Golden Globes

Sarah was very excited. The Golden Globes were going to be on TV. They were actually on live the other morning at 6:30. She even got up early and caught a few minutes before we had to catch a bus and then another bus which would keep us bouncing in our seats across the Indian desert for eight hours.

"You know what's great?" she asked sometime during the third hour.

"What?"

"I get to watch the Golden Globes tonight."

I pointed out that since we've been out of the pop culture loop for the past eight months, she wouldn't know the movies they were awarding. She said she didn't care. For her, it wasn't about who won, but a chance to look at pretty dresses, be catty about so and so's hair, and confirm once again that Meryl Streep is fabulous.

We agreed to stay in the first hotel we looked at. Reasonable rates, hot water, and cable TV. I went to the desk to fill out the paperwork and returned to the room a few minutes later to a panicky wife. She couldn't find Star World, the channel airing the Globes. Now, Star World is a staple in the Indian cable TV world. In every hotel we've stayed in India, Star World has been there. But this time, she can't find it.

"I'm sure it's there," I said.

"I've been through it twice, and it's not." She was holding the remote out in front of her with two hands like a loaded gun. Her voice was shaky.

She flipped through a few more channels and then went down to ask the front desk. I stood in the room waiting, trying not to disturb anything and thinking about how great it would feel to take a shower.

A few minutes later she comes back, flops down on the bed and tells me the guy at the desk is, "calling people."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know," she said, frustrated. "I was just really looking forward to watching them. It was keeping me going all day."

We sat there. Then I said the thing I didn't want to say. "Do you want to change hotels?"

"I don't know. I know you'll think it's stupid. I mean... I don't know."

"All right. I'll go see."

Down at the front desk I explained to a nice older man that there was a certain TV network which my wife really wanted - no, needed - to see but we couldn't find it on the set in our room.

"Come, come." he said. We went into another room. There, the front desk guy and I watched as a bellboy went through all ninety three channels.

"I've already tried this," I tried to say.

"It's Okay. Okay."

They kept going anyway. About this time, I thought I heard my wife scream in our room down the hall. I peeked my head out and looked down the hall, but it was empty.

The channels zapped by. Every few seconds I kept seeing quick clips of the show, now long over. News shows were now showing the winners take the stage. It took me just two fly-bys of BBC to learn who won best actress and best supporting.

"I don't think it's here guys."

"Okay okay."

Back at the room, Sarah was sitting on the edge of the bed, flipping channels. Still hoping.

"Any luck?" I asked.

"No."

"Did you scream earlier?"

"Yea. I opened the window and two pigeons flew in here."

I scanned the room. Didn't see any pigeons.

I told her I'd go look for another place. She said no, she'd go, but I had already left.

Back at the desk, I told the guy I was very sorry, but I was going to look for another hotel that was showing the Golden Globes. He just looked at me. So did the bell boy.

"Are you married?" I asked him.

"Yes."

"Then you understand."

The first place I went to was full. I found this out after waiting behind an angry Frenchman at the front desk. He was babbling something about room tax.

The second place had rooms.

"You have cable TV?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a channel called Star World?"

He grabbed a remote and started flipping channels on the TV in the waiting room. Again, I watched them roll by. Me, the new front desk guy and yet another silent bell boy just hanging out, seeing what's on the tube.

"See, my wife... " I started to explain. How to even start? The hell with it. Let them think I was crazy.

We started getting into the high channels and still no Star World. It wasn't looking good. I was thinking about how to break the news. There would be no Golden Globes this year. Then somewhere in the sixties, there it was.

"Wait! Go back."

Yep. We were saved.

Now at our new hotel, TV on, me fresh from a long hot shower.

"Thank you honey," she said.

"No problem."

-Brendan

Comments

Oh, that's so funny! Sarah, I was thinking of you last night while my wife and I watched the awards because I remembered reading your blog a year ago aobut how you loved awards shows. :) Glad to hear you got to watch at least some of it.

John

The things we do for love... :)

Actually for me this is not funny at all. Poor Brendan with such an annoying wife....Does she actually enjoy traveling? Who gives a shit about the Golden Globes and dresses when you are in the middle of India? I really admire Brendan's patience!!!!! Hey Pal my advice: start thinking on your future life, this is just the honeymoon, imagine the rest... I can tell!!!

OMG Brendan is so sweet!! :)

Oh come on D.B...Brendan did that for Sarah cos he loves her and I'm sure he felt it was all worth it when she said "thank you honey".

=) Lynn

What the Helllll? I totally agree with DB. This may be the most unhappy newlywed couple I have ever heard from. Instead of watching the Golden Globes, couldn't Sarah have jumped in the shower with him?

All Brendan got was a "thank you" !!!
How about "really" thank him Sarah by giving him what a man really wants.

The only possibility is that perhaps Brendan is gay and this marriage is really a sham. Is that possible? Rock Hudson was gay, and he was married.

Dude, I got your back and all, but DB is right....

