11 fixations this week
A collection of news, media + memes I can't stop thinking about...
Last week, Abby and I were reading a comic book and came across the word “fixate.” She’d never heard it before, so I told her what it meant and that conversation inspired this video I posted on Instagram.
I was thinking more about the word “fixate” and realized that I have a LOT of my own fixations…and they fluctuate all the time. Today I’m sharing my top 11 fixations1 of the week below.
My 11 Fixations of the Week
11)The Talented Mr. Ripley
Why yes, I am referring to the 1999 psychological thriller starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwenyth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and an absolute SCENE-STEALING Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I cannot think of a harder-hitting character entrance than this:
The Talented Mr. Ripley was one of those movies I’d just had never seen. I was 16 when it came out and it just always sat on the embarrassingly long “Films I’ve Never Seen” list in my Notes App (along with movies like). Anyway, I watched it when Brad was out of town and I *loved* it. Not only was it pure eye candy (which, duh) but it was also tense and creepy and kept me on edge the whole time. Honestly it was like a more realistic Saltburn mixed with the sexual chemistry of Call Me By Your Name. And now I have to go to Italy immediately.
10) This interaction from Armchair Expert host Dax Shepard and Jonathan Haidt
I’ve yet to read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt because—of course—the mere title of the book gives me anxiety. But I found this specific exchange between Dax and Jonathan on Armchair Expert, quite interesting:
9) The Pitt
I know I’m late to The Pitt party…but holy cow you guys if this show isn’t DOING it for me. The pacing. The writing. The characters (Dr. Melissa King 4eva). It’s technical enough where I believe that this emergency room is real and these are the types of cases and decisions they manage every day, and yet it’s accessible enough that I don’t feel excluded or stupid. I think that is a tough tightrope for writers to walk. And you can tell the creators did everything they could to set this team of actors up for success.
Relatedly:
8) Our “Cougar Unveiling”
Yes, you read that right. Please try to stick with me while I attempt to explain the most bizarre, Parks & Recreation-coded event I’ve ever attended.
On Saturday, April 26, our neighborhood community center held a “Cougar Unveiling.” What is a Cougar Unveiling? It was a family-friendly party and picnic meant to honor the life of a deceased COUGAR that was killed in 2023 on I-394 here in Minneapolis. A city.
In 2023, a cougar was spotted roaming outside of our neighborhood public school. It was eventually struck and killed by a vehicle, which is usually where the story would end. BUT NOT IN MINNEAPOLIS. The Lowry Hill neighborhood raised $12,000 to have the creature taxidermied. For science, I guess?
A FEW THINGS I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT:
This cougar was fucking huge. Seeing it up close was wild and I cannot BELIEVE this animal was just roaming around our neighborhood.
This was a party! There was face painting, balloon animals, crafts, a scavenger hunt, refreshments, and a naturalist who came to answer questions about the cougar. Our local ice cream store developed their OWN UNIQUE FLAVOR for the event (“Cougar Tracks”).
This whole event was GIVING Lil Sebastian and Brad and I spent the whole morning cracking up.
Here are some photos of my daughters absolutely LIVING for this bizarre party:
7) Charlotte Stone
I got served an ad for this brand of shoes called Charlotte Stone and goodness me, why did nobody tell me about this designer before? I love every pair of shoes on their website. I want ALL of them. So far I’ve resisted temptation because wow they are not in the budget…and yet…they make me so happy.
6) The Valley
While it’s shot exclusively in the sun on 100+ degree days in L.A., The Valley is DARK this season. If you’re unfamiliar with Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules spinoff/reality show, The Valley, congratulations. You are classier (better) than me. Honestly this season has me in a bit of a moral dilemma. While Jax Taylor is entertaining, I’m having a hard time watching his kiddo get caught in the cross-fire. Nick Viall had Producer Alex Baskin on his podcast The Viall Files last week and I appreciated this exchange:
Nick: As fans it’s a bit hypocritical for us to judge all these people while enjoying the show…it’s like we want the drama, but then we have the nerve to judge people for really opening up and sharing their lives with us. My question to you, as a producer of these shows is…how do you work through that as a human being, as your job, as a father and at the same time letting this play out and letting these people be who they want to be on-camera?
