselves buy by Disney (pixar, not apple) .. that kid's movies just have way more impact these days ...

yeah well ... i think it was some disgruntled parent who invented the bittorrent system .. not my favorite to watch a movie .. but the only way I managed to see King Kong and Howl's Moving Castle .. (oh, and 24!)

hang in there ... (and this from a fellow daddy)

MrsFortune said...

Wow, I hate those cowboy-phobes. They're so small minded ... haha.

I found you through a comment on another site, very nice blog I enjoyed reading it!

Jaelithe said...

Thanks for the tips, Lisa :) Unfortunately we live far, far north of Webster Groves, so I don't think I can borrow your babysitter. But I'll have to look into Little Gym, though . ..

I agree with my mom, too. It's just that now as an adult I think it's hilarious that she insisted on explaining politics in such detail to a six-year-old. LOL. Lucky for her it didn't backfire.

My mom spent most of my childhood first getting her Master's in English, and then teaching English and Women's Studies. I think sometimes she had a little trouble remembering to take off her professor hat when she got home . . .

Little Jaelithe: "Mommy, do you want to read this poem I wrote about you?"

Jaelithe's Mommy: "Hold on just a second, sweetheart-- let me find my red pen . . ."

;)