The rumors are true, it is in fact Leyna Day, or Leynaversary if you so prefer (because for those of you who don’t already know, it’s also my parents' anniversary)!
I don’t want to write up something too sweet about her because I’m afraid she’ll punch me, but Leyna really is the embodiment of June. Similar to March’s “in like a lion out like a lamb,” June, in Michigan especially, starts strong and leaves so serene. Her gemini sun comes in opinionated and aggressive, but in certain lights you’ll see that her hard outer shell is somewhat transparent: a glimpse of her soft cancer moon and 8th house stellium. We’re good for each other I think: yin and yang through way of bringing out the other’s more hidden attributes. And I owe her a lot—from being the one to introduce me to everything from Superbad to Mark Rothko, to being able to facetime her at the drop of a hat and word vomit the craziest thing you’ve ever heard and have her understand it whole-heartedly. I don’t want to give her too much credit, because I wouldn’t be me without any of my family members, but what people say about having a cool eldest sister really does ring true. Thank god she didn’t disown me for copying her everyday of our youth.
ANYWAY, enough of that:
What have you been reading?
If you can believe it, I already finished reading Fruit of the Dead, which was soooo quick for me! I honestly can’t pinpoint why it was such a fast read—I really enjoyed it, but not so much that I couldn’t put it down per se, I was just locked in for some reason. Partially I was really trying to be on my phone less, so that did help, but I’m amazed that I was actually able to. The book had a dream-like quality at parts, which I enjoyed as a small nod to the original mythological story. The descriptions of drug use and hangovers are so tangible at moments that when I’d stop reading I found that I was taking on the physical feelings, almost having to remind myself I wasn’t high or hungover. But it’s done in a way that you aren’t even aware of—you just absorb it unconsciously—which kind of boggled my mind.
Then I started The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa after searching BookTok for a recommendation that would make me feel the way I Who Have Never Known Men did. Coincidentally, after reading that book I compared it to my favorite book: Never Let Me Go by Kuzuo Ishiguro, and crazy enough I found a video that said Never Let Me Go, I Who Have Never Known Men, and The Memory Police are “the dystopian novel holy trinity.” This of course made me immediately go buy The Memory Police so I could finish out the trifecta. Can’t wait to report back whether I agree.
Have you made any exciting purchases?
Tried on about 20 things right on the street the other day and got a couple of perfect vintage items: this fun lil flouncy red dress and delightful primary-colored-plaid wool vest.
What are you looking forward to?
Knowing how much I’m gonna giggle this weekend while visiting my sister (Mirn! I forget you guys know her now) and sister-in-law (Care!) in Boston. Also tbh always looking forward to my Amtrak ride up there so I can dramatically stare out the window and have A Think.
What have you been listening to?
Pretty much just Soul Survivor by Jeezy and Akon on repeat. JK I was actually spoiled with new music on Friday between Sufjan’s 10th anniversary release of Carrie and Lowell and Miley’s new album Something Beautiful (both perfect!).
I did listen to a few other albums, but most importantly Closing Time by Tom Waits. Haven’t listened to this in a couple of years but what an incredible album. Probably about four years ago exactly I went on one single date with some guy who told me to listen to I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You, and BOY did my world change. Sorry to this man I don’t even remember his name but shoutout to him for giving me Tom Waits.
What’s been inspiring you?
Are you watching anything good on tv or at the movies?
Yesterday I went and saw The Phoenician Scheme (I can’t lie, the best part of living in a big city is early access to movies), which I loved. Like every other bitch who went to art school I love Wes Anderson. But even more so I’m obsessed with Michael Cera, who’s presence we’ve been graced with in the movie. Both of these things can be on my list of what I owe to Leyna because the latter obsession probably started after seeing Superbad for the first time (or maybe Juno, I’m not sure), and the former started around the same time when Leyna took me to see Moonrise Kingdom in theaters when I was in the seventh grade—which, not to be dramatic, altered the course of my life. So yeah, despite the fact that I didn’t fully understand the movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The vibes were, quite literally, immaculate. Besides bug-obsessed Michael Cera, my favorite part has to be either the basketball scene or the bejeweled pipe.
What’s the silliest thing you did this week?
Or rather, what’s the silliest thing that happened to you this week? For me it was someone I’ve never met coming up to me at a party, and saying something along the lines of “oh, ellie! you’re the worm girl!”……… my reputation precedes me! Leyna taught me how to do the worm when I was 5 and I fear she regrets it every time I drunkenly do it, so today my gift to her is NOT doing the worm.
Happy Leyna Day to all and to all a good night!