May Lookback


Here's where I am:

Listening to:

Boy Meets Girl "Waiting for a Star to Fall"

 Catcher In the Rye audiobook

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Community

Remembering:

October. Connecting with someone for the first time in ages and how that led to meeting two other amazing people. Going to the New Orleans Krew of Boo parade. Feeling like things were finally coming together for me mentally and emotionally for the first time in months.

 The earthquake that occurred while I was sitting at a pool drinking a beer in Hollywood, Los Angeles on July 4, 2019. How surreal that was. Umbrellas swaying, water sloshing. No one knew what it was; it took a good five minutes for us to figure it out.

 Going to Ball & Chain in Miami, Florida during spring break 2019. I was depressed and stressed and worried, but then the music took over. The mojitos were delicious. And we just sat for hours letting it take over our senses.

 Exploring Hawai'i. The sound of birds, the taste of coconut water and banana bread, the stunningly beautiful beaches.

Planning:

Australia. Will it be similar to Hawai'i? What will it be like meeting an online friend?

Also
• the pink lake.
• taking pictures of the stars in the Australian outback.
• Melbourne coffee, Sydney fireworks, koalas, kangaroos.

Will I have time to see and do everything I want?

Anxious about:

friends, as per usual.

Interested to Know:

Who will choose to stay in my life and who will leave. It sounds gruesome, but I'm a little frustrated with people.

 Shopping:

 • Montana Babydoll Sleep Top in pink from Anthropologie
* Santorini Maxi Dress from Free People in aloe
• Giulia Wide-Legged Sleep Pants from Anthropologie
• Heartland Pendant Necklace from Free People
• Patch It Up Trapeze Dress in black combo and tobacco combo from Free People
* Free People Closer to the Heart dress in black from Bloomingdales

 • Girls from Savoy dress on Poshmark
• Free People Saturday Morning Cardi in maroon on Poshmark
• Free People Down Under Woven Henley in black on Poshmark
• Lulu's Rhianon Ivory Dress on Poshmark
• Free People In My Element Kimono dress on Poshmark

• Mother's Day flowers
• birthday gift for kid I watch

• wedding imperial and indigo blue earl grey tea
• chocolate babka from Bread's Bakery in NYC
• groceries from Amazon Fresh and Walmart delivered to my door

Reading:

I agreed to read The Paris Hours and 100 Cookies, so definitely looking forward to that!

 One of my friends recommended I read Letters from Felix, his favorite childhood book. When I ordered the book from Ebay, it said it was in "good condition", but when I got it all of the letters were missing. My friend took pictures of the letters for me and sent them via text. Whenever I feel sad or lonely, I reach for that book. It's such a feel-good happy story. It's a little hard to obtain, but if you can, I recommend reading it, whether as an adult or as a child.

Quarantine Notes:

Now on Day 60 with 6 more days to go:

 • My Poshmark count is up to 174; eBay count is up to 12.
* I've watched 2 different tv shows all the way through.
• I replaced a few items in my wardrobe that had holes or stains.
• 4 out of 10 clothing items were fixed.
• I tried Panang curry at a friend's suggestion.
• I sold $200 worth of items on Poshmark and eBay.
• I supported USPS by buying stamps.
• Lots of self-care including doing my eyebrows, painting my fingernails red, and braiding my hair.
• I got Wordless Wednesday updated through July.
• The first half of quarantine, I wanted cacio e Pepe and a glass of wine every day for lunch. Now I'm wanting omelets with fresh-squeezed orange juice and wedding imperial tea.
• Walks have gotten somewhat mundane and boring.
• I'm surprised to not be more bored having been inside without leaving for so long!
* My days and nights keep getting screwed up. Some mornings I wake up really early and some nights I can't sleep at all. It's nice being able to be flexible with my body.
• I bought new feathers for our duvet at the beginning of lockdown. At first I was worried they would be too heavy, but now I absolutely love them.

Lookbacks from Earlier This Year:
Jan • Feb • Mar • Apr

IWSG 2020 #5


April Goals
✗ Continue to watch covid-19 updates and determine if travel plans in July need to be canceled or moved
✗ Measure images and buy the correct size mats and frames for the rest of my artwork
✓ Continue cleaning the spare bedroom and going through clothing.
✗ hang pictures we already have framed

Additional Successes
• Sold 3 items on eBay and 2 items on poshmark! Made $165!
• Returned a few items. (Anthropologie, Free People, Macy's, Urban Outfitters)
• Made Doubletree chocolate chip cookies! Yum!
• Contacted travel agency to discuss Australian travel.
• Drank so much tea (wedding imperial is my favorite!) and went on many walks!
• Talked with employer about plans to return to work.
• Sent gifts to the kids I watch and did a facetime chat with them.
• Sold an item I didn't think had any value for $30 and another for $25. (fits with success #1)
• Went through both my closet and sweaters.
• Bought my friend's favorite book from childhood. It was missing a few pages/pieces, so he sent me the missing parts. I got a refund for my purchase on Ebay because the item was sold to me in less than "good" condition, and I didn't have to return the item. Was fun to connect with him in that way.
• Also tried panang curry at his suggestion. Was delicious!
• I edited enough images for Wordless Wednesday for the next 2 months.
• Started working on Australian travel plans.
• Cleaned off (and out) my husband's and my nightstands.
• managed to buy toilet paper and paper towels! (But also we started using rags more, so we are being more environmentally friendly.)
• Cancelled Entertainment membership ($2.99/month)
• added a few books to the donation pile
• Lost a few pounds (down 5 pounds since quarantine started)
• ate more vegetables
• received my absentee ballot!!

May Goals
– Go through five magazines.
– Finish going through clothes.
– Decide on Free People/Anthropologie returns.
– Figure out what's going on with Scotland plans.

IWSG Question –– Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

I haven't been in "the zone" in so long! Usually, it helps to spend most of the day writing. I might struggle at first but then about midday, I really get into a groove. Then at the end of the day I lose focus again. It's really a very particular time of day when I can focus best.

Your Turn

Living under quarantine has been excruciatingly hard and some days overwhelming. My mood goes up, my weight follows. Then my mood and weight plummet to new lows. It's like living on a roller coaster. Most days are good, but some days my heart aches so much.

I lost someone I considered a good friend amongst corona-everything and all of the extra time has me thinking about him. Where did things go wrong? Is there any way to salvage the friendship? And am I being selfish with how much I do want to salvage the friendship. If someone doesn't want to be your friend, you can't make them stay, right? So then I worry about how much of my self-worth I put in people. And it's just a huge mess and I can't focus or concentrate despite the fact that there are even bigger worries in the world right this moment (tho to be fair, I'm glad I'm not one of the ones currently experiencing them).

Corona hasn't been all bad though. I've been working a lot on my emotional health - eating well (more vegetarian friendly), taking lots of walks to get out anxiety, spending time in the sunshine, talking to people, spending less on shopping, trying new foods ...

Has coronavirus led to any surprising changes in your life, good or bad? Have you managed to accomplish things you otherwise wouldn't have had time for? Have things taken a turn for the worse in a way you wouldn't expect?

I'd love to hear both the good and bad ways corona has affected you. Be sure to share in the comments!

IWSG posts: #1 #2. #3, #4

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