May 31, 2006
my dryer won’t, and other reasons I wish I were Carrie Bradshaw
I may well be the last girl in America still addicted to Sex and the City. And yes, some substantial portion of my obsession has to do with my inexplicable attraction to Chris Noth, an attraction that dates back to the early days of Law and Order, but doesn’t extend to his new gig on Criminal Intent, for whatever reason. It’s not Chris Noth I want; it’s Mr. Big.
Seriously, how can you NOT love Big? The bespoke suits, the town cars, the APARTMENT for god’s sake.
Big wasn’t just a boyfriend; he was a lifestyle. A really sexy lifestyle. One that didn’t include any food served in nugget form or furniture made out of plastic or a daytime bag the size of New Hampshire. Big was about swank restaurants and fabulous shoes and incredible sexual tension.
That’s what I want.
My day has been, among other things, about a dryer that doesn’t dry; the dryer, however, is both the most AND least sexy thing going on at my house. There is nothing sexy about wet laundry, particularly with two small boys who seem to be human dirt magnets, but there IS something sexy about a man who, when he hears about the broken dryer, says, without batting an eye, “Let’s get a new one! Tomorrow! And have them haul this one away.”
I love my husband. That’s not what this is about.
I envy Carrie Bradshaw (yes, I realize she’s a fictional character, just go with me here, it’s been a long day of wet laundry)–I envy Carrie because she has the luxury to mull endlessly about her relationships, to think about who said what and when and why. I envy her because when she goes on a date, she throws herself into it–the clothes, the shoes, the speculation about whether she will or won’t have sex. She never has to worry about the sitter showing up late, or the kids crying when she leaves or maybe still being awake when she comes home.
So maybe this really IS about how much I love my husband.
When I met Wade, I fell immediately and completely in love with him. He was smart and funny and sexy. He still is, but now we have two kids and a mortgage and very little time to lounge around and read the New York Times in our underwear or drink coffee and talk about the origins of rhetoric or The Simpsons or Jane Austen’s influence on Patrick O’Brian. Or to fantasize about our future. When we go on a date (which, honestly, isn’t often enough and involves more planning than the invasion of Iraq), we talk about what’s new with the kids or our investments or my plans to return to work and how that might influence where we buy our next house. And while it is reassuring and still romantic, it’s not the same.
It’s not dinner with Mr. Big.
I want to have a Carrie Bradshaw date, the kind she had with Big–I want to wear the Naked Dress and not even make it to the swank restaurant. I want to go back to the part of my life where this relationship, with this man I adore, was everything. I want to be Carrie Bradshaw for just one weekend–I want to drink too much and wear fabulous shoes and be with this incredibly sexy man who absolutely is The One.
And I want Carrie’s cleavage, while I’m at it. Because the Naked Dress looks better with the cleavage.
Drink of the day: the tartini (or the Tangier tartini, if you prefer grapefruit). Bottoms up!
Posted by Susan @ 8:50 pm • Uncategorized
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
May 31st, 2006 at 9:50 pm, daysgoby Says:
Exactly.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:59 pm, adria Says:
Wonderful post, Susan. I know exactly what you are saying.
I, too, have a major crush on Mr. Big, and I love the tartini!
May 31st, 2006 at 11:20 pm, Penny Pressed Says:
What I want is to read more posts like this one.
Also, I want all Carrie Bradshaw’s primping time, because how awesome would it be to spend all that time on my HAIR again? Seriously.
June 1st, 2006 at 3:44 am, Sheryl Says:
You know what I miss most? I miss the butterflies in my stomach when he kissed me.
He’s still a great kisser though.
June 1st, 2006 at 5:25 am, Ex-playgroup mommy Says:
Ohhh I too love Mr. Big. I just watched the episode last night when he went to Paris to tell Carrie he loved her. I also loved him in Law and Order but in Criminal Intent he just looks beaten down!
June 1st, 2006 at 6:03 am, Felicity Says:
I prefer D’Onofrio to Noth but I know what you are saying BUT I never watched the show so please tell me about the naked dress? I think I need one. To wear under my burkha.
June 1st, 2006 at 6:09 am, Jamie Says:
I heart Mr. Big, too. I was home with my second baby most of last year and watched the entire SITC series thanks to Tivo! Loved it and seriously fantasized about the shoes, the Cosmos, and the writing career that would allow me to be sexy and do nothing but shop and socialize.
p.s. good luck with the dryer…ours died last year and it was not fun
June 1st, 2006 at 6:48 am, ieatcrayonz Says:
You should go on more dates. There wasn’t that much planning in the invasion of Iraq anyhow.
June 1st, 2006 at 6:55 am, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
ACK!!! I was watching the Tartini episode the other night, too!
It’s so odd that you posted this today. I was going to post about my trip to Big Lots last night, where I daydreamed over the Barbies and remembered how glamorous I thought being an adult would be. I was supposed to be tall and built, giving the kids a peck on the cheek as perfect hubby and I whisked off to a posh penthouse coktail party, complete with (insert famous pianist’s name here) playing in the background. And my children would always sleep late and worship me for just being bee-oo-tiful and smelling like Chanel.
There’s nothing glamorous about going to Big Lots and debating on the 89 cent Ajax vs. the 99 cent Palmolive, just because you only have $200 to last 10 days for a family of five.
Aren’t the families of doctors supposed to have cash dripping out of their ears?
Tartini, take me away!!!!
June 1st, 2006 at 6:57 am, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
OOPS!!! I meant “cocktail party,” not “coktail party.” Please, I swear I’ve never been to, nor do I fantasize about, going to a coke party.
