What I've Watched Lately and What I Have to Say About It

Freaks and Geeks

Status: Finished

My friend (and coworker) Jessica recommended Freaks and Geeks, and I usually enjoy her suggestions for books and shows, so I gave it a whirl. It took about four episodes for me to get into it, but I ended up really liking it! I remember when it was on TV, but I never watched it. Freaks and Geeks aired for only one season in 1999-2000, and then it was canceled. That made me worried that it wouldn't sum up in a satisfactory way, and I might be left hanging, but I was okay with the ending. It turns out, they knew the show was canceled before the end of the season, so they were able to wrap it up accordingly. 

There are a couple of things about the show I wasn't super enthused about - I don't care for James Franco or Seth Rogan, and I really hate teen bullying and casual drinking. Those things exist prominently in this show. But there are some really endearing characters, like little brother Sam and his friend Bill (Bill is my favorite). There are also a lot of actors that appeared in the show before they were stars, so it's fun to watch and see who pops up (Mel from Virgin River and Karen from The Office, who plays a character named... Karen... for example). 

Michael

I got to see Michael with some of my best friends, and we all loved it (some more than others, but for our group, the reviews were positive). Mostly, I wanted to watch Christie watch Michael because Christie is a super fan, but we had weird seats and there was a wall between us, so I had to rely on my old lady ears to hear her reacting on the other side. 

I'm excited for part II. 

The Count of Monte Cristo

Status: Finished

I've never read the book, but I've seen some of the movies (the black and white one and the one with Jim Caviezel), and I love the story. I was so excited when I heard that they were making a mini series in 2024. I just had to wait for it to become available in the states. I looked forward to getting more of the story than a two hour movie can offer.

Watched it. Loved it. I look forward to watching it again in a few years. Maybe with Nicky. 

Lord of the Flies

Status: Unfinished

I've never read Lord of the Flies (it was optional reading in AP English - we got to choose what books we read from an approved list, and I never chose this one), but Daisy is reading it for school currently. I started the series last week, and I don't know if I'll finish it or not. I'm not exactly sucked in to the story, but I love Piggy. And yes, I know.

The Forsytes

Status: Unfinished

After I finished The Count of Monte Cristo, I figured I would take advantage of the Masterpiece add-on on Amazon (which I paid for a month for) and watch some other offerings. I started The Forsytes and, as with Lord of the Flies, moved on to other things. The Forsytes has that Downtown Abbey feel, and it’s pretty clean, but it didn't hook me. Partially because I started reading up on the book series it's based on and discovered how many creative liberties they were taking with the plot, and that kind of bothered me even though I've never read the books. I haven't written it off entirely, but as of now, I haven't become invested in it. 

Unchosen

Status: Finished

I love me some good cult stories, but in the end, this show wasn't so much about a cult as it was about a criminal who infiltrated the cult (it's fictional). I didn't really care for it and don't recommend it. It had some yucky stuff.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

I've read the book, and thought it was just okay, but even if I don't love the book, I still like to see what they do with the movie. I'm always curious. I watched the movie the weekend it was released, and I quite enjoyed it. It's pretty clean - just a couple instances of language. I liked Lewis Pullman in it. I don’t like sea creatures, but I survived.

Trust Me The False Prophet

Speaking of cults...

This documentary series feels kind of like a sequel to Keep Sweet, Pray & Obey. It relays the take down of Sam Bateman, who claimed to be Warren Jeffs' successor in the FLDS sect. There is some strong language and descriptions of sexual abuse. 

Sunday Sentiments - Given a Goliath

I have a graphic saved on Pinterest that says, "When God wanted to make a king out of David, He didn't give him a crown - he gave him Goliath. Your challenges prepare you for your purpose."

I recently read a book called Good Morning Monster which is a memoir written by a therapist named Catherine Gildener (I have a post in my drafts folder about some of the books I've read lately, so stay tuned for that). 

In the book, the author writes about five patients she worked with during her career that had a profound impact on her. One of the patients was named "Peter" (I think she used pseudonyms), and he was severely abused as a child. He was isolated and locked in an attic for much of his upbringing. During that time, he played with a toy piano and discovered that he had an amazing gift for music. In adulthood, he was a prestigious pianist. 

