Weekly REPORT 4/21
I went to the gym today for the first time in almost two months, and it was reassuring to know that my muscle memory was still alive and well. I need to figure out a way to make consistently working more sustainable (as in longevity, not environmentally) a goal I haven’t quite nailed down since quitting volleyball senior year. I think interspersing gym workouts with workout classes might help. I did become very pro-spin during my senior year, but workout classes can be so expensive, and the classes at WashU were free. Technically, included somewhere in my tuition but sunk cost blah blah blah…
I’ve been consuming a lot of Paris content recently, and after a very motivating conversation with my mom, have been re-energized towards my goal of moving to Paris and being fluent by 27 (which my mom says is too lenient a deadline). I’ve made a comprehensive plan to start learning French (again), and I’m excited to recommit to my goal of becoming fluent.
God willing, by the end of this week I’ll have a new phone. TDT coming Thursday because I’ve been reading/thinking about a hodgepodge of things. Hope everyone had a very lovely Easter and 4/20 and Passover!
READING
Politicians refuse to address poverty: Discusses the bipartisan demonization of people living in poverty, failing government systems that are currently in place allegedly addressing poverty and the complexity of tackling this intersectional dilemma. Talks in depth about proposed antipoverty policies that would help combat poverty by tackling areas such as declining government programs, homelessness, health insurance, childcare etc.
Jordan Firstman discusses his comedy music album for Interview Magazine: Imagine writing, producing and releasing a joke comedy album based off of people’s secrets that they sent to you anonymously. Then, imagine asking your Grindr hookup to listen and review the album and then interviewing said Grindr hookup for Interview Magazine. I don’t know if anyone I know is in the Jordan Firstman world (part of the Rachel Sennott universe), but this interview is a wild read because they’re being so candid even though they’re strangers. Love.
The Destruction of Nanjing: Devastating account of the atrocities of Nanjing. Also puts into perspective how terrifying it is that Japan, South Korea and China have teamed up to tackle Tr*mp’s tariffs and reconsider free trade talks, considering the fraught history between the three nations, of which the Nanjing Massacre is part of.
EATING
Brown sugar soy salmon: I’ve been very pro-fish as of late! I made a brown sugar soy marinated salmon (no recipe, just winged it) last week and it was beyond delicious. Had it with buttered white rice and balsamic Brussels sprouts- fantastic combination.
Kiwis: I’ve never been a kiwi girl before, but they’ve put a spell on me this spring so here I am professing my newfound love.
PLAYING
Dom Dolla x Solomun b2b set: I absolutely love the setup of this show. I think warehouse settings with minimal lasers and lights is kind of the perfect set design to really let them shine. Promise I’m not just d*ckriding Dom, he’s just really talented, and Solomun has made a new fan out of me after listening to this set.
secondhandhuns’ Paris vlog: I’m really sad she’s leaving Paris soon, because I’ve so been enjoying her content in the city. Her videos, alongside many others I’ve watched in the past couple of weeks, have kind of rebirthed me in the way of “Make shit happen for yourself”.
Charli xcx on Las Culturistas: Love her, love this episode, love her explaining “I think about it all the time”. It was so fun to hear them all dissect Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alongside her journey in the music industry and really finding her voice in her music. They also have convinced me to watch Couples Therapy.
OBSESSING
My Mum Made It pieces: These two butter yellow pieces from My Mum Made It are so dainty and perfect. The top visually reads a little sleepwear, but in a “I just rolled out of bed from my little cottage in the woods” sort of way.
Miaou: I’ve never really taken a solid look at Miaou’s pieces, but wow I wasn’t disappointed. Trendy and reminds me of the niche British brands I’m obsessed with, but also at its core, very LA.
RECOMMENDING
Upstairs Neighbors episode 60: Talking about bro podcast culture, the effects of consumerism on the average person in the context of late-stage capitalism and navigating social media and comparison in the current day and age!
Andrew Garfield’s episode on The New York Times’ Podcast: He introduced me to the concept of onism in this episode, a term that I didn’t know had a word, but a feeling I grapple with often.
Onism: the awareness of how little of the world we will experience, the frustration of being limited to one body and one place at a time
Some of his quotes in this episode are simultaneously soul crushing and beautifully motivational. He talks about the brevity of life, sadness around not having kids of his own, his mother’s death and anticipatory grief around his father’s death. Andrew always just makes me think about life and dealing with our emotions in a very raw way, and I continue to appreciate his sustained vulnerability about the fragility of living, especially through the lens of his movie We Live in Time.
“How do we surrender to our fate so we can live in our essay?”
“We all just want a fair shot at creating a life”
TREATING
Cole Haan black leather handbag: I think I found my everyday black handbag; God bless eBay. I love the horseshoe-style hardware choices and the tassels. According to the dimensions, it should be large enough to fit my laptop. I meant to include a picture, but I forgot to take pictures before the listing went away. I’ll share images once I have it in my hands next week!
