I was planning to post a Week of Spring Outfits, but this is what it looked like at the beginning of the week:
Although the week ended in a spring-like fashion, I thought the early part would overlap too much with my Week of Winter Outfits, what with my winter boots and warm sweaters. But I’m dying to talk to you about clothes and fashion for spring! Maybe next week.
You know what’s fun to do when you’re wearing your winter boots and it’s 5 degrees and snowy in May? Go to the garden centre! It sounds like I am being sarcastic, but believe me, I am not. I prefer to shop at less busy times; this sounds like a Pandemic Thing but it’s really just a Nicole Thing. I have always hated shopping at busy times; once, pre-pandemic, I went to Costco on a Sunday afternoon and my thought was this is how it ends for me, I guess.
When the sun comes out and the weather feels more May than March, it’s almost like the entire city remembers that a) it’s spring and b) gardens exist, and the garden centres are abuzz with activity. But with weather like we’ve had, well, I’m not saying I had the whole place to myself, but it was pretty easy to socially distance.
I texted my modest haul to my husband, who marvelled at my plant-buying restraint. What he didn’t know was that I have six flower planters and a ten-pack of vegetables on order from a fundraiser arriving in a couple of weeks, and what he does know but doesn’t always remember is that the majority of my gardens are filled to the brim with perennials, and so my plant needs are not so large. Also, after my garden centre trip I went to Superstore, where the gift with purchase was…a flower planter! What I’m saying is I’m pretty excited to get in the garden and get as much as I can out of our very short growing season. You can expect many, many garden updates from me over the next few months.
On a non-garden note, here’s an exciting update for you: I have finished watching Season One of The Golden Girls! At this rate I’m going to finish the series by 2026. Season Two opened up with two fantastic episodes: Blanche thinking she’s pregnant, but is instead going through menopause, and the ladies becoming mistaken for sex workers and ending up arrested. There is a guest appearance by the man referred to throughout the episode as Mr. Burt Reynolds, and I actually laughed out loud with delight when the gentleman in question appeared at the door with Sophia. Sorry, spoiler alert for a 37 year old TV show.
Anyway, it got me thinking two things: first, this might have been one of the very first mainstream television shows to discuss The Change, even if there are plot holes you could lose your house in. I mean, who thinks pregnancy at age 55? And also, in the history of the world is there one woman whose periods just naturally stopped with no other changes at all, and that was her menopause? But I cheer the effort to address something that women then, and sometimes now, seem loathe to address.
Second, heartthrobs in the 80s were very different from heartthrobs today. They were so much hairier! No chest waxing for Mr. Burt Reynolds (do guys still wax their chests? Or did that go out with the 40 Year Old Virgin?) I will tell you, people, when I saw that giant moustache, tanned skin, and brown leisure suit walk into the Golden Girls’ home, well. It was a look.
It reminded me of our 1987 family trip to California. We did all the usual things, including the most boring viewing of the Spruce Goose, which only served to make me appreciate the casino episode of The Simpsons. Anyway, one of the things we did was go to Universal Studios, and I don’t remember a single thing about it except that there were life-size cardboard cutouts of then-current heartthrobs, notably Tom Selleck, which you could get your photo taken with to trick your friends into thinking that you had your photo taken with the ACTUAL Tom Selleck. The 80s! Such a quaint time. My mom did have her photo taken with “Tom,” his arm floating a couple of inches above her shoulder. I myself had my photo taken with one “David Hasselhoff.”
It was an odd choice to be sure; I have never in my life seen an episode of Knight Rider, and certainly I wasn’t interested in David Hasselhoff at that time. My celebrity crushes in 1987 were limited to Iceman and Maverick (NEW MOVIE COMING OUT SOON OMG), Corey Hart (I was in his actual fan club), and, weirdly, Ralph Macchio from the Karate Kid Part II.
Another odd choice is my Garfield zodiac sweatshirt paired with a collared shirt but again, it was 1987 and I felt pretty hip. Also, there’s no need to ask “What’s your sign” when it’s in Garfield form on your body, for all to see.
Pandemic Reading
Before I get into the books I read this week, I am going to tell you about something I did that I never do: I took a book back to the library without reading it. A friend had highly recommended a book and I immediately put it on hold, without any other information, and when it came in I was distressed to see that it was a memoir about addiction. Addiction memoirs are right up there with sci-fi and dystopian novels for me, in the category of Things I Don’t Want To Read. Not only was this an Addiction Memoir, but it was also a Parenting With Addiction Memoir. I kept putting it off and renewing it, and finally I decided I would flip to a couple of pages to see what it was like. The very first line I read concerned putting a child to bed and then doing a line of coke, and I was like that NOPE octopus gif.
Here is what I did read this week:
Black Widow. I heard this woman on a podcast and I knew I had to read her book about being suddenly widowed at age 44. It’s such a compelling and touching read but also extremely witty and somehow funny.
