Today is my younger son's 13th birthday. In honor of that, I am doing what I did for my older son and sharing my top ten list from the speech I made at his Bar Mitzvah.
Given that we're still in a pandemic, it was an unconventional Bar Mitzvah, but it still worked because it was just right for him. He's more of an introvert and wouldn't have felt comfortable doing everything in front of tons of people at shul. So we have the pandemic to thank for this simpler version of a Bar Mitzvah that was still special to him, to us, and to our family and friends. We just had a small Zoom gathering on the Sunday of what would have been his Bar Mitzvah weekend anyway. We also had his favorite food items throughout the weekend.
Without any further ado...my top 10 list about my 13 year-old:
1. He is a very musical child, but in a different way than his brother. He can sit down at the piano and teach himself how to play complicated pieces that I couldn’t even do with actual lessons when I was his age. He loves to play piano and usually it’s classical or ragtime. However, he will “Rick roll” us sometimes. He also sings really well and was in honors chorus in fifth grade. He even composes music on his computer and it’s really impressive!
2. He is affectionate and loves giving hugs and kisses. Usually kids tend to avoid their parents at this age, but he still wants to cuddle with us.
3. He is a great sibling. Even though he’s in the middle, he finds ways to bond with both his older brother and younger sister. I still remember a time his brother was sad about something and all he had to say was one word to cheer him up. And even though he and his sister tend to fight a lot, I catch them laughing and playing together too. He is even teaching her some new piano skills.
4. He loves to read. I know I said this about his brother too, but it’s true. I love being able to find him books that he will enjoy, as he is a pickier reader than most.
5. He’s really funny. Even though he’s not into theater, he was participating in improv games with his siblings and nailing the humor each time. He also cracks me up in the Passover plays he puts on with his siblings. He loves telling jokes and coming up with puns too. We even have some of our own inside jokes.
6. He’s very smart and does well in school. He’s received star student awards and has consistently been getting As in his classes.
7. He loves animals. The happiest I’ve ever seen him is when he is playing with dogs or petting a cat.
8. He’s really good with technology. He also has a curious mind and likes seeing how things work. He has strong video editing skills and has put together some cool videos in the past.
9. He’s a great conversationalist. As I mentioned earlier, he always has so many questions and I enjoy hearing his thoughts about the way things are in the world.
10. He marches to the beat of his own drum. He’s an individual and doesn’t care what people think of him. He won’t bend to peer pressure either. I mean, he won’t even watch The Princess Bride when I’ve been inviting him to do so all the time. (Is he really my son?) And it’s ironic that his Hebrew birthday is right around Purim because he refuses to wear a costume. Thankfully, photoshop has come to the rescue for our family video this year.
When he was two years old, he would tell everyone “I’m not a baby, I’m a big boy.” His teacher at the time told me how someone said "baby," and he somehow tuned into that word and walked over to tell that person that he’s a big boy. He’s always asserted himself since then and found a way to stand out, even with being the middle child.
It’s nice to be this confident, even at his current age.
My husband and I are celebrating the second of our many wedding anniversaries during the pandemic. The situation makes it hard to have a formal date or anything, but we'll try to make it memorable. This past year has been rather interesting and complex, but I'm glad we have been together through it all. In a normal year, we'd both be at our separate offices and then together in the evenings and on weekends. This past year, there has been a lot of togetherness, but it has only served to bring us even closer together. While I'd normally converse with colleagues around the coffee and tea area, I now do that with my husband in our kitchen.
Like all the other years of our marriage, my husband has made me laugh every day. This year, it feels even more important, as I've relied on that laughter to get me through this pandemic. He has definitely delivered, and then some! Here are a few things that I am okay sharing with everyone (as it is either PG or some readers will appreciate the humor too).
*For my birthday last summer, he made me a video card. He took scenes from Schitt's Creek and dubbed his voice into them to talk about my birthday. His impressions of the voices could have used some work, but he was spot on with David. Then he added a Cameo of Randy Rainbow that he found online and dubbed in my name and age at the appropriate spots.
*Speaking of Schitt's Creek impressions, he does a great job with Bob's jog walk.
*And speaking of people named Bob, he made up this character named Officer Bob and every time I talk about Degrassi, he talks about Officer Bob being on the show and lecturing the kids about doing drugs and stuff.
*A while ago, I was cooking and asked for some eggs. He brought them up but added a ping pong ball to the ones he was carrying. Then he told me to catch one of the eggs and threw the ping pong ball at me. It was startling at first, but then really funny. Even more so when he did it to our older son.
