Currently • November 2024

“Colour is everything; black and white is more.” – Dominic Rouse, photographer

READING:

• Paris by Design: An Inspired Guide to the City's Creative Side by Eva Jorgensen — “With a combination of interviews, profiles, essays, tips, and lists, author and designer Eva Jorgensen explores why Paris has such a magnetic pull for artists and design lovers, by introducing us to some of the city’s most fascinating residents and frequent visitors. Jorgensen has wrangled an eclectic and exciting group of contributors—creatives based in Paris and abroad—who offer travel tips and insight into Paris’s fashion, design, craft, and art scenes” (Goodreads).

• The Little Black Dress by Amy Holman Edleman — “Since Audrey Hepburn"s show-stopper in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the little black dress has become more than an item of clothing. This book looks at the history of this loaded fashion symbol which is a cultural icon that stand s for a woman’s identity” (Goodreads). I purchased this book for $3 at the Door County Library book sale. The photos are stunning.

WATCHING:

• Decorating videos on YouTube — It’s fun to get ideas while I’m decking the halls. It’s also a great way to avoid trends (no “antique” gold bells, Norfolk pine stems, flocked burgundy ornaments, “viral” reindeer, Target seasonal prints, or Christmas trees tangled with ribbons for me).

• Shrinking Season 2 (Apple TV) — “A grieving therapist starts to tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge changes to people's lives - including his own” (IMDb).

• Cecilia Blomdahl’s Life on Svalbard YouTube channel - Cecilia is a Swedish photographer who lives in a cabin outside of Longyearbyen on Svalbard, a Norwegian island close to the North Pole. She and her boyfriend Christoffer (a chef) and their Finnish lapphund, Grim make videos about daily life in the Northernmost town in the world. The videos are full of stunning views, northern lights, and yummy Scandinavia recipes.

• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Apple TV) — Is it really a holiday without Snoopy and his pals?

LISTENING TO:

• Cool jazz has been my go-to since the beginning of fall.

• November Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist (This one all really ecclectic.)

  • Pictures of You (The Cure)

  • Sailing (Christopher Cross)

  • Non, je ne regrette rien (Édith Piaf)

  • Thanksgiving Theme (Vince Guaraldi Trio)

  • November (Art Music)

  • Back in Black (AC/DC)

  • Longing Love (George Winston, Autumn)

  • The French Café (Melodia blu)

  • A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (George Winston)

ENJOYING:

• A November weekend in Door County — We spent a long weekend “up home” as a mini-celebration for Eric’s 50th birthday. Although nothing really went according to plan, htere were lots of nice surprises like a book sale at the library, a Christmas parade, and even sailing in the Bay in November (Thanks, Bennie Larsen).

• The first snowfall of the season — Magical!

• Thanksgiving with family (and 7 dogs)

• Decorating for the holidays — I love reminiscing over traditional pieces and adding new treasures each year. I’ll share photos soon.

Currently • October 2024

"In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible." — Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

READING:

• Books:

  • The Women by Kristin Hannah — “The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era” (Goodreads). I took a break from women in war literature, having read so many WWII French Resistance stories, including Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. The Women came highly recommended by several colleagues and since it’s set during the Vietnam War, I thought it might be “novel” enough to revisit women in war. Nazis and spies were replaced with gruesome injuries and debilitating PTSD. Kristin Hannah is a good writer, but this genre isn’t for me.

  • Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella — “Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets — secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone…until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company's elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her…” (Goodreads). I have read Sophie Kinsella before. It’s proper “chick lit” à la Bridget Jones’ Diary, but I think it might have been the perfect anecdote to the gravitas of The Women.

  • Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl — 14 Practices for enhancing learning — a good read, but not exactly recreational.

  • Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin — “Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Random visitors, regulars, and, most notably, her colleagues—three gravediggers, three groundskeepers, and a priest—visit her as often as possible to warm themselves in her lodge, where laughter, companionship, and occasional tears mix with the coffee that she offers them. Her daily life is lived to the rhythms of their hilarious and touching confidences” (Goodreads).

