Happy Opening Day!
A tried and true tradition for us and our Detroit Tigers. If it were regular times, the vast majority of you would be gathered downtown in parking lots and bars, at Comerica Park or hanging out at someone's house. If it were regular times, that ballpark would be PACKED and brimming with excitement and the hope of a good season to come. If it were regular times, I would be looking at a bunch of fun selfies and pictures of all of you in your Detroit Tiger gear. But alas...
If it were regular times...
Man, I am so sick of saying "if it were regular times, we could do this! If it were regular times, we could go here! If it were regular times, we could try this!" We are a full blown year into this thing and I am still (clearly) craving some normalcy. This new year has brought about hope with the vaccines but things are still stagnant, stuck in this awful limbo where the universe is making us feel like we can get a little bit of our old lives back but then throws a curveball at us just to remind us that we are still very much in the middle of a pandemic
It's like trying to force that square peg into a round hole. We are so close to those regular times again that I can almost see a light at the end of the tunnel but every so often, something comes along to block my view.
Seeing everyone excited for Opening Day brings me a sense of normalcy and hope. Keep stuff like that up.
I've been keeping a running list of things I have watched, read and listened to these last few months... and as I have clearly needed things to get me out of my own head, here are a few of the shows, books and podcasts that have been keeping me afloat.
Bridgerton: I decided to watch this on a whim. I was sick of coming home every night staring at my phone. I was planning on boycotting it because Shonda Rhimes was attached to it and I still (irrationally) hold a grudge for 90% of what she did to Grey's Anatomy but I ended up absolutely falling in love with it. It's olden times and beautiful costumes, great music, witty banter and the most handsome man there ever was; Rege-Jean Page. I cannot wait for season 2.
Schitt's Creek: I have this stupid thing in my brain where the more popular something gets, the more I don't want to cave to it. It's dumb and I have probably missed out on a lot of great things because of it but hey, I am who I am. Well, I had about 447 people tell me that I needed to start this show and I eventually gave in to it. OH MY GOD it was exactly what I needed. I can't really tell you anything new about it that other people haven't already said but it is charming and delightful and makes me so so happy. I adore it. Mostly, I adore Dan Levy. The inclusivity, the silliness, the heartfelt family storylines mixed in with the absurdity. It is everything I needed to take me out of reality into a world that was pure joy. It is every single thing that every person has ever said about it and more. They deserve all of the awards that they've received and then some. I really love it.
The Sinner: One hundred percent honesty- I watched this for Matt Bomer. It was completely out of the realm of anything I have ever seen him in and was super impressed and totally disturbed by his performance. The story itself was a little wonky and weak but I certainly enjoyed staring at him for a little bit each night again. Charley liked watching this one with me too so that was fun.
Sweet Magnolias: On Netflix about 3 childhood best friends who grow up and try to make their hometown thrive with fun businesses and a little (a lot) of drama thrown in. I really love the friendship between the 3 girls and their weekly margarita nights that make me long for a girl's night of my own. When I finished the season finale, I literally yelled at my television by myself, "THAT'S IT?! THAT'S HOW IT ENDS?!" I was so sad. They had an excellent cliffhanger and I am anxiously awaiting season 2. Oh! Also, they have one of the best theme songs by one of the greatest bands there ever was:
SPOILER ALERT (for WandaVision and Lost)
Having to watch Vision go away and Wanda be devastated time and time again. Over and over again. It's like torture. Like when we had to watch Juliet die over and over and over again at the end of Lost. I just can't with the sadness.
But really, they did an excellent job with it and Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany were magnificent.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is in full swing and the banter between the two is delightful. Also, you know... Bucky Barnes (hubba hubba)
Mighty Ducks Game Changers: I got Charley to watch this one with me and was really happy that he was laughing at all the right places and seemed to enjoy it. I filled him in on some of throwbacks to the original movies and I look forward to seeing some of the old Ducks in future episodes. But let's be honest here, this reboot will mean nothing to me if Joshua Jackson's Charlie Conway doesn't show up. Really though- Lauren Graham is phenomenal in it and it was really fun seeing Emilio Estevez revive Gordon Bombay's snark.
Watching the reboot, lead to me making Charley watch the original Mighty Ducks movie and I think he may have liked it. I haven't forced 2 or 3 on him yet... baby steps. I was sure to let him know that Mike Vitar stars in the 2nd and 3rd movies as Luis Mendoza so I am hoping that makes him a little more intrigued (LOL it doesn't at all)
This Is Us: It's been an okay season. I was initially put off by all the covid stuff (I live it every day. I didn't want to see it in my TV shows) but they've handled the reality of it very very well. I've fast forwarded through a few episodes (Randall's mom?? Now?? No thank you) but I have enjoyed the dynamic this season much more than the last.
The Walking Dead: Honestly, Jeff and I probably would have stopped watching this a long time ago had Charley not gotten into it. Every once in awhile it has these really great moments that remind you how fantastic it used to be but lately... These last few episodes have been BRUTAL. Brutally boring. Like the most boring episodes there ever was. I sure hope the upcoming season finale about Negan and Lucille (Hilarie Burton Morgan !!!) is good and goes out with a bang. I hope next season revives it a bit because it is struggling and at this point, the only thing that will rope me back in is if Rick shows back up. Can you imagine?!
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: This season has been much more subdued than last season with Zoey dealing with the death of her dad and trying to figure out how to navigate life after losing her hero. It's such a well acted show. Mo and Max opening their new restaurant has been a good, fun balance to her grief and the latest episode featured a tipsy Simon and let me tell you guys, I am Team Simon all the way.
Books!
I read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and was shocked by how different the book is from the movie. I mean, movies are always different from the books but maybe this was a unique experience because this is one of the few times that I had seen the movie first. Each are very good in their own right but the book is much more moody than the movie was. I can't decide if I liked one more than the other but either way, it was a fun read
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes: A delightful read set in 1930's Kentucky and revolves around Eleanor Roosevelt's travelling pack library. Full disclosure: I will read anything by Jojo Moyes. I LOVE her, but throw in a library and encouraging people to read, a few love stories and shoutouts to Louisville, Lexington and yes, even Booneville and I am sold!
I rewatched Gone Girl yesterday and it got me thinking about how much I loved that book. The movie was decent but let's be honest, they were never ever going to be able to capture the tension, the excitement and the pure shock that reading the book brought. It's one of those instances where I wish I could read the book again for the first time and re-experience how much fun I had while reading it.
What books do you wish you could read again for the first time? I will also throw Harry Potter, The Night Circus and Fangirl in there. Just to experience falling in love with those stories for the first time. SO great.
Podcast!
When my brother Dennis and I were little he was always trying to get me to make a radio station with him. I usually had a headache or needed to watch Saved by the Bell so I always flaked on him. Well, he has his very own podcast now highlighting buried treasure music. It's so good, you guys. If you are looking for new music to listen to, please check it out and hit that link below. And if you have any suggestions for him to do a deep dive into, hit him up!
Let me know what is on your To Watch, To Read or To Listen To lists. I plan on eventually watching Ted Lasso and Ginny and Georgia and of course, my JG in her Yes Day movie.
Leave me some of your favorite Tigers, Comerica park, Opening Day memories and pictures in the comments. I would love to see them and pretend like we are all celebrating together just like regular times.
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