Observables #7

on White Lotus, dream dresses and burning our ears off with white habaneros

(in our dreams)

We are all feeling a lot of loud things in our last full week sans school. Violet is following Coco the cat around with boxes yelling: “Go in! Goooooo in!” I am overreacting to simple questions about cake and constantly being asked to “look over here, Mommy.” Maybe it’s the squashes that have taken over my life that are making me both edgy and lethargic.

What are you doing, Mom?

Taking a picture of the squashes.

But why are you doing that?

There’s just so many.

That doesn’t make any sense!

Farming doesn’t make any sense.

Why are you wearing that dress?

Interesting thing about farm 1.0: You are inundated with one thing at a time. It makes for strange eating. Only tomato based recipes for weeks. Then it’s squash time.

Also, my digestive tract is burning from all the jalapeños and white habaneros I have consumed. Someone has to eat them. Please send gloves. Habanero- burning-ear is a thing.

Articles my dad sends me:

Young Chinese take a stand against pressures of modern life — by lying down

Why are so many knowledge workers quitting?

Do you remember Walden by Thoreau? He goes into the forest and calculates how much money he really needs to live, probing the question of why we work so hard for things that are inessential. Ah ha! Do I want to keep working so hard for things? Or could I buy less and subsequently work less too—or work less at the things that don’t give me joy. Not Marie Kondo joy, but real joy. Profound joy. Who’s with me? Shall we lie down for a while? 

My friend turned me on to White Lotus and I’m hooked. The examination of white privilege through all these rich guests at a Hawaiian resort and the staff being told to fade into the background because guests like to experience things as “vague.” My friend said the show reminded her of my web series Running With Violet, which is a huge compliment. I do like to go to dark places with my characters. So much to unpack.

If you want to explore a different realm away—like away from people—try Fantastic Funghi on Netflix. The mycelium network that exists under us? Whaaaa? Mushrooms are insane. But quiet.