Have a Relaxing Weekend.
What are you up to this weekend? Today, we’re honoring the nationwide economic blackout — we hope you are joining, as well! And tomorrow Freddie and I are going to see the play English. I love walking into the theater, finding our seats, and wondering if the actors get nervous beforehand (any actors out there, would you weigh in?). Hope you have a good one, and here are some links from around the web…
Yum, cheesy chickpea ziti.
The singular charm of Parker Posey. While playing Victoria, the fifty-something matriarch in The White Lotus, Posey “had been handed an opportunity to draw out the characters of the Southern women she had watched from afar all her life. She felt like an outsider as a teenager in Laurel [Mississippi]…Though she ironed out her accent when she moved to New York, now she reveled in broad Southern cadences, ‘dramatic and funny at the same time.’ Before the shoot, Posey had just a 30-minute Zoom call with White to hash out Victoria’s character. He told her that he thought of Victoria as a younger version of Big Edie from ‘Grey Gardens,’ the mother who smothers her adult daughter in the home as their symbiotic life slips into decline… Posey was taken with Mike White’s women, who ‘look one way in the beginning and another way in the end,’ she says.” (NYTimes gift link)
Laughed forever at this dating-after-divorce spoof.
Touch Grass is a screen-time-limiting app that requires photographic evidence of you actually touching grass to unblock apps on your phone.
Ponytail cuffs are the new it-girl accessory. Thoughts, ladies? Should we? (Elle)
We’re kicking off live conversations — about parenting, relationships, career, books, where to move, botox, you name it — on Big Salad! Subscribe here, if you’d like, to get the schedule as soon as it comes out.
Wow, this Welsh house has a yellow kitchen, the cutest dog, and “mown paths in the meadow.”
What actually goes on in your brain during menopause.
Plus, three reader comments:
Says Anon on how do you make your partner feel good: “One cold night, I got out of the shower as usual and found my husband on my side of the bed. I asked him what was he doing there, and he said he was warming it up for me. I almost cried! He’s done it many times after that, but the feeling that it gives to my heart never gets old.”
Says Anon on how do you make your partner feel good: “Every night, after giving me IVF injections, my husband wraps me up in a big hug and tells me he loves me and is proud of me. IVF is gut-wrenching, but, boy, do I love our tender nightly ritual. Sending a big virtual hug to anyone who is going through fertility struggles.”
Says Meredith on how do you make your partner feel good: “Both of us routinely ask for ‘a minute of nice things’ – at any point, with no explanation needed, if one of us is feeling insecure or sad or whatever, the other person drops everything to say kind things for a minute.”
(Photo by Marco Govel/Stocksy.)
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Comments
154 commentsThat sounds like such a lovely weekend! Enjoy the theater — there’s nothing quite like the buzz of live performance!
Actor here : ) The adrenaline of live performance is why I don’t feel any need to gamble or ride roller coasters. I will say though that after the first week of shows, things can start to calm a bit, and usually by the end of a run it’s just fun times. This can vary, of course. And the beauty of live performance is that the audience feels like another character — every audience responds differently and that chemistry is a vital part of the process.
Just made the cheesy chickpea ziti and oh my gosh this was a perfect meal. I’ve been craving baked tomatoes dishes lately (shakshuka) and this was a great warm meal for this fake spring we are experiencing in Chicago right now
As someone who FULLY embraced the pony-cuff trend the first time around, a bit of advice: Use a second rubber band to secure your hair. And the rubber band that comes with the cuff to just secure the cuff (it can’t support the cuff AND your hair)
I have a degree in theatre, and it sure never gets easier! You would think that after four years of having to bare my soul in 8am acting class and doing so much ridiculous stuff in front of other people that I would be immune to those nerves, but they never go away. That being said, nailing a performance onstage is a rush like none other :)
I’ve cut WAY down on my Amazon use. Any insights from those who have cancelled their Amazon account? We live in a suburban area with a good amount of small, local businesses. Was it pretty painless to disrupt that purchasing behavior? I’ve relied on Amazon to send items to my in-laws to help them out and to purchase random quick things that I need for the house and my family.
Coincidentally, I just got off the phone with my friend who literally called Amazon to cancel their prime membership last month. Customer service asked for a reason. She said she was disgusted with his political alignment with Musk & Trump and was contributing to the dissolution of American democracy. And his corporate practices where hurting communities and small businesses. My friend was just looking to cancel but the rep gave her the entire $139 back! She said still gets free shipping with $35 so if the family is forced to buy something, she places it in the cart and waits til it meets the requirement, oftentimes removing it because it was a kneejerk purchase. In the meantime, she said they’ve saved a lot of money. I approach purchasing behavior like any scheduling or lifestyle change I make for the better. Maybe it’s exercising or eating healthier or a meeting a friend more regularly. It’s a adjustment at first and then it gets baked in and one hardly even considers it. From my perspective, convenience isn’t worth it if my area’s residents end up losing their jobs in the long run. I’ve driven through towns, especially in the midwest and south, where the main street is half empty and I just don’t want to contribute to that. Economically, it’s almost impossible to recover.
