The List: 5 Tiny Pleasures
A weekly round-up of things I like. I don't make money from any of these and I'm not the boss of you, but I've added links in case you want to check them out.
It’s early January in central Texas, and between the cold weather, the hostile cedar pollen, and the return of Ye Olde Stage 5 COVID restrictions, it’s been a good week to explore the comforts of home.
LISTENING: In the episode “The Science of Quitting” on the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, the host and cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar talks with Annie Duke about the underrated benefits of knowing when to fold ‘em. Mind-blowing quote comes from Ken Kamler, Mt. Everest expedition doctor: "People forget when they're climbing Everest that the goal of Everest is not to get to the summit. The goal is to get back down to the base of the mountain."
READING: I’m just finishing the novel The Trees, by Percival Everett. It’s a wholly unique mystery, comedy, and potent cultural critique about a series of highly weird murder scenes that you’d think would exclude humor, but Everett sticks the landing with poetic grace. Do good in the world and buy it from an independent bookseller like Lark and Owl in Georgetown or Book People in Austin.
WATCHING: The pandemic introduced me to serious watching of what my parents called “the idiot box.” They strictly limited my sisters’ and my screen time before screen time was a concept. It’s not like I don’t watch TV, but I never developed the habit of watching things that need to be followed sequentially. After Mike and I had belatedly binged The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and the other usual suspects, my college-aged son and former serious high school athlete recently recommended Last Chance U (seasons 1-2). I’d seen the Netflix documentary series on just about every “best of” list, but the premise didn’t sound appealing: troubled college football players at a tiny JuCo in Mississippi try to redeem their careers. I gave it one episode, though, and I was hooked. Season 3 starts at a new college and I’ll be starting the first episode tonight.
DRINKING: As a life-long tea drinker, I was late to the the coffee game but I am now not only addicted to my legal stimulant, but a snob about it. Starbucks? Over-roasted? Most restaurant coffee? Brown water. The perfect cup, I am proud to say, comes from Austin’s own Ruta Maya. It’s a chocolatey elixir of the gods that makes me smarter. I look forward to going to bed knowing that I’ll get to drink it when I wake up.
SMELLING: I love good smells and working from home makes me especially appreciative of home fragrances like Calyan Wax Co.’s candles. They’re 100% soy wax, phthalate-free, US-made, vegan, non-toxic, and they smell GREAT. Currently sniffing: Aspen + Fog. Swoon.