Five Things: Issue 117
What the Main Stream Media won't tell you...
Is that saying “what the Main Stream Media won’t tell you” is actually a really fun way to add spice to your life.
Up until 7:07pm this intro was going to be about how I love interjecting “WAKE UP,” into a normal conversation, then waiting a beat to say, “the main stream media won’t tell you…” and then I say whatever I want, and it’s even more invigorating if you throw in a mention of the Murdoch Family. Just a fun way to make the things you are already going to say more dramatic.
But a friend just shared Wendy Cope’s The Orange, and it was perfect in the most undramatic and ordinary sense, and I could not let this newsletter go out without you reading it.
At lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.
I hope in this clown town of a holiday week you catch the space to say, “I love you,” and “I’m glad I exist.”
On Tuesday, I went to a virtual author event, and it got my creative juices absolutely flowing, so the Christmas card is now done. If you have moved since last year, or want to join the list, fill out this google form. So far only Morgan has answered the last question correctly, thank you Morgan, a healthcare hero, and friend.
This sentence now has links to the 100th issue master spread sheet, my instagram, my Outdoor Voices referral link , and old issues of the newsletter.
Number One: White Pillar Candles
I love a scented candle as much as the next person with a pulse, but what I really love is a giant, white, unscented candle, especially if it’s multi-wick. I currently have more than I even really know what to do with, but I keep buying at least two every time I’m at Trader Joe’s because they are only $2.99 and so elegant, and warm. And if the electricity goes out I can write the Next Great American Novel by candle light, and not feel like, wow, too many scents happening in here.
Number Two: Chris Nikic
Since deleting my Twitter and Facebook accounts, the main means I have to share links are this newsletter, and LinkedIn - and I sort of hate LinkedIn. But when I say I almost shared this piece on the first person with Downs Syndrome to complete an Ironman with the caption “cryin in the club rn” on Monday morning…
Number Three: Throwback Travel FOMO pieces
I think an under-appreciated symptom of COVID-times is that you can’t really have Travel FOMO. Sure there’s a great big world of places to go, food to try, cultures to be experienced. But it doesn’t matter that you don’t even have the budget for that right now, because you couldn’t go even if you did. And I’m weirdly grateful that I don’t need to think about whether or not I should try to go to South America next year.
This Caity Weaver piece on Amtrak is an all-time favorite, mostly for this part:
Contrary to multiple acquaintances’ declarations that I would encounter “some real weirdos” on the train, the first person I met on board my first sleeper car after boarding the train in Penn Station was a man in a sparkly cardigan and leather pants who breezily identified himself as “a prophet,” which is perhaps the world’s second-oldest profession. And forgive me if I find nothing “weird” about being gainfully employed under a supervisor with the kind of multinational name recognition God has.
I also think often on this reflection from the 52 Places Recap, which I think is especially relevant when 2020 feels like just one big mishap after mishap:
I’ve become far calmer from having to deal with mishap after mishap, and realizing that nothing dire usually happens. There would be another plane, and more trains if I missed that one, too. Maybe I’d lose a day, but when you’re on the road this long, time becomes malleable, too.
Unrelated to anything: here is a picture of Brad Pitt doing community service.
Number Four: Fashion Inspo: Bill Belichick
This piece on the history of Bill Belichick’s hoodies was perfect to me, a person who only medium cares about the NFL and has only lived in AFC cities.
Number Five: Songs I heard in Spin Class that have me doing little push ups on the steering wheel as I drive
Hide and Seek - Don Diablo Remix
And a song you’ll mostly appreciate if you were a Covenant Child.
As promised, here’s the link to Ticket to Ride. And here is a link to more photos of Brad Pitt doing community service.
The story about Chris Nikic was brilliant!