Observables #54
on Good Talk, Coco's look out and Portuguese women doing what they want
Good Talk by Mira Jacobs. I’m loving the graphic novel memoir form right now. Jacobs’s story centres on her experience growing up as a brown woman in America, and having to figure out how to talk to her son about the racial injustices exacerbated in the Trump presidency—all told with a wry humour that makes it hard to put down.
Violet packing for over night camp. (Or really I’m packing and she’s reorganizing my work.) By the way, this girl GREW UP this summer, which I’M TOTALLY FINE WITH. I’m so fine I have to yell about it. And then Elsie says, “You don’t have to yell.” And I say, “I’M NOT YELLING.” At which point I turn to crying because I realize I am…yelling.
The droves of ever repopulating red bugs on my back fence which make being in the backyard feel like I’m participating in an unsettling nature documentary.
Our cat—adjacent to the red bugs—at her look out point just outside the fence. She’s protecting her territory against her nemesis: bad grey kitty. We know when bad grey kitty comes by because we hear Coco’s low rumbling start up (Simon can do a perfect imitation). The rumble is our signal to jump into action and bring Coco inside so she can cool off before she trots back out there to start again.
The Bo Burnham comedy special, which he filmed during the lockdown. There are some really funny lines in the show as well as some poignant moments as he struggles with his own mental health during the months inside. Highlights for me: “Daddy made you some content” and a song that pays mocking tribute to a white woman’s Instagram (aka mine).
I took these pictures on one of our jaunts around Lisbon. We rounded a corner and found this art project/memorial celebrating the day to day of this one “Sunny Corner.” What struck me was seeing all these women taking a minute to do what they want.
In other news, this week on the pod we took a week off to drink Rosé and celebrate our one year podcasting anniversary! Woop. Thanks for listening and reading and for even supporting on Patreon. If you’re new to any of these spaces, thanks for joining and I hope you’ll stick around!
I love reading the mother-daughter exchanges. Your wit is matched by Violet's, isn't it? And he ongoing saga with the cat and her nemesis. . . . The pictures from Portugal are so interesting. . .