Thursday, June 10, 2010

As passionate as I am about newspapers and their sad, yet inevitable demise, I care much much less about the magazines that are seemingly headed in that same direction. Newspapers (especially on Sunday) just have a wealth of information that cannot possibly be covered on the 700 cable news stations who attempt to do just that. Magazines are filled superfluous ads and pictures, and once you sift through all of that b.s., there are really only about 10 minutes worth of articles worth reading. And since I love sports, almost ALL of the articles in sports mags are either a)dated beyond belief or b)leaked on the internet before the magazine is officially on newsstands. There are some exceptions of course (like GQ and Cigar Aficionado), but for the most part, I only read magazines when a)I'm in the barbershop waiting or b) when one of my lady's subscriptions comes to the house...which brings me to my point.

My lady subscribes to a number of female magazines, and since I get home from work earlier than she does, I'm the one who removes them from the mailbox and eventually puts them on the kitchen table with the rest of the mail. I have a whole routine where I look at the cover to see what articles are in there, I casually thumb through for good articles and scantily clad women, and then I put it down. I don't really read anything per se, I just power skim.

So the other day, my lady's Essence magazine came and Jada Pinkett Smith was on the cover. There was no other mail that day, and I was in the middle of cooking dinner, so I decided to do my usual skim through the magazine, and it took all of about 10 minutes. No harm there right? Wrong. The lady walked in, saw that I had skimmed through her magazine, and she said, "I don't want you reading my Essence before I read it." I cracked a joke about it, she repeated her stance, and then we dropped it.

But last night, when the aforementioned Essence had found its way to the coffee table, she reiterated her desire for me not to read it before she did. She said that it was her magazine, and that sometime I ruined it for her by discussing the articles in there before she has even had a chance to read(guilty as charged). She also said that it is a ladies magazine, not a magazine for men (I responded by saying that sometimse there are scantily-clad, to naked women in there, and that's something I need to see). So basically we did not see eye to eye on the matter, and I made a fake promise to honor her wish.

I remember when I was in high school, my father had to get on me about stealing the Washington Post Sports section before I left for school. He would tell me that I could read it before I left, but to take it to school like it was mine, when HE paid for it and had not read it, was disrespectful. That I understood. But to be told I can't skim a magazine that I have graciously removed from the mailbox, then gently placed on the table for the lady to see, is horsesh*t. And the lady was positive that if I wrote about this today, everyone would take her side and not mine..so we'll see.

By the way, you'll recall that last week I mentioned a friend of mine was getting married and needed a name for her blog. Well she decided on Still Blushing Bride and you can check it out here. You should also check out that Redman video right below here.

8 comments:

Tiffany said...

LOL, I feel the same way about my magazines. I want to read them first so I can be the first to bring up the topic.

Peace, Love and Chocolate
Tiffany

Sab D said...

Dawg ... read the magazine. Then roll it up with the rest of the mail and put a rubber band around it like it was never touched. Then don't talk about nuthin! Simply say, "oh yeah, I gotta check that out!" I mean not all roommates wait until you are done with the USA Today before reading the sports section, right?

tia said...

i'm on your lady's side. it's my magazine that i paid for and you are more than welcome to read it AFTER i'm done. and if she specifically asked you not to read it before her the least you can do is comply. don't be contrary for the sake of being contrary.

Miss. Lady said...

I have to take your lady's side. That is a violation of violations to read a woman's magazine before the actually owner of said magazine has had a chance to read it themselves.

Now if we were talking Time, Ebony, People etc; then I would say you are well within your right to tell her to get over it, but Essence or any magazine of the like? No.

Nina said...

i personally dont think it's a big deal, BUT she's really not asking a lot...it seems simple, don't look at the magazine bf she does. remember happy wife, happy life ;)

Anonymous said...

Yep, I bop my hubby upside the head with my magazine when he thumbs through them first. *lol* I'm kinda anal, so I don't like the spine to be broken on books or magazines, and he like to leave them face down with the pages spread open (thereby breaking the spine). Ugh!

Janelle said...

Don't worry I'll get you your own Essence subscription as a wedding present. That way you can power skim to your hearts content! hahahahaa

Jazzbrew said...

I'm with Sab D... read that joint and just don't say anything about. Problem solved...