June 1st, 2006 at 7:48 am, Meegs Says:
Ditto everything you said!! Everything. I was just thinking about Mr. Big yesterday while walking around my city (Philly) after watching Sex on Tuesday night (yay TBS)… I’m also addicted to that show, and of all the guys Carrie dated, Mr. Big was my favorite. I was so glad they ended up together in the end. Okay, stop me now… because I could go on all day.
June 1st, 2006 at 12:11 pm, melynda Says:
Ah, Big… j’adore!
But I think I loved him more on the early Law and Order. (A&E used to run about 10 reruns a day, at various hours, when I was pregnant, so when I couldn’t sleep and the leg cramps were killing, Chris Noth was always there for me.) He had that savvy, street-smart Alpha male thing going on, and all he needed was me to show him the error of his ways with his terrible plaid ties…
I’m sorry, did I just black out?
Date nights are few and far between around here, even with just one child. The planning! After cleaning the house for the babysitter (I mean, what would she think?) or driving the child to my mother’s, then trying to find something remotely cute to wear, and forcing all those “I can’t believe how much money this is going to be” thoughts out of my mind, all while realizing that when hubby and I are alone, we have NOTHING NEW TO DISCUSS! UGH!!!
Tartini, please?
June 1st, 2006 at 12:15 pm, Java Junkie Says:
I once dated a Big. It didn’t work out. He simply couldn’t grasp or relate to my inability to pick up and fly down to FLA any time I wanted (you know, work, parenting, etc.) I also felt terribly inadequate any time I was in *that* element because it’s just not who I am. I’m skipping through a field of sunflowers barefoot. I’m finger painting BEFORE I had kids. I’m garage sale shoppin’. I do love the finer things in life, but sometimes those finer things include finding your 18 month old thrilled while he spreads the feminine products he found under the bathroom cabinet all over the house. I’d love to be so vogue as to be able to travel to Paris on a whim but I much prefer my regular guy Monkey who will love me forever and ever no matter what.
On the other hand I found myself being unable to explain to my 14 year old why Monkey and I are compelled to stay up past 1:00 A.M. most nights simply to have some “us” time. Being a parent is just so draining sometimes.
June 1st, 2006 at 1:23 pm, Jenorama Says:
This is why I read romance novels. Exactly.
June 1st, 2006 at 1:50 pm, Candace Says:
Do you wanna send the boys over to my house for a week? Sophie would totally take care of them both.
June 1st, 2006 at 3:55 pm, Mir Says:
Aaaaahhhh, the old “fantasy romance” vs. “reality marriage” dilemma.
As someone who has neither, I guess I can’t comment.
But I’ll take two of whatever you’re pouring.
P.S. I swear my word verification looks a lot like “squirrel poop.” Do you SEE what I’m working with over here??
June 1st, 2006 at 4:15 pm, MommyWithAttitude Says:
You are NOT the only one still addicted to SATC! I love it so much that I often feel a twinge of sadness that I’ve already seen every single episode. I just want more!
And my “wet laundry” day is cleaning poop and pee off the floor (not twice, but THREE times) because my little potty-trainer “doesn’t know” why he can’t make it to the potty.
Sigh
June 1st, 2006 at 4:30 pm, The Daring One Says:
I was just talking about this with a friend after watching the season finale of the office. The kiss was amazing and it made us both sad. There was this sadness that we will never have that level of tension in our relationships again, that wondering, waiting, watching every move, holding your breath. Ahhh. That’s why they make fictional characters like that. I think living our lives through them keeps our marriages together.
June 1st, 2006 at 4:57 pm, mama_tulip Says:
I have always had the biggest hard-on for Chris Noth. I used to watch Law and Order re-runs late at night with my dirty mind and my right hand. Mmmmm. Chris Noth.
June 1st, 2006 at 7:44 pm, Susan Says:
Mama Tulip, you have a dirty mind. I like that in a girl.
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:18 pm, Jack's Raging Mommy Says:
You know, I didn’t see this until just now, and now I feel like a plagarist. Of sorts.
June 3rd, 2006 at 2:18 pm, lildb Says:
I thought I was only the one left who spent heaps of time daydreaming uselessly about having the life of any of the women on that show.
And as for Mr. Big - whenever I flip past the channel that syndicates L&O and the glorious Mr. Noth is featured in the scene snippet (and I’m flashed back to a SitC moment), my heart always, *always* thumps a little bit harder.
Total. Dreamboat.
June 3rd, 2006 at 9:51 pm, Jenn Says:
Loved and related to this entry so much I just blogged you on BlogHer.org. I hope that is okay. But you really hit the nail on the head, my friend!
Big being The One. So dreamy. (Though I did totally crush on Aidan, too!)
June 3rd, 2006 at 10:01 pm, Suburban Turmoil Says:
Now I want to watch a Sex and the City marathon. Which is perfect because right now I’m holed up in bed with a bad case of… well, I won’t go there.
June 3rd, 2006 at 11:12 pm, Andie D. Says:
“I may well be the last girl in America still addicted to Sex and the City.”
Oh no. SO VERY NO.
I found the series about season 4. I’ve since caught up. Read the book. Purchased DVDs.
And Big? The alure of Big is part who he is, what he has, power, yada, yada, yada.
But most of it is who he is, who Carrie is, when they are together. And apart.
I so very wish I were Carrie Bradshaw for many reasons. A) she smokes. Don’t do that anymore. B) She’s introspective. She has TIME to be introspective. C) She wears clothes because they LOOK good. Mine have to be machine washable too.
I love the show. Simply LOVE IT.