Yes you read it right.
It was a potato salad war. Not for the faint hearted. Only the brave, daring, super-chic and savvy dare engage in the periodic Saturday afternoon past-time. Sometimes the object which has the unfortunate role of being at the centre of the war changes, so it becomes a 'lamb ragout', or 'creme caramel', or 'baked ricotta cheesecake', but the fact remains that such wars occur frighteningly often in the world of the Superwoman. And that is just on a Saturday - don't get me started on the working week wars....
Scene: Afternoon bar-be-que. friends en masse (some with child or children, some without, quite a seemingly voluminous number of them all at various ages and dressed in their finest, making faces at parents who continually scold 'don't get that dirty!' Or 'stay away from that dog bowl/garden mulch/bird bath/other-object-of-assumed-dirtiness!', all the while seeking out the funnest and quickest way to do exactly the opposite), neighbours of the host, bright and beautiful day, birds are chirping, all is wonderful with the world.
Behind the scene: women of all backgrounds vying for the 'best made (insert item-of-choice here, in this case, potato salad) of the day'. Usually determined (unwittingly) by the husbands and children who invariably comment on the item of the day , saying things like 'that is the best (insert name here) I have ever eaten!', between mouthfuls and beneath the strained glare of their wives/mothers whose own salad is ignored. Usually the winner has their item-of-choice all eaten first, and often with people complaining that they didn't get to try any - all extremely good for the ego particularly for those who need the boost!
So, this was the context that I found myself in last Saturday - with my potato salad, perfectly attired and polished appearance, children all appropriately dressed and lectured on displaying good manners, appropriate play behaviour, eating with mouths closed, and for God's sake do not play in the dog bowl/garden mulch/bird bath!, husband clutching his beer and scouting for the other husbands, all as perfect as a picture and just as a superwoman always appears.
I set down the bowl with the others. And in dismay I discover that I am not the only one who has thought of potato salad...what to do? Quickly the thought enters my mind to tamper with the others, perhaps add a 'dash' of extra salt? Some vinegar? as I scan the room looking for a WMD. None to be found. Time is running out! How could everyone bring potato salad? They all looked the same, except the different bowls (another competitive point, although the bowl is little noticed by anyone else other than the Superwomen). Someone was coming. "Hi! Lovely day isn't it?" I smile graciously to hide my fleeting, wicked, thoughts.
As we finish our meal and what was a great day spent catching up with friends and watching the children get inevitably dirty whilst they had fun playing, the superwomen organised themselevs to collect their bowls. Whether there had been any gratious comments whilst eating by the 'Judges Panel' I do not know; I paid little attention given the extensive 'sameness' of the competition. However, my bowl was empty.
"We had so much potato salad today" says Superfriend. "Yours must have been really good, everyone else had some left over! Thanks for bringing it!"
Triumph. Eyes gleaming with pride, I leave with Superchildren and Superhusband in tow. I have done Superwomen the world over proud.
I won the Potato Salad War with a store bought salad, placed in my (very chic, if I do say so myself) bowl and claimed as my own.
Cheater!!! I hear you claim in outrage....well, only because you didn't think of it first and are jealous - if you REALLY were a Superwoman, you would know that, as least for potato salad, buying a store one is the SMART thing to do (provided it is of the requisite standard, of course!).
We can't do absolutely everything....it's all about playing smart, not hard!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The New Generation of 'Lists'
Just take a quick flick through the latest news and you will see that many superwomen are doing it all, and not necessarily receiving the (supposed) reward of having it all in return for all their efforts. Or turn on the radio. Or the television. Devices marketed as our friends who are seemingly not so at least in the current times.
For example. In the latest wave of attacks undertaken mainly by babyboomers, Gen X and Gen Y were yet again in the spotlight. What for this time, you ask? Apparently we have just now discovered the use of a shopping list. Apparently, there is evidence to suggest that neither Gen X or Gen Y have ever prepared a shopping list, for anything, let alone something as rudimentary as food shopping. The fact that we now know what they are and more to the point we actually use shopping lists, is a 'sign of the times', due to the 'recession', and Gen X and Gen Y (who no doubt will be blamed for the current recession) will be soo much better off for it (as will the State Of The World).
Well let me just say that just because we do not have scraggly unattractive pieces of paper with writing scrawled over them as we are out and about it does not necessarily follow that we do not have lists - Superwomen all over and of all varieties have numerous Lists - and if we had to write them all down, we would spend all our time writing out Lists!
