Juggling everything
Andre 3000, Britney, dragon ambiance, & bare legs
Hello,
I like to be kept busy but this month has been a little *too* busy, I must admit. So this is my official announcement that I will probably be signing off Substack until mid-December when job interviews and a regional dancing championship are in my rearview mirror. It gives me nightmares to consider dropping a single ball (and not even glass balls—just your garden-variety bouncy ball) but, if a ball has to be dropped, then let it be this silly little newsletter.
With that said, here is what I have for you today.
LOCAL NEWS
North Carolina’s protracted fall has been charming me for weeks. Picture this: 80+ degree days, orange and yellow trees illuminated like they’re adorned with fairy lights, crunching leaves underfoot, and Carolina blue skies. It’s hard not to rescind every less-than-positive thing I’ve ever said about the place.
I missed writing my newsletter last week because I was at a full-day dance workshop with one of my childhood dance idols. It’s not true what they say about meeting your idols. I don’t know which idols everyone else is meeting but if your idol is 3-time world champion Ashley Smith, you should definitely meet her. I am trying not to brag here—I’m bragging okay??—but she even told me that I inspired *her* to return to the studio. Life, man. It is so weird.
My friend from growing up stopped by Durham for two nights on her way to Wilmington for an indie film festival, which played a film she produced with her experimental film company (Yeah, she’s cool. And she reads this newsletter.). Despite the fact that the New York Times literally just released an itinerary for times like these, we decided the thing to do would be to walk all over Durham and then drink a pitcher of margaritas and a slightly smaller pitcher of queso at a local Duke University favorite, one of the worst Mexican places in town. If Hannah liked Durham, that’s probably thanks to the weather rather than the hosts. Still, we are grateful for her visit and her readership!
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
We tried to watch something last night for the first time in weeks (or maybe months?) but I ultimately ended up sleeping through an episode of Frasier.
I listened to Britney’s memoir, The Woman in Me, on audiobook and it was mostly sad but, in parts, quite fun. Goodreads folks seem to think the ghostwriter should have worked harder to make it read less like a young girl’s diary but I could not disagree more. In fact, I believe more memoirs should read like young girls’ diaries.
I am now listening to Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics on audiobook, which I am finding to be much easier to digest than other books I picked up on similar subjects. So far, I recommend it, though I will admit that the person reading it sounds like a robot.
I have watched every one of these TrackStar videos on TikTok. Not even sure I still find them interesting but I watch anyway. I think I’m so interested because I know I would be positively miserable at this game. (Sharing the Ed Sheeran one for the Chieftains reference specifically, although I typically prefer the ones where he stops someone random in the street rather than a celebrity).
Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
BIRTH NOTICES
Andre 3000 (half of the best-selling hip-hop duo of all time, Outkast), released his first album in 17 years and it’s a flute album.
Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserI am always talking about YouTube ambiance videos but this week I learned about dragon ambiance. Why read your book with “10 hours of crackling fireplace” on the TV when you can read your book in the medieval cave ambiance of “A Land of Knights & Dragons”?
IN MEMORIAM
My weekly movie-watching streak.
My “to-do” list.
My sleep schedule.
My email inbox.
My year of 31. Next week, I turn the page to 32. I am honestly full of hope and excitement for what this year may bring.
COMICS
I have an extensive meme list this week because I missed last week. You’re welcome or I’m sorry, depending on whether we have the same taste in memes.
I almost just signed this newsletter with “Best,” which is telling. Too much work and not enough play. See you in ~ a month!
LYLAS,
Claire
P.S. Proof of glorious weather: cozy sweater, cozy beverage, bare legs. (I swear there is a not-entirely-embarrassing reason for this photo’s existence and I will not bore you with the details).
Everything about insurance angers me, including the dental and vision thing lol