AMK, forgot to add that’s awesome that you’ve cut way back!
I cancelled my Prime account about 7 years ago and it’s fine. I live in the suburbs and go to the grocery store once a week,and Target and Costco once a month. Once or twice a year I need something that I cannot find anywhere and I just order from Amazon and pay the shipping for that thing. The thing I actualyl miss most is some of the shows, but I got Fleabag on DVD from the library, so it’s fine. I think that disrupting the seamlessness of the ordering is an important step. We think it’s “free shipping” but really we paid for it. So just pay for the shipping when you need it and use your local shops the rest of the time. And if you hate it or find your life needs the convenience for a season or whatever, it’s not like Amazon won’t take you back!
In the last decade or so, I have purchased from Amazon maybe three or four times. And that’s been when I absolutely can’t find an alternative anywhere else. I’ve found it incredibly easy. I’m in the UK, so never far from a real life shop – I realise this may be different for people in very remote areas. But even then, there are plenty of other online retailers. What’s helped is to reframe every purchase considering the triple bottom line – we tend to think of cost as purely financial, but there’s a cost to the planet and to people with every purchase we make. Saving a few pounds here and there isn’t worth the environmental and ethical cost. Also, Amazon is often full of absolute poor quality rubbish, or items where the prices have been artificially inflated and then brought back down to appear like a good deal, or outright scam listings. So the financial cost is often an illusion, too.
I’ve never had a rime account and don’t really understand the allure. That being said, I live in a city, so regular purchases are easy. I have used Amazon to buy luggage in the last ten years, and it does make me sad to think I couldn’t figure out an alternative. Good for you on cutting back on just keep going, you can do this!
I haven’t had a prime account in 10 years. I live rural, so not a lot of places to get things locally. It’s absolutely fine. If you hold yourself to your principles you end up just finding solutions. The internet helps too– “[product] alternatives” or “what to use instead of [product]”. You’ll find that most of the things you “need” you don’t need at all. It’s better for democracy, for people, and for the environment. Maybe try challenging yourself to not using it for 6 months? Honestly, whenever amazon links come up now and I see what amazon is like, it looks like a cesspool. I think we’ve just become conditioned to so much cheap crap in our lives that we see it as a necessity.
Maybe some of the struggle is adjusting to new habits? I almost never shop at Amazon. If I’m shopping online, I can find most things at Target or Best Buy (or other stores) and their shipping is just as fast (for me, though I’m not sure if that depends on where you live). Every so often there is something I really want that I can’t find elsewhere and I buy it on Amazon and pay to have it shipped. It’s pretty rare though.
I love Cup of Jo very much and I frequent this blog. However, I want to say that every time I see Freddy’s name as a hyperlink (for example, in the beginning of this entry), it gives me the impression that Freddy is some kind of item (which I think is not the effect you are going for). This is just my opinion.
oh not at all! I see your concern, but to very much reassure you, my approach has always been to link to people I mention so that readers who are new to CoJ won’t be confused about who people are. (for example, not everyone will know who “Lucy” or “Toby” or “Anton” or “Gemma” are.) I hyperlink when I mention my sister, my children, my parents, etc. xoxo hope that helps!
I have had the same feeling about Big Salad in general. It feels like it’s commoditizing personal updates in a way that has felt surprising and a bit icky here. I think that’s why Freddie’s name being linked feels different from other people’s names being linked. Cause he’s in the Big Salad era.
I don’t find these things bothersome at all. As Joanna said, she has often linked people for context/ awareness of who they are. As far as Big Salad, people often have several ” jobs “. This is a venture in which she is engaged with another person in another way.
As a long time reader, I need to say that Joanna has always linked to previous posts when she mentions the people in her life. It is a fun way to read older posts and introduce new readers to the people in her life.
I love the house with the mowed meadow! We tried something similar in our small London garden last summer. My bug loving children encouraged us to follow a no mow May. The grass grew so green and tall with some lovely wildflowers blooming too. We had so many bees and butterflies! We liked it so much we just mowed a loopy path the rest of the summer and then mowed the whole thing in the Fall. I highly recommend to everyone no matter if your garden is big or small!
We did no mow May and someone on the street called the city on us for non-compliance with lawn mowing laws! Love the idea, though! So, check on the lawn mowing laws where you live, who knew?
In the town where I used to live, we used to get letters and warnings about our yard all the time. The ” boro guy ” came to our house and I told him I let it grow for natural habitat. He said ” we have enough critters ” This was a couple decades ago. In recent years when I was on a trip out west to see my daughter before we moved here, we returned to find a letter that informed us that, heaven forbid, our grass grew while we were gone. We did mow through the years, just not as often or as short as these people deemed necessary ? Glad I left the land of manicured lawns behind.