The Great Gatsby. CONTROVERSIAL OPINION ALERT. I first read this 25 years ago and HATED it. Like, I have a visceral reaction to even the title. But my younger son is reading it for English, so I decided to reread it. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t like it but I can appreciate it as a social commentary, a time capsule, a voice of a generation, etc. Still. My son suggested I don’t like it because it’s written by a man and the main character is a man, and you know, he’s probably not wrong. I find it dull, although the ending is decent. I know, I know, I am in the massive minority here, everyone loves it and it speaks to them, but that is the great thing about literature, we can all like what we like. And I don’t like this – but I can appreciate it.
Everything Must Go. I almost quit this book before I began: the very first paragraph, THE VERY FIRST ONE, deals with putting down a much loved dog riddled with cancer. Um, that sucked. I immediately checked the book jacket to see if this was a major theme in the book – it wasn’t – and then continued reading. The dead dog was only tangentially in the story but TRIGGER WARNING for those of us with elderly, cancer-ridden dogs. Anyway. The book is about a woman dealing with her mothers dementia, written from both points of view. The author’s signature seems to be light and easy books about heavy and difficult topics, and that’s how I’d describe this. DEAD DOG THOUGH YOU GUYS. It’s fine. It’s fine. Barkley’s still here. I’m fine. Everything is fine. This book is fine.
More than fine? My new kale patch! I felt a little nervous, putting actual plants in, but kale is pretty cold tolerant so I think it will be fine. I hope you have a More Than Fine week, my friends. xo
Hooray for little kale plants and 80s fashion.
p.s. It’s funny you just re-read The Great Gatsby for the same reason I’m currently re-reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. Having kids in high school can be good for the mind.
I haven’t read that in so long, what do you think of it? I can’t even REMEMBER it! Wait, did I even read it? Lol.
I haven’t gotten very far into it but I remember liking it as a teen.
I’m looking forward to your fashion and garden posts, Nicole–loving your Kale patch and garden center haul already! I concur with every single one of your book opinions this week. The other thing about _The Great Gatsby_ is that frequently all people will take away from it is the glamour of the 1920s (_Fight Club_ is another one that’s misunderstood).
Mmmm I could see that, but I don’t find it glamourous at all. Maybe if I watched the movie! As it is, I found it dull, although as I said the end is pretty decent. Garden and fashion posts coming up!
You need to read “Lessons in Chemistry.” I am not done with the book so can’t vouch for whether the dog dies at some point, but he is a major character in the book and is so loveable. And I say that as a person who is really not a dog person… because I’m kind of terrified of most dogs and don’t like being jumped on/licked/etc. I am making friends with my neighbor’s great dane, though, so maybe she will convert me to a luke warm dog person. Nonetheless, I don’t know your reading tastes super well, but I do think you would enjoy Lessons in Chemistry, but the wait will probably be long because it’s a new release and very very buzzy.
OMG the snow. That is so depressing. We have had the weirdest weather here. Like one weekend I ran with mittens and a hat and the next weekend I was hot in a t-shirt and capris and then we set a record high temp of 90. And then had strong thunderstorms that took down a lot of trees but luckily not in our lot. Mother Nature is pizzzzed. This week looks more normal. I am so bummed that we were not able to be out and about this weekend because the weather was PERFECT. It would have been the perfect day to go to the zoo but alas, we had to stay home since I had covid and then – plot twist – my oldest ended up with a weird virus that featured a rash, fever, and GI stuff. He’s still home with me today since he was hit so hard. We really can not get a break.
Lastly, thank you for the kind comment to not beat myself up over getting covid. I have tried to do all the right things, but then you can still get this highly communicable virus and it’s not my fault. But it’s good to have someone remind you to not blame yourself and that this is how highly communicable viruses work. Miraculously my husband and the boys did not get it. I don’t know how but we tested them 3 times so I feel confident they don’t have covid.
It’s not your fault! It happens. There’s so much about the virus that no one knows about, so give yourself a big hug. And also your oldest – poor kid!
Your weather sounds like our weather, but without snow. It’s freezing! Then it’s sunny. Then it’s windy. Then it snows. Then it’s warm! I can’t put away anything, is what I’m saying…
If we had snow here, I would be curled up in a ball in my bed, unable to deal. We are officially in sandal weather and I need to wash all the winter stuff and move it to its summer storage locations. I admire your ability to just head over to the garden center and ignore the seemingly endless slog of winter.
I’m impressed that you persevered with that book and the dog. I am sitting on a book of essays about a woman and her dog and I think I might send it back because I’m not sure I’m up for a dog dying book myself. Give Barkley some extra pets from me.
You know, there are so many wonderful books, no need to read anything sad about dogs! I say send it back!
