Returnist Recs: 12
Three moments worth visiting or revisiting this weekend...
“Surprise and delight” may be a Steve Jobs-popularized marketing concept, but it’s also a lovely conceptual duo in the context of a regular ol’ week. More moments that catch me off guard and leave me smiling or bopping or breathing a sigh of satisfaction, please. Here are few highlights from my week in hopes that they may surprise and delight you, too:
Mable John. Over dinner the other night, Adam was shining in the soundtrack department. He’s got impeccable taste and encyclopedic knowledge, which makes for an adventure every time. We wandered through from Baby Huey to Little Willy John and then this self-assured, poetically matter-of-fact, soulful blues voice floated into my ears and had me swaying as I made my way through some salmon. Mable, who happens to be the sister of Little Willy John, tapped right into my center. She now occupies a spot high on my list and maybe she’ll make it onto yours, too.
Carrot ginger soup. My neighbor, Jennifer (formerly of snail mucin fame and beloved member of the dog play date crew), dropped off a few things out of the blue the other night. A couple of soups, some fancy saltines, nuts, and treats from Erewhon that she picked up on her way home. A surprise and delight indeed, and a welcome respite. We’re diving into the green soup later today, but holy cannoli the carrot ginger was exactly what I needed. It’s simple, flavorful, and everything you need in a pinch. No Erewhon? No worries. Maybe this is a rec for soup, or maybe for having wildly thoughtful neighbors… or quite possibly both.
Post-brunch walks. We made our first “actually going to a restaurant” outing in nearly 6 weeks today to meet up with my wonderful friend, Michael. Any time he is in town, getting together is essential - the conversation flows deep and wide with plenty of laughs. Sometimes the table is cleared but the docket of topics is still in progress, so Michael suggested a walk around the block (as he often does). It’s the perfect night cap… er… day cap? The ideal petit fours to wrap up the catch up meal when you’re just not ready to say goodbye.
And because I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to this list of recs, here are a few more favorites that are in heavy rotation these days:
My “inside shoes” because I am needs-arch-support-to-run-around-the-house-and-fold-laundry-or-make-dinner years old.
The salve I have in at least three rooms for any moment requiring a little balm or moisture.
A trailer for season 2 of one of my favorite shows, Nobody Wants This. You now know what I’ll be up to on October 23rd. So go catch up on season 1 so we can talk about it.