I'm just going to glance over today's rerun. Once again, I do like that Dr. Oz introduced eastern medicine, in the form of acupuncture, to Oprah's audience. While I have experience with traditional Chinese medicine (as a result of my neverending search for pain management techniques), I'm guessing due to all the giggles, gasps and winces from Oprah and her audience, it was new to them. So, fab. Personally, I would have liked a deeper explanation of why and how acupuncture works, but I am pleased that at least a seed was planted.
Dr. Oz did his usual, charming, metaphor-filled explanation of our "embarrassing" health issues. There was much silliness to be had by all, especially when Oprah started throwing the word "vajayjay" around. Have you noticed when Dr. Christiane Northrup is a guest, there isn't uncomfortable giggling like there is with Oz?
So, moving onto more important issues...I received my "Oprah's Spirit Newsletter" today via email. I was surprised to learn that there are "Five Friends Every Woman Should Have." In all honesty, I starting laughing when I read this. I adore my friends with all my heart. They're very dear to me and I've never once thought of classifying or categorizing them. BUT I HAVE NOW. I found out, out of the 5 friend varieties, I'm missing two. MISERY! WOE! First, I have no "The Travel Buddy"...for the past 6 years, my husband has been my companion on trips. I'm not one who loves traveling with others, but when I hit the road, I go with Jim. Second, I don't have "The Girl Who Just Wants to Have Fun" friend. I'm 35. I'm self-employed. I am an artist and a wife and an all-around busy gal. I might throw myself into traffic if I introduce a Super Fun Friend into my life. I go to bed at 10pm, afterall. The last time I had a woman like this in my world, I was stumbling home, tipsy, from a party in college. But, I did open this email and it DOES use very strong language, indicating direction from the desk of Oprah Winfrey. I guess I have to start recruiting pals.
The email also directed us to "Take the friendship quiz." So, I took this test with my friend, Grace, in mind. Hi Grace! Surprise! I'm going to tell anyone who'll read this post what Oprah/Martha Beck think about our friendship. Relax, relax...the highly scientific test says we're fabulous. We've got a balanced friendship. We're allowed to continue our relationship, I guess. Now, if you could just whip up the energy to be sassy and spontaneous with me, you could do double duty as my "The Girl Who Just Wants to Have Fun" friend. We could laugh, talk about our vajayjays and act like wildcats until the early morning hours.
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Oh - quick addendum - I got an assignment on the show today. After telling us to tune in and listen to Dr. Oz, Oprah said, "Go get your XM radio." I've lucked out so far and have gotten away with listening to a friend's satellite radio, when Oprah asks us to listen to one of her experts' shows. Now, I'll have to shell out the bucks for my own service. Sigh...(Why isn't there a sixth category of friend: "The Independently Wealthy Woman Who Buys XM Radio For All Her Friends.")
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
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11 comments:
Good God! Five friend every woman should have, eh? I'm a little insulted by that article and the idea behind it. Talk about labeling people, stereotyping, and not being happy with what you have. And I resent the word "should" coming from Oprah with regards to friends. I would never categorize any of my friends! This is absurd!
Sorry to rant...
Were you planning to blog about the September issue of Oprah's magazine?
I was surprised today {I tuned in just because of this blog!} at the way Oprah looked at the audience with big eyes as Oz explained how we were made of energy. I don't recall exactly what she said but it was if she said exactly what he said, as if she needed to translate his words for the audience. I haven't watched Oprah for a long time, so maybe this is SOP, but it seemed a little silly, as did the vjayjay talk you already mentioned.
wandering coyote, yup. weird, huh?
jean, i will...there was so much to say today, i'll do it on a slighly slower day. i'll tell you one thing...the issue is certainly is a design for living. they did all the "work" for us in many aspects of a womans life...we don't have to do anything but follow their rules, if we want. did you have thoughts about it? and...she definitely does the translation thing quite a bit. good call.
best,
LO
Actually I haven't bought the magazine for awhile either! {But probably more recently than I've watched the show.} So I don't have anything to say about this particular issue, however, your comments spark an interest to find out how the issue is a "design for living." Did you subscribe for the year or are you buying it issue by issue?
