"Give me a procedural!"

Summary

Podcast Summary: Everything is Fine - Episode "Give me a Procedural!"

Release Date: February 17, 2025
Hosts: Jennifer Romolini and Kim France

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Chic and Change: Jen's New Haircut and Personal Style

The episode kicks off with Jen Romolini sharing her recent impulsive decision to chop off 8 to 10 inches of her hair, opting for a blunt bob. At [01:47], Jen describes the transformation:

"It's making me like my clothes better. It's making me excited about clothes and trying new things. I feel lighter."

Kim France praises Jen's bold move, highlighting how short hair can refresh one's wardrobe and overall style. They discuss the societal expectation for women to maintain long hair and how short hairstyles can feel liberating, especially as one ages.

Skincare and Self-Care: Tackling Aging Signs

The conversation shifts to skincare, particularly focusing on neck care and combating signs of aging. Jen opens up about noticing changes in her neck's skin texture:

"The crepiness has started to go away. Just in a couple of days, really." ([04:00])

Jen shares her experience using a light salon LED red light therapy device, which has shown promising results in improving skin texture. She emphasizes that while sagging is inevitable, improving skin texture through serums and light therapy can make a significant difference.

Kim concurs, stressing the importance of accepting and acclimating to one's evolving appearance:

"The more you look at that face and acclimate yourself to that face, the better." ([04:56])

Vacation Tales: Kim's Riviera Maya Experience

Kim France recounts her recent vacation to Riviera Maya (Cancun), detailing both the highs and lows. Starting at [07:22], she describes the serene mornings with cappuccinos and sunrises:

"It was really nice to sit and watch the sunrise. It made me realize why people take beachy winter vacations."

However, the trip was marred by disappointing dining experiences. Kim criticizes the overcomplicated and unappetizing meals served during dinner, contrasting them with enjoyable breakfasts and lunches. Despite the food woes, Kim appreciates the overall environment and the beautiful accommodations, concluding that the experience has rekindled her desire to take meaningful vacations annually.

Aging and Invisibility: Representation in Media

The hosts delve into the theme of aging and the societal invisibility that often accompanies it. Kim reflects on an experience at a funeral where introductions to others highlighted aging:

"Nobody said that they're not gonna say that you're 60. It's different, but...it was just weird." ([05:59])

They discuss how media representations, like the upcoming new Matlock with Kathy Bates, use the concept of invisibility to empower older women, contrasting it with shows like "Grace and Frankie," where older women use their perceived invisibility for humorous escapades.

Movie Spotlight: "Baby Girl" and Demi Moore's Performance

Jen passionately reviews the film "Baby Girl," praising Demi Moore's nuanced and brave performance. At [13:51], Jen shares her admiration:

"It's a really interesting and nuanced part. It's handled so well. It's shot beautifully."

She highlights the film's exploration of an older woman’s relationship with a younger man, emphasizing the emotional connection and authenticity depicted. Jen advocates for greater recognition of such performances, expressing surprise that Moore hasn't received more accolades for her role.

Kim acknowledges Jen's praise, adding her thoughts on award nominations, though she hasn't seen the movie yet.

TV Show Discussions: Procedurals and Current TV Trends

The hosts transition to discussing current television trends, focusing on procedural dramas. Jen shares her experience with "The Pit," noting both strengths and initial hesitations:

"The casting of the show is incredible. Something I've really noticed... Noah Wiley, hotter than ever." ([18:35])

They compare it to long-running shows like "Grey's Anatomy," praising "The Pit" for its fresh casting and engaging format. Additionally, they touch upon other shows such as "Paradise," "Severance," "Lost," "Yellowjackets," and the return of "The White Lotus," discussing their complexities, plot structures, and personal preferences.

Jen expresses a nostalgic appreciation for traditional procedural formats and the comforting predictability they offer amidst more convoluted narratives in contemporary TV.

Fitness Journey: Overcoming Gym Anxiety

Jen and Kim open up about their fitness routines, addressing the common anxiety associated with going to the gym. Jen recounts her initial shyness and gradual progress:

"I was shy and I just did the elliptical in a corner... Now I'm just committed." ([23:24])

Kim shares her plans to either join a gym or invest in a treadmill, inspired by Jen's perseverance. They discuss strategies to make gym-going less intimidating, such as choosing a low-key gym environment and setting achievable fitness goals. The conversation underscores the importance of physical activity for mental well-being and self-esteem.

Personal Grooming: Facial Hair and Neck Care

The topic shifts to personal grooming challenges, specifically dealing with facial hair and neck care as one ages. Jen describes her struggle with a thick, thin mustache and transparent-looking hair on her jawline:

"I'm just like, what am I going to do?...I could wax it but then it comes back in a second." ([39:30])

Kim shares her solution using the Gillette Venus Mini facial hair remover:

"It definitely gets rid of it." ([39:43])

They exchange tips on managing fine, aging facial hair, emphasizing the balance between maintaining natural protection and achieving a desired aesthetic.

Listener Questions: Skincare Tips and Tech Etiquette

Skincare Inquiries:

1. Why Are Our Necks So Damn Itchy?

   • Jen suggests it's due to the lack of oil glands in the neck's skin, leading to dryness.

2. Primer and Setting Spray: Are They Necessary?

   • Jen criticizes primers for drying out her skin and disrupting makeup, favoring setting sprays for a dewy finish.

   "I don't like primers. I don't think they do what I want them to do." ([45:25])

Tech Etiquette Queries:

1. Speed of Response on Texts:

   • Kim prefers quick responses and feels personally slighted by delays.
   • Jen admits to struggling with timely replies due to distractions and being overwhelmed by technology.

   "I just have to... I don't have my phone... I'm just too scattered." ([49:27])

They discuss the challenges of maintaining friendships in the digital age, balancing prompt communication with personal bandwidth.

Closing Thoughts: Intentional Living and Embracing Change

As the episode nears its end, Jen and Kim reflect on the importance of intentionality in life. They emphasize creating a life filled with activities and relationships that bring joy, rather than succumbing to obligations and complacency.

Jen shares her renewed excitement for personal projects and style:

"I'm now... excited about my wardrobe again and about trying new things." ([55:04])

Kim echoes the sentiment, highlighting her vacation as a catalyst for embracing change and seeking out fulfilling experiences.

They conclude by encouraging listeners to remain curious and proactive in shaping their lives, despite the challenges that come with aging and life transitions.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jen Romolini at [04:00]: "The crepiness has started to go away. Just in a couple of days, really."
• Kim France at [05:59]: "Nobody said that they're not gonna say that you're 60. It's different, but...it was just weird."
• Jen Romolini at [13:51]: "It's handled so well. It's shot beautifully."
• Jen Romolini at [18:35]: "Noah Wiley, hotter than ever."
• Jen Romolini at [39:43]: "I could wax it but then it comes back in a second."
• Jen Romolini at [45:25]: "I don't like primers. I don't think they do what I want them to do."
• Jen Romolini at [55:04]: "I'm now... excited about my wardrobe again and about trying new things."

