every brilliant thing - september 2024
mimetic desire, [redacted], double ups
This month was characterized by a return to a younger self, including both things that I used to do and things that I had wanted to do but was too scared or insecure to pursue.
In doing things for myself, it was also a month of keeping some things to myself. You’ll see what I mean.
And here’s my September playlist. The 5 that really stuck with me this month are 6, 17, 33, 46, and 53.
As always, if you’re new here or want a refresher, you can click the link below for March’s list and a primer of why I’m writing an EBT list. You can find previous months’ lists on this page.
here’s every brilliant thing i encountered in september:
A trash can with googly eyes1
Live music through a tunnel in Golden Gate Park2
A man and dog sitting with a murder of crows3
Eating sandwiches with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge
Walking on the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time
Seeing pelicans flying in a V formation from above
Looking up at the Golden Gate Bridge pylon from below4
A fascinating conversation about mimetic desire
[redacted]
Aidan declining to make another wish on a loose eyelash because “more than one wish a day is greedy.”
Ice cubes stuck to a metal straw, glistening in the light
Really good balsamic!!!
Interesting conversation with someone who was also dining alone
Being told, “I find you interesting in all of the real ways, not just the cliché ways.”
This silhouette in the sky5
Geese eating apples
Brandon carrying around an acorn (unbeknownst to me) until he found the right spot to bury it
Knowing eye contact
Dropping the subtext
Songs that move me almost to tears (it’s still Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens)
The description, “he looks like the kind of guy who had popsicle juice all over his face as a kid.”
This door to nowhere6
This “no smoking” sign7
Feeling really proud of a song I've written
Finding a sense of clarity during an MRI
Leaves crunching underfoot
This half wet tree8
This pretty bit of wheat9
Getting goosebumps from listening to a song (Love Over Glory by Zinadelphia, around 1:40)
My coworkers rallying to find me sour candy when I was craving it
Thick fog from afar
My trigger point steroid shot giving me hope for adductor recovery
This plant that looks like a moose head10
Hitting a high C in my voice lesson
Friends coming to my rescue when I got locked out of my condo with my cat11
Feeling empowered to be super direct about what I (do not) want
Sidewalk vintage sales
Skateboarding (even when I fall off)
My injury-focused acupuncturist
Waking up form a nap and not feeling worse
Jumping waves in the ocean
Acquiring a flute and having so much fun messing around with it
Learning how to surf12
Our surf instructor Adam, who to me seemed like a caricature of a surfer
This beam filled with polaroids of dogs that visit the store13
Cool thrift store finds
[redacted]
The bookshop category of “hot shit”14
Everything on the menu at Hanloh in Bad Animal Books
Adam saying, “See that there? That’s a double up. That’s where the waves double up. That’s why they call it a double up.”
Pigeons attempting to gobble blueberries15
Spotted during my Panhandle / Golden Gate Park walk with Aidan. We listened for a while, and I danced a little on our way back to our walking path.
At Zelda’s on the Beach with Monika, after our surf lesson. I hope these pigeons are okay and didn’t all choke to death.