Chick Lit Cheerleader: Snow in April

The header for this post is somewhat fitting, given what's been going on in the Midwest lately. However, our Chick Lit Cheerleader is here to talk about a different kind of snow. We'll let her do the honors...

Side note: Jen is not about to bite off someone's hand. She's just really excited about the return of Game of Thrones and her son's hand was photo-bombing.

You Know Everything, Jon Snow.

CLC READERS, THIS IS YOUR ONE AND ONLY GAME OF THRONES SPOILER ALERT!

     Dragons, medieval battles, and chamber pots aren’t really my thing. Ice zombies, a teen girl assassin, and witty royals who drink wine and they know things? I’ll bite. And drink to that.

  Game of Thrones, aired this past weekend. A series based upon the bestselling books penned by George R. R. Martin. Isn’t that a great name to have? With not one, but two middle initials? Jennifer L. L. Tucker doesn’t roll off the tongue in quite the same manner, I know.

  The final season premiere of HBO’s hit drama,

     Mike and I began watching GoT towards the end of season one. It was one of those, “You have to watch this new show!” quotes from friends that piqued our interest. FOMO is how we stumbled onto Breaking Bad. This same set of friends, years earlier, animatedly described how Mr. White and Jessie—a high school chemistry teacher and his subpar former student—were killing it as meth cooks and drug lords.   

     “But isn’t Game of Thrones just dragons, and jousting, and battlefield tents filled with complete dining room sets?” I sneered.  Although I was leery, my internal voice reminded me these friends didn’t let you down with the drug empire-building brother-in-law of a DEA agent show, so why would they start now?

     Luckily for us, Game of Thrones was immediately addicting. Over the past seven seasons, I’ve gleaned some insight on life along the way.

Jen with talent booking manager and friend, Sabrina Adams, at FOX59 Studios in Indianapolis, IN. Sabrina knew Jen was a huge fan of Game of Thrones and hooked her up with a signed rubber duck butt—yes, a rubber duck butt—from Hodor, actor Kristian Nairn. 

1.      Whoop It Up Everyday!

One day you’re living the dream in King’s Landing, engaged to the heir next in line for the Iron Throne, and your dad just happens to be BFFs with the ruler of Westeros. The next? The dude who’s carried a torch for your slain mom since childhood, gives you to a psychopath in marriage even though you’re already married. Sounds like a 1980s episode of The Young and The Restless, doesn’t it? Yet it’s just another day for poor Sansa Stark. Make each day count. Live life to it’s fullest. And even on your worst days, remember it could always be worse. You could be sequestered with Ramsay Bolton’s dogs, who haven’t eaten all week, and you smell like a mouthwatering, medium-rare pot roast.

2.      Who Runs the World? Girls!

Even in this bad-boy kingdom, the women are serious and not to be dismissed. Arya Stark is an assassin, ninja, badass! Brienne of Tarth, a sword fighter of legendary proportions who took down the Hound. Yara Greyjoy captains a fleet of swashbucklers from the Iron Islands. Melisandre might be a little intense with the whole burning people at the stake thing, but she did resurrect Jon Snow. So, she’s got that going for her, which is nice. Daenerys Targaryen was sold into marriage by her sniveling brother yet emerged a queen with armies, riches, and seriously adorable baby dragons. Cersei Lannister, you’re a woman who gets stuff done and I respect that. Not so much your methods (and the whole sleeping with your brother thing creeps me out) but you live your best-drunken life every day, dish out consequences, and always pay your debts. I can get behind that idea of making it work, honey. This is but a handful of countless examples of the power women who get it done in the realm. 

3.      I © Baby Dragons!

I do, I do, I DO!  Along with Medieval furnishings, the many wardrobe evolutions of Khaleesi, and—gulp—Jaime Lannister! What?! Sometimes, even detestable people and things we once turned our noses up at can become beloved. Like guacamole and talk radio; allegedly. Again, not so much of a fan of Jaime’s sister-love thing, or the Brandon Stark crane technique-kick out the castle window. But chew on this: without Bran’s fall, he may not have become the all-seeing, raven-man-boy he is today.

4.      You Know Everything, Jon Snow    

Jon Snow, I believe you do know everything unlike Ygritte claimed. You never compromise your loyalty. You believe in making peace when it’s unpopular. Although humble, you lead with confidence and bring out the best in everyone. More importantly, you never take no for an answer—you always find a way. You’ve got the best posse of bros, period! And you’re in it to win it for the greater good even if the result is your own death. See? You do know everything, Jon Snow. Okay, well you know almost everything except one critical piece of your genealogy. The rest of the world is dying for you to read your 23andMe results report.

     As we prepare to bid farewell to the series, there’s one other tiny detail I want to cover. While I’m fully aware Jon Snow is but a character played by actor Kit Harington, I implore you—Kit—grow back the beard. I’m with your wife on this one. I saw you all baby-faced on SNL; the shock and horror of it all! In the case of your facial hair removal, please grow it back immediately. Otherwise, you know nothing, Jon Snow. 

Bring back the beard! Bring back the beard! Bring back the beard!

Jen Tucker is the author of the funny and true stories, The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out and The Day I Lost My Shaker of Salt. In September 2012, she had her children's book, Little Pumpkin published as an e-book. She also blogs monthly for Survival for Blondes. She currently lives in Indiana with her husband, three kids and two dogs. You can find her at Twitter, Facebook, her blog and on her website. And in case you missed them. check out her previous Chick Lit Cheerleader posts here.