WEEKLY R.E.P.O.R.T.

New season, new me! School is out for the summer and I am about to unemployedteachermaxx!

Reading: I was going to ask if it’s cheating to discuss the same book as last week, but then I realized that I make the rules! So this week I finished I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, and I have so many things to say. There is no doubt that this book is not enjoyable to read and super frustrating, because it has a central mystery that never gets solved, but reading this novel is an experience of self exploration that I would encourage everyone to embark on. The book leaves you with more questions than answers, but the questions you are asking go beyond ‘who put these 40 women in a cage?’ and ‘what planet are we even on’?, to questions like ‘what do I think being human is? and ‘how far can hope get you?’. I am so glad I read this book, but more importantly so glad I had people to discuss this book with (at book club). I do think I Who Have Never Known Men is a read like no other and I will put it on every book shelf I will curate in my life.

If you don’t count that review as valid for my reading section, then I will extend to you my reading of a random 70’s mystery novel that I bought for 76 cents at a used bookstore. I started it yesterday (because my next novel is already packed away in my suitcase for London) and I am going to finish it today! Thank you Ed McBain for 150 pages of pure crap in Sadie When She Died. I’m eating it up!

Eating: Pizza at Badiali. I got a slice of the vodka pizza and made Josh get my second choice, the Cacio e Pepe slice and they were both stunning and delish and gorg and also yum!

Playing: Bananagrams! In Muskoka! With my old friends! Can you imagine anything more soul fulfilling? I am so fucking bad at it, but maybe I just surround myself with really smart people.. yeah lets go with the latter.

Obsessing over: I am obsessing over my life- I spent the weekend with my dearest and oldest friends from summer camp at a beautiful cottage and I am in love with life again! As Maya says, I am having a luckiest girl in the world attack! We swam in a velvety lake, we laughed so much, we cooked together, we talked shit about everyone that has ever wronged us (with valid reasons and ways they can improve, of course), and the best part was having a new Olivia Rodrigo album to listen to! Like I feel like someone doubled their dream life and gave it to the next person, and the next person was me. That’s the only way I can describe it.

Recommending: A new, up and coming Instagram page called @whatsinjoshsbelly. Want to know what a cool, adventurous Italian guy is cooking in his kitchen? Want to see all my funny friends comment on it? Then this is the influencer for you! Josh, you’re my hero!

Trying: I was just gifted a sour dough starter, Clara dough! She smells sour and looks alive (I think?). I am trying to figure out how to not only keep her alive, but make her thrive. I am also trying to figure out what tools I need to achieve that. Do I need a scale? Do I need that little wooden basket? Do I need a homestead and an egg apron? Is this something I can do in a chill way, or will this consume me and my time (not that my time is awfully filled right now). Asking genuinely for all and any tips!

R.E.P.O.R.T. back soon!