Just A Peck 0069 // Dentists, Fraud, Halloween

Just A Peck

Welcome to the latest issue of Just A Peck. I’m glad you’re here!

JOURNAL

Bill and Ted asking their future selves, "If you guys are really us, what number are we thinking of?"

This was the last week where all three of my evening classes overlapped. I finished up my playwriting class (and finished a rough draft of my script!). There are technically two more art classes at GLAFA, but I’ll have to miss the final one. Here’s a picture of the most recent Bargue plate I worked on.

A Bargue plate of a bearded man in profile, taped beside my replication of it

At my regular dentist appointment on Tuesday, I found out that I had a pretty significant infection that had spread to my sinus cavity and that I needed a root canal as soon as possible. This was news to me, since I felt fine. They had an opening Wednesday morning at 9am, and everything went well. (I’ve never had a root canal before, and other than being time-consuming, it was super easy. Thanks, modern dentistry!)

A mirror selfie in the dentist's chair during my root canal
The dentist pointing to an X-ray of my freshly completed root canal

Also on Wednesday, we got a fraud alert on our credit card and had to cancel the card and order replacements. This is always such a hassle.

A Chase fraud alert text about a declined charge, with my reply: NO

But it’s hard to be too mad about stupid credit card fraudsters when our tamaracks are turning! Look at these beauties!

Tamarack trees turning golden in our yard
Golden tamarack needles against the sky
More of our tamaracks in full fall color

I had my second Wingspan League game on Friday, and the hosts served this delicious pineapple upside-down cake (but spooky).

A pineapple upside-down cake topped with candy eyeballs, with a Wingspan game in the background

We gathered with friends on Halloween for party games: Two Rooms and a Boom, Telestrations, and Codenames.

Friends gathered around a yellow table playing Codenames on Halloween

WHAT I WATCHED THIS WEEK

Zabriskie Point poster
Zabriskie Point (1970). Released right at the onset of New Hollywood, Antonioni's first film after Blow-Up is as unfocused in its counterculture messaging as it is in its execution. The over-the-top montage of explosions at the end, however, is both ridiculous and worth the price of admission.
Michael Clayton poster
Michael Clayton (2007). God, I love this movie. The screenplay is a marvel. The performances are phenomenal across the board. I just want to soak in it. Give me fifty dollars' worth.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK

Finished:

The cover of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier (audiobook). Some gothic vibes felt appropriate for October. "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Mrs. Danvers is one for the ages, and the unnamed narrator is a fascinating character study.

In Progress:

MEMORIES

10 years ago — I made this Sharknado costume. There were little LEDs wired into the tornado so I could simulate lightning by clicking a little button inside.

Me in a homemade Sharknado costume: a shark hat and a batting-covered tornado full of toy animals
20 years ago — There are lots of Halloween pics in the archives, but twenty years ago I took one of my favorite photos of the kids with their freshly carved jack-o'-lanterns.
The kids posing with their freshly carved jack-o'-lanterns

Also 20 years ago — Five-year-old Kaylee snuck into Alex’s room, booted up his computer, and took a series of photos of herself in dramatic poses.

Five-year-old Kaylee striking dramatic poses for the webcam

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

Jody and I are headed back to APT this weekend with friends to see the shoulder-season show, Witch. On the way back, we’re going to try to catch Kunene and the King at the Guthrie!

Promotional image for American Players Theatre's production of Witch

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' play Everybody opens at UMD this week. Get those tickets!

Promotional image for UMD Theatre's production of Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

MY FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I noticed that in my life whenever I ignored my need for creativity, it came out as excessive consumption. Times when I kept buying clothes that I didn’t need, shopping for books just to never read them, endless scrolling and watching videos on how to be more disciplined. I’ve come to realize that instead of forcing myself to stop these habits (which were actually symptoms), I should have just sat down and created something. Then the need for consumption goes away on its own without effort.”

— merve

That’s it for this week. Stay safe, friends. Thanks for reading!

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