May Endorsements

You know it's summer because I think Pop Rocks are a good idea.

I broke a sweat walking the dog down the block and back this afternoon, so it would seem summer can no longer be denied. It’s officially June. Which means it’s time to look back at my recommendations from May, as I long for the days of cool mornings and breezy afternoons and mosquito-less evening walks.

(To new readers: Yes! This is still mostly a figure skating newsletter. Sometimes I write about other things, including monthly “endorsements.”)

Muji gel ink ballpoint pens

My niece always asks for “Japanese stationery” for her birthday/Christmas, so I stock up when I run across the good stuff in gift shops or bookstores. I technically bought these pens for her. But then I needed to feel alive on a Tuesday night, so I busted open their packaging for a pen swatch. And then I decided they’re mine now; she wouldn’t appreciate them, anyway. They’re smooth and vibrant and very satisfying to use. I especially love the dark navy ink (third from the bottom in the image above). Because of my narrow handwriting, I tend to gravitate toward a sharper tip (like my beloved Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.25), but I’ve started using these for my journal, rotating the colors so my notebook looks like it has a cade of Pride.

(If you’re curious about the schnauzer notepad, it’s a design by Taylor Paladino. Don’t mind the holiday theme. I can leave the Christmas lights up til January. It’s my house. I make the rules.)

Root Beer Float candy from Trader Joe’s

Here’s what you didn’t know you needed this summer: pieces of vanilla sandwich cookies, dipped in Pop Rocks and a creamy root beer-flavored candy coating.

I wouldn’t consider myself a root beer lover, but these candies have me in a chokehold. After trying them, I immediately packaged some to share with friends because I knew I would not be safe alone with them in my house. One friend later texted the group chat to ask what they were and where I got them. The other responded that she ate them all before I could even explain what they were when I gave them to her in person. I think they’re a hit.

These are seasonal at Trader Joe’s, so make haste if you are interested. Maybe buy two bags and stash one for later in the summer when you need to be delighted.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

This is like Bel Canto meets…The Four Seasons (the Tina Fey show, not the Vivaldi).

Despite my 2025 reading resolution, “Bangers only,” I’ve had a real sad trombone of a reading year. Just so much blah. There are exceptions— like Layne Fargo’s The Favorites. If you’re reading this newsletter, I think you will like it and should pick it up for your summer reading right away. This book is another exception— a total breath of fresh air.

Jane and Dan go out for their anniversary at a fancy cliffside restaurant, La Fin Du Monde. Jane is planning to let Dan know it’s the end of their marriage, but their dramatic break up is interrupted by a gang of climate activists taking the whole restaurant hostage. And then the whole thing starts to feel eerily like the plot of Jane’s one published novel.

Who knew that a premise tying together the end of a middle-aged marriage and a hostage situation could be funny and heart-warming at times? I’m not married, but I could still see myself in some of Jane’s mid-life crisis inner thoughts, and I loved the cast of characters populating the story. This took some unexpected zigs and zags, and I really wasn’t quite sure how it would all turn out. If felt like it could sit at the same dinner table as Margo’s Got Money Troubles and The Wedding People, if that helps give you a sense of the tone. Not a read alike. But they could all be friends.

Sirens on Netflix

This one has pretty mixed reviews online, and I don’t disagree with that. It doesn’t hang together quite right. HOWEVER. I did zoom through all five episodes over the course of two nights. There’s elements of this story you’ve seen before, notably the wealthy white lady who might be a charismatic cult leader or just eccentric and rich. But you haven’t seen this story acted out by Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, and Kevin Bacon. And that really is what makes all the difference. This is just a summer popcorn good time, and you should go into it with that mindset. Goes down easy with a glass of rosé and a throw blanket. Also enjoyed this video digging more into the mythological Sirens that inspired the story.

Three Figure Skating Things:

• Mariah Bell and Brandon Frazier hard launched a romantic relationship with matching Instagram posts. I don’t hate this! Mariah used to be engaged to French skater, Romain Ponsart before he allegedly cheated on her right before the 2022 Olympic season. And then she seemed to have a post-Olympic situationship with Nathan Chen— something they (he) valiantly tried to keep secret, but Mariah kept dropping Easter eggs about them like a Taylor Swift video on ice. Brandon seems like a nice, tall guy who will be happy to make corny jokes with her and engage in all the PDA she wants. And! I do remember wondering if I had the chenbell vibes wrong back in 2022 because Brandon used to leave inside jokey comments on her social posts. My unsubstantiated hypothesis: he’s always been into her; she just figured it out. And, as you can see from the screenshots above and below, it would appear the rest of the skaters in their generation are very into this, which seems like a good sign.

  

• It’s never too soon for NBC to start over-hyping young Olympic athletes and psyching them out in the process. Alysa Liu, Isabeau Levito, Amber Glenn, Ilia Malinin, and Chock/Bates all showed up at the NBC US Olympics promo shoot a couple of weeks ago, and they took a lot of dramatic pictures that I am sure we’ll see again in February. Hilariously, they all clearly arrived and left together… and THEN the Shib Shibs showed up completely separately for their photoshoot. Coincidence or conspiracy? (Related… I’ve seen a lot of scoffing that they should have included Jason if they were going to include everyone else that seems likely to make the team. I think they actually included everyone they thought has a chance to medal individually. I am Team Jason, always, and I obviously think he deserves everything including a photoshoot with fake snow, but I assume this is the practical reason he was not included. OR.. maybe he just said no thanks, I don’t need that kind of pressure. I hope that’s the real reason.)

• But the young American skaters do actually seem to be friends. Here’s Isabeau and Alysa goofing off on TikTok. And here’s Ilia, Amber, and Alysa on Amber’s TikTok. My new pet theory: Ilia is in awe of and a little intimidated by Alysa.

What’s Next: June news updates! Who knows who else might start dating or come out of retirement or post something hilarious on socials?