Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Boob Tube Shows Shows

The harsh winter has kept the Nitmos clan inside much of the last few weeks. As such, I’ve added a little winter padding to my normally stretchy band chiseled torso. Also, it has allowed us time to sit uninterrupted in front of the boob tube and not feel guilty about it whatsoever. Normally, we sit uninterrupted in front of it feeling mildly guilty.

My daughter has taken to Run, Fatboy, Run. Yes, we let our 7 year old children watch PG-13 rated movies. Usually, they hear daddy Nitmos using similar language around them so they barely bat an eye when a movie character tells another to F&*% Off! After all, daddy tells other drivers to do that all the time. Or, when his TV football players aren’t moving to the right spot on the field, he insults their manhood and suggests that they’d make terrific jailhouse prags. And my favorite pro football team is the Detroit Lions (0-16) and, college, the Michigan Wolverines (3-9) so you can get a sense of how the fall went around my place. I’ve invented a few new profane words I hope to get into the next Webster’s edition. I’m not going to tell you what a shitspicket is. Or a garglefart. You’ll have to wait for the next Webster’s.

We’ve seen Run, Fatboy, Run about three times in the last week. Boy do the kids laugh when the main character, Dennis, suffers scrotal rash after his first run and decides to relieve the itch on a clothing store mannequin’s hand. Good times, good times.

I’m expecting a call from the principal’s office any time now.

Besides the silly humor of Fatboy, my family does not seem to have the desire to watch other running related shows or documentaries. That’s odd. You’d think they’d want to watch video of people running for hours on end. I taped a documentary called Running the Sahara about three guys who ran 4300 miles in 111 days across Africa to reach the Red Sea. I watched it alone. I guess no one wanted to watch because they didn’t molest any department store mannequins.

If you get a chance, the documentary was fairly interesting. Not really interesting but certainly captivating to see these guys take on sandstorms, 140 degree temperatures and re-route on the fly to avoid African political turmoil. It’s worth a look. The feature focused quite a bit on the interpersonal relationship side of the runners and their crew. As a runner, I would have liked to see more of the detailed, technical aspect of their nutrition, pacing, and hydration but I understand they probably wanted to open this up to a wider audience. And I’m a running geek.

There is one line in it that I found hilarious though. At one point, one of the runners is thinking about leaving the expedition. Charlie Engle, the lead musher, challenges this runner by saying:

“If you don’t want excitement, go run a marathon!”


Ha. Perspective, I guess. To me, marathons are exciting. But, I guess, when you run across a continent in a harsh climate, comparatively, it’s not.

The forecast around these parts indicates we’ll be watching more shows in the days ahead. Unless I want to watch running movies alone, I guess I’ll choose the ones that involve foul language and pus spewing blisters.

Or, at the very least, I can rub up against Mrs. Nitmos whenever a rash develops.

Happy trails.

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Congratulations to the three PR setting P.F. Changer’s this weekend: Vanilla, RazZ, And Kristina.

And congratulations to Nic on an indoor PR and feeling like a spinning top.

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Seven hard outdoor miles on Sunday at a slippery, slushy pace. Someone PLEASE tell the road commission to plow the sidewalks AFTER they plow the roads. Honestly. Common sense.

21 comments:

nwgdc said...

I loved that movie, too, and had forgotten about the crotchal scratching...hilarious!

Amen to the Road Commission shout-out too.

Marcy said...

What channel was that docu on? Probably one that Mr McG is too cheap to buy. Damn him! I have to go call our cable company now . .

Velma said...

I love that they plow the sidewalks in Okemos. When i lived in Ann Arbor you always had to hope that people shoveled (and they never did). I hope you have some Yak Trax. I admire you for getting out there!

Tall Girl Running said...

When I was kid, my dad made up his own swear words too. His most infamous one I now use as my password for just about anything I do online that requires one. Ahhh, good memories.

Marlene said...

I keep hearing about that documentary. I should see if I can find it on the boob. It will probably make me feel like a wuss, though. I like to think I'm about as hardcore as they come for running a marathon. Heh.

Anonymous said...

Wish I was allowed to watch PG-13 movies. For now I'll just read your blog.

Vava said...

Rather than watching TV, wouldn't you rather be searching for a lost llama??? I'm thinking it's in Washington for this not only a great day for humans, but for llamas everywhere...

Anonymous said...

My fav running quote is from ultraruner bad ass Pam Reed who said something to the effect that she loves it when she gets to mile 75 in a 100 miler since she has less than a marathon to go, and she knows if she can get that far finishing the marathon will be no problem.

B. Kramer said...

Whoa, they plow the sidewalks there? I understand that the sidewalk-road plowing order leaves something to be desired, but it's the thought that counts.

RunToTheFinish said...

havne't gotten to see either show, but they are both on my list!

Jess said...

Do they really plow the sidewalks??

Maggs said...

I have that documentary from Netflix and keep meaning to watch it, but I get sucked into mindless TV instead. I need to cut the cable into my house or call the cable company and tell them I'm getting free cable so they'll disconnect it or make me pay for it...which I won't do.

Unknown said...

That is a GREAT movie! So proud of you for letting the kids enjoy it.

Ms. V. said...

Fatboy is hilarious.

Unknown said...

If you are able to gain submission into Webster with your ramblings, perhaps my dad's fustercluck has a shot...

Kevin said...

I love the movie (fatboy).

Man you really did have a rough football season

Sun Runner said...

I felt the same way about the documentary; I wanted all the geeky technical details like how many pairs of shoes they went through.

C said...

I'm so behind. Still haven't seen Run Fatboy Run.

As for the Sahara...I got a brochure from my marathon expo about a 100 mile race through the Sahara. My sister keeps urging me to do it. I think she's taken a life insurance policy out on me and hasn't told me yet...

Al's CL Reviews said...

Ouch on your football season.

Thanks for the movie reviews. I'll check out Run Fatboy Run.

Mike G said...

Your favorite NFL team is the Detroit Lions?! Dude, you do have some patience - when was their last winning season, back when Bjorn Nittmo was in his prime?

sRod said...

Wait, so Mrs. Nitmos is a mannequin? Explains how you get away with so much. But does raise questions as to where the children came from.