PNW Grateful, wow that’s nuts! I’m sure I would have an encyclopaedia worth of letters. I kinda want a town tour post. I bet the town had firm opinions on garbage bins, imagine if you left them out for a day…
I really want to put in a natural habitat in our yard. Even though I’m in well-developed suburbia, we have lots of little animals and around 50 humminbirds that live in my yard. It’s incredible. Our HOA used to have a very strict policy on installing a lawn, but I’m so glad to hear that they are now evaluating a more environmentally friendly and water wise adjustment. We need to redo our landscape and I’m anxiously waiting for the update.
I read a book called Prairie Up which offers so much information about intentionally planting a meadow/prairie-type yard. It anticipates some of the difficulties you might encounter with neighbors and how to show that what you’re doing has rhyme and reason, and isn’t just neglectful.
I took my 11 year old daughter to see SIX, the musical, after singing it around the house for months. We LOVED it. We even dressed up in Tudor style — she as Anne Boleyn and me as Catherine Parr. It was so fun.
you sound like such a fun, creative mom!
I saw it over the weekend. I loved it! So fun. I was supposed to go with my 24 year old daughter but she got the flu, so my husband stepped in. He enjoyed it too!
English was amazing. 10/10.
My husband places my slippers at the bottom of the stairs, so that when I get home (often from a night shift) all I have to do is slip off my shoes, slip on my slippers, and skip upstairs to bed To make him feel good I : moisturize his hands AND send romantic photos : the day our son was born, a fun date from 3 years ago, etc.
I like this definition of romantic photos :)
Fromer stage actress here! I loved every minute of being on stage, but before every show I was so nervous I would get sick and ask myself why am I doing this?! Once I got on stage it all went away. What a way to toture myself!
I just forwarded the link to the welsh house to my dad, with so many notes “hey dad, I really like the cabin – can you build me one like this? on a deck? ” “Hey dad do you think I should paint my floors white ?” My dad might not be thanking you for this post Jo, haha (he loves it – He’s in his 80s and he loves jobs! He finds retirement highly vexing).
This is my Dad, too! He’s currently painting my living room!
I have been wanting to get an idea of how others think about this. I am disgusted with president dirtbag (and have been since 2015) as well as the rest of them, but I am also equally disgusted with the women in their lives. I just cannot stop thinking about how the hell they got themselves into these “marriages” and how they are still there? Aren’t they mortified? Embarrassed? Humiliated? I guess I have been fortunate to be surrounded by (raised by) independent thinking women and for the love of all things, if my husband even showed an inkling of thinking like, let along speaking like, dirtbag trump and the rest, he’d be kicked so far out the door he’d never find his way back again. Sigh. It’s been my way of distracting myself from the nightmare that is unfolding in front of my eyes and ears.
I think about it all the time. How can Cheryl Hines be married to RFK Jr? Is her life a real-life, sinister version of Curb Your Enthusiasm?!? In the case of many (but not all) of these women the answer has to to be $$$, otherwise, HOW?!
I believe money and power are that important to some women that they give up their souls for it. But they may have done it so long ago that it’s just normal for them now! Can you imagine living like this??? I’m so grateful I’m not one of them. Clarity of mind is such a beautiful gift. I’m with you, Stacia. HOW is this our country? Welcome to another week of resisting! We can do it.
Rationalization, thought-stopping cliches, and feeling like you have no choice can stop the cognitive dissonance in its tracks 🤷🏼♀️
I’ll offer a different take. Some of these women will be under coercive control and domestic violence. If they have kids especially I would expect that leaving would be risky, given your adversary has unlimited wealth and power.
Regarding the Blackout: I wanted to add that Amazon’s commercials saying they support small business is absolute white washing. We have a successful business and tried selling our product through Amazon because we thought it would reach more people and make shipping easier. Because why not, right? What we learned: Pay or they put your product on page 30. Terrible stocking updates. Mishandling & damaging product. When they incorrectly ship or the product is returned, (very often for damages they did!) the small business bears all the costs. We pulled out after a year because the financial loss and headache wasn’t worth the money we earned.
Thank you for this insight! I’ve been lured in the past by the “small business” label on Amazon. I’ll just google the company and order directly from them in the future. (And yes, I know I should cancel my Prime and stop giving Jeff money. I’m working on it)
This is good to know! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for letting us know this!
That is awful, but also not surprising. I got rid of my Amazon in January. Never again!
I second this! We experienced the exact same issues including the fact that they continually shorted our inventory stating that we never sent the quantity of product we actually did. Amazon does NOT support small business.
Former opera singer here. Nerves are really interesting and every performer has a unique version. They can and will change too over your career. I was relatively without nerves if I’d had proper rehearsal time, but as I got older I began to feel sleepy and cranky before shows, like I just didn’t want to do it. I finally recognized that as nerves. It can take lots of different forms. But a good performer learns to make friends with it, learns how to use it for the best performance. Lots of conscious breathing helps too……
Oh, I’d to hear more about how you use those nerves. I guess I understand being able to dismiss nerves when you recognize them, but how can we make then work for us? Also, love opera
We call it “toaster service” when one of us warms up the other’s side of the bed before they get it. Such a small thing but it is so nice to receive!
