I’m headed to PHL for a super-quick visit tomorrow. Just mostly hoping to provide family support + help.
As I wait for my first afternoon patient I am ruminating on everything happening ~1000 miles away. So, as an interlude (for my brain and maybe for yours), here are some interesting things I read / listened to this week.
The theme today leans a bit Luddite. What can I say . . .
1- I found Ezra Klein’s interview with Gary Shteyngart so interesting and now want to read Super Sad True Love Story (bet THAT got a sales boost today, you think!?). But their discussion was somewhat . . . validating to me, just in the way that sometimes it feel like we’ve all lost the plot. As someone who loves playing with optimization, it did hit home that when this is taken too far it completely defeats the purpose of . . . itself. If we are maximizing our lifespan and “productivity” but not enjoying life . . . what is the point?
(And we won’t even get into the Clavicular segment. But woah.)
2- via MMD: Invite People Over from the Atlantic. YESS! BOBW is apparently on the pulse because we just recorded an ep about this (out in a couple weeks), but we are very pro Host the Thing. I want to invite people over and I want to be invited over. I care not at all what your house looks like. I don’t care what is served (we can split the costs + Door Dash!). (I do care if I’d be driving in a bad storm to get there, but that’s about it.)
3- also via MMD: An Australian article about physical media that kind of warmed my heart. Did you know I once worked in a video store? It was 1998 and there was a contest to see who could sell the most copies of Titanic. I think I left for college before finding out if I won.
Despite the fact that I found this article charming, I do love (and would not want to give up) the ability to stream music and TV and movies. (Oddly I have NOT felt the same way about books – why is that?! Maybe it’s my undying love for all things paper, pages included).
((SIDE NOTE: Wouldn’t you think that we’d be all clutter-free if everything was so digital? But instead we’ve just used our phones to order clutter, from our beds? Sigh . . . .))
4- via CoJ: This $500 flip phone will apparently allow you to use Maps and Music and text with numbers (1990s/early 00s style!) but not a browser or social media. Do you want one? I don’t really, but I understand the appeal. I did once seriously consider a Light Phone but never pulled the trigger.
5- I want to make this and it is going to happen.
7 Comments
When I invite people over, I have to clean up a lot of dog fur and it takes most of the day. I also do not have a “doctor mansion” in any sense of the word or doctor furnishings. And yeah, some (not all, but enough) of my work colleagues would absolutely comment negatively on the fur and the house either to my face or behind my back. And as evidence, allow me to share that I had a resident tell me recently that I was “childish” (exact word used) for carrying a backpack instead of a fancy purse.
That said, we DO need to have people over more often because it is almost always fun. I also think if I did it more often, it would be less of a big deal. Kind of like how going out to eat or taking a trip becomes less of a big deal if you do it more often. So thank you for the suggestion!
we only have doctor furnishing if beat up IKEA counts as doctor furnishing . . .
I have made that cake and highly recommend
I am more pro have people over than my husband so we don’t do it often. But I wish we did it more. I love house hangs. It’s my favorite way to socialize. I have definitely simplified when we do have people over, though. I used to stress out and feel like everything needed to be homemade. Now I am fine with getting bagged salads for a side for example.
Thinking of you. We’ve not had the parental health crisis moment yet, but I know it is coming.
I’m super pro having people over. I’m a good cook and like doing it, but also quite happy to order pizza. I think there’s something that helps cement friendships about having people over- sharing a table? Like the vulnerability of having people in? Our house isn’t fancy but everyone is greeted warmly and well fed.
Although after Elisabeth came, my son went to school and said “we made a Japanese feast for my mummy’s internet friend…” so god knows what he thinks. But internet friends can become real friends 🙂
Wishing you the best on your trip and helping your family.
I am pro having people over and feel like I’m getting back into it after both the Pandemic and the toddler years. I’m planning to do a few casual summer hang outs while we can be outside and not have to stress too much about what the house looks like.
That cake looks delicious. And I love and hate tech at the same time – how is that possible?