Obsessions of a Former Teenage Vol. 1

From the twisted mind of a ADHD addled thirty something.

For this week's letter, I want to try something new and if it goes well we’re going to make it a thing. Consider it our weekly breakfast date, even though this will be published around lunch time. 

One thing I’m great at is observing and obsessing over things. We can credit this to a number of things. For starters, I was part of the Spice Girl generation, who had girl power splayed across backpacks, Polaroid cameras, and lollipops. While we’re on the topic, here’s a fascinating Wikipedia article on the merchandising of the Spice Girls. I digress, which is appropriate considering point two. 

The second, and maybe the most formative of the two finer points, is that I have come to the realization in the past year that I have ADHD. It’s a humbling early thirties realization, but it’s put a good deal into perspective for me and knowing it’s a thing has been helpful. One of the ways that that manifests is finding comfort in obsession over songs, books, movies, jokes, memes, etc. I love to love things, and I’m starting to realize it may all be related. 

This first edition will be a sort of greatest hits of the things that I am and have remained obsessed about over the past couple of years, presented with little commentary. In the future it will be more of a what’s-on-mental-repeat list. 

Blade Runner 2049

Today I was telling a dear friend, Patrick, that this is one of my favorite movies. I watch it every time my husband travels for work. I realized in saying it out loud that it’s kind of a fucked up comfort film, but the way the movie is scored and art directed makes me feel a wash of endorphins every time. 

Crazy Frog 

Yes, that Crazy Frog. Yes, in particular the song Axel F. I am tempted to defend this, but I will not. Instead I will say this: try to listen to that song without smiling from ear to ear. See also: Sandstorm by Darude and The Tide is High by Atomic Kitten. 

Taskmaster

I found Taskmaster at the beginning of last winter and proceeded to watch every episode of it available online. There are some odd 16 seasons of the British version, with spinoffs in other countries. The premise is simple: comedians are brought to a house and filmed doing tasks, and then judged before a live panel months later. It’s perfect. It’s silly. It feels good to watch it over and over again. 

Professional Cycling

One day I’ll write a letter about how much Pro Cycling has come to mean to me this summer, but that day is not today. Instead I will say this: It’s a hell of a time to get into the sport, and if you’re interested please start with the Netflix docuseries Tour de France: Unchained. It has everything. It’s a team sport that's highly individualized. There is triumph! There’s defeat! There is a hot goat farmer! I imagine you’ll love it. My hottest pro cycling take presented without context: Sepp Kuss GC Forever.

Hyper Feminine Elements of Personal Style

Lately, I’ve been embracing my inner 8 year old girl. Give me bows in hair, frills on socks, big fluffy pink things. It’s not because of Barbie, though she didn’t hurt my obsession with the hyper femme. I’ve got pink sheets on my bed, and shopping carts ready to go full of frilly socks and the new line of hair clips from Chunks. 

Extra Toasty Cheez-Its & Diet Coke 

I fall in and out of love with snack combinations pretty easily, but a recurring guest in my pantry is the almighty Extra Toasty Cheez-It. It’s funny because I am not a fan of any other stars in the Cheez-It Cinematic Universe. White Cheddar? No thanks. Hot & Spicy? Absolutely not. Regular? I’d rather have a saltine, thank you. But something about the combination of a crispy DC + an Extra Toasty? Sublime. 

I realize in writing this that I have compiled a list of the weirdest things I deem enjoyable to a degree that I would repeat them over and over again. I’d love to know what you’re obsessing over? Please comfort me in my time of adding Crazy Frog to an earnest list and pressing publish.

---

Thank you for your support. It means the world to me that you’d continue to extend the invite into your internet living room. The newsletter means a lot to me and I am consistently thrilled to learn that it means something to other people.

Let’s say for a second that you like what you see here and want to continue the support. In that case, you can do one (or more!) of the following:

• Forward this email to a few friends who would enjoy it.

• Consider becoming a paid subscriber.

• Follow me on Instagram!

• Say hello.