So cute!
The display in the Oval Office was absolutely disgraceful and sickening. I am still reeling from watching their disgusting exchange. I empathize greatly with Ukraine and the rest of Europe and hope that someone in our country can get this situation under control.
I agree, Kelly. We’re putting up a Ukrainian flag.
I am angry at the voters (mostly women) that voted for this man to be our president. It has made me furious and mad, don’t they realize he is a *rapist/criminal* confected by law. Do they accept rape as okay for a man to do to a woman? We all are going to suffer that the hands of the cowards in the GOP and I hope they suffer along with us. I am appalled at what has happened to America, I fear for anyone that Trump and his THUGS want to take down, I am so worried, mad, and scared I don’t know what to do and now refuse to listen to the news as it is all bad and ugly. God help America and the world.
I feel this way too. Just so angry and in despair every time I read the news. I just wanted to share that I find a tiny bit of comfort in seeing comments like this and knowing we aren’t alone. I know I’m looking for things to do. we will make change. We have to.
I feel this, too. But I don’t really feel, especially after 2016, that there’s an illusion of women (esp white women) as exempt from all the -isms that brought us here. White women have always been positioned as the handmaidens of racial capitalism, and since that position offers privilege, they’ve facilitated it — since the confederacy and before. It’s chilling that as trans people are demonized, cis white women in power aren’t standing loud and clear against their rhetorical positioning — as at risk of violence from random trans strangers, as in need of protection. Haymarket is publishing a book called Enemy Feminisms, and its blurb was clarifying: “In recent years, “white feminism” and girlboss feminism have taken a justified beating. We know that leaning in won’t make our jobs any more tolerable and that white women have proven to be, at best, unreliable allies. But in a time of rising fascism, ceaseless attacks on reproductive justice, and violent transphobia, we need to reckon with what Western feminism has wrought if we have any hope of building the feminist world we need.”
Actor here, always nervous before! I’ve always aimed to interpret that as a recognition that it is important and meaningful to me, this opportunity to possibly allow others to empathize with a character or different point of view. Thanks as always for a place of sanity on a bewildering and troubling day.
English is an extraordinarily beautiful play – enjoy!
My partner warms up my side of the bed too! And let’s me take of my socks and stick my feet’s against his legs to steal his body heat
We watched a nature documentary where they said that it was called ‘kleptherming’ (ie stealing heat) and that it’s the most efficient way for mammals to warm each other. Now we gleefully declare ‘KLEPTOTHERM’ if one of us is cold getting into the bed and going to steal/borrow some warm!
Aw, fellow anon, my hubby would blast 80s music and dance before poking me with my morning and night injections! Always made me laugh – laughter got me through IVF!
My husband used to play this meditation CD that had a bunch of monks chanting. Then, he would go through this elaborate ritual to give me my progesterone shot. I used to laugh so hard and even now, whenever I come across that CD, it gives me a fit of the giggles. Laughter got me through IVF as well. I remember thinking that even if the IVF didn’t work, it was going to be really fun to spend the rest of my life with this person.
Can we please talk about how bad Running Point is? New Netflix show with Kate Hudson, Mindy Kaling executive producer. It’s so bad. I mean I watched it because I’m no quitter but how did this get approved? Kate’s finance on the show is talking about the American Pediatric Awards and she calls it “the pedos”…. Because that’s a good joke?! The espn type guy goes “playoffs, my favorite time of year, except when the SI swimsuit edition comes out” cut to Kate’s character doing an eye roll. These are back to back scenes in the span of a few minutes. Every episode. What the actual f.
I love women tv writers (Sharon Horgan please be in my life always) and want to support all of them but I also find all of Mindy Kaling’s shows to be consistently bad and not terribly funny. I like Drew Tarver & a few others in the cast so I tried -and yeah – couldn’t get through 15 cringey min.
There’s no sense preaching to the choir here – DM both Reese W and Mindy K, that’s what their socials are for!
Amy I am living for your commentary and would love to see your thoughts on other shows!!! I was excited to try Running Point on Friday and after 10 minutes I was like HARD PASS. . .I switched over to Peacock and watched the utterly delightful new Bridget Jones movie instead.
I watched the Welsh home video twice. So beautiful. Thank you for that escape.
I wish I could relax but I cannot. I am terrified of this new alliance with Russia a brutal dictatorship. I am heartbroken for Zelensky and Ukraine. Always always I fear and anguish over the irreversible damage we are doing to our Earth, all the more hopeless now with this administration. I really wish the climate change was discussed more here and treated in general all over the world as the number one existential disaster that it is. Just feeling really panicked and it’s weird to see anyone acting as if things are normal.
