I wanted to make a short video so I bought a refurbished camcorder. But it turns out you don’t just buy a camcorder. You also need to buy 18 accessories, and they’re all specific to that camcorder, so don’t you get the wrong 18 parts now! It’s been a steep learning curve, as I’m not tech-savvy at all. For reference, I just learned google docs last year. I used to think once something went into the google drive, it could never be found again, unless by extreme luck. This week, I’ve been watching a lot of youtube tutorials on camcorders, and it’s kind of affirming my faith in the human race. These people are so helpful. And for no pay, no glory, no fame. Altruism has been found, and it’s in the how-to section of youtube dot com. Plus, it doesn’t escape me how advanced these individuals are. See, they’ve managed to figure out a second camera just to record their tutorial on the first camera. Incredible and inspiring.
Passions this week include: the smell of Chips Deluxe, spaghetti, and a calm genre of books.
How is the smell of Chips Deluxe so good and the taste of Chips Deluxe just fine? I don’t know what kind of mischief those elves are up to, but they’ve figured out one of the best smells this country has to offer. It’s warm, chocolatey, and perfect. It reminds me of when I used to eat meat, and one time to celebrate something, my friend and I took ourselves to Outback Steakhouse. We each got a steak, and I remember thinking that the steak tasted exactly like steak was supposed to taste. It was so on the nose I kinda felt bad for the baked potato. But I don’t know how else to say it: the steak was too steak. The cookie is too cookie. Reality is slipping from my grasp.
Damn, I love spaghetti. I just had some right before I wrote this newsletter, and it’s so good, it’s making the passions. Congrats to spaghetti. Nothing beats a big fork spin of that stuff.
I’m reading an Agatha Christie book, and so far, it’s just been descriptions of a nice hotel where all the old people in town come to have afternoon tea. I just heard about another book called Legends and Lattes where it’s the low-stakes daily goings-on of a coffee shop run by high-fantasy creatures. I plan to read that one next. I’m really finding solace in this sub-genre of literature where people are peacefully eating and drinking together. However, I think this Agatha Christie one is unfortunately about to take a turn. There is a gun on the cover.
And now some from the readers…
Sandy: “Does anyone but me care about the way the toilet paper is placed on the holder? I always preferred the paper coming from the back of the roll. It looked so much neater...formal in a way. Then I purchased toilet holders that are in the shape of an L and attached to the wall, rather than a cylinder that fits into a wall holder. This change makes it so much more difficult to pull the paper if the loose end is behind rather then coming over the top. If you pull too hard, it causes the holder to become askew. So I am stuck getting used to the new sloppy-looking roll which is similar to a shirt not being tucked in. And although many people have learned to turn this opportunity into a contest for making decorative flowers or other shapes from the loose end, I just can't do it.”
Will: “I'm passionate about theme songs. The TV show theme song is of course the ultimate classic but now we have podcast theme songs too! What a joy. They are so catchy and sometimes explain the premise of the show (a treat!). The best is when it's for your favorite show and you hear those first few notes hit and get a chill of excited anticipation for what is to come.”
If you have a passion you want to share, all you need to do is reply to this email with a sentence or two about why you love it.
Also, the first book signing for Murder on Sex Island at the Mysterious Bookshop got canceled cuz the books never arrived, but I got a new date, Thursday, November 16 from 6-7pm. 58 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007, and I’m really hopeful the books will arrive by then! Stop by!
Your pal,
Jo