Whew! There has been a lot going on the last couple of weeks! I missed last weekend but I’m determined to upload today. In fact, I am currently sitting on the floor of my office because one of the legs on my desk gave out. I’ve applied tremendous amounts of wood glue and I’m typing on the upside of it, the desk legs in the air.

Steve bought this desk for me off of Craigslist in 2016 as a Christmas present for our new house we’d close on the following month. It’s an old desk someone up-cycled with a pale blue chalk paint. He always says that if he knew that would be the desk I’d insist on keeping forever, he would have bought me a different desk. He says this because the legs on this desk have given out quite a few times. I don’t care though - it’s very charming and unique, with a dozen little compartments. I’ve done my most favorite writing on this desk (even upside down) and I’ll be gluing it back together for the rest of my life.

Final New Room Update!

The transformation from dinning room to tv/library room is complete! We are just missing things like the ceiling fan, blinds, and wall decor. But those will come eventually and I will post updated photos along the way. It is the perfect, moody room of my dreams. I cannot recommend color drenching a room enough. (As long as you aren’t dealing with a 100+ year old house, which in that case just burn it down for the insurance money. I’M KIDDING. Sort of.)

This huge antique mirror was a wedding gift from one of our best friends. Her parents collected antiques and I fell in love with this mirror. When her parents began downsizing, they gifted it to us and we planned the whole room around it. Very gothic, very haunting - all the things I want in life.

Currently Adventuring

Last weekend John Gallagher Jr performed an acoustic set down the street from us at Danny Clinch’s Transparent Gallery. Gallagher was in the original Broadway production of ‘Spring Awakening’ in 2007 and also played Jim on HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’ (2011-2015). I’ve loved following his career and all the art he has made along the way. He just finished ‘Swept Away’ on Broadway and is playing a show out in Brooklyn on June 22nd if you’re in the area!

Here is a photo of us at the stage door of Spring Awakening in 2007 - what babies!

Currently Reading

The German edition cover of ‘The Knight and The Moth’

I read 13 books between April and May and as a result I’m in a reading slump. I bought ‘The Knight and The Moth’ by Rachel Gillig on release day (May 20th) and I’m still making my way through it. Not because it’s bad but because the writing is so good that I want to savor it.

Once I do finish it, however, I’m going to take a pause on reading to focus on my reread of my own novel. At this point in my revision process, it’s hard to focus on my story when I’m engrossed in the world of another novel, if that makes sense.

Currently Watching

Due to my reading slump, I have been devouring movies and miniseries the last two weeks. I watched the movies ‘Heretic’ (2024) with Hugh Grant, ‘Anora’ (2024) with Mickey Madison who won an Oscar for this performance, and ‘The Last Showgirl’ (2024) with Pamela Anderson.

I also have watched two Stephen King mini series adaptations: ‘The Outsider’ (2020) staring Cynthia Erivo and ‘Chapelwaite’ (2021) with Adrien Brody and Emily Hampshire (Stevie from ‘Schitt’s Crick’). I was completely obsessed with both shows, binging them faster than I’d like to admit.

Ervivo filmed ‘The Outsider’, starring as King’s reoccurring character Holly, before she filmed ‘Wicked”. I bring this up because I can see the foundation of Elphaba brewing in Erivo in this miniseries. Holly is on the spectrum and lives as an “other” in modern society but uses her incredible skills to be a brilliant private investigator. I’ve seen Eviro’s other film and stage work but the innocent and unyielding desire to do good as Holly undeniably foreshadows her performance in ‘Wicked’.

Currently Listening To

I listened to ‘Somebody Knows Something’ season 9 about the disappearance of Christine Harmon - my first True Crime podcast in years! My anxiety has been higher than usual lately and watching/listening to something scary forces my mind to focus on something else and stop spiraling. I was deep in the true crime podcast trend of 2016 to 2020 but stopped when the pandemic hit. These stories stopped being interesting when actual hell was happening in the present day.

I once discussed my interest in true crime with my therapist and he said something I’ve always held close: “Sometimes you need to be reminded that bad things can happen to good people.” During those years I was processing the abusive relationship I had been in for the first time, and I was using other people’s tragedies to make me feel less…alone? Scared? Dumb? I’m not sure but again, after the pandemic started I stopped listening to the podcasts I followed religiously such as “My Favorite Murder”.

I also have been listening to scripted radio dramas on Apple Podcasts this week! So far I listened to ‘October Children’ (it was okay) and ‘Darkwoods’ (which I thoroughly enjoyed).

I’m ready to continue my Sppoky Summer 2025 so if you have any movies, Tv shows, or scripted podcasts I should check out please let me know!

