Lots of Thoughts
Good morning and welcome back to is it allergies/flu/Covid season!
I was down for the count last week. Rob was the first to get sick and to be honest I thought it was probably just allergies/man flu. You know what I mean, right?
It's a cliché because it's true.
Why is it than when a man gets a sniffle, he's never been sicker in his ENTIRE LIFE?
God. I remember when my dad would get a cough except it was never just a little cough it was always clear the room I am hacking up a lung cough.
But sure, my monthly cramps and migraines were "all in my head".
I may still have residual issues.
Even worse are the deniers. The ones that refuse to take medicine because they can tough it out.
And before anyone comes at me, I'm not saying ALL men. But if you don't have at least one man in your life time that has suffered from man flu, then I'm going on a limb and saying you are the anomaly.
I'm fairly certain Rob will back me up on this. He has a VERY low tolerance for pain. I'm not saying I like pain, but Rob has such an aversion to it that it's borderline...I'm not sure what the word is...
Let's just say I don't think he could handle the degree of pain I live with on a daily basis.
Put it another way - I enjoy getting a good deep tissue massage. If it hurts, I know they are working the knots out. While Rob prefers the slightest touch when he gets a massage which I always wonder, what's the point?
But I digress. The point is, Rob starting feeling poorly last Sunday. By Monday night, I wasn't doing so good. It was primarily head congestion leading me to initially conclude allergies but when the hot and cold flashes started in I grew concerned. Covid tests were taken (negative) so that ruled that out.
I did sleep on the couch the rest of the week due to not being able to breathe when prone (and Rob snoring so much due to his stuffiness- the CPAP can only do so much).
I was just so listless last week. I slept a lot - sitting up, on the couch. I was glad I didn't have to work - not that I was really sick enough to call in sick had I had a job, but I was definitely exhausted all week.
But I did apply for a few jobs.
Which brings me back to the ongoing quest for a new career. I appreciate all the leads so far that I've been getting. Nothing has happened yet, but I know my timeline is never HR's timeline. I still have the rest of the month before I can file for unemployment - would be great if I didn't have to.
Too bad I am too lazy to become a real influencer.
I think it is time to update my blog About Me. Yeah. I think that's next.
Anyway, I am feeling much better now, thank you. Nearly 100% and I am back to sleeping in our lovely bedroom. Rob is almost there but he's probably closer to 85% if I were to guess.
And now for something completely different...
I finally have AppleTV. I've been so reluctant because it annoys me that I have to have all these different streaming services just to watch the shows I want.
I miss cable.
And I've been told for YEARS that I needed to watch Ted Lasso. And it's not that I didn't think I would like it, I just didn't want to pay for another service.
Also, although I essentially loathe sports, I LOVE sports movies. No, I cannot explain why. I don't know. I just know I am a sucker for a sports themed movie. Ergo, I assumed I would love Ted Lasso.
So we finally started it last Friday.
What I was not prepared for was Ted Lasso being the Leslie Knope of the Sports World.
In case you didn't know, I aspire to be a Leslie Knope type person. And yes, I am aware she is a fictional person. On the off chance that you don't know who I am referencing, this is Amy Poehler's character on Parks & Rec.
Leslie is a kind hearted person that cares passionately for her friends and community. She sees the good in everyone. She rarely speaks poorly of anyone and just wants to help everyone be the best they can be.
She can also be a bit overbearing but nobody's perfect. You can't help but love her.
I just want to be loved, is that so wrong?
Ted Lasso strikes me as the perfect male counterpart for Leslie Knope. He is beacon of kindness. He takes the time to learn and know every person's name that he meets. He doesn't let things get him down (mostly...mostly). He inspires others.
What's not to like about that?
Full disclosure: we are completely caught up to the current season 'cause we binge like that. Therefore, if you are not completely up to date, there may be spoilers below. I know a lot of my friends are excited I finally jumped on board and want to know my thoughts.
I love it. Like I love it love it.
