“More than marriage, more than a new job, more than moving across the country, I think there is nothing that represents more of a challenge or a threat to adult friendships than parenthood. It is the only thing that is permanent and time-bound. It has fundamentally shifted my relationships.”
Just before the New Year, Katie and I drove over to Titusville to hang with Angela. Angela tattooed Katie while I joined in conversation, reprimanded Katie for not hydrating enough, and tried to determine where all the loud booms were coming from. Was it a dump truck? Was a car backfiring? Was a building collapsing? Were aliens coming for us? We still don't know what the hell those insanely loud noises were. I laughed as Katie and Angela gushed over their new obsession...Saltburn. I can't say it hit me the same way but I'm glad they enjoyed it. Of course Angela absolutely killed Katie's tarot card of Florence Welch. And Katie continues her reign as badass with getting that big beautiful tattoo on her ribs. It pained me just to watch! But she was a champ until the last 15 min.
Before heading back home, we stopped at Dixie Crossroads. When in Titusville, I think that's the saying. I don't even know why I get real food when I could just eat their corn fritters and be completely satisfied.
Pat and Jessica came over from Palm Coast for a Solar Bears game. Jessica had never been to a hockey game at all and the rest of us hadn't seen the Solar Bears in years - way pre-pandemic. So we made a little double date night out of it. We took them to The Monroe since it's cute, good, and in close proximity to the arena. It took us 20 minutes to go maybe a half of a mile just to get into the garage. I am not used to the Solar Bear games being so busy. The place was as full as I've ever seen it - good for them! We sat right behind the goal and buckled up for a wild game. The Solar Bears were on a winning streak of like 7 games in a row but then we watched the Wheeling Nailers (Dustin's Solar Bears) end that streak 5 to 3. Womp womp. Go Bunz? It was such a fun time regardless, especially the absolute unhinged beach ball volleyball game that happened in our section.
Val asked if I wanted to check out the pop-up market, Collective Corner, at Succulents Empire after she took her daughter to a morning audition nearby. I arrived early, to no one's surprise, and tried to be helpful by dropping Val a pin of my location so she knew where to park, but turns out I sent her the location of the apartments next door. I TRIED OK? Ha! It still worked out just fine and I was able to meet up with her and Taylor, whom I hadn't seen since she was a bebe! She cracked me up with her reenactment of passing out, which apparently was part of her audition. She nailed it. I got a selfie with the future star but next time I promised I'd bring a pen to get her autograph. There were so many cute booths and pretty much all new-to-me aka someone who is always attending local markets. We also popped in Succulents Empire next door and were immediately transported into 'Club Jungle'. The mist was misting, the humidity was thicc, and Shaggy was bumping on the speakers.
Colonial Lanes, now Primrose Lanes, was my childhood bowling alley. It's just a mile from the house I grew up in, or where it used to be before it was demolished. So. Much. Change. It actually opened when my mom was four. It was a staple and now still is in a new way. It re-opened last August and I'd been wanting to go check it out ever since. There was big talk about the $15 hot dog and although I didn't get one this time around, I will be back to give it a go. I was thrilled when Nicole and Alyssa also wanted to check it out. So we met up in celebration of Alyssa's birthday and had a wonderful lunch in the 'TV Room' discussing everything from Seattle to the dangers of in-grown toenails. The remodel is GORGEOUS. I just loved every damn detail. It's fun and modern but still really true to its roots. I read that they used a lot of original materials for the remodel so it's nice that all that wood and whatever else was repurposed. There aren't as many bowling lanes this time around so if you have your heart set on bowling you'll definitely want to make a reservation.
We tried to get a shot of us under their iconic lit-up bowling pin arch, but unfortunately the person who took it, cut off the arch in every damn photo. I used a random one I found online and pieced it together with ours for the full effect. And voila!
