What's IN/OUT this week

I had my first broiled grapefruit of the season this week, and — for a brief few moments — I remembered that life is worth living.

IN: Everyday tastings. I’ve been to a fair number of wine bars, and I find it rather curious that tastings tend to be relegated to special events. Why can’t I try a couple of things before I make a decision? I know this is probably my age talking, but I want to chat with someone. We don’t have to make it a whole song and dance, but it’s not like I’m walking in and just ordering a High Life. There’s a rotating menu? I need some info! Slow down! Rushes are for lushes. OUT: Being hustled with anything, really. I went to a couple of antique stores over the weekend and boy do I love a day where I wander slowly and touch a lot of old crap. Dave surprised me on my antiques bop and did his very best to be patient and not hurry me. I even thought he was enjoying himself when he pointed out some really cool mirrors. He later told me he was actually blocking a sign that said there were more antiques on a lower level. 

IN: Mindful commerce. One of the few things I have control of in light of ~everything~ is how I spend my cheese. I’m trying to reorient my shopping habits, which isn’t terribly hard to do when living in a major city. There are plenty of small shops to support. But there will still be challenges… OUT: Big corporations that have vertically integrated the world. I ordered something directly from the manufacturer this week and was blown away to learn it would be arriving the very next day. How curious! I received a shipping alert saying I’d be receiving my package… via Amazon. It turns out that the small company I ordered from is likely using "multi-channel fulfillment," meaning the logistics — warehousing, packing, shipping, and customer returns — were outsourced to Amazon. Lmao you actually cannot win.

IN: A dairy-forward holiday. My pal Jamie hosted an afternoon soiree for Imbolc, which is an Irish/Gaelic fest that marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. I was wholly unaware of the holiday, but that spread she made: cheeses, homemade focaccia, apple cake, barmbrack, and colcannon (no need to look all that up, just assume it’s carbs). There was also some candle-lighting and sweetgrass-braiding involved so I might have become an ordained priestess of Kerrygold. Who’s to say. OUT: A grief holiday. I’m talking about tax season, folks. This is my first year paying taxes as a business and wow my accountant is going to regret ever accepting me as a client. I have already talked myself off a ledge three times this week. My mantra is: It’s probably not that bad; this is why you hired an accountant; I would look great as a brunette living under an assumed name in Switzerland. 

IN: The Westminster Dog Show. I would be remiss if I didn’t nod to the top-tier canines that filled my social media feeds this week. My favorite photos are always of when the dogs have had enough (slide No. 6, below). OUT: Saying goodbye to another great one. What could I possibly say about Catherine O’Hara that hasn’t already been said? When I still used Twitter, this was my banner image for some time. She was brilliant.

Tell me what you hated this week!