July 3, 2025, 12:04pm
This week, our happiness came in a binary. We took pleasure indoors and outdoors. Some of us got jollies in nature, beholding birds and helming summer picnics. While the vampires among us took solace inside, where we listened to moody tunes and applauded oddballs.
Drew Broussard has spent the week looking forward to an unusual Fourth of July ritual—holing up in the bedroom with his wife and “very nervous dog” to keep the latter company during the fireworks. Calming techniques to include singing, blasting Brian Eno’s Music for Airports, and a rom-com marathon. I’ll be stealing this itinerary, too.
Molly Odintz has a glorious hack, also for the indoor kids: watch a Virginia O’Brien number from one of these 40s MGM musicals and try to count how many times she blinks.
According to Molly, O’Brien, who started her acting career paralyzed by stage fright but went on to specialize in an eerie deadpan delivery, “blinks less than a real estate agent. Less than Patrick Bateman.” But that’s just the tip of her strange charm. Anyway, here’s a clip to get you started. Start it at 0.50.
McKayla Coyle also caught joy from music. Specifically a band called Moody Joody. The Nashville-based pop-synth outfit makes exactly the kind of music they’ve been looking for. “El Camino High” is a pure bop.
And now, for the sun bunnies out there. Oliver Scialdone got joy playing pass the shovel. “Pass the shovel is a game where my partner’s baby niece hands you a plastic sand shovel, takes it back, then hands it to you again, over and over forever.” I can also attest that this game is pure joy when played with almost any human under three, especially provided the older party is willing to lose.
In at least two cases this week, man bested nature. Two of Lit Hub’s best Dads actually built things outside. Dan Sheehan set up hummingbird feeders on his balcony, and is now inundated with broad-tailed hummingbirds whose “striking iridescent pink throat feathers” taunt the dog. For any inspired to tease pets of their own, most of these will run you less than $25, and fit on a fire escape.
On the East Coast, editor in chief Jonny Diamond erected a swing set for his little one. Which would be happy-making enough—but extra joy comes after bedtime, when he and his wife sit on the swings “and drink beer like suburban teens.”
And speaking of summer nights, Jessie Gaynor has been spending a lot of time at the local pool—”which is staffed by teens who have over-30 face blindness,” a fact she finds “strangely comforting.” Water’s made a refuge from the rough Virginia heat. But the real headline? Jessie’s kid just learned to swim!
Two chefs in our stable got joy in the kitchen. Emily Firetog highly recommends a watermelon, feta, mint leaves and pickled red onion summer salad, which she claims will be perfect for your next picnic or dinner party. If you favor math in the kitchen, this Serious Eats recipe has got you covered.
And speaking of serious snacks, James Folta also recommends a fridge companion, suitable for summer days. This tortilla española recipe is solid, and has a nice video explaining the flipping technique—which James claims isn’t as scary as it seems. “Cooled off in the fridge, this is great on a little sandwich with some cheese and a little extra salt, or on a plate with some hot sauce. Or even eaten by the slice, by hand, while pacing your apartment and wondering if you’ll ever stop sweating.”
Whatever your druthers this dubious holiday weekend, we wish you cool breeze, quality time with the little creatures you love, and finger-licking bites. In and out of doors.