• Links:

  • Wisconsin’s Wine Country (Milwaukee Magazine)

  • 30 Years of “It Bags” (InStyle) — It may have debuted ten years ago, by I still carry my Saint Laurent Sac du Jour to work everyday. Mine is black with cream over stitching — a classic.

  • The Most Sought-After Travel Guide Is a Google Doc (Thrillist) — I have created bespoke Google Docs and Maps for Paris, Door County, New York, Napa/Sonoma, etc.

WATCHING:

• Gilmore Girls (Netflix) — Autumn requires an annual trip to Stars Hollow.

• My perennial Halloween favorites:

  • Hocus Pocus — Would it be Halloween without The Sanderson Sisters?'

  • Practical Magic — I love the vibe of the town, the house, and the 90’s fashion.

  • Beetlejuice — Favorite Scene: The Banana Boat Song

  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at the Outdoor in Fish Creek

  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown — twice

• The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3 (Netflix)

LISTENING TO:

• Cool jazz: It just reminds me of fall.

• My personally curated Fall and Halloween playlists — perfect for road trips and evenings on the deck.

• My October Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist:

  • The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Vince Guaraldi)

  • I Want Candy (Bow Wow Wow)

  • Take Five (The Dave Brubeck Quartet)

  • Autumn Leaves (Vince Guaraldi)

  • Hello October (Sugar Lime Blue)

  • Practical Magic (Alan Silvestri)

  • Spooky Season (Bradley Thomas Turner)

  • The Pumpkin’s Song (Oskar Schuster)

  • Spooky (Classics IV)

ENJOYING: October —- I love the colors and the smell of the changing leaves; “sweater weather” and cozy fashions; bonfires and football; comfort foods and red wines; super moons and starry skies; Gilmore Girls and Halloween movies, and a trip to the pumpkin patch, carving jack-o-lanterns and roasting pumpkin seeds…October feels a big hug.

Currently • September 2024

“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here with summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer.” ― Helen Hunt Jackson

READING:

• Book: Finding Paris: A Novel by Joanne Kimes — “Going to Paris had always been a dream for Julia and Kathy, two women who meet at a beginning French class and become fast friends. Julia is an empty nester whose husband is leaving her and daughter won’t return her texts. Kathy is a type-A workaholic who gave up on love after a painful secret. After both their lives implode, leaving them with nothing to wake up to in the morning, they say, ‘What the heck, let’s go to Paris!’ and finally live out the dream they’ve been too busy to live out before. Once there, tensions mount and drama unfolds as they struggle with their new friendship and the cultural differences of the city, forcing them to take responsibility for their own isolation and unhappiness. But, with the help of romance, unsalted butter, the French countryside, vintage shops, and bread…lots of bread, Paris teachers both women lessons they desperately need to learn, while have an adventure of a lifetime” (Goodreads).

  This was an easy read and, at times, a nice virtual trip to Paris; however, I was often distracted by the errors and inaccuracies that neither the author nor editors bothered to correct. Here are just a few examples:

  • You don’t say Je suis bien when asked how you’re doing, but rather Je vais bien.

  • There are twenty arrondissements in Paris, not eighteen. This should be obvious since, later in the book, there is a reference to Père Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th.

  • The referenced café in Montmartre is the La Maison rose, not La maison rouge.

  • Gevalia is a Swedish coffee brand, not French.

  • And this is rude: “Four old pals from Wisconsin who just screamed tourists in their fanny packs and Mona Lisa t-shirts”. Be careful about insulting your readers, Joanne Kimes.

• Links:

  • Paris: 20 must-sees films celebrating the capital (Vogue) — I’ve only seen 11 so far.

  • My Bookshelf, Myself (NYT) - I am a confirmed minimalist, yet I continue to hold on to so many of the dogeared, heavily-annotated books that I studied in college and grad school. Most of the works of American, French, and British literature are now in the public domain and/or readily available digitally. Still I have been lugging boxes of books from home to home for almost 40 years. Most of these books are yellowed paperbacks that aren’t “pretty” enough to display on shelves so they remain in boxes in the basement or tucked away in the drawers of an old armoire in a guest bedroom. For a while, I thought that I might teach some of these novels in future courses; that I would appreciate the notes and thoughts of my 18-24-year-old self, but I rarely have. And, aside from perennial favorites by Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Jane Austin, Colette, etc., I haven’t even opened most of them for decades. Still, as I read this article, my heart tightened its grip on the books I was considering letting go. I might still read old and new books on my iPad or listen to an audio book, but, for now at least, I will cherish my little library in the armoire upstairs.