If it’s any consolation, I feel exactly the same. You’re not alone in this.
Bernie appears to be the only one in Congress fighting in a tangible and visible way. On his cross country Fight Oligarchy tour. Drawing big crowds. One mainstream media newscast FINALLY mentioned it the other day, maybe a 3 minute mention. If there is much else going on in Congress in the name of resistance I haven’t seen it and I’m pretty tuned in. Up for correction if people have seen others in the political arena doing more ? Where is everyone past or present ? Help.
I see you. I feel the same way. I’m so sorry ♥️ We cannot save everything, but everything we do matters. I’ve had friends reach out and say that my example finally convinced them to start taking big and small actions to protect our planet, protest, and/or start voting. It’s maddening that so many people take so long to get it, but I believe most people want to do the right thing. Most people disagree with what’s happening (even if they didn’t help prevent it). Our cynicism will only help the billionaires who profit from destruction. Now more than ever, hope is a discipline ♥️
Watched in horror from Canada. It was a premeditated ambush. Shameful. I know a lot of Americans did not vote for this incompetent joke of a president. But US citizens must do something!!
Hi! I had a climate change terror induced existential breakdown a few years ago. I can relate to what you are currently feeling. I remember feeling very panicked and also aghast that every single person wasn’t talking about it, all the time. (which of course, is not realistic) A few things that have been helpful: – I regularly searched “good climate news” – following climate scientists on social media like @ItsTheGarbageQueen and @AyanaEliza – Acceptance, which took time. It’s devastating what we are experiencing. And, the earth has been through versions of this (not human initiated of course, as this one is) several times. We will adapt. We will adjust. It will be painful. Also know that, even if it doesn’t feel like it, a lot of people are very aware of disaster that is climate change and a LOT of people are doing what they can, where they can, to support one another and build resilient communities. A book that also helps me a lot with acceptance is Yes To Life In Spite of Everything by Viktor Frankl. We know this is not normal. And, we are still tasked with the very bizarre experience of being the ones to live through it. It’s new for all of us – we are figuring it out together.
Totally with you Scared. The feeling of powerlessness is hard to deal with. When my anxiety runs high and I feel scared, I remind myself I am safe in my home, safe in community etc. I realize not everyone right now can say this and for that Imam deeply sorry, but this practice grounds me so I can act towards a greater good. I also try and remember that most people are good on the whole. My heart breaks daily for the planet. I believe it will be the women and the indigenous community that eventually turn things around. Until then, stay strong and know I am with you!
I am scared, too. We are trying to do little things. Put up a Ukrainian flag. Try to shop at places that aren’t falling over themselves to appease a narcissist wannabe dicktator. Talk more to people around us. Pray like mad. It is not my nature to speak up. I hate conflict. But I am forcing myself to. Thanks, COJ, for the post a bit ago about calling legislators.
I deeply share your concerns and hopelessness. What helps me is to try to take these feelings into account and transform then in action : I try to do my best individually (riding my bike instead of driving as often as I can, eating mostly vegetarian, not taking planes anymore…), I try to support eco-activists on social media (thanking them and doing what they say could help), I hold close to my heart friends who feel the same… I also want to join an ecoactivist community but haven’t found yet the one that suits me. We often speak about eco-anxiety but the problem of our society is our massive eco-deny. Thank you for speaking about this here, it for sure helped a lot of us feel less alone in this.
Right there with you. I’m a climate scientist, and let me tell you—our world is UPSIDE DOWN right now.
Actor here – yes! But good, energizing nerves :) Listening to the audience in the house before curtain is one of the most exciting, comforting things. So know we’re thinking about you before the show, too!
Co-signed! For me, pre-show nerves are the fun kind — more like boarding the roller coaster/about to see your crush than an all out panic (I save that for doctors’ offices and political anxiety tyvm). Stage acting takes a tremendous amount of focus and energy, so we’re usually grateful for the adrenaline bump. Thank you for attending and hyping live theater!!
Ramadan Mubarak to all those that are partaking! May this Ramadan be a month of peace and love for all.
Ramadan Mubarak!
And to you, Kay! This is my husband and I’s first Ramadan together since we got married and also our first living away from family, in a non-Muslim majority country. At home, I’ve never fasted, and he’s not fasted since he graduated from high school, but it somehow felt important to us both to do so this year as we start to create our own family in a new country. We were giddy as we woke up together for suhoor (the meal you eat before the fast begins) this morning as the world outside was still so quiet (at home there would be people playing drums in the street to wake you!!) No doubt this month will test us in ways we can’t yet imagine, but inshallah it will also draw us closer to each other and the Ultimate.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Ramadan Kareem, Kay!
Yes, wishing everyone around the world a peaceful and healthy Ramadan month ahead!
