10.5 things I want to share with you
A relocation, a basketful of actor profiles, and good busy-ness.
“I should not ever be asked to work after sunset,” a friend messaged mid-week. It’s winter, and that should mean shorter days to accommodate the big, dark evenings with their dips in temperature.
I felt for them, even from my sunny post in California. “The air quality has been so bad this week,” I added. It was true: the weather app and its algorithmic puppet master flashed a concerning exclamation point most of the week. And, as a science writer who’s covered the health effects of air pollution, I was inclined to pay attention. Sure, it was sunny and the sunsets were extra-beautiful, like a Van Gogh painting full of hazy, toxic brushstrokes. But I also had to stay mostly indoors and wear a mask on my walks as a precaution.
“Two evils honestly,” a third friend declared — winter and air pollution.
I laughed to myself, knowing I’ll soon transition from one evil to the other.
I am, since December, in a strange limbo. An exciting job prospect on the East Coast pushed my partner and I to make the call: we’re moving to D.C. in February. Yes, I know, this is hard to believe, given my history with cross-country moves. But because the whole matter was a drawn-out process, I’ve also had time to adjust to the idea of leaving California. I’ve been surfing the pangs of sadness (no more Pacific Ocean, no more West Coast sunsets) and curious excitement (good public transit, seasons, closeness to family).
Sitting in this stew of in-betweenness has been beautiful in its own way. It’s nice to lose something slowly, by choice, when so many life changes are abrupt. I’ve been taking my walks around the neighborhood and knowing, based on every other big move, that the walks are what I’ll miss more than anything. I’ll long for the view of the community garden, and remember the breeze that brushes my face on one specific street corner with a mountain view. I’ll miss the smiley, redheaded barista at our closest coffee shop, even as I find a new café near our new home.
And, of course, I’ll dream of our small, bright apartment with the neighboring poodle nemesis. The ordinary routines and places that have defined my time here will become cherished memories to look back on.
So, before I get lost in visions of D.C. life, I’ve been immersed in this — future Isa looking back on past Isa, which is now present Isa — and trying my best to be here. I’m taking note of all I’ve loved about my time in L.A., this incomprehensible and special and bone-dry city with occasionally terrible air quality.
Recommendations
If you, like me, have been thinking daily of fetal-position Nathan Fielder spinning in the sky like that woman rescued by a helicopter, let me offer you some closure. Vulture has ideas about what the ending of “The Curse” was all about. This show was one of the more absurd and engrossing things I’ve watched in the past couple of years. It’s a testament to Fielder’s knack for inducing secondhand embarrassment so powerful you’ll want to cover your eyes. In this, he’s peerless.
One more piece on Stanley cups. I’m sorry, but I will read all of the analyses until I have a complete picture in my mind of why — sociologically, culturally, economically, anthropologically — these things occur.
Culture Study: The Right Kind of Busy. I know, all the talking about how we use (and misuse) our time can get exhausting. I’d love to stop thinking about it altogether, frankly. But this essay presented a refreshing take on the idea of busy-ness.
Stuff You Should Know: Dry Cleaning. If you’re looking for some evergreen small-talk material, enter the dry cleaning rabbit hole with me. This episode’s a little slow with the banter about double pant creases at the beginning but eventually gets into fascinating detail on how it all works, and some terrifying information about dry cleaning chemicals.
Vittles on “gastrodiplomacy,” AKA how nations strategically build goodwill and fuzzy feelings abroad with food. Like “multicultural day” at my elementary school, when we’d all bring dishes from our ancestral lands, these countries are funding mom-and-pop restaurants in other nations of interest. Thailand, for example, did it in a major way in the early 2000s, leading to the establishment of thousands of Thai restaurants stateside. Taiwan is in the midst of its own campaign now, the Vittles piece reports. I had no idea this was a concerted, government-funded effort, but it makes sense — the U.S. State Department used a similar approach during the Cold War when it sent famous jazz musicians abroad to spread democratic ideals and win allies.
6-9. It’s awards season (streaming service permitting)! I could not watch the Emmys because I don’t have cable or Hulu + Live TV or Sling or whatever other random streamer bought rights to the awards show broadcast. But I did watch the Golden Globes. Main takeaway: it was too small a room for all the personas and exes and medium-well Hollywood beefs. The hosts are usually terrible, presenters are tense, reaction shots are strange.
I do love awards shows though, and especially ones for actors, because we get to see a glimpse of the people behind characters we spent so many hours with. I’m also reminded of media I wanted to consume but never got around to (like “Anatomy of a Fall,” which I watched after the Globes and really enjoyed). But I also love this time of year because it brings a fresh harvest of actor profiles. A few on my to-read list:
Jodie Foster. I just started her season of “True Detective” and was immediately captivated by the ambiance, storyline, and mostly by Kali Reis’s dimple piercings..I need a profile of her next..
Taraji P. Henson, whose very legitimate complaints about being undermined and disrespected in the industry are now getting spun into a supposed “feud” with Oprah.
Julia Roberts in British Vogue.
Ayo Edibiri, the most-real person in the room at any of these events.
10. A grieving writer falls in love over a bowl of salmon dip.
And, a little something extra: I recently happened upon this iPhone update that lets you easily identify birds in pictures. Apparently it works for IDing other living creatures, too.
Have a great week. And if you’re based in the D.C. area, I’d love to get together.
Isa
Rummaging is written by Isa Cueto and edited by Annie Cappetta. To support our work, subscribe and share.