I heard about the snow out your way. We had a lot of sunshine last week and I feel like we’ve dodged a Canadian bullet. But now it is rainy and chilly again. So, there you have it. Spring weather really whips one around…
Love all the garden pics and optimism that the best weather is still to come!
I read the Great Gatsby but think I also had mixed emotions – it was fine, but forgettable to me; I recently finished The Picture of Dorian Grey and really liked it (though the middle part took FOREVER and I skimmed that). I think both books have memorable/sad endings and I think when people read books like that, it tends to make them stick out!?
The ending is really sad – my son and I have been discussing it a lot. The last line of the book is beautiful. But, shrug, I don’t love it. Anyway, it was a nice short book!
THAT IS TOO MUCH SNOW FOR MAY, NICOLE.
But look at all your pretty plants! I really really want to plant flowers but… they are low on my priority list right now. So who knows if I will end up with any this year. Sigh.
I read Gatsby some years ago and… don’t have any recollection of it. I think the only thing that stuck with me (and poorly, as you will see) is that everyone lived in someplace called Egg? Is that right? East Egg and West Egg or something?
Literally that is my only memory of the book.
Yes! East Egg and West Egg. I actually googled this to see what it looked like because I could not picture it at all. It was underwhelming.
You can’t get a break from the snow. I’m very sorry. I hope it’s gone for good, and I’ll send you bright and warm thoughts.
God bless The Golden Girls. And yes, men were so hairy in the 80s. And women had to be hairLESS. Sigh.
That photo of you and the David Hasselhoff cutout is excellent. I absolutely adore the sweatshirt for a variety of reasons, and I wish you still had it. You could sell it now for SO MUCH MONEY. By the way, depending on when the photo was taken, I was either a junior or senior in high school in 1987! Good times. XOXO
Fellow Tauruses unite! I really loved Garfield books back then too. I probably would still smile at them now!
You know, I think The Great Gatsby may be one of the most over-hyped books ever. Does anyone really love it? i read it years ago, and this was when I read and appreciated a lot of classics, and I didn’t hate it, but also didn’t think it was anything special. I’m starting to think this is one of those “Emperor’s New Clothes” situations where we’re all just tricked into believing it’s great.
I’m hoping that future posts include spring fashion and garden updates, and NO snow!!! That is crazy in mid-May.
I have had a few people reach out to tell me that it’s their favourite book ever! So, that goes to show that there’s something for everyone, I guess!
Yay on the Hoff with your Garfield shirt! That’s epic.
Meh on The Great Gatsby. I don’t hate it but yes it’s overrated. Part of it is that I “had” to read it for school instead of choosing to read it on my own.
I like the last chapter but the rest is dull for me!
As the current owner of a 15 year old Lab with medical problems and a 15 year old cat who has cancer but who isn’t yet suffering or in pain but that day is coming, I’m just gong to pass on Everything Must Go for now. Pretty sure I’m not in a good place to read that at the moment.
I read The Great Gatsby in high school and evidentially I’m also in the minority because I don’t recall hating or loving it. I guess it was . . . fine? I saved my high school reading hate for Great Expectations, Ethan Frome, and Catcher in the Rye.
Changing subjects to shopping when others are not: For two years Youngest’s soccer practices were at 6:00-7:30 pm not more than 3 minutes away from a Costco. I got very used to just dropping by Costco and picking stuff up during practice because there was hardly anyone at the Costco at that time and it was so convenient. Then Youngest’s soccer practices got moved far away from a Costco and I coasted along for awhile but finally had to get some stuff at Costco so I went on a Saturday afternoon. Let’s just say I was dramatically NOT READY for how many people were there. I walked in, looked around, and left without buying anything. That was a few weeks ago and I’m really going to have to muster up the mental fortitude to go back, but I’m not going on a weekend afternoon again. Just no.
Maggie, when I went on that Sunday afternoon, I thought, how do people do this? I have heard evenings are a great time to shop there but I don’t think I’ve ever done that.
Big hugs from one elderly pet owner to another xoxo
I snort laughed at THIS IS HOW IT ENDS FOR ME, I GUESS. Oh goodness. That’s funny stuff. It is nice to be able to get in and out of a shopping situation as quickly as is possible. I still say that no one should ever follow me in the cashier line because I ALWAYS end up in the line that needs a price check or a cash register malfunction.
I saw a snippet of a Golden Girls while at a hotel on my way to pick up Tank from college. It made me laugh. The oldest one temporarily moved out and Betty White was trying to decide which guy to marry (?). I laughed at BIG ENOUGH FOR A HOUSE TO FALL INTO.
The snow – yikes. Your energy for your garden is impressive, but I can’t say it is catchy. I wish the outside of my house looked amazing, but I don’t have a handle on the inside. One of these days.
My week will consist of trying to get my daughter’s grad video done. Huge undertaking.
