A Photo I Made:
Shot with the trusty child’s toy-turned hipster’s delight— the Diana F+— this image delighted me because I find double exposures elusive and intimidating.
For the uninitiated, a double exposure is made by exposing the same frame of film twice, often with two different subjects. Or, if you’re of the digital persuasion, you can make them in photoshop.
This particular two-fer was made on a very hot day in Philadelphia (as evidenced by the swimming figure located about one third from the right of the frame and one third up from the bottom). Logan Circle sits just in front of Philadelphia’s main library and is graced with an excellent fountain that is clearly labeled “NO SWIMMING” which Philadelphians give zero fucks about. On my walk down the parkway moments earlier, I shot a view looking up into some tree branches and at the Comcast building.
Something I’m Thinking About:
Speaking of things I made—I made my first cheesecake last week and then very low-key decided to make a ganache to top it with, so this may be my time to delve into baking. We’re working our way through the Great British Baking Show on Netflix, and I am fully aware that I’m about three years late to the big baking craze brought on by the start of the pandemic. This is very on-brand for me: A person who obsessed over Nicki Minaj’s hit 2010 album, Pink Friday, for the entirety of 2014. If you have any recipes for baked goods that have changed your life, I invite you to come at me with them.
Something That’s Happening:
It’s been raining for several days straight here, which is absolutely contributing to the baking desires. That’s it. That’s what’s happening.
Something I’m Writing:
I’m back on my humor writing kick thanks to this class with Luke Burns and an incredible one-on-one I had with Caitlin Kunkel. If you’re a writer and feeling a bit lost and have the resources to do so, I can’t recommend reaching out to work with her enough. She’s an excellent teacher, organizer, and hype-woman.
Something I’m Reading:
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, isn’t a book I’d choose for myself, but it was my book club’s fervent pick. It’s approximately a million pages long and full of striking storytelling and beautiful writing. I can’t tell you exactly why I’m not completely in love with it, because it’s a really lovely piece of work, but maybe your girl’s tastes are more fart jokes and satire than beautiful stories that make you weep (if you know something that is both/all of these things you must tell me now. It’s law).
Looking Back:
I’ve just passed the six month mark on publishing these substacks and THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING THEM! I get so pumped when I get a text, a DM, a comment from someone saying, “Hey I saw that thing you wrote!”. It makes my whole nerdy lil’ heart soar, so thanks for being here while I continue to suss out what this is all about. It’s still in heavy evolution mode, but I’m so glad you’re here for the ride.
Looking Forward:
I’m delighted to tell you that I have very little planned for the remainder of the year. I hope to start teaching yoga online (and maybe in person?!) again, re-find my rhythm of working and writing, get outside as much as I can, and generally settle in to my new home. What’s your Fall and Winter looking like?
Pink Friday never went out of style. It’s the first week of actual cold weather in Philly and I’m so happy about it.
I love that photo!! I am with you -- it feels like the fall/winter is time to hibernate for a little while, and I'm excited to do that when we're back in the midwest. Also -- I love GBBO so much!! This makes me want to do a rewatch!