Monday Memos // 77

Listening:

"Burnin' Up" by Sonny Smith featuring Angel Olsen.

"L.A." by Amen Dunes.

Reading:

How Mathilde Freund, Vintage Dealer, Spends Her Sundays — "I use a cane now when I go outside. Five years ago I slipped in the apartment and broke my femur. It was on my birthday. I call him my boyfriend. I put him in the corner and he never answers me."

Ideal Travel Tricks — Our Highly Subjective But Very Smart Guide to Traveling

Watching ‘Wild, Wild Country’? Then You Need to See The Rajneesh Cookbook — it's called Zorba the Buddha, my friend's grandpa used to all me Zorba the Greek.

The Grub Street Diet — Author Jonathan Ames Adds Chocolate to His Vitamins When He’s Feeling Decadent — My favorite part: I should shop more frequently, but my problem is that I put it off, even if I’m starving. I once had a character in one of my TV shows say something like: “I don’t procrastinate! I just like to do things later.”

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

“As for what I eat, I would describe it as a ‘carb-free, somewhat tormented Paleo, bourgeois bachelor, Grey Gardens’ diet.” (photo by Yuri Hasegawa via nymag)

Craving:

In the name of health, I've been craving and consuming a number of smoothies and juices. I'm also newly enamored with Tangerine La Croix and cashew butter. Dates, rice cakes, spirulina powder, sweet potato hummus... my inner bohemian is showing.

I refrained from too much work grazing this week, but there also weren't many feasts up for grabs. I am jealous I didn't get to try this carrot cake that was raved about. I'll have to make it soon.

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

It's beautiful! (PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

Wearing:

Weekend with my parents means a "shopping trip" to my storage unit. I've almost acquired all of my clothes and about two-thirds of my shoes. Exciting! Inspired by the few days in the 90s, I gathered a watermelon jumpsuit, various summery sundresses, sandals, trusty Keds, linen shirts, and eyelet-covered tops. I'm not really ready for the full-on heat wave, but I my wardrobe is. 

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Wearing these loafers a lot.

Watching:

I watched the entirety of the comedy tv series Alone Together. I wouldn't say it's brilliant, but it's an easy viewing experience with lots of actors and comedians I enjoy (Kate Berlant, Amy Landecker, Nikki Glaser, Chelsea Peretti) and subjects I relate to. Two millennials from differing backgrounds strike up a platonic male-female friendship as they seek to navigate the streets of L.A. These two best friends, Esther and Benji, try to navigate the vanity of the city while watching each other's backs but also calling each other out for nonsense. I like Ester's podcast too.

Want to see: Duck Butter (Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa, Mae Whitman. "Two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.") Madeline's Madeline (Helena Howard, Molly Parker, Miranda July. "A theater director's latest project takes on a life of its own when her young star takes her performance too seriously.")

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

"a low-budget improv vérité psychodrama" (PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL)

Treasuring:

Snuggles: Weekend visits to my parents also mean squeezing in the most snuggles with my cat. As much as possible, I'd wedge my body up against his and rub his velvety little snout. 

Stranger conversations: I chatted up a friendly older woman in line for the bus. I told her my seating strategy (bottom level, aisle seat, left side). She appreciated my tips so we sat together. She told me a place to eat the best dumplings in Flushing, Queens and about her father's time at war. My favorite moment was when she was on the phone with her brother, who was picking her up in D.C. "I see a sign. I see a car. I see trees. Mile marker 92. Does any of this mean anything to you? I don't know where I am? Do you?"

BFF

BFF

Monday Memos // 45

Listening:

"Angel in the Snow" by Elliott Smith.

Perhaps influenced by the weird feelings my lack of sleep (and the lunar eclipse?) have been giving me, also maybe because it was Smith's birthday on the 6th, I happened upon this song and have listened to it too many times.

"Ashes To Ashes" by Warpaint. (David Bowie Cover)

I love looking for new-to-me cover songs, especially when they combine two different artists I really enjoy.

