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Friday, November 27, 2009

Shortest Friday Fragments Ever

Because I am typing this in my mother-in-law's house, on her computer, which is smack-dab in the middle of the family room, I am not going to write much. I'll write just enough to participate in Mrs. 4444's Friday Fragments without causing my extended family to assume I'm writing my secret, deadly manifesto (FYI: That's my other blog.)

Friday Fragments?


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 I realize that my extensive time online comes across as a tad anti-social and freakish, when away from the familiar setting of my kitchen table cave. Why is typing on the computer considered "rude" yet watching A Night in the Museum as a family---sitting in total silence---considered social?

***
Speaking of TV, I don't know why Paul and I feel this overwhelming urge to make Owen watch all of the Charlie Brown specials. They are poorly animated, kinda creepy and way over his head. And yet, every year, we sit him down and say, "You need to watch this. This is important."

Maybe we're wanting to experience our own childhoods anew, harkening back to the nights when we would snuggle under a blanket with a bowl of popcorn, watching Linus and Snoopy.

Now, we notice things. Consider this Peanuts--A Second Glance:

*Franklin, the token African American kid, sat by himself on one side of the table when Charlie Brown had his popcorn and toast Thanksgiving. Even the dog got to sit with the other kids. Not cool, Charlie Brown. Not. Cool.

*Whenever I saw Peppermint Patty on screen, I kept hearing Melissa Ethridge, crooning, "Come to my wiiiindoow!" You connect the dots.

I bet Peppermint Patty and the strangely subservant Marcie have matching Ani DeFranco shirts today. (And before you hate, I LOVE lesbians.)
*The music on the Peanuts specials is just charming---I wish that modern kids shows had half as much musical sophistication. Most cartoon music, in my limited experience, causes seizures and intense feelings of despair.

*Those Peanuts Kids? Man, those were some mean, mean kids. Even Linus could be kind of a shit, and he's the one who's spouting Scripture and Colonial History at the drop of a hat. Nobody likes a hypocrite, Linus.

*What was the deal with Pig Pen? Some adult should have called social services and said, "Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah." Why does Charlie Brown, a kid suffering from premature hair loss, get mocking, but the kid with a virulent cloud of dust is totally cool in everybody's book?

*Yet, with all these inconsistencies, that final part of the Christmas Special, when they dress up the pathetic tree and sing "Hark the Hearld Angels Sing" gets me every time. Haven't we all had moments where we're that weak old tree, and yet we're made beautiful through the faith and gentle tending of our friends?

***
Well, this turned into a treatise on Charles Shutlz. Not my intention, but being that I'm on borrowed computer time, I'm going to be a blockhead and roll with it. Happy Friday!

18 comments:

Corrie Howe said...

Yes, I wonder why I'm anti-social to be on my computer instead of watching a movie that I don't want to watch.

Claudya Martinez said...

Charlie Brown, I'm brown and I want to know why there are no Latinos in your town.

Peppermint Patty, a lesbian que no?

Nancy C said...

I think we have discovered that Charlie. Brown is THE MAN and that Party loves the ladies. Hello, softball! And by the man I mean OPPRESSOR.

Nancy C said...
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Mrs4444 said...

While I can't stand those Peanuts shows, I did love this post; it's right on and very funny.

I think I hated the show because of how mean Lucy was to Charlie Brown, poor guy.

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

Oh girl, you are preaching to the choir about blog/online/social-ettiquette. AMEN, sister!

~Elizabeth
http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com

michelle said...

Funny funny funny. You're right, Peanuts aren't for kids. But it seemed so innocent yet kind of accurate back in the day. I was the token African American on the other side of the table. I remember a totally butch girl who scared the crap out of me. And the dirty kid. And the pretty up on a shelf girl that all the boys dug. And the bossy girl who you'd better not turn your back on. Too funny!

I do love the music, though.

The Rambler said...

Haha...Yes...the Peanuts cartoons.

We have just introduced our 3 year old to them and she's like WHOA.

:)

erika said...

I want to read that other blog of yours. Sounds badassish. Hey, every time I visit you, you have a new follower. It's because you rock :)

Charlita said...

That's funny you mention the Peanuts specials because I do the same thing with our kids. We actually put them to bed early on Thursday night and for a moment...when I saw that the special was on, I thought about getting them out of bed to watch it. Crazy! p.s. I would much rather be on the computer than present at my in laws...it's a survival technique. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bekah said...

My hubs and I have the same affliction. "Kids, it's time to sit down and watch this show. You'll love it. No? Well, sit and watch it anyway".

Stacy Uncorked said...

I'm right there with you on the Charlie Brown specials - we 'make' Princess Nagger watch them with us, too... ;)

I think those that don't blog or spend time online reading/writing blogs do tend to consider our extensive online time as 'anti-social'...And you're right - how 'social' is sitting and watching a movie in silence? :)

Happy FF a day late! :)

sd said...

The last Ani concert I attended was a couple years ago... she has totally gone soft! Now that she's married (to a MAN) and has a daughter, she's lost that "edge". I still love her, though. Wait- does that make me like Peppermint Patty?

Nancy C said...

Married to a MAN? Well, whatever makes her happy. She's still made of awesome.

Nancy C said...
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Melani said...

yes I noticed that the kids totally seperated the one kid and I thought, did I notice that when I was a kid? Nope probably didn't notice it at all...oh well, every year my dad calls to tell us it is on and are we going to have the kids watch it? so my 4 yr old watched it with me this time and she enjoyed it but wanted to know why the dog was making sooooo much toast????? LOL

Joanna Jenkins said...

Now that you mention it...... That really isn't cool.
I'll never watch Charlie Brown specials the same way again. But I will still watch them, even though I know "the classics" by heart.
:-)
jj

Mama-Face said...

haha. So true about the computer vs movies. I get the same grief.

Which segues nicely to Charlie Brown. I hated the cartoon as a child, but my youngest absolutely loves them. I can't fathom why. I do agree with you about the music and I do love a good Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. In theory at least.

Fabulous Fragments.