Upper Right
Good morning you autumnal wonderfuls.
For as long as I’ve been flossing my teeth, I’ve theorized that the Upper Right quadrant is the hardest. I’ve built whole theories about why this is, based on awkward hand placement, narrowness of the little spaces between the teeth and even my own overall flossing prowess.
And then one morning flossing the Upper Right quadrant was...easy.
I stared at my own bewildered face in the bathroom mirror, the limp dental floss dangling from my fingers. What happened? I ran through every possible reason that could have made something easy after being hard for years, and came to the conclusion that all the data was the same as before.
But, it was and it wasn’t.
Nothing had changed in the data I’d previously measured. But, that day I came to realize there was a key metric I’d overlooked for years.
Without thinking, I’d flossed the Upper Right quadrant FIRST instead of LAST. So, after years building wild theories, I came to learn that the Upper Right Quadrant wasn’t the hardest, it was just the quadrant I flossed last. I had applied an unfair judgment on something that was just pure circumstance.
It was such a seemingly small thing, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Because, what I couldn’t shake was how ENTIRELY WRONG I was. I was so positive. I’d run the numbers. Walked out theories. Told people these theories. Told my GD dentist these theories. Unfairly maligned the Upper Right quadrant for absolutely no reason.
And the whole time I was just flat out wrong. For years.
I know I overthink things. I guess I just hadn’t ever had such a simple and clear example proving that quantity doesn’t equal quality. And if I continue to use every color in the crayon box, I won’t end up with intentional and intricately drawn ideas and thoughts, but rather I’d continue to churn out muddy, convoluted messes that serve no other purpose than to lull me into a false sense of certainty.
I needed this reminder. Sometimes I am flat out wrong about things. And that, in the immortal words of Ice Cube, I need to remember to check myself before I wreck myself.
Each month, I’ll gather:
🤩stuff to watch, read and listen to
🤝great follows on social media
🌈 music to soothe
🥑 good food and great places to eat and drink
🕯calming things
*****
🤩
So, Didi is perfect, heartbreaking and wonderful.
As temperatures drop, may I offer you some lush, cuddly books for your autumnal reading pile? Susanna Kearsley has a NEW one, and so do Elizabeth Boyle, Erica Ridley and Kate MacIntosh. It’s an embarrassment of literary riches!
I watched the pilot of the new Matlock - Man oh man, I love Kathy Bates.
Recently, British author Alexandra Heminsley posted on Instagram that her son used THIS video of 10 Hours of Driving in Rain for Sleeping, but what caught her off guard were the incredibly touching comments. For a YouTube comment section, it’s quite unique in its poignancy and dearness.
🤝
Follow Frankie Gaw for jaw-dropping twists on nostalgic culinary classics.
Follow Alex Elle for a lovely palate cleanse of good vibes.
Follow Irene Yoo for mouthwatering food and all things culinary.
🌈
🥑
During this past heatwave, THESE and THESE little sweet treats were my go-to.
I know we’re coming to the end of summer, but I did want to plug THESE Iced Tea Pitcher Bags again because they’re SO good and make really lovely, flavorful tea. I’ve used all three flavors and they’re all delicious.
So, as we all know I have the constitution (and skin, apparently) of an 18-year-old Standard Poodle - so, I’ve tried Protein Shakes with dairy to calamitous ends. I then thought - okay, lemme try a PLANT BASED OPTION - sadly, these did not work out great for me either, but they really were good and it’s definitely a ME problem, so govern yourselves accordingly.
I tried a few new restaurants in the Los Angeles area this past month:
Azay is that perfect little restaurant you happen upon - cozy, amazing service and they do this chicken dish that… you know when you just have to lean back in your chair and close your eyes for a second? THAT.
I went to Grandmaster Recorders for an early dinner and really liked it. The vibe is very rock and roll, great music playing and a comfy dining room. The two dishes I keep thinking about are their focaccia with this balsamic drizzle whipped butter thing and this peach and tomato crudo. The peaches… my mouth is legit watering just thinking about em.
I finally tried Joshua Skenes’ newest restaurant, Leopardo. Was nice to see he hasn’t lost his penchant for piping in super loud 80s music… and also really great culinary classics done deliciously and with a twist. Their little frosé cocktail is WONDERFUL and their pizzas… the doughhhhhh aloooone. And? They do a mean caesar salad.
🕯
I’ve been searching for a really good desk note pad lo these many years and — well, long story short, my niece gifted my mom THIS notepad and I thought it was for me. NO, the monogram was not mine but… aaaaaaanyway, can I blame it on Deadline Head? Regardless, this is a nice thick pad of paper - and the paper stock is really nice. I’m so glad my niece gave it to me for my birthday* (*they didn’t.)
My air purifier finally died a very slow, tragic death - just in time for this summer’s brush fires! - so, I replaced it with THIS one and it’s SO good.
My niece found THIS merch for the election and I’m obsessed - it’s also just a really good hat? Also, COME ON.
Back on my skin care - I found THIS toner (let’s say it together) that did NOT break me out! Every single other toner has irritated my skin in some way, but this one is dreamy.
So many great ideas!
Loved the upper right example—- pushed my thinking!