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Everything is Fine," Jen Romolini and Kim France navigate the complexities of aging with humor, authenticity, and insightful discussions. From personal style transformations and skincare routines to the challenges of modern communication and media representation, the hosts offer relatable experiences and practical advice for women over 40. Their candid conversations encourage listeners to embrace change, prioritize self-care, and seek joy in everyday moments.

Transcript

[Eve]

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[Kim]

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[Jen]

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[Kim]

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[Kim France]

Hi and welcome to Everything Is Fine, a podcast for women over 40. We are your hosts. I'm Kim France.

[Jen Romolini]

And I'm Jen Romolini.

[Kim France]

And Jen, you've got a brand new haircut.

[Jen Romolini]

I do, I do. I chopped off like 8 to 10 inches of my hair. I just went in spontaneously. I had been thinking about it kind of. I was like, oh, I'm kind of sick of having long hair and I do the same thing and I just get a trim and then whatever. So I was like, just cut it all off. And he gave me kind of like the blondie. The closest my hair is ever gonna get to the blondie bob of my dreams.

[Kim France]

It's a blunt bob is what I would call it.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes, it's a blunt bob. It's got some razor y stuff to it. But I have to say, like, it's making me like my clothes better. It's making me excited about clothes and trying new things. I feel lighter. I feel like. I don't know why I waited so long.

[Kim France]

Well, it looks great.

[Jen Romolini]

Thank you. I think that I. You know, there's all this. You know, there's this whole thing of, like, well, if you have long hair. If you can have long hair, you should have it as long as you can. But I actually feel like sometimes it's really weighing you down as you get older, the long hair. Not everybody.

[Kim France]

No, not everybody. But it does weigh your face down. Absolutely.

[Jen Romolini]

And I've been having, like. I really have not been loving my neck, though I will say. I've been using. So I was getting. I looked in the mirror. We have mirrors all over this house, and, like, they're. They're weird angles. And I looked in the mirror the other day, and I was like, holy shit, that skin is getting real, like, reptilian on my neck. And I hadn't done shit to it in a long time. And I. Or like a couple of weeks. And I started using the light, salon LED light, red light color. And the crepiness. The sag is still there, but the crepiness has started to go away. Just in a couple of days, really. Yep, yep, yep. So, you know, that's something. And it's actually on sale. It's usually $250. It's actually on sale for, like, $125 this week. I don't know if it still will be when this episode comes out.

[Kim France]

And it's a special neck light.

[Jen Romolini]

It's just. It looks like. It looks like, you know, Mr. Brady's, like, in the Brady case, like, neck collar. You know, the neck collar that everybody tries to, like, fake a court case with in the 80s. It looks like a collar, and then you just turn it on for 10 minutes. I've been doing it while I'm watching TV.

[Kim France]

Huh?

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah. Yeah. And it, like, helps. It just. I think you can do a lot to improve the texture of your skin. You cannot do anything about the sag, but you can with serums and red lights, light therapy and fraxel and different things. You can improve the texture. And I've done this a couple of times. Like, the skin has just started to go. And I've, like, rejuvenated it a couple of fucking times.

[Kim France]

Huh.

[Jen Romolini]

Though I did have this feeling the other day where I was like. I was really looking hard in the mirror, and I was like, okay, this is just what I'm gonna start to look like. Old. Like, I'm going to become an older person. And this, like, I can't continue to pretend I'm going to have a young face.

[Kim France]

Well, yeah, that's it. No, it's really true. And the more you look at that face and, you know, acclimate yourself to that face, the better.

[Jen Romolini]

Really? Yeah. And just be like, okay, get curious about it. You know, like, that was something I talked to Karen Walrand about a lot last week about curiosity. Like, get curious about it. Okay, well, this is what this looks like. This is who I look like as an old person. Fine. What the fuck? Who cares? Who cares? I'm alive.

[Kim France]

You know, it was funny when I went to that. This is gonna sound like such a weird thing to say.

[Jen Romolini]

Bring it.

[Kim France]

But when I went to that funeral down in Houston with my mom, and after the service, there was a lunch, and mom and I were walking around, and she was introducing me to people, and I had this, like, reflex that, like, when I met people, they would say, oh, Eve, your daughter is so pretty.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah. Yeah, okay.

[Kim France]

You know, like, oh, your daughter, she's so pretty. Whatever.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah.

[Kim France]

And, like, nobody said that. They just said, nice to meet you. And it's like, kim, they're not gonna say that you're 60. Yeah, it's different, but, like, walking around this thing with, like, all these people from my child, it was just weird.

[Jen Romolini]

Well, there is. Look. There is the weird invisibility. Like, it's just. It changes. It just changes. You are valued for a different thing.

[Kim France]

Yep, Yep. You really are, you know, the new. I kind of want to watch the new Matlock with Kathy Bates.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, wow.

[Kim France]

Because apparently, apparently the premise is that she uses her invisibility to help her solve cases.

[Jen Romolini]

That's amazing. I one time saw one Grace and Frankie episode where they shoplifted cigarettes, and Jane Fonda was like, nobody's ever gonna look at us.

[Kim France]

Yeah, no, it was hilarious.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah. No, it is. Yeah. Using it to your advantage. Okay, wait. There are a million things to talk about, but I must know. How was your vacation?

[Kim France]

My vacation, thank you for asking. Was so good.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay, tell me.

[Kim France]

It was really, really good. We had a great time. It was not the type of vacation that I've ever taken. Like, a big resort, all inclusive, which is something I've never done before. You know, we had a parent of one of Paul's former students is a travel agent, so she's. We were both just like, this sucks. We want to go away. We're not going to Los Angeles. Let's call a travel agent and have her plan something for us where we only have to get on one plane to Go.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay. Okay.

[Kim France]

So it was in Cancun or you fly into Cancun, they call it Riviera Maya. But I think that's just to sound fancier than Cancun.

[Jen Romolini]

Well, it's closer to Tulum, right? Riviera. Yes. Okay.

[Kim France]

Closer to Tulum. And you see Cozumel across the water. And it was, you know, it was not the type of place I would typically choose. Like a big resort.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah.

[Kim France]

But our room was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. We had this, like, terrace. My plunge pool, as I expressed to you earlier, was a bit of a disappointment. It was very shallow, but still nice to have.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah.

[Kim France]

And we were just on this schedule where every morning we woke up at like 5:30 or 6 and we would order cappuccinos from the room service. Cappuccinos and orange juice. And we would just sit and watch the sunrise.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, God, that's fucking nice.

