Going With the Flow

A week in which going with the flow led to impromptu adventures and so much contentment.

Ways I Found Joy This Week

Hosting girls’ movie night

Refreshing my “fairy hair”

Dispelling my anxiety and anger about current events with action by writing postcards for democracy

Whiling away a Sunday afternoon at a leisurely brunch under the trees with old friends

Walking Juno Beach and collecting shells on a windy, overcast day

Making a spontaneous expedition to the Breakers and getting a dose of European luxury at no cost

Things I Learned This Week

About the Leo Triplet, a group of interacting spiral galaxies approximately 35 million light years from Earth (talk about perspective…)

The story behind how Palantir, the “defense” company currently working to destroy our country, chose its name

A bit about the history of Hindu-Muslim conflicts in India

About the Turkish garbage collectors who started a library with the books people had thrown away

The 15^th century origin of the word “hogwash”

That balance can be elusive but it’s worth striving toward

Quotes That Resonated This Week

Curiosity and joy are the building blocks of fulfillment.

Megan Hellerer, Directional Living

She was my shelter and my storm.

Arundhati Roy, Mother Mary Comes to Me

What I Watched This Week

Frankenstein (Netflix). A re-watch of the Academy Award nominee for girls’ movie night. This time, thanks to captions, I didn’t miss a word of the dialogue, which made this gorgeous film even more heartbreaking than my first watch.

Beef (Netflix). Darkly funny portrayal of humanity with all of its flaws through the exploration of rage across a class divide. Some emotional surprises and a banger of a finale.

Small Things Like These (Hulu). Cillian Murphy gives a masterful performance as a man haunted by his own past as he confronts the realities of Ireland’s “Magdalene Laundries”.

Inside the Manosphere (Netflix). The hateful garbage spewing forth from these leaders of the misogynistic social media hellscape might be laughable if it weren’t for two things: their adoration by slews of boys and young men, and the millions of dollars they’re earning by scamming their followers. A must-watch (especially if you haven’t read Men Who Hate Women) for journalist Louis Theroux’s facial expressions alone.

Will Trent (Hulu). Catching up on Betty and her couture.

Late Night with the Devil (Hulu). Try as I might, I’m just not a big horror fan, but I did love the spot-on capture of the 70s late night talk show phenomenon.

Sweetpea (Prime). Rhiannon is invisible and her life is falling apart until she takes matters into her own hands. She’s unhinged but you can’t help cheering her on. Dark but hilarious.

What I Read This Week

Finding Me, by Viola Davis. A powerful, inspirational memoir reflecting on how the hardships of her childhood shaped her understanding of herself and led to her successful career. Her empathy for herself as well as others, something I still struggle with after a far less traumatic childhood, is a testament to her healing. Her story is also a great reminder of the transformative power of the arts and education.

Too Old For This, by Samantha Downing. Lottie Jones is seventy-five and enjoying “retirement” from her days as a serial killer when a young documentarian unwittingly threatens to dig up the past. What could go wrong? A complement to Sweetpea, this is a very funny thriller.

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Thanks for reading!