Category: updates (Page 3 of 4)

To be honest, this month has truly been a struggle. My mental health has been poor, I’ve dealt with some insane headaches, I recently got my first ever speeding ticket, and I’ve ended the month with random shoulder pain. I went into April full of optimism and wanting to make it a fun, meaningful “birthday month” but as a whole it’s worn me out.

That’s not to say that nothing good happened. I still attended my friends’ housewarming party, had a peaceful birthday evening to myself watching one of my favorite movies, got to see the new Ari Aster film on opening night, and had a birthday party featuring great people, great food, and a killer playlist. Just hoping and praying that May is easier on my soul.

• Movies Watched: Scary Movie 2, Ponyo, Escape Room (2017), Reefer Madness, Beau Is Afraid, Not Another Teen Movie.
• TV Watched: Ink Master, Ink Master: Angels, Royal Crackers, Mostly 4 Millennials

Top 10 tracks:

1. TUNNEL VISION (Melanie Martinez)
2. My Darling True (Nicole Dollanganger)
3. Bad Man (Nicole Dollanganger)
4. Crumbs (Rebecca Black)
5. Dumbest Girl Alive (100 gecs)
6. How Not To Drown (CHVRCHES)
7. Moonlite (Nicole Dollanganger)
8. Okay Okay (Lights)
9. Okay Okay – dEd version (Lights)
10. Hollywood Baby (100 gecs)

March was full of all the good things. Professionally, I moved into my first office ever, and I wasted no time decorating it to make it my own. The door sign just came in the mail and that makes it feel even more official.

Personally, I started the month celebrating Tim’s birthday with sushi. What followed was supporting Karen when her floral arrangement was displayed in the art museum, hosting our second annual Jenga tournament, reading and discussing a fantastic book with my brand new book club, going on a shopping spree for clothes that suit me better to refresh my wardrobe, and getting back into Ink Master with a vengeance. The month is likely going to wrap up with another episode or two, along with playing the Resident Evil 4 remake with Tim and Travis, another recent obsession.

Next month is my birthday month, and you better believe I plan on celebrating in little ways every single day.

• Movies Watched: Batman (1989), Final Destination 2, Scary Movie
• Books Read: A Simple Favor (Darcey Bell), Summer Sons (Lee Mandelo), Your Dad Will Do (Katee Robert), Gifting Me To His Best Friend (Katee Robert)
• TV Watched: Perfect Match, The Last of Us, Ink Master, Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, Extraordinary

Top 10 tracks:

1. My Darling True (Nicole Dollanganger)
2. Bad Man (Nicole Dollanganger)
3. So Cool (Dounia)
4. How Not To Drown (CHVRCHES)
5. Moonlite (Nicole Dollanganger)
6. Crumbs (Rebecca Black)
7. Dumbest Girl Alive (100 gecs)
8. DEATH (Melanie Martinez)
9. Okay Okay (Lights)
10. Salt and Vinegar (Lights)

February was a full month. Personally, professionally, all of the above. Every weekend was booked with plans: going to my first escape room, attending the first concert of the year, hosting a movie night for friends, having dinner with family. At this point, I don’t know if I should wish for life to calm down, because it never really works out that way. Maybe I should wish for the ability to handle it better.

In any case, March should be fun, if for no other reason than the second annual Jenga tournament is on the calendar. We’re planning on making it an even bigger production than last year and I’m so excited.

• Movies Watched: Game of Death, Play or Die, The Blackout Experiment, Death Cast, The Task, Death Count, Only Lovers Left Alive, Love on a Leash
• Books Read: The Flatshare (Beth O’Leary), A Novel Obsession (Caitlin Barasch), Follow Me (Kathleen Barber), People Like Her (Ellery Lloyd), Little Scratch (Rebecca Watson)
• TV Watched: Cunk On…, The Last of Us, New Girl, Perfect Match

Top 10 tracks:

1. How Not To Drown (CHVRCHES)
2. Crumbs (Rebecca Black)
3. Moonlite (Nicole Dollanganger)
4. My Darling True (Nicole Dollanganger)
5. Bad Man (Nicole Dollanganger)
6. The Summoning (Sleep Token)
7. King for a Day (Pierce the Veil)
8. White Trashing (Nicole Dollanganger)
9. Mean (Nicole Dollanganger)
10. Gun (Kimbra)

Andrew Callaghan: canceled. Justin Roiland: canceled. Work: tumultuous. Personal life: chaotic. It’s been hard to remain positive considering the circumstances. Feels like I’ve been going through a quarter-life (third-life?) crisis lately.