Alex: It’s hard. It’s changed a little bit through the years because I just think, as a society, years ago the idea was, “Well, we’re just documenting what’s happening” and the idea was to be more hands-off…but there is a responsibility in certain situations, certainly not to heighten what is happening if there’s a dangerous situation—we definitely intervene there. But obviously we do have personal feelings; I never want to be that anesthetized that when I’m watching a show I’m making I feel nothing. It’s people’s real lives. So on the one hand, it’s a lot to reconcile but it’s not that hard to balance because if we think someone is in jeopardy or needs our help, we really are much more responsible than people want to believe. It’s tough with the fandom, though. The fans do want it both ways. If the show is light and fluffy, they want blood. And then if they see something very hard-hitting, they think it’s too heavy or it’s incumbent on [the producers] to make everything alright in the world.
I’m tempted to write a whole other article JUST about the ethics of watching The Valley but idk how many of you even watch this or care? And do I really want to give Jax Taylor one more extra teaspoon of attention? TBD on this.
5) The absolute insanity of our government offering a $5,000 “Baby Bonus” plan while also eliminating the CDC's Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance team
I can’t get into this emotionally right now. So here’s a meme:
4) Abigail brought this Shel Silverstein poem with her to school for “Poem in Your Pocket Day”
Little Abigail & the Beautiful Pony, by Shel Silverstein
There was a girl named Abigail
Who was taking a drive through the country with her parents
When she spied a beautiful sad-eyed grey and white pony.
And next to it was a sign that said,
FOR SALE—CHEAP.
“Oh,” said Abigail,
“May I have that pony? May I please?”
And her parents said, “No you may not.”
And Abigail said, “But I MUST have that pony.”
And her parents said, “Well, you can have a nice butter pecan ice cream cone when we get home.”
And Abigail said, “I don’t want a butter pecan ice cream cone, I WANT THAT PONY—I MUST HAVE THAT PONY.”
And her parents said, “Be quiet and stop nagging—you’re not getting that pony.”
And Abigail began to cry and said, “If I don’t get that pony I’ll die.”
And her parents said, “You won’t die. No child ever died yet from not getting a pony.”
And Abigail felt so bad that when she got home she went to bed, and she couldn’t eat, and she couldn’t sleep, and her heart was broken, and she DID die—
All because of a pony that her parents wouldn’t buy.
3) PLAYOFFS Fever/Fun - Go Timberwolves & Caps
Brad and I have had fun watching the Capitals (NHL) and the Timberwolves (NBA) in round 1 of the playoffs. I started making these lil cheat sheets for Brad so he knows when the games are…
2) Season 2, Episode 2 (IYKYK) of The Last of Us
The Last of Us pulled a Red Wedding on Episode 2 of Season 2 and shook me to my core. I’ve been upset about it for over a week, and while I won’t share spoilers here (I’m not a monster), I do appreciate this vague-enough take from one of my favorites on IG because he sums it up perfectly.
1) The Studio
The new Seth Rogan + Evan Goldberg show on Apple TV+ is ruthless and hilarious and wild and stressful and 1000000/10. Bravo to all involved. It’s climbed into my brain and settled nicely into my sub-conscious.
Fair warning that MOST of these fixations are TV-related because I am a Couch Goblin…but in my defense there is so much A+ TV airing right now, I can barelyyyy keep up. Between all the Emmy-darlings (Hacks, The Last of Us, and the *final* season of The Handmaid’s Tale) the newish gems, the reality shows, and the bizarro sci-fi stuff…my TV dance card is full.
omg how did i not hear about this cougar event?! incredible. and the poem 🥹. loved this!
cuyler was working on the comms for the cougar event like "how do I make it sound happy but not TOO happy?" lmaooooo