Maybe he couldn't explain how acupuncture "works" because it doesn't? I don't know of any studies that show it as being any more effective than placebo.
Similarly, beware Chinese "medicine". It hasn't been through the same trials and quality controls that Western medicine has.
Finally, beware any mention of "we're all made of energy" in a health context. It's a short step to crystals and homeopathy.
I didn't see this show, but I have to admit that the impression I get from reading your experience makes me feel that Oprah doesn't have a very high opinion of her audience's intelligence. How could she possibly believe that all women need the same five kinds of friends? How many in the audience are re-evaluating their friendships in this light, and tossing some people overboard to make room for better candidates? I hope not many.
I don't watch Oprah anymore because I became uncomfortable with her new guru pose, but now I see I wasn't aware of the half of it.
alright, I gotta say I agree in theory with the "five friends" you should have. You should have a friend that supports you with all of her heart (the uplifter), a friend that's fun to travel with, and I think a huband counts,(travel buddy), a friend that tells us in a constructive way to quit wearing that white jump suit or in a not so quiet way to pull our head out of our ass (truth teller), a friend that we can be silly with, not necesssarily party all night with, (just wanna have fun), and a friend that is perhaps outside our usual circle because that's both eye-opening and soul expanding.
I have some friends that fit each of these categories. It's good to evaluate your friendships from time to time to make sure you're not in a toxic relationshop. If I'm not careful I will surround myslef with fren-emies in the blink of an eye because my self-loathing attracts people that feel better about themselves when putting me down.
Just saying, I don't think it's the worts thing I've ever seen....now, the New Kids On The Block's performance on The View...that's ridiculous.
Oh, LO, you have me rolling! I'm picturing you and a friend highlighting your hair together (maybe even adding some pink streaks!), skipping down the street a la Cindy Lauper in the video for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and throwing around the word "vajayjay" just for funsies, all the while throwing caution to the wind. Sorry--- I just have the video montage of stock "funny, carefree girl" footage from movies/music videos I've seen, and I can't help but laugh at all the funniness that it inspires (at least inside my brain)! I hope you have a great time with that--I think you need to post your own spoof of the "girls cutting loose" video montage! That would be a riot! :) haha
I think Oprah and the girls may have a bit of a crush on Dr. Oz, thus the blushing and giggling and "vajayjaying" haha. :) Plus, everyone "Whooooos!" when Dr. Oz shows up in street clothes instead of med scrubs on the show. I think Oprah should have a giant slumber party episode, where the girls all get together and call Dr. Oz-and Nate-and then hang up, giggling when they answer!
I can't stop giggling now...This whole thread has made me giddy.
LO, I think your hubby counts just fine as your traveling friend. Can he be quiet and a little mischievious? If so, you need look no further. I'd like to be your girlfriend who likes to have fun. :>) I don't party all night, but I'll spend 45 minutes going throught the lipgloss section of a drug store, or go out for virgin daiquiris and girl talk. But I bet some of your other friends would do that, too. And besides, I live in California; unless you're as wealthy as O, we can't afford to hang. :>P
Maybe they mean friends one should have over the course of one's lifetime because that would make more sense.
And where is the shopping friend? Or the shared life experience friend (the one who got married or had a baby when you did)? Or the old friend you only see at reunions? Or the virtual friend from another country? Or the guy friend (ya gotta have a guy who was just a friend at least once).
I am thinking this is a very limited view of the friendscape.
I'm one of those people who are neat and order freaks. Hence, I have 'categorised' my friends based on what our relationship is. I have a friend, I met at uni, she's my all round friend, we were really close until she moved to another city but we're still really close. We text each other atleast 10 times a day, we tell each other everything, i'll text her just to say that i've seen the cutest shoes or the hottest guy since Clooney.
While, I have other friends who I only have specific things in common with that I would never even think to tell them about the cute shoes or the hot guy.
I wonder how my friends see me. I like to think of myself as a loyal friend who would climb mountains for them, someone they can count on for anything, I'm terribly honest, so I like to think that my friends count me as the no bulls**% one who will cut to the chase.
All in all, if you can count 5 real, genuine friends,regardless of the roles they play in your life, then you're more blessed than most.
T
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