Another List Of Lovable Things
Hi! By some stroke of luck you’re reading, “Yes, I Am A Hungry Woman.” Have you subscribed?
Greetings from the slush pile!
My mind has gone stodgy from the number of job listings I have looked at in the past few weeks, all of which I seem either woefully under- or over-qualified for. Of course I am not pressed yet for time. I’m taking a leisurely walk through the options and weighing them here and there. However, it seems like the only people hiring are aerospace engineers or fast food restaurants. And as much as I appreciate the occasional Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwich, I do not want to work there.
Of course, I know that the job-hunting process is one of those things in life that must be suffered. It reminds me of a harsh old man who thinks that breaking somebody down to build them up is the way you handle all relationships. I know that job-searching is nearly always a demoralizing process, and that very few people look their best on paper; some things just can’t be quantified in a resume.
Actually, some people do look great on paper. But just because you don’t look as good as those people on paper doesn’t mean that you do not have much to offer. The term “soft skills” is on the rise as a positive in hiring roles, and one that I am clinging to like a life raft because I have enough soft skills for a hundred people. I have plenty of hard skills too, it’s just that (much like my muscles) I have them but they tend to be lost in the full softness of the rest of me: I’m a real confection, and truly hirable. I interview auspiciously, I do not resume well. So this point in the job searching process is about the time when I start to think blandly to myself, “See? You knew you should have been an archeologist. Or a zookeeper. Or an illustrator of children’s books. Or Amelia Earhart, minus the plane crash.”
Anyway, eyes crossed, mind numbed, temporarily disenchanted with every decision I’ve made in the last twelve years that probably all conspired to lead me to this pinnacle of blue-lit bemusement, I stagger up a hill and realize that there are a lot of things beyond the pale that are still nice to look at. Cherry blossoms, for one. And Rick Andrew Martinez’s refried beans recipe which I made into fat little bean burritos for lunch. I turned off my email notifications and that was a good choice too. Now I don’t have to pay immediate attention when another “Today’s Jobs Just For You” email shows up, containing no less than three listings requiring a doctorate, two postings for travel agencies, and a bid for help at an L.A. juice bar proving once and for all that Indeed.com has zero idea who I am, where I live, or what to do with me.
But it could be worse. I could be job searching and have seasonal allergies (which I don’t). The pollen has not cursed me, though it has buried my car under a thin and recurring veil of chartreuse, courtesy of all those cherry blossoms.
I know the perfect thing will turn up when I need it, so I am willing to set the search aside and turn my attention to the real content of this newsletter. And that is to bring to you a new edition of:
Things I Have Been Loving!
Unique multi-grain pretzels - guyssss. This is not a “spend all your money” call, but if you’re already buying something crunchy and munchy and want to experience relatively the nicest snack ever, buy these pretzels and eat them with some Old Croc sharp cheddar cheese. End game.
An Easter-blossoming Christmas cactus. I thought I had killed my Christmas cactus and it would never bloom again, but then this plant began to show buds and burst into bloom just before Easter with more blooms to come. Do we call this an Easter cactus? A Jesus cactus? I am a little lost in the naming, but appreciative of how pretty it is.
On the subject of flowers, I spent some time last week in the tropical greenhouse of our local Botanical Gardens. All the orchids are blooming and there are some wildly beautiful specimens. I feel so happy to have access to these rare plants!
These linen-blend wide-leg pants from Old Navy. I had been tempted by them myself, then was alerted to a sizing test done by my friend Alexandra. Alex has a similar body to mine and did all the hard work of ordering multiple pairs and testing these pants. They were a must-buy she said, and because I needed some new pants that look like they belong to a grown up woman, I bought some. Also, because I forgot who I am, I bought a second pair in white. Will I regret the white pants? Ninety-six percent sure that I will. After all, I dropped something in the tiny gap between my apron and my shirt while eating lunch today. Who does that?
The news that Disney+ is putting out a four-part docuseries on Ed Sheeran and the making of his new album, Subtract. I can’t wait for the album itself (May 5, 2023), but getting “time” with Ed Sheeran and his story is something I’m very excited about. I love Ed’s music - it has been part of my life for a long time now, and the albums are only getting better. Can’t wait for this.
Cadbury crunch mini eggs. The only Easter candy I love. And I love them a surprising amount for someone who doesn’t like candy. Crystelle from The Great British Bake-Off just posted a recipe for miso, pistachio, and white chocolate mini egg cookies and although that’s a MOUTHFUL (literally and figuratively), I’m into it? Though would probably leave out the white chocolate, as I’ve never not found it too sweet.
