It’s officially time for me to start season 10 of ER! Shockingly, there is still so much ER left to watch. A 22-episode season is such a gift these days.

Schools are starting and August is ending. I actually love this time of year. It’s time to buy new notebooks and pens! The weather is finally cooling down! Fall is just around the corner!

I’ll be taking a break the next two weeks to enjoy the long weekend and then a wedding, but I’ll be back mid-September!

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Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill

I reread this book last week because I wasn’t really happy with the book I had gotten from the library. I needed a good book and I knew Jenny Offill wouldn’t let me down. This is just so good. I love it so much. It’s the perfect book if you want something quick for your long-weekend read!

Spooky in Love

I’ll watch anything with Park Eun-bin. She’s one of the most talented actresses working in the Korean television industry. Every role she takes is new and different and she truly embodies each character. Here, she plays a hotel heiress who can see the dead. We love a ghost story!

Little Glass Jars

I love a little glass jar. I love a reusable container. I have to be very conscious of what I keep vs what I recycle because I can only house so many little glass jars. This just means I need a bigger kitchen/pantry so I can have more little glass jars.

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I have so many better things to do right now but I can’t stop rewatching Game of Thrones. I maybe binged through seasons 4-7 last week. That show was so good while it was good. It’s so fun watching it right now knowing how HoTD is going. They don’t make em like this anymore!

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My Brilliant Career

I had so much fun binging this show about an unruly Australian aristocrat in the early 1900s who refuses to confrom to society and marry. She wants to have a career. A working woman! How dare she! It’s good fun all around!

Lanterns

I wasn’t really going to watch this show but the allure of Kyle Chandler called to me. I needed Coach Taylor back on my screen. And boy, was it worth it. I’m not a Green Lantern person, lots to think about for space cops, but I’m willing to see where this show is gonna go. Plus, we have a great cast including Poorna Jagannathan and Jason Ritter!

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I finally downloaded Hades II this past weekend and spent way too much time playing. I forgot how fun Hades was, and now I’m locked in for Hades II. If this just so happens to align with my Greek myth-maxxing this summer, so be it. It is fun to see a different Odysseus in the game vs Matt Damon’s on screen. (I also watched Troy for the first time and that was also a fun experience.)

The students will soon return from their summer breaks and I don’t know if I’m ready for the fall semester to start. Where did the summer go? Can we extend it just a few more weeks?

See you next week!

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The Five-Star Weekend

Ok, I may need to hop on the Elin Hilderbrand train after watching this show where Jennifer Garner plays a Martha Stewart type of woman who is recovering from her husband’s sudden death. She hosts her friends in Nantucket! The house is incredible! The food looks so tasty! The cast is so good (Regina Hall! Gemma Chan! Chloe Sevigny! Timothy Olyphant!) and honestly it’s kind of fun to see adults deal with adult issues like actual adults.

The Invite

I went into this film knowing very little about it and that was the right move. Olivia Wilde is doing double duty by starring in and directing this very good drama. She and Seth Rogan play a married couple who invite their neighbors over for an impromptu dinner. Penelope Cruz is soooo good. Edward Norton has never looked better! The cinematography and the sound design were incredible. It’s definitely worth your time!

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It’s too hot. I went to the movies on Saturday because it was too hot (also because I love the movies) (s/o to Lauren who actually took me to the movies like I am her child). The humidity is great for the skin but lik eI hate the way it feels. I grew up in a dry heat so the humidy takes some getting used to. You’d think I’d be used to it after living in a humid environment for the better part of the last 15 years, but I’m not. I’ll still complain!

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She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, trans. by Izadora Angel

This short and poetic book is so good. I devoured it in one morning. It follows Bekija, a young woman who escapes from an arranged marriage by becoming a sworn virgin. Her decision sets into motion a deadly game of revenge between the families in her small Albanian village. There’s so much to unpack here, but I loved the atmosphere and voice of the protaganist.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

With House of the Dragon ending last night, it’s time to switch over to what multiple people have told me is the “best GOT tv show.” You know what, this is great! I love a jolly Baratheon! Dunk is best friends with a literal child! Who’s a Targaryen. You know I love to watch a Targ at work. Yes, I know everyone probably already watched this show when it came out, but too bad. Watch it again now!

