Their loss. I really, really needed to read this today — I can’t tell you how much. For once, my daily game-plan of scrolling through my phone for hours, wildly searching for comfort, came through for me! ♥️🙏😵💫
Well, now I'm angry. How dare you have access to my private therapy sessions? And I quote: "Every shrink I have ever talked to eventually asked me why I was laughing while I recalled the details of an incident that upset me." You know full well the answer. Which is, "Come on, it's objectively hilarious in spite of the fact that it happened to me. Don't I get credit for seeing that and being amused by my own ridiculousness? Would you rather I feel bad?" My defense mechanisms are all I have, please do not puncture them.
Omg I am loving this so much that I need to PAUSE my reading of it because I am so excited! Has that ever happened to you? I will come back after i go back to nibbling at it, slowly, to fully delight in how much brilliance is here. (Normally I hate the idea of CONSUMING something that is not, in fact edible - art, essays, or, God forbid, even content. But here I am. Intending to nibble.)
Let’s go knock on doors in - Arizona? Where should we go to lose the fewest votes?
Another interesting angle on this life is that Trumpers find him Funny-I am pretty sure. I think this alleged funniness is KEY to all of his appeal but nobody has taken that fact seriously enough. Yet.
Thank you Perry Albertson. The equation for the literacy part is just neurotic over compensation plus being raised by a mother who was a librarian= obsession with the thesaurus.
I believe that I have been somewhat aware of “literacy” and “grammar” most of my unnotable life! And for that I would believe I would have to give credit for a good, public school education starting about 1960. In my dotage I have really become conscious of how lucky I was for that!! 😋 But lately, when texting, my fingers aren’t picking up what my mind is putting down!! 😂
Merrill. Do you remember those old knock-knock jokes? Not political. Not a response to our country going to hell in a handcart. But funny nonetheless. I know a good one.
Praise the gods for the voice of Merrill reassuring me that I am not the only one cope-suffering through this political cycle.
I am in that black and white airless room on a chair too small for me, naked rocking back and forth paypalling Joe some moolah and soon to be wearing new scream socks, clutching my single vote in my dirty hand. Did I mention the room smells funny ?
Thank you.
Willy Wonka said it, " so shines a good deed in a weary world"
Hey thanks brian m. Much appreciated. Let's both force ourselves out into the political market place and try to bully undecided voters this year. And if Biden wins, tHen we can settle into resentment over the fact that we had to endure all that talking to dunder headed strangers.
Brilliant. I can't help dropping jokes into my coverage of this grim political season. It's just the way I think when feeling miserable. You nailed it.
Thanks, Merrill - you’ve created a template here for weaving humor out of virtually anything. I mean, the whole autocracy thing is low-hanging fruit, but the applications elsewhere are endless.
I didn't get around to reading this before the fist pump seen round the world which, I fear, has ushered Trump on the fast track to a second term. Given that, this is a great reminder not to be taken in by whatever turn he may take to embrace his humanity and gain sympathy points. Yes, of course he is human, but not one who should be given any real power. I have always seen him as a showman and thought half of what he says is, in his mind, a joke, but the joke ceased to be funny a long time ago-when he started winning primaries in 2015.
thank you. And I agree. I think he is, in many ways, Andrew Dice Clay.(who I also never found funny. But large crowds certainly did.) I think all that Hannibal Lecter talk is just about the fact that he is amused by the phrase "he's like to have you for dinner" which would be a formal Britishy way to say that but doesn't work coming out of his mouth. Wow. I can't even talk about him now i'm so upset by polls etc.
I saw one until I started boring myself with repeats. I havent seen one in a while now. If I need a refresher course, there are so many good and very astute books.
Anyway, sorry to go on and on, but I love this piece beyond reason. Very appropriate, right? Everything is so beyond reason these days.
I am very happy to hear that. Ten people immediately dropped me when it went up.
Their loss. I really, really needed to read this today — I can’t tell you how much. For once, my daily game-plan of scrolling through my phone for hours, wildly searching for comfort, came through for me! ♥️🙏😵💫
awww. That makes me feel great. Thank you.
Well, now I'm angry. How dare you have access to my private therapy sessions? And I quote: "Every shrink I have ever talked to eventually asked me why I was laughing while I recalled the details of an incident that upset me." You know full well the answer. Which is, "Come on, it's objectively hilarious in spite of the fact that it happened to me. Don't I get credit for seeing that and being amused by my own ridiculousness? Would you rather I feel bad?" My defense mechanisms are all I have, please do not puncture them.
Nicely said Mr RHodes
Omg I am loving this so much that I need to PAUSE my reading of it because I am so excited! Has that ever happened to you? I will come back after i go back to nibbling at it, slowly, to fully delight in how much brilliance is here. (Normally I hate the idea of CONSUMING something that is not, in fact edible - art, essays, or, God forbid, even content. But here I am. Intending to nibble.)
