As you can probably infer by how late this post is coming out, July was not great. It started with so much promise through a trip to Chicago and a Mega64 live show. Then shortly after we returned, Tim tested positive for COVID, and my positive test surfaced a week later. Most of the month was spent feeling sick, sad, and alienated.

The lingering COVID depression has taken ages to overcome. I’ve been intermittently trying to salvage the summer or simply trying to plan for a better fall. All I know is this year is flying by way too fast and I crave more happiness and light.

• Movies Watched: Tom Segura Sledgehammer, Hell Comes to Frogtown, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Dead Body, Drinking Games
• Books Read: Lazarus Rises: Amongst other things (Berklie Novak-Stolz), Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Naoko Takeuchi), The Dare (Harley Laroux), Academically Yours (Jennifer Chipman)
• TV Watched: Mega64, Tom Goes to the Mayor, The Righteous Gemstones, The Venture Bros, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Muscles & Mayhem, Diners Drive-ins and Dives, Impractical Jokers, Deep Fake Love, How To Build a Sex Room, The Great Food Truck Race, Guy’s Grocery Games, Taskmaster, Middleditch & Schwartz, What We Do in the Shadows

Top 10 tracks:

1. I Can See You (Taylor Swift)
2. right where you left me (Taylor Swift)
3. Cruel Summer (Taylor Swift)
4. Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince (Taylor Swift)
5. Enchanted (Taylor Swift)
6. Lavender Haze (Taylor Swift)
7. Style (Taylor Swift)
8. Hard to Love (Bully)
9. Okay Okay (Lights)
10. Crumbs (Rebecca Black)

This month was the definition of a mixed bag. A rollercoaster, if you will. It was the first full month of using a mood tracker app, and it’s interesting looking back at the mountains and valleys that defined my days. But not to bore you (or myself) with my tumultuous work situation, I’ll focus on the positives.

We finally installed a window AC unit in our bedroom and it’s been life-changing. I had a long overdue friend date to celebrate my birthday. My friends & I shared a delicious vegan dinner and I saw my first late night grindhouse movie. I finally started a skincare routine that makes me feel better about myself. I rediscovered my fascination with performance art. Tim and I took a weekend trip to Nashville for our anniversary. Sometimes it’s more healthy and productive to focus on the bright spots and let the moments of despair and chaos fade into the background. Onward and upward.

• Movies Watched: The Human Race, Angel, Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present, Skinheads USA: Soldiers of the Race War, Bigger Stronger Faster*, They Live, I’m Thinking of Ending Things
• Books Read: I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Iain Reid), Gang Bang Mom (Donna Allen)
• TV Watched: Too Hot to Handle, Reno 911!, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Righteous Gemstones, The Venture Bros, Documentary Now!, Trailer Park Boys, Kenny vs. Spenny, Muscles & Mayhem

Top 10 tracks:

1. Hits Different (Taylor Swift)
2. The Very First Night (Taylor Swift)
3. High Infidelity (Taylor Swift)
4. Paris (Taylor Swift)
5. Love It If We Made It (The 1975)
6. Cruel Summer (Taylor Swift)
7. Poison Oak (Bright Eyes)
8. Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince (Taylor Swift)
9. Secret (Missy Higgins)
10. Out of the Woods (Taylor Swift)

A large majority of the month of May was very good. I watched a lot of excellent movies, got a haircut that has done wonders for my self-confidence, stayed on top of my physical and mental health with much-needed appointments, and started planning some truly exciting summer vacations. But the last day of the month really ended on a sour note that has me feeling down and discouraged.

Just gotta keep reminding myself it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And also to occasionally drink water in between cups of coffee because the weather is already scorching.

• Movies Watched: Evil Dead Rise, Scary Movie 3, Final Destination 3, Reno 911!: Miami, Johnny Dangerously, Inside (2023), The Day of the Dolphin, Triangle of Sadness
• Books Read: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid)
• TV Watched: Reno 911!, The Price of Glee, I Think You Should Leave, Too Hot To Handle

Top 10 tracks:

1. Degausser (Brand New)
2. Poison Oak (Bright Eyes)
3. strawberry lipstick (YUNGBLUD)
4. Wonderland (Taylor Swift)
5. TUNNEL VISION (Melanie Martinez)
6. Okay Okay – dEd version (Lights)
7. Salt and Vinegar – dEd version (Lights)
8. Paris (Taylor Swift)
9. 2 Wheel Drive (Magdalena Bay)
10. EVIL (Melanie Martinez)

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)