The Odyssey

Are you surprised I’m recommending this? Here’s the thing: Nolan makes a good movie. This was visually great! And yes, I’ve read the reviews now. I say, you decide for yourself! Enjoy Matt Damon’s biceps! Take earplugs because it is loud.

Monsters of God

I’ll say you should not watch this if you are not a fan of reptiles. There are a lot of reptiles in this documentary series. Some are cute! Most are not! The documentary looks into the world of reptile smuggling. If you think this sounds kind of like Tiger King, you’re right! Same producer!

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I always feel like August rushes past. It feels like the shortest month of the year. It’s also often the hottest, so I guess I’m fine with not sitting in the heat and humidity for what feels like ages.

There’s rarely good television on in August, but this is the time to hit the movie theater. I have a long list of films on my list to go see, but not enough time to watch them all. Stay tuned to hear if I am successful in the coming weeks.

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Furious

I once got into a semi-argument with my friend’s husband about why Emmy Rossum deserves pay parity for her work on Shameless. I stand by that! And now Emmy Rossum is back on TV with this dark and darkly funny show about an FBI agent trying to catch a female serial killer in NYC. Pay her more!

Honey by Imani Thompson

PhD student starts murdering the shitty men around her as a way to tap into her dissertation. It’s a funny and weird book and Yrsa is a wry protagonist. Some parts felt a little self-indulgent, especially the sections where Yrsa was intellectualizing her actions, but it was overall a fun and interesting read.

Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend

Light pollution is ruining our lives. One of the things I really appreciate about growing up in the middle of nowhere is that I could always see the stars. There’s no light pollution in Wyoming!

Deep Sea Wilderness

All who know me know that I am not interested in space travel or deep sea adventuring. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in learning about deep sea wildernesses. Who doesn’t love to read about the freaky stuff in the ocean?

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I hope you had a restful few weeks. I spent the last few weeks traveling across Kenya on various safaris and then within Nairobi with various extended family members. I am tired. I timed my return just before the weekend so I could give myself a mini vacation. I’ve watched so much ER. I’m so glad to be back in County even though Luka is acting like an absolute maniac this season. Don’t even talk to me about Carter.

August is just around the corner! Let’s make the most of our last weeks of summer! Siri play “The Boys of Summer” (you can decide which version).

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Hoppers

Okay, shoutout to Aya for telling me to watch this on the plane. It was so fun. I told all of my cousins to watch it as well. This was just such a fun film about environmentalism and it made me sad multiple times when we saw the animals from the human perspectives. Special shout out to Diane!

Sleepless Night by Margriet de Moor, trans. by David Doherty

I enjoyed reading this slim novel in the early morning hours as I dealt with my jetlag. Awake at 3 am with nothing to do? How about you read this novel about a middle-aged woman who wakes in the middle of the night and bakes a cake while recounting the story of her day and her great love? You won’t be disappointed.

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

This was such a fun novel about an alien sent to Earth to record the various idiosyncrasies of the human race. Adina is a great narrator who writes with a distinct voice and a wry sense of humor. Highly recommend if you’ve been in a bit of a reading rut.

Shrinking

Yes, yes, I know I’m behind on this one but the best TV comes to you when you need it most. And I needed this when I was on a plane. I watched the whole first season on one of my flights when I couldn’t sleep and it was truly such a delight. Everyone is very good at balancing the comedy and the drama here. Great stuff all around!

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It’s going to be July this week. Half the year already gone. It feels like summer really starts in July, and not just because it’s going to get really hot soon. July is vacation time. I have my own international travel coming up, so I’ll be taking a break for a few weeks while I travel and enjoy my vacation.

I won’t leave you fully without recommendations, though. Here’s some new and returning shows worth checking out.

See you in August!

