As someone who just crossed the 40 line last week, I have to say I’m feeling better on this side. I hope you’re not like me, but I dreaded it. And it’s come as a relief to be done with the psychological baggage. Plus, all my older friends totally recommend this decade-- and I can see why. Any away, happy early bday! And thanks also for linking to my Plath piece. She’s been one of my long-time lives, so it was a special post to write.
Not to be overly-dramatic, but you are a gift and I'm truly grateful for you. Thanks for sharing so much in your writing. You've introduced a sizeable chunk of exploration, wonder, and delight into my world. For the record, I'm repeatedly surprised by your youth because of your rich tapestry of wisdom. Thank you.
So good Austin!! I have a conversation one for you... when people post how they got a new job or new position, my favorite thing to say is “ they’re so lucky to have you! “ and I usually mean it, but it is so positive and affirming for them and I want them to feel good !
Wow. Thank you for the link to the Sylvia Plath post. I was mildly obsessed with Plath as a teenager but I am struck by this comment “ often, creative people are creative across multiple mediums.” and feel it. That’s me, too!
The Pixies were the soundtrack to the late 80's for me, and also the soundtrack to falling in love with my husband of 32 years. My first experience of the Pixies: he made me a cassette tape with Surfer Rosa on one side and Doolittle on the other. We were living in Montréal but I came home to Victoria for Christmas and brought the tape with me because I hadn't had a chance to listen to it yet. It snowed in Victoria, which at that time was very unusual, and I was walking through the park which was blanketed and beautiful when I decided to listen to the tape in the headphones of my WALKMAN (ha ha ha). IT. BLEW. MY. MIND. I will never forget that moment. I also saw the Pixies live in Montréal—Kim Deal came out playing her bass with a lit cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She was my hero.
1) I listened to those pixies albums on cassette on a walkman, too, which is the best way, I think, especially surfer rosa, because so much of the weird interstitial noises are from the tape machine. unfortunately, I gave all the tapes to my friend for his car, which only had a cassette deck. big mistake!
2) Kim deal is one of the most underrated people in rock — Steve Albini says as much in that interview, and the pixies without her is not an attraction for me. The first four Breeders records are A+ imo
Yes! Listening to that particular music on a walkman, walking through a park I'd known my whole life but had possibly never seen covered in snow, making my way back to the man who'd made the tape and who I was falling for (I was on my way to the bus depot)... well "memorable" doesn't quite describe the experience. We both still have all our old cassette tapes (with their hand-made artful covers), though they never get listened to anymore.
On a side note, my husband David and I moved from Montréal to Victoria where we settled and had our daughter, and some years later my husband opened for Black Francis (as he was calling himself then) in 2008 when he came through town. They both played solo, and though my husband shakes his head whenever I say this, I swear to you that David blew Black Francis out of the water. Believe me, I was well primed to be impressed by Black Francis, given my love for the Pixies. But I was not—he was dead boring and lacking in any kind of charisma or "stage presence"—and it felt like a real The Emperor Has No Clothes moment for me. He was wearing some spectacular shoes however, which I complimented him on after the show. He said "thanks".
My husband however is a magnetic performer, and his songwriting is singular, smart and vivid. And it's not just me who says that, haha! His website: https://www.davidpsmithmusic.com/ (I'm not trying to plug him! We're not trying to get famous over here).
"This newsletter is a hand-rolled, algorithm-free, reader-supported publication." LOVE!!! Approaching the big(?) 3-0 in a year, it's evident to me now that life, indeed, gets better with age. You're only getting better, Austin! Your writing has been a huge inspiration for me- it might have even saved my life. I cannot thank you enough.
Agreed!! It’s the treasure among all the social media trash I accidentally find myself sucked into! Reading this is akin to gathering treasure vs hoarding trash which is how I’ve recently been viewing my social media habits!
Thanks for the link to the Surfer Rosa podcast, I definitely have a soft spot for that album. I also have questions about some of the song lyrics so maybe those will be answered...
Middle age = progressive lenses. Or needing more prescriptions for more distance varieties that you can manage.
Unless we had glasses that could change the refraction depending on what you’re focusing on. My optometrist says something’s in development but is huge and clunky and ugly.
As someone who just crossed the 40 line last week, I have to say I’m feeling better on this side. I hope you’re not like me, but I dreaded it. And it’s come as a relief to be done with the psychological baggage. Plus, all my older friends totally recommend this decade-- and I can see why. Any away, happy early bday! And thanks also for linking to my Plath piece. She’s been one of my long-time lives, so it was a special post to write.
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it. Getting another year beats the alternative 😂
Indeed!
Not to be overly-dramatic, but you are a gift and I'm truly grateful for you. Thanks for sharing so much in your writing. You've introduced a sizeable chunk of exploration, wonder, and delight into my world. For the record, I'm repeatedly surprised by your youth because of your rich tapestry of wisdom. Thank you.
