People... the crack of the magazine world

Okay, a guilty secret. This year I decided to subscribe to People magazine. I have a toddler. I can only read something that requires a short attention span. And People is about as short as it gets. (And you can all stop looking down your damn noses at me because I know that you're reading it too, whether it's in the checkout line at the grocery store or b/c it's the only alternative to Reader's Digest in your dentist's office.)

However, today, as my subscription comes to it's year end, I decided not to renew. For a year, I've read and watched through pictorals about Brittney's baby, (and there's soon to be a second, Irish twin); Kevin Federline's "soon to be released" album; Idol comings and goings and "supposed" scandals; Lindsay Lohan's, Jessica Simpson's and Paris Hilton's party/dating/eating-disorder antics; and of course, Brangelina's and Jennifer/Vince's heart-breaking, home-wrecking romances. In a year, the only thing that evolved in these story lines is the outfits. And sometimes the hair colour.

I came to the conclusion tonight that I've paid for a weekly magazine that's told me the same thing 52 times in a row. Pumped on today's cover was an "exclusive interview" with Jennifer Aniston about her (non) engagement to Vince baby. I know you're in suspense. I'll save you the $5.00 (ish) newstand price. The sum total of what she said was, "We are absolutely not engaged." I figure that the "absolutely" was the exclusive part that the People editors were refering to. And, they managed to get almost a full page of text out of that statement. A riveting story indeed.

The other conclusion I came to today was that I could have bought about 20 large lattes with the money I used for the subscription. a) I have a hard time figuring out which is more worthwhile, but I think the lattes win out, maybe just on calcium value alone. b) I hope my husband doesn't read this blog, b/c I don't think I ever fessed up to the cost of the subscription. (Although I have caught him skimming through the pages on more than one occasion.)

So, although the "renew now at this great low price" offers are starting to rain in, I think I will hold strong. Besides, I'm the mother of a toddler, and I need the caffeine more than I need a mental break.

Mandy

ps. Did you hear that Kate Hudson and her Black Crowes hubby, Chris Robinson, split? And are now back together? Maybe I should renew, just to find out how the story ends.

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