❤️ to all GRG, I have never experienced Ramadan in a Muslim majority country it is my great wish to be able to do so with my family, especially so my kids can experience the beauty of Ramadan (Inshallah one day in Palestine and beyond- I’d love to experience Ramadan in Istanbul!) Ramadan is a month of blessings and I gotta tell ya, that big cup of coffee (and I’ve been combing the coffee post for variations during school is a blessing itself. May you and your husband get to experience the peace and closeness to God that is unique to Ramadan, and make joyful memories!
Not school* suhoor
Have a good month!
and throwing a z at SwitZerland
Donald Trump: “You’re gambling with World War Three”. Please send good vibes, thoughts, prayers, what-have-you. Greetings from Switerland a
He is again telling fake news about the start of the war in Ukraine. What a truly horrible person! Russia attacked and now Trump turns that around. We really must be careful and stand together in Europe! Greetings from Germany
Boy oh boy oh boy, I don’t think many of us slept well in Europe last night….greetings from Germany, Anne!
TPU-USA The organization’s website states the buying boycott is to show major corporations and banks “who really holds the power.” The non profit Roundabout Theatre is funded by these major corporations. As are the corps that sell the theatre tickets, supply the advertising dollars and pay the staff to operate. I for one appreciate it.
I’m not sure I understand this comment. Are you saying you think Joanna should’ve stayed home from the theater because of the buying boycott? I promise you, non-profit arts orgs including Roundabout are not the enemy here. I don’t know of a single one that isn’t struggling mightily post-pandemic! I cannot imagine how dull life would be without performing arts.
Yes, I believe you missed my point. The boycott included large corp banks which support non profits like Roundabout. So while we are disgusted/angry/protesting corp America let’s remember the good they do! TPU-USA should look at the full impact these corps provide in financial support and not ignore these benefits in the name of this horrible administration headlines. I hope that clarifies. The Arts will be the first thing cut if fed funding stops. I was trying to put a balanced “fac e ” on theatre funders. Thxs for asking @Tovah.
Sending a big, warm hug and all the positive vibes in the universe to the couple going through IVF, from this IVF mom. With you.
I absolutely love the idea of you thinking so sweetly about the actors as you come into a theater! I’ve produced and written two one-act plays the past couple years. I starred in the latter one last summer and I cannot reiterate enough how raw my nerves were for the entire month leading up to and during the run! And memorizing lines *that I wrote* was no easier than someone else’s (a significant surprise to me, LOL)! Knowing I had friends and loved ones in every audience helped so much, but my respect for all stage actors will remain sky high for eternity. It is truly such a vulnerable experience that holds the potential to feel oddly empowering.
I had to come here as it is a place of sense, intelligence and empathy-all of which are desperately needed. I am British and am devastated by the treatment of President Zelensky this evening. Trump and Vance are despicable bullies and Europe feels very close to WWIII this evening. It is horrifying and terrifying.
Same. I’m feeling the same.
it’s very scary and disorienting. sending a big hug and standing in solidarity.
Same. Woke up here in Australia, checked the news, and now feeling a deep foreboding (even deeper than the past 4 weeks and that’s really saying something!)
It is shocking what the new administration has destroyed in only a little over a month. I listened to parts of this interview in the car on NPR, and it is absolutely unbelievable how T and V bully Zelensky and put themselves into Putin’s pocket. I am embarrassed to be an American at this time (and I was so proud when I became a citizen not too long ago). I do feel like we are close to an escalation of conflict and my thoughts are with the Ukrainian people and with all Europeans who have Putin so close to their countries just waiting for a moment like that.
Same. They are bullies, and it’s so hard to watch them tear everything down without a smidge of thought or compassion.
I’m Eastern European and I am scared and mad. I feel tricked into beliving that US was immuned from this kind od propaganda. I feel that in our part of the world, even when we did not agree with American politics, we belived that USA will always possess some core values, some fundemental decency. Oh, how I was wrong. These last weeks, it’ just hard to belive in what’s going on. I read some memes that sound false, then check White House Instagram and it is true. It is crazy. Feeling sorry for all of us.
My heart broke watching that spectacle :'( You are not alone.
Willow, Standing with you on your thoughts on the treatment of President Zelensky. Horrifying and terrifying.
Agreed. I don’t want to be on social media right now, but I also don’t want to feel alone in this craziness! I keep thinking I won’t be shocked anymore by this administration’s behavior, and then they do it again. I’m literally disgusted, sick to my stomach over their behavior today. Zelenskyy is such a freaking hero. We could only wish to have a leader like him.
Willow, I can only hope that ugly disrespectful dangerous conversation lands correctly. Because it is equally disgusting to read YT comments under the Forbes posted viral video siding with Trump and Vance. How? It made me ill too.
Agreed, especially embarrassed to be an American today. These are very dark times indeed.
Maybe it’s time for the world to boycott the US as we can’t seem to get a handle on on this train wreck at home. I feel so awful about how Zelensky was treated and afraid for democracy.
