Jenn D’s July Recs
It’s been a month. I am now much, much older (I had a birthday) and I have a feeling it’s gonna be a great year. I’m approaching a milestone, and it’s in sight. I am here for that. Remember, aging is a gift, so jot that down.
Let’s get to what I’ve been watching/listening to/doing!
TV
It’s been a slow month for small and big screens in our house, but I did finally sit down with my husband and we watched The Lost City. It was delightful. I can never make up my mind about Channing Tatum (is he actually ugly? Does it matter, when he’s so funny?) But Sandra Bullock is one of my all time faves and she is glorious. I too would suffer in a glitter onesie. I too hate being outside of my house with all its creature comforts. (I also really, really covet her writing room.) And it goes without saying that DanRad was fantastically chaotic. Five stars out of five. Would watch again.
Books
For reading… having a kindle with a few unread books comes in very handy sometimes, especially when you’re waiting around in hospital with a kid who managed to break two bones in his left leg during the first week of school holidays. I read and enjoyed Something Wilder by Christina Lauren—very consistent writing and the setting was so beautiful, it made me want to go on their treasure trail ride! I also smashed through Dating Dr Dil (it was okay, didn’t love it), absolutely reveled in Book Lovers by Emily Henry (run, don’t walk!) And then idled my way through Book of Night by Holly Black.
For audiobooks, I have been loving revisiting The Hunger Games, narrated by Tatiana Maslany, and I finished Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones (narrated by Kristen Atherton). Something really magical happens when I have enough time to spend doing a big project with a book in my ears. I get so much done and I get to lose myself in the process. Win, win, win.
Podcasts
Not much new on the podcast front for me, but I do recommend checking out Jen V’s amazing other podcast, A Tardis of One’s Own.
Craft Stuff
I’m still cross-stitching in my “free” moments, but I will start quilting again soon. I’ve got one due for a show and now that I’ve set up my sewing space, I’m keener than ever to get back into my long-neglected hobby!
Music
2005 me is super chuffed that Bloc Party’s latest album is also a banger very much in the spirit of Silent Alarm. Good running music, so far!
Interesting Reads
I found this oral history of the making of Magic Mike a fascinating read!
And this article about how we pay for things twice absolutely blew my mind. (And it certainly made me look at my TBR pile differently. Right. Time to get serious about getting through it.)
I came across this article and it felt really interesting and really relevant, especially to people who plan to share a home and a life (not romantically). It talks about the need not only for a contract, but covenant. (In short: what do we owe to each other? And what can we do to be good to each other?)
Well, that’s it for me this month. I’m going to take advantage of the end of school holidays by trying not to miss my kids, and instead take my husband out for lunch at the food court. (We’re fancy.) Have a wonderful rest of July. You’ve parked on the downhill slope; the year is over halfway done. Onward!