(Mondays have been bustling lately. Last week, in particular, I started this draft, thought I'd finish it up in the late afternoon, and then showed up at my own surprise party! It was the most encouraging experience and my heart swells just thinking about it.)
Listening:
My listening lately is like two sides of one coin. The breakup anthems of Dave Longstreth and Amber Coffman.
"Keep Your Name" by Dirty Projectors.
"All to Myself" by Amber Coffman.
Plus, I've been putting on Chet Baker often. It soothes me.
Reading:
"Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living." Edited by Manjula Martin.
I was wandering Manhattan today when the sky opened up. But it was an ideal moment, because I rounded the corner and there was The Strand! Eighteen miles of books kept me out of the bit of rain.
I picked up some really fabulous postcards and then stumbled on this book. Perfect timing. I hope it gives me a little insight or inspiration or at least a few laughs.
Can you tell I'm having an existential panic about what to do with my life? (Image by Maddie Edgar via Slate)
Craving:
Vegetables and sweets!
This is pretty much my lifelong craving and pattern of eating. I want delicious veggie-laden dishes and then I want chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies and then I want some kind of greenery and then I want some treats again.
Let's just go through a smattering of favorite items this week:
A savory crepe filled with herb roasted mushrooms, spinach, walnuts, cashew cheese and topped with tahini basil sauce; a kale caesar salad with shitake bacon, avocado, almond parm and maple-wheat croutons (omg those sweet and salty croutons!); and some roasted garlicky broccoli.
By Chloe was really fun and delicious. Plus, the location is home to some Beat poet memories. (image by Krista Schlueter via The New York Times)
As for the sweets: A slice of key lime pie with coconut crust; a massive piece of chocolate cake with white frosting (buttercream? cream cheese? heaven?); and a tiny little brownie stuffed blondie that I could've had several more of.
Thiebaud paints my dreams. ("Pies, Pies, Pies" by Wayne Thiebaud.)
Wearing:
Nothing and everything.
I spent the beginning of last week in 90 degree Florida weather. I was sweating through tees and avoiding sleeves. So it was small pieces of clothing or breezy shirts and dresses.
The end of the week brought me to New York, where it was 60 degrees, then 50 degrees, plus many moments of intense wind and downpours. I'm in my snowboarding jacket or my pink faux fur, plus undershirts and socks. I'm going through an array of dressing.
Pro tips. (Cartoon by Liza Donnelly.)
Watching:
"The Handmaid's Tale."
I was counting down for this and as someone who really loves the book, I was a little nervous for the tv interpretation. Alas, it's beautiful and harsh and well done! Elisabeth Moss is divine and I cannot wait to keep watching.
The colors are superb. (image via Hulu)
Wanting:
All of my favorite people to exist in the same city or at least an hour commute away. Or a teleportation device.
Look how great and glittery teleportation is. (via Star Trek)