Random -- another newsletter I get had their annual Reader Classifieds yesterday, and this made me immediately think of you:
"If you like dumb stuff, I created, produced, and wrote an animated series about a feminist chickpea going through a quarterlife crisis - it’s called 'Bean There, Done That'. It covers everything from tampon shame to bad first dates to asking the age-old question: Should men be allowed to use social media?"
If you want what another poignant Christmas song, my favorite is "All That I Want" by The Weepies.
Over Thanksgiving, I was at a house with an Alexa, and I asked it to play melancholy Christmas songs. Turns out Amazon music's channel for such things is called "Tears in my Eggnog."
This is my third holiday season sober. The first one was weird and quiet; candy helped a lot (really). Also have you listened to Winter Song? Ingrid Michaelson has a version, as does Lamar Odem Jr. they are both exquisite, the melancholy kind of music it sounds like you might be into right now. I spend lots of time debating which version is better. It's always the whichever one I'm listening to. I think you might like, maybe with some sour patch kids.
Paul Mescal is my Roman Empire. If you want to feel allllll the feelings - find this song on Spotify (Sometimes by Goldmund). It’s the song playing in the final scene of Normal People. Swoon and sob!
Oooh going to check out the Shawn Colvin holiday album, thanks! I love the Leslie Odom Jr one, too (known in our house as “Sad Strudel”). My other favorites in regular rotation are by Aimee Mann, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Over the Rhine, and Andrew Bird. And Sufjan Stevens has a multi-volume Songs for Christmas that is mostly beautiful—I just drop a couple of the more cacophonic, jangly numbers from my playlist.
Yum! There was a black bean soup at my college bookstore in the 90s that I spent way too much of my parents money on instead of books. I can’t wait to make this.
Thank you for the fun shares! Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong never disappoints. And, Siberian Forest Cat? Looks like our cat’s doppelgänger. In appearance and behaviors (on all the things with all the people all the time).
Highly recommend adding bacon to black bean soup. I dice, then fry up the bacon in the dutch oven on the stovetop before adding all of the other ingredients. Also sometimes I use a potato masher at the end to mash up some of the beans, thickening the soup.
First “noticed” Paul Mescal in “The Lost Daughter;” and then, in “Aftersun.” As the daughter of a Kerrywoman, I love a brogue. Plan to see Gladiator during holidays. George Winston’s “December” and The Chieftains’ “The Bells of Dublin” are my favorite holiday albums.
I am just now realizing that I went to see Gladiator with 3 very straight men and 1 very gay woman, which might explain my lonely, excited wakefulness!
Spotify's Christmas Cocktail Jazz is perfect for feeling like you're at a party. Also, I made that sour cherry/Aztec bitters number, and I had the first glimmer of hope that I can do this. So thanks for that!
I listened to this last night thanks to you! And you can definitely do this if I can do this, and I am definitely doing it. (I'm pretty sure that nobody likes drinking more than me.) ALL LOVE!
Random -- another newsletter I get had their annual Reader Classifieds yesterday, and this made me immediately think of you:
"If you like dumb stuff, I created, produced, and wrote an animated series about a feminist chickpea going through a quarterlife crisis - it’s called 'Bean There, Done That'. It covers everything from tampon shame to bad first dates to asking the age-old question: Should men be allowed to use social media?"
FEMINIST CHICKPEA
OMG!!! FEMINIST CHICKPEA!!! I'm kind of picturing Marcel the Shell? But garbanzo.
It seems to only be on her instagram, so I have not seen much because I don't have instagram. But her name is Cristina Kinon.
Sufjan Stevens is my number one for Christmas tunes (and my number one in general).
sigh sob
If you want what another poignant Christmas song, my favorite is "All That I Want" by The Weepies.
Over Thanksgiving, I was at a house with an Alexa, and I asked it to play melancholy Christmas songs. Turns out Amazon music's channel for such things is called "Tears in my Eggnog."