[Kim France]

That is nice to sit and watch the sunrise. Like in your caftan.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

You know, just like, with your body the same temperature as the air outside. Oh, balmy, balmy. It was so like that. Just. It really made me realize why people take beachy winter vacations.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah. Yeah. I used to take them every year when I was in la. I mean, in New York.

[Kim France]

I mean, I would go. I've had trips over the past 20 years to Miami for a few nights. But Miami is a city, you know, and it's in the United States, and it's not like really getting away. This felt like another environment entirely.

[Jen Romolini]

Like an escape.

[Kim France]

Yeah, an escape. The food was horrible, which is why I will not say where I went, because in many respects, it was good, but the food was disastrously bad, really.

[Jen Romolini]

That I would not be cool with.

[Kim France]

It was. I mean, our lunches, we realized there was a place we could go. There were like five or six restaurants, and three or four of them were only open for dinner. And they were like what I would characterize as fake fancy.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay, okay.

[Kim France]

Like, everything had. Like, everything had one too many ingredient in it, if not two. It was like the menu needed to follow Coco Chanel's advice.

[Jen Romolini]

Like, there was pomegranate seeds. Pomegranate seeds just sprinkled on something for no reason.

[Kim France]

Yes, but that alone wouldn't have been so bad. This was like fish with, like, oyster foam and cinnamon.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, no. Stop, stop, stop, stop.

[Kim France]

So. So by the end, we just couldn't handle it anymore. By the end, we were just like, this is the worst. But lunch and breakfast we could handle. There was like, an egg bar. There was beautiful fruit like, that was fine, but the dinners were lengthy and terrible.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, and lengthy because the service is bad.

[Kim France]

Oh, and in the first fancy restaurant we went to, there was a clarinetist playing Beatles covers. Yesterday, that was a clarinet playing. You know, with a backup track. No, the second restaurant had a violinist playing Beatles covers. Like, yesterday. It was just always playing yesterday wherever we went.

[Jen Romolini]

No, no, no, no.

[Kim France]

So that part of it. Like, that part of it was really sucky, but I think I managed to lose, like, four or five pounds while I was there.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, my God. Because that. That is not the way vacation is supposed to be.

[Kim France]

I know, but it was. Everybody there was so nice. That's why I can't name the place, because they really were nice and the service was amazing and our room was beautiful, but the food was just a shit show.

[Jen Romolini]

I would have really. Because that makes me feel like a pr. Like, that feels like a weird prison. Like a bad food prison. Because when you're staying in a hotel room and you don't have access to a kitchen and the food is not good and easy and exactly what you want, like, it's really fucking annoying.

[Kim France]

It was annoying. It was the only real bummer aspect of the vacation. But now I get it now I get why people do that. And I wanna do it every year. I mean, I couldn't do it the way we did it this year, every year, but I could certainly go away. God, it just. It made such a difference. And of course, now that I'm back, I forgot about that thing that happens when you get back from vacation where you just don't wanna start working again.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, you're like, wait, that. That's the life I should be living.

[Kim France]

Exactly.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah. Yeah. What's this?

[Kim France]

What's this fuckery?

[Jen Romolini]

Exactly. Why? Why am I on this screen? Like, like, you know, gnarled, around the screen. Fucking horrible. Horrible.

[Kim France]

It's so true.

[Jen Romolini]

Well, while you were gone. Let me see. I. This is very important. I watched Baby Girl.

[Kim France]

Oh, that is important. And I have to watch it now, too.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay. You have to watch it. This movie has been so underrated for me. I'll be curious what you think. I do think that your enjoyment of this movie is in direct correlation with how long you've been in a heterosexual marriage. Like a heteronormative sex jail. I do think that because, like, my single friends are like, this movie's bullshit. I was so impressed with it because, you know, obviously it's about an older woman and a younger man. But what's really interesting about It. And what's really hot about it is the younger man is, you know, really into her and, you know, everything you'd think. But he's incredibly emotionally dialed in, and there's such a connection between the two of them. I found that, like, that's what was so hot about it to me, was just how dialed in with her. He absolutely was like, he just had her number from second one, and then, you know, whatever. She's amazing in it. She's actually what people were saying about Demi Moore in the substance, like, it's a brave performance.

[Kim France]

I believe that. I believe that. I mean, she's a great actress.

[Jen Romolini]

She's a great actress. And this is a really, I think, interesting and nuanced part. And I think it's handled so well. I think it's shot beautifully. Like, Alex and I watched it together, which, you know, is a little weird, but we watched it together, and afterwards we were both like, wow, that was a fucking great movie. Like, that was undersold to us. That was an excellent movie. And I can't believe she's not up for an Oscar for this. For this role. I can't believe it. I think she's so amazing in it.

[Kim France]

Yeah. I can't say much since I haven't seen it yet, but I do think. I mean, I just think the fact that Demi Moore got nominated for all the awards was just trash.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I do, too. It's fine. Like, you know, you want older women, blah, blah, blah. Let them be around. We want them to be praised. Yay. Yay, Yay. There's this great Denzel Washington quote that I saw recently. Like, the first third of your professional life, you learn, the second third you earn, and the third third, you return. And I was like, I don't even know what that means, but it sounds so good. I love it. But, no, I was blown away by this movie, and I'm gonna think about it forever. It's like a movie I'm never gonna stop thinking about. And it's about love and obsession and sex and never really actualizing your fantasies and finding somebody who actually is, like, cool with them, you know, and being like, yeah, let's fudgeing. Just. Let's do this shit. And. But it's not unrealistic. Like, there's, like, a point where he says to her, you know, I don't want to be. I don't want a girlfriend. You look like a mom. Like, wow.

[Kim France]

Yeah.

[Jen Romolini]

You know, and then the best part of it is, and, like, older women. Women never get away with Sexually acting out like she is ultimately, like, I don't wanna spoil it. I'll let. We'll talk about it. We'll talk about it later. But it is. It's really fucking worth worth seeing. And I want you to see it because I think it's probably like, my favorite movie of these Oscar bait movies.

[Kim France]

Huh?

[Jen Romolini]

And I was surprised you were surprised.

[Kim France]

You weren't expecting it.

[Jen Romolini]

I thought I'd hate it.

[Kim France]

Yeah, yeah. No. Is it streaming now?

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, it's streaming, I think. I don't. I forget where it's streaming. But you can find it. It's like, at least on Amazon prime, but it might be somewhere else.

[Kim France]

I watched on the airplane rewatched Lady Bird.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, I haven't seen that in so long.

[Kim France]

So worth rewatching.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah.

[Kim France]

It really rewards rewatching.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I remember liking that. And I remember thinking, wow, she's really got something absolutely accurate about the relationship between mothers and daughters.

[Kim France]

Absolutely.

[Jen Romolini]

Just like the weird, passive aggressive. Just like rolling through life just like loving and hating each other in, like, a tumble, you know?

