Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Chat, Chat, Chat...Feminism!!!

Child, I am tired. 
It's been a pretty full day. First I had to thoroughly analyze a dream I had last night. Don't worry, I am not about to relate it here. Or anywhere. It had a lot of my common dream themes but took them to far greater heights than ever before. It was like, "What the fuck, brain? Is this how I really feel?" 
Interesting, to say the least. 
So I got ready to go to the dentist office which mostly involved dressing in town clothes, flossing and brushing my teeth, making Mr. Moon some breakfast burritos, and most importantly- controlling my anxiety. 
Of course everything went fine. I take excellent care of my teeth and gums and was blessed with good dental genes. Well, except for my two front crooked teeth but that's cosmetic, not structural. 
My dental hygienist and I chatted a lot as we always do. We are very, very different in many ways but we avoid those areas of conversation and talk about the many things we have in common like being married for a long time, having children and grandchildren, getting older, etc. When my teeth were all clean the dentist came in to poke around as he does and I do like him. He's my age and has recently sold the practice but he's still there working every day and probably will be for awhile. He's grown his hair out which I really like. Seems to me that he's enjoying his life and he's a good dentist and I hope he doesn't leave anytime soon. 
When it was all over and I had my little goodie bag of floss and toothpaste and a new toothbrush I told my hygienist that I'd really enjoyed catching up with her and that it had been my biggest social event since the last time I saw her. 
I was not lying, either. 

Then on to Costco and Publix. I saw Brenda, she of the mermaid eye-shadow and that's always nice. I didn't need much at all but I figured I'd get my weekly supply of cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, apples, bananas, and M&M's. (BOGO!) 

Got home, put everything away, ate a late lunch and then started in on tonight's supper. I bought a nice fat eggplant last week and hadn't used it yet so I made an eggplant parmesan. I hope it's good. I sliced the eggplant and dipped the pieces in milk and egg and then panko and baked them on the convection setting and they crisped and browned beautifully in just a few minutes. I made a sauce with squash in it and I grated cheese and put it all together and then cleaned up the kitchen which was a huge mess at that point but most of my work is done for tonight. 
And I'm afraid that I've spent way too much time on my bum foot. It hurts worse tonight than it did when I woke up and I'm not happy about that. 

So. I just listened to Ali Wong's book, "Dear Girls" and I want to say that I very much enjoyed it. Have you ever seen any of her stand-up  performances on Netflix? Let me just say that if you don't like dirty comedy (or "blue" comedy, as they say), please don't watch it. The woman gives no fucks about being ladylike in the least. "Pussy" is one of her favorite words and she is not discussing cats. But. She has worked her ass off in a very tough business for many years, has a successful marriage and partnership with a loving husband, and has two daughters. 
AND, she had one of the most bizarre and interesting ayahuasca experiences I've ever heard. 

Interestingly, after I finished the book I listened to some more of the "Breaking Down Patriarchy" podcast which is about the farthest thing from an Ali Wong performance and/or book there could possibly be and as I listened to how women's sexuality, appetites, and rights to own their own lives and bodies have been controlled by men via religions and governments for thousands of years, I thought about Wong and how she has somehow transcended all of that to be a strong and capable woman, determined to define her own terms when it has come to her career, her life, and her relationships. 

Interesting, to say the least. 

If you're interested, you can access her stand-up specials on Netflix or alternately, on Youtube. Her book can be found anywhere books are sold, of course, and at the library, both in audible and readable versions. "Breaking Down Patriarchy" is available, as they say, wherever you access your podcasts. 

I do so love living in a world where I can listen and watch and learn  from women of many different beliefs, backgrounds, upbringings, and world views.

I better go put that eggplant in the oven. 

Love...Ms. Moon

28 comments:

  1. Yay You and that new cooking device. My microwave is supposedly a convection oven, too, but I'm afraid to learn.

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    1. It's no big deal. Just a fan to move the air through the space as things bake. Makes for less baking time.

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  2. Ali Wong's stand up specials on Netflix made me laugh so hard! She gives zero fucks and I love her for it!

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  3. I almost peed myself listening to Ali Wong! And that learning from all kinds of women is the true power of technology. Hope the eggplant was good!

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    1. You are so right about technology. I am glad that Ali Wong makes you laugh too.

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  4. Ali Wong tells it! I have not heard of her ayahuasca experience but I must say she is brave to have gone there. Maybe , when I was twenty five i would have ventured into that "medicine"...nope not now, I can barely keep grounded as it is. And dream world certainly has its way with us , right? Anymore would overwhelm.
    Dinner sounds so yummy, Royal Queen of the food making! YUM

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    1. Her then boyfriend, now husband, is the one who took her to participate in ayahuasca journeys. Seems like it was a big part of them working together to have the sort of relationship they wanted. And they were young.
      Dream world. Don't get me started.