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Below Deck Mediterranean

Capt Sandy is back with her dream team! Aesha, I missed you so much girl. Nathan, you’re still not a good bosun! And Joe! What a disaster of a human! I can’t wait to see what antics they get up to this season, especially now that the Nathan/Joe Bromance is dead.

DTF St. Louis

I started this show when it first came out a few months ago but I wasn’t really feeling it then. I decided to come back to it now that the full season is over and boy is it something. I don’t even know how to describe this dark comedy. It starts with a friendship between two middle-aged men and soon takes a turn with a murder and some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. If that isn’t enough, Linda Cardellini is in it! We love her!

My Royal Nemesis

Finally started My Royal Nemesis and it was worth the wait. I’m really enjoying watching two actors who I’ve only seen play evil characters switch it up a bit for the romcom. It’s fun and silly and cute! Everything I’m looking for in a Kdrama.

The Science of Fermented Foods

I love fermented foods! Kimchi! Kombucha! Miso! Vinegar! And guess what, it’s also great for you!

The USMNT has continued to surprise me with how well they’re playing. I’ll hold out for a miracle, but in the meantime I’ll continue to enjoy the rest of the games and all of the fun side stories.

Love Islands US and UK continue to keep me fed. Please, I wanna talk about these shows with anyone.

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House of the Dragon

We’re back, baby! Team Rhaenyra let’s go! This first ep is starting out with a banger with the Battle of the Gullet but I’ll hold off on judging the season until it’s over. Either way, I’m glad to see Rhaenyra back on screen. And free Daemon from the clutches of Harrenhall!

Deli Boys

Season two of Deli Boys is just as funny and jampacked with star casting as the first season. They added Kumail Nanjiani as a dirty lawyer! Raj and Mir continue to fail upwards while Lucky Auntie keeps trying to keep her family afloat. Poorna Jagannathan continues to steal every scene.

Audition by Katie Kitamura

I’ve been in such a fiction slump. All the books are bad! I’m so happy I picked up Audition on a whim (and also highly recommended by a friend) because this was just what I needed to break out of my rut. Short, brilliantly written, quickly paced. Loved it. Devoured it in a weekend!

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The World Cup has started and things are so fun. I had my doubts about the US being one of the co-hosts but I’ve enjoyed all the Scots in Boston. We are all Scottish now! The first US game was actually good and maybe we’ll do well? Either way, we’re in for weeks of great sport.

If the World Cup isn’t your bag, then no worries. I have other recommendations.

See you next week!

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Maternal Instinct

This is a wild documentary about a woman who takes advantage of many people and ultimately kidnaps a baby. There’s a lot going on here so I recommend you just hit play.

Alice and Steve

I really liked this show about two best friends of over 30 years who see a major test in their friendship when Steve starts dating Alice’s 26-year-old daughter, Izzy. You read that right! It’s a very dark comedy! Also, the woman who plays Izzy is incredible. She’s really acting her butt off.

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It’s June and it is hot. Not in a good way. I don’t have AC. I’m sweating so much. I wish we could have had just two weeks of 75 degree weather. Is that too much to ask for?

I know I was off for a few weeks, but I have plenty of recs to keep you entertained.

See you next week!

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Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

I picked this book up in a used bookshop in Pasadena and devoured it. I’ve been on a bad fiction kick (every book is bad now?) so I decided to hit up non-fic as an alternative. I’ve previously read Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, so I kind of knew this was going to be good. But I wasn’t expecting how emotional it got me! Please read anything by Ms. Ward if you haven’t already.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

You know if Tatiana Maslany is involved it’s going to be a good show (ignoring She-Hulk, sorry Tatiana!). She’s incredible in this show where she plays Paula, a divorced mom trying to keep her life together. There are so many twists and turns and I’ve been enjoying staying on my toes. Pleaseeee keep her employed!

Love Island & Love Island USA

That’s right, we’re back! Two Love Islands! Two episodes a day! I’m locked in.

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I went to see my dear friend Amadea’s graduation this past weekend. She cried! Multiple times! But now she’s a Master and they can’t take that away from her.

