Monday, June 28, 2010

A Ginger Day

So, today was a Ginger day, meaning that I took Jack to daycare so that I could have some one-on-one time with myself. I spend a lot of time avoiding me as is evidenced by the fact that when I truly have time for meditation and reflection, I have no idea what to do with myself so I work. I spent the morning doing that. I began building my new class website, I updated my interactive summer assignment, sent messages to all the students participating in said assignment, answered the questions that were submitted in response to updating and messaging about the summer assignment, and then noticed that I was tense - that I hadn't done anything that wasn't work related and I was squandering away my free time.

That's when I decided to go see a movie - a good chick flick. There was a 12:55 showing of Sex and the City 2 at the Studio Movie Grill and I thought, "Lunch and a movie! Perfect!" So I went.

Before you poo poo the idea of A.) Seeing a movie by yourself or B.) Seeing this particular movie, you should note that actually it was a very enlightening, pleasant experience. I'm probably outing my hardcore, tattooed exterior by admitting that I am a Sex in the City fan (wink), but I also have to remind everyone that the series and the movies are about more than shopping and sex. Actually, this one in particular was more about the definition of marriage and, more importantly, what it means to be a woman and have a voice. There is no better place to highlight the conflict between being a woman (and all that comes with that, including motherhood or choosing not to be a mom) and having a voice in a male dominated society. It turns out that Abu Dhabi, the place where most of the film is set, is not so different than the US in that the female voice is suppressed. Also, though, it reminded us that no matter what society declares, women of all cultures and ages, are sisters. We hear each other.

It may sound odd to say that I felt empowered by Sex and the City, but I am. I cried actual tears when Miranda and Charlotte talked about being moms and the constraints of that full-time, thankless, wonderful job.

Charlotte: "How do the moms who have no help do it?"

Miranda: "I have no fucking idea."

Charlotte: "My first thought when I heard Samantha say Harry might cheat on me with Erin was, "Oh my god, I can't lose the nanny!"

Substitute "the nanny" for "daycare" and I hear you, sister. I lift my glass to that, and I did because I ordered a glass of wine with my lunch. What boldness! Screw you, patriarchy! I'm having wine with lunch AND I'm picking up the baby later.. by myself! I am woman!

After I left the theater it was raining outside - my favorite!

I came home to a quiet house on a rainy afternoon, and I'm loving my Ginger day!

4 comments:

Rummuser said...

How I wish that I could have a Ramana day!

Ginger said...

I think you should take one! What would a Ramana day look like?

rich said...

Hope you enjoyed your day with Ginger. Next time you see her tell her hi from me. I'll be home soon.

Rummuser said...

Beautiful, sunny sometimes, raining sometimes. Somebody to give me my morning tea in bed, call me for breakfast half way through my morning papers. Quick solutions to all my crossword puzzles and a hot steamy lunch laid out on the table. Undisturbed siesta, followed by some hot snacks and tea in the veranda while I watch the rain falling in the garden. Uninterrupted time at the computer and subsequent reading. Someone to give me a light dinner and send me off to bed with a hot chocolate.

There are two gentlemen in my life who have such days in my home while I am the guy who provides the calling and TLC.

Monday, June 28, 2010

A Ginger Day

So, today was a Ginger day, meaning that I took Jack to daycare so that I could have some one-on-one time with myself. I spend a lot of time avoiding me as is evidenced by the fact that when I truly have time for meditation and reflection, I have no idea what to do with myself so I work. I spent the morning doing that. I began building my new class website, I updated my interactive summer assignment, sent messages to all the students participating in said assignment, answered the questions that were submitted in response to updating and messaging about the summer assignment, and then noticed that I was tense - that I hadn't done anything that wasn't work related and I was squandering away my free time.

That's when I decided to go see a movie - a good chick flick. There was a 12:55 showing of Sex and the City 2 at the Studio Movie Grill and I thought, "Lunch and a movie! Perfect!" So I went.

Before you poo poo the idea of A.) Seeing a movie by yourself or B.) Seeing this particular movie, you should note that actually it was a very enlightening, pleasant experience. I'm probably outing my hardcore, tattooed exterior by admitting that I am a Sex in the City fan (wink), but I also have to remind everyone that the series and the movies are about more than shopping and sex. Actually, this one in particular was more about the definition of marriage and, more importantly, what it means to be a woman and have a voice. There is no better place to highlight the conflict between being a woman (and all that comes with that, including motherhood or choosing not to be a mom) and having a voice in a male dominated society. It turns out that Abu Dhabi, the place where most of the film is set, is not so different than the US in that the female voice is suppressed. Also, though, it reminded us that no matter what society declares, women of all cultures and ages, are sisters. We hear each other.

It may sound odd to say that I felt empowered by Sex and the City, but I am. I cried actual tears when Miranda and Charlotte talked about being moms and the constraints of that full-time, thankless, wonderful job.

Charlotte: "How do the moms who have no help do it?"

Miranda: "I have no fucking idea."

Charlotte: "My first thought when I heard Samantha say Harry might cheat on me with Erin was, "Oh my god, I can't lose the nanny!"

Substitute "the nanny" for "daycare" and I hear you, sister. I lift my glass to that, and I did because I ordered a glass of wine with my lunch. What boldness! Screw you, patriarchy! I'm having wine with lunch AND I'm picking up the baby later.. by myself! I am woman!

After I left the theater it was raining outside - my favorite!

I came home to a quiet house on a rainy afternoon, and I'm loving my Ginger day!

4 comments:

Rummuser said...

How I wish that I could have a Ramana day!

Ginger said...

I think you should take one! What would a Ramana day look like?

rich said...

Hope you enjoyed your day with Ginger. Next time you see her tell her hi from me. I'll be home soon.

Rummuser said...

Beautiful, sunny sometimes, raining sometimes. Somebody to give me my morning tea in bed, call me for breakfast half way through my morning papers. Quick solutions to all my crossword puzzles and a hot steamy lunch laid out on the table. Undisturbed siesta, followed by some hot snacks and tea in the veranda while I watch the rain falling in the garden. Uninterrupted time at the computer and subsequent reading. Someone to give me a light dinner and send me off to bed with a hot chocolate.

There are two gentlemen in my life who have such days in my home while I am the guy who provides the calling and TLC.