9 Things Making My Life Better So Far This Year (July-Sept. 2021)
A lot of the best stuff in my life this quarter has been specific to my location and situation. Pandemic-related restrictions have been loosened in my area, and I’m fortunate that the people I’m close to have access to vaccines. But I didn’t want to fill this entry with the stuff I’m able to do only because of a combination of where I live, my socio-economic background, and the backgrounds of my community. As always, I wanted to focus on things that are more universal and don’t depend on one’s good fortune in family and friends.
So although I’m grateful for things like being able to visit my parents and in-laws, seeing friends, and going to businesses/facilities that used to be closed, this list includes more non-dependent-on-pandemic-situation stuff.
Planning my exercise times
Before I completely move on from pandemic contingencies, one of the things that’s happened in my community is: the exercise facilities I use have opened up but require everyone to book their time slot in advance. This system has helped me a lot; it forces me to exercise when I plan to instead of procrastinating, and it keeps me from feeling like I should be exercising every second until I actually get around to it.
I’ve been trying to treat all exercise with the same book-ahead mentality, and so far, it seems to work okay. I still procrastinate when I know I’m not breaking any social “rules” by being late, but overall, having an hour blocked out on my calendar keeps me on track and takes away some of the stress I was imposing on myself.
I like crunchy, salty snacks. I like snacks with less sugar and more protein. I like cheese.
Whisps are… just cheese, baked until it’s crunchy. Sure, I could make them myself, but when I factor in how much it would cost me to buy the cheese and the opportunity cost of my time, it’s actually cheaper to buy these.
… at least, I’m telling myself that, and you can’t stop me.
Paper Mario: The Origami King (Nintendo Switch game, 2020)
This charming, gentle game gets me: if I fail at a task a few times in a row, it starts to give aggressive hints, which perfectly suits someone like me who just wants a dang break between working and working out. As always in this series, you play as Mario, who must save Princess Peach and the Mushroom Kingdom from a nefarious villain–in this case, a creepy origami prince who wants to fold the happy, flat-paper citizens into hostile creased monsters. It can be too hand-holdy at times, but it’s overall fun.
the Enola Holmes series (MG books by Nancy Springer)
I already wrote about the adventures of Sherlock and Mycroft’s much-younger sister, Enola, when I was reading the first couple books in June , but I’ve since finished the series. Without spoilers, I really like the portrayal of the Holmeses’ mother and of Enola growing into herself. She starts to develop the same showiness as her middle brother, and it’s fun to watch her manoeuvre around her supposed “betters.” Also, after over a decade, a brand-new seventh book came out Aug. 31! Woohoo!
(I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this series include some outdated language and ideas about Romani people/other Travelers without overtly challenging them the way it challenges some outdated classism and sexism. That’s one of the few elements I don’t care for.)
writing short(er) stories
I’ve always considered myself a novel writer–that’s just the typical length I work in (and have worked in since I was a little kid). But over the last couple months, I’ve become more open to other lengths. I’ve spent some time working on short stories, and I’m pretty sure what I thought was a MG novel is going to become an adult SFF novella (what is a novella? This!). I’m not sure whether this shift is because I relish the challenge of new formats; because I’ve started to consume more short fiction (e.g. The Magnus Archives); because I’ve just finished a longer piece and my story-brain needs a palate-cleanser change; or all of the above. Anyway, it’s fun so far.
naps
Is it the sunny, heat-warning days? The return to more intense exercise than I was used to? Why not both? Or neither? Frankly, I don’t care, and I’m fortunate that I’m often able to lie down for an hour or so if I need to.
A few years back, some of my cousins gave us a year’s subscription to this club as a wedding gift, so I knew the company was good. A nearby friend and I agreed to go halfsies on a subscription for a few months, and, so far, it’s great! It’s fun to share the generous portions of cheese with someone else who enjoys it, and, of course, to just plain eat cheese. Mmm… cheese.
The Initiative (board game by Unexpected Games)
The Initiative is a co-op legacy board game: you play set missions in order, and, as you complete each one, you make changes that will affect upcoming missions. The gameplay is a blend of regular board game card-based moves and word puzzles (so far). Husband, a friend, and I are working through the missions together.
I’m not sure I’d enjoy this quite so much without the puzzle element that means I sometimes feel like we get to “jump ahead” by solving ciphers or anagrams faster than we’re “supposed” to, but it’s intriguing. Besides, I love its plot about 90s teenagers playing a game-within-the-game who get caught up with some kind of real-life mysterious shenanigans, like if Jumanji were actually an X-Files-style government conspiracy.
a new sewing machine
Husband’s old one finally bit the dust, so he got a new one. Is it easier to use just because it’s new? Because it’s mid-level instead of cheapest-possible? Because (the box claims, anyway) it’s been designed to be sturdy? Any way you slice it, this one is so much more user-friendly. It threads its own needle! It doesn’t jam or snap the thread or get stuck on thicker seams! The foot pedal can make it go at a moderate speed instead of either snail-pace or racecar! I feel lots better about actually altering my clothing right away instead of letting it sit in my office forever until I force myself.