Obsessions

Dan and I have a love-hate relationship with Thomas the Tank Engine and his ilk. We love him as in we feel he is a better influence than, say, Batman, but we hate the overt commercialism and, frankly, boredom of it. (C'mon, how many times can you read "Cow on the Track" with conviction and enthusiam? A small sample: "Move!", said Thomas. "Moo", said the Cow. "No, not 'Moo', 'Move!", exclaimed Thomas).

Francis, however, has a love-love relationship with Thomas. He has the books, the videos, the tracks, and god knows, the various trains. He has seven Thomas t-shirts, one for each day of the week. Some are getting a bit Britney Spears-small (we layer an another t-shirt underneath) and some are getting less beloved (Dan put the one with the decal in the dryer and ruined it and so is basically unrecognizable to all but The Devoted).

Ha, ha, we laugh. Such enthusiam. Such dedication. Such ... obsession. But then, I turn around and see The Magazine Basket. Yes indeedy, there does seem to be a problem here, not only in storage. Let's see, I subscribe to:

(1) Mothering (I do so enjoy this one although it makes me feel inadequate as a parent in a whole different way than, say, "Parents Magazine" which is really all about advertising in obvious and not so obvious forms)
(2) Brain, Child (I love love love this one, it makes me feel human as a parent)
(3) Today's Parent (actually, this is pretty good)

(4) Parents (I am letting this one go. #3 is so much better, and is Canadian)
(5) Bust (helps me remember that being a woman can, yes!, be fun)
(6) Bitch (interesting but very uneven)
(7) Canadian Living. (Hey! It's got great recipes! and it's Canadian!)
(8) Harpers (Dan's, really)
(9) Roast (definitely Dan's)
(10) Ottobre (um, I need it for the kids?)
(11) Self (I am letting this one go as it is too "young" for me)
(12) Sew Stylish ("Threads" for beginners, really)
(13) Sunset (house-porn)
(14) Style at Home (Canadian! Although they neglect my favorite decorating style, 'Clutter')
(15) Canadian Gardening (I am letting this one go as I just don't have time for gardening and we are thinking seriously about knocking down the house).
(16) Mother Jones (this is my main source of "news". Believe it).
(17) Consumer Reports (we are big fans)

And then there are the free magazines that come in the Globe&Mail -- Avenue and Western Living. Do they count? Or the ones I buy off the newstand occasionally -- Wondertime? Bon Appetit? Marie Claire? FineHomebuilding? Threads? Do the CFA magazine that come with my membership count?

Down with consumerism, I cry! But then, I turn and look around and the hippocracy of it hits me like a 2x4 in the head. I am such NOT a good role model. I feel myself really fighting against consumerism -- damn it, it feels good to buy something. Not having a t.v. helps, not reading mainstream magazines would help, joining the food co-op helps (ie, not shopping).

Obsessions = consumerism? I guess in an oblique way that is my very own logic. Francis comes by it honestly.