We’ve talked at length about my magazine problem (short version: I love magazines, I tend to subscribe to too many, I can’t read them all and make a dent in the pile of books I need to read), and I thought I was getting a handle on it. After all, I now only get Time Out Chicago (weekly) and Self (monthly). I’ve started buying Rachael Ray here and there, and I may subscribe to that at some point. But for the most part, I don’t get as many magazines.
Until now. Ma Jaracz has once again decided I need a subscription to Better Homes & Gardens, so color me surprised when I opened the mailbox and found out it’s coming again. Now, I didn’t really like the magazine before when I had the gift subscription, mainly because I had neither home nor garden, so a lot of the stuff didn’t apply to me.
Not much has changed. I still have rental-white walls, a 14-year-old futon, and many containers of plants. Although it’s a home, it’s not a well-designed home. We seem to be waiting for “well-designed” to come when we actually have a permanent space.
Sometimes that idea bothers me. I’d like to have a nice couch, matching bookshelves, and some artwork that was perhaps real art instead of a poster in a frame. So, if I want that, maybe I should focus a little more and try to make that happen. Therefore this subscription around, I think I’ll think of it as, (I’d) Better (Get a) Home(s) & Garden. Maybe then each month I’ll see the magazine, and instead of playing another round (or five) of online mah-jongg, I’ll get a few more words written, pitches sent out, and assignments under my belt.
