nobody's perfect but maybe I could be first
Like, in real life.
I’m trying to be less precious about this newsletter. Precious isn’t the right word, but it sounds cuter than any of the other words I can think of right now. I feel like I need to justify the gaps of time between each of these posts. (Emails? Diary entries? Squawks into the void?) Most of my writing is tattling on myself for the catharsis of making excuses. I can’t figure out if that sentence makes sense, but shut up, yes it does, you know what I mean.
Abigail Thomas
I’m in the early stages of working on a book, which is to say that I have been saying, “I want to write a third book” for the past three years. I wish I had a third “three” thing to mention here, but I’ve written more than three iterations of the book proposal. I’ve had more than three aha moments that, upon further inspection, actually made no fucken sense. I can’t even think of a third “three” thing to prove my point about not having a third thing. 33333333333 What if I got really into angel numbers? Would that be interesting of me to do?
While working on the proposal, I’ve been trying to keep better track of what I’m consuming as inspiration. (I’m now realizing that trying to wring inspiration out of something is perhaps………counterproductive? You can’t really force a good idea. Maybe I can though!!!) Anyway, I am excited to announce…I’ve found a new writer to brag about liking: Abigail Thomas.
Huge news for me. I love to feel like I have an opinion about anything related to writerly things. Like authors and novels and Pulitzers and criticism. I usually wait for a hot take from any publication with a major city in its name to form literary opinions. I’m not like other writers; I’m much worse.
Anyway anyway anyway, Abigail Thomas has a newsletter called What Comes Next, and I loved her latest issue (post? personalized email to me only?) on doing nothing.
Love Island US
I am basically caught up with all the available episodes of the new season of Love Island US. Like I said, I’m very busy working on a book proposal.
The only thoughts on the season I’m willing to share publically are that, per usual, every single woman on the show is hubba hubba awooga (respectfully). And there are men on the show too, I guess?
One of the contestants this season is a mom, which I think is a first for the franchise. Or at least the first time someone has spoken openly about being a parent while on the show. I mean, Huda isn’t exactly speaking openly about it to the other contestants? Except, yes, she is? Have you seen this clip of Huda telling Nic about her daughter? Okay, well, please watch it again.
This is my favorite movie I’ve ever seen. Mommy? Mamacita. Incredible delivery. Of what, a dog? Like, in real life? Love Island deserves a Golden Globe for Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy. They should at least be considered!
Instant hashbrowns in a little carton
Immediately after talking about them in the last newsletter, I got sick of baked oats. There is truly nothing that sounds worse to me right now. Friendship with baked oats is over. Instant hashbrowns are my best friend now.
In the spirit of transparency, I have never actually made instant hashbrowns. They have only been made for me. This is part of their appeal. I know how they are made, in theory. (Soak the dehydrated potato shreds in boiling water, fry the rehydrated shreds, blah blah blah, hashbrowns) But, out of principle, I will never EVER make the instant hashbrowns myself. And that is as close as I’m EVER going to get to touching the resurgence in tradwifery and its surrounding conversation. (That isn’t really a link to an article about tradwives. It’s an interview between Jacqueline Novak and Jenny Slate where they mention tradwives once. You can do your own Googling on being a tradwife.)
I have nothing new to promote. Buy the books I’ve already written: She’s Nice Though and Weird but Normal. Tell a friend about that Love Island clip.
Ok, bye little freak babies!
Mia