Author: Sarah (Page 3 of 5)

Where do I even begin about 2023… On one hand, my mental health tanked several times, particularly around April, July, and October. I spent a lot of the year exhausted and overstimulated and just trying to survive.

On the other hand, we took four major trips throughout the year, hosted some pretty decent parties and dinners, saw a handful of concerts and movies in theater, and went on some fun outings. I also thrived creatively, completing a poetry writing challenge and reaching affiliate on Twitch.

I’m not saying toss 2023 in the trash entirely, but I’m very glad it’s a new year and a fresh start. Here’s to better things in 2024.

Top 10 movies watched in 2023:

1. Beau Is Afraid
2. Barbie
3. Carrie
4. The Descent
5. Inside [2023]
6. Re-Animator
7. Only Lovers Left Alive
8. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
9. Evil Dead Rise
10. The Human Race

Top 10 books read in 2023:

1. Summer Sons (Lee Mandelo)
2. Strong Female Character (Fern Brady)
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid)
4. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Iain Reid)
5. Unmasking Autism (Devon Price)
6. little scratch (Rebecca Watson)
7. Book Lovers (Emily Henry)
8. A Novel Obsession (Caitlin Barasch)
9. A Simple Favor (Darcey Bell)
10. Academically Yours (Jennifer Chipman)

Top 10 tracks of 2023:

1. How Not To Drown (CHVRCHES)
2. Head in the Wall (Ethel Cain)
3. Crumbs (Rebecca Black)
4. I Can See You (Taylor Swift)
5. Inbred (Ethel Cain)
6. My Darling True (Nicole Dollanganger)
7. right where you left me (Taylor Swift)
8. Bad Man (Nicole Dollanganger)
9. Moonlite (Nicole Dollanganger)
10. Is It Over Now? (Taylor Swift)

How quickly things can change in a month. It seems like the job situation is stabilizing, and I took a risky move that looks like it’s going to pay off. For the first time in months I haven’t felt a pit of dread after the weekend on returning to work.

In my personal life, I got back to streaming with renewed energy and enjoyment, and have made a network of streamer friends who I virtually “hang out” with and game with. A delightful indie gem, Dave the Diver, took me by surprise and I had a lot of fun playing it.

I also finally checked a couple of dreamy friend hangouts off my list, hosting a tea party and visiting an insanely cool barcade. Will this rollercoaster of a year end on a good note?

• Movies Watched: Carrie (2002), Jason X, Funny Man, Snake Hotel, Puppet Master
• TV Watched: Taskmaster, Scream Queens

Top 10 tracks:

1. Is It Over Now? (Taylor Swift)
2. “Slut!” (Taylor Swift)
3. Suburban Legends (Taylor Swift)
4. Motorbike (Poppy)
5. Out of the Woods (Taylor Swift)
6. Style (Taylor Swift)
7. Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor Swift)
8. Lavender Haze (Taylor Swift)
9. Cheerleader (Ashnikko)
10. I Can See You (Taylor Swift)

October from a professional standpoint was a mess. My workplace feels like it’s in complete disarray, and every day I can hear the band playing as the ship sinks further into the water.

But October from my personal perspective was everything I wanted it to be. Kicked off the month with apple picking and a bonfire, got a tattoo I absolutely love, took an unexpected trip to Philadelphia, spent time with both sides of my family, and watched a decent amount of horror movies.

While my mind is already simmering on Christmas presents and holiday activities, the spooky season isn’t over for me yet. I’m going to keep indulging in the autumn vibes (and searching for a lifeboat).

• Movies Watched: The Descent, Re-Animator, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror, Retro Puppet Master, Joe Pera: Slow & Steady, Ernest Scared Stupid
• TV Watched: Taskmaster NZ, Taskmaster, My Cat From Hell, The Real World, Diners Drive-ins and Dives, Scream Queens

Top 10 tracks:

1. Right Here (Zara Larsson)
2. Inbred (Ethel Cain)
3. Head in the Wall (Ethel Cain)
4. Crush (Ethel Cain)
5. Is It Over Now? (Taylor Swift)
6. StuckInMyBrain (Chase Atlantic)
7. I Never Existed (Chase Atlantic)
8. Anything Like Me (Poppy)
9. Church Outfit (Poppy)
10. BLOODMONEY (Poppy)

Work was more than likely a nightmare but I’m far enough removed now that I’m only going to focus on the good things about September. I saw my friends a lot, which included a spooky escape room, bubble tea, a long-awaited concert, homecooked dinner, and baking ginger snap cookies. Halloween season is in full effect. At the end of the month, we returned to Chicago for the weekend to celebrate Travis’s birthday and do all the goth shit we could find. Additionally, I have a brand new gaming PC that has enabled my Baldur’s Gate obsession in between all the real-life adventuring. So it doesn’t matter that there were moments I was stressin’ or that I didn’t complete another month of album listening. I was busy getting into my element.

• Movies Watched: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Asteroid City, Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs, Carrie, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Trick ’r Treat
• Books Read: Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity (Devon Price), Strong Female Character (Fern Brady)
• TV Watched: Taskmaster, How To with John Wilson, What We Do in the Shadows, Guy’s Grocery Games, Portlandia, Rock of Love, Tiny House Nation, I Think You Should Leave, Fear Factor, Snack vs Chef, Buy My House, Tattoo Redo, Diners Drive-ins and Dives

Top 10 tracks:

1. Head in the Wall (Ethel Cain)
2. Inbred (Ethel Cain)
3. Crush (Ethel Cain)
4. I Can See You (Taylor Swift)
5. Anything Like Me (Poppy)
6. Church Outfit (Poppy)
7. StuckInMyBrain (Chase Atlantic)
8. Gibson Girl (Ethel Cain)
9. Move (Milo Greene)
10. BLOODMONEY (Poppy)