You have enough on your plate without adding gardening, too! Hahaha I don’t always end up in the line with the price check or cashier malfunction, but it happens pretty often!
Every year around this time, I get the urge to plant annuals. And every year around this time, I remind myself that I will most likely neglect to water them and they will die. This is why I only have perennials now…I’ve killed too many annuals with my neglect.
I love my perennials too! I have the most hardy kind that will survive potential snow and frost up until June…
SNOW. Again. *sigh* I love that you were able to get to the garden center and you will garden. Soon.
You are so fun to watch The Golden Girls from the beginning. Burt Reynolds lived in Jupiter/Palm beach. I grew up in West Palm Beach. Burt filmed a show in WPB in the 80’s called BL. Stryker. I was a hair dresser and one of my clients was a talent scout for BL Stryker. I needed extra money so I was an extra on BL Stryker. Neil Patrick Davis was the star for this particular episode; this was before Dougie Houser. Wait. It sounds like a blog post in the making….
anyhoo, I met Burt Reynolds during my entire day of being an extra and he was so sweet. He gave me an actual bear hug as it was a COLD day in Florida and I was wearing a sleeveless dress with no jacket. An not in that creepy old guy, young girl kind of way.
I LOVE the photo of you with The Hoff. I was never a fan of his either, but look how cute that pic is.
OH MY GOD SUZZZZZZZZZZ
I think I just passed out a little. Burt Reynolds! You were hugged by Burt Reynolds! OH MY GODDDDDDD
I have a very hard time with any book or show or movie in which children are maltreated or neglected. Changeling starring Angelina Jolie? NO. I’ve had the memoir beautiful boy and the movie on my list for a long time but I can’t.
Re: your feelings about Gatsby I think it’s hilarious your son suggested it’s probably reverse misogyny at fault. Mansogyny?
I have seen that memoir and NOPE. No thank you!
I read Beautiful Boy years ago and it made me so unbelievably sad. If I could go back in time I’d tell myself not to read it. It was well written etc but a total gut punch.
My goodness – you have my deepest sympathies about the snow. But I’m happy to see all of the flowers and your kale patch. Optimism!
I never read The Great Gatsby in High School or in college, but I did read it last summer as an adult. I hated it. I thought it was so boring and awful.
Twinsies! It’s really dull, I thought!
Snow in May?! What is this world coming to. We are also leading vastly differently lives right now: you’re dealing with snow and I’m over here, sweating and swimming. Hehe.
My favorite time to grocery shop is Monday morning, right around 9-10 am. It’s quiet and I can shop peacefully. I LOVE it.
I read The Great Gatsby in high school and remember loving it. Then, my book club read it around the time the movie came out and we were all like, “How did we like this book?” What is even the POINT of it, especially from a female point of view? Not a fan.
If only we could split the difference between our weather! Right now I feel like I’d take sweating and swimming in a heartbeat. Who am I kidding, I would always take that!
I think the point is if you have an affair with a married man, you’re going to get run over by a car driven by his wife! At least, that was my takeaway 🙂
At least you’d gotten the book your friend recommended from the library– and not bought it. Or worse, be in the situation where she lended it to you and was waiting for you to return it to her in person, so you could discuss it together. Also, right there with you about not reading addiction memoirs. Or dystopian literature. Nope to that, too.
Ally, every day I feel gratitude to the library but now, thanks to your comment, I feel EXTRA gratitude to the library! Yes, so glad that wasn’t the case that I bought it!
I am dying at that Hasselhoff photos. I mean, I definitely watched my share of Baywatch in the 90s, so no one is judging here! Get out and plant those flowers, girl! I see one of your boxes says “fantasy.” They’re no Burt Reynolds but you gotta take what you can get.
Now that the snow has passed, I have been planting all weekend! Up here I have to wait until June to plant things like basil or other tender things. But June is coming soon!
Haha, a photo with life-size “The Hoff” in a Garfield Sweater. I don’t think anyone can beat that, Nicole. That’s pretty epic! LOL (you were cute, btw.) Knight Rider (and David Hasselhoff) was HUGE in Germany and everybody wanted the car (“KITT”).
My older brother always talked about KITT so it’s funny I have never seen even one episode!
Here is what I want to know about the Golden Girls.
They were (mostly) in their FIFTIES.
They were retired. And living in Florida.
HOW???
(Also loved the Garfield sweatshirt… I, too, went through a very sad Garfield phase. My aunt has a tendency to latch on to ANYTHING that we showed the slightest interest in as a “theme” for gifts. I swear, I got Garfield paraphernalia until I was in college. I liked Garfield in, oh, fourth grade, maybe? Yeah.)
And good on you for your love of perennials – that is the way to go! (As long as they, um, come back…)
I KNOW! And in that huge house too!
I’m laughing at your many Garfield gifts! I have certainly been on the receiving end of themed gifts as well 🙂