Megababe anti-chafing stick. Calling all people, male and female, large and small, whose thighs touch. This was my life-saver last summer and after I convinced some of my friends and family to buy it even the ones who didn’t identify as a Mega Babe were like, “Whoa, yes! This stuff is magic!” My stick of it melted into the cap toward the end of last summer and I’m still using it. Conversely, if you don’t use Megababe and you are a person whose thighs touch, you will be like me last week: chafed by 10 AM because you dared to wear shorts for a two mile walk and forgot your thigh rescue stick.
Animal rescues - my younger sisters found four baby possums in the pouch of their road-killed mother (so sad) and were able to rescue them and take them to a wildlife rehabilitator. Such a happy ending for such little, un-likely creatures as orphaned baby possums! I think I’ve been watching too many zoo shows lately - I picture all wildlife rehabilitators as having slightly zany Aussie accents and totally frizzy hair and an abnormal quantity of baby bottles lying about their kitchens.
Strawberry season has begun! Although we haven’t had a lot of warm weather in Southeastern Virginia just yet, the earliest varieties of strawberries are a go and two fields in our area have begun to sell their berries. I can’t wait to go to a field and pick red berries off the plants! I love the little pock! sound of a berry cleanly separating from the stem, and the cheerful white flowers starring the plants among the red and ripening fruit. It’s a very soothing action. Also, the coming of this season means a batch of strawberry vanilla-bean syrup for lattes and strawberry milk. Do you want the recipe?
A fun Thrive Market spending spree - somehow I happened to read an email that reminded me of a forty dollar credit in my Thrive account that was soon to expire. I love Thrive because I live pretty far away from the closest Trader Joe’s and can buy my healthy pantry staples at a similar price from Thrive. And while it doesn’t beat wandering through TJ’s and being hooked by the newest snacks (spicy crunchy mochi bites are unfairly good), the Thrive box is delivered right to my door and that makes it nice. Anyway, I spent my money on fancy chocolate, fancy tinned fish, Siete brand potato chips (an item my sister-in-law has been demanding I try) and sundry other fun purchases. Really can’t wait to eat some Ontario trout with dill for lunch some day soon!
Art vlogs! Listen, I am not a person who sits around watching vlogs on YouTube because I do not have the time, but the accounts that do make the cut are almost exclusively soothing vlogs from illustrators who work primarily in very tangible mediums. My favorites are Furry Little Peach, Fran Meneses, and Yumi In Color. Anytime I’ve feeling uninspired, a quick video from any of these artists is sure to set my brain working again.
Visiting our “fictional house” on our drives home. This is a modest-but-beautiful home not far from our own that Andrew and I have decided we want to live in one day. It’s the sort of house that we can only guess at from the outside because the last time it was sold was for $45k in 1984, and no updated details exist, but we know that is is 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Not giant by dream-home standards, but cozy and livable. It is charming too, situated on a shady one-acre lot, and has the sort of character that is rare for houses from the 1950s. We may never get to live there, but we call it our house and are lucky enough to get to drive past every time we come home from that direction. It’s a nice little dream, and I’m happy we share it.
One (1) Pilates class. Pilates is great because my sister teaches me one class on the reformer machines and I’m suddenly lithe and limber and feeling full of muscles after only fifty minutes. And then it’s like four months till I make time for another class but its nice to think that if I was more regular with it, I could probably become a trapeze artist one day, I’d be that liquid. Or a cat.
Speaking of a trapeze artist, I read this essay by Vicky Grut, Circus Loves, in the latest issue of Kitchen Table Quarterly and was really touched by it.
And last but not least, speaking of issues of magazines, I spent half of my month’s fun money in March on a Whalebone Magazine subscription and really have loved the Costa Rica issue. I’ve read the magazine slowly, savoring it, and am so happy that I dove into a subscription. Support the writing you love to read, financially if you can!
It is always a joy to sit and reflect on some of the lovely bits of life. I hope that you are well, and enjoying some bright springtime weather. I sat on the beach for a couple hours on Friday and although the water was as clear and cold as a glacier, the sand itself warmed quickly with the sun and I got my first sunburn of the year on the back of my neck where I couldn’t reach to apply sunscreen. Sitting there, sifting shells through my fingers and trying to eat a tangerine without eating sand, the long beach days in July seem touchably-close. I hope you feel the same wherever you live, and I would love for you to share some things in the comments that are making your life extra beautiful. Happy spring!
Lovable things. Bobby, my husband of 40 years and I are drawn into a dramatic presentation of the Living Last Supper. We are working with people who are exceptionally skilled. We have never been actors, we are musicians and singers. As an aside, we are looking at incorporating an original song of Bobby's into the play. We are inspired to be part of a creative endeavor of Christians celebrating the new covenant delivered through the Son of God. What a wonder God is!