*title is from the song ‘Lady Liberty Blues’ off of John Gallagher Jr’s album ‘Goodbye or Something”

May 27th is a holiday of sorts, for me. Not a firecracker, cook out type of holiday, but a silent and heavy one.

Silent because it is a holiday only I celebrate and a heavy one because I was close to never being able to celebrate it at all.

Every year on July 11th, my husband and I celebrate anniversary of our first date. Exactly 45 days before that perfect, sunny day at the boardwalk - I was lying in bed, pleading with the universe for my person. 45 days before that first date was May 27th.

Back in the early 2010s, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ had the country in a chokehold. Everyone loved it. In March 2013, the show aired season 8, episode 20 titled ‘The Time Travelers’. In this episode the main character Ted Mosby time travels backwards decades. He is able to sit in his favorite spot at his favorite bar. He contemplates what he should do. He muses on visiting his friends at those points in their lives, but ultimately does not.

Instead he runs out of the bar and darts up to the apartment of his future wife, delivering a speech to a woman who is standing in her doorway off camera. (We still don’t know who the mother is at this time.)

Ted then gives a speech to the love of his life, who has no idea who he is yet. His monologue, tearful and full of longing, goes as follows:

“Hi. I’m Ted Mosby. In exactly 45 days from now, you and I are going to meet. And we’re going to fall in love. And we’re going to get married and we’re going to have two kids. And we’re going to love them and each other so much. All that is 45 days away. But I’m here now, I guess, because I want those extra 45 days. With you. I want each one of them. And if I can’t have them, I’ll take the 45 seconds before your boyfriend shows up and punches me in the face. Because I love you. I’m always going to love you. Until the end of my days. And beyond.”

Since the first time I saw this episode, this speech reached into my chest and twisted my insides.

When this episode aired in March 2013 I was living with my abusive boyfriend in NYC. I was 23 and was too embarrassed to reach out for help. I was smarter than this, how did I let myself get into such a horrific situation? For the following year I would look up Ted’s speech on YouTube and watch it over, and over before bed.

I longed for someone who was kind and genuine. I wished and day dreamed about my person being out there, somewhere, in the Universe. Maybe not far away at all, showing up to my apartment door and giving me this same speech.

“Before your boyfriend shows up and punches me in the face” especially felt like something my ex would have done in that situation.

The countless nights of crying to this video, curled up on my side of the bed, pleading the Universe to help me - it worked. On May 27th, 2014 I was exactly 45 days away from meeting the love of my life - my now husband, Steve.

And so every year when I see May 27th pop up on the calendar, I say a silent thank you to the fates for making my wish come true. Steve did not come and rescue me from my abusive relationship - I did that all on my own. I gave up my dream of living in NYC and moved back in with my parents in NJ. Around the same time Steve was watching ‘How I Met Your Mother’ for the first time after he called off his wedding to someone else the month before.

If he hadn’t called off the wedding, if I hadn’t left NYC, if we both weren’t on Tinder looking for something casual - we never would have matched on July 4th. We wouldn’t have spent 10 days talking on the phone until 4am. We wouldn’t have met for our first date on July 11th, 2014.

Thus, I can only be full of gratitude every May 27th - 45 days before I met my person.

What a gorgeous Sunday morning here at Asbury Park, NJ! Spring and Summer are not my favorites but I can’t help but he charmed by the 70 degree weather and wind rustling the trees. I drove to my local bakery to pick up fresh croissants and dessert for later. The rest of my day will be spent cleaning at a leisurely pace and listening to an audiobook. After battling a little cold last week, today will be a nice reset for the start of next week.

Currently Focused On

Not any goddamn painting, that’s for sure!! The painting is done! I’m waiting for the window treatments and bookcases to arrive so hopefully next week’s recap will feature pictures of this room makeover!

Now that I’m not painting, revising my novel goes back to main priority. I’m starting Project Write Now’s Book Revision Lab in July, so I want my manuscript to be as polished as possible for new readers.

Currently Reading

I’m still listening to the audiobook of ‘Morning Star’ by Pierce Brown, the last in the Red Rising Trilogy (but there is another trilogy after this I think? I don’t know, I’ll get back to you on that on).

On Tuesday ‘The Knight and the Moth’ by Rachel Gillig comes out and I’m excited to dive into it. I loved her duology ‘One Dark Window’ and ‘Two Twisted Crowns’ last year and a lush fantasy is exactly what I need after being consumed by a dystopian Space Opera the last couple of weeks.

