going full pop star at the mall.
5 things going on cette semaine.
Greetings from the French village!
I write to you happy as a clam in my little closet office painted pink where I have all sorts of inspiration around me from my favorite rock books to my teeny crystal collection from when I worked at a New Age store. It smells of the sandalwood candle I bought at the Rosa Bonheur museum near my house and the view is unbeatable.
Now on with the five things going on…
1/ Paris Stuff
I sometimes go into work with Aurélien and squat at one of the empty desks. It feels good to shake things up a little and as much as I love working from home (I think the intro gave it away), there’s nothing like working around other people and feeling that energy of movement. It’s a mixed office of city architects and you know, real ones (sorry Aurélien!) But what really tickles me is how much I confuse the 20-somethings that work there. Let’s just say it: to them I’m old. And so is Aurélien (sorry again!) so when they see us joking around and getting things like memes or knowing of a Youtuber, it visibly disorients them. Like, you can see it. And I want to tell them that 40 isn’t that old. But would I have believed it at that age? Probably not.
Anyway, here’s the cafe us old people went to for lunch at République because we’re no longer on a 20-something budget. (There’s good points to every age, I tell ya.)
2/ Small village stuff.
Excitement alert. I'm booked this year to perform at Record Store Day at the Espace Cultural at Leclerc, which is fancy-pants French talk for…the supermarket. Oh, wait…hold on…it’s not the supermarket but rather...THE MALL.
But hold up.
Tiffany played in the mall.
Debbie Gibson played in the mall.
Britney?
N’Sync?
Maybe.
But now….ME.
I’m going to follow in the footsteps of pop stars of yesteryear and perform at the fucking mall. It’s also the same mall every parent from my son’s school goes to on Saturday for groceries as they will walk by during my set with their shopping carts. My son isn’t embarrassed yet…. I think I get one more year.
I’ll be testing out songs I’ve written for my next novel, filling in with three-different eras of Taylor (Midnights, evermore, and Fearless) as well as other fun bits to pad up the thirty minutes they gave me. Hmmmm, maybe I should add Tiffany’s cover of “I Think We’re Alone Now” to complete the popstars in the mall theme. I might need big hair, too.
To be continued…
3/ Currently consuming
I’m just about to finish watching the entire series of The O.C. (if you remember, I wrote a ‘Stack about me reading the oral history). In the book, the creators talk about how awful the final season is and how it was a big joke and nothing made sense with Mischa Barton no longer on the series. I’m going to have to respectfully disagree and say I’m loving how ridiculous this final season is. The other seasons I felt took themselves way too seriously and this one is just fun with enough drama to keep me interested. Julie Cooper stays amazing the whole time and how the hell did she not get a spin-off or is at least a Housewife? I love this actress so much. I’m so glad they never killed her off or sent her to Pittsburgh or Portland or Chicago. But I’ve noticed there’s no more indie rock. No up-and-coming band cameos. Also, Ryan (the character not the actor) is sort of an asshole…how is he always getting girls? Oh…right…as someone who used to date assholes…it checks out.
4/ Book stuff
This will be a post on its own when its time but I’m bursting at the bit because I have someone really special, and not to mention does important shit for freaking Barbie (her work is featured at one point in the movie) doing the cover of my next book.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Seven-year-old me is squealing with a side-ponytail. A present-day me is still pinching herself that it’s even happening.
To be continued…
5/ Fun & Games
Last night Aurélien and I thought it would be a treat to show Georges our episode of Househunters. It’s not my favorite thing to watch because I do think I look like an asshole with my wine-guzzling moon-face but for our little guy, we thought it would be a fun family activity we have been saving for when he was old enough to appreciate it.
So we put it on with the two of us eyeing each other with excitement because this was going to be special…
Well.
I forgot.
Our son is of this next generation where we are ALL on camera. ALL THE TIME.
Seeing his tempered response, we pointed out to him how well the production was and locations in Paris he knew.
“Ah, ouais,” he said, trying to drum up excitement as he just looked confused why it was different from the montages and little clips we already make. Telling him it aired on TV also had no impact because he doesn’t watch TV. The experience fell flat and we turned it off before the end because I couldn’t take my face anymore. Like, make it stop.
So, that was our week in a nutshell. I’m wishing you a lovely weekend and if you celebrate, Happy Easter…hop hop.
Your senior citizen friend,
Where can I watch that episode? 😏