*He bought hair clippers a while ago so that we could do home haircuts. Since it was around Passover, he came up with a joke about shaving down the middle of someone's head and calling it the "Red Sea."
*He made some really funny pictures using Photoshop this year, but none are appropriate to post.
*Aside from Schitt's Creek, he really does some great celebrity impressions, especially Nathan Lane and the guy who played Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day. He still does the Milton from Office Space impression really well, along with a few Disney characters and Kermit the Frog. And he's working on Billy Crystal.
*He also does some great song parodies. He did a funny one about Iron Man to the tune of the Spider-Man theme song recently. He's the next Weird Al!
Before I go, here are some pictures from our wedding that I haven't shared before.
When my friend Sara told me to watch Workin' Moms, I was skeptical at first, thinking it would be another sitcom like American Mom. I'm so glad I was wrong about that. I was drawn in from the first episode and couldn't get enough! Initially, I had also worried that I wouldn't be able to relate since my kids are not babies anymore. However, one of the moms has a daughter who starts off close in age to my daughter, even though they have completely different personalities.
For those of you not familiar with this series, it's about these women who are in a playgroup together with their babies and they all have a variety of stressors that come with balancing motherhood and their career. Something always has to give, whether it is their romantic relationships, their friendships, their jobs, etc. Toss in some humor and mature content (do NOT watch when kids are anywhere in the vicinity of your TV) and you're all set!
I didn't know when I started watching this series that I'd be going through withdrawal by the end of season four. The show and characters are so relatable and also quirky. The dialogue is snarky and it just works perfectly for this series. Thankfully, season five is already on CBC and should land on Netflix this spring or early summer. I can't wait!
Workin' Moms has some actors from two of my favorite shows: Degrassi: The Next Generation and Schitt's Creek! Side note in regards to Degrassi, one of the main characters is named Frankie Coyne. It always makes me think of Frankie and Declan from Degrassi getting married. There's also a character named Bianca on both shows.
Degrassi actors who were on Workin' Moms: Paula Brancati (Jane) played a mom and news reporter. Jonas Chernick (Wesley's uncle) played one of Kate's clients. Elisa Moolecherry (Sydney) played someone interested in buying a house. Dayo Ade (BLT from Degrassi High) played the love interest of a side character. Two actors from Degrassi Goes Hollywood were on, as well: Paul Amos (Mick) played a client at Gaze and Mary Ashton (Hailey) played Kate's sister. A few other people from Degrassi on Workin' Moms are Jane's mom, who played a rich woman who was interested in Frankie; Mr. Hollingsworth, who played a client of Kate's; Ms. Dawes, who played the principal of a preschool, and the teacher in France, who played someone Kate was helping.
As for Schitt's Creek actors, I only recognized three, but perhaps there were more that I missed. Richard Waugh (Herb Ertlinger) played a love interest for one of the grandmothers, Tennille Read (Golf Club Manager) played Bianca (a character who comes about in season three), and Vanessa Matsui (Lisa Chung, lawyer for The Blouse Barn) played a lawyer on Workin' Moms, as well.
Jann Arden, whose music I really like, played a small role on the series as well. I had no idea it was her until I checked IMDb. Dan Aykroyd had a guest appearance too!
I'm sharing the season one trailer here and will then discuss some spoilers below that. If you haven't watched the series (seasons one through four) yet, stop at the trailer (and start watching the show, if it interests you). If you have, then keep going!
Thoughts on the main characters:
Kate: There is something utterly relatable about Kate Foster. While I can't say I would be as much of a workaholic as she is, even with my kids being much older than hers, I do appreciate what she wants for herself. And when she experienced a huge betrayal, I felt sadder about it than I usually do when someone has that happen to them. I could just feel the hurt emanating from her. Kate is someone I could easily see becoming friends with, as long as she makes time for the friendship. Since Catherine Reitman is the writer of the show, she fits in some humor about an aspect of her appearance. I can appreciate how Kate is self-conscious about it though. I can relate in some ways, as I also don't like how I smile in pictures.
Anne: Anne Carlson is probably my favorite of all the moms on this show. I love how snarky she is and how she tries to balance being a good mom with laying down the law. She's a good friend to Kate, even when she's getting the short end of the stick. I also love how she took down her nemesis.
Side note: Kate and Anne's friendship reminds me of my relationship with my best friend.
Frankie: It took me a while to warm to Frankie, but then I found her to be easily lovable. And those curls! I like that she represents the LBGTQ faction of the show.