  • Why do so many people wear all black? (NYT) — Chic, easy, sustainable, draws your eye to your natural features (face, hair, eyes, smile, hands….so many reasons.

  • 36 Hours in Door County, WI (NYT) — How nice to be recognized. This isn’t the most logical way to visit the peninsula, but maybe meandering is part of the charm of a visit to Door County.

  • The Bells are Back at Notre Dame Cathedral (AP) — The cathedral officially reopens on December 8th.

  • Move Over, Nancy Meyers—10 Ways I’m Channeling Meg Ryan This Fall (The Every Girl) — “Think chunky knits, curling up with a good book, and bundling up for long walks on brisk fall days. Essentially, it’s all about taking everyday moments and elevating them in a cozy, romantic way.” And is there a better movie than You’ve Got Mail to watch on the first rainy Sunday in autumn?

WATCHING:

• You’ve Got Mail — “Book superstore magnate Joe Fox and independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet, both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business” (IMDb). It’s the perfect way to settle into fall.

• Gilmore Girls (Netflix) for ?th time — The charming town of Stars Hollow, the quirky characters, the fast talking, the books, the movie references, the music…It’s a seasonal guilty pleasure established when we moved into our home on Hawks Hollow in the fall.

• Emily in Paris Season 4 - Part 2 (Netflix) — This season continues to serve up a lot of eye candy — beautiful people in beautiful cities wearing beautiful clothes, including outfits directly inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s costumes in Charade (the ski outfit with fur hood and large sunglasses) and Roman Holiday (a full, high-wasted skirt with white blouse and striped scarf). I am devoted to the show; however, the deception and manipulation are getting ridiculous (Bonjour, Genevieve). [Spoiler Alert] When Part 2 begins on Christmas Eve, why do people still believe that Camille is pregnant? Part 1 of the season started with a scene at the French Open which takes place in May and now, 7 months later, she still isn’t showing at all.

• La Maison (Apple TV) — “An iconic fashion house is thrown into scandal leaving the family's legendary fashion couture house hanging by a thread. Perle Foster and Paloma Castel team up to reinvent LEDU and claim their place in the Ledu clan and the fashion world” (IMDb). Paris, fashion, the French language — all things I love, yet as I write this, I have seen the first three episodes and my interest is fading.

• ABBA: 50 Years Since Eurovision (Prime) — “…the 50-year saga of the legendary Swedish pop quartet —from their iconic Eurovision triumph with ‘Waterloo’ to the pre-ABBA chapters of individual lives, the series explores the genesis of their unique sound. It delves into the commercial triumphs, dissecting staggering record sales and the economic empire they built through merchandising and concerts. The documentary offers an intimate look into their post-ABBA era, navigating solo careers and the resurgence brought by the ABBA Gold era in the 1990s. Special focus is given to the recent hologram concert experience, ‘Voyage,’ providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the innovative technology that brought virtual ABBA back to the stage” (IMDb). I’m not even going to say that ABBA is a guilty pleasure. Why should I feel guilty about loving this band since I was a little girl?

LISTENING TO:

• New seasons of my favorite podcasts, The Earful Tower and The Pop Culture Preservation Society. I look forward to new episodes every Monday. What else should I be listening to?

• My own Fall Playlist — a work-in-progress with nods to Nora Ephron rom-coms and Gilmore Girls reruns, inspired by the aforementioned Meg Ryan Fall article

• My September Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist

  • Turn! Turn! Turn! (The Byrds)

  • Fly Away (John Denver with Olivia Newton-John)

  • Theme from Practical Magic (Alan Silvestri)

  • C’est Si Bon (Aoi Teshima)

  • September (Earth, Wind, and Fire)

  • La Vie en rose (Zaz)

  • Harvest Moon (Neil Young)

  • There She Goes (The La’s)

  • Autumn Leaves (Vince Guaraldi)

