I really can't wait to see Dune. My husband just watched the first of the recent 2 and I think we may see the 2nd one this weekend because all we have planned is packing for our trip to Clearwater which is next Friday. I'd like to focus on that but a few hours for a movie break is always great.
Hi Jen, so glad to hear you are feeling better. I did get the flu shot the last couple of years, and amazingly, didn't get the flu. Last year I did get a bad cold, but still. Sorry to say I am not a Dune fan. Maybe I should give it a go?
I loved this essay about going out on a date with a friend and meeting new people. I am very much fearful of new things but yet try to make myself do them anyway (well, sometimes), and then of course have the time of my life. Duh. And meeting new people when out on a friend date sounds like a wonderful experience. You expressed the joy and characters of the evening very well! I was right there with you. I hope you found more community tables!
It was a great time, and I’ve collected a few more community table stories since then!
If you want to try Dune, I would skip the book and try the movie. Reading the book is a labor of love for folks who already enjoy science fiction - it’s a bit long and tedious for a mainstream audience.
It was a Matt Dillon restaurant called Sitka and Spruce. In 2008 when I was there it was located in a commercial strip mall on Eastlake, then moved to Capitol Hill. He’s had several restaurants in Seattle - Bar Ferdinand, The London Plane - but I think he’s divested from all of them and is focusing on farming. Coincidentally, he catered my nonprofit fundraising event four years ago today! It was a family style dinner and auction, super delicious.
Glad you are feeling better! The insecurity of being a SAHM is so real, I'm still getting over it. I'm going to play the Dune podcast for my kids, they are obsessed.
A community table sounds like my worst nightmare - but also, I’m willing to imagine it’s not as bad as my worst fears 😆 your story was so sweet.
I loved Dune 1 (never read the books) but I’m working through the graphic novel this week and plan to see the second in theater - probably by myself as my spouse does not do sci fi 🤣
I listened to a bit of one of your episodes and it warmed my heart to hear your whole family together - what a special thing to have and listen back on as your kids grow 💓
So glad you're feeling better, Jen! 'Dining with Strangers' - hilarious, brilliant and SO relatable! A terrific post.
I'm behind on my own Substack reading, too, and am delighting in the small stack of Pretend You're Good At It posts which is on my screen right now for my attention at last! Thank you, as always, for giving me such great things to read!
Thank you, Rebecca. I also tend to batch-read newsletters from my favorites (like yours!) They are all so good and I want to make sure your words get my full attention. Have a great week!
Hi. A new fan of yours and mid-binge on your writing here. Commenting to let you know I absolutely love your voice and your words. Also, while nowhere near as huge an accomplishment as mothering, you are LITERALLY A WORKING WRITER!!! I am “only” 26, which does not feel so “only” currently, though I too have a brain that lets me know it is indeed still young, but I mean to say I think I understand the shame/embarrassment bit all too well. We never look the same to ourselves. Just so u know, if I met you at a community dinner table and discovered u were a writer with a successful Substack newsletter to show for it and also a beautiful daughter with the coolest arm tattoo ever (just read your post for her 21st— I meant it when I said I’m mid-binge!!!!!) I’d immediately group up into a camp of too- smart, too-accomplished, Cool and High-Value Strangers out there doing Cool and High-Value things. But you know that!
Anyway, just thought I’d let u know that somewhere out there is a stranger who is both idealizing and idolizing the shit of you, and hopes that I too will one day be in a city somewhere with a good view and good people to invite over and enjoy it with.
Wow, thank you so much for this generous comment. Your encouragement re my writing voice is deeply appreciated.
I know the feeling of 26 feeling young and old at the same time. I was in a weird place at 26 — I was making some super adult decisions but still feeling like a kid who had no idea what she wanted from life.
Thank you for reading, and for taking the time to comment.
I really can't wait to see Dune. My husband just watched the first of the recent 2 and I think we may see the 2nd one this weekend because all we have planned is packing for our trip to Clearwater which is next Friday. I'd like to focus on that but a few hours for a movie break is always great.
Thanks for writing. Xoxo ♥️
Definitely take the movie break! I heard part 2 is getting great reviews from early critics.
Yes I've seen commercials with great reviews during my night time TV watching, lol. I need my evening hockey and jeopardy watching!