In one of their sessions. Dr. Gildener asked Peter if he would change his childhood if he could. Peter had realized that if he hadn't suffered the abuse and been locked away, he wouldn't have found the piano, and he wouldn't have discovered and honed in on his gift for creating music. 

This, of course, doesn't make the mistreatment okay or justified, but it's an example of rising above horrible circumstances. 

I keep thinking about this because I'm sure there are examples from my own life where a challenge has prepared me for a purpose. My brain just hasn't been able to deep dive on it yet because this week was INSANE (five dance concerts! FIVE!!! And we're not even that kind of dance people!)

I just wanted to throw this out there this Sabbath Day as something to think about. Has there been adversity in your life that prepared you for a purpose? 

(I'll be contemplating mine) 

Things My Kids Said to Me During Sacrament Meeting on Mother's Day

"My scissors aren't scissoring."

Complained Zoe. Zoe crochets during sacrament meeting, so she often cuts yarn. She was making some yarn pom poms, and her dull scissors were giving her grief. 

"Can I have yours?"

Asked Eva, when they announced that Mother's Day gifts would be handed out to the women outside the chapel doors. She didn't even know what the gift was, and she immediately tried to lay claim on it.

(It was a loaf of bread, and my answer was NO! YOU CANNOT HAVE IT!)

"Will you pay me a dollar to sing?"

Eva requested when they announced that the primary would be singing for Mother's Day. Again, No! I told her I'm not paying for my Mother's Day gift, and if I hadn't been in church, I would have said, "Now get your @$$ up there and sing to me!”

"I want Swig!"

Another request from Eva, and another big, fat NO! from me.

"This water is too watery."

Whined Eva about the sacrament.

"Can we go home?"

"I don't want to sit on the end."

"I'm cold."

"I'm bored."

"I'm thirsty."

"What time are we going to Grandma's house?"

"Do I have to go to class?"

"Can I come to your class?"

"Can I drink Dad's water?"

"Do you have any gum?"

"What's for lunch?"

"Can I play on your phone?"

Needless to say, second hour couldn't come fast enough. 

It's the Merry* Month of May (and ten other random facts)

Fact #1: This week I stumbled across a post I wrote during COVID. Reading anything from that time is sure trippy. Those were crazy years. It doesn’t feel like it really happened. Now that it’s in the past, it feels like some weird lie we all agreed to tell.

Fact #2: My kids have a lot of performances right now. Daisy recently competed at Region and State for theatre. At the Region competition I overheard one of the judges ask, “Does Nicky Brittish have a sister because I saw a girl here who looks just like him.” I just chuckled and carried on with my favorite pastime of eavesdropping. 

Fact #3: I see what the judge saw.

Fact #4: May is insane. This week is probably the worst. 

Fact #5: My Mother’s Day gift from Zoe and Eva was a 20 minute presentation comparing city life and farm life in hopes that I will move them to a farm. 

Fact #6: Mother's Day was so long and exhausting. What's the point of it, again?

Fact #7: I appreciate a good melt on a hot sandwich. Look at this beauty:

Fact #8: Saturday was our 23rd anniversary. Don't get married in May. 

(We didn't know). 

Fact #9: We did nothing for our anniversary, by the way. Unless you count serving refreshments at the high school dance. 

Fact #10: Our swamp cooler died, so I guess that's what we're getting for our anniversary. 

*I am not feeling a single ounce of "merry" right now. 

Sunday Sentiments - Hell Shakers

As women and mothers, we are so prone to feelings of inadequacy. We compare ourselves to others, and we tend to be really hard on ourselves. It's so easy to feel like we aren't good enough, strong enough, or capable enough, especially when the standards we set for ourselves are so high. Young mothers tend to fear that they're doing everything wrong. Older mothers tend to look back and wonder if they should have done things differently.

Several years ago I was having a Bad Mom day. I couldn't figure out how I would ever succeed at raising my children. It seemed like no matter how much I was doing, it wasn't enough. There were so many things I was overlooking in raising my kids. Too much was falling through the cracks - How was I supposed to raise them to be good humans?

And potty train them?

And teach them to have work ethic and how to do their taxes? 

