Azilal Rugs

and a bathroom

(not Azilali)

Iconic Women

These two are such forces for good in the world- both savvy in the ways they have trusted their instincts, using their humane wisdom and personal authenticity to powerfully connect with others, their way of being as much an art form as their songwriting, each a rare combo of grit and grace.

As a footnote: Dolly asked TnT for their firstborn child on their wedding day. I think Parton Kelce has a ring to it ("Par" for short).

Do I Only Like Canadian Shows Now?!

 

I am a sucker for a good YA series...

The Charms Of Tuscany

 

My first memories are from a six-week trip to Tuscany with my parents to visit friends when I was two years old. I remember riding a red tricycle on a dirt road. I remember an adult in a tin foil mask. I remember laughing with Sasha while cramming grapes in our mouths. I remember running after birds across cobblestones-- the whoosh of their wheeling flight.

My mom recently shared with me the journal my parents kept from that trip as well as a letter she received from her mom while in Italy. My parents spoke of the stars and the moon, of layovers spent with family, of gathering mushrooms and late night dinners, of a back thrown out and traveling with a child who wouldn't always sleep in her own bed. My grandmother wrote with humor about the gunman who had asked her to empty the till at work, saying how surprised she was by his attractiveness. Her letter refers to everyone as Mr. and Mrs. throughout.

I returned to Tuscany twice after that... the lapping waters of Venice, a veiled widow all in black, bicycles both slow and fast, the arcades at communist community center in Calci, squash blossom stuffed ravioli and spaghetti al mare, "Posso avere la chiave per la camera undici, per favore?" and the welcome tang of an Ethiopian meal.

Villa Coco captures the deep charm of this place in time-- its specificity is a transporting delight.

After A Cold Plunge

Our girl, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, has done it again.

The Other Bennet Sister

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that women in want of a Jane Austen adaptation are compelled to watch all those they find...

In this case (an adaptation of a riff on Pride and Prejudice), a win:

With delightful choices made throughout,

the series is better than the book in my opinion.

Heresy, I know.

Meanwhile, a riff on Emma just came out which looks promising (another reclamation of a maligned peripheral character in the original novels)...

The World Cup Delivers

 

Cape Verde's population is 530,000 making it the smallest nation as well as the oldest starting line up to ever make it to the knock out rounds in the World Cup. Cape Verde recruited Lopes for the national team via a LinkedIn message which he initially dismissed as spam. Cape Verde's team captain and goalkeeper, Vozinha, is forty years old. Unfortunately, visa and financial challenges kept his mother from watching him play from the stands. 

And then (as postscript) there was Argentina's next game, against Egypt...

And then (as further postscript) there's this story as Argentina heads into the final with Spain (Cape Verde is the only team Spain hasn't beaten so far):

These connections between Messi and Lamine Yamal are wild. I love when fact is stranger (and more moving) than fiction.

It's a great World Cup when easy-to-dismiss games end up being bonkers.

¡¡Vamos!!