Happy October!
Here is my personal policy on the Humans of New York Instagram account: I do not have the capacity to follow the account because it’s just a lot of reading and I don’t get on Instagram to read, I get on Instagram to envy other peoples’ lives and laugh at PantsPants and get my fitness tips from Emily. But if someone shares a Humans of NY post to their story, I will absolutely go check it out, probably get a little misty and share it to my story.
This post was no exception. I love what she said about still wanting to be alive and with the people she loves even during the apocalypse. What a beautiful view of life worth living.
I hope you get to feel a little less like the world is falling a part and a little more loved this week. This week’s newsletter is a little heavy on the things to listen to category.
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Number One: Rococo Art
This week I found my Art History class notes while looking for my passport, and was reminded of one of the best ways to impress friends and win people over: identify Rococo Art. I am going to tell you how. First you’re going to listen to Rococo by Arcade Fire.
Next: think late Baroque. What’s Baroque? Harpsichord but as a lifestyle. It’s European, it’s fancy, it’s pre-industrial. Rococo is not exactly Baroque, because it’s a little more asymmetrical, there’s gonna be some quatrefoil, there’s gonna be some chinoiserie (nods to Chineses and Japanese motifs), the architecture makes you think “that would be a pain to dust.” We’re just about to tip into 19th Century Neoclassicism in Europe, but we’re not there yet. Baroque is Marie Antoinette; Rococo is late stage Marie Antoinette who had a shopping spree at the Vera Bradley Outlet.
This is Baroque:
This is quintessential Rococo:
Early Baroque:
Late Rococo:
Stay tuned for next week when I talk about identifying the differences between Hepplewhite and Sheraton style chairs.
Number Two: Kill all the flies in your back yard
We have a big fat housefly problem in our backyard, and any time we open a door, our house. Am I worried that something died, and we just can’t smell it? I am. Am I going to investigate? You bet your bottom dollar I will not.
Here’s what I do know: I reached a breaking point this week, and Google told me to buy this fly trap for outside. It smells horrible, but in four days we’ve killed over 100 flies, so worth it.
Number Three: Microwaved sweet potato with feta cheese
I present for you, an easy, moderately filling, low prep, quick lunch:
Using a fork, poke just a ton of holes into a sweet potato that you’ve rinsed the dirt off of. Wrap the sweet potato in a soaking wet paper towel and microwave for seven minutes. Maybe a minute longer if it’s a big sweet potato. Once you’ve let it cool, crack open the potato and top with feta cheese and garlic salt. Divine.
Number Four: Songs to Power Walk to
For about six days in September, I got back into running mostly because Ed Sheeran’s Shivers got my feet to steppin. Both Ed Sheeran and The Band Camino are in this space in my mind that’s like a little bit cringe, but I still love it, but cringe in different, hard to explain ways.
All that to say, I have enjoyed having the song Damage on my walking playlist, now that I have re-committed my life to walking.
The song Never in Love is great for walking, but also great for when you’re doing your hip-strengthening exercises so as not to sprain your ankle again.
Number Five: A round up of songs called “hold my phone, I’m ordering a vodka soda with just a ton of limes”
Wasn’t that Drunk - a fun duet. Sometimes my Pitt students like to text me and remind me of this song. Not because I was ever drunk around them, but because in 2016, I really liked this song.
Drunk and I Miss You - another fun duet, straight and to the point. Mickey Guyton is a queen.
Need You Know - Does Lady A count as a duet? Somehow this was done as a duet at our high school choir talent show. The hold this song has on grocery store playlists? Unbeaten.
Don’t You Wanna Stay - an iconic duet, you only need to learn like ten words to sing along with this one.
Come Over - doesn’t totally exist on the same plane as these others, also not a duet, but perhaps the best song of all time.
Bonus:
Whenever I need to turn my day around, I listen beginning at minute 38 to this podcast episode from Heather McMahan. When she gets to the part about Madison, I lose it.