I totally agree with D.B, the problem here is not Brendan's love for Sarah, the problem is her superficial attitude..For god's sake they're traveling and she's always such a pain...poor guy, I bet he didn't feel it was all worth it when she said "thank you honey", he was just about to kill her...otherwise why is he writing this "stupid" story if there are 1000 others more interesting to write and read about?

I think Brendan is being a good husband. I would hope the person who loves you the most would do something like for you, even if it did not matter to them. That's what being married is all about.

8 months ago this couple wrote:
"Is their big adventure a recipe for matrimonial success, or will they want to kill one another before their first anniversary? The Morans are having one hell of a good time finding out!"
Brendan: I guess you already found the answer don't you??? What a pain in the ass!!!!!!, are you really having fun and enjoying your honeymoon?

I think I agree with everything you guys are writing, but isn't the bigger problem that Sarah thinks that Meryl Streep is fabulous....what an annoying windbag

Um, enough with the hostility, people! Sarah was looking forward to soemthing that was important to her (which you don't need to judge). Have YOU ever spent months and months away from home? I have, and understand completely how important something 'trivial' in your life at home seems when you're away. Brendan is great, no question, and he deserves appreciation. He did what a great husband does: put his wife's needs and desires first, made her happy, and supported her. I'm sure that Sarah reciprocates! That's what marriage is all about. All of you who think that a woman has to 'pay' with her body for a nice gesture by her husband have serious issues.

Sarah is so like my many wives...prostitutes are cheaper.

How dare all of you! Brendan and Sarah, please disregard those posting, because they are all jealous. I think that it is sweet that Branden does anything that his wife asks him to, regardless of how ridiculous the request was. And even if you are gay, I do not care. Your my favorite blog.

I find it interesting how so many seem to have such a problem with Sarah's "trivialities" and watching the Globes....but I'd wager a safe bet that if Brandon had done the same over the World Series or Super Bowl the tide would change. Sarah attempted to find another hotel herself, and Brandon stopped her, this to me is just the type of give and take a marriage is made of. And as for them enjoying their honeymoon, I don't know anyone who could spend 24 hours a day in foreign countries with the same person every single day and handle it better than these two have. Hang in there, guys, I think you have a great relationship and should enjoy, cherish, and love one another for as long as you can.

MWAHAHAHAHA! Nothing stands in the way of love other than full-cash payout...

What a sweet thing to do, Brendan. It's usually this type of gesture that means the most to wives. Happy honeymooning.

I thoroughly enjoyed this entry--I'm currently studying abroad in Italy, and was pretty bummed to realize I was going to miss the Globes. Looking through all the pictures on People.com the next day was something, but it just wasn't the same. I'm glad you came through for her :)

(And P.S., I have no idea where some of these mean-spirited comments are coming from on here...but I hope you're ignoring them...people spend their time on the internet in very strange ways sometimes)

My first year living in Latin America, I was really happy to find out that I had somehow ended up with a channel on my DirecTV that was broadcasting the Superbowl. I invited a bunch of American friends over so we could watch not the game, but the commercials. Little did we know that they didn't broadcast the commercials overseas. Just the stupid game. I was crushed, and can definitely feel for Sarah. Stop being hard on her, people. Until you've lived far from home and know what it's like to be without those little comforts in life, you have no business putting her down.

This is something I would totally do and Brendan's reaction is what my husband would do, too. Even in our comfy suburban home when we haven't been living out of backpacks for months. So maybe that makes me really demanding, but I sympathize with Sarah when she was faced with the prospect of not having what she was really looking forward to all day, even if it seems shallow to other people because it's not their thing. Way to be, Brendan. Way to be.

Wow that's weird how this has sparked such a rift between readers. yikes

That was a lovely and sweet thing you did, Brendan! Don't know how many guys would actually go through the trouble - very proud of ya. :)

Yes, this is the kind of thing great marriages are all about. Its the little things that matter most. Yes Sarah might even be a little on the high maintenance side but, brendan chose here and these are the things you do for someone you love.

I don't know what you are talking about though this vacation together being tough. If I was traveling the world I'd want my wife with me the entire time and nobody else. She's my best friend in the world and I'd have a miserable time if she wasn't there with me.

Cheers guys keep enjoying. You lucky bastards!

It's not really a rift between readers, there's been some people lately reading this blog and expecting posts about sexual exploits. It makes me wonder if they are really married, because while sex is important in a marriage, what happens when you're NOT having sex is far more important. Most of married life is learning how to give and take in the relationship, how to keep both parties happy while meeting everyones needs. And that means sometimes you have to be demanding or supportive because you love the person you are with.

So, good for you Brendan for trying to make Sarah happy. And people who aren't getting what they want from this blog, should know by now that it's time for them to stop reading and move on. There are plenty of places online for them to find what they are looking for...

I could care less whether Brendan is gay or whether Sarah finally puts out...