Oh, the Weepies! I love them so much. And I'm listening to Tears in My Eggnog right now, thanks to you! "bummeriffic Christmas tunes" : )
Love that book kit idea so much!
This is my third holiday season sober. The first one was weird and quiet; candy helped a lot (really). Also have you listened to Winter Song? Ingrid Michaelson has a version, as does Lamar Odem Jr. they are both exquisite, the melancholy kind of music it sounds like you might be into right now. I spend lots of time debating which version is better. It's always the whichever one I'm listening to. I think you might like, maybe with some sour patch kids.
We love that song too, both versions. So good. And yes, candy! That's such lovely advice. Good job doing it, Kathleen. xo
We always freeze our chilis in adobo in ice cube trays and then pop them out and store in the freezer!
Paul Mescal is my Roman Empire. If you want to feel allllll the feelings - find this song on Spotify (Sometimes by Goldmund). It’s the song playing in the final scene of Normal People. Swoon and sob!
Ooooh! We still have 3 episodes left. I'm going to wait. Sob!
Paul Mescal in Normal People gives me so many feelings
I am quite happily married (for 25 years!) but Paul Mescal makes my heart skip a beat!
same
so many feelings
I’m also excited if I can find a stone or a weirdo bean when I’m rinsing beans. I love Still Life with Menu and Mollie!
ha ha ha! how lovely to share this weirdness!
Oooh going to check out the Shawn Colvin holiday album, thanks! I love the Leslie Odom Jr one, too (known in our house as “Sad Strudel”). My other favorites in regular rotation are by Aimee Mann, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Over the Rhine, and Andrew Bird. And Sufjan Stevens has a multi-volume Songs for Christmas that is mostly beautiful—I just drop a couple of the more cacophonic, jangly numbers from my playlist.
Oh, and how could I forget: “Christmastime (Let’s Just Survive)” by Kathleen Edwards!
sad strudel ha ha ha! Looking into all of this.
Yum! There was a black bean soup at my college bookstore in the 90s that I spent way too much of my parents money on instead of books. I can’t wait to make this.
This just triggered a moment of glee/shame from a similar recollection! 😂
Did you go to UC Santa Cruz?
Nope Wesleyan - Atticus Bookstore!
Thank you for the fun shares! Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong never disappoints. And, Siberian Forest Cat? Looks like our cat’s doppelgänger. In appearance and behaviors (on all the things with all the people all the time).
SHOUTOUT to the wintersong rec, co-sign, this is the One True Song for December
Yes! And yes! They aren't shy about their tummies.
Highly recommend adding bacon to black bean soup. I dice, then fry up the bacon in the dutch oven on the stovetop before adding all of the other ingredients. Also sometimes I use a potato masher at the end to mash up some of the beans, thickening the soup.
Happy holidays!! :)
This is a radical suggestion! xo
First “noticed” Paul Mescal in “The Lost Daughter;” and then, in “Aftersun.” As the daughter of a Kerrywoman, I love a brogue. Plan to see Gladiator during holidays. George Winston’s “December” and The Chieftains’ “The Bells of Dublin” are my favorite holiday albums.
I am just now realizing that I went to see Gladiator with 3 very straight men and 1 very gay woman, which might explain my lonely, excited wakefulness!
Bells of Dublin is always the first Christmas music I put on! It’s just perfect.
My son asked me early this holiday season, “Mom, what’s the name of that WEIRD Xmas album you play?”
OMG I'm always excited to find a stone in my beans toooooo. An unexpected treasure! An artifact of the real world! Amazing!
ha ha ha!
Spotify's Christmas Cocktail Jazz is perfect for feeling like you're at a party. Also, I made that sour cherry/Aztec bitters number, and I had the first glimmer of hope that I can do this. So thanks for that!
I listened to this last night thanks to you! And you can definitely do this if I can do this, and I am definitely doing it. (I'm pretty sure that nobody likes drinking more than me.) ALL LOVE!