Hey, this is hot stuff
Tales of spicy food – and those e-mails
Hillary Clinton tackles topics both big (the election and its crushing aftermath) and small (her love of hot sauce) in her much-anticipated memoir, “What Happened” (Simon & Schuster, out now). While she has been frequently criticized in the past for being too reserved, in the book she’s casual and open, especially when discussing minutiae. Here’s a sampling of some of the topics on which she sounds off:
CAMPAIGN-TRAIL SNACKING
I have a weakness for Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers and was delighted to find out that 55 Goldfish were only 150 calories — not bad! One time, [nutritionist] Liz brought something I hadn’t tried before: Flavor Blasted Goldfish. We passed around the bag and discussed whether it was better than the original. Some of my staff thought yes, which was incorrect . . .
Several of us put hot sauce on everything. I’ve been a fan since 1992, when I became convinced it boosted my immune system, as research now shows it does. We were always on the lookout for new concoctions. One favorite is called Ninja Squirrel Sriracha. Julie the videographer came back from vacation in Belize with four little bottles of the best hot sauce any of us have ever had: Marie Sharp’s. We immedi- ately loved the red habanero pepper flavor the most. Everyone quietly jockeyed for that bottle, then handed it over sheepishly when confronted. Eventually, we realized we could just order more, and peace returned.
MOTHERHOOD
If you’re a new mother reading this, sleep-deprived and semicoherent, maybe wearing a tattered sweatshirt and dreaming of your next shower, please know that so many of us have been right where you are. You’re doing great. It’ll get easier, so just hang in there. And maybe ask your partner or mom or friend to take over for a few hours so you can have that shower and get some sleep.
VLADIMIR PUTIN
When I sat with Putin in meetings, he looked more like one of those guys on the subway who imperiously spread their legs wide, encroaching on everyone else’s space, as if to say, “I take what I want” and “I have so little respect for you that I’m going to act as if I’m lounging at home in my bathrobe.” They call it “manspreading.” That was Putin.
PANTSUITS
When I ran for Senate in 2000 and president in 2008, I basically had a uniform: a simple pantsuit, often black, with a colorful shell underneath. I did this because I like pantsuits. They make me feel professional and ready to go. Plus, they helped me avoid the peril of being photographed up my skirt while sitting on a stage or climbing stairs, both of which happened to me as first lady.
E-MAILS
In the end, what was meant to be convenient turned out to be anything but. If I had known all that at the time, there’s no question I would have chosen a different system. Just about anything would have been better. Carving messages in stone and lugging them around town would have been better.
PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T VOTE
Since November, more than two dozen women — of all ages, but mostly in their 20s — had approached me in restaurants, theaters and stores to apologize for not voting or not doing more to help my campaign. I responded with forced smiles and tight nods. On one occasion, an older woman dragged her adult daughter by the arm to come talk to me and ordered her to apologize for not voting, which she did, head bowed in contrition. I wanted to stare right in her eyes and say, “You didn’t vote? How could you not vote? You abdicated your responsibility as a citizen at the worst possible time! And now you want me to make you feel better?” Of course, I didn’t say that.