And help them get into college?

And validate their feelings?

 

And promote their mental, physical, and spiritual health?

And, along with everything else, get them to wear stinkin' sunscreen?

As I sat on the couch in my vulnerability, a scripture from the Book of Mormon came to mind:

"...If all men had been, and were, and ever would be like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." (Alma 48:17)

Then the Spirit posed a question: If all mothers were like unto you, how would that be?

And my immediate response was Are you kidding me?!? That would be horrible!!

And this is mean! 

But then I realized that I take pretty good care of my kids. I keep them fed and clothed. I tell them I love them. I don't abuse them. I do everything I can to watch out for their well-being, to show them my love and support, and to identify their unspoken needs. I make a lot of mistakes, and I'm nowhere near perfect, but if I were the worst-case scenario - meaning that all other mothers were the same or better than me - this world might be a pretty decent place. 

Does that shake the very powers of hell? Actually, yes, it does. With or without sunscreen.

So now I try to not be so hard on myself, and I've had some years to practice. I still face Mom Guilt sometimes - I don't think that's something I can completely eradicate - but I try to acknowledge the things I do well and give myself some grace. Motherhood is an imperfect work and often feels like a weird experiment, but there are a million ways to get it right.

Currently {May 2026 Edition}

Reading: 

So far, I would let my grandma read this book. 

Listening to:

I would not let my grandma read this book. 

Playing: Ark Nova always. 

Eating: leftover pizza.

Singing: Rolling in the Deep

Watching: 

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite stories, so I was very excited to watch the new mini series (streamed through the PBS Masterpiece app). I would let my grandma watch this. 

Craving: a scalp massage. 

Buying: Little People

Suffering from: seasonal allergies and a broken crown. My crown cracked in half last week, and I had a temporary crown put on while I wait for a new one, and it fell off (while at the movie theater watching Michael, of all things  - there may have been Hot Tamales involved). Now my tooth nub is exposed until I can get into the dentist post-weekend.

Wondering: why kids love to make believe that they are orphans. My kids and their friends always kill off their parents first thing. “Let’s pretend we’re sisters and our parents are dead.” I did the same thing when I was a kid. Barbies? Orphans. Stuffed animals? Orphans. Playing “house?” Orphans. Did the Box Car Children do this to us? Did anyone else watch On Our Own? Did we somehow find Miss Hannigan and Madame Medusa appealing?

Feeling: kind of yucky. I’ve had really bad allergies for about two months. At least I think it’s allergies. I’m a bit miserable. 

Surprised by: how fast the last year has gone by. All of Nicky’s friends are posting about how they finished their first year of college, and I can’t believe we’re already (almost) a year out from graduation. When I see these kids posting pictures with all of their college room mates and friends, I feel like I’m looking at the wrong people. I don’t know them! Who are they? For several years all the same kids have been in photos together, and now they’re all off taking photos with strangers! 

Nicky one year after graduation

Sad about: having to put a chicken down today. She couldn’t walk anymore, so we had to bit her adieu. It’s always a hard thing to do. 

Proud of myself for: ordering Daisy’s yearbook and registering her for her summer class.

Procrastinating: planning my Relief Society lesson and picking up some prescriptions.

Loving: baby goats. My parents’ goats birthed five babies in the past two weeks. Unfortunately they live two hours away, so I don’t get to have regular goat therapy. 

Hoping: to finish planting our garden this week.

I pulled a radish yesterday just for funsies

Wearing: a Beatles shirt and black joggers. 

Grateful for: dental insurance. 

Proof That Kids Still Live Here

Evidence #1: There is a Fuggler waiting for breakfast at my kitchen table.

Evidence #2: Someone has made modifications to Nicky's mission photo.

Evidence #3: There are resins on every corner of our kitchen cabinetry. 

Evidence #4: Whatever this is. 

Evidence #5: More of the same. 

Evidence #6: There are rocket turtles on the ceiling. 

Evidence #7: The kitchen light fixture is draped in curling ribbon. 

Evidence #8: There are mini figs on the door frames 

Evidence #8: There are Legos, squishies, and homemade pottery  on the bookshelf.

Evidence #10: This. 

(Note the keypad entry)