1. It’s Easter weekend, which will be a hard end to a hard week (Mom was the one in our family with faith; she loved Easter and spring and brunch and getting her adult children something for their “basket”). We’re not celebrating–we decided as a family to take a year off from celebrating anything–but I am making a quiche and listening to Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.

2. There is a new collection of Oliver Sacks essays out, including this one on “The Healing Power of Gardens.” If the weather holds, maybe I’ll get some yard work in, too.

1 I have never felt so seen nor so alarmed at being seen than when I read this piece from Danny Ortberg (from the late lamented The Toast): “My Clean Floor” And The Battles You’re Only Aware Of Once You’ve Lost

When did I become The House Noticer? Walk past the fridge, register idly There are thumbprints on the handle. Gotta clean them off. Crumbs in the vegetable drawer, too; someone’s going to have to lift them out with a damp paper towel. And the Pledge gets the dust off the kitchen table but it doesn’t do a thing about the water-glass rings, so someone’s going to have to find out what does that. Are any of the bath mats damp? Wait for the afternoon light to come in the windows so you can see just how not-really-clean all the surfaces really are, giving the lie to the idea that you live in a world filled with order and sense. The house has a secret language all for you, and the last thing in the world it wants is for you to share that language with someone–anyone–else.

2. There’s a roundup of the best “home pants” on Man Repeller. I would argue that the truly best ones are Hudson Pants that you sew out of sweatshirt fleece and savings, but I love that the concept is getting discussed.

3. From McSweeney’s: Things I Wish My Therapist Would Say To Me But She Never Does. Accurate.

1. Much like dismissing people talking about working out, I also dismissed people talking about the joy of an electric toothbrush–until I experienced it.  I got a Goby toothbrush (because the design did not make me sad) and it’s wonderful. It’s like I just left the dentist every time! Also, did you know that exercising is fun?!

2. The Cut asks the important questions in a piece that speaks to me, vacillating about getting bangs: Is This Mega-Popular Instagram Haircut a Lie — or the Truth? I haven’t had bangs since a disastrous layering attempt when I was 12, but I am so tempted. I blame Stevie Nicks (and Instagram):

1. When I have downtime in the afternoon, I’ve been enjoying the “Color Stories” from Katy Kelleher–a longer piece on the history and culture of a particular color. Read one and I guarantee you’ll learn something new.

2. I stumbled on this quote from novelist Donna Tartt and really liked it (honestly, because I still need to be told it’s OK to be a Serious, Smart Person and still like clothes):

Poring through racks of vintage clothes or obsessing over just the right shade of sky-blue or violet satin for the lining of a black jacket stems from exactly the same impulse that makes me tinker happily with a sentence all afternoon, changing adjectives and moving clauses around until it’s just right.

3. The latest from Nathan Pyle’s “Strange Planet” is pretty accurate:

1. This was an interesting take–I’m vegetarian for animal welfare reasons, I try not to buy from companies with terrible labor practices, I avoid “fast fashion, etc. and I still worry about my choices (I mean, less so now that I’m working on managing my anxiety, but still). Having someone assert that “It’s impossible to lead a totally ethical life—but it’s fun to try” was a little freeing.

2. RIP, poet W.S. Merwin.

3. Via Kottke, every type of “hello” you’ll get on a hiking trail.

1. This week was a lot kinder to me; I hope it was to you, too. Still glad it’s Friday, though.

2. Comics from Nathan Pyle have (rightly) taken over the internet in the last week or two, but in case you haven’t seen them:

(Yes, I walk around saying, “I crave star damage” now.)

You can find more on his Instagram.

1. Austin Kleon, talking about parenting and also about the constant striving to be a better person:

If we want to raise whole human beings, we have to become whole human beings ourselves. This is the really, really hard work.

2. Trying to be a better, whole human being is indeed really hard and I have been struggling with it. But I am still on my “no more than 2 drinks a week” train, so that’s a win. I’ve thought of this a lot lately:

(Via)

Celebrate the small wins this weekend.

1. I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t know singer Sam Cooke was murdered at the age of 33 until a couple of years ago. There’s a new episode in a Netflix music documentary series all about him–The Two Killings of Sam Cooke.

2. Austin Kleon continues to give us insight: What I say when I don’t know what to say.

3. Lord, grant me the confidence of this cat: Random Cat Crashes Fashion Show, Fights Models.

 

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1. I’m happy to report my toe is back to about 95%. Hooray for ibuprofen, rest, and sneakers.

2. Via Kottke, this is lovely and heartbreaking: “Closeness Lines Over Time,” by Olivia de Recat (buy it here).

3. And finally, you know I am here for writers being snarky and bossy and correct, so here’s Benjamin Dyer, Random House copy chief, telling you about  ‘Close’ Proximity, ‘End’ Result, and More Redundant Words to Delete From Your Writing.

1. Today marks eight years since I closed on my house. Honestly, I’m still a little amazed I was able to get one and take care of one. Is this how people feel about babies?

2. I know I’m getting older, but nothing reinforces that more than wanting to eat early, a development that only happened this year. Eater agrees that dining early is better, especially in restaurants.

3. Your longer read for the weekend: The Gym Isn’t Usually A Safe Space For Fat Women, But It’s Become My Sanctuary. I came to the gym as a weak and thin woman, but so much of this resonated with me:

Here’s to trying and eating early this weekend, my friends.