Ask Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I want to be so stoked that the next “Star Wars” movie comes out this weekend. But I’m finding that I just don’t care like I used to. I’m starting to get the sneaking suspicion that this whole franchise is just a ploy to get my money. That it’s not about the storytelling, or the deep philosophies of the Force, commentary on the human condition or any of that. Am I justified in sitting this one out?
– The Force Isn’t With Me
Dear C-3P-No,
Whining runs strong in the Skywalker family. But you’re not wrong. Used to be that a new “Star Wars” movie was a generational event. After waiting 16 years between trilogies, now we’re getting a movie a year. And, frankly, it’s just not as special that way. Better you check out now, before we get the Young Han Solo movie. What is it with childhood versions of Harrison Ford characters, anyway?
– I have a bad feeling about this, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I have a holiday party this weekend. Normally we go out to some fancy local establishment, and we all drink copious amounts of booze on the company tab, and then we split cabs home. But this year, the boss is hosting at home. That seems like we’re crossing a line from the (semi-)professional to the (very) personal. I don’t know how to act. Like, can I still double my annual alcohol consumption that night? And how about the NSFW white elephant gift?
– Workavore’s Dilemma
Dear Partied Out,
Your boss knows what (s)he is getting into. I say drink. If you get funnier when you drink and you still have a job on Monday, you win. If you vomit in the poinsettias and find yourself locked out next week, you didn’t want to work with those losers anyway. And ditch the white elephant. It’s overplayed.
– Party on, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I’m pretty willing to accept a lot of woo-woo. Acupuncture, reiki, psychic readings. I’ve tried a lot of stuff. But now the next step is qi gong. I have to admit that even to me, the idea of sitting in a chair while someone else clears up my energy seems a bit out there. Plus, I’m not supposed to drink coffee that day. I’m not sure I’m cut out for this. What do you think?
– Woo Girl
Dear Energy Junkie,
Sounds to me like your dealers are amping you up from the light stuff to the real heavy doses. I don’t know if qi gong works, but here’s my philosophy on all that is woo-woo: you pay $20-$200 for an hour of sitting still in a room, getting pampered, listening to sitar music, and straight-up relaxing. Even if the woo-woo is bunk, you’ll get beaucoup R&R. So if you want the Force this holiday season, that might beat seeing yet another “Star Wars.”
– The Force will be with you, Rachel
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