Observables #47
on dog videos, jumpsuits and the brilliance of Jeanette Winterson
My guest today is writer Julia Lederer. She grew up in Toronto but now works throughout North America, in Europe, and the UK. She writes plays, films, and television. She has also written essays, poetry, audio pieces, and commercial spots. Julia approaches her work with curiosity, humour, and a sense of whimsy.
Videos of my own dog on my phone during a trip. I blame it on the two-year-old I was hanging with. She kept wanting to watch them over and over. But really, I was more than happy to oblige. And then watch them by myself later.
I’ve had my dog named Rupert Giles (after the distinguished demon expert, watcher and librarian played by Anthony Stewart Head) for a year (yes, COVID dog timing). In that time, we have been coexisting mainly in my bachelor apartment. I take him for all his walks and feed him all his meals. Like any small, entitled white man needing to be heard, he barks too much and inserts himself into conversations we can’t even see. By this I mean, if there’s a bark somewhere down the street, way out the window in another dimension, he will hear it and respond to it so his opinion is known. In dog parks, if there is a conflict between other dogs, he runs towards it. Why? Maybe I can learn from this?
Like, to be excited by conflict instead of fearing it?
No. I think there’s a balance.
Also, he’s a dog.
Another thing I am watching is the season finale of SURVIVOR Season 42. I didn’t really ever watch SURVIVOR. Until now.
I just thought that maybe it would be fun to get into it, because historically I’ve found it fun to be into things. Still, emotional investment is all or nothing for me (I cannot watch competitive sports), so it was a risk.
“Stop being such a life-grazer and become invested in the meal,” I said to myself as Jeff Probst galivanted across my screen. So, I got into it. I recommend this choice.
I was working on a new play with Filament Theatre in Chicago at the beginning of the year. One afternoon, the day before we were to start working the technical elements into the play (long days called “tech,” close to the end of the rehearsal process), my co-writer and the director of the play sent me a text message:
“Should we buy matching jumpsuits for tech tomorrow? I can pick you up.”
Of course, I DROPPED EVERYTHING I was doing—my taxes, catching up on emails, figuring out when I could see my dentist— IMMEDIATELY, this being the obvious priority.
And the results were better than I ever could have dreamed. We bought amazing jumpsuits.
The play went well too.
I also realized this: if you finish a rehearsal process for a new play, and all you want to do is buy matching outfits, it’s safe to say it’s been a successful collaboration. Top rate.
Weight by Jeanette Winterson.
Jeanette Winterson creates music with words. She tells stories that uncover hidden truths in breathtaking ways. I read sentences over and over to try and figure out how. She is astonishing with words. Jeanette Winterson’s writing is so good that I am not a good enough writer to write about it adequately. But I tried, and sometimes that’s all you can do.
Also, this.
… because the world is so much more ridiculous than anything I can come up with.
Sample Headline: “A delivery robot creates a poetic moment in the woods of England”
In other news…this week on Reframeables Nat and Bec are bringing back Episode #28 to celebrate Carley Fortune’s book going wild out there! Go team Reframeables…and congrats, Carley!