Leslie Farnsworth
@lesliefarnsworth.com
Aspiring novelist with one project in the revising and one in the planning, blog-keeper (which makes me retro), reader, ponderer, flaneuse, yoga person, goofball, friend.
Blog: https://observingleslie.com
Author site: https://lesliefarnsworth.com
Blog: https://observingleslie.com
Author site: https://lesliefarnsworth.com
A year-back look at my 2025 goals (and how I did with them).
Like all of us, I'm more than a bit stunned that it's 2026 already.
Like all of us, I'm more than a bit stunned that it's 2026 already.
Month-in-Review Highlights: December 2025 — Observing Leslie
I didn’t achieve everything I set out to achieve in 2025—some of the
aspirational goals remain aspirational—but I gave every item on my list my
best effort.
observingleslie.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:52 AM
A year-back look at my 2025 goals (and how I did with them).
Like all of us, I'm more than a bit stunned that it's 2026 already.
Like all of us, I'm more than a bit stunned that it's 2026 already.
Ooo. Storytellers among you, something fun to explore.
How musicals use motifs to tell stories
Explore motifs from Hamilton, Wicked, and Les Misérables.
pudding.cool
January 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Ooo. Storytellers among you, something fun to explore.
Les Monstrueuses at mudac in Lausanne is an exhibit of Kévin Germanier’s haute couture work using upcycled materials. Stunning and inspiring.
January 2, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Les Monstrueuses at mudac in Lausanne is an exhibit of Kévin Germanier’s haute couture work using upcycled materials. Stunning and inspiring.
Here in Lausanne, we have a rather unique way to celebrate the new year...
How Lausanne Celebrates the New Year: Burning the Cathedral — Observing Leslie
How does Lausanne in Switzerland celebrate New Year’s Eve? Why, it
fake-burns its gothic cathedral, of course.
observingleslie.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Here in Lausanne, we have a rather unique way to celebrate the new year...
Wanted to sleep on it to ensure it was really, really true and yep, in the full light of the following day I can say I finished that novel draft yesterday. Sure the heck I did.
December 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Wanted to sleep on it to ensure it was really, really true and yep, in the full light of the following day I can say I finished that novel draft yesterday. Sure the heck I did.
We watched the movie “Friendship” this holiday break on high recommendation and… I didn’t get what was supposed to be great about it?
What’d I miss? What’s so fantastic about this film? (Serious question, because I am feeling seriously out of touch.)
What’d I miss? What’s so fantastic about this film? (Serious question, because I am feeling seriously out of touch.)
December 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We watched the movie “Friendship” this holiday break on high recommendation and… I didn’t get what was supposed to be great about it?
What’d I miss? What’s so fantastic about this film? (Serious question, because I am feeling seriously out of touch.)
What’d I miss? What’s so fantastic about this film? (Serious question, because I am feeling seriously out of touch.)
Given that we’re in the season of meals eaten in company, whether of family or friends, why not look into the invention of etiquette for this month's Letter?
Where the heck did all these rules come from, anyway? (Right?)
Where the heck did all these rules come from, anyway? (Right?)
Subscribe to The Letter — Observing Leslie
Once a month, I'll send you a little miniature post with cultural,
historical, and travel observations and fun facts.
observingleslie.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Given that we’re in the season of meals eaten in company, whether of family or friends, why not look into the invention of etiquette for this month's Letter?
Where the heck did all these rules come from, anyway? (Right?)
Where the heck did all these rules come from, anyway? (Right?)
A local store gifted me a bar of soap for the holidays. Before now, outside the dentist's office, I have never encountered the exact smell of that "cinnamon-flavored" tooth polish used in the dentist's chair.
December 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A local store gifted me a bar of soap for the holidays. Before now, outside the dentist's office, I have never encountered the exact smell of that "cinnamon-flavored" tooth polish used in the dentist's chair.
Civilizational high or low that we now have Haribo jewelry for sale in high-end department stores?
December 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Civilizational high or low that we now have Haribo jewelry for sale in high-end department stores?
