Your discussions of the degradation of our skin suits has you invited to all of my parties. Please RSVP and bring something with aggressive tart salad dressing. AGGRESSIVELY TART IS WHAT REAL LIFE TASTES LIKE.
I am more than honored to get a shout out in your Stack. It comes at an interesting time as I am beginning to exercise again for the first time in a few years. I'm now trying to navigate the fuckery of what doesn't operate optimally because of my PD, because I'm 58 years old, because I haven't moved it in years, and because it was jacked up before (hello, sciatica!) At the end of the day, it hardly matters what bucket I put it in, I just have to mindful of my limitations while trying to get stronger. Cue motivational music!
Let the record reflect that I CANNOT WAIT until I'm cleared to fly and I can put on the overalls and see you in IRL. It will be epic!
I hope you realize that you just dropped at least two Substack titles I would read without hesitation or delay: "AGGRESSIVELY TART IS WHAT REAL LIFE TASTES LIKE" and "trying to navigate the fuckery of what doesn't operate optimally."
I will happily attend ALL your parties. I will wear my Debbie Harry vest and pontificate about how we give birth astride a grave, to use one of my favorite quotes from "Waiting for Godot." Meanwhile, sending motivational music/vibes to get everything operating as optimally as possible, and can't wait for our epic IRL meeting!
The presence of cherished kiddos has made my life perpetually, aggessively TART and in life and salad I guess I wouldn't have it any other way, except for Sundays. Just one mental break day a week... Please!
One of my most vivid memories is of my 80 year-old grandma lamenting her aging body. She had invited me on a birdwatching trip in Belize (as grandmas do, especially when yours is an actual ornithologist!). We were sharing a room. In my mind, she sits on the edge of her sagging bed, in a beige bra, breasts resting on her knees. Her arms are a wrinkled lattice of thin blue veins. Her cheeks sag like a bloodhound’s. Yet her eyes are a brilliant, piercing blue. She giggles girlishly through her dentures. “Oh, Sabrina!” she trills, declaring, like Scarlett O’Hara, “I look SO old! But inside, I’m just a YOUNG thing!”
Moira's advice is one thousand percent on top. And the story about your grandma is priceless. (Also, hello, how awesome that your 80-year-old ornithologist grandma would invite you to go birdwatching in Belize!) xo
i remember that overalls piece with fondness and that it sparked such a friendship makes it even more precious. Its funny as i searched the actress's name after watching some tv ad with Willem Dafoe and them beating some younger couple at pickle ball for a beer and it turns out i loved reading all about the gem that is Catherine O'Hara
Thank you so much—and yes, the friendship was an unexpected and delightful byproduct of the overalls piece! Also one hundred percent agree that Catherine O’Hara is an absolute gem. Moira Rose is a master class in how to live.
Moira... Truly the truest advice ever given. Thank you for this Irena, once again you get right to the heart of all of those delicately weighed feelings and thoughts we rarely express in a daily chat with just anyone, however you're my favorite someone to chirp with.
Your discussions of the degradation of our skin suits has you invited to all of my parties. Please RSVP and bring something with aggressive tart salad dressing. AGGRESSIVELY TART IS WHAT REAL LIFE TASTES LIKE.
I am more than honored to get a shout out in your Stack. It comes at an interesting time as I am beginning to exercise again for the first time in a few years. I'm now trying to navigate the fuckery of what doesn't operate optimally because of my PD, because I'm 58 years old, because I haven't moved it in years, and because it was jacked up before (hello, sciatica!) At the end of the day, it hardly matters what bucket I put it in, I just have to mindful of my limitations while trying to get stronger. Cue motivational music!
Let the record reflect that I CANNOT WAIT until I'm cleared to fly and I can put on the overalls and see you in IRL. It will be epic!
I hope you realize that you just dropped at least two Substack titles I would read without hesitation or delay: "AGGRESSIVELY TART IS WHAT REAL LIFE TASTES LIKE" and "trying to navigate the fuckery of what doesn't operate optimally."
I will happily attend ALL your parties. I will wear my Debbie Harry vest and pontificate about how we give birth astride a grave, to use one of my favorite quotes from "Waiting for Godot." Meanwhile, sending motivational music/vibes to get everything operating as optimally as possible, and can't wait for our epic IRL meeting!
Quoting Beckett in your Wild Fang DH collection vest? Yes, please. Stay tuned for my birthday thoughts, mostly about death!
Very much looking forward to reading your birthday thoughts. Are you a Leo like me?
A Leo LIKE YOU??? Yes, I am. Birthday is 8/4. And you??? (of course we're both Leos. this makes so much sense)
August 20, and YES IT'S ALL CLEAR NOW
The presence of cherished kiddos has made my life perpetually, aggessively TART and in life and salad I guess I wouldn't have it any other way, except for Sundays. Just one mental break day a week... Please!
One of my most vivid memories is of my 80 year-old grandma lamenting her aging body. She had invited me on a birdwatching trip in Belize (as grandmas do, especially when yours is an actual ornithologist!). We were sharing a room. In my mind, she sits on the edge of her sagging bed, in a beige bra, breasts resting on her knees. Her arms are a wrinkled lattice of thin blue veins. Her cheeks sag like a bloodhound’s. Yet her eyes are a brilliant, piercing blue. She giggles girlishly through her dentures. “Oh, Sabrina!” she trills, declaring, like Scarlett O’Hara, “I look SO old! But inside, I’m just a YOUNG thing!”
P.S. I am definitely following Moira’s advice! 😁
Moira's advice is one thousand percent on top. And the story about your grandma is priceless. (Also, hello, how awesome that your 80-year-old ornithologist grandma would invite you to go birdwatching in Belize!) xo
Yah, she was a vivacious battle axe biologist. RIP, gramps!
Tall person energy: I'd never heard that term, but I'm sure it was invented to describe you! Thanks for yet another deeply readable post.
Aww, thank you! I will hold onto my tall person energy as a consolation prize for never getting to be anywhere near 5'3". 🤣
i remember that overalls piece with fondness and that it sparked such a friendship makes it even more precious. Its funny as i searched the actress's name after watching some tv ad with Willem Dafoe and them beating some younger couple at pickle ball for a beer and it turns out i loved reading all about the gem that is Catherine O'Hara
Thank you so much—and yes, the friendship was an unexpected and delightful byproduct of the overalls piece! Also one hundred percent agree that Catherine O’Hara is an absolute gem. Moira Rose is a master class in how to live.
Classic Irena - funny and sharp and deep. Also, Pnin!
Thank you! We've talked about Pnin before, right? If not, we absolutely should. It's one of my all-time favorites.
Moira... Truly the truest advice ever given. Thank you for this Irena, once again you get right to the heart of all of those delicately weighed feelings and thoughts we rarely express in a daily chat with just anyone, however you're my favorite someone to chirp with.
Moira is a shining example of how to live, dress, and think. Fabulous in every conceivable way, and also in some that haven't even been invented yet.
Thank you for your kind words. I am so, so grateful that the monologue churning in my head is connecting. xo
Love this.
I really wish I had taken 1,000 naked pictures 🫣 but it’s never too late, as we are all moving in the same, one direction.
It's NEVER too late! Because we will never be as young as we are right now, which is something I have to remind myself about on a regular basis.