Hugs to you and your family. Have no film recs, sadly. I don't live in the US, upstairs neighbour so to speak. It is like watching your good friend get back with the terrible ex. So must focus on stopping it here. xxx
We loved Slow Horses. Also Somebody Somewhere on AppleTV is lovely hilarious. When Margaret Renkl says something is the best TV show ever, you must watch.
I agree with both show recommendations and would add in The Other One (same feelings that the premise didn’t appeal to me but ended up loving it, yet this one is just so silly) and The Outlaws. Apparently shows not set in the US are helpful when a bit of escapism is needed to keep from spiraling. Sending love! 💛
I'm glad your mum is doing better. My mom died almost 25 years ago at the impossibly young age of 58 (which, I'm only now, in my mid 50s, realizing just how young that really was), and I vividly remember the endless glass bottles of Coke, the unfinished cans of Ensure, the bowls of beef and okra soup that I made for her from her recipe that were her last bites of solid food.
She loved egg custard, which we bought in single servings in foil cups from a local bakery. It was a baked custard, topped with a little grated nutmeg, but probably had the substantially same ingredients as yours. I will have to try your recipe, because I desperately need some mothering right now, even if I have to provide it myself.
Hey, were you the one who recommended Ariel Levy's The Rules Do Not Apply? Because I read it yesterday, in one day, and nearly cried right there on the MetroNorth train. If you were the one who recommended it, thank you. And if you weren't, I think you would love it, so I am officially recommending it to you.
I hate how angry I am all the time, and how utterly demoralized. Thank you for lightening that emotional load, if only for a moment.
I will be making the Cheering Custard for Strength x4 years. I am glad you had the opportunity to care so fully for your mom over the past many weeks. She is so fortunate. Life continues to be both wonderful and horrible, and your words carry us through.
thank you for sharing those food details with your mother, catherine. i live with my 100 year old mum and the food dance is so real. i am going to make your custard right away! so glad your mother is on the mend. my russian grannies did not make pudding. lucky you!
Highly, highly recommend Small Things Like These, I think streaming on Prime. If you loved the book, you will not be disappointed by the film version, promise. Also, this “sandwich” time in our lives is so brutal, isn’t it?
Also, can we figure out no-sugar, no-carb comfort foods for those of us who might be a tiny bit diabetic? All I want is buttered sourdough toast and pita chips and dark chocolate. The struggle is real.
How do you feel about those "crackers" that are made only of cheese? I love them, even though they're so expensive and there's only, like, one of them in the bag. If this is useful at all, I wrote *a lot* of recipes for a website for people with diabetes. They're all here: https://diatribe.org/author/catherine-newman xo
Well you know I lapped all of this up like the little flowered dish of companionable plasma it is. "I felt like the whole world was an ocean of love and what a way to drown." SIGH. Endorsing the reese's pieces and all of the recommendations as written as I try to tread the highwire strung between paralyzed and informed. I loved 'Trying' and 'Shrinking' on shmapple tv and 'Fisk' and 'Upper Middle Bogan' on shnetflux and "This Way Up" on shmulu, ie I love accents and shows without stuntperson and pyrotechnic and gore budgets. Hope your mum is getting all spiffed up by your good care and you are feeling restored too.
So glad your mom is on the mend and that you were able to take the time and space to be there with so much love and support. It's special. Yes to Slow Horses and Somebody Somewhere, and don't sleep on Shrinking on Apple. I also re-watched Ted Lasso when I needed a lift. And one of my favorite Rob Reiner films is only to be found on YouTube, but worth the crappy video quality. The Sure Thing with a 17 year old debut by John Cusack. In a world where 80s movies always disappoint because they are wildly inappropriate through today's lens, this one is evergreen. Anthony Edwards with hair! Tim Robbins singing showtunes! Even my 18 year-old and 21 year-old were amused. You're welcome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XeTqxGoAl4
And then go watch It Happened One Night in black and white with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, which is what The Sure Thing is loosely based on. Apparently, undershirt sales dropped that year after Clark Gable took off his shirt and had a bare chest. It's funny and charming and even won the academy award that year for best picture.
Thank you, Catherine, for your good heart! I am reading your recent novel Sandwich for the sixth or seventh time. It comforts me with laughter, tears, and truth! Your writing, whether fiction or not, is a balm for my soul. I've also told co-workers with a range of ages about Sandwich, and they have all loved it, and told others, too, who have loved it--a continuing chain of love, whose links you've forged. (I've told them about your blog, too, and everyone loves its name.) You are a kindred spirit. Sending you all good thoughts.