Jenny: Jenny can be cute and charming, but then she's also manipulative and self-serving. I never know which one we're going to get and whether I should like her or not. I found out that the actress who plays her was Evie Cho on Orphan Black. It's been ages since I last saw it, but after seeing pictures, I remember her.
Thoughts on the spouses (or ex-spouses):
Nathan: Even after what he did to Kate, he still finds a way to be likable, so much that I was glad they got back together and found a way to make things work. He complements Kate really well. The fact that the actors are married in real life adds to that chemistry.
Lionel: Initially, I found him annoying, but then he grew on me and became a good support for Anne. I definitely prefer him over her first husband.
Ian: Another one who took some time to grow on me. I like how he became part of the moms group in season two. I also like how good-natured he is. I don't like how Jenny treats him.
Gisselle: I really don't like how she was so unsupportive of Frankie during her post-partum depression and then just ended up wanting a divorce. Even after that, she's rude to Frankie most of the time.
Characters I don't like:
Brad: I hate him and his dick face. It was disturbing how he abused his powers and I'm glad he finally got caught for it. I don't think anything was resolved with that situation since his lawyer put Anne in the hot seat.
Mean Nanny: For what she did to Kate, obviously. But I also couldn't stand how much she was judging Anne. Even if she was good with Alice, her job was to be a nanny, not tell Anne how to live her life.
Sean: I knew he was trouble even before Frankie did. What a scumbag!
Steve Malk: I think he was there to satirize a certain former leader of a certain country, but I still couldn't stand him anyway. I think the fact that the same actor was Mr. Hollingsworth on Degrassi aided in that.
Kate's doctor: He just has the worst bedside manner. She needs to switch doctors!
Characters who annoy me:
Juniper: She was okay in season two, but then she had to show up again in season three with that stupid haircut and a somewhat lower IQ. And screwing Frankie over was the tip of the iceberg. I'm glad she was able to help Bianca, but then she should have just moved on.
Val: She's the playgroup leader, but somehow she seems to glom onto the other moms. She had her somewhat helpful moments and I felt bad for her because her sons were such jerks, but she still annoyed me a lot.
Forrest: He was just embarrassing most of the time. I'm glad Nathan convinced him to drop his lawsuit against Kate, even before his father told him to drop it.
Disappearing characters:
Alicia: She was on during the playgroup scenes and then disappeared in season three. I always wished that she would have more time on screen instead of Jenny. She came off as this perfect mom, so it would be fun to see how flawed she is "behind the scenes."
Sonia: I thought she and Ian were going to be in a committed relationship and then she just disappeared starting in season three. What's up with that?!?
There were so many characters between all four seasons that talking about each one would keep me working on this post forever. I also didn't know where to fit some in, such as Mike, the guy who was helping Kate with her PR business and was really hot, but then turned into a bit of a jerk. Or Rosie, the assistant at Gaze, who later became Kate's assistant. She could be helpful but also really annoying, as well. Just not enough to make it to the annoying list.
If you have made it this far, what are your thoughts on Workin' Moms?
Back in December, I decided to give One Day at a Time a try. I had heard some good things about it and that when it got cancelled, there was such an outcry that it ended up coming back for a bit longer. The first episode just seemed like an episode of any other sitcom and I inquired about whether I should keep watching or not. A few friends convinced me to stick with it and I'm SO glad I did! I have been recommending it ever since and I hope this post will convince you to give it a try too.
Originally I was hesitant to watch because Justina Machado was on Jane the Virgin and I wasn't all that fond of her character. So I was worried she'd be annoying on this show too. I'm glad I was wrong about that! Fun fact: Tony Plana plays Penelope's deceased father. Aside from being the dad on Ugly Betty, he was also Gaby's stepfather on Desperate Housewives and Justina played his new wife. (Originally I thought she played another daughter of his, but I checked online and I was wrong once again.) The only thing I wish for this show is that they let her play her actual age. She's a few years older than me, but started the show playing someone younger than I was in 2017. This isn't 90210 where 30 year-olds need to play teenagers. And Justina looks good for whatever age she is.
Before I give my reasons for why you should watch this wonderful show, I need to point out that I don't remember watching the original series from the seventies and eighties. I knew Valerie Bertinelli was on it, but that was about it. I ended up reading more about it on Wikipedia and noticed a few things that made their way onto this reboot series. It was also a show about a single mom with two teenagers and they had a landlord named Schneider. What I didn't realize was that Mackenzie Phillips played one of the teenagers and now she's the group therapy leader on this series. (That explains why there was cheering from the laugh track when she first appeared.) The theme song has similar words, but different stylings: 1970s vs. 2017. I also just recently found out that Gloria Estefan sang the new version. In any case, there are a lot of updates to the show, given when it takes place, and I love that about the reboot.
