Letter #52: Assorted Thoughts from the Week

My thoughts as narrated in a numbered list

Dear reader,

Hope you’re having a good week! This has been a long one :’(

I’m here with some assorted thoughts from the past week or so. Hope you enjoy!

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1. I enjoyed reading the book Adrift: America in 100 Charts by Scott Galloway. It’s simultaneously depressing, informative, and sorta funny. It’s essentially a historical breakdown of how the United States reached its current (at the time; it was published in 2022) economic state and culture.

2. I bought a cute thrift store top that still had the tag on it and I have never been this annoyed with a clothing tag before. Look at these care instructions:

   

   1. I get that the brand is probably trying to be cute and funny, but this did not hit right for me. Not only does this 1) assume gender roles/stereotypes that all mothers should know how to wash all types of clothing, regardless of fabric, what they were taught, if they had time to learn this skill, etc.; this also 2) can reinforce someone not learning that skill (i.e., “why would I need to learn how to wash this when I can ask my mom?”). Overall, I’m not particularly a fan of gendered stereotypes or taking away an opportunity to learn something new, so this was a miss in my book.

   2. The shirt itself is still adorable and I enjoy this brand’s clothes I’ve thrifted; just not a fan of this tag :(

3. Guys, I’ve gotten so good at making poutine, oh my gosh. I think I just made my tastiest one yet, but I basically never take a picture of the finished dish because I want to eat it as soon as it leaves the oven.

4. I have now begun to draw cute worms and cannot stop.

5. It’s farmers market season again in my neck of the woods! We got some beautiful leeks (which I could contribute to the gravy for the poutine and to a potato-leek gratin that was divine), a lot of salad greens, Anthony was thrilled to find what may have been some of the first morels of the season and the only time we’ve ever seen them available.

6. Apparently I am not a fan of morels thus far. (Anthony made a cream pasta and mushroom toast with them.)

7. I recently learned the story of an angler fish who swam up to the surface of the ocean (likely because she was sick, unfortunately) and passed away soon after. It was a rare chance for people to see an angler fish not at the depths of the sea, where the animals usually remain. This lovely artist at an art market was describing this story to me as the inspiration behind an angler fish suncatcher they had made to commemorate the angler fish’s journey, as it was probably the first and last time that angler fish saw the sun.

8. That angler fish suncatcher is sitting next to my desk now, even though it might not receive sunlight there. I’m working on figuring out where to put it more permanently so she can stay in the sun! I’m naming her Betsey!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re having a good week!

All the best,

Olivia

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Songs of the Week:

• The whole soundtrack from the game South of Midnight

  • Steam or Spotify