For the first time since 2016 I truly had a great year overall. Every year, at least in recent memory, during this weird period of time between Christmas and New Year's I've just thought over and over in my depressive state what a fucking shit year. But not these past weeks. Life has peaks and valleys and I'm just grateful I'm on the up and up - hopefully for a while before a dip comes to topple me over once again.
FRIENDS
I reconnected and/or just got some nice quality IRL time with so many people I hadn't seen in too fucking long. From my middle school besties Val and Anna, to getting to spend time with Mel (my first bestie since kindergarten) on her farm for the first time, to celebrating 20 years since graduating and getting to catch-up with even more longterm/past-lifetime-friends, to hanging with the Fidak buds for a few days in Pitt. I feel really grateful that I got to cross paths with all of you again because as much as I love keeping in touch electronically, nothing beats those in-person hugs and laughs. Insert millennial heart hands here. What in the hell are those Gen Z ones?
And to all my regularly scheduled IRL friends, you're family. You are always the most meaningful, important, and fun part of my year. It was a joy putting together my Year in Review video and getting to relive so many fun moments.
HEALTH
I was finally able to lose weight. I'm down 28 lbs (ecstatic about that!) and have 10ish more to go. I am 38 and I am the most active I've ever been in my whole ding dang dong life. I actually counted my exercises from my Apple Watch and I worked out for at least 30 min (walk, weights, or yoga) for 340 out of 365 days.
I went to the dermatologist more than I ever had in a single year to figure out the best combo. for my rosacea, hormonal acne, and eczema. The only skin care routine I follow is the one given to me by my derm. and aside from the prescription stuff I'm on, she has recommended brands like Cerave (I use their AM and PM moisturizers), La Roche Posay (face wash to help with rosacea), and Vanicream (fragrance free products for sensitive skin - body wash and deodorant).
I started experiencing nosebleeds out of nowhere. It would feel like I had snot dripping down my face and when I went to wipe it with my hand it was bright red. They became fairly frequent so I started to document when they happened, what I was doing when they happened, and how long they lasted and brought the information to my primary doctor. He referred me to an ENT and finally after some silver nitrate up the nostril, I haven't had issues since.
Dustin had his very first ER visit when he thought he was having a heart attack. Thankfully it turned out to be a combination of a Ghost and his thyroid medication. That was his first and last energy drink.
And because your girl loves a list...
FAVE SHOWS THAT ENDED (Singing Sarah McLachlan's I Will Remember You)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Succession Ted Lasso Never Have I Ever Sex Education
FAVE NEW SHOWS
Beef
Jury Duty
The Last of Us
Cunk on Earth
Gen V
Shrinking
Silo
FAVE MOVIES (Not a great movie year to be honest)
Past Lives Barbie Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.
FAVE BOOKS (28 total for the year)
Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt Don't Let Her Stay - Nicola Sanders Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros Happy Place - Emily Henry
LIVE MUSIC
Anberlin* @ The Social Copeland @ The Social Taylor Swift @ Raymond James Stadium Deanna Carter* @ Daytona State College Thrice @ House of Blues Paramore @ Amway
The Early November @ The Beacham
The Spill Canvas* @ The Beacham
Armor For Sleep* @ The Beacham
* indicates first time seeing them live
FAVE ALBUMS
Jetty Bones - The Pandemos: Songs I Wrote Instead of Killing Myself
Paramore - This Is Why
Taking Back Sunday - 152
The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein
blink 182 - One More Time
FAVE SONGS
Whatever - Jetty Bones
You First - Paramore
Now and Then - The Beatles
About Me - The Early November
Dial Drunk - Noah Kahan & Post Malone
Keep Going - Taking Back Sunday
labour - Paris Paloma
Heart to Heart - Capstan, Belmont & Jason Tyler
Sideways - Misterwives
Ice machines - The National
2023 WILD NEWS MOMENTS
Trump's Mug Shot
Spy Balloons Bear at Lake Eola Titanic Submarine Panera Lemonade Deaths Orca's sinking yachts
