Into It | Vol. 9
Indian food in London, getting kicked out of my house, and Writing Room Summer Break
As always, thank you for being here. I think about you while I write, and I don’t take it for granted that you’re sitting in a coffee shop or your kitchen or at your desk, reading the words I’ve written for you. Sending you big love.
Right now I’m sitting at my local brewery, post- glass of Sauvignon Blanc. I was trying to get some work done at home but finding it impossible with kids home from school and lots of family life admin screaming at me, when my husband said “Why don’t you go out and order a glass of wine and see what you can get done? You know: compartmentalise it.”
I kept saying “You’re so sweet” before I left home and he kept saying “It’s not that sweet, it’s just kind of smart.” I’ve actually gotten quite a lot done in the last hour, so yeah…it was kind of smart.
And that brings me to now, and this week’s edition of Into It, and how I’m rewarding myself for an hour of good work by writing it.
Without further ado…
I’m reading…
This post by my friend
. Lindsey has such a beautiful way of expressing very complex feelings. I relate deeply to this piece she wrote about engaging with reality in the midst of external turmoil.Also, I begrudgingly started reading Clytemnestra last week, even though I didn’t think I was in the mood for Ancient Greece. But it sucked me in and I’m actually thrilled to say I’m enjoying it way more than I initially thought I would.
I’m watching…
Season two of The Bear. I know! I started season one with Simon probably over a year ago, and the first season was so shout-y and chaotic, I think we just gave up out of sheer exhaustion. But I’ve heard so many good things about it since then that I started watching it by myself a few weeks ago.
I’m about halfway through season two, and after those screechy first few episodes, it has settled into something really profound. Sure - the Berzattos episode (Christmas with the family, you know?) was CRAZY, but Marcus in Copenhagen? Richie staging? Carmy and Claire Bear? I have actually, truly, said “wow” a couple of times to myself, out loud. Truly beautiful writing and acting.
I’m listening to…
Nanci Panuccio’s Writer Unleashed on my little walks.
At mostly 20-ish minutes, they are perfect bite-sized writing lessons; and Nanci has a friendly, un-intimidating way of delivering them.
Looking forward to…
Heading into London tonight! A friend/former colleague/sometimes current client of mine is in England at the moment and Simon and I are meeting her for dinner and I’m so excited to eat Indian food and catch up.
Did you know we live 39 minutes from St. Pancras station? Specifically 39 instead of 40, because we like to make that distinction in our town.
We are UNDER 40 MINUTES FROM LONDON.1
Summer Break at The Writing Room
Listen: you know that Family Life Admin I mentioned up there? We have some huge personal stuff happening right now (all good - nobody panic)2 and I am in over my head at the moment. The Writing Room is taking a summer break for July and August, like a true European, and we’ll pick back up in September for Back to School.
I’m writing…
This here Porchlight. The first draft of my novel (I know - so boring. But I’ve slowed down a little in the last week due to aforementioned admin). And messaging for a performance health brand.
And I’m thinking about…
How often we’re distracted by False Realities presented to us by TV and the internet, when our Actual Realities are right here in front of us, asking to be noticed.
How much I believe that if we all decided to turn off the noise in our ears and in front of our eyes, our individual souls and our larger communities would heal organically.
You know, stuff like that.
Hope you’re having a super summer, doing things that delight you, and getting lots of time in with people you love.
xx
Faith
Once, Simon was in the river in our village at 6am and sitting in a meeting in Westminster at 9:30am, and like, where else could you do that?
I’ll let you guys in on this in the next few weeks and then I really think you’ll be like: “Oh yeah, you need a break.”
Thanks for the shout-out friend. We are just soul mates, there's no other way to put it. ;)
I'm sorry to warn you that season 3 of The Bear is probably going to drive you crazy. It did me, at least. They take that incredible (agonizing) episode from season 2 and try to recreate it over and over.
I kept saying “You’re so sweet” before I left home and he kept saying “It’s not that sweet, it’s just kind of smart.” - -> This sounds exactly like a conversation my husband and I would have! God bless these men.
Reading Lindsay's piece felt like slipping on a soft tee that dried on a clothesline and smells like fresh air. I went camping in northern MI last week with my best friend and our 9-year-olds, and before we left I felt like an utter mess on the inside. Overstimulated, overwhelmed, irritable, all the things. Four days of no wifi and so much time just staring at Lake Michigan and the trees on our campsite were truly a God-send, and a huge wake-up call to set some serious boundaries around my news/podcast/YouTube consumption.