Lists for chores around the home; the Must Get Done today List; social activites coming up in the next month; shopping (of all varieties including food); Lists for the next boyfriend's qualities; better yet the 'why my next partner will be female' List; the next holiday List.
All of which are on the Great Life Plan (GLP - see original posting) Mega List.
And most of which are stored valuably away in our brains (as well as in Blackberries/iPhones, whatever the case may be) and in the case of food, it really is simply a matter of a quick scan of the fridge and cupboards before the big food shop - besides which we will be the ones standing in the 15 items or less line watching you struggle with a trolley.
Unless we are the Superwomen of the variety who have a number of children - in which case we will be looking enviously at the 15 item or less line and reminiscing abot days gone past....
Either way we most certainly will not be concentrating on a wrinkled scraggly peice of old paper with items scribbled down on it.
Perhaps Gen X and Gen Y should create a List designed to assist the 'Older Generation' to come to terms with certain facts of life. Starting with Lists being a fact of life regardless of their form. And also that Lists (or lack thereof) are certainly not the cause of the recession....
For example. In the latest wave of attacks undertaken mainly by babyboomers, Gen X and Gen Y were yet again in the spotlight. What for this time, you ask? Apparently we have just now discovered the use of a shopping list. Apparently, there is evidence to suggest that neither Gen X or Gen Y have ever prepared a shopping list, for anything, let alone something as rudimentary as food shopping. The fact that we now know what they are and more to the point we actually use shopping lists, is a 'sign of the times', due to the 'recession', and Gen X and Gen Y (who no doubt will be blamed for the current recession) will be soo much better off for it (as will the State Of The World).
Well let me just say that just because we do not have scraggly unattractive pieces of paper with writing scrawled over them as we are out and about it does not necessarily follow that we do not have lists - Superwomen all over and of all varieties have numerous Lists - and if we had to write them all down, we would spend all our time writing out Lists!
Lists for chores around the home; the Must Get Done today List; social activites coming up in the next month; shopping (of all varieties including food); Lists for the next boyfriend's qualities; better yet the 'why my next partner will be female' List; the next holiday List.
All of which are on the Great Life Plan (GLP - see original posting) Mega List.
And most of which are stored valuably away in our brains (as well as in Blackberries/iPhones, whatever the case may be) and in the case of food, it really is simply a matter of a quick scan of the fridge and cupboards before the big food shop - besides which we will be the ones standing in the 15 items or less line watching you struggle with a trolley.
Unless we are the Superwomen of the variety who have a number of children - in which case we will be looking enviously at the 15 item or less line and reminiscing abot days gone past....
Either way we most certainly will not be concentrating on a wrinkled scraggly peice of old paper with items scribbled down on it.
Perhaps Gen X and Gen Y should create a List designed to assist the 'Older Generation' to come to terms with certain facts of life. Starting with Lists being a fact of life regardless of their form. And also that Lists (or lack thereof) are certainly not the cause of the recession....
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Pretty v Practical
This is a war that dates back to the ages.
Today it started when I chose 'Pretty' shoes for work this morning. Nothing wrong with that, I hear you say. And you would be right. In fact, more than right - you would be, no doubt, a glamourous Superwoman with your own closet full of pretty shoes (a.k.a. Carrie Bradshaw style). Whilst I may not have as many as our wonderful Carrie, I do lurve a shoes, and tend to keep several pair at work for the days I choose 'Practical', for the trip into the office.
And so. Here I am, in my Pretty shoes with my Pretty bag and Pretty dress and Pretty hair and Pretty make up and feeling quite pleased with the Pretty world. The car doesn't start. When it finally starts I am stuck behind a VERY slow heavy vehicle which in turn makes me late for the public transport. Screeching into the car park, I throw the car into a parking spot, planning to run to catch the public transport knowing there is a significant delay until the next one if I miss it. Running in Pretty shoes is quite simply NOT the done thing. One risks various sorts of injuries all the while looking like a right twat holding one's bag and one's dress, tap tap tap-ping along, as you are all no doubt aware having either witnessed such behaviour first hand or participated in it yourselves at some point in your life.
On a positive note I made it (woop woop!!). The middle aged man had waited, having heard my tap tap tap-ping now doubt. Of course, the obligatory and individual smile and 'thank you so much', immediately comes his way. I am pleased with myself. Until I catch a glimpse of how I look in the window reflection........
If only I had chosen Practical.
The Pretty v Practical debate extends to many different scenarios and is alive and well within the dialogue of our society as this very moment.
Who should we get to present that newscast - the Pretty one, or the Practical one?