FEELING: Eager for a change — a change of season (I love fall), a change of venue (we need to take the time to do some fun things on weekends rather than just doing chores at home), a change of pace…? I do like routine and stability, but right, now I feel the urge to shake things up a bit. Maybe F. Scott Fitzgerald was right that “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

ENJOYING:

• A last-minute date night — On September 25th, we were supposed to have dinner with out-of-town friends at DanDan, the Chinese restaurant in the Third Ward owned by Top Chef Wisconsin alum, Dan Jacobs. Unfortunately, Nan tested positive for Covid the night before, so they weren’t able to make the trip. They offered us their tickets Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer on Thursday night, so Eric and I had a proper date night in the city. We went to DanDan and then enjoyed a “live, multi-sensory musical experience — the music of Hans Zimmer at The Abbey at St. James 1868 under the gentle glow of candlelight”. Here’s the set list:

  • “Time” from Inception

  • “This Land” from The Lion King

  • “Zooster’s Breakout” from Madagascar

  • “Supermarine” from Dunkirk

  • “Honor” from The Pacific

  • “A Dark Knight” from The Dark Knight

  • “Wonder Woman Suite”

  • “Gladiator Suite”

  • “Cornfield Chase” from Interstellar

  • “Dune Suite”

  • “Discombobulate” from Sherlock Holmes

  • “Pirates of the Caribbean Suite”

• A spontaneous weekend in Door County — Since we went out on a school night anyway, we decided to take Friday off and head to Door County for the weekend. Spontaneity is fun sometimes, but without planning, we did face some lodging challenges. In the end, it was great to catch up with family and friends, to hike in the woods and sit by the water, to linger over lunch and a glass of wine, and to watch the leaves starting to turn. Perhaps the highlight of our weekend was watching Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice at the Skyway Drive-In on Saturday night. It was the perfect movie to usher in Spooky Season. Most of all, I love the nostalgia of going to the outdoor — the music before the movie (Elvis, the Beach Boys, the American Graffiti soundtrack), the 50s-era ads for Pic bug repellent and the treats at the concession stand, and the sky full of stars…lovely.

Currently • August 2024

“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.” — Roger Caras

READING:

• The Art of Home by Shea McGee — “The long-awaited design book from Shea McGee, beautifully showcasing all that is possible for every room of your home. ..As the title of her new book suggests, designing rooms for maximum impact while also remaining approachable to any who enter is an art. But it's also a skill that can be learned because it's inside each one of us” (Goodreads).

• From Notting Hill with Love…Actually by Ali McNamara — “She was just a girl, standing in front of a boy... wishing he looked more like Hugh Grant. Scarlett loves the movies. But does she love sensible fiancé David just as much? With a big white wedding on the horizon, Scarlett really should have decided by now...When she has the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill - the setting of one of her favourite movies - Scarlett jumps at the chance. But living life like a movie is trickier than it seems, especially when her new neighbour Sean is so irritating. And so irritatingly handsome, too. Scarlett soon finds herself starring in a romantic comedy of her very own: but who will end up as the leading man?” (Goodreads).

WATCHING:

• The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris — I watched all of the sailing and rowing. I loved the bikes racing around Paris and the equestrian events at Versailles. I rooted for both the USA and France in the men’s and women’s gold medal basketball games and France in the men’s soccer final. I think I watched a little bit of every event, and I really enjoyed it. Paris was a spectacular host for the summer games — my favorite yet. As for the winter games, my heart belongs to Lillehammer 1994.

• Emily in Paris - Season 4, Part 1 — “After the dramatic events of Camille and Gabriel’s misbegotten wedding, Emily is reeling. Emily has strong feelings for two men, but Gabriel is on the verge of becoming a father, and ex boyfriend Alfie’s (Laviscount) worst fears about her and Gabriel have been confirmed. Unfortunately, Emily and Gabriel’s chemistry is undeniable as they work together toward a Michelin star, but two big secrets threaten to undo everything they’ve dreamed of. Meanwhile at work, Sylvie (Leroy-Beaulieu) is forced to confront a thorny dilemma from her past for the sake of her marriage as the Agence Grateau team navigates personnel shake-ups. And Mindy (Ashley Park) and the band are forced to get thrifty when they run out of funds preparing for Eurovision” (Netflix). I like to say that I only watch it for the scenes in Paris, but honestly, it’s a such guilty pleasure.

