Good morning, babies. It’s a Monday once again. We will keep going. The sun will keep falling into the sea.
What have you been listening to?
Currently listening to the new Bon Iver album and, while I do not dislike it, it’s making me feel weird, idk. Nostalgic, but perhaps for a time in life I was more uncomfortable than I am now? I’m really not sure how to describe it. Maybe I’m just being reminded of my tumblr days….I had to turn it off. Now I’m listening to the babbling of a water feature outside through a slightly cracked window.
How have you been feeling this week?
Out of sorts. I’ve been spending the last week dog-sitting, which has taken me out of the new routine I’ve been building. This isn’t a bad thing, in fact, I think it’s helping the whole thing feel less rigid and is showing me all the places I have room to be adaptable, but it’s remarkable how quickly a habit/routine can become a crutch.
On top of that, one of my closest friends received the news that no one wants this past week: that his father passed. There’s no way to slice it, it fucking sucks. And the way things just continue on despite it all has been my main point of reflection since I found out. So there have been feelings of intense instability and grief for my friend and his family. There have been pockets of immense joy and love when I think about my own family. Fear when I think about it happening to everyone and never knowing when that will be. And mostly, a simmering rage at our healthcare system which is now adding strife to what is already, very likely, the worst thing to happen to this family.
I won’t go into detail here, but please read the story on the GoFundMe and donate to Alex’s family, if you are able.
On an entirely different but lower-stakes-rage-filled note, I do not have Paramount+, and the house I’m staying at did not have any of the channels that were covering it, so I did not get to watch The Masters this weekend (which honestly might be why this log is starting out so angry). UGH. Anyway… congrats to Rory, you deserve it bud. I wish I got to see it.
What’s your hottest take this week?
After hearing about the above, and spending the last few months witnessing what it’s like for someone to have socialized healthcare (my boyfriend is a veteran), my hottest take this week is that healthcare is a human right. That’s a hot take, right? No? Then why does it feel like my blood is boiling….? I digress. We’re moving on to lighter subject matter.
What’s your favorite item?
From the beginning of Who’s To Say, Ellie and I have both very adamantly wanted to keep it from being influencer-adjacent and plugging things no one needs. As two people who love stuff and want to reject capitalism, this seemed like a good hill to die on. So believe me when I’m telling you about an item I love and I say you do not need it.
H O W E V E R, I got my Hotel Ceramics mug (mentioned a few logs ago) and I love it so much. I truly haven’t stopped using it. I even brought it with me to dog-sit because it has brought me so much joy. Just think of this as a plug, not for Hotel Ceramics (I love them, but I cannot in good conscience recommend anyone pay that much for a mug that wasn’t made by Ellie), but for only making purchases if they light you up like this!
What’s been inspiring you?
Conversations with my sisters (not to tease, but watch this space…..), spending the week with two dogs in a house that is thoughtfully organized and takes the good kind of work to keep running (see also: test driving my dream life), warm sun on my face (and the excitement for when it is out and warm consistently), garden planning, home planning, life planning (and a cutie little someone who wants to do those things with me), etc., etc. I will always fall back on how good the good is when the bad becomes inescapable.
What is your current hyper-fixation?
In a surprise to literally no one, it’s dogs. Particularly Mika, one of the huskies I’m dog-sitting. I was thinking about the fact that I have known her for her whole life—which never seemed crazy until now, when I realized she’s almost 5—and how special she feels to me. We’re so similar in personality and I’ve been joking forever that we communicate telepathically, but this past week with her has really solidified that. Hard to describe, but we just sort of get each other, and it’s made me feel a little obsessed with her, I won’t lie! Here she is:
Sleeper hit of the week?
Raspberry Pistachio Cheesecake.
If you know me even a little, you know I could not care less about a dessert. However, we went on a little Saturdate this past weekend and decided to ball out on this cheesecake because I was so enamored with the idea of a raspberry/pistachio combo, and BOY did it deliver. Will be thinking about it for a long long time. Paired with a Fernet and Cola (optional, but so so good) as a digestif? Money.
For those of you local to Grand Rapids who may want to try it yourselves, it was at Terra. Highly recommend.
Anyway, that’s all for me this week. Sorry to start off on such a rage-y note about healthcare (but tbh, there’s so much to rage about these days, I’m sure you’re used to it).
Bye now!