What's IN/OUT this week

I have a least-favorite protest sign, and it’s: “Things are so bad that even the introverts are here!” Introverts love to point out that they’re introverts. Extroverts, however, understand that you can usually just guess. But I’m not walking around with a sign that says “Things are so bad, and this extrovert is just LOVING the opportunity to be in a crowd!!!!”

IN: Manhattans. I’ll drink a Manhattan any time of the year, but they seem just right for fall. This past week or so, I’ve officially shifted into my cold-weather drinks menu. I am craving whiskey-based cocktails. I am adding hot water to the same tea bag throughout the day (do not send me anything about tea bag microplastics, it is too late for me.). I like to make Manhattans at home in our favorite rocks glasses, with two Luxardo cherries pierced with gold seashell-tipped cocktail picks. How many times do I have to tell you to come over? OUT: Chilled beverages. I do not care for ice in my drinks, especially in a glass of water. (This alone should automatically give me EU citizenship eligibility.) But come fall/winter? It would be criminally insane to want anything iced. When I go to a cafe and they ask if I want my coffee iced on a day it is below 50 degrees out, I will demand to speak to the manager. An aside: I think some generations are more beverage-forward than others. Millennials? Extremely beverage-forward. I can’t have Millennial friends at my home without at least one person leaving their reusable water bottle, a pile of empty sparkling water cans, and a handful of damp tea bags/coffee grounds on the counter. Baby boomers? Walking raisins. I’ve seen my dad drink a glass of water like he forgot that hydration was an option. My mother drinks ⅓ of a teacup of water at dinner. I’m not making this up!!!

IN: An on-ramp to the colder months. I am trying valiantly (Medal of Honor WHEN) to not let the cold weather knock the wind out of my sails. So in an effort to not be a little bitch about it, I am forcing myself outside via little adventures and treats. I’m shifting my running hours to later in the morning when the sun is actually out. I’m going out to look at Halloween decorations. I’m bringing the aforementioned autumn-appropriate beverages. I’m choosing stylish outfits so I don’t feel like a walking potato sack through it all. OUT: Maintaining my early morning rise. My brothers: I simply cannot be expected to get out of bed if the sun is not out. Please, if you know how, lend me your tips.

IN: A spooky-ass book. I asked my friend Mike (himself a spooky author) for some seasonal book recommendations, and he suggested The Woman in Black and Rosemary’s Baby. I realized a few pages into The Woman that I read it before, but I still plowed through. It was scarier than I remembered?? I have yet to watch a scary/campy/creepy movie this season, though. Drop those film recs in the comments if you have a real hot tamale for me to check out. OUT: This year’s Halloween candy. I recently learned that the latest batches of Halloween treats are light on the chocolate. A cocoa-industry expert told The Atlantic that less chocolaty candies are “certainly a response to cocoa prices” — which are up, in part, because of climate change. The next time you see a boomer  — probably skirting a water fountain — tell them that this is what they’ve done to the future of the nation: Seasonal white chocolate (it’s not chocolate!!!) Reese’s. SHAME.

IN: Wearing my “BUTTER” hat to the bakery, so they know that I’m a real one. OUT: I am low on butter. :(

Tell me what you hated this week!