not a really moment of levity
no pictures this week
I was debating sending something out on Tuesday, as so many of us were waiting with bated breath … to see what the 2020 US Elections would start to shed light on … and here we are on Thursday, 48 hours later still refreshing, and checking the counts, and figuring out the different paths to victory, and learning what percentages and probabilities and past histories of districts and looking at how other distracts’ demographics have been shifting and this is a huge run-on sentence that is really only the beginning of what’s going on in most of our heads. If you’re like me (read: a racialized person in North America) you’re not surprised at the close race and what the exit polls say about the demographics of who voted—yes, disappointed and many other feelings, but not at all surprised. If you think in those terms … well, I ask you to really reflect on all your listening and learning and unlearning from this past year, and actively explore what white supremacy means in this context. This is coming from someone who is already in a messed up but “better” country like Canada, and is not Black nor Indigenous nor dark-skinned, and has the myth of the model minority following her around. From someone whose own larger “ethnic demographic” has its own oppression under white supremacy and has to do a lot of work, too.
Why do I care? From here? Because politics is personal. Who people vote for matter. While the electoral college and voting for a president is so bizarre to me, this whole thing highlights how easily people will only look out for themselves, and don’t actually care about those in their community, the people with whom they have to share this dying Earth. How the US of A is governed has repercussions here in my home country of Canada. Our countries are so intrinsically tied together that we cannot afford to not care. Whatever happens below the border affects us up here, in so many ways other than trade. So, yes, this has been stressful for so many of us. I keep trying to be aware and I have so much compassion for folks who have to deal with the realities and direct impact of this election. Love you.
I keep thinking I’m going to use the phrase “a moment of levity” but it sticks out in my mind, and doesn’t land. So, there. I used it. Mostly as a diversion to lighter things because this is how I tend to veer when I need a break. I know some friends who love horror films, and mystery and thriller. PLEASE JUST LET ME HAVE MY LIGHTHEARTED SAPPY DELIGHT.
Holidate.
Oh, Holidate.
To be honest, I was expecting it to be worse but in a good way? It definitely served its purpose of being a slightly “edgy” holiday romance movie, but I thought it was lacking. Lacking that oomph or extra cheese or extra raunch. Just … lacking something. I was way more invested in and excited about Kristin Chenoweth’s storyline with the young neighbour doctor. That was something to root for! I guess I just wanted more buy-in to them plausibly ending up together or even the whole premise making sense. Not that romantic comedies have to be realistic but like, truly do they only see each other on holidays and only communicate then? It’s hard for me to believe they’d actually end up together in this way. With so little communication in between. It doesn’t help that Emma Roberts forever looks like she’s in her early- to mid-20s. She looks like a doll. Sorta like Lily Collins.
Speaking of which, I finished Emily in Paris, and that show, on the other hand, was the right about of bad that was needed during this month. Spacing out two episodes each over five weeks? Genius move. I could savour in its awfulness, and all the basic clichés it presented about both Parisians and Americans. Lily Collins does a good bad French accent. The people are good looking. As much as the show wants us to root for Emily and Gabriel (who, inevitably, are made for each other), I’d much rather see more of Camille and Mindy and Sylvie. I want more of this Darren Star production, in all its ringarde.
Give me more caricatures to delight in. I want to escape in the predictable but also exaggerated, but please tie it off with a bow and happy ending.
Other things I’ve been thinking about, in no particular order other than the first slot:
comfort food
how I love the idea of puzzles, but how I also don’t want to spend the time sorting the pieces first
I should take more bats (I’m leaving this in, but I did not mean to type bats but I really don’t remember what it was supposed to me)
knitting is so soothing but how do I choose between reading and knitting and TV and baking and cooking and doing noting
I used to hoard pretty tea towels but now all I use are white flour sack towels
crème brûlée is a fave dessert and I miss Paris
these Nevada counting memes are nice reprieve
probiotics (and prebiotics) and digestion and vitamins and when will I miss a day
my 2020 Reading Challenge and I’m being totally forgiving of myself for not reaching my goal, but hey I’m doing pretty okay considering
I have to go to the post office to mail off things that have been ready for weeks
I was doing so well with my plants, then I just forgot to water them last month
Books
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
The Comeback by Ella Berman
Watching
Holidate – Netflix
Gilmore Girls – Season 1, Netflix
Recipes
How To Make Creme Brûlée – The Kitchn
French Onion Macaroni and Cheese – NYT Cooking (paywall; email me if you want)
Articles
Why Does Netflix Hate Chicago? – Vulture
I Was Excited For Holidate to Be a Fun Holiday Rom-Com — Boy, Was I in For a Bad Time – Popsugar
Election Distractor – New York Times