But good things continue to happen in the midst of the bad. I tried out a couple of new vegan spots and went bowling with friends. My promotion was announced and my pay raise has taken effect. Every weekend next month has been booked with fun plans. There’s a lot to look forward to. Just gotta keep reminding myself to breathe and take things one day at a time.

• Movies Watched: This Place Rules, The Forever Purge, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, Soul Plane, Friday, Escape Room [2017], Escape: Puzzle of Fear, Call Me Miss Cleo
• Books Read: Book Lovers (Emily Henry)
• TV Watched: Blockbuster, The Last of Us, Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Top 10 tracks:

1. The Summoning (Sleep Token)
2. Lavender Haze (Taylor Swift)
3. Where Did the Party Go (Fall Out Boy)
4. I’m a Ruin (Marina)
5. Like Totally Freak Me Out (Jakey)
6. Okay Okay (Lights)
7. Bad Man (Nicole Dollanganger)
8. Miss Missing You (Fall Out Boy)
9. My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark [Light Em Up] (Fall Out Boy)
10. Reeboks Or The Nikes (Jakey)

By the time everything was said and done, 2022 ended up being a pretty significant year in my life. Far and away the biggest milestones were graduating from my master’s in nutrition program with high distinction, and finding a new job I genuinely love and can see myself staying at long-term.

Also sprinkled throughout the year were bad movie nights, live music, Twitch streaming, dinner parties, and gallery openings. I organized and hosted an open house, a Jenga tournament, and a friendsgiving potluck. I wrote fiction and poetry, played video and tabletop games, created art, and cooked some tasty food. But in the spirit of balance, I indulged in books, movies, and some truly trashy TV as well.

So far I’ve started 2023 with a spark of excitement, and I can’t wait to see where this year takes me.

Top 10 movies watched in 2022:

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once
2. Don’t Look Up
3. Barbarian
4. Soul
5. Funny Games
6. #Alive
7. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
8. Searching
9. The Belko Experiment
10. Female Trouble

Top 10 books read in 2022:

1. I’m Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy)
2. The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)
3. Beach Read (Emily Henry)
4. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)
5. You Better Be Lightning (Andrea Gibson)
6. The American Roommate Experiment (Elena Armas)
7. Such a Pretty Smile (Kristi DeMeester)
8. You Deserve Each Other (Sarah Hogle)
9. A Touch of Jen (Beth Morgan)
10. The Roughest Draft (Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka)

Top 10 tracks of 2022:

1. Fourth of July (Sufjan Stevens)
2. Pine Barrens (Jakey)
3. Salt and Vinegar (Lights)
4. Okay Okay (Lights)
5. Personal Cathedrals (Aly & AJ)
6. One and Done (Bright Eyes)
7. You Might Not Like Her (Maddie Zahm)
8. Middle of the Night (Loveless)
9. I Want It All (COIN)
10. Between You & Me (Betty Who)

November went by in a blur of video games, Thanksgiving gatherings, Twitch streaming, and work obligations.

I attempted NaNoWriMo for the first time in years, and though I only hit 3k~ words, I’m proud of myself for any level of creative output.

Also, I made my closest friends perform a one-act play with me, and they enjoyed it so much, we’re planning on all writing our own plays and taking turns going through them.

• Movies Watched: Austin Powers International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember, #Alive, ThanksKilling, Home Sweet Home
• Books Read: Such a Pretty Smile, A Touch of Jen, The Midnight Library, Just Like Mother, Comfort Me With Apples
• TV Watched: The White Lotus, Love is Blind, Drink Masters, Nathan for You, Atlanta, Seinfeld, Little Demon, Pepsi Where’s My Jet?, Rick and Morty, Hamtaro

Top 10 tracks:

1. Drive Off a Bridge (Jakey)
2. Like Totally Freak Me Out (Jakey)
3. Every Day (Jakey)
4. Pine Barrens (Jakey)
5. Survival Horror (Jakey)
6. Reeboks Or The Nikes (Jakey)
7. Question…? (Taylor Swift)
8. Tommy Hanks (Jakey)
9. Fat Head (Jakey)
10. Snow on the Beach (Taylor Swift & Lana Del Rey)