I hope you are on the path to recovery. My cold / flu / whatever just won’t quit me. And it’s making me want to nap as well.
This week I feel exceptionally better, and I seem to be over the coughing. That was the part that lingered the longest.
I'm glad to hear that you are starting to feel better. :).
Thank you, Olga!
Sorry to hear you've been sick. Hope you are back to par soon! Enjoyed this post. 💛
Thank you! This is the first week I felt like myself again! Glad it’s over.
Hi Jen, so glad to hear you are feeling better. I did get the flu shot the last couple of years, and amazingly, didn't get the flu. Last year I did get a bad cold, but still. Sorry to say I am not a Dune fan. Maybe I should give it a go?
I loved this essay about going out on a date with a friend and meeting new people. I am very much fearful of new things but yet try to make myself do them anyway (well, sometimes), and then of course have the time of my life. Duh. And meeting new people when out on a friend date sounds like a wonderful experience. You expressed the joy and characters of the evening very well! I was right there with you. I hope you found more community tables!
It was a great time, and I’ve collected a few more community table stories since then!
If you want to try Dune, I would skip the book and try the movie. Reading the book is a labor of love for folks who already enjoy science fiction - it’s a bit long and tedious for a mainstream audience.
This sounds like the best dinner ever! I live in Seattle so I’m curious what restaurant you were at.
It was a Matt Dillon restaurant called Sitka and Spruce. In 2008 when I was there it was located in a commercial strip mall on Eastlake, then moved to Capitol Hill. He’s had several restaurants in Seattle - Bar Ferdinand, The London Plane - but I think he’s divested from all of them and is focusing on farming. Coincidentally, he catered my nonprofit fundraising event four years ago today! It was a family style dinner and auction, super delicious.
Glad you are feeling better! The insecurity of being a SAHM is so real, I'm still getting over it. I'm going to play the Dune podcast for my kids, they are obsessed.
A community table sounds like my worst nightmare - but also, I’m willing to imagine it’s not as bad as my worst fears 😆 your story was so sweet.
I loved Dune 1 (never read the books) but I’m working through the graphic novel this week and plan to see the second in theater - probably by myself as my spouse does not do sci fi 🤣
I listened to a bit of one of your episodes and it warmed my heart to hear your whole family together - what a special thing to have and listen back on as your kids grow 💓
Thank you! I’m definitely more excited about having made the memories of podcasting together vs the actual podcast.
So glad you're feeling better, Jen! 'Dining with Strangers' - hilarious, brilliant and SO relatable! A terrific post.
I'm behind on my own Substack reading, too, and am delighting in the small stack of Pretend You're Good At It posts which is on my screen right now for my attention at last! Thank you, as always, for giving me such great things to read!
Thank you, Rebecca. I also tend to batch-read newsletters from my favorites (like yours!) They are all so good and I want to make sure your words get my full attention. Have a great week!
😘
Hi. A new fan of yours and mid-binge on your writing here. Commenting to let you know I absolutely love your voice and your words. Also, while nowhere near as huge an accomplishment as mothering, you are LITERALLY A WORKING WRITER!!! I am “only” 26, which does not feel so “only” currently, though I too have a brain that lets me know it is indeed still young, but I mean to say I think I understand the shame/embarrassment bit all too well. We never look the same to ourselves. Just so u know, if I met you at a community dinner table and discovered u were a writer with a successful Substack newsletter to show for it and also a beautiful daughter with the coolest arm tattoo ever (just read your post for her 21st— I meant it when I said I’m mid-binge!!!!!) I’d immediately group up into a camp of too- smart, too-accomplished, Cool and High-Value Strangers out there doing Cool and High-Value things. But you know that!
Anyway, just thought I’d let u know that somewhere out there is a stranger who is both idealizing and idolizing the shit of you, and hopes that I too will one day be in a city somewhere with a good view and good people to invite over and enjoy it with.
Wow, thank you so much for this generous comment. Your encouragement re my writing voice is deeply appreciated.
I know the feeling of 26 feeling young and old at the same time. I was in a weird place at 26 — I was making some super adult decisions but still feeling like a kid who had no idea what she wanted from life.
Thank you for reading, and for taking the time to comment.