Good Things for Your November
A few things to consume that will help pass the time.
How is everyone doing after the election? I’m reading a lot of articles about what democrats said or did wrong, but so far these two tweets are the only takes on the election I endorse.
My toddler is very into this book, and it seems to believe kissing is the answer to all of our problems. Maybe democrats should try that?
Anyway, just wanted to share a few recommendations for things that I believe others might enjoy consuming this month. “Cheery-cheeries” vs. “dreary-wearies …”
Rivals
This new British drama follows families setting the media landscape in the 1980s. I would describe it as “bacchanalian”—there is a lot of eating, drinking and nudity in the pastoral British outdoors. (Unrelated: cars had really tiny tires back then!) It reminds me of early Mad Men in that the show has a little too much fun with nostalgia for a more patriarchal time, but I trust that it will slowly break down and punish all those who participate.
Penne al Baffo
This NYT Cooking recipe for Creamy Tomato Ham Pasta became an immediate classic in our house. From the intro: “‘Al Baffo’ is said to be the abbreviated version of an Italian expression ‘da leccarsi i baffi,’ which translates to ‘it is so good you’ll lick your whiskers.’” Adorable, I’m sold. Should we always put ham in pasta? Sources say yes. Baby had no complaints either.
My Old Ass
This movie about a teenager who takes mushrooms and summons her future self is sweet, sad, funny and cute. Set on a cranberry farm in Canada, it’s a coming-of-age movie that feels original without beating its premise into the ground. That star on the right is not Kiernan Shipka (could have had me fooled) but Maisy Stella, who played one of the little girls on Nashville.
Element Brooklyn Genovese
Speaking of eggs being expensive, I’m not really having they type of year where I want to spend $60 on Aesop or Le Labo hand soaps. Enter: Element Brooklyn’s dupes. I recently ordered their Genovese hand soap, which compares to Le Labo Basil. It’s really lovely and now I kind of want Le Labo Basil’s wider set of products. So maybe, weirdly, it will just help advertise the products it’s knocking off. IDK but my hands smell nice.
High Potential
I can’t resist shows / books about people who aren’t qualified to solve mysteries yet do anyway. Related, I also can’t resist shows about people with photographic memories. This new detective show pairs both concepts and is satisfying in the same way that Suits was. We blew through every available episode of High Potential in a day or two and you probably can, too.
Other things:
-I’m thinking of making a holiday gift guide and it will probably have lots of scenty things and soft things, so stay tuned.
-I’m struggling to get into Sally Rooney’s new book, Intermezzo, this month. I’m usually a “Rooneyhead” so maybe the times just aren’t that thirsty? Also, the audiobook narrator is quiet and mumbly, and Ben asked me if it was “Colin Farrell.”
-Probably going to make a lot of Christmas cookies this year and looking for a good gingerbread recipe if anyone has one.
-We plan to watch Say Nothing and Bad Sisters season 2 next.
Hope the rest of your November is tolerable!