[Kim France]

Yes, exactly. And saying unbelievably horrible things to each other.

[Jen Romolini]

The worst. Like, just the worst. Yeah, I remember liking that. I am watching right now something called. Have you seen the Pit yet?

[Kim France]

You know what? I did start watching the Pit and I did not like it.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay, all right, tell me, tell me. Well, I mean. Okay, I will say caveat. Like, the pilot is the most exposition pilot I think I've seen a long.

[Kim France]

Yes, exactly, exactly. It's like I am standing here doing this because I was. Blah, blah, blah. Yes. It feels like there's a lot of explanation, a lot of exposition, but maybe if I can get past that, I will like the show.

[Jen Romolini]

I think that they kind of had to do that only because the nature of the show is it's a real time hour. If anybody doesn't know it's the Pit, it's with Noah Wylie, I think it's on hbo, Max. And it is a six episode show. And each episode is an hour in the emergency room. And I think because of the nature of the construct of this show, they really had the pilot, really had to explain a lot because you weren't gonna get that in all sort of like subplots and everything. Cause the action is just happening all the time, you know?

[Kim France]

Right.

[Jen Romolini]

But I will say two things. One, the casting of the show is incredible. Like, something I've really noticed, like Grey's Anatomy has been a shit show for. It's been on like four, 400 years. It's been shit for like the past 15 of those years. And part of the reason it's been so bad is because the casting has just been an abomination over the last couple of years. This show has a bunch of like, really interesting faces, really interesting actors. Actors you kind of think you know, but you don't. Noah Wiley, hotter than ever. Like, how the fuck did that happen? Why is he hot? I don't remember him being hot. I remember him being a dork on er.

[Kim France]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jen Romolini]

And I like, I think I really like a doctor show when it's done well. And I think this has done well.

[Kim France]

I have. I mean, I definitely went through a phase in the 90s and early aughts where it was like, I could not get enough of doctor shows or cop shows.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes, yes, Just, just give me a procedural.

[Kim France]

Exactly. Like, you got your main cast, then you have other guests coming in and out every week.

[Jen Romolini]

It's just easy. Even if it's stressful, it's easy. It's just goes down easy. It's really distracting, you know, so it's kind of a perfect. It's kind of perfect for right now. No, I've been into the pit. I think you should try it again. Like we were both like, oh, that was a lot of. Alex and I were both like, that was a lot of exposition. But then we're like, let's just keep going. Yeah, I think you might like it. It's only a six hour investment. That's not so bad.

[Kim France]

Trying to remember the other show that we started watching. I think it's called Paradise.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh. Oh, yes. I think you're right. We've been thinking about that, but then didn't watch it.

[Kim France]

Yeah, we watched about three or four episodes and I can't really. It takes place like it takes place in America, but then there's a twist.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay, okay.

[Kim France]

But it wasn't bad. It wasn't bad. It's not, it's. It is no longer the golden age of television though.

[Jen Romolini]

No. I think I saw something about this somewhere which is like, there's a lot of like, fake prestige shows. Like shows that are just so. They're just like almost good. Like I think that keeps happening. I've been like, I really have a complicated relationship with Severance where, like, I like it, but I hate watching it.

[Kim France]

I 100% get that. I get that completely. This most recent episode, I was like, oh, I don't know if I can do a whole hour of this.

[Jen Romolini]

That's it. We started and I backed out. And then we still have to watch it. I feel the same way. I'm like, what's the payoff? What are they even doing? It's so layered and confusing to the point that it's like, is this good or is it just confusing?

[Kim France]

Well, sometimes when things are layered and confusing, you really wonder. Like with the TV show Lost.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

You know, the first episodes were so layered and confusing, and there's so many different. Like, how is this mystery gonna turn out? I don't think they knew when they started writing that show how they were gonna end it, or they did, and.

[Jen Romolini]

Then they got more seasons, and so then it fucked it all up. That also happens, I think. But yeah.

[Kim France]

Yeah. You know what's coming back soon, I think this week is Yellowjackets.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, Yellowjackets. I don't care about. I stopped watching Yellowjackets. Cause I got upset about the last. The first season of the second of the second season. I was like, I don't think this is gonna be good.

[Kim France]

Yeah. I watched through the season and wasn't as crazy about it as I was the first season. But I'm willing to give the third season a look.

[Jen Romolini]

I am excited for another television program that will be out on Sunday, which is the White Lotus.

[Kim France]

That's right.

[Jen Romolini]

It's back. Yes. Yes.

[Kim France]

With Carrie Coon and Parker Posey.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes. Yes. Walton Goggins. Yes. My husband just wrote a. My husband went horseback riding with Walton Goggins in the fall because, like, he's just. It's not awesome. He's just always doing weird shit like they always are. Like, why don't you go throw axes with the guy from Game of Thrones? Why don't you ride on the back of, like, this celebrity's motorcycle? And he's like, okay.

[Kim France]

Well, it's just like, you just want anything other than the dreaded sitting across from the celebrity in a restaurant.

[Jen Romolini]

Right. The Chateau Marmont. Exactly, Exactly. You want some scene?

[Kim France]

You want some scene? You don't want them walking into the dining room in the Chateau Marmont looking beautiful without a stitch of makeup.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, yes. She delicately takes a bite of her salad. Like, no, I don't. No, no, thank you. No. But the poor man, like, one time he had to. Like, he had to ride bikes with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Like, he's really. It's just. For a man who's not. Who's, like, awkward and not that fit, he's really been through a lot.

[Kim France]

That's lie. I really wish I had, like, a snapshot from each one of those of his fear.

[Jen Romolini]

He said on his. He could hear on the interview tape of this in the horseback riding. He's like trying to record their conversation while they were riding horses. And he could just. All he could hear was himself going, whoa, okay. So funny. So funny.

[Kim France]

That's hilarious.

[Jen Romolini]

Speaking of being active, guess who's been to the gym?

[Kim France]

You.

[Jen Romolini]

Me.

[Kim France]

And what have you been doing? What have you been doing?

[Jen Romolini]

So I. The first couple of times I was shy and I just did the elliptical, like in a corner, you know, and then I've been like five times. Like, I'm trying to go two to three times a week, and then like, do other things, like go for walks and whatever. But last night I took like a very serious, like, weightlifting hiit class. Like, I took like a real, like, you know, get down on the ground, get back up, put the weights up in the air, do a squat, just move your legs. I mean, it was so awkward and I hadn't put the correct deodorant on. Like, and I don't know, I was sweating like an animal. And I don't know if the person next to me moved because I had bo, but I had. And it was gross. And I was like, I'm this awkward middle aged lady with glasses on, still not in the right outfit, just like flinging my limbs around. But I have to say, like, I. Go figure. I think this is it. I think this is the trick. I think it's exercise.

[Kim France]

Oh, man, you really inspire me.

[Jen Romolini]

I'm sorry?