Which diary will I buy this year - the Pretty one, or the Practical one?
What type of car??
How will I dress my child/children today - so they look Pretty (or handsome), or Practical?
You need a holiday - do you take the pituresque beach side option flying to an exotic location, or jump in the car and drive to the nearest beach?
I'm sure you can all think of more examples (post them up). Obviously they will all depend on individuals, but you get my drift, yes? Or am I just obsessed by shoes????
Today it started when I chose 'Pretty' shoes for work this morning. Nothing wrong with that, I hear you say. And you would be right. In fact, more than right - you would be, no doubt, a glamourous Superwoman with your own closet full of pretty shoes (a.k.a. Carrie Bradshaw style). Whilst I may not have as many as our wonderful Carrie, I do lurve a shoes, and tend to keep several pair at work for the days I choose 'Practical', for the trip into the office.
And so. Here I am, in my Pretty shoes with my Pretty bag and Pretty dress and Pretty hair and Pretty make up and feeling quite pleased with the Pretty world. The car doesn't start. When it finally starts I am stuck behind a VERY slow heavy vehicle which in turn makes me late for the public transport. Screeching into the car park, I throw the car into a parking spot, planning to run to catch the public transport knowing there is a significant delay until the next one if I miss it. Running in Pretty shoes is quite simply NOT the done thing. One risks various sorts of injuries all the while looking like a right twat holding one's bag and one's dress, tap tap tap-ping along, as you are all no doubt aware having either witnessed such behaviour first hand or participated in it yourselves at some point in your life.
On a positive note I made it (woop woop!!). The middle aged man had waited, having heard my tap tap tap-ping now doubt. Of course, the obligatory and individual smile and 'thank you so much', immediately comes his way. I am pleased with myself. Until I catch a glimpse of how I look in the window reflection........
If only I had chosen Practical.
The Pretty v Practical debate extends to many different scenarios and is alive and well within the dialogue of our society as this very moment.
Who should we get to present that newscast - the Pretty one, or the Practical one?
Which diary will I buy this year - the Pretty one, or the Practical one?
What type of car??
How will I dress my child/children today - so they look Pretty (or handsome), or Practical?
You need a holiday - do you take the pituresque beach side option flying to an exotic location, or jump in the car and drive to the nearest beach?
I'm sure you can all think of more examples (post them up). Obviously they will all depend on individuals, but you get my drift, yes? Or am I just obsessed by shoes????
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
When Superwoman just won't go away
Last night I had some of the best you-know-what, that I've had for a long time.
The fact that it was not until 12.30am and after returning from a late night working back (gracias to my Superboss), hitting the gym, having a (late) homecooked dinner courtesy of the current Supersqueeze, washing clothes and then spending half hour on the phone with a girlfriend who is currently living on the other side of the world was not noticed until early this morning, sitting at my workstation (as I am now), enjoying a rare moment of reflection...ok and yes perhaps my thoughts were intermingled with flashbacks of my late night rendevous
Are we all now geared to live our lives so busily? If this is true, and if Gen X and Gen Y are so happy being busy and flitting from one thing to the next, how will Gen Z adapt - or change?? - the social landscape?
I personally get a lot of satisfaction out of 'having it all' - even when what this is changes, or leaves me exhausted, or things do not conform necessarily to the GLP (see below) - in fact I thrive on the 'busy-ness' and living up to my notions of the Domestic Goddess, but I still wonder when enough is enough?
The fact that it was not until 12.30am and after returning from a late night working back (gracias to my Superboss), hitting the gym, having a (late) homecooked dinner courtesy of the current Supersqueeze, washing clothes and then spending half hour on the phone with a girlfriend who is currently living on the other side of the world was not noticed until early this morning, sitting at my workstation (as I am now), enjoying a rare moment of reflection...ok and yes perhaps my thoughts were intermingled with flashbacks of my late night rendevous
Are we all now geared to live our lives so busily? If this is true, and if Gen X and Gen Y are so happy being busy and flitting from one thing to the next, how will Gen Z adapt - or change?? - the social landscape?
I personally get a lot of satisfaction out of 'having it all' - even when what this is changes, or leaves me exhausted, or things do not conform necessarily to the GLP (see below) - in fact I thrive on the 'busy-ness' and living up to my notions of the Domestic Goddess, but I still wonder when enough is enough?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Taking a stance
I am buying takeaway tonight.
This is the beginning of my vigilant protest against the concept of the Superwoman.
You will see. I'll show you all......
This is the beginning of my vigilant protest against the concept of the Superwoman.
