Hello my dears,
I’m often surprised at how often I have to redefine what balance looks like to me. This week was no different. Sometimes balance requires more yoga, sometimes less… way less. Sometimes balance involves more Oreo cookies, less time with the computer, and more walks along the river.
Speaking of the river, our great Mississippi: It’s been high this week – reminding us, as though we’ve forgotten, that she’s in charge. (Thanks for the leeway with the punctuation in that last sentence. I take major liberties.) Along the banks of the river I’ve spotted altars and offerings and it fills my heart with this feeling that we appreciate this place, that we know how precious it is. I’ve tried to let those feelings of gratitude filter through my week.
I hope this finds you rested and ready for some longer Spring days. Here’s my offering this week:
• 15 stories of important and overlooked women from the NYT this week: Overlooked. Strong, and we know it.
• This story about a man and lemons goes into some very unexpected places: A Man, A Plan, A Lemon, China The story of Frank N Meyer. (Taste)
• Menstrual cramps are as painful as a heart attack. Basically we’re all warriors but… honestly, we already knew that. (Elle)
• Sade has blessed us with another song. Casually: Flower of the Universe. Sade is my vibe and style icon. Queen. (NPR)
• Do you follow astrology? Then you must know about Chani Nichols. Her New Moon in Pisces Workshop seems just the ticket. (Chani Nichols)
• I’m listening to the true crime novel: I’ll Be Gone In The Dark and ran across this heart-warming and heart-wrenching tribute: My Friend Michelle McNamara, the Crime Writer Gone in the Dark. (Vulture)
• My beautiful friend and photographer Lani Trock was featured in LA Magazine. Her words about art, creation, and inspiration are beautiful. Also this quote from Tom Waits rings loud in my head: The way you do anything, is the way you do everything.
• The current pop-up is the past taco truck: How Pop Ups Took Over America’s Restaurants (GQ)
• Some companies are taking a stand: Ok Delta! (Times)
• If you watch The Bachelor franchise you know that, at this point, every season is a new, fresh hell. With the fiasco that was this latest season with Arie, I’m going to bow out. As I exit, I’m going to offer you this: 11 Bachelor Rules That Just Don’t Make Sense Anymore. (Vulture)
• We’ve got a few more Fridays in Lent and if you can’t find a local fish fry, you sure can make your own: Friday Fish Fry! (JoytheBaker)
• You should come to The Bakehouse on March 29th! We’re hosting a scent workshop with Smoke Perfume! Also, there are a few spots left in the Strawberry Pie Making Workshop (using Ponchatoula strawberries!!) on April 14th! (Eventbrite)
• What to make when the fridge is looking real reeeaaalll slim. Fried Water aka Onion Egg Drop Soup. The thing is, sometimes recipes with very few ingredients are secretly fussy and I fear that I’m going to end up with a bowl of scrambled egg soup. Still, I’m curious enough to take the chance. (The Kitchn)
• My friend Nicole shared some chicken dinner with me this week and it floored me. Turns out it’s this New York Times recipe for Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma. I’m absolutely making it for myself soon, so soon.
Let’s enjoy the day!
My love to you,
Joy
Michelle B.
Hi Joy,
Love the article Overlooked and really getting into Michelle MacNamara’s book. Thanks for all the great posts and ideas. I am looking forward to visiting New Orleans again, but happy to enjoy the rain in LA for a few days now.
Take care, Michelle
Maryalene
As much as I’d like to think that we all have super-human pain tolerance, I don’t think Elle got it quite right. The doctor never said that menstrual cramps are as painful as a heart attack. He said some women describe it as painful as a heart attack. And that begs the question: have these women had heart attacks and if not, how do they know?
Saurs
Well, to be a real stickler, Gillebaud’s been saying that women have described the pain as almost bad as a heart attack for some time now, and begging a question is not what is being done here. Are you asking how a third-party (doctors, researchers) gauges the pain of another party? In that case: how do we know a heart attack is uncomfortable if we haven’t personally felt it? Cramps can be measured by their pressure and doctors employ the same verbal and numerical rating scales to help a patient articulate their discomfort, whether they’re menstruating, suffering from a broken ankle, or both. If you’re interested in the field of pain assessment and management, there’s a whole world out there for brave skeptics like you to explore.
ab
Women’s heart attacks tend to be different from men’s, too. So if women who have experienced both cramps and a heart attack are trying to communicate the pain level to men who have had heart attacks, I think it’s still going to get lost in translation. https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp
lee
I sooo appreciated your comment at the beginning, “I’m often surprised at how often I have to redefine what balance looks like to me.” It’s entirely too easy to think of balance as something static and carved in stone; but last year, I came across a much more appropriate concept of balance that I have held in mind ever since – the idea of balance as a slack line (or tightrope), that requires regular adjustment to navigate successfully. So what feels balanced today may not (and probably won’t) feel like balance tomorrow.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts with us!
Abbi
Are you really saying goodbye to The Bachelor? The whole franchise? Even summery, umbrella-drinking Paradise? And with BekahBeccaBeka(howmanymorewayscanispellthename?) as Bachelorette? you are stronger than I
joythebaker
I know… I think I really am done. I have all my housewives to keep me warm at night.
Ashlen Murff
I bowed out of watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette after Juan Pablo’s season. Fresh hell indeed!
Claire, UK
Just tried that fried water soup and it was very tasty indeed. I had some wilting celery to use up so threw that in too. I also used a very large onion and left it to simmer for longer than the recipe said (I got distracted and decided to start defrosting my freezer) so needed to add more water than advised. I didn’t have any bread in, but I ate it with a sprinkling of veggie pecorino cheese and some cracked black pepper and it was delicious. Definitely one to make again.
Kathy
Unable to see the NYT recipe for Chicken Shawarma without creating an account :(
Rebeca
Yes, we all knew how bloody awful menstrual cramps can be… Those of us with a vagina, that is. And this reminds me of something I witnessed this week that left me in utter disbelief. A man telling a woman that menstrual pain isn’t that bad and telling her ibuprofen is enough. Mansplaining at its best, people.
Emily
I personally have good success with ibuprofen and cramps, but I’m talking horse pill 800mg ibuprofen. (Doesn’t excuse giving advice on something you’ve clearly never experienced.)
Rebeca
Yes, I know we all have different experiences (ibuprofen did next to nothing for me and I’d spend my time at work trying not to cry), but it’s beyond ridiculous for a man to give advice about it.
Nicole Lortie
Good morning Joy, I have to say that you bring joy in my Sunday morning. It is always a pleasure to read your blog. I read the story about the Meyer lemon. This is a really nice story and I didn’t know that we could find Food Explorers and to see that the pressures from the government came very soon about food. Thank you for the good references you give in your blog. I will be visiting your city this fall and I hope I will be able to attend one of your workshop. Is there a place we can see your schedule? Nicole
Laura
Thank you Joy, your Sunday post is always part of my Sunday morning ritual. Always a treat.
Megan
Louisville had a similar reminder the last couple of weeks that our lady Ohio is indeed in charge, impressing and frightening us with a 30-years kind of flood. It’s amazing to see how people come together to clean up, help each other, and ultimately rebuild. New Orleans is our big sister city and has taught us how to cope. Hoping your waters lower peacefully very soon!
Rena
What a pity I’m can’t attend your workshop as Bavaria is too far away :(
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com