[Kim France]

You really inspire me. No, no, no, no, it's good. I feel like I'm close to starting to work out again. One way or another, I'm either gonna join the gym or I'm gonna get a fucking treadmill. Put it in the guest room, walk on it, you know, Half an hour a day.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I mean, I think the gym is kind of like this. My gym is like super low key. Like the most low key gym. And I. And like, just a lot of weirdos, you know, just like, nobody looks perfect. Like, I. I had a free membership at one time to the Hollywood Equinox. And like, it came with a perk of a job. And that was never like the locker room alone. I was just like, get me out of here. I can't.

[Kim France]

No. It's intimidating. It's intimidating as can be.

[Jen Romolini]

Just the pubic hair shapes alone. I was like, I didn't even know. I didn't even know they were offering that. Like, I was like, you are just sexy. Your sexiness is just killing me. But yeah, no, this gym is so low key and like I'm working my way up slowly. Like I moved from the elliptical in the corner to the elliptical that I could like see everybody lifting weights. And I was like, I bought like I bought training shoes so that I can lift weights in these shoes and I'm just committed. And like the other night I was in the worst mood and I like kind of went for a run in our neighborhood because we have this new park that is like a very cause also we used to live near the reservoir which was incredibly intimidating. But we have a park that has like a little track loop right down the street. And I've just been like doing like a little awkward jog on it, listening to the worst but best 90s exercise music. There is nothing like terrible 90s exercise music. Whoomp, there it is. Just fucking fill it in my ears. It's awful. And the best. Everybody jump. Yes, I'll fucking jump.

[Kim France]

Absolutely hilarious.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I think, I mean look, I still have this rolling neck and I still, and I still have hot flashes but I have to say like, and like everything hurts but I feel, my brain feels better. Let's take a quick break from some ads.

[Natalie Rivera]

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[Jen Romolini]

I love ritual.

[Natalie Rivera]

I talk about ritual all the time. I use hair myself. I think it makes my skin plumper. I use Rituals multiple vitamin for women over 50 I use rituals Melatonin. It's a quality brand made of quality ingredients.

[Jen Romolini]

The supplements taste good. The packaging is aesthetically pleasing.

[Natalie Rivera]

It takes a lot of the guesswork from me out of which supplements I should be taking. I just really love this brand and especially Haasera. It's a once daily skin supplement that in a clinical study led to a 2.9 time increase in skin skin smoothness within 90 days as compared to a placebo. And subjects reported an improvement in skin elasticity, glow and radiance in within 90 days. It's also rigorously tested and validated by a third party for allergens, microbes and heavy metals. It also is industry leading sustainability standards. All of these things are the reasons.

[Jen Romolini]

That I love ritual.

[Natalie Rivera]

And I think you will too.

[Jen Romolini]

So start Hyacinth to support your glow.

[Natalie Rivera]

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[Jen Romolini]

And we're back.

[Kim France]

You know what I didn't do the entire time I was in Mexico?

[Jen Romolini]

What?

[Kim France]

Smoke pot?

[Jen Romolini]

No, what? You didn't take any edibles?

[Kim France]

I didn't take anything with me because I looked on Reddit and Reddit was like only an idiot brings weed to Mexico.

[Jen Romolini]

Wow.

[Kim France]

You will spend time in a Mexican jail. They take it very seriously. But once you get there, it's not too hard to find. So when we got there we asked, you know, we asked a couple people and it just seemed like it was gonna be a pain in the ass. So I was like, let's try a little experiment. You know, I'll just see how I do without weed for almost a week.

[Jen Romolini]

That's huge.

[Kim France]

It was for you.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, my God.

[Kim France]

That's pretty huge for me.

[Jen Romolini]

Like, that's huge. I mean, that's huge for anybody who's, like, relying on it every night. That's huge. I can't. That's like. You just dropped that casually. That's really big. How did. And you felt fine.

[Kim France]

I felt fine. I slept fine.

[Jen Romolini]

And you had a good time.

[Kim France]

And I had a great time. It was totally fine in every way.

[Jen Romolini]

I've been thinking about, like. Cause, you know, I go back and forth from, like, nightly thc outside of night. Like, I go back and forth. Right. And I've been thinking about long term, what it has to be doing to my brain. Like, it just. It can't be good. And, like, I like my brain. I like being. I like having an active brain that, like, can. Can hold things.

[Kim France]

Yes. No, it's true. It's true. I think. I don't know what the long term. I mean, there are so many. They're finding out more and more ways in which weed is, you know, truly addictive.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes. Yes.

[Kim France]

And, you know, smoking it is not great for you.

[Jen Romolini]

No, no. I still haven't had a Capri. Still two weeks later, still no Capri.

[Kim France]

Congratulations. That's really good.

[Jen Romolini]

I know. I was enjoying my little Capri habit, but it's better. And then this way I can, like, I can go back to what I was for years, which is like once or twice a year.

[Kim France]

Well, you know, Joan Didion, I think I've said this before on the podcast. She. She would smoke five cigarettes a day, all at the table, like, all while she was working.

[Jen Romolini]

Wow. Okay.

[Kim France]

Which was genius. It's like you're somebody who lets themselves have five cigarettes a day, and you have to be at the computer before you do it. What a great way to get at the computer.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, that's true. That's true. That and even think about that, like, you have a deadline and, you know, that's the only time you could smoke is while you're writing. Like, yeah, that actually is. What an amazing, like, bait.

[Kim France]

Yes. Oh, I'm reading. I was reading the craziest book. Oh, Tell me On Vacation, Trashy as Can Be. I think it's called Full Service, and it's by this guy, Scotty Bauer. Have you ever seen.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, my God, I've read that. Yes, of course. That's like a hundred years old, but it's amazing, right?

[Kim France]

Yeah, yeah, no, this guy was. I'll just briefly say, like, he was a guy who. After the war, he was a Marine. I think after the war, he landed in California and he started working at a gas station. And through one circumstance or another, he starts setting up celebrities with, like, people who will sleep with them for money.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

And he has stories on everybody.

[Jen Romolini]

He really does.

[Kim France]

How he got away with telling all those stories. He has stories about absolutely everybody.

[Jen Romolini]

Bob Hope.

[Kim France]

Bob Hope. I mean, Katharine Hepburn.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah. The Royals.

[Kim France]

The Royals, everybody. And he never took money for it. Mm.

[Jen Romolini]

He was like a pimp. He never took money for it.

[Kim France]

Yeah, he never took money for it. He just enjoyed setting people up with people who would have sex with them for money. But it's just like. It is almost more gossipy than I could handle.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes, yes, yes. There's another book like that, which is you'll never make Love in this Town again. Have you read this? It's like. I mean, that is like, a foundational text for me. I love that book so much. I mean, of course I wanna know how Timothy Hutton fucks. And spoiler alert, they're all fucking disgusting pervs and just wanna pee on these people. Like, it's just like.

