Monday Memos // 32

(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)

Monday Memos // 31

Listening:

"Glassworks" by Philip Glass.

I could make a giant web connecting things I love with Philip Glass. Baltimore (his hometown and one of my favorite places), Chuck Close (I went through an obsessive Close phase in high school and have stared as his portrait of Glass a thousand times), Ira Glass (second cousins and I love public radio)... 

"Glassworks" is magical and soothing and invigorating. 

Reading:

"The Absolute Best ______ in New York" articles. 

As my May in New York is fast approaching, I am getting into some consumable research. Since I adore and trust all facets of New York Magazine, here are my favorite pieces of research for bookmarking:

"The Absolute Best Cake in New York" - duh. 

Vanilla salted-caramel cake at Ovenly. Photo: Liz Clayman (via nymag)

"The Absolute Best Salad Spot in New York" - because balance and I actually really love vegetables, too. 

Sweetgreen’s Harvest Bowl. Photo: Liz Clayman. (via nymag)

"The Absolute Best Lattes in New York" - water and coffee are my top beverage choices in life. 

Latte at Everyman Espresso. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz. (via nymag)

Craving:

Gorp (aka "good old raisins and peanuts" aka trail mix). 

I particularly enjoy Trader Joe's "Legendary Nut & Berry Mix" (almonds, cranberries, raisins, cashews, blueberries, walnuts, and raspberries) and I won a box of 88 Acres seed bars that are essentially trail mix in bar form (lots of seeds and dried fruits). 

Sometimes work feels like a hike and this sustenance helps. 

88 Acres sells three snack bars: Apple & Ginger, Chocolate & Sea Salt, and Triple Berry. (via 88acres)

Wearing:

This is an anticipated wear, but I just got (won, actually) this iron-on patch and cannot wait to adorn something with it. 

Very much my inner mantra. (image and patch via studiodiy)

Watching:

I haven't been binging any television lately, but in the past week I have enjoyed: the new Louis C.K. special, the latest Almodovar movie "Julieta," and the series finale of "Girls."

I am looking forward to "Fargo" season 3 (which starts this week) and includes Ewan McGregor and Jim Gaffigan!

Ewan is looking rough! (image via YouTube)

Wanting:

(This is always the hardest category to fill in, which actually makes me feel better about life fulfillment/satisfaction.)

Let's go fantasy-indulgence with this one:

A packing and organizing machine. (Currently trying to pare down all my belongings and it usually ends in semi-organized, barely rearranged piles. 

A personal masseuse. (My legs have been aching. I know my anxiety is buried deep in my shoulders. It would be nice to have a massage at any instant.)

My own beautiful apartment in New York. (My arrangements for travel are getting expensive and complex. Wouldn't it be sweet if I just had some magical place of my own?)

This is the first fantasy that came to mind---more so the chocolate factory than the Oompa Loompas. (image via alamay)

Monday Memos // 30

Listening:

"Work This Time" by King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard.

Australian psychedelic rock I cannot stop listening to. It reminds me of a more upbeat Sparklehorse. Plus, the name is superb!

Reading:

"Bark: Stories" by Lorrie Moore. 

This is the latest set of stories by Moore since "Birds of America" (which came out in 1998! I didn't realize it has been so long.). I think I've read 90 percent of her work, so I was thrilled to spot this on the shelf at the library last week.

This description is so great: "Gimlet-eyed social observation, the public and private absurdities of American life, dramatic irony, and enduring half-cracked love wend their way through each of these narratives in a heartrending mash-up of the tragic and the laugh-out-loud—the hallmark of life in Lorrie-Moore-land."

Makes me want to reread "Who Will Run the Frog Hospital." (image by Giselle Potter via NYTimes)

Craving:

Crunch.

I made a trip to Trader Joe's recently, which does not happen frequently, and filled my pantry with a variety of sweet, salty and sweet-salty snacks. Plantain chips (duh), brownie crisps (sweet tooth) and "Kettle Popped Sweet & Salty Popcorn Chips" (quite nice). Crunch on a delicious spectrum.  

I also enjoy a basic crunch and yesterday I saw someone reading a book called "The Pun Also Rises." (image via fuelforwellness)

Wearing:

Smiles.

Result: lots of laughing and heart-pumping songs and beautiful breezes and sitting outside. 

This is a chunky baby version of myself smiling. 

Watching:

"Chewing Gum" season 2. 

