#there are always het sharks in the water in these parts

[whiskeyswifty]

So Long London is THAT BITCH I love that song it’s quickly emerging as a fave from the first half. I love that you contrasted it with peace which also reminded me of “he built a fire just to keep me warm” in call it what you want and find the trajectory notable—that she seemingly accepted that help/fire given to her while he…did not and so she just kept burning herself further and further, like you said (ik u don’t care abt the men haha I’m more talking about the narrative she tells as a whole!)

I really like it a lot!! It’s one of my favorites overall easily. It’s so interesting sonically and that propulsive beat, as if she’s running away or finally moving forward after stagnation for so long! Love it.

Ooooo good point and that’s even more interesting that they build a fire to keep her warm, but she makes herself a fire to keep them warm… yeah oooof. I think I took the give and take in a So Long London as not that they rejected her help, but that her way of helping (as a non-professional in this arena) was being by their side as they went through it, or offering bandaids as each bout of sadness arises. Ultimately, they relied on those things in lieu of actually helping themselves. They had no interest in escaping that sadness long term and continued to succumb to what seems to be depression as depicted in the song, to the point where they were going to use her eternally as a source of happiness on the best days and let the depression run roughshod all over her and their relationship on the worst days. Hence why she says “you sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days.” Taylor seems to say that while she herself has bouts of sadness, even a bit more than the average person in her eyes, she doesn’t want to wallow in it or at least not anymore, and desires a more proactive life. She wants to get better and be more joyful in the world. She decided she wasn’t into being with someone who was only interested in wallowing in their depression and wanted her to join them down in the darkness. And I think the CIWYW line is even sadder if you take those as being about the same relationship, as it indicates that things were good once. Maybe it was just because they were equally sad at that time and comforting each other as they both wallowed and comforted each other, who knows.

And I love most that ultimately, the song is such an adult breakup song because it’s about how sometimes you just wish someone was different. No wrongdoing or betrayal, just two people who maybe fit together once but grew apart and resent each other for not being what they each wanted and then resenting that resentment in each other. Or one person grew and the other stayed in place, rather. Happens all the time! It’s sooo refreshing and real in that way and she’s not mad at them exactly, because as you grow in age and experience, you understand you cannot change people and you cannot expect it either, so she’s just mad it came to this. Mad that they didn’t grow together and now she has to leave so much behind, lose wayyyy more than them. She lost a life! That they’d built! When she says “I’m just mad as hell cuz I love this place” god it guts me so deeply because oh god, having to rip yourself away from everything you’ve grown to love because it’s for your own good, oh goddddd its agonizing. God what a song.

Also lmaoooooo you know me! I don’t care about anyone’s boyfriend tbh, not even hers. But I’m not fully delusional in that I don’t think they exist! I don’t like to speculate about them because I truly don’t give a shit. I also fully ignore the male pronouns not because I’m insinuating anything but just honestly because I can ✌️

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

12 of 2022

How do you feel about your neighbors?

Some are okay, one is an asshole, the rest we’re pretty indifferent to, but always polite.

Did any of your babysitters ever let you do things your parents wouldn’t?

I’ve never had a babysitter in the first place.

What is your favorite swimming stroke?

I can’t swim, despite being born and raised by the sea. So none.

Would you ever want to learn to play the bagpipes?

Sure, it would be fun.

You have one match. What would you like to burn?

I would watch it slowly fade.

What are your thoughts on men wearing kilts?

It’s a part of national heritage of one of the countries, no?

What underwater creature scares you the most?

Sharks.

Was there ever a bomb threat at the school you go/went to?

...no? This is Europe. Yeah we do have many Arabs here, but I think it’s wrong to assume each of them is a terrorist.

Do you befriend others because of something you might gain from them?

No, I befriend people because I like them and they like me, that’s all.

Which excites you more: Spring Break or X-mas vacation?

I’m on a disability note anyway, so who cares.

Do you contribute to charities?

No, I prefer to contribute to individuals. Although I’ve donated a bit for Ukraine.

Would you rather dye your own hair or have it done by a stylist?

Doing it on my own is cheaper.

Would you rather live in a pyramid or in a castle?

A castle.

What do you feel is the ugliest part of the human body?

Genitals and feet, can’t decide.

What’s your take on Will Ferrell movies? Funny or annoying?

I don’t even know who it is.

Insert a totally random phrase from another language here:

“Het is alsof er ‘n engel op m’n tong pist.”

Does your family go crazy cleaning house when relatives are coming over?

I live with my spouse and we clean on a weekly basis. And here you need to be invited before visiting someone. Family included.

What was the last thing you broke?

Someone’s heart, apparently.

Do automatically flushing toilets annoy you?

Seems we don’t have them where I live.

Would you rather have waffles or pancakes?

Both, I know all kinds of waffles and many kinds of pancakes. Poffertjes included.

Do you look like an idiot when you run?

I don’t run.

Have you ever moved? How many times?

Too many times.

What body of water is closest to where you live?

The North Sea.

Do you like using big words to confuse people?

No, but I like to confuse people anyway.

Have you ever built a Lego masterpiece?

Nope, not even remotely close.

Have you ever developed your own film in a darkroom?

Yes. My dad used to have a darkroom and he has taught me a lot.

What’s the weirdest street name in your town?

There are a lot, but I’ll come with Schaarstraat, schaar means scissors in Dutch.

Can you bust a move?

To dance? Nope.

Do you buy colorful shoelaces?

Not anymore, but I happen to have neon green ones in my boots.

Where did you have your first date?

Nowhere. We were just chilling out together and then he said “Hey, I’m in love with you”.

Did you ever have to wear a retainer?

Not even for a day.

Do you have any weird phobias?

Yeah, I fear the sound of clocks. Not the ticking, but the sound pendulum clocks make every hour. It’s the easiest way to scare me at night :P

Have you ever felt an earthquake?

Only slightly.

Were you a planned pregnancy?

Apparently I wasn’t, neither was my sister.

What store in the mall would you never get caught in?

We don’t have malls here.

Are you prepared with a foam finger when you watch sports?

No, it’s stupid. And I don’t watch sports either.

Were you brought up with Nerf toys?

I don’t even know what that is.