What's IN/OUT this week

Hard to believe January is already in its third month. Much of this week’s INS/OUTS focus on how I ~just can’t take it anymore~. So long as I live in a northern city, winter will never be charming to me.

IN: “Look at this thing I made/bought.” Kids are awesome at being proud of something they did, saw, found, whatever. Look at this macaroni necklace! Look at this cool rock! They aren’t showing you because they did a great job (Really: Show me an impressive finger painting — and you cannot be the child’s mother). They’re showing you because they are pumped that they did it. I like this energy. I learned to weave a wine tote last weekend and really enjoyed showing people the finished product. Was it impressively done? No! Its shape is wobbly and its structural integrity seems questionable, but I am pumped that I listened, learned, and executed. LOOK AT MY WINE TOTE!! OUT: Over-stimulation. A hands-on experience like a weaving class was great, because my brain has been responding pretty negatively to social media and television lately. I’m inside almost constantly because the temperature and/or icy sidewalks have shortened my mental health jaunts with the dog. As such, my senses haven’t had the chance to enjoy any naturally occurring palate-cleansers. I need a museum/conservatory/other reset post-haste.

IN: A typo that still works in context. I read a newsletter that referred to the writer’s “skin regime” instead of “skin regimen.” I don’t know if this was on purpose, but I love the idea that our toners, serums, and moisturizers are authoritarian in nature. They basically are, of course, because good luck to your skin if you try to get away from their rule. OUT: Not flossing. It’s only taken me 38 years, but I’m finally flossing my teeth (almost) each night. Please clap!

IN: Afternoon tea and snack. A little break in the day — lately featuring these excellent whole wheat banana muffins — is about as close as I can get this week to knowing true internal peace. OUT: Wasting a few hours looking at accommodations in a warmer environment. I’m at the part of winter where I’m convinced that a trip to New Orleans would fix me. But I’m also at the part of the year where I’m catching my breath (financially) after the excess of the holiday season. If anyone has any hot tips for affordable accommodations in New Orleans, I’m all ears. My soul yearns for an afternoon on the Bacchanal patio.

IN: Astrology for wine. The weaving class I took also included a wine tasting (*Stefon voice* This workshop has it all). One of my fellow weavers clearly knew her star charts, and confidently described what she believed were each of the three wines’ zodiac signs and why. It was hilarious and strangely poetic. OUT: Astrology for people. Easily offensive, frequently ill-fitting, and significantly less fun than wine astrology.

Tell me what you hated this week!