Thank you for reading and for your kind words! :)
So good Austin!! I have a conversation one for you... when people post how they got a new job or new position, my favorite thing to say is “ they’re so lucky to have you! “ and I usually mean it, but it is so positive and affirming for them and I want them to feel good !
“Hanging on the Telephone” was a cover version?! Mind. Blown. 🤯
Wow. Thank you for the link to the Sylvia Plath post. I was mildly obsessed with Plath as a teenager but I am struck by this comment “ often, creative people are creative across multiple mediums.” and feel it. That’s me, too!
Im curious how you manage to read so much in such a short time. Are you a natural speed reader or did you take a course? Thanks.
I read really slowly with a pencil. I just make time for it every day and the pages add up
I also have no interest in becoming a speed reader, I think it would ruin the quality of it for me
Nice, I will lose myself listening to "Surfer Rosa" in the Jillian Hess "Noted" substack you shared, thank you.
there are much worse ways to spend a Friday!
I’m stoked. Losing myself in a good way I meant. Already lost for a bit in both. Thanks again.
The Pixies were the soundtrack to the late 80's for me, and also the soundtrack to falling in love with my husband of 32 years. My first experience of the Pixies: he made me a cassette tape with Surfer Rosa on one side and Doolittle on the other. We were living in Montréal but I came home to Victoria for Christmas and brought the tape with me because I hadn't had a chance to listen to it yet. It snowed in Victoria, which at that time was very unusual, and I was walking through the park which was blanketed and beautiful when I decided to listen to the tape in the headphones of my WALKMAN (ha ha ha). IT. BLEW. MY. MIND. I will never forget that moment. I also saw the Pixies live in Montréal—Kim Deal came out playing her bass with a lit cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She was my hero.
1) I listened to those pixies albums on cassette on a walkman, too, which is the best way, I think, especially surfer rosa, because so much of the weird interstitial noises are from the tape machine. unfortunately, I gave all the tapes to my friend for his car, which only had a cassette deck. big mistake!
2) Kim deal is one of the most underrated people in rock — Steve Albini says as much in that interview, and the pixies without her is not an attraction for me. The first four Breeders records are A+ imo
Yes! Listening to that particular music on a walkman, walking through a park I'd known my whole life but had possibly never seen covered in snow, making my way back to the man who'd made the tape and who I was falling for (I was on my way to the bus depot)... well "memorable" doesn't quite describe the experience. We both still have all our old cassette tapes (with their hand-made artful covers), though they never get listened to anymore.
On a side note, my husband David and I moved from Montréal to Victoria where we settled and had our daughter, and some years later my husband opened for Black Francis (as he was calling himself then) in 2008 when he came through town. They both played solo, and though my husband shakes his head whenever I say this, I swear to you that David blew Black Francis out of the water. Believe me, I was well primed to be impressed by Black Francis, given my love for the Pixies. But I was not—he was dead boring and lacking in any kind of charisma or "stage presence"—and it felt like a real The Emperor Has No Clothes moment for me. He was wearing some spectacular shoes however, which I complimented him on after the show. He said "thanks".
My husband however is a magnetic performer, and his songwriting is singular, smart and vivid. And it's not just me who says that, haha! His website: https://www.davidpsmithmusic.com/ (I'm not trying to plug him! We're not trying to get famous over here).
Last side-rant: I love The Breeders and The Amps!
"Gigantic" is a great song to fall in love by!
True! I have to say though, every one of the songs on those two albums has been seared into my brain cells for all time.
"This newsletter is a hand-rolled, algorithm-free, reader-supported publication." LOVE!!! Approaching the big(?) 3-0 in a year, it's evident to me now that life, indeed, gets better with age. You're only getting better, Austin! Your writing has been a huge inspiration for me- it might have even saved my life. I cannot thank you enough.
Agreed!! It’s the treasure among all the social media trash I accidentally find myself sucked into! Reading this is akin to gathering treasure vs hoarding trash which is how I’ve recently been viewing my social media habits!
Thanks for reading -- I believe more and more that it’s worth sticking around to see what happens!
Thanks for the link to the Surfer Rosa podcast, I definitely have a soft spot for that album. I also have questions about some of the song lyrics so maybe those will be answered...
Spoiler alert: they won’t 😂
Actually, come to think of it they might be
Absolutely a must-listen now!
Middle age = progressive lenses. Or needing more prescriptions for more distance varieties that you can manage.
Unless we had glasses that could change the refraction depending on what you’re focusing on. My optometrist says something’s in development but is huge and clunky and ugly.
That’s what Apple could work on.
*than you can manage.
I thought you were using this as a metaphor for a minute and I was like, “damn!”
I did too!
So now I’m using it LOL
The forties are the best years for me - I’m wiser and definitely less poor than I was in my twenties 🤣🤣
I really enjoyed Life with Picasso, it’s a great intro the the artist. Here’s my drawing after reading it https://inktales.me/2013/05/06/life-with-picasso-art/
This is great, thank you!
Happy birthday in advance! And thanks for the heads up on the Pixies' podcast--"Surfer Rosa" is one of my all-time favorites, too!
Enjoy!