Let’s go knock on doors in - Arizona? Where should we go to lose the fewest votes?
Another interesting angle on this life is that Trumpers find him Funny-I am pretty sure. I think this alleged funniness is KEY to all of his appeal but nobody has taken that fact seriously enough. Yet.
Except my friend Nell Scovell who wrote this for The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/no-joke-why-al-franken-should-replace-joe-biden
Yes!
Thank you, as usual, Merrill! I loved and thought is was genius.
I loved "it" and thought "it' was genius. Now if you can just teach me how to be literate...
Thank you Perry Albertson. The equation for the literacy part is just neurotic over compensation plus being raised by a mother who was a librarian= obsession with the thesaurus.
I believe that I have been somewhat aware of “literacy” and “grammar” most of my unnotable life! And for that I would believe I would have to give credit for a good, public school education starting about 1960. In my dotage I have really become conscious of how lucky I was for that!! 😋 But lately, when texting, my fingers aren’t picking up what my mind is putting down!! 😂
Texting is NOT a good outlet for writing. At least get a lap top, P.A. And if there are no funds, get a pen and a yellow legal pad!
Whew. You had me at screaming socks.
By the time I got to "excavate the humor you have buried in your very own archeological pit of discomfort" I'd signed up for Special Forces.
Haaaa. Like Green Beret? Or Navy Seals?
Merrill. Do you remember those old knock-knock jokes? Not political. Not a response to our country going to hell in a handcart. But funny nonetheless. I know a good one.
Ready?
Say knock-knock.
Okay. I'm waiting to hear what kind of trap you are leading me into.
Before we get to the knocking, let me go check my ring camera.
"archeological pit of discomfort"... Bullseye.
Praise the gods for the voice of Merrill reassuring me that I am not the only one cope-suffering through this political cycle.
I am in that black and white airless room on a chair too small for me, naked rocking back and forth paypalling Joe some moolah and soon to be wearing new scream socks, clutching my single vote in my dirty hand. Did I mention the room smells funny ?
Thank you.
Willy Wonka said it, " so shines a good deed in a weary world"
Hey thanks brian m. Much appreciated. Let's both force ourselves out into the political market place and try to bully undecided voters this year. And if Biden wins, tHen we can settle into resentment over the fact that we had to endure all that talking to dunder headed strangers.
very nice draft Al Franken piece in the beast too !
This IS that piece. She wrote it for The Beast.
Brilliant. I can't help dropping jokes into my coverage of this grim political season. It's just the way I think when feeling miserable. You nailed it.
Thanks Lucian. I am still reeling from that piece you wrote about the Thomas Jefferson society. What a weird awful crossroads of everything that is.
I don't attend their reunions anymore. I attend Hemings family reunions.
Probably more fun plus better food and music.
Yes‼️
Always so much fun to see a Merrill post in my Substack!
Now I have to go listen to Taylor Swift, which is way better than constantly panicking. Bonus- I know she’s on our side.
Thank you for your faith in me that I could ever humor you. (I’m sorry- terrible pun, but I’m new at this. You do get it though, right?)
Um...not exactly. Please embarrass us both by over explaining.
Humor you= make you laugh.
Thanks, Merrill - you’ve created a template here for weaving humor out of virtually anything. I mean, the whole autocracy thing is low-hanging fruit, but the applications elsewhere are endless.
Thank you,( I think?)
Merrill, I really admire your restraint in describing the current mess we find ourselves in in the US.
ALSO, "YOU'RE DONE? WHAT ARE YOU, A STEAK?" is comedy gold.
I almost wish someone would break up with me. ❤️
I was so embarrassed I thought of that I almost didnt include it. Thank you for liking it!
I didn't get around to reading this before the fist pump seen round the world which, I fear, has ushered Trump on the fast track to a second term. Given that, this is a great reminder not to be taken in by whatever turn he may take to embrace his humanity and gain sympathy points. Yes, of course he is human, but not one who should be given any real power. I have always seen him as a showman and thought half of what he says is, in his mind, a joke, but the joke ceased to be funny a long time ago-when he started winning primaries in 2015.
And thanks so much for giving us real laughs.
thank you. And I agree. I think he is, in many ways, Andrew Dice Clay.(who I also never found funny. But large crowds certainly did.) I think all that Hannibal Lecter talk is just about the fact that he is amused by the phrase "he's like to have you for dinner" which would be a formal Britishy way to say that but doesn't work coming out of his mouth. Wow. I can't even talk about him now i'm so upset by polls etc.
I try to avoid talking (or thinking) about him, but it doesn't seem to work-he's still there.
I also meant to mention that perhaps you don't need a therapist. At the very least, you should find one who has a sense of humor.
I saw one until I started boring myself with repeats. I havent seen one in a while now. If I need a refresher course, there are so many good and very astute books.