Present Joys: Group hangs, toasted oats, adoption and mixed fruits
Week of February 11, 2025
Group Hangs 🌼
One-on-one hangs are my comfort zone. I love that conversations can–at least for me–more easily span topics both shallow and deep. Lately, though, I’ve found enjoyment from spending time with groups. There’s a certain dynamism that exists within a group setting which floods me with joy. At the very best, a group hang can feel like an exquisite choreography where each person is uniquely and perfectly cast, and I feel lucky to simply be a part. I came across the below passage in Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, and immediately scribbled it in my journal with the note “This!” and three hearts.
And so it happened again, the daily miracle whereby interiority opens out and brings to bloom the million-petalled flower of being here, in the world, with other people. Neither as hard as she had thought it might be nor as easy as it appeared.
Halvorson’s Cleaners’ Snack du jour
I like to peek into my local dry cleaners’ window simply to see what snack has been selected to graze on that week. More often than not, there will be a bag of something from Trader Joe’s (conveniently located across the street) perched beside the window at Halvorson’s Cleaners. My snooping informs me that tortilla chips are favored, with Quinoa and Black Bean infused Tortilla Chips being the most recent pick.
Toasted Oats
recently posted her recipe for a cozy bowl of Miso Oats over on her Substack, read, eat, repeat. I love savory oatmeal and often make a similar version where I cook the oats in water steeped with kombu. My interest was piqued upon her recommendation to pre-toast the oats in ghee–a step I’d never once considered but now cannot go without. If you’re game for one extra step in your morning routine, you’ll be rewarded with a toasty, buttery breakfast that’s both satisfying and satiating.
Doggy Date Kismet
Over the weekend, Van and I went for our usual stroll through the Arroyo Seco Trail. For whatever reason, we always take residential streets on the walk back and I’m so glad we stuck to the script. We neared our neighbors Sarah & Lizzie’s house right as they were pulling into their driveway. They also have a mini dachshund and excitedly exclaimed that we should join them for a playdate with some fellow dachshund owners. We had only met Sarah & Lizzie once in passing and were newly introduced to their friends, Candy and Bridgette. I knew the doggos would get along, but I was so pleased that camaraderie came easy for the pup parents as well. Perhaps I’m unfairly outweighing a few instances, but I’ve had conversations with neighbors where inappropriate or racist remarks were dropped with such swift stealth that I’m left dumbfounded. Thankfully, there was no careful treading around topics this weekend. Laughs were shared, mutual interests were uncovered, and any lulls in conversation were alleviated by gazing at our goofy little dogs.
Personalized Google Maps
Van and I are headed to Japan tomorrow(!) and I’m well-equipped with multiple Google Maps so thoughtfully compiled by my friends Aya and Nancy. Upon opening these maps, I was touched to discover that personalized notes were written for each location. I’ve always felt slightly allergic to strangers’ recommendations of what I must do on a trip when they know nothing about me or my interests, so to receive these maps felt so special. I’m certain joys abound in Japan and will be sure to share–til next time!
Adopting Whisper
To absolutely no one’s surprise but my own, we adopted Whisper, the 10 y.o. American Pit Bull Terrier we were fostering. He’s the cutest boy and I’m 100% team pitty now. There are other pups at Pasadena Humane who need a home in case anyone is looking to fall in love before Valentine’s Day.
Supporting Altadena
This year has been very difficult for Altadena and it’s even harder to know what to do to help. It sometimes feels that small efforts are inconsequential, but I have to believe that perhaps, in sum, they make a difference. What is really cool is that we can all support in so many different ways over time. Some things I have done and am looking forward to doing to support Altadena: checking in with neighbors, donating to GoFundMes (like the one for my yoga teacher Sam), dining at Woon’s new spot on Washington, shopping at Armen Market IRL and Altadena Bev online, being a good neighbor at Good Neighbor bar, buying a beautiful print to support Fyer, volunteering at Pasadena Humane and generally trying to remain present with the community. It would be nice to know of what everyone else is doing, has done, or is interested in doing and perhaps how we can do it together? Contributing what we can financially feels important, but so does showing up in other ways. I’d like to work on this.
Ad Hoc Journaling
Joyce bought me this beautiful journal which I’ve been using like an as-needed prescription for anxiety. I’ve been writing in it at night on the nights I don’t feel so great and it’s been really effective; three minutes of writing (because that’s all these millennial hands can bear) does the trick.
Courage in place of Fear
I really enjoyed this note from the Marc Jacobs Spring 25 show. I’ve been thinking a lot about fear, but I’ve never thought about it as a companion to creativity. I’m grateful for this re-frame.
Mixed Fruits
I love when things are made into a size much larger, or much smaller, than you ever anticipated to experience. All the fruit leather from Armen Market is amazing, but this one holds a special, joyful place in my heart not only for its size, but also for the beautiful way the light shines through it and the fruit pieces make a uniquely edible stained glass panel.
Currently Reading
![Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel [Book]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb791483a-24ac-4cc9-b4a8-b93a28648cc4_1734x2560.jpeg "Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel [Book]")
Wowowow, truly no one like Saunders! I listened to a podcast recently which reflected on the work of David Lynch and the hosts likened Lynch’s oeuvre to the Fast and the Furious franchise in that synopsizing the films to the uninitiated makes you sound batshit crazy. Made me chuckle, but also reminded me of this book. How a simple account of Abraham Lincoln visiting his son’s grave could inspire a story like this is incredible. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a while. There’s so much to unpack around life, death, and what makes a life worth living. It’s also wild to me how what we consume can feel strangely synchronous with our current life. Amidst all the devastation and humanity that the recent LA fires has shed light to, reading the following passage really struck a chord in me:
His mind was freshly inclined toward sorrow; toward the fact that the world was full of sorrow; that everyone labored under some burden of sorrow; that all were suffering; that whatever way one took in this world, one must try to remember that all were suffering (none content; all wronged, neglected, overlooked, misunderstood), and therefore one must do what one could to lighten the load of those with whom one came into contact; that his current state of sorrow was not uniquely his, not at all, but, rather, its like had been felt, would yet be felt, by scores of others, in all times, in every time, and must not be prolonged or exaggerated, because, in this state, he could be of no help to anyone and, given that his position in the world situated him to be either of great help or great heart, it would not do to stay low, if he could help it.
Encouraged to choose to be of great help, to lighten the load, to uplift amidst the sorrow. —Joyce