I think it’s so nice to see all the new graduates walking around Boston with their families all dressed up. It’s a very fun time to be living in Boston, but it’s also very annoying because nobody has proper T etiquette. Basically can’t leave the house!

I’ll be taking a break for a few weeks while I travel for my best friend’s wedding and then have my own family come to visit me. Back before you know it!

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Filing For Love

Shin Hye-sun is soooo good. She really knows how to be both emotional and funny in her dramas. And there’s a really cheeky aspect to her character here that is so fun. She’s the head of the internal audit team at a conglomerate where she hunts down scandals that reflect poorly on the company. I’ll admit, at first I thought she was a tax auditor, but the show cleared that up real quick.

Drops of God

This has been on my list for a while and I finally got around to it. So good! Camille is estranged from her father when he dies and leaves her his vast wine collection in his will. There’s a catch, though. She must compete against his protege, Issei, in a series of wine-centered challenges.

Bonus rec: the documentary SOMM, about four wine professionals preparing for the Master Sommelier test. It’s very sincere and also very funny. I watched this years ago with a friend and I honestly think about it all the time.

The Yogurt Shop Murders Finale

You may remember that this docuseries originally came out last year, but there’s a final episode coming out this week which details the forensic breakthroughs that eventually identified the real culprit of these murders: serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers, who died in 1999. The series itself delved into how the police officers coerced false confessions from four men and ultimately failed to identify the true culprit in the crimes.

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I am slowly getting set up for my spring garden. I would have loved to start planting this past weekend, but it was cold. And it’s going to stay cold! I don’t want to start plants inside and then move them outside when I can just set them outside and be done. Please stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks!

I’m off next week as I am going to Vermont to visit my dear work spouse (we’re separated but still together).

See you when the sun’s out!

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Captive Audience

I was feeling like a documentary while I was knitting on the couch so I turned on Captive Audience because I wasn’t familiar with Steven Stayner’s story. Stayner was kidnapped at 7 and held captive for 7 years before escaping with another young boy. Things get twisty though when you find out that years later Stayner’s older brother, Cary, becomes a serial killer. This is an interesting look into true crime and the impacts of being in the public eye.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Book AND Show!)

I actually just started this book and show so even though I’m not done, I’m having such a great time that I am going to recommend both this week. Elle Fanning is sooooo good in this. As are Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman. Honestly, there’s some incredible stuff happening in this funny little show.

Widow’s Bay

Another Matthew Rhys show! Yes! That’s right! He’s back! And I am loving it. In Widow’s Bay, Rhys plays a put-upon mayor of a small island town off the New England coast, struggling to get tourists to come out and help the local economy while also dealing with the very superstitious locals. It’s very funny and also scary! The characters are all quirky and Rhys is just trying to get through the day. It’s great!

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May is right around the corner. And yet it is still below 65 degrees. Why can’t we have one full week of nice weather? The days are getting longer! Let us have one thing!

I did go see Project Hail Mary this past weekend. It was okay! I like Ryan Gosling! Sandra Huller is the real MVP for me though. What an icon. Anyway, I thought it was fine but too long, like most movies these days. What happened to editing?

Okay, see you next week!

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Asura

I actually downloaded this show to watch on the plane a few weeks ago and I finally got around to finishing. It’s a great quiet drama about four very different sisters and their lives in the late 1970s Japan by director Hirokazu Kore-eda (famous for many great Japanese films!). It’s heartfelt and sad and funny. All the things I love in a Hirokazu Kore-eda story.

The Miniature Wife

I thought this was going to be like Honey…I Shrunk the Kids. And actually…it maybe is a bit? Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen play a disfunctional married couple whose relationship hits a real snag when he accidentally miniaturizes his wife. I just find both actors to be very charming and fun to watch.

Rooster

I enjoyed watching this short season one of Rooster. Steve Carrell is very fun to watch. I enjoyed his chemistry with everyone in the cast, and yes, I did get in a few laughs. Was it a perfect show? No! There were some things that I was like why is this the only option? But it was an enjoyable thing to have on in the background while I worked on a document for work.

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Happy Marathon Monday for those who celebrate. I love living in Boston because it means I get the day off so I can watch the Marathon. It’s not ideal running weather, from my understanding, but I’ll be staying inside and watching from my couch.

The flowers are starting too bloom so it’s time for me to start planning my garden! It’s not summer unless I eat a homegrown tomato.

See you next week!

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Beef

Season two of Beef is just as good as season one in my opinion. I loved all of Charles Melton’s line readings. He’s unintentionally hilarious. I was shocked to see Song Kang-ho show up and really sink his teeth into his lines. Honestly everyone was so good. I wouldn’t be surprised if they split the vote on nominations this next year.

Love Overboard

I watched this on a recommendation from a friend and it is so addicting. Gabby Windey is a treasure as always. The rules are hilarious and when people get dumped the literally walk the plank. If you have nine hours and want something to kill that time, why not this show? Is love real? Doesn’t matter!

A History of Architecture Through Materials

Enjoy this fun lil piece about the different materials that make up the buildings we have.

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I’ll be heading to LA this coming weekend for a whirlwind 72 hour bachelorette party (s/o to Tanvi), so there will be no newsletter next week as I will be drunk.

But fear not! I have a fun slate for this week if you’re so inclined.

See you in a few!

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Janet Planet

I really enjoyed this quiet film about a young girl’s summer before middle school and her relationship with her mother, Janet (played by Julianne Nicholson who is also Dance Mom from Hacks and evil Sinatra from Paradise). Set up as a triptych, we follow Lacy as she watches her mother’s various relationships and the way they affect their lives. It’s a very good afternoon film if you want something introspective.

My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 - Last Air in Moscow

I’ve only watched the first part of this long documentary about a community of journalists in Moscow trying to continue their work in the face of the Putin regime in the fall and winter of 2021-22. It’s very much letting the subjects do the talking as we follow them through their work and learn about their peers who have been murdered for doing their jobs. It’s tense in a lot of ways but also so important for understanding how the government can so easily control the media.

This is Going to Hurt

I’m medical-show-maxxing now. Watching so many medical shows: ER, St. Denis Medical, The Pitt. And I’ve now added This is Going To Hurt, a one season drama about junior doctors working in England in an OB/GYN ward. Based on creator Adam Kay’s own experience as a junior doctor. It’s very good if you need more medical drama in your life.

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I’ve started season eight of ER now. I need to slow down because I’m ahead of my friends who are also watching this show. I need to talk about what’s happening, but I can’t spoil the show!

Anyway, hit me up if you’ve watched ER.

April starts this week. Baseball season is upon us! The sun sets after 7pm! Sometimes it is warm! I went for a walk in the sun and could feel my soul returning to my body. It’s time to start planning the garden!

See you next week!

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Bait

Riz Ahmed created this show where he plays an actor who gets caught up in James Bond rumors. It’s very funny and very South Asian. The music choices are soooo good. It’s not a very long show, but I hope they make more seasons.

Deadloch

Season two of Deadloch!! This is funny Broadchurch! I literally cannot stop laughing every episode. I didn’t think they could top season one, but this is just as fun and exciting in a new location. Plus we get to have more backstory on Eddie.

Blair Braverman Says Goodbye

Blair Braverman!! I loved this piece about Braverman’s separation from her husband and the decision to also leave sled racing. It’s a beautiful piece, and if you’ve read Braverman’s other work (highly recommend!) then you might recognize some of the names (humans and dogs!).

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I’m riding a wonderful post-ballet high. Please go see The Dream at the Boston Ballet while you still can. The dancer who plays Puck is incredible!! I’ve been to about four ballets at the Boston Ballet now and I gotta say this is some great artistic work. Everyone should be going to the ballet.

We are moving toward the end of March and I think it’s time for warmer weather so I can open the windows. I took Kali on the back porch for a bit over the weekend and she loved it. Layla, not so much.

See you next week.

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The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun

Loved this novel! It was so interesting and trippy. Yun writes about a woman who works at a company in the near future that plans trips for tourists hoping to visit disaster sites around the world. When she’s pushed out of her company, she takes up an opportunity to go on one of those trips and evaluate it. What happens next is quite a ride. I really enjoyed it.

