Some Stuff I'm Loving
In the week since I posted my plan to travel the US, I've had all kinds of exciting conversations with friends and family. My father asks daily about which RV's I've been to look over. It's been an exciting and overwhelming time. I have been planning this for so long and to put it out there in the world feels so scary (I mean, like, I've pretty much said I'm leaving my job, selling my house, packing up my life). What if things don't work out? My anxiety always wants to ask this question. So, to distract myself from the unending paranoia of having said out loud the thing I want most, here are some things I've been really enjoying lately:
Unsolved Mysteries - I've always loved Unsolved Mysteries. When I was young, the theme music used to fill me with a delicious terror. Robert Stack, in a trench coat, is my ideal man. I love it more now for the happy endings of criminals captured and families reunited. Amazon has updated all 11 seasons of the original Robert Stack series and I am working my way through them. I'm pretty sure I've seen every single episode multiple times, but that doesn't stop me from devouring them. Again and again.
New Wash - in order to maintain my platinum pixie, I need to bleach and tone my hair every four weeks. My hairdresser, T, is lovely and I'm always so happy to go see her, but it definitely does some serious damage to my hair. I recently discovered New Wash which is, apparently, not shampoo but somehow replaces your shampoo, conditioner, and any repair products you use. I've been trying it for about a month now and, I have to say, it's all true: my hair feels great, I have more or less abandoned traditional shampoo and conditioner, and the color lasts longer. It's kind of amazing.
Ruins by First Aid Kit - I am nuts about this Swedish duo and their new album just arrived last Friday. It's good. It's great. It's a wintertime daydream. I am listening to it nonstop right now. If you're into, like, harmonies and folk-y type ladies and country music that sounds like it oughta, then you'll probably love them, too. Just listen to their song "Emmylou" and you'll be hooked, I bet.
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes - I'll be the first to admit that I don't have a whole lot of patience for Shonda Rhimes's TV shows. I know, I know, they're incredibly popular and beloved and I need to get on the Shonda train. Well, I am kinda on that train since starting her book. I'm late to the game on this one, but I've been working on listening to books that inspire me this year and this one kept appearing on everyone's inspiration lists. I don't think I'll get hooked on Grey's Anatomy anytime soon (I mean, it's way too late anyway) but I find her so funny and smart and fearless. Also, I'm only admiring women now because all the men I used to admire turned about to be sexual predators. Duh.
Oui by Yoplait - yes, it's yogurt. I am into it. It comes in a little glass pot and it tastes like one million dollars. Today, I ate a pot of the peach flavor and felt like I might choose it over pie if presented with both and in the right kind of mood. That's saying something.
Good Dental Hygiene - so, when I was in the worst of my depression, I gave up on a bunch of my basic self care. That included brushing my teeth before bed. I still brushed them in the morning before going to work, of course, but who was gonna care if I didn't brush them before bed? It was a habit that I really regretted later. Like most things that happen during depression. One of my goals for the new year was to take really good care of my teeth. My new nightly routine is to use my whitestrips for 30 minutes, brush my teeth, floss, and finish with a rinse of mouthwash. There is something comforting about the routine and I feel like I'm an adult human again. It's small but vital.
Dog DNA Test - for Christmas, I gave my dog, Birdie, a DNA test. She didn't know what it was or care about it, but it made me happy. Yesterday, the results of her test arrived in my inbox. She's mostly Beagle, which I already suspected, but there were some other breeds I hadn't expected and it gave me more insight into her and her behavior. A few months ago, I got really into watching animal communicator videos on YouTube and I thought, for one second, that I would love to hire one to talk to Birdie. This DNA test has prevented me from paying an animal communicator to chat with my dog. I think it was worth it.
