Well, it’s Wednesday…which means I’m due to deliver a roundup of what’s going on with some of my five senses. But first, a quick complaint and a quick report on a celebration.
Complaint: this is a mess of my own making, but when Wednesday rolls around on the schedule here it bumps up against my “Wednesday…Whatever…” post so I have to deal with writing two very different things the same morning. This week I am positively slammed at work and I’m feeling some time pressures. At least the next one is shorter, so I guess there’s that. Rant over. Thanks. (If you’re wondering about the other newsletter, wonder no more.)
Celebration: my mom turns 81 today. She’s awesome, and she gets honored appropriately. We went out Monday for lunch, we’re having a pizza party tonight at my sister’s, and tomorrow night the crew comes from Michigan for dinner on the town with the whole gang. It’s gonna be a banger of a week/weekend. I was so glad to have the time with her alone on Monday. We went to the Green Harbor Lobster Pound because I was craving a lobster roll (it did not disappoint) (Mom went with a fried clam plate and she did not have order envy—phew). It’s a cash-only BYO place so I packed a wallet full of cash and a cooler full of essentials—a bottle of one of our fave French rosés, some glasses, a corkscrew, and two bottles of water. We had a relaxing drive down, ordered up our meals, and we chatted and ate and drank under the sun, on the water. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day. I cherish that time with her. So much.
My current obsession…
So right now whatever I’ve been doing for the last month has been completely hip-checked, stomped on, and overshadowed by that shitshow that is the missing submersible—I’m obsessed with the story. I’m not even sure where to start with it, but it’s like I’m watching some Shrinky-Dink version of the 1972 disaster classic, The Poseidon Adventure…or for those of you too young to remember Shrinky-Dinks it’s like watching Honey, I Shrunk the Submarine.
The news is reporting that the search is 900 miles off the coast of Cape Cod in a way that makes it sound like it’s just offshore. When in reality it’s like a third of the way to Portugal for crying out loud. It’s in the deep black nowhere, it’s not just past the buoys delineating the swimming area. How the hell are they ever gonna find it? It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, with a twist—the needle is invisible. Even with the breaking news of the banging, it seems like an unsolvable puzzle—oxygen is running out, getting it to the surface is a conundrum unto itself, and then getting the thing unbolted fast will require a mechanical marvel.
I’m troubled that I live in a world where people pay a quarter of a million dollars to risk their lives going 13K miles deep some 350 miles offshore in a homemade submersible to see things they could see on YouTube. 🤦🏼♀️ If you’ve read anything about it, the guy who built the thing bragged about using parts from CampMor and Logitech. Pretty sure you couldn’t pay me to put my life in the hands of the same controller you might use to play Donkey Kong…but what do I know? Sit on the floor, in the pitch dark, in the freezing cold, with a sandwich and a small thing of water, an untested bathroom, and one porthole…in a tin can…for $250K?
The mind blows.
And the resources that we’re wasting on the search and rescue mission…infuriating. Don’t even get me started. Especially given that some consortium or some such thing sent the company a letter pleading with them to not be so cavalier (my interpretation) and to pay closer attention to existing standards. This was an accident waiting to happen. Saying that these people deserve this terrible fate would be morally (relative to my morals) and karmically incorrect; I don’t believe that anyone deserves an horrific fate. But it’s also no surprise that disaster ensued. It was kinda bound to happen, kinda…don’t you think?
Bottom line, I took one look at that thing and you couldn’t get me to take it on a test drive in our swimming pool.
Also here are two links, to an article and a video if you’re interested in what seems like a Hobby Lobby DIY craft project gone grossly awry.
The sheer and unmitigated arrogance of it all. Money can’t buy common sense.
My reading list…
Long story short…my reading list is not getting shorter. I’m finding it hard to find time when I also have focused attention…which in turn is making it hard for me to get into a rhythm with Bono’s book. Pun not intended. But there it is. So I downloaded Fredrik Backman’s The Winners to my Kindle in the hope that reading more of a story, the third installment in the enjoyable (thus far) Beartown collection would loosen up my brain a little…but haven’t had focused time to start it yet. Work has me wound up pretty tight these days, so I can’t force the matter. I have some time off over the summer, so I know I’ll be able to get a good bit of reading in then. At this point in my life I’ve learned that the least helpful thing I can do when I need to get something done is to pressure myself about doing it. So I’m not reading much now…it’s not the end of the world. I don’t like it, and I will change it. Just not now. And so I carry on.
My nephew (he’s almost 25 and has some big professional job) texted me the other day asking whether should he use a colon or semi-colon in a certain sentence. He “knew” it was the latter and even consulted his copy of William Zinssser’s On Writing Well (#auntpride), but was up against someone who was adamant it be a colon. I was firmly with him on Team Semi-colon, because nothing was being listed or announced. So he was happy for the confirmation, stood his ground, and I was just happy. How awesome is it that I’m still his go-to resource for punctuation? Aftewards I went to my copy of On Writing Well to see what Zinsser had to say, and we for sure were right. His book (and this other classic) are always at an arm’s length when I’m at my desk. Once an English major, always an English major.
My “Watch” list…
Unlike my reading list, I have been ticking some items off of this one. I muscled through some early second-season misgivings about Ginny & Georgia and boy am I glad I did. The show is absurd on so many levels…but it is also so well-done on many others. Some of the characters are amazing…they definitely offset the annoying ones. Gotta take the good with the bad. It’ll be back for at least two more seasons, and I’m down for it.
We finished Derry Girls and I was sad to say goodbye to those wacky Irish gals (and the British boy). My most common complaint when something ends is that the ending is unsatisfactory. For me, this final season was excellent and the series finale episode so well-done. I don’t think it could have wrapped any better. Bonus points for making me laugh so hard.
I’m almost done with the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. My mom said that she read the series overstayed its welcome…that well may be true but still I have to see where it goes, even if it jumps the shark. The final season does flash forward and I’m not going to spoil anything…but why does Rachel Brosnahan feel the need to change Midge’s accent in those scenes? Bizarre. The plot feels rushed but even so I want to see how they wrap it up. I see things through, for better or for worse.
Playing on repeat…
T. Swizzle, natch! I can’t quit her. And if you don’t believe everything I say, just read this article. Please.
I’m not going to let this “Tay Tay’s the best” thing go gentle into that good night…or that bad night…or any night for that matter.
Anyhow, I have another piece to write, coffee to drink, and work to do, so I must move along. Thanks for hanging in here with me—as the years march on (yes, it’s been years!) I grow increasingly grateful for your attention and support. It means the world to me. You mean the world to me.
Happy Summer Solstice. Take advantage of the longest day of the year—do something you love, ideally with someone you love.
Love you too.
I am also completely obsessed with the submersible story. I equate it to the story of the little girl that slipped down the well all those years ago.... you may be too young to remember that story. Anyway -- nope, nope, nope I can't even imagine getting in that thing even in your pool! Happy Birthday to your mom! Glad you cherish all the time you spend with her! Have you and Kerri watched The Bear? I'm anticipating season 2 which drops soon. XO