Hi. Let’s just sip some tea. Recover from last week’s essay. And gather some practical shit to make life easier.
We use the Draw Names website every year for Secret Santa in my family. Being adults with various incomes made it too difficult to buy quality gifts for everyone (I’m the eldest of five). So we just draw a single name among the adults and get something nice for that one person.
I keep non-floofy condolence cards on hand. Just restocked after using my last one. A card is never much in the face of loss but it does matter that we acknowledge devastation. And sometimes, getting a card years later can feel loving too, especially during tough seasons like Nov-Jan in North America.
I made this thing for people getting married. Because the wedding industrial complex is stupid.
I have high demands for what gets played in the background while I do the tasky-tasks I don’t want to do. I love shows I can watch with Pippin in the room that have real plot, dynamic characters, witty dialogue, no violence, and no explicit sex. Bonus for British accents, great fashion, and on-site filming. Further bonus for not-period-drama. The only thing that’s fitting the bill here is The Diplomat (Netflix).
You can make registries on Bookshop.org now! I have a running one for myself and for Pippin. Updated regularly so I’m prepared if someone asks me if I have something I’m looking for. The great thing about Bookshop is that you know the books you are getting aren’t bootlegged!
I live by YNAB—You Need A Budget. Robbie and I aren’t sticklers about holding to our categories but it’s an actual way to know where things are going and how to make different decisions. Works for my SpreadSheetHatingBrain (Yes that’s a referral link which gives you and me a free month)
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library just opened a chapter in Central PA. FREE BOOKS. EVERY MONTH. Also available in other countries!
If you make websites that help people evaluate candidates, bless you.
If you’re a candidate who doesn’t reply when these websites send you a questionnaire, fuck you.
If you’re a candidate for anything at all and don’t make a website where you say in your own words what matters to you, go to hell.
My voting on Nov 7 was way more chaotic than it should have been especially around school board. I miss Montgomery County, Maryland where everyone submitted detailed answers to every single one of these survey websites including detailed coverage in local press.
I was getting ready to switch up my closet but a genz, queer barrista loved my wildfang jumpsuit in Philly last week so never mind I’ll keep wearing it.
A reminder that you should get new running/walking shoes. And they should be designed for those activities. And you can find the right pair and get them fitted correctly at the very nice running shoe stores that actually serve everyone and have no judgement about how fit/unfit/active/inactive you are. Yes, your shoes that are still super cute but are three years old are going to destroy your hips and knees. Stop acting like you’ll be young forever and it isn’t wrecking you now.
reading:
Touched Out by Amanda Montei
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld