Saturday, December 13, 2025

mild disappointments

Today was series of mild disappointments, the kind that happen when you're too hyped up for something. 

The show that was critically acclaimed and came so highly recommended was... alright. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't terrific. Liberation takes place in Ohio in the 1970s around a group of feminists, and Big A who grew up in Ohio in the 1970s surrounded by his mom and other feminists found it rather underwhelming. Same (despite my differing biography). I really loved the mini series Mrs. America (Hulu, I think) and expected something with that level of punch.

The friend I was so looking forward to meeting... I couldn't wait to get away from them. I seemed to get on their nerves no matter what I said. There's a lot of love between us, but they seemed to be able to see secret agendas in a lot of what I said and did. And that was exhausting. (I didn't have any secret agendas.)

Dinner was at an upscale Thai place (Chalong), and it was good, but I love regular Thai food just fine, I guess? Big A told me that the Thai government actively promotes Thai restaurants worldwide as part of their "gastrodiplomacy" program. Wild.

Pic: Our Liberation  playbills and the beginning of a baby snow storm.

11 comments:

Nicole said...

Well, boo. That's all disappointing for sure. What a bummer.

StephLove said...

That sounds like a strange and awkward dynamic with your friend. I'm sorry.

J said...

Ugh on your friend, that would bother me. I’m sorry for the mild disappointments in the show and the restaurant. I have been mildly disappointed by several live shows I’ve seen - I’m just not a big fan of musicals. Thought I would love Book of Mormon, Hamilton, and Spamalot. All were…fine. The only musical I’ve ever seen and LOVED was Wicked. (I know your play was not a musical, that’s just what came to mind.) Interesting about Thai restaurants?

Lisa's Yarns said...

Ugh! I am sorry there were disappointments, especially meeting up with your friend. I cannot imagine you getting on someone's nerves. Seriously. You give off the warmest, kindest vibes! It's on them if you got under their skin. That must mean your values do not jive and that is really hard in this day and age...

Nance said...

I learned a new word, Gastrodiplomacy! Love it.

The whole friend thing sounds like such a prickly encounter. I wonder why they seemed so guarded and untrusting in person. Perhaps they were nervous and anxious to be all that they are online/in print (however you usually know them). That can be a burden to some who are more comfortable in the written world.

Too bad about the play. And the restaurant. But now you know, and you're even more comfortable in your tastes and choices.

maya said...

I did love Hamilton for a while and I really loved Fiddler on the Roof and Mamma Mia... I haven't seen Wicked...

maya said...

Right? Booing along with you... This reminds me mooing and of the cow scene in _On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous_

maya said...

It was very bewildering, for sure.

maya said...

Truly, I did not like feeling that way, Lisa. It did make me feel sorry for people I may have been impatient with in my own time.

maya said...

I got to process it with a trusted sister friend over dinner today, and feel a bit better. (It's a longstanding traditional friendship, but most of our contact is via text, which allows us to edit what we say to each other--something neither of us is able to do in a face-to-face hang. +We're both not in a good place right now.) Anyway...

Stephany said...

That's such a disappointment with your friend. I'm sorry it didn't make you feel good when you left them! :( I hate that feeling so much!

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