Into the great unknown

Ahoy hoy! That's how Mr. Burns used to answer the phone on The Simpsons. Perhaps he still does but I haven't watched it in years, so who knows. If I ever do get in a Simpsons mood, I queue up something from the Conan O'Brien era because nothing can top those. I particularly like the Sideshow Bob episodes, and the one where Bart sells his soul to Milhouse.

Anyway.

I'm in the midst of a momentous month. I started my new job last week, which is fully remote and uses Microsoft software, two things which are foreign to me. The former seems great - though I definitely need to leave the house more - and the latter is maddening. I'll take the balance.

And then. A week from today, I take my youngest to college and become an empty nester. I have spent the entire summer refusing to accept this reality and it has finally come for me. I haven't dedicated any brain space to considering how it will affect me, partly out of denial, yes, but also because I know that I'm going to feel how I'm going to feel and no amount of preparation will change that. It's probably going to suck pretty hard for a couple of weeks. Then life will go on. It has a habit of doing that.

A few weeks ago, a friend congratulated me on both the launch of Sharp Skirts and "the launch of two successful humans into the world." I did do that, didn't I? I've raised two fierce, brilliant people who know themselves and trust themselves and are kind to others. You can't ask for much more than that.

🎥 The Last Detail (Tubi)
I almost bailed on this 15 minutes in, because 3 Navy guys on a roadtrip aren't usually my cup of tea. I'm so glad I didn't. What follows is a depiction of male friendship that you don't see much in movies, as well as a commentary on flouting society's rules and expectations. Randy Quaid is a baby-faced teenager and Jack Nicholson wears a sailor hat like no other human on Earth.

📺 King of the Hill reboot (Hulu)
Push through the first few seconds of unsettlement when you see adult Bobby Hill and settle into this like a warm bath. It's pitch-perfect. Watching Hank Hill stumble through the 21st century is damn delightful. And you will never read Saudi Arabia the same way after hearing Peggy pronounce it.

📖 Ms. Demeanor
I think this is probably classified as 'chick lit,' if people even use that phrase anymore. It's a great story that progresses quickly, with some fun twists. I couldn't shake the feeling that everything resolves a little too neatly; like she wrote it with the sole intention of it becoming a rom-com. But not every book needs to be War and Peace, for chrissake. Just enjoy the ride, Carla. Jeez.

I seem to be settling into an every-other-week pattern with this newsletter, which will definitely happen next weekend because I will be CRYING and DRIVING to college oh my god.

xoxo,
Carla