Yesterday afternoon, while topping strawberries, mixing shortcake, and prepping veggies for a giant tossed salad, I listened to several Fresh Air interviews with Terry Gross, one of which was her interview with Hasan Minhaj. The guy was funny, his story sharp, authentic, and raw, so last night after the kids were in bed, I pulled up his newly released show on Netflix. Within minutes, my husband was on the sofa beside me, each of us with one earbud in. I thought we’d maybe watch half of the show, but we ended up sailing right through to the end. Recommended! (Warning: language.) (Bonus: refreshingly not crass.)

Saturday night (or was it Friday?) I forced my husband to sit down on the sofa in our room and watch Manchester by the Sea. Months before, I’d heard Terry Gross’s interview with Casey Affleck and had been itching to see the movie ever since. But I’d read bad reviews, too. People said they hated the ending, cried the whole way through, didn’t think it funny at all, and wished they never watched it. So I was braced. My reaction? I didn’t cry (but there were sad parts), I laughed out loud multiple times, and I loved the ending. Afterwards I just sat there, luxuriating in the fact that I’d just watched two-plus hours of absolute perfection. Enthusiastically—nay, fiercely—recommended!

In other news, I’m finishing up Hillbilly Elegy. I liked it, mostly, but now that I’m nearing the end, I find myself skimming. I didn’t feel it shed that much light on the current political situation. Then again, I spent half of my childhood in West Virginia…

I started Season Two of Master of None, but so far I’m not that impressed. It seems trite. But maybe it gets better?

Oh yeah, and a couple weeks back we watched Hidden Figures for our family movie night and everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, thoroughly enjoyed it. (Another week we watched La La Land. I was not impressed.)

I’m toying with the idea of signing up for Hulu for a month so I can watch This Is Us. Good idea? Bad idea? Have you seen it?

What are you watching and reading these days? Anything so good you feel like screaming it from the rooftops? Or at least the comment section? Do tell!

This same time, years previous: in which we didn’t need the gun, the quotidian (5.25.15), rosa de jamaica tea, deviating from my norm, strawberry shortcake with milk on top.

The other afternoon, soon after my older daughter headed out the door, we heard a piercing shriek followed by some (mild) swearing. A couple seconds later, she flew back in and babbled a full report: Snake! Huge! You gotta come see!

My husband and I dutifully tromped outside. No snake anywhere. (Which was more than a little unnerving.) But then I spotted it slithering through the grass, heading for an evergreen. When it started climbing, we realized it was after a nest of eggs—the mother bird was stress-hopping about the yard—so we intervened. (Because National Geographic we are not.) Thwarted, the snake headed off through the flower bed.


Can I pick it up? My older son had joined us by then.

No! we said. Just leave it alone.

But I know how to do it. I won’t get hurt. Please?

Fine, I said. But if we have to make a trip to the ER, you have to pay us 50 dollars. Deal?

But the best part was when the snake stuck its tail up my son’s shorts (see above) and gave my husband the willies.

And then my son went across the road and tossed the snake into a wooded area, far from our chicken coop.

The end.

This same time, years previous: the quotidian (5.23.16), the basics, more on trash, the reason why, the boring blues, chocolate-kissed chili, Aunt Valerie’s blueberry bars.

This same time, years previous: sauteed lambsquarters with lemon, campfire cooking, Costco reflections, ice cream supper, Shirley’s sugar cookies, the trouble with Mother’s Day, the quotidian (5.21.12), through my daughter’s eyes, caramel cake.