Oooof I feel all of this. I hope your mom is on the mend. I also loved My Old Ass! And love that there is no way to talk about that movie without making a hilarious sentence. Ghostlight is on my list—didn't realize it is now streaming, so thanks for saying so. We just saw A Real Pain in a theater, but I think it may also be just starting to stream. Highly recommend for a very funny, satisfyingly emotional watch that is not a complete tears-and-snot-fest. xo
So many helpful, thoughtful things in this post—thank you. I will try to take your good advice for how to live in this endless January. And you have the Strega Nona stamps, too!
So nice to read your words again. I had to tell you that you inspired me to get Ed Emberly's fingerprint art book. My friends and I are having a sleepover at an Airbnb this weekend for our middle-aged birthdays, and my activity is making fingerprint art notecards, thanks to you! My friend is choreographing a dance. And at some point in the evening, we'll head downstairs to the bar where a band comprised of high school teachers is playing covers. I need all the local community happiness I can get these days. Also - your cold plunge article on Cup of Jo inspired me to do a New Years Day plunge when it was 15 degrees to celebrate my friend's 50th.
Oh the half-filled glasses with straws in them. Very familiar. Glad everyone is on the mend! And yes! My Old Ass was such a delightful surprise (also Nobody Wants This)
All of your vignettes of caretaking rang true to me. Will add one more - trying to teach my newly widowed father the difference between a microwave and an oven. You can put tinfoil in the oven, but not in the oven. You can put styrofoam in the microwave but not the oven. Arrived the next day to find a gooey mass of styrofoam in the oven.
Hugs to you and your family. Have no film recs, sadly. I don't live in the US, upstairs neighbour so to speak. It is like watching your good friend get back with the terrible ex. So must focus on stopping it here. xxx
Please stick by us. A very large number of us did not want to get back together with the terrible ex.
So sorry to hear about your mom being sick.
We loved Slow Horses. Also Somebody Somewhere on AppleTV is lovely hilarious. When Margaret Renkl says something is the best TV show ever, you must watch.
Came here to recommend Somebody Somewhere. 😊
LOVED it.
Am also recommending the wonderful, heartfelt Somebody Somewhere!
LOVED!
I agree with both show recommendations and would add in The Other One (same feelings that the premise didn’t appeal to me but ended up loving it, yet this one is just so silly) and The Outlaws. Apparently shows not set in the US are helpful when a bit of escapism is needed to keep from spiraling. Sending love! 💛
Thank you!
Slow Horses is amazeballs. I only wish we didn’t have to wait so long for the new seasons.
Just started Slow Horses and we’re enjoying it. I’ll have to check out Somebody Somewhere next! We struggle to find shoes we both enjoy.
Okay! Noted!
Okay, notes--Slow Horses. We loved Somebody Somewhere too. xo
*noted
I'm glad your mum is doing better. My mom died almost 25 years ago at the impossibly young age of 58 (which, I'm only now, in my mid 50s, realizing just how young that really was), and I vividly remember the endless glass bottles of Coke, the unfinished cans of Ensure, the bowls of beef and okra soup that I made for her from her recipe that were her last bites of solid food.
She loved egg custard, which we bought in single servings in foil cups from a local bakery. It was a baked custard, topped with a little grated nutmeg, but probably had the substantially same ingredients as yours. I will have to try your recipe, because I desperately need some mothering right now, even if I have to provide it myself.
Hey, were you the one who recommended Ariel Levy's The Rules Do Not Apply? Because I read it yesterday, in one day, and nearly cried right there on the MetroNorth train. If you were the one who recommended it, thank you. And if you weren't, I think you would love it, so I am officially recommending it to you.
I hate how angry I am all the time, and how utterly demoralized. Thank you for lightening that emotional load, if only for a moment.
Sending love to you. xo
I will be making the Cheering Custard for Strength x4 years. I am glad you had the opportunity to care so fully for your mom over the past many weeks. She is so fortunate. Life continues to be both wonderful and horrible, and your words carry us through.
Thank you, dear Jen. xo
thank you for sharing those food details with your mother, catherine. i live with my 100 year old mum and the food dance is so real. i am going to make your custard right away! so glad your mother is on the mend. my russian grannies did not make pudding. lucky you!
Wow! That's a whole lot of the food dance! Sending love and strength. xo
Highly, highly recommend Small Things Like These, I think streaming on Prime. If you loved the book, you will not be disappointed by the film version, promise. Also, this “sandwich” time in our lives is so brutal, isn’t it?
Also, can we figure out no-sugar, no-carb comfort foods for those of us who might be a tiny bit diabetic? All I want is buttered sourdough toast and pita chips and dark chocolate. The struggle is real.
How do you feel about those "crackers" that are made only of cheese? I love them, even though they're so expensive and there's only, like, one of them in the bag. If this is useful at all, I wrote *a lot* of recipes for a website for people with diabetes. They're all here: https://diatribe.org/author/catherine-newman xo
omg i didn’t realize the film was released. the book was so good i sat in silence for several minutes after i finished.
