OLLI Haaskivi
{QSTNS}
JAN.26
Q : WHO ARE YOU TODAY ?
A : A friend of mine once said I was the most pessimistic optimist sheād ever met and I think some version of that assessment is true today and also every other day.
Thereās an awful lot to be downright miserable about at this juncture in human history but as I write this blurb three weeks into a brand new year, Iām really trying to keep some small but mighty flame of hope alive.
Iāve had enough misery the past few years -- personally / professionally / globally -- Iām really feeling the need to sprint fast in the opposite direction, even (or perhaps especially) in the face of seemingly never ending evidence to the contrary.
Q : What Are You Excited About ?
A : A great friend wrote to me the other day to tell me that heād be in New York City for much of the summer and that news alone is enough to keep me going. There are also a couple work related possibilities that Iām extremely excited about and Iām not ultimately that superstitious but I still donāt want to jinx anything by being too specific here. And finally I want to add that Iām extremely excited about Zohran Mamdani and the people of Minneapolis.
Q : What Do You Do for Fun ?
A : New York City makes fun pretty easy. I love a museum // I love a long walk in a park (or a long walk pretty much anywhere in the city, really) // I love seeing an old film on the big screen at one of our many wonderful rep houses...
I particularly love going to Elbow Bread on Ludlow and sneaking one of their perfect pastries into the Metrograph with me. Solo or with a friend, thatās a pretty ideal
afternoon for me.
Q : Something Underrated ?
A : My Nivea lip balm is really helping me out this winter, I have one in the pocket of just about every jacket I own. Iād also love to give quick shout outs to :
long distance train travel //
ringing someone up just to say hi //
David Fincherās 2007 masterpiece Zodiac.
Q : Something Overrated ?
A : Iām awfully tempted to just write a list of names...
Q : Unsolicited Advice ?
A : I canāt remember if a teacher once said to me āEnjoy yourself, itās lighter than you thinkā or āEnjoy yourself, itās later than you thinkā but honestly both iterations make an important point. I also try to keep close that awesome line from The Philadelphia Story :
āThe time to make up your mind about people is never.ā
