Happy Summer! Or should I change the punctuation: Happy Summer?
Since I last wrote, I bought and moved into a new LA nest! In the past three weeks, my main contractor, Rutilio, and I have gone through all the dramatic ups and downs of a committed relationship. He had exactly 18 days to fix the plumbing, electrical, install a new water heater, retrofit the house for central HVAC, demolish and renovate the kitchen and also renovate the master bath. He made it, but I have no mirror in the bathroom and only today (fingers crossed) got hot water.
Thank you for enduring my venting. Now, on with the links:
Reading
It is absolutely staggering how many children were affected by dangerous levels of lead in their youth. Beautiful writing on our country of hate and violence and fear. Heat-weary but don’t want to spend a fortune on an in-ground pool? What about a much more affordable stock tank pool? Also, I learned Miller Lite infused charcoal is a thing (h/t Friend Megan). How a Chinese influencer’s ice cream post accidentally tipped off otherwise unknowing Chinese netizens to the Tiananmen Square massacre. All the anti-Asian girl tropes in movies and TV tend to be written by white … women. This illuminating interview with Eliot Page. The utter chaos of Eurovision is part of why it’s so wonderful.
Werk Werk Werk
I adored interviewing the star and writer of Fire Island, a Pride and Prejudice adaptation set on Fire Island and centered around two queer Asian guys. A primer that will stay with me, about how to tell a story, from the directors of The Moth. How companies are using the metaverse to onboard employees. Planet Money re-upped my classic on whether burritos are sandwiches.
Recommendations and Ephemera
Feeling like ice cream? Dear Bella ships Taiwanese Pineapple Cake flavored ice cream (and other Taiwanese inspired flavors) nationwide.
The new season of Barry on HBO (sorry for the late rec, but I haven’t written in a minute)
Should I watch The Ultimatum? Everyone is talking about how toxic it is, but also that it’s worth a watch…
Travel
In Washington, DC, the old stomping grounds, from June 27-29. Reach out if you want to join for happy hour.
Whew. It’s good to come up for air and write you. Let me know what you want to read more about, or send me links to share!
Covered in construction dust,
Elise