"Sick of Myself" by Matthew Sweet.

This song gives me a huge pang in my chest. Serious 90s nostalgia. I remember blasting this on my boombox in my bedroom, flipping through the cd insert, memorizing the lyrics, and thinking the cover photo looked like a girl. 

Reading:

An Ode to Bad Family Vacations - This is a nice piece on remembering those hilarious and harrowing moments on trips. My own include: my years of overwhelming carsickness, hangry outbreaks, inappropriate soundtracks... oh the memories of a family of five in a mid-sized car driving from Florida to Maine.

I plan to read this in the coming week to prepare for next Monday's solar event: Annie Dillard's Classic Essay: 'Total Eclipse.'

A total solar eclipse in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway, on March 20, 2015. (image by Jon Olav Nesvold / Stringer / Getty via the atlantic)

A total solar eclipse in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway, on March 20, 2015. (image by Jon Olav Nesvold / Stringer / Getty via the atlantic)

Craving:

Mediterranean food (hummus, pita, falafel, pizza, salade niçoise), breakfast food (eggs, toast, granola, doughnuts) and water water water water water water water water water (have I mentioned how hot it is?). 

Yes please. (image via muncheezdc)

Yes please. (image via muncheezdc)

Lots of coffee, too. (image via onnit)

Lots of coffee, too. (image via onnit)

Wearing:

Breezy button-ups.

Much of my dressing lately involves the best items for extreme sun and heat. I thought to old men on the beach: breezy tops in light, often tropical colors. Lots of linen and light cotton (I really need some loose linen pants).

Happy to report my summer look is very James Bond in "Thunderball." Shorts, shoes and all. Now I want to watch this. (image via bamfstyle)

Happy to report my summer look is very James Bond in "Thunderball." Shorts, shoes and all. Now I want to watch this. (image via bamfstyle)

Watching:

"Lovesick" on Netflix. (Originally called "Scrotal Recall," which is probably why I never watched it until now.)

I was exhausted and beat from hours in the harshest sun, so I showered, plopped in my bed and needed something easy. I was skeptical, but pressed play on this British sitcom. I should've known I would be instantly binge-watching—historically, I am quite captivated with these Channel 4 picks. (I noticed some characters from "Fleabag" and "Chewing Gum.") I laughed, I cried, I watched nearly 2 seasons in two days...

Roxanne at Paste describes it perfectly: "'Lovesick' thrives on gawkily funny and often sexually charged situations, handled in such a down-to-earth manner it doesn’t feel like your typical, canned-laughter comedy. Instead of being overly in-your-face with punchlines, the series relies on its well-defined protagonists for humor, and by introducing new characters and environments in every episode, 'Lovesick' feels more elaborate than your average sitcom, allowing for the occasional surprise."

Daniel Ings, Antonia Thomas and Johnny Flynn. I hope they make more seasons. (image via netflix)

Daniel Ings, Antonia Thomas and Johnny Flynn. I hope they make more seasons. (image via netflix)

Treasuring:

(Note: I decided to change up this last category for a bit. I keep finding more things I'm just excited about or appreciating, and thought it'd be nice to recognize those instead.)

At least every Friday, I check out NY Mag's Grub Street site, particularly for their Grub Street Diet column. This week (Scoop Week, how perfect), I was scrolling through and saw my own piece right above one by Mark Bittman! Although mine is simply a compilation of ice cream makers to buy on Amazon (they did find a fitting person to write that, I might add), it sure does feel like something!

I stumbled into helping a friend make a short film the last few days. Even though the hours a day—in the midday sun, the sun I try to avoid most often—makes me feel deliriously fried (physically, mentally, and sometimes emotionally), it's been extremely enjoyable. Tromping through tall grasses and holding up reflectors to get the light just so, sweating through every layer of clothing and fearing the sound of a possible rattlesnake... it's all really interesting to watch happen and be a part of. I can't wait to see the finished project. Go support this superb dude, if you can.

So much Florida flora.

So much Florida flora.