You will see. I'll show you all......
Superwoman, I'm Not!
It occured to me, not so long ago, that I am not a Superwoman.
I had, however, been suffering from the delusion that I WAS a Superwoman. Not that you could have told me that then. Hell no. I was too busy to have stopped and listened to you, let alone to take on board anything you might have to say that did not sit well with my 'Great Life Plan'.
I bet most of us gorgeous-young-women, who now bask in all the benefits bestowed upon us as a result of our bra-burning mothers and grandmothers, have a 'Great Life Plan'. In fact, perhaps more than one. Or one major 'GLP' (now that just sounds like we are talking economics now, doesn't it?), from which everything else must comform, comply, adjust and adapt....
During my moment of Great Revelation (in which it occured to me that I am not Superwoman), I wondered what 'everything' encompasses for other women (and maybe even men too in this day and age). Further what the GLP means for us all?
Does it mean - developing a fabulous career - drinking to excess whilst maintaining a sense of style - keeping a lovely home - cooking up a storm for the partner/friends/parents - travel - wild sex whenever and with whomever (or abstaining until you find 'the one'??) - being one fashionable step ahead of the rest inside your wardrobe and out - until you have achieved the GLP?
When is having it all (and what the hell does this mean), enough? I wondered.
Subsequently, I was reading online (yes....during work hours!) a feature article (with numerous comments) talking up the 'Domestic Goddess', and how easy it is now to bake cookies and prepare 3 course meals for 4 children and partner whilst working full time in a career (not just 10am to 2pm at the school canteen waiting for the kiddies, but an appropriately attired-traveled to-clock-on-clock-off, mode of employment. Not to say canteen 'work' does not have its benefits) and organising after school activities and sport and keeping a lovely home and everyone is happy including partner who comes home to a cooked meal and clean house to relax and maybe get some action if its a lucky day!!!
As lovely as all of this sounds, I wondered how it could be sustained because I know for a fact there are (many) people who fit into the above routine in one way or another - are we all guilty of Superwoman idolisation?
Even our men who, once all the requirements of the day have been met, would no doubt like it if we put on our best appearances before the 'action' starts....
Are multi vitamins the answer? I don't know. I am starting with this blog (in my so called 'spare' time). Turn off the auto pilot. Everyone wants to know what you have to say about this - what is 'everything' and why do we have GLP's?
I had, however, been suffering from the delusion that I WAS a Superwoman. Not that you could have told me that then. Hell no. I was too busy to have stopped and listened to you, let alone to take on board anything you might have to say that did not sit well with my 'Great Life Plan'.
I bet most of us gorgeous-young-women, who now bask in all the benefits bestowed upon us as a result of our bra-burning mothers and grandmothers, have a 'Great Life Plan'. In fact, perhaps more than one. Or one major 'GLP' (now that just sounds like we are talking economics now, doesn't it?), from which everything else must comform, comply, adjust and adapt....
During my moment of Great Revelation (in which it occured to me that I am not Superwoman), I wondered what 'everything' encompasses for other women (and maybe even men too in this day and age). Further what the GLP means for us all?
Does it mean - developing a fabulous career - drinking to excess whilst maintaining a sense of style - keeping a lovely home - cooking up a storm for the partner/friends/parents - travel - wild sex whenever and with whomever (or abstaining until you find 'the one'??) - being one fashionable step ahead of the rest inside your wardrobe and out - until you have achieved the GLP?
When is having it all (and what the hell does this mean), enough? I wondered.
Subsequently, I was reading online (yes....during work hours!) a feature article (with numerous comments) talking up the 'Domestic Goddess', and how easy it is now to bake cookies and prepare 3 course meals for 4 children and partner whilst working full time in a career (not just 10am to 2pm at the school canteen waiting for the kiddies, but an appropriately attired-traveled to-clock-on-clock-off, mode of employment. Not to say canteen 'work' does not have its benefits) and organising after school activities and sport and keeping a lovely home and everyone is happy including partner who comes home to a cooked meal and clean house to relax and maybe get some action if its a lucky day!!!
As lovely as all of this sounds, I wondered how it could be sustained because I know for a fact there are (many) people who fit into the above routine in one way or another - are we all guilty of Superwoman idolisation?
Even our men who, once all the requirements of the day have been met, would no doubt like it if we put on our best appearances before the 'action' starts....
Are multi vitamins the answer? I don't know. I am starting with this blog (in my so called 'spare' time). Turn off the auto pilot. Everyone wants to know what you have to say about this - what is 'everything' and why do we have GLP's?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)