l-o-v-e-love 💓

Catch up with the lazy capricorn podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcast. In Episode 21, we catch up with The Rose family in Sims 4 and all of their drama and why Disney and Pixar’s Elemental is the greatest love story of the year!

Happy Thursday, Cozy Readers 🌸

If you haven’t listened to the above love note yet, here’s the shorter version: the lazy capricorn podcast episodes will no longer appear in the weekly Substack newsletters. Instead, listeners can subscribe to the pod on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Weekly newsletters will be delivered every Thursday and podcast episodes will continue to release on Sundays. Thank you for starting this podcast journey with me here, but we’re expanding you guys!! And I’m really excited about it 🥰

I’m in community with each of you and so every week, I’ll also share my response to the writing prompt(s) presented in the latest podcast episode. In Episode 21, for the love of the family, the writing prompt reads:

what’s your favorite love story and why do you love it?

After considering my own answer, I realized how broad of a question this is! There are so many love stories across so many mediums, how do you even choose? So… I didn’t 😅 Yes, yes, I’m cheating a little on my own writing prompt. I’m a love girl in all the ways that matter so I could not possibly choose just one. Outside of Elemental—which is truly a top tier tale—here are my favorite love stories.

Life Itself

The first set of lovers is also from my favorite film. Life Itself is about a New York City couple’s journey through college into adulthood and how their choices ripple through generations (and across continents). Through the stories, we witness the birth and death of love and all the different ways they can be displayed, whether purposely or unintentionally. Without giving too much away, because this is truly a film that’s meant to be experienced, this is a love story that speaks to my desire for a love so deeply ingrained in my DNA that it undeniably crosses multiple timelines. Life Itself is available on Amazon Prime for the free.

Big Fish

Another great film that I can watch again and again. The 2003 movie, adapted from the 1998 book Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace, is about the incomparable Edward Bloom and his extraordinary life. As Edward recounts his tales to his son William for the umpteenth time, we learn about his adventures courageously helping a kind but hungry giant, seeing his own death in the glass eye of a swamp witch, and meeting twin singers who share one set of legs from being attached at the hip. While most focus on the story of Edward and his soulmate, Sandra, I like to think this is a love story about Edward and William. By the end of the film, we watch William grow an adoration and respect for his father’s fantastical stories and miraculous feats. But above all else, he grows to love him as a man, which is what I think most parents want. (Let me go call Ike right now 😭). Big Fish is available on Apple TV for $3.99.

Marina Abramović and Ulay

Podcast listeners know I have no problem shedding a few tears and over the years, no matter how many times I read, watch, or learn more about performance artists Marina Abramović and Ulay (born Frank Uwe Laysiepen), I am hysterical. I recently tweeted about the intimate love that can exist between two artists working together and their story is true to this statement. After 12 years of daring collaborative work, the duo performed their last act as a couple on March 30, 1988, titled “The Lovers.” They began at opposite ends of The Great Wall of China and planned to meet in the middle and celebrate their love with a wedding. After waiting eight years to get permission from the Chinese government to even to do the performance, they walked across 3,700 miles towards each other over the course of 90 days. At the end of the walk, when they met in the middle, instead of a celebration, they decided to end of their relationship and partnership. After little to no communication during the 20 years that followed, Ulay arrived at Marina’s 2010 solo exhibition titled, “The Artist is Present,” at the Museum of Modern Art where strangers sat in front of her without speaking—which Ulay obliged. Above is that exchange. (Yes, I rewatched it and now I’m crying and typing, ugh!) Before Ulay passed away in 2020 (fuck cancer!!), they sat together one last time for a documentary where they they talked about their life, love, and legacy. We can all only wish we experience a love so cellular that it shifts your very being.

✨ a healthy dose of the internet ✨

refinery 29: how Black women in hip-hop changed the way we talk about AIDS by taylor crumpton

things to do instead of social media early in the morning, but still on your phone.

i didn’t know i needed all these random video game facts, but i really did

i’m obsessed with this sims 4 build challenge where each room is a different decade made by simmer twins caryn and connie! how chaotic and fun LOL 😆

.5 until i die!! aka. my latest instagram reel that i’m so proud of 🥰

🌀 friendly reminders 🌀

🤍 tune into the lazy capricorn podcast this Sunday, we’re talking cozy games releasing in July including the one i’ve been waiting for since 2022!!!

🤍 follow me @bymonathomas

🤍 rate & review the lazy capricorn on spotify

🤍 share this podcast with someone you love