Emily On Her Couch For A Bit
Or wherever she wants to be.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the pressure we put on ourselves to not stand still, particularly as so many people are commodifying their every move for public consumption. Whether it’s a morning jaunt to a trendy coffee shop or a lengthy summer sojourn in Europe, both of those things make refrigerated cold brew concentrate and homemade scrambled eggs seem distinctly unsexy. But is that really true? Can slowing down for a period of time—just for ourselves—feel equally worthwhile in a world that constantly puts pressure on you to move? I mean, the show is called Emily in Paris, not Emily in Her Home Quietly Eating an Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Drinking Water, And Getting Daily Steps In So Her Endometriosis Doesn’t Flare Up Again. Yes, that one is a bit specific to me. But you get the point.
Especially in this new era of remote work, it feels like what once was “hustle culture” has been replaced by “look at me being truly alive outside of my apartment culture”—better name tbd. There’s even one guy on Instagram (who must be trolling us all) that has made his entire brand “day trips” to places like Italy and Egypt. Yes, Egypt. And if sleep deprivation, burning money, and a massive carbon footprint make him happy, go with God, my guy. But are we chasing the high of being alive (cue Mandy Patinkin), or looking alive?
After a summer full of joy, travel, visitors, exhaustion, and copious dairy (ouch), I’ve slowed down for a moment—my body made me, really, as I currently have Covid—and I quickly started to panic in the stillness. Okay, so what’s next? Because, as previously stated, we’re young and alive and who knows when the world will end so shouldn’t I be hiking or at the beach or in Paris eating croissants before it does???
That’s the message we are being inundated with constantly, by peers and tv and influencers and also JD Vance, who can’t stop going on vacation. And sometimes, the answer is yes!!! I’m not suggesting we burn our passports or seal ourselves in bubbles—quite the contrary. I just worry that existential dread and social media keep us moving and planning (and posting) because we’ve allotted it more value than a quiet night in making a nice dinner for ourselves. But maybe equally important to going to Paris is knowing that Paris will be there when your mind and body (and bank account) are fully equipped to go. And if that’s true, what feels romantic and worthwhile and fully alive right now can be refrigerated cold brew and homemade scrambled eggs and water and sleep and general self-care (but not this scary, weird kind that people put on Instagram as rage bait!!!!)
So to answer the question you’ve had since I started on this not-so-brief journey: yes, I had therapy today. And I’ll have more to say about tech fatigue and social media in an upcoming newsletter (here’s a Google Form if you want to tell me about your analog hobbies!!!) but for now, I mostly wanted to say whether you’re reading this on the couch in old pajamas or on the pyramids in Egypt (for more than 8 hours, I beg you), I’m glad you’re here and I’m glad you’re there. It’s all great.
In politics: By now, you’re well aware that Trump has federalized the D.C. police (put it under his control) and deployed 800 National Guard troops to our nation’s capital to “rescue” it from “crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor” (okay who gave this guy a dictionary!!!) even though crime is down in the District and even around the country—and FBI Director Kash Patel accidentally said as much during the press conference announcement.
On Tuesday night, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the “authoritarian push” and told local community members to “protect our city, to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule,” which sounds cool and poetic in theory, but I do wonder what it means in practice—especially in a city where residents are more likely to be armed with that day’s Wordle answer (don’t tell me!!!) than any other weapon. At the end of the day, remember two things: 1) Donald Trump is in the Epstein Files and 2) if you’re in D.C., definitely go to All-Purpose Pizza.
This Friday, Donald Trump will meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska—though he first accidentally said he was going to Russia (where’s the book, Jake Tapper???) In theory they’ll be discussing an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine (notably, without Ukrainian Pres. Zelensky), though Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the discussion a “listening exercise” for Trump, who needs all the practice he can get.
Smithsonian museums are now under intense scrutiny ahead of America’s 250th b-day next year in order to “ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” So stay tuned for an exhibit on how it was called the “Trail of Tears” because everyone just couldn’t stop laughing.
Quick tips: RFK Jr. remains a useless skin bag who blamed the CDC for the antivax shooting on its campus. JD Vance can’t stop talking about how his kids hate him. And watch this ad from Senate candidate Josh Turek, who is running against Joni Ernst (yes, the GOP weirdo who told her constituents we’re all going to die.)
In food: Jeni’s Ice Cream is collaborating with artist Cj Hendry on a black flavor called opaque, available to try this weekend in Soho. Hot tip fav Graza olive oils are now available in glass bottles. And the Tesla diner in LA is already struggling just two weeks after opening, now with a condensed menu and shorter hours. Sounds like someone needs a Department of Restaurant Efficiency <3.
In culture: The Mamma Mia! revival dominated the Broadway box office last week—okay so who’s going with me? Taylor Swift announced a new album on her boyfriend’s podcast. And Jack’s journey on The Gilded Age has been one of the most compelling—as was this interview with self-described “clock twink” Ben Ahlers, who plays him.
Previously on Hot Tip:
And now, some links!
Buy me a coffee.
Follow Hot Tip on Instagram.
Got a hot tip? Let me know.
Shop the products I love and use most (contains affiliate links!)
A thousand times yes! As someone who has recently returned to instagram after going dark for years, I find myself comparing my current social media presence that reports almost nothing, to my younger self who documented and posted every single little thing that I was doing- even the mundane because I made it feel cinematic by capturing it in a beautiful way.
Am I boring now? Or is this growth? Even when I do cool things, I no longer feel the desire to share. What's wrong with me!?! Am I just shy now, or am I mature? Who knows? And should I care? So many questions, but I'm glad I'm not alone in pondering this weird online world.