Just Another Day in Paradise
Weekend Reads v. 18 July 2026
The view from my window today is very smoky. These east coast skies feel more like west coast skies this week as the smoke from forests thousands of miles away makes its way to the ocean. I snapped this photo as I was driving into work to a soundtrack of Brandon Flowers singing “Just Another Day in Paradise.”
Smoke-filled skies blocking the view and stinging your eyes does not feel like just another day in paradise, and yet somehow I felt completely aware of the privilege I was enjoying — driving myself to a job I enjoy to pay for a life I love.
Look, people are going to tell you the world is trash and people are hopeless and you should spend your time reading angry op-eds that only make you anxious. They are wrong. The world is still remarkable – maybe more so now than ever if you know where to look. There are cures and one-way flights and video calls. There are books upon books upon books and music! So much music. There are paintings to see and desserts to try and pets to love. There are children to make laugh and parents to visit and friends to call. And of course there’s the invisible magic of electricity + pixels + data that brings me to you now.
What I’m saying is the smoky skies are real and they inflict discomfort and hassle. My constant sneezing and a board of cancelled flights at the local airport are a testament to that. But the smoke clears, it always does, and we are back to where we were. If we are paying attention, we emerge from the smoke a little more grateful for the ability to take our morning coffee out on the balcony.
I realized as I thought about how the smoke would clear out and we’d be back to business as usual that this summer hasn’t included any of my hallmark favorite summer things. How have I let this happen!? No ice-cold watermelon to end an outdoor meal. No trip to a farm stand for berries or peaches or some fresh fruit that explodes with the sugar that can only be made by sunny days and afternoon storms. No suitcase packed for an adventure. No bathing suits smelling faintly of chlorine as they hang over the shower door waiting for another dip in the pool. No soaking up the heat of a stuffy car that’s been parked on asphalt. No new album playing in the coffee shop and out of the car windows on 14th Street. No afternoons spent working on homemade crafts.
Ah! If you’ll excuse me, I must go and catch some of this summer before it fades away!
If you’re behind on summering, maybe a summer bucket list is in order?
Painted Nantucket baskets, if that’s your thing.
A recent research project asks, “Is it inevitable that men die younger than women?”
“Men with two children had an estimated brain age that was 0.6 years younger than their childless peers had, and for men with three children, it was 0.7 years younger. That’s similar to the brain benefit associated with exercising 2.5 hours a week.” (source, h/t to Rob Henderson)
What makes The Sopranos so great – even now, 27 years later.
“Sentences are getting shorter and simpler. The Economist analyzed hundreds of New York Times bestsellers and found that sentences in popular books have contracted by almost a third since the 1930s. (source).”
Get the dopamine rush without the ding to your bank account. These websites deliver the thrill of online shopping without the cost. Not sure how they replace the thrill of getting a package, however.
7 Greek beaches to visit while Santorini is overrun by tourists.
“The helpful home robot” launches later this year. In the meantime, you can see the robot cheerily folding laundry for 3 hours in this video. I’m not the biggest fan of a robotic future, but I can get on the bandwagon with this guy.
If you’re into makeup / skincare trends, I’ve heard good things about this new foundation. The combination of this tool and this lotion have given this very pale girl a tiny bit of a wonderful tan. And this viral Korean beauty product really is worth the hype.
A reminder that the Royal Collection Trust Gift Shop is an excellent place to find unique gifts. They ship all over.
Some things to cook when it’s too hot to cook.
I completely agree with the author of this piece about gap years being wasted on the young. I spent a year working abroad when I was 28, and it was the greatest.
This guide to Bruges has me wanting to head to the airport…but maybe when Europe cools off for good.
Wow, the 90’s really want to come back. Even French-tip pedicures are trying to make a comeback!
I’m not sure how I feel about the upcoming Anthony Bourdain biopic.
This powerful reminder from James Clear’s newsletter landed in my inbox this week, and I think you might also find it inspiring:
Film actress and producer Mary Pickford on protecting your mind:
“All the water in the world cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. All the negativity in the world cannot sink a person unless it gets inside the mind.”
Source: Why Not Try God (1934)
Music is the best. Phoebe Bridges played her new single “Lost Boys” on Jimmy Fallon not once but twice. The first time she sang with a backing band made up of kids. She breaks character and displays a huge smile when they come in with the horns. It’s very sweet to hear the crowd cheer them on! (The kid on the keyboard steals my heart) On her second night, she played an acoustic version of the song backed by a band of older men. Ah, I love the variety this simple song takes on in each of these performances.
The types of people you should hold onto:
“...Pals who make the grocery store fun. Loved ones who get as excited about your success as you do. The person you feel comfortable crying in front of. Sing-in-the-car friends. People who text you to look at the moon. People who text you just to say hi…” (Source)
Until next week!