I more concerned with the content of the blog....its really dull. Who cares whether Sarah watched the Golden Globes? If you do care, why? Why would you care whether a complete stranger watched the Golden Globes or 24 or picked her nose?

People are retarded. The continuous comments saying about how he shouldn't have done that are all by the same people. Don't respond to them. Don't give him the attention he wants.
Brendan, that was a very nice thing to do. Good job being a good husband.

Oh, I'm definitely a guy and I've been happily married for over 15 years with two great kids. I know what it takes to make a marriage work, especially since my marriage has outlasted the 5 different marriages my parents have had.

Brendan is living the life he wants. No one can ask for more than that. This blog is NOT about their sex lives, it's about their relationship. Find another part of the internet if you want to read about people's sex lives.

And if you find the blog boring, read something else. No one is forced to read it. Plenty of us enjoy reading about their exploits and don't find it boring at all. To each his own...

JCSilk4:I really need to know why you care if Sarah saw the Golden Globes. Please tell me.

And once again, I could care less about whether they have sex or don't....completely irrelevent to me. Instead, I want to know why you are interested in the lives of people that you do not even know (and don't even say you "know" because you read their blog).

I can't believe some of the people on here. The anonymity of the internet really brings out the worst in some people. I'm sure you guys will be able to disregard the losers that are posting on here since you are probably used to that kind of thing with the whole TSS thing. But I am still embarrased for mankind, and hope you continue to share with us your journey around the world.

Sure Caroline, I can explain it. I care because back when Sarah and Brendan were on Attack of the Show (when I watched it before they got married), Sarah wrote what I thought was a hilarious post in her old blog about sitting and watching awards shows. I just thought it was really funny. So, when I was watching the Golden Globes the other night, I remembered that post and I was wondering if she managed to catch the show. That's it. I have a good memory...

John,
Stop being such a douche. Your posts are by far the most annoying thing about these blogs. (Oh, how I wish they would turn the comments off...)

Brendan is sooooooo sweet! u're lucky my dear sarah.

I just re-read the posts, and you know what....I am a douche.

Honestly, I've been wondering why they're there for so long as well. Anyway other than that I doubt they're having any problems. Whatever happens in their sex lives aren't any of our business and there's many other ways in which Sarah can repay Brendan for what he did.

Caroline,
If u don't care about Brendan and Sarah why don't you just go do something else instead of reading their blog?

This has gone from a blog to a blah-g. Or at least the comments have.

Dasachel--You did not answer my question. Why do you care about Sarah and Brendan? Here's another question: why do Sarah and Brendan feel compelled to post their martial problems/bliss (depending on your point of view) to the entire world?

Oh man! I can't believe so many people are being very critical on here. Guys do a LOT of things that could be considered "high-maintenence" too - like play videogames for 6 hours straight, for example. Yeah, wives are just there to have sex with their husbands 24/7! Yeah right. Get real, people, and stop criticizing people you don't even know when you probably do things that are very similar. Maybe if more guys were sweet and thoughtful like Brendan, they would end up with sweet, thoughtful wives themselves!!! Geez.

Angela: Your man is playing video games for 6 hours straight! How old is he? 15. I think you need to take control of your man.

Did anyone hear the rumor that Sarah is pregnant and this is the reason that they have not moved from India? It would also explain the reason that she is ordering Branden around like a love sick puppy dog. PLEASE CONFIRM OR DENY. I cannot be the only one who has heard this.

I just heard the same thing from one of my friends. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

That post a couple lines up was not me. As you can see, the people are a little slow and cannot spell the name right. If you're going to try and impersonate. DO IT RIGHT!

The same person keeps posting these stupid entries. They have no life and prolly live with their mother. (Doony Dog, for example.)

Wow, people, I don't think the content here is worth much either but sheesh, stop acting like idiots.

dont criticize them please........ i repeat my statement...Brendan is sooooo sweet. keep it up Brendan. I love you(both)

The next person to suggest that Brendan is gay has to answer to me....

Shut Up, Clay

great so far. whats next. am waiting for brandans next sweet thing.

call me crazy but umm, isnt ivillage a women's site? it's great that guys are reading this blog as well but as for the immature ones who act like kids.. well i think it's time they find another site to visit!

ummm... the uncalled for remarks are unnessary.... I've traveled extensively for long periods of time, and very silly things are like a little dose of home to get you through...especially when your in extremely foreign areas of the world... and what do you expect them to write about... there sexual exploits...dear god..grow up...

I don't think there's anything wrong with them wanting to see what's going on back in the US. Maybe they are tired after 9 months of traveling, and just need a break. Maybe watching the Golden Globes will make Sarah feel a little closer to home. There's no harm in that.

How many of us have gone on a trip to a favorite destination, and haven't really felt right until we were able to connect with someone back home?

I think it's awesome that they are still speaking after traveling together for this long. DH and I don't like to be away from home for more than a week. I just crave a routine too much.

So good luck on your journey, and keep writing!