Attic thoughts v. 27
highs and lows, millennial math, too much nutella, a saint to root for, a very MD 4th, then and now, activating bedtime mode
Welcome to this nearly-every-Friday newsletter: “Attic Thoughts” - a chatty check in inspired by some lines from Antonia Fraser’s memoir, “I would define happiness as being alone in a room in a house full of people.” So, less Woolf’s ‘Room of One’s Own’, more ‘Jo March’s attic.’
Please feel free to say hi in the comments - I love book/movie recs, general updates, hearing anything on your mind! Thanks for being here x
I’m coming down from a week of raucous lovely socializing.
Thanks to the generosity of my hosting Dad we enjoyed many dinners out and food ordered in and high class wines around the table. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, my former German au pair was in town with her family and we had an absolute blast hanging out with them. We stayed up late and played F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Clue (if you visit, I WILL make you play Clue), we went to a very fancy restaurant and my heel broke off as we walked out so I ran out barefoot before anyone noticed (naturally!). We went to an Irish pub and reminisced about things only we could remember, explored local haunts, watched soccer (go Belgium, boo USA under the circumstances), went on walks, cracked crabs, cooked some very fancy aged beef, rode horses, and watched the sun set over the prettiest hills you can imagine.
But considering “bedtime mode” on my phone kicks on at 8pm you can imagine this means I’m tired! We have some overstimulated kids who have been staying up too late, an absolutely barnacle-like three year old, and today, A SHATTERED COOKTOP thanks to my butter fingers dropping a pot on it. This cooktop is not even 3 months old, not paid off, and not covered by warranty! Yippee!!
Less than 24 hours ago I was feeling warm with wine and good vibes, thinking about trips to Iceland and Germany, barn renovations, who knows! the world was our oyster, and why not! and now I feel exhausted and glum! I’ve just eaten Nutella toast (again) which I regret and I’m just waiting for my 3 year old to start yelling MAMAAAAA! and my husband has spent the day getting various pricey quotes from contractors.
So basically what I’m saying is there’s a lot of highs and lows and really it’s all fine and nothing terrible, but I’m in the mood for a cup of tea (wait, can’t boil water, cool) and an early night in.
Let’s hop into a couple of thoughts…
Best news - KL fans rejoice!
I spent a solid 30 minutes going through this account and I don’t regret it at all. If you were born in the late 80s/early nineties, I think you will have a lot of core memories unlocked…
Also: Millennial math. It’s so real.
Had such a good chat with Sarah Carter about The Testament of Ann Lee, female eros, spirituality, embodied faith, ‘buttoned up’ Catholicism (hi, I’m the problem, it’s me), the validity of personal revelations, and even contraception and the Church (is this even tenable??)! The full conversation is here for paid subscribers. Thank you so much to those of you who support my work and validate the very real effort it takes to keep this going. And thank you again to Sarah for talking with me - make sure you follow her at Recovering Catholic and Pope Leo Weekly ! (Also you all like Lives? They're fun, let's do more!)
This is happening in Iceland RIGHT NOW. Every two years. If you don’t think I’ll be there Summer 2028, you’re crazy.
I finished Yellowface by R.F. Kuang on Gina’s recommendation. I really enjoyed it. I flew through it and read it pretty compulsively. Some of it was difficult reading. It’s jaded and dark and a bit of a nightmare, but it also raises many important questions about authorship, publishing, art, validation, success, and friendship. I think it’s pretty bleak in it’s outlook (or at least very cynical) but it was a good read.
Other than that, I’m seeing if I can find some time to get on a stair stepper or sauna myself back into a good mood. Maybe I'll stop eating chocolate toast on repeat. The usual.
Wishing everyone a joyful, jumping, jolly July!
(my kids are into alliteration at the moment if you can’t tell)
x Katie
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FROM THE ARCHIVES —-
I hate children's museums
We walk into the “museum” to the sounds of shrieks and yells. For all my life, museums have represented calm, cool, quiet places - art, cafes, tapestries, maybe (if I was feeling adventurous), some space rocket replicas. But here it is loud. The walls are bright and yellow and everything looks vaguely sticky. There is some sort of horrific, deadly-looki…
between mystery and justice
If you search for the definition of “mystery” you will find at least two, and they are seemingly at odds with one another:
You likely know this but I flew Iceland air recently and found out you can “stay over” in Iceland for free when you fly with them. Basically it’s an extended layover (up to 7 days) on your way somewhere else (say, Germany?). Their ticket prices were totally reasonable too!
Exciting news about Sigred Undset!