This was absolutely horrible. I have found Trump disgusting since 2014 and today I feel worse about him than I ever have and that’s saying something. Vance was sickening too. This was very hard to watch. I’m sorry Ukraine and all our allies who have stood by us. So sad..
Im in a blue state and ready to secede. This is not my country anymore.
Same here in Canada. So awful and scary. Sending love and solidarity your way wherever you are.
Willow, you are right. They are despicable bullies and it does indeed feel terrifying. I feel helpless and embarrassed of my country.
I’m a Ukrainian US citizen and just devastated by this disgusting shameful treatment of Zelensky. The world feels like it’s falling out from under us. Feeling powerless.
Half-Ukrainian American here – I am so ashamed of the U.S. right now, that President Zelensky would be treated so badly. However, I was impressed with Sir Starmer’s handling of Trump. But Trump may have already cut a deal with Putin. So glad my Ukrainian father is not here to see this.
I am from east Europe and i feel the same (my parents live 50km from Ukrainian border). The situation is way worse than 2 years ago. Before the meeting, Danish intelligence was expecting war in Europe in less than 5 years if USA wouldn’t honor NATO principles.
“It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal.” ― Henry Kissinger I hope that this wakes the world up and that this creates a deterrance. That no other political leader will pull their country into another US proxy war. As a European I feel horrified for the people of Ukraine but their political leaders are no better than American, Russian or European ones. Biden brought us as close to nuclear midnight as we have ever been when he approved long range missiles into Russia. He didn’t do it obnoxiously like Trump but nukes don’t care if the politicians were polite or if they were comedians and reality tv stars playing their parts in their own criminal shitshows.
I hear you. Western Europe here. I don’t even know what to say. I feel so powerless and confused. Sometimes it seems like the world has hit the self-destruct button with a bunch of bullies governing the world.
American here–there are so many of us who will ALWAYS be your allies. We support you!
From France, so hard to watch. The level of evil made me feel ashamed of our times. We need to be strong to stop fascism. It will take time but we WILL. Love from Paris
What a disgrace. I feel for President Zelensky and Ukraine. Trump and Vance are showing once again what they are: no class, insecure bullies and to think that some Americans voted for Trump. I will never understand that one. So despairing.
Same. What JNT said here I feel especially! I am fighting, calling, protesting and will not stop. That White House meeting today took us to such a new low. DISGUSTING. I felt physically sick. WHO will stop him??? To those who still support him- it is OK to change your mind!!!!!!!!! Join us!!!!!
It’s scary and, as a (US) American citizen, deeply embarrassing.
Not only am I horrified at how they treated Zelensky, I’m filled with such a sense of sadness at how much more normal and sane life could have been this last month and would continue to be if Harris had won.
Mirroring everyone’s horror and utter embarrassment, though no longer surprised anymore. This behavior is textbook bullying (and narcissist) behavior. Kiss the feet of those they fear (Putin & Kim Jong Un) and belittle & abuse those who are weaker and who they envy. For those who follow history and international politics, it is more than clear that Ukraine has been our shield for WW3. God help us.
My heart was broken yesterday as I watched T and V unleash their nastiness on President Zelensky. This is not the America that I believe in. I believe in democracy (even though it always needs work in its implementation). I believe in Ukraine and feel that Russia is a danger to all of us. I hope that the rest of the world knows that many of us voted for Harris and believe that the country would be doing much better under her leadership. I am very, very worried for the United States and the rest of the world. I hope that Americans can come together to protect Ukraine and to protect ourselves.
I am heartbroken and speechless. The Ukrainian refugee family we hosted messaged me with 💔. The father who has been on the frontlines cried watching this. I can’t believe that after months of walking alongside a family with young children displaced, jobs and worlds lost, dad at war, the tears day and night, knowing that they were the lucky ones to get away, that this is what we as Americans have to show. And, worst yet, where this leaves the world. What a dark day to watch a supposed leader of the free world shame and bully a true leader and champion for freedom and democracy. Sometimes it is so hard to see the light in the midst of all this darkness.
Can we start a world-wide fundraiser for the Ukraine army?
Lauren, thank you for hosting that family and please keep reminding them how many of us are with them. I’m mortified over what happened yesterday. The US is a disaster right now. RESIST
@Vivian- You are absolutely right. I share everyone’s horror and my heart absolutely breaks for the Ukrainians dying. Nonetheless, the human right watchers before this war consistently shared that Russia and Ukraine are both countries that rank very low in human rights and very high in corruption. I despair for the state of our planet and how close we are coming to WWIII.
I was once (somewhat) proud to be an American. I believe in the basic ideals our country was founded upon and that we should keep working collectively to live up to those ideals. I do not recognize this country anymore. I feel such a sense of grief– not just for my country, but for all of the people around the world who will suffer because the leaders of the world’s most powerful country no longer give a damn about any human life expect their own and are now siding with the bad guys. Honestly, I want to flee, but can’t. I don’t have dual citizenship anywhere and would never leave my extended family behind. I believe we need to stay and fight this evil that has taken hold of our government in any way we can.
