Terrific piece! I've had a lot of f*%k it moments over the past three weeks. It's a constant battle between take a walk-meditate-drink water and drink wine-sleep late-eat another piece of peanut butter pie. I often want to fling myself into a vat of mashed potatoes and be done with it.
Elissa, thank you for the recipe. As to the rest of it, didn't someone say, "This too shall pass."
Meanwhile, we must support one another in every way possible. Sadly, ditwad and his minions seem much better organized than before, which only means we must dig deeper and be stronger in our resolve. Hugs around, John
We’re in far too dangerous a situation for this too shall pass….The same was said in the 1940s, I believe, and it did pass. After 85 million people died.
My father used to make the “this too shall pass” comment…but he’d add “like a kidney stone….”
John Banner (Sgt. Schultz) was also Jewish, and escaped to America after the Anschluss. Susan and I would get along on Lapsong. I love it in winter. My wife agrees with you.
Soul food is needed for unsettling times. Whatever makes you feel nurtured, loved, valued, and fills your tummy with (relatively) good stuff should most definitely be on the menu.
Just off to mop up my drool after staring at the photos of those ribs for waaaaay too long.
Loved this and can so relate. I was doing so well with reducing my chocolate intake, and then in the last couple weeks it all reversed. Those ribs looks awesome.
I felt this. Thank you for writing out loud what I don’t think my heart had the capacity to tell my brain (or vice versa, I’m not sure). Take care out there.
Oh dear Elissa, how I adore you. You somehow completely make sense to me when nothing else does right now. Keep on keeping on dear friend. And we are friends. This too shall pass.
And listen (if you haven’t already) to Rachel Maddow’s Ultra podcast. We’ve sadly been here before. But the better angels of our nature prevailed.
My mom made it out of Vienna with her mom; her brother and father in forced labor camps. She had an incredible number of cousins and aunts and uncles - less than half survived. The pain and guilt and remorse that informed so much of my mom’s life seeped into my sister and I as we nursed. All the books about 2G people reflect that ambivalence - hysterical delight that we are here to tell the truth; tearful rending of emotions that come at night when there was no one to mitigate the nightmares (my dad was there, and slept through these nights until she was inconsolable). This is a ridiculously attenuated comment - when all I wanted to say is that I get it - this tragic, hateful, defiant extremism isn’t a new thing…where there are people, there are scapegoats. And I am scared and fraught with you and one breath at a time is sometimes the best we can do…❤️
Thank you for this terrific piece. I'm relieved to know that I'm not alone in my maladaptive coping to the political evil, losing one of my dogs, getting Covid (after five years) and a dear friend battling cancer -- which can often include strange eating along with many naps and crazy loungewear.
And I am right with you with food. I live alone — making things for just myself isn’t motivating. Much to my taste test loving dog’s chagrin. Not to mention the exhaustion of being alive right now. Ugh.
"Elephant Testicle Tea." I cannot wait to share this with My Lovely Wife, who loves Lapsang Souchong tea. It'll make up (a little bit) for how much she hates my super peaty single malt scotch, which she says smells like I dipped a Sharpie marker in hot water. (She might not be wrong about that...)
Having the brains, wit, and energy to compose this essay, AND make these ribs, qualifies you for a leadership role in the revolution.
Thank you, but I'd rather take a nap.
While you were dining on these amazing ribs I was eating Helluva a Good onion dip and Ruffles for dinner.
There's a place for everything.
Terrific piece! I've had a lot of f*%k it moments over the past three weeks. It's a constant battle between take a walk-meditate-drink water and drink wine-sleep late-eat another piece of peanut butter pie. I often want to fling myself into a vat of mashed potatoes and be done with it.
I hear you. But the mashed potatoes have to involve cream.
Elissa, thank you for the recipe. As to the rest of it, didn't someone say, "This too shall pass."
Meanwhile, we must support one another in every way possible. Sadly, ditwad and his minions seem much better organized than before, which only means we must dig deeper and be stronger in our resolve. Hugs around, John
P.S. We love Stubbs over here, too
We’re in far too dangerous a situation for this too shall pass….The same was said in the 1940s, I believe, and it did pass. After 85 million people died.
My father used to make the “this too shall pass” comment…but he’d add “like a kidney stone….”
“The revolution was not fueled on kale.” Brilliant essay….thank you!
John Banner (Sgt. Schultz) was also Jewish, and escaped to America after the Anschluss. Susan and I would get along on Lapsong. I love it in winter. My wife agrees with you.
That's right! Id forgotten that!
I was just reminded by my spousal unit that Robert (LeBeau) Clary was not only Jewish, but a survivor of Buchenwald.
THAT’S RIGHT — I’d forgotten that.
I have an excuse. I'm old. What's your excuse, kid? ;)
Soul food is needed for unsettling times. Whatever makes you feel nurtured, loved, valued, and fills your tummy with (relatively) good stuff should most definitely be on the menu.
Just off to mop up my drool after staring at the photos of those ribs for waaaaay too long.
Loved this and can so relate. I was doing so well with reducing my chocolate intake, and then in the last couple weeks it all reversed. Those ribs looks awesome.
I felt this. Thank you for writing out loud what I don’t think my heart had the capacity to tell my brain (or vice versa, I’m not sure). Take care out there.
Oh dear Elissa, how I adore you. You somehow completely make sense to me when nothing else does right now. Keep on keeping on dear friend. And we are friends. This too shall pass.
And listen (if you haven’t already) to Rachel Maddow’s Ultra podcast. We’ve sadly been here before. But the better angels of our nature prevailed.
I pray they do now🙏😘
I do not even pretend to understand the impact(s) in your country but I can resolutely confirm that revolutions are not fuelled by kale.
Fantastic writing! You are doing plenty right now & if this means meals are appearing out of boxes and carb-centric I think it is totally justifiable.
My mom made it out of Vienna with her mom; her brother and father in forced labor camps. She had an incredible number of cousins and aunts and uncles - less than half survived. The pain and guilt and remorse that informed so much of my mom’s life seeped into my sister and I as we nursed. All the books about 2G people reflect that ambivalence - hysterical delight that we are here to tell the truth; tearful rending of emotions that come at night when there was no one to mitigate the nightmares (my dad was there, and slept through these nights until she was inconsolable). This is a ridiculously attenuated comment - when all I wanted to say is that I get it - this tragic, hateful, defiant extremism isn’t a new thing…where there are people, there are scapegoats. And I am scared and fraught with you and one breath at a time is sometimes the best we can do…❤️
Love you M xox
Thank you for this terrific piece. I'm relieved to know that I'm not alone in my maladaptive coping to the political evil, losing one of my dogs, getting Covid (after five years) and a dear friend battling cancer -- which can often include strange eating along with many naps and crazy loungewear.
comfort food has never felt so poignant x
That, ‘Oh, I said’ spoke volumes, Elissa.
And I am right with you with food. I live alone — making things for just myself isn’t motivating. Much to my taste test loving dog’s chagrin. Not to mention the exhaustion of being alive right now. Ugh.
"Elephant Testicle Tea." I cannot wait to share this with My Lovely Wife, who loves Lapsang Souchong tea. It'll make up (a little bit) for how much she hates my super peaty single malt scotch, which she says smells like I dipped a Sharpie marker in hot water. (She might not be wrong about that...)
My main question here is HOW does she know what a Sharpie dipped in hot water smells like?