Brandon, are you in my head? I had the exact same day. Everything felt off. I felt entirely out of sorts in a way that nearly never happens to me. It was so disconcerting. I forgot my laptop for work. I took off my mask at lunchtime and an earring fell into my soup. A FedEx delivery went sideways and I spent an hour on the phone with customer service. The sky was ominous and I was trying to run errands after work and get home before it started pouring down. The trains were a mess. I literally told my boss, "I just need to hit the reset button on this day. Nothing is going right." In a misery-loves-company way, but also just in a human way, I'm glad I wasn't the only one, although I wish we'd had better days!
Congratulations on reading your essay on the BBC! We've all had days like yours, but rarely have the gift of sharing a day of "quiet miserable wrongness" so eloquently.
I am a retired, budding artist and lover of the visual arts. I would love to talk with you about buying your M4P Leica.
And last, isn't Jan at Prairie Lights the best? Are you enjoying the book?
Oof. I never notice until after a day like yours that the summer weather has indeed snuck up on me. It's hunker down season again, thoughts and prayers.
This reminded me of how in high school, on a day I didn’t see my best friend I’d call her up and ask what she’d done today, and she invariably began with, “I woke up, got out of bed, and then I brushed my teeth…” which I always found very adorable (so don’t get any ideas that I’m complaining. I was smiling nostalgically almost all the way). And yes, I actually said to a cashier who was apologizing to me this same day for disappointing me twice (retail-ly) that it was fine because it was just one of those days when nothing turns out quite right and it wasn’t her fault. It was in the stars, I guess!
I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but your yesterday actually made me nostalgic for New York. I recall so many of those days in my former city. Here’s the thing, though; these days happen everywhere but, at least in New York, you can find respite – jump into a cafe or a bookstore or sit on a bench and contemplate the convergence of the Hudson with the Atlantic. LA? That kind of “off” day in Los Angeles makes you a prisoner in a metal box. You’re trying desperately to get home in the kind of traffic that just sneers at you.
You know, when seasons transition – we are just about to hit summer’s solstice – there are a lot of jumpy, off days. Have a marvelous time in the UK. A respite from America can do wonders for the soul.
I’m reading the Late Americans right now and so reading this essay kind of felt like interfacing with your writing from the book but in real life?! Like when you offered us the camera it felt like reading a story that I’m a character in. Love it. Would also love to run into you in real life, what a thrill that would be!
Oof that stuffy, humid summer weather, as someone who lives in the DMV that’s when you know summer is arriving. While the vibes yesterday may have been off for you, as someone disabled who doesn’t get out often reading about your day, the observation on the people, was a lovely departure from the too heavy news I read too much of. I find I oddly miss the small talk at times.
Brandon, are you in my head? I had the exact same day. Everything felt off. I felt entirely out of sorts in a way that nearly never happens to me. It was so disconcerting. I forgot my laptop for work. I took off my mask at lunchtime and an earring fell into my soup. A FedEx delivery went sideways and I spent an hour on the phone with customer service. The sky was ominous and I was trying to run errands after work and get home before it started pouring down. The trains were a mess. I literally told my boss, "I just need to hit the reset button on this day. Nothing is going right." In a misery-loves-company way, but also just in a human way, I'm glad I wasn't the only one, although I wish we'd had better days!
Congratulations on reading your essay on the BBC! We've all had days like yours, but rarely have the gift of sharing a day of "quiet miserable wrongness" so eloquently.
I am a retired, budding artist and lover of the visual arts. I would love to talk with you about buying your M4P Leica.
And last, isn't Jan at Prairie Lights the best? Are you enjoying the book?
That was a day! I am going to save your phrase "quiet, miserable wrongness." I know I've been in that place and will more than likely be there again.
I’m so tempted by your M4 but I’ve sworn for years now that I’m saving up for an M6. Enjoy your M6!!!!!
Oof. I never notice until after a day like yours that the summer weather has indeed snuck up on me. It's hunker down season again, thoughts and prayers.
I feel that day.
Is the Vienna book hardcover or paperback?
This reminded me of how in high school, on a day I didn’t see my best friend I’d call her up and ask what she’d done today, and she invariably began with, “I woke up, got out of bed, and then I brushed my teeth…” which I always found very adorable (so don’t get any ideas that I’m complaining. I was smiling nostalgically almost all the way). And yes, I actually said to a cashier who was apologizing to me this same day for disappointing me twice (retail-ly) that it was fine because it was just one of those days when nothing turns out quite right and it wasn’t her fault. It was in the stars, I guess!
I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but your yesterday actually made me nostalgic for New York. I recall so many of those days in my former city. Here’s the thing, though; these days happen everywhere but, at least in New York, you can find respite – jump into a cafe or a bookstore or sit on a bench and contemplate the convergence of the Hudson with the Atlantic. LA? That kind of “off” day in Los Angeles makes you a prisoner in a metal box. You’re trying desperately to get home in the kind of traffic that just sneers at you.
You know, when seasons transition – we are just about to hit summer’s solstice – there are a lot of jumpy, off days. Have a marvelous time in the UK. A respite from America can do wonders for the soul.
I’m reading the Late Americans right now and so reading this essay kind of felt like interfacing with your writing from the book but in real life?! Like when you offered us the camera it felt like reading a story that I’m a character in. Love it. Would also love to run into you in real life, what a thrill that would be!
Oof that stuffy, humid summer weather, as someone who lives in the DMV that’s when you know summer is arriving. While the vibes yesterday may have been off for you, as someone disabled who doesn’t get out often reading about your day, the observation on the people, was a lovely departure from the too heavy news I read too much of. I find I oddly miss the small talk at times.
Thank you for the trip through the city.
I am interested in the m4p, not sure how substack dms or anything work but I've been looking for a good film camera.
Also had a mundane bad monday, had to issue a correction for a piece and got rained on while trying to sell a bookshelf.
DC and some other northeastern cities have the same thing with apartment businesses. My dentist is just in some apartment.
There was a heatwave in London yesterday and it sucked here too. The air was limp! Air shouldn’t be that way
Messy bun woman is sending me. STAY OUT THEIR WAY, they bark!
Yes to Jan at Prairie Lights! Love that bookstore.
got to sleep now but pulled up to page 44 so far, loving reading you bringing me to life again, thank you for writing
after two days I gotta ask. Did you sell the M4?
also, this write up is hilarious and also exhausting.