10 Things: Flowers, I'm Afraid
All my recommendations for what to watch, read, consider, appreciate, listen to, eat, buy, and more this week.
Hello Hello!
As the season changes, I mostly want to (surprise, surprise) recommend birdsong and constantly evolving plants. (My therapist: “Flowers are only in bloom for the tiniest portion of their lives. Don’t stop enjoying them. They don’t stop enjoying themselves.” And this was about our lives, you know. Blooming is only one small way to be.)
But I have other things for you, too. First three are free (and I’ve added a new regular number three, which will be Substack posts that I like, because there are too many not to mention; y’all are good at writing newsletters). Below the paywall: see me in a jumpsuit.
love,
Sophie
WATCH: “Poker Face,” season 2
Somehow, I keep talking to people who haven’t watched Poker Face (streaming on Peacock) at all. I remember really liking season one, and I’m sure I wrote about it back then; but season two is knocking me out — it is so oddball and explosively funny, and the guest stars are nonstop. Episode one has Cynthia Erivo playing four separate characters — each with a slightly different accent or affect. Episode four features Kumail Nanjiani as a bumbling Floridian who has become famous (and horrible) because of his rescue alligator. When that (truly bonkers) episode ended, I said out loud, “Well, that’s it. I have to talk to the newsletter about this show again. I can’t sit quietly by and let this incredible television program exist without my out-loud gold star of approval." I guess I haven’t found much television very fun lately, and this really, really is. And just so you don’t have to look it up: the alligator does not die — though it is fed some meth. The alligator is the star.
EAT: Dole Whip Pineapple Cups
Yes, you see an original Lynda Barry in the background there. Thank you, husband!
Apparently, these are a mainstay at Disneyland (?), but I saw them at Costco and it was a first encounter for me. I don’t know what I was expecting, but these are perfect. Ingredients: pineapple, water, tapioca syrup, sugar. (And then the three preservatives that are always in these things; but I can’t be bothered to write them here.) They taste creamy, but there’s no dairy. In summer, I long for this kind of easy-to-eat after-dinner thing, but I don’t care for vegan ice cream all that much (it’s fine; I’m not going to kick it out of bed), and popsicles leave my teeth fuzzy. MARK MY WORDS I WILL EAT ELEVEN THOUSAND OF THESE LITTLE PINEAPPLE NUMBERS THIS SUMMER.
THE WEEKLY SUBSTACK ROUNDUP: Here are some articles I’ve really loved this month in and around the Substack neighborhood.
From ’s newsletter, : A lovely meditation on early Spring, and all there is to long for and enjoy. Elizabeth is a terrific up-and-coming writer; worth the follow for folks who love beautiful essays that ponder the ins and outs of being alive.
“Truthfully, I wanted that Disney princess aesthetic, that maiden of the meadow vibe that stands so stark in comparison to the Persephone’s home in the Underworld. It’s part of what makes her character so compelling, especially when she becomes queen of her time-share in hell. For one night, and one night only, I wanted to be the being that made the seasons change, that sprung forward from deep in the earth bringing life in her wake.” [read the post.]
From ’s recently launched : A tale of a perfect lawn fixture — the inimitable Porch Goose.
“Porch geese became popular in the 1980s, originating from the Midwest, where I’m from. Though our town only had one that I can recall, these cement geese gained a loyal following across the region. They're still popular today, with Facebook groups and Reddit threads dedicated to creative ways of dressing and theming them. I’m in a few of them(though just a lurker for now). As a kid, I proclaimed that when I grew up, I’d one day have a porch goose of my own. I’d plan its outfits, swap them out, and be the person on the block that other people walked past, just to catch a glimpse. It made my day every Sunday. A bookend of something enjoyable, with church in the middle and breakfast at the local greasy spoon on the other side, making the middle bit a little more tolerable.” [read the post.]
From ’s funny-and-bright : A thoughtful essay in many parts, written on the occasion of Janet Manley’s daughter’s tenth birthday, and ostensibly seeking to answer the question, “But is it funny?”
“Scout comes up to me and presses her forehead gently to mine, then whispers, “I have lice.”
Her timing is so perfect, I feel immediate pride. Every time she reports that a kid in school has nits, the first thing I say is “just keep your head away from their head, okay?” So it was the perfect joke. Did not see it coming.
Scout is turning 10, and I wanted to write an essay about how, maybe, laughing is the only thing that matters (profound), and was collecting all the funny bits.” [read the post.]
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