A laugh
How do you feel about Pringles?
Wayne called me over to his office (these are COVID times, so that means walking about five feet to the other room) on Friday to watch comedian Lewis Black’s Rantcast about Pringles. (This is relevant because Wayne and I have spent quite a few late afternoons during the pandemic on our “catio” having refreshments. I like something salty with my apple cider (or whatever), so Pringles has been a go-to for me.)
NOTE: Very NSFW
Highlight: “Never have I said ‘Gee I wish it was [BLEEEEEEP] harder to eat these chips'”
Saying “hi”
I’ve been making up for lost time as a “Hamilton” fan since I finally saw the Disney+ broadcast in July.
“Making up for lost time” means listening to the soundtrack for the first mile of my walk every morning, reading the Ron Chernow biography that inspired the musical and watching five-minute segments on my phone whenever I can.
At the 3:19 mark in this cast recording of “Take a Break,” Alexander Hamilton says “hi” to his sister-in-law, Angelica, who has just arrived back in the states from England.
The musical takes a few liberties with the truth. In the musical, Angelica Schuyler is single when she (along with her sister, Eliza) meets Hamilton. Hamilton marries Eliza, but there is a fairly clear attraction to Angelica. Angelica (in the musical) says she can’t afford to marry someone who isn’t rich, no matter their appeal.
(In real life, Angelica was already married to John Barker Church when she met Alexander Hamilton.)
Real life or fiction, it appears there was a deep connection between Angelica Schuyler Church and Alexander Hamilton.
Biographer Ron Chernow says, “I think that if Angelica had been single at the time that Hamilton met the Schuyler sisters, there’s a good chance he would have married her instead. Angelica was more intellectual and, from the pictures, probably more alluring than Eliza was.”
I would be a really awful poker player; I don’t hide my emotions well in matters of the heart. To me, that “hi” expresses so much emotion and maybe a sense of lost opportunity (?). All I know is it gets me every time.
Highlight: “Hi.”
What does a kiss mean midmarriage?
I’ve watched more television during the pandemic than I probably have watched in the last 10 years. Wayne and I are currently working our way through “The Crown.” I’m thoroughly enjoying this show, and I find the key to enjoying it is remembering that it is a fictionalized account of the royal family’s life.
THAT SAID, it would be nice if the last five minutes of Season 3, Episode 5 reflected real life, not fiction (and of course I’ll never know!).
In the scene, Queen Elizabeth has just returned from a trip to the US and France on equestrian business, accompanied by a man who she is extremely close to — probably one of the true friends she has who don’t want something from her due to her role.
Prince Philip walks in to find Queen Elizabeth in her office (I guess she didn’t find him to say “hello” when she got home?). The exchange is very bristly, and I turned to Wayne and said, “they need marriage counseling.”
BUT the next moment after all of the bristliness turns things around with a kiss between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, along with a bit of a marital reprieve.
This episode appears to be set around 1968, so around 21 years into this marriage. I’ve been married 28 years, and I can empathize with how differently two people grow over the course of time. And my marriage doesn’t have any of the pressure the royals face!
Even though this is fictional, it gave me a moment of hope that the scene didn’t end with even more distance between these two (physical and emotional). (The Season 3 trailer is below.)
Highlight: I’ll see you in a minute.
David and Patrick
Like the moment I shared above, which occurs in the last five minutes of an episode, so does my favorite interaction in Schitt’s Creek. The last five minutes of Season 3, Episode 13, have the first kiss between characters David and Patrick.
It’s difficult to explain much of the leadup to this scene without giving everything away. It is about coming out. It’s also about a kiss. However, like the scene in “The Crown” that I loved, it’s about so much more than a kiss. It’s a lovely, intimate moment, full of promise.
Highlight: “We can talk whenever you’d like”
(I’d put a GIF here, but they’re all a bit sarcastic and I just can’t go there with this moment)
Have you seen a hello or kiss during the pandemic that has stopped you in your tracks? Tell me about it in the comments!
I’m linking up with Kat Bouska’s blog for the prompt, “Share something that made you smile this week.”
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
What an interesting take!
I think about those two kisses and the “hi” so often. Might as well commit it to the blog!
Thanks, Paula. Fun read.
Thank you, Pennie!
I’m waaay behind in both my ‘Crown’ and Schitt’s Creek’ watching. I must get back to them.
That said, I guess the kiss most memorable for me during this horrifying pandemic was the one my Husby gave me following some hard news. The one that said: I’m here and I will always be here for you. Precious!
BEST KISS MENTION! Glad you shared. 🙂
Hey hey Paula, a song that helped my husband and me fall in love. Great post. I LOVE THE CROWN, as I am an Anglophile and have read everything forever about QEII. The CROWN is fiction. The gentleman who bred horses has been gossiped about that he is actually Andrew’s father (gossip from a true Brit.) I don’t believe it. I hold QEII in great esteem, so it suits me better not to go there. I hated the first episode of SHITTS, thought it shitty. I know many love it. We just saw HAMILTON for the first time on TV. Our daughter gave us tickets for a performance in LA and then came Covid. DAMN. My dearest John, my husband, read the Chernow book. And Louis Black is always a hoot. Beth
Yes I’ve heard hey, hey Paula a few times!! 🙂 🙂
I am enjoying The Crown a great deal — glad you are too. Even though it is fiction, it’s definitely making me reacquaint myself with many things in history, which has been interesting too. I can’t imagine the pressure cooker of being under the public microscope all. the. time. (especially these days), intermingled with growing up with such rigid expectations and — possibly — some family dysfunction. Sigh. And so sorry you didn’t get your chance to see Hamilton (yet). My daughter saw it in 2016 — like a good mom I took her and her friend (the friend’s mom was there too). The two girls went to Hamilton and the moms went to Waitress (also very very good). I’ve always kicked myself for not going ahead and figuring out how to be at Hamilton with my daughter, but I think it’s a memory she needed to make with her friend, so it all worked out and I have faith I’ll make it. SOMEDAY.
I also love “The Crown.” Can’t believe Season Four is over and we’re onto an older Elizabeth and Philip after this!
Yes! It has taken me all of season three and four to adjust to the “new” more mature characters. I can only imagine how long it will take to adjust to another change (nothing against the season 3/4 people — they were great). I’ve really enjoyed listening to interviews of all of the actors … they’re all such interesting people and seem to really have enjoyed working together. Sets are the best for bonding (so it seems to me based on limited experience).