#69: girls just wanna have fun-damental rights
the people's march and a tiktok ban all in one weekend
hi hi hi sisters ♡ I am currently sitting at the desk of my dear friend emily, watching the snow come POURING down in DC (just frozen tears for the nation’s capital because of the inauguration tomorrow imo). I have been staying at her apartment this past weekend with alyssa because yesterday we went to the people’s march (more on that later)
but I hope you are doing well. it was my first week back to school and I already feel like I am drowning. I know that I need to just get my footing and get into the rhythm of a schedule, but damn, i’m feeling O.V.E.R.W.H.E.L.M.E.D. with how much work I have to do. ahh, such is life.
keeping the recommendations section to recommendations for different substacks or articles that I read. I find it to be really important to support small “businesses” (that sounds odd to use here, but maybe influencers is another word I can use?) and one way I can do that is by sharing about them!
literally think I might print out this "shitty little prayer" that
wrote up on November 6th of last year because it is exactly how my brain and mind have been thinking and feeling for the past little bit
movies: bjørn and I saw better man this week. yes the movie about the singing monkey. and you guysssss, I really really liked it !!! its a biopic about the life of robbie williams, hes a british singer so you probably dont know or care about him at all, and even after the movie I dont really care to learn more about him. but I was ENTERTAINED !!! the director who did the greatest showman was the director for this film, and he did a really good job. it was a fun musical and the storyline was entertaining and even a little inspiring. an overall very enjoyable time. alyssa and I also watched party girl, a silly little movie from the mid-90s about a (you guessed it) party girl who is realizing that she needs to grow the fuck up and she decides to get her life in order. it was cute and short and sweet !!
podcasts: 100% binged every single episode of the severance podcast with ben stiller and adam scott, this week in preparation of the season 2 premiere this past friday !!! (omg you guyssssss I love this show) the podcast was very fun and it was cool to hear more about the making of each episode from season 1. I really enjoyed dax shepard and kristen bell being guests because they are both VERY funny, and I think kristen bell is one of america’s sweethearts.
music: do you hear the people sing? and the soundtrack of SUFFS have been in my mind all week long !!!
in my mind: veryyyy interesting article on how movies in airplanes are picked out !!
in my stomach: the last time alyssa and I were in DC together we went to a place called the unconventional diner, I think my friend laura recommended it, and it was SO good when we went a bit ago. so this time around we knew we had to go back, and I got the chicken parmesan and it was sooo yummy !!!! I love this place !!! I want to keep going back because there are so many things I want to try off the menu
this weekend, alyssa and I, traveled down to DC friday night after work to be able to attend the women’s march (well this year rebranded the peoples march). what is the women’s march you might ask, great question. lets dive into it
so following trump’s first election win in 2016, a worldwide protest was organized to occur the day after his 2017 inauguration. it was prompted by trump's policy positions and overall his ass-holeness and threats to the rights of women. the main protest/march/rally was in DC, with over 470,000 people in attendance - being the largest single day protest in US history up until that point. and its estimated that across the country between 3.2 and 5.2 million people participated in marches in cities all over the states. planned parenthood partnered with the march which allowed for support for such a large scaled event. this also prompted the pussyhat project, the iconic pink hats with pointed ears, to attempt to reclaim the word pussy and to make a play on words against trump saying that women would let him "grab them by the pussy.” (jesus christ how is this man the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world). since then there have been january women’s marches in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and now 2025. this year, because of the intersectionality of reproductive health issues as well as many other issues that impact all persons of the united states, this year, the women’s march was rebranded to be called the people’s march, which like love.
the first time I had attended something like this was in provo utah in january 2020. it was their women’s march and loved it. it was so powerful being able to attend a rally supporting women’s rights and issues, especially in provo utah, of all places !!! I heard from women from all walks of life, including rosemary card (love her long time) and sweetie alyssa joined me then as well !!
when roe v wade was over turned in 2022, I was able to attend a protest in washington square park. I will FOREVER remember the feeling of getting off the C train at the W 4th Street station and seeing the masses of women and others getting off the train with me. we all just silently walked towards washington square park. the silence was somber and tangible for we knew that we were assembling for and it was a very unifying experience.
so, when trump was elected AGAIN, i KNEW i was getting my ass down to DC to be able to participate in the women’s march in our capital !!! literally bought our train tickets the week after. being able to assemble peacefully with people who are demanding and wanting change in our nation to see a better country for EVERYONE is a safe safe safe place. all three of these experiences have been so impactful to me. its joyful, sobering, somber, and electrifying all at once !!! its soooo easy to feel defeated and feel like the world (especially our country) is in a horrible horrible place and that evil will prevail in the end. but attending these types of mass gatherings really ignites and invigorates the soul. it does so much good to be able to be surrounded by people who also want to do good and want the best for others around them. also it brings me to tears to see older people, signs that identify that person as a safe parent, and then children participating with their parents. UGH, I cry. I strive to bring my children, to identify as a safe parent for LGBTQ participants, and to be an old person at these events !!!
to end, i’d like to share some lyrics from the songs “keep marching” and “the march” from the musical suffs with you all ♡
I won't live to see the future that I fight for
Maybe no one gets to reach that perfect day
If the work is never over
Then how do you keep marching anyway?The path will be twisted and risky and slow
But keep marching, keep marching
Will you fail or prevail? Well, you may never know
But keep marching, keep marching
'Cause your ancestors are all the proof you need
That progress is possible, not guaranteed
It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching onI want my mother to know I was here
I want my sisters to know I was here
I want my great-granddaughter to knowWe demand to be heard
We demand to be seen
We demand equality
And nothing in between
tiktok (?): okay how are we feeling folks?! cause i’m feeling WEIRD and feeling like something very fishy is going on around here. like why was tiktok getting banned in the first place (it wasnt for national security thats for damn sure)?! I think its for CONTROL, and I dont know if I want to be part of something because “donald trump got it back” anyways just feeling majorly weird because I lovedddd tiktok, I convinced all of my friends to get it in 2020 and I have made so many lovely videos and documented my life on it and i’ve learned so much. thankfully I already scrubbed what I needed to get the info that I had saved (recipes, clothing brands, etc.) so I almost feel like I want to quit? idkkkk, would love your thoughts !!
pinterest: I am obsessed with this sweater, the colors, print, and cut, perfection !!! depression is wild; me and my mental state rn
instagram: jaci’s 30th bday party is a full on MOOD BOARD; my favvvvv movie of 2024, not a day goes by where I havent thought about sing sing. I feel like i’ve done more marketing and campaigning for this film than a24 did themselves though…
OSCAR NOMINATIONS COME OUT THIS WEEK AND I CANNOT WAIT !!! i’m soooo curious to see how things shake out for so many categories this year. and i’m excited to see movies come back into theaters so I can catch the ones that I have missed !! nothing like seeing a film on the big screen amiright?!? okay catch you next week! love you all so much ♡