[Kim France]

There's a lot of that.

[Jen Romolini]

There's a lot of, like, oh, I'm a celebrity and I'm gonna pay you to pee. I'm gonna pay you so I can pee on you.

[Kim France]

Yeah. I remember Paul had a Timothy Hutton story once. He somehow, when he was living upstate, ended up, like, jamming one night with Timothy Hutton, who played drums and couldn't play at all. But it was exactly like that 30 Rock episode where the attractive person just keeps getting praised. Like, he's like, you guys. You guys gotta keep up. You gotta keep up with me, man.

[Jen Romolini]

I've heard bad things about him sexually, outside of, you'll never make love in this town again. Really? I mean, you know, there's like. You just hear shit. Like, you hear things about the side. Like, I have friends who. Like, I have a friend who slept with Eminem, and she was like, he was a small dick. You know what I mean? Like, it's just like, you keep that shit in your head forever. Are we gonna get sued?

[Kim France]

Yeah. You really do.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah.

[Kim France]

Are we gonna get sued for saying that? Because I think Eminem is a good guy.

[Jen Romolini]

Right? I don't know. Is he?

[Kim France]

I don't know. I think. I think he's all right.

[Jen Romolini]

I can't.

[Kim France]

I don't know.

[Jen Romolini]

I don't know. I don't know. I can't. I can't keep track. I just like, look them up now with the word problematic. Just to see. I can't remember especially a lot of 70s feminists have turned out to be TERFs and just really. I had a real problem with. When I was doing that Viva podcast, I had a real problem. Cause there were some people that I was like, oh, we should reach out to her. She's still alive. And it was like, oh, no, she hates trans people. It was just like, you just don't know. People just turn into jerk offs. It's just crazy like.

[Kim France]

Or crazy like Naomi Wolf, right?

[Jen Romolini]

Or I mean like Chachi, like, what, what happened to you, Chach? You know, Ricky Schroeder, like, what the fuck, guys? Kirk Cameron. It's just like the trifecta of like my, My teen beat crushes are just. We're just fucking thumbs down. Anthony Michael hall is going to be next.

[Kim France]

Oh, God.

[Jen Romolini]

It's just. Everybody gets old and sad. Disappointing. Yeah, Yeah. I have gotten back. Speaking of reading, I have gotten myself back to reading. I fought my way back in and it's because I've dedicated five hours a week on Saturdays that I just sit and read.

[Kim France]

That's great.

[Jen Romolini]

And that carries you through, through the week. Cause then you're excited about the book and then you're like, oh, I kind of can't wait to get to this book tonight. So you'll make different decisions. Like, okay, I'm gonna go to bed a little earlier so I can read this book. Oh, I have an extra half hour. I'm gonna read this book. I really had to, like, I have to take. I take Instagram off my phone, you know, on Fridays and then I have it off until. For the whole weekend. And that helped too because your phone's not. If you make your phone not fun. Yeah, you know, like, that helps. But yeah, I'm just like blowing through novels and I'm like, ooh, plot. This is interesting.

[Kim France]

Look at you, making so many good decisions.

[Jen Romolini]

I know, it's weird. I'm trying.

[Kim France]

You're making a lot of good decisions. And good decisions beget good decisions. I think we'll see.

[Jen Romolini]

I don't know. I don't know. Should we see if we have listener questions?

[Kim France]

Why not?

[Jen Romolini]

Or wait, you might have more on your list. That was it. I just blew through mine. Oh.

[Kim France]

The only last. The last thing I have on my list is that apparently it's time for me to get a nose hair trimmer.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, shit. That's a real thing. That's a real thing.

[Kim France]

It's a real thing. It's like I can see the hair is like pointing down.

[Jen Romolini]

I had to, I just had to trim mine the other day. And it's like you don't want to trim them too much because they're protective. But it's like this is obviously a problem. Like, looks really gross. Yeah, I've been having all kinds of facial hair issues. Yeah, just a lot, just like, just a lot of, like a lot of mustache. Like a really thick black mustache. And as discussed, a white beard.

[Kim France]

Yeah, it's the white that's hard to get. It's the white that's on the jawline.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

I don't even think they're white. I think sometimes they're clear, you know?

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, yeah. That's how it feels too. They feel almost transparent. Yeah, it's rough. There's always one. There's always one somewhere. You're just like feeling around your face for the whisker.

[Kim France]

Totally. I've got a little business right here. Got a little business right here. Always on the jawline.

[Jen Romolini]

Always on the jawline. It's just annoying. I don't want to be plucking this much. I'm just like, what else? What am I going to do? Am I going to sugar it? Like, what am I going to do? It's too pale to do anything laser wise. I could wax it but then it comes back in a second. It's just.

[Kim France]

I use, I have this thing I use and I think it's made by Gillette.

[Jen Romolini]

Is it a dermaplaner?

[Kim France]

No, it's like a little, like little cylindrical, basically electric razor for ladies.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, that's nice.

[Kim France]

Gillette Venus Mini facial hair remover. That's what it's called.

[Jen Romolini]

I'm gonna get that Gillette Venus Mini. I'm gonna, I'm gonna look it up.

[Kim France]

I mean it comes back, you know, in a day or two, but it definitely gets rid of it.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I mean look, that's what you need. You just want it, you want it like just gone. It's just a lot, a lot of hair.

[Kim France]

I just get like, I don't get hair. I get hair on the edges of my lips.

[Jen Romolini]

Like you could twirl it.

[Kim France]

Like I could twirl it. But none here, you know, none from the nose out until you get to the edge of my lips and then I get this little like scrub growth.

[Jen Romolini]

I got the whole thing. I got the whole thing. I got a stash the whole way around. It's just a big furry stache. I'd like to get rid of it. I think I Don't know. My whole thing right now is the face is gone. Like, just fuck the face. I'm just gonna.

[Kim France]

Did you hear that laugh?

[Jen Romolini]

Laugh, burp. I didn't. I loved it. I. Oh.

[Kim France]

You know what I did this morning, Jen?

[Jen Romolini]

What? What?

[Kim France]

I ate a healthy. I ate a healthy breakfast.

[Jen Romolini]

Tell me about it. Tell me about your breakfast.

[Kim France]

Usually I'll make fried eggs, you know, or maybe some scrambled eggs with cheese and spinach. And that's always, like, a little heavy. This morning I made avocado toast.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh, see, I love an avocado. I have avocado toast on Paleo bread with smoked salmon and dill almost every morning.

[Kim France]

It's a really nice thing to have for breakfast.

[Jen Romolini]

It is. It is a cup of green tea. It's really good. Anyway, as I was saying, I've decided that I'm just gonna get very cut on below the neck. Like, I'm just gonna be like. I'm gonna be able to wear whatever I want because my arms are gonna be amazing. And I'm just like. I'm just. I'm kind of like I need to give up. It's too much work. It's too much work from the collarbones up. Like, it's just. That's it. And we'll see what happens.

