We went to see the guys from "The Flight of the Conchords" perform last night and--I know this is sacrilege to some but--I got kind of bored. How many purposely bad albeit witty songs can one person take?!? It got me to thinking about humor.
What makes you laugh? Has it changed since you've become a mom??
One of my closest friends and I have diametrically opposed views on humorous books. We joke that if I find something hilarious I should most definitely not recommend it to her; and if something falls flat on me, she might be laughing till she is crying. Why this is, who knows--on so many things we see eye to eye, and we have over 4 years of great (champagne-besotted) memories. But humor. What people find funny. Apparently it exists in a sort of bubble flying separate from much of the rest of our personalities.
Sometimes something makes me laugh and I don't even know why. Sure, funny things my kids say. (Most recently: "Mommy next time you go away on airplane can I fly it?"). But even mainstream things. A certain comedic timing on "30 Rock," or just the way somebody looks at her husband while he is telling a (bad) joke...! But then, I go to see live comedy and sometimes I can't find one thing to laugh at.
On the plane home from visiting my parents in Michigan, I started reading "Sex and Sunsets" by an author who could always make me laugh out loud--Tim Sandlin. And yet, something was falling flat, regardless of the pitch-perfect timing and the wacky personalities. I am still not sure what it was...
What do you guys find funny? Does Sedaris make you laugh so hard you cry, or does he just make you yawn? I'm curious! Who couldn't use more humor in life?
Deepa is a wife, mother, writer and she sometimes masquerades as a lawyer as well. She revels in friendship, humor, champagne, and laughing at herself--often. She never ever reads US Magazine, thinks Rushdie is a genius, wishes she could write one sentence as funny as "Arrested Development," and lives in the Bay Area with her motley crew. She can be reached at deviswithbabies@gmail.com
you're back! yay!!
great topic i don't know why it is so hard to write funnily. but perhaps that is what makes it so wonderful to find new comic talent.
i love sedaris.
nothing will ever be as funny as the daily show.
oh good the "fishing" trip is over, i was getting confused what to read!
If I need a laugh I pick up anything by Tom Robbins, it always works. Sedaris too but not the same.
I don't know if my humor has changed since becoming a mom but I do know that I can enjoy books I would have used to think were sappy and I can't read stuff anymore that is too sad, or at least I don't want to.
While I was reading this I kept thinking about a Carl's Junior or some commercial I saw last night where two women ar drinking milkshake talking about going wild and one woman says something like "let's get an egg...and boil it" Hahaha!
Glad you are back, where did you go fishing???
My sense of humor has most definitely changed post-motherhood. Like the above poster things I used to find cheesy I might find endearing. Things I might have found cliche before (episodes of Friends come to mind) have me rolling in the aisles! Not sure why this is except that almost everyone becomes less "edgy" after they have babies I think.
"Geek Love" is the funniest book I have ever read but shame on me I can't remember who wrote it! (THAT has changed post baby I have the memory of an idiot!)
"Uncle Fred in Springtime". You won't be disappointed!!!!
Um. Yes my sense of humor in terms of books has changed post baby. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ ANY BOOKS ANYMORE!! Are you all serious, you are still reading novels and whatnot? Plesae plesae tell me the secret.
John Stewart
Oldie but oh so goodie: Kurt Vonnegut
I don't find I have time to read as many books at all but I still like to find humor so I like to find short stories. Has anybody read the Girl in the Flammable Skirt? It's fantastic!
The longest thing I have read since I had my 13 month old is an article on babycenter about how to properly introduce solids. I guess that's pretty funny.
YAY
Pick up something by Nick Hornby. Easy style, but deceptively because like everyone is saying it's hard to write humor!
I have to side with the moms who are amazed you other moms are reading books. I wish I did. But I also wish I went out more, had a cleaner house, made a scrapbook.
I'm glad you're back. After I heard about UB jumping ship I thought maybe you were all in cahoots!
you were in michigan?
where? i live in michigan!
I didn't see you... but then again, it's a whole state.
Hi Deepa,
I am sorry if this is not the right place for this but I didn't want to just email you, since I wanted to reach your readers too.
I started reading this blog in the very beginning and was hooked by your down to earth attitude about not only motherhood but, it seems, life in general. When you did the "Man Week" feature I thought you wer ereading my mind. My husband and I had been having trouble for the better part of our 7 year marriage understanding each other and the comments as well as the posts during man week made me see that the issues were not in my head they were clear as day.
My husband and I read every single post together. THen we went into therapy. And now? Now we are getting a divorce. I never would have been able to say this before but this is NOT A BAD THING. We had different expectations, wanted differnt thigns and were turning into horrible horrible people, at least to each other. THe fact that we have a child of course made this more difficult to bear and truthfully it is very hard on our parents. But I cannot tell you how much the honesty and candor and even more than that the inspirational tales and images of good marriages and at least marriages where people were working on things together...I cannot tell you how meaningful that was to me. And for that matter to my husband who would like for me to thank you.
I could go on and on and I know this is a very public thing to do but I am a writer too and I know how sometimes writers are so full of self=loathing and so unsure of why they do what they do so i wanted to thank you. For doing what you do.
Nimi,
Thank you so much for sharing this...
Wishing you all the best for the next chapter...