So happy to be reunited with this show, though I will probably watch all of it within a two day span, thus missing it instantly again. Michaela Coel (real name: Michaela-Moses Ewuraba O Boakye-Collinson! Whoa!) is a star and makes me cry with laughter. 

Plus, I saw Issa Rae--from HBO's "Insecure"--post a video on Instagram about her costar's love of Coel and I loved everything about all of these thing even more. 

In a pinch? Apply makeup with markers. (image via channel 4)

Wanting:

To go swimming. 

Disturbingly, I think the last time I went swimming was in July (and in the Northeast of all places!). I live in a climate with primarily summer weather, so I need to remedy this as soon as possible. Plus, I own enough swimwear for each day of the week. 

(image via covet.me)

(image via addictedtoconsumerism.tumblr)

(image via theglitterguide)

Monday Memos // 29

Listening:

"Shut Up Kiss Me" by Angel Olsen.

I happened upon this song last night. It was roughly 2:30 a.m. and I was remarkably awake and bitten by some kind of wild groove bug. I have since listened to it at least a dozen times. I even drove to a far-off grocery store this afternoon so I could blast it in the car and sing along with abandon. 

The video is perfect, too. (I had one of those tinsel wigs in high school, but mine was bright blue.)

My fondness for Olsen makes immediate sense as some of her "associated acts" include Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Wilco.

Reading:

Froot magazine, specifically the Love issue. 

Aside from being an engaging cultural arts magazine based in NYC and made by two friends from Florida, I've got some writing and illustrations in this one! I am still thrilled to have been asked to contribute. Jeremiah and Kylie have something special going on.

So, go read my piece and also consume all the rest of the lovey goodness, too.  

I like the bio, too. (via frootmag)

Craving:

Yellow. 

Yolky eggs, nutritional yeast, bananas, plantain chips, golden turmeric milk... Sometimes you just want to eat a slew of the same color. And it was all yellow. (Yeah, I saw Coldplay in concert once.)

And for some visual splendor: the Ashish fashion show always brings it. (image via i-d)

Wearing:

My grandma's wedding ring. 

I don't know that I ever saw my grandma actually wear her ring; she was not a jewelry or dress-wearing lady. Still, I wear this ring on my pointer finger when I want to channel some superior woman power. I like to think the ring gives me an infallible ability whether it's as simple as devouring an entire slice of cake or working a long, knee-aching shift at work. 

Mary would appreciate the flower in the background. 

Watching:

I finally finished "Felicity" (that last season really hurt, talk about jumping the shark!) and "Big Little Lies" is over (so good! come back!), so here's some entertainment for the future:

The Dave Chappelle Netflix specials. (My 8th grade year book has a Chappelle's Show reference scrawled across the cover in sharpie.)

Remember when Dave was the disco cabbie in "200 Cigarettes"? (image via vimeo)

"Legion." (I keep hearing great things and Jemaine Clement plays someone called "Oliver Bird.")

From "Downton Abbey" to "High Maintenance" to this, I can definitely watch Dan Stevens. (image via BBCamerica)

"Girlboss." (Netflix is coming out with show based on Sophia Amoruso's life and I hope it's awesome)

If nothing else, I'm sure there will be some good visuals. (image via variety)

Wanting:

Shows! There are several I'd quite like to see.

Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors at the Hirshhorn in D.C.

"Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors is a celebration of the legendary Japanese artist’s sixty-five-year career and promises to be one of 2017s essential art experiences... From her radical performances in the 1960s, when she staged underground polka dot “Happenings” on the streets of New York, to her latest Infinity Mirror Room, All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, 2016, the Hirshhorn exhibition will showcase Kusama’s full range of talent for the first time in Washington, DC." (OMG I simply love the title All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins.)

Kusama’s Peep Show or Endless Love Show, 1966. Hexagonal mirrored room and electric lights. Installed at Castellane Gallery, New York, 1966. (image via hirshhorn)

The Museum of Ice Cream. 

I missed this when it was in NY last year and of course when I'll be in NY next month it will exist in Los Angeles. Alas, maybe I'll catch it at some point. Essentially this is a beautiful, weird, fabulous exhibit about all things ice cream. 

That is a pool of sprinkles and yes, you can get in it. (image via eaterny)

Solange at the Guggenheim!

She will perform "an interdisciplinary performance piece and meditation" in the gallery, based on her latest album, "A Seat at the Table." Though it is sold out, I will be in the area, so I will be trying to get in. 

She's too cool. (image by NADYA WASYLKO for BUST MAGAZINE)