Reasons you should watch One Day at a Time:
*It's so funny. Sitcoms obviously should be funny, but there are some moments that had me laughing for several minutes after they were over and then thinking about them made me laugh again. There also are a lot of great one-liners. They honestly didn't need a laugh track because none of my laughing needed a prompt. I got used to the laugh track after a while and forgot it was there because I was laughing too loud to hear it anyway.
*Great ensemble cast. There are very few shows I say this about. I've said it about Schitt's Creek and Speechless in the past, and am now bestowing this honor upon One Day at a Time. I love how the cast fits together so well and everyone plays off of each other. I almost felt like part of the Alvarez family while watching this show.
*They deal with real life issues. Even though this is a sitcom, there are times when heavier subjects come up, especially around the topic of mental health. It's handled so honestly and sensitively and is worth watching just for those episodes. They also cover immigration, grief, LGBTQ, alcoholism, divorce, etc. I've actually cried a bunch of times from this show. Not as much as Penelope, but still...
*The show focuses on current events since 2017 and I agree with a lot of what they have to say.
*Rita Moreno. There's a reason she has an EGOT and I would love to see this documentary about her. She is just perfect as Penelope's mother Lydia. She has a lot of funny moments and lines, as well as some heartwarming ones.
*Schneider. He comes off as clueless at times, but then he says something really profound to show he just gets what's going on. I love how he's there for comic relief, but also how he's there in some heavier moments, including some of his own. His friendship with Penelope is one of my favorite platonic friendships between a man and woman and I'm so glad they never got involved romantically. I especially love that he got his own romantic subplot and the woman he loves is perfect for him.
*Dr. Berkowitz. He is the character placed there solely for comedic value, but Stephen Tobolowsky (Ned Ryerson from Groundhog Day and Principal Ball on The Goldbergs) does an excellent job with this role. His non-sexual relationship with Lydia is the best. I love how he dotes on her anyway. He's just as much a part of the family as Schneider is.
*The kids. I like that they are teenagers instead of cute little kids with one-liners. Alex and Elena are both interesting to watch, but I wish Alex was utilized as much as Elena throughout the series. They are both really funny too. Alex reminds me of a cross between my two sons.
*Gloria Estefan is on one of the episodes. You have to wait until season three to see it, but it's worth the wait to see her duke it out with Rita Moreno.
*Penelope is shown as a working, single mom trying to find balance in her life while dealing with PTSD and going back to school. Topping that off is pressure from all her mom's expectations. She's definitely relatable in a variety of ways.
*The curtain...which just has a personality of its own somehow. I love how it is used for emphasis during an entry or argument.
*There's just so much love on the show, which is very much needed in this day and age. Even though people fight and get mad at each other, they hug and make up eventually.
Still not convinced? Check out the trailer (then keep reading afterward):
While the first three seasons on Netflix have thirteen episodes each, the fourth season on CBS (which was previously on Pop TV) only has seven episodes. I really wish it had been able to go a full season, but I think the pandemic cut things short. And "this is it" for the show now.
I hope that it will eventually go the route of sitcoms that got a new life 20-plus years later, like Fuller House, Saved by the Bell, and Punky Brewster (coming soon). In 20 years from now, perhaps Penelope will live with Alex or Elena when they are adults with their own kids. Since Fuller House was a gender switch for the adults and kids (from three men and three young girls to three women and three young boys), maybe it would make sense for Alex to be the main focus. Elena could be the landlord since she learned all those skills from Schneider. They'd need someone to fill Dr. B's shoes, but I'm sure there are some good comedic actors who could do so.
If you're also a fan of One Day at a Time, please share your reasons in the comments.
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a show that is new to me, thanks to the Degrassi Fans group on Facebook. Some people were talking about how a bunch of actors from Degrassi: The Next Generation were on this show called Being Erica. So naturally, I had to check it out. It's not often that I feel like a show is completely meant for me. I don't know how I missed it when it first aired, but I think it was just on Canadian networks at the time. However, I'm so thankful to have learned about it now. And now that I'm done, I feel like I'm going through withdrawal. I'm really going to miss the characters and all the time travel scenarios.
Reasons this show is totally meant for me:
1. I love time travel stories. This is the essence of Being Erica.
2. There are a lot of "chick lit" elements: romance, career, family, friendships, fashion, etc.
3. Erica was born the same year as me and graduated high school at the same time I did, although this show takes place when she was in her early to mid-thirties. Having said that, there are a lot of time travel trips to the nineties.
