Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Our Brush With Reality

Have you had the chance yet to view the fabulous disaster that is "The Real Housewives of Orange County?" This "reality" television show, now in its second season on Bravo, profiles the lives of five ridiculously privileged Coto de Caza housewives. (Well, technically, it's two housewives, one single mom, one engaged mom, and a nubile concubine.)

Like its spiritually bereft brethren programs, "The OC" and "Laguna Beach," the show basically plays as a video catalog of conspicuous consumption and privileged process. Gordon Gekko would blush at some of the ideology on this program. And for me, it's television crack. I know it's bad --really bad -- but I'm unable to resist its delicious vapidity.

Technically, I'm one of them, you know. Aside from the $20 million+ difference in our bank accounts, I'm an honest-to-goodness Orange County housewife. By definition, at least. I'm a housewife, I live in Orange County, and, despite some lingering existential ennui suffered in my early 20s, I've finally accepted that I'm real.

I've even managed to rope John into watching a few episodes with me in recent months. You know, under the whole guise of "Hey, check out this train wreck!" So you can imagine my delight when, while dining at
this newfangled restaurant for his birthday dinner last week (I had a coupon. Seriously.), we spotted dining nearby not one, but TWO of the show's "star" housewives.

As we were leaving the restaurant, we had to pass by their teppan table, as it was nearest the front door.

As we did, this Real Housewife smiled kindly at me:


...while this Real Housewife salaciously and unapologetically checked out John from top to bottom as he passed by:


Which made me realize that they may have all the money in the world, but they don't have my husband.

I haven't felt that rich in a long time.

2 comments:

Shannon said...

Isn't California great?

Holli said...

God love ya!
I too got sucked into that show one day during a marathon. Yep for like 6 hours all I could do is sit in front of the TV and think this is ridiculous but man what I wouldn't do for that life!
I haven't allowed myself to watch it since! (so did concubine stay engaged or are they split up again)? hehe
And yes we are blessed beyond measure. We have husbands who are home and spending time with their families not out making a million!