FNC - Stomp, clap, hey!
Kia ora, It's Friday Night Chats time! We're here! It's school holidays time! We made it through another term somehow. Let's chat.
I'm having a bit of a crisis as a writer right now. I had an email saying the person was unsubscribing (they weren't paying, so I don't know why they felt the need to announce it) - and they were saying my writing hadn't been funny for ages. And they were 'sick of hearing about Gaza'.
It's so hard to write about anything right now. Everything feels very doom and gloom, and I hope that in writing about things we can do, it won't feel so doom and gloom. I mean, it helps me.
But have I lost my mojo? I don't know. It's really hard. I really want to write funny things, you know? That's my preference.
But also, I don't know. I also know that there's a vast need that has to be met in any way possible. I'm about to launch a very ambitious campaign for Gaza. I want to raise enough funds to get 40+ tents for our families in Gaza.
I'm hoping to get 40 families/businesses/unions/groups/influencers to each adopt a family in Gaza and raise $1500 for a 14-person tent. I am really hopeful it works, that people get behind it. I know $1500 is so much money, so I'm going to do the option of $500 or $1000 too. I know I will get a bunch of unsubscribes for continuing to talk about Gaza. Still, it's worth it, yeah? We have to give up some stuff to help others.
But it's scary too. This Charlie Kirk censorship crap is frightening, too. We've seen it with Palestine, which paved the way for a crackdown on anti-government speech. Will this make people even more afraid to speak up about the genocide?
Anyway, Friday Night Chats is meant to be fun so let's talk abotu some fun stuff.
I am going to have a teenager VERY SOON. Eddie is turning 13 at the end of the month. I'm taking him away for the weekend with his two best friends and their mums. It's great when your kid's best friends are your best friends. We are staying at my friend's parents' place on the coast.
We had Eddie's birthday there last year. We will be having the 'birthday cucumber'. Eddie has never liked sweets and, for some reason, doesn't like birthday cake. But he loves cucumbers. So I don't know how it started, but I got a cucumber and put candles along it and said, 'OK, here's your birthday cake,' and he thought that was hilarious. He cut the cucumber like a cake, and everyone had some.
Now, every year, we do the birthday cucumber!
I said to Hammy, 'can you believe your brother is going to be a teenager?' and he said, 'yes, he's 12 and so you turn 13 after 12'. Can't really argue with that.
It'll be a quiet school holiday for us. We're not going away other than for the night for Eddie's birthday. My kid-free bestie will be in Rarotonga! Outrageous! I'm so jealous.
But the sun has been coming out in Te Whanganui a Tara, so I feel hopeful we are going to have a great summer, and CHAPPELL IS COMING!
What I'm reading:
Does reading abuse from Better Wellington/Independent Together candidates count as reading? I am failing again on my reading goal. I've just stopped really. I need to get back into reading and stop doom scrolling.
I do really want to read Patricia Lockwood's new book Will There Ever Be Another You. Because No One Is Talking About This is one of my most favourite books ever. Maybe I'll get it on kindle this weekend as a treat.
But I did read a few interesting things online this week -
Elizabeth Gilbert, of Eat, Pray, Love fame, has an unhinged new book out. I've enjoyed reading reviews - Elizabeth Gilbert’s Latest Epiphanies and All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert review – excruciating to read.
Madness on a mountain: for 15 years, my mom was trapped in a mutual psychosis
NZ First is digging its own grave by backing the Regulatory Standards Bill
The bleakest findings from a new survey about gender attitudes in Aotearoa
I Like Free Speech So Much That I’ve Decided It’s Just Mine Now
What I'm watching:
I am so happy that Jeff Hiller from my favourite show Somebody Somewhere won an Emmy. Somebody Somewhere is perfect television (watch it on Neon).
I tried to watch Tangata Pai. I dunno. I want to support it, but oof. Please tell me your thoughts if you've watched it.
I finished The Girlfriend on Amazon Prime. It is so silly! But also good brain fluff.
I started Dadolesence (please, this is such a bad name for a show, it's so hard to spell). It's really great. More of this kind of programming is what I want.
What I'm listening to:
Chappell is coming to Aotearoa! Chappell is coming! I'm so excited! My fave!
I finished my audiobook The Compound I did not like the ending. But it's still the first audiobook I've listened to right until the end. My attention span has been so short lately.
I have been cracking up at my son roasting me for listening to 'Millennial Stomp Clap' music. I was playing Pompeii by Bastille, which is a banger. It's also according to the kids, Cringe AF.
He said, 'I bet you loved that Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma and Pa song,' and I knew exactly what song he meant. And yes, I did like it back in the day, and if it played at a wedding, I would dance, but I would not willingly listen to it now. It's one of those songs where you've heard it so much you can't handle hearing it again.
But apparently, 'stomp, clap, hey!' music is any song in the style of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ “Home.”
Here's a sample:
So we should rate these ones -
Mumford + Sons - I will wait - Sorry, banger
The Lumineers - Ho Hey - Agree, cringe
Fun.: We Are Young - Not even Janelle Monáe could save this one
Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks - Bad, but I secretly like their song Dirty Paws.
Muse - Knights of Cydonia - They're anti-vaxxers, so I don't like any of their music
Wake Me Up - Avicii - Would not dance to this, but would put on Hey Brother and dance in the lounge to it
But Pompeii rules. There is a great parody of Stomp Clap music if you want to feel all of the cringe. It's incredible.
If you need an ear treat after all that, Portishead performed at the Together for Palestine gig. It was beautiful as expected:
Things we're discussing in the group chat:
- The importance of a 'fancy wank' when you suddenly find yourself at home with no kids, no work, housework done, etc. A fancy wank is when you really devote at least an hour to having a bean flick. Maybe shave your legs, light a candle, romance yourself.
- Alternative burial options - Shrouds, willow coffins, felt coffins - I am actually all about the shroud now, after seeing one; it was beautiful. What would you have when it's your time?
- How late is too late to give an occasion card? I have a card from last year congratulating my friend on an exam, and one for my friend whose mum died maybe three months ago?
- The diabetes testing fk up - just an awful thing for so many people to go through.
Hopefully you didn't miss it in the last newsletter, but we have heaps of great new tees up at Troll Tees!
We are thinking of doing Toxic Leftie Green in honour of my friends at Better Wellington/Independent Together.
I would love to know what your ratings are for the stomp, clap, hey! songs. And also what you're listening to, reading, and watching. Are you excited about Chappell? Are you gonna go? That rules out Electric Avenue for me because I can't afford both.
I'd also love to know your Fun Fact. Hammy's is: Alexander Hamilton and Eliza adopted Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette's son Georges.
Have a wonderful weekend and as always thank you so much for being part of this community. I am so happy you're here.