4. Erica is Jewish and we get to see elements of Judaism that you don't always see in TV shows. There were episodes about her Bat Mitzvah, Purim, and Yom Kippur, just to mention a few. I also loved her dad's shirts. They were always Jewish themed since he's a Rabbi.
5. There is a lot of LGBTQ focus, such as a Pride Parade episode and a prominently featured gay romance.
6. Erica works in publishing. I am seeking publishing work. She's also done editing, which is something I love doing already. There's a lot of focus on books.
7. There are so many appearances by actors from Degrassi TNG. I know I mentioned this before, but it's something that appeals to me. Just to name a few (with their Degrassi character names): Lauren Collins (Paige), Drake (Jimmy), Paula Brancati (Jane), Adamo Ruggiero (Marco), Shannon Kook-Chun (Zane) Olivia Scriven (Maya), Jake Epstein (Craig), Jake Goldsbie (Toby), etc. Even some minor characters had various large or small parts on this show, such as the guy who plays Wesley's uncle/teacher, the cell phone kiosk owner who hires Drew, K.C.'s mom, Kelly (Emma's college boyfriend), Charlie, Sadie, Dylan, Dean, Johnny, Dakota, Becky's grandma, the guy who steals Craig's guitar, Mia's ex-boyfriend who bullies J.T., the teacher who K.C. was trying to set up with his mom, the film director Eli was trying to impress, the magazine publisher Clare wanted to work for, the racist store manager, etc.
8. Tatiana Maslany is in it and if you know how much I love Orphan Black, you know why I think this is cool.
9. There are a few actors from Schitt's Creek on the show, as well. I spotted Ivan (the baker), Antonio (the guy trying to copy Rose Apothecary, and David for that matter!), and Marnie (the woman at the unemployment office).
Here's what the show is about:
Erica Strange is thirty-two and just got fired from her job and her date cancelled on her at the last minute. She then gets caught in a rainstorm and ends up getting anaphylaxis from a drink sample at a coffee shop. She wakes up in the hospital and is greeted by a therapist named Dr. Tom. He invites her to visit with him and after a rough morning, she does just that. He asks her to write down her regrets and then sends her on her first trip back in time to change one of them. Soon Erica is taken on a journey through all of her regrets, which teaches her lessons about her reactions to present day experiences.
This show has made me think a lot about how I view my regrets. It's really poignant and emotional at times. It also gives perspective on what we expect from ourselves by a certain age vs. what others expect from us. There was an episode where Erica's mother was mapping out her life for her...at her Bat Mitzvah, and she made a big deal about being married and having kids by age thirty. That doesn't work for everyone!
Intrigued yet? Check out this trailer. Not sure what else I need to do to convince you to watch this show at this point. It's available on Hulu and you can also find it on YouTube.
For those of you who have seen all four seasons of Being Erica, read on after the trailer for my thoughts, with spoilers included.
If you reached this part, I assume you've seen the entire series and want to hear my thoughts on it. If you'd like to share your thoughts, please feel free to do so in the comments.
First of all, I love this show so much. I wish there were more than four seasons because it has so much room to still go in new directions. I thought it was cool how things came full circle with Erica becoming Sarah's doctor. I had a feeling that would happen from her visions, but it was nice to see anyway.
Thoughts on Erica:
I liked that Erica wasn't perfect. She's pretty and sometimes she seems like she has her act together, but then you see through all these glimpses of her past that she has messed things up a lot in her life. I love that she can sometimes be awkward and anytime she time travels, she does something clumsy upon entering. She looks like a mix between two of my friends, as well as Shenae Grimes. I didn't like that she could sometimes be condescending to people or act like she knew what was best for everyone else. Like I get that she hated Josh and thought Sam was making a huge mistake, but was it worth saying something for the sake of her relationship with Sam? Sam would have come to the same conclusion either way. Aside from that issue, Erica just reminds me a lot of myself. I found her to be totally relatable.
Thoughts on time travel aspect:
Sometimes Erica's time travel adventures made me think of Quantum Leap, even though she was usually leaping into her own life. I would have liked her to see someone else's face in the mirror when she was leaping into a different character, like the times she went back to see her mom before she even existed. I know they did this with Tom when he went back into his younger body, but we still saw his current, albeit shaven, face. They also did this when Erica got to be teenage Julianne. I also thought she should have been played by someone else as a teenager, even if we only saw that through images in a mirror.
