#61: rotting in the sun, korean scrubs & egg salads
sent from linda's iphone with love
linda:
Hello chickpea. I’m Linda. I’m a radio & TV host, a multi-award winning podcaster with my Linda Marigliano’s Tough Love project, a DJ (though I value early nights to do that much anymore), a serious snacking demon (lock your pantries) and an author. My memoir Love Language came out this year and I realised how much I love tip tapping away at words, so thank you Joss for letting me rip one out for this esteemed newsletter. Away we go!
linda the love expert <3
this is the online bit:
Mubi
For my birthday this year, I yelped with excitement when my boyfriend revealed that he had gifted me a subscription to the film streaming platform Mubi. I’d been complaining that I wanted to sink my brain and eyes into something more substantial than Love Is Blind just to bitch about the contestants. That’s also a great joy in itself, but we need options you know. Do you like films? Do you love the cinemaaah? Do you like feeling things? I love curling up and crying to a French romantic that has transformed me, or an American indie classic, or an acclaimed Korean thriller. I know you don’t want to subscribe to yet another thing, but Mubi really is the tits in terms of offering a range of incredible new and old global films.
Rotting In The Sun
Speaking of tits, and ass, and plenty of dicks, watch Rotting In The Sun. It’s perhaps my top movie for 2023; an extremely camp black comedy thriller, starring director Sebastián Silva and Jordan Firstman playing outrageously fictionalised versions of themselves. A dark and witty take on self-obsessed social media, sexuality and death. It was the first movie we watched with my fresh hot Mubi subscription, and my boyfriend says it’s as good as Jurassic Park (his favourite movie).
jordan firstman rotting in the sun
Voice Notes
Because we are global girls, some of my best friends are spewed across the world aka very very far away from me. But we are nosy as fuck, and we love to know the ins and outs of each others lives. My fingers get tired from typing and so that means, yes, we love a voice note. I honestly love going for a little walk as a break during my work day and listening to a voice note from a friend; just eavesdropping on her life as she tells me about her relationships and what she’s buying at the grocery store. I smile alongside her voice, and send my voice message reply. It is a really nourishing conversation even though it’s not technically happening in “real time.” So send one, even if you think you don’t like the sound of your own voice. Your friend does. They love you unconditionally and want to know about your day.
this is the irl bit:
Egg salads
I purchased an egg salad last week. It was all types of perfect, loaded up with dill, chives, green onion, celery, dijon and mayonnaise. It felt wholesome and comforting after doing a strenuous hike at Runyon Canyon in LA. I stood in a fancy new cafe, feeling bad that my sneakers were shedding dusty dirt all over the floor. I was eyeing snacks that were displayed in a fridge as neatly as a Japanese vending machine. And as soon as I saw the egg salad, I knew it was over for me. I dug into it with hunks of fresh bread at a sunny table outside, and the fresh herbs hit my tastebuddies like crazy. Now I’m making egg salads on the reg; slightly gooey yolks hitting up against crunchy celery, accentuated by robust dill and chives. Shit yeah.
Korean Scrubs
Please, if you can, treat yourself to a Korean spa experience. Sink your beautiful nude bod into the saunas, hot tubs and most importantly, book in for a traditional Korean scrub. You’ll lay on a vinyl table while a sweet but strong Korean aunty scrubs down your entire body. And by entire body, I mean ENTIRE BODY. She’s leaning in and exfoliating every crevice and crack; getting all the angles you didn’t even know you had. She guides you, in minimal murmurs, when to flip your floppy body over. Each time she finishes a section, she hoses you down with warm water. You’re a wet, slippery seal. Your eyes are closed but if you dare to open them you’ll see HUNKS of dry skin that have been exfoliated off your body all over the table and you’ll shudder, realising “Ah, THAT’S why she keeps hosing me down.” When you finally emerge an hour later, your skin will be smoother than you ever imagined possible. Glowing!
Hot Water
Is that hot water? With nothing else in it? WHY YES IT IS. I’ve always found it hard to drink chilled water. At LA restaurants, water is often served with a monstrous amount of ice and I think I might freeze to death while waiting for my food. So I’m constantly asking for “no ice please” and staff look at me as if I’m a sensitive Nonna or an alien or both (a bug eyed Nonna alien). In the comfort of my own home, I’m on the hot water train BIG TIME and I recommend it especially if you get cold in the winters or if you work in an office that has one of those taps that automatically spurts out instant hot water. Sometimes I indulge in a delicious tea (shoutout licorice, my naturally sweet fave!!) and if not, I’m more than happy with a yummy plain hot water. My mum, Janet, actually has the confidence to ask for hot water when we’re out at restaurants. I’m not quite there yet, but maybe one day I will.
GRAZIE!!!!!!