Jason Sudekis is fantastic as Ted, but honestly I love the entire cast. I love the friendship and rapport between Ted and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt). Hannah Waddingham as the team owner Rebecca is a stunning goddess. I love that she is not a stick figure and I find her relationship with Keeley (Juno Temple - who is a spritely little stick figure) charming.
I remember seeing Hannah in Hocus Pocus 2 and wondering who she was (she was the witch mother) - she is gorgeous. And tall. And she wears high heels all the time and almost has to duck down when she enters a room. She is tall and proud of it - or at least her character is. And she wears body con skirts and dresses and gives fuller figured women like me confidence.
I may want to be Leslie Knope but I aspire to the physical confidence of Rebecca Welton.
But I don't just love Rebecca for her looks. I love that she is a big ass boss bitch (her words) - yes she started out a little mean spirited but she was hurting so I give her grace on that. Plus she treats her staff as equals and is just overall a good (fictional) person.
And Keeley? It would have been easy to dismiss her initially as just a football groupie but she too treats everyone as equals and has a mind of her own (and is turning into her own big ass boss bitch).
Strong female characters in a male dominated show that are not just window dressing? Yes please and thank you.
I like the footballers too - Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) is a favorite but why wouldn't he be? His beautiful smile is infectious and his character is just a good person. He stands up for what he believes in, does not chase money, and effects change (in a fictional world, I know).
Even initially one dimensional characters like Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) have had tremendous character growth.
I think one of the things I like best about this show is that it isn't predictable. And the number one example of that has to be the character arc of Nathan Shelley (Nick Mohammed). From kit manager to assistant coach to arch rival.
This is the one character I could do without.
I loved Nate at first. I loved that Ted made him feel important from the moment they met. What I cannot wrap my head around is how quickly meek but nice Nate became a verified arse hat. I could write an entire blog post about how much I have come to dislike him.
The moment he became an assistant coach he became a jerk to the new kit manager. Why? You think he would have more empathy for him. And then the way he turned on Ted who had literally never been anything but nice to him and promoted and encouraged him? Ugh. I hate to see Nate doing well now.
And speaking of loathesome - I can't forget everyone's favorite Watcher Giles! Anthony Stewart Head as Rebecca's ex/former owner of the team/football rival team owner Rupert Mannion is perfection. I hate to see him as such an awful person but he's fantastic and I am always thrilled to see Buffy cast in new things.
And returning to the show not being predictable, I like that the team didn't magically start winning every game once Ted won them over. In fact, every time there is a really pivotal match and you think they are going to win this time, they don't. Which is disappointing but also nicely unpredictable.
So yeah - kudos all around.
Also speaking of kudos, can we talk about Schmigadoon! Star studded cast including Keegan-Michael Key, Cecily Strong, Jane Krakowski, Alan Cumming, Kristen Chenowith...that's just off the top of my head. This was obviously created by someone with a DEEP love for theatre and musicals...and the second season Schmicago has not disappointed so far.
I DIED when I heard one of the background characters say Peas and Carrots during a scene - my theatre kids know. #iykyk
Anyway, it's magic and I love it.
We've also watched Hello Tomorrow which I mostly watch for the aesthetic of it more than anything. I'm feeling slightly above meh on the plot but 5 stars for the set and costume design. *chefs kiss*
Yesterday was a first informal Sunday Funday. We warmed the pool up a little and Duncan and I jumped in, Elliot grilled for us and we ate dinner outside, and then a little hot tub time to end the evening. The water was still a little cool but if it had been truly hot outside I probably would have thought it was perfect.
BTW I'm probably going to let my hair go again for the summer. I certainly cannot afford to get it done when I don't have a job. So if you see me this summer with faded blah hair, just know I hate it too.
But I'll also like it because it will mean I won't have to worry about getting my hair wet in the pool.
Silver linings.
That's enough for now. I have a job to go find.
#stilllucky #infinitelybetter #appletv #tedlasso #parks&rec #lesliknope #schmigadoon #schmicago #hellotomorrow #over50andunemployed