Hello Willow. I agree and I wanted to add one further idea that I hope people will at least consider with an open mind. Everyone needs to take a breath and not dig further into the totally one-sided narrative. Please hear me out with an open mind: Everyone is functioning under the assumption that Putin will for-sure continue to invade other countries in Europe. But what about the possibility that Putin will NOT continue to invade? What about brokering a peace treaty and standing at the ready, from afar, and responding accordingly if Putin breaks his word? Then, we are responding to what Putin is actually doing rather than what we imagine he will do. Considering WWIII could be the consequence, it is worth giving peace a chance first. Please remember that, while absolutely Russia started the invasion and the situation is heartbreaking, from the Putin’s perspective, there are reasons for this “unprovoked” war. Russians in Ukraine have always been seriously discriminated against (including language restrictions etc), and Ukraine is threatening to break its long-standing agreement not to NATO. I don’t say this to defend Putin in any way. Rather, to consider that there is a possibility that Putin truly does not intend to invade any other countries. From his perspective, he is defending Russia.
Is there no big Salad newsletter?didn’t see a newsy one!
hi!! yes we are sending tomorrow since it’s a paid newsletter and we didn’t want to participate in commerce in that way today (because of the blackout). we’ll send it tomorrow around lunchtime. thank you for asking! xoxo
Love that Joanna!! And no links to clothes/beauty products etc that are often among these links. I normally enjoy those too but really appreciate that they are not in this list!
I love this so much – I too wondered, and now appreciate your conscientiousness all the more! The soundtrack running through my mind this week has been the US Army singing Les Miserables “Do You Hear the People Sing” at the White House Governors Ball (Google it!)…a battle cry of dissent from the people.
Joanna, love that. Warm hugs.
Joanna: Wow thank you for that deep level of consideration. You’re amazing.
Yes to ponytail cuffs. My unsolicited hot take? Way better than a scrunchie.
they’re so sleek and chic, agreed!
They never work for me because my hair is so fine and my pony is too skinny. 😞 they should make all different sizes. Most are made for a horse size pony tail
While the cuffs look cool and I would certainly try them, I totally disagree about scrunchies. I love how they look and as a person with curly hair, they are amazingly helpful for styling. I don’t know that cuffs would work with my type of hair.
yes! goodbye to scrunchies please!
The actors get nervous! Especially early in the run! Former stage actor, current theatre director here. I will say though- on performance # who-the-heck-knows of a show, the actors do sometimes get loose as all get out and are straight up playing. Glorious fun. I did one years-long run where- horrible, don’t do this actors!- we’d play fast and loose with the script. (As in: I’ll bet you $20 you can’t slip the word “jaguar” into your monologue tonight.) As a director though? The worst nerves of all. My name is on this thing and, when it comes down to it, I have zero control of the performance. I listened to an interview of Denzel Washington recently and he said something like: “theatre is an actor’s game, film is the director’s.” Yes. Yup. As a theatre director, that rang true to me.
It wouldn’t be Friday if I weren’t tearing up at the comments on Cup of Jo ❤️
Ah! I remember wearing a cuff on the end of my go-to braid during job training when I got hired for a corporate company. I got so many compliments from the other new hires! The ones I used were much smaller, perfect for my fine hair. Gives a little bling to the otherwise clear hair tie that I use.
Jo, hope you can share a pic of your stunning Bario Neal earrings on you soon :)
Just a friendly reminder that many fast food and gas station locations are franchises owned by individuals- they are small business owners too. My family has owned Dairy Queen’s for three generations.. we aren’t politicians screwing our government. We have friends who own Jimmy John’s, BP gas, Q’Doba and many others. Lumping us together with the Bezos, Walton’s and target Corp is laughable – we are SMALL business too (!)
There are many ways that the boycott is imperfect, but it’s very significant that it’s taken hold in such mainstream ways (such as being on this blog). This is the first of many actions. I hope that tomorrow you get lots of visitors to your Dairy Queen!
Thank you for sharing Jen, such an important point! For what it’s worth, I’ve only seen calls to boycott the truly big corps. Hope small businesses stay strong!
Dairy Queen is owned by Berkshire Hathaway which still gets a percentage of the revenue, and BH invested 40 BILLION in fossil fuels. While a franchise may be a small business it’s part of a larger, exploitative system.
Thanks for the comments. Our franchise fees are less than 10% of profits… which go to IDQ, and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. The majority of profits are realized by the small business owners. Is everyone holding off on using their Apple products today? Or going on meta? Spotify etc etc? Not looking to start an argument, but just sharing the info that many franchises are held by individuals.
Don’t knock on Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffet has done, and is doing, amazing things with the money made from investments. This country would be far worse off without BH.
A minute of nice things. I LOVE that
Me too. I wish every person commenting here, and President Zelensky, a minute of nice things today.
I saw English last week and really liked it! I hope you do as well!