My True Feelings: The Usual Friday Takes

Women's History Month, Chelsea Handler, Meghan Markle, Menopause, Snow White, Stanzi Potenza, and Reading the Comments

Ah Friday, there you are. Who would have ever expected we would survive the week? Let’s see if we can have some takes.

one

I didn’t realize that March is Women’s History Month and that, apparently, last Sunday was International Women’s Day. I can’t believe I missed such an auspicious moment by going to church instead of scrolling on the internet to discover how special and important I am.

I’m pretty conflicted about made-up holidays like International Women’s Day. On one side, you can’t say that women are not completely ascendant in today’s society. Feminism, I think, should have taken the W a long time ago and moved on to other, more interesting tasks, like, under the important influence of Meghan Markle Sussex, gardening and canning and being a great mom who also runs a company. Isn’t it funny how we always end up back in the kitchen, only this time with good lighting and a film crew.

On the other side, all the work to provide women with “Rights” over the last century appears, at least to me, a major L when a man can put on a dress and be called a woman. Is there “work” still to be done? It sure seems that way.

two

Feminism is a big fail at the very least because Chelsea Handler is right there, front and center in the New York Times this morning hawking her seventh book. It’s called…hang on, let me go look…I’ll Have What She’s Having. Is that a reference to something lewd? Some movie or other? More importantly, I didn’t know that Mme. Handler is fifty. I was sure that she was a lot older than me, like ten or fifty years. Gosh I feel old now.

Also, her skin—and eyebrows—look amazing. Of course, she’s probably airbrushed, so that’s some small consolation.

Here’s just one question and answer from the NYT’s piece:

You note that you essentially make a living being yourself. Does that mean you’re never off the clock?

I don’t think it means I’m never off the clock. It just means that I’m never not being really authentic. And to be able to make a living by expressing myself and my true feelings feels like a big victory.

Oh, that’s precious. Remember, some of the “authenticity” that Mme. Handler is so well known for is making fun of women who get married and have children and who decide life for the sake of other people and not themselves alone. As far as I can remember, I’m pretty sure she’s been cuttingly bitter about other women, as well as promiscuous, and, dare I say it, a little bit nuts. Remember her “Day in the Life of a Childless Woman?” I’m not going to link it because it’s hideously profane.

three

Did you know, Meghan Markle Sussex has a podcast coming out?

Per the logline, the series allows audiences to be a fly on the wall and hear the unfiltered stories behind the successes of notable female founders, while also sneaking a peek behind the curtain of Meghan's own entrepreneurial journey launching As ever. The eight-part series, which will see episodes released weekly, is her first original podcast for the company, which was founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer, a former executive producer at Pod Save America producer Crooke Media, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs, co-founder of theater company Rec Room Arts.

She’s so excited you guys:

"I'm so proud of what we're creating, and the candid conversations that I'm able to have with other female founders as we unpack the twists and turns of building a business," said Meghan. "Through my friendships and relationships, we're able to dive into the type of insights that everyone wants to know as they're building a business, and that I'm able to tap into as I'm building my own business with As ever."

Is there really a market for this? Doesn’t it feel like this has been done to death already? And really, how can you possibly say that Meghan is on an “entrepreneurial journey” like somehow, by sheer grit, she built a company all by herself and isn’t having the help of millions of dollars and a whole heap of name recognition.

I am, I’m pretty sure, going to try to finish the Netflix series, if I can bear it. I got through the awkwardness of episode four where she invites a beautiful Argentinian woman and forces her to make focaccia, yet another pasta dish, and some kind of tea. Meghan feigns excitement about the tea, but you can see her shudder, gently, when she has to drink out of the same straw as her “Friend.” It’s all about the community, she gushes, as they sit, the two, awkwardly silent, looking out over the hills of Montecito.

Do you think that Meghan Markle Sussex actually eats pasta on the regular?

four

Speaking of Women’s Empowerment, I watched this very long podcast about menopause and about how It’s Not My Fault, I’m just on my way to death because that’s how all of this works now. The best part is at the end where the menopause expert says you shouldn’t try to be thin. Seriously, it was pretty interesting, and I wish I had known all of this ten years ago. My only consolation is that probably Chelsea Handler still has to face the whole wretched ordeal. Totally going to pray for her.

five

My daughters want to hate-watch Snow White in the theater, even though it will drive sales up. We are seriously hoping that we will be the only people in America who go see it, so that Disney will never do this again, but you never can tell. Perhaps the promised spectacle will bring out the gathered throngs.

I found this fun thing where someone put some of the funniest and meanest comments about the various trailers to music—pretty catchy. Can’t find it again, sorry! I love that they cast a very beautiful woman as the villain, rendering the entire plot of the movie null, as it were.

six

I love this content creator so much. I’m not watching any Reels for Lent (it’s so much harder than you think, to give this up, I hope Jesus appreciates my sacrifice), but it’s Friday, so I’m allowed just one:

@stanzipotenzaThat sounds like a ✨you✨ problem 🩷🫶🏻

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seven

And that, my dears, is what I’ve got for the day! I’m off for my long walk and my weights and then to putter around. Read the Comments below the line for all of you wonderful wonderful generous supporters of Demotivations! Remember, with your monthly subscription, you are literally empowering an actual woman to buy butter, cheese, eggs, and gas.