What do Rutshire, The Muppets and Ludwig Bemelmans All Have in Common?

Getting past the panic attacks. I'm looking at you, Elon Musk.

Is it just me, or do you find yourself a little, how you say, on edge as we dive into this Monday morning? Something about this past week—was it the ragingly full moon?—had me near tears on and off all week. I felt all of it (the election, my empty nest, my dead dog, the election, manuscript worries, droughts, the election, hurricanes, Liam Payne, food recalls, the election, the slow death of my garden as we slip into autumn) and then last night I watched Musk on the news on stage in Pennsylvania stumping for his new bestie chums Trump and Vance and started to have a panic attack.

Musk has almost literally all the money in the world and is using it in our election to support Trump. My panic was aided by a conversation I had earlier in the day with a very good and knowledgeable friend about the power of SpaceX and Starlink. Musk’s manipulation of his Starlink internet services to Ukraine to run their attack drones should be enough to give us pause. Remember his so-called generous offer to Ukraine? That soon after had trouble connecting to the drones, and at the same time Russia gained access to Starlink satellites through neutral countries?

Sleeping cat break. Deeeeeep breaths.

Oleg Kutkov, a Kyiv-based internet analyst spoke to CNN in 2023 and while he refers to Ukraine and not our election, his unsubtle take works the same: “Musk is a big child, so it’s important to talk to him and don’t offend him because he might make some quick decisions that might not be very good for everyone.” (Read more from the 2023 article.)

Musk’s recent decision to give away $1, 000, 000 a day to get people to register to vote stinks of buying votes for Trump, but I’m just a humble middle class tax payer, what do I know? (Read the full Guardian article here.)

I am starting to quiver again, so I’m going to set my writing aside and go for a walk outside.

But first, the real purpose of today’s substack (talk about burying the lead), was to offer you a few pleasant things to start your day, because, as I keep suggesting, I needed distraction and I suspect you might too.

Palate cleanser: Three bees in one dahlia! Mayhaps we should all stick our noses into flowers and keep busy.

To wit:

Steamier Times: For your viewing pleasure, might I recommend a binge of “Rivals” on Hulu? Based closely on Jilly Cooper’s bodice-ripping novels of the 80s set in fictional “Rutshire,” (I kid you not), with a villain named “Lord Baddingham” played by the very good and just-the-correct amount of ham, David Tennant and featuring jam roly-polys (not a euphemism) and naked tennis (also not a euphemism), it’s delicious, compelling and blessedly mindless.

Simpler Times: I watched this clip of Gene Kelly on The Muppet Show trying his best to avoid performing “Singing in the Rain,” as Kermit and Rolf the Piano Playing Dog try to egg him on. I recommend you do, too.

Salubrious Times: Just before bed, after a quick game of Wordle, I’ve been reading a collection of the travel and restaurant diaries of Ludwig Bemelmans—he of “They left the house at half past nine, in two straight lines, in rain or shine” Madeleine—and I swear I wake up the next morning wondering if it’s 1958 and I’m vacationing at a fine little auberge in the Loire. Try it: La Bonne Table.

Good Housekeeping: And although I spent much of the week writing and editing my manuscript (don’t worry, Sharon), research for said manuscript led me into the home economics archives at Cornell. If you are in need of some time travel, take a dip into the archives, find yourself a copy of Good Housekeeping from the 1930s or 40s and call me in a few hours. The magazine was packed with short stories (including a mystery from Agatha Christie), real news, social insights (don’t don’t don’t wear too much lipstick when it’s “kissing time,” or flaunt your career), to thoughtful, varied recipes and fashion advice for big-bosomed and thick-waisted ladies. Save for a few articles like the one quoted above from a “noted male psychologist,” the magazine was smart and innovative.

Alright, my friends, off to writing and teaching land. The leaves are putting on their 1000-megawatt show and I need a reset. Shall we all get out there?

How are you keeping yourself together? Let me know in the comments. Share your tips in the comments!

ps: cookies and recipes will be returning soon!