LISTENING TO:

• Cardinals, chickadees, hawks, and cicadas in our backyard

• A snoring beagle on my lap

• My August Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist:

  • You’re My Best Friend (Queen)

  • Better Together (Jack Johnson)

  • I Want You To Have It All (Jason Mraz)

  • Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)

  • Linus and Lucy (George Winston)

  • A Wink and a Smile (Harry Connick, Jr.)

  • My Girl (The Temptations)

  • Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)

  • Linus and Lucy - Short Summer 55th Anniversary Edition (Vince Guaraldi)

  • august (Taylor Swift)

  • The Dog Days Are Over (Florence and the Machine)

FEELING: Oddly calm about la rentrée — I did enjoy a lot time with family this summer, celebrating Chase’s graduation, Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and birthday. We went to Harry Potter night at the Brewers game (very cute jerseys). I had a few nice lunches with family and friends. I read a lot of books, watched a lot of Olympics, and snuggled a lot with Miss Piper. All of this was lovely, but I didn’t feel as though I had a chance to disconnect from school. Other than the week of the 4th of July, I was at school every week for something (meetings, projects, professional development, etc.). I wasn’t there all day, everyday, but I was there enough that I don’t feel like I really left. The one advantage to not really getting away from school is that I don’t feel the typical back-to-school anxiety. Once we are back into a normal school routine, I hope to take a couple of long weekends this fall and I’ll begin planning my next trip to Paris.

Currently • July 2024

“July, with its days of blue skies and time that seemingly stands still, holds a special place in my heart.” — Daisaku Ikeda

READING:

• Table for Two by Amor Towles —”From the bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Rules of Civility, a richly detailed and sharply drawn collection of stories set in New York and Los Angeles” (Goodreads). I really like Towles’ writing style; yet, although I enjoyed the extention of Rules of Civilty., I prefer his novels over this collection of short stories.

• A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobb — “Catch Me If You Can meets The Great Gatsby meets the hit Netflix series Lupin in this captivating Jazz Age true-crime caper about ‘the greatest jewel thief who ever lived’ (Life Magazine), Arthur Barry, who charmed celebrities and millionaires—everyone from Rockefellers to members of the royal family—while simultaneously planning and executing the most audacious and lucrative heists of the 1920s” (Goodreads). I expected this to be a novel akin to the aforementioned film, book, and series — all of which I really enjoyed; rather, it was a chronology of the life and crimes of Arthur Barry.

• Simple Matters: A Scandinavian's Approach to Work, Home, and Style by Jenny Mustard — “In a beautiful collection of essays, Simple Matters challenges readers to simplify their life by prioritizing emotional and physical health, curating a personal style, and pursuing one’s dreams” (Goodreads).

WATCHING:

• Movies:

  • Widow Clicquot — “The story behind the Veuve Clicquot champagne family and business that began in the late 18th century” (IMDb). The film was visually stunning although, as is usually the case, I preferred the book.

  • Find Me Falling (Netflix) — “After a failed comeback album, rock star John Allman escapes to a dreamy Mediterranean island, only to discover that his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors and an old flame” (IMDb). You had me at Harry Connick, Jr.

• TV:

  • Ted Lasso (Apple TV) — for the 3rd time because it’s funny and heartwarming and sometimes you need to be a goldfish.

  • The 2024 Olympics in Paris — I love the Olympics and I have been so eager to watch my favorite city host the games in places that are so wonderfully familiar. I have Youtube TV set to record all of the events — sand volleyball in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, Simone Biles’ comeback, basketball without Giannis on team USA, the debut of break dancing — everything. Of course I am partial to sailing and rowing — neither of which are technically in Paris, mais voilà. I thought the opening ceremony was magnificent — the teams approaching the Eiffel Tower in boats on the Seine, the hot air balloon cauldron, Céline Dion’s rendition of Piaf’s Hymne à l’amour, the rain…spectacular.

LISTENING TO:

• Jimmy Buffett — It’s not summer without Jimmy Buffet even if this is the first summer without him.

