The Finer Things

I guess I should start this post by telling you that if you don't watch "The Office" you may not get what I'm talking about. If you do, feel free to laugh along.

Last night's episode of "The Office" was hilarious. But, there was one part that especially tickled my funny bone. Pam, Toby and Oscar started a very exclusive club called "The Finer Things" club. It was just the three of them and they met in the office break room. At their meetings they discussed different books and ate foods that corresponded to what they were reading. They even wore partial costumes and drank tea from fine china. The whole premise was silly but add in the fact that they were in an office break room where co-workers were walking in to make microwave popcorn and to beat up the vending machine and it just made it funnier.

I started thinking of the type of stuff that I would do in a club of that kind. After a little bit of thought I realized my club would probably be called "The regular old crap" club. In my club we'd sit around and eat Chinese food and drink inexpensive, maybe from a box, red wine while flipping through the latest gossip magazines dissecting the many moods of Britney Spears. We could paint our toenails and have a mascara sampling party. Intellectual conversation would not be expected. Though, you may have to pass a short test on celeb gossip and/or pop culture to gain entry. After all, we do have some standards around here.

As much as Oprah tries to shove her book club down my throat, I'm just not that into reading books. Don't throw stones! It's not like I'm illiterate, I read the news and the paper and tons of magazines. How is that any different from a book? It's still reading, right? Books take so much time and energy. You have to be able to carve out all this quiet time to concentrate. I like to read a magazine while watching tv, talking to Joe, letting the dogs out, and cooking dinner. If I tried to read a book that way I'd be lost. I used to read books and there are some that I would still consider reading but it's just not that important to me. Don't tell Oprah.

I hope those things don't make me a bad person. I can't help it if I'd rather browse ten magazines for the top rated mascara or the "it" bag for fall. I think I'm smart even if I didn't read the freaking "Davinci Code". I'm not going to let the "book clubbers" or "The Finer Things" clubs make me feel bad about my choices. Besides, just because Oprah says you have to do it doesn't mean you REALLY have to do it. Even though everything she says people jump to buy/read/give/wear/do.

So I guess the moral of my post is that if you can't join 'em then beat 'em with your own better, less fancy but way more fun club! Come with me to the dark side... we have wine!