Can This Love Be Translated?

I thought this would be a fun and breezy kdrama, but this got really dark! In a good way! Go Youn-jung is doing some incredible work here as an actress who finds herself thrust into the limelight after the success of her newest film. There’s some beautiful scenery as the show travels around the world as well.

Suburgatory

I feel like I was one of the three people who watched Suburgatory when it was airing live back in 2011. It’s a shame because this show was really good and very funny. Please disregard Cheryl Hines in this show. She’s distracting you from everyone else who is very good. (Actually Cheryl Hines is very good on this show). Now is a great time to watch this show since you can binge it on Netflix.

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I try my best to watch as many Oscar-nominated films as possible every year but alas I’m still working my way through them (sorry Hamnet, but I want to read the book first!).

Conan O’Brien is fine as a host. He’s not the worst, I guess.

See you next week!

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The Secret Agent

Wagner Moura let’s go! He is soooo good in this movie about a researcher in 1977 Brazil who comes under attack by the government and must work to escape the country with his son. It’s a rich text!

Sunny Nights

D’arcy Carden and Will Forte playing bumbling siblings who are trying to sell their spray tan products in Australia. Yeah, it does sound like a Mad Libs. But it’s fun and funny!

Undercover Miss Hong

Really enjoying this KDrama about a woman who goes undercover as a secretary in a finance company to try to root out their illegal slush fund. She’s 35 pretending to be 20! It’s actually hilarious. This show is also about female friendships, which I do love.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Yes, this book is a classic but I’ve never read it! It’s so good. Hilarious stuff is happening to Miss Brooke and I haven’t even met all the characters. Yes, it’s like 900 pages long, but I’m dedicated. Please, if you’ve read this book, let’s chat.

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I’m back from a wonderfully restorative vacation and I can’t believe I have to work like normal. Seems like a crime. I just think we should get a week long vacation every three months. We all deserve a break.

On the plus side, it’s going to be warm today. Like above 55 degrees warm. The snow will melt! Maybe the snowdrops and crocuses and start to pop up! I need this because I’ve been nursing a post-travel cold for the past week and I just think a walk in the sun with a light jacket will cure me.

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Twinless

This is a very weird movie that is also a meditation on grief and lonliness. Who knew we needed it? Starring my favorite white boy Dylan O’Brien in two roles, this film follows Roman while he comes to terms with the death of his twin, Rocky. Added to the mix is a new friend Dennis who maybe isn’t as honest as he seems. It’s both funny and sad. Also small part with Francois Arnaud! Yes, I only know him from Heated Rivalry but I’ll get to The Borgias eventually.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

Maybe this is because I just watched like four hours of 30 Rock on my flights, but I was primed for this show. Tracy Morgan plays disgraced football player Reggie Dinkins who is the subject of a documentary by disgraced Daniel Radcliffe. It’s very funny, which I’ve come to expect from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. I laughed out loud multiple times!

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model

The sad thing about this documentary is that it kinda made me want to rewatch ANTM. That’s bad, right? I mean, not as bad as Tyra was to the hundreds of women she traumatized. I need people to watch this so I can talk about it with them. Please.

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Yes, I continue to watch the Olympics. Yes, I’ve seen the various scandals and have been following along. Yes, I do want to discuss. But I won’t do that here. You’re not here for that! Instead, you’re here to find something else to watch or read this week. Lucky for you, I have options!

Quick note: I’ll be traveling next week so no newsletter until March. Can you make it? I’m sure you can. I believe in you!

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Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart

This is a fascinating documentary about the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping told from Smart herself. It’s a tough watch given the subject matter, but it’s nice to see her able to share her own story, on her own terms.

Join or Die

Very interesting documentary about social capital and how we all need to join clubs to save America. Don’t believe me? Watch this documentary and listen to Robert Putnam explain it himself!

Babies in an LA Mansion

Okay, you need to read this long-read about commercial surrogacy and the case of a couple that has multiple children through surrogacy.

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