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  5. Speaking of strong women (and I count you among them!), have you seen Dolly Parton's latest twitter post about getting her Covid shot? I don't follow Twitter, but stumbled across it and wow - she sent a message! Just google Dolly Parton Covid vaccination and you'll find it.

    Eggplant parmesan is one of my very favorites! Bet it turned out great in the Thermonster. I'm coming for dinner (I wish!).

    Chris from Boise

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    1. Yes! Yay for Dolly! Saint Dolly Parton. I love her so. You know she donated a million dollars to the research for the Moderna vaccine, right?
      The parm was good. Better today.

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  6. Haven't seen Ali Wong, but the Pussy comment caught my attention. In her latter years, my British mother had some difficulty getting into my (then) minivan. Either I or my oldest son (young teen at the time) would help her into the front seat and then hand her the seat belt strap. Well, for those of us who are short (my mother and me), those damn straps always cut across our necks, so I bought Sherpa seat belt covers. Whenever my mother reached out as we handed her the seat belt she would call out brightly in her British accent, "Where's Pussy?"

    This was only one of her phrases that brought much laughter over the years. When my three boys were small and discovered their private parts to be interesting, she lovingly (and repeatedly) reminded them to "leave Willy alone". So you can just imagine the howling laughter in our house when the movie "Free Willy" came out.

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    1. Oh, Mary! I love those stories! The British accent just makes it all that much more charming.

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  7. The podcast sounds interesting, and though I've never heard of Ali Wong, she sounds a bit like Margaret Cho -- who also doesn't mind throwing around salty terminology in her act. Glad the dentist's appointment went well! I haven't been to a dentist in, sheesh, a year anyway.

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    1. Wong was a writer on Margaret Cho's show, as a matter of fact! You should check out some of her stuff.

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  8. I love Ali Wong!. I first saw her almost two years ago and fell in love. She is a tough, funny, no nonsense woman. I'll have to look for that book.

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    1. She really is. And she's quite proud of her heritage. Her mama's Vietnamese, her Dad was Chinese. I bet you'd love the book.

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  9. Will be looking up Ali Wong on YouTube ... if she's as good as Margaret Cho ... then I know I'll be in for some good laughs!!
    I knew your dentist visit would be no big deal!! Even though we have these damned panic attacks, we always end up being OK in spite of them!! Yes ... I have them, too!!
    Hope you have a marvelous day!

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    1. In some ways, I like her work better than Cho's. Just me. But yes, look her up. You will laugh, I guarantee it.
      Dang medical anxieties- why do so many of us have them?

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  10. I'd never heard of Ali Wong - thanks for the recommendation. I'll check her out. Oddly enough I just downloaded The Women's Room by Marilyn French on to my kindle. I read it over 40 years ago and since it looks like I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time running my friend around and waiting for her at appointments I thought it would be good to read it again!

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    1. Oh my Lord! I had that book and read it many times. I still think about it often. I lent it to someone who never returned it. I bet you'll enjoy rereading it. Phew! Times have changed since them.

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  11. It is hard for you to stay off your sore foot. Hope it is better today and you can give it a rest! I will check out Ali Wong - I can use some laughter!
    Thanks!

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    1. Big news! I got my first jab of Moderna today! I was at the Walgreens to get my meds and asked for advice on signing up for an vaccine appointment. The Pharmacist said she had an extra dose and would I like it now. Yes! So random, right?

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    2. It is rather hard to stay off a foot! Yes. Ali Wong will make you laugh. And hurray on getting your shot! I swear- half the people I know who have gotten theirs have just been at the right place at the right time.

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  12. parallel lives. I went to the dentist for a new impression which turned into more work than I was mentally prepared for. and I also bought an eggplant for eggplant parmesan! just haven't made it yet.

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    1. Wish I could send you the rest of my eggplant parmesan. Mr. Moon is not overly fond of eggplant in any form but I always think he'll love it. Actually, I had some leftovers for lunch today and it was even better than yesterday.
      We do lead parallel lives sometimes it seems to me. Odd.

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  13. Eeek! My teeth cleaning is tomorrow. I’m always petrified they are going to find something that needs drilling. It’s a great feeling of relief to escape with the little bag of dental booty.
    My dentist is a no nonsense Jamaican woman, I love to hear her island accent and she’s great at drilling when needed, but just hearing that high pitched whine sets my boots shaking. I’m jealous of your convection oven or “fan” as they say on the great British baking show. Hope today is delightful for you! Much love.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. I hope you need NO DRILLING! Your dentist sounds lovely.
      I do love my "fan". I feel so professional.

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  14. Glad the dentist visit is behind you. Perhaps it was in the mix of your melancholy the past couple of days. I hope that grey cloud has lifted for you, dear one. Hugs.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.