Monthly Sanity Roundup: Loose Necks & Library Cards
Watch, read, and listen with me—from HBO dramas to thrifted classics.
Sadly, we lost a comedic legend, but her magic lives on via streaming reruns, and right now we’re saving our sanity by rewatching Schitt’s Creek. I’m struck by not only Catherine O’Hara’s talent but also her face. She opted out of plastic surgery and fillers, which is an increasing rarity these days.
So much so that I often wonder if we even know what aging looks like anymore. The spotlight, social media, and capitalism put pressure on us to clutch onto our youth at any cost—financial or physical.
But that wasn’t for Catherine. And it genuinely makes me smile because there she is, looking gorgeous as she delivers some of the best TV comedy in her signature pajama vest with a loose neck, forming jowls, and deep smile lines. No apologies.
A few years ago, at 68, she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “I’m a freak in that I’ve never had anything done to my face… I believe we should embrace and respect age and love ourselves for it.”
Excuse me? What did I just read? *pages back to triple check*
Yes. I read it correctly, and all I can say is, please. I want to see more women like Sarah Jessica Parker and Jamie Lee Curtis stepping out as who they are and countering the push for childlike youth.
Let’s take a moment and think about how difficult it must be for them to push back. Even for us, non-Hollywood women, it’s difficult. When we look in the mirror and see crow’s feet and lip lines. Or worse, pull back our hairline to lift our face, only to let it go, exposing just how much elasticity our skin has lost. And we don’t have millions of people telling us how old we look.
If I had endless pools of money, I can’t say I’d turn down a lid lift or neck tuck. But I want to say I would. I want to live as Cathrine did. Proud of who I am and how I look.
To be super clear, I get Botox and am not anti-aging, but I am anti-pressure, and the youth bar is forever creeping higher. I’m more than ready for decisions about our faces to be based on how we feel, rather than how someone else says we “should” look.
And that brings me to my monthly roundup of what’s keeping me sane or making me laugh, because sanity these days is a group project.
The evening unwind:
HBO’s The Pitt caught me off guard. Sure, I watched ER a bit in the 90s, but I was never sucked in. We just finished the first season, and sweet bébé jesus, Noah Wyle absolutely delivers. This is a fast-paced drama without much comic relief, so buckle up.
What’s so clever, aside from the all-around stellar acting, is that each episode is a real-time hour of a single shift at a Pittsburgh emergency room. I’m already lamenting that there are only two seasons so far.
As mentioned, we’re rewatching Schitt’s Creek for the third time because it’s so well done and always delivers several out-loud, actual laughs. If you haven’t watched it, or tried it and thought it wasn’t for you, I suggest watching the first episode to get the groundwork, then skipping a few while they’re still finding their footing. You can revisit the missed ones later. It won’t take away from the show and might get you over the development hump.
As the seasons progress, David and Alexis find their rhythm and it’s top-tier sibling banter. And by season 4, you’ll witness a complete transformation of Moira Rose. Catherine O’Hara crafted the role to be more eccentric and memorable. Her vocabulary and interpretation of a transatlantic accent are untouchable.
“Turtles do not pets make. The poor things are riddled with a myriad of diseases. You may as well tie a leash around a raw chicken cutlet.” -Moira Rose
👉 Also, if you have college students, they can get HBO at a student discount. Same with several other streaming services. Worth looking into.
What’s entertaining me while I fold laundry:
The Libby app has changed the way I listen to books. If you’re unfamiliar with Libby, it’s your local library’s app for audiobooks. It’s easy to sign up—even if you don’t have a library card. Download the app and follow the steps, they make it really simple.
We canceled our Audible subscription when we found out about Libby. Not only are we saving a ton of money, but we’re exposed to titles we never would have looked at before—turns out when you’re not paying $17 a book, you’ll try almost anything that sounds slightly interesting.
Last month I listened to A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz. Rory Kinnear is a spectacular narrator and made the book come to life. It was very entertaining and clever.
I started The Sisterhood about women in the CIA, and I wish I could just download all of the details to my brain because it’s captivating! I’m two chapters in and have already learned about the boys club (surprise) and how women made exceptional spies because they’re often overlooked (again, surprise).
Because the books are free, I’ve been trying out classics I never got around to. The Maltese Falcon was the latest. Although a standard “hard-boiled detective” noir, I had a hard time with the machismo. If you’ve ever seen the movie, Humphrey Bogart plays it perfectly. Super cool and no time for “dames.” Luckily, the narrator was ridiculously talented, which helped offset the ick.
👉 If you’re new to audiobooks, the hottest tip I can give you: the narrator is as important as the story. If you don’t like their voice, you won’t like the book.
Reading experiment continues:
Last month, I shared that I was collecting small paperback books from thrift stores and used bookshops. I finished The Color Purple (highly recommend) and am now onto The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
Reading them back-to-back is an interesting contrast—two very different authors, subjects, and writing styles. The Color Purple sang to me in a way The Bell Jar isn’t. There’s something about Alice Walker’s journal-style writing that drew me in.
Both books are vivid tellings, and while I may not get lost in the pages of Sylvia Plath’s sorrowful novel, she truly was an exquisite writer.
How I’m laughing:
Aside from Schitt’s Creek, I don’t really have shows that are making me laugh, but texting my friends inappropriate things is always worth a chuckle (I’m hilarious). I also regularly check out local comedy clubs to see who’s performing.
👉 One trick we learned a couple of years ago is to find a show you want to see—music, dance, comedy—and check for tickets the day before or the day of. You can get excellent deals if you’re not too concerned about whether or not you go.
We scored tickets to see Harry Connick Jr. for $75 (half the retail price). I still can’t get over how close we were or how gorgeous the venue was.
Here’s to loose necks, library cards, and last-minute tickets—I’ll be back next Thursday!
P.S. Please share your favorite books, shows, and listens… like I said, sanity is a group project. 🤩