Currently Issue #2: Wintering in Uncertainty
So… I know I said I would try to publish a newsletter every Tuesday, and here it is - Tuesday evening and I am only just now taking some time to gather my thoughts and type them out to you. It’s been a hard week. And, if I’m honest, I’m not really sure what I even want to write about. The fires in LA are so devastating and watching my beloved home city go through this disaster has weighed heavy on my heart.
I’ve had friends waiting in uncertainty under evacuation warnings, I’ve had friends lose their homes and find their lives irrevocably changed in a matter of moments. LA county is vast and sprawling, but I roamed much of it, loved all of it - growing up in the valley, coming into my own at UCLA, living and working on the west side, before living and working on the east side. It’s an unusual city to be sure, but it’s home, and I am just praying for all the first responders, firefighters, and citizens battling this emergency.
If you’re looking for ways to help from afar, the LA Times has published a list of links to organizations collecting donations with different focuses - from the red cross to animal shelters - that may be a useful reference.
In other news, I’m noticing a lot of chatter online and elsewhere about rejecting the pressure of new year’s resolutions and the inclination to start the year with vim and vigor. I’ve lost count of the number of instagram posts and substack newsletters that I’ve seen lately honing in on how wintering is really a time for quiet reflection, rest, and moving slow - and that extends through January and February. Save all that “new year, new you” energy for the spring they say. Well, maybe they are right.
But right now, I am uncharacteristically trying to ride the momentum of wanting a fresh start. I find myself gravitating towards tips and tricks for doing a deep clean of one’s home. Putting away my Christmas decorations actually felt like a relief this past weekend. Like all that tinsel and cozy clutter was actually stressing me out. And, while I certainly am savoring the feeling of coming into our warm apartment after being out in the cold, generally I haven’t been much interested in wintering.
Here’s a quick update of what I have been interested in and is currently filling the in-between moments of my days lately and taking my mind off all the uncertain stress of this turbulent time…
Listening:
Kelly Bishop’s recording of the audiobook version of her memoire, The Third Gilmore Girl, is giving me so much happiness and motivation. Hearing her speak about the creation of the song “At the Ballet” for A Chorus Line had me in tears as I rode the 1 train into work the other morning. As a fan of Ms. Bishop’s work on stage and on the small screen, I’d been saving this book for the new year and so far, it exceeds all my expectations. If you have any affinity for dance, musicals, or the Gilmore Girls, treat yourself to this book! I’m sure it is just as captivating to read, but there is something about hearing the author share her story that is extra special. Here is a rare recording of Kelly (then Carol) performing this iconic part of A Chorus Line…
I’ve mentioned Jenny Hart’s monthly Embroidery Companion Spotify playlist here before, but it bares repeating now. Founder of Sublime Stitching, Jenny updates the playlist with tunes that are a soothing blend of atmospheric, classical, and indie for each month in a way that jives with the season. It’s meant as a non-distracting soundtrack to listen to while embroidering. Her music taste is fabulous and this month’s selection is hands-down one of her best!
Reading:
In addition to my audiobook, I have several physical books I’m reading at the moment… many with looming library due dates. The one I will call out though is a deep dive into the life and work of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers called Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell. I started by own journey with Joni at age 17 when I was living in the midwest and terribly homesick for Los Angeles. I think, at that age, I was drawn to her sadness. She continues to represent LA to me (even though she is Canadian) and I’m finding this book both comforting and inspirational as it shows all sides of the artist - both human and genius, and all the while under-appreciated in a way prescribed specifically to women.
Watching:
One of my Christmas gifts to my husband was an all-region DVD player so we could more easily play all the dvds of British TV shows we own and adore (it was really a gift for both of us.) With that, we’ve been binging early episodes of QI - the BBCs charming pub-quiz style show from back in the days when Stephen Fry was the host. Honestly, this show makes me want to move to the U.K solely on the basis that any place that values a show with this clever premise and easy cadence is a place worth living in my opinion. It’s such fun, and actually educational (most of the time.) You can stream some of the episodes if you have Acorn TV via Amazon Prime, or you can also find a few on YouTube. Here’s a taster.
Additionally, I cannot get over this promotional video New York City Ballet put out for their upcoming run of George Balanchine’s The Firebird. It’s so beautiful - all the best bits of the ballet in under 2 minutes (all that’s missing the fight scene where the monsters get to free-dance on stage in their crazy Marc Chagall costumes. That makes me laugh out loud every time I see it!)
Writing:
I haven’t been great lately at keeping up with my writing goals, but this list of 8 Writing Exercises from Alice Hoffman is fabulous and helping me get out of my rut.
Making:
This week I have been continuing to make progress on my yuletide legwarmers and I tackled some new dinner recipes. I don’t relish cooking, but I want to improve, so I’ve taken on cooking a couple nights a week. My husband is a fabulous cook, so I’m pretty spoiled and expectations for something more than just edible go without saying. So far, I’ve made this pan-roasted salmon with Jalapeños (a success) a pineapple and pea stir fry over cauliflower rice (a miss) and these chipotle cauliflower tacos (a big hit!) Tomorrow I am serving up this roasted red pepper and tomato soup, which I’ve made once before and am eager to try again.
So that’s that for this week’s newsletter - coming in just under the wire! Take care my friends!
