Yum & Yuk

OK. Back to it.

Moving, hopeful story: Principal fires security guards to hire art teachers — and transforms elementary school

Awesome: Kim Gordon's Personal Rap Playlist For "Traumatized Times"

I'll definitely be reading the Beastie Boys memoir.

Recently finished Beautiful Ruins, which was highly recommended by both Murder By The Book and the Seattle Mystery Bookshop.
I'm not sure what to make of this book...but I do have things to say! First, while there are some reveals in the plot, I wouldn't really call it a mystery. I got into it quickly, which was great, and really loved being swept up into the book. However, as the book went on, it became less mysterious and lovely and I felt like I could see the plot and structure machinations, and the distracted me. For me, it became more about just watching it unfold as a plot and less of an engrossing, enjoyable piece of writing. Overall, I'd recommend it, especially as a vacation/weekend read, but I wasn't as blown away as some of the reviews had me hoping I would be. (ps: I heard it's becoming a movie, and that makes perfect sense. It could be a great one!)

100 Amazing Trans Americans You Should Know

Rode my bike last week for the first time in months (my mom and stepdad just very kindly sent it to MA from OR) and it filled some hole I didn't even know I had. Something about riding made me feel more like myself, more at peace - even on the loud, bumpy, chaotic streets of Boston (still getting used to city riding).

“Nobody will protect you from your suffering. You can’t cry it away or eat it away or starve it away or walk it away or punch it away or even therapy it away. It’s just there, and you have to survive it. You have to endure it. You have to live through it and love it and move on and be better for it and run as far as you can in the direction of your best and happiest dreams across the bridge that was built by your own desire to heal." - Cheryl Strayed (thanks, Amy!)