The show had an Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus) quality in the way time and space were able to be bent so easily. Like walking into different offices through doors. I love the symbolism of doors in this show and how they kept saying that when one door closes, a window opens. When Tom's office decorations disappear in the final episode, it has such a magical quality to it, where it almost seems like his office was enchanted. Same with Erica first imagining her office into being. There was a lot of suspension of disbelief in this show, but it was so much fun to watch for that reason.'
It also made me think of The Time Traveler's Wife, especially in regards to Erica's relationship with Kai.
The episode where Erica is being tested before becoming a doctor made me think about a lot of things. I kept wondering if she and Tom were actually dead and that's how they could do all this, but that would mean that all the extra characters were also dead, yet we see them have their own stories too. Also, how could Erica be dead in 2019 from an explosion on a train if she is already dead now? The final episode didn't give any more answers and somehow Leo's appearance made things even more questionable. Also, how would Erica not have any interaction with Dr. Tom if she is helping his daughter? I'm guessing he'll just be on vacation with Amanda the whole time?
There's also the alternate life concept that Erica brought up when she came back to 2011 as her 43 year-old self. She introduced the concept when talking about the episode where she lost her virginity to Zach Creed originally, and then to Alex Berlin when she time traveled. So there's a Sliding Doors (yes, doors again) concept to the show, as well.
I love how there are no actual devices to enable the time travel. It just happens when Erica says she wants to go back and do something different and Dr. Tom makes it happen. We usually see the time travel occur through someone's eye.
Thoughts on the theme song:
It is probably going to be stuck in my head forever. I didn't even like the theme song all that much. I think it could have just been something instrumental and with a shorter intro video altogether. I always skipped through it anyway.
Favorite characters (aside from Erica):
Julianne: At first, I didn't like her at all. I hated how rude she always was to Erica. Then when Freidken pulled all that crap on her, she became so likable. And even more so when she started 50/50 with Erica. I love how she called her "chicken" all the time and said "Pronto Toronto!" Her friendship with Dave and Ivan was sweet too. Also, she's so girlcrush-worthy.
Dave and Ivan: You can't have one without the other. They're such a fun couple and I love that they got married on the show. I think I probably like Ivan more than Dave, but they were so cute together in general. (P.S. Dave is played by the cell phone kiosk guy from Degrassi that I mentioned about earlier.)
Kai: He's my favorite out of all of Erica's romantic interests. It's just too bad that it could never really work between them because he wouldn't always be in the past (which is Erica's present). He is gorgeous and has such a sexy singing voice.
Dr. Tom: He's just wonderful in so many ways. I love how he took Erica under his wing from the very beginning, that he has demons in his past, that he tries genuinely hard to be a good person, that he quotes different people all the time, from Shakespeare to Spider-Man.
Sam: I liked Erica's sister a lot. She came a long way from figuring out that her marriage wasn't what she was hoping for, to getting back on her feet, to landing in a stable relationship, to becoming a mom. She looked a lot like Jane Levy (Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist).
Lenin: I liked him from the moment he first started flirting with Sam. He's such a great boyfriend for her.
Cassidy: I can't really pinpoint why I like her aside from being nice and pretty. Her confidence, perhaps?
Least favorite characters:
Thomas Freidken: I really wanted to see someone take him down. He was such a horrible creep with the most inflated ego ever. I was literally yelling the F-word at him whenever he spoke.
Scott Galvin: He was a terrible boss and I hated how he treated Julianne and Brent.
Josh: I never liked him for Sam and I'm glad she finally came around to realizing it. He had a few nice moments, but then he would ruin them by acting like a jerk again.
Claire: She was always rubbing her relationship with Ethan in Erica's face and then she ended up cheating on him and trying to take him for everything in the divorce. She had a good moment in one of Erica's time travel scenarios, but it wouldn't have happened in the original version of that same evening.
In the middle:
Jenny: She could be a bully and a hot mess, but I feel like she genuinely cared about Erica and their friendship. (This is the character played by Paula Brancati. However, I liked Paula better as Jane on Degrassi.)
Brent: He started off nice, had a period of being a jerk, and then came around again and was a lot more likable. I love that he and Julianne finally got together!
Dr. Naadiah: She always seemed to be in Dr. Tom's business and trying to make decisions for him, but when she invited him to see her life outside of work, it endeared me to her. Also, she's the reason Dr. Tom got to be a therapist in the first place.
Leo: There were just some things I liked about him and some things I didn't. Like he could be a good brother to Erica and Sam sometimes, and then act selfishly at other times (like with the car situation).
