An Imaginary, One-Sided Conversation with Shonda Rhimes

Because, of course, she comes over on Thursdays and we watch Shondaland (minus Grey's, I never got into that) on my couch.

Sometimes, it wins.

This is hard to write.

When I first saw that Robin Williams had passed away, I assumed it was due to a heart attack or something similar. He was relatively young, but such things are not unheard of, especially when the person in question has a history of substance abuse.

Then I read that it was an apparent suicide, and that he had been grappling with a particularly bad depressive episode recently, and I felt like I had been sucker punched.

Here's the thing. Yes, Robin Williams was a comedic genius, an incredibly talented actor, and by most accounts a very generous and compassionate soul. He was prolific as I was growing up in the 90's, and he made me laugh more times than I can count. For those reasons, I mourn him as I would mourn any artist who has affected my worldview and given me joy.

But honestly, it goes a lot deeper than that in this case. His death has frightened and humbled me, in a way that I don't often allow myself to feel.

Fashion

It's been six years since I had to dress up for my job, and I consider yoga pants to be one of the great benefits of being a SAHM.

Aaah.

My hair is long because it makes my life easier - I can shower at night, put it in a bun on top of my head, and be relatively confident that it won't be completely jacked in the morning. (Can't do that with a bob!) I rely a lot on tees and cardigans in dark, neutral colors. It always takes me several years to finally accept a new trend, and even then, I usually incorporate an altered version of it (see: skinny jeans. The only version I can tolerate are their slightly roomier cousin, straight-leg jeans, but I will always be a boot-cut girl at heart).

It's not that I don't care about apparel. I love reading blogs like Tom and Lorenzo or The Fug Girls, which primarily concern themselves with critiquing (and often, mocking) celebrity fashion. I watch Mad Men and Downton Abbey and drool over the clothes, willfully ignoring that beneath those dresses were foundation garments that were akin to torture devices.  

But I'm a stay at home mom. In New England. We don't believe in getting dolled up on a daily basis. 

Wipes

The other night, I was wandering through Walgreens when I saw a little travel package, with the words "Playtex" and "sexy" featured prominently.

I literally did a double take. Was Playtex trying to make menstruation sexy? Was this just the latest battleground in the ongoing attempt by our corporate overlords to ensure that every aspect of womanhood is sexualized, and assigned some must-buy specialty product to correct some newly imagined defect?

Obviously this warranted closer inspection.

This is what I saw:

How cold is it?

It's so cold, C started coughing the moment we left the house for the bus stop.

It's so cold, L started crying the moment we walked out the door to head for the car.

It's so cold, my damn car won't start.

So now we're stuck at home and I just want to go hibernate for another three months or so. .

Shoveling

Snowpocalypse 2014 was a bit underwhelming here in the Bellinghamptons, but we still got a decent amount. We've all been sick for days, and it's insanely cold out, so none of us was really looking to go out in the snow, even to shovel...

...none of us, EXCEPT ONE.

It's come to this.

My husband has threatened to stop performing basic hygiene unless I start posting on the regular.

So, hi! There will be more to see when you visit. My marriage depends on it.

Hahahaha - no really. He'll do it. So I must tap tap away on my keyboard, like so.