Moving is a b%^$@, a show about flowers, what would have been my Cowboy Carter outfit, a good book

It’s a busy time, I fear. I am moving in less than 2 months and the apartment search has been harrowing. Something about competing for apartments makes me feel like a 12 year old. I do not like to compete for things - for schools, jobs, someone’s attention, a place to live. My natural inclination is to slink into the bushes, a la Homer Simpson, and let someone else be thirsty. Nonetheless, I feel like all my time lately is spent on Zillow and Apartments.com.

Unfortunately for me, the apartment search took priority over attending Cowboy Carter. I had been listening to the album exclusively in preparation (I think I listened to II Hands II Heaven a total of 30 times last week. That bridge? Sent from God!). Alas, I will have to sit this one out. Below is what would have been my outfit :( I’m there in spirt. If you are my friend, and you’re going, you’ll send me a video of II Hands II Heaven. Give Blue my love.

We came across this show yesterday that I still need to finish, but am already intrigued by, Growing Floret. It’s on Max (which I heard is switching back to HBO Max LOL. I just know the marketing team is kicking and screaming. All that work to rebrand to Max, which is a dumb name in the first place, only to go back 2 years later smh). But it’s about a couple who started a flower farm. Having endless fields of brightly colored, ornate-looking flowers on your TV screen do something to the spirit! Also the idea of your everyday life being soil, and plants, and flowers…Makes me want to fuck around and buy a piece of land in Washington and start a farm.

Also, I don’t know when this happened but I think I’ve become a person who has a favorite flower. Dahlias. Stunning! Do you have a favorite?

I am finishing this book called Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs. The author (who takes the drug himself) is an investigate journalist and interviews scientists, physicians, and people who’ve had experiences with these drugs. The book is not only about the drugs themselves, but also the entire culture of obesity and food and the western attitudes that surround it. My favorite part is when he goes to Japan where they virtually have no need for these drugs. Their obesity rate hovers at about 2% (vs. America, which is 45%). He examines their approach to meals, how healthy eating is taught to children (a nutritionist must be employed at every school in Japan and designs every single meal. Then, before the kids eat it, the principal has to eat it and approve).

They also have adopted a quite polarizing approach—all companies take a vested interest in their employees physical health (companies regularly weight their employees and take note of employee biometrics). This was hard to imagine as an American who won’t even let people from work follow me on social media, but those the author interviewed seemed to take no issue. The book is thought-provoking and the author takes great care to lay out both cases for the drug, for and against.

I saw Sinners and gave it three stars. But the score? The score deserves a standing ovation. Ludwig is up there with Hans Zimmer as far as iconic movie scores go (he is the same composer who did Oppenheimer, if you’re not familiar).

Also, if you ever are looking for a work, study, or focus playlist, I’ve been maintaining this one for a few years now—it’s all songs with no words. I add any song I hear that is emotive without lyrics. It makes anything you’re doing—budgeting, writing, reading—feel cinematic.

Mmmm. Lastly…Summer House? Jesse Solomon—seek help. You need therapy! I feel like we all know a guy like him.

That’s all I have for today. Have to get back to Zillow. If Zillow has 1 million fans, I am one of them. If it has one fan, I am that one. If it has zero, I am dead.

Please send us vibes that we get an amazing apartment. I am itching to decorate a new space.

Xoxo,

Erin

P.S. If you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter, can you do me a favor and share it with them? I appreciate and love you.

I leave you with this. This is me, except if I was a fitness class instructor.