You will have the same reaction to the movie. In fact, we paused it a few times just to take it all in.
Okay! I did love the book! Writing this down. xo
Please post if/when you watch it and what you think!
Well you know I lapped all of this up like the little flowered dish of companionable plasma it is. "I felt like the whole world was an ocean of love and what a way to drown." SIGH. Endorsing the reese's pieces and all of the recommendations as written as I try to tread the highwire strung between paralyzed and informed. I loved 'Trying' and 'Shrinking' on shmapple tv and 'Fisk' and 'Upper Middle Bogan' on shnetflux and "This Way Up" on shmulu, ie I love accents and shows without stuntperson and pyrotechnic and gore budgets. Hope your mum is getting all spiffed up by your good care and you are feeling restored too.
I LOVED Fisk!! The ridiculousness of her family is something I still think about 🙂
Okay, I am writing all of this down. And of course I was wishing I had Extra Helping when I was in NYC, my bible of food-themed caretaking. xoxo
Streaming rec (on Apple TV): bad sisters. So good, darkly hilarious; everyone should have those sisters.😘. Wishing your whole family good health.
Season One of Bad Sisters might be my favorite show ever, with the possible exception of Fleabag.
So glad your mom is on the mend and that you were able to take the time and space to be there with so much love and support. It's special. Yes to Slow Horses and Somebody Somewhere, and don't sleep on Shrinking on Apple. I also re-watched Ted Lasso when I needed a lift. And one of my favorite Rob Reiner films is only to be found on YouTube, but worth the crappy video quality. The Sure Thing with a 17 year old debut by John Cusack. In a world where 80s movies always disappoint because they are wildly inappropriate through today's lens, this one is evergreen. Anthony Edwards with hair! Tim Robbins singing showtunes! Even my 18 year-old and 21 year-old were amused. You're welcome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XeTqxGoAl4
Ohhh, I saw that SO LONG AGO! Thank you for such a surprising recommendation. xo
And then go watch It Happened One Night in black and white with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, which is what The Sure Thing is loosely based on. Apparently, undershirt sales dropped that year after Clark Gable took off his shirt and had a bare chest. It's funny and charming and even won the academy award that year for best picture.
I agree, My Old Ass was great!
Thank you, Catherine, for your good heart! I am reading your recent novel Sandwich for the sixth or seventh time. It comforts me with laughter, tears, and truth! Your writing, whether fiction or not, is a balm for my soul. I've also told co-workers with a range of ages about Sandwich, and they have all loved it, and told others, too, who have loved it--a continuing chain of love, whose links you've forged. (I've told them about your blog, too, and everyone loves its name.) You are a kindred spirit. Sending you all good thoughts.
Ah, thank you, dear Mary! xo
Oooof I feel all of this. I hope your mom is on the mend. I also loved My Old Ass! And love that there is no way to talk about that movie without making a hilarious sentence. Ghostlight is on my list—didn't realize it is now streaming, so thanks for saying so. We just saw A Real Pain in a theater, but I think it may also be just starting to stream. Highly recommend for a very funny, satisfyingly emotional watch that is not a complete tears-and-snot-fest. xo
We saw it in the theater too and loved it. xo
So many helpful, thoughtful things in this post—thank you. I will try to take your good advice for how to live in this endless January. And you have the Strega Nona stamps, too!
I spy the otter stamps, too! Those coincided with my son's otter obsession, so we might have a lifetime supply.
So nice to read your words again. I had to tell you that you inspired me to get Ed Emberly's fingerprint art book. My friends and I are having a sleepover at an Airbnb this weekend for our middle-aged birthdays, and my activity is making fingerprint art notecards, thanks to you! My friend is choreographing a dance. And at some point in the evening, we'll head downstairs to the bar where a band comprised of high school teachers is playing covers. I need all the local community happiness I can get these days. Also - your cold plunge article on Cup of Jo inspired me to do a New Years Day plunge when it was 15 degrees to celebrate my friend's 50th.
That sounds like so much fun, Mel! I hope you all had the best time. xo
Oh the half-filled glasses with straws in them. Very familiar. Glad everyone is on the mend! And yes! My Old Ass was such a delightful surprise (also Nobody Wants This)
Nobody Wants This! Hot Rabbi! Sigh. xo
All of your vignettes of caretaking rang true to me. Will add one more - trying to teach my newly widowed father the difference between a microwave and an oven. You can put tinfoil in the oven, but not in the oven. You can put styrofoam in the microwave but not the oven. Arrived the next day to find a gooey mass of styrofoam in the oven.
This is so real to me.