Adam: He was cute and a good match for Erica, but I didn't like how he'd get mad at her over every little thing. And yes, he wasn't Kai, so I had trouble completely investing in their relationship. He was considering getting a BSC wax though...
Ethan: I liked his friendship with Erica, but not their romantic relationship. He was so rigid and boring.
Erica's parents: It took me a while to warm to them, but then I liked them later on. I enjoyed learning more about her mom through seeing her in the past and learning that she wasn't perfect either.
Some of my favorite episodes:
* Pride parade. I love anything with LGBTQ and this reminded me of the times I went to the Chicago Pride parade.
* The one with Erica's final test. It was such a game changer (it had me panicking) and made me think a lot.
* Erica's Bat Mitzvah. She had a Dirty Dancing theme. Too bad she's a fictional character or we have totally been friends!
* When Erica becomes Julianne on Christmas. I especially loved when she did the air quotes.
* The Groundhog Day (or half-day) episode.
* The one where she goes into the future (2019) to learn more about Kai. It was fun to see what they thought 2019 would be like in 2009.
*The camp episode that featured Jake Epstein (Craig from Degrassi).
*The one where she brings Judith's baby to her college memory.
*When she goes back to 1969 to find out the truth about her mom's past. (Her mom was played by Lauren Collins--Paige from Degrassi--and she fit the role so well since she looks like Erica's present-day mom.)
*When she's Julianne's doctor-in-training and we find out more about why Julianne lashes out at people.
*The episode about Purim because it doesn't often happen on TV shows and because of how Erica repairs her relationship with her Zadie.
Little inconsistencies I noticed:
1. The actress who plays Erica at her Bat Mitzvah is completely different from the actress who plays her in the Hanukkah episode. They're supposed to be around the same age.
2. The Goblins sign reverts back to the old design in one of the episodes of season four, but changes back after that.
3. Erica got mad at Dr. Tom for trying to change her history, but she felt it was okay to change Adam's timeline in the episode where she has control over time travel.
4. I heard Kai call Dr. Fred "Dr. Frank" in one episode. At least it sounded that way.
Things I thought were funny:
*The kitty book
*Adam walking into Dr. Tom's office completely naked
*Erica's jokes at the Purim party and her Zadie wanting to know the punchline of the one he interrupted.
*Brent's dog licking his mouth.
*Erica calling Dr. Tom out on quoting Spider-Man
*Erica ruining the ice penis sculpture at the Pride party
I'm sure there are many more, but these were at the top of my head.
TW: If you support the previous President, you may not want to read any further. I am not sharing this post on social media. It's just for me to get my thoughts out and also commemorate this time in history.
It is now official, as Joe Biden has been inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. I feel like our country has breathed a huge sigh of relief. I'm not talking about supporters vs. non-supporters (even though Biden said he'll represent ALL of America, not just those who kiss his feet), but the actual fate of our country. We no longer have a giant embarrassment running our country into the ground. We can finally earn back the respect of other countries by rejoining the groups that he-who-shall-not-be-named pulled us out of so stupidly and selfishly. He's signing executive orders to protect equal rights again. He's FINALLY making America great!
We've also made history with the first female Vice President! Someone posted a picture of a little girl watching Kamala on TV this past Wednesday and it was the first time I truly cried.
There's one line from Wicked that I keep thinking of, but I am changing one of the words:
"I do believe WE have been changed for the better."
I have high hopes for this country for the next four years (hopefully the next eight). However, there will be another election in 2024, and if we learned anything from the past four years, we should consider who may be running against Biden at that time. While I am very much a Democrat, if a Republican should win again, I would be okay with it if they met the following criteria:
*They represent ALL of America, not just their party. Country over party all the time.
*They don't have plans to reverse every executive order Biden puts in place, especially not out of spite.
*They value equality and diversity.
*They will shut down the domestic terrorists instead of calling them "fine people."
*They support gun control.
*They believe in science.
*They act their age.
*If they lose, they don't accuse the other party of "stealing" the votes.
*They represent our country in a positive way.
*They hire people who actually make sense in their roles, instead of those who will line their pockets.
*They tell the truth and don't accuse the media of being fake news.
*They have good family values.
Basically, they will be the opposite of he-who-shall-not-be-named in every possible way. That is the only way I could ever be okay with a Republican becoming President ever again. I have a feeling that the GOP is going to need a major upheaval and makeover in order to make that a possibility.
Degrassi: The Next Generation (this has links to all my posts about the series). I followed it up with Next Class, but it didn't have enough episodes/seasons to become a favorite for me.
