It’s been an eventful few weeks since the last time I wrote. We went on vacation and I wound up having a near-death tubing experience thanks to a dead pig in a river—it involved being rescued by Rob, my friend Kate and some kayakers—followed by severely injuring my arm in said river because I flipped out of my tube going over a rapid and the twisting motion I made trying to grab my tube, coupled with the force of the water, dislocated my shoulder and fractured my arm. I knew something was wrong when I popped up, but I didn’t know how wrong—initially, I thought I’d pulled a muscle.
Well, three days later, when I was still in pain, I called my doctor to have her look at it, and long story short, she wound up sending me to the ER to get my shoulder popped back in since it had been out for so long. So for now I’m in a sling for a good chunk of most days, and I’m halfway through six weeks of physical therapy (which is really helping—as of today, I’m finally able to get fully dressed by myself, which is a huge deal).
Along the way, Rob and I also celebrated our seven-year dating anniversary and I turned 35, and now we’re planning for the rest of the year and thinking about what we want it to bring. I’ve said to several friends—since January, in fact—that I think 2018 will be a year of change in many ways; we just have to get through the slog of everything else that’s going on first. I still believe that.
Anyway, here’s what I’ve been reading, writing and loving when I haven’t been fretting over the news/my arm.
Writing
Pulling some oldies-but-goodies from the archive since I’ve been working on a bunch of stuff for our September and October issues, which aren’t out yet.
The ancient art of facial massage.
The coffee lover’s guide to Sarasota (give me all the iced coffee right now).
An interview with Brian Regan, one of my favorite comedians.
Reading
We’re in the midst of an environmental crisis here in Southwest Florida due to red tide and its exacerbation by pollution and toxic water runoff—as of yesterday, more than 60 tons of dead fish have been picked up along Sarasota County beaches, as well as turtles, including the endangered Kemp’s ridley species, dolphins and manatees. It’s truly heartbreaking. Heather Barron, head veterinarian at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island, summarized the significance of this in one heartbreaking sentence: “Wildlife is kind of the proverbial canary in the coal mine,” she said. “And right now, the canary just died.” On top of all of this, the air absolutely reeks of those poor dead fish. You can read more about all of it in National Geographic here.
In lighter news, if you haven’t read this profile of Gwyneth Paltrow, it is highly worth your time. The writing is amazing. (The New York Times)
Beyonce. (Vogue)
My life as a psychopath. Wow. (The Cut)
Great advice (for everyone, not just moms) from the amazing Serena Williams.
At-home coffee tips. (I need to take this advice and start making my own coffee more often.) (Gal Meets Glam)
Last week I read Beck Dorey-Stein’s memoir From the Corner of the Oval, about working as a stenographer during the Obama administration, and it was great—fun and light without being fluffy. It also made me miss the Obamas terribly.
The pie microbe. This is glorious. (The New York Times)
The 25 best rom-coms of all time. My vote’s for You’ve Got Mail. (Vanity Fair)
Homemade rosewater. Lily’s photos and words are beautiful. (Kale & Caramel)
Another plug for the gloriousness that is Ask A Manger.
Eye candy: Stunningly beautiful libraries from around the world. (The Guardian)
Have a great week, friends. I’ll be back later this week with a roundup of some new clean beauty products I’ve tried and loved lately.
Photo by @accidentallywesanderson