December 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
My spouse performed a birthday miracle earlier this week: He found me an honest-to-goodness delicious US-style cake.
December 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
My spouse performed a birthday miracle earlier this week: He found me an honest-to-goodness delicious US-style cake.
Head down over here trying to finish the first draft of my latest novel before the end of the year. This year was yet another rough one, writing-asperations-wise, so I'd like to end it on a high, if I can.
December 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Head down over here trying to finish the first draft of my latest novel before the end of the year. This year was yet another rough one, writing-asperations-wise, so I'd like to end it on a high, if I can.
I say this every year, but *how,* seriously, am I already setting meetings in February?
December 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I say this every year, but *how,* seriously, am I already setting meetings in February?
Amidst a worldwide epidemic of loneliness and on the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving, I've been thinking about this again.
Additional ideas for the list, anyone?
Additional ideas for the list, anyone?
Three Ideas for Building Social Connection and Community — Observing Leslie
Community is essential for our health and well being, but it’s not easy to
find. Here are three ways to build community and social connection that
worked for me.
observingleslie.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Amidst a worldwide epidemic of loneliness and on the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving, I've been thinking about this again.
Additional ideas for the list, anyone?
Additional ideas for the list, anyone?
I'm "that aunt," the one who gives books as presents.
Recommendations for reads to captivate a 10-year-old girl and an almost-12-year-old boy? (Both are somewhat reluctant readers, but I'm trying to change that.) 📚
Recommendations for reads to captivate a 10-year-old girl and an almost-12-year-old boy? (Both are somewhat reluctant readers, but I'm trying to change that.) 📚
November 25, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I'm "that aunt," the one who gives books as presents.
Recommendations for reads to captivate a 10-year-old girl and an almost-12-year-old boy? (Both are somewhat reluctant readers, but I'm trying to change that.) 📚
Recommendations for reads to captivate a 10-year-old girl and an almost-12-year-old boy? (Both are somewhat reluctant readers, but I'm trying to change that.) 📚
In next week’s Letter, I’m going to tell the story of William Tell (see what I did there?)…
…including my favorite version of the legend. 🏹
…including my favorite version of the legend. 🏹
Subscribe to The Letter — Observing Leslie
Once a month, I'll send you a little miniature post with cultural,
historical, and travel observations and fun facts.
observingleslie.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:17 AM
In next week’s Letter, I’m going to tell the story of William Tell (see what I did there?)…
…including my favorite version of the legend. 🏹
…including my favorite version of the legend. 🏹
Have we reached "this video call could have been a regular call" yet? Or is that just me?
November 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Have we reached "this video call could have been a regular call" yet? Or is that just me?
Applause for this fierce Swiss graffito.
Made me smile, anyway.
Made me smile, anyway.
November 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Applause for this fierce Swiss graffito.
Made me smile, anyway.
Made me smile, anyway.
It's finally hoodie season!
The Complex Symbolism behind the Hoodie — Observing Leslie
Hoodies have cultural baggage that wearing them will always evoke. Why?
observingleslie.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It's finally hoodie season!
I've read this analysis a few times and it's the one that rings the most true to me. 😬
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
The most likely AI apocalypse
How artificial intelligence could be leading most humans into an inescapable trap.
www.vox.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I've read this analysis a few times and it's the one that rings the most true to me. 😬
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
Recs for relatively recent short story collections you loved? #amreading 📚
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Recs for relatively recent short story collections you loved? #amreading 📚
I looked forward to the change of seasons this year when I realized that the turn inward gives me more time, quiet, and focus for my fiction writing.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
Month-in-Review Highlights: October 2025 — Observing Leslie
The last quarter of the year always feels like such a headlong rush,
doesn’t it?
observingleslie.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I looked forward to the change of seasons this year when I realized that the turn inward gives me more time, quiet, and focus for my fiction writing.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.
I know someone knowledgeable has hypothesized about what comes after the social-media era (as we know it, anyway).
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
I know someone knowledgeable has hypothesized about what comes after the social-media era (as we know it, anyway).
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?
Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?