The BLUGH: June 21, 2023
“Well, there’s so much to read, and I’m so far behind.”
So many good books!! So little time! I chose Wallace Stegner as the quote source because apparently he writes about coming to the understanding that you can’t have all that you want in life as you get older/become an adult. At least that is what I took from Jeremy Strong’s description of The Spectator Bird in his GQ interview. I love Jeremy Strong.
I felt VERY adult when I sat down to write today’s BLUGH. A few adult things that I did recently:
I made a real dinner for myself (many times I just do popcorn and wine but tonight I made a real meal🥲!). Huge.
I am planning a wedding! It’s a little 🤢 but also 🥰 and also 😱. Overall feels very adult but ALSO I feel like a child because I have ✨no idea what I’m doing✨
I was going to apply self tanner a couple days ago but when I went to put it on, the product came out green. Young, immature, and naive Justina would have persevered, hoping that green foam would become golden upon touching her skin. Wise, adult, experienced Justina tossed the outdated and expired self tanning formula. It also smelled like rotten cotton candy.
I am producing a show!! It’s very 🤫hush hush🤫 right now but I am very excited to share it with the BLUGH soon. I am ready to be an adult and just motherflipping produce a show because it’s something I’ve wanted since I was a child (age 32 or so).
So yeah, just being a grown up. But worry not, I still slip up. Despite subscribing to newsletters like the skint to stay caught up, I am the queen of finding out about goings on in NY after they have taken place. The latest example? Apparently there was a Franchise Expo earlier this month. That would have been so cool to go to!!!!! But it’s ok. Next year. P.S., I heard of this from a newsletter: Café Anne!
💚LEARNING OF THE WEEK: This one is kind of sad. Behind every meme, there is a real person. And the man behind one of my favorites recently passed. NPR, of all outlets, wrote a very nice article about him!💚
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION
NOT JUST FOR TEACHERS. I feel like maybe I am very late to the party here but do you guys know about Erin Condren notebooks and planners? They’re legit and she always has some new, interesting designs. I love a notebook to write ideas in and also to keep track of what is happening in my life! She used to have the “Perpetual” collection which was just this very slim, one line a day planner to keep track quickly of events. Great for people like me who want to remember lyfe events but struggle with full on journaling. Alas, currently not on the website but there are alternatives elsewhere.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Being a grown up is overrated, so read a book meant for young adults. Ender’s Game is SO GOOD I COULD NOT BEAR IT. It’s a sci-fi classic and if you don’t think sci-fi is for you, I still urge (urge!!!) you to give this a shot. PICTURE IT: it’s the weekend, it’s raining but you are cozy inside and want to make the most of this rare block of free time. You look around your apartment and make a mental to do list of the things you need to clean, the papers you need to organize, the people you need to call. But then you spy it: Ender’s Game, a book you purchased at the recommendation of the BLUGH. You think, “this is silly, it was written in the 1980s for children. How puerile!”. You walk away to call your uncle (it’s his birthday). But then you turn back. “Oh a couple of pages couldn’t hurt!” you mumble to yourself as you begrudgingly pick up the small paperback. Next thing you know, you put the fully read book down, exhilarated by the experience of reading such a brilliant, hopeful, and meaningful volume. But wait! It’s dark outside! The day is over! You forgot to call your uncle on his birthday! You frantically dial knowing that he might pick up since he’s a night owl. And of course he does. “Hello dear!” he exclaims coyly as if it’s not his birthday. Silly, wonderful man. “Happy birthday, Uncle Orson! I’m so sorry for calling so late. I was reading this amazing book. It’s called Ender’s Game, have you heard of it?” Silence on the other end of the line and then, “why, **insert your name**, indeed I have. Did you like it?”. You then wax lyrical for 30+ minutes about the virtues of the book. After some time, you end your pleasant catch up with your uncle and say goodnight. You go to bed, knowing you spent the day in the best way you possibly could by reading that amazing—wait. WAIT. Uncle…Orson…you reach for the book you read all day. Ender’s Game, by ORSON SCOTT CARD….Your uncle…is…Orson Scott Card. You call your brother and ask him if he knew your uncle was Orson Scott Card. Sure enough, he did. Everyone knows that. He’s kind of famous. How could you not know that, sis? You tell your brother that he doesn’t have to be so high and mighty about this. He apologizes because he’s been working on it. You tell him it’s ok and say your goodbyes. You put the phone down, get up, and walk to the window where you stare out your window into the vast expanse of stars, the setting for Ender’s Game. It’s been an impactful day. You vow to learn all your family member’s full names, write them down in an Erin Condren notebook so you know if any of them are famous authors before you give them a birthday call. It’s what Ender would want.
❌NO TIKTOKS❌
GO READ A BOOK! Jkjkjkjkjk. 4 real tho, I have to detox a bit from the ol’ scroll scroll scroll scroll. As previously established, too many books to read.
JUNE 2023
A Meal Fit For a BLUGH
Here’s that adult meal I mentioned earlier. Want to be an adult like me? Recipe here (originally of Milk Street but they make you pay so thank you to this man in Houston).