[Kim France]

I don't know if I believe that.

[Jen Romolini]

You don't think I'll do it? I don't know. I mean, it just feels like. It feels like it would be liberating to just be like, fuck it, I won't.

[Kim France]

Yeah, but there's something about. And of course, being cut is a great thing. And I'm not discouraging exercise, but there were women on the beach when I was on vacation who were my age or a little younger and who were like. They just had tone, but surrounding the tone was loose flesh.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes. Well, that's. The loose flesh is gonna. You can't eradicate the loose flesh. I mean, I guess you could go in and get, like, a solo wave for your whole body. Like, you could go. There are people. Or you get. You get that knee surgery that, like, lifts the crate. Like, fuck, what is. It's too much. It's too. Too much. There's like. Now there's like. They're injecting fat in people's faces. It's like, get rid of the filler. Just put some fat in there. It's like everything's a surgery. Oh, no.

[Kim France]

Yeah, I know.

[Jen Romolini]

It's too much. So wait, but what is the alternative? Like, not having muscle, like, under the under the flabby skin.

[Kim France]

No, it wasn't a good point especially. It's just like there's a certain kind of, like, female body that has, like, you know, flesh hanging from it and a lot of muscle tone that I don't think is the most attractive look.

[Jen Romolini]

Well, but here's the thing. There's no way to go because there's no body that's gonna look like it does when it's, you know, 30, when it's young. Yeah, it's just. There's just no way, like, you know, there's Joan from the Golden Bachelorette is, like, willowy and in shape and, you know, was in, like, a bikini on the beach and like, you know, at the end Bachelorette episodes when they're in the tropics, you know, And I was like, that's what this is. The best you can look?

[Kim France]

Yeah.

[Jen Romolini]

She looks the best you can look in a bathing suit. How was the bathing suit? Were you able to just get over it and be like, I'm gonna have fun?

[Kim France]

I was able to get over it and just be, I'm gonna have fun.

[Jen Romolini]

Good.

[Kim France]

It's just like, I was on the beach. I was just like, I mean, you're practically naked when you're on the beach. What are you gonna do? Your body is your body. I just decided I didn't give a shit.

[Jen Romolini]

That's it. That's it.

[Kim France]

You know, I just. And I liked my swimsuit. I brought a cute swimsuit I love from Andy. Swim is the brand. They make swimsuits up to 3x.

[Jen Romolini]

Amazing.

[Kim France]

It had buttons. It was like a little bit of a James Bond looking swimsuit, you know?

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, yeah. Like, sexy.

[Kim France]

It buttoned down. It was sexy without revealing very much at all.

[Jen Romolini]

That's great. That's great. Yeah. I want to go. I want to do a lot of swimming this summer.

[Kim France]

Yeah, swimming is the best. Being in the water is the best. I was reminded of what a Pisces I am.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I haven't done it in so long. I haven't had a beach vacation in so long. All right, all right. We're going to read a couple of listener questions. Why are our necks so damn itchy?

[Kim France]

That's a good question. I want. I had a really itchy neck the other day.

[Jen Romolini]

I think it's because the skin on our necks has no oil glands, I think is the case. And so it really dries out. And I think that that's why they're so itchy. That makes sense, I think. I mean, somebody could tell me differently but that's what I think. Someone would love to know which resort you stayed at. But you're not telling.

[Kim France]

I'm not telling. I'm sorry.

[Jen Romolini]

Face care questions. Primer. Do we need it or is it a gimmick? Same with setting spray. We could start there. This is a multi question question. Primer. Setting spray.

[Kim France]

I use setting spray sometimes. I don't use primer.

[Jen Romolini]

I find primer dries my skin out. And then when I put makeup on top of the primer, it just. Just like lays there, cakes on. I don't like it at all. I don't like primers. I don't think they do what I want them to do. And I don't like that matte looking face. That's the thing. I want a dewy face.

[Kim France]

I want a dewy face, too. I want a face that shines. I don't care.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

And yeah, I had a primer once that was supposed. Because my face gets red. So it was a primer that had green in it, that was supposed to erase the red. And it did erase the red, but it made me like deathly pale.

[Jen Romolini]

I just went through this with a. I was reviewing this K beauty, same exact thing, and it's green. And it did totally take the red out of my nose. But it made it look like weird and pasty. Like, I'm not interested in that. I don't care. I'd rather my face look kind of like fresh and oily and I don't want to bring it down to that ghostly. I don't think you can. Well, for me, that look has not worked for me since I was like 22.

[Kim France]

Yeah.

[Jen Romolini]

Can you talk about the order of face products? Is it serum moisturizer, then sunscreen? Yes, that is it. That is it. That's the end of that question. Okay. Also, on the hunt for comfy but cool winter Chelsea boots. If you have any wrecks, just ordered the Doc Martens Chelsea boots, but they don't come in half sizes and sadly don't fit.

[Kim France]

Oh, hang on. You know the ones I like? What I'm gonna say Blundstone.

[Jen Romolini]

Is that it?

[Kim France]

Blundstones. Blundstones have really good treads on them.

[Jen Romolini]

I'm gonna say that a couple years ago I bought a pair of Chelsea boots from Frida Salvador. They were on sale. They're kind of expensive. They're like $500. But they were. They were on a decent sale. And they're super lightweight, which makes them really great to travel with. They're the Brook rain resistant boot. And they have kind of a lug sole on them, so they also have a little bit of a lift. And they're my favorite, favorite travel boot. So I would recommend Frida Salvador's Brook. And they come in several. Several colors and finishes. Like, you get a shiny black. You can get a. Whatever, suede, white, brown, all of it. This question, I'm just going to answer it again. We answer this. This is like, I would say, top five most frequently asked questions, and I'm very surprised that it's this, but do you have a signature fragrance?

[Kim France]

I do. I mean, I have one fragrance that I wear sometimes, and that's Portrait of a Lady.

[Jen Romolini]

I wear Maison Louis. I think it's like number four. It's a candle scent I really like. And they also make an oil, and I think it smells really good. But I also like. Oh, it's called Maya scent. And it's another roll on oil that just works with the chemistry of your body and smells different on everybody. And I really like the way it smells on me. Okay, any thoughts on speed of response etiquette on text? I texted a friend at 8am this morning to say that if she had. That if, as she had originally proposed, she wants to get dinner tonight instead of tomorrow, my schedule is freed up and we could switch when I hadn't heard anything. Two hours later. Not. Let me check and I'll get back to you. Just radio silence. I was kind of annoyed, but maybe I was wrong. Conducting our friendships on text is kind of new thoughts.

[Kim France]

I like to be responded to quickly.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

And when I am not responded to quickly, I take it personally.

