New Look, Same Great Taste.
It's Sophie and Jess! We've switched formats over to Substack for a more streamlined look.
Helloooo! This is Jess.
All this time has passed and we show up in your inbox with an entirely new vibe. The only constant is change, right? Did you guys recognize us? Let us know if you have any thoughts on the new format.
Lately I've been thinking more and more about to-do lists. I've always been a lister and I know that a lot of the people around me like to partake as well. I love to see my roommates’ lists around the house because it’s like a documentation of the lives and personal worlds of all my friends. And in this way I feel like I am along for the ride. Sophie is taking a practice test today? I spend a moment sending her encouraging thoughts even though several failed attempts have implied that we are not telepathically connected. Liza has yet to go to the grocery store? Perfect, because that means there’s still time for me to ask her if she can buy me a sweet potato. I don’t think that either of them know that I do this and I’m here exposing myself as a big fat snoop. If you looked at my list, you would see that for weeks I have been meaning to dump out the storage bin in our yard that fills with water after every big rain. But it’s been full for so long that some sort of bacteria family has set up shop and how can I ask them to leave now that the holidays are right around the corner?
Since our last newsletter, Sophie and I took another brief trip to our family homes to decompress. A break from the good old hustle and bustle. Ha! This is what my bedroom there looks like now:
Here is my dad with the freshly stacked firewood:
The Birds projected on the side of the town recreation center:
These trips never feel quite long enough for me. The peace is a little addicting. In this spirit I wanted to share something from Roger Ebert’s interview with Miyazaki from 2002:
I told Miyazaki I love the "gratuitous motion" in his films; instead of every movement being dictated by the story, sometimes people will just sit for a moment, or they will sigh, or look in a running stream, or do something extra, not to advance the story but only to give the sense of time and place and who they are.
"We have a word for that in Japanese," he said. "It's called ma. Emptiness. It's there intentionally”…
He clapped his hands three or four times. "The time in between my clapping is ma. If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all, it's just busyness, But if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension. If you just have constant tension at 80 degrees all the time you just get numb."
Other things I've recently enjoyed:
1. I listened to this episode of Hidden Brain which taught me about rat laughter and made me genuinely laugh out loud.
2. I revisited an old favorite ?personality? quiz, The Color Oracle. A forewarning, this one roasts you, but sometimes we need that.
3. I've recently found myself needing to enter frequent states of deep focus for work, and whenever this happens I’ve been turning on this song:
Hi everyone, this is Sophie.
It feels like it's been a while since I’ve talked to you guys…
I have a lot to say today!
Lately, I’ve been in a mode where I’m trying to absorb as much as possible, especially in terms of reading…
First, I finally watched the film Eraserhead, which I had never seen before. I’m not much of a movie person (It’s the form of media that is hardest for me to find the time to sit down and agree to/decide to watch…much to the chagrin of all my movie-obsessed friends, whom I love very much…) so anyhow, I watched it and it was a little depressing, but I’d recommend it. It affected me enough that I can’t stop telling people about it. Especially in time for Halloween. What are yall’s favorite halloween candy and halloween movie?? Just wondering…
Anyhow, this song was the highlight of Eraserhead for me:
I don’t know if the video or the comments are better here.
As I was writing this, a cover of this exact song by Peter Ivers played on my phone!! Crazy coincidence. It turns out he composed the (4 song) score for Eraserhead.
I finished reading Luster by Raven Leilani , and cannot recommend it ENOUGH! The cover is beautiful, which…..I will admit, does matter to me..
I was told about this book by amazing friend Meesh, and I just…devoured it. In short, it’s a story about a woman in her twenties living in New York, who begins a relationship with a man 20 years older than her, and through a series of events, ends up living with him and his wife. The writing is really easy to read, and feels like you’re friends with the main character. I don’t want to give anything away, but it feels like a pertinent read right now. If you’re looking for a good book read this one!! Jess, if you have anything to add, please do. (I forced her to read it hehe)
Jess here to echo Sophie’s recommendation wholeheartedly! This book flew by and was a very satisfying read. I wouldn’t go as far as to say 5 out of 5 stars, but still a super exciting debut that makes me await future work from this writer with eager anticipation.
Lastly, some readings (and more) I've Enjoyed this Week:
* Wesley Morris : My Mustache, My Self
An eloquently written article on Morris’ self-conception, as he decided to grow a mustache during quarantine, that turns into a rumination on placing mustaches within the context of a larger history. I enjoy listening to Morris on the Still Processing podcast and listened to the audio recording of this article which was nice.
* James Meek: Red Pill, Blue Pill
I just got a subscription to the London Review of Books, and consequently have started to look forward to sitting down at the end of the day to read articles, it makes me feel like I’m old. Not sure why.
Anyhow, this article, written about conspiracy theories in light of the pandemic, was well-researched and a little disheartening.
Misaki Kawai's Drawings:
So many videos to share this week! I enjoyed this Vicarious Touching Video:
Phoebe Bridger's New Album, Punisher.
Favorite songs are Savior Complex and Graceland Too. This album feels like a perfect fall listen and is a little sad, but I felt weirdly connected to it. I have been listening to it as I grocery shop.
Lastly, I am thinking about the concept of how to encapsulate oneself.
As I’m in the midst of my ~law journey~ and I’m painstakingly crafting my admissions statements and even making a video, all to show what “makes me different” or "tells something about myself” other than what’s on paper. I guess I understand the idea of it, that is, having applicants send in information that you don’t get through a standardized test score, but I can’t seem to really hit the nail on the head. Do I boil it down to simply what it is I spend my days doing? I’m mostly choosing to share the things/hobbies I enjoy doing: reading, running, drawing, etc.
Making a video about myself also resulted in this amazing, completely candid moment (thanks Jess for capturing…)
What is it really to tell someone about yourself? What's the first thing you share when you’re in a new group of people? I’m reminded of being in school and having to share a “fun fact” with everyone. I never knew what to say about myself so I told people my fun fact was that I had 4 siblings. I didn’t have a broken arm story or a country I’d visited, or anything like that. What was the fun fact you all shared?
I wanted to share this drawing I made : - D
That’s all I have for today! We do have some more amazing things to show you…
We wanted to share these beautiful drawings made by our friend Julia. She says they’re inspired by “…walking and wandering,, trying to make up maps, stories, and retrace my steps from memory.”
Green
Untitled (computerverse)
Path to the store
Thank you for sharing with us Julia! These are amazing.
And thank you ALL for reading this week. Don’t forget that you can now COMMENT your thoughts/ideas/responses here because of our new format! I’m so excited about this function!!!! : - D
We love you all and have an amazing week,
Sophie and Jess
New Look, Same Great Taste.
I love this new format! and, I love the ability to comment on your newsletters. Julia's art looks like bird's eye maps to me .. amazing.