*The Week in 15 Selections*
Welcome to the second installment of this newsletter’s new format! I did not have a good week because I flew on four planes, and got stuck in the Orlando airport for three hours. Did you know that the bars in the Orlando airport close at 9:00 p.m.? One of them had the gall to close at 7:00 p.m.! In America! In Florida!
Oh well, I survived. I watched comfort movies on the planes back because it was my favorite airline Delta, which never ever removes A League of Their Own from their movie catalogue. Every day is a winding road! We get a little bit closer to death!
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IMPORTANT!!!! A CORRECTION to last week’s newsletter. Many of you emailed me, and you were right!!!: Katherine LaNasa was NOT married to Edward Hopper (painter). She was married to Dennis Hopper (actor). HOWEVER. She was also married to French Stewart and is currently married to Grant Show! My request for a profile stands. We here at Kelsey McKinney Newsletter Links With No Name regret the error!
The Pitt season finale was great. Forgive me Katherine LaNasa!
Moving on!
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The Week in 15 Selections
As the dowager queen, it is my duty to alert you that NORMAL GOSSIP premiered its brand new season last week. I’m so excited to see what Rachelle & Se’era do with this season, and it is such a fuckin’ treat to actually get to listen to the episodes like everyone else!
Last week, my own broken brain reminded me of Jo Ann Beard’s 1996 essay “The Fourth State of Matter” about her dog dying and a shooting she missed because of it. It’s such a beautiful essay about pain and guilt and a normal bad day that turns into the worst day.
My event last week at Partners & Son in Philadelphia with Kayla E was one of the most emotional I’ve ever done. Kayla and I went to high school together, and hadn’t been reunited since, and it was such a joy to get to talk to her about her graphic memoir. It’s a story about abuse with every trigger warning you can imagine, and it’s beautifully drawn and charming and so funny at times. It was such an honor to discuss it together. You can buy it here.
Gorgeous thought. I love it.
Since literally no one really knows what’s going with the economy right now, I really enjoyed reading this article which digests 150 years of stock market crashes. Mostly this lead to me reading a lot of old wikipedia pages, but that’s my favorite hobby.
I am not “financially literate” in the “bond market,” but this blog about the treasury market unwinding is written in normal words, and taught me some terrifying and strange facts (Putin tried to collab with China to destroy us in 2008! Drama!) Though maybe this is already irrelevant on account of everything being so stupid.
Speaking of stupid! My stupid seasonal allergies can only be cured via spicy food, so this week I recommend Jin Ramen Spicy Gout Epice. I buy it at the bodega by my house but they have it at Walmart and probably at your grocery store too.
I love this TikTok that has all the bird calls for the northeast! Thrilled to learn I can hear a woodpecker every day!
I had a great time at the San Antonio Book Festival this weekend, where I somehow took no photos except of this beautiful smoothie bowl from Revolución coffee that I ate by the Riverwalk. I also got ginger shots there that were so gingery!
Like everyone else who is a little horny for print products, I’ve loved Cake Zine for years. This most recent issue called Daily Bread, I think is probably their best. It’s such a gorgeous product, and the writing rules.
The concept of the “double sell-out” is something I’ve been struggling to articulate for a little while. I’m churning on this in the hopes of getting somewhere: “The challenge for our times is to locate and elevate the artists using their platforms for art and other social goods rather than just securing further personal profit.” Preach, I guess.
I love electrolyte packets because sometimes I just forget to drink water all day and then feel really bad. But many of them taste awful and fake. Recently, I started drinking MAGNA on the suggestion of Chris Gayomali’s excellent newsletter HEAVIES, and they rule! The tea-lemonade one tastes so good. Plus, they have magnesium in them, which I assume is good for me.
Every year, I completely forget about this insane flower called “bleeding heart” and then (like this morning) I see one in bloom in the neighborhood and freak out! How is it real!!! Look at it!
Photo by Yoksel 🌿 Zok on Unsplash “Life isn’t meant to be constantly laborious, but it isn’t meant to be easy. The assumption that it is meant to be easy will make it feel laborious.” —Jordan Stacey on the resiliency drought.
Last night, we watched Desperado, continuing my era of Antonio Banderas appreciation. I do not usually feel drawn to Quinten Tarantino, but I loved Banderas and Selma Hayek together. Sometimes, you don’t want Hollywood to be a perfect story; you want it to be two really really hot people kissing and then shooting guns.
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Wow! I also have an event this week. I am JET-SETTING, and will be in Portland for Live Wire on Thursday!
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If you have thoughts or feelings about (or selections for) this new segment, please reach out! If you were forwarded this list, please subscribe! There will be more selections each week!