[Jen Romolini]

That's interesting to know because I am terrible at responding to texts.

[Kim France]

See, we're having a little. We're having a moment of therapy moment here because I am, of course, talking about you.

[Jen Romolini]

I am the worst at responding to texts. And it is nothing personal. Half the time I don't have my phone. Half the time my phone is dead. And then just half the time I'm just too scattered and doing too many things and somebody texts me and I'm like, oh, I'll get to that. And then I just. I don't get to it until maybe even a day later and I realize I fuck it up. I fuck things up all the time. I just. I'm so overwhelmed by all the technology coming at me. But do you respond right away?

[Kim France]

I respond pretty quickly to text sometimes. If it's somebody who doesn't respond quickly to me, I'll, like, play it cool. I'll play it cool. But I do respond pretty quickly. But I don't like the fact, like, if the phone rang in the old days, somebody could leave a message on your answering machine.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

And you had a grace period.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes.

[Kim France]

You know, you could respond. You could not respond right away. But they didn't know. But if you send a text, you're almost 100% sure they know. And they know you know.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes. You know, I don't know. I consider it a bit of an impairment for me. And I just want my friends to love me. Anyway, that's what I. That's basically where I'm at with it. Cause I don't know if I'm ever gonna be good at it. I really find responding overwhelming unless I do it right the fuck away.

[Kim France]

Yeah, No, I get it.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes. So I'm sorry about that.

[Kim France]

I will say it's okay now. I understand.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, it's really. I just. I have a really, really hard time with it. Oh. I just wanna take this opportunity to apologize for answering the Brooke Shields question last week when we understood nothing about. Or two weeks ago when we understood nothing about Brooke Shields labia. And we were just like, I don't know why you get that. And it turns out, like, she had some genetic situation where her labia was really long. But here's the thing. I don't know why that information is out in the world now. I don't need to know about Brooke Shields labia. You know what I mean?

[Kim France]

She told the story for a reason.

[Jen Romolini]

Okay.

[Kim France]

Why? Because when she went in to get this surgery on her labia, the doctor also surprised her by giving her a husband stitch.

[Jen Romolini]

Oh.

[Kim France]

Which she had not asked for. So that was the purpose of the story getting told. But, you know, good on Brooke Shields for laying it all out there.

[Jen Romolini]

I mean. Yeah, totally. But, like, now it's just like, oh. I mean, I've referenced it a couple of times. Like, I've made jokes about it being like, oh, like Brooke Shields in her labia. Like, I can't. I can't help it with that information. I can't help it.

[Kim France]

I'll probably think of a labia every time I think of Brooke Shields from now on.

[Jen Romolini]

I know, I know. Okay. What are you looking forward to? Both near term and long term? I find as I get older, I don't have as much to look forward to. And that used to be a huge source of joy for me. I may have often felt disappointed by how something ended up going. And I feel like that has made me jaded about how future events will Go. Even vacations. Caveat I have young kids are something I can only muster a meager amount of positive anticipation for. Meh.

[Kim France]

I think there's something. I don't know how to answer this question because I don't know how much I look forward to other than short term. I mean, I look forward to growing old. You know, I look forward to spending time with the people I love. But I don't think I have answers that are very satisfying to that question.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, I mean, I think that this is about intentionality. Right. Like, and about creating a life of things that bring you joy. And it's so easy to have a life that is merely obligation. Right. Like, even sometimes, like, I'll. I'll be doing something with people we know, and I'll be like, I'm not. This is. I don't wanna be here. Why do we do this? This isn't what I want. And instead. And at the same time, not spending time with people who really light me up. Right. And getting lazy and not that this for everybody, but, like, being complacent and lazy and being like, oh, I don't like to go out after 6:30 at night and then like, skipping something that could have been really, like, fortifying or interesting, engaging. So I think part of it is having been there and done that with so much and having to sort of artificially engineer excitement and anticipation. But part of it is also not allowing that jadedness to keep you from trying new things and getting like, oh, I really wanna take this pottery class or whatever the fuck it is. Just doing it. Seeing people, having people over for dinner, cooking new things. Like, just getting out of your rut, I have to say, like, moving and like, having to, like, change the way I drive, where I drive to getting this haircut. Like, I'm now, like, like I said, excited about my wardrobe again and about, like, trying new things.

[Kim France]

I think it's.

[Jen Romolini]

Trying new things ultimately, I think.

[Kim France]

I mean, I think. And I think that's why my vacation left me so, you know, so, so pleased with it because it had been forever since I'd done something like that. And it was like, oh, yeah, here's the thing. I could do this thing all the time if I wanted to.

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah.

[Kim France]

Or at least once a year, you know, I can. I can. I can make a change. Like, oh, yeah, it feels good to be in the water. Let's do more things like that in the way that we can when we get home.

[Jen Romolini]

Yes. And there's also a thing of, like, maybe you don't like the things that we used to like. Like, that's also like a painful transition of being like, oh, this, you know, this bar, these drinks, this, you know, this same hang is not as satisfying as it used to be. And I need to find a replacement for this. What do I like to do? And again, this kind of goes back to curiosity. Like, what are you. What are you really interested in? And really back it up from, like, I'm gonna die. What would I like to have done before I die? Like, I'm sorting out how to write a novel and it's really hard. And I really like the novel class I'm in. And I really like my accountability partner. And like, I, you know, it's something new. So, you know, I think that's, that's, that's part of it. I don't know. Look, it can be a real bummer. Especially in these times.

[Kim France]

Yes, especially in these times.

[Jen Romolini]

We may have. Unless we have a new question. I think we may have gone through all of our questions. I think we might be wrapping up this show.

[Kim France]

Well, it seems appropriate. We're at 56 minutes.

[Jen Romolini]

We're fucking 50. How did that happen? That just stuff flew by. There we go. I know.

[Kim France]

It was like the movie clock, you know?

[Jen Romolini]

Yeah, that's exactly. That was like an hour well spent. All right, well, listen. Thanks for listening to Everything is fine. We're your hosts. I'm Jen Romolini.

[Kim France]

And I'm Kim France.

[Jen Romolini]

If you like the show, please rate and review it across the platforms. It helps people find the show. It really makes a difference. If you want to support the production of the show, we're on [e-mail] everythingisfine. It's pretty easy to sign up. It's $3 a month. It helps us keep the lights on in the show and pay our editor. If you wanna find Kim and Kim's excellent style advice, you can find her at girlsofacertainage, which is actually the URL kimfrance substack.com youm can find me with, I think weekly. Now I'm kind of doing weekly missives, I guess on substack genre. Romolini.substack.com you can find both of us in a robust and private Facebook group. The show is mixed and edited by Natalie Rivera, who is up for all of our bullshit every single week. Just really rain or come shine. And we will be back next week. Foreign.

[I]

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[Eve]

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[Kim]

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