My Angel Darlings,

Week 3…. We’re in the thick of it now y’all!!! there’s no turning back - but why would we ever even think to do that?? we’re having so much fun!! At least I ammmmmm :)))

They say the third of anything is always the hardest - and in my life I have found that generally to be true. But opening my computer to start drafting this week 3 newsletter has me singing in the rain!! skipping down the street!! kicking my feet!!

For our week 3 newcomers - this might all be a little overwhelming/confusing? Ask your classmates to catch you up orrrrr I think you can read the past two weeks newsletters as well so you can get yourself oriented :)

SONG OF THE WEEK

The song of the week is to be listened to in the background while you read the newsletter! I have a Spotify playlist that will serve as a database of every song of the week :)

in 2010, Gorillaz (drives me nuts it’s not the gorillaz) embarked on their Escape to Plastic Beach world tour. They made a stop in San Diego, CA where a 13 year old Henry would attend with his older sister Beatrice. This was my first concert !!! N.E.R.D was the opening act!? I think I knew what I was witnessing was cool but I don’t think I knew HOW cool it was. Pharrell and Shay opening for Gorillaz?? I still remember it so vividly - I thought it was so “popular kid” of me that I was at a concert with no parents on a school night. I showed up to school the next day proudly wearing my Gorillaz shirt I had procured the night before. The shirt doesn’t fit me any more of course - my mom still wears it from time to time <3.

Empire Ants is my favorite track off of “Plastic Beach” (one of my favorite albums of all time) for a number of reasons but most notably for the symbolic beat switch and the most incredible feature of Yukimi Nagano, lead singer of one of my favorite bands of all time - Little Dragon. I would encourage all of you to read the lyrics and the background on the song which you can find here.

AFFIRMATION OF THE WEEK

Please read this aloud no matter your location or surroundings:

✨ I AM CAPABLE OF MORE THAN I THINK, AND TODAY I PROVE IT ✨

✨ PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION - DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT - I RELEASE THE NEED TO BE FLAWLESS AND EMBRACE THE BEAUTY OF JUST TRYING ✨

I release the need to be flawless and embrace the beauty of just trying—fucking insane y’all I might need to put that on a t-shirt?? Unfortunately I wrote these affirmations early in the day when I was having a mid-morning coffee high and now it is very much the evening… trying to capture that same energy to write this affirmations blurb is a fight. but guess what. progress over perfection. done is better than perfect. Im putting my affirmations to practice :)

I’m struggling with ‘done is better than perfect’ though… I’m not sure how much I resonate with that. I feel like i’m encouraging you guys to produce shitty shit. as my 6th grade English teacher, Mr. Goldman (rip), used to say - Garbage in, Garbage out. The idea was that if you gave him garbage assignments he would, in turn, give you a garbage grade. ouch!!

Ok so I guess in summation don’t get hung up trying to be perfect but definitely still take pride in your work please please please!

ROSE, THORN, BUD

Rose: today (wednesday) I was at the pool swimming my laps and a VERY sweet elderly lady in the lane next to me told me “it’s so lovely watching you swim - you look beautiful in the water”. this shit hit me right where it counts. i’ve spent my entire life swimming. I’ve spent more time swimming than just about any other thing in my life. As a result I don’t often think about it being a part of my life as it just sort of…. is there. Her saying that did something to me - I could have cried. I hope to swim for the rest of my life - that is the beauty of swimming, and she is a shining example - you can swim for your entire life <3

Thorn: It’s raining…. I jinxed myself with that UV 5 bullshit i was going on about last week :/ lesson. learned.

Bud - I’m going to Palm Springs this weekend with my dearest friends to celebrate my birthday! i’m so excited!! I’ll take lots of pictures to share with you guys cross my heart.

YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Fran Lebowitz is an icon. once a month or so i’ll find myself binging any and all videos I can find of her on YouTube (there are endless). I feel I don’t have to explain why I find her so cool. it’s so evident when you look at her and hear her speak. her acerbic wit and dry humor is unmatched - I love that they had to have a conversation with her in the second video and figure out how to edit out all the clips of her smoking a cigarette. I hope you all enjoy and can find some inspiration from her… Her hand gestures should be put in the hall of fame of hand gestures.

OUTFIT OF THE WEEK

HOLY SHIT WHO IS THAT HUNK WITH THE SURFBOARD - guys please relax it’s me I know I know sexy as fuck. Below you’ll find a picture of a very elated henry posing with his brand new 10’ 24 ¾ ×2 ¾ classic nose rider shaped by North County’s very own Chris Christenson. This board was specially shaped for local San Diego surf legend Cliff Hansen. When I found it on the rack I didn’t have to think twice before buying it. A nice birthday present to myself. this marks the 12th board in my collection. Surfing is happiness!

As far as my outfit goes… I guess 'Outfit of the Week' is really just turning into 'Here’s a picture of Henry.' oh well. i’m wearing some black Lulu lemon running shorts which I honestly cannot recommend enough. they are the 5 inch pace breaker LINED shorts. You can find them here. some black sambas, a black Billy! hoodie, RAEN sunglasses and a Honolulu pawnshop t-shirt. You could find variations of this exact outfit on my body any given day of the week. thanks!!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

This week’s recipe is brought to you by an angel on earth, Meredith Hayden. Arguably her simplest recipe but by far my favorite. You can make any day feel like summer with this one. I add sliced chicken apple sausage to get my protein in. enjoy <3 .

HENRY’S ADVICE COLUMN <3

I’m still brainstorming on how I can best respond to as many of your submissions as possible - it means the world to me that you guys submit your trials and tirbulations to me. Now I need advice myself on how to get back to all of you!

This week I responded to a very inquisitive young lady, Anya, via tiktok:

@henryhenryhenryhenryhenr

Henry’s advice column!! #advice

God forbid you guys throw it a like…

I’m so proud of Anya!!

email me or respond to this newsletter with what you need advice on and i’ll provide my thoughts in future weeks ❤️ 

[email protected]

I love you guys - thank you for sticking with me through three weeks of this nonsensical shit as I continue to figure out how to make this newsletter the best it can be. But you know what they say - Progress over Perfection ;)

I hope you guys have such a good long weekend and you get to relax and enjoy doing whatever it is that brings you the most joy.

I’ll see you guys next week <3

Yours alwaysalwaysalwaysalways,

Henry