Can I make a confession?

I don't talk about this very often with people that don't know me very well. I mean, my close friends and those who hang out with me a lot know all about this. It makes me embarrased, ashamed, and yet oh so excited... about Tuesday nights. Because...

I frickin' LOVE Real Housewives of Orange County!

And not even that - I've religiously watched ALL of the Real Housewives spin-offs (especially New York; those ladies were fab!) and try to catch the marathons on holiday weekends. I even bonded with a few co-workers today as we discussed what we thought of last week's episode and the possibility of Gretchen hooking up with Tamra's son this week. Seriously, that's how addicted I am.


The funny thing about this show, and the majority of the spin-offs, is that very few of the "housewives" are actually housewives. Some aren't even married, and basically all of them hold full-time jobs. I think that makes them much more relate-able to people like me, though. I'm not married, I don't have kids, and I have a full-time job (that could potentially be a career). Yet, at the same time, I really do consider myself to be all about the family. And even though it is reality television and they do get painted as certain "characters" through editing, it's nice to see women being successful as mothers, wives, and career-women all at the same time. Basically, I use the hour on Tuesday nights to pretend that this is a life-style I can live at some point in the near future without having to sacrifice a family life.

I also spend a lot of time (while I'm watching the show) thinking about which housewives I'm most like. I think the most like these two:

Vicki is (probably edited to be) a little more neurotic and anal than I am, but I can definitely understand her desire to having things organized and by-the-book because I'm the same way. And I'd have to say, of all 3 iterations of the show that have been broadcast so far, Bethenny from the New York version is the most grounded and independent and, therefore, relate-able. She and I share the facts that we're both career women, not married and without kids, and determined to not compromise ourselves while still having it all.

Plus, I can always dream that someday I'll be in the "position" to be a housewife, can't I? :D