Currently Watching

I mentioned it a few weeks ago, but Steve and I are obsessed with ‘Your Neighbors and Friends’ starring Jon Hamm on AppleTV+. The stakes in the story are continuously being raised every episodes and the plot takes turns I didn’t see coming. Plus Hamm, Olivia Mann, Amanda Pete, and the rest of the cast are fantastic. I have no idea how this season is going to end but I highly recommend you check it out.

Currently Loving on TikTok

The ‘Lilo and Stitch’ live action movie’s marketing campaign is so cool! Stitch will request to be on creator’s Live and talk to them for a few minutes before telling everyone to “Watch my movie!” He even explains that he’s whispering and wearing headphones because he stole Nani’s phone while she’s sleeping 😂

The original animated film was one of my favorites growing up. I amassed a couple of garbage bags full of Stitch stuffed animals that I kept into adulthood. As you might have seen from Instagram and Twitter, in 2018 I adopted a French Bulldog and he is OBSESSED with Stitch. I 100% believe that one of the creative team had a Frenchie and figured they were a good blue print for an alien disguised as a dog. I’ve given him all of my Stitch stuffed animals from childhood and when he gets a new one, his face lights up and he freaks out. My dog has found a kindred spirit in that blue terrorizing alien. No surprise, they have much in common.

Here is a photo shoot Steve did of our dog, Bug, in his Stitch costume my mom bought him, along with one of his countless Stitch dolls.

What are you guys reading and watching this week? I need more TV and movie recommendations! Until next time,

*The title of this post is from “Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride” from LILO and Stitch (2002)

After this week I hope you do not have to hear me talk about painting for a long time. 😅 We still aren’t finished but we’re getting there. We even had a little electrical side quest!

Steve took down the ceiling lamp on Monday only to instantly call out my name. As always, every little thing you touch in a 100+ year old house falls apart. In this case the light was hooked up to the original electrical wiring - wiring so bad that it was disintegrating under some sketchy black tape job by a previous owner. Look how scary this was!

We texted and called a couple of electrician friends who advised us to sit this one out and hire a professional. Steve even dropped our dog off at his mom’s in case the house caught on fire while we were sleeping. We thought the walls might have to get ripped out to replace all the wiring in the room. Thankfully that wasn’t needed but the electrician who came the next day was not pleased when he saw the mess.

A couple of hours later the “situation” was replaced and the painting resumed. As I mentioned in the previous post, we are color drenching the walls: all the same color but flat paint for the ceiling, eggshell for the walls, and an oil paint for the trim, windows, and doorways. Two experts at the paint store told us not to use traditional oil paint but a new version known as an “Alkyd” semi-gloss. It looks great BUT IT NEEDS 8 COATS. I wish I was exaggerating. It goes on like goddamn a water color so I’ve spent the whole week laying on the ground painting the same trim over and over again, touching up with teeny tiny brushes. A day or two more and we might finally be done.

Currently Reading

While painting, I blew through the graphic audio books of ‘Red Rising’ and its sequel ‘Golden Son’ by Pierce Brown. I understand why this series has such a cult following. The world building and vast array of characters makes these books an immersive experience. Brown is ruthless with these characters though - don’t get too attached because he is not afraid to break your heart. I started the third book in the trilogy, ‘Morning Son,’ last night and I’m amped up to see how it plays out.

There’s even 3 more books after this original trilogy, so I guess I’ll be in the world of Darrow and his Howlers for a couple more weeks. Once I’m done with painting I’m looking forward to spending time physical reading the stack of books I got for my birthday.

Currently Adventuring

On Saturday my mom wanted to go into the city for Mother’s Day so I spent a glorious Spring day with my mom and dad in New York City. We started off at the American Museum of Natural History where we saw everything from the Hayden Planetarium Space Show to the Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry from the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition.

Afterwards we had dinner at La Pecora Bianca and then coffee and dessert at the Starbucks Reserve in the Empire State Building. Ever since my mom fell in love with the city last year (finally!) she loves getting an affogato at the fancy schmancy Starbucks. Growing up in NJ right outside of NYC, my Dad worked in the city for 25+ years and I lived there after college. Steve and I still plan on moving there or at least getting an apartment there at some point. I love Asbury Park but Manhattan is always where my heart truly feels at home.

Currently Loving on TikTok

I’ve loved following the story of the NJ Firefighter who calls out his cheating wife at his own 40th Birthday Party 😂😂😂 What I love the most are the videos of people breaking down what happened and even digging up their wedding video on their photographer’s page 3 years ago!! I’d be better off canceling cable because TikTok is free! In these fucked up times, I’m grateful for creators who can make me laugh until I cry.

What are you guys reading or watching this week? Let me know in the comments, I always need a good deep dive before I fall asleep.

Until next week!

*Title quote from ‘Golden Son’ by Pierce Brown.