June Edit: Lots of Lobster, Good Reads, and Finally Some Movies
I did more than read books and migrate to Substack
Well, folks, the transition to Substack didn’t go as smoothly as planned…but we made it. Like a few other things in my life right now, their posts import tool happened to break exactly when I needed it not to.
If I’d known I’d be faced with manually importing 158 posts from the past 13 years (and domain transfer woes and forfeiting any privacy unless I enable paid subscriptions), I might not have made the move. But I still believe this move was the right move, so it’s probably a good thing I didn’t know what was coming, eh?
I decided to import only the last two years, a select few essays, and my top books of the year posts through 2018. The 2017 books post didn’t make it for the same reason I was ultimately at peace with not bringing old posts to this new space: I’m a very different person than I was back then.
A lot of what I wrote in the past, frankly, makes me cringe today. And while I initially wanted the full archive here for memory’s sake, I no longer stand by some of my beliefs or book recommendations from that era, and therefore, I’m not broken up about them no longer having an active presence on the internet soon. (I recognize that I may feel that way about 2025 posts in 10 years, too.)
I have them all saved in multiple places and file formats for reference purposes. As one of my friends joked…
Anyway, this wasn’t my only project in June. Here are a few other things I got up to!
I used to go to the farmers’ market and cook based on random things I bought, so I got back to that little creative exercise.
Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balm. I loved the free sample (Pink Sugar) so much that I had to get the full size (Poppy).
Cleaning makeup tools more regularly with my brush/sponge shampoo and scrubbing mat.
SAM-e supplements, supposedly a natural depression remedy (which are either working or giving me a placebo effect, so…still working?).
Random road trips with friends and bookstore visits, this time to Bookish in East Atlanta and Thank You Books and Little Professor in Birmingham, AL.
Caved and bought dad sneakers for my silly mental health walks. Dare I say they’re the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn?
BAGGU’s pink lobster print, which I’ve mentioned before, but now have in the baby reusable bag and picnic blanket. Who wants to read outside with me when I figure out how to keep wasps away?
EATING OUT
My annual summer lobster roll, this time from Skull Creek Dockside in Hilton Head, SC.
Sammy’s, a cute and delicious new deli in Adair Park.
Staplehouse (finally!), whose vibe, food, and drinks I adored.
Boca in Summerhill, which makes a great mezcal margarita and has consistently good food and service, plus a bar that’s perfect for eating and reading alone before my book club in the area.
EATING AT HOME
Mango sauce cups, a random find at Sprouts. My favorite fruit in purée form? Yes, please.
I got garlic chives from the farmer’s market and made these gochujang pork and rice bowls with them (and 4x-ed the recipe).
All hail these flavorful Greek lemon potatoes (gift recipe link).
FICTION
When the Reckoning Comes: A thriller/horror novel about what happens when childhood friends reconnect for their friend’s wedding on a plantation. This was more engaging than I expected, but fell a little flat in the end.
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: A book club pick and fun story about a lesbian clown trying to find her way in life, love, and career. Again, a strong start and a flat ending for me, but still a good time.
Chain-Gang All-Stars: A dark dystopian novel centering on two women gladiators who are fighting for their freedom in a for-profit prison system. I had to take a break from it in May due to constant violence, but it’s a really impressive book that holds a mirror up to our current society and justice system.
NONFICTION
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A memoir by the iconic Ina Garten, which left much to be desired on the writing front, but was charming, interesting, and inspiring all the same.
Shame-Sex Attraction: An essay collection that tells the stories of conversion “therapy” survivors and exposes these traumatic practices. Some essays were better than others, but it’s a solid compilation of some very important stories.
There’s Always This Year: Despite the subtitle clearly being “On Basketball and Ascension,” these essays were more sports-centered than I was prepared for. This hindered my enjoyment somewhat, but the writing is truly excellent, and so are the author’s meditations on grief and community.
I enjoyed every book I read in June for different reasons, but some are hard to recommend for obvious reasons. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a good example, even though it was the standout.
MOVIES
The Hunger Games (except The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes). I hadn’t seen any until recent watch nights on a family beach trip, but now I have many thoughts about the series’ cultural relevancy and plan to read the books soon.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), a heartwarming movie about three Manhattan drag queens who take a cross-country road trip. It didn’t exactly stand the test of time, but it was sweet.
Do the Right Thing (1989), one of those classic Black movies that I’d seen bits and pieces of but never watched all the way through. I love the way this was produced. It was a perfect summer watch, with many good moments and quotes.
VIDEOS
Pastor Shawn on the socials.
Every Intervention episode that A&E uploads.
The Tyler show, which almost made me want to go on a cruise.
@jessicaslitfics, a new follow whose taste in books is pretty similar to mine and who has introduced me to some new titles.
MUSIC
HAIM’s new album.
“Savannah” by Jensen McRae on repeat because I’ll always love a haunting, emotional bop (see last month’s hyper-fixation song by Khatumu).
Lots of MICHELLE. I missed their show in Atlanta, but they make the perfect summertime car music for me.
PODCASTS
This “Favored or Forsaken” episode by Faith Adjacent had good thoughts on civil disobedience and the (frankly, tired) argument about Christians and spicy books.
A Bit Fruity’s “The Antisemitism Panic” episode. I loved this sensible take, and they’re quickly becoming one of my favorite podcasts.
I randomly stumbled upon Liz Moody’s podcast and liked her “Why Friendship Is So Hard These Days” episode. She covers several reasons adult friendships can be such a struggle and seven things that can help.
My emotional support mango popsicles with tajín / How one might resist #skinnytok and the resurgence of diet culture / This tequila teacup I randomly spotted at Ponce City Market / Miss Rachel’s bravery and critical activism / Little Shop of Stories in Decatur’s anniversary tee / Zohran Mamdani’s historic mayoral primary win in NY / This very valid question that I had also been pondering / What I’m going to do with the thousands of articles I saved now that Pocket is shutting down