Schitt's Creek(So great, I watched it twice! Hoping to make that "thrice" eventually...)
I found this in a Schitt's Creek group on Facebook
Little Fires Everywhere: Great adaptation of the book that provided even more backstory about Mia and Elena and gave more depth to the teenagers.
The Baby-Sitter's Club: I loved this as much as my kids did and even cried a bit. They updated it for the 21st century and even included a transgender child.
My two favorite characters from The Umbrella Academy
Council of Dads: This show did not have enough episodes and was cancelled too soon. It was really good and it had potential to go a lot further.
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: It's coming back in less than a week!!! I love the storyline and all the music, as well as some great characters.
The Queen's Gambit: Really well done miniseries. The fashion, scenery, and music really established the era during which it took place. Anya Taylor-Joy was fabulous in the lead role.
Emily in Paris: Perfect for fans of Younger and The Bold Type. Lily Collins is delightful as Emily. I already can't wait for a second season!
Dash and Lily: I really enjoyed this show and hope there will be a second season, since there is a sequel to the book. It has a You've Got Mail feel.
Hollywood: Really well done overall. I wish it wasn't so NC-17 rated, as there's an important underlying message that would have been good for younger audiences.
I'm currently in the first seasons of Shtisel and One Day at a Time, so if I like both throughout the series, I will talk about them in 2021.
Movies I enjoyed in 2020:
Just Mercy: Incredibly well-done and captivating.
Long Shot: I did not expect to like this as much as I did, but it was a sweet romantic comedy.
The Prom: It's based on a Broadway musical. That's all you need to know, really. Oh, and I cried a few times.
Most of the other movies were ones I watched on streaming channels, but can't say were my favorites from the year.
Top Ten Favorite Books I read in 2020 (Some may be from previous years or publishing in 2021):
I've shared my top five chick lit favorites at Chick Lit Central. I read so many amazing books this year (go to my Goodreads page and see all the five-star books) and am sad to have to narrow it down at all. Links are to reviews (or Instagram shout-outs).
*Dan Levy because, like, obviously! ;) (I also wouldn't mind meeting the cast of Schitt's Creek though!)
*Michael Judson Berry: He's so funny with his Schitt's Creek impressions and videos and he seems like he's so down-to-earth and friendly too.
*Randy Rainbow: When have I NOT wanted to meet Randy Rainbow?!? He's saved my sanity since 2016.
*Almost anyone from Degrassi, except for the girl who plays Esme or the guy who plays Rick.
I can't really list favorite moments of 2020 since most of my time was spent at home playing board games, reading, and watching TV shows. Some cool things that happened:
*My sister got engaged and I couldn't be happier for her!
*My best friend got married to a total mensch. I was thankfully able to attend their chuppah ceremony (all with social distancing and masks, of course).
*I had a book dedicated to me: The Unfortunate Fall by Tracy Krimmer.
I will list some silver linings from this year, however:
1. Saving money on gas. I barely had to fill up my car this year.
2. Getting to connect with authors on Zoom through my friend's book club, which I wouldn't be able to attend otherwise, since it's in San Francisco. (I can deal with being on a chat at 10:00 pm my time.)
3. It pushed me to buy a mail scale and pay for postage through PayPal, so no more waiting in line at the post office!
4. Spending lots of quality time with my family and still getting along almost a year later.
5. Having virtual Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws. While I wish we could see them in person, it was still nice to be together in some way. Also, we didn't have to make a giant feast. (Not that I mind in normal years.)
6. Getting to dip my feet in the waters of the publishing world, since I could work with publishers and publicists without having to go into an office. Also, working with authors to edit their novels.
7. Instacart. I ended up becoming the primary Costco shopper in the family as a result. (I don't like actually going to Costco, even in a non-pandemic year, because it is so overwhelming.)
8. My kids getting to take piano lessons from their bubbe via Skype. (Except for the one who taught himself to become a piano maestro, even if it's just with Scott Joplin tunes and a few Beethoven selections.)
9. Not having to drive as often at night.
10. The Kosher food program for kids in our community. It's really amazing.
11. Getting to sleep slightly longer than I would if I had to get all three kids out the door for school.
12. The results of the 2020 election, as painfully dragged out as it was...
Two more shout-outs before I end this post:
1. Kyra Pro, for her workout videos that use lots of Disney music and show tunes, amid the popular songs. Her smiley face got me through 2020 and inspired my youngest child to do more exercising.
2. The Holderness Family, for their hilarious parody videos that mock 2020 and Covid-19. They also kept me sane this year and made my youngest child laugh.