• July Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist

  • Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band)

  • Cherry Oh Baby (UB40)

  • Something ’Bout a Boat (Jimmy Buffett)

  • Olympics Fanfare and Theme (John Williams)

  • Mr. Blue Sky (ELO)

  • Love and Luck (Jimmy Buffett)

  • Sailing (Christopher Cross)

  • Sea of Love (The Honeydrippers)

  • Lighthouse (James Taylor)

  • American Music (Violent Femmes)

  • American Girl (Tom Petty)

FEELING: Strong and accomplished — I set a goal to row two million meters before the start of the Paris Olympics. On Friday morning before the opening ceremony, I still had 14, 000 meters to row. One hour and twenty-five minutes, 500 calories later, I did it. Two million meters is 1242.743 miles — that’s as if I rowed from our home in Delafield to New York City and then up to Québec City (a Céline reference seemed appropriate). Vive le sport!

Currently • June 2024

“Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” — Al Bernstein

READING:

• Books:

  • Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned From Eighties Movies by Hadley Freeman — “From how John Hughes discovered Molly Ringwald, to how the friendship between Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi influenced the evolution of comedy, and how Eddie Murphy made America believe that race can be transcended, this is a ‘highly personal, witty love letter to eighties movies, but also an intellectually vigorous, well-researched take on the changing times of the film industry’ (The Guardian)” (Goodreads).

  • Inspired by Paris: Why Borrowing from the French Is Better Than Being French by Jordan Phillips — “Filled with historical tidbits, motivational nuggets, and honest insight, chapters such as “La Vie Est Belle,” “The Paris Syndrome,” and “Jacques-in-the-Box” reveal the truth of what it’s really like to live in the most beautiful city in the world.
    Whether you’re headed to Paris next week or never make it there at all, this chatty and information-packed book will introduce you to the real City of Light—beyond the fantasy of the Instagram version” (Goodreads)

  • That's Paris: An Anthology of Life, Love and Sarcasm in the City of Light by Vicki Lesage — “If you've ever traveled to Paris, lived in the City of Light or dreamed of setting foot on its cobblestoned streets, you'll enjoy escaping into this collection of short stories about France's famed capital. From culinary treats (and catastrophes) to swoon-worthy romantic encounters (and heartbreaking mishaps), this anthology takes you on a journey through one of the most famous cities in the world. View this cosmopolitan metropolis through the chic eyes of Parisians, francophiles and travelers who fell in love with the city and haven't quite gotten around to leaving yet…” (Goodreads).

• Links:

  • Hollywood’s Brat Pack They’re Rob, Emilio, Sean, Tom, Judd, and the rest — the young movie stars you can’t quite keep straight by David Blum (New York Magazine - June 10, 1985) — The original article that inspired Andrew McCarthy’s Brats documentary (below).

  • 10 Reasons Milwaukee Is Not a ‘Horrible City’ (Milwaukee Magazine)

  • Book Girl Summer: Why Fashion Brands are Leaning into the Literary World (Vogue Business)

WATCHING:

• Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte (Netflix) — I caved to peer pressure on this, but I did find it really interesting to think of what it was like to be a woman 200 years ago. I especially enjoyed the characters, the architecture, and the interpretation of modern music.

• Brats (Hulu) — Directed by Andrew McCarthy, Brats explores the Brat Pack, a group of young actors who frequently appeared together in coming-of-age films, and the impact on their lives and careers.

LISTENING TO — June Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist:

• These are Days (10,000 Maniacs)

• Everyday I Write the Book (Elvis Costello)

• Under the Sea (Samuel E. Wright, The Little Mermaid)

• Suis-moi (Hans Zimmer, Camille)

• Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles)

• La Mer (Charles Trenet)

• Theme from A Summer Place (Percy Faith)

• Happy Little Things (Holly Kluge)

• Island in the Sun (Weezer)

ENJOYING: A slower pace — School’s out, and although I do have to go in throughout the summer, especially toward the end of July and August, it has been nice to disconnect these past couple of weeks. It’s so pleasant to linger over coffee in the morning, to have a perpetually clean house since I have time to keep it that way, and to spend time reading, listening to podcasts and music, taking pictures, and of course, snuggling with Piper.