Weekly Journal 4.19.26

Reading

As predicted, I set aside Salt and pivoted to a book I was more excited about reading. That book is To Catch a Fascist by Christopher Mathias, which I picked up at Powell's a few weeks ago. It's immersive, journalistic, and extremely relevant (published just this year). I'm horrified and inspired by it in equal measure, as it describes horrific behavior by neo-Nazis and the dogged efforts of good people to expose and ostracize them.

On the Web, I'm starting to explore the world of literary journals and magazines with an eye to submitting my writing for publication. I find it difficult to concentrate on reading their currently published work when I am scanning it to analyze how my own style does or doesn't fit; it's like listening to another person speak while all you can think about is how you're going to respond. But I really did read, and like, this warm little essay called "The Studio."

Watching

I'm excited that Hacks has returned, especially since The Pitt is now done for the season. I truly love watching a great performance by a woman actor like Jean Smart. (My other favorite in this category was Rachel Griffiths on Six Feet Under.) I don't adore Meg Stalter as much as all the critics seem to, but I do agree with the pejorative everybody that Robby Hoffman is very funny. As I'm writing this on Saturday night, I remember that I'm behind on the latest episode because I watched The Pitt instead on Thursday night, and spent Friday evening at urgent care with my son.

I started Dan Levy's Big Mistakes. It's sharp and funny, although I'm still recovering from my frustration in Episode 1 when Dan's character couldn't just take the damn necklace off of Nonna's body before everyone walked in.

Cooking

Last weekend I decided it was time for brownies, so I made The Brownie Recipe that was all over Reddit a few years ago. I've made them before. Mine never have the smoothy, glossy top layer seen in that Reddit photo, maybe because I use an egg substitute to accommodate my son's allergy. This batch also puffed up extraordinarily high around the edges of the pan, then sank in the middle, leaving a ridge with a charcoal-like texture. The interior was good but not amazing.

Doing

My son had a major asthma exacerbation that led to me picking him up from school late Friday morning. He is still recovering from it after two visits to urgent care. Friday's on-call pediatrician was about ready to send him to the hospital. It's too recent and scary for me to say much about it, but he's doing well now.

At the doctor's office, my fitness watched buzzed me with an admonishment that I haven't moved as much this week. I think I accidentally raised its expectations last week, when I reached my 8,000-steps goal two days in a row after years of averaging much fewer. The watch thinks I can do better. I should be more like my watch.

Listening

My son's new favorite movie is Shrek. I remember watching Shrek with my college boyfriend, laughing at its barely hidden dirty jokes and appreciating its soundtrack, which was unusually cool for a cartoon movie. There's a great montage of Shrek and Princess Fiona falling in love, set to "My Beloved Monster" by Eels. I happen to love just about everything Eels has put out.