That’s right. It’s my birthday. And I could really use a reason to celebrate.
Reading
The day before I left for NYC, I finished The Long Game by Elena Armas. It was a slow burn, which kept me frustrated as much as it kept me reading. It felt like Roy Kent from Ted Lasso moved to Stars Hollow and fell in love with the clumsiest, most ambitious woman in the world. It was a low-key read and the girls’ soccer team characters were surprisingly cute.
I’m not an audiobook gal. I hate to say it. But I listen every now and again, though it feels like pulling teeth to force myself to do it. So even though I’m currently enjoying every moment of The RomCommers by Katherine Center, it’s slow-going.
But, while in NYC, I made a trip to the romance reader/writer capital of the world, The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn.
Even though I am on a book buying ban on account of my impending move across the country, I had to buy something. So I picked up a copy of B.K. Borison’s First-Time Caller. I’ve heard so many good things about this book that I just had to buy it. I’m so excited to start!
Eating
It’s New York City. So, I ate everything I could without making myself too sick. I am not going to make myself any friends by saying this, but I’m meh on pizza. I like it enough. But I really don’t go out of my way to eat it. Maybe it has something to do with being a Type 1 Diabetic and pizza being notoriously difficult to bolus for. However, my husband’s ask was that we have pizza once-a-day. And I delivered on that promise, with Bleecker Street being the clear winner.
I think my favorite meal though was my breakfast at Jack’s Wife Freda. Unfortunately, I was too hungry to take any pictures of it when it arrived. I devoured it in no time. I am going to recommend the Mediterranean Breakfast with poached eggs though. Divine.
Playing
“doomsday” by Lizzy McAlpine on repeat. I can’t get enough.
Obsessing
Unfortunately, I’m obsessing about the end of America. And toying with the idea of fleeing to Europe instead of moving to NYS. It’s getting really ugly out there and this weekend’s collective action was uplifting. Being in NYC for probably one of the biggest protests that weekend was insane.
Recommending
There were no movies this week. There was nearly no TV aside from the season finale of White Lotus. I was really only on my phone to use the map app or take pictures. And I really didn’t feel that disconnected. The world was happening right in front of my eyes. Maybe it’s the magic of NYC. I really enjoy the way Brennan Lee Mulligan puts it. That NYC is good for the soul. He says that “It is good for you to be forcibly ejected from the story you are constantly telling yourself about your own life. The fact that you are very much not the main character…” And as someone who has been told she has main character energy, or maybe more aptly, main character syndrome, NYC does just that. You become only one small part of a whole when you’re that close to that many people. And even though you feel smaller, it’s almost more empowering- you’re a part of something much greater when you’re there.
So I’d like to recommend going somewhere. Getting out of your routine and out of your head. Getting off your phone (even for just a few hours). And going out and being part of that collective consciousness for just a little bit. And realize that even though you might be obsessing about the downfall of America- it’s still pretty beautiful out there.
Treating
Let’s be honest, this entire weekend was a treat. I didn’t say no to anything until about 1am when my body, which had been up since 4am, decided it was unable to continue. I ate, drank, and was very merry. I got to see some of my very favorite people and have deep, dark, terrifying conversations as well as silly, side-splitting ones.
stefakessler.com 
Leave a comment